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|  ALUMNI  LIBRARY, 

|    THEOI/OQJICAL  SEMINARY, 

&K  ^ETON,    N.    J.    . 

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R.  BIGGERS, 


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PRACTICAL  EXPOSITOR: 

OR,   AN 

EXPOSITION 

OF    THE 

NEW    TESTAMENT, 

IN  THE  FORM  OF  A 

PARAPH  R  A  S  E; 

WITH  OCCASIONAL  NOTES  IN  THEIR  PROPER  PLACES 
FOR  FURTHER  EXPLICATION, 

AND 

SERIOUS  RECOLLECTIONS  AT  THE  CLOSE  OF  EVERT  CHAPTER. 

TO    WHICH    IS    ADDED, 

AN  ALPHABETICAL  TABLE  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL  THINGS  CONTAINED 
'       IN  THE  PARAPHRASE,  ESPECIALLY  IN  THE  NOTES. 

For  the  Ufe  of  the  FAM1L  Y  and  CLOSE  T. 

By  JOHN   GUYSE,    D.  D. 

THE    FIFTH    EDITION. 

VOL.      II. 

CONTAINING     THE 

EVANGELISTS  LUKE  and  JOHN. 


EDINBURGH: 

PRINTED   BT  ROSS   W    SONS, 

For  Robert  Ross,   Bookfellcr,  Lawn-market,   Edinburgh,  and 

James  Gillies,   Bookfeller,  High-ftreet,  G/afgoiw 


jvt,dcc,  xcvn. 


THE 


CONTENTS    of    LUKE. 


CHAP.     I. 

THE  preface  to  this  Gofpel,  i, — 4. 
The  conception  and  office  of  John 
the  Baptift,  5. — 25. ;  and  of  Chrift, 
26, — 38.  The  interview  between  the 
virgin  and  Elizabeth,  39, — 45.  The 
virgin's  fong  of  praife,  46, — 56.  The 
birth  and  circumcifion  of  John  the 
Bapt/'/f,  57, — 65.  Zacharias's  fong 
of  praife,  67, — 79.  John's  infancy, 
80.  Page   1. 

CHAP.     II. 

The  birth  of  Chrift  at  Bethlehem,  1, — 7. 
It  is  notified  to  fhepherds  by  an  angel, 
and  an  heavenly  hoft  attends  with 
fongs  of  praife,  S, — 14.  The  fhep- 
herds publifh  it  abroad,  15, — 10.  He 
is  circumcifed  and  prefented  in  the 
temple,  fti, — 24.  Simeon's  and  An- 
na's prophecies  of  him,  25, — -x>9'  Tne 
flate  of  his  youth,  and  his  difpute 
with  the  doctors  in  the  temple,  4c, — 
52.  p.  iS. 

CHAP.     III. 

The  general  defign  of  the  baptifm  and 
miniftry  of  John,  1, — 9.  His  particu- 
lar inftru&ions  to  the  common  people, 
publicans  and  foldiers,  10, — 14.  His 
account  of  the  approach  of  Chrift,  15, 
—  iS.  His  imprifonment  by  Herod, 
19,  20.  Chrift's  baptifm,  21,  22.  And 
his  pedigree  from  Adam,  23,-38.  p.  3c. 
CHAP.     IV. 

Chrift's  temptation  and  fading,  1, — 13. 
His  entrance  on  his  public  miniftry, 
14,  15.  His  preaching  at  Nazareth, 
where  the  people  wonder,  and  yet  ge- 
nerally defpife  him  for  the  meannefs 
of  his  parentage,  16, — 30.  At  Caper- 
naum, where  lie  cafts  out  a  devil,  and 
heals  Peter's  mother-in-law,  and  many 
fick  people,  3 1 , — 4 1 .  And  his  preach- 
ing in  feveral  other  places,  42, — 44. 

P-  39- 
CHAP.  V. 
Chrift  preaches  out  of  Peter's  fiiip,  1, 
— 3.  His  intimation  of  the  fuccefs  of 
Peter's  and  his  partner's  miniftry,  by 
a  miraculous  draught  of  iiflies,  4, —  n. 
He  heals  a  leper,  t2, — 15.  Retires  for 
prayer,  and  returns  to  preaclrng,  16, 
17.  Cures  a  man  lick  of  the  pally,  iS, 
— 26.  Calls  Levi,  and  converfes  with 
publicans,  27, — 32.  And  vindicates 
bis  difciples  for  not  failing  in  thole 
da)s>  35—39-  P-  49« 


CHAP.     VI. 

Chrift  fliews  the  lawfulnefs  of  works  <  I 
neceffity  and  mercy  on  the  Sabbath- 
day,  1, — n.  Retires  for  prayer,  12. 
Chufes  twelve  apoftles,  13, — 16.  Heals 
many  difeafes,  17, — 19.  His  fermon 
to  his  difciples  and  the  multitude,  2- 
bout  the  happinefs  of  faithful  fufferers 
for  his  fake,  20, — 23.  The  mifery  of 
having  this  world  for  a  portion,  24, 
—  26.  Love  to  enemies,  and  doin^" 
good,  27, — 3S.  Minifters  and  people 
known  by  their  fruits,  39, — 45.  And 
the  neceffity  of  practicing  true  reli- 
gion, 46",— ^49.  p.  57. 
N      CHAP.     VII. 

Chrift  cures  the  centurion's  fervant,  r, 
— 10.  Raifes  the  widow's  fon  from 
the  dead  at  Nain,  n, — iS.  John's 
meffengers  to  Chrift,  and  his  anfwer 
to  them,  19,; — ^3.  His  account  of 
John  afld  of  his  miniftry,  24, — 3c. 
His  reproof  of  the  Jews  for  rejecting 
both  John  and  himfeif,  31, — 35.  And 
his  illuftration  of  God's  free  forgive- 
nefs,  with  its  effects,  by  the  limilitude 
of  a  forgiven  debtor,  36, —  sO.  p.  6S. 
CHAP.     VIII. 

Chrift  preaches  in  feveral  places,  1, — 4. 
His  parable  of  the  fower,  with  its  ex- 
plication, 5, — 15.  His  parable  of  the 
lighted  candle,  16. —  iS.  The  high 
account  he  makes  of  his  true  difciples, 
as  his  neareft  relations,  19, — 22.  He 
lays  a  ftorm  at  fea,  23, — 25.  He  cafts 
a  legion  of  devils  out  of  a  man,  and 
fullers  them  to  enter  a  herd  of  twine, 
26,- — 36.  He  is  rejected  by  the  'Ga- 
darenes,  37, — 40.  He  cures  a  bloody- 
flux,  and  raifes  Jairus's  daughter  from 
the  dead,   41, — 56.  p.  79. 

C  H  ^  P.     IX. 

Jefus  fends  forth  the  twelve  apoftles,  r, 
— 6.  Herod's  perplexing  thoughts  a- 
bout  him,  and  delire  to  fee  him,  7, — 
9.  He  miraculoully  feeds  rive  thou- 
sand, 10, — 17.  His  difcourfe  with  his 
difciples  concerning  himfeif,  and  fol- 
lowing him,  18, — 27.  His  transfigu- 
ration, 2S, — 36.  His  calling  the  de- 
vil  out  of  a  youth,  which  the  difciples 
had  attempted  without  fuccefs,  37, — 
42.  He  foretels  his  own  furlerings  to 
death,  43, — 4,5.  Checks  the  ambition 
of  his  difciples,  46, — 48.  Reproves 
them  for  a  party,  felfifli,  and  reven^f- 

fui 


The    CONTENTS. 


fol  fpirit,  49, — 56.  and  fhews  the 
danger  of  delaying  and  of  drawing 
back,  57,-62.  p.  91. 

CHAP.     X. 

Chrift's  commiflion  to  the  Seventy,  1, — 
16.  His  difcourfe  to  them,  and  thankf- 
giving  to  his  Father  on  their  return, 
17, — 24.  His  difcourfe  with  a  lawyer 
abbot  the  way  of  attaining  eternal  life, 
25, — 37.  His  reproof  of  Martha,  and 
commendation  oi  Mary.y  3S, — 42. 

p.   104. 
CHAP.    XL 

Jefus  teaches  his  difciples  how  to  pray, 
1. —  ix-  Calls  out  a  dumb  devil,  and 
proves  that  he  did  it  not  by  any  power 
of  devils,  14,-26.  Shews  that  the  do- 
ers of  the  word  are  bleiied,  27,  2S. 
Reproves  the  perverfenefa  and  obfti- 
nacyofthe  jews.  2<;, — 56.;  and  the 
hypocrily  of  the  Pharifees  nnd  fcribes. 
and  denounces  woes  againft  them  for 

':t>  37.-54-  P-  «4- 

CHAP.  XII. 
Chrift  cautions  his  difciples  againft  hypo- 
crily and  cowardice  in  their  profeflion 
and  preaching,  1, — 12.;  and  agamlt 
covetoufnefs,  13, — 2t.  .  Directs  them 
to  call  all  their  care  upon  God,  and 
to  make  religion  their  chief  bufinefs, 
22, — 34.  Shews  them  the  neceflity 
of  watchfulnefs,  35,  4S.  Bids  them 
expect  perfecution,  40, — 53.  And 
warns  the  people  of  the  danger  cf  ne- 
glects and  delays,  54., —  ^9.  p.  12S. 
C  H  A  P.  XIII. 
Chrift's  remarks  upon  the  deftruction 
'  that  fell  on  the  Galileans  and  others, 
i, — 5.  His  parable,  of  the  barren  fig- 
tree,  6, — -9.  His.  healing  a  crooked 
■woman  on  the-  Sabbath-day,  10, — 17. 
His  parables  of  a  grain  of  mullard-ieed, 
and  of  leaven,  iS,— 21.  His  preach- 
ing, and  anfwer  to  the  queftion  whe- 
ther  few  fliall  be  laved,  22, — 30.  His 
flighting  Herod's  threatenings,  and 
lamenting   over   jen/falem,  31, — 3$. 

p.   141. 
CHAP.|  XIV. 
Chrift  cures  a  dioply,  and  vindicates  his 
doing  it  on  the'  Sabbath-day,    1, — 6. 
His   ielfon   of  humility,    7, —  £i.     Cf 
charity  to  the   poor,    12, — 14.     The 
parable  of  the  guefts  invited  to  a  great 
ef,  1 5, —  24.    A  defcription  ot  true 
ijdtfhip,    25, — 33.     And   the   dif- 
ference between  good  and  bad  mini- 
and  profefibrsj  34,  35.       p.  150. 
CHAP.     XV. 
The  Pharifees  offended  at  Chrift's  con- 
\  itii,  and  pleaching  to,  publi- 
and  finners,  1,  2.     He  vindicates 
himfelf  in  the.parable  of  the  loit  fneep, 
3, —  7.     And  of  the  loft  piece  of  mo- 


ney,   S, — 10.     And    of  the  prodigal 
fon,  11,-32.  p.   15S. 

CHAP.     XVI. 

The  right  ufe  of  worldly  enjoyments  re- 
presented in  the  parable  of  the  unjuft 
fteward,  1,-13.  A  reproof  of  the 
Pharifees  for  their  covetoufnefs  and 
hypocrily,  14, —  rS.  And  the  danger 
of  letting  ones  heart  on  earthly  trea- 
fures,  illuftrated  in  the  parable  of  the 
rich  man  and  Lazarus,  19, — 31. 

p.  16S, 
.       CHAP.     XVII. 

Chrift's  difcourfe  about  offences  and  for- 
giving of  injuries,  r, — 4,  About  faith 
and  humility,  5, — 10.  His  curing  ten 
lepers,  n, — 19.  And  his  account  of 
the  nature  of  his  kingdom,  and  of 
the  deftruction  of  the  Jewifh  nation, 
20—37.  :i       '      P-   l17' 

CHAP.   ) XVIII. 

The  parable  of  the  importunate,  widow, 
1, — S.  Of  the  Pharifee  and  publican, 
s), — 1.4.  Chrift's  kind  and  gracious 
regard  to  infants,  15, — 17.  The  rich 
ruler's  coming  to  him,  and  Chrift's 
difcourfe  on  that  occafion  with  his 
dilciples,  iS, — 30.  His  prediction  of 
his  own  fufferings,  death,  .and  refur- 
rection,  31, — 34.  And  reftoring  a 
blind  man  to  fight,  35,-43.  p.  1S5. 
CHAP.     XIX. 

The  conversion  of  Zaccheus,-  1, — 10. 
The  parable  of  the  ten  pounds,  11, 
—  27..  Chrift's  riding  into  [ferufaiem, 
2S, — 40.  His  lamenting  over  it,  41, 
— 44.    "And    his    calling    the    buyers 

.    andiellers  out  of  the  temple,  45, — 48. 

P-  195- 
CHAP.     XX. 

Chrift's  vindication  of  his  authority  by  a 
queftion  about  Joint's  baptifm,  1, — S. 
The  parable  of  the  vineyard,  9,- — 19. 
The  obedience  that  i$qtQ  be  paid  to 
the  civil  magiftrate,  20, — 26.  The 
refurrection  vindicated  againft  the 
jjddi/cees.  27, — 3S.  The  fcribes 
puzzled  with  a  queftion  about  Chrift's 
being  David's  fon,  39, — 44.  And 
a  caut!  jo  againft  the  fcribes,  45, — 47. 

p.  206. 
CHAP.     XXI. 

Chrift's  obfervation  of  a  poor  widow's 
calling  two  mites  into  the  treafury, 
1, — 4.  His  prediction  of  the  deftruc- 
tion  of  Jcrufalew,  as  a  type  and  fi- 
gure of  the  end  of  the  world,  5, — 33. 
His  caution  to  be  watchful,  34, — ^-,6. 
And  a  general  account  of  his  preach- 
ing, 37>  33.  P-  2I5- 
CHAP.     XXII. 

Judas's  betraying  his  Lord,  1, — 6. 
Chrift's  eating  his  laft  paflbver,  7, — 
iS.     His  iirftitutjrig  his  fupper,    19, 


The    CONTENTS. 


20.  His  difcourfe  with  his  dhciples, 
21, — $%■  His  agony  in  the  garden, 
39, — 46,  His  being  apprehended, 
47, — -53.  Peter's  denying  him/  54, 
— 62.  And  his  trial  and  condemna- 
tion in  the  high-prieft's  hall,  63, — 71. 

p.  223. 
CHAP.  XXIII. 
Chrift's  trial  before  Pilate,  1, — 5.  His 
examination  before  Herod,  G,- — 12. 
His  further  trial  before  Pilate.  1  2, — 
25.  His  crucifixion,  26, — 3S.  The 
different  behaviour  of  the  malefactors 


toward  him,  -jo, — 43.  His  death,  and 
the  miracles  that  attended  it,  44, — 49. 
And  his  burial,  50, — 56.  p.  239. 

CHAP.  XXIV. 
The  refurrection  of  Chrift,  as  declared 
to  the  women,  1, — 8.  As  reported 
to  the  difciples,  9, — 12.  As  made 
known  by  Chrift  himfelf  to  two  of 
them  who  were  going  to  Emmaus, 
13 — 35.  To  the  relt  of  them  allem- 
bled  together,  36, — 49.  And,  laft  of 
all,  at  his  afceniion  to  heaven,  50,- — 
S3-  P-  *52- 


THE 


CONTENTS  of   JOHN. 


CHAP.     I. 

THE  Evangelift's  teftimony  concern- 
ing the  eternal  Godhead,  the  office  ' 
and  incarnation  of  Chrift,  1, — 14. 
John  the.BaptiJt\  teftimony  concern- 
ing him,  15, — 37.  And  Chrift's  call- 
ing of  feveral  to  be  his  difciples,  3S, — 
51.  p.  265. 

CHAP.     II. 

Chrift  turns  water  into  wine  at  Cana  of 
Galilee,  1, —  n.  Goes  to  Capernaum, 
1 2.  Goes  from  thence  to  keep  the 
pafiover  at  Jervfalem,  where  he  carts 
the  traders  out  of  the  temple,  vindi- 
cates what  he  had  done,  and  declines 
trufting  himfelf  with  pretended  difci- 
cipies,   13,-25.  p.  2S3. 

CHAP.     III. 

Chrift's  difcourfe  with  Nicoilemus  about 
regeneration  and  faith  in  himfelf,  1, — 
21.  John  the  BaptiJV%  difcourfe  with 
the  people  concerning  Jems,   22, — 36. 

p.  290. 
CHAP.     IV. 

Chrift  goes  from  Judea  into  Samaria, 
i, — 6.  His  difcourfe  with  the  wo- 
man of  Samaria,  7, — 26".     The  effect 

/  it  had  upon  her,  27,-30.  His  dif- 
courfe with  his  difciples,  31, — 38. 
Many  Samaritans  believe  in  him,  2>9t 
— 42.  And  he  goes  to  Galilee,  and 
heals  a  nobleman's  fon  there,  43,—  54. 

P-  3°3- 
CHAP.     V. 

Chrift  cures  a  man  on  the  Sabbath-day, 
who  lay  at  the  pool  of  Bethefda,  and 
had  been  lame  thirty-eight  years,  1, 
— 9  The  Jews  quarrel  about  it, 
10, —  1 6.  Chrift  vindicates  himfelf, 
by  afferting  his  own  divine  character 
as  the  Son  of  Cod,   17, — 31.    Proves 


this  by  the  teftimony  of  'John  the  Baj>~ 
tijl,  of  his  own  miracles,  of  his  Father, 
and  of  the  Old-Teftament  fcriptures, 
32, — 2>9'  And  charges  the  Jews  with 
various  faults  which  they  were  guilty 

of,  4°,— 47-  P'3!7- 

CHAP.     VI. 

Chrift's  feeding  five  thoufand  with  five 
loaves  and  two  fmall  fifties,  1, — 14. 
His  talking  upon  the  water  of  the 
fea,  15, — 2i.  His  difcourfe  with  the 
people  at  Capernaum  concerning  him- 
felf, as  the  bread  of  life,  occafioned  by 
the  miracle  of  the  loaves,  22, —  ~,g. 
His  difciples  diffatisfaction  at  this  dif- 
courfe, and  his  reproof  of  them  for  it, 
60, — 65.  The  apoftacy  of  many  from 
him,  and  the  adherence  of  others  to 
him,  on  that  occafion,  66, — 7  1.  p.  331. 
CHAP.     VII. 

Chrift  refufes  to  go  with  his  kindred  to 
Jerujale7n,  1, — 9.  Goes  privately  af- 
terwards, 10, — 13.  Preaches  in  the 
temple,  and  clifcourfes  with  the  Jenvs, 
in  the  midft  of  the  feaft  of  tabernacles, 
about  his  doctrine,  14, — iS.  About 
their  charge  of  his  breaking  the  Sab- 
bath, and  going  about  to  kill  him  on 
that  account,  19, — 24.  And  about 
himfelf,  25, — 36.  His  gracious  invi- 
tation to  fmners  on  the  laft  day  of  the 
feaft,  37, — 2>9-  -l-ne  different  recep- 
tion he  met  with,  40, — 44.  And  the 
angry  debates  of  the  Pbarijees,  about 
the  officeis  not  apprehending  him,  45, 

—53-  -      P-  547- 

CHAP.     VIII. 

Chrift's  treatment  of  the  woman  taken 

in  adultc-ry,    1,— 12.     His   preaching 

himfelf  as  the  light  of  the  world,  and 

vindicating    his    doctrjne,     13, —  ;o. 

His 


The    CONTENTS. 


His  aflerting  the  freedom  of  his  dif- 
ciples,  and  anfvvering  the  cavils  of 
the  Jews  againft  it,  and  their  glory- 
ing in  Abraham  as  their  father ;  and  his 
efcaping  out  of  their  hands,   31, — 59. 

P-  359- 
CHAP.     IX. 

Chrift  gives  fight  to  a  man  who  was 
born  blind,  1, — 7.  Several  difcourfes 
on  that  occafion  among  the  neigh- 
bours themfelves,  and  between  them 
and  this  poor  man,  8, — 12.  Between 
the  Pharifees  and  him,  13, — 34.  Be- 
tween Chrift  and  him,  35, — 38.  And 
between  Chrift  and  fome  of  the  Pha- 
rifees, 39,-41.  P-  376- 
CHAP.     X. 

Chrift  the  door  and  the  fhepherd  of  the 
flieep,  1, —  iS.  Different  opinions  of 
the  people  concerning  him,  19, — 21. 
His  difputes  with  the  Jews  about  his 
being  the  Chrift,  and  equal  with  God, 
22, — 38.  His  efcaping  their  fury,  and 
returning  back  beyond  Jordan,  39, — 
42.  p.  385. 

CHAP.     XI. 

The  tidings  which  Chrift  received  of 
Lazari/s's  ficknefs,  1, — 16.  The  vifit 
he  made  to  his  fillers,  when  he  heard 
of  his  death,  17, — 32.  His  raifing 
him  from  the  dead,  33, — 44-  And 
the  effect  of  this  on  different  forts  of 
perfons,  45,-57.  p.  39^ 

CHAP.     XII. 

Mary  anoints  Chrift's  feet  at  Bethany, 
1, — 8.  The  people  flock  to  fee  him 
and  Lazarus,  9.  The  chief  priefts 
confult  to  kill  Chrift,  10,  n.  He 
rides  in  triumph  to  Jerufalem,  12, — 
19.  The  Greeks  defire  to  fee  him, 
20, — 22.  He  foretels  his  death  and 
its  effects,  23, — 33.  His  folemn  warn- 
ing to  the  Jews,  34, — 36.  The  con- 
tinued infidelity  of  the  generality  of 
them,  though  fome  of  the  rulers  be- 
lieved him  to  be  the  Meffiah,  but  did 
not  own  him,  37, — 43.  He  afferts  his 
divine  million,  44, — 50.  p.  410. 

CHAP.     XIII. 

Chrift's  laft  time  of  eating  the  pafchal 

■  fupper,  1, — 3.  He  wafhes  his  difci- 
ples  feet,  to  fet  them  an  example  of 
humility  and  love,  4, — 17.  Gives 
notice  beforehand  who  fhould  betray 
him,  18, — 30.  Enjoins  brotherly  love 
iipon  his  difciplcs,  31, — 35-  And 
foretels  Peter's  denying  him,  36, — 3S. 

p.  423. 
CHAP.     XIV. 

The  beginning  of  Chrift's  farewel  fer- 
mon,  in  which  he  comforts  his  difci- 
ples under  their  troubles  with  promi- 
ses of  heaven,  1, — 5.     Speaks  of  him- 


felf  as  the  way  to  the  Father,  and  of 
his  own  heing  one  with  him,  6, — 12. 
Affures  his  difciples  that  be  will  an- 
fwer  the  prayers  which  they  offer  up 
in  his  name,  13,  14.  Promifes  ano- 
ther Comforter,  and  gracious  mani- 
feftations  of  himfelf  and  of  the  Fa- 
ther, 15, — 24.  Repeats  the  promife 
of  the  Comforter,  bequeaths  a  legacy 
of  peace  to  them,  and  concludes  the 
firft   part  of  his  difcouife,    25, — 31. 

P-  433- 
CHAP.    XV. 

A  continuation  of  Chrift's  farewel  fer- 
mon,  in  which  he  fpeaks  of  himfelf 
and  his  difciples  under  the  fimilitude 
of  a  vine  and  its  branches,  1, — 7. 
Commands  them  to  abound  in  fruits 
of  holinefs,  and  particularly  in  love 
one  to  another,  by  virtue  of  their  u- 
nion  with  him,  8, — 17.  And  com- 
forts them  againft  the  hatred  and 
persecutions  of  the  world,    18, — 27. 

P-  443- 
CHAP.     XVI. 

The  conclufion  of  Chrift's  farewel  fer- 
mon,  in  which  he  forewarns  his  difci- 
ples of  perfecutions,  and  takes  notice 
of  their  prefent  grief,  1, — 6.  And 
promiles  to  fend  the  Holy  Ghoft,  7, — 
15.  To  vifit  them  again  in  perfon,  as 
well  as  by  his  Spirit  after  his  refurrec- 
tion,  16, — 22.  To  fecure  a  gracious 
anfwer  to  their  prayers  in  his  name, 
23, — 32.  And  to  give  them  peace  a- 
midft  all  their  tribulations  in  the  world, 

33-  P-  451- 

CHAP.  XVII. 
Our  Lord's  prayer  before  his  death,  for 
himfelf,  1, — 5.  For  all  that  were  al- 
ready called,  6, — ic.  Moft  immedi- 
ately for  the  apoftles,  that  they  might 
be  preferved  and  fanctified,  it, — 19. 
For  the  whole  church,  as  well  as  the 
apoftles,  that  they  might  be  united 
and  glorified,  20, — 24.  And  parti- 
cularly again  for  the  apoftles,  25,  26. 

p.  461. 
CHAP.  XVIII. 
Chrift  is  betrayed  by  Judas,  and  appre- 
hended in  the  garden,  r, — 12.  Is  ex- 
amined, and  abuled  in  the  court  of 
the  high-prieft,  and  denied  by  Peter, 
13, — 27.  And  is  profecuted  before 
Pilate,  who  examined  him,   2S, — 40. 

p.  469*. 
CHAP.  XIX. 
The  remainder  of  Chrift's  trial  before 
Pilate,  1, — 15.  His  condemnation 
and  execution,  16, — iS.  His  title 
placed  on  the  crofs  over  his  head,  19, 
— 22.  Several  circumftances  that  at- 
tended his  hanging  on  the  crofs,   23, 

— 20. 


The  CONTENTS. 


— 29.  His  death,  and\he  piercing  of 
his  fide,  30, — 37.  And  his  burial  by 
jfofeph  of  Arimathea  and  Nicodemus, 
38,-42.  p.  479. 

CHAP.  XX. 
The'  refurrection  of  Chrift  is  proved  by 
his  body's  not  being  found  in  the  fe- 
pulchre,  and  the  grave-clothes  lying  in 
good  order  there,  1, — 10.  By  two  an- 
gels appearing  to  Mary  Magdalene  at 
the  fepulchre,  if, — 13.  By  Chrift's 
own  appearing  to  her,  14, — 18.  By 
his  appearing  that  evening  to  all  the 


apoftles,  except  Thomas,  19, — 25. 
And  by  his  appearing  to  them  again 
that  day  feven-night,  Thomas  being 
then  with  them,  26, — 31.  p.  490. 

CHAP.  XXL 
Chrift  difcovers  himfelf  again  to  feveral 
difciples  at  the  fea  of  Tiberias,  and 
eats  with  them,  1, — 14.  Orders  Pe- 
ter to  feed  his  lheep  and  lambs,  15, 
— 17.  Foretels  the  manner  of  Peter's 
death,  18,  19.  And  checks  his  curi- 
ofity  about  John,  20,  23.  The  conclu- 
fion  of  this  Gofpel,  24,  25.        p.  500. 


.    A     PRACTICAL 

EXPOSITION 

OF      THE 

EVANGELIST     LUKE, 

IN  THE  FORM  OF  A 

PARAPHRASE. 


CHAP.       I. 

The  preface  to  this  go/pel,  i, — 4.  The  conception  and  office  of  'John 
the  Baptift,  5, — 2>.;  and  of  Chrift,  26, — 38.  The  interview  be- 
tween the  Virgin  and  Elifabeth,  39, — 45.  The  Virgin' 'j  fong  of 
praife,  46, — 56.  The  birth  and  circumcijion  of  John  the  Baptift, 
57, — 66.  ZachariasV  fong  of  pr a ife,  67, — 79.  JohnV  infancy,  80. 


TEXT. 


Paraphrase. 


TT'Orasmuch    as 


XI  7Hereas  *  feverai  perfons  have,    either  from  a 


m  ThandTo  fct      V  V    principle  of  piety,"  or  from  curiofity,  underta- 

forth  in  order  a  de-  ken  to  draw  up  narratives  of  the  birth,  hie,  doctrines 

claration  of  thofe  and  death,  refurrection  and  afceniion,    of  our  Lord 

things  which    are  jefus  Chrht,  which  are  firmly  believed  by  his  difci- 
moft   furely  belie-       ,  th     fdj  ft  evi(knce 

ved  among  us,  r  \  . .     7      r    .  a  r 

2  Even  as  they        2   And  as  thele  are  points  or  the  utmolt  conie- 

delivered  them  un-  quence,  which  have  been  moftly  written,  and  are  ge- 
to  us,  which  from  neraily  believed,  according  to  the  faithful  and  well- 
■  attefted  reports  that  have  been  made  by  thofe  who 
were,  from  firft  to  laft,  the  conftant  attendants  of  his 
miniftry;  and  fo  were  ear-witneiTes  of  his  doctrine, 
and  eye-witneffes  of  the  miracles  which  confirmed  it ; 
and  were  fent  forth  by  Jefus  himfelf,  as  his  apoftles, 
to  preach  the  gofpel; 

3   Ialfo,  moil  noble  f  TheophilusW,  having  fought 

after, 
NOTES. 
*  As  Matthew  wrote  from  his  own  it  was  the  real  name  of  a  certain  perfon 
knowledge,  and  John  wrote  after  Luke;  to  whom  the  evangelijl  wrote,  appears 
the  watt v  here  lpoken  of  i'ecm  plainly  to  from  its  being  ufed  in  the  lingular  num. 
refer  to  lbme  hiuories  that  were  drawn  her  here,  and  in  Acls  i.  I.  and  that  with 
up  by  honeft,  though  uninfpired  men,  the  title  of  mojl  noble,  or  moft  excellent, 
according  to  the  beft  informations  they  juft  in  the  fame  manner  as  it  is  applied 
could  get,  but  are  long  fince  loft.  to  Felix  and  Fejlus,    Acts  xxiv.  3.    and 

f   Theopbilus  figniries  a  lover  of  God  :    xxvi.   Z5. 
And  that  this  was  uot  a  term,  importing        ||  Tlxg zxeAavfav.     The  word  here  u- 
merely  an v  of  that  character  :  but  that    fed,  is  to  follow  after,  and  to  attain  : 
Vol.  II.  B  And, 


eye-witnefles,  and 
minifters  of  the 
word ; 


3  It  feemed  good 
to 


The  Evangetift 


Chap.  i. 


to  me  alio,  having 
had  perfect  under- 
Itanding  of  all 
things  from  the 
very  iirft,  to  write 
unto  thee  in  or- 
der, molt  excellent 
Theophilus^ 

4  That  ■  thou 
mighteft  know  the 
certainty  of  thofe 
things  wherein 
thou  haft  been  in- 
ftruaed. 


after,  and  obtained  an  exa&  knowledge  of  all  thefe 
things,  from  their  very  beginning,  not  only  by  tra- 
dition, but  likewife  by  fuch  a  divine  influence,  from  a- 
bove  *,  as  preferves  me  from  miftakes  about  them, 
thought  proper  to  write  {y.a.h\m^}  a  connected  and. par- 
ticular account  of  them,  to  rectify  the  errors  of  thofe 
who  have  proceeded  upon  hearfay  : 

4  This  I  have  done,  that  you  may  have  fuch  an 
information  as  is  certainly  to  be  depended  upon,  of 
the  true  Hate  of  thofe  important  affairs  into  which 
(KXTx.%Ytd/i$)  you  have  already  been  initiated,  as  cate- 
chumens ufe  to  be,  in  order  to  your  being  Hill  bet- 
ter acquainted  with  them,  and  confirmed  in  them. 


5  r  I  ''HERE  was,  5  rTH*0  begin  then  with  a  fhort  account  of  John  the 

A    in  the  days  J^     BaptiJ},    the  forerunner  of  our  Lord,  which 

of  Herod  the  k,ng  ^j    naturall     lead  us  on^Q  the  }lift         Gf  Chrift  him- 

orjudea,  a  certain  .  ._      _,          J         .       ,           .           c    TT  J     ,     ; 

prieft  named   Za-  ^e"  :    ■*- nere  was  m  tne  relgn  °*  tierod  the  Great, 


prieft 

charias,     of     khe   who  held  the  kingdom  of  Judea  by  deputation  from 

ia  :   the  Roman  emperor,  a  certain  prieft,    Zacharias  by 

name,  who,  being  of  the  family  of  Abia,  was  one  of 


and   his  wife  ivas 


beth. 


6  And  they 
were  both  righte- 
ous before  God, 
walking  in  all  tlie 


of  the  daughters  of     ,     r  '  , 

Aaron      and    her  tn°le  tnat  were  to  omciate  in  the  eighth  or  the  twen- 

name  was  •  Elii'a-  ty-four  courfes,  into  which  the  family  of  Aaron  was 
divided  in  David's  time  :  (1  Cbron.  xxiv.  7, — 19.) 
And  the  name  of  his  wife  was  Elifabeth,  who  was 
likewife  a  defcendent  from  Aaron. 

6    As  to  the  character  and  circumftances  of  thefe 

two  perfons,  both  of  them  were  eminent  for  religion, 

not  in  appearance  only,  but  in  a  fmcere  confeientious 

ents"&    regard  to  God,    as  fenfible  of  their  being  always  un- 

crlinances  of  the   der  his  eye  ;  and  in  the  account  of  God  himfelf,  who 

Lord  blamelefs.        accepted  them  as  righteous  in  his  fight  :    And  this 

was  clearly  manifelled  by  the  tenor  of  their  lives,  they 

being 
NOTES. 
And,  when  it  is  applied  to  the  mind,  it  ries,  as  they  had  heard  them  from  eye 
fignifies  (c-unsvai)  to  perceive  and  un-  and  ear-witneffes ;  why  may  we  not  fup- 
dcrftand,  or  to  follow  a  fpeaker  with  pofe  that  our  evangelift,  to  recommend 
atitntio?i  and  umlerjlamUng  ;  and  thus  his  account  to  Theaphilus  as  what  might 
it  feems  to  be  taken  in  1  Tim.  iv.  6.  and  certainly  be  depended  upon,  alleged 
%  Tim  iii.  10,  Our  evangelift,  therefore,  that  he  was  under  divine  influence,  to  fe- 
might  ufe  this  word  to  intimate,  that  he  cure  him  from  miftakes  in  his  narrative 
fought  after  and  attained  divine  guidance  of  things,  v.hish  he  himfelf  had  not  feen 
(avakv)  from  above,  and  then  followed  or  heard  immediately  from  Chrift  him- 
it,  with  exact  attention  and  care,  in  com-  felf  ?  This  feems  to  be  of  no  fmall  weight 
poiing  his  hiltory.  to  allure  one  of  (Vwv  acryuxuuv}  the  ccr- 

*  As  this  adverb  («yyG?!>)  properly  fig-  faint y  of  his  account,  lince,  other  wiu\ 
nines  from  above,  and  is  often  ufed  in  he  might  be  liable  to  miftakes  in  it,  as 
that  lenfe  in  the  New  Teftament,  and  is  well  as  other  uninfpired  men,  whole  wri- 
B  different  word  from  ettstf^vc,  which  is  tings  he  had  taken  notice  of,  ver.  I.  Buc 
juftly  rendered  (ver.  tJ)from  the  hegm-  I  Have  likewife  brought  into  the  para- 
ningi  and  as  fome  well-meaning  perfons  phnit'e  another  interpretation  of  the  word 
had  made  hiftoricai  collections  oJChrilt's  *vohv,  as  Signifying  from  the  begin- 
difconrfei,  as  well  ?.s  of  his  works,  a,pd  ning,  that  the  teadei 
ef other  facts,  barely  from  thdr  memo-    fell. 


THE 


CONTENTS    of    MATTHEW 


CHAP.     I. 

f^JHRIST's   lineage  from  Abraham   by 
J'ofeph,  I, — 17.     Kis  conception  and 


birth,  iS, — 2. 


page 


CHAP.     II. 

The  wife-men's  coming  to  worfhip  Chrift 
in  his  infancy,  1, — 12.  Herod's  rage 
againft  him,  and  the  care  Gcd  took  of 


him,  13,-23. 


p.  6. 


CHAP.     III. 

The  life,  doctrine,  and  baptifm  of ';'.;< Zw, 
1, — 12.  And  Jefus  baptized  by  him, 
13,-17.  p.  ii. 

CHAP.     IV. 

Chrift's  temptations,  i, — 11.  His  begin- 
ning to  preach,  12, — 17.  His  calling 
fome  of  his  apoftles,  iS, —  22.  His 
curing  difeafes,  and  the  people's  refort- 
ing  to  him,  23, — 25.  p.  16. 

CHAP.     V. 

The  former  part  of  Chrift's  ferrr.on  on  the 
mount :  The  bleffings  he  pronounces, 
1, — 12.  The  duties  he  enjoins,  13, — 
2G.  And  the  miftakes  he  corrects  by 
his  interpretation  of  the  law,  21, — 48. 

p.  22. 
CHAP.     VI. 

The  continuation  of  Chrift's  fermon  a- 
bout  alms-deeds,  prayer,  and  failing, 
1, — iS.  And  the  preference  of  hea- 
venly to  earthly  treafure,  19, — 34. 

P-34- 
CHAP.     VII. 

The  conclufion  of  Chrift's  fermon  about 
rafh  cenfures,  importunate  prayer,  the 
difficulty  of  getting  to  heaven,  and 
the  danger  of  falfe  teachers,  1, — 20. 
The  application  of  the  fermon,  and  the 
effects  it  had  upon  the  hearers,  2 1 , — 29. 

P-45- 
CHAP.     VIII. 

Chrift's  cleanfmg  a  leper,  1, — 4.  Heal- 
ing a  palfy  and  fever,  5, — iS.  Dif- 
courfing  with  two  perfons  about  fol- 
lowing him,  10, — 22.  Stilling  a  tem- 
peft,  23, — 27.  Anil  calling  out  de- 
vils, 28,-34.  p.  51. 

CHAP.    IX. 

Chrift's  healing  a  pally,  1,— S.    Calling 


TvLattheiv,  and  eating  with  publicans 
and  finners,  9, — 13.  His  defence  of 
his  difcipies  for  not  failing,  14, — 17. 
Curing  the  bloody-flux,  and  railing 
Jairiesh  daughter  from  the  dead,  ib  , 
— 26.  Reftoring  two  blind  men  to 
fight,  27, — 31.  Calling  out  a  devil,  32, 
— 34.  And  his  preaching,  and  com- 
panion to  the  people,  35, — 38.     p.  59. 

CHAP.     X. 

Chrift's  com  million  and  inftruclions  to 
the  twelve  apoilles,  concerning  their 
Services  and  fufferings,  1, — 39.  And 
the  bleffeunefs  of  thole  that  receive 
them,  4c, — 4;,  p.  67. 

CHAP.     XI. 

Chrift's  difcourfe  with  John  the  BaptiJPs 
meffengers,  1, — <5.  His  teilimony  to 
him,  7, — 15.  Kis  reproofs  for  reject- 
ing both  Joh?i  and  himfelf,  16, — 24. 
His  thankfgiving  for  the  revelation  ot" 
the  gofpel  to  feme,  and  his  invitation 
of  finners  to  himfelf,  25, — 3c.     p.  77. 

CHAP.     XII. 

Chrift  vindicates  his  difcipies  plucking 
and  eating  corn,  and  his  own  healing 
a  withered  hand,  on  the  Sabbath-day, 
1, — ai.  His  healing  a  poffeffed  man 
that  was  dumb  and  blind,  and  anfwer- 
ing  the  blafphemous  cavils  of  the /tribes 
and  Phari/ees  againil  it,  22, — 37.  Hi', 
reply  to  their  demand  of  a  fign  from 
heaven,  3S, — 45.  And  his  great  at- 
feclion  to  his  difcipies,  46, — 50.   p.  S4. 

C  H  A  P.     XIII. 

The  parable  of  the  fower,  with  its  ex- 
planation; and  the  reafon  of  Chrift's 
fpeaking  in  parables,  1, — 23.  The  pa- 
rable of  the  tares,  of  a  grain  of  nuU- 
tard-feed,  and  of  leaven,  24, — 33.  The 
parable  of  the  tares  explained,  with  a 
further  reafon  of  Chrift's  ufing  para- 
bles, 34, — 43.  The  parable  of  hidden 
treafure,  of  a  pearl,  and  of  a  fifhing 
net,  44, — 50.  The  application  of  all 
to  the  difcipies  in  iVe  parable  of  a  good 
houfeholder,  51,  52.  Andthetieat- 
ment  Chrift  met  with  in  his  own  coun- 
ty, 5h~ .5s'  P'  ?5' 

CHV 


The    CONTENTS. 


CHAP.     XIV. 

Herod? s  opinion  of  Chrift,  and  an  account 
of  John  the  BaptiJTs  imprifonment  and 
death,  i, — 12.  Chrift's  feeding  five 
thoufand  with  five  loaves  and  two  fifli- 
es,  13, — 21.  His  walking  on  the  fea, 
22, — 33,  And  healing  many  fick,  34, 
— 36>  P-  107. 

CHAP.     XV. 

Chrift  reproves  the  Pharifces  for  their 
traditions,  1, — 9.  States  the  true  no- 
tion of  defilement,  10, — 20.  Heals  the 
woman  of  Canaan  s  daughter,  2ir — 2S. 
Heals  multitudes  of  their  difeafes,  29, 
— 31.  And  feeds  four  thoufand  with 
feven  loaves  and  a  few  fmall  fifties, 
32>— 39-  .  p.  113- 

CHAP.     XVI. 

Chrift's  difcourfe  with  the  Pharifees  about 
a  fign  from  heaven,  1, — 4.  With  his 
difciples  about  the  leaven  of  the  Pha- 
rifees, 5, — 12.;  about  his  own  charac- 
ter>  r3> — 20- ;  about  his  own  fufferings, 
21, — 23.;  and  about  their  bearing  his 
crofs,  24, — 28.  p.  up. 

CHAP.     XVII. 

Chrift'stransfiguration,  r, — 13.  Hisheal- 

ing  a  lunatic,  14, — 21.    His  prediction 

of  his  own  death  and  refurrection,  22, 

23.    And  his  paying  tribute,  24, — 27. 

p.  127. 

CHAP.    XVIII. 

Chrift's  difcourfe  of  humility,  1, — 5.  Of 
offences,  and  the  way  of  dealing  with 
offenders,  6", — 20.  And  of  forgiving 
perfonal  injuries.  21,' — 35.         p.  133. 

CHAP.     XIX. 

Chrift  heals  the  fick,  1,  2.  His  doctrine 
about  divorce  and  marriage,  3, —  r2. 
Hie  bluffing  young  children,  13, — 15. 
His  difcourfe  with  a  rich  man  about 
the  way  to  eternal  life,  16, — 22.;  and 
with  the  difciples  on  that  occalion,  23, 
—3c.  p.  141. 

CHAP.     XX. 

The  parable  of  the  labourers  in  the  vine- 
yard, t, — 16.  Chrift's  prediction  of 
his  own  death  and  refurrection,  17, 
— 19.  The  petition  of  the  mother  of 
two  difciples,  and  Chrift's  anfwer  and 
difcourfe  upon  it,  20, — 2S.  And  his  cu- 
ring two  blind  men,  29, — 34.     p.  149. 

C  H  A  P.     XXI. 

Chrift's  public  entry  into  Jerufaletn,0f 

— 11.     His  driving  the  traders  out  of 

temple,    iz, — 16.      His  curfing 


the  barren  fig-tree,  17, — 22.  His  G.- 
lencing  the  Je-ivs,  by  an  appeal  to 
John's  baptifm,  23, — 27.  His  reproof 
to  them,  by  the  parable  of  two  fons, 
28, — 32.;  and  by  the  parable  of  the 
vineyard  let  out  to  hufbandmen,  33. 
—46.  p.  156. 

CHAP.     XXII. 

The  parable  of  the  marriage  of  the  king's 
fon,  1. — 14.  Chrift's  debates  with  his 
enemies  about  paying  tribute  to  Ccefar, 
15, — 22.;  about  the  refurrection,  23, — 
33. ;  about  the  greateft  commandment 
of  the  law,  34, — 40. ;  and  about  the 
Meffiah's  being  the  fon  of  David,  4T, 
— 46.  p.  166. 

CHAP.     XXIII. 

Chrift's  cautions  againft  the  pride  and 
hypocrify  ot  the  fcribes  and  Pharifees, 
1, — 12.  Denounces  feveral  woes  a- 
gainft  them,  1  3, — 33.  And  foretels 
the  deftruction  of  Jei >  ufalem,  34, — T,g. 

P-  *75« 

CHAP.     XXIV. 

Chrift  predicts  the  deftruction  of  Jeru- 
falem,  and  the  end  of  the  world,  1, — 
35.  And  the  unexpected  fuddennefs 
of  his  Coming  to  judgment,  36, — 41. 
And  gives  warning  to  us  to  watch, 
42,-51.       '  p.  184. 

CHAP.  XXV. 
A  continuation  of  Chrift's  difcourfe,  in 
the  parable  of  the  ten  virgins,  1, — 13. 
In  the  parable  of  the  talents,  14, — 30. 
And  in  a  defcription  of  the  laft  judg- 
ment, 31,-46.  p.  194.- 

CHAP.     XXVI. 

The  Jews  confpire  againft  Chrift,  1, — 5. 
A  woman  anoints  his  head,  6, — 13. 
Judas  fells  him,  14, — 16.  Chrift  eats 
his  laft  paffover  with  the  difciple3, 
17. — 25.  Inftitutes  his  fupper,  and 
foretels  his  difciples  forfaking,  and  Pe- 
ter's denying  him,  26,- — 35.  His  a- 
gony  in  the  garden,  36, — 46.  Judas 
betrays  him  into  the  hands  of  the  offi- 
cers, 47, — 56.  He  is  arraigned,  and 
condemned  in  the  high-prieft's  court, 
57, — 6S.  And  Peter  denies  him,  6$y 
—IS-  P-  204. 

CHAP.     XXVII. 

Chrift  delivered  to  Pilate,  1,  2.  JudasS 
defpair  and  death,  3, — 10.  Chrift's 
trial  before  Pilate,  1 1, — 14.  The  cla- 
mour of  the  people  againft  him,  15, — 
25.  His  being  fentenced  to  be  cruci- 
fied, and  the  execution  of  it,  26, — 44. 

Remark- 


The    C  ONTENTS. 


Remarkable  figns  attending  his  death, 
45, — 56.  His  burial,  and  his  fepulchre 
watched,  57, — 66.  p.  220. 

CHAP.     XXVIII. 

Chrift's  refurredlion,    i, — 8.      His    ap- 


pearance to  the  women,  9,  10.  The 
ridiculous  contrivance  of  the  Jews  to 
ftifle  the  belief  of  his  reiurrection,  11, 
— 15.  His  appearance  to  the  eleven, 
and  giving  them  their  commiffion,  16, 
— 20.  p.  236. 


THE 


CONTENTS    of    MARK. 


CHAP.     I. 

"jfOHN  the   BaptiJTs    office,     1,— 8. 

J  Chrift's  baptifm,  9, — 11.  His  temp- 
tation and  preaching,  12, — 15.  His 
calling  difciples,  16, — 20.  The  peo- 
ple's aftonifhment  at  his  doctrine,  21, 
22.  His  miracles,  in  curing  a  poffef- 
fed  man,  23, — 28.  ;  and  Peter's  mo- 
ther-in-law, with  all  that  came  to 
him,  29,-39. ;  and  a  lePer>  4°  —  45- 

p.  242. 


houfe,  21, — 34. 
daughter  from 


And  raifes  Jairu^s 

the  dead,    35—43. 

p.  270. 


CHAP.     II. 

Jefus  heals  one  lick  of  the  palfy,  1, — 12. 
Calls  Matthew  from  the  receipt  of  cu- 
ftem,  and  vindicates  his  own  conduct 
in  eating  with  publicans  and  fin- 
ners,  13, — 17.  Juftifies  his  difciples 
not  falling  for  the  prefent,  iS, — 22.; 
and  their  plucking  ears  of  com  on  the 
Sabbath-day,  23, — 28.  p.  250. 

CHAP.     III. 

Chrift  heals  a  withered  hand,  and  many 
other  difeafes,  1,— -11.  Chufes  twelve 
apoftles,  13, — 21.  His  anlwer  to  the 
blafphemous  cavils  of  the  fcribes, 
22, — 30.  And  preferring  his  difciples 
to    his    neareft     relations,     31, — 35. 

p.  256. 

CHAP.     IV. 

The  parable  of  the  fower,  1, — 9.  .  Its 
explication,  10, — 20.  Its  application, 
21, — 25.  The  parable  of  the  corn 
which  grows  infenfibly,  26, — 29.  The 
parable  of  the  grain  of  muftard-feed, 
with  a  general  account  of  Chrift's  pa- 
rables, 30, — 34.  His  laying  a  ftorm 
at  fea,  35, — 41.  p.  262. 

CHAP    V. 

Chrift  cafts  out  a  legion  of  devils,  and 
fuffers  them  to  enter  into  the  fwine, 
1, — 20.  He  heals  a  woman  of  the 
bloody.flux,    in  his  way  to  Jaina's 


CHAP.     VI. 

Jefus  being  contemned  by  his  own  coun- 
trymen for  the  meannefs  of  his  parent- 
age, works  but  few  miracles  among 
them,  1, — 6.  He  fends  forth  twelve 
apoftles,  7, — 13.  The  opinion  of  He- 
rod and  others  concerning  him, 
14, —  1 6.  The  occafion  and  manner 
of  'John  the  BaptiJTs  death,  17, — 29. 
The  apoftles  return  to  Jefus,  and  give 
an  account  of  the  fuccefs  of  their  mi- 
niftry,  30, — 34.  He  feeds  five  thou- 
fand  with  five  loaves  and  two  fifhes, 
35,-44.  Walks  on  the  fea,  45,— 52. 
And  heals  all  that  touch  him,  53, — 56. 

p.  27S. 

CHAP.     VII. 

The  Pharifees  find  fault  with  Chrift's 
difciples  for  eating  with  unwafhen 
hands,  1, — 5.  He  reproves  their  hy- 
pocrify,  z.nd  ftates  the  true  notion  of 
what  does,  and  does  not  defile  a  man, 
6, — 23.  He  cafts  out  an  unclean  fpi- 
rit  from  the  daughter  of  a  Syrophe/ii- 
cian  woman,  24, — 30.  And  heals  a 
deaf  and  dumb  man,  31, — 37.  p.  28S. 

CHAP.  VIII. 
Jefus  miraculoufly  feeds  four  thoufand 
with  feven  loaves,  1, — 9.  Refufes  to 
give  a  fign  from  heaven  to  the  Phari- 
fees, 10, — 13.  Cautions  his  difciples 
againft  the  leaven  of  the  Pharifees 
and  of  Herod.  14, — 21.  Refiores 
fight  to  a  blind  man,  22, — 26.  Afks 
his  difciples  what  they  and  others 
thought  of  him,  and  foretels  his  fuffer- 
ings,  27, — ^.  And  exhorts  to  an  ac- 
knowledgment of  him  and  his  gofpel, 
under  perfections  for  his  fake,  34, — 
38.  p.  295. 

CHAP. 


Thi    CONTENTS. 


CHAP.  IX. 
*..»:ft*s  transfiguration,  i, — 10.  His 
difcourfe  about,  the  coming  of  Elias, 
it, — 13'  He  cafts  out  an  evil  fpirit, 
which  his  difciples  could  not  do  for 
want  of  faith,  14, — 29.  Foretels  h's 
death  and  refurreclion,  30, — 32.  Ex- 
horts his  difciples  to  humility,  33, — 37. 
Forbids  to  prevent  their  acting  for 
him,  who  were  not  againft  him,  and 
cautions  againft  offending  any  that  be- 
lieve in  him,  38, — 50.  p.  305. 

CHAP.     X. 

Chrift's  difcourfe  about  divorces,  1, — 1  %. 
He  bleiTes  young  children,  and  re- 
proves thofe  that  would  have  prevent- 
ed their  being  brought  to  him, 
x3» — f6-  Difcourfes  with  a  rich  young 
scan  about  the  way  of  obtaining  eter- 
nal life,  17,-22.  Cautions  his  dif- 
ciples againft  the  temptatio*  of  rich- 
cs>  23, — 27.  Shews  them  the  advan- 
tage of  fuffetings  for  the  gofpel's  fake, 
-s. — 3r-  Foretels  his  own  death 
and  vefurreclion,  32,-34.  Reproves 
James  and  Jchn  for  their  ambition, 
3  5» — 45-  And  cures  blind  Bartimeus, 
46»— 52-  p.  313. 

CHAP.     XI. 

Chrift  rides  in  triumph  to  Jerufalem, 
1, — n.  Curfes  the  barren  fig-tree, 
xi, — 14.  Turns  the  traders  out  of  the 
temple,  15,-18.  Exhorts  to  faith 
and  a  forgiving  temper,  as  neceflary 
to  acceptable  prayer,  1 9, — 26.  And 
fllences  the  Jews  by  a  queftion  about 
John's  baptifm,  27,-33.  P-  324- 

CHAP.    XII. 

Clirift  foretelT1  the  rejection  of  the 
Jews,  and  the  calling  of  the  Gentiles, 
in  the  parable  of  the  vineyard  let  out 
to  unfaithful  hufbandmen,  1, — 12. 
Anfwers  the  Pharifees  and  Herodians 
about  paying  tribute  to  Caefar,  13, 
— 17.  ;  and  the  Sadducees  about 
the  refurreftion,  18, — 27.;  and  the 
Jrribes  about  the  chief  command 
of  the  law,  28,-34.  Confounds  all 
:he  fcribes  with  a  queftion  about  his 


being  David's  Son  and  Lord,  3V~37- 
Warns  his  difciples  againft  pride  and 
hypocrify,  38, — 40.  And  commends 
the  poor  widow  for  her  two  mites, 
4r r~ 44-  p.  33°- 

CHAP.     XIII. 

Chrift  foretels  the  deftru&ion  of  the  tem- 
ple, together  with  Jerufalem,  as  a  fi- 
gure of  the  final  judgment,  warning- 
all  men  to  be  watchful,  left  they  be 
furprifed  unawares  to  their  utter  ruin, 
by  judgments  relating  to  this  world, 
and  that  which  is  to  come,    1, — 37. 

P-3^9- 

CHAP.     XIV. 

The  confpiracy  of  the  chief  priefts  and 
fcribes  againft  Chrift,  1,  2.  A  wo- 
man anoints  his  head  before  his  death, 
3, — 9.  Judash  contract  to  betray 
him,  10,  11.  He  eats  the  paftbver, 
and  inftitutes  the  Lord's  {upper,  12, 
— 25.  Foretels  Peter's  denying  him, 
26, — 31.  Chrift's  agony  in  the  gar- 
den, 32, — 42.  He  is  betrayed  and 
apprehended,  43, — 52,  Is  tried,  con- 
demned, and  abufed,  53, — 65.  Pe- 
ter denies  him  and  repents,    66, — 72. 

P-  347- 

CHAP.     XV. 

Chrift  is  brought  before  Pilate,  1, — 14. 
Is  delivered  to  be  crucified,  and  there- 
upon mocked  and  abufed  by  the  fol- 
diers.  15, — 2i.  Is  crucified  and  de- 
rided by  the  Jews,  22, — 32.  Several 
prodigies  attend  his  death,  33, — 38. 
The  centurion  and  others  are  witnef- 
fes  of  it,  2>9, — 41.  And  Jofeph  of  A- 
rimathea  gives  him  an  honourable  bu- 
rial, 42,-47.  p.  360. 

CHAP.     XVI. 

An  angel  tells  three  women  of  the  re- 
furreclion  of  Chrift,  i,> — 8.  Jefus 
himfeif  appears  to  Mary  Magdalene, 
9, — 11.;  to  two  of  his  difciples,  12, 
13.,  and  then  to  the  the  apoftlcs  all 
together,  14.;  He  fends  them  forth  to 
preach  the  gofpel,  15, — iS.  ;  and  a- 
lcends  into  heaven,  19,  20.         p.  36S. 


AN 


Chap.  i. 


7  And  they  had 
no  child,  beeaufe 
that  Elifabeth  was 
barren  ;  and  they 
both  were  now 
well  ftricken  in 
years. 

S  And  it  came 
to  pals,  that  while 
he  executed  the 
prieil's office  before 
God,  in  the  order 
of  his  courfe, 

9  According  to 
the  cuftorn  of  the 
prieft's  office,  his 
lot  was  to  burn  in- 
cenfe  when  he  went 
into  the  temple  of 
the  Lord. 

10  And  the 
whole  multitude  cf 
the  people  were 
praying  without, 
at  the  time  of  in- 
cenfe. 

1 1  And  there 
appeared  unto  him 
an  angel  of  the 
Lord,  /landing  on 
the  right  fide  of 
the  altar  of  in- 
cenfe. 

1 1  And  when 
Zacharias  faw/./ it/i, 
he  was  troubled, 
and  fear  fell  upon 
him. 


13  But  the  an- 
et-1  faid  unto  him, 
Fear  not,    Zacha- 
lias:  for  thy  play- 
er 


Luke  paraphrafed.  3 

being  ftri&  observers  of  all  natural  duties  of  piety  and 
morality,  and  of  all  pofitive  inftitutions,  in  their  be- 
haviour toward  God  and  man  ;  fo  that  they  allowed 
themlelves  in  no  known  fin,  and  none  could  charge 
them  tvfth  any  remarkable  defects. 

7  And  though  they  were  perfons  of  fuch  excellent 
characters,  they  had  been  denied  the  blefling  of  chil- 
dren :  For  Elifabeth  had  been  barren,  like  Sarah 
the  wife  of  Abrahamy  ail  the  days  of  her  youth  ;  and 
now  both  the  huiband  and  wife  were  fo  far  advanced 
in  years,  as  to  be  pail  hope  of  having  any  child  in 
the  common  courfe  of  nature. 

8,  9  But,  (iccct)  to  mew  how  good  God  is  to  them 
that  wait  upon  him,  and  to  awaken  a  peculiar  atten- 
tion to  one  extraordinary  birth,  which  was  defigned 
to  lead  the  way  to  another  ftill  more  miraculous  , 
while  Zacharias,  according  to  the  courfe  of  his  fa- 
mily, was  difcharging  the  prieftly  office  in  the  fanc- 
tuary,  that  part  of  the  fervice,  which  fell  to  his  fharc 
in  the  ufual  way  of  determining  it  by  lot,  was  to  burn 
incenfe  in  the  holy  place  : 

I  o  And  all  the  people  at  the  fame  time  flood  with- 
out *,  filently  offering  up  their  prayers,  that  they 
might  afcend  with  the  fmoke  of  the  incenfe,  which 
was  typical  of  the  interceffion  of  Chrift. 

I I  At  this  very  time  he  faw  an  angel  of  God, 
appearing  in  an  illuftrious  form,  and  in  a  Handing- 
poilure,  on  the  north-iide  of  the  altar  of  incenfe, 
which  was  called  the  right  fide  of  the  houfe,  (E<zek* 
x.  3.)  and  was  on  the  prieft's  right  hand,  as  he  Hood 
miniftring  with  his  face  toward  the  weft -jv  where 
was  the  holy  of  holies. 

12  And  as  foon  as  Zacharias  had  this  glorious 
fight,  the  extraordinary  appearance,  and  the  weak- 
nefs  of  human  nature,  together  with  a  confeioufnefs 
of  his  own  guilt  and  unworthinefs,  llruck  him  at 
firft  with  terror,  as  fuch  viiions  are  apt  to  do  the  ho- 
lieft  men  upon  earth,  while  they  know  not  what  may 
be  their  meaning. 

1 3  But  the  angel  accoited  him  in  a  friendly  man- 
ner, to  compofe  his  mind,  and  encourage  his  atten- 
tion, and  his  hope,  faying,  Zacharias,  let  no  fear* 
diftracl:  or  diftrefs  your  heart,    as  if  I  were  come  to 

hurt 
NOTES. 


*  There  fcems  tobe  an  allufionto  this  reprefented,    as    Handing    between   the 

cufiom,  in  Rev.  viii.  I, — 4.  porch  and  the  altar,  with  their  backs  to- 

f    The  entrance  into  the  temple  was  ward  the  temple,  and  their  faces  toward 

at  the  caft  end  ;  and  they  who  went  in  the  eajl,  andworfiippinvthe  funtowara 

to  Officiate  and  pray  toward  the  holyora-  the  eafl,   Ezek.  viii.   I<J.     Vid.  Se'.d.  dt 

:1c,  had  their  faces  toward  the  weft.    On  Synedr. 

.ntr*iv,  idolatv)Li3  ;vor(hipuer^  were 


lih,  iii.  tap.  xvi.  feci,  1, 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  i. 


fon,  and  thou  ihalt 
sail  his  name  John. 


14     And     thou 


his  birth. 


er  is  heard;  and  hurt  you,  or  to  be  a  meffenger  of  evil  tidings,  while 
thy  wife  Ehfabeth  yQU  are  mmjftr{ng  before  the  Lord,  and  I  appear  in 
his  houfe. «  My  errand  is  of  the  joyful  kind  :  For 
God  has  accepted  and  anfwered  your  prayers,  for 
all  Ifrae/,  relating  to  the  coming  of  the  Meffiah,  who 
will  quickly  appear  ;  and  he  has  heard  {he  petitions 
which  you  have  often  put  up  for  yourfelf ;  in  fo  much 
that  Elifabeth  your  wife  mall  conceive  and  bring 
forth  a  ion  to  you,  who  mail  call  his  name  John  *. 

14  And  the  birth  of  this  child  mail  be  matter  of 
*«\A  fVC  JT  an  great  j°y  to  you  anc*  yours,  not  barely  becaufe  he  is 
ny  Jhallreioice  at   given  in  your  old  age,  beyond  all  expectation,  after 

you  had  been  fo  many  years  childlefs  ;  but  principal- 
ly on  account  of  his  extraordinary  qualifications, 
work,  and  character ;  and  this  (hall  be  the  caufe  of 
great  gladnefs  to  many  others,  who  (hall  reap  its 
happy  confequences. 

1 5  For  though  he  will  not  be  great  in  the  world's 
account,  with  refpecl:  to  parentage,  titles  of  honour, 
external  appearances,  or  manner  of  life  ;  yet  he  mall 
be  a  truly  great  man,  and  highly  honoured  of  God  ; 

and  great  in  his  contempt  of  this  world,  in  his  office  and 
I  endowments,  and  in  his  faithfulnefs,  ufefulnefs,  and 
labours  :  And,  like  a  Nazarite,  entirely  devoted  to 
the  Lord  and  to  his  fervice,  he  fhall  drink  no  fpiri- 
tuous  liquors,  but  lead  an  abftemious  life  ;  yea,  he 
fhall  be  early  filled  with  fuch  influences  from  the  Ho- 
ly Ghoft,  that  an  extraordinary  imprefiion  fhall  caufe 
him  to  leap,  even  in  his  mother's  womb,  at  the  ti- 
dings of  the  Saviour  ;  (ver.  41, — 44.)  and,  from  his 
childhood  up,  holinefs  and  purity  of  life,  and  remark- 
able gifts  and  graces  of  the  Spirit,  fhall  appear  in  him. 

16  He  fhall  likewife,  by  his  dodtrine  and  exam- 
ple, be  an  happy  inftrument,  in  the  hand  of  the  Spi- 
rit, for  turning  many  from  their  iniquities,  and  from 
their  falfe  opinions  and  .dependences,  to  the  Meffiah, 
that  they  may  believe  in  him,  who  is  the  Lord  their 
God. 

1 7  And  in  order  hereunto,  he  fhall  be  f  the  Mef- 

fiah's 

NOTES. 
*  John  fignifies  the  grace,   or  gift  of  prayer  which  he,  as  the  reprefentative  of 


15  For  he  fhall 
be  great  in  the 
fight  of  the  Lord, 
and  fhall  drink  nei- 
ther wine 
fbrong  drink 
he  fhall  be 
with  the 
Ghoft,    even 


nor 


Holy 
from 


his  mother's  womb. 


\6  And  many 
of  the  children  of 
Ifrael  fhall  he  turn 
to  the  Lord  their 
God. 


17  And  he  fhall 


God.  And  as  fignincative  names  were 
ufually  given  to  children,  the  angel's  or- 
dering this  to  be  put  upon  the  child 
might  intimate,  that  he  was  given  as  a 
gracious  anfwer  of  prayer  ;  and  that  his 
character  mould  correspond  to  his  name, 
as  he  fliould  be  highly  in  favour  with 


the  people,  was  probably  putting  up,  at 
this  very  time,  in  the  temple,  for  the  ap- 
pearing of  the  Meffiah,  would  be  remark- 
ably anfwered  in  this  birth  of  his  fore- 
runner. 

f  The  only  antecedent  to  the  relative 
him,  is,  the  Lord  their  God.     And  who 


God,  and  endued  with  an  abundance  of   was  the  Lord  God  of  Ifrael,  before  whom 


grace ;  and  as  he  fhould  open  the  way  to 
the  mod  glorious  difpenfation  of  grace  in 
the  Meffiah's  kingdom  :  And  fo  Z.acha- 
rias's  former  prayers  for  a  child,  and  the 


John  went,  but  the  Lord  Chrift  ?  He  was 
the  forerunner,  not  of  God  the  Father, 
but  of  Chrift  ?  of  whom  John  faid,  He 
that  cometh  after  mc  is  preferred  be- 
fore 


Chap.  i. 


go  before  him  in 
the  fpirit  and  pow- 
er of  Elias,  to  turn 
the  hearts  of  the 
fathers  to  the  chil- 
dren, and  the  dif- 
obedient  to  the  wif- 
dom  of  the  juft,  to 
make  ready  a  peo- 
ple prepared  for 
the   Lord. 


iS  And  Zacha- 
rias  faid  unto  the 
angel,  Whereby 
fhall  I  know  this  ? 


for  I 
man, 
well 

ye^rs. 


am  an  old 
and  my  wife 
ftricken     in 


Luke  paraphrafed.  5 

fiah's  forerunner ;  appearing  juft  like  Elijah  the 
Tifhhite,  in  his  office-qualifications  ;  in  his  garb  and 
feverity  of  manners ;  in  his  living  much  in  the  wilder- 
nefs,  and  having  heaven  opened  to  him  near  Jordan  ; 
in  his  authority  and  faithfulnefs,  zeal,  fervour,  and 
fuccefs  ;  in  the  persecutions  that  he  fhall" buffer  for 
his  integrity  ;  and  in  his  being  Riled  with  a  divine 
fpirit  and  power,  as  Elijah  was  in  the  worft  of  times, 
to  bring  about  a  reconciliation  of  young  and  old  *, 
and  of  Jews  and  Gentiles,  to  one  another,  and  to 
the  Lord  ;  fo  that  the  moll  ftubborn  and  rebellious 
mall  be  made  wife  to  falvation,  which  is  the  truefc 
wifdom,  and  is  found  in  thofe  only  that  are  righte- 
ous before  God.  In  a  word,  he  fhall  be  inilrumental 
in  making  a  people  ready  to  receive  the  Lord,  the 
Meffiah,  for  whom  they  have  been  prepared  in  eter- 
nal counfels  ;  and  for  whofe  coming  John's  miniflry 
mail  have  prepared  them,  by  convincing  them  of  fin, 
and  of  their  need  of  fuch  a  Saviour,  by  removing 
their  prejudices  againft  him,  by  raifmg  their  expec- 
tations of  him,  and  at  lafl  by  fhewing  him  to  Ifrael. 

18  Then  Zacharias,  in  the  unbelieving  workinqs 
of  his  own  heart,  afked  the  angel,  By  what  token 
mail  I  be  fatisfied  that  the  great  and  unlikely  thing 
you  fpeak  of  (hall  certainly  come  to  pafs  ?  For  it  ap- 
pears altogether  incredible  to  me,  becaufe  my  wife 
has  not  only  been  barren  all  her  days  hitherto,  but 
both  (he  and  I  are  now  fo  very  old,  that,  according 
to  the  courfe  of  nature,  it  is  impoffible  for  us  to  have 
a  child. 

19  The  angel  replied,  Do  you  quelb'on  the  truth 
of  this,  and  want  a  lign  to  prove  it  ?  My  appearing 
to  you  in  this  manner,  and  in  this  holy  place,  is 
fufheient  to  confirm  it  :  For  I  am  Gabriel,  a  chief  a- 
mong  the  holy  angels,  who  (land  continually  in  the 
prefence  of  God  to  receive  and  execute  his  orders  ; 
as  I  was  difpatched  with  a  gracious  meffage  to  Daniel, 

con- 
NOTES. 

tiles  are  fpoken  of  as  children  to  the 
Jewijh  church,  particularly  in  Jfa.  liv. 
5,  6,  £3.  &  1::.  .j,  5,  0.  &  lxiL  5.  &-  I\v;. 
12.  Accordingly  Gentile  publicans  and 
fcldiers,  as  well  as  jews,  came  to  John'* 
baptifm,  chap.  iii.  12,  14. — And  as  v«- 
1><ry.iuaau'\"  v,  prepared,  is  a  participle  on 
the  preter  tenfe,  ii  may  at  ieaft  as  w<  11 
refer  to  what  God  had  done,  as  to  what 
John  fhoutd  do,  in  preparing  a  people  for 
Ghrift;  and,  taking  Kugiu  for  the  the  3- 
blative  cafe,  the  fenfe  will  be,  a  people 
prepared,  by  the.  Lord.  I  have  thei 
included  all  thek-  fenfea  in  the  para- 
pbrafe. 


19  And  the  an- 
gel anfwering  faid 
unto  him,  I  am 
Gabriel  that  Hand 
in  the  prefence  of 
God  ;  and  am  fent 
to  fpeak  unto  thee, 
and 


fore  vie,  for  he  was  before  me ;  and  I 
Am  /he  voice  of  one  crying  in  the  wil- 
e'ernefs,.  Make  Jlraight  the  tvay  of  the 
Lord,  John  i.  15,  23.  He  was  fent  to 
prepare  Chriffs  way  before  him,  and 
that  Elias  who  fliould  go  before 
Me  (hah,    as   our  Lord  himfelf  has 


Mat.    xi.     13, 
See  the  note 


14.     and 
on  Mat. 


was 
the 

explained  it, 
xvii.    10, — 13. 
xi.  10. 

may  be  rendered,  to  turn  the  hearts  oj 
the  fathers  with  the  children:  And  Dr. 
Lightfoot  obferves,  that,  in  the  writings 
of  the  prophets,  the  church  of  the  Gcn- 

Voi..  II.  C 


The  Evangelifi 


Chap.  i. 


and  to  fiiew  thee   concerning  the  Mefliah,    about  the  time  of  the  even- 
thefe  glad  tidings.     jng  0blation;  (Dan.  ix.  21.)   fo  I  am  now  fent,   by 
God's  fpecial  command,  to  bring  thefe  joyful  tidings 
to  you. 
so  And  behold,        20    And  fince  you  require  a  further  fign  to  affure 
thou  fhalt  be  dumb,   yOU  Qf  the  truth  of  what  I  fay,  you  fhall  have  a  very 
rlk^until^the   awfulone>    which  fhall  be  a  juilpunifhment  of  your 
day     that     thefe   prefent  unbelief,    and  a  prefage  of  God's  filencing 
things  fhall  be  per-   the  Levitical  priefthood,    as  well  as  a  merciful  fup- 
formed,      becaufe    p0rt  and  confirmation  of  your  future  faith  :    Behold, 
:   you  (hall  inftantly  be  ftruck  dumb,    and  from  this 
time  forward  not  be  able  to  open  your  mouth  more, 
till  the  child  I  fpeak  of  fhall  be  born  ;    becaufe  you 
diftrufted  the  power  and  goodnefs  of  God,    as  if  he 
could  not,    or  would  not,    perform  this  his  promife 
by  me,  which,  in  due  time,  (hall  certainly  be  accom- 
plished. 

2 1  While  thefe  things  detained  Zacharias  longer 
than  ordinary,  the  people  continued  waiting  at  the 
door  for  his  return,  to  difmifs  them  with  the  blefling, 
as  ufual,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  ;  and  they  were 
furprifed  to  find  that  he  fpent  fo  much  time  in  the 
temple. 

22  At  length  he  came  out  ;  and  they  perceiving 
that  he  was  not  able  to  pronounce  the  blefling  upon 
them,  thought  fomething  extraordinary  had  hap- 
pened, and  foon  underftood  that  he  had  feen  a  vifion 
whilft  he  was  in  the  holy  place  ;    for  he  intimated 

1     k^  ^    ^is  by  making  fome  awful  figns,    he  continuing  to 


my  words,  which 
fhall  be  fulfilled  in 
their  feafon. 


;  I  And  the  peo- 
jjle  waited  for  Za- 
charias, and  mar- 
velled that  he  tar- 
ried fo  Jong  in  the 
temple. 


z%  And  when 
he  came  out,  he 
could  not  fpeak  un- 
to them:  and  they 
perceived  that  he 
had  feen  a  vifion 
in  the 
for     he 


unto  them,  and 
remained  fpeech- 
lefs. 

23  And  it  came 
to  pafs,  that,  as  foon 
as  the  days  of  .his 
miniftration  were 
accomplifhed,  he 
departed  to  his 
own  ho ufe. 

24  And  after 
thofe  days,  his 
wifeElifabeth  con- 
ceived,     and    hid 


be  both  deaf  and  dumb  *. 

23  Now  when  he  had  ftaid  out  the  days  of  his  mi- 
niftration for  offering  incenfe,  (which,  notwithftand- 
ing  his  being  deaf  and  dumb,  he  could  eafily  go  on 
with)  according  to  the  order  of  his  courfe,  he  return- 
ed to  his  own  family  in  the  country. 

24,  25  And  foon  afterwards  his  wife  Elifabeth  con- 
ceived, according  to  the  promife  ;  who,  finding  her- 
felf  to  be  with  child,  retired  from  company  for  five 
months,  that  fhe  might  avoid  the  danger  of  contract- 
ing ceremonial  uncleannefs,  while  me  was  breeding  a 
Naxarite  ;  (ver.  15.)   and  that  fhe  might  not  feem 


«l,™i     o,,u    ""»   iva%ame ;  ^ver.  15. )   ana  mat  ine  mignt  not  leeia 
herfetf  five  months,   tQ  boaft  of  the  ygh  honour  God  had  done  her,    nor 

2-  'Thus  hath  be  troubled  with  the  difcoiyrfe  and  remarks  of  people 
the  Lord  dealt  with  about  it  ;  but  principally  that  fhe  might  have  the  bet- 
me  in  the  days  ter  opportunity  for  daily  rejoicing  in  her  own*  foul, 
;in  he  k^ked  and  blefling  God  for  his  wonderful  favour,  in  looking 
with  fuch  unexpected  mercy  upon  her,  to  take  away 

the 
NOTE. 
Kupor  ftgnifies  devf,  as  well  as  dumb  :    And  it  feems  plain  that  he  was  as  unable 
to  hear,  as  he  was  to  fpeak ;   for  his  friends  were  forced  to  make  iigns  to  him,  that 
he  might  underftand  them,  ver.  62. 


on  me, 


way 


Chap.  i. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


way  my  reproach 
among  men. 


the  reproach  of  barrennefs,  even  in  her  old  age,  and 
to  give  her  fuch  an  extraordinary  fon  as  ihould  be  the 
forerunner  of  the  Mefnah  himielf. 

26,  27  Then  in  the  fixth  month  after  fhe  had  con- 
ceived, the  angel  Gabriel,  who  had  appeared  and 
carried  good  tidings  to  Zacbarias  in  the  temple,  (ver. 
19.)  was  again  fent  from  God  to  a  city  of  the  Lower 
Galilee  f,  called  Nazareth,  to  a  certain  pure  virgin 
there,  whofe  name  was  Mary,  and  who  was  con- 
tracted ||  to  one  Jojeph  a  carpenter,  he,  as  well  as 
(he,  being  lineally  descended  from  the  rcyal  family  of 
David  *,  which  at  this  time  was  reduced  to  a  very 
low  Hate  in  Ifrael. 

28  And  the  angel  of  the  Lord,  appearing  to  the 
virgin  in  a  glorious  form,  faluted  her  in  a  fet  of 
friendly  and  admiring  compellations  %,  faying,  Ail 
her,  and  laid,  Hail,  joy  and  peace,  happinefs  and  fafety,  be  unto  thee  ! 
thou  that  art  high-  qq^  }ias  Qrracioufly  accepted  thee,  and  will  beftow  a 
peculiar  honour  upon  thee  ;  the  .Lord  is  eipecially 
prefent  with  thee,  to  do  a  great  and  wonderful  thing 
in  and  by  thee ;  and  thou  fhait  be  accounted,  through 
all  generations,  the  happiefl  of  women  that  ever  lived 
upon  earth. 

29 ,  At  this  extraordinary  appearance  and  faluta- 
tion  of  the  angel,  Mary  was  much  amazed,  and  per- 
plexed in  fpirit,  being  at  a  lofs  to  know  whether  fhe 
were  not  under  fome  deluiion ;  or,  if  not,  what  might 
be  the  particular  bleffednefs  referred  to,  in  fuch  a  ge- 
neral pompous  way  of  expreffing  it. 

30     But  while  fhe  was  thus  muling,   with  humble 

confufion  in  her  own  mind,   the  angel,    to  compolef 

C   2  en- 

NOTES. 

-  The   Pharifees  pretended   that  no    here  is  a  tranfpofition  of  the  words,  as  is 


26  And,  in  the 
fixth  month,  the 
angel  Gabriel  was 
lent  from  God,  un- 
to a  city  of  Gali- 
lee, named  Naza- 
reth, 

27  To  a  virgin 
efpoufed  to  a  man 
whofe  name  was 
Jofeph,  of  the 
houfe  of  David  ; 
and  the  virgin's 
name  was  Mary. 

2S  And  the  an- 
gel came   in  unto 


ly  favoured,  the 
Lord  is  with  thee : 
bleffed  art  thou 
among  women. 


29  And  when 
fhe  faw  him,  fhe 
was  troubled  at 
his  faying,  and  caft 
in  her  mind  what 
manner  of  faluta- 
tion  this  fhould  be. 

30  And  the  an- 
gel faid  unto  her, 

Fear 


prophet  arofj  out  of  Galilee,  John  vii, 
52.  But  Dr.  Lightfoot  obferves,  that 
the  prophet  Jonah  was  of  Galilee,  and 
.that  the  prophets  Elijah  and  Elijlja  were 
very  converfant  there. 

||  It  was  cuftomary  among  the  Jews, 
for  perfons  that  married,  to  enter  into 
mutual  contract,  in  the  pretence  of  vvit- 
nefles,  fome  time  before  they  came  to- 
gether ;  and  as  Chrift  was  to  be  born  of 
a  pure  virgin,  fo  the  wifdom  of  God  or- 
dered it  to  be  of  one  efpoiifed,  that,  for 
the  honour  of  marriage,  and  preventing 
reproach,  he  might  have  a  legal,  though 
not  a  natural  father,  according  to  the 
flefh. 

*  As  Chrift  was  to  be  of  the  feed  of 
David;  fo  both  Jofeph  and  JVLary  were 
of  the  houfe  of  David:  But  as  Mary's 
being  of  that  family  was  the  mod  direct 
proof  that  Chrift  really  was  of  the  feed 
of  David,  fome  critics  have  oblerved  that 


ttfual  in  many  other  cafes ;  and  that  they 
might  be  rendered  thus,  a  virgin  of  the 
houfe  cf  David,  cfpov.fsd  to  a  man  nvhoj? 
name  =was  Jofeph  ;  or  the  words  after,  a 
virgin  may  be  read  in  a  parenthefis,  and  fo 
the  connection  of  the  reft  lies  cafy  and 
plain,  a  virgin  of  the  houfe  of  David. 

I  Hail  is  the  fulutation  ufed  by  oui 
Lord  to  the  women  after  hisrefurrection  : 
(dipt,  xxviii.  0.)  cIhou  art  highly  j a- 
voitred,  or  haft  found  favour  with 
ver.  30.  is  no  more  than  was  faid  oi 
Noah,  Mofes,  David,  and  the  people  of 
Ifrael :  The  Lord  is  nvith  thee,  was  laid 
to  Gideon:  (Judg.  vi.  12.)  And,  bleffed 
fhall  /he  he  above  women,  was  faid  01 
Jacl.  (Judg.  v.  24.)  There  is,  there- 
fore, no  room  for  the  Popifh  pretence  01 
adoration  of  the  Virgin  ii\  this  lalutatior,, 
which  has  no  appearance  of  a  prayer.  DV 
of  worfhin  offered  to  her. 


Fear  not,  Mary  : 
for  thou  haft  found 
favour  with  God. 


ji  And  behold, 
thou  fhalt  conceive 
id  thy  womb,  and 
bring  forth  a  fon, 
and  fhalt  call  his 
name  Jcfos. 


-2    lie  fhall  be 


8  The  Evangelift  Chap.  i. 

encourage,  and  fatisfy  her,  proceeded  in  his  meflage, 
faying,  Mary,  be  not  furprifed,  or  afraid,  at  what  you 
have  feen  and  heard  ;  for  you  are  in  high  favour  with 
God,  who  defigns  to  honour  you  above  all  women. 

3 1  And  obfervc,  Thou  art  the  virgin  prophefied 
of,  (If a.  vii.  14.)  J  who,  continuing  fo  to  be,  fhalt 
conceive  in  thy  womb,  and  in  due  time  be  delivered 
of,  a  Son  ;  and  fhalt  call  his  name  J  ejus,  to  intimate 
that  he  fhall  be  a  much  more  eminent  Saviour  than 
Jojhua  of  old,  or  any  other  of  Ifrael's  deliverers, 
who  were  types  of  him. 

3  2    He  fhall  be  of  matchlefs  dignity  and  glory,  in 

STfiaj  aud  ?ail  H  nis  perfon  and  office,  qualifications  and  performances, 

called  the   Son  ot  1  •       1                            r  ^     1               1             1                 *■*' 

the  Hio-heft :    and  and  m  the  account  ot  God,   angels,    and  men  :  He 

tfie     Lord      God  fhall  be  juftly  called  the  Son   of  the  Moil  High,    as 

fhall  give  unto  him  partaker  of  the  fame  nature  with  his  heavenly  Father  ; 

fatLrDIvidf  ^  andGodhimfelfwillfethimuP>  as  Meffiah  the  King, 
in  his  holy  hill  of  Sion,  which  was  typified  by  Da- 
vid's throne,  that  all  the  magnificent  things  of  his 
kingdom  may,  in  a  high  and  fpiritual  fenfe,  be  fulfilled 
in  that  which  fhall  be  erected  by  this  defcendant  from 
him. 
33  And  he  fliall        33   And  as  the  Idumeans  and  other  nations,   that 

reign  over  the  were  brought  under  David's  dominion,  and  incorpo- 
rated with  the  people  of  Ifrael,  were  reckoned  to 
his  kingdom  ;  fo  all  God's  peculiar  people  among  t 
Gentiles,  as  well  as  Jews,  that  fhall  be  brought  to 
the  obedience  of  faith,  and  ingrafted  into  the  church 
of  Ifrael,  fhall  be  reckoned  to  the  kingdom  of  the 
Meffiah,  in  which  he  fliall  reign  over  them  for  ever  : 
His  kingdom  fhall  not  be  temporal,  and  fubjeel:  to  a 
diffolution,  as  David's  was,  and  as  all  earthly  domi- 
nions are  ;  but  it  fhall  continue  immoveable  through 
all  generations,  in  that  peculiar  form  of  adminiflration 
which  he  fliall  fet  up,  in  this  world,  and  fliall  abide 
in  a  itill  more  glorious  form  to  all  eternity  in  the  next. 
34  Then  Mary  replied  to  the  angel,  not  in  a  way 
of  diffidence  -\,  as  Zach arias  had  done  about  the 
birth  of  his  fon  John,  but  in  a  way  of  model!:,  hum- 
ble admiration  and  inquiry,  for  further  inil.rucf.ion, 
By  what  means,  or  by  what  wonderful  adf.  of  God's 
power,  fliall  this  be  brought  to  pafs,  fince  I  am  real- 


houfe  of  Jacob  for 
ever,  and  of  his 
kingdom  there 
fhall   be   no   er.d. 


'i  hen  faitl 
v  unto  the  an- 
How  fliall  this 

be,    feeing  1  know 

not  a  man?  . 


Iy  a  virgin 


.hide 


35    In 

Gentiles    as   well   as 


NOTES. 

;   It  is  evident  by  her  anfwer,  verfe  34.  was    to 

I  (lie  underftood  the  angel  to  mean,  Jews. 

I  bat  fhe  fliould  conceive  this  Son   wliiie        f  There  does  not  appear  to  have  been 

llie  continued  a  virgin.  any  finful  temper  of  mind  in  this  inquiry; 

*  The  term  Jacib  being  here  ufed  in-  for  the  Virgin  neither  alked  a  lign   to 

(lead  of  Ifrael,  and  the  reign  of  Jacob  confirm  what  the  angel  had  faid,  nor  did 

aid  to  be  for  ever  under  the  go'pel-  he  give  her  any  rebuke,    as  we  find  in 

that  Chrift's  kingdom  Zacbarias'svzfe,  yer.  iS. 


Chap.  i. 

35  And  the  an- 
gel anfwered  and 
laid  unto  her,  The 
Holy  Gh;»ft  fhall 
come  upon  thee, 
and  the  power  of 
the  Higheft  fhall 
overfhadow  thee  : 
therefore  alfo  that 
holy  thing  which 
fhall  be  born  of 
thee,  fhall  be  cailed 
the  Son  of  God. 


36  And  behold, 
thy  coufin  Elifa- 
beth, Che  hath  alfo 
conceived  a  for:  in 
her  old  age  :  and 
this  is  the  fixth 
month  with,  her, 
who  was  called 
barren. 


37  For  with 
God  nothing  fhall 
be  impoffible. 


38  And  Mary 
faid,  Behold  the 
handmaid  of  the 
Lord  ;  be  it  unto 
me  according  to 
thy  word.  And 
the 


t  The  power  of  God  was  put  forth  by 
the  Holy  Ghoft,  as  the  immediate  divine 
Agent  in  this  work  ;  and' fo  he  exerted 
the  power  of  the  Higheft,  as  his  own 
power,  who,  together  with  the  Father 
and  Son,  is  the  Mo  ft  High  God,  in  di- 
ftinclion  from  all  other  gods:  Accord- 
ingly, at  other  times,  the  divine  power 
is  called  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghqji, 
and  the  power  of  the  Spirit  of  Cod, 
Rom.  xv.  13,  19. 

||  It  feems  moft  natural  to  underftand 
this,  as  affigning  the  rcafon,  not  why 
Chriil,  toafidered  merely  as  God,  but 


Luke  paraphrafed.  9 

%$  In  anfwer  to  which,  the  angel  faid,  This*a- 
ma/.ing  effect  fhall  be  produced  by  the  immediate  a- 
gency  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  who  moved  upon  the  face 
of  the  waters  in  the  firft  formation  of  the  world,  and 
by  whom  \  the  almighty  power  of  God  fhall  now  a- 
gain  be  exerted  in  creating  this  new  thing  in  the 
earth,  by  a  fecret  operation  upon  thee  :  As  therefore 
the  fruit  of  thy  bod)'-,  which  thou  (halt  bring  forth, 
fhall  be  formed  in  this  miraculous  manner  out  of  thy 
flefh,  that  it  may  not  come  under  the  ordinary  law  of 
generation,  to  involve  it  in  the  common  apoftafy  of 
mankind  under  J] dam  their  public  head  ;  and  as  that 
holy  individual  of  human  nature  fhall  have  its  pergon- 
al fubfiitence  only  in  union  with  the  eternal  Son  of 
God  |j,  it  mail  be  called  by  his  name. 

36  And  for  the  further  confirmation  of  your  faith 
herein,  cbferve  what  a  wonderiul  thing  God  has  al- 
ready done  upon  one  of  your  own  relations  :  Your 
kinfwoman  on  your  mother's  fide  *,  Elifabeth  by 
name,  lias  miraculoully  and  unexpectedly  conceived 
a  fbn  in  her  old  age,  a  fon  who  is  to  go  before  the 
Lord  in  the  fpirit  and  power  of  E/ias  :  (ver.  17.) 
And,  though  fhe  never  bore  a  child  before,  fhe  is  now 
fix  months  gone  with  this;  fo  that  the  figns  of  her 
pregnancy  are  by  this  time  vifible  :  The  fame  power 
therefore  will  caufe  you  alfo,  though  continuing  a 
virgin,  to  conceive  and  bring  forth  a  Son. 

37  For  this  is  as  poffible  to  God  as  that  :  It  is 
the  power  of  the  Higheft  that  I  told  you  fhall  come 
upon  you  for  this  purpefe,  and  nothing  can  be  too 
hard  for  God  to  do  ;  he,  having  undertaken  and  pro- 
mifed,  will  perform  it. 

38  Then  Alary,  with  great  humility,  faith,  and 
reverence,  replied,  Behold,  here  am  I  before  the 
Lord  as  his  fervant  ;  let  him  do  with  me  what  feems 
good  in  his  fight :  I  am  amazed  that  all  this  grace 
lhould  be  (hewn  to  me,  who  am  unworthy*  of  the 
leaft  9^  his  mercies  ;  but  fince  God  is  pleafed  to  con- 

defcend 
NOTES. 

why  his  entire  Perfon,  or  why  his  human 
nature,  as  in  perfon  a!  union  with  the  di- 
vine, lhould  be  called  the  Son  of  God. 
1  *  Though  Elifabeth  was  of  the  houfe 
of  Aaron,  and  Mary  of  the  houfe  of  Da- 
vid, by  their  fathers  fide,  they  might  be 
related  by  their  mothers ;  for  the  law 
{Numb,  xxxvi.  8,  9.)  only  forbad  heir- 
efles  marrying  into  another  tribe;  and  as 
the  families  of  David  and  of  Levi  often 
intermarried,  Providence  ordered  that 
the  mother  of  our  Lord  fliould  be  a-kin 
to. 'larva's  family,  that  royalty  and  prieft- 
hoed  might  unite  in  him. 


IO 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  i. 


19  And  Mary  a- 
vofe  in  thofe  days, 
inid  went  into  the 
hill-country  with 
hafte,  into  a  city 
©f  Juda ; 


the  angel  departed   defcend  fo  far  as  to  diftinguifh  me  by  fuch  a  fignal 
from  her.  a(cj.  Qf  favour,   I  thankfully  accept  it,  rejoice  in  it, 

and  humbly  depend  \  upon  his  power,  faithfulnefs, 
and  goodnefs,  to  perform  it,  according  to  the  word 
which  thou  haft  told  me  from  the  Lord.  Hereupon 
the  angel,  having  difpatched  his  meffage,  returned 
back  to  heaven. 

39  Soon  after  this,  the  virgin  took  a  long  journey 
of  fome  fcores  of  miles,  with  all  convenient  fpeed, 
to  a  certain  city  \,  which  lay  in  the  mountainous 
parts  of  Judea,  where  Zacharias  and  Elifabeth 
dwelt,  that  me  might  further  fatisfy  herfelf  concern- 
ing the  truth  of  what  the  angel  had  told  her  about 
Elifabeth^s  being  with  child,  and  might  have  the  op- 
portunity of  comparing  notes,  and  rejoicing  with  her, 
and  of  improving  the  advantages  of  retirement  for  de- 
votion in  the  family  of  fuch  a  religious  prieft. 

40  And  coming  into  Zacharias"'?,  houfe,  who  was 
deaf  and  dumb,  fhe,  applying  to  Elifabeth,  congra- 
tulated her  being  with  child,  though  fo  far  advanced 
in  years ;  telling  her,  at  the  fame  time,  of  the  vifion 
which  fhe  herfelf  had  feen,  and  of  what  the  angel 
had  faid  to  her. 

41  No  fooner  did  Elifabeth  hear  this  falutation  of 

Elifat'thhear^he    Ma^    but  the   child>   hY  a  divin<;   imPrefs   UP°n  *> 
falutation  of  Ma-   ma£le  an  uncommon,  lively,  fpringing  motion  within 
her,  like  one  that  leaped  for  joy;  and  Elifabeth  her- 
felf was,  at  the  fame  inftant,  filled  with  a  prophetic 
afflatus  of  the  Spirit  of  God. 

42  And  fhe,  turning  to  Maty,  lifted  up  her  voice, 
And      fhe    faying,  in  a  tranfport  of  joy,  O  happy,  thrice  happy 

out  with  a   creature  !  what  an  honour  has  God  put  upon  you  ! 


40  And  efitered 
into  the.  houfe  of 
Zacharias,  and  fa- 
luted  Elifabeth. 


41  And  it  came 


ry,  the  babe  leap- 
ed in  her  womb  : 
and  Elifabeth  was 
filled  with  the  Ho- 
ly Ghoft 

42 
fpake   c 


loud    voice,     and  nave  indeed  been  highly  favoured  beyond  my  defert  ; 

faid,    Bleffed    art  ^      nev£r  woman  upon  earth  blefTed  lik 

thou    among    wo-  /  .       .  r 

men  and  bleffed  is  you>    whom  God,    in  the  riches  01  his  mercy, 

the  fruit    of   thy  lingled  out  to  be  the  mother  of  the  great  and  glori- 


e 
has 


womb. 


43  And  whence 
is  this  to  me,  that 
the  mother  of  my 
Lord  mould  come 
to  me  ? 


ous  Meffiah,  in  whom  all  nations  fhall  be  bleffed,  and 
who  fhall  be  bleffed  in  himfelf,  and  be  exalted  in 
bleffings  and  praifes  for  evermore. 

43  And  how  can  I  fufficiently  prize  and  admire 
the  honour  done  to  me,  that  I  mould  have  a  vifit 
from  the  mother  of  the  Meffiah,  who  is  my  Lord, 
and  the  great  Lord  of  all  !  Why  is  this  further 
crowning  favour  added  to  that  which  has  lately  been 

fhewn 

NOTES. 

f  It  is  very  likely  that  this  was  He- 
bron, becaufe  that  city  was  fituated  in 
the  hill-country  of  Judea,  and  was  given 
to  the  houfe  of  Aaro?i*iox  ajijnheritance, 
Jojh.  xxi.  10,  H. 


I  It  feems  by  no  means  improbable 
but  that  this  time  of  the  Virgin's  hum- 
ble faith,  confent,  approbation,  and  ex- 
pectation, might  be  the  very  time  of  the 
Holy  Ghoft's  coming  upon  her,  and  of  her 
conceiving  by  his  power. 


Chap.  i. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


n 


fhewn  to  fo  unworthy  an  handmaid  as  I  am?    It  fills 
me  with  wonder  and  tranfport  to  think  of  it  : 

44  For,  furprifing  as  it  may  feem  to  hear  me  fay 
it,  the  very  child  I  am  big  with  was  fo  affected  with 
your  falutation,  that,  as  foon  as  you  began  fpeak,  I 

qars,  the  babe  perfectly  felt  it  leap  within  me,  as  if  it  really  knew 
leaped  in  my  womb  that  the  Saviour's  birth  would  foon  fucceed  its  own, 
ior  J0)'*  and  that  I  had  then  the  honour  of  a  vifit  from  the 

happy  woman  who  fhould  bear  and  bring  him  forth. 

45  And  as  for  you,  who,  like  a  true  daughter  of 
Abraham,  ftaggered  not  at  the  promife  through  un- 
belief, but  was  ftrong  in  faith,  giving  glory  to  God, 

of.  thofe  things  you  are  bleiTed  indeed,  and  a  happy  inflrument  of  the 
which  Were  told  greateft  blelTednefs  to  others  ;  for  he  is  faithful  who 
has  promifed,  and  the  wonderful  things,  which  you 
have  been  aiTu  •-.d  of  from  the  Lord,  fhall  certainly 
come  to  pafs,  according  to  his  word,  and  according 
to  your  faith. 

46  Mary,  being  greatly  encouraged  and  confirm- 
ed by  the  things  fhe  now  heard,  was  likewife  filled 
with  holy  ecilafy  ;  and,  the  Spirit  of  God  coming 
upon  her,  as  well  as  Elijabeth,  fhe  broke  out  into  this 
praifing  fong  :  All  the  powers  of  my  foul  are  united 
in  exalting  and  adoring  the  greatnefs  and  the  good- 
nefs  of  the  Lord,  which  he  has  manifefled  to  me  ; 

47  And  my  heart  exults  and  triumphs  in  Jefus,  the 


44  For,  lo,  as 
foon  as  the  voice 
of  thy  falutation 
founded    in    mine 


45  And  bleiTed 
is  flie  that  belie- 
ved: for  there  fhall 
be  a   performance 


her  from  the  Lord. 


46  And  Mary 
faid,  My  foul  doth 
magnify  the  Lord, 


47  And  my  fpi- 
rit  hath  rejoiced 
in  God  my  Saviour. 


4S  For  he  hath 


maiden  :  for,  be- 
hold, from  hence- 
forth all  genera- 
tions fhall  call  me 
feleifed. 


Son  of  the  Higheft,  in  whom  I  believe  *  as  my  own 
God  and  Saviour,  Who  will  bring  redemption  to  his 
unworthy  handmaid,  together  with  thofe  that  arc 
looking  for  it  in  Ifrael. 

48   For  (s-rs/SA^si/  iwi  rr,v  TX7ritvac-iv}  he  has  flooped 

eftate  of  bishaiX  *°  *OW  aS  t0  *°°k  w^  amaznlg  ccmpafiion  on  his 
poor  contemptible  fervant,  whofe  perfon  and  family 
were  funk  into  the  utmoft  obfcurity  and  contempt. 
Inftead  of  his  taking  birth  from  forne  great  and  noble 
parentage,  he,  in  his  mere  good  pleafure  and  match- 
lefs  grace,  has  chofen  to  confer  this  fingular  honour 
upon  me :  For  many  in  the  prefcnt,  and  through  all 
fucceeding  ages  to  the  end  of  the  world,  fhall  rife 
up,  and  count  me  happy  in  myfelf,  through  faith 
in  him  for  my  own  falvation  ;  and  an  highly  favoured 
inflrument  of  bleffings  to  them,  by  being  the  mother 
of  whom  their  Saviour  was  born. 

49  torne  tnat        4.9  for  the  God,  whofc  power *is  infinite,  has  done 
is 

won- 

N    O  T    E. 

*  Here,  and  in  the  nest  verfe,  the  Vir-  of  her  own  everlafting  falvation  through 

gin  fecms  to  turn  her  thoughts  to  Chrift  faith  in  him,  which  isableflingcommonto 

himfelf,  who  was  to  be  born  of  her,  call-  all  true  believers,  more  than  in  being  hi; 

ing  him  her  God  and  Saviour,  becaufe  the  mother  after  the  fiefh,  which  was  an  ho- 

angel  told  her  that  he  fhould  be  the  Son  nour  peculiar  to  her ;   becaufe,  without 

of  the  Higheft,  whofe  name  fhould  be  Je-  the  firft,  fhe  mult  have  been  for  ever  mi- 

fux,  the  Saviour  •  and  fhe  rejoiced  in  hop?  ferable,  notwithstanding  the  laft. 


For,  he  that 


12 


The  Evangelist 


Chap,  i, 


things;     and    holy 
is  his  name. 


50  A.nd  his  mer- 
ry is  on  them  that 
fear  him,  from  ge- 
neration to  genera- 
tion. 


52  He  hath  put 
down  the  mighty 
from    their    feats, 


mighty  hath  wonderful  things,  beyond  expectation  and  expreflion, 
done  to  me  great  an(j  Dey0nd.  all  thought ;  he  has  magnified  his  fove- 
reign  and  almighty  grace  to  me,  for  his  own  glory, 
whofe  name  is  holy  and  reverend  in  itfelf,  in  this  and 
all  his  manifeflations,  ways,  and  works,  and  in  the 
eyes  of  faints  and  angels  :  As  fuch  let  it  be  folcmnly 
adored  and  praifed  for  ever. 

50  And  this  is  but  a  jufl  acknowledgment  of  him, 
the  riches  of  whofe  free  and  tender  mercy,  efpecially 
in  the  incarnation  of  his  own  Son,  are  extended  not 
to  me  only  -f-  but  likewife  to  all  who  worfhip  and  ferve 
him  with  reverence  and  godly-fear  ;  and  that  from 
fathers  to  children,  and  from  age  to  age,  till  time 
mall  be  no  more. 
gi  He  hath  51  His  way  herein  is  like  thofe  methods  of  provi- 
fhewed^  ftrength  dencej  in  which  he  •  certs  remarkable  acts  of  the  ex- 
hath  fcattered'the  ceeding  greatnefs  of  his  power  for  the  help  of  his 
proud  in  the  ima-  people,  and  the  confufion  of  his  enemies  ;  as  in  for- 
gination  of  their  mer  difpenfations,  fo  likewife  in  this,  he  abafes  the 
hearts,  haughty  in  all  their  fchemes,    and  chufes  the  weak 

things  of  this  world  to  confound  the  mighty. 

52   He  who  humbled  the  pride  oi  Egypt,  Ajjyria., 
and  Babylon,  and  pulled  down  Pharaoh,  Sennache- 
and  exalted  them    ri^->  ano-  Nebuchadnezzar,  from  their  thrones,  and 
of  low  degree.  raifed  up  others  in  their  ftead  ;  and  who,  in  his  holy 

providence,  brings  fome  low,  and  lifts  others  up: 
(1  Sam.  ii.  7,  8.)  He,  in  the  difpenfations  of  his 
grace,  humbles  proud,  felf-righteous,  and  felf-fufri- 
cient  fmners  ;  deftroys  their  refuge  of  lies,  and 
breaks  to  pieces  their  vain-confidence  ;  and  he  re- 
vives the  hearts  of  the  humble  and  contrite  one3,  ar  d 
puts  the  higher!  honour  upon  them. 
53  He  hath  fill-  53  He  has  granted  the  defire  of  fuch  as  fee  their 
ed  the  hungry  with   neec[  0f  a  Saviour,  are  earneft  in  their  inquiries  after 

*u°    ■  uUuS '  J1  \    him,  and  cannot  be  fatisfied   without  him  ;    and  has 
the    rich    he    hath  . »  .  » 

enriched  them  with  the  beit  or  blemngs  :  And,  on 
the  other  hand,  he  has  rejected  thofe  that  are  full  of 
themfelves,  that  boaft  of  riches  in  their  own  merit, 
or  in  the  good  opinion  of  others,  or  in  having  the 
treafures  of  this  world,  and  take  up  their  reft  in  thefe 
things,  as  if  they  needed  nothing  more  to  make  them 
happy  ;  he  has  denied  them  the  blefiings  of  the  Mef- 
fiah's  kingdom. 

54,  55  And,  as  to  God's  own  peculiar  people,  the 
Jews,  he  has  in  all  ages  part  been  particularly  graci- 
ous to  them  in  many  extraordinary  prefervations  and 
deliverances  ;    and  now,  when  they  were  funk    into 

the 

NOTE. 
f  Here  the  Virgin  begins  to  carry  her  thoughts,  like  one  of  a  public  fpirif,   to 
an  cxtenfivc  view  of  the  fpiritual  benefits  that  were  to  be  brought  into  others  by 
the  Mefliah,  who  fhould  be  born  of  her. 


-ient  empty  away. 


54  He  hath  hol- 
pen  his  fervant  If- 
vael,     in    remem- 
brance 


Chap. 


i. 


brance  of  bis  mer- 
cy ; 

55  As  he  fpake 
to  our  fathers,  to 
Abraham,  and  to 
his  feed  for  ever. 


Luke  paraphrafed,  13 

the  grofiefl  darknefs  and  corruptions  in  doctrine 
and  practice,  he  is  feafonably  railing  up  a  Deliverer 
from  their  ignorance  and  error,  fin  and  ruin  :  And 
this  he  doth  merely  for  his  mercy's  fake,  which  at 
firft  induced  him  to  make  them  his  people  ;  and  to 
promife  feveral  of  our  fathers,  and  particularly  Abra- 
ham, that  in  his  feed  all  nations  of  the  earth  Jhould 
he  blejfed ;  which  good  word  fhall  be  fulfilled,  as  it 
was  defigned,  not  only  to  Abraham  himfelf,  but  to 
all  his  fpiritual  feed,  firft  among  the  Jews,  and  after- 
wards among  the  Gentiles,  through  all  ages  in  this 
world,  and  for  ever  in  the  world  to  come. 

56  Thus  Mary  fang  the  praifes  of  God  on  ac- 
count of  the  Mefiiah  who  mould  be  born  of  her  : 
And  when  fhe  had  fpent  about  three  months,  rejoi- 
cing and  blefiing  God,  with  her  coulin  Elifabeth,  till 
me  was  thoroughly  affured  *  by  fads  that  God  was 
fulfilling  his  word  to  herfelf,  fhe  .went  back  to  her 
own  home. 

57  Now  when  Elifabeth' %  reckoning  was  out,  an- 
fwerable  to  the  full  time  that  women  ufually  go  with 
child,  fhe  was  brought  to  bed  of  a  fon,  according  to 
God's  promife  by  the  angel,  to  her  hufband. 

58  The  tidings  of  this  were  foon  fpread  abroad 
among  her  acquaintance  and  relations,  who  heard 
how  God  {ifAiyuXvn)  had  magnified  his  mercy,  in 
taking  away  her  former  grievance,  and  putting  a 
fignal  honour  upon  her,  and  that  in  old  age,  by 
giving  her  a  fon  out  of  the  common  courfe  of 
nature,  from  whom  great  things  might  be  expected  ; 
and  they  came  to  vifit  and  congratulate  her  upon  this 
joyful  occafion. 

59  And  when,  on  the  eighth  day  from  his  birth , 
they  came  to  his  circumcificn,  according  to  God's 
appointment  in  the  law  ;  as  it  was  cuftomary  to 
name  the  child  at  that  folemnity,  becaufe  it  was  at 
the  circumcifion  of  the  father  of  the  faithful  that  God 
fly  led  him  Abraham,,  (Gen.  xvii.  5,  &c.)  the  com- 
pany generally  agreed  that  it  would  be  proper  to  call 
this  {onZacharias,  in  honour  of  his  own  father's  name. 

60  But  (xui)  Elifabeth  replied,  "  No,  no,  that 
mull  not  be  his  name;  it  fhall  be  John'",  as  fhe  knewf 
God  had  appointed  it  to  be. 

rr  61    Her 

NOTES. 
It  is  probable  that  the  Virgin  found    it  is  more  generally  thought,  that  Mary 

only  ftaid  till  Elifabeth'?,  reckoning  was 
d  then  returned  home. 


56  And  Mary  a- 
bode  with  her  a- 
bout  three  months, 
and  '  returned  to 
her  own  houie. 


57  Now  Elifa- 
beth s  full  time 
came,  that  the 
ihould  be  deliver- 
ed; and  fhe  brought 
forth  a  fon. 

58  And  her 
neighbours  and  her 
coufins  heard  how 
the  Lord  had  (hew- 
ed great  mercy  up- 
on her ;  and  they 
rejoiced  with  her. 


59  And  it  came 
to  pafs,  that  on  the 
eighth  day  they 
came  to  circumciie 
the  child ;  and 
they  called  him 
Zacharias,  after 
the  name  of  his  fa- 
ther. 

Co  And  his  mo- 
ther anfwered  and 
faid,  Not  Jo ;  but 
he  fhall  be  culled 
Tohn. 


herfelf  to  be  with  child  before  fhe  left  E 
lifabtth ;  and  fome  fuppofe  that  fhe  ftaid 
with  her  till  fhe  faw  her  delivered  of 
John  the  Bapti/i,  though,  for  the  fake 
of  fmifhing  the  account  here  given  of 
.Mary,  the  evangelift  mentioned  her  de- 
parture before  Elifabeth^  delivery:  But 

Vol.  II,  D 


very  near  out;  anc 
to  avoid  the  company  that  would  come 
to  Zacharias**  houfe  at  fo  remarkable  a 
birth  as  that  of  John. 

f  She  knew  this,  as  fhe  did  that  her  fon 
mould  be  a  Namrite,  (ver.  15.)   either 

fry 


14 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  i. 


61     And 
laid      unto 
There    is   none   of 
thy   kindred    that 
is   called    by 
name. 


this 


And 
fiims 


6 1 
made 
father,      how 
would    have 
called. 


Ar.d  they 
led  all. 


they        6 1    Her  friends,,  furprifed  to  hear  her  fo  earneft, 

ner».  and  fo  peremptory  in  infilling  on  this,    expoftulated 

with  her,    faying,    What  a  ftrange  fancy  is  yours  1 

We  cannot  imagine  what  you  mean  by  it,  fmce  there 

is  none  of  this  name  among  all   your   relations  :     If 

therefore  you  will  not  admit  him  to  be  called  Zacha- 

rias ;    furely,    in  refpe£l  to  your  own  family,    you 

mould  think  of  fome  other  name  that  is  found  among 

your  near  of  kin  \. 

they        62    At  laft,    to  end  the  difpute,  they  made  figns, 

to  his  as  weJl  as  they  could,  to  let  Zacharias,  the  child's  fa- 

, .  e   ther,  know  what  they  were  talking  about,   he  being 

deaf ;    and  to  defire  that,  as  the  right  lay  in  him,  fo 

he  would  lignify  his  own  mind,  as  to  the  name  that 

mould  be  given  to  his  fon. 

63  And  he  afked        63   Then  he,  being  dumb,  as  well  as  deaf?   made 

for  a  writing-table,    flRm  tQ  tj1£m  tQ  ^jve  j1'm  a  writincr-book  ;    and,  ha- 

atod  wrote,  laying,      •  •      j  v     r  *.    *    '       ^i    r  j  j* 

His  name  is  fohn     vinS  receive0-  xt>   iet  clown  theie  words,   according  to 

marvel-   the  order  of  the  angel,    (ver.    13.)    "  His  name  is 

John  :"     At  which  all  the  company  were  amazed, 

not  knowing  what  had  paffed  between  the  angel  and 

him. 

64    And  the  time  being  now  expired,    till  which 
he  was  to  continue  dumb  for  his   former   diffidence, 
(ver.   20.)    God  immediately  reftored  to  him  the  ufe 
of  his  fpeech  ;    and  his  tongue,    which  had  been  fo 
and  praifed   long  filenced,    was  fet  at  liberty,    and  employed  in 
mewing  forth  the  praifes  of  the  Lord,    by  thankful 
acknowledgments   of   his    great   goodnefs  in  giving 
him  this  fon,    and  by  humble  confefiion  of  the  ini- 
quity and  of  the  juit  punifhment  of  his  own  unbelief. 
And     fea-r        65   Now  the  report  of  this  birth,  and  of  the  mira- 
came  on  all  that   culous  circumftances  relating  to  it,    was  foon  fpread 

DUandab°all  In  the  neighbourhood  round  about>  and  became  the 
fubject  of  ferious  converfation  in  all  places  through 
the  mountainous  parts,  called  the  hill-country  of  Ju- 
dea,  the  people  being  generally  filled  with  aftonifh- 
ment  and  awful  reverence  when  they  talked  or 
thought  about  it. 
66  And  all  they        66   And  they,  that  heard  of  thefe  ftrange  things, 


64  And  his 
mouth  was  open- 
ed immediately, 
and     his      tongue 


and      he 


Icofed, 
fpake, 
God- 


6z 


them 

thefe  fayings  were 

noifed  abroad 

throughout  all  the 

hi  11 -country  of  Ju- 

dea. 


that 

them,  laid  them  uji 
in  their  hearts,  fay- 
ing, What  manner 
of  child  (bail  this 
be! 


?JVj  near^  took  particular  notice  of  them,  revolved  them  in 
their  own  minds,  treaiured  them  up  in  their  memo- 
ries, and  had  high  expectations  of  fome  very  extraor- 
dinary confequence,  faying  in  themfeives,  and  one  to 
another,    What  an  uncommon  man  will  this  make  ! 

Surely 
T  E  S. 
asitisnow-a-daysamongftus,  to  call  their 
children  by  their  father's,  or  by  fome  of 
their  near  kindred's  names;  but  it  wa- 
far  from  being  fo  in  ancienter  Limes,  as 
appears1  from  the  general,  if  not  univcrfal 


NO 

by  information  from  Zacharias  in  wri- 
ting, or  by  revelation  to  herfelf  perfon- 
ally. 

f  It  feems  as  if,  for  (hewing  honour  to 
parents  and  near  relations,  it  were  then 


lately  become  a  cultom  among  the  j^w-r,   current  of  regifteis  in  the  Old  Tcftament, 


Chap.  i. 

be  '.  And  th?  hand 
of  the  Lord  was 
with  him. 


67  And  his  fa- 
ther Zacharias  was 
filled  with  the  Ho- 
ly Ghoft,  and  pro- 
phefied,  faying, 

6S  BlefTed  be 
the  Lord  God  of 
Ifrael ;  for  he  hath 
vifited  and  redeem- 
ed his  people, 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


15 


69  And  hath  rai- 
led up  an  horn  of 
falvation  for  us,  in 
the  houfe  of  his 
fervant  David ; 


70  As  he  fpake 
by  the  mouth  of 
his  holy  prophets, 
which  have  been 
fince  the  world  be- 


7 1  That  we 
mould  be  faved 
from  our  enemies, 
and  from  the  hand 
of  all  that  hate  us. 

72  To  perform 
the  mercy  promi- 
fed  to  our  fathers, 

and   to   remember 
his  holy  covenant : 

73  The  oath 
which  he  fware  to 
our  father  Abra- 
ham, 

74  That  he 
would  grant  unto 
us,  that  we,  being 
delivered  out  of  the 
hands  of  our  ene- 
mies, 


Surely  he  is  defigned  for  great  work.  And  the  pro- 
vidence and  grace  of  God  were  remarkably  feen,  from 
his  very  infancy,  in  the  continual  care  he  took  of  him, 
and  of  all  things  relating  to  him,  and  in  the  holy 
qualities  with  which  he  endued  him. 

67  In  the  mean  while,  his  father  Zacharias  was 
abundantly  filled  with  the  gifts  and  graces  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  by  whofe  inspiration  and  luggeftion  he 
broke  out,  with  holy  rapture,  into  the  following  in- 
flructive  and  prophetic  hymn  of  praife  : 

68  Glory,  honour,  and  bleffing,  be  ever  afcribed 
to  the  only  living  and  true  God,  who  is  IfraePs  co- 
venant-God :  For,  though  he  feemed  to  neglect 
them  for  feveral  ages  pail,  he  has  now  at  length 
looked  with  companion  upon  them,  {iTTiry^wva)  and 
ac"led  the  kindeit  part  toward  them,  in  fending  his  an- 
gel with  good  tidings,  in  bringing  the  Mefiiah's  fore- 
runner into  the  world,  and  enabling  the  virgin  Mary 
to  conceive  that  glorious  Perfon  himlelf ;  and,  by 
him,  he  is  now  about  to  ranfom  his  peculiar  people 
from  the  tin  and  mifery,  and  every  kind  of  bondage, 
into  which  they  were  fallen. 

69  He,  of  his  own  mere  love  and  grace,  has  pro- 
vided, and  is  fending  a  mighty  and  royal  Saviour  of 
David's  race,  who,  like  an  horn  of  honour,  fhall  ex- 
alt us,  and,  like  an  horn  of  power,  fhall  defend  us 
from  our  enemies,  and  pufh  them  down  to  utter  de- 
ll ruction. 

70  All  this  is  done  according  to  the  various  pro- 
mifes,  which  he  made  by  the  ancient  prophets,  from 
the  beginning  of  the  world,  through  many  generations 
afterwards,  concerning  the  feed  of  the  woman,  who 
fhould  be  raifed  up,  as  the  feed  of  Abraham,  from 
the  tribe  of  Judah,  and  family  of  David : 

71  That  we  might  be  delivered  from  all  our  fpiri- 
tual  enemies,  fin,  Satan  and  the  world,  death  and 
hell  ;  and  might  be  freed  from  the  power  of  thole 
that  malicioufly  and  inveterately  oppofed  us,  and 
would  otherwife  have  for  ever  prevailed  againfl  us. 

72,  73  This  Saviour  is  now  coming  to  fulfil  God's 
promifes  of  the  Mefliah,  that  mercy  of  mercies  ;  and 
to  make;  good  his  gracious,  holy,  ^nd  inviolable  co- 
venant to  the  children  of  promile  ;  and  particularly 
the  oath  (Gen.  xxii.  16,  17,  18.)  by  which  he  con- 
firmed it  to  Abraham  our  father,  and  the  father  of  all 
that  believe  : 

74,  75  His  great  defign  in  which  was,  that  he 
would  certainly,  in  due  time,  vouchfafe  the  favour  to 
us,  that  being  refcued,  by  the  merit,  might,  and 
grace,  of  the  promifed  Redeemer,  out, of  the  power 
of  all  our  enemies,  whether  temporal  or  fpiritual,  we 
D  2  plight 


i6 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  i. 


him  without  fear, 

75  In  holinefs 
and  righteoufnefs 
before  him,  all  the 
days  of  our  life. 


mies,  might  ferve  might  be  at  liberty  for,  and  engaged  in  his  fervice* 
and  might  be  enabled  to  perform  it,  without  diftrufl- 
ful  ilaviih  fear  of  God,  or  difcouraging  tormenting 
fear  of  our  enemies  themfelves  ;  and  that  we  might 
perfift  in  all  the  duties  of  piety,  righteoufnefs,  and 
fobriety,  as  in  his  fight  and  prefence,  looking  up  to 
him  for  the  feafonable  aid  which  he  fees  we  need,  and 
walking  in  all  good  confcience  before  him,  with  con- 
ilancy  and  ftedfaftnefs  therein,  to  the  end  of  our  days. 
76    And    thou,        76    And  then,    turning  by  way  of  Apojlrophe  to 

child,  fhalt  be  call-   ^]ie  infant,  he  went  on,  faying,  Thou,  my  dear  new- 

the  Hi^helt  *•  for  ^orn  ^on  °^  m^ne  °^  age>  ^^  hereafter  be,  and  be 
thou  fhalt  go  be-  generally  owned  to  be,  in  a  peculiar  manner,  the  pro- 
phet *  and  forerunner  of  the  Mefnah,  who  will  be 
God  incarnate,  ||  even  the  moft  high  God.  For  thou 
(halt  go  before  this  great  Lord,  the  Jehovah  of  Ifrae/, 
to  give  notice  of  his  appearance,  and  to  put  things 
into  readinefs  for  receiving  him  : 

77    To  give  his  chofen  people  the  knowledge  of 

falvation,    not,  as  the  Jews  have  generally  expected, 

pie,  by  the  re-   by  their  own  perfonal  performance  of  a  legal  righte- 

mi(fion     of    their  oufnefs;  but  by  a  free  pardon,  through  that  Saviour -f-, 

lins,  who  is  coming  to  tflke  away  the  Jin  of  the  world: 

(John  i.  29.) 

78  Through  the        78,  79    The  original  fpring  of  which  benefit  lies 
tender    mercy    of  m  ^he  mere,  undeferved,   and  companionate  kindnefs 
our  God ;  where-    /^  gA       \  0f  our  God    anfwerable  to  the  ten- 
by  the   day-fprmg    *            f*.  '  *4  ,    .       '  r    •      . 
from  on  high  hath    der  movmgs  01  a  parent  s  bowels,  in  a  way  or  pity  to- 

vifited  us,  ward  his  miferable  children ;  by  which  Chrift,  (ccvxroXvi 

79  To  give  light  £|  v-^0vi)  the  riling  Sun  of  righteoufnefs,  who  is  on- 
to them  that  lit  in  finally  from  above,  fheds  his  enlightening,  reviving, 
darknefs  and  in  the  6    -,    /    •        1                  •      ,-           r  &,          6                  6j 

^a     and  laving  beams,     in  his  perlonal  appearance  and 

fpi- 
NOTES. 


fore  the  face  of  the 
Lord  to  prepare  his 
ways; 


77  To  Sive 
(knowledge  of  Sal- 
vation    unto     his 


*  The  fpirit  of  prophecy  had  departed 
from  Ifrael  about  three  hundred  years  ; 
but  now  began  to  return:  Zacharias  (as 
well  as  Simeon,  Anna,  and  others)  was 
acted  by  it,  being  filled  with  the  Holy 
Ghoft,  ver.  67.;  and,  under  his  infpira- 
tion,  he  foretold  concerning  his  fon  John. 


together  with  them  :  Hence  he  is  called 
the  great  God,  even  our  Saviour,  Tit. 
ii.  13. ;  and  over  all  God  bleffed  for  ever, 
Rom.  ix.  5. ;  which  amount  to  the  cha- 
racter of  the  Highe/f,  in  diftinction  from 
all  creatures.  And  it  feems  plain  that  it 
is  he  who  is  here  ftyled  the  Higheft  :  For 


that  he  fhould  be  a  prophet,  and  fhould  as  Aaron  was  Mofes'  prophet,  Exod.  vii. 

be  generally  efteemed  to  be  Co,   as  he  I.;  fo  John  was,  in  a  peculiar  manner, 

really  was,  by  the  common  people.    And  Chrift's  prophet  and  forerunner,   which 

though  a  prophet  fometimes  fignifies,  in  Zacharias   fpeaks   of  in   the   following 

lcripture,    only   one   who    delivers    the  words,   with  a  plain  reference  to  what 

mind  and  will  of  God  toothers;  yet  John  the  angel  had  laid  concerning  him,  ver. 

was,  ftrictly  fpeaking,   a  prophet,   who  16,  17.     See  the  note  there, 

foretold  what  Chrift  would  do,  as  well  f  Some  by  falvation  here  underftand 

as  pointed  him  out  to  the  people  as  al-  Jefus  the  Saviour,  who  is  called  an  Horn 

ready  come  among  them,   Mat.  iii.   ir,  of  falvation,  ver.  69.  and  God's  falva- 

12.  and  John  i.  23,  27.  iion,  chap.  ii.  30.     The  latter  part  of 

||  Chriit  being  one  in  Godhead  with,  the  paraphrafe  refers  to  this  fenfe  of  the 

though  diftinct  in  personality  from,   the  word. 
Fathei  and  Spirit,  is  the  nioji  high  God 


Chap.  i. 

fhadow  of  death, 
to  guide  our  feet 
into  the  way  of 
peace. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


17 


80  And  the 
child  grew,  and 
waxed  ftrong  in 
ipirit,  and  was  in 
the  defarts  till  the 
day' of  his  mewing 
unto  Ifrael. 


fpiritual  influence,  to  expel  not  only  the  gloominefs  of 
Old-Teftament  types  and  figures,  but  likewife  to  dif- 
fufe  light  among  heathen  nations,  who  were  involved 
in  the  thickeft  darknefs  of  flupidity  and  Idolatry  ;  to 
irradiate  the  minds  of  thofe  who  by  nature  were  over- 
fpread  with  the  mills  of  ignorance,  error,  and  wick- 
ednefs  ;  and  to  guide  his  people  into  the  way  which 
leads  to  peace  with  God  and  with  one  another,  and 
to  peace  in  their  own  fouls,  till  they  arrive  at  perfect 
and  everlafting  happinefs. 

80  In  this  manner  Zacharias  poured  out  his  foul 
in  joyful  thankfgiving  and  praife  :  And  his  young 
child  vifibly  increafed,  not  only  in  bodily  ftrength  and 
ftature,  but  alfo  in  the  natural  capacities,  fpiritual 
enlargements,  holy  fortitude^-  and  religious  endow- 
ments of  his  mind,  from  his  youth  up,  like  one  high- 
ly favoured  of  God,  and  ripening  apace  for  extraor- 
dinary fervice.  And,  as  he  was  to  fhew  an  example 
of  mortifiednefs  to  this  world,  and  of  intimate  com- 
munion with  God,  he  ufually,  like  a  fecond  E/ias, 
refided  in  folitary  places  f,  free  from  much  company, 
till  the  time  of  Gcd's  appointment  for  his  appearing 
publicly  in  his  miniftry,  which,  according  to  the  law, 
(NumI,  iv.  3,)  was  at  about  thirty  years  old. 

RECOLLECTIONS. 

With  what  care  and  certainty  are  the  great  things  of  the  gofpel  delivered  to  us! 
and  with  what  a  train  of  miracles  was  the  incarnate  God  and  Saviour  ulhered  in- 
to the  world,  that  the  ancient  prophecies  concerning  him,  and  his  forerunner,  might 
be  punctually  fulfilled  !  Nothing  is  too  hard  for  the  Lord  to  do ;  and  unbelief  will 
ever  meet  with  a  juft  rebuke.  The  age  of  miracles  and  prophecy  now  revived, 
to  open  a  blefled  difpenfation  of  grace  ;  and  the  lame  Spirit,  who  formed  Chrift's 
body  in  the  womb,  can  form  his  image  in  our  hearts,  and  turn  the  difobedient  to 
the  wifdom  of  the  juft.  O  with  what  reverence  fhould  we  always  think  of  Jefus, 
as  the  Son  of  God,  and  as  the  Lord  our  God  ;  and  of  the  Holy  Ghoft,  as  a  divine 
perfon,  who  exerts  the  power  of  the  Godhead  '. — Chrift  has  a  fpiritual  kingdom, 
which  (hall  endure  for  ever  ;  and  all  its  great  and  glorious  bleffings  take  their 
rife  from  the  riches  of  God's  free  and  fovereign  mercy,  and  are  made  Jeffeclual  to 
us  by  his  almighty  power,  and  faithfulnefs  to  his  own  word,  notwithftanding  all 
our  unworthinel's.  What  a  folid  ground  is  this  for  faith  !  Its  language  is,  Be  it 
unto  thy  fervant  according  to  thy  word  ;  and  its  eftetrs  are,  humility  and  admira- 
tion, joy  and  praife  :  Bleiied  are  they  who  thus  believe  ;  for  there  mall  be  a  per- 
formance of  the  things  that  are  told  them  from  the  Lord.     How  fhould  we  rejoice, 

and 


N     O 

f  As  the  gifts  and  graces  of  the  Spirit, 
which'  John  was  filled  with,  fet  him  a- 
bove  needing  the  advantages  of  a  polite 


T    E. 

they  are  called  defarts.  Now  John's 
living  in  one  or  other  of  thefe,  which  lay 
the  beft  part  of  an  hundred  miles  from 


and  learned  education  in  the  fchools  of  Na^aarcth,  where  Chrift  dwelt,  was  wife- 

the  prophets,  he  dwelt  in  a  wildernefs,  ly  ordered,  by  the  providence  of  God,  to 

which  is  moft  generally  thought  to  be  prevent  a  perlonal  acquaintance  between 

that  of  Ziph,  or  that  of  Maon,  where  them,  till  Jefus  came  to  John's  baptifm, 

Saulpurjued  David,  1  Sam.  xxiii.  24,  25.  that  fo  there  might  be  no  room  for  the 

Though  there  were  feveral  country-towns  lead  fufpicion,  as  if  they  had  contrived 

and  villages  in  thefe  wilderneftes,  which  beforehand  to  bear  an  honourable  tefti- 

were  not  far  from  Hebron,  Jofli.  xv.  54,  mony  to  each  other.      See  John  i.  32, 

55.;  yet  as  they  were  but  thinly  peopled,  33,  34. 


iS 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  ii. 


s.nd  ling  for  joy,  like  the  Virgin  and  Zacharias,  upon  hearing  of  a  Saviour  born 
for  us,  and  much  more  upon  receiving  him  into  our  hearts  !  And  with  what  plea- 
lure  lhould  we  reflect  on  the  great  falvation  which  he  brings  to  others  as  well  as 
©urlelves !  How  happy  is  the  ftate  of  true  believers  in  the  remiflion  of  their  fins,  in 
the  audience  of  their  prayers,  and  in  deliverance  from  the  power  of  all  their  ene- 
mies !  But  how  miferable  rauft  the  cafe  of  others  be,  who  are  Hill  in  the  hands  of 
thole  that  hate  them,  and  that  mean  nothing  lefs  than  their  eternal  perdition  \ 
How  earneftly  then  fhould  finners  fly  to  Jems  for  all  falvation  !  And  how  concern- 
ed lhould  his  people  be  to  give  glory  to  God,  by  believing  ;  to  walk  in  all  his  or- 
dinances and  commandments  blamelefs,  and  that  particularly  in  the  relation  of 
hufbands  and  wives ;  and  to  ferve  him  with  integrity,  freedom,  and  delight,  as 
under  his  eye,  abounding  therein  yet  more  and  more  all  their  days  !  And  when 
he  calls  any  to  peculiar  iervice,  as  he  did  Joan  the  Baptijl,  they  may  depend  upon 
his  being  with  them  to  fit  and  furnifh  thern  for  it.  May  we  lay  up  all  thefe  things 
in  our  hearts,  to  raiie  our  expectations  and  our  praiiing  fongs  1  Blefled  be  God  for 
his  gracious  vifits  by  a  Redeemer. 


Text. 
AND  it  came  to 
pafs  in  thofe 
days,  that  there 
went  out  a  decree 
from  Csefar  Auguf- 
tus,  that  all  the 
world  mould  be 
taxed. 


CHAP.       II. 

The  birth  of  Chriji  at  Bethlehem,  i, — 7.  It  is  notified  to  Jhepherds 
by  an  angel,  and  an  heavenly  hofit  attends  with  fongs  of  praife, 
S, — 14.  The  fhepherds  publijh  it  abroad,  15, — 20.  He  is  cir- 
cumcifed  and prefentedin  the  temple,  i\, — 24.  Simeon\r  and  An- 
na \r  prophecies  of  him,  25, — 39.  The  fate  of  his  youth,  and  his 
difpute  with  the  doBors  in  the  temple,  40, — 52. 

Paraphrase. 

JESUS  being  conceived,  and  John  the  Baptifi  born, 
the  providence  of  God  fo  ordered  it,  that,  about 
this  time,  Augufus  Cafar,  the  Roman  emperor, 
publifhed  an  edift,  for  taking  an  account  of  all  the 
fubjects  of  his  empire,  which  was  then  in  its  highell 
glory,  and  was  called  the  whole  world,  becaufe  it  ex- 
tended to  the  greateft  part  of  the  known  and  civilized 
nations  ;  the  delign  of  which  edicl:  was,  that  a  regiiler 
might  be  made  of  their  perfons,  families,  qualities, 
poffeffions,  and  taxes  ifluable  from  them,  and  that 
anfwerable  tributes  might  be  paid  to  Ccefar. 

2   And  this  was  done  *  at  the  time  when  Qyreni- 
ust  called  by  the  Romans  Sulpicius  Quirinius,  was, 

by 

NOTE. 
*  It  is  mod  generally  fuppofed  that  the  taxes  according  to  that  valuation, 
this  taxing  was  firft  begun  during  Cyre-  which  was  twelve  years  afterwards  ; 
nius's  government  of  Syria  :  Eut  a^  the  and  by  this  time  the  Jenvs  were  not  on- 
words  in  the  Greek  (crjalw  yifi/u^y^vov'.e?-  ly  a  depending  tributary  province,  but 
Kvqvviov)  may  be  differently  rendered,  had  likewife  a  Roman  governor  let  over 
and  Jofephus's  account  does  not  agree  them;  and  fo  the  great  Shiloh  came  juft 
with  our  tranflation  of  them,  others  at  the  time  of the  fceptre's  departing  from 
think  they  fhould  be  read,  this  taxing  Judah,  according  to  the  prophecy  in  Gen. 
ivas  made  before  Cyrenius  ivas  goner-  xlix.  10.  See  Prideaux's  Connect,  vol.. 
nor  of  Syria  :  And  others  contend,  that,  ii.  Svo.  p.  652,  bV.  And  the  whole 
even  keeping  to  our  tranflation,  they  re-  world  being  then  in  peace,  that  was  a 
late,  not  to  the  time  of  the  valuation  or  proper  time  for  the  birth  of  the  Prince 
tnrollment,  but  to  the  time  of  gathering   of  Peace. 


2  (And  this  tax- 
ing was  firft  made 
when 


Chap.  i. 


Luke  parapbrafcd. 


39 


one    into   his   own 
city. 

4  And  Jofeph 
alfo  went  up  from 
Galilee,  out  of  the 
city  of  Nazareth, 
into  Judea,     unto 


when  Cyrenius  was   by  the  imperial  authority,  prefect,  or  prefident  of  the 

governor  of  Syria.)    prov{ncc  0f  Syria,    inclufive  of  Judea  as  dependent 

upon  it. 

3  And  all  went        g  Jn  obedience  to  this  command,  every  man,  win* 
to  be  taxed,  every    wajJ  abfent  frQm  the  ck       where  ^  head  of  y     f 

mily  was  born,  or  had  its  principal  refidence,  repaired 
thither,  that  he  might  be  regiftered  there. 

4,   5   Now  Jofeph,  the  efpoufed  hufband  of  the 
virgin  Maty,  being,  as  well  as  (lie,  defcended  from 
the  royal  line  of  David,  fet  out  with  her  from  Na- 
zareth, a  city  of  Galilee,  where  they  then  dwelt; 
the  city  of  David,    and  went  to  a  city  of  Judea,  called  Bethlehem,  which 
which     is     called   was  Z^/^'s  native  place,   (1  Sam.  x\i.    1,4.)    that 

n J,r«Tk«, ?.™I    r?u~   they  might  be  enrolled  among  thofe  of  that  family, 
came  he  was  ol  the     A    J     _ />  .        »       1         „  '. 

houfe  and  lineage    -"-nd  Mary  was  lo  big  with  the  child  lhe  had  concei- 
of  David,)  ved  by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghoft,    as  to  be  near 

5  To  be  be  taxed   her  time  of  delivery. 

with  Mary  his   e-         6   ThIg    or(kr    of   the  Qr    ^ugl!Jflts     which 

ipouled  wife,  being  .         .         .  .         ..  .     ,r.  5  J         ,     r  ,, 

great  with   child!    was  made  only  with  political  views,  was  wonderfully 

6  And  tb  it  was,   over-ruled,  by  the  providence  of  God,  to  fulfil  fome, 
that,    while    they    and  clear  up  other  prophecies,  that  related  to,  and 

chT-se  wlre^a'ccom6  Were  charaaerIftic  of>  the  Meffiah,  as  he  was  to  be 
plilhed  that  lhe  °f  tne  tri°e  of  Judah,  and  of  the  family  of  David, , 
ihould  be  delivered,  and  to  be  born  at  Bethlehem:  (Gen.  xlix.  10.  Ifa.  xi. 
1.;  and  Micah  v.  2.)  For  at  the  very  time  when 
both  Jofeph  and  Mary  were,  on  this  remarkable 
occafion,  brought  to  Bethlehem,  her  reckoning  was 
out. 

7  And  there  (he  was  brought  to  bed  -f-  of  that 
Son,  who,  in  his  divine  nature,  was  {^TrponortKoi;  ttcio-^c, 
KTurzvs)  begotten  before  all  creation,  (Col.  i.  15.) 
and,  in  his  human  nature,  was  her  firft-born  in  fuch 
a  manner,  as  to  be,  by  way  of  eminence,  holy  to  the 
Lord,  and  the  Prophet,  Prieft,  and  King  of  his  fa- 
mily, the  Church  :  And  when  the  mighty  God,  and 
everlailing  Father,  thus  became  an  infant  of  days,  fo 
indigent  Were  his  parents,  that  his  mother  fwathed. 
him  with  fuch  mean  blankets  and  rollers  as  fhe  could 
get,  and  made  ufe  of  a  liable  for  his  chamber,  and  of 
a  manger  for  his  cradle,  becaufe,  the  city  being  then 
full  of  people,  there  was  no  room  to  be  procured  in 
the  inn  itielf  for  a  perfon  of  her  poverty. 

8  The  time  of  ^this  important  birth  was  at  that 
abiding  in  the  field,  feafon  of  the  year  when  fhepherds  wrere  wont  to  lie 
keeping  watch  o-   abrQad  and   watch  their   fheep   all   night  ;    fome   of 

which  were  then  in  the  fields  near  Bethlehem. 

9  And,  while  they  were  employed  in  their  lawful 

call- 

NOTE. 
f  Chrift  being  born  at  the  time  of  this  enrolling,  was  probably  hiinfclf  regiiiered 
together  with  Jofeph  and  Mary,  as  a  fiibjecl  of  the  Roman  empire  ;    and    fo  was 
burn  in  the  form  of  a  lervaut,  and  made  under  the  imperial  as  well  as  divine  law. 


7  And  flie 
brought  forth  her 
firft-born  fon,  and 
wrapped  him  in 
i  waddling  -  clothes, 
and  laid  him  in  a 
manger  ;  becaufe 
there  was  no  room 
for  them  in  the  inn. 


8  And  there 
were  in  the  lame 
country    fhepherds 


ver  their  flock  by 
night.    , 

9   And,   lo,   the 
an- 


20 


The  Evangelijl 


Chap.  ii. 


afraid. 


angel  of  the  Lord   calling,  obferve  what  an  honour  God  put  upon  them, 

and  ^he150"^^^  rather  tha"  UP°n  the  chl'ef  PHefts   and  mlers>   kinSs 
the     Lord     ihone   an0^  nobles  of  the  earth  ;  and  what  an  early  intima- 

round  about  them ;  tion  he  herein  gave,  that  Chrift  fhould  not  derive  his 
and  they  were  fore  authority  from  man,  nor  aim  at  a  temporal  king- 
dom !  As  "Jacob  and  Mofes  had  the  virions  of  God 
while  they  were  keeping  their  flocks;  [Gen.  xxxi.  1 1. 
and  Exod.  iii.  I,  2.)  fo  *  the  angel  of  the  Lord 
came  down  in  a  vifible  form  from  heaven,  and,  Hop- 
ping his  courfe  in  the  air,  (sttwdi)  ftood  over  their 
heads,  that  they  might  fee  him  ;  and,  at  the  fame 
time,  a  glorious  brightnefs,  the  emblem  of  the  divine 
prefence,  (hone  all  around  them  ;  at  which  wonder-* 
ful  fight  they,  like  mortal,  though  ||  good  men, 
were  filled  with  great  furprife  and  fear. 

10  Then,  to  relieve  their  labouring  minds,  and  en- 
courage an  humble  compofure,  confidence,  and  joy, 
the  angel  fpoke  comfortably  to   them,   faying,   Do 

good  tidings  of  not  be  difmayed  or  affrighted,  as  if  any  danger  were 
great  joy,  which  at  hand  :  For  behold,  I  am  come  to  tell  you  the  bell 
eo"  news,  that  ever  reached  the  ears  of  the  finful  fons  of 
man  ;  a  matter  of  the  greateft  joy,  not  only  to  your- 
felves,  but  to  many  others  with  you  ;  nor  to  the 
Jews  only,  but  to  the  Gentiles  alfo,  even  to  people 
of  all  nations  that  mail  hear  and  receive  it. 

1 1  For  to  you,  the  children  of  Ifrael,  and  of  the 
fathers,  to  whom  the  promifes  were  made  ;  and  to 
you,  fmners,  who  need  a  Saviour,  and  mull  be  for 
ever  undone  without  him  ;  to  you,  in  diftinftion 
from  the  fallen  angels  ;  to  all  and  every  one  of  you 
that  fhall  believe  in  him,  is  the  long  looked  for  Mefiiah 
born,  this  very  day,  at  Bethlehem,  the  city  of  David, 
(i  Sam.  xvii.  12.)  from  which  it  was  anciently  pro- 
phefied  (Mic.  v.  2.)  that  he  mould  arife,  who  is  the 
anointed  of  God,  Sion's  King,  and  Lord  of  all. 

1 2  And  the  fign  by  which  ye  may  certainly  di- 

ie  a  fign  unto  you ;  ftinguifh  the    new-born    Infant    from    all    others,    is 
Ye  fhall   find   the     ^        y  .       .  h       .        ^  find   him   .       fa 

babe  wrapped    in  »   &     .6  J' 

Twaddling  clothes,  itabie   01    an    inn,    wrapped    about    with    lwaadlmg 

lying  in  a  manger,  cloaths,  and  lying  in  a  manger. 

13  And  hidden---  1 3  Immediately  upon  the  angel's  delivering  this  joy- 
ly  there  was  with  fuj  rneffage,  a  great  company  of  other  celeftial  fpirits 
the  angel  a  mult!-  attend  d  hi  to  celebrate  the  praifes  of  God,  and 
tude   ot   the    hea-  '                                      r                  t    •• 

venly  hoft  praiiing   congratulate  the  happinels  or  men,  upon  the  mcarna- 

God,  and  faying,      tion  of  his  Son,  in  the  following  lofty  ftrains. 

14  Glory  to  God         1^  The  glory  of  God  is  now  difplayed  more  than 

on  ever 

NOTES. 

*  This  was  probably  the  angel  Gabriel,  who  before  had  appeared  to  Zaclia- 
rias  and  to  Mary. 

||  Thefe  fhepherds  feems  to  have  been  religious  men,  that  feared  the  Lord ;  for 
it  is  to  fuch  that  God  reveals  his  fecrets,  Pfal.  xxv.  14. 


10  And  the  an- 
gel laid  unto  them, 
Fear  not :  for,  be- 
hold,  I  bring  you 


pie. 


1 1  For  unto  you 
is  born  this  day,  in 
the  city  of  David, 
a  Saviour,  which 
is  Chrift  the  Lord. 


iz  And  thisjfrall 


Chap.  ii. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


11 


good-will  towards 
men. 


T5  And  it  came 
to  pals,  as  the  an- 


in  the  higheft,  and  ever  it  was  before :  May  all  poflible  honours  be  afcr1- 
ce'  bed  to  him,  in  the  moll  exalted  adorations,  among 
his  people  in  this  world,  and  among  faints  and  angels 
on  high  \  The  greateft  profperity  and  happinefs  is 
now  brought  to  iinful  men  on  earth  *,  and  particu- 
larly to  the  objects  of  his  peculiar  love  among  them  : 
May  it  fpread  far  and  wide  in  their  reconciliation 
with  God,  with  us,  and  with  one  another ;  and  in  the 
peace  of  their  own  fouls,  that  enmity  and  difcord, 
confufion  and  trouble,  may  no  more  be  heard  of  a- 
mong  them  !  The  moll  affecting  inftance  of  the 
mere  good  pleafure  of  God's  goodnefs  now  breaks 
out  toward  the  human  race,  in  diftinction  from  the  an- 
gelic nature  :  May  all  defirable  bleffings  fpring  from 
thence,  and  be  communicated,  to  the  glory  of  divine 
grace,  in  their  falvation  through  the  Mefliah  ! 

15  As  foon  as  thefe  glorious  fpirits  had,  in  this 
manner,  fung  the   praifes   of  the  Redeemer's   birth, 

gels  were  gone  a-     ,        returned  to  heaven  ;    and  the  lhepherds,  belie- 
way  from  them  in-      .    /  '      .  *      ,    ■*  . 
to     heaven      the    ving  what  they  had  been  hearing,  communed  with  one 

lhepherds  faid  one  another  about  it,  faying,   Come,  let  us  go  fonvard 

to  another,  Let  us  t0  Bethlehem,  that  we  ourfelves  may  fee  the  bleffed 

T\K  evenunt^  Saviour,  wl\o,  God  has  told  us,  by  an  immediate  ex- 

fee      this      thin?  preis  rrom  himielr,  is  io  lately  born  there, 
which  is  come  to         1 6   Accordingly   they   battened   thither    with   all 

pafs,     which    the  fpeed  ;   and,   following  the   directions   of  the  angel, 

Lord  .hath    made  foon  found  out  jftary  and    Jofeph,  with  their  Infant- 

nnwn  unto  us.  „        ,    .        .    -  .    a        !\      1  1  rr 

6    And    they  Sen  ^YmS  m  ^  manger,  juit  as  the  heavenly  melienger 

»e  with    hafte.    had  reprefented  the  cafe. 

17  And,  theirfaith  being  hereby  further  confirmed, 
they  were  fo  full  of  joy,  that  they  could  not  hold 
their  peace;  but  took  all  opportunities,  wherever 
they  came,  to  publiih  the  vifion,  and  the  declaration 
and  fong  of  the  angels,  which  they  had  been  favour- 
ed with,    as  alfo  what   they  themfelves  had  feen  at 

abroad  the  faying    Bethlehem,  relating  to  this  child. 

which     was     told  '  °  ,  .       .  c 

18  And  all  that  heard  the  lhepherds  account  ot 

thefe  things  were  greatly  amazed,  and  at  a  lofs  to 
know  what  to  make  of  it  :  They  could  not  think  it 
likely  that  fueh  a  fort  of  plain,  honefl,  undeiigning 
men  mould  form  the  (lory,  and  go  about  to  impoie 
it  on  the  world  ;  and  could  not  but  know  that 
their  teftimony  was  ftrengthened  by  the  general  ex- 
pectation at  that  time  of  the  Memah's  appearing, 
and  by  the  then  prevailing  notion  that  his  birth 
would  be  at  Bethlehem  :   (Mat.  ii.  4,  5.)      And  yet 

it 


known  unto  us 

1 

came  with  hafte, 
and  found  Mary 
and  Jofeph,  and 
the  babe  lying  in  a 
manger. 

17  And,  when 
they  had  feen  it, 
they  made  known 


them      concerning 
this  child. 

1 3  And  ail  they 
that  heard  it,  won- 
dered at  thole 
things  which  were 
told  them  by  the 
lhepherds. 


N     O 
*  As  this  verfe  may  be  considered  un- 
der the  form  of  a  declaration,   and  of  a 
with;  and  as,  in  the  laft  claufe,   the  A- 
lexandrian,  and  feveral  other  copies,  read  paraphraTe 

Vol.  II.  E 


T     E. 

tvSoxnc,  according  to  which  the  rendering 
may  be,  Peace  among  the  men  of  his  good- 
will. I  have  taken  all  thefe  femes  into  the 
Vid.  Mill.  Nov.  Tejt.h 


22 


The  Evangelijt 


Chap. 


n. 


19 

kept 
things 


But  Mary 
all  thefe 
and  pon- 
her 


tiered  them  in 
heart. 


it  was  wonderful  in  their  efteem,  that  he  fbould  be 
born  of  fuch  mean  parents,  and  in  fuch  defpicable 
circumftances  ;  and  that  perfons  of  fuch  low  figure,  as 
thefe  fhepherds,  mould  be  the  men  to  whom  God  fent 
an  angel  to  reveal  it. 

19  But  Mary,  the  mother  of  Jefus,  believed  as 
well  as  wondered  at  thefe  things  ;  and,  for  the 
ftrengthening  of  her  faith,  and  expectation  of  what 
might  further  appear,  (he  carefully  obferved  and  feri- 
oufly  reflected  upon  them,  comparing  what  the  angel 
had  faid  to  the  fhepherds,  and  the  fhepherds  to  her, 
with  what  fhe  before  had  heard  from  Gabriel,  and  from 
"Zacharias  and  Elifabeth;  though,  to  prevent  an  ap- 
pearance of  vain-glory,  fhe  kept  them  moftly  to  herfelf. 

20  And  the  fhepherds  returned  to  the  duties  of 
their  civil  flation,  with  the  high  praifes  of  God  in 
their  hearts  and  mouths  :  They  admired  and  adored 
his  infinite  love  and  grace  to  man,  and  his  affecting 
condefcenfion  in  honouring  themfelves,  in  fo  extraor- 
dinary a  manner,  with  the  firfl  notices  of  it ;  they  gave 
glory  to  God  for  all  that  they  had  heard  and  feen  at 
Bethlehem,  as  well  as  in  the  fields,  and  for  the  exa£l 
correfpondence  which  they  found  between  fa£ts  and 
the  angel's  words. 

2 1  Now,  on  the  eighth  day  after  the  birth  of  this 
child,  (fee  the  note  on  Mat.  xxvii.  63.)  his  parents 
took  care  to  have  him  circumcifed  according  to  God's 
command  :  (Gen.  xvii.  8,  9.)  Which  painful  ordi- 
nance he  was  brought  under,  not  becaufe  he,  who 
was  holy  in  his  birth,  needed,  like  other  children, 
to  be  cleanfed  from  original  fin  ;  but  that  he  might 
appear  in  the  likenefs  of  finful  flefh,  and  be  vifibly 
made  under  the  law  by  a  facred  rite,  which  obliged 
him  to  keep  the  whole  law  ;  as  alfo  that  he  might  be 
owned  to  be  the  feed  of  Abraham,  and  a  member  of 
the  fewifh  church  ;  might  wear  the  badge  of  the 
children  of  God,  and  put  an  honour  upon  the  folemn 
covenant-dedication  of  the  infant-feed  of  God's  pro- 
felling  people  to  him  :  And,  at  his  circumcifion,  his 
parents,  according  to  cuflom,  publicly  declared  his 
name  to  be  Jefus,  as  the  angel  ordered  him  to  be  call- 
ed, at  his  appearing  firfl  to  Mary  before  the  concep- 
tion, and  afterwards  to  fofeph  before  the  birth,  of 
the  child.     (Chap.  i.  31.  and  Mat.  i.  21.) 

22   And  forty  days  after  his  birth,  which  was  the 
time  appointed  in  Mofcs's  law  for  f  the  purification 

.        of 

NOTE. 

f  Some  good  copies  read  it  (avluv,)  Jin  for  us,  he  came  under  the  legal  ordi- 

thcir  purification,   taking  in  both  the    nance  for  purification,  like  other  children, 

Virgin  and  Jefus;  and  though  he  had  no    as  if  he  had  beenafinner.  Vid.MiW.inloc- 

fin  of  his  own,  yet,  as  he  was  to  be  made 


zo  And  the 
fhepherds  return- 
ed, glorifying  and 
praifing  God  for 
all  the  things  that 
they  had  heard  and 
feen,  as  it  was 
told  unto  them. 


z  1  And  when 
eight  days  were 
accomplished  for 
the  circumcifing  of 
the  child,  his  name 
was  called  JESUS, 
which  was  fo  na- 
med of  the  angel 
before  he  was 
conceived  in  the 
womb. 


And    when 

the  days  of  her  pu- 

ri- 


Chap.  ii. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


23 

rification,  accord-  of  the  mother  of  a  male  child,  (Lev.  xii.  2,  3,  4.) 
jng  to  the  law  of  bis  parents  brought  him  to  Jerufa/em,  that  they 
complifhed"  they  mi'ght  prefent  him  in  the  temple  before  the  Lord,  by- 
brought  him  to  Je-  which  all  righteoufnefs  early  began  to  be  fulfilled  in 
rufalem,  to  prefent  him. 

him  to  the  Lord,  2^  f}^  was  ^one  [n  obedience  to  the  law,   (Exod. 

written  iiAhe  law  xm*  2*)  wnere  God  ordered  that  all  the  firft-born  of 

of  the  Lord,  Every  Ifrael  mould  be  confecrated  to  him,    in  commemora- 

male  that  openeth  tion  and  thankful  acknowledgment  of  his  having  de- 

the  womb  fliall  be  livered  theirs,  when  thofe  of  the  Egyptians  were  flain 

2lid)h0ly  t0  ^  b^  the  deftroymg  angel  :  [Nutnb.  iii.  13.)  Accord- 
ingly Jefus,  who  is  the  firft-born  among  many  bre- 
thren, was  prefented  in  the  temple,  as  Mary's  firft- 
born  f ,  that  he  might  be  deemed  holy  to  the  Lord. 

24  At  the  fame  time  his  mother  likewife  offered 
the  facrifice  appointed  in  the  law  of  God  for  her  puri- 
fication :  And  as  her  hufband  and  fhe  were  too  poor  to 
afford  a  lamb  and  a  dove,  which  were  required  of  thofe 
that  were  able,  fhe,  as  was  allowed  in  cafe  of  poverty, 
(Lev.  xii.  6,  7,  8.)  offered  a  couple  of  turtle-doves,  or 
young  pigeons  ;  one  for  a  burnt-offering,  in  teilimo- 
ny  of  her  thankfulnefs  ;  and  the  other  for  a  fin-offer- 
ing, in  teflimony  of  her  finfulnefs,  and  unworthmefs 
of  the  mercy  fhe  had  received  ;  and  both  together, 
to  make  a  typical  atonement  for  her. 
25  And  behold,        25  While  Jefus  appeared  in  all  thefe  circumftances 

there  was  a  man  in    0f  meannefs  in  the  temple,  obferve  the  honour  which, 


24  And  to  offer 
a  facrifice,  accord- 
ing to  that  which 
is  faid  in  the  law 
of  the  Lord,  A  pair 
of  turtle-doves,  or 
two  young  pige- 
ons. 


Jerufalem,  whole 
name  <uias  Simeon ; 
and  the  fame  man 
ivas  juft  and  de- 
vout, waiting  for 
the  confolation  of 
Ifrael:  and  the  Ho- 
ly Ghoft  was  upon 
him. 


at  the  fame  time,  was  put  upon  him  :  There  was  in 
jerufalem,  a  noted  man,  named  Simeon,  who  was  a 
perfon  of  great  integrity  and  devotion,  ftri&ly  juft  to- 
ward men,  and  eminently  religious  toward  God  ;  and 
who  believed,  and  was  daily  looking  for  an  accom- 
plifhment  of,  the  promifes  concerning  the  Mefliah, 
the  hope  of  whom  was  the  joy  of  the  faithful  in  If- 
rael, and  whole  appearing  would  bring  to  them  the 
richeft  confolations :  And  the  Holy  Ghoft  came  upon 
this  holy  man,  in  a  way  of  extraordinary  revelation 
and  prophetic  impulfe  ; 
26  And  it  was  26  And  he  was  divinely  warned  (Ki^^uariT/^iJov) 
revealed  unto  him   by  the  infpiration  of  the  Spirit,  that  the  joyful,  long- 


by  the  Holy  Ghoft, 
that  he  fliould  not 
fee  death,  before  he 
had  feenthe  Lord's 
Chrift. 

27  And  he  came 

by  the  Spirit  into 

the    temple :    and 

when 


N     O 

f  Chrift's  birth  being  expreffed  by  his 
opening  the  womb,  fhews  that  he  was 
born  of  the  Virgin  in  the  ufual  way  of 
women's  bringing  forth  children,  whatib- 


looked  for  day  of  God's  Mefliah's  appearing,  was  fo 
nigh  at  hand,  that,  old  as  he  was,  his  own  eyes 
fliould  behold  him  before  he  died  +. 

27   Accordingly,  at  the  very  time  when  JoJe/)/jy 
the  reputed  father,  and  Mary,  the  real  mother  of  Je- 
fus, brought  him  into  the  temple,  to  prefent  him  to 
E   2  the 

T     E     S. 

ever  fome  of  the  ancients  vainly  imagined 
to  the  contrary. 

\  Seeing  death  is  a  Hehraifm    fpr  iy. 
ing,  Plal.  Ixxxix.  4S. 


29  Lord,  now 
letteit  thou  thy  fer- 
Varrt  depart  in 
peace,  according 
to  thv  word : 


*  30  For  mine 
eyes  have  feen  thy 
valvation : 


24  The  Evangelift  Chap.  ii. 

when  the  parents   the  Lord,  according  to  the  legal  cuftom  before-men- 
brouoht      in      the    tioned    /er>  22  x  this  simeon    came  thither  likewife 
child    Teiu.%    to  do     ,  .    '  ->  n-  r    <i       o    •   •        r  y-.     1 

for  him   after  the    by  the  iuggeftion  of  the  Spirit  of  God. 
cuftom  or' the  law,         28  And,  as  foon  as  he  faw  the  Infant,  it  being 
2S  Then  took  he.   revealed  to  him  by  the  Holy  Ghoil  that  this  was  the 

and  "blefied"  God'    L°rd,S  Q]lY'1^  his  heart  leaPed  for  'i°Y  »   and>   in  holy 

?nd  faid  '    tranfport>  be  catched  the  dear  Saviour  in  his  arms,  and, 

embracing  him  J,    adored,   and  magnified,    and  gave 

thanks  to  God  for  him,  in  the  following  long  of  praife : 

29  Now,  Lord,  I  have  done  with  the  prefent 
life,  thou  having  given  me  the  utmoft  that  my  heart 
could  wifh  for  in  it  :  And,  as  this  performance  of 
thy  promife,  about  feeing  the  Mefliah,  is  an  intima- 
tion *  that  the  time  of  my  departure  is  at  hand,  I 
am  ready  to  die  at  thy  command  ;  and  it  is  with  the 
greateft  fatisfaclion  that  I  leave  the  Saviour  in  this 
world,  and  hope  to  meet  him  with  rich  advantage  in 
a  better. 

30  For  I  am  highly  favoured  beyond  all  the  pro- 
phets and  holy  men  that  have  ever  gone  before  me  ; 
their  predictions  are  now  accomplifhed,  and  thy  gra- 
cious promife  particularly  to  me,  thy  unworthy  fer- 
vent, is  fulfilled  ;  thefe  mortal  eyes  of  mine  have  been 
bleiTed  with  the  fight  of  him,  who  is  the  fum  and 
fubftance,  and  the  author  and  giver,  of  all  the  falva- 
tion  which  thou  haft  promifed  to  beftow  through  him ; 

3 1  Whom  thou  hail  provided  in  thy  eternal  coun- 

Laft  prepared   be-    feiSj  an(j  now  fent  jnto  ^  wor\A    an(J  for  whom  thou 

fore  the  lace  01  all    1     n  j      i     j        ^1    ^  i  Vi 

halt  prepared  a  body,  that  he  may  appear  with  open 

evidence  and  effectual   operation  as  a  Redeemer   a- 

mong  all  nations  whatfoever. 

32  Thou  haft  given  him  to  be  a  light  to  the  Gen- 
tiles^ who  have,  in  all  ages,  fat  in  darknefs ;  and  to  re- 

Jlore  the  preferred  of  Ifrael,  who  were  funk  into  great 
degeneracy  ;  {If a*  xlix.  6.)  yea,  and  to  bring  the 
higheft  honour  to  thine  ancient  people  the  Jews, 
as  he  derives  his  birth  from  them,  will  personally 
convene  with,  preach,  and  do  his  mighty  deeds,  and 
begin  his  faving  work  firft.  among  them,  and  will  af- 
terwards fend  out  his  gofpel  from  them  for  the  con- 
verfion  of  others  ;  and  in  him  (hall  all  the  true,  feed  of 
Ifrael  he  jufrifed,  and  fJja  11  glory.    (Ifa.  xlv.  25.) 

33  In  this  manner  Simeon  celebrated  the  praifes  of 
God,  giving  free  vent  to  his  facred  joy  at  the  fight  of 
the  Meffiah  :    And  both  Jo/eph,  and  Alary  his  *mo- 

ther, 
T    E    S. 


■it  Which   thou 


people  : 


32  A  light  to 
lighten  the  Gen- 
tiles, and  the  glo- 
ry of  thy  people 
Ifrael. 


33   And   Jofeph 

and     his     mother 

marvelled  at  thole 

things 


N     O 

\  Some   fuppofe   that   Simeon  was  a 

prieft,  and  that  he  took  Jems  in  his  arms 

'i  perform  the  prieft's  part  in  prefent- 

*-iim  to  the  Lord. 

*  Simeon  feemed  to  underftand,  that 


what  was  revealed  to  him  by  the  Holy 
Ghoft,  ver.  26.  carried  this  meaning, 
That,  as  foon  as  he  fliould  have  feen  the 
Lord's  Chrift,  he  mould  die ;  and  he  was 
willing  to  have  it  fo. 


Chap.  ii. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


25 


34  And  Simeon 
bleffed  them,  and 
laid  unto  Mary  his 
mother,       Behoiu, 


ling  again  of  many 
in  Ifrael ;  and  for 
a  fign  which  lhail 
be  fpoken  againfl ; 


35  (Yea,afword 
fhalipierce  through 
thy  own  foul  alfo,) 
that  the  thoughts 
of  many  hearts 
may  be  revealed. 


things  which  were   ther,   reflecting   on   this,   together  with   what   they 
fpoken  ot  him.         j^  feen  anc[  beard  before  concerning  him,  flood  a- 
mazed  at  the  remarkable  concurrence  of  fuch  magni- 
ficent teflimonies  to  the  great  and   glorious   things 
that  were  to  be  done  by  him. 

34  And  Avhile  they  were  filled  with  delightful 
wonder,  Simeon  congratulated  their  happinefs,  and 
begged  of  God  to  blefs  them,  on  accouut  of  their  re- 

;  (et  lation  to  Jefus ;  and,  particularly  addrefiing  himfelf  to 
for  the  fall  and  ri-  the  virgin  Alary,  he  laid,  Obferve,  this  very  child  is 
ordained  of  God,  and  brought  into  the  world,  to  be 
eventually  an  occafion  of  Humbling  and  falling  to  ma- 
ny Ifraeiites,  as  was  prophefied  of  him  :  {Ifa.  viii. 
14,  15,  18.)  But  the  direct  and  principal  defign  of 
God  in  fending  him,  is  to  raife  up  many  others  of 
them,  and  even  of  thofe  that  at  firfl  Humbled  at  him, 
to  fpiritual  life  and  happinefs,  through  faith  in  him 
here,  and  to  eternal  glory  hereafter  :  Many  alfo  fhall 
fall,  in  a  temporal  fenfe,  by  outward  troubles  and 
difgraces  for  his  fake  ;  and  mall  rife,  in  a  fpiritual 
fenfe,  by  the  inward  confolations  and  fpiritual  ho- 
nours that  he  will  bellow  upon  them  :  And  he  fhall 
appear  in  fuch  wonderfully  mean  and  fuffering  circum- 
ftances,  that  many  will  fpeak  with  bitter  enmity,  blaf- 
phemy,   and  revilings  againil  him. 

35  Yea,  fo  inveterate  will  their  prejudices  and  cru- 
elties be  againfl  him,  that  you,  who  have  the  honour 
of  being  his  mother  after  the  flefh,  fhall  fufFer  as 
much  anguifh  and  pain,  as  if  your  heart  were  thrufl 
through  with  a  fvvord,  on  account  of  the  fhocking 
things  which  you  fhall  be  eye  and  ear-witnefs  of,  as 
done  and  faid  againil  him,  and  by  means  of  the 
perfecutions  which  you  fhall  fufFer  for  his  fake,  be- 
caufe  of  your  relation  to  him,  and  profefFion  of 
him  -j-  ;  all  which  will  come  to  pafs  for  the  difco- 
very  of  many  hypocrites  and  fincere  believers,  that  it 
may  be  clearly  feen  who  are  for  him,  and  fhall  be  fa- 
ved ;  and  who  are  againfl  him,  and  mail  be  loft  for  ever. 

36  There  was  likewife  one  j4nna,  who  was  endued 
with  the  fpirit  of  prophecy  ;  fhe  was  the  daughter 
of  Phanuel,  of  the  tribe  of  Afier,  and  a  very  old 
woman,  who  had  been  married  only  to  one  hufband, 
and  lived  in  a  flate  of  wedlock  but  feven  years  from 
her  virginity  to  her  widowhood. 

37  The  age  of  this  widow  was  about  eighty-four 
years :  And  though  fhe  was  fo  old,  yet  fuch  were  her 
uncommon  piety  and  devotion,  that  fhe  conflantly  at- 
tended the  worfhip  of  God  at  the  temple,  morning 

and 
NOTE. 
Epipbanh/s,  as  is  ufually  obferved,  fays,   that  Mary  herfelf  luflered  martyr- 
dom for  f.hrift,     Vicl.  lib.  iii.  Hceref.  xxxviii. 


36  And  there 
was  one  Anna  a 
prophetefs,  the 
daughter  of  Pha- 
nuel. of  the  tribe 
of  Afer ;  fhe  was 
of  a  great  age,  and 
had  lived  with  an 
hufband  feven  years 
from  her  virginity: 

37  And  fhe  ivas 
a  widow  of  about 

four- 


26 


The  EvangeBJl 


Chap.  ii. 


39  And  when 
they  had  perform- 
ed all  things,  ac- 
cording to  the  law 


fourfcore  and  four   and  evening,  and  on  all  occafions  ;   and  was  very  frc- 
years :    which  de-   qUent  jn  f0lemn  fallings  and  prayer,  to  as  great  a  de- 

temple,  but  fervcd  &ree>  as  the  jrailtv  °*  human  nature,  at  her  advan- 
ce/ with  fallings  ced  years,  could  be  fuppofed  to  admit  of. 
and  prayers  night  38  This  holy  woman  coming  into  the  temple,,  as 
ailC„c  1'  a  (u  we^  as  ^meon'>  at  the  very  time  when  Jefus  was 
minff  in  thai'  in-  brought  thither ;  and  fhe,  by  the  inspiration  of 
ftan?,  gave  thanks  the  Holy  Ghoft,  knowing  him  to  be  the  Mefliah, 
likewife  unto  the  heartily  bleffed  God  for  him,  and  talked  of  him  to  all 
Lord,  and  lpakeof  }jer  religious  acquaintance  in  Jerufalem,  who  were 
himtoallthemthat  •.•  m  r  *A  u  j  1  j  r  r  a 
looked  for  redemp-  waiting  with  faith,  hope,  and  longing  defire  for  the 

tion  in  Jerufalem.     falvation  which  they  were  then  expecting  would  foon 
be  brought  to  his  people  by  the  great  Redeemer. 

39  When  every  thing  relating  to  Chrift  and  his 
mother  had  been  done  at  Jerufalem,  as  the  law  re- 
quired in  their  circumftances,  they,  together  with 
of  the°Lord,  they  the  reputed  father  Jofeph,  returned  in  due  time  % 
returned  into  Ga-  to  Nazareth  in  Galilee,  which  was  the  town  of  their 
cit%a°Zareth°Wn   ufual  refidence. 

40  And  '  the  4°  And  the  child  Jefus  increafed  in  bodily 
child  grew,  and  ftrength  and  ftature  ;  and  ||  the  natural  powers  of 
waxed  ftrong  in  his  human  mind  daily  improved,  with  his  advancing 
1  years,  as  they  do  in  other  children,  only  with  abun- 
dantly more  ftrength  and  vigour  ;  and  together  with 
the  enlargement  of  thefe,  he  was  vifibly  enriched,  every 
day  more  and  more,  in  an  extraordinary  manner,  with 
divine  wifdom,  free  from  all  mixture  of  folly  or  error, 
by  the  irradiating  light  of  the  indwelling  God-head, 
which  gradually  opened  itfelf  in  him,  and  filled  him 
with  every  grace,  far  beyond  one  of  his  age  f ,  and 
highly  recommended  him  to  the  favour  of  God. 

41  Now  as,  at  the  paffover,  all  the  males  of  Ifrael 
rents  went  to  were  obliged,  by  the  law,  to  appear  annually  before 
Jerufalem^  ^every  the  Lord  at  JeruJalem^  Jofeph  conftantly  went  up  thi- 
fhTnafWr.6  ther  ;   and  Mary,  in  the  greatnefs  of  her  piety,  at- 

tended him  every  year  on  thofe  folemn  occafions,  t© 


wifdom;  and  the 
grace  of  God  was 
upon  him. 


41  Now  his  pa- 


the  paflbver. 


celebrate  that  great  feftival  there. 


NOTES. 


42  And 


%  Luke  paffes  over  Jofeph's  flight  with 
Jefus  and  his  mother  into  Egypt,  which 
we  have  an  account  of,  Mat.  ii.  and 
which,  as  is  generally  fuppofed,  took  up 
better  than  two  years  before  their  return 
to  Na-z-areth. 

||  His  nvaxing  fnong  in  fpirit,  feems  to 


Ghoft;  becaufe  it  is  never  faid  of  him, 
as  of  John  the  Baptijl,  (ch.  i.  15.)  that 
he  Jljould  be  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghoft, 
even  from  his  fnother's  womb  ;  nor  is  a- 
ny  mention  made  of  Chrift's  being  filled 
with  the  Holy  Ghoft,  till  his  baptifm, 
when   he  entered  upon  the  public  Hif- 


relate   to  the   natural  improvements  of    charge  of  the  office  for  which  his  Father 
his  human  foul ;    and  the  following  ex-    fent  him. 


preffionsmore  immediately  refpeel  his  ex- 
traordinary fpiritual  endowments,  which 
J  take  to  have  proceeded  rather  from  the 
power  of  the  indwelling  Godhead,  which 
was  personally  united  with  the  Man  Je- 
/us,   than  from  the   gifts  of  the  Holy 


f  Xa^if,  grace,  fometimes  fignifies  an 
excellent  internal  quality;  and  at  others 
the  favour  of  God :  And  in  both  thefe 
fenies  it  is  applied  to  Chrift,  John  i.  14. 
and  Luke  ii.  53. 


Chap,  ii. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


27 


42  And  when 
he  was  twelve 
years  old,  they 
went  up  to  Jerufa- 
lem, after  the  cuf- 
tom  of  the  feaft. 


42  And  when  Jefus  came  to  be  twelve  years  ©ld„ 
*  his  parents  took  him  along  with  them  to  Jerufa- 
Itm,  that  he,  together  with  them,  might  attend  the 
ufual  rites  and  ordinances  of  that  religious  feaft. 

43  And  when  they  had  continued  there  the  full 
43    And    when  length  of  the  appointed  time,  till  all  the  worihip  be- 

they  had  fulfilled  longinCr  to  that  folemnity  was  over,  his  parents  fet 
the  days,  as  they  ^  fo*  the;r  :ourney  back  again  to  Nazareth  ;  but 
^rtrrled  be  Jefus  himfelf  ftaid  ftill  at  Jerufalem.  to  manifeft 
Lain  Jerufalem;  fomething  of  the  glory  which  was  afterwards  to  be 
and  Jofeph  and  his  more  funy  revealed  in  him  ;  Jofepb,  and  Alary,  nis 
mother  knew  not    motherj  knowing  nothing  of  the  matter. 

44  But,  as  great  companies  ufed  to  travel  toge- 
ther in  their  return  home,  they  concluded  that  he  was 
among  fome  of  their  relations  or  acquaintance,  though 
not  prcfent  with  themfelves  \,  and  fo  were  eafy  till 
they  had  gone  a  day's  journey  ;  when,  neither  feeing 
nor  hearing  any  thing  of  him,  they  began  to-  be  in 
great  pain  about  him,  and  to  inquire  after  him  among 
all  the  companies  with  whom  they  thought  he  might 
moft  probably  affociate.  , 

45  And  when,  upon  inquiry,  they  found  their 
miftake,  and  knew  not  what  was  become  of  their 
dear  child,  from  whom  they  juftly  expeded  the  beft 
of  blefiings  to  themfelves  and  to  Ifrael,  they,  full  of 
frights  and  fears,  haftened  back  again  with  all  poffible 
fpeed  to  jerufalem,  to  make  the  ftrideft  fearch  after 

him.  ....        .       .,, 

46  Here  likewife  they  fought  for  him  in  vain,  till 
the  third  day,  (fee  the  note  on  Mat.  xxvii.  63.) 
when,  to  the  joy  of  their  hearts,  ihey  found  him  in 
an  apartment  of  the  temple  where  the  do&ors  ufed  to 
difcufs  matters  relating  to  the  law;  and  there, 
though  but  twelve  years  old,  he  was  fitting  among 
them,  and  mewing  his  great  modefty  in  hearing  their 
debates,  and  his  extraordinary  wifdom  in  propofing 
queftions  to  them,  and  in  anfwering  fuch  as  they  put 

to  him : 

47  In  fo  much  that  all  the  audience  were  exceed- 
ingly amazed  at  the  manner  of  his  talking,  which 
was  not  like  a  child,  but  like  one  who  had  the  wif- 
dom of  God  in  him  ;  fomething  of  his  divinity  dif- 
playing  itfelf  on  this  occafion,  in  fuch  a  furprifing 
manner,  that  he  outlhone  all  the  rabbies  themfelves 
in  the  fagacity  and  prudence  of  his  queftions  and  re- 
plies. .  , 
r                                                                              48  And 

NOTES. 

*  At  this  age,  the  Jenvifb  doctors  fay,  moftly  in  diftincT:  companies,  his  mother 
Perfons  were  obliged' to  do  the  duties  of  mi^ht  think  that  he  was  with  his  father, 
adult  church-memberfhip.  and  his  father  that  he  was  with  his  rhc- 

%.  Or,  the  men  and  women  travelling    ther 


of  it. 

44  But  they, 
fuppofing  him  to 
have  been  in  the 
company,  went  a 
day's  journey ;  and 
they  fought  him  a- 
mong  their  kins- 
folk and  acquaint- 
ance. 


45  And  when 
they  found  him 
not,  they  turned 
back  again  to 
Jerufalem,  feeking 
him. 


46  And  it  came 
to  pafs,  that,  after 
three  days,  they 
found  him  in  the 
temple,  fitting  in 
the  midft  of  the 
doctors,  both  hear- 
ing them,  and  afk- 
ing  them  queftions. 


47  And  all  that 
heard  him  were  a- 
ftonifhed  at  his  un- 
Jcrftanding  and 
anfwers. 


23 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  ii. 


to 

haft  thou  thus 
dealt  with  us?  be- 
hold thy  fat'i  x 
and  I  have  fought 
thee  forrowins. 


49  And  he  faid 
unto  them.  How 
is  it  that  ye  fought 
me?  will  ye  not 
that  I  muft  be  a- 


4S    And    when  48   And  when  his  parents  found  him  thus  employ- 

they  law  him,  they  e(j   anc[  aclmired,  among  fuch  company,  they  were  a- 

were  amazed:  and  j^^u'l        u    t         1                                u                        c 

his  mother  faid  un-  mazed  to  think  what  early  appearances  here  were  or 

him,  Son,  why  the  great  things  that  they  had  reafon  to  expect  from 
what  they  before  had  heard  and  feen  concerning 
him  :  And  as  Jofephy  being  only  his  father-in-law, 
might  not  think  proper  to  chide  him,  his  mother,  ta- 
king him  afide,  expoftulated  with  him  after  the  fol- 
lowing tender  manner  :  Ah,  my  dear  fon  !  why  didlt 
thou  ftay  behind  thy  father  and  me,  without  our 
knowledge  or  confent,  to  put  us  into  fuch  a  terrible 
fright  about  thee  ?  O  !  think  of  the  diftrefs  this  has 
coll  us  :  Our  minds  have  been  day  after  day  upon 
the  rack,  ever  fince  we  miffed  thee  ;  and  we  have 
been  diligently  fearching  among  all  our  kindred  and 
acquaintance  for  thee,  with  a  thoufand  fears  left  fome 
dreadful  mifchief  had  come  to  thee  :  How  couldft 
thou  give  us  an  occafion  of  fo  much  grief  and  trouble  ? 

49  Jefus  replied,  in  a  way  of  dutiful  refpect;  to  his 
fuppofed  father,  as  well  as  to  his  real  mother,  How 
comes  it  to  pafs  that,  after  all  which  has  been  told 
you  about  me,  ye  mould  fo  little  confider  my  having 

bout  my  Father's   a  Father  in  heaven,  whom  I  muft  prefer  to  all  earth  - 
bufinefs?  ly  parents,  and  who  has  fent  me  on  fpecial  bufinefs 

into  the  world,  which  I  muft  attend  to  ?  Where 
was  your  faith,  that  ye  mould  be  fo  painfully  felicit- 
ous in  your  feeking  after  me  ?  and  where  could  you  fo 
reasonably  expect  to  find  me,  as  in  my  heavenly  Fa- 
ther's own  houfe,  and  employed  in  his  affairs  ? 

50  And  yet  they  did  not  take  in  his  meaning, 
about  the  fpiritual  nature  of  his  work,  fince,  accord- 
ing to  the  prevailing  notions  of  that  day  about  the 
Mefliah,  and  according  to  the  declaration  of  the  an- 
gel, that  he  mould  have  the  throne  of  David  his  fa- 
ther, (chap.  i.  32.)  they  expected  it  would  have  lain 
rather  among  the  princes  and  rulers  of  this  world, 
than  among  the  doctors  in  the  temple. 

51  And  he  went  51  When  by  this  anfwer  he  had  plainly  intimated 
down  with  them,  that  he>  as  the  Son  of  God,  might  juftly  claim  the 
and  came  to  Na-  y^xty  he  had  taken  without  their  leave,  he,  never- 
fubject  unto  them;  thelefs,  to  ftiew  that  he  was  really  a  man,  who  came 
but  his  mother  to  perform  the  obedience  belonging  to  every  relation 
kept  all  thefe  fay-  0f  hfe  ,'nto  which  he  was  caft,  readily  returned  to 
ings  in  her  heart.  j-ye  wjth  them  at  Nazareth,  in  a  private  and  obfeure 
manner  f ,  till  about  the  thirtieth  year  of  his  age  ; 

(chap. 


50  And  they  un- 
derstood not  the 
faying,  which  he 
fpake  unto  them. 


N  O 
f  Juflin  Martyr  tells  us,  that  he  work- 
ed at  his  lather's  trade,  as  a  carpenter, 
in  making  ploughs,  and  yokes  for  oxen  : 
Thereby  ihewing  forth  the  dghteoufnefe, 
meaning  of  private  life,  and  teaching  us 
not  to  be  idle.    Dial,  cum  Tryj>h.  j>.  316. 


T     E. 

And  God  was  fo  highly  honoured  by 
Chrifl's  faithfully  difcharging  the  duties 
of  fo  mean  and  obfeure  a  llation,  that 
he  reckoned  it  a  part  of  the  righteoufnefs 
by  which  he  juftifies  them  that  believe 
in  Jefus. 


Chap.  ii.  Luke  paraphrafed.  29 

(chap.  iii.  23.)  and  cheerfully  fubmitted  to  their  com- 
mands in  every  inftance  of  filial  duty.     In  the  mean- 
while, his  mother  carefully  treafured  up  all  thefe  re- 
markable occurrences  in  her  memory  ;  and  often  re- 
flected ferioufly  upon  them,  in  hopes  of  underiland- 
ing  them  better  in  time  to  come. 
52    And    Jefus        52  And  as  Jefus  grew  up  in  bodily  ftature,  he  all 
mcreafed    in   ml-  aloncr  remarkably  increafed  in  extraordinary  attain- 
dom    and   ftature,  *       r  j-   •  j   r  •  v     1  11  r  t 

and  in  favour  with   ments  0*  divine  and  ipintual,  as  well  as  of  natural 
God  and  man.  wifdom  and  underftanding,  as  fail  as  his  human  foul 

was  capable  of  them,  and  in  his  acceptablenefs  to 
God,  and  to  thofe  men  that  had  opportunity  of  be- 
ing acquainted  with  his  holy  and  amiable  qualifica- 
tions. 

RECOLLECTIONS. 

Who  that  duly  confiders  Augujius'^  decree,  and  the  great  purpofes  anfwered  b7 
it,  without  any  defign  in  him  to  accomplifh  ancient  prophecies,  in  proof  that  our 
Jefus  is  the  true  Meffiah,  can  doubt  of  God's  foreknowledge  and  government  of 
the  free  actions  of  men  ?  And  O  how  glorious  is  the  falvation  brought  in  by  Jefus 
Chrift  !  how  honourable  to  God,  how  full  of  grace  and  peace  to  the  men  of  his 
good-will !  How  delightful  are  the  tidings  of  it  in  the  gofpel  !  and  what  hi"-h 
praifes  are  due  to  God  on  its  account  !  How  cheerfully  mould  we  embrace  the 
dear  Saviour;  and  how  cordially  believe  in  him,  and  recommend  him  to  others  '. 
How  great  is  the  confolation  that  fuch  fliall  find  in  him  ;  and  how  willing  mail  it 
make  them  to  die,  and  go  to  heaven,  and  leave  this  world  of  fin  and  forrow  be- 
hind them,  under  Chrift's  care  and  influence  to  reform  and  blefs  it,  in  hopes  of 
being  with  him  to  behold  his  glory  !  And  how,  after  his  example,  may  God  be 
glorified  in  the  meaneft  bufinefs  of  private  life  1  But,  alas  !  how  many  are  there 
that  only  wonder  at  thefe  things :  And  how  many  that  ftumble  at  them  to  their 
own  perdition  !  Happy  fouls,  who,  after  they  have  fallen,  rife  again  by  faith  in  a 
Redeemer! — How  evidently  did  the  characters  of  the  true  God  and  true  man,  con- 
ftituted  of  an  human,  improving  foul,  as  well  as  body,  early  appear  in  our  blef- 
fed  Lord  !  How  deep  was  his  abafement  in  fulfilling  all  righteouihefs.  that  he 
might  be  a  Saviour  to  us  !  And  yet  what  fignal  honours  were  put  upon  him,  a- 
midft  all  his  humiliation  '. — How  beauteous  is  the  character  of  a  truly  religious 
man,  whilft  he  is  juft  as  well  as  devout,  and  is  conftantly  looking  for  complete  re- 
demption by  Jefus  Chrift  !  To  exemplify  this  amiable  character,  under  the  power 
of  divine  grace,  our  children  fhould  be  early  brought  under  the  leal  of  the  cove- 
nant, and  devoted  to  the  Lord  ;  young  people  fhould  aim  at  an  imitation  of  Jefus, 
in  filial  duty,  and  in  an  increafe  with  all  the  increafes  of  God,  which  are  accept- 
able to  him,  and  render  them  lovely  in  the  eyes  of  men  ;  married  perfons  mould 
confcientioufly  imitate  Jofeph  and  Mary ;  women,  after  child-birth,  fhould  offer 
public  as  well  as  private  thankfgivings  to  God;  and  all  of  us,  whether  young  or  old, 
or  whatever  may  be  our  places  and  relations  in  life,  fhould  ftatedly  attend  the  or- 
dinances of  divine  worfhip,  as  opportunities  offer,  whatfoever  charge  or  pains  ir 
may  coft  us  :  And  if  we  would  find  Chrift  in  them,  we  fhould  feek  him,  forrowing 
for  fin,  and  for  our  former  neglects  of  him,  and  be  very  folicitous  in  our  inquiries 
after  him  ;  fhould  feek  him  in  all  places,  and  particularly  at  his  houfe,  where  i: 
may  be  moft  likely  to  meet  with  hirn  ;  and  fhould  not  give  over  till  we  find  him. 
May  we  keep  all  thefe  things  in  our  hearts'  And  "riir.y  the  grace  of  God  be 
upon  us ! 

C  H  A  P. 
Vol.  II. 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  iii. 


C    H    A 


III. 


he  general  defign  of  the  baptifm  and  minijlry  of  John,  1,-9.       His 

particular  inflruBions  to  the  common  people,  publicans ,  andfoldiers, 

TO, — 14.      His  account  of  the  approach  of  Chrift,   15, — 18.     His 

imprifonment  by  Herod,   19,   20.     Chrift'*  s  baptifm ,  21,  22.    And 

his  pedigree  from  Adam,  23, — 38. 


Paraphrase. 


the  fif-   "VTOW  in  the  fifteenth  year  of  the  reign  of  Tibe- 
year  of   li    rius,  who  was  the  third  of  the  Roman  Ccefars ; 


Text. 
7SJOW  in 

'■       teenth 

rius  Cefar  °Pontius  wnen>  vyitn  refpect  to  the  civil  affairs  of  the  Jews, 

Pilate    being    go-  Pontius  Pilate  was,  under  the  emperor,    governor  of 

vernor    of   Judea,  Judea  ;    and  Herod,    one  of  the  fons  of  Herod  the 

and  Herod    being  Great,  was  f  ruler  of  Galilee,  and  his  brother  Philip 

j   ,  •    .         had  the  dominion  of  It  urea  and   Trachonitis,     and 
iee,    and   his  bro-     _  .        ^  •     At    .    *  ..  :. 

ther  Philip  tetrarcb  A>y anias  had  that  or  Abylene  ;  and  when  with  re- 
of  Iturea  and  of  fpecl:  to  the  Jewijh  religious  affairs,  Annas  and  Ca- 
the  region  of  Tra-    kaphas  fhared  in  the  adminiftration  that  belonged  to 

HuTthe^tettich  the  office  of  the  hiSh  Prieft  t  :  At  this  time  John 
of  Abilene  ^e  Paptifli  the  fon  of  Zacharias  and  Elifabeth,  ha- 
3  Annas  and  ving  till  then  led  a  retired  life  in  an  obfcure  village 
Caiaphas  being  the  m  the  wildernefs,  received  a  commiflion  immediate- 
high  priefts,  the  j  from  God  the  WQrd  of  the  Lord  com{np.  to  hJm 
word  or  God  came  '  «.•  , .  ,  r  .  i  ,  ,  ,  r  1  i 
unto  Tohn    the  fon  as  lfc  na"  formerly  done  to  the  prophets  ot  old,  to 


or     Zacharias,     in 
the  wildernefs. 

3  And  he  came 
into  all  the  coun- 
try about  Jordan, 
preaching  the  bap- 
tifm of  repentance, 


enter  upon  his  public  miniilry,  and  preach  the  doc- 
trines which  God  revealed  to  him. 

3   Accordingly,  beginning  his  miniilry,  and-  exer- 
cifing  it  for  a  while,  in  the  wildernefs  oi  Judea  ^  (Mat. 
iii.  1.)  he  afterwards  went  further  into  all  parts  of 
the  country  which  lay  about  Jordan  ;  and,  preach- 
for  the  remiiTion  of  ing  the  neceffity  of  repentance  to  a  corrupt,  degene- 
**ins;  rate  age,  he  called  upon  them  that  mould  make  a  pro- 

feflion 
NOTES. 
f  The  laft  three  of  thefe  rulers  were  and  xviii.  13.  where  it  is  faid,  Caiaphas 
called  tetrarchs,  either  becauie  each  of  <zvas  high-priejl  that  year  in  which  Chrift 
them  had  under  his  government  a  fourth  was  crucified;  and  fucjj .  as  had  once 
part  of  the  dominions  of  Herod  the  Great ;  borne  that  office  ever  afterwards  retain- 
er becaufc  theirs  was  the  fourth  rank  of  ed  the  name.  Some  fuppofe  that  Annas 
Roman  governors,  the  firft  of  which  was  and  Caiaphas  were  alternately  employed 
the  emperor,  the  next  a  proconjul,  who  in  executing  that  function  year  after 
had  the  government  of  a  province,  the  year,  or  that  one  was  the  deputy  of  the 
third  a  king,  and  the  fourth  a  tetrarch.  other  :  But  perhaps  Annas  repreiented 
See  Lixltjoot  on  the  place.  Mofes,  as  the  naji,  prince,  head,  or  p>e- 

t  The  fceptre  was  now  departed  from  fident  of  the  fanned  rim;  and  Caiaphas 
Judab,  which  had  lately  been  made  a  represented  Aaron,  as  the  proper  high- 
province  to  the  Roman  empire;  and  all  prieft  ;  and,  as  appears  from  John  xviii. 
things  were  out  of  courfe  among  the  13,  24.  both  thefe  continued  in  their  of-- 
yews:  High-priefts  were,  contrary- to  fice  till  the  death  of  Chrift.  This  thexe- 
the  law  of  God,  frequently  chofen  among  fore  was  the  proper  time  for  the  great 
them,  or  impofed  by  imperial  authority  Sbiloh,  the  Reftorer  of  Ifraeh  to  com? 
ltpon  them,  as  is  intimated,  John  xi.  xi.    into  the  world. 


Chap.  iii. 


4  As  it  is  written 
in  the  book  of  the 
words  of  Efaias  the 
prophet,  faying, 
The  voice  of  one 
crying  in  the  wil- 
dernefs,  Prrpare  ye 
the  way  of  the 
Lord,  make  his 
paths  ftraight. 


5  Every  valley 
iliall  be  filled,  and 
every  mountain 
and  hill  (hall  be 
brought  low  ;  and 
the  crooked  fhall 
be  made  ftraight, 
and  the  rough 
ways Jball  be  made 
fmooth ; 

6  And  all  flefh 
'fhall  fee  the  falva- 
tion  of  God. 


7  Then  fa  id  he 
to  the  multitude 
that  came  forth 
to  be  baptized  of 
him,  O  generation 
of  vipers  1  who 
hath  warned  you 
to  flee  from  the 
wrath  to  come  ?, 


Luke  paraphrafed.  31 

feflion  of  it,  to  be  baptized  in  the  name  of  the  ap- 
proaching Mefliah,  as  the  fign  and  fealof  their  ob- 
taining, through  faith  in  him,  the  forgivenefs  of  ail 
their  lins,  which,  by  their  baptifm,  they  were  obliged 
to  repent  of.  (AEls  xix.  4.  See  the  note  on  Mat. 
iii.  2.) 

4  John  did  this,  according  to  the  prophecy,  {If a. 
xl.  3,  4,  5.)  where  he  is  fpoken  of  as  one  who  fhould 
lift  lip  his  voice  aloud  in  the  defert,  to  proclaim  the 
coming  of  the  Mefliah,  and  to  aft  the  part  of  his 
forerunner,  faying,  in  allufion  to  the  cuftom  of  har- 
bingers, that  ufed  to  go  before  their  princes,  and 
o-ive  orders  to  clear  and  level  the  roads,  and  to  cut 
flrait  paths  through  wild  and  defoiate  places,  for  their 
triumphal  entries,  "  Let  all  obftru&ions  that  lie  in 
your  depraved  hearts  and  lives,  give  way  to  the  Lord 
Chrift,  the  Jehovah  of  Ifrael,  who  is  juft  ready  to 
appear  among  you,  that  he  may  have  free  accefs  to 
your  faith,  and  may  be  received  in  inch  a  manner  as 
is  fuitable  to  his  gracious  and  holy  defign."  (Seethe 
note  on  Mat.  xi.  10.) 

5  And,  for  their  encouragement,  John  told  them, 
that  wherever  Chrift  mould  exert  his  power  and  grace, 
humble  fouls  mould  be  exalted,  and  proud  and  lofty 
hearts  fubdued  ;  perverfe  tempers  and  difpofitions 
fhould  be  regulated,  and  rough  fpirits  fmoothed  ;  and 
finners  of  all  ranks  and  ehara&ers  fhould  be  efFedually 
wrought  upon,  reclaimed,  and  turned  to  the  Lord. 

6  And  as  the  glory  of  the  Lord  fhould  be  revealed 
in  a  more  illullrious  manner  than  ever  before  ;  fo  per- 
fons  of  all  nations,  whether  Jews  or  Gentiles,  fhould 
know  and  enjoy  that  great  and  glorious  falvation 
which  God  was  then  bringing  into  the  world  by  Je- 
fus  Chrift. 

7  When,  in  the  courfe  of  John's  miniftry,  vaft 
numbers,  and  among  them  many  of  the  Pharijees  and 
Sadducees  flocked  to  his  baptifm;  (Mat.  iii.  7.  fee 
the  note  there)  he,  knowing  their  feveral  characters, 
addrefied  them  in  the  following  manner  :  O  genera- 
tion of  men,  which,  for  fubtilty,  venom,  and  mif- 
chief,  are  the  feed  of  the  old  ferpcnt  the  devil  ; 
Who  could  have  expected  that  ftich  as  you,  who  ei- 
ther think  yourfclves  righteous  enough  already,  or 
make  a  jeft  of  all  religion,  fhould  ever  take  upon  you 
obligations  to  repent,  and  fly  by  faith  to  the  approach- 
ing Saviour  for  the  remiflion  of  lins,  and  del 
ance  from  the  wrath  to  come  ?  What  is  your  motive 
or  deflgn  herein  ?  But  remember  I  now  tell  you,  that, 
unlefs  ye  unfeignedly  turn  from  every  falfe  way  to  him, 
the  vengeance  of  God  will  certainly  come  in  a  little 
time  upon  you,  to  your  utter  ruin  as  a  nation  in  this 

y  2  world, 


32 


The  Evan^eliji 


Chap.  iii. 


8  Bring  forth, 
therefore,  fruits 
worthy  of  repent- 
ance ;  and  begin 
not   to  fay  within 


children 
braharn. 


unto   A- 


world,  and  upon  every  one  of  you  perfonally  to  your 
everlafting  perdition  in  the  next. 

8  If  therefore  ye  profefs  to  repent,  and  turn  to  God 
through  the  promifed  Seed,  fee  that  ye  give  good 
proof  of  your  iincerity  therein,  by  the  humble  and 
holy  obedience  of  your    hearts   and   lives  ;   and  let 

yourfelves.  We  none  of  you  go  about  to  evade  my  folemn  admoni- 
have  Abraham  to  tions,  or  to  bolfter  yourfelves  up  with  prefumptuous 
lay  unVo  you,  That  k°Pes  of  haPpinefs  and  fafety  becaufe  of  your  pecu- 
GodisableoVthefe  liar  covenant-privileges,  as  the  defcendants  of  Abra- 
ftones  to  raife  up  ham  :  For  if  ye  go  on  in  your  fins,  and  reject  the 
expected  Mefiiah,  I  affure  you  that  God  will  utterly 
cait  you  off,  and  mew  his  almighty  power  in  raifing 
up  a  fpiritual  feed  to  Abraham,  who  fhall  be  blefled 
with  him,  through  faith  in  Chriit,  from  among  the 
Gentiles,  fuch  as  thefe  Roman  foldiers  and  publi- 
cans, (ver.  12,  14.)  though,  in  your  account,  they 
are  as  unlikely  to  be  made  alive  to  God,  and  taken 
into  his  favour,  as  the  very  Hones  under  your  feet. 

9  And  as  an  ax,  levelled  at  the  root  of  a  tree, 
threatens  immediate  deftruction  ;  and  barren  trees,  af- 
ter all  means,  have  been  ineffectual  to  make  them 
fruitful,  are  cut  down  and  burnt:    So  God's  hand  is 

bringeth  not  forth  now  lifted  up,  juft  ready  to  ftrike,  for  the  many  pro- 
1  vocations  that  have  been  offered  him  ;  and  if  any  of 
you  reject  the  laft  and  moll  endearing  methods  and 
overtures  of  his  grace,  and  bring  forth  no  good  fruit 
by  thofe  means,  ye  will  fpeedily  be  cut  off  in  his  great 
righteoufnefs,  and  confumed  by  his  wrath. 

10  And  while  thePharifees  znASadducees,  through 
the  pride  of  merit  on  one  hand,  and  of  reafon  on  the 
other,  feemed  to  be  altogether  unmoved  by  the  en- 
gaging and  the  awful  things  that  John  faid  to  them, 
many  of  the  common  people  were  ilruck  with  convic- 
tions of  their  fin  and  danger  ;  which  put  them  upon 
ferious  inquiry,  faying,  What  are  the  fruits  meet  for 
repentance  j  that  we  mould  bring  forth  ? 

1 1  John  replied,  To  evidence  the  fincerity  of  your 
repentance,  fhew  compaffion  to  the  poor,  by  diftri- 
buting  out  of  your  conveniences  for  the  relief  of  their 
necefhties  :  As  for  inftance,  Let  him  who,  having 
two  coats,  can  do  very  well  with  one,  give  the  other 

and  he  that  hath   to  fomc  miferable  object  that  wants neceffary  cloathing ; 

kV'T^  1Um  d°   and  *ct  *"m  vvll°  *ias  *°od  enou&n  and  to  *Pare>    give 
fome  of  it  to  fuch  as  are  ready  to  perifh  with  hunger. 

This  will  be  a  good  fign  that  your  hearts  are  turned 

from 

NOTE. 

I  Joh?i  had  faid,  ver.  S.  ttoivo-giIc  w  xajryf,  Sec.   "  Do  therefore,  or  produce 

fruits  meet  for  repentance.;"  and,  in  exact  correfpondence  to  this  expreflion,  the 

people  afk,  t<  »»  ToiYivroftiy,  "  What  therefore  fhall  we  do,  or  what  fruits  are  we 

tp  produce  meet  for  repentance?" 


9  And  now  alfo 
the  ax  is  laid  un- 
to the  root  of  the 
trees :  every  tree, 
therefore,      which 


clown,  and  call  in 
to  the  fire. 


10  And  the  peo- 
ple afked  him,  fay- 
ing. What  fli all  we 
do  then  ? 


t  1  He  anfwer- 
eth,  and  faith  unto 
'.hem,  He  that 
hath  two  coats,  let 
him  impart  to  him 
that    hath    none  : 


Chap.  iii. 


Luke  pcraphrafed. 


33 


unto  him,  Mafter, 
what  fhall  we  do  ? 

13  And  he  faid 
unto  them,  Exact 
no  more  than  that 
which  is  appointed 
you. 


from  the  love  of  this  world,   and  from  fmful  and  lux- 
urious indulgence^,  to  the  love  of  God,  and  of  your 
—  neighbour. 

12    Then  came        12    Then  the  collectors  of  taxes,  being  under  the 
alfo publicans  to  be   like  convictions,    came  to  be  baptized  of  him,    and 
1   afked  the  fame  queilion,  relating  to  themfelves,  ^  fay- 
ing,   Pray,    mailer,    what  are  the  particular  fruits  of 
repentance  that  we  mould  produce  ? 

13  To  thefe  he  anfwered,  Rectify  the  abufes  of 
your  office  ;  do  the  duty  of  ycur  places,  with  mercy, 
and  with  faithfulnefs  between  the  government  and  the 
fubjecl  ;  and  do  not  add  to  the  people's  burden  by 
extorting  or  infilling  on  more  from  them  than  is  due 
to  Ccefar,  or  by  taking  bribes  to  increafe  your  own 
wealth  :  This  is  the  proper  fruit  of  repentance  in  thofe 
that  have  been  hard-hearted,  covetous,  and  oppref- 
five. 

14  Some  of  the  foldiers  likewife,  coming  to  John's. 

baptifm,  aiked  him,  What  are  the  fpecial  things  to 
marided  of  him,  be  d  j.  ug  tQ  {hew  the  truth  of  our  repentance  > 
laying,  And  what    TX  ,.    ■>      _,,      .     n  r  rr.     . 

fliall  we  do  ?   And    He  replied,    The  belt  proof  ye  can  give  of  it  is  to  a- 

he  faid  unto  them,  bandon  the  vices  that  perfons  of  your  calling  are  moil 
incident  to  :  As  for  inftance,  Do  not  be  iniolent  and 
outrageous,  by  huffing  and  frighting,  or  plundering 
and  abufmg,  the  people  ;  or  by  breaking,  inftead  of 
keeping,  the  peace  :  Never  mifreprefent  your  fellow- 
fcldiers  to  their  officers,  or  other  fubjeels  to  the  go- 
vernment, either  to  gratify  a  malicious  blood-thirily 
tempcr,  or  to  extort  money  from  them  :  And  never 
murmur  at  your  lawful  pay,  nor  be  mutinous  about 
it,  nor  want  to  add  to  it  by  any  undue  means  ;  but 
live  contentedly  upon  the  public  allowance.  Thus 
he  advifed  every  one  to  take  a  confcientious  care  a- 
bout  keeping  himfelf  from  his  own  iniquity. 

15  And  there  being,  at  this  time,  a  general  ex- 
pectation of  the  MelTiah's  appearing  ;  the  extraor- 
dinary ilrain  of  gravity,  piety,  and  authority,  which 
ran  through  John's  miniilry  and  behaviour,  put  the 

whether  he    were    people  upon  thinking  whether  this  perfon  himfelf  were 
the  Chrift  or  not ;      nQt  he  whom  they  were  hiking  for. 


14  And  the  fol 
diers   likewife  de 


Do  violence  to  no 
man,  neither  ac- 
cule  any  falfely ; 
and  be  content 
with  your  wages. 


15  And  as  the 
people  were  in  ex- 
pectation, and  all 
men  muled  in  their 
hearts     of      John, 


16  John  anfwer- 
ed, faying  unto 
them  all,  I  indeed 
baptize  you  with 
Water.;  but  One 
migh- 


16  John,  obferving  this,  took  the  utmoft  care  tt* 
undeceive  them,  faying,  I  am  only  come  as  the  fore- 
runner of  the  Mcfiiah,  to  preach  the  doctrine  of  re- 
pentance, and  remiffion  of  fins  through  faith  in  him  ; 
and  to  turn  you  over  to  him,    by  baptizing  you  f 

with 
NOTE, 
+  Some  fuppofe  that  the  words  John  and  To  it  was  baptizing  them  into  the 
ufed,  in  applying  the  water,  were  thefe  :  faith  of  Chrilt,  for  the  remiffion  of  fins, 
J  baptize  you  nvitb  water  ;  but  a  migh-  that  they  wight  believe  on  Him  who 
tier  than  I  cometh,  nuho  Jhall  baptise  pjould  come  after  him,  as  it  is  cxiirefled, 
you  with  the  Holy  CkoJL  and  with  fire;   Ails  six.  4. 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  iii. 


Are  unquenchable. 


mightier    than    I  with  water  :    But  the  Chrifl  of  God,    who  is  juft 

cometh,  the  latch-  rea(iy  to  appearj    {s  infinitely  fuperior  to  me,    in  his 

I  am  not  worthy  to  Perf°n>  and  m  the  excellence  and  efficacy  of  his  qua- 

unloofe  :    he  lhall  lifications,  office,  and  works  ;  fo  that  I  think  myfelf 

baptize   you  with  unworthy  of  the  honour  of  even  carrying  his  fhoes  af- 

•  nd  w^hfa-  Gh°ft'  ter  him'  (Mat*  *"'  1 u)  or  untving  and  taking  them 
off  from  his  feet  :  He  will  baptize  ^  fome  of  you  with 
the  gifts  and  graces  of  his  Holy  Spirit  which  he  will 
fhed  down  upon  you  in  a.vifible  appearance  of  fire  ; 
{ABs  ii.  3.)  and  which  will  be  as  much  more  power- 
ful and  penetrating,  in  its  operation  for  fpiritual  and 
holy  purpofes,  than  my  baptifm,  as  fire  is  than  water, 
in  an  external  application  of  them  to  the  body.  (  See 
the  note  on  Mat.  iii.  6.) 
17  Whofe  fan  is        T  7  And  as  a  hufbandman  feparates  wheat  from  the 

in   his  hand,   and    chaff    which  lay  mixed  together  on  the  floor,  by  fha- 

he  will   throughly    .  .  J .        .    .       o  »       / 

puro-ehis  floor,  and  un£  and  winnowing  it  in  a  tan ;  and  lays  up  the  wheat 
will  gather  the  in  his  granary,  but  throws  the  chaff  into  the  fire  :  So 
wheat  into  his  gar-  Chrilt  will  make  a  thorough  fearch  into,  and  an  ex- 
ner ;  but  the  chaff  a(cj.  feparation  between  true  believers  and  hypocritical 
profeffors  in  the  vifible  church,  by  his  word,  Spirit, 
and  providence  here,  and  at  death  and  judgment  here- 
after ;  and  he  will  preferve  the  righteous  from  the  fo- 
reft  tribulations  on  earth,  and  receive  them  to  his  e- 
verlafting  kingdom  in  heaven  ;  but  will  execute  de- 
structive judgments  on  the  wicked  in  this  world,  and 
call  them  into  everlafting  burnings  in  the  next. 

18  This  is  a  brief  fpecimen  of  John's  miniftry, 
in  which  he  added  many  other  particulars  fuitable  to 
his  character  as  the  forerunner  of  our  Lord,  preach- 
ing to  the  people  the  glad  tidings  of  the  gofpel, 
(iviiyyiM^iro  rov  Xxov)  by  Jefus  Chrift,  whom  he 
pointed  out  to  them,  with  a  ferious  application  to 
their  minds  and  confciences,  in  the  exhortations  he 
gave  them. 

1 9  But  at  length,  after  having  preached  about  a 
year  and  half  || ,  he,  not  fearing  the  face  of  any  man, 

dealt 
NOTES. 

\  It  is  not  the  common  Chriftian  bap-  felf  adminiftred  water-baptifm  to  none, 

tifm,  but  Chrift's  own  baptizing  with  the  John'w.  2.  and  there  is  no  appearance 

Holy  GhqJX  and  with  fire,  that  Job?i  here  of  their  baptizing  one  another, 
oppofes  to  his  own  baptifm :  For  John's,        \\  Dr  Lightfooi  fays  it  was  about  twen- 

and  the  Chriftian  baptifm,    abating  the  ty  months  ;  and  that  John  was  kept  in 

different  forms  of  expreffion  ufed  in  them  prifon  fome  months  above  a  year,  before 

Severally,  were,  for  fubftanee,  the  fame,  he  was  put  to  death :    But  the  evange- 

ootli  in  the  element,  and  in  the  fignifica-  lift   mention's   thefe  things  here  in  lew 

tion  of  the  ordinance;  only  one  was  bap-  words,  that  he  might  afterwards  go  on 

iizing  them  into  the  faith  of  him  who  with  the  hiftovy  of  Chrift,   without   in- 

was   to   come,    and  the  other  into  the  terruption,    from   his  baptifm  ;   though 

Jaithofhim  who  is  come.      And  thefe  John  continued  preaching  about  a  year 

<>po!t!es  whom  Chrift  called  during  Jchn\  after  he  had  baptized  Ciiiift,   before  hi 

miniftry,  had  no  other  baptifm  with  wa-  own  impiifonment. 
ter  than  that  of  John;  fuice  Chrni  i.im- 


iS  And  many 
other  things,  in 
his  exhortation, 
preached,  he  unto 
the  people. 


19    But    Hercd 

the  tetrarch,  being 

re- 


Chap.  iii. 

reproved  by  him 
for  Herodias  bis 
brother  Philip's 
wife,  and  for  all 
the  evils  which 
Herod  had  done, 

20  Added  yet 
this  above  all,  that 
he  flmt  up  John  in 
prifon. 


21  Now,  when 
all  the  people  were 
baptized,  it  came 
to  pafs,  that  Jefus 
alfo  being  bapti- 
zed, and  praying, 
the  heaven  was  o- 
pened, 


22  And  the  Ho- 
ly Ghoft  defcended 
in  a.  bodily  fliapo, 
like  a  dove,  upon 
him,  and  a  voice 
came  from  heaven, 
which  faid,  Thou 
art  my  beloved 
Son  ;  in  thee  I  am 
well  pleafed. 


23  And  Jefus 
himfelf  began  to  be 
about  thirty  years 
of  age,  being  (as 
was  fuppofedj  the 
fon  of  Jofeph, 
which 


f  See  Whitby  on  Mat.  xiv.  3. 

\  As  Matthew  gives  us  Chrift's  legal 
and  royal  line  from  his  father-in-law  Jo- 
fcf'b,  who  defcended  by  his  own  father 
Jacob  from  Solomon,  the  fon  and  fuccef- 
for  of  David  to  his  throne  :  So  Luke 
feems  to  give  us  Chrift's  natural  line,  as 
the  feed  of  the  woman,  from  his  mother 
Mary^  who,  as  fome  have  taken  notice, 


Luke  parapbrafed.  35 

dealt  very  plainly  with  Herod,  the  governor  of  Galilee, 
about  all  his  beloved  vices,  and  particularly  his  lin  of 
adultery  and,  inceft  in  marrying  Herodias,  his  brother 
Philip's  wife,  while  Philip  himfelf  was  dill  living, 
and  after  he  had  children  by  her  f . 

20  Herod  was  io  exafperated  at  -^is  clofe  and 
horAe  reproof,  that  though  he  had  jljAetimes  heard 
John  with  pleafure,  and  had  a  fecret  veneration  for 
him,  as  a  good  and  holy  man ;  yet  to  get  rid  of  fuch  an 
impartial  monitor,  and  to  gratify  Herodias,  he  added 
this  horrid  wickednefs  to  all  the  reft,  that  he  clap- 
pecf him  up  in  prifon,  and,  after  a  confiderable  time, 
was  prevailed  upon  to  take  away  his  life. 

21  Now,  to  return:  While  crowds  of  people  came 
to  John,  and  he  had  baptized  them,  Jefus  himfelf, 
though  he  needed  not,  like  others,  to  be  baptized  in- 
to the  faith  of  the  Meffiah,  or  with  a  baptifm  of 
repentance,  yet  refolving  to  fulfil  all  righteoufnefs, 
and  to  fanctify  this  ordinance,  and  enter  himfelf  into 
the  Chriftian-church  by  it,  as  he  had  been  entered,  in 
his  infancy,  into  that  of  the  Jews  by  circumciiion,  he 
alfo  was  baptized  by  John  ;  and  immediately,  there- 
upon, betaking  himfelf  to  prayer,  there  was  a  vihble 
opening  of  the  firmament : 

22  And,  in  anfwer  to  his  prayer,  the  Holy 
Ghoft  defcended  from  thence  in  the  appearance  of  a 
luminous  body,  which  came  down  hovering  like  a 
dove,  (fee  the  note  on  Mat.  iii.  16.)  till  it  refted 
upon  his  head,  to  intimate  his  being  then  anointed 
with  his  Spirit  for  his  office ;  and,  at  the  fame  time,  an 
audible  voice  was  directed  to  him  from  God  the  Fa- 
ther, faying,  Thou  art  my  dear  and  eternal  Son,  in 
whofe  perfon  and  "office,  my  foul  delights,  and  in 
whom  I  think  with  pleafure  of  my  great  defign  of 
faving  all  that  I  have  given  to  thee.  (See  the  note 
on  Mat.  iii.'  17.) 

23  Jefus  was  about  thirty  years  old  when  he  was 
baptized,  and  thus  diftmctly  and  miraculoufly  own- 
ed and  fealed  by  his  Father  and  the  Holy  Ghoft,  in 
order  to  his  entering  upon  his  public  miniftry  :  And 
his  genealogy,  according  to  the  flefh,  by  his-mother's 
fide  ij:,  reckoning  upwards  to  the  firft  man  Adam,  to 

(hew 
N     O    T    E    S. 

the  talmud  fays,  was  the  daughter  of 
Heli ;  and  fo  defcended  from  Nathan,  a- 
nother  of  the  fons  of  David.  But  a«  the 
families  of  women  were  not  enrolled  un- 
der their  names,  or  reckoned  as  diftinct 
families  in  Ifrael :  So  this  account  is  co- 
pied out,  accoiding.  to  the  cuftom  ot  the 
Jews,  from  one  of  their  authentic  gene- 
alogies,    --inner    the    hulband's    name  ; 

which 


36 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  iii. 


2S 

Amos. 


tojej 
Amos 


from  Nagge, 


from    Mattathias,    Mattathias  from 
from  Naum,   Naum  from  Efli,    EJli 


which  was  the/on  mew  that  he  is  the  promifed  feed  of  the  woman  who 
mould  break  the  ferpent's  head,  Hands  thus  :  Jefus 
being  the  real  fon  of  the  virgin  Mary,  and  being 
born  after  her  efpoufal  to  Jofeph,  he  thereby  became 
the  fon-in-law  of  Jofeph  ;  and  Jofeph,  by  his  marriage 
with  Mary,  was  the  legal  fon  of  Heli,  her  own  fa- 
ther. 

24  Which  was        24  This  Heli  was  naturally  defcended  from  Mat- 
r^ofMatthat,   that  Matthat  from  Levi  Levi  from  Melchi,  Melchi 

which  was  the    on    rev  <v  r  «r   r    i 

of  Levi,  which  was   from  Janna,  J  anna  irom  Jofeph, 

the  foil  of  Melchi, 
which  was  the  Jon 
©f  Janna,  which 
was  the  fon  of  Jo- 
feph, 

25  Which  was 
f£*  fon  of  Matta- 
thias, which  was 
the  fon  of  Amos, 
which  was  the  fon 
of  Naum,  which 
was  the  fon  of  Efli, 
which  was  the  fon 
of  Nagge, 

26  Which  was        26  Nagge  from  Maath,  Maath  from  Mattathias, 

the  fon  of  Maath,    Mattathias  from  &w«,  &»z«  from   7^M,  7o/k>£ 
which      was      ?/;e    r  <y     ,  7  j  j  r    t  j  j  r 

fon  pf  Mattathias,  trom  >**» 
which  was  the  Jon 
of  Semei,  which 
was  the  fon  of  Jo- 
feph, which  was 
<*/je  y&7/     of  Juda, 

27  Which  was        2?  jue/a  from  Joanna,  Joanna  from  i?£c?/d,  #/^ 

^f/f  ot  J?n"a'   from  Zorobabel,  Zorobabel from  Salathiel,  Salathiel 
which  was  the  J  oil    c  .  7  > 

of  Rhefa,  which  il'om  Neri, 
was  the  fon  of  Zo- 
robabel, which 
was  the  fon  of  Sa- 
lathiel, which  was 
the  fon  of  Neri, 

28  Which  was 
the  foil  of  Melchi, 
which  was  the  fon 
of  Addi,  which  was 
the  fon  of  Cofam, 
which  was  the  fon 
ef  Elmodam,  which 
w;ts  the  fon  of  Er, 

29  Which  was 
the 


28  AT<?rz*  from  Melchi,  Melchi  from  Addi,  Addi 
from  Cofam,  Cofam  from  Elmodam,  Elmodam  from 


29    £/ 


from  y<?/c*,    ^0/^  from  Eliezer,    Eliezer 

from 

NOTE. 
which  is  the  rcafon   why  Mary  is  not    fn{Ao,    which  we  render,  as  ivas  fup- 
Inentioned,     though,    ftrictly   fpeaking,  pofed,    rather   fignify,    referring  to  the 
it  feems  to  be  Chrift's  genealogy  by  her:    genealogy,  ut  lege  fane  it  wn  eft,  as  it  was 


For  as  Jofepb's  natural  father  was  Ja- 
cob, (Mat.  i.  15.)  he  was  only  the  fon- 
in-law  of  Heli,  Mary's  father  ;  and  it 
may  be  obferved  that  the  words  »s  *>«« 


legally  fettled,  or  was  found  on  record. 
He  that  would  fee  other  reprefentations 
of  thefe  things,  may  confult  Grotiusy 
JLightfoot)  and  Whitby. 


Chap.  iii.  Luke  paraphrafed.  37 

the  fon  of  Jofe,  from  Jorim,  Jorim  from  Matthat,  Matthat  from 
which  was  the f on  £evj 
of  Eliezer,  which 
was  the  fon  of  Jo- 
rim, which  was  the 
fon  of  Matthat, 
which  was  the  fon 

30    Which  was        30  Levi  from  Simeon,  Simeon  from  Judat    Juda 
the  fon  of  Simeon,   from  Jofeph,  Jofeph  from  Jonan,  Jonan  from  Eha- 
which  was  the  fon    j  • 
of    Juda,      which  * 

was  the  fon  of  Jo- 
feph,  which  was 
the  fon  of  Jonan, 
which  was  the  fon 

3  3 1**  Which  was        31  Eliah'm  from  Melea,  Melea  from  Menan,  Me- 
the  fon  of  Melea,   nan  from  Mattatha,    Mattatha  from  Nathan,     Na~ 
which  was  the  fon    than  from  £>avid, 
of  Menan,    which 
was  the  fon  of  Mat- 
tatha,   which  was 
the  fon  of  Nathan, 
which  was  the  fon 
of  David, 

32  Which  was        g2  David from  Jejfe,  Jejfe  from  0W,  Obedlrova 
the  fon    of   Jeffe,    £  jg002,  rrom  Salmon,  Salmon  from  Naajfon, 
which  was  tfo  Jon 

of  Obed,  which 
was  the  fon  cf 
JBooz,  which  was 
the  fon  of  Salmon, 
which  was  the  ft  a 
ofNaaffon,  # 

33  Which  was  33  Naqffhn  from  Aminadab,  Ammadab  trom  y3- 
*/:><> /cm  of  Amina-  r  *  ^r<i/K  from  Efrom,  Efrom  from  P hares,  Pha- 
dab,      which   was  <»c~  ia^J^L 

the  fon    of  Aram,      fc  •/  » 

which  was  the  Jon 

of  Efrom,     which 

was  the  ?£*  _/<w  of 

Phares,  which  was 

the  fon  of  Juda, 

34  Which  was  ^  Ja^7/&  from  Jacob,  Jacob  from  7/tfrtf,  //W 
the  fon  of  Jacob,  frQm  Graham,  Abraham  from  T^^r^r  TA*ni  from 
which  was  the  fon  . 

of  Ifaac,  which  JSachor, 
was  f7;e  fon  of  A- 
braham,  which 
was  the  fon  of  Tha- 
ra,  which  was  the 
fon  of  Nachor, 

35  Which  was  35  Nachor  from  Saruch,  Saruch  from  Ragau,  Ru- 
th c  fon  of  Saruch,  from  p^/^  p,W<r  from  Heber,  Heber  from 
which  was  the  fon     <-,   / 

of  Ragau,  which  dala> 
was  the  fon  of  Pha- 
lec,  which  was  the 
fon  of  Heber, 
which  was  the  fon 
of  Sala, 

Vol.  IT,  C  36  &/* 


38 


The  Evangeltfl 


Chap.  iiL 


36  Which  was 
the  f 071  of  Cainan, 
which  was  the 
fon  of  Arphaxad, 
which  was  the  fon 
of  Sem,  which  was 
the  fon  of  Noe, 
which  was  the  fon 
of  Lamech, 

37  Which  was 
the  fon  ofMathu- 
lala,  which  was 
the  fon  of  Enoch, 
which  was  the  fon 
of  Jared,  which 
was  the  fon  of  Ma- 
Jeleel,  which  was 
the  fon  of  Cainan, 

38  Which  was 
the  fon  of  Enos, 
which  was  the  fon 
ofSeth,  which  was 
the  fon  of  Adam, 
which  was  the  fon 
of  God. 


36  Sala  from  Cainan  f ,  Cainan  from  Arphaxad^ 
Arphaxad  from  Sent,  Sem  from  Noe,  Noe  from  La- 
ntech, 


37  Lamech  from  Mathufala,  Mathufala  from 
Enoch,  Enoch  from  Jared,  Jared  from  Maleleel, 
Ma/e/ee/  from  Cainan, 


38  Cainan  from  Enos,  Enos  from  <5W£,  and  5V/& 
was  defcended  from  Adam,  who  was,  by  creation, 
the  Son  of  God. 


R  E  C  O  L  L 


E  C 


I  O 

- 


N  S. 


The  great  Shiloh,  who,  according  to  ancient  predictions,  -was  to  be  the  feed 
of  the  woman  after  the  flerti,  has  certainly  been  ufhered  into  the  world,  under  a 
divine  character,  by  his  forerunner  John  the  Baptifl,  and  by  the  witnefs  from  hea- 
ven that^  was  given  from  the  eternal  Father  andtiis  Spirit,  in  a  miraculous  man- 
ner, to  Chrift  as  the  Son  of  God,  and  a  diftinct  Perfon  in  the  Godhead.  How  in- 
ferior are  the  beft'of  men  to  him  ?  And  O  what  an  honour  is  it,  and  how  fenfible 
mould  we  be  of  our  utter  unworthinefs,  to  be  employed  even  in  the  meaneft  fervi- 
ces  for  him  !  How  fliould  every  heart  be  opened  to  receive  him  ;  and  how  affecting 
is  the  motive  to  repentance,  taken  from  the  grsce  brought  in  by  the  gofpel  for  the 
remiffion  of  fins,  that  all  forts  of  finners,  even  Gentiles  themfelves,  may  fee  the  fal- 
vation  of  God  !  Where  this  grace  prevails,  it  rectifies  the  diforders,  and  levels  the 
mountains  of  opposition,  that  lie  in  finners  hearts  ;  who,  whatever  their  character 
may  be,  have  need  to  flee  unto  Jefus  for  an  efcape  from  the  wrath  to  come  :  And 
where  there  is  repentance  unto  life,  it  ufually  begins  with  the  fins  that  we  are 
molt  addicted  to  ;  and  is  difcovered  by  a  departure  from  them,  as  fruit  meet  for 
repentance.  Though  external  privileges  and  divine  ordinances  are  to  be  prized  and 
improved  according  to  the  circumftances  of  things ;  yet  they,  of  themfelves,  can 
be  of  no  faving  advantage  to  us;  and  therefore  are  not  to  be  refted  in  :  For  what- 
foever  our  pretences  and  vain  confidences  may  be,  if  we  bring  not  forth  good  fruit, 
deitruction  will  be  unavoidable  :  And  while  many  think  well  of  themfelves;  andy 
depending  upon  outward  privileges,  mifcarry,  to  their  eternal  perdition  ;  how  of- 
ten doth  the  almighty  power  of  God  raife  up  monuments  of  his  fovereigri  grace, 
from  among  the  moil  unlikely  finners,  to  his  everlafting  praife  !  But  alas,  how 
mixed  and  imperfect  is  the  date  of  the  church  in  this  world  !  However,  a  clean- 
ing" 
NOTE. 

I  This  Cainan  is  found  only  in  the  Luke  has  placed  them  ;  and  all  the 
feptuagint ;  and  our  evangelilt  writing  names  from  David  back  to  Abraham  are 
mod  immediately  for  the  ule  of  the  He-  the  very  fame  as  are  mentioned  in  Mat- 
lenifiic  Jenus,    who    chiefly   ufed   that    thcivh   genealogy.      See    the   notes   on 


tranflation,  might  infert  Cainan,  as  he 
met  with  it  there,  or  in  fome  other  pub- 
lic records  then  in  being.  But  all  the 
other  names,  from  Abraham  back  to  A- 
Jam,  are  found  alfo  in  the  Hebrew  of 
the  Old  Teftament,  in  the  like  order  as 


Mat.  i.  But  the  learned  Bochart  fup- 
pofes  that  fome  transcriber  might  infert 
Cainan  here  by  mistake  ;  and  vindicates 
the  facred  canon,  even  on  that  fuppofi- 
tion.    Vid.  Geogr.  Sacr.  jb.  1.  I.  ii.  c.  xiii. 


Chap.  iv.  Luke  paraphrafed.  39 

►fing  and  feparating  time  will  come,  to  the  joy  of  the  faint,  and  the  terror  of  the 
hypocrite  and  finner  ;  and  a  man,  whofe  heart  is  carnal,  may  be  evidently  dif- 
cerned,  even  now,  by  his  flinching,  and  being  enraged  at  faithful  reproofs  for  be- 
loved (ins ;  though  fometimes,  like  Herod,  he  may  have  a  fecret  veneration  for 
godly  minifters,  and  may  hear  them  gladly. 


CHAP.       IV. 


Chrifl^s  temptation  and  fajling,  t, — 13.  His  entrance  on  his  public 
minijlry,  14,  15.  His  preaching  at  Nazareth,  where  the  people 
.wonder,  and  yet  generally  defpije  him  for  the  meannefs  of  his  pa- 
rentage, 16, — 30.  At  Capernaum,  where  he  cajls  out  a  devil,  and 
heals  Peter's  ytother-in-law,  and  many  fck people,  31, — 41.  And 
his  preaching  in  fever  ai  other  places,  42, — 44. 

Text-  Paraphrase. 

^ND  Jetus,  be-  JESUS  being  folemnly  anointed  fosju's  mediatorial 

Folv    Ghoft      re-  office,  at  his  baptifm,  by  an  unmeafurable  effufion 

turned   from  Jor-  of  the  Holy  Ghoft,  retired  in  the  fulnefs  of  the  Spi- 

dan,  and  was  led  rit,  and  by  his  immediate  fuggeftion,  from  Jordan 

by  the  Spirit  into  to  a  verv-  -j-  defert  place  ;  that,  like  a  fervant  devo- 

the  wildernels,  ted  tQ  his   Father>s  work>   he  might  give  himfelf  to 

failing  and  prayer,  as  a  proper  preparation  for  it,  and 

that,  like  a  champion,   he   might   enter  the  field  of 

battle,    and    might  fignally   overcome   the    evil-one. 

2    Being    forty        2  There  he   continued  for   forty   days  together, 

days    tempted    of  prayjnn-  to  his  heavenly  Father,  and  conflicting  with, 
the  devil.     And  in    r    •/     &      -n  •  •      '  .   ]>  ,  •  •,     ,,5    ,     -i 

ihofe  days  he  did   anc*  vanquiihing  various  temptations  which  the  devil 

eat  nothing :    and  offered  to  him  :  And  all  that  time  he  was  miraculouf- 

when    they    were  ly  fupported  without  eating  or  drinking  any  thing  ; 

ended,    he    after-  fout  at  j-j^  ci0fe  0f  thofe  days,  he,  being:  truly  a  man, 
ward  hundred.  1  J  °  '     . 

6  was  hungry. 

•    3  And  the  devil        3   Hereupon  Satan,  taking  the  advantage  of  his 
laid  unto  him,   If  fa;nting  circumftances  in  a  barren  wildernefs  ;  faid  to 

«r °r^  e  ™^f~,  01i   hi™*  If  you  are  indeed  the  Son  of  God,  as  was  latc- 
of  God,   command  »         J  „ ■  »  ■ 

this   ftone  that  it   ty  declared  at  Jordan,  1  challenge  you  to  prove  it  by 

be  made  breach.        turning  this  ftone  which  I  prefent  to  you,  or  any  o- 

thers  now  before  you,  into  bread,   that  you  may  not. 

fuffer  to  the  utmoft  extremity,  and  even  perifli  with 

hunger. 

4  And  Jefus  an-        ^  But  fmce  complying  with  this  demand  would 

hvcred   him,    lay-   jmve  ]0Oke(j  as  jf  our  Lor(j.  were  impatient  of  hunger, 

nig,   It  is  written,         ,    ..n      n  r  ,     r ,  .    „    ,      ,     .         r     .  t 

That    man     iliall   anc*  diltrultful  01  his  rather  s  love  and  care  ;  or  as  ir 

not  live  by  bread   he  would  fet  up  for  acting  feparately  from  him,  and 

aione,  but  by  eve-    independently  on    him;    he    replied,  It    is    written, 

ry  word  of  God.       wjth  relation  to  Ifrael's    hunger    in  the    wildernefs, 

G  2  (Duet. 

NOTE. 
f  Some  fuppofe  that  thi"-  was  in  the  wildernefs  of  Jjidea ;  and  others  that  it  was 
in  the  great  defert  of  Horcb,  or  Sinai,  where  Ifraci  v.  ere  tried  forty  years,  and  J-TiV 
fes  and  Elijah  failed  forty  days. 


4o 


The  Evangelift 


Chap. 


IV. 


5  And  the  de- 
vil, taking  him  rip 
into  an  high  moun- 
tain, fhewed  unto 
him  all  the  king- 
doms of  the  world 
iti  a  moment  of 
time. 


6  And  the  de- 
vil faid  unto  him, 
All  this  power  will 
I  give  thee,  and  the 
glory  of  them  :  for 
that  is  delivered 
Unto  me;  and  to 
"whomsoever  I  will, 
I  give  it. 

7  If  thou  there- 
fore wilt  worfhip 
me,  all  (hall  be 
thine. 

S  And  Jefus  an- 
fwered,  and  faid 
unto  him.  Get  thee 
behind  me,  Satan: 
for  it  is  written, 
Thou  (halt  wor- 
ship the  Lord  thy 
God,  and  him  on- 
ly fhalt  t'aou  ferve. 


9       And 
brought     him 


he 
to 


(Dent.  viii.  3.}  that  the  life  of  man  is  not  fuftained 
merely  by  natural  food,  but  by  the  all-governing,  in- 
fluential Providence  of  God,  which  commands  a 
blefiing  upon  it,  and  can  preferve  life,  either  by  pro- 
viding extraordinary  means,  or  by  its  own  immediate 
power,  when  ordinary  means  fail ;  and  that  therefore 
man  ought  to  trull  in  him  for  all  necelTary  fupplies, 
in  the  way  of  duty,  according  to  his  word. 

5  Satan  having  been  defeated  in  his  attempt  to  en- 
fnare  our  Lord  by  the  luji  ofthefefh,  tried  whether 
he  could  not  prevail  upon  him  by  the  luji  of  the  eye  ; 
and  therefore,  carrying  -j-  him  up  to  the  top  of  an 
exceeding  high  mountain,  he,  like  the  prince  of  the 
power  of  the  air,  inftantry  formed,  in  the  valleys 
round  about,  a  reprefentation  of  all  the  grandeur  of 
this  world,  as  in  a  large  landfkip,  containing  an  ap- 
pearance of  flates  and  kingdoms*  courts  and  palaces, 
and  the  like, 

6  And  together  with  this  reprefentation  he  faid, 
Behold  the  riches  and  delights,  the  honours  and 
powers,  that  are  found  among  the  kingdoms  of  this 
world  !  All  thefe  charming  poheffions  are  entirely  at 
my  difpofal ;  for  they  are  committed  to  my  order 
and  management,  and  I  beftow  them  on  whomfoever 
I  pleafe. 

7  If  therefore  you  will  but  for  once  pay  religious 
homage  to  me  as  to  the  deputed  god  of  this  world, 
I  will  immediately  transfer  the  whole  of  my  power  o- 
ver  them,  and  property  in  them,  to  you. 

8  But  Jefus  rejected  this  affault,  not  by  urging, 
as  he  juftly  might,  that  Satan  was  a  liar,  and  an  in- 
famous enemy  to  God,  and  therefore  unworthy  of 
fuch  homage  ;  but  by  faying  with  the  utmoft  indig- 
nation, Away  with  all  this  infolence,  I  cannot  fuffti 
your  thus  invading  the  divine  prerogative  :  Fcr  the 
eternal  and  unchangeable  rale  of  worfhip,  to  the  ex- 
cluiion  of  all  mere  creatures,  is  eitablifhed  in  what  is 
written,  (Deut.  vi.  13,  14.  and  x.  20.)  which  plain- 
ly carries  this  fenfe,  Thou  foalt  worfhip  the  Lord  thy 
God,  and  him  only  fhalt  thou  ferve. 

9  As  Chriil  could  no  more  be  feduced  by  the  lull 
of  the  eye  than  of  the  flelh,  the  devil  accolted  him 

with 
T    E. 

lation,  about  ChrifTs  cafling  himfelf 
down  from  the  pinnacle  of  the  temple, 
that  then  the  devil  left  him,  (ver.  11.) 
But  our  evangclift  has  not  thus  diftiii- 
guiflitd  them  ;  having  neglected  the  or- 
der, as  of  no  importance  to  the  hiftory  ; 
or  perhaps  inverted  it  for  fome  particu- 
cular  reafons,  for  which  fee  Ligktfoot  en 
the  olacc 


N    O 

f  This  temptation  is  placed  after  that 

he  to  ChrilV:-  calling  himfelf  down 

from   the    pinnacle    of  the   temple,    in 

iv.    And  the  order  in  which  Mat- 

. ''.cio  has  placed  them  fecms  to  be  the 

true  order  in  which  they  occurred  :    For 

ke  plainly  methodized  them  by  the  par- 

thfn,  (ver.  5.)  zn&agajh,  (ver.  8.j; 

atthe  conclufion  of  the  temp;- 


Chap.  iv. 

Jerufalem,  and  fet 
liim  on  a  pinnacle 
of"  the  temple,  and 
l'aid  unto  him,  If 
thou  be  the  Son  of 
God,  call  thyfelf 
clown  from  hence  : 


-  io  For  it  is 
written,  He  fhall 
give  his  angels 
charge  over  thee, 
to  keep  thee. 

r  i  And  in  their 
hands  they  Jhall 
bear  thee  up,  left 
at  any  time  thcu 
dafh  thy  foot  a- 
gainft  a  ftone. 

1 2  And  Jefus 
anfwering,  laid  un- 
to .him,  It  is  faid, 
Thou  fhalt  not 
tempt  the  Lord 
thy  God. 


13  And  when 
the  devil  had  end- 
ed all  the  tempta- 
tion, he  departed 
fiom  him  for  a  fea- 

l'JU. 

14  And  Jefus 
returned  in  the 
power  of  the  Spi- 
rit into  Galilee : 
and  there  went  out 
a  fame  of  him 
through  all  the  re- 
gion round  about. 

15  And  he 
taught    in     their 


Luke  paraphrajed.  41 

with  another  temptation  fuited  to  work  upon  the 
pride  of  life  :  Accordingly  our  Lord,  going  wii.h 
him  to  Jerufalem,  permitted  his  letting  him,  in  a 
very  frightful  and  dangerous  height,  upon  one  of  the 
wings  or  turrets  of  the  temple,  (fee  the  note  on 
Matt.  iv.  5.)  and  then  Satan,  having  no  power  to 
thruft  him  down  from  thence,  faid  to  him,  If  you  are 
indeed  the  Son  of  God,  you  may  be  fure  of  your  Fa- 
ther's protection,  efpecially  at  this  facred  place,  where 
he  is  more  remarkably  prefent  than  any  where  elfc 
upon  earth,  and  where  angels  attend  to  do  his  will : 
Throw  yourfelf  therefore  headlong  down  from  hence ; 
and  let  that  noble  exploit  prove  either  your  own  di- 
vine power,  or  the  care  of  your  pretended  Father  to 
preferve  ycu  from  hurt. 

1  o,  1 1  For,  fince  you  appeal  to  the  fcripture,  I 
will  appeal  to  it  likewife  to  prove  that  this  is  a  rea- 
fonable  demand,  and  that  if  your  pretenlions  are  juft, 
you  can  run  no  rifk  by  complying  with  it  :  For  it  is 
written  of  the  Meffiah,  {Pjal.  xci.  n,  12.)  God 
Jhall  glc-J  his  angels  charge  over  thee,  to  keep  thee  : 
and  in  their  hands  they  fhail  bear  thee  up,  left  at 
any  time  thou  dajh  thy  foot  againfl  afone. 

12  But  Jefus  replied,  This  prefumptucus  pro- 
ceeding would  be  going  out  of  the  way  of  duty,  and 
fo  would  be  none  of  my  ways,  in  which  protec- 
tion is  promifed,  or  is  to  be  expected  ;  but  would 
contradict  another  fcripture,  where  it  is  faid,  (Dent. 
vi.  16.)  Thou  Jha/t  not  tempt  the  Lord  thy  God ; 
which  plainly  intimates  that  dangerous  hazards  are 
not  to  be  run,  nor  extraordinary  methods  to  be  tri- 
ed, without  necefiity  ;  and  that  God  has  not  pro- 
mifed miracles  for  the  prefervation  of  any,  when  it 
may  be  had  in  the  ordinary  courfe  of  providence. 
(See  the  note  on  Mat.  iv.   7.) 

1 3  In  this  manner  Chrift  effectually  refuted  all  the 
temptations  of  the  devil  ;  and  when  Satan  had  tried 
his  utmoit,  and  found  himfelf  mamefully  baffled  in  c- 
very  attempt,  he  left  him  for  the  prefent,  refolving 
to  try  afterwards  to  do  that  by  his  inflruments,  and 
by  violence,  which  he  could  not  do  by  fraud  himfelf. 

14  Then  Jefus  returned  like  a  victorious  champion 
into  Galilee,  under  the  powerful  anointing  of  the 
Holy  Ghoft  ;  and  entered  upon  his  public  miniftry, 
which  fodn  fpread  his  fame  through  all  the  country. 

'15  And  the  reafon  of  this  was,  becaufe  he 
preached  in  the  fyhagogues,  wherever  he  came,  with 
fuch  majeity  and  authority,  and  confirmed  his  doc- 
trine by  fuch  great  and  merciful  miracles,  that  the 
people  were  univcrfally  {truck  with  wonder  and  plea- 

furc. 


42  The  Evangelifi  Chap.  iv. 

iynagopies,  being  fare,  and  could  not  but  think  and  fpeak  of  him  with 
glorified  of  all.         honour  and  applaufe. 

1 6  And     he        1 6  After  he  had  been  fome  time  in  other  parts  of 
came  to  Nazareth,   Galilee,  he  went  to  rJa%areth,  where  he  had  moftly 

broujh^up:  and)  reflded.m  the  days  of  his  minority  ;  and,  upon  co- 
as  his  cuitom  was]  ming  hither,  he  reforted,  as"  ufual,  to  the  fynagogue 
he  went  into  the  on  the  Sabbath-day  :  And  being  a  member  of  that 
fynagogue  on  the  congregation  f,  by  virtue  of  his  having  conftantly 
Sabbath-day,  and  •  -^  {q  worfllip  with  them  durin~  his  former  reft. 
Itoodupfortoread.  J,  ,  *      n       i  T6       r  «'-  r    t 

cence  there,  he  itood  up  to  read  lome  lection  of  the 

holy  fcripture,  as  was  cuftomarily  done  on  the  Sab- 
bath-days.  {Afts  xiii.  14,  15.) 

17  And  there  17  And,  as  every  book  of  the  law,  and  of  the 
was  delivered  un-  ^rreat^r  prophets,  was  a  finarle  roll  of  parchment  by 
to  him  the  book  ot  -.c  ,r  «.u  ♦  i.-  u  +  4.1.  •  -a  c  *.u  *.* 
-the  prophet  £fai-  ltlelf >  that  wnictl  +  tne  nuniiter  of  the  congregation 
as :  and,  when  he  Put  mto  ms  hands,  and  part  of  which  was  to  be 
iiad  opened  the  read  that  day,  was  the  prophecy  of  Ifaiah :  Then 
book,  he  found  the  Chrift,  unrolling  the  parchment,  fixed  upon  a  paf- 
wrineCere  ^ '^   %e  relating  to  himfelf,   (chap.  lxi.  1,2.)   which  in 

fenfe,   and  moftly  according  to  the  feptuagint,  ran 
IS  The  Spirit  of   thus  ||  : 

me  IWaCUPhe  l8>  *9  The  S¥rit  °f  the  Lord  is  vPon  mei  be' 
hath  anointed  me  cailfe  he  has  anointed  me  to  preach  the  go/pel  to  the 
to  preach  the  gof-  poor,  he  hath  fent  me  to  heal  the  broken-hearted,  to 
pel  to  the    poor;  preach    deliverance  to   the  captives,    and  recover- 

hLiattheferbroken0  W  °f  J*&ht  t0  the  hHnd*   t0fet  at  liherty   thm   that 

hearted,6 to  preach  are  bruifed^    to  preach  the  acceptable  year  of  the 

deliverance  to  the  -Lord. 

captives,  and  reco-        20  When  our  Lord  had  read  thefe  words,  he,  roll- 

vering  of  fight  to  jng  lip  ^t  volume  again,  returned  it  to  the  public 

r,     .      ',        ..,    ,    minifter  from  whom  he  received  it ;  and  then  <S   fat 

liberty   them  that     ,         ■  ••  c  1  •    ■%    • 

are  bruifed  •  down  to  preach  :   And  as  the  lame  or  his  being  an 

19  To  preach  extraordinary  prophet  had  by  this  time  reached  Na- 
the  acceptable  year  xareth,  all  the  people  looked  intently  toward  him, 
0l  toeA°o,d V  c1  expecting  that  he  would  explain  what  he  had  read, 
fed  the  book  and  and  earneftly  wifning  to  hear  what  he  would  fay  on  fo 
he  gave  it  again  to    remarkable  a  text. 

the  21   Here- 

NOTES. 

f  We  do  not  find  that  Chrift  ever  read  prayed  publicly,  took  cave  of  the  reading 
the  fcripture  in  any  other  fynagogue  but  of  the  law,  and  fometimes  preached,  bV. 
this  at  Nazareth;  the  realon  of  which  See  Hebr.  and  Talm.  Excrcit.  on  Mat. 
leems  to  be,  becaufe  he  was  not  a  mem.   iv.  23. 

\>tv  of  thofe  congregations,   but  only  of        j|   Whether  this  was  the  feftion  which 
this  :    And  the  jauijb  writers  tell  us.    was,  in  courfe,  to  be  read  that  day,  or 
that  none  but  a  member  of  the  fynagogue    whether  our  Lord  purpofely  turned  to  it^ 
might  read  there.    Eut  his  great  reputa-    for  the  fubject  of,  his  defigned  difcourfe, 
tion  as  a  prophet,  and  the  various  mini-    is  uncertain. 

ties  he  wrought  to  confirm  it,  procured  §  The  Jenvipj  doctors  ufed  to  ftand  up 
him  admilTion  to  preach  in  any  fynagogue  when  they  read  the  fcriptures,  and  to  fit 
wherever  he  went.  down  when  they  taught  the  people:  Ac- 

X  The  minifter  of  the  fynagogue,  fays    cordingly  our  Lord  read  Handing,  and 
Dr.  Lightfoot,  was  called  the  angel  of   preached  fitting. 
the  church,  the  bifliop,  or  overfeer,  who 


fynagogue       were 
faftened  on  him. 

%\  And  he  be- 
gan to  fay  unto 
them,  This  day  is 
this  fcripture  ful- 
filled in  your  ears. 


Chap.  iv.  LuKe  paraphrafed,  43 

the  minifter,    arid        2 1    Hereupon  he  began  his  difcourfe,  in  which  he 
fat    down.      And   fa^  y^e  prophetic  words  I  have  been  reading   are 

that^were^n  the  at  tnis  veiT  tniie  fulfilled  in  myfelf,  and  in  what  ye 
(hall  now  hear  from  me.  I,  who  was  filled  with 
the  Holy  Ghofl  at  my  baptifm,  am  come,  with  a 
commifilon  from  my  Father,  to  publifh  the  glad  ti- 
dings of  falvation,  and  effectually  evangelize  the 
poor  of  this  world,  and  the  poor  in  fpirit,  who  are 
emptied  of  themfelves  ;  to  fuccour,  heal,  and  fave 
fouls  that  are  wounded  and  diftreffed  in  reflections  on 
their  own  unworthinefs  and  vilenefs,  guilt  and  dan- 
ger ;  to  bring  redemption  to  thofe  that  were  in  bon- 
dage under  the  law,  and  under  the  power  of  fin  and 
Satan  ;  to  open  the  eyes  of  their  underflandings  that 
were  fpiritually  blind,  as  well  as  to  reltore  fight  to- 
them  that  were  corporally  blind  ;  and  to  fet  the  op- 
preffed  free  from  all  their  legal  yokes  and  their  bon- 
dage of  fpirit,  by  which  they  were  brought  into  as  mi- 
ferable  a  condition  as  perfons  f  that  are  galled  and 
bruifed  with  fetters  and  chains  :  In  a  word^  I  am 
fent  to  proclaim  a  moil  joyful  and  glorious  jubilee  * 
by  the  gofpel  of  falvation,  that  finners  may  have  free 
remiffion  of  all  their  penal  obligations  to  divine  juflice 
in  the  forgivenefs  of  their  fins,  may  be  delivered  from 
all  their  miferies,  and  may  be  reftored  to  the  divine 
favour,  and  to  the  forfeited  inheritance. of  eternal  life. 

22  And  the  words  which  he  fpoke  upon  this  oc- 
cafion  were  fo  full  of  majefly  and  grace,  that  all  the 
people  in  the  fynagogue  were  flruck  with  wonder  and 

which      >roceeded   aflonifhment,  to  hear  one,  who  had  not  been  educated 
out  of  his  mouth,    in  the  fchools  of  the  prophets,  talk  at  this  uncommon 
And  they  faid,   Is  rate  :  And  yet  the  generality  of  them  cavilled  at  him, 
faying,  by  way  of  contempt  and  reproach,  Is    not 
this  the  fon  of  Jofeph,  the  poor  carpenter,  who  was 
brought  up  with  him?  (See  the  note  on  chap.  ii.  51.) 

23  Jefus  therefore,  knowing  their  prejudices  a- 
gainft  him,  faid  to   them,  Though   your    own  con 


zx  And  all  bare 
him ~  witnefs,  and 
wondered  at  the 
gracious         words 


not    this    Jofeph's 
fon  ? 


23 
unto 


And  he  faid 
them,      Ye 


Cape 
naum,  do  alfo  here 
in  thy  country. 


^me  theisyproveUrb"  fdenGes  tell  you,  that  my  dpdrine  fpeaks  furprifing- 
Phyfician,  heal  ly  good  and  excellent  things  ;  yet  your  unbelieving 
thyfelf:  whatfoe-  hearts  are  objecting,  and  turning  an  old  proverb  a- 
ver  we  have  heard  gainft  me,  faying,  «  Phyfician,  heal  thyfelf :  As  it 
done      in     Caper-   ?  .  \  V  , 6         u  j  j     r  1  1       • 

is  reported  that  you  have  done  wonderful  works  m 

other  places,  and  particularly  at  Capernaum  §>  we  in- 

fift 

NOTES, 
f  Here  is  a  beautiful  gradation,  in  al-  year  to  fervant:.  and  debtors,  and  to  them 
lufion  to  the  miferable  flate  of  fuch  cap-  that  had  mortgaged  their  eftates,  who, 
tives  as  were  not  only  caft  into  prifon,  at  the  return  of  the  fiftieth  year,  were 
but,  like  Zedekiah,  had  their  eyes  put  fet  free ;  liberty  bein^  then  proclaimed 
out,  and  were  bound  with  chains  and  through  all  the  land  of  Lfrael,  Lcvit. 
loaded  with  irons,  (  z  Ki//gs  xxv.  7.)  xxv.  8, — 17. 

*  This  has  a  manifeft  reference  to  the        §  This  intimates,  that  Chrift  had  been 
great  year  of  jubilee,  which  was  a  joyful   for  fome  time  preaching  and  working  mi- 
racles 


44 


The  Evangeltjl 


Chap.  iv. 


% 4.  And  he  faid, 
Veniy  I  lay  unto 
you,  No  prophet 
is  accepted  in  his 
own  countrv. 


filt  upon  it,  that,  if  you  are  able,  you  heal  our  fick. 
our  lame,  and  our  blind,  here  at  home,  among  your 
own  kindred  and  acquaintance;  otherwife  we  will 
not  regard  you." 

24  But  I  affuredly  tell  you,  that  vere  I  to  work 
ever  fo  great  or  many  miracles  among  you,  ye 
would  not  believe  :  For  your  obje&ion  againll  me  on 
account  of  my  being  the  fon  of  Jofeph,  verifies  ano- 
ther old  obfervation,  That  a  teacher  fent  from  God 
is  not  ordinarily  fo  well  thought  of,  or  received  among 
his  own  neighbours,  as  among  ftrangers  :  The  mean- 
nefs  of  his  family,  and  the  low  circumftances  ia 
which  he  ail  along  lived  among  them,  bring  his  office 
into  contempt  ;  and  it  becomes  a  matter  of  envy,  that 
he  who,  in  private  life,  flood  on  a  level  with,  or  was 
below  themfelves,  mould  wear  the  fuperior  character 
of  a  prophet  to  them.  It  is  therefore  much  fitter  for 
me  to  perform  my  miracles  in  other  places,  than  a- 
mong  a  people  whofe  prejudices  will  not  give  way  to 
conviction. 

25",  26  Befides,  God  ufes  a  holy  fovereignty  in 
the  difpenfations  of  his  favour,  not  as  man  judges  to 
be  moft  likely,  but  as  feems  good  in  his  fight  :  Thus 
in  the  days  of  Elijah  the  prophet,  there  was  a  great 
drought  for  three  years  and  a  half  together  -j- ,  which 
occaiioned  a  diftrefling  famine  upon  the  earth  ;  and 
though  at  that  time  there  were  many  neceffitous  wi- 
dows in  the  kingdom  of  Ifrael,  and  even  at  Jerufa- 
lem  itfelf,  yet  it  is  certain  matter  of  fa&,  that  E- 
lijah  was  fent  for  the  relief  of  none  of  them,  but  only 
of  a  poor  widow,  who  lived  at  Sarepta,  2.  Gentile 
town  which  lay  within  the  borders  of  Sidon  %, 

27  There 
NOTES. 

at  the  btook  Cher  it  h,  and  was  fed  by  the 
ravens  there  ;  and  after  a  nubile,  or  at 
the  end  of  'days \  (Q,|U»  2Jp72)  which,  in 
that  language,  often  Minifies  the  end  of 
a  year,  the  brook  dried  up,  becaufe  there 
had  been  no  rain  in  the  land,  1  Kings 
xvii.  1, — 7.     So  that,  putting  the  time 


7  5  Eutlleiiyou 
of  a  truth,  Many 
widows  were  in  II- 
rael  in  the  days  of 
Elias,  when  the 
heaven  was  fhut 
up  three  years  and 
fix  months,  when 
great  famine  was 
throughout  all  the 
land; 

26  But  unto 
none  of  them  was 
Elias  fent,  lave  un- 
to Serepta,  a  city 
~      of 


raeles  in  ether  places  before  he  came  to 
Na-^areth. 

f  An  account  of  this  famine  we  have 
at  large,  r  Kings  xvii.  gt  xviii.;  and  the 
apoftle  James  refers  to  it,  chip.  v.  17. 
But  in  1  Kings  xviii.  1.    it  is  faid,   that 


the  ivord  of  the  Lord  came  to  Elijah  in 

the  third  year,  faying,  Go  fljeiu  thy f elf  all  together,  it  was  in  the  fourth  year. 


to  Ahab,  and  I  will  fend  rain  upon  the 
earth  :  And  yet  Chrift  fays,  the  heaven 
ivcis  flmt  up  three  years  and  fix  months ; 
and  the  apoftle  James,  that  it  rained  not 
on  the  earth  by  the  fpace  of  three  years 
and  fix  months.  To  reconcile  this,  we 
are  to  obfevve,  that  the  third  year,  in 
which  God  fpoke  to  Elijah  about  fend- 
ing rain,  is  to  be  reckoned,  not  from  the 
beginning  of  the  drought,  but  from  the 
time  when  Elijah  began  to  fojourn  with 
the  widow  of  Sarepta  ;  and  that  a  year 
•t"  drought  had  piececled,  whilfthe  dwelt 


from  the  beginning  of  the  drought,  that 
God  fpake  to  Elijah  of  fending  rain;  and 
this  is  determined  by  Chrift,  and  the  a- 
poftle  James,  to  be  three  years  and  a 
half,  or  fix  months.  * 

X  Sidon  was  a  Ge?itile  city,  out  of  the 
borders  of  the  land  of  Ifracl.  God  fent 
Elijah  thither,  who,  in  the  Greim:,  is 
called  Elias,  and  fo  made  him  a  prophc 
of  the  Gentiles,  the  fiilt  that  ever  went 
among  them  :  And  when  our  Lord  hirn- 
felf  went  among  the  Gentiles,  it  was  in- 
to the  coaft  of  Tyre  and  Sidon,  Mat.  Vf. 

21. 


Chap.  iv.  Luke  paraphrafed.  45 

of  Sidon,  unto  a  27  There  were  likewife  many  leprous  perfons  in 
woman  that  was  a  the  \au&  0f  Judea,  in  the  days  of  Elijha,  (whofe 
widow.  ^     name>  in  th^  Greek,  is  £/jfow  ;  )   and  yet   none   of 

lepers  were  in*Il-  them  were  cured  by  means  of  that  prophet  :  But 
rael  in  the  time  of  (u  ftv)  Naaman  the  Syrian  was  healed,  (2  King.? 
Elifeus  the  pro-  v#  3^ — t^\  though  he  was  fo  far  from  being  an 
phet :  and  none  of  jrraente  that  he  was  of  a  nation  which  were  not 
S™Nalaa  only  ftrangers,  but  enemies  to  Ifrael,  and  to  their 
the  Syrian.  God.     If  therefore   I  chufe  to  difplay  my  glory  and 

fhew  mercy  among  Ifraelites,  in  diftant  parts,  rather 
than  among   my    own    townfmen,    neighbours,    and 
acquaintance  ;    yea,  were  I  to  do  this  even   among 
the    Gentiles    themfelves,    rather    than    among    the 
Jews  ;  there  is  no  more  reafon  to  cavil  at  me  for  it, 
•than  there  was  of  old  at  Elijah  and  Eli/ha,  and  the 
difpenfation  of   providence    by    them,    for   relieving 
neceflitous  and  difeafed  Gentiles,  rather  than  Ifrael- 
ites  that  were  in  like  miferable  circumflances. 
2$  And  all  they         28   As  foon  as  our  Lord  had  laid  thefe  things  in 
in   the  fynagogue,   the  fynagogue,  and  thereby  fuggefted  as  if  the  peo- 
when    they  heard      je  of  that  town  were  unworthy  of  his  favour,   and 
EferC   the  Gentile,  themfelves  fhould  be  made  partakers  of 
it ;   they  who  but  juil  before  bore  him  witnejs,  and 
wondered  at  his  gracious   words,    (ver.  22.)    were 
generally  filled  with  the  utmoft  indignation  and  rage 
againft  him  : 

2 9  Androfeup,  29  And,  in  the  heat  of  their  fury,  they  tumultu- 
and  thmft  him  out  ou{]y  broke  up  the  afTembly  all  at  once,  and  thrult 
of  the  city,  and  ^  ,  Qut  of  the  fynagogue  but  of  Naza- 
led  rum  unto  the  '  .  .  ]  .  /.  °  °A  .  .,  >,  c 
brow  of  the  hill,   reth  itielf ;  and,  hurrying  him  away  to  the  brow  ot 

(whereon  their  ci-   the  hill  on  which  the  town  Hood,  they  attempted  to 
ty  was  built,)  that   difpatch  him,  by  throwing  him  down  the  precipice, 

they    might    caft  though  he  had  lived   fo   many   years  unblameably  a- 

him    down    head-  &    , 

long.  monS  them«  .*         r       J    . 

30  But  he,  pafs-  30  But,  as  his  time  for  dying  was  not  yet  come, 
ing  through  the  and  this  was  not  that  fort  of  death  which  he  was  to 
midft  of  them,  fufferj  he  miraculoufly  {prang  away  from  them  before 
went  his  way.  ^^  ^r€  R^re,  leaving  them  to  the  dreadful  con- 

fequences  of  their  outrage  againft  him. 

31  And    came        3 1   And  he  removed  from  thence  to  dwell  at  Ca- 
down    to    Caper-    Kernaum^  another  town  in  Galilee;   and  preached  in 
Oainec,  LC«7ught  'heir  fynagogue  on  the  Sabbath-days.  _ 
them  on  the  Sab-        $«   And  hjs  do&nne,  together  with  his  gracious 
bath-days.                and  authoritative  manner  of  delivering  and  confirm- 

32  And  they  Jng  ft  was  f0  ftn'king,  that  the  people  could  not 
were  aftonifhed  at  b  ft  d  d  t  jt  for  £  was  att(rnded  with  di~ 
his    doctrine ;    tor                                    r  .       .     ' 

his  word  was  with    v*"e  and  powerful  evidence. 

power.  33,  34  And 

N     O     T     F. 
21.  to  (hew  mercy  to  a  poor  woman,  as  Elijah  had  done  before  to  a  poor  widow, 
therein  giving  a^  fpecimeri  of  the  mercy  dcligncd  for  the  Gentiles. 

•  Vol.  IT.  H 


4^ 


"The  Evangelift 


Chap.  iv. 


33  And  in  the 
ivnagogue  there 
was  a  man  which 
had  a  fpirit  of  an 
unclean  devil,  and 
cried  out  with  a 
loud  voice, 

34  Saying,  Let 
ns  alone ;  what 
have    we     to     do 


33,  34  And  among  other  wonderful  works  which 
he  wrought  to  confirm  it  there,  the  following  inftance 
was  very  remarkable.  One  Sabbath-day,  whilft  he  was 
preaching  in  the  fynagogue,  there  was  a  certain  man 
pofTefTed  of  the  devil,  that  wicked  fpirit,  who  was 
fo  full  of  enmity  to  Chrift,  fo  afraid  of  his  power, 
and  fo  enraged  againft.  his  gofpel,  that  he  fpoke  in 
or  by  the  man,  crying  out  with  great  vehemence, 
with  thee,  thou  and  with  an  audible  voice,  in  the  name  of  himfeif  and 
Jefus  of  Nazareth?  his  aflbciates,  O  thou  Jefus  of  Nazareth,  pray  give 
deftro  °us?C°I  k°  °  us  no  disturbance  >  tny  proper  bufinefs  lies  with  men, 
thee  who  thou  art  anc^  not  with  us,  who  defire  to  have  nothing  to  do 
the  holy  One  of  with  thee;  furely  the  time  is  not  yet  come  for  thee 
to  dellroy  our  dominion,  or  to  torment  us  :  Alas  \ 
I  dread  contending  with  thee  $  for  I  know  that  thou 
art  the  Son  of  God  f,  holy  in  thy  nature  and  defign. 

35  But  Jefus,   refufing  to  receive  teftimony  fnom 

the  devil,  feverely  checked  him  ;  and,  with  fovereign 

and  awful  authority,  commanded  him  to  be  filent,  and 

to  quit  poffeflion  of  the  man.     Hereupon  Satan  was- 

inftantly  forced  to  retire  ;  and  though,  to  (hew  his 

rage  and  reluctance  at  parting:,  he  threw  the  poor  crea- 
midft,  he  came  out    .   °     •    .        •  *  ir         t.  r  n  ^i. 

of  him     and  hurt         e        °  vlo^ent  convulhons  beiore  ail  the  company, 

him  not.  an(l  feft  him  like  one  dead  ;    yet  he  immediately  reco- 

vered,  by  which  it  appeared  that  he  had  received 
no  manner  of  hurt. 

36  And  the  people  feeing  that  Chrift  wrought  fo 
great  and  undeniable  a  miracle,  in  fuch  a  godlike 
manner,  were  extremely  furprifed  at  it,  faying  with- 

ing,  What  a  word  in  themfelves,  and  one  to  another,  What  an  aftonifh- 
is  this !  for  with  mg  word  is  this  !  Who  ever  faw  or  heard  any  thing- 
like  it  ?  For  he  only  fpeaks,  and  it  is  done  ;  fuch 
power  and  authority  go  forth  with  his  word,  that  e- 
ven  the  infernal^wicked  fpirits  are  forced  to  fubmit  to 
his  abfolute  command,  and  to  do  as  he  orders  them. 

37  And  the  report  of  this  amazing  cure  was  foon 
fpread  abroad,    and  gave  him  a  vail  reputation,    far 

wide  ;    fo  that  the  whole  country  rung  with  his 


God. 


35  And  Jefus 
rebuked  him,  lay- 
ing, Hold  thy 
peace,  and  come 
out  of  him.  And, 
when  the  devil  had 
thrown  him  in  the 


36  And  they 
were  all  amazed, 
and  fpake  among 
themfelves,       fay 


authority  and  pow 
er  he  commandeth 
the  unclean  fpirits, 
and  they  come  out. 


37  And  the  fame 
;>f   him   went   out 
into  every  place  of     r  , 
*.he  country  round    ' 


praifes. 

38  Now  as  foon  as  Jefus  had  publicly  wrought  this 
miracle  in  the  fynagogue,  he  retired  from  thence  to 
Simon  Peter's  houfe,  whofe  habitation  was  in  this 
town  ;    *  and  his  wife's  mother  being  at  that  time 

dan- 
NOTES. 
f  This  confeffion  of  Chrift  was  either  ex-    he  cajl  out  devils  by  Beelzebub  the  prince 
lotted  from  the  devil  by  the  terror  he  was    of  devils,  Mat.  xii.  24. 
in,  or  elfe  he  made  it  with  a  defign  of  pay- 


about 

3S  And  he  arofe 
out   of    the    fyna- 
gogue,  and  enter- 
ed    into     Simon's 
houfe ; 


ing  fuch  a  public  compliment  to  Chrift,  as 
might  tender  his  character  fufpected  u- 
mong  the  Jews;  and  it  is  probable  that 
the  Phari/ees  took  occafion,  from  the  de- 
vils owning  him,  to  reproach  him  as  if 


*  This  evidently  confutes  the  Popifo 
notion  of  the  celibacy  of  the  clergy:  For 
the  apoftle  Peter  himfeif  had  a  wife, 
whofe  mother  lay  lick  at  his  houfe  ;  and 
here  it  was  that  our  Lord  probably  dwelt 


Chap.  iv. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


47 


houfe ;  and  Simon's  dangeroufly  lick  of  a  fever}  her  friends,    encouraged 
wife's  mother  was  by  what  he  had  juit  before  done  in  the  fynagogue,  ac- 
ta en  wi     a.gr'ea  quainted  him  with  her  threatening  cafe,  andearneftly 
fever  •     and    they  *                     .                          .                   &                         . 
fcefoueht  him   for  entreated  him  to  Ihew  his  power  and  goodnefs  in  heal- 

her.  ing  her. 

39  And  he  flood        ^9  They  no  fooner  afked,  but  received  :    Jefus,  in 
over  her    and  re-    ^t  greatnefs  of  his  compaiTion,    went  into  the  room 
and    it    left    her!   where  (he  lay  ;  and,  as  he  ftood  looking  upon  her,  he, 
And    immediately   like  the  fovereign  Lord  of  all,  without  any  ceremony, 
fne  arofe,  and  mi-   or  application  to  his  Father,  commanded  the  fever  to 
aiftred  unto  them,     depart  from  her,  and  took  it  off,  to  the  perfed  reco- 
very of  her  health  and  Itrength  all  at  once  :  And,  as 
an  evidence  of  this,   (he  prefently  got  out  of  bed, 
went  about  the  bufinefs  of  the  houfe,    and  did  what 
was  requifite  for  the   entertainment   of  our  blefled 
Lord  and  the  company. 

40  Now  when        40  Then,    as  foon  as  the  fun  was  fet,    at  which 
the  fun  was  fetting,   tJme  the  Sabbath  was  over,  all  the  people  thereabouts, 

who  had  any  fick  relations  or  friends,  brought  them  to 
Jefus,  that  he  might  heal  them,  whatfoever  their  dif- 
eafes  were  ;  the  Fharifees  having  fuggefted,  that  it 
was  unlawful  for  them  to  carry  their  fick  to  him,  or 
indeed  for  him  to  heal  them,  on  the  Sabbath-day  : 
And  fo  great  were  his  power  and  mercy,  that  as  fait 
as  they  came,  he,  by  a  bare  touch,  without  the  ufe 
of  any  means,  inftantly  healed  them  all,  of  what  kind 
or  degree  foever  their  fickneffes  were :  Not  one  of 
them  went  away  without  a  cure. 

41  There  were  like  wife  many  brought  to  him,  out 
of  whom,  in  the  fame  fovereign  way,  he  call  out  evil 

a^dVayTng^Thou  *Pn;its  barely  by  his  word  of  command  ;  and,  upon 
art  Chrift  the  Son  their  taking  leave  of  the  polfefied  perfons,  they  made 
of  God.  And  he  hideous  outcries,  faying,  Ah,  we  find  that  thou  art 
rebuking  them,  fuf-  the  Meffiah,  the  Son  of  the  living  God  !  But,  as 
{]*  \  eforROthe°  t^ie"*  teftimony  was  of  no  advantage  to  him,  he  corn- 
knew  that  he  was   manded  them  to  be  filent,  and  would  not  fuffer  them 

to  publifh  who  he  was  ;    for  they  indeed  certainly 

knew  him  to  be.  the  true  Mefiiah. 

42  And  the  next  morning  f,  before  day-light  ap- 
peared, he  arofe,  and  retired  to  a  folitary  place,  that 
he  might  have  an  opportunity  for  fecret  prayer:  (Mark 
i.  35.)    But  as  foon  as  the  people  miffed  him,   they 

him,  and  came  un-   carefully  fearched  after  him  till  they  found  him  ;  and, 
to  him,  and  ftayed    when  they  came  to  him,    they  were  very  urgent  in 
'  H  2  their 

NOTE. 
t  In  Mark  i.  35.  it  is  laid,  that  in  the  alfo  made  the  midnight  a  diftincYive  pc- 
ntbrningi  riftng  up  a  great  while  before  riud,  to  part  between  day  and  day  ;  fc 
day,  he  went  out.  But  he  might  rife  that  they  reckoned  up  till  midnight  for 
before,  and  yet  not  go  out  till  it  was  day;  the  day  that  was  pad,  and  reckoned 
or  as  Dr  Lightfoot.  reconciles  thefe  ac-  down  from  midnight,  for  the  morning  p£ 
counts,  Though  the  natural  day  of  the  the  following  day. 
Jenvi  began  from  fun-fetting ;  yet  they 


all  they  that  had 
any  fick  with 
divers  difeafes, 
brought  them  unto 
him  :  and  he  laid 
his  hands  on  every 
one  of  them,  and 
iiealed  them. 


4t    And    devils 
alfo    came  out  of 


Chrift. 

42  And  when  it 
wasday,  he  depart- 
ed, and  went  into 
a  defert  place :  and 
the  people  fought 


48  Tfje  Evangelijl  Chap,  v. 

him,  thathefhould   their  intreaties,    that  he  would  pleafe  to  honour  and 
not    depart    from    blefs  them  with  a  conftant  abode  in  their  city  and 
neighbourhood. 

43  And  he  faid  43  But  (^s)  he  told  them,  that  whatsoever  might 
unto  them,  I  muft  be  their  ends  in  this  requeft,  he  could"  not  grant  it, 
prcac  es  u  g-  conf1f];en^]y  wJth  his  great  defign  of  preaching  the 
ther  cities  alio  :  gofpel  of  the  kingdom  in  one  place  as  well  as  another, 
J  or  therefore  am  I  faying,  My  miniilry  is  not  to  be  confined  to  Caper- 
Jent*  naum,  but  I  muft  preach  the  glad  tidings  of  falvation 

to  other  cities  as  well  as  yours  ;   for  fo  the  commifiion 
runs,  which  I  have  received  of  my  Father. 

44  And  he  ^  Accordingly,  taking  his  leave  of  them  for  the 
F ^^iTuesoV  SZ  Prefent>  ne  travelled  about  from  town  to  town, 
lilee?  through  all  Galilee,    preaching  in  their  Synagogues 

wherever  he  came,    and  confirming  his  excellent  doc- 
trine by  his  beneficent  and  wonderful  works.    (Mark 

*•  39-) 

RECOLLECTIONS. 

How  often  dc  the  greateft  temptations  fucceed  the  higheft  teftimonies  of  Cod's 
love  '.  As  foon  as  our  blefied  Lord  himfelf  had  been  owned  from  heaven  as  the  Son 
of  God,  and  filled  with  his  Spirit,  he  was  tempted,  like  as  we  are,  yet  without 
iin  ;  but  came  oft  with  triumph,  that  he  might  be  able  to  fuccour  them  that  are 
tempted.  When  Satan,  taking  the  advantage  of  neceflitous  and  dangerous  circum- 
itances,  put  him  upon  firft  diftrufting,  and  then  prefuming  upon,  the  providence 
and  promifes  of  God  ;  and  when  he  grew  fo  infolent  as  to  offer  him  the  poffeftion 
and  the  government  of  the  world,  upon  condition  of  his  paying  religious  worfhip 
to  him  as  God's  delegate,  which  is  due  to  none  but  God  himfelf;  Chrift  defeated 
nil  his  affaults  by  the  fword  of  the  Spirit;  thereby  fetting  us  an  example,  and  fliew- 
jng  us  the  way  to  refift  and  overcome  every  temptation  through  him  that  loved  us. 
— O  what  dreadful  work  bus  fin  made  !  It  has  turned  once  good  and  holy  angels 
into  malicious  and  unclean  fpirits ;  has  perverted  human  nature,  and  fubjected  it 
to  the  devil's  cruel  tyranny  ;  has  introduced  all  the  difeafes  and  miferies  that  af- 
ilicr.  mankind;  and  has  brought  our  dear  and  blefied  Saviour  into  all  the  humbling 
and  fuffering  circumftances  that  he  endured  in  our  worjd.  But  what  a  gracious, 
fuitable,  and  almighty  Saviour  have  we!  He  is  the  fovereign  Lord  of  life  and 
death,  of  devils  and  men  ;  and,  by  virtue  of  the  office  to  which  his  Father  has  a- 
nointed  him,  he  is  the  deliverer  of  miferable  captives,  and  the  great  phyfician  of 
foul  and  body,  who  can  eafily  heal  the  diftempers  of  both,  by  his  word,  and  the 
divine  energy  that  attends  it :  And  he  exerts  his  power  and  grace  on  the  moft  un- 
likely, and  the  moft  unworthy,  as  feems  good  in  his  fight.  How  excellent  is 
his  doctrine  !  how  laborious  and  diligent  was  he  in  preaching  it,  efpecially  on 
the  Sabbath-days  '.  and  how  gloriouily  did  he  confirm  it,  without  the  leaft 
room  for  fufpicion  of  fraud  !  But,  alas,  how  few  are  favingly  wrought  upon  and 
converted  by  it  !  .  And  how  many  are  there  that  get  no  further  than  the  very  de- 
vils thtmfelves  |n  their  faith  concerning  him  as  the  Son  of  God,  and  the  true  Mef- 
fiah  ;  or  than  the  people  that  heard  his  preaching,  and  faw  his  miracles  with  at- 
tention and  wonder,  and  bore  witnefs  to  his  gracious  words,  and  yet  immediately 
-vf-re  filled  with  prejudices  and  envy,  turned  head  againft  him,  and  fought  to 
deftroy  him  !  But  no  defigns  againft  his  life  could  proiper,  till  he  had  fulfilled,  his 
:ftry,  and  the  time  was  come  for  him  to  refign  it. 


CHAP. 


Chap.  v. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


49 


CHAP.       V. 

Chrijl  preaches  out  of  Peter' j  flip,  I, — 3.  His  intimation  of  the 
fucce/s  of  Peterx  and  his  partner *s  mini/try,  by  a  miraculous- 
draught  of  fifties,  4, — 1>.  He  heals  a  leper,  12, — 15.  Retires 
for  prayer,  and  returns  to  preaching,  16,  17.  Cures  a  man  fick 
of  the  palfy,  18, — 26.  Calls  Levi  and  converfes  with  publicans, 
27, — 32.     And  vindicates  his  difciplesfor  not  fajling  in  thofe  days, 

33.-39- 


Text. 

AND  it  came  to 


pafs,    that    as 


Par  aphrase. 

NOW  while  Jefus  continued  in  Galile 


h 


fo 


Jake 
leth 


of    Gennefa- 


ec,  ne  was 
acceptable  to  the  common  people,  that  they 
upon  him  to  hear  flocked  and  crowded  in  vaft  multitudes  about  him,  to 
the  word  of  God,  hear  him  preach  the  gofpel  of  falvation,  which  was 
by  the  indeed  the  word  of  God  :  And,  as  the  fynagogues 
were  not  large  enough  to  contain  them,  he  went  to 
the  more  of  the  fea  of  Tiberias,  which  is  called  the 
lake  of  Gennefareth, 

2  And  there  he  faw  two  fiming-boats  lying  near 
the  more  ;  but  the  fervants  that  belonged  to  them  *, 
and  had  been  fifhing  a  great  while  to  no  purpofe,  were 
gone  out  of  them  to  warn  and  cleanie  their  nets. 

3  In  the  mean  time  our  Lord,  to  avoid  the  incon- 
venience of  being  crowded  by  the  multitude,    and  oi 

edlnto'onT  of  the  naving  ms  voice  drowned,  went  into  one  of  the  boats, 
fhip's,  which  was  particularly  Simon' 's,  whom  Chrift  named  Peter; 
(John  i.  42.)  and,  meeting  with  him  there,  he  cour- 
teously entreated  him  to  put  off  to  a  fmall  diitance 
from  the  land  ;  which  being  done,  Jefus,  without  re- 
garding any  diftincStion  of  places  for  religious  worlhip, 
clown,  and  taught  fat  down  in  the  veflel,  and  preached  from  thence  to 
the  people  as  they  were  Handing  on  the  fhore. 

4  And,  when  he  had  finifhed  his  difcourfe,  he  oc- 
fired  Simon  to  fleer  ftill  further  to  a  deeper  part  of 
the  lake,  and  there  to  drop  his  nets  for  tifh  ;  thereby 
defigning  to  manifeft  his  own  power  and  goodnefs, 
and  to  give  a  lively  emblem  of  the  wonderful  luccels 
which  his  fervants  mould  have  in  the  work  of  the  mi- 
niftry  under  his  command  and  influence. 

5  But  {y-oti)  Simon,  not  knowing  Chrifl's  intention, 
faid  to  him,  Sir,  I  doubt  it  will  be  loft  labour  ;  for 
we  have  been  fifliing  all  night,  and  taken  a  deal  of 
pains  already  without  any  fuccefs  :   However,   in  o- 

bedience 


2  And  faw  two 
fliips  (landing  by 
the  lake  ;  but  the 
fifhermen  were 
gone  out  of  thorn, 
and  were  wafliing 
their  nets. 

3'  And  he  enter- 


Simon's,  and  pray- 
ed him,  that  he 
would  thrult  out 
a  little  from  the 
land  :    and   he  fat 


the  people   out   of 
the  fhip. 

4  Now  when  he 
had  left  fpeaking, 
he  faid  unto  Si- 
mon, Launch  out 
into  the  deep,  and 
let  down  your  nets 
for  a  draught. 

5  And  Simon 
anfwering,  faid  un- 
to him,  Matter,  we 
have  toiled  all  the 

night, 


N     O 

*  Some  fuppofe  that  thefe  fifhermen 
were  Simon  and  Andrew,  who  were  faid 
to  be  cajling  their  vet  ifito  the  fen.  (Mat. 
iy.  18.  and  Mark  i.  16.)  If  lb,  it  fcems  to 


T    E. 

have  been  to  wafli  the  net  after  fifhing  : 
But  I  rather  take  this  to  relate  to  the 
fervants  wafliing  the  nets,  while  Simoii 
and  Andrew  remained  in  the  boat. 


5° 

night,  and  have  ta- 
ken nothing :  ne- 
A'ertheleis,  at  thy 
word,  I  will  let 
down  the  net. 

6  And,  when 
they  had  this  done, 
they  incloied  a 
great  multitude  of 
rllhes ;  and  their 
net  brake. 

7  And  they  beck- 
oned unto  their 
partners,  which 
were  in  the  Other 
fhip,  that  they 
fiiould  come  and 
help  them.  And 
they  came  and  fill- 
ed both  the  (hips,  fo 
that  they  began  to 
fink. 

S  When  Simon 
Peter  faw  it,  he 
fell  down  at  Jems' 
knees,  faying,  De- 
part from  me,  for  I 
am  a  linful  man,  O 
Lord. 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  v. 


9  For  he  was  a- 
sionifhed,  and  all 
that  were  with 
him,  at  the  draught 
of  the  fiib.es  which 
phew  had  taken  : 


io  And  fo  was 
alfo  James  and 
John  the  fons  of 
Zebedee,  which 
were  partners  with 
Simon.  And  Je- 
fus laid  unto  Si- 
men,  Fear  not ; 
£om  henceforth 
thou 


bedience  to  your  command,  and  in  hope  that  it  may 
not  be  altogether  in  vain,  I  and  my  men,  weary  as 
we  are,  will  make  another  trial. 

6  Then  they  let  down  their  net ;  and  Chrift,  as  fo- 
vereign  Lord  oF  the  feaa  as  well  as  of  the  dry  land, 
made  it  well  worth  their  while  to  obferve  his  orders, 
he  bringing  together  a  prodigious  number  of  fifties  by 
his  own  influence  upon  them  ;  fo  that  the  men  im- 
mediately inclofed  fuch  a  valt  multitude,  that  the  net 
began  to  tear  by  means  of  their  bulk  and  ftruggling. 

7  Hereupon,  their  partners  being  in  the  other 
boat,  at  a  confiderable  diftance  out  of  call,  they  made 
fignals  for  them  to  come  with  all  fpeed  to  their  afiift- 
ance  Vi  drawing  up  the  net ;  And  they  coming,  help- 
ed them  to  manage  it  in  fuch  a  manner,  that  they 
catched  fifties  enough  to  load  both  the  boats  with 
them,  and  even  to  overload  them,  fo  that  they  were 
in  danger  of  finking  by  the  great  weight  of  their  car- 

8  This  was,  in  all  the  circumftances  of  it,  fuch 
an  unexpected  difplay  of  divine  knowledge  and  do- 
minion, that  when  Simon,  who  was  likewife  called 
Peter,  faw  it,  he  threw  himfelf  down  at  Chriit/s  feet : 
And  inftead  of  filing  for  pardoning  and  fan£tifying 
grace  to  deliver  him  from 'the  guilt  and  power  of  his 
fins,  as  he  ought,  and  certainly  would,  had  he  then 
clearly  underftood  on  what  a  faving  defign  Jefus  came 
into  the  world  ;  he,  on  the  other  hand,  full  of  aw- 
ful confufion  and  fear,  as  even  good  men  ufed  to 
be  at  any  uncommon  appearance  of  the  divine  pre- 
sence, humbly  befought  him,  faying,  Lord,  I  beg 
that  thou  wouldft  pleafe  to  withdraw  from  me,  and 
go  out  of  my  boat ;  for  I  am  a  nnful  wretch,  utter- 
ly unworthy  and  unable  to  Hand  in  thy  prefence,  and 
to  converfe  with  thee. 

9  For  he  having  ufed  to  fifti  in  that  fea  many 
years,  and  never  feen  or  heard  of  any  thing  like  the 
fuccefs  which  enfued  upon  his  obeying  ChrihVs  word, 
was  ftruck  with  exceeding  great  amazement,  as  were 
alfo  all  the  men  in  the  boat  with  him,  at  the  vail 
fhoal  which  they  fo  miraculoufly  catched  at  one 
draught,  after  they  had  been  toiling  all  night  before 
to  no  manner  of  purpofe. 

io  James  likewife  and  John,  the  two  fons  of  Zebe- 
dee, who  belonged  to  the  other  boat,  and  were  part- 
ners with  Simon  in  the  fifhing-trade,  were  much  a- 
ftonifhed  at  this  event  :  And,  to  relieve  them,  Jefus, 
inftead  of  taking  Simon,  as  he  julUy  might,  at  his 
word,  fpoke  in  a  kind,  meek,  and  encouraging  man- 
ner to  him,  faying,  Let  not  your  fear  and  furprife 
thus  overwhelm  you,   and  make  you  raihly  wifh  for 

my 


Chap.  v. 


Luke  paraph rafed. 


5* 


thou 
men. 


lhalt 


1 1     And  "when 
they  had   brought 


catch  my  abfence,  as  if  I  were  an  enemy  :  What  I  have 
now  done  is  an  a&  of  miraculous  goodnefs,  as  well  as 
power  ;  and  I  have  further  defigns  of  much  greater 
favour  to  you.  As  now  you  have  caught  a  great 
multitude  of  fifties,  by  letting  down  your  net  at  my 
order  ;  fo  I  intend,  from  this  time  forward,  to  make 
you  a  minifter  and  an  apoftle  ;  and  by  preaching  the 
gofpel,  according  to  my  command,  and  under  my  in- 
fluence, you  fhall  be  as  remarkably  fuccefsful  f  in  a 
better  fort  of  fifhing  for  the  fouls  of  men,  that  they 
may  be  drawn  to  me,  and  fo  may  be  brought  out  of 
a  ftate  of  lin  and  mifery  into  a  ilate  of  falvation. 

1 1  In  like  manner  he  fpoke  to  Andrew,  Simon's. 
brother,  who  was  with  him  in  the  boat ;  and  foon  af* 

they  forfook  alt'  ter  to  James  anc*  John,  who  were  in  the  other  vefTel, 
and  followed  him.'  an^  whom  Jefus  afterward  met  afhore,  [Mat.  iv.  18, 
— 22.)  and  his  word  went  with  fiy:h  power  to  their 
hearts,  that  inllead  of  going  to  make  their  market, 
they,  amidfl  the  greatefl  flufh  of  profperity  in  their 
fifhing-trade,  immediately  threw  up  that  employment, 
and  all  their  worldly  intereits  with  it,  and  from  that 
time  forward  conftantly  attended  him  as  his  difciples. 
(See  the  note  on  Mark  i.  18.) 

1 2  And  while  Jefus  was  travelling  through  Gali- 
lee with  thefe  difciples,  as  he  was  one  day  entering 
into  a  certain  city  §,  behold,  a  man  all  over-fpreacl 
with  a  leprofy,  feeing  him„  fell  proflrate  before  him, 

feeing  Jefus,  fell-  and  humbly  intreated  him  with  great  earneftnefs  and 
fn  hls  fac-e'  ^ncl  importunity,  faying,  Lord,  my  cafe  is  very  mifer- 
fng^LoiV^'thou  a^e  anc*  dangerous,  paft  hope  of  relief  by  human 
wilt,  thou  can  it  means ;  but  I  firmly  believe,  that,  if  thou  pleafeft, 
make  me  clean.        thou  canll  eafily  cleanfe  and  heal  me  ;  and,  as  I  have 

heard  of  thy  pity  to  others,    I  throw  myfelf  at  thy 

foot  for  mercy. 

1 3  Hereupon  Jefus  lb-etching  forth  his  hand,  laid 
it  upon  him,  as  a  prophet  might  do  on  a  leper  ;  and 
at  the  fame  time  to  (hew  that  his  will  is  no  more  to 
be  diitrufled  than  his  power,  he,  like  the  fovereign 
Lord  of  all,  faid  in  an  authoritative  manner,  "  I  will  ; 
be  thou  eleanfed."  And  at  that  very  inftant,  the 
man  was  perfectly  cured  of  his  leprofy,  according  to 
his  faith  in  the  power  of  Chriit,  and  even  beyond  his 
faith  in  his  will. 

14  And  Jefus  peremptorily  commanded  him  not 
to  publifh  abroad  what  he  had  dor.e  :   But,  fays  he, 

NOTES. 

not  yet  entered  ihto  the  city,  as  appears 
from  Mat.  viii.  1, — 6.  Accordingly  the 
prepofition  y  may  be  rendered  at,  or  by, 
as  the  prepofition  3  in  the  Hebrew  is, 
Jo/b.  v.  13.  and  s.  n. 


12  And  it  came 
pafs,  when  he  was 
in  a  certain  city, 
behold,  a  man  full 
of    leprofy :    who, 


13  And  he  put 
forth  his  hand,  and 
touched  him,  fay- 
ing, I  will ;  be 
thou  clean.  And 
immediately  the 
leprofy  departed 
from   him. 


14  And  he  char- 
ged him  to  tell  no 
man. 


t  This  was  remarkably  fulfilled  in  the 
converfion  of  3000  by  means  of  Peter's 
firft  fermon  after  Chrift's  refurrection, 
(Atls  ii.  41.) 

§  This  was  Capefnavm,  and  Chrift  hr.d 


5* 

man,  but  go,  and 
fliew  thyfeli  to  tbe 
prieft,  and  offer  for 
thy  cleaning,  ac- 
cording as  Mofes 
commanded,  for  a 
teltimony  unto 
them. 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  v. 


tc  Bat  fo  much 
the  more  went 
there  a  fame  a- 
broad  of  him  :  and 
great  multitudes 
came  together  to 
hear,  and  to  be 
healed  by  him  of 
their  infirmities. 

16  And  he  with- 
drew himfelf  into 
the  wildernefs  and 
prayed. 


17  And  it  came 
to  yafs  on  a  certain 
day,  as  he  was 
teaching.that  there 
were  Pharifees  and 
doctors  of  the  law 
fitting  by,  which 
were  come  out  of 
every  town  of  Ga- 
lilee, and  Judea, 
and  Je  rufalerri :  and 
the  power  of  the 
Lord  was  prefent 
to  heal  them. 

18  And  behold, 
men  brought  in  a 
feed  a  man  which 
was  taken  with  a 
pally  :  and  they 
fought  means  to 
bring  him  in,  and 
to  lay  him  before 
him. 

19  And  when 
they  could  not  find 
by  what  way  they 
might  bring  him 
in,  becaui'e  of  the 
multitude,  they 
went  upon  the 
houfe-top,  and  let 
him  down  through 

the 


go  directly  to  a  prieft,  whofe  office  it  is  to  judge  of 
leproiies,  and  whether  perfons  are  cleanfed  from 
them  or  not,  (Lev.  xiii.  2.)  and  offer  yourfelf  to  his 
examination,  that  he  may  pronounce  you  clean  ; 
and  then  perform  the  rites,  which  in  that  cafe  arc 
required  by  the  law  of  Mofes,  in  acknowledgment 
of  your  purification,  (Lev.  xiv.  4, — 7.)  that  the  moil 
obftinate  of  the  Jews  may  have  a  legal  conviction  of 
your  being  really  cleanfed,  and  of  my  divine  power 
in  healing  you  ;  and  that  none  may  object  againfl 
me,  as  if  I  difregarded  God's  law. 

15  But  the  man  was  fo  full  of  joy  and  ecftafy, 
and  fo  defirous  to  fpread  the  praifes  of  his  gracious 
benefactor,  that  feeming  to  forget  himfelf,  or  not  to 
underftand  the  defign  of  Chriit's  charge,  he  could 
not  tell  how  to  hold  his  peace  :  And  Jefus  became 
fo  very  famous  by  this  means,  that  prodigious  multi- 
tudes flocked  after  him,  to  hear  his  excellent  dif- 
courfes,  and  to  have  their  difeafes  healed. 

16  And,  the  crowd  being  fo  great  and  continual, 
he  privately  retired,  as  he  was  often  obliged  to  do, 
to  fome  folitary  place  in  the  wildernefs,  that  he 
might  have  opportunity  to  refrefh  himfelf,  and  to 
fpend  time  alone  in  folemn  prayer. 

1 7  A  while  after  this,  he  returned  again  to  Ca- 
pernaum ;  and  one  day,  whilft  he  was  preaching 
there  in  a  houfe,  (Mark  ii.  1.)  feveral  of  the  Pha- 
rifees and  fcribes,  the  moll  captious  of  all  the  Jews, 
were  fitting  to  hear  him,  that  they,  like  fpies,  might 
feek  occalions  of  quarrelling  with  him.  For  this  pur- 
pofe  they  came  together  from  all  parts  ;  fome  from 
feveral  towns  and  cities  of  Galilee,  others  from  Ju- 
dea^  and  others  as  far  as  from  Jerufalem  itfelf : 
And,  in  the  prefence  of  all  thefe,  the  power  of  the 
Lord  Jefus  exerted  itfelf  in  the  miraculous  cures  of 
many  that  were  fick  of  various  diftempers. 

18  Among  the  reft,  there  was  an  aftonifhing  in- 
ftance.  A  certain  man,  being  grievoufly  afflicted 
with  the  palfy,  was  fo  very  weak  as  to  be  brought 
in  a  couch,  or  bed,  upon  the  moulders  of  four  of  his 
friends,  (Mark  ii.  3.)  who  endeavoured  to  get  him 
into  the  room  where  Jefus  was,  and  lay  him  at  his 
feet  for  a  cure  : 

19  And  when,  after  much  driving,  they  found 
that  all  their  attempts  to  carry  him  in  at  the  door 
were  in  vain,  becaufe  of  the  throng  of  people  be- 
fore it,  they  found  means  of  getting  up,  on  the  out- 
fide  of  the  houfe,  to  its  flat  roof ;  and  there,  break- 
ing open  a  trap-door,  they  let  him  down,  as  he  lay 
in  his  bed,  into  the  very  room  where  Jefus  was 
preaching  to  the  people.  (See  the. note  on  Mark  ii.  4.) 

20  As 


Chap. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


53 


lone  ? 


22 

Jefus 


the  tiling  with  his        20  As  foon  as  the  man  was  in  this  manner  laid  at 
couch,     into    the   ^Js  feet>  jerus  obferving  the  greatnefs  of  the  para- 

m  20    And?  when  ¥>*?*  V&f  as  well  a*  of  ^ofe  that  brought  him, 
he  faw  their  faith,  put  a  public  honour  upon  it,    faying   to  him  with 
he  laid  unto  him,  great  tendernefs,    affection    and    authority,    to  fhew 
Man,  thy  fins  are  ^  p0wer  an(j  w[\\  to  heal  him,    Son,   your  fins  are 
orSnen  pardoned  ;  and  you  may  confidently  expect  their  pe- 
nal effect,  in  your  grievous  diilemper,  to  be  removed. 
21     And     the  2 1    The  fcribes  and  Pharifees  hearing  him   pro- 
scribes and  the  Pha-  nounce  the*  remiflion  of  this  man's  fins,   in   fuch   a 
nfees  began  to  rea-  fovere^n  and  abfolute  way,  were  filled  with  prejudi- 
ion,   laying,    Who  p                    •    n   1  •            •  j          r        j  •    *.i_   • 
Ls  this  which  fpeak-  ces  and  envy  agamlt  him,  and  reaioned  in  their  own 

eth  blaiphemies  ?  minds  about  it  after  this  manner  :  Who  does  this 
Who  can  forgive  man  pretend  to  be,  that  he  dares  afiume  to  himfelf,  in 
.but  God  a-  th{s  blafphemous  ftyle,  the  unalienable  prerogative  of 
Deity  ?  For  who  but  the  great  God  himfelf,  againih 
whom  all  fins  are  committed,  can  have  fuch  abiolute 
power  to  forgive  them  ? 
But  when  22  But  Chrift,  being  as  privy  to  all  their  fecret 
t  Perceived  th0Ughts  and  whifperings,  as  if  they  had  fpoke  them 
atfwermgtJd  un-  out,  replied,  Why  do  ye  argue  at  this  perverie  and 
to  them,  What  injurious  rate,  and  entertain  evil  lurmifes  agamft  me, 
reafon  ye  in  your  as  if  I  were  a  blafphemer,  on  this  account  ?  I  will  put 
hearts  ?  what   I   have  faid  upon  a  fair    trial,    whether  I  am 

poffelfed  of  this  peculiar  property  of  God  or  not. 
23    Wnether  is        23   Is  it  not  as  much  the  prerogative  of  Godf, 
eafierto  fay,  Thy   merely  by  a  fovereign  abfolute  word  of  command,  to 
fins    be    forgiven   ren-ore    ^{3    extremely   weak    paralvtic    to    rerfeft 
tnee,     or    to    lay,'  ,       .  *    .  .    n  '    •     .  $■       •       v*     r       a    Tf  t 

Rife  up  and  walk  ?    health  m  an  initant,  as  it  is  to  rorgive  his  iins  i   it   1 

have  power  in  myfelf  to  do  one,  is  not  that  an  evi- 
dent proof  of  my  authority  to  do  the  other  likewife  ? 
Nay,  if  I  blafphemed  in  what  I  faid,  would  God 
ever  fuffer  me  to  confirm  it,  by  enabling  this  man  to 
rife  up  immediately,  and  to  walk  away  with  full 
ilrength  and  vigour  ? 

24  Now  that  ye  may  be  plainly  convinced,  that  I, 
who  appear  among  you  under  the  character  of  the 

Median,  am  indeed  a  divine  pcrfon,  and  have  power, 
power  upon  earth  i-mr  i  /*  jtt 

to  forgive  fms,  (he  even  whilit  I  am  here  on  earth,  to  pardon  im,  1 
faid  unto  the  lick  will  give  you  a  clear  demonilration  of  it,  by  inftantly 
of  the  palfy,)  I  removing  this  man's  diilemper,  which  (as  all  diieafer. 
lay  unto  thee,  A-   arc\  fe  t£e  fmjt  Q£  fm  .   ^n(J  t}lellj  turning  to  the  fick 

man, 

N     O  T    E. 

f  If,   as  fome  pretend,   Chrift  meant  the  other?  To  take  oil  the  palfy  as  the 

:;o  more  when  he  faid,   Thv  fb>s  he  for-  temporal  punifhment  of  bis  fin,  or  to  cuie 

<  1  thee,  than  "when  he  faid,    Rije  up  it:"    And  as  a  proper  forgivenefs,  with 

and  avulk,  his  queftion  would  feem  to  be  refpecr.  to  the  eternal  puniihinent  of  fin, 

very  trifling,   as  amounting  to  no  more  is  afcribed  to  Chrift,    A&S  vii.  60.  and 

t]>an  this,  "  Which  is  caficr  ?  to  heal  the  Col.  iii.  13. ;  fo  it  is  here  plainly  diftin- 

man,  or  to  heal  Him?  To  do  what  I  mean  guifhed  from  bis  healing  the  palfy;    and 

under  one  of  thefe  forms  of  expreflion,  or  the  Pharifees  evidently  underftood  it  in 

to  do  the  fame  thing  th-U  I  mean  under  that  manner.   See  the  note  on  Ma  '■  '.:■'-- 

Vol.  IL  I 


24  But  that  ye 
may  know  that  the 
Son   of  man   hath 


54 

:iie,  and  take  up 
thy  couch,  and  go 
into  thine  houie. 


25  And  imme- 
diately he  role  up 
before  them,  and 
took  up  that 
whereon  he  lay, 
and  departed  to 
his  own  houie,  <rlo- 
ntying  God. 

16  And  they 
were  all  amazed, 
and  they  glorified 
Cod,  and  were  fill- 
ed with  fear,  fay- 
ing, We  have  feen 
ftrange  things  to- 
day. 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  v. 


i~l  And  after 
thefe  things  he 
went  forth,  andfaw 
a  publican  named 
Levi,  fitting  at  the 
receipt  of  cufwm  : 
and  he  faid  unto 
him,  Follow  me. 


-zS  And  he  left 
rill,  rofe  up,  and 
followed  him. 


ic)  And  Levi 
made  him  a  great 
fcaft  in  his  own 
houfe  :  and  there 
Wis  a  great  com- 
pany of  publicans, 
and  of  others  that 
fat  down  with 
them. 


jo  But  their 
es  and  Phari- 
murmnred   a- 


gainft 


man,  he  fpoke  to  him,  with  all  the  majefty  and  au- 
thority of  a  God,  in  the  following  manner  :  I  abso- 
lutely command  you  to  get  up,  and,  in  the  prefence 
of  all  this  people,  to  carry  home  your  bed. 

25  And,  at  this  word  of  command,  the  man 
was  all  at  once  rellored  to  the  perfect  ufe  of  his 
limbs,  and  got  up  immediately  in  the  fight  of  all 
then  prefent ;  and,  as  if  nothing  had  ailed  him,  car- 
ried home  the  bed,  ,  on  which  he  lay  fick  before,  re- 
joicing and  bleiling  God  for  the  wonderful  cure  that 
was  fo  fuddenly  and  effectually  wrought  upon  him. 

26  Yea,  all  the  common  people  Iikewife,  though 
they  had  not  juft  conceptions  of  Chrift's  acting  by  a 
divine  power  inherent  in  himfelf,  were  flruck  with 
the  greateit  aftonimment,  and  afcribed  glory  to 
God  for  fending  him  among  them  ;  and,  at  the  fame 
time,  they  were  poffeffed  with  an  awful  reverenee  and 
dread,  like  perfons  apprehenfive  that  the  divine  pre- 
fence was  in  a  fort  of  vifible  manner  among  them  : 
And,  upon  the  whole,  they  cried  out,  Such  mighty 
works,  and  fuch  a  Sovereign  way  of  performing  them, 
as  we  have  feen  to-day,  are  very  furprifing  indeed,  far 
beyond  all  that  was  ever  feen  or  heard  of  before. 

27  After  this  our  Lord  went  out  of  Capernaum 
again :  And  as  he  was  walking  -near  the  fea  of  Galilee , 
(Mark  ii.  13.)  he  faw  one  Levi,  who  was  alfo  called 
Matthew,  fitting  at  his  office  to  receive  the  toll  for 
goods  which  were  carried  over  that  fea  :  And  Chrilt, 
preventing  him  with  his  loving-kindnefs,  faid,  Come 
along  with  me,  and  I  will  make  you  an  inllrument 
of  gathering  the  nobleft  tributes  of  praife  and  glory 
to  God. 

28  And  thefe  words  were  fet  home  with  fuch  di- 
vine energy,  that,  without  conferring  with  flefh  and 
blood,  he  immediately  obeyed  the  heavenly  call, 
threw  up  his  commiflion  as  a  publican,  quitted  his 
great  and  exorbitant  gains,  and  became  a  fincere  difci- 
ple  of  Chrill,  accompanying  him  wherever  he  went. 

29  And  Matthew's  foul  was  fo  Inflamed  with 
love  to  Chrift,  that  he  took  an  opportunity,  being 
rich,  to  invite  him  and  his  difciples  to  a  liberal  enter- 
tainment at  his  own  houfe:  {Mat.  ix.  9,  10.)  And 
there  he  got  together  a  great  number  of  tax-gather- 
ers, and  others  of  his  former  companions,  who  were 
perfons  of  ill  repute  among  the  people,  to  take  part 
of  the  feaft,  that  they  might  converfe  with  Jefus, 
and  be  in  the  way  of  finding  grace,  as  well  as  him- 
felf. 

30  But   fome   of  the    envious    and    hypocritical 
fcrihei  and    Pharifces    obferving  this,  were    highly 
offended  j  and,  not  daring  to  attack  our  Lord  him- 
felf, 


Chap,  v, 

gainft  his  difciples, 
laying,  Why  do  ye 
eat  and  drink  with 
publicans  and  fin- 

nprc  ' 


3 1  And  Jefus 
anfwering  laid  un- 
to them,  They  that 
are  whole  need  not 
a  phyfician  :  but 
they  that  are  lick. 


3 1  I  came  not 
to  call  the  righte- 
ous, but  fmners  to 
repentance. 


33  And  they 
faid  unto  him, 
Why  do  the  dilci- 
ples of  John  fall 
often,  and  make 
prayers,  and  like- 
wife  the '  difciples 
of  the  Pharifees ; 
but  thine  eat  and 
drink  ? 


34  And  he  faid 
tm to  them,  Can  ye 
make  the  children 
of  the  bride-cham- 
ber fail,  while  the 
bridegroom  is  with 
them  ? 


Luke  paraphrafed.  55 

felf,  muttered  to  his  difciples,  hoping  to  prejudice 
them  againft  him  for  it,  faying,  How  ihameful  is  this 
in  your  mailer,  to  bring  you  into  company,  and 
caufe  you,  together  with  himfelf,  to  eat  and  drinK 
fo  familiarly  with  fuch  wicked  wretches  as  thefe  pu- 
blicans, and  die  reft  of  the  profligate  fmners  that  are 
with  him. 

31  Jefus  knowing  this,  (for  nothing  could  be  hid 
from  him)  took  up  the  argument  ;  and,  anfwering 
for  his  Mifciples,  faid,  My  converfing  with  this  fort 
of  men  is  not  to  approve  of,  or  encourage  them  in, 
but  to  turn  them  from  their  iniquities  :  I  go  among 
them,  as  a  phyfician  does  among  his  patients,  to  re- 
cover and  heal  them  ;  and  every  one  knows  that  a 
phyfician's  work  lies,  no:  among  the  healthy,  or 
fuch  as  think  themfelves  fo  well  as  to  have  no  occafion 
for  him,  but  among  thofe  that  are  lick,  and  would  be 
glad  of  his  help. 

32  Accordingly  my  bufmefs,  in  coming  into  the 
world,  is  not  to  bring  fuch  to  repentance  as  never 
finned,  if  there  were  any  of  that  character  upon 
earth  ;  nor  can  I  reafonabiy  hope  for  fuccefs  in  this 
work  amoncr  thofe  who  are  as  conceited  of  their 
own  righteoufnefs  as  if  they  had  no  fin  :  But  I 
am  come  to  recover  thofe  fmners,  and  the  chief,  a- 
mong  them,  whofe  confciences  convict  them  as 
tranfgreffors,  and  who  fee  and  feel  their  fpiritual 
ficknefs  and  danger,  and  are  feiifible  that  they  need 
a  cure.  This  fufficiently  juflifies  my  admitting  the 
worft  of  men  into  my  company,  in  order  to  their 
converfion  and  falvation. 

33  About  this  time  fome  of  John's  difciples, 
Mat.  ix.14.)  being  egged  on  by  the  Pharifees.,  took 
occafion  to  object  againft  the  more  focial  and  Jels 
auftere  way  of  living,  which  Chriit  allowed  to  his  lol- 
lowers,  than  they  themfelves  practiced,  raying  to  hid*, 
How  comes  it  to  pafs,  that  while  we,  the  difciples  of 
John  the  BaptiJI,  that  unqueftionably  goad  and  holy 
man  ;  and  while  the  Pharifees,  who^profefs  the  ilrict- 
eft  fan&ity,  are  often  engaged  in  days  of  folemn  fall- 
ing and  prayer,  (fee  the  note  on  Mark  u-  l8.)  your 
difciples  neverthelefs  live  more  at  large,  and  neglect 
thefe   pious,  humbling,  and  felf-mortifying  duties  ? 

34  Jefus,  in  reply,  intimated  to  thenv  that  every 
thing  is  beautiful  in  its  feafon,  faying,  How  unfu  li- 
able -and  improper  would  it  be  for  the  friends  of  a. 
bridegroom,  who  are  called  to  rejoice  with  him  in 
the  feftivals  of  a  wedding,  to  give  themfelves  up,  at 
that  very  time,  to  the  aufterities  of  falling  ?  As 
therefore  your  mafter,  John  himfelf,  has  truly  called 
me  the  bridegroom  of  the  church,    {John  iii.  29.) 

I  2  it 


56 


The  Evangelifl 


Chap.  v. 


35  Put  the  days 
will  come,  when 
the  bridegroom 
ihall  be  taken  a- 
way  from  them, 
and  then  fliall  they 
tail  in  thole  days. 

36  A.nd  he  fpake 
alio  a  parable  unto 
them,  No  man 
putteth  a  piece  of 
a  new  garment  up- 
on an  old  :  if  o- 
therwife,  then  both 
the  new  maketh  a 
rent,  and  the  piece 
that  was  taken  out 
of  the  new  agreeth 
not  with  the  old. 


37  And  no  man 
putteth  new  wine 
into  old  bottles  ; 
ciie  the  new  wine 
will  burfl:  the  bot- 
tles, and  be  fpilled, 
and  the  bottles  ihall 
periih. 


3S  But  new  wine 
muft  be  put  into 
new  bottles ;  and 
both  are  preferved. 


39  No  man  alio; 
having  drunk  old 
*wine,  vhaightway 
deiireth  new  :  lor 
he  faith,  Th6  old 
is  better. 


it  would  be  very  unfeafonable  and  unbecoming  for  my 
difciples  to  fpend  their  time  in  falling  and  mourning, 
whilft  I  am  perfonally  prefent  with  them. 

35  But  it  will  not  be  long  before  I,  with  whom 
they  now  rejoice  as  with  a  bridegroom,  fliall  be  re- 
moved from  them  by  death,  and  ihall  leave  them  ex- 
pofed  to  many  trials  and  dangers,  which  will  fur- 
nifh  proper  occalions  for  days  of  humiliation  and  fail- 
ing, with  prayer. 

36  And  flill  further  to  illuilrate  the  matter,  he 
added  the  following  fimilitudes  :  As  no  one  of  com- 
mon fenfe  would  go  about  to  mend  an  old  rotten 
garment  with  a  piece  of  new  ftrong  cloth  ;  or  if  any 
ihould  be  fo  imprudent  as  to  attempt  it,  the  ilrength 
of  the  new  cloth  would,  upon  every  ilretch,  occafion 
a  ilill  greater  breach  in  the  old  coat,  and  the  new 
and  old  iluff  would  appear  to  be  very  improperly  put 
together:  (fee  the  note  on  Mat.  ix.  16.)  Soil 
would  be.  utterly  incongruous  for  my  difciples  to 
damp  their  rejoicings,  in  my  prefence,  by  the  feveri- 
ties  of  abundant  failing's. 

57  And  as  no  prudent  man  fills  old  leathern  bot- 
tles (fee  the  note  en  Mark  ii.  22.)  with  new  and  fpi- 
rituous  wine  ;  if  he  ihould,  the  brifknefs  of  the  wine 
would  endanger  the  buriling  of  the  bottles,  and  the 
lofs  of  both  :  So  my  difciples  being  but  weak  and 
tender,  and  unaccuilomed  to  failing,  they  having 
been  only  publicans  and  fiihermen,  and  being  not  yet 
thoroughly  fettled  in  their  principles  about  the  nature 
of  my  kingdom  ;  it  would  be  too  great  a  burden  and 
difcouragement  for  them,  to  be  put  all  at  once  upon 
fevere  abilinences  and  mortifications. 

38  But  as  it  is  apparently  beil  to  put  new  fer- 
menting wine  into  new  bottles,  which  are  ordinarily 
the  ilrongefl,  and  by  that  means  both  are  moil  likely 
to  be  fecured  :  So  it  is  moil  fuitable  to  my  wifdom, 
tendernefs  and  care,  not  to  over-load  my  difciples,  but 
to  proportion  their  work  and  difficulties  to  their  light 
and  ilrength,  and  to  the  circumilances  of  things ;  and 
this  makes  all  agreeable. 

39  And,  to  ufe  a  proverbial  expreffion  upon  this 
occaiion,  As  no  perfon,  who  uncjerilands  good  wine, 
and  has  been  ufed  to  that  which  is  old,  is  prefently 
brought  to  relifh  that  which  is  new,  but  prefers  the 
old  to  it :  So  the  life  and  power  of  religion  is,  to*  ex- 
perienced Chriilians,  like  old  wine,  vailly  preferable, 
in  their  efleem,  to  all  the  noife  and  ihew  of  bodily  fer- 
vices,  which  are  like  the  bouncing  and  frothing  of 
new  wine  ;  and  whatever  advantage  there  may  be  in 
Uriel:  and  frequent  failings,  as  fubfervient  to  felf-dc- 
riial,  and  a  mortification  of  the  flefh  ;  yet  tjiefe  will 

not 


Chap.  vi.  Luke  paraphrafed.  57 

not  be  eafily  relifhed  by  fuch  as  have  been  always  ufed 
to  a  freer  way  of  living,  till  by  degrees  the  foul  finds 
the  benefit  of  thefe  duties,  and  they  become  familiar 
to  it  by  practice. 

RECOLLECTIONS. 

How  vile  do  we  appear  in  our  own  eyes,  when  we  fee  our  ft  Ives  in  the  light  of 
Chi  id's  glory,  who,  like  the  God  of  nature,  commanded  the  watery  tribe  to  come 
mto  Peter's  net,  as  an  emblem  of  his  powerful  grace  in  gathering  fouls  to  himfelf, 
by  the  miniftry  of  the  gofpell  But  if  we  have  right  thoughts  of  him,  as  a  Saviour, 
under  our  fenfe  of  finfulnefs  and  unworthinefs,  we  fhall  lee  a  neceflity  of  drawing 
near  by  faith  to  him,  inftead  of  defiring  him  to  depart  from  us.  To  them  that  be- 
lieve, he  will  grant  remiikon  of  tins,  and  deliverance  from  all  their  dreadful  effects : 
And  how  lliould  our  obtaining  this  mercy  fill  us  with  the  higheif.  lejoicing,  thank- 
fulnefs,  and  praife!  If  Jcfus,  feeing  our  faith,  fays  to  any  of  us,  *'  Thy  hns  are  for- 
given thee,"  no  powers  of  hell  or  earth  can  reverfe  the  bleffed  ientence;  and  if  he 
ipeaks  to  the  heart,  it  readily  yields  to  his  command,  who  came  to  call  the  chief 
of  finners  to  repentance,  and  to  bring  falvation  to  them  from  all  their  iniquities 
and  diitreffes.  And  O  how  abundant  is  his  grace  to  repenting  and  believing  fouls! 
He  takes  them  into  a  marriage-relation  to  himfelf,  in  which  all  their  joys  and  griefs 
depend  upon  his  prefence  with  them,  or  his  withdrawings  from  them  :  But  he  will 
never  utterly  leave  nor  forfake  them;  he  will  always  efpoufe  their  caufe,  help  them 
over  their  difficulties,  proportion  their  work  to  their  ftrength,  and  by  degrees  fami- 
liarize to  them  the  moll  humbling  and  felf-denying  duties.  And  though  uays  of  fad- 
ing and  prayer  are  not  unneceiiarily,  much  lefs  luperftitioufly,  to  be  multiplied ; 
yet  times  of  great  affliction  and  trial  are  proper  occaGons  for  tbern  ;  and  Chrill  will 
incline  and  enable  his  difciples  to  perform  thofe  duties,  in  their  feafon,  to  rich  sd- 
vantajje. 


CHAP.       VI. 

ChriJIJhews  the  lawfulnefs  of  works  of  necejfity  and  mercy  on  the 
Sabbath  day,  I, —  n.  Retires  for  prayer,  12.  Chafes  twelve  a- 
pojlles,  13, — 16.  Heals  many  dijeafes,  17, — 19.  His  fermon 
to  his  difciples  and  the  multitude,  about  the  happinefs  of  faithful 
fuffcrers  for  his  fake,  20, — 23.  ''The  mifery  of  having  this  world 
for  a  portion,  24, — 26.  Love  to  enetnies,  and  doing  good,  27, — 38. 
Minijlers  and  people  known  by  their  fruits,  39, — 45.  udnd  the 
necefjiiy  of  praBifng  true  religion,  46, — 49. 

< 
Text.  Paraphrase. 

AN?fS  h  ot^the  T\Jow  on  the  fir11  Sabbath  after  the  fccond  dayf of 

fecondSabWthVft  the  paiTover,  Jefus  was  going  through  afield  of 

ter  the  firft,    that  corn  whieh  was  then  near  ripe  ;   and   his   difeiples, 

he  went   through  who  were  with  him,  being  hungry,  plucked  fome  oi 

the       corn-fiekis ;  the  ears,  as  the  law  allowed ;  (Deut.  xxiii.  25.)   and, 

a?    1   f  fu  .  .««    having  cleared  the  corn  from  the  chaff,  by  rubbinp 
plucked    the.   ears     .  .  .  .,&    l  •   . .  »      J  .      & 

of  corn     and  did    it  in  their  hands,  they  itayed  their  hunger  with  it. 

eat,  2  But 
NOTE. 

f  From  this  day  were  reckoned  feven  being  the  Sabbath,  that  Jcfus  was  either 
weeks  to  the  feaft  of  pentecoft  ;  and  the  going  to,  or  returning  from,  iome   fy  na- 
il r  ft  Sabbath  after  it  was  called  aaCGalov  gogue,    as  is  represented  in  the   pa*u- 
SivV-^Tt^uihv.    (See  Lightfoct  and  Whit-  phrafe  on  Mat.  xii.  1. 
byi)     And  it  is  natural  to  luppole,   this 


56 


The  TLvangeUft 


Chap.  vi. 


eat,  rubbing  them 
in  their  hands.     • 


2  But   (2s)    fome    fuperftitious    Pharifees   being 
nigh,  and  obferving  this,  took  occaiion  to    quarrel 

Pharifees   w*tn  tne  difciples,  an<^  tacitly  to  reflect  upon  their 
faid    unto    them,   Lord  himfelf  for  it  J,  faying,  How  dare  ye,  the  fol- 
Why  do   ye  that   lowers  of  Jefus,  profane  the  Sabbath  at  this  rate,  by 
doing  what  is  equivalent  to  reaping,  or  drefiing  vic- 
tuals, which  are  forbidden  on  God's  holy  day. 

3  In  anfwer  to  this  cavil,  and  in  defence  of  what 
the  difciples  had  done,  Jefus  replied,  Have  ye,  who 

faid,  Have  ye  not   pretend  to  fo  much  ikill  and  exadtnefs  in  underilanding 
5   and  obferving  the  law,  never  taken  notice  of  what 


which  is  not  law- 
ful to  do  on  the 
Sabbath-days? 

3     And      Jefus 
anfwering     them, 


as 
this,  what  David 
did,  when  him- 
felf was  an  hun- 
dred, and  they 
which  were  with 
him  ; 

4  How  he  went 


e  law,  never  taKen  notice 
David  and  his  company  did,  in  a  like  cafe  of  necef- 
fity,  when  they  were  hungry  in  a  journey  ?  ( i  Sam. 
xxi.  3, — 6.) 

4  Do  not  ye  there  read,  how,  on  that  occafion, 
he  went  into  the  court  of  the  tabernacle,  and  took 
into  the  houfe  of  from  thence  fome  of  the  loaves  that  had  been  offered 
God,  and  did  take  to  God,  which  he  and  his  followers  eat,  though,  in 
and  eat  the  ihew-  ^  ordinary  courfe  of  things,  thefe  were  the  portion 
alio  to  thpm  lhat  °^  tne  P"e^s>  anc^  tne  *aw  allowed  none  but  fehem 
were  with  him,  to  eat  °f  &  •  and  yet  David  was  never  charged  with 
which  is  not  law-  any  crime  for  doing  this  ;  it  was  juftifiable  by  the  law- 
ful to  eat  but  for  cf  necefiity  and  mercy  ;  and  fo  is  what  my  difciples 
the  priefts  alone  ?      have  nQW  donCj. 

c  And  he  faid  5  And  in  further  vindication  of  them,  he  added, 
unto  them,  That  That,  as  they  did  this  in  his  own  prefence,  and  by 
the  Son  of  man  is  his  allowance,  while  they  were  attending  upon  him, 
Lord  alfo  of  the  t^  j^  a  fufficient  authority  for  it  ;  becaufe  the  in- 
ftitution  of  the  Sabbath  itfelf  was  from  him,  as  the 
God  of  nature,  and  the  God  of  Ifrael ;  and  is  fub- 
je£t  to  his  explanations  and  alterations,  as  the  Mefliah 
and  Head  of  the  Church.  (See  the  notes  on  Mat.  xii. 
8.  and  Mark  ii.  28.) 

6  On  another  Sabbath-day,  alfo,  he  went  into  one 
that  he.  entered  in-  Gf  their  fynagogues  to  preach  ;  and  there  was  among 
to  the  iynagogue  tjie  pe0pie  a  certain  man  whofe  right  hand  was  wafted 
there  was  a  man '  an^  mrunk,  and  rendered  utterly  incapable  of  any  life 

or  fervice. 

7  And  as  the  "jewifo  doctors  and  Pharifees  knew 
that  Chrift  had  ufed  to  take  pity  on  miferable  objects, 
they  carefully  obferved  whether  he  would  go  about  to 
cure  this  man  ;  that,  if  he  mould,  they  might  endea- 

heal  on  the  Sab-    vour  from  thence  to  expofe  him  to  the  people,    as  a 
that    profaner  of  the  Sabbath  himfelf,  as  well  as  a  defender 
of  thofe  that,  in  their  account,  had  broke  it. 

8  But  Jefus,  knowing  the  malicious  and  ill-natur- 
ed, as  well  as  fuperftitious  thoughts,  of  t^eir  hearts, 

ordered 
NOTE. 
&.  Mark  ii.  ^4.  the  Pharifees  are  reprefented  as  fpeaking  af- 
Chrift.    as  they  are  here  faid  to  do  to  his  difcfples ;  but  both 
might  be  true,  they  fpeaking  firjt  to  one,  and  then  to  the  other. 


Sabbath. 


6  And  it  came 
to  pafs  alfo,  on  a- 
nother      Sabbath, 


whofe  right   hand 
was  withered. 

7      And       the 

feribes  and  Phari- 

watflied  him, 

whether  he  would 


ihey  might  find  an 
accufation  againft 
him. 

8  But  he  knew 
their 


X  In  Mat 
tcr  this 


xii. 
manner 


Chap.  vl. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


59 


their  thoughts,  and  ordered  the  man,  whofe  hand  was  fhriveled,  to  ftand 

faid    to   the   man  Up  jn  ^e  rnidfl  of  the  aflembly  ;    thereby  intimating 

thered  hand    Rife  ^at  ne  intended  to  nea^  mm  :  Accordingly  the  man 

up,  and  ftand  forth  ftood  up,  in  hopes  of  a  cure. 

m  the  midft.   And        g  Then  Jefus  turning  to  the   Pharifees,    who  by 

fee  arofe,  and  ftood  ^  tjme  ^a(j  eXpre{fed  their  thoughts,    as  if  it  were 

"'^u     fjT.     not  lawful  for  him  to  heal  on  that  day  f,  he  faid  un- 

9  Then  laid  Je-  i 

fus  unto  them,  I  to  them,  I  will  make  one  appeal  to  your  own  con- 
will  aik  you  one  fciences,  and  demand  your  anfwer  :  Is  it  moft  lawful, 
thing ;  Is  it  lawful  honourable,  and  pleafing  to  God,  and  moll  agreeable 
on    the    Sabbath-  h    d  fi         f  a  Sabbath     to  perform  an  ad  of  fo 

days  to  do  good,  or  .  ©         .  i      r        •  i  j  1  iv 

to  do  evil  ?  to  fave   much  mercy  and  goodneis  without  delay,  as  healing 

life,  or  to  deftroy  this  man,  and  thereby  preferving  his  life  J,  and  ma- 
&  >s  king  him  capable  of  hereafter  getting  a  livelihood  ? 

Or,  under  a  pretence  of  ftri£tnefs,  in  obferving  this 
holy  day,  to  be  fo  hard-hearted  and  cruel,  as  to  let 
him  continue  languiihing,  and  incapable  of  getting  a 
fubiiitence,  when  only  by  a  word's  fpeaking  I  can  re- 
cover him  ? 

10  And,  looking  10  And  as  they  made  no  reply,  becaufe  they  could 
round  about  upon  think  of  none  that  might  ferve  their  own  turn,  he, 
them  all,  he  laid  hrft  looking  round  about  upon  them  for  a  while  with 
unto  the  man,  ji  m(j{e.nat{ori  and  gr{ef  at  the  hardnefs  of  their 
Stretch   forth   thy  J         ,6,,     ,  ...  6\        T  i  •  i 

hearts,   ( Mark  m.  4,  5. )  and  then  turning  to  the  poor 

man,  commanded  him,  with  all  the  majeity  of  a  God, 
to  Itretch  out  his  withered  hand  :  And  he  inftantly 
enabled  him  fo  to  do  ;  it  being  perfectly  reftored  to 
its  proper  fize  and  ftrength,  colour  and  activity,  e- 
qual  to  the  other. 

1 1  Hereupon  the  Pharifees,  inftead  of  admiring 
Chriil's  power  and  goodnefs,  were  filled  with  the  ut- 
moft  rage  and  fury  at  his  having  fo  openly  expofed 

nether  what  they   them,  and  gained  fuch  reputation  to  himfelf ;    in  fa 

might  do  to  Jefus.    much  that  they  refolved,  if  poffible,  to  be  his  death, 

and  confulted  one  with  another,   and  with  the  Hero- 

dians,  what  fteps  to  take  for  accompliihing  it.   [Mark 

iii.  6.) 

1 2  About  this  time  Jefus,  having  made  many  dif- 
ciples  by  means  of  his  preaching  and  miracles,  retired 
one  evening  to  the  top  of  a  hill  for  fecret  prayer ;  and, 
as  a  particular  delign  of  the  greateft  importance  then 
lay  immediately  before  him,  he  fpentihe  whole  night 
in  folemn  devotions,  to  recommend  it,  and  -all  con- 
cerned 

NOTES. 
f  It   is   probable  that,   upon  Chrift's  faming  his  life,  feems  to  intimate,   as 


hand.  And  he  did 
lb  :  and  his  hand 
was  reftored  whole 
as  the  other. 


1 1  And  they 
were  filled  with 
madncfs;  and  com- 
muned one  with  a 


12  And  it  came 
to  pafs  in  thofe 
tiays,  that  he  went 
out  into  a  moun- 
tain to  pray,  and 
continued  all  night 
in  prayer  to^God. 


bidding  the  man  ftand  forth,  by  which 
they  perceived  that  he  defigned  to  heal 
him,  they  afked  the  queftion  which  is 
recorded,  Matth.  xii.  10. 

$  Chrift  calling  the  cure  of  this  man, 


tome  of  the  ancients  fuppofed,  that  by 
the  lofs  of  his  right  hand  he  wasdifabled 
from  getting  his  living;  he  having  no  0- 
thes  way  to  fubfift  himfelf,  and  his  fami- 
ly, if  he  had  one,  than  by  the  labour  ct" 
his  hands. 


Chap.  vi. 


IQ  And  when  it 
was  day,  he  called 
unio  h'nn  his  difci- 
pies ;  and  of  them 
he  chofe  twelve, 
whom  alfo  he  na- 
med Apoftles ; 
t 

14  Simon,  (whom 
he  alio  named  Pe- 
ter,) and  Andrew 
his  brother,  James 


60  The  Evangelift 

ccrned  in  it,  to  his  Father's  bleffing,  in  a  houfe  of 
prayer  (si>  m  7T(>6G-iv%r,-f.) 

1 3  And  the  next  morning,  ordering  all  his  difci- 
ples  to  draw  near",  he,  by  a  fbvereign  act  of  his  own 
will,  as  Lord  of  his  kingdom,  chofe  from  among  them 
twelve  :(:,  whom  he  called  apoftles,  or  extraordinary 
mefTengers  ;  and  whom  he  aiithorifed,  as  his  chief  mi- 
nifters,  to  be  his  fpecial  witneffes,  and  to  publifh  the 
gofpel,  and  work  miracles  in  confirmation  of  it. 

14  Now  the  names  of  the  twelve  were  thefe  :  6Y- 
mon,  whom  Chrift  furnamed  Peter  ;  and  Andrew, 
Simon's  brother  ;   James  and  John,   who  were  like- 

and  John,   Philip   wife  brethren  according  to  the  flefh,   being  the  fons 
and  Bartholomew,   of  Zebedee,    and  were  made  brethren  in  Chriil,    as 
well  as  in  the  apoillefhip  ;    ||  Philip  and  Bartholo- 
mew ; 
15  Matthew  and        j^   Matthew  the  publican  ;  and  Thomas,  who  was 
Thomas,       James    mQre  incredulous  than    U  t;ie   reft  of  the  apoftlcs  a. 
tue  Jon  or  Alphe-  ni    .n,         r         _..  „  .       r       rr        ,  , 

us,  and  Simon  call-    DOUt  L-hnlt  s  reiurrection  ;    James  the  ion  or  Alphe- 

us,  who  was  likewife  called  James  the  Lefs,  and  the 
brother  of  our  Lord  ;  and  Simon  Ze/otes,  who  was 
alfo  known  by  the  name  of  Simon  the  Canaanite  ; 

16  Judas  or  Jude,  who  was  likewife  called  Leb- 
bcz/s,  and  furnamed  Thaddeus  ;  and  lail  of  all  was 
Judas  Ifcariot,  who  proved  the  perfidious  traitor  of 
his  Lord. 

1 7  Jefus  having  chofen  thefe  twelve  apoftles,  who 
down  with  them,  ever  afterwards  attended  him  as  his  family,  he  came 
aiain  and  the  com-  ^own  w*tn  them  to  a  lower  flat  part  of  the  mountain, 
pany'of  his  difci-  where  he  ftood  §  ready  to  receive  all  that  fhould  come 
pies,  "and  a  great  to  him  ;  and  immediately  .the  company  of  difciples 
multitude  of  people   that  ufed  to  follow  him  reforted  to  him  again  5    and, 

his 
NOTES. 
-  The  Jews  had  ^Qmrtu^at)  orato-    of  feveral  others,  fee  the  notes  on  Mat. 


ed  Zelotes, 


16  And  Judas 
the  brother  of 
James,  and  Judas 
Ifcariot,  which  al- 
io was  the  traitor. 

17  And  he  came 


out 


ries",  or  houfes  of  prayer,  in  fields  and 
mountains,  for  retirement,  and  for  the 
convenience  of  fuch  travellers  as  might 
come  thofe  ways  r  And  it  feems  that  our 


x.  3,  4.  and  Mark  ii.  14. 

$  Tot©-  cssi\@r  may  very  well  fignify 
a  flat  and  even  part  of  the  mountain  to- 


Lord  fpent  the  ni^ht  in  prayer  in  one  of  ward  the  foot  of  it ;  and  fo  it  agrees  with 

thefe  houfes.      Vid.  Vitring.  de  Sy?iag.  Mat.  v.  r.  if  this  and  that  relate  to  the 

Vet.  1.  i.  p.  i.  r.  1.  .  fame  difcourie.    And  after  all  that  corn- 

%  The   number  of  the   apoftles  was  mentators  have  faid,  pro  and  con,  it  may 

twelve,  anfwerable  to  the  number  of  the  be  more  natural  to  fuppofc,  that  this  is 

tribes  of  Ifrael  that   fprang   from  the  rather,  partly  an  abftracl,  and  partly  an 

twelve  fons  of  Jfrcob.    And  thefe  twelve  enlargement  of  Chrift's  fermon  on  the 

apoftles  were,  under  Chrift,  the  fpiritual  mount,  Mat.  v.  bV.   than  another  dif- 

fathers  of  the  New-Tcftament  church,  courfe  delivered  at  a  different  time  Mid 

begetting  them  to  him  by  the  gofpel.  place  :  And  the  chief  objection  againft 

||  This  Philip  was  not  the  deacon  and  this  fuppofition  feems  to  be  removed,   if 

evangelift  of  that  name,  fpoken  of  Acts  he  was  then  on  a  plain  part  toward  th< 

vi.  &  viii.  ;  but  we  read  of  him,  yohn  i.  foot   of  the   mountain;    or  if,    as  fomc 

vi.  xii.  &  xiv.      And  fome  think,    that  think,  he,  being  prefled  by  the  multitude 

liartholoincivvHLS  Nathanael;  fee  Ham-  in  the  plain,   went  up  the  hill  again  to 

mond  on  John  i.  42.   And  for  an  account  preach  to  them. 


Chap.  vi.  Luke  paraphrafed.  6x 

all  Judea  and  Jc-  his  fame  being  fpread  far  and  wide,  a  great  multitude 

th^fei  coaftfr°of  °f  P£°Ple  flocked  about  hini>    fvom  a11  the  towns  and 

Tyre    and    Sidon,  viHages  of  Judca,  and  from  Jerufalem  itfelf,  and  from 

which    came     to  thofe  parts  of  the  fea-coaft  that  lay  toward  Tyre  and 

hear  him,   and  to  Sidon  :    Some  came  a  great  Way  to  hear  him  preach, 

be  healed  of  their  ancj    others    to    be    cured    of   their    various    diftem- 
(iiieales; 

'  pers  ; 

iS    And     they        1 8  And  fome  that  were  miferably  pofieffed  of  de- 

that    were    vexed    v[\^    and  thereby   difpoifeffed   of  themfelves,     were 

unc  ean    p..   brought  to  him  :  And  all  difeafes  and  evil  fpirits,  how 
nts :      and      they  °  r  n  .  .    r         '        , 

%\  ere  healed.  great  or  many  ioever,    new  away  at  his  command, 

who,  in  an  inflant,  recovered  them  that  were  afflict- 
ed. 
to  And  the  10,  Yea,  fo  vifible  and  remarkable  was  the  divine 
whole  multitude  p0wer  hy  which  he  healed  them,  that  every  cne  who 
him  •  for  there  wanted  to  be  freed  from  any  kind  of  malady,  preffed 
went  virtue  out  of  hard  to  come  at  him,  beiieving  that,  if  they  could 
him,  and  healed  but  touch  him,  they  mould  certainly  be  cured  ;  and 
them  ail.  fc  was  t0  them  according  to  their  faith  :   For  efficaci- 

ous influence  not  only  came  at  his  will  and  word,  but 
proceeded  from  his  own  perfon,  as  the  fountain  of  all 
power,    to  the  healing  of  every  one  of  them.      (See 
the  note  on  Murk  v.  30.) 
2c  And  he  lift-        20  And  as  heLwas  the  great  Phyiician  of  fouls,  as 
h    U?Th-1S,ey*s  °j    well  as  bodies,  fo  he  preached  the  gofpel  of  his  grace 
faid    BlelTed'  be  ye   to  t^iem  ^at  cam^  to  hear  him  ;  when,  looking  upon 
poor:    for    your's   his  difciples,  he  began  with  faying,    in  the  audience 
is  the  kingdom  of  of  the  people,  Ye  are  greatly  bleifed  indeed  who  are 
0  among  the  poor  of  this  world,    and  have  left  all  its 

allurements  to  follow  me  ;  and  who  are  fo  meek  and 
lowly  in  heart,  under  an  affecting  fenfe  of  your  utter 
infufficiency,  linfulnefs,  and  unworthinefs,  as  to  re- 
nounce all  truil  and  confidence  in  your  own  wifclom, 
ftrength,  and  righteoufnefs  :  For  ye  are  the  fubje&s 
of  the  kingdom  of  grace,  to  whom  all  its  bleffings  be- 
long ;  and  are  intitled  to  the  kingdom  of  glory; 
which  mail  be  your  inheritance  for  ever. 
21  Blefled  are  2 1  Blefled  are  ye  who  willingly  fuffer  hardfhips 
ye    that     hunger   ancj  hunger  for  my  fake,  and  are  more  carnefl  in  your 

v^Tn   i°r  yci '  (v  a    defires  and  purfuits  after  fpiritual  and  eternal  blef- 
be  filled.      Blefled  *  f        r      , 

are  ye  that  weep   hags  than  alter  your  neceilary  iooo  :    ror  all  thefe 

now:  for  ye  fliall   appetites  of  your  renewed  fouls  (hall  be  certainly  and 

kagli.  abundantly   fatisfied.       Vvhatfoever  the    world    may 

think  of  you,    ye  are  really  blelTed,    whofe  outward 

t  ircumflances  are  now  afflictive  on  my  account ;    ana 

v.'hofe  inward  grief  and  mourning  for  fin,  and  for  the 

difhonour  done  to  my  name,    are  iliii  more  touching 

to   you  r     For   ye  fliall  have  fecret  confutations  to 

fweeten  thefe  troubles  ;   and  in  a  little  time  evevlafling 

joy  and  gladnefs  fliall  be  upon  your  heads,    and  all 

your  forrow  and  fighing  fliall  flee  away. 

Vol.  II.  K  22  Or.ce 


62 

i%  Blefied  are 
ye  when  men  fliall 
hate  you,  and 
when  they  fliall  fe- 
parate  you  from 
their  company*  and 
fliall  reproach  you, 
and  cart  out  your 
name  as  evil,  for 
the  Son  of  man's 
lake. 

23  Rejoice  ye  in 
that  day,  and  leap 
for  joy :  for,  be- 
hold your  reward 
it  great  in  hea- 
ven :  for  in  the 
like  manner  did 
their  fathers  unto 
the  prophets. 


24  But  wo  un- 
to you  that  are 
rich  !  for  ye  have 
received  your  con- 
solation. 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  vi. 


25  Wo  unto  you 
that  are  full !  for 
ye  fliall  hunger. 
Wo  unto  you  that 
laugh  now  !  for  ye 
fliall  mourn  and 
\\  eep. 


26  Wo  unto  you 
ben  all  men  fliall 
fpeak  well  of  you! 
for  fo  did  their  fa- 
thers to  the  faile 
urophets. 


27  But  I  fay  un- 
to you  which  hear, 
Love     your     ene- 
mies,  do  good  to 
them 


22  Once  more,  Blefled  are  ye,  even  when  the  wick- 
ed of  the  earth  (hall  be  full  of  enmity  and  fpite  a- 
gainfl  you,  and  refufe  to  have  any  fociety  with  you, 
in  civil  or  facred  concerns  -r  and  when  they  fliall  load 
you  with  infamous  flanders,  as  if  ye  were  the  molt 
deteftable  wretches  on  earth,  and  fliall  pafs  unrighte- 
ous decrees  againfl  you,'  merely  for  your  faithful  ad- 
herence to  the  true  Meffiah. 

23  Think  of  thefe  things  as  your  glory  :  Rejoice? 
and  be  exceeding  glad,  that  ye  are  counted  worthy 
to  fuffer  fhame  for  my  name's  fake :  For  obferve  what 
I  fay,  heaven  will  make  you  a  rich  and  everlafling  a- 
mends  for  all  your  tribulations  in  this  world.  And 
ye  are  herein  only  the  brethren  and  companions  of 
the  bell  men  that  ever  lived  upon  earth  :  For,  in  for- 
mer days,  the  anceftors  of  thefe  wicked  perfecutors 
ufed  the  moll  famous  prophets,  and  holy  men  of  .God, 
in  the  like  barbarous  manner  ;  and  as  ye  have  fellow- 
ship with  them  in  their  fufferings,  ye  ihall  likewife 
be  partakers  of  their  glory. 

24  But,  on  the  contrary,  dreadful  is  the  cafe  of 
thofe  among  you,  whether  ye  profefs  to  be  my  difci- 
ples  or  not,  who  are  rich  in  your  own  conceits,  felf- 
opinionated  and  felf-righteous  ;  and  who  trull  in  the 
riches  of  this  world,  as  if  your  happinefs  lay  in  them  : 
For  ye  already  have  your  all ;  and  as  your  confola- 
tion  is  more  imaginary  than  real,  and  there  will  be 
none  after  it,  it  is  but  a  miferable  portion. 

25  Wo  unto  thofe  of  you  that  are  fo  full  of  your- 
felves,  and  of  creature-comforts,  as  to  defire  nothing 
better  !  For  ye  fhall  hereafter  be  entirely  dellitute  of 
every  thing  that  is  good  ;  and  your  eager,  painful 
appetites  for  happinefs  fliall  never  be  fatisfied.  Wo 
unto  thofe  of  you,  that  now  fpend  your  days  in  jollity, 
mirth,  and  pleafure,  are  ilrangers  to  godly  forrow, 
and  indulge  yourfelves  in  fenfual  delights  !  For  all 
your  joy  fliall  foon  be  turned  into  bitter  mourning, 
weeping,  wailing,  and  gnafliing  of  teeth,  for  ever. 

26  And  a  heavy  wo  lies  upon  thofe  of  you  who, 
preferring  the  applaufe  of  men  to  the  favour  of  God, 
temporize  and  ilick  at  nothing  to  gain  the  good- 
will and  good  word  of  every  man,  and  iludy  to  accom- 
modate yourfelves  to  their  lulls  and  paffions,  that  they 
may  flatter  you,  as  ye  do  them  !  For  it  was  by  thefe 
means  that  men,  in  former  ages,  were  generally 
brought  to  carefs  hypocritical  and  falfe  prophets, 
more  than  the  true  and  faithful  fervants  of  God. 

27  But  to  proceed  :  I  fay  unto  every  one  of  you 
that  hear  me  preach,  Do  not  confine  your  love,  as  ye 
have  been' taught  by  the  rabbies,  to  your  own  country- 
men, friends,  and  relations,  nor   to   thofe  of  your 

own 


Chap.  vi. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


6S 


29  Andnntohim 
that  fmiteth  thee 
on  the  one  cheek, 
orter  alio  the  other; 
and  him  that  ta- 
keth      away      thy 


them   which  hate   own  religion  ;  but  bear  all  good-will,  even  to  your 

y°u>  enemies,  and  be  fo  juft  to  them  as  to  have  a  due  e- 

fteem  of  every  thing  that  is  valuable  in  them,  or  done 

by  them  :   And  how  inveterate  foever  they  may  be  a- 

gainft  you,  be  ye  fo  far  their  friends,  as  to  do  what 

in  you  lies  to  promote  their  happinefs. 

2S    Blefs    them        28   Speak  as  well  as  you  can  of  them,  and  wifli 

that     curie     you,    all  good  to   them,    who   revile    and   imprecate    the 

and  pray  for  them    WQril      f       fls  and  ;nftead    of    return;ng 

which  deipitelully     ,     .     .   .     .  r  ,    r  •     r  1      r  j   ^.r 

ufe  you.  tncir  injurious  and  ipiteiul  ulage,  recommend  them 

to  the  mercy  of  God,  begging  that  he  would  convince 
them  of  their  iniquities,  change  their  hearts,  and  for- 
give them  ;  and  that  he  would  reftrain  and  defeat 
their  wicked  purpofes,  and  be  better  to  them  than  they 
are  to  you,  or  than  ye  yourf elves  can  be  to  them. 

29  And  if  the  violence,  which  any  one  offers,  be  as 
affronting  and  provoking  to  your  perfon  f  as  a  cutf 
on  the  ear  or  face,  and  as  injurious  to  your  property 
as  taking  away  an  ufeful  garment  ;  rather  yield  to 
his   repeating   the   affront   and  injury,    than   gratify 
cloakj  forbid  not  fo   malicious  refentment  in  righting  yourfelf.    If  you  can- 
take  thy  coat  alio.     nQt  reacjily  get  relief  by  legal  authority,  and  in  me- 
thods becoming  Chriftian  charity,  rather  fuffer  wrong, 
than  feek  private  revenge,  or  than  indulge  a  litigious 
quarrelfcme  temper  by  expeniive  and  tedious  law-iuits, 
in  which  the  remedy  may  be  worfe  than  the  difeafe. 
30  Give  to  eve-        30   If  any  one,  whether  friend  or  enemy,  afks  re- 
i y  man  that  afketh   \{e^.  and  yOU  are  wen  fatisfied  he  is  in  want,  be  ready 

tL^takethawa^  to  SIve  to  him  according  to  your  ability  ;  and  if  any 
thy  goods,  afotbem  honeil  man  has  borrowed  your  money,  or  taken  your 
goods  upon  truft,  and  is  not  able 
for  them,  do  not  arreft  the  poor 
and  throw  him  into  prifon,  nor 
ing  what  cannot  be  had. 

3 1  And  let  this  be  the  general  rule  of  your  con- 
duel:  toward  every  one,  in  all  fituations  of  life, 
Whatfoever,  upon  ferious,  cool,  and  difinterefted  ccn- 
lideration,  ye  would  think  to  be  lit  and  reafonable, 
in  equity  or  charity,  in  honour  or  confeience,  for  o- 
thers  to  do,  or  refrain  doing  to  you,  were  ye  in  their 
circumflances,  and  they  in  youris  ;  put  yourfelves  in- 
to their  place,  lo  as  to  make  their  cafe  your  own, 
and  do,  or  forbear,  the  very  fame  things  to  them. 

32,  33,  34  Thefe  are  the  holy,  excellent  and  dif- 
tinguifhing  duties  of  religion,  which  I  enjoin  upon 
them  that  would  be  my  difciples  :  For  if  ye  only  re- 
turn We  to  thofe  that  have  an  affection  for  you,  and 
are  kind  only  to  them  that  are  fo  to  you,  and  lend 
K  2  only 

NOTE. 
f  Thefe  feem  to  have  been  proverbial  exprejfiottS,  to  fignify  an  invafion  »f  tjjtfi 
tendejeft  points  of  honour  and  property. 


not  again. 


31  And  as  ye 
would  .  that  men 
ihould  do  to  you, 
do  ye  alfo  to  them 
like  wife. 


to  return  or  pay 
infolvent    debtor, 
be  fevere  in  demand - 


32  For  if  ye  love 
them   which    love 
what    thank 


you, 
have 


ye 


for  mi- 
ners 


64 


T/je  Evangelift 


Chap,  vi. 


ners  alfo  love  thofe 
that  love  them. 

33  And  if  ye 
do  good  to  them 
•which  do  good  to 
you,  what  thank 
have  ye  ?  for  Tin- 
ners alfo  do  even 
the  fame. 

34  A.nd  if  ye  lend 
to  them  of  whom 
ye  hope  to  receive, 
what  thank  have 
ye  ?  for  finners  alfo 
lend  to  finners,  to 
receive  as  much  a- 
gain. 


35  But  love  ye 
3'0ur  enemies,  and 
do  good,  and  lend, 
hoping  for  nothing 
again:  and  your  re- 
ward fhall  be  great, 
and  ye  fhall  be  the 
children  of  the 
Higheft :  for  he  is 
kind  unto  the  un- 
thankful, and  to 
the  evil. 


36  Be  ye  there- 
fore merciful,  as 
your  Father-alfo  is 
merciful. 


3  7  Judge  not, 
and  ye  fhall  not 
be  judged  :  con- 
demn not,  and  ye 
ihall  not  be  con- 
r.:ed  :  forgive, 
and  ye  iliall  be 
ven: 


only  to  them  from  whom  ye  expect  to  receive  again 
as  much,  or  more,  what  is  there  in  all  this  that  can 
be  of  any  account  with  God  ?  Or  what  man  will  have 
any  great  efleem  of  this,  or  think  himfelf  obliged  to 
you  for  it  ?  For  the  common  principles  of  humanity 
and  prudence,  of  gratitude  and  juflice,  yea,  of  inte- 
reil  itfelf,  naturally  prompt  to  thefe  things.  And 
all  this  is  no  more  than,  generally  fpeaking,  people 
do  who  know  nothing  of  God,  and  have  no  consci- 
ence, or  principle  of  religion  to  govern  them.  It  is  no 
more  than  is  done  by  the  very  heathens,  nay,  by  the 
publicans  themfelves,  who,  as  ye  yourfelves  judge, 
Hand  in  the  rank  of  the  worfl  of  finners,  and  are 
fome  of  the  moll  felf-interefled,  covetous,  and  op'pref- 
five  fort  of  men  in  the  world  ;  and  they  do  all  this 
to  perfons  as  bad  as  themfelves.  If  therefore  ye  go 
no  further  than  this,  what  do  ye  more  than  others  ** 
or  what  are  ye  better  than  they  ? 

35  But  I  infill  upon  it,  as  ever  ye  would  be  my 
difciples  indeed,  That  ye  be  kind  even  to  fuch  as  in- 
jure you  ;  that  ye  do  good,  and  lend,  as  there  may 
be  occaiion,  to  them  from  whom  ye  can*  reafonably 
hope  for  no  returns.  And  know,  for  your  encourage- 
ment, that  whatfoever  ye  thus  do  from  a  principle 
of  faith  in  me,  and  of  love  and  obedience  to  me  ;  the 
lefs  hope  ye  have  of  a  due  reward  from  men,  the 
greater  fhall  be  your  reward  of  grace  from  God,  who 
will  often  return  it  with  large  increafe  in  this  world, 
and  will  certainly  remember  and  own  it  to  your  e- 
verlafling  advantage  in  the  next  :  And  ye  will  here- 
by refemble,  and  fhew  yourfelves  to  be,  the  children 
of  your  heavenly  Father  ;  for  in  his  providential  dif- 
penfations,  he  is  merciful  and  good  to  the  ungrate- 
ful and  wicked,  as  well  as  to  the  thankful  and  holy. 

36  Let  it  therefore  be  your  higheft  ambition  and 
concern,  that  ye  may  have  grace  to  imitate  the  blefs- 
ed  and  glorious  God  himfelf,  as  children  of  his  own 
likenefs,  in  extending  your  beneficence  and  charity, 
as  far  as  pofilble,  to  all  forts  of  men,  whether  they 
be  friends  or  foes,  good  or  bad. 

37  Moreover,  take  heed  of  rafhly  cenfuring  c- 
thers,  or  judging  their  hearts  and  their  eternal'ftate  : 
And  do  net  be  forward  to  aggravate  any  one's  crime, 
or  utterly  condemn  him  in  doubtful  cafes,  or  for  a 
lingle  act,  as  ever  ye  would  not  be  judged  and  con- 
demned by  others,  nor  by  the  great  God,  for  your 
uncharitablenefs,  and  for  taking  his  judgment  into 
your  own  hands :  And  when,  in  private,  perfonal  af- 
fairs, any  offend  you  ;  put  the  moll  favourable  con- 
ilruc"lion  on  their  conduct,  and  be  ready  to.pafs  it 
by,  as  ever  ye  defire  and  hope  for  forgivenefs  from 

thofe 


Chap.  vi. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


65 


38  Give,  and  it 
fliall  be  given  un- 

*  to  you ;  good  mea- 
fure,  prefled  down, 
and  fhaken  toge- 
ther, and  running 
over,  flir.il  men 
give  into  your 
bofom.  For  with 
the  fame  meaiure 
that  ye  mete  with- 
al, it  lhall  be  mea- 
fured  to  you  a- 
gainl 

39  And  he  fpake 
a  parable  unto 
them,  Can  the 
blind      lead      the 


not   both   fall    ] 
to   the   ditch  ? 


thofe  whom  ye  yourfelves  may  difobligc  ;  and  espe- 
cially from  God,  againil  whom,  in  many  things, 
ye  all  offend.      (Jam.  iii.  2.) 

3  8  And  whenever  ye  are  called  to  charitable  dis- 
tributions, gi\e  freely  and  liberally,  as  ye  are  able, 
and  as  need  requires  ;  and  God  will,  one  way  or  o- 
ther,  return  bleflings  upon  you,  either  in  kind  or  va- 
lue, with  fuch  an  advantageous  overplus,  as  (hall  be 
like  not  barely  filling,  but  even  thruiling  and  heap- 
ing a  bufhel,  till  it  runs  over  :  For  according  to  the 
true  meaning  of  a  proverbial  expreffion,  He  thai 
fows  or  gives  fparingly,  Jhall  reap  or  receive' 'Jparing- 
ly  :  And  he  thai  fozvs  bountifully,  Jhall  alfo  reap 
bountifully.     (2  Cor.  ix.  6.) 

39  Our  Lord  likewife  took  occaiionto  caution  the 
people,  under  the  covert  of  a  parable  f,  againil  ig- 
norant and  falfe  teachers,  and  particularly  the  fcribes 
and  Pharifees,  thofe  blind  guides,  and  to  warn  his 

thfJ  difciples  againil  being  like  them  ;  faying,  "  If  one 
blind  naca  leads  another,  what  can  be  expected  but 
that  they  both,  mould  fall  into  mifchief :  "  Thereby 
intimating,  that  if  any  ignorant  and  erroneous 
preacher,  who  knows  not  God  and  the  way  of  fal- 
\:<t:on,  pretends  to  teach  others,  and  they  give  them- 
felves  up  to  his  guidance,  they  are  all  in  the  utmofl 
danger  of  falling  into  the  pit  of  deftru&ion,  and  of 
periming  there  together  ;  the  people  without  excufe, 
and  the  preacher  with  high  aggravations  of  his  fin 
and  mifery. 

40  Whatfoever  difficulties  and  fufferings  therefore, 
faid  he,  may  attend  my  followers  in  obferving  and 
communicating  the  better  inilruciions  which  1  have 
given  them  in  my  doctrine  and  example,  let  them  not 
think  much  at  it  :  For  the  difciple  mould  not  ex- 
pect  to  be  exempted  from  doing  what  his  mailer 
doth,  nor  from  fullering  what  he  fubmitteth  to  ;  but 
the  highefl  perfection  of  a  difciple  lies  in  his  being 
like  his  mailer,  and  learning  of  him. 

41  And  let  him  who  would  be  duly 
inflruct  and  reform  others,  begin  fiiil  at 
how  prepcilerous  and  unbecoming  is  it  for  any  of 
you  to  be  quick-lighted  in  difcerning,  and  fevere  in 
aggravating  and  cenfuring,  even  the  fmallefl  failings 

of 


40  The  difci- 
ple is  not  above 
his  mailer  :  but 
every  one  that  is 
perfect  lhall  be  as 
his  matter. 


41  And  why  be- 
koldeft  thou  the 
mote  that  is  in 
thy  brother's  eye, 
but  perceiveft  not 
the 


qualified  to 

home  :   For 


N  O 
f  As  parables  were  fuited  to  prevent 
prejudices  againft  the  truths  intended  by 
them,  and  to  ftir  up  inquiries  after  them  : 
(fee  the  note  on  Mat.  xiii.  3.)  So  Chrifc 
fometimes  fpake  by  them  for  gracious  in- 
formation to  his  own  difciples,  and  fcr 
righteous  concealment  from  others  who 
wilfully  fliut  their  eyes  againil  clearer 


T     E. 

light.  Mat.  xiii.  ic,  rr,  13.  And  at  0- 
ther  times  he  ufed  them,  when  he  knew 
that  plain  and  open  declarations  would 
too  much  provoke  the  paffions  of  his  hear- 
ers, and  that  they  could  not  be  borne, 
Mark  iv.  33.  It  is  for  this  reafon  that 
he  FeerpB  to  ufe  the  parable  of  the  bline 
teiriting  tt.  j  blind- 


66 

the  beam  that  is 
i«  thine  own  eye  ? 


4*  Either  how 
•camt  thou  fay  to 
thy  brother,  Bro- 
ther, let  me  puil 
out  the  mote  that 
is  in  thine  eye, 
when  thou  thyfelf 
beholden:  not  the 
beam  that  is  in 
thine  own  eye  ? 
Thou  hypocrite, 
caft  out  firft  the 
beam  out  of  thine 
own  eye,  and  then 
malt  thou  fee  clear- 
jy  to  pull  out  the 
mote  that  is  in  thy 
brother's  eye. 

43  For  a  good 
tree  bringeth  not 
forth  corrupt  fruit : 
neither  doth  a  cor- 
rupt tree  bring 
forth   good  fruit. 


KTbe  Evangelijl 


Chap.  vi. 


44  For  every 
free  is  known  by 
his  own  fruit :  for 
r>f  thorns  men.  do 
:iot  gather  figs,  nor 
of  a  brambJe-bufh 
gather  they  grapes. 


«*;>  A  good  man, 
*.ut  of  the  good 
treafure  of  his 
heart,  bringeth 
forth  that  which 
is  good  ;  and  an 
£vil  man,  out  of 
the 


ol"  others  ;  but,  at  the  fame  time,  to  be  blind,  or  ex- 
ceeding favourable,  to  your  own  more  heinous  crimes, 
fo  as  to  overlook,  extenuate,  and  excufe  them,  as  if 
they  were  mere  trifles,  or  there  were  no  harm  in  them  ? 

42  Or  how  can  you  be  fit  to  correct  leffer  matters 
that  are  atnifs  in  your  brother,  and  with  what  face  can 
you  attempt  it,  while  you  take  no  notice  of  your  own 
much  greater  faults  ;  or  if  you  are  confcious  of  them, 
take  no  care  about  redrefiing  them  ?  This  is  the 
grofTeft  hypocrify  :  And  whatsoever  fuch  an  one  may 
pretend  to,  he  is  no  enemy  to  fin,  as  fuch  ;  but  is 
rather  an  enemy  to  his  brother,  than  to  his  fin  ;  nor 
is  he  like  to  do  much  good  by  his  reproofs.  If 
therefore  you  would  aft  a  wife,  an  upright,  and  a 
fuccefsful  parts  in  correcting  and  inftructing  others, 
begin  firft  with  your  own  hearts  and  ways  ;  fee  that 
they  be  purified  from  the  guilt  and  power  of  all  ini- 
quity ;  and  then  you  will  be  more  capable  of  repro- 
ving and  directing  your  brother  with  judgment,  decen- 
cy, and  authority,  and  more  likely  to  fucceed  in  it. 

43  For  every  man  is  good  or  bad,  according  to 
his  governing  principle  ;  and  his  life  will  be  anfwer- 
able  to  it.  As  the  fruit  of  a  good  tree  is  excellent, 
and  that  of  a  bad  one  is  worthlefs,  according  to 
their  refpe£tive  kinds  :  So  a  good  man  and  holy  mini- 
fter,  whofe  heart  is  renewed  by  grace,  brings  forth 
the  genuine  fruits  of  righteoufnefs  in  his  life  and  doc- 
trine ;  and  an  unrenewed  man  and  corrupt  minifter, 
whofe  principles  are  wrong,  brings  forth  fruits  of 
iniquity  and  falfehood  in  his  converfation  and  mini- 
ftrations  ;  nor  can  the  contrary  to  this  be  reafonably 
expected  from  them  feverally. 

44  For  as  men  rightly  judge  of  the  nature  of  a 
tree,  by  the  fort  of  fruit  it  bears  ;  fo  they  may  of 
peoples  prevailing  thoughts  and  difpofitions,  by  their 
tendencies  and  efFe&s  :  For  as,  in  the  natural  and 
vegetable  world,  every  thing  produces  according  to 
its  own  nature,  fig-trees  figs,  and  vines  grapes,  nei- 
ther of  which  can  grow  upon  thorn-trees  and  bram- 
ble-bufhes  :  So,  in  the  fpiritual  and  moral  world, 
gracious  and  holy  men  and  minifters  bring  forth  fpi- 
ritual and  holy  words  and  actions  ;  and  unregenerate 
carnal  men  cannot  produce  fruits  of  righteoufnefs  in 
their  lives  and  miniilry,  while  their  notions  are  cor- 
rupt and  their  hearts  vicious. 

45  This  may  be  further  illultrated  by  the  nature 
of  a  fountain  :  As  a  clear  and  fweet  fpring  will  fend 
forth  clean  and  pleafant  water  ;  fo  the  man,  whofe 
heart  is  enriched  with  llores  of  fpiritual  knowledge 
and  grace,  will  bring  forth  fuch  things  in  his  life  as 
are  favoury  and  edifying,  and  well-pleaiing  in  God's 

fight ; 


Chap.  vi. 

the  evil  treafure  of 
his  heart,  bringeth 
forth  that  which 
is  evil  :  for  of  the 
abundance  of  the 
heart  his  mouth 
fpeaketh. 


46  And  why 
call  ye  me  Lord, 
Lord,  and  do  not 
the  things  which  I 
fay  ? 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


67 


47  Whomever 
cometh  to  me,  and 
heareth  my  fay- 
ings,  and  doeth 
them,  I  will  (hew 
you  to  whom  he  is 
like*. 

4"8  He  is  like  a 
man  which  built 
an  houfe,  and  dig- 
ged deep,  and 
laid  the  foundation 
on  a  rock ;  and 
when  the  flood  a- 
rofe,  the  ftream 
beat  vehemently 
upon  that  houfe, 
and  could  not 
make  it ;  for  it 
was  founded  upon 
a  rock. 


49  But  he  that 
heareth  and  doeth 
not,  is  like  a  man 
that,  witi.out  a 
foundation,  built 
an  houfe  upon  the 
earth  ;  againft 
which  the  ftream 
did  beat  vehe- 
mently, and  im- 
mediately it  fell ; 
and  the  ruin  of 
that 


fight :  And,  on  the  other  hand,  as  a  filthy,  muddy 
fpring  will  fend  forth  foul  and  naufeous  ftreams  ;  fo  a 
gracelefs  man,  whofe  heart  is  full  of  vile  lulls  and  cor- 
rupt affections,  will  vent  fuch  things  as  are  offenfive 
to  God,  and  injurious  to  himfelf  and  others  :  For 
mens  language  and  behaviour  will  be  according  to  the 
pretailing  thoughts  and  bias  of  their  hearts. 

46  Now,  to  apply  all  this  to  yourfelves  :  What 
fignifies  your  pretending  relation  to  me  ;  or  your  ver- 
bal acknowledgments  of  me,  with  feeming  refpect, 
as  your  Lord  ;  or  your  loud  addreffes,  with  feeming 
earnellnefs  and  importunity,  to  me  as  fuch  ;  or  even 
your  preaching  in  my  name  to  others  I  How  prepc- 
lterous  and  abfurd,  how  vain  and  hypocritical,  is  all 
this  ;  what  an  affront  to  me,  and  what  a  cheat  upon 
yourfelves  ?  Or  with  what  face  can  ye  do  it,  or  what 
good  ends  can  ye  propofe  to  yourfelves  by  it,  if,  at 
the  fame  time,  ye  do  not  receive  me  and  my  words  in- 
to your  hearts  by  faith,  nor  yield  yourfelves  up  to 
mine  authority,  nor  act  fuitable  to  your  profeffion  of 
my  name  ? 

47,  48  The  cafe  of  fineere  believers,  and  of  hypo- 
critical profeffors,  may  be  fitly  reprefented  by  this 
plain  fimilitude  :  Whoever  comes  by  faith  to  me,  at- 
tends to  my  doctrine,  and  heartily  falls  in  with  it, 
that  he  may  obferve  and  put  it  into  practice  ;  he  is 
like  a  careful,  prudent  man,  who,  being  to  build  an 
houfe,  dug  away  the  loofe  ground,  till  he  could  lay 
its  foundation  upon  a  folid  rock  ;  and  this  was  fuch 
a  ftrcngthening  to  it,  that  no  floods  or  florins  could 
undermine  or  overfet  it :  So  the  true  believer  can- 
not fatisfy  himfelf  with  notions  and  profefiions,  or  fu- 
perficial  pretences  in  religion,  but  fearches  till  he  finds 
a  fure  foundation  to  reft  upon  ;  and  then  builds,  by 
a  practical  faith,  on  the  Rock  of  ages  ;  and  being- 
founded  on  this  Rock,  no  temptations  or  terrors,  per- 
fecutions  or  dangers,  how  furioufly  foever  they  may 
beat  upon  him  and  fhake  him,  (hall  ever  be  able  to  o- 
verthrow  and  ruin  him  in  his  fpiritual  and  eternal  con- 
cerns ;  he  will  endure  to  the  end,  and  be  faved. 

49  But,  on  the  contrary,  whoever  only  gives  my 
word  the  hearing,  and  takes  up  with  a  bare  profef- 
fion of  my  name,  without  co:ieeruir.£  himfelf  any  fur- 
ther ;  he  is  like  a  fooliih,  weak  man,  who,  being  to 
build  an  houfe,  took  no  manner  of  care  about  its; 
foundation  ;  but  fet  it  upon  loofe  or  fandy  ground, 
which  had  no  ilrength  or  firmnefs  in  it  ;  and  as  foon 
as  ever  any  flood  or  florm  beat  upon  it,  down  it  fell* 
to  its  utter  ruin.  So  will  it  be  with  the  hypocritical 
falfe  profeffor  :  He,  having  no  folid  fupport  for  his 
pretences  to  religion  or  his  hopes  of  happinefs,    will 

never 


68  The  Evangelift  Chap.  viL 

that     houie    was   never  be  able  to  ftand  in  a  day  of  great  trial  ;    but 
§reat-  when  the  times  run  againit  him,   and  grievous  perfe- 

cutions  befal  him  for  the  gofpel's  fake,  he  will  prove 
a  fad  apollate  in  this  world,  and  perifh  with  a  ven- 
geance in  the  world  to  come. 

RECOLLECTIONS. 

How  confident  are  works  of  neceflky  and  mercy  with  the  fanctlfication  of  a 
fabbath  to  the  Lord!  and  yet  how  vain  are  pleas  from  thence  againft  a  religious 
observation  of  the  Lord's  day!  Chrift's  authority  is  a  fufficient  anfwer  to  the  cavils 
of  men  ;  but  is  not  to  he  itretched  beyond  his  defign.  He  knows  all  our  thoughts, 
and  fees  when  any  one'?  eye  is  evil,  becaufe  his  is  good  ;  and  we,  after  hi:,  exam- 
ple, mould  never  be  afraid  of  doing  good,  how  much  foever  others  may  be  enraged 
at  it,  or  how  malicioufiy  foever  they  nmy  reproach  us  for  it  :  It  is  our  duty  to  at- 
tempt every  thing  that  he  commands  us,  in  hope  of  ftrength  from  him  to  enable  us 
to  perform  it ;  but  we,  like  him,  fhould  give  ourfclves  to  prayer,  efpecially  when 
important  affairs  lie  before  us.  How  wonderful  and  effectual  are  Chrift's  works  of 
power  and  mercy  !  They  are  blelTed  indeed,  whom  he  bleffes ;  but  they  muft  be 
dreadfully  miferable  that  fall  under  his  wo  and  curfe.  O  what  rich  advantages 
will  the  faint  have  over  the  (inner  in  the  other  world ;  and  what  a  wide  difference 
is  there  in  their  rewards,  how  much  foever  the  finncr  may  profper,  and  the  faint 
may  be  afflicted  here !  And  amidft  all  the  trials  of  the  prefent  life,  how  beneficent 
and  kind,  beautiful  and  excellent,  is  the  fpirit  and  defign  of  Chriftianity,  which 
calls  lis  to  an  imitation  of  our  heavenly  Father,  in  his  mod  amiable  and  endearing 
perfections  and  operations,  to  forgive  injuries,  and  to  overcome  evil  with  good!  It 
is  a  great  thing  to  be  a  Chridian  indeed  ;  and  what  a  reproach  is  it  for  perfons  of 
that  character,  not  to  do  more  than  others  toward  God,  and  toward  enemies  as 
well  as  friends!  What  occafion  have  they  for  daily  humiliation  and  repentance,  on 
account  of  their  continual  fallings  fhort.  of  the  glory  of  God:  And  what  need  of 
daily  forgivenefs  for  daily  (ins !  Were  we  more  fenfible  of  our  own  defects,  we 
fliould  be  lefs  fevere  in  our  cenfures  of  others  j  but  holy  men  are  the  fitted  and 
mod  likely  to  be  indruments  of  promoting  holinefs  in  thofe  about  them.  It  there- 
fore highly  concerns  us  to  take  heed  whom  we  hear  and  follow,  and  how  we  teach 
and  lead  :  Our  chief  ambition  fliould  be  to  copy  after  Chrid  ;  and  if  we  are  but 
conformed  to  him  in  his  holinefs,  we  lball  not  think  much  at  being  fo  in  his  fufi'ei- 
ings.  The  great  end  of  hearing  his  doctrine  is,  to  receive  it  by  faith,  and  practife 
it  in  evangelical  obedience:  For  true  religion  begins  in  the  change  of  a  man's 
heart:  and  the  only  way  of  others  judging  concerning  it,  is  by  the  fruits  it  pro- 
duces in  his  life.  If  we  indeed  come  to  Chrid,  and  receive  him  with  fuch  a  faith 
as  works  by  love,  we  red  on  a  fare  foundation  ;  and,  whatfoever  our  temptations 
and  difficulties  may  be,  we  fhall  hold  on,  and  hold  out,  to  our  eternal  fafety  and 
joy:  But  if  we  take  up  with  hypocritical  pretences,  fhows,  and  forms,  without 
the  power  of  religion,  we  fhall  certainly  mifcarry  in  a  day  of  trial,  to  our  prefent 
fhame,  and  everlaftiner  ruin. 


CHAP.       VII. 


Chrifl  cures  the  centurion's  fervant,  i, — 10.  Raifes  the  widow* s 
[on  fimm  the  dead  at  Nain,  n, — 18.  JohnV  mejfengers  to 
ChriJ},  and  his  anfwer  to  them,  J  9, — 23.  His  account  of  John, 
and  of  his  mini/iry,  24, — 30.  His  reproof  of  the  Jews  for  re- 
jecting both  John  and  himfelf  31, — 35.  And  his  il/uf  ration  of 
God's  free  forgivenefs,  with  its  effe&s,  by  the  fimilituda  of  a 
forgive?!  debtor ,  36, — 50. 

Text.  PARAPHRASE. 

J^JOW  when   he    XTQW  when  our  Lord  had  finifhed  the  afore-men- 
had  ended  all    XX    tioned  difcourre>  which  hc  delivered  in  a  public 

man- 


Chap. 


vn. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


69 


people,  he  entered 
into  Capernaum. 

2  And  a  certain 
centurion's  fervant, 
who  was  dear  unto 
him,  was  fick,  and 
ready  to  die. 


3  And  when  he 
heard  of  Jefus,  he 
fent  unto  him  the 
elders  of  the  Jews, 
befeeching  him 
that  he  would 
come  and  heal  his 
fervant. 


his  fayings  in  the   manner  to  his  difciples  and  abundance  of  other  people 
5   then  prefent,  he  went  to  Cap.ernaum,  the  place  of  his 
moft  ufual  refidence. 

2  And  at  this  city  there  was  a  fervant  of  a  certain 
Roman  captain  over  an  hundred  foldiers,  who  was 
much  efteemed  by  his  mailer,  and  lay  dangeroully 
fick  of  a  palfy,  (  Mat.  viii.  6.)  jufl  upon  the  point  of 
death,  and  pad  all  hope  of  recovery  by  any  human 
means. 

3  And  when  the  captain  heard  of  Chriil's  miracles, 
and  of  his  arrival  at  that  place,  he  believed  that  this 
wonderful  perfon  could  heal  his  fervant  :  But,  being 
himfelf  a  Gentile,  and  a  Roman  officer,  thought  it 
might  be  too  prefumptuous  to  go  in  perfon  and  afk 
fuch  a  favour  ;  and  therefore,  in  teftimony  of  his  own 
humility,  and  great  refpe£l  to  Jefus,  he  got  fome  of 
the  Jewifh  elders,  men  of  character,  to  go  to  him, 
and  earneftly  entreat  that  he  would  come  to  his  houfe, 
and  cure  his  fick  fervant.  (See  the  note  on  Mat. 
viii.  5,6.) 

4  Accordingly,  when  thefe  melTengers  came  to 
our  bleffed  Lord,  they  were  very  urgent  with  him  to 
gratify  the  centurion ;  and,  to  enforce  his  requeft,  faid 
for  him  what  he  never  would  have  faid  for  himfelf, 
vvz.  That  he  was  worthy,  not  only  of  regard  from  the 
Jewifh  nation,  who  were  highly  indebted  to  him  ;, 
but  even  of  ChriiVs  kindefl  notice,  as  if  he  were  o- 
blfged  to  mew  him  this  favour  : 

5  For,  fay  they,  though  he  be  a  Roman  officer, 
yet  he  has  a  great  affection  for  us  Jews,  and  for  our 
religion  f  ;  and,  in  teftimony  of  his  faith  in  the  God 
of  Lfrael,  he  himfelf  has,  at  his  own  proper  coll  and 
charges,  built  us  a  fynagogue  for  divine  worlhip. 

6  Then  Jefus,  who  loves  to  encourage,  and  grant 
the  requefls  of  humble  fouls,  readily  went  with  the 
meffengers,  in  order  to  his  working  the  cure  for  which 
they  came  to  him  :  And  as  foon  as  the  centurion 
heard  of  his  condefcenfion  and  grace  in  coram**  with 
fuch  a  defign  toward  his  houfe,  he  ftill  humbled  him- 
felf yet  more  and  more,  and  fent  other  friends  to 
meet  him  in  the  way  ;  and  they,  perforating  the  cen- 
turion, faid,  Lord,  It  is  too  much  for  thee  to  give 
thyfelf  the  trouble  of  coming  home  to  me  :  I  am  far 
from  infilling  upon  this  ;  for,  whatever  kind  things 
others  may  fay  of  me,    I  am  a  poor  Gentile  iinner, 

who 


4  And  when 
they  came  to  Je- 
fus, they  befought 
him  inftantly,  fay- 
ing, That  he  was 
worthy  for  whom 
he  mould  do  this : 


5  For  he  lovcth 
cur  nation,  and  he 
hath  built  us  a  fy- 
nauotfue. 


6  Then  Jefus 
went  with  them. 
And  when  he  was 
now  not  far  from 
♦  he  houfe,  the  cen- 
turion fent  friends 
to  him,  faying  un- 
to him,  Lord,  trou- 
ble not  thyfelf:  for 
I  am  not  worthy 
that  thou  fhoulrht 
'nter  under  my 
reof. 


N     O 

f  He  probably  had  acquainted  himfelf 
with  the  law  and  the  prophets  whilfl 
he  lived  among  the  Jews,  and  from 
thence  had  conceived  a  good  opinion  of 
them,   as  the   people   of  Cod;    and  his 


T     E. 

loving  their  nation  relates  to  his  refpeel 

to  them  above  all  other  nations,  \\ 

it  cannot  be  fuppoftd  that  he  hud  an   e- 

fteem  for  every  individual  perJToo  i 

them. 


OL. 


II. 


L 


7o 


Tie  Evangelift 


Chap.  vii« 


7  Wherefore  nei 
tlier  thought  I  my 
felf  worthy  to  come 


who  cannot  but  think  myfelf  utterly  unworthy  of  be- 
ing honoured  with  thy  prefence  in  my  houfe* 

7  This  thought  prevented  me,  otherwife  1  had 
certainly  waited  in  perfon  upon  thee  ;  and  I  much 
unto  thee  •  but  fa  more  count  myieli  unworthy  or  thy  coming  unto  me : 
in  a  word,  and  Befides,  I  am  well  fatisfied  that  there  is  no  need  of 
my  fervant  mall  be  thy  {looping  thus  far  to  fuch  a  poor  finful  wretch  as 
healed.  I  am,    in  order  to  thy  anfwering  my  requeit  ;    but 

that,    wherefoever  thou  art,    if  thou  wilt  only  give 
the  word  of  command,    my  fervant  mail  be  as  effec- 
tually recovered  as  if  thou  wert  corporally  prefent 
with  him. 
S  For  I  alfo  am        8   For  even  I,  (xas*  yx%  zyv)  a  mean,  petty  officer, 
a    man  fet  under   have  fuch  authority  over  my  band  of  foldier6,    that, 
authority,    having   whenever  I  give  the  word  of  command,   they  readily 
under  me  foldiers        ,  ° ,  .  i   j       i  •         j    i 

and  I  fay  unto  one     ODey  me>    ano-  g°  ancl  come,    and  do  this  and  the  o- 
Go,  and  he  goeth ;   ther  bufinefs,  according  to  my  appointment,  whether 
and    to     another,    I  am  prefent  or  not  :    How  much  more  canfl  thou, 
Come,  and  he  co-  w^q  exercifeft  abfolute  power  -j-  in  the  way  of  thy 
fervant     Do    this"    w01'king,    like  the  fovereign   Lord   of  ficknefs   and 
and  hedoeth  it.    '    health,  life  and  death,  fecure  obedience  to  thy  orders  ; 
fo  that  all  diftempers  muit  come  and  go  at  thy  com- 
mand, whenever  thou  pleafeft,  and  wherever  thou  art  ? 
9    When    Jefus        9    When  Jefus  heard  thefe  uncommon  expreflions 
heard  thefe  things,    0f  t\ie  centurion's  faith,  attended  with  fuch  profound 
he     marvelled    at    reverence  and  humility  ;    though  he  could  not  but 
•urn,     and    turned    .  .    .     r        ,        ,     ,    •        1  •     r  ir   1'  1  r  • 

him    about      and   know  it  before-hand,  being  himieir  the  author  or  it, 

laid  unto  the  peo-  he  feemed  as  if  he  were  mightily  furprifed  at  it,  as 
pie  that  followed  people  ufe  to  be  at  rare  and  unexpected  events  :  And, 
lay  unto  turning  to  the  company  that  were  going  along  with 
him,  he  fpake  of  it  to  them  in  terms  of  high  admi- 
ration and  applaufe,  faying,  to  the  centurion's  ho- 
nour, and  the  reproach 'of  the  Jews,  I  have  not  met 
with' any  inflance  of  fo  remarkably  eminent_and  hum- 
ble a  faith  before,  no,  not  among  God's  own  cove- 
nant-people, the  lfraelites  themfelves,  as  has  now  been 
manifefted  by  this  Gentile  officer,  from  whom  there 
was  little  room  to  expect  any  at  all. 

10  And  as  Chrift  thus  commended,  fo  he  graci- 
oufly  owned  and  anfwered  his  faith ;  {Mat.  viii. 
13.)  for  as  foon  as  the  centurion's  friends  returned 
home,  they  found  his  fervant  perfectly  recovered  from 
his  late  dangerous  difeafe. 

1 1  As  Jefus  always  went  about  doing  good,  fo 

the 

NOTE, 
•f  When  we  obfevve  how  the  expref-  {Dent.  vii.  15.  &  xxxii.  2>9-  &•  *  Saw. 
fions  of  the  centurion  anfwer  to  what  he  ii.  6.)  we  can  hardly  forbear  thinking- 
may  be  fuppol'ed  to  have  read,  about  the  that  he  believed  in  Chrift,  as  a  divine 
lovereign  dominion  that  was  peculiarly  Perfon,  who  could  fend  or  take  offdi- 
afcribed  to  the  God  of  Ifrael,  in  ordering  ftempers,  in  a  fovereign  manner,  by  hi-i 
liftcmpcrs  to  go  and  come  at  his  pleafurc,  bare  word,  whenever  he  pleafed. 


him,  I  fay 
you,  I 
found  fo  great 
faith,  no,  not  in  If- 
rael. 


I  o  And  tlifey 
ihat;  were  lent,  re- 
turning to  the 
houfe,    found    the 

crvant  whole  that 
had  been  Cck. 

I I  And  it  came 

to 


Chap.  vii. 

to  pafs  the  day  af- 
ter, that  he  went 
into  a  city  called 
Nain  ;  and  many 
of  his  difciples 
went  with  him, 
and  much  people. 

12  Now  when 
he  came  nigh  to 
the  gate  of  the  ci- 
ty, behold,  there 
was  a  dead  man 
carried  out,  the  on- 
ly fon  of  his  mo- 
ther,  and  fhe  was 
a  widow :  and 
much  people  of 
the  city  was  with 
her, 

13  And  when 
the  Lord  law  her, 
he  had  companion 
on  her,  and  laid 
unto  her,  Weep 
not. 

14  And  he  came 
and  touched  the 
bier,  (and  they 
that  bare  him 
ftood  ftill:)  and  he 
faid,  Young  man, 
I  fay  unto  thee,  A- 
rife. 

15-  And  he  that 
was  dead,  fat  up, 
and  began  to 
fpeak  :  and  he  de- 
livered him  to  his 
mother. 

i(S  And  there 
came  a  fear  on  all: 
and  they  glorified 
T.od,  faying,  That 
a  great  prophet  is 
rifen  up  among  us; 
and,  That  God 
hath  vilited  his 
people. 


17  And  this  ru- 
mour 

N     O 

f  He  probably  had  been  the  chief  fup- 
port  and  comfort  of  her  widowhood. 

%  It  is  horrid  and  ridiculous  trilling, 
inftead  of  arguing,  for  any  infidels  to  in- 
finuate,  without  the  lean:  foundation,  a- 
gainft  the  plaineft  matter  of  fact,   as  if 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


7* 


the  next  day  he  turned  his  courfe  to  a  certain  town 
called  Nain,  in  the  outward  border  of  Iffachar  to- 
ward Samaria  ;  and  feveral  of  his  difciples,  with 
great  multitudes  of  other  people,  accompanied  him 
thither. 

12  Now  as  he  approached  the  entrance  into  the 
town,  obferve,  a  remarkable  opportunity  offered  for 
difplaying  his  divine  power :  He  met  with  a  dead 
man,  whom  the  Jews,  according  to  their  cuftom, 
were  carrying  upon  a  bier  to  bury  him  in  a  place 
out  of  the  city  ;  and  whom,  being  the  only  fon  of  a 
widow,  fhe,  with  a  great  company  of  her  friends  and 
neighbours,  were  attending  to  his  funeral. 

1 3  When  therefore,  the  Lord  Jefus  faw  the  tender 
mother  bitterly  lamenting  the  lofs  of  her  fon  f ,  he, 
of  his  own  mere  goodnels,  without  any  one's  fpeak- 
ing  to  him,  was  moved  with  companion  towards  her  ; 
and,  refolving  in  himfelf  what  to  do,  fpoke  in  a 
friendly  manner  to  her,  faying,  Do  not  take  on  at 
this  mournful  rate  for  the  death  of  your  fon. 

14  Upon  which  they  that  carried  the  corpie  made 
a  flop  to  fee  what  Jefus  intended  to  do  ;  and  he,  co- 
ming up,  laid  his  hand  upon  the  bier  on  which  the 
dead  body  lay;  and,  with  the  majefly  and  authority  of 
a  God,  faid,  Young  man,  I  command  thee  to  get  up. 

15  As  foon  as  Jefus  had  uttered  thefe  words,  the 
dead  man  inftantly  rifing,  fat  upon  the  bier,  and  be- 
gan to  fpeak  in  the  audience  of  the  people,  as  if  no- 
thing had  ailed  him  ;  And  Chrifl  reilored  him  to  his 
mother  alive  and  well,  that  he  might  be  a  comfort 
to  her,  and  that  every  one  might  be  fully  fatisfied  of 
his  being  truly  raifed  from  the  dead. 

1 6  And  all  the  company  were  flruck  with  awful 
fear  and  wonder,  to  fee  a  dead  man  immediately  re- 
covered to  life  by  a  fovereign  word  of  command  : 
And,  being  -convinced  that  nothing  lefs  than  the 
power  of  God  himfelf  was  in  it,  they  broke  out  in- 
to thankful  and  admiring  praifes,  faying,  An  ex- 
traordinary prophet,  even  the  great  Mefliah  himfelf, 
whom  we  expected,  is  come  amongfl  us  ;  (John  vi. 
14.)  and  God  at  length  (tvtfze$/eeto)  has  looked  up- 
on his  people  Ifrael  in  much  mercy,  to  redeem  them 
from  all  their  troubles.   [Chap.  i.  68.) 

17  And  this  miracle  was  fo  evident  \,  unexcep- 
L  2  tionable, 

T    E     S. 

this  young  man  was  not  really  dead,  but 
was  only  in  a  fort  of  lethargy  :  For  his 
mother,  and  other  relations  and  friends, 
ctrtainiy  believed  h'im  to  be  dead;  and 
he  being  an  only  fon,  for  whom  there 
was  lo  much  lamentation,   we  ifiay  be 

fure 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  vii. 


forth  throughout 
all  Judea,  and 
throughout  all  the 
region  round  a- 
bout. 


mourof  him  went  tionable,  and  divine,  that  it  could  not  be  concealed 
or  denied  ;  but  the  report  of  it  was  fpread  to  Chrift's 
honour,  and  became  the  fubject  of  common  converfa- 
tion  far  and  near,  through  the  whole  province  of 
Judea,  and  all  the  countries  on  every  fide  that  bor- 
dered upon  it. 
iS  And  the  dif-        18  Among  others,  there  were   fome   difciples   of 

onles     of     John    y0kn  tJje  Baptijf,  who,  'feeming  to  be  concerned  for 

iliewed  him  ot  all    i:«  '  ■>•.      ,  ^->  •  r  ™    -ni 

thefe  thuvs  "1S  tttQit,  and  envious  01  Chriit  s  growing  reputa- 

tion, went  to  their  mailer  in  prifon,  and  told  him  all 
that  they  had  feen  or  heard,  of  this  and  other  won- 
derful miracles,  that  they  might  have  his  opinion 
of  him  who  wrought  them. 

19  And  as  John  had  all  along  directed  his  difciples 
to  Chrifl,  fo  he  was  delirous  to  have  matters  further 


■5**   cleared  up  and  confirmed  to  them  concerning  him  : 
^rt    And  therefore,  fingling  out  two  of  them,  who  might 


When  the 
were  come 
him,  They 
John  Bap- 
t;ft  hath  fent  us 
unto  thee,   fayinc 


2J 

men 
unto 
laid, 


19    And     John 

calling    unto    him 

two  of  his  difciples, 

Tent  them  unto 

fuf,     faying,     Ai 

thou  he  that  fhould   be  depended  upon  as  faithful  witnefles,  he  ordered 

come  ?  or  look  we   them  to  go,  as  from  himfelf,  to  Jefus,  and  alk  him 

ror  another?  t^s  pjajn  qUeftion,  Whether  he  was  indeed  the  Mef- 

fiah,  (0  i(>%6f&svos)  who,  according  to  ancient  prophe- 
cy, mould  come  into  the  world  ;  or  whether  they 
were  to  expect  any  other  perfon  under  that  character  ? 
20  Accordingly,  when  the  two  mefTengers  came 
to  Jefus,  they  told  him,  John  the  Baptift  had  fent 
them  to  deiire  that  he  would  pleafe  to  fatisfy  them, 
whether  he  was  indeed  the  promifed  Mefliah,  whom 
they  expected  to  come  into  the  world  ?   or  whether 

Art  thou  he  that    they  were  ftill  to  wait  for  the  appearance  of  fome  o- 

lhould    ccme  ?     or    ^her  ? 

ther  ?  2 1    And  at  the  very  inftant  of  their  arrival,  Jefus 

2i  And  in  that  vvas  working,  and  went  on  to  work  many  miracles,  ia 

feme  hour  he  cu-  healing  all  forts  of  difeafes,  calling  devils  out  of  per- 

xed  many  of  their  fons  that  were  p0flefled,  and  relloring  fight  to  the 

r>i  rmi  f8      ,  an  r  blind,  and  to  do  other  acts  of  mercy  and  power  that 

evil    fp'irits :     and  were  prophefied  of,  as  to  be  particularly  performed 

unto    many    that  by  the  Mefliah.   {Ifa.  xxxv.  5,  6.  and  lxi.  1.) 

were  blind  he  gave  22   Then,  turning  to  the  mefTengers,  he  ordered 

Th       T  f  tnem  to  go  back  to  John,  and  tell  him  all  that  they 

anfwerin?  faidun-  themfelves  had  been  eye  and  ear-witnefTes  of,  as  cer- 

td  them,  Go  your  tain  proofs  of  his  being  the  true  Mefliah  ;    particu- 

v  .'y  and  tell  John  larly,  that  he  opened  the  eyes  of  the  blind,   made  the 

what     things    ye  jame  to  wi^Li  cjteanfed  lepers,  reilored  the  deaf  to 


have 


their 


NOTE. 

Jure  they  would  never  have  attempted  to  fuch  a  thing,  how  could  he  tell  that  he 

bury  him  had  there  been  the  leaft  ground  would  awake  out  of  it  juft  at  thejninute 

of  uupkion  to  the  contrary.     Befides,  if  when  he  fhould  touch  the  bier  and  fpeak 

the  notion  that   infidels   have   of  Chrift  to  him  ?  and  why  fhould  he,  of  his  own 

were  true,  how  could  he,  coining  by  as  accord,   hazard  his  reputation  fo  far,  as 

a    ftranger,    know    better   than   ail  the  to  offer  to  raife  him  to  life,    upon  fuch 

filing  man's  own  acquaintance,  that  he  unlikely  fuppofitions  in  his  own  mind? 
only  in  a  lethargy  ?  Or,  if  he  fancied  ' 


Chap.  vii. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


73 


have     feen      and  their  bearing,  and  even  railed  the  dead  to  life  again  ; 

heard  ;    how  that  t|iat  j^  ^-j  ajj  xhdc  in  a  fqv.eremn,    godlike  manner, 

the  blind  fee,  the  ,        ,         •  ,        ,         ,                      j                j-        .     u- 

lame     walk      the  "W^ty  Wltn  a  toucn  or  a  word,   according  to  ms  own 

lepers   are    clean-  will  ;    and  that  the  gofpel,  for  the  confirmation    of 

fed,  the  deaf  hear,  which  he  wrought  thefe   miracles,   was  preached  to, 

tin-  dead  are  rai-  an(J  1T,0{ily  received  by,  the  poor  of  this  world,    and 

e      o    ie  poor    ie  heartily  embraced  by  meek  and  humble  fouls, 

golpcl  is  preached.  /       „T.          \       ,  r      i          t  i    i    tt           i 

2*  And  bleii'ed  23  And  to  all  this  our  .Lord  further  added,  hie,  and 

is  he,  whoioever  he  only,  is  happy,  and  (hall  be  fo  for  ever,  who  is  not 
prejudiced  againit  me;  nor  rejects  me  by  unbelief; 
nor  is  alhamed  to  own  me,  on  account  of  my  fpiri- 
tual,  felf-denying,  and  holy  doctrine,  or  the  mean- 
nefs  of  my  appearance  and  followers,  or  the  envy  of 
mine  enemies,  and  the  like. 

24  When  John's  difciples  were  gone  back  to  himf 
with  this  anfwer,  Jefus  began  to  {peak  to.  the  com- 
mpn  people  with  high  commendation  of  him,  and  of 
his  miniitry,  faying,  What  end  did  ye   prcpofe    to 

people  concerning  yourfelves  in  flocking  after  John,  when  he  preached 
John,  What  went  ancj  baptized  in  the  defert  ?  Did  ye  follow  him  for 
nothing  ?  Or  did  ye  go  to  fee  and  hear  a  whimfical 
man  talking  backward,  and  forward,  in  the  tellimony 
he  gave  to  me  ?  If  fo,  this  was  mere  trifling  indeed, 
like  running  to  fee  a  reed  fhaken  to  and  fro  with  the 
wind  :  But  he  certainly  was  another-guefs  perfon  ; 
his  doctrine  was  important,  and  always  the  fame  ; 
and  you  ought  to  have  been  itedfail  in  your  adhe- 
rence to  it. 

25  What  was  it  then  that  ye  followed  him  for  ? 
Did  ye  expert  to  meet  with  a  man  appearing  in  all 
the  pomp,  luxury,  and  gaieties  of  this  world,  that  ye 
might  gratify  your  curiolity  with  fuch  a  fight  ?  Or 
did  ye  go  to  hear  him,  and  to  be  baptized  by  him,  in 

gorgeoufly        ajp-  fu;t  of  temporai  honours  ?  This  was  as  foolifh,  « 

parelled,   and  live    f  ,r         -,-,  r  r     ,         , 


mall    not    be 
fended  in  me. 


24  And,  when 
the  .mefiengers  of 
John  were  depart- 
ed, he  began  to 
speak      unto     the 


ye  out  into  the  wil 
dernefs  for  to  fee  ? 
Aieed  Ihaken  with 
the  wind  : 


25  But  what 
went  ye  out  for 
to  fee  ?  A  man 
clothed  in  foft  rai- 
ment ?  Behold, 
they     which     are 


delicately,    are   in 
kings  courts. 


26     But     what 

went  ye  out  for  to 

fee  ?    A  prophet  ? 

Yea, 


it  was  unworthy  :  For  a  man  of  fuch  a  character,  and 
promoting  fuch  views  was  to  be  expected  in  a  royal 
court  ;  and  would  have  appeared  in  another  fort  of 
place,  and  .made  another  lort  of  figure,  than  John 
did. 

26  If  then  it  was  not  with  fuch  expectations  as 
thefe,  WThat  was  it  that  ye  went  out  after  him  for  ? 
Was  it  to  hear  a  prophet  of  die  Lord  ?  Thus  I  know 

yc 

NOTE. 
f  Chrift  did  not  fpeak  the  following  ions,  he  might  defer  this  commendation 
things  in  the  hearing  of  John's  difciples,  of  him  till  the  meilengers  were  gone; 
left  he  mould  feem  to  flatter  Job;?,  or  to  and  then  deliver  it  to  the  people,  to  pre- 
puff  up  his  pride,  or  to  compliment  him  vent  all  imaginations  as  if  John  were 
into  an  adherence  to  his  former  teftimo-  wavering  in  his  former  opinion,  and  had 
ny  to  himfelf.  As  to  avoid  all  fufpicions  fent  the  two  difciples  on  this  errand  for 
oi  this  kind,  he  held  no  correfpondence  his  own  rather  than  their  latisfa-*  'm  a- 
with  John  in  prifon,  nor  did  any  thing  boift  his  being  the  Chrift. 
to  fct  him  at  liberty;   ib,  fcr  like  rea- 


74 


Yea, 

I    fay  unto 

you, 

and     much 

more 

than  a  pro- 

phct. 

27  This  is  he  of 
whom  it  is  writ- 
ten, Behold,  I 
fend  my  meffenger 
before  thy  face, 
which  fhall  pre- 
pare thy  way  be- 
fore thee. 


2S  For  T  fayun- 
*to  you,  Among 
thofe  that  are  born 
of  women  there  is 
not  a  greater  pro- 
phet than  John  the 
Baptift  :  but  he 
that  is  leaft  in 
the  kingdom  of 
God  is  greater 
than   he. 


29  And  all  the 
people  that  heard 
him,  and  the  pub- 
licans, juftified 
God,  being  bapti- 
zed with  the  bap- 
tifm  of  John. 


30  But  the_Pha- 
rifees  and  lawyers 
rejected  the  coun- 
fel  of  God  againft 
themfelves,  being 
r,ot  baptized  of 
him. 

31  And  the  Lord' 
faid,  Whereunto 
then  fhall  I  liken 
the  men  of  this 
generation  ?  and 
tip  what  are  they 
like? 

32  They  are 
like  unto  children 
fitting  in  the  mar- 
ket-place, and  call- 
i«g  one  to  ano- 
ther, 


The  Evangelijl  Chap,  vii. 

ye  then  thought  him  to  be,  and  ye  thought  right  : 
For  I  tell  you,  that  he  was  indeed  a  prophet  fent 
from  God  to  reveal  his  mind  and  will,  and  to  tell  you 
things  to  come  ;  yea,  he  did  more  than  any  of  the 
prophets  that  went  before  him,  as  he  plainly  point- 
ed out  the  Meffiah  himfelf,  and  fhewed  him  to  the 
people  as  already  prefent  among  them. 

27  So  great  a  man  was  John  in  his  office,  that  he 
is  the  very  perfon  of  whom  the  Jehovah  of  If- 
raei faid,  (Ma/,  iii.  1.)  Behold,  I  wi// fend  my  mef- 

fenger  before  the  Meffiah's  face,  as  his  immediate 
harbinger,  to  tell  the  Jews  of  his  being  juft  at  hand, 
and  to  turn  their  eyes  toward  him  that  they  may  re- 
ceive him  :  (fee  the  note  on  Mat.  xi.  10.)  In  this, 
John  excelled  all  that  went  before  him. 

28  For  I  allure  you  that,  on  this  very  account, 
none  of  the  holy  prophets,  born  of  women,  ever 
were  fo  great  and  eminent  in  their  light  and  work  as 
John  the  Baptijl ;  and  yet,  great  as  he  was,  in  what 
he  faw  and  laid  concerning  the  Mefliah,  the  meanefl 
faithful  minifler  in  my  kingdom  fhall  know  and 
preach  more  of  me,  and  fo  fhall  be  more  excellent  and 
honourable  in  his  work  and  office,  than  John  him- 
felf; and  the  weakefl  true  believer,  under  the  gofpel- 
ftate  fhall  exceed  him,  in  his  knowledge  of  my  perfon 
and  office,  righteoufnefs  and  grace. 

29  And,  as  his  miniftry  was  fo  eminent,  great 
multitudes  of  the  common  people,  yea,  even  fome  of 
the  publicans  themfelves,  men  of  the  vileil  characters, 
were  fo  wrought  upon  by  means  of  his  preaching, 
that  they  juftified  God  as  righteous,  and  condemned 
themfelves  as  linners,  when  they  heard  John  fpeak  of 
the  wrath  to  come  ;  and  they  publicly  owned  him, 
and  his  doctrine,  to  be  of  God,  by  their  fo  readily 
fubmitting  to  his  baptifm. 

30  But  the  men  of  figure  and  learning,  and  high 
conceit  of  themfelves,  fuch  as  the  felf-righteous  Pha- 
rifees  and  the  fcribex,  refufed  and  deipifed  John's 
doctrine  and  baptifm,  and  thereby  turned  that  difpen- 
fation  of  God's  wifdom  and  grace  toward  them  into 
an  aggravation  of  their  own  guilt  and  condemnation. 

3 1  Hereupon  the  Lord  Jefus  took  occafion  to  fay, 
What  fhall  I  compare  the  men  of  this  perverfe  genera- 
tion to  ?  or  by  what  fimilitude  fhall  I  reprefent  them  ? 
It  is  hard  to  find  a  proper  parallel  to  them. 

32  They  are  like  fome  furly  and  aukward  children 
at  play  in  the  ftreets,  who  are  juftly  complained  of 
by  their  companions,  for  not  acting  their  part  in  con- 
cert with  them,  faying,  Whilft,  in  imitation  of  mu- 
ficians  at  feafts  and  other  joyful  occafions,  we  played 
cheerful  tunes  to  you,  ye  would  not  anfwer  them  with 

a 


Chap.  vii. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


75 


to  you,  and  ye 
have  not  danced  ; 
we  have  indumed 
to  you,  and  ye  have 
not  wept. 


33  For  John  the 
Baptift  came  nei- 


ther, and  faying,  a  dance  or  any  other  exprefiions  of  joy  ;  and  whilft, 
We  have  piped  -  as  if  we  were  at  a  funeral,  we  gave  you  mournful 
tunes,  ye  would  not  weep  or  ufe  any  tokens  of  for- 
row  ;  but  always  did  direttly  contrary  to  what  ye 
were  called  to  :  Juft  fo  the  men  of  this  corrupt  age, 
efpecially  the  fcribes  and  Pharifees,  do  by  "John  the 
Baptijl  and  me,  oppofing  us  in  every  thing,  and  re- 
garding us  no  more  than  if  all  that  we  faid  were  a 
mere  farce  to  be  treated  with  contempt  and  fcom. 

33   For  when  Jobny   like  the  children  that  a&ed 

the  part  for  mourners,  came  preaching  the  doftrine  of 

ther  eating  bread,   repentance,  and  led  a  retired,    auftere,    and  abftemi- 

andyefay  He  hath   ous  ^e>  Suitable  to  the  nature  and  deiign  of  his  work, 

s.  devil.  they  would  not  weep  ;  but  rejected  both  him  and  his 

doftrine,    and  loaded  him  with  reproach,    as  if  he 

were  a  melancholy  man,  poffeffed  by  an  evil  fpirit. 

34  The  Son  of        34  On  the  contrary,  when  I,  the  Mefliah,  like  the 
man  is  come  eating   children  that  played  cheerful  tunes,    came  preaching 

^^"^Beholdt  the  £lad  tidinSs  of  falvation  5  and>  Citable  to  the  na- 

a  gluttonous  man,  ture  of  my  joyful  work,  went  into  a  free,  open,  and 

and    a    wine-bib-  engaging   converfation,    eating   and   drinking   fome- 

ber,    a   friend    of  times  with  Pharifees,    and  at  others  with  publicans 

ners1'"115  *"*  **"    and  fmnerS'  t0  d°  them  Sood  ;  thefe  mCn  likewife  re- 
jected me,    and  the  gracious  words  that  proceeded 

out  of  my  mouth,  and  turned  all  into  the  vileil  re- 
flections upon  me,  as  if  I  were  a  glutton  and  a  drunk- 
ard, and  an  encourager  of  the  moil  odious  and  infa- 
mous finners.  So  horribly  perverfe  were  they,  not- 
withstanding all  that  evidently  appeared,  or  could  be 
urged  to  the  contrary. 

35  But  Wifdom  35  But  the  wifdom  of  God  in  thefe  different  me- 
is  juftified  of  all  thods  of  treating  and  trying  them,'  and  in  the  doc- 
trines preached  by  John  and  me  for  the  recovery  of 
loft  finners  ;  and  the  wifdom  of  falling  in  with  thefe 
doctrines  to  the  acknowledgment  of  me  as  the  per- 
fonal  \  Wifdom  of  God,  (Prov.  viii.)  is  owned,  and 
heartly  approved  of,  by  all  true  believers  ;  who  are 
taught  of  God,  and  made  wife  to  falvation  ;  and  are 
Handing  inftances  of  his  wifdom,  and  witnefTes  to  it, 
in  its  holy,  powerful,  and  faring  effects  upon  them  ; 
and  who  will  at  laft  reap  its  rich  advantages,  to  the 
glory  of  God,  and  their  own  eternal  happinefs. 

36    After  this  J,    a  certain  Pbarijee  whofe  name 

was 

NOTES. 
f  As  wifdom  will  bear  all  thefe  fenfes,   after  this,  jfefits  went  through  every  ci- 
tnd  it  is  difficult  to  fix  on  one  to  the  ex-   ty  and  'village  preaching,  occ;  (chap. 


36    And 


one  of 

the 


ilufion  of  the  reft,  I  have,  as  often  on 
like  occafions,  taken  them  all  into  the 
paraphrafe. 

\  That  this  hiftory,  and  one  like  it  in 
TMdt.  xxvi.  7.  &.  Mark  xiv.  3.  were  not   (Mark  xi,  8.) 
the  fame,  fcems  very  evident :  Becivflfe, 


viu.  1.)  whereas  after  that,  which  was 
but  fix  days  before  his  laiipalfover,  (John 
xii.  1.  fee  the  note  on  Mat.  xxvi.  6,  7.) 
he  continued  in  Bethany  and  jferufalem, 
See  Whitby  on  the  place. 


76 


The  Evangelj/t 


Chap.  vii, 


the  Pharlues  de- 
fired  him  that  he 
would  eat  with 
him.  And  he 
went  into  the  Pha- 
rilee's  houfe.  and 
fat  down  ftp  meat. 

37  And,  behold, 
a  woman  in  the 
city,  which  was  a 
finner,  when  flie 
knew  that  Jefus 
fat  at  meat  in  the 
Pharifee's  houfe, 
brought  an  aia- 
bafter-box  of  oint- 
ment, 

38  And  flood  at 
his  feet  behind  him 
weeping,  and  be- 
gan to  wafh  his 
feet  with  tears,  and 
did  wipe  them  with 
the  hairs  of  her 
head,  and  luffed 
his  feet,  and  a- 
nointed  rhein  with 
the  ointment.  • 


39  Now,  when 
the  Pharifee  which 
had  bidden  him 
faw  it,  he  fpake 
within  himfelf, 
faying,  This  man, 
if  he  were  a  pro- 
phet, would  have 
known  who  and 
what  manner  of 
woman  this  is  that 
toucheth  him  ;  for 
fiie  is  a  finner. 


40  And  Jefus 
anfwering,  (Uid un- 
to him,  Simon,  I 
have  fomevv/u'.t  to 
fay  unto  theej. 
And  he  faith,  Ma- 
iler, fay  on. 

41  There  was  a 
certain  creditor 
which  had  two 
debtors  ;  the  one 
owed  five  hundred 
pence,  and  the  o- 
ther  fifty. 

42  And  when 
they  had  nothing 
to  pay  he  frankly 

for- 


was  Simon,  (ver.  40.)  courteoufly  invited  Chrift  to 
take  a  meal  at  his  houfe  ;  and,  as  he  fought  all  op- 
portunities of  doing  good,  and  was  an  example  pi 
civility  as  well  as  holinefs,  he,  accepting  the  invitation, 
went  home  with  the  Pharifee  and  fat  down  to  eat. 

37  And  whilft  he  was  at  table,  behold,  a  certain 
woman,  who  had  been  notorious  for  her  wickednefs, 
being  informed  that  Jefus  was  gone  to  the   Phari- 

feeh  houfe  to  refrefh  himfelf,  came  thither,  bringing 
an  alabafter-box  of  rich  and  coftly  ointment,  which 
fhe  defigned  to  lay  out  upon  him  ;  fhe  being  a  peni- 
tent believer,  whofe  heart  was  full  of  refpect  and  af- 
fection to  him. 

38  And  as  he  was  fitting  at  table,  according  to 
the  ufual  manner  of  the  Jews,  in  a  leaning  pofture, 
with  his  legs  thruft  out  behind  ;  (he,  placing  herfelf 
at  his  back,  fell  a  weeping  fo  plentifully  as  to  drop 
her  tears,  upon  his  feet,  and  then  wiped  them  with 
her  own  hair,  the  chief  ornament  of  her  head,  kiffed 
them  moll  affectionately,  and  fuppled  and  perfumed 
them  with  the  ointment  ;  hereby  teftifying  her  deep 
humility,  and  forrow  of  heart,  for  her  former  iniqui- 
ties, her  ardent  love  to  Chrift,  and  defire  of  his  fa- 
vour, and  her  great  willingnefs  to  do  her  utmoil  to 
honour  and  ferve  him. 

39  But  (^g)  when  the  Pharifee,  who  had  invited 
him,  faw  what  this  woman  did,  he,  knowing  her  for- 
mer bafe  character,  was  highly  offended  at  it,  thinking 
with  himfelf,  according  to  the  fuperftitious  opinions 
of  his  feet,  Surely  if  this  Jefus  were  really  fuch  a  pro- 
phet of  the  Lord  as  he  profeffes  to  be,  he  could  not 
be  a  ftranger  to  this  woman's  infamous  character,  and 
to  the  vicious  courfe  of  life  that  fhe  has  led  ;  and 
would  not  have  fuffered  her  fo  much  as  to  touch  him, 
much  lefs  to  handle,  wipe,  kifs,  and  anoint  his  feet, 
left  he  mould  be  defiled  thereby  ;  for  fhe  certainly  is 
a  very  fcandalous  wretch. 

40  Then  Jefus,  knowing  his  thoughts  as  perfect- 
ly as  if  he  had  fpoke  them  out,  and  defigning  to  re- 
turn an  anfwer  to  them,  faid  to  him,  Simon,  I  have 
a  cafe  to  lay  before  you.  The  Pharifee  immediately 
replied,  Pray,  fir,  go  on  ;   I  am  ready  to  hear  you. 

41  Jefus  then  proceeded  to  propofe,  and  afk  his 
thoughts  upon,  the  following  parable,  faying,  A 
certain  man  was  creditor  to  two  other  perfons,  who 
had  run  in  debt  to  him  for  coniiderable  funis,  of  mo- 
ney ;  but  one  of  them  owed  him  ten  times  as  much 
as  the  other. 

42  And  when  they  were  both  fo  very  poor,  that 
neither  of  them  had  any  thing  left  toward  dischar- 
ging his  own  debt,  the  creditor,  in  his  great  goodnefs 

and  " 


Chap.  vii. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


77 


which  of  them  will 
love  him  moft  ? 


forgave  them  both,  and  compafTion,  freely  forgave  each  of  them  the 
Tell  me,  therefore,  wnole  :  Now  what  I  defire  of  you  is,  to  tell  me  free- 
ly, which  of  thefe  two  you  apprehend,  will  have  the 
greateft  affection  for  his  generous  benefactor,  and 
think  himfelf  moft  obliged  to  teftify  his  gratitude  to 
him. 

43  Simon  an-  45  The  Pharifee>  not  perceiving  what  Chrill 
iwered,  and  faid,  aime(j  atj  readily  anfwered,  It  is  plain  to  me,  that 
to'wtom  he^for-  the  man  to  whom  the  g^ateft  debt  was  forgiven  will 
gave  moft.  And  be  moft  fenfibly  affected  with  the  exceeding  kindnefs 
he  laid  unto  him,  of  his  creditor,  and  willlove  him  bell.  Jefus  repli- 
Thou  haft  rightly  C(j,  You  are  certainly  in  the  right,  and  your  anfwer 
-,u  &'e  "  is  undeniably  juft. 

44  And  he  turn-  44  Then  turning  and  pointing  to  the  woman,  at 
ed  to  the  woman,  wliom  the  Pharifee  had  taken  offence,  jefus  faid  to 
and- faid  unto  Si-  h«  $;m0„  apply  your  anfwer  to  the  cafe  of  this 
icon.     Seeft    thou  -r^  1      1        •  1  1  j      vu 

this  woman?  I  en-  wom»n-  Do  you  look  with  wonder,  and  with  a  carp- 
tered  into  thine  ing  eye,  at  what  (he  has  done  ?  It  is  becaufe  you 
houfe,  thou  gaveft  have  not  fuch  a  fenfe  of  the  greatnefs  of  your  fins, 
me  no  water  for  anc[  0f  t}ie  endearing  mercy  of  forgivenefs,  as  ihe  has, 
my  feet  :  but  flie  ^ofe  j  h  ^  fu  ffed  yours#  You,  who  think 
hath    wafiied    my  r  J      .  '  . 

feet    with    tears,   yourlelr  more  holy  than  your  neighbours,  have  indeed 

and  wiped  them  invited  me  with  civility  to  your  houfe  ;  but  have 
with  the  hairs  of  been  wanting,  even  in  the  ufual  tokens  of  refpect  *  to 
invited  and  acceptable  guefts :  But  fhe,  who  looks  up- 
on herfelf  as  the  chief  of  finners,  has  abounded  and 
exceeded  in  them  all.  You  have  not  fo  much  as 
given  me  a  little  water  to  warn  my  feet,  nor  a  towel 
to  wipe  them  :  But  (he  has  warned  my  feet,  not 
with  common  water,  But  with  her  own  affectionate 
and  penitential  tears,  and  has  ufed  the  very  hairs  of 
her  head  as  a  towel  to  wipe  them. 

45  You,  at  my  entrance  into  your  houfe,  did  not 
fo  much  as  give  me  the  ufual  falutation  of  friendihip  in 
a  kifs  :  But  this  woman,  whom  you  defpife  and  are 
offended  at,  has  been  in  a  manner  inceffantly  killing 
my  feet  over  and  over  again,  in  token  of  her  humi- 
lity and  love. 

46  Ye  have  not  bellowed  upon  me  fo  much  as  com- 
with  oil  thou  didft    mon  oil,  to  anoint  my  head,  in  token  of  your  refpect  : 

not  anomt:  but  But  this  woman,  who -came  hitler  to  pay  mc  ho- 
this    woman   hath  ,  .   ^    ,  £      .  ,     .  V.      .(1 

nour,  has  anointed  even  my  feet,  and  that  with  pre- 
cious ointment,  as  thinking  nothing  too  much  to  be 
done  for  me,  or  too  cofily  to  be  bellowed  upon  me. 

47  Now  the  reafon  of  this  difference  between  her 


her  head. 


45  Thou  gaveft 
me  no  kifs  ;  but 
this  woman,  fince 
the  time  I  came 
in,  hath  not  cea- 
fed  to  kifs  my  feet. 

46  Mine    head 


woman  hath 
anointed  my  feet 
with  ointment. 


47    Wherefore  I 


fay  unto  thee,  Her   behaviour  and  your's  toward  me,  lies  in  the  different 
°  m™*   knk  Ye  respectively  have  of  the  greatnefs    of   your 

NOTE. 

*  This  intimates  that  it  was  ctfftomary  with  the  jbwi  to  fliew  refpet  (tnd  kind- 
nefs to  their  welcome  gueits,  by  fainting  them  \  walhmg  and  wiping 
their  feet,  and  anointing  their  heads  with  oil,  or  fome  fuie  oir.tiucnt. 

Vol.  II.  M 


7B 


many,  are  forgi- 
ven ;  for  ihe  loved 
much  :  but  to 
whom  little  is  for- 
given, the  fame 
loveth  little. 


Tbe  Evangelift 


Chap.  vii. 


48  And  he  faid 
unto  her,  Thy  fins 
are  forgiven. 


49  And  they 
that  fat  at  meat 
with  him,  began 
to  fay,  within 
themlelves,  Who 
is  this  that  forgi- 
veth  fins  alfo  ? 


50  And  he  faid 
to  the  woman, 
Thy  faith  hath  fa- 
ved  ihee. 


fins,  and  of  the  necefiity,  worth,  and  obligation  of  a 
full  and  free  pardon.  I  therefore  tell  you,  Thefe 
exprefiions  of  her  love  and  gratitude  are  a  plain  evi- 
dence, that,  whatfoever  fhe  has  been,  her  many  fins 
are  now  gfacioufly  forgiven  her  *  ;  for  fhe  has  dis- 
covered a  mofl  uncommon  affection,  like  one  melted 
with  the  thoughts  of  her  high  obligation  to  me  for  the. 
remifiion  of  her  uncommon  crimes  :  But,  on  the  o- 
ther  hand,  one,  who>  like  you,  thinks  lightly  of  his 
fins,  and  imagines  that  he  has  merit  enough  of  his 
own,  very  near,  if  not  entirely,  to  quit  fcores,  will 
have  little  affeclion  for  me,  and  little  fenfe  of  his  obli- 
gations to  me ;  but  will  treat  me  in  a  cold  and  indiffer- 
ent manner,  as  you  have  done. 

48  Then  directing  his  words  immediately  to  the 
woman  herfelf,  that  he  might  comfort  her  againft  the 
diftrefs  of  her  own  fpirit,  and  againft  the  Pharifee's, 
frowns  and  cenfures,  he  fpoke  with  wonderful  endear- 
ment and  authority  to  her,  faying,  Thy  fins,  many 
and  great  as  they  have  been,  are  all  freely  remitted 
to  thee. 

49  At  the  hearing  of  this,  they  that  fat  at  table 
with  him  were  ftill  more  offended,  and  prefently 
thought  in  their  own  minds,  and  began  to  fay  private- 
ly among  themfelves,  («  zxvrotsj  What  mull  we  think 
of  this  man,  who  not  only  admits  fuch  a  vile  wretch 
to  handle  and  kifs  his  feet ;  but  likewife  pretends 
thus  absolutely  to  affume  to  himfelf  the  unalieoable 
prerogative  of  God,  in  forgiving  fins. 

50  But  (£•)  he  neverthelefs  perfifted  in  affuring 
the  woman  of  her  pardon,  faying,  Thou  art  brought 
into  a  ftate  of  falvation,  to  the  complete  remifiion  of 
all  thy  fins,  through  faith  in  me  ;  do  not  be  difcoura- 
ged,  but  go  home,  rejoicing  in  a  fenfe  of  the  abundant 
grace  which  I  have  extended  to  thee. 


RECOLLECTIONS. 

How  unreafonable  are  the  objections  of  infidelity  againft  Chrift  in  his  divine  and 
faving  characters,  which  he  has  lb  evidently  demonftrated  in  healing  all  manner* 
of  difeafes,  raifing  the  dead,  and  pardoning  fins,  with  all  the  efficacy  and  authori- 
ty of  a  God  !  How  tender  are  his  companions  to  the  airlifted  and  deftitute  ;  and 
how  fovereign,  free,  and  plenteous,  is  his  mercy  to  all  forts  of  finners,  in  the  for- 
givenefs  of  multiplied  and  aggravated  iniquities!  What  high  and  exalting  thoughts 
then  fhould  we  have  of  him  !  what  abafing  thoughts  of  ourfelves  before  him  '.  and 
what  pleafure  fliould  we  take  in  doing  good,  on  all  occalions,  after  his  example !  It 
is  furely  matter  of  great  importance  for  us  to  inquire  after  Chrift,  that  we  may 
know  who  and  what  he  is,   and  may  be  in  love  with  him,  and  not  prejudiced  a- 

%     gainft 
N    O    T    E. 

*  The  parable,  of  which  this  is  the  henfions  about  it.  And  in  this  manner 
application,  plainly  fhews,  that  her  lo-  the  particle  for  is  often  ufed,  as  particu- 
Viftg  miuh  is  mentioned,  not  as  the  caule  larly  in  Hof.  ix.  15.  where  God  lays  of 
<>r  reafon,  but  as  the  effect  and  evidence,  Ephraim,  All  their  wickednefs  is  in  Gil- 
of  her  being  forgiven,  and  of  her  appre-   gal;  for  there  I  hated  them. 


Chap-  Viii.  Luke  paraphrafed.  79 

gainft  him  :  And  he  is  ever  ready  to  inftruc't.  and  fatisfy  humble  and  inquiring  fouls, 
who  Should  never  think  the  worfe  of  him,  or  of  his  religion,  whatew  reproaches, 
lofles,  or  difficulties,  they  may  fufter  for  his  fake,  or  how  much  foever  others  may 
be  offended  at  him,  and  may  perverfely  fet  themfelves  againft  him.  The  meek 
he  will  teach  his  way,  that  they  may  be  witnefles  for  God  and  religion,  and  may 
be  made  wife  unto  falvation;  while  felf-righteous  and  felf-fufficient  perfons  are  in 
the  greateft  danger  of  being  left  to  reject  God's  counfel,  to  their  own  confufion  '. 
And  O  what  a  wonderful  change  does  grace  make  upon  a  finner's  heart  and  life,  an 
well  as  upon  his  date  before  God,  in  the  full  remiffion  of  all  his  fins,  through  faith 
in  the  Lord  Jefus !  What  great  humility,  relentings,  and  godly  forrow,  for  fin  '. 
What  ardent  love  to  Chrift,  and  earneft  defires  to  ferve  and  honour  him,  will  a 
fenfe  of  great  forgivenefs  infpire  us  with  '.  And  if  he  fays  to  any  of  us,  "  Your  fins 
are  pardoned,"  we  may  well  go  on  our  way  rejoicing. 


C     H     A     P.      VIII. 

Cbrijl  preaches  in  federal  places ,  I, — 4.  His  parable  of  the  fewer, 
with  its  explication,  5, — 15.  His  parable  of  the  lighted  candle, 
j  6,— 18.  The  high  account  he  makes  of  his  true  dijciples,  as  his 
nearefl  relations,  19, — 22.  He  lays  a  form  at  fea,  23, — 25. 
He  cqfs  a  legion  of  devils  out  of  a  man,  and  fuffers  them  to  en- 
ter a  herd  of  f wine,  26, — 36.  He  is  rejected  by  the  Gadarenes, 
37, — 40.  He  cures  a  bloody -flux,  and  raifes  JairusV  daughter 
from  the  dead,  41,-56. 

Test.  Paraphrase. 

^ND  it  came  to      *    Fter  the  things  before-mentioned,  JefuS  travel- 

thatPafSheer  mat     .       led  about  from  Place  to  Place'  through  many  d- 

throughout    every   ties>  towns,  and  villages,  taking  indefatigable  pains 

city    and    village    in  publiihing  and  inforcing  among  the  people  the  befc 

preaching,        and   n€W8  that  ever  was  brought  to  iinners,    relating  to 

ihewing  the  glad   their  falvation,  through  faith  in  him,    who  came  to 

tidingsor  the  king-  '  *>  •       ,  •  11      •  j 

dom  of  God  •   and    fet  UP  a  kingdom  or  grace  in  this  wcrid,  in  order  to 

the    twelve  tvere   his  training  up  fubje&s  for  the  kingdom  of  glory  in 

with  him.  the  world  to  come  :  And  the  twelve  difciples,  whom 

he  had  chofen  to  be  apoitles,    ufually  accompanied 

him,  as  his  domeftics,  wherever  he  went. 

1    And  certain        2   And  beiides  thefe  more  Hated  attendants,  there 

women,  which  had    were  feveral  women  of  confiderable  circumftances  in 

been  healed  of  e-     fa  ^     wh  ,        had  opportunitjes    followed 

vil  ipints,  and  in-    ,  .  »  >  9    .        .r.r  ,  .  .  '      ,       . 

firmities,        Mary    nim>    to  near  anc*  convene  with  him,    they  having 

called  Magdalene,   found  mercy  in  his  calling  devils  out  of  fome,    aud 

out  of  whom  went  curing  the  difeafes  of  others  of  them,  as  well  as  in  en- 

feven  devils,  lightening  and  changing  their  minds  and  hearts.     One 

of  thefe  was  the  remarkable  Mary  Magdalene,  whom 

he  had,    in  a  miraculous  way,    delivered    from   the 

power  of  many  evil  fpirits  that  had  taken  poilcfliou 

of  her. 

3    And  Joanna        3  There  was  alfo  a  woman,    of  no  mean  figure, 

the  wife  of  Chuza,    whofe  name  was  Joanna,  and  who  was  the  wile  ot 

Herod's     fteward,    £hu%a,  a  itewaid,  or  officer,  in  Herod's  court ;  and 

and  Sufanna    and  thfr  womail    ramed  Sufanna ;  prith  feveral  others, 

many   r  >J   3  which 


8o 

many  others, which 
miniftred  unto  Mm 
of  their  fubftance. 


4  And  when 
much  people  were 
gathered  together, 
and  were  come  to 
him  out  of  every 
city,  he  fpake  by 
a  parable  : 

5  A  fower  went 
out  to  fowhis  feed: 
and,  as  he  lowed, 
Ibme  fell  by  the 
■way-fide  ;  and  it 
was  trodden  down, 
and  the  fowls  of 
the  air  devoured 
it. 


6  And  fome  fell 
Tipon  a  rock,  and 
as  foon  as  it  was 
sprung  up  it  wi- 
thered away,  be- 
caufe  it  lacked 
moifture. 


7  And  fome  fell 
among  thorns,  and 
the  thorns  fprang 
up  with  it,  and 
choked   it. 


S  And  other  fell 
en  good  ground, 
and  Sprang  up,  and 
bare  fruit  an  hun- 
dred-fold. And, 
'when -he  had  laid 

.  ■  things,  he 
cried, 


The  Evangelift  Chap.  viii; 

which  accompanied  Jefus,  not  as  his  domefticc,  that 
ufed  to  be  in  the  fame  houfe  with  him,  but  as  friends 
and  admirers  of  him  and  his  doctrine  :  And  as  he 
humbled  himfelf  fo  low  as  to  need  aflillance  from  o- 
thers,  unlefs  he  would  be  continually  working  mira- 
cles to  fupport  himfelf,  and  the  apoftles,  his  family ; 
fo  thefe  good  women,  out  of  their  great  refpeel, 
would  not  fuffer  him  to  be  burdenfome  to  ftrangers, 
but  cheerfully  fupplied  him  at  their  own  expence. 

4  And  one  day  when  abundance  of  people  were 
come  together  from  all  the  neighbouring  cities,  towns, 
and  villages,  to  hear  him,  he  reprefented  the  nature 
of  the  gofpel-difpenfation  to  them  by  the  following 
fimilitude.  among  others.  (See  the  note  on  Mat. 
xiii.  5.) 

5  ik  A  certain  hufbandman  (faid  he)  went  forth  to 
fow  corn  in  his  field;  and,  as  he  was  calling  his 
feed,  fome  of  the  grains  fell  upon  a  hard  beaten  path, 
and,  not  being  covered  with  mould,  they  were  ei- 
ther trod  to  pieces  by  paflengers,  or  picked  up  by 
the  birds  : — Thereby  meaning,  that  whilft  he  or  any 
of  his  fervants  are  preaching  the  gofpel  to  all  forts  of 
people,  fome  of  them  are  fo  carelefs,  ftupid,  and  har- 
dened in  their  iniquities,  and  Satan  has  fuch  power 
over  them,  that  it  makes  no  manner  of  impreflion  up- 
on them. 

6  "  Other  parts  of  the  feed  fell  upon  a  bed  of 
ftones,  covered  over  with  only  a  very  thin  lay  of 
earth,  which  gave  it  an  opportunity  of  fpringing  up 
prefently ;  but  it  withered  away  for  want  of  a  fuffi- 
cient  depth  in  the  ground,  and  moifture  enough  to 
cherifh  the  roots  :" — Thereby  meaning,  that  others 
hear  the  word  with  fome  ftirrings  in  their  affections  ; 
but  it  not  having  entered  into  their  hearts,  and  work- 
ed effectually  there,  a  day  of  perfecution  and  tempta- 
tion foon  blafts  and  deftroys  all. 

7  "  Other  grains  were  fcattered  among  weeds  and 
thorns,"  and  began  to  fpring  up  together  with  them ; 
but  thefe  foon  got  head  of  the  corn,  overtopped  and 
choked  it,  fo  that  it  came  to  nothing  :" — Thereby 
meaning,  that  other  hearers  of  the  gofpel  go  ftill  fur- 
ther, under  the  power  of  llrong  convictions,  in  fome 
hafty  refolutions  for  the  prefent  ;  and  yet  the  bivfi- 
nefs,  cares,  pofiemons,  and  pleafures  of  life,  have  fuels 
a  fuperior  power  over  them  as  to  liifle  all  again. 

8  "  But  there  were  fome  other  parts  of  the  feed 
that  fell  into  a  good  fort  of  earth,  where  it  fprang  up, 
grew,  and  thrived,  and  produced  a  very  large  crop, 
fome  of  it  to  an  hundred-fold  increafe  :" — Thereby 
meaning,  that  there  are  other  hearers  who  receive  the 
truth,  in  the  love  of  it,  into  their  very  hearts,   they 

bein£ 


Chap.  viii. 

cried,  He  that  hath 
ears  to  hear,  let 
him   hear. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


81 


9  And  his  difci- 
ples afked  him,  fay- 
ing, What  might 
this  parable  be  : 


10  And  he  faid, 
Unto  you  it  is  gi- 
ven to  know  the 
myfteries  of  the 
■kingdom  of  God  : 
but  to  others  in  pa* 
jables,  that  feeing 
they  might  not  fee, 
and  hearing  they 
might  not  under- 
Hand. 


it  Now  the  pa- 
rable is  this  :  The 
feed  is  the  word  ot 
God. 


1 7  Thofe  by  the 
way-fide,  are  they 
that  hear;  then 
cometh  the  devil, 
and  taketh  away 
the  word  out  of 
their  hearts,  left 
they  mould  be- 
lieve, andbefaved. 


13   They  on  the 

jrock,.      are      they 

which 


being  feafoned  with  grace  ;  and  it  becomes  exceeding 
fruitful  in  their  lives.  And,  at  tjbe  clcfe,  Jefus,  to 
awaken  the  people's  inquiry  into  the  meaning  and  im- 
portance of  the  parable,  laid,  Whofoever  is  capable 
and  defirous  of  being  inftructed  in  things  that  con- 
cern his  own  falvation,  let  him  ferioufly  confider  what 
I  have  been  faying. 

9  Our  Lord  having  delivered  this  parable,  as  he 
did  feveral  others,  without  explaining  it  to  the  peo- 
ple ;  the  apoftles,  and  feme  of  his  other  difciples, 
took  an  opportunity,  when  he  was  alone,  to  defire 
that  he  would  pleafe  to  open  to  them  what  he  meant 
by  it.      (Mark  iv.  10.) 

10  He  anfwering  told  them,  That  God,  in  his 
diitinguiihing  favour,  had  given  them  an  heart  to  de- 
fire, feek  after,  and  underftand,  the  great  things 
of  the  gofpel-kingdorn",  pertaining  to  his  glory  and 
their  own  falvation,  which  were  all  entire  fecrets  till 
he  came  to  reveal  them,  and  are  ilill  ftrange  things 
to  carnal  and  unbelieving  hearts  that  are  prejudiced 
againft  them,  and  cannot  fee  their  true  excellence 
and  glory,  and  which  continue  to  be  incomprehenlible, 
in  forne  refpects,  even  to  thofe  that  are  enlightened  by 
!;!.»  fpirit,  as  well  as  by  his  word:  But,  faid  he,  I  re- 
prefented  thefe  things  to  others  only  in  a  iimiltitude, 
without  explaining  it,  that  as,  through  wilful  per- 
verfenefs  and  obftinacy,  they  (hut  their  eyes,  and  har- 
den their  hearts,  againit  my  plainer  initructions,  they 
may  be  righteoufiy  left  under  the  power  of  their  cho- 
fen  ilupidity  and  blindnefs  ;  and  fo  the  awful  prophe- 
cy (IJa.  lxix.  9.)  may  be  fulfilled  in  them,  as  a  peo- 
ple that  fee  and  hear  the  moll  plain  and  important 
truths  in  the  miniftry  of  the  word,  and  yet  do  not 
truly  difcern  them,  nor  defire  to  be  acquainted  with 
them. 

1 1  Then  he  explained  the  parable  to  his  difciples, 
faying,  The  feed  fown  reprefented  the  doctrines  of  the 
gofpel,*  which  the  great  prophet  of  the  church  came 
forth  to  preach,  in  his  perlonal  miniftry,  and  by  the 
miniftry  of  his  fervants. 

1 2  The  perfons  meant  by  the  hard  beaten  path, 
into  which  the  feed  did  not  enter,  were  thofe  hearers 
of  the  gcfpel  upon  whom  it  makes  no  good  impref- 
fion,  through  the  hardnefs  of  their  hearts  ;  fo  that  Sa- 
tan obtains  his  will  upon  them,  and  effedtually  de- 
prives them  of  all  benefit  by  what  they  hear,  turning 
off  their  thoughts  from  it,  left  it  fhould  prove  the 
means  of  their  being  brought  to  believe  to  the  faving 
of  their  fouls. 

13  The  perfons  fignified  by  the   rocky   ground, 
on  which  the  corn  fprang  up  at  firft,  but  foon  wi- 
thered, 


The  Evangelift 


Chap,  vii*. 


which  when  they 
hear,  receive  the 
word  with  joy;  and 
thefe  have  no  root, 
which  for  a  while 
believe,  and  in 
time  of  temptation 
fidl  away. 


14  And  that 
which  fell  among 
thorns,  are  they 
which,  when  they 
have  heard,  go 
forth,  and  are  cho- 
ked with  cares,  and 
jiches,  and  plea- 
fnres  of  this  life, 
and  bring  no  fruit 
to  perfection. 

15  But  that  on 
the  good  ground, 
are  they,  which 
in  an  hone  ft  and 
good  heart,  haying 
heard  the  word, 
keep  it,  and  bring 
fouh  fruit  with  pa- 
tiejage. 


I'6  No  re  an  when 
life  hath  lighted  a 
■va.ndie  covereth  it 
with  a  veiiel,  or 
putteth  it  under  a 
bed;  but  fetteth  it 
fv\  a  candleftick, 
that  they  which 
enter  in  may  fee 
fhe  light. 


7  For  nothing 


thered  for  want  of  depth  and  moiflure  to  cherifh  the 
root,  were  thofe  hearers  that  attend  to  the  word  ; 
and,  having  ftarts  of  joyous  affections  under  it,  take 
up  fome  fudden  refolutions  to  comply  with  it ;  but, 
for  want  of  a  principle  of  grace  in  their  hearts,  as 
foon  as  temptations,  reproaches,  and  fufferings  for 
the  gofpcl,  befal  them,  they  are  disheartened,  and 
turn  apoftates. 

14  And  the  perfons  defcribed  by  the  ground  in 
which  thorns  and  weeds  fprang  up  with  the  corn  and 
choked  it,  were  fuch  as,  under  the  hearing  of  the 
word,  have  promifing  appearances  of  receiving  the 
truth  in  the  love  of  it  ;  but  as  foon  as  they  return  a- 
gain  to  the  affairs  of  this  prefent  life,  their  fuperior 
attachment  to  its  bufinefs  and  hurries,  riches  and 
pleafures,  overpower  their  concern  about  their  fouls, 
fo  that  nothing  is  effectually  brought  to  pafs  for 
God's  glory  and  their  own  falvation. 

15  But  he  told  them,  that  the  perfons  reprefented 
by  the  good  foil,  which  produced  a  plentiful  harveft, 
were  thofe  hearers,  whofe  hearts  being  thoroughly 
changed  by  the  grace  of  God,  receive  the  doctrine 
of  the  gofpel  with  a  fincere  faith,  and  upright  defire 
of  improving  it,  and  profiting  by  it,  to  all  the  practi- 
cal purpofes  for  which  it  is  defigned  ;  and,  having 
thus  received  it,  they  retain  it,  prize  it,  and  make 
frequent  reflections  upon  it,  that  it  may  have  its  pro- 
per influence  upon  them,  even  after  the  fenfible  joy  is 
gone  which  they  had  in  hearing  it  ;  and  fo  they  ha- 
bitually and  perfeveringly  bring  forth  fruits  of  righ,- 
teoufnefs  to  God  in  great  abundance,  and  that  with 
a  holy  calmnefs  and  fortitude  of  fpirit  under  all  the 
tribulations  and  perfecutions  they  may  meet  with  for 
their  holy  profefiion. 

16  Chrift,  having  thus  clearly  and  fully  explained 
all  thefe  things  to  his  difciples,  proceeded  to  intimate 
their  duty,  as  to  fpreading  abroad  that  light  to  o- 
thers,  in  their  lives  and  preaching,  which  they  had 
received,  or  might  further  receive,  from  him  ;  faying, 
As  a  man  never  ufes  to  light  a  candle  with  a  defign 
to  conceal  or  hide  it  under  a  bufhel,  or  in  any  obfeure 
place  where  it  cannot  be  feen  ;  but  fets  it  up  vifibly 
in  a  candledick,  that  fuch  as  come  into  the  room 
may  have  the  benefit  of  its  light :  So  I  have  given 
you  thefe  inftructions,  not  that  ye  fhould  fmother 
them  in  your  own  bofoms,  or  keep  them  to  your- 
felves  ;  but  that  ye  may  communicate  them,  both  by 
word  and  example,  on  all  proper  occafions,  to  others, 
for  their  knowledge  and  practice,  to  the  glory  of 
God  and  their  falvation. 

1 7  For  whatsoever  I  fecretly  communicate  in  my 

in- 


Chap.  viii. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


H 


*s  fecret  that  rtiall  inftruc~tions  to  you,  mult  hereafter  be  publicly  preach- 
not  be  made  ma-  e(j  j^  _         wherever  ye  go  ;  and  nothing  that  I  now 
nifeft ;  neither  any  r       i        v-l     i  r       v  i        1  ,-  i   • 
thing  hid  that  fhall  *Peak  W1tn  obicunty,   under  the  covert  oi  unexpiani- 

not  be  known,  and  ed  fimilitudes,  fhall  be  always  concealed  ;  but  ye,  LQ 


come  abroad. 


1 8    Take   heed 

therefore  how  ye 
liear  :  for  whofo- 
ever hath,  to  him 
ihallbe  given;  and 


which  he 
to  have 


feemeth 


19  Then  came 
to  him  his  mother 
and  his  brethren, 
and      could      not 


due  time,  mult  publilh  it,  with  the  greateit  freedom 
and  plainnefs,  to  the  whole  "world. 

18  As  ever  therefore  ye  would  dread  anfwermg  for 
the  contrary  another  day,  when  every  fecret  thing 
mail  be  brought  into  judgment,  take  heed  in  what 
manner,    and  to  what  purpofes,    ye  hear  the  great 

whofoever  hath  things  of  my  gofptrl  ;  for  he  that  heartily  receives  the 
aot,  from  him  (hall  truth,  and  faithfully  improves  his  light  to  the  gocd  of 
l!lS22L^5L2S  others,  mall  have  a  Hill  further  increafe  of  underftand- 
ing  and  afliftances  for  his  own  and  their  advantage  : 
but  whofoever  *  thinks  lightly  of  the  truth,  and  does 
not  concern  himfelf  about  making  a  right  ufe  of  it, 
for  the  profiting  of  others,  fhall  lofe  even  the  good 
notions  he  before  had,  and  be  left  to  give  them  up 
for  their  oppofite  errors,  being  neither  eftablifhed  hi 
them,  nor  favingly  benefited  by  them,  as  before  he 
might  feem  to  have  been. 

1 9  At  another  time,  as  Jefus  was  preaching  in  an 
houfe,  and  was  furrounded  with  a  vaft  multitude  of 
people,   (Mark  in.  20,   31.)  his  mother,   and  others 

come  at  him   for   °f  his  neareft  kindred,    (fee  the  note  on  Matth.  xii. 
the  piefs.  46*)  came  thither  to  fpeak  with  him  ;  but  could  not 

get  near  enough,  the  crowd  being  fo  very  great. 

20  Then  feme  of  the  company  informed  him,  that: 

his  mother,    with  feveral  other  relations,    who  were 

555    Wt{.Cn  ia"  1    caUed  his  brethren,   (fee  the  note  on  Matth.  xii.  46. > 
Ihy    mother    and  .  .  7    v  r 

thy  brethren  ftand   were  waiting  abroad,    and  wanted  to  change  a  few 
without  defiring  to    words  with  him. 

21'   But   (&)   inftead  of  anfwering  them  directly, 
he,  in  his  ufual  way  of  giving  things  a  fpiritual  turn, 
took  that  occafion  to  exprefs  the  affection  he  bore 
mother    and     my    to  his  true  difciples  ;    and,    pointing  to  them,    faid, 
brethren  are  thefe   Thefe  who  receive  and  yield  themfelves  up  unto  my 
the   dfvjne  teaching,  are  nearer  and  dearer  to  me  than  any 
relations  according  to  the  flem  ;    and  whilfl  I  am  en- 
gaged in  my  heavenly  Father's  work,  for  his  glory, 
and  their  fpiritual  benefit,    I  cannot  fuffer  myfelf  t<e 
be  interrupted  by  the  refpect  that  I  owe  to  an  earth  • 
ly  parent,  or  any  other  relation,    in  the  other  world. 
(See  the  note  on  Mark  iii.  34.) 

22  And  (x«<)  on  another  occafion,  when  Jefus  had 
been  much  employed  in  preaching  and  working  mira- 
cles* 


20  And  it  was 
told  him  by  cir- 
tain,    which  faid, 


fee  thee. 

21  And  he  an- 
Avered  and  faid 
unto     them,     My 


which     hear 
word  of  God,  and 
do  it. 


1 1  Now  it  came 
t©  pafs  on  a  cer- 
tain 


N    O 

*  Our  Lord  here  fpeaks  not  of  fpecial 

faving  grace,  but  of  fpiritual  gifts,   and 

particularly  of  the   knowledge  oi    the 

truth  which  we  receive  from  him.  that 


T    E. 

we  might  communicate  it  to  other?,   as- 

appcars  ih)m  the*  frholc  fcopc  of  the  dtf- 

con: 


84 


The  Evan^elift 


Chap.  viii. 


tain  day;  that  he,  cles>  and  great  numbers  crowded  about  him,  (Mark 
iv.  35,  36.)  he  took  boat  with  his  difciples,  and  or- 
dered them  to  pafs  over  the  lake  of  Gennefareth  to 
the  oppolite  more  ;  accordingly  they  put  off,  and 
ileered  their  courfe  thither,  at  his  command. 

23  But  while  they  were  making  the  beft  of  their 
way,  he,  as  a  man  of  like  bodily  infirmity  with  our- 
felves,  having  been  fatigued  by  labours,  lay  down 
with  his  head  upon  a  pillow,  and  fell  fail  afleep  ;  (fee 
the  note  on  Jdatth.  viii.  20.)  and,  as  he  wasfleeping, 
there  arofe  a  terrible  llorm  of  wind,    which  all  on  a 

and/they  were  filled   fudden  caufed  fuch  a  fwelling  fea,   that  the  boat  was 
with  water,    and   almoil  filled  with  water,  and  in  the  utmoil  danger  of 
being  funk. 

24  Then  the  difciples  ran  to  him  in  a  great  fright ; 
and,  waking  him,  cried  out,  Lord,  have  compafiion 
upon  us,  arife  fpeedily  for  our  help,  we  are  this  mo- 
ment jufl  on  the  point  of  being  loft  :    And  they  no 

arofe,  and  rebuked  fooner  call  themfelves  upon  his  care  in  their  diftrefs, 
the  wind,  and  the  but  he  got  up,  and,  with  the  majefty  of  a  God,  char- 
ged the  wind  to  ceafe,  and  the  waves  to  rage  no  morey 
and  immediately  they  obeyed  their  fovereign  Lord  : 
The  wind  was  calm,  and  the  waters  became  fmooth 
and  Hill. 

25  And  having  thus  wrought  falvation  for  them, 
he  reproved  them  for  their  unbelief,  faying,  Where 
was  your  dependance  upon  my  power  and  goodnefs, 
after  all  the  miraculous  proofs  I  have  given  of  them  ? 


went  into  a  fhip 
with  his  difciples, 
and  he  fa  id  unto 
them,  Let  us  afp 
over  unto  the  other 
fide  of  the  lake. 
And  they  launched 
forth. 

23  But  as  they 
failed,  he  fell  a- 
fleep,  and  there 
came  clown  a  ftonn 
of  wind  on  the  lake, 


were  in  jeopardy. 

24  And  they 
came  to  him,  and 
awoke  him,  faying, 
Matter,  mailer,  we 
perifti.       Then   he 


raging  of  the  wa 
ter  ;  and  they  cea- 
fed,  and  there  was 
a  calm. 


2 5  And  he  fa:d 
unto  them,  Where 
is  your  faith  ?  and 
they  being  afraid, 
wondered,     faying 


one  to  another,  What,  did  ye  think  that  I  was  not  able  to  help  you,  or 
What  manner  of  had  no  care  or  concern  for  you,  becaufe  I  was  afleep  ? 
man  is  this:  for  he  Could  not  ye  remember,  that  the  great  Watchman 
th^wTnVand^a-  of  Ifrael  neither  {lumbers  nor  ileeps?  Or  did  ye  coun- 
ter, and  they  obey  der  me  as  no  more  than  a  man,  that  ye  fo  fhamefully 
him.       4  diilrufted  my  care  ;  upon  which  they  were  filled  with 

awful  reverence  and  amazement  at  their  wonderful 
deliverance,  and  with  confufion  and  fhame  for  the 
diffidence  and  the  terror  that  they  had  fo  iinfully  gi- 
ven way  to  ;  and  they  faid  one  to  another,  what  fort 
of  perfon  is  this  !  furely  he  mull  be  more  than  a 
mere  man  ;  for  he  has  acted  the  part  of  the  fovereign 
Lord  of  univerfal  nature,  and  even  the  winds  and 
waves  were  forced,  in  an  inftant,  to  flop  their  furi- 
ous courfe  at  his  command.- 

26  Soon  after  this,  they  got  fafe  to  the  more  for 
which  they  were  bound,  and  which  lay  in  the  coun- 
try of  the  Gaderene\  *,  a  heathen  land,  on  the  other 
fide  of  the  lake,  oppolite  to  Galilee. 

27  And 
NOTE. 
*    In  Mutth.  viii.  2.   it  is  called  the    Girgajhites,   mentioned  in  Bent.  vii.  r. 
country  of  the  Gergefenes,    whofe  inha-     This  country  of  the  Gergefenes  included 
bitants  fome  fnppofe  were  the  ancient    that  of  the  Gadarcncs ;    And  lb  it  ap- 
pear^ 


16  And  they  ar- 
rived at  the  coun- 
try of  the  Gada- 
renes,  winch  is  0- 
ver-againft  Gali- 
lee. 


Chap.  viii. 

27  And  when  he 


Luke  parophrafed. 


35 

27  And  upon  Chriil's  landing  there,  he  met  with 
went  forth  to  land,  a  (fee  the  note  on  Mark  v.  6.)  who  was  for- 
there  met  him  out            .       ,v  x  , . ,    .  .         '    1  ,. 

of  the  city    a  cer-   m^ny   [tx.  m  Trotecdg)    an  inhabitant  or  an  adjacent 

tain  man  which  town,  but  had  been  a  great  while  fo  miferably  poflef- 
had  devils  long  fed  and  haralTed  by  devils,  that  he  ran  about  like  a 
time,  and  ware  no  furfous  madman,  would  keep  no  clothes  upon  his 
back,  nor  dwell  in  any  houie  ;  but  continually  roved 
through  defolate  places,  among  the  fepulchres  of  the 
dead,  to  the  terror  of  all  who  palled  that  way. 

28  When  this  poor  miferable  wretch  fet  his  eyes 
upon  Jefus,  he  immediately  roared  out,  under  the 
power  of  the  indwelling  devil  ;  and,  running  toward 
our  Lord,  threw  himfelf  down  at  his  feet,  and  the  e- 

What  have  I  to  do  vil  fpirit  fpeaking  in  the  man,  cried  out  with  a  loud 
with  thee,  Jefus,  anc[  hideous  voice,  being  forced  by  a  fupenor  power 
thou  Son   of  God    „  r    i,'  *-  r     '  r\   *.u         r  r 

molt  high?  I  be-  to  exPrels  ms  owa  terror,  laying,  O  thou  Jelus, 
whom  I  know  to  be  the  Son  of  the  moft  high  God,  I 
dread  thy  power,  and  deiire  to  have  nothing  to  do 
with  thee  ;  but  furely  the  time  for  my  full  torments 
is  not  yet  come,  I  therefore  earneilly  beg  thou 
wouldft  not  inflict  them  upon  me  now. 

29  He  faid  this  becaufe  Chrift  had  already  com- 
manded him  to  depart  f  from  the  man,  whom  he  had 

come  out    of   the  ^°  ^onS  an(^  ^°  crue%  po^elTed  :    For  this  vile  fpirit 

man.     For  often-  had  often  thrown  him  into  fuch  an  ungovernable  fury, 

times  it  had  caught  that  though  feveral  attempts  were  made  to  faften  him 

him:   and  he  was  down,  ar>d  fecure  him  in  chains  and  fetters,    he  was 

chains,  and  iJfet-  to°  ftrong  to  be  ^ld  by  them,  and,    breaking  loofc, 

ters ;  and  he  brake  was  hurried  away  into  the  moft  melancholy  and  de- 

the  bands,  and  was  folate  part  of  the  country. 

driven  of  the  devil  3Q     Then,    that  the  ftanders-by  might  have  the 

nel-  ^    '                "  more  affetting  thoughts  of  this  poor  man's  mifcrv, 

30    And    Jefus  ar>d  of  the  greatnefs  of  ChriiVs  power  in  delivering 

laying,  him,  he  ordered  the  evil  fpirit  to  tell  him  his  name  ? 
in  reply  to  which  he  faid,    It  was  Leg  inn  ;  thereby 


clothes,  neither  a- 
bode  in  any  houfe, 
but  in  the  tombs. 

iS  When  he  faw 
Jefus,  he  cried  out, 
and  fell  down  be- 
fore him,  and  with 
a  loud  voice  faid, 


feech  thee  torment 
me  not. 


29   (For  he  had 
commanded       the 


afked  him, 
What  is  thy  name? 
and  he  faid,  Le- 
gion :  becaufe  ma- 
ny devils  were  en- 
tered into  him. 

31  And  they  be- 

fought  him  that  he 

would 


meaning,  that  not  one  only,  but  a  great  many  devils 
were  at  that  time  in  poffefnon  of  the  man,  under  one 
of  their  chiefs.      (See  the  note  on  Mark  v.  9.) 

31    Hereupon  the  whole  legion,    finding  that  they 
could  not  refill  ChriiVs  power,   joined  in  their  re- 

queft, 
NOTE    S. 

fays  his  name  *s  Legion,  and  expofhi!at<  s 
with  Chrift  for  cumin":  to  torment  them 
before  their  time;  and  when  tltt-y  in- 
treated  that  they  might  not  be  feet  out 
of  that  country,   and  ufked  Lis  leave  to 


pears  that  the  place  where  Chrift  landed 
was  in  that  part  which  was  called  the 
country  of  the  Gaaarenef. 

f  As  our  Lord's  carting  out  devils  is 
often  diltinguilhed  from  his  healing  dif- 


eafes;  fo  there  are  feveral  things  men-    enter  into  tie  ftvine,  and  upon  permjffion 

tioned  in  the  ftory  of  this  man,  that  can-    obtained,    actually  entered    into   tlem  , 


not  be  accounted  for  by  any  mere  diliem- 
per  whatsoever,  nor  made  common  fenfe 
of,  without  fuppofing  him  to  be  pofltlfed 
of  the  devil :  As  particularly,  when  he 
Vol.  II.  N 


nor  can  we  reasonably  ftippofe  that  any 
difeafe  could  add  fuch  ftisngth  to  ti..~ 
man,  that  no  chains  or  fetters  could  bij  J. 
him.    Sec  the  note  on  Matth.  iv.  24 


86 


The  EvangeVift 


Chap.  vili. 


would  rat  com- 
mand them  to  go 
out  into  the  deep. 


quell,  that,  upon  calling  them  out  of  this  man,  he 
would  not  fend  them  back  to  hell,  to  be  confined  in 
the  bottomlefs  pit  *  ;  but  ( Mark  v.  I  o. )  would  fuf- 
fcr  them  to  continue  in  the  country  of  the  Gadarenes9 
where  they  had  hitherto  ruled,  with  great  power. 

3  2  And  as  there  was  at  that  time  a  great  herd,  of 
about  two  thoufand  fwine,  grazing  upon  a  neigbour- 
ing  hill  by  the  fea-lide,  the  devils,  knowing  that  they 
could  do  nothing  without  ChriiVs  leave,  earneftly 
begged  him  to  permit  their  taking  pofleflion  of  that 
herd  :  And  he  fuffered  them  to  enter  into  the  fwine, 
fullered  an^.  do  their  worft  againft  them,  as  a  righteous  pu- 
nifhment  upon  fome,  and  as  a  juft  and  merciful  rebuke 
and  trial  to  others,  of  that  country.  ( See  the  note 
on  Matth.  viii.  32.) 

33  No  fooner  had  our  Lord  ordered  the  devils  to 
go  out  of  the  man,  without  laying  any  further  re- 
itraint  upon  them,  but  they,  afting  according  to 
their  own  vile  malicious  temper,  went  directly  and 
took  pofleflion  of  the  whole  herd  of  fwine  ;  upon 
which  they  were  ail  immediately  feized  with  a  phren- 
zy,  and  ran  furioufly  down  a  precipice  into  the  fea  of 
Galilee,  where  they  were  fuffocated  and  loft. 

34  The  fwine-herds  feeing  this,  were  terribly  af- 
frighted at  it,  and  ran  with  all  hafte  to  tell  it,  as  a 
piece  of  wonderful  news,  to  all  the  people  they  could 
meet  with  in   the   neighbouring   city  and    country, 

city,    and    in    the    wherever  they  went, 
country.  35  Which  when  the  people  heard,   their  curiofity 

85  rhen  tney  and  concern  carried  them  out  to  fee  what  truth  there 
i'hat  was  do."  •  was  m  ^ie  ^ranSe  report  that  had  been  made  to  them ; 
?nd  came  to  Jems',  an£^  coming  to  the  place  where  Jefus  was,  they  faw 
and  found  the  man  him,  and  the  man,  whom  he  had  difpoflelTed  of  the 
out  of  whom  the  infernal  legion,  fitting  at  his  feet,  regularly  clothed, 
devils  were  de-  ratjona]  compofed,  and  calm  in  his  mind  like  other 
parted,   ■  fitting   at  a      ,    i  1      1     r        1      1      r         r         1  • 

the  feet  of  fetus  racn :  And  they,  who  before  had  often  leen  him  run- 
clothed,  and  in  his  ning  about  naked,  raving,  and  gafhing  himfelf,  now 
t  mind  :  and  beholding  fuch  a  great  and  fudden  alteration  in  him, 
were  ilruck  with  awful  amazement. 

36  And  fome,  who  faw  all  that  had  parted  from 
the  beginning,  told  them  how  Jefus  had  reilored  him 
to  his  fenfes,  by  calling  out  the  devils  that  before 
had  poiTelfed  him,  and  how  he  had  permitted  thofe 
evil  fpirits  to  fulfil  their  deiire  of  entering  into  the 
fwine,  upon  which  they  were-hurried  down  the  hill 
into  the  lea,  where  they  were  all  drowned. 

37  The  Gadavenesy  having  heard  the  whole' llory, 
and  loving  their  fwine  and  their  fins  more  than  Chriil 

and 
NOTE. 
*  Thus  f»<-  t»v  aCuTjxov,  the  expreluon  here  ufed,  is  rendered    into  the  bottom 
Teft pit.    Rev.  xx.  3. 


32  And  there 
v.-as  there  an  herd 
of  many  fwine  feed- 
ing  on  the  moun- 
tain :  and  they  be- 
lought  him  that  he 
Would  fuffer.them 
to  enter  into  them 
And  he 
them. 


33  Then  went 
the  devils  out  of 
the  man,  and  en- 
tered into  the 
'wine  :  and  the 
herd  van  violently 
down  a  fteep  place 
into  the  lake,  and 
were  choked. 

34  When  they 
that  fed  them  faw 
what  was  dene, 
•hey  fled,  and  went 
?,nd  told  it  in  the 


they  were  afraid. 

36  They  alio 
which  faw  it,  told 
them  by  what 
means  he -that  was 
poflefied  of  the  de- 
vils was  healed. 


37 
hole 


Then      the 

multitude 

of 


Chap.  v'm. 

©f  the  count  ry 
of  the  Gadarenes 
round  about,  be- 
fought  him  to  de- 
part from  them ;  for 
they  were  taken 
with  great  fear : 
and  he  went  up  in- 
to the  (hip,  and  re- 
turned back  again. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


s7 


thine 

and 

great 

hath 

thee. 


and  their  own  fouls,  were  more  afraid   of  him  on  ac- 
count of  their  lofs  by  the  devils,  under  his  permif- 
fion,  than  pleafed  with  the  good  he  had  done,  and 
was  capable  of  ftill  further  doing  among  them  ;  and 
therefore,  inftead  of  defiring  him  to  flay  with  them, 
that  he  might  rellrain  the  powers  of  darknefs  from 
doing  them  any   further   mifchief,  and   might    fave 
them  from  their  fins,  and  from  the  wrath  of  God, 
they  all  importuned  him  to  depart  from  their  country, 
that  they  might  have  nothing  more  to  do  with  him  ; 
and  he  gave  them  up  to  their  own  choice,  and,  going 
aboard  a  veffel,  returned  back  over  the  fea  of  Galilee. 
38,  39   But  (h)  the  man,  out  of  whom  the  devil-: 
were  caft,    earneftly  begged  that  he  might  go  along 
with  Jefus,  and  fo,  continuing  under  his  gracious  care, 
might  be  fecured  againft  their  invifible,  as    well    aa 
vifible  power  over  him,  might  receive  inftructions  a- 
bout  a  ilill  better  falvation,  and  might  go  away  from 
that  wicked  people,  who   would    not    confent    that 
Chrift  mould  Hay  with  them  :    However,  Jefus  would 
not  allow  of  his  attending  him,  left  it  mould  look  like 
orientation  and  vain-glory  ;  but  ordered  him  to  go 
home,  and  tell  his  countrymen  *   and    acquaintance 
what  a  wonderful  deliverance  God  had  wrought  for 
him,  that  they  might  be  turned  from  idols  to  ferve  the 
living  and  true  God  :  Accordingly  he  obeyed  Chrift';; 
command  ;   and  returning  home,  took  all  opportuni- 
ties of  relating  to  every  one  he  met  with,  in  Gadara> 
and  the  reft  of  the  cities  in  Decapolis,   (fee  the  note 
on  Mark  v.   20.)   what  a  gracious,  miraculous,  and 
god-like   deliverance    Jefus    had   wrought    for   him, 
which  was  in  effect  the  fame  as  if  he  had  faid,  Which 
God  had  wrought  for  him,  becaufe  Jefus,  who  worked 
it  by  his  own  power,  was  indeed  the  true  God. 

40  Now  upon  the  return  of  Jefus  back  to  the  o- 
ther  iide  of  the  fea  of  Galilee,  the  people,  who  weix 
ftill  waiting  there,  in  hope  of  his  coming  to  them  a- 
gain,  were  exceeding  glad  to  fee  him,  and  received 
him  joyfully. 

41  And  whilft  he  continued  in  thefe  parts,  ob- 
ferve  a  very  rare  inftance  of  a  great  man's  faith  in  him, 
and  public  acknowledgment  of  him  !  Jairus,  a  noted 
perfon,  and  a  ruler  of  the  fynagogue,  hearing  of  Je- 
fus, came  to  him  ;  and  proftrating  himfelf  before  him, 
in  the  prefence  of  all  the  people,  humbly  and  earned- 

N  2  ly 

NOTE. 
*  When  our  Lord  wrought  wonderful    glory  ;  but  hnving  wrought  one  among 
works  in  Judea,  he  ufually  ordered  that    the  heathens,  he  ordered  it  to  be  publifli- 
they  mould  not  be  divulged,  becaufe  he    ed,   as  the  means  of  bringing  other 
would  not  needlefsly  provoke  the  '/tribes   believfc  in  hiifl. 
and  Pbarifees,  nor  ieem  to  fcefc  hi?  own 


3S  Now  the  man 
out  of  whom  the 
devils  were  depart- 
ed, befought  him 
that  he  might  be 
with  him  :  but  Je- 
fus fent  him  away, 
faying, 

39  Return  to 
own  houle, 
fliew  how 
things  God 
done  unto 
And  he 
went  his  way,  and 
publifhed  through- 
out the  whole  city, 
how  great  things 
Jefus  had  done  un- 
to him. 


40  And  it  came 
to  pafs,  that  when 
Jefus  was  returned, 
the  people  gladly 
received  him;  for 
they  were  all  wait- 
ing for  him. 

41  And  behold, 
there  came  a  man 
named  Jairus,  and 
he  was  a  ruler  of 
the  lynagogue ; and 
he  fell  down  at 
Jefus' 


88 

Jefus'  feet,  ana  be- 
fought  him  that  he 
would  come  into 
his  houfe : 

42  For  he  had 
one  only  daughter, 
about  twelve  year? 
of  acre,  and  Hie  lay 
a  dying.  (But  as 
he  went,  the  peo- 
ple thronged  him. 


43  And  a  wo- 
man having  an  if- 
lue  of  blood  twelve 
yearsT  which  had 
fpent  all  her  living 
upon  phylicians, 
neither  could  be 
healed  of  any. 

44  Came  behind 
him,  and  touched 
the  border  of  his 
garment;  and  im- 
mediately her  iflue 
of  blood  itanched. 


The  Evangelifl 


Chap.  viii. 


45  And  Jefus 
faid,  Who  touched 
me?  When  all  de- 
nied, Peter,  and 
they  that  were 
with  him,  faid, 
Matter,  the  multi- 
tude throng  thee, 
and  prefs  thee,  and 
fayeit  thou,  Who 
touched  me  ? 


4  C>    And     Jefus 

faid,        Somebody 

natn  touched 

for  I  perceive  that 

ie  is  gone  out 

. 


Iy  begged,  that  he  would  pleafe  to  go  home  with 
him,  and  heal  his  child.  (See  the  notes  on  chap.  xiii. 
14.  and  Matth.  ix.  18.) 

42  For  his  only  daughter,  of  about  twelve  years 
old,  was  fo  exceeding  weak,  that  when  he  left  her, 
me  lay  at  the  very  point  of  death  ;  and  as  Jefus  re- 
fufed  none  that  came  to  him  with  faith  in  his  power 
and  goodnefs,  he  readily  confented  to  go  along  with 
this  ruler,  a  great  crowd  of  people  accompanying 
him,  fome  out  of  curioiity,  and  others  out  of  affec- 
tion to  him. 

43,  44  And  as  he  was  walking  toward  the  houfe, 
there  was  a  certain  woman  who  had  been  forely  af- 
flicted with  a  bloody-flux,  for  twelve  years  part,  and 
had  impoverifhed  herfelf  by  her  great  expence  in  ap- 
plying to  phyficians  for  relief,  and  all  in  vain,  fhe 
growing  rather  worfe  than  better;  [Mark  v.  26.) 
this  woman  had  a  mind  to  try  for  a  cure  from  Jefus. 
who  fhe  believed  was  able  to  heal  her,  and  certain- 
ly would  do  it,  if  fhe  could  but  get  fo  near  him  as 
to  touch  any  part  of  his  clothes  :  [Mat.  ix.  21.)  And 
therefore,  with  great  modefly,  humility,  and  privacy, 
file  crept  behind  him  in  the  crowd,  and,  without  any 
of  the  company's  obferving  her,  touched  the  hem  ol 
his  garment,  in  expectation  of  a  cure  by  that  means  : 
And  it  was  done  for  her  according  to  her  faith,  fhe 
immediately  finding  a  wonderful  alteration  in  herfelf 
to  a  perfecl  recovery. 

4-5  But  Jefus  knowing  all  that  had  paffed,  and 
dehgning  to  bring  it  to  light,  for  the  manifeftation 
of  his  own  and  his  Father's  glory,  for  the  encourage- 
ment of  J^rVv/j-'s  faith,  in  what  he  was  about  to 
do  for  him,  and  for  the  comfort  of  this  poor  woman, 
who  feemed  to  have  ftolen  a  cure  from  him,  turned 
himfelf  about  and  afked,  Who  had  touched  him, 
meaning  with  a  defign  of  deriving  virtue  from  him  ? 
And  when  the  people  that  were  neareft  him  generally 
denied  that  any  of  them  had  done  it,  Peter,  and  fome 
others  of  his  difciples,  fuppoiing  that  he  fpoke  of 
barely  touching  him,  replied,  Mailer,  it  is  unavoid- 
able, but  that,  in  fueh  a  crowd,  fome  or  other  of  the 
people  mould  come  too  near,  and  be  thruft  upon 
thee  ;  we  wonder  therefore  that  thou  fhouldft  aflc, 
Who  touched  me  ? 

46  But  (c;)  Jefus  not  willing  to  have  the  matter 
fiifitd,  faid,  with  great  earneftnefs,  One  of  the  com- 
pany I  am  fare  lias  touched  me,  out  of  the  ordi- 
nary way,  with  a  delign  of  getting  a  private  cure 
from  me  ;  for  I  am  no  itrangcr  to  the  power  that  is 
gone  forth  from  my  perfon,  who  have  knowingly  and 


Chap.  viii. 


47  And  when 
the  woman  faw 
that  flie  was  not 
hid,  fhe  came 
trembling,  and 
falling  down  be- 
fore him,  fhe  de- 
clared unto  him 
before  all  the  peo- 
ple, for  what  caufe 
fhe  had  touched 
him,  and  how  fhe 
was  healed  imme- 
diately. 

48  And  he  laid 
unto  her,  Daugh- 
ter, be  of  good 
comfort;  thy  faith 
hath  made  thee 
whole ;  go  in 
peace.) 


49  While  he  yet 
»pa!;e,  there  co- 
rn eth  one  from  the 
ruler  of  the  fyna- 
gogue's  houfe,  fay- 
ing to  him,  Thy 
daughter  is  dead  ; 
trouble  not  the 
Mailer. 

50  But  when 
Jelus  heard  it,  he 
anfwered  him,  fay- 
ing, Fear  not ;  be- 
lieve only,  and 
fhe  fhail  be  made 
whole. 


51  And  when 
he  came  into  the 
houfc,  he  fuflered 
no  man  to  go  in, 
fave  Peter,  and 
James,  and  John, 
and  the  father  and 
the  mother  of  the 
maiden. 

<ji  And  all  wept 
and  bewailed  her : 
but  he  faid,  Weep 
not;  fhe  is  not 
i<-R/l,  but  fieepeth. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


89 


willingly  communicated  virtue  for  healing.      ( See  the 
note  on  Mark  v.  30.) 

47  Then  the  woman,  rinding  that  fhe  could  no 
longer  be  concealed,  came  trembling  for  fear  of  a  re- 
buke ;  and,  prollrating  herfelf  at  his  feet  in  the  hum- 
bler!: manner,  made  an  open  declaration,  in  th;  pre- 
fence  of  the  whole  multitude,  that  fhe  had  indeed 
touched  him,  in  hope  of  a  cure  from  him,  and  that  fhe 
had  not  failed  of  her  hope,  but  inflantly  found  herfelf 
reftored  to  perfedl  health,  though  her  cafe  had  been 
all  along  fo  defperate  before. 

48  And  as  fhe  thus  put  herfelf  into  Chrift's  hands, 
to  do  with  her  what  might  further  feem  good  in  his 
fight,  he,  to  take  off  her  fears,  laid,  in  the  molt  ten- 
der and  affectionate  manner,  Daughter,  let  thy  heart 
rejoice  in  my  favour  and  love  ;  thy  faith,  which 
broke  through  all  difficulties  and  difcouragements  to 
honour  and  derive  mercy  from  me,  has  been  owned 
and  honoured  by  me,  to  the  healing  of  thy  grievous 
difeafe  :  Go  home  with  fatisfaction  in  thine  own 
mind,  and  fear  no  evil :  I  have  bleffed  thee,  and  thou 
fhalt  be  bleffed. 

49  Whilfl  he  was  fpeaking  in  this  comfortable 
manner  to  her,  meffengers  came  to  Jairus,  having 
been  lent  from  his  houfe,  to  tell  him  that  his  daugh- 
ter was  actually  dead,  and  that  therefore  it  was  now 
too  late,  and  would  be  to  no  manner  of  purpofc,  to 
give  the  great  Mailer  of  Ifrael  the  trouble  of  coming 
to  her,  or  to  make  any  further  applications  to  him  a- 
bout  her. 

50  But  when  Jefus  heard  this  meffage,  and  faw 
how  the  young  damfePs  father  was  affected  with  it,  he 
fpoke  comfortably  to  him,  faying,  Let  not  your 
heart  be  troubled,  neither  be  afraid,  as  if  there  were 
now  no  hope;  only  believe  that  I  am  gracious  and  a- 
ble  to  raife  her  even  from  the  dead,  and  fhe  flia.ll  live 
and  do  well. 

5 1  And  they  going  flill  forward  till  they  came  to 
the  houfe,  Jefus,  to  avoid  oftentation,  ordered  the 
multitude  to  withdraw,  and  permitted  no  perfon  to 
go  in  with  him,  except  three  of  his  difciples,  vix. 
Peter,  James,  and  John,  and  the  parents  of  the 
child,  that  they,  being  prefent,  might  be  eye-witneffes 
of  the  miracle  he  defigned  to  perform. 

5  2  At  his  entering  into  the  room  where  the  young 
creature  lay,  he  found  a  company  of  people  all  in 
tears,  bitterly  lamenting  her  death,  and  preparing 
for  her  funeral :  But  he,  applying  himfelf  to  thefe 
bufy  mourners,  faid,  There  is  no  need  of  all  this  hur- 
ry and  forrow  ;  for  flic  is  not  fo  dead  as  to  require 
preparations  for  her  interment  ;  but  her  prefent  con- 
dition 


9o 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  viii. 


53  And  they 
laughed  him  to 
icorn^  knowing 
that  lhe  was  dead. 


54  And  he  put 
them  all  out,  and 
took  her  by  the 
hand,  and  called, 
faying,  Maid,  a- 
rife. 


55  And  her  fpi- 
rit  came  again, 
and  me.  arofe 
ftraightway;  and 
he  commanded  to 
«ive  her  meat. 


dition  is  rather  to  be  accounted  a  fleep  than  a  death, 
becaufe  fhe  fhall  prefently  awake  out  of  it  in  perfect 
health,  as  one  does  out  of  fleep. 

5  3  But  they  being  as  fure  as  they  could  be  of  any 
fuch  thing,  that  fhe  was  really  dead,  laughed  at  him 
with  great  derifion,  for  talking  fo  contrary  to  the 
plainell  evidence,  and,  as  they  imagined,  at  fuch  a 
whimfical  rate. 

54  However,  he  clearing  the  room  of  all  this 
company,  and  having  with  him  only  the  three  fore- 
mentioned  difciples,  and  the  father  and  mother  of 
the  child,  went  up,  and,  taking  her  by  the  hand, 
fpoke  to  her  with  divine  majefty  and  power,  faying, 
Young  damfel,  I  will,  and  command  thee  to  get  up. 

5$  And  thefe  words  were  attended  with  fuch 
vital  energy,  that  her  foul  immediately  returned  into 
her  body  again,  and  fhe  inftantly  got  up  in  perfect 
health  and  ltrength,  as  if  fhe  had  only  awaked  out 
of  a  comfortable  and  refrefhing  fleep  ;  and  to  fhew 
that  fhe  was  raifed  to  the  fame  animal  life  which  fhe 
bad  enjoyed  before,  and  was  as  capable  of  feeding  as 
if  fhe  had  never  been  fick,  he  ordered  that  fomething 
fhould  be  given  her  to  eat. 

56  And  her  father  and  mother  were  filled  with 
great  amazement  and  joy  at  this  miraculous  recovery 
of  their  daughter,  by  a  refurre&ion  from  the  dead  : 
But  Jefus,  not  feeking  his  own  glory,  commanded 
them  not  to  make  any  public  noife  of  what  he  had 
done  ;  and  yet  the  fame  of  this  miracle  fqon  fpread 
abroad.      (Matth.  ix.  26.)  , 

RECOLLECTIONS. 

O  the  deep  humiliation  and  condefcenfion  of  our  bleffed  Lord,  that  he  fhould 
ftand  in  need  of  afnftances,  and  accept  of  fuppiies,  from  fuch  as  had  been  the  great- 
eft  of  finneis  !  All  forts  of  perfon^  were  effectually  wrought  upon  by  the  golpel, 
which  brought  forth  fruit,  more  or  iefs,  in  them  feverally  ;  and  wherever  it  fails 
of  fuccefs,  it  is  not  from  any  defect  in  the  good  feed  of  the  word,  but  from  the  cri- 
minal diforder  of  people's  own  hearts,  which  either  refills  its  impreffion  upon  them, 
cr  foon  lofes  it,  through  the  fubtilty  of  Satan,  arid  the  temptations  of  this  world. 
With  what  ferious  concern  fhould  we  leek  grace  to  make  our  hearts  good,  and 
take  heed  how  we  hear,  and  how  we  improve  our  light,  for  the  benefit  of  others, 
as  well  as  of  our  own  fouls  !  They  that  cordially  embrace  the  gofpel,  are  as  dear 
to  Chiift  as  the  neareft  relations  on  earth  can  be  to  one  another ;  and  though  he 
may  fu  flier  them  to  meet  with  many  a  threatening  and  furprifing  ftorm,  yet  his 
prefence  is  their  fecurity  and  relief  in  all  their  troubles,  frights,  and  dangers ;  and 
they  ought  to  fly  to  him,  truft  in  him,  and  adore  him,  as  their  God  and  Saviour, 
who  is  never  unmindful  of  them,  though  fome times,  like  one  afleep,  he  may  fec"m 
\o  neglect  them. — But  O  what  a  malicious,  cruel,  and  hateful  enemy  is  Satan  ! 
Were  he  to  have  his  will  of  us,  he  would  make  us  the  moft  milerable  of  all  crea- 
tures ;  and  none  but  Chrift  can  n  feue  us  out  of  his  hand,  or  lay  him  ifrnder  re- 
itraints :  But  he  has  fuch  a  complete  dominion  over  him,  that  he  can  do  it  when- 
ever he  pleafes.  How  foclifli  and  wicked  then  are  they,  who  prefer  any  thing  in 
this  world  to  Chrift,  and  who,  under  terrible  apprehenfions  of  fin  and  danger,  have 
hard  thoughts  of  him,  and  put  him  away  from  themfelves  I  And  how  jult  is  it  in 
iirti  to  take  them  at  their  word  and  choice  !    But  how  wife  and  happy  are  they, 

who 


56  And  her  pa- 
rents were  afto- 
niihed :  but.  he 
charged  them  that' 
they  fhould  tell  no 
man  what  was 
done. 


Chap.  ix.  Luke  paraphrafed.  9 1 

who  gkdly  receive  him,  and  depend  upon  him  ;  whofe  faith  prcfles  toward  him 
through  all  discouragements  and  apprehenfions  of  their,  own  unworthinefs  !  He  is 
willing  to  receive,  help,  and  fave  them  ;  and,  having  his  warrant  for  our  faith,  we 
fhould  think  that  nothing  can  be  too  great  for  him  to  do  for  us.  How  like  a  God , 
did  he,  by  virtue  in  himfelf,  heal  difeafes,  caft  out  devils,  raiie  the  dead,  and  call 
back  their  departed  fouls  to  animate  their  bodies  again  !  And  how  ihouUl  wo  glo- 
rify him,  who  fought  not  his  own  glory  '.  In  whatever  he  commands  wc  lhbuld 
readily  obey  him,  how  felf-denying  fyever  it  may  be  fo  to  do.  But,  as  gracious 
fouls  cannot  but  will)  to  be  as  near  to  Jefus  as  poifible,  arid  to  abide  with  liiin,  how 
delirable  is  it  to  be  admitted  to  immediate  attendances  on  him,  when  the  clrcujp- 
itances  of  things  admit  of  it !  Ar.d  how  great  is  the  bleilcdnels  of  that  world,  where 
nothing  will  hinder  our  being  ever  with  the  Lord  ! 


C     H    A    P.       IX. 

Jefus  fends  forth  the  twelve  affiles,  T,— -6.  Herod' s  perplexing 
thoughts  about  hitny  and  defire  to  fee  him,  7, — 9.  He  miracidoufly 
feeds  five  thou  [and,  10, — 17.  His  difcourfe  with  his  difciples  con- 
cerning himfelf \  and  following  him,  18, — 27.  His  transfiguration, 
28,-36.  His  cafiing  the  devil  out  of  a  youth f  which  the  difciples 
had  attempted  without  fuccefs,  37, — 42.  Heforetelshirownfufi- 
ferings  to  death,  43,-— 45.  Checks  the  ambition  of  his  difciples, 
46, — 48.  Reproves  them  for  a  party,  felfifh,  and  revengeful  fpi- 
rit,  49, — 56.  And  fhews  the  danger  of  delaying  and  of  drawing 
back,   57, — 62. 

Text.  Paraphrase. 

'J'HEN  he  called  f^UR  bleffed  Lord  having  fome  time  ago  fingled 

his- twelve  dif-  \J    out  twelve  of  his  difciples,    whom  he  defined 

ciples        together,  _             n1          .    ,            .                   J-  \        ,      1               Y- 

and     "ave     them  for  apoitles,   \chap.  vi.  13, — 1 6. )  and  who  ever  hncc 

power^  and  autho-   had  attended  him,    and  been  training  up,  as  it  were, 

rity  over  all   de-   at  his  feet,    for  their  office,    lie  took  an  opportunity 

vils,   and  to  cure    Qc  caUmg  triem  together  :    And,  that  they  might  be 

thoroughly  qualified  for  his  fervice,  he  veiled  them 

with    proper   powers,      which    fhould   be    effectual, 

through  his  name,    to  call  out  devils,    and  heal  all 

manner  of  diflempers. 

i  And  he  fent        2  Whereupon  he  fent  them  forth,   with  a  commif- 

them  to  preach  the    f10n>  to  publifn  in  feveral  parts  of  Judca,   {Matth.  x. 

andgdt°omhealGt°he    6>  7*)    that   he   WOuld   f°011   fet   U?   the   kingdora   of 
flc]^#  grace,    which  fhould  be  perfected  in  the  kingdom  of 

glory  ;    and  for  the  confirmation  of  their  doctrine, 

and  recommending  it  to  the  aficclions,     as  well  as 

judgment  of  the  people,  he  ordered  them  to  heal  the 

fick,     and  do  other  wonderful  works,    as  occafions 

might  offer,  wherever  they  went. 

3  And  he  faid        3  Arul  as,  by  this  firft  miffion,  they    were  not  to- 

unto  them,   Take   go  very  far,  and  were  fooii  to  return,  he  faid  to  them, 

nothing    for    your   j)0  not  trouble  yourfelves  about  making  provifion  for 

Juves^'  no r^fcri"  your  Journey  before-hand  ;    but  go   forth  depending 

v.Beithrr  bread,  nei-  upon  the  providence  of  God  for  protection,    and  for 

tker  a 


92 


The  Evangelift 


Chap. 


IX. 


ther  money : 
ther      have 
coats  a-piece 


4  And  whatfo- 
ever  houfe  ye  en- 
ter into,  there  a- 
bide,  and  thence 
depart. 


5  And  whofo- 
ever  will  noc  re- 
ceive you,  when 
ye  go  out  of  that 


your     feet 

teftimony 

them. 


for     a 
againft 


nei-   a  fupply  of  all  the  neceffaries  of  life  ;  carry  with  you 
*   no  ftaff  for  defence,    but  only  that  which  you  com- 
monly ufe  for  walking  ;  no  bag  for  victuals,  nor  any 
food  or  money  to  buy  it ;  nor  any  change  of  raiment. 

4  Nor  be  ye  folicitous  about  entertainment  where 
ye  go  ;  but  take  up  your  quarters  with  the  firft  iober 
family  that  is  willing  to  receive  you  ;  and,  to  avoid 
all  appearance  of  licklenefs,  curiofity,  or  daintinefs, 
there  continue,  without  changing  your  lodging  till 
ye  leave  that  town  or  city. 

5  And  whatsoever  place  ye  come  to,  if,  upon  tri- 
al, the  people  make  an  uproar  againft  you,  or  the  ci- 
vil magiilrate  will  not  fuffer  you  to  preach  ;  when  ye 

city*  fhake  off  the  g°  away  from  thence,  make  off  the  *  dull  of  your 
very  dull  from  feet,  as  a  witnefs  that  the  gofpel  of  falvation  was  fent 
to  them,  and  they,  like  hardened  and  ungrateful 
wretches,  rejected  it  to  their  own  perdition  ;  and  as 
a  fignal  of  your  detefting  their  wickednefs,  and  refil- 
ling to  have  any  communion  with  them,  and  of 
God's  making  them  off  as  contemptible  and  vile,  like 
the  dull  of  one's  feet. 

6  With  thefe  and  fuch  like  inftrucl:ions  they  went 
forth,  according  to  Chrift's  command  ;  and,  travel- 
ling over  the  towns  and  cities  of  Judea,  executed 
their  commiffion,  in  preaching  the  gofpel  wherever 
they  came  ;  and  both  coniirming  and  recommending 
it  by  miraculoufly  healing  the  lick,  and  calling  out 
devils,  and  the  like.  ' 

7  Now  this  fpread  the  fame  of  Jefus  wider,  and 
raifed  his  character  higher,  than  ever  before  ;  fo  that 
all  the  great  things  that  were  done  by  him  in  perfon, 
and  by  his  apoftles  in  his  name,  and  by  virtue  deri- 
ved from  him,  reached  the  ears  of  Herod,  the  te- 
trarch  of  Galilee,  (fee  the  note  on  chap.  iii.  I.)  who 
was  exceedingly  diflreffed  with  horror  in  his  own  con- 
science, for  having  beheaded  John  the  Bapti/l,  and 
with  fear,  left  now  it  mould  be  arenged  upon  him  ; 
becaufe  it  was  reported  by  fome  that  this  wonder- 
ful perfon  was  no  other  than  John  appearing  again, 
as  rifen  from  the  dead. 

8  But  Qi)  others  imagined  that  Jefus  was  Elias, 
who,  the  Jews  thought,  would  perfonally  appear  be- 
fore the  coming  of  the  Mefliah  ;  and  others  fancied 
him  to  be  one  of  the  ancient  prophets,  raifed  to 
life  aorain 


6  And  they  de- 
parted, and  went 
through  the  towns, 
preaching  the  gof- 
pel, and  healing 
every  where. 


7  Now  Herod 
the  tetrarch  heard 
of  all  that  was 
done  by  him  :  and 
he  was  perplexed, 
becaufe  that  it  was 
faid  of  fome,  that 
John  was  rifen  from 
the  dead : 


S  And  of  fome, 
that  Elias  had  ap- 
peared :  and  of  o- 
thers,  that  one  of 
the  old  prophets 
was  rifen  again. 

9     And     Herod 

faid, 


Amidft 


this  variety    of  opinions,   Herod, 


N 


O 

*  Some  have  obferved,  that  as  the 
jfeius  thought  the  very  dull  of  the  hea- 
then land  to  be  polluted  ;  fo  oui  Lord  or- 


full 
of 
T     E. 

their  feet,  as  a  teftimony  that  they,  who 
reiufed  the  gofpel,  were  to  be  looked  up- 
on,   and   treated    like  the  heathens,   to 


dered  his  apoftles  to  fli?.ke  off  the  dull  of  whom  he  had  iprbid  them  to  preach  it. 


Chap.  ix. 

laid,  John  have 
I  beheaded ;  but 
who  is  this  of 
whom  I  hear  fuch 
things  ?  and  he  de- 
fired  to  fee  him. 


ic  And  the  a- 
poftles  when  they 
were  returned,  told 
him  all  that  they 
had  done.  And  he 
took  them,  and 
went  afide  private- 
ly into  a  defert 
place,  belonging 
to  the  city  called 
Bethfaida. 


ii  And  the 
people  when  they 
knew  it,  followed 
him ;  and  he  re- 
ceived them,  and 
ipake  unto  them 
of  the  kingdom  of 
God,  and  healed 
them  that  had 
need  of  healing. 

12"  And  when 
the  day  began  to 
wear  away,  then 
came  the  twelve, 
and  laid  unto  him, 
Send  the.  multi- 
tude away,  that 
they  may  go  into 
the  towns  and 
country  round  a- 
bout,  and  lodge, 
■.tnd  get  victuals  : 
for  we  are  here  in 
a  defert  place. 

13  But  he  faid 
unto  them,  Give 
ye  them  to  eat. 
And  they  laid,  We 
have  no  more  but 
five  loaves  and  two 
fiflies  ;  except  we 
ihould  go  and  buy 
meat  for  all  this 
people. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


9$ 


14     For      they 

were     about     five 

thou. 

Vol.  II. 


of  terrible  anxieties,  faid,  1  have  indeed  beheaded 
John,  but  cannot  tell  what  to  think  of  this  perfon, 
who,  as  I  now  hear,  appears  with  extraordinary 
power,  and  works  abundance  of  miracles,  both  by 
his  own  and  his  difciples  hands.  Is  this  John  the 
Bapti/}  ?  or  if  not,  who  can  it  be  ?  And  he  earnest- 
ly wifhed  for  a  fight  of  Jefus,  hoping  thereby  to  fa- 
tisfy  himfelf  about  it. 

10  In  the  mean  while,  the  twelve  apoftles  having 
executed  their  commifiion,  came  back  to  their  Lord, 
and  gave  him  an  account  (as  all  his  fervants  mull,  of 
their  labours  in  the  final  judgment)  how  and  where 
they  had  preached  and  wrought  miracles  ;  and  what, 
reception  they  had  met  with  :  Upon  which  he  reti- 
red with  them  to  a  folitary  part  of  the  country,  not 
far  from  the  city  of  Bethfaida,  that  he  might  give 
them  a  little  relaxation  from  their  late  labours  and 
fatigues,  and  might  further  inftruct  and  encourage 
them  in  what  related  to  their  work. 

11  But  (h)  the  common  people,  knowing  to- 
what  place  he  had  withdrawn,  followed  him  in  great 
crowds  thither  :  And  though  they  broke  in  upon  his 
meafures  for  a  little  recefs  and  refrenSment,  yet  fo 
great  was  his  goodnefs,  that  he  kindly  received  them  ; 
and,  inftead  of  fparing  himfelf,  preached  the  gofpel 
of  his  kingdom  to  them,  and  healed  fuch  as  were 
diltempered,  and  came  to  him  for  a  cure. 

12  And  when  it  grew  toward  night,  his  twelve  a- 
poi'Lies  defired  him  to  difmifs  the  people,  that  they 
might  have  time  enough,  while  day-light  lailed,  to 
reach  fome  of  the  nearefl  towns  and  villages,  and 
get  lodging  and  entertainment  there  :  For,  faid  they, 
we  are  here  in  a  defolate,  barren  part  of  the  country, 
where  there  are  no  accommodations  for  them ;  fo  that 
they  muft  neceffarily  fuller  great  hardihip,  if  they 
ftay  any  longer. 

13  But  he  replied,  Give  them  fomething  to  eat 
before  they  go,  left,  having  had  no  refrefhment  fo 
long,  fome  of  them  Ihould  faint  by  the  way  :  The 
apoitles  not  confidering  how  God  fed  Ifracl  of  old 
in  the  wildernefs,  nor  how  eafily  their  Lord  could 
do  the  fame  now,  objected  to  this  motion,  faying, 
We  have  only  a  little  of  our  common  fare,  five  barley 
loaves  and  two  fmall  fillies,  juft  enough  for  a  meal  u; 
two  at  moll  for  ourfelves ;  it  would  therefore  be  only  to 
tantalize  the  people,  were  we  to  offer  them  an  enter- 
tainment, unlefs  we  were  tcf  go  to  fome  neighbouring 
town,  and  buy  provifions  there  for  tin's  vail  multitude. 

14  The  reaion  of  their  fpeaking  after  this  man- 
ner was,  becaufe  the  number  of  men  only,  then  pre- 
fent,  was  about  five  thoufand  :   However  Chrift,  ha- 

O  ving 


94 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  ix. 


tboufand  men. 
And  he  faid  to  his 
difciples,  Make 
them  fit  down  by 
fifties  in  a  com- 
pany. 

15  And  they 
did  fo,  and  made 
them  all  fit  down. 


16  Then  he  took 
the  five  loaves  and 
the  two  fifties,  and 
looking  up  to  hea- 
ven, he  bleffed 
them,  and  brake, 
and  gave  to  the 
difciples  to  let  be- 
fore the  multi- 
tude. 

17  And  they  did 
eat,  and  w^ere  all 
filled,  and  there 
was  taken  up  of 
fragments  that  re- 
mained to  them, 
twelve  bafkets. 

18  And  it  came 
to  pafs  as  he  was 
alone  praying,  his 
difciples  were  with 
him  :  and  he  afk- 
ed  them,  faying, 
Whom  fay  the  peo- 
ple that  I  am  ? 


19  They  anfwer- 
ing,  faid,  John  the 
jRaptift  :  but  fome 
fay,  Eli  as  :  and  o- 
thpTsfay,  that  one 
ef  the  old  prophets 
is  rifen  again. 


20  He  faid  unto 
them,  But  whom 
fay  ye  that  I  am  J 
Peter  anfwering, 
laid,  The  thrift  of 
God. 


ving  determined  in  himfelf  what  to  do,  commanded 
his  apoftles  to  defire  all  the  company  to  fit  down  on 
the  grafs,   and  to  place  them  by  fifty  in  a  rank. 

15  And  the  apoftles,  without  any  further  difpu- 
ting,  obeyed  their  Lord's  order,  caufing  the  people 
to  fit  down  in  that  manner,  by  which  means  they 
might  be  the  more  eafily  numbered,  and  the  food 
more  readily  diftributed  among  them.  (  See  the  note 
on  Mark  vi.  40.) 

16  Then  Jefus,  having  the  five  loaves  and  two 
fifties  before  him,  took  part  of  them  into  his  hands  ; 
and,  according  to  his  exemplary  cuftom  at  meals, 
afked  a  blefling  upon  them,  turning  his  eyes  upward 
toward  heaven,  from  whence  every  good  gift  de- 
fcends  :  (fee  the  note  on  Matth  xiv.  19.)  And  then, 
dividing  the  food  into  pieces  fit  for  diilribution,  he 
conveyed  it,  through  the  hands  of  his  apoftles,  to  all 
the  people,  as  they  fat  in  their  feveral  rows. 

17  And  by  his  creating  power,  he  gave  it  fuch  a 
furprifing  increafe,  that  the  whole  company  eat  of  it 
till  they  were  fully  fatisfied  :  And,  fmall  as  the  quan- 
tity was  before  they  began,  there  were  no  lefs  than 
twelve  bafkets  full  left,  after  they  had  been  fo  plenti- 
fully refrefhed,  and  had  quite  done  eating.  (  See  the 
note  on  Matth.  xiv.  20.) 

18  Having  thus  fhewn  his  compaflion  both  to  the 
fouls  and  bodies  of  this  great  multitude,  he  difmiffed 
them,  and  retired  to  converfe  with  God  his  Father, 
and  with  the  difciples  his  friends,  that  he  might  open 
his  heart  freely  in  his  petitions  for  them,  and  in  his 
inftru6tions  to  them;  and  when,  like  the  mafter  of  his 
houPoold,  he  had  given  them  an  example  of  family 
prayer,  he  proceeded  to  a  free  and  religious  converfa- 
tion  with  them  concerning  himfelf,  faying,  What  is 
the  general  opinion  that  men  have  of  me  ?  Or  whom 
do  they  take  me  to  be  ? 

19  The  apoftles  anfwered,  that  people  were  much 
divided,  and  had  very  different  notions  about  him  ; 
fome  fancying  that  he  was  John  the  Baptift  come  to 
life  again,  whilft  others  infilled  that  he  was  Elijah 
the  Ti/hbite,  appearing  among  them  to  anoint  the 
Mefliah,  whom  they  were  looking  for  ;  and  others 
talked  as  if  he  were  one  or  other  of  the  ancient  pro- 
phets come  to  them  from  the  dead. 

20  Then  Jefus  faid  to  his  diciples,  But,  amidft 
all  thefc  various  conjectures  and  debates  of  the  people, 
tell  me^he  fenfe  of  your  own  hearts  ;  Whom  So  ye 
believe  me  to  be  ?  Peter  faid  in  all  their  names,  they 
confenting,  Whatfoevcr  others  think  of  thee,  we  are 
fatisfied  that  thou  art  the  only  true  Meffiah,  and  the 
eternal  Son  of  God.     [Matth.  xvi.  16.) 

21   And 


Chap.  ix. 

21  Andheftrait- 
ly  charged  them, 
and  commanded 
them  to  tell  no 
man  that   thing. 


23  Saying,  The 
Son  of  man  mull 
fuffer  many  things, 
and  be  rejected  of 
the  elders,  and  chief 
priefts,  and  fcribes, 
and  be  (lain,  and  be 
railed  the  third  day. 


23  And  he  faid 
to  them  all,  If  any 
man  will  come  af- 
ter me,  let  him  de- 
ny himfelf,  and 
take  up  his  crofs 
daily,  and  follow 
me. 


24  For  whom- 
ever will  fave  his 
life  mail  lofe  it  : 
but  whofoever  will 
lofe  his  life  for  my 
fake,  the  fame  lhall 
fave  it. 


25  For  wh;-.t  is 
a  man  advantaged, 
if  he  gain  the 
whole  world,  and 
lofe  himfelf,  or  be 
£aft  away. 


Luke  paraphrafed.  95 

21  And  though  Chriil  highly  approved  of  this 
confeffion  of  their  faith  in  him,  yet  he  ftrictly  for- 
bade their  publifhing  it  for  the  prefent,  that  the 
Jeivs,  who  expected  the  Meffiah  to  be  a  temporal 
prince,  might  not  raife  a  tumult  on  his  account,  either 
by  contending  for  or  againil  his  being  their  king, 
and  fo  attempting  either  to  hinder  or  hailen  his  death 
out  of  its  proper  feafon  ;  as  alfo  that  the  full  mani- 
feitation  of  the  glory  of  his  character  might  be  reler- 
ved  till  he  mould  rile  from  the  dead. 

2  2  accordingly  he  took  this  opportunity  to  turn 
off  their  own  expectations  of  temporal  advantages 
from  him,  or  of  his  immediately  appearing  in  the 
glory  even  of  his  fpiritual  kingdom,  faying,  The 
Mefiiah,  according  to  divine  appointment  and  pre- 
dictions, and  for  anfwering  the  great  defign  of  his 
coming  into  the  world,  mult  undergo  many  terrible 
fufferings  and  indignities  ;  and  particularly  mult  be 
oppofed,  reviled,  and  condemned  by  the  great  coun- 
cil, conlifting  of  the  elders  of  the  people,  and  of  their 
chief  priefts  and  doctors  ;  and  at  length  muft  be  put 
to  a  cruel  death  :  And  he  added,  for  their  comfort, 
that  on  the  third  day  he  muft  rife  again,  to  mew 
that  he  ifc  a  divine  perfon,  and  that  his  Father  accepts 
and  owns  him  in  his  work. 

23  And  as  his  difciples,  and  Peter  in  particular, 
could  not  tell  how  to  brook  what  he  had  faid  about 
his  fufferings  and  death  ;  and  as  by  this  time  a  mul- 
titude of  people  were  come  again  to  him,  (Aiarl  viii. 
32,  34.)  he  laid  to  them  all  in  general,  If  any  one 
would  be  my  diiciple,  and  (hare  in  the  bleflings  I  am 
come  to  bellow,  he,  after  my  example,  mult  be  con- 
tented to  part  with  the  riches,  honours,  and  pleafures 
of  this  life,  and  fubmit  to  the  heavieft  hardlhips  and 
fufferings  day  by  day  for  my  fake,  even  unto  death  ; 
and  mult  follow  me  with  faith  and  patience,  through 
much  tribulation,  till  he  arrives  at  my  heavenly  king- 
dom.     (See  the  note  on  Mark  viii.  34.) 

24  For  whoever  declines  thefe  duties,  to  fave  his 
temporal  life  in  this  world,  mall  fall  Ihort  of  eternal 
happinefs  in  the  next,  which  is  lofmg  his  life  in  the 
worlt  fenfe  that  poflibly  can  be  :  But  whoever  is  wil- 
ling to  put  them  into  practice,  even  to  the  lofs  of  this 
tranfitory  life,  for  his  faith  in  me,  and  profefiion  of 
my  name,  (hall  certainly  obtain  eternal  life,  which  is 
the  bell  that  any  one  can  enjoy. 

25  For  the  foul  of  man  is  his  life  and  his  glory,  his 
principal  and  immortal  part  ;  and,  as  it  fares  with 
that,  he  himfelf  muft  be  extremely  happy  or  lr.iicr- 
able  for  ever  :  What  comparison  then  can  there  be 
between  all  this  world  and  his  own  foul  ?  or  whfft 

O  2  ad~ 


96 


The  Evawelift 


Chap.  ix. 


26  For  whofo- 
ever  fliall  be  atlia- 
raed  of  me  and  of 
my  words,  of  him 
ihall  the  Son  of 
man  be  affiamed, 
when  he  fliall  come 
in  his  own  glory 
and  in  his  Father's, 
and  of  the  holy 
angels. 


27  But  I  tell  you 
of  a  truth,  there 
be  fome  ftanding 
here,  which  fliall 
not  tafte  of  death, 
till  they  fee  the 
kingdom  of  God. 


advantage  could  he  have,  were  he  to  gain  the  utmofl 
grandeur  and  delights  on  earth,  and,  after  all,  were 
to  be  himfelf  eternally  loll  or  dellroyed  ? 

26  And  yet  this  will  be  the  dreadful  condition  of 
all  thofe  that  refufe  to  take  up  their  crofs  and  follow 
me  :  For  whoever  is  afraid  or  afhamed  to  own  me 
and  my  gofpel  now,  in  the  prefence  of  men,  left  they 
mould  perfecute  or  reproach  him,  or  laugh  at  him  for 
it,  him  will  the  Mefliah  publicly  refufe  to  own,  and 
upon  him  will  he  pour  the  greateft  contempt  at  the 
great  day,  when  he  mail  appear  in  his  own  perfonal 
and  mediatorial  glory,  as  the  eternal  Son  of  God, 
and  Judge  of  all,  and  in  the  glory  of  his  heavenly 
Father,  whofe  divine  perfections,  majefty,  and  au- 
thority, will  then  difplay  themfelves  in  him  ;  and 
when  he  mall  be  attended  with  a  pompous  retinue  of 
holy  angels,  to  execute  his  commands  and  celebrate 
his  praiie  *. 

27  And  (01)  I  folemnly  aifure  you,  that  it  will 
not  be  long  before  a  lively  emblem  of  this  fliall  ap- 
pear :  For  fome  here  prefent  fliall  live  to  fee  the  king- 
dom of  the  Mefliah  fet  up  in  the  world  with  great 
glory,  by  his  refurreclion  and  exaltation  at  the  Fa- 
ther's right  hand,  by  the  plentiful  effufion  of  his  Spi- 
rit, to  glorify  him,  and  fpread  his  gofpel  with  fpeedy 
and  furpriiing  fuccefs,  and  by  his  coming  to  take 
vengeance  upon  the  incorrigible  Jews,  in  the  utter 
deibuclion  of  their  city  and  nation  ;  and  here  are 
fome,  who,  in  a  few  days,  fhall  be  eye-witneffes  of 
an  iiluftrious  difplay  of  his  glory.  (See  the  note  on 
Matth.  xvi.  28.) 

28  About  a  week  \  after  Chrift  had  faid  thefe 
things,  he,  defigning  to  give  a  little  fpecimen  of  his 
future  glory,  fingled  out  three  of  his  difciples,  Peter, 
John,  and  James,  to  be  eye-witneffes  of  it,  as  they 
afterwards  were  to  be  of  his  agony  in  the  garden  ; 
[Matth.  xxvi.  37.)  and  taking  thefe  along  with  him, 

he 
NOTES. 
*  Here  feems  to  be,  according  to  Dr    the  fame  allufion,  of  his  coming  in  the 

glory  of  the  holy  angels.     See  E%ek.  i. 
and  x.  chapters. 

f  In  Matth.  xvii.  r.  and  Mark  ix.  7. 
this  is  faid  to  be  fix  days  after  the  fore- 
going difcourie,  meaning  only  the  days 
that  palled  between  that  and  the  day  of 
Chrift's  transfiguration;  but  here  it  is 
faid  to  be  about  eight  days  after  it,  in- 
ch'.five  both  of  the  day  of  Chrift's  faying 
thefe  things,  and  the  day  of  his  going 
up  to  the  mount,  which,  together  with 
the  fix  intermediate  days,  made  up  a- 
&u  -  <f  providence  and  attendants  on  this  bout  eight  days,  though  not  eight  com- 
tlorv.  Chrift  feems  to  fucak  likewife,  in    plete. 


2S  And  it  came 
to  pafs  about  an 
eight  days  after 
thefe  fayings,  he 
took  Peter,  and 
John,  and  James, 
-and  went  up  into 
a 


IV hit  by' s  obfervation,  an  allufion  to  the 
Shechinah,  which  was  called  the  glory  of 
the  God  of  If ra el,  and  the  appearance  of 
the  likenefs  of  the  glory  of  the  Lord,  their 
great  Jehovah  :  And  as  it  WW  the  Logos, 
or  the  Son  of  God,  who  ufually  thus  ap- 
peared, and  who,  after  his  afcenfion,  was 
inverted  again  with  this  giory,  it  was  his 
glory  as  well  as  the  Father's.  And  we 
may  acid,  that  the  living  creatures,  and 
the  cherubims,  being  alfo  represented  in 
feveraJ  of  thofe  appearances,  as  the  mini- 
u  -  if  providence  and  attendants  on  this 
glory,  Chrift  feems  to  fpeak  likewife,  in 


Chap.  ix. 

a      mountain      to 
pray. 

29  And  as  he 
prayed,  the  fafhion 
of  his  countenance 
was  altered,  and 
his  raiment  nvas 
white  and  glifter- 
ing. 


50  And  behold, 
there  talked  with 
him  two  men, 
which  were  Moles 
and  Elias. 

31  Who  appear- 
ed in  glory,  and 
ipake  of  his  de- 
ceafe  which  he 
iliould  accomplifh 
at  Jerufalem. 

32  But  Peter, 
and  they  that  were 
with  him,  were 
heavy  with  fleep; 
and  when  they 
were  awake,  they 
faw  his  glory,  and 
the  two  men  that 
Hood  with  him. 

33  And  it  came 
toj>afs,  as  they  de- 
parted from  him, 
Peter  faid  unto  Je- 
fus,  Mafter,  it  is 
good  for  us  to  be 
here ;  and  Jet  us 
make  three  taber- 
nacles, one  for 
thee,  and  one  for 
IVIofes,  and  one  for 
Elias;  not  know- 
ing what  he  faid. 


34  While  he 
thus  fpake,  there 
came  a  cloud 
and  overfliadowed 
them  :  and  they 
feared  as  they 
entered  into  the 
cloud. 


;5    And    there 
came' 


Luke  paraphrafed.  97 

he  went  up  an  high  hill,  as  he  was  wont  to  fpend 
fome  time  in  fecret  prayer. 

29  And  while  he  was  thus  humbling  himfelf  in 
the  form  of  a  fervant,  his  divine  glory  broke  forth  to 
give  him  an  appearance  in  the  form  of  God  ;  fo  that, 
all  on  a  ftidden,  a  dazzling  luftre  fiufhed  through  his 
countenance,  and  a  mining  brightnefs  through  all  his 
clothes,  by  which  he  appeared  all  over  glorious,  like 
the  Goci^  tvho  covers  himjelf 'with  light  as  with  a 
garment.  (Pfal-  civ.  2.  See  the  note  on' Matth. 
xvii.  2.) 

30,  31  There  were  likewife,  at  the  fame  time,  two 
of  the  greateft  men  that  had  ever  lived  upon  earth, 
who  came  to  own  and  honour  him  ;  one  was  Mofes% 
the  giver  of  the  law  ;  and  the  other  was  Elias,  the 
reftorer  of  it :  Thefe  appeared  in  glorious  forms,  like 
perfons  that  came  from  the  bleffed  ftate  and  world  a- 
bove,  and  they  converfed  with  Jefus  about  the  nature 
and  defign  of  his  fufferings  and  death,  which  he  was 
ihortly  to  undergo  at  Jerufalem. 

32  But  at  the  beginning  of  this  wonderful  fcene, 
Peter  and  the  other  two  difciples  were  fo  exceeding 
drowfy,  that  they  could  hardly  attend  to  any  thing 
about  it ;  till,  recovering  themfelves  out  of  their 
fieepy  fit,  and  being  perfectly  awake,  they  plainly 
faw  the  glorious  appearance  that  Chrift  made,  and 
took  notice  of  Mojes  and  Elias,  who  were  with  him. 

33  And  while  the  difciples  were  filled  with  afto- 
nifhment  and  delight  at  what  they  had  feen  and  heard, 
Peter,  obferving  that  thofe  two  ancient  prophets  were 
about  to  withdraw,  addrefled  himfelf  to  Chrift,  fay- 
ing, Lord,  how  glorious  and  tranfporting  is  it  to  be 
here  !  and  how  happy  would  it  be  if  we  could  always 
enjoy  fuch  heavenly  manifeftations,  difcourfe,  and 
company,  as  thi:  !  Suffer  us  to  fet  up  three  tents  ; 
one  for  thee,  the  fecond  for  Mojes,  and  the  third  for 
Elias,  that  we  may  all  dwell  together  in  this  place  : 
This  he  faid  in  a  fort  of  rapturous  furprife,  which 
made  him  uncapable  of  duly  confidering  whether  it 
might  be  fit  and  proper,  or  not. 

34  But  at  the  very  inftant  that  he  was  littering 
thefe  words,  the  difciples  found  themfelves  covered 
with  fuch  an  awful  cloud,  as  was  an  emblem  of  the 
divine  prefencc  ;  (fee  the  note  on  Matth.  xvii.  5.) 
which,  when  it  began  to  fpread  over  them,  not  only 
deprived  them  of  all  further  fight  of  Mojes  and  Elias, 
(ver.  36.)  but  filled  them  with  great  fear,  as  not 
knowing  what  might  be  the  confequence;  though 
Chrift  being  with  them,  there  was  no  room  to  appre- 
hend any  danger. 

35  And  to  fhew  that  this  cloud  was  a  vifible  token 

of 


9* 


The  Evangetijl 


Ghap.  ix. 


came  a  voice  out 
of  the  cloud,  fay- 
ing, This  is  my 
beloved  Son,  hear 
him. 


36  And  when 
the  voice  was  paft, 
Jefus  was  found 
alone  :  and  they 
kept  it  clofe,  and 
•told  no  man  in 
t.hofe  days  any'  of 
thofe*things  which 
they  had  feen. 


37  And  it  came 
to  pafs,  that  on  the 
next  day,  when 
they  were  come 
down  from  the  hill, 
much  people  met 
him. 

3S  And  behold, 
a  man  of  the  com- 
pany cried  out, 
faying,  Mafter,  I 
bel'eech  thee  look 
upon  my  fon,  for 
he  is  mine  only 
child. 

39  And  lo,  a 
fpirit  taketh  him, 
and  he  fuddenly 
crieth  out,  and  it 
teareth  him  that 
he  foameth  again, 
and  biuifing  him, 
hardly  departeth 
from  him. 


40  And  I  be- 
fought  thy  difci- 
ples  to  caft  him 
out,  and  they 
could  not. 


41  And  Jems 
anfvvering,  faid,  O 
faithlefs  and  pcr- 
verfe  generation, 
how  long  mail  I  be 
with  you,  and  fuf- 
fer 


of  divine  favour,  and  not  of  wrath,  they  immediately- 
heard  a  voice  from  the  eternal  Father  out  of  the 
cloud,  faying,  This  is  the  Son  of  my  higheft.  love,  in 
whofe  perfon,  office,  and  performances,  my  foul  de- 
lights, and  by  whom  I  will  make  the  laft  revelation 
of  my  mind  and  will :  Attend  therefore  to  him,  and  • 
obey  him,  in  whatfoever  he  fhall  fay  unto  you. 

36  Immediately  after  this  voice  the  whole  vifion 
clofed ;  Mofes  and  Elia7?  were  gone,  the  cloud  of  glo- 
ry withdrew,  the  transfiguration  was  over,  and  Jefus 
was  with  them  alone  in  his  ufual  form  :  And  they, 
according  to  his  command,  (  Matth.  xvii.  9. )  .  kept 
counfel  lor  the  prefent,  without  difcovering  what 
they  had  feen  to  friend  or  foe,  till  after  his  refurrec- 
tion,  when  it  was  much  more  eafily  credited  than  it 
would  have  been  before. 

37  Now  (£g)  when  our  Lord  and  the  three  difci- 
ples  returned,  on  the  morning  of  the  next  day,  from 
the  mountain,  he  found  abundance  of  people,  with 
the  reft  of  his  difciples,  waiting  for  him  below. 

38  And  as  foon  as  he  appeared,  they  flocked  a- 
bout  him,  and  one  of  the  people  falling  down  at  his 
feet,  cried  out  with  great  earneftnefs,  Lord,  I  hum- 
bly beg  that  thou  wouldft  look  with  an  eye  of  com- 
panion upon  my  fon,  and  heal  him  ;  for  he  is  a  dear 
and  only  child,  for  whom  I  cannot  but  be  tenderly 
concerned  in  his  prefent  deplorable  condition,  which 
is  this  : 

39  An  evil  fpirit  has  taken  poffefiion  of  him,  and 
diftreffes  him  in  fo  terrible  a  manner,  that  fometimes 
he  fhrieks  out  all  on  a  fudden,  and  talks  like  one 
frighted  out  of  his  wits  ;  at  other  times  he  is  racked 
and  tortured,  and  thrown  into  violent  convulfions,  till 
he  foams  at  the  mouth,  and  feems  to  be  quite  fenfe- 
lefs  ;  at  other  times  he  falls  down  in  an  inftant  wher- 
ever he  is,  and  receives  abundance  of  hurt  ;  and  fo 
cruel  and  malicious  i%  the  devil  in  tormenting  him, 
that  he  hardly  ever  gives  him  any  refpite. 

40  Having  therefore  heard  of  thee,  and  of  what 
wonderful  works  even  thy  difciples  have  done  in  thy 

I  applied  to  them,    while  thou  wert  abfent, 


name, 


begging  that  they  would  caft  out  this  evil  fpirit :   But, 
alas  !   they  attempted  it  in  vain  ;  and  now  I  come  to 
fee  whether  thou  thyfelf  canft  do  any  thing  to  help-* 
him.      [Mark  ix.  22.) 

41  Hereupon  Jefus  feverely  reproved  the  father  of 
the  lad,  together  with  the  unbelieving  multitude,  and 
efpecially  the  fcribes,  who  had  run  down  his  difci- 
ples becaufe  they  could  not  work  this  cure  ;  [Mark 
ix.  14.)  and  he  faid  to  them,  O  ye  defperately  incre- 
dulous, obilinate  generation  of  men*   how  long  (hall 


42  And  as  he 
was  yet  a  coming, 
the  devil  threw 
him  down,  and 
tare  bim  ;  and  Je- 
fus     rebuked    the 


healed  the  child, 
and  delivered  him 
again  to  his  father. 


Chap.  ix.  Luke  paraphrafed.  99 

fer  you?  Bring  thy   I  be  working  divine  and  merciful  miracles  among  you  ? 
ion  hither.  an(j    ^^  long  muft  I  neverthelefs  bear  with  your 

perverfe  diffidence,  enmity,  and  oppofition  to  me  ? 
Then  fpeaking  to  the  father,  for  the  encourage- 
ment of  his  faith,  and  to  the  people,  and  particular- 
ly the  Jcribes,  {Mark  ix.  19.)  for  the  confuting  of 
their  unbelief,  he  faid,  Bring  the  child  to  me  *. 

42   And  as  the  youth  was  coming,  the  devil,  who 
knew  Chrift's  power  better  than  the  fcribes  did,  was 
enraged  at  the  thoughts  that  he  muft  now  be  caft  out ; 
and  to  (hew  his  furious  inclination  for  doing  all  the 
mifchief  he  could,  he  threw  the  poor  you-ng  creature 
unclean  fpirit,  and    down  with  great  violence,    and  fhook  him  as  if  he 
would  have  torn  him  to  pieces  :   But  (£=)  Jefus  fpoke 
with  fovereign  power  and  authority  to  the  evil  fpirit 
to  depart  ;  and  immediately  reflored  the  child  to  per- 
fect health,    and  delivered  him  back  to  his  father  fafe 
and  found. 
43     And    they        43  And  the  whole  multitude  were  ilruck  with  great 
were   all    amazed    aft0niihment  at  fo  plain  a  demonilration  of  the  truly 
at     the      mig  ty   cj£v|ne  p0wer>  which  our  blefled  Lord  exerted  in  per- 
but    while     they    forming  this  ftupendous  work,  and  thereby  defeating 
wondered      every   the  triumphs  of  his  enemies.      But  while  the  people 
one  at  all  things   were  admiring  this  and  other  miracles  which  Jefus 
had  wrought,  and  he  and  his  difciples  were  again  got 
together  alone,   (Matth.  xvii.  19, — 22.)  he,  to  guard 
them  againft  entertaining  any  thoughts  of  his  appear- 
ing in  worldly  power  and  grandeur,  faid, 

44  Take  particular  notice  of  what  I  have  told  you 
before,  and  am  going  to  tell  you  again  ;  often  think 
of  it,  re  fie  61  ferioufly  upon  it,  and  live  in  the  daily 

mall  be  delivered   belief  and  expectation  of  it,  that  ye  may  not  be  fur- 
•  into  the  hands  of  prifed  and  (hocked  when  ye  come  to  fee  it  ;    vik. 
That  I,  whom  ye  know  and  believe  to  be  the  Mef- 
fiah,  (hall  certainly  be  given  up  to  the  power  of  mine 
enemies,  who  will  put  me  to  death. 

45  But  how  plainly  foever  he  talked  to  them  of 
thefe  things,  their  heads  were  fo  fidl  of  notions  about 
the  Meffiah's    appearing  with   external    pomp,   that 

that  they  perceived   they  could  not  tell  how  to  underftand  his  fuffering 
t  not :   and   they   anj  dying  in  a  literal  fenfe,  nor  could  they  imagine 
what  he  intended  by  fuch  expreffions  :   And  yet,  he 
having  fo  often  ufed  them,   and  (hewn  his  difpleafure 
at  the  exceptions  which  Peter  had  lately  offered  a- 
gainft  them,    (Matth.  xvi.  21, — 23.)   they  were  a- 
fhamed,  and  afraid  to  make  any  further  inquiries  a- 
bout  his  meaning  in  them. 
48  Then   there        46  And  as  Jefus  was  going  with  his  difciples  to- 
arofe  Ward 

NOTE. 
*  See  the  notes  on  Matth.  xvii.  17.  and  Mark  ix.  ip.   where  Chrift  fpeaks  to 
the  faithlefs  generation  to  bring  the  child  to  him. 


which  Jefus  did, 
he  faid  unto  his 
difciples, 


44  Let  thefe 
fayings  fink  down 
into  your  ears : 
for  the  Son  of  man 


men. 


45  But  they  un- 
derstood not  this 
laying,  and  it  was 
hid     from      them, 


feared  to  afk  him 
of  that  faying. 


arofe  a  re  a  ton- 
ing anion';  them, 
which  of  them 
mould  be  greatelt. 


47  And  Jefus 
perceiving  the 
thought  of  ther 
heart,  took  a 
child,  and  let  him 
by  him. 

48  And  faid  un- 
to them,  Whom- 
ever fhall  receive 
this  child  in  my 
came,  receiveth 
me ,  and  whom- 
ever fhall  receive 
me,  receiveth  him 
that  lent  me  ;  for 
he  that  is  leaft  a- 
mong  you  all,  the 
iame  fliall  be  great. 


The  Evan^elifl 


Chap,  ix, 


49  And  John 
anlwered  and  faid, 
Mafter,  we  faw 
one  catting  out 
devils  in  thy  name; 
and  we  forbad  him, 
becaufe  he  follow- 
gth  not  with  us. 


50  And  Jefus 
faid  unto  him,  For- 
bid him  not :  for  he 
that  is  not  againlt 
us,  is  for  us. 


& 


And  it  cajtie 
to 


ward  Capernaum,  {Mark  ix.  33.)  they,  lagging  be- 
hind, entered  into  a  warm  debate,  about  which  of  them 
mould  have  the  pre-eminence  in  the  temporal  king- 
dom, which  they  ftill  expected  Chrift  would  foon  fet 
up  in  the  world,  notwithstanding  all  that  he  had  faid 
to  the  contrary. 

47  But  Jefus,  who  knew  what  was  in  man,  was 
perfecllyacquainted  with  all  their  ambitious  views,  and 
with  the  whole  of  their  vain  difpute,  though  he  was 
not  corporally  within  hearing  ;  and  therefore,  as  foon 
as  they  arrived  together  at  Capernaum,  he,  calling 
for  a  young  child,  fet  it  before  them. 

48  And  then  he  faid  unto  them,  This  child  is  a 
proper  emblem  of  the  true  fubje£ts  of  my  kingdom, 
who,  like  him,  mould  be  difinterefted,  meek,  and 
humble,  free  from  all  ambition,  envy,  and  malice  ; 
and  whoever  mall  receive  any  perfons  of  thefe  holy 
difpofitions  into  his  affection,  and  fhew  kindnefs  to 
them  in  obedience  to  my  command,  and  for  my  fake, 
becaufe  they  bear  my  image,  and  are  in  favour  with 
me,  fhall  be  accounted  of  as  if  he  had  done  it  perfon- 
ally  to  myfelf ;  and  whoever  fhall  receive  me  into  his 
heart,  by  a  felf-denying  faith  and  love,  for  fpiritual 
purpofes,  fhall  be  efteemed  as  paying  the  fame  reli- 
gious regard  to  my  Father  himfelf,  who  fent  me  into 
the  world  :  For  this  is  the  rule  of  my  kingdom,  that 
he,  who  is  moft  humble,  condefcending,  and  felf-aba- 
fed  among  you,  fhall  be  advanced  to  the  greateft  hon- 
ours, and  moft  highly  favoured  with  my  fmiles  and 
bleffings. 

49  Then  the  apoftle  'John,  defirous  to  know  whe- 
ther he  had  preferved  this  excellent  temper  on  ano- 
ther ocafion,  faid,  Mafter,  I  and  others  of  thy  dif- 
ciples,  not  long  fmce,  faw  a  certain  man  making  ufe 
of  thine  authority  in  cafting  out  devils  ;  and  wc 
thought  proper  to  rebuke  him,  and  forbid  his  doing 
fo  any  more,  as  fuppofmg  that  he  had  no  right  to  ufe 
thy  name  for  fuch  purpofes,  becaufe  he  did  not  affo- 
cisfce  with  us,  or  with  any  of  thy  conftant  followers. 

50  But  (xat<)  Jefus  being  difpleafed  at  fuch  a 
peevifh,  narrow,  unbecoming  party-fpirit,  reproved 
John,  and  his  companions  that  joined  with  him  in  it, 
faying,  Ye  are  much  to  blame  for  going  about  to 
hinder  fuch  an  one  in  my  work,  and  to  rob  me  of 
my  praife;  for  he  who  does  not  oppofe  us,  and  efpe- 
cially  lie  who  carries  on  the  fame  delign  with  us,  can 
never  be  reckoned  as  an  enemy,  but  mould  be  efteem- 
ed,  embraced,  and  encouraged  as  a  friend  ;  though, 
for  reafons  which  ye  know  not,  he  may  not  think  pro- 
per to  join  in  company  with  you. 

51  Now  the  time  drawing  on,  when,  according  to 

the 


Chap.  ix.  Luke  paraphrafed.  101 

to  pafs,  when  the  the  determinate  counfel  and  foreknowledge  of  God, 
time  was  come  that 
he  mould  be  recei- 


time  was  come  that    our  Lofd  jefus  was  to  pafs  through  h;s  laft  fufferings 


»<J_  to  g^or7>  n,s  heart  was  fo  fully  ft*  upon  the  redemption 
faftly  let  his  face  of  the  church,  that  he  refolved,  and  fet  out  to  go  to 
to  go  to  Jerufa-  Jerufalem  ;  nor  would  he  hear  of  any  perfuafions  to 
*em*  the  contrary,  though  he  knew  the  terrible  things  that 

would  befal  him  there,  by  the  righteous  ordination 
of  God,  and  the  malicious,  wicked,  and  cruel  ma- 
nagement of  men  and  devils. 

52  And  fent  52  And  as  his  direct  road  from  Galilee  to  Jeru- 
meflengers  before  falem  lay  through  Samaria,  he,  to  give  as  little  of- 
his  face  :  and  they  fcnce  as  ffibl  fent  two  of  his  difciples  beforehand, 
went,  and  entered  .  ,r  .  ,  , '  ,  .  .  .  f,  _  „  ' 
into  a  village  of  to  *et  t"e  inhabitants  know  his  deiign  or  palling 
the  Samaritans  to  through  their  country,  and  to  prepare  neceffary  enter- 
make     ready    for   tainment  in  one  of  their  towns  for  himfelf  and  company. 

m'  »    j  1      *-i        *>3   ^u-t*    foolilh    and   wicked   creatures    as    thefe 

53  And  they  did  7i_  1  j  •  i_  •  ,,      n 

not   receive    him     were>   they  would   not   receive   this   noble    itranger, 

becaufe  his  face  who  would  have  borne  his  own  charges,  and,  had 
was  as  though  he  they  deiired  it,  was  ready,  as  well  as  able,  to  have 
would  go  to  Jeru-    bjeffed  them  .   nor  would  they  fuffer  him  tQ  ent£r  in_ 

to  one  of  their  villages,  to  take  the  reft  and  the  ac- 
commodations which  were  neceffary  for  him  and  his 
followers  on  their  journey,  becauie  they  perceived 
that  he  was  going  to  worfliip  at  Jerufalem,  and 
thereby  practically  declared  againft  the  Samaritans, 
who  warmly  denied  that  to  be  the  place  appointed 
of  God  for  his  worfliip*. 

54  Then  the  difciples  James  and  John  looking 
upon  this  to  be,  as  indeed  it  was,  a  heinous  indig- 
nity to  their  Lord  and  Mailer;  their  love  to  him,  and 
wilt  thou  that  we  zeal  for  his  honour,  fo  inflamed  their  paffions  againft 
command  fire  to  the  Samaritans,  that  they  were  for  revenging  the  af- 
1  front  upon  them  in  the  fevereft  manner,  fuppofing 
that  they  had  power  enough  in  their  commiflion  fo  to 
do  ;  and  yet  not  daring  to  attempt  it  without  his 
leave,  they  alked  him  to  permit  their  ordering- 
fire  from  heaven,  to  deftroy  thefe  abufive  wretches, 
in  like  manner  as  Elijah  did  of  old,  for  the  deftruc- 
tion  of  the  two  captains  and  their  fifties  that  came  to 
offer  violence  to  him  \ .      (2  Kings  i.  10,  12.) 

55  But 
NOTES. 
As  the  fame  of  Jefus  was  fprcad  a-  where  God  Should  be  worshipped  :  And 
mong  the  Samaritans,  on  account  of  therefore,  toil  of  all  1  -  fentnur-nt,  they 
what  he  had  formerly  done  in  their  coun-  would  by  no  means  entertain  him. 
try,  (j'obn  iv.)  and  he  was  lookt-d  upon  f  E!;jnh  did  this  in  Samaria,  very 
as  at  leaft  an  eminent  prophet;  they  were  near,  if  not  at  this  particular  place  ;  and 
provoked  to  think  thnt  he  lliould  go  to  this  might  probably  put  it  into  the  dif- 
"Jerufalem  at  this  time,  which  l'cems  to  ciples  heads  to  make  fuch  a  turiouij  mo- 
have  been  the  feafl  of  tabernacles,  {John  tion  now,  rather  than  at  any  other  time 
vii.  -2.)  and  Should  thereby  determine -di-  and  place  where  Chrift  had  received  like 
rectly  againft  them,  that  not  mount  affronts,  as  particularly  among  the  JSa* 
Cerizim,  bwt  Jcrvfulcvi  was  the  place    ^arencs  and  Gergefciies. 

Vol.  II.  P 


54  And  when 
his  difciples  James 
and  John  faw  this, 
they    laid,     Lord, 


heaven,  and  con- 
fume  them,  even  as 
Zlias  did  ? 


55  But  he  turn- 
ed, and  rebuked 
them,  and  laid,  Ye 
know  not  what 
manner  of  fpirit  ye 
are  of. 


The  EvangeUJl 


Chap.  ix* 


55  But  our  blefled  Lord  turned  quick  upon  them, 
and  fliarply  rebuked  them,  faying,  Alas  !  ye  do  not 
confider  what  fort  of  fpirit  it  is  that  would  pufh  you 
upon  thefe  cruel  meafures  ;  how  much  pafiion  and 
revenge,  pride,  and  affectation  of  temporal  power, 
mingle  with,  and  fecretly  govern,  your  love  and  zeal 
for  me  ;  nor  do  ye  confider  the  different  nature  and 
defign  of  the  difpenfations  then  and  now. 

56  For  the  Son  56  For  Elijah  was  the  minifter  of  the  law,  and 
of  man  is  not  c«me  came  tQ  djf  pi  j^  terrors  inft  the  horrjble  abomi_ 
io     tlcitrov     mens  *  *•  ^ 

lives    but  to  fave   nations  °*  thofe  days,  when  vain  idols  were  confulted, 

them.     And  they   and  fet  in  competition  with,  yea  preferred  to,  the  li- 
\vent    to    another   ving  and  true  God  :    This  was  high  treafon  againft. 
a»e*  Jehovah  as  Ifrae/'s  King,  as  well  as  flagrant  idolatry 

in  oppoiition  to  him  as  their  God  ;  and  it  was  fuita- 
ble  to  that  ftate  of  things,  and  to  the  terror  of  the 
mowwt-Sinai  difpenfation,  that  Elijah  fhould  have  a 
commiflion  for  bringing  fire  down  from  heaven,  to 
vindicate  the  authority  which  God  had  given  him, 
and  to  execute  vengeance  upon  them.  But  the  de- 
fign of  the  difpenfation  of  love  and  mercy  which  I, 
the  Mefiiah,  am  come  to  fet  up,  is  not  to  deftroy  ene- 
mies by  kindling  flames  of  wrath  to  confume  them,  but 
to  melt  and  win  upon  them  by  heaping  coals  of  a 
better  fort  of  fire  on  their  heads,  and  to  work  fuch 
miracles  for  the  eftablifhment  of  my  caufe  and  inte- 
reft,  as  are  not  of  the  .revengeful,  but  merciful  kind. 
,  And  having  faid  thefe  things  to  pacify  and  inftruft 
his  difciples,  he,  with  all  meeknefs,  turned  afide  with 
them  from  this  place,  and  went  to  another  town  or 
village,  whofe  inhabitants  might  not  be  fo  ftrongly 
prejudiced  againft  him. 

57  And  it  came  57  And  as  Jefus  and  his  difciples  ^'ere  walking 
fopafs,  that  as  they  together  *  in  the  road  to  Jerufalem,  where  the  Jews 
went  in  the  way  efted  thc  Meffiah  would  fet  up  his  throne,  and  ap- 
a  certain  man  laid  r  .  .  .  ,  .  r  .  .  .  rr 
unto  him  Lord.  I  Pear  in  ms  fe^01T>  a  certain  man  came  to  him,  and  01- 
will  follow  thee,  fered  his  fervice  to  attend  upon  him  wherever  he  went, 
uhitherfoeverthou  jn  hopes  of  getting  great  riches  and  honour  under  him. 
S  *■  ,  ,  .  58  But  Jefus,  knowing  the  carnal  defign  of  his 
faid  unto  him  neart,  faid  to  him,  I,  the  Meifiah,  am  fo  far  from 
Foxe»  have  holes,  coming  with  the  magnificence  of  a  prince,  to  fet.  up 
and    birds  of  the    a  temporal  kingdom,  that  I  have  not  fo  much  as  the 

conveniencies  which  are  afforded  even  to  the  foxes 
and  the  fowls  of  the  air,  who  have  their  places  of  a- 
bode  and  fafety,  retirement  and  reft  ;  whereas  1  have 
neither  houfe  nor  home  of  my  own,  nor  can  meet 
with  common  civility  in  my  travels  for  lodging  or  en- 
tertainment : 
••  NOTE. 

*  This  feems  not  to  refer  to  the  fame  cafe  that  is  mentioned  Matth.  viii.  ip. 

the  circumftances  of  place  and  time  being  different,   though  the  fubftance  of  the 

converfation  was  the  fame. 


air  have  nefts ; 
but  the  Son  of 
man  hath 
where  to  lay 
head. 


not 
his 


Chap.  ix. 


59  And  he  faid 
unto  another,  Fol- 
low me  :  But  he 
faid,  Lord,  fufrer 
me  firft  to  go  and 
bury  my  father. 


Co  Jefus  faid  un- 
to him,  Let  the 
dead  bury  their 
dead  ;  but  go  thou 
and  preach  the 
kingdom  of   God. 


Luke  pnraphrafed. 


6 1  Anil  another 
alio  faid,  Lord,  I 
will  follow  thee  ; 
but  let  me  firft  go 
'nd  them  farewell 
which  are  at  home 
at  my  houle. 


62  And  Jefus 
faid  unto  him,  No 
man  having  put 
his  hand  to  the 
plough,  and  look- 
ing back,  is  fit  for 
the  kingdom  of 
God. 


IO3 

tertainment  :  If  therefore  you  expect  great  things 
in  this  world  from  me,  you  will  meet  with  a  fad  dii- 
appointment. 

59  There  was  another  perfon,  to  whom  Chrift 
made  the  firft  motion,  faying,  Come  thou,  and  at- 
tend upon  me  and  my  fervice  ;  and  this  man  intima- 
ted that  he  would  readily  comply  with  his  command, 
only  he  begged  leave  to  defer  it  till  he  mould  have 
performed  the  laft  offices  of  duty  and  refpect  to  his 
father,  in  feeing  him  buried.  (See  the  note  on 
Matth.  viii.  21.) 

60  But  our  Lord,  who  will  admit  of  no  excufes 
or  delays,  nor  will  fuffer  any  to  indulge  them  when 
he  comes  to  work  effectually  upon  them,  replied,  It  is 
not  for  thofe  that  are  alive  unto  God,  and  are  called 
to  devote  themfelves  to  him,  to  put  off  my  fervice  for 
thefe  lower  concerns.  Let  them  who  are  *  dead  in 
fin,  and  dead  to  God,  by  a  diffolution  of  the  union 
which  originally  was  between  him  and  their  fouls,  at- 
tend to  the  bulinefs  of  burying  them  that  die  corpo- 
rally, by  a  diffolution  of  the  union  of  their  fouls  and 
bodies  :  I  infill  upon  your  going  immediately,  at  my 
call,  to  preach  the  gofpel  of  my  kingdom  for  the  fai- 
vation  of  loll  finners  ;  and  he  was  made  willing  in 
the  day  of  Chrift's  power,  without  any  further  ob- 
jection or  delay  f . 

61  And  there  was  a  third  perfon,  who  offered  to 
be  one  of  Chrift's  difciples,  and  a  preacher  of  his  gof- 
pel, faying,  Lord,  I  would  willingly  give  myfelf  up 
to  thee  and  thy  work,  only  let  me  firft  go  and  take 
a  decent  leave  of  my  relations  and  friends,  and  fettle 
the  affairs  of  my  family  at  home,  that  neither  my  re- 
putation nor  my  temporal  interefts  may  fuffer. 

62  But  (oe)  Jefus  replied,  in  a  way  of  fharp  rebuke 
to  him,  As  a  ploughman  muft  be  always  keeping  bis 
eye  forward  upon  his  work,  and  never  be  looking 
back,  or  elfe  his  hand  cannot  guide  the  plough  to 
make  regular  furrows  of  a  due  and  equal  depth  :  So 
no  perfon  who  takes  upon  him  to  be  my  difciple,  or 
to  preach  my  gofpel,  and  looks  wilhfully  back  to  the 
affairs  of  this  life,  as  if  he  were  loth  to  part  with 

P  2  them, 


N  O 
*  We  cannot  make  fenfe  of  this  paf- 
fage1,  without  fuppofing  that,  in  the  for- 
mer claufe,  our  bleffed  Lord  meant  per- 
ions  who  were  fpiritually  or  morally  dead, 
according  to  Eph.  ii.  1,  5.  Col.  ii.  13.  and 
1  Tim.  v.  6.  And  this  inftance  plainly 
mews,  that  the  fcripture-noti&n  of  this 
fort  of  death  is  not  to  be  confined  to  the 
Gejttilcs,  as  if  it  related  oi.'v  to  their  de- 


T    E. 

plorable  cqndition  as  fuch  ;  for  the  per- 
sons here  fpoken  of  were  Jentis. 

f  Chrift  ordering  him  to  go,  and  r.o 
more  being  faid  of  this  man's  continuing 
to  object  againft  it,  intimates,  that  his 
heart  was  o\ercomc  by  grace,  imd  thar 
he  no  longer  infifted  on  his  former  es 


104  tte  Evangeli/l  Chap.  x. 

them,  can  be  a  meet  fubject  for  my  kingdom,  nor 
fit  to  be  engaged  in  its  fervice. 

RECOLLECTIONS. 

With  what  authority  does  Chrift  commiffion  his  fervants  to  preach  the  gofpel ; 
and  with  what  iaithtulnefs  Ihould  they  attend  to  their  work,  as  knowing  that  they 
mud  give  an  account  to  him  of  all  their  behaviour  in  it !  And  oh  how  much  will 
it  be  to  the  joy  or  grief  of  their  hearers,  according  as  they  either  receive  or  reject 
them  and  their  Lord  !  Happy  are  they  who  are  not  aihamed  to  own  Chrift,  what- 
soever in  fte  rings  or  reproaches  they  may  meet  with  for  it;  but  fuch  as  are  aihamed 
of  him,  his  truths  and  ways,  fiiali  be  diiowned  by  him,  to  their  utter  confufion,  and 
to  the  everlafting  lets  of  their  own  fouls,  which  can  never  be  compenfated  by  the 
greater!  affluence  of  the  good  things  of  this  world. — O  the  traufporting  pleafure  of 
the  divine  prefence  !  It  is  good  for  us  to  be  there :  The  weaknefs  of  human  nature, 
in  its  preient  ftate,  would  indeed  loon  be  overfet  with  its  brighteft  manifeftations  on 
earth  ;  but  it  admits  of  lively  emblems  of  what  will  be  feen  in  heaven,  where  all 
the  faints  fliall  appear  with  Chrift  in  glory,  and  fhine  in  robes  of  light  like  him. 
In  the  mean  whiie,  all  that  we  do  in  religion  muft  be  under  his  direction  and 
command,  and  all  our  hopes  toward  God  muft  be  only  hi  and  through  him,  in 
*.vhom  his  Father  is  wil  pleafed.  Our  Lord  obferves  whether  we  have  any  true 
faith  in  him,  and  to  what  degree  it  prevails  in  us;  what  the  difputes  are  which 
we  raoft  eagerly  go  into,  and  what  manner  of  fpirit  we  are  of:  And  O  how  great 
are  the  defects,  prejudices,  pride,  and  pailion,  that  remain  with  his  own  difciplesi 
He  highly  difapproves  of  tnefe  things ;  but  with  what  affectionj  tendernefs,  and 
applaufe  does  he  treat  meek  and  humble  fouls '.  And  how  wonderful  is  his  conde- 
fcenfion  and  grace  to  finners.  in  bearing  with  them,  in  having  refolutely  under- 
gone the  greateft  fufferings  for  them,  and  in  taking  the  moft  endearing  methods  to 
overcome  them!  and  jet  upon  what  unworthy  pretences  do  they  reject  him,  or 
excufe  themfelves  from  embracing  him'.  But  whoever  once  begins  to  profeis  his 
name,  or  engage  in  his  work,  fiiould  perfift  therein,  and  never  look  back  with  an 
hankering  and  mfnaring  affection  to  the  bufmefs,  pleafiu  es.  or  honours  of  this  pre- 
sent life,  as  ever  he  would  fhare  in  the  bleihngs  and  glories  of  Chrift's  kingdom 
here,  and  for  ever  hereafter. 


CHAP.      X. 

Chrifls  conwiijjion  to  the  Seventy ,  I, — 16.  His  difcourfe  to  them, 
and  thank/giving  to  his  Father  on  their  return^  17, — 24.  His 
difcourfe  with  a  lawyer  about  the  way  of  attaining  eternal  life, 
25, — 37.  His  reproof  of  Martha,  and  commendation  of  Mary, 
38,-42. 

Text,  Paraphrase. 

A1"1,1?      the}fe  A  S  out  Lord  had  about  a  year  before  fent  forth 

Lord'awomted'o!  ^   twelve  apoftles  ;    {chaf>.\i.  13.    fee    the    note 

ther   feventy  alfo,  there)    lo    he   fent  out  feventy  other  difciples  with 

and  fent  them  two  the  like  commiffion,  anfwerable  to  the  feventy  elders 

and  two  before  his  0f  Jfrae^  who    were    partakers    of  the   fame    fpirit 

face  .nto  every  city,  ^j^  w?g  u           M   ^       t$      b%  xi>          \    A   d    ha_ 

and  place,  whither  .          .     r      r,     r            rrn    \              ni         f   '  r          \ 

he  himfelf  would  ving  ehoien  tiiele  to  aihit  the  apoitles,  he  lent  them 

come.  likewife  by  pairs,  to  go,  as  his  harbingers,  to  every 

town  and  city  of  the  Jews,    to  which  he  himfelT  de- 
figned  afterwards  to  follow  them. 
9;  Therefore  faid        2  And  as  he  had  a  great  harveft  of  fouls  to  gather 


Chap,  x. 

be  unto  them,  The 
harveft  truly  is 
great,  but  the  la- 
bourers are  few : 
pray  ye  therefore 
the  Lord  of  *  the 
harveft,  that  be 
would  fend  forth 
labourers  into  his 
harveft. 


3  Go  your  ways: 
Behold,  I  lend  you 
iorth  as  lambs  a- 
mong  wolves. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


10 


4  Carry  neither 
ijurfe,  norfcrip,  nor 
Jhoes:  andl'aluteno 
man  by  the  way. 


z  And  into  what- 
.oever  home  ye  en- 
ter, firft  fay,  Peace 
be  to  this  houfe. 

6  And  if  the  Ton 
of  peace  be  there, 
your  peace  mall 
reft  upon  it;  if  not, 
it  fhall  turn  to  you 
again. . 


7    And    in    the 
lame  houfe  remain, 
eating  and  drink- 
ing luch  things  as 
they 


jn  to  himfelf,  by  means  of  the  gofpel,  firft  among 
the  Jffips,  and  afterwards  among  the  Gen'ues  \  he 
intimated,  that,  notwithstanding  this  addition  of  fe- 
venty  to  the  twelve,  the  number  of  hands  would  ftill 
be  very  fmall,  compared  with  what  there  would  be 
occafion  for  ;  and  therefore  ordered  them,  as  iic  had 
his  difciples  before,  ( Ivlattb.  ix.  38.  fee  the  note 
there)  to  apply  earneftly  to  the  great  Lord  and  Pro- 
prietor of  the  harveit,  that  he  would  add  ftill  abun- 
dance of  others,  who  mould  be  ikilful,  faithful,  and 
laborious  preachers  of  the  gofpel. 

3  And,  fays  he,  go  ye  forth,  for  the  prefent,  to 
the  work  to  which  I  have  called  you  :  Obferve  who 
has  fent  you,  and  what  fort  of  people  I  tell  you  be- 
forehand ye  will  meet  with  :  I  have  given  you  your 
warrant,  and  will  afford  you  all  needful  protection 
and  afiiftance,  amidft  the  great  dangers  and  difcou- 
ragements  ye  will  be  expoied  to,  and  unable  to  de- 
fend- yourfelves  againft  ;  while  ye,  like  timorous  and 
helplefs,  as  well  as  meek  and  inoffeiiiive  lambs,  will 
be  call  dvmong  enemies,  who,  like  crafty  and  cruel, 
violent,  and  furious  wolves,  are  feeking  tp  harafs  and 
deftroy  you. 

4  Commit  yourfelves  by  faith  to  the  care  of  divine 
Providence,  for  a  fupply  cf  fuch  neceffaries  of  life  as 
ye  may  have  occafion  for  :  And,  in  confidence  that 
God  will  raife  up  friends  to  mew  you  kindnefs,  do 
not  trouble  yourfelves  about  carrying  with  ycu  mo- 
ney, or  food,  or  any  other  conveniencies,  nc,  not 
fo  much  as  a  pair  of  ilioes,  more  than  ye  have  on  your 
feet :  And  apply  yourfelves  fo  diligently  to  your  maift 
work,  as  to  lofe  no  time  in  exchanging  compliments, 
or  entering  into  unnecelfary  difcourfe  with  any  whom, 
ye  may  meet  with  in  your  way. 

5  And  whenever  ye  go  into  any  houfe  for  entertain- 
ment, exprefs  your  hearty  concern  at  your  entrance 
into  it,  for  the  profperity  of  all  who  dwell  there,  beg- 
ging that  God  would  abundantly  blefs  them. 

6  If  there  are  any  who  hereupon  fliew  a  friendly 
difpofition  towrard  you,  a  defire  of  peace  with  God, 
and  a  willingnefs  to  receive  the  gofpel  of  peace,  they 
fhall  be  bleffed  in  anfwer  to  your  prayers  for  them  : 
But  if  they  difcover  an  obltinate  and  prejudiced  fpirit 
againft  you  and  the  gofpel  of  falvation,  relating  to  the 
way  of  obtaining  favour  with  God  ;  though  your 
prayer  may  not  be  anfwered  for  them,  it  fhall  return 
with  double  bleffings  upon  your  own  heads. 

7  And  take  up  your  abode  in  the  firft  family  that 
ye  go  into,  and  find  difpofed  to  entertain  you,  courte- 
oufly  accepting  fuch  provilion  as  it  affords,  though  it 
be  the  meaneft  fare,  and  freely  eating  and  drinking 

what 


i°5 

they  give  ;  for  the 
labourer  is  worthy 
of  his  hire.  Go. 
r.ot  from  houfe  to 
bor.ie. 


The  Evangetift 


Chap.  x. 


S  And  .  into 
-whatfoever  city  ye 
enter,  and  they  re- 
ceive you,  eat  fuch 
things  as  are  fet be- 
fore vou. 


0  And  heal  the 
fick  that  are  there- 
in, and  fay  unto 
them,  The  king- 
dom of  God  is  come 
aigh  unto  you. 


to  But  intoA 
what  foe  ver  city  ye 
enter,  and  they  re- 
ceive you  not,  go 
your  ways  out  in- 
to the  ftreets  of  the 
fame,   and  fay, 

1 1  Even  the 
very  duft  of  your 
city,  which  clea- 
veth  on  us,  we  do 
wipe  off  againft 
vou  :  notwith- 
standing, be  ye 
furc  of.  this,  that 
the  kingdom  of 
God  is  come  nigh 
unto  you. 


12  But  I  fay  un- 
to you,  that  ltfhall 
be 


what  they  fet  before  you,  without  any  uneafmefs  in 
your  own  minds,  as  if  ye  were  a  burden  to  them  : 
For  as  the  labouring  man  has  a  lawful  right  to  his 
wages ;  fo,  while  ye  are  employed  in  the  fervice  of 
their  fouls,  ye  have  a  juft  claim  to  fuflenance  for 
your  bodies,  and  fo  every  one  will  think  who  receives 
any  fpiritual  benefit  by  your  labours  :  Do  not  there- 
fore fhift  your  quarters  while  ye  have  any  work  to 
do  in  the  neighbourhood,  that  ye  may  not  feem  to 
be  fickle  or  pamperers  of  your  appetites,  nor  lofe  the 
opportunity  of  eiiablifhing  friendfhip  with  your  firft 
acquaintance  there. 

8  In  like  manner,  whatfoever  town  or  city  ye  go 
to,  if  its  inhabitants  fhew  any  difpofitions  to  hear 
your  meffage,  and  to  entertain  you  among  them,  do 
not  be  nice  or  curious  about  what  fort  of  food  they 
offer  you,  or  in  inquiries  whether  it  be  ceremonially 
clean  or  not ;  but  eat  heartily,  like  perfons  pleafed 
with  your  fare. 

9  And  in  return  for  their  civilities,  as  well  as  in 
confirmation  of  the  divine  authority  of.the  commiflion 
which  I  have  given  you,  fet  yourfelves  to  heal  their 
fick,  by  miracles  wrought  in  my  name  ;  and  while  ye 
are  doing  fuch  kind  and  endearing  works  among  them, 
tell  them  that  the  kingdom  of  the  Mefliah,  with  all 
its  rich  and  glorious  bleflings,  is  brought  near  to  them 
in  the  gofpel,  which  ye  are  fent  to  preach,  as  his  har- 
bingers, who  will  foon  follow  you  thither,  and  ap- 
pear in  perfon  to  receive  all  that  come  to  him. 

i  o  But  if  ye  go  into  any  town  to  perform  rnira* 
cles,  and  preach  my  word  there,  and  the  people  re- 
folutely  fet  themfelves  againfl  you,  and  will  by  n© 
means  fuffcr  you  to  go  on  with  your  work,  with- 
draw from  thence  ;  and  as  ye  pafs  along  the  llreets, 
enter  a  folemn  and  public  protefl  againfl  them,  faying, 

1 1  We  fhake  off  the  very  duft  of  your  city,  which 
flicks  to  our  feet,  in  token  of  God's  abhorring  and 
rejecting  you,  and  of  our  leaving  you  to  his  righte- 
ous judgment,  for  your  obflinately  and  malicioufly  re- 
jecting the  means  of  grace  which  we  were  fent  to 
bring  to  you  :  But,  at  the  fame  time,  charge  it  upon 
them  to  reflect  upon  the  dreadful  confequences  of 
their  defpifing  this  great  mercy  ;  iince  they  fliall  cer- 
tainly one  day  know,  that  the  gracious  difpenfation 
by  the  long-expected  Mefliah,  was  at  lafl  brought  to 
their  vet*}'-  doors,  and  freely  tendered  to  them  ;  and 
that  there  can  be  no  other  remedy  for  them,  but  that 
they  muft  inevitably  perifh,  with  a  vengeance,  for  their 
wilfully  rejecting  it. 

12  And  I  allure  you,  their  incorrigible  wicked- 
nefs  and  infidelity  mail  be  fo  far  from  going  unpu- 

n:.liedj 


Chap.  x. 

be  more  tolerable 
in  that  day  for  So- 
dom, than  for  that 
city. 


13  Wo  unto  thee 
Chorazin  !  wo  un- 
to thee  Bethfaida  ! 
for  if  the  mighty 
works  had  been 
done  in  Tyre  and 
Sidon,  which  have 
been  done  in  you, 
they  had  a  great 
while  ago  repented, 
fitting  in  fackcloth 
and  allies. 


14  But  it  fliall 
be  more  tolerable 
for  Tyre  and  Sidon 
at  the  judgment, 
than  for  you. 

15  And  thou, 
Capernaum,  which 
art  exalted  to  hea- 
ven, fhalt  be  thruft 
down  to  hell. 


16  He  thathear- 
eth  you,,  heareth 
me  :  and  be  that 
defpifeth  you,  de- 
fpifeth me :  and 
he  that  defpifeth 
me,  defpifeth  him 
that  lent  mc. 


17   \nd  the  fe- 
venty 


Luke  paraphrafed.  107 

niflled,  that  the  deftru£tion  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrha, 
by  fire  and  brimftone  from  heaven,  (hall  be  found,  in 
the  day  of  judgment,  to  have  been  incomparably  lefr, 
terrible  than  that  which  mail  be  brought  upon  them ; 
and  the  guilt  and  miferies  of  the  notorioully  wicked 
inhabitants  of  thofe  ancient  cities  fliall  be  far  lefs,  in 
that  day,  than  thefe  obftinate  refufers  of  gofpcl-light 
and  grace  mail  then  be  loaded  with. 

13  On  this  occaiion  our  Lord  faid,  The  greateft 
of  all  woes  hangs  over  your  heads,  ye  impenitent  and 
unbelieving  inhabitants  of  Chorazin  and  Belhfaida? 
who  have  been  molt  remarkably  favoured  with  endear- 
ing means  of  grace,  and  yet  have  (hut  your  ears  and 
hearts  againft  them:  For  if  the  impious  heathen  cities 
of  Tyre  and  Sidon  themfelves  had  been  indulged  with 
fo  clear  a  revelation  of  Chrift,  and  fuch  numerous  un- 
questionable miracles  to  confirm  his  divine  authority, 
as  have  been  vouchfafed  to  you  ;  it  is  highly  proba- 
ble, that  even  they  would  long  ere  now  have  yielded 
to  conviction,  and  expreffed  their  humiliation  and  re- 
pentance in  the  moll  affecting  tokens,  like  perfons 
who  cover  themfelves,  in  days  of  the  deepeft  mourn- 
ing, with  fackcloth  and  allies.  (See  the  note  on 
Matlh.  xi.  21.) 

14  But  your  guilt  is  fo  highly  aggravated,  that 
when  God  mall  come  to  execute  vengeance  in  the 
great  day  of  account,  it  mall  fare  better  with  the 
people  of  Tyre  and  Sidon  than  with  you. 

15  And  as  for  thee,  O  Capernaum,  who  haft  been, 
as  it  were,  my  head-quarters  where  I  have  chiefly  re-. 
fided,  preached,  and  performed  miraculous  works, 
and  who  haft  been  exalted  in  gofpel-privileges  to  the 
very  gates  of  heaven,  and  art  now  proud  and  prof- 
perous  ;  thou  (halt  be  call  down  from  all  thy  riches, 
privileges,  and  glory,  and  thy  inhabitants  fliall  be 
preffed,  by  the  heavieft  weight  of  God's  wrath,  to 
the  very  loweft  and  hotteft  place  in  hell. 

1 6  However,  Jefus,  to  encourage  the  feventy  dif- 
ciples  in  preaching  the  gcfpel,  wherever  they  could 
get  opportunity  for  it,  intimated,  that  their  labour 
mould  not  be  altogether  in  vain ;  but  that  they  fhouid 
be  owned  and  honoured  among  many,  '  whatsoever 
might  be  the  event  as  to  others ;  faying,  He  who  at- 
tends to  you,  and  heartily  embraces  your  menage, 
does  in  effect  pay  all  that  refpeet  to  me  ;  but  he  wh» 
flights  and  rejects  you,  and  your  preaching,  in  my 
name,  thereby,  in  reality,  mews  the  grcateft  disre- 
gard to  me  ;  and  he  who  treats  me  with  negligence 
and  fcorn,  pours  all  that  contempt  upon  my  heaven- 
ly Father  himfelf,  who  fent  me. 

17  Upon  this  warrant,  and  thefe  encouragements, 

the 


IC8 

verity  returned  a- 
gUin  with  H>y,  lay- 
ing, Lord,  even 
the  Jeviis  are 
f abject '  unto  us 
through  thy  name. 


The  Evange/i/l 


Chap. 


x. 


lS  And  he  faid 
un':o  them,  I  be- 
held Satan  as 
lightning  Fall  from 
heaven. 


the  Seventy  fet  out  for  their  journey,  to  execute 
Chr ill's  commiflion  in  feveral  towns  and  cities  where 
they  could  meet  with  any  favourable  reception :  And, 
after  fome  time,  they  returned  to  give  an  account  of 
what  they  had  done  ;  and  having  fucceeded  beyond 
their  own  expectation,  all  the  fatigues,  hardfhips, 
difcouragements,  and  dangers  they  met  with,  were  as 
nothing  to  them  ;  but  their  hearts  were  wonderfully 
lifted  up,  and  they  fpoke  to  Chrift  with  a  fort  of  joy- 
ful furprife  *,  faying,  Lord,  we  have  not  only  heal- 
ed diieafes  in  confirmation  of  the  doctrine  we  preach- 
ed, but  have  even  been  enabled  to  caft  out  devils  in 
thy  name  ;  fo  that  nothing  can  Hand  before  thy 
power  which  has  been  with  us,  and  has  fubje&ed 
them  to  us. 

1 8  Jefus  replied,  This  is  no  more  than  I  knew 
beforehand  :  For  when  I  fent  you  forth  to  preach 
the  gofpel,  and  confirm  it  with  miracles,  I  faw  the 
forces  of  hell  falling  before  you  all  on  a  fudden,  like 
lightning,  which  darts  down  in  an  inftant  from  hea- 
ven ;  and  this  is  but  the  prefage  and  beginning  of  the 
fpeedy  triumphs  that  my  gofpel  fhall  make,  with  an 
amazing  fpread  over  the  whole  kingdom  of  darknefs, 
in  turning  the  hearts  of  finners  from  the  power  of  Sa- 
tan to  God. 

19  And  in  order  to  the  further  advancement  of 
this  great  end,  behold  I  now  renew  and  enlarge  my 
former  commiflion,  and  give  you  power,  through  my 
name,  to  fubdue  and  triumph  over  your  grand  adver- 
fary  the  devil,  and  all  hi6  inftruments,  who  are  as 
fubtle  and  mifchievous  as  ferpents  and  fcorpions  ;  and 
over  all  forts  of  venomous  creatures  f ,  that  none  of 
them  may  be  able  to  do  you  any  harm. 

20  Neverthelefs,  that  they  might  not  over-value 
ftanding  in  this  re-  thcmfelves  upon  the  powers  they  had  already  exerci- 
joice  not'  thaJ.tll5    fed,   and  now  further  received,    he  added  this  graci- 

ous  caution,  Let  not  your  rejoicing  terminate  here, 
nor  let  it  be  your  chief  joy,  that  evil  fpirits  them- 
felves  are  put  into  fubjection  to  you,  and  are  difpof- 
fefled  by  the  authority  which  I  have  given  you;  for 
all  this  honour  might  be  conferred  upon  you  for  pro- 
moting my  caufe  and  kingdom  in  the  world,  and  yc 
yourfelves  might,  notwithstanding,  eternally  perifh  : 
But  exult  and  triumph  principally  in  this,  that  ye  are 

en- 
N     O    T  '  E     S. 


19  Behold,  I 
give  unto  you 
power  to  tread  on 
ferpents  and  fcor- 
pions, and  over  all 
the  power  of  the 
enemy ;  and  no- 
thing fhall  by  any 
means  hurt  you. 

20  Notwith- 


lpirits  are  fubject 
unto  you  :  but  ra- 
iher  rejoice,  be 
1  uui'e  your  names 
ar<  written  in  hea- 
ven. 


xci.  13.  ;  and  this  M'as  literally  fulfilled, 
Ads  xxviii.  3,  5.  And  the  power  Chrift: 
here  gave  to  the  Seventy  againft  Satan 
and  all  his  inftruments.  was  a  remark- 
able inftance  of  God's  fulfilling  the  firft 
promile,  Gen.  iii.  15.  that  the  feed  of  the 
j  Here  feems  to  be  an  allufion  to  P/al.  woman  fliould  braile,  the  ferpent's  head. 


*  Thtfir  joy  ieemed  to  be  with  a  mix- 

• ..'ire  of  furprife,  becaufe  this  power  was 

than,   as  far  as  appears,  Chrift  had 

cxprefsly  mentioned  in  their  commiflion, 


Chap.  x. 


Luke  paraphrafcd. 


log 


tx  In  that  hour 
Jefus  rejoiced  in 
fpirit,  and  faid,  I 
thank  thee,  O  Fa- 
ther, Lord  of  hea- 
ven and  earth, 
that  thou  haft  hid 


thv  fight. 


enrolled  in  heaven,  among  the  chofen  and  called  of 
God,  as  perfons  whole  names  were  written  in  the 
book  of  life,  from  the  foundation  of  the  world,  (  Rev. 
xvii.  8.)  and  who  fhall  be  adjudged  and  received  to 
the  everlafting  inheritance. 

21  While  Jefus  was  thus  directing  his  difciples  to 
rejoice,  above  all  things  elfe,  in  God's  free  favour 
and  love,  relating  to  their  eternal  falvation,  his  own 
heart  was  fo  exceedingly  delighted  with  this  thought, 
that  (nyuXXiairccTo  ra  nvivpccTi)  it  even  leaped  for  joy ; 
and,  in  holy  rapture,  he  faid,  I  adore  and  blefs  thee, 
theie  things  from  O  my  Father,  thou  great  Proprietor,  Difpofer,  and 
the  wife  and  pru-    Governor  of  all  perfons  and  things  in  heaven  and  earth, 

vealed^thein  unto    tnat  wn^e  thou  ha^  feen  nt   to  *  *eave   men   °*"  PartS 
babes :    even    fo,    and  learning  to  their  own  wilful  blindnefs  and  preju- 
Father,    for  fo   it    dices,  which  hinder  their  difcerning  the  truth,  excel- 
feemed^good     in   ience>    and  importance  of  what  they  have  heard  con- 
cerning the  myfteries  of  thy  kingdom  ;    thou  haft, 
neverthelefs,  in  the  riches  of  thy  grace,  and  to  fet  it 
off  with  the  more  advantage,  freely  difcovered  them, 
by  thy  Spirit,  to  perfons  of  low  capacity  and  mean 
figure  in  the  world,    and  hail  opened  their  hearts  to 
embrace  them  :    This  is  the  way  which  thine  infinite 
wifdom  and  good  pleaiure  have  taken  to  glorify  thy- 
felf  in  their  falvation,   and  it  highly  becometh  thy 
.  greatnefs  and  goodnefs  to  difpofe  of  thine  own  free 
favours  in  a  fovereign  manner. 
•22    All    things      v22    And,    to  fhew  his  own  full  concurrence  with 
are  delivered  to  me   his  Father  herein,  he  immediately  added,  As  univer- 
cf  my  Father:  and   fal  dominion,  fo  ail  the  perfons  whofe  names  are  writ- 
ten in  heaven,    and  all  things  defiVned  of  God  to  be 
revealed  and  communicated  to  them,  are  committed  to 
my  management  in  my  office-capacity  :   And  there  is, 
fuch  an  entire  intimacy  and  harmony  between   the 
Father  and  Son  in  their  knowledge  of  one  another, 
that  none,    but  the  Father  is  thoroughly  acquainted 
with  the  nature  and  will,    defign  and  work  of  the 
Son  ;  nor  does  any  one  underiland  what  thefe  things 
are  in  the  Father,  except  the  Son,  and  fuch  other 
perfons  as,  in  their  meafure,  receive  them  by  revelation 
from  him,  whofe  fovereignty  in  revealing  them  is  an- 
fwerable  to  that  of  his  Father  in  his  eternal  purpofes 
about  them. 

23  Then,  turning  to  his  difciples,  he  pronounced 
them  bleffed,  becaufe  he  had  made  them  fo,  faying 
to  them  in  private,    Ye  are  happy  creatures  indeed, 

who 
N     O 
*  Chrift  rejoiced  not  in  the  3eftf  uifbion 
of  the  wife  and  prudent;    but  in  the  dif- 
play  of  l he  riches,   freenefs,   and  fove- 
reignty of  God's  grace  to  others,  in  fuch 
Vol.  IT.  Q__ 


no  man  knoweth 
who  the  Son  is, 
but  the  Father; 
and  who  the  Fa- 
ther is,  but  the 
Son,  and  he  to 
whom  the  Son 
will  reveal  him. 


•23  And  he  turn- 
ed   him    unto  his 
difciples,    and  faid 
privately,     Blefft  d 
are 


T     E. 

a  manner  as  referves  to  him  the  entir- 
glory  of  our  falvation,  and  hides  pride 
from  the  eves  of  man. 


TIC 

are  the  eyes  which 
fee  the  things  that 
ye  fee. 


24  For  I  tell 
you,  that  many 
prophets  and  kin 5s 
have  defirecl  to  fee 
thofe  things  which 
3*e  fee,  and  have 
not  feen  them ;  and 
to  hear  thofe  things 
which  ye  heal",  and 
have  not  heard 
them. 


25  And  behold, 
a  certain  lawyer 
ftood  up,  and 
tempted  him,  fay- 
ing, Matter,  what 
fhall  I  do  to  inhe- 
rit eternal  life  ? 


26  He  faid  unto 
him,  What  is  writ- 
ten in  the  law,  hew 
readeft  thou  ? 


27  And  he  an- 
fwering  faid,  Thou 
lhalt  love  the  Lord 
thy  God  with  all 
thy  heart,  and  with 
all  thy  foul,  and 
with  all  thy 
ftrength,  and  with 
all  thy  mind  ;  and 
thy  neighbour  as 
thyfelf. 

28  And  he  faid 
unto  him,  Thou' 
haft  anfwered 
right ;  this  da,  and 
thou  fhalt  live. 


29  But  Ire,  wil- 
ling to  juftify  him- 
(eli,  faid  unto  Je- 
* i is,  And  who  is 
my  neighbour  ? 


The  Evan^eltfl 


Chap.  x. 


who  fee  the  Mefiiah  appearing  in  the  flefh,  and  fet- 
ting  up  his  kingdom  in  the  world  ;  and  who  know 
thefe  important  things  {or  yourfelves,  having  been  af- 
fured  from  my'wn  mouth  that  your  names  are  writ- 
ten in  heaven,   (yer.  20.) 

24  For  I  affure  you,  that  many  prophets,  holy 
men,  and  kings  of  Ifrae/,  who  were  beloved  of  God, 
and  eminent  for  their  religion,  longed  to  fee  the  glo- 
rious light,  privileges,  and  bleflings  of  the  Mefiiah's 
kingdom,  and  to  fhare  in  them  ;  but  were  never  in- 
dulged with  this  favour,  as  ye  are  :  And  they  would 
have  been  glad  to  hear  the  bleffed  tidings  of  falvation, 
with  that  clearnefs,  pleafure,  and  advantage,  as  y£ 
have  heard  them,  but  never  obtained  this  defire  of 
their  hearts.  Thefe  things  were  hid  from  ages  and 
generations  pail,  in  comparifon  with  the  plain  difco- 
veries  which  are  now  made  to  you. 

25  At  another  time,  there  was  a  remarkable  con- 
verfation  between  our  Lord  and  a  certain  fcribe  : 
This  man  came  to  Jefus  with  a  delign,  ifpoflible,  to 
pofe  him,  or  get  fome  advantage  againft  him,  fay- 
ing, Mailer,  as  vou  profefs  to  teach  the  way  to  eter- 
nal life,  pray  what  is  neceffary  for  me  or  any  other 
man  to  do  to  obtain  it  ? 

26  Jefus  knowing  the  captious  temper  with  which 
he  put  this  queftion,  replied,  Since  you  are  a  profef- 
fed  interpreter  of  the  law,  and  expecl  falvation  by  it, 
what  do  you  fay  are  the  terms  which  it  propofes  for 
life  ?  What  do  ycu  read  there  about  it,  and  how  do 
you  understand  the  matter  ? 

2  7  The  fcribe  readily  anfwered,  What  the  law  in- 
fifts  on  as  the  condition  of  life,  is  fummarily  compre- 
hended in  loving  the  Lord  our  God  fupremely,  unre- 
fervedly,  and  conftantly,  with  the  united  concurrence 
of  all  the  faculties  of  the  foul  ;  and  in  bearing  fuch  a 
fmcere  good-will  to  our  neighbour,  as  to  make  the 
love  of  ourfelves  the  rule  or  meafure  of  our  difpofi- 
tions  and  behaviour  to  him,  fuppofing  he  were  in  our 
circumflances,  and  we  in  his. 

28  Jefus  owning  this  to  be  a  juil  fummary  o£what 
the  moral  law  requires,  and  designing  to  convince  the 
fcribe  of  his  own  defects,  replied,  Thefe  are  indeed 
the  demands  of  the  law  for  juftirication  and  falvation  : 
See  then  that  you  fully  come  up  to  all  this,  in  your 
duty  to  God  and  your  neighbour;  and,  on  that  con- 
dition, you  mail  inherit  eternal  life. 

29  But  the  fcribe  being  defirous  to  fhift  off  con- 
viction, and  fupport  a  good  opinion  of  himfelf,  flip- 
ped over  what  related  to  the  love  of  God,  and  afked 
what  was  meant  by  our  neighbour  ;  imagining ;  that 
it  fignified  only  one's  friends  and  acquaintance,  or  per- 

£biie 


Chap.  x. 


30  And  Jefus  an- 
fwering,  laid,  A 
certain  man  went 
down  from  Jerufa- 
lem  to  Jericho,  and 
f»ll  among  thieves ; 
which  ftripped  him 
of  his  raiment,  and 
wounded  him,  and 
departed,  leaving 
him  half-dead. 

31  And  by 
chance  there  came 
down  a  certain 
prieft:  that  way, 
and  when  he  faw 
him  he  patted  by 
on  the  other  fide. 


3  a  And  like  wife 
a  Levite,  when  he 
was  at  the  place, 
came  and  looked 
on  him,  and  paffed 
by  on  the  other 
fide.  - 


33  But  a  certain 
Samaritan,  as  he 
journeyed,  came 
where  he  was :  and 
when  he  faw  him, 
he  had  companion 
on  him. 


34  And  went  to 
him,  and  bound  up 
his  wounds,  pour- 
ing in  oil  and  wine, 
and  let  him  on  his 
own  beaft,  and 
brought 


Luke  paraphrafed.  in 

fons  of  the  fame  country  and  religion,  «id  that  a  juft 
and  kind  behaviour  toward  fuch,  fufficiently  anfwered 
this  demand  of  the  law. 

30  Then  Jefus  replied,  You  may  form  a  good  no- 
tion of  what  the  wbrd  neighbour  imports,  by  the  fol- 
lowing reprefentation  of  a  fuppofed  cafe  :  A  certain 
Jew ,  travelling  from  Jerufalem  to  *  Jericho,  fell  in- 
to the  hands  of  wicked  men,  who  having  robbed, 
ftripped,  wounded,  -and  barbaroufly  abufed  him,  left 
him  wallowing  in  his  blood,  and  almoft  dead. 

31  Now  Providence  fo  ordered  it,  that  the  firft 
perfon  who  paffed  that  way  was  a  certain  prieft,  whole 
profefiion  and  public  character  ought  to  have  enga- 
ged him  to  ihew  the  utmoft  tendernefs,  compaffion, 
and  care,  toward  this  poor,  miferable,  helplefs,  and 
perifhing  object,  efpecially  he  being  one  of  his  own 
religion  and  nation  ;  and  yet?  as  foon  as  he  faw  him, 
he  turned  off  to  the  other  iide  of  the  road,  and  pur- 
fued  his  journey  without  doing  any  thing  toward  his 
relief. 

32  The  next  that  came  was  a  Levite  f ,  whofe  office 
and  profefiion  likewife,  one  would  have  thought, 
might  have  moved  his  compaffion  toward  fo  diftreffed 
a  countryman  and  brother  ;  and  yet  he  hardened  hie 
heart  againft  him,  and  only  juft  looking  upon  him  to 
gratify  his  curiofvty,  paffed  by  at  a  diftance  on  the 
other  fide  of  the  way,  without  giving  himfelf  any 
trouble,  or  being  at  one  farthing's  charge  to  help  him. 

33  But  at  length  a  certain  Samaritan,  travelling 
on  that  road,  came  to  the  place  where  he  lay  :  And 
though  the  enmity  between  that  people  and  the  Jews, 
has  been  fo  extremely  great,  by  means  of  their  fre- 
quent bitter  quarrels  about  religious  and  civil  con- 
cerns, (fee  the  note  on  John  iv.  9.)  yet,  as  fcon  as 
this  Samaritan  faw  the  poor  Jewijh ^  ftranger  in  al) 
his  dillrefs,  his  eye  moved  his  heart  into  compaffion 
toward  him  : 

34  And,  going  up  to  him,  he  wafhed,  fuppled, 
and  dreffed  his  wounds  in  the  beft  manner  he  could  ; 
and  then,  helping  him  to  mount  his  own  beaft,  he 
carried  him  to  a  public  houfe,  where  he  might  have 
better  afiiftance,  and  took  care  that  all  proper  means 

Q^2  might 

NOTES. 

quented  by  pviefts  and  Levites,   and  in- 
fefted  with  thieves. 

f  By  Levites  were  principally  meant 
fuch  dependents  of  Levi  as  were  em- 
ployed in  the  lower  offices  of  the  tempiev 
in  fubordination  to  the  priefts,  who,  like- 
wifc,  being  of  the  family  of  Aaron,  de- 
fended from  Uevi  by  Kdbctth,  *  Chron. 
XJciii.  C, — 12. 


*  Jericho  was  in  the  tribe  of  Benja- 
min, about  eighteen  or  nineteen  miles 
eafterly  from  Jentfalem ;  and  cJe<wijh 
writers  tell  us,  that  about  twelve  thou- 
fand  ftationary  priefts  and  Levites  dwelt 
there,  who  ufed  to  attend  the  fervice  of 
the  temple.  The  road  therefore  between 
thofe  two  cities,  which  lay  through  de- 
fart  and  rocky  places,  was  anii ' 


112 


The  Evangelijl 


Chap.  x. 


brought  him  to  an 
inn,  and  took  care 
of  him. 

35  And  on  the 
morrow,  when  he 
departed,  he  took 
out  two-pence,  and 
gave  thtm  to  the 
hoft,  and  laid  unto 
him,  Take  care  of 


might  be  ufed  immediately  for  his  comfort  and  reco- 
very there. 

35  And,  being  obliged  to  proceed  on  his  journey 
the  next  morning,  he  called  the  inn-keeper  ;  and, 
paying  him  *  what  the  wounded  man's  lodging  and 
other  neceffaries  there  came  to,  charged  him  to  take 
all  further  requiiite  care  of  him  ;  and  promifed,  that 
whatfoever  the  expence  might  be,  he  would  defray 

him:  and  whatfo-   it  at  his  return  f . 

36  Now,  faid  our  Lord  to  the  fcribe,  which  of 
thefe  three  men  do  you  think  might  juftly  be  deemed 
the  neighbour  of  this  poor,  dripped,  and  wounded 
man  ?  Was  it  the  prieft  or  the  Levite,  who  fliut  up 


more,  when  I  come 
again,  1  will  repay 
thee. 

56    Which  now 
ot     theie     three,   the  bowels  of  their  compaffion  againft  him,  and  did 
thinkeft  thou,  was    nothing  for   him  \    QT   was    k  the   Samaritan,    who, 
Tifi^i]  bour         unto  n 

him    that    fell   a-   though  a  {tranger,  and  of  a  different  religion,  took 

fuch  tender  care  of  him,  and  did  fuch  kind  offices  for 
him  ? 

37  The  fcribe  replied,  Ke  who  was  fo  companion- 
ate and  kind,  moil  certainly  bell  deferved  this  cha- 
racter ±,  Then  our  Lord  laid  unto  him,  See  that, 
in  imitation  of  this  Samaritan,  you  maintain  a  like 
benevolent  and  merciful  regard,  not  only  to  your 
friends  and  acquaintance,  and  perions  of  your  own 
religion  and  party,  but  likewife  to  fuch  as  are  ftran- 
gers  and  enemies,  before  you  pretend  to  have  perfect- 
ly kept  the  law,  or  to  claim  a  title  to  eternal  life  for 
your  obedience  to  it. 

38  At 
N    O    T    E    S. 
f  Two  Roman  pence  amounted  to  a-    fus,  like  the  good  Samaritan,  has  had  com  - 


l-nor.g  the  thieves  ? 

37  And  he  faid, 
He  that  ihewed 
mercy  on  him. 
Then  faid  Jefus 
unto  him,  Go, 
and  do  thou  like- 
wife. 


faottt  fifteen  pence  of  our  money,  which, 
according  to  the  rate  of  provifionsin  that 
country,  might  anfwer  the  charge  of  a 
night's  lodging,  and  of  the  little  food 
that  the  poor  man  might  be  fuppofed  to 


p^ffion  upon  us.  Thougli  we  have  been  e- 
nemiesto  him,  have  dishonoured  and  pro- 
voked him,  and  never  can  make  hiin  a- 
mends  for  any  favour  he  fhews  us;  yef, 
of  his  own  infinite  love,  his  eye  has  piti- 


have  eat :  But  fome  think  that  this  is  to    ed  us,  and  he  takes  care  of  us  at  the  ex- 


be  understood  of  money  left  in  hand  for 
future  charges,  with  a  promife  o£  paying 
whatfoever  they  might  amount  to  more ; 
and  others  fuppofe,  that  here  is  a  refer- 
ence to  the  aalt-fhekel,  winch  was  to  be 
paid  for  the  ranfom  of  a  man's  foul  or  life, 

it  xxx.  12,  13.  two  pence  making 
1  hat  furn. 

f  Pious  men  have  confidered  this  Dura- 
ble as  a  fit  reprefentation  of  the  misera- 
ble Rate  zi  mankind  by  nature.  Sin  and 
Satan  have  wounded  us  to  death,  and  we 

atteriy  unable  to  help  ourfelves.    The 

.  like  the  prieft  and  Levite,  the 
nunifters  of  it,  fhews  no  compaflion  to  u<, 
nor  is  it  in  its  nature  to  help  us;  it  curies 
us  as  tranfgreffors,   but  cannot  blefs  us, 

.'?. brd  any  relief  in  our  deplorable  pe- 
iflbii  nces.    But  our  Lord  Je- 


pence  of  his  own  precious  blood.  He 
binds  up  our  wounded  fpirits  ;  heals  the 
broken  in  heart,  and  pours  into  them  the 
virtue  of  his  blood,  and  the  confolations 
of  his  Spirit,  which  are  infinitely  better 
than  oil  and'wine.-  But  how  apt  and  beau- 
tiful foever  the  fimilitude  may  be  to  ilJut- 
Uatc  the  endearing  love  and  compaflion 
of  Chriit  to  Jftor,  wounded,  and  perifhing 
fouls;  yet  the  immediate  view  of  our 
Lord,  in  this  parable,  is  for  inftruclion 
in  important  points  of  another  kind,  as 
appears  by  his  own  application  of  it  in 
the  following  veries. 

}  He  could  not,  for  fiiame,  fay  other- 
wife,  though  he  thereby  unavoidably 
condemned  himfelf,  and  overthrew  his 
own  falfe  notion  of  the  neighbour  to 
whom  our  love  is  due. 


Chap.  x.  Luke  paraphrafed.  113 

3S  Now  it  came  38  At  another  time,  Chrift  and  hi*3  difeiples,  be- 
to   pals,     as    they    jnrr  on  their  travels,  went  to  a  town  called  Bethany, 

tered'  im"  a^cer-  "ear    tWO    miIeS    from    JcruJa/em  f     (J^n    xi.     18.) 

tain  village  •   and  And  as  Martha,  the  filler  of  Lazarur,    lived  there, 

a   certain  woman  Jefus  went  to  her  houfe,  who,   with  the  red  of  the 

named  Martha  re-  familv,  gladly  took  in  this  noble  Gueit,   and   all  his 

cenred  him  into  her  2ttendants  fOT  his  fake. 

I'OUie.  A       ,  •  1       i  r       1  u 

39  And  (he  had  39  And  as>  uPon  entering  the  houfe,  he,  according 
a  filter  called  Ma-  to  his  ufual  way,  began  to  preach  the  glad  tidings 
ry,  which  alio  fat  of  falvation,  there  was  a  fitter  of  hers  named  Mary, 
at  Jefus' feet  and  who,  being  a  i^eat  lover  of  Chrift,  100k  this  oppor- 
hcard  a:s  word.  .  1  i_     /•  ir         v      n  1        11        re      ■    a 

tunity  to  place  herielt,    witn  ail  aumblenefs  or  mind, 

like  a  learner,  at  his  feet,  that  flite  might  attend  un- 
to, and  receive  inftrucrion,  by  the  gracious  word* 
which  proceeded  out  of  his  lips. 

40  Eut  Martha  40  In  the  mean  while,  Martha,  being  defirous  to 
was  cumbered   a-    mew    the    bell    refpecr    me    was    capable    of  to  her 

•u      u     tening,  Lor{]    w-3  m^hty  buiv  in  preparing  a  fuitable  enter- 

ar.d  came  to  him,  .                f       p.     -           -     _    *,.   r         »     _. 

and  faid,  Lord,  doft  tamment  ior  him;   and  nndmg  that  Mary  was  un- 

thcu  not  care  that  willing  to  be  called  off  from  hearing  his  difcourfe,  (he 

my  filter  hath  left  went  ar.d  complained  of  her  to  him,  laving,  Lord,   I 

me  to  ferve  alone  ?  cheerfuilv  take  all  the  pains  I  can  to  provide  for  thee 

bid   her    therefore  ,    ,      Vr  •   -.        1          1              1    •          11                  1         r 

that  fhe  help  me.  a           ■'  diicipies,  but  the  work  13  reahy  more  than  I 

well  able  to  manage  by  myfeif :  Doft  thou  not 
think  it  reasonable  that  my  filler  ihould  take  her  part 
with  me  in  it  ?  Pray 'be  pleafed  to  order  her  to  give 
me  her  afliflance,  and  not  fit  ftill  to  hear  till  cur  hur- 
ry is  over,  when  me  may  have  a  fitter* opportunity 
for  it. 

41  And    Jefus        4.1    But,  contrary  to  her  expectation,  Jefus  replied 
aniwered  and  laid    with  t  ean,eftntfs    O  Martha,  Martha,  you  arc 
unto  her,  Martha,               P ..   .  .  ,  ,         .     ,        ;    ,  . 
Martha     thou  art    over-lohcitous,  and  too  much  employed  anout  things 

careful  and  trou-  which  are  not  worth  fuch  anxiety  :  I  do  not  need  or 
bied  about  many  require,  nor  do  I  like,  that  you  Ihould  fper.d  fo  much 
r-^Ss :  thought,  time,  and    pains,    about    entertaining    me, 

who  came  not  to  be  miniilered  to,  but  to  minifter  ; 
and,  though  it  be  intended  as  a  token  of  refpect,  you 
diftract.   and  encumber  yourfelf  about  ever}''  thing's 
.  being  done  in  the  handfomeil  manner,  beyond  what 
i§  proper  for  the  occafion  of  my  coming  hither. 
But    one        42   But  let  me  tell  you,  One  point  is  necciTary, 
thin^    is    needtul.    which  your  many  other  things  ought  to  give  way  un- 
And    Mary    hath    to  as  Infinitely  more  imDOrtant  ;  and  that  is  the  fa- 
cnolen    tnat    #ood  ,  ,    ,-         r         r\r  ^       r     ^  t    o   « 

part,    which  lhall    V111S  knowledge  or  myieii,  ard  ol  the  true  doctrine 
■  t  taken  away    of  eternal  life  which   I  am  come  to  preach:   Mary 
-'".  has  h„d  fuch  an  alfccting  fenfe  of  the  excellence  of 

this,  as  to  make  it  her  choice,  in  preference  to  all 
things  elfe  :  and  ihe  has  herein  chofen  the  created 
good,  which  no  powers  of  earth  or  hell  mail  ever  be 
able  to  deprive  her  of. 

ft.  E  C  O  1 


3  14  -  The  Evangelift  Chap.  xi. 

RECOLLECTIONS. 

How  great  are  the  difficulties  on  one  hand,  and  the  affiftances  on  the  other,  that 
attend  the  fervants  of  Chrift,  whom  he  employs,  like  labourers  in  a  harveft,  to  ga- 
ther ioulsto  himfelf!    But  O  how  much  work  is  there  of  this  fort  to  be  done  ;    and 
how -few  are  the  laborious,  ikiltul,  and  faithful  agents,  under  Chrift,  that  are  en- 
gaged in  it  '.  We  had  need  be  daily  praying  to  the  Lord  of  the  harveft,   to  furnifh 
out  good  minifters  for  his  fervice  ;  and  ihould  remember,  that  as  all  their  authori- 
ty, qualifications,   and  affiftances,   fo  all  their  fuccefs  depends  entirely  upon  him. 
How  great  is  the  joy  of  being  inftrumental  in   advancing  his  intereft,   and  over- 
throwing the  kingdom  of  Satan  '.    But  how  much  happier  ftill  is  it  for  ourfelves  to 
te  found  enrolled,  as  God's  fpccial  favourites,  among  his  children  and  the  heirs  of 
glory '.  And  how  ihould  they,  that  are  fo,  magnify  the  riches  of  his  fovereign  grace 
to  them,  who,  notwithftanding  all  external  revelations  of  God's  mind  in  his  word, 
would  never  have  been  made  wife  to  falvation,   unlets   Chrift  had  been  pleafed  to 
render  them  effectual  by  the  internal  light  and  energy  of  his  Spirit!  But  the  word 
of  all  woes  belong  to  fuch  as  wilfully  reject  him  and  his  gofpel  :    And  as  for  thee 
that  defire  to  be  under  the  law,  as  a  covenant  for  life,  let  them  hear  its  high  de- 
mands, to  confute  their  vain  hopes  of  being  juftified  by  their  own  obedience  to  it ; 
and  yet  let  every  one  regard  it  as  an  everlafting  rule  of  righteoufnefs,   fummarily 
comprehended  in  the  great  command  of  perfect  love,  in  heart  and  behaviour,   to- 
ward God,  and  towards  all  men,  whether  they  be  friends  or  enemies,   acquaint- 
ances or  ftrangers,  of  the  fame  religion  with  one's  felf  or  not.     But  how  fhould  all 
enquiries  alter  eternal  life  and  falvation  be  made  with  a  ferious,   and  not  with  a 
curious  or  captious  temper,  as  ever  we  would  be  directed  into  the  right  way  of  ob- 
taining them  I  And  as  the  concerns  of  our  fouls  are  of  the  greateft  importance  a- 
bove  all  others,    how  fhould  we  take  heed  that  no  fecular  affairs  interfere  with 
them  !    Chrift  will  gracioufly  encourage,  countenance,  and  fecure,  the  happinefs 
of  thofe  that  are  more  folicitous  about  a  faving  acquaintance  with  himfelf,  than°a- 
bout  outward  teftimonies  of  refpect  to  him,  which  he  never  required,  or  about  any 
bufinefs  relating  to  this  prefent  life.     May  we  be  helped  to  chufe  that  good  part 
which  fhail  never  be  taken  from  us  ! 


CHAP.       XI. 

J  ejus  teaches  his  difciples  how  to  pray,  I, — 13.  Cajls  out  a  dumb 
devil,  and  proves  that  he  did  it  not  by  any  power  of  devils,  14, — 
2$.  Shews  that  the  doers  of  the  word  are  blej/ed,  27,  28.  Re- 
proves the  perverfenefs  and  obflinacy  of  the  Jews,  29, — 36.  ;  and 
the  hypocrify  of  the  Pharifees  and  fcribes,  and  denounces  woes  a- 
gainjl  them  for  it,  3  7 , — 5  4 . 

Text.  Paraphrase. 

^ND  it  came  tp      A  T  a  certain  feafon,  Jefus  having  been  at  prayer, 
pafs,  that  as  he    £\   ag  ^  wag  wontj  Qnt  ^  j^  difciples  took  occa- 

^c-rtain  place,  when  ^n  to  aPPty  t0  him,  on  behalf  of  himfelf  and  his 
lie  ceafed,  one  of  brethren,  faying,  Lord,  we  humbly  beg  that  thou 
his  difciples  faid  WOuldit  pleafe  to  direct  us  how  to  pray,  as  John  the 
unto     him,     Lord,    Bapt;n  *    did  his  difciples. 

teach   us   to   pray,         r  J  *  T 

as  2    In 

N     O     T    E. 

*   How  John  tie  Baptijl  taught  Ins    prayers,    fo   John   gave   his  difciples  a 

difciples  to  pray,   cannot  be  determined    fummary  of  petitions,    which  fhould  go 

with  certainty,  either  by  fcripture  or  a-    into  theirs,  fuitable  to  the  nature  of  the 

ny  remains  of  antiquity  :    But  it  feems,    difpenfation  they  were  then  under.    Ac- 

that,    as   the   Jevus   went   chiefly  into    cordingly  one  of  Chrift's  difciples,    pro- 

Jhankfgivings  atd  doxologies  in  their    bably  one  of  the  feventy,  who  was  not 

prefent 


Chap. 


XI. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


11 


in   heaven, 
e.uth. 


iu 


as  John  alfo  taught  2   In  anfwer  to  which  he  faid,  As  to  the  matter 

his  difciples.  of  prayer,  let  your  petitions  be  for  fuch  thino-3  as 

%    And   he  laid  •      •      n     t_     r              1            •        1       n  «       •    ° 

unto  them,  When  maY  principally  be  fummed  up  in  the  following  ad- 

ye  pray,  fay,  Our  drefs  :  "  O  thou  common  Father  of  ail  mankind  by 
Father  which  art  creation,  and  our  God  and  Father  by  covenant,  whofe 
in  heaven  ;  hal-  throne  is  in  the  heavens  ;  We,  encouraged  by  thy 
n°ame.  Thy  king*  Power  an?  '  g°odl^fs,  humbly  intreat,  that  thou 
dom  come.  Thy  wouldft  difplay  the  glory  of  thy  perfections,  by  thy 
will  be  done,  as  Spirit,  works,  and  word  ;  and  wouldft  enable  us 
and  others  to  reverence  and  adore  tjiee,  and  to  fhew 
forth  thy  praife.  May  the  Meffiah  be  exalted  ;  his 
word  run,  and  be  glorified  ;  and  many  fouls,  through- 
faith  in  him,  be  brought  into  thy  kingdom  of  grace, 
and  made  more  and  more  partakers  of  its  bleilings, 
till  all  fhall  be  perfected  in  glory  !  And  O  that  we, 
and  all  around  us  on  earth,  may  be  enabled  to  imi- 
tate the  bleffed  inhabitants  of  the  heavenly  world, 
in  a  cheerful  and  univerfal  compliance  with,  approba- 
tion of,  fubmiffion  and  obedience  to,  thy  will,  in  what- 
foever  inftances  thou  mayeft  make  it  known  to  us  ! 
day        g   «  Bellow  upon  us,  if  it  feem  good  in   thy  fight, 


Give 


by    day 
bread. 


us 
our 


c  ai  y  the  neceffary  and  convenient  proviiions  of  the  pre- 
fent  day,  and  fo  on  from  day  to  day  ;  and  add  fuch 
a  blefling  to  them  as  mall  fanctify  them  to  our  ufe, 
and  refrefh  us  by  them  that  we  may  be  fitted  for  all 
the  duties  to  which  thou  calleft  us  while  we  continue 
in  the  body. 

4  "  And  gracioufly  pardon  all  our  fins,    of  every 

kind,  that  have  been  committed  againft  thee,  as  thou 

haft  commanded  and  inclined  us  to  forgive  thofe  who 

have  wronged  or  offended  us  :  And  we  earneftly  be- 

feech  thee,  that  for  the  future  thou  wouldft  either 

temptation,   not  fuffer  us  to  fc  tempted  to  any  unlawful  thing-,  or 

deliver      us         .   1  .     ,,  x         c         J  .  ,b 7  r 

eviL  not  leave  us  to  the  power  of  any  temptation  whatfo- 

ever  ;  but  that  thou  wouldft  feafonably  ftrengthen  us 
againft,  and  give  us  victory  over,  the  corruption  of 
our  own  hearts,  and  over  that  evil-one,  the  devil,  to- 
gether with  all  his  wicked  inftruments,  and  thereby 
prevent  our  difhonouring  thy  name,  and  bringing 
trouble  and  ruin  upon  ourfelves." 

5,   6  And  our  _L,ord  further  faid  to  his  difciples, 
As  to  the  manner  in  which  ye  are  to  prefent  fuch  pe- 
iriend,  and  [hall  go    titions  as  thefe,  that  they  may  be  heard  and  anfwered, 
unto  him  at  mid-    it  fhould  be  with  great  earnellncfs  and  frequency,  and 
night,  and  fay  un-    wjth  believing  importunity  and  perfeverancc,  till  ye  ob- 
tain 


4  And  forgive 
us  our  fins  :  for 
we  alfo  forgive 
every  one  that  is 
indebted  to  us. 
And  lead  us  not 
into 
but 
from 


5  And  he  faid 
Unto  them,  Which 
6f  you  fhall  have  a 


to 


N  O 
prefent  at  his  fermon  on  the  mount, 
( Matth.  vi.)  afked  him  to  tell  them, 
What  requefts  they  fhould  make,  l'uit- 
:tble  to  die  difpenfation  which  was  now 
further  advanced  under  him  ;  and  he 
leaving  out  the  doxology,  reminded  then 


T     E. 

of  thole  which,  in  that  lermon  fome  time 
before,  he  had  taught  them  to  offer  ; 
{Matth.  vi.  9,  (JirV.  fee  the  notes  there) 
and  then  added  further  inductions  con- 
cerning the  manner  in  which  they  fhould 
perform  that  duty. 


n6 

to  him, Friend,  lend 
me  three  loaves  : 

6  For  a  friend  of 
mine  in  his  journey 
is  come  to  me,  and 
I  have  nothing  to 
let  before  him  i 


7  And  he  from 
within  lhall  an- 
fwer and  fay, 
Trouble  me  not  ; 
the  door  is  now 
fliut,  and  my  chil- 
dren are  with,  me 
in  bed,  I  cannot  rife 
and  give  thee. 

8  I  fa}?  unto  you, 
though  he  wiil  not 
rife  and  give  him, 
becaufe  he  is  his 
friend,  yet,  becaufe 
of  his  importunity, 
he  wiil  rife  and 
give  him  as  many 
as  he  needeth. 

9  And  I  fay  unto 
you,  Afk,  and  it 
lhall  be  given  you  : 
fcek,  and  ye  thai  I 
find:  knock,  and  it 
fhall  be  opened  un- 
to you. 


The  Evangelifl 


Chap.  xL 


io  For  every  one 
that  alkcth;  recci- 
veth:  and  ne  that 
feeketh,*  findeth  : 
and  to  him,  that 
knockefli,  it'-Tiiall 
be  opened. 


II   If  a  fon  fhall 
a(k  bread  of  any  of 
you  that  is   a   fa- 
ther, 


tain  the  bleflings  ye  pray  for  ;  as  may  be  illuftrated 
by  the  following  fimilitude  :  Suppofe  any  of  you 
had  a  friend,  and  mould  go  to  him,  in  the  dead  of  the 
night,  to  beg  a  fupply  of  fuch  neceffary  provilions 
as  you  want,  telling  him  that  another  friend  of 
yours,  being  on  a  journey,  is  jull  come  to  you  for 
rcfrefhment,  and  that  you  have  no  manner  of  food  to 
give  him. 

7  And  fuppofe  that  the  friend  you  apply  to  mould 
at  fir(l  fo  far  difcourage  you,  as  to  call  from  within 
his  houfe,  and  defire  you  not  to  give  him  fo  unfea- 
fonable  a  trouble,  telling  you,  that,  it  being  iate,  his 
doors  were  faflened  up,  and  he  and  all  his  family  were 
got  ta  bed,  and  therefore  he  mufl  be  excufed  from 
riling  to  anfwer  your  requefl. 

8  If  a  man  in  thefe  circumflances  were  ftill  to  con- 
tinue infilling  on  the  urgency  of  the  cafe,  and  to  re- 
peat his  pleas  with  him,  like  one  who  hoped  in  his 
goodnefs,  and  would  not  take  a  denial ;  I  tell  you, 
that  at  length  he  would  be  prevailed  upon,  by  fuch 
preffing  importunity,  to  rile  and  let  him  have  all  that 
he  wants,  though  he  would  not  do  it  merely  in  con- 
fideration  of  the  friendfhip  that  had  been  between 
them. 

9  Now,  to  apply  this  :  If  one,  who  fhewed  ±o 
much  backwardnefs  to  grant  the  requefl  of  his  friend, 
was  overcome  at  lail  by  his  repeated  intreaties  ;  how- 
much  more  will  your  heavenly  Father,  who  has  the 
kindeft  heart  toward  you,  and  never  thinks  you  trou- 
blefome  or  unfeafonable  in  your  addreffes  to  him,  fuf- 
fer  himfelf  to  be  prevailed  upon  by  your  fervent  im- 
portunity, though  he  may  not  immediately  anfwer 
your  prayers,  but  at  flrft  may  feem  to  refufe  you.  I 
therefore  fay  unto  you,  Whatfoever  mercies  ye  Hand 
in  need  of,  afk  them  of  God  in  faith,  according  to 
his  word,  and  he  will  freely  grant  them  :  Seek  to  him 
with  earneilnefs,  and  ye  fhall  obtain  them  :  Be  im- 
portunate for  them,  like  one  knocking,  and  continu- 
ing to  knock,  as  at  the  door  of  his  mercy,  and  he 
will  give  you  a  gracious  anfwer. 

io  For  every  one  who  applies  to  God  in  prayer, 
with  faith  in  his  power  and  goodnefs,  and  in  his  pro- 
mife  through  the  Mediator  of  his  appointment,  and 
with  perfevering  earneilnefs,  like  one  heartily  concern- 
ed for  the  blemngs  he  afks,  fhall  furely  be  anfwered, 
in  God's  way  and  time,  either  in  the  very  thing  he 
prays  for,  or  in  what  Infinite  Wifdom  knows  will  be 
as  good  or  better  for  him. 

11,12  And,  further  to  illuflrate  and  enforce  this, 
our  Lord  added  another  fimilitude,  faying,  Suppofe 
any  of  you,  who  is  an  earthly  parent,  had  a  fon  that 

mould 


Chap.  xi. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


JI7 


ther,  will  he  give 
him  a  Hone  ?  or  if 
he  «/£afifh,  will  he 
for  a  fiih  give  him 
a  ferpent  ? 

iz  Or  if  he  mall 
afk  an  egg,  will  he 
offer  him  a  fcor- 
pion  ? 

13  If  ye  then, 
being  evil,  know 
how  to  give  good 
gifts  unto  your  chil- 
dren, how  much 
more  (hall  your 
heavenly      Father 


mould  afk  for  neceffary  food,  fuch  as  bread,  fifli,  an  , 
egg,  or  the  like  ;  would  you  deny  him,  and,  inftead 
thereof,  give  him  what  you  know  would  be  as  ufelefs 
and  injurious  to  him  as  a  ftone,  a  ferpent,  or  a  fcor- 
pion  *  ?  Let  any  one,  who  has  the  heart  of  a  father, 
confult  his  own  bowels,  and  think  whether  he  could 
do  fo  unnatural  and  cruel  a  thing  to  his  own  fon. 

1 3   If  therefore  ye  yourfelves,   who  are  under  the 

influence  of  irregular  pafiions  and  various  humours, 

would  neverthelefs,   merely  from  natural  affection  to 

your  own  offspring,  hear  their  cries,    and  give  them 

what  ye  know  to  be  neceffary  and  proper  for  them  ; 

how  much  more  will  the  infinitely-perfect  Father  of 

give  the  holy_Spi-   mercies  give  fuch  things  as  he  knows  to  be  for  the 

?lk  hlmY™  ^^   ^fety  and  happinefs  Of  his  children?   (Mattb.  vii.  11.) 

Yea,  how  certainly  will  he  bellow  that  bell  and  mcii: 

neceffary  of  all  bleffings,  his  holy  Spirit,    upon  them 

who,  relying  on  his  grace,    earrreilly  leek  to  him  in 

prayer  for  it  ? 

14  And  he  was        14  At  .another  time,    our  bleffed  Lord  undertook 

calling  out  a  devil,  t^e  ^fting  out  of--a  devil,  who  had  utterly  deprived 

And^it^ame^to  t^le  P0^^^  man  of  his  fpeech:  And,  as  foon  as  Satan 
was  forced  to  depart,  the  dumb  man  fpoke  ;  thereby 
making  it  known  to  all  the  company  that  he  was  ef- 
fectually releafed.  And  the  generality  of  the  fpecta- 
tors  were  amazed,  that  one  who  made  fo  low  a  fi- 
gure, contrary  to  what  they  expected  from  the  Mef- 
iiah,  mould  exert  fuch  godlike  authority  over  devils, 
and  heal  the  poor  diftreffed  creature  in  an  irritant. 

15  But  the  envious  Pharifees,  and  fome  of  the  peo- 
ple under  their  management,  gave  a  malicious  and 
wicked  turn  to  this  miracle,  privately  infiriuating  cue 

bub   the   chief  of  to  another,  that  he  call  out  devils,  not  by  the  power 
the  devil*.  of  God,  but  in  concert  with,  and  under  the  influence 

of  the  prince  of  devils,  called  Beelzebub  \,  who  made 
underlings  yield  to  his  fuperior  authority  over  them. 

16  Others  took  a  more  artful  way  to  difcreuit 
Chrift  among  the  people,  demanding  fome  extraordi- 
nary fign  from  heaven,  as  a  demonitration  of  his  being 
the  Meffiah  ;  thereby  intimating,  as  if  ail  the  miracu- 
lous works  he  performed  upon  earth,  might  poffibly  be 
by  the  black-art,  and  fo  proved  nothing  in  his  favour 

17  13  Lit 
T  E  Si 
driving  ;iway  dies  from  their  temples  ar.d 
facrilices.  The  Phil'jlincs  wonhipped  <t 
deity  under  this  title,  as  the  god  of  F.k~ 
von:  (2  Kin^s  i.  6.)  From  hence  it  is 
probable  that  the  Jews  took  the  name, 
and  applied  it  to  the  chief,  or  urine.-.  1  i 
the  devils,  who  was  Hipported  to  have 
fome  rule  and  dominion  over  the  feft  ©1 
the  kingdom  of  d:\rkneii. 


pafs,  when  the  de- 
vil was  gone  out, 
the  dumb  fpake  : 
and  the  people 
wondered. 


15  But  fome  of 
them  faid,  He  caft- 
eth      out       devils 


16  And  others 
tempting  i.im, 
fought  of  him  a 
fign     from      hear 


'    A  fcorpion  ii 


N     O 

fmall  blackifii  crea- 


ture ot  the  ferpent  l.ind,  a.id   is  exceed 
ing  venomous  and  mifchicvous. 


t  The  name  Beelzebub  fignifies  the  god 
of  Jiies ;  and  was  given  to  the  heathen 
jfupiter,  whom  his  worlhippcrs  account- 
ed the  chief  of  their  gods,  but  whom 
they  meanlv  reprefentcd  as  employed  in 
Vol.  II.  R 


11$ 


The  Evangeli/l 


Chap.  xi. 


vided  againft  itfelf, 
is  brought  to  defo- 
.'ation:  and  a  houfe 
divided  againft  a 
houfe,  falleth. 


17  But  he  know-  1 7  But  Jefus,  knowing  their  evil  intent  in  all  this, 
ing  their  thoughts,  Pnr\  particularly  what  fome  privately  muttered  among 
Every  kingdom  di-  tnem^ves  about  his  calling  out  devils  by  the  prince 
of  devils,  replied  firft  of  all  to  that  monftrous  calum- 
ny, faying,  It  cannot  reafonably  be  fuppofed  that 
any  communities  mould  feek  an  eftablifhment  of  them- 
felves,  or  that  their  interefts  mould  really  be  promo- 
ted and  fecured,  by  the  head  and  members  being  di- 
vided in  their  defigns  and  actings  one  againft  another, 
ha  what  relates  to  their  common  caufe.  On  the  o- 
ther  hand,  every  one  muft  think,  and  all  obfervation 
and  experience  proves,  that  fuch  meafures  tend  to, 
and,  if  purfued,  muft  end,  in  their  utter  defolation, 
whether  they  be  kingdoms  or  famines,  or  any  other 
focieties  whatfoever. 

18  If  therefore  Satan  were  to  affift  in  reftraining 
and  confounding  his  own  agents,  and  that  in  confir- 
mation of  a  dodirine  fo  good  and  holy  as  mine,  how- 
is  it  poffible  that  his  kingdom  mould  fubfifl  ?  This 
would  be  the  direft  way  to  ruin,  inilead  of  ftrength- 
ening  and  eftablilhing  it  ;  and  lince  it  cannot  be 
thought  that  he  is  fo  foolifh  and  ftupid  as  not  to 
know  this,  it  is  malicious  and  abfurd,  to  the  laft  de- 
gree, for  you  to  fay  that  I  defeat  devils  by  any  power 
derived  from  him. 

19  And  to  retort  the  invidious  charge,  he  fur- 
ther faid,  If  ye  fuggeft  that  I  call  out  devils  in  con- 
federacy with  their  chief,  pray  what  do  ye  fay  to 
your  own  difciples,  who  call  them  out  in  the  name 
of  the  God  of  Abraham,  Ifaac,  and  Jacob  ?  Ye 
never  ventured  to  talk  thus  of  them.  And  what  do 
you"  think  of^your  own  honeft,  plain,  undefigning 
countrymen,  who  do  the  like  in  my  name  ?  Ye  have 
no  room  to  imagine  that  fuch  as  thefe  are  in  league 
with  the  devil  :  (fee  the  note  on  Matth.  xii.  27.) 
They  therefore  mall  witnefs  againft  you,  and  con- 
demn you  for  your  partiality,  rafhnefs,  and  injuftice, 
in  afcribing  what  I  do  of  the  fame  kind  to  the  power 
of  Satan. 

20  But  if,  contrary  to  your  blafphemous  infinu- 
ations,  I  call  out  devils  by  the  power  of  God  *, 
as  I  evidently  do,  ye  cannot  deny  but  that  I  am 
come  from  him  to  fet  up  his  kingdom  of  grace  a- 
mong  you  ;  and  by  oppoiing  me,  ye  are  the  great- 
eft  enemies/to  yourfelves,  iinning  againft  your  own 
mercy  to  your  utter  confufion. 

21,  22  And  itill  further  to  fhevv  that  what  he  did 

herein 
NOTE. 
*  The  finger  of  God  fecms  to  be  an  alluvion  to  what  the  magicians  faid,  when 
they  found  themfelves  out-done  by  Mofcs,  (Exod.  via.  19.)  and  it  is  called  the  $$i- 
..f  of  God,  {Matth.  xii.  aS.) 


iS  If  Satan  alto 
be  divided  againft 
himfelf,  how  fhall 
his  kingdom  ftand  ? 
becaufe  ye  fay  that 
I  caft  out  devils 
through  Beelze- 
bub. 


19  And  if  I  by 
Beelzebub  caft  out 
devils,  by  whom 
do  your  fons  caft 
them  out  ?  there- 
fore mail  they  be 
your  judges. 


20  But  if  I  with 
the  finger  of  God 
•  alt  out  devils,  no 
doubt  the  kingdom 
f  God  is  come  up- 
on you. 


21  Whenaftrong 
man 


Chap.  xi. 

man  armed  keep- 
eth  his  palace,  his 
goods  are  in  peace. 
22  But  when  a 
ftronger  than  he 
fhall  come  upon 
him,  and  overcome 
him,hetakethfrom 
him  all  his  armour 
wherein  he  trufted, 
and  divideth  his 
i'poils. 


23  He  that  is 
not  with  me,  is  a- 
gainft  me  :  and  he 
that  garkereth  not 
with  me,  icatter- 
eth. 


24  When  the  un- 
clean fpirit  is  gone 
out  of  a  man,  he 
walketh  through 
dry  places,  feeking 
reft  ;  and  finding 
none,  he  faith,  I 
will  return  unto 
my  houfe  whence  I 
came  out. 

25  And  when 
he  cometh,  he 
iindeth  it  fwept 
and  garnifhed. 

26  Then  .goeth 
he,  and  taketh  to 
him  feven  other 
fpirits  more  wick- 
ed than  himfelf, 
and  they  enter  in, 
and  dwell  there : 
and  the  laft  ftate 
of  that  man  is 
worfe  than  the 
firft. 


Luke  paraph rafed.  119 

herein  was  really  a  deftruction  of  the  devil's  power,  . 
he  illuftrated  it  by  this  fimilitude,  faying,  When  an 
armed  and  mighty  man  is  in  poffefTion  of  his  houfe,  he 
rules  without  controul,  and  thinks  himfelf  fecure  : 
But  when  one,  Hill  more  powerful,  breaks  in  upon 
him,  and  gets  the  maftery  over  him,  he  difarms  him,, 
and  takes  all  his  goods  into  his  own  hands.  So  wheh 
Satan  has  got  poifefiion  of  the  fouls  and  bodies  of  men, 
and,  by  his  wiles  and  ftrength,  keeps  them  under  his 
own  dominion,  there  are  no  mutinies  againft  him,  and 
he  thinks  himfelf  able  to  hold  them  fall  :  But  when 
I  come  upon  him  with  fuperior  ftrength,  and  exer- 
cife  my  authority  over  him,  I  break  to  pieces  all  his 
power  by  which  he  before  detained  them,  raife  all 
oppofition  againft  him  in  thofe  who  before  were 
tamely  fubjecl  to  his  tyranny,  and  deliver  the  prey 
of  the  terrible  one  out  of  his  hands,  that  I  may  ufe  it 
for  myfelf. 

23  His  intereft  and  mine  are  fo  directly  oppofite, 
that  it  is  impoflible  we  mould  agree  in  the  fame  de- 
figns  :  He  therefore  cannot  appiove  of  my  doctrine, 
and  of  the  works  which  I  perform  to  confirm  it,  for 
the  deftruction  of  his  power  and  kingdom  ;  nor  can 
he  fide  with  me,  but  will  ever  do  his  utmoft  to  op- 
pofe  me  therein  ;  and  fo  do  all  thofe  of  you  that  deny 
my  operations  to  be  the  effect  of  the  power  of  God  ; 
There  is  no  neuter  in  this  caufe  ;  but  every  one,  who 
will  not  allow  my  doctrine  and  miracles  to  be  truly 
divine,  is  really  an  enemy  to  me. 

24,  25,  26  And  your  lamentable  condition,  O  ye 
hypocritical  and  cavilling  Jews,  may  be  illuftrated  in 
the  following  manner  :  When  an  evil  fpirit  is  call  out 
of  a  man,  he  difcontentedly  wanders  about,  feeking  a. 
fettlement  elfewhere  :  But  meeting  with  perpetual 
disappointments,  he  returns  to  attempt  a  recovery  of 
his  old  habitation  ;  and,  upon  trial,  finds  nothing  to 
oppofe  him,  but  every  thing  ready  to  entertain  him. 
Upon  w-hich  he  enters  again,  and  gets  fafter  hold  of 
the  fame  man  than  ever,  bringing  many  other  more 
malignant  fpirits  than  himfelf  to  take  poflefiion  with 
him  :  And  by  this  means  the  cafe  of  that  man  is 
much  more  deplorable  than  it  was  before.  So  when 
the  power  of  Satan  is  fhaken  by  what  I  do  among 
you  of  this  wicked  generation,  he,  being  forced  to 
retire  againft  his  will,  roves  about  among  the  GV//- 
HJes,  to  carry  on  his  empire  there  :  But  at  length  the 
gofpel,  attended  with  the  power  of  miracles,  and 
with  internal  operations  of  the  Spirit,  following  him 
thither,  to  overthrow  his  interell  among  them,  by 
vanquifhing  their  idols,  and  captivating  the  fouls  of 
multitudes  to  the  obedience  of  faith,  he  will  return 


120 


The  Evangetift 


Chap.  xi. 


17  And  it  came 
to  pals  as  he  fpake 
thcie  things,  a  cer- 
tain woman  of  the 
company  lift  up  her 
voice,  and  laid  un- 
to him,  Blefied  is 
the  womb  that 
bare  thee,  and  the 
paps  which  thou 
halt  lucked. 

?3  But  he  faid, 
Yea,  rather  blefs- 
ed  are  they  that 
iiear  the  word  of 
God,  and  keep  it. 


29  And  when  the 
people  were  ga- 
thered thick  toge- 
ther, he  began  to 
fay,  This  i6  an  evil 
generation  :  they 
ieek  a  fign,  and 
there  (ball  no  fign 
be  given  it,  but  the 
fign  of  Jonas  the 
prophet. 


to  make  another  trial  upon  the  Jews ;  and,  rinding 
them  deflitute  of  the  grace  of  God,  and  unreclaimed 
under  their  high  pretences  to  religion,  he  will  enter 
again  among  them  with  greater  power  and  preva- 
lence :  And  they  thereby  will  become  more  vile  and 
wicked  than  ever,  to  their  utter  deftruction,  both  in 
this  world  and  the  next.  And  thus  it  is  with  all  in 
whom  there  has  been  only  a  temporary  work  :  Satan 
returning  again  to  fee  how  things  ftand  with  them, 
and,  finding  that  they  are  only  cleanfed  from  fome 
former  grofs  fins,  and  garnifhed  with  fome  falfe  ap- 
pearances of  goodnefs,  but  are  void  of  all  true  princi- 
ples of  religion,  he  takes  poffeffion  of  them  again,  and 
works  in  them  with  more  malignity  and  power  than 
ever  before  ;  fo  that  they  prove  utter  apoitates,  turn 
to  be  the  Worft  of  men,  and  are  brought  to  the  moil 
dreadful  condemnation  and  ruin. 

27  Whilft  our  Lord  was  difcourfmg  in  this  excel- 
lent and  awful  manner,  a  certain  woman  was  lo 
mightily  affe&ed  with  it,  that,  in  a  rapture  of  admira- 
tion and  joy,  (he  interrupted  him,  crying  out  aloud  a- 
mong  the  people,  What  a  wonderful  perfon  is  this  i 
with  what  authority  does  he  command  devils,  and 
with  what  wifdom  does  he  confute  men  !  O  happy 
woman  who  bore  and  brought  thee  up  !  what  would 
I  have  given  to  have  been  the  mother  of  fuch  a  Son  1 
All  generations  will  rife  up  and  call  her  bleffed. 

28  But  he  replied,  Do  you  think  it  fuch  an  ho- 
nour and  privilege  to  have  conceived,  brought  forth, 
and  fuckled  me  r  a  much  greater  dignity  and  happi- 
nefs  than  this  fhall  be  conferred  on  thofe  who  hear 
my  gofpel,  and  receive  the  love  of  the  truth,  that  they 
may  be  faved.  It  is  this  that  leads  the  way  to  real 
bleffednefs  and  glory,  and  is  inexprefiibly  better  than 
the  neareft  relation  to  me,  according  to  the  flefh. 

5  29  The  people,  being  alarmed  at  this  furprifmg 
incident,  ran  together,  crowding  up  Hill  nearer  _to 
him  ;  and  then,  refuming  his  difcourfe,  he  proceed- 
ed by  way  of  reply  to  thofe  that  had  demanded  a 
fign  from  heaven,  (<ver.  16.)  faying,  The  men  ot  this 
degenerate  age  are  exceeding  obftinate  and  perverfc. 
Notwithilanding  all  the  unqueiHonable  miracles  3 
have  wrought,  ilill  they  unreafonably  iniift  on  proofs 
of  my  divine  commiflion,  by  fome  extraordinary  vifible 
appearance  in  the  heavens  *  :   But  their  wilful,  and  in- 

corrigibu 

T    E. 

neration  ;  and  afterwards  at  Chriil's  fe- 
cond  glorious  appearing  to  judge  the 
world  :  And  therefore  he  would  not  fo 
far  humour  their  unreasonable  obftinacy 
and  unbelief,  as  to  give  them  fuch 


N    O 

*  The  time  was  not  yet  come  to  give 
them  a  fign  from  heaven  :  T'his  was  not 
to  be  till  after  Chriil's  afcenfion,  fuft  at 
J.he  overthrow  of  Jeri/falem,  which  would 
be  the  deflruc"tion  of  the.  then  prefer!  ge- 


Chap.  xi. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


121 


alfo  the  Son  of  man 
be  to  this  genera- 
tion. 


g.t    The    queen 


corrigible  infidelity  (hall  not  be  gratified  by  any  other 
fort  of  wonders,  for  the  prefent,  than  I  have  already 
wrought  ;  except  fuch  an  one  as  refembles  that  of  the 
prophet  Jonah,  which  will  clofe  my  appearance  a- 
mong  them  on  earth,  and  will  leave  them  altogether 
without  excufe. 
30  For  as  Jonas  30  For  as  the  miraculous  deliverance  of  Jonah 
was  a  fign  unto  the  from  death,  on  the  third  day,  after  he  had  been  buri- 
:es,  fo  fhatl    ed  ^  tjie  beUy  Qf  a  great  fifo  jn  tjle  fea>   was  an  evi_ 

dence  to  the  Ninevues  that  God  lent  him  to  warn 
them  of  their  approaching  deftruction,  unleis  they 
mould  repent  :  So  I,  who  am  truly  man,  (hall  be  de- 
monftrated  to  this  generation  to  be  the  Son  ot  God 
with  power,  by  my  riling  from  the  dead,  on  the-  third 
day,  after  I  fnall  have  been  crucified,  and  buried  in 
a  iepulchre  ;  and  if,  after  this  proof  that  my  mef- 
fage  to  them  is  from  heaven,  they  continue  in  un- 
belief, deitru£tion  fhall  come  upon  them  to  the  utter- 
moll. 

3 1  And  our  Lord  fore-feeing  that  this  grand  evi- 
of^the  ibuth*  fhall  dence  of  his  being  the  MeiHah  would  likewife  be  re- 
xifeupinthejudg-  jeered  by  the  bulk  of  the  Jewifr  nation,  faid,  The 
ment  with  the  men  T    of  the  Queen  Gf  Sheba    (who  dwelt  in   that 

ot  this  generation,  r  ■       "<^_  v 

and  condemn  them:  part  pi  sh  abia  which  was  called  baocea,  and  lay 
for  fhe  came  from  foutherly  from  Jerujalcm,)  will  turn  to  the  conlu- 
the  utmoft  parts  of  flon  anci  repr0ach  of  this  unbelieving  and  hardened  ge- 
the  earth,  to  hear  ^        of  in   the  ^  oi  judgment  :    For  fhe, 

the  wildom  ot  So-   •  j         n  ^1 

lorn  on ;  and  be-  though  a  great  woman,  and  a  la-anger  to  the  corn- 
hold,  '  a  greater  monwealth  of  Ifraei,  took  a  long  journey  from  the 
than  Solomon  is  mort  diilant  parts  of  the  continent,  to  fatisfy  herielf 
about  what  fhe  had  heard  of  Slo/amon's  wifdem  ;  and, 
upon  feeing  fome  ipecimens  of  it,  fhe  was  convin- 
ced, and  flruck  with  admiration  at  it.  But  obfervc 
the  perverfenefs  of  the  profefiing  people  of  this 
age  !  one  of  incomparably  greater  dignity,  wifdom, 
and  glory,  than  Solomon,  now  appears  among  them 
at  their  own  doors,  and  that  with  much  higher  evi- 
dence of  the  divine  excellence  of  his  perfon  and  doc- 
trine ;  and  yet  they  reject  and  vilify  him. 

32  The  behaviour  of  the  Ninevitcs  fhall  likewife 
teftify  againit  the  obftinate  perverfenefs  of  the  people 
of  this  age,  to  aggravate  their  condemnation  in  the 
great  day  of  account  :  For  though  they  were  hea- 
thens, and  the  prophet  Jonah  was  a  ftranger,  and  a 
mem  of  like  finlul  pafiions  with  themfelves  ;  and 
though  he  preached  to  them  but  three  days,  in  which 
he  denounced  nothing  but  deflrucTtion,  and  wrought 

no 

NOTE. 
as  they  infilled  upon  then.    But  at  another  time  he  told  them,  (Matth.  xxvi.  64.) 
Hereafter  ye  Jhall  fee  the  Son  of  man  fitting  on  the  right  hand  of  pwer,  and 
coming  in  the  clouds  of  heaven, 


here; 


3?  The  men  of 
Nineveh  fhall  rife 
up  in  the  judgment 
with  this  genera- 
tion, and  fhall  con- 
demn it  :  tor  they 
icpented  .  at  the 
preaching  of  Jo- 
nas; and  behold,  a 
greater 


122 

greater  than  Jonas 
ts  here. 


The  Evangelljl 


Chap.  xi. 


35  No  man  when 
ie  hath  lighted  a 
candle*  puttcth  it 
in  a  fecret  place, 
neither  under  a 
bnfhel ;  but  on  a 
candlefticl:,,  that 
they  which  come, 
in  may  lee  the 
light. 

34  The  light  of 
the  body  is  the 
eye  :  there  fore 

when  thir.e  eye 
is  irhgle,  thy  whole 
tjocly  alio  is  full  of 
fight :  but  when 
tffittg  eye  is  evil, 
thy  body  alfo  is  full 
of  darknefs. 


35     Take    heed 

.<  r< -rfc-re,  that  the 

t    which    is   in 

tnee  he  not  dark- 


no  miracle  in  their  fight  ;  yet  they  believed,  and 
were  influenced  by  his  meffage,  to  go  into  a  ge- 
neral humiliation  and  repentance.  But  obferve  the 
difference  !  a  much  greater  prophet,  even  the  Mef- 
hah  himfelf,  is  now  come  among  you  :  And  though 
he  is  one  of  your  own  nation  fent  of  God  to  you  as 
a  people  vifibly  id  covenant  with  him  ;  though  he  has 
year  after  year,  preached  the  glad  tidings  of  falva- 
tion  through  faith  in  himfelf,  as  well  as  denounced 
the  righteous  vengeance  of  God,  which  will  certainly 
come  upon  you  in  cafe  ye  continue  impenitent  and 
unbelieving  ;  and  though  he  has  multiplied  miracles 
of  various  kinds  before  your  eyes,  to  confirm  his  cha- 
racter and  his  doctrine  ;  yet  ye  harden  yourfelves  in 
your  wickednefs,  and  will  not  believe  in  him. 

33  Thefe  are  awful  truths.  But  as  no  man  lights 
a  candle  to  conceal  it,  or  to  hide  it  under  a  veffel,  but 
to  fet  it  up  in  a  candleitick  that  all  in  the  room  may 
fee  by  it  :  So,  whether  ye  will  receive  my  doctrine 
or  not,  I  muff  go  on  to  publifh  it  ;  and  it  will  vifi- 
bly t\u~n  to  your  advantage  or  confnfion,  according  to 
your  entertaining  or  rejecting  it  ;  a  further  illuitration 
of  which,  ye  may  take  m  the  following  fimilitude. 

34  As  it  is  a  man's  eye  that  lets  in  the  light  of 
this  world  ;  and  therefore,  if  this  valuable  organ  be 
free  from  cataracts,  and  all  vicious  humours,  his  whole 
body  has  the  benefit  of  the  light  for  its  direction  and 
comfort  :  But  if  his  eye  be  perifhed,  or  its  fight  be 
loft,  how  clearly  foever  the  beams  of  the  fun  itleli 
were  to  furround  him,  he  can  have  no  advantage  by 
it,  but  is  as  incurably  dark  as  if  no  light  fhone  upon 
him.  So  it  is  a  man's  underfl anding  that  lets  in  fpi- 
ritual  light  ;  and  therefore,  if  his  judgment  be  free 
from  the  influence  of  pride  and  covetoufnefs,  carnali- 
ty and  unbelief,  his  whole  foul  is  enlightened  with 
the  glorious  things  of  the  gofpel,  approves  of  them, 
takes  pleafure  in  them,  and  is  directed  and  profited 
by  them  :  But  if  his  judgment  be  corrupted  by  any 
depraved  affections,  how  brightly  fcever  the  evidence 
of  gofpel-truths  may  be  fet  before  him,  his  whole 
foul  is  as  full  of  darknefs,  confufion,  and  mifery,  and 
is  as  effectually  deprived  of  guidance  and  influence  to 
falvaticn',  as  if  no  external  revelation  were  made  to 
him. 

35  Let  every  cne  therefore  take  care  that  the  eye 
of  his  mind,  which  ought  to  receive  the  light  of  my 
doctrine,  be  not  (hut  up  under  the  power  of  lufts  and. 
prejudices  :  For  this  will  be  the  worft  of  all  dark- 
nefs ;  and  will  certainly  miilead  the  foul  to  ruin,  in- 
itead  of  its  being  directed  into  the  way  to  everlafiing 
bleffednefs. 

36      Bllt; 


Chap,  xfc 

36  If  thy  whole 
body  therefore  be 
full  of  light,  having 
no  part  dark,  the 
whole  fhall  be  full 
of  light,  as  when 
the  bright  fliining 
of  a  candle  doth 
give  thee  light. 


37  And  as  he 
fpake,  a  certain 
Pharifee  befought 
him  to  dine  with 
him  :  and  he  went 
in,  and  fat  duwn 
to  meat. 

3S  And  when 
the  Pharifee  iaw 
it,  he  marvelled, 
that  he  had  not 
firfl  wafhed  before 
dinner. 


39  And  the  Lord 
faid  unto  him,  Now 
do  ye  Pharilees 
make  -clean  the 
outfi.de  of  the  cup 
and  the  platter : 
but  your  inward 
part  is  full  of  ra- 
vening and  wicked- 
Kefs. 


40  Ye  fools,  did 
not  he  that  made 
that  which  lswith- 
©ut,  make  that 
which  is  within 
alio  ? 


41  But  rather 
give  alms  of  fuch 
tilings  as  you 
have:  and  behold, 
ail  things  are  clean 
unjto  you. 


Luke  paraphrafed.  123 

36  But,  on  the  contrary,  if  the  judgment  be  en- 
lightened, and,  together  with  this,  the  will  and  af- 
fections be  renewed  and  fanctified,  the  whole  man 
will  be  filled  with  the  light  of  truth,  holineis,  and 
comfort  ;  and  the  gofpel,  which  is  as  a  light. mining 
in  a  dark  place,  will,  like  the  clear  burning  of  a  can- 
dle in  a  dark  room,  fhed  its  light  into  all  the  powers 
and  faculties  of  the  foul,  for  its  direction  in  the  way 
of  life  and  peace  to  eternal  glory. 

37  Whilft  our  Lord  was  engaged  in  this  difcourfc 
to  the  people,  a  certain  Pharifee  civilly  invited  him 
to  take  a  dinner  at  his  home  ;  and  as  Jefus  was  affa- 
ble and  courteous,  and  took  pleafure  in  opportunities 
of  mftructing  all  forts  of  men,  he  readily  accepted  the 
invitation,  and  fat  down  to  eat  with  him. 

38  But  (&)  the  Pharifee,  like  the  reft  of  his  fuper- 
ftitious  feet,  holding  it  to  be  finful  and  defiling,  ac- 
cording to  their  traditions,  to  eat  a  common  meal 
without  warning'  one's  hands  immediately  before  it, 
thought  it  llrange  that  a  prophet  of  fo  much  fanctity, 
as  Chrift  profeffed  to  be,  fnould  begin  to  eat  without 
having  firil  performed  that  rite. 

39  And  our  Lord,  obferving  this,  reproved  him 
and  his  brethren  for  their  folly  and  hypocrify,  faying, 
Ye  Pharifees  are  like  perfons,  who,  to  get  a  reputa- 
tion for  cleanlinefs,  take  a  great  deal  of  pains  to  fcour 
the  out-fide  of  their  cups  and  dimes  ;  but,  at  the 
fame  time,  leave  them  very  filthy  and  naufeous  with- 
in :  So  ye  are  fuperftitioufly  nice  and  exact  in  exter- 
nal warnings  and  cleanlings,  that  ye  may  appear  with 
a  face  of  ftrict  holinefs  in  the  eyes  of  men,  while 
your  minds  and  confeiences  are  defifed,  being  full  of 
rapine  and  extortion,  cruelty  and  covetoufnefs,  and 
all  manner  of  vile  affections.,  which  render  yrou  abo- 
minable in  God's  fight. 

40  What  a  filly 'as  well  as  hypocritical  part  do  ye 
herein  act,  as  if  ye  could  impofe  upon  the  all-feeing* 
and  heart-fearching  God,  who  delires  truth  in  the  in- 
ward parts  ?  Did  not  he  create  the  foul  as  well  as  the 
body  ?  and  can  ye  fuppofe,  that  he  is  pleafed  with 
your  ceremonious  warnings  of  the  flefh,  and  takes  no 
notice  of  the  impurity  of  your  ipirits  ? 

41  But  there  is  a.  better  way  of  having  an  allowed 
and  fanctified  ufe  of  your  common  food  ;  and  that  is 
by  liberal  diftributions  out  of  your  worldly  fubitancc 
to  refrefh  the  bowels  of  the  poor,  according  to  God's 
ordinance,  for  a  holy  enjoyment  of  creature-comforts, 
and  of  his  blefling  upon  them:  (Deirt.  xxvi.  12, — 
15.)  And  as  the  duties  of  mercy  and  charity  are  of 
moral  obligation,  and  are  proper  fruits  of  true  repent- 
ance, cfpecially  when  perfons  have  been  guilty  of  ex- 
tortion 


124 


The  Evan%elifl 


Chap. 


XI. 


42  But  wo  unto 
you,  Pharifees:  for 
ye  tithe  mint  and 
rue,  and  all  man- 
ner of  herbs,  and 
p2fs  over  judg- 
ment, and  the  love 
of  God  :  thefe  ought 
ye  to  have  done, 
and  not  to  leave 
the  other  undone. 


43  Wo  unto  you, 
Pharifees  :  for  ye 
love  the  uppermoft 
feats  in  the  fyna- 
gogues,  and  greet- 
ings in  the  mar- 
kets. 


44  Wo  unto  you, 
fcribes  and  Phari- 
fees, hypocrites  • 
for  ye  are  as  graves 
which  appear  not, 
and  the  men  that 
walk  over  them, 
are  not  aware  of 
them. 


tortion  and  oppreffion,  ye  mould  be  much  more  felicit- 
ous about  thefe  than  about  external  warnings,  that 
all  things  may  be  clean  to  you,  as  they  are  to  him 
who  is  clean.     (77/.  i.  15.) 

42  But  the  greateil  of  all  woes  hangs  over  your 
heads,  ye  hypocritical  Pharifees  :  For,  under  pre- 
tence of  extraordinary  piety,  ye  are  wonderfully  ex- 
aft  in  paying  tithes  of  the  moft  inconfiderable  parts 
of  your  increafe,  fuch  as  mint,  anife,  rue,  and  cum- 
min, and  all  forts  of  herbs,  which  are  of  little  value, 
that  ye  may  gain  the  admiration  of  the  people,  in- 
gratiate yourielves  with  the  priefts,  and  make  a  merit 
of  it  with  God  ;  and,  at  the  fame  time,  ye  fhameful- 
ly  neglect  the  plaineft  duties  of  the  moral  law,  fuch 
as  the  practice  of  juftice  and  righteoufnefs  in  your 
dealings  with  men,  and  a  fincere  affection  to  God  : 
Whereas  ye  ought  to  have  attended  to  thefe  duties  in 
the  firft  place,  as  of  chief  importance  and  eternal  o- 
bligation,  though  not  to  the  neglect,  of  fuch  ritual 
performances  as  are  of  divine  inftitution. 

43  The  heavieft  vengeance  is  coming  upon  you,  O 
ye  hypocritical  Pharifees :  For  ye  are  exceffively  fond 
of  appearing  in  feats  of  diilinguifhing  and  fuperior  ho- 
nour, in  places  of  public  worihip,  where  there  ought 
to  be  the  moft  humble  fentiments  and  behaviour,  as  in 
the  prefence  of  God  ;  and  your  ambition  is  fo  extra- 
vagant, that  ye  are  eagerly  defirous  of,  and  mightily 
pleafed  with,  the  higheft  compliments  and  homage 
from  the  people,  in  all  places  of  common  refort,  as  if 
ye  were  holier  than  others,  and  were  the  lords  01 
their  faith  and  obedience. 

44  I  likewife  pronounce  you  to  be  extremely  refer- 
able, O  ye  fcribes  and  Pharifees,  who  play  the  hy- 
pocrite with  God  and  man  :  For  as  the  *  graves  of 
dead  men  are  full  of  rottennefs  and  corruption  ;  but, 
lying  level  with  the  ground,  and  being  over-grown 
with  grafs,  are  not  ealily  diitinguifhed  ;  and  they  that 
walk  over  them,  not  being  aware  of  them,  are  cere- 
monially defiled  by  touching  them.  (Numb.  xix.  16.) 
In  like  manner  your  outward  appearances  are  fo  fpe- 
cious,  that  men  cannot  ealily  difcover  your  hypocri- 

T    E. 

peribns  being  unawares  defiled  by  them, 
becaufe  they  covtld  not  be  diitinguifhed. 
And  in  both  thefe  confulerations  our 
Lord  might  (peak  of  them  as  fit  emblems 
of  the  fcribes  and  Pharifees,  in  different 
difcourfes,  as  thefe  were  :  For  this  was  in 
the  houfe  of  a  Pharifee,  ver.  17.  .  but 
the  other  was  fome  tiaiC  after,  in  the 
temple,    in  the  hearing  of  the  difciples 


N    O 

*  Some  graves  or  fcpulchres  were 
.vliited  with  chalk  or  lime,  that  people 
might  know  and  avoid  them,  to  prevent 
being  defiled  by  them.  Thefe  are  men- 
tioned, Matth.  xxiii.  27.  as  full  of  all 
ioathfomenefs  within,  notwithstanding 
the  beauty  of  their  outward  appearance. 
But  others  were  overgrown  with  herbs 
or  grafs,  which  hindered  their  being 
known  to  be  graves.  Thefe  are  refer- 
;cd  to  here,  to  reprefent  the  danger  of 


and  multitude,  Mattb,  xxiii.  1,  &c.  and 


xxiv.  1. 


Chap.  xi. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


12 


I 


45  Then  anfwer- 
ed  one  of  the  law- 
yers, and  faid  unto 
him,  Mafter,  thus 
faying,  thou  re- 
proacheft  us  alfo. 

46  And  he  faid, 


burdens  with 
of  your  fingers. 


fy  ;  but  ye  are  full  of  all  unclean nefs  within  ;  and 
they  that  converfe  with  you  are  infected,  and  drawn 
into  fin,  by  your  corrupt  doctrines  and  manners,  be- 
fore they  are  aware. 

45  At  thefe  words,  a  certain  doctor  of  the  law, 
then  prefent,  was  highly  offended  ;  and,  interrupting* 
Chriit's  difcourfe,  faid,  Mafter,  you  not  only  have 
been  reflecting  on  the  Pharifees  in  general,  but  now 
you  make  too  free  with  our  character  in  particular, 
considering  the  eminence  of  our  function*. 

46  But  (h)   Jefus,    who  was  no  refpecter  of  per- 
Wo  unto  you  alfo,   fonSj  ^qj-  afraid  of  the  faces  of  men,  replied,   Ye  al- 
ye  lawyers:  for  ye    fo  are  exceed;ng  a-u{\tJ  before  God,    and  expofed  to 
lade  men  with  bur-    ,.,        i<-  1  1       A  1  r     1      1 
dens  grievous  to  be    ^1S  dreadful  wrath,    (J  ye  expounders  or   the  law  : 

borne,  and  ye  your-  For,  in  your  interpretations  of  it,  ye  ftretch  fuch 
felves  touch  not  the  things  as  may  be  moil  burdenfome  to  the  people,  be- 
one  yond  what  God  ever  intended,  and  ye  furthermore 
add  many  fevere  and  expenfive  precepts  of  human  in- 
vention ;  and  all  thefe  ye  enjoin  with  the  utmoft  ri- 
gour upon  others,  without  the  leaft  abatement:  But 
ye  yourfelves  live  in  the  neglect  of  the  molt  impor- 
tant things,  which  it  is  your  office  to  teach  and  en- 
force upon  them,  how  ftrift  foever  ye  may  be  in 
fome  rituals  that  cofl  you  little  charge  or  trouble, 
and  may  recommend  you  to  the  reverence  and  ap- 
plaufes  of  men. 
47  Wo  unto  you :  47  Wo  unto  you,  ye  hypocritical  boafters :  For 
for  ye  build  the  ye  fhew  abundance  of  zeal  to  keep  up,  repair,  and 
;  beautify,  the  fepulchres  of  the  holy  prophets,  that 
were  perfecuted  to  death  for  their  iaithfulnefs,  and 
to  garnifh  their  tombs,  under  pretence  of  your  ha- 
ving all  pofiible  veneration  and  refpect.  for  their  me- 
mory ;  but  (2e)  your  fathers  were  the  perfons  that 
fo  cruelly  defiroyed  them. 

48  And  ye  are  the  inheritors  of  their  wickednefs, 
and  practically  approve  of  what  they  did,  being  as 
truly  their  offspring  in  your  temper,  difpofition,  and 
behaviour,  as  by  natural  defcent.  For  it  is  indeed 
them,  and  ye  build  true  that  they  were  the  murderers  of  the  Lord's  pro- 
their  fepulchres.  phets,  and  that  ye  take  care  to  keep  their  tombs  in 
good  repair  :  But  this  is  fo  far  from  being,  as  ye 
would  have  it  thought,  an  evidence  of  your  piety, 
that  it  is  really  a  perpetuating  the  memory  of  that 
malignant  fpirit  in  your  anceftors,  who  put  them  to. 
death  ;  which  reigns  with  greater  fury,  and  will  dii- 

cover 
T    E. 

fynagogues;  and  therefore  thry  affirmed 
to  themfelves  an  air  of  great  gravity,  and 
valued  themfelves  upon  the  dignity  cr 
their  ftations;  and  they  were  m-oftly  tf 
the  feet  of  the  Pharrfces. 


fepulchres    of 
prophets,  and  your 
fathers  killed  them. 


48  Truly  yebear 
witnefs  that  ye  al- 
low the  deeds  of 
your  fathers  :  for 
thev  indeed  killed 


N    o 

*  The  fcp.bes  or  lawyers,  which  are 
terms  of  the  fame  import,  were,  by  their 
office,  interpreters  of  the  law,  and  were 
commonly  judges  in  the  Jemrijb  fanhe- 
drim,   and  teachers  in  their  fchools  and 

Vol.  II.  S 


126  The  Evangellft  Chap.  xi. 

cover  itfelf  with  ftill  higher*  aggravations,    in  your- 
felves. 

49  Therefore  al-        49  Therefore  the  Son  of  God  * ,  in  whom  are  hid 
fo  laid  the  wiidom   aj^  t^e  treafures  of  wifdom  and  knowledge,    and  by 

-poitles,  and  fome  to  deal  mil,  more  plainly  with  them,  laying,  I  will 
of  them  they  fhall  fend,  among  you  of  this  age,  divinely-infpired  pro- 
ftay  and  perfecute;  phets,  and  extraordinary  melTengers,  to  publifh  my 
gofpel ;  and  fome  of  thefe  ye  will  barbaroufly  de- 
ftroy,  and  others  of  them  ye  will  perfecute  with 
reproaches,  imprifonments,  fcourges,  and  other 
cruelties. 

50  That  the  blood        50    Hereby  ye  will  far  exceed  your  fathers  in  ex- 
of  all  the  prophets,   teniive  and  outrageous  instances  of  wickedncfs,  which 
which    was    flied    qq^  wjii  fuffer  you  to  commit,  in  defiance  of  greater 
from   the    iounda-  .  j  «j  r  '&.•         ^.i. 
tioh  of  the  world    mercies,  and  more  evident  means  01  conviction,  than 

may  be  required  of.  they  ever  enjoyed,   that  ye  may  bring  upon  the  pre- 

this  generation  ;       fent  generation  of  the  Jews  all  the   terrible   wrath 

threatened  and  due  for  national  guilt,  in  ihedding  the 

blood  of  the  fervants  of  God  in  former  ages,  from  the 

beginning  of  the  world. 

51    From    the        51  Even  from  the  blood  of  righteous  Abel,  which 

blood  of  Abel,  un-   was  fhed  DV  Qain  on  account  of  religion,  and  which 

to  the  blood  of  Za-  cr^  ^^  to  heaven  for  vengeance,  before  the  giving 
ch.2.ri3,s    which,  uc- 

xiQied  between  the  °f  tne  ^aw>  unto  tne  blood  of  that  well-known  Za- 
altar  and  the  tern-  charias,  under  the  law,  whom  your  predeceffors  fto- 
ple  :  verily  I  fay  ned  to  death,  for  reproving  their  idolatry,  in  the 
unto  you,  It  fhall  court  Detween  tne  altar  0f  burnt-ofFering  and  the 
feneration.  *   temple,    and  who,    when  he  died,    faid,    The  Lord 

look  upon  it,  and  require  it  :  (2  Chron.  xxiv.  20, — 
22.  fee  the  note  on  Matth.  xxiii.  35.)  I  alTuredly 
tell  you,  that  God,  in  his  righteous  judgment,  will 
revenge  all  this  blood  upon  the  men  of  this  genera- 
tion, for  their  ftill  more  flagrant  iniquity  of  the  fame 
kind,  in  the  utter  deftruction  of  their  city,  temple, 
and  nation. 
52  Wo  unto  you  ^2  y/0  unt0  you,  in  particular,  ye  perverfe  inter- 
Vvyers-.foryehave  rg  of  th    hw      F        in{lead  of  faithfuUv  difchar- 

taken  away  the  key    r.         .       .  r  Z.  .n      ,    ,     J  ,    * 

of  knowledge  :  ye   g3ng  the  dutT  of  your  office,  ye  miilead  the  people  f> 
entered  not  in  your-    and  will  not  fuffer  them  to  take  the  fcriptures  in  any 
ielves,    and  them   other  fenfe  than  ye  think  fit  to  impofe  upon  them  ; 
that  an(l 

NOTES. 

*  If,  "as  fome  fuppofe,   Chrift  himfelf  have  fpoken  thefe  things;  {Matth.  xxiii. 

jiere  fpokeof  that  divine  perfection  which  34.)  and  who  was  reprefentect  under  the 

we  call  the  wifdom  of  God,  it  is  difficult  character  of  IVifdom,  in  Prov.  viii. ;  and  i'o 

to  make  any  tolerable  fenfe  of  this  verfe,  is  called  the  wifdom  of  God,  1  Cor.  i.  24. 

unlets  the  things  here  mentioned,  as  faid  f  The  key  of  knowledge",  as  fome  think, 

by  the  Wifdom  of  God,  were  to  be  found  is  an  ailufion  to  the  cuftom  of  the  ancient 

in  the  Old  Teftament.  which,  I  think,  is  Jews,  who,  at  the  ordination  of  a  Rabbi, 

filent  about  them  :  And  therefore  I  take  or  teacher  of  the  law,  gave  him  a  key,  to 

ibis  phrafe  to  be  the  evangeliit's  appcl'a-  intimate  that  he  was  to  open  the  fci  i 

tion  of  Chrift,   who  is  exprefsly  laid  to  tares  to  the  people. 


Chap.  xi. 

that  were  entering 
in,  ye  hindered. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


127 


53  And  as  he 
faid  thefe  things 
unto  them,  the 
fcribes  and  the 
Phariiees  began  to 
urge  him  vehe- 
mently, and  to 
provoke  him  to 
fpeak  of  many 
things  : 

54  Laying  wait 
for  him,  and  feek- 
ing  to  catch  fome- 
thing  out  of  his 
mouth,  that  they 
might  accufe  him. 


and  fo  ye  not  ohly  refufe  to  enter  into  the  gofpel- 
kingdom  yourfelves,  but  likewife  keep  them  in  igno- 
rance who  feem  inclined  to  put  in  for  its  benefits, 
and  do  all  ye  can  to  hinder  them  by  the  falfe  gloffes 
which  ye  give  to  the  word  of  God,  and  by  hiding 
from  them  its  plaineft  references  to  the  Mefliah. 

53  Whilit  our  Lord  was  thus  freely  expoiing  and 
reproving  the  wickednefs  and  hypocrify  cf  the  fcribes, 
they,  together  with  the  Pharifees,  were  enraged  at 
it  ;  and  therefore  preffed  him  with  many  captious 
queilions,  to  try,  whether  they  could  not  provoke  him 
to  drop  fome  unguarded  expreffion,  which  might, 
one  way  or  other,  be  turned  to  his  difadvantage  : 

54  They,  at  the  fame  time,  critically  obferving  e- 
very  thing  he  faid,  and  endeavouring  to  put  an  invi- 
dious conitrucvtion  upon  it,  that  might  give  them  a 
plaufible  pretence,  either  of  prejudicing  the  people  a* 
gainft.  him,  as  an  enemy'to  their  law,  or  of  profecu- 
ting  him  as  an  enemy  to  the  Roman  government. 


RECOLLECTIONS. 

What  need  have  we  that  Chrift  fliould  teach  us  to  pray  unto  God,  as  our  hea- 
venly Father,  for  all  temporal,  ami  eipecially  fpiritual  bltllings,  with  holy  adora- 
tion and  reverence,  importunity,  faith,  and  fervour,  and  with  a  charitable  and  for- 
giving frame  of  fpirit,  that  God,  in  all  things,  may  be  glorified  !  And  what  encou- 
ragement have  we  to  hope  for  a  gracious  anfwer,  when  we  are  enabled  in  this  man- 
ner, and  with  an  eye  to  the  great  Mediator,  as  discovered  in  the  clearer  light  of 
the  gofpel,  to  pour  out  our  hearts  before  the  Lord!  But  while  fome  are  defirous  of 
Chrift's  teaching  them  to  pray,  how  are  others  left  to  blafpbeme,  inftead  of  receiv- 
ing him,  who  is  the  only  deftroyer  of  Satan's  power,  and  deliverer,  of  his  miferable 
captives !  And  though  fome  are  more  defperately  wicked  than  others,  there  are  no 
neuters  in  religion,  bnt  all  are  really  either  friends  or  enemies  to  the  only  Saviour; 
and  many,  who  feem  to  be  reformed,  and  freed  from  the  power  ot  the  devil,  may 
turn  the  vileft  apoftates,  and  be  more  than  ever  fubjedi  to  his  tyranny  over  them. 
But  oh  happy  fouls  that  believe  and  obferve  the  word  of  God  1  They  are  dearer  to 
our  Lord  than  his  neareft  kindred,  according  to  the  flefli ;  whilft  others,  whofe  un- 
belief will  not  fubmit  to  the  clearer!:  evidence,  fall  under  his  fevere  rebukes  :  Even 
heathen  nations  will  rife  up  in  judgment  againft  them.  What  a  miferable  cafe  is 
it  to  be  blinded  with  finful  prejudices  in  the  midft  of  gofpel-light  1  But  their  tolly 
and  wickednefs  is  molt  aggravated,  of  all  others,  who  pervert  and  abuie  the  mean.: 
of  grace,  under  the  power  of  a  fuperftitious,  hypocritical,  and  perfecuting  temper: 
They  prefer  external  forms  and  ceremonies  to  the  fubftantial  duties  of  love  and  o- 
bedience  ;  they  take  up  with  fair  (hews  of  religion,  whilft  all  manner  of  impuri- 
ties are  indulged,  and  reign  within  ;  and  they  are  inveterate  enemies  to  Guilt,  his 
gofpel,  and  his  followers,  while  they  pretend  to  condemn  others  of  a  like  temper  in 
former  ages.  But  God  will  take  the  heavieft  vengeance  upon  them,  if  not  in  this 
world,  in  that  which  is  to  come  ;  and  national  (ins,  mr;t  iii'ue  in  national  reform- 
ation, or  national  ruin.  Blefled  be  God  for  the  free  uie  of  the  fcriptures:  May  none 
of  us  incur  the  wo  of  taking  them  out  of  the  hands  of  the  common  people,  or  of 
impofing  our  own  fenfe  of  them  upon  their  confeiences  !  And  may  none  of  us  be  ever 
fo  impatient  of  reproof,  as  to  have  heart-rilings  againft  Chrift  and  his  word  for  con- 
demning  our  faults,  inftead  of  taking  conviction  of  them  ! 


8  2 


C  H  A  P. 


128 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  xii. 


CHAP.      XII. 

Chrijl  cautions  his  difciplcs  againjl  bypocrify  and  cowardice  in  their 
profejfwn  and  preaching,  j, — 12.  ;  and  againjl  covetcufnefs9 
13, — 2r.  Direcls  them  to  cajl  all  their  care  upon  God,  and  to 
make  religion  their  chief  bufnefs,  22, — 34.  Shews  them  the  ne- 
ceffity  of  watchfulnefs,  35, — 48.  Bids  them  expecl  perfecution, 
49, — 53.  j4nd  warns  the  people  of  the  danger  of  negleBs  and  de- 
%',  54>— 59- 


Text. 


Paraphrase. 


*  whenTheTe*^    YyHILST   our    Lord   was  difcourfmg  with  the 
gathered  together  fcribes  and  P  bar  fees,  a  vail  multitude  of  the 

an  innumerable  people  crowded  about  him,  and  were  ready  to  tram- 
multitude  of  peo-  pie  one  another  under  foot  in  preffing  forward  to  get 
pie,  mfornuch  that  near  enough  to  hear  him  :  Then,  in  the  audience  of 
^nother  °he  lie"  -^  t^le  PeoP^e»  ^e  turne^  ^s  difcourfe  particularly  to 
gan  to  fay 'unto  his  his  difciples,  faying,  Take  heed,  (tt^tov)  above  all 
difciplcs  firft  of  all,  things  elfe,  of  hypocrify,  which  is  the  reigning  fin 
Beware  ye  of  the  0f  th.e  Pharifecs,  and,  like  leaven,  puffs  them  up, 
"  fours,  and  corrupts  their  fpirits,  fpreads  its  infedion 
through  all  their  profeflions,  words,  and  actions,  arid 
utterly  fpoils  their  fpecious  pretences  to  religion.  Be 
not  ye  like  them  : 

2  For  how  clofe  and  artful  foever  your  hypocrify 
may  be,  it  cannot  be  fo  fecret,  but  that,  as  it  is  al- 
ways known  to  God,  it  mall  one  day  be  manifefted 
to  others  ;  nor  can  it  be  fo  difguifed,  but  that,  fooner 
or  later,  it  fhall  be  expofed  in  its  true  light  to  pub- 
lic view,  fometimes  to  the  confounding  of  its  own  de- 
fign  even  in  this  world,  and  certainly  in  the  day  of 
judgment. 

3  Your  moft  concealed  tranfa&ions,  therefore,  with 
pne  another,  fhall  hereafter  be  made  manifeft  ;  and 
what  private  inflru&ions  foever  I  have  communicated 
to  you,  and  ye  have  hitherto  talked  over  only  among 
yourfelves,  like  perfons  whifpering  in  the  dark,  or  in 

3<en  in  the  ear  in   a  clofet,  ye  fhall  publifh  them  in  the  plaineil  manner 

ciofets  fhall  be  pro-   wherever  ye  go,  that  they  may  be  feen  like  the  light 

loiite-to^s^011     1C   at  noon-day,    and  may  be  heard  like  a  proclamation 

from  the  battlements  of  an  houfe,  by  all  about  you*  : 

Remember  that  it  fhall  appear  at  laft  whether  ye  have 

been  Jincere  and  faithful  in  all  thefe  things  or  not. 

4  And 


rifees,  which  is  hy 
pocrify. 


t  For  there  is 
nothing  covered, 
that  fhall  not  be 
revealed  ;  neither 
hid,  that  fhall  not 
be  known. 


3  Therefore 
whatsoever  ye  hare 
ipoken  in  darkness, 
ihall  be  heard  in 
the  light :  and  that 
which  ye  have  lpo- 


N  O 
*  It  feems,  by-  comparing  this  with 
jMQnth.  x.  26,  27.  (fee  the  note  there) 
and  JMhrk  iy.  21,  22.  that  our  Lord  fpoke 
it  with  relation  to  his  difciples  publish- 
ing the  gofpel;    and  yet,  as  it  is  here 


T    E. 

brought  in  bv  wav  of  caution  a<rainft  hv- 
pocrify,  I  have  alfo  had  a  regard  to  the 
difcqvery  of  fecret  tranfaclions  in  the 
day  of  judgment. 


Chap.  xii. 

4  And  I  fay  un- 
to you,  My  friends, 
Be  not  afraid  of 
them  that  kill  the 
body,  and  after 
that,  have  no  more 
that  they  can  do. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


129 


5  But  I  will  fore- 
warn you  whom 
you  mall  fear:  Fear 
him  which,  after  he 
hath  killed,  hath 
power  to  caft  into 
hell  ;  yea,  I  fay 
unto  you,  Fear 
him. 


6  Are  not  five 
fparrows  fold  for 
two  farthings,  and 
Tiot  one  of  them  is 
forgotten  before 
Cod? 

7  But  even  the 
very  hairs  of  your 
head  are  all  num- 
bered. Fear  not 
^therefore  :    ye   are 

of  more  value  than 
many  fparrows. 


8  Alfo  I  fay  un- 
to you,  Whoibever 
{hall  confefs  me  be- 
fore men,  him  (hall 
the  Son  of  man  al- 
fo confefs  before  the 
angels  of  God. 


4  And  let  me  caution  you,  my  difciples,  whom  I 
efteem,  and  am  concerned  for,  as  my  dearell  friends, 
not  to  be  difcouraged  in,  or  turned  afide  from,  the 
way  of  your  duty,   by  fears  of  provoking  the  Phari- 

Jees,  or  any  man  whatfoever  :  For  the  utmoft  that 
their  malice  and  power  can  do  againft  you,  is  only  to 
deilroy  the  life  of  the  body,  which  would  quickly 
die  of  itfelf ;  they,  after  all,  can  neither  deprive  the 
foul  of  its  life  and  happinefs,  nor  hinder  the  body's 
rifmg  again  to  eternal  life. 

5  But  I  will  tell  you,  whom  ye  ought  to  regard 
as  the  object  of  religious  fear,  and  to  be  afraid  of  of- 
fending, by  the  omiffron  of  any  duty,  or  commifiion  of 
any  fin  ;  and  that  is  the  great  God,  who  is  able  to 
kill  the  body  whenever  he  pleafes,  and  afterwards  to 
make  both  foul  and  body  for  ever  miferable  in  the 
torments  of  hell ;  but,  without  vvhofe  permiflion,  the 
worft  of  your  enemies  can  do  you  no  harm  :  It  is,  I 
fay,  your  higheft  wifdom  and  intereft,  as  well  as  du- 
ty, to  be  governed  by  a  holy  fear  of  him. 

6  Are  not  fparrows  of  fo  little  worth,  that  five  of 
them  are  ufually  fold  for  two  farthings  ?  and  yet  the 
all-governing  providence  of  God  fo  carefully  watches 
even  over  them,  that  not  one  of  them  dies,  or  is  kill- 
ed without  his  cognizance  and  leave.  {Matth.  x.  29. 
fee  the  note  there. ) 

7  But  there  is  ftill  a  more  fpecial  care  of  Providence 
exercifed  about  you,  infomuch  that  all  your  minuter!: 
concerns,  even  to  the  hairs  of  your  head,  are  under 
God's  exact  infpecTtion  and  difpofal ;  none  of  them 
can  fuffer  injury,  much  lefs  can  your  lives  be  deftroy- 
ed  or  hurt,  without  his  knowledge  and  will.  Be  not 
therefore  afraid  of  what  man  can  do  unto  you  :  For 
ye  as  men,  and  efpecially  as  God's  fervants  and  chil- 
dren, are  in  the  rank  of  creatures,  and,  in  his  account, 
of  much  greater  value  than  ever  fo  many  fparrows  ;  and 
he,  who  does  not  forget  them,  ye  may  be  fure,  will 
never  be  unmindful  of  you. 

8  And,  for  your  further  encouragement  and  cau- 
tion, I  affure  you,  that,  whether  God  (hall  fee  fit  to 
protect  you  from  the  fury  of  your  enemies  in  this 
world  or  not,  your  being  courageous  and  faithful,  or 
timorous  and  men-pleafing,  in  your  profeflion  and 
preaching,  will  be  of  the  greateft  confequence  in  the 
world  to  come  :  For  whoever  (hall  boldly  own  and 
profefs  his  faith  in  me  here,  and  fhall  Hand  up  for 
my  honour,  truths,  and  ways,  in  the  face  of  all  op- 
pofition,  reproach,  and  perfecution  from  men  ;  I,  the 
Mefiiah,  will  hereafter  publicly  own  and  honour  him 
as  one  of  my  difciples,  and  pafs  a  fentence  of  eter- 
nal 


*3° 


9  But  he  that 
denieth  me  before 
men,  fhall  be  de- 
nied before  the  an- 
?els  of  God. 


The  Evangeliji 


Chap.  xii. 


to  And  whofo- 
ever  fhall  fpeak  a 
word  againft  the 
Son  of  man,  it  fliaU 
be  forgiven  him  : 
but  unto  him  that 
blafphemeth  a- 
gainft  the  Holy 
Ghoft,  it  fhall  not 
be   forgiven. 


II  And  when 
they  bring  you  un- 
to the  fynagogues, 
and  unto  magi- 
strates, and  powers, 
take  ye  no  thought 
how  or  what  thing 
ye,  fhall  anfwer,  or 
what  ye  fhall  fay  : 


1 2  For  the  Holy 
Ghoft  fhall  teach 
you  in  the  fame 
hour  what  ye  ought 
jto  fay. 


tral  bleflednefs  upon  him,    hi  the  prefence  of  my  Fa- 
ther,  (Maith.  x.  32.)  and  his  holy  angels. 

9  But  whoever,  through  fear  or  fhame,  in  days  of 
terror  and  calumny,  for  my  fake,  fhall  refufe  an  ho- 
nourable teftimony  to  me,  and  fhall  decline  or  call  off 
an  open  profeflion  of  my  name,  to  the  gratification 
of  mine  enemies,  and  difheartening  of  my  friends,  in 
this  life  ;  he  mail  certainly  be  difowned  by  me,  and 
expofed  to  public  fhame,  before  God  [Matth.  x.  33.) 
and  angels,  as  one  whom  I  never  approved  of,  and 
fhall  be  condemned  to  eternal  mifery  and  confufion  in 
the  day  of  judgment. 

10  And  while  ye  make  a  due  profeflion  and  de- 
claration of  my  gofpel  to  others  ;  if  any  among  them, 
in  my  prefent  ftate  of  humiliation,  fhall  fpeak  light- 
ly of  me,  and  even  difpute  againft  my  being  the 
Chrift  of  God,  through  their  own  ignorance  and  pre- 
judices, occafioned  by  the  meannefs  of  my  appear- 
ance, and  the  greatnefs  of  my  fufferings,  contrary 
to  their  expectations  about  the  Mefliah  ;  they  may 
obtain  repentance  and  remiflion  of  thefe  fins,  through 
the  Spirit's  influence,  and  my  mediation  :  But  who- 
ever, after  my  refurreftion  from  the  dead,  afcenfion 
to  heaven,  and  pouring  down  of  the  Holy  Ghoft,  fhall 
fpeak  malicioufly  againft  him  in  his  extraordinary 
gifts  and  operations  for  the  confirmation  of  my  cha- 
racter, imputing  them  to  the  agency  of  the  devil,  as 
fome  of  the  Pharifees  do  the  miraculous  works  which 
I  now  perform  ;  the  guilt  of  their  fin  will  be  fo  great, 
and  fo  directly  againft  the  laft  and  only  means  of 
conviction  and  falvation,  that  no  repentance  or  for- 
givenefs  of  it  fhall  ever  be  granted. 

1 1  But  (h)  whatever  be  the  event  to  others,  and 
how  much  foever  any  may  be  enraged  againft  you 
for  the  teftimony  ye  bear  to  me,  even  though  they 
fnould  carry  you  to  ecclefiaftical  courts  of  judicature, 
held  in  the  fynagogues,  to  be  tried,  judged,  and  con- 
demned by  the  Jewijh  rulers,  or  fliould  bring  you 
before  magiftrates,  and  governors  among  the  Gen- 
tiles, to  anfwer  for  the  doctrine  which  ye  profefs  and 
preach  ;  yet  fear  none  of  their  faces,  nor  be  over- 
falicitous,  much  lefs  anxioufly  and  diftruftfully  care- 
ful, about  what  defence  ye  mail  make  for  yourfelves, 
and  for  the  truth. 

1 2  For,  as  the  caufe  is  mine  more  than  yours,  I 
will  ftand  by  you  ;  and  the  Holy  Ghoft  fhall  be,  at 
that  inftant,  a  fpirit  of  wifdom  and  courage  to  you, 
that  ye  may  know  what  to  anfwer,  and  how  to  be- 
have, as  may  be  moft  for  my  glory  and  intereft  in 
the  world,  and  moft  becoming  yourfelves  as  my  fer- 
vr.nts. 

13  Whilft 


Chap.  xii. 

13  And  one  of 
the  company  faid 
unto  him,  Mafter, 
fpeak  to  my  bro- 
ther, that  he  di- 
vide the  inherit- 
ance with  me. 


14  And  he  faid 
unto  him,  Man, 
who  made  me  a 
judge,  or  a  divider 
over  you  ? 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


*3* 


15  And  he  faid 
unto  them,  Take 
heed,  and  beware 
of  covetoufnefs  : 
for  a  man's  life 
confifteth  not  in 
the  abundance  of 
the  things  which 
he  pofiefieth. 


1 6  And  he  fpake 
a  parable  unto 
them,  faying,  The 
ground  of  a  certain 
rich  man  brought 
forth  plentifully. 

17  And  lie 
thought  within 
himfelf,  faying, 
What  fliall  I  do, 
becaufe  I  have  no 
room  where  to  be- 
llow my  fruits  ? 

it  And  he  faid, 
This 


1 3  Whilft  our  Lord  was  difcourfing  in  this  man- 
ner to  his  difciples,  one  of  the  ilanders-by,  a  worldly- 
minded  man,  broke  in  upon  him,  faying,  Sir,  as 
you  are  a  perfon  of  aa  extraordinary  character,  and 
fet  up  for  the  Mefiiah,  I  beg  that  you  would  be  lb- 
good  as  to  decide  a  controverfy  between  my  brother 
and  me  about  an  hereditary  eilate,  and  order  him  to 
do  mc  juftice. 

14  But,  (£-:)  jefus  replied,  Friend,  whatfoever 
your  notions  of  the  Median's  temporal  power  may 
be,  I  make  no  pretences  to  interpofe  in  an  affair  of 
this  nature  ;  my  bulinefs  lies  in  fpiritual  things,  rela- 
ting to  the  inheritance  of  eternal  life,  and  not  in  fe- 
cular  concerns,  relating  to  the  inheritances  of  this 
world  :  And,  were  I  to  meddle  with  them,  no- 
doubt  but  fome  would  fay  to  me,  as  the  Egyptian 
faid  to  Mofesy  in  a  way  of  refentment  and  reproach, 
Who  ?nade  thee  a  ruler  and  a  judge  over  us  ?   (Exod. 

15  Chrift,  having  m  this  manner  waved  mtereft- 
ing  himfelf  in  temporal  affairs,  took  oceaiion  from 
the  unfeafonable  motion  that  had  been  made  to  him 
about  them,  to  fay  to  his  difciples,  and  the  reil  of  the 
company,  Be  watchful  over  your  own  hearts,  and 
Hand  upon  your  guard,  left  the  fin  of  covetoufnefs 
infenfibly  enfnare,  defile,  and  ruin  you  :  Do  not  give 
way  to  a  fondnefs  for  the  good  things  of  this  world, 
to  an  over-folicitude  about  them,  and  eager  purfuit  af- 
ter them,  or  to  an  unwillingnefs  on  proper  occafions 
to  part  with  them  :  For  as  a  little  will  fuffice  for  the 
neceflaries,  conveniencies,  and  comforts  of  the  body  ; 
fo  the  happinefs  of  the  prefent  life,  and  fatisfattion 
of  the  foul,  does  not  confiil  in  an  affluence  of  earth- 
ly pofTeflions,  which  ufually  brings  incumbrances  and 
fnares,  rather  than  contentment  and  advantage,  and 
is  rather  an  hindrance  than  furtherance  of  a  man's  u- 
fmg  and  leaving  this  world  with  decency,  and  ex- 
changing it  for  a  better. 

16  To  illuftrate  and  confirm  this,  our  bleffed 
Lord  added  a  fuppofed  inftance  of  a  rich  man,  who 
was  far  from  being  an  happy  one,  faying,  A  certain 
man  pofTeffed  and  occupied  a  very  large  eftate  in 
land,  which  yielded  fo  great  an  mcreafe  of  fruits* 
that  he  had  not  ftowage  fufiicient  to  hold  them. 

1 7  Hereupon,  inllead  of  contriving  what  he  mould 
render  to  the  Lord  for  all  his  benefits,  and  how  he 
might  belt  improve  them  for  his  glory,  and  the  good 
of  others,  his  mind  was  full  of  folicitous  concern  how 
to  fecurc  and  difpofe  of  all  this  abundance  for  his 
own  ufe. 

18  And  at  length  the  refolution  he  came  to  was 

this  : 


132 

This  will  I  do  :  I 
will  pull  down  my 
bams,  and  build 
greater;  and  there 
will  I  bellow  all 
my  fruits  and  my 
goods. 

19  And  I  will 
fay  to  my  foul, 
Soul,  thou  haft 
much  goods  laid 
up  for  many  years; 
take  thine  eafe, 
eat,  drink,  and  be 
merry. 

20  But  God  faid 
unto  him,  Thou 
fool,  this  night  thy 
foul  mall  be  re- 
quired of  thee  : 
then  whcfe  fhali 
thofe  things  be 
which  thou  haft 
provided  ? 


The  Evangelijl 


Chap.  xii. 


21  So  :Yhe  that 
laycth  up  treafure 
for  himfeif,  and  is 
not  rich  towards 
God.   ' 


kt    And   ne  faid 
-unto   his  dilciples, 
Therefore  I  fay  un- 
to  you.    Take   no 
thou  glat 


this  :  I  will  even  pull  down  my  old  barns,  and  build 
new  ones  more  commodious  and  capacious  than  the 
prefent  ;  and  will  put  my  vaft  increafe  into  them,  that 
I  may  keep  it  in  ftore,  and  ufe  it  for  my  pleafure. 

1 9  And,  having  fo  much  treafure  heaped  together, 
he  vainly  congratulated  himfeif,  as  if  nothing  more 
were  neceffary  for  his  fafety  and  comfort,  faying,  O 
my  foul,  thou  halt  now  enough  to  regale  thy felf  with, 
to  the  utmofl  of  thy  inclinations  and  appetites,  for  a 
great  many  years  to  come  ;  fear  no  evil,  and  fpare 
no  coft  on  any  account  whatfoever ;  but  indulge  thy- 
felf  in  all  the  indolence  and  pleafure,  luxury  and  mer- 
riment, that  heart  can  wifh  for. 

20  But  juft  as  he  was  thus  laying  out  his  fchemes, 
without  any  thought  of  death  or  danger,  God  broke 
all  his  meafures  in  an  inftant,  by  an  awful  fummons, 
faying,  O  vain,  inconfiderate  creature,  who  imagine 
yourfelf  to  be  lord  and  fole  proprietor  of  all  this 
plenty,  as  if  you  neither  received  nor  held  it  of  me, 
nor  were  accountable  to  me  for  it  ;  and  who  are 
grown  fo  felf-fufficient,  as  to  fancy  that  thefe  uncertain 
riches  would  fecure  long  life  and  pleafure,  and  make 
up  an  entire  fatisfa&ion  to  your  immortal  foul  it  felf : 
This,  your  way,  is  your  folly  ;  that  foul  of  yours  fhall 
this  very  night  be  ftripped  of  all  thefe  poffefiions,  and 
be  required  to  give  an  account  of  itfelf  and  them  at 
my  tribunal ;  and  furrounding  devils  will  demand  it 
for  their  own,  that  it  may  be  tormented  with  them 
for  ever :  And  then,  who  will  inherit  the  treafures 
which  you,  with  care  and  toil,  have  fcraped  together  ? 
How  do  you  know  whether  they  will  fall  into  the 
hands  of  friends  and  relations,  or  of  ftrangers  and  e- 
nemies,  of  wife  men  or  fools,  of  niggards  or  fpend- 
thrifts  ?  but  whoever  may  be  the  pofTeifor,  they  will 
be  no  longer  yours  ;  you  can  carry  none  of  them  a- 
way  with  you,  and  they  will  be  fo  far  from  profiting 
in  the  day  of  wrath,  that  they  will  rife  up  in  judg- 
ment againft  you  for  your  abufes  of  them. 

21  Such  a  fool  as  this,  is  every  earthly-minded 
covetous  man,  who  fets  his  heart  upon,  and  feeks  af- 
ter, the  riches  of  this  world,  as  if  his  chief  happinefs 
lay  in  affluent  circumftances,  and  in  making  provifion 
for  the  flefli,  to  fulfil  the  lulls  thereof ;  and  who  is 
not  rich  in  faith,  hope,  and  holinefs,  nor  is  ferious- 
ly  concerned  about  a  (hare  in  the  treafures  that  are 
incorruptible,  undefiled,  and  never  fade  away,  and 
from  which  he  himfeif  (hall  never  die. 

22  But  (\)  as  Chrift's  difciples,  being  generally 
poor,  might  be  apt  to  think  that  they  had  little  or 
no  concern  in  what  he  had  faid  about  the  rich,  he 
proceeded  more  particularly  to  warn  them  againft  fuch 

foli- 


Chap.  xii. 

thought  for  your 
life,  what  ye  (hall 
eat ;  neither  for 
the  body,  what 
ye  (hall  put  on. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


x3. 


23  The  life  is 
more  than  meat, 
and  the  body  is 
more  than  rai- 
ment. 


24  Confider  the 
ravens  :  for  they 
neither  fow  nor 
reap ;  which  nei- 
ther have  ftore- 
houfe  nor  barn ; 
and  God  feedeth 
them  :  How  much 
more  are  ye  better 
than  the  fowls  ? 


25  And  which 
of  you,  with'taking 
thought,  can  add 
to  his  ftature  one 
cubit  ? 


26  If  ye  then  be 
not  able  to  do  that 
thing  which  is 
Icaft,  why  take  ye 
thought  for  the 
re  it  ? 


27  Confider  the 
lilies  how  they 
grow  :  they  toil 
not,  they  fpin  not : 
and  yet  I  fay  unto 
you, 

Vol.  II. 


folicitude  of  mind  about  the  necej/hries  of  life,  as 
their  low  and  expofed  circumilances  were  the  great- 
eft  temptations  to,  faying,  Take  heed  of  being  anxi- 
oufly  careful,  and  difquieting  yourfelves  with  unbe- 
lieving fears,  even  about  thofe  enjoyments  of  this 
world  that  are  requifite  to  the  fupport  and  the  ordi- 
nary comfort  of  your  lives,  fuch  as  food  and  raiment, 
and  accommodations  of  that  kind  ;  but  depend  on 
the  providence  of  God,  in  the  way  of  your  duty,  for 
fuch  things  as  may  be  needful  and  convenient  for  you. 

23  For  as, the  human  life  and  body  are  more  valu- 
able than  food  and  clothes,  which  are  only  the  means 
of  their  fuftenance  and  comfort ;  fo  God  having  al- 
ready brought  you  into  being  without  your  own 
concern  about  it,  or  contribution  toward  it,  he  will 
much  more  give  you  a  fufficiency  for  continued  fubfift- 
ence,  without  your  perplexing  thoughtfulnefs  about 
it,  as  long  as  he  defigns  you  to  live,  or  has  any  work 
for  you  to  tdo  in  the  body. 

24  As  to  food,  obferve  what  care  God,  in  his  pro- 
vidence, takes  of  the  fowls  of  the  air,  even  of  the 
moil  hungry  and  voracious  among  them,  fuch  as  the 
ravens  ;  he  conftantly  fupplies  them  with  the  provi- 
fions  of  the  day,  though  they  can  do  nothing  to  pre- 
pare it,  nor  have  forefight  enough  to  lay  up  for  time 
to  come  :  And  are  not  ye  a  much  more  noble  part 
of  God's  creation  as  men,  and  much  dearer  to  him 
as  his  children  ?  furely  then,  he,  who  feeds  and  takes 
care  of  ravens,  will  not  ftarve  and  negleft  you. 

25  And  your  carking  thoughts  about  thefe  things 
are  as  foolifh,  as  they  are  needlefs.  To  convince  you 
of  this,  conlider,  that  ye  infenfibly  grow  up  to  that 
determinate  ftature  and  age  ($\txix)  of  the  body 
which  God  has  appointed  to  you  refpedtively  :  And 
who  among  you  can,  by  any  contrivance,  art,  or  ma- 
nagement, make  it  one  degree  taller,  or  ftretch  out 
its  life  one  moment  longer,  than  God  pleafes  ?  It,  af- 
ter all,  mull  be  juft  as  he  fees  fit  to  order  it. 

26  If  therefore  it  is  impoflible,  by  your  utmoft 
anxiety,  to  do  fo  trivial  a  thing  as  adding  ever  fo 
little  to  that  ftature  of  the  body,  or  that  time  of 
its  life,  which  God  has  fet  for  it  :  How  much  lefs 
can  ye  do  all  things  that  are  necefTary  for  the  fuppoit 
of  its  whole  frame,  and  lengthening  out  its  age  to 
any  number  of  years  ?  Why  then  mould  ye  diftrefs 
yourfelves  about  them  ? 

27  And  as  to  raiment,  there  is  as  little  reafon  to- 
be  over-folicitous  about  this  :  For  do  but  obferve  how 
the  flowers  of  the  field,  and  particularly  the  lilies  or 
tulips,  are  arrayed,  without  their  own  weaving,  or 
fp inning,  or  taking  any  pains  to  provide  for  them- 

T  fclve?, 


J34 

you,  that  Solomon, 
in  all  his  glory,  was 
not  arrayed  like 
one  of  thefe. 


iS  If  then  God 
fo  clothe  the  grai's, 
which  is  to-day  in 
the  ileld,  and  to- 
morrow is  call  in- 
to the  oven  ;  how 
much  more  ivillke 
clothe  you,  O  ye  of 
little  faith?" 


29  And  feek  not 
ye  what  ye  flaail 
eat,  or  what  ye 
ihall  drink,  neither 
be  ye  of  doubtful 
mind. 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  xii. 


30  For  all  thefe 
things  do  the  na- 
tions of  the  world 
feek  after :  and 
your  Father  know- 
eth  that  ye  have 
need  of  thefe 
things. 


31  But  rather 
feek  ye  the"  king- 
dom of  God,  and 
Jill  thefe  things 
fhall  be  added  un- 
to you. 


3;  Fear  not,  lit- 
tle- flock,    for  it  is 

•our  Father's  good 
plealuretogiveyou 

ingclum. 


felves  :  And  yet  I  tell  you,  that  God,  in  his  provi- 
dence, adorns  them  with  a  beautiful  clothing,  of  vari- 
ous colours,  vaftly  fuperior  in  their  paint  to  the  richell 
robes  of  Solomon  and  his  courtiers,  when  on  high 
days  he  appeared  in  all  his  fplendor. 

28  If  then  God  puts  fuch  exquilitely  fine  and  cu- 
rious ornaments  on  thefe  fhort-lived  flowers  of  the 
grafs,  which  one  day  flourifh  in  the  field,  and  the 
next  either  fade  of  themfelves,  or  are  mowed  down 
and  confirmed  in  heating  an  oven ;  Can  ye  fuppofe 
that  he  will  not  much  more  give  you  at  leaft  necef- 
fary  apparel,  till  ye  be  cut  down  by  death,  and  your 
bodies  be  confumed  in  the  grave  ?  Surely  your  faith 
is  low  indeed,  if  ye  diftruft  the  care  of  Providence  to 
clothe  you. 

29  Be  not  therefore  perplexingly  thoughtful  a- 
about,  and  eager  in  your  purfuits  after,  the  things 
of  the  prefent  life,  fuch  as  meat,  drink,  and  raiment," 
whether  ye  fhall  be  provided  with  them,  or  whether 
they  fhall  be  of  the  more  ordinary,  or  of  the  more  de- 
licate and  fumptuous  kind ;  nor  give  way  to  a  diilradt- 
ing,  unfettled,  fluctuating,  and  difbruftful  temper  a- 
bout  them,  (pj  uinu^a-k)  as  if  God  would  not  fup- 
ply  you  with  fuch  things  as  are  proper  for  you. 

30  Such  a  temper  as  this  is  very  unbecoming  you, 
my  difciples  :  For  this  is  to  behave  juft  like  the  hea- 
then, who  are  ignorant  of  God  and  his  providence, 
and  live  without  hope  of  a  bleffed  life  to  come  ;  and 
who,  for  want  of  knowing  better,  are  carking  and 
caring  about  the  concerns  of  this  world,  as  if  their 
happinefs  lay  in  them,  and  nothing  more  than  their 
own  induflry  were  requilite  to  fecure  them.  But 
(^g)  as  all  things  are  under  the  management  of  your 
heavenly  Father,  and  he  knows  that  fome  of  them 
are  neceffary  to  your  fubfiflence  and  comfort,  ye  may 
well  trufl  in  him  for  feafonable  fupplies. 

3 1  But  let  your  principal  care,  defires,  and  pur- 
fuits, be  after  the  more  important,  fpiritual,  and  eter- 
nal blefiings  that  belong  to  the  kingdom  of  grace  and 
glory  ;  feek  thefe,  rather  than  even  the  neceffaries 
of  the  prefent  life  ;  feek  them  firil  and  principally, 
before  and  above  all  things  elfe  ;  and  if  ye  are  but 
partakers  of  thefe,  ye  may  be  fure  that  he,  who  has 
given  the  greater,  will  not  with-hold  the  lefg,  but 
will  add  all  fuch  temporal  things  as  he  knows  are  fit- 
teft  for  you. 

32  Fear  no  want  of  any  good  thing,  O  ye  my  dear 
property  and  charge,  who,  compared  with  the  nume- 
rous herds  of  the  wicked,  are  like  a  fmall  flock  of 
fheep  and  lambs  :  For  your  heavenly  Father,  by  a 
fovereign,  gracious  acl:  of  his  mere  good  pleafure,  has 

appointed 


33  Sell  that  ye 
have,  and  give 
alms  :  provide 

yourfelves  bags 
which  wax  not 
old,  a  treafure  in 
the  heavens  that 
faileth  not,  where 
no  thief  approach- 
eth,  neither  moth 
corrupteth. 


34 

your 

there 
heart 


For    where 
treafure     is, 
will     your 
be   alfo. 


Chap.  xii.  Luke  paraphrafed,  135 

appointed  and  provided  for  you,  has  given  you  a 
right  and  title  to,  and  will  bring  you  to  the  poflef- 
fion  of  all  the  riches,  honours,  and  delights  oi  the 
kingdom  of  glory  :  How  much  more  will  he  give  you 
all  the  neceffaries  of  this  life  ? 

33  Inltead  therefore  of  following  the  chace  of  this 
world,  or  being  anxioufly  thoughtful  about  food  and 
raiment  ;  be  ready  to  part  with  even  what  ye  have, 
when  God,  in  his  providence,  calls  you  to  refign  it  for 
his  glory  and  the  relief  of  the  poor  :  And  let  your 
principal  concern  be  about  the  heavenly  inheritance, 
that  all  things  here  may  be  managed  in  a  due  lubfer- 
vience  to  this  ;  which  is  like  a  treafure  put  into  bags, 
that  will  never  rot  or  decay  ;  nor  will  it  ever  walle, 
or  be  fpent,  or  ftolen  from  you  by  fraud  or  violence  ; 
nor  be  moth-eaten,  like  garments  for  the  body  ;  but 
will  endure  incoBruptibly,  and  make  you  happy  with- 
out abatement  or  end. 

34  For  whatfoever  ye  eileem  as  your  chief  treafure, 
will  command  and  govern  your  hearts  and  affections, 
defires  and  hopes,  cares  and  fears,  whether  it  be  any 
thing  in  this  world,  or  the  glory  and  bleflednefs  of 
that  which  is  to  come. 

35,  36  And  as  the  bell  of  treasure's  are  to  be  en- 
be  girded  about,  joyed  or  loft,  when  your  Lord  mall  come  to  judg- 
and  your  lights  ment>  the  tjme  0f  which  is  unknown  and  uncertain  ; 
be  ye  like  fervants  that  are  continually  waiting  * 
with  their  loins  girt,  and  lights  burning,  in  all  readi- 
nefs  to  receive  their  mailer,  at  the  firfl  notice  of  his 
returning  home  from  a  wedding.  See  that  ye  live 
in  a  daily  exercife  of  grace,  and  performance  of  du- 
ty :  Labour  to  keep  your  evidences  clear  for  heaven, 
and  to  fpread  the  knowledge  of  fpiritual  things  all  a- 
round  you,  that  ye  may  be  continually  prepared  in 
your  frame  and  employment,  as  well  as  in  your  Hate, 
and  may  be  waiting  with  expectation  and  hope  for 
your  Lord,  whenever  he  mall  appear  in  his  glory  to 
take  up  the  church  to  heaven,  which  he  has  efpou- 
fed  to  himfelf,  by  the  minillry  of  the  gofpel,  on  earth  : 
And  be  always  circumfpecl,  that,  as  foon  as  ever 
the  alarm  (hall  be  given  of  his  being  jull  at  hand,  ye 
may  be  in  no  furprife  ;  but  may  be  ready  to  bid  him 
welcome,  and  to  enter  with  him  into  his  joy. 

37  Thofe  faithful  fervants  are  happy,  beyond  ex- 

prerfion,  whom  their  Lord,  at  his  fecond  appearing, 

(hall  find  to  be  thus  diligently  waiting  in  expectation 

T  2  of 

T     E. 

ny  fervice  was  to  be  attended  to  ,  as  alfo 
to  the  lights  that  fervants  were  wont  to 
carry  at  weddings,  which  were  ufually 
in  the  night. 


35  Let  your  loins 


36  And  ye  your- 
felves like,  unto 
men  that  wait  for 
their  Lord,  when 
he  will  return  from 
the  wedding,  that, 
when  he  comet h 
andknocketh,  they 
may  open  unto  him 
immediately. 


37    BleflTed    are 

thofe  fervants 

whom    the    Lord, 

when 


N     O 

*  Here  is  a  manifeft  allufion  to  the 

long  garments  that  ufed  to  be  worn,  by 

the  eafterly  nations,  down  to  their  feet, 

and  to  be  girded  about  the  loins  when  a- 


i36 


The  Evangelljl 


Chap.  xii. 


when  he  cometh, 
fhall  find  watch- 
ing ;  verily,  I  fay 
unto  you,  that  he 
ihall  gird  him  felt, 
and  make  them  to 
fit  down  to  meat, 
and.  will  come  forth 
and  ierve  them. 

3S  And  if  he 
fhall  come  in  the 
fecond  watch,  or 
.come  in  the  third 
.watch,  and  find 
them  fo,  blefled  are 
thofe  fervants. 

39  And  this 
know,  that  if  the 
good-man  of  the 
houfe  had  known 
what  hour  the  thief 
would  come,  he 
would  have  watch- 
ed, and  not  have 
1  uffered  his  houfe  to 
be  broken  through. 

40  Be  ye  there- 
fore ready  alfo :  for 
the  Son  of  man 
cometh  at  an  hour 
when  ye  think  not. 


41  Then  Peter 
laid  unto  him, 
Lord,  lpeakeft  thou 
this  parable  unto 
us,  or  even  to  all  ? 

42  And  the  Lord 
laid,  Who  then  is 
that  faithful  and 
wife  fteward,whom 
his  lord  fhall  make 
ruler  over  his  bouf- 
hold,  to  give  them 
their  portion  of 
meat  in  due  fea- 
fon? 


N  O 
*  We  are  not  to  fuppofe  that  this  is 
to  be  underftood  literally,  as  if  our  Lord, 
at  his  fecond  glorious  appearing,  will  put 
himfelf  into  fuch  an  abject  form,  and  mi- 
nifter  to  his  faints  in  fuch  an  humble 
manner,  as  he  did  when  he  girded  him- 
felf and  walhed  hisdifciples'  feet  on  earth. 
."But  thefe  expreffions  are  to  be  taken  in  a 
figurative  fenfe,  alluding  to  the  practice 


of  it :  I  affuredly  tell  you,  that  he  will  fhew  the 
greateft  condefcenfion  to  them  *,  and  put  the  higheft 
marks  of  honour  upon  them,  in  admitting  them  to 
his  glory,  and  entertaining  them  with  all  the  delights 
of  the  heavenly  world. 

38  And,  whether  he  Ihall  appear  fooner  or  later, 
at  the  beginning  of  their  expectation,  or  after  they 
have  long  waited  for  him,  every  one  who  fhall  be 
found  ready  in  this  manner  to  receive  him,  fhall  be 
truly  and  for  ever  bleffed  with  him. 

39  And  as  the  coming  of  your  Lord  will,  for  its 
furprifing  fuddennefs,  and  fad  confequences  to  the  un- 
wat'chful  and  unprepared,  be  like  that  of  a  thief  in 
the  night,  obferve  what  I  fay  in  the  following  para- 
ble :  If  any  houfe-keeper  certainly  knew  before-hand 
the  exadt  time  when  thieves  would  attempt  his  dwell- 
ing, he  could  not  be  fo  flupid  and  carelefs  as  not  to 
be  on  his  watch  juft  then  to  prevent  them  :  But  eve- 
ry wife  and  prudent  man  will  do  more  than  this  ;  he 
will  take  Care  that  his  houfe  be  always  in  a  ilate  of 
good  fecurity,   left  it  fhould  be  affaulted  at  unawares. 

40  In  like  manner  therefore,  fee  that  ye  defer  not 
your  preparation  for  the  coming  of  your  Lord  to 
judgment,  till  the  furprifing  hour  overtakes  you  ;  but 
that  ye  be  always  in  fuch  a  Itate,  and  frame,  and 
courfe  of  life,  as  ye  would  wifh  to  be  found  in,  when- 
ever it  may  be  ;  for  the  Meffiah  will  certainly  and  fud- 
deiily  appear,  to  your  confulion,  or  joy,  at  a  time 
when  ye  may  leaft  of  all  expect  it. 

41  Then  Peter  faid  to  Jefus,  Lord,  is  this  awaken- 
ing parable  fpoken  to  us  only,  who  are  thy  fervants  in 
the  work  of  the  miniitry  ;  or  doft  thou  intend  that  it 
mould  be  applied  in  common  to  all  that  hear  it  ? 

42  Our  Saviour  replied,  Though  all  in  general  arc 
concerned  in  it,  I  fpoke  it  more  directly  to  you :  For 
who,  think  ye,  but  fuch  as,  like  good  ilewards,  are 
faithful  in  improving  their  various  talents,  will  be 
highly  advanced  in  their  lord's  houfe,  to  have  the 
management  of  his  affairs  according  to  his  will,  and 
to  make  fuch  diflributions  in  proper  time  and  feafon, 
as  are  fuitable  to  the  refpeftive  ftates  and  circumftan- 
ces  of  all  under  their  charge  ? 

43   Such 

T    E. 

at  fome  feafts  among  the  ancients,  and 
particularly  among  the  Romans  at  their 
Saturnalia,  or  feafts  dedicated  to  Saturn  ; 
where  fervants  had  the  honour  of  fitting 
at  table,  and  their  matters  waited  upon 
them,  to  ferve  them;  as  it  is  cuftomary 
among  fome  of  our- nation,  in  the  pre- 
fent  age,  for  the  bride-groom  to  wait  at 
tabic,  like  a  fervunt,  on  his  wedding-day. 


Chap.  xii. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


*37 


43  Such,  and  fuch  only,  are  happy  fervants,  what- 
foever  their  ftation  may  be,  who  mall  be  found  faith- 
fully discharging  the  trulls  committed  to  them,  when- 
ever their  Lord  (hall  come  to  call  them  to  an  account. 

44  I  afTuredly  tell  you,   that  he  will  own  and  ac- 
cept them  in  their  work  and  labour  of  fidelity,  faith, 
and  love,  and  will  raife  them  *  to  the  higheil  dignity 
and  glory,  when  he  mail  judge  the  quick  and  the  dead,, 
at  his  appearing  and  kingdom. 

45  But  if,  on  the  other  hand,  any  one,  who  pro- 
feffes  to  be  my  difciple  and  fervant,  fhall  give  way- 
to  unbelieving  thoughts,  as  if  his  great  Lord  and 
Mailer  would  never  come  again  to  call  him  to  an  ac- 
count, becaufe  he  fees  no  prefent  appearances  of  it  ; 
and  if,  under  the  power  of  this  practical  infidelity,  he 
fhall  grow  remifs  and  carelefs,  and  fhall  thereupon  give 
himfelf  liberty  to  revile,  infultk  abufe,  and  persecute 
others  of  his  fellow-fervants,  and  to  be  luxurious  and 
intemperate  in  his  fenfual  appetites',  as  well  as  outra- 
geous in  his  paflions  ; 

46  His  Lord  will  furprife  him  in  the  midfl  of  all 
his  unbelief  and  wickednefs,  when  he  little  thinks  of 
it  ;  and  will  cut  him  off  by  death  from  all  his  vain 
and  flattering  imaginations,  from  all  his  comforts  here, 
and  from  all  hope  and  happinefs  hereafter  :  He  will 
feparate  his  foul  from  his  body,  and  feparate  them 
both  from  God  and  blefTednefs  ;  and  fentence  him  to 
everlailing  deflru&ion,  which  is  the  portion  of  unbe- 
lievers. 

47  Only  there  will  be  this  difference  :  As  under 
the  law  a  diflin&ion  was  made  between  fins  of  igno- 
rance and  prefumptuous  fins,  {Num.  xv.  29,  30.)  and 
criminals  were  to  be  beaten  with  a  number  of  flripes, 
more  or  lefs,  according  to  the  degrees  and  aggrava- 
tions of  their  faults  :  [Dent.  xxv.  2,  3.)  So  he,  who 
had  a  clear  knowledge  of  what  his  Lord  requires,  and 
may  reasonably  expec~l  from  him,  under  all  his  advan- 
tages and  opportunities,  and  yet  neglects  his  duty, 
and  fins  againfl  the  light  and  convictions  of  his  own 
confcience,  fhall  be  proportionably  punifhed  with  the 
heaviefl  flrokes  of  divine  vengeance. 

48  But  he  who,  though  he  had  proper  means  of 
being  acquainted  with  his  Lord's  will,  did  not  under- 
fland  it,  and  fo  a£ed  contrary  to  his  commands,  fhall 
be  punifhed  with  lefs  Severity  than  the  other  :  For, 
according  to  the  univerfal  law  of  equity  among  men, 
the  greater  capacities,  opportunities,  and  advantages, 

any 
N    9    T    E. 
*  Chrift  here  alludes  to  the  furtherhonours  and  trufts  that  matters  ufe  to  confei 
on  thole  fervants  who  have  approved  themfelves  to  be  prudent  and  faithful,  as  Pha* 
ruoh  dealt  with  Jofepb,  Gen.  zli.  4c. 


43  Blefleduthat 
iervant,  whom  his 
lord  when  he  Co- 
meth, mall  find  fo 
doing. 

44  Of  a  truth  I 
fay  unto  you,  that 
he  will  make  him 
ruler  over  all  that 
he  hath. 

45  But  and  if 
that  fervant  fay  in 
his  heart,  My  lord 
delayeth  his  co- 
ming ;  and  fhall 
begin  to  beat  the 
men-fervants,  and 
maidens,  and  to 
eat  and  drink,  and 
to  be  drunken ; 


46  The  lord  of 
that  fervant  will 
come  in  a  day 
when  he  looketh 
not  for  him,  and 
at  an  hour  when 
he  is  not  aware, 
and  will  cut  him 
in  funder,  and  will 
appoint  him  his 
portion  with  the 
unbelievers. 

47  And  that  fer- 
vant which  knew 
his  lord's  will,  and 
prepared  not  him- 
felf, neither  did  ac- 
cording to  his  will, 
mall  be  beaten 
with  many  flripes. 


4S  But  he  that 
knew  not,  and  did 
commit  thingswor- 
thy  of  ftripes,  fliall 
be  beaten  with  few 
flripes.  For  unto 
whomsoever  much 
is 


133 


The  Evangd'tft 


Chap.  xii. 


is  given,  of  him 
ihall  be  much  re- 
quired :  and  to 
whom  men  have 
committed  much, 
of  him  they  will 
afk  the  more. 

49  I  am  come 
to  (end  fire  on  the 
earth,  and  what 
will  I,  if  it  be  al- 
ready kindled. 


50  But  I  have  a 
huptifm  to  be  bap- 
tized with,  and 
how  am  I  ftraitened 
till  it  be  accom- 
plished ! 


51  Suppofe  ye 
that  I  am  come 
to  give  peace  on 
earth  ?  I  tell  you, 
Nay  ;  but  rather 
di  virion  : 


5  2  For  from 
henceforth  there 
ihall  be  five  in  one 
houfe  divided, three 
againfl  two,  and 
two  againfl  three. 

53  The  father 
fhail  be  divided  a- 
gainft  the  fon,  and 
the  fon  againil  the 
father j  the  mother 
againfl  the  daugh- 
ter, and  the  daugh- 
ter againfl  the  mo- 
ther :  the  mother- 
in-law  againil  her 
daugh- 


any  fervant  has  for  difcharging  a  trull  committed  ta 
him,  the  higher  will  be  his  Mailer's  expectations  and 
demands  from  him ;  and  the  more  he  is  intrufted  with, 
the  greater  will  his  guilt  and  punifhment  be,  if,  on 
any  acccount  whatsoever,  he  prove  negligent  and  un- 
faithful. 

49  I  am  corae  to  eftablifh  a  doctrine  fo  contrary 
to  the  pride  and  prejudices  of  men,  that  it  will  in- 
cenfe  them  againil  me  and  my  difciples,  and  be  the 
occafion  of  great  animofities,  contentions,  and  perfe- 
ctions in  the  world  :  And  as  thefe  fiery  trials  are  al- 
ready begun,  in  the  oppofition  and  rage  of  thejenbes 
and  Pharifees  and  others,  on  this  account,  what  mail 
I  fay,  or  do,  or  wifh  for,  with  refpec~l  thereunto  ? 
Shall  I  defiil  from  my  defign  of  publishing  my  gofpel  ? 
No  ;  it  is  too  important  for  the  glory  of  God,  and 
the  falvation  of  fmners,  to  be  declined,  how  much  fo- 
ever  I  and  my  followers  may  fuffer  for  it  upon  earth. 

50  For  my  part,  I  know  that  the  firfl  and  heaviefl 
ftorm  will  fall  upon  myfelf  in  the  mofl  terrible  igno- 
minious fufFerings  and  death  ;  fo  that  I  (hall  be  So- 
lemnly confecrated  to  my  prieflly  and  kingly  offices 
by  the  baptifm  of  my  own  blood,  as  I  have  been  to 
my  prophetic  office  by  the  baptifm  of  water,  and  of 
the  Holy  Ghoil :  But  I  am  fo  far  from  refufing  the 
diilrefs,  that,  like  a  woman  in  travail,  who  longs  for 
her  pains  to  increafe  upon  her,  that  (he  may  bring- 
forth  her  child,  I  am  exceeding  defirous  of  going 
through  it,  that  I  may  fee  my  feed,  and  the  pleafure 
of  the  Lord  may  profper  in  my  hand. 

51  And  as  for  you,  my  apoflles  and  difciples, 
Do  ye  imagine  that  the  defign  of  my  coming  into  the 
world  is  to  fettle  temporal  peace  and  profperity  ?  A- 
las  !  that  is  a  very  great  miflake.  I  allure  you,  the 
event  will  be  fo  far  from  this,  that,  on  the  contrary, 
ye  will  find  it  turn  to  greater  flrifes  and  divifions,  mi- 
feries  and  confufions,  than  ye  ever  knew  before. 

52,  53  For  though  my  gofpel  is  full  of  love  and 
goodnefs,  and  directly  fuited  and  defigned  to  pro- 
mote friendship,  kindnefs,  and  focial  affection,  and 
will  have  this  happy  effecl  on  thofe  that  cordially  em- 
brace it ;  yet,  through  the  corruptions,  enmity,  and 
oppofition  of  others,  it  will  henceforward  prove  an 
occafion  of  fierce  contentions,  and  cruel  perfecutions: 
So  that,  when  fome  in  the  fame  houfe  (hall  receive, 
and  others  reject  me,  as  fuppofe,  in  a  family  confifting 
of  five  perfons,  there  be  two  of  one  fort,  and  three  or 
the  other,  they  who  continue  in  unbelief  will  be  fo 
enraged  at  the  converted,  that  even  father  and  fon, 
mother  and  daughter,  every  rank  and  degree  of  rela- 
tions, according  to  the  flefh,  will  call  off  all  the  ten- 
der 


Chap.  xii. 

daughter-in-law, 
and  the  daughter- 
in-law  againft  her 
mother-in-law. 

54  And  he  faid 
alfo  to  the  people, 
When  ye  fee  a 
cloud  rife  out  of 
the  weft,  ftraight- 
way  ye  fay,  There 
Cometh  a  fhower  ; 
and  fo  it  is. 

55  And  whence 
fee  the  fouth-wind 

blow,  ye  fay,  There 
will  be  heat ;  and 
it  cometh  to  pafs. 

56  Ye  hypocrites, 
ye  can  difcern  the 
face  of  the  Iky,  and 
of  the  earth  :  but 
how  is  it,  that  ye 
vlo  not  difcern  this 
time  ? 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


*39 


der  fentiments  and  obligations  of  natural  affection, 
and  be  the  moil  implacable  perfecutors  of  one  ano- 
ther. 

54,  55  Then  Jefus,  turning  to  the  unbelieving 
multitude,  reproved  them  for  their  flupidity  and  fol- 
ly in  rejecting  him,  notwithftanding  the  plain  evi- 
dences he  had  given  of  his  being  the  true  Meffiah  ; 
faying,  If  at  any  time  a  cloud  appears  toward  the  fea, 
which  lies  weft  of  Jijclea,  ye  immediately  conclude 
that  there  will  be  a  fliower  of  rain  ;  and  if  ye  obferve 
that  the  wind  blows  fouth,  from  the  hot  country  of 
Africa,  ye  reasonably  expect  that  the  weather  will 
be  hot  and  fultry,  and,  generally  fpeaking,  ye  are  not 
miftaken. 

56  O  ye  hypocritical  people,  what  blindnefs,  ob- 
ftinacy  and  prejudices,  are  ye  under,  with  refpect  to 
your  fpiritual  concerns  ?  ye  are  fagacious  enough  in 
obferving  the  motions  of  the  wind  and  clouds,  and 
prognofticating  the  weather  from  thence,  that  ye 
may  order  your  affairs  accordingly  ;  but  ye  take  no 
notice  of  the  much  plainer  and  furer  tokens  of  the 
prefent  day  of  merciful  viiitation,  which  is  of  infinite- 
ly higher  importance  to  you.  Ye  may  fee  that  the 
Old-Teftament  prophecies  of  the  Meffiah  are  fulfilled 
in  my  birth,  tribe,  and  family,  in  the  place  where  I 
was  born,  in  John  the  Bapti]}  as  my  forerunner,  and 
in  the  manner  of  my  life  and  doctrine  ;  and  ye  may 
fee  that  all  my  preteniions  to  that  character  are  con- 
firmed by  numerous  miracles.  How  is  it  then,  that 
ye  do  not  difcern  this  time,  that  it  is  indeed  a  day 
of  grace,  in  which  I  appear  as  a  Saviour  among  you? 

57  Yea,  why  do  not  ye  take  example  from  your- 
felves  ?  (#^'  lavrm)  In  the  inltance  but  now  men- 
tioned, ye  are  fkilful  and  diligent  obfervers,  and  act 
with  prudence  according  to  your  obfervations  :  Why 
then  mould  ye  not  be  excited,  by  what  ye  do  in 
thofe  lerTer  things,  to  take  the  fame  care,  and  ufe  as 
much  obfervation  and  prudence,  with  refpect  to  the 
greater  things  that  relate  to  your  eternal  peace  ?  And 
why  do  not  ye  acl:  in  this  affair  as  the  common  pru- 
dence of  a  man  would  fuggeft  to  be  right  in  temporal 
concerns  *  ? 

58,  59  Suppofe  any  of  you  were  going  to  a  court 
of  judicature  with  an  adverfary  who  has  an  action  of 
debt  againft  you,  which,  if  profecuted,  would  be  your 
utter  ruin  ;  common  fenfe  would  tell  you,  that  all  pof- 
fible  means  fhould  be  ufcd  for  a  timely  compromife 
with  him,  left  he  fhculd  get  jud_  md  execution 

againft 
NOTE. 
*  If  we  connect  this  verfe  with  the  fi         -    ,   both  tlicfe  interpretations  may 
fband;  but  if  it  be  connected  with  the  following  verfe,  the  latter  is  to  be  preferred, 


57  Yea,  and  why 
even  of  yourfelves 
judge  ye  not  what 
:•  rigiit  ? 


58  When  thou 
^oeft  with  thine 
adverfary  to  the 
magistrate,  a.r*/.^a 
art  in  the  way, 
give  diligence  that 
thou  mayeft  be  de- 
livered 


140  The  Evangelift  Chap.  xii. 

livered  from  him ;   againft  you,   to  your  imprisonment  all  the  days  of 

th^fd^S  r°ur  *■  i"  iikf -?*%  f  fin,ha9  b?ught  t 

judge  deliver  thee  lnto  a  "ate  °*  enmity  W1th  God,  and  were  he  to  mark 
to  the  officer,  and  iniquity,  you  could  not  ftand  ;  it  is  your  higltfft  wif- 
the  officer  caft  thee  dom  now,  while  you  are  in  the  way  of  mercy,  to  fall 
into  P^00-  down  at  his  feet,  acknowledging  your  tranfgreffions, 

thou  ffialt  not  de-  anc* to  ^ee^  Peace  and  reconciliation  with  him,  through 
part  thence,  till  faith  in  the  Meffiah,  that  you  may  be  delivered  from 
thou  haft  paid  the  the  hands  of  his  vindictive  juftice  ;  left  he  bring  you 
very  laft  mite.  {nto  judgment  for  rejecting  the  only  Saviour,  and  for 

your  other  innumerable  fins,  and  the  Judge  of  all 
mould  condemn  you,  and  deliver  you  over  to  the  exe- 
cutioners of  his  righteous  vengeance,  and  they  mould 
call  you  into  the  prifon  of  hell.  I  affure  you,  that 
if  once,  through  your  own  impenitence  and  unbelief, 
this  becomes  your  cafe,  you  mull  be  held  there  in  e- 
ternal  torments,  becaufe  you  will  never  be  able  to  fatis- 
fy  divine  juftice,  or  pay  the  debt  of  fufferings,  which 
is  due  for  your  iniquities. 

RECOLLECTIONS. 

What  a  fenfelefs  (in  is  hypocrify,  fince  our  mod  fecret  thoughts  lies  open  to  the 
omnifcient  eye  of  that  God  who  will  bring  them  all  to  light !  And  how  prepofter- 
ous  is  it  to  fear  man  more  than  him  ;  fince  we  have  immortal  fouls  which  cannot 
be  killed  with  the  body,  and  men  cannot  hurt  the  body  itfelf  without  God's  per- 
miffion,  but  he  can  make  both  foul  and  body  for  ever  miferable  in  hell;  and  fince 
Chrift  will  certainly  own  or  reject  them  in  the  other  world  who  own  or  reject  him 
in  this !  But  there  is  forgivenefs  with  God  for  all  forts  of  fins,  except  that  againft 
the  Holy  Ghoft,  which  none  that  have  any  ferious  defires  after  the  gofpel-falvation 
can  be  guilty  of.  And  O  with  what  fatisfaction  may  true  believers  commit  all  the 
concerns  of  this  life  to  that  God,  whofe  providence  takes  care  of  all  his  creatures, 
and  extends  to  the  minuteft  affairs!  And  with  what  humble  confidence  may  they 
commit  the  concerns  of  their  fouls  to  Chrift,  who  was  eagerly  defirous  of  dying  the 
worft  of  deaths  to  redeem  them  ;  and  to  the  God  of  all  grace,  whofe  good  pleafure 
it  is  to  give  them  a  kingdom  of  glory  !  That  kingdom  confifts  of  riches  infinitely 
preferable  to  all  the  poffelTions  of  this  world  :  And  therefore  they  fhould  be  fought 
before,  and  above  all  things  elfe,  as  they  will  be  by  thofe  who  really  efteem  them 
as  their  chief  treafure  :  This  is  the  way  to  all  true  happinefs  here,  and  efpecially 
hereafter ;  but  covetous  and  anxious  cares  about  the  things  of  the  prefent  life  are 
the  bane  of  religion,  and  the  riches  of  this  world  are  often  the  ruin  of  carnal  minds. 
— Quarrels  and  confufions  will  indeed  arife  among  men,  on  account  of  Chrift  and 
his  gofpel,  as  long  as  the  lufts,  paffions,  and  prejudices  of  multitudes  lie  in  oppofi- 
tion  to  them.  But  diftinguiihing  grace  makes  a  difference  in  others,  and  that  in 
the  fame  families ;  and  if  we  are  hated  and  perfecuted  for  Chrift's  fake,  and  do  not 
bear  a  guilty  part  in  religious  quarrels,  he  will  enable  us  to  make  a  juft  defence  of 
his  caufe,  and  of  ourfelves  for  our  profefiion  of  it.  How  careful  ihould  minifters  of 
the  gofpel  be  to  imitate  their  great  Lord  in  keeping  to  their  own  province,  and  not 
intermeddling,  as  umpires,  in  fecular  affairs,  nor  avfuming  to  themfeives  civil  pow- 
ers !  And  how  apt  mould  they  and  all  others  be  to  take  every  word  of  Chrift  to 
themfeives,  that  they  may  be  always  ready  to  meet  him  in  death  and  judgment, 
not  knowing  how  foon  he  may  fummon  them  to  appear  before  him  !  But  O  what 
a  fource  of  ftupidity,  fenfuality,  and  wickednefs,  is  unbelief!  And  how  are  fecure 
finners  in  perpetual  danger  of  being  furprifed  into  utter  deftruction  !  Their  igno- 
rance and  inobfervance  of  what  they  ought  to  know  and  confider,  is  no  juft  excufe 
for  their  fin ;  and  yet  finning  againft  light  and  convictions  is  attended  with  ftill 
higher  aggravations,  and  fhall  be  more  feverely  punifhed.  How  perverfe  are  the 
hearts  of  men  that  let  themfeives  againft  the  only  Saviour,  and  the  only  way  of 

falvatioa 


Chap.  xiii.  Luke  paraphrafed,  141 

falvation  by  him  !  And  bow  much  more  careful  and  prudent  are  the  generality  of 
them  about  their  temporal,  than  about  their  ipiritual  concerns  !  But  as  their  natu- 
ral date  is  a  ftate  of  enmity  with  God,  and  expofes  them  to  the  utmoft  danger  of 
falling  into  the  hands  of  his  jultice ;  io,  unlets  they  leek  and  obtain  peace  and  re- 
conciliation with  him  now,  through  faith  in  his  Son,  while  there  are  means  and 
hopes  of  it,  their  mifery  will  be  unavoidable,  inlupportable,  and  without  end. 


CHAP.       XIII. 

Chrijl^s  remarks  upon  the  defiruBion  that  fell  on  the  Galileans  and 
others,  i, — 5.  His  parqble  of  the  barren  fig-tree,  6, — 9.  His 
healing  a  crooked  woman  on  the  Sabbath-day,  jo, — 17.  His  pa- 
rables oj  a  grain  of  mujlard- feed,  and  of  leaven,  18, — 2  J.  His 
preaching,  and  anfwer  to  the  quejlion,  Whether  few  fihall  be  fa- 
ved  ?  22, — 30.  His  fighting  Herod'x  threatening*,  and  lamenting 
over  Jerusalem,  31, — 35. 
• 

Text.  Paraphrase. 

•fHEREwerepre-    T  TfHILST  our  blelTed  Lord  was  {peaking  of  the 

fent  at  that  fea-  VV       :          ^                C  u    '         '           a   t.         C                      j 

f      r        ^    t     ,j  importance  or  being;  m  a  itate  or  peace  ana 

ion,  fome  tnat  told  r-jn'-t^ir^         r     1                                  1 

him  of  the   Gali-  inendihip   with    Lrod,    iome   or   the   company  took 

leans,  whofe  blood    occali.cn  to  mention  to  him  the  fudden  tragical  flaugh- 

Pilate  had  mingled   ter  of  certain  Galileans,  whofe  blood  Pilate,  the  Ro- 


with  their  sacrifi- 
ces. 


man  governor,  had  filed,    by  fending  foldiers  to  cut 
them  in  pieces,  even  while  they  were  offering  their  fa- 
crifices  at  Jerufalem  ;  becaufe,  being  followers  of  Jit- 
das  of  Galilee  *,  they  perfuaded  the  Jews  that  they 
were  a  free  people,  and  ought  npt  to  be  fubject  to  a 
foreign  government,  or  to  pay  tribute  to  Cafar. 
1  And  Jefus  an-         2  And  as  the  perfons  who  made  this  report,  would 
iwenng,  laid  unto   thereby  feem  to  intimate,  as  if  thefe  mull  needs  be 
that  '  thele    Gal^    uncommoiiiy  wicked  people,  and  very  unprepared  to 
leans  were  finners   die,  iince  vengeance  fo  remarkably  fell  upon   them 
above  ail  the  Ga-   in  the  midil  of  their  external  devotions  ;  Jefus,    to 

means,       becaufe    guard  againil  this  uncharitable  cenfure,  replied,  Do 
they  iuffered  iuch  1     1     r  .iw  .•  1  c  ^£   r    r*    r 

»}.;'     j  ye  conclude  from  the  time  and  manner  or  thele  Gati* 

leans  being  thus  harbarouily    murdered,    that    they 

were  more  notorious  fmners  than  all  the  reii  of  their 

countrymen  ? 

3    I    tell   you,        ^   X  aflure  you  that  no  fuch  inference  can  be  juftb. 

Nay:  but,  except   £rdwn  from  thence  :    But  as  thefe  men   are  only   ex 

ye  repent,   ye  (ball  .  ..  r    .  .,,     .        .  i. 

all  likewile  neiiih.   am*ples  in  providence  or  the  muenes  that  every  unaer 

deferves,  and  is  in  danger  of;  io,  unlefs  ye  repent  of 

your  infidelity   and  wickednefs,    vour  whole    nation 

mull  as  certainly  be  deitrorcd,  and  your  blood  fhall 

NOTE. 

*  Thefe  feem  to  have  been  forne  of   rqfe  up  Judas  of  Galijee,   and  die'u  a- 
that  faction  which  Gamaliel  referred  to    nvuy  tnncb  people  after  him;  he  alfope- 
when  he  laid,  (Acts  v.  37.)    After  this    ri/hed,  and  all,  even  as  many  as  obeyed 
nan   (viz.  Thcudas,  a  noted  impoftor)    &«#i  WWe  djfperfed. 
Vol.  II.  U 


142 


The  Evangeli/i 


Chap.  xiii. 


4  Or  thofe  eigh- 
teen, upon  whom 
the  tower  in  Silo- 
am  fell,  and  ilew 
them,  think  ye  that 
they  were  finners 
above  all  men  that 
dwelt  in 
lem  ? 

5  I  tell  you, 
Nay  :  but,  except 
ye  repent,  ye  lhall 
all  likewife  perifh. 


6  He  fpake  alio 
this  parable :  A 
certain  man  had  a 
fig-tree  planted  in 
his  vineyard,  and 
he  came  and  fought 
fruit  thereon,  and 
found  none. 


be  mingled  with  your  facrifices  in  as  dreadful  a  man- 
ner, by  the  fword,  as  theirs  was  -f  ;  and  all  impenitent 
finners  (hall  perifh  by  the  righteous  judgment  of  God, 
if  not  in  this  world,  yet  inevitably  in  the  next. 

4  Or,  to  remind  you  of  another  awful  providence, 
which  ye  know  befel  fome  among  yourfelves  nearer 
home,  Do  ye  imagine  that  the  eighteen  perfons  who 
were  killed,  without  the  immediate  hand  of  men,  in 
the  fall  of  the  tower  of  Siioam  *,  were  more  flagiti- 
ous finners  than  all  the  reft  of  the  people  of  Jeru- 

Jerufa-  jaUm  ? 

5  Whatfoever  ye  may  think  of  the  matter,  I  tell 
you,  No  fuch  cenfure  ought  to  be  paffed  upon  them, 
lince  all  things  relating  to  the  prefent  life  come  alike 
to  all  :  But  this  is  likewife  a  fample  of  the  dreadful 
calamities  which  are  coming  upon  all  the  inhabitants 
of  Jerufalem,  who,  unlefs  they  are  brought  to  repent- 
ance, fhall  perifh  in  the  ruins  of  the  whole  city,  as 
thofe  perfons  did  by  the  fall  of  that  tower  :  And  the 
guilt  of  every  one  of  you  is  fo  great,  that,  if  ye  per- 
iiil  in  impenitence  and  unbelief,  ye  fhall  certainly  be 
punifhed  with  everlafting  deftruition  in  the  wOrld  to 
come,  whether  ye  fall  by  any  remarkable  judgment 
here  or  not. 

6  And  ftill  further  to  enforce  this  folemn  warning, 
and  fhew  the  danger  and  aggravations  of  their  iniqui- 
ties under  the  rich  advantages  they  enjoyed,  our  Lord 
added  the  following  limilitude  :  "  There  was  (fard 
he)  a  certain  owner  who  had  planted  a  fig-tree  in  his 
vineyard,  and  coming  at  the  proper  feafon,  with  an 
expectation  of  gathering  fruit  from  it,  he  found 
none." — So  God,  whofe  vineyard  is  his  church,  gave 
his  peculiar  people,  the  Jews,  all  the  fpiritual  privi- 
leges of  that  facred  inclofure  ;  and  when  it  might 
be  reafonably  e^peclied  that  they  mould  bring  forth 
fruits  of  righteoufnefs  to  his  glory,  he  found  that 
they  had  only  the  leaves  of  an  outward  formal  pro- 

feffion, 
NOTES. 

its  water  to,  the  pool  of  Bet he/da :  That 


f  This  was  literally  fulfilled,  accord- 
ing to  yofepbits,s  account,  that  many 
thoufands  of  the  jews  were  flaughtered 
in  the  temple,  and  round  about  it,  at  the 
lead  of  the  paffover,  becaufe  of  their  op- 
polition  to  the  Roman  yoke :  And  fo 
their  blood  was  mingled  with  their  fa- 
drifices  by  the  Rowan  fword,  and  that 
for  the  fame  caufe,  as  the  blood  of  thefe 
Galileans-  had  been  by  Pilate.  Vid. 
Jofeph.  Bell.  jvd.  I.  vi.  c.  it.  &.  /.  vii. 
e.  i;.  &  Evfeb.  Ecclef.  Hijl.  I.  iii.  c.  5. 

*  Dr.  Ligktfoot  fuppofes  that  this  was 
..  tower  by  the  pool  of  Siioam,  which  was 
the  fame  with,  or  at  leail  communicated 


it  belonged  to  one  of  the  porches,  where 
the  impotent  people  lay  watching  for  the 
moving  of  the  waters  ;  and  that  fome  of 
them,  or  fome  others,  who  came  thither 
to  purify  themfeK'es  for  the  temple- fer- 
vice,  were  killed  by  the  fudden  fall  of 
that  tower.  Eut  when,  or  how  this  tow- 
er fell,  or  where  it  ltood,  is  uncertain  to 
us,  we  having,  as  far  as  I  can  learn,  no 
other  account  of  it,  either  in  facred  or 
civil  hiftory,  than  what  is  here  faid  a- 
bout  it,  where  our  Lord  fpeaks  of  its  fall 
as  a  remarkable  well-known  (x€t  tti  th 
davs. 


Chap.  xiii. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


*43 


7  Then  faid  he 
unto  the  dreffer  of 
his  vineyard,  Be- 
hold, thefe  three 
years  I  come  feek- 
ing  fruit  on  this 
fig-tree,  and  find 
none  :  cut  it  down, 
why  cumbereth  it 
the  ground  ? 


3  And  he  an- 
fwering,  laid  unto 
him,  Lord,  let  it 
alone  this  year  al- 
fo,  till  I  mall  dig 
about  it,  and  dung 
it  : 

9  And  if  it  bear 
fruit,  well :  and  if 
not,  then  after  that 
thou  fhall  cut  it 
down. 


feflion,  and  continued  to  be  carnal  and  fenfual,  impe- 
nitent and  unbelieving  :   And  this  is  the  cafe  of  all 
obftinate  finners,  and  hypocritical  profeflbrs,  under  , 
the  means  of  grace. 

7  "  Then  the  owner  faid  to  his  vine-drefler,  See 
how  long  I  have  waited,  even  three  years  pail,  in 
vain,  and  {till  this  fig-tree  is  entirely  barren  :  Cut  it 
down  ;  why  fhould  it  any  longer  take  up  the  place 
of  better  plants,  and  draw  away  the  fructifying  juices 
of  my  ground,  that  might  be  profitable  to  other  trees  ? 
(ivuti  x.xi  rr,v  yw  y.cuxeyti.") — So  God,  having  exerci- 
fed  much  patience,  and  bellowed  many  fpiritual  advan- 
tages upon  the  hardened  unbelieving  Jewf,  faid  to  his 
Son,  and  to  his  fervants  who  laboured  in  the  miuiftry 
under  him,  Behold,  I  have,  with  great  long-fuffering, 
borne  with  this  incorrigible  people  year  after  year  *, 
while  there  was  any  room  to  expect  fruit  from  them  ; 
take  no  further  pains  with  them,  but  deliver  them 
up  to  fpeedy  executions  of  wrath  :  For  to  what  pur- 
pofe  fhould  my  care  and  kindnefs  be  any  longer  abu- 
fed  by  them,  who,  like  cumberers  of  the  ground,  do 
more  harm  than  good,  mifimprove  the  means  of  grace, 
and  till  up  the  room  of  others  that  might  profit  by 
them  ?  And  in  like  manner  he  fpeaks  of  all  that  con- 
tinue obftinate  and  unfruitful  under  the  preaching  of 
the  goipel. 

8,  9  "  But  (as)  the  vine-dreffer  anfwered  the  own- 
er, Sir,  I  beg  that  you  would  bear  with  the  fig-tree  one 
year  longer,  till  I  have  tried  fome  further  methods  of 
cultivation,  fuch  as  digging  about  it,  and  dunging  it  : 
If  by  thefe  means  it  mail  become  fruitful,  all  will  be 
well;  but  if  not,  do  with  it  as  you  pieafe." — So 
Chrill,  in  the  greatnefs  of  his  companion,  intreated 
for  fparing  mercy  to  be  extended  a  little  longer  to 
the  Jewijb  church  ;  as  he  like  wife  does  for  0  :rs 
under  the  gofpel;  and  that  fome  further  means  of  con- 
viction might  be  ufed  with  them,  before  God  fhould 
utterly  cut  them  off  f  :  And  his  fervants  are  earneft- 

U  2  ly 

NOTES. 


*  The  three  years  of  God's  patience 
are  fuppofed,  by  fome,  to  relate  to  the 
three  years  of  Chrift's  peribnal  miniftry. 
But  the  one  year  of  further  trial,  men- 
tioned afterwards,  does  not  fuit  this  li- 
teral conftruction  ;  fince  it  was  between 
thirty  and  forty  years  after  the  death  of 
Chrilt,  before  the  jfe-ivijl.)  church  and  na- 
tion were  deftroyed.  The  conjecture  of 
Grotius  feems  lefs  liable  to  exception  ; 
which  is,  That  thefe  three  years  are 
mentioned  with  a  reference  to  the  nature 
of  fome  fig-trees  in  that  country,  which 
did  not  ufe  to  be  longer  than  three  years 


before  they  began  to  bear :  Therefore,  till 
that  time,  there  was  areafonable  ground 
of  expectation  thatthey  mi°htbring  forth 
fruit;  but  if  they  here  none  then,  there  was 
little  room  to  hope  for  it  afterwards.  Hut, 
be  this  as  it  will,  there  feems  to  be  a  uiiect 
reference  in  this  parable  to  what  the  pro- 
phet faid  of  the  church  of  Ifrael ;  (ifa.  v. 
1, — 7.)  and  much  light  may  be  received 
from  thence  to  explain  it. 

f  Thefe  further  means  feem  mod  im- 
mediately to  refer  to  the  higher  eviden- 
ces that  fuouiri  be  given  bi  the  truth  and 
excellence  of  Chriltianity,  after  the  refur- 

redlion 


1 44  The  Evangelift  Chap,  xiii, 

ly  defirous  and  importunate  with  God,  that  their  ob- 
itinate  hearers  may  be  fpared  fome  time  longer,  and 
tried  with  further  means  of  grace,  in  hopes  that  he 
may  give  them  repentance.     If  at  length  they  (hall 
be  effectually  changed,  the  patience  and   pains   be- 
ftowed  upon  them  will  have  a  happy  iffue,  to  the 
glory  of  God,  to  the  joy  of  Chrift  and  his  fervants, 
and  to  the  falvation  of  thofe  fouls  themfelves  :   But 
if,  after  all,  they  ftill  continue  ilupid,  hardened,  and 
carnal,  neither  Chrift  nor  his  fervants  will  offer  any- 
thing in  their  favour  ;    but  will  leave  them,  as  utter- 
,   ,    ly  inexculable,  to  the  executions  of  God's  righteous 
wrath. 
i     And  he  was         10,    ii    Now  as  Jefus,  according  to  his   cuflom, 
•^achmg^n  one  of  was  preaching  on  a  certain  Sabbath  in  one  of  the  fy- 
the  Sabbath"*       '   ^ag°gues>  behold,  a  lamentable  object  prefented  to  his 
i  r  And  behold   notice.      There  was  a  poor  woman,  whofe  body  had 
there    was  a  wo-   been  convulied  to  fuch  a  degree,  for  eighteen  years 
laan  which  had  a   together,  by  the  power  of  Satan,  who  had  been  per- 
e^htee°n\4nars,nand    mitted  tom  affli&  her,  (ver.  16.)  that  fhe  could  by  no 
was  bowed   to^e-   means  raife  her  head,  or  fland  upright, 
ther,  and  could  in         12  And,  as  (lie  came  with  great  difficulty  to  pub- 
no  wile  lift  up  her-   \{c  Worfhip,  Chrift  looked  with  compaffion  upon  her  ; 

JeV'       .    ,      ,  and,  calling  her  to  him,  faid-,  Woman,   I  command 

12     And    when  ,  *=>  ..     '  '  vr     r       i 

Jefus  faw  her,  he  tnat  you   De  now  delivered  from    your    dileaie,    by 

called  her  to  him,  which  you  have  been  bowed  down  fo  many  years. 
and  faid  unto  her,        13   And,  whilft  he  was  fpeaking,  he  laid  his  hands 

Vvoman    thou  art  n  her  .  and  f0  powerful   were   his    authoritative 

aooied   from   thine      r     ,        ,  ,        .  x      .  .    n  .       .      . 

infirmity,  word  and  touch,  that,  in  an  mitant,  her  body  was  re- 

r  ■>,   And  he  laid   ftored  to  its  proper  ftature  and  ftraightnefs  :    And 

bis  hands  on  her :   fhe,  feeling  fuch  a  fudden  and  furprifing  cure,  bleffed 

ihe      wlmedimaede  G°d  f°r  **'    W*th  gl"eat  J'°y'    before  ^  the  Pe°Ple* 

Mhig^i&™&6-  x4  But  thc  ruler  °f  the  fynagogue,   (fee  the  note 

rifled  God.  on  Mat.ix.  1 8.)   envying  Chrift  the  glory  of  this  iin- 

14  And  the  ru-  doubted  miracle,  cavilled  at  it,  becaufe  it  was  wrought 

ler    of   the    fyna-  on  the  Sabbath  ;  and,  intimating  to  the  people,  as  if 

.cogue  an  ueiec  ^  vvere  a  profanation  of  that  holy  day,  he  feverely 
with     indignation,  .  r  j         J  #  J 

becaufe  that  Jefusi  reprimanded  them,  laying,   God   nas   appointed    lix 

had  healed  on  the  days  in  the  week  for  doing  all  manner  of  works  ;   and 

Sabbath-day,    and  therefore,  if  ye  want  to  be  healed  of  any  diftempers, 

iaid  unto  the  pep-  ye.ou?-ht  to  corne  on  thofe  days  for  [t  and  not  on 
Die     I  here  are  lix  .  .  . 

days  on  which  men  ^ie  Sabbath,  which  God  has  appropriated  to  his  own 

outfit  to  work  :  in    immediate  fervice. 

them  therefore  \$  Then  the  Lord  Jefus  himfelf,  taking  up  the 
come  and  be  heal-  caufej  replied,  O  liypocritical  pretender  to  a  mighty 
Sabbath-day  ZCT^  *'or  tnc  fan^ification  of  the   Sabbath,  that  you 

i<    The    Lord    may  defame  the  divine  and  merciful  work  which   T 
then anfwered him,    have  wrought  in  this  cure  ! .  Is  it  not  an  univerfal  and. 
aml  allowed 

NOTE. 
rection  of  Chrift,  and  effufion  of  his  Spirit,  and  the  folemn  expostulations  that  were 
vvitfi  tiicm  by  the  apoft'es  on  this  foot. 


Chap.  xiii. 

and  faid,  Thou  hy- 
pocrite, doth  not 
each  one  of  you  on 
the  Sabbath  loofe 
his  ox  or  his  afs 
from  the  frail,  and 
lead  him  away  to 
watering  ? 

1 6  And  ought 
not  this  woman, 
being  a  daughter  of 
Abraham,  whom 
Satan  hath  bound, 
lo,  thefe  eighteen 
years,  be  loofed 
from  this  bond  on 
the  Sabbath-day  ? 


17  And  when 
he  had  laid  thefe 
things,  all  his  ad- 
verfaries  were  a- 
fhamed  :  and  all 
the  people  rejoiced 
for  all  the  glorious 
tilings  that  were 
done  by  him. 


18  Then  faid  he, 
Unto  what  is  the 
kingdom  of  God 
like  ?  and  where- 
unto  fliall  I  refem- 
ble  it  ? 

to  It  is  like  a 
grain  of  muftard- 
leed,  which  a  man 
took,  and  cart  into 
his  garden  ?  and  it 
grew,  and  waxed 
a  great  tree  :  and 
the  fowls  of  the  air 
lodged  in  the  bran- 
ches of  it. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


*45 


70  And  again 
he  ("aid,  W  hereun- 
to lli all  I  liken  the 
kingdom  of  God  ? 


allowed  practice  among  you,  to  untie  and  let  out  your 
ox,  your  afs,  or  other  cattle,  and  to  lead  them  a- 
broad  to  a  watering  place  on  the  Sabbath-day  ? 

16  If  this  is  done  without  any  fcruple  for  the  re- 
lief of  a  beaft,  that  it  may  not  fuller  fo  much  as  one 
day's  thirft,  is  it  not  {till  more  evidently  and  unqueit- 
ionably  lawful  for  me,  merely  by.  a  word  and  a  touch, 
to  fet  a  woman  at  liberty,  on  the  Sabbath-day,  from 
a  much  forer  dillrefs,  which  fhe-had  been  afflicted 
with  for  eighteen  years  together  ?  efpecially  confider- 
ing  that  fhe  is  not  only  a  rational  creature,  but  a  de- 
fcendant  from  your  father  Abraham,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  the  covenant,  to  whom  the  promife  of  Abra- 
ham's  bleffing  belongs  ;  and  that  what  was  done 
for  her,  was  refcuing  her  out  of  Satan's  hands  who 
had  fo  long  and  fo  cruelly  opprefied  her  ? 

1 7  The  force  of  this  anfwer  was  fo  exceeding  plain 
and  convincing,  that  all  his  enemies  were  entirely 
baffled,  and  were  afhamed  that  any  of  them  had 
made  fuch  a  weak  and  frivolous  cavil  as  could  by  no 
means  be  fupported  with  the  leail  fhew  of  argument : 
And,  on  the  contrary,  there  was  a  general  rejoicing 
among  the  common  people,  who  were  much  affected 
at  the  glorious  appearance  of  Chrifl's  wifdom,  power, 
and  mercy,  in  what  he  had  done  and  fpoken  .on  this 
occaiion. 

18  Then  faid  our  Lord,  By  what  lit  emblem  mail 
I  reprefent  the  rife  and  progrefs  of  the  kingdom  of 
God,  as  it  relates  both  to  the  gofpel  in  the  world, 
and  the  work  of  grace  in  the  heart  ?  Or  by  what  fi- 
militude  ihall  I  illuftrate  it  to  you  ? 

19  "It  may  be  compared  to  a  grain  of  muftard- 
fced,  which  a  man  fowed  in  his  garden,  and  which, 
though  it  is  one  of  the  leait  of  all  feeds,  grew  up  to 
a  tree,  whofe  branches  were  large  enough  for  the 
birds  of  the  air  to  lodge,  and  build  their  neils  in  them." 
— So  the  gofpel  of  the  kingdom,  which,  in  the  lirft 
preaching  of  it,  is  confined  to  a  corner,  and  is  recei- 
ved but  by  very  few,  (hall,  in  due  time,  fpread 
through  the  world  of  Jews-  and  Gentiles,  and  be  the 
power  of  God  to  the  falvation  of  vail  multitudes; 
and  the  work  of  grace  in  the  heart,  which  is  at  firil 
fo  very  fmall  as  to  be  hardly  perceivable,  mall  gradu- 
ally increafe  and  flourim,  to  the  joy  and  encourage- 
ment of  others,  as  well  as  to  the  benefit  of  the  foul 
itfelf  in  which  it  is  planted,  till  it  fliall  be  perfected 
in  heaver. 

20  Again,  he  faid,  By  what  further  fimilitude  fnall 
I  reprefent  the  filent,  fecret,  and  efficacious  power  of 
the  gofpel,  and  of  the  grace  of  my  kingdom,  as  one 
is  the  means  of  conveying  and  propagating  the  other  ? 

21    "It 


146 


The  EvangeUJl 


Chap.  xiii. 


2i  It  is  like  lea- 
ven, which  a  wo- 
man took  and  hid 
in  three  meafurts 
of  meal,  till  the 
whole  was  leaven- 
ed., 


z  x  And  he  went 
through  the  cities 
and  villages,  teach- 
ing, and  journey- 
ing towards  Jerufa- 
lem. 

23  Then  faid 
cne  unto  him, 
Lord,  are  there 
few  that  be  faved  ? 
And  he  faid  unto 
them, 


24  Strive  to  en- 
ter in  at  the  ftrait 
gate  :  for  many,  I 
lay  unto  you,  will 
feek  to  enter  in, 
nnd  fliall  not  be 
able. 


35    When  once 

the   Matter  of  the 

houfe   is   rifcn   up, 

-'iid    hath    flmt   to 

the   door,    and   ye 

in       to      Hand 

vithout,     and     to 

knock 


21  "  It  may  be  compared  to  the  nature  of  leaven, 
which,  when  it  is  put,  as  it  ufually  is  by  women,  in- 
to a  great  quantity  of  meal  or  dough,  ferments  and 
diffufes  its  virtue  through  the  whole  mafs." — So  the 
doctrine  of  the  gofpel  comes  not  with  outward  pomp 
or  (hew,  or  human  authority  ;  but  fecretly  and  effec- 
tually makes  its  way  in  the  world,  and  into  the  hearts 
of  men,  by  a  divine  evidence  and  power  ;  and  the 
grace,  which  it  is  the  means  of  begetting  in  the  foul, 
iecretly  and  effectually  operates  there,  till  it  makes  a 
thorough  change  in  the  heart  and  life  ;  fo  that  old 
things  pafs  away,  and  all  things  become  new,  and 
grace,   at  length,  is  perfected  in  glory. 

22  After  this,  our  bleffed  Lord,  who  was  indefa- 
tigable in  his  labours,  travelled  through  many  cities, 
towns,  and  villages,  directing  his  courfe  toward  Je- 
rufalem^  and  preaching,  as  opportunities  offered,  in 
every  place  where  he  came. 

23  And  a  certain  perfon  faid  to  him,  Lord,  are 
there  but  few  of  mankind  that  mall  be  faved  ?  But 
(£s)  Jefus,  perfectly  knowing  with  what  temper  of 
mind  this  queftion  was  put,  waved  a  direct  and  pofi- 
tive  anfwer,  that  he  might  neither  gratify  curiofity, 
nor  give  a  captious  hearer  any  advantage  againll  him ; 
•and,  turning  to  the  people,  took  this  occafion  to  fay 
to  them  ; 

24  Inftead  of  making  curious  inquiries  whether  few 
or  more  mail  be  faved,  let  it  be  your  chief  concern, 
that  ye  yourfelves  may  be  of  the  happy  number  of 
thofe  who  fhall  get  into  the  way  to  eternal  life,  the 
entrance  into  wrhich  is  indeed  exceeding  ftrait  and  dif- 
ficult :  Be  diligent  in  your  attendance  on  the  mini- 
ftry  of  the  word  ;  feek  after  an  experimental  ac- 
quaintance with  the  only  true  way  of  falvation 
through  the  Mefliah  ;  wreftle  earneftly  with  God  for 
his  Spirit  to  teach  and  affift  you,  to  change  your 
hearts,  and  to  give  you  faith  and  repentance ;  and,  in 
a  dependence  on  him,  fpare  no  time  or  pains,  which, 
by  his  grace,  may  fubferve  your  arrival  to  everlafting 
happinefs.  For  I  affure  you,  that  many,  who  would 
willingly  go  to  heaven,  feek  after  it,  either  in  fuch  a 
formal,  cold,  and  flothful  manner,  or  by  fuch  miila- 
ken  methods,  which  their  own  ignorance  and  carnali- 
ty, pride  and  prejudices,  fuggefl  to  them,  that  they 
will  never  be  able  to  obtain  it. 

25  And  if  ye  reft  Ihort  of,  or  turn  afide  froifi,  the 
true  way,  to  that  bleffed  ftate  now,  it  will  quickly  be 
too  late  to  hope  for  admifiion  thither  :  For  though, 
at  prefent,  a  door  of  mercy  is  opened  before  you  in 
the, gofpel,  and  there  are  rich  encouragements  for 
thriving  to  enter  into  it  by  faith:  yet,  as  foon  as  ever 

the 


Chap.  xiii. 

knock  at  the  door, 
faying,  Lord,  Lord, 
open  unto  us  ;  and 
he  fliall  anfwer  and 
fay  unto  you,  I 
know  you  not 
whence    you  are  : 


26  Then  fliall 
ye  begin  to  fay, 
We  have  eaten  and 
drunk  in  thy  pre- 
sence, and  thou 
haft  taught  in  our 
ftreets. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


*47 


27  But  he  fhall 
fay,  I  tell  you,  I 
know  you  not 
whence  ye  are : 
depart  from  me, 
all  ye  workers  of 
iniquity. 


iS  There  fliall 
be  weeping  and 
gHafhing  of  teeth, 
when  ye  fliall  fee 
Abraham,  and  I- 
faac,  and  Jacob, 
and  all  the  pro- 
phets in  the  king- 
dom of  God,  and 
you  your/elves 
thruft  out. 


29  And  they 
fliall  come  from 
the  eaft,  and  from 
the  weft,  aud  from 
the  north,  and  from 
thefouth,  and  fliall 
ft  down  in  the 
kingdom  of  God. 


30  And  behold, 

there  arc  laft  which 

fliall 


the  great  Lord  of  his  houfe  fhall  fhut  up  this  door,  at 
death  and  judgment,  it  will  then  be  too  late  for  you 
to  land  mercy,  how  earned  and  importunate  foever  ye 
may  be  for  it,  or  how  confidently  foever  ye  may  ex- 
pect it  :  For  he  will  turn  a  deaf  ear  to  all  your  cries, 
and  tell  you,  to  your  evcrlafting  confufion,  that  he 
never  owned  or  approved  of  you  as  his  real  difciples. 

26  Then,  full  of  conilernation  at  your  miferable 
repulfe,  ye  will  begin  to  plead  various  privileges, 
which  ye  refted  in  here,  as  if  they  would  be  your 
pafTport  to  heaven  hereafter  :  Some  will  be  ready  to 
urge,  that  they  had  frequent  converfation  with  the 
Lord  himfelf  upon  earth,  were  admitted  into  his 
company,  and  freely  eat  and  drank  with  him,  and 
heard  him  preach  in  their  ftreets  ;  and  others  will 
think  to  make  a  merit  of  their  having  often  attended 
upon  fermons  and  prayers,  and  gone  to  the  Lord's 
table,  and  made  a  ftrict  profefllon  of  his  name. 

27  But  alas  !  he  will  neverthelefs  reject  you,  fay- 
ing, with  awful  and  tremendous  majefty,  I  tell  you, 
that  I  never  looked  upon,  or  efteemed  you  as  my  true 
difciples  :  What  lignified  all  your  external  privileges 
and  profeffions,  while,  under  the  power  of  unbelief, 
ye  continued  to  be  in  love  with  one  or  another  fin, 
and  to  go  on  in  the  practice  of  it  ?  Depart,  all  ye  ha- 
bitual impenitent  fmners,  from  my  blefTed  and  holy 
prefence  ;  and  be  gone  to  your  own  company,  to 
ihare  with  them  in  everlafting  torments. 

28 "Then  anguifh  and  defpair,  the  bittereft  lamenta- 
tion and  horror,  will  feize  you,  like  perfons  howling 
and  grating  their  teeth  for  vexation  and  envy,  when 
ye  (hall  behold  the  famous  patriarchs,  Abraham,  I- 
faac,  and  Jacob,  and  all  the  holy  men  and  fervants 
of  God,  triumphing  amidit  the  exalted  honours  and 
delights  of  the  heavenly  world  ;  and,  at  the  fame  time, 
fhall  find  that  all  your  hopes  and  pleas  are  defeated, 
and  that  ye  are  violently  puflied  back  with  indigna- 
tion, though  ye  were  a  people  vifibly  in  covenant 
with  God,  the  natural  feed  of  glorified  faints,  and  the 
children  of  the  promife. 

29  And  what  will  itiil  further  add  to  your  con- 
fternation  and  envy,  O  ye  unbelieving  Jews,  will  be, 
that,  while  ye  are  thus  difappcinted  and  rejected  for 
your  obflinacy  and  wiekednefs,  great  multitudes  of 
the  Gentiles^  being  made,  by  faith,  the  fpiritual  chil- 
dren of  sPjrahaw,  and  walking  in  his  fieps,  fliall 
come  from  all  parts  and  nations  of  the  earth,  and  be 
admitted  to  a  Hate  of  reft,  blefildnefs,  and  glory,  with 
your  own  renowned  and  gudly  anceftors. 

30  So  that,  O  ye  depth  of  the  riches,  bqth  of  the 
wifdom  and  knowledge  of  God!  the  Ger.tihs,  who, 

for 


148 


<ffje  Evangelift 


Chap,  xiii.- 


there 

which 
laft. 


are 

ihall 


31 


ihall  be  firft,  and  for  many  ages,  were  not  his  people,  mail  be  favour- 
^  ed  with  the  rich  bleflings  of  the  gofpel ;  and  the  Jews, 
who  formerly  were  his  people,  (hall  be  rejected  for 
their  impenitence  and  unbelief :  And  it  (hall  appear  at 
the  day  of  judgment,  that  they  who  feemed,  in  hu- 
man view,  to  be  at  the  utmolt  diftance  from  heaven, 
and  leail  likely  to  get  thither,  fhall  at  length  obtain 
it  through  faith  in  the  Saviour  of  Ifrael ;  and  they 
who  feemed  to  Hand  faireil  for  heaven,  (hall,  for  their 
iniquities,  fall  fhort  of  it. 

31  The  fame  day  came  fome  of  the  Pharifeesy 
Chiift's  moft  inveterate  and  implacable  enemies,  who 
envied  his  growing  reputation  among  the  people,  and 
wanted  to  get  rid  of  him  ;  and  they,  hoping  to  fcare 
him  out  of  Galilee,  told  him,  It  would  be  his  wifeft 
way  to  haflen  out  of  Herod's  jurifdiction,  becaufe  he 
had  formed  a  defign  againll  his  life,  and  was  feeking 
an  opportunity  to  apprehend  and  put  him  to  death, 
as  he  did  John  the  Baptift. 

5  2  But  our  Lord  was  fo  far  from  being  intimidated 

unto  them    Go  ye  by'this  malicious  and  artful  infinuation,  that  he  bold- 

and   tell  that  fox,  1  v    ,      -rr  .c  ,      r  ,         r  ,    ., 

Behold,  I  caft  out  lY  KfjM*    Ye  may  go,  if  ye  pleafe,  to  that  fubtile 

devils,    and   I  do  contriver*,  who,  like  a  crafty  fox,  thinks  to  remove 

cures    to-day    and  me  from  his  neighbourhood  by  ifratagem,    whilfl  he 

to-morrow,  and  the  (jare  not  attempt  my'  life  ;  and  ye  may  tell  him  from 
third    day   I  fhall 


The  fame 
day  there  came 
certain  of  the  Pha- 
j  ifees,  faying  unto 
him,  Get  thee  out, 
and  depart  hence  : 
for  Herod  will  kill 
thee. 


32  And  he  faid 


be  perfected. 


- 


me,  that  let  him  do  his  worft,  I  am  not  afraid  of  him, 
but  fhall  go  on  with  my  work  for  fome  time  ftill  :  My 
triumph  over  devils  in  calling  them  out,  my  compaf- 
jion  to  the  fick  in  healing  them,  and  my  preaching 
to  the  people;  mull  be  carried  on  f  a  little  longer  : 
And  at  the  time  appointed  of  my  Father,  which  is 
very  near  approaching,  I  Ihall  finifh  the  work  that  he 
gave  me  to  do  on  earth,  fhall  be  perfectly  qualified 
for,  and  confecrated  to,  the  remainder  of  my  office, 
by  my  fufferings  an,d  death,  .and  fhall  be  as  willing 

to 

NOTES. 

*  Though  this  difhonourable  appella-  ber  of  days :  For  in  the  next  verfe  Chrift 

Uon,.  of' a  prince  from  a  private  perfon,  fpeaks  of  his  continuing  to  walk  on  the 

might  be  thought  opprobrious  language,  day  after  the  morrow  ;   whereas  here  he 

and  a  revtlth^  of  the  rulers  of  the  people,  fpeaks  of  his  being  perfected  on  the  third 

contrary  to  God's  law  ;  yet  it  was  not  lb  day,    which  relates  to  bis  fimfhing  the' 

in  Chrift,    who"  herein  acted  under  the  work'  of  redemption,    and  being  conic - 

characler  of  a  j>vophet ;  and  lb,  by  virtue  crated  by  death  to  his  office,  as  our  great 

of  his.  office,  had  liberty  and  eommiihon  High-prieit,  and  Captain  offalvation,  ac- 

to  reprove,  and  that  fharply,  the  gre^at-  cording  to  the  common  uie  of  this  word 

eft  princes  upon  earth,  according  to  what  T?\ritt/ticci,    as  particularly  in  Heb^hx.  10. 

God  faid  to  Jcrcminh ;  (chap.  i.  17,  iS.)  IS  v.  S,  9,  10,  \&  vii.   27,  28.;    and  it  is 

and  the  name  which  Chrift  gave  Herod,  the  fame  word  which  is  uied  in  the  Sep- 

mofl  fitly  agreed  to  his  crafty  character  tuagint  to  fignify  the  confe-cration  of  Aa- 

and  conduct,  particularly  on  this  occalion.  ro?i,  and  the  legal  priefts  to  their  office: 

f   To-day t  to-morrow,  and  the  third  But  it  was  many  days  after  Chrift  ipoke 

day.  mult  be  understood  ro  fignify  a  lit-  this,  that  he  continued  to  work,  before 

tie  ti?net  and  not  precifcly  fuch  a  num.-  he  was  crucified. 


Chap.  xiii. 


33  Nevertheless, 
I  mull  walk  to- 
day and  to-mor- 
row, and  the  day 
following  :  for  it 
cannot  be  that  a 
prophet  perifli  out 
uf  Jerusalem. 


Luke  paraphrafed.  149 

to  die,  a  facrifice  for  fin,    as  Herod  can  be  to  kill 


34  O  Jerufalem, 
Jerufalem,  which 
killed  the  prophets, 
and  ftoneft  them 
that  are  fent  unto 
thee  :  how  often 
would  I  have  ga- 
thered thy  children 
together,  as  a  hen 
doth  gather  her 
brood  under  her 
wings,  and  ye 
would  not ! 


55  Behold,  your 
Louie  is  left  unto 
you  dc folate  :  and 
verily  I  fay  unto 
you,  Ye  fhall  not 
fee  me,  until  the 
time  come  when 
>e  (hall  fay,  Slew- 
ed is  he  that  Co- 
meth in  the  n.tme 
«fthe  Lord. 


me. 


Vol.  II. 


33  However,  in  the  mean  while,  be  his  defigns  or 
threatenings  what  they  will,  they  are  all  vain  and  im- 
potent :  I  muft,  according  to  divine  appointment, 
purfue  my  journey,  (ver.  22.)  and  go  on  a  little 
longer  in  my  Father's  bufinefs  ;  and  I  fhall  not  fall 
by  Herod's  hands  in  Galilee  :  For  as  God  has  fore- 
ordained the  place,  as  well  as  the  time,  of  my  death  ; 
fo  no  prophet  can  be  tried  and  executed,  under  pre- 
tence of  law,  in  any  other  place  than  Jerufalem, 
where  the  great  council  fit,  who  claim  the  power  of 
judging  about  the  Lord's  prophets,  and,  by  long 
prefcription,  have  exercifed  it  in  murdering  them. 

34  Hereupon  our  bleffed  Lord,  as  a  holy  man, 
and  affectionate  minifter,  took  occalion  to  lament  o- 
ver  Jerufalem,  faying,  with  a  molt  tender,  earn  eft, 
and  moving  pathos,  O  Jerufalem,  Jerufalem,  who 
once  wert  the  holy  and  beloved  city,  but  now  art  be- 
come defperately  and  incorrigibly  wicked,  even  unto 
the  murdering  of  the  prophets  of  the  Lord,  and 
cruelly  perfecuting  his  meffengers  of  peace ;  in  which 
you  wjll  go  on,  to  fill  up  the  meafure  of  your  iniqui- 
ty, by  putting  me  and  my  followers  to  death  !  How 
often  have  I  inftructed,  cautioned,  reproved,  encou- 
raged, and  expoftulated  with  your  inhabitants,  and 
uied  all  manner  of  convincing  and  engaging  methods 
to  bring  them  in  to  myfelf,  that  they,  like  chickenj 
under  the  wings  of  an  hen,  might  be  fecured  from 
the  deftru&ion  which  would  otherwife  come  upon 
them,  and  might  be  cheriihed  and  comforted  with 
my  mercy  and  falvation  !  But  alas  !  they  would  not 
come  to  me  that  they  might  have  life,  nor  would 
they  that  I  fhould  reign  over  them  ;  and  ye,  their 
teachers  and  rulers,  would  neither  go  into  my  king- 
dom yourfelves,  nor  fuffer  your  difciples  and  depend- 
ents to  enter  into  it. 

35  Behold  therefore  now  with  dread  and  ailonifli- 
ment,  and  know  for  certainty,  that  your  temple  and 
city,  the  houfe  of  God,  and  your  own  houfes,  are 
conligned  over  to  final  and  utter  deftrti&ion,  which 
(hall  quickly  lay  them  defohte  :  And  I  aiTurcdly  tell 
you,  that  the  time  haftens  apace,  (fee  the  note  on 
Mat.  xxiii.  39.)  when  I  will  vilit  Jerufalem  in  mer- 
cy no  more  ;  and  ye  fhall  never  fee  me  again,  till,  as 
an  emblem  of  my  laft  awful  and  glorious  appearing, 
I  fliall  come  to  deftroy  it :  Then  ye  will  have  quite- 
other  thoughts  of  mc  than  ye  now  have,  and  be  for- 
ced to  own  that  I  am  the  bleffed  One,  and  the  fen; 
of  God,  whom  ye  treated  as  an  impoflor,  and  load- 
ed with  a  curfe  ;    and  then  vc  would  be   glrid  to 


i$c  The  Evangeli/i  .Chap.  xiv. 

be  found  among  thofe  who  mail  bid  me  welcome,  an«t 
embrace  me,  as  their  Saviour. 

RECOLLECTIONS. 

How  fliould  we  guard  againft  uncharitable  cenfures  of  others,  with  refpect  to  the 
judgments  of  God  falling  upon  them  It  And  how  much  rather  fliould  we  go  into  a 
humbling  fenfe  of  our  own  iniquities  and  obnoxioufnefs  to  his  wrath,  whofe  exact 
retributions  of  juftice  are  referved  for  the  world  to  come  !  In  the  mean  while,  he 
takes  notice  of  all  the  feafons  and  means  of  grace  that  we  enjoy,  and  of  all  our  un- 
i;rofitablenefs  under  them:  But  as  long  as,  through  the  mediation  of  Chrift,  the 
gofpel  is  continued  to  us,  there  is  room  for  hope  of  its  being  made  effectual :  Though 
it  be  rejected  by  many,  it  (hall  have  a  wide  fpread  among  others,  and  wherever  it  is 
received  in  truth,  and  is  the  means  of  producing  a  principle  of  grace  in  the  foul,  it 
ihall  flourifli  and  prevail  to  a  thorough  change  in  heart  and  life,  like  the  growth  of 
a  grain  of  muftard-feed,  and  the  efficacy  of  leaven  in  meal.  But  God's  patience 
will  not  always  laft  towards  incorrigible  tinners  ;  their  abufes  of  gofpel-opportuni- 
ties  will,  fooner  or  later,  turn  to  their  righteous  and  utter  ruin  :  Then  they  would 
l>e  glad  of  the  falvation  which  they  before  neglected  ;  but  all  their  cries  for  mere v 
then  will  be  in  vain ;  all  their  hopes  and  pleas  from  external  privileges,  and  pre- 
tences to  religion,  will  be  defeated  ;  and  there  will  be  none  to  intercede  for  them  : 
This  will  be  the  awful  condition  of  vaft  multitudes.  But  of  how  much  greater  im- 
portance is  it  to  us,  to  feek  in  good  earned  after  our  own  falvation,  than  to  indulge 
curious  queftions  about  the  fewnefs  of  them  that  fliali  be  faved  !  And  yet,  to  quick- 
en our  diligence  and  dependence  upon  God's  grace,  and  to  raife  our  admiration  and 
praife,  if  we  are  made  partakers  of  it,  we  lhould  remember  that  the  number  of 
thefe  is  very  fmall,  compared  with  thofe  who  will  be  loft ;  and  that  God  maintains 
fuch  a  wife  and  holy  fovereignty  in  beftowing  his  favours,  that  the  Ieaft  likely,  in 
human  account,  many  times  freely  receive  them  in  his  way,  whilft  others,  more 
likely,  fall  fliort  of  them.  And  O  what  rich  encouragement  have  we  to  hope  and 
try  for  mercy,  while  we  are  in  the  way  of  it,  and  fuch  an  almighty  gracious  Savi- 
our as  Chrift  is  let  before  us  !  How  godlike  was  his  power  aiid  goodnefs,  in  his  mi- 
raculous cures,  to  prove  his  divine  character ;  and  what  a  lively  emblem  did  he 
therein  give  of  his  tender  compaffion  to  thofe  that  are,  and  have  been,  long  bowed 
down  in  ipirit,  under  the  power  of  fin  and  Satan  !  He  prevents  them  with  his  grace, 
and  commands  their  deliverance. — How  indefatigable  was  he  in  his  labours  and 
preaching  !  What  an  honour  did  he  put  upon  public  worihip,  and  Sabbath-folem- 
nities  !  And  with  what  wifdom  did  he  fettle  the.  law  of  God's  holy-day,  that  works 
of  piety  and  mercy  may  be  attended  to  thereon  !  How  did  he  deipife  the  terrors  of 
men  ;  and  how  willingly  did  he  give  himfelf  up  to  the  word  of,  deaths,  to  make  a- 
tonement  for  fin '.  But  till  his  time  was  come,  no  powers  on  earth  were  able  to  de- 
ftroy  him.  What  long-fuffering,  and  bowels  of  compafiion  did  he  fliew  to  finners"; 
what  a  variety  of  endearing  methods  did  he  ule  to  win  upon  them  !  And  who  can 
think  of  fueh  as  are  finally  obftinate  and  impenitent,  and  not  like  the  tender-heart- 
ed Jefus,  mourn  over  them,  in  that  they  wilfully  reject  him  and  his  gofpel,  and  re- 
folutely  perfift  in  their  fins,  with  high  aggravations,  for  which  their  deftruction  at 
laft  will  be  infupportable  and  unavoidable.' 


CHAP.       XIV. 


Chrift  cures  a  dropfy,  and  vindicates  his  doing  it  on  the  Sabbath-day, 
l, — 6.  His  lefjon  of  humility,  y,- — 11.  Of  charity  to  the  poor, 
12, — 14.  The  parable  of  the  guefls  invited  to  a  greaL  fupper, 
35, — 24.  A  description  of  true  difciplejhip,  25, — 33,  And  the 
difference  between  good  and  bad  ?ninifiers  and  prof ejjbrs,   34,  35. 


Text*  Paraphrase. 

-^Nmv  ^oam^t0   r^i^^"  Lord  being  invited   (ver.  12.)   on  a  certain 
into   ^*^  Sabbath-day  to  a  ncceflary  refrefhment,  at  the 

houfc 


Chap.  xiv. 

into  the  houfe  of 
one  of  the  chief 
Pharifees  to  eat 
bread  on  the  Sab- 
bath-day, that  they 
watched  him. 


2  And  behold, 
there  was  a  cer- 
tain man  before 
him  which  had  the 
dropfy. 

3  And  Jefus  an- 
swering, (pake  un- 
to the  lawyers  and 
Pharifees,  faying, 
Is  it  lawful  to  heal 
on  the  Sabbath- 
day  ? 

4  And  they  held 
their  peace.  And 
he  took  him,  and 
healed  him,  and 
let  him  go ; 


Luke  paraphrafed,  151 

houfe  of  a  great  man*,  who  was  a  Pharifee;  lie  cour- 
teoufly  accepted  the  invitation,  and  went  in  to  take 
a  meal  with  him  :  But  fome  of  that  feet,  and  feve- 
ral  doctors  of  the  law,  being  prefent,  narrowly  watch- 
ed him,  as  ufual,  {Mark  iii.  2.)  to  fee  if  he  would 
do  any  thing  contrary  to  their  rules  about  the  Sab- 
bath, that  they  might  take  an  occafion  to  accufe  and 
reproach  him. 

2  And  a  remarkable  opportunity  offered  to  try  him : 
For  at  that  time  there  was  prefent  \  a  poor  miferable 
man,  who  was  grievoufly  am1  idled  with  the  dropfy. 

3  And  as  Chrift,  in  his  wonted  compaffion,  deter- 
mined to  heal  him,  but  knew  the  captious  defigns  ot 
the  fcribes  and  Pharifees ■>  he,  anfwering  to  their  in- 
moft  thoughts,  afked  them,  Whether  it  were  contra- 
ry to  the  law  of"  God  to  do  fuch  an  a£t  of  mercy 
and  charity,  as  to  heal  a  difeafed  man  on  the  Sab- 
bath-day ? 

4  They  not  knowing  how  to  make  a  defenfible 
reply,  confident  with  their  fuperftitious  rites  about 
the  obfervation  of  the  Sabbath,  chofe  to  be  filent  : 
And  therefore  Chrift,  without  more  ado,  took  the 
dropfical  man  alide,  to  avoid  oftentation,  and  laying 
his  hand  upon  him,  (iTriXccfiopivos,)  reduced  his  fwolu 
body  to  its  proper  fhape  and  bulk  in  an  inftant  ;  and 
then  fent  him  away  in  perfect  health,  that  the  Pha- 

•  rifees  might  not  quarrel  with  him  for  fuffering  him  - 
felf  to  be  cured  on  that  day. 

5  Then  Jefus,  turning  again  to  the  Pharifees, 
faid,  Who  is  there  of  you  all,  that  if  his  ox  or  his 
afs  were  fallen  into  a  pit,  would  make  any  fcruple  e- 
ven  of  taking  great  pains  to  pull  it  out  on  the  Sabbath- 
day  ?  none  of  you  would  refufe  to  do  this,  or  think 
there  were  any  harm  in  it.  Ye  cannot  therefore, 
without  the  greateft  partiality  and  injuftice,  count: 
me  guilty  of  any  crime,  in  only  ilretching  forth  my 
hand  to  heal  a  poor  diftrelfed  man,  in  danger  of  his 
life,  on  the  Sabbath-day  ? ' 

6  And  there  was  fuch  undeniable  evidence  in  this 
way  of  reafoning,.  that  they  were  all  confounded,  and 
could  not  reply  a  word  again  ft  it. 

7  Our  Lord  obferving,  that  •  when  the  invited 
guefts,  efpecially  thofe  of  the  fcribes  and  Pharifees^ 
came  to  place  themfelves  at  the  table,  every  one  ftrove 
for  the  upper  hand,  endeavouring  to  get  the  higheit 
feat,  he  took  occafion  from  thence,  as  from  a  pro- 

X  2  per 

NOTE. 
*  He  feems  to  have  been  one  of  the  Jeivijh  fanhedrim,  and  a  chief  ruler  in  the 
fynagogue. 
f  He  probably  came  there,  hoping  for  a  cure  ;  or  perhaps  was  one  of  the  family. 


5    And 
°d    them, 


anfwer- 
faying, 


Which  of  you  (hall 
have  an  afs  or  an 
ox  fallen  into  a 
pit,  and  will  -not 
ftraightway 
him  out  on 
Sabbath-day  ? 


pull 
the 


6  And  they  could 
n.ot  anfwer  him 
again  to  thefe 
things. 

7  And  he  put 
forth  a  parable  to 
thofe  which  were 
bidden,  when  he 
nurked  how  they 

chofe 


thee, 
man 
thou 


*5*. 

chofe  out  the  chief 
rooms  ;  faying  un- 
to them, 

€  When  thou 
aft  b'dcien  of  any 
man  to  a  wedding, 
fit  not  down  in 
the  higheft  room  : 
left  a  more  honour- 
able man  than  thou 
be  bidden  of  him  ; 

9  And  he  that 
bade  thee  and  him, 
come  and  fay  to 
Give  this 
place  ;  and 
begin  with 
liiame  to  take  the 
loweft  room. 

10  But  when 
thou  art  bidden,  go 
and  fit  down  in  the 
loweft  room ;  that 
when  he  that  bade 
thee  cometh,  he 
may  fay  unto  thee, 
Friend,  go  up  high- 
er: then  (halt  thou 
have  worfhip  in  the 
prefence  of  them 
that  fit  at  meat 
with  thee. 

1 1  For  whofo- 
ever  exalteth  him- 
ieif,fhallbeabafed; 
and  he  that  hum- 
bleth  himfelf,  fliall 
be  exalted. 


\%  Then  faid  he 
alfo  to  him-  that 
bade  him,  When 
thou  makeft  a  din- 
ner or  a  fupper, 
call  not  thy  friends, 
nor  thy  brethren, 
neither  thy  kinf- 
men,  nor  thy  rich 
neighbours  ;  left 
they  alfo  bid  thee 
"■gain,  and  a  re- 
•  onjamce  he  made 
'lice. 


T3    Tut     when 

*hou  .  makeft      a 

,  call  the  poor, 

the 


The  Evangelifl 


Chap.  xiv. 


per  fimilitude,  to  reprove  their  pride,  and  recommend 
the  excellence  and  advantage  of  humility,  faying, 

8,  9  When  any  of  you  are  invited  to  a  wedding, 
or  other  public  feait,  do  not  put  forward  for  the  high- 
eft  place,  vainly  conceiting  yourfelf  to  be  worthy  of 
it;  left  there  mould  be  fome  other  gueft  of  higher 
rank,  by  his  age,  ftation,  or  qualifications,  and 
thereupon  the  mafter  of  the  feaft  mould,  out  of  due 
refpect  to  him,  come  and  defire  you  to  let  him  take 
your  feat  ;  and  fo  you  mould  be  expofed  to  contempt 
before  all  the  company,  and  be  forced,  with  confufion 
and  difgrace,  to  remove  lower. 

10  But,  on  the  other  hand,  whenever  you  have 
fuch  an  invitation,  chuie  to  fet  yourfelf  in  one  of  the 
loweft  feats,  with  a  due  fenfe  of  your  own  unwor- 
thinefs,  and  with  a  preference  of  others  ;  that  when 
the  mafter  of  the  houfe  obferve6  it,  he  may  defire  you, 
in  a  relpeftful  manner,  to  remove  to  a  more  honour- 
able place  :  This  will  procure  you  much  efteem  and 
reputation  among  all  that  mail  be  at  table  with  you. 
And  as  in  this,  fo  in  all  other  actions  of  life,  let  your 
behaviour  toward  God  and  man  be  with  all  humble- 
nefs  of  mind,  and  becoming  modefty. 

1 1  For  whofoever  is  wile  and  deferving  in  his  own 
conceit,  and  would  take  honour  to  himfelf  before  the 
Divine  Majefty,  or  fellow  creatures,  mail  certainly 
have  contempt  poured  upon  him  ;  God  will  abhor 
and  bring  him  low  ;  and  men  will  defpife  and  difdain 
him  :  But  whoever  is  of  an  humble  fpirit,  abaling 
himfelf  at  the  foot  of  God,  under  a  fenfe  of  his  own 
nothingnefs  and  vilenefs,  and  preferring  others  to 
himfelf,  he  (hall  be  highly  honoured  of  God  and  man. 
(Prov.  xxix.  23.)  , 

1 2  Then,  Jefus,  obferving  what  fort  of  guefts  wei  e 
at  table  with  him,  turned  to  the  Pharifee  who  in- 
vited him,  and  faid,  When  you  deiign  to  make  an 
entertainment,  if  you  would  have  it  pleafing  to  God, 
and  really  advantageous  to  yourfelf,  do  not  confine 
it  to  your  friends  and  neareit  kindred,  nor  to  your 
rich  neighbours  and  acquaintance,  exclulive  of  others, 
to  the  wafting  of  your  fubftance,  and  hindering  your 
liberality,  where  it  may  be  needed  ;  nor  be  fond  of  ma- 
king fumptuous  and  coftly  feafts,  that  "your  great  and 
wealthy  friends  and  relations  may  honour  your  tabic, 
and  admire  its  elegancy  ;  left  they  retaliate  your 
bounty,  by  feafting  you  with  their  dainties  again, 
and  that  be  the  whole  of  your  reward  :  For  all  this  is 
only  feeding  your  own  felliflinefs,  pride,  and  luxury. 

13  But  when  you  make  a  feaft,  let  it  ordinarily 
be  of  good,  wholefome,  and  lefs  ccftly  food  ;  and 
invite  or  fend  portions  of  it  to  thofe  (AW>.   viii.  10.) 

that 


Chap.  xiv. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


153 


the    maimed,    the   that  are  really  in  want,  fuch  as  the  poor,  the  maim- 


lame,  the  blind 


14  And  thou 
fhalt  be  blefled ; 
for  they  cannot  re 
compente  thee :  for 
thou  fhalt  be  re- 
compenfed  at  the 
refurrection  of  the 
juft, 


1 5  And  when 
one  of  them  that 
fat  at  meat  with 
him,  heard  thefe 
things,  he  laid  un- 
to him,  Blelfed  is 
he  that  fliall  eat 
bread  in  the  kjn  - 
dom  of  God. 

16  Then  faid  he 
unto  him,  A  cer 
tain  man  made  a 
great  fupper,  ai  d 
bade  many  : 


17  And  fent  his 
fervant  at  fupper- 
time,  to  fay  to  them 
that  were  bidden, 
Come ;  for  all 
things  are  now 
ready. 


ed,  the  lame,  and  the  blind,  who  are  objects  of  great 
companion,  and  unable  to  provide  for  themfelves. 

14  And  though  it  is  not  in  the  power  of  thefe  to 
return  the  fame  fort  of  kindnefs  to  you,  ye  fhall  ne- 
verthelefs  be  blefTed  in  the  beft  manner  ;  for  they  will 
blefs  God  for  you;  and,  being  fenfible  that  they 
have  no  other  way  to  make  you  amends,  will  pray 
for  his  bleffmg  upon  you:  (Job  xxix.  13.)  And, 
you  being  found  among  the  righteous,  he  will  own  and 
honour  thefe  charities,  and  gracioufly  reward  them, 
if  not  in  this  world,  yet  with  rich  advantage  at  the 
general  judgment.   Ble (fed  are  the  merciful:   For  they 

Jhall  obtain  mercy.    (Matth.  v.  7.) 

1 5  Now  one  of  them  who  fat  at  table  feemed  to 
be  much  affected  with  this  difcourfe  ;  and,  breaking 
out  in  a  fort  of  ecftacy,  faid  to  Jefus,  They  are  blefs- 
ed  indeed  that  fliall  f  (hare  in  the  privileges  and  plea- 
fures  of  the  Mefuah's  kingdom  on  earth,  and  fliall 
be  admitted  to  all  the  delightful  entertainments  of 
the  heavenly  world  at  the  refurreftion  of  the  juft. 

1 6  To  this  our  Lord  replied,  What  you  fay  is  very 
true  ;  my  kingdom  is  full  of  blefiings,  though  many 
c  *pife  and  reject  them  ;  as  may  be  reprefented  in  the 
following  parable  :  A  certain  man  made  a  great  feaft, 
which,  as  ufual,  was  at  fupper,  and  invited  many  gueft  s. 
So  Chrilt,  now  in  the  end  of  the  world,  has  made 
plentiful  provifions  of  gofpel-grace  for  fpiritual  re- 
frefhment  and  perfect  happinefs,  that  Tinners  may  be 
holy  here,  and  bleffed  for  ever  ;  and  he  freely  in- 
vites all  that  hear  the  gofpel,  beginning  with  the 
Jeivifh  nation,  to  accept  thofe  rich  provifions  for 
their  prefent  relief  and  comfort,  and  for  their  eternal 
falvation. 

17  And  when  the  feaft  was  fully  prepared,  and 
but  few  of  the  guefts  were  come  in,  the  mailer  fent 
his  fervant  again  to  them  who  had  been  invited,  to 
let  them  know  that  all  things  were  now  ready  for 
their  entertainment,  and  to  bid  them  come  without 
any  further  delay.  So  Chrift  having  called  the  Jews 
by  his  perfonal  miniftry,  and  by  the  preaching  of  his 
fervants,  whom  he  fent  to  the  cities  of  judea,  with 
little  fuccefs,  he  commiffioned  the  apoftles  and  evan- 

gelifts 
T    E. 

ven  hereafter,  are  very  feafonably  exv 
prefled  by  the  metaphor  of  eating  bread 
in  the  kingdom  of  God  :  Though,  as  fome 
tell  us,  this -was  a  faying  common  among 
the  Rabbins  from  EfdraSs  days;  and  it  is 
probable  that  this  man  had  carnal  notions 
about  the  honours  of  the  Meffiah'sking- 


N  O 
f  To  cat  bread  was  a  ufual  phrafe  for 
a  whole  meal,  whether  of  common  or  de- 
licious provifions,  (2  Sam.  ix.  7.  and  xii. 
17.  and  Prov.  ix.  5.)  And  as  the  com- 
pany were  now  at  table,  and  Chrift's  dif- 
courfe had  turned  upon  fpiritual  fubjects, 
in  allufion  to  a  feaft  ;  the  advantages  of 
religion  here,  and  the  bleflcdnefs  of  hea«   dom,  when  be  ufe.d  it. 


*54- 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  xiv. 


?8  And  they  all 
with  one  ccnfent 
began  to  make  ex- 
cufe.  The  firft 
laid  unto  him, 
have  bought  a 
piece  -  of  ground, 
and  I  muft  needs 
go  and  fee  it :  I 
pray  thee  have  me 
excufed. 


geiifts  after  his  refurre&ion,    to  renew  his  gracious 
invitation,  and  to  allure  them  that  now    all   thines 
were  thoroughly  prepared,  that  the  work  of  redemp- 
tion was  actually  finifhed,  that  the  Spirit  was  poured 
out  from  on  high  to  bear  witnefs  and  give  efficacy  to 
it,  and  that  he  was  Hill  willing  to  receive  every  one 
who  mould  come  by  faith  to  him.     And  this  is  the 
language  of  the  gofpel,  wherever  it  is  preached  *. 
1 8,  19,  20  And  yet  the  invited  guefts,  as  it  were 
by  common  confent,  put  off  their  coming,  upon  vari- 
ous pretences  :   One   alledged,    that    he    had    lately 
I   bought  a  piece  of  ground,  and  muft  needs  go  to  fee 
how  the  bargain  was  like  to  prove  ;  and  therefore 
begged  to  be  excufed  :   Another  pleaded,    that    he 
had  juft  bought  five  yoke  of  oxen,  and  muft  go  to 
try  whether  they  were  fit  for  his  bufinefs  ;  and  there- 
fore defired  that  he  might  be  excufed  :  And  another 
19  And  another   infilled,  that  he  was  lately  married  ;    and  therefore 
five'vo^  f  °USht   PeremPtor%  declared,  he  could  not  come.      So  the 
aid  I  go  to  prove   Jewf  in  gen€ral»  and  tne  fcribcs  and  Pharifees  in 
them  :  Fpray  thee    particular,  and  many  others,  that  fit  under  the  gofpel, 
have  me  excufed.      reject  its   gracious   invitations,    upon    frivolous    and 
r   carnal  pretences  ;  fome  preferring  their  worldly  gains 
and  advantages,  and  others  their    fenfual    eafe    and 
pleafure,  to  Chrift,  and  the  blefiings  of  eternal  life  ; 
and  all  unbelievers  are  for  ihifting  off  a  prefent  at- 
tention to  his  calls,  which  carries  in  it  a  real  denial, 
though  they  are  alhamed  in  plain  terms  to  avow  it. 
2 1  So  that  fer-        2 1    The  fervant,    returning  to  his  lord,  reported 
came,    and   the  feveral  excufes  they  had  made  :    And  the  mafter 
of  the  feaft,  being  provoked  at  their  ingratitude  and 
contempt,    ordered  him  to  go  immediately  into  the 
public  parts  oftthe  city,  and  invite  the  poor,  the  maim- 
ed, the  halt,  and  blind,   whom  he  might  meet  with 
there.       So   the,  minifters  of  Chrift  give  him  an  ac- 
count, with  grief,  in  their  prayers,  of  the  unfucce'fs* 
and   fulnefs  of  their  labours,  faying,  Lord,   we  are  a  fa- 
in   hither   vour  of  death  unto  death  to   many  ;    they  will  not 
hear  and  receive  our  meffage  :  And  he,  being  highly 
offended  with  thofe  lirft  refufers  of  his  grace,    fent 
his  fervants  to  the  difperfed  Jews  and  the  Gentile 
profelytes,  to  preach  the  gofpel  to  them,    and  even 
to  the  moil  defpicable  people,  who  make  but  little  fi- 
gure in  the  world,  and  are  remarkably  ignorant,  im- 
potent, and  miferable. 

22    And  when  the  fervant  had  executed  this  com- 
miflion    with    fome   fuccefs,    he  faid  to  his   mafter, 

Lord, 
NOTE. 
./   *   Though  this  parable  primarily  related  to  the  calling  of  the  Jew?,  and  after- 
wards of  the  Gentiles,  yet  it  is  applicable  to  all  perfons,  in  all  ages  of  the  world,  t© 
whom  Chrift  fends  his  gofpel. 


faid,  I  have  mar- 
ried a  wife  ;  and 
therefore  I  cannot 
come. 


fhewed  his  lord 
thefe  things.  Then 
the  mafter  of  the 
houfe,  being  an- 
gry, faid  to  his 
fervant,  Go  out 
quickly  into  the 
ttreets  and  lanes 
of  the 
bring 
the  poor,  and  the 
maimed,  and  the 
halt,  and  the 
blind. 


22  And  the  fer- 
vant faid,  Lord,  it 
is 


Chap.  xiv. 

is  done  as  thou 
haft  commanded, 
and  yet  there  is 
room. 


\. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


15S 


23  And  the  lord 
faid  unto  the  fer- 
vant,  Go  out  into 
the  highways  and 
hedges,  and  com- 
pel them  to  come 
in,  that  my  houfe 
may  be  filled. 


24  For  I  fay  un- 
to you,  That  none 
of  thole  men  which 
were  bidden,  (hall 


tafte 
per. 


of   my  fup- 


25  And  there 
went  great  multi- 
tudes with  him  : 
and  he  turned,  and 
faid  unto  them, 

26  If  any  man 
come  to  me,  and 
hate  not  his  father, 
and  mother,  and 
wife,  and  children, 
and  brethren,  and 
lifters,  yea,  and  his 
own  life  alfo,  he 
cannot  be  my  dif- 
cjph\ 


Lord,  thy  orders  have  been  obeyed,  and  fome  are 
come  in,  and  yet  there  is  room.  So  upon  preaching 
the  gofpel  to  thofe  Jews  and  profelytes,  many  of 
them  believed  ;  and  the  fervants  of  Chrift  rejoice  to 
tell  him  of  the  fuccefs  of  their  miniitry,  whenever,  by 
his  grace,  their  preaching  is  made  a  favour  of  life  to 
life  ;  and  this  revives  their  hearts,  and  encourages 
their  pleas,  that  ftill  there  is  room  for  more  in  the 
church,  and  in  the  heavenly  manfions,  which  are  not 
yet  full,  and  in  the  grace  of  God  and  merit  of  the 
Redeemer,  which  are  not  yet  exhaulled. 

2  3  Then  the  lord  of  the  feait  ordered  his  fervant 
to  go  into  the  high  roads  and  hedges  without  the  ci- 
ty, and  to  be  very  earned  with  even  the  beggars, 
and  the  country  people  there,  to  come  in,  that  his 
houfe  might  be  filled.  So  the  Lord  Jefus  fent  his 
gofpel  to  the  ignorant  and  idolatrous  Gentiles,  who 
were  afar  off,  {Eph.  ii.  1-2, — 17.)  and  to  the  molt 
notorious  finners  ;  and  he  made  it  effectual  among 
them,  who  flocked  in  multitudes  to  him  and  his 
church,  like  perfons  conilrained  to  it,  not  by  force 
of  arms,  but  of  arguments  attended  with  the  Divine 
Spirit,  who  perfuades,  encourages,  convinces,  and 
fweetly  overcomes  the  hearts  of  the  difobedient,  and 
draws  them  with  cords  of  a  man,  with  bands  of  love, 
that  they  may  be  a  willing  people  in  the  day  01 
Chrift's  power.  (Hof.  xi.  4.  and  PfaJ.  ex.  3.) 

24  And  the  reafon  why  the  mailer  of  the  feaft 
would  fend  no  more  to  the  refolute  refufers,  was,  be- 
caufe,  being  angry  with  them,  he  declared  not  one 
oflthem  mould  ever  tafte  of  his  rich  entertainment. 
So  Chrift,  being  provoked  at  the  ingratitude  and  ob- 
ftinate  infidelity  of  the  jewi ,  ordered  his  apoftles  t© 
make  no  further  propofals  of  the  gofpel  to  them  ; 
but  to  turn  to  the  Gentiles  :  {Acls  xiii.  46.)  And 
God  has  fworn  in  his  wrath  againft  them  who  be- 
lieve not,  that  they  fhall  not  enter  into  his  reft.  (Heb. 
iii.  18.) 

25  After  this,  a  great  multitude  attended  our 
bleffed  Lord  in  his  way  to  Jerufaletn  ;  and,  that  they 
might  not  pretend  to  be  his  followers  in  expectation 
of  fecular  advantages,  he,  turning  to  them,  faid, 

26  It  is  not  fo  eafy  a  thing  to  be  my  difcipleSj 
nor  fo  conJiftent  with,  much  lefs  fo  fubiervient  to, 
your  carnal  pleafure,  and  worldly  fafety  and  intereftc, 
as  ye  may  imagine  ;  do  not  deceive  yourfelves  in  a 
matter  of  fuch  confequence  as  this  :  For  if  any  one 
would  come  by  faith  to  me,  would  make  a  proleffion 
of  my  name,  and  cleave  to  me  for  the  bk'iTmgs  of  my 
kingdom,  he  mult  go  into  fuch  acts  of  felf-denial, 
and  lubmit  to  fuch  hardships  and  perfecutiens  for  my 

fake, 


i<o 


The  Evangelift 


Chap,  xiv. 


27  And  whofo- 
ever  doth  not  bear 
his  crofs,  and  come 
after  me,  cannot 
be  my  difciple. 


aS  For  which  of 
you  intending  to 
build  a  tower,  fit- 
teth  not  down  firft, 
and  counteth  the 
coft,  whether  he 
have  fufficient  to 
finirti  i$* 

29  Left  haply 
after  he  hath  laid 
the  foundation,  and 
is  pot  able  to  finiih 
it,  ail  that  behold 
it  begin  to  mock 
him, 

30  Saying,  This 
man  began  to  build, 
aod  was  not  able 
to  finiih. 

31  Or  what  king, 
going  to  make  war 
againlt  another 
ftfig,     fitteth    not 

a  firft,  and 
confulteth,  whe- 
ther he  be  able, 
v.ith  ten  thoufand, 
to  meet  him  that 
cometh  againfthim 
with  twenty  thou- 
fand ? 

32  Or  elfe,  while 

the 


fake,  as  (hew  that  he  prefers  me  to  all  the  deareft 
comforts  and  relations  of  life,  fuch  as  parents,  wives, 
children,  brethren,  and  fillers  ;  and  mull  be  as  ready 
to  part  with  them,  and  to  be  feparated  from  them  at 
my  call,  as  if  he  really  hated  them  ;  and  mufl  be  in- 
deed averfe  to  them,  and  to  his  own  enjoyment  of 
them,  fo  far  as  they  would  hinder  his  faith,  and  love, 
and  faithfulnefs  to  me  :  Yea,  he  mufl  have  the  fame 
felf-denying  temper  of  fpirit,  with  regard  to  his  own 
life  too,  being  as  willing  to  refign  that  alfo  for  my 
glory,  when  they  Hand  in  competition  j  or  elfe  He 
cannot  be  a  true  difciple  to  me,  nor  fhare  in  my  blefs- 
ings. 

27  And  whofoever  is  not  willing  and  refolved,  by 
the  grace  of  God  before -hand,  to  fubmit  to  reproach- 
es, injuries,  and  cruelties,  even  unto  death,  if  he 
fhould  be  called  to  endure  them,  for  my  fake,  and 
after  my  example,  that  he  may  maintain  his  fidelity 
to  me,  cannot  be,  in  truth,  one  of  my  difciples,  nor 
will  I  own  him  as  fuch  :  Think  therefore  of  thefe 
things  ferioufly  and  deliberately  now,  as  ever  ye  would 
be  Chriftans  indeed  ;  left,  in  a  time  of  fore  trial,  ye 
be  difcouraged,  and  all  your  profeffion  and  hopes 
come  to  nothing.  Thus  men  ufe  to  do  in  other  cafes 
of  importance. 

28,  29,  30  For  who  is  there  among  you,  that,  de- 
figning  to  build  an  houfe,  would  not,  before  he  be- 
gins the  work,  fit  down,  and  carefully  compute  the 
whole  charge,  and  conlider  whether  he  is  able  to  go 
through  with  it?  left,  after  he  has  inconfiderately  be- 
gun the  building,  he  be  forced  to  defift  for  want  of  a 
fufficient  ftock  of  money  to  defray  the  necefiary  ex- 
pence  ;  and  £0  mould  expofe  himfelf  to  the  derifion 
of  all  that  know  him,  for  having  foolifhly  attempted 
what  he  had  no  reafonable  profpeet  of  ever  being  a- 
ble  to  finiih. 

31,  32  Or,  to  give  you  another  inftance  of  pru- 
dence among  men  ;  What  king,  of  common  thought 
or  conduct,  who  is  in  danger  of  being  engaged  in  a 
war  with  fome  other  potentate,  would  not,  before 
he  ventures  a  battle,  deliberate  ferioufly  with  him- 
felf, whether  he  be  able,  with  only  ten  thoufand,  to 
encounter  twenty  thoufand  of  his  enemy's  forces  ? 
and  if  he  thinks  he  is  no  match  for  him,  what  man 
in  his  fenfes  would  not  rather  fend  ambaffadors^  while 
the  enemy  is  at  a  diftance,  and  fue  for  a  treaty  of 
peace  upon  any  tolerable  terms,  than  rafhly  give 
him  battle,  to  the  apparent  hazard  of  a  total  defeat, 
and  entire  lofs  of  all  his  dominions,  and  even  of  his 
own  life  ?  Surely  ereiy  thoughtful  prince  would 
do  this. 

33  It 


Chap.  xiv.  Luke  paraphrafed.  157 

the  other  is  yet  a        33    It  is  therefore  of  much  greater  neceflity  and 

great  way  oft    he   importance  for  thofe  of  you,   who  would  engage  in  a 
iendeth  an  embal-  r  rr  c  1  •     1  r   ° 

fage,  and  deiireth   Proteliion  oi  my  name,  and  entertain  hopes  from  me, 

conditions  of  peace,   to  fit  down  and  thoroughly  count  the  coil,    reckon- 

33  So  hkewife,   ing  upon  the  very  worft,  as  well  as  the  bell,  that  ye 

whofoever  he  be  of  ma  ft  to  mcet  with  for         fake>      And  then^t 

.you,  that  fbrfaketh    x    /        *  .       ..   ,    r    .      n      J  .-,  ri  . 

not    all    that    he    Denoves  vou  to  think  ieriouily  wita  yourfelves,  whe- 

hath,  he  cannot  be   ther  ye  fet  out  upon  fuch  a  foundation  as  will  fup- 

my  difcir !e.  port  your  hopes  and  views  for  eternal  life,  and  carry 

you  through  all  the  difficulties  that  lie  in  the  way  to 

it  ;  whether,  though  ye  cannot  go  on  in  your  work, 

and    go    out    againll    your   enemies,     in    your    own 

ftrength,    my  grace  be  not  fufficient  for  you  ;    and 

whether  ye  find  your  hearts  engaged  thereby  to  run 

all  rifques,    and  encounter  all  oppoiition  from  Satan, 

the  flefh,    and  the  world,  rather  than  abandon  me  ? 

For  I  have  already  told  you,  that  tinlefs  ye  come  to 

a  point  in  the  fpiritual  difpofitions  and  fettled  purpo- 

fes  of  your  fouls  about  thefe  things,  even  to  the  lofs 

of  all  this  world,  if  need  be,  ye  cannot  be  really  my 

difciples,  owning  me,  and  owned  by  me. 

34,  35  My  doctrine,  and  a  holy  profeflion  of  it, 
are,  like  fait  *,  very  valuable  and  ferviceable  ;  and 
truly  gracious  and  holy  Chriilians,  and  efpecialiy 
found  and  faithful  minilters,  are  the  excellent  of  the 
35  It  is  neither  earth,  and  of  great  ufe  to  fpread  the  favour  of  the 
n<*.  knowledge  of  God,  to  prevent  corruption,  and  im- 
prove all  company,  where  they  come  ;  But  if  my 
doctrines  be  debated  ;  or  a  profeffion  become  loofe 
and  lifelefs,  and  profefibrs  and  miniilers  themfelves 
degenerate,  and  prove  carnal,  gracelefs,  deftitute  of 
the  power  of  religion  in  their  hearts  and  lives,  and  fo 
fink  under  the  difficulties  and  difcouragements  they 
meet  with  for  my  fake  ;  they  become  like  taftelefs, 
fpiritlefs  fait,  which  has  loft  all  its  virtue  and  relifhf  ; 
and  no  other  principles  or  means  can  ever  recover 
fuch  perfons  from  their  depravity  and  apoftacy  :  And 
as  inupid  fait  is  neither  fit  for  fo  much  as  to  manure 
land,  or  to  make  dung  ;  fo  error  is  mifchievous  ;  and 
fuch  perfons  are  rather  injurious,  than  ferviceable  to 
any,  the  Ieaft  valuable  purpofes  whatfoever  ;  and 
are  to  be  utterly  abandoned  and  rejected  ;  to  be  cart 
out  of  the  church  in  this  world,  and  fnut  out  from 
the  kingdom  of  heaven  in  the  next  :  Attend  there- 
fore to,    and  deliberate  carefully  upon,   what  I  have 

faid, 
NOTE    S. 
*  By  fait  may  be  meant  either   the    Ch rift  calls  the  fait  of  the  earth,  (Mat- 
4o<£trine  of  Chrift,  and  a  profeffion  of  his    v.  r>) 

name,  (MarkJ^..  50.}   or  good  Chrifti-        f  This  taftelefs  fait  is  fuch  as  chymifh 
ans,  and  efpecialiy  good  mmifters,  whom   call,  after  diftllhtiofj,  Caput  mort uicv.. 

Vol.  II.  Y 


34  Salt  is  good  : 
but  if  the  fait  have 
loft  his  favour, 
wherewith  flia.ll  it 
be  feafoned  ? 


nor  yet  for  the 
dunghill;  but  men 
caft  it  Out.  He 
that  hath  ears  to 
hear,  let  him  hear. 


I5§  The  Evangeli/l  Chap,  xv, 

faid,  as  a  matter  of  the  higheft  moment  to  yourfelvcs? 
if  ye  would  be  indeed  my  difciples. 

RECOLLECTIONS. 

How  careful  fliould  we  be  to  obferve  the  law  of  the  Sabbath,  free  from  the  ex- 
tremes of  fuperftition  on  one  hand,  and  of  profanation  on  the  other  !  Happy  is  he 
who  does  not  allow  himfelf  in  that  which  he  condemns  in  others :  Nature  requires 
proper  repafts  on  the  Lord's  day,  and  religion  demands  fuch  acts  of  mercy  and  good- 
uefs  as  are  fiiitable  to  prefent  circumftanees  :  But  our  chief  employment,  difcourfe, 
and  table-talk,  like  our  bleffed  Lord's,  fliould  be  of  a  religious  ftrain. — How  ami- 
able and  exalting  is  true  humility  ;  but  how  odious  and  debating  is  pride,  both  ia 
the  fight  of  God  and  man,  and  in  its  different  events  relating  to  this  world  and  that 
which  is  to  come  !  And  how  little  is  the  higheft  honour  and  efteem  among  great 
men  and  friends  on  earth,  to  be  compared  with  the  glorious  recompence  which 
fliall  be  made  at  the  refurrection  of  tlie  juft  !  In  order  to  the  obtaining  of  this,  be- 
hold the  rich  provifions  of  gol pel-grace,  and  its  free  invitation  to  all  forts  offinners, 
even  the  moft  unworthy  !  And  behold  its  victorious  power,  in  bringing  them  in  to 
Chrift  !  None  fliall  be  excluded,  who  do  not,  by  unbelief,  exclude  themfelves;  and 
yet,  alas !  how  many  are  there  that  make  light  of  its  bleflings,  prefer  this  world  to 
them,  excufe  themfelves,  by  trifling  pretences,  from  embracing  them,  and  provok- 
ingly  refufe  them,  to  their  own  eternal  lofs  and  ruin!  But,  bleffed  be  God,  there  is 
yet  room  ;  and  as  all  things  are  now  ready,  they  fliall  not  be  utterly  loft  :  The 
Whole  human  race  fhall  not  be  fuffered  to  reject  the  gofpel ;  but  fovereign  grace 
will  make  it  effectual  to  many,  even  to  finners  of  the  Gentiles,  and  to  the  moft  un- 
likely, in  human  view,  till  Chrift's  houfe  be  filled.  Minifters  muft  give  an  account 
to  him  of  their  labours  and  fuccefs,  in  their  prayers  here,  and  at  the  day  of  judg- 
ment hereafter ;  and  vvhilft  he  accepts  them  in  the  faithful  difcharge  of  their  of- 
fice, he  will  be  angry  with  the  obftinate  refufers  of  his  grace,  and  never  allow  them 
to  partake  of  its  faving  benefits  :  But  he  will  make  all  thole  heartily  welcome  who 
by  faith  receive  him.  How  fliould  he  have  the  preference,  in  our  hearts,  to  life  it- 
felf,  and  all  its  deareft  relations  and  comforts  !  And  how  concerned  fliould  we  be 
to  enter  upon  a  profeffion  of  his  name,  on  fuch  principles  as  will  carry  us  through 
the  worft  that  can  befal  us  for  his  fake  !  We  fliould  fit  down  and  count  what  our 
religion  will  coft  us,  and  what  bleffed  affiftances,  encouragements,  and  comforts, 
are  to  be  found  in  Chrift,  to  fupport  us  under  tribulation,  over-balance  it,  and 
crown  us  with  victory,  and  triumph  over  it:  And  O  how  excellent  is  his  doctrine, 
and  how  effectual,  when  maintained  in  its  purity,  and  the  heart  is  feafoned  with 
grace !  We  then  are  bleffed,  and  made  bleffings.  But  how  pernicious  is  error;  and 
how  ufelefs  and  injurious  at  prefent,  and  miferable  at  laft,  will  loofe  and  carnal, 
corrupt  and  carelefs  profefibrs  and  minifters  be  !  They  fliall  be  rejected  of  God  as 
contemptible  and  vile.  With  what  attention  and  concern  fliould  we  think  on  theft 
things,  that  we  may  not  be  of  them  that  draw  back  to  perdition ;  but  of  them  thar 
believe  to  the  faving  of  our  fouls ! 


CHAP.      XV. 

The  Pharifees  offended  at  Chrifl^s  coniyerfing  with,  and  preaching  to 
publicans  and  finners ;  I,  2.  He  vindicates  himfelf  in  the  para- 
ble of  the  loft  Jheep,  3, — 7.;  and  of 'the  hjl piece  of  money ',  8, — 
io«  ;  and  of the  prodigal rfon9   u, — 32. 

T^HEnT^  Paraphrase. 

unto   him""!    AS    Chnil   was   PreachIng  in  a  ccrtaIn  placef, 
the  there  were  prefent  a  company  of  men  who  col- 

le&ed 
NOTE. 

t  It  feems  that  our  Lord  was  now  in  Galilee  of  the  Gentiles,  beyond  Jordan, 
from  whence  he  afterward  went  to  Jerufalem ;    chap.  xvii.  It.    and  that  the 

fmners 


Chap.  xv. 

the  publicans  and 
fmners  for  to  hear 
him. 


And  the  Pha 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


*$9 

le&ed  the  tribute  which  the  Romans  demanded  of 
the  Jews,  and  were  moftly  perfons  of  ill  character  ; 
thefe,  with  abundance  of  other  infamous  finners, 
came  to  hear  and  receive  inftru£tion  from  him,  under 
a  conviction  of  their  fin  ;  and  with  a  defire  to  learn 
the  way  of  recovery  and  falvation. 

2   Upon  this,  the  fcribes  and  PhanYees,  a  fuper- 


rifees    and  fcribes    ftitious,  felf-conceited  people,  took  offence,  quarrel- 

•v»  >i  »•»-«-»  i  .  t*AsJ       ii  *n  r»  rr  ■*         «  •     i  ■•-/■  i  1  11* *^1«—         ^  , .  .  .  1  . 1 


murmured,  faying, 
This  man  receiveth 
finners,  and  eateth 
with  them. 


led  with  Jefus,  and  reproached  him,  a*  if  he  could 
not  be  a  good  and  holy  man,  becaufe  he  preached  to 
fuch  defpicable  and  abandoned  wretches  as  thefe,  and 
fuffered  them  to  come  fo  near  him,  and  even  fome- 
times  to  eat  with  him.  (Chap.  v.  29,  30.) 

3  But  (2e)  our  Lord,  to  vindicate  his  own  con- 
duel  for  the  recovery  of  loft  finners,  and  to  (hew  the 
condefcenfion  and  the  riches  of  Divine  grace  to  the 
chief  of  them,  Gentiles  as  well  as  Jews,  illuftrated 
his  defign  in  the  following  fimilitudes*,  faying, 

4  Suppofe  any  of  you  had  an  hundred  fheep,  and 
one  of  them,  going  aftray,  were  loft  in  the  wildernefs, 
and  in  danger  of  being  deftroyed,  Would  he  not 
leave  all  the  reft  of  his  flock,  which  were  vifibly  in 
fafer  circumftances,  and  go  in  fearch  after  that  which 
was  loft,  till  he  fhould  find  it  ? 

5  And  when  he  meets  with  it,  he  would  certain- 
ly take  it  up,  and  carry  it  back  upon  his  moulders, 

5  And  when  he    with  more  than  ordinary  pleafure,  in  the  thought  that 
ith  found  it,  he    he  had  recovered,  and  laved  it  from  ruin. 

6  And,  as  foon  as  he  gets  home,  he  would  ex- 
prefs  greater  joy  among  his  friends,  neighbours,  and 
acquaintance,  and  expecl  them  to  rejoice  with  him, 

callcth      together   more  at  his  finding  and  bringing  back  this  loft  fheep, 
his     friends      and   than  on  account  of  all  the  reft  which  were  not  fo  ex- 
pofed  to  danger. 

7  In  like  manner,  I  tell  you,  that  I  have  fheep  a- 
mong  the  greateft  of  finners,  Gent  He;  as  well  as 
Jews,  who  are  gone  aftray  from  God,  have  loft  their 
way  to  heaven  and  happinefs,  and  are  running  head- 

that\Tkew^eUyjoy    long  to  deftruaion  ;  and  who  are  loft  to  the  fervice 
ihall  be  in  heaven    and  honour  of  God,  and  to  their  own  fafety  and  com- 
Dne    finner   fort  :  And  wherever-  they  are  fcattered,  or  into  what- 
repenteth,    foever  lengths  of  fin  and  danger  they  have  run  ;   I  will 
*and    nine    follow  tnera  by  mY  word,   providence,   and  Spirit,  to 
Ittft    fearch  and  find  them  out,   and  bring  them  into  my 

Y    2  '  fold: 

NOTES, 
finners  here  mentioned  fo  emphatically,    grace  of  God  in  fearching  his  people  out, 
were  Gnnersofthe  Gentites,  which  beft    chietly  among  the  Gentiles j  and  the  o- 


3  And  he  fpake 
this  parable  unto 
them,  faying, 


4  What  man  of 
you,  having  an 
hundred  fheep,  if 
helofeoneofthem, 
doth  not  leave  the 
ninety  and  nine  in 
the  wildernefs,  and 
go  after  that  which 
is  loft,  until  he  find 
it' 


lay^th    it    on    his 

lhoulders, rejoicing. 

6  And  when  he 

comcth   home,   he 


neighbours,  faying 
unto  them,  Re- 
joice with  mr  ;  for 
I  have  found  my 
fheep  which  was 
loft. 

7  I  fay  unto  you, 


over 
that 
more 
ninety 


agrees  with  the  fcope  of  the 
parables. 

*  Here  are  three  parables  of  like  im- 
port, the  two  firft  of  which  reprefent  the 


following  ther  in  receiving  them  with  great  kind- 
nefs,  upon  their  return  to  him  ;  and  all 
of  them  reprefent  the  great  pieafure  he, 
has  in  their  falvatJ9n. 


i6o  The  Evangelifi  Chap.  xv. 

juft  perfons  which  fold  :  And  when  my  grace  becomes  effe&ual  for 
need  no  repent-  bringing  them  to  repentance  unto  life,  this  is  matter 
of  rejoicing  to  my  Father  and  me,  who  delight  in 
mercy  ;  and  to  the  holy  angels,  who  rejoice  in  our 
glory,  and  in  their  happinefs  :  Yea,  fpeaking  accord- 
ing to  the  ufual  workings  of  mens  pafhons  upon  ob- 
taining what  was  much  defired,  and  yet  feemed  pail 
recovery,  There  is  more  joy  in  the  converfion  of  a  fin- 
ner  of  human  race,  than  in  the  confirmation  of  the 
angels,  who  never  finned  ;  in  th«  converfion  of  the 
Gen  tile?,  than  in  the  prefervation  of  the  Jewifh 
church,  whofe  covenant-relation  fuppofes  them  to  be 
already  turned  to  God  ;  in  the  converfion  of  notori- 
ous linners,  than  of  thofe  who  have  always  been  fo 
civilized  as  not  to  need  fuch  a  vifible  change  ;  and 
there  is  undoubtedly  more  joy  in  the  converfion  of  all 
ranks  and  degrees  of  finners,  than  in  the  pretended 
religion  cf  fuch  felf-righteous  perfons  as  think  them- 
felves  too  good  to  need  any  repentance.  And  if,  on 
thefe  occafions,  there  is  fuch  joy  in  heaven,  it  mould 
iiirely  be  matter  of  high  approbation,  and  not  of  mur- 
muring on  earth. 
8   Either   what        8  Again,   Suppofe  a  woman  had  ten  pieces  of  mc- 

^ct^otm"8'^!  nCy'  and  °Ut  °f  her  Httle  ftock  had  Ioft  onc  of  them 

mTlofe°one7)i>ce,  **  ^r  houfe,   Would  me  not  light    a    candle,   and 

doth  not   lioht    a  look  about  for  it,  fweep  the  room,    and    narrowly 

candle,  and  ("weep  fearch  every  creek  and  corner  till  fhe  fhould  find  it. 
the  houfe,  ?nd  ieek        g  And, '  as  foon  as  fhe  finds  it,  me  would  natu- 

fii  d'v" 2^    l      AS  ra^V  exprefs  more    abundant  joy  to  her  friends  2nd 

o  And  when  fhe  neighbours,  and  expect  them  to  be  more  pleafed  on 

hath  found  it,  fhe  that  occafion,  than  if  fhe  had  never  loft  it. 
calleth  her  friends         IO   In  like  manner,   I   tell  you,  that  all  who  be- 

-and  ^r  neighbours  j  tQ  God     and  ^    j     a  ]oft  ftate  of  fm  and  m{ferv 

together,      faying,  e  ,        '  ,,  ~,  r  **"•  i 

Rejoice  with  "me-  among  the   Genti/es  as  well  as  Jews,    are  or  high 

ior  I   have    found  account  with  hiin,   who  will  feareh  till  he  finds  them 

the  piece  which  I  out,  and  will  fuffer  none  of  them  to  be  loft  for  ever  : 

had  loft-  And,  upon  the  converfion  or  true  repentance  of  any 

lav      unto    -  you  one  of  them,  fuch  is  the  joy  of  God  therein,  that  he 

There  is  joy  in  the  will  difcover  it  among  his  holy  angels  in  heaven  ;  and 

pretence  of  the  an-  they  will  rejoice  in  it  more  than  if  this  penitent  had 

£ds  of  Gcd,  over   ncver  finned,  and  expofed  himfelf  to  the  damnation  of 

one  (inner  that  re-   \    u 

Tienteth. 

ii  And  he  faid,        J  !    Then,  ftill  more  directly  to  convince  the  Jews 

A  certain  man  had    in  general,   and  the  Jcrib cs  and  Fbarijees  in   particu- 
•■  vofons:  lar>  of  their  price  and  wickednefs,  in  being  envious  at 

his  fhewing  favour  to  publicans  and  finners,  and  that 
even  among  the  Gentiles,  he  added  another  fimilitude, 
faying,  Ye  may  eafily  conceive  of  a  certain  man,  as 
having  two  fons.  So  God,  as  the  Creator  and  Prefer- 
ver,  Bcntfaftor  and  Governor  of  all  mankind,  is  the 
common  Father  both  of  Jews  and  Gentiles,  who,  in 

their 


Chap.  xv. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


i6r 


12  And  the 
younger  of  them 
i'aid  to  his  father, 
Father,  give  me 
the  portion  of  goods 
that  falleth  to  me. 
And  he  divided  uti- 
t»  them  his  living-. 


13  And,  not  ma- 
ny days  after,  the 
younger  fon  ga- 
thered all  together, 
rind  took  his  jour- 
ney into  a  far  coun- 
try, and  there  waf- 
ted his  fubftance 
with  riotous  li- 
ving. 


14  And  when 
he  had  fpent  ail, 
there  arofe  a  migh- 
ty famine  in  that 
iand:  and  he  began 
to  be  in  want. 

15  And  he  went 
and  joined  himfelf 
to  a  citizen  of  that 
country ;  and  he 
lent  him  into  his 
fields  to  feed  fwine. 

16  And  he  would 

fain  have  filled  his 

belly 


their  original  flate,  had  a  fulnefs  of  all  things  as  his 
offspring  :  And,  fmce  the  apoftacy,  he  has  fons  of 
both  thefe  forts,  by  gracious  choice  and  adoption  ; 
the  elder  being  the  Jews,  whom  he  calls  his  iirlt- 
born,  (Exod.  iv.  22.)  becaule  iirfl  taken  into  his  co- 
venant, and  the  younger  being  the  Gentiles.  And 
the  like  may  be  laid  of  all  thofe  who  have  long  been 
vifibly  in  covenant  with  God,  and  of  others,  who, 
having  gone  on  a  great  while  in  a  courfe  of  fin,  are 
at  length  turned  to  him. 

12  Now  the  younger  of  the  fons  not  caring  to 
be  under  his  father's  eye,  and  imagining  he  could 
improve  a  flock  to  the  beft  advantage,  pertly  demand- 
ed his  portion  ;  And  his  father  made  a  proper  divi- 
fion  to  them  both.  So  the  Gentiles,  and  all  man- 
kind by  nature,  and  young  people  in  particular, 
chufe  to  be  at  their  own  difpofe,  withaut  controul  ; 
and  being  conceited  of  their  own  abilities,  are  apt  to 
challenge  good  things  as  their  due  :  And  God,  in  the 
bountiful  difpenfations  of  his  providence,  giving  them 
all,  and  more  than  they  have  any  juft  claim  to,  righv 
teoufly  leaves  them,  at  leaft  for  a  while,  to  follow 
the  way  of  their  own  hearts,  in  managing  his  gifts 
and  talents,  that  they  may  fee  what  their  own  con- 
due  i:  will  bring  them  to. 

1 3  And  foon  after  the  younger  fon  had  received 
his  portion,  he  turned  it  into  ready  money  ;  went 
with  his  whole  flock,  from  his  father's  prefence,  in- 
to a  diflant  country,  and  there  fpent  it  all  in  riotouf- 
nefs,  loofenefs,  and  debaucheries.  So  it  was  with 
the  Gentiles  :  Soon  after  they  were  left  to  natural 
light,  and  fome  traditions  of  the  earliefl  revelations 
of  God  to  man,  they  corrupted  their  notions  and 
their  way,  fell  into  idolatry,  fuperflition,  fenfuality, 
and  profanenefs,  mifapplkd  all  their  talents,  and  be- 
came vain  in  their  imaginations  :  And  fo  it  is  with 
particular  finners,  who,  being  left  to  themfelves,  a- 
bufe  their  mercies,  run  into  every  kind  of  excefs  and 
wickednefs,  and  lofe  all  fenfe  of  God  and  religion. 

14,  15,  1 6  But  after  fome  time,  when  the  young 
man  had  fpent  all  his  fubftance,  there  was  a  great  fa- 
mine in  the  country  where  he  dwelt  ;  and  he  began 
to  want  all  the  neceffaries  of  life  :  And  finding  him- 
felf reduced  to  the  utmofl  flraits,  without  any  friend 
to  help  him,  he  was  obliged  to  hire  himfelf,  for  mere 
fuflenance,  to  one  in  thofe  parts,  who  employed  him 
in  the  mean  drudgery  of  looking  after  the  fwine,  and 
fo  flinted  him  in  his  wages,  as  not  to  allow  him  to 
eat  to  the  full,  even  of  the  very  hufks  which  the  hogs 
themfelves  lived  upon  ;  though,  if  he  might,  he 
would  have  been  glad  to  fatisfy  his  hunger  with  them. 

So 


1 62 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  xv. 


fceily  with  the 
hulks  that  the 
fwine  did  eat : 
and  no  man  gave 
nnto  him. 


1 7  And  when  he 
came  to  himfclf,  he 
faid,  How  many 
hired  fervants  of 
my  father's  have 
bread  enough  and 
to  tpare,  and  I  pe- 
rilh  with  hunger  '. 

1 8  1  will  arife, 
and  go  to  my  fa- 
ther, and  will  fay 
unto  him,  Father, 
1  have  finped  a- 
gainft  heaven,  and 
before  thee, 

19  And  am  no 
more  worthy  to  be 
called  thy  fon  : 
make  me  as  one 
of  thy  hired  fer- 
vatrts. 


So  the  Gentiles  in  general,  after  they  had  departed 
from  God,  defaced  the  fmall  remains  of  religion  that 
were  formerly  found  among  them,  and  yielded  them- 
felves  up  to  the  will  of  Satan,  who  ruled  with  tyran- 
ny over  them,  carried  them  into  the  worfhip  of  devils, 
and  many  fuperftitious  and  cruel  rites,  and  into  the 
mo  ft  abfurd  methods  of  feeking  peace  and  happinefs, 
in  which  they  could  never  find  the  fatisfa&ion  they 
fought  for  :  And  fo  all  finners,  being  far  from  God, 
and  having  finned  away  their  light  and  mercies,  give 
thcmfelves  up  to  the  meaneft  and  worft  of  fervitude, 
to  the  lufts  of  their  own  hearts,  to  Satan  and  the 
world,  and  feek  their  happinefs  in  the  empty,  unfa- 
tisfying  enjoyments,  and  iinful,  fordid  pleafures  of 
this  life,  in  which  they  can  never  find  it,  till  at  length 
they  are  reduced  to  the  utmoft  perplexity  and  want. 

17,  18,  19  At  laft,  the  youth's  pinching  neceffity, 
and  extreme  diftrefs,  even  to  a  defpair  of  relief  in  that 
far  country,  brought  him  to  his  fenfes,  and  put  him 
upon  thinking  with  himfelf,  What  have  I  done,  in 
running  away  from  my  father's  houfe,  where  the 
pooreft  of  his  hired  fervants  are  daily  eating  to  the 
full,  and  leave  enough  for  the  fatisfaction  of  many  o- 
thers,  whilft  I  am  juft  ready  to  ilarve  by  means  of 
my  extravagancies  !  Hereupon  he  refolded  to  go  to 
his  father,  with  humble  confeflion  of  his  high  offen- 
ces, and  with  earn  eft  fupplication,  that,  though  he 
was  unworthy  to  be  put  among  his  children,  he  might 
neverthelefs  be  received  into  his  family,  among  the 
meaneft  of  his  fervants,  to  have  their  fare,  and  do 
their  work.  So  finners,  who,  in  the  days  of  their 
unregeneracy  and  departure  from  God,  afted  directly 
contrary  to  all  true  principles  of  reafon  and  religion, 
are  at  length  brought  to  their  right  mind  when  God 
comes  to  Work  effectually  upon  them  :  He,  by  his 
word  and  Spirit,  and  oftentimes  by  means  of  disap- 
pointing and  diftrefting  providences,  lays  a  fenfe  of 
guilt  and  danger  upon  their  confciences,  fliews  them 
what  madnefs  and  folly  they  have  been  guilty  of,  in 
running  away  from  him,  and  betaking  themfelves  to 
creature-comforts  for  happinefs,  and  that  there  is  no 
poflible  relief  for  them  but  in  the  rich  proviiions 
which  he  has  difcovered,  as  made  in  Chrift  for  the 
houfehold  of  faith.  Hereupon  a  fenfe  of  neceflity 
brings  the  awakened  finner  to  fay,  Whatever  the  e- 
vent  may  be,  I  am  refolved,  in  the  ftrength  of  divine 
grace,  to  depart  from  fin  and  Satan,  and  from  all  de- 
pendence on  felf  and  the  world,  and  to  go  to  God,  as 
a  Father  of  mercies  in  Chrift  ;  I  will  humbly  confefs 
mine  iniquity  to  him,  faying,  "  I  have  heinoufly  fin- 
ned againft  thee,  the  God  of  heaven,  before  thy  face, 

mid 


Chap.  xv. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


163 


30  And  he  arofe, 
and  came  to  his 
father.  But  when 
he  was  yet  a  great 
way  off,  his  father 
law  him,  and  had 
companion,  and 
ran,  and  fell  on 
his  neck,  and  kifs- 
ed  him. 


21  And  the  fon 
faid  unto  him,  Fa- 
ther, I  have  fin- 
ned againft  hea- 
ven, and  in  thy 
fight,  and  am  no 
more  worthy  to  be 
called  thy  fon. 


and  under  thine  eye  ;  I  therefore  own  myfelf  to  be 
utterly  unworthy  of  being  received  and  dealt  with  as 
a  fon,  and  fhall  think  it  wonderful  condefcenfion  and 
grace  if  I  may  but  be  admitted  to  have  the  privilege 
of  only  a  door-keeper  in  thy  houfe,  and  of  ferving 
thee,  in  whatfoever  thou  malt  command  me,  all  the  re- 
maining days  of  my  life.  Thus  it  was  with  the  hea- 
thens, when  they  turned  from  idols  to  feme  the  li- 
ving and  true  God;  (1  Theff.  i.  9.)  and  thus  it  is 
with  every  finner,  when  God  is  bringing  him  home 
to  himfelf  by  converting  grace. 

20  Accordingly  the  young  penitent  fet  out,  be- 
tween hope  and  fear,  for  a  return  to  his  father  :  But 
whilft  he  was  yet  at  a  great  diftance,  his  father  was 
quick-lighted  to  difcover  him  ;  and,  his  bowels  being 
moved  toward  him,  he  ran  with  all  fpeed  to  meet  him, 
and  in  a  moil  affectionate  manner  embraced  and  kified 
him.  So  the  finner,  under  a  true  fenfe  of  fin,  and 
apprehenfion  of  the  mercy  of  God  in  Chrift,  fets  a- 
bout  returning  to  him  from  all  iniquity  in  good  ear- 
neft,  and  without  delay  :  And  whilft  he  is  full  of 
doubts  and  fears  left  fo  vile  a  wretch  as  himfelf  mould 
never  find  acceptance,  God  obferves  him  in  all  his  dif- 
trefs,  and  in  the  very  firft  motions  of  his  foul  toward 
him  ;  and,  being  full  of  compaffion,  prevents  him 
with  the  bleffings  of  his  goodnefs,  makes  hafte  to  re- 
lieve his  fears,  and  manifefts  his  love  to  him,  with, 
great  endearments,  and  in  moll  affectionate  expref- 
fions,  to  fhew  that  he  is  reconciled.  Thus  God  gra- 
cioufly  dealt  with  the  Gentiles,  when  he  granted 
them  repentance  unto  life  ;  and  thus  every  returning 
finner  is  accepted  of  him  in  the  Beloved. 

21  Upon  this  difcovery  of  the  father's  kindnefs, 
the  young  prodigal's  heart  was  melted,  and  encoura- 
ged to  claim  relation  to  him,  and  to  call  himfelf  up- 
on his  mercy,  with  ingenuous  confeflions  of  his  ag- 
gravated offences,  and  of  his  utter  unworthinefs  ever 
to  be  owned  and  received  as  his  fon.  So  God's  ma- 
nifefting  his  favour  to  the  Gentiles  wrought  on  them, 
and  emboldened  their  humble  hopes  toward  him  : 
And  an  awakened  finner's  heart  is  much  affected  with 
the  difcoveries  of  God's  condefcending,  free,  and 
pardoning  grace,  and  is  thereby  encouraged  to  plead 
with  him  as  a  father,  and  to  hope  in  his  mercy, 
through  Jefus  Chrift,  for  all  falvation  ;  and  a  fenfe 
of  forgiving  love  is  fo  far  from  making  him  think  the 
lighter  of  fin,  that  it  humbles  him  the  more  for  it, 
and  makes  him  the  more  afhamed  of  it,  and  the  more 
ready  to  confefs,  with  the  greateft  contrition,  that 
God  might  juftly  have  difovvned  and  abandoned  him 
for  ever. 

22, 


164 


The  Evangelijl 


Chap.  xv\ 


22  But  the  fa- 
ther faitl  to  his  Ser- 
vants, Bring  forth 
the  beil  robe,  and 
put  it  on  him  ;  and 
put  a  ring  on  his 
hand,  and  fhoes  on 
bis  feet. 

23  And  bring 
hither  the  fatted 
calf,  and  kill  it ; 
and  let  us  eat  and 
be  merry  : 

24  For  this  my 
ion  was  dead,  and 
is  alive  again  ;  he 
was  loft,  and  is 
found.  And  they 
be^an  to  be  mer- 


22,  23,  24  But  inftead  of  the  father's  rebuking 
the  recovered  prodigal,  he  feemed  to  Hop  him  fhort 
in  his  fubmiffions,  as  if  he  mould  fay,  It  is  enough 
that  thou  art  thus  deeply  fenlible  of  thine  own  unwor- 
thinefs,  I  will  be  better  to  thee  than  all  thy  deferts, 
and  than  all  thy  hopes  :  And  he  ordered  his  fervants 
to  bring  out  the  very  beil  garment  in  his  wardrobe, 
and  clothe  him  with  it  ;  to  put  a  ring  on  his  hand, 
and  fhoes  on  his  feet  ;  and  to  kill  the  fatted  calf,  and 
make  a  feaft  for  him,  that  they  might  eat  and  re- 
joice together  ;  becaufe  his  fon,  whom  he  had  look- 
ed upon  as  dead,  and  had  given  up  for  loft,  was  now 
alive,  and  returned  to  him  in  fafety  :  Accordingly 
they,  and  the  whole  family  then  prefent,  began  to 
exprefs  great  joy  on  this  happy  occafion.  So  when 
iinners  come  in  to  God  through  Chrift,  the  more  they 
lothe  and  condemn  themfelves  for  their  iniquities,  the 
lefs  will  he  (hew  any  tokens  of  difpleafure  ;  and,  for 
the  glory  of  his  own  grace,  he  will  not  only  make 
them  fervants,  but  fons  ;  and  do  exceeding  abundant- 
ly more  for  them  than  they  are  able  to  afk  or  think : 
As  they  come  to  him  in  filthy  garments,  he  gives 
them  change  of  raiment,  clothing  them  with  the  glo- 
rious robe  of  ChrinVs  righteoufnefs,  and  with  the  rich 
drefs  of  heavenly  graces  :  As  they  come  poor  and 
deftitute,  he  gives  them  a  pledge  and  earnell  of  the 
everlafting  inheritance  by  the  Holy  Spirit  of  promife : 
As  they  come  lame  and  wounded,  like  cripples,  un- 
able to  go,  he  furnilhes  them  with  the  preparation  of 
the  gofpel  of  peace,  that  they  may  walk  with  eafe 
and  cheerfulneis,  and  may  hold  on  and  hold  out  in  his 
ways  :  As  they  come  in  a  flarving  condition,  he  fets 
before  them  a  fealt  of  fat  things  in  the  gofpel,  and 
gives  them  the  bread  of  life,  that  they  may  eat  and 
be  fatisfied,  and  may  be  nourilhed  unto  eternal  life  : 
And  as  they  were  in  great  diftrefs  and  forrow  of  heart 
before,  he  rejoices  to  comfort  them,  and  to  make 
them  glad  with  the  light  of  his  countenance ;  and  all 
his  family  in  heaven  and  earth,  exceedingly  rejoice 
with  them,  upon  information,  that  they,  who  were 
dead  in  trefpaffes  and  lins,  are  now  made  alive  to  God ; 
and  that  they,  who  were  in  a  loll  condition,  are  now 
recovered  to  a  ftate  of  fafety,  ufeiulnefs,  and  blefled- 
nefs.  Thus  when  God  called  the  Gentiles,  he  free- 
ly admitted  them,  not  only  to  all  the  external,  privi- 
leges of  the  gofpel- ltate,  but  to  the  faving  and  eter- 
nal bleflings  of  his  covenant  ;  whereupon  they  and 
the  believing  Jews  rejoiced  ;  (Afls  xi.  18.  attdx.nl, 
48.)  and  the  holy  angels  rejoice  in  this  great  joy  to 
all  people,  to  Gentiles  as  well  as  Jews :  ( Luke  ii.  1  o, 
13,  14.)  And  thus  when  any,   efpecially  notorious 

finijers, 


Chap.  xv.  Luke  parapbrafed.  165 

finners,   are  converted,    Chrifc  is  made  to  them  wis- 
dom, righteoufnefs,  fan&ification,    and  redemption  ; 
and  there  is  great  rejoicing  in  heaven  and  earth. 
15  Now  his  el-        25,  26,  27,  28    Nowthe  elder  fon  returning  from 

der  ion  was  in  the  ^t  fields,  and  hearing  an  unufual  found  of  extraor- 
neld  :     and    as   he     ,-  ...        .       -  ° ,        r  .      .      r  r 

came     and    drew   binary  rejoicing  in  the  nouie,  inquired  of  one  01  the 

nigh  to  the  houfe,  fervants  what  might  be  the  meaning  of  it  :  The  fer- 
he  heard  mufic  and  vant  told  him  that  his  younger  brother  was  returned 
dancing.  home,  beyond  all  expectation  ;  and  his  father  was  fo 
ed  one  of  the  fer-  exceedingly  affeCled  with  it,  that  he  had  killed  the 
vants,  and  afked  fatted  calf  to  entertain  him,  and  exprefs  his  joy;  be- 
what  thefe  things  caufe  he  had  received  him,  not  only  in  health  of  bo- 
meant-       <         .  dy,  but  alfo  as  a  thorough  penitent,  and  in  his  right 

„„?7  \"  e*4!  mind:  But  the  elder  brother,  inilead  cf  beino;  plea- 
unto  him,  Thy  r  .  .  .  »  . ,  &  ,  -, 
brother  is  come  •  *ed>  as  he  ought  to  have  been,  was  highly  ottended 
and  thy  father  at  his  father's  favour  to  the  young  prodigal,  and  re- 
hath     killed     the  folved  not  to  go  in  :    Whereupon  the  father  himfelf 

latt(5?  CuU'  bCCauf5    went  out,  and  with  great  condefcenfion  and  kindnefs, 

he    hath    received  ...  &  .  .         r     . 

him  fafe  and  found    entreated  him  to  come  and  partake  or  the  entertain- 

2S  And  he  was  ment  and  joy.  So  the  Jews  in  general,  and  the 
angry,  and  would  fcribes  and  Pharifees  in  particular,  were  highly  of- 
not  go  in  :  there-  fended  and  enra„ed  when  they  heard  of  God's  mew- 
iore   came  his  ia-    .  iV»   -1   •#  1        1  •         1 

ther  out  and    in-   mS  mercy  to  tne  Oenti/es,    and  making  them  parta- 

treated  him.  kers  of  the  richefl  privileges  and  bleflings  of  the  gof- 

pel*.  And  fo  great  was  their  envy  at  this,  that  they, 
through  unbelief,  refufed  and  (hut  themfelves  out  from 
its  benefits  :  Neverthelefs,  God  did  not  immediately 
call  them  off  ;  but,  bearing  long  with  them,  came  in 
the  miniftry  of  Chrifl  and  his  fervants,  preaching 
peace  to  them.  In  like  manner  f ,  many  of  a  Phari- 
iaical  fpirit,  that  have  lived  foberly,  and  made  a  pro- 
feflion  of  religion,  are  offended  at  the  doctrines  of 
God's  free  and  fovereign  grace  to  the  vileil  and  un- 
worthieft  of  finners  ;  and  this  is  fuch  an  offence  to 
feme  of  them,  that,  through  their  own  pride  and  en- 
vy, it  proves  an  occafion  of  their  rejecting  Chrifl  and 
the  gofpel  to  their  own  perdition  :  And  yet  God 
does  not  take  their  firil  refufal,  but  continues  befeecl.- 
ing  them  to  be  reconciled  to  him. 
-9  And  he  an"  20,  7.0  But  (ot)  the  elder  fori  full  continuing:  ob- 
&  innate 

•NOTES. 
*  They  were  filled  with  fuch  envy  on    their  clothes,  a;:  ready  to  ftone  him,  and 
vhis  occafion  that  they  i'poke  againft  the    threw  dt/Jl  into  the  air,  to  fliew  their  in- 
things  Paul  preached  to  them,    contra-    drgnation  againft  him.      (A5ts  xxii.   21, 
d idling  and  blafpheming.  (Acls  x'm.  45.)    22,   23) 

And  when  he  was  afterwards  making        f  Something  like  this  was  the  cafi 
his  defence  to  them,  as  foon  as  he  (poke    ven  of  the  believing  je-vus  themfelves, 
of  Chrift's  fending  him  to  the  Gentiles,    who  contended  with  Peter  for  going 
they  loft  all  patience,   and  faid,    Away    to  the  Gentiles,  and  discovered  then 
with  fuch  a  fellow  from  the  earth  ;  for    pleafure  at  it,  till  lie  cleared  up  thatdif- 
?t  is  not  jit  that  he  p.iould  li've  :    And    penfat ion  of  God's  grace  to  ihtin.    (.   1 
they  cried  out  ava'wjl  him,  and  cafl  off  xi.  1,— S."> 
Vol.  II.  Z 


1 66 

fwering,  faid  to  his 
lather,  Lo,  thefe 
many  years  do  I 
ferve  thee,  neither 
tranfgreffed  I  at 
any  time  thy  com- 
mandment, and 
yet  thou  never 
gaveft  me  a  kid, 
that  I  might  make 
merry  with  my 
friends  : 

30  But  as  foon 
as  this  thy  fon  was 
come,  which  hath 
devoured  thy  living 
with  harlots,  thou 
halt  killed  for  him 
the  fatted  calf. 


The  Evangelifl 


Chap.  xv. 


31  And  he  faid 
unto  him,  Son, 
thou  art  ever  with 
me,  and  all  that  I 
have  is  thine. 

32  It  was  meet 
that  we  fhould 
make  merry,  and 
be  glad  :  for  this 
thy  brother  was 
dead,  and  is  alive 
again  ;  and  was 
loft,  and  is  found. 


ftinate  and  refilling  to  go  in,  talked  very  pertly,  fay- 
ing, As  for  me,  I  have  always  been  your  obedient 
fon,  have  lived  like  a  fervant  in  your  family,  and  ne- 
ver offended  you  in  any  inllance  whatsoever  ;  and 
yet  lo  cool  and  unkind  have  you  been  to  me,  that 
you  never  fo  much  as  gave  me  a  kid  to  entertain  my 
friends,  that  they  might  rejoice  with  me  :  But  no 
fooner  was  this  vile  wretch,  your  fon,  come,  whom 
I  am  afhamed  to  own  as  a  brother,  and  who  has  pro- 
fufely  Iquandered  away  all  the  portion  which  you 
gave  him,  in  rioting,  luxury,  and  debaucheries,  but 
immediately  the  fatted  calf  mull  be  killed  to  enter- 
tain him,  and  make  merry  with  him.  So  the  fcribes 
and  Pbnrifees,  and  the  generality  of  the  Jews,  not- 
withstanding the  repeated  gracious  invitations  of  the 
gofpel,  continued  obllinately  to  refufe  coming  in  to 
Chrift,  and  behaved  infolently  toward  God  :  They 
boafted  of  their  own  exact  regularity  and  obedience, 
as  if  they  had  never  offended  him  ;  they  thought 
themfelves  fo  worthy  of  his  favour,  that  all  the  blef- 
fings  of  the  Mefiiah's  kingdom  ought  to  be  confined 
to  them  ;  they  looked  with  indignation  and  difdain 
upon  the  Gentiles  afc  the  molt  defpicable  wretches, 
that  ought  not  to  be  owned  as  their  brethren  j  and 
could  not  bear  the  thought  that  they  fhould  be  e- 
qualled  to  themfelves,  much  lefs  that  they  fhould  be 
preferred  before  them  :  And  thus  it  is  with  felf-righ- 
teous  profeffors  of  Chrift's  name,  who  are  apt  fau- 
cily  to  arraign  the  difpenfations  of  God's  grace,  not- 
withftanding  the  continued  overtures  that  are  made 
of  it  to  themfelves. 

31,32  But  his  father  replied,  Son,  what  room  is 
there  for  all  this  difcontent,  and  all  thefe  murmuring 
complaints  ?  you  have  conftantly  eat  at  my  table, 
which  has  been  fupplied  with  rich  provifions  every 
day,  and  have  continually  lived  in  my  prefence,  un- 
der the  tokens  of  my  favour,  who  have  hitherto  con- 
lined  them  to  you  :  and  I  have  Hill  enough  for  you  : 
But  here  is  a  lit  occafion  for  exprefling  more  than  or- 
dinary joy,  in  that  your  brother,  whom  I  love,  and 
you  ought  to  love  too,  and  who  was  given  up  for 
dead  and  loft,  is  now  returned  alive  and  well,  deeply 
fenfible  of,  humbled  for,  and  reclaimed  from,  his 
extravagant  w'ckedncfs  and  folly,  and  is  now  a  duti- 
ful fon  to  me.  So  God  vindicates  the  free  difpen- 
fations of  his  grace  to  the  Gentiles,  and  to  the  moll 
infamous  linners,  againft  all  the  diffatisfadlion  and 
murmurings  of  its  enemies  :  He  had  been  exceeding 
liberal  to  the  Jew.r9  confining  his  covenant-mercy  for 
many  ages  to  them,  among  whom  he  had  pitched 
his  tabernacle  with  the  fpecial  tokens  of  his  prefence  -9 

{Rom. 


Chap.  xv.  Luke  paraphrafed.  167 

(Rom.  ix.  4,  5.)  and  if  they  mould  not  cut  them- 
felves  off  by  unbelief,  all  would  Hill  be  theirs,  he  ha- 
ving enough  for  them  and  others  too  :  But  the  con- 
version of  the  Gentile.^  and  of  remarkable  finners,  is 
the  quickening  of  them  who  were  moll  evidently  dead 
in  trefpafTes  and  fins,  and  a  bringing  them  home  who 
were  far  from  God  in  a  perifhing  Hate  :  And  this 
cannot  but  be  a  juft  occalion  of  exceeding  great  joy, 
in  the  account  of  God  and  angels,  and  all  good 
men-|-. 

RECOLLECTIONS. 

How  dreadful  is  a  ftate  of  fin  and  apoftacy  from  God!  It  is  a  loft,  perifhing,  and 
•cnflaved  ftate;  injurious  to  the  Author  of  our  beings,  to  curfelves,  and  others;  defti- 
tute  of  all  that  is  honourable  and  comfortable;  involved  in  disappointments  and 
perplexity,  want,  and  mifery  ;  and  expoled  to  utter  ruin.  But  behold  the  riches 
of  divine  grace  to  the  worft  of  tinners  and  young  prodigals  '.  God  fearcheth  after 
his  loft  (keep,  finds  them  out,  and  brings  them  home  lo  himfelf,  and  his  heart  and 
arms  are  open  to  receive  every  humble  penitent ;  he  obferves  all  their  groanings 
and  diftrefs,  all  the  workings  of  their  confeiences,  and  folicitous  thoughts  about 
their  wretched  condition,  all  the  fii  ft  and  moft  diftant  motions  of  their  hearts  to- 
ward him,  all  their  defires,  fears,  and  hopes,  and  all  their  purpoles,  and  attempts 
of  coming  to  him  ;  his  bowels  move  towards  them,  and  he  prevents  them  with  his 
mercy,  fecretly  draws  them,  that  they  may  run  after  him,  helps  them  againft  their 
difcouragements,  melts  their  hearts  into  ingenuous  repentance  for  fin,  and  embold- 
ens their  truft  and  hope  in  his  mercy,  through  the  Lord  Jeius ;  and  he  gracioufly 
accepts  them  in  their  returns  to  him,  forgives  all  their  fins,  takes  them  into  his  fa- 
mily, maniiefts  himfelf  to  them  as  he  does  not  unto  the  world,  fheds  abroad  his 
love  in  their  hearts  by  the  Holy  Ghoft,  fupplies  all  their  wants,  and  enriches  them 
with  the  blefiings  of  grace  and  glory,  as  if"  they  had  never  offended  him.  And  O 
what  a  happy  change  does  his  grace  make  upon  them  !  They,  who  before  were 
befide  themfeives,  are'  then  brought  to  their  right  mind,  and  made  wife  to  fal- 
vation;  they  that  were  proud  and  leif-fafficient,  and  had  run  great  lengths  in  fin, 
are  made  humble,  and  brought  back  again  to  God;  they  that  were  loft  to  all  that 
is  good,  and  to  their  own  or  others  power,  to  work  effectually  upon  them,  are  re- 
covered to  every  thing  that  is  happy  and  glorious  ;  and  they  that  were  dead  in  tref- 
pafTes and  fins  are  made  alive  to  God,  to  glorify  him  here,  and  enjoy  him  for  ever : 
And,  on  this  occafion,  \vhat  exceeding  great  joy  is  there,  in  their  own  fouls,  and  a- 
mong  the  faints  and  fer  vents  of  Christ  upon  earth  :  Yea,  in  the  heart  of  the  blefied 
God  himfelf,  and  among  the  angels  in  heaven  !  But  O  how  naturally  perverfe  is 
the  finner's  heart,  that,  notwithft.ir.ding  all  this,  he  will  try  to  make  any  fliift,  ra- 
ther than  return  to  God  through  Chrift;  and  that  nothing  but  a  lenfe  of  abiblute 
neceffity  will  ever  bring  him  in  :  And  how  monftrouily  wicked  are  they,  who,  from 
a  high  conceit  of  themfeives,  rife  up  with  prejudices  againft  the  freenefs  and  sove- 
reignty of  God's  grace,  and  would  hinder  or  murmur  at  the  happinefs  of  fiuntrs, 
in  their  converfion  to  him !  And  yet  how  patient  and  unexceptionably  kind  are  the 
overtures  of  mercy  in  the  gofpel;  even  to  the  moft  fro  ward  in  heart !  Happy  for 
them,  who,  at  length,  are  overcome  by  it  !  But  wo  to  them,  who,  after  all,  conti- 
nue obftinately  to  reject:  itr 

Z  2  CHAP. 

NOTE. 

t  The  elder  fen's  making  no  reply  to  heirs  with  them,  and  had  nothing  toreply 
this,  may  intimate  cither  that  thoie  againft  it,  according  to  Acts  xi.  cS.  And 
Jews,  "who  perfifted  in  their  infidelity,  the  fame  may  be  laid  of  fa  lie  and  formal 
ftill  retained  their  prejudices  againft  the  profeffors  of  Shrift  on  one  hand,  and  of 
gofpel  on  this  account,  being  enemies  to  fome  real  believers  on  the  other,  wi  h  re- 
it  for  the  Gentiles  fakes:  Rom.  xi.  20.  fpect  to  the  inveterate  prejudices  ot  the 
Or  it  may  intimate,  that  thofe  Jeivs  one,  and  the  wrak  and  ignorant  murmur- 
who-believed,  were  fatisfied  with  this  acJ  ings  of  the  other,  againft  the  riches  of  di- 
count  of  the  Gentiles  being  made  fellow-  vine  grace  to  the  worft  of  finners. 


i6S 


The  Evangehjl 


Chap.  xvi. 


CHAT.      XVI. 

rhe  right  life,  of  worldly  enjoyments,  reprefented  in  the  parable  of  the 
unjujl  fewardy  r, — 13.  A  reproof  of  the  Pharifees  for  their  co- 
vetoufnefs  and  hypocrify,  14, — 18.  And  the  danger  of  fctting  one^s 
heart  on  earthly  treafures,  illujlraied  in  the  parable  of  the  rich  man 
and  Lazarus,    19, — 31. 


Paraphrase. 


faid  al-    f\JJR  Lord,  having;  reproved  the  feribes  and  Pha- 
his  dif-    U        -,-        r      ti     •     °  ■  j  j  j   a  *      ■ 

^^    n/eer  tor  their  pride  and  envy,  proceeded  to  m- 


aid  ;  and  the  fame 
was  accufed  unto 
him  that  he  had 
•wafted  his  goods. 


z  And  he  called 
him,  and  faid  unto 
him,  How  is  it 
that  I  hear  this  of 
thee  ?    give  an  ac- 


Text. 
A^ND  he  faid  al- 

fo  unto 
ciples,   There  was 
a  certain  rich  man    ftruct  his  diiciples,   in  a  parable,   about  the  right   ule 

which  had  a  (lew-  of  worldly  enjoyments,  laying,  A  certain  great  man 
committed  the  management  of  his  eflate  to  a  Rew- 
ard f  ;  and,  after  iome  time,  an  accufation  was 
brought  againit  him,  that  he  had  wronged  his  mailer, 
and  mifapplied  his  goods.  So  it  may  jullly  be  charged 
upon  the  men  of  this  world,  that,  through  unfaithful- 
nefs  and  neglect,  they  have  abufed  the  bounties  of 
Providence,  and  applied  them  to  other  purpofes  than 
thofe  for  which  God  bellowed  them. 

2  Thereupon  the  lord  of  the  fleward  fummoned 
him  to  appear  before  him,  and  faid,  What  a  fad  re- 
port do  I  hear  of  your  treachery  ?  deliver  up  your  ac- 
counts of  all  that  I  have  entruiled  you  with  ;  for  now 
count  oT  thy  Mew-  I  wall  turn  you  out  of  your  office.  So  the  cry  of 
ardihip  :  for  thou  their  iniquity  who  abufe  the  goodnefs  of  Providence, 
inayeft  be  no  long-  is> .  iike  the  fm  of  Sodom,  great  again!!  them  :  (Gen. 
cr  ltewaru.  ...  .      A     1     .         .°.       °.  .       v  .->,     , 

xvm.   20.)    And   the   time   is   coming,    when    Lxod 

will  fay  to  them,  as  he  did  to  Cain,  What  haft  thou 
done?  (Gen.  iv.  10.)  And  as  he  then  will  fuffer 
them  to  have  no  further  ufe  of  his  bounties,  fo  he 
gives  them  warning  before-hand  in  their  own  confer- 
ences and  in  his  word,  that  every  one  of  them  jhali 
give  an  account  of ' himfelf  to  God.  (Rom.  xiv.  12.) 
9  Then  the  flew-         3,  4  Upon  this  notice  from  his  lord,  the  lleward 

?rd  r  !}lL  Winhiu    reafoned  in  himfelf  after  this  manner,   I  mall  foon  be 
rumfelf,  What  (hall     ,-,•    -n-  j   r  n      >      r  j        j         1. 

3  do?   for  my  lord    diimiilcd  trom  my  matters  iervice,  and  reduced  to 

taketh  away  from  the  utmoft  necefhty  :   What  mall  I  do  for  a  fubfifl- 

me    the    ftewaid-  ence,   who  have  never  been  brought  up  to  labour, 

ihip:  I  cannot  dig,  d  am  afhamed  to  go  a-begging  ?   But  at  length  he 

to  be?  I  am  aiha-  r  ,       ,                          in     l     f      ^    £.'"lJf'V    'C'-Hf 

Jnecj  fa  refolved  upon  a  project,  to  iecure  friends  to  himlclr 

4  I  am  refolved    among  his  lord's  debtors,  that,  when  he   mould  be 
what  to  do,  that,    difebarged  from  his  llewardfhip,  he  might  lirrtl  enter- 
tainment with  them.      So  lloth,  and  pride,  and  un- 
righteous ways  of  living,   having  brought  the  fpend- 

thrift 
N»0    T    r. 

*,  The  rich  man  in  this  parable  represents  God;  and  the  Reward  reprefents  thr-v. 
Mre  cntiulted  with  the  bounties  of  Providence,  and  abufe  them. 


when  I  am  put  out 

«>f  the  fleward fiiip, 

they 


Chap. 


xvi. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


161 


they  may  receive 
me  into  their  hou- 
ies. 


5  So  he  called 
every  one  of  his 
lord's  debtors  unto 
him,  and  faid  unto 
the  firft,  How  much 
oweft  thou  unto  my 
lord? 

6  And  he  faid, 
An  hundred  mea- 
fures  of  oil.  And 
he  faid  unto  him, 
Take  thy  bill,  and 
fit  down  quickly, 
and  write  fifty. 

7  Then  faid  he 
to  another,  and 
how  much  oweft 
thou  ?  and  he  faid, 
An  hundred  mea- 
fures  of  wheat. 
And  he  faid  unto 
him,  Take  thy  bill, 
and  write  fourfcore. 

S  And  the  lord 
commended  the 
unjuft  tteward.  be- 
caufe he  had  done 
wifely :  for  the 
children  of  this 
world  are  in  their 
generation  wifer 
than  the  children 
of  light. 


ruin* 
after 


9  And  I  fay  un- 

■    >ou,    Make  to 

yourfeives     friends 

of    the    mammon 

of 


NOT 

*  Some  fuppofe  that  the  Lord  here  in- 
tended is  Chrift  himfelf,  who  palled  this 
judgment  upon  the  fte  ward's  conduct. 

f  Mammon  fignifies  riches  ;  and,  ac- 
cording to  the  heathen  theology,  was 
the  god  of  plenty :  And  all  the  tieafures 
of  this  world  are  heie  called 


thrift  to  diftrefs,  and  to  expectations  of  utter 
he  is  at  his  wit's  ends,  and  is  full  of  inquiries 
a  proviiion  for  time  to  come,  fill  he  has  encouraging 
profpedls  of  obtaining  it :  And  the  {inner,  who  is  tru- 
ly brought  to  fee  his  danger  by  fin,  will  dread  the 
confequence,  and  never  reit  till  he  hath  hopes  of  eter- 
nal happinefs. 

5,  6,  7  Now  the  policy  of  this  fteward,  to  pro- 
vide for  himfelf,  was  this,  He  fent  for  all  his  lord's 
debtors,  and  having  taken  their  juft  accounts,  order- 
ed one  of  them,  in  all  halie,  to  deduct  half,  and  a- 
nother  a  fifth  part  out  of  the  bill,  which  was  to  be 
given  to  his  lord  ;  and  fo  abated  every  one  a  greater, 
or  lefs  proportion  of  his  debt,  that  he  might  fecure 
a  retreat  when  his  matter  ihould  put  him  out  of  his 
place.  So  the  men  of  this  world  are  full  of  fubtile 
contrivances,  and  neglect  no  means,  though  ever  fo 
unjuit,  to  retrieve  their  defperate  affairs  :  And  the 
fmner  ought  to  confult,  in  a  better  manner,  what  he 
mall  do  to  be  faved. 

8  And  when  his  lord  heard  how  artfully  this  man 
had  managed,  he  owned  that  it  was  a  politic  fcheme 
for  fecuring  a  fupply  when  he  mould  be  reduced  to 
extremity*.  So  though  the  difhoneily  of  fuch  a  fer- 
vam  is  deteftable  ;  yet  his  forefight,  care,  and  contri- 
vance, about  the  interefts  of  this  life,  deferve  an  imita- 
tion, with  regard  to  the  more  important  affairs  of  a- 
nother,  and  condemn  the  inconfideratenefs  and  ftu- 
pidity  of  thole  that  are  lefs  thoughtful  about  them  : 
For  worldly-wife  men,  who  place  their  chief  happi- 
nefs in  what  relates  to  the  body,  are,  generally  fpeak- 
ing,  more  fagacious  and  induitrious,  in  their  way,  to 
form  and  compafs  their  defigns  for  temporal  advan- 
tages, than  the  profellors  of  religion,  who  have  the 
light  of  the  gofpel,  are  for  the  concerns  of  their  fouls 
and  eternity,  though  they  know  that  in  a  little  time 
they  muft  dlef  and  give  an  account  of  themfelves  to 
God  :  And  even  true  believers  do  not  ordinarily  con- 
trive and  lay  out  themfelves  fo  much  about  fpiritual, 
as  the  men  of  this  world  do  about  temporal  things. 

9  I  therefore  advife  and  charge  you  to  ufe  as 
much  forefight  and  diligence  about  the  concerns  of 
eternity,  as  worldly-minded  men  do  about  the  things 
of  time.      Inftead  of  employing  f  uncertain  riches  in 

any 
E     S. 

qaon  or  riches  of  unrighteoufnefs,  in  op- 
pofition  to  («M)'«vorj  the  true  riches, 
ver.  1 1.  becaufe  they  are  empty  and  un- 
fatisfying,  precarious  and  difappointing 
to  the  expectations  of  thofe  that  place 
their  happinefs  in  them.  And  yet  they 
play  i;;  •  fo  called,  becaufe  they 

are 


170 

ofunrighteoufnefs; 
that  when  ye  fail, 
they  may  receive 
you  into  everlafting 
habitations. 


The  Evangelijl 


Chap.  xvi. 


10  He  that  is 
faithful  in  that 
which  Is  leaft,  is 
faithful  alfo  in 
much:  and  he  that 
is    unjuft    in     the 


righteous       mam- 
mon,     who     will 


any  unrighteous  way,  ufe  them  in  acts  of  piety  and 
charity,  with  a  iubfervience  to  real  and  everlafting  hap- 
piness ;  that,  when  flefh  and  heart,  and  all  thefe  enjoy- 
ments fail,  and  ye  come  to  die,  (ikXittyiti)  God  may 
receive  you,  as  faithful  ftewards,  to  eternal  manfions 
in  the  heavens,  the  holy  angels  may  take  charge  of 
your  fouls  to  condudt  them  to  glory,  and  the  poor 
members  of  Chrift  may  receive  you  with  joy  in  the 
other  world,  whofe  bowels  ye  refrefhed,  and  whofe 
prayers  were  offered  for  a  blefling  to  come  upon  you, 
in  this. 

10  It  may  generally  be  obferved,  that  a  man  who 
is  found  faithful  or  unfaithful  in  a  fmall  trull,  will 
prove  to  be  fo  in  a  greater  ;  accordingly  it  is  ufual 
to  advance  an  honeft,  diligent  fervant  from  a  lower  to 
an  higher  poll  :   But  no  prudent  perfon  will  ever  ven- 

inmuch11^^  alf°    tUre  t0  d°  this  ^  °lle  that  is  treacherous- 

11  If  therefore  1 1  If  therefore  you  are  fo  unfaithful,  as  not  to 
ye  have  not  been  improve  the  mean  and  periming  enjoyments  of  this 
ithful  in  the  un-  world  for  the  great  ends  for  which  God  committed 
them  to  your  charge,  how  can  ye  expert  that  he 
.  fhould  ever  intruft  you  with  the  more  important  and 
truft  the  true  rich-    fubftantial  riches,  that  relate  to  the  heavenly  world  ? 

1 2  And  if  ye  aft  the  part  of  difhoneft  ftewards  in 
n   ye   the  management  of  the  good  things  of  this  life,  which 

that   are  not  your  own>   DUt  which  God  has  committed  to 
other   you,  as  a  truft,  to  be  employed  for  his  glory,  and  the 
who   ftiall   good  of  others,  and  which,  in  a  little  while,  ye  mull 
you     that   leaVe  to  ye  know  not  whom,  how  can  ye  expect  that 
^our   he  fhould  enrich  you    with    thofe    better    treafurcs, 
wrhich,  when  once  they  are  bellowed  upon  you,  are 
that  good  part,  which ,   by  the  conftitution  of  his  co- 
venant, fhail  never  he  taken  from  you  ? 

1 3  Add  to  all  this,  that  it  is  impoffible  for  any  one 
to  be  heartily  engaged  in  the  intcrefts  of  two  matters, 
whofe  demands  are  directly  oppolite  :  For  if  he  loves 
one  of  them,  and  lays  himfelf  out  in  his  fervice,  he 
muft  of  neceffity  be  averfe  to  the  other,  and  chufe 
to  neglect  his  affairs.  Thus  it  is  with  refpect  to 
God,  and  the  riches  of  this  world  :  The  man, 
who  fupremcly  loves  God,  as  his  chief  good,,  will 
defpiie  all  earthly  treafures,  when  they  come  in  com- 
petition with  him,  and  will  ufe  them  to  honour  and 
pleafe  him  ;  but  the  man,  who  has  an  inordinate 
affection  to  this  world,  will  difrelilh  and  neglect  the 
fervice  of  God,  and  make  religion  itfelf  fubfervient  to 
his  fecular  views.      (See  Jam.  iv.  4.) 

14  Some  of  the  Phartfees,  a  covetous,  hypocriti- 
cal 

NOTE, 
are  often  unjuftly  obtained  and  pottefied,  abufed  and  made  the  means  of  corrupting 
many,  and  are  tke  only  portion  of  unrighteous  men. 


1 2     And 

have      not 
faithful     in 


is    anc 


which 

man's, 

give 

which 

own? 


13  No  fervant 
can  ferve  two  ma- 
ilers: for  either  be 
will  hate  the  one, 
and  love  the  o- 
ther  ;  or  elle  he 
will  hold  to  the 
one,  and  defpife 
the  other.  Ye  can- 
not ferve  God  and 
mammon. 


14  And  thePha- 
rifees 


Chap.  xvi. 

rifees  alio,  who 
were  covetous, 
heard  all  thefe 
things  :  and  they 
derided  him. 

15  And  he  fa  id 
unto  them,  Ye  are 
they  which  juftify 
yourfelves  before 
men  ;  but  God 
knoweth  your 

hearts  :  for  that 
which  is  highly 
efteemed  among  ft 
men,  is  abomina- 
tion in  the  fight  of 
God. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


16  The  law  and 
the  prophets  were 
until  John  :  fince 
that  time  the  king- 
dom of  God  is 
preached,  and  e- 
very  man  prelfeth 
into  it. 


17  And  it  is  ea- 
fier  for  heaven  and 
earth  to  pafs,  than 
one  tittle  of  the 
law  to  fail. 


171 

cal  fet  of  men,  being  prefent,  heard  this  difcourfe, 
and  treated  Chrift  with  contempt  for  it  ;  becaufe, 
though  they  could  not  confute  it,  they  were  refolved 
not  to  comply  with  directions,  which  lay  fo  entirely 
oppofite  to  their  darling  lulls. 

15  But,  though  he  knew  how  to  defpife  the  fhame, 
he  reproved  them  for  their  fin,  faying,  Ye  indeed 
verbally  difclaim  every  charge  of  iniquity  ;  and,  by 
your  outward  fhews  of  uncommon  devotion,  and  great 
exactnefs  in  ceremonial  obfervances,  pafs  for  extraor- 
dinary faints  in  the  eyes  of  men  :  But  God  fees 
through  the  inmoft  pride,  covetoufnefs,  and  hypo- 
crify  of  your  hearts  ;  and  fo  ye  Hand  quite  otherwife 
in  his  account  than  in  theirs  :  For  your  high  pretences 
to  holinefs  and  piety  among  men,  who  can  only  fee 
your  outward  appearances  and  profefTions,  are  detect- 
able in  the  judgment  of  God,  who  fees  you  as  ye 
are,  and  beholds  all  the  fecret  and  governing  vilenefc 
of  your  hearts  ;  and  he  will  reject  you,  and  admit 
others  to  his  favour  in  your  room,  notwithftanding 
your  high  conceit  of  yourfelves,  and  contempt  of 
them,  as  well  as  of  me  and  my  doctrine. 

16  For  the  Old  Teftament  difpenfation,  which 
prefigured  and  prophefied  of  the  Meffiah,  continued 
till  John  appeared  to  point  him  out  unto  the  people  -9 
and,  as  that  difpenfation  was,  in  a  manner,  confined  to 
the  Jews,  ye  have  an  high  opinion  of  yourielves,  on 
account  of  your  external  compliances  with  it  :  But, 
from  the  time  of  John  the  Baptiji,  a  difpenfation  of 
much  greater  light  and  grace  began  to  be  publiihed ; 
and  now  multitudes  of  perfons,  of  what  nation  or 
character  foever,  even  publicans,  and  finners  of  the 
Gentiles,  are  earneftly  defirous  of  hearing  and  em- 
bracing the  gofpel,  are  putting  in  by  faith  fo^an  in- 
tereft  in  its  blefiings,  and  are  admitted  to  them, 
though  they  are  no  obfervers  of  the  rites  and  ceremo- 
nies of  the  law. 

1 7  And  yet  the  law  is  not  hereby  made  void ;  the 
prophecies,  types,  and  (hadows  of  the  Old  Tefta- 
ment are  fully  accomplished,  and  the  moral  law  is 
honoured  and  confirmed,  by  the  gofpel ;  its  precepts 
are  explained  by  my  doctrine,  and  are  exemplified 
and  fulfilled  by  my  obedience  ;  it  is  cllabliihed  as  an 
effential  law  of  my  kingdom,  and  as  an  eternal  and 
unchangeable  rule  of  righteoufnefs  ;  its  obligations  are 
enforced,  and  the  practice  of  it  is  fecured  upon  the 
moll  effectual  principles  :  So  that  the  heavens  and 
the  earth  fhall  fooner  fail,  and  the  whole  frame  of 
them  be  diffolved,  than  any  precept  of  this  law  (hall 
be  difannulled  by  the  New  Teftament  difpenfation, 
which  is  defigned  to  vindicate  it  from  all  corruptions, 

to 


i;2  TJje  Evangelift  Chap.  xvi. 

to  reflore  it  to  its  primitive  purity,  and  to  discounte- 
nance all  depraved  affections  that  lie  in  oppolition  to 
it,  as  appears  (among  other  instances)  in  that  which 
relates  to  the  original  law  of  marriage. 
1 3    Whofoever         iS    Mofes  indeed  permitted  a  man,    in  various  ca- 
ceth   away  his   fes>  to  £-ye  ^  wj£e  a  ^  Qf  divorce,  and  put  her  a- 
and  raarrieth  ri  •  r  -ri-r         ■  •  a 

another,    comm  t-    ^ay>  for  the  preventing  of  greater  mnchief,    which, 

ttth  adultery :  and  through  the  perverfenels  of  your  hearts,  might  have 

whofoever    marri-  enfued.     ( Mdtth.  xix.  4, — 8. )     But  to  itrike  at  the 

eth  her  that  ii  put  root  0f  all  iniquity,   and  reduce  this  ordinance  to  its 

awayrrcm              -  •     •  •       .,.-.-            .  .  ,                    ,    -  .       ,             t 

u3ri-i    rn^-.rT^t\  „  primitive  muitution,  which  was  molt  iuitable  to  the 

doitv  Hate  of  human  nature,    I  declare  that  this  ihall  be 

permitted  no  longer ;  but  that  whofoever  mail  divorce 
his  wife,  and  marry  another,  except  it  be  on  account 
of  his  firft  wire's  having  been  guilty  of  adulter}',   (fee 
the  note  on   Matib.  v.   32.)   he  himfelf  lhall  be  ac- 
counted an  adulterer  ;  and  whoioever  lhall  marry  the 
•  orccd  woman  ihall  be  accounted  an  adulterer  too, 
■    having   no  lawful  claim  to  her,    whilil  her  nrfl 
hufband  is  alive. 
19  There  was  a         10.     Our  bleffed  Lord  having  thus  reproved  the 
•    Pharifees  for  their  pride,  covetoufnefs,  and  hvpocrifv, 
which  was  clothed   returned  to  his  diicourie  about  the  right  ufe'  of  tern- 
in  purple  ana  .     .  T        .    ,  °    .  r 

linen     and    fared    poral  riches,  and  repreiented  the  great  danger  or  per- 

fumptuoufly  every  verting  them  unto  felnih,  fenfual,  and  licentious  pur- 
pofes,  in  the  following  parable,  faying,  There  was 
a  man  of  a  very  large  eilate,  who  indulged  himfelf  to 
the  utmolt  in  the  enjoyment  of  it  :  He  was  arrayed 
in  the  richeil  and  finetl  apparel,  with  purple  robes, 
^;man  or  a  prince,  and  feafted  on  the  moil 
delicious  rarities,  and  elegant  dainties  ever)-  day.  So 
many  of  the  rich  men  of  this  world,  fpend  all  their 
treafures  upon  themfelves,  to  appear  gay  and  great, 
to  gain,  the  admiration  of  others,  and  to  gratify 
their  own  fenfual  appetites,  in  all  the  luxuries  of  hie 
that  wealth  and  art  can  provide. 
80  :re        20,  2  1    At  the  fame  time  there  was  a  certain  man, 

•was  a  certain  beg-    fr^„  named  Lazarus  *,   who,    being  reduced  to  per- 

*hichwaslaid  fe^  beggai7>.  and  {**+**)   all  over-fpread   with 

at  his  gate  full  of  ulcers,  was  laid  at  the  rich  epicure's  gate,    where  he 

".'ores.  begged  for  the  broken  meat  or  fcrapes,    yea,    rather 

2t  AaddeGring  t]ian  faj^  for  the  verT  crumbs,  that  the  dogs  ufed  to 

t0  U  pick  up  under  the  table  :    But  this  profufe  and  un- 

crurabs  which  till   r  Y  .  r  .         . 

from  the  rich  mans  natural  man  hardened  his  heart  againlt  his  mnencb 
table  :  moreover,  and  his  cries,  and  would  take  no  notice  of  him,  to 
the  dogs  came  and  orcjcr  him  the  lealt  relief;  and  yet  (*XXx  xxi)  his 
licked  his  lores.         rores  were  f0  grievous,    that  the  very  dogs  got  a- 

bout 
NOTE. 
*  By  the  rich  man  clothed  in  purple,  Chrift  perhaps  pointed  to  Herod  ;  and  by 
Lazarus,  which  fignines  one  who  has  God  for  his  help,  he  might  mean  fome  <. 
xently  pious  man  of  that  name,  who  was  a  known  beggar  in  thofe  days. 


Chap,  x  Luke  parapl.raftd.  173 

bout  him,    and  mewing  more  p  m  their  cruel 

matter,    licked  them.      So  many  of  God's  own 
dren  are  among  the  poor  of  this  world,    and  afh 
with  duiempers,  pains,  and  for-  11  as  others  ; 

in  thefe  circumftances  they  are  fometimes  call,    by 
Providence,  in  the  way  of  rich  and  fenfhal  :r. : 
have  ability,  but  no  hearts  to  re  .-m,    ar.i 

rather  watte  their  fuperfluitici  upon  their  dogs,   than 
*  refrefh  the  bowels  of  thefc  poor  taints  with  thcrr ., 

are  more  unnatural  and  unmerciful  than  the  brutes 
themfehes. 
■22  And  it  came        22,23   But  (Jk)  in  a  little  while  the  poor  dill. 
to   pais,   that  .he   e(j  beggar  was  diimiiled,  by  death,    from  ell  hi 

beggar  cie  ,  flictive,  wretched,  and  necefiitous  circu:  ;  and 

was  cained  uv  trie 

angels  into  Abra-  h's  fov\,  as  the  departing  fouls  of  all  believers  are, 

ham's  hofom  :  the  was  immediately  condi; 

rich  man  alio  died,  deur,  under  a  convov  of  angels,    to  a  itate     : 

am?  WA-bdariadheU    and  bleffednefs>   where  he  had  tbe  ******  and  the  de'- 
he     lift     up     bis   light  of  being  lodged  and  c :  i,  Hke  or. 

eves,  being  in  tor-    on  Abraham's  boiom,   amid  e  rich  entertain- 

ment-. ,ts  of  the  heavenly  world  *.      The  rich  man  like- 

^/Y-  '  dkdy  as  well  as  the  poor  beggar ;  and  had  a 

pous  funeral,  wh  led  all  his  glory  ;  but,  : 

how  iniipid,  vair.. 

cnflble  and 
ioathfome  carcafe,  w  tme  time. 

:  or  them,  b-       .       rtured  m 
:  terrible  agonies. 
that  die  in  t 
burials  were  :    For  in  his  fef 

iter  the  death  0: 
tions  of  vindictive  wra:  jod's 

goodnefs  ;     and    there, 
damned  fpi.  " 
had  a  diico 

N     O     T     E     5. 
*  Ah 

I  to  be 
of  the  fouls  of  the  ri  dhte-    is  his  bofom.     (John  i.  1 . 

'  on  their  death,  -which  they  ufed  I 
ere  carried  thither  by  good  &ngeis :        -   .-■ . 

- 
I  e  polhirr   • 
was  cuflo-.v  -icierts  tX 

their:  rtb^,  under  the  tr.ean.- 

":m  of   ct 
the  tirft,  ar.d  fo 

beloved  difciple  Itant  on  -  :    refpec: 

(John  xi  1  i .  S3.)    A  '         » 

had  the  he-  '        tj  of  being  pla-    ft. 

faithful,  and  the  friead  of  God.  to  fhare    to  be  moft 
in  communion  and  reft,   in  1 

V)L.   II.  A  a 


174 


The  Evangelift 


Chap,  xvr; 


24  And  he  cried, 
and  faid,  Father 
Abraham,  have 
mercy  on  me,  and 
fend  Lazarus,  that 
he  may  dip  the  tip 
of  his  ringer  in  wa- 
ter, and  cool  my 
tongue  ;  for  I  am 
tormented  in  this 
flame. 


25  But  Abraham 
laid,  Son,  remem- 
ber that  thou  in 
thy  life-time  recei- 
ved ft  thy  good 
things,  and  like- 
wife  Lazarus  evil 
things :  but  now 
he  is  comforted, 
and  thou  art  tor- 
mented. 


able  flame, 
who  neglected 


ed,  at  a  great  diftance  from  him,  which  aggravated 
his  own  mifery,  and  that  fo  much  the  more,  as  he 
there  beheld  poor  Lazarus,  whom  he  had  formerly 
neglected  and  defpifed,  lodged  with  fafety,  honour, 
and  joy,   in  the  very  bofom  of  Abraham  himfelf. 

24  The  rich  man  feeing  Lazarus  poffeffed  of  all 
happinefs,  and  himfelf  plunged  into  all  infupportable 
miferies,  cried  out  to  Abraham  *,  with  great  ear- 
neftnefs,  in  the  defpairing  agony  of  his  foul,  O  thou 
Father  of  all  Ifraelites,  have  companion  upon  me, 
who  am  one  of  thine  offspring,  and  who  hoped  to  be 
bleffed  by  thy  covenant,  as  a  defcendant  from  thee, 
order  Lazarus,  I  befeech  thee,  to  come  hither,  and 
give  me  a  little  relief,  though  it  be  no  more  than  a 
drop  of  water,  hanging  on  the  tip  of  his  finger, 
might  be  to  cool  the  tongue  of  one  in  the  midft  of  a 
raging  fire,  which  is  the  livelieft  emblem  of  what  I 
feel  :  For  I  am  dreadfully  tortured,  under  the  fenfe 
and  impreflions  of  Divine  vengeance,  as  in  an  intoler- 

So  the  fenfual  and  flouriming  finner, 
and  fcorned  the  people  of  God  in 
their  poverty  and  affliction,  being  milerably  torment- 
ed, immediately  after  death,  in  hell,  whatever  his  re- 
ligious privileges  were  on  earth,  would  be  glad  to  re- 
ceive any  favour,  though  ever  fo  little,  at  their  hands, 
to  whom  they  refufed  the  leaft  kindnefs  before. 

25  But  Abraham  bid  him  reflect,  as  the  damned 
in  hell  can  do,  upon  his  own  and  Lazarus's  former 
and  prefent  circumftances,  faying,  You  are  indeed 
my  fon,  according  to  the  flefh,  and  had  many  privi- 
leges as  fuch  ;  but  how  unworthy  have  you  acted  of 
the  father,  from  whom  you  vainly  boalt  of  your  de- 
fcent  ?  and  how  ungratefully,  as  well  as  foolifhly, 
have  you  finned  away  the  advantages,    which  might 

been  hoped  for  from  thence  ?  Conlider,  that 
whilil  on  earth,  had  riches,  pomp,  and  plea- 
in  abundance  :  Thefe  were  all  the  good  things 
that  you  defired,  efteemed,  and  placed  your  happi- 
nefs in  ;  thefe  you  ufed  only  for  yourfelf ;  and  ha- 
ving abufed  thefe,  through  the  hardnefs  and  impeni- 
tence of  your  heart,  no  further  good  remains  to  you 
for  ever.  And  conlider  that  Lazarus,  whilil  he  li- 
ved in  the  body,  was  deftitute  and  afflicted,  pining 
with  hunger,  and  a  defpicable  object  in  human  view: 
Thefe  circumftances  were  very  uncomfortable  to  him  ; 

thefe 
T     E. 

guage,  of  the  happy  and  miferable  ftate 
of  things,  and  of  the  fenfe  which  the  righ- 
teous and  wicked  have  of  them,  in  the  0- 
ther  world. 


have 
you, 
fure 


N  O 
I  he  following  convcrfation  between 
the  rich  man  and  Abraham  is  not  to  be 
literally  uiah-rftood  a*  if,  in  fact,  fuch 
rttfcourfe  had  palled  between  them  ;  it  is 
only  a  reprefentarion,  by  borrowed  Ian- 


Ghap.  xvi. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


ns 


:6*  And  befides 
ail  this,  between 
us  and  you  there 
is  a  great  gulf  fix- 
ed :  fo  that  they 
which  would  pals 
from  hence  to  you, 
cannot  ;  neither 
can  they  pafs  to  us, 
that  would  come 
from  thence. 


27  Then  he  faid, 
I  pray  thee  there- 
fore, father,  that 
thou  wculdert  fend 
him  to  my  father's 
houfe  : 

28  For  I  have 
five  brethren;  that 
he  may  teflify  un- 
to them,  left  they 
alio  com-  into  this 
place  of  torment. 


thefe  he  received  with  fubmifiion  and  patience,  from 
the  fovereign,  holy,  all-difpoiing  providence  of  God  ; 
and  fome  of  thefe  he  received  immediately  from  cruel 
and  unmerciful  men,  who,  like  you,  (hut  up  their 
bowels  of  compaflion  againit  him.  But  now  the  ta- 
bles are  turned,  all  his  evil  things  are  pail  and  gone, 
and  he  pofTeffes  bleffednefs  without  allay  ;  but  all 
your  good  things  are*  at  an  end,  and  you  are  infup- 
portably  tormented  :  And  how  can  you,  who  would 
not  allow  him  a  crumb  of  bread,  expect  a  drop  of 
water  from  his  hand  now  ?  So  none  of  the  enjoy- 
ments of  the  finner,  and  none  of  tne  afflictions  of  God's 
people,  reach  any  further  than  the  prefent  fhort,  pe- 
rifhing  life  ;  the  faint,  at  death,  will  exchange  his 
forrows  for  all  comforts  ;  and  the  iinner  will  ex- 
change his  mercies  for  all  miferies  ;  and  (hall  then  be 
forced  to  remember  all  that  paffed  on  earth,  in  fuch 
a  manner  as  will  condemn  himfelf,  and  add  a  fting  to 
his  torments,  and  will  juitify  God's  righteoufneis  in 
inflicting  them. 

26  Abraham  furthermore  added,  Ah  peer  wretch! 
the  time  of  mercy  and  hope  is  now  over  ;  God  hath 
fixed  fuch  a  vail  and  unpaifable  diflance  between  the 
happy  and  the  miferable,  by  an  irreverfible  decree  and 
fentence,  that  if  any  of  us  were  ever  fo  defirous  to  go 
and  relieve  you,  it  would  be  abfolutely  impomble  to 
do  it  ;  and  it  is  as  impoffible  for  any  of  your  diilrefs- 
ed  company  to  come  to  us,  and  fhare  in  our  jovs, 
though  they  were  ever  fo  earned  in  attempting  it. 
•So  the  ftate  of  every  foul,  at  death,  is  unalterably 
fixed  in  heaven  or  hell,  there  is  no  medium  ;  to  one 
of  thefe  it  mull  go,  and  there  abide  for  ever. 

27,  28  Then  the  rich  man,  defpairing  of  any  com- 
fort for  himfelf,  faid  to  Abraham:,  I  entreat  thee,  by 
all  the  tendernefs  of  a  father,  to  mew  me,  at  leaft, 
fo  much  favour,  as  to  difpatch  Lazarus  to  my  fa- 
ther's houfe,  where  I  have  live  brethren  dill  living, 
who  are  your  offspring  too,  that  he  may  acquaint 
them  with  the  true  Hate  of  things  in  the  eternal 
world  :  Let  him  tell  them  what  a  dreadful  condition 
my  fins  have  brought  me  into  ;  and  let  him  warn 
them  of  the  danger  of  treading  in  my  ileps,  left  they 
fhare  with  me  in  my  plagues,  and  increafe  my  guilt 
and  torment,  for  having  drawn  them  into  ruin  by 
my  example.  So  though  there  is  no  compaflion  or 
charity  in  hell,  yet  the  damned  there  are  in  fearful 
expectation  of  growing  miferies,  when  their  compa- 
nions in  iniquity  come  thither  ;  and  as  their  punifh- 
ment  13  already  more  than  they  know  how  to  bear, 
they  would  fain  have  every  thing  prevented,  that 
might  add  ilill  further  to  their  diilrefs. 

A  a  2  29  To 


176 


The  Evangel'tjl 


Chap.  xvi. 


29  Abraham  faith 
fcnto"  him,  They 
have  Moles  and  the 
prophets ;  let  them 
hear  them. 


30  And  he  fa  id, 
Nay,  father  Abra- 
ham :  but  if  one 
went  unto  them 
from  the  dead,  they 
will  repent.  ' 


31  And  he  faid 
unto  him,  If  they 
hear  not  Moi'es  and 
the  prophets,  nei- 
ther will  they  be 
pcrfuadrd  though 
<>ne  roie  from  the 
dead. 


29  To  tljis  Abraham  replied,  No  requeft  can  be 
granted  to  you,  who  are  under  an  irrevokable  fen- 
tence  of  damnation  ;  and  as  to  what  you  afk  for  your 
brethren,  it  is  unreafonable  :  God  will  not  go  out  of 
his  appointed  and  fettled  way  to  humour  you,  or 
them  ;  they  have  fufficient  notices  and  warnings  in  the 
writings  of  Mofes  and  the  prophets,  which  they  may 
read  as  often  as  they  pleafe,  and  which  are  read  and 
preached  in  the  fynagogues  every  Sabbath-day  :  If 
therefore  they  would  efcape  the  torments  of  the 
damned,  and  obtain  the  bleffednefs  of  the  righteous, 
let  them  attend  to  thofe  inftruc"t.ions  which  God  has 
already  afforded  them.  So  fmncrs  in  hell  will  find 
no  expedient  to  prevent  their  increafing  calamities  ; 
and  fmners  under  the  means  of  grace  upon  earth  mull 
Hand  or  fall,  according  to  their  ufe  or  abufe  of  thofe 
means,  having  no  room  to  expect  that  God  will  con- 
vert them  by  voices  or  vilions  from  the  other  world, 
or  go  qut  of  his  ordinary  and  inftituted  way  to  fave 
them. 

30  The  rich  man  anfwered,  Nay,  father  Abra- 
ham, what  I  urged  for  them  is  more  likely  to  be  ef- 
fectual than  what  you  mention  :  The  docftrines,  the 
commands  and  threatenings,  contained  In  the  law  and 
the  prophets,  are  become  fo  common  and  familiar  to 
them,  that  they  the  lefs  regard  them  ;  but  what  I 
fpeak  of,  would  be  a  new  and  ftrange  thing,  and  fo 
much  more  affecling  and  convincing  :  And  therefore 
if  fuch  an  one  as  Lazarus,  who  was  known  to  be  a 
good,  though  a  poor  and  affli&ed  man  upon  earth, 
were  to  rife  from  the  dead,  on  purpofe  to  tell  them 
of  the  vaftly  important  things  of  the  invifible  world, 
and  to  admoniih  and  warn  them  by  his  own  and  my 
example,  they  could  not  but  be  brought  to  alter 
their  fentiments,  and  to  turn  from  fin  to  God,  that 
they  might  efcape  my  torments,  and  enjoy  his  blefs- 
ednefs.  So  people  infenfible  of  the  power  of  natu- 
ral corruption,  and  of  the  neceffity  of  divine  grace  to 
make  an  effectual  change  upon  the  heart  and  life,  are 
apt  to  imagine  that  fome  other  means  would  be  more 
effeftual  to  converlion,  than  thofe  which  God  him- 
felf  has  appointed, 

31  But  Abraham  replied  again,  If  they  will  not 
believe  the  warnings  given  by  Mofes  and  other  infpi- 
red  writers,  whofe  dodtrinc  is  plain,  and  has  been  con- 
firmed by  unqueltionable  miracles  ;  an  exprefs  ient 
from  the  dead,  might  indeed  itartle  and  furprife  them, 
but  they  would  give  no  more  credit  to  his  teftiraony 
than  they  do  to  that  which  they  have  already,  and 
which  is  lefs  liable  to  be  fufpe&cd  of  any  fraud  :  So 
the  fame  depravity  and  perverfwnefs  of  heart,    which 

will 


Chap.  xvii.  Luke  paraphrafed.  177 

will  not  be  prevailed  upon  by  ordinary  means,  would, 
were  a  man  left-  to  himfelf,  as  effectually  throw  off 
the  influence  of  all  extraordinary  ones  whatfoever  ; 
and  it  is  only  by  the  blefling  of  God  on  his  own  ap- 
pointments, that  any  can  warrantably  expect  convei  - 
lion  and  faivation. 

RECOLLECTIONS. 

What  are  all  the  enjoyments  of  this  tranfitory  life,  but  trulls,  which  God  has 
committed  to  us  for  his  glory  and  doing  good  ?  We  cannot  hold  them  long,  and  a 
day  of  reckoning  will  quickly  come,  God  only  knows  how  foon,  when  every  one 
of  us  mult  give  an  account  of  our  ilewardfhip  to  him:  And  O  how  great  is  the 
concern  that  we  be  found  faithful  in  the  great  day  !  How  fbolilli  is  it,  and  how 
contrary  to  the  maxims  of  common  prudence  in  other  affairs,  to  be  more  induftri- 
ous  in  purfuing  earthly  riches,  than  eternal  treasures  !  Who  that  is  as  wife  for  a- 
nother  world,  as  prudent  men  are  for  this,  would  not  ufe  al!  his  opportunities  and 
advantages  here,  in  fubfervience  to  everlaiting  abodes  of  bleflednefs  hereafter '. 
And  they  only,  who  are  earned:  in  preffing  after  them,  can  expect  to  obtain  them. 
How  watchful  fhould  we  be  againll  all  unfaithfulnefs  and  iniquity  ;  Grice  little  fins 
lead  on  to  greater,  and  an  abufe  of  lower  trulls  and  enjoyments  is  a  jult  reafon 
why  God  fhould  deny  us  higher  !  But  alas  how  apt  are  covetous,  proud  and  hypocri- 
tical people,  and  all  under  the  dominion  of  any  fin,  to  "deride  reproof,  rather  than  fall 
under  conviction  by  it  '.  And  how  often  is  that,  which  is  of  high  account  with  men, 
abominable  in  God's  fight,  who  knows  the  heart-,  and  whole  law  is  a  rule  of-righ- 
teoufnefs  and  of  judgment,  which  never  can  be  reverted  !  How  inconfiderable  anil 
worthlefs  are  all  the  riches  of  this  world;  llnce  God  lets  lb  light  by  them,  as  to 
bellow  them  with  the  greateft  affluence  on  wicked  men,  ?nd  they  grow  worfe,  ir,- 
flead  of  better  by  thtin,  confuming  them  on  their  lufts  !  And  how  much  more  de- 
firable  is  the  lot  of  the  pooreft  and  moil  diilreffed  Chriftian  upon  earth,  whole  evil 
things,  which  will  foon  have  an  end,  are  only  in  this  world,  and  whofe  good 
things  will  be  enjoyed  in  the  next  with  everlafiing  and  unutterable  delight,  than 
that  of  the  richelt  firmer,  whole  uncertain  and  unfatisfying  comforts  are  confined 
to  this  fhort  and  vanifhing  life,  and  who  will  be  stripped  ol  all  enjoyments,  and  ex- 
change them  for  infupportable  and  endlels  torments  in  the  world  to  com^  '.  There, 
immediately  after  death,  the  different  ilates  of  unmixed  happinefs,  or  mifery,  will 
be  unalterably  fixed  for  ever,  to  the  exceeding  joy  of  the  now  afflicted  believer, 
and  to  the  utter  confufion  of  the  impenitent  epicure.  And  O  how  terrible  will  the 
reflections  of  loll  fouls  be  then,  how  much  foevcr  they  may  flight  and  trifle  about 
their  eternal  concerns  new  !  But  blefied  be  God,  that,  on  this  fide  hell,  there  is  yet 
room  for  a  happy  change  of fiate,  from  nature  to  grace,  from  wrath  and  enrfe  to 
favour  and  a  blefling,  by  means  of  God's  word  and  the  miniflry  of  it.  But  if  by 
thefe  we  are  not  brought  to  repentance,  there  is  no  room  to  expect  that  any 
ether  means  will  be  given,  or  be  made  effectual  for  that  purpofe.  How  earneft- 
ly  therefore  fhould  we  beg,  that,  while  we  are  in  this  world  of  mercy,  the  golpel 
may  be  let  home  upon  our  hearts  by  the  blefled  Spirit,  and  lb  may  be  the  pov.  c . 
of  God  to  our  own  faivation  I 


CHAP.       XVII. 

ChriJPs  difcourfe  about  offences  and  forgiving  of  injuries,  l, — 4.     4 
bout  faith  and  humility,   5, — 10.     His  curing  ten  lepers,  11, — 19. 
yind  his  account  of  the  nature  of  his  kingdom,  and  of  the  dcjlruc- 
twn  of  the  Jewi/h  nation,   20, — 37. 

Text.  Paraphrase. 

'J'HEN    laid    he    r\UR  Lord,    turning  his  difcourfe  to  his  difciples, 

^-^    -rfminrlpfl    Innm    of  fpv^rol     tViinrre     n*bir-h     lip     liarJ 


PM 


reminded  them  of  feveral  things  which  he  had 

delivered 


I7& 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  xvii. 


pies,  It  is  impoffi- 
ble  but  that  offen- 
ces will  come  :  but 
wo  unto  him 
through  whom 
they  come  ! 


1  It  were  better 
for  him  that  a  mil- 
llone  were  hanged 
about  his  neck,  and 
he  caft  into  the 
fea,  than  that  he 
fhould  offend  one 
of  thefe  little  ones. 


3  Take  heed  to 
yourfelves  :  If  thy 
brother  trefpafs  a- 
gainft  thee,  re- 
buke him  ;  and  if 
he  repent,  forgive 
him. 


4  And  if  he  tref- 
pafs againft  thee 
feven  times  in  a 
day,  and  feven 
'.imes  in  a  day  turn 
again  to  thee,  fay- 
ing, I  repent;  thou 
ihalt  forgive  him. 


5  And  the  apo- 
ttlcs  faid  \into  tlie 
Lord,  Increafe  our 
faith. 


delivered  to  them  before,  (Matth.  xviii.)  faying, 
Such  is  the  wickednefs  and  perverfenefs  of  mankind, 
and  fuch  their;  pafiions  and  prejudices,  that  it  is  mo- 
rally impoffible,  but  that  occasions  will  arife  to  the 
{tumbling  and  falling  of  many.  It  is  therefore  to  be 
expected  that  perfecutors,  feducers,  and  carnal  pro- 
feffors  will  ufe  fuch  violence,  vent  fuch  corrupt  doc- 
trines, and  lead  fuch  fcandalous  lives,  as  will  grieve 
and  difcourage  fome,  and  pervert  others  from  the 
fnnplicity  of  the  gofpel,  and  draw  them  into  fin  : 
But  great  will  be  the  guilt  and  ruin  of  that  man, 
through  whofe  cuors  and  evil  practices  any  fuch  of- 
fenfive  and  injuries  things  mall  be  brought  into  the 
world. 

2  It  would  have  been  much  better  for  him  to  have 
undergone  the  worft  of  capital  punifhments,  from  the 
hands  of  men,  fuch  as  being  thrown  into  the  fea  with 
a  great  ftcne  about  his  neck,  to  drown  him,  than  . 
that  he  fhould  ha^e  lived  to  difhonour  and  provoke 
God  fo  highly,  and  to  bring  fuch  dreadful  miferies 
upon  himfelf,  by  doing  fo  much  mifchief  to  any  one, 
even  of  the  weaken:  of  them  who  believe  in  me.  (  Mai. 
xviii.  6.) 

3  Take  heed  therefore  that  by  your  example,  doc- 
trine, or  mifconducl:,  ye  do  not  lay  ftumbling-blocks 
in  the  way  of  any,  or  become  an  occafion  of  fadden- 
ing  their  hearts,  or  of  drawing  them  into  fin ;  but  do 
all  that  in  you  lies  to  encourage  them,  to  prevent 
their  falling,  and  to  recover  them  from  their  falls:  in 
order  hereunto,  if  one,  who  is  called  a  brother,  mould 
affront  and  injure  any  of  you,  be  watchful  over  your 
own  fpirit,  that  it  be  not  filled  with  prejudices  againft 
him,  or  againft  me  and  my  gofpel  for  his  fake;  but, 
in  a  prudent,  tender,  and  brotherly  manner,  endea- 
vour to  convince  him  of  hjs  fault,  and  of  the  greater 
mifchief  it  does  to  himfelf  than  to  you  ;  and,  when- 
ever he  difcovers  a  concern  for  it,  pafs  it  by,  and  be 
heartily  reconciled  to  him. 

4  Yea,  fuppofe  it  fhould  happen,  that,  through 
forgetfulncfs,  carcleffnefs,  imprudence,  and  the  like, 
he  fhould  foon  and  often  repeat  his  offence,  even  to 
feven  times  in  one  day,  and  mould  as  often  renew  ac- 
knowledgments of  it,  with  promifes  to  take  care  that 
he  be  not  guilty  of  the  like  for  time  to  come,  fo  that 
he  at  laft  leans  to  be  in  good  earneft,  go  on  ftill  to 
forgive  him,  perfevering  in  your  duty  toward  him,  till 
you  thoroughly  overcome  and  reclaim  him. 

5  The  apofties  having  heard  Chrift's  charge  about 
thefe  great  and  difficult  duties,  which  lay  fo  contra- 
ry to  natural  refentments,  were  much  affected  with  a 
fenfe  of  their  excellence  and  importance,  and  of  their 

own 


Chap.  xvii. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


179 


6  And  the  Lord 
faid,  If  ye  had  faith 
as  a  grain  of  muf- 
tard-feed,  ye  might 
fay  unto  this  fyca- 
mine-tree,  Be  thou 
plucked  up  by  the 
root,  and  be  thou 
planted  in  the  lea ; 
and  it  fliould  obey 
you. 


7  But  which  of 
you,  having  a  fer- 
vant  plowing,  or 
feeding  cattle,  will 
fay  unto  him  by 
and  by,  when  he 
is  come  from  the 
field,  Go  and  fit 
down  to  meat  ? 


S  And  will  not 
rather  fay  unto 
him,  Make  ready 
wherewith  I  may 
fup,  and  gird  thy- 
felf.  and  ierve  me, 
till  I  have  eaten 
and  drunken ;  and 
afterwards  thou 
fiialt  eat  and 
drink  ? 

9  Doth  he  thank 
that  fervant  be- 
caufe  he  did  the 
tilings  that  were 
commanded  him  ? 
I  trow  not. 
-  10  So' like  wife 
ye,  when  ye  (ball 
have  done  all  tlio.e 
things  which  are 
commanded  you, 
fay, 


own  indifpcnfible  need  of  his  fpecial  afliftance  for  put- 
ting them  into  practice  ;  and  therefore  earneftly  be- 
ibught  him,  as  their  Lord,  that  he  would  ftrengthen 
their  faith  in  God's  forgive nefs  of  their  own  great 
and  multiplied  provocations,  and  would  draw  it  into 
lively  exercife,  for  deriving  itrength  from  him,  where- 
by they  might  be  inclined  and  enabled  to  anfwer  thefe 
hiph  demands. 

O 

6  And  the  Lord  Jefus  replied,  If  your  faith  in 
me  be  of  the  right  kind,  though  it  were,  compara- 
tively fpeaking,  as  fmall  as  a  grain  of  muftard-feed,  it 
has  fuch  a  vigorous  communion  with  my  fulnefs,  that, 
in  its  proper  exercife,  ye  might  perform  all  thefe  dif- 
ficult duties,  which  by  your  own  power  are,  and  in 
your  own  fenfe  of  things  may  feem  to  be  as  hard  and 
impoiiible  for  you  to  do,  as  it  is  by  a  bare  word,  to 
root  up  that  fycamore-tree,  which  ye  fee  growing  in 
the  earth,  and  to  plant  it  in  the  fea  :  And  thefe  du- 
ties are  as  eafy  to  the  leait  true  and  faving  faith,  by 
Itrength  derived  from  me,  as  fuch  traniplanting  of  a 
tree  can  be  to  a  miraculous  faith ;  for  ye  may  do  ail 
things  through  my  ftrengthenings.    (P/6.7.  iv.  13.) 

7  But  always  remember  that,  how  great  or  diffi- 
cult duties  foever  ye  perform  for  the  glory  of  God, 
your  own,  or  other's  good  ;  as  the  ftrength  whereby 
ye  do  them  is  from  him  through  me,  fo  ye  can  deferve 
nothing  at  his  hand  on  their  account  :  For  if  any  of 
you  have  a  fervant  who  i9  your  property,  and  whom 
you  maintain  at  your  own  charges,  to  do  your 
buiinefs  ;  when  he  has  been  plowing  your  land,  or 
feeding  your  cattle,  and  returns  home,  do  you  im- 
mediately order  him  to  go  to  fupper,  before  you  your- 
felf  have  been  ferved  ? 

8  Or  rather,  will  you  not  charge  him  to  do  the 
neceflary  buiinefs  of  the  houfe,  in  order  to  your  own 
fupping,  and  then  wait  upon  you  at  table,  till  you 
have  done  eating  and  drinking  ?  and  after  all  this, 
but  not  before,  do  not  you  ufe  to  bid  him  take  hii 
own  fupper,  to  refrefh  himfelf  ? 

9  And  when  his  mailer's  injunctions  have  been 
complied  with  in  all  thefe  things,  does  he  think  him- 
felf indebted  to  that  fervant,  cr  obliged  to  return 
him  thanks  for  it  ?  No,  by  no  means,  he  having  done 
no  more  than  his  mailer  had  a  right  to,  and  the  du- 
ty of  his  own  place  required. 

10  Even  fo  the  cafe  Hands  between  the  great  God 
and  you  :  Ye  are  his  fervants,  and  abfolute  property, 
and  ought  to  be  fo,  more  than  any  creature  can  be 
yours  ;  and  when  ye  have  gone  through  one  fervjee, 
in  obedience  to  his  commands,  ye  muil  not  think 
yourfelves  discharged,  but  go  on  with  the  greatcll 

application 


i  So 


The  Evangeli/l 


Chap.  xvii. 


fay,  We  are  unpro- 
fitable fei  vants  : 
we  have  clone  that 
which  was  our  du- 
tv  to  do. 


application  and  diligence  to  another,  as  long  as  lie 
has  any  thing  for  you  to  do  ;  and  ye  muft  continue 
waiting  upon  him,  and  waiting  his  time,  before  ye 
reft  from  your  labours,  and  are  entertained  with  ever- 
lading  refrefhments  :  And  after  all  that  it  was  poffi- 
ble  for  you  to  do,  by  the  richeft  fupplies  of  grace 
and  (Irength,  ye  mufl  humbly  own  that  ye  could  me- 
rit nothing  at  the  hands  of  the  fovereign  Lord  of  all, 
nor  lay  the  leaft  obligation  upon  him,  no,  not  fa 
much  as  to  deferve  any  thanks  from  him,  becaufe  ye 
have  only  done  what  was  your  proper  bufinefs,  and 
indifpenfible  duty  to  do. 

1 1  As  Jefus  was  afterwards  travelling  to  Jerufa- 
/em,  he,  by  a  fpecial  defign  of  Providence,  took  the 
courfe  which  carried  him  into  thofe  parts  of  Samaria 
that  lay  next  to  Galilee,  and  fo  paffed,  as  it  were, 
in  the  rhidft,  between  thofe  two  countries  *. 

1 2  And  as  he  came  near  to  a  certain  village,  ten 
leprous  perfons,  who  were  excluded  from  towns  and 
common  converfation,  becaufe  of  their  uncieannefs, 
were  got  together  to  converfe  with,  and  condole  one 
another  f ,  and  they  meeting  with  our  blefTed  Lord, 
and  knowing  who  he  was,  -kept  at  a  diftance  from 
him,  in  obedience  to  the  law,  (Lev.  xiii.  46.)  and 
under  a  fenfe  of  their  own  unworthinefs  : 

1 3  But,  believing  that  he  was  able  to  cleanfc  .hem, 
they  called  upon  him  with  a  loud  and  earned  cry,  as 
with  one  confent,  and  one  voice,  faying,  Jefus,  thou 
companionate  Saviour,  who  halt  the  maftery  and  do- 
minion over  all  difeafes,  look  upon  our  miferable  con- 
dition with  an  eye  of  pity,  and  cure  us  of  our  leprofv. 

14  And  he,  feeing  their  diftrefs,  and  their  faith 
and  importunity  for  healing,  took  pity  on  them,  re- 
folving  in  himfelf  to  magnify  his  power  and  goodnefs 
by  granting  their  requeft  :  In  order  thereunto  he 
bade  them  go  and  prefent  themfelves  to  fome  of  the 
priefts  at  Jcrufalem,  according  to  the  appointment 
of  the  law;  (Lev.  xiv.  2.)  thereby  intimating  that 
they  fliould  pronounce  them  clean,  and  thereby  give 
a  public  teltimony  to- his  miracle  in  cleaniing  them  : 
And  as  they  were  going,  in  obedience  to  his  com- 
mand, they  all  found  themfelves  reilored  to  perfect 
health  ;  the  power  of  Chrift  being  as  effectual  to  re- 
cover them,  when  they  were  corporally  at  a  diftance 
from  him,  as  if  they  had  ftill  been  before  him. 

15  Then  \  one  of  them,  finding  what  a  wonderful 

work 

NOTES. 
Heit .  $  'Tis  likely  that  they  all  went  to  the 

f-  Or  they  might  have  heard  of  Ch rift's  prieft,  to  be  difcharged  from  the  confine- 
coming  that  way,  and  fo  might  be.  got  to-  ment  they  had  been  under,  by  reafun  ot 
gether  to  wait  for  him.  their  leprofy ;    and   then,   all   but  one, 

went 


1 1  And  it  came 
to  pafs,  as  he  went 
to.  Jerufalem,  that 
he  palled  through 
the  mid  ft  of  Sama- 
ria and  Galilee. 

12  And,  as  he 
catered  into  a  cer- 
tain village,  there 
met  bun  ten  men 
that  were  leper% 
which  ftood  afar 
off: 


13  And  they 
lifted  up  their  voi- 
ces, andfaid,  Jefus, 
Jvlafter,  have  mer- 
cy on  us. 


14  And,  when 
he  law  them,  he 
'aid  unto  them, 
Go  (hew  your- 
fclves  unto  the 
priefts.  And  it 
came  to  pafs,  that, 
as  they  went,  they 
^rere  cleanfed. 


1 5    And 


one   of 

them 


Vid.  Lightf.  Hoy 


Chap.  xvii.  Luke  paraphrafed.  181 

them,  when  he  faw   work  Chrift  had  wrought  upon  him  {"elf,  as  well  as  the 
that  he  was  heal-   reft-  Qf  ^is  companions,  was  fo  affected  with  it,  that 

and  with* a ^owl  he  went  back  aSain  t0  hfm>  wIth  an  heart  fllU  °f  &*' 
voice  glorified  God.    titude  and  joy,  being  as  earneft  to  proclaim  the  prai- 

fes  of  God  with  a  loud  voice  for  his  cure,  as  he  had 
been  before  to  beg  for  it  : 
i6Andfelldown         j(5  And,  proftrating  himfelf  with   profound    hu- 
•n  bis  face  at  his   mjijty  an(j  reverence  at  Jefus*  feet,  he  particularly 
thanks^"  Tnd    he   r^turned  folemn  thanks  to  him,  who  was  the  imme- 
was  a  Samaritan,    diate  author  of  this  great  deliverance  :   And  it  is  re- 
markable, that  the   grateful  creature,  who  thus  ho- 
noured him,   by  doing  the  duty  which  the  reft  ne- 
glected, was  a  Samaritan,  who,  as  fuch,  knew  and 
profefTed  lefs  than  the  Jews,   nine  of  which    were 
healed  with  him. 

17  And  Jefus  17,  18  But  (3s)  Jefus,  knowing  what  he  had  done 
anfwermg,  faid,  jn  cur{ng  them  all,  faid  publicly,  by  way  of  reproof 
ten  cleanfed  ?  but  to  tne  Jews>  and  approbation  of  this  Samaritan,  Was 
where  are  the  not  the  fame  mercy  (hewn  to  ten  lepers,  in  their  be- 
nine  ?  ing  all  healed  at  once  ?  what  is  become  then  of  the 

18  ^e*e    are   other  nine,  who  are  mine  own  countrymen,  and  pro- 

turned  to  give  do-  *"e*"s  tne  ^oc*  °^  Vrae^  and  *"rom  wnom  ll  might  molt 
ry  to  God,  lave  of  all  have  been  expected,  that  they  mould  render 
this  ftranger.  thanks  according  to  the  benefit  bellowed  upon  them  ? 

How  is  it  that  none,  but  this  ftranger  to  the  com- 
mon-wealth of  Ifrael,  is  come  back  to  glorify  God 
for  his  mercy  to  him  ?  What  a  better  fenle  of  grati- 
tude and  religion  does  he  difcover  than  they  ?  and 
what  a  reproach  is  this  to  them  ? 

19  And  he  faid  19  Then  turning  himfelf  to  the  Samaritan,  lie  en- 
unto   him,    Ante,   COuraged  and  comforted  him,  faying,   Get  up  from 

futhhat?  made  >'our  ProftratIon  at  mv  feet,  g°  m  peace  ;  I  have 
thee  whole.  obferved  your  faith,  expreffed  in   your   prayer    and 

praifes,  which  hath  been  uncommon,  and  hath  ob- 
tained a  cure  for  you  with  rich  advantage,  not  to 
your  body  only,  but  likewife  to  your  foul  *. 

20  And  when  20  Our  bleffed  Lord  and  his .  difciples  having  of- 
of  the'  tSfeef  ten  dedared  in  tlieIr  Poaching,  that  the  kingdom  of 
when  the  kingdom  heaven  was  at  hand,  fome  of  the  Pharifees  afked 
ofGod  mould  come,  him,  when  it  fhould  be  fet  up  in  the  world  ?  In  an- 
he  anfwered  them,  Jwer  to  which  he  faid,  Your  notions  cf  the  Meffiah's 
and  laid,  I  he  king-  kingdom  are  very  wrong,  while  ye  imagine  that,  like 
ciom    01    i_*o(i    co—  ill*       1  *         *ii  1 

meth  not  with  oh-    earthly  kingdoms,  it  will  make  a  pompous  appeai- 

fervation.  ancc  in   external  riches  and  grandeur,  and  will  rife 

and  fpread,  by  temporal  power,  to  draw  the  eyes  of 

the 

NOTE     S. 

went  about  their  bufinefs,  without  taking    ed,  but  this  man's  faith  had  femething 

any  further  uotice  of  the  benefit  they  had    lingular  in  it ;  and  Chrift's  anfwer  'ccn^ 

received.  to  extend  to  the  falvation  of  the  foul, 

*  All  thefe  lepers  had  faith  to  be  heal-    Yhv  faith  htiib  failed  thee,  <ricntm  <n 

Vol.  II.  Bb 


I  $2 


The  Evangelifi 


Chap.  xvii. 


21  Neither  fliall 
they  fay,  Lo  here  ; 
or,  lo  there :  for 
behold,  the  king- 
"dom  of  God  is 
within  you. 


■xz  And  he  faid 
•into  the  dilciples, 
The  days  will  come 
•when  ye  fliall  de- 
lire  to  fee  one  of 
the  days  of  the  Son 
of  man,  and  yefhall 
not  fee  it. 


23  And  they  fliall 
fay  to  you,  See 
here;  or,  fee  there: 
go  not  after  them, 
nor  fallow  them. 


24  Tor  as  the 
lightning,  that 
jightneth  out  of 
the  one  part  under 
heaven,  fiiineth  un- 
to the  other  part 
under  heaven  :  fo 
fliall  alio  the  Son 
of  man  be  in  his 
day. 


35  But  firft  mud 
he  fuffer  many 
things,  and  be  re- 
jected of  this  ge- 
neration. 


the  people,  and  force  their  fubje&ion  to  its  fceptie  ; 
thefe  things  are  not  fuitable  to  its  nature. 

2 1  Nor  fhall  any  be  able  to  fay,  Behold  in  thi^ 
or  the  other  particular  place  is  the  Mefliah's  throne 
and  court,  or  this  or  that  is  the  city  or  nation  where 
he  reigns.  No,  the  gofpel-kingdom,  which  I  ana 
come  to  ere£t,  is  altogether  fpiritual  in  its  nature, 
power,  and  defigns,  fuited  to  the  benefit  of  fouls  for 
another  world  ;  it  works  inwardly  in  men's  hearts 
and  confeiences,  and  makes  wonderful  revolutions 
there,  turning  them  from  darknefs  to  light,  and  from 
the  power  of  Satan  to  God  :  Behold,  therefore,  it  is 
already  begun  in  the  preaching  of  the  gofpel,  and  in 
the  converfion  of  fome  among  yourfelves,  though  ye 
perceive  it  not  ;  it  is  (evros  vpav)  in  the  hearts  of 
thofe  among  you  that  believe,  though  invifible  to  o- 
thers. 

22  He  likewife,  directing  his  difcourfe  to  his  dif- 
ciples,  faid,  Do  not  ye  entertain  any  fond  notions  of: 
the  temporal  glory  of  my  kingdom  :  For  fuch  tribu- 
lations will  befal  you,  together  with  the  whole  nation 
of  the  Jews,  and  fuch  feverc  reftraints  will  be  laid 
upon  you,  before  ye  have  fulfilled  your  miniftry,  that, 
in  thofe  times  of  fore  dillrefs,  ye  would  be  glad  of  one 
fuch  day  of  my  perfonal  prefence  with  you  on  earth,  as 
ye  now  enjoy  ;  but,  alas  I  ye  will  wifh  for  it  in  vain. 

23  And,  in  the  midft  of  the  difappointments  and 
troubles  that  will  furround  you,  fome  will  pretend  to 
tell  you,  that  the  Mefliah  is  in  this  or  the  other  pri- 
vate place,  or  in  this  or  that  city,  ready  to  deliver 
his  followers,  and  to  put  an  end  to  all  the  troubles 
of  thofe  days  :  However,  do  not  let  your  fondnefs 
for  his  perfonal  prefence  incline  you  to  give  any  heed 
to  them,  but  look  upon  all  fuch  reports  as  falfe  and 
foolifh. 

24  For  as  the  lightning  does  not  {hine  merely  in 
this  or  that  particular  part  of  the  heavens,  but  darts 
at  once  through  all  the  air :  So  the  Mefliah  will  not 
appear  in  this  or  that  particular  place  only,  when  he 
comes  to  deftroy  the  Jews,  and  advance  his  kingdom 
in  the  world  ;  but  vengeance,  by  his  providence, 
mall  fuddenly  fpread  through  all  Judca,  to  cut  oif  his 
obitinate  enemies  ;  and  the  gofpel,  by  the  mighty 
power  of  his  Spirit,  fliall  fly  like  lightning  through 
the  nations,  and  prevail  with  wonderful  fuccefs  among 
the  Gentiles,  far  and  wide. 

25  But  before  all  thefe  things  come  to  pafs,  the 
eternal  purpofe  of  God,  the  ancient  prophecies,  the 
rights  of  divine  juftice,  the  wickednefs  of  the  Jews, 
the  perfection  of  the  gofpel-flate,  and  the  everlafting 
falvation  of  the  church  make  it  necefTarv,  that  I,  the 

Mefliah* 


Chap.  xvii. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


1*3 


Mefiiah,  fhould  undergo  many  grievous  fufFerkigs  of 
pain  and  fhame,  even  to  the  worft  of  deaths,  by  the 
unbelieving,  fpiteful,  and  wicked  Jews  of  this  age  z 
After  this,  my  gofpel  will  diffufe  its  light  through  the 
earth,  and  my  vengeance  will  fall  upon  thole  mine  e- 
nemies  all  at  once,  and  before  they  are  aware,  jult  as 
it  was  in  the  deilrudtion  of  the  old  world,  and  of  So- 
dom, 

26,  27  For  as,  in  Noah's  days,  the  people  went 
on  fecure,  and  merry,  and  bufy,  following  the  affairs 
and  diverfions  of  life,  and  contracting  marriages,  in 
expectation  of  continued  fafety  and  pleafure  ;  yea, 
they  mocked  at  that  holy  man's  warnings,  rather  than- 
gave  any  heed  to  them,  and  fo  they  continued  to  do, 
till  on  a  fudden  the  deluge  came,  and  fwept  them  all 
away. 

28,  29,  30  And  juft  as,  in  Lot's  age,  the  people  cf 
Sodom  lived  in  ieniuality  and  fecurity,  gave  them- 
felves  up  to  the  lufts  of  the  flcfh,  and  to  the  ordinary 
courfe  of  traffic,  provided  for  poftcrity,  and  defpifed 
the  admonitions  of  that  righteous  man,  as  if  they 
were  in  no  manner  of  danger  ;  and  fo  they  lived  at  a 
carnal  and  riotous  rate,  till  the  very  day  on  which  he 
left  that  city,  and  God  poured  utter  deftruction  upon 
them  and  confumed  them  all,  by  a  dreadful  temped 
of  extraordinary  lightning  from  heaven.  Even  fo  the 
unbelieving  Jews  will  perfifl.  obllinately  in  the  pur- 
fuit  of  bulinefs  and  pleafure,  in  their  wicked  courfes, 
and  in  expectation  of  a  temporal  Saviour  ;  will  defpife 
all  the  warnings  which  I  and  my  apoltles  fhall  give 
them  :  And  will  continue  fo  to  do,  till  the  very  time 
that  my  righteous  fervants  (hall  be  hid  with  fafety, 
and  my  vengeance  fliall  come  with  jfudden  furprife  up- 
on mine  enemies,  by  the  hands  of  the  Romans,  to 
their  utter  deftru6lion  * . 

31,  32  When  an  army  therefore  fhall  come  to  be- 
fiege  Jerufalem,  whoever  would  be  fafe,  let  him  fly 
with  fuch  fpeed,  as,  if  he  be  on  the  top  of  his  houfe, 
not  to  go  into  it  ;  (fee  the  note  on  Matth.  xxiv.  17.) 
and  if  he  be  abroad  in  the  fields,  not  to  go  home,  to 
take  care  of  even  his  moil  valuable  treafure  there  : 
And  for  your  caution  againft  liankering  after  world- 
ly poiTefiions,  when  God  fhall  call  you  to  fly  for  your 
lives  from  among  the  people  of  his  wrath,  remem- 
ber how  Lot\  wife  was  deitroyed,  and  turned  into  a 
B  b  2  pillar 

NOTE. 

This  is  very  applicable  to  other  fin-  againft  all  counfel  and  reproof,  and  againft 
ners  in  all  ages,  and  particularly  at  the  all  warnings  of  death  and  judgment,  till, 
end  of  life  and  time  :  They  go  on  carelefs  to  their  great  conftemation,  Chrift  will 
and  fecure  in  the  worldly  and  fenfualtem-  fummon  them,  before  they  are  aware,  to 
per  of  their  hearts,  hardening  themfelves    appear  at  bjs  awful  tribunal. 


26  And  as  it 
was  in  the  days  of 
Noe,  fo  fliall  it  be 
alfo  in  the  days  of 
the  Son  -of  man. 

27  They  did  eat, 
they  drank,  they 
married  wives, 
they  were  given 
in  marriage,  un- 
til the  day  that 
Noe  entered  into 
the  ark  ;  and  the 
flood  came  and  de- 
ftroyed  them  all. 

2S  Likewife  al- 
fo, as  it  was  in  the 
days  of  Lot,  they 
did  eat,  they  drank, 
they  bought,  they 
fold,  tkey  planted, 
they  builded  : 

29  But  the  fame 
day  that  Lot  went 
out  of  Sodom,  it 
rained  fire  and 
brimftone  from 
heaven,  and  de- 
ftroyed  them  all. 

30  Even  thus 
fhall  it  be  in  the 
day  when  the  Son 
of  man  is  revealed. 

31  In  that  day, 
he  which  fliall  be 
upon  the  houfe-top, 
and  his  ftufT  in  the 
houfe,  let  him  not 
come  down  to  take 
it  away :  and  he 
that  is  in  the  field, 
let  him  likewife 
not    return    back. 

32  Remember 
Lot's  wife. 


184 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  xvii. 


33  Whofoever 
fliaJl  feek  to  faye 
his  life,  mall  lofe 
it :  and  whoioever 
fhall  lofe  his  life, 
?l»ail  prcferve  it. 


5b 

ihall 


pillar  of  fait,  as  a  monument  of  divine  vengeance,  on- 
ly for  lingering  and  looking  back  with  a  wifhful  eye 
upon  her  temporal  concerns  in  Sodomy  which  God 
had  marked  out  for  deftruction. 

33  In  like  manner,  whoever,  in  the  terrible  days 
I  am  fneaking  of,  mail  think  to  fecure  his  own  life, 
by  any  worldly  policy  in  difobedience  to  my  com- 
mands, by  giving  up  his  profeffion  of  my  name,  or 
by  hearkening  to  the  Jews,  and  finfully  complying 
with  them,  he  mall  certainly  fall  by  the  righteous 
judgment,  of  God  in  the  common  calamity  with  them : 
But  he  who,  notwithftanding  all  vifible  danger,  mail 
itedfaitly  adhere  to  me,  and  regard  the  notices  I  have 
given,  fhall  be  in  a  fair  way  of  efcaping  the  miferies 
of  that  dreadful  defolation,  and  mail  certainly  obtain 
everlafting  life. 

34,  35,  36  Ye  may  depend  upon  thefe  things  :  For 
I,  who  am  the  Amen,  the  faithful  and  true  Witnefs, 
affure  you,  that  in  the  darkeft  of  thefe  tribulations, 
diftinguifhing  acts  of  providence  and  grace  mail  ap- 
pear to  fome,  beyond  others,  who  may  be  equal  as 
to  their  vifible  danger  and  circumftances  in  life;  like 
two  men  in  the  fame  bed,  or  in  the  fame  field,  or 
like  two  women  grinding  together  at  the  fame  mill  ; 
God  will  then  feparate  the  precious  from  the  vile;  one 
mall  be  taken  into  his  peculiar  care  and  protection, 
and  the  other  fhall  be  left  to  perifli  in  the  common 
ruin  for  his  iniquities. 

37  Upon  hearing  thefe  things,  the  difciples  put 
the  following  queftion  to  him,  laying,  Lord,  where 
is  it  that  all  this  dtftruction  on  one  hand,  and  fafety 
on  the  other,  fhall  be' found  ?  And,  referring  to  the 
Roman  enfigns,  which  had  an  eagle  for  their  arms, 
he  replied,  Wherever  the  unbelieving  Jews  fhall  be, 
the  Roman  foldiers  will  purfue  them  to  their  deltruc- 
tion.  while  others  fhall  efcape.-  And  according  to 
a  proverbial  exprcfiion,  As  thofe  quick-fighted  birds 
gather  about  a  dead  carcafe  to  devour  it,  fo  the  judg- 
ments of  God  will  find  out  obftinate  fmncrs,  wher- 
ever they  are- ;  and  as  eagles  fly  fwiftly  to  their  prey, 
fo  wherever  Chrift,  the  Saviour,  is  to  be  found,  thi- 
ther will  true  believers  flock,  with  eager  defire  for 
their  fafety  and  refremment,  till  at  length  tliey  mall 
all  be  gathered  up  to  him  in  glory. 

RECOLLECTION  S. 

What  an  imperkil,  wretched  world  is  this !  How  full  of  fins  and  forrows,  dev- 
iations and  deaths,  of  irffidelirj  and  liccntiouinefs,  of  earthly  aft'eclions  and  ingrati- 
tude, and  o/ftupidity  and  contempt  of  Chrift's  word  and  warnings;  and  how  ex- 
;,ofed  to  fodder  furpriles  by  the  righteous  judgments  of  God  !  How  many  offensive 
pmd  injurious  things  are  found  among  the  profeflbrs  of  Chrift's  name,  to  the  griev- 
vimhlirg  of  fomc,  and  to  the  everlafting  ruin  of  others !  And  what  heavy 

woe: 


.  I  teil  yen,  In 
that]  night  there 
itiall  be  two  men 
in  one  bed  ;  the 
one  fhall  be  ta- 
ken, and  the  other 
fnall  be  left. 

Two  women 
be  grinding 
together ;  the  Gne 
fhall  be  taken,  and 
the  other  left. 

36  Two  mm 
fnall  be  in  the 
field;  the  one  fliall 
be  taken,  and  the 
other  left. 

37  And  they  an- 
fwered,  and  faid 
•unto  him,  Where, 
Lord  ?  And  he  laid 
unto  them,  "Where  - 
foever  the  body  is, 
thither  will  the  ea- 
gles be  gathered  to- 
gether. 


Chap,  xviii,  Luke  paraphrafed.  185 

woes  muft  fall  on  their  heads,  whofe  corrupt  principles  and  practices  are  the  occa- 
sions of  thefe  rmfchiefs  !  How  weak  is  the  faith  of  God's  own  people  ;  and  how 
hard  do  they  and  it  to  come  up  to  felf-denying  duties  '.  How  prone  are  they  to  of- 
fend God  and  one  another  !  How  backward  is  the  offender  to  repent,  and  the  of- 
fended brother  to  forgive  !  And  how  often  arc  Chnft's  difciples  mourning  the  want 
of  his  prefence,  which  fometimes  they  have  enjoyed,  and  fain  would  be  favoured 
with  again  !  O  may  the  jnifcarriages  of  others,  and  the  rebukes  and  miferies 
thereby  brought  upon  them,  be  a  cautio.r  to  us,  that  we  be  neither  ungrateful  to 
God  and  our  Saviour,  like  the  nine  lepers,  who  were  cleanfed  ;  nor  hanker  after 
this  world,  like  hof%  wife  ;  nor  defpile  divine  warnings,  fo  as  to  go  on  in  fin,  till 
death  and  judgment  furpiife  us,  like  the  old  world,  and  the  inhabitants  of  Sodom f 
and  like  the  Jeici/b  nation  !  Whit  need  ha\e  we,  under  a  i'enle  oi  our  own  vilenefs, 
to  cry  out  with  the  lepers,  Lord,  have  meicy  upon  us  ;  and,  with  a  dependence  on 
his  power  and  grace,  to  go  on  in  the  way  of  his  appointment  for  healing !  And,  under 
a  fenfe  of  all  difcouragements,  how  fhould  we  fay,  Lord,  ir.ueafe  our  faith  1  And 
after  the  utmoii  that  we  can  attain  to,  in  a  way  of  Quty,  what  low  thoughts  fliould 
we  have  of  ourielves  as  unprofitable  fervants  who  deierve  nothing  at  God's  hand  1 
And  what  honourable  thoughts  fhcuk:  we  ever  have  of  Jeius,  as  a  divine  perlon, 
and  the  true  Median,  who  is  the  author  and  fmifher  of  our  faith,  and  can  heal  and 
fave  wherever  we  are,  as  if  he  were  vifibly  prelent  with  us;  and  whofe* predic- 
tions have  been  punctually  fulfilled,  with  regaid  to  the  deftruction  of  the  infidel 
jfeuus,  and  the  fpreading,  like  lightning,  among  the  Gentiles,  that  kingdom  which 
is  of  a  fpiritual  nature,  and  does  not  come  with  obfervation,  but  lies  within  men's 
own  hearts  '.  And  whatfoever  we  may  luffer  from  men  for  Chrift's  fake,  all  our  fafe- 
ty  and  happinefs  lies  in  a  faithful  adherence  to  him,  who  is  tenderly  affected  to- 
ward the  weakelt  believers,  relents  the  injuries  and  griefs  that  are  brought  upon 
them,  and  will  diftinguifli  his  own,  and  gather  them  at  length  to  bimfelf  in 
heaven. 


CHAP.     XVIII. 

The  parable  of  the  importunate  widow,  I, — 8.  Of  the  Pharifee  and 
publican,  9, — 14.  Chrifl  s  kind  and  gracious  regard  to  infants^ 
15, — 17.  The  rich  ruler -j  coming  to  him,  and  ChriJPs  dijeourfc 
on  that  occajion  with  his  difciples,  lS, — 30.  His  prediction  of  his 
own  fttfferings,  death,  and  rejurreftion,  31, — 34.  And  refloring 
a  blind  man  to  fight,  35, — 43. 


Iext.  Paraphrase 

AND  he  il)ake  a      A  S  PraYer  is  the  duty  of  allj  and  believers  are  a 

nsr^h  p      initio       /   »  ■*■       y  j  * 

them,  to  this  end  generation  that  feek  G  a\\  face,  our  Lord  in- 

that  men  ought  at-    timated,   that  they  ought  daily  to  go  on  with  perfc- 

ways  to  pray,  and    verance  in  that  duty,  and  not  give  way  to  defpond- 

not  to  faint ;  ency,  becaule  of  any  prefent   troubles,    or    becaufe 

their  prayers  are  not  immediately  anfwered  :  And, 

to  ftir  up  a  holy  fervour  and  constancy  therein,  he 

reprefented  the  happy  fuccefs  of  importunity  in  the 

following  fimilitude  : 

2  Saymg,  There         2    There    was,    faid  he,    an  unrighteous,   wicked 

^5!r-U1   1*   wy  a    magiftrate  in  a  certain  city,  who  had  no  confeience 

judge,  which  fear-  V  ...  J '        .      _.     , 

ed  not  God     nei-    or  nonour>   no  religion  toward    God,    nor    concern 

ther  regarded  man:    for  his  own  reputation  among  men,    no    regard    to 

right  or  wrong,  but  only  to  his  own  paflions  ;  and 

therefore  little  juilice  or  mercy  could  be  expected 

from  him. 

3  And 


i86 

3  And  there  was 
a  widow  in  that 
citv,  and  flie  came 
unto  him,  faying, 
Avenge  me  of  mine 
adverfary. 


4  And  he  would 
not  for  a  while  : 
but  afterward  he 
faid  within  him- 
felf,  Though  I  fear 
•not  God,    nor  re- 


Tbe  Evangelift 


Chap,  xviil. 


gard  man ; 


5  Yet  becaufe 
this  widow  trou- 
ble th  me,  I  will  a- 
venge  her,  left  by 
lier  continual  co- 
ming flie  xveary 
mc. 

6  And  the  Lord 
faid,  Hear  what 
the  unjuft  judge 
faith. 


7  And  fliall  not 
God  avenge  his 
own  elect,  which 
cry  day  and  night 
unto  him,  though 
he  bear  long  with 
them  ? 


8  I  tell  you  that 
lie  will  avenge 
themfpeedily.  Ne- 
verthelefs,  when 
the  Son  of  man 
cometh,  fliall  he 
find  faith  on  the 
earth  ? 


3  And  in  the  fame  city,  which  was  under  the  ju- 
risdiction of  this  rhagiflrate,  there  was  a  certain  poor 
widow,  who  being  oppreffed  by  a  powerful  enemy, 
and  having  no  other  way  of  relief,  was  forced  to  ap- 
ply to  him,  begging  that  he  would  plead  her  caufe, 
and  do  her  juftice,  as,  by  his  office,  he  was  able  and 
obliged  to  do. 

4  And,  for  a  while,  he  took  no  notice  of  her  pe- 
tition, hardened  his  heart  againft  her  miferies,  turned 
a  deaf  ear  to  her  earneft  cries,  and  would  do  nothing 
to  redrefs  her  grievance  :  But  fhe  continuing  time 
after  time,  to  follow  him  with  importunate  entrea- 
ties ;  and  taking  no  denial,  he  at  length  thought 
with  himfelf,  Though  I  have  no  regard  to  confer- 
ence or  honelly,  to  the  fear  or  favour  of  God,  or  to 
the  reproaches  or  applaufes  of  men, 

5  Yet,  for  mine  own  eafe  and  quiet's  fake,  I  will 
do  her  juftice,  and  deliver  her  out  of  the  hands  of 
her  cruel  adverfary  j  left  I  mould  be  perpetually  teiz- 
ed,  and  have  no  reft  at  home  or  abroad,  by  reafon  of 
her  repeated  prefling  importunity  ;  and  fo,  to  get  rid 
of  her,   he  granted  her  requeft. 

6  Obferve,  faid  our  Lord,  how  even  this  hard- 
hearted, unrighteous,  and  unmerciful  creature  owns 
himfelf  to  be  perfectly  overcome  by  the  earneft  and 
continued  entreaties  of  this  poor  woman,  and  how 
he  refolved  to  efpoufe  her  caufe  againft  her  oppreflbr, 
though  he  had  no  value  for  her,  or  concern  for  her 
miferies. 

7  How  much  more  then  will  the  holy  and  graci- 
ous God,  who  has  ftiled  himfelf  a  God  hearing  pray- 
er, and  delights  in  mercy,  attend  to  the  cries  of  them 
that  call  upon  him,  and  arife  for  the  fuccour  and  fal- 
vation  of  his  own  chofen  people,  whom  he  loves,  and 
whofe  concerns  lie  near  his  heart  ?  Can  ye  think 
that  he  will  not  do  this,  when  they  are  in  any  tem- 
poral or  fpiritual  trouble,  and  when,  according  to  his 
own  appointment,  and  their  duty,  they  wreftle  with 
him  in  their  continual  prayers,  though  for  wife  ends 
he  may  exercife  forbearance  toward  their  enemies, 
and  may  try  his  people's  patience,  by  deferring  his 
vindication  of  their  righteous  caufe  to  the  fitteit  fea- 
fon? 

8  I  aflure  you,  that  ere  long  he  will  hear  and  de- 
liver them  :  His  companionate  nature  and  will,  his 
affe&ion  and  promifes  to  them,  and  peculiar  propriety 
in  them,  his  juft  vengeance  againft  their  enemies,  and 
righteous  regard  to  their  higk-prieft  and  advocate,  the 
glory  of  his  own  name,  and  the  intereft  he  himfelf  has 
in  their  caufe  as  his  own,  and  his  delight  in  their  be- 
lieving and  fervent  prayers,  will  certainly  engage  him 

to 


Chap,  xviii. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


187 


that  they  were 
righteous,  and  de- 
lpifed  others : 


to  hear  and  anfwer  them  in  due  feafon.  But, 
notwithflanding  all  this,  whenever  the  time  mail  be 
at  hand,  in  which  Chrift  will  remarkably  appear  a- 
gainft  their  perfecuting  enemies  in  this  age  among 
the  Jews,  or  in  any  after-ages  among  the  Gentiles, 
and  in  which  he  fhall-come  to  execute  judgment  upon 
all  the  wicked  and  ungodly,  and  to  fave  his  elecl:  at 
the  laft  day,  how  few  true  believers  and  faithful  men 
will  then  be  found  on  the  earth  ?  how  few  that  have 
any  faith  in  him,  and  particularly  concerning  his  com- 
ing ?  and  among  iincere  Chriilians  themfelves,  how 
few  will  be  found  in  a  lively  exercife  of  faith,  pray- 
ing with  holy  importunity  and  continuance  for  it  ? 
9  And  he  fpake  9  Our  Saviour  having  encouraged  and  enforced  the 
this  parable  unto  duty  of  importunity  and  perfeverance  in  prayer,  pro- 
certain  which  truft-  ceeJed,  in  another  fuppofed  inftance,  to  caution  a- 
gainft  a  felf-righteous  pharifaical  fpirit,  which  mud 
be  renounced,  and  to  recommend  humility  and  felf- 
abafement,  which  mult  have  a  place  in  the  heart,  if 
ever  we  find  acceptance  of  our  perfons  and  prayers  : 
And  he  directed  this  difcourfe  to  a  fet  of  people, 
who,  like  the  Pharifees,  had  high  confidence  in  their 
own  merit,  and  made  this  their  great  plea  with  God 
for  acceptance,  and  who  looked  with  contempt  and 
difdain  upon  others,  as  not  worthy  to  be  regarded  of 
God,  or  compared  with  themfelves. 

10  To  illullrate  this  delign  he  faid,    Two  men  0/ 
very  different  characters  went  up  *,  at  the  fame  time, 

temple  topray;  the  tQ  fent  thejr  prayers  to  God  in  the  temple,  one  of 
•ne  a  rhantee,  and     .    r  ■,    r -ic  1  m       -r  1  n 

the  other  a  publi-  them  w^s  a  proud,  ielr-conceited  rbari/ee,  who  trail- 
ed in  his  own  righteoufnefs  to  recommend  him  to  di- 
vine acceptance  ;  and  the  other  was  a  poor,  humble, 
penitent,  felf-condemned  publican,  who  had  an  af- 
fecting fenfe  of  his  own  guilt  and  viienefs,  and  of  his 
abfolute  need  of  pardoning  mercy. 

1 1  The  Pharifce  flood  by  himfelf,  with  great  for- 
mality, in  a  place  where  he   might  be   taken  mofl 

notice  of,  and  made  his  addrefs  after  this  lofty  and 
ielr,  Uoct,   I  thank  r     .  ...  «    «     ,       .    ; 

thee  that  I  am  not   cenionous  manner,   1  thank  thee,   (J   Lrod,  thou  au- 

as  other  men  are,  thor  of  my  being,  for  the  noble  powers  with  which 
extortioners,  un-  thou  haft  endowed  me,  by  my  own  wife  and  careful 
iuft,  adulterers,  or  improvement  of  which,  I  have  kept  mvfclf  from  be- 
even  as  this  pubh-  -r  •  1  j  j  •  r  •  V;  ,  \  4.1.  a 
caT1<  mg  io  wicked  and  irreligious,   as   (o<  XoiTTui)  the  relt 

of  the  world.  I  am  no  cruel  opprefibr,  no  knave  or 
cheat,  no  adulterous  or  unclean  perfon  ;  nor  am  I 
guilty  of  any  of  the  vices  which,  in  particular,  yonder 

poor 
NOTE. 
i  The  temple  ftood  upon  mount  Mo-    the  appointed  place,  but  likcwifethe  me- 
riah ;  and  it  was  ufual  for  the  people  of   dium  of  acceptable  woriliip,  as  it  was  a 
God  to  go  up  thither,  and  offer  up  their    type  of  Chrift. 
prayers  there,   becauie  it  was  not  only 


10    Two    men 
went  up  into  the 


can 


11    The  Phari 

fee  ftood  and  pray 
ed  thus  with  him 


i38 


The  Evangelift 


Chap,  xviii. 


poor  defpicable  wretch,  the  publican,  has  doubtlefs 
committed  ;  none  of  all  this  iniquity  is  found  with 
me. 

1 2  But  I  am  a  perfon  of  more  than  ordinary  piety 
and  holinefs  ;  I  keep  a  folemn  faft  two  days  in  every 
week  ;  and  I  devote  the  tenth  part  of  all  my  world- 
ly pofteffions  to  religious  ufes,  whether  they  be  tith- 
able  by  the  law  or  not. 

1 3  On  the  other  hand,  the  poor  publican,  like  a 
truly  humble  and  contrite  penitent,  flood  at  a  great 
diilance  from  the  holy  of  holies,  as  unworthy  to  draw 
nearer,  and  as  deferving,  that  God  fhould  for  ever 
behold  him  afar  off  ;  yea,  fo  deep  was  the  fenfe  he 
had  of  his  own  vilenefs,  that  he  feared  it  would  be 
prefumptuous  for  him  to  lift  up  fo  much  as  his  eyes 
to  the  habitation  of  God's  glory  in  heaven  ;  but, 
looking  downward  with  deje&ion,  he  beat  his  breaft, 
as  if  he  would  take  revenge  upon  his  own  wicked 
heart,  and  cried  out  with  great  earneitnefs,  O  thou 
God  of  all  grace,  mercy,  and  not  merit,  is  my  plea, 
I  molt  humbly  befeech  thee  to  be  propitious  to  me, 
(tXct<r&v)Tt  /u,oi)  a  poor  perifhing  fmner,  as  thou  fheweft 
thyfelf  to  be  unto  fuch,  by  the  atoning  facrifices  of- 
fered at  this  place,  and  by  the  mercy-feat  here. 

14  Then  our  Lord  added,  I  afTure  you,  that,  what- 
foever  opinion  thefe  two  men  feverally  had  of  them- 
felves,  or  others  might  have  concerning  them,  the 
humble,  felf-abafing,  penitent,  and  believing  publican 

for  every  one  that   returned  home  difcharpfed  from  guilt  and  condemna- 


12  I  faft  twice 
in  the  week,  I  give 
tithes  of  all  that  I 
j)offefs. 


13  And  the  pub- 
lican, Handing  a- 
far  off,  would  not 
lift  up  fo  much  as 
his  eyes  unto  hea- 
ven, but  fmote  up- 
on his  breaft,  fay- 
ing, God  be  mer- 
ciful to  me. a  tin- 
ner. 


*4 

This 

down 
juftilied 
than     the 


I    tell  you, 

man     went 

to  his  houfe 

rather 

other  : 


exalteth 

fhall  be  abafed  j 
and  he  that  hum- 
bleth  himfelf  fhall 
be  exalted. 


[   tion,  and  accepted  of  God,  and  not  *   the  proud  felf- 


juftifying  Pharifec  :  For  whofoever  is  righteous  in 
his  own  eyes,  or  conceited  of  his  own  goodnefs  to 
the  contempt  of  others,  and  expefts  that  God  mould 
accept  hkn  on  account  of  any  merit  in  himfelf,  fhall 
be  rightcoufly  brought  low,  to  his  utter  confufion  and 
ruin  ;  but  every  one  who  is  felf-diffident,  mean, 
worthlefs,  and  vile  in  his  own  eyes,  depending  en- 
tirely on  the  mercy  of  God  for  pardon  and  accept- 
ance, as  he  has  difcovered  himfelf  to  be  propitious  to 
fmners  through  an  atonement,  mail  be  gracioufly  ad- 
vaneed  to  endlefs  glory. 
15    And     they        j^  After  this,  fome  of  the  believing  Jews,  who 

brought  unto  him  conccrned  for  their  childrens  happinefs  as  well 

alio    infants,    that  ,    ,  ,  ,      .,  .  .    ,   rr.       .     . 

he    would    touch    as  their  own,  brought  (r«/3^»)  babes  in  their  arms, 

them  :    but  when    and  prefented  them  to  Chrift,  defiling  that  he  would 

bis   lay  his  hands  upon  them,   as  a  fignal  of  his  owning 

them, 


N    O 
*  Rather  than,  feems  from  what  fol- 
lows to  be  put  for  not;  as  rather  is  ufed 
in  the  pofitive,  inftead  of  the  compara- 
tive fenfe,  Epb.  iv.  2S.  and  v.  4,  11.  and 


T    E. 

the  particle  («)  is  put  for  (,ua\M>v  *)  in 
this  evangelift,  chap.  xv.  7.  and  in  1  Cor 
xiv.  19. 


Chap,  xviii. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


189 


Wj  difciples  faw  it,   them,   and  conveying  the  bleffings  of  his  kingdom  to 

they  rebuked  them.    them>   (fee  the  note  on  Mark  x.  13.)  according  to  a 

famous  prophecy  of  the  Meffiah's  days,    that  God 

would  pour  his  Spirit  upon  their  feed >  and  his-  b/efs- 

ing  upon  their  offspring.    (Ifa.   xliv.    3.)     But  when 

his  difciples  obferved  their  attempt,  they  (hewed  a 

difpleafure  at  it,    and  went  about  to  prevent  them, 

left  it  mould  lead  the  way  to  a  pradice,  that  might 

be  too  fatiguing  to  their  Lord,   and  prevent  what 

they  took  to  be  more  important  work. 

i6ButJefuscall-        16  But  Jefus,  to  mew  his  favour  to  the  infants, 

ed  them  unto  him,    and  encourage  thofe  that  brought  them,   fetid  to   the 

and  laid,  Softer  lit-    ^  .   ,  fi       „  {       the   ^fe   chjldren   comc 

tie  children  to  come    vpv  r  v  >    ~ )  ,    ,  , 

unto  me,  and  for-   unto  me,  that  I  may  bids  them  ;  and  do  not  do  any 

bid  them  not :   for   thing  to  hinder  or  difcourage  it  :   For  the  gofpel-dii- 

of  fuch  is  the  king-   penfation  is  not  defigned  to  exclude  them  from  God's 

dom  of  God.  covenant  .  but  fuch  as  thefe,  as  well  as  adult  perfons, 

are  to  be  deemed  fubjeds  of  the  Meffiah's  kingdom. 

(See  the  note  on  Matth.  xix.  14.)   { 

1 7   Hereupon,  to  rebuke  his  difciples  for  their  rafli 

and  haughty  zeal,  and  to  improve  this  occurrence  to 

fpiritual  advantage,  he  added,   I  folemnly  affure  you, 

that  no  man,  who  does  not  receive  the  things  of  the 

child,  (hall  in  no   gofpel,  with  a  teachablenefs  and  meeknefs,  humility 

wife  enter  therein.    and  iimplicity  of  fpirit,    and  with  a  childlike  fubjec- 

tion  to  mine  authority,  mail  ever  enjoy  its  bleiiings 

of  grace  here,  and  of  glory  hereafter. 

1 3  And  a  cer-        ^8   As  Chrill  was  going  from  this   place,    there 

tain    ruler     afked    met  }lun  a  certa;n  young  man,    [Matth.   xix.    20.)    a 

him.  faymg   Good  f         f  dillI   ftion  and  authority  among  the   Jews, 

Mafter,  what  ihall    r  J  °      w  ,    ,     1 

I  do  to  inherit  c-    who,  falling  upon  his  knees,.  [Mark  x.  17. J   laluted 

him  under  the  title  of  Good  Mailer  *  ;  and,  with 
thefe  tokens  of  fuperior  reverence,  afked,  by  what 
works  of  righteouinefs  he  might  obtain  everlafting 
life  ? 

1 9  Jefus  replied,  by  way  of  reproof,  What  means 
laid  unto  him,  this  high  fwelling  title  to  one  whom  you  take  to  be 
Why   called    thou    ^     ^  tban  a  man    ?    It  -    God  Qnl       who  ;s  ftrJ&- 

me  good  ?   none  is    .  .  ,     r       ,  .  1     .»         \    •  '      • 

oood  lavtone,  that   h\  and  properly  fpeaKmg  good,  there  being  none  on- 


17  Verily,  I  fay 
unto  you,  Whoio- 
cver  mail  not  re- 
ceive the  kingdom 
of  God  as  a  little 


ternal  life  ? 


19    And    Jefus 


ginally,  ablblutely,  and  perfectly  good  beiides  him  ; 
and  therefore,  unjefs  you  believe  me  to  be  God,  you 
go  too  far  in  applying  febie  epithet,  with  io  much  re- 
verence, and  in  fuch  an  abfolutej  urireferved  manner 
to  me. 

20  Then  our  Lord,  without  taking  any  notice 
whether  he  himfelf  were  God  or  not,  proceeded  to 
the  queilion,  faving,   If  you  would  get  eternal  life 

by 

NOTE. 

*  This  the  ambitious  rabbies  of  that  age  arfecled  to  be  honoured  with  ;  but, 
as  fome  fuppofe,  it  was  an  higher  title  than  uied  to  be  give?,  even  to  the  more 
celebrated  among  them. 

Vol.  II.  Cc 


it,  God. 


20  Thou  know- 

elt  the   command- 
ments,     Do      not 
commit 


190 


The  Evangeli/l 


Chap,  xviii. 


commit 

Do   not 

not  Ileal,    Do   not 

bear  falfe  witnefs, 

Honour  thy  father 

and  thy  mother. 


adultery,  by  your  own  performances,  you  know  what  God  in 
'  the  law  has  commanded  them  to  do,  who  would  live 
by  it  :  As  for  inftance,  thou  malt  not  commit  adul- 
tery, nor  be  guilty  of  any  kind  of  uncleannefs  ;  thou 
fhalt  not  injure  any  one's  life,  or  reputation  ;  thou 
fhalt  not  rob,  or  cheat  him  of  his  property  j  thou 
fhalt  not  tell  untruths,  or  give  into  falfe  reports  or  ac- 
cufations  againft  any  one  wrhatfoever  ;  thou  (halt  pay 
all  due  reverence  and  honour  to  thy  parents  and  fu- 
periors*,  and  the  like. 

21  The  young  man,  having  been  of  a  fober  and  re- 
gular behaviour,  but  ignorant  of  the  exceeding  ftrift- 
tiept  from  my  youth  nefs  an(j  fph-Jtuality  of  God's  law,  as  extending  to 
the  heart  as  well  as  life,  faid,  I  have  always  punctu- 
ally fulfilled  every  one  of  thefe  commands  from  my 
childhood  to  this  very  day ;  furely  then  I  mull  be 
fafe  for  heaven,  there  is  no  flaw  in  my  title  to  it. 

2  2  Now  when  Jefus  heard  this  anfwer,  he,  to  con- 
vince him  that  he  was  far  from  being  perfect,  repli- 
ed, You  are  neverthelefs  deficient  in  one  thing,  viz. 
hearty  love  to  God  and  your  neighbour,  which  the 
law  requires,  as  the  main  principle  of  all  obedience  1 
And,  for  your  trial  in  this,  I  infill  upon  your  going 
and  felling  all  your  eilate,  and  giving  the  money  a- 
way  for  the  relief  of  poor  diftrefied  objects  ;  and 
follow  if  you  cheerfully  fubmit  only  to  this  one  proof  of  your 
love,  I  tell  you,  for  your  encouragement,  that,  inftead 
of  earthly  treafure,  you  fhall  have  an  heavenly  one  : 
And  when  you  have  done  this,  come  again,  and  give 
up  yourfelf  to  me,  as  my  difciple  and  fervant,  and  I 
will  further  inftrudl  you  in  the  fure  way  to  everlaft- 
ing  life.      (See  the  note  on  Mattk.  xix.  17.) 

23  At  this  he  was  forely  difappointed  ;  and  as  he 
was  really  deflitute  of  a  governing  principle  of  love 
to  God,  and  to  them  who  needed  help,  he  went  a- 
way  from  the  only  Saviour,  much  troubled  in  him- 
felf  to  think  that  he  mufl  lofe  a  treafure  in  heaven, 
becaufe  he  could  not  confent  to  part  with  all  his 
temporal  enjoyments,  in  profpec"l  of  it :  For  he  had 
great  pofTefiions,  which  he  refolved  not  to  quit, 
whatfoever  might  be  the  confequence. 

24  Our  Lord  Jefus  obferving  what  a  fnare  this  rich 
man's  eflate  was  to  him,  took  that  occafion  to  caution 
his  difciples  [Mark  x.  23.)  againft  an  inordinate  love 
of  this  world,  faying,  How  hard  a  matter  is  it  for 
fuch  as  are  in  affluent  circumftances,  and  are  fond  of 


21   And  he  fald, 
All    thefe   have   I 


up 


22  Now,  when 
Jefus  heard  thefe 
things,  he  faid  un- 
to him,  Yet  lack- 
eft  thou  one  thing ; 
fell  all  that  thou 
haft,  and  diftiibute 
unto  the  poor,  and 
thou  fhalt  have 
treafure  in  heaven 
and  come, 
me. 


23  And  when 
he  heard  this  he 
was  very  Sorrow- 
ful :  for  he  was  ve- 
ry rich. 


24  And  when 
Jefus  faw  that  he 
was  very  forrowful, 
he  faid,  How  hard- 
ly fhall  they  that 
have  riches  enter 
into  the  kingdom 
of  God  1 


them, 


to  fubmit  to  the  felf-denial  that  is  ncceffary  to 

my 
N    O    T    E. 
*  Chrirt  inftanced  only  in  thefe  duties  of  the  fecond  table,  that  he  might  con- 
vince the  ruler  of  his  defect  even  in  them,  and  fo  might  fliew  him  that  be  was  fa* 
from  having  duly  kept  the  whole  law. 


Chap,  xviii. 


25  For  it  is  ea- 
fier  for  a  camel  to 
go  through  a  nee- 
dles eye,  than  for 
a  rich  man  to  enter 
into  the  kingdom 
of  God. 


26  And  they  that 
heard  it  laid,  Who 
then  can  be  laved? 


Luke  paraphrafed.  191 

my  difciples,    when  their  temporal  enjoyments  ftand 
in  competition  with  the  bleffings  of  grace  and  glory ! 

25  For  fuch  is  the  deceitfulnefs  of  riches,  and 
fuch  the  natural  addi&ednefs  of  mens  hearts  to  them, 
and  fo  many  are  the  temptations  and  incumbrances 
which  attend  them,  that  hardly  any  thing  can  be 
imagined  fo  difficult,  no,  not  for  a  camel  to  pafs 
through  the  eye  of  a  needle,  as  for  a  man  of  a  great 
eftate,  whofe  heart  is  fet  upon  it,  to  be  willing  to  re- 
fign  it  for  the  bleffings  of  my  kingdom,  or  to  be  fo 
weaned  in  his  affe&ions  from  it,  as  is  necefTary  for 
one  of  my  difciples  to  be,  in  profpedt  of  an  eternal  in- 
heritance.    (See  the  note  on  Matth.  xix.  24.) 

26  When  the  difciples  heard  him  fpeak  after  this 
manner,  they  were  greatly  amazed  to  think,  what  a 
fad  condition  the  affection  of  moil  mens  hearts  to  this 
world  has  brought  them  into,  and  what  a  difappoint- 
ment  they  themfelves  mull  meet  with,  who  expected 

'that  in  the  Meffiah's  kingdom  they  fhould  abound  in 
riches  ;  and  thereupon  they  cried  out,  If  this  be  fuch 
a  bar  to  good  hopes  of  eternal  life,  who  among  man- 
kind can  ever  be  faved  ?  And  what  fuccefs  can  we 
expect  in  the  miniftry  to  which  thou  haft  called  us  ? 

27  Our  Lord  replied,  It  is  indeed  impoffible  for 
any  man,    by  his  own  ftrength,    or  by  any  natural 

^offible  PrInc'ples  w^hin  himfelf,  to  get  the  maftery  over  his 
worldly  affections,  and  to  become  fo  dead  to  the  al- 
lurements of  this  prelent  fmful  life,  as  to  prefer  fu- 
ture and  invifible  things  to  them,  and  be  willing  to 
part  with  them,  whenever  I  call  him  to  refign  them : 
But  all  this  may  eafily  be  done  by  the  power  of  God's 
almighty  grace,  which,  accompanying  my  gofpel, 
works  effectually  in  them  that  believe. 
2S    Then  Peter        28    Then  Peter,    reflecting  upon  what  he  and  the 

/aid,  Lo,  we  have  reft  0f  the  difciples  had  done,  when  Chrift  firft  called 
them,  faid,  with  a  mixture  of  humility  and  pride, 
Behold,  Lord,  how  readily  we,  thy  difciples,  have,  by 
the  power  of  this  grace,  at  thy  command,  and  for 
thy  fake,  given  up  our  trade,  friends,  and  relations, 
together  with  the  belt  accommodations  and  advanta- 
ges of  life,  which  we  enjoyed  !  and  as  thou  tellell  us, 
that  abundance  of  wealth  and  temporal  poflefijOTis  is 
fo  far  from  going  into  the  bleffings  of  thy  kingdom, 
as  to  be  a  hindrance  to  perfons  enjoying  them  ;  what 
may  we  expect  from  thee  in  this  world  and  the  next  ? 
29  And  he  faid         29,  30    To  this  our  Lord  replied,    I   foltmnly  af- 

utito  them,  Verily,   fure  vou>  that  no  one  mall  be  a  lofer  by  me  :    Whe- 

Thire  is  "no   S    ther  a  man  haVe  m°re  °r  kfs   °f  tUe   g°°d  ^P   $" 
that  hath  left  houfe    tnis  world,  if  he  lofes  his  temporal  poffeffions^  or  his 

or  parents,  or  bre-   neareft  and  deareft  friends  and  relations,    and  is  will- 

thren,  or  wife,  or   ing  to  forfake  and  give  them  all  up,    rather  than  a- 

chil-  C  c  2  bandon 


27  And  he  faid, 
The  things  which 
are  impoffible  with 
men,  are 
with  God. 


left  all,  and  follow 
ed  thee 


192 


The  Evangeltjl 


Chap,  xviif. 


children,  for  the 
kingdom  of  God's 
lake, 

30  Who  fhall 
not  receive  mani- 
fold more  in  this 
pre  lent  time,  and 
in  the  world  to 
come  life  everlast- 
ing. 

31  Then  he  took 
unto  him  the 
twelve,  and  faid 
unto  them,  Be- 
h'old,  we  go  Dp  to 
Jerufalem,  and  all 
things  that  are 
written  by  the  pro- 
phets concerning 
the  Son  of  man, 
*ha!l  be  accom- 
rliihed. 


3;  For  he  fhall 
,be  delivered  unto 
the  Gentiles,  and 
fhall  be  mocked, 
and  fpitefully  en- 
treated, and  fpit- 
ted  on  : 


33  And  they 
fliaH  fcourge  him, 
and  put  him  to 
death  :  and  the 
third  day  he  fhall 
vile  again. 


34  And  they  un- 
der/rood none  of 
thefe  thjngs  :  and 
ih;s  faying-1  was 
hid  from  th(  m, 
neither  knew  rl  ey 
the  things  which 
fpoken. 


bandon  me  and  my  caufe,  and  his  hopes  of  the  blefs- 
ings  of  my  kingdom  ;  he  fhall,  even  in  this  prefent 
life,  have  more  valuable  friends,  whofe  hearts  will  be 
inclined  to  pity,  favour,  and  affift  him;  and  (hall  have 
infinitely  better  fupports  and  joys,  and  more  content- 
ment of  fpirit  in  his  circumstances,  than  he  ever  had 
before  ;  and  in  the  other  world  he  (hall  pofiefs  the  ut- 
mofl  glory  and  bleffednefs  without  interruption  or  end. 

3 1  Chrift,  being  now  on  the  journey  that  would 
iffue  in  his  death,  took  the  twelve  apoflles  afide  from 
the  company,  and  told  them  .what  would  very  foon 
befal  him,  that  they  might  not  be  furprifed  and  dif- 
couraged  when  they  fhould  fee  it  come  to  pafs  :  Ob- 
ferve,  fays  he,  what  I  am  about  to  tell  you,  we  are 
now  going  up  to  Jerufalqrn,  and  this  is  the  time  in 
which,  all  thofe  things  fhall  be  fulfilled  in  me,  that 
have  been  foretold  by  the  ancient  prophets  concerning 
rav  fufferings,  and  the  glory  that  is  to  follow  them  ; 
the  word  of  God  mult  be  herein  fulfilled,  which  will 
be  a  clear  and  certain  proof  that  I  am  indeed  the  true 
Meffiah. ' 

32  For  as  it  was  prophefied,  that  kings  and  ru- 
lers fhould  take  counfel  together  againit  him,  (Pfal. 
ii.  2.)  that  he  mould  be  a  reproach  of  men,  defpi- 
fed  of  the  people,  and  laughed  to  fcorn,  [Pjal. 
xxii.  6,  7.)  and  that  he  would  not  hide  his  face  from 
fhame  and  fpitting.  (If a.  %  6.)  So  I  fhall  be  delivered 
into  the  hands  of  the  Romans,  fhall  be  fummoned  be- 
fore their  tribunal,  and  be  derided,  intuited,  and  a- 
bufed  by  their  foldiers,  and  they  will  fpit  upon  me 
with  contempt  and  difdain. 

33  And  as  it  was  foretold  that  the  Meffiah  fhould 
give  his  back  to  the  fmiters,  and  his  cheeks  to  them 
that  pluck  off  the  hair  ;  {I/a.  1.  6.)  that  he  fhould  be 
cut  off,  but  not  for  himfelf ;  (Dan.  ix.  26.)  and  that 
God  his  Father  would  not  leave  his  foul  in  a  feparatc 
ftatc,  nor  fuffer  his  holy  One  to  fee  corruption. 
(Pfa/.  xvi.  10.)  So  mine  enemies  will  lay  me  under 
the  lafh,  as  if  I  were  a  contemptible  wretch,  and  put 
mc  to  the  moil  cruel  and  ignominious  death,  even 
that  of  the  crofs  ;  (fee  the  note  on  Malth.  xxvii.  26.) 
and  on  the  third  day  I  fhall  break  through  the  bands 
of  death,  by  riling  again. 

34  He  fpoke  thefe  things  in  the  plained  manner 
pofllble  ;  and  yet  the  difciples  heads  were  fo  filled 
with  notions  of  the  temporal  grandeur  of  his  kingdom, 
that  thev  could  not  tell  how  to  understand  his  re- 
proaches, fufferings,  and  death,  in  a  literal  fenfe, 
v.ov  what  to  make  ot  his  riling  from  the  dead  ;  but 
thought  fome  other  unknown  construction  mufl  be 
put  upon  all  thefe  words. 

35  As 


Chap,  xviik 

35  And  it  came 
to  pafs,  that,  as  he 
was  come  nigh  un- 
to Jericho,  a  cer- 
tain blind  man  fat 
by  the  way-fide 
begging  : 

36  And  hearing 
the  multitude  pafs 
by,  he  afked  what 
it  meant. 


37  And  they  told 
him  that  Jefus  of 
Nazareth     pafleth 

38  And  he  cried, 
faying,  Jefus,  thou 
lbn  of  David,  have 
mercy  on  me. 


39  And  they 
which  went  before 
rebuked  him,  that 
he  fiiouM  hold  his 
peace  :  but  he  cri- 
ed fo  much  the 
more,  Thou  fon  of 
David,  have  mercy 
on  me. 

40  And  Jefus 
ftood,  and  com- 
manded him  to  be 
brought  unto  him  : 
and  when  he  was 
come  near  he  afk- 
ed him, 

41  Saying,  "What 
wilt  thou  that  I 
fliall  do  unto  thee  ? 
And  he  faid,  Lord, 
that  I  may  receive 
my  fight. 

42    And    Jefus 
laid  unto  him,  Re- 
ceive 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


*93 


35  As  Jefus  was  pafiing  along,  Providence  fo  or- 
dered it,  that,  when  he  was  near  Jericho,  he  met 
with  a  noted  blind  beggar  *,  who  being  poor,  and 
unable  to  get  his  livelihood,  fat  by  the  fide  of  the 
road,  as  beggars  ufe  to  do  in  public  places,  to  aflc 
the  charity  of  the  people  : 

36  And  when  he  heard  the  noife  of  the  great 
company  that  went  along  with  our  Lord,  his  curi- 
ofity,  or  his  hopes  of  fome  advantage,  put  him  upon 
inquiring  what  might  be  the  occafion  of  fuch  a  great 
concourle. 

37  And  fome  of  the  company  informed  him  that 
Jefus  of  Nazareth  was  there,  and  that  all  this  mul- 
titude was  going  along  with  him. 

38  Upon  which,  being  defirous  of  a  cure,  he  lift- 
ed up  his  voice,  laying,  with  great  earneftneis,  Lord 
Jefus,  as  I  believe  thee  to  be  the  promifed  Mefliah. 
of  David's  race,  who  art  fent  of  God  for  the  falva- 
tion  of  Ifrae/,  I  befeech  thee  to  have  cempaflion  up- 
on me,  who  need  thy  help. 

39  And  fome  of  thofe,  who  went  in  the  foremoM: 
part  of  the  crowd,  reprimanded  him  for  it,  bidding 
hin^  be  quiet,  and  .not  teaze  Chriil  with  his  clamour 
now  upon  his  journey  :  Eut,  inilead  of  being  re- 
il  rained  by  their  chidings,  he  cried  out  with  fo  muck 
the    more    importunity,    O  thou  Meffiah,    who  art 

"raifed  up  in  the  houfe  of  David,  I  beg  that  thou 
wouldll  hear,  and  have  pity  upon  me. 

40,  41  Then  Jefus  fee'ng  his  faith,  and  being  full 
of  mercy  and  tendernefs  toward  him,  whilll  others 
checked,  difcouraged,  and  defpifed  him,  made  a 
Hand,  and  ordered  the  people  to  bring  this  poor  crea- 
ture to  him  :  And  upon  his  coming  near,  he,  for 
the  further  trial  of  his  faith,  and  more  diftinct  noti- 
fication of  his  own  goodnefs  in  giving ,  him  the  very 
thing  he  wanted,  afked  him  what  the  particular  mer- 
cy was  which  he  fo  earneftly  begged  ?  The  blind  man 
prefently  replied,  Lord,  it  is  not  for  an  alms,  but 
that  thou  wouldll  pleafe  to  open  mine  eyes. 

42  And  Jefus,  approving  of  his  faith  and  his 
choice,  faid  to  him,    I  command  that  your  fight  be 

reitored : 


N  O 
*  Matthew  xx.  30,  34.  fpeaks  of  two 
blind  men,  that  were  cured,  and  Mark 
x.  46.  tells  us  the  name  of  one  of  them 
was  teartimevs.  Here,  and  in  our evan- 
gelift,  notice  is  taken  only  of  this  one, 
becaufe  he  was  the  molt  noted  beggar. 
Matthew  and  Mark  fay  Chriil  wrought 
this  miracle,  as  he  went  out,  or  depart- 
ed from  Jericho;  whereas  Luke  feems  to 


T     E. 

fpeak  of  his  doing  it,  as  he  drew  near  to 
'Jericho:  Eut  perhaps  the  word  (;Jy/£f<v) 
here  rendered  coming  nigh,  may  fignify 
only  (jtfyvt;  11*00)  his  being  near  Je- 
richo; and  fo  this  fact  is  anticipated  in 
Luke\  hiftory,  which  he  refumes  in  the 
beginning  of  the  next  chapter.  See  ?. 
note  relating  to  Jericho  in  chap.  x. 


194  The  Evangeli/l  Chap,  xviii. 

ceive    thy    fight  :   reftored  :     Your  faith  has  prevailed  with  me  to  an- 
thy  faith  hath  fa-    fwer  your  requeft. 

^e,  l  ief^  ;mm«         43   And  no  fooner  did  he  fpeak,  but  it  was  done  : 
t! lately  he  received   the  blind  man  immediately  law,    and  was  fo  affected 
his  fight,  and  fol-   with  the  instantaneous  and  perfect  cure,  that  he  fol- 
lowed him,  glon-   lowed  Jefus  in  his  way  to  Jerufa/em  ;    and  with  a 
t~hl"g  «di:e  awhen   heart  ful1  of  thankfulnefs  and  joy,   glorified  God  for 
they  faw  it,  gave    tms  %nal  mercy,  which  was  fhewn  to  himfelf,    and 
praife  unto  God.       for  fending  the  long-looked  for  Saviour  to  open  the 
eyes  of  the  blind  :     And  all  the  people  joined  their 
thankfgivings  and  praifes  to  God,   who  had  raifed 
up  an  horn  of  falvation  for  them,  in  the  houfe  of  his 
fervant  David.     (Chap.  i.  69.) 

RECOLLECTIONS. 

It  is  furely  good  for  us  to  draw  nigh  to  God ;  and  the  more  perfevering  and  im- 
portunate our  faith  is  in  the  duty  of  prayer,  the  more  welcome  and  fuccefshil 
we  fliall  be.  Though  the  anfwer  may  be  deferred  for  a  time ;  yet  every  confe- 
deration of  God,  as  revealed  in  the  gofpel,  allures  his  people  that  it  fliall  certainly 
come  in  the  proper  feafon.  But  how  differently  may  the  fame  duties  be  performed 
by  different  forts  of  perfons  1  Some,  like  the  Pharifee,  manage  them  with  pride,  hy- 
pocrify,  formality,  and  contempt  of  fellow-worlhippers,  to  the  provoking  of  God, 
inftead  of  getting  advantage  to  themfelves ;  whilft  others,  like  the  humble,  contrite 
publican,  abafe  themfelves  at  his  footltool,  trull  in  his  mercy  and  grace,  through 
the  great  Atonement,  and  obtain  juftification  to  eternal  life.  And  O  what  a  com- 
fort is  it  to  believers,  that  Chrift  takes  notice  of  their  little  ones,  has  confirmed 
God's  covenant  with  their  feed,  has  enrolled  them  with  themfelves,  as  the  fubjects 
of  his  vilible  kingdom  under  the  gofpel-itate,  and  is  lb  much  let  on  their  being  pre- 
sented to  him,  to  blefs  them,,  as  to  take  it  ill  of  thole  that  would  debar  them  of 
their  privileges  !  But  neither  privileges  nor  duties  are  to  be  refted  in  ;  for  perfons 
may  go  a  great  way  in  religion,  like  the  Pharifee,  and  in  morality,  like  the  young- 
ruler,  and  yet  fall  fhort  of  faving  grace:  And  were  we  to  have  a  right  view  of our- 
ielves,  in  the  light  of  God's  law,  we  fliould  foon  be  convinced  of  our  defects,  and 
of  our  ne^d  of  a  better  righteoufnefs  than  our  own  to  entitle  us  to  heaven.  But, 
alas  !  what  dangerous  fnares  are  the  riches  of  this  world  to  men  of  carnal  minds  ! 
Nothing  fhort  of  God's  almighty  grace,  with  whom  all  things  are  poffible,  can  ef- 
fectually change  the  bias  of  their  hearts,  and  make  them  think  it  worth  their  while 
to  give  up  all  their  temporal  enjoyments  for  Chrift.  But.  whatlbever,  upon  prin- 
ciples of  faith  and  love,  we  may  lofe  for  him,  we  may  be  fure  of  lofing  nothing  by 
him  :  And  what  Chriltian  would  think  much  of  fullering  for  him,  who  was  abafed 
and  crucified  fcr  us,  and  rofe  again  from  the  dead,  according  to  the  predictions  of  the 
prophets,  and  his  own  declarations  belore-hand,  as  a  demonftration  of  his  being 
the  Chrift  ?  And  yet  how  great  is  the  power  of  carnal  prejudices  to  hide  the  plain- 
eft  truths  from  us  !  But  as  the  companions  of  the  great  and  merciful  Saviour  are 
extended  to  the  moft  wretched  objects,  he  can  as  ealily  cure  the  depravity  of  our 
underftandings,  as  open  the  eyes  of  Inch  as  were  corporally  blind  :  And  when  we 
receive  any  fignal  mercies  from  him,  what  fpecial  engagements  are  they  upon  us, 
to  follow  him,  and  glorify  God  for  railing  up  fuch  a  powerful  and  gracious  Savi- 
our to  us ! 


CHAP. 


Chap.  xix. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


J95 


CHAP.       XIX. 

The  converfion  0/*  Zaccheus,  t, — 10.  The  parable  of  the  ten  pounds, 
II, — 27.  Chrifts  riding  into  Jerufalem,  28, — 40.  His  lament- 
ing over  it,  41, — 44.  And  his  cajling  the  buyers  and  fellers  out  of 
the  temple,  45,-48. 


Text. 

AND    Jefus   en- 
tered and  pafs- 
ed    through    Jeri- 
cho. 

■z    And,  behold, 


was  rich. 


3  And  he  fought 


Paraphrase. 

CHRIST  proceeding  on  his  journey  toward  Je- 
rufalem,   his  way  lay  through  the  city  of  Jeri- 
cho, in  the  tribe  of  Benjamin. 

2  And  behold  a  wonderful  inftance  of  his  grace, 
there  nvas  a  man  as  he  paffed  along  !  There  was  in  that  neighbour- 
named  Zaccheus,  ho0d  a  certain  man,  called  Zaccheus,  who  was  one 
chief  among  the  °^  ^ie  cn^e^  collectors  of  taxes  for  the  Roman  empe- 
publicans,  and  he  ror,  or  a  receiver-general,  to  whom  the  other  publi- 
cans brought  their  money  ;  and  fo  he  had  more 
authority  and  influence,  and  a  larger  (hare  of  pro- 
fits, than  the  reft,  and  by  this  means  was  grown  ve- 
ry rich  * . 

3  This  man  having  heard  much  of  the  fame  of  Je- 
to  lee  Jefus  who  he   f       which  rung  through  all  the  country,  had  a  great 
was,      and    could          .   r  r  i         r  c         r       -l  1 
»ot  for  the  prefs    cun°hty  to  lee  what  iort  01  perlon  he  was  ;     but, 

becaufe  he  was  lit-   being  low  in  ftature,  he  could  not  hope  to  obtain  his 
tie  of  ftature.  defire,  Handing  on  the  ground,  becaufe  of  the  crowd 

of  taller  people. 

4  Therefore,  laying  afide  all  ftate,  he  ran  to  a  fy- 
camore-tree,  by  the  fide  of  the  road,  where  he  knew 
Jefus  was  to  go  ;   and  climbed  up  into  the  tree,  that 

him  ;  for  he  was  to  he  might  have  a  full  view  of  him. 

pafs  that  way.  5  And  it  was  happy  for  him  that  he  was  found  in 

5  And  when  Je-  CnrJf{->s  way   though  only  curiofity  brought  him  thi- 

1  us    came    to    the  .  1             -r>             t  r                         r        A        i_  •  c     r  r 

place,  he  looked  up,  ther  :    For  as  Jefus  came  to  fave  the  chief  of  finners, 

and  faw  him,  and  fo  when  he  arrived  at  the  place  where  Zaccheus  had 

faid  unto  him,  Zac-  fet  himfelf,  he  looked  up  to  the  tree;    and,  feeing 

cheus,  make  hafte,  fo^  there,   (tihv  xvrov)  knew  him  to  be  one  of  his 

and    come   down;  n                 1     r                                 •  .        •     _i      1       1       r  it 

for  to-div  I  mult  hieep,    whole  name  was  written  in  the  book  or  lite  ; 

and,  contrary  to  this  man's  expectations,  he  took 
a  kind  and  particular  notice  of  him,  and  calling  to 
him,  faid,  Zaccheus,  come  down  with  all  fpeed  ;  for 
I  muft  needs  flay  a  while  to-day  at  your  houfe. 

6  Thefe  words  wrought  effectually  upon  him  by  a 
fecret  energy  that  attended  them  ;    and  he  was  fo  af- 
fefted  with  the  thought  of  Chrift's  taking  fuch  par- 
ticular 
NOTE. 
*  This  "Zaccheus  was  probably  a  Jew,    which  it  was  ordinarily  managed,   ren- 
as  his  name  intimates,   it  being  a  com*    de'-ed  him  odious  to  them  :  and  the  t  cat 
mon  name  among  that  people  :  However,    er  I  c  w;  <,  the  m*re  criminal  s.v.d  deleft  - 
his  office,  and  the  abufive  methods  with    able  thev  accounted  him. 


4  And  he  ran 
"before,  and  climb- 
ed up  into  a  fyca- 
more-tree     to    fee 


abide  at  thy  houfe. 


6  And  he  made 
hafte,  and  came 
down,  and  recei- 
ved him  joyfully. 


196 


The  Evangeltft 


Chap.  xix. 


7  And  when 
they  faw  it,  they 
all  murmured,  fay- 
ing, That  he  was 
gone  to  be    sueft 


ticular  notice  of  him,  that  he  inftantly  came  down, 
and  cheerfully  received  him  into  his  heart,  and  then 
into  his  houfe. 

7  A.nd  when  the  company  faw  the  kind  faluta- 
tions  and  behaviour  that  paffed  between  them, 
they  were  highly  offended,  and  expreffed  their  re- 
fentment  at    it,    faying,    How   unworthy  is  this  of 


8  And  Zaccheus 
flood,  and  faid  un- 
to the  Lord,  Be- 
hold, Lord,  the 
half  of  my  goods  I 
give  to  the  poor : 
and  if  I  have  taken 
any  thing  from  any 
man  by  falfe  accu- 


witb  a  man  that   the  profefJTed  fanttity  of  Jefus,  that  he  mould  go  for 
is  a  finner,  entertainment  to  one  of  the  greatefl  finners  in  all  the 

city  ? 

8  But  (h)  Zaccheusy  to  mew  that  the  grace  of 
Chrift  had  indeed  reached  his  heart,  and  that  he  was 
now  become  another  man  than  he  had  been  before, 
and  than  they  uncharitably  and  malicioufly  fuppofed 
him  to  be  ftill,  flood  and  publicly  profefied  his  faith 
and  repentance  before  all  the  people,  faying,  Behold, 

0  Lord,  thou  expected  Mefiiah,  what  an  effect  thy 
fation,  I  reftore /?///*  words  have  had  upon  me  !  whereas  I  have  gathered 
feur-fold.                  a  great  eftate,  and  hitherto  ufed  it  only  for  myfelf,  I 

now  feel  fuch  remorfe  and  grief,  as  even  conftrain  me 
to  give  away  one  moiety  of  it  immediately,  for  the 
benelit  of  the  poor,  that  I  may  honour  God  with  my 
fubilance,  and  do  all  the  good  I  can  with  fuch  mo- 
ney as  may  have  been  injurioufly  taken  from  perfons 
at  prefent  unknown  to  me  :     And  if  any  one,  whom 

1  have  wronged  by  fraud  or  extortion,  by  falfe  char- 
ges or  opprefTion,  will  give  me  an  opportunity  of  re- 
paying him,  I  am  ready,  in  teilimony  of  my  hearty 
repentance,  to  make  him  amends,  not  only  by  re- 
ftoring  as  much  as  I  took  from  him,  but  even  four 
times  more  with  it,  according  to  the  utmoft  demands 
that  the  law  makes  of  reititution,  in  any  cafe  of  in- 
jury whatfoever  *. 

9  And  Jefus  faid        9  Jefus,  to  encourage  him,  and  vindicate  himfelf, 
unto  him.  This  day   againft  the  murmurs  of  the  people,  replied,   I,  the  f 
is  falvation    come    Sav;our  0f  loft   fmners      am   this  day  come  hither, 
to  J  .    .      . 

bringing 

NOTES. 

*  In   cafes  of  theft   and  fraud,    and  have  for  it.     This  is  the  genuine  way  in 

fwearing  falfely,    to  deprive  another  of  which  true  grace  works  in  the  heart,  and 

his  property,  the  law  required  a  reitora-  where   there   is   no  concern  about  this, 

tion  of  the  principal,   with  the  addition  when  we  have  cheated,   rob+>ed,   or  de- 

of  a  fifth  part.   {Lev.  vi.  2, —  =;.")     If  the  frauded  any  man,   in  vain  do  we  flatter 

theft  were  found  in  a  man's  poffeffion,  it  ourfelves  that  our  repentance  is  unto  life, 

required  reftoriog  double  ;  and  for  a  flfo-  f   By  falvatidn  may  be  meant  Qbrijl 

leb'CB,  thai  wa*  .killed,   or  fold,   it  de-  Mhtjelf,  .the  author  of  falvation :    {Ifu. 

inanded  five  oxen  to  be  reflored.    (Exod.  xlix.  6.  AW&Luke'n.  29,  3c.)  Or,  as  ismoft 


xxii.  r,  4.)    Zacchetts  therefore,  to  fhew 

the  fincerity  of  his  repentance,  declared 
himfelf  willing  to  comply  with  the  ftri<5t- 
eft  of  all  the  laws  about  reititution.  And 
repentance  can  never  be  proved  to  be  fin 


ufual,  the  blejjings  of  falvation,  (Arts  iv. 
12.)  or  the  prpmifes  and  the  go/prl 
of  falvation.  (Jehu  iv.  22.  and  A&j 
xxviii.  2S.)  And  by  'Zacrheus''s  being 
the  fon  of  Abraham,  may  be  meant,   his 


cere,  without  restitution  for  the  injuries  being  fo,  both  by  birth  and  by  faith  in 
we  have  done  to  others,  according  to  our  Chrift.  Accordingly  all  thefe  fenfes  are 
ability,   and  the  opportunities  we  may   included  in  the  paraphrafe. 


Chap.  xix. 

to  this  houfe,  for- 
fomuch  as  he  alio 
is  the  fon  of  Abra- 
ham. 

S 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


*97 


10  For  the  Son 
of  man  is  come  to 
feek  and  to  lave 
that  which  was 
loft. 


bringing  the  glad  tidings,  and  all  the  blefiings  of  fal- 
vation  along  with  me  to  this  man,  who,  ye  hear,  by 
his  own  confeftion,  is  become  a  true  believer  and 
penitent  ;  and  this  day  the  promifes  of  falvation  arc 
brought  to  his  family,  they  being  taken  into  cove- 
nant together  with  himfelf ;  becaufe  he  is  now,  not 
merely  by  birth,  but  by  faith  in  me,  one  of  the  true 
and  fpiritual  feed  of  Abraham;  what  I  have  therefore 
done  herein  cannot  reafonably  be  objected  againft. 

10  For  I,  the  Meinah,  am  fent  to  fearch  and  feek 
out  my  fheep,  wherever  they  are  fcattered,  efpecially 
thofe  of  the  houfe  of  Ifraal ;  and  as  this  man,  by  be- 
ing a  publican,  was  looked  upon  as  loll  to  God  and 
all  goodnefs,  and  as  he  really  was  in  the  loft  {late 
and  condition  of  a  finner,  I  am  doing  my  proper  bu- 
finefs  in  converting  him,  and  bringing  falvation  to 
him  and  his. 

1 1  The  people  having  heard  Chrift  fpeak  of  hi» 
coming  to  act  the  Saviour's  part,  and  knowing  that 
he  was  on  his  way  to  Jerufalem,  the  feat  of  their  an- 
cient kings,  imagined  that,  as  foon  as  he  fhould  get 
thither,  he  would  openly  declare  himfelf  to  be  the 
Meffiah,  and  fet  up  his  kingdom  with  great  pomp 
and  wrorldly  power  there  :  And  therefore,  to  rectify 
their  miitaken  notions,  he  acquainted  them  that  the 
nature  of  his  kingdom  was  very  different  from  what 
they  apprehended,  that  the  generality  of  the  Jews 
would  exclude  themfelves  from  it,  and  that  its  glory 
would  not  appear  fo  foon  as  they  vainly  fancied  ;  and 
this  he  illuftrateu  in  the  following  fimilitude  : 

1 2  A  certain  noble  lord  took  a  long  journey  into 
another  country,,  to  be  veiled  and  confirmed  in  his 
kingdom,  and  then  to  return,  with  all  his  honour 
and  authority,  to  diilribute  proper  rewards  to  his  fub- 
jectis  *.  So  Chrift  is  of  high  and  noble  birth,  as  the 
Lord  from  heaven  ;  and  being  King  of  Ifrael,  and 
of  the  whole  church  of  God,  he  aicended  up  on  high, 
to  be  veiled  in  his  fpiritual  and  glorious  kingdom  ; 
and  afterwards  to  return  in  power  and  great  glory,  to 
execute  judgment  in  the  rewards  and  punifhmcnts  or 
the  great  day. 

13  And  before  the  king  fet  out  on  this  def.gn,  lie 
called  together  ten  of  his  fervants,  and  divided  among 
them  ten  pounds-]-,  ordering  them  lo  trade  with  thefe 

to 

IT     O     T     E     S. 
*  Here  feems  to  be  an  alluvion  to  the        f  The  value  of  a  pound  is  uncertain, 

kings  of  Judea,  who  ufed  to  go  to  Rbme,  though  foint  have  reckoned  it  at  aboi  t 

to  receive  the  invetliture  of  their  king-  three  pounds  two  Hikings  and  lixpence  ; 

domsfrom  the  Roman  emperors,  and  then  and  otters  it  twice  as  much  of  our  Uie« 

return  to  Judea  in  the  full  glory  of  their  ney 
character. 


11  And,  as  they 
heard  thefe  things, 
he  added,  and 
fpake  a  parable, 
becaufe  he  was 
nigh  to  ferufalem, 
and  becaufe  they 
thought  that  the 
kingdom  of  God 
ihould  immediate- 
ly appear. 


+  iz  He  laid 
therefore,  A  cer- 
tain nobleman 
tverft  into  a  far 
country  to  receive 
for  himfelf  a  king- 
dom, and  to  return. 


t3   And  he  call- 
ed his  ten  fervants, 

and  delivered  them 
ten 


Vql.  II. 


D  d 


198 


The  Evangelijl 


Chap.  xix. 


ten    pounds,    and   to  the  beft  advantage,    till  he    mould    return.      So 
faid    unto     them     chriit,  before  he  left  this  world  and  went  to  the  Fa- 


Occupy 
come 


till 


over  us. 


then,  inftead  of  railing  his  difciples  to  temporal  pre- 
ferments, as  they  were  ready  to  expect,  called  them 
to  duty  and  fervice  ;  in  order  to  which,  he  bellowed 
upon  them  feveral  gifts,  fuited  to  the  nature  and  de- 
lign  of  his  kingdom,  fuch  as  *  knowledge  and  grace* 
utterance,  miracles,  and  the  means  of  falvation,  com- 
manding them  to  make  a  proper  ufe  and  improvement 
of  them  for  the  advancement  of  his  intereft  in  the 
world,  till  he  Ihould  come  again,  and  call  them  to 
an  account. 

14  But  his  citi-        14  But  as  foon  as  the  prince  was  gone,  his  own 
zens    hated    him,    cJt{zens    who  all  alongj  had  hated  him,   declared  that 
and  lent  a  menage      ,  ,  ,         .     r  i      •  i  »  '  ■■«.       •    •  o        i 
after  him    faying     t"e)r   woul0'  not  iubmit    to   his    dominion.      bo    the 
We  will  not  have   body  of  the  Jewz/h  nation,  who  were  Chrift's  kin- 
this  man  to  reign    dred,  according  to  the  flefh,   and  his  covenant-peo- 
ple, difcovered  their  continued  enmity  againft  him  by 
their  obftinate  refufals  of  his  grace  and  government, 
and  violent  oppofition  to  his  gofpel,  after  he  was  a- 
fcended  into  heaven.     And  in  like  manner,  all  unbe- 
lievers hearts  are  naturally  fo  averfe  to  him,  that  thev 
will  have  nothing  to  do  with  him  ;  or  if  they  would 
have  him  for  their  Saviour,  they  will  by  no  means 
have  him  for  their  King. 

15  And  it  came         15   And,  being  eftabliihed  in  his  kingdom,  he  or- 
to  pafs,  that  when    dered  his  fervants,   at  his  return,  to  give  an  account 

e      as    re ;  urne ,  »  •  of  the  money,  which  he  had  entruiled  them  with, 
having  received  the      ,  .     J7  r  ; 

kingdom,  then  he  tnafc  he  might  lee  what  improvement  each  one  had 
commanded  thefe  made  of  it.  So  Chrift  being  exalted  at  the  right  hand 
fervants  to  be  call-  0f  the  throne  of  God,  far  above  all  heavens,  will 
ed    unto    him,    to    CQme  a      •     at  the  la{l   d  ^  make  a  ftHa    •        ;_ 

xvhom  he  had  given  r  i         1      i  riir  »•/*•! 

the  money,  "that  ry  °*  every  one»  bow  he  has  tiled  the  ieveral  guts  and 
he  might  know  talents  committed  to  him,  according  to  his  ftation 
how  much  every  and  character,  circumftances,  and  opportunities  in  the 
man  had  gained  by  %yor}d;  and  what  good  he  has  done  by  them,  for  the 
glory  of  God,  and  the  good  of  his  own  and  others  fouls. 
1 6,  1 7  Then  one  of  thefe  fervants,  whofe  improve- 
ments had  been  moft  confiderable,  gave  in  his  accounts 
to  his  lord,  faying'!*,  The  produce  of  thy  one  pound, 

which 
NOTES. 
*' TvVe  are  not  to  fuppof- that  the  giftr.,  lievcrs,  avid  unfanclified  minifters;  or, 
fignified  by  the  pound1;  delivered  to  each  together  with  them,  the  additional  gifts 
perfon,  were  all  of  one  fort,  and  wire  of  fpecial  grace  to  true  believers,  and  his 
bellowed  upon  all  alike-  for  this  parable  faithful  fervants.  See  the  note  on  Mat. 
is  of  much  t!ie  fame  import  with  that  of  ::xv.  14. 
the  talents  (Matth.  x>:v.)    which  were 

ted,  in  various  allotments,  to  one  f  The  fervant's  faying,  Thy  pound 
and  another  fervant ;  and  thefe  pounds  has  gained  ten  pounds,  may  intimate 
and  talents  include  all  the  gifts  which  that,  though  he  was  acTive  in  employing 
Chrift  bellows  on  different  pcrfons,  whe-  it,  the  advantage  made  by  it  fprung  out 
ther  of  common  providence,  of  common  of  the  pound  itfelf,  and  was  owing  to 
aftlftanccs  and  gofpel-privileges  to  imbe-   that,  rather  thin  to  hirol 


trading. 

16    Then   came 

the    firft,      faying, 

Lord,     thy    pound 

hath 


Chap.  xix. 

kath     gained    ten 
pounds, 

17  And  he  faid 
unto  him,  Well, 
thou  good  fervant : 
becaufe  thou  haft 
been  faithful  in  a 
very  little,  have 
thou  authority  o- 
rer  ten  cities. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


199 


18  And  the  fe- 
<cond  came,  fay- 
ing, Lord,  thy 
pound  hath  gain- 
ed   five   pounds. 

19  And  he  faid 
like  wife  to  him, 
Be  thou  alio  over 
five  cities, , 


■2©  And  another 
came,  faying,  Lord, 
-behold,  here  is  thy 
pound  which  1  have 
kept  laid  up  in  a 
napkin  : 

21  For  I  feared 
thee,  becaufe  thou 
art  an  auftere  man  : 
thou  takeft  up  that 
thou  laidft  not 
down,  and  reap- 
ed that  thou  cliclft 
not  fow. 


which  thou  committedft  to  me,  is  ten  more  for  thine 
honour  and  fervice  :  And  his  lord,  commending  his 
diligence  and  faithfulnefs  in  the  good  ufe  he  had  made 
of  fo  fmall  a  truft, .  generoufly  rewarded  him  with 
the  government  of  ten  cities.  So  when  Chriil  (hall 
come  again  to  judgment,  fuchofhis  fervants,  as  have 
the  grace  of  God  in  truth,  and  have  been  moil  la- 
borious, faithful,  and  fuccefsful  in  laying  it  out,  to- 
gether with  all  other  gifts  and  furniture,  for  the  in- 
tereft  of  Chrift  and  religion,  will  afcribe  the  improve- 
ment, not  to  themlelves,  but  to  the  grace  of  God 
which  was  with  them  ;  and  yet  he  will  publicly  de- 
clare his  approbation  of  their  care  and  iaithfulnefs, 
and  will  amply  beftow  upon  them  gratuitous  rewards, 
letting  them  know,  at  the  fame  time,  that  what  they 
had  done  in  fo  very  little  a  matter,  and  that  by  vir- 
tue of  his  own  free  gifts  to  them,  could  never  de- 
ferve  fo  high  an  honour  and  advantage,  as  anfwers  to 
being  made  a  governor  over  ten  cities. 

18,  19  Another  of  his  fervants  faid,  By  means  of 
thy  one  pound,  five  more  are  gained  for  thee  ;  and 
his  lord,  expreffing  his  approbation  of  him  alio,  boun- 
tifully rewarded  him  with  the  government  of  five  ci- 
ties. So  fuch  of  Chrift's  fervants  as  have  been  help- 
ed to  be  faithful  in  improving  his  gifts,  though  not 
with  fuch  remarkable  and  uncommon  diligence  and 
fuccefs  as  fome  others,  for  the  advancement  of  his 
kingdom  in  the  world,  will  be  publicly  and  favourably 
approved  of  by  him  :  and  he  will  give  them  fuch  a 
proportion  of  his  free  rewards,  as  mall  carry  like  evi- 
dence, that  it  is  all  the  vouchfafement  of  his  own  rich 
and  fovereign  grace. 

20,  2 1  And  a  third  of  thefe  fervants,  who  had  been 
carelefs  and  flothful,  came  with  excufes  of  himfelf, 
and  accufations  of  his  lord,  faying,  Here  is  thy  mo- 
ney, which  I  have  wrapped  up  and  laid  by  ;  for  I 
durft  not  venture  to  trade  with  it,  left  it  lhould  not 
turn  to  good  account,  becaufe  thou  art  a  ievere  ex- 
adler,  who,  I  expected,  would  ft.  demand  more  than 
thou  gaveft  me.  So  it  is  with  graceleis,  carelefs,  and 
■flothful  minifters  and  profevTors  of  Chrift,  who,  ha- 
ving gifts  faited  to  the  edification  of  others,  have  no 
concern  about  doing  good  with  them,  and  think  it 
enough  if  they  do  no  harm  :  The)  are  apt  to  form 
vain  excufes  for  themfelves,  as  if  there  were  danger  of 
lofs,  and  no  profpeft  of  fuccefs,  though  they  were  to 
take  ever  fo  much  pains  in  attempting  to  do  their  du- 
ty ;  and  they  entertain  hard  and  unrighteous  thoughts 
of  God,  as  if  he  demanded  more  difficult  fervices, 
than  he  had  furnifhed  them  for,  or  would  affiil  thens 
m. 

D  d  2  22,  23  But 


•200 


Tbe  Evangelift 


Chap.  xix. 


a2  And  he  faith  22,  23  But  (£s)  the  king,  being  offended  at  hi*3 
unto  him,  Out  ot  frivolous  pretences  and  unjuft  charges,  faid  to  him, 
wilflTucl^Thee11  Thou  wretched,  evil-minded  fervant,  not  only  your 
thou  wicked  fer-  own  iniquity,  but  even  your  ewn  mouth  (hall  con- 
vant.  Thou  knew-  demn  you :  If  you  thought  that  I  was  a  fevere  mafter, 
eft  that  I  was  an  wno  demanded  more  than  I  gave,  Why  did  not  that 
auftere  roan  ta-  very  conflagration  put  vou  upon  trying;  fome  way  or 
king  up  that  I  laid        . J  .  r  ■         1      n  1  •        ■ 

not  down.and  reap-  ctner  to  improve  my  money,  at  lealt  by  putting  it  to 
ing  that  I  did  not  intereft  *  in  fome  public  fund,  where  it  might  have 
low:  been  fafe,  and  I  might  have  received  it,    though  not 

23  Wherefore  wjt^  ^  greateft,  yet  with  fome  increafe  ?  So  it  will 
thou  myC  money  be  m  tne  daY  of  judgment  :  The  carelefs,  gracelefs, 
Into  the  bank,  that  and  flothful,  will  then  be  found  to  be  bafe  and  wick- 
jit  my  coming  i  ecj.  fervants  ;  and  Chrift  will  condemn  them  as  fuch, 
not  only  for  their  injurious  charges  upon  him,  but 
for  their  not  doing  what  even  their  own  wrong  no- 
tions about  him  told  them  he  expedted  from  them  : 
For  if  they  knew  that  he  would  demand  an  improve- 
ment of  his  gifts,  to  hie  glory,  and  their  own  and  o- 
thers  good,  as  indeed  he  juftly  may,  How  could 
they  expect  to  efcape  his  anger  for  their  negligence 
and  floth,  in  making  no  good  ufe  of  them  at  all  ? 
24  Hereupon  the  king  ordered  fome  that  were  pre- 


might  have  requi- 
red mine  own  with 
a  fury  ? 


24 
unto 
ftood 

om 


And  he  faid 
them 


that   fent,    to  take  this  pound  away  from  the  wicked  and 

ce 
the 


*5 


w  V  fiothful  fervant,  and  give  it  to  him  who  had  already 
and  give  ten  Pourids.  So  Chrift,  in  the  adminiitration  of  his 
it  to  him  that  kingdom  in  this  world,  often  blafts  the  gifts  of  thofe 
hath  ten  pounds,  that  make  no  good  ufe  of  them,  and,  in  the  day  of 
judgment,  will  ftrip  them  of  all  the  advantages  they 
enjoyed  before  ;  and  he  increafes  the  gifts  and  graces 
of  his  good  fervants,  that  live  in  the  exercife  of  them 
here,  and  will  diftinguifh  them  that  have  been  moll 
faithful  and  diligent,  with  remarkable  degrees  of  glo- 
ry hereafter. 

25  The  flanders-by,  objecting  againft  this,  faid 
to  the  king,  How  is  it  that  thou  wilt  order  this 
pound  to  be  given  to  him  who  has  already  ten 
pounds  ?  So  fome,  who  are  ftrangers  to  the  rich  li- 
berality of  Chrift,  in  his  gracious  dealings  with  his 
faithful  people  and  fervants,  are  ready  to  envy  their 
fuperior  gifts  here,  and  the  high  honour  Chrift  will 
put  upon  them  in  the  day  of  judgment. 

26  But  the  king  fignified  that  his  order  fhould  not 
be  rcverfed  :  For  I  tell  you,  faid  he,  it  is  my  will 
that  be  who  makes  a  right  ufe  of  what  I  have  en- 
trufted  him  with",  (hall  have  ftill  more  ;  but  he  who 
makes  no  good  ufe  of  it  fhall  be  deprived  even  of  that 

which 
NOTE. 
*  Chrift  here  feems  to  allow  of  improving  money,  by  way  of  intereft  in  -public 
fund*; :  And  therefore  every  kind  of  lifury,  or  of  increasing  money  by  lending  it,  is 
not  to  be  deemed  unlawful. 


(And  they 
laid  unto  him, 
Lord,  he  hath  ten 
pounds.) 


16  For  I  fay  un- 
to you,  That  unto 
every  one  which 
hath,  Audi  be  ei- 
Vfcn;  and  from  him 

that 


Chap.  xix.  Luke  paraphrafed.  201 

that  hath  not,  e-  which  I  had  given  him.  So  Chrill  allures  us,  that 
ven  that  he  hath  \{iS  faithful  difciples  and  fervants,  who  make  a  right 
fhallbetaken  away  jmprovement  of  the  graces,  gifts,  and  opportunities 
he  bellows  upon  them,  fhall  have  the  greateft  increafe 
of  them  here,  and  (hall  fhine  as  the  liars  in  the  fir- 
mament for  ever  and  ever  ;  and  that  the  unprofitable 
and  flothful  fervant  and  proiefibr,  (hall  often  be  de- 
prived of  his  gifts  and  abilities  in  this  world,  and 
fhall  be  call  into  outer  darknefs  in  the  next.    ( Mat. 

xxv-  3°-) 
27    But   thofe        27    When  the  king  had  taken  this  account  of  his 

mine  enemies  fervants,  and  dealt  with  them  fuitable  to  their  differ- 

which    would  not  ent  charaAers    he  at  laft  proceeded,  with  the  utmofc 

that  I  fliouiu  reign  r         .  •    n   i  •       i'A.«      *.  j  •       i        i_i  •„„- 

over  them,    brin<r  feventy,  agamft  his  obilmate  and  -mpJacable  enemies, 

hither,     and    flay    faying,    But  as  to  thofe  rebellious  fubje&s  of  mine 
them  before   me.     own  city,   who  abfolutely  refufe  to  have  me  for  their 
ruler,    I  will  make  them  the  moll  dreadful  examples 
of  my  juft  indignation,  by  bringing  them  forth,    and 
putting  them  to  death  before  my  face.     So  Chrifl 
will  execute  the  moll  terrible  vengeance  on  the  rebel- 
lious nation. of  the  Jews,    and  on  all  that  obftinately 
reject  his  authority  and  grace,    efpecially  on.  thoic 
that  bore  a  vilible  relation  to  him  *. 
2S    And  when        28   Our  bleiTed  Lord,  having  thus  guarded  againft 
hehadthusfpoken,    mjfhken  prejudices  about  the  nature  of  his  kingdoir 
he  went  before    a-  >  continued  ^  journey  toward  lerufalcm;  and,  know- 
icending  up  to     e-    .  ,  ,        J  \  .  rr  ^  •   «.„J 

ru^lem.  ing  tnat  l^e  approaching  pafiover  was  the  appointed 

time  for  his  being  made  a  facrifice  for  fin,    he  went 
foremofl  of  the  company,  to  ihew  how  ready  he  was 
to  offer  liimfelf. 
20  And  it  came        29,  3 o  And  when  he  arrived  at  the  mount  of  0- 
to  pafs,   when  he   lives,  near  Bethphage  and  Bethany,   he  thought  fit 
was  come  nigh  to    tQ  make  a  public  entrv  into  lerufalem,   in  a  fort  of 
Bethphaee,        and    .         ,  .  .r        ,  ,  <  ,         •   1  r     *.  \  ' 

Bethanv     at    the    humble  triumph,    which  might  at  once  repreient  his 

mount  called  the  low  condition  in  this  world,  and  the  high  honours 
mount  of  Olives,  he  that  were  neveitheleis  due  to  him,  as  the  King  of  If- 
lent  two  ot  lus  chu  ^acJ^  an(l?  jp  a  little  time,  would  be  conferred  upon 

Up  !f'  ?,,;„„    r„   him  in  his  exaltation  to  his  kingdom,  at  the  Father's 
30    oaving,    00  o    t     7 

ye  into  the  village  right  hand.  And  tnerelore,  having  a  perfect  tore- 
over  againft  you ;  knowledge  of  ever)*  minute  circumilance  of  things, 
in  the  which,  at  ile  ordcred  two  of  his  difciples  to  go  into  a  village, 
your  entering^  ^^  lay  ^  ft  ^  di&aiH^    ^ng  thenij    that  at 

their 

N     O  T    E. 

*  As  the  jeii'S,   after  Ghrift's  afctn-  them  by  the  Romans.     And  this  was  to 

fion,  and  the  eflufion  of  his  Spirit,  contfi-  be  a  lively  emblem  of  the  ftill  more  ter- 

mudrefolutely  to  oppofehis  grace  and  go-  rible  and  everlafting  deftriicl  ion  he  will 

vcrnment,  perfifted  in  their  impenitence  bring  upon  them,   and  i:pon  all  the  un- 

and  unbelief,  perfecuted  his  difciples,  and  godly,   who   obftinately    perfift  in  the;r 

blafphemed  his  name,  lie  deftroyed  their  fins,  t$uj  in  their  teje<fting  ot  Chrilt  and 

v  ity  and  nation  by  a  moft  exemplary  ex-  his  gofpel,  and  eipeciaiiy  upon  apoftates, 

ecution  of  his  vengeance  upon  them,  in  when  he  fhall  come  to  judge  the  woild 

the  dreadful  l.avock  that  was  made  of  at  the  laft  day, 


202 

ihall  find  a  colt 
tied,  whereon  yet 
never  man  fat : 
loofe  him,  and 
bring  him  hither. 
31  And  if  any  man 
afk  you,  Why  do 
ye  loofe  him  P  thus 
fhall  ye  fay  unto 
him,  Becaufe  the 
Lord  hath  need  of 
him. 

2,z  And  they 
that  were  fent, 
went  their  way, 
and  found  even  as 
he  had  laid  unto 
them. 

33  And,  as  they 
were  loofi.ng  the 
colt,  the  owners 
thereof  faid  unto 
them,  Why  loofe 
ye  the  colt  ? 

34  And  they  faid, 
The  Lord  hath  need 
of  him. 


35  And  they 
brought  him  to 
Jefus  :  and  they 
caft  their  garments 
tipcn  the  colt,  and 
they  fet  Jefus  there - 


36  And  as  he 
went,  they  fpread 
their  clothes  in  the 
tv  ay. 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  xix. 


37  And  when  he 
was  come  nigh,  e- 
ven  now  at  the  de- 
feent  of  the  mount 
of  Olives,  the  whole 
multitude  of  the 
<lifciples  began  to 
rejoice  and  praife 
God  with  a  loud 
voice. 


their  very  entrance  into  it,  they  fliould  find  an  afs's 
colt,  which  had  never  been  backed,  and  bade  them 
untie  and  bring  it  to  him.  (  See  the  note  on  Matth. 
xxi.  7.) 

3 1  And,  faid  he,  if  any  one  go  about  to  prevent 
you,  aiking  what  bufinefs  ye  have  to  meddle  with  the 
colt,  and  lead  it  away,  ye  (hall  anfwer  him,  that  your 
Lord  and  Mailer  has,  at  prefent,  a  fpecial  occailon 
to  make  ufe  of  it ;  and  this  mall  fo  far  pacify  him, 
that  he  will  readily  let  you  bring  it  to  me. 

32  Then  the  two  difciples,  in  obedience  to  their 
Lord's  command,  went  into  the  village  ;  and,  punctu- 
ally following  his  directions,  found  every  thing  come 
to  pafs,  juft  as  he  had  foretold. 

33  Accordingly,  whilft  they  were  untying  the 
colt,  fome  of  its  proprietors  aiked  them,  what  they 
meant,  by  offering  to  take  it  away  ?  thereby  intimat- 
ing, that  they  mould  let  it  alone. 

34  But  (£s)  they,  according  to  the  inftru&ions 
Chrift  had  given  them,  replied,  That  their  Lord 
and  Matter  had  a  fpecial  occalion,  juft  then,  to  make 
ufe  of  it  ;  upon  which  thefe  perfons  made  no  fur- 
ther oppofition,  but  let  the  difciples  take  their  own 
courfe. 

35  And  they,  bringing  the  colt  to  Jefus,  put  t 
clothes  upon  it,  for  the  eafe,  convenience,  and  de- 
cency of  his  fitting  ;  and,  having  thus  arrayed  it, 
they  mounted  him  upon  it,  that  he  might  ride  in 
the  meek  glory  of  his  triumph  to  Jerufalem ;  where- 
by fome  ancient  prophecies  of  the  Mefiiah  were  ful- 
filled- in  him.  (See  Matth.  xxi.  4,  5,  7.  and  the 
notes  there.) 

36  And,  as  he  marched  toward  the  city,  the  peo- 
ple, to  exprefs  their  high  refpect  and  joy,  fpread 
their  garments,  like  carpets,  in  the  way,  for  him  to 
pafs  over,  as  was  ufual  at  the  triumphal  proceflions 
and  entries  of  great  princes  into  their  capital  cities  ; 
others  cut  off  the  branches  of  trees,  and  ftrewed  them 
in  the  road.  [Malth.  xxi.  8.  fee  the  note  there.) 
And  many,  when  they  heard  at  Jerufalem  of  his  ap- 
proach, went  out  from  thence  to  meet  him,  with 
branches  of  palm-trees  in  their  hands.     {John  xii. 

37  And  wlien  he  arrived  at  the  lower  part  01  mount 
Olivet,  on  that  fide,  which  was  next  the  city,  and  not 
far  from  it,  a  numerous  croud  of  difciples,  that  at- 
tended him,  began,  as  with  one  heart  and  one  mouth, 
to  unite  their  voices  in  lueh  loud  and  joyful  acclama- 
tions, as  caufed  the  air  to  echo  with  the  high  praifes 
of  God,  for  the  many  great  and  wonderful  miracles 
which  their  King  and   Saviour  had   wrought,    and 

which 


Chap.  xix. 


Luke  pardphrafed. 


203 


voice. 


that  cometh  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord  : 
peace  in  heaven, 
and  glory 
hi<rheft. 


39  And  fome  of 
the  Pharifees  from 
among  the  multi- 
tude, faid unto  him, 
Mafter,  Rebuke 
thy  diiciples. 


for  all  the  which  were  brought  to  their  remembrance  by  what 
mighty  works  that  they  had  lately  feen,  or  heard  of,  in  his  railing  La- 
they  had  feen.  %arus  from  the  dea(L      ^£*  xii.   I  7,  1 8. ) 

3S  Saying, Blefs-  38  Therefore,  amidft  their  praifes  of  God,  they 
ed  be  the  King  honoured  Jefus,  and  expreiTed  their  joy,  as  they  ufed 
to  do  at  their  feaft  of  tabernacles,  faying,  Bleffed 
be  Meffiah  our  King,  who  is  come  with  a  divine 
in  the  commiflion  and  authority  to  fave  us  :  Peace  is  brought 
to  earth  from  heaven,  God  now  mews  himfelf  to  be 
reconciled,  all  is  fafe  and  happy  :  May  profperity  at- 
tend the  Saviour  and  his  kingdom,  and  every  glory 
be  heaped  upon  him  !  we  extol  him  in  the  higheit 
{trains  ;  may  his  throne  be  exalted  above  every  other 
throne  !  And  may  the  blefled  angels  join  their  louden: 
fongs  with  ours,  that  his  name  may  be  ever  glorified, 
and  God's  name  in  him!    (See  the  notes  on  M*?/.  xxi.9.) 

39  While  they,  under  a  divine  afflatus,  were  thus 
paying  their  honours  to  Chrift,  his  enemies  were  vex- 
ed and  enraged  at  it ;  and  fome  of  the  Pharifeesy 
who  mixed  with  this  vaft  multitude,  fearing  that  it 
would  effectually  deftroy  their  authority  among  the 
people,  and  defeat  their  malicious  deiigns  againft  him, 
fpake  to  him  with  great  contempt  and  indignation, 
faying,  Mafter,  how  does  this  confift  with  your  pre- 
tences to  gravity  and  humility  !  What  a  ridiculous 
farce  is  here !  and  how  mutinous  and  feditious  is  this  ! 
Command  your  difciples  to  be  quiet,  and  not  to  make 
fuch  an  intolerable  noife. 

40  But,  inflead  of  checking  them,  he  feverely  re- 
buked the  Pharifees,  faying,  Whatever  evil  conn-ruc- 
tions ye  put  upon  their  joyful  acclamations,  I  affure 
you,  they  are  fo  fit  and  neceffary,  and  due  to  me, 
and  fo  much  to  my  Father's  honour,  that  if  thefe 
perfons  were  to  be  filent  to  our  praife,  others  mould 
be  found  to  proclaim  it  ;  yea,  rather  than  fail,  as 
great  a  miracle  mould  be  wrought  for  this  purpofe,  as 
if  the  very  ftones  were  to  burft  out  into  the  louden: 
fongs  ;  and  if  all  the  Jews  were  to  with-hold  the 
honour  which  belongs  to  me,  as  the  Meffiah,  the  mod 
ftupid  and  unlikdy,  ftich  as  ye  reckon  the  heathens 
to  be,   Humid  rife  up  and  pay  them. 

41  When  he  drew  fo  near  the  city,  as  to  take  a 
full  profpeA  of  it,  he  beheld  its  grandeur  and  mag- 
nificence ;  and,  his  human  paffions  being  moved  with 
the  thoughts  of  its  approaching  defolation,  for  the  ob- 
ilinate  impenitence  and  unbelief  of  its  inhabitants,  he, 
amidlt  the  hofannas  of  the  people,  compaffionately  la- 
mented over  it  with  teat 

42  Say- 
N     O    T    E. 
*  He  did  this  to  fliew  that  he  had  the    derly  touched  with  the  thoughts  of  Je- 
*eal  affections  of  human  nature,  was  ten.-    vvfaiemS  iniquities   and   mlijerics,   and 

would 


an- 
faid 
tell 


40  And  he 
iwered  and 
unto  them,  I 
you,  That  if  thefe 
mould  hold  their 
peace,  the  ftones 
would  immediate- 
ly cry  out. 


41  And  when 
tie  was  come  near, 
he  beheld  the  city, 
and  wept  over  it, 


even  thou,  at  leaf! 
in  this  thy  day,  the 
things  mbich  be- 
long unto  thy 
peace  !  but  now 
they  are  hid  from 
thine  eyes. 


204  The  Evangcli/i         ,         Chap.  xix. 

42  Saying,  if  42  Saying,  as  a  man  and  minifter,  O  thou  great 
thou  had  ft  known,  anj  p0pUlous  city,  who  haft  been  flourifhino-  and  prof- 
perous,  and  once  vvert  the  city  of  God's  peculiar  ha- 
bitation, how  melancholy  is  the  thought,  that,  ere 
long,  thy  glory  will  depart  !  O  that  thou  hadil  been 
wife  f  !  Happy  would  it  have  been  for  thee,  hadil 
thou  but  underftood,  and  ferioufly  confidered,  the 
things  which  relate  to  thy  temporal  and  eternal 
happinefs,  if  not  before,  yet  now  at  lead  in  this  lail 
feafon  of  grace  !  But,  alas  !  whatfoever  may  be  the 
cafe  of  fome  few  among  you,  it  is  now  too  late  for 
you,  as  a  community,  and  for  the  chief  and  greateil 
part  of  you  to  obtain  mercy  :  God  is  about  to  de- 
prive you  of  all  means  of  falvation,  to  give  you  up, 
in  righteous  judgment,  to  that  blindncfs  of  mind,  and 
hardnefs  of  heart,  which  ye  have  chofen,  and  to  bring 
uoon  you  the  utter  deftruction  which  ye  have  defer- 
red. 

43  For  the  appointed  time  draws  near,  in  which 
your  enemies  will  furround  and  clofely  befiege  you  on 
every  fide,  and  will  (hut  up  all  your  inhabitants  with- 
in your  walls,  fo  that  none  of  them  iTiall  efcape. 

44.  As  to  thy  ftrong  and  fumptuous  buildings, 
they  (hall  be  fo  utterly  razed  to  their  very  foundations, 
that  not  one  ftone  mall  be  left  upon  another,  to  mew 
the  ruins  of  thine  ancient  grandeur  ;  and  as  to  thine 
inhabitants,  they  fliall  all  be  miferably  deliroyed  by 
the  fury  of  their  enemies,  and  by  the  juft  vengeance 
of  God,  becaufe  thou  haft  mut  thine  eyes,  and  har- 
dened thine  heart  againft  the  light  of  my  word,  and 
the  ftrivings  of  my  Spirit,  and  wouldft  not  regard 
my  warnings  and  threatenings  on  one  hand,  nor  my 
kind  invitations  and  overtures  of  mercy  on  the  other  J. 

45,  46  Jefus  at  length  arrived  in  the  city  ;  and, 
alighting  from  the  afs's  colt,  went  not  to  the  royal 
palace,  as  if  he  defigned  to  fct  up  for  a  fecular  prince, 
but  to  the  temple,  as  to  his  own  houfe,  whofe  king- 
dom was  not  of  this  world  :  And  upon  his  entering 
into  the  outward  court,  called  the  court  of  the  Gen- 
tiles, 

NOTES, 
would  try  all  proper  means  to  awaken  a    fu  ged  Jcm/alcm,  caft.  up  a  trench,   and 


43  For  the  days 
fhall  come  upon 
thee,  that  thine 
enemies  fhall  caft 
a  trench  about 
thee,  and  compai'i 
thee  round,  and 
keep  thee  in  on  e- 
very  fide, 

44  And  fliall  lay 
thee  even  with  the 
ground,  and  thy 
children  within 
thee  ;  and  they 
fliall  not  leave  in 
thee  one  itone  up- 
on another :  be- 
caufe thou  kneweft 
not  th.°  time  of  thy 
vifitation. 

4  j  And  he  went 
into  the  temple, 
and  began  to  caft 
nut  them  that  fold 
ThfiKiD,  and  them 
that  bought, 

46"  Say- 


juft  concern  in  tfie  people's  minds  about 
iwn  (in  and  ruin. 

f  Some  fappofe  this  to  be  the  form  of 
;i  with  ;  others  take  it  to  be  an  abrupt 
ientence,  under  ftrong  workings  of  the 
paffions,  which  b  10  be  juppiied  with 
fuc  h  words  as  thefe,  Happy  would  it 
have  been  for  tbee,  if  thou  hadft  known, 
*&€.  accordingly  1  have  taken  both  fen- 
fes  into  the  pctraphrafe. 

t  All  this  was  exactly  verified,  when, 
about  forty  years  afterwards,    Titus  he- 


built  a  wall  round  about  it,  that  none  of 
the  je<w*i  might  efcape  ;  and  at  laft  the 
tempie  being  fired,  contrary  to  his  will, 
he  commanded  the  foldiers  to  dig  up  the 
foundations  of  the  temple  and  city,  and 
to  lay  all  level  excepting  three  towers, 
which,  in  juiian  the  apo/late's  days, 
were  alfo  levelled  with  the  ground,  as' 
we  are  told  by  Jofepbus  and  other  hifto- 
rians.  Vid.  Jofepb.  de  bell.  Jed.  I.  5. 
c.  27.  St  /.  7.  c  1.  &  Socrat.  c.  20. 


Chap.  xix.  Luke  paraphrafed.  205 

46  Saying  unto   tiles,  where  the  profelytes  ufed  to  worfhip,  he  found 
them,  It  is  written,  that  the  people,   by  the  encouragement,  and  for  the 

houfeh°ofe    ra  er°    advantagc  of  the  Priefts>   had  turued  k  int°  a  market> 
but  ye  have' made    place,    for  changing  of  money,    and  for  buying  and 
it  a  den  of  thieves,    felling  of  oxen,    fheep,    and  doves:     (fee  the  para- 
phrase  on  Matt.  xxi.    12.)    But,  he  drove  out   all; 
thefe  traders,  and  would  not  fuffer  them  to  continue 
there  ;  faying,   It  is  written,  {If a.  lvi.  7.)  Thy  houfe 
Jhall  be  called  an  houfe  of  prayer  for  Gentiles  as  well 
as  Jews;  but  ye  have  profaned  it,  by  putting  it  to 
fecular  ufes,  to  which  it  was  never  confecrated  j  and, 
according  to  the  complaint  in  another  prophet,  (Jer. 
vii.  11.)  Ye,  by  your  covetoufnefs  and  unlawful  gains 
here,  have  turned  the  fan&uary  of  the  Lord  into  a 
place  for  robbery  and  extortion.      (See  the  note  on 
Mark™.  15.) 

47  And  he  taught  47,  48  And,  when  he  had  purged  the  temple 
daily  in  the  tern-  from  thefe  abufes,  he  continued  preaching  there  e- 
ple  But  the  chief  very  day  0f  that  week,  till  the  paffover  came  on  at 
fcribS  and  the  which  he  fuffered  *.  But  the  chief  priefts,  doftors 
chief  of  the  peo-  of  the  law,  and  the  principal  heads  and  rulers  of  the 
pie,  fought  to  de-  people,  were  fo  enraged  at  his  fpiritual  and  holy 
ftroy  him ;  doctrine,  and  at  his  oppofing  their  corruptions  and 
not4find  whatthey  tn^ir  authority,  that  they  held  clofe  cogitations  a- 
might  do  :  for  all  bout  putting  him  to  death  ;  and  yet  they  could  not 
the  people  were  tell  how  to  contrive  a  fcheme  for  doing  it  effectually, 
very    attentive  to   aijd  wjth  g^y  to  themfelves  :    For  the  generality 

of  the  common  people  (tfyxmuero)  hung  upon  him, 
and  were  exceeding  diligent  in  attending  his  mini- 
ftry,  who,  they  thought,  fpoke  like  one  having  au- 
thority, and  not  in  fuch  an  empty,  jejune,  trifling 
manner  as  'ihefcribes. 

v  RECOLLECTIONS. 

What  riches  of  fovereign  grace  are  there  in  Chrift,  whofe  eye  is  upon  his  fheep 
wherever  they  are  J  He  prevents  them  with  his  free  mercy,  touches  the  hearts  of 
the  rich  as  well  as  the  poor,  and  of  greater  as  well  as  leffer  Cnners,  and  fometimes 
turns  curiofity  itfelf  into  effectual  faith  and  repentance  ;  it  is  good  to  be  found  in 
his  way.  And  O  what  a  wonderful  change  does  grace  make  in  its  fecret  opera- 
tions !  It  opens  the  ear  to  Chrift's  call,  and  the  heart  to  receive  him  gladly ;  it 
brings  the  whole  man  into  an  obediential  fubjection  to  him,  in  whatfoever  he  de- 
mands ;  it  turns  the  covetous,  proud,  and  cruel  oppreffor  and  extortioner,  into  an 
humble  and  honeft,  merciful  and  liberal  man  ;  and  it  engages  him  to  make  refti- 
tution,  as  far  as  poflible,  for  every  injury  he  has  done  to  others,  -low  great  is  the 
happinefs  that  attends  this  change,  as  the  blefling  of  Abraham  therein  comes  \ipon 
him,  who  was  iji  a  loft  Itate  before  ;   and  as  it  opens  a  door  of  hope  for  his  family, 

together 

NOTE. 

*  He,   in  thofe  few  days,   difcourfed  day,   with  feveral  other  things  relating 

concerning  the  nature  and  defign  of  his  to  himfelf  and  his  faving  work,   as  we. 

death,   the  incredulity  and  rejection  of  find  them  recorded  in  the  next  chapter, 

the  Jews,   and  bringing  in  of  the  Ge?i-  and  in  Matth.  xxi,  xxii,  xxiii,  xxiv,  xxv. 

tiles,  his  own  divine  authority,    and  his  chapters,   Mark  xi,  xii.    chapters,    and 

coming  to  judge  the  world  at  the  laft  John  xii.  ao,  to  the  end  of  the  chapter, 

Vol.  II,  E  e 


2o6  The  Evangetifl  Chap.  xx. 

together  with  nirnfelf !  And  how  high  fliould  Chrift  ftand  in  our  account,  wh» 
came  to  fave  us  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  !  All  that  we  call  our  property  is  his,  and 
nothing  fliould  be  with-held  from  him  ;  he  is  worthy  of  the  moft  exalted  triumph, 
and  ioyful  praife  ;  and,  however  fome  may  envy  and  detract  from  his  honour,  he 
will  have  a  feed  to  ferve  and  glorify  him  :  His  houfe  fhall  be  reformed,  divine  in- 
stitutions fliall  be  preferved,  and  his  authority  (hall  bear  down  all  oppofition  before 
him  :  All  our  knowledge  and  affiftances,  privileges  and  means  of  grace,  are  his 
gifts,  to  be  improved  for  him  ;  and*  when  he  comes  again  to  judgment,  he  will  re- 
quire a  ftridl  account  of  what  we  have  done  with  them.  How  earneft  then  fliould 
we  be  for  grace  to  make  a  good  ufe  of  all  his  other  gifts  !  Dreadful  will  be  the  cafe 
of  the  flothful  fervant;  Chrift  will  count  him  a  wicked  one,  for  not  doing  what  he 
might  arid  ought,  and  will  righteoufly  drip  him  of  all  the  comforts  and  advantages 
he  ever  enjoyed  or  hoped  for  :  The  things  that  belong  to  his  peace  may  foon  be  hid 
from  his  eyes  ;  and  thoie  enemies,  who  will  not  that  Chrift  fliould  reign  over  them,, 
fliall  be  flain  before  him.  But  O  what  free  and  bountiful  rewards  will  he  beftow 
upon  his  faithful  fervants,  in  wife  proportions,  beyond  their  expectations  or  de- 
ferts  !  God  works  in  them  that  nvhich  is  well-pleajing  in  his  fight,  through  Jefus 
Chrijl,  that  they  may  do  his  will ;  and  they  are  encouraged  to  be  always  abound- 
ing in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  for  as  micch  as  they  kiioxv  that  their  labour  JJjall  not 
be  ill  <vain  in  the  Lord,  Heb.  xiiu  21.  and  1  Cor.  xv.  5S. 


CHAP.       XX. 

ChriJPs  vindication  of  his  authority  by  a  queflion  about  JohnV  bap- 
tijm,  1, — 8.  The  parable  of  the  vineyard,  9, — 19.  The  obedi- 
ence that  is  to  be  paid  to  the  civil  magi  ft  rate,  20, — 26.  The  re» 
furreclion  vindicated  againjl  the  Sadducees,  27,-38.  The  fcribes 
puzzled  with  a  queflion  about  Chrijl'* s  being  David\r  fony  39, — 44. 
And  a  caution  againjl  the  fcribes ,  45, — 47. 

Text.  Paraphrase. 

A^fikthlTon  rT'HEchIefPrIefts»/cr/^»  and  elders,  that  made 

one  of  thofeaday"  UP  .the  J**$fl>.  fanhedrim,  having  formed  a  de- 

as  he  taught  the  %n  againft  Chrift's  life,  wanted  a  fair  pretence  to 

people  in  the  tern-  execute  it  ;  and  as  they  were  afraid  of  provoking  the 

pie,  and  preached  people,  who  had  generally  a  good  opinion  of  hiin, 

riitf  Sprkfts    atl   **?  ref?lverd  to  **  ^ethe,  they  could  not  urge 

the  fcribes  came  him  t0  ™Y  iomethmg  that  might  give  them  a  plaufi- 
npon  him,  with  ble  occafion  of  laying  fedition,  or  blafphemy  to  his 
the   elders,  charge  :   And  therefore  as,  from  day  to  day,  he  was 

continually  inftrufting  all  that  came  to  the  temple, 
and  preaching  the  gofpel  to  them ;  fo,  on  one  of 
thofe  days,  thefe  men  came  in  a  body,  hoping  to 
furprife  and  terrify  him. 
1  And  fpake  un-  2  And  they  faid  to  him,  in  a  fierce,  infulting  man- 
to  him, faymg,  lell   ner>  ^e  come  as  perfons  that  have  a  right  to  demand 

tho.it/  Ltatthou  what  y°u  mea?  hY  this  wa)'  of  Soing  on>  and  inflft 

thefe    things  >    or   upon  your  telling  us  by  whofe  commiffion  you  thus 

who    is    lie    that   take  upon  you  ?  who  empowered  you  to  enter  Jeru- 

gave  thee  this  au-  falem  in  fuch  a  public  and  noify  manner,  to  turn  the 

buyers  and  fellers  out  of  the  temple,  to  broach  new 

dottrines,  and  preach  down  thole  which  have  been 

fo  long  eflablifhed,  and  to  attempt  the  lcflening  of 

our 


Chap.  xx. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


207 


3    And    he 
fwered     and 
unto  them,   I 
alfo   alk  you 

thing  ;      and 
fvver  me  : 


an- 
feid 

will 
one 
an- 


4  The  baptifm 
«f  John,  was  it 
from  heaven,  or 
of  men  ? 


5  And  they  rea- 
fbned  with  them- 
felves,  faying,  If 
we  fiiall  fay,  From 
heaven  ;  he  will 
fay,  Why  then  be- 
lieved ye  him  not  ? 

6"  But  and  if 
we  fay,  Of  men  ; 
all  the  people  will 
Hone  us  :  for  they 
be  perfuaded  that 
John  was  a  pro- 
phet. 


7  And  they  an- 
fwered,  That  they 
could  not  tell 
whence    it    was. 


3  And  Jefus  faid 
unto  them,  Nei- 
ther tell  I  you  by 
what  authority  I 
do  thefe  things. 


9  Then  began 
he  to  fpeak  to  the 
people  this  para- 
ble :  A  certain 
man  planted  a 
vineyard,  and  let 
it  forth  to  hufband- 
men,  and  went  in- 
to a  far  country  for 
a  long  time. 


our  character  among  the  people  ?  Pray,  who  could 
pretend  to  give  you  a  commiliion,  and  from  whom 
do  you  fay  you  had  authority  for  doing  luch  things 
as  thefe  ? 

3  But  (^g)  Jefus  knowing  their  invidious  de- 
figns,  and  having  many  a  time  before  alferted  his 
divine  commiffion,  and  proved  it  by  various  lignal 
miracles,  faid,  J  have  likewife  a  queition  of  the  lame 
nature  to  put  to  you  ;  and  if  ye  will  anfwer  it,  I 
will  tell  you  plainly  who  it  is  that  has  authorized  mc 
to  do  all  thefe  things  ; 

4  When  John  came  preaching  the  doctrine  of  re- 
pentance, and  baptized  ther  people  into  the  faith  of 
the  approaching  MelTiah,  Was  it  by  a  commiffion 
from  God  ;  or  only  of  his  own  head,  or  by  the 
order  and  appointment  of  any  other  man  ? 

5,  6  This  queftion  exceedingly  gravelled  them, 
their  thoughts  working  after  this  manner :  II  we  fnall 
fay  that  John  the  BaptijJ  was  fent  of  God  to  preach 
and  baptize,  we  (hall  give  up  our  main  point,  and 
confirm  the  authority  of  Jefus  againil  ourielves  ;  for 
he  will  certainly  reply  upon  us,  that  then  we  can  ne- 
ver anfwer  our  rejecting  himfelf  and  his  doctrine,  to 
which  that  divine  meifenger  gave  testimony  :  And, 
on  the  other  hand,  if  we  mall  fay,  that  John  came 
of  his  own  head,  or  only  by  the  order  and  appoint- 
ment of  fame  other  man,  the  generality  of  the  peo- 
ple will  be  lb  incenfed  againil  us,  as  to  ftone  us ;  for 
they  are  fully  perfuaded  that  he  was  a  prophet,  who 
had  a  divine  commiffion  for  what  he  faid  and  did. 

7  And  therefore,  perceiving  the  danger  of  an- 
fwering  either  way,  they  declined  giving  their  real 
fentiments  about  John's  doctrine  and  baptilm,  and 
pretended  not  to  know  whence,  or  from  what  origi- 
nal his  authority  was  derived. 

8  Upon  this  Jefus  faid  to  them,  Since  ye  refufc 
"o  anfwer  fo  plain  a  queftion,  which  would  have  fer- 
ved  for  a  juft  reply  to  your  own,  I  may  well  be  ex- 
cufed  telling  you  from  whom  I  have  my  authority 
to  do  what  ye  have  feen  and  heard  ;  and  therefore  at 
prelent  fhall  fay  nothing  further  about  it. 

9  Having  thus  defeated  the  defgn  of  fchefe  his  im- 
placable enemies,  in  fuch  a  way  as  carried  a  imart 
reproof  for  their  disregarding  both  his  own  and 
John's  authority,  he  proceeded  m  a  difcourfe  to  the 
people,  together  with  them,  to  deliver  the  following- 
parable  ;  by  which  ht  intimated,  that  God  would 
call  off  the  Jeivijh  nation,  and  particularly  the Jcfibes 
and  Pharijecs,  notwithftanding  all  their  pretences 
to  religion,  for  their  cbftinately  rejecting  him  ;  and 
would  receive  the  believing  Gentiles  in  their  room  : 

E  e  z  There 


aoS 


The  Evangellfi 


Chap,  xx, 


10  And  at  the 
feafon,  he  lent  a 
fervant  to  the  luif- 
bandmen,  that  they 
fhould  give  him  of 
the  fruit  of  the 
vineyard  :  but  the 
hufbandmen  beat 
him  and  fent  him 
away  empty. 


\  i  And  again  lie 
ferit  another  fer- 
vant :  and  they 
beat  him  alfo,  and 


him 

and 

away 

again 


entreated 
Shamefully, 

fent      him 
empty. 

12  And 
he  fent  the  third 
and  they  wounded 
him  alfo,  and  carl 
him  out. 


M  Then  fa  id 
the  lord  of  the 
vineyard,  What 
fhall  1  do?  I  will 
fend  my  beloved 
fon  :  it  may  be 
they  will  reverence 
him 


There  was,  faid  he,  a  certain  man,  who  planted  a 
vineyard,  and  provided  it  with  every  thing  neceflary 
and  convenient  ;  and,  having  let  it  out  to  fome  huf- 
bandmen, to  cultivate  and  improve  it,  he  took  a  long 
journey,  from  which  he  was  not  to  return  for  a  great 
while.  So  God  inflituted  the  Jewi/7j  church  by  the 
hand  of  Mofes,  enriching  it  with  many  privileges  and 
blcffings,  fuitable  to  that  difpenfation  ;  and  then, 
committing  its  adminiflration  to  the  chief  prieils 
and  rulers  of  the  people,  he  withdrew  the  vifible  ap- 
pearances of  his  prefence,  and  left  them  promifes  of 
returning  again  in  fome  future  age. 

10  And  when  the  proper  feafon  for  vines  bear- 
ing, and  bringing  forth  ripe  grapes  was  come,  (fee 
the  note  on  Mark  xii.  2.)  the  mailer  fent  his  fervants 
to  the  hufbandmen,  to  require  the  profits,  and  to 
afiift.  in  gathering  and  managing  the  fruits :  But 
they,  inftead  of  anfwering  his  jufl  demands,  fhame- 
fully  abufed  his  fervants,  and  drove  them  empty  a- 
way.  So  when  God's  ancient  people  the  Jew's  had 
enjoyed  thefe  rich  advantages  for  a  confiderable  time, 
and  brought  forth  little  good  fruit  anfwerable  to 
them,  he  lent  feveral  prophets,  under  the  former  part 
of  the  Old  Teflament  difpenfation,  to  flir  them  up 
to  their  duty,  and  to  inilrudl  and  encourage  them  in 
his  ways  :  But  they  raifed  up  perfecutions  againft  his 
fervants,  and  difregarded  their  meffage,  inftead  of  re- 
turning to  him,  and  yielding  the  holy  obedience  he 
demanded  of  them  ;  and  the  corruptions  of  the  priefls 
and  rulers  had  fuch  an  influence  upon  the  people,  that 
God  had  no  revenues  of  glory  from  them. 

11,  12  And  again  the  mailer  fent  other  fervants, 
one  after  another,  from  time  to  time  :  But  (£j)  the 
hufbandmen,  flill  perfifling  in  their  difobedience,  a- 
bufed  them  more  than  the  former,  driving  them  away 
alfo  empty-handed.  So  God  continued  to  fend  the 
latter  prophets  to  the  Jews,  with  further  counfels 
and  cautions  to  reclaim  them  ;  and,  at  tfie  clofe  of 
that  difpenfation,  he  fent  John  the  B  apt  if}  to  point 
out  the  Mefiiah,  and  to  call  them  to  repentance,  and 
to  faith  in  him  :  But  they  flill  perfifling  in  their  obfli- 
nacy,  impenitence,  and  unbelief,  rejected  and  defpi- 
fed,  vilified  and  perfecuted  all  thefe,  one  after  ano- 
ther, with  yet  greater  virulence  ;  and  thru  11  them  a- 
way,  refolving  not  to  be  reformed. 

13  Then  the  mafler  of  the  vineyard  confidered 
with  himfelf  what  might  be  proper  for  him  to  do 
further,  to  win  upon  thefe  obllinate  rebels  ;  and  at 
lafl  refolved  to  fend  his  own  fon  and  heir,  fuppofing 
that  they  might  mew  a  due  refpedl  to  his  authority. 
So  God,  according  to  the  eternal  counfel  of  his  will, 

determined 


Chap.  xx. 

him  when  they  fee 
him. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


209 


i^utwhenthev 
hufbandmen  faw 
him,  they  reafoned 
among  themfelves, 
faying,  This  is  the 
heir:  come,  let  us 
kill  him,  that  the 
inheritance  may  be 
ours. 

15  So  they  caft 
him  out  of  the  vine- 
yard, and  killed 
him.  What,  there- 
fore, fhall  the  lord 
of  the  vineyard  do 
unto  them  ? 


16  He  fhall  come 
and  deftroy  thefe 
hufbandmen,  and 
fhall  give  the  vine- 
yard to  others. 
And  when  they 
jieard  it,  they  laid, 
God  forbid. 


17   And  he  be- 
held    them,      and 
laid,  What  is  this 
then  that  is  writ- 
ten, 


determined  to  fend  at  length  hfs  only  begotten  and 
dearly  beloved  Son,  who  is  Lord  of  all,  as  the  lafl 
expedient  for  working  upon  the  rebellious  Jews  ; 
fince  it  might  juftly  be  expected,  that  they  mould 
homage  and  fubmit  to  fuch  a  divine  perfon,  who  gave 
the  plaineft  proofs  of  his  being  fo  by  the  miraculous 
works  which  he  wrought  in  a  God-like  manner  among 

them. 

14,  15   But,  upon  the  hufbandmen's  feeing  their- 
mailer's  fon  and  heir,  they  thought,  that    if  they 
could  but  get  rid  of  him,  they  might  take  pofleffion 
of  the  eftate  for  themfelves  :    And    therefore    they 
defperately  refolved  to  lay  violent  hands  upon  him  ; 
and,  dragging  him  out  of  the  vineyard,    deftroyed 
him.      So  when  the  Son  of  God  appeared  among  the 
Jews;    and  the  chief  priefts  and    rulers    faw   with 
what  authority  he  preached  and  behaved,  what  won- 
derful miracles  he  performed,    and  how  the  people 
applauded  him,  they,  inftead  of   believing    in    him 
themfelves,  and  encouraging  others  to  embrace  him, 
were  fried  with  envy  at  him  :   And  thinking  that,  if 
they  could  but  difpatch  him,  there  would  be  none  left 
to  oppofe  their  authority,  they  rofe  up  in  rage  againft 
him,  caft  him  out  of  the  church,  who  was  indeed  its 
chief  Corner-ftone,  and  crucified  the  Lord  of  glory. 
'Whit  punifhment  therefore,  faid  Chrift,  muft  ye  fup- 
pofe  the  lord  of  the  vineyard  will  inflict  upon  thofe 
wicked  wretches,  meaning  the  Jews,  for  abullng  and 
deftroy  in  g,  not  only  the  fervants  he  fent  to    them 
time  after  time  before,  but  at  lafl  his  own  dear  fon 
alfo  ? 

1 6  He  will  certainly  execute  judgment  upon  them, 
to  their  utter  deftru£tion  ;  and  commit  the  care  of 
his  vineyard  to  others,  who  will  be  more  true  to  their 
trull,  and  yield  him  its  fruits  in  due  feafon.  And, 
as  jefus  had  not  explained  this  parable,  the  "chief 
priefts  and  elders,  not  confidering  at  flrft  how  far 
they  might  be  concerned  in  it,  condemned  thofe  wick- 
ed hufbandmen,  as  deferving  to  be  deftroyed  with- 
out mercy,  that  more  faithful  men  might  be  put  in- 
to their  .place.  {Mat.  xxi.  41.)  But  as  foon  as  they 
perceived  that  Chrift  herein  pointed  at  themfelves, 
as  the  pcrfons  reprefenteel  by  the  hufbandmen,  they 
faid,  Far  be  it  from  us  to  be  guilty  of  putting 
the  true  Mefliah  to  death  ;  wltenever  he  comes,  we 
fhall  take  care  that  we  do  not  commit  fo  horrible  a 
villany. 

17  But,  (2s)  while  they  were  thus  profeiTing  their 
detellation  of  fuch  wickednefs,  our  Lord,  looking 
upon  them  with  compafTion,  and  yet  with  feverity 
and  difdain,  faid,  If  what  ye  pretend  be  real,  what 

means 


210 

ten,  The  done 
which  the  builders 
rejected,  the«fame 
is  become  the  head 
of  the  corner? 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  xx. 


iS  Whofoever 
ihali  fall  upon  that 
ftone,  fliall  be  bro- 
ken: but  on  whom- 
soever it  fliall  fall, 
it  will  grind  him 
to  powder. 


1 9  And  the 
chief  priefts  and 
the  fcribes  the 
fame  hour  fought 
to  lay  hands  on 
him  ;  and  they 
feared  the  people  : 
for  they  perceived 
that  he  had  fpoken 
this  parable  againft 
them. 

20  And  they 
watched  him,  and 
fent  forth  fpies, 
which  fhould  feign 
themfelves  juft 
men,  that  they 
might  take  hold  of 
his  words,  that  fo 
they  might  deliver 
him  unto  the  pow- 
er and  authority  of 
the  governor. 


l\  And  they 
aiked  him,  laying, 
]yiafter,  wc  know 
that  thou  fayed 
and  tcacheft  right- 
ly, neither  accept- 
ed thou  the  perfon 
of  any,  but  tea  di- 
ed the  way  of  God 
truly. 

22  Is  it  lawful 
for 


means  that  ancient  prophecy,  where  it  is  written, 
Pfal.  cxviii.  22.)  The  Jt  one  which  the  builders  refu- 
Jed,  is  become  the  head-Jione  of  the  corner  ?  i.  e. 
The  Meffiah,  who  was  rejected  by  the  chief  priefts 
and  elders,  that  ought  to  have  been  builders  of  God's 
houfc,  and  by  the  generality  of  the  Jews  under  their 
influence,  is  made  the  foundation  and  chief  Corner- 
ftone  of  the  church,  upon  whom,  when  he  comes  to 
be  exalted,  both  Jews  and  Gentiles  mail  reft,  like 
the  two  fides  of  a  building,  and  be  firmly  and  beauti- 
fully knit  together  in  him. 

1 8  If  therefore,  under  the  power  of  miftaken  pre- 
judices,  any  fhould  be  fo  offended  at  the  Meffiah,  be- 
caufe  of  his  mean  appearance  on  earth,  as  not  to  be- 
lieve in  him,  he  expofes  himfelf  to  great  hurt  and 
danger,  which  will  be  like  flinging  him  down  upon  a 
great  ftone  :  But  if  any  mail  utterly  reject  Chrift  af- 
ter his  exaltation,  he  ihall  be  inevitably  deftroyed 
without  mercy,  and  that  for  ever,  like  one.  crufhed  to 
death  by  the  weight  of  a  heavy  ftone  call  upon  him. 
(See  the  note  on  Matth.  xxi.  44.) 

19  Then  the  chief  priefts  and  fcribe s,  who  by  this 
time  clearly  faw  that  Jefus  meant  all  this  againft  them, 
inftead  of  being  concerned  about  it,  and  humbled  un- 
der it,  were  fo  much  the  more  incenfed  at  it,  and 
would  immediately  have  feized  him  by  force,  and  put 
him  to  death,  had  they  not  been  reftrained  by  their 
fear  of  the  people,  who  they  knew  had  a  high  efteem 
of  him. 

20  And  therefore,  that  they  might  get  a  fairer 
opportunity  for  it,  they  refolved  to  keep  a  watchful 
eye  over  him,  and  fent  fome  Pharifees,  who  were  zea- 
lous for  the  liberty  of  the  Jews,  and  fome  Hero- 
diansy  who  were  as  zealous  for  the  Roman  authority, 
to  be  fpies  upon  him;  (Matth.  xxii.  16.  fee  the  note 
there)  ordering  them  to  put  on  the  appearance  of  ho- 
neft,  conscientious  men,  who  wanted  him  to  fatisfy 
the  fcruples  of  their  own  minds  ;  and  in  that  way  to 
try  whether  they  could  not  draw  fomething  from  him, 
that  might  either  offend  the  common  people,  or  ex- 
pofe  him  to  the  refentments  of  the  government,  and 
lay  a  foundation  for  a  judicial  proceis  againft  him. 

21,  22  And  they,  according  to  their  inft.ru6f.ions, 
addreffed  him  in  a  refpectful  manner,  faying,  Mailer,. 
we  are  well  a  flu  red  that  you  are  a  perfon  of  great  in- 
tegrity and  vvifdom,  and  teach  the  right  way  of  plea- 
iing  God,  and  that  your  impartiality  and  refolution 
fet  you  above  being  influenced  by  favour  or  affection, 
or  by  the  fear  of  any  man  whatfoever.  We  therefore 
defire  that  you  would  refolve  a  cafe  of  confeience 
which  lies  in  debate  between  us,  viz*  Whether  it  be 

laiyful 


Chap.  xx. 

for  us  to  give  tri- 
bute unto  Cefar, 
•r  no  ? 


23  But  be  per- 
ceived their  crafti- 
nefs,  and  faid  unto 
them,  Why  tempt 
ye  me  ? 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


111 


24  Shew  me  a 
penny:  Whofe  i- 
mage  and  fuper- 
fcription  hath  it  ? 
They  anfwered 
and  laid,  Cefar 's. 


25  And  he  faid 
unto  them,  Render 
therefore  unto  Ce- 
far the  things 
which  be  Cefar's, 
and  unto  God  the 
things  which  be 
Cod's. 


76  And  they 
could  not  take  hold 
of  his  words  before 
the  people  :  and 
they  marvelled  at 
his  anfwer,  and 
held  their  peace. 

27  Then  came 
to  him  certain  of 
the  Sadducees, 
(which  deny  that 
there  is  any  refur- 
reetion)  and  they 
aiked    him, 

28  Saying,  Maf- 
ter,  Mofes  wrote 
unto  us,  If  any 
man's  brother  die, 
having  a  wife,  and 
he  die  without  chil- 
dren, that  his  bro- 
ther fliould  take 
his  wife,  and  raife 
up  feed  unto  his 
brother. 


lawful  for  us,  who  are  God's  own  peculiar  people, 
and  under  his  immediate  government,  to  fubmit  to 
the  authority  of  the  emperor,  who  by  nation  and  re- 
ligion is  a  foreigner,  and,  in  confequence  thereof,  to 
pay  the  tribute  he  demands  of  us  ?  What  do  you  fay 
is  our  duty  in  this  cafe  ? 

23  But  he,  who  faw  through  their  treacherous  and 
wicked  defigns  againit  him,  knew  that  if  he  mould 
anfwer  in  the  negative,  they  would  accufe  him  as  an 
enemy  to  Ccefar ;  and  if  in  the  affirmative,  they 
would  incenfe  the  people  againfl  him,  as  an  enemy  to 
their  rights  and  liberties  ;  and  therefore  he  faid  to 
them,  Why,  under  a  pretence  of  refpe6t,  in  referring 
a  cafe  of  confeience  to  me,  do  ye  attempt  to  enfnare 
me,  as  if  I  did  not  underlland  your  deceit  ? 

24  Let  me  fee  a  piece  of  your  tribute-money  ;  and 
when  they  (hewed  him  a  Roman  penny,  which  ufed 
to  be  paid  on  that  occafion,  he  afKed  them  whofe  i- 
mage  and  fuperfcription  were  (lamped  uponit?  They, 
not  perceiving  his  defign,    immediately  replied,    Cce- 

Jar'Sj  as  the  Roman  emperors  were  ordinarily  (tiled. 

25  Upon  which  he  anfwered,  Your  receiving  Cce- 
far's  coin,   as  current,  is  a  practical  confeflion  of  his 

authority  ;  it  being  always  accounted  the  preroga- 
tive of  the  higher  fecular  powers  to  coin  money,  and 
thereby  to  afcertain  its  value,    and  make  it  current : 

Ye  therefore  ought  to  return  the  tribute  of  that  to 
o 

Ccefar,  which  ye  receive  and  enjoy  by  his  authority 
and  protection,  as  far  as  ye  can  do  it  confidently  with 
the  homage  and  fervice  ye  owe  to  God,  to  whom  ye 
mu(l  likewife  be  faithful,  in  rendering  all  religious  o- 
bedience  unto  him. 

26  And  there  was  fo  much  wifdom  and  equity  in 
this  anfwer,  that  thefe  captious,  fubtile  enemies,  did 
not  know  how  to  give  a  bad  turn  to  what  he  fold,  in 
the  hearing  of  all  the  people ;  but  were  amazed  at  his 
prudence  and  caution,  and  were  entirely  filenced  and 
confounded. 

27  They  having  failed  in  this  attempt,  feme  of  the 
Sadducees,  who  were  the  free  thinkers  of  the  age, 
and  denied  the  immortality  of  the  foul,  and  the  re- 
furreevtion  of  the  body,  came  on  the  fame  day, 
(Mattb.  xxii.  23.)  and  put  the  following  queltion  to 
him, 

28  Saying,  Mailer,  Mofes  ordered  in  the  law, 
(Dei/!,  xxv.  ^.)  that  if  a  married  man,  who  has  bre- 
thren, mould  die  without  ifiue,  one  of  them,  be- 
ing fingle,  mould  marry  his  widow,  to  keep  up  hh 
name  and  familv,  and  perpetuate  his  inheritance  in 
IfraeL 

29  Now 


212 

29  There  were 
therefore  feven 
brethren  :  and  the 
firft  took  a  wife, 
and  died  without 
children. 

30  And  the  fe- 
cond  took  her  to 
wife,  and  he  died 
childlefs. 

31  And  the  third 
took  her;  and  in 
like  manner  the 
feven  alfo.  And 
they  left  no  chil- 
dren, and  died. 

32  Lad  of  all 
the  woman  died 
aifo. 

^7,  Therefore  in 
the  refurreclion, 
whofe  wife  of  them 
is  (he  ?  for  feven 
had  her  to  wife. 

34  And  Jefus  an- 
fvvering,  laid  unto 
them,  The  chil- 
dren of  this  world 
marry,  and  are  gi- 
ven in  marriage  : 


The  Evangeli/l 


Chap. 


xx. 


35  But  they 
which  flia.ll  be  ac- 
counted worthy  to 
obtain  that  world, 
and  the  refurre'e- 
tion  from  the  dead, 
neither  marry,  nor 
are  given  in  mar- 
riage : 

36  Neither  can 
thty  die  any  more  ; 
for  they  are  equal 
unto  the  angels, 
and  'are  the  chil- 
dren of  Godf  be- 
ing the  children 
•f  the  rcfurrec- 
tion. 

37  Now  that  the 
dead  are  raited,  e- 

ven 


29  Now,    fay  they,    It  happened  that  there  were 
in  a  certain  family  feven  fuch  brethren,    the  eldefl  oL 
which,  having  taken  to  him  a  wife,   died,    and  left 
her  without  any  child. 

30  And  the  fecond  brother  marrying  her,  died 
likewife,  leaving  no  iffue  behind  him. 

31  And  then  the  third  in  order  took  the  wi- 
dow for  his  wife  ;  and  fo,  in  their  turns,  did  all  the 
reft,  none  of  which  had  any  child  by  her. 

32  At  laft  the  woman  herfelf  died  without  iflue 
likewife. 

33  If  therefore  there  be  a  future  {late,  and  a  re- 
furreclion  of  the  body,  we  would  afk  you,  whofe 
wife  (hall  this  woman  be  in  that  other  world,  fince 
they  were  all  married  to  her  in  this,  and  flie  bore  no 
child' to  either  of  them,  to  give  one  more  than  ano- 
ther a  claim  to  her? 

34  Jefus  replied,  Ye  are  grofsly  miftaken,  in  fup- 
poiing  that  this  is  any  real  objection  againft  the  doc- 
trine of  a  future  exiilence,  and  of  the  refurre&ion  of 
the  dead  ;  and  all  your  cavils  of  this  fort  proceed 
from  your  own  ignorance  of  the  true  defign  of  thefe 
and  other  fcriptures,  and  .of  the  exceeding  greatnefs 
of  God's  power,  as  if  he  could  not  raife  the  dead. 
(Mat.  xxii.  29.  and  Mark  xii.  24.)  Here  indeed,  in 
this  mortal  ftate,  it  is  neceflary  for  the  continuance 
of  mankind  upon  earth,  and  is  proper  for  their  conve- 
nience and  comfort,  that  men  mould  many,  and  wo- 
men mould  be  given  to  them  in  marriage  ;  and  the 
law  of  inheritances,  and  of  keeping  up  diflinct  fami- 
lies in  Ifrae/,  made  it  expedient,  that  furviving  bre- 
thren mould,  in  their  order,  marry  the  childlefs  wi- 
dow of  a  deceafed  brother  :  , 

35  But  ttoey,  whom  God  mall  gracioufly  accept 
as  worthy  to  be  admitted  to  the  inheritance  of  eter- 
nal life,  and  to  be  raifed  from  the  dead  to  the  poffef- 
fion  of  it,  in  the  other  world,  will  have  no  occafion 
for  marriages,  either  to  keep  up  the  flock  of  Its  inha- 
bitants, or  to  provide  for  their  own  conveniency  or 
comforts,  or  to  entail  their  inheritances  upon  their  fa- 
milies after  them. 

36  Nor  can  they  die  out  of  that  world,  -and  leave 
fucceiTors  behind  them,  as  they  do  in  this  :  For  they 
mail  all  be  as  glorious,  happy,  and  immortal,  as  the 
holy  angels  themfelves  ;  their  manner  of  living  and 
enjoying  (hall  be  jufl  like  theirs,  and  they  mail  pof- 
fefs  all  the  glory  of  a  divine  adoption,  as  the  fons  of 
God,  who  are  to  abide  in  his  houfe  for  ever,  after  the 
refurredtion  from  the  dead. 

37  And  (£e)  that  there  really  will  be  a  refurrec- 
tion  of  the  body  to  a  blelTed  immortality,  may  be 

fairly 


Chap.  xx.  Luke  paraphrafed.  i\:\ 

ven  Mofes  fhewed   fairly  argued  from  what  even  Mcfes  himfelf  faid,  (fee 
at  the  bufli    when    the   note  on  Matth.  xxii.  31.)    in  his  recital  of  the 
the  God  of  \bra-   words,  which  God  fpoke,  when  he  appeared  to  him 
ham,  and  the  God    in  the  bum,  faying,    (Exod.  iii.  6.)   Not  /  was,  but. 
of  Ifaac,  and  the    /  am  the  God  of  Abraham,  I  fane,  and  Jacob,  ma- 
God  of  Jacob.  ny  years  after  they  were  dead  ;  thereby  intimating,  - 
that  they  Hill  continued  to  be  his  children,  and  lo 
the   fons  of  the   refurredtion,   who  are  waiting  for, 
and  (hall  receive  the  adoption,    to  wit,   the  redemp- 
tion of  the  body.      (Rom.  viii.   23.   fee  the  note  on 
Matth.  xxii.  32.) 
3S  For  he  is  not        38   For  his  being  their  God  implies,   that  he  is 
tatoffte*!      **'   tne'r  Portion>  and  exceeding  great  reward:    But  as 
for    all    live  unto   they  never  were  partakers  of  the  full  glory  of  this  re- 
him.  lation  here  ;  lo  he  could  much  lefs  be  Hill  the  God  ot 
thofe   human   perfons,   if- that  effential   part   of  the 
man,  which  is  now  dead,  were  never  to  rife  again. 
Therefore,  as  their  fouls  already  live  in  another  world, 
and  it  cannot  be  faid  that  in  all  refpedls  they  are 
even  now  dead  ;  fo  their  bodies  mall  revive  at  the  re- 
«  furre&ion  of  the  juft  :   For  all  his  people  live  to  him, 
that  not  only  a  part  of  them,  but  the  whole  man,  ac- 
cording to  the  tenor  of  his  covenant,    may  be  for  e- 
ver  and  completely  happy  in  the  enjoyment  of  him  c 
and  they  now  live  in  his  account,    who  calls  thoje 
things  winch  be  not,  as  though   they   were,  becaufa 
he  quickens  the  dead.      (Rom.  iv.  17.) 
,9    Then    cer-        ^   Upon  this,  fome  of  the  Jewi/h  doctors,  whu 
tain  of  the  fcribes   beficve(1    the'  immortality  of  the   foul,    and  the  re- 
Mafter    thou  haft   furre&ion  of  the  body,  .were  fo  pleafed  with  his  ju- 
well  laid.  dicious   anfwer   to    the  Sadducee*,    that   they  could 
not  but  exprcls  their  fatisfadtion  in  it,  faying,  Mai- 
.    ter,  you  have  clearly  folved  the  difficulty,  and  efta- 
blifhed  thefe  great  doctrines   beyond   all   reafonable 
contradiction. 

40  And  after  that  ^Q  And  fuch  was  their  convidtion  of  his  wifdom  and 
they  durft  not  a(k  ab;iity,  by  thJs  and  feveral  other  anfwers  to  queilions 
him    any    c'ucition        .  .  /         J  .  .  ,  ,  r     ■  1  a- 

t  ajj#  which  were  put  to  him,  that  they  were  airaid  to  otter 

any  more,  or  to  engage  in  any  further  difpute  with  him. 

41  And  he  faid  4.1  He  then  took  an  opportunity,  in  his  turn,  to 
unto  them  How  propofe  tne  fullOVving  qucition  to  the  Pharifees, 
^Davidl  ftm  ?  n      (Mat-  xxu'-  41-)  Saying,  Why  do  l\i€fcribesi  (Ivla-k 

xii.  35.)  or  interpreters  of  the  law  affirm,  that  the 
Mefliah  fhall  be  a  fon  of  David's  race*  ?  How  can 
thpt  be,  or  how  do  ye  underfiaud  it  ? 

42,  43   David 
NOT    E. 
*  It  was  generally  owned  among  the    the  feed  of  baincl,   and  of  the  town  or? 
yeus,  that  the  Mefliah  was  to  i'pring    Bethlehem, -where David, was?  Q'fttoyii. 
from  David's  loins :  Accordingly,  on  oc-    4z.)    And  the  ufual  appellation  of  Chrili 
cafion,  iome  of  them  pleaded,    Has  not    among  thofe  who  looked  upon  him  as  ti- 
the fcripture  faid,  that  Chrift  comes  of   Mefliah.  was,  Thou  Son  of  David. 
Vol.  II.  F  f 


214 

4?,  And  David 
himfelf  faith  in  the 
book  of  pfalras, 
The  LORD  faid 
unto  my  Lord,  Sit 
thou  on  my  right 
hand, 

43  Till  I  make 
thine  enemies  thy 
lootftool. 

44  David  there- 
fore caileth  him 
Lord,  how  is  he 
then   his   fon  ? 


45  Then,  in  the 
audience  of  all  the 
people,  he  faid  un- 
to his  difciples, 


46    Beware  ,  of 

the  fcribes,  which 
defire  to  walk  in 
long  robes,  and 
love  greetings'  in 
the  markets,  and 
the  higheft  feats  in 
the  fynagogues,' 
and  the  chief  rooms 
at  feafts : 


The  Evangeli/i 


Chap,  xx. 


47  Which  de- 
vour widows  hou- 
arid  for  a  fhcw 
mike  long  prayers: 
the  fame  mall  re- 
ceive greater  dam- 
nation. 


42,  43,  David  himfelf,  under  the  inspiration  of 
the  Spirit  of  God,  owned  him  as  then  exifting,  and 
honoured  him  as  his  fuperior,  and  as  a  divine  perfon, 
faying,  {Pfal.  ex.  1.)  God  the  Father  faid  unto  my 
Lord,  the  Mefliah,  Sit  thou  enthroned  in  all  dignity 
and  power,  glory  and  delights,  in  heavenly  places  ; 
and  continue  reigning  in  thy  mediatorial  kingdom,  till 
all  thine  enemies  be  effectually  and  entirely  put  under 
thy  feet,  in  a  way  of  fubje&ion  to  thee. 

44  Since  therefore  David,  in  this  known  prophe- 
cy of  the  Mefliah,  exprefsly  ftiled  him  his  own  Lord, 
by  way  of  fuperiority  to  himfelf;  How  can  ye  recon- 
cile this  with  your  other  notion,  which  ye  truly  have, 
of  his  being  a  defcendant  from  David  ?  And  his  ene- 
mies, being  at  a  lofs  what  reply  to  make,  held  their 
peace.      (Alatth,  xxii.  46.) 

45  Then  as,  by  this  and  other  inftances  of  their 
perverfenefs,  it  appeared  that  whatever  he  faid,  and 
how  much  foever  he  confuted  them,  they  either  would 
not  be  convinced,  or  would  not  own  themfelves  to  be 
fo,  Jefus  applied  himfelf  to  his  difciples ;  and,  in  the 
hearing  of  all  the  people,  publicly  cautioned  them  a- 
gainii  thefe  men,  faying, 

46  Take  heed  of  being  impofed  upon  bv  the  fcribes 
and  Pharifees,  and  of  imitating  or  gratifying  their 
pride,  hypocrify,  and  felf-conceit,  who  wonderfully 
affecvt  to  put  on  folemn  airs,  that  they  may  command 
the  greateft  reverence,  and  get  an  afcendency  over  o- 
thers  :  Accordingly  they  chufe  to  walk  about  in  long 
garments  down  to  their  feet,  with  an  appearance  of 
ilately  gravity  ;  they  are  ambitious  of  receiving  higk 
compliments,  and  vihble  tokens  of  refpeel  from  the 
people,  in  the  ftreets  and  markets-^fend  they  are  e- 
vcr  pufhing  forward  for  the  upper-Hand  and  higheft 
feats,  in  all  places  of  public  worfliip,  and  at  all  en- 
tertainments, as  if  they  were  holier  and  more  worthy 
than  the  relt  of  mankind. 

47  They  likewife  make  high  pretences  to  uncom- 
mon piety,  and  draw  out  their  prayers  to  a  much 
greater  length  than  others  :  But  all  this  fond  appear- 
ance of  fanclity  and  zeal,  is  only  a  cloak  to  their  co- 
vetoufnefs  and  oppreflion,  that  they  may  be~the  lefs 
fufpected  of  any  ill  deligns,  and  may  the  better  im- 
pofe  upon  and  injure  the  richer  fort  of  widows,  and 
their  fatherlefs  children,  by  getting  their  affairs  into 
their?  own  hands,  and  facrilicing  them  to  their  own 
gain  :  And  as  they  commit  tin's  wickednefs  under, 
and  by  means  of  a  hypocritical  form  of  godlinefs,  the 
more  aggravated  and  provoking  is  their  guilt,  and  the 
more  dreadful  vengeance  will  the  righteous  God  in- 
flict upon  them  for  it. 

R  E  C  O  L- 


Chap.  xxi.  Luke  paraphrafed.  21 


5 


RECOLLECTIONS. 


How  unreafonable  are  all  exceptions  againft  the  authority  of  Chrift,  who  ought 
to  be  reverenced  as  God's  own  Son,  and  the  chief  Corner-ftone  of  the  church !  Aiui 
what  hard  fliift  do  his  enemies  make  to  avoid  the  conviction  that  would  lead  them 
to  own  and  honour  him  !  And  yet  behold  the  furprifing  patience  of  God,  and  the 
various  means  of  grace,  which  he  fends,  time  after  time,  to  an  unfruitful  and  re- 
bellious people,  before  he  utterly  cafts  them  oft"!  But  how  dreadful  will  be  the  mi- 
fery  of  thofe,  that  finally  reject  Chrift,  and  let  themfelves  againft  his  fervants  and 
him  !  They  are  all  along  doing  mifchief  to  therhfelves,  and  pulling  down  the  hea- 
vier!: deftruction  upon  their  own  heads ;  while  they,  who  build  on  him  as  their  only 
foundation,  fhall  find  the  utmoft  iecurity  and  latisfaclion  in  him,  lhali  be  taken 
into  his  vineyard,  kept  under  his  eye  and  care,  and  made  fruitful  to  eternal  lite. — 
O  what  a  wonderful  perfon  is  Chrift,  who  was  David's  ton  and  Lord  '.  It  is  only  a 
confideration  of  his  divine  and  human  natures,  that  can  reconcile  the  feemingly  con- 
tradictory characters  of  fupremacy  and  inferiority,  which  the  icripture  gives  ot  Hjm. 
How  fecurely  may  we  depend  on  him  without  danger  of  being  deceived  '.  And  how 
carefully  fliould  we  beware  of  evil  men,  that  we  may  guird  againft  their  deligning 
hypocrify,  and  never  place  an  implicit  faith  in  any  human  guides,  how  dignified 
and  facred  foever  their  profefiions  may  be  !  Eut  there  is  r.o  inconfiftence  between 
an  entire  fubjection  of  confeience  to  God,  in  all  matters  of  religion  ;  and  yielding 
faithful  obedience  to  civil  magistrates,  in  fecuiar  concerns :  And  though  difficulties 
may  be  Itarted  and  urged  againft  the  mod  evident  and  important  truths;  yet  our 
faith  fliould  not  be  fliaken  by  them  ;  but  whatever  is  allerted.  in,  or,  by  jnlt  conic- 
quences,  deduced  from  the  word  of  God,  fliould  be  heartily  believed  ;  and  we  may 
be  lure,  according  to  its  infallible  teftimony,  that,  as  there  will  loon  be  a  change  in 
the  circumftances  and  relations  of  this  dying  world;  lb  true  believers  can  never  die 
away  from  their  God.  And  O  what  a  blelTed  lot  will  they  have  in  the  world  to 
come,  where  they  fhall  be  the  children  of  the  refurrection,  and  be  like,  the  holy  an- 
gels, at  the  final  manifestation  of  the  ions  of  God  1 


CHAP.       XXI. 

Chrifs  obf equation  of  a  poor  widow's  cajling  two  miles  into  the  trea- 
fury,  i, — 4.     His  prediction  of  the  dejlru&ion  of  Jerufalem,  as  a 
type  andfgure  of  the  end  of  the  world,  5, — 33.      His  caution  to  be 
watchful,    34> — 36.       And  a  general  account  of  his  preaching, 
37,  38. 

Text.  Paraphrase. 

^ND  he  looked      A   §  our  Lord  was  one  day  fitting  over-againft  the 

t^JS'   and  f7   ""•   treafury  in  the  temple,    (Mark.  xii.   41.)    he 
the  rich  men  caft-  ,  .       ■>  r  .  1     •  ,  r  i  •  1 

iug  their  gifts  into   t0°k-  notice  01  ieveral  rich  perions  making  very  large 

the  treafury.  free-will-offerings,    which  they  put  into   the   public 

cheit  for  the  fervice  of  that  holy  place,  and  for  the 
feveral  religious  ufes  to  which  thofe  gifts  were  to  In- 
applied. 

2  And  he  faw        2  And  he  obferved  there  came,  among  others,    a 
alio  a  certain  poor  widow,  who  being  delirous  to  honour  God,  aj> 
widow   calling    m    *       ,.       *       ',-        ,fo        ,,         ,  ....       .,  •    , 
thither  two  mites     cordmg  to,  and  even  beyond  her  ability,  threw  in  two 

fmall  pieces  of  money,  which  amounted  to  the  value 
of  but  one  farthing.     (See  the  note  on  Matth.  x,  29.) 

3  And  he  faid,        3   Hereupon  Chrift,  to  fhew  his  approbation  of  it, 
Of  a  truth  I  fay   caU  d  hi    difcjpics  to  fym    (Mark  xii.  43.)  and  bade 

unto  x-   c  1 

X    f  2  tnqm 


2l6 

imto  you,  that 
this  poor  widow 
hath  call  in  more 
than  they  all : 


4  Fof  all  thefe 
h?.ve  ot'  their  a- 
bitndance  ca(t  in 
unto  the  offerings 
of  God:  but  fne  of 
heir  penury  hath 
cad  in  all  the  li- 
ving that  the  had. 

5  And  as  fotne 
fpake  of  the  tem- 
ple, how  it  was  a- 
dorfied  with  good- 
ly it  ones  and  gifts, 
he  faid, 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  xxi. 


6  As  for  thefe 
things  which  ye 
behold,  the  days 
will  come,  in  the 
which  there  ihall 
not  be  left  one 
Hone  upon  another, 
that  lhall  not  be 
thrown  down. 

7  And  they  afk- 
cd '  him,  faying, 
?vfafter,  but  when 
lhall  thefe  things 
be  ?  and  what  lign 
ivill  there  be  when 
thefe  things  fhall 
come   to   pafs  ? 


S  And  he  faid, 
Take  heed  that  ye 
be  nut  deceived  : 
tor  many  lhall  come 
in  my  name,  fay- 
ing. I  am  Chrijl  ; 
a'rjd  the  time  draw- 
Cfch  near  :  go  ye 
not  therefore  after 
them. 


.    But  when  yc 

ih?.il 


them  obferve  that  Indigent,  and  yet  generous  creature, 
alluring  them,  that  the  little  prefent  which  (lie  had 
made,  was  really  more  for  her  to  give,  and  of  higher 
account  with  God,  than  all  the  large  offerings  of  the 
rich. 

4  For,  faid  he,  all  thefe  have  parted  only  with  a 
fmall  proportion  of  what  they  might  well  fpare  out  of 
their  abundant  wealth ;  whereas  this  deftitute  widow, 
being  herfelf  in  rieceflitous  circumftances,  has  freely 
given  all  that  (he  had  in  poffefiion  for  her  pre-ient  fub- 
iiftence,  which  (hews  that  her  love  and  zeal  are  great- 
er than  theirs. 

5  Soon  after  this,  as  he  was  going  out  of  the  tem- 
ple, [Mark  xiii.  I.)  fome  of  his  difciples  took  no- 
tice with  what  vail  (tones  and  beautiful  ornaments 
Herod  had.  rebuilt  it,  (fee  the  note  on  John  ii.  20.) 
and  with  what  rich  prefents  the  people  honoured  it  ; 
and  they  defired  him  to  obferve  and  reflect  upon  all 
this,  that  the  dreadful  fentence  might  not  be  execu- 
ted, which  he  had  juft  before  pronounced  againll  it. 
(Mattb.  xxiii.  37,  38.) 

6  But  he  replied,  Do  the  external  pomp  and  gran- 
deur of  thefe  things  raife  your  admiration,  and  move 
your  concern,  that  they  may  never  be  demolifhed  ? 
Alas !  I  aflure  you,  the  time  is  battening  apace,  In 
which  this  (lately  building,  with  all  its  glory,  lhall 
be  fo  entirely  deftroyed,  that  there  (hall  be.  no  re- 
mains, fo  much  as  to  (hew  where  it  (lood.  (See  the 
note  on  Mattb.  xxiv.  2.) 

7  The  difciples  hearing  this  plain  and  peremptory 
declaration,  alked  him,  how  long  it  would  be  before 
the  furprifmg  things  he  had  mentioned  mould  come 
to  pafs,  and  by  what  evident  figns  they  might  know 
when  to  expecl  fuch  alterations,  as  they  fuppofed 
would  put  an  end  to  the  prefent  liate  of  things  upon 
earth,  and  confummate  the  glory  of  his  kingdom  ? 
(Mai lb.  xxiv.  3.) 

8  Our  bleffed  Lord  replied,  Be  very  cautious  that 
no  rr.an  delude  you  by  fpecious  and  falie  pretences  : 
For  before  the  accompliihment  of  the  terrible  deno- 
tations I  fpake  of,  various  impottors  will  take  upon 
them  the  charadter  of  the  Meflbh,  each  of  them  pre- 
tending, that,  if  Jfrael  would  obtain  the  expecled 
advantages  of  his  kingdom,  they  mult  repair  to  him, 
and  that  the  time  of  deliverance  from  all  their  bond- 
age and  rhifery  is  juft  at  hand  :  Give  no  heed  to  any 
of  thefe  fediicers,  for  by  their  fair  promifes  of  what 
tKey  will  do  for  their  followers,  and  by  ether  ftrata- 
gems  and  faife  appearances,  they  will  deceive  many, 
to   their -titter  perdition.    (Matth.  xxiv.  5.) 

9   But  when  ye  (hr.ll  have  rumours  of  great  tumults 

and 


y 


Chap.  xxi.  LuKe  paraphrafed.  217 

fliall  hear  of  wars,  and  wars  among  the  Jews,    and  between  them  and 

and  commotions.be  0ther  nations,    do  not  be  furprifed  cr  affrighted  at 

thefe^htrTs"  mult  them'  to  the  difcouragement  of  your  faith  and  holy 

tirft^om'e^o  pais,  profeffion  :   For  all  thefe  troubles  mult  precede  the 

but  the  end  is  not  deftru&ion  of  Jerufalem  ;    but   they   will  be  fome 

by  and  by.  time  before  it. 

10  Then  faid  he  10,  ii  Then,  by  way  of  further  explieation  of 
unto  them,  Nation  ^^jfe  events,  he  faid  to  them,  One  body  of  lews 
fliall  rife  a°-ainlt  ...  .  ,  .  n  . i  j  r-  .  « v 
nation  and  kin?-  W1^  ta^e  UP  arrn8  agamit  another,  and  6 entiles 
dom  againft  king,  againft  Jews;  and  fo  civil  and  foreign  wars  will  make 
dom  :  dreadful  havock  in  Judea  :  And,  befides  the  miferies 

n    And  great  arjfing  from  hence,  there  will  be  terrible  earthquakes, 

b"?^  diverfe ^h-  diftreflmg  famines  and  plagues,  and  furpnTing  appear- 

ces,    and  famines,  ances  in  the  air,    fuch  as  comets  and  blazing-itars, 

and       peflilenees,  which  will  ftrike  a  panic  fear  of  fome  tremendous 

and  fearful  fights,  judgment  as  at  hand  *. 

r.ireaV?§m        12    But,    before  all  thefe  public  confuhons,  your 
lhall  there  be  irom  .  '       ,.r  ,r  ,        ./ 

heavcn.  enemies  wnl  dilcover  a  cruel  temper,  and  raiie  up 

11  But    before  persecutions  of  all  forts  againft  you  ;  they  will  deli- 
all  thefe  they  fliall  ver  y0ll  Up  to  ecclefiaftical  courts,  as  if  ye  were  the 
lay  their  hands  on         rfl     j  apoftates     and  ftir  up  kings  and  civil  magi- 
you,  and  perfecute  n  -    ,-  -r  Z.u        *i  a     r      •     ■ 
you,  delivering  you  ftrates  againft  you,    as  if  ye  were  the  vileh  of  crimi- 

up    to    the    fyna-  nals  ;  and  they  will  throw  you  into  jails,  and  exer- 

gogues,    and    into  cj{"e  all  manner  of  feverities  againft  vou  for  my  fake  f. 

prifons,          being  Neverthelcfs,   (h)  God  in  his  providence,  and 

brought         before  .        Y      •    n                 r  i  •     o    •  •                             i                    *ii 

king?   and    rulers  by  the  influence  of  his  Spirit  upon  your  hearts,  will 

for      my     name's   over-rule  all  this  to  his  glory,  and  your  own  and  o- 

lake.  thers  good  :   For  by  means  of  thefe  Sufferings,  and 

ij  And  it^lhall   yOUr  Chriftian  behaviour  under  them,  ye  lhall  bear 

teftiniony  7  L   an  honourable  teitimony  to  me,  to  the  truth,    excel- 

lence, and  power  of  my  gofpel,  to  your  own  faith  and 
integrity  in  your  profefiion  of  my  name,  and  to  your 
being  aflifted  and  owned  of  God  in  it  ;  and  ye  will 
thereby  have  opportunities  for  preaching,  clearing,  and 
defending  my  gofpel,  fo  much  the  more,  to  the  con- 
futation of  its  enemies,  to  the  converfion  of  many, 
and  to  the  confirmation  of  my  difciples  in  their  molt 
holy  faith. 
14     Settle    it         14   Since  therefore  your  caufe  will  quit  coft,  in- 

theretbre  in    your    ftead  of  being  anxioufly  careful  before-hand  how  to 

hearts,  not  to  me-   anfwer  interrogatories,  accufations,  and  inditements, 
ditate before,  what      .  .        .  ,?   „,  ".,         .   ••,  ,     •   a      ,     ,- 

ve  fhall  anfwer  :       either  111  ecclehaitical  or  civil  courts  ;  and,  mltead  01 

being  diffident  about  the  ilTue,  becaufe  ye  are  Gran- 
gers 

N    O    T    E    S. 

*  Thus  hiftoriaris tell jis  it  was  before  confideied  as  applicable  to  the  time  of 

tlie  deftiucrion  of  jeyufalefn ;  and  ti  us  Clirifl's  coming  to  judge  the  world  at  the, 

we  may  ex  peel  it  to  be  in  other  nations,  lafc  day. 
toward  the  end  of  the  world.     See  the 

notes  on  Matth.  xxi  v.  and  the  paraphraf'e  f  The  Acts  of  the  apoftles  inform  us 

on  that   chapter,    and   on   Mark   xiii.;  that  all  thefe  things   were    fulfilled    in 

where  thefe  and  fevcral  other  events  are  thofe  davs. 


£i8 


15  For  I  will 
you  a  mouth 
p.ndwifdom,  which 
kill  your  adverfa- 
ries  fhall  not  be  a- 
ble  to  gainfay,  nor 
refill. 


x6  And  ye  fhall 
be  betrayed  both 
>>y  parents,  and 
brethren,  and  kins- 
folks, and  friends  ; 
and  fome  of  you 
fhall  they  caufe  to 
be  put  to  death. 


17  And  ye  fliall 
be  hated  of  all  men 
for  my  name's  fake. 


18  But  there 
fliall  not  an  hair 
of  your  head  pe- 
rrft. 


19  In  your 
•  ience  polTefs 
your  fouls. 


pa- 
ye 


co  And  when  ye 

fliall  fee  Jerufalem 

com- 


•     The  Evangelift  Chap.  xxi. 

gers  to  the  arts  of  pleading,  let  it  be  a  fettled  point 
with  you  to  commit  the  affair  to  me  : 

15  For  I,  your  Lord  and  Mailer,  will  give  you 
fuch  a  fpirit  of  wifdom  and  courage,  and  will  furnifh 
you  with  fuch  convincing  proofs  of  the  truth  and  ex- 
cellence of  my  doftrine,  and  of  its  being  your  duty 
to  profefs  and  preach  it ;  and  I  will  fuggeft  fuch  pro- 
per exprefiions  for  your  defence,  as  the  very  worft  of 
your  malicious  and  fubtile  enemies  fhall  by  no  means 
be  able  to  Avithftand  or  contradict  *. 

16  But  (h)  notwithstanding  all  this,  fuch  is  the 
direct  contrariety  of  my  gofpel  to  the  corrupt  prin- 
ciples and  practices  of  the  world,  that  even  the  near- 
er! relations  and  acquaintances  will  break  through  all 
the  bonds  of  natural  affection  and  friendfhip,  to  op- 
pofe  you  for  owning  and  publifhing  it :  So  that  kin- 
dred and  intimate  friends  will  deal  perfldioufly  with 
you,  and  even  your  own  brethren  and  parents  will  be- 
tray you  into  the  hands  of  cruel  perfecutors,  and  be 
the  means  of  putting  fome  of  you.  to  death. 

17  Yea,  a  malignant  fpirit  againfl  you  will  fpread 
to  fuch  a  degree,  that  the  generality  of  men,  even 
all  the  feed  of  the  old  ferpent,  will  unite  in  their  an- 
tipathy, oppofition,  and  rage  againfl  you,  becauic 
ye  belong  to  me,  and  bear  my  name. 

18  But,  I  tell  you  for  your  comfort  f,  furprifmg 
deliverances  fliall  be  wrought  for  you,  whilfl  I  have 
any  work  to  do  by  you  ;  and  if,  after  that,  any  of 
you  mall  fall  by  death  for  your  faithfulnefs  to  me,  it 
fhall  be  only  exchanging  this  mortal  life  for  an  im- 
mortal one  ;  and  fo  in  the  balance  of  accounts  all  will 
be  fafe,  and  turn  to  your  own  profit. 

19  And  therefore  whatfoever  your  danger  or  fuf- 
ferings  for  my  fake  may  be,  do  not  be  difcouraged 
in  yourfelves  ;  and  let  not  the  terror  of  your  adver- 
faries  difcompofe  and  ruffle  your  fpirits ;  but  keep 
poffeffion  of  your  own  fouls  in  quietnefs  and  peace, 
in  holy  fortitude  and  calm  refignation,  with  all  long- 
fuffering  and  patience,  by  a  humble  confidence,  that, 
As  your  days^  fo  your  Jlrength  fhall  be.  (Deut. 
xxxiii.  25.) 

20  And  now,  that  I  may  give  you  an  immediate- 
ly preceding  fign  of  the  utter  deflruclion  of  this  mag- 
nificent 

NOTES. 

at  the  deftruction  of  Jerufalem,  when 
fuch  vaft  multitudes  of  the  Jf'i's  were 
flaughtered  by  the  Ro?na?is  ;  or  rather  it 
may  be  confidered  as  a  proverbial  expref- 
iion,  to  denote  the  bed  of  fafe ty  and  ad- 
vantage in  times  of  danger;  for  Chrilt 
had  exprefsly  faid,  (wr.  itf.)  fome  fiiaU 
be  put  to  death. 


*  How  remarkably  was  this  fulfilled, 
when  Peter  and  jfoh:i  were  called  to  an 
account,  about  the  cripple,  before  the 
rulers,  elders,  fcribes,  and  others,  wifh 
the  high-prieft,  as  met  together  in  coun- 
«'il  !      Ails  iv.  5, —  2t. 

f  This  may  poffibly  refer  to  the  re- 
markable preservation  of  the  Chi 


Chap.  xxi. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


219 


compaffed  with 
armies,  then  know 
that  the  defolation 
thereof  is  nigh. 


nificent  city  and  temple,  whenever  ye  fhall  fee  the 
Roman  forces  laying  liege  to  Jerufa/emy  and  calling 
their  lines  about  it,  ye  may  afluredly  conclude,  that, 
the  time  of  this  dreadful  calamity  is  *  very  near. 

21  Then  let  them  that  are  in  any  part  of  Judea> 
flee  for  their  lives  into  fome  diilant  mountains,  or 
places  of  retirement,  to  hide  themfelves  from  the  ob- 
fervation  and  fury  of  both  Jews  and  Romans  ;  and 

are  in  the  midft  of  let  thofe  that  are  in  the  holy  city,  get  out  of  it,  be- 
it  depart  out ;  and  fore  they  De  hemmed  in  ;  and  let  no  one,  who  is  in 
the  fields  or  villages  round  about,  venture  to  go  into 
it,  either  from  a  vain  imagination,  as  if  he  might  be 
fafell  in  fuch  a  place  of  itrength,  or  from  a  covetous 
defire  of  carrying  off  fome  eifefts  which  he  may  have 
there  :  But  let  eveiy  one  flee  with  all  poffible  fpeed, 
as  ever  he  would  not  fall  in  the  common  defolation. 

22  For  this  will  be  the  very  time  in  which  God's 
patience  toward  this  provoking  people  will  expire, 
and  his  righteous  wrath  will  flame  out  upon  them, 
that  all  the  horrible  defolations,  fo  often  threatened  in 
the  prophecies  of  the  Old  Teltament,  may  be  inflict- 
ed upon  them,  to  their  utter  ruin. 

23  But,  fince  fpeedy  flight  will  be  fo  neceffary 
to  fafety  in  thofe  days,  fad  will  their  condition  be, 
whofe  circumftances  render  them  incapable  of  expedi- 
tion, fuch  as  women  with  child,  and  thofe"  who  have 

there  fnall  be  great   infants  hanging  at  their  breads  ;  it  will  be  very  dif- 
diftrefsin  the  land,    ficuk  f      tW  ^    f  Ff)r  that  w;U  be  a  tj  f 

and    wrath     upon  f\     r      i  1       n      1       1       1 

extreme  and  lpreading  diltrels  through  all  the  land 

of  Judea,  and  full  vials  of  divine  and  human  wrath 

will  be  poured  out  upon  its  inhabitants. 

24  Civil -wars  among  themfelves,  and  the  fword  of 
the  common  enemy  againil  them  all,  will  make  a 
dreadful  (laughter  among  them ;  and  fuch  as  efcape 
the  fword  fhall  be  led  into  captivity,  for  death,  or 
flavery,  in  all  the  nations  round  about  f .  And  Je- 
rufalem  itfelf  (hall  be  facked  and  trampled  upon  with 
indignation  and  contempt,  and  fhall  be  kept  under 
the  jurifdi&ion  of  the  Genti/es,  and  never  be  rebuilt 
again  with  any  grandeur  fuitable  to  its  prefent  ftate, 
till  the  glorious  days  mall  come,  which  are  appoint- 
ed far  the  general  converfion  oi  the  J  dies,  and  bring- 
ing in  of  the  fulnefs  of  the  Getrtiles  %. 

25,  26  And 
NOTES. 

ces,  to  be  deployed  in  the  theatre*,  by 
the  Avoid  and  wild  beaft-:  But  they  that 
were  under  feventeen  years  of  a?e  were 
fold.     Via.  de  Bel.  Jud.  I.  7    e."z9. 

X  Our  Lord  hereby  feems  to  intimate 
that  then  Jcrufalcm  fhould  be  rebuilt, 
and  the  Je-jjs  gathered  to  their  own 
country  and  city  again  j   and  that  the 

• 


21  Then  let 
them  which  are 
in  Judea  flee  to 
the  mountains  ; 
and  let  them  which 


let  not  them  that 
are  in  the  coun- 
tries enter  there- 
into. 


2  a  For  'thefe  be 
the  days  of  ven- 
geance, that  all 
things  which  are 
written  may  be 
fulfilled. 

23  But  wo  unto 
them  that  are  with 
child,  and  to  them 
that-  give  fuck  in 
thofe     days  :      for 


this  people. 


24  And  they 
fhall  fall  by  the 
edge  of  the  fword, 
and  fhall  be  led  a- 
way  captive  into 
all  nations :  and 
Jerufalem  fhall  be 
trodden  down  of 
tiie  Gentiles,  until 
the  times  of  the 
Gentiles  be  fulfil- 
led. 


•:  Tt  afterwards  appeared  that  the  fiege 
was  never  railed,  till  Jerufalem,  and  the 
temple  with  it,  was  deftroyed. 

f  Accordingly  Jc^fephus  tells  us,  that 
the  number  of  thofe  who  were  taken  cap- 
tive by  the  Romans,  during  this  war,  was 
ninety-leven  thout'and,  moft  of  which  T7- 
ftfjdifberfed  through  the  Roman  provm. 


220 


The  Evangelijt 


Chap.  xxi. 


25    And  there        25*,  26  And  at  the  clofe  of  the  fore-mentioned  de- 
fhall  be    figns    in   folations,  the  fubverfion  of  the  Jewijh  government, 

moon  "i«SClin"  the  re%Ion>  and  lawS>  wil1  be  f°  great>  that  (aS,the  P10" 
itars  'and  upon  the  Pnet  expreffed  thefe  terrible  revolutions,  Joel  ii.  31. 
earth diftrefs of  na-  and  iii.  15,  16.)  they  may  be  reprefented  under  the 
tions,  with  per-  figures  *  of  the  fun,  moon,  and  liars,  the  heavens, 
the  earth,  and  the  fea  being  confounded,  and  the 
whole  frame  of  nature  diffolved  ;  and  then  the  nations 
of  the  earth,  will  be  rilled  with  confirmation  and  di- 


plexity  ;     the 
and      the 
roaring 
16  Mens 


fea 
waves 


16  Mens  hearts  or  the  earth,  will  be  tilled  with  conlternation  and  di- 

t'ailing    them    for  ftrefs ;  and  the  hearts  of  the  unbelieving  Jews  will  be 

tear,  ana  for  look-  utterly  funk  and  overwhelmed  with  anguiih,  in  ex- 
in?      after      thole         C1_  /•  r    .1        ,        ,c  *        ■«__•       :i      ° 


mg 

thin  p-5 


lhall  be  fhaken. 

27  And  then 
lhall  they  fee  the 
Son  of  man  coming1 
in  a  cloud 
power  and 
glory. 


,    peciation  of  the  dreadful  miferies  that  are  comma: 
which    are    f  o 

on     the    upon  them  :   And  at  the  clofe  of  like  troubles  toward 
earth  :      for     the   the  end  of  the  world,  there  mall  be,  in  a  literal  fenfe, 
powers  of  heaven   a  diflblution  of  the  prefent  frame  of  the  heavens  and 
of  the  earth.     (2  Pet,  iii.  10,  11.) 

27  The  unbelieving  Jews  themfelves  mail  then 
fee,  thoueh  alas  too  late  !  that  Tefus  is  indeed  the  on- 

with  ly  true  Meffiah  ;  and  he  will  appear  in  fuch  a  folemn 
great  manner,  as  mall  fully  convince  every  one  of  his  great 
majefty,  power,  and  glory,  to  the  joy  of  his  faints, 
and  the  confulion  of  his  enemies  :  And  thus  it  will  be 
{fill  more  remarkably,  when  every  eye  fiiall  fee  him 
personally  appearing  in  the  clouds  of  heaven,  at  hi& 
coming  to  the  final  judgment. 

28  And  when  thefe  figns  of  Jerr/fa/em's  deftruc- 
tion  begin  to  appear,  look  upward  by  faith  for  pro- 
tection, fupport,  and  a  happy  iffue  ;  and  rejoice  with 
exceeding  joy,  in  the  near  profpect  of  approaching 
mercy  to  you  ;  for  whatfoever  becomes  of  others,  ye 
may  be  fure  that  your  deliverance  will  then  be  juit  at 
hand,  and  that  my  kingdom  (hail  foon  be  exalted  : 
And  when  like  tokens  of  the  iaft  general  judgment 
lhall  be  feen,  let  all  my  difciples  rejoice  in  a  believing 
confidence,  that  they  mail  quickly  have  complete  de- 
liverance from  their  fins  and  forrows,  and  obtain  fal- 
vation  with  eternal  glory. 

29  And  for  an  illuitration  of  thefe  awful  things, 
Chriii  further  faid,  Obferve  how  they  may  be  repre- 
fented by  a  limilitude  taken  from  the  fig-tree,  and  all 
other  trees  -f-. 

-     30  As 
NOT     E     5. 

meaning  of  thefti  jJaffages,  according  to 


s$  And  when 
thefe  things  begin 
to  come  to  pafs, 
then  look  up,  and 
lift  up  your  heads  : 
for  your  redemp- 
tion draweth  nigh. 


20  And  he  fpake 
to  them  a  parable, 
Behold  the  fig-tree, 

and  all  the  tree:  ; 


Gentiles  fiiall  then  no  longer  lord  it  over 
them  ;  but  all  nations  (hall  flow  in  unto 
them,  and  iha!I  walk  in  their  light,  re- 
joicing in  ''Jed's  mercy  to  them,  and  fhar- 
ir,g  in  all  fpivitual  blelfings  with  them. 

*  Thefe  expiellions  may  be  confider- 
ed  in  a  metapboi  ical  fenfe,  as  relating  to 


thefe  different  ways  of  applying  them. 

f  It  was  in  the  fpring,  juft  before  the 
paflbver,  that  Chrift  fpoke  theie  words; 
and  Co,  according  to  his  cuftom,  he  took 
an  occafion  from  the  prefent  feafon  or 
the  year,    when   all  the  trees  were  bud- 


the  dcftrudlion  of  Jet  ufulcm  ;  or  in  a  li-  ding  on  the  mount  of  Olives,  where  they 

terul  fenfe,   as  they  may  relate  to  the  then  were,    (Mattb.  xxiv.  3.)  to  make 

diflblution  of  all  things  at  the  end  of  the  ufe  of  this  firnilitude. 
v/orld ;  And  fo  I  have  reprefented  the 


Chap.  xxi. 


Luke  faraphrafed. 


221 


and 

of  your  ownfelves 
that  fummerisnow 
nigh  at  hand. 

31  So  like  wife 
ye,  when  ye  fee 
thefe  things  come 
to   pafe,    know  ye 


hand. 


32  Verily  I  fay 
unto  you,  This  ge- 
neration  fliall  not 


30    When  they        30  As  ye  now  fee  all  nature  in  its  fpring,  and  all 
now    (hoot    forth,   the  trees  round  about  you  breaking  out  in  buds  and 
■    leaves,  and  tender  (hoots  ;  ye  are  fully  fatisfied,  from 
your  own  obfervation  of  things,  that  the  fummer  is 
juft  now  coming  on. 

31  So  v.  hen  ye  fhall  fee  the  forementioned  progno- 
ses come  to  pafs,  be  allured  upon  the  credit  of  my 
word,  that  the  deftruction  of  the  Jewijh  temple  and 

that  the  kingdom  city,  religion  and  polity,,  to  make  way  for  the  ad- 
of  God  is  nigh  at  vancement  of  my  kingdom  in  all  its  glory  through  the 
world,  will  be  then  juft.  at  hand  :  And  the  like  may 
be  obferved  in  after-days,  with  regard  to  the  diflolu- 
tion  of  the  world,  to  introduce  the  laft  and  moil  ex- 
alted glory  of  the  Mefiiah's  kingdom. 

32  As  to  the  events  which  particularly  relate  to 
the  deftruction  of  Jerufalem,  and  the  calamities  that 

oafs' away,"  till  all   mall  precede  it,   I  tell  you  for  certain,  that  there  arc 
be  fulfilled.  fome  now  living,    who  fhall  not  be  carried  off  the 

itage,  till  they  fhall  fee  every  one  *  of  them  fully  ac- 
complished. 

33  And  as  to  the  like  events,  which  will  go  be- 
fore the  deftruction  of  the  world  at  the  laft  day,  I 
further  affure  you,  that  the  prelent  ftate  of  the  vifi- 
hle  heavens,  and  of  the  earth,  fhall  certainly  in  due 
time  be  diffolved  :  But  nothing,  that  I  have  foretold 
you,  ihall  ever  fail  of  a  punctual  accomplilhment, 
though  the  precife  time  for  thefe  laft  things  is  not 
certainly  known  as  yet  f .     [Mattb.  xxiv.  36.) 

34  Since  therefore  the  time  for  the  diffolution  of 
the  whole  frame  of  nature,  and  for  the  final  judg- 
ment, will  as  certainly  come,  as  the  defolation  of  the 

with  Jews,  but  none  knows  when  ;  fee  to  it  that  ye  ne- 
and  ver  indulge  luxurious  and  intemperate  appetites,  in 
.*"  eating  and  drinking  to  excefs,  nor  give  way  to  any 
ancj    fenfual  and  irregular  pleafures,  which  will  bring  great 

guilt 

NOTES. 

*  In  fact  the  apoftle  John  and  others    all  chem  that  dwell  on  the  face  of  the 

did  fee  and  furvive  this  dreadful  cata-    whole  earth,  ver.  35.   and  of  which  he 

ltrophe.  fays,  Bat  of  that  day  and  hour  knows  no 

man,  no  not  the  angels  of  heaven,  hut 
f  This  fenfe  of  thefe  words  feems  beft  my  Father  only.  Matth.  xxiv.  36.  then- 
fuited  to  the  mixed  defign,  which,  as  ap-  by  intimating,  that  as  to  the  precife  time, 
pears  to  me,  our  Lord  carried  on,  through  when  that  day  will  be,  it  was  then  a  fe- 
this  difcourfe,  to  notify  his  comipg  to  cret  in  his  Father's  own  brealt,  which  he 
deftroy  Jerufalem,  and  to  judge  the  world  had  not  revealed  to  any  man  or  arij  el  no, 
at  the  laft  day  :  For  as  one  was  a  livley  not  to  the  Meffiah  himfelf,  as  man,  at  leaft 
type  of  the  other;  fo  he  here  declares  not  with  any  com  million  to  reveal  it -to 
what  in  fact  fhould  be,  with  refpect  to  others  at  prefent:  And  anfwerable  to  this 
the  final  alteration  which  is  to  be  made  conclufion  of  Ch  rift's  predictions,  relating 
upon  the  whole  face  of  nature,  and  fo  to  the  final  judgment,  he  difcourfed  at 
paffes  on  to  what  moft  directly  and  im-  large  on  that  fubject  in  the  next  chapter. 
mediately  relates  to  the  general  judg-  (Matth.  xxv  )  See  the  notes  on  Mutih- 
raent,   which  would  come  as  a  fnare  on   xxiv,  35.  and  Mark  xiii.  32. 

Vol.  II,  G  g 


33  Heaven  and 
earth  fhall  pafs  a- 
way :  but  my  word 
ihall  not  pafs  a- 
way. 


34    And    take 
heed  to  yourfelves, 
left    at    any   time 
your  hearts  be  o 
vercharged 
forfeiting, 
drunkennefs, 
cares  of  this 


222  The  Evangelijl  Chap,  xxu 

and  fo  that  day  guilt  upon  the  confcience,  and  ftupify  and  unfit  you 
come  upon  you  un-  for  a^  fpintual  and  important  concerns  ;  and  take 
heed  that  ye  do  not  greedily  involve  yourfelves  in 
cares,  projects,  and  purfuits  after  the  riches  of  thi9 
world,  which  will  ingrofs  your  time  and  hearts,  and 
Ihut  out  better  things,  left  the  day  of  God's  dreadful 
vengeance  mould  ruih  upon  you  before  ye  are  aware, 
and  when  ye  will  be  worft  of  all  prepared  for  it. 

35  For  as  a  fnare  3 c;  For  the  folemn  judgment  of  the  great  day,  aa 
fhall  it   come    on    we}i   as  t}iat  on  Jerulalem,  will  certainly  come  with 

„„  *u„  (  „  '    e  *i      furprifinp-  and  inevitable  ruin  to  all  carelefs,  fenfual* 
on  the  face  ot  the         f         &  .  .  r    1 

whole  earth.  and  worldly-minded  Imners,  in  whatever  part  or  the 

world  they  may  be  :  And  juft  as  birds  when  they  are 
caught  in  a  fnare,  are  frighted  and  flutter,  but  can- 
not get  out  ;  fo  they  will  be  fnared  in  an  evil  time, 
when  it  fuddenly  falls  r/jbon  them.     (Ecclef.  ix.  12.) 

36  Watch  ye  36  Be  ye  therefore  always  in  a  wakeful,  circum- 
therefore,  and  pray  fpec^  temper,  and  ftridtly  upon  your  guard  againll 
may  be  accounted  temPtations  t(>  ^n  on  one  hand,  and  dreadful  fur- 
worthy  to  efcape  prifes  on  the  other  ;  and  be  inftant  in  daily  prayer  for 
all  thefe  things  continual  afliitance  unto  the  difcharge  of  every  duty, 
that  (hall  come  to   and  departure  from  every  iniquity,  that  ye  may  be 

before*  the*  Son^f  found*  bearing  the  charafter  of  thofe  whom  the  Mcf- 
mau>  fiah  fhall  adjudge  to  the  honour  and  privilege  of  e- 

fcaping,  not  only  the  vengeance  which  fhall  be  exe- 
cuted in  this  world,  but  the  fling  of  death,  and  the 
condemnation  of  the  ungodly  at  his  awful  tribunal  in 
the  laft  day ;  and  that  ye  may  be  deemed  meet  to 
Hand  in  the  congregation  of  the  righteous,  who  fhall 
be  acquitted  by  him,  and  have  boldnefs  before  him 
at  his  coming. 

37  And  in  the  37  Now  after  Chrift's  public  entry  into  Jerufalem, 
day-time    he    was   ne  conftantly,  for  a  little  while,  repaired  to  trie  tem- 

tem^le"?    and  ^t  P*e  b^  da>''  t,uat  lie  mignt  preach  there,    and  retired 

night  he  went  out  to  tne  mount  of  Olives  by  night,  that  he  might  have 

and  abode  in  the  the  better  opportunities  for  private  devotion,  in  view 

mount  that  is  call-  0f  his  approaching  death,    and  that  he  might  not  be 

vd^be  mount  of  0-  fhut  up  wjthin  the  walls  Qf  the  cjtyj   and  fo  be  takcn 

before  his  appointed  time  was  fully  come. 

38  And  all  the        38    And  in  the  morning,    upon  his  return  to  the 

people  came  early  temple,  the  common  people,    either  out  of  curiofity, 
in  the  morning  to  c  ,        •    •  *       Jf  ,  •  a      1      ,    .1  •  ,         ■,'- 

him  in  the  temple    or  *rom  a  §oocl  °Pimon  ™   nmV  nocked  thither  be- 
for  to  hear  him.    '   times  in  great  multitudes,   that  they  might  be  ready 
to  attend  on  his  miniftry  ;    fo  that  he  always  had  a 

crowded 
NOTE. 
*  TVortby,  in  the  foripture-fenfe  of  the  of  God.  and  of  the  vocation  wherewith  w? 
term,  fometimes  relates  to  an  honour  put  are  called,  and  to  bring  forth  truits  wor- 
upon  a  pcrfon,  as  when  it  fpeaks  of  he-  thy  of  repentance,  (r  The//',  ii.  n.  Eph. 
ino"  counted  worthy  to  fuffer  fhamc  for  iv.  1.  and  Luke  iii.  8.)  And  fo  to  he 
Chrift  ;  (z/tfj  v.  41.)  and  at  other  times  counted  worthy  to  efcape,  &c.  is  to  have 
ir  fignifies  meeknefs,  and  what  is  becom-  the  honour  of  it,  and  to  be  fitted,,  or  pre- 
ing,  as  when  we  are  fuid  to  walk  worthy    pared  for  it. 


Chap.  xxii.  Luke  paraphrafed.  223 

crowded  audience,  though,  alas  !  there  were  but  few 
among  thtm  who  received  the  love  of  the  truth,  that 
they  might  be  faved. 

RECOLLECTIONS. 

What  a  critical  notice  does  our  Lord  take  of  all  our  offerings,  and  of  all  the  cir- 
cumftances  that  attend  them !  And  who  can  think  of  his  awful  predictions,  and  their 
accomplishment,  and  not  read  in  them  the  Saviour  and  the  God,  as  alio  the  demo- 
lition of  the  Jenvijh  frame  of  worihip,  with  the  temple  at  Jerufalem,  and  the  efta- 
blifhment  of  a  new  difpenfation  of  grace  on  its  ruins  '.  Obftinate  finners  may  well 
expect  ievere  judgments  upon  earth,  for  perfilting  in  their  iniquities,  and  in  their  con- 
tempt of  Chrift  and  his  goipel ;  and  the  heavielt  deltruclion  will  certainly  overtake 
them  at  the  great  day,  unlefs  they  fly  to  Jefus,  and  cleave  to  him  in  oppofition  to 
all  other  pretended  Saviours.  Though  heaven  and  earth  (hall  pafs  away,  his  words 
fliall  never  fail;  but  his  threatenings  againft  the  wicked,  as  well  as  promiles  to  his 
people,  will  have  a  fure  accomplifhment :  And  O  how  will  his  iecond  coming  be 
to  the  utter  confufion  of  the  one,  and  the  unfpeakable  joy  of  the  other!  He  faith- 
fully gives  his  followers  notice,  before-hand,  of  their  dangers  and  deliverances;  and 
whatsoever  tribulations  may  befal  them,  for  his  fake,  from  the  greateft  powers  on 
earth,  or  from  the  hands  of  their  nearer!  kindred  and  friends,  why  Ikould  they  be 
terrified  or  difcouraged  at  them?  All  fliall  be  accompanied  with  ipecial  aids;  and 
turn  for  a  teftimony  of  good  account,  to  the  honour  of  their  Redeemer,  the  confu- 
tation of  his  enemies,  and  the  comfort  of  their  own  fouls  :  They  may  lift  up  their 
heads  and  rejoice  ;  for  their  redemption  draws  nigh  ;  and. faith  and  patience  will 
carry  them  lafe  through  all  difficulties,  in  their  way  to  the  better  ftate,  which 
fliall  fucceed  the  diffolution  of  all  things  here.  But  O  how  dangerous  are  the  cares, 
the  pleafures,  and  excefles  of  life  !  and  what  need  is  there  of  conftant  watchfuinefs 
and  prayer  againft  them,  and  for  an  efcape  from  the  miferies,  and  an  arrival  to  the 
bleffednefs  fpoken  of  in  the  word  of  God  '.  And  how  happy  will  it  be  for  thofe,  who 
fliall  be  enabled  to  Hand  till,  and  to  ftand  at,  the  appearing  of  Jefus  Chrift  in  the 
clouds  of  heaven,  in  all  his  majeily  and  glory  !  In  order  hereunto,  may  we  have 
wifdom  to  difcern  the  figns  of  the  times,  and  our  calls  to  anfwerable  duties.  And 
may  we  attend  upon  goipel  minittrations  in  fuch  a  manner,  as  to  hear  that  our 
fouls  may  live  1 


CHAP.       XXII. 


judas\r  betraying  his  Lord,  I, — 6.  ChriJPs  eating  his  lajl pajfover, 
7, — 18.  His  injlituting  his  f upper,  19,  20.  His  difcourfe  with 
his  difciples,  21, — 38.  His  agony  in  the  garden,  39, — 46.  His 
being  apprehended,  47, — 53.  Peter' s  denying  him,  54, — 62.  And 
his  trial  and  condemnation  in  the  high-prieJPs  ha//,  63, — 71. 

Text.  Paraphrase. 

Now   the    f€aft     A  T  this  time,    the  fourth  paflbver  after  Chrift's 
of  unleavened    XV   baptifm,    at  which,    according-  to  the  determi- 
bread   drew   nigh,  r  1     r  o    j  1.     n       1  1  r  /r 

which  is  called  the    nate  counle*  °*  t^00-  ne  mould  iuiier,  was  coming  on 
Paflbver.  within  two  days,    (Mark  xiv.  1.)  and  was  called  the 

feaft  of  unleavened  bread,    becaufe  the  Jews  were  to 
have  no  leaven  in  their  bread  or  houfes,   during  that 
folemnity. 
2  And  the  chief        2  And  then  it  was  that  the  fanhedrim,  made  up  of 

&u ht  ^oV^hT    the  Chlef  pHefts  and  d°a°rs  of  the  law>  together  with 
*        W  might   ^e  e^ers  °f  the  people,  men  of  great  reputation  for 

0  g  2  piety 


224 

might  kill  him  ; 
for  they  feared  the 
people. 


The  Evangeli/l 


Ghap.  xxii. 


3  Then  entered 

Satan  into  Judas, 
fir-named  Ifcariot, 
being-  of  the  num- 
ber of  the  twelve  : 


piety  and  learning,  met  to  confult  how  they  might 
moft  conveniently  apprehend  Jefus,  in  order  to  their 
putting  him  to  death  ;  for  they  \Vere  under  a  difficul- 
ty about  it,  becaufe  of  the  extraordinary  concourfc 
of  people  at  that  feafon,  who  they  knew  had  a  high 
veneration  and  elteem  for  him,  and  who  they  were  a- 
fraid  would  take  his  part,  and  rife  up  in  arms  to  re- 
fcue  him  out  of  their  hands  ;  and  therefore  they  re- 
folved  to  attempt  it  not  by  open  force,  but  privately 
by  flratagem.     (Markxiv.  i,  2.) 

3  At  the  fame  time  Satan,  who  had  fet  them  to 
work,  ftirred  up  the  corruptions  and  covetoufnefs  of 
Judas  Ifcariot,  one  of  the  twelve  apoltles,  and  drew 
him  into  a  treacherous  defign  againft  his  Lord  ;  (fee 
the  note  on  John  xiii.  27.)  and  it  pleafed  God  to 
permit  it,  that  by  the  over-rulings  of  a  wife  and  ho- 
ly providence,  he,  who  was  the  true  pafchal  Lamb, 
might  die  at  the  very  time  of  the  paffover,  and  be- 
fore many  witneffes. 

4  Accordingly  this  bafe  and  perfidious  difciple, 
hjs  way,  and  com-  knowing  where  to  find  the  chief  priefts,  and  the  cap- 
tains of  the  temple,  whom  they  had  called  in  to  their 
affrflance,  went  and  proffered  his  fervice,  by  making 
a  propofal  about  his  own  privately  and  effectually  be- 
traying Chrift  into  their  hands. 

5  And  they  no  fooner  heard  this,  but  were  migh- 
tily pleafed,  and  readily  accepted  the  offer,  it  exact- 
ly falling  in  with  their  own  fcheme  ;  and  to  encou- 
rage and  bind  him  to  a  performance  of  this  project, 
they  agreed  to  give  him  a  fum  of  money,  to  the  va- 
lue of  thirty  ihekels  of  filver.  {Mattb.  xxvi.  15.  fee 
the  note  there.) 

6  And,  though  this  offer  was  of  no  more  than  the 
law  appointed  to  be  given  for  a  flave,  (Exod.  xxi. 
32.)  this  fordid,  covetous,  and  vile-fpirited  wretch 
ftruck  a  bargain,  and  engaged  to  do  his  utmofl  to  de- 
liver Jefns  into  their  hands,  not  doubting  but  he 
fliould  be  able  to  accompfifh  the  horrid  delign  :  And 
from  that  time  forward,  he  watched  for  an  opportu- 
nity of  letting  them  know  the  place  of  Chrift's  re- 
tirement, that  they  might  privately  come  upon  him, 
when  none  of  the  people  fliould  be  prefent  to  make 
an  uproar,  or  attempt  his  refcue. 

7  Then  came  on  the  firft  day  of  unleavened  bread, 
[lvlatth.  xxvi.  17.)  *  on  which  the  Jewf  were  obli- 
ged by  the  law  to  kill  the  pafchal  lamb,  in  order  to 

their 

T    E. 

day  (the  fifteenth  of  the  month  Nifetri) 
on  which  Ifrael  were  delivered  out  of  E- 
) 


4  And  he  went 


chief  priefts  and 
captains,  how  he 
might  betray  him 
ttnto  them. 

5  And  they  were 
glad, and  covenant- 
ed to  give  him  mo- 
tley. 


6  And  he  promi- 
fed,  and  fought  op- 
portunity to  betray 
him  unto  them  in 
the  abfence  of  the 
multitude. 


7  Then  c?. me  the 
*Iay  of  unleavened 
bread,  when  the 
■jjaflTnver  muit  be 
kiiled. 

N    O 

*  It  fa  ol.fcrvable  that  our  Lord,  who 
•yras  typified  by  the  pafchal  lamb,  fuffer- 

•d  at  this  palVovcr  for  the  redemption  of  gypt.     (Numb,  xxxiii 
his  pe  >ple  ;    and  wn*;  feized  on  the  very 


Chap,  xxii,  Luke  paraphrafed.  225 

*  their  eating  it  at  the  evening,  which  belonged  to  the 

following  day. 

8  And  he  fent  8  And  as  our  Lord  came  to  fulfil  all  righteoufnefs, 
Peter  apd  John,  he  ordered  two  of  his  difciples,  Peter  and  John  by 
faying,  Go  and  pre-  tQ  before  y  intQ  jeru/0/em  and  there  to 
pare  us  the  paflo-  °  r  J       •'  '      . 

ver,  that  we  may   get  every  thing  ready  tor  the  paliover,  which  he  de- 
eat,  hgned  to  celebrate  in  the  city,  together  with  his  dif- 
ciples, whom  he  had  taken  under  his  care  and  charge 
as  his  family. 

9  And  they  faid  9  And  as  they  had  no  dwelling  of  their  own  there, 
unto  him,  Where  they  derired  him  to  let  them  know  at  what  houfe 
wilt  thou  that  we  hc  wou\£  pieafe  to  have  them  get  things  ready  for 
prepare .  If* 

that  lervice. 

10  And  he  laid  I0  And  for  a  demonftration  of  his  own  foreknow- 
unto  them,  Behold,  j,  and  ROVernment  Qf  all  events  ag  well  as  for 
when  ye  are  enter-  ...  . 

ed    into  the  city,   their  direction,    he    gave    them  this  token,    faying, 

there  mall  a  man  When  ye  are  got  into  the  city,  obferve  a  man,  whom 

meet  you,  hearing  ye  wjjj  meet  with,  canying  a  pitcher  of  water  :  and 

a  pitcher  of  water;  whatfoever.  houfe  he    „oes   mto     f0jjow   him   thither, 

follow  him  into  the  ,  n         .                         •%  r      t                   n  \ 

houfe  where  he  en-  (  See  the  ^te  OI1  Matih.  xxvi.   18.^) 

tereth  in.  1 1    And  as  foon  as  ye  enter  the  houfe,  tell  the 

ir  And  ye  fuall  honell  man  who  keeps  it,  that  I,  your  Lord   and 

fay  unto  the  good-  ^lafter,  fent  you  to  afk  him  for  a  proper  room  for 

The  Mafter' faith  :':C  anc^  mY  difciples,  to  eat  the  pafchal  lamb  toge- 

unto  thee,  Wheie  is  ther. 

the  gueft-chamber,  12  And  ye  need  not  fear  his  being  offended,  or  his 

where  I  fhall  eat  rcfufing  you  a  fuitable  accommodation ;  for  as  foon  as 

mv  difri°pres  > '  ^  *    )e  ^ave  to^  mm  t^'8,  ^e  W1'^  immediately,  without 

12  And  he  fliall   making  any  difficulty  of  the  matter,  conduct  you  to 

fhew  you  a  large    a  large  chamber,  which  is  proper  for  your  purpofe  : 

upper-room      fur-  There  prepare  all  that  is  needful  in  order  to  our  cele- 

niflied:  there  make  1      -•        .1    *.       j- 

,  bratmg  that  ordinance. 
ready.  o 

13  And     they        *3   Accordingly  thefe  two  difciples,  believing  the 

went,  and  found  as  words  he  had  ipoken,  went,  and  found  that  every 

he  had  faid   unto  circumflance  punctually  anfwered  his  prediction  ;  and 

them  :     and    they  jn  ,-j-^  room  tftey  macle  every  thing  ready  againft  his 

paffover.  arrival  to  eat  the  paliover. 

14  And  when  14  And  when,  after  fun-fet,  the  latter  evening 
the  hour  was  come,  came  on,  which  was  the  time  appointed  in  the  law 
he  fat  down,  and  for  the  jeWd  to  eat  the  pafchal  lamb,  (fee  the  note 
the  twelve  apoftles  ar  J,  .  \  T  r  ^-  -l  r  j 
with  him.  on  Matth.  xxvi.  20.)  Jelus  came   to  this  houle,  and 

fat  down  with  his  twelve  apoftles  to  fupper. 

15  And  he  faid  i  $  And  whilft  he  was  fitting  with  them  round  the 
unto  them,  With  tab]ej  he  faid  unto  them,  I  have  moft  earneflly  look- 
fir*,!  ♦„  «.,..  *u"  ed  and  longed  for  the  time  in  whieh  I  might  cat  this 
hred    to    eat    this  &  b 

naflbver  with  you  my  f&&,  pailover  with  you  before  my  death  :  1  know 
before  I  fuffer.  my  bittereft  fufferings  are  now  juft  at  hand,  by  which 
I  fhall  finiih  the  great  work  of  redemption  ;  and  fuch 
is  my  delight  to  do  my  Father's  will,  that  I  have  a* 
eagerly  wifhed  for  this  time  of  fulfilling  it,  as  if  no 
terrors  were  to  attend  it ;  and  I  am  glad  that  it  is 

now 


226 


The  Evangeli/t 


Chap.  xxii. 


any  more  eat  there 
of,   until  it  be  ful- 
filled in  the  king- 
•ciura  of  God. 


now  fo  near,  and  that  I  have  this  opportunity  of  free- ' 
ly  opening  my  heart,  *  and  giving  you  fome  ufeful 
and  comfortable  counfel  alone,  juft  before  I  am  to 
bleed  and  die  for  you,  and  to  be  taken  from  you. 
16  For  I  fay  un-  16  For  I  affure  you,  that  I  fhall  never  have  an 
to  you,  I  will  not  opportunity  of  eating  another  paffover  with  you,  till 
its  types  and  figures  fhall  be  really  accomplished  in 
me,  the  true  pafchal  Lamb,  and  their  fub fiance  or 
antitype  fhall  take  place  in  that  gofpel- kingdom,  which 
I  am  come  to  fet  up,  and  in  which  I  will  inftitute  an- 
other ordinance  to  fupercede  this  ;  nor  till  at  length 
we  fhall  delightfully  commemorate,  in  the  kingdom 
of  glory,  that  greater  redemption  from  fin  and  wrath 
by  my  death,  which  was  typified  by  the  deliverance 
of  Ifrael  out  of  Egypt, 

17  And  Chrift,  as  was  ufually  done  by  the  maf- 
ter  of  the  family  at  this  feait,  took  a  cup  of  wine  in- 
to his  hand,  and  gave  thanks  in  a  folemn  manner  to 
God  his  Father  ;  and  then  drinking  part  of  it,  de- 
livered the  reft  to  his  difciples,  ordering  them  to  hand 
it  round,  and  partake  of  it  in  their  turns. 

1 8  For,  faid  he,  I  again  tell  you,  that  I  fhall  ne- 
ver have  an  opportunity  of  drinking  the  pafchal  cup 
any  more,  till  this  divine  inflitution  fhall  be  fuperced- 
ed  by  a  redemption  from  all  fpiritual  and  eternal  evils, 
and  by  another  ordinance  in  the  gofpel-ftate,  to  com- 
memorate it,  which  was  prefigured  by  that  deliverance 
of  Ifrael,  in  rememberance  of  which  the  paflbver  was 
appointed,  and  has  been  obferved  to  this  day;  and 
from  henceforth  I  will  rejoice  with  you  in  no  other 
falvation,  than  that  which  ye  fhall  enjoy  with  me  for 
ever  in  the  kingdom  of  glory.  (See  the  note  on 
Matth.  xxvi.  29.) 

19  As  fcon  as  the  pafchal  fupper  was  ended,  our 
Lord  again  took  bread  into  his  hands  ;  and,  fetting 
it  apart  by  thankfgiving  and  prayer  for  a  religious 
purpofe,  he  broke  and  diHributed  it  among  his  dif- 
ciples f,  faying,  (1  Cor.  xi.  24.)  This  is  what  I 
appoint  to  be  henceforth  the  memorial  of  my  body's 
being  broken,  by  terrible  fuiferings  in  your  ltead,  as 
freely  given  up  to  death  for  your  redemption,  and 
made  over  to  you  for  falvation  :  From  this  time  on- 
ward to  my  fecond  coming,  eat  ye  bread,  with  faith, 

thankfulnefs, 
NOTES. 
*  It  is  obferv&ble,   that  at  this  time        f  He  did  not  ftand  at  an  altar  to  offer  a 
he  delivered  thofe  excellent  difcourfes  to    facrifice  to  God,  that  his  difciples  might 
them,  which  follow  in  this  chapter,  and    adore  the  bread;  but  he  fat  at  a  common 
in  the  thirteenth  and  fourteenth  o(Job?z;    table,  and  fet  it  apart  to  (acred  ufe,  that 
to  which  he  alfo  added  thofe  in  the  fif-    they  might  take  and  eat  it.   See  the  note 
teenth  and  fixteenth  of  that  Evangelift, .  on  Mark  xiv.  ;z. 
as  foon  as  he  went  out  of  the  houfe  to  the 
mount  of  Olives. 


1 7  And  he  took 
the  cup,  and  gave 
thanks,  and  faid, 
Take  this,  and  di- 
vide it  among  your- 
felves. 


18  For  I  fay  un- 
to you,  I  will  not 
drink  of  the  fruit 
■of  the  vine,  until 
the  kingdom  of 
(hall  come. 


God 


19  And  he  took 
bread,  and  gave 
thanks,  and  brake 
it,  and  gave  unto 
them,  faying,  This 
is  my  body  which 
is  given  for  you  : 
this  do  in  remem- 
brance of  me. 


Chap.  xxii. 


to  Likewife  al- 
fcr  the  cup  after 
flipper,  faying,This 
cup  is  the  new 
teftament  in  my 
blood,  which  is  fhed 
for  you. 


21  But  behold, 
the  hand  of  him 
that  betrayeth  me 
is  with  me  on  the 
table. 


LufcE  paraphrafed.  227 

thankfulnefs,  and  joy,  in  perpetual  remembrance  of 
my  dying  for  you,  even  as  ye  have  hitherto  eat  the 
paflbver,  in  commemoration  of  Ifrael's  deliverance 
from  *  Egyptian  miferies. 

20  In  like  manner,  after  the  pafchal  fupper,  and 
after  eating  bread  in  this  new  inilitution,  he  took  a 
a  cup  of  wine  in  his  hand  f ;  and,  having  likewife  fo- 
lemnly  fet  this  apart  for  facred  ufe  by  thankfgivlng 
and  prayer,  he  gave  it  to  his  difciples,  faying,  Drink 
ye  all  of  this  :  (  Mat,  xxvi.  27.)  For  I  appoint  that, 
from  this  time  forward,  your  drinking  wine,  in  this 
ordinance,  mall  be  a  perpetual  memorial  of  the  con- 
firmation of  the  new  covenant  by  my  blood,  as  (lied 
for  the  remiflion  of  your  fins,  inltead  of  drinking 
wine,  at  the  pafchal  fupper,  in  commemoration  of  If- 
rael's  great  deliverance  £. 


2 1    But  while  they  were  celebrating  the  paflbver 


H» 


(Matth.  xxvi.  21.  and  Mark  xiv.  18.)  Jeius,  know- 
ing the  moft  fecret  defign  of  Judas's  heart  againft 


urn, 


them 


alai 


22  And  truly  the 
Son  of  man  goeth, 
as  it  was  determi- 
ned :    but  wo  unto 


took  an  opportunity  to  give  tnem  an  alarming 
hint  about  it,  faying,  Behold,  one  of  you,  my  moft 
intimate  and  familiar  friends,  who  are  now  fitting  with 
me  at  table,  will  perfidioufly  betray  me  into  the  hands 
of  mine  enemies,  according  to  that  ancient  prophecy, 
(Pfal.  xli.  9.)  Mine  oivn  familiar  friend,  which  did 
eat  of  my  bread,  has  lift  up  his  heel  againji  me. 

22  And  to  tell  you  the  plain  truth,  I,  the  Mef- 
fiah,  am  juil  now  going  freely,  and  not  by  conftraint, 
to  the  place,    where  I  fliall  be  apprehended  in  order 


that  to  my  lail  iufferings  and  death, 


tccording  to  the  de- 
terminate 


N    O    T    E  "  S. 


*  As  Chrift  had  juft  now  celebrated 
the  pafchal  fupper,  which  was  called  the 
paflbver ;  fo,  in  the  like  facramental  lan- 
guage, he  calls  this  bread  his  body  ;  And 
this  circumftance  of  itfelf  was  fuffici- 
ent  to  prevent  any  miftake,  as  if  this 
bread  were  his  real  body,  any  more  than 
the  pafchal  lamb  was  really  the  paflbver. 
See  the  note  on  Matth.  xxvu  2S. 

f  Here  is  an  undeniable  figure,  where- 
by the  cup  is  put  for  the  wine  in  the  cup; 
and  this  is  called  the  new  teftament  in 
Chrift's  blood,  which  could  not  pollibly 
mean,  that  it  was  the  new  teftament  it- 
felf, but  only  the  feal  of  it,  and  the  fign 
or  memorial  of  that  blood  which  was  fhed 
to  confirm  it. 

\  This  appears  to  me  to  be  a  plain  and 
eafy  account  of  the  nature  and  defign  of 
this  inftitution  ;  and  effeilually  over- 
throws the  Popijfj  doflrine  of  nanfub- 
ftantiation,  which  is  contrary  to  the  very 
nature  of  a  memorial,  as  well  as  is  full 


of  all  imaginable  abfurdities,  and  direct 
contradictions. 

||  It  teems,  by  tbfc  way  of  the  evange- 
lifts  Matthew  and  Mark's  placing  and 
expreffing  Chrift's  difcourfe  on  this  occa- 
fion,  as  if  it  was  at  the  pafchal  fupper, 
and  not  at  the  Lord's  fupper,  that  ho 
gave  this  notice:  For  they  both  reprefent 
this  intimation  as  made  while  they  were 
eating  the  pafchal  fupper,  and  bring  it 
in  before  our  Lord's  proceeding  to  the  in- 
ftimtion  of  his  (upper  :  And  they  tell  us, 
that  he  notified  the  peri'on  who  would 
betray  him,  by  faying  that  it  was  he  who 
dipped  his  hand  with  him  in  the  difii, 
which  could  relate  to  no  other  than  the 
pafchal  fupper,  {Matth.  xxvi.  2  1,  23.  and 
Mark  xiv.  i  S,  20.)  And  Luke  himfelf 
here  expreffes  it  by  Chrift's  faying,  that  the 
traitor's  hand  was  with  him  on  the  tabley 
which  feems  to  refer  rather  to  the  man- 
ner of  eating  the  paflbver,  than  the  Lord's 
fupper.    See  the  note  on  Mark  xiv.  \o* 


228 


TIjc  EvangeUft 


Chap.  xxii. 


was  that  fhould  do 
this  thing. 


t\     And    there 
was  alfo  a  ftrife  a- 


that  man  by  whom   terminate  couhfel  and  foreknowledge  of  God,   and 

he  is  betrayed.  various  prophecies  in  the  Old  Teftament,  concerning 

mc  :    But,  though  the  wickednefs  of  the  traitor  will 

be  over-ruled,  by  the  wifdom  of  God,  to  accomplifh 

his  own  moll  gracious,  holy,  and  eternal  purpofe  for 

the  redemption  of  the  church  ;    this  is  no  excufe  for 

that  man's  fin,  who  a£ls  upon  the  word  of  principles, 

without  any  knowledge  of,  or  intention  to  fulfil  this 

purpofe  ;    and  therefore  the  moll  terrible  of  all  woes 

belong  unto,    and  (hall  be  inflidled  upon  him,    who, 

under  a  cloak  of  difciplefhip  and  friendfhip,  will  trea- 

cherouily  deliver  me  up  to  my  cruciflers. 

23  And  they  be-        23    Upon  Chrift's  giving  fo  plain  and  moving  a 

gan  to  enquire  a-   hint  as  th;       all  the  jifciples,    except   Judas,    were 

monsr    themtelves,    «       1     j        1       •       j  ^     *.l-   1         1  .1 

which  of  them  it    '"^ked  and  grieved  to  think,    that  any  among  them 

fhould  ever  go  into  fo  bafe  a  villany  againil  their 
Lord  ;  they  were  humbly  jealous  of  their  own  hearts, 
left  they  mould  deceive  them  ;  and  were  exceeding 
folicitous  to  clear  themfelves,  and  to  know  who  it 
was  that  mould  be  guilty  of  this  horrible  wickednefs, 
every  one  of  them  faying,  Lord  is  it  I  ?  (Matth* 
xxvi.  22.) 

24  A  little  before  this  time  likewife,  the  difciplcs, 
having  entertained  carnal  notions  about  Chrift's  king- 

mong  them,  which  ^Qm^  difcovered  great  emulation,  and  entered  into 
accounted  the  warm  debates,  which  of  them  fhould  have  the  highefl 
polls  of  trull  and  honour  under  him  ;  one  and  ano- 
ther pretending  that  the  pre-eminence  belonged  to 
himfelf,  either  on  account  of  his  fuperior  age,  or  ta- 
lents, or  intereft  in  their  Mailer's  favour. 

25  And  *  our  Lord  gave  them  a  gentle  reproof 
for  it,  faying,  In  the  kingdoms  of  this  world,  among 
the  heathens,  who  have  no  higher  views  than  what 
relate  to  the  prefent  life,  every  one  is  aiming  to  be 
uppermoft  ;  kings  and  emperors  are  exceeding  ambi- 
tious of  authority  and  power  over  their  fubjecls,  and 
over  one  another  ;  and  they  that  have  the  greatell  in- 
tereft, influence,  and  power,  and  the  largefl  purfc, 
are  moil  highly  honoured,  and  readily  fubmitted  to  ; 
and  in  all  this  they  would  fain  pafs  for  common  be- 
nefactors. 

26  But  fuch  a  temper  and  fuch  views  mull  not  be 
indulged  among  you,    the  fubjedls  of  my  kingdom, 
the  nature  and  deiign  of  which  is  fpiritual :   If  there- 
fore any  would  be  great  and  eminent  under  me,  what- 
soever 

N     O  T    E. 

*  I  fee  no  abfurdlty  in  fuppofing  that  Mark  x.  42, — 45. )    And  this  naturally 

our  bleffW  Lord,  npoh  waflung  his  difci-  accounts  fur  LuJke's  placing  this  part  of 

pies  feet,   reminded  them  of  hi,-,  lale  dif-  the  hulory  in  a  different  order  from  thoff- 

eourfe   to   then:  againft  aiming  at  pre-  livangelifts. 
eminence  :    (Mattb.  xx.  25, — 28.    and 


greateic. 


-a  5  And  he  faid 
unto  them,  .The 
kings  of  the  Gen- 
tiles exercife  lord- 
fliip  over  them  ; 
nnd  they  that  ex- 
ercife authority  up- 
on them  are  called 
benefactors. 


2  5  But  ye  jlall 
nor  be  lb  :  but  iie 
that  is  greatell  a- 
mong  you,  let  him 
be  as  the  younger; 
und 


that  ferveth. 


Chap.  xxii.  Luke  parapbrafed.  229 

and  he  that  is  chief,   focver  his  Handing,  privileges,  or  attainments  may  be, 
as    he    that    doth   foe  muft  not  aim  at  worldly  pomp  and  authority,  but 
muft  be  willing  to  condefcend  to  perfons  of  low  de- 
gree,   and  fubmit  to  the  meaneft  offices  of  love  and 
kindnefs  ;   and  muft  labour  to  promote  their  edifica- 
tion,   and  help  their  joy,    as  if  he  himfelf  were  the 
youttgeil  among  his  brethren,    and  were  indeed  their 
fervant. 
27  For  whether        27   For  ye  fhould  learn  of  me,    who  am  meek  and 
Is  greater,  he  that   lowly  0f  neart  :  Which  is  mofl  honourable, '  he  who 

hetiMtertdkHs   flt&  at  table>    and  is  waIted  yPon  ;  .or  he  who  ftands» 
not  he  that  fitteth    and  waits  upon  him  ?  Ye  will  readily  agree,  that  the 

at  meat?  but  I  am  pre-eminence  belongs  to  the  former  of  thefe  :  But  I, 
among  you  as  he  y0ur  Lord  and  Mailer,  am  fo  far  from  taking  ftatc 
upon  myfelf,  or  indulging  mine  own  eafe,  that  I  have 
fubmitted  to  the  form  of  a  fervant,  and  performed  all 
offices  of  condefceniion,  love,  and  fervice  to  you,  as 
if  I  were  your  inferior  *.  If  therefore  ye  would  be 
truly  great  in  my  kingdom,  follow  my  example  in  all 
poffible  condefcenfion,  meeknefs,  and  kindnefs  to- 
wards one  another,  as  there  may  be  opportunities  and 
occalions  for  them. 

28  Ye  have  hitherto  attended  me  in  my  trials  >  a- 
bafement,  and  fufFerings,  wherein  ye  have  feen  no- 
thing like  the  pomp  and  glory  of  this  world,  or  any 
affectation  of  it ;  nor  have  I  given  you  any  promifes 
relating  to  it ;  and  yet  ye  have  not  been  difcouraged 
from  abiding  with  me  :  Go  on  then,  notwithstanding 
the  further  fufFerings  ye  may  fee  in  me,  and  undergo 
yourfelves,  to  maintain  your  adherence  to  me,  and 
the  interefts  of  my  kingdom,  in  expectation  of  what 
is  every  way  better  than  all  the  riches  and  grandeur 
of  this  life. 

29,  30  And  as  my  Father  has  appointed  to  me,  in 
my  office-character,  a  fpiritual  kingdom  on  earth,  and 
dom,  as  my  Father         ^rious  kingdom  on  high  +  :    I,  in  like  manner,  ap- 
hath  appointed  un-        »  *>  1    -  1  rr  r       r  •  \.      1 

tome-  point  unto  you  honours  and  Dieiiings,  ot  a  ipintual 

30  That  ye  may  nature,  in  my  gofpel-kingdom  here,  and  in  heaven 
eat  and  drink  at  hereafter ;  that  ye  may  have  the  dignity  and  delight 
my  table  in  my  0f  mtimate  communion  with  me,  like  the  nobles  of  a 
onnthro^,jTdging  kingdom,  who  are  admitted  to  eat  and  drink  with 
the  twelve  tribes  of  their  prince  at  his  table  ;  and  that  ye  may  have  the 
IiVael.  •  honour  and  authority  of  publifhing  and  enforcing  the 

laws 
NOTES. 
*  ItfeemsasifChrift  was  fitting  at  ta-    fecondarily   to  al!  Chrift's  fervants  and 

difcip!es,  whole  fpiritual  powers,  ho- 
nours, and  delights,  arc  here  rcprefent- 
ed  in  figurative  terms,  with  refpecl:  to 
their  advancement  in  the  kingdom  of 
grace  here,  and  in  the  kingdom  of  glory 


28  Ye  are  they 
which  have  conti- 
nued with  me  in 
my  temptations. 


a 9  And  I  appoint 
unto  you   a  king- 


hie  when  he  fpoke  thefe  words,  and  that 
immediately  afterwards  he  vofc  and  warn- 
ed his  difciples  feet;  an  account  of  which 
we  have,  John  xiii.  4,  5. 

f  Thefe  expreflions  feem  to  be  prima- 
rily applicable  to  the  twelve  apoftles,  and    hereafter 

Vol.  II.  H  h 


230 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  xxii. 


3t  And  the  Lord 
faid,  Simon,  Simon, 
behold,  Satan  hath 
de  fired  toha'veyoa, 
that  he  may  Ml  yon 
as  wheat : 


have 
thee, 


laws  of  my  kingdom  on  earth,  to  bind  the  conferen- 
ces of  all  the  tribes  of  Ifrae/,  and  of  publicly  appro- 
ving of  my  fentence  upon  them,  and  confenting  to.it 
as  righteous,  in  the  final  judgment, 

31  And  yet,  to  humble  them  for  their  conten- 
tions about  dignities,  our  bleffed  Lord  forewarned 
them  of  the  offence  which  they  would  take  at  his  ap- 
proaching fufferings  ;  (Mat.  xxvi.  31.)  and,  turning- 
to  Peter,  he  fpoke  to  him,  and  by  him  to  them  all, 
faying  with  great  earneftnefs,  Simon,  Simon  *,  attend 
to  what  I  am  going  to  tell  you :  The  devil  has  an  evil 
defign  upon  (vpois)  you  and  the  reft  of  my  difci- 
ples  ;  and,  being  exceedingly  defirous  to  have  you  all 
in  his  power,  has  afked  leave  to  fearch  and  (hake  you, 
like  wheat,  when  it  is  winnowed  ;  and,  in  a  very  lit- 
tle time,  he  will  take  advantage,  from  my  fufferings 
and  death,  to  hurry  and  fright  you,  that  ye  may 
fling  up  your  profeffion,  faith,  and  hope,  and  may 
forfake  and  reject  me. 

3  2  But,  as  I  know  that  his  fierceft  affaults  and 
thatThyMthM  greateft  prevalence  will  be  pn  thee,  PeUr,  I  particu- 
not ;  and  when  Iarty  a"Ure  thee  of  my  having  prayed  tor  thee,  that 
thou  art  converted,  how  terribly  foever  thy  faith  may  be  fhaken,  it  may 
strengthen  thy  bre-  not  be  utterly  and  finally  deflroyed  :  And  when  thou 
en*  malt  be  recovered,    by  a  fort  of  fecond  converfion, 

from  thy  approaching  fall,  fee  that  thou  improve  thine 
own  experience  for  the  counfel  and  caution  of  thy 
fellow-Chriflians  and  minifters,  againft  temptation, 
and  for  their  relief  and  comfort  under  it,  and  reftor- 
ation  after  they  may  have  been  overcome  by  it. 
33  And  he  faid  33  Peter  replied  with  too  much  felf-confidence, 
unto  him,  Lord,  I  though  with  an  honeft  heart,  which  meant  as  he  faid, 
Lord,  I  fear  no  temptations  of  Satan  ;  but  am  pre- 
pared for  all  events,  and  fully  refolved  to  ftand  by 
thee,  and  take  my  fuffering  lot  with  thee,  though  it 
fhould  be  unto  imprifonment,  and  death  itfelf :  Be 
my  trials  ever  fo  great,  I  never  will  defert  or  difown 
thee. 

34  Then,  to  warn  him  of  the  deceitfulnefs  of  his 
I  tell  thee  Peter,  own  }ieart?  our  Lord  faid,  Notwithftandinp*  all  thefc 
the  cock  fliall  not    1  •    1  r/r  rri^-  j  1         ji 

now  this  dav    be-   "'S'1  profeiiions  of  reiolution  and  courage,  zeal  and 

tore  that  thou'flialt    friendihip,   I  tell  thee,  Peter  f,  that  this  very  day 
thrice   on  which  we  are  now  entered,  even  before  the  time 

ot 
NOTES. 
*  Chrin:  here  feems  to  call  him  by  his    Pettr  better  than  Peter  knew  himfelf ; 


32    But  I 
prayed     for 


am  ready  to  go 
with  thee,  both  in- 
to prifon,  and  to 
death. 


34  And  he  faid, 


former  name  Sivio'/,  and  not  Peter,  which 
fignifies  a  Rock,  becaufe  u  hat  he  was  go- 
rng  to  fay  to  him  was  an  argument  of  his 
infirmity,  and  not  of  his  viability,  or 
jlrength  :  And  here  is  a  plain  alluCon  to 
the  hiltory  of  Job,  chap.  1.  ii. 

f  Chrilt  hereby  (hewed  that  he  knew 


and  that,  to  humble  him,  he  would  fuf» 
fer  him  to  fall  very  foully,  though  he  had 
prayed  that  his  faith  fhould  not  utterly 
fail.  See  the  notes  on  Matth.  xxvi.  34; 
and  Mark  xiv.  30.  for  reconciling  the 
different  ways,  in  which  the  Evangeli/*? 
expreficd  the  time  here  referred  to. 


Chap.  xxii. 

thrice    deny    that 
thou  knoweft  me. 


35  And  he  faid 
unto  them,  When 
I  fent  you  without 
purfe,  and  fcrip.and 
fhoes,  lacked  ye  a- 
ny  thing  ?  And 
they  faid,  Nothing. 


Luke  parapbrafed. 


231 


36  Then  faid  he 
unto  them,  But 
now  he  that  hath 
a  purfe,  let  him 
take  it,  and  like- 
wife  bis  fcrip:  and 
he  that  hath  no 
fword,  let  him  fell 
his  garment,  and 
buy  one. 

37  For  I  fay  un- 
to you,  that  this 
that  is  written 
muft  yet  be  ac- 
cornplifhed  in  me, 
And  he  was  reck- 
oned among  the 
tranfgreflbrs :  for 
the  things  concern- 
ing me  have  an 
•end. 


38  And  they 
faid,  Lord,  behold, 
here  are  two 
iwords.  And  he 
faid  unto  them,  It 
is  enough. 


of  cock-crowing  in  the  morning,  thou  wilt  pofi- 
tively  deny,  three  times  over,  that  thou  ever  hadil 
the  leaft  acquaintance  with  me. 

35  And,  that  he  might  ft  ill  further  lead  his  dif- 
ciples  to  an  expectation  of  a  near  approach  of  dangers 
and  fufferings,  he  reminded  them  that,  when  he  had 
formerly  (Matth.  x.  9,  10.)  fent  them  forth  to 
preach  the  gofpel,  he  ordered  them  not  to  make  any 
provifion  for  themfelves  of  money,  or  victuals,  or  of 
more  fhoes  or  clothes  than  they  had  on,  or  of  weapons 
for  their  defence  ;  but  to  depend  entirely  upon  Pro- 
vidence for  their  fupply  and  fafety  :  And  he  afked 
them,  whether,  when  they  went  out,  in  thofe  circum- 
ftances,  they  ever  fuffered  a  want  of  any  thing  that 
was  needful  for  them  ?  to  which  they  replied,  No, 
none  at  all. 

36  Then  faid  lie  unto  them,  But  now  things  will 
immediately  take  fuch  a  perilous  turn,  and  ye  will 
be  fo  friendlefs  and  expofed,  that  ye  had  need  have 
both  money  and  food  before-hand  for  the  neceffaries 
of  life,  and  Swords  too  for  your  defence  againft  the- 
enemies  that  are  coming  upon  you  :  Yea,  your  dan- 
ger will  be  fo  exceeding  great,  that  ye  would  be  glad 
even  to  part  with  your  coats  on  your  backs  for  a 
fword  to  defend  you  againil  it  *. 

37  For  I  tell  you,  that  there  are  ftill  ancient  pro- 
phecies, concerning  the  Mefiiah's  ignominious  and 
bitter  fufferings  and  death,  which  muft  be  fulfilled  in 
me  ;  as  particularly,  that  he  muft  be  looked  upon, 
and  treated  as  a  tranfgreflbr,  and  muft  fulfer  and  die 
under  all  the  infamy  of  that  character,  in  company 
with  the  vileft  malefactors  :  For  the  time  is  now  juft 
at  hand,  wherein,  according  to  God's  eternal  coun- 
fcl,  all  divine  predictions  relating  to  my  bearing  the 

Jin  of  many ',  (Ifa.  liii.  12.)  muft  have  their  complete 
accomplifhment,  that  I  may  finifh  the  work  which 
my  Father  gave  me  to  do,  and  that  all  may  end  well 
for  me  and  them. 

38  Upon  this  the  difciples,  underftanding  Chrift 
to  have  fpoken  literally  of  ufing  the  fword  for  de- 
fence againft  their  enemies,  faid  to  him,  Lord,  we  are 
ready  to  obey  thy  orders ;  fee,  here  are  two  fwords, 
amongft  us  :   Shall  we  take  care  to  get  more,  that  we 

H  h  2  may 

T     E. 

them,  but  by  the  power  of  the  fword  : 
For  he  afterwards  faid,  {ver.  38.)  that 
two  fwords  were  enough,  which  could 
nofl>e  true,  if  their  armed  enemies  were 
to  be  refitted  by  force  ;  and  when  Pettr 
ufed  a  fword  in  that  way,  Chrift  reproved 
hira  for  it.  (Mattb.  xxvi.  52.) 


N 


O 

*  It  feems  as  if  what  Chrift  faid.  a- 
bout  getting  fwords,  were  to  be  under- 
ftood  not  literally,  as  an  order  to  buy 
them,  but  emblematically,  as  an  intima- 
tion of  dangers  coming  on,  which  would 
be  fo  extreme,  that  the  difciples  had 
need  be  well  provided  againft  them,  and 
would  think  that  they  could  not  repel 


-32 


The  Evangelifl 


Chap,  xxi'i. 


.$9  And  he  came 
out,  and  went,  as 
he  was  wont,  to  the 
mount  of  Olives  ; 
and  his  difciples  ri- 
fe followed  him. 


40  And  when 
lie  was  at  the 
place,  he  laid  un- 
to them,  Pray  that 
\e  enter  not  into 
temptation. 


41  And  he  was 
withdrawn  from 
rhem  about  a 
itones  caft,  and 
kneeled  down,  and 

.  prayed, 

42  baying,  Fa- 
ther, if  thou  be 
willing,  remove 
this  cup  from  me  : 
nevertheless,  not 
my  will,  but  thine 


be  done. 


N     O 
j   Jt  .'.  top  curious  to  inquire  how  thefe 
ilcipks  came  to  have  two  uvord.s  among 
em  :   But  it  nv.sy  be  lufiicient  to  lay, 
that  it  wac. providtntially  ordered,  to  give 
•  o.r  Loid  an  opportunity  of  ufing  this  em- 
blem,  and  of  leading  his  difciples  to  un- 
I     (land  his  meaning  in  it :  And  iblne  tell 


may  all  be  armed  againft  any  afTault  upon  thee  or  us  ? 
But  he  having  intended  only  to  intimate,  by  the  fym- 
bol  of  the  fword,  how  great  their  danger  was,  repli- 
ed, Thefe  two  are  fufficient  to  anfwer  the  inftruAive 
defign  for  which  I  mentioned  them :  Let  me  therefore 
hear  no  more  of  your  providing  fuch  fort  of  weapons 
for  your  defence  and  victory,  as  if  my  kingdom  were 
of  this  world*. 

39  After  thefe  difcourfes  Chriil  went  out  of  the 
room,  where  he  had  eaten  the  pafchal  lamb,,  and 
celebrated  the  Lord's  fupper  ;  and,  night  being  come 
on,  he,  according  to  cuftom,  retired  to  the  mount 
of  0 fives  ;  and  all  his  difciples  accompanied  him  thi- 
ther, except  Judas,  who  before  had  gone  from  fup- 
per in  order  to  his  betraying  him  into  the  hands  of 
the  Jews.      CJohn  xiii.  30.) 

40  And  as  foon  as  he  arrived  at  a  place  called 
Geihfemane,  (Matth.  xxvi.  36.)  which  was  at  the 
foot  of  the  mount  of  Olives,  he  found  his  difciples 
Avere  heavy  for  (kep  ;  and,  to  roufe  them,  faid,  This 
;s  not  a  time  to  indulge  yourfelves  in  floth,  while  dan- 
ger is  fo  nigh  at  hand  :  Beg  earneftly  of  God  to  keep 
you  from,  or  in,  the  diitrefling  trials,  which  ar  ecom- 
ing  upon  you,  that  ye  may  not  be  hurried  into  (in 
by  them,  but  may  be  fupported,  and  enabled  to  be- 
have in  a  becoming  manner  under  them,  and  carried 
fafely  through  them. 

41,  42  Then  having  taken  with  him  three  of  his 
difciples,  [Matth.  xxvi.  37.  and  Mark  xiv.  33.)  and 
having  afterwards  retired  from  thefe,  to  the  diftance 
of  about  a  Hone's  caft,  for  fecret  prayer,  he  kneeled 
down,  and  with  all  humility  arid  reverential  fear,  and 
with  earneftnefs  and  tears,  addreffed  his  Father, 
(Heb.  v.  7.)  faying,  O  my  heavenly  Father,  the  neat- 
view  I  have  of  the  terrible  fuffermgs  and  death  which 
lie  jufl  before  me^  and  what  I  now  begin  to  feel  from 
the  wreight  of  thy  hand,  and  the  powers  of  darknefs, 
is  fo  (hocking  to  my  human  nature,  that,  were  it 
confident  with  the  eternal  counfels  of  thy  will,  relat- 
ing to  thy  glory,  and  the  falvation  of  thy  people,  I 
fhould  be  glad  to  efcape  them  :  Neverthelefs,  I  freely 
bow,  and  fubmit  to  thy  difpofal,  renouncing  all  the 
will  of  the  flefh,    and  defiring  that  not  this  will  of 

mine, 

T    £. 

us,  that  it  was  enftomary  among  the,GV7- 
liitiirts  to  wear  [words  when  they  travel- 
led, that  they  might  defend  themfelvesa- 
gainll  the  robbers  and  aflafTins  which  in- 
fefted  their  roads;  and  as  this  was  lawful, 
Chrilt  might  very  well  allow  of  it  in  his 
difciples,  though  lie  note  none  himself. 


Chap.  xxii. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


233 


mine,  but  that  thy  moil  holy   will  may  be   done, 
whatsoever  it  coft  me. 

43  And  immediately  thereupon,  an  angel  was  dis- 
patched from  heaven,  to  encourage  him  in  his  work, 

by  intimations  that  the  iflue  of  his  fufferino-s  mould 
heaven      itrenijtn-  •'• 

enin^  him.  De  to  h*s  own  an(^  ms  Father's  glory,  and  that  they 

mould  be  crowned  with  a  full  reward. 

44  However,  as  his  lively  apprehenfions  of  what 
he  was  to  endure  were  enlarged  ;  and  as  his  foul  then 
began  to  feel  the  terrors  of  the  Almighty,  that  were 
due  to  the  iniquities  of  his  people  *,  his  confteraa- 
tion  and  horror  increafed  ;  upon  which,  proftrating 
himfelf  on  the  ground,  he  prayed  with  ftill  more  vehe- 
ment fervency,  to  the  like  purpoie  as  he  had  before  : 
And  the  agonizing  conflicts  and  terrors  of  his  mind 
were  fo  amazingly  diftreffing,  that,  though  it  was  a. 
cold  night,  and  he  was  lying  on  the  ground,  his  blood 
and  animal  fpirits  were  thrown  into  fuch  a  violent 
fermentation,  as  opened  the  pores  of  his  body  in  an 
extraordinary  manner,  and  forced  their  way  through 
them  in  a  bloody  fweat,  which,  being  thickened  by 
the  cold,  fell  down  in  clods  to  the  ground. 

45  And  when  he        45  And  after  he  had  fpent  fome  feime   in    thefe 
role  up  trom  pray-   grcat  conflicts,  and  in  earneft  fupplications  and  pray- 


43  And  there 
appeared  an  an- 
gel unto  him  from 


44  And  being  in 
an  agony,  he  pray- 
ed more  earneftly : 
and  his  fweat  was 
as  it  were  great 
drops  of  blood  fall- 
ing down  to  the 
ground. 


er,  and  was  come 
to  his  difciples,  he 
found  them  deep- 
ing for  forrow, 


r    •  1 

46  And  faid  un- 


tcmptation. 


ers,  he  got  up  from  his  proflration,  and  returned  to 
his  difciples,  who,  he  found,  were  all  afleep,  it  not 
only  being  very  late,  but  their  fpirits  being  alfo  ex- 
haufted  by  grief,  at  what  he  had  told  them,  (yer* 
36,  37,  40.  and  Matth.  xxvi.  28.  ) 
aid  un-        46    1  hen,  reproving  them  in  a  gentle  manner  for 

jo  them,  Why  ileep   their  own  caution,  he  faid,  Why  do  ye  fuffer  your- 
ve  ?  nie  and  pray,    ri  n  c     ,  .  f  ,  ,   7    ,        .i- 

left  ye  enter  into  iclves  to  *leeP  at  luch  a  time  as  tms>  wherein  I  am 
fo  full  of  forrow,  and  ye  yourfelves  are  fo  near  to 
danger  ?  Is  this  your  love  to  me,  and  your  care  for 
yourfelves  ?  get  up,  and  pray  for  help  againft  this 
unfeafonable  drowfinefs,  and  againft  the  evils  that 
are  juft  at  hand  ;  left  ye  be  furprifed  unawares,  and 
be  overcome  by  the  approaching  trials. 

47  And  whilft  our  Lord  was  thus  talking  to 
them,  behold,  the  very  thing  he  was  hinting  came 
upon  them  ;  There  immediately  appeared  a  large  par- 
ty of  foldiers,  and  of  fervants  and  officers,  and  others 
(ver.  52.)  from  the  fanhedrim,  all  armed  with  fwords 


47  And  while  he 
yet  fpake,  behold, 
a  multitude,  and 
he  that  was  called 
Judas,  one  of  the 
twelve,  went  before 
them, 

N     O 

*  As  their  iniquities  were  laid  upon 

Chrift,  and  it  pleafed  the  Lord  himfelf  to 


and 
T     E. 

ternal  fufferingscame  upon  him ;  efpecial- 
ly  confidering,  that,  at  this  very  time,  an 


bruife  him,  and  to  awaken  the  fword  of   angel  was  lent  from  heaven  to  ftrength 


julTice  againft  him,  Ifa.  liii.  5, — 12.  and 
Zech.  xiii.  7.  So,  unlefs  our  great  Lord 
had  a  prefent  view  and  fenfation  of  this, 
'tis  to  me  unaccountable,  that  he  fhould 
be  in  fuch  terrible  diftrefs  before  his  ex- 


en  him,  and  that  fo  many  martyrs  have 
thought  of,  and  gone  through  as  great 
corporal  fufferings  with  undaunted  bra- 
very and  triumph. 


234 


The  Evangelift 


Chap,  xxii, 


them,    and   drew   and  ftaves ;  (Matth.  xxvi.  47.  and  John  xviii.  3.)  at 

kTVnt0  ^^  t0   the  head  °f  whi^h>    that  Perfidious  wretch  Judas* 

one  of  his  twelve  apoftles,  appeared  as  their  leader  ; 

and,  according  to  the  fignal  he  had  before  agreed  to 

give  them,  (Matth.  xxvi.  48.)  he  marched  directly 

up  to  Jefus,  and  faluted  him  with  a  kifs.     (See  the 

note  on  Matth.  xxvi.  49.) 

4$  But  Jefus  faid        48   But,  though  Chrift  did  not  go  about  to  avoid 

unto  him,   Judas,   j^s  fufferings,  as  knowing  that  the  time  appointed 

betrayeft  thou  the   f     them  wag  then  CQ         he  reprimanded  the  traitor 

Son  of  man  with  a    .     r     .  .         ,  '.  r.  .    .  -      . 

m  iuch  a  meek  and  melting,  and  yet  cloie  and  cut- 
ting manner,  as  one  would  think  mull  have  affected 
the  hardeft  heart,  faying,  What,  Judas  !  one  of  my 
old  and  intimate  friends  and  acquaintance,  who  haft 
had  fo  many  proofs  of  my  divine  authority,  goodnefs, 
and  kindnefs,  and  never  found  any  evil  in  me, 


krfs  ? 


care, 


Doft  thou  come  hither  to  betray  me  into  the  hands  of 
my  implacable  enemies,  that  they  may  cruelly  deftroy 
me  ?  And  what,  art  thou  capable  of  doing  this  un- 
der the  form  of  friendfhip,  and  by  the  tendereft  fymbol 
of  love  and  peace  ?  What  canft  thou  think,  Judas, 
of  fuch  aggravated  hypocrify,  ingratitude,  and 
treachery  as  this  ?  or  how  couldft  thou  find  in  thine 
heart  to  be  guilty  of  it  ? 

49  Now  when  the  difciples  faw  the  defign  upon 
which  this  multitude  came,  with  Judas  at  their  hcad: 


» 


49    When   they 
which  were  about 

would  fol'ow  thev  anc^  t*iat  ^ey  were  about  to  feize  their  Lord  ;    fome 

faid  unto  him.  Lord,  of  them  afked  him,  whether  they  fhould  draw  upon 

lhall  we  fmite  with  the  enemy,  and  ufe  their  fwords  in  his  defence  ?  (ver. 
the  fwprd  ? 


cc  And  one  of 
them  fmotethefer- 
vant  of  the  high 
prieft,  and  cut  off 
his  right  ear. 

51  And  J^fus 
anfwered,  and  laid, 
Suffer  ye  thus  far. 
And  he  touched 
his  ear,  and  healed 
him. 


5* 


Then 


Jefus 
faid 


38.) 

50  And  one  of  them  Peter  by  name,  being  in  too 

much  heat  and  hafte  to  wait  for  an  anfwer,  immediate- 
ly drew,  and  aimed  at  the  head  of  Malchus,  one  of 
the  high-prieft's  lervants  ;  but,  milling  his  {broke,  cut 
off  only  his  right  ear.   {John  xviii.  10.) 

51  But  (h)  Jefus  obferving  this,  rebuked  Peter 
for  being  fo  rafli  ;  (Matth.  xxvi.  52.)  and  then,  to 
appeafe  his  enemies,  he  faid  to  them,  Do  not  refent, 
but  pafs  by  this  injury  and  affront,  which  one  of  my 
difciples  hath  offered  without  my  order,  and  which  I 
will  immediately  repair*  :  And  thereupon,  to  fhew 
his  divine  power  and  goodnefs,  he  touched  the 
wounded  man's  ear,  and  inftantly  healed  it.  * 

52  After  Jefus  had  (hewn  all  this  meeknefs,    mer- 
cy* 

T    E. 

lie  fpoke  to  his  enemies,  to  pacify  them, 
that  they  might  not  revenge  the  affront, 
which  they  had  fo  far  fuftercd  from  Pe- 
ter's hand  ;  and  he  hereby  fliewed  the 
excellence  of  his  Spirit,  who  would  for- 
give and  heal  his  enemies,  above  that  of 
Peter's,  who  wanted  to  deftroy  them. 


N  O* 
*  Some  think  that  our  Lord  fpoke  to 
his  difciples  to  be  quiet,  and  make  no 
further  opposition,  when  he  faid  t*lt  tor 
rv1vt  permit y  or  fufftr  ye  thus  far :  But 
his  healing  the  wounded  ear  'mmediate- 
ly  upon  his  laying  thefe  words,  makes  it 
probable  that  (as  Dr  Whitby  obferves) 


Chap.  xxii. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


*35 


faid  unto  the  chief 
priefts,  and  cap- 
tains of  the  temple, 
and  the  elders 
which  were  come 
to  him,  Be  ye  come 
out  as  againft  a 
thief,  with  fwords 
and  ftaves? 


53  When  I  was 


er  of  darknefs. 


cy,  and  power,  he  addreffed  himfelf  to  the  chief 
priefts  and  captains  *  of  the  temple,  and  to  the  elders 
of  the  people,  who  came  along  with  them  to  appre- 
hend him ;  and,  expoitulating  with  them,  faid, 
What  means  your  coming  armed  with  fwords  and 
clubs,  in  this  manner  to  feize  me,  as  if  I  were  fomc 
defperate  rogue,  who  mull  be  taken  by  main  force  ? 
Have  I  ever  behaved  like  fuch  a  perfon,  or  appear- 
ed with  any  guard  about  me  ? 

53  When  I  was  fo  often,  day  after  day,  publicly 
daily,  with  you  in  teaching-  in  the  temple,  ye  had  all  defirable  opportu- 
ne temple,  ye  .  .  ^6r  .  \r  i  1  u  ~  A 
itretched  forth  no  nities  to  feize  me>  lf  Ye  knew  any  evil  by  me;  and 
hands  againlt  me  :  yet  none  of  you  ever  offered,  in  fuch  an  hoftile  man- 
but  this  is  your  ner,  to  make  me  your  prifoner  then  :  But  I  know 
hour,  ^and  the  pow-   that  tne  time  appointed  of  the  Father,    and  foretold 

in  prophecy,  (Mark  xiv.  49.)  for  my  fufferings  is 
now  come  ;  and  therefore  his  over-ruling  providence 
has  taken  off  the  reilraints,  by  which  he  hitherto 
with-held  you  :  This  is  the  feafon  in  which  he  has  de- 
termined to  let  you  have  your  will  againft  me,  and 
to  fuffer  the  infernal  powers  of  darknefs  to  ftir  you 
up,  as  their  inftruments,  to  cut  me  off:  I  therefore 
readily  acquiefce,  fubmit,  and  yield  myfelf  up  into 
your  hands,  and  am  prepared  for  the  worft. 

54  Then  the  foldiers,  taking  Jefus  into  cuftody, 
led  him  away  like  a  criminal  j  and,  according  to  their 
orders,   carried  him  to  the  palace  of  Caiaphast    the 

melt's  houfe.  And  high-prieft,  where,  though  it  was  fo  late  at  night, 
Peter  followed  afar  the  fcribes  and  elders  of  the  people  were  gathered  to- 
gether, ready  to  lit  in  judgment  upon  him.  ( Mattb. 
xxvi.  57.)  And,  the  reft  of  the  difciples  flying,  Pe- 
ter followed  him  at  a  confiderable  diftance,  to  fee 
what  would  become  of  him. 

55  And,  fome  time  after  the  company  entered  in- 
to the  houfe,  he  got  admiffion  too,  where  he  found 
the  fervants  fitting  round  a  fire,  which,  the  night  be- 
ing cold,  they  had  kindled  at  one  end  of  the  hall  to 
warm  themfelves,  while  the  counfel  were  examining 
Jefus  at  the  other  ;  and  Peter  fat  down  with  them  f , 
hoping  by  that  means  to  conceal  himfelf,  and  to  hear 
how  things  went  with  his  Lord. 

56  But  there  was  a  maid-fervant  of  the  high-prieft 's, 

who 

NOTES. 


54  Then  took 
they  him,  and  led 
htm,  and  brought 
him  into  the  hisjh 


off. 


55  And  when 
they  had  kindled  a 
fire  in  the  midft  of 
the  hall,  and  were 
fet  down  together, 
Peter  fat  down  a- 
mong  them. 


56  But  a  certain 
maid 


*  Some  fuppole  that  thefe  captains  of 
the  temple  were  captains  of  the  fc-veral 
watches  which  the  priefts  and  (crihes 
keprt_here  ;  and  others,  that  they  were 
captains  of  the  Rdman  foldiers,  which  u- 
fually  kept  garrifon  in  the  rower  of  An- 
tonia,  but,  at  the  three  great  feftivals, 
were  plaa;d  at  the  porches  of  tie  temple  among  them 
to  keep  the  peac- 


f  The  evangelift  John  fays,  (chap. 
xviii.  18.)  the  fervants  itood  there,  and 
Peter  flood  with  them.  Some  of  them, 
it  feems,  were  (landing,  and  others  fit- 
ting; and  Peter  bein g  reftlels  in  his  own 
mind,  was  likewife  reltlefs  in  his  pollurer 
fometimes  fitting,  and  at  others  ftanding 


236 


The  Evangeli/l 


Chap.  xxii. 


as 

fire,  and  eameftly 
looked  upon  him, 
and  faid,  This  man 
was  alio  with  him. 

57  And  he  de- 
nied him,  faying. 
Woman,  I  know 
him  not. 

58  And  after  a 
little  while  ano- 
ther faw  him,   and 


ter 

am 


faid, 
not. 


maid  beheld  him,   who  obferved  him,  as  he  fat  in  company  with  the  reft 
'   round  about  the  fire  ;    and,    looking  wiftly  at  him, 
faid,    I  am  ftrongly  perfuaded  that  this  man  was  one 
of  the  friends  and  followers  of  Jefus  of  Galilee. 

57  At  this,  Peter's  courage  failed  him  ;  and  being 
full  of  fear  and  furprife,  he,  in  all  hurry  and  confufion, 
denied  the  charge,  faying  with  an  air  of  confidence 
and  refentment,  Woman,  you  do  me  a  great  deal  of 
wrong,   I  am  a  ilranger  to  him.        p 

58  Soon  after  this,  a  man  *  in  the  company  look- 
ed at  Peter,  and  taxed  him  home,  faying,  Whatfoe- 

faid",  Thou  art  alfo   ver  you  pretend,  you  certainly  are  one  of  the  follow- 

ofthem.    And  Pe-   ers  of  Jefus:    But   (h)   Peter,    ftill  full  of  furprife 

Man,    I   an(i  fear,  and  under  t*he  power  of  temptation,  denied 

it  again,  faying,  Man,  I  tell  you,  it  is  no  fuch  thing, 

I  do  not  belong  to  him,  nor  do  I  know  any  thing  of 

him. 

59  And,  within  the  compafs  of  about  an  hour  af- 
ter this,  another  of  the  ftanders-by  was  very  peremp- 
tory in  affirming,  that  Peter  was  one  of  the  follow- 
ers of  Jefus  of  Galilee  :   For,  faid  he,   I  know  by  his 

truth  this"  fellow  brogue  that  he  is  a  Galilean  ;  and  befides  this,  he 
alfo  was  with  him ;  faid  he  had  feen  him  with  Jefus  in  the  garden,  when 
for  he  is  a  Gahle.    he  cut  0jr  the  ear  Qf  one  Qf  t}ie  ^jg^  prjeft's  fervants, 

to  whom  this  perfon  was  related.  {John  xviii.  26.) 
60  And  Peter  60  Then  Peter,  in  the  midft  of  the  utmoft  terror 
faid,  Man,  I  know  ancj  conilernation,  refolving  ftill  to  brave  it  out,  (as 
not  w  1a  t  ou  ay-  perrons  are  too  prone  to  do,  when  once  they  have  in- 
ert. And  imme-  £  ^  .. '  r  .•-  .  Ju 
diately    while  he   inared  themlelves  with  a  he)   laid,  with  ltill  greater 

vehemence,  and  with  mocking  imprecations  and 
oaths f,  (Mark  xiv.  71.)  I  tell  you,  man,  I  know 
nothing  of  the  matter.  And  no  fooner  had  he  this 
third  time  denied  that  he  knew  Chrift,  but  he 
heard  a  cock  crow  ;  it  being  early  in  the  morning, 
which,  by  way  of  eminence,  was  called  the  time  of 
cock-crowing.     {  See  4he  note  on  Mat.  xxvi.  34. ) 

61    Immediately  upon  this,  the  Lord  Jefus,  who 
was  Handing  before  the  high  prieft,  with  his  back  to- 
ward Peter,  and  by  his  divine  omnifcience  knew  all 
bered'the  word* of  that  nac^  paffed,   turned  himfelf  about,  and  in  much 
the  Lord,  how  he   mercy  looked  upon  him,  to  reprove,  fhame,  and  hum- 
had  faid  unto  him,   Dle  him  ;  and  this  was  with  fuch  power,  tha^t  it  melt- 
Before  e(j 

NOTES. 
*    We  are  told  (Mat.  xxvi.  71.  and    fecond's  fpeaking  directly  to  Peter  him- 


59  And  about 
the  fpace  of  one 
hour  after,  another 
confidently  affirm- 
ed,    fayinir.    Of  a 


yet  fpake,  the  cock 
crew. 


6"  1  And  theLqrd 

turned,  and  look- 
ed upon  Peter  ; 
and  Peter  remem- 


Mark  xiv.  69.)  it  was  another  maid  that 
charged  Peter,  when  he,  the  fecond  time, 
denied  Chrift;  whereas  Luke  here  fpcaks 
of  this  perfon  as  another  man  :  Bur  it  is 
to  be  obferved,  that  both  Matthew  and 
Mark  fay,  the  maid  fpokc  concerning  Pe- 
ter to  them  that  were  there,  or  to  them 
that  flood  by ;  wheiegs  Luke  mentions  a 


felf,  and  that  probably  upon  what  he  had 
heard  this  woman  fay  concerning  him  ; 
which  takesoftthe  feeming  contradiction 
in  thefe  accounts. 

f  He  probably  heard  vollies  of  oaths  in 
the  company  he  then  kept;  and,  to  ren- 
der himfelf  the  lefs  fufpected,  thought  ot 
confirming  his  denial  in  their  own  way. 


Chap.  xxii. 

Before  the  cock 
crow  thou  (halt  de- 
ny me  thrice. 


Luke  paraphrafcd. 


61  And  Peter 
went  out,  and  wept 
bitterly. 


237 

ed  him  into  repentance  :  Then  Peter  hrilantly  called 
to  mind  the  warning  which  his  Lord  had  given  him, 
when  he  faid,  Before  the  time  of  cock-crowing  is 
paft,  thou  wilt  three  times  over  peremptorily  deny 
me.      (ver.  34.) 

62  And  Peter,  finding  how  fadiy  this  was  verifi- 
ed, got  out  of  the  high-prietl's  hall,  as  fail  as  he  could, 
that  he  might  give  free  vent  to  the  grief  and  anguiih 
of  his  fpirit,  in  fome  private  place  by  himielf;  and 
there  he  poured  out  floods  of  penitential  tears,  with 
bitter  lamentations  and  bcvvailings  of  his  felf-confi- 
dence,  weaknefs,  and  wickednefs,  and  of  his  fhame- 
ful  ingratitude  to  his  dear  Lord. 

63  Jefus,  in  the  mean-while,  being  under  arraign- 
ment, in  the  high-prieil's  hall,  the  <i!;jecis  gathered 
themfehes  together  a^ainf}  him  ;  (Pfal.  xxxv.  15.) 
the  high-prieil's  fervants,  who  had  him  in  cuilody, 
intuited  and  derided,  boxed  and  buffetted  him*. 

64  And,  among  other  indignities,  they  hood- 
winked him,  and  then,  like  children  at  play,  iport- 
fully  fmote-  him  on  the  face,  and,  jeering  his  pro- 
phetic office,  laid,  Come,  you  who  pretend  to  know- 
all  things,  tell  who  it  is  among  us  that  ftrikes  you. 

65  And  to  thefe  they  added  abundance  of  other 
blafphemous  affronts,  to  ridicule  and  revile  him,  as  it 
he  were  the  fool  of  a  play,  and  to  abufe  him  with 
fpittings  and  bufferings,  and  other  rude  and  feorn- 
ful  barbarities,  as  if  he  were  the  moil  odious  and  eon  ■ 
temptible  wretch  upon  earth. 

66  And  a  great  part  of  the  night  having  been 
fpent  in  examinations,  and  in  ludicrous  and  cruel 
treatment  of  our  Lord,  the  jeivilh  elders,  chiti 
pricils,  and  interpreters  of  the  law,  aifembied  together 
in  full  council,  after  a  fhort  recefs,  very  early  in  the 
morning,  and  had  him  brought  before  them  for  fur- 
ther examination.    (See  the  note  on  Maith.  xxvii.  1.) 

67,  68  Saying,  Do  you  indeed  profefs  to  be  the 
true  Mefiiah,  who  is  the  Son  of  God  ?  [Matth. 
xxvi.  63.)  Tell  us  plainly  whether  you  do  avow  aud 
iland  to  this  or  not.  But  (h)  he  replied,  If  I  mould 
affirm  and  demonftrate  it  ever  fo  plainly,  fueh  is  the 
obilinacy  and  malice  of  your  prejndifed  hearts,  that 
ye  would  not  believe  me  :  And  if  I  mould  aftc  you, 
what  ye  can  object  againil  the  proofs  I  have  already 
1  of  it,  ye  would  neither  give  me  a  fair  anfwer, 
nor  agree  to  my  being  difeharged  ;  it  is  therefore  to 
little  purpofe  to  fay  any  thing  to  you  about  it. 

69   How- 
N    O    T    E. 
*  This  lort  of  ill  ufage  is.  placed  after    no   inconvenience   in   fuppofing  that  he 
the  council's  condemning  him  in- Matth.    was  abufed  in  this  manner,   \pth  before 
xxvi.  67.  and  Mark  siv.  6"<.     But  I  fee    and  after  his  condemnation. 
Vol.  II.  I  j 


63  And  the  men 
that  held  Jefus, 
mocked  him,  and 
iniote  him. 


<^4  And  when 
they  had  blind- 
folded him,  they 
i'truck  him  on  the 
face,  and  alked 
him;  faying,  Pro- 
phei'y,  who  is  it 
that  fmote  thee  ? 
65  And  many 
other  things  blaf- 
phemoully  fpake 
they   againft  him. 

(>G  And  affoon 
as  it  w:ts  day,  the 
elders  of  the  peo- 
ple, and  the  chief 
priefts  and  the 
lcribcs,  came  to- 
gether, and  led 
him  into  their 
council, 

67  baying,  Art 
thou  the  Chrift  ? 
tell  us.  And  he 
1  lid  unto  them,  If 
I  tt  il  you,  you  will 
not  believe. 

63  And  if  I  alfo 
a(k  you,  you  will 
not  uin  ■.',■(  r  mi,  nor 
\t  t  me  '■•>. 


23* 


The  Evangelijt 


Chap.  xxii< 


69  Hereafter  fhall 
the  Son  of  man  fit 
on  the  right  hand 
of  the  power  of 
God. 


70  Then  fa  id 
they  all,  Art  thou 
then  the  Son  of 
God  ?  And  he  fa  id 
unto  them,  Ye  fay- 
that  I  am. 


7 1  And  they  faid, 
What  need  we  any 
further  witnefs  >  for 
we  ourfelves  have 
heard  of  his  own 
mouth.  %  \ 


69  However,  this  I  will  tell  you,  I,  who  am  tru- 
ly man,  mall  ere  long  be  enthroned  in  majefty  and 
glory  at  my  Father's  right  hand,  and  my  great  pow- 
er and  authority  will  appear  afterwards  with  undeni- 
able evidence,  in  the  deftru&ion  of  your  city,  temple, 
and  nation,  and  in  the  amazing  progrefs  of  my  gof- 
pel  ;  and  at  laft  in  arraigning  you  and  the  whole 
world  at  my  awful  bar  :  Then  all  your  procefs  againit 
me  now  (hall  be  tried  over  again  ;  and  ye  fhall  be  con- 
vinced,  to  your  coft,  that  I  am  the  Chrift  of  God. 

70  Hereupon  they  all  cried  out  with  tumultuous 
rage,  What  then,  do  you  indeed  fet  up  for  that  Mef- 
fiah  and  king  of  Ifrael,  who  is  the  Son  of  God  *  ? 
And  he  abiding  by  his  confefhon,  though  he  knew 
he  mould  die  for  it,  replied,  I  do  own  that  I  am  he, 
according  to  the  juft  conftru&ion  which  ye  make  of 
my  words  \+ 

7 1  And  as  foon  as  they  heard  this,  they,  like  a 
a  council  that  pretends  to  infallibility,  cried  out  with 
infolence,  and  without  aiking  how  he  could  make  his 
afTertion  good,  or  fhewing  the  leaft  remorfe,  or  dread 
of  his  great  power,  (fee  the  note  on  Matth.  xxvi.  66.) 
Here  is  evidence  enough  for  us,  as  an  eccleliaftical 
court,  to  condemn  him  upon  ;  why  mould  we  inquire 
after,  or  ftand  to  hear  any  other  witneifes  ?  He  has*, 
by  his  own  confeffion,  thoroughly  proved  enough  a- 
gainft  himfelf ;  for  we  all  have  heard  direc~l  blafphe- 
my  from  his  own  mouth. 

RECOLLECTIONS. 

It  is  hard  to  fay  which  is  moft  to  be  wondered  at,  the  lengths  of  wickednefs,  that 
the  corruption  of  mankind,  under  the  initigation  of  the  devil,  will  carry  them  to, 
or  the  diftrefs  and  ignominy,  that  Chrift  fufrl-red  for  fin.  Covetoufnefs  and  treach- 
ery, infidelity  and  hardnefs  of  heart,  malice  and  rage  know  no  bounds,  unlefs  God 
reftrains  them  ;  witnefs  the  defperate  malignity,  with  which  they  vented  them- 
felves  in  betraying  and  confpiring  againft,  apprehending  and  condemning,  revi- 
ling and  abufing  the  Son  of  God.  And  O  what  terrible  agonies  did  he  undergo  in 
his  foul,  what  fatigues  in  his  body,  what  rude  infults  and  ridicule  in  his  name  and 
character  '  But  with  what  matchlefs  patience  and  refignation  to  his  Father's  will, 
and  meeknefs  and  compaffion  to  his  enemies,  did  he  behave  under  them !  And  how 
amazingly  did  Infinite  VVifdom  over-rule  the  hour  and  power  of  darknefs,  for  the 
accomplilhment  of  ancient  prophecies,  to  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  falvation  of 
the  Church  ! — Chrift  our  paffover  was  facrificed  for  us  ;  and  under  the  gofpel-ftate 
we  have  a  better  deliverance  to  commemorate,   than  that  of  Ifrael  out  of  Egypt  : 

O 
NOTES. 

*  The  council's  queftion  whether  he  the  MeJJiah,  who  was  to  be  both  God 
were  the  Son  of  God,  occafioned  by  his    and  man. 

having  fpoke  of  himfelf  as  the  Son  of  \  If  we  compare  this  paflage  with 
man,  who  fliould  Jit  on  the  right  hand  of  Matth.  xxvi.  64.  and  Mark  xiv.  62.  it 
the  power  of  Cod,  fhews  that  both  thefe  appears  that  ye  fay  that  I  am,  and  ye 
were  known  characters  of  the  Melfiah  ;  have  fad,  are  terms  of  the  fame  import 
one  taken  from  his  human,  and  the  o-  in  the  Jc-ui/b  phrafeology,  vith  faying, 
ther  from  his  divine  nature  ;  and  that  /  am  :  So  that  Chrift  hereby  plainly  de- 
to  own  him,  either  as  the  Son  of  God,  dared  himfelf  to  be  in  truth  the  Son  of 
W  the  Son  of  man,   was  to  own  him  as    God. 


Chap,  xxiii.  Luke  paraphrafed.  239 

O  with  what  thankfulnefs,  folemnity,  and  joy,  fhould  all  his  difciples  profefs  their 
faith  in  a  redeeming  Saviour,  and  remember  his  dying  love,  in  affection  to  his  per- 
fon,  in  obedience  to  his  authority,  and  for  the  honour  of  his  name  !  He  will  com- 
mune with  them  in  ordinances  of  his  own  inftitution  here,  till  he  receives  them  to 
nearer  intimacies  and  delights  in  his  heavenly  kingdom  ;  and  they  who  faithfully 
abide  with  him,  in  days  of  the  greateft  trial,  fhali  lack  nothing  that  is  needful  lor 
them  in  this  world,  and  fliail  lit  on  thrones  of  glory  with  him  i-nthat  which  is  to  come: 
But,  as  all  that  makj"  a  profeffion  of  Chrift  are  not  his  true  difciples,  what  a  godly 
jealoufy  fhould  we  have  over  ourfelvcs,  left  we  prove  treacherous  to  him,  or  have 
ambitious  or  temporal  views,  unsuitable  to  the  humility  and  fpirituality,  that  be- 
long unto  his  children!  O  the  danger  of  felf-coniidence,  and  of  entering  into  temp- 
tation ;  and  the  need  of  watchfulncfs,  and  earnelt  prayer  for  help  againft  them  '. 
But,  after  all,  the  fecurity  of  true  believers  lies  in  Chrift's  interceffion  for  them  ; 
that,  how  much  foever  their  faith  may  be  fliaken,  it  may  not  utterly  fail  :  And 
when  any  of  us  have  found  its  powerful  influence  for  our  recovery,  how  fhould  we 
improve  our  own  experience  for  the  cautioning  and  ftrengthemng  of  our  brethren  '. 
— How  great  is  the  difference  between  the  tins  of  believers,  and  others  !  They, 
like  Peter,  fall  into  fin  by  furprifc,  and  under  the  hurry  of  temptation,  contrarv 
to  their  habitual  difpofitions  and  defigns  ;  and,  a  remembrance  of  it  cuts  tnem  to 
the  heait,  and  makes  fame  of  them  weep  bitterly:  But  others,  like  Judas,  and 
the  high-prielt  and  council,  commit  iniquity  with  delibeiation  and  choice,  and 
perfift  in  it  with  obltinacy  and  hardnefs  or  heart-  And  how  far  are  they  from  ail 
hope  of  recovery,  and  from  fincere  inquiries,  who  afk  after  Jeius,  and  his  doctrine, 
only  that  they  may  ftrengthen  their  own  and  others  prejudices  agamif.  him  '.  But 
he  will  hereafter  appear,  in  all  his  majefty  and  glory,  to  the  confufion  of  thole 
that  defpife  and  reject  him,  as  well  as  to  the  unlpeakable  joy  of  tliole  that  believ« 
in  him. 


CHAP.       XXIII. 

Chrifis  trial  before  Pilate,    I, — 5.      His  examination  before  Herod, 
6, — 12.     His  further  trial  before  Pilate,     12, — 25.       His  cruci- 
fixion,   26, — 38.       The  different  behaviour  of  the  malefactors  to- 
ward him,  39, — 43.      His  death,    and  the  miracles  that  attended 
it,  44, — 49.     And  his  burial,    jq, — 56. 

Text.  Paraphrase. 

J^ND  the  whole    HpHE  council  having  condemned  our  bleiTed  Lord 

themmUarofede  and  .in  their  eccleflaftical  court>  ^  a  blafphemer,  and 

led  him   unto  Pi-    fining  themfelves  under  a  difficulty  about  their  own 
late.  power  of  putting  him  to  death  ;  (fee  the  note  on  John 

xviii.  31.)   they  proceeded  to  bind  him,  as  a  male- 
factor ;  (Matth.  xxvii  2.)   and,  the  j^)le  multitude 
attending  them,  went  with  him  dnx^m  to  the  judg- 
ment-hall, to  impeach  him  of  high  crmies  and  miide- 
meanors  before  Pontius  Pilaie,  who,  under  the  He- 
man  emperor,  was  then  governor  of  fudea. 
2  And  they  be-        2  And,  that  they  might  render  him  obnoxious  to 
gan  to  accul'e  him,    the  ftate,  they  entered  a  charge  ag-ainil  him  as  an  im- 
laying,    We    found  n    ■  .      j.        .»     .    .v  1  j  1  •  1 

this  fellow  per-  Poltor»  pretending  that  they  could  prove  him  to  be, 
verting  the  nation,  not  onty  a  notorious  dectiver,  who  milled  the  people 
and  forbidding  to  into  pernicious  notions  of  religion,  but  likewiie  a  le- 
give  tribute  to  Ce-  ditious  fellow,  who  endea\oured  to  raife  infurretlions 
ar,  aying,  *  ^   *    againft  the  government,    by   difTuading  the   people 

I  i  2  from 


24°  The  Evangelift  Chap,  xxiii. 

himfelf  is  Chrift  a   from  paying  any  taxes  to  the  emperor,    and  fetting 
'£'        .  himfelf  up  as  King  of  Ifraefi  in  oppofition  to  Tiberi- 

us Caefar,  whom  they,  oh  this  occafiori,  profefTed  to 
acknowledge    as    their    lawful    and    only    fovereign. 
{Jobn  xix.  15.) 
$  And  Pilate  afk-         3    Upon  their  urging  this,   Pilate  thought  himfelf 
ctlhim ,  laying,  Art    obliged,  as  the  Roman  governor,  to  take  fome  notice 
tbou    the    king    of      r  A'  ..  1  xi         r         1  t       j^     ..l 

the  Tews  ?  And  be  matter  ;  and  therefore  ne  put  our  .Lord  to  the 

wered  him,  ai  ci  qneilion,  faying,  Do  you  indeed,  as  they  allege, 
laid,  Thou  layeft  profefs  to  be  the  King  of  Ifrael  ?  To  which  he  re- 
.  plied,  What  you  fay  is  in  a  certain  fenfe  true.  I  do 
indeed  own  myfelf  to  oe  the  Mefiiah,  and  fo  I fr  a  el's 
King  ;  but  not  fuch  a  king  as  to  interfere  with  Cce- 
fcr's  civil  authority,  or  to  invade  his  rights,  and  di- 
sturb his  government  in  a  feditious  manner,  as  they 
malicioufly  and  falfely  accufe  me  ;  for  my  kingdom  is 
not  of  this  worlds  (John  xviii.  36.)  but  relates  only 
to  fp: ritual  and  religious  concerns. 

4  Then  fa  id  Pi-  4  When  filiate  had  heard  ChriiVs  defence,  he 
iate  to  tne  chief  went  out  -  f  ^  judgment-hall  to  the  chief  priefts, 
■prreits  and  to  the  -  Jo  r  ' 
people',  I  find  no  *cnoes5  elders,  and  all  the  people,  who  would  not 
fault  in  this  man.    venture  in,  left  they  mould  be  defiled,    [John  xviii. 

28.)  *orA  faid,  Whatsoever  ye  may  have  to  charge 
•him  with,  relating  to  the  religious  doctrines  he 
preaches  up  among  you,  which  do  not  fall  under  my 
coghifance  as  a  civil  magistrate,  I  cannot  fee,  upon 
examination,  that  he  ailerts,  or  attempts  any  thing 
feditious,  or  injurious  to  the  government ;  and  there- 
fore it  does  not  belong  to  me  to  trouble  myfelf  any 
further  about  him, 

5  And  they  were        5    And  when  the  Jeics  perceived  that  Pi/ate  was 

the    more     fierce,    ddirous  to  difmifs  him,  they  cried  out  with  the  more 

laying,  He  (tirreth         ,  r     .       7  J  . 

up     the     people    vehemence  and  furious  outrage,  laying,-  Vvnat,    lee 

teaching  through-    no  fault  in  him!    Wxe  infill  upon  it,  and  can  prove  it, 

nut  ail  Jewry,  be-    that  he  has  taken  abundance  of  pains  to  raife  infurrec- 

fee  tonfhis°-7aciali"   tions  ""^  the  PeoPlc>   bY  his  rebellious  principles, 
through  all  parts  of  our  land  ;    and  has  ipread  his 
dangerous  notions  whoever  he  has  gone,    even  from 
his  head-quarters  in  Galilee  to  Je'rttfalem  itfelf  *. 
C   When  Pilate        ()'  When  Pilate  lieard  them  mention   Galilee,    he 
beard    of    Gatilee,    >         j  1      1     1       r  •  •«  -j     r   t  r 

be   afced  whether    hoPed  **  had  ?  tai.r  opportunity  to  get  rid  of  Jeftis  ; 
■Tj^ne   a    and  therefore  inquired  whether  it  were  true  that  he 
Galilean.  was  a  Galilean? 

7  And  aflbon  as        ~   And  finding  that  his  mod  ufual  rcfidence  was  in 

he  knew  that  be   ^t  country,    and  that  he  lately  came  from   thence, 

belonged  i  7  J  A-, 

h  Pilate 

NOTE. 

*    They  leem  to  have  mentioned  hi?    fee  had  before  appeared  ini  that  country,- 

:,  from  Galilee,  to  Irir  up  Pilate    and  incited  the  people  to  throw  ofFthctfo- 
more  againft  him,  becaufe    man  yoke,  teUin;;  them  that  paying  tri- 
the  •  were  notorious  for  their  in-    bute  to  Cctfar  was  a  fign  of  llavery  ;  the 

•      to  rebel:   aril  Vvdas  of  Gaii-  account  or whom  we  have  in.Afis-  v.  37 


Chap,  xxiii. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


141 


he  fent  him  to  He 
rod,    who   himfelf 
was  alio  at  Jerufa- 
lem  at  that  time. 


S  And  when 
Herod  faw  Jems, 
he  was  exceeding 
glad :  tor  he  was 
delircus  to  lee  him 
of  a  long  Tea  Ton, 
oecaufe  he  had 
heard  many  things 
of  him;  and  he  ho- 
ped  to   have    l'een 


tioned  with  him  in 
many  words  ;  but 
he  anfwered  him 
nothing. 


belonged  unto  He-  Pilate  thought  that  the  cognifance  of  this  cafe  might 
jurifdiclion,  properly  belong  to  Herod,  who  was  then  governor  of 
Galilee,  and  at  this  very  time  was  come  up  to  the  feaft 
at  'Jerufalem  ;  and  therefore  Pilate  immediately  order- 
ed Jefus  to  be  carried  before  him,  that  he  might  eafe 
himfelf  of  this  troublefome  affair  :  God  over-ruling 
this  circumitance,  by  his  providence,  to  accomplifh 
a  remarkable  prophecy.  (Pfal.  ii.  2.*) 
•  8  And  Herod  was  mightily  pleafed  at  the  fight  of 
Jefus  :  For  he  had  long  wifhed  that  it  might  come  in 
his  way  to  fee  him,  becaufe  he  had  heard  much  of 
his  fame  in  his  own  country  ;  (Ma.'tb.  xiv.  1.)  and 
now  he  hoped  that  his  curiofity  would  be  gratified, 
by  being  an  eye-witnefs  of  Chrift's  performing  fome 
wonderful  work  in  his  prefence. 

9  Accordingly  he  put  feveral  queftions  to  our 
iome  miracle  done  Lord,  relating  to  the  miracles  that  were  reported  to 
by  him.                     }iave  Deen  wrought  by  him,  with  intimations  how  de- 

lirous  he  was,  that,  if  he  could  do  any  flrange  thing, 
he  would  oblige  him  fo  far  as  to  let  him  fee  it  :  But 
as  Jefus  knew  that  Herod's  defire  was  not  from  any 
good  inclination  or  defign,  but  merely  to  give  him- 
Felf  and  his  courtiers  a  little  diverfion,  that  they  might 
have  fomething  to  talk  of,  he  would  neither  proili- 
tute  his  divine  power  to  fuch  a  vain  and  ludicrous  hu- 
mour ;  nor  reply  to  any  queftions  that  were  put  to 
him  about  it. 

10  And  as  the  chief  priefls  and  Jewijh  doctors 
had  exhibited  clamorous  accufations  againft  him  to 
Pilate  ;  fo  they  followed  him  to  Herod,  and  were  as 
noify,  bold,  and  urgent  in  the  fame  charges  there, 
fiercely  and  feverely  accufing  him  of  publifhing  infec- 
tious and  treafonable  principles,  that  they  might  a- 
waken  Herod's  fears,  left  the  people  of  Galilee,  as 
well  as  of  Jiidea,  ihould  be  thereby  influenced  to 
make  infurreclions,  and  difturb  the  civil  government. 

1 1  Then  Herod  finding  that  Jefus  would  neither 
fatisfy  his  curiofity,  nor  anfwer  for  himfelf,  he,    and 

nought  and  mock-  his  foldicrs,  by  his  encouragement,  treated  the  Lord 
fed  him,  and  array-  of  glory  with  difdain  ;  (ifyvfcvYicrxq)  they  making  no- 
thing of  him,  fet  him  alide  as  a  weak  and  filly  wretch, 
who  could  neither  do  nor  fay  any  thing  worth  mind- 
ing, and  was  rather  to  be  defpifed  than  feared  :  And 
therefore,  inflead  of  inflidtiug  any  capital  pur.ifhment 
upon  him,  he  and  his  guard  made  their  game  of  him, 
derided  and  infulted  him,  and,   by  way  of  fcorn  and 

mockery, 
NOTE. 
This  is  exprefsly  taken  notice  of  as    Chrijt,  to  do  nuhatfoever  God's  band  and 

roi/nfcl  determined  before  to  be  done, 
Acts  iv.  26.  zn,  %S. 


10  And  the  chief 
priefts  and  fcribes 
itood  and  vehe- 
mently accufed 
him. 


IT 

with 
war 


And  Herod 
his  men  of 
fet    him     at 


ed  him  in  a  gorge- 
ous robe,  and  fent 
him  again  to  Pi- 
late. 


-. 


fulfilled,  when  Herod  and  Pontius  Pi- 
late, nvith  the  Gentiles,  and  the  people 
•f  IJrael,  were  gathered  together  againjl 


242 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  xxiiL 


mocker}',  put  htm  into  a  gaudy  drefs,  which  refem- 
bled  the  purple  robes  of  princes,  to  ridicule  his  king- 
ly office  ;  as  if  all  his  claims  of  that  nature  were  a 
fham  pretence  ;  and,  after  all  thefe  vile  abufes,  Herod 
fent  him  back  again  to  Pilate  to  do  what  he  would 
with  him. 

1 2  And  the  mutual  mefTages  and  civilites,  that  pafs- 
ed  on  this  occafion  between  Pilate  and  Herod,  were 
4:he  means  of  reconciling  them,  one  to  the  other, 
who  *  for  fome  time  before  had  been  at  variance. 

13,  14  Now  Jefus  being  brought  back  from  Herod, 
who  had  flighted  the  informations  laid  againft  him, 
and  pafled  no  fentence  upon  him,  Pilate  fummoned 
ill-  together  the  chief  priefts  and  elders,  with  the  reft  of 
ed  together  the  the  council,  and  the  principal  perfons  among  the 
chief  priefts,  and  Jews,  that  had  appeared  to  accufe  him,  and  faid  un- 
™.?^i»  rS'  to  th^111*  Ye  have  had  a  fair  opportunity  of  bringing 

this  man  to  his  trial ;    he  has  been  already  before  me 
under  the  charge  of  being  a  pretender  to  the  Jewijh 
crown,    and  a  fomenter  of  tumults  and  infurrefkions 
among  the  people  ;  and  ye  fee  that  I  have  given  you 
fair  play,   I  have  openly  examined  him,  and  heard  all 
hold,  I,  having  ex-  fhat  ye  have  to  fay ;  but,  upon  the  whole,   I  cannot 
amined  him  before   find  that  ye  have  made  good  your  allegations  againft 
you,  have  found  no    him. 

15  No,  nor  has  any  thing  of  this    nature    been 

found  upon  him  even  by  Herod  himfelf,  who,  being 

one  of  your  own  nation,  is  better  acquainted  with  your 

15  No,  nor  yet  principles,  laws,  and  cuftoms,  than  I  am  :   For,  to 

Kerod  :  for  I  fent  Q^ •  j  rent     ou  to  have  the  caufe  trje(j  before 

you  to  him ;    and  .  .   ^     J  .  7         r      1  1  •  >•  1 

lo    nothing    wor-  nim  *  and  yet,  lee  how  this  man  s  innocence  appears  ! 

thy  of  death  is  done   he  has  ordered  nothing  to  be  done  to  him,  that  car- 

unto  him.  ries  the  leaft  intimation,     as  if  he  thought  l*m  to 

have  deferved  death. 

16  Therefore,  for  your  fatisfaction,  and  to  avoid 
the  fhedding  of  innocent  blood,  I  will  order  him  to 
be  fcourged  as  if  he  were  a  criminal,  though  not  guil- 
ty of  a  capital  offence  ;  and  then  I  will  difcharge  him, 
at  your  requeft,  in  honour  of  the  folemn  feftival, 
which  is  now  returned.  This  he  faid  to  appeafe  the 
clamour  of  the  people,  and  to  fpare  Chrift's  life  in 
a  way  of  as  much  complaifance  to  them,  as  pofiible. 

1 7  For  the  cullom  of  thofe  times  made  it  necefTary, 

that, 

T    E. 

who  v/cre  his  fubjeels,  when  they  came 
up  to  jervfalem  to  offer  facrifice,  which 
feems  to  be  referred  to  in  Lt/ke  xiii.  1. 
But  now  they  forgot  their  former  grud- 
ges, and  were  reconciled  into  the  fricnd- 
fhip  of  this  world,  which  was  enmity 
with  God,     (.7^w.  iv.  4.) 


1 2  And  the  fame 
day  Pilate  and  He- 
rod were  made 
friends  together  ; 
for  before  they 
were  at  enmity 
between  them- 
ielves. 

13  And  Pilate, 
call- 


people, 

14  Said  unto 
them,  Ye  have 
brought  this  man 
unto  me,  as  one 
that  perverteth  the 
people :     and    be 


fault  in  this  man, 
touching  thofe 
things  whereof  ye 
accufe  him  : 


1 6  I  will  there- 
fore chaftife  him, 
and  releafe  hifn. 


17  For  of  necef- 
fity 


N  O 
*  Their  former  quarrels  had  probably 
been,  either  about  the  extent  of  their  ju- 
rifdicHon  and  authority,  or  on  account 
of  emulations  that  were  between  them, 
or  of  fome  encroachment  which  one  h?d 
made  upon  the  other.  And  perhaps 
Herod  thought  Pilate  had  invaded  his 
rights  by  putting  to  death  the  Galileans, 


Chap,  xxiii. 


Luke  paraphrafcd. 


243 


the  feaft. 

iS  And  they  cri- 
ed out  all  at  once, 
laying,  Away  with 
this  man,  and  re- 
leafe  unto  us  Ba- 
rabbas : 


19  (Who  for 

certain 

made  in 

and     for     murder, 

was  caft  into  pri- 

fon.) 

,     20  Pilate  there - 


fity  he  muft  releafe   that,  at  every  return  of  the  paffbver,  the  governor 
one  unto  them  at   0f  jujea  fhould  gratify  the  Jews  with  the  releafe  of 
a  prifoner,  whom  they  fhould  defire  to  be  fet  free. 

18  But,  inftead  of  being  pacified  with  this  pro- 
pofal,  the  chief  priefts  and  elders  perfuaded  the  peo- 
ple by  no  means  to  hearken  to  it  ;  and  thereupon 
they  all  cried  out,  as  with  one  voice,  Let  this  man 
be  hanged  ;  away  with  him  from  the  earth,  as  one 
not  fit  to  live  ;  we  infift  upon  it,  that,  inftead  of 
him,  you  would  favour  us  with  the  releafe  of  Barab- 
bas. 

19  Now  this  Bar abbas ■,  whom  they  preferred  to 
fedition   t^e  holy  Jefus,  was  a  notorious  malefactor,  and  was. 

&  then  in  prifon  for  a  dreadful  riot  at  Jerufalem,  in 
which  he  was  one  of  the  chiefs,  and  had  been  guilty 
of  murder,  as  well  as  of  robbery  and  plunder.  (John 

XvfH*  4°*)  .  a       n 

20  Pilate  therefore  finding,  by  this   monitroufly 

fore  willing  to  re-   bafe  and  unworthy  demand,  that  their  furious  out- 

leafe  Jelus,   lpake   CY[es  againit  Jefus  proceeded  from  bitter  malice  and 

again  to  them.  exlVy9  was  the  more  defirous,  if  poffible,  to  fet  him 

at  liberty  ;  and  expoftulated  with  them  again,  per- 

fuading  them  to  defift  from  their  impetuous  clamours, 

and  to  be  fatisfied  with  his  being  fmartly  corrected 

by  fcourging,  which  was  a  proper  punifhment    for 

fuch  as  oppofed  their  laws. 

11  But  they  cri-        2 1    But  they  cried  out  with  ftill  more  noife  and 

ed,  faying,  Crucify    fury,  Crucify  him,  crucify  him  ;  let  nothing  fhort  of 

bim,  crucify  him.     that  worft  0f  deaths,  which  belongs  to  the  vileft  flaves, 

be  inflicted  upon  him,  who  pretends  to  be  our  king. 

22  And  Pilate  feeing  Hill  more  thoroughly  into 
their  wickednefs,  and  being  loth  to  comply  with  it, 
argued  with  them  again  a  third  time,  faying,  Why 

what  evil  hath  he    d  f    tumultuoufly  call  upon  me  to  order  an  in- 

done?  I  have  found  j  }  .r         jl  ,  ...       , 

no  caufe  of  death   nocent  man  to  be  crucified  r  What  capital  crime  nave 

I  will  ye  been  able  to  prove  upon  him  ?  for  my  part,  upon 
chaftife  trie  ftridteft  examination,  I  cannot  fee  that,  accord- 
ing to  our  law,  he  has  done  any  thing  for  which  he 
deferves  to  die,  much  lefs  to  be  put  to  the  infamous 
death  of  the  crofs  :  And  therefore,  if  ye  will  be  fa- 
tisfied with  it,  I  will  (as  I  faid  before)  order  him  to 
be  fcourged,  and  then  difcharge  him*. 

23  But,  (h)  inftead  of  yielding  to  his  arguments 
and  entreaties,  they  grew  more  furious  ftill ;  and,  ur- 

NOTE. 
*  As  Peter,  a  difciple  of  Chrift,  dif-  third  plea  forChrift,  and  before  fentence 
honoured  him  by  denying  him  thrice,  was  palled  againit  him,  that  Pilate  or- 
though  he  believed  him  to  be  the  Son  of  dered  him  to  be  fcouiged.  defigning 
God  ;  fo  Pilate,  a  heathen,  honoured  thereby  to  move  the  pity  of  the  Jews 
thrift  by  owning  him  thrice  to  be  inno-  toward  him,  and  i'o  to  prevent  their  fur- 
cent,  though  he  did  not  believe  in  him:  ther  infilling  on  his  being  crucified.  See 
And  it  feems  to  me  that  it  was  after  this  the  note  on  Matth.  xxvii.  %C>. 


22  And  he  faid 
unto  them  the 
third  time,  Why  ? 


in    him  : 
therefore 
him,   and 
go- 


let  bim 


*3 
were 


And     they 

inltant  with 

loud 


244 

loud  voices,  requi- 
ring that  he  might 
he  crucified  :  aad 
the  voices  of  them, 
and  of  the  chief 
prielts,   prevailed. 


The  Evangeliji 


Chap,  xxiii. 


24  And  Pilate 
gave  fenten  :e  that 
it  mould  be  as  they 
required. 


55  And  he  re- 
leafed  unto  them, 
him  that  for  ("edi- 
tion and  "murder 
was  call  into  pri- 
ibn,  whom  they 
had  deli  red  ;  but 
he  delivered  jefus 
to  their  will. 


26  And,  as  they 
led  him  away,  they 
laid  hold  upon  one 
Simon  a  Cyrenian, 
coming  out  of  the 
country,  and  on 
him  they  laid  the 
crofs,  that  he  might 
bear  it  after  Jefus. 


27  And  there 
followed  him  a 
great  company  of 
people,  and  of  wo- 
men, wliich  alfo 
bewailed  Nand  la- 
mented  him. 


2S    But    Jefus, 

turning  iirtto  t!  em, 

i.iid,  Daughters  of 

Jeru- 


ging  him  with  repeated,  loud,  and  tumultuous  cla- 
mours, they  proceeded  to  fuch  iniolence  at  length, 
as  even  to  demand  that  he  mould  condemn  him  to 
crucifixion  :  And  the  people,  together  with  the  chief 
prieils  and  rulers,  prelTed  him  with  fuch  vehemence, 
and  high  threats,  (John  xix.  12.)  that,  though  he 
believed  Jefus  to  be  innocent,  he  had  not  virtue  e- 
nough  to  refill  their  unrighteous  importunity,  and 
to  overcome  his  own  fears  of  a  further  mutiny,  and 
of  being  expofed  to  Ca-farh  refentment. 

24  And  fo  Pilate  yielding  to  what  he  took  to  be 
the  neceffity,  as  well  as  the  iniquity  of  the  times,  pafs- 
ed  ieiitenee  upon  Chriit,  according  to  their  requeft, 
though  direttly  contrary  to  his  own  reafon  and  con- 
ference. 

25  And  to  curry  favour  with  the  Jews,  and  go 
through  Hitch  with  their  dirty  work,  he,  in  viola- 
tion of  all  right  and  juftice,  complied  with  all  their 
demands,  both  in  difcharging  that  notorious  villain, 
Harabbas,  who  was  then  in  prifon  for  a  real  and 
known  riot  and  murder,  and  in  condemning  the  fiiilefs 
jefus,  and  putting  him  into  their  power  to  fee  the 
fentence  executed  upon  him.  (Matth.  xxvii.  26.  See 
the  notes  there.) 

26  Hereupon  they,  together  with  the  Roman 
foldiers,  led  him  as  a  criminal  to  be  crucified  :  And 
though  at  firil  they  obliged  him  to  carry  his  own  crofs ; 
{John  xix.  17.)  yet  rinding  that,  through  the  fa- 
tigues he  had  lately  undergone,  his  natural  fpirits  and 
ftrength  began  to  fail,  they  were  afraid  of  loling  the 
cruel  pleafure  of  feeing  him  publicly  and  fhamefully 
executed  ;  and  therefore,  meeting  with  one  Simon,, 
a  Cyrenian,  who  was  coming  out  of  the  country 
into  the  city,  they  feized  upon  him,  and  forced  him 
to  undergo  the  irkfome  drudgery  of  carrying  Chrift'i 
crofs  after  him  to  the  place  of  execution.  ( See  the 
note  on  Matth.  xxvii.  32.) 

27  And,  as  they  were  going  thither,  vail  multi- 
tudes of  people  crowded  after  him  to  be  fpectators 
of  his  crucifixion  ;  and  among  others  there  were  ma- 
ny women,  who  wept  bitterly,  as  they  went,  to  fee 
a  perfon  of  his  innocence,  worth,  and  ufefulncfs,  go- 
ing to  be  put  to  fo  miferable  and  ignominious  a  death  : 
Some  of  them  being  moved  thereto  by  the  common 
principles  of  humanity  and  compalTion,  others  by 
the  refpedt  which  his  fame,  or  their  own  knowledge 
of  him  had  raifed  in  their  minds  toward  him,  and  o- 
thers  by  a  peculiar  affection  to  him. 

28  But  Jefus  turning  his  head,  and  feeing  the  bit- 
ter lamentation  of  fome  that  were  near  him,  was  mo- 
ved with  pity  toward  them,  though  he  himfelf  was 

in 


Chap,  xxiii. 

Jerufalem,  weep 
not  for  me,  but 
weep  for  your- 
felves,  and  for  your 
children. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


hs 


29  For  behold, 
the  days  are  co- 
ming, in  the  which 
they  •  fhall  fay, 
Blefied  are  the 
barren,  and  the 
wombs  that  never 
bare,  and  the  paps 
which  never  gave 
fuck. 


30  Then  fhall 
they  begin  to  fay 
to  the  mountains, 
Fall  on  us ;  and 
to  the  hills,  Cover 
us. 


31  For  if  they 
do  thefe  things  in 
a  green  tree,  what 
mail  be  done  in  the 
dry? 


3  2  And  there 
werealfo  two  other 
malefactors  led 
with  him  to  be  put 
to  death. 

V«L.    II. 


in  fuch  diftrefiing  circumftances,  and  faid,  Ye  daugh- 
ters of  Jerufalem,  my  friends,  do  not  weep  and  take 
on  fo  much  for  me,  who  am  entirely  refigned  to  my 
Father's  will  in  all  thefe  fufferings,  and  freely  under- 
go them  for  his  glory  and  the  falvation  of  my  peo- 
ple ;  but  turn  the  tide  of  your  forrow  into  tears  of 
lamentation,  for  yourfelves,  and  your  dear  offspring, 
on  account  of  the  tins  which,  in  a  little  time,  will 
bring  the  heavieft  judgments  upon  the  inhabitants  of 
your  city,  whether  they  be  young  or  old. 

29  For,  obferve  what  1  fay,  the  days  of  God's 
vengeance  hailen  apace,  in  wrhich  he  will  execute  fuch 
terrible  wrath  on  this  city  and  nation,  for  thefe  and 
all  their  other  crying  abominations,  that,  inftead  ot 
reckoning  children  a  blefiing,  it  will  then  be  a  fort  of 
common;  proverb,  Happy  would  it  have  been  for  us 
never  to  have  been  born,  and  happy  are  thofe  women 
that  never  bore  and  nourifhed  any  children  to  be  in- 
volved in  the  dreadful  calamities  which  it  would  pierce 
their  hearts  to  behold. 

30  Yea,  this  wicked  people,  in  their  anguifh  and 
defpair,  will  then  wifn  to  be  fpeedily  cut  off,  and  e- 
ven  buried  alive  under  the  ruins  of  their  mountains, 
rather  than  be  expofed  to  the  further  extreme  mife- 
ries,  which  they  will  find  to  be  unavoidable  :  And 
fuch  as  refufe  to  take  refuge  in  the  Meffiah,  fhall,  like 
thofe  trembling  and  amazed  fmners  of  old,  (Hi/,  x. 
8.)  call  in  vain  to  the  hills  and  mountains  to  fk,reen 
and  fhelter  them  from  the  fierce  anger  of  the  Lord. 

3 1  For  as  dry  wood  is  fitter  for  the  flames  than 
that  which  is  green  :  So  if  thefe  'Jerufalem  finners 
bring  fuch  diflrefs  upon  me,  who  am  innocent,  and 
have  deferved  no  evil  at  their  hands  ;  how  dreadfully 
will  it  be  repaid  upon  themfelves,  who  are  loaders 
with  iniquity,  as  fuel  fully  prepared  for  wrath  ?  If 
the  Romans  are  fuffercd,  by  the  iniligation  of  thefe 
Jews,  thus  to  abufe  and  put  rne  to  death,  who  have 
never  done  any  thing  to  offend  them  ;  what  fury  will 
not  God  fuffer,  and  even  ftir  them  up  to  mew,  in 
the  jufl  punifiimcnt  of  this  people,  who  will  provoke 
both  him  and  them  ?  And  if  divine  Juftice  proceeds 
with  fuch  feverity  againil  me,  who  have  no  guilt  of 
my  own,  but  am  only  come  to  be  a  lacrifice  for  the 
fins  of  others  ;  what  will  become  of  thofe  heinous 
tranfgreiTors  themfelves,  whofe  iniquities  will  be  up- 
on their  own  heads,  through  their  rejecting  me  ? 

32  Now  to  put  the  greater  indignity  upon  Chrift, 
which  God  over-ruled  for  the  literal  fulfilment  of  that 
ancient  prophecy,  He  was  numbered  with  iranf- 
grejfor*,  (Ifa.  liii.  12.)  his  enemies  led  him  in  com- 
pany with  two  infamous  male-factors,  who  lay  ueder 

K  k  fer.': 


246 


The  Evangelijl 


Chap. 


xxhi. 


■$$  And  when 
they  were  come  to 
the  place  which  is 
called  Calvary, 
there  they  cruci- 
fied him,  and  the 
malefactors ;  one 
on  the  right  hand, 
and  the  other  on 
the  left. 

34  Then  faid  Je- 
fus,  Father,  forgive 
them  :  for  they 
know  not  what 
they  do.  And  they 
parted  his  raiment, 
and  c&ft  lots. 


35  And  the  peo- 
ple ftood  behold- 
ing: and  the  rulers 
alfo  with  them  de- 
rided him,  faying, 
He  faved  others  ; 
let  him  lave  him- 
felf,  ifhebeChrift 
the  cholen  of  God. 


36"  And  the  fol- 
diers alfo  mocked 
him, 


fentence  of  death  for  robbery,  that  he  might  be  cru- 
cified together  with  them,  and  the  people  might  be 
induced  to  think  that  his  crimes  were  as  great  and 
injurious  to  the  public  as  theirs. 

33  And  when  they  arrived  at  mount  Calvary \ 
which  lignifies  the  place  of  a  fkull,  (fee  the  note  on 
Mat.  xxvii.  33.)  there  they  nailed  him  through  his 
hands  and  feet  to  the  crofs  ;  and  then  fet  it  up,  be- 
tween the  two  notorious  thieves,  they  hanging  one 
on  each  fide  of  him,  as  if  he  were  the  worft  criminal 
of  the  three.      (See  the  fecond  note  on  Matth.  xxvii. 

26.) 

34  Then  he  difcovered  a  moil  exemplary,  compaf- 
fionate,  and  gracious  temper,  even  to  his  barbarous 
crucifiers,  faying,  Father,  lay  not  this  iniquity  to 
their  charge  ;  and  inftead  of  revenging  my  blood  up- 
on them,  which  they  are  (bedding,  let  it  plead  for 
their  obtaining  repentance  and  remiflion  of  fin  :  For 
though  their  guilt  be  exceeding  great  and  aggrava- 
ted, there  is  room  for  a  pardon,  fmce  they  do  not 
know  that  the}''  are  crucifying  the  Lord  of  glory. 
And  whilil  he  was  thus  pitying  and  praying  for  them, 
the  four  foldiers,  who  were  his  moil  immediate  exe- 
cutioners, were  bufy  in  dividing  his  cloaths,  which 
were  their  perquifite  :  But,  as  his  upper  garment  was 
all  of  one  piece,  they  caft  lots  who  mould  have  it, 
and  fo  punctually,  though  not  designedly,  fulfilled 
the  prophecy,  (Pfa/.  xxii.  18.)  where  it  is  faid, 
They  parted  my  garments  among  them,  and  cajl  lots 
upon  my  veflure. 

35  At  the  fame  time  the  common  people  Handing 
by,  looked  at  him,  and  fpoke  of  him,  with  fcorn 
and  derifion  ;  and  the  chief  priefts  and  elders,  not- 
withftanding  the  gravity  of  their  characters,  joined 
with  the  mob  in  infulting  and  ridiculing  him,  fay- 
ing, He  pretended  to  heal  difeafes,  caft  out  devils, 
raife  the  dead,  and  bring  falvation  to  Ifrael ;  let  him 
now  mew  his  miraculous  power  in  delivering  himfelf 
from  the  crofs  *  ;  if  he  be  indeed  the  Meffiah,  as  he 
vainly  boafts,  now  is  his  time  to  give  proof  of  it,  by 
faving  himfelf  from  death. 

36,  37  The  foldiers,  that  attended  his  crucifixion, 
likewife   abufed   and   vilified  him  ;    and,    inftead  of 

,com- 
T     E. 

confirm  his  doctrine,  and  not  to  make 
an  atonement  for  fin,  his  delivering  him- 
felf from  the  crofs,  after  he  was  nailed 
to  it,  would  have  undoubtedly  anfwered 
that  end,  much  more  than  his  undergoing 
death  itfelf  could  be  fuppofed  to  do  it. 
See  the  note  on  M*ttb.  xxvii.  42. ' 


N  O 
*  They  faid  this  to  infult  him,  to  in- 
cenle  the  people  againft  him,  and  to  juf- 
tify  themfelvcs  in  bringing  him  to  this 
ihameiul  death.  But  had  he  added  this 
miracle  to  all  his  others,  fuch  were  the 
obltinate  prejudices  of  their  hearts,  that 
Ibey  would  not  have  believed  in  him  : 
Aud  yet,   if  Chrift  had  defigned  only  to 


Chap,  xxiii. 

him,  coming  to 
him,  and  offering 
him  vinegar, 

37  And  faying, 
If  thou  be  the  king 
of  the  Jews,  fave 
thyfelf. 


3S  And  a  fuper- 
fcription  alio  was 
written  over  him, 
in  letters  of  Greek, 
and  Latin,  and  He- 
brew, THIS  IS 
THE  KING  OF 
THE  JEWS. 


39  And  one  of 
the  malefactors, 
which  were  hang- 
ed, railed  on  him, 
faying,  If  thou  be 
Chrilt,  fave  thyfelf 
and  us. 


40  But  the  other 
anfwering,  rebuked 
him,  faying,  Doft 
not  thou  fear  God, 
feeing  thou  art  in 
the  fame  condem- 
nation? 


41  And  we  in- 
deed juftly;  for  we 
receive  the  due  re- 
ward of  our  deeds: 
but  this  man  hath 
done  nothing  a- 
mifs. 


42  And  he  faid 

unto'  Jefus,   Lord, 

re- 


Luke  paraphrafed.  247 

compaffionately  giving  him  fome  cooling  or  intoxicat- 
ing cordial  to  eafe  his  pains,  they  came  and  offered 
him  vinegar  to  drink  ;  (fee  the  note  on  Jf>hn  xix.  28, 
29.)  and,  in  a  way  of  fcornful  infult,  they  challen- 
ged him  to  free  himfelf  from  the  tortures  and  the 
death  of  the  crofs,  and  thereby  prove  himfelf  to  be 
Ifrae/'s  Meffiah. 

38  And,  further  to  expofe  him  to  the  ridicule 
and  refentment  of  the  people,  Pilate,  according  to 
the  Roman  cuftom  of  fpecifying  the  crimes  of  male- 
factors at  their  execution,  wrote  a  title  of  this  im- 
port, Jefus  the  King  of  the  Jews  ;  and  this  was 
placed  over  his  head  in  Greek,  Latin,  and  Hebrew, 
the  three  chief  living  languages  of  the  day,  that 
ftrangers,  as  well  as  Jews,  might  be  able  to  read  it  : 
But  God  over-ruled  the  infcription  to  the  honour  of 
his  Son,  it  being  m  fact  a  declaration  of  the  real 
truth  of  his  character,  and  an  intimation  of  the  near 
concern,  which  Jews  and  Gentiles,  perfons  of  all 
languages  and  nations  had  in  it. 

39  One  of  the  thieves  alfo,  that  were  crucified 
with  him,  being  infenfible  of  his  own  fin,  and  of  the 
innocence,  worth,  and  dignity  of  Chrift,  reproach- 
ed him  as  if  he  were  an  impoftor,  crying  out,  with 
daring  infolence  and  mockery,  If  you  be  the  Meffiah, 
as  you  pretend,  come,  let  us  fee  what  you  can  do  to 
deliver  yourfelf  and  us  from  cur  miferable  and  dying 
circumitances.      (  See  the  note  on  Matth.  xxvii.  44. ) 

40  But  the  other  thief's  heart  being  touched,  and 
melted  by  diflinguiming  grace,  was  made  deeply  fen- 
fible  of  the  enormity  of  his  own  guilt,  and  brought 
to  believe  in  Jefus  as  the  true  Meffiah  ;  and  therefore, 
calling  to  his  fellow-criminal  and  furTerer,  he  feverely 
reproved  him,  faying,  What  defperate  and  infolent 
language  is  this  \  How  dare  you  be  fo  horribly  wick- 
ed, and  caft  off  all  fear  of  God,  and  of  further  pro- 
voking him,  juft  as  you  are  going  to  appear  at  his 
awful  bar ;  firtce  you  are  fuffering  under  a  fentence 
of  death,  as  well  as  Jefus  and  I  ? 

41  And  as  for  you  and  me,  it  is  highly  juft  in 
God,  and  in  the  government  too,  that  we  mould  un- 
dergo all  the  puirifhment  inflicted  upon  us  ;  for  the 
notorious  crimes  we  have  been  guilty  of  deferve  it  : 
But  as  for  this  righteous  and  holy  perfon,  he  fuffert- 
wrongfully,  having  committed  no  fault  at  all,  nor 
done  any  thing  unworthy  of  his  great  and  glorious 
character  :  See  with  what  meeknefs,  patience,  ami 
mercy,  toward  his  very  enemies,  he  behaves  Under  all 
their  injuries  and  affronts  ! 

42  And  having  thus,  by  confeffing  his  own  crime, 
given  glory  to  God,    and  rebuked  his  companion  jn 

K  k   2  fm, 


24$ 


The  Evangelift 


Chap. 


XX11I. 


remember  me 

when  thou  comeft 
into  thy  kingdom. 


43  And  Jefus 
faid  unto  him,  Ye- 
ri]y,  I  fay  unto  thee, 


radlfe. 


fin,  he  then,  directing  his  fpeech  to  Jefus,  confeffed 
his  faith  in  him,  and  implored  his  grace,  faying, 
Lord,  I  believe  that  thou  art  indeed  the  Mefliah, 
and  Saviour  of  all  who  truft  in  thee,  and  that  thy 
fufferings  will  iflue  in  an  advancement  to  thy  heaven- 
ly kingdom.  O,  when  thou  art  exalted  upon  thy 
throne  of  glory  there,  remember  me  in  the  greatnefs 
of  thy  mercy,  and  grant  that  I  may  dwell  with  thee 
for  ever  *  ! 

43  Jefus,  in  the  riches  of  his  condefcenfion  and 
grace,    replied,    Thy  petition  is  granted :    I    affure 

lay  flTah  thou  tnee>  tnat  tn^s  verv  day,  as  f00*n  as  ever  you  breathe 
be  with  me  in  pa-  your  laft,  your  foul  fhall  be  with  me  in  that  ftate  of 
bleffednefs,  which  the  fcparate  fpirits  of  the  righte- 
ous enjoy  in  the  heavenly  manfions,  and  which  is  a 
paradife  of  divine  delights,  much  better  than  the 
earthly  paradife,  which  man  was  expelled  for  his  a- 
poitacy  from  God. 

44  By  this  time  it  was  full  noon,  which,  accord- 
ing to  the  Jewijb  way  of  computation,  was  the  iixth 
hour  of  the  day  ;    and  then  there  was  a  thick  dark- 

ver  all  the   earth    nefs  over  all  the  land  of  Judea,    and  other  countries, 
the    ninth    which  continued  till  the  ninth  hour,  or,  according  to 
the  Roman  way  of  reckoning,  three  o'clock  in  the  af- 
ternoon.     (See  the  note  on  Mark  xv.  25.) 
45  And  the  fun        45  And  this  darknefs  was  occafioned  by  a  miracu- 
™t%  d*f!f  "^'  Z^t   *ous  ecupk  of  the  fun,  as  if  that  great  luminary  blufh- 
ed  to  behold  the  wickednefs  of  Chrilt's  crucifiers, 


44  And  it  was 
about  the  fixth 
hour,  and  there 
was    a  darknefs  o 


hour. 


the     vail     of    the 
temple  was  rent  in 


the  mids.  and  the  extremity  of  his  fufferings.      (See  the  note 

on  Matth.  xxvii.  45.)  And  another  prodigy  attend- 
ing his  death  was,  that  the  hanging  between  the 
fanctuary  and  the  holy  of  holies  was  torn  afunder 
from  top  to  bottom,  as  an  intimation,  that  the  holir- 
nefs  of  the  temple  was  aboliihed,  that  the  formerly 
vailed  myfteries  were  explained,  that  the  partition- 
wall  between  Jews  and  Gentiles  was  broken  down, 
(E/>b.  ii.  14.)  and  that  a  way  was  opened  by  the 
blood  of  Jelus  for  all  true  believers,  of  what  nation 
foever,  to  have  free  accefs  into  the  holieft  of  all,  e- 
yen  heaven  itfelf.      (Heb.  x.  19,  20.) 

46  And 

NOTE. 

*  Heie   was   a  furprifing   degree  of  and  is  a  good  argument  againft  defpair ; 

kuowledge,  faith,  repentance,  and  other   but  is  no  encouragement  to  any  to  defer 

graces,   and  abundance   of  good  works,    their  faith  and   repentance,  to  the   laft 


as  their  fruit,  in  this  thief's  public  con- 
icffion  of  his  fin,  reproof  of  his  fellow- 
criminal,  and  honourable  teftimony  to 
(Jhrift,  and  profeffion  of  faith  in  him, 
whilft  he  was  in  fuch  difgraccful  and  fuf- 
fenng  circumftances,  as  were  (tumbling 
even   to   his   difciplcs.     This  fhews  the 


power  and  fovereignty  of  divine  grace,   or  forfook  him. 


hour,  fince,  as  far  as  appears,  tins  was 
the  nrft  time  that  this  criminal  had  ah. 
opportunity  of  knowing  any  thing  about 
Chrift  ;  and  his  converfion  was  deljgntd 
to  put  a  peculiar  glory  upon  the  Saviour 
at  his  death,  whilft  his  enemies  derided 
him,  and  his  own  difciples  either  denied 


Chap,  xxiii. 

46  And,  when 
Jefus  had  cried 
with  a  loud  voice, 
he  faid,  Father,  in- 
to thy  hands  I  com- 
mend my  fpirit  : 
and,  having  faid 
thus,  he  gave  up 
the  ghoft. 


47  Now  when 
the  centurion  faw 
what  was  done,  he 
glorified  God,  fay- 
ing, Certainly  this 
was  a  righteous 
man. 


48  And  all  the 
people  that  came 
together  to  that 
fight,  beholding 
the  things  which 
were  dene,  fmote 
their  breafts,  and 
returned. 


49  And  all  his 
acquaintance,  and 
the  women  that 
followed  him  from 
Galilee,  ftood  afar 
off  beholding  thefe 
things. 


50  And  behold, 
there  ivas  a  man 
named  Jofeph,  a 
counfellor ;  atid  he 
<was  a  good  man, 
and  a  juft  : 

5:    (The  fame 
had 


Luke  paraphrafed,  249 

46  And  about  three  o'clock,  to  (hew  how  willing 
he  was  to  yield  himfelf  up  to  death,  (fee  the  note  on 
Matth.  xxvii.  50. )  he  cried  out  with  a  ftrong  voice, 
in  the  words  of  David,  (Pfal.  xxxi.  5.)  Father ,  in- 
to thy  hands  I  commend  my  J  pint,  q  d.  Father, 
the  work  is  done  ;  I  now  make  the  offering  of  my 
foul  to  thee,  and  pay  it  down  as  a  price  of  redemp- 
tion into  thine  hand,  in  confidence  that,  according 
to  covenant-agreement  between  us,  I  fhall  receive  a 
full  reward  ;  and  I  commit  my  departing  fpirit  to 
thy  faithfulnefs,  care,  and  love,  in  full  dependence 
that  it  fhall  be  received  to  glory,  and  re-united  with 
my  body  to  dwell  with  thee  for  ever.  And,  as  foon 
as  he  had  thus  fpoke,  he  refigned  his  laft  breath,  to 
teach  and  encourage  his  diiciples  to  die  fubmifiively 
and  in  faith,  after  his  example,  with  the  word  of 
God  in  their  mouths. 

47  Now  when  the  Roman  officer  of  the  band,  that 
had  the  care  of  his  execution,  faw  the  great  eclipfe, 
and  the  earthquake,  and  obferved  Chrift's  holy,  meek, 
and  heavenly  behaviour,  during  his  crucifixion,  he, 
the  foldiers  therein  joining  with  him,  could  not  help 
faying,  to  the  divine  glory,  that  he  verily  believed 
Jefus  to  be  an  extraordinary  holy  man,  and  even  the 
Son  of  God,  (Matth.  xxvii.  54.)  though  he  had 
been  charged  with  blafphemy,  and  crucified  for  af- 
ferting  it. 

48  And  the  generality  cf  the  multitude  there  pre- 
fent,  when  they  faw  all  the  affecting  things  that  at- 
tended his  death,  were  ftruck  with  grief  and  remorfe 
at  the  thoughts  of  what  had  been  unrighteoufly 
done  to  fuch  an  innocent  and  excellent  perfon  ;  and 
went  away  from  the  fight  fmiting  their  breafts,  in 
token  of  their  bitter  lamentation  and  trouble  on  that 
account,  and  in  fear  of  what  might  be  the  dreadful 
confequence  to  themfelves  and  others. 

49  There  were  likewife  a  great  number  of  his  ac- 
quaintance and  difciples,  and  among  them  feveral  wo- 
men, who,  out  of  their  great  affection,  had  attended 
him  in  his  miniftry  and  labours,  even  as  far  as  from 
Galilee  ;  thefe  ftood  among  the  fpe&ators,  moft  of 
them  at  a  great  diftance  from  the  crofs,  looking  up- 
on their  fullering  Lord  with  mournful  hearts  and 
weeping  eyes. 

50,  5 1  And  as  he  was  put  to  death  before  many 
witnefles,  in  circumftances  which  punctually  accom- 
pli fhed  feveral  prophecies  concerning  him  ;  fo  it  is 
obfcrvable,  that  Providence  ordered  his  burial  to  be 
made  with  the  rich  in  his  death,  according  to  the 
prediction  in  Ifa.  liii.  9.     There  was  a  man  of  di- 

ftinction 


250 

had  not  content- 
ed to  the  counfel 
and  deed  of  them:) 
be  nvas  of  Arima- 
thea, a  city  of  the 
Jews ;  (who  alfo 
himfelf  waited  for 
the  kingdom  of 
Cod:) 


52  This  man 
went  unto  Piiate, 
and  begged  the  bo- 
dy of  Jefus. 


The  Evangelift 


Chap,  xxiii. 


53  And  he  took 
It  down,  and  wrap- 
ped it  in  linen,  and 
laid  it  in  a  fepul- 
chre  that  was  hewn 
in  ftone,  wherein 
never  man  before 
was  laid. 


54  And  that 
day  was  the  pre- 
paration, and  the 
Sabbath  drew  on. 


55  And  the  wo- 
men alfo,  which 
came  with  him 
ijom  Galilee,  fol- 
lowed after,  and 
beheld  the  fepul- 
/chre,  and  how  his 
body  was  laid. 


ftin&ion  and  character,  Jofeph  of  Arimathea  *,  who 
was  a  member  of  the  great  council,  and  a  man  of  pro- 
bity and  religion,  who  alfo  expected  the  Mefliah's 
appearing  at  this  time  to  fet  up  his  kingdom  in  the 
world,  and  was  a  fecret  difciple  of  Jefus,  though  for 
fear  of  the  Jews,  he  did  not  publicly  own  it:  (John 
xix.  38,)  This  man,  when  his  Lord  was  examined, 
judged,  and  condemned  by  the  fanhedrim,  would  by 
no  means  confent  to  their  cruel  and  unrighteous  con- 
futations, and  proceedings  againft  him. 

52  And  he  was  fpirited  to  (hew  an  honourable  re- 
fpect  to  Chrift,  even  whilft  he  lay  under  the  weak- 
nefs  and  difgrace  of  a  crucifixion  :  For,  as  foon  as 
he  was  certainly  known  to  be  dead,  "Jofeph  took  cou- 
rage and  went  to  Pilate,  begging  a  grant  of  his  body, 
that  he  might  have  power  to  difpofe  of  it,  and  fo 
might  prevent  its  being  ignominioufly  buried  with 
the  two  other  criminals  that  were  executed  with  him. 

53  And  having  obtained  this  requeft,  he  immedi- 
ately went  to  the  crofs  with  the  governor's  warrant ; 
and,  un-nailing  the  body,  took  it  away,  and  wrapped 
it  up  in  a  clean-meet,  and  then  placed  it  in  a  new 
tomb,  which  had  been  cut  in  a  folid  rock,  and  in 
which  no  corpfe  had  ever  been  interred  before  ;  fo 
that  the  fepulchre  could  not  eafily  be  broke  into,  nor 
could  any  other  body  be  miftaken  for  that  of  Jefus, 
which,  with  other  circumftances  of  laying  a  great 
ftone  to  flop  up  the  door,  and  fetting  a  feal  upon  it, 
and  a  watch  before  it,  was  ordered  by  Providence 
for  the  more  unexceptionable  evidence  of  Chrifl's  re- 
furre&ion,  when  it  mould  come  to  pafs. 

54  Now  all  this  was  done  on  the  lixth  day  of  the 
week,  the  day  before  the  Sabbath  ;  and  fo  much 
expedition  was  ufed  in  it,  that  thefe  affairs  might  not 
break  in  upon  the  religious  fervices  of  that  holy  day, 
which,  it  being  toward  fun-fet,  was  then  coming  on. 

55  And,  during  all  thefe  tranfa&ions  about  the 
crucifixion  and  interment  of  our  Lord,  the  good  wo- 
men, who  had  attended  him  from  Galilee,  followed 
him  forrowing,  ftrft  to  his  crofs,  and  afterwards  to 
his  funeral,  and  particularly  obferved  the  fepulchre, 
where  his  body  was  kid,  and  in  what  manner  it  was 
depofited  there, 

56  And, 


N    O 

*  Arimathea  was  probably  Ravuib  in 
the  tribe  of  Benjamin,  which  is  fpoken 
of  in  Jofb.  xviii.  25.  It  was  alfo  called 
Ramathaim,  and  was  the  place  where 
Samuel  was  born,  (1  Sam.  i.  1,  20.) 
Some  fuppofc  that  Jofepb  was  one  of  Pi- 
late's  council,  and  others  that  he  was  a 
becurio,  or  one  of  the  ten  chief  men  that 


T    E. 

were  let  over  the  affairs  of  a  Roman  co- 
lony :  But  all  the  circumftances  related 
concerning  him  feem  rather  to  intimate 
that  he  was  a  Jeiu ;  and  its  being  faid, 
that  he  confented  not  to  the  counjel  and 
the  deed  of  the  fanhedrim,  intimates,  that 
he  was  one  of  them,  or  one  of  the  high- 
prieft's  council. 


Chap,  xxiii.  Luke  paraphrafed.  251 

$6  And  they  re-  56  And,  immediately  after  this,  they  went  their 
turned,  and  pre-  way  to  get  and  mix  collly  fpices  and  (pJpot)  fweet 
pared    fpi  es    and    oJ1      f      aQ   embalment  of  thc  bod        f  jefus  d 

ointments :       and     ,  .         .    .         ,      .,  ,  ,      ,       /        .       ,     , . 

relied  the  Sabbath-   tne  next  day>  being  the  babbath,  they,  m  obedience 
day,   according  to  to  the  command  of  God  for  reiting  from  fervile  works 
the  commandment,  thereon,  deferred  going  to  perform  that  office  of  re- 
fpeft  to  him. 

RECOLLECTIONS. 

How  worthy  is  our  dear  Redeemer  to  be  received  and  owned  as  our  Saviour  and 
our  King  !  But  how  great  is  the  power  of  prejudice  againft  him  !  It  flights  and  de- 
rides him,  becaule  it  does  not  gratify  cnriofity,  and  anfwer  unfeafonable  demands; 
it  raifes  evidently  fa  he  accufations  againft  him,  prefers  the  vileil  of  men,  and  tem- 
poral interefts  to  him,  and  cannot  be  fatisfied  that  he  ihould  reign,  or  that  his  name 
and  intereft  fhould  live  in  the  world.  But  how  did  God  over-rule  all  the  dehgns 
and  management  of  his  enemies,  for  fulfilling  the  fcriptures  concerning  him;  and 
publicly  own  him  by  the  prodigies  that  attended  his  death  !  How  did  he  conftrain 
the  heathen  judge,  centurion,  and  foldiers,  that  were  concerned  in  Chrift's  cruci- 
fixion, to  bear  an  honourable  teftimony  to  him  ;  and  make  the  multitude  of  fpecta- 
tors,  as  well  as  his  difciples  and  friends,  frnite  their  breads  in  bewailing  him  !  And 
how  were  the  hearts  of  high  and  low  inclined  to  ihew  tokens  of  the  greateit  refpect 
to  him  !  But  O  the  weaknefs  and  depravity  of  human  nature,  even  when  it  ap- 
pears to  be  beft  difpofed  !  How  many,  like  Pilate,  feem  to  be  well  affected  toward 
Chrift,  convinced  of  his  worth,  and  inclined  to  favour  his  righteous  caufe ;  and  yet 
through  importunity  and  fear,  and  through  the  temptations  of  this  world,  violate 
all  the  facred  bonds  of  right  and  truth,  conference  and  honour,  in  their  behaviouT 
towards  him ! — What  a  day  of  lamentation  and  diftrefs  was  that  in  which  our  blefled 
Lord  was  crucified  ;  how  terrible  to  him,  and  with  what  holy  mourning  Ihould  his 
people  reflect  on  what  their  fins  then  coll  him  !  But  our  affections  may  be  touch- 
ed at  the  moving  flory  of  the  barbarous  ufage  he  met  with,  and  of  his  dying  love, 
without  an  effectual  change  upon  our  hearts,  and  without  true  faith  in  him,  or  love 
to  him  ;  and  if,  after  all,  we  reject  him  through  unbelief  our  lamentation  will  one 
day  be  dreadful  for  ourfelves,  on  account  of  our  neglects  of  him,  and  oppofition  to 
him.  Ah  how  little  do  finners  think  what  they  are  doing,  while  they  reject  Chrift  i 
and  yet  their  ignorance  is  attended  with  fo  many  aggravations,  as  make  it  highly 
criminal,  and  need  forgivenefs:  But  how  much  more  aggravated  ftill  are  fins,  com- 
mitted againft  light  and  evidence!  What  dreadful  hardnefs  of  heart  do  thefe  bring 
upon  the  finner ;  and  what  infupportable  wrath  do  they  expofe  him  to  !  and  yet 
how  companionate  and  gracious  is  a  fuffering  and  interceding  Saviour,  toward  the 
worft  of  his  enemies!  How  ready  to  forgive  them  !  And  how  free  and  diftinguhh- 
ing  is  his  grace  in  bringing  one  malefactor  to  faith,  repentance,  and  eternal  life, 
and  that  at  the  laft  hour,  whilft  another  is  left  to  perfift  in  the  defperate  wicked- 
hefs  of  his  own  heart,  to  his  eternal  perdition  !  And  when  grace  makes  an  effectual 
change,  what  confetlion  of  fin,  and  of  the  juftice  of  our  fufferin^s  for  it ;  what  ho- 
nourable thoughts  of  Chrift,  and  grief  at  the  iniquity  of  fellow-criminals;  what 
companion  for  them,  and  endeavours  to  reclaim  them  ;  and  what  concern  about, 
and  applications  by  faith  to  the  Lord  Jefus  for  falvation,  will  it  produce  in  us  !  But 
late  examples  of  mercy  fhould  never  encourage  any  to  prefume. — Thefe  fouls  of  ours- 
are  immortal ;  and  if  we  have  an  intereft  in  Chrift,  they  go.  immediately  after 
death,  to  be  glorified  with  him.  With  what  compofure,  therefore,  in  a  dying 
hour,  may  the  believer  commit  his  departing  fpirit  into  the  hands  of  a  reconciled 
God  and  Father,  through  the  great  Redeemer,  and  after  his  example,  in  humble 
confidence  that  he  will  accept,  and  own,  and  receive  it  to  glory  ! 


CHAR 


252 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  xxiv. 


C     H    A    P.      XXIV. 

The  refurreBion  of  Chrijl,  as  declared  to  the  women,  I, — 8.  As 
reported  to  the  difciples,  9, — 12.  As  made  known  by  Chrijl  him- 
felf  to  two  of  them  who  were  going  to  Emmaus,  13, — 35.  To 
the  rejl  of  them  a [fembled  together,  36, — 49.  And,  laj}  of  all,  at 
his  afcenjion  to  heaven,    50, — 53. 


Text. 
"MOW  upon  the 
firft  day  of  the 
week,  very  early 
in  the  morning, 
they  came  unto 
the  fepulchre, 

hringing  the  fpices 
which  they  had 
prepared,  and  cer- 
tain others  with 
them. 

2  And  they  found 
the  ftone  rolled  a- 
way  from  the  fe- 
pulchre. 


3  And  they  en- 
tered in,  and  found 
not  the  body  of  the 
Lord  Jefus. 


4  And  it  Came 
to  pafs,  as  they 
were  much  per- 
plexed thereabout, 
behold,  two  men 
flood  by  them  in 
fhining  garments. 


5  And  as  they 
were  afraid,  and 
bowed  down  their 
faces  to  the  earth, 
they  faid  unto 
them,  Why  feek 
ye  the  living  a- 
mong  the  dead  ? 


Paraphrase. 
*\T7"HEN  the  Jewijh  Sabbath  was  ended,  (fee  the 
*  *  note  on  Matth.  xxviii.  1.)  the  women,  who  on 
the  evening  before  that  day  had  prepared  fpices  and 
ointment,  went  and  carried  them  to  Chrift's  fepul- 
chre, about  fun-riiing  of  the  firft  day  of  the  week, 
in  hopes  of  an  opportunity  for  ufing  them  in  embalm- 
ing his  dead  corpfe  :  And  fome  other  good  women, 
having  been  acquainted  with  their  defign,  attended 
them  to  teilify  their  affection,  and  indulge  their  grief, 
and  to  affift  in  the  work. 

2  And  when  they  arrived  at  the  place,  they,  to 
their  great  furprife,  found  one  of  their  chief  difficul- 
ties removed,  in  that  the  great  {tone,  which  they  had 
feen  placed  at  the  mouth  of  the  fepulchre,  was  rolled 
away  by  an  angel.  ( See  the  paraphrafe  on  Matth. 
xxviii.  2.) 

3  Then  the  women  came  up  with  a  defign  of  going 
into  the  fepulchre;  and,  (uo-iXOovrcct)  as  they  were 
entering  in,  they  looked  and  faw  that  the  body  of 
their  Lord  was  removed.  (See  the  notes  on  Matth. 
xxviii.  2.  and  Mark  xvi.  5.) 

4  And  while  they  were  thereupon  exceedingly 
troubled,  in  thinking  what  might  become  of  it,  they 
were  furprifed  with  the  appearance  of  two  angels,  in 
the  form  and  likenefs  of  men,  who  (iTntmno-xv)  prc- 
fented  themfelves  near  to  them,  and  were  arrayed  in 
robes  of  illuftrious  light  and  glory  ;  and,  being  two, 
were  fufficient  for  a  valid,  as  well  as  honourable  telti- 
mony,  to  their  great  Lord.  (See  the  laft  note  on 
Matth.- xxviii.  2.) 

5  At  this  amazing  fight  the  women  were  filled 
with  terror,  as  finful  mortals  are  apt  to  be,  under  a 
confeioufnefs  of  guilt,  at  any  extraordinary  appear- 
ance ;  and  in  the  reverence,  awe,  and  furprife  of  their 
minds,  they  bowed  themfelves  exceeding  low,  with 
their  faces  toward  the  ground,  Hill  looking  about  for 
the  body  of  Jefus :  Then  one  of  the  angels,  fpeak- 
ing  in  the  name  of  both,  [Matth.  xxviii.  5.  and  Mark 
xvi.  6. )  faid  unto  them,  Why  do  ye  take  fo  much 

pains 


Chap.  xxiv. 


Luke  paraphrojld. 


^53 


pains  in  coming  hither  to  find  a  pcrfon  in  a  fepulchre 
of  the  dead,  who  is  really  alive  ? 

6,  7  Jefus,  whom  ye  thus  carefully  are  fearching 
after,  and  who  was  dead,  is  actually  rifen  ;  and  yc 
need  not  wonder  at  this,  but  mould  rather  have  be- 


6  He  is  not  here, 
but  is  rifen :  re- 
member how  he 
fpake  unto  you 
when  he  was  yet   heved  and  expected  it,  conhdering  what  he  himielr 

in  Galilee,  often   told    you  before-hand  about  it.     Do  not  ye 

7  Saying,  The  remember  how  again  and  again,  and  particularly  when, 
be" delivered  Tnto  ^e  was  w*th  n^  difciples  m  Galilee,  (Matth.  xvi.  21. 
the  hands  of  finful  and  xx.  19.   and  Luke  ix.  22,  44.)  he  allured  them 

that,  according  to  the  determinate  counfel  of  God, 


men,  and  be  cruci- 


S   And  thev  re- 


membered 
words. 


his 


9  And  returned 


and  told  all  thefe 
things  unto  the  e- 
leven,  and  to  all 
the  reft. 


tied,  and  the  third   jje  muft  De  given  up  into  the  hands  of  wicked  men, 
ay  n  e  again.  ^^  ^  ^ut  tQ  death  by  a  crucifixion,  and  that  ou 

the  third  day  he  mould  rife  again  ? 

8  Upon  their  being  reminded  of  this,  they  recol- 
lected what  they  had  formerly  heard  of  their  Lord's 
own  predictions  about  it ;  which  Was  a  great  evidence 
that  he  was  rifen  indeed,  though  it  did  not  fully  fi- 
lence  their  doubts.      (See  the  note  on  John  xx.  2.).. 

9  And,  according  to  the  direction  given  by  Hie 
^T^hi^Fu^ulrZ  ange^s>  tneY  immediately  departed  from  the  fepul- 
chre to  carry  the  ailonifhing  tidings  of  all  that  they 
had  feen  and  heard  to  the  eleven  apoftles,  and  to 
any  other  difciples  whom  they  might  meet  with  there, 
they  themfelves  being  Itruck  with  a  mixture  of  fear 
and  wonder,  as  not  well  knowing  what  to  believe. 
(Mark  xvi.  7,  8.) 

10  It  was  Mary  IO  Now  the  names  of  thefe  women,  who  were  the 
Magdalene  and  fir{t  witneffe8  of  the  refUrre&ion  of  Chrift,  and  the 
Joanna,    and    Ma-  ..  .   .  '         ,_ 

ry  the  mother   of  hrlt  meilengers  01  it  to  the  other  diiciples,  were  Mary 

James,  and  other  Magdalene,  out  whom  he  had  call  feven  devils  ;  and 
•women  that  were  Joanna,  the  wife  oiChirza,  Herod's  fteward  ;  (Luke 
viii.  2,  3.)  and  another  Mary,  who  was  the  mo- 
ther of  James  the  lefs  ;  (Mark  xv.  40.)  with  the 
other  women,  who  attended  them  to  his  fepulchre*. 
(ver.  1.) 

1 1  And  when  they  came  and  delivered  their  mef- 
fage,  the  difciples  were  fo  full  of  prejudices  again  it: 
and  'they  believed  tne  doftrine  °f  Chrilt's  refurre&ion,  fo  thQUghtlefs 
them  not.  about  it,  fo  ignorant  and  unbelieving  with  regard  to 

the  intimations  he  had  given  of  it,  and  fo  overwhelm- 
ed with  dejection,  difappointrnent,  and  defpalr, 
that  they  looked  upon  thefe  women's  report  as  a 
filly,  fanciful,  weak,  and  unlikely  (lory,  and  could 
not  give  any  credit  to  it. 


with  thern,  which 
told  thefe  things 
unto  the  apoftles. 


1 1     And     their 
words    feemed    to 


iz 


TJhen    arofe 
Peter, 


12    However,    (h.)    Peter,    upon    hearing '  this 


N    r» 

*  Thefe  were  the  firft  witneffes  and 
raciVengers  of  his  r_furrection,  to  fliew 
the  condefcenfion  of  Chrift,  and  to  take 

Vol.  II.  L 


ilrange 
T     E. 

off  all  fufpicion,  as  if  either  force  or  fraud 
had  been  employed  in  the  management 
of  this  important  affair. 

1 


254 

Peter,  and  ran  un- 
to the  fepulchre, 
and  ftooping  down, 
he  beheld  the  li- 
nen clothes  laid  by 
themfelves,  and  de- 
parted, wondering 
in  himfelf  at  that 
which  was  come 
to  pafs. 


The  Evan%el\ft 


Chap.  xxiv. 


13  And  behold, 
two  of  them  went 
that  fame  day  to 
a  village  called 
Ernmaus,  which 
was  from  Jerusa- 
lem about  three- 
score furlongs. 

14  And  they 
talked  together  of 
all  thefe  things 
which  had  happen- 
ed. 

15  And  it  came 
to  pafs,  that,  while 
they  communed  to- 
gether and  reason- 
ed, Jefus  himfelf 
drew  near,  and 
went  with  them. 

16  But  their 
eyes  were  holden, 
that  they  fhould 
not  know  htm. 


ftrange  account,  haftened  away  to  the  fepulchre,  to- 
gether with  John,  (John  xx.  2,  3.)  to  fee  whether 
there  were  any  appearance  of  its  being  true  ;  and  go- 
ing in,  {John  xx.  6.)  he  faw  the  linen  cloaths  in 
which  the  body  of  his  Lord  had  been  buried,  but 
could  not  find  the  body  itfelf.  And  when  he  had 
thoroughly  fearched  the  fepulchre,  and  obferved  that 
the  orderly  pofition  of  the  burial-wrappers  had  no  ap- 
pearance of  fuch  hafte  or  hurry,  as  might  be  expected 
in  clandestinely  removing  the  dead  corpfe,  he  return- 
ed full  of  aftonifhment  and  perplexity  of  mind,  not 
knowing  what  to  conclude  from  all  thefe  circum- 
ftances  ;  nor  yet  underftanding  and  believing  the  fcrip- 
ture  prophecies,  or  Chrift's  own  former  words  about 
his  refurre&ion.      (See  the  note  on  John  xx.  8.) 

1 3  Soon  after  thefe  things,  obferve  another  re- 
markable teflimony  to  this  great  fact.  Two  other  of 
Chrift's  difciples  were  walking  together  that  very  day 
on  which  he  rofe  from  the  dead,  to  a  certain  village 
called  Ernmaus*,  which  was  about  feven  or  eight 
miles  diftant  from  Jerufa/em. 

14  And  as  they  were  on  their  journey  the  con- 
verfation  turned  upon  the  late  fufferings  and  death 
of  Chrift,  and  upon  the  reports,  which  they  had  that 
morning  heard,  concerning  his  being  rifen  again. 

15  And  while  they  were  thus  talking  over  the 
mournful  {lory  of  his  death,  and  arguing  about  the 
probabilities  or  improbabilities  of  his  refurrection,  he, 
knowing  their  hearts,  and  the  ftraits  they  were  in,  gra- 
cicufly  took  that  opportunity  to  come  and  join  com- 
pany with  them,  like  a  ftranger  who  was  going  the 
fame  way,  that  he  might  manifefl  himfelf  to  them. 

1 6  But  as  he  defigned  for  a  little  while  to  conceal 
himfelf,  that  he  might  give  them  the  fairer  occafion 
of  telling  their  own  fenfe  of  things,  and  might  after- 
ward, with  the  greater  advantage,  reprove,  convince, 
and  comfort  them  ;.  fo  he  miraculoully  affected  their 
fight  in  fuch  a  manner,  that  they  had  not  a  juft  dif- 
cerning  of  him,  and  little  fufpected  him  to  be  their 
Lord  -)-► 

17  And 

NOTES. 

in  another  form  to  them  ;  for  this  altera- 
tion upon  the  air,  or  upon  the  organs  of 
fight,  gave  his  appearance  a  different 
form  from  its  own  :  But  that  the  diftin- 
guiihing  form  of  his  body,  and  features 
of  his  face  themfelves,  were  not  altered, 
»  evident,  becaufe  then  there  would  have 
been  no  occafion  to  with-hold  their  eyes 
from  knowing  him  ;  and  as  foon  as  that 
oMlnietion  was  removed*  they  knew  who 
he  was. 


*  They  might  be  going  thither,  either 
rtpon  bulinefi,  or  on  a  vifit,  or  rather  to 
get  from  the  noite  and  heats,  intuits,  re- 
proaches, and  dangers  of  their  enemies, 
with  a  defign  of  retiring  (till  further  in- 
ro  Galilee,  becaufe  of  the  difappointment 
they  had  met  with,  and  the  coniuGon 
They  were  in,  relating  to  their  crucified 
Lord  and  Saviour. 

f  This  is  very  confident  with  its  beitig 
faid  (Mark  xvi.  17.)  that  he  appeared 


Chap.  xxiv. 


Luke  parapbrafed. 


^55 


18  And  the  one 
of  them,  whofe 
name  was  Cleophas, 
anfwering,  faid  un- 
to him,   Art  thou 


not  known  the 
things  which  are 
come  to  pafs  there 
in  thefe  days  ? 

19  And  he  faid 
unto  them,  What 
things  ?  And  the^ 
faid      unto      him, 


17  And  he  faid  1 7  And  he,  like  a  fellow-traveller  providentially 
unto  them,  What  call  into  their  company,  allied  them  in  a  courteous 
manner  of  commu-  an(j  fondly  manner,  What  are  ye  fo  earneftly  talking 
nications  are  theie      ,       .  ..        *      .  .  u    '  r  r    „„ 

that  ye  have  one  ab?ut  m  Your  journey,  that  gives  you  fo  much  un- 
to another,  as  ye  eafinefs,  as  difcovers  itfelf  in  your  countenances,  lan- 
walk,  and  are  fad  ?    guage,  and  behaviour?  Pray  be  fo  kind  as  to  tell 

me,  that  I  may  fympatj^ize  with  you,  or  offer  fome- 

thing  for  your  relief. 

18  Then  one  of  them,  named  Gleopbas*,  replied, 
Do  you  afk  what  makes  us  fo  fad  ?  Alas  !  we  have 
caufe  enough  for  it  ;  and  methinks  you  might  eaiily 
imagine  what  it  is  :   Surely  you,  who  feem  to  have 

only  a  ftranger  in  come  dire&ly  from  Jerufalem,  cannot  but  have  heard 
Jerufalem,  and  haft  the  difmal  news,  which  all  the  city  rings  of,  rela- 
ting to  the  mofl  mocking  and  amazing  tranfaclions 
that  have  fallen  out  there,  within  theie  two  or  three 
days  lafl  paft.  If  you  are  ignorant  of  thefe  things 
you  are  certainly  the  only  perfon  there  that  is  fo. 

19  Our  Lord,  making  himfelf  look  ftill  more  like 
a  ftranger,  anfwered,  What  furprifing  and  melan- 
choly things  do  you  mean  ?  To  which  Cleophas  repli- 

Jefus  e0*>  Why,  if  we  mufl  tell  you,  we  mean  the  cruelty, 
of  Nazareth,  which  even  to  the  moft  fhameful  death,  that  has  been  exer- 
was     a     prophet    cifed  upon  him  who  was  commonly  called  J  efts  of 

mighty  m  deed  tfa%areth,  and  who,  to  fay  the  leaft,  was  certainly 
and  word,    before  ,  -111  n  1     " 

a  great  prophet,  as  appeared  by  the  excellent,  hea- 
venly, and  holy  dcclrine,  which  he  preached,  and 
by  the  many  great  and  glorious,  merciful  and  divine 
miracles,  which  he  evidently  and  often  wrought  to 
confirm  it  :  So  that  he  was  highly  owned  and  ho- 
noured of  God,  and  had  obtained  a  great  reputation 
and  efteem  among  the  generality  of  the  people. 

20  And  yet,  alas  1  to  go  on  with  the  account,  it 
is  notorious  that  the  chief  priefts  and  elders  of  the 
people,  not  being  able  to  bear  the  purity  of  his  doc- 
trine,   and  its  oppolition  to  their  authority  and  inte- 

and  have  crucified  refts,  were  fo  full  of  envy  againft  him,  that  they  ap~ 
^m#  prehended  him,  tried  and  condemned  him  in  their  ec- 

clefiaftical  court,  as  an  impoftor  and  blafphemer  ;  and 
then,  delivering  him  up  to  the  Roman  power,  they 
accufed  and  profecuted  him,  as  a  feditious  perfon, 
and  an  enemy  to  Co; far,  till  they  got  a  fentence  of 
death  pafied  upon  him,  and  took  care  to  fee  him 
actually  crucified.      Is  not  this  a  very  fad  and  aiFe&- 


0 


God   and 
people  : 


all    the 


■20  And  how  the 
chief  priefts  and 
our  rulers  delivered 
him  to  be  con- 
demned to   death, 


*  This  Cleophas  feems  to  have  been 
A/pheus,  who  was  the  hufcand  of  Mary, 
the  mother  of  James  the   lei's,    which 


L  1 

2 

ing 

T    E. 

paring 
xv.  40. 

ver. 
and 

10. 

"St, 

with 
hn  xi 

Matth. 

K.    25. 

x.  3. 

And 

Mark 
Evfe- 

bins  tells  us  from  HegAfflpUSt   that  Clep- 


Mary,  attended  Chrift  to  his  crofs,  and  phat  was  the  brother  .of  Jofeph,  the  re- 
went  that  morning  with  Mary  Magda-  puted  father  of  our  Loul.  Eiifeb,  ¥.cchj 
lene  to  the  fepulchre,  as  appears  by  com-   Hilt.,  L  v  epp. 


±g6 


The  EvangeWJl 


Chap.  xxiv. 


21  But  we  truft- 
ed  that  it  had  been 
he  which  iliould 
have  redeemed  If- 
rael :  and,  befide 
all  this,  to  day  is 
the  third  day  fince 
thefe  things  were 
done. 


Yea,  and  cer- 
tain women  alio  of 
our  company  made 
maftonifhed,which 
were  early  at  the 
lepulchre  : 

23  And  when 
they  found  not  his 
body,  they  came, 
faying,  That  they 
had  alfo  feen  a 
vifion  of  angels, 
which  faid  that  he 
■was  alive. 


zj\.  And  certain 
♦f  them  which 
were  with  us,  went 
to  the  fcpulchre, 
and  found  it  even 
10  as  the  women 
had  faid  ;  but  hirn 
they  law  not. 


ing  cafe,  enough  to  make  any  one's  heart  ake  t© 
think  of  it  !  You  therefore  need  not  think  it  {trance 
that  we  are  troubled  in  our  reflections  upon  it,  and 
talk  about  it. 

2 1  But  even  this  is  not  all  with  refpect  to  us,  who 
have  met  with  a  dreadful  difappointment :  For  we 
own  ourfelves  to  have  been  two  of  his  difciples,  and 
to  have  received,  and  firmly  depended  upon  him,  as 
the  Mefiiah,  the  Saviour  of  Ifrael,  expecting  that 
in  a  little  time  he  would  have  fet  up  his  kingdom  with 
great  power  and  glory  amongft  us  :  But  what  are  all 
our  hopes  come  to  now  ?  alas  !  they  are  dead  and 
buried  with  our  crucified  Mailer.  And  yet  there  are 
fome  circumftances  which  throw  us  into  vaft  perplex- 
ity, between  hope  and  fear  :  We  remember  he  talk- 
ed fomething  about  his  rifing  again  on  the  third  day ; 
but,  though  that  day  is  now  come  and  far  fpent, 
(vcr.  29.)  none  of  us  have  feen  any  thing  of  him. 

22,  23  We  have  indeed  (ccAXx  xxi)  heard  fome- 
thing this  very  morning,  which  looks  a  little  like  his 
being  rifen  ;  but  this  increafes  our  perplexity,  as  not 
knowing  what  to  make  of  it :  For  fome  good  wo- 
men, who  were  his  affectionate  difciples,  furprifed 
us  with  an  account,  that  they  went  to  his  fepulchre 
a  little  after  break  of  day,  with  a  defign  to  embalm 
his  body  ;  and  when  in  order  thereunto  they  fearch- 
ed  for  it,  they  could  not  find  it  :  Hereupon  they 
came  back  to  feveral  of  us  full  of  this  ftory,  like  per- 
fons  in  an  ecftacy  of  wonder,  mixed  with  fear  and  joy, 
and  added  withal,  that,  to  their  further  amazement, 
they  had  been  favoured  with  a  vifion  of  angels,  who 
informed  them  that  their  Lord  was  really  rifen  again  : 
But  we  are  apt  to  look  upon  all  this,  as  merely  the 
fancy  of  weak  and  credulous  women,  it'  not  being 
likely  to  us,  that  angels  mould  be  fent  with  fuch  an 
important  mefiage  to  them,  rather  than  to  the  app- 
llles  of  our  Lord. 

24  And  yet  we  have  had  a  further  confirmation, 
that  by  fome  means  or  other  his  body  is  removed  from 
the  fepulchre  :  For,  immediately  upon  this  report, 
fome  of  our  number,  two  perfons  particularly,  being 
defirous  to  fee  what  appearance  of  truth  there  might 
be  in  it,  ran  with  all  ipced  to  his  tomb,  and  were 
themfelves  eye-witnefTes  that,  as  the  women  had  faid, 
the  body  of  Jefus  was  not  there  ;  but,  alas  !  they  nei- 
ther faw  him  alive,  nor  heard  what  was  become  of  him, 
as  might  have  been  expected,  if  he  indeed  were  rifen 
from  the  dead  :  And  therefore,  upon  the  whole,  we 
are  in  great  confufion  and  fear,  leit  all  hopes  of  this 
kind  be  vain  ;  we  doubt  the  news  of  a  rifen  Saviour  is 
00  great  and  too  good  to  be  true. 

25  Then 


Chap.  xxiv. 


Luke  paraphrased. 


*57 


45  Then  he  faid       25  Then  our  Lord,  though  Hill  concealing  who  he 
unto  them,  O  fools,   was,  thought  it  high  time  to  reprove  and  inftruA  them, 

^be^ellHhat   ****&  H°W  Pro<%ious  is  Tour  fo% *>  ™*  J™  back- 
the  prophets  have   wara=nefs  of  heart  to  reflect,  and  depend  upon  the  vari- 


ipoken 


26  Ought  not 
Chrift  to  have  fuf- 
fered  thefe  things, 
and  to  enter  into 
his  glory? 


27  And,  begin- 
ning at  Mofes,  and 
'all  the  prophets, 
he  expounded  un- 
to    them     in     all 


ous  teftimonies  of  God,  by  the  ancient  prophets,  con- 
cerning thefe  very  things  !  Had  ye  but  confidered  and 
believed  them,  ye  could  not  have  been  fo  diftruflful 
and  fufpicious  about  thefe  events  as  ye  are,  but  would 
have  been  well  fatisfied  that  your  crucified  Saviour  is 
rifen  from  the  dead. 

26  Was  it  not  neceffary  for  the  divine  honour,  ac- 
cording to  the  cleareil  determinations  of  prophecy, 
and  the  eternal  counfel  of  God  made  known  therein, 
that  the  Mefliah  mould  undergo  the  fufferings,  re- 
proaches, and  death,  which  of  late  have  befallen  your 
Lord,  and  that  afterwards  he  fhould  rife  again  to  en- 
ter upon  his  kingdom,  and  to  be  exalted  in  a  Hate  of 
immortal  glory,  fuitable  to  his  own  merit  and  digni- 
ty ?  Why  then  mould  ye  be  (tumbled  at  his  ignomi- 
nious death  and  fufferings,  or  doubt  of  his  refurrec- 
tion  to  complete  his  great  defigns  ? 

27  And  having  thus  referred  them  to  the  Old 
Teflament-writings,  he  began  with  the  five  books  of 
Mofes,  and  then  went  on  to  the  fucceeding  prophets, 
and    other   parts  of  fcripture,    particularly  reciting- 

the.  fcriptures,  the   and  explaining  the  principal  types  and  prophecies, 
things    concerning   that  related  to  his  own  fufferings  and  death,  refurrec- 
tion  and  glory,    and  thereby  proving  that  they  were 
all  neceffary  in  their  proper  place  and  order. 
28    And    they        28    Whilft  our  Lord  was  talking  to  them,  in  this 
drew  nigh  unto  the   inftmdHve  and  moving  manner,   concerning  himfelf, 
village        whither    and  ftm  feemed        be      ft  th       arrived    t  £ 

they  went:  and  he  ...  .  &.     7  ' 

made  as  though  he   maus^    whither  they  were  going  ;    and  when  the  dif- 

would  have   gone   ciples  Hopped  at  a  certain  houfe  there,  Jefus  made  no 

farther,  offer  of  turning  in  with  them,    but  behaved  as  if  he 

were  travelling  further,    that  he  might  give  them  an 

opportunity,  either  of  letting  him  go,    or  of  defiring 

his  continuance  with  them. 

29  But  they  were  fo  affected  with  his  excellent 
and  leafonable  difcourfe,  that  they  could  by  no  means 
think  of  parting  with  him  ;  and  therefore  importu- 
nately entreated  him  to  favour  them  with  more  of  his 
good  company,  urging  that  it  grew  too  late  for  him 
to  go  much  further,  and  that  thev  fhould  be  extreme- 

iy 

T     E. 

his  own  rule,  {Mat.  v.  22.)  where  he  for- 
bids calling  our  brother  fool,  which  is 
to  be  understood  of  doing  it,  by  way  of 
caufelei'scontemptandinjuriousreproach, 
to  cenfure  and  expofe  him. 


29  But  they  con- 
strained him,  fay- 
ing, Abide  with 
us ;  for  it  is  to- 
wards evening,  and 
the  day  is  far  fpent. 
And 


N  O 
*  They  were  fools,  as  they  refufed  pro- 
per evidence,  and  acted  againft  their  own 
comfort  and  interefts  by  their  inadvert- 
ance  and  unbelief.  And  Chrift's  calling 
them  fo,  by  way  of  juft  reproof,  for  their 
OBaviction  and  recovery,  is  no  breach  of 


258 


The  Evangelijl 


Chap.  xxiv. 


And  he  went  in  to  ly  obliged  to  him,   if  he  would  pleafe  to  tarry  with 


tarry  with  them 


30  And  it  came 
to  pafs,  as  he  fat 
at  meat  with  them, 
he  took  bread,  and 
Tale  (Ted  it,  and 
brake,  and  gave  to 
them. 

31  And  their 
eyes  were  opened, 
and  they  knew 
liim  ;  and  he  va- 
niflied  out  of  their 
%ht. 

32  And  they 
faid  one  to  another, 
Did  not  our  heart 
burn  within  us, 
while  he  talked 
with  us  by  the  way, 
and  while  he  open- 
ed to  us  the  fcrip- 
tures  ? 


33  And  they 
rofe  up  the  fame 
hour,  and  returned 
to  Jerufalem,  and 
found  the  eleven 
gathered  together, 
and  them  that  were 
with  them. 


them  :  And  he,  who  is  always  ready  to  be  found  of 
them  that  feek  him,  yielded  to  their  importunity, 
flaying  fome  time  with  them  *. 

30  And  a  fupper  having  been  ordered  for  their  re- 
frelhment,  he,  fitting  down  at  table,  took  bread,  and 
afked  a  bleffing  upon  it,  and  then  bra&  and  gave  it 
to  them  to  eat,  juft  as  he  had  ufed  to  do  at  ordinary 
meals,  as  well  as  at  miraculous  and  religious  fealls. 

3 1  Hereupon  they,  beginning  to  fufpec-t  who  he 
was,  looked  at  him  more  intently  ;  and,  the  obftruc- 
tions  to  their  light  being  then  removed,  they  faw 
plainly  that  it  was  Jefus  himfelf ;  and  as  foon  as  they 
were  thoroughly  fatisfied  of  this,  and  confequently 
that  he  was  indeed  rifen  from  the  dead,  he  fuddenly 
fh'pt  away  from  them  f . 

32  And,  immediately  upon  his  difappearing,  they, 
reflecting  on  all  that  had  paffed,  faid,  each  of  them 
in  their  turns,  and  with  mutual  agreement,  What  an 
inftru&ive,  quickening,  and  comforting  difcourfe  had 
we  from  our  bleffed  Lord,  as  we  came  along  in  the 
way  hither  !  with  what  force  and  fweetnefs  did  he  ex- 
plain the  fcriptures  to  us  !  how  home  did  he  bring 
things  to  our  cafe  and  confeiences  !  and  what  divine 
energy  was  his  words  attended  with  !  Were  they  not 
fpirit  and  life  ?    Did  not  we  feel  their  power  ?    and 

,did  not  our  hearts  glow  with  a  divine  and  heavenly 
warmth  while  we  heard  them  ?  How  flrange  is  it,  and 
what  fools  were  we  indeed,  that  we  ihould  not  un* 
derftand  him,  nor  perceive  who  he  was  then,  or 
mould  ever  think  that  any  but  he  could  have  fpoke 
in  fuch  a  fuitable  and  effectual  manner  to  us  ! 

33  And,  being  full  of  rapture  and  joy  at  this  dif- 
covery  of  Chrift,  they  prefently  got  up  from  table, 
and,  late  as  it  was,  haftened  away  with  all  fpeed 
back  again  to  'jerufalem,  to  give  vent  to  their  own 
tranfports,  and  to  comfort  the  hearts  of  their  bre- 
thren ;  and  there  they  found  the  greateft  part  of  the 
eleven  apoilles,  with  others  that  ufed  to  affociate  with 
them,  affembled  together.  (See  the  note  on  Mark 
xvi.  14.) 

34  And 
NOTES. 

f  He  might,  at  that  inftant,  make 
himfelf  invifible  to  them  by  a  miraculous 
interpofure  of  a  cloud  upon  their  eyes,  or 
upon  his  body,  to  conceal  it  from  their 
view  till  he  got  out  of  the  room ;  by 
which  he  gave  them  to  underftand,  that 
they  were  not  expect  fuch  a  continuance 
of  his  company  with  them  in  his  rifen 
ftate,  as  they  had  been  ufed  to  before  his 
death. 


*  There  was  no  diflimulation,  as  fome 
have  fuggefted,  in  our  Lord's  conduct  on 
this  occafion  ;  for  he  only  behaved  here- 
in, juft  as  common  rules  of  civility  would 
have  obliged  any  ftranger  to  do,  that  he 
might  not  feem  to  thruft  himfelf  upon  o- 
ther  company,  but  might  leave  it  to  them 
to  invite  him  or  not,  determining  in  his 
own  mind  to  ftay  with  them,  upon  their 
discovering  a  defire  of  further  conven- 
tion with  him. 


Chap.  xxiv. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


*59 


34  And  the  two  difciples,  at  their  entring  the 
room  *,  heard  fome  of  the  company  faying,  O  blefs- 
ed  tidings  !  we  have  had  feveral  reports  that  our  dear 
Lord  is  rifen  from  the  dead  ;  and  Simon  Peter  has 
had  the  honour  of  a  vifit  from  him. 

35  Then  the  two  difciples,  ftill  further  to  confirm 
their  faith,  gave  them  a  particular  and  full  narrative 
of  all  that  had  paffed  between  Chrift  and  them  that 
afternoon,  in  their  way  to  Emmous,  and  how,  when 
they  got  thither,  he  plainly  difcovered  himfelf  to  them, 
while  they  were  fitting  together  at  table,  and  he,  like 
the  Mailer  of  the  feaft,  was  breaking  the  bread, 
which  had  been  provided  for  their  refrefiiment. 

36  And  whilit  all  thefe  difciples  were  thus  confer- 
ring about  the  refurre&ion  of  their  Lord,  in  a  private 
houfe,  the  doors  of  which  were  fhut  for  fear  of  the 
Jews,  (John  xx.  19.)  Jefus  himfelf  appeared  on  a 
fudden  among  them,  and  pronounced  all  happinefs 
upon  them  ;  thereby  affuring  them  that  he  came,  not 
to  refent. their  late  unworthy  treatment  of  him,  when 
they  all  forfook  him  in  his  extremity,  but  to  fatisfy 
them  of  his  refurrection,  and  of  his  abiding  love  to 
them,  and  to  comfort  and  blefs  them. 

37  But  inftead  of  being  delighted  with  this  ap- 
terrified    and    af-   pearance,  they  were  furprifed,  and  terribly  frighted  at 

up"  it,  becaufe  Chrift  came  fo  unexpectedly  among  them, 
and  without  making  any  noife,  though  the  doors 
were  fhut.  And,  in  the  hurry  of  their  thoughts,  for- 
getting the  many  proofs  they  had  formerly  feen  of 
his  divine  power,  and  the  feveral  evidences  they  had 
but  juft  before  received  of  his  refurre&ion,  they  pre- 
fently  fancied  it  was  only  a  fpirit,  which  formed  the 
appearance  of  a  body  among  them  \. 

38  Then,  to  quiet  and  fatisfy  them,  he,  in  a  free 


34  Saying,  The 
Lord  is  rifen  in- 
deed, and  hath  ap- 
peared to  Simon. 


35  And  they  told 
what  things  were 
done  in  the  way, 
and  how  he  was 
known  of  them  in 
breaking  of  bread. 


36  And  as  they 
thus  fpake,  Jefus 
himfelf  flood  in  the 
mid  ft  of  them,  and 
faith  unto  them, 
Peace  be  unto  you. 


37  Eut  they  were 


pofed  that  they  had 
feen  a  fpirit. 


38  And  hs 


faid 
unto 


N  O 
*  The  conftrudlion  of  the  Greek  (ae- 
yevlxr  being  the  accufative  cafe)  plainly 
fhews  that  thefe  were  the  words,  not  of 
the  two  difciples  that  came  from  Em- 
mausy  but  of  fome  of  the  company  which 
they  found  at  Jerufalem,  who  were  ei- 
ther {peaking  in  this  manner  one  to  ano- 
ther ;  or  elfe  fainted  the  two  difciples  as 
foon  as  they  appeared,  with  the  good 
news  they  had  received  from  Peter  : 
And  we  learn  from  1  Cor.  xv.  5.  that 
Chrift  was  feen  of  Simon  Peter,   before 


and 

T    E    S. 

fears,  on  account  of  his  having  fo  fhame- 
fully  denied  his  Lord  ;  though  where,  or 
in  what  manner  this  was  done  is  not  re- 
corded.    See  the  note  on  Mark  xvi.  r3- 


f  It  is  vain  to  inquire  how  Jefus  came 
among  them,  the  doors  being  fhut,  or  to 
imagine  that  his  body  penetrated  other 
bodies  ;  fince  it  was  as  eafy  to  his  divine- 
power  to  open  a  door  indifcernibly,  and 
without  noife,  as  to  have  come  in  at  a 
door  opened  by  fome  other  hand  ;  and  to 
pretend  that  his   body   penetrated    any 


he  was  fee?i  of  the  twelve  upojlles  ;   by  door  or  wall,  without  opening  or  break- 

which  it  is   evident  that   Jefus,    in   his  ing  it,   is  to  fuppofe  that  his  body   was 

wonderful  condefcenfion  and  grace,  had  not  a  real  hvinan  body  of  flefh  and  bones, 

taken  an  opportunity  on  the  former  part  though  the  reality  of  its  being  fo  was  the 

of  that  day  to  (hew  himfelf  to  Peter,  that  very  thing  which  he  defigned  by  this  ap- 

he  might  early  relieve  his  diftrefi>e  and  pearance  to  convince  his  difciples  of. 


i6o 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  xxiv. 


thoughts    arife 
your   hearts? 


i»9    Behold   my 


unto  them,  Why  and  friendly  manner,  faid  to  them,  What  means  all 
are  ye  troubled  ;  ^ils  confufion,  which  difcovers  itfelf  in  your  counte- 
nances and  behaviour  ?  and  why  do  ye  give  way  to 
fuch  unreafonable  fears  and  terrors,  as  I  know  di- 
ftrad-t  and  diftrefs  your  minds,  as  if  what  ye  faw 
were  an  imaginary  and  not  a  real  body  ?  but  to  con- 
vince you  of  the  contrary, 

39  Obferve  the  marks  of  my  crucifixion,  and  exa- 
hands  and  my  feet  mJne  hand  and  f  and,fide  ;  (John  xx.  20.) 
that  it  is  I  myfelf.  ,  ,  cm  i  j  ,  r  i  •  •  i  ' 
Handle    me     and   lo0^  carefully  upon  my  body,    and  feel  it  with  your 

fee  :  tor  a  fpirit  own  hands  for  your  fatisfa&ion,  that  it  is  I  myfelf, 
hath  not  flelh  and  your  Lord  and  Mailer,  who  am  rifen  from  the  dead : 
bones,  as  ye  fee  me  jror  a  fp£rit,  with  all  the  appearances  it  can  make, 
has  not  fuch  a  corporeal  fubftance,  as  may  be  feen 
and  felt,  and  diftinguifhed  to  be  a  body  of  flefh  and 
bones,  and  as  your  own  eyes  and  touch  may  prove 
this  to  be,  in  which  I  now  appear  before  you. 

40  And  at  the  fame  time  he  held  out  his  hands 
and  his  feet,  and  fhewed  them  his  fide,  {John  xx. 
20.)  that  they  might  both  fee  and  feel  the  fears  of 
the  nails  which  had  fattened  him  to  the  crofs,  as  well 
as  of  the  fpear  that  had  pierced  his  fide  ;  which  pro- 
ved, beyond  all  contradiction,  that  there  could  be  no 
deceit  in  the  appearance  he  then  made  to  them  ;  who 
had  been  fo  long  acquainted  with  him,  and  had  fo 
lately  feen  him  crucified. 

41  And  while  their  ecftacy  and  aftonifhment  were 
fo  great,  that  they  hardly  knew  what  to  believe,  he, 


40  And,  when 
he  had  thus  fpoken, 
he  fhewed  them 
his  hands  and  his 
feet. 


41    And  while 
they   yet  believed 


wonderecThe  faid  to  S*ve  t^em  more  ^me»    anc*  ^  further  evidence, 

unto  them,   Have  afked  them  to  fet  fomething   before  him,    that  he 

ye  here  any  meat  ?  might  eat  in  their  prefencc. 
43    And     they 


gave  him  a  pRjce 
of  a  broiled  rilh, 
and  of  an  honey- 
comb. 


42  Then  they  gave  him  a  part  of  fuch  fare  as  they 
had  with  them,  which  was  a  piece  of  broiled  fifth,  and 
of  an  honey-comb. 

43  And  though  his  rifen  body  had  no  need  of  ani- 
43   And  ne  took   mal  refrefhment,  yet  he  eat  part  of  this  food  in  theif 

it,  and  did  eat  be-   company    for  the  confirmation  of  their  faith,  and  to 
tore  them.  .    -*      *    ±  1    •    r  .    n« 

give  an  advantage  to  their  future  teltimony  concern- 
ing him  *. 

44  Our  Lord  having,  on  this,  and  afterwards  on 
other  occafions,  given  them  unquestionable  proofs  that 
he  was  really  the  fame  perfon  whom  thev  formerly  u- 

fed 
T     E. 

(Gen.  xviii.  8.  and  xix.  3.)  But-asChrift 
eat  with  his  difciples  on  this  occasion  on- 
ly to  demonftrate  his  refurrecYion  ;  fo  he 
could  eafily  diffolve  the  food,  or  difcharge 
it  invifibly  by  his  divine  power,  as  foon 
as  he  had  eat  it,  fince  the  ftate  of  his  ri- 
fen body  did  not  need  it  for  nourifhment 
and  fupport,  as  the  fame  body,  whilft  it 
was  mortal,  did  before  his  death. 


44  And  he  faid 

unto  them,  Thefe 

are      the       words 

which 


N    O 

*  The  apoflle  Peter  afterwards  infift- 
ed  on  this  part  of  the  evidence,  that  he 
was  jhe-un  openly  to  his  difciples,  nvho 
did  tat  and  drink  <wjth  him  after  he  rofe 
from  the  dtad.  (Acts  x.  41.)  To  afk 
what  became  of  this  food  after  he  had 
eat  it,  is  as  ufelefs  and  over-curious,  as 
to  afk  what  became  of  the  meat  which 
the  angels  eat  with  Alt  atom  and  Lot. 


Chap.  xxiv. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


261 


which  I  fpake  un- 
to you,  while  I 
was  yet  with  you, 
that  all  things  mull 


were  written  in 
the  law  of  Mofes, 
and  in  the  pro- 
phets, and  in  the 
pfalms,  concerning 
me. 


45  Then  opened 
he  their  under- 
Handing,  that  they 
might  underftand 
the  fcriptures, 


fed  to  converfe  with,  proceeded,  time  after  time, 
till  his  afcenfion,  to  give  them  more  clear  and  exten- 
five  inftrurftions,  than  ever  before,  concerning  the 
be  fulfilled  °which  necefiity  and  defign  of  his  fufferings,  death,  and  re- 
written in  furreclion,  faying,  Thefe  are  the  very  things  which 
I  intended  to  fuggeil  to  you,  by  the  feveral  intima- 
tions I  heretofore  gave  you,  whilft  I  was  daily  con- 
verfing  with  you:  I  then  allured  you,  that  every 
thing  relating  thereunto  mull  be  accomplimed,  which 
had  been  anciently  foretold  *  in  the  feveral  parts  of 
the  Old  Teftament  concerning  me,  as  the  MerTiah  j 
and  now  ye  fee  they  are  all  exactly  come  to  pafs. 

45  Then,  as  he  had  before  opened  the  fcriptures  to 
fome  of  his  difciples  in  a  doctrinal  way,  and  made 
their  hearts  burn  within  them  f  ;  (ver.  27,  32.)  fo 
he  furthermore  took  off  the  vail  from  all  their  hearts, 
by  the  fpecial  illumination  of  his  Spirit,  who  remov- 
ed the  darknefs,  doubts,  and  prejudices  of  their  minds, 
that  they  might  readily  apprehend,  and  fall  in  with 
the  true  meaning  of  the  fcriptures,  especially  in  what 
related  to  their  accomplishment  in  him. 

46  And  in  this  manner  he  evidently  demonftrated 
to  them,  that,  according  to  the  prophecies  of  the 
Old  Teftament  concerning  the  Melfiah,  and  accord- 
ing to  the  eternal  couniel  of  God,  with  refpect  to 
his  own  glory,  and  the  falvation  of  his  people,  it 
was  necefFary  that  he  mould  die  for  their  fins,  and 
rife  again  for  their  j unification  : 

47  And  that,  upon  this  foot,  the  great  evangeli- 
cal doctrines  of  ingenuous  repentance  of  all  iniquity, 
and  forgivenefs  of  fins  through  faith  in  him,  as  frife- 
parably  connected  in  the  gofpel-difpenfation,    fhould 

nations,  beginning   be  publifhed  by  his  authority,  power,  and  efficacy, 
at  Jeruialem.  an(i  jn  ^  vJrtue  0f  }^IS  mer;t}  among  all  forts  of  peo- 

ple, whether  Jews  or  Gentiles,  beginning  at  the  city 
of  Jerufalem  :  And  this  he  particularly  took  notice 
of,  that,  according  to  ancient  prophecies,  the  word 

of 
N     O     T    Z    S. 
*  The  general  divifion  of  the  books    the  head  of  that  fort  of  writincs  :  And  fo 


46  And  faid  un- 
to them,  Thus  it 
is  written,  and  thus 
it  behoved  Chrift 
to  fuffer,  and  to 
rife  from  the  dead 
the  third  day: 

47  And  that  re- 
pentance and  re- 
miflion  of  fins  fliould 
be  preached  in  his 
name,     among    all 


of  the  Old  Teftament,  in  thole  days,  was 
ioto  thefe  three  parts,  (i.)  The  Law, 
which  contained  the  five  books  of  Mofef: 
(2.)  The  Prophets,  which  contained  not 
only  thofe  books  that  were  merely  pro- 
phetical, but  thole  likewife,  which  were 
hiftorical,  and  were  wrote  by  propheti- 
cal men  :  And  (3.)  The  Hagibgrapba, 
which  contained  divine  hymns,  and  mo- 
ral inftrucftions  for  the  conduct  of  life, 
and  went  under  the  general  title  of  the 
Pfalms,  becaufe  thefe  were  efteemed  as 
the  molt  eminent,  and  were  placed  at 

Vol.  II.  M  m 


Chrift,  by  mentioning  thefe  three.  Took  in 
the  whole  of  the  Old  Teftament,  which, 
in  fevernl  places,  fpoke  of  his  fufferings, 
and  of  the  glory  that  fhould  follow. 

f  Though  the  two  difciples  hearts 
burned  within  t.'iem  while  he  opened  to 
them  the  fcriptures;  yet  there  was  more 
warmth  than  light;  and  it  doth  uot  ap- 
pear that  they  duly  underftood  thofs 
fcriptures,  or  believed  in  a  rifen  Saviour, 
according  to  them,  till  after  they  came 
to  Emmavr. 


43  And  ye  are 
witnelTes  of  thefe 
things. 


262  The  Evangelijl  Chap.  xxiVi 

of  the  Lord  might  go  forth  from  thence  ;  that  the 
Jew  r  might  have  the  privilege  of  the  firft-born  ;  that 
the  elect  of  God  among  them  might  be  called  in  great 
numbers  there,  as  the  firft-fruits  of  the  gofpel-mini- 
ftry  ;  that  Jefus  might  the  more  evidently  prove  him- 
felf  to  be  the  Son  of  God,  and  the  true  Mefllah,  at 
that  very  place  where  he  was  crucified ;  that  the  glad 
tidings  of  falvation  might  have  the  quicker  fpread 
from  thence  to  other  countries  ;  and  that  the  great- 
eft  of  finners,  even  fuch  as  were  concerned  in  his  cru- 
cifixion, and  all  others,  to  whom  this  gofpel  mould 
be  afterwards  preached,  might  be  encouraged  to  hope 
in  the  riches  of  divine  grace  through  him,  for  their 
recovery  and  falvation. 

48  And  ye,  faid  he,  my  apoftles  and  difciples, 
are  the  perfons  whom  I  appoint  to  bear  witnefs  in 
your  miniftry,  that,  according  to  what  ye  yourfelves 
have  feen  and  heard,  all  things  which  were  pre- 
dicted of  old,  concerning  the  death  and  refurredtion 
of  the  Meffiah,  have  been  punctually  accomplished 
in  me. 

49  And,  for  your  encouragement,  obferve,  Soon 
after  my  afcenfion  to  heaven,  I  will  lhed  down  the 
Holy  Ghoft  upon  you  in  an  extraordinary  manner, 
according  to  my  Father's  promife  ;  (Joe/ii.  28.)  and 
therefore  I  order  you  not  to  go  forth  immediately 
to  preach  the  gofpel,  but  to  continue,  for  a  while, 
waiting  together  at  Jerufalem,  till  ye  (hall  have 
this  plentiful  effufion  from  the  throne  of  the  Majefty 
on  high,  to  enrich  you  with  all  needful  gifts  and  gra- 
ces, and  fupernatural  powers,  for  the  work  on  which 
I  fend  you,  and  to  confirm  your  teflimony,  and  fuc- 
ceed  you  in  it. 

50  Having  in  this  manner  given  them  many  infal- 
lible proofs  of  his  refurre&ion,  and  various  inftruc- 
tions  relating  to  his  kingdom  and  their  miniftry  in  it, 
he,  at  the  end  of  forty  days,  conducted  them  out 
to  the  mount  of  Olives,  which  lay  in  a  tradt  of  land 
called  Bethany,  not  far  from  the  village  of  that 
name  *  ;  and  having  brought  them  thither,  he,  lift- 
ing up  his  hands  toward  them,  as  Aaron  did  toward 
the  people,  (Xev.  ix.  22.)  authoritatively  and  effec- 
tually commanded  a  bleiTmg  upon  them,  to  fhew  his 

affection 

NOTE. 

*  The  town  or  tillage   of  Bethany,  (lav's  journey  of  Jerufalem,  which  is  fup- 

where  Lamarns  dwelt,    and  was  railed  pofeel  to  have  been  about  eight  furlongs: 

from  the  dead,  was  about  fifteen  furlongs  And  this  was  the  place  to  which  Cbrilt 

from  jferufalem:   (  fohn  xi     iS.)      But  led   his   difciples,    and   from  which   hz 

there  was  a  tract  of  ground  called  by  afcended,    as   appears  from   Acls  i.   1  :- 

that  name,  which  reached   from  thence  Vid.  Liglitf.  tier.  Ilcbr. 
tothe  mount  of  Olives,  within  aSabbath- 


49  And  behold, 
I  fend  the  promife 
of  my  Father  upon 
you  :  but  tarry  ye 
in  the  city  of  Jeru- 
salem, until  ye  be 
endued  with  power 
from  on  hish. 


50  And  lie  led 
them  out  as  far  as 
to  Bethany  :  and 
lie  lift  up  his 
hands,  and  blefled 
them. 


Chap.  xxiv. 


51  And  it  came 
to  pafs,  while  he 
blefled  them,  he 
was  parted  from 
them,  and  carried 
up  into  heaven. 

5  z  And  they 
worshipped  him, 
and  returned  to  Je- 
rufalem  with  great 

joy; 


53  And  were 
continually  in  the 
temple,  praifing 
and  blefling  God. 
Amen. 


Luke  paraphrafed. 


263 


affe&ion  to  them,   and  to  allure  them  of  what  they 
might  further  expect  from  him. 

5 1   As  foon  as  he  had  taken  this  gracious  and  fo- 

lemn  farewell,  he  left  them,  and  viiibly  afcended  up 

into  heaven  by  his  divine  power  ;    they  all  looking 

at  him,  till  a  glorious  cloud  received  him  out  of  their 

fight.   (Ads  i.  9) 

£2  And  as  he  was  afcending,  they,  beholding 
his  glory,  adored  him  as  their  God  and  Saviour,  and 
went  back  to  Jcrufalem^  according  to  his  order,  be- 
ing filled  with  exceeding  joy  in  reflection  on  what 
they  had  feen,  heard,  and  felt,  and  in  expectation  of  an 
accomplishment  of  his  parting  promifes,  which  would 
ifTue  in  the  advancement  of  his  kingdom  on  earth,  and 
in  their  being  at  length  received  up  to  glory  after  him* 

5$  And  they  attended  religious  fervices  in  the 
temple^,  day  by  day,  reforting  thither  at  the  hours 
of  prayer,  and  blefling  God,  in  repeated  praiies,  for 
the  glory  he  had  difplayed  in  their  crucified,  rifen, 
and  exalted  Redeemer  :  And  in  this  manner  they 
continued  waiting  in  faith  and  hope  of  their  Lord's 
making  good  his  promife  of  the  Holy  GhoiL 
Jlmen*  faid  they  ;  Atnen^  fays  the  writer  of  this  gof- 
pel  ;  and  Amen,  fays  every  true  believer :  So  let  it 
be,  and  may  God  be  ever  magnified  for  all  this ! 


RECOLLECTIONS. 

What  fure  and  blefled  tidings  are  the  refurredHon  of  Chrift  !  And  how  oftei. 
does  he  furprife  the  molt  unlikely  and  unworthy  with  fuch  diicoveriesof  himfelf  as 
they  are  apt  to  think  are  too  great  and  good  to  be  true  !  But  early  feektrs  of  hirh 
lliall  find  him  ;  and  while  they  are  converting  together  about  him,  he  will  honour 
them  with  his  prefence,  open  their  underftandings,  and  make  their  hearts  burn 
within  them  to  their  exceeding  joy  :  Though  their  hopes  may  fometimes  be  ready 
to  fail,  yet  in  due  feafon  he  will  make  himielf  known  to  them,  and  clear  up  what 
the  fcriptures  fay  concerning  him,  as  a  fullering  and  exalted  Saviour ;  and  they 
that  are  importunate  for  his  abiding  with  them,  lhall  be  favoured  with  further 
manifeftations  of  himfelf  to- them  ;  and  when  they  find  him  to  the  fatisfaction  of 
their  own  fouls,  they  cannot  but  be  delirous  that  others  fhould  be  comforted  with 
their  comforts.  But  O  the  folly  of  unbelief,  as  it  lies  againlt  the  cleareft  evidence, 
and  againft  our  own  belt  and  trueft  interests  1  How  groundlefs  are  the  fears  of 
Chrift's  difciples;  and  yet  bow  does  he  condefcend  to  their  infirmities  to  relieve 
them  !    And  how  endearing  is  the  conftancy  of  his  love,  who,  after  all,  will  blefs 

them. 


N  O 
*  Some  fuppofe  that  all  this  while,  the 
difciples  dwelt,  and  continued  together 
for  ^application  and  prayer,  in  lbme  up- 
per chamber  or  apartment  of  the  temple, 
by  the  permiffion  of  lbme  prieft  or  Levite, 
to  whom  it  belonged;  and  that  what  is 
here  called  their  being  Sfvavhr  t  v  ru  ugu 
continually  in  the  temple,  praifing  and 
blefling  God,  is  much  of  the  fame  import 
with  what  is  faid,  {Aits  i.  13,  14.)  about 


T     E. 

their  going  uc  to  \nri(>uvj  into  an  upper 
roo?n,  and  v<x1a/*i  verier  abiding  and  rcnti- 
nuing  nvith  one  accord  fbcre,  in  prayer 
and /application  1  And  admitting  this,, 
the  feeming  difference  between  thofe 
two  paflages  is  eafily  reconciled,  fince  all 
the  buildings  in  the  temple  were  called 
the  temple.  (2  Kings  xi.  2,  3.)  See  thu 
argued  pro  and  con  in  llummond  and 
Whitby  on  Ads  i.  1 5, 


M  m  2 


254  The  Evangelift  Chap.  xxiv. 

them  and  fend  the  promifed  Spirit  to  them,  that  they  may  be  fitted  for  every 
trial  and  fervice  to  which  he  calls  them  1  Yea,  how  exceeding  and  abundant  are 
the  riches  of  his  grace  to  the  worft  of  finners,  like  thofe  of  Jerufalem,  that  had 
ambrued  their  hands  in  his  blood  !  And  what  bleffed  grounds  of  hope  are  there  e 
ven  for  fuch,  that  thev  may  obtain  repentance,  and  remiffion  ot  fins  through  taitti 
in  hi<  name  !  And  O  how  fhould  our  faith  and  hope,  hearts  and  affeftions  follow 
the  attended  Head  and  Redeemer  into  heaven,  looking  after  him,  adoring  and 
worfhipping  him,  bleffing  God  for  him,  living  in  daily  expectation  of  all  needful 
bleffings  from  him  here,  and  of  afcending  up  to  him  in  our  own  perfons  hereatter, 
that  where  he  is,  there  we  may  be  alfo  '.  Amen  and  amen  :  So  let  it  be  to  every 
one  of  us. 


A     PRACTICAL 


A     PRACTICAL 

EXPOSITION 

OF      THE 

EVANGELIST     JOHN, 

IN  THE  FORM  OF  A 

PARAPHRASE. 


CHAP.      I. 

The  EvangeliJPs  tejlimony  concerning  the  eternal  Godhead,  the  office 
and  incarnation  of  Chriji ,  i, — 14.  John  the  BaptiftV  tejlimony 
concerning  him,  15, — 37.  And  ChriJPs  catling  of  federal  to  be 
his  difciples,   38, — 51. 

Text.  Paraphrase. 

TN  the  beginning    y  jj  tne  beginning  *  of  the  world,   when  God  crea- 
ZZZ  *fJ! 3£    1    ted  the  heavens  and  the  earth,    a  Divine  perfon, 
ftiled  emphatically  the  Logos  f  or  word,    neceflarily 
exifted  ;   and  fo  the  Word  was  co-  eternally  prefent 
with   God  J  the    Father,     and   the    Word    himfelf, 

though 
NOTES. 


and  the  Word  was 
with  God,  and  the 
Word  was  God. 


*  The  flrft  Socinians  underftood  this 
of  the  beginning  of  the  gofpel ;  and  fo 
interpreted  all  that  follows,  as  relating 
to  the  gofpel-reformation  :  But  a  bare 
reading  of  the  following  verfes  with  at- 
tention, is  fufficicnt  to  confute  that  in- 
terpretation, as  exceeding  unnatural  and 
forced  ;  accordingly  there  are  few,  if  a- 
ny  now,  that  plead  for  it 

f  The  term  Logos,  tranflated  nvord, 
fignifies  wifdom  or  reafon,  as  well  as 
word ;  accordingly  Chrift  is  called  both 
the  Wifdom,  and  the  Word  of  God. 
(Prey.  viii.  and  Luke  xi.  49.  Rev.  xix. 
13.)  He  is  the  Wifdom  of  God,  fay  fe- 
veral  of  the  fathers,  confidering  him  in 
his  pre-exiftence  before  all  worlds  ;  and 
fo  he  is  compared  to  dent  thought  rett- 
ing in  the  mind  :  And  he  is  the  Word  of 
God,  confidering  him  in  his  incarnate 
ftate  ;  and  fo  he  is  compared  to  out- 
ward fpeech,  whereby  he  reveals  the  Fa- 
ther to  us.     And  that  this  word  is  mor<* 


than  an  attribute,  or  operation  of  the  Fa. 
ther,  is  evident  from  the  perfonal  cha- 
racters under  which  he  is  fpoken  of  in 
this  and  feveral following  paflages,  where 
he  is  exprefsly  called  God  luith  God+ 
(ver.  1,  2.)  is  diftinguiihed  from  John 
the  Baptiji,  (ver.  S.)  is  faid  to  come  af- 
ter him,  and  to  come  to  his  own,  (ver. 
11,  15.)  to  be  the  only  begotten  of  the 
Father,  to  be  ?r.adeflejh,  and  to  dwell  a- 
tnong  71s.'  (ver.  14.) 

.  \  The  terra  God  in  this  paffage  is 
plainly  meant  of  God  the  Father,  as  per- 
sonally diftinguiihed  from  th«  Word ; 
though  he  is  not  here  called  the  Father, 
becaufe  the  Evangelift  had  not  yet  fpoke 
of  Chrift  under  the  title  of  the  Son  :  And 
this  Word,  who  in  the  clofe  of  the  verfe 
is  called  God,  was  with  God  ;  not  as  one. 
God  with  another  God,  but  as  one  divine 
perfon  with  another  in  the  fame  God- 
head. 


i66 


The  Evangelift 


Chap. 


• 


though  perfonally  diftin&  from  him,   was  in  a  ftri& 

and  proper  fenfe  God  *,  partaking  of  the  fame  divine 

nature  and  effential  perfections  with  the  Father. 

2  The  fame  was        2,  3    This  divine  perfon  had  all  along  an  infepara- 

in   the    beginning   tje  exiftence  with  God  the  Father,    not  only  before 

W\  All  things  were  ^e  was  k°rn  °^  ^e  Virgin,  but  even  from  everlafting, 

made  by  him  •  and   before  there  were  any  creatures,  he  being  the  author 

without  him  was   of  all  made  things  whatfoever  :    So  that  by  him,  as 

not  any  thing  made   their  Creator,  they  were  brought  forth  into  being; 

and  without  his  efficiency  no  one  of  them,  from  the 

higheft  to  the  loweft,  was  formed  at  all  f . 

4  He  not  only  created  all  inanimate,  but  likewife 
all  animate  things,  whether  of  the  fenlitive  or  rational 
life,  and  that  by  a  vital  principle,  which  was  origin- 
ally and  neceflarily  in  himfelf ;  and  this  was  the  fpring 
and  fource  of  all  kinds  and  degrees  of  life,  that  are 
communicated  to  others,  and  particularly  of  all  the 
reafon  and  underftanding,  that  is,  or  ever  was  found 
among  men,  and  of  all  that  can  be  called  the  light  of 
life. 

5  The  light  of  natural  confeience,  which  proceeds 
from  God  the  Word,  glimmers  amidft  the  moral 
darknefs  that  is  brought  upon  the  minds  of  men  by 
fin  ;  but  this  darknefs  is  fo  great,  that  it  overpowers 

and 
NOTES. 
*  The  chief  objection  againft  this  in-    or  author  of  them :    For  an  inftrument 


that  was  made. 

4  In  him  was 
life ;  and  the  life 
was  the  light  of 
men. 


5  And  the  light 
fhir.eth  in  dark- 
nefs ;  and  the 
darknefs  compre- 
hended  it  not. 


terpretation  is,  that  in  the  Greek  the  ar- 
ticle is  added  to  the  word  God,  when  fpo- 
ken  of  the  Father,  which  is  left  out  when 
applied  to  the  Son  :  But  this  is  no  more 


or  under-agent  to  God,  in  creation-work, 
do  not  agree  to  any  notions  of  creating 
power,  which  muft  be  ftrictly  and  pro- 
perly divine  and  infinite,   and  is  always 


than  the  rules  of  grammar  made  proper  fpoken  of  in  fcripture  ;  as  immediately 
to  determine  the  nominative  cafe  in  the  and  entirely  peculiar  to  God,  <whoJlretch~ 
fentence,  which,  if  the  article  had  been    ed forth  the  heavens  alone,  and fpread 


added,  would  have  been  more  naturally 
rendered,  God  was  the  Word,  than  the 
Word  *ua<  God;  and  there  are  feveral 
places  in  this  very  chapter,  where  the 
word  God  is  applied  to  the  Divine  Be- 
ing abfolutely,  or  to  the  Father  perfon 


abroad  the  earth  by  himself  ;  (Ifa. 
xliv.  24.)  and  of  him,  through  him,  or  by 
him,  (<?*'  avhv)  are  all  things.  (Rom. 
xi.  36.)  And  Chrift  is  fpoken  of,  as  the 
Lord,  or  Jehovah,  who,  by  his  own  pro- 
per efficiency,  in  the  beginning  laid  the 
ally,  without  the  article,  as  particularly  foundation  of  the  earth,  and  the  heavens 
njer.  6,  13,  iS.  At  other  times  'tis  ap-  are  faid  to  be  the  works  of  his  hands* 
plied  with  the  article  to  the  Son;  (chap.  (Heb.  i.  to.)  Thefe  exalted  characters 
xx.  28.)  and  at  others,  even  to  falfe  of  the  Logos  cannot  agree  to  any,  the 
gods :  (Jets  xiv.  1 1.  and  2  Cor.  iv.  4.)  Sc  molt  glorious  creature  that  can  be  ima- 
that  no  ftrefs  can  be  laid  upon  the  omifh-  gined,  fince  that  muft  be  a  made  being, 
en  of  the  article  here.  And  that  Chrift  and  all  fuch  beings  are  here  diftinguifh- 
was  properly  God  by  nature,  and  not  by  ed  from  the  Logos,  who  made  them  ;  and 
office,  is  evident,  becaufe  he  was  God  be-  therefore  he  cannot  be  himfelf  made, 
fore  any  creatures  were  made,  and  con-  Nor  can  they,  I  think,  agree  to  a  (uppo- 
fequentiy  before  any  dominion  could  be  fed  pre-exiftent,  created  foul  of  Ch.ift  ; 
exercifed  over  them.  fince  the  Divinity  and  the  power,  here, 

and  in  the  following  verfes,   afcribed  to 

t  'Tis  not  fufficient  to  object  againft    him,   are   diftinguifhed   from   all   made 

this,  that  by  him  denotes  only  an  inftru-    things,  and  are  peculiar  to  Godhead,  as 

ment,  or  under-agent,  in  the  making  of   will  appear  in  the  Evangelift's  further 

all  'things,  and  not  properly  the  efficient    account  of  them. 


Chap.  i. 


John  paraphrafed. 


z6j 


6  There  was  a 
man  fent  from  God, 
whofe  name  nvas 
John. 


7  The  fame  came 
for  a  witnefs,  to 
bear  witnefs  of  the 
Light,  that  all  men 
through  him  might 
believe. 


and  ftifles  it,  inftead  of  being  overpowered  by  it : 
And  the  light  of  revelation,  which  he  communicated 
with  a  gradual  increafe  through  various  difpenfations 
of  grace,  mines  now  at  length  in  all  its  luftre  amidlt 
the  darknefs  of  a  degenerate  world  ;  but  fuch  is  the 
blindnefs  of  mens  hearts,  that  they  naturally  do  not 
underftand  it,  but  (hut  their  eyes  againft  it,  hate  and 
oppofe  it,  and  will  not  receive  it,  having  loved  dark- 
nefs rather  than  light,  becaufc  their  deeds  are  evil, 
(Chap.  iii.  19,  20.) 

6  The  opening  of  the  laft  and  cleareft  of  thefe  dif- 
penfations began  in  the  miniilry  of  John  the  Baptijl, 
who  was  really  a  man  and  no  more,  though  an  extra- 
ordinary one  in  his  birth,  gifts,  qualifications,  and 
remarkable  fan&ity,  and  a  man,  who  was  thereby 
proved  to  be  fent  of  God,  that  he  might  be  the  fore- 
runner of  the  glorious  perfon  before  fpoken  of. 

7  This  John  came  among  the  Jews,  as  a  witnefs 
from  God,  and  for  God,  to  fpeak  of  Chrift,  and 
point  them  to  him,  as  a  divine  perfon,  in  whom 
were  hid  all  the  treafures  of  wifdom  and  knowledge, 
and  who  was  juft  ready  to  appear,  and  diffufe  a  glo- 
rious light  among  them  :  And  the  great  defign  and 
tendency,  of  his  teftimony  was,  that  through  his  mi- 
niftry,  as  a  moral  and  appointed  means,  all  forts  * 
of  men  might  be  induced  to  believe  in  Jefus,  as  the 
proper  object  of  their  faith,  (ver.  12.)  whether  they 
were  Pharifees,  Sadducees,  or  the  common  people 
among  the  Jews,  or  publicans  and  foldiers  among1 
the  Gentiles. 

8  It  might  be  truly  faid  of  John,  that,  by  the 
clearnefs  of  his  preaching,  the  fervour  of  his  fpirit, 
and  the  holinefs  of  his  life,  he  was  minifterially, 
(a  Au^ves)  a  burning  and  fbining  light.  (^John  v. 
35.)  But,  as  he  himfelf  confeffed,  he  was  not  that 
divine  perfon,  who,  by  way  of  eminence,  is  (to  <p»s) 
the  light,  from  which  all  others  are  derived,  but  was 
fent  of  God,  to  mew  him  to  the  people,  who  really 
was  fo,  and  to  affure  them  that  he,  as  the  Sun  of 
righteoufnefs,  was  then  riling  upon  them. 

9  This  matchlefs  perfon  was,  by  way  of  eminence 
and  excellence,  the  true  light,  in  oppolition  to  the 

lighteth  every  man    fa]fe  i-   htg  of  the  Genti/e  philofophers,   and  the  cor- 

rhat  cometh    into  ,°  „         .  ,«.  .     *       •     1  r   i.^     r^u     v 

the  world.  rupted,  as  well  as  the  taint  typical  light  01  the  Jeivs  ; 

and  in  diftindlion  from  John  the  Baptijl,  and  the  a- 

poftles, 


8  He  was  not 
that  Light,  but 
was  fent  to  bear 
witnefs  of  that 
Light. 


9  That  was  the 
true  Light,  which 


N  O 
*  All  men,  in  this  place,  cannot  pofli- 
bly  mean  every  individual  of  mankind, 
becaufe  the  Evanpelift  here  fpeaks  of  the 
defign  of  John  the  Bapti/fs  perfonal  mi- 
piftry,   to  prepare  Ckrift's  way,   which 


T     E. 

miniftry  was  confined  to  the  land  of  Ju- 
dea,  and  but  few,  comparatively  fpeak- 
ing,  heard  his  testimony.  See  the  notes 
on  ver.  >o.  '*nd  chap.  iii.  16. 


268 


Tbe  Evan%el\ft 


Chap.  i. 


TO 


not. 


it  He  came  un- 
to his  own,  and  his 
own  received  him 
rot. 


poftles,  who  bare  a  more  direct  witnefs  to  him,  and 
derived  their  light,  from  him.  He  is  indeed  the  ori- 
ginal fountain-light,  from  whom  all  kinds  of  natural 
and  divine  knowledge  are  communicated  to  every 
man,  whether  Jew  or  Gentile,  who  has  been  par- 
taker of  them  in  former  ages,  or  now  is,  or  ever 
fhall  be  fo,  to  the  end  of  the  world  *. 
He  was  in  jq  By  him,  as  was  faid,  (ver.  3.)  the  whole  crea- 
the  .wtwid,  and  the  tjon  v/ag  {orm^t  an(J  he  has  ever  fince  been  prefent 
by  him  and  the  m  tne  world  by  his  Being  and  Providence,  uphold- 
world  knew  him  ing  all  things  by  the  word  of  his  power  ;  and  by 
feveral  difpenfations  of  light  and  grace  in  different 
degrees  through  all  ages.  And  yet  fuch  is  the  blind- 
nefs,  fenfuality,  and  depravity  of  mankind,  that  the 
Gentile  world  neither  underftood  nor  owned  the  cha- 
racters of  Deity,  which  he  impreffed  on  his  works, 
as  the  Creator  of  all  things  ;  nor  did  the  generality 
of  men  obferve  and  believe  the  characters  of  grace, 
which  he  difcovered  by  tradition,  or  by  his  word,  as 
the  only  Saviour. 

1 1  Yea,  in  the  fulnefs  of  time,  he  perfonally  ap- 
peared, in  his  incarnation  and  miniftry,  among  the 
Jews,  and  manifested  himfelf  with  more  abundant 
light  and  power,  by  his  do£trine  and  miracles  to 
them,  who  were  his  own  people  and  property,  not 
merely  in  common  with  the  reft  of  the  world,  by 
right  of  creation,  but  likewife  in  a  more  peculiar 
manner,  as  he  was  the  God  of  Ifrael,  and  they  were 
his  covenant  and  profeffing  people,  and  his  own  kin- 
dred according  to  the  fie  fh:  (Rom.  ix.  4,  5.)  And 
yet  fo  ignorant,  obftinate,  and  perverfe,  were  the  ge- 
nerality of  them,  who  were  thus  his  own,  that  they 
wilfully  rejected  their  Creator,  their  covenant-God, 
and  their  kinfman,  broke  through  all  their  natural 
and  fpecial  obligations  to  him,  and  would  not  receive 
hirn  as  their  Mefiiah. 
12  But  as  many  12  But  there  was  a  remnant,  according  to  the 
as  received  Jiim,  to  e/ec^i0/i  of  grace,  (Rom.  xi.  5.)  who  embraced  him 
as  the  free  gift  of  God,  with  hearty  approbation  of 
him,  and  of  the  way  of  falvation  alone  by  him,  as  their 
prophet,  prieft,  and  king,  and  with  an  entire  trull 
and  dependence  upon  him  for  themfelves,  that  they 
might  have  life  through  him  :  And  on  all  who  thus 
by  faith  received  him,  he  bellowed  (i^va-ixv)  the  dig- 
nity 

T    E. 

comvtb ;  and  then  it  mod  peculiarly  re- 
lates to  his  appearing  in  the  world  to 
fpread  the  light  of  the  gofpel  among 
Gc/itilcs,  as  well  as  Jews,  or  amongft  aii. 
that  arc  enlightened  by  it. 


them  gave  he  pow 
er   to  become  the 
fons  of  God,   e-ven 
to   them   that  be- 
lieve on  his  name : 


N  O 
*  Or  thefe  words  may  be  rendered,  He 
was  tbe  true  light ,  nrbirb,  coming  into 
tbe  ivorld,  enligbtenetb  every  man.  And 
fo  coming  into  tbe  world,  refers  not  to 
every  man,  but  to  Cu/i/t  the  true  Light, 
who  is  ufually  ftiled  0  t^ofjayoT  be  tbat 


Chap.  i. 


John  parophrafed. 


269 


nity  and  prerogative,    right  and  privilege  of  being 
the  children  of  God  ;  not  in  name  and  title  only, 
but  in  noble  difpofitions  and  enjoyments,    whether 
they  be  Jews  or  Gentiles,  weaker  or  ftronger  belie- 
vers *,  they  being  all  the  children  of  God  by  faith 
in  Chrif}  Jefus.     (Gal.  iii.  26.) 
13  Which  were        13   He,  as  the  fountain  of  honour,  bellows  this 
join,  not  of  blood,   glorious  privilege  on  them,  who  are  new  begotten,  or 
nor  of  tbe  will  oi    f  ■        /  h      y  \         «.    u  ,        1    A    r       <. 

the  flefli  nor  of  the    ^orn  again,   (ovx.  s|  uipxrav)    not  by  natural  deicent 

will  of  man,  but  of  or  pedigree,  from   Abraham,  nor  by  the  blood  of 


God. 


ifi« 


which  was  the  fign  and  feal  of  Ifrae/'s 


circumemon,    , 

covenant-relation  to  God  ;  nor  by  the  intention  of 
parents  in  begetting  them,  nor  by  the  ceremonial  ob- 
servances of  Jewijh  carnal  ordinances,  nor  by  any  in- 
clinations of  corrupt  nature,  which,  in  a  moral  fenfe, 
is  called  flem ;  nor  is  it  according  to  the  way  of  man's 
willing,  in  adopting  fuch  as  are  in  themfelves  worthy 
to  be  his  heirs  for  want  of  natural  iiTue,  nor  accord- 
ing to  any  principles  of  a  natural  man,  whereby  he 
gives  a  turn  to  his  own  will,  nor  yet  according  to 
the  mere  power  of  moral  fwaiion,  which  one  rnaft 
may  ufe  with  another  :  This  fpiritual  birth  does  not 
proceed  from  any  of  thefe  principles,  which  »are  in- 
deed either  contrary  to  it,  or  insufficient  to  produce 
it  ;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  it  is  entirely  of  God, 
as  the  free,  Sovereign,  and  efficacious  caufe  of  that 
divine  and  heavenly  principle,  which  is  infilled  into 
believers  by  regeneration,  that  they  might  live  in  ail 
righteoufnefs  and  holinefs  to  him. 
14  And  the  Word  14  And  in  order  to  the  faving  defign,  for  which 
was  made flelh,  and    God  the  Word  appeared  on  earth,  he  was  made  man, 

dwelt    among    us,    ^     affumino-  human  nature  into  perfonal  union   with 
(and  we  beneld  his    ,  i     r  ir         °     .  .  .  .    ,  .  x  n    .,         .  .  ..   . 

v  glorv    himleli  -p  ;  and  he  tabernacled  in  ilem  with  a  divine 

prefence 

NOTES. 

*  Though  formerly  the  adoption  per-  made  man.  or  having  a  true  human  foul, 

tained  only  to  the  Jews  ;  yet  under  the  as  well  as  body:   But  his  human  nature 

gofpel-ftate,  it  is  no  longer  confined  to  is  molt  ufually  called  flefli,  or  a  body, 

them,  believing  Jews  and  Greeks  being  to  exprefs  his  infinite  condefcenfion  and 

all  one  i?i  Chrift  Jefus.    (Gal.  iii.  zS.)  grace   in   taking   upon   him,    even   the 

And  as  the  ?iame  of  Chrift  is  often  put  meaneft  part  of  man,  with  all  the  natu- 

for  Chrift  himfelf,  according  to  the  dif-  ral  infirmities  of  the  body  ;  to  (hew  that 

coveries  we  have  of  his  perfon,  o'fEces,  he  came  to  recover  that  flelh  rrom  cor- 

works,  and  benefits  in  his  word  :    So  to  ruption,  which,  by  Adam's  fin  was  made 

believe  in  his  name,  is  to  believe  in  him,  obnoxious  to  death,    and    that   not  the 

which  is  the  fame  with  receiving  him,  foul  only,   but 'the  body  likewife  ihould 

as  it  is  exprefled  in  the  former  part  of  the  be  railed  to  eternal  life  ;  and  to  atTure  us, 

verfe.  that  he  had  a  true  human  body,   or  real 

I  The  term  JieJJj  is  often  ufed  in  fcrip-  flefli,  in  oppofltion  to  fuch  as,  in  early 
ture,  by  a  Synedoche,  for  the  whole  man,  days,  pretended  that  it  was  only  a  pin  li- 
as in  Matth.  xxiv.  22.  Ads  il.  17.  and  torn  or  appearance  of  flefli.  But  his  be- 
Rom.  iii.  :o.  and  feveral  other  places;  ing  made  flelh,  was  not  by  his  divide  na- 
me! fo  the  Word  or  Logos,  being  made  ture's  being  changed  into  the  human,  but 
flefli,  is  the  fame  in  fenfe  with  hi*  being  by  the  human  nature's  being  personally 
Vol.  IT.                                    N  n  untie* 


ijo  The  EvangeUJl  Chap.  i. 

glory,  the  glory  as  prefence  and  glory,  like  the  Jehovah  of  Ifrael  in  the  * 
of  the  only  begot-  Shechinah,  as  all  the  fulnefs  of  the  Godhead  dwelt 
full  °of  ?race  and  m  t^lc  temP^e  °^  his  body,  with  a  continued  abode 
truth.  f°r  a  feafon  amongll  us  men,  and  amongft  us  parti- 

cularly who  were  his  difciples,  till  at  length  he  re- 
moved from  earth  to  heaven  :  And  his  appearance 
amongft  us,  was  full  of  grace,  in  oppofition  to  the 
law,  as  a  miniftration  full  of  wrath  and  terror,  and 
as,  at  belt,  only  a  lhadow  of  good  things  to  come  ; 
and  it  was  full  of  fubftance  and  truth,  as  he  thereby 
completely  anfwered  all  his  own  engagements,  and 
was  the  end  of  the  law  for  righteoufnefs  to  every 
one  that  believes*  and  as  all  the  promifes,  types, 
and  prophecies  were  fulfilled  in  him  :  And  though 
his  divine  glory  was  vaiPd  by  his  tabernacling  in  flefh 
amongll  us,  yet  it  was  not  loft,  nor  totally  hid  ;  but 
we,  his  difciples,  were  eye-witnej/es  of  his  Majejly, 
and  beheld  by  faith,  as  well  as  with  our  bodily  eyes, 
fome  radiant  beams,  which  difcovered  the  Saviour 
and  the  God  :  We  faw  the  glory  of  his  divine  wif- 
,  dom,  power,  holinefs,  and  grace,  which,  on  various 
|  occafions,  difplayed  themfelves  in  him  ;  we  faw  the 
J  glory  of  his  Godlike  miracles,  and  of  his  fovereign 
way  of  performing  them  ;  we  faw  the  glory  that 
fbone  in  his  transfiguration,  refurrection,  and  afcen- 
fion  to  heaven  ;  ( iQiccrc&piQx)  we  ftedfaftly  confidered 
and  obferved  it  with  the  clofeft  attention,  and  high- 
eil  wonder  f,  as  the  glory  that  was  really  becoming 
*  x  the 

NOTES. 
united  with  the  divine  in  himfelf;  by  majefty  of  a  king  :  And  the  fcripture  of- 
whieh  perlbnal  union  he  did  not  eeafe  to  ten  ufes  fuch  forms  of  fpeech  to  declare 
be  what  he  was  before,  <vi%.  God,  but  the  reality  of  things,  and  their  fuitable- 
became  whaf  he  was  not  before,  vise*  nefs  to  character.  See  Matth.  xiv.  5. 
man;  and  fo  both  natures  conftituted  but  2 Cor.  iii.  iS.  zndEph.  v.  S.  And  howna- 
one  perfon  in  him,  God-man.  Accord-  turally  does  this  mixed  confideration  of 
ingly  it  is  faid,  that  he  was  made,  or  be-  Chrift  as  God-man,  and  as  Mediator  be- 
came flefh,  as  Adam  was  faid  to  be  made,  rween  God  and  man,  account  for  all  the 
or  became  a  living  foul  (Gen.  ii.  7.)  high  and  low  things  that  are  fpoken  of 
*  Eo-xtfvac-EV  tv  nju.iv,  he  d-jielt  amongjl  him  ;  for  all  the  abfolute  characters  of 
■us,  evidently  refers  to  the  Shechinah,  in  divine  glory,  that  are  afcribed  to  him  as 
which  God  dwelt,  in  the  tabernacle  that  God,  and  for  all  the  characters  of  weak- 
was  pitched  among  the  Ifraeliter,  and  nefs  and  dependence,  that  are  afcribed 
was  a  figure  of  the  incarnation  of  Chrift,  to  him  as  man ;  for  all  the  exalted  pow- 
and  of  his  abode  for  fome  time  on  earth,  ers  and  honours  that  are  faid  to  be  given 
by  which  God's  appearance,  in  the  ma-  to  him  as  God-man  Mediator,  and  for  all 
nifeftation  of  his  glory  amone  men,  was  the  infinite  capacities  he  has  to  receive 
tlie  mod  vifible  and  remarkable  that  had  thofe  donations  from  his  Father,  and  to 
ever  been  made  before.  exereife  the  powers,   and  wear  the  ho- 

f  The  particle  as  in  this  place,  is  not  nours,  that  belong  to  him  in  that  confi- 
defiened  to  fignify  a  bare  refemblance  of  deration  of  him  !  And  how  aptly  does 
the  Son  of  God.  but  what  was  really  be-  this  mixed  view  of  Chrift  account  for  all 
coming  him,  and  was  proper  to  him  :  thofe  paflages  of  fcripture,  that  on  one 
Thus  wc  fay  of  a  king  when  he  acts  up  hand  fpeak  of  him  absolutely  as  God, 
to  character,  or  appears  like  himfelf,  he  whilft  he  is  confidered  in  his  original  na- 
a&s  as  a  king,  or  he  appears  as  with  the    ture,  and  eflential  perfections  and  rights : 

and 


Chap.  i. 


John  paraphrafed. 


271 


15  John  bare 
tvitnefs  of  him,  and 
cried,  laying,  This 
was  he  of  whem  I 
fpake,  He  that  co- 


me ;  for  he  was  be 
fore  me. 


the  Son  of  God,  and  was  proper  and  peculiar  to  him, 
who  is  originally  the  fame  in  nature  with  the  Father, 
and  eternally  begotten  of  him,  in  fuch  an  inconceiv- 
able manner,  as  none  ever  was  befides  him. 

15  *  Of  this  wonderful  perfon  John  the  BaptiJ}, 
that  great  and  extraordinary  prophet,  was  only  the 
forerunner,  to  give  notice  of  his  coming,  and  lead  the 
people  unto  him  :    This  he  freely  owned  was  all  the 

meth  after  me,  is  honour  he  pretended  to  ;  and  in  the  abundant  zeal, 
before  an^  fervour  of  his  Spirit,  he  lifted  up  his  voice,  to 
proclaim  the  incarnate  God,  faying  to  the  people, 
after  he  had  feen  Jeius  at  his  baptifm,  The  long 
looked-for  Saviour  is  now  come  ;  he  whom  I  have 
fhewn  to  you  is  the  very  perfon  of  whom  I  before 
told  you,  that  he  indeed  appears  after  me  in  the 
exercife  of  his  miniftry,  but  is  every  way  my  fupe- 
rior  in  himfelf,  and  in  his  office  too  ;  he  is  fo  not 
barely  in  my  efteem,  but  llkewife  in  the  account  of 
his  Father,  and  of  all  the  prophets  who  wrote  of  him  ; 
and  he  fhall  be  fo  in  the  account  of  all  thofe  whom 
he  will  fend  to  bear  witnefs  to  him,  and  of  all  that 
believe  in  him :  And  it  is  highly  fit  that  he  mould  be 
preferred  before  me  ;  for  he  had  an  eternal  exiftence 
as  a  divine  perfon  with  the  Father,  and  was  fet  up 
from  everlaiting  in  his  office-characvter,  before  all 
worlds,  and  therefore  undoubtedly  before  I  bare  wit- 
nefs of  him,  and  before  I  was  born. 

1 6  And  as  \  he  is  fuperior  in  dignity  to  John,  fo 
he  is  in  fulnefs  and  fufficiency  to  all  apoftles  and  New- 
Teftament  believers  ;  he  receives  nothing  from  them, 
but  they  derive  all  from  him  :  For  as  he  has  an  effen- 
tial  fulnefs  of  all  divine  perfections,  as  the  God  who 
inhabits  the  man  Jefus  ;  fo  he  has  a  communicative 
fulnefs  treafured  up  in  him,  by  the  Father's  appoint- 
ment and  his  own  merit,  as  the  head  of  the  church  c 
And  of  this  inexhauitible  fulnefs  all  of  us,  who  be- 
lieve in  him,  have  received,  and  continue  to  receive,  all 

N  n  2  fpiritual 

NOTES. 

f  Some  fuppofe  that  this  and  the  two 
following  verfes  are  John  the  EaptiJFs 
further  teftimony  concerning  Chrift:  But 
they  feem  to  be  rather  the  Evahgelift's 
own  words,  as  appears  by  the  variations 
of  the  words  themfclves,  and  the  proprie- 


ty And  of  his 
Fulnefs  have  all  we 
received,  and  grace 
for  grace. 


and  all  thofe  places  on  the  other  hand, 
that  diftinguifh.  him  from  God,  whilft  he 
is  ipoken  of  in  his  office,  as  Mediator  in 
human  nature  between  God  and  man. 

*  This  and  the  next  teftimony,  {*>er. 
19.  SjV.)  which  John  gave  to  Chrift, 
feem  to  have  been  daring  the  time  of  our    ty  of  their  application  to  Christians,   ra- 


Lord's  temptation  in  the  wildernefs:  For 
as  ibon  as  he  was  baptized,  he  was  led 
by  the  fpirit  into  the  wildernefs;  {Mat. 
iv.  1.  and  Luke  iv.  1.)  and  John  faw  Je- 
fus coming  to  him  again,  the  next  day 
after  the  priefts  and  Levites  from  Jerufa- 
lem  had  been  with  him  at  Bethabara, 
(ver.  28,  f)-  of  this  chapter.) 


ther  than  to  Johr^s  hearers,  who  were 
moltly  ignorant  of  Chrift,  and  had,  at  that 
time. received  little  or  nothing  from  him  ; 
as  alfo  by  the  agreement  of  the  iixteenth 
and  feventeenth  verfes,  with  what  the  E- 
vangelift  had  laid,  ver.  14.  and  further 
fays,   ver.  18.  and  1  John  iv.  \i. 


272 


The  Evangetijl 


Chap.  i. 


17  For  the  law 
was  given  by  Mo- 
les, but  /race  and 
truth  came  by  Je- 
ms Chrift. 


fpiritual  bleffings,  multiplied  one  upon  another,  ac- 
cording to  our  capacities  and  wants,  as  an  empty  vef- 
fel  receives  the  water  that  is  poured  into  it  from  the 
fountain  ;  and  we  receive  abundance  of  grace,  as  a 
beggar  receives  an  alms,  from  the  treafures  of  his 
grace,  heap  upon  heap,  according  to  the  meafnre  of 
his  gift  ;  and  all  that  we  derive  from  his  fulnefs,  is 
anfwerable,  in  nature  and  kind,  to  the  grace  which 
is  in  him  ;  io  that  it  bears  the  image  of  his  grace,  as 
the  wax  does  of  the  feal,  line  for  line*. 

17  This  divine  perfon  is  likewife  fuperior  to 
Mofes  :  For  he  has  done  more  than  that  famous  law- 
giver could  do  ;  and  the  glory  of  his  minifcration  ex- 
cels that  which  was  under  him.  Mofes  indeed,  as  a  mi- 
nifter  of  the  law,  delivered  the  mind  and  will  of  God 
to  the  Jews,  in  a  manner  fuitable  to  their  circum- 
flances,  in  a  miniftration  of  death  and  condemnation, 
and  in  obfeure  types  and  figures,  which  were  infuffi- 
cient  to  make  the  worfnippers  perfect  :  But  the  in- 
carnate Son  of  God  is  the  Lord  and  giver  of  the 
better  things  of  the  gofpel,  has  brought  in  the  rich- 
e(l  and  plaineft  difcoveries  of  divine  love  and  grace, 
and  is  the  real  fubftance  of  all  Judaical  types  and  pre- 
dictions, as  they  are  accomplished  in  and  by  him  ; 
and  all  the  great  and  good  things,  which  he  is  come 
to  bring  in,  proceed  from  his  grace,  and  have  their 
performance  from  his  truth,  in  a  miniftration  of  life 
and  righteoufnefs. 

18  Yea,  this  adorable  perfon  is  fuperior  to  all 
creatures  whatfoever,  and  his  revelation  excels  all  that 
any  other  could  be  fuppofed  to  make.  No  mere  man 
could  ever  fee  the  invifible  God,  who  is  a  Spirit,  and 
no  mere  creature,  (ot^«$)  not  one,  whether  man  or 
angel,  was  ever  privy  to  God's  counfels,  as  they  lye 
in  his  own  mind,  or  ever  knew  any  thing  of  them  but 
by  revelation  :  But  the  Eternal  Word,  having  com- 
munion with  the  Father  in  Godhead,  and  in  coun- 
fels, perfectly  understands  him,  and  all  his  defigns  ; 
he  being,  in  an  ineffable  and  peculiar  manner,  his  on- 
ly begotten  Son,  of  the  fame  nature  with  the  Fa- 
ther, and  infinitely  dear  to  him,  is,  as  lie  always  was, 
and  will  be,  intimately  present  with  him,  and  tho- 
roughly acquainted  with  his  whole  heart,  like  a  bofom- 
friend,  the  Father  bein%  in  him,  and  he  in  the  Fa- 
ther. (John  j&Y.  10.)  He  accordingly  has  j-evealed 
all  that  is  known,  or  was  needful  to  be  known  con- 
cerning him,  and  particularly  relating  to  his  infinite 

wifdom 

NOTE. 

r-fe  I  take  to  be  the  molt  genuine  fenfes  of  this  expreflion.    The  reader  may 
al  other  interpretations  in  Ligbtfoot  on  the  place. 


iS  No  man  hath 
ieen  God  at  any 
time;  the  only  be- 
gotten Son,  which 
is  in  the  bofom  of 
the  Father,  he  hath 
declared  bun. 


Chap.  I 


John  paraphrafed. 


273 


from  Jerufalem,  to 
afk  him,  Who  art 
thou  ? 


wifdom  and  grace  in  the  redemption  and  falvation  of 
loll  finners  ;  whatever  the  prophets  of  old,  and  his 
forerunner  John,  have  faid  about  thefe  things,  was 
by  his  Spirit  ;  and  now  he  himfelf  has  come  to  make 
ftill  further  difcoveries  of  them  in  his  own  perfonal 
miniftry,  and  with  ftill  greater  evidence  and  extent 
by  his  Spirit  in  the  apollles,  whom  he  fent  forth  in 
his  name. 
19  And  this  is         IO,    And  *,    at   another   time,    John   the    Baptiji 

the  record lot  John,    gave  tjie  following  teftimony  concerning  Tefus,  when 

when  the  Tews  lent 

priefts  and  Levites  llJe  great  council.  of  the  Jews  at  Jcrujaiem  lent  to 
him  :  They  having  heard  much  of  John's  fame,  and 
how  he  was  honoured  among  the  people,  for  the 
ftri6lnefs  of  his  life,  the  excellence  of  his  do6trine, 
and  the  folemnity  of  his  baptiim,  deputed  fome  of  their 
number,  who  were  priefts  and  Levites,  men  of  high 
account  for  their  piety  and  knowledge  in  the  law,  to 
examine  him  about  the  character  he  aflumed,  and  to 
demand  of  him  whether  he  profelfed  to  be  the  Mef- 
iiah  or  not. 

20  To  this  in^iry  John  anfwered  in  plain  terms, 
and  with  great  earneftneis,  freely  confeffing,  and  by 
no  means  denying  the  truth  ;  and  {y-xt)  what  he  fo 
ftrongly  confefied  was,  that  he  neither  was,  nor  ever 
pretended  to  be  the  Meffiah,  nor  would  have  any 
one  entertain  a  thought  of  him  as  if  he  were. 

21  Hereupon  fhey  further  afked  him,  What  then 
do  you  profefs  to  be  ?  Are  you  the  great  prophet  E- 
lijah  the  Tijhbite,  who  our  dotlors  fay  is  to  appear 
in  perfon  immediately  before  the  coming  of  the  Mef- 
liah  ?  to  this  he  anfwered,  No,  I  am  not  that  Elias 
whom  ye  expect.  They  replied,  Are  you  then  Je- 
rc??iiahy  or  any  one  of  the  ancient  prophets,  {Maith. 
xvi.  14.)  who  before  the  coming  of  E/rias  we  expe£t 
will  rife  from  the  dead  ?  to  which  he  frankly  anfwer- 
ed again,  No,  I  am  not. 

22  Then,  like  perfons  that  knew  not  what  to 
think  of  him,  they  faid,  If  you  are  none  of  thefe, 
who  do  you  pretend  to  be  ?  we  infift  on  a  direct  an- 
fwer,  that  we  may  know  what  account  to  give  of 
you  to  the  fanhedrim,  by  whofe  authority  we  are 
come,  and  to  whom  we  mull  make  our  report.  As 
for  us,  we  cannot  imagine  who  you  are,  or  by  what 
authority  you  take  upon  you  at  this  rate  ;  tell  us* 
therefore  in  plain  terms  what  you  call  yourfelf,  and 
what  fort  of  commiflion  it  is  that  you  pretend  to. 

23  To 


20  And  he  con- 
fefled,  and  denied 
not  ;  but  confefs- 
ed,  I  am  not  the 
Chrift. 


21  And  they  afk- 
ed him.What  then? 
Art  thou  Elias  ? 
And  he  faith,  I  am 
not.  Art  thou  that 
prophet  ?  And  he 
anfwered,  No. 


22 
they 
Who 


Then  faid 
unto  him, 
art  thou  ? 
that  we  may  give 
an  anfwer  to  them 
that  fent  us:  what 
fayeft  thou  of  thy- 
fclf? 


N    O 

*  They  who  take  the  foregoing  ver- 
les  to  be  John's  teftimony,  fuppofe  that 
this  record  refers  to  what  was  there  faid : 
I3ut  I  rather  think  that  the  hiftory  is 


T    E. 

here  rs-affumed,  and  that  this  refers  to 
what  follows,  in  the  difcourfe  between 
John  and  the  meffengers  from  Jerufa- 
Um,    See  the  notes  en  wr.  15,  and  16. 


• 


^74 

23  He  faid,  lam 
the  voice  of  one 
crying  in  the  wil- 
dernefs,  Make 

ftraight  the  way 
of  the  Lord,  as 
faid  the  prophet 
Efaias. 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  i. 


24  And  they 
which  were  fent 
were  of  the  Phari- 
fees. 


25  And  theyaflc- 
him,  and  faid  unto 
him,  why  baptizeft 
thou  then,  if  thou 
be  not  that  Chrift, 
nor  Elias,  neither 
that  prophet  ? 


16  John  anfwcr- 
ed  them,  faying,  I 
baptize  with  wa- 
ter :  but  there 
ftandeth  one  a- 
mong  you,  whom 
ye  know  not  ; 

27  He  it  is,  who, 
coming  after  me,  is 
preferred  before 
me,  whofe  (hoes 
latchet  I  am  not 
worthy  to  unloofe. 


23  To  this,  their  peremptory  demand,  John  repli- 
ed, I  am  the  Meffiah's  harbinger,  whom  Ifaiahf 
^chap.  xl.  3.)  defcribed  in  prophecy,  as  the  voice 
of  him  that  cries  in  the  wi/dernefs \  Prepare  ye  the- 
way  of  the  Lord,  make  Jiraight  in  the  defart  a  high 
iu ay  for  our  God.  Ye  fee  that  I  appear  in  the  wil- 
dernefs,  and  not  in  populous  places,  like  one  who 
feeks  his  own  glory  ;  and  my  fpecial  commiffion  is 
to  lay  myfelf  out  with  zeal  and  fervour,  in  rectifying 
the  errors  of  the  people,  and  making  way,  by  my 
doctrine  and  baptifm  of  repentance,  for  their  receiv- 
ing the  Mefliah,  who  is  Ifrae/'s  Jehovah,  and  whom 
I  openly  proclaim,  as  juft  ready  to  appear  among 
you. 

24  Now  it  is  to  be  obferved,  that  thefe  mefTen- 
gers  from  the  council  to  John,  were  of  the  feci;  of 
the  Phari/ees,  who  were  a  captious  fort  of  people, 
wonderful  tenacious  of  their  ceremonies  and  tradi- 
tions, and  fuch  proud  felf-jufticiaries,  as  thought 
they  needed  no  repentance. 

25  And  therefore  they  expoftulated  with  him, 
faying,  If  this  is  all  that  you  pretend  to  be,  what 
is  the  reafon  of  your  making  fo  many  profelytes, 
and  baptizing  them,  into  your  new  doctrine  ?  A  mere 
harbinger  furely  has  no  right  to  fet  up  for  himfelf  as 
you  do,  and  to  make  fuch  extraordinary  innovations 
as  thefe  :  Since  then  you  confefs,  that  you  are  nei- 
ther the  MeJJiah,  nor  E/iar,  nor  Jeremiah,  nor  any 
other  of  the  ancient  prophets  raifed  from  the  dead,  we 
wonder  at  your  prefumption,  and  would  fain  know 
by  what  authority  yoti  do  thefe  things. 

26,  27  John  replied,  Ye  greatly  miftake  the  mat- 
ter :  I  do  not  make  difciples  to  myfelf,  nor  baptize 
them  into  the  profeflion  of  any  new  doctrine  of  my 
I    only  baptize  with  water,    as  a  fign   and 


own 


emblem  of  a  better  baptifm.  But  there  is  one,  who 
already  lives  among  you,  and  lately  flood  at  Jordan 
in  the  midft  of  you,  (/lhfo$  £g  vpm  £<tt»jssv)  though  he 
has  not  yet  fully  appeared  in  his  public  character,  and 
ye  have  not  known  him  ;  he  will  fhortly  baptize  his 
difciples  with  the  Holy  Ghoft  ;  and  my  great  bufi- 
nefs  is  to  confign  the  people  over  to  him,  that  they 
may  receive  him,  and  his  doctrine,  together  with  all 
the  fupernatural  gifts,  and  graces,  and  bleffings  of  his 
kingdom  :  He  is  that  Divine  Perfon,  of  whom  I 
have  before  publicly  declared,  (ver.  15.)  that, 
though  he  fucceeds  me  in  the  manifeflation  of  himfelf, 
and  in  the  exercife  of  his  office  ;  yet  he  is  infinitely 
more  excellent  than  me,  and  had  an  eternal  exiilence 
before  me,  who  does  not  deferve  to  be  employed  in 
the  meaneft  office  about  him,  no,  not  fo  much  as  to 

take 


Chap.  i. 


John  paraphrafed. 


*75 


28  Thefe  things 
were  done  in  Be- 
thabara  beyond 
Jordan,  where  John 
was  baptizing. 


19  The  next  day 
John  feeth  Jefus 
coming  unto  him, 
and  faith,  Behold 
the  Lamb  of  God, 
which  taketh  a- 
way  the  fin  of  the 
world  I 


30  This  is  he  of 
whom  I  faid,   Af- 
ter me   cometh   a 
man 


take  off  his  moes  :  But  as  I,  though  unworthy,  have 
the  honour  of  God's  coramiffion  to  be  his  forerunner, 
according  to  Ifaiafrs  prophecy,  I  have  fufficient  au- 
thority in  this  manner  to  make  difciples  unto  him9 
and  this  is  all  that  I  pretend  to. 

28  This  converfation,  between  John  and  the 
meffengers  from  Jeruialetn,  was  held  publicly  at  Be- 
th abar  a,  which  fignifies  the  houfe  (>f  paffage,  and  lay 
a  little  beyond  that  part  of  Jordan,  where  people  u- 
fed  to  go  over  it,  and  which  was  the  place  where 
John  had  been  for  fome  time  baptizing  the  multi- 
tudes that  came  to  him. 

29  The  next  day  after  this,  John  feeing  Jefus, 
who  then  returned  back  from  the  wildernefs,  (fee 
the  note  on  ver.  15.)  pointed  to  him,  and  laid 
to  the  people  then  prefent,  Behold,  here  is  the 
very  perfon  of  whom  I  have  fpoke  fo  much,  now  ap- 
pearing before  your  eyes  ;  look  with  attention  upon 
him,  and  look  by  faith  unto  him,  for  the  remiffion 
of  fins  ;  receive,  admire,  and  prize  him,  who  is,  by 
way  of  eminence  and  preference  to  all  others,  the 
Lamb  of  God  :  this  is  the  true  and  only  effectual 
propitiatory  Sacrifice,  chofen,  fet  apart,  and  fent' 
of  God,  devoted  to  him,  and  accepted  by  him,  and 
prefigured,  as  by  all  the  typical  facrifices  of  atone- 
ment, fo  particularly  by  the  pafchal  lamb,  and  thofe 
that  were  offered  for  a  continual  burnt-offering ,  e- 
very  morning  and  evening.  (Exod.  xxix.  38,  42.^ 
Behold,  God  has  now  provided  a  moft  excellent 
Lamb  for  himfelf,  which  is  no  other  than  this  holy, 
meek,  and  humble  Jefus,  a  lamb  without  blemijh 
and  without  fpot,  who  was  fore-ordained before  the 
foundation  of  the  world,    but   is  now  manifefied, 

(  1  Peter  i.  9,  20.)  to  take  away  the  guilt  and  punifh- 
ment,  power  and  pollution  of  all  fin,  both  original 
and  actual,  and  that  with  abiding  efficacy  from  every 
one,  whether  Jew  or  Gentile,  that  believes  in  him*„ 

30  This  is  the  great  Meffiah;  fee  there  he  comes, 
of  whom  ye  have  heard  me  fay  before,  that  a  mighty 
man,  (*vsg)  the  man  of  God's  right  hand,  whom 
he  has  made  flrong  for  himfelf,   and  the  man  his 

Fel- 


N  O 
*  The  terms  world,  all  men,  and  the 
like,  when  ufed  to  denote  the  perfons 
concerned  in  the  faving  benefits  of 
Chrift's  death,  moft  generally  fignify  in 
the  writings  of  the  New  Teftament,  and 
particularly  of  our  Evangelift,  not  every 
individual  of  mankind,  but  all  nations, 
inclufiye  of  Gentiles,  as  well  as  Jews. 
(See  the  notes  on  <ver.  7.  and  chap.  iii. 
16.)     A  very  early  intimation  of  which 


T    E. 

was  given  in  yohn  the  BaptiJFs  miniftry, 
when  he  declared  that  all  fie fb  JJjozild 
fee  the  fal<vation  of  Gold,  ;  and  when  the 
Roman  faldiers  and  publicans  came  to  be 
baptized  of  him.  (L?/ke  iii-  6,  12,  13, 
(4.)  And  here  he  Terms  to  fpeak  of 
the  Lamb  of  God,  as  taking  away  the 
fin  of  the  world,  in  oppofition  to  the  ty- 
pical lambs  that  were  offered  in  the  ftead- 
of  the  Je-zur  only. 


2/6 

man  which  is  pre- 
ferred before  me  ; 
for  he  was  before 
me. 


31  And  I  knew 
him  not :  but  that 
he  mould  be  made 
manifeft  to  Ifrael, 
therefore  am  I 
come  baptizing 
with  water. 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  i. 


31  And  John 
bare  record,  faying, 
I  faw  the  Spirit  de- 
fcendin^;  from  hea- 
ven like  a  dove, 
and  it  abode  upon 
him. 

33  And  I  knew 
him  not :  but  he 
that  lent  me  to 
baptize  with  wa- 
ter, the  fame  faid 
unto  me,  Upon 
whom  thou  fhalt 
fee  the  Spirit  de- 
fceading  and  re- 
maining on  him, 
the  fame  is  he 
which  baptizeth 
with  the  Holy 
Ghoft. 

34  And  I  faw, 
and  bare  record 
that  this  is  the  Son 
of  God. 


Fellow,  "("Pfal.  lxxx.  17.  and  Zech.  xiii.  7.)  wasjuil 
ready  to  appear  after  me,  as  his  forerunner;  a  man 
every  way  fuperior  in  excellence,  dignity,  and  au- 
thority, to  myfelf,  and  indeed  God  as  well  as  man, 
and  therefore  infinitely  to  be  preferred  to  me  ;  for 
he  had  a  divine  and  eternal  exittence  before  I  had  a 
being. 

3 1  And,  to  tell  you  the  truth,  in  all  the  former 
part  of  my  life  and  miniftry,  I  had  no  manner  of  per- 
fonal  acquaintance  or  correfpondence  with  him,  to 
bias  me  in  his  favour,  or  to  give  me  the  leaft  opportu- 
nity of  concerting  any  meafures  with  him,  about  go- 
ing before  hkrt,  to  give  teltimony  concerning  him  : 
But,  according  to  my  commiflion  from  above,  I  at 
firft  only  declared  (as  ye  all  know)  that  the  Mef- 
liah would  quickly  appear  among  you  ;  and  the  rea- 
fon  of  my  baptizing  with  water  into  the  faith  of  him 
was,  to  awaken  your  expectation  of  it,  and  to  prepare 
the  way  for  a  more  particular  and  exprefs  difcovery 
of  him  afterwards  to  his  people  Ifrael,  that  they 
might  then  take  fpecial  notice  of  him,  and  might 
own  and  believe  in  him. 

32  And  the  way  in  which  I  myfelf  came  to  know 
this  very  perfon  to  be  the  Mefliah,  was  by  the  hea- 
ven's opening  in  my  fight,  and  the  Spirit  of  God 
defcending  in  a  viiible  appearance,  and  hovering  over 
Jefus*  after  the  manner  of  a  dove,  till  it  reded  upon 
his  head.     (See  the  note  on  Matth.  iii.  16.) 

33  Before  this  time,  I  again  infill  upon  it,  that  I 
had  no  manner  of  perfonal  knowledge  of  him  :  But 
the  fame  God  who  commiflioned  me  to  baptize  with 
water,  revealed  to  me  likewife,  when  Jefus  was  com- 
ing to  my  baptifm,  that  I  mould  prefently  know  the 
true  Mefliah  by  a  certain  miraculous  token,  faying, 
On  whomsoever  you  fnall  fee  the  Spirit  vifibly  defcend- 
ing, and  relling  upon  his  head,  he,  and  no  other,  is 
mine  anointed,  who  fhall  baptize  his  difciples  with 
the  Holy  Ghoft. 

34  Accordingly,  I  plainly  faw  the  Spirit  defcend- 
ing and  lighting  in  that  villble  form  upon  Jefus, 
and,  at  the  fame  time,  heard  a  voice  from  heaven, 
which  gave  a  Hill  further  teltimony  to  him,  faying, 
(Matth.  iii.  17.)  This  is  my  beloved  Son,  in  whom 
I  am  weli pleafed :  And  being  hereby- fully  fatisfled, 
that  the  extraordinary  fignal  before  given  was  then 
exactly  anfwered,  I  immediately  did,  and  could  not 
but  declare,  that  this  very  perfon,  who  now  appears 
among  you,  is  indeed  the  eternal  Son  of  God,  and 
the  true  Mefliah  ;  and  thenceforward  I  have,  on  all 
occafions,  folemnly  repeated  that  teltimony  concern- 
ing him. 

35   0n 


Chap.  i. 


John  paraphrafed. 


277 


Again,   the        35   On  the  day  Immediately  after  this,   'John  way 
day     after,   again  teaching  and  baptizing  the  people  ;  and  two 
John    ftood,    and   of  hjg  difc;pies    wh0  were  not  only  hearers  but  be- 
two  of    his    dilci-    ..  ri  \     , '        .  .  ,    ,J. 

hevers  or  his  doctrine,  were  with  him  : 

36  And,  Jefus  palling  by  in  their  fight  a  fecond 
time,  John,  defigning  particularly  to  make  him 
known  to  thofe  two  difciples,  fixed  his  eyes  upon  him, 
and  faid  to  them,  in  the  hearing  of  all  the  company, 
Obferve,  there  the  perfon  now  appears  again  :  See, 
there  he  walks  ;  look  by  faith  to  him,  who,  as  I 
yefterday  told  you,  is  ordained  and  fent  o{  God  to 

footle" 


35 
next 


pies; 

36"  And  looking 
upon  Jefus  as  he 
walked,  he  faith, 
Behold  the  Lamb 
of  God: 


37  And  the  two 
difciples  heard  him 
fpeak,  and  they 
followed   Jefus. 

3S  Then  Jefus 
turned,  and  faw 
them  following, 
and  faith  unto 
them,  What  feek 
ye  ?  They  faid  un- 
to him,  Rabbi, 
(which  is  to  fay, 
being  .interpreted, 
Mafter.)  where 
d  we  Heft  thou  ? 


39  He  faith  un- 
to them,  Come  and 
fee.  They  came 
and  faw  where  he 
dwelt,  and  abode 
with  him  that 
day  :  for  it  was 
about  the  tenth 
hour. 


be  the  only  true  propitiatory  Sacrifice,  as  a  lpotieis 
Lamb  of  his  own  providing,  that  ye  might  believe, 
and  receive  remiffion  of  fins  through  him. 

37  And,  upon  hearing  John  repeat  thefe  words, 
the  two  difciples  looking  were  enlightened,  and  their 
hearts  were  touched  and  moved  to  go  alter  Jefus, 
that  they  might  be  particularly  acquainted  with  him, 

38  Then  he,  who  obferves  and  encourages  the 
firft  motions  of  the  foul  toward  himfelf,  turned  about ; 
and  feeing  them  come  after  him,  began  a  free  and 
friendly  converfation  with  them,  faying,  What  is  the 
defign  of  your  thus  following  me  ?  What  is  your  pe- 
tition ?  Come,  tell  me  what  ye  want,  and  it  fnall  be 
done  unto  you.  They  replied  with  great  efteem  and 
veneration  *,  Rabbi,  by  what  we  have  heard  from 
John  the  BaptiJI,  we  look  upon  you  to  be  a  great 
Mafter  in  Ifrael,  and  beg  leave  to  wait  upon  you  at 
home,  or  wherever  you  lodge  or  May  any  time,  that 
we  may  be  further  acquainted  with  you,  and  full}' 
inftructed  in  the  things  that  belong  to  our  peace. 

39  Thereupon  Jefus,  to  (hew  his  willingnefs  to 
receive  all  that  come  to  him,  affectionately  invited 
them  to  go  along  with  him,  that,  according  to  ther- 
defire,  they  might  have  his  company  and  counfci, 
might  know  where  to  have  recourfe  to  him,  and 
might  fee  by  the  meannefs  of  his  habitation,  that  no 
great  things  for  this  world  were  to  be  expected  from 
him  :  And  they,  encouraged  by  his  grace,  went  and 
faw  his  place  of  abode,  and  were  fo  taken  with  him, 
that  they  thought  it  good  for  them  10  be  there  ;  and 
they  tarried  with  him  all  the  remainder  of  that  day. 
it  being  then,  according  to  the  Roman  way  of  reck- 
oning, about  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  \. 

40  Now 
NOTES. 

intimation  of  their  defire  10  be  tattght  by 
him. 

f  Itfeemsthat  this  Evange-lift,  wri- 
ting after  the  deftruction  of  Jervfatem, 
commonly  ufes  the  Roman  computation 
of  the  hours  of  the  day,  as  here,  and  in 
o  chap. 


*  Rabbi  was  a  title  of  high  refpeft,  by 
which  it  was  ufual  to  compliment  the 
doctors  or  teachers  of  thofe  days  ;  and 
thefe  difciples  oijoh?i  faluting  Chrilt  un- 
der this  appellation,  was  at  once  an  ho- 
nourable way  of  addreffing  him,   and  an 

Vol.  II.  O 


3 


73 


The  Evangeli/l 


Chap.  i. 


40  One   of  the 

two  which  heaid 
John  /peak,  and 
followed  him,  was 
Andrew,  Simon 
Peter's     brother. 

41  He  firft  find- 
eth  his  own  bro- 
ther Simon,  and 
faith     unto      him, 


ted,  The  Chrift. 


40  Now  one  of  the  two  difciples  of  John,  who 
was  induced  in  this  manner  to  follow  Jefus,  by  what 
they  had  heard  their  mailer  fay  concerning  him,  was 
Andrew,  the  brother  of  Simon,  who  was  afterwards 
firnamed  Peter*. 

41  Andrew's  heart  being  much  affected  with  the 
convincing  and  engaging  difcoveries  that  he  had  re- 
ceived in  his  converfes  with  Jefus,  immediately  went 

We  have  found  m  fearch  of  his  friends  and  relations,  that  he  might 
the  Meffias,  which  bring  them  into  an  acquaintance  with  Chrift  :  And 
ieing  interpre-  £jft  0f  all  meeting  with  his  brother  Simon  f,  he  told 
him,  with  great  earneftnefs  and  ecftacy,  That  he  and 
another  of  John's  difciples  had  been  directed  by  their 
mailer  to,  had  been  in  company  with,  and  were  fully 
fatisfied  that  thev  had  at  length  found  the  great  and 
promifed  Redeemer  of  Ifrae/,  who,  in  the  Hebrew 
language,  was  lliled  the  Mefliah,  which  is  of  the  fame 
iignification  with  the  Greek  word,  the  Chrift,  or  the 
anointed  %. 

42  And  Andrew,   having  recommended  the  Savi- 
our in  the  beft  manner  he  could  to  his  brother  Simon, 
conducted  him  to  Jefus  ;  who,  taking  particular  no- 
he  laid,   Thou  art  tice  of  him,    fhewed  that  he  thoroughly  knew  him, 
Simon  the  fon  of  though  a  ilranger,  faying,  Your  prefent  name,  which 

fignmes  a  hearer  or  learner,  is  Simon,  and  you  are 
the  fon  of  Jonah  :  But  hereafter  you  (hall  be  more 
commonly  known  by  the  name  of  Cephas  in  the  Sy- 
ria c,  or  of  Peter  in  the  Greek  tongue,  which  figni- 
fies  f|  a  rock  or  ftone  ;    and   fo   will   better   exprefs 

your 
NOTES, 
xix.  14.  and  fo  the    any  of  his  own  friends  to  bring  them  to 


42  And  he 
brought  him  to 
Jefus.  And  when 
Jefus    beheld    him 


Jona  :  ihou  fhalt 
be  called  Cephas, 
which  is,  by  in- 
terpretation, A 
ftone. 


Jefus :  For  as  foon  as  the  grace  of  God 
reached  thefe  difciples  hearts,  they  were 
defirous  that  it  might  fpread  in  the  hearts 
of  all  their  friends  too. 

I    As   the   ancient   prophets,   priefts, 


chap.  iv.  6,  52.  and 

tenth  hour  is  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning: 
But  others  think,  with  Dt  Lightfoot. 
that  he  follows  the  Jenvifo  computation, 
and  fo  make  the  tenth  hour  to  be  four  o'- 
clock in  the   afternoon  ;    and  the  doclor 

fuppoies  that  thefe  difciples  abode  with  and   kings,   were  anointed  to  their  re- 

Chrift  all  that  nij^ht,   and  that  the  next  fpeclive  offices,  this  title,  being  by  way 

day  was  the  Sabbath,   which  they  like-  of  eminence  applied  to  our  Lord,   inti- 

wifc  fpent  with  him.    But  the  former  ac-  mates  that  they  were  types  of  him,   and 

count  appears  moft  probable  to  me,  as  that  God  his  Father  anointed  him  with 

more  agreeable  to  this  Evangetift's  way  his  Spirit  above  meafurefor  the  difcharge 

of  reckoning  the  hour  in  other  places,  of  all  thofe  offices. 

See  the  note  on  Mark  xv.  25.  |j  It  is  obfervable  that  this  Evangelift 

*    And  the  other  probably  was  John  gives  us  the  interpretation  of  the  Hebrew 

himfelf,   the  writer  of  this  gofpel,   who  and  Syriac  words  in  the  Greek,*  more  fre- 

ufually  conceals  his  own  name.       This  quently  than  any  of  the  other  evange- 

rftfciple  and  Andrew  were  called  before  lilts;    the  reafon  of  which  feems  to  be, 

Peter;  and  Andrew  was  the  means  of  that  he  wrote  after  the  deftrucTion  of  the 

bringing  Peter  to  Chrift,  inltead  of  Fe-  Jewijh  nation,   and  after  many  of  the 


ter\  bringing  him. 

f  Or  this  f  rft  finding  of  Peter  may  re- 
late, either  to  Andrew's  rinding  him  be- 
fore the  other  difciple  had  met  with  him  ; 

or  before  that  other  difciple  had  found 


Gentiles  were  called,  when  the  Greek 
was  more  commonly  ufed,  and  thofe  0- 
ther  languages  were  lefs  known  thar. 
they  had  been  before. 


Chap. 


i. 


John  paraphrafed. 


279 


43  The  day  fol- 
lowing, Jefuswould 
go  forth  into  Gali- 
lee, and  findeth 
Philip,  and  faith 
unto  him,  Follow 
me. 


44  Now  Philip 
was  of  Bethfaida, 
the  city  of  Andrew 
and  Peter. 


45  Philip  find- 
eth Nathanael,  and 
faith  unto  him,  We 
have  found  him  of 
whom  Mbfes  in 
the  law  and  the 
prophets  did  write, 
Jefus  of  Nazareth, 
the  fon  of  Joieph. 


belie- 
and  a 


46  And  Natha- 
nael  faid  unto  him, 
Can  there  any  good 
thing  come  out  of 
Nazareth  ?  Philip 
faith  unto  him, 
Come   and  fee. 


your  religious  temper  and  behaviour,  as  a  firm 
ver  in  me,   a  lledfaft  maintainer  of  my  gofpel, 
patient  fufferer  for  it. 

43  Our  Lord,  having  now  begun  to  make  difci- 
ples  to  himfelf,  was  fo  intent  upon  this  work,  that  the 
very  next  day  he  went  into  the  province  of  Galilee-, 
to  learch  and  find  out  his  iheep  :  And  there,  meeting 
with  Philip  he  firll  began  with  him,  and,  in  his 
preventing  mercy,  faid  to  him,  Come  along  with  me, 
yield  yourfelf  up  to  my  authority  and  grace,  counfel 
and  conduct,  and  follow  my  example  ;  and  his  words 
were  attended  with  fuch  divine  light  and  power,  as 
made  an  effectual  impreffion  upon  Philip's  heart  ;  fo 
that  he  was  immediately  brought  over  to  Chrift,  and 
became  one  of  his  difciples. 

44  Now  this  Philip  lived  at  Bethfaida  *,  which 
was  iituated  on  the  eaft  of  the  lake  of  Gennefarelhy 
and  was  a  very  wicked  place  ;  (Matth.  xi.  21.)  and 
yet  even  here  God  had  fome  chofen  veffels,  Andrew 
and  Peter  being  likewife  inhabitants  of  this  city, 
and  called  from  thence. 

45  Philip  having  been  fully  convinced  that  Jefus 
was  indeed  the  Chrift,  as  the  other  difciples  had  been 
before,  he  likewife  prefently  went  to  feek  out  fome 
of  his  friends,  to  whom  he  might  communicate  the 
glad  tidings  ;  and,  meeting  with  Nathanael,  faid  in  a 
tranfport  of  joy  to  him,  I  with  fome  others  have  at 
laft  certainly  found  out  the  perfon,  having  been  firil 
found  of  him,  whom  we  have  carneilly  longed  to  fee, 
even  the  true  Mefiiah,  whom  f  the  books  of  Mofes9 
and  the  reft  of  the  prophets  defcribed  by  thofe  very 
characters  which  we  find  in  him  !  It  is  ±  Jefus  of  Na- 
zareth,  the  fon  of  Jo/eph. 

46  Nathanael  fuppofed  Philip  to  mean,  that  Jefus 
was  born  at  Nazareth  ;  and  knowing  from  fcripture^ 
prophecy,  that  the  Meffiah  was  to  come  forth  from 
Bethlehem,  (Mic.  v.  2.)  and  being  under  the  power 
of  a  common  prejudice  againfl  Na&areth,  (fee  the 
note  on  chap.  vii.  52.)   he  objected  to  this  account, 

O  o   2  faying, 

NOTES. 
Sacr.  fpeaks    had  referred  Philip  to  the  predictions  of 
the    law   and    the    prophets   concerning 
himfelf,   and  had  explained  them  in  his 
difcourfe  with  him. 

%  Though  Bethlehem  was  the  place  of 
Chrift's  birth,  and  not  Nazareth,  where 
he  afterwards  d-welt ;  and  though  he  was 
only  the  fuppofed  fon  otjojcph;  yet,  as 
he  was  commonly  called  Jefus  of  Nax-H- 
reth  the  fon  of  Jo/eph,  Philip  delcribcd 
him  by  that  name,  and  this  occafioncd 
NathatiaeVs  prejudice  againft  him. 


*  Bo  chart  in  his  Geogr. 
of  Bethfaida,  as  fignifying  a  houfe  of  fifli 
ing  :  Dr  Lightfoot  in  his  harmony  fays, 
it  was  a  place  of  hunting,  becaufe  it 
flood  m  or  near  the  tribe  of  Naptha/i, 
which  abounded  with  deer  :  And  this, 
which  was  at  firlt  but  a  little  town  or 
village,  was  afterwards  changed  by  Phi- 
lip the  Tetrarch  into  the  ftate  of  a  city, 
which  he  called  Julia,  in  honour  of  Cte- 
fat's  daughter. 

f  It  is  probable  that  our  Lord  Lirnfelf 


2  SO 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  i. 


faying,  How  is  it  pofiible,  that  any  considerable  pro- 
phet, and  efpecially  the  great  and  only  Saviour  of  If- 
rae/,  fhould  come  out  of  fuch  a  mean,  defpicable,  and 
wicked  town  as  Nazareth  ?  Philip  being  ignorant  of 
the  true  fhrte  of  the  cafe,  and  not  knowing  how  to 
folve  this  difficulty,  replied,  Come  along  with  me, 
and  talk  with  him  yourfelf,  as  I  have  done,  and  he 
will  certainly  anfwer  this,  and  every  other  objection, 
that  you  can  raife  againft  him  :  Whereupon  Natha- 
twel  being  defirous  to  know  the  truth,  fo  far  laid  a- 
lide  his  prejudices,  as  to  go  and  converfe  with  Jefus 
himfelf. 
•  Jefus  faw  47  And  when  Jefus  faw  Nathan acl  approaching, 
^Tathanael  coining  ^e  fpoke  Gf  him  to  the  company  with  high  commen- 
xa   him,    and  (aith     1   ...         f      •  A,r  j      \     •       .1  u      ' 

ci  him  Behold  an  "atl0n?  *aying»  Oblerve,  and  admire  the  man  who  is 
Israelite  indeed,  in  n°w  coming  to  me  ;  he  is  a  true  fon  of honeft  Jacob, 
whom  is  no  guile  !  plain-hearted  like  him,  an  inheritor  of  his  fpirit,  as 
well  as  a  defcendant  from  him  by  birth  ;  he  is,  what 
an  I/ra elite  mould  be  *,  a  man  without  prevailing  or 
allowed  hypocrify  in  his  dealings  with  God,  or  with 
his  fellow-creatures. 

48  Nathanaely  being  within  hearing,  was  much 
furpriled  at  this  high  encomium,  and  faid,  to  our 
Lord,  How  is  it  poffible  for  you,  who  are  a  perfect 
ftranger  to  me,  and,  I  fuppofe,  never  once  faw  me 
unto  him,  Before  before,  to  know  who  or  what  I  am  ?  How  can  you 
that  Philip  calred   te\\  my  character,  and  what  I  am  in  heart  and  truth  ? 

wa^ft'un^er  the  fig-  alas  !  1  fear  l  do  not  defervc  the  Praife  You  have  & 
tree,  I  faw  thee.^  vcn  me*  Jefus  replied,  How  much  foever  you  may 
wonder  at  this,  and  how  low  thoughts  foever  you 
have  of  yourfelf,  I  have  thoroughly  known  you  long 
before  we  had  any  perfonal  interview  ;  and  to  fatisfy 
you  of  this,  I  will  tell  you  of  what  none  but  God 
and  yourfelf  were  privy  to,  which  is,  that  before  Phi- 
Zip  met  you,  and  afked  you  to  come  to  me,  I  obfer- 
ved  you,  and  faw  the  in  mo  ft  temper  and*thoup-hts  of 
your  heart,  at  a  certain  remarkable  feafon,  (you  know 
when)  while  you  retired  to  a  private  place  under  a 
fig-tree,   and  there  was  employed  in  religious  exerci- 


4S  Nathanael 
ialth  unto  him, 
Whence  knoweft 
r'hou  me?  Jefus  an- 
i'wered     and     faid 


fei 


49  Nathaniel 
NOTES. 

*  Our  Lord  here  feems  to  refer  to  Na-  modeity  and  humility  would  hardly  have 
tba?tael,s  private  retirement  for  religious  allowed  him  to  afk,  how  Jefus  knew  him 
exerciles,  [iter.  4S.)  where  no  human  eye  under  that  character, 
faw  him,  and  to  his  willingnefs  to  come  f  Our  Lord  here  feems  to  remind  him 
to  him  and  judge  for  himfelf,  notwith-  of  fome  folemn  fecret  tr  an  factions,  that 
ftanding  the  mistaken  prejudices  he  had  pa  fled  between  God  and  him,  when  he 
conceived  againft  him  ;  for  Chrift  knew  was  under  a  fig-tree,  in  which  Natha- 
all  that  had  palled  between  Philip  and  unci's  own  heart  was  confeious  of  its  be- 
'lim.  He  likevvife  feems  to  refer  to  Na-  ing  moft  fincerely  and  umefervedly  de- 
WJtf/'s  known  character  among  his  voted  to  him;  and  fo  the  reminding  him 
'vbours ;   othervvifc  this  good  man's    of  this  was  an  evidence  of  Chriit's  omni- 

icience, 


unto 

thou  art  the  Son  of 
God,  thou  art  the 
King  of  IfxaeJL 


Chap.  i.  John  paraphrafed.  281 

49  Nathanael  49  Nathanael  being  fully  convinced  of  Chrift's  di- 
anfwered  and  faith  v'mt  knowledge,  as  the  fearcher  of  the  heart,  by  this 
bl'  evident  and  affecting  inftance  of  it,  anfwered  with 
profound  humility  and  reverence,  Worthy  art  thou  of 
the  title  of  Rabbi,  in  the  higheft  fenfe  poinble  ;  my 
prejudices  againft  thee  are  all  overcome;  and,  by  what 
thou  haft  now  told  me,  I  am  thoroughly  fatisfied, 
that  thou  art  more  than  a  mere  man :  I  verily  believe 
thee  to  be  the  Son  of  God,  and  the  promifed  Mef- 
liah,  Who Jhallft  on  the  throne  of  David,  and  reign 
over  the  houfe  of  Jacob  for  ever  ;  (Luke  i.  32,  33.) 
as  fuch  I  receive  thee,  and  trull  in  thee  for  all  falva- 
tion. 

50  To  this  noble  confeffion  of  his  faith,  Jefus  re- 
plied, with  an  air  of  approbation  and  wonder,  Halt 
thou  fo  high  and  ftedfaft  a  faith  in  me,  as  the  Son  of 
God,  and  the  Saviour  of  Ifrael,  becaufe  I  told  you 
what  I  knew  and  obferved  of  you  in  one  inftance  on- 
ly, relating  to  your  fecret  retirement  under  the  fig- 
tree?  Great  is  your  faith  :  And,  for  your  further  en- 
couragement, you  {hall  have  ftill  much  more  extraor- 
dinary and  alluring  proofs  of  my  knowledge  and  pow- 
er to  confirm  it. 

5 1  And  thereupon  he  faid  to  him  *,  I,  the  Amen, 
who  am  Truth  itfelf,  certainly  allure  all  of  you, 
my  difciples,  that  in  a  little  time  ye  fhall  fee  the  ac- 
complishment of  Jacob's  vifioa  in  me.  As  he  beheld 
the  angels  of  God  afcending  and  defcer.dwg  on  a  lad- 
der fet  upon  the  earth,    the  top  of  which  reached  to 

heaven  ; 
NOTES. 
fcience,   and  of  his  own  integrity  :    And    0f  truth,  ]72K  *7\b8  (Ifa.  Ixv.  16.)  and 


50  Jefus  anfwer- 
ed, and  faid  unto 
him,  Becaufe  I  faid 
unto  thee,  I  favv 
thee  under  the  fig- 
tree,  believed  thou? 
thou  fhalt  fee  great- 
V  r  things  than  thefe. 


51  And  he  faith 
unto  him,  Verily, 
verily,  I  fay  unto 
you.  Hereafter  you 
fhall  fee  heaven  o- 
pen,  and  the  an- 
gels of  God  a- 
fcending 


it  is  highly  probable  that  Nathanael  was 
then  reading,  or  meditating  upon,  and 
confidering  the  meaning  of  Jacob's  dream, 
(tSWz.xxviii.  12.)  which  our  Lord  recites, 
and  explains  as  referring  to  himfelf,  (ver. 
51.)  and  thereby  fatisfied  NathanatV% 
enquiries  about  it,  and  gave  him  an  un- 
deniable proof  of  his  knowing  what  were 
then  the  particular  thoughts  of  his  heart. 
*  It  is  obfervabie  that  our  Lord  here 
changes  the  number,  from  the  lingular  to 
the  plura-1,  (xtyet  ocvto'  A/xmv  ejjcnv  \tyu 
v/kjv)  which  mews  that  this  was  faid 
to  all  the  difciples,  as  well  as  to  Natha- 
vael.  Verily,  or  Amen,  was  never  ufed 
by  any  under  the  Old  Tedamcnt,  but  in 
the  form  of  a  wifh  ;  and  in  thnt  manner 
the  Jews,  and  afterwards  Christians  of- 
ten ufed  it,  and  fometimes  doubled  it  at 
the  clofe  of  their  prayers.  But  our  blefs- 
ed  Lord  coudantly  ufed  it  at  the  begin- 
ning of  a  fentence,  and  in  the  form  of  a 
fplemn  affeveration,  to  intimate  that  he 
is  the  4men,  (Rev.  iii.  14.)  and  the  Cod 


that  therefore  his  own  authority  was 
fufficient  to  confirm  what  he  faid  ;  and 
it  is  peculiar  to  this  Evangelid  to  repre- 
ferit  Chrift,  as  doubling  the  affeveration, 
though  he  himfelf  probably  ufed  it  fing- 
ly.  But  the  reafon  of  the  apoftle  John's 
repeating  it,  in  this  manner,  might  be  to 
exprefs  the  double  fenfe  that  is  included 
in  our  Lord's  ufe  of  the  fingle  word,  the 
true  meaning  of  which,  as  proceeding 
from  his  mouth,  is,  that  He  who  is  Truth 
itfelf,  fpeaks  the  truth  ;  and  fo  the  dou- 
ble form  of  expreffion  being  bed  adapt- 
ed to  keep  this  Evangelid's  great  point 
in  view,  relating  to  the  divinity  of  Chrid, 
he  condantly  reprcfents  it  in  that  form. 
And  I  have  accordingly,  for  the  mod 
part,  kept  up  its  meaning  through  the 
paraphrafe  ;  though  perhaps,  as  fays  Dr. 
Lightfoot,  St.  John  being  to  write  for 
the  ujfe  of  the  Helleni/ls.  might  write  the 
word  in  the  Hebrew  letters,  wherein 
Chrid  ufed  it,  and  in  the  fame  letters 
wherein  the  Greeks  ufed  it. 


282  TJje  Evangelift  Chap.  i. 

(Vending  and  de-  heaven:  (Gen.  xxviii.  12.)  So  while  I,  the  Mediator 
icending  upon  the  between  God  and  man,  am  in  my  human  nature  on 
Son  of  man.  earth,  my  Godhead  reaches  to  heaven  ;    and  ye  fhall 

fee  fuch  manifeftations  of  my  glory,  in  the  great  and 
wonderful  miracles  I  mail  work,  in  the  divine  wifdom 
and  knowledge  I  fhall  difplay,  and  in  the  friendly  in- 
tcrcourfe  I  fhall  fet  on  foot  between  God  and  men, 
that  all  things  in  heaven  and  earth  fhall  as  evidently 
appear  to  be  under  my  command,  as  if  ye  faw  the  an- 
gels of  God  perpetually  coming  and  going  from  hea- 
ven to  me,  and  from  me  to  heaven,  to  carry  on  a 
correfpondence  between  my  Father  above,  and  me 
the  *  Son  of  man  here  below  ;  and  as  if  they  were 
vifibly  bringing  meffages  to  me,  and  executing  or- 
ders according  to  my  will  :  And  fome  time  hence  f , 
ye  fhall  really  fee  the  angels,  in  a  literal  fenfe,  at- 
tending to  pay  their  honours  to  me. 

RECOLLECTIONS. 

How  folemn  and  fublime,  magnificent  and  awful,  is  the  account  here  given  of 
eur  bleffed  Lord,  as  God  co-eternal  with  the  Father,  a  diftinct  and  yet  infepera- 
ble  perfon  from  him,  and  as  intimately  prefent  to  him,  as  thought  is  to  mind ;  as 
the  Creator  of  all  things  without  reftriction  or  limitation,  the  proper  fountain  of 
life  and  honour,  and  the  true  light,  who  was  in  the  world  to  illuminate,  uphold, 
and  govern  it,  ever  fince  it  was  created  by  him  ;  and  as  the  object  of  faith,  the  di- 
vine author  of  evangelical  truth,  whofe  own,  Verily  I  fay  unto  you,  demands  our 
faith  and  obedience,  and  who  is  the  difcerner  of  the  thoughts,  and  the  ruler  of 
the  heart !  How  adorable  is  the  conftitution  of  his  incarnate  perfon,  as  the  eternal 
Word  made  flefli,  the  Son  of  God  and  the  Son  of  man  !  And  what  dignity  and  ho- 
nour does  his  divinity  put  upon  his  condefcenfion,  who  tabernacled  in  fleih  among 
men  '.  full  of  grace  and  truth  ;  and  died  a  facrifice  to  take  away  their  fins  !  Behold 
this  Lamb  of  God  ;  look  to  him  and  be  faved  ;  look  and  love,  and  follow  him.  And 
O  how  mould  we  exalt  him,  and  abafe  ourfelves  before  him,  as  thinking  it  honour 
enough  to  be  employed  in  the  meaneft  fervices  for  him  !  How  evidently  divine  were 
the  teftimonies  given  to  this  wonderful  perfon  !  To  him  give  all  the  prophets  wit- 
nefs,  and  the  eternal  Father  himfelf  difcovered  him  to  John,  and  miraculoufly  own- 
ed him  from  heaven,  by  an  exprefs  notification  and  infallible  fignal  at  his  baptifm  ; 
and,  to  prevent  all  pofftble  collufion  in  John's  teftimony,  the  wifdom  of  Providence 

ordered 
NOTES. 

*  Though  Nathanael  owned  our  Lord  fliould  feem  to  fpeak  too  little  of  him, 
to  be  the  Son  of  God;  yet  he  called  him-  who  was  fo  glorious  in  himfelf,  and  in 
felf  the  Son  of  man,  to  (hew  his  own  their  eyes, 
great  humility,  and  to  check  his  difci- 
ples' expectation  of  temporal  grandeur  in  f  This  the  difciples  faw  at  the  afcen- 
his  kingdom,  as  alfo  to  let  us  know  that  fion  of  our  Lord  ;  but  as  the  word  «*r«fT*, 
he  was  the  promifed  Meffiah,  foretold  un-  rendered  hereafter,  properly  figniries 
der  that  title,  {Tfal.  lxxx.  17.  and  Dan.  henceforth,  which  intimates  that  this  dif- 
vii.  13.)  who  was  to  be  as  truly  man  as  coveryof  Chrift's  glory  was  juft  then  com- 
God,  and  that  it  was  moft  fuitable  to  his  mencing ;  and  as  the  angels,  that  attend- 
ftate  of  humiliation,  to  call  himfelf  by  ed  him  at  his  afcenfion  about  three  years 
his  loweft  name.  Accordingly,  he  ufu-  afterwards,  are  no  where  faid  to  afcend 
ally  fpoke  of  himfelf  in  this  ftile,  as  the  and  defcend  upon  him,  I  rather  prefer 
Son  of  man,  though  others  did  not  ufe  it  the  metaphorical  fenfe  of  this  paflage, 
concerning  him  :  His  enemies  did  not,  which,  from  the  very  time  of  his  fpeak- 
that  they  might  not  feem  to  own  him  ing  thefe  words,  immediately  began  to 
under  this  known  character  of  the  Mef-  be  fulfilled  in  his  miracles  and  preaching, 
pah  ;  and  his  difciples  did  not,  left  they     with  iucreafmg  light  and  efficacy. 


Chap.  ii.  John  paraphrafed.  283 

ordered  that  he  himfelf  mould  not  personally  know  Jefus,  till  he  came  to  be  open- 
ly manifefted  to- Ifrael.  How  excellent  is  a  gofpel-miniftry,  which  leads  us  not  to 
man,  but  to  Chrift,  as  God-man  Mediator,  the  great  Prophet  of  the  church,  and 
the  only  propitiation  tor  fin,  that  all  who  believe  in  him  might  receive  of  his  fulnefs, 
grace  for  grace,  and  as  the  author  of  all  the  efficacy  of  gofpel-ordinances  by  the 
baptilm  of  the  Spirit !  And  yet  alas,  how  many  remain  in  darknefs,  in  the  midft  of 
noon-day  light ;  and  how  many  of  his  own  profeffing  people  reject  him  and  the  gof- 
pel  :  But,  blefTed  be  God,  there  are  Ibrae  that  receive  him  with  a  true  and  laving 
faith,  by  an  affent  and  approbation  of  the  mind,  and  by  a  full  confent  of  the  will : 
And  O  how  great  is  their  happinefs  !  they  are  made  partakers  of  the  dignity  and 
privilege  of  Cons  of  God  by  adoption,  and  of  a  divine  nature  by  regeneration,  as 
the  gifts  and  effects  of  ibvereign  grace,  which  begins  with  us  before  we  begin  with 
Chrift.  We  are  indeed  brought  to  know  and  believe  in  him  by  the  miniftiy  of  his 
fervants  :  But,  it  is  a  divine  power,  going  forth  with  his  word,  that  fweetly  over- 
comes the  foul,  and  makes  it  willing  to  follow  him  ,  and  he  will  ever  encourage 
early  and  earneft  enquiries  after  him  :  Whatfoever  objections  or  prejudices  they 
might  before  have  in  their  hearts  againft  him,  how  will  a  true  acquaintance  with 
him  effectually  cure  and  anfwer  them  all  !  The  foul  that  finds  Chrift,  finds  enough 
in  him  to  determine  it  to  abide  with  him  ;  yea,  they  that,  relying  on  his  teftimo- 
ny,  believe  in  him,  fhall  fee  ftill  greater  things,  for  his  glory,  and  their  own  con- 
folation  and  eftabliihment.  And  O  how  happy  is  it  to  have  his  approbation  of  us, 
as  Ifraelites  indeed,  in  whom  there  is  no  prevailing  deceit,  or  allowed  guile  !  And 
what  a  grateful  and  generous  turn  does  the  grace  of  God  give  to  the  temper 
of  a  man's  heart  !  He  wants  to  have  Chrift  exalted  in  every  foul,  and  fain  would 
have  all  his  acquaintance,  friends,  and  relations,  as  well  as  himfelf,  brought  to  a 
faving  knowledge  of  him,  and  intereft  in  him.  And  how  fecurely  may  we  depend 
upon  the  infinite  merit  of  his  blood,  commit  our  all  to  him,  and  furrender  up  our- 
felves  entirely  to  his  authority,  guidance,  and  grace,  as  God  manifefted  in  the  flefh, 
and  as  able  to  fave  to  the  uttermoft,  all  that  come  unto  God  the  Father  by  him  \ 


CHAP.       II. 

Chrift  turns  water  into  wine  at  Cana  of  Galilee,  1, —  n.  Goes  to 
Capernaum,  1 2.  Goes  fro?n  thence  to  keep  the  pajfover  at  Jerufa- 
lem,  vjhere  he  cajls  the  traders  out  of  the  temple^  vindicates  what 
he  had  done,  and  declines  trujling  himfelf  with  pretended  dijcip/esy 

Test.  Paraphrase. 

^ND  the    third    npHREE  days  after  ChrifVs  coming  into  Galilee* 

a>  tnere  was  x  an(j  beginning  to  gather  diiciples  there,  a  wed- 
tra  of  Galflee  •  and  ding  was  celebrated  at  a  village  called  Cana.  in  that 
the  mother  of  Jefus  country,  at  which  Mary  the  mother  of  Jefus  was 
was  there.  prefent  *. 

fs*wt°c  U°dha£d       2  °urLord  likewife>  bei*ng  at  &»t  tIme  m  the 

his  difciple;  to  the   neighDourhood,   with  the  few  diiciples  he  had  called, 

marriage.  was  invited,  as  they  alfo  were  for  his  fake,  to  the 

marriage-entertainment  ;  and  that  he  might  not  rcfufe 

the  common  offices  of  civility  and  friendihip,  nor  flip 

fo  feafonable  an  opportunity  of  putting  an  honour 

upon 
NOTE. 
^  *  It  is  probable  that  this  was  a  mar-    were;    and  becaufe  me  concerned  her- 
riage  of  lbme  near  relation  of  Mary,  be-    fel£  fo  much  about  a  recruit  of  wine  for 
caufe  the  is  not  fpoken  of  as  an  invited    the  feaft. 
gueft,   as  Chrift  himfelf  and  his  difcioles 


284 


3    And    when 

they  wanted  wine, 
the  mother  of  Je- 
fus faith  unto  htm, 
They  have  no  wine. 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  ii. 


4  Jefus  faith  un- 
to her,  Woman, 
what  have  I  to  do 
with  th 
hour  is 
come. 


Le 


mine 


not     yet 


5  His  mother 
faith  unto  the  fer- 
vants,  Whatfoever 
he  faith  unto  you, 
do  it. 


6  And  there  were 
fet  there  fix  water- 
pots  of  (tone,  after 
the  manner  of  the 
purifying  of  the 
Jews,  containing 
two  or  three  firkins 
a-piece. 


upon  marriage,  as  the  ordinance  of  God,  he  accept- 
ed of  the  invitation  for  himfelf  and  them. 

3  When  by  this  increafe  of  company  there  was 
not  wine  enough  for  all  the  guefls  ;  the  mother  of 
our  Lord,  being  concerned  at  a  difappointment  of 
that  nature,  on  fuch  a  joyful  occafion,  told  him  pri- 
vately that  the  wine  provided  for  the  entertainment 
was  juft  fpent  ;  intimating  that  it  would  be  kind  m 
him  to  fupply  the  prefent  neceffity,  which  (he  appre- 
hended he  could  eafily  do,  and  which,  he  having  juft 
begun  to  appear  in  his  public  character,  fhe  hoped 
he  would  do  *. 

4  Jefus  replied,  Though  I  am  willing  to  pay  all 
becoming  filial  duty  .to  you,  and  to  do  good  on  all 
proper  occalions  to  others  ;  yet,  what  obligation 
am  I  under  to  regard  this  motion,  for  exercifing  my 
divine  power,  which  I  have  not,  as  your  fon,  but 
as  the  Son  of  God  f  ?  You  are  not  to  meddle  in  the 
affairs  of  my  kingdom  ;  nor  are  you  to  fuppofe  that 
I  rauft  obey  you,  as  my  mother,  more  than  ,  any  o- 
ther  woman,  in  performing  miraculous  works  :  Be- 
fides,  the  time  ~\.  for  the  public  manifeftation  of  my 
glory,  is  not  yet  fully  come,  whatfoever  I  may  do 
more  privately,  in  the  mean-while,  among  my 
friends  :   Leave  this  matter  therefore  entirely  to  me. 

5  Hereupon  Mary,  his  mother,  filently  fubmit- 
ted  to  the  reproof ;  but,  though  he  feemed  to  be 
angry,  fhe  hoped  in  his  power  and  goodnefs,  and  de- 
fired  the  fervants  in  waiting,  to  obey  any  orders  that 
he  might  give,  without  difputing  or  objecting  againfl 
them. 

6  Now  as  the  Jews  were  wont  to  have  vefTels  in 
their  houfes  to  keep  water,  which  they  daily  ufed, 
and  efpecially  at  their  public  entertainments,  for 
warning  hands  and  cups,  and  for  various  ceremonial 
purifications,  fome  of  divine,  and  others  of  human 
inflitution,  there  were  in  this  houfe  fix  large  jars,  or 
citterns  of  ilone,  each  of  which  contained  two  or 
three  large  meafures  (|. 

7   Jefus 
NOTES. 


*  As  fhe  could  not  be  a  perfect  ftran- 
ger  to  the  greatnefs  of  his  power,  of 
whom  fhe  had  heard  fuch  magnifi  ent 
things  fpoken  by  angels  and  infpired 
men  ;  fo  it  is  not  improbable  but  that, 
during  his  private  life,  he  had  miracu- 
loufly  relieved  the  wants,  either  of  his 
own  family,  or  of  fome  of  his  friends, 
though  care  was  taken  to  prevent  its  be- 
ing known  abroad. 

f  What  a  reproof  it  this  to  the  idola- 
try of  the  papifts,  in  praying  to  the  Vir- 
gin Mary  to  command  her  Son  1 


X  I  take  this  intimation  to  relate,  ra- 
ther to  the  time  of  his  openly  manifeft- 
ing  his  glory  fhortly  after  at  Jcnifalerti, 
(ver.  13,  SjV.)  than,  as  fome  fuppofe,  to 
the  time  of  turning  the  water  into  wine, 
as  foon  as  the  other  wine  fliould  be  quite 
fpent,  this  interval  being  fo  very  fmall. 

||  What  thefe  (/t«TfWT«i)  firkins  were, 
is  very  uncertain  to  us,  who  know  fo  lit- 
tle of  the  ancient  Jenvijlj  meafures :  But 
all  agree  that  the  water-pots,  which  held 
two  or  three  of  them,  muft  be  of  a  pret- 
ty large  fize. 


Chap.  ii. 


John  paraphrafed. 


285 


7  Jefus  faith  un-  7  Jefus  therefore,  to  clear  his    defigned    miracle 

to  them.   FU1  the  £rom   aU  fufpicions  0f  fraud     fp^  to°  thc    waiters 

water-pots       with  ,        r  .               m     i      r      n.          •            •  1 

water.     And  they  tnera*elves  to  till  the  lix  itone  jars  with  common  wa- 

filled  them  up  to  ter  :  And  they,  remembering  Mary's  advice,  readi- 
the  brim.  ly  complied  with  his  directions,  filling  them  up  to 

the  very  brim. 
3  And  he  faith  8  And  when  they  had  done  this,  our  bteffed  Lord, 
unto  them,  Draw  ag  tjie  foverejgn  God  of  nature,  who  could  work  his 
unto" the  governor  mIracles  how,  when,  and  wherever  he  pleafed,  by  a 
of  the  feaft.  And  mere  a 61  of  his  will,  ordered  the  fervants  to  draw 
they  bare  it.  out  of  the  veffeis,  and  carry  fome  of  the  liquor    to 

the  perfon  *  who  had  the  management  of  the  feaft, 
that  he  might  tafte  of  it  ;  and  they  did  fo. 
9  When  the  ru-         9   But  though  the  fervants,   who  at  Chad's   corn- 
ier of  the  feaft  had    mand  put  in  water  and  f  drew  out  wine,  fa w  the 

tailed  the  water  won(ierful  change  which  was  made,  in  that  it  was 
that     was     made  .  «  •  .  c    , 

wine     and    knew   no  longer  water  but  wane  ;  yet  the  manager  or  the 

not  whence  it  was,  feall  knew  nothing  of  the  matter,  nor  whence  the 

(but  the   fervants  fervants  had  it  :    i\nd  when,  upon  tailing,  he  found 

which    drevv    the  it  to  be  more  pleafant  and  generous  wine  than  they 

o-overnor'1  ot     the  ^ad  ^runk  before,  he  called  out  to  the  bridgroom  ; 

feaft     called     the        io  And,  returning  the  thanks  of  the  company  to 

bridegroom,  him,  he  faid,  The  ufual  cuftom  at  feafls  is  to  begin 

10    And    faith  wJth  the  richeft  wine,  while  the  palate  is  nice,  and 

..  I!?'  u  %ery   can   relifii  it  with  the  ereateil  plcainre  and  advan- 
man  at  the  begin-  ,  ~         1  n  1 

nino-  doth  fet  forth  tage  >  ana  aiterwarus,  when  the  guelts  have  drank  e- 
good  wine ;  and  nough  to  pall  their  appetites  and  raiie  their  fpirits,  a 
when    men    have    poorer  fort  of  wine  is   generally    fet    before    th 

;  d™J*'h  the.l>    which  will  eaiier  go  down,  and  be  lefs  intoxicating  : 
worfe  :    hut    thou    -^ut  yGU>  Sir,  though  our  wine  has  all  along  been  ve- 
haft  kept  the  good   ry  good,  have,  by  an  uncommon  generality,  furni:: 
wine  until  now.        us  now  at  lait  with  fome,   which  is  every  way  bt 
than  any  that  we  have  drank  befor-e  £. 

1 1    This  miracle,   at  the  wedding  in  Ctina  of  Ga- 

Illcc, 
NOTES. 

*  Thc  governor  of  the  feaft  was  either  ing  it  out  of  the  veffeis ;  and  Chrift  dr- 
the  chief  gUeft,  who  fat  at  the  upper  end  dering  them  all  to  be  filled,  might  b< 
of  the  table,  or  one  whole  office,  like  only  to  intimate  that,  whatsoever  quan- 
the  Sympojiarchus  among  the  Greeks,  tity  of  wine  there  fhouid  be  occafion  for, 
was  to  take  care  that  there  were  neither  he  could  eafily  fuppiy  the  want  without 
any  want,  nor  any  irregularities  or  ex-  reftraint. 
cefs.     See  Light.  Harm.  %  This  is  a  very  different  caie  from 

f  If  Jefus  turned  all  this  water  into    the  pretended  traniubftanttatioM  of  I 
■.vine,  it  is  not  to  be  fuppofed  that  the    and   wine   into   the  body  and  blood 
whole  of  it  was  drank  at  that  time  ;  but    Chrift  :    For  the  molt  competent  ju 
that  a  considerable  quantity  was  left  for    faw  and  tailed  that,   after  this  chan 
the  ufe  of  the  family,  and  for  an  abiding    the  water  continued  no  Icrnger  whit  it 
proof  ot  the  miracle,   which  had   been    was  before,  but  was-rearlry.and  < 
wrought  in  this  fupernatural  change  up-    ly  wine.    Whereas,  after  the  Popi/b  con- 
on  the  water  :    Of  perhaps,   as  the  wi-    fecration,   every  capable  judge    ees  ai.d 
dow's  pot  of  oil  increafed  in  the  pouring    talles  that  the  elements  continue  to  be 
of -it  out  ;    (2  Kings  iv.  4, — 6.)    fo  this    what  they  were   before,   not    fu-fh   : 
water  was  turned  into  wine  in  the  draw-    blood,  but  bread  and  wine. 

Vol.  II.  P  p 


it 


This  brgin- 
nine 


236 


inner 


The  Evangeli/l 


Chap.  ii. 


him. 


ii  After  this  he 
went  down  to  Ca- 
pernaum, he,  and 
his  mo 
brethn 
difciples;  and  they 
continued  there  not 
many  days. 


i;     And      the 


le 


of    miracles   lice,  was  the  firil  that  Jefus  performed,  after  his  en- 

did  Jems  in  Cana   trance  on  his  public  miniflry  ;  and  by  this  he  gave 
or  Galilee,  and  ma-  i  r  .      ,1  v   i  '     >  ,.-      ,? . 

nifelled  forth  his  clear  Proot  to  the  wnoie  company  of  his  divine 
glory;  and  his  dif-  power,  which  now  began  to  break  forth,  as  a  pledge 
oples  believed  on  and  carneft  of  what  would  be  more  illuftrioufly  dif- 
played  afterwards  :  And  the  difciples,  whom  he  be- 
fore had  called,  and  who  were  prefent  at  this  mani- 
feilation  of  his  glory  *,  were  hereby  confirmed  in 
their  faith  in  him  as  the  true  Mefliah. 

12  After  this,  our  Lord  went  to  Capernaum^ 
which  lay  about  a  day's  journey  ealtward  from  Cana, 

ther'and  his  and  was  the  place,  where,,  after  a  few  months,  (fee 
brethren,  and  his  the  note  on  chap.  iv.  I.)  he  had  his  moil  ufual  refi- 
dence  ;  (Mat:b.  iv.  13.)  and  hither  his  mother,  and 
his  other  relations,  (fee  the  note  on  Matth.  xii.  46.) 
together  with  his  four  or  five  difciples,  which  he  had 
before  called  in  Galilee,  went  along  with  him,  to  ob- 
ferve  what  further  difcoveries  he  would  make  of  his 
power  and  glory  -j-.  But  their  continuance  together 
there  at  this  time,  was  only  for  a  few  days. 

1 3  And  the  reafon  of  this  was,  becaufe  the  firil 
Jews  paffover  was  paffover  after  Chrift's  baptifm  drew  near  ;  and,  be- 
at hand;  and  Tel  us  •  j  j  .1  1  1  •  1  t 
went  up  to  Teruia-  mS  made  under  the  law,  he,  in  obedience  to  its  ap- 
pointment for  all  the  males  of  Ifrael,  repaired  to  Je- 
rusalem as  ufual,  that  he  might  celebrate  the  ap- 
proaching feftival  there. 

14  When  he  came  thither,  he,  having  entered 
on  his  public  oflice,  went  directly  to  the  temple,  to 
engage  in  prayer  and  preaching  ;  and  as  he  paffed 
through  the  court  of  the  Gentiles,  he  found  the  peo- 
ple had  turned  that  holy  place  into  a  market,  ftored 
with  oxen,  fheep,  and  doves,  and  the  like,  which 
were  expofed  to  fale  there  for  facrinees  :  He  like  wife 
found  fcveral  (tails  of  perfons,  who  traded  in  bills  of 
exchange,  and  in  furnifhino-  thofe  with  half-fhekels. 
that  were  to  offer  them  for  the  fervioi  of  the  fandhi- 
ary.      [Exod.  xxx.  12, — 16.) 

15  And 
NOTES. 
*  This  could  not  be  faid  of  the  mira-  with  an  air  of  independent  power  and 
cles  wrought  by  any  of  the  prophets  and  divine  Majefty,  by  a  thought  as  well  as 
apoftles :  They  did  not  therein  rnanifelr.  by  a  word,  according  to  his  plcafure, 
their  own  glory  ;  for  it  was  not  by  their  jufb  in  fuch  a  manner  as  the  eternal  Fa- 
own  power  or  holinei's  thftt  they  did  tlier  himielf  might  be  expected  to  act, 
them;  they  only  m an i felled  the  glory  of  had  he  been  incarnate  ;  and  all  this  was 
that  God,  whole  power  alone  wrought  a  manifeftation  or  difplay  of  Chrift'sown 
thofe  wonderful  works.  But  Ghrilt,  in  divine  glory,  as  the  fulnefs  of  the  God- 
the  performance  of  his  miracles,  mani-  head  thereby  appeared  to  dwell  in  him. 
felted  his  own  glory  as  God,  together 
with  his  Father's  glory,  as  his  great  de- 
puty in  our  nature:  He  was  their  proper 
efficient  caufe,  by  virtue  that  went  out 
from  him:  and  he  molt  ufu ally  wrought 


m, 


14  And  found  in 
the  temple  thofe 
that  fold  oxen,  and 
iheep,  and  doves, 
and  the  changers 
of  money,  fitting  : 


f  His  relations  themfelves  feemed  to 
be  aft'ecled  at  the  fight  of  his  firft  mira- 
cle, however  afterwards,  fome  of  them, 
at  lead,  (chap.  vii.  5.)  flighted  his  won- 
derful works,    when   the    frequency  of 


them  in  a   fovereign,  Godlike  manner,    them  took  oft' their  furprife  at  them. 


Chap.  ii. 

15    And    when 
he    had    made     a 

fcourge  of  fmall 
cords,  he  drove 
them  all  out  of 
the  temple,  and 
the  fheep,  and  the 
oxen  ;  and  poured 
out  the  changers 
money,  and  over- 
threw the  tables  ; 
1 6  And  faid  un- 
to them  that  Ibid 
doves,  Take  thefe 
things  hence;  make 
not     my    Father's 


John  paraphrafed. 


287 


merchandise. 


15  And  as  this  was  a  profanation  of  the  temple, 
occafioncd  by  the  avarice  of  the  priefts,  who  had 
their  (hare  of  rents  and  fees  for  the  people's  ftanding 
there,  our  Lord,  making  a  *  whip  of  fmall  cords, 
drove  away  the  oxen  and  fheep  ;  and  at  the  fame 
time  turned  out  all  the  traders  with  them,  and  threw 
the  flails  of  the  bankers,  with  the  money  upon  them, 
down  to  the  ground. 

1 6  And  that  he  might  not  fet  the  doves  a-flying, 
to  the  lofs  and  injury  of  their  owners,  he  ordered 
them  to  remove  their  goods  from  thence,  faying,  I 
can  by  no  means  allow  that  the  temple,  which,  by 
the  appointment  of  my  heavenly  Father,  is  peculiar- 

houfe  an  houfe  of  ly  dedicated  to  his  fervice,  and  to  the  honour  of  his 
name,  mould  be  turned  into  a  place  of  common  traf- 
fick,  to  the  .diilurbance  of  thole  who  come  to  wor- 
ship here,  and  to  the  proftitution  of  this  facred  houfe 
to  covetous  and  worldly  views.  And  his  divine 
power  impreffed  the  fpirits  of  all  the  traders  with 
fuch  an  awe  of  his  majefly  and  authority,  that  they 
fubmitted  to  his  commands,  though  he  had  no  hu- 
man aid  to  enforce  them. 

1 7  And  his  difciples  cbfervmg  with  what  undaunt- 
ed courage,  and  fervent  zeal  for  the  glory  of  God  and 
the  purity  of  divine  inftitutions,  he  expoied  himfelf 
to  the  rage  of  his  mofc  powerful  enemies,  called  to 
mind  that  prophetic  paffage,  relating  to  the  Meiiiah, 
{Pfnl.  Jxix.  9.)  where  it  is  faid,  The  xea/  of  thine 
houfe  hath  eaten  ??ie  up  ;  and,  feeing  this  fo  remark- 
ably fulfilled  in  Jefus,  they  were  confirmed  in  their 
belief  that  he  could  be  no  other  than  the  true  Mef- 
fiah. 

18  The  common  people  of  the  Jews  being  here- 
by difturbed  in  their  profitable  trade,  and  their  chief 
priefts  and  rulers  being  highly  difpleafed,  both  at  the 
lofs  of  their  own  gains,  and  at  this  open  attack  upon 
their  prerogative,  who  pretended  to  have  the  only 
right  of  ordering  all  things  about  the  temple  and  its 
fervices,  joined  together  in  objecting  againft  the  law- 
fulnefs  of  his  taking  upon  himfelf  to  do,  what  they 
could  not  deny  but  was  lawful,  and  commendable  in 
itfelf  to  be  done  ;  and  therefore  they  expostulated 
with  him,  faying,  By  what  authority  have  you  done 
this  ?  If  you  pretend  to  an  immediate  coinmifiion 
from  God  for  it,    where  are  your  credentials  ?    By 

P  p   2  what 

NOTE. 
*  Chrift  probably  found  thefe  cords  in    into   the   temple,     he   ufed    a  fcourge, 
the  temple;  which  might  be  fuch  as  had    which  itemed  to  have  been  in  the  em- 
been  ufed  by  the  owners  of  the  cattle,    blematical,  rather  than  in  the  forcible 
either  to  drive  or   lead   them  thither:    way. 
And  as  it  was  not  lawful  to  bring  a  ftafV 


17  And  his  dif- 
ciples remembered 
that  it  was  writ- 
ten. The  zeal  of 
thine  houfe  hath 
eaten  me  up. 


iS  Then  anfwtr- 
ed  the  Jews,  and 
faid  unto  him, 
What  fign  fheweft 
thou  unto  us,  fee- 
ing that  thou  doft 
thefe  things  ? 


The  Evangdift  Chap.  ii. 

what  miraculous  works  do  you  prove  it,  that  we  may 

believe  it  ? 
to  Jcfus  anfwer-        19   Our  Lord  Jefus  having  juit  before  given  a  very 
ca   and  fijid  unto    furprjfing'  proof  of  his  divine  power,  by  the  awful  and 
them,  Dettrov  this     •       r.^-S     •    a  uuj^j  «    *u  : 

temple      and     '      irrciiititie  influence  he  had  exerttd  upon   all    their 

three  days  I  will   minds  ;  and  knowing  that  their  defign  in  this  de- 
lah'e  it  up.  mand  was  to  cavil,   rather  than  to  receive  conviction, 

did  not  fee  fit  to  gratify  their  perverfe  humour  by 
working  a  miracle  at  that  very  inftant  ;  but  referred 
them  to  one  in  figurative  terms,  which  ere  long  would 
be  the  greateft  of  all  others,  faying,  Dejlroy  *  this 
tem-ble,  and  in  three  days  I  will  raifc  it  up  :  By 
which  he  meant,  that,  as  they  had  profaned  that  facred 
place,  and  he  had  by  his  own  power  cleanfed  it  from 
their  defilements  ;  fo  they  would  wickedly  deflroy 
hi s  human  body,  of  which  the  temple  was  a  type; 
and  then,  by  a  ftill  more  eminent  a£t  o|"  his  own  di- 
vine power,  he  would,  in  the  fpace  of  three  days  af-  . 
terward,  certainly  raife  it  up  again  from  the  dead, 
and  thereby  undeniably  demonftrate  himfelf  to  be  the 
Son  of  God.  (Rom.  i.  4.) 
•;:>  I  hen  laid  20  Then  thefe  rulers  and  people  of  the  Jews,  ta- 
[ews,  lorty  i^:  •.  g^  prranted  that  he  fpoke  literally  of  the  tern- 
and  lix  vears  was       ^  o,         -  ?  •  •  /•     i- 

this     temple      in    P*e  at  jerujalem,  cned  out,  m  a  way  oi  indignation, 

building,  ?.:ul  wilt    contempt,  and  fcoru,  This  ilrong  and  magnificent  edi- 
tion rear  it  up  in    fiCe,  though  many  thoufands  of  hands  were  employ- 
ed in  the  work  continually,  was  no  lefs  than  j-  fes 
fix  years  in  building  ;  and  what  !   if  it  were  now  to 
be  demolifhed,  do  you  pretend  that  you  alone  could 
erect  it  again,  in  fo  very  fhort  a  time  as  three  days  ? 
This  is  abfolutely  impcfhble,  and  a  ridiculous  conceit 
indeed. 
zi  But  he  fr.ake        21    But  though,  ifhepleafed,  he  could  eafily  hav? 
le  temple  of  his    £ouc  w|jat  tney  to0k  to  t>e  f0  very   abfurd  ;   yet  it  is 

OOQ*'  certain  that  he  fpake  only  of  the  death  and  refurreo 

tion  of  his  body,  which  was  the  true  temple  of  God, 
prefigured  by  that  at  Jeri/Jct/ern,  as  he  was  holy  to 

the 
NOTES, 

*    'Tis  more  than  probable  that,   at  rebuilding   it,  from  the  time  that  Herod 

thefe  words,   he  pointed  to  his  began  the  work,  to  the  time  when  thefe 

iavii  body,  or  gave  fome  other  intimation  words  were  fpoken.   the  temple,   or  at 

by  which   a  careful  obferver  might  dif-  leaft  its  out-buildings,     not  being  then 

cern  his  referring  to  it :   x\nd  it  feems  as  quite  finilbed  :   But  whether  it  were  ex- 

if  the  jfews  thcmfelves  had  either  then,  actly  fo  or  not,  it  no  way  affects  the  cre- 

or  afterwards,   fome  notion  of  what  he  dit  of  the  facred  hiftory..  which  only  gives 

meant,   though  to  ferve  a  turn  they  put  a  true  relation  of  the  letlfe  of  tfie  'Jews  a- 

another  conftruclion  upon  it.     See  the  bout  this  matter  ;   and  it  feems  that  it 

note  on  Matth.  xxvii.  63,  was  then  forty-fix  years,    from  the  time 

f    Great  pains  have  been  taken  by  fe-  when  Herod  began  to  build  it :  Accord- 

veral   learned    men,    to    (hew   that    the  ingly  they  mentioned  it  to  fuggeft  the 

time  lpent  in  building  "ZerohabeVs  tern-  abfurdity  of  Chrift's  pretending  that,    if 

pie,   waSjuft  fbrty-fii  years;   and  that  it  were  again  deftroyed,   he  could  build 

the  fame  number  of  years  hud  run  out  in  it  up  again  in  three  days. 


Chap.  ii.  John  paraphrafed.  289 

the  Lord  as  the  true  Shechinah,  even  all  the  fulnefs 
of  the  God-head  dwelt  fubftantiallv  in  him,  and  as 
he  is  the  grand  appointed  medium  of  all  commu- 
nion between  God  and  his  people,  and  all  the  accept- 
ance of  gofpel-worfhip  depends  on  its  relation  to  him. 

22  When,  there-        22   This  therefore  being  his  real  meaning  in  that. 

he  «r  rihen  remarkable  exprefiion,  the  Spirit  of  God,  after  his 

fro*  the  dead,  his  rerurreaioR    brought  it  to  the  remembrance  of  his 

diiapies     temem-  .          .  •  *            °  . 

l.ered  that  he  had  chfciples  m  its  true  hght  ;  and  they  reflected  upon  it, 

laid     this       l    I ..  a',  a  prediction  of  what  was  then  clearly  accomplifh- 

them :    and    they  ed,  and  were  abundantly  confirmed  in  their  faith  in 

believed  the  fcrip-  ^m  therebv     and  by  comparing  the  Old  Teilament- 

ture,  and  the  \  .      ■> '              i,r  rr  t i  ,      i     „.i          i       r        xi- 

which    fefus    ha  prophecies  of  the   Meitiah's  death  and  reiurrection 

faid.       ■■  with  thefe  and  ether  words  in  which  Chrift  himfelf 

had  ioretold  them. 

23  Now,  when  23  Now  whilft  our  bleffed  Lord  tarried  at  Jeru/a- 
he  was  in  Jenua-    jefJ?^  (Jafly  preaching  and  working  miracles,  (sv  re  to^rt) 

*»>   &  VT  ?flS"  during  the  whole  time  of  the  pafehal  feaft,   many  of 

ver,    m   the   leaft-  ,..&  ,  .  r      1  r  •  11 

rfav.  many  believed  ms  hearers,  when  they  came  to  iee  now  his  excellent 

in'his  name,  when  doctrine   was  witneffed  to  by  his  Avonderful  deeds, 

they  faw  the  im-  could  not  but  own  that  he  was  at  leaft  fome  great 

racles    which    he  prophet  fent  from   God  .    they  affenting  to  his  doc 

trine  as  true,  and  to  his  miracles  as  divine. 

24  But  Jefus  did        24    But  as  thefe  were  only  temporary,  or  at  befr. 

not  commit   him-   weak  and  unfettled  believers,  who  profefled  their  faith 

unto  them,  be-   fn  Chrill,    under  the  power  of  a  fudden  furprife  at 
\he  knew  all    ,  .        .    ,  ,        ,    r  -r  , 

^     .  his  mighty  works,    he  was  too  wile  and  cautious  to 

trull  his  perfon  in  their  hands,  or  to  converfe  too 
freely  and  familiarly  with  them  ;  becaufe  he  was  per- 
fectly acquainted  with  the  very  heart  of  every  man, 
and  fo  forefaw  that  few,  if  any  of  thefe  upllart  dif- 
ciples  could  be  depended  upon  ;  but  that  fome  of 
them  would  be  turbulent  and  mutinous  in  attempting 
to  fet  him  up  for  a  temporal  king,  that  others  would 
be  fo  difcouraged  and  offended  at  his  fufferings  and 
reproaches,  as  to  defert  him,  and  that  others  would 
betray  him  into  the  hands  of  his  enemies. 

25  And  need, d  25  And  his  divine  knowledge  of  all  men's  make 
not  that  anymould  ar)d  frame  of  their  prefent  and  future  principles  and 
telaiyofman:  for     ,   r  ,  Vr     c  •  ■•>■-■■    ■     •«     en 

new  what  was    °-engns,  temper  and  diipoliticns,  motives  and  actions, 

..an.  was  fo  entirely  immediate  and  intuitive,  that  he  had 

no  occafion  for  any  information  about  them  from  any 

one  whomsoever  ;  or  for  Haying  till  they  appeared  in 

external  behaviour,    to    direct    his   judgment    about 

them  :   For  he  infallibly  knew  of  himfelf  before-hand, 

the  Sincerity  or  hypocrify,  the  weaknefs  or  wicked- 

nefs,  the  courage  or  cowardice,  and  all  the  moll  fe- 

cret  thoughts  and  turns  that  ever  were,  or  would  be, 

in  the  heart  of  every  man  ;  fo  that  there  was  no  im- 

pcifiog  upon  him, 

RE  COL- 


290  The  Evangelift  Chap.  iii. 

RECOLLECTIONS. 

What  happy  weddings  are  they  that  are  graced  with  Chrift's  prefence  !  and  how 
innocently  may  friends  feaft  together,  when  they  manage  with  a  due  regulation  un- 
der his  eye  !  In  all  our  wants  he  is  able  to  give  us  the  belt  fupplies ;  but  we 
muft  not  go  about  to  prefcribe  to  him  in  our  expectations  trom  him,  left  he  fay  to 
us,  What  have  I  to  do  with  you  ?  The  way  to  receive  any  favour  from  him  is,  to 
follow  his  directions  and  commands,  who  will,  in  due  time,  fhew  us  his  glory ;  and 
the  more  we  fee  of  this,  the  more  firmly  will  our  faith  be  eftablilhed  in  him,  and 
the  more  we  (hall  want  to  be  with  him.  And  O  what  folemn  and  exalted  thoughts 
fhould  we  have  of  him,  whofe  miraculous  works  were  manifeftations  of  his  own  glo- 
ry, who  vindicates  the  honour,  and  maintains  the  purity  of  divine  inftitutions^  with- 
out injuring  civil  property,  who  knows  all  that  is  in  man,  and  can  overawe  the  fpi- 
rits  of  his  moft  fturdy  enemies,  and  who  had  all  the  fulnefs  of  the  Godhead  dwell-" 
ing  in  his  human  body,  as  in  its  temple,  and  by  his  own  power  raifed  it  from  the 
dead  !  What  an  undoubted  confirmation  is  all  this  of  his  divine  character  and  doc- 
trine !  and  yet  how  perverfe  is  unbelief  in  its  oppofition  to  him  !  and  how  ibon  is  a 
carnal  heart  offended  at  a  reformation  of  worfliip  and  manners  by  his  fingle  autho- 
rity !  But  how  fhould  a  remembrance  of  thefe  things,  and  a  comparing  them  with 
ancient  predictions  concerning  him,  encourage  our  faith  in  him,  and  engage  our 
obedience  to  him  !  and  with  what  godly  jealoufy  fhould  we  fee  to  it,  that  we  be 
fincere  in  our  profefiions  of  his  name,  and  attendances  on  public  worfliip  after  his 
example  ;  fince  he,  whofe  eye  is  always  upon  our  hearts,  perfectly  knows  whether 
we  be  fo  or  not,  and  will  treat  us  accordingly  ! 


CHAP.       III. 


Chrifls  difcourfe  ivith  Nicodemus  about  regeneration  and  faith  in 
kimfelfy  1, — 21.  John  the  BaptiftV  difcourfe  with  the  people  con- 
cerning Jefus,   22, — $6. 


Text.  Paraphrase. 

'pHERE    was    a  -v -j  qW  arn0nor  the  many,  who  profefTed  to  believe 

manoftliePha-  1\    •      T  r        fo    <v        /-  /           1                                           c 

rifees  named Nico-  in  Jems  at  Jeri/Ja/em,  there  was  one  man  or 

demus,  a  ruler  of  great   note  and  eminence,  namely  Nicodemus,   who 

the  Jews:  was  of  the  feet  of  the  Pharifees,  the  moft  bigotted, 

proud,  felf-conccitcd,  and  fuperftitious  of  all  other 

fects  among  the  Jeivs  ;  and  was  one  of  their  rulers, 

being  a  member  of  the  fanhedrim.     (Chap.  xii.  50.) 

1  The  fame  came         2   This  man,   whofe  principles,  as  a  P  bar  i fee,  lay 

to  Jefus  by  night,   jn  dire&  oppofition  to  the  do&rine  of  Chrift,   and' 

and  laid  unto  him,        1     r  1  j     1  •  1.1       r    n.- 

Rabbi     we   know   wnoie  power,  as  a  ruler,  made  him  capable  or  acting 

that    thou    art    a   againft  it,  was  neverthelefs  convinced  by  his  miracu- 
teacher  come  from   lous  works,  that  there  was  fomething  extraordinary 
God  :  for  no  man   [n  h;m  :   And  therefore  being  defirous  of  further,  fa- 
can  do  theie  mira-    tJsfai  d       t  afhamed  to  be  feen  in  company 
cles  that  rhou  doft,       .         .     ?  /  _  ,         _  .,  .    ,       \      J 
except  God  be  with    Wltn  him,  a;id  afraid  oi  the  relentment  or  Ins  brethren 
him.                         of  the  great  council,  in  cafe  they  fhould  know  it,  he 
went  privately  to  Jefus  in  the  night,  and  laid  to  him, 
Rabbi,   (ice  the  note  on   Matth.  xxiii.  7.)    It  is  evi- 
dent by  the  wonderful  tilings  you  have  done,    and 
many  of  the  people,  as  well  as  I,  are  well  fatisfied, 
that  vou  are  a  great  prophet  fent  immediately  from 

God 


Chap.  iii. 


John  paraphrafed. 


291 


3  Jefus  anfwer- 
ed  and  laid  unto 
him,  Verily,  veri- 
ly, I  fay  unto  thee, 
Except  a  man  be 
born  again,  he  can- 
not fee  the  king- 
dom of  God. 


4  Nicodemus 
faith  unto  him, 
How  can  a  man 
be  born  when  he  is 
old  ?  can  he  enter 
the  fecond  time  in- 
to his  mother's 
womb  and  be 
born  ? 


5  Jefus  anfwer- 
ed,  Verily,  verily, 
I  fay  unto  thee, 
Except  a  man  be 
born  of  water,  and 
of  the  Spirit,  he 
cannot  enter  into 
the  kingdom  of 
God. 


N    O 
*  Ava9ry,  here  tranflated  again,  pro- 
perly fignifies  from  above,   and   is   fre- 
quently ufed  in  that  fenfe,    and  particu- 
larly in  w#r,  31.  and  chap,  xix.  u,-;  and 


God  to  us  ;  for  without  doubt  the  amazing  miracles* 
which  you  have  wrought  in  confirmation  of  your 
doftrine  are  fuch,  as  it  is  absolutely  impoflible  for 
any  man  to  perform,  unlefs  he  were  in  an  extraordi- 
nary manner  aififted  and  approved  of  God  :  Be 
pleafed  therefore  to  inform  me  of  the  chief  points 
that  you  are  come  to  teach. 

3  Jefus  replied,  I,  who  am  Truth  itfelf,  affure 
you,  one  of  my  principal  doctrines  is  tin's,  that  no 
man,  confidering  his  prelent  Itate  of  corruption  and 
degeneracy  by  the  fall,  can  truly  underftand  or  en- 
joy the  bleffings  of  that  kingdom  of  grace  which  I 
am  come  to  fet  up  here,  and  of  the  kingdom  of  glory, 
which  it  leads  trie  way  to,  and  will  iffue  in  hereafter, 
unlefs  he  pafs  under  a  new  birth,  by  a  Supernatural  pow- 
er from  above  *  :  Meaning  thereby,  that  whatsoever 
may  be  any  man's  moral  attainments,  religious  advan- 
tages, or  external  privileges,  all  will  be  ineffectual  to 
liis  partaking  of  the  bleffings  of  grace  here,  and  glory 
hereafter,  except  his  heart  and  life  be  thoroughly 
changed  in  their  principles,  courfe,  and  ends,  and  he 
become  a  new  man,  by  the  regenerating  operation  of 
the  Spirit  of  God. 

4  But  Nicodemus,  taking  Chrift's  words  in  a  li- 
teral and  carnal  fenfe,  anfwered,  What  !  am  I  to  fup- 
pofe,  that  after  one  has  defcended  from  fo  worthy  a 
progenitor  as  Abraham,  and  has  lived  fo  long  as  I 
have  in  the  world,  he  muft  be  conceived  again  in  his 
mother's  womb,  and  be  a  new-born  infant  as  at  firft  ? 
This  is  furp riling  doctrine  indeed  !  it  feems  an  un- 
pofTibility,  even  by  any  power  of  God  himfelf;  I 
can  neither  underftand  it,  nor  imagine  what  could 
be  the  advantage  of  it. 

5  Our  Lord  replied,  It  is  not  a  corporal,  but 
a  moral  and  Spiritual  birth  that  I  Speak  of :  And 
I,  whofe  words  arc  truth;  Solemnly  allure  you,  that 
every  man,  be  he  young  or  old,  muft  be  renewed  in 
the  Spirit  oS  his  mind,  and  have  a  new  vital  principle 
formed  within  him,  by  the  powerful  agency  of  the 
Holy  Ghoft,  which  like  water,  ckanfes  and  refrefhes 
the  foul,  and  produces  fruits  of  rightcoufneSs  in  the 
life,  and  is  Signified  by  John's,  baptiSm  of  repentance 
unto  the  remiflion  of  tins,  and  by  the  warning  with 
water,  which  is  to  be  ufed  henceforward,  as  the  ini- 
tiating ordinance  of  God's  covenant  :  In  this  fenfe, 
I  fay,   every  one  muft  be  born  again  from  above  ;  or 

elfe 
T    E. 

fo  Chrift  intimates,  that  1  tils  new  birth 
is  wrought  by  a  fupernatural  power  frora 
heaven.    ' 


2p2 


6  That  which  is 
born  of  the  fleQi. 
js  nefli ;  and  that 
which  is  born  of 
the  Spirit,  is  fplrit. 


The  Ev  angel ift 


Chap.  iii. 


7  Marvel  not 
that  I  fa  id  unto 
thee,  Ye  mull  be 
born  again. 


S  The  wind 
bloweth  where  it 
lilleth,  and  thou 
heareft  the  found 
thereof,  but  canit 
not  tell  whence 
it  comcth,  and 
whither  it  goeth  : 
lb  is  every  one  that 
i*  born  of  the  Spi- 
rit. 


elfe  he  cannot  be  capable  of  enjoying  the  fpiritual 
and  faving  bleffmgs  of  my  kingdom. 

6  Were  it  pofiible,  according  to  your  grofs  no- 
tion of  things,  for  a  man  in  a  natural  fenfe  to  be 
born  of  his  mother  again,  this  would  indeed  be  of 
no  advantage  to  him  in  his  fpiritual  concerns:  For 
as  nothing  can  rife  higher  than  its  principles;  fo  who- 
ever is  born,  though  it  were  ever  fo  often,  of  flefhly 
parents,  who  are  themfelves  corrupt,  mull  be  him- 
ielf  corrupt  ftill  ;  {Job  xiv.  4.  and  xxv.  4.)  and 
whatsoever  proceeds  from  him,  according  to  this  his 
depraved  nature,  mull  be  depraved  too,  and  fo  unfit 
for  the  kingdom  of  God.  But,  on  the  contrary, 
whoever  is  new  formed,  in  all  the  powers  and  facul- 
ties of  his  foul,  by  the  regenerating  Spirit,  is  him- 
felf  a  fpiritual  man,  poffeffed  of  a  principle,  which 
is  fuited  to  the  holy  nature  of  its  author  ;  and  what- 
foever he  does  by  that  principle,  and  according  to 
it,  is  of  a  fpiritual  nature  too,  and  fo  he  is  made  meet 
for  the  holy  duties  and  enjoyments  of  the  gofpel- 
itate,  and  for  the  inheritance  of  the  faints  in  light. 

7  Do  not  therefore  wonder  that  I  fpoke  of  this 
great  work  of  heart-changing  grace  in  fuch  ilrong 
terms,  and  laid  fuch  ftrefs  upon  it,  as  abfolutely  ne- 
ceflary  to  your  own,  or  any  other  perfon's  being  a 
happy  fubject  of  my  kingdom  ;  and  do  not  think  it 
impofllble  to  be  thus  born  again. 

8  Though  you  are  not  able  to  conceive  how,  or 
in  what  manner  it  is  to  be  brought  about,  that  is  no 
objection  agafoft  the  thing  itfelf :  For,  even  in  the 
world  of  nature,  there  are  manifelt  effects,  the  im- 
mediate caufe  of  which,  and  the  manner  of  their  pro- 
duction, you  are  utterly  ignorant  of;  and  fo  there 
are  in  the  world  of  grace  ;  as  for  inllance,  the  wind 
blows  when,  and  wherever  the  God  of  nature  orders 
it,  without  confinement  or  controul  ;  and  you  feel 
its  force,  and  hear  its  found,  by  which  you  are  fully 
afiured  that  there  is  fuch  a  thing  as  the  wind  ;  though 
you  are  not  able  to  afizgn  the  caufes  of  its  blowing 
at  ope  particular  time  more  than  another,  or  from 
oik:  determinate  point  to  its  oppolite,  rather  than  in 
another  courfe  ;  and  though  you  cannot  account 
for  the  manner  of  its  motion,  how  it  begins  and  ends, 
how  it  proceeds,  or  what  becomes  of  it  :  So  the  Ho- 
ly Spirit,  who  in  fcripture  is  compared  to  the  wind, 
[Cant,  iv.  16.)  works  like  a  free  agent,  with  won- 
derful power  and  fovereignty,  upon  fome  men's  hearts 
rather  than  upon  others  ;  and  they  themfelves  are  e- 
vidently  fenfiMe  of  the  thing  by  its  happy  effects  up- 
on them,  by  its  enlightening,  quickening,  fanctify- 
lng,  and  comforting  their  fouls  ;  though  they  are  not 

able 


Chap.  iii. 


9  Nicodemus 
anfwered,  and  faid 
unto  him,  How 
can  thefe  things 
be? 


to  Jefus  anfwer- 


John  paraphrased.  293 

able  to  conceive  by  what  manner  of  fccret  operation 
he  produces  thefe  effects,  nor  to  what  glorious 
heights  and  iffues  he  will  carry  them. 

9  Nicodemus  having  been  trained  up  in  the  felf- 
fufficient  notions  of  a  legal  pharifaical  right  eoufnefs, 
and  being  ignorant  of  the  corruption  of  his  own 
heart,  and  of  the  powerful  operations  of  the  Spirit, 
of  God,  was  full  of  prejudices,  and  objected  again!': 
this  doctrine,  even  in  its  fpiritual  fenfe,  as  unreafon- 
able  and  unlikely,  faying,  I  am  itill  as  much  at  a  lofs 
as  ever  to  conceive  your  meaning.  How  is  it  poffi- 
ble  that  thefe  things  can  be  true  ?  For  my  part,  I  can 
never  believe  fuch  incomprehenfible  and  unintelligi- 
ble myfleries. 

10  Jefus  replied,  Are  you  not  only,  as  an  Ifrael  - 


him,  Art  thou  a 
mafter  of  Ifrael, 
and  knoweft  not 
thefe    things. 


1 1  Verily,  veri- 
!  fay 
Spe- 


ed and  faid  unto  ite,  daily  converfant  with  the  oracles  of  God  ;  but 
are  you  likewife  one  of  the  great  Rabbies,  whofc 
bufinefs  *  it  is  to  explain  them  to  others  ;  and  yet 
cannot  you  take  in  what  I  fay  about  a  new  birth  in 
a  moral  and  fpiritual  fenfe,  relating  to  the  thorough 
change  which  mull  pafs  upon  the  foul  ?  what  a  fhame 
is  this  j-  to  one  of  your  character  :  And  how  defec- 
tive, trifling,  and  ufelefs,  have  all  your  knowledge 
and  inftructions  been,  while  you  are  ignorant  of  lo 
neceifary  and  important  a  truth,  which  you  might 
and  ought  to  have  learnt  from  what  the  fcriptiires  fay 
of  God's  fprinklin^  clean  water',  and  giving  a  neic 
heart  and  a  new  fpirit,  (Ezek.  xxxvi.  25,  26.)  and 
of  a  nation's  being  horn  at  once  I  (Ifa.  lxvi.  8.) 
ill,  who  am  the  faithful  and  true  Witnefs,  fo- 
ly,  I  fay  unto  thee,  lemnly  affure  you,  that,  as  to  what  I  fpeak  from  my 
We  fpeak  that  we    r    ,   ;  ,  tJ    ,,    ~T  •     •  r  l*     6  '•  •  -l 

do  know    and  tef-   ^atner>  and  under  the  anointing  01  his  spirit,  who, 

tify  that  we  have   fpeaks  thefe  tilings  together  with  and  by  me,  and 
feen;  that, 

NOTES. 

*   By  a  mafter  in  Ifrael  is  meant  a  pharifaical  purifications,  thore  notions  ra~ 

teacher  of  the  law  to  Ifrael,   either  as  a  ther  hindered,   than  forwarded  his  con- 

puhlic  preacher  in  their  fynagogues,   or  ceptions  of  that  internal,  fpiritual  birth, 

in  their  divinity  fchoois;  or  as  a  member  which  Chrift  fpoke  of;    and  therefore  it 

of  the  fanhedrim,   who  undertook  to  ex-  was  no  fuch  matter  of  wonder,  that  Nico- 

plain  the  law,  and  determine  its  mean-  demvs  wa?  nt»t  led  by  thefe  notions  to 

ing  :    Nicodemus  was  one  of  thefe,    and  understand  our  Saviour's  meaning,    as  it 

probably  a  divinity-profeflbr  too,   who,  was  that  he  fhculd  be  fo  entirely  igno- 

like  Gamaliel,  taught  it  in  their  fchoois ;  rant  of  it,   though  he  was  profeficdly  an. 

and  all  thefe  were  called  Rabbies.  expounder  of  the  word  of  God,  in  which 

f  Our  Lord,  fay  fome,  exprefled  his  this  doctrine  was  fo  clearly  revealed, 
admiration,  that  Nicodemus -  ihouJd  be  fo  And  this  ihews  that,  by  being  born  a- 
ignorant  of  his  meaning  about  the  new  gain,  Nicodemus  himfelt understood  our 
birth,  and  fliould  think  it  an  impoffible  Saviour  to  mean  much  more  than  being 
thing;  becaufe  the  "Jews  themfe Ives  u-  baptized  with  water ;  otherwise  his  no- 
fed  to  fpeak  of  baptized  profelytes  as  tions  of  profelytesby  baptii'm  muft  necet- 
new-born  infants.  But  as  ail  their  no-  farily  have  taken  oil'  all  his  amazement 
tions  about  that  fort  of  new  birth,  rela-  at,  and  objections  againft,  this  do  .. 
ted  only  to  external,    ceremonial,    and  of  the  new  birth. 


Vol.  II. 


CLq 


294  The  Evangelift  Chap.  iii. 

i'een ;  and  ye  re-  that,  according  to  what  the  infpired  prophets  of  old, 
ceive  not  our  wit-  and  my  forerunner  John  the  Baptiji  have  faid  before, 
we  *  certainly  know  thefe  things  to  be  true,  and  in 
various  methods  bear  witnefs  to  them* :  And  yet  fuch 
blindncfs  and  prejudices  have  fpread  through  your 
own  and  others  minds,  that  neither  you  nor  they  un- 
derftand, believe,  and  embrace  our  doftrine,  which 
is  fo  infallibly  true,  fo  plainly  delivered,  and  fo  di- 
vinely teftified. 

12  If  I  have  12  If  therefore  I,  with  all  this  concurring  evi- 
toul  you  earthly  ^ence,  have  Jifcourfed  of  the  nature  and  neceflity  of 
things,  and  ye  be-  ^  c  ^  •  ^  n  ■,  i  *  •* 
lieve  not,  how  (hall  a  wol"k  of  grace>  which  mult  be  wrought  and  expen- 
ye  believe  if  I  tell  enced  in  the  fouls  of  men  upon  earth,  in  order  to 
you  of  heavenly  their  falvation  :  And  if  I  have  familiarly  illuftrated 
thinas  ?                    the  matter  in  language  taken  from  earthly   things, 

which  ye  are  daily  acquainted  with,  fuch  as  a  human 
birth,  and  the  wind,  and  yet  ye  cannot  take  in,  and 
give  your  aifent  and  confent  to  what  I  fay  ;  how 
much  lefs  would  ye  be  able  to  underftand  and  give 
credit  to  my  teftimony,  were' I  to  declare  unto  you 
the  ftill  more  fublime  myfteries  of  my  gofpel,  relating 
to  the  dignity  of  my  perfon  and  offices,  the  glorious 
deiign  of  my  incarnation,  obedience,  fufFerings,  death, 
and  exaltation,  and  relating  to  the  fpiritual  nature  of 
my  kingdom,  and  the  bleflednefs  of  the  world  to  come? 
were  1  to  talk  to  you  of  thefe  heavenly  things  in  a 
ftile  fuitable  and  proper  to  their  own  nature  ;  how 
amazing  and  Humbling  would  they  be  to  your  carnal 
minds  ? 

13  And  no 1  man         x^  ]s[ow  to  inftance  in  fome  of  thefe,  no  mere  man 

a  1  f   .  v!^   whatfoever  has  entred,  or  can  enter  into  the  fecrets 

to  heaven,   but  he  '  r 

that    came    down    °*  Cj-og  s  heart  in  heaven,  relating  to  the  great  myl- 

froffl  heaven,  cvc?i    teries  of  falvation,  fo  as  immediately  and  perfectly  to 

the  S011    of    man,    underftand  them,  and  make  them  known  to  others  : 

But  this  privilege  is  peculiar  to  the  MefTiah,  who  is 

fpoken   of  under  the  character  of  the   Son  of  man, 

(Pfal.  lxxx.    17.   and  Dun,  vii.    13.)    and  -f-  always 

had 
NOTES. 
*  Here  Chrift  changes  the  number  brethren  of  the  great  council,  and  the 
from  /  and  thou,  X.QVJB  and  ye,  to  add  generality  of  the  Jews. 
the  greater  weight  to  his  teftimony,  and  f  The  Soci?iia?i  fenfeof  the  words,  He 
to  aggravate  the  unbelief  of  all  that  re-  afcendea I  tip  to  heaven,  as  lignifying  his 
ledt  it:  By  ive  who  tcftify,  fome  have  local  aicenfion  thither,  to  be  fully  in- 
thought  he  meant  himfelf,  together  with  (Irucled  into  the  mind  and  will  of  God, 
the  ancient  prophets  and  John  the  Bap-  before  he  entered  on  his  public  miniftry, 
till,  who  preached  the  fame  doctrine,  o-  is  entirely  unfcriptural  and  groundleis, 
thers  furppofe  he  meant  hrmfelf,  together  there  being  no  hint  of  it  in  any  other 
with  his  Father  and  Spirit,  who  had  part  of  the  word  of  God  ;  and  it  is  as  en- 
been  fpoken  of  ill  the  foregoing  v  cries,  tiivly  ncedlefs,  becaufe  he  was  unmea- 
and,  who  teftified  thefe  things  by  him,  furably  anointed  with  the  Spirit  at  his 
ether  with  him.  And  by  r<r,  baptilin,  as  well  as  had  the  divine  nature 
who  receive  not  our  witnefs,  might  be  dwelling  in  him  :  If  therefore  this  p:i, 
meant  Nicodemust    together   with   his   is  to  be  uuderftood  of  a  loc  ai  aicenfion, 

it 


v/liich   is   in    hca 
vcn. 


Chap,  iii.  John  paraphrafed.  295 

had  an  cxiftence  in  heaven  as  the  Son  of  God,  and 

who  came  from  thence  into  an  incarnate  ftate,  that 

he  might  reveal  God's  counfeis   to  men,    and   even 

now,  while  in  his  human  nature  he  is  on  earth,  ftill 

continues  in  hie  *  divine  nature  to  be  in  heaven. 

x4  A"d  as  Mo-        j^  And  I  further  tell  you,  that,  great  and  divine 

ferpentin  the  wil-   as  t^ie  Meffiah  is  in  himfelf,  he  mult  be  put  to  an 

dernefs,     even    fo   ignominious  death,  in  order  to  his  bringing  falvation 

muft    the    Son    of  to  finners,  according  to  an  eminent  type  of  him  under 

man  be  lifted  up  :     the  law  :   For  as  when  the  children  of  IJracl  were 

bitten  by  fiery  ferpents  in  the  wiidtrnefs,  Mofcs  made 

a  ferpent  of  brafs  in  their  likenels,  though  without 

their  venom,  and  let  it  on  a  pole  in  the  midft  of  the 

camp,  as  God's  ordinance  for  healing  all  that  were 

wounded,  and  mould  look  to  it  for  a  cure  ;  and  as 

they  that  did  fo  were  perfectly  healed,  how  weak  io- 

ever  their  fight,  and  hew  great  foever  their  wounds 

might  be.  (Numb.  xxi.  6, —  9.)    So  the  Mefliah,  who 

appears  in  the  likenefs  of  fmful  fieih,  though  there 

really  is  no  fin  in  him,  muft  be  lifted  up  on  the  crois, 

and,  in  confequence  thereof,  be  afterwards  exalted 

in  heaven,  and  propofed  as  God's  ordinance  in   the 

gofpel,  for  finners  to  look  to  by  faith  for  falvation  : 

15  That  whofo-        15   That  every  one,  of  what  rank,  degree,  or  na- 

cyer    beneveth  in   tion  foever  he  be,  who,  under  an  affe£tin£  fenfe  of 

him  fliould  not  pe-    -i-rr-i      r  11  •      r     r  ..     j-   ■  ti_     n,   v, 

rifb     but  have  e-  imlulneis  and  obnoxioui-neis  to  aivme  wrath,  mail, 

ternal  life.  according  to  God's  appointment,  look  to,  and  hum- 

bly  truft  in  him  alone  for  falvation,  may  be  healed  of 
his  foul's  difeafes,  may  be  delivered  from  his  perish- 
ing condition  under  the  guilt  and  power  of  fin,  and 
may  be  made  partaker  of  eternal  life  j  and  whoever 
Q_q   2  mall 

NOTES. 
it  expreffes  in  prophetic  ftile  what  cer-  tributions  are  mad-e  of  the  properties  of 
tainly  would  be  after  ChrilTs  refuxrec-  one  nature  to  him,  whiilt  he  is  Ipoken  of 
tion,  as  if  it  were  already  paft,  in  like  under  a  title  which  relates  to  his  other 
manner  as  it  is  faid  in  prophecy,  (Pfal.  nature.  Thus  when.it  is  faid,  (iCor.  ii. 
Ixviii.  iS.)  Thou  hajl  afcended  on  high  ;  8.)  The  Lord  of  glory  uas  crucified, 
and  fo  thefe  words  of  our  Lord  intimate,  and  (Acts  xx.  iS.  )  he  is  called  God.  ivho 
that  though  Enoch  and  Eiias  had  afcend-  purchafed  the  church  ivith  bit  Qtvn  blood  : 
ed  to  heaven,  yet  no  man  had  afcended,  The  meaning  is  not  that  he,  as  the  Lord 
by  his  own  power  and  merit,  to  open  of  glory,  was crucified,  or,  as  God,  flied 
heaven's  gates  for  the  reception  of  finners,  his  blood,  as  if  the  divine  nature  could 
as  he  fliould.  But  thefe  words  feem  ra-  be  crucilied  and  bleed;  but  that  the  per- 
ther  to  refer  to  Beut.  xxx.  11,  12.  where  fon,  who  was  the  Lord  of  glory  in  one 
it  was  faid  of  the  commandment  of  God,  •  nature,  was  erijcifted  in  the  other;  and 
JVhoJhall go  up  to  heaven,  and  bring  it  the  pcrfun,  who  was  God  in  one-  nature, 
to  us  ?  i.  e.  who  fliail  enter  into  God's  fe-  redeemed  the  church  *  ith  his  own  blood, 
cret  counfel,  and  learn  it  by  immediate  which  belonged  to  his  other  nature  :  So 
knowledge  in  heaven  ?  And  fo  what  when  it  is  faid,  <$'be  Con.  of  man  is  in 
Chrnt  here  faid  of  himlelf  is  of  like  im-    heaven,  the  1  not   thai  he,    as 

port  with  what  John  the  Baptifi  had  faid    the  Son  of  man,  was  theie  v.  hilfl  be  was 
concerning  him,  oi;ap  i.  18.  on  earth,   bi.t  that  be,    who  was  here  in 

*  As  the  divine  and  human  natures    his  human  nature,   was  there  iu  his  di- 
were  united  in  the  perfon  of  Chrift,   at-    vine. 


.g6 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  iii. 


1 5  For  God  fo 
loved  the  world, 
that  he  gave  his 
only  begotten  Son, 


lhould  not  perifh, 
but  have  everlaft- 
infi  life. 


fhall  thus  with  the  heart  believe  in  the  only  true  Mef- 
fiah,  though  his  faith  be  ever  fo  weak,  he  fhall  cer- 
tainly be  faved,  how  great  or  many  foevey  his  fins 
have  been. 

1 6  For  the  great  and  blefTed  God,  even  the  Fa- 
ther, who  delights  in  mercy,  looking  with  compaf- 
fion  upon  the  loft  and  miferable  ftate  of  mankind,  un- 

that  whofoever  be-  der  their  dreadful  apoftacy,  conceived  fuch  a  furpri- 
in  him  iing,  matchlefs  delign  of  mere  love  and  grace,  from 
all  eternity,  toward  finners  of  this  wretched,  guilty, 
and  rebellious  world  *,  not  of  the  Jews  only,  but 
of  the  Gentiles  alfo,  that  he  freely  gave  his  dearly 
beloved  and  only  begotten  Son,  to  be  his  falvation 
to  the  ends  of  the  earth,  and  gave  him  up  to  be  cru- 
cified, and  thereby  made  a  propitiation  for  their  iins, 
that  whoever  fhall  by  faith  cordially  receive  and  truft 
in  him,  as  the  Son  of  God  and  the  Redeemer  of 
loft  finners,  may  not  periih  for  or  by  his  iniquities, 
but  have  a  full  remiffion  of  them,  and  be  delivered 
from  the  wrath  to  come  ;  and  not  only  fo,  but  may 
be  entitled  to,  and  in  due  time  put  in  poffeffion  of 
everlalting  bleffednefs  and  glory. 

17  For  God,  according  to  this  gracious,  defign, 
has  now  at  length  fent  his  own  Son  into  this  lower 
world,  not,  as  the  Jews  through  the  power  of  their 

but  that  the  world  prejudices  and  felf-love  fuppofe,  to  pafs  and  execute 
through  him  might  a  fentence  of  condemnation  upon  all  others  belide 
be  faved.  themfelves ;  but  that  perfons  of  all  nations  may  be  ef- 

fectually faved  from  the  ruins  of  their  apoftacy,  and 
blefled  with  eternal  life,  even  all  and  every  one  of 
them,  that  (hall  believe  in  him. 

18  So 
NOTE. 
*  To  underftand  what  is  meant  by  the  gofpel-falvation,  as  extending  to  o- 
the  ivor Id  in  this  and  the  following  verfe,  ther  nations,  as  well  as  themfelves  :  And 
we  are  to  confider  that  it  is  ufed  in  op-  fo  it  intimates  that  all  the. elect  among 
pofition  to  the  prevailing  notion  of  the  the  Gentiles  as  well  as  Jeius,  are  the  ob- 
ffews,  as  if  God  loved  only  their  own  jedls  of  this  great  love  of  God,  in  the 
nation,  and  the  MelTiah  would  come  to  gift  of  his  Son  for  their  falvation:  For 
fave  only  them,  and  to  pour  confufion  the  world  here  fpoken  of,  is  the  world 
upon  all  other  nations  for  their  fakes  :  which  God  defigned  to  be  faved  through 
And  therefore  when  this  word  is  ufed,  e-  him  ;  (ver.  17.)  and  thei'e  are  the  fame 
fpecially  in  the  writings  of  this  Evange-  with  thofe  that  fhould  believe  in  him, 
lift,  to  exprefs  the  objects  of  God's  love,  and  are  oppoled  to  thofe  that,  not  belie- 
and  of  the  benefits  of  thrift's  redemption,  ving  in  him,  Jbould  t>e  condemned,  (ver. 
it  commonly  iignines  the  world,  as  in-  iS.)  Now  thefe  may  be  called  the  world, 
clufive  of  the  Gentiles,  to  guard  againft  becaufe  they  are  originally  of  this  fallen 
that  vain  conceit,  and  to  fhew  that  the  world  of  mankind,  in  oppofition  to  fallen 
bleffinga  of  the  Mefilah's  kingdom  were  angels,  and  are  fcattered  through  the 
not  to  be  confined  to  the  jews  ;  but  to  whole  world.  Rev.  v.  9.  and  even 
have  an  equal  refpeeft  to  Gentiles  of  all  through  thole  nations  of  the  earth, 
ibrts  together  with  them.  And  as  Nico-  which,  by  way  of  diftinclion  from  the 
ianus.  like  the  reft,  was  full  ot  that  con-  Jews,  are  ftiled  the  world,  in  Rom.  M. 
ceit,  out  Lord  ufed  this  expreffion  to  con-  I2,  15.  Sec  the  notes  on  chap.  i.  7,  29. 
'.f.,  and  to  give  him  a  larger  view  of 


17  For  God  fent 
not  his  Son  into 
the  world  to  con- 
demn   the   world 


Chap. 


111. 


iS  He  that  be- 
lieveth  on  him,  is 
not  condemned  : 
but  he  that  belie- 
veth  not,  is  con- 
demned already  ; 
becaufe  he  hath 
not  believed  in  the 
name  of  the  only- 
begotten  Son  of 
God. 


to  And  this  is 
the  condemnation, 
that  light  is  come 
into  the  world, 
and  men  loved 
darknefs  rather 
than  light,  becaufe 
their  deeds  were 
evil. 


20  For  every 
one  that  doth  e- 
vil  hateth  the 
light,  neither  co- 
meth  to  the  light, 
left  his  deeds  ihould 
he  leproved. 


21    But  he  that 

doth  truth  cometh 

to   the  light,    that 

his   deeds  may  be 

made 


John  paraphrafed.  297 

18  So  that  things  are  now  brought  to  this  point, 
that  whoibever,  Jew  or  Gentile,  believes  on  the  Son 
of  God,  as  manifefted  and  propofed  in  the  gofpel,  is 
freed  from  the  condemning  fentence  of  the  law,  its 
curfe  Handing  no  longer  in  force  againft  him  :  But 
whofoever  rejects,  or  neglects  the  crucified  Saviour, 
remains  under  a  fentence  of  condemnation  ;  and  per- 
illing therein  to  the  end,  he  fhall  certainly  be  call  in 
the  day  of  judgment  for  all  his  iniquities,  and  efpe- 
cially  for  the  great  fin  of  unbelief,  in  refuiing  his  on- 
ly remedy ;  becaufe,  notwithftanding  all  the  light,  en- 
dearments, and  obligations  of  this  lail  dilpenfation 
of  grace,  he  has  not  by  faith  embraced  God's  own 
eternally  begotten  Son,  and  the  only  method  of  fal- 
vation  brought  in  and  revealed  by  him. 

19  And  this  is  the  greateft  and  fureft  caufe  of 
men's  ruin,  and  the  higheft  aggravation  of  their  fin 
and  mifery,  that,  in  this  glorious  difpenfation  of  mer- 
cy, the  way  of  falvation  opens,  and  is  fhortly  to  be 
fet  with  the  cleareft  evidence  before  them,  whether 
they  be  Jews  or  Gentiles  ;  and  yet  the  Jews  pre- 
fer their  vain  traditions  and  corrupt  gloffes  on  the 
law,  and  the  Gentile,^  their  ignorant  devotions  to  an 
unknown  God  ;  and  both  one  and  the  other  prefer 
their  own  dark,  fuperilitious,  carnal,  and  miflaken 
notions  of  religion,  to  the  pure  light  of  the  gofpel : 
And  the  real  reafon  of  this  is,  becaufe  thefe  fpiritual, 
heavenly,  and  holy  doctrines  lie  in  direct  contradic- 
tion to  their  beloved  lulls  and  evil  practices,  which 
they  will  by  no  means  abandon,  and  which  their  felf- 
ilattering  and  erroneous  conceits  put  them  upon  in- 
dulging. 

20  For  every  one  that  is  wedded  to  his  fins,  and 
refolved  not  to  part  with  them,,  has  a  fecret  enmity 
in  his  mind  againft  the  truths  of  divine  revelation, 
that  oppofe  and  condemn  them  ;  and,  as  they  are 
deeds  of  darknefs,  he  does  what  he  can  to  ftifle  con- 
victions, and  fhun  the  light  of  that  knowledge,  which 
expofes  his  darling  corruptions  in  their  fhameful,  hi- 
deous, and  dangerous  forms,  left  his  confeience  fhould 
be  fo  flung  with  remorfe,  as  not  to  dare  any  longer 
to  gratify  them,  and  take  fuch  pleafure,  as  he  ufed 
to  have,  in  acting  according  to  them. 

21  But  *  an  upright  n  an,  who  defires  to  be  ap- 
proved of  God,  is  iincerely  willing  to  be  fearched  and 
tried,  and  to  know  the  Divine  will,  how  contrary  fo- 
ever  it  may  be  to  his  own  natural  notions,  inclina- 

tionsf 
T    E. 

man's  acting  with  fincerity  and  godly 
Simplicity,  in  oppofition  to  his  beiDg  in- 
flue  need  by  a  love  of  fin. 


N    O 

*  As  light  was  before  oppofed  to  error 

and  miftakes  ;    fo  doing  the  truth  is  here 

oppofed  to  doing  evil,    and   refpects  a 


298 


Tlje  EvangcTiJl 


Chap.  iii. 


zed. 


23  Arid  John 
alio  was  baptizing 
in  Enun,  near  to 
Salem,         becaufe 


made  manifeft  that  tions,  and  worldly  interefts  ;  and  he  lies  open  to 
they  are  wrought  convi&ion,  that  whatsoever  he  thinks,  fays,  or  does, 
,n  Gcc "  may  be  regulated,  and  appear  with  evidence,  to  his 

own  mind  and  confcience,  as  well  as  to  others,  that 
it  is  the  effect  of  the  regenerating  power  of  God,  ac- 
cording to  his  will,  and  to  his  glory,  and  that  it  pro- 
ceeds from  the  vital  union  and  communion  which  he 
himfelf  has  with  God. 
22  After  thcfe        22  "When  our  Lord  Jefus  had  thus  difcourfed  with 

things  came  Jefus  NJCOlJemus  w}10  afterwards  appeared  to  be  a  real  con- 
and     his    difciplcs  /77..  . '    f*  N1  ,  r 

into  the  land  of  vert>  \cbaP'  V11'  5°>  5,1-  and  X1X;39-J  he  retired  from 
Judea ;  and  there  Jerujaleni  to  the  country  of  Judea,  together  with 
he  tarried  with  thofe  difciples  whom  he  defigned  to  make  his  conftant 
,aP*i-  attendants,  and  to  call  to  the  apoftlefhip  :  And  he 
continued  there,  they  accompanying  him,  for  fome 
time,  preaching  the  gofpel,  working  miracles,  and 
converting  many,  whom  he  thereupon  baptized,  not 
by  his  own  hand,  but  by  the'miniftry  of  thofe  difci- 
ples.     {Chap.  iv.  2.) 

23  And  at  the  fame  time,  while  Jefus  was  thus 
employed  in  Judea,  John  continued  flill  to  preach 
to  the  people,  and  to  baptize  them  into  the  faith  of 
there    was    much    him  who  now  appeared  openly  among  them.      But, 
water  there ;  and    that  he  might  not  feem  to  combine  with  Jefus,  he 
they     came,    and    &[&  not  afTociate  with  him,  but  went  on    with   his 
aP  ^e  work  in  diftant  parts,    and  removed  to  Enon  *  near 

^Sa/im  ;  becaufe  there  were  many  ftreams  of  water, 
which  made  it  a  convenient  fituation  for  baptizing  all 
the  people  that  might  be  wrought  upon  by  his  mini- 
flry  :  And  they  came,  and  were  baptized  by  him 
there. 
■=4  For  John  was  24  For  all  the  tranfa&ions  of  Chriit,  hitherto  re- 
not  yet  caxt  into  hearfed,  palled  before  the  time  of  John's  being  com- 
mitted to  prifon  by  Herod,  on  account  of  the  re- 
proof which  he  gave  him  for  marrying  his  brother 
Philip  s  wife.      (Matth.  xiv.  3.) 

25  And  while  both  Jefus  and  John  were  thus  en- 
gaged in  different  places,  fome  of  John's  difciples, 
and  fome  of  the  carnal  Jews  entered  into  a  debate, 

on 

NOTE. 
*  Expofitors  are  much  at  a  lofs  about  were  many  waters,  give  the  etymology 
this  Enon,  becauie  it  is  no  where  elle  of  the  word  Enon,  or  the  reafon  why 
mentioned  in  fcripture,  nor  found  in  the  that  place  was  fo called,  rather  than  the 
geography  of  the  ancients  :  Some  appre-  reafon  why  John  baptized  there:  The 
hend  it  was  on  one  lide  of  Jordan,  and  argument  therefore  drawn  from  hence 
others  on  the  other  :  Some  think  that  it  for  baptizing  by  flipping,  is  very  uncer- 
was  a  town  or  city  ;  Others  that  it  was  tain,  becaufe  none  of  theie  rivulets  might, 
a  river  ;  and  others,  that  it  was  a  large  be  deep  enough  for  that  purpofe  :  And 
tract  of  ground  full  of  frelh  fprings  and  becaufe  fuch  an  open  country,  over- 
fmall  rivulets  of  water ;  and  that  zsEnon  fprcad  with  fmall  ftreams,  was  very  con- 
fignifies  a  fountain,  fo  the  words,  becaufe  venient  for  baptizing  van  multitudes, 
there  was  much  water,  or  as  ovSc.ra  placed  in  proper  order  by  way  of  pour- 
cn>AA.«  more  literally  lignify,  becaufe  there    ing  water  upon  them. 


25    Then   there 

arole     a     queitioii 

een   Jome    of 

John's 


Chap. 


in. 


John's  difciples  and 
the  Jews  about  pu- 
rifying. 


26  And  they 
came  unto  John, 
nrul  faid  unto  him, 
Rabbi,  he  that  was 
with  thee  beyond 
Jordan,  to  whom 
thou  bareft  wit- 
ness, behold,  the 
fame  baptizeth, 
and  all  men  come 
to  him. 


John  paraphrafed.  299 

on  this  occaiion,  about  the  preference  of  Jobn'shaj)- 
tifm  to  the  legal  and  pharifaical  purifications,  that 
had  been  long  in  ufe  ;  his  difciples  pleading  that  their 
mailer's  baptifm  was  to  be  preferred  to  all  thofe  wafh- 
ings  and  cleanfmgs  ;  and  the  Jt'ivr,  on  the  other 
hand,  contending  that  his  baptifm  was  needlefs,  or 
at  beil  insufficient  for  purification,  becaufe  there  was 
another  perfon  who  had  pretended  to  fet  up  a  new 
and  better  baptifm  >  and  was  more  followed  than  their 
matter  ;  and  that  therefore  there  would  be  no  end 
of  going  into  dangerous  innovations,  but  that  it 
would  be  much  better  to  abide  by  their  ancient  cuf- 
toms  *. 

26  And  John's  difciples  being  puzzled  with  this 
difficulty,  for  want  of  having  duly  attended  to  what 
he  had  fo  often  told  them  concerning  Chrift,  applied 
to  him,  faying,  Mailer,  the  man  who  not  long  fince 
came  like  a  difciple  to  you,  and  was  baptized  by 
you  on  the  other  fide  of  Jordan,  and  to  whom  you 
gave  a  moil  honourable  teilimony  to  recommend  him 


to  the  people  ;  this  very  man,  to  the  furprife  of  many, 
has  taken  an  advantage,  from  your  high  encomiums, 
to  fet  up  already  for  himfelf,  and  to  baptize  and  make 
difciples  in  his  own  name  :  He  even  fupplants  you 
in  your  work  ;  and  the  people  are  fo  fond  of  him, 
that  they_  generally  run  after  him,  while  you  take 
no  care  to  reilrain  them  :  This  fmks  your  credit,  e- 
fpecially  among  your  enemies,  who  hereupon  object 
againft  the  authority,  the  ufefulnefs  and  fufficiency 
of  your  baptifm  ;  and  as  for  us,  we  are  troubled  to 
think  that  any  other  mould  arife  to  leifen  you,  and 
cannot  tell  what  to  fay  to  thefe  things. 

27  Job. 'i  replied,  This  is  no  juil  objection  againft 
my  office,  nor  ought  it  to  be  a  trouble  to  you  :  There 
is  no  inconfiftency  between  Jefus's  baptifm  and  mine, 
which  tend  to  the  fame  end  ;  mine  is  only  fubfervient 
to  his,  and  his  improves  and  perfects  mine  ;  as  I  bear 
witnefs  to  him,  fo  what  he  is  now1  doing  proves' the 
truth  of  my  teilimony  concerning  him  ;  and  whether 
ye  confider  the  matter  with  relation  to  him  or  me,  it 
is  all  of  Godf  :  For  neither  could  I  have  done  what 
I  have,  in  pointing  the  people  to  him,  as  the  long- 
looked-for  Mefliah,  who  was  juft  ready  to  appear, 
and  in  baptizing  them  into  the  faiai  of  him  ;  nor 
could  he  have  dov.z  the  iliil  greater  tilings,  which  he 

does 
NOTES. 
This  appears  to  have  been  the  tub-    which  Chrift  and  John  received  for  their 

feveral  offices ;   an«j  other-  .    peo- 

ples receiving  andcntertai 
did.  by  virtue  o'  the;'-  refpeciiye  com- 


27  John  anfwer- 
ed,  and  faid,  A 
man  can  receive 
nothing,  except  it 
be  given  him  from 
heaven. 


ject  of  their  debate,    from  the  queition 
which  John's  difciples  hereupon  put  to 
him  in  the  following  verfe. 
f   Some  refer  this  to  the  cemmiffion 


millions ;  and  we  may  take  tnem  all  in. 


3 


oo 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  iii. 


2S  Ye  yourfelves 
bear  me  witnefs, 
that  I  fa  id,  I  am 
■not  the  Chrift,  but 
that  I  am  fent  be- 
fore him. 


29  He  that  hath 
the  bride,  is  the 
bridegroom  :  but 
the  friend  of  the 
bridegroom,  which 
Jtandeth  and  hear- 
eth  him,  rejoiceth 
greatly  becaufe  of 
the  bridegroom's 
voice.  This  my 
}oy  therefore  is 
fulfilled. 


30  He  mull  in- 
crease, but  I  mujl 
decreafe. 


31  He  that  eo- 
meth 


does  under  this  character,  in  baptizing  and  making 
difciples  to  himfelf,  without  a  commiffion  from  hea- 
ven ;  and  the  objection,  which  his  enemies  make  a- 
gainll  him  and  me  on  this  account,  as  well  as  your 
own  {tumbling  at  it,  after  all  that  I  have  fo  often,  and 
fo  plainly  told  you  before -hand  about  him  and  myfelf, 
is  an  evident  demonilration,  that  no  man  can  heartily 
embrace  the  plaineft  doctrines  of  divine  revelation,  un- 
lefs  he  be  enlightened  and  enabled  from  above  to  un- 
derftand  and  receive  them. 

28  I  appeal  to  my  former  teftimony  on  this  head, 
which  might  have  fatisfied  you  :  Ye  yourfelves  may 
remember,  and  ought  to  bear  me  witn  efs,  that  I  was 
fo  far  from  pretending  to  be  myfelf  the  Meffiah,  that 
I  frankly  and  openly  declared  before  you  and  all  the 
people,  (chap.  i.  19,  20,  23.)  that  /  was  not  the 
Chrift,  but  was  only  his  forerunner  to  prepare  his 
way,  according  to  ancient  prophecy  concerning  him 
and  me. 

29  A  bride,  every  one  knows,  is  the  peculiar  pro- 
perty of  the  bridegroom  ;  but  the  bridegroom's  friend 
has  the  honour  and  the  pleafure  of  doing  all  that  in 
him  lies  to  help  forward  the  match,  and  court  for 
him  :  He  herein  cheerfully  purfues  his  directions, 
and  rejoices  when  the  bridegroom  tells  him,  that  he 
has  at  length  obtained  the  virgin's  confent,  and  e- 
fpoufed  her  to  himfelf.  So  Chrift  is  the  Bridegroom 
of  the  Church,  which  is  to  be  for  him,  and  for  no 
other  :  But  I  make  no  pretences  to  fuch  an  interefl 
in  her  :  I  have  only  acted  the  part  of  his  hearty 
friend,  who  wifn  well  to  his  caufe,  and  have  been 
laying  out  myfelf,  with  all  alacrity  and  faithfulnefs, 
in  wooing  the  people  for  him,  by  telling  them  what 
a  great  and  glorious  perfon  he  is,  on  what  a  blefTed 
defign  he  came  into  the  world,  and  how  willing  he  is 
to  receive  and  fave  all  that  cordially  confent  to  be 
his  :  And  now  I  exceedingly  rejoice  to  hear  that  he 
is  already  enthroned  in  fo  many  hearts,  and  I  gladly 
deliver  them  all  over  to  him,  who  has  the  only  right 
to  them. 

30  It  is  neccflary  that  Jefus  mould  increafe  in  the 
manifeilations  of  his  glory,  and  in  the  number"  of  dif- 
ciples to  be  made  to  him,  and  that  I  mould  decreafe 
in  my  reputation  among  men,  and  in  the  importance 
of  my  office  as  a  forerunner  to  him,  who  will  no  longer 
have  any  occafion  for  my  teftimony  :  His  honour 
will  eclipfe  mine  every  day  ftill  more  and  more  :  and 
when  my  work  (hall  ceafc,  his  will  ever  abide  with 
rich  and  growing  advantage  ;  and  it  is  highly  lit 
that  it  mould  be  thus. 

3 1  He  being  of  divine  original  came  down  imme- 

diately 


John  paraphrafed. 


:oi 


is  of  the  earth,  is 
earthly,  and  fpeak- 
eth  of  the  earth  •• 
he  that  cometh 
from  heaven,  is  a- 
bove  all. 


Chap.  ill. 

roeth  from  above,  is  diately  from  heaven,  and  therefore  is  infinitely  fupe- 
above  all :  he  that  ^or,  fn  Jjjg  perfon  and  adminillration,  to  all  others  : 
For  as  I  and  every  other  prophet  that  appeared  be- 
fore me,  had  our  original  from  the  earth,  like  our 
firft  common  father,  we  being  of  earthly  parents, 
and  of  an  earthly  frame  ;  fo  we  naturally  are  moil  af- 
fected with,  and  fpeak  of  earthly  things,  and  can  of 
ourf elves  fay  nothing  of  heaven,  but  in  a  grofs  and 
earthly  manner  ;  and  what  we  fpeak  of  the  things  of 
God,  even  under  fome  degrees  of  infpiration,  is  low 
and  flat,  and  favours  of  the  earth,  if  compared  with 
the  fublime  myileries  of  Infinite  Wifdom,  as  they  He 
in  God's  own  mind  :  But  this  divine  perfon  natu- 
rally fpeaks  of  heavenly  things,  and  that  in  the  moil 
furpriiing  and  exalted  llrains,  like  himfelf,  like  one 
intimately  acquainted  with  them,  as  they  lie  in  the 
divine  counfels,  and  as  they  are  in  themielves  ;  and 
fo  he,  who  came  down  from  heaven,  is  every  way 
fuperior  to  me  and  all  other  prophets  whatfoever. 

32  And  the  doctrines,  which  he  reveals  and  deli- 
vers with  divine  authority,  are  no  other  than  *  he 
has  been  originally  and  thoroughly  acquainted  with, 
by  his  intuitive  knowledge  of  God  ;  like  one  who  lay 
in  the  bofom  of  the  Father,  and  was  in  counfel  with 
him  about  them  ;  and  even  his  human  mind  has  feen. 
and  heard  them,  by  the  immediate  illumination  and 
dictates  of  the  Spirit,  'which  dwells  unmeafurably  in 
him.  Though  ye  thet-efore  are  apt  to  be  grieved  and 
filled  with  envy  at  his  having  fo  many  difciples,  none 
of  them  embrace  his  bleifed  and  glorious  goipel,  from 
any  principle  naturally  in  themfelves  ;  and  alas  !  the 
number  is  comparatively  fmail,  and  next  to  none, 
that  heartily  entertain,  or  believe  and  receive  it  : 

33  But  every  one  of  the  happy  few  that  believe 
in  him  according  to  his  word,  thereby  fubferibe:;, 
and  puts  his  Amen  to  the  truth  and  faithfulnefs  of 
God  himfelf,  as  believing  that  he  has  fulfilled  his 
promifes  concerning  the  Mefliah,  and  fpeaks  the  moll 
important  truths  by  him,  and  that  he  will  certainly 
fulfil  all  the  reft  of  his  promifes  to  his  people  through 
him,  in  whom  they  are  all  yea,  and  amen,  to  the 
glory  of  God. 

34  For  this  divine  Perfon,  -who  was  fent  by  God 
the  Father  immediately  from  heaven,  not  only  de- 
clares the  mind  and  will  of  God  at  certain  feafons, 
relating  to  fome  particular  points  ;  but,  having  all 


3  2  And  what 
he  hath  feen  and 
heard,  that  he  tef- 
tifieth  ;  and  no 
man  receivtth  his 
teftimony. 


35  He  that  hath 
received  his  tefti- 
mony hath  fet  to 
his  feal  that  God  is 
true. 


34  For  he  whom 

God      hath      fent 

fpeaketh  the  words 

of  God  :    for   God 

giveth 


N     O 
*  This  may  relate  either  to  the  origi- 
nal knowledge  of  Clirilt's  divine  mind,  as 
God  over  all,  who  came  down  from  hea- 
ven, {net:  51.)  or  to  the  acquired  know- 

Vol.  IL  R 


the 

T    E. 

ledge  of  his  human  mind,  as  God  gave 
not  the  Spirit  by  meanue  to  him  ;  (ver. 
34.)  and  I  bate  taken  '.hern  both  in. 


302  The  Evangelijl  Chap.  ill. 

giveth  not  the  Spi-   the  treafures  of  wifdom  and  knowledge  in  him,  he 
nt  by  meafure  un-   doth  this  in  every  thing  that  he  fays,  and  is  come  to 
make  known  the  whole  of  that  revelation,  which  is 
ever  to  be  communicated  to  the  fons  of  men  :   For 
God,  who  gave  his  Spirit  only  in  certain  degrees, 
and  on  fpecial  occafions  to  other  prophets,    Mofes 
himfelf  not  excepted,  has,  in  an  unlimited  manner, 
anointed  Jefus,   in  his  office-capacity,  with  the  Holy 
Ghoft,  who  refides  perpetually  in  him  as  an  infalli- 
ble and   abiding   principle    of   truth,    holinefs,    and 
goodnefs  ;  it  having  pleafed  the  Father ,   that  in  him 
Jhould  all fulnefs  dwell. 
35  The  Father        35   Yea,  fuch  is  the  infinite  fuperlative  love  of  the 
Whthe^Son,and   Father  to  his  own  Son,  as  he  is  of  the  fame  nature 
things     into     his   an(^  Perfe&i°ns  witn  himfelf,  and  as  he  freely  came 
hand.  to  do  his  will,  that  he  has  committed  to  his  manage- 

ment all  affairs,  relating  to  the  kingdoms  of  provi- 
dence, grace,  and  glory,  that  he  may  fubdue  his  ene- 
mies, diftribute  all  blefiings  amongll  his  people,  and 
judge  angels  and  men  at  the  lall  day. 
32  He  that  be-        gg   The  conclufion  of  all  then  plainly  comes  to 
fieveth  on  the  Son,    th;     that  whoever  rece;ves  tne  dodtrine  of  Chrift,  and 
nath       everlafhng  1    *     .  .  ..  .  iri  ZTT  -,  *•■      _ 

life  :  and  he  that  tru"s  m  *nm  according  to  it,  as  the  oon  01  God,  and 
believeth  not  the  the  Saviour  of  fmners,  has  a  right  and  title  to  eter- 
Son,  fliall  not  fee  nal  life,  together  with  the  beginnings,  fecurities, 
life;  but  the  wrath  plecjcres  earnefts,  and  foretafles  of  it,  which  fhall  cer- 
ofGodabuleth  on    f  .  ,6  ^       .     ,.*  ,       ,,         .      .'       .         .      , 

him<  tainly  nlue  in  his  completely  enjoying  it  :  And,  on 

the  contrary,  whoever  wilfully  rejects  Chrift,  and 
finally  perfifts  therein,  fhall  never  be  admitted  to  that 
blcffed  life  ;  but,  whilfl  he  obflinately  continues 
in  unbelief,  all  his  fins  are  bound  upon  him  with 
high  aggravations,  a  righteous  fentence  of  wrath 
itands  out  in  the  law  of  God  againfl  him,  and  he 
daily  lies  expofed  to  a  dreadful  execution  of  it  ;  fo 
that,  unlefs  it  be  prevented,  through  faith  in  the  Son 
of  God,  there  is  no  reined)',  but  divine  wrath  muif. 
certainly  come  upon  him  to  the  uttermoit,  and  he 
mult  bear  it  for  ever. 

RECOLLECTIONS. 

How  could  any  one  do  fuch  miracles  as  Chrift  did  unlefs  he  and  his  doctrines  were 
owned  of  God  !    and  how  plain  and  important  were  the  doctrines  of  regeneration 
and  faith  in  him.  which  he  preached  as  nereflary  to  talvation  !   And  yet  how  natu- 
ral i>-  it  for  carnal  minds  to  misjudge  of  fpiritual  things,  to  disbelieve  them,  and  to 
he  prejudifed  againfl  them,   becaufe,  after  all,   there  will  be  fomething  incompre- 
henfible  in  them  '.  For  who  can  tell  the  reafon,  and  the  manner  of  the  fovereign  and 
Jlolv  Spirit's  ading  upon,  and  effectually  changing  one  finner's  heart  rather  than  a- 
nother's?  Or  who  can  tell  how  the  divme  and  human  natures  are- personally  united 
in  the  God  manifested  in  riefh,   who,   as  the  Son  of  God,    always  was  in  heaven, 
•.  hilft,    as  the  Son  of  man,  he  was  only  upon  earth  !    And  O  how  fnrprifing  is  the 
if  the  Lord  of  glory's  being  lifted  up  on  the  crofs,  that  he  might  be  propo- 
-  the  gofpel  as  a  proper  object  for  a  finner's  faith,    and  that  we,    under  a 
,  ;ilt  and  dauger,  as  wounded  by  fin,  might  look  to  hi:n,  and  be  as  elfee- 

luuliy 


Chap.  iv.  John  paraphrafed.  303 

tually  healed  of  our  foul's  difeafes,  as  Ifrael  were  of  their  defperate  wounds  by  look- 
ing to  the  brazen  ferpent  in  the  wildernefs '.  And  how  inexpreflibly  rich  and  free  is 
that  love  which  is  the  original  caufe  of  falvation,  and  has  dilplayed  itfelf  in  the  gift 
of  Chrift  to  our  world,  to  Gentiles  as  well  as  jfe-cus,  that  whoever  believes  in  him, 
whether  it  be  with  a  weaker  or  ftronger  faith,  may  have  everlalting  life  1  With 
what  efteero,  and  preference  to  all  others,  fhould  we  think  of  the  dear  and  only  Sa- 
viour, who  was  originally  from  above,  and  was  anointed  with  the  Holy  Ghoit,  tor 
office-performances  on  earth,  without  meafure,  who  is  the  object  of  the  Father's 
higheft  love,  and  who  is  the  great  Lord  and  Huiband  of  the  church,  and  is  Head 
over  all  things  for  its  welfare ;  and  what  an  honour  and  delight  is  it  to  be  inftru- 
raental  in  efpoufing  fouls  to  him  !  What  his  fervants  do  in  holy  miniltrations,  by  his 
authority,  is  as  valid  as  if  it  were  done  peribnally  by  himfeli  ;  and  they  fhould  go 
on  in  his  work  according  to  the  ability  and  opportunity  he  gives  for  it,  without  en- 
vying others  that  excel  them  in  gifts  and  graces,  and  fuccefs,  as  knowing  that  no 
man  can  receive  any  good  thing  for  the  fervice  of  others,  or  the  benefit  01  his  own 
foul,  unlefs  it  be  given  him  from  above  ;  for  that  which  is  born  of  the  flefhjs  fleih, 
and  that  which  is  born  of  the  Spirit  is  ipirir.  But,  alas  !  how  much  more  are  form- 
alifts  in  religion  concerned  about  an  external  baptifm  and  purification,  than  about 
being  baptized  with  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  having  an  experience  in  themtelves  of  a 
real  work  of  heart-changing  grace  ! — How  great  is  the  fin  of  unbelief!  It  rejects 
the  teftimony  of  God  concerning  his  Son,  and  is  envious  at  ChrilYs  glory:  and  it 
proceeds  from  unreafonable  prejudices  againii  him,  from  a  love  of  evil  ways,  and 
nnwillingnefs  to  be  reformed,  and  from  a  hatred  of  the  pure  light  of  God's  word, 
left  it  fhould  difturb  the  foul's  peace  and  pleafure  in  an  indulgence  of  beloved  kills  '. 
and  how  dreadful  are  its  effects,  as  it  binds  all  a  man's  other  tins  upon  him,  refu- 
fes  his  only  remedy,  and  fubjects  him  to  condemnation  and  wrath  with  the  high- 
eft  aggravations  of  guilt !  But  O  the  excellence  of  true  faith  '.  It  receives  the  Lord 
Jefus,  fets  to  its  feal  that  God  is  true,  and  depends  upon  his  faithfulnefs  for  the 
performance  of  all  that  he  has  faid  about  his  Son,  and  ta:d  to  us  in  a  way  of  grace 
and  mercy  through  him;  it  rejoices  in  the  profperity  of  his  intereft,  in  the  el'pou- 
fal  of  fouls  to  him,  and  in  every  thought  of  his  being  exalted  ;  it  proceeds  from  a 
defire  of  coming  to  the  light  of  God's  word,  and  from  the  difcovery  that  is  thereby 
made  of  the  fmner's  own  vilenefs,  and  of  the  relief  there  is  in  Chriit  for  him,  and 
fiom  a  willingnefs  to  be  laved  from  his  fins,  a;  weil  as  from  the  curie  of  the  law, 
and  the  wrath  of  God  ;  and  by  means  of  this  faith  the  fentence  of  condemnation  is 
rcverfed,  and  the  foul  is  entitled  to  eternal  life.  Which  01  thtfe  dates  is  miner  and 
in  which  of  them  am  I  like  to  be  found  at  death  and  judgment  ? 


CHAP.      IV. 

Chrift  goes  from  Judea  into  Samaria,  I, — 6.  His  difcourfe  with  the 
woman  of  Samaria,  7. — 26.  ''The  effect  it  had  upon  her,  27, — 30. 
His  difcourfe  with  his  difciples,  31, — 38.  Many  Samaritans  be- 
lieve in  him,  39, — 42.  And  he  goes  to  Galilee,  and  heals  a  noble- 
man's  f on  there,  43, — 34. 

Text.  Paraphrase. 

^fHEN     there-     JESUS  having  flayed  and  preached  a  confiderable 

1    ^    ore, t  e      I     ^    time  in  Judea  *,  it  was  no  longer  fafe  for  him  to 
Knew      how      the  .  .    -/1  '  „  &       .  .  ,  -    . 

Pharifees  had  heard    continue  in  that  country  :    Tor,   as  notning  could   be 

that   Jefus    made    hid  from  him,  he  knew  that  his  mod  powerful  and  ma- 

and    licious  enemies,  the  Pharifees,  when  met  in  council 

R  r  2  at 

N    o     r    L. 

*  It  feems  that  he  continued  there  about  half  a  year,  or  more,  he  having  gore 

into  judea  foon  after  the  pafibver,  {tbap.  iii.  2:.)   and  returned  to  Galilee .  foil 

months  before  harveft,  chap.  iv.  35. 


3°4 


The  Evangslift 


Chap.  iv. 


difciples,) 

3  He  left  Judea; 
and  departed  again 
Galiieel 


4   And  he  raull 
Is   go    through 
::ia. 


and  baptized  more  at  Jerufalem,  had  received  informations,  and  were 
difciples  than  John,  pr0Voked  to  hear  that  he  made  more  profelytes,  and 
ius^  himfe°f\apti^  entered  more  difciples  into  his  religion  by  baptifm, 
zed  nor,  but  his  than  ever  John  had  done  before  him  ;  though  in  rea- 
lity, Jefus  himfelf,  for  good  reafons,  baptized  none 
with  his  own  hands,  but  only  by  the  miniftry  of  his 
difciples  *  :  And  therefore  as  he  ordered  his  fervants 
when  they  mould  be  perfecuted  in  one  city  to  flee  to 
another;  (Matih.  %,  23.)  fo,  the  courfe  of  his  mini- 
ftry not  being  yet  fulfilled,  nor  his  difciples  fit  as  yet 
to  be  expofed  to  "hardfliips  and  dangers,  he  retired 
from  Judea  into  Galilee,  where  the  Pharifees  would 
be  lefs  diflurbed,  and  lefa  capable  of  obferving  him, 
or  of  doing  any  thing  againil  him,  and  where  John's 
miniftry  had  prepared  his  way,  and  John's  imprifon- 
ment,  by  this  time,  had  made  room  for  him.  (Matth. 
iv.   12.  and  Mark  i.  14.) 

4  And,  as  Samaria  f  lay  between  Judea  and  Ga- 
lilee, there  was  a  natural  neceflity  of  Chrifl's  going 
through  tome  part  of  that  country  in  his  journey  to 
Galilee,  unlefs  he  would  take  a  compafs  round  a- 
bout  ;  and,  as  he  had  fpecial  work  to  do  in  Samaria, 
there  was  a  moral  neceffity  of  his  going  through  it, 
that  he  might  bring  fome  of  his  fheep  there  into  his 
fold. 

5  Accordingly,  in  his  paiTage  through  thofe  parts, 
he  went  to  a  Samaritan  city  called  Sychar  \,  border- 
ing upon  a  piece  of  land,  which  the  patriarch  Ja- 
cob bought  of  the  fons  of  Hamorf  and  gave  at  his 

death 
NOTES. 
*  We  may  fuppofe  Chrift  to  have  ta-  ,  f  Samaria  was  inhabited  by  Gentiles, 
ken  this  method,  that  he  might  main-  mixed  with  apoftate  Jews  :  And  that 
tain  the  dignity  of  his  own  character,  as  mungrel  people  received  the  law  of  Mo- 
Lord  of  the  Church,  and  every  way  fu-  fes,  and  worshipped  the  God  of  Iftael ; 
perior  to  John,  who  was  merely  a  fer-  but  denied  the  divine  authority  of  the 
■Vant,  and  baptized  only  with  his  own  reft  of  the  Old  Teftament,  and  mingled 
hands,  without  cqmmiflioning  others  for  many  heathen  idolatries  and  fuperltitions 
it;  as  alio  that  he  might  not  feem  to  in  their  worfhip.  See  Prid.  Conned!:.  Svo. 
act  with  impropriety,  and  to  fcek  his  Vol.  I.  pag.  30, — $$• 
own  honour,  by  baptizing  in  his  own  \  This  Sychar  is  fuppofed  to  be  the 
name;  that  he  might  (hew  himfelf  to  be  fame  with  Shechcm,  which  is  mentioned 
iient,  not  to  baptize  with  water,  but  to  Jo/h.  xxiv.  32.  and  in  feveral  other  pla- 
ihe  more  excellent  work  of  preaching  ces  of  the  Old  Teltament ;  but  which 
the  gofpel,  and  baptizing  with  the  Holy  the  Jews,  in  their  enmity  to  the  Sama- 
Ghoft;  that  he  might  prevent  difputes  ritar/s,  called  by  way  ot  reproach  ^v- 
and  emulations  amongft  his  difciples,  on  char,  which  figntfies  the  drunken  city : 
account  of  fome  being  baptized  by  him-  And  near  to  this  was  the  valley  of  A- 
felf,  and  others  only  by  his  commiliioned  chor,  which  was  given  as  a  door  of  hope, 
fervants  ;  and  that  the  validity  and  effi-  with  re  1  peel:  to  the  calling  of  the  Gen- 
racy  of  baptifm  might  not  be  fuppo-  tiles.  (Hof.  ii.  15.)  The  firft  fpecimen  of 
fed  to  depend  on  the  worthinefs  of  the  their  believing  in  Chrift  was  now  to  be 
nerfon  who  adminifters  it,  but  only  on  given  here  ;  and  here  (as  Dr.  Lightfoot 
the  authority  and  bklfing  of  Chrift  up-  obferves  from  Gen.  xxxiv.  9.  and  xxxv„ 
on  the  adminiltration  according  to  his    *.)  were  made  the  firft  profelytes  to  the 

church  of  Ifrr.el. 


5   Then  cometh 
be  to  a  city  of  Sa- 
maria,    which     is 
called  Sychar,  near 
to 


Chap.  iv. 

to  the  parcel  of 
ground  that  J  acob 
gave  to  his  lbn  Jo- 
feph. 

6  Now  Jacob's 
well  was  there. 
Jehvs  therefore  be- 
ing wearied  with 
his  journey,  fat 
thus  on  the  well  : 
and  it  was  about 
the  li.-cth  hour. 


7  There  cometh 
a  woman  of  Sama- 
ria to  draw  water : 
Jefus  faith  unto 
her,  Give  me  to 
drink. 


S  For  his  difj 
ciples  were  gone 
away  unto  the  city 
to  buy  meat. 


9  Then  faith  the 
woman  of  Sama- 
ria unto  him,  How 
is  it  that  thou,  be- 
ing a  Jew,  alkeft 
clr ink  of  me,  which 
am  a  woman  Of  Sa- 
maria ?  for  the 
Jews  have  no  deal- 
ings with  the  Sa- 
maritans. 


John  paraphrafed.  305 

death  to  Jofeph,  as  an  inheritance  for  him  and  his 
children,  and  in  which  Jofepb's  bones  were  buried. 
{Gen.  xlviii.  22.  compared  with  Jojh.  xxiv.  32.) 

6  Now  in  this  ground,  near  the  city,  was  a  certain 
well,  which  by  long  tradition  was  called  Jacob's. 
well  *  :  And  our  Lord  being  a  man  of  like  natural 
weaknefs  of  body  and  animal  fpirits  with  other  men, 
and  having,  fuitable  to  his  ftate  of  humiliation,  tra- 
velled as  ufual  on  foot,  he  was  tired  and  fpent  with 
his  long  journey,  and  therefore,  like  a  weary,  hungry, 
and  thiriiy  traveller  as  he  was,  he  fat  down  by  the 
fide  of  the  well  to  reit  him  ;  and  it  was  about  fix 
o'clock  in  the  evening.    (See  the  note  on  chap.  i.  39.) 

7  Whilft.  he  was  there,  the  providence  of  God  fo 
ordered  it,  that  a  certain  woman  came  from  the  neigh- 
bouring city  to  fetch  water  from  thence  :  And  as 
Rebecca,  Rdc.be/,  and  Zipporah,  got  their  feveral 
hufbands,  Ifaac,  Jacob,  and  Mo/es,  by  going  to 
draw  water  at  a  well,  (Gen.  xxiv.  11,  &c.  and 
xxix.  2,  &c.  and  Exod.  ii.  15,  &c.)  fo  this  wo- 
man unknowingly  met  with  Jefus  at  this  well,  that 
fhe  might  be  eipoufed  to  him.  In  order  to  which 
he,  in  the  greatnefs  of  his  condefceniion  and  prevent- 
ing mercy,  began  fun;  with  her,  faying,  Pray  give  me 
a  little  water  to  quench  my  third. 

8  And  this  was  a  proper  opportunity  for  afking 
fuch  a  favour,  and  talking  with  her  alone  :  For  as 
he  did  not  ordinarily  live  by  miracles,  and  had  no 
friend  in  Samaria  to  entertain  him,  he  had  fent  his 
difciples  into  the  city  to  buy  food  for  himfelf  and 
them. 

9  Then  the  woman,  knowing  him  by  his  fpeech 
and  habit  to  be  a  Jew,  replied  with  wonder  and  Icorn, 
How  comes  it  to  pafs,  that  you,  who  are  a  Jew, 
{houM  thus  unufuaily,  for  people  of  your  nation, 
condefcend  fo  far  as  to  aflc,  or  to  be  willing  to  receive 
any  kindnefs  at  my  hands,  who  am  a  Samaritan  ? 
Or  how  can  you  imagine  that  I  mould  comply  with 
your  defiie  by  giving  you  fo  much  as  a  drop  ot  water 
icr  your  relief,  whatfoever  your  neceffity  may  be  ? 
for  it  is  well  known  that  there  is  fuch  an  old  and  ir- 
ivconcileable  grudge  between  the  Jews  and  Samari- 
tans f ,  that  one  will  neither  afic,  nor  receive  the  lead 

civility 
NOTES. 


*  Jacob's  well  is  no  where  elfe  fpo- 
ken  of  in  fcripture  ;  and  it  is  uncertain 
why  it  was  fo  called,  whether  becaufe 
he  dug  it,  or  whether  only  becaufe  he 
was  the  proprietor  of  it,  and  ufed  it  for 
himfelf  and  family,  (jver.  12.)  or  for 
what  other  reafon. 

J-  The  jews  and  Samaritans  were  in- 


veterate enemies  to  one  another,  on  ac- 
count of  ancient  injuries  that  had  pafl'ed 
between  them,  and  of  their  different 
temples  and  religions  ;  and  the  enmity 
had  role  to  fuch  an  height,  that  they 
treated  one  another  with  the  utmoft  ab- 
horrence and  contempt  And  though  in 
cafes  of  neceffity  they  lbruetimes  traded 

together; 


oo6 


The  Evangelijl 


Chap,  iv. 


xo  Jefus  anfwer- 
ed  and  fa  id  unto 
her,  If  thou  knew- 
eft  the  gift  of  God, 
and  who  it  is  that 
faith  to  thee,  Give 
me  to  drink  ;  thou 
wouldft  have  afk- 
cd  of  him,  and  he 
would  have  given 
thee  living  water. 


civility  of  the  other  ;  nor,  if  he  would,  will  the  o- 
ther  fhew  it  to  him. 

i  o  Jefus  anfwcred,  If  you  had  but  known  how 
important  a  gift  the  great  God,  of  his  own  mere  love 
and  grace,  has  bellowed  upon  finful  men,  and  *  now 
prefents  to  you  in  fending  me  hither  ;  and  had  you 
but  known  what  fort  of  perfon  I  am,  who  have  afk- 
ed  you  to  give  me  a  little  water  to  drink,  you  would 
foon  have  laid  afide  your  prejudices  againft  me,  as  a 
Jew  ;  and,  inftead  of  refufing  fo  fmall  a  requeft, 
would  yourfelf  have  immediately  become  an  earnell 
fuitor  to  me,  and  I  would  not  have  upbraided  or  re- 
pulfed  you,  but  would  readily  and  freely  have  given 
you  the  moil  excellent  living  water  ;  thereby  meaning 
his  Spirit,  who  was  promifed  under  this  metaphor, 
(Ifa.  xliv.  3.  and  E-zek.  xxxvi.  25,  27.)  and 
whofe  gifts  and  graces  are  more  refrefhing  to  a  necef- 
fitous,  thirfty  foul,  than  the  bell  water  can  be  to  a 
weary,  droughty  body. 

1 1  The  woman  underflanding  Chrift  to  fpeak  of 
fpring-water  in  a  literal  fenfe,  and  being  ignorant  of 
his  power  and  grace,  replied  in  a  way  of  difdain, 
You,  Sir,  give  me  the  moll  excellent  fpring-water  ! 
that  is  a  likely  matter  indeed  :  What  occalion  then 
had  you  to  alk  for  any  of  mine  ?  As  for  the  water  of 
this  deep  well,  you  cannot  poflibly  come  at  it  ;  for 
you  have  no  veflel  to  draw  with  :  Where  then  do 
you  pretend  to  get  the  fine  living-water  you  talk 
of? 

1 2  Befidcs,  though  you  feem  to  fpeak  great  things 
of  yourfelf,  and  I  know  not  who  you  are  ;  yet  I  fup- 
pofe  you  are  not  a  greater,  a  wifer,  or  more  holy  man 
than  the  patriarch  Jacob  was,  from  whom  we  Sama- 
ritans^ as  well  as  you  Jews,  claim  a  defcent  as  his 
pofterity  :  And  he,  as  tradition  informs  us,  left  us 
this  well,  as  the  bell  for  its  water  in  all  the  country, 

he 

NOTES. 

together  ;    yet  they  refufed  all  acts  of  the  more  to  her  purpofe  to  remind  Chrift 
friendfhip,  humanity,  and  common  civi-    of  it.  , 


1 1  The  woman 
faith  unto  him.  Sir, 
thou  haft  nothing 
to  draw  with,  and 
the  well  is  deep  : 
from  whence  then 
haft  thou  that  li- 
ving water  ? 


I?,  Art  thou 
greater  than  our  fa- 
ther Jacob,  which 
gave  us  the  well, 
and  drank  thereof 
himfelf,     and 


children, 
cattle  ? 


his 
his 


lity  to  each  other,  as  the  Jaft  words 
of  this  verle  intimate,  compared  with 
ver.  8.  Many  learned  expositors  fuppofe 
thefe  to  be,  not  the  words  of  the  wo- 
man, becaufe  they  think  there  was  no 
occafion  for  her  to  mention  a  thing  fo 
univerfally  known  to  both  nations  ;  but 
the  words  of  the  Evsurgejift,  which  he 
added  for  our  better  underftanding  the 
reafon  of  her  queftion  to  our  Lord  :  And 
yet,  as  this  was  a  pertinent  fupport  of 
her  queftion,  I  cannot  fee  why  lhe  her- 
feif  might  not  alled^e  it  :  For  the  more 
the  fa<5t  was  known,   flie  might  think  it 


*  Some  think  that  by  the  gift  of  God 
is  here  meant  the  Holy  Spirit,  who  is 
fpoken  of  in  the  clofe  of  the  verfe,  un- 
der the  metaphor  of  v$u%  ?uv  living-wa- 
ter, which  was  a  Hebrew  phrafe  for 
fpring-water,  Gen.  xxvi.  19  :  But  others 
take  it  to  be  meant  pf  Chrift  himfelf ; 
and  this  feems  moll  natural  to  me,  be- 
caufe in  the  next  words,  which  may  be 
taken  as  explanatory  of  thefe,  he  evi- 
dently fpeaks  of  himfelf,  who  would  give 
this  living-water ;  and  becaufe  in  the  fore- 
going chapter  (jver.  16.)  he  had  fpoke  of 
the  great  love  of  God  in  giving  him. 


14  But  whofo- 
cver  drinkcth  of 
the  water  that  I 
fhall  give  him,  fhall 
never  thirft :  bat 
the  water  that  I 
fhall  give  him, 
fhall  be  in  him  a 
well       of     water 


Chap.  iv.  John  paraphrafed.  307 

he  himfelf,  and  his  children,  as  well  as  his  cattle,  ha- 
ving made  ufe  of  it,  and  been  refrefhed  by  it  :   How- 
then  can  you  propofe  to  give  me  better  water  than 
this  ? 
13  Jefus  anfwer-        13   Jefus  anfwered  her,  faying,  You  are  under  a 
ed   and  faid  unto   great  miftake  in  imagining  that  I  fpake  of  common 
ner,        Whofoever    "    .         r1        .  .       r  ^ °     ,,°        ni        f .  ,      , 
drinketh    of    this   water?  /lke  tms  °*  Jacob's  well,  which,  how  much 
water  fhall    thirft   foever  it  may  be  efteemed  and  ufed,  can  only  refrefh 
again  :  the  body,  and  that  but  for  a  little  while  :    For  when 

any  one  has  drank  ever  fo  freely  of  this  water,  he 
will  foon  grow  as  thirfty  as  ever*  ;  and  many  other 
wants  will  ftill  attend  him  to  render  him  unhappy  ; 
and  though  he  drink  it  ever  fo  often,  it  will  not  make 
him  immortal,  but  after  all  he  will  languifh  and  die. 

14  But  the  bleffing  which,  under  the  figure  of 
water,  I  fpake  of  giving,  is  fo  excellent  in  its  nature, 
that  whoever  is  made  partaker  of  it,  fliall  find  fuch 
abundant  and  abiding  fatisfaction  in  it  to  his  foul,  as 
will  take  off  all  infatiable  appetites  and  inclinations 
for  other  things  ;  fo  that  he  will  think  this  alone  fuf- 
ficient for  his  happinefs  ;  and  though  he  will  be  de- 

fpringing  up  into  firous  of  Hill  more  of  this,  yet  he  {hall  never  fo  thirft 
everlafting  lik.  for  it,  as  to  languifh  or  perifh  for  want  :  But  the  li- 
ving-water which  I  will  give  him,  fhall  abide  in  him, 
as  a  perpetual  and  fufficient  fource  for  his  fupply,  and 
fhall  daily  fpring  up  in  frefh  fupports  and  confola- 
tions  to  an  overflowing,  till  all  his  wants  and  uneafi- 
nefTes  fliall  be  entirely  removed,  and  all  his  defires  fhall 
be  completely  fatisfied  in  the  enjoyment  of  eternal 
life. 

15  But  the  woman  flill,  like  Nicodemus  in  the 
cafe  of  the  new  birth,  [chap.  iii.  4.)  underilood 
Chrift  in  a  grofs  and  carnal  fenfe,  as  if  he  meant  fome 
extraordinary  water  of  the  elementary  kind  ;  and 
therefore  replied  f ,  Sir,  I  beg,  if  you  are  able,  that 
you  would  let  rr.e  have  fome  of  this  wonderful  water, 
that  I  may  have  no  further  occaiion  to  give  myfelf 
the  trouble  of  coming  time  after  time  to  fetch  any 
from  this  well. 

16  Our  Lord,   finding  how  her  mind  was  over- 
fpread  with  ignorance,  ltupidityj  and  infeniibility  of 
her  fpiritual  wants,  waved  any  fun. her   explanation 
of  his  meaning  about  this  living  water  ;    but  proceed- 
ed 

NOTES. 
'    Tb>rfti?ig  again,   and  never  thirft-    rifli  for  third:,  being  miraculoufly  fuppli- 

ed  with  water,  to  fatisfy  their  drought. 


15  The  woman 
iaith  unto  him, 
Sir,  give  me  this 
water,  that  I  thirft 
not,  neither  come 
hither  to  draw. 


16  Jefus  faith 
unto  her,  Go,  call 
thy  luiiband,  and 
come  hither. 


ing\  are  here  to  be  under/rood  of  fuch  a 
t>  r-ft  as  mikes  on«  faint,  languifb,  and 
die,  for  want  of  fufficient  relief;  as  where 
it  is  faid  o,'  Ifrael,  (Ifa.  xlviii.  2  ..)  They 
thirjled  no+,  when  the  Lord  led  them 
through  the  <w<ldernefs,  i.  e.  though 
they  were  very  thirfty,  they  did  not  pe- 


f  She  faid  this  either  with  fcorn,  as 
fuppofintj  what  he  mentioned  to  be  ridi- 
culous and  impoftible  ;  or  with  lerio.if- 
riefs,   as  thinking  that  he  fpoke  of  fome 

unknown  benefit  pertaining  to  the  body* 


3o8 


The  Evangelift 


Chap,  iv. 


17  The  woman 
anfwered,  and  faid, 
I  have  no  hufband. 
Jems  faid  unto  her, 


hufband 


1 S  For  thou  haft 
had  five  hufbands  ; 
and  he  whom  thou 
now  haft  is  not  thv 


ed  to  awaken  a  fenfe  of  guilt  in  her  conscience,  and 
then  to  difcover  himfelf  to  her  as  the  Mefliah,  that 
the  riches  of  his  grace  might  be  the  better  under- 
ftood,  and  the  more  valued  by  her  :  And  to  intro- 
duce this  merciful  defign,  he  faid  to  her,  Go  home, 
and  fetch  your  hufband  to  mc. 

1 7  The  woman,  though  fhe  lived  adulteroufly 
with  a  man,  as  if  he  were  her  hufband,  immediately 
replied,  Why  do  you  talk  of  bringing  hither  my  huf- 

rhou  haft  well  band  ?  I  am  a  fingle  perfon,  and  have  none  ;  thereby 
faid,  I  have  no  defigning  to  evade  a  difcovery  of  her  reproach,  and 
any  further  converfation  on  that  head  :  But  as  Chrift, 
by  his  infinite  underftanding,  perfectly  knew  all  the 
circumftances  of  her  life,  he  anfwered,  What  you  fay 
is  veiy  true,  you  have  indeed  at  prefent  none  that 
can  juftly  be  called  your  hufband,  whatfoever  you 
may  have  pretended  among  your  neighbours. 

18  For  you  have  indeed  had  fuccemvely  five*,  that 
were  your  lawful  hufbands ;  but  the  man,  with  whom 
you  at  prefent  cohabit,  is  not  fo ;   it  is  an  adulterous 

hufband  :    in  that   life  that  you  lead  with  him :  You  have  therefore  own- 
iaidft  thou  truly,    ed  the  real  truth  in  faying  that  you  have  now  no  huf- 
band at  all,  and  you  have  fo  far  done  well. 

19  The  woman's  confcience  being  touched  with 
this  clofe  reproof,  and  yet  willing,  as  far  as  pofiiblc 
to  fhift  it  oif,  and  divert  to  another  fubjeft,  fhe  re- 
plied, Sir,  as  I  cannot  fuppofe  that  any  man  hath  e- 
ver  acquainted  you  with  my  manner  of  life  all  my 
days,  I  verily  believe,  by  the  particular  account  you 
have  now  given  of  it,  that  you  are  fome  extraordi- 
nary prophet. 

20  Our  fathers  2o  I  would  therefore  gladly  know  what  you  have 
worshipped  in  this   tQ  f  n  a  d         iHou  in  debate,  between  the 

mountain;   and  ye     n        J    . r  ?    1      «v  1  1  n  •       r/~ii 

fay    That  in  Terti-    ^fnantans  and  the  Jew(>  about  the  worihip  01  Lrod. 

faiem  is  the  place  We,  the  Samaritans,  infill  upon  it,  that  mount  Geri- 
where    <zim\y  on  which  our  temple  is  built,  and  which  is  not 

far 
NOTES. 

*  Some  fuppofe  that  fhe  had  buried  Perjian,  one  of  the  fans  of  Jehoiada  the 
five  hufbands  fucceffively ;  others  that  (lie  high-priert,  whom  Jofephus  cz\\s  Ma»af- 
had  been  divorced  from  five  for  her  acUil-  Jeb,  having  married  the  daughter  of  Sa?i- 
terous  practices,  or  had  by  indirect  ballat  the  Horo?/ite,  Nehemiah,  that 
means,  contrary  to  law,  obtained  a  di-  great  reformer  obliged  all  who'  contrary 
vorce  from  one  or  more  of  them,  that  Hie  to  the  law,  had  taken  ftrange  wives,  to 
might  cohabit  with  another  man,  as  if  pnt  them  away,  or  to  quit  the  country  : 
he  were  her  hufband  :  But  I  rather  think  Whereupon  IVIannffeh,  being  unwilling 
the  firft  of  thefe  fuppofitions  to  be  the  to  part  with  his  wife,  flew  to  Samaria, 
moft  probable,  becaufe  Chrift  feems  to  and  with  many  others  in  like  circumftan- 
allow  that  thofe  five  were  her  lawful  ces,  fettled  under  the  protection  of  San- 
hufbands.  ballat,  who  was  governor  of  that  place  : 

\  There  was  a  temple  on  mount  Geri-  And  Sanballat,  at  his  inftigation,  built 
tbim,  and  the  occafion  of  building  it  was  a  temple,  on  mount  Gerizim,  like  that  at 
this :  Soon  after  the  rebuilding  of  the  Jerufalem,  and  in  oppofition  to  it ;  and 
temple  at  Jcrufalcm  under  Darius  the    Manajfch    was    the    high-prieft    there. 

From 


19 

faith 

Sir, 

that 


The  woman 

unto     him, 

I      perceive 

thou    art    a 


prophet. 


xvhere  men  ought 
to  worfliip. 


a  i  Jefus  faith 
unto  her,  Woman, 
believe  me,  the 
hour  cometh,  when 
ye  lhall  neither  in 
this  mountain,  nor 


ther. 


Chap.  iv.  John  paraphrafed.  309 

far  from  this  well,  is  the  place  where  facrifices  and 
offerings  are  to  be  prefented  to  the  Lord,  and  our  iin- 
cellors  have  all  along  ftuck  to  this  place  of  worfliip  ; 
and  on  the  other  hand,  ye,  the  Jews,  as  earneitly 
plead,  that  Jerufalem  is  the  only  place  where  facri- 
fices are  to  be  offered,  and  practife  accordingly.  Be 
pleafed  to  inform  me  which  of  us  are  in  the  right,  and 
which  in  the  wrong. 

21  In  anfwer  to  this,  Jefus  faid  to  her,  Woman, 
as  you  own  me  to  be  a  prophet,  obferve  and  believe 
what  I  am  going  to  fay.  How  important  a  con'cro- 
verfy  foever  this  has  been  hitherto  between  the  two 

.  nations,  it  will  foon  be  entirely  put  to  an  end  :  For 
yet  at  Jerufalem,  ere  jong  an  facrifices  themfelves  (hall  be  abolifhed,  and 
'  none  (hall  be  offered  by  any  appointment  of  God  to 
him,  who  is  worfhipped  under  the  notion  of  a  Fa- 
ther *,  either  by  you  at  mount  Gerixim.  or  by  the 
Jews  at  Jerufalem;  and  then  ail  religious  diftinclion 
of  places  will  ceafe,  and  God  may  be  acceptably  wor- 
fhipped every  where  alike. 

22  However,  to  come  to  your  point,  I  muff  tell 
you,  that  hitherto  the  Jews  have  been  right,  and 
the  Samaritans  wrong,  as  to  the  place  which  God 
had  appointed  for  offering  facrifices  :  As  for  you  Sa- 
maritans, your  notions  of  God,  and  your  worfliip  of 
him,  are  corrupted  by  the  heathenifm  of  your  ancei- 
tors,  Who  knew  not  the  manner  of  the  God  of  Ijrael ; 
(2  Kings  xvii,  26.)  and  the  homage  you  pay  him  is 
not  according  to  his  inititution,  but  according  to 
your  own  inventions  ;  and  fo  it  is  all  ignorant,  fuper- 
ilitious,  random  work,  without  a  divine  warrant  and 
rule  f.  But  as  for  us  Jeius,  who  have  the  facrfed  ti- 
rades entire,  have  had  the  benefit  of  a  fucceffiort  oi 
prophets,  and  pay  our  religions  homage,  according 
to  divine  prescription,  we  are  acquainted  with  the 
true  God,  who  is  the  objett  of  our  worfliip  ;  and  wc 
know  where1';  and  in  what  manner  it  is  to  be  perform- 
ed, 

NOTES. 

(Deut.  xxvii.  1 2.)  for  bleffing  the  people ; 
and  that  Jofjua  had  built  an  altar  thfcff, 
for  the  fupport  of  which  notion  the} 


12  Ye  worfliip 
ye  know  not  what : 
we  know  what  we 
worfliip  :  for  faJ- 
vation  is  of  the 
Jews. 


From  that  time  forward  Samaria  became 
the  receptacle  of  all  difcontented  and  a- 
poiUte  Jews,  and  bitter  contentions 
were  carried  on,  from  age  to  age,  be- 
tween the  two  nations  about  the  true 
place  of  worfhip  ;  the  Jews*  that  had 
not  revolted,  pleading  for  Jcrvfalcm,  as 
the  place  which  Gcd  himfelf  had  exprels- 
ly  appointed  for  the  temple,  and  honour- 
ed with  his  fpecial  prefence  ;  and  the 
Samaritans  pleading  that  Abraham  and 
'Jacob  built  altars  on  mount  Gerizim, 
and  offered  facrifices  there  long  before 
the  temple  was  built  at  'Jerufalem  ;  that 
€k>d  h'mfelf  had  appointed  mount  Gerizim 

Vol.  II.  S  f 


ad 

corrupted  theil  copy  of  the  pentateuch. 
See  Prid.  Vol.  I.  p.  413,  421,  bV 

*  God  and  the  Father  are  put  proraif- 
cuoufly  in  this  context  for  each  other, 
which  intimates  that  by  the  Father  is 
here  meant,  not  the  firft  Perfon  in  the 
Trinity  only,  but  the  Divine  Bein   . 

f  And  fome  have  thought  that  the  Sa- 
maritans ftill  continued  to  worfliip  the 
true  God,  rather  as  a  local  deity,  like  the 
gods  of  the  heathens  round  about  them, 
than  as  the  God  of  the  whole  univerfe. 


3io 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  iv. 


15  But  the  hour 
comet!:,  and  now 
is,  when  the  true 
worfnippers  (hall 
worflrip  the  Father 
in  Ipirit  and  in 
Truth  :  for  the  Fa- 
ther feeketh  iuch 
to  worfhip    him. 


24  God  is  a  Spi- 
rit, and  they  that 
worihip  him,  mufr. 
wo  r  1  h  i  p  h  im  i  0  fp  i  - 
rit  and  in  truth. 


25  The  woman 
faith  unto  him,  I 
know  that  Meflias 
Cometh,  which  is 
called  Chrift:  when 
he  is  come,  he  will 
tell  us  all  things.  ■ 


76    Jeftrs   faith 
unto    her,     I    that 
-thee,  11111 
he. 


e  J,  and  upon  \vhat  grounds  we  proceed  therein :  For 
the  prbmifes  of  falvation  in  a  particular  manner  be- 
long to  the  Jeivsy  as  his  covenant-people,  the  means 
of  falvation  are  found  among  them,  and  the  Saviour 
himfelf,  according  to  the  promifes,  proceeds  from 
them,  and  comes  firfl  of  all  to  blefs  them,  in  turning 
them  from  their  iniquities. 

23  But  the  time  is  juit  at  hand,  when,  under  a 
new  difpenfation  of  grace,  the  worihip  of  God  fhall 
be  no  longer  performed  by  burnt-offerings  and  facri- 
flces,  nor  falvation  be  reftrained  to  the  Jews,  as  has 
been  the  cafe  hitherto  ;  but  the  acceptable  worfhip- 
pers  of  the  Divine  Being,  who  is  the  common  Father 
of  all  mens  fpirits,  as  well  as  the  peculiar  covenant- 
Father  of  his  people,  are  thofe  who,  wherever,  or  of 
what  nation  foever  they  be,  ferve  him,  not  in  cere- 
monial obfervances,  but  in  fpiritual  ordinances,  with 
their  whole  hearts,  in  an  exercife  of  fpiritual  graces, 
and  by  the  aid  and  influence  of  his  Spirit,  according 
to  his  own  appointment  :  For  God  requires,  owns, 
and  approves  of  fueh  worfhippers  ;  and  though  the 
number  of  them  is  fmall,  he  will  form  and  find  fuch 
as  thefe  by  the  grace  of  that  difpenfation,  which  is 
already  begun  to  be  fet  up,  and  mall  hereafter  migh- 
tily prevail  in  the  world. 

24  For  God  is  an  infinitely  pure  and  perfect  Spi- 
rit, an  incorporeal,  invifible,  intelligent,  free,  and 
active  Being,  poffefTed  of  all  poflible  perfections  ; 
and  therefore  they  that  would  worihip  him  acceptably, 
and  fuitable  to  his  fpiritual  nature,  mufl  worfnip  him 
after  a  fpiritual  manner,  in  the  iincerity  of  their  fouls, 
and  with  believing,  fpiritual,  and  holy  difpoiitions, 
by  the  afliftance  of  his  Spirit,  and  in  conformity  to 
his  revealed  will. 

25  The  woman  having  nothing  to  object  againll 
this  anfwer,  and  yet  not  being  fully  fatisfied  with  it, 
replied,  How  far  what  you  fay  may  be  true,  I  am 
not  able  to  determine  ;  but  I  am  perfuaded  that,  ac- 
cording to  the  general  expectation  of  this  age,  among 
the  Samaritans  as  well  as  Jews,  the  Mcfiiah,  who 
is  by  way  of  eminence  called  the  Anointed,  is  juit  rea- 
dy to  appear  ;  and  when  he  comes,  he  will  certainly 
admit  all  our  difputes,  clear  up  our  doubts,,  and  give 
us  a  perfect  revelation  of  God's  mind  and  will  about 
thefe  things. 

26  She  being  thus  brought  to  exprefs  her  faith  in 
the -Mcfiiah,  as  ready  to  appear,  and  her  willingnefs 
to  receive  iiillruction  from  him,  jefus  took  that  op- 
portunity to  manifeit  himfelf  to  her,  faying,  I  affure 
you  that  the  Mcfiiah,  whom  you  expect,  is  already 

;   ;;iul  vou  now  fee  and  converie  with  him  ;    For 

I, 


Chap.  iv. 


27  And  upon 
this  came  his  clif- 
ples,  and  marvelled 
that,  he  talked 
with  the  woman  : 
yet  no  man  faid, 
What  feekeft  thou? 
or,  Why  talkeft 
thou   with   her  ? 


2S  The  woman 
then  left  her  wa- 
ter-pot, and  went 
her  way  into  the 
city,  and  faith  to 
the  men, 


20  Come,  fee  a 
man  which  told 
me  all  things  that 
ever  I  did  ;  is  not 
this  the  Chrift  ? 


30  Then  they 
went  out  of  the  ci- 
ty, and  came  unto 
him. 


3r  In  the  mean- 
while his  difciples 
prayed  him,  fay- 
in?,  Matter,  eat. 


John  parapbrafed,  311 

I,  who  have  been  talking  in  this  clofe  and  convincing 
-manner  to  you,  am  he. 

27  Immediately  upon  this,  the  difciples  returned 
from  the  city,  where  they  had  been  to  buy  proviiions  ; 
(ver.  8.)  and  they,  being  under  the  power  of  nation- 
al prejudices,  were  much  amazed  to  find  him  difcour- 
fing  in  fo  *  friendly  a  manner,  as  he  feemed  to  be, 
with  a  poor  ordinary  woman  of  Samaria  :  However, 
fuch  was  their  reverence  of  their  Lord,  and  fatisfaction 
in  whatfoever  he  thought  tit  to  do,  that  none  of  them 
durlt  find  any  fault  with  him,  or  aik  him  what  he 
wanted  of  that  woman  ?  or  why  he  fo  freely  converfed 
with  her  ? 

28  Our  Lord  having  fo  exprefsly,  and  with  fuch 
convincing  evidence,  told  this  woman  of  his  being 
the  Chrift,  and  the  conference  between  him  and  her 
breaking  off  by  his  difciples  coming  up  to  them,  flie, 
in  the  greatneis  of  her  joy  and  zeal  to  make  him 
known  to  others,  ran  back  to  the  city  in  great  hafte, 
leaving  her  water-pot  behind  her  f  ;  and  in  a  fort  of 
rapture  laid  to  ail  ihe  met  with  ; 

29  I  bring  you  bieffed  tidings  of  the  Mefliah, 
whom  we  are  all  expecting  as  juft  ready  to  appear  ; 
I  have  certainly  had  a  long  converfation  with  him,  in 
which  he,  though  a  {hanger,  told  me  abundance  of 
fuch  fecret  paffages  in  my  life,  and  impreffed  a  fer.fe 
of  them  with  inch  power  upon  my  confeience,  as  I 
am  very  fure  none  but  the  Mefiiah  himfelf  could  do  : 
I  am  therefore  fully  convinced  that  this  is  he,  as  he 
himfelf  likewife  told  me  :  However,  do  not  take  my 
word  for  it  ;  but  come  along  with  me,  and  I  will 
conduct,  you  to  him,  that  ye  yomieives  may  talk 
with  him,  and  judge  whether  fuch  an  extraordinary 
perfon  as  this  be  not  the  Chrift. 

30  Upon  this  furpriiing  report,  though  made  by 
fo  inconfiderable,  infamous,  and  unlikely  a  woman, 
multitudes  of  the  citizens  readily  went  with  her  to 
fee  and  talk  with  Jefus,  that  they  might  fatisfy 
themfelves  concernino-  him. 

o 

3 1  While  the  woman  was  gone  to  call  her  neigh- 
bours, and  Jefus  and  his  difcipleb  were  alone,  be 
feemed  fo  far  to  forget  his  wearinefs  and  want  of 
food,  as  to  difcovcr  no  inclination  to  eat  ;  and  there- 
fore they  importuned  him  to  it,  faying,  Mailer,  we 

S   f  2  beg 

N     O     T    E    S. 

f  She  left  her  water-pot,  either  as  riot 
thinking  of  it.  or  not  willing  to  incumber 
hcrit  if  with  i.;.  <  r  as  defigi  I  Chrift 

fhould  make  as  much  v.k-  ofit  aa  he  mis  ht 
have  occafion  for  in  her  abfence. 


Pcflibly  at  their  coming  up,  they 
heard  him  faying  to  her,  I  that  jpeah 
unto  thrc  am  he:  If  fo.  it  might  imoreate 
their  wonder  to  think  that  he  fiiouid 
make  himfelf  known  with  greater  open- 
nefs  and  freedom  to  her,  "than  he  was 
wont  to  do  to  the  Jews  themfelvc?. 


3  r  i 


32  But  he  faid 
unto  them,  I  have 
meat  to  eat  that 
ye  know  not  of. 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  iv. 


33  Therefore 
the  difciples 
one  to  another, 
Hath  any  man 
brought  him  ought 
to  eat  \ 

34  Jefvs  faith 
unto  them,  My 
meat  is  to  do  the 
will  of  him  that 
ferit  mc,  and  to  ti- 
ll ill l  his  work. 


35  Say  not  ye, 
There  are  yet  four 
months,  and  then 
cometh  harvelt  ? 
behold,  I  fay  unto 
you,  Lift  up  your 
eyes,  and  look  on 
the  fields  ;  for 
they  are  white  al- 
ready to  harveft. 


beg  that  you  would  pleafe  to  refrefh  yourfelf  with 
the  provilions  we  have  brought,  after  your  long  fall- 
ing, and  great  fatigue  in  your  journey  hither. 

32  But,  his  heart  being  fet  upon  the  good  work 
that  lay  before  him,  he  replied,  I  have  much  better 
food  to  eat  than  yours,  which  ye  little  think  of; 
meaning  that  the  great  bufmefs  he  had  begun,  and 
war.  going  further  to  engage  in,  for  the  falvation  of 
the  Samaritans  fouls,  by  bringing  them  to  know 
and  believe  in  him,  was  inexpreffibly  more  defirable, 
entertaining,  and  delightful  to  his  mind,  than  the 
moll  neceflary  and  agreeable  repalt  could  be  to  his 
body,  though  he  were  ever  fo  hungry. 

33  His  difciples  not  underftanding  what  he  meant, 
but  fuppofmg  that  he'fpoke  of  corporal  food,  faid  in 
a  fort  of  furprife  one  to  another  :  What  !  has  this 
woman,  or  fome  other  perfon  privately  brought  him 
any  provilions,  while  we  were  gone  to  buy  fome  ? 
what  meat  is  this  that  he  fpeaks  of  ? 

34.  Jefus  knowing  how  they  miilook  him,  and 
what  they  whifpered  among  themfelves,  corrected 
their  error,  faying  to  them,  The  meat  I  fpake  of  is 
not  of  a  corporal,  but  of  a  fpiritual  nature,  and  is  to 
be  underflood  in  a  figurative  fenfe  :  What  I  mean 
by  it  is  this  ;  No  gratification  of  the  moll  hungry 
appetites  or  the  body  can  afford  me  fo  much  fatisfac- 
tion,  as  I  find  in  fulfilling  that  fpecial  will  of  my 
heavenly  Father,  for  which  he  fent  me  into  the  world, 
and  fent  me  hither,  by  bringing  about  the  converlion 
of  thefe  Samaritans. 

35  Then,  to  explain  himfelf  ilill  further,  he  added, 
Is  not  -  this,  literally  fpeaking,  the  feed-time,  in 
which  the  hufbandman  is  fowing  his  corn,  and  from 
which  ye  commonly  reckon  four  mounths  before  the 
harvefl  will  come,  when  he  hopes  to  reap  the  fruit 
of  his  labour  ?  And  does  not  even  this  diflant  profpecl 
make  him  diligent,  and  give  him  a  great  deal  of 
pleafine,  In  calling  his  feed  into  the  earth  ?  But, 
faid  he,  (the  Samaritans  jufl  then  appearing,  and 
flocking  toward  him^)  Behold  !  the  fpiritual  harvell 
of  fouls,  which  lies  before  me,  is  much  nearer  at 
hand  :  I  have  no  fooner  begun  to  low  by  the  conver- 
fation  I  had  with  the  woman,  who  is  juil  gone  from 
me,  but  I  am  ready  to  reap  ;  and  to  allude  to  the 
white  appearance  of  the  corn-fields  when"  harveft  is 
near  at  hand,  look  yonder,  (pointing  to  the  Samari- 
tan ,)  fee  what  vail  crowds  are  coming  out  of  the 
town,  many  of  which  mall  foon,  by  means  of  my 
preaching,  believe  and  be  gathered  in  to  me  :  The 
converting  of  thefe  is  that  neceflary  and  important 
bufinefs,  which  I  take  fo  great  delight  in. 

36  And 


Chap.  iv. 

36  And  he  that 
reapeth  receivcth 
wages,  and  gather- 
eth  fruit  unto  life 
eternal  :  that  both 
he  that  foweth,  and 
he  that  reapeth, 
may  rejoice  toge- 
ther. 


John  paraphrafed. 


313 


37  And  herein 
is  that  faying  true, 
One  foweth,  and 
another  reapeth. 


3$  I  feist  you  to 
reap  that  whereon 
ye  bellowed  no  la- 
bour :  other  men 
laboured,  and  ye 
are  entered  into 
their  labours. 


39  And  many 
Oi  the  Samaritans 
of  that  city  belie- 
ved on  him  for,  the 
frying  of  the  wo- 
man, which  teftifi- 
eJ,  lie  told  me  all 
that  ever  1  did. 


36  And  this  is  a  fpecimcn  of  trie  pleafant  work, 
in  which  ye  fhall  be  employed,  The  time  is  now  at 
hand  for  gathering  in  of  people  unto  the  promifed 
Shiloh  ;  and  as  the  labourer,  who  fows  and  reaps, 
receives  a  reward  from  his  mailer,  lo  fhall  ye  from 
the  Lord  of  this  harveft  :  He  will  own  you,  and 
give  you  a  noble  fatisfaclion  in  the  very  fervice  itielf ; 
and  hereafter  ye  fhall  reap  the  mofl  precious  fruits  of 
it,  in  the  eternal  falvation  of  your  own  and  their 
fouls,  that  fhall  be  converted  by  your  miniftry  :  And 
then  both  ye,  and  all  the  ancient  prophets,  and  John 
the  Baptijl,  yea,  and  the  Lord  of  the  harvefl  himfelf, 
who  have  gone  before  you  in  fowing  the  good  feed 
of  the  word,  fhall  rejoice  together  in  the  numberlefs 
fouls  that  fhall  be  gathered  to  him,  and  they  fhall  be 
your  joy,  and  crown  of  rejoicing,  in  the  day  of  his 
glorious  appearing.      (1   The/,  ii.  19.) 

37  And,  for  your  greater  comfort  and  encourage- 
ment,  I  tell  you,  that  the  common    proverb,    One 

fows,  and  another  reaps,  fhall  be  remarkably  veri- 
fied, to  your  advantage,  in  the  great  fuccefs  of  your 
labours,  for  which  both  I  and  my  fervants,  who  pro- 
phefied  of  me,  have  prepared  the  way  by  pur  pre- 
ceding: miniftrations. 

38  I  am  about  to  fend  you  (#tt5<7ts;A<ss)  with  a  com- 
miffion  to  preach  the  gofpel  ;  and  when  ye  go  into 
one  place  and  another,  ye  fhall  be  the  reapers  of  this 
fpiritual  harveft,  which  was  fown  by  others,  and  is 
now  ripened  for  you  to  gather  it  with  richer  abun- 
dance, than  either  I  by  my  perfonal  miniftry,  or  any 
of  my  former  fervants  by  their  preaching,  ever  did 
before  you.  So  that  ye  will  have  the  advantage  and 
the  increafe  of  all  preceding  labours,  as  well  as  of 
your  own,  and  be  inftruments  of  perfecting  the  blefs- 
ed  work,  which  they  only  began,  to  the  converfion 
and  falvation  of  multitudes  of  fouls  *. 

39  But,  (£;)  to  return,  the  Samaritans  of  Sy- 
char  having  heard  the  amazing  account  that  the  wo- 
man gave  of  Chrift's  divine  knowledge,  and  of  the 
power  with  which  his  words  came  to  her  heart,  and 
of  the  declaration  he  made  to  her  concerning  himfelf, 
many  of  them  were  wrought  upon,  by  means  of  her  tef- 
timony,   to  believe  that  he  really  was  the  true  Mef- 

fiah, 
T    E. 

their  hands,  especially  among  the  Jews  : 
So  the  number  of  converts  in  a  few  years, 
under  the  miniftry  of  the  apoftles,  vaftly 
exceeded  all  that  had  been  made  for  ma- 
ny ages  before,  under  :he  miniftry  of  the 
prophets,  and  of  John  the  Bapti/iy  and 
of  Chrift  himfelf." 


l7> 


N  O 
*  As  the  writings  of  the  prophets,  the 
preaching  at  John  the  Baptift,  and  of  our 
Lord  himfelf,  laid  the  foundation  of  the 
numerous  converfions  that  were  made  by 
the  miniftry  of  the  apoftles  among  Jcws 
and  Gentiles,  and  had  facilitated  their 
work,  and  in  a  manner  half  done  it  to 


3*4 


The  Evangelijl 


Chap.  iv. 


40  So  when  the 
Samaritans  were 
come  unto  him, 
they  befought  him 


he 
two 


abode 
days. 


there 


fiah,  who  they  expected  would  foon  appear  in  the 
world. 

40  And  this  faith  of  theirs  had  fuch  an  effect  up- 
on them,  though  they  were  Samaritans,   that  they 
haftened  with  great   defire,    to    converfe    with   him 
that  he  would  tar-  themfelves  ;  and  when  they  came  to  him,  they  were 
ry  with  them :  and    fo  affected  with  what  they  faw  and  heard,  that  they 
kid  aiide  their  prejudices  againil  him,  as  a  Jew,  and 
earneflly  entreated  him  to   go  into  their  city,    and 
continue  for  fome  time  at  leaft  with  them,  that  they 
might  (hew  him  tokens  of  refpect,  and  receive  his  hea- 
venly inftructions  about  their  own  falvation :  And  as  he 
is  good  to  the  fouls  that  feek  him,  fo  he  went  into  their 
city,  and  {laid  two  days  preaching  to  them,  and  there. 
by  giving  an  earned  of  his  mercy  to  the  Gentiles. 
41    And  many        41   And,  whilil  he  was  at  that  place,  many  others, 
more  believed,  be-   W]1Q  were  not  convinced  by  the  woman's  teftimony, 
,  '        were  brought  to  believe  in  him,  when  they  them- 

felves came  to  hear  his  excellent  doctrine,  and  feel 
the  power  of  his  grace  upon  their  own  hearts  *, 

42  And  both  the  frefh  converts,  and  thofe  that 
had  before  believed  upon  the  woman's  report,  faid  to 
her,  Now  our  faith  is  not  founded  upon  your  tefti- 
mony :  For  we  ourfelves  have  heard  fuch  divine  and 
important  things  from  Jefus,  and  they  have  come 
with  fuch  evidence  and  authority  to  our  minds  and 
confcicnces,  as  fully  affure  us,  that  he  is  in  truth  the 
promifed  and  long-looked-for  Meffiah,  even  the  Sa- 
viour, whom  we,  as  well  as  the  Jews,  may  claim  an 
interell  in,  and  in  whom,  as  God  promifed  to  our  Fa- 
ther Abraham,  all  nations  mail  be  bleffed  f . 

43  Now  when  he  had  fpent  two  days  at  the  city 
of  Sychar,  preaching  and  converting  many  there,  he 
purfued  his  intended  journey  from  thence  to  Galilee; 
but  declined  going  to  Na%areth,  where  he  was 
brought  up,  and  which  lay  in  that  country. 

44  For  as  himfelf  had  declared  j:,  when  at  the  be- 
ginning 

NOTES. 

\  He  faid  this  with  refpect  to  Naza- 
reth ;  (Luke  iv.  16, — 24.)  and  we  are 
told,  (Matth.  iv.  12,  13.)  that  at  his 
coming  into  Galilee,  when  he  heard  of 
John's  being  caft  into  prifon,  he  leaving 
Nazareth,  went  and  dwelt  in  Caper- 
naum :  Unlefs  we  fuppofe  our  Evange- 
lift  to  refer  to  his  not  going  thither,  it 
will  be  very  difficult  to  make  out  the 
connection  of  this  with  the  foregoing 
verfe :  But  upon  this  fuppofition  it  (lands 
eafy  and  plain  thus,  He  went  into  fome 
parts  of  Galilee,  but  not  into  the  town 
of  Nazareth. 


42  And  faid  un- 
to the  woman, 
Now  we  believe, 
wot  became  of  thy 
faying :  for  we 
have  heard  him 
ourfelves,  and  know 
that  this  is  indeed 
the  Chrift,  the  Sa- 
viour of  the  world. 


43  Now,  after 
two  days,  he  de- 
parted thence,  and 
went  into  Gali- 
lee : 


44 


For    Jefus 
himfelf 


*  It  does  not  appear  that  he  wrought 
any  miracles  here :  But  the  blefled  effect 
of  his  preaching  to  this  people  was  fur- 
prifing ;  and  he  can  as  effectually  con- 
vert the  worft  finners,  and  the  moll  un- 
likely to  be  wrought  upon,  without  mi- 
racles as  with  them,  whenever  he  plea- 
fes  to  fet  home  his  word  with  power  up- 
on their  hearts  ;  but  without  this,  the 
greateft  of  all  miracles  will  have  no  fa- 
ving  effect. 

f  Thus  the  world  in  this  place,  as 
well  as  in  many  others,  is  only  made 
ufe  of  to  comprehend  Gentiles  as  well 
as  yews.     See  the  note  on  chap.  iii.  16. 


Chap.  iv. 


John  paraphrafed. 


3*5 


himfelf  teftified,  ginning  of  his  miniftry  he  preached  there,  Even  a 
that  a  prophet  hath  true  prophet,  who  really  comes  with  a  mefiage  from 
no  honour  in  his  God  js  neverthelefs  feldom  efteemed  and  regarded  k- 
own  country.  ,  .     r  .  .  ,        ,      G  , 

mong  his  former  acquaintance,    with  whom  he  was 

brought  up  in  low  life,  and  who  are  apt  to  form  their 
opinion  of  him  by  what  they  have  all  along  known  of 
his  family,  education,  and  circumftances  in  the  world, 
rather  than  by  the  plainer!  evidence  of  his  eminent 
qualifications,  and  divine  authority. 

45  Therefore,  palling  by  Nazareth,  he  went  into 
Other  parts  of  Galilee,  and  many  of  the  people  there 
joyfully  entertained  him,  bccaufe  they  had  before 
been  much  affecvted  with  his  doctrine  and  miracles, 
which  they  had  heard  and  feen  at  Jerufalem,    when 

at  Jerufalem  at  the  they  were  laft  there  to  celebrate  the  paflbver  :  [chap. 
ii.  23.)  For  it  was  their  conllaut  cuitom  to  go  up  to 
that  city  every  year,  at  the  time  of  that  folemnity, 
in  obedience  to  God's  command. 

46  So  Jefus,  finding  that  there  was  work  for  him 
to  do,  went  and  preached  in  feveral  towns  and  villa- 
ges in  that  country  ;  and  among  others,  he  again  vi- 
fited  that  Cana,  which  lay  in  Galilee,  where  fome 
time  before  he  had  miraculoufly  turned  water  into 
wine  :  (chap.  ii.  11.)  And  during  his  abode  at  this 
place,  there  was  one  of  Herod's  nobles  *,  whofe  fon 
lay  lick  at  Capernaum. 

47  And  this  man,  great  as  he  was,  and  that  in  a 
wicked  court,  having  heard  of  the  fame  of  Jefus,  and 
of  his  being  come  out  of  Judea  into  thofe  parts  of  Ga- 
lilee, was  fo  concerned  for  his  fon,  and  had  fo  much 
faith  in  the  power  of  Chriit,  that  he  took  a  journey 
of  about  fifteen  miles  from  Capernaum  to  Cana,  to 
pay  his  refpects  perfonally  to  him :  And  when  he  faw 
him,  he  humbly  begged  with  great  earneftnefs,  that  he 
would  pleafe  to  go  home  with  him,  and  work  a  cure 
upon  his  fon,  whofe  difeafe  was  fo  delperate,  that  at 
his  Father's  leaving  him,  he  was  looked  upon  as  a 
dead  child,  paft  hope  of  recovery  by  any  human  means* 
whatfoever. 

48  Hereupon  our  bleffed  Lord  faid  to  him  f,  I 
plainly  perceive  how  it  is  with  you  Galileans  : 
Though  my  dotlrines  and  behaviour  be  ever  fo  hea- 
venly and  holy  ;  and  many  of  you  have  feeo  my  mi- 
racles at  Jerufalem,    (ver.  45.)  yet  ye  will  not  believe 

in 


45  Then,  when 
he  was  come  into 
Galilee,  the  Gali- 
leans received  him, 
having  feen  all  the 
things  that  he  did 


feaft  :   for  they  al 
fo   went  unto  the 
feaft. 

46  So  Jefus 
came  again  into 
Cana  of  Galilee, 
where  he  made  the 
water  wine.  And 
there  was  a  cer- 
tain nobleman, 
whofe  fon  was  fick 
at  Capernaum. 


47 
heard 


When  he 
that  Jefus 
was  come  out  of 
Judea  into  Galilee, 
he  went  unto  him, 
and  befought  him 
that  he  would 
come  down,  and 
heal  his    fon :    for 


he     was 

point    of 


at     the 
death. 


4S 
Jefus 


Then  faid 
unto  him, 
Except  ye  fee  figns 
and  wonders,  ye 
Will   not   believe. 


NOTES. 
*  This  nobleman  feems  to  have  been  an  Herodian 
cither  Cbuxa,  Herod's  lteward,  mention- 
ed Luke  viii.  3.  or  elfe  Munaem,  who 
had  been  brought  up  with  Herod,  men- 
tioned AEls  xiii.  1.:  But  whether  he 
were  10  or  not,  it  is  probable  that  he  was 


and  one  of  Herod's  cour- 
tiers, who  had  received  good  impredions 
from  John  the  Ilapti/Ps  miniftry. 

f  Chrift's  faying  this  to  him,  together 
with  the  reft  of  the  company,  intimate? 
that  he  was  a  Jew. 


i6 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  ivr. 


49  The  noble- 
man faith  unto 
him,  Sir,  come 
down  ere  my  child 
die. 


50  Jefus  faith 
unto  him,  Go  thy 
way ;  thy  fon  li- 
veth.  And  the 
man  believed  the 
word  that  Jefus 
had  fpoken  unto 
him,  and  he  went 
his    way. 


51  And  as  he 
was  now  goin^ 
down,  his  fervants 
met  him,  and  told 
him,  "aytng,  Thy 
fon   liveth. 

52  Then  enqui- 
red he  of  them  the 
hour  when  he  be- 
gan to  amend :  and 
they  laid  unto  him, 
yeilerday  at  the 
feventh  hour  the 
fever  left  him. 


5-;  So  the  father 
knew  that  it  was 
at  the  fame  hour, 
in  the  which  [efus 
faid  unto  him,  Thy 
fon  liveth  ;  and 
himfelf  believed, 
and  his  whole 
houfe. 


54  This  is  again 
the  fecond  mira- 
cle th  it  J  .  fus  did, 
when  iie  was  come 
out  of  Judea  into 
Galilee. 


in  me,  as  the  Samaritans  did  upon  hearing  my  dif- 
courfes,  (ver.  42.)  unlefs  ye  fee  my  divine  power  ex- 
erted in  performing  fome  wonderful  works  in  your 
own  country. 

49  The  royal  courtier  neverthelefs  perfifted  in  his 
humble  addrefs  to  Chrift,  faying,  Lord,  as  I  believe 
thou  couldft  heal  my  child,  wert  thou  with  him,  I 
beg  that  thou  wouldft  go  along  with  me  now  with- 
out delay,  left  he  be  dead,  and  pad  any  poflible  re- 
covery before  we  get  to  him. 

50  Jefus,  to  honour  the  faith  of  this  nobleman, 
and  to  help  its  infirmity  in  thinking  that  Chrift's  cor- 
poral prefence  was  neceifary  to  the  cure,  intimated 
to  him,  that  he  had  power  in  himfelf  to  heal  his  fon 
in  an  inftant,  by  a  mere  act  of  his  will,  wherever  he 
was,  faying,  Depart  in  peace ;  I  now  at  this  diftance 
reftore  your  fon  to  health,  and  allure  you  that  he  is 
alive  and  well :  Upon  this,  the  faith  of  the  child's  fa- 
ther was  fo  ftrengthened,  that  he  depended  on  Chrift's 
word,  and  went  home  to  fee,  and  rejoice  in  the  hap- 
py event. 

51  And,  whilft  he  was  on  his  journey  back  to  Ca~ 
pernartm^  fome  of  his  fervants,  who  were  fent  to  ac- 
quaint him  with  the  good  news,  met  him  on  the  road, 
and  told  him  that  his  fon  was  perfectly  well  again. 

5  2  Then,  for  the  further  confirmation  of  his  faith, 
he  ordered  them  to  tell  him  exactly  at  what  time  his 
fon  began  to  grow  better,  fuppofing  that  the  diftem- 
per  went  off  by  degrees  :  And  they  replied,  that 
he  did  not  gradually  recover,  as  is  ufual  in  fuch  ca- 
fes ;  but  that,  to  their  joyful  furprife,  the  fever  left 
him  all  at  once,  and  he  became  perfectly  well  in  an 
inftant  the  lail  night,  as  near  as  they  could  remember, 
at  feven  o'clock.      (See  the  note  on  chap.  i.  39.) 

53  Hereupon  the  nobleman  recollecting  the  precife 
time  when  Jefus  faid  to  him,  Thy  Jon  fiveth,  found 
that,  at  that  very  inftant,  his  fori  was  fuddenly  and 
miraculoufiy  healed;  and  he  believed  that  Jefus,  who 
could  work  fuch  a  miracle,  afar  off,  as  well  as  near 
at  hand,  was  the  true  Meffiah  :  And  when,  upon 
coming  home,  he  faw  that  his  dear  child,  whom  he 
left  at  the  point  of  death,  was  indeed  reftored  to  a 
ftate  of  perfect  health,  and  when  he  and  the  eye-wit- 
neiTes  of  the  recovery  had  compared  notes  about  it, 
his  own  faith  was  ftill  further  eftablilhed;  and  all  his 
family,  after  his  example,  believed  in  the  Lord  Jefus. 

54  This  was  the  fecond  miracle  that  Jefus  wrought 
in  Galilee^  upon  his  coming  out  of  Jttdea  into  that 
country,  where  he  had  been  fome  months  before  at 
Carta,   and  turned  water  into  wine.      [Chap.  ii.  7, — 

11.) 


Chap.  v.  John  paraphrafed.  317 

RECOLLECTIONS. 

Into  what  a  low  and  humbled  ftate  did  our  bleffed  Lord  come !  How  was  he  fur- 
rounded  with  troubles  and  dangers,  and  denied  the  refrefhment  of  a  little  cold  wa- 
ter 1  What  toilfome  journies  did  he  take  on  foot !  and  how,  being  a  man  made  like 
unto  his  brethren,  did  he  fuffer  wearinefs,  hunger,  3nd  thirft  !  How  laborious  was 
he  in  his  work,  fetting  us  an  example  !  and  how  does  Providence  lubierve  the  de- 
fign  of  his  grace,  by  throwing  things  into  fuch  a  courfe  as  is  necelfary  for  meeting 
with  the  appointed  objects  of  faving  mercy  !  and  when  he  meets  with  them, 
how  tenderly,  and  yet  how  clofely  does  he  deal  with  their  confciences  ;  and 
what  a  glorious  harveft  of  fouls  does  he  gather  to  himfelf !  When  once  they  are 
brought  in  earneft  to  enquire  after  him,  he  will  gracioufly  afford  them  his  prefence, 
and  will  manifeft  himfelf  to  them,  that  they  may  have  an  experimental  acquaint- 
ance with  him,  which  is  beft  of  all.  And  O  what  a  free  and  rich  gift  of  God,  in 
preference  to  all  others,  is  Chrift  in  himfelf,  and  in  the  efteem  of  them  that  faving- 
ly  know  him,  though  they  were  naturally  ignorant  of  him,  and  much  more  defirous 
of  temporal  advantages,  than  of  the  fpiritual  bleffings  that  come  along  with  him  I 
But  O  amazing  condefcenfion  and  grace,  that  God,  who  is  a  Spirit,  will  feek  wor- 
fhippers  among  fuch  carnal  creatures  as  we  are  '.  And  bleffed  be  his  name  that  he 
will  accept  of  gofpel-worihip,  without  diftinction  of  places,  wherever  it  is  perform- 
ed in  fpirit  and  in  truth. — What  delight  does  our  Lord  Jefus  take  in  glorifying  his 
Father,  and  doing  good  to  immortal  fouls  !  and  what  abundnnt  encouragement: 
have  his  fervants  to  go  on  with  his  work  I  They,  like  their  bleffed  Saviour,  Ihall  be 
received  by  fome,  while  they  are  rejected  by  others :  The  pains  of  thole,  that  have 
gone  before  them,  prepare  their  way,  and  make  their  work  the  ealier  to  them  ;  and 
after  they  theml'elves  are  dead  and  gone,  many  ihall  reap  the  advantage  of  the  feed 
they  fowed  among  them .  Their  labour  is  indeed  great,  like  that  of  lowing  and  reap- 
ing ;  but  they  Ihall  have  the  pleafure  of  being  inftrumentai  in  gathering  fouls  to 
Chrift,  and  fhall  receive  a  glorious  reward,  to  their  .everlafting  joy.  But,  alas  ! 
how  do  prejudice's  againft  the  miniftry  we  lit  under,  hinder  our  profiting  by  it  !  It 
is  well  for  us  if  afflictions  themfelves  are  fandtified,  as  means  of  bringing  us,  like 
Herod's  courtier,  to  Chrift:  He  will  then  give  us  the  defire  of  our  hearts,  and  e- 
veh'exceed  our  faith  and  hope,  and  ftill  further  conhrni  them  in  him.  Happy  the 
great  men  and  nobles  of  the  earth,  that  are  brought  to  know  and  believe  in  Jefus, 
for  the  laving  of  their  fouls.  And  happy  mailers  of  families,  whofe  faith  is  followed 
by  all  that  are  in  their  houfes,  and  who,  by  comparing  experiences  with  them,  gain 
ftrength  and  eftablifliment  in  their  fpiritual  concerns!  Whenever  Chrift  difplays  his 
power  and  goodnefs  in  thefe,  or  any  other  inftances,  how  fhould  we  record  it  to  his 
praile,  and  to  the  encouragement  of  our  own  and  others  fouls ! 


CHAP.       V. 

Chrift  cures  a  man  on  the  Sabbath-day,  who  lay  at  the  pool  of  "Beth- 
efda,  and  had  been  lame  thirty-eight  years,  i ,- — 9.  The  Jews  quar- 
rel about  it,  10, — 16.  Chrift  vindicates  himfelf  by  after  ting  his 
own  divine  char  after  as  the  Son  of  God,  17, — 31.  Proves  this  by 
the  teftunony  of  John  the  Baptift,  of  his  own  miracles,  of  his  Fa- 
ther, and  of  the  Old  Teftament  fcriptures,  32,-39.  And  charges 
the  Jews  with  various  faults  which  they  were  guilty  of,  40, — 47. 

Text.  Paraphrase. 

AF™        this     A  FTER  our  bleffed  Saviour  had  healed  the  noble* 

was    a    ±  x  man>s  fon  in  Galilee,  one  of  the  annual  feafts  * 

tcaft  '  , 

returned, 

NOTE. 

*  It  is  highly  probable  that  this  feaft  four  paffovers,  in  their  order,  that  were 
was  the  paffover ;  for  it  teems  that  the  between  Chrift's  baptifm  and  death  : 
cvans;elift  John  particularly  recited  the    The  fivft,   in  chat,  ii.  13. :  The  fecond. 

Vol.  II.  T  t  in 


3*8 


The  Evangelijl 


Chap.  v. 


to  Jerufalem. 


2  Now  there  is 
at  Jerufalem,  by 
the  fheep- market, 
a  pool,  which  is 
railed  in   the  He- 


feaft  of  the  Jews,   returned,  at  which  all  the  males  of  Ifrae/ were  obliged 
and  Jefus  went  up    to   appear  before   the   Lord  at  Jerufa/em  .    (£xod. 

xxiii.  17.)    and  Jefus  went  thither,  as  ufual,  that  he 
might  pay  obedience  to  the  law. 

2  Now  there  *  was  in  Jerufa/em,  near  the  fheep- 
gate,  (stt*  rr)  tt(>o£»tixyi)  a  certain  bath  or  pond  of 
water,  called  in  the  common  dialed!:,  ufed  among  the 
Jews ,  Bethefda,  which  fignifies,  The  houfe  of  mer- 
bre w  tongue  Beth-  cy  or  kindnefs  ;  and,  adjoining  to  this,  were  -j-  five 
eida,  having  five  cloyfters,  or  covered  walks,  whofe  roof  was  fupport- 
ed  by  columns,  for  the  pleafure  and  convenience  of 
the  people,  and  efpecially  of  thofe  that  came  to  wafh 
in  this  pool. 

3  In  thefe  lay  a        3    In  thefe  cloyfters  abundance  of  diftempered  peo- 

great  multitude  of  k  j  fome  bHnd     otherg   h  and   otherg    fi 

impotent   folk,     of  ln         {  ,      ,        ...  ,  ,  . 

blind      halt     wi-  mrun&,   and   the   like,   who  came  or  were  brought 

thered,  waiting  for   thither,  and  continued  waiting  there,  in  hopes  of  be- 
the  moving  of  the   ing  healed  by  the  water  of  that  pool,  when  it  mould  be 

put  into  a  fupernatural  motion,  as  it  had  fometimes 

been. 

4  For  God,  to  awaken  the  expectation  of  Ifrael, 
that  he  was  about  to  return  to  them  in  vifible  tokens 
cf  his  favour,  after  they  had  been  withdrawn  for  fe- 
veral  ages,  and  to  encourage  perfons  attending  on 
any  means  of  his  appointment  for  conveying  blefiings 
to  them,  had  of  late  fent  an  angel  at  fome  particular 
feafons,  to  give  a  difcernible  motion  to  the  water  of 

was  made  whole  of  this  bath,  which  immediately  thereupon  became  of  a 
whatioever  difeaie  healing  nature,  in  a  very  extraordinary  manner,  not 
for  the  curing  of  all  that  might  go  into  it,  but  only 
of  any  one  perfon  J,  who  ftepped  in  firft  after  the 
moving  of  the  water,  that  the  Divine  Power  and 
fovereignty  might  be  the  more  remarkably  feen  in  the 
cure  ;  and  how  defperate  and  long  continued,  or  of 
what  kind  foever  the  difeafe  of  this  perfon  might  be, 
he  was  inftantly  and  effectually  healed. 

5  And  among  many  others,  that  lay  in  thefe  cloy- 
fters waiting  for  the  happy  opportunity,  there  was 

one 

NOTES, 

in  this  place,  or  no  where  :    The  third,  gelled,   to  a  mixture  of  the  blood  of  the 

in  chap.  vi.  4. :   (fee  the  note  there)  And  facrifices,  which  ran  into  this  pool,  and 

the  fourth,  in  chap.  xiii.  1.    Vid.  Lightf.  to  a  motion  which  fome  mefienger  from 

Hor.  Hebr.  pag.   554.   and  Harm.  pag.  the  fanhedrim,  or  from  the  priefts,   put 

664,  itfr.  the  impregnated  water  into,   nor  to  any 

*   The  Evangelift's  mentioning  this  other  natural   caufe    whatfoever :    For 

in  the  prefent  tenfe  feems  to  be  an  inti-  then  its  virtue  would  not  have  been  re- 

mation,   that  he  wrote  his  gofpel  before  /trained  to  the  healing  of  the  (ingle  per- 

fhe  ddtruclion  of  jfcri/fulem.  fon  who  firft  ftepped  in  ;   and  no  natural 

f    Thefe,    fays   Dr   Lightfoot  in   his  virtue  could  be  effectual  to  cure  all,  one 

Harmony,  />.  66 r.  were  fuch  walks  as  as  well  as  another,   of  the  different  forts' 

are  in  the  Royal  Exchange  at  London.  of  difeafes  here  mentioned  ,    and  there- 

X   This  fhews  that  the  virtue  of  this  fore  every  cure  by  this  means  mult  be 

water,  was  not  owing,  as  fome  have  fug-  entirely  miraculous. 


water. 

4  For  an  angel 
went  down  at  a 
certain  feafon  into 
the  pool  and  trou- 
bled the  water : 
wholbever  then 
firft,  after  the 
troubling  of  the 
water,   ftepped  in, 


he  had. 


5  And  a  certain 

man    was     there, 

which 


Chap.  v. 

which  had  an  in- 
firmity thirty  and 
eight  years. 

6  When  Jefus 
faw  him  lie,  and 
knew  that  he  had 
been  now  a  long 
time  in  that  cafe, 
he  faith  unto  him, 
Wilt  thou  be  made 
whole  ? 


7  The  impotent 
man  anfweredhirn, 
Sir,  I  have  no  man, 
when  the  water  is 
troubled,  to  put 
me  into  the  pool  : 
but,  while  I  am 
coming,  another 
fteppeth  down  be- 
fore me. 


8  Jefus  faith  un- 
to him,  Rife,  take 
up  thy  bed,  and 
walk. 


9  And  immedi- 
ately the  man  was 
made  whole,  and 
took  up  his  bed, 
and  walked :  and 
on  the  fame  day 
was  the  Sabbath. 


io  The  Jews 
therefore  faid  un- 
to him  that  was 
cured,  It  is  the 
Sabbath-day ;  it  is 
not  lawful  for  thee 
to  carry  thy  bed. 


1 1  He  ar.fwered 

them,      ile     that 

made 


John  paraphrafed.  319 

one  man  in  fuch  deplorable  circumitances,  that  he 
had  loft  the  ufe  of  his  limbs  for  thirty-eight  f&#a  pad. 

6  When  our  blefted  Lord  came  among  theie  miler- 
able  obje&s,  he  took  particular  notice  of  this  diilrefs- 
ed  man  ;  and  knowing  in  himfelf,  that  he  had  con- 
tinued fo  many  years  in  this  lamentable  condition,  his 
pity  was  moved  toward  him  ;  and  that  he  might  raife 
the  poor  creature's  expectation  of  a  cure,  and  give 
him  an  opportunity  of  declaring  before  the  people  how 
much  he  needed  it,  Jefus  going  up  to  him  faid,  Arc 
you  really  deiirous  to  be  healed  of  your  diftemper  > 

7  The  lame  man  having  no  notion  of  Chrill's  heal- 
ing him,  but  hoping  that  now,  at  laft,  a  kind  friend 
was  come,  who  might  afiift  him  in  getting  into  the 
water,  anfwered  him,  Sir,  the  very  defign  of  my  com- 
ing hither  is  to  wait,  and  try  in  the  bell  manner  I 
can,  for  a  cure  :  But  alas  !  I  am  fo  poor,  that  I  can- 
not hire  a  fervant,  and  fo  negle&ed  and  defpifed,  that 
I  cannot  find  a  friend  to  put  me  into  the  pool  imme- 
diately upon  the  moving  of  its  waters  ;  and  whilil  I 
am  crawling  toward  it,  fome  other  difeafed  perfon 
always  gets  the  itart  of  me,  jumps  in  before  me,  and 
receives  the  benej&t,  which  is  obtained  only  by  him, 
who  gets  in  firft  ;  and  fo  hitherto,  I  have  not  been 
able  to  fucceed  in  my  defire. 

8  Hereupon  Jefus  defigning  to  work  a  miraculous 
cure  upon  him,  and  therein  to  conform  to  the  rule 
that  had  been  fettled  -by  Providence  at  Bethej'do, 
for  healing  only  one  perfon  at  a  time,  faid  to  the 
lame  man,  in  away  of  fovereign  authority,  Get  up, 
and,  taking  your  bed  upon  your  back,  carry  it  hence, 
as  a  proof  that  your  health  and  llrength  are  perfectly 
reftored. 

9  And  fuch  almighty  power  went  forth  with  this 
word  of  command,  that  the  poor  man  was  entirely 
healed  in  a  moment,  and  received  llrength  to  enable 
him  to  obey  Chrill's  order,  which  he  accordingly 
did  by  taking  up  his  bed,  and  carrying  it  away  in. 
the  fight  of  all  the  people  :  And  the  time  when  this 
miracle  was  wrought,  and  this  evidence  given  of  it, 
was  on  a  Sabbath-day. 

10  When  therefore  fome  of  the  Jews  obferved  that 
the  man,  who  was  healed, .  walked  along  the  fticcts 
with  his  bed  upon  his  back,  they  were  offended  at 
it,  and  quarrelled  with  him  about  it,  faying,  This,^ 
you  know,  is  the  Sabbath,  and  it  is  a  profanation  of 
this  holy  day,  for  you  to  carry  your  bed,  or  any  bur- 
den whatfoever  :  How  dare  you  then  be  guilty  of 
fuch  a  great  and  public  lin  ? 

1 1  The  man  replied    in    vindication    of   himfelf, 
WJiat  I  do  ia  bv  the  expref-  command  of  the  very 

T  t  2  perfon 


320 


The  Evan%elifl 


Chap.   v. 


made  me  whole, 
the  fame  laid  unto 
me,  Take  up  thy 
bed  and  walk  ? 


12  Then  afked 
they  him,  What 
man  is  that  which 
laid  unto  thee, 
Take  up  thy  bed 
and  walk  ? 


13  And  he  that 
whs  healed,  wift 
not  who  it  was  : 
for  Jems  had  con- 
veyed himfelf  a- 
way.  a  mulritude 
h^ing'mthat  place. 


perfon  who  miraculoufly  healed  me  in  an  inftant, 
and  enabled  me  for  it  ;  I  could  do  no  lefs  than  obey 
him,  after  he  had  wrought  fuch  a  great  and  merci- 
ful cure  upon  me  ;  and  furely  he,  who  did  it,  mere- 
ly by  fpeaking  a  word,  muft  needs  be  fome  holy  and 
extraordinary  prophet,  and  would  never  bid  me  do 
any  thing  that  is  finful. 

12  Then  they,  fufpe&ing  that  Jefus  had  done 
this,  made  no  inquiry  about  the  miracle  ;  but,  pafs- 
ing  over  that,  faid,  with  a  taunting,  wrathful,  and 
contemptuous  air,  to  him  that  was  healed,  Pray,  what 
man  *  is  he,  who  durft  prefume  to  authorize  your  fo 
notorioufly  breaking  God's  law,  by  carrying  your 
bed  on  the  Sabbath-day  ? 

13  But  (h)  the  healed  man  could  not  inform 
them  who  it  was,  he  having  never  before  feen  Jefus, 
who  had  been  thus  grracious  to  him  :   For  as  foon  as 

o 

Chrifl:  had  cured  him,  he  withdrew  into  the  crowd, 
to  conceal  himfelf  among  them,  there  being  a  vail 
multitude  at  that  place,  and  then  flipped  privately 
away,  that  he  might  prevent  the  confufion  which  was 
like  to  arife  from  his  being  cried  up  by  fome  for  the 
miracle  he  had  wrought,  and  cried  down  by  others 
for  doing,  and  ordering  this  man  to  do,  what,  as 
they  fuperilitioufly  pretended,  was  a  breach  of  the 
Sabbath.  L 

14  Afterwards  the  poor  man,  being  difmiffed, 
went  to  the  temple  +,  to  offer  thankfgivings  to  God 
for  his  miraculous  recovery,  and  to  fhew  that  he  paid 
a  religious  regard  to  the  Sabbath,  notwithstanding 
what  had  been  fuggeited  to  the  contrary  :  And  Je- 
fus going  thither,  as  he  was  wont,  met  with  him 
there  ;  and  fpeaking  to  him  again,  faid,  Behold  how, 
in  the  riches  of  divine  and  diitinguifhing  mercy,  you 
have  been  delivered  from  your  late  fore  affliction, 
contrary  to  your  own  expectations  or  deferts  :  Take 
heed  that  you  do  not  knowingly  commit  any  fin  here- 
after, left,  by  an  abufe  of  this  endearing  inilance  qf 
God's  goodnefs,  you  bring  upon  yourfelf  worfe  mi- 
ieries  than  ever  you  yet  felt,  to  the  ruin  of  your  im- 
mortal foul. 

15  At  this  fecond  interview  the  man  found  wlio 
it  was  that  had  fo  miraculoufly  healed  him  ;  and  he 
imprudently,  though  with  a  good  intention  to  do 
honour  to  his  great  Phyfic'an,  went  to  feme  of  the 
chief  of  the  Jews,  and  told  them  that  jefus  of  Na-za- 

reth 
NOTES. 
*  They  feemed  to  call  him  a  man>  by    be  done  which  they  prefumed  to  fay  was 
way  of  contempt,   to  infinuate  that  he    a  violation  of  the  law  of  God. 
was  no  more  than  a  man,  and  therefore        f    This  was  probably  on  the  fame  day, 
could  have  no  authority  to  order  that  to    as  foon  as  he  had  difpofed  of  his  bed. 


14  Afterward 
Jefus  findeth  him 
in  the  temple,  and 
faid  unto  him,  Be- 
hold, thou  art 
made  whole  :  fin 
110  more,  left  a 
Worfe  thing  come 
unto  thee. 


.  1  he  man  de- 
(  d,     and     told 

1  he  Jews  that  it 
jefus    which 

h:id      made      him 

whole. 


Chap.  v. 


x6  And  there- 
fore did  the  Jews 
penecute  Jefus, 
and  fought  to  flay 
him,  becaufe  he 
had  done  thee 
things  on  the  Sab- 
bath-day. 


17  But  Jefus  an- 
fwered  them,  My 
Father  worketh 
hitherto,  and  I 
^vork. 


John  paraphrafed. 


iS  Therefore  the 
Jews  fought  the 
more  to  kill  him, 
becaufe  he  not  on- 
ly had  broken  the 
Sabbath,  but  faid 
alfo  that  God  was 
his 


*  It  is  obfervable  that  the  Jews,  in 
their  queftion.  Ov'eP.  12.)  took  no  no- 
tice of  the  miracle,  but  only  afked  what 
man  had  ordered  this  perfon  to  take  up 
his  bed  and  walk  :  But  the  man,  in  his 
account  of  Jefus  took  no  notice  of  his  or- 
dering him  to  carry  his  bed,  but  only  of 
his  making  him  whole  ;  which  lhews 
that  the  information  this  man  gave  was 
not  from  any  ill  will  to  Chrift,  as  their 
inquiry  was ;  but  that  he  detigned  it  for 
the  honour  of  his  great  Benefactor. 

f  It  was  Chrift's  working  the  miracle, 
rather  than  his  ordering  the  man  to  car- 
ry his  bed,  that  ftung  the  Jews,  and  put 
them  upon  taking  occalion  to  charge 
him  with  breaking  the  Sabbath,  as  ap- 
pears from  our  Lord's  anfwering  only  to 
this  ground  of  the  charge,  which  in  courfe 
Tvould  confute  the  whole  of  it. 


321 

reth  was  the  perfon  who  had  *  miraculoufly  wrought 
the  great  cure  upon  him. 

1 6  But  the  Jews,  inftead  of  admiring  fo  undoubt- 
ed and  merciful  a  miracle,  which  was  an  evident  de- 
monflration  of  Chrift's  divine  power  and  goodnefs, 
were  provoked  at  it,  and  took  occafion  from  thence 
to  fet  themfelves  with  the  greateit  malignity  againil 
him,  and  even  to  thirft  for  his  blood,  becaule  he 
had  healed  the  lame  man  -h,  as  well  as  ordered  him 
to  cany  his  bed,  on  the  Sabbath,  which  they  called 
fuch  an  open  profanation  of  that  facred  day,  as  was 
worthy  of  death. 

17  But  our  Lord,  to  defend  what  he  had  done, 
faid  to  them,  Though  God,  my  Father,  has  inilituted 
a  Sabbath  for  man,  ye  mult  all  own  that  he  never- 
thelefs  has  all  along,  from  the  creation  hitherto,  con- 
tinually performed  his  providential  works  of  power 
and  goodnefs  on  the  Sabbath,  as  well  as  on  other 
days  ;  and  I,  his  Son,  partaking  of  his  nature  and 
perfections,  am  undivided  in  operation  from'  him  : 
Our  work  and  authority  are  the  fame  in  the  preserva- 
tion and  government  of  all  things  ;  and  therefore  as 
none  can  pretend  to  fay,  that  what  my  Father  does 
on  the  Sabbath,  is  any  breach  upon  the  holy  reft 
of  that  day  ;  fo  there  is  no  juft  ground  to  object 
againft  what  I  have  done,  who  am  a  co-worker  with 
him,  as  if  it  were  a  violation  of  the  Sabbath  ±. 

18  The  Jews,  at  the  hearing  of  this,  were  ftili 
more  abundantly  enraged,  and  determined  to  do  their 
utmoil  to  put  him  to  death,  becaufe  he  had  not  only 
done  what  they  infilted.was  a  profanation  of  the  Sab- 
bath, but,  to  juitify  himfelf,  had  added  the  higheffc 
blafphemy  to  impiety,  by  calling  God  his  own  pro- 

per 
NOTES. 

%  This  way  of  our  blefied  Lord's  argu- 
ing, from  his  Father's  working  to  his 
own,  plainly  intimates  that  he  fpeaks  of 
himfelf  as  one  with  his  Father  in  nature 
and  operation  ;  otherwife  the  argument 
lofes  its  force, and  beauty  :  For  if  a  mere 
creature,  who  only  receives  a  commiffion 
from  God,  as  for  inltance,  a  prophet  or 
an  apoftlc,  were  to  fay,  God  does  whate- 
ver he  pleafes,  and  therefore  I  have  a 
right  to  do  whatever  I  pleafe  likewife  on 
the  Sabbath-day  :  Who  would  not  fee 
the  reafoning  to  be  inconciufive  nnd  ab- 
furd  ?  Eut  underftanding  our  Lord  to 
fpeak  of  himfelf,  as  one  in  nature  and  o- 
peration  with  the  Father  in  all  his 
works,  the  argument  is  irrefiftiblc  ;  and 
it  is  evident  from  the  following  verfe, 
that  the  Jews  underftood  him  in  this 
peculiar  and  exalted  fenfe. 


322 


The  Evangetijl 


Chap.  v. 


bis  Father,  making  per  Father,  (txti^x.  idiov)  in  fo  peculiar  and  eminent 
himfelf  equal  with  a  fenfe,  as  amounted  to  no  lefs  than  a  claim  of  equality 
Got*-  in  authority,  power,  and  operation  with  God  him- 

felf*. 
i 9  Then  anfwcr-        1 9  In  anfwer  to  this,  our  blefled  Lord  was  fo  far 
<rd  Jefus,  and  laid    from  blaming  the  Jews  for  wrefting  his  words,  that 
unto  them  Venly,    he  w£nt  Qn  tQ  vindicate  them  in  the  moft  fubHme  fenfc 
verily,    I  lav  unto      ,  ...  ,  r     .  T         , 

you,  The  Son  ran   that  could  be  put  upon  them,  laying,  I,    who  am 

<lo  nothing  of  him-  Truth  itfelf,  folemnly  affure  you,  that  the  union  be- 

felf,  but  what  he  tween  the  Father  and  Son,  is  fo  fingular  and  eflen- 

ieeth    the    Father  tjaj    an(j  fa      are  fQ  undivided  in  their  actings,  and  in 

«lo:  tor  what  things  ^,     •         •   .      J  1        ,       ,      ,    c  ,         ,  °  A, 

foever     he     doth  "ieir  privity  to  each  other  s  defigns,  that  the  Son  can 

thefe  alfo  doth  the'  do  nothing  of  his  own  head,  or  feparately  from  the 
Son  iikewife.  Father,   without  his  confent  and  co-operation,   but 

only  concurs  with  the  Father  in  all  the  works,  which, 
by  his  intimate  acquaintance  with  him,  he  fees  him 
doing  :  For  all  things  that  the  Father  himfelf  effects, 
4  in  the  continual  agency  of  his  Providence,  (rxvrx) 
the  very  fame  does  the  Son  alfo  perform,  by  his  co- 
operation with  him  ;  and  that  (e^e^s)  in  the  very 
fame  manner,  with  the  fame  divine  power  and  autho- 
rity, with  which  the  Father  himfelf  performs  them  : 
So  that  the  Father  no  more  does  them  without  the 
Son,  than  the  Son  without  him. 

20  For  they  being  as  much  united  in  will  and  af- 
fection, as  in  nature  and  power,  the  Father  has  fuch 
an  infinite  complacency  in  his  Son,  that  he  delights 
in  communicating  counfels  with  him,  and  in  laying 
he  will  (hew  him  open  all  his  defigns  and  operations  to  him  ;  fo  that 
greater  works  than  no  one  thing,  that  is  done  by  the  Father,  is  ever  hid 
thefe,  that  ye  may    from  the  gQn  ,  .   And    In  thc   further  courfe   of  h(s 

marvel.  '  ,.r       r    . 

diipenlations, 

NO    T    E    S. 

*   The  Jews  themfelves  often  called  as  the  Meffiah  :   Then  thefe  expreflions 

God  their  Father,  and  would  never  have  are  to  be  underftood  with  refpecl  to  his 

found    fault   with,    much    lefs   charged  doing~nothing  in  the  execution  of  his  of- 

blafphemy  upon  any,  that  came  to  them  fice,  but  by  eomraiflion  from  his  Father, 

under  the  character  of  a 'prophet,   for  and  nothing  but  what  the   Father,   by 

ufing  the  fame  ftile  :  And  therefore  they  the  unction  of  his  Spirit,   intimates  to 

mull  be  fuppofed  to  underftand  our  Lord,  him  that  he  fliould  do  ;  and  the  Father's 

as  fpeaking  of  God,  as  his  Father,   in  a  fljewing  him  thefe  things,  as  to  be  done 

fenle  fuperior  to  any  covenant  or  office-  by  him,  is  an  undeniable  proof  of  the  Fa- 

jelation,    and   in  a  fenfe  fo  peculiar  to  ther's  approbation  of  him,   and  pleafure 

himfelf  as  to  intimate  his  partaking  of  in  him,  and  in  all  that  he  does  as  Medi- 

the  fame  nature   and   perfections   with  ator  :    And  were  we  to  take  it  in  this 

him  ;    or  elfe  there  would  have  been  no  light,  what  our  blefled  Lord  here  fays  a- 

room  for  their  imagining  or  fug ge (ling,  bout  his  doing  what  things  f&ever  the 

that  by  this  claim  of  relation  to  God  as  Father  does,    and  in  the  fame  manner 

his  Father,  he  made  himfelf  equal  with  with  him,  and  his  Yz^tr'^Jhewing  him 

God.  all  things  that  himfelf  does,  represents 

f  If,  as  fome  think,   the  Soil's  doing  him  as  receiving  fuch  an  high  office  from 

fiothmg  of  himfelf ,  but  what  he  fees  the  his  Father,  and  fuch  powers  for  difchar- 

Father  do,  and  the  Father's  loving  him,  ging  it,  as  he  could  not  be  capable  of 
(ind  f hewing  him  all  things  that  himfelf  exercifing,    unlefs  he  were  the  Son  of 

does,   6c.c   relate  to  his  office- character  God  in  fo  high  and  proper  a  fenfe,  as  to 

be 


20  For  the  Fa- 
ther loveth  the  Son, 
and  fheweth  him 
/til  things  that  he 
himfelf  doth  :    and 


Chap.  v. 


a  i  Tor  as  the 
Father  raifeth  up 
the  dead,  and 
quickeneth  them 


he  will. 


John  paraphrafed.  323 

difpcnfations,  he  will  fhew  him  in  real  events  of  his 
power  and  goodnefs,  and  will  perform  by  him,  and 
together  with  him,  much  greater  works  than  healing 
a  lame  man,  that  thofe  of  }rou,  who  mall  believe,  may 
be  filled  with  holy  wonder  and  praife,  and  that  others 
of  you,  who  will  neverthelefs  continue  obilinate  in 
your  unbelief,  may  be  aftonilhed,  and  even  confound- 
ed at  them. 

2 1  For,  to  inftance  in  fome  of  thefe  greater  works, 
which  the  Son  does  in  the  fame  manner  with  the  Fa- 
ther, and  which  he  could  not  do  in  the  execution  of 

even  fo  the  Son  his  office,  as  the  Meffiah,  unlefs  he  were  partaker  of 
quickeneth  whom  the  divine  nature  :  As  it  is  undoubtedly  the  pecu- 
liar property  of  God  to  raife  the  dead,  and  reftore 
them  to  life,  and  the  Father  has  done,  and  whene- 
ver he  pleafes  can  do  this  ;  even  fo,  by  the  fame 
power  and  authority,  and  with  like  fovereignty,  the 
Son  quickens  them,  who  were  dead  in  trefpafles  and 
fins,  to  a  fpiritual  life,  and  raifes  them  to  corporal 
life  again,  who  were  literally  dead,  whenever  he 
will  *. 

22  For  God  the  Father  does  not  referve  merely 
to  himfelf,  nor  exercife  immediately  by  himfelf,  even 
that  prerogative  of  deity,  which  confifts  in  ordering 
all  the  concerns  of  providence  and  grace  here,  and 
in  managing  the  final  judgment  hereafter;  but  has  put 
the  immediate  exercife  of  thefe  divine  powers  into 
the  hands  of  his  incarnate  Son. 

23  And  this  he  has  done  to  this  end,  that,  inftead 
of  any  one's  being  Humbled  and  offended  at  the  incar- 
nation and  humiliation  of  the  Son  of  God,  all  men 
might  be  induced,  by  his  bearing  and  executing  this 
high  commiflion  in  human  nature,  to  pay  the  fame 
religious  adoration,  worihip,  and  obedience  to  him,, 
as  they  are  obliged  to  pay  to  the  Father  himfelf : 
And  the  Father  fo  peremptorily  infifls  upon  this,  as 

to 
K    O     T    E    S. 
be  partaker  of  the  fame  divine  nature    would  have  done  had  he  been  incarnate, 


22  For  the  Fa- 
ther judgeth  no 
man  ;  but  hath 
committed  all 

judgment  unto  the 
Son  : 


23  That  all  men 
fliould  honour  the 
Son,  even  as  they 
honour  the  Father. 
He  that  honoureth 
not  the  Son,  ho- 
noureth not  the 
Father  which  hath 
fent  him. 


and  perfections  with  the  Father,  and  to 
be  intimately  one  with  him.  But  it 
does  not  appear  to  me  that  it  could  be 
faid  of  Chrift,  merely  as  the  Meffiah,  ef- 
pecially  in  his  ftate  of  humiliation,  that 
nvhatfoever  th'mgs  the  Father  did,  the 
very  fame  did  the  Son,  and  that  in  the 
fame  maimer  ;  or  that  the  Father  fhew- 
ed  him  univerfally  all  things  that  him- 
lelt  did  :  And  therefore  I  rather  incline 
to  the  fenfe  given  of  it  in  the  paraphrafe, 
as  relating  to  the  Son,  confidered  in  his 
original  nature,  who  as  fuch  was  capa- 
ble of  performing  all  thofe  works  which 
belong  to  his  office,  in  as  divine  and  God- 
like a  manner,    a3  the  Father  himfelf 


*  It  feems  to  me,  as  if  Chrift,  in  this 
and  the  next  verte,  fpeaks  of  railing  and 
quickening  the  dead,  and  of  all  judg- 
ment being  committed  to  him-;  in  an  ex- 
tenfive  view,  as  relating  both  to  the  ad- 
miniftration  of  his  kingdom  in  this  world, 
and  to  his  railing  the  dead,  and  pafljng 
the  final  fentence  upon  all  mankind  in 
the  world  to  come  ;  and  that,  in  the  fol- 
lowing verfrs,  he  enlarges  upon  each  of 
thefe  articles  diftincftly,  as  we  (hall  fee 
when  we  come  to  them  :  Otherwife  it 
may  be  difficult  to  account  for  his  re- 
peating expreffions  of  this  nature  fo  of- 
ten in  Co  lhort  a  difcourie-  See  the  note 
on  vcP*  25. 


324 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  v. 


condemnation ;  but 
is  patted  from  death 
unto  life. 


to  account  that,  after  fuch  a  revelation  of  the  Mef- 

fiah,  whoever  does  not  in  this  manner  honour   the 

Son,  does  not  truly  honour  the  Father  himfelf,  who 

glorieth  in  having  fuch  a  Son,  and  has  fent  him  with 

all  authority  to  exert  thefe  peculiar  prerogatives  of 

deity,  that  he  might  be  owned  and  homaged  as  a 

Divine  Perfon. 

24  Verily,  veri-        24    I,    the  faithful  and  true  Witnefs,    who  have 

ly,  I  fay  unto  you,   told  you  that  all  judgment  is  committed  to  me,  do  fo- 

He    that    heareth   iemniy  amJre  you    that  the  rule,  by  which  I  proceed 

my  word,   and  be-     .         /       .       /.        TIT1  ,  J  ,      r  , 

lieveth  on  him  that    therein,    is   this,     Whoever   hears,    attends   to,   and 

fent  me,  hath  ever-  heartily  receives  my  doctrine,  particularly  with  rela- 
laiting  life,  and  tion  to  my  being  the  Son  of  God,  and  the  true  Mef- 
■  hah  ;  and  whofoever  believes  on  my  Father,  who 
hath  fent  me  to  exercife  thole  divine  powers,  as  the 
Mefliah,  has  a  right  and  title  to,  and  the  beginnings, 
principles,  and  earnefts  of  eternal  life  ;  and  he  fhall 
never  fall  under  the  condemning  fentence  of  the  law, 
or  be  caft  in  the  future  judgment  ;  but  is  already 
translated  from  a  Hate  of  condemnation  to  death,  in- 
to a  Hate  of  juftification  of  life  :  And  in  order  here- 
unto, 

25    I,    who  am  Truth  itfelf,    afiuredly  tell  you, 
ly,  I  fay  unto  you,   tjjat  the  time  is  jufl  at  hand,    and  is  even  already  be- 

^  hanUd    now?*"  gUn'    when  thc?  that  are  dead   h   trefPaffes   and'   fms 

■when     the    dead  mau"  near  tne  v°ice  of  the  Divine  Mefliah,    as  fpeak- 

ihall  hear  the  voice  ing  by  his  *  word  and  Spirit  with  powerful  energy, 

of  the  Son  of  God  ;  to  quicken  them  to  the  obedience  of  faith ;   and  every 

"li^fZ  that  hear   one  wno  tnus  nears  lt9  ma^  ^ve  f°r  ever  :   And,  as  an 
emblem  of  this,    his  mighty  power  mall  foon  be  feen 
in  raifmg  fome  perfons  to  life,    who  were  corporally 
dead  ;  and  both  thefe  are  alike  eafy  to  him. 
16    For  as   the        26   For  as  the  Father  is  the  fountain  of  life,  who 
1    has  it  neceffarily,    and  in  the  moil  perfect  manner  in 
himfelf,  and  communicates  it  to  all  the  living  ;    fo  in 
the  difpenfation,  whereby  he  has  conftituted  his  own 
eflentially  living  Son  to  be  the  Mefliah,  he  has  grant- 
ed to  him  f ,  that  in  his  incarnate  itate,  and  in  the  exe- 
cution 
NOTES. 


25   Verily,  veri- 


fhall  live. 


himfelf.  fo  hath  he 
given  to  the  Son 
to  have  life  in  him- 
felf; 


*  The  gofpel  is  called  Ch rift's  voice, 
{chap.  x.  16.)  and  of  this  he  fays,  The 
ivords  that  I /peak,  they  are  are  fpirit, 
and  they  are  life;  (chap.  vi.  6;.)  and  he 
foon  oave  a  vifible  reprefentation  of  his 
quickening  power,  in  his  railing  feveral 
perfoni  to  life  that  were  literally  dead, 
before  his  own  death,  and  at  his  own  re- 
furreclion :  So  that  what  he  here  fays  a- 
bout  raifing  the  dead,  and  in  ver.  27.  a- 
bout  executing  judgment,  feems  evident- 
ly to  refer  to  the  power  which  he  then 
was  beginning;  to  exercife  in  the  admini- 
ftration  of  his  kingdom  intfiis  world ;  be- 


caufe  thefe  are  diilinguifhed  from  the  ge- 
neral refurrection  and  judgment  at  the 
laft  day,  which  are  fpokcn  of  vet:  28,  29. ; 
(fee  the  note  on  ver.  2.  i.)  and  becaufe  it 
was  prophefied,  that  the  Meftiah  fljould 
execute  judgment  andjuflice  in  the  earth, 
and  that,  in  his  days  Judahjhould  he  fa- 
iled, &c.  and  he  /hould  be  called,  THE 
LORD  OUR  RIGHTEOUSNESS,  Jer. 
xxiii.   5,  6. 

f  Some  judicious  expofitors  think,  that 

the  Father's  giving  to  the  Son  to  have 

life  in  himfelf  relates  to  the  eternal  and 

inconceivable  generation  of  the  Son,  by 

*  whi'-K. 


Chap.  v. 


27  And  hath  gi- 
ven him  authority 
to  execute  judg- 
ment alio,  becaufe 


man. 


John  paraphrafcd.  325 

cution  of  his  office,  he  (hail  have  this  life  in  himfelf, 
with  authority  to  communicate  life  to  others,,  in  rai- 
ling them  from  the  dead,  by  his  own  fund  of  quick- 
ening power,   which  is  inherent  in  himfelf. 

27  The  Father  has  likewife  committed  a  judicial 
power  to  him,  in  his  office-capacity,  to  fave  his  favou- 
rites from  wrath,  and  execute  righteous  vengeance 
he  is  the  Son  of  on  his  enemies,  (Jer.  xxiii.  5,  6.)  becaufe,  being  the 
Son  of  God,  he  condefcended  to  take  upon  him  hu- 
man nature,  that  he  might  bear  and  difcharge  the  of- 
fice of  the  Mefiiah,  for  the  falvation  of  thofe  that  re- 
ceive him,  and  for  the  deftru&ion  of  thofe  that  reject 
him  ;  and  fo  men  might  live  or  die,  and  be  juliiiied 
or  condemned  by  the  authority  of  one,  who  partakes 
of  their  own  nature,  as  he  is  the  Son  of  man. 

28,  29  Let  it  not  be  thought  ftrange  by  any  of, 
you,  that  I  fpeak  of  the  Son's  doing  the  things  be- 
fore-mentioned very  quickly,  in  the  adminiilration  of 
his  kingdom  on  earth  :  For  I  will  tell  you  of  Hill 
much  greater  and  more  furprifing  things  of  this  kind, 
which  he  will  do  at  the  end  of  the  world.  The  great 
day  is  coming,  when  all  the  individuals  of  mankind, 
who  now  are,  or  by  that  time  will  be  dead  and  buri- 
ed, (hall  hear  his  powerful  and  awful  voice  to  raiie 
and  they  that  have  t^m  QUt  of  ^ jr  o-raves,  and  to  bring  them  before  his 
done      evil       unto    .  °  '  ° 

the  refurreclion  of  judgment-feat :   Then  all  the  good  and  holy,  that  faali 
damnation.  be  found  to  have  proved  the  fincerity  of  their  faith 

by  their  works,  mail  be  quickened  by  his  Spirit,  as 
the  Head  of  the  body,  and  fhall  be  adjudged  to  a  glo- 
rious and  bleiTed  ftate  of  immortal  life  ;  and  all  that 
fhall  have  perfifted  in  their  fins,  and  lived  and  died 
workers  of  iniquity,  mail  be  raifed  by  his  power,  as 
Lord  of  all,  and  ft all  receive  a  dreadful  fentence  of 
condemnation,  to  their  utter  and  everlaiting  ruin. 
30  The  fain  therefore  of  what  I  infitt  upon, 
my^defence  againit  your  accufation,    is  this  '  , 


2S  Marvel  not 
at  this :  for  the 
hour  is  coming,  in 
the  which  all  that 
are  in  the  graves 
fliall  hear  his  voice, 
29  And  fhall 
come  forth,  they 
that  have  done 
good,  unto  the  re- 
Hirreclion  of  life  ; 


30  I  can  of  mine 
uwn    felt"    do    no- 
thins  : 


which  the  fame  perfection  of  life  was  ne- 
ceflarily  communicated  to  him,  as  is  in  the 
Father  himfelf:  But  others  underltand  it 
of  an  economical  communication  of  life 
to  the  Son,  as  man  and  Mediator,  found- 
ed upon,  and  anfwerable  to,  his  original 
participation  of  the  fame  divine  life  with 
the  Father.  And  1  rather  incline  to  the 
laft  of  thefe  fenfes,  becaufe  of  the  clofe 
connection  there  is  between  this  and 
what  is  faid  in  the  following  verfe,  about 
the  Father's  giving  bim  authority  to  exe- 
cute j 'udgment \  both  of  which  are  brought 
in  as  proofs,  not  of  what  our  Lord  had 
faid  about  his  doing  all  things  in  the 
fame  manner  that  the  Father  does  them, 


Vol.  II. 


in 

am 
that 
NOTES. 

(jver.  19.)  but  of  what  he  had  faid  in  the 
immediately  foregoing  verfe,  about  the 
Son's  quickening  the  dead,  in  the  admi- 
niilration of  his  kingdom;  and  becaufe  i»: 
feems  to  me  that  his  being  the  Sen  ', 
is  added  at  the  clofe  of  the  next  verfe, 
(foer.  27.)  as  the  reafon  of  both  thefe  do 
nations. 

*  Dr.  Clarke  obferves,  that  the  fame 
words  are  repeated  here  which  began  thr 
difcourfe  ver.  19.  There  they  are  ov  fv 
valai  0  vior  reontt  ay.  iavlov  ovSiv,  the  Son 
ran  do  nothing  of  himfelf ;  and  here  they 
are,  ou  $v*xfx.xi  tyu  tzqiiu  oltt  i/*uv1ov 
ovftv,  I  can  of  thine  oiunfelf  do  nothing, 
which  fliews  that    our  Lord   here   re- 


U  u 


fumes, 


326 


The  Evangciift 


Chap.  v. 


thing  :  as  I  hear  I  tliat  Son  of  God,  who  is  partaker  of  the  fame  divine 
jud.e  :  and  my  nature  and  perfections  with  the  Father,  and  has  ta- 
judgment  is  juft:    ken  hi        h       ffi         f    h     Meffiah  to  do  thofe 

becaufe  I  leek  not  *\  .  ...  .     ,  r 

mine  own  will  but  great  things,  whicn  none  but  iucn  a  bon  ot  the  ra- 
the will  of  the  Fa-  thcr  could  poffibly  perform  ;  and  therefore  I  can  do 
rher  which  hath  nothing  of  myfe'lf  feparately  from,  much  lefs  in  con- 
trariety to  him  :  But,  according  to  what  I  am  origi- 
nally and  perfectly  *  acquainted  with  as  his  Son,  and 
according  to  the  instructions  which  I  receive  from 
him  as  the  Meffiah  ;  fo  I  proceed  in  the  adminiftra- 
tion  of  all  the  affairs  of  my  kingdom,  both  in  this 
world,  and  in  that  which  is  to  come  :  Whatsoever 
therefore  I  do,  cannot  but  be  right  and  juft,  becaufe 
I  therein  neither  aim  at,  nor  purfue  any  private  will 
of  my  own,  different  from,  much  lefs  in  oppofition 
to  that  of  my  Father  ;  but  have  the  ftricteft  regard 
in  every  thing  to  what  is  entirely  agreeable  to  his  mind 
and  will,  and  to  the  commiffion,  for  the  difcharge 
of  which  he  .has  fent  me  into  the  world. 

31    I  indeed  readily  acknowledge,   that,  if  I  only 
affirm  thefe  things  concerning  myfelf,  and  can  pro- 
duce no  credentials  to  Support  my  teflimony,  this  a- 
lone  is  not  a  Sufficient  proof  of  its  truth,  according  to 
the  ufual  courfe  of  men's  judging  ;  and  therefore  I 
wrill  not  reft. the  matter  here,  but  proceed  to  other 
evidence. 
32  There  is  ano-        32   There  is  another  perSon,  even  \  John  the  Bap- 
ther  that  beareth    tifi,  who  expreSsly  Said  concerning  me,    "this  is  the 
witnefs  of  me,  and    s      0f  God  ;   (chap.   i.    24.)    and  I  know  that  his 
I   know    that    the        „.  J  .        v      .  \  , 

witne 
witneffeth 
is  true. 


31  It  I  bear  wit- 
ness of  my'.eif,  my 
witnefs  is  not  true. 


of   me 


33  Ye  fent  unto 
John,  and  he  bare 
-witnefs  unto  the 
truth. 


is  which  he  teflimony  is  certainly  true,  and  dare  appeal  to  it  as 
Such  ;  nor  can  ye  yourf elves  juftly  object  againft  it, 
fmce  ye  owned  him  to  be  a  prophet,  and  Submitted 
to  his  baptiSm  under  that  character. 

33  Yea,  So  high  was  your  opinion  of  John,  that, 
even  when  ye  were  met  in  council  at  Jerufs/em,  ye 
fent  priefts  and  Levites  with  a  Solemn  meffage  to  him, 
to  inquire  who  he  was,  as  doubting  whether  he  him- 
felf  were  not  the  Meffiah  ;  and  he  honeftly  and  plain- 
ly declared  the  truth,  without  favour  or  affection, 
faying,  That  he  was  not  the  Chrijf,  hut  that  I  a?n 
he  who  came  after  him,  and  am  preferred  hefore 
him,  becaufe.  In  my  divine  nature,  /  war  before  him. 
(Chap    i.    19, — 30.) 

34  But  I  have  no  need  of  being  beholden  to  hjs, 

or 

N     O    T    E    S. 

bore  witnefs  of  Chrift,  is  meant  God  the 
Father.  But  his  witnefs  is  exprefsly  men- 
tioned <ver.  ■57.  ;  and  both  the  conitruc- 
tion  and  connection  of  this  fentence  molt 
naturally  lead  us  to  underftand  our  Lord, 


34  But  I  receive 
not 


fumes,  and  returns  to  the  head  of  the  dif- 
courfe. 

*  Fearing  is  in  this  place  put  for  the 
moft  intimate  and  exacl  knowledge  of  a 
thing. 


I  Some  fnppofe  that  by  this  other,  who    as  here  (peaking  of  John  the  BaptijU 


Chap.  v. 

not  teftimony  from 
man  :  but  thefe 
things  I  fay,  that 
ye  might  be  fa- 
ved. 


John  paraphrafed. 


3^7 


35  He  was  a 
burning  and  a  mi- 
ning light  :  and 
ye  were  willing 
for  a  feafon  to  re- 
joice ia  his  light. 


36  But  I  have 
greater  witnefs 
than  that  of  John  : 
for  the  works  which 
the  Father  hath 
given  me  to  finifh, 
the  fame  works 
that  I  do,  bear  wit- 
nefs of  me,  that  the 
Father  hath  fent 
me. 


37  And  the  Fa- 
ther himfei.f  which 
hath  fent  me,  hath 
borne  Witnefs  of 
me.  Ye  have  nei- 
ther heard  his 
voice  at  any  time, 
nor  feen  his  ihape. 


or  any  man's  teftimony  what  foe  vcv,  to  eftablim  my 
divine  and  mediatorial  characters,  having  flill  higher 
evidence  to  produce  :  Neverthelefs,  I  am  willing  to 
remind  you  of  what  John  faid  concerning  me,  not 
for  mine  own  fake,  but  for  yours,  in  condefcenfion 
to  your  weaknelTes  and  infirmities,  that  I  might  rea- 
fon  with  you  upon  your  own  principles,  and  that  no 
proper  means  might  be  omitted  for  your  conviction 
and  falvation. 

35  Though  John  the  Baptijl  was  not  (to  <pagf 
chap.  i.  8.)  that  true  light,  which  was  to  come  into 
the  world,  to  enlighten  the  Gentiles,  and  to  he  the  glo- 
ry of  Ifrael.  (Luke  ii.  32.)  but  was  only  (0  Xvyjo;) 
a  lamp,  or  fubordinate  light ;  yet  he  was  really  a 
great  man,  full  of  hojy  zeal  and  wifdom  in  his  doc^ 
trine  and  life,  which  were  admirably  fuited,  under 
the  influence  of  divine  grace,  to  warm  the  heart,  and 
enlighten  the  mind  :  And  ye  were  fo  affected  with 
them,  at  his  firit  appearing  among  you,  that,  for  a 
little  while,  ye  efteemed  and  received  him  as  an  emi- 
nent prophet,  and  were  even  in  a  tranfport  of  wonder 
and  joy  at  what  ye  faw  in  him,  and  heard  from  him, 
till  he  came  to  reprove  you  fharply  for  your  fins,  and 
to  give  a  plain  teftimony  to  me  ;  then  indeed  your 
language  was,  he  has  a  devil.      (Luke  vii.  33.) 

36  But  I  have  ftill  much  more  clear  and  unexcep- 
tionable teftimonies  to  produce  than  that  of  John  : 
For  the  evident  miracles,  which  I  have  begun  already 
to  perform  among  you,  and  the  ftill  greater  works, 
which  I  have  told  you  I  am  commifiioned  by  my  Fa- 
ther, and  (hall  go  on  to  do,  till  I  have  perfected  all 
that  belongs  to  my  office  ;  thefe  wonderful  works 
themfelves,  which  I  myfelf  do  by  my  own  power, 
are  fo  great,  fo  good,  and  holy,  and  fo  undeniably 
divine,  as  to  carry  plain  credentials  of  my  being,  in 
the  higheft  fenfe,  the  Son  of  the  Father,  and  the 
true  Meffiah,  whom  he  has  fent  into  the  world. 

37  Yea,  to  advance  yet  further,  God  the  Father 
himfelf,  whofe  Son  I  am,  and  from  whom  I  have 
my  office-power,  has  directly  bore  witnefs  to  me,  by 
the  heaven's  opening,  and  the  Spirits  defcending 
like  a  dove  ai.d  lighting  upon  we,  and  by  an  audible 
voice  immediately  from  heaven  at  my  baptifm,  faying, 
This  is  my  heloved  Son,  in  whom  I  am  well  plea-led. 
(Matth.  iii.  16,  17.)  That  was  a  very  extraordina- 
ry teftimony  to  me,  fuch  as  fuits  your  own  define  of 
a  fign  from  heaven  ;  and  none  of  your  nation,  how 
highly  focver  ye  have  been  favoured  of  God,  have  at 

time  before  heard  the  Father  himfelf  fpeak  with 
U  u   2 


323 


The  Evangeli/l 


Chap.  v. 


3S  And  ye  have 
rot  his  word  abi- 
ding in  you  ;  for 
whom  he  hath  fent, 
him  ye  believe  not. 


39    Search    the 
fcriptures :    for   in 

t he m   ye  think   ye 
e   eternal  life  : 


me 


an  audible  voice,    or  ever  feen  a  vifible  appearance  * 
of  his  glory. 

38  And  though  he  has  now  given  teftimony  to 
me  in  this  immediate  manner,  as  well  as  formerly  by 
his  prophets  ;  yet  his  word,  in  either  of  thefe  ways 
of  delivering  it,  makes  no  lading  imprefiion  upon 
you,  to  engage  your  faith  in  me  :  For,  after  all,  ye 
will  not  believe  in  me,  who  am  thus  plainly  proved 
to  be  fent  of  the  Father. 

39  Ye  Jeivs  profefs  f  to  fearchthe  fecret  writings 
of  infpired  men,  and  are  indeed  often  converfant  with 
them,  as  they  are  read  in  your  fynagogues  every  Sab- 

and  they  arc  they  bath-day,  as  many  of  you  get  fome  portions  of  them 
which  teftiiy  of  by  heart,  and  as  they  are  ihidied  by  your  learned 
rabbies  to  put  their  own  gloffes  upon  them  :  But 
carefully  examine  them  again,  read  and  fearch  them 
to  the  very  bottom,  and  impartially  obferve  what 
they  fay,  that  ye  may  underfland  the  mind  and  will 
of  God  in  them,  which  concerns  every  one  of  you, 
whether  learned  or  unlearned.  I  appeal  to  thele  au- 
thentic records,  and  ye  cannot  juftly  refufe  this  ap- 
peal ;  for  ye  yourfelves  apprehend  and  profefs  to  be- 
lieve, that  in  them  is  contained  the  true  dodtrine  of 
eternal  life  ;  yea,  fo  high  is  your  opinion  of  them, 
as  to  think,  according  to  a  prevailing  corrupt  notion 
among  you,  that  he,  who  has  the  words  of  the  law, 
is  fafe  for  heaven  :  Now  thefe  very  fcriptures  are  my 
witneffes  ;  they,  in  their  types,  promifes,  and  pro- 
phecies, point  to  me,  and  fay  the  very  fame  things,  in 
effedt,  that  I  have  faid  of  myfelf,  and  that  my  Fa- 
ther has  faid  by  a  voice  from  heaven,  concerning  me. 

40  And,  notwithstanding  all  this  evidence,  your 
pride  and  prejudices,  carnality  and  wilful  obftinacy, 
are  fo  great,  that  ye  will  not  receive,  apply  to,  or 
truft  in  me,  that  ye  might  have  pardon  and  peace, 
life  and  blefTednefs,  and  all  falvation  by  me,  in  whom 
alone  it  is  to  be  found. 

41  I  neither  need,  nor  have,  nor  feek  after  the 
applaufe  of  men  ;  nor  do  I  affect  that  external  pomp 

and 
NOTES. 
*  EiSos  rendtrcdjbape,  fignifies  an  ap-    and  appearances  of  God,   under  the  Old 


4*  And  ye  will 
not'  come  to  me, 
That  ye  might  have 
Ufe. 


41  I  receive  not 
honour  from  men. 


pearance  or  reprelentation.  And  as  ma- 
ny of  the  'Je'ujs  heard  the  Father's  voice, 
and  faw  the  vifible  reprefentation  he 
made  at  Chrift's  baptifm  ;  and,  as  after 
this,  they  heard  a  voice  to  him  from  hea- 
ven, (chap.  xii.  28,  29.)  what  is  here 
faid  teems  to  relate,  not  to  thefe  parti- 
cular perfons,  but  to  the  nation  of  the 

;  and  ftrongly  intimates  that  this 
was  a  peculiar  privilege,  nuhlch  none  of 
their  ance/lors  were  ever  favoured  with  ; 

by  confequence,  that  ail  the  voices 


Teftament,  were  not  of  the  Father,  but 
of  the  Son,  as  prefages  of  his  incarna- 
tion :  Otherwife  it  could  not  be  faid  that 
the  Jen's  had  never  before  heard  the 
Father's  voice  at  any  time,  nor  feen  his 
appearance  in  a  vifible  reprefentation 
made  by  him. 

f  Kf-uv-zTt  may  be  rendered  either  in- 
dicatively,  ye  do  /catch,  or  imperative- 
ly, fearch  ye  the  fcriptures,  and  I  have 
taken  in  bothrlcnfes. 


Chap.  v. 


42  But  I  know 
you,  that  ye  have 
not  the  love  of  God 
in  you. 


.   43    I 

in      my 


am  come 


another  fhall  come 
in  his  own  name, 
him  ye  will  re- 
ceive. 


John  paraphrased.  329 

and  grandeur  which  yc  look  for  your  Mefiiah  to  ap- 
pear in  :  My  only  aim  is  to  advance  the  glory  of  God 
in  the  falvation  of  his  people. 

42  But  this  is  fo  far  from  recommending  me  to 
you,  that,  on  the  other  hand,  it  is  a  ftrong  preju- 
dice in  your  minds  againft  me  :  For  how  plaulible 
focver  your  pretences*of  piety  may  be,  to  the  decei- 
ving of  yourielves  and  others,  I  can  fee  into  your 
very  hearts,  and  I  well  know,  that  ye  have  no  fincere 
affection  to  God  and  godlinefs  ;  but  that  the  love  of 
this  world  is  predominant  in  you,  and  that  therefore 
ye_  reject  me. 

43  I  am  come  to  you  with  a  commiffion  from  my 
Father's   heavenly  Father,  to  promote  his  glory,  and  a  fpiritual 

name,  and  ye  re-    f ^       ■       f  f  d  j      ^  hav(j   prodUCed   fe- 

<"*civc   mc   not       it  •  -i*   • 

veral  unexceptionable  witneffes,  to  eftablifh  my  divine 

and  ofSce-characters  ;  and  yet  becaufe  I  oppofe  your 
vices,  and  do  not  appear  with  worldly  pomp,  nor 
give  you  expectations  of  fecular  riches,  honour,  and 
power,  ye  will  not  believe  in  me  :  But  if,  on  the 
contrary,  any  falie  prophets,  or  falfe  chrift's  arile, 
and  do  not  remonltrate  againft  your  fins,  but  fet  up 
with  high  pretences  of  delivering  you  from  the  Ro- 
man yoke,  and  of  aggrandizing  you  in  the  world, 
though  they  bring  no  credentials  from  God  of  their 
acting  by  his  authority,  ye  would  readily  entertain 
and  follow  them  *. 
44  How  can  ye  ^  fjow  then  js  [t  p0ffible  that,  with  this  carnal 
believe,  which  re-    t  f     {  d        '  lh      ld  beli        ;n  me    wnofe  king- 

ceive  honour  one  or     .   •  •* .  _    ■ 'J  .  •  <: 

another,  and  feek    dom  is  not  or  this  world,  who  make  no  magnificent 

not  the  honour  that  appearances  or  pretences,  but  am  defpifed  of  men, 
cometh  from  God  an^  teach  the  moil  felf-denying  doctrines  ?  your  cor- 
rupt hearts  can  never  receive  me,  while  ye  are  full 
of  worldly  ambition,  extremely  fond  of  the  applaufes 
of  men,  and  will  pay  no  honour  to  any  but  thofe 
from  whom  ye  expect  to  receive  it  again,  and  while 
ye  have  no  value  or  concern  for  the  ipiritual,  fub- 
Itantial,  and  eternal  honours,  which  God  alone  can, 
and  will  put  upon  his  favourites. 

45  But  though,  for  your  conyiction,  I  thus  freely 
charge  thefe  crimes  upon  your  confeiences  in  reject- 
ing me  ;  do  not  imagine  that  the  delign  of  my  com- 
ing into  the  world  is  to  fpy  out  and  aggravate  your 
faults,  and  to  lodge  a  plea  againft  you  to  my  Father 

for 

NOTE. 
*  Thus  they  followed  Thcudas,  who    fpoke  of  nothing  but  wars  and  triumphs 
boaftcdhimfelfto  be  fome  body,  and  J  it-    over  their  enemies.       Eufeb.  I.  4.  c.6. 
das  of  Galilee,   who  drew  away  much    And  fee  Bilhop  Kidder's  Demonstration 
"people  after  him.  (Acts  v.  36.  37.)   And    of  the  Mefliah,    Part  I.  p.  i^-  ami  Part 
afterwards  in  the  reign  of  Adrian  the    III.  p.  16 C  and  the  places  referred  to  in 
-Roman  emperor,  they  followed  Barcho-    Jofephus  there. 
cab,   who  fet  up  for  the  Mefliah,  and 


only  ? 


45  Do  not  think 
that  I  will  accufe 
you  to  the  Father  : 
there  is  one  that 
accufeth  you,  even 
Moles, 


33° 

Mofes,  in  whom  ye 
ve  truft. 


The  EvangeYiJl 


Chap.  v. 


46  For  had  ye 
believed  Mofes,  ye 
would  have  belie- 
ved me  :  for  he 
wrote  of  me. 


47  But  if  ye  be- 
lieve not  his  wri- 
tings, how  fhall  ye 
believe  my  words  ? 


for  them  :  No,  my  direct:  and  principal  work  lies  in 
the  merciful,  and  not  in  the  fevere  way,  in  being  an 
advocate  for,  inftead  of  an  accufer  of  mine  enemies  : 
And  indeed  there  is  no  occaiion  for  my  appearing  a- 
gainft  you  :  For  there  is  another  that  does  this,  e- 
ven  Mofes  himielf,  in  whom  ye  place  your  greateft 
confidence,  and  by  whofe  law  ye  expect  to  be  faved  : 
This  great  prophet  does  already  by  his  writings  in- 
dite, and  condemn  you  for  your  unbelief ;  and  he 
will  be  a  terrible  witnefs  againft  you,  to  your  utter 
confnfion  at  the  great  day. 

46  For  notwithstanding  all  your  boafts  of  Mofes  ^ 
and  fheltering  yourfelves  under  his  name,  if  ye  had 
really  attended  to,  underftood,  and  heartily  believed 
his  writings,  ye  could  not  but  have  received  me,  and 
transferred  your  trull  in  him  to  me  :  For  all  the 
types  and  figures  in  his  law,  and  all  the  prophecies 
which  he  recorded,  evidently  pointed  to  me,  and  are 
fulfilled  in  me. 

47  But  if  ye  will  not  give  credit  to,  nor  be  con- 
vinced by  what  Mofes  himfelf  has  faid  concerning 
me,  though  ye  have  fo  high  an  opinion  of  him,  and 
acknowledge  his  writings  to  be  of  divine  authority  ; 
how  can  it  be  fuppofed  that  ye  fhould  pay  any  regard 
to  what  I  fay,  againft  whom  ye  have  the  moll  inve- 
terate prejudices,  and  whom  ye  treat  with  fovereiga 
contempt,  and  refolve  to  run  down  as  an  impoftor  ? 


RECOLLECTIONS. 

Who,  that  wants  to  be  healed  of  fpiritual  difeafes,  which  are  worfe  than  any  that 
can  afflict  the  body,  would  not  wait  at  the  pool  of  ordinances  for  fupernatural  in- 
fluence to  effect  the  cure !  And  how  often  does  Chrift  prevent  the  foul  with  his  mer- 
cy, before  it  knows  him  !  His  word  is  with  power,  and  when  once  he  fays,  Thou 
art  made  whole  ;  with  what  fatisfaction  may  we  yield  the  obedience  to  his  com- 
mands, with  regard  to  the  Sabbath,  and  every  thing  elle  which  he  enables  us  to 
perform,  whatfoever others  may  object:  againft  it;  and  how  concerned  fhoiild  we  be 
to  fin  no  more !  And  O  what  a  divine  and  fuitable  Saviour  is  our  blefied  Lord,  who 
is  truly  the  Son  of  man,  and  yet  with  inconceivable  peculiarity  and  dignity  the  Son 
of  God,  pofieffed  of  the  fame  nature  and  ellential  perfections,  and  undivided  in  ope- 
ration with  the  Father  !  He  knows,  wills,  and  does  all  the  very  fame  things,  and 
performs  them  with  the  fume  divine  power  and  lbvereignty  as  the  Father  himfelf; 
and  in  the.  execution  of  his  office,  as  Mediator,  he  acts  like  the  abfolutc  Lord  of 
life  and  death,  whether  natural,  fpiritual,  or  eternal,  quickens  the  dead,  exercifes 
an  univerfal  providence  for  the  good  of  the  Church,  examines  all  caufes,  and  diftri- 
butes  eternal  rewards  and  punishments  in  fuch  a  manner  as  none  but  God  himfelf 
could  be  capable  of :  How  evidently  therefore  are  all  divine  honours,  in  the  nature 
of  things,  as  well  as  by  the  Father's  own  demand,  to  be  paid  to  his  Son  equally 
with  himfelf!  How  faithful,  as  well  as  able,  is  Chrift  to  difcharge  his  high  and  im- 
portant commiflion,  for  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  falvation  of  all  that  come  to  him  '. 
And  fince  his  forerunner  John  the  Baptijt,  his  own  miraculous  works,  his  heaven- 
ly Father,  and  Old  Teftament-prophecies  unite  in  their  atteftations  to  him  ;  what 
lurer  ground  can  we  have  for  putting  our  truit  in  him  ?  How  carefully  fhould  we 
iearch  the  kriptures,  which  contain  all  things  necellary  to  falvation,  and  particularly 
teftify  of  him!  And  yet,  alas!  how  criminally  blind  and  obftinate  are  Tinners  hearts, 
who,  though  they  own  the  divine  authority  of  the  iacred  oracles,  do  not  heartily 

believe 


Chap.  vi. 


John  paraphrafed. 


33* 


believe  and  approve  of  their  plaineft  lenfe  and  meaning  ;  and  who,  though  they  fit 
under  a  miniftry  which  is  like  a  burning  and  fhining  light,  are  (till  as  dark  and  cold 
under  it  as  ever,  and  only  admire  it  for  a  feafon,  without  being  changed  by  it:  It 
is  unbelief  that  prevents  the  efficacy  of  God's  word  upon  their  fouls,  fo  that  it  does 
not  abide  in  them  ;  and  their  great  mifcarriage  lies  in  their  unwillingnefs  to  come 
to  Chrift  for  life,  and  chufing  rather  to  truft  in  the  law,  or  any  thing  elfe,  than  in 
him  for  falvation  :  And  how  many  other  fins  doth  unbelief  include  1  what  difaffec- 
tion  to  God,  difregard  to  his  word,  prejudices  againft  the  Redeemer,  and  readinefs 
to  give  credit  to  any  other  rather  than  to  him  ;  and  what  inordinate  love  to  this 
world,  and  preferrings  of  the  applaufes  of  men.  to  the  approbation  of  God  and  to 
the  honour  that  comes  from  him  only!  O  dreadful  accufation,  that  lies  in  the  in- 
fpired  waitings  now,  and  will  be  brought  in  the  awful  day  of  account  againft  un- 
believers, for  this  great  and  complicated  fin  \  But  how  happy  is  it  to  be  enabled, 
by  the  quickening  Spirit,  fo  to  hear  and  believe,  as  to  pafs  from  death  to  life,  and 
never  come  into  condemnation  '.  and  how  wide  and  manifeft  will  the  difference  be 
between  the  righteous  and  the  wicked,  when  all  muft  come  forth  out  of  their 
graves,  fome  to  the  refurreclion  of  life,  and  others  to  the  refurrection  of  damnation  : 
O  joyful  day  to  the  faint,  and  terrible  day  to  the  (inner  '. 


CHAP.      VI, 

Chri/Ps  feeding  jive  thou  fund  with  Jive  loaves  aud  two  fmall fifhes, 
I, — 14.  His  walking  upon  the  water  of  the  fea,  15, — 21.  His 
difcourfe  with  the  people  at  Capernaum  concerning  himfelf,  as  the 
bread  of  life,  occafoned  by  the  miracle  of  the  loaves,  22, — 59.  His 
difciples  dijfatifaclion  at  this  difcourfe,  and  his  reproof  of  them  for 
it  j  60  ? — 65.  The  apofacy  of  many  from  him7  and  the  adherence 
of  others  to  him  on  that  occajiofi,  66, — 71. 


Text. 

J^FTER  thefe 
-  things  Jelus 
went  over  the  fea 
of  Galilee,  which 
is  the  fea  of  Tibe- 
rias. 


Paraphrase. 
A  Great  while  after  *  the  fore-mentioned  miracle, 
-*■  and  difcourfe  relating  to  it,  our  bleffed  Lord  re- 
tired again  into  Galilee  by  water,  making  a  coafling 
voyage  on  the  fea  of  Galilee,  which  is  alfo  called  the 
fea  of  Tiberias  ;  and  he  landed  on  the  lame  fide  of 
the  lake,  in  a  defart  place,  within  the  territories  of 
Bethfaida.     (Luke  ix.  ic.) 

2    And  abundance  of  people,  obferving  which  way 
he  fleered  his  courfe,  flocked  after  him,  foine  out  of 
curiofity  to  fee  more  of  his  miracles,  and  others  in 
hope  of  getting  a  cure  for  themfelves,  or  their  dif- 
on  them  that  were   eafed  friends,  rather  than  from  any  uefire  of  inftruc- 
'  tion  by  his  heavenly  difcourfes  ;  they  bong  general- 

ly influenced  hereto,  by  what  they  had  feen  of  the 
wonderful  cures  he  had  wrought  on  fome  diftempered 
perfons, 

3  And 
N  O  T  E. 
*  As  thofe  things  paffed  at  the  feaft  fo  our  Evangelift  paffes  over  the  follow- 
mentioned  chap.  v.  r.  this  muft  be  a  ing  tranfactions  of  that  year,  which  had 
great  while  afterwards,  whatever  that  been  recorded  by  the  other  Evangehfts 
feaft  were  ;  and  if,  according  to  the  note  in  Matth.  v — xiv.  and  Mark  '  — vi. 
there,  that  was  the  paffover,  this  muft  and  Luke  vi. — ix.  chapter  for  fbe  or- 
be  near  a  year,  after  it;  {per*  4c.)  And   der  of  which  confull;  the  Harrhonifts. 


1   And   a  great 
multitude    follow- 
ed    him,     became 
they  law  his  mira 
cles  which  he  did 


332 


The  Evan%ellft 


Chap.  vi. 


3  And  Jefus 
went  up  into 
u  mountain,  and 
there  he  iV»  t  with 
his   difciples. 


4  And  the  pafs- 
©ver,  a  feaft  of  the 
jews,  was  nigh. 


5  When  Jefus 
then  lift  up  his 
eyes,  and  faw 
a  great  company 
come  unto  him,  he 
faith  unto  Philip, 
Whence  ihall  we 
buy  bread,  that 
thefe  may  eat. 


6  (And  this  he 
faid  to  prove  him  : 
for  he  himfelf 
knew  what  he 
would  do.) 

7  Philip  anfwer- 
ed  him,  Two  hun- 
dred pennyworth 
of  bread  is  not  fuf- 
ficient  for  them, 
that  every  one  of 
them  may  take  a 
little. 


S  One  of  his  dif- 

ciples,  Andrew,  Si- 
mon Peter's  bro- 
ther, faith  unto 
him, 

9  There  is  a  lad 
here,  which  hath 
fire  barley-loaves, 
and  two  fmall  fifti- 
es :  but  what  are 
they  among  fo  ma- 
ny ? 

to  And  Jefus 
faid,  Make  the 
men  lit  down. 
Nov;  there  was 
much  grafs  in  the 
place. 


3  And  Jefus,  feeing  them  gather  about  him,  went 
up  with  his  difciples  to  a  neighbouring  mountain  ; 
where,  as  the  Jewi/h  doctors  ufed  to  lit  when  they 
preached,  he  fet  himfelf  down  on  the  rifing  ground, 
to  /'peak  to  them  of  the  kingdom  of  God,  and  healed 
them  that  needed  healing.     (Luke  ix.    u.) 

4  And  as  the  paffover,  one  of  their  moft  folemn 
feafts,  was  then  near  at  hand,  the  multitude  was  the 
greater,  becaufe  the  people  on  that  occaiion  were  ge- 
nerally travelling  from  all  parts  to  Jerufalem. 

5  When  therefore  our  Lord  obferved  the  vaft  num- 
ber of  people  that  came  after  him,  and  the  difciples 
had  deiired  him  to  difmifs  them,  in  order  to  their  get- 
ting fome  refreshment,  which  could  not  be  expected 
in  that  defart  place,  he  had  compaffion  upon  them, 
but  told  his  difciples  that  there  was  no  necefiity  of 
fending  them  away  on  that  account  ;  [Mat.  xiv  15, 
16.)  and  then  turning  to  Philip,  who  was  an  inha- 
bitant of  Bethfaida,  (chap.  i.  44.)  he  afked  him 
how,  or  by  what  means,  provifion  might  be  made  to 
fuffice  fo  great  a  company. 

6  Jefus  put  this  queilion  to  him,  not  as  one  at  a 
lofs  what  to  do  ;  for  thus  he  had  already  determined 
in  himfelf ;  but  only  for  the  trial  of  Philips  and  the 
other  apoitles  faith,  about  his  own  miraculoufly  feed- 
ing them. 

7  But  they  were  fo  far  from  having  any  expecta- 
tion of  this  kind,  that  even  Philip,  who  had  been 
with  him,  and  feen  his  miracles  from  the  beginning, 
inftead  of  faying,  Lord,  thou  canil  eafily  furniih  a 
table  in  the  wildernefs,  replied,  It  will  be  impracti- 
cable for  them  to  be  fed  here  :  For  it  would  coft  more 
than  we  can  be  fuppofed  to  have  with  us,  to  buy  a 
fufficient  quantity  of  food,  fo  much  as  to  ftay  the 
ftomachs  of  fo  great  a  company  as  this  ;  two  hundred 
pence  would  go  but  a  little  wray  toward  it.  (See 
the  note  on  Mark  vi.  37.) 

8,  9  Then  another  of  the  apoftles,  viz.  Andrew, 
the  brother  of  Simon  Peter,  gave  Chrifl  an  account, 
that  they  had  only  five  loaves  of  barley-bread,  and 
two  fmall  fifhes  in  the  cuftody  of  a  youth,  who  was 
with  them  :  But  alas  !  faid  he,  what  will  thefe  do 
toward  feeding  fuch  a  vail  multitude  ?  It  would  be 
only  baulking  their  expectations  to  offer  a-diftribu- 
tion  of  fo  fmall  a  pittance  among  them  all. 

10  However,  our  Lord  defigning  to  work  a  mira- 
cle for  their  relief,  commanded  his  difciples  to  order 
the  people  to  lit  down  on  the  ground,  it  being  well 
covered  with  grafs  :  Accordingly  the  difciples,  with- 
out any  further  difputing,  obeyed  the  word  of  com- 
mand, in  hopes  of  fome  good  event ;  and  the  people, 

following 


Chap.  vi. 

place.  So  the  men 
fat  down,  in  num- 
ber about  five thou- 
sand. 

i 1  And  Jefus 
took  the  loaves, 
and  when  he  had 
given  thanks,  he 
diftributed  to  the 
difciples,  and  the 
difciple^  to  them 
that  were  fet 
down  ;  and  like- 
wile  of  the  fillies, 
as  much  as  they 
would. 


12  When  they 
were  filled,  he  faid 
unto  his  difciples, 
Gather  up  the 
fragments  that  re- 
main, that  nothing 
be  loft.  I 


13     Therefore 
they  gathered 

them  together,  and 
filled  twelve  baf- 
kets  with  the 
fragments  of  the 
five  barley-loaves, 
which  remained  0- 
ver  and  above  un- 
to them  that  had 
eaten. 

14  Then  thofe 
men,  when  they 
had  feen  the  mira- 
cle that  Jefus  did, 
faid,  This  is  of  a 
truth  that  Prophet 
That  fhould  come 
into  the  world. 


1 5  When  Jefus 
therefore  percei- 
ved that  they 
would  come  and 
take  him  by  force, 
to  make  him  a 
king, 

Vol.  II. 


John  paraphrafed.  333 

following  their  directions,  placed  themfelves  in  feve- 
ral  ranks,  by  hundreds  and  fifties,  to  the  amount  of 
five  thoufand  men.     (See  the  note  on  Mark.  vi.  40.) 

1 1  Then  our  blefled  Saviour  took  bread  and  nfh 
into  his  hands,  to  intimate  that  he  defigned  to  feed 
the  multitude  with  them  ;  and,  having  in  a  folemn 
manner  (as  he  was  wont  to  do  at  his  meals,  fetting 
us  an  example)  acknowledged  God  as  the  author  of 
all  mercies,  and  begged  his  bleffing  on  the  food  for 
the  nourifhment  of  thofe  that  were  to  partake  of  it, 
(fee  the  note  on  Matth.  xiv.  19.)  he  divided  the 
bread  and  the  nfh  into  pieces,  and  delivered  them 
into  the  hands  of  his  apoilies,  who,  by  his  order, 
diftributed  them  to  the  feveral  ranks  of  the  people,  as 
they  fat  on  the  grafs  ;  and  the  quantity  was  io  ex- 
ceedingly increafed  by  his  miraculous  power,  that  e- 
very  one  eat  till  he  was  fully  latisfied. 

12  And  to  fhew  that  there  was  enough  and  to 
fpare  ;  when  none  of  the  company  could  eat  any 
more,  he  ordered  his  difciples  to  gather  together  the 
broken  remains  of  the  bread  and  hill,  that  there  might 
be  no  wafte  of  the  food,  though  it  coil  them  nothing, 
and  that  they  might  learn  frugality  in  the  midil  of 
plentv,  and  not  fquander  away  the  bounties  of  Pro- 
vidence, in  hopes  of  living  upon  repeated  miracles 
without  neceffity. 

13  Accordingly,  in  obedience  to  his  word,  they 
chearfully  fet  themfelves  to  pick  up  the  fcraps  of 
bread  and  nfh,  (Mark  vi.  43.)  that  remained,  after 
the  multitude  had  eat  to  the  fatisfadtion  of  the  utmofl 
cravings  of  their  appetites  ;  and  the  overplus  was  fo 
great,  that  it  filled  twelve  bafkets,  every  difciple,  ha- 
ving one  for  after-ufe,  and  therein  an  abiding  proof 
that  the  increafed  quantity  was  real  bread  and  nfh. 
(See  the  note  on  Matth.  xiv.  20.) 

14  This  was  fo  plain  and  undeniable  a  miracle, 
which  the  whole  multitude  faw,  and  of  which  they 
fhared  the  benefit,  that  it  carried  a  conviction  to  their 
minds  and  confeiences  of  Chrift's  wonderful  power, 
and  even  forced  them  to  cry  out,  He  who  has  thus 
amazingly  fed  U6,  certainly  is  the  true  Memah,  who, 
according  to  ancient  prophecies,  they  expected  would 
appear  in  the  world  about  this  time,  and  that,  as 
they  thought,  for  the  deliverance  of  IJrael  from  all 
their  enemies  round  about  them. 

15  When  therefore  Jefus  observed  that,  accord- 
ing to  their  grofs  and  carnal  notions  about  the  Mef- 
fiah,  as  a  temporal  prince,  they  were  entering  into  a 
confederacy  to  fet  him  up,  and  proclaim  him  for 
their  King,  and  even  to  attempt,  in  a  violent  man- 
ner, to  oblige  him  to  take  that  chara&er  upon  him- 

x  s  «r. 


334 

king,  he  departed 
again  into  a  moun- 
tain himielf  alone. 


Tbe  E<vangelift 


Chap.  vi. 


16 

even 

come, 

went 


And    when 

was      noiv 

his  difciples 

unto 


down 
the   fea. 

17  And  enter- 
ed into  a  fliip, 
and  went  over  the 
fea  toward  Caper- 
naum :  and  it  was 
now  dark,  and  Je- 
fus was  not  come 
to  them. 

iS  And  the  fea 
arofe,  by  reafon  of 
e  great  wind  that 
blew. 

1 9  So  when  they 
had  rowed  about 
rive  and  twenty 
or  thirty  furlongs, 
they  fee Jefus  walk- 
ing on  the  fea,  and 
drawing  nigh  unto 
the  (hip  ;  and  they 
were  afraid. 


ao  But  he  faith 
unto  them,  It  is  I ; 
be  not  afraid. 


i\    Then   they 

willingly   received 

him  into  the  fliip 

and     immediately 

the 


N     O 

*   Their  prefent  inducements  to  this 

attempt  feero  to  have  been,   that  they 

thought   themfelves  to  be   a   fufficient 

number  for  him  to  begin    with,    and 


felf,  he  got  out  of  their  way  *  :  For  having  firft  or- 
dered his  difciples  to  embark,  and  go  back  over  the 
fea  of  dalilee  toward  Bethfaida,  (Markvl.  45,  46.) 
left  they  ihould  join  with  the  multitude,  and  encou- 
rage them  in  thefe  temporal  views,  he  went  up  the 
mountain  again,  to  fpend  fome  time  alone  in  prayer. 
16,  17  And  it  was  juft  about  the  (hutting  in  of 
the  evening,  when  the  difciples  went  to  the  more, 
and  took  boat  to  pafs  over  the  lake  toward  Caper- 
naum^ which  lay  not  far  from  Bethfaida  :  After  this 
it  foon  became  dark,  and  Jefus  was  not  then  come 
to  them  ;  but,  defigning  a  trial  of  their  faith,  he 
continued  ftill  for  fome  time  in  his  retirement  on  the 
mountain. 

1 8  In  the  mean  while  there  was  a  very  great  fea, 
by  means  of  a  ftorm  of  wind,  which  beat  againft  them, 
and  blew  with  fuch  exceeding  fury,  that  there  was 
extreme  danger,  in  all  human  appearance,  of  their 
being  utterly  loft. 

19  In  this  condition  they  worked  hard  with  their 
oars,  [Mark.  vi.  48.)  till  the  fourth  watch,  which 
was  a  good  while  after  midnight  ;  (fee  the  note  on 
Matth.  xiv.  25.)  and  in  all  that  time  they  had 
reached  no  further  than  about  a  league,  or  a  little 
more,  it  being  by  computation  about  twenty-five  or 
thirty  furlongs  :  And  then,  in  the  midft  of  their  dif- 
trefs,  they  faw  Jefus  walking  upon  the  furface  of 
the  water,  as  if  it  had  been  dry  land,  and  making  up 
toward  their  veffel,  to  which  he  was  coming  in  his 
great  companion  to  fave  them  ;  but  as  they  could 
not  diftindrly  difcern  him,  through  the  hurry  of  their 
own  minds,  and  for  want  of  more  light,  they  imagin- 
ed that  it  was  an  apparition  ;  which  made  them  cry 
out  for  fear,  left  fome  evil  fpirit  were  come  to  flnifh 
their  deftruction. 

20  But  he  fooa  took  pity  upon  them,  and  disco- 
vered himfelf  to  them,  faying,  with  his  ufual  voice, 
and  tendernefs  toward  them,  It  is  I,  your  Lord  and 
Mailer,  who  am  here,  and  not  any  evil  fpirit,  as  ye 
fuppofe  ;  do  not  frighten  yourfelves  as  if  mifchief 
would  befal  you  ;  all  is  fafe  and  well  ;  I  am  come 
for  your  deliverance. 

2 1  Then  they,  being  fatisfied  that  it  was  Jefus, 
difmifled  their  fears,  and  gladly  took  him  into  the 
boat,  in  confidence  that  all  their  danger  was  over, 
and  that  they  fhould  foon  reach  the  more,  now  they 

had 
T    E. 

thought  him  capable  of  maintaining  the 
greateft  army,  that  fhould  lift  under  him, 
by  miracles,  without  any  charges  :  Bur 
he  perceiving  this  withdrew. 


Chap.  vi.  John  paraphrafed.  335 

the  fliip  was  at  the    had  got  him  with  them  :  And  fo  it  proved  ;  for  im- 
land  whithei  they    mediately  the  ftorm  ceafed,   (Matth.   xiv.   32.)   and 

they  arrived  fate  in  the  vefiel  to  the  place  they  were 

bound  for. 

22   The  next  morning  many  of  the  people  on  the 

other  tide  of  the  lake  returned  ;  and,  being  ftill  in- 


went. 

22  The  day  fol- 
lowing, when  the 
people  which  flood 
on  the  other  fide  of  tent  on  letting  him  up  for  their  king,  they' diligent- 

the  fea   faw  that    ly  fearched  after  him  in  all  the  places  thereabout  ; 
there    was     none    and,  not  finding  him,  wondered  what  was  become 

°ther    bhf    therC  °f  him  :    F°r  they  had  obferved>  that>  when  the  dif- 

whereunto  his  dif-  c^P^es  t0°k  water  in  the  evening,   there  was  then   no 

ciples  were  enter-  other  boat  befides  that  in  which  they  went,  and  that 

ed,  and  that  Jefus  they  put  off  alone,  Jefus  himfelf  not  going    along 

went  not  with  his  with  them, 
difciples   into  the  However,  they  afterwards  found  feveral  other 

boat,    but  that  his  D         ■,  •  ■>  (  •        c  er-j  j 

difciples  were  gone    boats,  which  came  that  morning  from  liberies,  ana 

away  alone ;  arrived  in  the  neighbourhood  of  that  place,  where, 

23      (Howbeit    the  day  before,  they  had  been  miraculoufly  fed,  the 

there    came  other    j^q^    jefus  having   firil,   according  to  his    religious 

boatsfromTibenas,         n       J  1       1  i   rr  1       c      i  r      ~>t 

cultom,  craved  a  blelimg  upon  the  rood  to  lanctify 

it  for  their  ufe.      (Ver.  1 1.) 

24  When  the  people  had  fought  for  Jefus  in  vain 

on  that  fide  of  the  lake,  and  could  find  neither  him 

nor  his  difciples  there,  they  fufpefted  that,  by  fome 

means  or  other,  though  they    knew   not    how,    he 

law  that  Jefus  was    might  be  gone  to   Capernaum,  towards  which  thev 

not  there,  neither    favv  t\^e  difciples  fleered  their  courfe  over  night,  and 


nigh  unto  the  place 
where  they  did  eat 
bread,  after  that 
the  Lord  had  given 
thanks) 

24     When     the 
people       therefore 


his  difciples,    they    w^ch 


was  his  ufual  head-quarters.     And  therefore, 


alio  took  fhipping, 

and   came  to  Ca-    being  eagerly  dehrous  to  iee  him  again,  they  relolved 

pernaum     feeking   to  go  by  water  in  thefe  boats  to  that  city,   and  fee 

tor  Jefus.  whether  they  could  not  meet  with  him  there. 

25    And  when        2-   And  finding  him,  as  foon  as  they  landed  on, 
thev  had  round  him      -      J  r    ,       P  ,  r         ./  ,    t        ,  .   . 

on  the  other  fide  of  tnat  Part  °*  tne  "tore,  they  were  lurpriled  to  think 
the  fea,  they  laid  how  he  got  thither,  it  being  unlikely  that,  in  fo 
unto  him.  Rabbi,  (hort  a  time,  he  could  take  fuch  a  large  compafs  as 
to  walk  it  by  land,  and  there  being  no  other  boat 
the  night  before,  but  that  in  which  the  difciples  went 
without  him:  And  therefore  they  faid  to  him,  Matter, 
when,  or  by  what  poffible  means,  was  it,  that  you  got 
hither  io  foon  before  us  *  ? 

26  Our  Lord  made  no  reply  to  their  cun'ous  quef- 
tion  ;  but  knowing  the  corrupt  defign  of  their  hearts 
in  following1  him,  took  occafion  to  divert  the  dif- 
courfe  to  a  more  fuitable  and  important  iubje£t,  fay- 
ing, I,  the  Amen,  the  faithful  and  true  Witncfs, 
allure  you,  that  I  am  no  fir  anger  to  the  true  reaion 
of  your  thus  earneilly  feeking  after  me  :  It  is  not  be- 
X  x  2  caufe 

N    O     I     E. 
*   It  feems  by  what  is  faid  <ver.  59.  that  they  found  him  in  the  fynagogue, 
whither  he  ufed  to  refort  wherever  he  went,   and  where  it  was  moft  likely  for 
them  to  meet  with  him. 


when  cameft  thou 
hither  ? 


26*  Jefus  anfwer- 
ed  them,  and  faid, 
Verily,  verily,  I 
fay  unto  you,  Ye 
feek  me,  not  be- 
caufe  ye  faw  the 
miracles,  but  be- 
caule  ye  did  eat  of 
the 


336 


The  Evangelijl 


Chap.  vi. 


the     Ioavp% 
were  iilled. 


and   caufe  ye  are  fo  convinced  by  my  miracles,  and  par- 
ticularly by  that  which  ye  yefterday  faw  me  perform, 
as  to  believe  in  me  for  eternal  life  ;  but  it  is  only  be- 
caufe  I  gave  you  a  full  meal  to  refrefh  you,  without 
any  coit  or  charge,  which  raifed  your  carnal  expecta- 
tions of  fome  further  temporal  advantages  from  me. 
?7    Labour   not        27   Take  heed  therefore  that  your  chief  folicitude 
for  the  meat  which   an(j  carCj  concern  and  labour,  be  not  thus  eagerly  laid 
penfheth,    but   for  b     .     refrefliment  for  your  mortal  bodies,    or 

that     meat    which  i-i-rrc-^r 

endureth  unto  ever-   any  worldly  benefits,   which  are  lniumcient  tor  your 

laHing  life,  which  true  happinefs,    and  in  a  little  time  muft  perifh  toge- 

the    Son    of   man  ther  with  your  bodies  themfelves  :    But  let  your  go- 

ia       give     unto  vern;ngr  ajms    inquiries,  and  pains,  be  for  the  fpiritual 

vou  •   for  him  hath  r      _    &  ' .     n  iri  i  r       111/r^i- 

God     the    Father  i°°d  °*  your  immortal  iouls,  and  tor  the  blellings  that 

fealed.  pertain  to  eternal  life,    and  will  make  you  happy  for 

ever,  which  I,  the  Meffiah,  will  freely  give  to  every 
one  of  you  that  believes  in  me  :  For  this  is  the  great 
end  for  which  I  am  come,  and  for  which  God  my  Fa- 
ther has  fo  manifeftly  authorized  me,  by  his  teftimo- 
ny  from  heaven,  by  the  vifible  defcent  of  his  Spirit 
upon  me,  and  by  concurring  with  me  in  the  many  un- 
queftionable  miracles,  which  I  perform  to  confirm  my 
commiffion  from  him. 

28    Hereupon  the  people,    fome  in  a  way  of  con- 
tempt, and  others  of  more  ferious  inquiry,  faid  to  him, 
Pray,  what  are  we  to  do  to  obtain  that  fort  of  bread, 
work  the  works'  of  which  you  fpeak  of  labouring  for  ;  or  what  works  can 
God  ?  you  tell  us  of,  that  are  more  acceptable  to  God,  and 

neceflary  to  eternal  life,  than  thole  which  he  requires 
of  us  in  the  law  of  Mofes,    and  which  we  think  are 
fufficient  to  fecure  the  divine  favour,  and  our  own  e- 
verlailing  happinefs  ? 
29  Jefus  anfwer-        29  Jefus  in  reply  faid  to  them,  The  great  and  im- 
pel, and  laid  unto   p0rtant  duty,  which  I  am  come  to  point  out  to  you, 
work'of  God    that   an<^  wmcn  leads  the  way  to  all  others,  and  is  neceffa- 
re  believe  on  him   rJ  to  the  acceptance  of  your  perfons,  and  of  all  your 
.horn     he     hath   obedience,  and  which  therefore  God  commands,  ap- 
proves, and  is  the  author  of,  is  this,   That  ye  cordi- 
ally embrace,  and  yield  yourfelves  up  by  faith  to  me, 
as   the   true   Meffiah,    according   to   the    difcoveries 
which  I  am  come  to  make  of  myfelf,  and  of  the  way 
of  falvatton  by  me. 

30  Then  the  people,  being  prejudifed  againft  him 
for  not  anfwering  their  worldly  expectations,-  flighted 
the  many  wonders  he  had  wrought  at   Capernaum, 


2S  Then  faid 
they  unto  him, 
What  (hall  we  do, 
that      we      might 


font. 


30    They 
therefore 

him,     What 
iheweft  thou 


faid 
unto 

fign 
then, 


and  Vx  lieve 
what      doft 

k  ? 


thee  ? 
thou 


that  we  may  fee  as  well  as  the  miracle  of  the  loaves,  which  they  ad- 
mired on  the  preceding  day  ;  and  expoltulated  with 
him,  faying,  Since  you  pretend  to  teach  a  better 
dottrine  than  Mc/es,  and  to  fet  up  for  the  Mefliah  ; 
what  divine  token  do  you  produce  of  your  authority, 
equal  to  that  which  he  gave  of  his,  that  we,  being 

eve- 


Chap*  vi. 


31  Our  fathers 
did  cat  manna  in 
the  defart  ;  as  it 
is  written,  He 
gave  them  bread 
from  heaven  to 
<\it. 


3* 
faid 


Then  Jefus 
unto  them, 
Verily,  verily,  I 
fay  unto  you,  Mo- 
fes  gave  you  not 
that  bread  from 
heaven ;  but  my 
Father  giveth  you 
the  true  bread  from 
heaven. 


33  For  the  bread 
of  God  is  he  which 
cometh  down  from 
heaven,  and  giveth 
life  unto  the  world. 


34 
they 

Lord, 


Then     faid 

unto      him, 

evermore 


give  us  this  bread. 


John  paraphrafed.  337 

cye-witnefles  of  it,  may  be  thereby  induced  to  believe 
you  ?  What  extraordinary  miracles  do  you  perform 
to  fupport  thefe  high  pretences  ? 

31  As  for  what  you  did  yellerday  in  feeding  five 
thoufand  of  us,  that  was  a  very  fmall  matter  compar- 
ed with  Mofes's  feeding  a  much  greater  number,  e- 
ven  all  our  fathers  in  the  wildernefs,  with  more  ex- 
cellent food,  according  to  what  is  written;  (Pjal. 
lxxviii.  24,  25.)  He  gave  them,  not  fuch  mean  fare 
as  barley-loaves  and  fifties,  but  manna,  the  corn  of 
heaven,  and  they  did  eat  angels  food  to  the  full ; 
and  that  not  for  a  day  only,  but  for  forty  years  to- 
gether :  Give  us  therefore  fome  miraculous  fign  e- 
qual  to  this,  if  you  would  have  us  forfake  Mojes  for 
you. 

32  Jefus  replied,  Since  you  mention  that  bread, 
I,  who  am  Truth  itfelf,  affure  you,  that  the  manna, 
which  was  given  under  the  miniitration  oiMofes,  and 
which  indeed  not  he,  but  God  *  himfelf  gave  unto 
your  fathers,  fell  not  from  the  highell  heavens,  but 
only  from  the  clouds,  or  the  region  of  the  air,  to 
fupport  their  mortal  lives  for  a  feafon  :  But  my  Fa- 
ther, in  fending  me,  freely  gives  thofe  of  you,  who 
by  faith  receive  me,  the  moll  excellent  and  impor- 
tant bread  from  the  higheft  heavens,  from  whence  I 
am  come,  for  the  fpiritual  nourishment  of  your  fouls 
unto  everlallinor  life  and  bleffednefs. 

o 

33  For  this,  which  was  typified  by  the  manna, 
is,  by  way  of  eminence,  that  excellent  and  divine 
provifion,  which  God  himfelf  has  made  for  his  fami- 
ly, and  which  he  has  fent  down  -j-  from  the  heaven 
of  heavens,  for  the  fpiritual  life  of  an  innumerable 
multitude  of  perifhing  finners,  not  merely  of  the 
Jews,  to  whofe  ufe  the  manna  was  confined,  but  of 
the  Gentiles  alfo,  (fee  the  note  on  chap.  Hi.  16.) 
and  for  nourifhing  them  up  to  eternal  life,  which  is 
infinitely  preferable  to  this  mortal  life. 

34  The  Jews  not  understanding  Chrill's  meaning, 
but  either  grofsly  apprehending  that  he  fpoke  literally 
of  fome  extraordinary  bread,  or  at  belt  having  only 
fome  general  and  confufed  notions  that  he  intended 
fomething  which  would  fupply  their  worldly  wants, 
and  make  them  exceeding  happy,  faid  to  him  with 

great 
NOTES. 

of  himfelf ;  yet  he  did  not  explain  his 
meaning  by  applying  the  metaphor  of 
bread  particularly  to  himfelf,  till  the 
people,  in  the  next  verfe,  difcovered 
their  miftaken  conceit,  as  if  he  fpoke  of 
fome  material  bread  in  a  literal  fenfe,  or 
at  leaft  their  ignorance  of  what  he  reai- 
Jv  meant, 


'    We  do  not  find  that  Mofes  had  a 
ny  concern  in  procuring  the  wanna,  or 
that  he  fo  much  as  prayed  for  it. 


f  O  xxletGctivwj,  he  which  comes  down, 
might  in  this  place  be  better  rendered, 
that  which  come*  doav?i  from  heaven  : 
For  though  our  Lord  certainlv  meant  it 


33B 


The  Evangeli/t 


Chap. 


VI, 


35  And  Jems  faid 
unto  them,  I  am 
the  bread  of  lite  : 
he  that  cometh  to 
me,  (hall  never 
hunger  ;  and  he 
that  believeth  on 
me,  fhall  never 
thirft. 


36  But  I  faid 
unto  you,  That  ye 
alio  have  feen  me, 
and  believe  not. 


great  earneflnefs  *  and  refpeel,  Lord,  feed  us  conti- 
nually with  this  bread,  which  has  fuch  wonderful 
properties ;  and  we  fhall  then  readily  own  that  you 
excel  even  Mofes  himfelf. 

35  Jefus  replied,  Ye  are  much  miftaken,  If  ye 
think  that  I  fpake  of  any  extraordinary  bread  in  a 
literal  fenfe,  or  of  any  temporal  happinefs  whatfoever  : 
I  only  took  occalion  from  your  following  me  for  the 
loaves,  and  talking  fo  highly  of  the  manna  in  the 
wildernefs,  to  reprefent  myfelf,  and  the  benefits  I 
beftow,  under  the  figure  of  the  moft  excellent  bread  ; 
and  my  plain  meaning  is,  that  I  am  of  divine  origi- 
nal, and  am  come  down  from  heaven,  in  my  incar- 
nation, to  give  fpiritual  life  to  dead  fouls,  and  to 
nourifh  them  up  in  knowledge  and  grace,  comfort 
and  holinefs,  to  eternal  life  f  :  So  that  whoever  ap- 
plies by  faith  to  me,  and  receives  me  into  his  heart, 
ihall  never  perifh  for  want  of  neceffary  and  feafon- 
able  refrefhment  to  his  foul,  as  a  needy  man  pines 
and  dies  with  corporal  hunger  or  thirft. 

36  But  alas  !  I  have  already  told  you,  (ver.  26.) 
that  though  ye  have  feen  me,  and  the  miracles  which 
I  perform,  and  been  forced  to  own  them  to  be  won- 
derful ;  yet,  through  the  carnality  of  your  hearts, 
ye  are  fo  fond  of  worldly  advantages,  that  you  will 
not  embrace  or  believe  in  me,  when  I  fpeak  of  my- 
felf, as  come  to  beftow  all  fpiritual  bleflings  unto 
everlafting  life. 

37  However,  there  are  fome  who  will  believe  and 
be  faved,  even  all  whom  the  Father  J  by  eternal  a- 
greement  has  given  to  me,  as  my  charge,  my  pro- 
perty, and  my  reward  ;  every  one  of  thefe  fhall  cer- 
tainly be  inclined  and  enabled  to  come  by  faith  unto 
me  :  And  whoever  he  be,  that,  under  a  fenfe  of  his 
guilt  and  unworthinefs,  neceflity  and  danger,  fhall  be- 
take himfelf  to  me,  and  trull  in  me  for  all  falvation, 
how  many  and  how  aggravated  foever  his  fins  have 
been,  and  how  great  foever  his  difcouragements  in 
himfelf  may  be,  I  will  on  no  account  whatfoever  re- 
ject or  refufe  him  ;  but  will  readily  embrace  him,  and 

fhew 
N    O    ' 

*  Some  have  imagined  that  they  faid 
this  in  a  way  of  derifion,  as  fuppofing  that 
what  our  bleffed  Lord  fpoke  of  was  a  ri- 
diculous conceit  of  ibmething  which  was 
impoffible  to  be  done.  But  by  the  re- 
fpedlful  way  of  their  addreffing  him,  it 
feems  to  me,  with  others,  that  they  were 
ferious,  though  very  ignorant  in  this  re- 
queft,  and  that  therefore  in  the  follow- 
ing verfes  he  fo  clearly  explained  his 
meaning  in  its  reference  to  himfeif. 

f  Coming  to  Chrilt  in  this,   and  the 


37  All  that  the 
Father  giveth  me, 
fhall  come  to  me  ; 
and  him  that  com- 
eth to  me,  I  will  in 
no  wife  caft  out. 


'     E     S. 

37th  verfe,  is  the  fame  as  believing  in 
him  :  For  the  people  were  already  come 
in  a  corporal  manner  to  him";  and  it 
cannot  be  faid  that  the.  bleflings  here 
promifed  fhall  be  given  to  all  that  fo 
come  to  him. 

I  Here  it  is,  all  that  the  Father  giveth 
me  ;  and  ver.  39-  it  is,  all  that  he  hath 
given  me  :  The  fenfe  is  the  fame,  and 
may  intimate  that  the  Father  gave  them 
to  Chrifl  b\  n,  eternal  aft,  which  abides 
and  never  fliail  be  revers'd. 


Chap.  vi. 


3S  For  I  came 
down  from  heaven, 
not  to  do  mine  own 
will,  but  the  will 
of  him  that  fent 
me. 

39  And  this  is 
the  Father's  will 
which  hath  fent 
me,  that  of  all 
which  he  hath  gi- 
ven me,  I  fhould 
lofe  nothing,  but 
mould  raife  it  up 
again  at  the  laft 
day. 

40  And  this  is 
the  will  of  him 
that  fent  me,  that 
every  one  which 
feeth  the  Son,  and 
believeth  on  him, 
may  have  everlaft- 
ing  life  :  and  I  will 
raife  him  up  at  the 
laft  day. 


41  The  Jews 
then  murmured  at 
him,  becaufe  he 
laid,  I  am  the 
bread  whrch  came 
down  from  hea- 
ven. 


John  paraphrafed. 


339 


42  And  they 
faid,  Is  not  this  Je- 
fus  the  fon  of  fo- 
feph,  whole  father 
and  mother  we 
know  ?  how  is  it 
then  that  he  faith, 
I  came  down  from 
heaven  ? 


43  Jefus   there- 
fore anf.vered  and 
faid    unto    them, 
Murmur 


fliew  him  all  the  mercy  he  needs  for  pardon  and  peace, 
fanclification  and  final  falvation. 

38  For  I  did  not  come  from  heaven  into  this  low- 
er world  at  uncertainties,  or  to  carry  on  any  private 
defign  of  my  own,  leparately  from  my  Father :  But 
the  very  buiinefs,  on  which  I  am  come,  is  punctually 
to  execute  his  will,  who  hath  fent  me  to  ac\  the  part 
of  a  Saviour. 

39  And  it  is  the  refolution  and  good  pleafure  of 
my  Father  who  fent  me,  that  of  all  the  numberlefs 
perfons,  whom  he  has  entrufled  to  my  care,  I  mould 
neither  negledt,  nor  be  deprived  of  any  one  of  them, 
nor  lofs  any  part  of  them  ;  but  mould  recover  them 
from  all  the  ruins  of  their  apoilacy,  and  raife  them 
to  a  glorious  immortality,  at  the  confummation  of 
all  things,  that  they  may  be  completely  happy  in  foul 
and  body  for  ever. 

40  And  as  this  is  the  fecret  purpofe  and  delight 
of  my  Father  who  fent  me  ;  fo  it  is  his  revealed  will, 
which  I  am  come  to  publifh,  that  all  who,  being  con- 
vinced of  their  need  of  me,  and  of  my  fufHeiency  for 
their  help,  look  by  faith  to  me,  and  depend  upon 
me,  as  the  true  Meffiah,  for  a  whole  falvation,  mail 
be  made  partakers  of  eternal  life  :  And  I  will  cer- 
tainly accomplifh  his  will  and  word,  by  the  work- 
ing of  my  mighty  power,  in  raifing  up  their  mortal 
bodies  from  the  grave,  and  in  putting  their  whole 
perfons  in  full  poiTeffion  of  endlefs  glory  and  blelTed- 
nefs  at  the  laft  day. 

41  The  Jews  now  plainly  perceiving  from  this 
explication,  that  by  the  bread,  which  came  down 
from  heaven,  Chrift  meant  hirnfelf,  and  his  fpiritual 
benefits,  found  themfelves  utterly  difappointed  in  their 
worldly  expectations  from  htm  ;  and,  having  no  re- 
lifh  for  fpiritual  blefiings,  they  were  difgufted  and 
cavilled  at  him,  under  pretence  that  he  affumed  an 
extravagant  honour  to  hirnfelf,  by  afferting  that  he 
came  down  from  the  higheft  heavens,  which  could 
be  faid  of  no  mere  man  whatfocver. 

42  And  to  fuppcrt  their  prejudices,  they,  taking 
for  granted  that  he  was  begotten  and  conceived  like 
other  men,  raid  one  to  another  by  way  of  fcorn  and 
contempt,  Is  not  this  Jefus  the  fon  of  Jofeph,  a  poor 
carpenter  ?  and  are  not  we  ourfelves  acquainted  with 
both  his  father  and  mother,  who  have  nothing  extra- 
ordinary in  them  ?  How  then  can  he  have  the  face  to 
pretend  to  us,  who  fo  well  know  his  original  on  earth, 
that  he  defcended  from  heaven  ? 

43  Jefus  therefore,  knowing  their  perverfe  mifre- 
prefentations  and  aiguings  among  themfelves,  anfwer- 
ed  faying,  All  this  is  grouadlefs  cavil,  which  ye  un- 

righteoufly 


340 

Murmur    not     a- 
mong   yourfelves. 


The  Evangelifl 


Chap.  vi. 


44  No  man  can 
come  to  me,  ex- 
cept the  Father 
which  hath  fent 
me  draw  him:  and 
I  wili  raife  him  up 
at  the  lalt  day. 


45  It  is  written 
in  the  prophets, 
And  tuey  fhall  be 
all  taught  of  God. 
Every  man,  there- 
fore, that  hath 
heard,  and  hath 
learned  of  the  Fa- 
ther, cometh  unto 
me. 


46  Not  that,  a- 
ny  man  hath  feen 
the  Father,  fave 
he  which  is  of  God, 
be  hath  feen  the 
Father. 


47  Verily,  veri- 
ly, I  fay  unto  you, 
He  that  Lelieveth 


on 


righteoufly  ftir  up  in  one  anothcrs  minds,  and  turn  in- 
to a  prejudice  againft  me,  as  if,  becaufe  my  reputed 
father,  and  my  real  mother,  according  to  the  flefh, 
are  known  to  be  mean  perfons  on  earth,  it  were  im- 
poflible  that  I  mould  have  an  higher  original  from 
heaven. 

44  The  true  reafon  of  your  unbelief  and  murmur- 
ings  on  this  head,  lies  in  the  corruption  of  your  own 
hearts,  which  defpifes  and  oppofes  fpiritual  things, 
and  which  nothing  but  a  divine  power  can  fubdue  ; 
and,  as  I  faid  before,  that  all  whom  the  Father  gi- 
ve tb  me  /hall  come  to  me:  (ver.  37.)  So  I  now  fur- 
ther tell  you  plainly,  that  no  man  whatfoever,  in  his 
prefent  Hate  of  degeneracy,  is  able  to  dived  himfelf  of 
the  natural  blindnefs,  enmity,  and  carnality  of  his 
heart,  and  favingly  to  believe  in  me,  unlefs  my  hea- 
venly Father,  who  has  fent  me,  perfuade  and  enable 
him  by  his  Spirit,  to  depend  upon  me  for  falvation, 
in  that  way  which  I  am  come  to  reveal :  And  I  will 
take  effectual  care  of  every  one  that  is  thus  brought 
to  believe  in  me  ;  and,  at  the  end  of  time,  will  cer- 
tainly raife  up  his  mortal  body  to  immortal  life  and 
bleflednefs. 

45  And  what  I  am  faying  is,  in  effect,  the  fame 
that  was  foretold  in  the  writings  of  the  prophets,  re- 
lating to  the  gofpel-church,  where  it  is  faid,  {Ifa.  liv. 
13.)  All  thy  children  flail  be  taught  of  the  Lord, 
and  (Jer.  xxxi.  33,  34.^)  /  will  put  my  law  in  their 
inward  parts,  and  write  it  in  their  hearts  ;  for 
they  JJjall  all  know  me,  from  the  leaf  of  them  unto 
the  great  eft,  faith,  the  Lord.  This  makes  it  evident, 
that  all  Sion's  children,  or  thofe  who  are  given  to  me 
of  the  Father,  mull  be  drawn  by  his  efficacious  illu- 
mination and  influences,  in  order  to  their  coming  to 
me  ;  and  that  every  one,  who  not  only  hears  and  is 
taught  his  will  concerning  me,  by  the  miniftry  of  the 
word,  but  is  likewife  under  thefe  internal  drawings, 
will  certainly  believe  in  me. 

46  But  do  not  miilake  me,  as  if  I  would  intimate 
that  any  man  hath  feen,  or  can  fee  the  Father  him- 
felf, or  is  to  expect  an  immediate  teaching  from  his 
own  perfon  :  This  can  be  faid  of  none  but  the  only 
begotten  Son,  who  is  partaker  of  the  divine  nature  : 
(fee  the  note  on  chap.  i.  18.)  He  indeed  has  a  moil 
intimate  and  perfect  acquaintance  with  the  Father 
himfelf,  and,  as  lying  in  his  bofom,  knows  his  mind 
and  will  immediately  from  himfelf ;  and  it  is  by  the 
Son  and  Spirit  that  the  Father  teaches  others. 

47  And,  as  he  now  fpeaks  by  me,  I,  who  am 
Truth  itfelf,  folemnly  allure  you,  that  whoever,  as 
a  loll  and  perifhing  finner,  believes  in  me,  as  the  on- 

h 


Chap.  vi. 

on  me  hath  ever- 
lafting  life. 


4S    I    am    that 
bread    of   life. 


49  Your  fathers 
did  eat  manna  in 
the  wildernefs,  and 
are  dead. 


50  This  is  the 
bread  which  Com- 
eth down  from  hea- 
ven, that  a  man 
may  eat  thereof, 
and   not   die. 


5 1  I  am  the  li- 
ving bread  which 
came  down  from 
heaven :  if  any 
man  eat  of  this 
bread,  he  fhall  live 
for  ever  :  and  the 
bread  that  I  will 
give,  is  my  flefli, 
which  I  will  give 
for  the  life  of  the 
world. 


Vol.  II. 


John  paraphrafed.  341 

ly  Saviour,  is  partaker  of  a  life,  which  in  its  nature 
is  everlafting  ;  he  has  already  the  principle,  begin- 
nings, and  earnefts  of  eternal  life,  and  has  fuch  a  fure 
title  to  it,  that  he  fhall,  in  due  time,  as  certainly  en- 
joy it  in  all  its  perfection,  as  if  he  were  already  in  full 
poffeftion  of  it. 

48  I  therefore  plainly  tell  you  again,  that  I  my- 
felf,  in  my  office-character  and  benefits,  am  that  true, 
living,  and  life-giving  bread,  which  I  have  been, 
fpeaking  of;  all  the  fprings  of  fpiritual  life  are  in  me, 
and  it  is  by  virtue  derived  from  me,  that  believers  are 
made  alive  to  God  in  this  world,  and  continue  fo,  till 
they  obtain  everlafting  life  in  the  world  to  come. 

49  As  for  the  manna  in  the  wildernefs,  which,  ye 
fo  highly  magnified,  what  is  that,  when  compared 
with  this  living  bread  ?  your  anceftors  were  indeed 
miraculoufly  fed  by  it  in  a  barren  wildernefs  ;  bur 
what  is  become  of  them  all  ?  they  are  long  fince  dead 
like  ether  men  :  It  could  not  keep  them  always  alive 
upon  earth  ;  nor  was  there  any  virtue  in  it  to  give 
them  life  in  another  world  :  Nay,  notwithstanding 
their  eating  of  it,  many  of  them  died,  for  their  mur- 
murings  and  unbelief,  by  an  immediate  ilroke  or. 
God's  wrath  ;  and  few  of  them  lived  to  enjoy  the 
promifed  land. 

50  But,  on  the  contrarv,  the  living  bread,  which 
I  declare  myfelf  to  be,  and  which  I  have  told  you 
came  down  from  the  higheil  heaven  itfelf,  is  of  fuch 
a  divine  and  excellent  nature,  that  whoever  does  what, 
in  the  language  of  metaphor,  may  be  called  feeding 
upon  it,  mall  efcape  the  wrath  of  God,  and  never  die 
the  fecond  death. 

51  I  am  come  down  from  heaven  to  be  all  that, 
which  I  have  been  difcourling  of  under  the  notion  of 
living  bread  :  And  as  the  body  is  nourifhed  by  the 
food  that  is  eaten  ;  fo  whoever,  with  a  fpiritual  appe- 
tite, receives  me  into  his  heart  by  faith,  his  foul  fhall 
live  in  the  beft  fenfe,  and  never  die  ;  and  his  body, 
though  it  die,  fhall  be  raifed  again  to  eternal  life  : 
And  ftill  more  particularly  to  inform  you  of  what  it 
is  in  me  and  my  performances,  that  has  this  immor- 
tal virtue  to  a  believer,  I  tell  you  it  is  my  own  body, 
or  human  nature,  which  I,  in  a  way  of  fpecial  o- 
peration,  have  affumed  into  perfonal  union  with  my 
divine  nature,  and  which  I  will  freely  give  up  unto 
the  worft  of  deaths,  for  the  redemption  of  thole,  who 
have  deferved,  and  expofed  themfelves  to  it,  that  I 
may  bring  fpiritual  and  eternal  life  to  Tinners"  of  this 
loll  world,  including  Gentiles  as  well  as  Jew?.  (See 
the  note  on  chap.  iii.    16.) 

Y  y  52  Though 


342 

52  The  Jews 
therefore  (trove  a- 
mongft  themfelves, 
faying,  How  can 
this  man  give  us 
his  fleih  to  eat  ? 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  vL 


53  Then  Jefus 
laid  unto  them, 
Verily,  verily,  I 
fay  unto  you,  Ex- 
cept ye  eat  the 
lleili  of  the  Son  of 
man,  and  drink  his 
blood,  ye  have  no 
life  in  you. 


54  Whoib  cat- 
cth  my  flefh,  and 
drinketh  my  blood, 
hath  eternal  life, 
and  I  will  raife  him 
up  at  the  laft  day. 


55  For  my  flefh 
is  meat  indeed,  and 
my  blood  is  drink 
indeed. 


56  He  that  est- 
eth  ray  flefh,  and 
rfrinketh  raj  blood, 
dwelleth  in  me, 
-iiii    I   iti   him. 


52  Though  this  way  of  Chrift's  expreffing  the  be- 
nefits of  his  incarnation  and  death  was  evidently  fi- 
gurative, according  to  the  ufual  and  well-known  ftile 
of  the  eaitern  nations  ;  and  though  what  the  Jews 
had  fuggefted  about  the  manna  naturally  gave  a  fit 
occafion  for  this  manner  of  reprefenting  them  ;  yet 
they  perverfely  difputed,  with  great  heat  among 
themfelves,  againfl  it,  ilill  taking  his  words  in  a  li- 
teral fenfe,  and  faying,  by  way  of  cavil  and  fcorn, 
How  is  it  poffible  that  this  man's  flefh  fhould  be  eat- 
en like  bread  ;  or  that  he  fhould  give  it  for  us  to 
feed  upon  it  ?  This  is  monftroufly  ridiculous  and  ab- 
furd  ;  and  would  be  unnatural  and  favage  to  the  laft; 
degree. 

53  Then  our  bleffed  Lord,  knowing  what  a  ftu- 
pid  and  carnal  turn  they  wilfully  gave  to  his  words, 
replied,  What  I  have  faid  is  fo  far  from  being  ridi- 
culous and  abfurd,  according  to  my  declared  mean- 
ing in  it,  that  I,  the  faithful  and  true  Witnefs,  fo- 
lemnly  affure  you,  unlefs  in  a  moral  and  fpiritual  fenfe 
ye  do  that,  which  may  be  figuratively  called  eating 
the  flefh,  and  drinking  the  blood  of  the  incarnate  and 
dying  Redeemer,  and  unlefs  ye  be  united  to  him  by 
faith,  and  made  partakers  of  the  virtue  of  his  aton- 
ing death  for  the  remiffion  of  fins,  and  the  refrefh- 
ment  of  your  fouk,  ye  have  no  principle  of  fpiritual 
life  in  you,  nor  any  right  or  claim  to  eternal  life,  nor 
fhall  ye  ever  enjoy  it. 

54  But,  on  the  contrary,  whoever  by  faith  re- 
ceives me,  who  am  come  to  redeem  loft  finners  by 
my  fufferings  in  the  flefh,  and  by  fhedding  my  blood, 
has  already  the  principle  and  earnefts  of,  and  a  fure 
title  to  eternal  life  ;  and  I  will  certainly  bring  him, 
foul  and  body,  to  the  full  pofleffion  of  it,  at  the  con- 
fummation  of  all  things. 

55  For  my  body,  which  fhall  be  broken,  and  my 
blood,  which  fhall  be  ihed  for  the  remifiion  of  fins, 
have  fuch  virtue  to  procure  reconciliation  and  accept- 
ance with  God,  together  with  fan£tification  and  com- 
fort here,  and  eternal  falvation  hereafter,  that  who- 
ever by  faith  applies  them  to  himfelf,  and  has  com- 
munion with  me  therein,  fhall  find  them  to  be  the 
beft  of  food  and  drink  for  the  refrefhment  of  his  foul, 
in  a  much  more  fublime,  effectual,  and  eminent  fenfe, 
than  his  eating  and  drinking  any  corporal  repafts  can 
be  for  the  refrefhment  of  his  mortal  body. 

56  This  may  be  illuftrated  in  the  following  man- 
ner :   As  by  eating  and  drinking  material  provifions, . 
they  are  digelted,  incorporated,  and  become  one  with 
the  body,   ;or  the  fupport  and  comfort  of  its  prefent 
frail  life  :   So  he  who  by  faith  receives  ir^  together 

with: 


57  As  the  living 
Father  hath  fent 
me,  and  I  live  by 
the  Father  :  To  he 
that  eateth  me,  e- 
ven  he  fhall  live 
by  me. 

58  This  is  that 
bread  which  came 
down  from  hea- 
ven :  not  as  your 
fathers  did  eat 
manna,      and     are 


eth  of  this  bread, 
mail  live  for  ever. 


Chap.  vi.  John  paraphrafed.  343 

with  the  benefits  of  my  death,  into  his  heart,  is  there- 
by united  with  me.  as  a  member  of  my  myftica^  body ; 
I  dwell  in  him  by  my  Spirit,  and  he  dwells  in  me  by 
faith,  for  all  the  purpofes  of  maintaining  and  nourifh- 
ing  his  fpiritual  life,  till  it  (hall  reach  its  utmoft  per- 
fection in  heaven. 

57  So  that  as  the  Father,  who  has  life  in  himfeli, 
has  given  me  commiflion,  and  I  thereupon,  in  my 
mediatorial  character,  have  life  *  from  him  for  the 
execution  of  my  office  :  In  like  manner  I,  who  has  e 
alfo  life  in  my  (elf,  will  communicate  fpiritual  life  to 
thofe  who  by  faith  receive  me,  that  they  may  live 
with  me  for  ever. 

58  This  therefore,  upon  the  whole,  is  my  mean- 
ing ;  I  myfelf,  in  thefe  considerations  of  me,  am  that 
true  and  living  bread,  which  had  its  original  in  hea- 
ven, and  defcended  from  thence,  and  with  which  the 
marina  in  the  wildernefs  is  no  more  worthy  to  be 

dead:  he  that  eat-  compared,  in  point  of  excellence,  than  a  type  and 
fhadow  is  with  its  antitype  and  fubftance  :  For  when 
your  anccttors  eat  of  that  bread,  their  mortal  lives  on- 
ly were  fultained  by  it  for  a  while,  they  being  all  long 
fince  dead;  but  every  one  who  receives  me  by  faith, 
fhall  have  an  immortal  life,  which  being  begun  in 
grace,  lhall  be  maintained  and  cherifhed,  till  it  be 
perfected  in  eternal  glory  f . 

59  Thefe  things  were  delivered,  not  to  a  felecx 
company  in  private,  but,  according  to  Chriil's  uluai 
cultom,  publicly  in  the  fynagogue,  before  all  iorts  of 
hearers  at  Capernaum,  after  he  returned  thither  from 

Y  v  2  the 

NOTE     S. 

*  Chrift's  liming  by  the  Father  i'eems  to  ternally  of  the  Lord's  Tapper,  are  certain- 
relate  to  his  life  as  man  and  mediator ;  ly  faved.  Befides,  the  Popijh  doctrine, 
becaufe  it  is  here  fpoken  of  as  the  confe-  founded  on  this  difcourfe,  is  very  barba- 
quence  of  his  Father's  fending  him;  and  rous  to  the  laity,  whilft  it  denies  them 
a  believer's  living  by  him  is  reprefented  the  cup,  which  it  calls  the  real  blood  of 
as  bearing  an  analogy  to  his  living  by  the  Chrift ;  for  drinking  his  blood  is  here  re- 
Father,  prefented  to  be  as  neceffary  to  eternal  life, 

f  It  appears  from  the  whole  of  this  as  eating  his  fiejb.  But  to  understand 
difcourfe,  that  the  eating,  here  fpoken  this  in  a  proper  and  literal  fenfe,  is  to 
of,  cannot  relate  to  a  facramental,  much  put  as  grois  a  construction  upon  Chriil's 
lefs  to  a  corporal  and  carnal  eating  and  words,  as  the  carnal  jeu-s  themlelves 
drinking  the  real  body  and  blood  of  Chrift,  did,  when  they  laid,  (ver.  ^2.)  How  ca'11 
according  to  the  abfurd  doctrine  of  trail-  this  man  give  us  his  fiejb  to  eat?  Ana 
fubftantiation :  For  thefe  things  were  faid  our  bleffed  Lord  himfeff  ali  along  fhews, 
a  ronfiderable  time  (a  year  at  leaft)  be-  that  his  difcourfe  is  to  be  taken  in  a  fpi- 
fore  the  Lord's  fupper  was  inftituted,  and  ritual  fenfe,  and  that  eating  and  drinking, 
were  then  fpoken  of  in  the  prefent  tenle,  in  this  cafe,  are  of  the  fame  import  with 
as  neceffary  to  eternal  life.  But  as  it  is  coining  to  him,  or  believing  in  him,  (ver. 
lhocking  to  fuppofc  that  all,  who  died  35.)  Accordingly  he  tells  us,  (ver.  6^.) 
between  this  time  and  the  inftitution  of  that  to  understand  his  words  literally, 
that  ordinance,  were  loft  for  ever ;  fo  it  profiteth  nothing;  but  that  all  their  ad  van- 
is  an  unreasonable  and  pernicious  ftretch  tuge  proceeds  from  the  f pit  it  and  life  that 
of  charity  to  fuppofe  that  all,  in  every  attend  them,  and  are  fignified  by  them,  oj: 
Succeeding  age,  who  eat  and  drunk  ex-  are  communicated  by  their  means. 


59  Thefe  things 
faid  he  in  the  fy- 
nagogue, as  he 
taught  in  Caper- 
Damn. 


344 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  vi. 


60 

Many  there- 

fore 

of    his 

difci- 

pies, 

when 

they 

had 

heard 

this; 

laid, 

This 

is    an 

hard 

fayiaF, 

who 

< an  hear  it  ? 

6' 1  When  Tefus 
knew  in  himtelf, 
that  his  difciples 
murmured  at  it,  he 
laid  unto  them, 
Doth  this  oft'end 
you  ? 

6 1  What  and  if 
ye  fhall  fee  the  Son 
pf  man  afcend  up 
where  he  was  be- 
fore ? 


63  It  is  the  fpi- 
rit  that  quicken- 
etb,  the  flelh  pro- 
j'.teth  nothing:  the 
words  that  I  fpeafc 
nto  you,  they  ure 
t,  and  they  are 


the  wildemefs,  where  he  had  miraculoufly  fed  the  mul- 
titude, that  followed  him  to  this  city,  becaufe  they  had 
cat  of  the  loaves,  and  were  filled.     (Ver.  26.  ) 

60  Now  as  he  had  a  great  number  of  difciples  at 
large,  who  often  attended  his  miniftry,  and  made  a 
profeilion  of  his  name ;  fo  many  of  them,  whofe 
hearts  were  not  right  with  him,  were  highly  offend- 
ed at  what  he  had  faid  about  his  being  the  bread  that 
came  down  from  heaven,  and  about  the  necefiity  of 
eating  him,  in  order  to  their  living  by  him  :  They 
that  ilill  took  thefe  things  in  a  literal  fenfe,  thought 
it  a  monflrous  and  favage  dodtrine  ;  they  that  took 
them  in  a  figurative  fenfe,  as  Chrift  explained  them, 
thought  that  he  blafphemoufly  affumed  to  himfelf  a 
divine  original  and  operation  ;  and  they  that  knew 
not  what  conit ruction  to  put  upon  his  words,  thought 
there  was  fomething  fo  myfterious  in  them,  that  no 
man  in  his  -'/its  could  receive  them  ;  and  fo  they  hea- 
vily complained,  one  to  another,  that  he  preached 
luch  doctrine,  as  was  not  fit  for  any  man  to  believe, 
or  even  to  hear. 

61,  62  When  Jefus,  by  his  own  divine  omnifci- 
ence,  knew  what  feeret  whifpering  and  difturbance  his 
words  had  occaiioned  among  them  ;  he  faid,  Does 
this  ftumble  you,  and  hinder  your  embracing  me  \ 
there  is  no  juft  caufe  of  your  being  offended  at  it  : 
For,  as  to  your  prejudice  againft  what  1  faid  about 
my  corning  down  from  heaven,  fuppofe  fome  of  you 
mould  fee  me,  the  Mefliah  in  human  nature,  afcend 
locally  into  that  holy  place, 'where  I  had  an  exiftencc 
before  my  incarnation  ;  would  not  this  be  as  ftrange 
and  unlikely  a  thing  as  my  coming  down  from  thence  ? 
And  yet  this,  in  a  little  time,  fome  here  prefent  {hall 
be  eyc-witneffes  of:  Why  then  mould  ye  be  fo  in- 
cenfed  againft  me,  for  faying  what  is  full  as  proba- 
ble, and  eafy  to  be  done  as  this,  which  will  alfo  be 
a  confirmation  of  that  ? 

63  And  as  to  your  other  prejudice  againft  what  I 
faid  about  eating  my  fiefh,  and  living  by  me,  that  is 
to  be  underftocd  only  in  a  fpiritual  and  not  in  a  carnal 
fenfe  :  For  as  in  nature,  only  the  foul  and  animal  fpi- 
rits  quicken  the  body ;  fo  in  grace,  it  is  only  the  opera- 
tion of  the  Spirit  of  God,  that  quickens  fouls  to  a 
fpiritual  and  eternal  life  ;  and  eating  my  fiefh,  in  the 
grofs  and  literal  fenfe,  were  it  practicable  and  proper, 
would  be  of  no  manner  of  advantage  for  the  life  of 
fouls  ;  The  words  therefore,  that  I  have  been  fpeak- 
ing,  relate  to  fpiritual  things,  and  are  the  means  of 
conveying  the  Holy  Spirit,  whofe  influence,  as  the 
fruit  of  my  death  and  afcenfion  to  heaven,  is  effectual 
unto  fpiritual  and  eternal  life. 

64  But 


Chap.  vi. 

64  But  -there 
are  fome  of  you 
that  believe  not. 
For  jefus  knew 
from  the  begin- 
ning, who  they 
were  that,  belie- 
ved not,  end  who 
fliould  betray  him. 


65  And  he  faid, 
Therefore  laid  I 
unto  you,  that  no 
man  can  come  un- 
to me,  except  it 
were  given  unto 
him  of  my  Father. 


66  From  that 
time  many  of  his 
difciples  went 

back,   and  walked 
no  more  with  him. 


John  paraphrafed. 


345 


67  Then  faid  Je- 
fus unto  the  twelve, 
Will  ye  alfo  go  a- 
way  ? 


68  Then  Simon 
Peter  anfwered 
him,  Lord,  to 
whom  fhall  we 
go  ?  thou  haft  the 
words  of  eternal 
life. 


64  But  I  know  that  fome  of  you,  who  profefs  to 
be  my  difciples,  do  not  heartily  believe  in  me,  and 
therefore  are  ready  to  cavil  at  my  doctrine,  and  put 
the  molt  abfurd  and  perverfe  conltruction  on  my  words. 
And  Jefus  might  well  fay  this  ;  for  he  perfectly 
knew  all  along,  from  the  very  lirit  of  their  pretences 
to  own  and  follow  him,  whofe  hearts  were  not  right 
with  him,  and  which  of  the  twelve  apollles  themfelvcs 
would  not  only  prove  to  be  infincere,  but  would  like- 
wife  bafely  betray  him. 

65  And,  faid  he,  becaufe  I  knew  that  there  were 
falfe-hearted  pretenders  among  you,  therefore,  for 
your  conviction  and  caution,  and  for  diilinguifhing 
real  from  nominal  believers,  I  told  you  before,  {ver. 
44.)  that  no  man  can  favingly  believe  in  me,  unlefs 
my  Father  efficaciouily  draw  him  by  his  Spirit,  and 
thereby  give  him  ftrength  and  grace  to  enable  him 
to  come  to  me,  in  a  fpiritual  manner,  for  everlaiting 
life. 

66  Upon  Chrifl's  repeating  what  he  had  faid  be- 
fore about  the  abfolute  neceffity  of  divine  grace,  and 
that  with  fuch  a  clofe  application  to  them,  who  had 
profeffed  difciplefhip  to  him,  many  of  them  were  fo 
llung  and  onended  at  it,  that  they  immediately  re- 
volted from  him  to  the  world,  to  their  pharifaical 
teachers,  and  to  their  own  finful  and  felf-dtceiving 
ways  ;  and  never  more  returned  to  attend  on  his  mi- 
niitry,  nor  ever  made  any  further  profefiion  of  him. 

67  On  occafion  of  this  great  apoflacy  among  them, 
cur  Lord,  for  the  trial  of  the  twelve  apollles  faith, 
and  to  give  them  a  proper  opportunity  of  profefiing 
it,  faid,  in  an  affectionate  and  moving  manner  to 
them,  See  how  many  have  forfaken  me  !  will  ye  al- 
fo follow  their  example  ?  Tell  me  what  are  the 
thoughts  and  purpofes  of  your  hearts  about  this  mat- 
ter ? 

68  Then  Simon  Peter  replied,  in  the  name  of  the 
reft,  as  in  charity  believing  that  they  were  of  the 
fame  mind  with  himfelf,  Lord,  whatioever  others  do, 
we  dare  not  think  of  leavino-  thee  :   For  to  whom 

o 

mould,  or  can  we  go,  with  fafely  and  advantage, 
but  to  thee  ?  Shall  we  go  to  the  world  ?  that  can  ne- 
ver be  a  fatisfying  portion  to  us  :  Shall  we  go  to  the 
fervice  of  fin  ?  that  will  certainly  ruin  us  :  Shall  we 
go  to  Xhzjcribes  and  Pharijees?  they  will  miilead  and 
deceive  us  :  Shall  we  go  to  any  fchemes  of  our  own, 
or  others  framing  for  happinefs  ?  they  will  furely  dif- 
appoint  us  :  Shall  we  go  to  Mofes>  and  truit  in  the 
righteoufnefs  of  the  law  ?  he  could  not  help  us,  but 
would  fend  us  back  to  thee  :  Or  lhall  we  go  to  "■'?/: 
be  Baptijl  ?  he  turned  us  over  to  thee  :   'Tis  thou, 

and 


346 


*o  And  we  be- 
lieve, and  are  lure 
that  thou  art  tbat 
Chrift,  the  Son  of 
the  living  God. 


70  Jefus  anfwer- 
ed  them,  Have 
not  I  chofeu  you 
twelve,  and  one 
*f  you  is  a  devil  ? 


71  He  fpake  of 
Judas  Ifcariot,  the 
fan  of  Simon  :  for 
he  it  was  that 
fliould  betray  him, 
being  one  of  the 
twelve. 


The  Evangelift  Chap.  vi. 

and  thou  only,  that  teachell  the  true  doctrine  of  e- 
ternal  life,  and  art  able  and  willing  to  give  us  life,  as 
thou  thyielf  haft  told  us  in  this  difcourfe  ;  we  there- 
fore are  determined  to  cleave  to  thee. 

69  And  from  what  we  have  already  feen  of  thee, 
and  heard,  and  learnt,  and  felt  from  thee,  we  firmly 
believe,  and  are  fully  fatisried,  that  thou  art  the  true 
bread  of  life,  even  that  promifcd  Mefliah,  whom  we 
expe&ed,  and  that  eternal  Son  of  the  only  living  and* 
true  God,  who,  as  a  divine  perfon,  cameft  down  from 
heaven. 

70  Hereupon  our  blefTed  Lord,  to  caution  them 
againft  felf-confidence  on  account  of  this  noble  con- 
feflion  of  him,  and  againft  being  Humbled,  when  af- 
terwards one  of  their  own  number  mould  prove  a  trai- 
tor to  him,  replied,  Do  not  ye  know  that  I,  the  Son 
of  God,  have  feparated  and  called  you,  my  twelve  a- 
poftles,  to  bear  witnefs  to  the  truth  of  what  ye  have 
now  confeifed  concerning  me  ?  And  yet  even  one  of 
you  is  {till  under  the  power  of  Satan,  and  will  act  his 
part  in  treachcroufly  delivering  me  into  the  hands  of 
mine  enemies. 

71  He  hereby  particularly  meant  Judas  Ifcariot  y 
who  was  the  fon  of  one  Simon,  though  he  did  not 
then  think  proper  to  mention  him  by  name  :  For  he 
certainly  knew  that  this  wretch,  being  one  of  the 
twelve  apoftles,  would,  through  the  mitigation  of  the 
devil,  abufe  his  familiar  acquaintance  with  his  Lord, 
by  turning  it  into  a'  means  of  betraying  him. 


RECOLLECTIONS. 

What  a  wonderful  and  divine  Saviour  is  our  blefTed  Lord,  whom  God  the  Father 
iias  fealed  !  He  is  the  eternal  Son  of  the  living  God,  who  came  originally  from  hea- 
ven, and  having  died  in  human  nature  upon  earth,  is  gone  back  to  heaven,  and 
lives  there  for  ever.  He  fearches  the  fecrets  of  our  hearts,  and  knows  the  moft  pri- 
vate murmurings  and  tranfactions  of  our  fouls:  His  almighty  power  can  multiply 
•ur  ftore  for  the  body  here,  and  raife  it  up  to  an  immortal  life  hereafter  ;  and  he, 
who,  like  the  great  God  of  the  univerfe,  trode  upon  the  waves  of  the  fea,  and  turn- 
ed the  ltorm  into  a  calm,  can  eafily  quiet  a  troubled  foul,  faying,  It  is  I,  be  not  a- 
fraid. — Of  how  much  greater  importance  is  it,  that  we  be  partakers  of  fpiritual 
blefiings  to  eternal  life,  which  Chrift,  as  mediator,  has  all  authority  to  bellow,  and 
will  give  to  them  that  come  by  faith  to  him,  than  that  we  enjoy  the  beft  of  pe- 
rifbing  things,  pertaining  to  thefe  mortal  bodies  !  And  yet,  alas!  how  much  more 
pains  will  men  take  for  the  meat  that  periflies,  than  for  that  which  endures  to  e- 
verlafting  life !  And  how  backward  are  they  to  feek  this  better  food,  by  that  faith, 
which  God  requires,  and  gracioufly  works  in  all  that  obtain  it!  What  .excellent 
and  living  bread  is  a  crucified  Jefus  to  milerable  fouls  !  He,  by  his  flelh  and  blood, 
has  purchafed  the  beft  of  life  for  them,  and  by  his  word  and  Spirit  ("peaks  it  to  them, 
and  feeds,  comforts,  and  nourilhes  them  to  eternal  life.    Who,  that  knows  any  thing 

of 
NOTE. 
*  Cod  is  here  filled  the  living  God,  culiar  eminence  and  propriety,  the  Son 
not  to  diftinguifh  the  nature  of  the  Fa-  of  this  living  Cod,  to  intimate  that  he, 
:her  irorn  that  of  the  Son,  but  the  nature  as  the  Son,  partakes  of  the  fame  divine 
of  the  true  God  from  that  of  all  falfe  life  and  perfections  with  his  Father, 
gods;  and  Chrilt  is  called,  by  way  of  pe- 


Chap.  vii.  John  paraphrafed.  347 

of  his  own  wants,  and  of  Chrift's  worth,  would  not  fay,  Lord,  evermore  give  us  of 
this  bread?  How  fliould  we  hunger  and  third  after  him,  as  perifhing  creatures,  that, 
need  his  falvation ;  and  with  what  readinefs  mould  we  receive  him  by  faith,  with 
application  to  ourfelves,  that  we  may  live  by  him  !  And  O  what  rich  encourage- 
ment have  the  worft  of  finners  to  believe  in  him,  who  is  the  Amen,  the  faithful* 
and  true  Witnefs,  and  has  given  the  ftrongeft  affurances,  that  he  will  in  no  wife 
caft  out  any  that  come  to  him  ;  but  will  give  them  the  beginnings,  earnefts,  fore-- 
taftes,  and  fecurities  of  eternal  life,  will  take  care  of  them,  and  all  their  concerns, 
and  raife  up  their  mortal  bodies  to  a  glorious  immortality,  equal  to  that  of  their 
fouls,  according  to  the  will  of  his  heavenly  Father '.  How  unreafonable  and  perverfe 
then  are  the  prejudices  and  murmurings  that  tinners  harbour  in  their  hearts  againft 
him!  'Tis  becaufe  they  entertain  wrong  and  unworthy  thoughts  of  his  perfon  and 
offices,  wifdom,  power,  and  grace,  and  of  the  way  of  falvation  by  him,  and  prefer 
earthly  and  carnal,  to  fpiritual  and  heavenly  things  :  O  how  neceffary  are  God's 
fpecial  drawings,  by  the  internal  light  and  influence  of  his  Spirit,  as  well  as  by  his 
word,  to  enable  us  to  believe  in  Jefus  to  the  faving  of  our  fouls  !  We  fliall  under- 
iland  fpiritual  things  in  a  carnal  manner,  and  never  get  over  the  natural  enmity  of 
our  minds  and  hearts  againft  them,  unlefs  we  hear  andJearn  of  the  Father  to  come 
to  Chrift.  But  how  many  foever  reject  him  through  wilful  unbelief,  feme  fliall  be 
brought  to  faving  faith  in  him:  His  Father's  gift  of  them  to  him  fliall  never  be  re- 
voked ;  his  precious  blood  fhed  for  them  fliall  not  be  fpilt  in  vain ;  his  own  and  his 
Father's  heart  are  unitedly  engaged  to  fecure  their  happinefs;  they  fliall  be  taught 
of  God,  and  come  to  his  Son ;  and  none  of  them  fliall  be  loft,  but  he  will  raife  them 
up  at  the  laft  day.  Wherever  elfe  we  feek  for  falvation,  we  fhall  certainly  fall 
fhort  of  it;  and  who  knows  what  degrees  of  treachery  and  wickednefs  they  may  be 
fuffered  to  go  into,  who  once  begin  to  forfake  him  ?  But  the  apoftacy  of  others 
fhould  be  fo  far  from  {tumbling  us,  that  it  fliould  make  us  cleave  the  fafter  unte* 
him  ;  and  when  he  fays  to  us,  Will  ye  go  away  aifo?  we  fliould  fay  to  him,  Lord, 
to  whom  fliall  we  go?  thou  haft  the  word's  of  eternal  life. 


CHAP.      VIL 

Chrijl  refufes  to  go  with  his  kindred  to  Jerufalem,  i, — g.  Goes  pri- 
vately afterwards,  10, — 13.  Preaches  in  the  temple,  and  difcour- 
fes  with  the  Jews,  in  the  midjl  ofthefeajl  of  tabernacles,  about  his 
doclrine,  14, — 18.  About  their  charge  of  his  breaking  the  Sab- 
bath, and  going  about  to  kill  him  on  that  account,  10, — 24.  And 
about  himfelf  25, — $6.  His  gracious  invitation  to  (inner  s,  on  the 
lafl  day  ofthefeajl,  37, — 39.  The  different  reception  he  met  withy 
40, — 44.  And  the  angry  debates  of  the  Pharifees  about  the  officers, 
not  apprehending  him,  45, — 53, 


rARAPHRASE. 

A  FTER   the  things  mentioned  in  the  foregoing 
-*-  ■*-  difcourfe,  our  Lord  ftayed  a  confiderable  time 


Text.  Paraphrase. 

^FTER     thefe 

things     Jefus 

walked     in     Gali-    , 

lee  :  for  he  would    in  Galilee,  and  travelled  about  from  place  to  place, 

not  walk  in  Jew-   preaching  the  gofpel,  and  doing    good  :    For,    the 

ry,     becaufe    the  ,feafon  appointed  of  the  Father  for  his  death  not  be- 

ku7Shim°Ught    t0    in&  yet  come>  lie  thought  it  imprudent  to  appear,  as 

he  was  wont,  in  Judea,  becaufe  the  Jews  there  were 

grown  fo  inveterate  againft  him,  that  they  refolved 

to  take  him  off,  as  foon  as  poflible,  either  by  popular 

fury,  or  by  form  of  law. 

2,  3  But,  after  a  while,  the  Jewijh  feaft  of  taber- 
nacles drew  near,  which  was  inftituted,  and  continu- 
ed 


feaft 


34-3  The  Evangeliji  Chap.  vii. 

feaft    of    taberna-   ed  to  be  obferved,  as  a  memorial  of  Ifraelh  dwelling 
cteswesat  hand.       in  tents  in  the  wildernefs,    and  was  one  of  the  three 

therefore  laid  un-  great  fealts'  at  wmch  al1  tne  malcs  were  obliged,  by 

to    him,     Depart  God's  command,  to  appear  before  him  at  Jcru fa/cm : 

hence,  and  go  in-  (Deut.  xvi.  1 6.)     Chrill's    near   kinfmen    therefore, 

to  jttdea,  that  thy  (fee  the  note  on  Matih.  xii.  46.J)  obferving  that  he 

u:\-Vorksthat    delayedg°ingtothat  Solemnity,    put  him  upon  it, 
thou  doft.  ^ying,  Now  is  your  opportunity  to  make  a  figure  in 

the  world ;  Hay  no  longer  in  this  poor,  obfcure  coun- 
try, but  go  to  the  more  populous  towns  and  cities  of 
Judea,  and  hailen  away  to  the  great  metropolis,  that 
by  your  preaching  and  wonderful  works,    you  may 
make  converts  of  men  of  reputation  and  learning  there, 
and  may  encourage  all  your  difciples,    who  at  this 
time  are  repairing  from  every  part  of  the  nation  thi- 
ther, and  will  be  ready  at  hand  to  favour  any  defigns 
that  you  may  fet  on  foot. 
4    For  there  is        4  For  no  man,  who  understands  his  own  interefts, 
no  man  that  doth    {s  f0  imprudent,    as  to  do  things  in  a  private  corner 
any    t  3«g  m     c-   0£  tne  country,  while,    like  you,    he  aims  at  gaining 
leii  Yeeketh  to  be   a  public  reputation  by  them.      If  therefore  you  are 
known  openly  :    if  able  to  do  any  extraordinary  works,  to  eilabliih  your 
thou      do      thefe    authority,  as  you  profefs  to  do  here  in  Galilee,  your 

5°,,51^s' ,       v  f, J"   wifeft  way  is  to  perform  them  in  the  moft  famous  pla- 

ielt  to  the  world.  , '•'         ,     r       n        ,  ,.  r  ,  r     r 

ces,    and  on  the  molt  public  occaiions,    that  men  or 

note  and  fenfe,  as  well  as  the  populace,  may  fee  and 

examine  them,  and  be  convinced  by  them. 

5  For    neither        5     But  how  plaufible  and  innocent  foever  this  ad- 
did    his    brethren    vjce  Qf  \^s  relations  might  appear,  it  proceeded  from 

mean  and  unworthy  thoughts  of  him  :  For  they  did 
not  believe  him  to  be  the  true  Median,  but  fufpe&ed 
that  he  only  aimed  at  the  applaufe  of  men,  and  at 
fetting  up  for  the  head  and  ringleader  of  a  party  ; 
and  therefore  they  urged  him  in  this  mamier  to  go  to 
Jer'/fh/em,  that  he  might  be  detected  by  men  of 
greater  penetration  than  themfelves. 

6  Then    jefus        6    Jeius    (ow)   therefore  aufwered  them,    Ye  arc 
fa  id    unto     them,   muc\l  rniftaken  in  your  thoughts  about  me  and  my  de- 

imtl  .     k  .►    hVns  :    As  I  know  that  many  in  lerufalem  are  con- 
yet     come  :      but      b<  #  /       r J       -' 

ir  time  is  alway    tnvmg  to  take  away  my  lire,  berore  the  time  is  come 
it.idy.  for  me  to  refign  it*.      'Tis  not  proper  that   I  mould 

appear  openly  there  at  the  beginning  of  the  feait,  and 
thereby  needlefsly  give  them  an  opportunity  of  con- 
*  .  Tting  meafures  for  my  deftruction  :  But  k  is  other- 
wife  with  you  :    Ye  have  nothing  to  fear  from  their 

persecutions, 
NOTE. 
*  Some  have  thought  that  this  might  verfe  about  the  world's  haling  him,  as 
2  ike  wife  be  meant  of  its  not  being  his  the  reafon  of  his  not  ;*oing  to  Jernfalem 
time  yet  for  leaving  Galilee,  becaufe  of  juft  then,  feems  to  favour  the  other  iu- 
fome  further  work,  which  he  had  lirft  to  terpretation  rather  than  this, 
do  there  :  But  what  is  added  in  the  next 


Chap.  vii. 


7  The  world 
cannot  hate  you  ; 
but  me  it  hateth, 
becaufe  I  teftify  of 
it,  that  the  works 
thereof  are  evil. 


S  Go  ye  up  un- 
to this  feaft  :  I  go 
not  up  yet  unto  this 
feaft,  for  my  time  is 
not  yet  full  come. 

9  When  he  had 
faid  thefe  words 
unto  them,  he  a- 
bode  Jiill  in  Gali- 
lee. 


10  But  when 
his  brethren  were 
gone  up,  then  went 
he  alfo  up  unto  the 
feaft,  not  openly, 
but  as  it  were  in 
lee  ret. 


1 1  Then  the  Jews 
fought  him  at  the 
feaft,  and  faid, 
Where  is   he  ? 


12  And  there 
was  much  mur- 
muring among  the 
people  concerning 
him:  for  fome  faid, 
He  is  a  good  man  : 
others  laid,  Nay  ; 
but  he  deceiveth 
the  people. 


Vol.  II. 


John  paraphrased.  349 

persecutions,  and  therefore  may  go  without  any  dan- 
ger to  yourfelves,  whenever  ye  pleafe. 

7  The  men  of  this  world  have  no  reafon  to  be  ene- 
mies to  you,  who  are  like  themfelves  in  their  princi- 
ples, temper,  and  deiigns,  and  never  care  to  iay  any 
thing  to  offend  them  :  But  they  have  the  greateft  a- 
verlion  to  me,  and  £eek  my  ruin,  becaufe  I  freely  and 
faithfully  tell  them  their  own,  and  oppofe  and  con- 
demn their  beloved  lulls  and  iinful  ways,  for  their  re- 
formation. 

8  Repair  ye  therefore  to  Jevufalem  as  foon  as  ye 
will,  that  ye  may  be  there  at  the  beginning  of  the 
feaft  :  I  mail  not  keep  you  company,  nor  indeed  go 
yet  a  while  ;  for  I  mult  wait  a  little  longer  before  it 
will  be  prudent  for  me  to  be  feen  there. 

9  By  this  anfwer  he  fent  them  to  attend  divine  or- 
dinances, though  they  were  perfons  of  a  carnal  unbe- 
lieving heart  ;  but,  as  they  did  not  like  his  prefence 
among  them,  he  would  not  honour  them  with  it  : 
And,  having  thus  difmifTed  them,  he,  keeping  to  his 
refolution,    Hill  continued  fome  days  in  Galilee. 

10  But  foon  after  thofe  relations,  according  to  the 
flefh,  had  fet  out  on  their  journey,  he  likewife  went 
after  them,  to  celebrate  the  feaft  of  tabernacles,  that 
he  might  honour  the  inftitutions  of  God,  and  fulfil 
all  righteoufnefs.  But  he  went  very  privately,  to  pre- 
vent noife  and  tumult,  and  all  appearance  oi  vain-glo- 
ry, as  alfo  to  avoid  giving  umbrage  to  the  govern- 
ment, and  to  efcape  the  hands  of  fuch  wicked  men 
as  might  lie  in  wait  to  murder  him. 

11  In  the  mean  while,  the  Jews  expecting  him 
at  the  feaft,  and  finding  that  he  did  not  come  with 
his  kindred,  there  was  great  inquiry  after  him,  they 
all  wondering  what  was  become  of  him,  or  where  he 
had  hid  himfelf ;  fome  being  defirous  to  hear  his 
excellent  difcourfes,  and  fee  his  wonderful  works, 
whilft  others  were  watching  for  an  opportunity  to 
get  him  into  their  power,  that  they  might  put  him 
to  death. 

12  And  this  occafioned  an  univerfal  talk,  and 
warm  debates  about  him  ;  fome  infilled  that  he 
certainly  was  at  leaft  an  honeft,  worthy,  and  ufeful 
man,  whofe  doctrine  was  heavenly,  whofe  life  was 
holy,  and  whofe  miracles  were  all  merciful  and  en- 
gaging ;    and  they  murmured   at   the   chief  pricfts, 

fcribes,  and  Pharijees,  for  reviling  and  oppofing  him : 
And  others,  on  the  contrary,  cried  out  againft  him, 
as  an  impoftor,  who  deluded  the  people,  afferted 
himfelf  to  be  equal  with  God,  and  profaned  the  Sab- 
bath by  working  his  cures  on  that  day;  (chap.  v.  18.) 
Z  z  and 


14  Now  about 
the  mid  it  of  the 
tea  ft,  fefus  went 
up  into  the  temple, 
And  taught. 


15  Am]  the  Jews 
marvelled,  faying, 
How  knoweth  this 
man  letters,  having 
never  learned  ? 


350  The  Evangelift  Chap,  vii* 

and  they  murmured  at  his  friends,  for  taking  his  part, 
and  mewing  him  any  countenance. 
13   Howbcit  no        1 3   However,   as  the  run  of  the  chief  men   was 
man  lpake  openly    cruelly  again  ft  him,  none,  that  had  a  good  opinion 

th  ^Tewsf0r  fCar  0t  of  hlir''  durlt  vcnture  to  %?*&■ their  mindd  freely  and 
publicly  in  his  favour,  left  they  fhould  provoke  the 
rulers  ol  the  jewr,  to  take  them  up,  and  perfecute 
them  for  his  fake. 

14  Now  though,  for  wife  reafons,  [ver.  6,  7.) 
Chtift  did  not  think  fit  to  appear  openly  at  the  be- 
ginning of  the  feall ;  yet  about  the  third  or  fourth 
day  of  that  folemnity,  which  lafted  feven  days,  (  Lev. 
xxiii.  34.)  he,  to  mew  that  he  was  not  afraid  of  his 
enemies,  went  boldly  to  the  temple,  when  he  was 
little  expected,  and  preached  to  the  people  in  full 
aifembly,  they  being  then  more  at  leifure  to  hear 
him,  having,  according  to  cuitom,  fpent  fome  days 
in  their  booths. 

15  And  his  difcourfe  was  with  fuch  fcriptural  evi- 
dence, with  fuch  profound  judgment,  and  with  fuch 
gravity  and  authority,  that  his  hearers  ftood  amazed 
at  it ;  and  fome  of  them  faid,  in  a  way  of  high  ap- 
probation and  applaufe,  and  others  in  a  way  of  de- 
traction and  contempt,  as  if  he  got  his  knowledge 
by  fome  evil  art,  How  is  this  man  able  to  talk  at  fuch 
an  uncommon  rate  about  the  things  of  God,  and  the 
holy  lcriptures  *,  lince  he  never  went  abroad  for  learn- 
ing, nor  was  educated  by  any  of  our  famous  rabbies 
in  the  fchools  of  the  prophets  at  home  ? 

16  Jefusanfwer-         16   Jefus  perceiving  their  artoniihment,  and  what 

ed  them,  and  laid,    an  invidious  turn    fome  of  them  gave  to  his  manner 

mine  "hut'  his  "that    °*"  Pr'-'acmng>   replied,    for  the   eitabli  foment   of  his 

;:e>  friends,   and  confutation  of  his  enemies,    I   did  not 

learn  the  doctrine,   which   I  teach,   by  any  human 

afiiftances,  nor  is  it  a  private   invention   of  my  own 

head-f-  ;  but  it  is  originally  from  God  my  Father,  who 

communicated  it  to  me,  as  the  Median,  by  his  Spirit, 

with  which  he  anointed  me  above  meafure,  and  who 

fent  me  to  publifli  it  to  the   world,  not  for  gaining 

applaufe  to  myfelf,  but  for  the  advancement  of  his 

i.c.nour  and  glory. 

17   Whether 

NOTES. 

*  r ' qafjLfjL>x',u  the  word  here  tranflated    tliat  lent  him  :  And  it  became  him,   in 

letters,  Teems  to  fignify  the  fcriptures,  in    his  ftate  of  humiliation,    and  under  the. 

which  Mofes  (tygee^u')  wrote  of  Chrift.    character  of  a  prophet,  to  fpeak  of  it  in 

Chop.  v.  46.  this  light,    according  to  what  God  had 

f  Though,  confidering  C.hrift  as  God,    faid  unto  Mofes  concerning  him,  (Dent. 

kis  doctrine  v  as  his  own  as  well  as  his    xviii.  i3.)  J  will raife  them  up  a  pro- 

Fatber's  ;   yet,  be  here  evidently  fpeak-    phct  from  among  their  brethren,  like  u?r- 

h  irate  If  as  mar-  and  thf   Meffiah,    to  thee,   and  will  put  my  words  in  hi\> 

hi-,  doctrine,  under  that  confederation  of   month,  and  he  /ball  fpeak  unto  them  all 

h:m,  was  not  his  own,  but  his  lather's    that  Lcommand  him* 


Chap.  vii. 


John  paraphrafcd. 


35* 


or  whether  I  fpeak 
of  myieJf. 


17  If  any  man  17  Whether  ye  will  believe  this  or  not,  yet  who- 
will  do  his  witt,  ever  {s  heartily  deiirous  to  lay  afide  his  prejudices,  and 
th  dfl  '  n°W]  0t  to  &°  *nt0  ^umt>le,  ferious,  and  impartial  inquiries  hi- 
ther it  be  of  God  to  tne  w^  of  God,  by  meditation,  reading,  hearing, 
and  prayer,  that  he  may  learn  and  praclife  it,  he 
mall  find  enough  in  the  nature  and  tendency  of  my 
doctrine  to  recommend  it  ;  he  (hall  experience  fucli 
powerful,  fwect,  and  holy  effects  of  it,  and  fuch  fur- 
ther affiftances  of  the  Spirit,  as  will  enable  him  to 
judge,  with  entire  fatisfaction  to  himfelf,  whether  it 
really  be  a  divine  revelation,  as  I  aver  ;  or  whether  it 
be  the  private  fentiment  and  contrivance  of  an  impof- 
tor,  as  my  enemies  fuggeit. 

1 8   Such  an  one  will  readily  think  thus  with  him- 


iS  He  that 
fpeaketb  of  him- 
felf, feeketh  his 
own  glory  :  but  he 


him,  the  fame  is 
true,  and  no  un- 
righteoufnefs  is  in 
him. 


felf :  An  impoicor,  who  forms  his  own  fchemes,  and 
vents  his  own  imaginations  to  deceive  the  people,  will, 
that^feeketh  his  contrary  to  the  method  that  I  have  taken,  calculate 
glory  that  lent  his  doctrines,  and  purfue  meafures  to  rJiife  his  own 
reputation  and  intereft  in  the  world,  and  to  fuit  the 
corrupt  principles  and  tafle  of  men,  that  they  may 
fall  in  with  him,  and  fet  him  up  for  their  head  and 
leader  :  But,  on  the  other  hand,  he  who,  like  me, 
is  wholly  intent  upon  the  glory  of  God,  from  whom 
he  profeffes  to  be  fent,  and  preaches  fuch  doctrine, 
and  lives  at  fuch  a  rate,  as  evidently  tend  to  humble 
and  reform  mankind,  to  oppofe  their  felnfh,  worldly 
fpirit,  to  correct  their  errors,  to  root  out  their  cor- 
ruptions, and  to  turn  them  from  all  iniquity  to  God, 
that  they  may  ferve  and  glorify  him ;  this  perf  >n  can- 
not poflibly  be  a  cheat  ;  he  is  faithful  to  God,  -and 
to  the  fouls  of  men  ;  and  it  is  plain  that  he  is  truly 
what  he  profeffes  to  be,  and  that  there  is  no  falfe- 
hood  in  his  doctrine,  or  fraud  in  his  management  : 
Thus  ye  would  judge  concerning  me,  were  ye  really 
willincr  to  know  and  do  the  will  of  God. 

O 

19  But  ye  are  fo  far  from  this,  and  luch  is  the 
contrariety  of  your  hearts  to  God,  that  though  ye  pro- 
fefs  a  mighty  zeal  for  the  law  of  Mo/es,  as  delivered 

law?  Vvhygo  ye  a-   to  you  by  divine  authority  ;  yet  all  ranks  and  orders 

bout  to  kill  me  ?       among  you  are  fharneful  tranfgreffors  even  of  this  law : 

Otherwife,   why,    in  direct  contradiction  to  one  of 

its  exprefs  and  unalterable  precepts,  do  ye  feek  to 

murder  me  ? 

20  The  common  people*,  efpeciaUy  thofe  that 
came  from  the  country  to  the  feait,  knowing  nothing 

Z  z  2  of 

N     O  T    E. 

*  The  people  here  feerh  to  be  differ-  were  otherwife,  their  wickedhefc  is  fur- 

ent  from  thofe,   that  are  afterwards  faid  ther  aggravated  by  joining  known  fall'e- 

to  be  of  Jerufalem,  (ver.  25.)  and  knew  hood  to  their  blafphemous  reflection  on 

fomething  of  the  defigns  of  the  fevihes  him. 
and  Pbarifees  againft  Chrift.     But  if  it 


19  Did  not  Mo- 
fes  give  you  the 
law,  and  yet  none 
of  you  keepeth  the 


20    The  people 

anfwered  and  faid, 

Thou 


352 

Thou  haft  a  devil : 
who  goeth  about 
to  kill  thee  ? 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  vii. 


21  Jefus  anfwer- 
ed  and  laid  unto 
them,  I  have  done 
one  work,  and  ye 
all  marvel. 


%t  Moles  there- 


of the  plot  againft  him,  and  being  under  the  influ- 
ence of  their  rulers,  cried  out  in  a  great  rage,  You 
talk  like  a  mad-man,  or  one  poffefled  of  the  devil  : 
Who  intends  or  attempts  to  murder  you  ?  we  cannot 
think  that  any  have  formed  fuch  defperate  defigns 
againll  your  life. 

2 1  Our  Lord,  thereupon,  referred  them  to  the 
traniaciions  of  the  laft  paiTover,  (cha/>.  v.  8, — 16.) 
faying,  I  fometime  ago  wrought  a  miraculous  work 
of  mercy,  in  curing  a  poor  cripple,  with  only  fpeak- 
ing  a  word,  which  ye  could  not  but  admire ;  and  yet 
ye  were  all  amazed  at  my  doing  it  on  the  Sabbath- 
day,  and  fome  of  you  fought  to  kill  me  on  that  ac- 
count, as  if  I  had  thereby  broken  the  law  of  Mofes. 
But  how  unreasonable  your  charge  on  this  head  was, 
ye  may  eafily  judge  from  what  is  commonly  practi- 
ced,  without  any  Icmple,  among  yourfelves. 

2  2   To  *  this  purpofe  obferve,    Mofes  delivered  to 
fore  gave  unto  you   y011  tjie  ordinance  of  circumcifion,  or  rather,   by  the 
Scwfc^is^of  command  of  God>   continued  to  enjoin  it  upon  you  ; 
ivfofes    but  of  the   *or  lt  was  not  frrft  inftituted  under  Mofes,  but  was 
fathers,)  and  ye  on    originally  a  privilege  which  God  appointed  to  be  the 
the      Sabbath-day   token  of  his  gracious  covenant  with  Abraham,   and 
circumciie  a  man.    h;s  feed  long.  before  .    (Ge//t  xvii<  IOj  II#)    and  ac- 
cording to  this  inltitution,  if  the  eighth  day  from  the 
birth  of  a  male,  prove  to  be  the  Sabbath,  ye  count 
it  lawful  to  do  every  thing  that  is  neceflary  for  cir- 
cuiiicifino-  him  then. 

o 

23  Now,  if  in  obedience  to  a  ceremonial  appoint- 
ment, which  was  grafted  into  the  law  of  Mojes,  ye 

fion,  that  the  law    circumcife  a  child,    and  ufe  the  means  that  are  proper 

of  Mofes  fliould  not    for  heading  the  wound  thereby  made  upon  him,  and 

be  broken  ;  are  ye    all  agree,  that  the  law  of  the  Sabbath  is  not  thereby 

-angry  at  me,  be-   ^q^jj     how  unreasonable  and  perverfe  is   it,   that 
caute  I  have  made  _    •  ,  .  •;  .     .  ;  *         r  .' 

a  man  every  whit   Ye   'hould    be    enraged  with    bitterneis   agamlt   me, 

whole  on  the  Sab-  [iu,bi  ^oAcm)  for  only  fpeaking  a  word,  and  thereby 
not  barely  curing  a  flight  wound,  but  reitoring  a 
poor  miferable  creature,  who  was  all  over  difeafed, 
to  perfect  health  on  the  Sabbath-day  ? 

24  Take  heed  therefore  of  partiality  in  judging 
(>s«t'  c^iv)  with  refpect  of  perfons  ;  do  not  indulge 
your  prejudices  againll  me,  on  account  of  my  low  and 
mean  appearance,  nor  in  favour  of  your  chief  priefts 
and  rulers,  on  account  of  their  ipecious  pretences, 
and  of  the  authority  which  they  have  gained  over  yon ; 

and 
NOT  JE. 
*  Aix  tcv1o,  the  words  here  rendered  i.  e.  for  doing  this  woik  on  the  Sabbath- 
therefare,  fignify  for  this  caufe,  which,  day:  But  taking  it  as  the  beginning  cf 
:i>  fome  have  conjectured,  might  be  join-  this  verfe,  it  may  be  rendered  to  this 
cdto  the  laft  verfe  thus,  urccy'ng  3-uv/xa.riTt  purpofe,  as  in  the  paraphrafe. 
ftp  tqvU,  ye  all  wonder  at  me  for  this, 


23  If  a  man  on 
the  Sabbath-day 
receive     circumci 


bath-day 


Judge    not 

■  cling    to    the 

appearance,       but 

judge       righteous 

judgment. 


Chap.  vii. 


25  Then  faid 
fome  of  them  of 
Jerufalem,  Is  not 
this  he  whom  they 
feek  to  kill  ? 

26  But  lo,  he 
fpeaketh  boldly, 
and  they  fay  no- 
thing unto  him  : 
do  the  rulers  know 
indeed  that  this  is 
the  very  Chrift  ? 


a  7  Howbeit,  we 
know  this  man 
whence  he  is  :  but 
when  Chrift  Com- 
eth, no  man  know- 
eth  whence  he  is. 


28  Then  cried 
Jefus  in  the  tem- 
ple, as  he  taught, 
faying,  Ye  both 
know  me,  and  ye 
know  whence  I 
am  :  and  I  am  not 
come  of  myfelf,  but 
he  that  fent  me  is 
true,  whom  ye 
know  not. 


29  But  I  know 
him,  for  I  am  from 
him,  and  he  hath 
fent  me. 


John  paraphrased.  353 

and  do  not  rafhly  cenfure  what  I  have  done,  by  gi- 
ving an  invidious  turn,  to  a  bare  outward  refemblance 
of  breaking  in  upon  fabbatical  reft  :  But  carefully 
examine,  and  compare  things  together,  that  ye  may 
judge  according  to  truth  and  equity  ;  and  if  ye  will 
but  attend  to  the  real  merits  of  the  caufe,  ye  never 
can  condemn  me  as  a  Sabbath-breaker,  in  any  con- 
fiftency  with  your  own  practice. 

25,  26  Then  fome  of  the  inhabitants  of  "jerufalem^ 
who  were  not  entire  flrangers  to  the  malicious  con- 
futations of  ihzfcribei  and  Pharifees  againit  Chrift, 
hearing  him  talk  with  fuch  undaunted  courage,  faid 
one  to  another,  Is  not  this  the  man,  whom  they  have 
been  inquiring  after,  that  they  might  put  him  to 
death  ?  Strange,  that  they  do  not  immediately  feize 
him  !  But,  inftead  of  that,  fee  how  publicly  he  ap- 
pears, and  what  liberty  he  takes  in  his  diiccurfe  ! 
and  yet  nobody  molefts  him,  or  offers  either  to  anfvver 
him,  or  to  put  the  leaft  check  upon  him.  What,  are 
our  rulers  at  laft  convinced,  that  he  is  indeed  the  true 
Mefliah,  and  therefore  let  him  alone,  and  fo  tamely 
fuffer  him  to  run  them  down  ? 

27  However,  we  can  never  be  of  that  mind;  for 
we  know  the  parentage  and  relations  of  this  man,  the 
place  where  he  wTas  born,  and  what  his  education  has 
been,  which  are  all  mean  and  contemptible  :  But  we 
are  affured  from  fcripture  concerning  the  Mefliah, 
that  when  he  appears,  it  will  'be  as  one,  who,  like 
Melchi-zedeky  is  without  defcent,  whofe  goings  forth, 
have  been  from  everlafting,  and  whofe  generation  no 
rryan  can  declare  *. 

28  Then  our  bleffed  Lord,  knowing  what  they 
perverfely  objected  againft  him,  raifed  his  voice  in  the 
temple  ;  and  fpeaking  writh  great  earneilnefs  and  zeal 
for  his  Father's  glory,  faid,  Ye  indeed  know  my 
earthly  parentage,  and  that  I  am  fprung  up  from  a- 
mong  yourfelves  ;  and  yet  my  office,  as  well  as  origi- 
nal, is  much  higher  than  ye  apprehend  :  I  have  not 
taken  this  honour  to  myfelf ;  but  my  Father,  who  is 
faithful  and  true  to  all  his  promifes  of  and  to  the 
Mefliah,  has  fent  me  ;  of  him  ye  are  grofsly  igno- 
rant, and  therefore  will  not  receive  me. 

29  But  I  am  intimately  acquainted  with  him,  and 
have  a  perfetl  knowledge  of  his  mind  and  will ;  nor 
can  it  be  otherwife  :    For  I  am  from  him  by  a  pecu- 
liar and  eternal  generation,  and  am  come,  as  the  Mef- 
liah, 

T    E. 

told  his  tribe  and  family,  and  the  place 
of  his  birth  ;  and  therefore  thefe  Jews 
reafoned  fallacioufly  upon  this  head.  See 
the  note  on  ckaj>.  is.  20. 


N    O 

*  All  this  was  true  with  refpect  to 
C'hrift's  divine  nature,  and  office-autho- 
rity ;  but  not  with  refpedr.  to  his  human 
nature,  the  fcripture  having  plainly  fore- 


354 


30  Then  they 
fought  to  take  him: 
but  no  man  laid 
hands  on  him,  be- 
caufe  his  hour  was 
not  yet  come. 


31  And  many 
of  the  people  be- 
lieved on  him,  and 
faid.  When  Chrift 
ccmeth,  will  he  do 
more  miracles  than 
thefe  which  this 
man  hath  done  ? 


32  The  Phari- 
sees heard  that  the 
people  murmured 
fuch  things  con- 
cerning him :  and 
the   Pharifees   and 


"The  Evangeltjl  Chap.  vii. 

fiah,  immediately  from  him,  who  has  fent  me  with 
authority  to  reveal  the  way  of  falvation. 

30  Upon  ChriiVs  fo  plainly  alTerting  his  divine  au- 
thority, fome  of  the  company,  and  efpecially  the  ru- 
lers, were  incenfed  to  fuch  a  degree  againft  him,  that 
they  were  exceeding  defirous  to  feize  and  make  away 
with  him  :  But  their  fpirits  were  furprifingly  over- 
ruled, to  prevent  their  meddling  with  him,  or  doing 
him  any  harm  for  the  prefent,  becaufe  the  time  ap- 
pointed for  his  fufferings  and  death  was  not  yet  come. 

3 1  And  one  great  means  of  reftraining  them  was, 
that  many  of  the  common  people  believed  on  him, 
and  faid,  for  the  confirming  of  each  other's  faith, 
and  condemning  thofe  that  oppofed  him,  Surely  this 
mull  needs  be  the  Mefliah  ;  for  it  could  not  be  ex- 
pected, whenever  he  fliould  come,  that  he  would  per- 
form more  wonderful  works  than  this  perfon  has,  to 
bear  witnefs.  to  him. 

32  When  this  fort  of  difcourfe  among  the  people 
in  his  favour,  and  in  difpleafure  againft  his  enemies, 
came  to  the  ears  of  the  Pbarifeer,  it  prodigioufly 
nettled  them,  they  fearing  left  his  credit  and  autho- 
rity fhould  rife  in  the  efteem  of  the  populace,    to  the 

the  chief  priefts  utter  finking  of  their  own  :  And  therefore  they  and 
fent  officers  to  take  tn€  chief  priefts  confulting  together,  and  refolving  to 
take  as  fpeedy  a  courfe  as  poffible  to  put  a  flop  to 
him,  difpatched  fome  of  their  public  officers,  with  a 
Uriel:  charge  to  take  the  firft  opportunity  they  could 
get  with  fafety,  for  apprehending  and  bringing  him 
before  them,  when  affembled  together  in  council. 

33  In  the  mean  time,  Jefus,  knowing  what  orders 
had  been  giving  to  the  officers,  faid  to  the  multitude, 
and  to  them  at  their  arrival,  I  muft  yet  for  a  little 
while  continue  preaching  and  working  miracles  among 
you  ;  and  all  the  malicious  dellgns  and  attempts  of 
mine  enemies,  which  I  am  fully  apprized  of,  cannot 
prevent  it  :  But  the  time  that  my  Father  has  further 
appointed  for  me  on  earth  is  very  fhort,  and  as  foon 
as  that  is  expired,  I  fnall  readily  return  to  him,  who 
fent  me  hither. 

34  After  this,  ye  will  earneftly  wifli,  but,  alas  ! 
too  late,  that  the  Mefliah  would  appear  among  you, 
which  is,  in  effe&,  wiihing  for  me,  who  am  fie  ;  ye 
will  feek  my  favour  in  vain,  when,  at  the  laft  extre- 
mity, your  calamities  in  this  world  and  the  next  are 
coming  upon  you  :  For  ye  fnall  not  find  me  to  your 
comfort  ;  nor  can  ye  ever  follow  me  to  that  bleffed 
place,  where  I  am*,   either  to  enjoy  me,    or  to  per- 

35   TliC 
N     O     T     E. 
*  Chrifl'a  fo  frequently  faying/  whilft  on  earth,   where  I  am,  when  he  (poke 

of 


33  Then  faid  Te- 
fus  unto  them,  Yet 
a  little  while  am 
I  with  you,  and 
then  I  go  unto  him 
that  fent  me. 


34  Ye  fhall  feek 
me,  and  (hall  not 
find  mi:  and  where 
I  am,  thither  ye 
^annot  come. 


leeute  me  again. 


Chap.  vii. 

35  Then  faid 
the  Jews  among 
themfelves,  Whi- 
therwillhego,  that 
we    (hall   not   hnd 


John  paraphrafed. 


unto  the  difperfed 
among  the  Gen- 
tiles, and  teach  the 
Gentiles  ? 


36  What  ma?mer 
of  laying  is  this 
that  he  faid,  Ye 
(hall  feek  me,  and 
fhall  not  rind  me  : 


****** 

3o:> 

35  The  carnal  Jews  not  underftanding  our  Lord's 
meaning,  who  herein  fpake  of  his  death,  refurreclion, 
and  afcenfion  to  heaven,  feemed  to  be  in  great  fur- 
prife^  laying  one  to  another,  Whither  does  this  man 

him  ?  will  he  go  pretend  to  retire,  that  we  fhall  not  be  able  to  find  him, 
or  get  at  him  ?  What,  will  he  itroll  among  the  jews 
that  are  difperfed  through  heathen  countries,  to  fee 
what  he  can  do  with  them,  now  he  is  difappointed 
here  ?  or  will  he  turn  preacher  to  the  poor  forry  Gen~ 
tiles  themfelves,  that  are  fpread  all  over  the  world, 
upon  finding  himfelf  rejected  among  the  Jews  ? 

36  What  can  he  mean  by  faying,  That  we  mall 
feek  him,  and  want  to  find  him,  but  fhall  not  be  able  ; 
and  that  he  will  get  lomewhere  or  other  out  of  our 
reach,  fo  that  we  cannot  pofiibly  follow  him  thither  X 

and  where  I  am,  furely  we  can  go  any  where,  as  well  as  he. 
thither  ye  cannot         »_   The  officers  not  having- executed  their  commif- 

In    the  laft  ^lon  *rom  $**  chief  priefts  and  Pharifees,   (ver.  32.) 

day,  that  oreat  day  our  Lord  went  on  unmolefted  ;  and  on  the  eighth  day, 

of  the  feaft,  Jefus  which  was  the  lall  day  of  the  feafl  of  tabernacles,  and 

flood    and     cried,  a  high  day*,    he  flood  up  and  preached  to  many, 

Ji^'n^'i  tr"'Mlia'1    that  had  difreg;arded  all  his  former  difcourfes,    and 
tnirit,  let  Inm  come  1  1  •  •  a  1     • 

unto  me  and  drink,    nugkt  never  hear  him  agam  :   And  in  allunon  to  their 

cuflom  of  drawing  water,  and  praying  for  rain  on  that 
day,  he  faid  to  them  with  great  fervour  of  fpirit,  and 
elevation  of  voice,  If  there  be  any  among  you  that 
is  dellitute,  and  really  defirous  of  true  happinefs,  like 
one,  who,  feeling  the  pain  of  thirfl,  longs  for  drink, 
let  him  come  by  faith  unto  me  as  the  only  Saviour, 
that  he  may  be  refrefhed  and  iatisfied. 

38  Whoever,  under  a  fenfe  of  his  own  indigence, 
and  incapacity  to  get  relief  any  where  elfe,  fhall  believe 
in  me  as  the  Chrift  of  God,  for  all  lalvation,  let  his 
ly  (hall  flow  rivers  diftrefs  and  unworthinefs  be  ever  fo  great,  he  fhall 
of  living  water.  have  fuch  an  abundant,  increafing,  and  continued  fup- 
ply  of  bleffings  from  me,  as  fhall  be  like  a  fountain  of 
water,  ever  fpringing  up  in  his  heart,  and  flowing  out 
in  plentiful  flreams  of  righteoufnefs,  for  his  own  com- 
fort and  others  good,  according  to  what  the  irripturc 
has  faid  about  rivers  m  the  de/art,  and  dry  land  be- 
coming firings  of  water,  and  about  God's  people  be- 
ing I  the  a  f/>nng,  whofe  waters  fait  nut.  (I  fa.  xli.  18. 
and  xliii.  19.  and  lviii.  11.) 

39  And 
NOTE  S. 
ot  his  being  in  heaven,  intimates  his  per-  Siloam,  part  of  which  they  ufed  for 
petual  prefence  there  in  his  divine  na-  drink-offerings,  and  the  reft  they  drank 
ture,  though  his  going  thither  was  a  fil-  themfelves  with  joyful  acclamations,  in 
ture  thing,  with  rcfpecT:  to  his  human  remembrance  of  God's  miraculoufly  gi- 
nature.  ving  water  ot.t  of  the  tock.  to  their  fa- 

*  On  this  day  there  was  the  greateft  thers,  whe'i  rlr  y  dwelt  in  booths  in  the 
concourfe  of  people,  and  thev  were  then  Wildernefs ;  aid  3ti  this  day  they  onVred 
wont  to  fetch  water  from  the  pool  of  m>  folemn  prayers  for  feafonable  rains. 


3S  He  that  be- 
lieverh  on  me,  as 
the  fcripture  hath 
faid,  out  of  his  btl 


356  The  Evangeliji  Chap.  vii. 

39  (But  this  39  And  (h)  the  meaning  of  Chrift  in  all  this,  was, 
fpake  he  of  the  that  they  w}10  fhould  cordially  embrace  him  by  faith, 
Xat'^beheve^on  »n  his  whole  charader,  for  all  falvation,  mould,  after 
him  hould receive:  m's  refurrec/tion,  and  afcenfion  to  heaven,  receive  a 
for  the  Holy  Ghoft  rich  communication  of  the  gifts,  graces,  and  con- 
was  nut  yet  given,  folations  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  who  would  be  like  a 
becaufe  that  Jefus  fountain  of  refrcming,  cooling,  cleaniing,  and  fruc- 
was  not  yet  glori-      .f  .  •       1  111         11  , 

frcj/\  prying  water  in  them  ;   and  would  make  them  abun- 

dantly ufeful  to  others  :  For  a  plentiful  effufion  of 
the  bkffed  Spirit  was  not  yet  granted  in  fo  remark- 
able and  extenfive  a  manner  as  it  was  to  be  afterwards, 
becaufe  he  was  to  come  as  the  fruit  and  evidence  of 
Chrift's  exaltation  to  his  mediatorial  throne,  when 
he  fhould  have  the  glory  of  fending  his  Spirit,  and 
the  Spirit  mould  have  the  honour  of  his  own  peculiar 
work  in  glorifying  Chrift,  by  extraordinary  attefta- 
tions  to  his  gofpel,  by  numerous  conversions  of  Jews 
and  Gentiles  to  him,  and  by  a  rich  abundance  of 
light,  grace,  and  joy  in  them  that  believe. 

40  Many  of  the  40  Upon  hearing  this  authoritative,  gracious,  and 
people  therefore  endearing  difcourfe,  many  of  the  common  people 
when  they  heard  were  d  affeaed  wkh  wonder  and  efteem  .  Some 
this    laying,    iaid,       c       &  J  .  . 

Of  a  truth  this  is   °*  them  laid,    1  his  is  unquestionably  a  true  prophet 
the  prophet.  of  the  Lord,  and  indeed  that  very  prophet,  whom 

\ve  expecTt  to  be  the  immediate  forerunner  of  the  Mef- 

fiah. 

41  Others  faid,  41  Others  of  them  went  further,  and  faid,  This 
This  is  the  Chrift.  [s  ^e  very  Qirift  himfelf ;  what  he  fays  and  does  in 
Buttomefaid, Shall  r  •  n-  rn  j  j*  •  11 
Chrift  come  out  of       majeltic,  companionate,  and  divine  a  manner,  could 

Galilee  ?  never  proceed  from  any  other  than  him.      But  in  op- 

position to  thefe  there  were  others,  who  taking  it  for 
granted,  that  our  Lord  was  born  at  Nazareth  in  Ga- 
lilee, becaufe  he  was  brought  up  there,  were  preju- 
diced againft  him,  and  faid,  No,  no,  he  cannot  be 
the  promifed  Mefliah  ;  for  who  ever  heard  that  he, 
like  this  man,  mould  have  his  birth  in  any  part  of 
Galilee  ?■  (See  the  note  on  ver.  52.) 
41     Hath    not        42   Are  we  not  afTured  from  exprefs  teftimonies  of 

the  fcriptnre  bud,    fcripture,   (Ifiaiab  xi.  1.  and    Micah  v.  2.)  that  the 

Sr'of^he^ee'dTf  Meffiah  is  to  fPrIng  from  &*o*k  the  foil  of  Jetfe, 

David    and  out  of  ail(^  *-°  DC  born  at  .the  very  town  of  Bethlehem,  where 

the  town  of  Beth-  Davids  own  parents  dwelt  ?    (1  Sam.  xvi.  1.) 
lehem,  where  Da-         43    In  this  manner,  as  our  Lord  himfelf  predicted, 

v     u:^  "  ,  ( Luke  xii.  ci.)  there  were  various  opinions,  atid  warm 

4^  So  there  was     \  .  1  1  •         r  1     •        r  1       1  •    n 

a   divifion    among    debates  about  him,  lome  being  tor,  and  others  againit 

the  people  becaufe    him  :   Some  efteeming  him  as  a  prophet,  others  as 

of  him.  the   true  Mefliah,    whilft    others   ftuek  to  their    old 

prejudices,  and  being  mifled  by  a  vulgar  error,  as  if 

Jefus  had  really  been  born  at  Nazareth,  rejected  and 

oppofed  him. 

44  And  fome  of       44  And  among  thefc  there  were  fome  who  would 

them  willingly 


Chap.  vii. 

them  would  have 
taken  him  ;  but  no 
man  laid  hands  on 
him. 


45  Then  came 
the  officers  to  the 
chief  priefts  and 
Pharifees;  and  they 
faid  unto  them, 
Why  have  ye  not 
brought  him  ? 

4S  The  officers 
anfwered,  Never 
man  i'pake  like  this 
man. 


John  parapbrafed. 


357 


47  Then  aniwer- 
ed them  the  Pha- 
rifees, Are  ye  alio 
deceived  ? 


48  Have  any  of 
the  rulers,  or  of 
the  Pharifees,  be- 
lieved on  him  ? 


49  But  this  peo- 
ple who  knoweth 
not  the  law  are 
cur  fed. 


Vol.  II. 


willingly  have  taken  him  into  cuftody,  and  carried 
him  before  the  council ;  but  none  of  them,  no,  not 
the  officers  themfelves,  who  were  fent  to  feize  him, 
{ver*  32.)  were  fuffered' to  offer  any  violence  to  him, 
he  laying  a  reftraint  upon  their  fpirits. 

45  At  length  the  officers  returned  to  the  chief 
priefts  and  Pharifees,  and  not  bringing  him  along 
with  them,  they  feverely  reprimanded  them,  faying, 
What  is  the  reafon  that  ye  have  difobeyed  our  ex- 
prefs  orders,  in  not  bringing  Tefus  as  a  prifoner  be- 
fore us,  who  have  fat  in  council  waiting  for  him  ? 

46  The  officers  anfwered,  We  went  with  as  much 
defire  and  refolution  to  feize  him,  as  ye  yourielves 
could  wiih  for ;  but  as  foon  as  we  came  to  hear  him 
preach  to  the  people,  our  hearts  failed  us  at  once  ; 
and  the  longer  we  heard  him,  the  more  we  were 
flruck  with  wonder  and  awe,  and  the  more  afraid  were 
we  of  offering  any  violence  to  him  :  For  never  did 
we  hear  any  man  talk  like  him  ;  it  was  with  fuch  fur- 
prifing  evidence  and  power,  majeily  and  fweetnefs, 
as  were  enough  to  make  every  one  in  love  with  him : 
Surely  none  of  the  ancient  prophets,  no,  not  Mofes 
himfelf,  ever  fpoke  in  fuch  a  convincing  and  enga- 
ging manner  as  he  did  ;  and  the  people  were  gene- 
rally of  the  fame  mind  concerning  it  with  ourfelves. 

47  Then  the  Pharifees,  full  of  indignation  and 
wrath,  replied,  What,  are  ye  fo  weak  and  foolifh,  as 
to  fall  in  with  the  filly  thoughts  of  a  giddy  mob  a- 
bout  him  ?  Could  ye  fuffer  yourfelves  after  all  that 
ye  heard  us  fay,  and  even  while  ye  went  with  autho- 
rity from  us  to  take  him,  to  be  impofed  upon  by 
fuch  a  notorious  cheat  as  this  ?  We  thought  that  ye 
might  be  depended  upon  as  men  of  more  fenfe  and 
fpirit,  than  to  be  thus  deluded  by  him. 

48  Pray  think  a  little,  Do  not  ye  know,  that  not 
one  of  your  fuperiors  for  wifdom,  learning,  and  re- 
putation, authority  and  piety,  whofe  judgment  ye 
ought  to  be  determined  by,  hath  ever  given  the  leaft 
credit  to  him  ?  Have  any  of  the  members  of  the  fan- 
hedrim,  who  are  the  only  judges  of  a  true  and  falfe 
prophet,  or  any  of  the  Pharifees,  who  are  men  of 
the  greateft  eminence  for  fanctity  and  knowledge  in 
the  law,  ever  believed  in  him,  or  fhcwn  him  the 
leaft  countenance  ?  And  are  ye  wifer  and  better  than 
thefe  ? 

49  But  this  poor,  mean,  vulgar,  fenfelefs.  rabble 
that  ye  talk  of,  who  are  ftupidly  ignorant  of  the 
fcripturcs,  and  abandoned  of  God,  and  who  lie  un- 
der his  wrath  and  curfe,  are  the  only  people  that  e- 
ver  thought  well  of  him,  or  ever  owned  him  ;  they 
are  an  execrable  mob,  eafily  made  fool*- of ;  and  will 

A  a  a 


358 


The  Evangeli/i 


Chap.  vii. 


50  Nicodemus 
faith  unto  them, 
(he  that  came  to 
Jefus  by  night,  be- 
ing one  of  them,*) 

5  [  Doth  our.  law 
judge  any  man  be- 
fore it  hear  him, 
and  know  what  he 
doth  ? 


'ye  be  as  great  fools  as  they  ?  In  thi'3  manner  the 
council  endeavoured  to  enflave  the  confciences  of  the 
officers,  to  take  off  the  good  impreffions  that  had 
been  made  upon  them,  and  to  prejudife  them  againft 
Chrill  and  his  gofpel. 

50,  51  Hereupon  that  Nicodemus,  who  had  gone 
in  a  private  manner  to  Jefus  by  night,  (chap.  iii.  2.) 
being  prefent  as  a  member  of  the  council,  and  being 
very  uneafy  at  this  di (honourable,  unjuft,  and  furious 
method  of  procedure,  took  a  little  more  courage  than 
formerly,  and  expoftulated  with  them,  faying,  Bre- 
thren, what  are  we  doing  ?  Is  it  not  an  unreafonable 
and  illegal  way  of  acting,  contrary  to  the  righteouf- 
nefs  of  our  law,  and  to  all  rules  of  equity,  for  us  to 
pafs  judgment  upon  any  man  whatfoever,  and  efpeci- 
ally  upon  one  who  makes  fuch  plaufible  pretenfions  to 
a  divine  commiffion  as  Jefus  does,  before  we  have 
heard  what  he  has  to  fay  for  himfelf,  his  doctrine, 
and  behaviour  ?  Surely  we  ought  to  be  very  cautious 
how  we  cenfure,  or  proceed  againft  him,  till  he  has 
had  an  opportunity  of  fpeaking  in  his  own  defence. 

52  The  council  not  being  able  to  confute  Nico- 
demu.\'s  reafoning,  refolved  to  run  him  down  with  heat 
and  paffion,  and  falfe  fuggeftions,  inilead  of  argu- 
ments, faying,  in  reply,  What  !  are  you,  like  the  ig- 
norant multitude,  one  of  the  Galilean  party,  and  an 
advocate  for  a  man  who  fets  up  for  a  prophet,  and  yet 
was  born  in  Galilee  f  Pray  fearch  the  fcriptures,  and 
fee  what  they  fay  ;  and  then  you  can  never  believe 
that  he  has  the  commiffion  from  God  which  he  pre- 
tends to  :  For,  according  to  them,  no  prophet  ever 
was,  much  lefs  can  the  Meffiah  be  a  native  of  that 
country  *. 

53  Upon  this,  the  council  finding  themfelves  em- 
barruiTed,  and  hoping  for  a  fairer  opportunity,  when 
Nicodemus  might  be  abfent,  adjourned  to  another 
time,  and  every  man  returned  home. 

RECOLLECTIONS. 

Doth  the  world  hate  any  of  us ;   or  are  our  neareft  kindred  our  enemies,  for  op- 
pofing  their  corruptions,  and  adhering  to  the  truths  of  the  gofpel;    and  are  we  ex- 

pofed 

N     O     T     E. 

*  Here  they  took  the  vulvar  error  for    no  prophet  arofe  in  that   country;   for 

granted,    about  Chritt's  being  born    in    Jonah  was  of  Gath-Hepher  in  the  tribe 

Nazareth   of   Galilee,    and    would    not    of  Zebulun.  {%  Kings  xvr.  25.  and  jfo/b. 

•  thcmiclves  the  trouble  of  an  impair-    xix.   13,   16.)     And  Nahum  was  an  El- 

-1 ; :i  1   inqiury,   to  let  themfelves  to  rights    kojbite,  (Nah.  i.  1.)    of  the  town  called 

about  ft,   though  they  might  have  been    Eyes,   which  Jerom  on  the  place  fays 

eafily  fatisfigd  that  lie  was  born  at  Beth-    was  in  Galilee,    there  being  a  village  ot 

tebtm,    from   the   public   regifter  then,    that  name  there  to  his  days.     And  Re- 

from  the  genealogies  of  the  family    land  maintains,  in  his  facred  geography, 

of  David,    aa  well  as  from  himfelf  and    that    Thijhe,    the   town   of  Elijah   the 

his  dnuplcs:    And  it  was  not  true  that    Tijtjbite,  was  in  Galilee. 


5 1  They  answer- 
ed and  (aid  unto 
him,  Art  thou 
alio  of  Galilee  ? 
Search,  and  look  : 
for  out  of  Galilee 
arifeth  no  prophet. 


53  And  every 
man  went  unto  his 
own  houfe. 


Chap.  viii.  John  paraphrafed,  359 

pofed  to  difgrace  and  danger  for  it  ?  Our  blefled  Lord  went  through  the  fame  be- 
fore us,  for  our  encouragement  and  example.  But  as  none  could  deftroy  him,  till 
his  time  was  come;  fo  we  are  immortal  men,  till  God  has  done  his  work  by  us  ;  and 
yet  as  he  avoided  needlefsly  expofmg  himfelf  to  mifchiefs,  and  fought  proper  oppor- 
tunities of  carrying  on  his  great  defign  in  the  world  ;  fo  mould  we,  till  God  (hews 
us  that  our  time  is  come,  wherein  we  ought  to  refign  our  lives  to  him.  How  cer- 
tainly divine  are  all  the  doctrines  of  Chrift  in  their  original  !  It  is  only  for  want  of 
knowing  him  and  them,  and  impartially  judging  concerning  them,  that  any  make 
exceptions  againft  them  :  But  he  will  maintain  the  credit  of  his  own  character, 
truths,  and  ways,  to  his  own  and  his  Father's  glory,  and  to  the  confufion  of  his  e- 
nemies  ;  fo  that,  even  they  themfelves  being  judges,  never  man  fpake  like  this  man. 
What  if,  generally  fpeaking,  men  of  high  rank  and  figure  do  not  believe  in  him  3 
That  is  no  objection  againft  him,  whole  kingdom  is  not  of  this  world  ;  and  the  peo- 
ple that  know  and  receive  him,  how  vulgar  foever  they  may  be,  are  fo  far  from  be- 
ing curled,  that  they,  of  all  others,  are  truly  blefied  :  And  how  eafily  can  Jefijs 
over-awe  the  ftouteft  hearts,  even  of  rough  and  boifterous  officers,  to  take  off  their 
edge  againft  him,  and  g?.in  a  teftimony  from  them  to  himfelf:  How  can  he  fpirit 
perfons  of  the  moft  timorous  tempers,  even  a  Niccdej?ius,  to  fpeak  bravely  for  him, 
and  to  plead  with  fuch  force  of  argument,  as  to  itop  the  mouths  of  gainfayers  !  And 
how  eafily  can  he  difappoint  the  devices  of  the  crafty,  that  their  hands  ihall  not 
perform  their  enterprize  !  It  is  a  dreadful  cafe  to  feek  occalions  againft  the  Lord, 
or  even  to  be  willing  to  get  rid  of  his  prefence,  and  to  be  left  to  go  alone  to  facred 
ordinances  without  him.  O  how  glad  would  they  one  day  be  to  find  Chrift,  and  to 
be  made  partakers  of  his  falvation,  who  now  defpife  and  reject  him  1  They  fhall 
die,  as  he  did;  but  ah !  he  is  gone,  where  no  unbelievers  can  ever  follow  him,  and 
be  with  him,  to  behold  his  glory.  But  how  amazing  is  his  grace  to  them  now, 
that  have  often  flighted  and  fet  themfelves  againft  him  !  He  (till  lifts  up  his  voice 
to  a  difobedient  and  gainfaying  people,  and  invites  their  coming  to  him  for  the 
richeft  fupplies  of  all  that  they  ftand  in  need  of:  And  whoever  is  at  lait  made  fen- 
fible  of  his  own  wants  and  miferies,  and  comes  by  faith  to  the  great  and  only  Savi- 
our for  relief,  fhall  find  a  hearty  welcome.  And  O  how  precious  and  abiding,  how- 
abounding  and  ever-fatisfying  are  the  bleffings  of  his  Spirit  and  grace,  which  may 
be  looked  for  from  an  exalted  Redeemer  !  They  fhall  never  be  taken  away  or  fail, 
but  fhall  continue  and  increafe  till  they  be  perfected  in  eternal  life  and  glory. 


C     H     A     P.       VIII. 

Chrifr 's  treatment  of  the  woman  taken  in  adultery,  i, —  T2.  His 
preacjping  himfelf  as  the  light  of  the  world,  and  vindicating  hir 
doclrine,  13, — $0.  His  af/erting  the  freedom  of  his  difciples,  and 
anfwering  the  cavils  of  the  Jews  againf  it,  and  their  glorying 
in  Abraham  as  their  father,  and  his  efc aping  out  of  their  hands, 

Text.  Paraphrase. 

TESUS  went  unto    p|TJR   Lord,  as  was  cuvtomary  With  him,   retired 
J    the    mount     oi    KJ  f  cy        r  1         •     ti  •  ^  r 

Olives .  ^^   from  jerujalem  in  the  evening  to  the  mount  of 

Olives,  that  he  might  refrefh  himfelf,  and  fpiend  iome 

time  in  private  devotion,  and  might  avoid  popular 

tumults  and  furprifes  in  the  night. 

2   And  early  in        2   And,    taking  the  day  before  him,    he  returned 

the    morning     he   eariy  to  tfe  temple,  where  great  multitudes  of  jxc- 

came    again     into      ,     L      ,  \  ,r.  r    °     .       r       ,  '      * 

the  temple,  and  all  Pie  Hocking  to  him,    as  uiual,    he  iat  down  like  one 

the    people    came   having  authority,   and  preached  to  them. 

&nto  A  a  a  2  3,  4  Whilfl 


36o 


The  Evangelifi 


Chap.  -viii. 


unto  him  ;  and 
he  fat  down  and 
taught   them. 

3  And  the 
fcribes  and  Phari- 
sees brought  unto 
him  a  woman  ta-* 
ken  in  adultery  ; 
and  u  iien  they  had 
iet  her  in  the  mids, 
4  They  fay  unto 
him.  Mailer,  this 
woman  was  taken 
in  adultery,  in  the 
very  act. 

5  Now  Mofcs 
in  the  law  com- 
manded us,  that 
inch  mould  be  Ho- 
ned :  but  what  fay- 
eft  thou  ?     i 


3,  4  Whilft  he  was  thus  engaged  in  his  work, 
fome  of  the  /bribes  and  Pharifees  interrupted  him 
by  bringing  a  woman  before  him,  that  he  might  fit 
in  judgment  upon  her,  who  had  been  guilty  of  adul- 
tery* :  And  when  they  had  placed  her,  as  a  criminal, 
in  the  prefence  of  all  the  people,  they  addreffed  him 
with  a  feigned  air  of  refpeft,  faying,  Mailer,  this 
woman,  whom  we  have  brought  before  you,  is  char- 
ged with  adultery,  by  witneffes  that  furprifed  her  in 
the  very  ad. 

5  Now  this  being  fo  vile  an  abomination,  Mofes 
in  the  law  exprefsly  commanded,  that  if  perfons,  at 
the  time  of  their  committing  it,  were  actually  mar- 
ried, they  mould  die  for  it,  and  that  if  they  were 
only  efpoufed  to  an  huiband,  they  mould  be  ftoned 
to  death.  [Deut.  xxii.  2  2,  23,  24.)  But  as  you  claim 
authority  from  God  to  make  alterations  in  our  law, 
or  at  leaft  to  interpret  it  in  a  different  manner  from 
us,  we  defire  to  have  your  judgment  upon  this  cafe. 

6  They  applied  in  this  manner  to  him  for  no  other 
reaion,  than  to  leek  an  advantage  againil  him,  as  an 
enemy  to  the  authority,  either  of  Ccefar,  or  of  their 
own  lawf.  But  Jefus,  knowing  their  artful  and  ma- 
licious defign,  Hooped,  and  looking  downward  \t 
wrote  with  his  finger  on  the  floor,  as  if  his  thoughts 
were  fo  deeply  engaged  another  way,  as  not  to  hear 
what  they  laid  to  him. 

7  The  /crib es  and  Pharifees  fuppofing  that  they 

had 

NOTES. 

*  Perhaps  it  was  very  lately  that  (lie  him,  as  an  enemy  to  their  law,  and  as  a 
had  been  guilty  of  this  crime  in  one  of  favourer  of  fin,  and  of  the  word  of  fin- 
their  booths,  during  the  leaft  of taberna-  ners  :  And  if  he  fhould  turn  them  over 
cles,  at  which  time  the  hearts  of  fome  to  the  judgment  of  the  Roman  govern- 
might  be  made  too  merry  by  plentifully  ment ;  they  might  think  to  expofe  him 
eating  and  drinking.  to  the  rage  of  the  people,   as  an  enemy 

f  If  he  fhould  declare  for  the  law  of  to  t-ljeir  liberty. 
Jtfofes,  and  encourage  the  people  to  i  Many  have  been  the  uncertain  con- 
ftone  this  woman  ;  they  might  hope  it  jecftures  of  learned  men  about  what 
would  give  them  a  plaufible  handle  to  Chrift  wrote  ;  and  if  he  really  wrote  a- 
reproach  him  for  cruelty,  and  therein  ny  fentence  on  the  duft  of  the  floor,  it 
acting  contrary  to  his  pretences  of  being  was  mod  probably  that  which  he  after- 
the  Meftiah,  who  was  to  be  meek  and  wards  pronounced.  He  that  is  without 
lowly,  and  bring  falvation  ;  and  for  par-  Jin  among  you ,  let  him  firjl  cqfi  a  Jlone 
tiality  in  ordering  fo  fevere  a  punhhment  at  her.  But  perhaps  he  only  made  a 
to  an  adulterefs,  though  he  had  freely  ad-  fliew  of  writing  on  the  ground,  as  was 
mitted  perfons  of  that  character  to  con-  ufual  with  (ome  wife  men  to  do,  in  thofe 
fcerfe  with  him  ;  or  they  might  think  it  days,  when  a  queftion  was  propofed 
would  give  them  a  fair  opportunity  of  which  they  thought  not  proper  to  an- 
accufing  him  to  the  Roman  government,  fwer.  Or,  as  others  have  fuppofed, 
as  an  abettor  of  tumults,,  and  of  judicial  Chrift  by  that  action  defigned  to  inti- 
power,  independent  of  its  authority  :  And  mate  to  the  querifts,  that  they  mult  at- 
if,  on  the  contrary,  he  fhould  declare  tend  to  what  is  written.  Vid.  Lamp,  in 
againft  the  people's  ftoning  her,  accord-  loc.  b5  Marckii  exercilat.  130.  adfelett. 
ing  to  the  rigour  of  Mojes's  law,  they  text.  N.  Teji. 
mi^ht  hope  to  incenfe  the  people  againfy 


6  This  they  faid, 
tempting  him,  that 
they  might  have  to 
accufe  him.  But 
Jefus  {looped  down, 
and  with  hi>  fin- 
der wrote  on  the 
ground,  as  though 
he  heard  them  not. 

7  So  when  they 

con- 


Chap.  viii. 


John  paraphrafed. 


361 


fir* 

her 


caft  a  flone  at 


ground. 


continued     alking   had  now  brought  him  into  a  labyrinth,  out  of  which 
him,     he    lift    up   he  could  not  tell  how  to  extricate  himfelf,  repeated 

himfelf,    and   laid     h  j   queftion  with  vehemence,  and  prefTed  him  clofe- 
unto  them,  He  that  ^  .  '  r.-  ,   t,    M, 

is  without  fin  a-  ty  l°r  an  anlwer,  till  at  length  he  railed  nimieJi  up, 
mongyou,  let  him  and  replied,  I  am  far  rrom  reflecting  on  the  law,  and 
from  vindicating,  or  lefTening  the  abominable  crime 
of  this  woman  :  But  as,  by  another  inftitution  under 
Mofesy  the  witnefies  hands  mould  be  firft  upon  the 
criminals,  that  are  to  be  put  to  death  ;  {Dent  xvii. 
7.)  and  as  it  is  exceedingly  out  of  character,  for 
any  to  be  zealous  in  punifhing  the  fins  of  others, 
while  they  themfelves  are  guilty  of  as  bad,  or  vvorfe  ; 
ye  would  do  well  to  confider,  which  of  you  mail  be- 
gin the  execution  of  the  law  upon  her  :  If  any  one 
of  you  that  are  come  hither  to  accufe,  and  witnefs 
againfl  her,  can  in  his  own  conference  clear  himielf 
of  guilt  before  God,  let  him  be  the  man  who  (hall 
caft  the  firft  ftone  at  her  *. 
•8  And  again  8  Our  Lord  having  in  this  manner  wifely  efcaped 
he  ftooped  down,  the  fnare  which  they  had  laid  for  him,  and,  at  the 
:  fame  time,  reproved  them  for  their  hypocritical  pre- 
tences to  an  extraordinary  zeal  againft  fin,  while  fc* 
much  guilt  lay  upon  themfelves,  and  they  were  pur- 
fuing  meafures  to  murder  him,  he  left  them  to  paufe 
and  think  on  what  he  had  faid  ;  and,  without  wait- 
ing for  an  anfwer,  ftooped  down  again,  and  wrote 
with  his  finger  on  the  ground,  as  before,  that  he 
might  feem  to  take  no  further  notice  of  the  matter, 
and  give  them  an  opportunity  of  fneaking  away,  and 
fancying  that  he  would  not  obferve  it. 
9    And      they        g  And  as  all  their  conferences  were  ftruck  with 

which     heard    a,   horror,  by  a  fecret  power  that  fet  thefe  words  home 

being  convicted  by  ■,     ■*  ■.     ,  ^       -  ,,  , 

their  own  confei-   uPon  them,  and  they  thereupon  could  not  but  ac- 

ence,  went  out  one  cufe  themfelves  of  one  heinous  crime  or  other,  if  not 
by  one,  beginning  of  the  very  fame  that  this  woman  had  been  guilty  of, 
?ft,  even  they  were  afhamed  to  plead  innocence,  or  to  proceed 
in  a  demand  of  juftice  againft  her,  and  were  afraid 
left,  if  Jefus  fpoke  again,  he  would  fay  fome  feverer 
thing  to  them  :  And  therefore  inftead  of  applying  to 
him,  as  they  ought,  for  eleanfing  from  their  own  fins, 
they  filently  flipped  away  from  him,  one  after  another; 
the  eldeft,  who  might  be  confeious  of  moil  guilt,  go- 
ing out  firft,  and  the  younger  following  them,  till  they 
were  all  gone,  and  there  was  no  body  left  with  himf , 

but 
NOTES. 
*  He  faid  this,  not  to  difcountenance    law  and  juftice  admit  of  it,    and  to  put 


unto  the  laft :  and 
Jefus  was  left  a- 
lone,  and  the  wo- 
man ftanding  in 
the   midft. 


a  legal  procefs,  or  bearing  witnefs  a 
gainft,  and  executing  juftice  upon  of- 
ienders,  by  fuch  as  are  confeious  of  guilt 
in  themfelves ;  but  to  move  companion 
to  the  peiions  of  criminals,  as  far  as  the 


the  correctors  of  others  vices,  upon  im- 
partially cenfuring,  and  correcting  their 
own. 

f  Chrift's  being  left  alone  fignifies  his 

be- 


362 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  viii. 


10  When  Jefus 
liad  lift  up  himfelf, 
and  faw  none  but 
the  woman,  he 
faid  unto  her,  Wo- 


but  the  woman  and  the  people,  who,  with  his  difci- 
ples,  were  there  before    attending  on  his  miniflry. 

10  The  woman  ftill  {landing  before  Chrift  to  hear 

what  fentence  he  would  pafs  upon  her,  he  raifed  him- 

felf  up  again,    and  feeing  none  of  her  accufers  there, 

faid  to  her,  Woman,    what  is  become  of  all  the  men 

man,    where    are    who  brought  you  hither  to  me  ?  Have  none  of  them 

thoie  thine   accu-   pronounced,    that  you  ought  to  be  Honed  to  death 

iers  ?  hath  no  man    c  r     •>  '  ° 

condemned  thee?       «*  JOW  fillJ        . 

1 1  She  faid,  No        *  *    ^he,  treating  him  with  refpect,  anfwered,  No, 

roan,    Lord.    And    Lord,  not  one  of  them  has  taken  upon  him  to  declare 

Jefiis  faid  unto  her,  any  fuch  thing  :  Then  Jefus,  who  came  not  to  con- 
demn  the  world,  nor  to  exercife  a  judicial  power  in 
punifhing  criminals,  but  to  fave  them  that  believe  in 
him,  replied,  Nor  do  I  take  that  office  upon  myfelf ; 
go  about  your  bufinefs,  and  let  your  prefent  efcape 
from  deferved  punifhment  put  you  upon  taking  heed 
that  you  do  not  return  to  the  like,  or  any  other  ini- 
quity again,  kit  in  the  great  day  of  account  you 
come  under  a  more  dreadful  fentence  and  execution 
than  that  of  Honing  to  death  *. 

1 2  Our  blefied  Lord  having  in  this  manner  quitted 
himfelf  of  the  woman  and  her  accufers,  re-aflumed 
his  diftourfe  to  the  people,  in  which  he  fpoke  of  one 
great  defign  of  his  coming  into  the  world,  faying,   I 

lowethmefhallnot    am  the  Sun  of  righteoufnefs,.   alight  to  lighten  the 

walk  in  darknefs,    Gentiles,  as  wdfas  the  glory  of  lfrael,  who,  having 
but  mail  have  the      --    -  -  _.-    o       /.,./_  >  & 


Neither  do  I  con 
demn  thee:  go,  end 
fin  no  more. 


12  Then  fpake 
Jefus  again  unto 
them,  faying,  I 
am  the  light  of  the 
world  :  he  that  fol- 


light  of  life. 


i3ThePharifees 
therefore  faid  unto 
him,  Thou  beareft 
record  of  thyfelf; 
thy  record  is  net 
irue. 


all  the  treafures  of  wifdom  and  knowledge  in  myfelf, 
am  come  to  direct  fmners  into  the  way  of  life  and  fal- 
vation,  by  my  word  and  Spirit  :  And  whoever  be- 
lieves in  me,  and  follows  my  guidance,  mall  not  go 
on  in  ignorance  and  error,  to  miflead  him  from  the 
way  of  duty  and  happinefs,  or  in  the  darknefs  of  fin 
and  fpiritual  death  ;  but  fhall  have  the  faving  light 
of  a  renewed  life  here,  and  of  eternal  life  hereafter. 

1 3  Some  of  the  Pbarifees,  that  were  mingled  with 
the  people,  and  were  enraged  to  fee  how  their  bre- 
thren had  been  baffled  by  him,  anfwered,  You  indeed, 
prompted  by  ambition,  fpeak  great  things  concerning 
yourfelf ;  but  your  own  bare  affirmation  fignifies  no- 
thing :  No  body  is  obliged  to  believe  it,  nor  would 
it  be  admitted,  as  valid,  in  any  court  of  judicature 
whatfoevei". 

14  Jefus 
NOTES, 
the  company   of   the    immediately  afterwards  went  on  preach- 
ing to  them.     (<ver.  12.) 

*  It  does  not  appear  to  me  that  this 
woman  was  a  penitent,  or  that  Chrift 
forgave  her  fin  ;  but  only  th:tt  he  dif- 
mifTed  her,  as  not  thinking  it  proper  to 
take  upon  himfelf  the  office  of  the  civil 
magiftrate  in  condemning  her. 


being   rid   of  all 

fcribes  and  Pharifees  that  had  brought 
the  woman  before  him,  fo  that  none  of 
them  remained  in  the  temple  to  ^give 
him  any  further  trouble  :  For  the  wo- 
man was  ftanding  in  the  midft  of  the 
people,  in  whole  prefence  (lie  had  been 
placed  before  Chrift,  (yer.  3.)  and  he 


Chap.  viii. 


John  parapbrajed. 


363 


14  Jefus  anfwer- 
cd   and   faid    unto 


but  ye  cannot  tell 
whence  I  come, 
and  whither  I  go. 


14  Jefus  replied,  Though  this  be  true  in  ordinary- 
cafes,    and  according  to  the  ufual  courfe  of  proceed- 

them,    Though    I    •     s  jn  jaw  t  ^  «s  0therwife  in  the  cafe  of  divine 

dc 3.r  record  01  niV"  1  *- 

felf  yet  my  record    meiTengers,    as   ye   yourfelves   owned   when   ye  fent 

is  true :  for  I  know  to  John  the  Baptijl,  faying,  Who  art  thou  J  What 
whence  I  came,  fayejl  thou  of  thyfelf  ?  (Chap.  i.  22.)  And  as  light  is 
and  whither  I  go  !  felf_evjdent,  fo  my  teftimony,  about  my  being  the 
light  of  the  world,  is  fumcient  to  gain  credit  with  e- 
very  one  that  duly  conliders  and  underftands  the  na- 
ture and  tendency  of  my  doctrine,  and  the  circumftan- 
ces  in  which  I  appear  to  confirm  it :  It  is  true  in  itfelf, 
and  worthy  to  be  believed,  and  I  have  authority  to  af- 
fert  it  ;  for  1  am  infallibly  fure,  and  have  demonftra- 
ted  to  you,  that  I  came  from,  and  am  going  to  the 
Father  :  But  ye  wilfully  difregard  the  evidences  I 
have  given  of  it,  and  fo  do  not  underlland  that  my  o- 
riginal  and  commiflion  are  from  heaven,  or  that  I  am 
to  return  thither  ;  and  therefore  ye  receive  not  my 
teftimony. 

15  Ye  judge  and  condemn  me  only  from  carnal 
confiderations,  according  to  your  fecular  views,  and 
according  to  the  meanneis  of  my  external  appearance 
in  the  flefh,  as  that  is  unlikely  to  anfwer  your  ends  : 
But  as  I  do  not  fo  much  as  meddle  with  civil  judg- 
ment, relating  to  any  perfon  whatfoever,  as  ye  have 
but  now  feen  in  the  cafe  of  the  woman  taken  in  adul- 
tery ;  fo  I  neither  pafs  fentence  of  condemnation, 
nor  execute  vengeance  upon  any  one  now,  as  I  (hall 
hereafter  :  No,  my  prefent  work  is  all  of  the  merci- 
ful ftrain,  as  I  am  come  to  call  linners  to  repentance, 
and  to  feek  and  fave  that  which  is  loft. 

16  And  yet,  were  I  to  undertake  the  office  of  a 
judge  at  prefent  in  condemning  criminals,  and  pro- 
ceeding in  a  judicial  manner  againit  you  for  not  be- 
lieving in  me,  my  fentence  would  be  juft  and  valid  : 
For  my  Father  and  I  have  fuch  a  mutual  in-being  *, 
as  to  be  infeparable  one  from  the  other,  fo  that  I  am 
never  alone  ;    and  what  I  lay  is  not  from  any  private 

judgment 


15  Ye  judge  af- 
ter the  flelh,  I 
judge  no  man. 


16  And  ytt  if 
I  judge,  my  judg- 
ment is  true  :  for 
I  am  not  alone, 
but  I  and  the  Fa- 
ther that  fent  me. 


N     O 

*  His  Father  is  in  him,  and  he  is  in 
the  Father  ;  {chap.  xiv.  ic,  11.)  and  fo 
the  Father  is  no  more  alone  without  the 
Son,  than  the  Son  is  without  the  Father. 
(Prov.  viii.  22,  23,  30.  and  John  i.  1,  2.) 
His  Father  and  he  were  not  one  and  a- 


T     E. 

tions  of  himfelf ;  yet  Chrift  did  not  leave 
the  Father,  or  the  Father  leave  him,  any 
mur  than  God  leaves  heaven,  when  he 
is  faid  to  come  down  to  this  earth :  And 
that  our  Lord  here  (peaks  of  himfelf,  as 
not  being  alone  with  regard  to  his  divine 


npther  God,  but  one  in  Godhead,  though  nature,    feems  evident,    becaufe  in  the 

diftincl  perfons,   and  therefore  infepara-  next  foregoing  verfe  but  one,    he    had 

ble  from  each  other:    And  though  the  fpoke  of  himfelf  in  that  high  confidera- 

Son  came  from  the  Father  in  a  certain  tion  of  him,   laying,   /  knonv  whence  1 

difpenfation,    for  the  affumption  of  hu-  came,  but  ye  cannot  tell  whence  I came  ; 

man  nature,    and  acting  in  office  upon  whereas,  with  refpect  to  his  human  na- 

earfth,  as  God  is  fometimes  faid  to  come  tare,    he  had  before  allowed  that  they 

from  heaven,    for  particular  maiiifefta-  k.iew  whence  he  was.    {Chap.  vii.  a8.) 


3<M 


The  Evangeli/t 


Chap.  viii. 


17    It    i 

written  in 
law,  that  the  tef- 
timony  of  two  men 
is  true. 

iS  I  am  one 
that  bear  witnefs 
of  myfelf,  and  the 
Father  that  fent 
me  beareth 
nefs  of  me. 


wit- 


judgment  of  my  own,  apart  from  that  of  my  Father; 
I  therein  only  concur  with  him,  who,  by  various 
means  teftifies  that  he  has  fent  me,  and  demands  your 
faith  in  me  :  There  is  therefore  no  room  to  except  a- 
ga*inft  any  declaration  of  mine, 
alfo  1 7  Befides,  it  is  a  fettled  point  by  your  own  law, 
r  which  is  indeed  God's  law,  that  the  evidence  of  two 
credible  perfons  is  fufficient  for  eftablifhing  affairs  of 
the  greatefl  confequence.      (Deut.  xvii.  6.) 

1 8«  Now  here  are  two  witneffes  to  the  truth  of  my 
affertions  :  I  am  one,  who,  as  a  divine  perfon,  de- 
clare the  commiffion  which  I  have  received  as  the 
Mefliah  :  And  my  Father  is  another,  who  fent  me 
into  the  world  to  execute  it,  and  whofe  teftimony  ye 
yourfelves  rauft  own  is  beyond  all  contradiction  true  ; 
he  has  declared  the  fame  concerning  me  by  the  voice 
of  his  prophets,  and  by  a  voice  from  heaven,  as  well 
as  by  other  means  ;  and  therefore  your  own  rule  of 
judgment,  as  contained  in  the  law,  demands  your  af- 
fent  to  the  truth  of  what  I  fay  concerning  myfelf, 
and  all  things  elfe*. 

19  Then  the  Pharifees,  not  being  able  to  return 
a  fair  anfwer,  replied,  in  a  way  of  ridicule  and  infult, 
Pray,  what  father  is  this,  that  you  pretend  to  have, 
befides  Jofeph,  a  poor  carpenter  ?  Where  is  he?  Call 

ther  know  me,  nor  your  witnefs,  which  you  lay  fo  much  ftrefs  upon.  Je- 
*  ye  fus  anfwered  again,  Though  I,  who  have  been  fo 
long  among  you,  have  frequently  explained  whom  I 
mean  by  my  Father  ;  yet  fuch  is  your  wilful  blind- 
nefs,  obftinacy,  .and  perverfenefs,  that  ye  are  Hill  ig- 
norant of  my  perfon  and  office,  and  of  my  heavenly 
Father,  from  whom  I  am  come  unto  you :  If  ye  had 
but  known  me,  who  am  the  brightness  of  his  gldry, 
and  the  exprefs  image  of  his  perfon,  and  one  in  na- 
ture, counfel,  and  operation  with  him,  ye  would  have 
feen  the  perfe&ions  of  my  Father  fhining  forth  in  me, 
and  would  have  known  the  relation,  in  which  he 
Hands  to  me  as  his  Son,  as  well  as  the  high  commif- 
fion, which  I  bear  as  the  Mefhah  from  himf. 

20  Chrift  freely  and  openly  fpoke  thefe  convincing 
and  cutting  things,  whim  he  was  difcourfing  in  that 
part  of  the  temple  where  the  boxes  were  kept  to 
receive  the  money,  which  from  time  to  time  was  of- 
fered for  religious  ufes  :  And  though  at  this  place 
the  priefts  and  rulers  had  chief  authority,    yet  their 

fpirits, 

NOTES. 

*    I  take   both   thefe  into  the  para-    his  Father  and  he  were  diftincT:  perfons, 

phrafe,  becaufe  Chrift  is  ("peaking  of  the    as  they  were   two   witnefles  ;    and    yet 

truth  of  his  judgment,    as  well  as  of  his    were  one  in  eflence  and   divine   pertcc- 

own  charafter.  tions,  as  the  knowledge  of  him  includes 

f  Here  our  Lord  plainly  intimates  that    the  knowledge  of  the  Father. 


19  Then  faid 
they  unto  him, 
"Where  is  thy  Fa- 
ther ?  Jefus  an- 
fwered,    Ye    nei- 


had  known  me,  ye 
fnould  have  known 
my  Father  alfo. 


10  Thefe  words 
fpake  Jefus  in  the 
treafury,  as  he 
taught  in  the  tem- 
ple :  and  no  man 
laid  hands  on  him  ; 
for 


Chap.  viii. 


John  parapbrafed. 


365 


for  his  hour   was   fpirits,  and  thofe  of  all  his  enemies,  were  fo  reftrain- 


not  yet  come.         ed   ancl   over-awed,   that,    how  deiirous  foever  they 
were  of  it,    none    of  them  duril  venture  to  offer  any 
violence  to  him,  the  time  appointed  of  God  not  be- 
ing yet  come  for  his  lafl  fufferings  and  death. 
21    Then   faid        21    Then  Jefus,    knowing   the    rancour    of  their 
Jefas    again   unto   hearts  againft  him,  went  on   with  another  difcourfe 
them,    I    go    my    to  tiiem>  faying,  as  he  had  the  day  before,   (chap, 

feek'me,  and  (hall   v»-  33>  34-)  l  am  going  ere  long  to  ™Y  Father,  from 
die  in  your  fins  :    whom  I  came  ;  and  hereafter,  ye  would  be  glad  to  have 
whither  I   go    ye    me,  aa  the  Meffiah,  among  you,  to  fave  you  from 
cannot  come.  -        aji  y0ur  miferies,  and  will  earneftly  feek  after  that 
privilege  :    But  all  will  be  then  in  vain  ;  for,  as  ye  ob- 
llinately  rejecvt  me  by  unbelief,  ye  (hall  die  under  the 
power  and  guilt  of  that  your  fin  (si/  r/>  ufAx^nu  vpuv} 
which  will  bind  all  your  other  iniquities  upon  you,  to 
your  utter  deftru&ion,  by  the  righteous  judgment  of 
God  in  this  world,    and  to  your  everlalting  condem- 
nation in  the  next  :    And  the  gates  of  the  blelTed 
kingdom,  to  which  I  am  going,  will  be  fliut  againft: 
you  ;   fo  that  ye  will  not  be  able  to  follow  me  thi- 
ther, either  to  fetch  me  back  from  thence,  or  to  par- 
take of  my  glory  there. 

22  The  unbelieving  Jews  feemed  to  be  amazed 
at  this,  and  yet  to  make  a  jell  of  it,  faying  one  to- 
another,  What  a  ftrange  odd  way  of  talking  is  this ! 

go  ye  cannot  What,  does  he  think  of  laying  violent  hands  upon 
himfelf  to  get  out  of  the  reach  of  his  enemies,  and 
fo  prevent  their  murdering  him  ?  or  what  elfe  can  be 
the  meaning  of  this  whimfical  expreffion,  I  am  going 
to  a  place,  whither  ye  cannot  follow  me  ? 

23  Our  Lord  perfectly  knowing  their  thoughts, 
unto  them,  Ye  are  ag  wc\\  as  their  perverfe  difcourfe,  further  explained 
from  beneath,  I  h;  f  Jf  t  tj  f  •  Thc  reafon  j  ye  ^ 
am  trom  above;  ye                                     ■•        *     .    - 

are  of  this  world,    follow  me,  is  this  :   Ye  are  not  only  men  of  earthly 

I  am  not  of  this    extraction,  but,  like  your  mean  original,  are  perfons 
world.  of  a  worldly,  carnal  fpirit  and  temper,  whofe  hearts 

are  fet  upon  things  below  ;  whereas  I  not  only  am 
of  divine  original,  and  came  from  heaven,  but   rhy 
temper  and  views  are  directly  contrary  to,  and  fubver- 
five  of  yours  ;  I  am  dead  to  this  world,  and  my  affec- 
tions are  fet  on  things  above,  whither  I  am  going  ; 
24  I  faid  there-        24  And  therefore  I  told  you,    (ver.  21.)  that  ye 
^VuV011'  ^^   fna11  utterly  and  dreadfully  perifti  for  and  in  your  mi- 
fins     for'i/ve  d"1   (lu^tl'es»  and  particularly  your  unbelief,  which  leaves 
lieve  not  that  I  am    y°<u  under    the    power   of   all    other   fins  :    For    it, 
he,  ye  fhall  die  in  through  the  carnality,  hardnefs,  and  impenitence  01 
your  fins.  y0ur  heartG)  ye  will  not  believe  that  *    I  am  he,  who 

mould 

NOTE. 

*  That  lam  he,  is  in  the  Greek  oh  tyu  «/u.i,  that  I  am,  which  fome  fuppofe 

refers  to  that  name  of  God,  (E.vod.  iii.  14.)  where  he  catts  himfalf  I  am.    But 

Vol.  II,  £  b  b  in 


2  z  Then  faid  the 
Jews,  Will  he  kill 
himfelf?  becaufe 
he  faith,  Whither 
I 
COO 


23 


And  he  faid 


366 


The  Evangellfl 


Chap. 


vm, 


25 

Then     faid 

they 

unto      him, 

Who 

art     thou  ? 

And 

Jefus    faith 

unto 

them,    Even 

the  fame  that  I 
faid  unto  you  from 
the  beginning. 


16  I  have  many 
things  to  tfay,  and 
to  judge  of  you  : 
but  he  that  i'ent 
me  is  true  ;  and  I 
fpeak  to  the  world 
ihofe  tilings  which 
I  have  heard  of 
hrm. 


They  unclcr- 
not  that   he 

fpake    to   them    of 

the   Father. 


77 
flood 


2S     Then    faid 

Jefus    unto   them, 

When 


ihould  come  a  light  into  the  world,  (ver.  12.)  as  the 
only  Saviour,  there  is  no  help  or  hope,  but  that  ye 
mull  be  cut  off  in  your  fins,  by  the  righteous  venge- 
ance of  God  upon  your  city  and  nation  in  this  world, 
and  by  a  Hill  more  terrible  deftru&ion  in  the  world 
to  come. 

25  Hereupon,  as  they  before  had  faid  with  a  taunt, 
(ver.  19.)  Where  is  your  Father  ?  So  now,  with 
the  like  temper  of  mind,  they  cried  out,  Who  are 
you  that  fpeak  fo  great  things  of  yourfelf  ?  What  do 
you  pretend  to  be,  that  we  upon  our  peril  mull  be- 
lieve in  you  ?  To  this  he  replied,  I  infill  upon  it, 
that  *  I  am  what  I  have  all  along  faid  of  myfelf  from 
the  very  beginning  of  my  miniflry,  even  the  Son  of 
God,  and  the  true  Mefliah  ;  {chap.  iv.  26,  and 
v.  17, — 27.)    how  much  foever  ye  defpife  me. 

26  I  could  eaiily  charge  you  with  many  more 
crimes  than  I  have,  to  aggravate  your  infidelity,  and 
lay  you  under  condemnation  ;  and  ye  hereafter  will 
hear  of  them,  and  be  judged  by  me  for  them  :  But 
not  to  mention  things  now,  which  are  unfuitable  to 
the  prefent  defign  of  my  office,  and  would  be  loft  up- 
on fuch  hardened  creatures  as  ye  are,  I  fhall  only 
tell  you  that  he,  by  whom  I  am  fent  to  make  known 
his  mind  and  will,  is  mconteftably  true  to  his  pro- 
mife  concerning  my  coming,  and  to  me  and  them 
that  believe  in  me,  as  he  alfo  is  to  his  threatenings  a- 
gainft  thofe  that  reject  me  :  And  whatfoever  I  fay 
openly  in,  and  to  the  world,  is  with  all  faithfulnefs, 
exactly  according  to  the  commifiion  that  I  have  recei- 
ved from  him  whofe  authority  is  uncontroulable,  and 
cannot  be  trampled  upon  with  impunity. 

27  Now,  though  in  all  this  Chrift  fo  manifeftly 
afferted  his  divine  original  and  miffion  ;  yet  fo  great 
were  their  blindnefs  and  prejudices  againil  him,  that 
Hill  they  did  not  underftand  him  to  fpeak  of  God's 
being  his  Father,  and  of  his  receiving  his  commiffion 
from  him  ;  but,  as  he  had  told  them  before,  (ver, 
19.)  They  neither  knew  him,  nor  his  Father. 

28  Jefus  therefore  faid  unto  them,  How  ignorant 
foever  ye  now  are  of  me,  and  though  in  a  little  time 

y« 

NOTES. 

matical  conftruetion  of  the   Greek    t*v 


in  this  place  it  rather  feems  to  be  an  el- 
liptical form  of  fpcech,  with  refpecT:  to 
his  being  the  Mefliah,  as  this  very  ex- 
prcflion  is  undoubtedly  to  be  underftood, 
(  Mark  xiii.  6.)  Many  Jball  come  in  my 
name,  faying,  oh  iy:  «,«<,  that  lam,  i.e. 
the  Chi; it  ;  and  {Acts  xiii.  2,.)  John 
faid  v*  nfjn  cya,  I  am  not,  i.  e.  be,  or  the 
Mefliah. 

*  It  is  not  eafy  to  give  an  exact  gram- 


as 


0,  ti  xju  xscXu  v/u.iv,  which  fonxe 
render,  I  am  the  beginning  ;  others  ad- 
verbially, From  the  beginning,  which  I 
aifofay,  i.  e.  continue  to  fay  unto  yon  ; 
and  fo  it  may  be  taken  as  Chrift's  al- 
iening his  own  eternal  exiftence  as 
God,  antecedent  to  any  human  origin- 
al, according  to  John  u  1,  z.  and  R*i>, 
i.  8. 


Chap.  viii. 


John  parapbrafed. 


3^7 


When  ye  have  lift  yc  will  procure  my  crucifixion,  who  appear  among 

up  the  Son  of  man,  yOU  as  the  Mefliah,  and  will   think   that    ye    have 

then  (hall  ye  know  thereb     effeaUaliy  ruined  me  and  my  caufe  ;  yet,  a~> 

that  I  am  he,   and  .  .        {„        „     .    J.       v     n  n. 

lJ»Mn«  this  will  reallv  be  the  direct  itep  to  my 


that  I  do  nothing 
of  myfelf;  but  as 
my  Father  hath 
taught  me,  I  fpeak 
thefe  things. 


ep  to  my  exaltation,  fo 
ye  mail  be  afterwards  convinced  *,  either  by  happy 
or  dreadful  experience,  that  I  am  he  who  was  to 
come,  and  that,  according  to  what  I  now  fay  of 
myfelf,  I  do  nothing  as  a  private  perfon  of  my  own 
head,  and  nothing  feparately  from  my  Father  ;  but 
that  I  faithfully  declare  every  thing  exactly  accord- 
ing to  the  inflructions,  which  I,  as  man  and  Me- 
diator, have  received  from  him,  and  that  all  my  pro- 
mifes  and  threatenings  {hall  be  punctually  fulfilled. 

29  In  the  mean-while,  my  Father,  who  fent  me  fri- 
nge   is  with   to  the  world,  is  ever  prefent  with  me  by  an  effential 

:  union,  and  by  an  immeasurable  unction  of  his  Spirit, 
to  afiift,  accept,  and  own  me  in  his  work  :  He  has 
not  deferted  me,  or  withdrawn  the  demonltrations  of 
his  favour  from  me  :  For  the  whole  of  what  I  do  is 
at  all  times,  and  without  the  lead  variation,  entirely 
agreeable  to  his  will,  and  delightful  to  him. 

30  When  Jefus  fpake  thefe  words,  it  was  with 
fuch  evidence  and  power,  as  brought  many  of  the 
Jews  to  believe  that  he  bore  a  divine  commifTion,  or 
at  lead  to  profefs  f  their  faith  in  him. 

31  But  our  blefied  Lord  knowing  that  fome  of 


29  And  he  that 
fent 
me  : 

hath  not  left  me 
alone  :  for  I  do  al- 
ways thofe  things 
that  pleafe  him. 


30  As  he  fpake 
thefe  words,  many 
believed  on  him. 


31  Then  faid  Je- 
fus to  thofe  Jews  them  were  weak  in  faith,  and  that  others  were  only 
which  believed  on 
him,  if  ye  continue 
in  my  word,  then 
are  ye  my  difciples 
indeed  ; 


hypocrites,  who,  under  all  their  pretences  of  difciple- 
fliip  to  him,  Hill  fought  to  deftroy  him,  (ver.  37.) 
faid  to  the  whole  multitude  of  them  that  profefled  to 
believe  in  him,  If  ye  really  embrace,  and  adhere  to 
my  holy  doctrine  in  your  judgment  and  choice,  and 
perfiil  in  a  cordial  belief  of  it,  and  fubject  your  whole 
fouls  to  it,  then  (hall  ye  be  proved  and  owned  to  be 
my  difciples  in  truth,  as  well  as  in  name. 

32  And  ye  (hall  {till  further  be  enlightened,  con- 
know  the  truth,  firmed,  and  fatisfied  about  the  certainty,  excellence, 
and  the  truth  lhall    and  imp0rtance  0f  my  gofpel  ;  and  by  its  means  mall 

ye  obtain  the  moil  glorious  freedom  from  every  thing 
that  is  enthralling,  mean,  and  miferable. 

33  Then  fome  of  them,  who  had  profefled  to  be- 
lieve in  him,  taking  it  as  an  high  affront,  that  he 
mould  fpeak  as  if  he  thought  them  to  be  flaves,  faid 
to  him,  in  a  vaunting  manner,  We  are  the  depend- 
ents of  the  famous  patriarch  Abraham,  who  being 

B  b  b  2  a 

NOTES. 
*  The  means  of  this  conviction  were  the  destruction  of  Jerufaletn  afterward?, 
ihe  figns  and  wonders  that  fhould  attend  f  It  appears  from  the  whole  of  the 
the  death  and  refurrection  of  Chrift,  the  following  difcourie  betwixt  Chrift  and 
effufion  of  his  Spirit,  and  fpreading  of  them,  that  fome  of  them  were  very  fa> 
the  gofpe'i,  and  the  judgments  of  God  in    from  being  fuicere  believers. 


32   And  ye  fliall 


33  They  anfwer- 
ed  him,  We  be  A- 
braham's  feed,  and 
were  never  in  bon- 
dage to  any  man  : 
hpw  fayeft  thou. 
Ye 


368 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  viii. 


34jefn<;anfwered 
them,  Verily,  ve- 
rily, I  fay  unto  you, 
"W'hoioever  com- 
mitteth  fin  is  the 
fervant  of  fin. 


35  And  the  fer- 


jn 

ever  :    but  the  Son 

abideth  ever. 


Ye  Jhall  be  made    a  fovereign  prince,  and  a  man  in  covenant  with  God, 
W**  •  entailed  all  civil  and  religious  freedom  upon  us,  as  our 

birth-right  ;  and  we  never  loit  it  by  being  *  enflaved 
to  any  foreign  power,  or  governed  by  any  laws  but 
our  own.  What  therefore  can  you  mean  by  pretend- 
ing to  make  us  free,  who  are  in  right  and  fact  fo  free 
already. 

34  Our  Lord  replied,  How  great  foever  your 
boads  of  liberty  are,  I,  who  fpeak  the  truth,  folemnly 
affure  you,  that  whoever,  like  you,  is  a  worker  of 
iniquity,  (o  ww  mv  uf^cc^T(av)  is  the  worit  of  flaves 
under  the  guilt  and  power  of  fin  ;  he,  notwithftanding 
all  his  pretended  claims  under  Abraham,  is  a  fervant 
of  corruption,  to  his,  own  perdition. 

35  And  the  fervant  of  lin,  though  he  be  the  natu- 
•vant   abideth    not    ral  feed  of  Abraham  f ,  like  Ifhmacl,  the  fon  oiHagar 

the  houfe  for  t}ie  bond-woman,  (hall  be  caft  out  of  God's  houfe 
and  family,  and  from  all  its  privileges,  as  Ijhmael 
was,,  and  as  all  the  carnal  unbelieving  Jews  mail  be  : 
But  the  Son  of  God,  who  is  likewife,  by  way  of 
eminence,  the  feed  of  Abraham,  and  the  fon  of  the 
promife,  in  whom  all  nations  (ball  be  bleffed,  conti- 
nues as  the  firlt-born,  lord  and  heir  in  his  own  houfe 
for  ever  ;  and  every  one  that  claims  under  him,  as  A- 
braham's  feed  through  faith  in  him,  according  to 
the  promife,  mail  abide  in  the  family  as  a  fon,  and 
inherit  the  nobleft  freedom  with  him. 

36  If  therefore  I,  who  am  the  Son  of  God,  and 
Lord  of  mine  own  houfe,  fhall  bellow  the  noble  free- 
dom upon  you,  which  I  fpake  of,  ye  fhall  be  (gvto>s) 
fubilantially  and  eminently  free  in  your  own   fpirits, 

and 
NOTES. 

*  It  is  furprifing  that  they  fhould  have  idea  of  the  frvant  of  Jin  and  of  the  So/;, 
the  confidence,  to  alien  fo  downright  as  mentioned  in  the  preceding  and  fol- 
and  known  a  falfehocd,  as  that  they  fie-  lowing  verfes ;  and,  at  the  fame  time, 
v'er  were  in  bondage  to  any  man:  For  fhews  the  difference  between  the  fer- 
they  had  been  notorioufly  in  bondage  for  vants  of  fin  and  the  true  children  of  God, 
many  years  to  foreign  powers  in  Egypt  and  (who  are  Abraham's  feed  through  faith 
.Babylon  ;  and  were  at  this  very  time  tri-  in  Chrift)  with  refpecfr.  to  the  bondage 
Initaries  to  the  Romans,  and  under  great  of  the  one,  and  the  freedom  of  the  other; 
reftraints  of  their  liberties  from  them.         it  likewife  keeps  up  the  view  of  Chriit's 

anfvver  to  the  vain  plea  of  the  carnal 

f  The  fenfe  of  this  verfe,  confidered  Jews,  that  they  were  Abraham's  feed  : 
as  a  general  maxim,  is  plain  and  obvious  And  it  agrees  with  the  apoftle's  repre- 
.  nough  u  ith  refpedr.  to  the  privilege  of  a  fentation  of  JjhmaeVs  being  caft  out,  as 
fon  above  a  fervant  ;  and  yet  it  is  very  the  fon  nf  tbt  bond-woman,  who  fliould 
difficult  to  fix  its  determinate  meaning,  cot  be  heir  with  the  fon  of  the  free-ivo- 
£s  it  Itands  here  in  connection  with  the  man,  and  with  his  representation  of  Jfaac\ 
contexts,  and  particularly  with  the  fer~  as  the  fon  of  the  promife,  who  was  there - 
•:  tint  (>f  fii,  mentioned  in  the  foregoing  in  a  type  of  Chrift,  and  of  all  true  belie- 
.erie,  and  with  the  Son,  fpoken  of  in  the  vers  in  him.'  {Gal.  iv.  2S, — 31.)  And 
verfe  following.  But  that,  which  I  have  this  fenfe  of  the  words  lies  in  a  plaiu 
.^iven,  feems  to  be  its  mofi.  eafy  and  con-  and  natural  connection  with  the  f&llow,- 
Jiflent  fenfe  ;    For  it  keens  up  the  fame    ing  vtrfi.. 


36    If  the   Son 
therefore  fhall 

make  you  free, 
yc  fhall  be  free 
indeed. 


Chap.  viii.  John  paraphrafed.  369 

and  in  all  your  religious  concerns ;   free    from   the 
guilt  and  dominion  of  fin  ;  free  from  the  law  as  a 
covenant  of  works  from   all  its  burdenfome  ceremo- 
nies, that  yoke  of  bondage,   and  from  its  dreadful 
curfe  ;  free  from  the  prevailing  blindneis  and  prejudi- 
ces of  your  own  minds  and  hearts,  and  from  the  ty- 
ranny of  Satan  ;  free  in  your,  accefs  to  God,  com- 
munion with  him,  and  actings  for  him  ;  free  from 
the  fling  of  death,  and  the  victory  of  the  grave  ;  and 
at  length  free  from  every  kind  of  evil,  and  in  fall 
polTeffion  of  ail  the  glory  of  your  adoption  :    So  that 
all  other  freedom  is  as  nothing  compared  with  this, 
and  is  mere  fiavery  without  it. 
37  I  knew  that        37   And,  as  to  the  other  part  of  your  plea,  that 
yc  are  Abraham's   ye  are  *J$r>akamls  feed,   I  very  well  know,  and  rea- 
toVl'l  me  befcaufe   ^Y  own>  tnat  Ye  are  ^s  natural  defcendents  ;  but  I 
my  word  hath  no   likewife  know,  that  notwithstanding  this,  ye  are  far 
place  in  you.  from  giving  into  his  faith,  diipoiition,  and  obedience, 

and  are  full  of  unworthy  inclinations  and  defigns  to 
deftroy  me,  only  becaufe  your  proud  and  carnal  hearts 
cannot  reliih  and  fall  in  with,  no,  nor  fo  much  as 
bear  the  holy,  fpiritual,  and  felf-humbling  doctrine 
which  I  preach  unto  you. 
3S  I  fpeak  that  38  So  great  is  the  contrariety  between  me  and 
which  I  have  feen  t^at  cj  dei{ver  the  things  which  I  am  intimately 

with   my  Father  :    J  .        .       .,  rV    •  -i         j 

and    ye    do    that    acquainted  with  as  one  preient  in  council  and  com- 

which    you    have   munion  with  my  heavenly  Father,  and  which  I  know 

feen  with  your  fa-   to  be  according  to  his  mind  and  will :   And  ye,  on 

t'ier*  the  other  hand,  do  thofe  things  which  ye  have  learnt 

by  immediate  fuggeilien  from  your  own  father,  who 

is  oppofite  to  mine,  and  which  ye  praCtiie  under  his 

influence,  and  in   imitation  of  him,  like  perfons  in 

communion  and  council  with  him. 

39  They  anfwer-        39  At  thefe  words  they  took  fire,  and  anfwered 

ud  ™iudi  Unt°  him  with  fome  fmartnefs,  What  father  of  ours  is  this 
him,    Abraham    is  _       .       _      .    7    r  .      ___         .. 

our  father.     Jems    whom  you  ipeak  or  with  iuch  contempt:      We  tell 

faith  unto  them,  If  you  again,  and  you  yourfelf  have  owned  it,  (ver. 
ye  were  Abraham's  37.)  that  Abraham  is  our  fatheV  :  What  then  do  ye 
children,  ye  would  mean  .  refleaine  upon  him,  as  if  we  had  learnt  any 
do  the  works  of  A-        .,  r     '    .  .      .    J=>  c   r       ,.    ,     Tr  •    j      1       / 

braham.  evi*  Irom  him  :  jeius  rephea,  lr  ye  were  indeed  Ji- 

braham's  children  in  temper  and  fpirit,  as  well  as  by 
natural  defcent,  ye  would  do  fuch  works  of  faith  and 
holinefs  as  he  did. 
40  But  now  ye        4C\But  inftead  of  copying  after,  ye  go  into  the 
feek    to   kill    me,   very  reverfe  of  his  belieyjnjr  and  holy  difpofition   and 
a   man   that    hath    1    1       •  ♦     .1     .     '     r    V°  it      u         ,f_    T    l^.,„ 

told  you  the  truth,  behaviour>  .m  that  ye  feek  my  life,  ^becaufe  I  have 
which  I  have  heard  averted  an  important  and  neceffary  truth,  about  my 
of  God:  this  did  being  the  Son  of  God,  and  the  promifed  Mefliah, 
pot  Abraham.  (chap.  \.  18.)   a  truth  which,  as  a  prophet,   I  recei- 

ved commifhon  from  God  himfelf  to  declare  to  you  : 
Whereas  Abraham  readily  received  and  obeyed  every 

divine 


5T 


41  Ye  do  the 
deeds  of  your  fa- 
ther. Then  laid 
they  to  him,  We 
fee  not  born  of  for- 
nication ;  we  have 
ene  Father,  even 
Cod. 


42  Jefus  fa  id  un- 
to them,  If  God 
were  your  Father, 
ye  would  love  me  : 
tor  I  proceeded 
forth,  and  came 
from  God:  neither 
came  I  of  myfelf, 
but  he  lent  me. 


43  Why  do  ye 
not  underltand  my 
fpeech  ?  even  be- 
raufe  ye  cannot 
>.t-ar  my  word. 


44 


Ye 


are    of 

your 


N  O 
*  Obferve  the  difference  between 
what  Chrift  here  fays  of  himfelf,  and 
what  is  ever  faid  of  any  other:  Believers 
are  faid  to  be  of  God,  (ver.  47.  and 
I  John  iv.  4.)  and  to  be  born  and  begot- 
ten of  God ;  (1  John  v.  1.)  and  the  pro- 
phets were  faid  to  be  fent  of  God,  as 
John  the  Baptijl  difo  was.  {John  i.  6.) 
But  it  is  peculiar  to  Chrift,  that  he  pro- 
ceeded forth,  and  came  from  God,  which 
intimates  his  divine  original,  as  well  as 
jniflion,  that  he  is  of  the  Father  as  a  Son 
of  his  own  effence,  proceeding  from  him, 


as  weil  as  that  he  came  from  the  Fa- 


The  EvangeTifl  Chap.  viii. 

divine  revelation,  and  was  fo  eminent  for  humanity  and 
piety,  that  he  never  would  have  gone  about  to  kill 
any  innocent  perfon,  much  lefs  any  meflenger  from 
God  to  him. 

41  It  is  plain  therefore,  notwithftanding  all  your 
boaits  of  being  Abraham*?*  children,  that  ye  have  an- 
other Father,  whom  ye  refemble,  and  whofe  will  and 
work  ye  do.  The  Jews  perceiving  by  this,  that  he 
fpoke  of  their  pedigree,  not  in  a  literal,  but  fpiritual 
fenfe,  replied  with  indignation,  Whatfoever  you  may 
fuggeit  to  the  contrary,  we  are  not  the  children  of 
idolaters,  who  have  broke  God's  covenant,  and  gone 
a-whoring  from  him  to  idols  ;  nor  do  we  own  or  ferve 
the  gods  of  the  heathen,  but  are  worfhippers  of  the 
only  living  and  true  God  ;  and  therefore  he,  in  a  fpi- 
ritual fenfe,  is  the  Father  of  us  all. 

42  In  anfwer.  to  this,  Jefus  faid,  If,  as  ye  pre- 
tend, God  were  indeed  your  fpiritual  Father,  who 
has  really  begotten  you  after  his  own  likenefs,  ye,  in- 
ftead  of  oppofing  and  rejecting,  would  affectionately 
efteem  and  embrace  me  and  my  doctrine  :  For  I  ori- 
ginally proceeded  from  God  the  Father  *  as  his  on- 
ly begotten  Son,  partaker  of  the  fame  nature  with 
him,  and  am  come  into  the  world  immediately  from 
him  ;  I  did  not  come  of  my  own  head,  like  a  falfe 
prophet,  but  by  commiflion  from  him,  who  fent  me, 
as  the  Mefiiah,  to  make  known  the  way  of  falvation, 
and  to  do  his  will  upon  earth. 

43  Whence  is  it  then,  that  ye  do  not  take  in  what 
I  fay,  and  have  evidently  proved  concerning  myfelf, 
and  the  defign  of  my  coming  into  the  world  ?  truly 
the  reafon  is,  becaufe  your  hearts  are  fo  carnal  and 
fenfual,  that  ye  cannot  approve  of  my  fpiritual,  felf- 
denying,  and  heavenly  doctrine,  and  are  fo  prejudiced 
againft  it,  that  ye  cannot  endure  to  hear  of  my  being 
the  Son  of  God,  who  preach  it.  How  then  can  ye 
pretend  that  God  is  your  heavenly  Father  ? 

44  No,  on  the  contrary,  I  mufl  tell  you  plainly,  that 

your 

T    E. 

ther,  as  a  divine  meffenger  :  For  the 
form  of expreflion,  tx  t«  0e«  f£ffx6oy,  here 
rendered  I  proceeded  forth  from  God,  is  of- 
ten ufed  by  the  Seventy,  tofignify  a  proper 
birth,  when  applied  to  man,  as  in  Gen. 
xv.  4.  it  is  faid,  he  that  flail  come  forth 
out  of  thine  onvn  bowels,  fljall  be  thine 
heir;  (chap.  XXXV.  II.)  Kings  /hall  come 
out  of  thy  loins,  And  it  is  faid  of  Chrift 
with  refpect  to  his  human  birth,  (Ifa. 
xi.  r.)  there  Jball  come  forth  a  rod  out  of 
the  Jlem  of  Jeffe.  The  phrafeology  is 
the  fame  in  all  thefe  places,  with  that 
which  is  here  rendered  proceeding  forth. 


Chap.  viii. 

yottr  father  the  de- 
vil, and  the  lufts  of 
your  father  ye  will 
do  :  he  was  a  mur- 
derer from  the  be- 
ginning, and  abode 
not  in  the  truth, 
becaufe  there  is  no 
truth  in  him.  When 
he  fpeaketh  a  lie, 
he  fpeaketh  of  his 
own  :  for  he  is  a 
liar,  and  the  father 
•fit. 


John  paraphrafed. 


37* 


45  And  becaufe 
I  tell  you  the  truth, 
ye  believe  me  not. 


46  Which  of  you 
convinceth  me  of 
fin  ?  And  if  I  fay 
the  truth,  why  do 
ye  not  believe  me  ? 


47  He  that  is  of 
God,  heareth  God's 
words :  ye  there- 
fore hear  them  not, 
becaufe  ye  are  not 
of  God. 


your  proper  father,  in  a  moral  fenfe,  is  the  devil  him- 
felf ;  him  ye  imitate  and  obey,  and  his  malicious  and 
envious  inclinations  and  defigns  ye  refolutely  fet  your- 
felves  to  fulfil  :  Ye  are  the  feed  of  that  old  ferpent, 
who  murdered  the  whole  human  race,  drawing  their 
firft  parents  into  fin,  at  the  beginning  of  the  world  ; 
who  has  ever  fince  prompted  his  children  to  all  the 
murders  that  have  been  committed,  efpecially  upon 
righteous  men  and  holy  prophets,  from  Abel  down 
to  this  day  ;  and  who  ftill  continues  to  murder  the 
fouls  of  men  by  his  fallacious  temptations.  And  as 
he  degenerated  from  his  own  original  integrity  ;  fo 
he  afterwards  denied  the  truth  of  what  God  had  faid 
about  the  forbidden  fruit,  that  he  might  ruin  the  fons 
of  men  ;  and  he  has  ever  fince  fet  himfelf  againft  the 
truth  of  divine  revelation,  to  prevent  their  recover)'-, 
becaufe  he  is  a  lying  fpirit,  deftitute  of,  and  an  utter 
enemy  to  all  truth  and  goodnefs.  Whenever  there- 
fore he  fuggefts  falfehoods,  he  therein  acts  fuitable 
to  his  own  temper  as  an  apoilate  fpirit :  For  he  is  a 
notorious  liar,  and  the  promoter  of  lies  and  deceits, 
in  all  his  methods  of  procedure,  and  among  all  thofe 
that  go  into  them  after  his  example.  Ye  are  therefore 
his  children,  acting  his  part,  and  fulfilling  his  will, 
in  all  your  falfe  fuggeftions  and  murderous  defigns  a- 
gainit  me. 

45  And  though  I  have  given  the  cleareft  proofs 
of  the  truth  of  my  character,  as  the  Son  of  God  and 
Saviour  of  finners,  and  have  told  you  the  only  true 
way  to  eternal  life  and  bleflednefs  ;  yet  ye  will  not 
give  any  credit  to  me  :  Nay,  becaufe  I  tell  you  fuch 
truths,  as  are  fpiritual  and  holy,  and  difagreeable  to 
your  corrupt  inclinations  and  interefts,  therefore  yc 
reject  both  me  and  them. 

46  If  there  is  any  immorality  or  mifbehaviour  in 
my  life,  or  any  abfurdity  or  ill  tendency  in  my  doc- 
trine, or  inconfiftency  with  itfelf,  with  the  fcripture* 
or  with  any  plain  principles  of  reafon,  why  do  not 
fome  of  you  prove  it  upon  me,  and  thereby  confute 
me  ?  which  of  you  is  able  to  do  this  ?  And  if  ye  can- 
not find  any  one  real  fault  in  my  doctrine,  any  more 
than  in  my  life,  but  all  is  right  and  true,  how  pcrverfe 
and  unreasonable  is  it,  that  ye  neverthelefs  will  perfiil 
in  your  unbelief? 

47  He  that  is  a  child  of  God,  enlightened,  renew- 
ed, and  ianctified  by  his  Spirit,  is  defirous  to  know, 
and  ready  to  receive  and  obferve  whatever  God  fpeaks : 
The  reafon  therefore  why  ye  pay  no  regard  to  what 
I  declare,  and  have  proved  to  be  from  him,  is  becaufe, 
whatsoever  ye  pretend  to,  ye  really  are  not  the  chil- 
dren 


372 


The  Evangelijl 


Chap.  viii. 


4S  Then  artfwer- 
ed  the  Jews,  and 
faid  unto  him,  Say 
we  not  well  that 
thou  art  a  Samar; 
tan,  and  haft  a  de- 
vil} 


49  J efus  anfwer- 
ed,  I  have  not  a 
devil ;  but  I  ho- 
nour my  Father, 
and  ye  do  disho- 
nour me. 


«;o   And   I  feek 


dren  of  God,  partakers  of  his  Spirit,  and  well  affect- 
ed towards  him. 

48  Some  of  the  Jews  then  prefent,  being  exafpe- 
rated  at  this  cutting  difcourfe,  which  they  could  not 
confute,  fell  into  a  violent  fury  againft  him,  crying 
out,  How  can  you  pretend,  that  none  of  us  have  con- 
vinced you  of  fin  ?  {yer.  46.)  We  have  faid,  and 
we  itand  to  it  as  rightly  faid,  your  own  difcourfe  now 
confirming  it,  that  you  are  as  bad  as  a  Samaritan, 
whom  we  look  upon  as  the  worft  of  enemies  to  our 
religion  and  nation,  and  worthy  to  be  had  in  the  ut- 
moft  abhorrence  ;  nay,  we  infill  upon  it,  that  you 
talk  like  a  madman,  and  one  pofleffed  of  the  devil 
liimfelf,    while  you  charge  the  children  of  Abraham 

with  being  not  the  children  of  God,  but  the  children 
of  that  evil  one,  and  while  you  perform  pretended 
miracles  by  his  power,  and  in  confederacy  with  him, 
to  make  people  believe  that  what  you  fay  is  true. 

49  To  this  monftroufly  vile  and  blafphemous  re- 
proach, Jefus  anfwered,  with  wonderful  meeknefs 
and  calmnefs  of  Spirit,  This  is  fuch  a  groundlefs  im- 
putation, as  nevrr  can  be  made  good  againft  me:  The 
nature  and  tendency  of  all  my  doctrines  and  miracles, 
for  promoting  goodnefs  and  holinefs  among  men, 
and  for  deftroying  the  works  of  the  devil,  are  a  de- 
monftration  that  I  am  not  influenced  by  him,  nor  act 
in  confederacy  with  him  :  But  all,  that  I  do  and  fay, 
is  to  advance  the  glory  of  my  heavenly  Father's  wif- 
dom,  power,  holinefs,  and  grace,  in  the  falvation  of 
his  people  :  This  Satan  would  never  do  ;  and  yet  ye 
revile  and  fpeak  evil  againft  me  for  it,  'as  if  I  were 
actuated  by  him  *. 

50  But   (£s)    I  neither  trouble  myfelf  about  your 


ry  :  there  is 
that  feeketh 
judgeth. 


one 
and 


not  mine  own  glo-  reproaches,  nor  court  your  applaufe,  having  no  aim 
at  advancing  my  own,  in  diftinciion  from  my  Father's 
glory  :  Nor  need  I  be  folicitous  about  thefe  things  ; 
for  there  is  one,  even  my  heavenly  Father  himfelf, 
who  will  fecure  an  intereft  for  me  in  the  hearts  of  his 
people,  and  will  effectually  vindicate  my  character, 
and  avenge  all  the  indignities  offered  to  it. 

5  1    Leaving  therefore  my  reputation  in  his  hands, 
I,   who  am  Truth  itfelf,    go  on  to  allure  you  with 
the  greateft  folemnity,  as  I  have  done  before,   [chap. 
v.  24.  and  vi.  40,  50,  51.)  that  whoever  heartily  em- 
braces, 
T     E. 

tuated  hy  an  evil  fpirtt :  And  perhaps  he 
made  no  reply  to  that  part  of  the  charge, 
becaufe  fome  Samaritans  had  already  be. 
lieved  in  him,  (chap.  iv.  39.)  and  he  him- 
felf had  represented  a  good  Samaritan  in 
itfelf,  by  his  proving  that  he  was  not  ac-  an  honourable  light.    (Lukt  x.  33»  &c-} 


51  Verily,  veri- 
ly, I  fay  unto  you, 
1 1  a  man  keep  my 
faying,  he  ilia  11  ne- 
ver fee  death. 


N  O 
*  He  took  no  notice  of  what  they  had 
faid  about  his  being  a  Samaritan,  be- 
caufe  that  did  not  fo  much  aftecT:  his 
commilfion,  and  every  thing  that  was 
invidious  in  that  calumny  would  fall  ot 


Chap.  viii. 


John  paraphrafed. 


373 


unto 
Now  we 
that  thou  haft  a 
devil.  Abraham  is 
dead,  and  the  pro- 
phets ;  and  thou 
f  aye  ft,  If  a  man 
keep  my  faying,  he 
fhall  never  tafte  of 
death. 


braces,  and  holds  faft  my  fpiritual  and  holy  doctrine, 
in  his  faith  and   obedience,    fhall  not  *  die    (ttg  rev 
utoivx}  for  ever ;  he  fhall  not  be  utterly  deflroyed  by 
death,-  but  fhall  live  in  all  felicity,    world  without 
end. 
St  Then  faid  the        5  2   Then  the  Jews,  inflead  of  embracing  this  blefs- 
Jews    unto    him,   ed  promife  of  a  glorious  immortality,  wreiled  Chriil's 
T   words  to  their  own  deftruction,    pretending  that  he 
meant  an  exemption  from  temporal  death,    and  cry- 
ing out  with  flill  greater  rage  and  revilings  than  be- 
fore, We  are  now  thoroughly  confirmed  in  the  truth 
of  our  charge,  that  you  are  really  poffefTed  of  the  de- 
vil, and  are  ftark  mad  :    For  our  father  Abraham, 
who  was  the  friend  of  God,  and  all  the  holy  prophets, 
from  Mofes  to  this  day,  are  dead,  though  they  were 
Uriel:  obfervers  of  the  divine  will ;  and  yet  you  bold- 
ly affirm,    that  whoever  receives  and  pradtifes  your 
doctrine  fhall  never  die. 
53     Art    thou        53  What!   faid  they,   forgetting  that  the  Mefliah. 
greater    than    our    muft  needs  be  fuperior  to  all  that  went  before  him, 
father      Abraham     do  pretend  to  be  more  highly  in  favour  with  God, 

which  is  dead  ?  and         /       f    .  1  r    ,  „       , 

the  prophets  are  and  to  nave  greater  power  than  our  lather  Abraham 
dead  :  whom  ma-  himfelf,  and  than  the  moft  excellent  of  the  prophets, 
keft  thou  thylelf  ?  who  died,  like  the  reft  of  mankind  ?  how  wild  and 
prefumptuous  is  your  talk  of  making  others  immor- 
tal, when  thofe  eminent  favourites  of  heaven  could 
not  obtain  that  privilege  for  themfelves  ?  Pray,  who 
are  you  that  pretend  to  bellow  a  greater  bleffing  on 
your  difciples,  than  God  faw  fit  to  vouchfafe  to  any 
of  them  ? 

54  Jefus  replied,  if  I  affume  undue  honour  to  my- 
felf,  or  make  a  fhew  of  power  without  good  argu- 
ments to  fupport  it,  fuch  glorying  would  indeed  be 
empty  and  vain,    and  would  turn  to  my  dilgrace  : 

noureth     me,      of   But  it  is  my  Father  (0  Sfl|«eJ»v  pi)  that  honours  and 
whom  ye  fay,  that   glorifies  me,  by  bearing  witnefs  to  the  utmoft  digni- 
he  is  your  God.         ty  Qf  my  character,  and  fhewing  his  approbation  of 
me  according  to  it,  even  that  God,  whom  ye  claim 
as  your  covenant-God,   and  whom  ye  ought  to  be- 
lieve, in  what  he  teftifies  concerning  me. 

55  But,  notwithstanding  your  pretences  of  pecu- 
liar relation  to  him,  ye  are  really  ft  rangers  to  him, 
and  utterly  ignorant  of  him  as  my  Father,  and  will 
not  underfland  what  he  has  witnefTed  concerning  me  ; 

I    (hall  be  a  liar   no  wonder  therefore  that  ye  do  not  receive  me  :   But 
hke  unto  you;  but    I  am  thoroughly  acquainted  witfi  him,  and  fully  af- 
fured,  that  he  doth  and  will  own  and  Hand  by  me, 

who 
NOTE. 
*  To  fee  death,  and  to  tajle  of  death,  as  it  is  expreffed  in  the  next  verfe,  are 
Hebraifms  which  fignify  dving. 

Vol.  II.  "  C  c  g 


54  Jefus  anfwer- 
ed.  If  I  honour  my- 
felf,  my  honour  is 
nothing  :  it  is  my 
Father     that     ho 


55  Yet  ye  have 
not  known  him  ; 
but  I  know  him  : 
and  if  I  fliould  fay, 
I   know   him    not, 


74 


Tbe  Evangelift 


Chap.  viii. 


I  know  him,  and  who  own  and  honour  him  :  And  were  I  to  fay  other- 
keep  his  laying.  wjfe>  to  avoid  your  wrath,  I  mould  give  the  lie  to 
him,  to  my  own  conference  and  character,  and  to  the 
truth  itfelf,  juft  like  you  :  But  I  infill  upon  it,  as  I 
ought,  that  I  have  a  perfect  knowledge  of  him,  and 
of  his  regard  to  me,  and  that  I  always  do  the  things 
that  pleafe  him,  according  to  the  commiflion  which 
I  have  received  from  him. 

56  Your  father  56  And  as  to  your  cavil  at  my  fpeaking  greater 
Abraham  rejoiced  th;  of  fejf  than  could  be  faid  0{  Abraham,  he, 
to  lee  my  day :  and    .        V  J  r  ,       ,  -n  ..1  j 

tie  Taw  it  and  was   m  wnom  ye  io  much  glory,  as  your   rather  and  as 
Had,  the  friend  of  God,  made  fo  high  account  of  me,  that 

he  earneftly  defired  *  to  fee  the  time  of  my  appearing 
in  flefh  for  the  falvation  of  Ifrael ;  and  he  had  fuch 
a  fight  of  it,  as  filled  him  with  exceeding  great  joy  : 
How  much  more  would  he  have  been  delighted  to 
have  feen  what  ye  now  fee,  and  defpife  ? 

57  Then  faid  the  57  The  Jews,  perverting  his  words,  as  if  he  fpokc 
Jews    unto     him,   0f  Abraham's  really  feeing  him  in  the  flefh,  faid  to 

f'tv"  ar*  "id*  ^  ^1'm»  ^r°u  are  ^ut  a  young  man,  who,  as  any  one 
may  fee  by  your  looks,  have  hardly  reached  \  the 
middle  age  of  life  ;  and  what,  do  you  pretend  to 
have  feen  Abraham,  as  a  co-temporary  with  him, 
who  died  many  ages  ago  ?  How  abfurd  and  prepofte- 
rous  is  this  ! 

58  Our  blefTed  Lord  replied,  I,  who  am  Truth 

itfelf,  afluredly  tell  you,  that,  how  young  foever  I 

be,  with  relation  to  my  human  birth  ;   yet  before 

Abraham  was  born,  and  before  all  worlds,  I  had  a 

real  exiftence,   as  the  unchangeable  %  I  AM,  who 

/  ordered 

NOTES. 

*  HyuMiCttrxlo  <v«  <ef»,  He  rejoiced  to   timate,    that  finee  he  could  not  be  (o 

fee  my  day,   teems  naturally,   from  the    much  as  deemed  an  old  man,  it  was  the 

form  of  expreffion  in  the  Greek,   to  fig-    more  abfurd  in  him  to  talk  oi  Abraham's 

iiify,  he  vehemently  defired  to  fee  it;  and    having  feen  him. 

this  prevents  the  tautology,  that  other-  J  This  remarkable  change  of  the 
wife  appears  in  the  words,  be  rejoiced  phrafe,  from  I  ivas,  to  J  am,  points  us  to 
and  ivas  glad.  See  Bkickiv.  Sacr.  Claf.  the  eternal  exiltence  of  Chrift  in  his  di- 
vol.  I.  p.  46.  And  though  Abraham  did  vine  nature,  according  to  the  moft  lite- 
riot  fee  Chrift's  day,  in  the  fame  fenfe  as  ral  and  natural  conftruclion  of  the  words, 
the  Jeivs  faw  it,  by  bis  appearing  actu-  which  leem  to  refer  to  what  I  take  to 
ally  in  the  flefh  ;  yet  he  faw  it,  by  faith  have  been  Chrift's  own  words  to  Mofes, 
in  types,  figures,  and  promifes,  as  par-  becaufc  the  Father's  voice  was  never 
ticularly  in  Melchi*edek,  (Gen.  xiv.  heard,  nor  his  appearance  feen,  under  the 
iS.)  in  the  appearance  of  Jehovah  to  Old  Teft;.ment-d>fpenfation.  (See  the 
him  in  the  plains  of  Mature,  (chap,  xviii.  note  on  chap.  v.  37.)  And  this  makes 
1.)  in  his  offering  up  of  the  ram  in  them  a  direct  anfwer  to  the  Jeivs''  ob- 
Ifaac's  (lead  ;  and  in  the  promife,  that  jeclion  taken  from  Chrift's  human  age, 
in  his  feed  all  the  nations  of  the  earth  flieus  his  excellence  above  Abraham, 
Jljoald  be  BleJTed.  (Chap.  xxii.  r, — 18.)  and  is  the  proper  foundation  of  all  the 
\  Perhaps  the  Jeivs  faid  this,  becaufe  great  things  that  he  had  afferted  con- 
the  gravity  of  our  Lord's  countenance,  cerning  himfelf :  And  it  is  plain  that  the 
together  with  his  afflictions  and  labours,  Jews  underftood  him  in  this  fenfe  by 
gave  him  the  afpecf.  of  a  man  near  fifty,  their  taking  up  ftones  to  ftone  him,  a* 
However,  they  mentioned  this  age,  to  in*   appears  from  the  next  verfe. 


hzit  thou  feen  A 
braham  ? 


cS  Jefus  faid  un- 
to them,  Verily, 
verily,  I  fay  unto 
you,  Eefore  Abra- 
ham was,  I  am. 


Chap.  viii.~  John  paraphrafed.  375 

ordered  Mofes  to  fpeak  of  me  to  your  fathers  under 

that  name.  (Exod.  hi.  14.) 
59  Then  took  59  Upon  this,  they  apprehending  that  he  had  not 
they  up  (tones  to  on\y  maje  himfelf  greater  than  Abraham,  but  had 
Jefusanidinhimfelt;  likewjfe  been  guilty  of  the  higheit  blafphemy,  in 
and  went  out  of  fpeaking  of  himfelf  as  the  eternally  exiitent  God, 
the  temple,  going  were  furioufly  enraged  againft  him,  and  immediately, 
through  the  midft   an  m  a  hurry,  catched  up  fkmes  to  Hone  him  to  death  : 

^iTedT'-  and  f°  But'  his  time  hemS  not  yet  come,  he  prudently  a- 
voided  their  rage  by  *  concealing  himfelf  from  them  ; 
and,  flipping  out  of  the  temple  through  the  crowd, 
he  made  his  efcape. 

RECOLLECTIONS, 

Did  Mofes  command  that  perfons  guilty  of  adultery  fliould  be  ftoned  to  death? 
How  abominable  then  is  that  fin !  But,  alas!  how  unfit  are  enemies  to  Chrift,  and 
allowers  of  themfelves  in  any  iniquity,  to  fhew  a  zeal  againft  others,  and  condemn 
them  for  theirs!  Were  they  ferioufly  to  examine  themfelves,  their  conferences  mult 
foon  convince  them  of  fin,  and  make  them  afraid  of  cafting  the  firft  {tone:  And 
though  judgment  is  not  fpeedily  executed  againft  tranfgreflors,  a  time  is  coming 
when  it  fliall ;  and  when  worfe  miferies  will  come  upon  them  than  can  be  inflicted 
here  :  He  who  acts  the  Saviour's  part  now,  will  be  their  Judge  then,  and  they  that 
reject  him  in  the  day  of  his  mercy  here,  fliall  be  rejected  by  him  in  the  day  of  his 
wrath  hereafter  :  O  how  will  they  then  feek  him  in  vain,  and  find  that  they  can- 
not get  to  heaven  to  enjoy  him  there  !  But  blefled  be  God  that  light  is  come  into 
our  world  by  Jefus  Chrift,  who  has  given  us  a  clear  revelation  of  the  Father,  and 
of  the  way  of  falvation  by  the  gofpel,  and  enlightens  dark  fouls  by  his  Spirit :  In 
an  eftrangement  from  him,  whatfoever  knowledge  we  pretend  to  have  of  God,  we 
fliall  certainly  wander  in  the  dark  to  our  own  eternal  perdition;  but  they  that  walk 
in  his  light,  and  follow  his  guidance,  fnall  be  preferved  from  the  dominion  of  fin, 
and  every  dangerous  error,  and  (hall  lately  arrive  at  eternal  life  :  He  has  faid  it, 
and  fliall  he  not  perform  it,  who  is  a  Divine  Ferfon,  infeparable  from  the  Father, 
and  is  the  eternal  I  am,  whole  witnefs  concerning  himfelf  is  true,  and  of  equal  au- 
thority with  the  Father's ;  and  who,  in  his  mediatorial  capacity,  came  from  him, 
and  is  faithful  to  him,  honours  him,  and  is  honoured  by  him  ?  How  fafely  may  we 
abide  by  his  teftimony,  and  appeal  to  it,  whenever  any  qurftion  may  be  moved  con- 
cerning him,  who  is  the  fame  that  he  faid  of  himfelf  from  the  beginning !  But  how 
infufneient  is  all  external  evidence  to  bring  an  unregeuerate  carnal  heart  over  to 
Chrift  !  And  O  what  blafphemous  contradiction  and  reproach  did  he  undergo  from, 
tinners  !  They  fliamefully  diflionourcd  him,  becauie  he  honoured  his  Father  and  re- 
proved them  ;  and  they  intuited  him,  as  if  he  were  a  madman,  and  pollened  with 
the  devil,  while  they  themfelves  were  guilty  of  the  grcateit  madnels,  and  were  actu- 
ated by  the  power  of  Satan  :  But  his  innocence  was  his  protection  ;  and  with  what 
meeknefs  did  he  vindicate  himfelf,  and  confute  them  !  What  fignifies  having  Abra- 
ham, or  any  other  godly  perfons  for  our  fathers,  if  we  are  ftrangers  to  their  fpirit, 
faith,  and  holinefs?  And  how  monftrous  is  the  hypocriiy,  wickednefs,  and  falfehood 
of  fome,  that  are  defcendents  of  religious  parents,  and  pretend  to  claim  under  them, 
yea,  that  boaft  of  their  privileges,  and  even  profefs  to  believe  in  Chrift  himfelf '. 
They  are  worldly  while  he  is  heavenly,  and  they  naturally  give  a  carnal  turn  to 
fpiritual  things;  they  cannot  rtnderftand  or  receive  his  doctrine,  becaufe  it  is  direct- 
ly contrary  to  the  corrupt  difpofitions  of  their  own  hearts ;  they  are  of  their  fa- 
ther the  devil,  and  bear  his  likenefs,  as  the  father  of  lies  and  of  all  evil ;  they  are 
under  the  worft  of  flavery  to  fin  and  Satan  ;  they  harden  themfelves  again  con- 
victions 
NOTE. 

*  This  he  probably  did,  either  by  hi-  ftinguifh  him  from  others,  and  10  de- 
ding  himfelf  in  the  crowd  of  his  friends,  parted  from  the  temple,  through  the 
or  miraculoufly  cafting  a  mift  before  his  midft  of  the  company,  and  got  away  un- 
enemies  eyes,    that  tbey  could  not  di-    hurt. 

C   C   C    2 


376 


The  Evangeltfl 


Chap.  ix. 


virions  of  their  guilt  and  danger  ;  and  if  they  believe  not  in  Chrift,  they  ihall  die 
in  their  (ins,  and  (hall  be  turned  out  of  God's  family,  who  will  diibwn  them  to  be 
his  children  !  But  O  the  happinefs  of  true  believers  !  His  word  abides  with  power- 
ful influence  in  their  hearts;  they  know  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jefus;  they  are  of  God, 
and  bear  the  likenefs  of  their  heavenly  Father  ;  they  hear  Chrift's  words,  and  ob- 
tain the  mod  excellent  freedom  from  him ;  their  eamert  defires  are  after  him,  and 
they  rejoice  in  the  views  that  their  faith  gives  them  of  him  ;  they  love  him,  and 
ihall  be  delivered  by  him  from  all  the  miferies  of  eternal  death  ;  and  they  are  the 
fpiritual  feed  of  Abraham,  and  the  children  of  God,  who  fliall  dwell  with  the  only 
begotten  Son  in  his  Father's  houfe  for  ever. 


CHAP.      IX. 

Chriji  gives  Jight  to  a  man  who  was  born  blind,  I, — 7.  Several  difi- 
courfes  on  that  occajion  among  the  neighbours  themjelves,  and  be- 
tween them  and  this  poor  man,  8, — 12.  Between  the  Pharifees 
and  him,  13, — 34.  Between  Chriji  and  him,  35,- — 38.  And  be- 
tween Chriji  and  fome  of  the  Pharifees,  39,-41. 


Paraphrase. 
*  A  FTER  the  forementioned  things,  Jefus,  pafiing 
■^  ■*-   along  with  I113  difciples,  obferved  a  poor  beg- 
gar,  (ver.  8.)  who  was  quite  dark,   and  was  known 
to  have  been  born  blind. 

2  And  the  difciples,  fuppofing  that  this  affli&ion 

ciples  afked  him,  \m£  befallen  him  as  an  extraordinary  judgment,  put 
faying,  Mafter, 
who  did  fin,  this 
man,  or  his  pa- 
rents, that  he  was 
born   blind  ? 


Text. 

AND    as    Jefus 

pafled   by,   he 

faw  a  man  which 

was     blind     from 

bis   birth. 

2    And   his  dif- 


a  nice  fort  of  queftion  to  their  Lord  about  him  lay- 
ing, Mafter  for  whofe  fault  was  blindnefs  from  the 
birth,  inflicted  on  this  man  :  Was  it  for  any  uncom- 
mon fin  of  his  own  -j-  ?  or  for  fome  remarkable  crime 
of  his  parents,  before  he  was  born  ? 

3   Jefus,  to  put  a  check  upon  a  curious  and  cen- 

Neither  hath  this    forious  temper,  replied  :£,  Though  all  men  are  finners, 
man  and 

NOTES. 

*  The  difcourfes,  in  the  two  preced-    here  mentioned,   was  not  at  the  temple, 


3  Jefus  anfwered, 


ing  chapters,  were  at  the  feaft  of  taber- 
nacles, (r hap.  vii.  2.)  and  it  feems  from 
chap.  x.  22.  (fee  the  note  there)  that 
what  follows  in  this,  and  the  next  chap- 
ter, was  at  the  feaft  of  dedication,  which 
was  about  three  months  after.the  other, 
that  being  in  September,  and  this  in  De- 
r ember :  And  yet  the  laft  chapter's  end- 
ing,  and  til  is  beginning  with  the  fame 


as  the  former  was,  but  in  fome  other 
place,  where  his  difciples  were  with 
him,  and  where  this  man  fat  begging; 
and  that  it  was  on  the  Sabbath-day. 

f  Their  queftion  feems  to  have  related 
to  fome  perfonal  fin,  which  God  fore- 
iaw  this  man  would  be  guilty  of,  or 
which  he  might  be  fuppofed  to  have 
committed,  either  in  the  womb,  or,  ac- 


word,  carries  the  face  of  a  connection  of  cording  to  the  Pythagorean  notion,   in 

events,   one  of  which  immediately  fuc-  fome  ftate  of  pre-exiftence,   or  in  fome 

ceeded  the  other.      There  it  is  faid,  m-  former  body. 

C*-yi>,  he  pajfed  by,  here  xa*  tzagxyvv,  \    The  plain  defign  of  Chrift  here  is, 

and  pajjing  by,  which  we  render,  and  as  not  to  deny  original  fin,  or  fay  any  thing 

be  pajfed  by,  he  faw  a  man,  $jc.    How-  about  it ;  but  only  to  reply  to  their  fug- 

<  vcr,  thefe  parts  of  our  Evangelift's  hif-  geftion,    as  if  this  man  or  his  parents, 

tory  are  i  lofely  conne&ed,   though  the  were  guilty  of  fome  greater  fin  than  o- 

•  ere  not  fo  in  time;  and  it  appears  thers  :   For  it  could  no  more  be  faid,  ab- 

from  vcr.  2,  8,  14.   that  the  puffing  by,  folutcly,   that  his  parents  had  not  actu- 
ally 


Chap.  ix. 

man  finned,  nor  his 
parents :  but  that 
.the  works  of  God 
fhould  be  made 
manifeft  in  him. 


4  I  muft  work 
the  works  of  him 
thatfent  me,  while 
it  is  day :  the  night 
cometh,  when  no 
man  can  work. 


5  As  long  as  I 
am  in  the  world,  I 
am  the  light  of  the 
world. 


6  When  he  had 
thus  fpoken,  he  fpat 
on  the  ground,  and 
made  clay  of  the 
fpittle,  and  he  a- 
nointed  the  eyes  of 
the  blind  man  with 
the  clay, 


John  paraphrafed.  377 

and  all  affliction  is  the  fruit  of  fin  ;  yet  the  blindnefs 
with  which  this  man  was  born,  was  not  for  any  par- 
ticular fault,  that  either  he  or  his  parents  had  been 
guilty  of,  more  than  others  :  But  it  was  ordered, 
by  the  fovereign,  wife,  and  holy  providence  of  God, 
for  the  manif citation  of  his  own  glory,  {chap.  xi. 
4.)  in  my  exerting  the  divine  power  to  work  a  mira- 
culous cure  on  this  miferable  object,  and  thereby  pro- 
ving myfelf  to  be  the  Mcffiah,  who  am  come  to  open 
the  eyes  of  them  that  were  born  both  corporally  and 
fpiritually  blind. 

4  I  muft  therefore  improve  the  prefent  opportuni- 
ty for  giving  this  man  his  light,  as  an  emblem  of  my 
greater  work  of  enlightening  the  minds  of  them  that 
fit  in  darknefs,  for  which  my  Father  fent  me  :  For 
as  the  day  of  man's  life  is  the  proper  time  for  bulinefs, 
and  he  can  do  nothing  for  God,  or  the  good  of  o- 
thers,  in  the  grave,  to  which  he  is  haitening  ;  fo  all 
the  work  I  have  to  do.  in  my  own  perfon  on  earth, 
for  the  glory  of  my  Father,  and  the  benefit  of  mens 
fouls  and  bodies,  mull  be  done  cut  of  hand,  the  time 
of  my  death  coming  on  apace. 

5  Accordingly,  during  my  fhort  abode  in  this  lower 
world,  I  not  only  cure  them  that  are  corporally  blind* 
but  am  rifen  upon  it,  as  the  Sun  of  righteoufnels,  to 
communicate  the  light  of  truth,  grace,  and  comfort 
to  the  fouls  of  iis  inhabitants,  in  healing  beams  for 
fpiritual  fight. 

6  Then  the  bleffed  Saviour  proceeded  to  prevent 
this  poor  man  with  the  bleflings  of  his  goodneis  : 
And  as  he  could  work  by  contrary  means,  as  well  as 
without  any,  and  could  exert  the  fame  Almighty 
power  which  at  fuft  formed  the  body  of  man  out  of 
the  dufl  of  the  ground,  (Gen.  ii.  7.)  he  fpat  on  the 
earth,  and  making  a  kind  of  foft  clay,  by  a  mixture 
of  duft  and  ipittle,  fpread  it  on  the  eyes  of  the 
blind  man. 

7  And,  having  done  this,  he  ordered  him  to  go 
and  warn  (g<$  rvv  kuXv^S^^ocv)  at  the  pool  of  Si /cam, 
(fee  the  note  on  Luke  xiii.  4.)  which  was  a  figure  of 
the  kingdom  oijudah,  and  of  Chrift  their  King,  (  '  a. 
viii.  6.)  and  which  in  the  Hebrew  language  lignilies 

Mefhah,    whom    God 


7  And  find  unto 
him,  Go,  wafli  in 
the  pool  of  Siloam, 
(which  is  by  inter- 
pretation, Sent.) 
He       went        his 

wafhed^anr'  "^  fa**    ^    f°    Pointed   t0   the 

feeing '  would  fend'.  Accordingly  the  blind  man,  in  depend- 

ence upon  Chrift's  power,  and  in  obedience  to  his 
command,  went  and  warned  his  eyes  *  with  thofe  wa- 
ters, 


ally  finned,  than  it 
he,   nor  they  were 


N  O 
could,  that  neither 
under  the  gv^ilt  and 


power  of  original  fin. 

*  It  is  highly  probable,  that  he  did 


T     E. 

not  go  into  the  pool,  but  only  wafhed  his 
eyes  with  its  water,  his  diftemper  being 
only  in  them  ;  and  fo  the  prepofilion  «.v 
here  fignifks  at. 


373 


Tbe  Evangelift 


Chap.  ix. 


this  he  that  Tat  and 
begged  ? 


9  Some  faid,  This 
K  be  :  others  faid, 
lie  is  like  him  : 
but  he  faid,  I  am 
he. 


ioThereforefaid 
they  unto  him, 
How  were  thine 
eyes  opened  ? 


ters,  and  immediately  came  away  feeing,  like  other 
men. 
S    The   neigh-        8   In  the  mean  time  Jefus  withdrew  ;   and  at  the 

bours       tnereforc,    man's  returning  with  his  eye-light,  his  neighbours, 
i"   e    had     leen   ^iat  ^m^  ^on£  been  acquainted  with  him,  and  others 

hi;u,  that  he  was   that  had  before  feen  and  obferved  him  to  be  ftone- 

blind,  faid,  Is  not  blind,  were  amazed  at  the  fudden  alteration  made  up- 
on him  ;  and  talked  one  to  another  in  a  different  man- 
ner about  him  :  Some,  not  knowing  what  to  think, 
faid,  by  way  of  inquiry,  Is  not  this  the  blind  beggar, 
who  ufed  to  fit  here  ? 

9  Others  faid  pofitively,  This  is  the  very  fame 
man  :  Others,  unwilling  to  believe  the  miracle,  faid, 
He  is  indeed  exceedingly  like  him  ;  but  one  perfon 
may  be  like  another,  and  furely  it  is  impoffible  that 
this  can  be  he,  fince  there  is  no  fuch  thing  as  a  man's 
being  brought  to  his  fight,  all  on  a  fudden,  who  was 
born  blind  :  But  the  man  himfelf,  hearing  their  de- 
bates about  him,  declared  to  them  all,  for  the  honour 
of  his  great  Benefactor,  I  really  am  the  perfon,  who 
was  born  blind,  and  ufed  to  beg  for  my  livelihood. 

io  Upon  this  they  began  to  examine  him  clofely, 
faying,  If  you  are  the  man  we  mean,  how  comes  it 
to  pafs  that  you,  who  was  always  blind  from  your 
birth  to  this  day,  fliould  now  fee  fo  perfectly,  all  at 
once  ?  By  what  means  was  this  done  ? 
1 1  He  anfwered        1 1    He  replied,    a   certain    perfon,   named    Jefus, 

and  faid,  A  man  came  up  to  me,  as  I  fat  begging,  and,  taking  pity 
d  Jeiu5'  on  me,  made  a  fort  of  foft  clay,  which  he  applied 
to  mine  «yes,  and  then  ordered  me  to  go  and  wafli 
it  off  at  the  pool  of  Siioam  :  Accordingly  I  obeyed 
his  command,  hoping  that  it  might  have  fome  good 
effecl:,  and  immediately  found,  to  my  joyful  furprifc, 
that  I  could  fee. 

12  Then  fome  of  the  company  afked*,  Where  is 
the  n  an  who  did  this  ?  Let  us  know,  that  we  may 
go  and  take  the  account  from  him.  To  which  he 
anfwered,  I  really  cannot  tell ;  for  I  never  faw  him, 
he  being  gone  before  I  returned  with  my  eye-fight, 
and  I  have  not  heard  of  him  fince. 

1 3  Some  of  them  being  enraged,  inftead.  of  rejoi- 
cing at  the  mercy  fhewn  to  him,  who  had  been  blind, 
brought  him  before  the  council,  in  which  were  ma- 
ny Pharifees,  that,  if  porfible,  the  miracle  might  be 
difproved,  which  had  been  wrought  upon  him. 

14  And  they  were  the  rather  induced  to  do  this, 

becaufe 

T    E. 

for  doing  it  on  the  Sabbath-day  ;  (err. 
14.)  or  out  of  earned  defire  to  be  them- 
felves  acquainted  with  him.. 


made  clay,  and  a- 
nointed  mine  eyes, 
and  faid  unto  me. 
Go  to  the  pool  of 
Siioam,  and  wafh  : 
and  I  went  and 
wafhed,  and  I  re- 
ceived fi^ht. 

1  z    Then    faid 
they      unto      him, 
AVhere  is  he  ?    He 
^akl,  I  know  not. 


1  %  They  brought 
to     the    Pfaarilees 

him  that  aforetime 
was  blind. 


14   And  it 


\ 


was 
the 


N     O 

*   The  afked  this  either  out  of  curio- 

fity,    to   fee   the  wonderful  perfon  who 

had  wrought  fuch  a  matchlefs  miracle  ; 

or  out  of  envy  and  ill-will  a^ainM  him, 


Chap.  ix. 


John  paraphrafed. 


379 


15  Then  again 
the  Pharifees  alio 
afked  him  how  he 
had  received  his 
fight.  He  faid  un- 
to them,  He  put 
clay  upon  mine 
eyes,  and  I  walked, 
and  do  fee. 


the     Sabbath-day  becaufe  it  was  on  the  Sabbath  that  Jefus  made  the 

when  Jefus  made    clay?  and  cured  the  beggar  of  his  blindnefs,   which 

the  clay,  and  open-   ^y.  fUperftitioufly  thought  was  a  fervile  work,  and 

a  profanation  of  that  holy  day,  and  wmch  they  knew 

would  incenfe  the  Pharifees  againfl  him. 

15  As  foon  as  the  man  came  before  the  council, 
the  Pharifees  alfo  hoping,  that  by  their  fuperior  wif- 
dom,  they  might  catch  fomething  from  him  to  ren- 
der the  whole  affair  fufpicious,  or  to  put  fome  flur  up- 
on it,  afked  him,  How,  or  by  what  means,  he  came 
to  his  light  ?  The  man  honeltly  replied,  as  before, 
Jefus  came  up  to  me,  and,  taking  pity  on  me,  fpread 
a  certain  clay  upon  mine  eyes,  and  then  ordered  me 
to  go  and  wafh  them  with  the  water  of  Siloam,  which 
I  accordingly  did  ;  and  immediately  thereupon,  to 
my  great  furprife  and  joy,  I  could  fee  every  thing  a- 
bout  me,  as  I  now  do. 

1 6  The  Pharifees  being  ftunned  at  this  anfwer, 
fome  of  them,  that  were  moil  inveterate  in  their  en- 
mity to  Jefus,  faid,  Whether  this  account  of  the  mat- 
ter be  true  or  not,  it  is  certain  that  he,  who  is  fpo- 
ken  of  as  working  the  cure,  cannot  be  a  holy  man, 
approved>and  fent  of  God,  becaufe  he  makes  no  con- 
science of  obferving  the  Sabbath,  as  appears  by  his  do- 
ing thefe  unlawful  works  on  that  day  :  But  others 
of  them  who  were  not  fo  ralh  in  their  temper,  faid, 
If  we  allow  that  Jefus  wrought  this  wonderful  cure, 
though  it  were  on  the  Sabbath-day,  we  (hall  never 
overthrow  his  authority  among  the  people  :  For  it 
will  be  faid,  with  a  great  deal  of  reafon,  How  is^it 
pofhble  that  any  wicked  man,  who  is  difapproved  of ' 
God,  fhould  perform  any  miracles,  fo  great  and  mer- 
ciful as  this  ?  Let  us  therefore  more  thoroughly  ex- 
amine the  fact  itfelf,  and  fee  whether  there  be  no 
fraud  in  it  :  And  fo  they  were  divided  in  their  own 
judgment  and  debates  about  this  affair. 

1 7  Hereupon  fome  of  the  council  faid  to  the  man 
that  had  been  blind,  What  is  your  opinion  of  this; 
perfon,  fince,  as  you  tell  us,,  he  has  given  you  the 
ufe  of  your  eyes  ?  Did  he  really  do  it  ?  If  he  did, 
what  are  your  thoughts  about  him*  ?  The  man  re- 
He  is  a  pro-   plied,   From  what  experience  I  have  had,  and  from 

the  belt  judgment  I  am  able  to  form  upon  it,  I  can- 
not but  conclude  that  he  is,  at  leail,  a  holy  prophet 
fent  from  God. 

18  But 
NOTE. 
*  Thefe  words  may  be  taken  either  the  fact  for  granted  :  Or  they  may  be 
as  a  fingle  queftion  thus,  What  fayeft  confidered  as  two  queftions  thus,  What 
thou  of  him,  feeing  that  he  has  opened  fayeft  thou  of  him  ?  Dolt  thou  fay  that 
thine  jyes  ?  and  fo  they  may  be  confi-  he  has  opened  time  evs  ?  a  id  therefore 
dered  as  the  queftion  of  fome  that  had  I  have  taken  both  fenles  into  the  para- 
favourable  thoughts  of  Chrift,  and  took   phrafe, 


16  Therefore  faid 
fome  of  the  Phari- 
fees, This  man  is 
riot  of  God,  be- 
caufe he  keepeth 
not  the  Sabbath- 
day.  Others  faid, 
How  can  a  man 
that  is  a  (inner  do 
i'uch  miracles  ?  And 
there  was  a  divi- 
sion among  them. 


1 7  They  fay  un- 
to the  blind  man 
again,  What  fayeft 
thou  of  him,  that 
he     hath     opened 


thine 
faid, 
phet. 


eyes 


He 


38o 


The  Evangeli/l 


Chap.  ix„ 


i 8  But  the  Jews 
did  iiot  believe  con- 
cerning him.  that 
he  had  been  blind, 
an,!  received  his 
ii  ht  until  they 
called  the  parents. 
of  him  that  had  re- 
ceived his  iight. 

19  And  theyafk- 
ed  them,  faying,  Is 
this  your  fon,  who 
ye  fay  was  born 
blind  ?  how  then 
doth  he  now  fee  ? 

20  His  parents 
anfwered  them, 
and  faid.  We  know 
that  this  is  our  fon, 
and  that  he  was 
born  blind  : 

21  But  by  what 
means  he  nowfeeth, 
we  know  not ;  or 
who  hath  opened 
his  eyes,  we  know 
not :  he  is  of  age, 
alk  him  ;  he  fhall 
fpeak  for  himfelf 

22  Thefe  words 
fpake  his  parents, 
becaufe  they  fear- 
ed the  Jews  :  for 
the  Jews  had-  a- 
greed  already,  that 
if  any  man  did  con- 
fers that  he  was 
Chr  ift,  he  fliould  be 
put  out  of  the  fy- 
naTO£ue. 


23  Therefore  faid 
his  parents,  He  is 
of  age,  alk  him. 


24  Then  again 
called  they  tl  e  n.,in 
that  was  blind,  and 
faid  unto  him,  Give 
GoH  the  praiie :  we 
know  that  this  man 
is  a  linner. 


18  But  fome  of  thefe  rulers  of  the  Jews,  finding 
that  the  man  fpoke  fo  much  like  a  friend  of  Chrift, 
would  not  believe  that  he  was  born  blind,  or  had  really 
received  any  cure  from  him,  till  they  fent  for  his  fa- 
ther and  mother,  that  they  might  try  what  they  could 
learn  from  them  about  him. 

19  And  when  his  parents  appeared  before  them, 
they  ftriftly  examined  them,  faying,  Let  us  hear  what 
ye  can  tell  us  about  this  poor  man  ?  Do  ye  aver  that 
this  is  your  fon,  who,  it  feems,  ye  pretend  was  born 
blind  ?  If  ye  are  fure  that  this  is  he,  we  alk  you, 
How  came  he  to  have  his  fight  now  ?  or  by  what 
means  did  he  obtain  it  ? 

20  His  parents,  being  poor  and  timorous,  repli- 
ed with  great  caution,  We  cannot  but  be  fure  that 
this  is  our  own  fon,  and  have  known  to  our  forrow, 
that  he  was  ftone-blind  from  his  birth  till  this  time. 

21  But  how,  or  by  whofe  operation,  he  now  is 
brought  to  his  fight  is  as  ftrange  to  us  as  it  can  be  to 
you  ;  we  being  abfent  when  it  was  done  :  He  is  belt 
able  to  give  an  account  of  thefe  things  himfelf,  and 
is  of  competent  years  and  underftanding  to  do  it :  Be 
pleafed  therefore  to  inquire  of  him  ;  no  doubt  but  he 
will  give  you  full  fatisfaclion. 

22  His  parents,  inilead  of  having  the  gratitude 
and  courage  to  own  what  they  knew  of  the  cure, 
fhifted  it  off  in  this  manner,  becaufe  they  were  finful- 
ly  afraid  of  incurring  the  difpleafure  of  the  court  : 
For  they  had  heard  that  the  Jewifh  fanhedrim  had 
already  fhewn  fuch  a  malicious  fpirit  againft  Jefus,  as 
to  pafs  a  law,  that  whoever  mould  own  him  to  be 
the  Mefhah,  mould  be  forbid  entrance  into  the  fyna- 
gogue,  and  be  excluded,  as  an  apollate,  from  all  the 
liberties  and  privileges  of  the  church  and  common- 
wealth of  lfrael.      (See  the  note  on  ver.  34.) 

23  The  man's  parents  therefore  fearing,  that,  if 
they  declared  their  own  thoughts  about  Chrift's  ha- 
ving healed  him,  it  might  be  conftrued  as  an  intima- 
tion, that  they  believed  him  to  be  the  Mefliah,  turn- 
ed off  the  anfwer  from  themfelves  to  their  fon,  fay- 
ing, He  is  old  enough  to  fpeak  for  himfelf;  pleale 
to  take  the  account  from  his  own  mouth. 

24  Then  the  council,  finding  that  they  could  get 
nothing  out  of  his  father  and  mother,  to  difprove  the 
miracle,  applied  again  to  the  man  who  had  been  blind, 
faying,  If  you  teally  was  perfectly  dark  from  your 
birth,  and  have  been  brought  to  your  light  in  the 
manner  you  fpeak  of,  it  is  a  wonderful  work  of  God, 
and  you  ought  to  give  him  the  entire  glory  of  it,  and 
not  think  that  Jelus  contributed  any  thing  toward  it  : 
For  wc  are  fure  that  he  is  a  wicked  man,  for  having 

done>, 


Chap.  ix. 


John  paraphrafed. 


381 


done,  and  ordered  you  to  do  fuch  things  on  the 
Sabbath-day,  as  are  a  downright  profanation  of  it. 
(ver.  16.) 

25  The  man  replied,  I  do  not  take  upon  me  to 
determine  about  his  being  a  wicked  man,  or  not,  on 
account  of  his  having,  as  ye  fay,  broke  the  law  of  tne 
Sabbath  ;  if  he  be  a  tranfgreflbr,  1  do  not  know  it  *  : 
But  this  one  thing  I  am  very  fare  of,  that  whereas 
I  was  quite  blind  all  along  from  my  birth  before,  I 
now  clearly  fee. 

26  Then  the  council  being  at  a  lofs  what  to  fay 
againft  the  miracle,  and  yet  refolved  not  to  own  it,  re- 
examined the  man,  in  hopes  that,  through  furprife 
and  fear,  he  might  fome  way  or  other  faulter  in  his 
evidence  :  Therefore  they  laid  to  him,  Let  us  hear 
you  rehearfe  over  again  what  jefus  did  to  you,  and 
in  what  manner  you  received  your  fight. 

27  The  man  perceiving  their  obninate  and  unrea- 
sonable prejudices,  and  that  they  only  wanted  to  bafSe 
him,  anfwered  them,  I  have  alreadv  told  vou  the 
whole  of  the  cafe,  as  punctually  as  I  was  able,  and 
ye  would  not  be  convinced  or  fatisned  :  To  what 
purpofe  mould  I  repeat  the  fame  things  over  again  ? 
What,  Sirs,  have  ye  at  length  a  mind  to  become  his 
difciples  ?  If  fo,  I  would  gladly  tell  you  the  delight- 
ful ftory  as  often  as  ye  pleafe  ;  but  if  not,  Why 
fnould  ye  deiire  to  hear  any  more  of  it  ? 

28  Then  the  council,  being  highly  provoked  at 
thefe  laft  words,  broke  out  into  a  pafiion,  and  began 
to  fall  foul  upon  him,  faying,  in  a  contemptuous  and 
taunting  manner,  We  his  difciples  !  No,  we  (corn 
your  words  :  You  indeed,  as  we  fufpected  all  along 
from  your  management,  are  one  of  this  man's  difciples ; 
and  none  but  fuch  forty  wretches,  as  yourfelf,  would 
ever  own  him  ;  but  we,  whom  you  ought  to  receive 
as  your  guides  in  religion,  and  to  treat  with  more  re- 
verence and  refpedt,  than  to  give  us  fuch  a  fauc 
fwer,  are  the  faithful  difciples  of  Mofes,  ftedfaftly 
adhering  to  the  doctrines  of  that  great  man  of  God, 
and  famous  lawgiver  of  Ifrael. 

29  We  are  well  affured,  by  undoubted  teftimomes, 
that  God  himfelf  fpake  to  Mofes  fact  to  face,  and  by 
him  delivered  the  law  to  us  :  But  as  for  this  obfeure, 
worthlefs  fellow,  (as  they  impiouily  called  our  blefs- 
ed  Lord)  whom  you  are  fo  fond  of,  and  by  whofe 
deceits  you  are  fo  ealily  impofed  upon,  none  knows  -j- 

who 

N    O    T    E    S. 

*   Thus  the  words  may  be  rendered,        f   The  people  had  a  little  before  ob- 

(«  ap.apla\<§r  etiv  kx  e<<Ta)  If  he  is  a  fm-    jeered  againft  Jefus's  being  the  Meffiah, 

ner  I  do  not  know  it;  thereby  intimating    becaufe,   faid  they,    We  know  this  ma  rt 

that  he  had  other  thoughts  of  him.  whence  he  is;  but  wbfti  Qbrift  cur.es,  no 

Vol.  II,  P  d  d  «** 


25  He  anfwered 
and  laid,  Whether 
he  be  a  (inner  or 
tio,  I  know  not  : 
one  thing  I  know, 
that,  whereas  I  was 
bliud,  now  I  fee. 

26  Then  faid 
they  to  him  again, 
What  did  he  to 
thee  ?  how  opened 
he  thine  eyes  ? 


27  He  anfwered 
them,  I  have  told 
you  already,  and 
ye  did  not  hear  : 
wherefore  would 
ye  hear  it  again  ? 
v/ill  ye  alio  be  his 
difciples? 


ici  Then  they 
reviled  hjra,  and 
faid,  Thou  art  his 
difciple  ;  but  we 
are    Mofes'    difci- 


29  We  know 
that  God  fpake  un- 
to Mofes  :  as  for 
this  fellow,  we 
know  not  from 
whence   he  is. 


382 


The  Evangetift 


Chap,  ix, 


30  The  man  an- 
Avered  and  laid 
unto  them,  Why, 
herein  is  a  marvel- 
lous thing,  that  ye 
know  not  from 
whence  he  is,  and 
yet  he  hath  opened 
mine  eyes. 

3 1  Now,  we 
know  that  God 
heareth  not  Tin- 
ners :  but  if  any 
m  an  be  a  wor- 
Ihipper  of  Gud, 
and  doth  his  will, 
him  he  heareth. 


;;  S^r.ce  the. 
world  began  was 
it  not  heard  thr.t 
any  man  opened 
the  eyes  of  one 
that  was  born 
blind. 


33   If  this    man 
were   not   01 
he    could    do    no- 
thing-. 


14  They  anfwer- 
•".1    and    fail)     unto 
him,  Thou  warft  al- 
together 


who  or  what  he  is,  or  from  whom  he  received  his 
pretended  authority. 

30  The  man  replied,  Why,  She,  it  is  a  furpri- 
fing  thing,  that  perfons  of  your  learning  and  fagacity 
Ihould  know  nothing  of  his  original  and  authority, 
and  yet  that  he  fnould  fo  miraculoufly  give  me  fight, 
who  was  born  blind :  'Tis  really  amazing  to  me,  that 
ye  mould  count  him  a  contemptible  ill  man,  or  mould 
fuppofe  tlu;t  he  has  no  authority  from  God. 

3 1  For  we  all,  and  efpecially  ye  our  rulers  and 
teachers,  are  well  aiTured,  that  God  thews  no  peculiar 
favour  to  wicked  men,  and  will  not  hear  their  pray- 
ers, while  they  carry  on  bafe  defigns  againft  him  ; 
much  lefs  will  he  own  impoftors  by  giving  them  a 
power  of  working  any  miracles  in  confirmation  of 
their  doctrine  :  But  if  any  man  be  a  faithful  fervant 
of  God,  doing  the  things  which  are  pleafing  in  his 
fight,  we  jullly  conclude  that  he  will  hear  and  hon- 
our him  ;  and  God's  enabling  a  perfon  to  perform 
the  greateft  of  miracles,  as  the  profeffed  credentials 
of  his  commiffion,  has  always  been  accounted  an  at- 
testation from  heaven,  that  he  is  a  holy  man,  and  a 
prophet  of  the  Lord. 

32  Now  it  is  a  wonderful  miracle  which  Jefus  has 
wrought  upon  me  ;  and  after  all  the  inquiries  I  have 
been  able  to  make,  I  could  never  hear,  that  any 
phyfician,  by  human  art,  or  that  Mofes  himfelf,  or 
any  other  of  the  prophets,  by  fupernatural  operation, 
from  the  beginning  of  the  world  to  this  day,  ever 
gave  light  to  one  who  was  born  blind,  and  continued 
perfectly  dark  till  he  arrived  to  man's  eftate. 

33  If  therefore  Jefus  were  not  a  holy  man,  and  a 
prophet  fent  from  God,  and  owned  by  him,  he  could 
never  have  done  any  miraculous  work,  much  lefs 
one  fo  extraordinary,  matchlefs,  and  merciful  as  this, 
in  confirmation  of  his  do£lrine  and  authority  :  And, 
as  far  as  I  fee;  we  muft  deny  the  divine  commifilon 
of  all  the  prophets  that  went  before  him,  if  we  difovvn 
his. 

34  The  proud  Pharifecx,  not  being  able  to  re- 
fute the  man's  dole  and  pointed  reafoning,-  nor  to 
bear  that  fuch  an  one  as  he  lhould  prcfume   in  this 

manner 
T    E. 

pofe  him.  But  the  truth  is,  they  all  did, 
or  eafily  might  know  his  human  origi- 
nal :  And  the  onfearchablenefs  of  his 
generation  as  a  73ivine  Perfon,  ivhofego- 
bigs  forth  were  of  old  from  cverlajl/ng, 
was  fo  far  from  being  an  argument  a- 
gainlt,  that  it  was  an  argument  for  Lis 
being  the  true  Mefliah. 


N  O 
man  knows  whence  he  is.  (Chap.  vii.  27. 
fee  the  note  there.)  And  here  the  Pha- 
rifces  object,  againft  him,  be  aule,  fay 
lh>  y.  we  L'7/o-u  not  from  whence  be  is  : 
Sn  that,  right  or  wrong,  his  enemies  re- 
t  ►Ived  to  run  him  down,  and,  without  a- 
ny  fcruple,  would  talk  rontradiolions  to 
ferve  a  turn,  and  affirm  or  deny  the  fame 
thing,  or  any  thing,  rather  than  not  op- 


Chap.  ix.  John  paraphrafed.  383 

together    born    in    manner  to  argue  againit.  them,  loll  all  patience,  and 
fins,  and  doft  thou   anfwered  him  with  bitter  reproaches,  and  in  a  huff, 

ceafthim?ottndthey   fayin§'  You  are  a  fllly'  rude'  and  bafe  fellow'  wh° 
have  indeed  had  an  uncommonly  blind  and  vjcious 

foul  from  your  birth  ;  and,  if  what  yon  fay  of  your- 

felf  be  true,  your  coming  into  the  world  corporally 

blind,  and  ever  iince  itrolling  about  with  loofe  and 

wicked  beggars,  has  been  a  plain  figri  and  punifh- 

ment  of  it.     And  what  !   do  you  go  about  to  difpute 

with  and  in{tru£t  us  who  are  the  guides  and  rulers  of 

the  church,  and  the  chief  men  of  the  day  for  wifdom, 

fanciity,  and  authority  ?  And  having  thus  iniulted 

and  reviled  him,  they  went  even  beyond  the   fevere 

law  which  they  had  lately  made  againft  owning  Jefns 

to  be  the  Chrift,   [yer.   22.)   and  *  excommunicated 

this  man  only  for  pleading  that  he  was  a  prophet. 

35  Jefus  heard        35  Our  Lord  hearing  that  they  had  call  the  poor 

that  they  had  caft    man  out  of  the  fynagogue  for  his  fake,  took  the  firft 

hiniout;ar.dvvhcn  opportunity  of  ieeking  after  him,    (thereby  {hewing 

he  had  round  nun,  i  r  1  1       •  1  ^11 

he  laid  unto  him  *10vv  *orvvard  he  is  to  own  and  encourage  them  that 

Doft  thou  believe  Hand  up  for  him)  and  meeting  with  him,  faid,  Do 

en     the     Son    of  you  believe  in  the  promiied  MefTiah,  who  is  the  Son 

God  ?  of  God  ? 

36  'He  anfweved  36  The  man,  glad  to  hear  of  the  Mefiiah,  repli- 
and  faid,  Who  is  ed,  with  great  earneftnefs,  Sir,  I  do  verily  believe 
he,  Lord,  that  I  tjiat  ^e  wjjj  {oon  apoear  :  and  if  he  be  already  come, 
might   believe    on  n  1  •  1    •    u  j      1         t  c   j  v.* 

1  •£  >  pra)T  te"  me  which  is  he,  and  where  1  may  rind  mm, 

that  I  may  fix  my  faith  on  him,  and  may  be  one  of 
his  difciples. 

37  And  Jefus  37  Then  Jefus  manifefted  himfelf  to  him  as  he  did 
faid  unto  him,  not  to  tjje  WOrld,  faying,  He  is  nearer  to  you  than 
Thou  haft  both  r  1!  1  ^  '  '  A  t,: 
f  h'  ad  't  you  are  aware  °*  >  y^u  nave  ah"eady  experienced  his 
is  he  that  talketh  great  power  and  goodnefs,  in  opening  the  eyes  of  your 
with  thee.               body,  and  of  your  mind  too  ;  it  is  he,  whom  you 

now  have  feen,  and  who  is  converting  with  you. 

38  And  he  faid,  38  Hereupon  the  poor  man  cried,  in  a  rapture  of 
Lord,  I  believe.  j0y,  Lord,  1  do  heartily  believe,  that  thou  art  in- 
^him  worflliP-   deed  the  Son  of  God,  and  the  only  Saviour  oilfrae/, 

who  art  come  to  open  the  eyes  of  the  blind,  and  to 
give  light  to  them  that  fit  in  darknefs  :  And  imme- 
diately, in  teftimony  of  his  faith,  he  fell  down  before 
him,  and  paid  divine  adoration  to  him,  as  his  Lord 
and  Saviour. 

D  d  d  3  39  And 

NOTE. 
*  Cqfting  out  of  the  fynagogue,  figni-  any  entrance  into  the  fynagogue,  and 
fied  excommunication/  which  was  prin-  from  all  religious  and  civil  privileges  in 
cipally  of  two  forts  among  the  "Jenvs.  the  church  and  commonwealth  of  If 
One  the  lefs,  called  Niddui,  which  fe»  rael.  Vid.  Seld.  de  Synedr.  Lib.  I.  cap, 
paratcd  the  party  from  the  congregation  vii.  And  when  it  is  faid  of  this  man, 
and  fociety  of  Ifrael  four  cubits,  for  i%t£uKov  avlov  t^u,  they  cafl  him  out,  it 
thirty  days.  The  other,  called  Cherem,  feems  as  if  it  were  by  the  greater  ex- 
tvas  the  greater,   which  excluded  from    communication. 


3*4 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  ix. 


39  And  JeSus 
faid,  For  judg- 
ment 1  am  come 
into  this  world, 
that  they  which 
fee  not,  might  lee  ; 
that  they 
which   fee,    might 

made   blind. 


39  And  Jefus,  according  to  his  cuftom  of  impro- 
ving prefent  occurrences,  faid,  I  am  come  into  the 
world  to  efcablifh  a  rule  of  judgment,  to  alter  the 
ftate  of  the  church,  to  try  men's  fpirits,  and  by  diilin- 
guiming  grace  to  feparate  the  precious  from  the  vile  : 
I  am  come,  in  the  administration  of  my  kingdom, 
to  open  not  only  men's  bodily  eyes,  but  likewife  the 
eyes  of  their  underilanding,  who  are  really  ignorant 
of  the  way  of  falvation,  and.  defirous  to  be  taught 
it  :  And  I  am  come,  on  the  other  hand,  to  prove 
them  to  be  fpiritually  blind,  and  to  feal  them  up  un- 
der their  own  ftupidity  and  perverfenefs,  who  pre- 
tend to  be  wife  enough  already,  and  therefore  obiti- 
nately  (hut  their  eyes  againll  the  light  of  my  word  : 
Meaning,  that  thus  it  would  be  with  refpect  to  par- 
ticular perfons,  Pharijees  and  others,  and  with  re- 
fpeel: to  the  nations  of  Gentiles  and  Jews, 

40  Then  fome  of  the  Pharifees,  that  were  prefent 
and  heard  this,  taking  it  as  defigned  particularly  a- 
gainil  themfelves,  and  as  a  grofs  affront  and  reflection 
upon  them,  faid  to  him,  in  a  way  of  difdain,  What, 
dare  you  fuggeit  that  we,  who  are  guides  to  the  blind, 
and  whofe  lips  preferve  knowledge,  are  as  flupidly  ig- 
norant as  the  common  people  that  know  not  the  law  ? 

41  Our  Lord  replied,  If  ye  really  were  as  ignorant, 
and  as  fenfible  of  it,  as  many  of  them  are,  ye  would, 
comparatively  fpeaking,  have  no  fin,  or  at  lead  none 
fo  heinous,  as  ye  now  have  in  defpifing  me  ;  and  ye 
would  be  in  a  hopeful  way  of  deliverance  from  all 
your  fins,  through  faith  in  me  :  But  while  ye  are  fo 
ielf-conceited,  as  to  imagine  that  ye  know  enough 
already,  and  need  no  further  inllruction,  and  fo  reject 
me,  notwithstanding  all  that  I  have  faid  and  done  a- 
mong  you,  your  fin  is  attended  with  the  higheft  'ag- 
gravations, and  ye  remain  under  its  guilt  and  power, 
Vi  ithout  any  likelihood  of  its  ever  being  removed- 

RECOLLECTIONS. 

How  cautious  fiiould  we  be  of  indulging  curiofity  about  God's  difpenfations,  and 
of  uncharitably  cenfuring  others,  becaufe  of  the  afflictions  that  befal  them  !  Though 
they  are  tinners  in  common  with  all  mankind,  they  may  be  under  no  peculiarly  ag- 
vated  guilt,  more  than  others  :  But  God  is  righteous  in  his  molt  awfirt  proceed- 
ings, and  will  turn  them  one  way  or  other  to  his  own  glory.  And  O  how  wonder- 
ful is  the  power  and  grace  of  Chrift  toward  the  unworthy  and  the  diftrefled  !  He 
prevents  them  with  the  riches  of  his  goodnefs,  and  can  eafily  work  falvation  for 
them  in  whatsoever  way  he  plcafes ;  but  they  are  to  obferve  his  own  appointments 
lor  it,  in  obedience  to  his  authority,  and  in  faith  and  hope  of  his  making  them  ef- 
tual,  whether  they  can  fee  the  reafons  oShib  oJcders,  and  their  likelihood  to  an- 
fwer  their  end,  or  not.  What  bleSfed  experience  will  he  give  fuch  fouls  of  his  pow- 
er and  mercy  !  He  will  enable  them  to  think  and  Speak  honourably  of  him,  tili  at 
length  he  will  plainly  difcover  himfelf  to  them,  and  they  lhall  be  brought  to  adore 
and  worlhip  him  ;  and  if  they  are  caft  out  of  the  favour  of  men  for  his  lake,  he  will 
t,ikc  them  into  his  Special  care,  and  deal  the  more  kindly  with  them.  Happy  fouls, 
y,  ho  were  once  blind,  but  now  fee !  How  ready  Should  tjiey  be  to  own  their  former 

deplorable 


40  And  fome 
of  the  Pharifees, 
which  were  with 
him,  heard  thefe 
words,  and  Said  un- 
to him.  Are  we 
blind  alSo  ? 


41  JeSu«;  Said  un- 
to them,  If  ye  were 
blind,  ye  Should 
have  no  fin  :  but 
now  ye  Say,  We 
fee;  therefore  your 
fin"  remaineth. 


Chap.  x. 


John  paraphrafed. 


385 


deplorable  circumftances,  and  the  wonderful  change  which  Chrift  has  made  upon 
them  '.  How  fliould  they  rejoice  in  it,  and  abide  by  their  teftimony;  to  him,  what- 
soever oppofition  and  contempt  others  may  fhew  in  difputing  againft  it !  He  will 
own  and  honour  their  words  to  the  confufion  of  his  enemies  ;  and  they  themfelves 
may  hope  to  be  ftill  further  acquainted  with  him.  But  they  who,  like  the  parents 
of  the  blind  man,  are  afraid  and  fliy  of  owning  what  they  believe  concerning  Chrift, 
have  no  room  to  think  that  he  will  own  them.  And  O  how  inexcusable  and  dread- 
ful is  their  condition,  whole  hearts  are  filled  with  enmity  againft  him,  notwithstand- 
ing the  plainelt  teitimonies  that  are  given  to  him,  and  who,  under  pretence  of  fa- 
cred  zeal  for  fuperftitious  rites,  and  of  giving  all  glory  to  God,  upbraid  the  bleffed 
Saviour  himfelf  !  Though  they  may  be  filenced,  they  are  never  latistied  :  And  the 
higher  evidence  they  receive,  the  more  they  are  enraged:  What  r.an  be  expected, 
but  that  they  fhould  be  delivered  up  by  the  righteous  God  to  judicial  bllndnefs! 
And  the  higher  opinion  they  have  of  their  own  understandings,  the  greater  is  their 
guilt,  and  their  danger  of  never  being  enlightened  in  the  things  that  belong  to 
their  everlafting  peace.  Eut  what  encouraging  ground  of  hope  is  there  for  thole 
that  are  truly  feniible  of  their  own  ignorance,  and  need  of  inftruction  !  Jems,  ac- 
cording to  ancient  prophecies  of  the  Meffiah,  is  come  to  open  their  blind  eyes,  and 
to  give  them  the  knowledge  of  himfelf:  And  they,  being  rnlightened  by  him, 
fliould,  after  his  example,  be  working  for  God,  while  their  capacities,  opportuni- 
ties, and  lives  are  continued,  doing  all  that  in  them  lies  for  his  glory,  and  the  good, 
of  others,  before  the  night  of  death  comes,  which  will  put  an  end  to  all  their  fer- 
vices,  as  well  as  furlerings,  in  this  worid  j  and  then  the  places  that  know  them  now, 
fliall  know  them  no  more. 


CHAP.1      X. 

Chrift  the  door  and  the  fhepherd  of  the  jheep,  1, — 18.  Different  opi- 
nions of  the  people  concerning  hiniy  19, —  2E.  His  difputes  with 
the  Jews  about  his  being  the  Chri/l,  and  equal  with  God,  22,—- 
38.  His  efc aping  their  fury,  and  returning  back  beyond  Jordan, 
39»— 42. 


Text. 
"yEPvILY,  verily, 
I  fay  unto  you, 
He  that  entereth 
not  by  the  door  in- 
to the  fheep-fold, 
but  climbeth  up 
fome  other  way, 
the  iame  is  a  thief 
and  a  robber. 


Paraphrase. 
/^\UR  blcfTed  Saviour  having  reproved  the  Phari- 
^-S  fees  as  blind  guides,  while  they  boafled  of  their 
knowledge  and  fkill  in  the  law,  [chap.  ix.  39, — 41.) 
warned  the  people,  in  a  parabolical  way,  againft 
thefe  and  all  fuch  conceited  falfe  teachers,  and  di- 
rected them  to  himfelf,  who  had  been  traduced  as  an 
impoftor.  I,  faid  he,  the  Amen,  the  faithful  and 
true  Witnefs,  folemnly  aflure  yen,  that  as  a  man, 
who  does  not  go  in  at  the  door  of  a  iheepfold,  but 
climbs  over  the  fence,  is  juflly  deemed  a  thief,  that 
comes  to  Ileal  away,  and  deitroy  the  iheep  :  So  all 
that  pretend  to  be  pallors  of  the  flock  of  God, 
which  he  gathers  into  his  church,  as  his  fold,  and 
do  not  come  into  that  office  according  to  his  appoint- 
ment, but  by  methods  of  their  own  devifing;  all  thefe 
are  intruders  and  feducers,  who,  inftead  of  feeding 
and  taking  care  of  the  fheep,  come  to  rob  God  of  his 
authority  over  them,  and  property  in  them,  and  to 
pervert  and  deilroy  their  fouls, 

2  But 


386 

%  But  lie  that 
entereth  in  by  the 
.door,  is  the  lhep- 
herd  of  the  flicep. 


The  Evangelift 


Chap. 


x< 


,"  To  him  the 
porter  openeth  ; 
and  the  fheep  hear 
his  voice  :  and  he 
calleth  his  own 
fheep  by  name, 
and  leadeth  them 
out. 


4  And  when  he 
putteth  forth  his 
own  fheep,  he  go- 
eth  before  them, 
and  the  fheep  fol- 
low him  :  for  they 
know  his  voice. 


5  And  a  ftran- 
j(:r  will  they  not 
follow,  but  will 
fiee  from  him  :  for 
they  know  not  the 
voice  of  ftrangers. 


*  As  fome  refer 
pniniftring  fervants, 


2  But  as  a  man,  who  regularly  goes  in  at  the  door 
of  the  fheepfold,  to  manage  the  fheep,  is  to  be  e- 
fleemed  as  their  real  fhepherd  :  So  he,  who  with  right 
principles  and  ends,  and  in  the  method  of  God's  ap- 
pointment, enters  upon  the  work  of  feeding  and  guid- 
ing the  church,  and  leading  them  into  the  only  true 
way  of  falvation,  is  qualified,  and  has  a  right  to  be 
their  pallor  ;  and  he  will  take  care  of  them,  who 
may  fitly  be  compared  to  fheep,  as  they  are  a  pecu- 
liar property,  a  dear  charge  and  living  treafure  ;  and 
as  they  are  cleanly  and  tractable,  meek  and  patient, 
harmlefs  and  cautious,  timorous  and  expofed,  and  yet 
focial  and  ufeful  creatures. 

3  As  the  door  keeper  gives  ready  admiffion  to  the 
fhepherd,  and  his  fheep  are  acquainted  with  his  voice, 
who  calls  them  by  their  feveral  names,  and  leads  them 
out  to  the  paflure  :  So  God  gives  all  authority  to  the 
true  Shepherd,  and  by  his  Spirit,  and  the  miniftry 
of  his  fervants,  opens  the  hearts  of  his  people  to  re- 
ceive him  *  ;  and  they  are  taught  to  underfland  and 
diftinguifh  his  voice  in  the  gofpel  :  And,  being  his 
peculiar  charge  and  property,  he  calls  them  by  grace, 
one  after  another,  as  particularly  as  if  it  were  by 
name  ;  and  then  leads  them '  into  the  good  paflure, 
which  he  has  provided  for  them  in  his  word  and  ordi- 
nances. 

4  And  as  when  the  fhepherd  brings  forth  his  fheep, 
he,  according  to  the  cuflom  of  thefe  eaflern  nations, 
walks  before  them,  and  they  go  after  him,  and  arc 
governed  by  him,  becaufe  they  are  acquainted  with 
his  voice  :  So  when  the  great  Shepherd  leads  his  own 
fheep  in  paths  of  righteoufnefs,  for  their  fpiritual 
food  and  refrefhment,  he  fhews  them  the  way  they 
fhould  go,  by  his  own  inflruction  and  example,  and 
they  willingly  yield  themfelves  up  to  his  authority, 
and  tread  in  his  Heps,  becaufe  they  underlland  and 
approve  of  his  teachings,  and  can  diftinguifh  them 
from  all  others. 

5  But  (oi)  as  the  fheep  will  not  go  out  after  a 
ftrange  man,  but,  on  the  contrary,  will  run  away 
from  him,  becaufe  they  are  unacquainted  with  his 
voice,  he  being  a  ftranger  to  them  :  So  the  people  of 
God,  who  are  chofen  and  called  to  be  the  fheep  of 
his  paflure,  will  by  no  means  be  prevailed  upon  to 
hearken  and  adhere  to  the  unfcriptural  doctrines,  and 
bad  example  of  uncommiflioned  falfe  teachers,  that 
would  pervert  them  ;  but  will  be  upon  their  guard, 
and  keep  at  the  utmofl  diflance  from  them,  becaufe 

they 
NOTE. 
this  to  God  the  Father,  others  to  his  Spirit,    2nd  others  to  his 
I  have  taken  them  ail  into  the  paraphrafe. 


Chap.  x. 


John  paraphrafed. 


387 


they  perceive  that  their  corrupt  principles  and  prac- 
tices do  not  lead  them  into  the  right  way  of  falvation. 
6  This   parable        6  The  blefTed  Jefus  delivered  himfelf  in  this  para- 
fpake    Je.ius   unto   bolical  {train  to  the  Pbarifees,  defigning  thereby  to 

the,m  ''    b,ut    thejr    fet  forth  his  own  authority,  and  to  overthrow  theirs, 
underftood  not  ,  .  .      .  r   ..    Jl  ,  ,. 

what  things  they   together  with  that  or  all  other  corrupt  teachers  :   r>ut 

were     which      he 
fpake   unto   them. 

themfelves,  and  prejudifed  againll  him,  they  did  not 
take  in  the  drift  of  his  difcourfe. 

7  Then  our  Lord  further  added,  I,  who  am  faith- 
ful and  true,  aflure  you,  that  I  am  the  door  of  falva- 
tion, and  of  God's  fheepfold ;  the  only  way  to  eter- 


as  he  had  not  given  a  particular  explication  of  his 
meaning,    and  they  were  extremely  opinionated  of 


7  Then  faid  Je- 
ius unto  them  a- 
gain.  Verily,  veri- 
ly, I  fay  unto  you, 


I    am 

the  flieep. 


the  door  of  nal  hTe,  and  the  only  one,  by  whom  minirlers  and 


S  All  that  ever 
came  before  me 
are  thieves  and 
robbers :  but  the 
lheep  did  not  hear 
them. 


9  I  am  the  door: 
by  me  if  any  man 
enter  in,  he  mail  be 
faved,  and  fhall  go 
in  and  out,  and  find 
pafture. 


10  The  thief 
cometh  not  but  for 
to  Ileal,  and  to  kill, 
and  to  deltroy  :  I 
am  come  that  they 
might  have  life, 
and 


people  can  have  admiffion  into  the  gofpel-church, 
that  the  one  may  have  authority  to  exercife  office- 
power  in  it,  a^fd  the  other  may  be  partakers  of  its 
fpiritual  privileges  and  faving  benefits. 

8  All  that  have  arifen  before  me,  with  pretences 
to  the  Meffiah's  character ;  and  all    that,    like    the 

fcribes  and  Pharifees,  endeavour  to  prejudife  their 
own,  and  other  people's  minds  againit  me,  and  to 
teach  other  methods  of  falvation  than  by  me  *,  are 
no  better  than  invaders  of  an  office  which  they  have 
no  right  to,  and  robbers  of  my  Father  and  me  of  our 
honour  and  our  due,  an^  deltroyers  of  men's  fouls  : 
But  the  elect  and  called  of  God  were  not  deceived 
by  them,  fo  as  to  be  drawn  into  perdition  by  the  er- 
ror of  thofe  wicked  ones  ;  nor  could  they  find  any 
fatisfadtion  in  following  them. 

9  I  infill  upon  it,  as  a  matter  of  the  greateft  im- 
portance, that  I  am  the  only  true  door  of  the  church, 
and  of  eternal  life  :  Whoever  enters  upon  religion  by 
faith  in  me,  as  the  only  Saviour,  fhall  certainly  be  de- 
fended againit  the  deitroying  power  of  all  his  fpiri- 
tual enemies,  fhall  be  delivered  from  the  wrath  to 
come,  and  fliall  obtain  eternal  bleflednefs  ;  and,  while 
he  is  in  this  world,  he,  under  the  conduct  of  my 
word  and  Spirit,  fhall  go  to  and  from  divine  ordi- 
nances, and  poffefs  a  holy  liberty  in  them,  and  fhall 
find  fpiritual  fupport,  nourifnment,  and  refrefhment 
to  his  foul  by  their  means. 

10  On  the  other  hand,  the  falfe  teacher,  who- 
vents  pernicious  errors,  and  has  no  commiffion  from 
God,  comes  only  to  feduce  my  fheep,  and  ileal  away 
their  hearts  from  me,  that  he  may  make  a  prey  of 
them,  to  the  murdering  and  ruining  of  their  fouls, 


or 


NOTE. 

*  This  cannot  be  meant  of  the  holy  prophets,  and  John  the  Bapti/I,  who  pre- 
ceded Chrift  in  their  miniftry-;  for  they  were  fent  of  Cod.  to  their,  work,  were 
faithful  in  it,  and  fpofce  of  Quilt  as  the  only  Saviour, 


388 


The  EvangeBft 


Chap.  x. 


and  that  they 
might  have  U  more 
abundantly* 


ii  I  am  the  good 
fhepherd :  the  good 
lhepherd  giveth  his 
life  for  the  (beep. 


12   But  he  that 
is 


or  that,  if  be  cannot  carry  them  off  from  me,  he  may 
plunder  and  perfecute  them  even  to  the  death.  But 
I  am  come  into  the  world  to  fhevv  them  the  way  of 
obtaining  a  fpiritual  and  immortal  life,  to  purchafe 
it  for  them,  and  to  give  it  to  them,  that  they  may 
have  it  with  more  abundant  evidence  than  it  ever  was 
revealed  before,  with  more  abundant  coft  to  myfelf, 
and  glory  to  my  Father,  and  with  more  abundant 
excellence,  eminence,  and  fecurity  to  themfelves,  than 
can  be  faid  of  the  long  life  of  profperity  that  was  pro- 
mifed  to  Ifrael  in  the  land  of  Canaan,  or  even  of  the 
happy  life  that  man  enjoyed  in  Paradife  ;  and  I  am 
come  that  they  may  have  it  more  abundantly  than 
they  deferved,  or  could  have  expected,  or  were  able 
to  afk  or  think,  (»#<  7?t£i<r<rov  ly^oxriv)  even  with  an  o- 
verplus  of  the  higher!  honour,  advantage,  and  delight 
for  ever,  which  is  much  more  than  barely  living. 

1 1  Yea,  I  am  not  only  the  door  of  entrance,  but 
am  likewife,  by  way  of  eminence*,  the  good  Shep- 
herd, who  am  abfolutely  fo,  and  the  beft  of  all  others, 
even  that  great  Shepherd  of  the  fheep,  who  was 
fpoken  of  in  the  prophets  j  (Ifa.  xl.  10,  II.  and 
K%eh.  xxxiv.  23.)  and  who  lead  and  guide,  defend 
and  fave  my  flock  ;  I  am  not  only  ready  to  undergo 
hardships,  and  expofe  myfelf  to  dangers  for  their  fake, 
as  'Jacob,  didj^or  the  love  he  had  to  Rachel,  (Gen. 
xxix.  20.)  and  as  David  did  to  refcue  his  lambs  from 
the  lion  and  the  bear  ;  (1  Sam.  xvii.  34.)  but  I  a'm 
freely  willing  to  f  lay  down  my  own  life  for  theirs, 
by  dying  in  their  room  and  Head,  and  fo  give  my 
foul  for  theirs,  by  making  it  an  offering  for  fin,  that 
they  may  live  for  ever. 

12  But,   on   the   contrary,   whoever  takes   upon 

him 
NOTES. 

which  it  was  peculiar  to  God,  he  fays 
emphatically,  I  am  the  good  Shepherd, 
in  a  way  of  Angularity,  and  of  preference 
to  all  others  whatfoever. 


*  Though  our  Lord  rebuked  one  for 
calling  him  good  Maflcr,  while  he  took 
him  to  be  no  more  than  a  man,  faying, 
Why  callefl  thou  mc  good  ?  There  is  none 
good  but  one,  that  is  God.  Matt.  xix. 
1 6,  17.  Yet  here  he  alfumes  this  title 
of  goodnefs  to  himfelf,  to  intimate  that 
it  is  really  his  due,  and  that  he  is  the  God 
who  alone  is  abfolutely  good  :  For  the 
good  Shepherd  is  as  high  and  divine  a 
title,  as  good  JMqflcr  can  be  fuppofed  to 
be  ;  and  as  Chrift  claims  the  full,  he  un- 
doubtedly has  an  equal  right  to  the  laft: 
And  as  God  in  the  Old  Teftament  is 
fpoken  of  by  way  of  eminence,  as  the 
fhepherd  of  Ifrael ;  fo  Chrift  here  fpeaks 
of  himfelf  under  that  relation  to  his  peo- 
ple, with  the  additional  epithet  of  good  : 
And  to  mew  that  he  did  this  in  the 
naoft  eminent  frnfe  of  the  expreflion,  in 


f  ^Yv^rv  ™8»<nv  wxiq  tuv  ispaGxIav, 
gives  his  life  for  the  fheep-  anfwers  to 
what    was    prophefied    of   the    Mefliah, 

{lfa.  liii.  10.)  WS3  D£'K  CH£T>  DK 
When  his  fouljhall  make  an  offering  for 
Jin  :  And  Chritt's  fpeaking  here  of  laying 
down  his  own  human  foul,  as  a  facrifice 
for  fin,  intimates  that  he,  as  Lord  ofhinw 
fell",  religned  it  unto  fufferings,  accord- 
ing to  his  Father's  will,  in  a  way  of  fub- 
ftitution,  in  the  room  and  ftead  of  his 
fheep,  when  he  gave  his  life,  or  foul,  a 
ranfom  for  many,  (^u;t"v  ewlvhvleoit  <*»7* 


Chap.  x. 


John  paraphrafed. 


389 


is  an  hireling,  and   him  the  paftoral  office,  with  felfifh  worldly  views*, 

not  the  fliepherd,   ancj  has  not  a  real  affectionate  concern,  like  that  which 

wioe    ov*'n        e   ^     owner  has  for  his  fheep  ;  when  at  any  time  he 
flieep  are  not,  iceth     *  »•■•»_     1  r  i 

the  wolf  comino-    »mds  an  enemy  approaching,  with  the  crart,  or  the 

and    leaveth    the   fury  and  cruelty  of  wolves,  to  break  in  upon  the  flock, 

fheep,  and  fleeth;    Dy  pernicious  errors,  of  violent  persecutions,  he,  in- 

"   Mead  of  hazarding  his  own  life,  reputation,  or  fecular 

interefts,   for  their  defence,   will   quit  hij   poil,   fly 

from  the  danger,  and  leave  them  to  fhift  for  them- 

felves  ;  and  fo  the  enemy  worries  and  tears,  perverts 

and   oppreffes   them,    and   makes   an   eafy   prey    of 

them. 


eth  them,  andfcat- 
tereth  the  fheep. 


13  The  hireling 
fleeth,  becaufe  he 
is  an  hireling,  and 
careth  not  for  the 
flieep. 


14  I  am  the 
good  Ihepherd,  and 
know  my  //seep, 
and  ani  known  of 
mine. 


13  And  the  true  reafon  why  fuch  a  mercenary 
felfifh  pretender  to  this  facred  office  thus  deferts  them, 
in  a  time  of  the  greateil  need  and  danger,  is,  becaufe 
he  entered  upon  it  merely  for  iecular  advantage,  and 
does  not  care  what  becomes  of  the  ipiritual  and  eter- 
nal intereits  of  thole  that  were  under  his  charge. 

14  I  fay  then,  that  I  am,  by  way  of  eminence, 
the  good  Shepherd,  in  oppofition  to  fuch  an  intru- 
der, yea,  and  in  preference  to  the  beil  of  under  (hep- 
herds  ;  and  (ytv&fKw  r«.  sua)  I  have  a  particular  exact 
knowledge  of  all  that  are  my  peculiar  property  by 
my  Father's  gift,  and  my  own  purchafe,  and  by  their 
own  free  confent,  who  have  already  given  them  felves 
up  to  me  ;  they  are  ail  under  mine  eye,  and  I  obferve 
them  with  -j-  a  tender  regard  and  fpecial  care,  that 
no  enemy  may  deitroy  them  :  And,  in  confequence 
of  this,  I  am  the  obie6r.  of  their  notice  and  obferva- 
tion  ;  they  have  a  diiHnguifhing  knowledge  of  me 
and  my  dodlrine,  and  they  fiducially  and  affectionately 
embrace  me,  and  hearken  to  it. 

15  In  this  manner  I  know  them,  and  am  known 
God  the  Father  has  a  perfect 

knowledge 


15   As   the   Fa- 
ther knoweth  rne,    by  {fem  -j-  .   even  as 


NOTES. 


*  The  hireling  cannot  mean  fuch  faith- 
ful ministers  as  the  Lord  has  ordained  to 
live  of  'the  go/pel,  (1  Cor.  ix.  14.)  but  it 
relates  to  fuch  foolifh  and  idol  fhepherds 
as  are  prophefied  of,   Zech.  xi.   15, — 17. 


know  a  wicked  per/on  ;  and  Matth.  vii. 
23.  /  never  knew  you  :  At  other  times 
it  is  put  for  a  fiducial  knowledge,  as  in 
If  a.  liii.  ir.  By  his  knowledge,  or  the 
knowledge  of  him,  fhall  my  righteous 


And  though  what  Chrift  here  fays  about  fervant  juftify  many  ;  and  John  xvii  3. 
them  is  juftly  applicable  to  all  worldly-  This  is  life  eternal,  that  they  might 
minded  preachers,  that  regard  the  fleece  know  thee,  &.c.  The  firft  of  thefe  ien- 
more  than  the,  flock  ;  yet  he  feems  parti-  fes  is  to  be  taken  into  ChriftS  know- 
cularly  to  point  at  the  fcribet  and  Pbari-  ledge  of  his  flieep  ;  and  both  fenl'es  are 
fees:  Accordingly  the  wolf  will  fignify  included  in  their  knowledge  of  him; 
any  enemy,  who  by  fraud,  or  force,  at-  and  there  i<;  a  mutual  confidence,  asweil 


tacks  the  Chriftian's  faith,   liberty,  or 
life. 

f  Knowledge  is  often  put  in  fcripture 
for  an  approving  knowledge  ;  as  in  Pfal. 

i.  6.    The  Lord  knoweth  the  way  of  the    the  following  verfe. 
righteous ;  and  Pfal,  ci.  4.  /  will  not       }    The   coiiftruction  ef  thefe  word 

Vol.  IL  E  e  e  ***« 


as  affection,  to  be  confiden-d  in  the 
knowledge,  that  the  Father  and  Son 
have  of  each  other  :  Accordingly  I  have 
taken  in  all  thefe  meanings  in  this  and 


39° 

even  fo  know  I  the 
Father  ;  and  I  lay 
down  my  life  for 
*he  flieqi. 


The  Evangelift 


Chap,  x, 


and  there  fhall  be 
©ne  fold,  and  one 
Aepberd. 


knowledge  of  me,  and  an  entire  affe&ion  to,  and  con- 
fidence in  me,  as  one  that  will  faithfully  difcharge 
the  office  of  a  good  fhepherd  toward  them,  and  as  I 
myfelf  am  fully  acquainted  with  him  and  his  coun- 
fels,  heartily  love  him,  and  delight  to  do  his  will, 
and  am  confident  of  his.  owning  me  in  ray  work  : 
And  fuch  is  my  love  to  my  Father  and  my  fheep, 
that  1  am  freely  willing  and  ready  to  lay  down  my 
life  in  their  itead,  that  they  may  not  die  eternally. 
1 6    And    other        16  And  as  I  have  already  taken  poffefiion  of  fome 
flieep  I  have,  which   Qf  th         and  there  are  for]  more  to  fce  effeaually  call- 
are  not  of  this  fold:       •,  r  .i_     <*  c    Ai  .1 
the      alfo  I  muft   e     *rom  among  the  Jews  ;  lo  there  are  many  others 

bring,  and  they  that  the  Father  has  given  me  among  the  Gentiles ,  who 
fnalihearmy  voice;  at  prefent  are  Jirangers  from  the  commonwea/th  of 
Ifrael,  and  from  the  covenants  of  promife  ;  (Eph. 
ii.  12.)  thefe  alfo  I  muft  fearch  and  find  out,  and 
bring  back  to  God,  in  faithfulnefs  to  my  engage- 
ments for  them,  and  in  jultice  to  my  purchaie  of  them; 
and  they  fhall  certainly,  in  due  time,  hear  my  voice 
in  the  miniilry  of  the  word,  and  be  prevailed  upon 
by  my  Spirit  to  attend  to  it :  And,  being  grafted 
in  by  faith  with  the  believing  Jews,  they  fhall  make 
one  church  with  them,  as  perfons  united  together  in 
the  fame  faith  and  love,  worfhip  and  obedience,  in 
the  fame  holy  fellowship  and  profefiion,  and  in  a  par- 
ticipation of  the  fame  fpirit,  and  of  the  fame  blefs- 
ings  and  privileges  of  the  gofpel,  under  my  care  and 
guidance,  influence  and  government,  as  the  one  Shep- 
herd Ipoken  of  in  ancient  prophecy.      (Ezek,  xxxiv. 

23') 

1 7  This  work  is  fo  agreeable  to  my  Father's  will, 

that,  befides  his  infinite  love  to  me  as  his  only  begot- 
ten Son,  he  has  likewife  a  peculiar  affection  to,  and 
that  I  might  take'   delight  in  me,  becaufe  fuch  is  my  love  to  the  fheep, 
it  again.  whom  he  loves,  and  fuch  my  zeal  for  the  manifeftation 

of  his  glory  in  their  falvation,  that  I  cheerfully  lay 
down  my  Life  for  the  expiation  of  their  offences,  * 
to  this  end  that  (tvu)  I  might  rife  again  for  their  juf- 
titication. 
No  man  ta-        18   No  man  is  able, 


17  Therefore 
cloth  my  Father 
love  me,  becaufe  I 
lay  down  my  life, 


keth 
but  I 


by  ftnrtagem  or  force,  to  de- 


1  me,  prfve  me  cf  my  b*fe,   without  my  own  confent  :  but 


of  myfelf 


lay  it   down 


I  have 
power 


xaBu;  yiixtry.et  fit  0  •ara7np  xayv  ytvja*.a 
tov  cra7«f«,  is,  a.r  the  Yathcr  kttOwetb 
me,  and  I  know  the  Father  ;  and  fo  they 
refer  to  the  foregoing  verfe,  and  are  an  il- 
lufhation  of  the  knowledge  that  is  be- 
tween Chrift  and  his  fheep,  and  an  inti- 
aiatiyn  that  it  is  owing  to  that  knowledge 


I  voluntarily  lay  it  down,  as  mine  own  free  a£t  and 
deed  :    I  have  an  original  power  and  right  in  my- 
felf, 
NOTES. 

which  his  Father  has  of  him,  and  he  has 
of  the  Father,  with  regard  to  his  office 
of  a  fhepherd  to  them. 

*  I  think  the  connection  of  this  verfe, 
and  the  ufe  of  thefe  phrafes  in  other 
parts  of  fcripture,  fufficiently  juftify  this 
fenfe. 


Chap.  x. 

power  to  lay  it 
down,  and  I  have 
power  to  take  it  a- 
gain.  This  com- 
mandment have  I 
received  of  my  Fa- 
ther. 

19  There  was  a 
divifion  therefore 
again  among  the 
Jews  for  thefe  fay- 
ings. 

20  And  many 
ef  them  faid,  He 
hath  a  devil,  and 
is  mad  ;  why  hear 
ye  him  ? 


2C  Others  faid, 
Thefe  are  not  the 
words  of  him  that 
hath  a  devil  :  can 
a  devil  open  the 
eyes  of  the  b-Iind  i 


tt  And  it  was 
at  Jerufalem  the 
feaft  of  the  dedica- 
tion,   and    it   was 

winter. 

23  And 


John  paraphrafed.  391 

felf,  both  to  depofit  it  as  a  ranfom,  (i%i<rtxv  ly^u  ktvca 
ccvrviv)  and  to  re-affume  it  after  fatisfadtion  is  made  by- 
it  :  And  as  my  Father  has  *  ordered  me,  in  the  qua- 
lity of  a  fhepherd,  to  die  for  the  redemption  of  the 
fheep,  I  readily  yield  obedience  to  his  will  therein. 

19  Upon  our  Lord's  faying  thefe  things,  the  Jews 
were  mightily  divided  in  their  opinions  among  them- 
felves,  and  went  into  warm  debates  about  him,  as 
they  had  once  and  again  before,  (chap.  vii.  43.  and  ix. 
16.)  and  as  he  foretold  they  would.     (  Luke  xii.  51.) 

20  Many  of  the  company  cried  out  with  rage  a- 
aginft  him,  faying,  in  a  propuiane  and  blafphemous 
manner,  The  devil  is  in  this  man,  and  he  is  certain- 
ly out  of  his  wits '.  Why  are  ye  fo  filly  as  to  mind 
him  ?  or  how  can  ye  have  patience  to  hear  what  he 
fays  ? 

2 1  On  the  contrary,  others  that  were  well  affected 
toward  him,  believing  him  at  leaft  to  be  a  fober  and 
holy  man,  faid,  The  nature  of  his  doctrine,  and  the 
manner  .of  his  talking,  as  well  as  the  wonderful  things 
he  does,  plainly  fhew  that  he  is  no  demoniac.  Who 
can  imagine  that  it  is  the  work  of  a  devil  to  give 
light  to  fuch  as  were  born  blind?  (Chap.  ix.  32.) 
No,  no,  A  devil  neither  would,  nor  could  do  this  : 
It  mull  be  owing  to  the  almighty  power  of  God. 

22,  23   Now  (oi)  thefe  things  paffed  at  Jerufa lent 
at  the  time  of  a. yearly  folemnity,  which  was  obfer- 
vcd  for  eight  days  together  by  the  Jews,  in  remem- 
brance of  Judas  Maccabeus''^  f  dedicating  a  new  al- 
E  e  e  2  tar 

NOTES. 

other  was  in  the  month  Adar,  (E^ra  vi. 
15,  bV.)  which  was  at  the  beginning  of 
the  fpring  ;  whereas  this  was  in  winter, 
and  fo  evidently  related  to  the  dedica- 
tion of  the  altar  and  temple  by  Judas 
Maccabeus,  who  appointed  an  annual 
feftival,  in  commemoration  of  it,  to  be- 
gin on  the  twenty-fifth  day  of  the  month 
Cifleu,  which  was  •about  our  December; 
an  account  of  which  we  have  at  large, 
I  Maccab.  iv.  18, — 59,   and  2  Maccab. 


*  Chrift's  receiving  this  commandment 
from  his  Father,  is  not  to  be  confidered 
as  the  ground  of  his  having  power  to  lay 
down  his  life,  and  to  take  it  again  ;  for 
this  he  had  in  himfelf,  as  Lord  of  his 
Own  life,  who  had  an  original  right  to 
difpofe  of  it  as  he  pleafed,  antecedent  to 
the  Father's  command  :  But  this  com- 
mandment was  the  reafon  why  he  thus 
vfed  his  power  in  laying  down  his  life  ; 
He  did  it  in  obedience  to  his  Father;  for 


he    willingly  accepted   this   command-    x.   1, — 3.     This  was  not  an  ordinance  of 
orient,  t»*  cv7ox»v  i\a€ov  as  he  delighted 
to  do  his  Father's  will  herein,  (Pfal.  xl. 
8.)  and  therefore  his  Father  loved  himy 
as  he  hath  faid,   (per.  17.) 

f  This  feaft  did  not  relate  to  the  de- 
dication of  the  temple  by  Solomon,  nor 
to  that  which  was  made  upon  its  being 
rebuilt  by  Zerubbabel :  For  there  was 
no  anniverfary-feftival  appointed  for  ei- 
ther of  thefe  ;  and  the  firft  of  them  was 
in  the  month  Ethanim,  the  feventh 
month,  (1  Kings  viii.  2.)  which  was  in 
autumn,  about  our  September-  and  the 


divine  inflitution,  nor  was  the  obferva- 
tion  of  it  confined  to  Jerufalem  ;  but  it 
was  a  civil  appointment,  in  remem- 
brance of  this  dedication,  as  the  feaft  of 
Purim  was  in  remembrance  ot  the  Jenvs 
deliverance  from  Human'1'*  conspiracy, 
(Eflh.  ix.  28.)  And  therefore  Chrift 
ch'ofe  to  be  at  Jerufalem  then,  not  i* 
honour  of  the  days  themfelves,  or  to  give 
a  fanction  to  them  as  facred  time  ;  for 
had  he  been  fo  minded,  he  might  have 
obferved  them  any  where  elfe,  as  well 
as  at  Jerufalem  :.  JJut  he  umc  thither 

»t 


392 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  x. 


23   And    Jefus"  tar  to  the  Lord,  and  cleanfing  the  temple,  after  they 
walked  in  the  tern-   }ia(j  been  profaned  by  Antiochus.      And  this  being 

pie    in    Solomon's    •    .  .  •   .      r  „f  ~         1  •  u  ■        ■    ~    j-  r 

in  the  wmter-iealon,  which,  was  incommodious   tor 

walking  abroad,  Jefus  took  a  turn  among  the  peo- 
ple, who  were  got  together,  under  covert,  in  a  porch 
which  was  built,  where  one  that  was  very  lump- 
tuous  formerly  Hood  in  the  firft  temple,  and  there- 
fore was  called  Solomon's  porch  *. 
^  24  Ihen  came  24  Whilft  our  Lord  was  walking  there,  fome  of 
tat  fata,  ^faid  the  7ews  hrrounding  him,  and  designing  to  infult 
unto  him,  How  9nd  en f  11  are  him,  rather  than  to  be  fatished  about 
him,  /aid,  How  long  will  you. continue  to  keep  us 
in  fufpenfe,  by  talking  ambiguoufly  and  figuratively 
of  yourfelf,  as  the  door  of  the  fheep,  and  the  good 
fhepherd,  and  the  like  ?  If  you  be.  indeed  anointed  of 
God  to  the  Meffiah's  office,  as  you  feem  to  intimate, 
do  not  be  afraid  to  fpeak  out ;  but  tell  us  in  fo  many 
words  freely  and  boldly.   (Tra^na) 

25  Jefus,  knowing  their  crafty  and  malicious  de- 
fign,  replied,  I  have  faid  in  plain  terms  what  amounts 
to  the  ltrongeft  declarations  of  my  being  the  Chriit ; 
[chap.  v.  20, — 29.)  and  yet  fuch  is  your  perverft- 
nefs  and  infidelity,  that  ye  will  give  no  manner  of 
credit  to  me  :  And  I  have  not  only  faid  this,  but 
have  clearly  demonstrated  it  by  the  divine  and  miracu- 
lous works,  which  I  have  wrought  according  to,  and 
in  confirmation  of  my  commiffion  from  the  Father. 

26  But,  after  all,  ye  Hill  continue  to  reject  me  by 
unbelief;  and  ye  would  do  fo,  whatfoever  plain  de* 


long  tlott  thou 
make  us  to  doubt  ? 
If  thou  be  the 
Chrift,  tell  us  plain- 


25  Jefus  anfwer- 
cdthem,  I  told  you, 
and  ye  believed 
not :  the  works 
that  I  do  in  my 
Father'sname.they 
bear  witneisof  me. 


26  $ut  ye  be- 
lieve not  ;  becaufe 
ye  are  not  of  my 
iheep,  as  I  laid  un- 
to you. 


clarations  and  demonftrations  I  were  further  to  give 
you  :  For,  as  I  know,  and  the  event  proves,  ye  are 
none  of  my  f  fheep,  whom  the  Father  has  given  me, 
and  who,  being  drawn  by*  the  power  of  his  effectual 
grace,  Jhall come  to  me,  as  I  told  you.     {Chap.  vi. 

56>  37-) 

27  According 

NOTES. 

are  of  this  excellent  temper,  he  would 
rather  have  faid  of  thefe  peribns,  that 
they  had  not  this  good  difpofition,  be- 
caufe they  did  not  believe,  than  that, 
they  did  not  believe,  becaufe  the  tem- 
per of  fheep  was  not  found"  in  them, 
their  Sabbath,    after  the  obligation  of  And  therefore  I  take  the  fheep  to  mean 


at  this  time,  that  he  might  take  the  op- 
portunity of  preaching  to  the  people, 
who  were  then  arlembled  in  great  num- 
bers at  Jerufalem  ;  as  the  apoflles  after- 
wards did  tor  the  like  purpofe,  when 
they  went  to  the  Jenvs  fynagogues  on 


keeping  a  holy  Sabbath  to  the  Lord, 
v/a*  transferred  from  the  feventh  to  the 
firft  day  of  the  week. 

*  Some  have  thought  that  the  Jenvifb 
fanhedrim  held  their  court,  and  were 
then  fitting  in  this  porch. 

f  As  every  good  and  holy,  humble 
and  teachable  difpofition  is  the  fruit  of 


God's  elect,  who  were  from  ail  eternity- 
given  to  Chrift,  and,  in  confequence  of 
tl^at,  are  in  due  time  drawn  to  him  ; 
and  our  bleffed  Lord,  who  was  privy  to 
his  Father's  counfel,  knowing  that  thefe, 
perfons  were  none  of  that  number,  men- 
tioned it  as  ;i  rcafon  to  fhew,  that,  be- 
ing left  to  themfelves,  they  would  never 


i'ruth  :  So  if  by  fliei  p,  as  fome  would  un-    believe  in  him,  rather  than  as  the  cavfs 
dciftand  it,  our  Lord  here  meant  fuch  as   of  their  not  believing. 


Chap.  x.  John  paraphrafed.  393 

27    My    fheep  27   According  to  what  I  then  faid,  all  that  were 

hear  my  voice,  and  by  the  Father's  gift  made  my  peculiar  property,  truft, 

I  know  them,  and  an(]  treafure,  do,  in  the  day  of  my  bringing  them 

ihey  follow  mc.:  back    tQ    Qq^    ^    ^    ^nd    ^    dittinguiftl> 

prize,  and  willingly  obey  the  voice  of  my  word  and 
Spirit  ;  and  I  diltinctly  know,  obferve,  and  love  every 
one  of  them,  and  they  readily  follow  my  inftmftion 
and  example  as  their  great  Shepherd,  who  go  before 
them  to  lead  them  in  paths  of  righteoufnefs. 

28  And  T  give        28  And  I  freely  give  unto  them  a  fure  right  and 

unto  them  eternal  ^  to  an  evcrlafting  ftate  of  all  poffible  happinefs 
hie,  and  they  ihail  ,      ,  .  ,  P.       .      .  r       «  fjrr 

never  perilh,  neu  ana  gl°ry>  Wltn  real  beginnings,  caraeits,  and  iore- 
ther  fhall  »»y  taftes  of  it  here,  till  I  bring  them  to  the  complete 
pluck  them  out  of  enjoyment  cf  it  hereafter;  and  none  of  them  mall 
my  hana.  ever,  through  their  own  weaknefs,  unworthinefs,  or 

remaining  corruptions,  fall  fhort  of  heaven,  and  link 
into  hell,  there  to  perifh  for  ever ;  (s  (w  a.-nraXaira.i  ag 
roy  uwm)  nor  (hall  any  artifice,  power,  or  combina- 
tion of  men  or  devils,  ever  prevail  to  wreft  them  out 
of  my  protection,  care,  and  keeping,  who  have  fail 
hold  of  them. 

29  My  Father,  29  Nay,  my  heavenly  Father,  who  loves  them, 
which  gave  them  anJ  }ias  a  peculiar  intereft  and  propriety  in  them,  and 
rne,  is  greater  than  ^  commjtte^  t}iein  to  me  as  a  Jear  chanre,  that  I 
all  '.    'and    none    is  *  ©  * 

able  to  phick  them  may  bring  them  fafeto  glory,  is  (as  every  one  mult 
out  of  my  Father's  own)  infinitely  fuperior  in  wifdom  and  power  to  all 
hand.   .  their  enemies  that  can  pofiibly  be  againft  them  :  And 

ye  may  be  fure  that,  whatever  attempts  are  made 
upon  them,  (ahig)  none  can  be  too  hard  for  him,  fo 
as  to  defeat  his  deligns  of  grace  toward  them,  or  en- 
tice or  force  them  out  of  his  almighty  hands,  who 
keeps  them  by  his  power  through  faith  unto  falva- 
tion. 
3P  I  and  my  Fa-  3  c  Now  my  Father's  power  and  mine  are  the 
ther  are  one.  fame,  we  being  one  in  nature  and  perfections,  as  well 

as  in  will  and  cldign  ;  and  therefore  he,  as  well  as  I, 
mud  be  overcome,  before  any  adverfary  can  dellroy 
them,  whom  we  have  agreed  and  determined  to  fecure 
unto  eternal  life. 

31  Then    the        3 1   Then  the  Jews  were  incenfed  agajnll  him,  as 

aeaVint0°ftTfthnCS  if  ^  had  talked  blafphemy  ;  and,  after  the  manner 

**                 •      '  of  zealots,  attempted  to  [tone  him  to  death,  as  they 
had  before.     {Chap.  viii.  59.) 

32  Jefusanfwer-  32   But  our  bleffed  Lord,  feeing  how5  furious  they 
cd    them      Many  were    ferioufly  expoitulated  with  them,  in  a  meek, 
good    works    have  ,               1             1  •                             r     •          -n               i_       • 
I  fliewed  you  from  calm^  and  touching  manner,    iaymg,   Pray,  why  is 

my    Father ;    for   all  this  heat  and  tumult  r  What  have  I  done  to  pro- 
which     of     thole   voke  it  ?    I  have  indeed  wrought  many  great   and 
works  do  ye  ftone    mt:rciful  miracles  among  you,  in  confirmation  of  my 
character  ;   I  have  fed  multitudes  of  your  own  coun- 
trymen, when  they  were  in  danger  of  fainting  for 

hunger ; 


394 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  x. 


33  The  Jews  an- 
fwered  him,  fay- 
ing, For  a  good 
work  we  ltooe  thee 
not,  but  for  blaf- 
phemy ;  and  he- 
caufe  that  thou, 
being  a  man,  ma- 
fceft  thyfelfCod. 


34  Jefus  anfwer- 
ed  them,  Is  it  not 
written  in  your 
}aw,  I  faid,  Ye 
are  gods  ? 


hunger ;  have  healed  your  fick  and  lame,  have  clean- 
fed  your  lepers,  have  given  Tight  to  your  blind,  have 
caft  out  devils  from  poor  creatures  that  were  mifer- 
ably  tormented  by  them  ;  yea,  I  have  raifed  fome  of 
your  dead  to  life  again,  and  have  always  gone  about 
doing  good :  Now  for  which  of  thefe  companionate 
afts  of  kindnefs,  that  exceeded  the  power  of  any 
other  man  to  perform,  do  ye  want  to  Hone  me  to 
death  ?  Is  this  the  return  I  am  to  have  for  all  my  fa- 
vours to  you  ? 

33  The  Jews  replied,  contrary  to  the  fenfe  of 
their  own  conferences,  which  could  not  but  tell  them 
that  they  really  were  provoked  at  his  performing  fo 
many  miracles,  No,  no,  We  do  not  go  about  to 
Hone  you  for  any  good  work,  that  you  talk  of:  But, 
as  by  our  law,  {Lev.  xxiv.  16.)  a  blafphemer  of  the 
name  of  the  Lord  is  to  be  Jloned  to  death  ;  fo  we 
think  you  deferve  it,  for  affuming  to  yourfelf  the 
unalienable  rights  of  deity,  in  that,  being  a  mere 
man,  you  arrogantly  and  blafphemoufly  pretend  that 
God  is  your  Father,  in  fuch  a  high  and  peculiar  fenfe, 
as  imports  your  being  partaker  of  his  divine  nature 
and  perfections,  and  being  yourfelf  God  *. 

34  Our  bleffed  Lord,  far  from  blaming  them,  as 
if  they  mifconftrued  his  words,  anfwered  their  cavil  a- 
gainft  them,  in  the  juft  fenfe  in  which  they  had  ta- 
ken them,  faying,  How  unreafonable  is  your  being 
thus  furious  againft  me,  for  fpeaking  of  myfelf  in 
thefe  high  terms,  as  that  Son  of  God,  who  is  God, 
one  in  nature  with  the  Father  ?  If  ye  look  f  into 
the  fcriptures,  which  ye  profefs  to  be  guided  by, 
do  not  ye  find  that  God  there  fays  of  your  judges 
and  rulers,  who  in  their  office  were  types  of  the 
Mefliah  £,  I have  faid ye  are  gods ,  and  all  of you  are 
children  of  the  Mofl  High  ?  (Pfal.  lxxxii.  6.) 

NOTES. 


*  This  their  conftruftion  of  the  mean- 
ing x)f  Chrift's  words  was  right ;  other- 
v^ife,  he  undoubtedly  would  have  cor- 
rected it ;  and  had  he  been  no  more 
than  a  man,  their  reafoning  againft  this 
fenfe  of  his  expreflion  was  certainly  juft : 
liut  their  great  error  lay  in  perverfely 
^ifbelieving  what  he  afferted  concern- 
ing his  own  divine  character,  notwith- 
standing the  demonftrations  he  had  gi- 
ven of  it  by  the  plaineft  miracles,  which 


for  all  the  Old  Teftament-fcriptures,  as 
it  alfo  is  in  chap.  xii.  31.  and  xv.  25. 

\  The  fenfe  in  which  interpreters 
have  ufually  confidered  the  term  gods  in 
this  place,  as  fignifying  magiftrates  in 
general,  has,  I  think,  milled  them  in  their 
account  of  this  and  the  following  verfes, 
and  very  much  funk  and  embarraffed 
Chrift's  argument  in  them;  and  is  hard- 
ly reconcileable  to  any  tolerable  fenfe  of 
his   reafoning    from    thence,    that    the 


he  wrought  in  a  Godlike  way,  and  by  fcripture  cannot  be  broken,  (ver.  35.) 
frequent  appeals  to  fcripture-prophecies  It  feems  therefore  to  me,  that  the  perr 
about  it :  And  fo  they,  in  a  blafphemous  fons  here  fpoken  of,  under  the  title  of 
manner,  falfely  charged  blafphemy  on  gods,  are  not,  as  has  been  commonly 
him,  thought,    magiftrates  barely  conlidered 

f  The  law  is  here  ufed,  in  a  lax  fenfe,  as  fuch,  on  account  of  their  refembling 

God's 


v. 


Chap.  x. 


John  paraphrafed. 


395 


35,  36  If  then  he  filled  thofe  magiftrates  gods, 
becaufe  by  his  own  immediate  word  he  had  commit- 


35  If  he  called 
them     gods     unto 

^Tg"^  Wand  tec^  tne  kga^  adminiftration  of  the  churcli  and  nation 

the  fcripture  can-  °f  Ifrael  to  them,  as  types  and  fhadows  of  the  Mef- 

not  be  broken  ;  fiah  ;  and  if  the  infpired  writings,  which  thus  fpeak 

36    Say    ye   of  concerning  them,  cannot  be  falfified,  but  muft  needs 

h}m>  ?h  wthc<S"   be  fulfilled  in  the  Meffiah's  really  poffeffing  the  divine 
ther  hath  lane  tin-     ..  .  r  1      1  •   1       •  1  1  1  •  1 

ed     and  fent  into   dignity,  that  aniwers  to  the  high  title  under  which? 

the    world,    Thou    they  prefigured  him  ;   how  perverfe  and  daring  is  it 

biafphemeft  ;    be-   in  you  to  charge  blafphemy  upon   me,  for  applying 

cauie  I  laid,  I  am   terms  proper  to  deity  to  myfelf,  as  fignifying  my  one- 

nefs  in  nature  and  perfections  with  the  Father  ?  Since 

I  am  the  great  antitype  and  fubftance  of  thofe  types 

and  fhadows,  and  am  in  truth  what  they  were  only  in 

name  ;  and  lince  I  was  fet  apart  *,  and  confututed 

by  my  Father  in  his  eternal  counfels,  and  at  length 

was  fent  into  the  world,  to  exercife  all  authority,  as 

the  true  Mefliah,  which  can  be  affirmed  of  none  but 

the  eternal  Son  of  God. 

37  1 
NOTES. 

Cod's  dominion  in  the  exercife  of  their  where  the  Pfalmijl  fays,  Arife,  0  God, 
power,  or  acting  therein  by  authority  judge  the  earth  ;  for  thou  jhalt  inherit 
and  commiffion  from  him.  I  much  quef-  all  nations,  which  plainly  points  to  the 
tion  whether  the  title  of  gods  is  ever  gi-  Mefliah,  who  was  to  have  the  heathen 
ven  in  fcripture  to  magiftrates  in  com-  for  his  inheritance,  and  the  uttermojt 
mon  ;  but,  as  I  apprehend,  it  relates  parts  of  the  earth  for  his  poJfeJfi.on% 
only  to  Jewijh  magiftrates,  that  were  (Pfal.  i\.  8.)  and  nvho  is  governor  a- 
typical  of  Chrift,  whofe  authority  was  mong  the  nations..  (Pfal.  xxii.  28.)  A.n& 
fhadowed  out  by  that  which  they  exer-  perhaps  it  was  with  a  prophetic  afpect 
cifed  in  the  commonwealth  and  church  upon  the  debates  between  Chrift  and  the 
of  Ifraelr  and*  to  whom  it  was  to  be  Jewijb  rulers,  that  it  was  laid  (ver.  r. 
transferred,  when  he  fhould  appear  to  fet  of  that  lxxxiid  pfaltn)  God  Jlands  its 
up  his  kingdom  in  the  world  ;  and  fo  the  congregation  of  the  mighty,  hejud- 
this  denomination  is  not  merely  met apho-  ges  among  the  gods.  However,  that  our 
rical,  but  is  alfo  typical.  Thus  God  faid  Lord,  in  the  place  before  us,  referred  to 
to  Mofes,  who  was  a  typical  mediator  be-  Jewijh  magiftrates,  appears  from  his 
tween  himielf  and  Ifrael,  and  fpoke  im-  faying,  {ver.  35.)  that  the  word  of 
mediately  from  God,  Thou  Jhalt  be  to  Gnd  came  to  them,  which  intimates, 
Aaron  injlead  of  God,  and  I  have  made  that  it  was  by  the  commiflion  and  ap- 
thee  a  god  to  Pharaoh,  Exod.  iv.  16.  pointment  of  God,  as- made  known  to 
and  vii.  1.)  And  afterward  the  Jenvijb  ibme  of  them  in  an  immediate  and  ex- 
rulers,  that  fat  in  Mofes's  feat,  were  traordinary  manner,  that  the  roagiftra- 
called  gods,  (Exod.  xxii.  28.)  Thou  tic  authority  was  committed  to  them, 
Jhalt  not  revile  the  gods,  nor  curfe  the  till  the  great  Sbiloh  flkould  come  to  ex- 
ruler  of  thy  people.  So  if  Pfal.  exxxviii.  ercife  his  office- power,  which  was  prefi- 
1.  is  to  be  underftood,  not  of  angels,  but  gured  by  theirs.  And  fo  Chrift's  way  of 
men,  David  there  feems  to  refer  to  the  arguing  ftands,  I  think,  in  a  natural, 
ecclefiaftical  rulers,  faying.  Before  the  clear,  and  beautiful  light,  according  to 
gods  vuill  I fing  praifc  unto  thee.  (Vid.  to  the  fenfe  given  of  it  in  the  paraphrale 
Glojf.  Rhet.  pars  prima,  cap.  X.  p.  216.  on  this  and  the  following  verfe.  Vid. 
and  Cocc.  in  loc.y  And  Pfal.  lxxxii.  6.  Lamp,  in  loc. 
the  place  quoted  by  our  Lord,   I  have 

faid  ye  are  god r,  and  all  of  you  are  chil-  #    I    take    the   Father's  fan<£lifying 

dren  of  the  Mojt  High,  feems  to  be  fpo-  Chrift,  in  this  place,  to  relate  particularly 

ken    directly  with   a   typical   view    to  to  his  fettkig  him  up  as  Mediator  from 

Chrift  ;   for  immediately  afterwards  our  everlafting,  (Prov.  viii.  23.)   becaufe  it 

thoughts  are  carried  onward  to  him,   as  is  mentioned  as  preceding  his  fen&ng 

the  great  God  and  rule*  a  all,  w»  Si  iuw  inw  (he  world, 


396 


V 


The  Evcmgcl'ijl 


Chap.  x. 


37  If  I  t\o 
t.-e  works  of 
Father*  believe  me 


not 
ray 


38   But  if  I  do, 

thou  »h  ye  believe 
not  toe,  believe  the 
works  ;  that  ye 
may  know  and  be- 
lieve that  the  Fa- 
ther is  in  me,  and 
I  in  hinx. 


39  Therefore 
they  fought  again 
to  take  him  :  but 
lie  efcaped  out  of 
their  hand, 


40  And  went  a- 
Way  asrain  beyond 
Jordan,  into  the 
place  where  John 
at  tirft  baptized; 
and  there  he  a- 
bode. 

4 1  And  many 
teforted  unto  him, 
and  faid,  John  did 
no  miracle :  but  all 
things  that  John 
fuake  of  this  man 
were  tiue. 


*  The  miracle  of 


37  I  furthermore  appeal  to  the  miracles  I  have 
Wrought  to  jultify  my  divine  character  :  If  I  do  not 
perform  as  great  and  glorious  works,  and  that  in  as 
Godlike  a  way  as  could  be  expected  from  my  Father 
hfmfelf ;  if  they  are  not  fo  fuperior,  and  contrary  to 
the  courfe  and  laws  of  nature,  that  I  could  not  pof- 
fibly  perform  theft!  by  any  other  power  than  that 
which  is  in  the  Father  himfelf ;  I  do  net  defire  you 
to  receive  me  as  the  Son  of  God,  and  the  Saviour  of 
Ifraefy  or  to  give  any  credit  to  what  I  fay  about  my 
being  one  with  the  Father. 

38  But  if  ye  cannot  deny  that  I  do  fuch  works 
as  are  peculiar  to  God,  and  that  in  fuch  a  manner  at; 
none  but  God  himfelf  could  do  them  ;  then,  though 
ye  have  no  regard  to  my  perfon  or  doctrine,  and  will 
give  no  credit  to  my  teflimony  for  its  own  fake  ;  yet 
iubmit  to  the  plain  and  unexceptionable  evidence  of 
my  miracles,  that  ye  may  be  convinced  and  fatisfied, 
that  my  Father  and  I,  though  diftincl:  perfons,  have 
communion  in  Godhead,  as  being  effentially  one  in 
the  other,  which  is  the  fame  thing  with  what  I  faid 
about  my  Father's  and  my  being  one. 

39  Our  Lord  having  thus  plainly  and  unanfwerably 
maintained  his  aiTertion,  the  Jews,  inltead  of  recei- 
ving conviction,  fired  at  him  fo  much  the  more  ;  and 
therefore  renewed  their  attempt  to  (elze  liim  by  open 
violence,  that  they  might  either  itone  him  to  death 
tumultuoufiy,  or  might  profecute  him  in  their  eccle- 
iiaftical  court,  as  a  blafphemer,  who  flood  to  his 
claim  of  deity  ;  or  in  their  civil  court,  as  an  enemy 
to  the  Roman  government  :  But,  his  time  not  being 
yet  come,  he  eafily,  by  the  management  of  his  own 
wifdom  and  power,  got  clear  of  them. 

40  And  he  immediately  left  Jerufalem,  and,  crofs- 
in£  over  Jordan,  retired  to  Bethabara.  which  was  a 
folitary  part  of  the  country,  where  John  began  his  mi- 
niilry  and  baptifm,  and  had  given  a  public  and  honour- 
able teftimony  to  him  ;  (chap.  i.  28,  29.)  and  there  he 
continued  preaching,  and  doing  good  lor  fome  time. 

41  And  whilfl  he  abode  at  this  place,  the  people 
hearing  of  him,  multitudes  flocked  to  him";  and  re- 
collecting  what  John  had  done  and  faid  among  them, 
about  three  years  before,  they  reafoned  upon  it  in 
their  own  minds,  and  one  with  another  in  this  man- 
r.-er,  faying,  Though  John  the  Baptijl  was  fuch  an 
extraordinary  great  and  holy  prophet,  that,  had  not 
lie  himfelf  denied  it,  we  mould  have  believed  him  to 
be  the    Meffiah  *  ;   yet  he  never  wrought  any  one 

miracle 
NOTE. 
John's  conception,  and  of  his  father  Zacharfs  being  ftruck 

dumb, 


Chap.  x.  John  paraphrafed.  o>9l 

miracle  amongft  us  :  But,  faid  they,  we  now  fee  that, 
many,  and  no  doubt  but  all  the  great  things  are  to  a 
tittle  true,  which  we  well  remember  he  faid  concern- 
ing this  perfon,  who  rifes  in  his  glory,  and  preaches 
fuch  excellent  doctrine,  and  does  fuch  wonderful 
works  amongft  us. 
42  And  many  42  And  though  he  was  fo  generally  rejected  by 
believed  on  him  the  great  an(J  learned,  rich  and  noble  in  Jerufaiem 
and  Judea  ;  yet  among  thele  poor  country-people, 
great  numbers  of  them,  that  fpoke  thus  honourably 
of  him,  heartily  embraced  him,  and  became  his  dif- 
ciplesi 

RECOLLECTIONS. 

With  what  ftiining  evidence  does  Jefus  appear  in  his  divine  and  office-characters  I 
All  the  fhadows  of  divinity  in  JenviJIj  typical  magistrates  are  fulfilled  in  him,  as  the; 
true  God  ;  his  wonderful  works,  which  he  performed  with  fovereign  majefty,  and 
by  his  own  power,  are  convincing  proofs  of  it  ;  and  all  that  the  fcriptures  pre- 
dicted, or  prefigured  ahout  it,  center  in  him;  for  they  cannot  be  broken.  O  how 
/hocking  is  it  for  any  to  charge  the  true  fen fe  of  his  affertions  with  blafphemy,  a' 
they  afcribe  proper  deity  to  him  !  And  how  indifpenfibly  neceffary  is  this  divine  Sa- 
viour to  us,  who  is  our  only  way  to  God  and  glory,  and  is  that  good  Shepherd  ,oC 
the  fheep,  through  whom  they  obtain  holy  liberty  and  delight,  fpiritual  refresh- 
ments, and  rich  fupplies  of  all  their  wants,  in  paths  of  righteoufnefs  here,  and  who 
gives  them  eternal  life,  to  be  fully  enjoyed  hereafter,  with  fuch  abundance  of  glory 
and  "bleffednefs,  as  is  matchlefs  and  unfpeakable,  and  never  could  have  been  pof- 
feffed  in  any  other  way  whatfoever  !  He  is  absolutely  good  in  himfelf,  and  relative- 
ly good  to  them  ;  has  taken  the  charge  of  them,  and  has  a  peculiar  propriety  in 
them  ;  and,  in  the  greatnefs  of  his  love,  has  laid  down  his  own  life  for  them,  as  one. 
who  had  power  in  himfelf  to  refign  and  relume  it;  and  did  both,  as  the  Mefliah,  in 
obedience  to  his  Father's  will,  that  he  might  redeem  them  :  And  with  what  faith- 
fulnefs,  wifdom,  and  grace,  does  he  fearch  and  find  them  out,  and  bring  them  into 
his  fold}  and  what  an  exact  and  particular  notice  does  he  take  of  every  one  of  them  1 
How  does  he  guide  and  govern  them,  defend  them  from  all  their  fpiritual  enemies, 
deliver  them  out  of  every  danger,  and  go  before  them,  that  he  may  iead  them, 
through  fufferings  and  death,  fafe  to  glory  1  Who  can  ever  deftroy  them  that  arc: 
in  his  Almighty  hands,  fince  he  is  one  in  nature  and  perfections  with  the  Father, 
who  has  given  them  to  hirn,  and  concurs  with  him  in  fecuring  them  ?  And  as  he 
thoroughly  knows  the  Father,  and  delights  to  do  his  will;  [0  the  Father  loves  and 
owns  him,  as  his  trufty  fervant,  and  has  an  entire  confidence  in  him,  that  nothin^- 
fhall  mifcarry  under  his  hand.  How  fliort  do  the  belt  of  under-ihepherds  fall  of 
him  ?  And  how  injurious  to  his  flock  are  all  that  teach  any  other  way  of  falvation 
than  by  him !  They,  having  no  commillion  from  him,  fet  themfelves  up  againft  his 
authority,  feek  their  own  fecular  intereits,  eafe,  and  honour,  and  degenerate  into 
ravening  wolves,  that  fright  and  fcatter,  wound  and  endeavour  to  deftroy  his  fheep, 
inftcad  of  Handing  by  them  !  Rut  how  much  foever  lome  mav  Oppofe,  and  revile 
him,  and  prove  themlelves  to  be  none  of  his  fheep,  by  finally  rejecting  him;  he  ha-; 
a  chofen  people,  that  (hall  hear,  underftand,  and  diftinguifli  his  voice,  and  follow 
him,  that  lhall  fly  from  corrupt  teachers,  as  for  the  life  of  their  fouls,  and  fliall  rc- 

lilh 
NOTE. 
dumb,  and  not  fpeaking  again  till  after  cres  concerning  the  Mefiiah,  and  pointing 
his  birth,  and  the  miraculous  appearance  them  to  him,  whole  miracles  were  an  a- 
and  voice  from  heaven  at  Jordan^  when  bundant  confirmation,  both  of  his  own 
he  baptized  Jefus,  were,  together  with  and  of  yohft's  doclrine  concerning  him. 
his  holy  life,  fufticient  to  gain  credit  to  And  it  was  fit  that  this  honour  fliould  be 
his  doctrine  ;  for  it  contained  nothing  reftrved  for  the  Mefliah  himfelf,  as  one 
new,  or  extraordinary,  more  than  his  re-  diltinguiihing  mark  of  his  fuperiority  to. 
minding  the  people  of  ancient  prophe-    Ins  forerunner. 

Vol.  II.  F  f  f 


393 


The  Evangclijl 


Chap.  xi. 


j'iih  the  pure  doctrines  of  Chi  I  ft  :  He  will  have  a  people  to  believe  in  him,  and  ho- 
nour  him,  it'  not  among  the  great  and  learned,  and  mighty  ones- of  the  earth,  yet 
umong  people  of  lower  rank,  and  among  Gentiles  as  well  as  Jews,  who  fliall  be  to 
the  Lord  for  a  name,  and  a  praife  through  all  generations. 


C     H     A     P.       XI. 

Tfie  tidings  wBich  ChriJ}  received  of Lazaruslr  ficknefs,  I, — 16.  The 
vi/it  he  made  to  his  Jiflers,  when  he  heard  of  his  death,  17, — 32. 
His  raifing  him  from  the  dead,  33, — 44.  And  the  effeel  of  this  on 
different  forts  ofperfons,  45,-37. 


Paraphrase. 
T^[  OW,  whilll  our  Lord  continued  preaching  be- 
"*■  yond  Jordan,  (cha/>.  x.  40.)  a  man,  whofe 
name  was  Lazarus,  lay  dangeroufly  fick  at  a  little 
village,  near  ferufalem,  called  Bethany;  and  two 
of  his  fillers  dwelt  there  with  him,  one  of  which  was 
named  Mary,  and  the  other  Martha. 

2  This  Alary,  whofe  brother  Lazarus  was  fo  ex- 
Mary  which  a-  tremely  weak,  was  a  woman  of  extraordinary  piety 
noimed    the   Lord    and    ff  aion  to  Chrift     hd       th     fame  f         who 

with  ointment,  and       r  1/7  ••  r         1  tut      i 

wined  his  feet  with   afterwards,    \chap+.  xn.    3.  tee  the  note  on  Mattb, 

her  hair,  whofe  xxvi.  6.)  at  a  public  entertainment,  anointed  his 
brother  Lazarus  feet  with  coftiy  ointment  ;  and,  inftead  of  a  towel, 
was  lick.) 


Text. 
VOW  a  certain 
•  man  was  fick, 
•tamed  Lazarus,  of 
Bethany,  the  town 
of  Mary  and  her 
filler  Martha. 

2  (It  was   that 


3  Therefore  his 
iifters  font  unto 
him,  faying,  Lord, 
bekold,  he  whom 
thou  lovelt  is  fick. 


wiped  them  with  her  own  hair. 

3  Thefe  fillers  therefore,  being  much  acquainted 
with  Jefus*,  and  having  great-  faith  in  his  power 
and  goodnefs,  fent  to  him,  faying,  Lord,  we  hear- 
ing where  thou  wert,  and  knowing  that  thou  hall  a 
great  love  for  cur  dear  brother  Lazarus,  could  not 
but  in  duty  to  thee,  and  tender  concern  for  him, 
difpatch  a  meffenger  ou  purpofe  to  tell  thee,  that  he 
labours  under  a  very  threatening  illnefs,  and,  with 
humble  fubmiffion,  to  refer  his  affecling  cafe  to  thy 
wifdom  and  compalTion,  without  prefuming  to  pre- 
fcribe  to  thee. 
4  When  Jems'  4  When  our  bleffed  Saviour  had  received  this  ac- 
c't"'u['  count,  he  faid  f,  This  diflfemper  mall  not  finally  ifiue 
in  death  ;  but  is  defigned  to  afford  a  fpecial  occafion 
for  the  manifestation  of  God's  perfections  by  me, 
that  I,  his  eternal  uon,  may  exert  the  divine  power 
and  goodnefs,  and  thereby  confirm  my  commiffion 
in  a  more  remarkable  and  convincing  manner,  than 
by  immediately  curing  this  mortal  difeafe. 

5,  6  Now 

NOTES. 

*    It  feems  that  he  ufed  to  be  enter-    ger,   or  at  leaft  in  his  hearing,   that  he 

tained  at  their  boufe,  when  he  came  up    might  report  it  to  the  afflicted  family 

%6  the  feafts  at  Jeriifalem.  for  their  comfort,    and   for  the  trial  of 

their  faith,    whilft  he  neverthelefs  de» 
f  He  probably  faid  this  to  the  meffen-   layed  going  to  thera. 


'['his  ficknefs  is  not 
unto  death,  but  for 
the  glory  of  God, 
that  the  Son  of 
God  might  be  glo- 
rified  thereby.. 


Chap.  xl.  John  paraphrafed.  399 

5  Now  Jefus  lo-        5,   6  Now  Martha  and  her  filler,  as  well  as  their 

ved    Martha,    and  brother,  were  exceeding  dear  to  their  Lord  ;  he  there- 

ber  filter,  and  La-  f         waiting  for  the  fittefl  opportunity  to  be  fffaci- 
zarus.  7  .     ©  111  r        t 

6  When      he  ous>  continued  two  days  where  lie  then  was,  after  he 

had  heard  therefore    heard  of  Lazarns's  fieknefs,  without  taking  any  fur- 
that  he   was  lick,    ther  notice  of  it,  that  he  might  try  and  improve  their 

he  abode  two  days  faidi  and  patience,  and  might  in   due  time  mtmifeft 

lull   in    the    lame  ,.,  ,  •     *-     i  iii- 

place     where     he  "1S  *ove  to  them  in  fuch  a  way  as  would  belt  recom- 

■was.  mend  it,  and  give  them  the  fweetefl  relifh  of  it. 

7  Then  after  7  Then,  after  the  expiration  of  thofe  two  days, 
!hat  .&lt!j  he  *°  he,  in  purfuit  of  the  kind  de%ns  of  his  heart  to  the 
u"  «o  intqS'ru<3ea  affl*&€d  family  at  Bethany  y  laid  to  his  difciples  that 
again.  v  ere  with  him,   Come,  let  us  now  take  a  turn  again 

into  Jaded. 
S   His   difciples        g   ^he  difciples  not  underftanding  what  he  intend- 
iay  unto  him,  Ma-      j  .      j      .*>   '  ,m     •         •  .  ei     t.  t  : 

r,i     *u~   t  t-  ed  to  do  there,  ncr  coniidering  how  eaniy  he  coula 

iter,    the   Jews   ot     .  .  '  &  ,  .  /  \    r  . 

h'te  fought  to  ftcne   *ave  himieir  from  the  power  or  nis  enemies,  laid  to 

thee  ;     and     goeft    him,   Mailer  ;   what  means   this   furprizing   motion  ? 

thou-     thither    a-    We  remen.ber  with  great  concern,  as  if  it  were  (ot) 

£'lm'  but  now,  that  the  Jezvs  in  thofe  parts  were,    not 

long  fmce,  fo  malicious  and  outrageous  againil  thee, 

that  they  fain  would  have  iloned  thee  to  death.   ( Chap. 

x.  31.)  And  what,  fhall  fuch  bafe  unworthy  wretches 

have  the  honour  and  the  privilege  of  thy  prelence  a- 

gain  ?  and  wilt  thou  fo  foon  expofe  thyfelf  and  us  to 

the  utmoit  danger  among  them  ? 

9  Jefus  anfwer-  9  Jefus  replied,  Alas  !  where  is  your  faith,  who 
rd,  Are  there  not   lately  faw  how  eafily  I  efcaped  out  of  their  hands  I 

twelve  hours  in  the    Is  not  your  day  divided  into  twelve  hours,*   which. 
('ay?    It   any   man  ,,   '     .   r      i  ,  ,   r      .       «   XT  1  -in 

walk  in  the  day    are  aUoteo-  f°r  labour  and  iervice  r  JNow  whilit  a  trar 
he  ftumbleth  not,    veller  purfues  his  journey  and  buiinefs  in  its  proper 
becaufe    he   feeth    feafon,  having  the  light  of  the   fun   to   direct  him, 
the  light    of  this   tbere  is  no  great  danger  of  his  ftujnbling,  and  by  that  . 
means  falling;  fhort  of  his  dchVn  :   So  the  appointed 
time  of  my  life  is  my  opportunity  for  fmifhing  the 
work  my  Father  gave  me  to  do  ;  and  the  knowledge 
I  have  of  his  will  is  fch-2  light  that  guides  me  in  it  ; 
and  as  long  as  this  time  lafts,  there  is  no  danger  of 
my  being  overpowered  by  mine  enemies. 

10  But  if  a  man  10  But  if  a  man  would  travel  out  of  feafon,  in  the 
walk  in  the  night,  ni*ght,  no  wonder  that  for  want  of  the  light  of  the 
ca\feTnbereethisbno"  fun\ he  ftumbles  and  falls,  and  cannot  get  forward 
Jight  in  him.  in  his  way  :   So  when  my  work  is  done,  and  the  time 

determined  of  the  Father  for  my  death  is  come,  I 
fh,all  no  longer  deliver  myfelf  from  mine  enemies,  but 
fhall  fall  by  their  hands. 

F  f  f  2  11   Our 

NOTE. 
*  jfuilca  being  about  twenty  degrees    oned  them  to  confill  of  twelve  hours,  as 
nearer  the  equator  than  Great  Britain    we  alfo  do,    when  we  fpeak  of  a  day  V- 
is,    their  days  were   more  nearly  equal    work* 
than  ours ;   arid  fo  they  generally  reck- 


400 

ii  Thefe  tilings 
faid  he  :  and  after 
that,  he  faith  unto 
thern,  Our  friend 
Lazarus  fleepeth  : 
but  I  go  thai  I 
may  awake  him 
r  :it  of  flerp. 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  xi. 


12  Then  faid  his 
iples,   Lord,    if 
he  ilcep,  he  fhalldo 
well. 


fus  fpake  of  his 
death  :  hvA  they 
thought  that  he 
Lad  fpoken  of  ta- 
king of  reft  in 
fleep. 


11  Our  Lord  having  faid  sthefe  things  to  filence 
their  objections,  and  take  off  their  fears,  proceeded 
to  open  his  deJign  in  going  back  to  Judea,  faying, 
I,  who  know  all  things  at  a  diftance,  as  well  as  nigh 
at  hand,  allure  you  that  our  dear  friend  Lazarus  is 
now  fallen  into  a  deep  fleep  ;  but  I  am  going  to  roufe 
and  awake  him  :  By  which  he  meant  that  Lazarus 
was  really  dead,  and  that  he  would  raife  him  again 
to  lite,  which  was  as  eafy  for  him  to  do,  as  to  awake 
a  man  out  of  his  fleep. 

12  The  difciples  replied,  Lord,  we  are  glad  to 
hear  of  fuch  a  favourable  fymptom  in  his  cafe  ;  for  if 
he  is  got  to  fleep,  there  is  good  reafon  to  hope  that 
he  may  recover,  without  thy  taking  the  trouble,  and 
expofing  thyfelf  to  the  danger  of  going  to  heal  him. 

^Howbeit  Je-  j.  But  they  miitook  the  true  fenfe  of  Cfcrift's 
words,  who  obvioufly  enollgh  fpoke  of  his  being 
really  dead,  under  the  notion  of  a  fleep,  as  death  was 
often  called  in  fcripture  ;  and  yet  they  unthinkingly 
fuppofed  him  only  to  mean,  that  he  was  taking  his 
natural  red:  in  fleep,  which  was  like  to  do  him  more 
good  than  harm. 

14  Then  the  meek  and  humble  Jefus,  inftead  of 
upbraiding  them  for  their  flupid  mifconltruclion  of 
fuch  an  eafy  and  well-known  metaphor,  bore  with 
their  infirmity,  and  told  them  exprefsly  that  Laza- 
rus was  really  dead. 

15  And  it  is  very  pleafmg  to  me,  faid  he,  that 
I  was  not  with  him  before  he  died,  fince  ye  may  now 
have  an  higher  confirmation  of  your  faith  in  me,  thau 
barely  curing  his  diitemper  would  have  been  :  I  could 
then  have  healed  him,  and  even  now  at  this  diltance 
could  eafily  raife  him  from  the  dead  ;  however,  that 
the  divine  work  may  appear  before  you,  and  many  o- 
ther  eye-witnefles,  to  be  of  my  own  doing,  let  us  go 
to  his  grave. 

16  Then  Thomas,  one  of  the  twelve  apoftles,  who 
was  alfo  called  Didymus  *,  faid  to  the  reft  of  his  fel- 
low-difciples  then  prefent,  Since  our  great  Mafler  is- 
refolved  to  run  this  rifque,  come,  let  us  all  ^o  along 
with  him,  that  if  he  fliould  be  fei^ed  and  ftoned,  or 
foine  other  way  killed,  we  may  take  our  lot  with 
him  for  life, '  and  death,  and  eternity :  For  what 
figuify  our  lives  on  earth,  if  once  we  lofe  him  ? 

17   By 

NOTE. 

\otnas  in  the  Hebrew,  and  Didy-  interpretation  of  his  name  in  the  Greek, 

■nr/s,  in  the  G  trek,  (ignily  a  twin;    and  as -here  and  chap.  xx.    24.   and   xxi.    2. 

probably  this  name  was  given  him,    be-  might  be  to  intimate  that  he  bore  twiR* 

1  aufe  he  was  a  twin-brother  ;    And  per-  of  different   qualities,    like   Jacob   and 

naps,    as   forne   think,    his  being  three  E/au,   in  his  heart,  he  being  fometimes 

.    fpoken  of  in  this  Goipel  wit,h  this  believing,  and  at  others  full  of  unbeliff. 


14  Then  faid 
Jcfus  unto  them 
plainly,  Lazarus  is 
irlead. 


15  And  I  am 
glad  for  your  fakes 
that  I  was  not 
there  ;  (to  the  in- 
tent ye  may  be- 
Jieve)  neverthelefs, 
let  us  go  unto  him. 


1 6  Then  faid 
'Thomas,  which  ib 
called  Didymus, 
unto  his  fellow- 
dii'ciples,  Let  us 
?lfo  go,  that  we 
may  die  with  hiin. 


Chap.  xi.  John  paraphrafed.  401 

17  By  the  time  that  Jefus,  coming  with  his  dif- 
ciples  from  beyond  Jnu'dan,  (chap.  x.  40.)  arrived 
at  a  place  near  Bethany ',  (ver.  30.)  La%arus  had 
been  dead,  (ver.  39.)  and  laid  in  his  fepulchre,  no 
lefs  than  four  days,  the  Jews  being  wont  to  bury 
perfons  as  foon  as  pofiible  after  their  death.  (ARs 
v.  5,  10.) 

18,  19  Now  Bethany  was  a  little  lefs  than  two 
miles  diltant  from  Jerujalcm  ;  and,  it  being  lo  near 
that  city,  a  great  many  friends  were  making  their 
tiny  of  F$*  at  t^le  ^ou^e  °f  mourning,  to  condole  with  the 
the  [ews  came  to  two  difconfolate  fiflero,  Martha  and  Mary,  and  to 
foften  their  grief,  as  well  as  they  could,  under  the 
very  affecting  lofs  of  fo  dear  and  valuable  a  brother. 

20  While  they  were  thus  together,  tidings  were 
privately  brought  to  Martha,  that  Jefus  was  juft.  at 
hand  ;  upon  which,  fhe  immediately  left  the  compa- 
ny, and  went  out,  to  teftify  her  reipect  to  him,  and 
bid  him  welcome  *  :  But,  Mary,  who  as  yet  knew 
nothing  of  the  matter,  (ver.  28.)  continued  with  her 
friends  in  the  houfe. 

2 1  As  foon  as  Martha  came  to  Jefus,  fhe,  in  the 
midil  of  overwhelming  grief  and  diltrefs,  faid  to  him, 
Ah,  Lord,  how  happy  would  it  have  been  for  us, 
if  thou  hadft  been  fo  kind  as  to  come  hither,  whe?i 
we  fent  word  of  our  brother's  ficknefs  !  I  am  perfuad- 
ed  that  his  miferable  cafe  would  have  moved,  thy 
compafiion,  and  that  thou  couldlt  eafily  have  prevent- 
ed his  death,  and  all  the  difmal  forrowe  occalioned 
by  it. 

22  However,  let  me  not  indulge  my  pafiions  too 
far  :  I  am  well  fatisfied  thou  hail  fuch  an  entire  in- 
terell  with  God,  that  whatfoever  thou  (halt  Hill  de- 
iire  him  to  do,  for  making  up  this  great  lofs,  he  wili 
grant  it  f  ;  and  therefore  I  wholly  refer  myftlf  to 
thy  wifdom  and  favour. 

23  Our  bleffed  Lord  obfer\%ig  that  there  were 
fome  low  workings  of  faith  in  her,  and  pitying  her 
on  account  of  its  weaknefs,  and  of  her  preient  diitrefs, 
faid,  for  her  fupport  and  comfort,  though  without 
explaining  particularly  what  he  meant,  Come,  chear 
up  ;  your  brother  (hall  certainly  rife  again  from  the 
dead. 

24  Martha 
NOTES. 
*  And  fome  fuppofe  that  fhe  went  to    and  in  not  going  fo  far,    as  to  reft  up- 


17  Then  when 
Jefus  came,  he 
found  that  he  had 
lien  in  the  grave 
four  days  already. 


iS  (Nov  Eetha- 
ny  was  nigh  unto 
Jerufalem,  about 
fifteen  furlongs  oft 


Martha  and  Ma- 
ry, to  comfort  them 
concerning  their 
brother. 

20  Then  Mar- 
tha, as  foon  as  fhe 
heard  that  Jefus 
was  coming,  went 
and  met  him  :  but 
Mary  fat  /till  in 
the   houfe. 

2  r  Then  faid 
Martha  unto  Jefus, 
Lord,  if  thou  hadft 
been  here,  my  bro- 
ther had  not  died. 


■22  But  I  know, 
jthat  even  now, 
whatfoever  thou 
wilt  afk  of  God, 
God  will  give  it 
thee. 

23  Jefus  faith 
unto  her,  Thy  bro- 
ther fliall  rite  a- 
gain. 


tell  him  what  a  company  of  Jews  were 
in  the  houfe,  that  he  might  ufe  his  pru- 
dence in  coming  among  them,  or  not. 

f  Martha's  faith  was  very  defective, 
in  thinking  that  Chrift  could  not  prevent 
b» brother's  dying,  when  at  a  diftajice, 


on  his  own  power  for  making  up  this 
lot's  ;  nor  does  it  feem  to  me  that  fhe  as 
yet  had  much,  if  any  hope,  of  her  bro- 
ther's being  raifed  from  the  dead,  though 
fhe  might  believe  that  God  was  able, 
and  that,  if  Chrift  law  ft  to  alk  it,  he 
would  do  it. 


402 

24  Martha  faith 
unto  him,  I  know 
that  he  fliall  rile 
again  in  the  refur- 
trcliou  at  the  laft 
day. 


The  Evangeli/i 


Chap.  xi. 


1 5  Jefns  faid  un- 
to her,  I  am  the 
refurredlicn,  and 
the  life  :  he  that 
belicveth  in  me, 
though  he  were 
dead,  yet  ihall  he 
live  ; 


16  And  whofo- 
cver  liveth,  and 
believeth  in  me, 
fhall  never  die.  Be- 
Jieveft  thou  this  ? 


27  She  faith  un- 
to him,  Yea,  Lord  ; 
2  believe  that  thou 
art  the  Chrift,  the 
Son  ef  God,  which 
fnould  come  into 
the  world. 


28  And.  when 
flie  had  (0  laid,  fhe 
went  her  way,  and 
railed  Mary  her 
.  fecretly,  fay- 
ing, The  Mafler  is 
pome,  and  calleth 
jior  thee. 


so  As  ibon  as 
fhe  heard  that,  fhe 
arofe  quickly,  and 
fame  unto  him. 


24.  Martha  anfwered,  Truth,  Lord,  I  firmly  be- 
lieve that  there  fhall  be  a  refurrecliion  of  the  dead, 
both  of  thejuftand  unjuft  ;  (y^j-xxiv.  15.)  and  that 
my  good  brother  fhall  bear  a  glorious  part  among  the 
riling  faints  at  the  end  of  time.  This  is  indeed  a 
great  comfort  to  us  ;  but  alas  !  it  exceedingly  trou- 
blcth  us  to  think,  that  we  have  loll  the  pleafure  and 
the  benefit  of  his  agreeable  company,  that  he  who 
was  the  ftrength  and  glory  of  our  family,  and  might 
have  kept  up  its  name  in  Ifrae/,  is  gone,  and  that 
we  fhall  never  fee  him  in  this  world  any  more. 

25  Chrif:  replied,  Whereas  you  only  fpeak  of 
God's  giving  me  xvhatfoever  I  aj%  of him ,  Be  affured 
that  I  have  life  in  myfe/f,  and,  as  the  efficient  caufe 
of  the  refurre£tion,  and  of  every  kind  of  life,  quicken 
whom  I  witf.  {Chap.  v.  21,  26.)  And  though  the 
believer  in  me  muil  die,  as  well  as  other  men,  yea,  e- 
ven  fuppoling  him  to  be  already  literally  dead,  as 
your  brother  now  is  ;  yet  his  body,  as  well  as  foul, 
ihall  live  again  in  a  better  world,  and,  if  I  pleafe,  in 
this  world  too. 

26  And  whoever  is  now  living  upon  earth,  and, 
being  quickened  to  a  fpiritual  life,  believes  in  me, 
(* fA/i  wreOoiVY)  zi$  rev  oumeti)  fliall  not  die  for  ever,  by  un- 
dergoing the  fecond  death  ;  nor  fhall  his  body  always 
continue  in  the  ftate  of  the  dead,  but  I  will  raife 
him  up  at  the  laft  day.  (Chap.  vi.  40.)  Doft  thou 
heartily  afTent  and  confent  to  this  important  truth 
concerning  me,  and  them  that  believe  in  me  ? 

27  Martha  anfwered  him,  Yea,  Lord,  I  am  ful- 
ly perfuaded  that  thou  art  the  true  Mefliah,  even  the 
Son  of  the  living  God,  who  was  fpoken  of  by  way 
of  eminence,  as  (0  s£vo(tcjvo?)  he  that  cometh,  and  who, 
according  to  ancient  prophecies,  is  now  generally  ex- 
pected to  appear  in  the  world  ;  and  I  believe  that 
all  the  powers  belonging  to  this  divine  Saviour  are  in 
tl#e. 

28  And  immediately,  upon  having  thus  exprefe- 
ed  her  faith  in  him,  fhe  haflned  back  to  her  filter 
Mary  ;  and  whifpering  in  her  ear,  that  the  reft  of 
the  company,  who  were  enemies  to  Chrift,_  might 
not  hear  her,  faid,  I  have  joyful  tidings  to  tell  you, 
The  Lord  Jefus,  whom  we  own  for  our  great  Mailer, 
is  at  the  town's  end,  and  afks  very  kindly  and  parti- 
cularly for  you. 

29  Mary  no  fooner  heard  this,  but,  in  the  fervour 
of  her  affection  to  Chrift,  fhe  fprung  up  from  her 
feat  ;  and,  leaving  her  friends,  ran  with  all  fpeed  to 
meet  him,  from  whom  fhe,  like  a  truly  gracious  foul, 
expected  and  found  greater  comfort,  than  they  all 
together  could  miniitcr  to  her. 

30  Nov; 


John  parapbrafed. 


was  in  that  place 
where  Martha  met 


3 1  The  Jews 
then  which  were 
with  her  in  the 
houfe,  and  com- 
forted her,  when 
they 
that    fhe    role 


my 
not 


brother 
died. 


had 


Chap.  xi.  John  parapbrafed.  403 

30   Now   Jefus        30  Now  Jefus,  to  avoid  all  appearance  of  oftenta- 
was  not  yet  come   tion  by  gathering  a  company  about  him,  and  to  fhew 
:   how  ready  he  was  to  do  the  great  and  good  work 
for  which  he  came  thither,  had  not  entered  into  the 
village,  but  continued  at  the  fame  place  where  Mar- 
tha at  firlt  met  with  him. 

31   As  foon  as  Mary  got  up,  and  went  out  with 
fuch  eagernefs  and  hafte,  her  condoling  friends  imagin- 
ed, that,  in  the  exedfs  of  her  grief,  fhe  was  gone  to 
indulge,  aggravate,  and  vent  her  pafiions,  at  the  grave 
faw    Mary,   of  the  deceafed  ;  and  therefore  («r)  they  immediately 
>le  up   followed  her,  defigning,  if  poffible,  to  reftrain  and 

out,1  followed^  Pacify  her  :  But>  *»iiead  of  h.er  S°'mg  thither,  they 
faying,  She  goeth  found  fhe  went  another  way  till  fhe  came  to  Jefus  ; 
unto  the  grave,  to  and  fo  they  were  infenfibly  led  to  him,  and  made  eye- 
weep  there.  witnefles  of  the  miracle  that  he  was  about  to  perform. 
32  Then  when  32  When  Mary  came  up  to  Jefus,  and  faw  him, 
Mary  was  come  fhe,  in  floods  of  tears,  threw  herfelf  down  at  his  feet, 
where  Jefus  was,  -  tdl;m  of  h  humble  fubmifiion  to  him,  and 
and  law  him,  fhe  _  J  .....  ,  .  ' 
fell    down    at  his  profound  reverence  01  mm,  laying,  as  Martha  had 

feet,  faying  unto  before,  (ver.  21.)  Ah,  Lord,  how  much  have  we 
him,  Lord,  if  thou  fuffered  for  want  of  thy  prefence  !  If  thou  hadft  but 
here'  been  here  when  our  dear  brother  lav  fick,  I  am  well 
fatisfied  thou  wouldil  have  commiferated  him  and  us, 
and  couldit  eaiily  have  prevented  his  death. 

33  When  therefore  the  holy  Jefus  faw  how  bitter- 
ly me,  and  the  attending  Jews,  lamented  and  wept 
on  this  occaiion,  he  was  exceedingly  touched  and 
which  came  with  moved  in  his  own  fpirit,  partly  with  compaffionate 
her,  he  groaned  in  grief  and  difpleafure  at  the  inordinate  excefs  of  Mary's 
the  fpint,  and  was  forrowing  even  in  his  prefence,  and  at  the  weaknefs 
of  her  faith  ;  and  partlv  with  holy  indignation  at  the 
unbelief  and  hardnefs  of  the  hearts  of  her  friends  *, 
and  with  a  human  pity,  in  profpeft  of  the  miieries 
that  would  come  upon  them,  who  he  knew  were 
cruel  enemies  to  him,  while  they  mewed  fo  much 
humanity  and  tenderaefs  toward  her :  And,  as  he  hadt 
an  abfolute  command  of  his  pafiions,  (*rccsx%,zt  utvret) 
he  awakened  a  due  commotion  in  his  own  mind  015 
theft  accounts. 

34  And,, 
N  O  T  2. 
*  As  the  words  iv:Ca-i/u.ri<ra1o  to  vrvev-  from  the  dead:  But  as  it  was  nounufual 
H-xlt,  here  rendered,  ht  groaned  in  fpiri.,  thing  for  Cbrift  to  be  affe<fted  with  grief 
properly  fignify  to  lament  or  groan  with  and  anger  at  the  fin  and  tolly,  unbelief 
anger  and  indignation :  So  it  feems  to  ar-  and  hardnefs  of  peribns  hearts,  and  with 
gue  too  much  weaknefs  in  our  Lord's  forrow  in  the  profpeel:  of  appioaching  mi- 
pafhons,  to  fuppofe  that  he  was  thus  ex-  feries,  {Zlark  iii.  5.  and  xvi.  14.  John 
ceedingly  grieved  and  troubled,  merely  xiii.  zx.  and  L&e  xix.  41,  42.)  So  the 
in  a  way  of  fympathy  with  Mary  and  her  oonfidcrations  that  I  have  taken  into  the 
friends,  on  account  of  their  lamentations  Paraphrafe,  feera  to  be  natural,  and  were 
at  their  lols,  finee  he  defigned  immedi-  every  way  worthy  of  his  compaffionate 
ately  to  repair  it,  and  to  turn  their  and  dhpleafed  refentmeuts,  and  beft  fuit 
mourning  into  joy,  by  raifing  Lazarus  the  following  context. 


33  When  Jefus 
therefore  faw  her 
weeping,  and  the 
Jews  alio  weeping 


404  The  Evan^elift  Chap.  xi. 

34.    And    laid,        34  And,   that  there  might  not  be  the  lead  ap- 
Whcre     have    ye   pearance  of  colluiion  between  him  and  the  mourning 

!nlfohihVLThLolrdy    relatfons>    he   aiked    thcrtl    in    what    tomb    they    had 
come  and  fee.         placed  Lazarus' s  corpfe  ?   They  replied,  Lord,    If 
you  pleafe  to  come  along  with  us,   we  will  fhew  you 
where  he  lies. 
35  Jefus  wept.  ^  Jefus  accordingly  went  with  them  ;  and,  as  he 

was  going,  a  consideration  of  all  the  moving  circum- 
ilances,  then  before  him,  fo  affected  his  heart,   that, 
+  being  a  man  of  like  natural,  though  fmlefs,  pafiions 

with  ourfelves,  his  eyes  ran  down  with  tears  of  grief. 
36 Then  faid  the        36  Then  the  Jews   obferving  it,    fome  of  them 
Jews,  Behold  how   (j^j  to  others  in  a  fort  of  furprife,  See  how  affe&ion- 
ately  Jefus  loved  Lazarus  !  He  feems  to  weep  hear- 
tily for  him. 
37  And  fome  of       37   But  (h)  others  of  them  faid,  in  a  way  of  re- 
them   faid,    Could   fleciion  upon  him,   If  this  man.  as  is  reported,   [chap, 
EOt  this  man,  which    fo  6       20  \  reftored  one  to  fight  who  was  born  blind, 
opened  the  eyes  ot  '.  '  <m     ,  j    1       t       1      n  ■ 

the    blind      have   could  he  not  as  eaiily  have  prevented  the  death  01  his 

caufed  that  even  friend,  for  the  lofs  of  whom  he  now  difcovers  fo  great 
this  man  fhould  concern  ?  He  certainly  would,  if  he  could  :  We  may 
not  have  died  ?       therefore  conclude  that  ftory  to  be  all  mam,  and  that 

there  was  really  nothing  in  it. 
.  38  Jelhs  there-  38  Jefus  therefore  knowing  what  perverfe  and  un- 
fore  again  groan-  believing  prejudices  were  vented  among  themfelves, 
wg  m  im  e  ,  wag  much  affe&ed  again  in  his  own  fpirit,  fetching 
grave.  Tt  was  a  a  deep  figh,  with  companionate  grief  and  holy  indig- 
cave,  and  a  (tone  nation,  as  before,  [ver.  33.)  And  this  was  juft  as  he 
lay  upon  it.  arrived  at  the  fepulchre,  where  Lazarus  lay,  which 

was  a  cave  *  ;   and  a  great  ftone,  as  ufual,  was  laid  at 

its  mouth  to  inclofe  it. 
39    Jefus    faid,        39  Then  our  Lord  ordered  fome  of  the  ftanders  by 
Take  ye  away  the.  to  rou  tne  great  ftone  awav  from  the   mouth   of  the 
ftone.   Martha  the    £  h       h         .    *      nQt  ^j.  a  „eedlefs  m;racle,  and 

niter  ot   him  that  *•'  &       .         .   ,      .       r  .    r      . '    . 

was  dead,  faith  un-  that  the  dead  carcaie  might  be  leen  and  imelt  by 

to  him,  Lord,  by  the  fpectators :  Hereupon  Martha,  the  lifter  of  the 

this  time  he  ftink-  deceafed,   little   thinking  what  he  intended    to    do, 

eth  :    for  he  hath  f  Id  tQ  hi        Lord    wh     ^^  affeaion  carry- 

been     dead      tour  re  j   r  r       ^1        1      1  r 

liVS  you  fo  far,  as  once  to  delire  to  iee  the  dead  corple 

now  ?  It  doubtlefs  by  this  time  begins  to  putrify, 
and  will  be  very  offenlive  by  its  noifome  ftench  :  For 
my  brother  has  been  dead,  and  buried,   (ver.   17.) 

thele 
NOTE. 
*  Perhaps  this  cuftom  of  burying  in  theic  there  were  natural  caverns  fit  for 
cave';  might  be  in  imitation  of  the  burial  this  purpofe,  and  others  were  cut  out  by 
oi  '.hniham,  Ifuac,  and  Juroh,  and  their  nit,  as  Jofepk of Arimathefi'%  was,  where 
wives,  in  the  eave  of  Machpelah.  (Gen.  the  body  of  our  Lord  was  laid.  {Matth. 
xlix.  29,  30,  31.)  Thtie  caves  for  perfons  xxvii.  60.)  And  the  entrance  of  thele 
of  diftinclion,  as  La* at  us  lecm.s  to  have  caves  was  (hut  up  with  a  great  ftone. 
been,  were  commonly  in  rocks,  which  which  fometimes  had  a  moQumenul  in- 
abounded  in  that  country  :    Tn  fome  of  fcriptioo  upon  it. 


Chap. 


XI. 


40  Jefus  faith 
unto  her,  Said  I 
not  unto  thee,  that, 
if  thou  would- 
eft  believe,  thou 
fhouldeft  fee  the 
glory  of  God  ? 


Then 
away 
from 
where 
was 


they 
the 
the 
the 

laid. 


4* 

took 

ftone 

■place 

dead 

And  Jefus  lift  up 

his  eyes,  and  faid, 

Father,     I     thank 

thee  that  thou  haft 

heard  me. 

42  And  I  knew 
that  thou  heareft 
me  always :  but 
becaufe  of  the  peo- 
ple which  ftand  by, 
I  faid  it,  that  they 
may  believe  that 
thcu  haft  fent  me. 


43  And  when  he 

had    thus    fpoken, 

he    cried    with    a 

loud 


*  It  feemsby  this,  that  Chrlft  had  faid 
more  to  Martha  than  is  before  recorded, 
when  (lie  firft  met  him,  and  when  he  put 
it  to  her,  (t/er.  25,  26.)  whether  fhe  be- 
lieved what  he  had  declared  about  his 
being  the  refurrection  and  the  life,  and 
about  a  believer's  living,  though  he  were 
dead. 

f  For  underftanding  this  and  the  two 
following  verfes,  it  may  be  of  ufe  to  ob- 
ferve,  that  here  is  no  appearance  of 
Chrift's  having  prayed  to  his  Father  for 
power  to  perform  the  miracle  which  he 
was  going  to  work  ;  nor  was  there  any 
occafion  for  it,  he  having  before  faid  of 
himfelf,  I  am  the  refurrection  and  the 
life,  (ver.  25.)  and  declared,  {chap.  v. 
2t,  26.)  that  he  lad  life  in  himfelf  and 
quickened  whom  he  nvot/ld.  His  divine 
nature  was  undoubtedly  fufficient  for 
this  ;  accordingly  when  he  told  his  difci- 
ples  of  Lata  rush  death,  he  faid,  (ver. 
II.)  I  go  that  I  may  awake  him  ;  and 
in  working  the  miracle  itielf,  there  is 
not  the  leaft  (hew  of  his  applying  to  the 

Vol.  II,  G  s 


John  paraphrafed.  405 

thefe  four  days ;  and  it  is  now  too  late  to  hope  for 
a  revival,  or  for  any  pleafure  in  feeing  him. 

40  But  Jefus,  in  reply,  gave  her  a  gentle  reproof 
for  her  unbelief,  and  yet  encouraged  the  little  faith 
fhe  had,  faying,  Did  I  not  promife  you,  that,  in 
cafe  of  your  relying  on  my  power  and  goodnefs,  who 
am  the  refurredtion  and  the  life  to  them  that  believe 
in  me,  you  mould  fee  a  glorious  difplay  of  the  divine 
perfections  in  what  I  would  do  on  this  occafion  *  ? 

41  Then,  Martha  defifting  from  any  further  oppo- 
fition,  fome  of  the  people  removed  the  ftone  from  the 
mouth  of  the  cave,  where  the  dead  corpfe  lay  :  And 
Jefus,  looking  up  toward  heaven  in  a  foiemn  manner, 
faid,  in  their  hearing,  O  my  Father  \ ,  I  bkfs  thy 
name,  that,  by  the  difpofals  of  thy  providence,  thou 
haft  granted  my  delire  of  this  remarkable  opportuni- 
ty for  exerting  my  power,  and  mewing  forth  thy 
praife. 

42  I  indeed  (h)  ever  was,  and  ftill  am,  abfollite- 
ly  fure  of  thy  anfwering  every  requeft  that  I  can 
make,  my  will  being  .always  regulated  by  my  perfect 
knowledge  of  thine  :  But  my  addreffing  thee,  in  this 
public  manner,  is  merely  for  the  fake  of  the  people 
here  prefent,  that  ray  difciples  may  be  fully  allured, 
and  that  others  may  be  encouraged  to  believe  that  I 
am  the  true  Mefiiah,  whom  thou  haft  lent. 

43  And  having  faid  thefe  words,  he,  (landing 
without  the  fepulchre,  did  not  thereupon  peep  and 
mutter  an  unintelligible  jargon,  like  a  necromancer, 

or 
NOTES. 

Father  for  affiftance,  or  taking  any_  no- 
tice of  him  :  But  he  managed  it  with  an 
air  of  abfolute  fovereignry,  like  the  Lord 
of  life  and  death,  faying,  with  the  au- 
thority and  majefty  of  a  God,  La<wrust 
come  forth \  as  we  fhall  fee,  <ver.  43.'  And 
therefore  I  take  it,  that  this  thankfgivin^- 
to   his   Father 


was  for  the  oppor'tunitv 
that  Chrift  had  prayed  might  be  given 
him  to  work  this  miracle,  in  fuch  re- 
markably advantageous  circumllancc^, 
by  his  Father's  ordering  that  Lazaru.-r 
fhould  die,  and  that  lb  many  perfons  oi 
note  fhould  be  brought  together  on  that 
occafion,  who,  with  his  own  difciples, 
were  to  be  eye-witneffes  of  his  railing 
Lazarus  from  the  dead,  for  the  eftabhlh- 
ment  of  his  own  character,  and  the  ad- 
vancement of  his  Father's  glory  :  V\  it li 
regard  to  which  he  had  faid  to  his  ciiic!- 
ples,  fyer.  4.  15.)  This f.  chiefs  is — -for 
the  glory  of  God,  that  the  Son  of  G  cut 
might  be  glorified  thereby  :  And  I  am 
glad  for  your  fakes,  that  I  nvat  not  thae, 
to  the  intent  that  ye  may  believe. 

g 


4-6 


The  EvangeVtft 


Chap. 


XI. 


I  md   voice,   Laza- 
come  forth. 


44  Antl  he  that 
was  dead  came 
forth,  bound  band 
and  foot  with 
grave-clothes:  and 
his  fVe  was  bound 
about  with  a  nap- 
kin. Jefus  faith 
them,  Loofe 
and  let   him 


unto 
him, 


45  Then  many 
of  the  Jews  which 
caroe  to  Mary,  and 
had  Teen  the  things 
which  Jems  did, 
believed   on  him. 

46  But  fome  of 
them  went  their 
ways  to  the  Phari- 
sees, and  told  them 
what  things  Jefus 
had   done. 


47  Then  gather- 
ed the  chief  pi 
I  lie  PhaFifi  1  -  a 

.11,    and    fr.id, 
:   do  wc  ?    for 
man  doth  ma- 
ny miracles. 


him 

will  •  on 

Ku- 


N     () 

*    His    hands  and  feet  being  bound, 
-  '.$  covered  with  the  cloth,    as 
r  1:1!,  U>  prevent- the  ghaftly  appear- 
ance of  a  dead  corpfe,  fliewed  the  mini- 


or  dealer  with  familiar  fpirits  ;  [If a.  viii.  19.)  but 
fpoke  «ut  with  a  diftinc~t  and  elevated  voice,  to  inti- 
mate the  awakening  power  that  attended  it,  faying, 
without  any  mention  of  his  Father's  name,  but  with 
the  majefty  of  God  himfelf,  La%arus,  I  command 
thee  to  come  hither. 

44  And  fo  powerful  was  this  word  of  command, 
that  the  dead  man,  being  initantly  made  alive,  came 
out  of  the  fepnlchre,  in  his  burial  drefs,  ( Acis  v. 
6.)  his  hands  and  feet  being  wrapped  up,  and  rolled 
about  with  fwaddling  bands,  and  his  eyes  blinded 
with  a  linen  cloth,  which  was  bound  about  his  head  *  : 
And  when  Lazarus  came  forth  in  this  confined  pof- 
ture,  Jefus  ordered  fome  of  the  company  to  fet  his 
hands  and  feet  at  liberty,  no  miracle  being  needful 
for  this,  that  he  might  walk  home. 

45  This  was  fuch  an  incontestable  and  uncommon 
miracle,  that  many  of  thole  Jeivs,  who  had  come  to 
comfort  Mary,  together  with  Martha,  (ver.  19.) 
under  her  lofs,  were  thereby  induced  to  believe  in 
him. 

46  But  others  of  them,  though  they  could  not 
deny  the  truth  of  the  miracle,  were  fo  obitinately 
and  malicioufly  fet  againll  Chrift,  that,  inftead  of  be- 
lieving in  him,  they  were  fo  much  the  more  provoked 
to  think,  how  this  would  raife  his  reputation  and  au- 
thority among  the  people  ?  and  therefore  they  went 
immediately  to  the  Pharifees,  his  molt  inveterate  e- 
nemies,  to  tell  them  what  had  paired,  that  they  might 
enter  into  effectual  meafures  for  putting  a  flop  to 
him. 

47  Then  the  Pharifeer,  being  alarmed  at  this  in- 
formation, agreed  with  fome  of  the  chief  priells  to 
fummon  a  council,  in  which  they  gathered  together 
to  confult  againll  the  Lord,    and  his  Anointed,    as 

propheiied,  ( PJ, a  I.  ii.  2.)  faying,  What  figni- 
iics  all  that  v.  e  have  hitherto  attempted  againll  this 
man  ?  fome  more  prudent,  and  yet  vigorous  ftep 
mull  be  taken  without  delay  :  For  from  what  we 
•  Ives  have  fcen,  and  our  own  Iriends  now  tell 
it  is  plain  beyond  denial,  that  he  does  many  fur- 
pnfing  miracles. 

If  we  fuller  him  to  go  on  at  this  rate,  with- 
out fome  eflectual  opposition  to  him,  he  will  foon 
grow  fo  famous,  that  all  the  people  will  be  perfuad- 
ed  to  believe  him  to  be  the  expected   Mefikih  :    And 

what 
T     E. 

culous  power  of  Chiid  in  bringing  him 
out  of  the  fepulchre  in  this  form,  as  wel] 
as  in  rcftoring  him  to  life. 


Chap.  si.  John  paraphrafed.  407 

mans  fhall  come  what  will  be  the  conference  of  that  ?  Why,  the  Ro- 
and  take  away  mans  will  certainly  take  umbrage,  as  if  we  were  go- 
both  our  place  and    fog  lQ  fet  up  a  J,jng   Qf  our  owllj   an(j  to  throw   off 

liatlon-  their  yoke  ;  and  they  will  be  fo  exafperated  at  this, 

as  to  deprive  us  of  all  the  remains  of  cur  civil  and  re- 
ligious rights  and  liberties,  and  even  to  deftroy  our 
city  and  temple,  and  put  an  end  to  our  being  a  di- 
flinct  nation  any  longer. 

49  And  one  of  49  And,  while  the  council  were  at  a  lofs  what 
them  named  Caia-    couri"e  to  take  for  filencing  Jefus,  one  of  them,  namc- 

phas,     being     the   \^  Caiaphas,    a  bold   Sadducec,    (  Acts  v.  17.)    who 

hi^h     pneft     that    .*    ,        '-       7  r      .     ,  x  ,      ,       ',      t1 

fame  year,  laid  un-    had  ™  &™  <>f  a  judgment  to  come,  and  who,  by  the 

to  them,  Ye  know    favour  of  the  Roman  government,  was  high-pnek  that 

nothing  at  all.  year,   (fee  the  note  on  Luke  iii.  2.)  laid  to  them  with 

great  fubtilty  and  malice,  as  well  as  haughtineis  and 

warmth,  All  your  cautious  deliberations  are  to  no 

manner  of  purpofe  :  I  find  ye  have  no  notion  of  what 

is  neceflary  to  be  done  in  fo  defperate  a  cafe,  which 

mull  have  a  defperate  remedy. 

50  Nor  confider  50  Nor  do  ye  conhder,  (a&  &«A«y<£sc-&)  in  all 
that  it  is  expedi-  your  reafoninp*  on  this  head,  that  the  danger  01  the 
ent  for  us,  that  one   prefent  circumftances  obliges  us  to  have  recourfe  to 

man  fhould  die  for    *,        ,  ,        ,.  .  •  r         r      • _.,ui.*-,  t-^  ^  ^,-,' 

the  people,  and  the  old  Polltlc  R<axim>  of  preferring  *  pljbllC  to  a  pri- 
that  the  whole  na-  vate  good:  We  have  no  need  to  trouble  ourlelves 
tion  perilh  not.         with  nice  inquiries,  whether  this  man  be  an  impoitor, 

or  a  prophet  ;  we  do  not  know  what  he  is  ;  but  it  is 
certainly  better  that  he  fhould  be  put  to  death,  than 
that  we  mould  lofe  our  all,  and  the  whole  nation 
fhould  be  utterly  ruined  by  fufrering  him  to  live. 

51  And  this  51  And  he  faid  this,  not  merely  from  his  own 
(pake  he  not  of  crafty  and  wicked  defign  of  exciting  the  council  to 
hThfh  Heft  that  S°  into  refohte  meafures  againit  Jefus  :  But  as  he 
yefr/L^rophe'fi-  was  the  Mgfe-prieft,  and  head  of  the  Jewifh  church 
ed  that  Jefus  fhould  for  that  year,  in  which  Chriil  was  to  redeem  his  fpi- 
die  for  that  nation:    ritual  Ifrae/,  and  to  put  an  end  to  the  Levitical  pricft- 

hood  and  oblations,  by  the  facrifjee  of  himfelf ;  and 
as  Caiapbas\  words,  on  account  of  his  exajted  cha- 
racter, would  be  looked  upon  as  oracles  :  So,  by  an 
over-ruling  Providence,  he  exprefTed  his  malicious  de- 
fign in  terms,  which,  contrary  to  his  own  intention, 
contained  a  truth,  that,  in  another  view  of  their  fig- 
nification,  was  prophetic  'of  what  God  had  defigned 
fhould  come  to  pafs,  viz.  That  Jefus  being  the  Mef- 
fiah  *,  he  fhould  be  cut  off,  not  for  himfelf,  but  as, 
G  g  g  2  a 

N  O  T  E. 
*  By  the  Evangelift's  conftruclion  of  be  called  the  children  of  God  :  And  fup- 
Jthis  prophetic  fenfe  of  Caiaphas's  words,  pofing  that  he  carried  his  thought  (till 
The  children  of  God,  that  were  fcatter-  further  to  the  Gentiles,  it  feems  as  if  the 
ed  abroad,  (ver.  52.)  may  relate  to  the  nation,  or  church  of  IJracl,  were  there - 
Jews  difperfed  among  the  Gentiles,  in  confidered,  as  typical  of  the  w'hole 
who,  on  account  of  their  ancient  adop-  New  Teftament-church,  confiftin^  or 
tion,   as  God's  covenant-people,   might   Gentiles  as  well  as  Jews:    Others  1- 

there1 


4o8 


The  Evangelifl 


Chap.  xi. 


5 :  And  not  for 
tli nt  nation  only, 
but     that    alio    he 


children  or"  God 
that  were  fcatter- 
etl  abroad. 


53 

that 

t  iei 


from 
forth, 


inen 
day 
took  counlel 
together  for  to  put 
liitn  to  death. 


a  propitiator)'  facrifice  for  God's  ancient  people,  the 
Jewr  : 

52  And  not  merely  for  a  remnant,  according  to 

the  election  of  grace,   [Rom.  xi.  5.)   of  thofe   'Jews 

that  dwelt  together  as  a  nation  in  the  land  of  IfraeL 
ihould  cjatnertoge-  £>  J  » 

thee  in  one  the  but  likewile  or  luch,  to  whom  pertained  the  adop- 
tion, as  were  difperfed  among  the  Gentiles  :  And 
not  only  for  thefe  ;  but  alfo  for  others  among  the 
Gentiles  themfelves,  who  were  predeftinated  to  the 
adoption  of  children  by  Jefus  Chrifty  [Eph.  i.  5.) 
that,  according  to  the  merit  of  his  death,  they  alfo, 
by  the  preaching  of  the  gofpel,  attended  with  the 
power  of  his  Spirit,  might  be  effectually  gathered 
into  one  church,  and  fellowfhip  of  believers  with  the 
Jews,  under  Chritt  their  head;  (Eph.  i.  9,  10.) 
wherever  they  were  fcattered  abroad  among  all  nations 
of  the  earth,  like  fheep  ftraying  from  the  fold  of  their 
great  Shepherd.      [Chap.  x.  16.) 

53  This  fubtile  fpeech  of  Caiaphas  fo  fully  deter- 
mined the  council  to  acl;  in  concert  for  putting  jefus 
to  death,  that,  from  this  time  forward,  they  frequent- 
ly confulted  together  about  the  propereft  opportuni- 
ty, and  the  fafell  method  for  compafling  it. 

54  Our  bleffed  Lord  therefore  well  knowing  their 
0    fecret  and  refolute  combination  againll  his  life,  and 

the"  Tews  ■  ^iat  lbe  time  appointed  of  the  Father  for  his  death 

but  "went    thence  was  not  yet  fully  come",  prudently  declined  walking 

unto     a     country  about  openly,  as  he  was  wont,  to  preach   and  work 

near  to  the  wilder-  mjracies   among  the    Jewr,    at    Jerufalem,    and    the 
ncis,     into    a   city  ,.  t>       1  •  1    1 

called       Ephraina  Parts  adjacent :   iSut  he  withdrew  to  a  certain  town 

abd    there    conti-   called  *  Ephraim,  which  lay  in  a  remote,  and  more 

■nucd  with  his  dii-   retired  part  of  the  country,  bordering  upon  the  wil- 

clPlcs-  dernefs  of  Jitdea  ;  and  there   (^Tg</3s)   he  fpent  his 

time  in  private  converfation  with  his  difciples,   till 

within  fix  days  of  the  paffover.      [Chap.  xii.  1.) 

<5  And  the  Jews'        55    At  length   the   Jewi/h   paffover    drew    near, 

;  l«h    which  was  the  lall  that  Jefus  eat  with  his  difciples, 

or  that  was  ever  celebrated  by  divine  authority,  he 

having  foon  after  legally  put  an  end  to  that  typical 

lu'akni    folemnity,   by  the  facrifice  of  himfelf:    And   great 

multitudes 
NOTE     S. 
was  nothing  in  Caiaphas\  words,    from  perifhing,    and  fhould  he  effectual 
;it>ot;t  the  w!r  le  nat  on's  petiftnng,  that    \o  gather  together  the  children  of  God 
r'.ti'd  be  coi  prophetic  of  Chri&'s    into  one  fpiritual  body  under  ChrifL  an- 

ther  tin   (  i.ililren  of  God,    fwerable  to  the  like  language  that  is  ti- 
tbit were  Gentiles:   But  whichever  way    led  in  Rev.  v.  9. 

we  take  the  Erangislift's  meaning,  I  do        *    This   Ephraim  was   fo   obfeure  a 

how  it  can  extend  to  the  whole    place,    that    it   is   uncertain    where    it 

Nation  bf  the  yewS%    ;ind   all   individuals    Itood,  or  whether  it  were  Ephratah,   in 

among  the  nations  of  the  Ctntiit  1,  or  can    the  tribe  of  Judah,    or  Ephraim,  in  the 

a:iv  more  than  the  true  Ijrael  of    tribe  of  Benjamin  :     But  which  ever  it 

in  both:   For  he  fpeaks  of  huh  a    was,   it  probably  bordered  on  the  wil- 

ofChrift's  d«ath,  as  ihould  fave  them    dernefs  of  Jnd 


54  Jefus  there- 
fore walked  no 
more 
jnong 


.  t  1.  ind  ;    and  p»a« 

•  '  nt  out  of  the 
.  'juiiti  y  uj)   to    |c- 


Chap.  xi. 

rufalem  before  the 
paffover,  to  purify 
themielves. 


$6  Then  fought 
they  for  Jefus,  and 
fpake  among  them- 
felves,  as  they  flood 
in  the  temple, 
What  think  ye, 
that  he  will  not 
come  to  the  feaft  ? 

57  Now  both  the 
chief  priefts  and 
the  Pharifees  had 
given  a  command- 
ment, that  if  any 
man  knew  where 
he  were,  he  fhould 
Shew  it,  that  they 
might  take  him. 


John  paraphrafed.  409 

multitudes  from  all  parts  of  the  country  repaired  to 
Jerufa/ewy  as  ufual,  fome  little  time  before-hand, 
that  they  who  had  contracted  any  ceremonial  unclean- 
nefs,  might  perform  the  rites  of  purification  appoint- 
ed in  the  law,  in  order  to  their  partaking  of  that  re- 
ligious feaft.  _ 

56  The  city  therefore  filling  apace,  and  our  Lord 
not  appearing  there,  the  peop^  fought  after  him  ; 
and,  at  their  meeting  together  in  the  temple,  laid 
one  to  another,  What  are  your  thoughts  about  Je- 
fus's  not  being  here  ?  Will  he,  according  to  cuitom, 
come  up  to  this  pafTover,  or  will  he  Hay  away  for 
fear  of  his  enemies  ? 

57  Now,  though  fome  might  afk  thefe  queilions 
out  of  good-will  toward  him,  being  defirous  to  fee 
and  hear  him,  and  get  good  by  him  ;  and  others,  out 
of  mere  curiolity  ;  yet  there  were  others,  that  only 
wanted  an  opportunity  to  deliver  him  up  to  the  chief 
prielts  and  Pbarifees  :  For  they,  as  a  council,  had 
iflued  out  orders,  llrictly  requiring,  upon  pain  of  their 
utmoll  difpleafure,  that  if  any  one  knew  where  he 
was,  he  mould  not  conceal  him,  but  mould  forthwith 
difcover  him  to  them,  that  they  might  apprehend 
him,  and  profecute  him  even  unto  death. 


RECOLLECTIONS. 

How  common  is  it  for  fuch  as  Chrift  loves,  and  as  fincerely  love  him,  to  be,  like 
Lazarus,  fick  unto  death,  And,  like  Mary  and  Martha,  mourning  the  lofs  of  the 
jdeareft  friends  and  comforts  of  life!  But  what  encouragements  may  they  take  from 
Ills  love,  to  apply  in  all  their  diftrefles  to  him!  Though  he  may  lbmetimes  delay 
an  anfwer,  and  we  may  be  apt  to  misjudge  his  conduct,  and  give  way  to  unbelief, 
while  we  look  at  the  difcouraging  circumftances  that  furround  us,  inftead  of  look- 
ing to  the  promifes  and  power  of  Chrift;  and  though  we  may  expect  a  reproof  for 
it ;  yet  how  does  he  bear  with  us,  and  wait  to  be  gracious,  that  he  may  glorify  his 
own  and  his  Father's  name,  improve  our  faith,  and  do  us  good,  in  a  better  way 
than  we  ourfelves  delired  ! — With  what  chearfulnefs  and  diligence  fhould  we  fol- 
low his  example,  in  working  for  God  whilft  it  is  day,  fince  death  will  foon  put  an 
end  to  all  opportunities  for  it '  How  willingly  fhould  we  take  our  lot  with  our 
Lord,  for  this  world  and  the  next !  And  why  lhould  believers  be  afraid  of  dying,  to 
fleep  in  Jefus,  who  will  awaken  them  again  in  the  morning  of  a  blefied  refurrec- 
tion  !  Behold  the  God  in  him,  who  fpoke  of  himfelf  as  the  object  of  faith,  as  the 
refurrection  and  the  life,  and,  by  his  abfolute  word  of  command,  quickened  Laza- 
*us  from  the  dead,  and  called  him  forth  out  of  his  grave  !  And  behold  in  him  the 
man  of  like  natural  paflions  with  ourfelves,  when  on  moving  occafions  he  groaned 
in  fpirit,  and  flied  tears  of  grief !  And  how  admirably  did  Providence  over-rule  va- 
rious circumftances,  that  in  thefe  ways  he  might  act  both  the  God  and  the  Man, 
before  many  credible  witneffes  !  Whatsoever  we  believe  concerning  him,  our  faith 
is  vaftly  defective,  unlefs  it  refts  upon  him  as  that  Saviour,  who  is  the  Son  of  God, 
in  fuch  a  peculiar  and  exalted  fenfe,  as  to  be  himfelf  God,  and  whofe  own  power 
can  perform  all  things  for  us :  We  may  therefore  thir.k  v.e  hear  him  faying  to  us, 
Believeft  thou  this?  And  we  fhould  not  be  fatisfied  till  we  can  anfwer,  Yea,  Lord, 
we  believe  it. — How  kind  and  companionate  is  he  to  his  afflicted  friends;  how  ten- 
derly does  he  fympathize  with  them  ;  what  rich  confolations  may  they  find  in  him 
under  all  their  troubles ;  how  eafily  can  he  make  up  their  greateft  lofies,  and  re- 
ftore  former  mercies  beyond  all  their  own  hopes,  whenever  he  pleales;  and  how  rea- 
dily lhould  we  go  to  meet. with  Jefus  !  And,  when  once  he  appears,  how  great  is 
*fce  J°y»  whatsoever  our  Sorrows  were  before  '.   The  Jeivs  themfelves,  may  indeed 

•  teach 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  xii. 


410 

teach  us  fympathy  with  our  mourning  friends ;  but  none  pities  like  Chrift,  and 
none  can  relieve  like  him.  And  O  what  might  we  not  hope  for,  had  we  but  faith 
to  depend  upon  him  according  to  his  word!  And  what  glorious  things  will  he  work 
For  them  that  believe  in  him  !  Though  they  muft  die  out  of  this  world,  like  other 
men,  they  (hall  not  die  for  ever ;  but  he  will  raife  them  up  to  a  blefTed  immorta- 
lity in  a  better.  But,  alas  \  how  great  are  the  prejudices  that  arc  found  againft  him 
in  men  of  carnal  minds?  Though  they  themfelves  were  to  fee  him  open  the  eyes  of* 
then  that  were  born  blind,  and  raife  them  to  life  that  had  been  dead  long  enough  to 
ftiuk  in  their  graves ;  yet-unlefs  the  fame  divine  power  be  exerted  to  open  the  eyes 
of  their  own  r.nderftandings,  and  quicken  them  to  a  fpiritual  life,  they  will  not -be- 
lieve in  him  to  eternal  lite  :  W  hile  fome,  through  grace,  are  brought  over  to  him; 
others,  from  worldly  views,  endeavour  to  expofe,  and  take  counfel  againft  him  : 
But  all  their  devices  lhall  be  over-ruled  to  fubferve  the  falvation  of  the  children  of 
God  of  ali  nations,  wherever  they  are  fcattered  abroad  ;  and  whatfoever  may  be 
the  deligns  of  men  againft  Chrift,  and  the  various  thoughts  of  their  hearts  concern- 
ing him,  he  will  carry  on,  and  fmiih  his  work,  in  his  own  time  and  way. 


CHAP.       XII. 

Mar)'  anoints  Chrift'1  s  feet  at  Bethany,  1,— 8.  The  people  flock  to 
fee  him  and  Lazarus,  9.  The  chief  priejls  confult  to  kill  Chrift, 
jo,  ii.  He  rides  in  triumph  to  Jerufalem,  12, — 19.  The  Greeks 
defire  to  fee  him,  20, — 22.  He  foretels  his  death  and  its  eft  eels, 
27;, — 33.  His  folemn  warning  to  the  Jews,  34, — 36.  The  con- 
tinued infidelity  of  the  generality  of  them,  though  fome  of  the  rulers 
believed  him  to  he  the  Mefjiah,  but  did  not  own  him,  37, — 43.  He 
after ts  his  divine  mifjion,  44, — 30. 

Text.  Paraphrase. 

)d  for  the  death  of 
to  fhew  his  great 
rr  his  Father's  will 
Lazarus was,whic'n    therein,  went  the  day  before  the   Sabbath,  fix  corn- 
had    been     dead,    plete  days  before  the  pafibver,  to  the  village  called 
j^hom    he    raifed    Bethany,  where  Lazarus  dwelt,  whom  he  had  mira- 
culoufly  reflored  to  life.      (Chap.  xi.  43,  44.  fee  the 
note  on  Matth.  xxvi.  6.) 

2  Upon  his  arrival  thither,  his  friends  provided  a 

handfome  entertainment  and  invited  him,  and   {ye,r. 
per,    arid    Martha  v   ^    d«f  .   ,  ^  h]m  tQ  f  that   fc   .         ^ 

■  iv  ft  :    but  Laza-     T  /     .      '         J  1      %  r        1 

,oneofthem  principal  meal  among  the  Jews  ;  and  Martha,  to 
ttilify  her  gratitude,  veneration,  and  eileem,  waited 
upon  him  like  a  fervant,  *  though  lhe  was  a  perfon 
of  confiderable  rank  :  But  Lazarus  himfelf  iat  at 
table  w'ith  him,  that  all  the  company  might  be  wit- 

neffes 

NOTE. 

•    It  appears  that  Martha  was  a  per-  (ycr.  3.)  and  from  theirs  being  an  houfe 

'on  ^f  fome   figure,    from    tic  great  re-  of  entertainment   to  our  Lord   and   his 

jfpecl  that  was  paid  to  her  and  her  fifter,  in  difciples,    he    probably    lodging    there, 

vtlits  and  cyndolances,  at  Lazarus\  death,  when    he    returned    from  jerufalem  to 

as  well  as  from  the  coitly  ointment  that  Bethany  every  evening  of  the  taft  week 

her  filter  ufed  in  anointing  Chriil's  feet,  of  his  life,  which  he  now  entered  upon. 


2     There     they 

le   him   a   fup- 

per.     and     Martha 


that  Cat  at  the  ta 
with  him. 


Chap.  xii. 


3  Then  took  Ma- 
ry a  pound  of  oint- 
ment, of  fpikenard, 
very  coftly,  and 
anointed  the  feet 
of  Jefus,  and  wi- 
ped his  feet  with 
her  hair  :  and  the 
houfe  was  filled 
with  the  odour  of 
the  ointment. 


4  Then  faith  one 
«f  his  difciples,  Ju- 
das Ifcariot,  Si- 
mon's Jon,  which 
mould  betray  him, 

5  Why  was  not 
this  ointment  fold 
for  three  hundred 
pence,  and  given 
to  the  poor. 

6  This  he  laid, 
not  that  he  cared 
for  the  poor  ;  but 
becaufe  he  was  a 
thief,  and  had  the 
bag,  and  bare  what 
w<i5  out  therein. 


7  Then  faid  Je* 
fas,  Let  her  alone  : 
againft  the  day  of 
my  burying  hath 
Ihe  kept  thk 


John  paraphrafed.  411 

nefles  of  his  being  alive  and  in  health,  and  of  his  eat- 
ing, drinking,  and  converging  again  like  other  men. 

3  Then  Mary,  the  other  filler  of  Lazarus,  that 
fhe  might  likewife  pay  her  grateful  acknowledgment 
of  Chrift's  favour,  and  her  honourable  regard  to  him, 
brought  a  pound  of  odoriferous  ointment,  made  of 
the  mod  genuine  ( inartxm )  and  coftly  fpinkenard  ; 
and  coming  behind  him,  as  he  fat  at  table  with  hi* 
feet  thru  11  out  backwards,  fhe  fuppled  his  feet  with 
the  ointment,  and  wiped  them  with  her  own  hair,  as 
thinking  that  fhe  could  not  humble  herfelf  too  much, 
in  exprefiing  her  veneration  of  fuch  a  great  Lord  and 
friend  :  And  that  (lie  might  futther  teftify  her  faith 
in  him  as  Meffiah,  the  King,  and  might  add  another 
token  of  the  higheft  honour  that  was  anciently  put  up- 
on the  greateft  perfonages,  (Pfa/.  xxiii.  5.)  fhe  pour- 
ed the  reft  of  the  ointment  upon  his  head,  (Matth. 
xxvi.  7.  fee  the  note  there)  the  perfume  of  which 
diffufed  a  grateful  fcent  through  the  whole  room,  and 
was  a  fit  emblem  of  the  fweet  odour  of  Chrift's  ap- 
proaching death  and  facririce,  and  of  the  •  graces  of 
his  Spirit,  which  fhould  be  fhed  abroad  in  confe- 
quence  thereof. 

4,  5  Hereupon  Judas  Ifcariot,  who  was  the  foil 
of  one  Simon,  and  an  apollle  of  Chrift,  difcovered  a 
malignant  difcontent  at  the  honour  done  to  his  Lord, 
faying,  What  an  extravagant  wafte  is  this,  without 
any  manner  of  occalion  for  it  ?  Why  fhould  our  Maf- 
ter  or  we  fuffer  fuch  profufenefs  ?  "Would  it  not  have 
been  much  better  to  have  fold  this  rich  ointment  for 
the  great  price  it  would  have  fetched,  (fee  the  note  on 
Mark  xiv.  5.)  and  to  have  relieved  the  poor  with  it? 

6  The  reafon  of  Judas's  fpeaking  in  this  manner 
was,  not  that  he  had  any  real  concern,  as  he  pretend- 
ed, for  the  poor  ;  but  becaufe  he  was  a  man  of  a  co- 
vetous temper  and  difhoneft  principle  ;  and  what 
little  money  Chrift  and  his  difciples  had  fon  necefiary 
fupplies,  was  committed  to  his  keeping,  who,  had 
the  price  of  this  ointment  been  put  into  his  hands, 
might  have  purloined  fome  of  it,  or  run  away  with 
it  all,  in  cafe  the  fuffering  days,  which  his  Matter  talk- 
ed of,  mould  come. 

7  Our. Lord  therefore,  (*v)  knowing  his  wick- 
ed defign,  hut  taking  nc  public  notice  of  it,  repli- 
ed, (x<pi<;)  Do  not  be  fevere  upon  this  good  woma.i, 
let  her  go  on  peaceably  with  thefe  teitimonies  or  .  er 
refperrt  to  me  :  She  herein,  by  a  fpecial  direction  of 
Providence,  nets  more  fuitably  than  you  are  aware  of,, 
to  my  circumftances,  who  am  juft  ready  to  be  put  to 
death,  and,  in  .effect,  is  only  expending  that  upon 
me  a  little  before  my  burial,  which  you  cannot  deay 

to 


412 


The  Evar^elift 


Chap,  xii. 


S  For  the  poor 
always  ye  "have 
with  you  ;  but  me 
ye  have  not  al- 
ways. 


9  Much  people 
of  the  Jews  there- 
fore knew  that  he 


to  have  been  a  fit  referve  for  an  embalment,  which 
fiie  will  have  no  opportunity  for,  after  it. 

8  And  as  he  knew  that  ethers  of  the  difciples  had 
likewife  been  influenced,  by  Judas^s  plaufible  pretence 
of  charity,  to  find  fault  with  what  Mary  had  done, 
(Matth.  xxvi.  8,  9.)  he  told  them  there  was  no  oc- 
cafion  for  their  uneafinefs  on  that  account :  For,  faid 
he,  in  the  difpofals  of  Providence,  in  fuch  a  world  of 
iin  and  mifery  as  this,  there  will  be  always  poor  peo- 
ple enough  living  among  you,  to  furniih  opportuni- 
ties for  liberality  and  compaffion  toward  them,  ac- 
cording to  your  ability,  whenever  ye  may  be  inclin- 
ed to  it ;  but  in  a  very  little  time  I  (hall  be  no  long- 
er corporally  prefent  with  you,  and  all  opportuni- 
ties will  foon  be  over  of  mewing  any  kindnefs,  or  re- 
fpect  to  me  in  perfon  again. 

9  Now  as  Chriit  was  at  Bethany,  within  lefs  than 
two  miles  of  Jerufa/em,  abundance  of  the  Jezvs  foon 

an(j  heard  of  his  being  there  ;  and,  as  the  fame  of  his  late 
they  came,  not  for  furpriiing  miracle  was  fpread  among  them,  they  im- 
Jefus'  lake  only,  mediately  flocked  *  thither,  not  merely  for  the  fake 
but  that  they  might    Qf  feefng  and  hearing  him,  but  that  they  might  like- 

...u~™  u»  uIa  ,„;'    wife  fee  and  converfe  with  Lazarus  himfelf,  whom  he 
whom  he  hart  rai-    ...  ,.r  ._  111 

fed  from  the  dead,     had  brought  to  life  again  From  the  dead. 

10  But  the  chief        10   But  the  chief  priefts,  inftead  of  being  foftened, 

prielts     confulted,    or  fuitably  affected  with  fuch  a  wonderful  inftance  of 

ia      t  ey    mig       Chrift's  power  and  ^oodnefs,  were  filled  with  raj?e 
put  Lazatus  alio  to  r  o ;  .  "»  .  ,         *        ,     6 

and  envy  at  it  ;   and  conlpired  againit  tne  lire  ot  Lc~ 

zarus,  which  had  been  thus  miraculoufly  reftored,  re- 

folving  to  put  him,  as  well  as  Jefus,  to  death  ; 

1 1    Becaufe,  by  means  of  this  undeniable,  living 

proof  of  Chriit's  divine  character,  many  of  the  Jeius 
m fiTiv  oi   the   lews 

went    awav     and    wcrc  induced  to  think  meanly  of  their  rulers,  and  de- 
believed  on' jefus.     fert  their  party,    and  to  believe  that  Jefut  was  the 

Mefiiah,  not  with  Handing  all  that  his  enemies  could 

fay  to  the  contra ry. 

12,  13  And  fo  great  an  intercfl  did  he  hereby  ob- 
day,  much  people    ta;n  jn  tne  affe&ions  of  the  people,  that  the  next  day, 

the     lead       when    tnc  fecon(^  day  °*  t^le  week,   vaft  multitudes  of  them, 
that  were  come  from  all  parts  to  Jet >  ufa/enr  ag?inlt 
the  paffover,  when  they  heard  that  he  was  repairing 
thither  too,  gathered  boughs  of  palm-trees,  and  went 
out  of  the  city  to  meet  him  ;  and  ftrewing  fome  of 
their  branches  in  the  way,   (Matrh.  xxi.  8.)  and  car- 
rying others  in  their  hands,  they  attended  him  in  fo- 
•  I  HotannarBlefs-   ]cmn  procefiion,  and   lhouted  aloud  with  all  the  joy 
ed  ft  the  Kin^ot   ^  ufed  tQ  bc  exp^ed$  togcther   with  thefe  cere- 
monies* 


death. 


11  Becaufe  that 
by   reafon   of  him 


12  On  the  next 


they  betid  that 
Jefus  was  coming 
to  Jerusalem, 

1  -,  look  bran- 
ches of  palm-trees, 
and  went  forth  to 
meet  him,  and  cri- 


N    O 

*  If,  as  we  have  fuppofed,  Chrift  was 
at  ths  entertainment  on  the  evening,  as 
foon  as  the  Sabbath  was  over,  it  is  high* 


T    E. 

ly  probable  that  this  company  came  to 
Bethany  on  the  next  day,  which  was 
the  firft  day  of  the  week. 


Chap.  xii. 

Ifrael  that  cometh 
in  the  name  of  the 
tori. 


14  And  Jefus 
when  he  had  to  and 
a  young  afs,  fat 
thereon  ;  as  it  is 
written, 

15  Fear  not, 
daughter  of  Sion  : 
behold,  thy  King 
cometh,  fitting  on 
an  afs's  c  d 


16  Thefe  th 
understood  not  his 

pies  at  the 
firft  :  but  when  je- 

was  glorified, 
then  remembered 
they  that  thefe 
things  were  writ- 
ten of  him,  and 
-  they  had  done 
thefe  things  unto 
bun. 

1 7  The  people 
therefore  that  was 
with  him  when  he 
called  Lazarus  out 
of  his  grave,  and 
r2ifed  him  from 
the  dead,  bare  re- 
cord. 

1 5  For  this  caufe 
the  people  aifo 
met  him,  for  that 
i-.eard  that  he 
had  done  this  mi- 
racie. 

19    The    Phari- 
sees therefore   laid 
among 

Vol.  II, 


John  paraphrafed.  413 

monies,  at  the  feail  of  tabernacles,  (Lev.  xxiii.  40. 
and  Pal.  cxviii.  25,  26.)  faying,  Ho  'anna,  May  ail 
profperity,  victory,  and  fuccefs,  crown  the  long  ex- 
pected, and  now  prefent  King  of  Ifrael !  May  he 
reign  and  triumph  for  ever  !  Bleffed  be  his  glorious 
name;  we  rejoice  in  him,  and  bid  him  welcome,  who 
is  come  from  God  himielf,  and  is  cloathed  with  his 
authority,  as  our  MeiTiah,  to  fave  us  from  all  our  ene- 
mies, and  to  load  us  with  his  benefits.  (See  the  notes 
on  Mattb.  xxi.  9.) 

14,  15  And  as  the  people  thus  furrcunded  him 
with  acclamations  and  praifes,  Jefus  himfelf,  having 
procured  a  young  afs,  rode  upon  if  in  a  way  of  un- 
common triumph,  with  circumltances  of  abafement, 
fuitable  to  his  ilate  of  humiliation,  and  with  a  fnew 
of  grandeur,  that  prefigured  his  approaching  ex 
tion  to  the  kingdom  :   And  :  ordered  in  pro- 

vidence, though  undefigned  by  the  people,  to  be  a 
literal  accomplishment  of  an  infpired  prophecy  con- 
cerning the  Meffiah,  (Zecb.  ix.  9.)  where  it  is  faid, 
Rejoice  greatly,  0  daughter  ofZion;  JBoiit]  0  da 
ter  of  Jerufalem  ;  let  your  joy  expel  all  your  for- 
mer fears,  O  every  fon  and  daughter  of  the  new  Jeru- 
fa/em,  and  heavenly  Z ;";  7  ;  Behold,  thy  King  cometh 
unto  thee  ;  he  is  juj?,  and  having  J ahation,  ftrtv/j, 
and  riding  upon  an  afs,  and  upon  a  ?qJt,  the 
of  an  cfs       (See  the  notes  on  Mailb.  xxi.  5,  7.) 

16  While  thefe  things  were  tranfacting,  the  i'.V- 
ciples  of  our  Lord  were  fo  far  from  ufing  any  under- 
hand methods  to  promote  them,  that  they  had  Bo 
notion  of  their  r.  tc  the   Mefiiah's  characl 
But  when  he  was  aiteTwards  exalted  to  his  hea- 
throne,  and  (bed  down  his  Spirit  upon  them  from  on 
high,  their  understandings  were  enlightened,  and,  to 
the  confirmation  of  their  faith,   tney  perfectly  h 
lected  that  thefe  very  circumflances  were  foretold  in 
prophecy,  and  had  been  punctually  fulfilled       .. 

1 7  The  immediate  occalion  of  which  was  this,  thofe 
perfons,  who  were  prefent,  when  Jefus  raifed  Laza- 
rus from  the  dead,  declared  that  they  law  him  come 
out  of  the  grave,    at  Chriffs  authoritative  wo: 
command. 

18  This  was  the  principal  reafon,  why  fo  great  a 
multitude,  at  that  time,  went  out  of  the  city  to  n 
and  applaud  him,  in  that  public  manner,  as  the  Mef- 
fiah ;  for  they  were  well  fatisned  by  the  report  of  thefe 
credible  eye-witnefles.  that  he  had  really  wrought 
very  extraordinary  and  furprifing  miracle. 

19  The  Pharifee?  hereupon  were  filled  with  the 
utmoftrage  and  vexation,  faying  one  to  another,  Alas! 
to  what  little  purpoie  arc  ajl  our  a-Uhority  and  zeal, 

li  h  h 


4*4 

among  themfelves, 
Perceive  ye  Low 
ye  prevail  nothing? 
behold,  the  world  is 
gone  after  him. 


\nd  there  were 
certain  Greeks  a- 
r.long  them,  that 
:ame  up  to  wor- 
ship at  the  leaft  : 


2  r  The  fame 
crime  therefore  to 
Philip,  which  was 
<>f  Bethfaida  of  Ga- 
lilee, and  defired 
him,  laying.  Sir, 
v.e  wouid  fee  Je- 

1U5. 


22  Philip  Com- 
eth and  telleth  An- 
drew :  and  again, 
Andrew  and  Philip 
told  Jefus. 


The  Evangelijl 


Chap,  xii, 


threatenings  and  perfuafions,  contrivances  and  op- 
pofition  to  fupprefs  this  man  ?  Inftead  of  the  peoples 
being  reftraincd  by  our  attempts  againft  him,  they 
grow  more  fond  of  him  than  ever.  Look  what  a  * 
world  of  them  run  after  him,  and  are  all  at  once  be- 
come hi*  difciples  [  What  will  this  come  to  at  length, 
nnlefs  fome  more  fpeedy  and  effectual  courfe  be  taken, 
than  we  have  yet  gone  into,  to  put  a  Hop  to  it  ? 

20  And  at  the  fame  time,  fome  religious  perfons 
among  the  Gentiles  were  Sirred  up  to  earneil  inquiries 
after  Jefus :  There  were,  for  inftance,  feveral  devout 
Greeks  f ,  who  being  profelytes  of  the  gate,  came  up 
to  Jerufalem,  to  worihip  in  the  court  of  the  Gentiles, 
at  the  great  feftival  which  was  then  at  hand. 

2 1  Thefe  having  heard  fo  much  of  him,  and  ha- 
ving fome  knowledge  of  Philip,  who  was  one  of  his 
difciples,  and  had  been  an  inhabitant  of  Bethfaida, 
which  lay  in  Galilee  of  the  Gentiles,  went  to  him,  % 
two  or  three  days  after  the  public  entry,  and  begged 
the  favour  of  him  to  introduce  them  into  Chrift's 
company,  faying,  Sir,  we  would  fain  fee  Jefus,  and 
have  a  little  converfation  with  him,  that  we  ourfelves 
may  be  acquainted  with  his  do&rine,  and  may  know 
what  judgment  to  form  concerning  him. 

22  But  as  Chrift  had  difcouraged  converfes  with 
the  Gentiles,  (Matth.  x.  5.)  and  might  be  dill  more 
expofed  to  the  fury  of  his  enemies,  by  appearing  in 
company  with  thefe,   Philip  confulted   Andrew,   a 

fenior 
NOTES. 

dwelt  about  Tyre  and  Sidon,  and,  by 
means  of  their  commerce,  were  acquaint- 
ed with  the  Galileans,  and  particularly 
with  Philip,  who  was  a  man  of  Bethfai- 
da in  Galilee  of  the  Gentiles,  (ver.  21.) 
And  they  arc  moft  generally  thought  to 
be  profelytes  of  the  gate,  who  ufed  at 
public  folemnities  to  repair  to  Jen/fa  lem, 
to  worfhip  ;  though,  not  being  circum- 
eifed,  they  Mere  not  fuffered  to  eat  the 
paffbvet :  Accordingly  it  is  here  only 
faid  of  thefe  Greek's,  that  they  came  to 
yerafalem  to  worfhip. 

\  As  Chrift  made  his  entry  into  'Jem* 


*  The  world  is  here,  as  in  many  other 
places,  evidently  to  he  understood  with 
reftriclion,  and  can  only  fignify  great 
bombers  of  all  forts  of  people,  efpecially 
oi  the  lower  rank. 

f  E\/i»yrf  the  Greeks,  and  Exx»wra« 
the  Grecians,  are  very  different  in  the 
ftile  of  the  New  Teltament.  The  Gre- 
cians or  Hellcmjls  are  mentioned,  as 
I  think,  only  in  AEls  vi.  1.  and  is..  29. 
and  k\.  20.  and  fignify  fuch  j^ews  as  were 
Scattered  abroad  in  Gentile  nations,  and 
ufed  the  Greek  language.  But  the  Greeks 
arc  mentioned  a  dozen  times  in  the  New 
Tcftament,   and  properly  (unify  Greeks  falem  on  the  fecond  day  of  that  week  in 


by  nation  or  birth  :  Thefe,  being  a  re- 
nowned people  for  learning  among  the 
Gentiles,  are  fometimes  put  for  the  Gen- 
tile nations  i:i  general,  in  opposition  to 
the  Jeivs,  as  in  Rom.  i.  16.  and  ii.  9,  10. 
compared  with  ver.  14. :  and  at  other 
times  for  the  more  polite  Gentiles,  in  op- 
poGtion  to  the  more  rude  and  harbarous 
nations  among  them,  as  in  Rom.  i.  14. 
It  is  probable,  as  Grotius  thinks,  that 
thefe  Greeks  were  Syrofb'enicians,  who 


which- he  was  crucified,  and  it  is  laid, 
(Lake  xix.  47.)  that  he  taught  daily  in 
the  tempie,  which  intimates,  that  he  did 
fo  fome  days  at  leaft  in  that  week;  fo  a* 
loon  as  he  had  tinifbed  the  difcourfe,  oc- 
cafioned  by  this  recjweft  of  the  Greeks,  it 
is  laid,  (  vcr.  ;6.)  that  he  departed  and 
hid  himu-if :  And  therefore  it"  feems  to 
have  been  two  or  three  days  after  his 
public  entry  into  'jerufalem,  that  thfey  ap- 
plied Xalfhilip  to  introduce  them  t&Jefus. 


Chap.  xii. 


John  paraphrafed. 


4*5 


eth     forth 

fx  uit. 


fenior  difciple,  and  one  of  Ins  own  townfmen,  {chap. 
i.  44.)  about  the  expediency  of  mentioning  this  re- 
queft  to  Jefus  ;  and  they,  agreeing  together,  went 
and  acquainted  him  with  it. 

23  And  Jefus  an-        23   To  which  Jefus  replied,  The  fet  time  appoint- 
fwered  them,  lay-   e(j  0f  tne  Father  is  juil  at  hand,  v.  hen   I,   the   Mei- 

!"g'    7w  ^°Uq  !S  &*»  fl»H  be  highly  honoured  in  the  falvation,  not  of 

ccrne  that  the  Son  '  ,  o     J  ' 

of  man  fliould  be    jews  only,   out  01  Gentiles  ado,  that  ihail  be  brought 
glorified.  to  know  and  believe  in  me ;  an  earneft  and  (pecimen 

of  which  appears  in  the  importunate  dehrc  of 
Greeks,  to  fee  and  converfe  with  me. 

24  Verilv,  veri-         24   I,  who  am  Truth  itfelf,  affu  redly  tell  you,  that 
:y,  I  fay  unto  you,    2s  a  grain  of  wheat,  which  is  fown  in  the  earth,  yit 
Except  a  corn  oi    no  Jncrcafe    uniefs  its  prefent  form  die  or  perim  *  ; 
wheat  fall  into  the    ,  .r  .     \.         .     ,      r  ,.        f     -Vr  r      c 
ground,  and  die    it    Dut»   lt   lt   cnes>   ll   becomes   exceeding   iruitiuf  :    bo, 
abideth  alone:  but    were  I  to  continue  in  my  prefent  Itate  in  this  world, 

t  if  it  die,  it  bri::g-  and  never  to  die  a  facrihee  for  iin,  and  be  buried  in 
icn  the  grave,  the  great  defign  of  my  office  would  be  de- 
feated, and  I  lnould  not  have  the  honour  of  railing  up 
a  fpiritual  feed  to  bear  mine  image,  and  fnew  forth 
my  praife  :  But  if  I  am  made  an  offering  for  fin,  and 
pour  out  my  foul  unto  death,  I /ball  fee  my  feed% 
ana  the  pie  af lire  of  the  LoYci  v:  ill  prof  per  in  my  banc, 
(Ifa. liii.  io,  12.)  that  I  may  be  glorified  in  convert- 
ing, ana  faving  multitudes  of  all  nations,  and  in  their 
adoring  fongs,  as  the  reward  of  my  fufferings  and 
death. 

25  He  that  lo-        25   Then,  to  fhew  his  difciples,  that  the  benefits 
veth  his  life,  fhall   he  fp0ke  of,  as  the  fruit  of  his  dead),  were  not  of  a 

o:e  it:  and  he  that  ,     fc  f        fo^^   and   cternal   na,,,re     ]1C 

hateth   nis   are    in  r         »  **    Z  1  ^  1   *  r  j 

this    world,    frail   proceeded  to  tell  them  that  they  mint  t>e  conformed 

keep  it  unto    life   to  him  in  fufferings,  as  ever  they  would  be  partakers 
£t£rca-  of  glory  with  him,  faying,  Whoever  is  fo  fond  of 

this  prefent  life  and  its  enjoyments,  as  to  deny,  dn- 
own,  or  reject  me,  that  he  may  avoid  fuch  periecu- 
tions  and  dangers  as  would  expole  h/a  to  death  for 
my  fake,  fhall  certainly  fall  fnort  of  that  eternal  glo- 
ry and  bleffednefs  which  belt  deferves  the  name  of 
life.  And,  on  the  contrary,  whoever  fhall  be  io  in- 
different to  the  prefent  life  and  all  its  comforts,  as  e- 
ven  to  hate  every  unworthy  means  of  preferring  it, 
fuch  as  difowning  or  denying  mc,  (hall  furely  in- 
II  h  h   2  herit 

N  0  T  E. 
*  Ntetr'centyt  obferves  that  thtle  modeled  to  that  purpofe  for  which  he  in- 
words  ought  to  have  a  particular  empha-  tended  to  afe  it.  See  Relig-  P/.ilcf.  Con- 
fis,  in  which  cur  Lord,  agreeable  to  his  tempi.  23.  Seel.  xi.  Where,  tor  proof,  he 
-  infinite  knowledge,  is  pleafcd  to  tingle  refers  to  Dr.  Gievi's  an-it^my  or  plants  : 
out  from  among  fo  many  thoufands  of  and  Malphig.  defern.  veget.  w  hoi'e  ob- 
feeds,  in  which  the  co:.irary.obtains,  the  fervations  are,  that  the  like  is  not  found 
only  cne  almolt  which  he  earth  ;    in  any  other  grain,  beli  eat  bear. 

and  which  therefore  was  an  exceeding    and  millet -m  ill'.. ■?».> 
■  .-de,  ai.d  pecidi  urn- 


416 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  xii. 


16  If  any  man 
ferve  me,  let  him 
follow  me  ;  and 
where  I  am,  there 
fhal!  alfo  my  fer- 
vant  be  :  if  any 
man  ferve  me,  him 
will  my  Father  ho- 
nour. 


27  Now  is  my 
foul  troubled ;  and 
what  fliall  I  fay  ? 
Father,  fave  me 
from  this  hour  : 
but  for  this  caufe 
came  I  unto  this 
hour. 


28  Father  glo- 
xify  thy  name. 
Then  came  there 
•ice  from  hea- 
"  f,n,  faying,  I  have 
't'orh  glorified  it, 
will  glorify  it 
again. 


"t    Tlic   people 
fow  that 

ftoodby,  and  heard 
ft,  laid,  I  hat  it 
thundered:  others 
An  angel 
.'pake   to   him. 

Jefus  anfvver- 
ed 


herit  eternal  life,  which  is  the  higheft  happinefs  he 
can  be  capable  of. 

26  So  that  if  any  one  would  be  a  true  difciple  and 
fervant  to  me,  let  him  follow  my  example,  and  the 
intimations  of  my  word,  providence,  and  Spirit, 
wherever  they  may  lead  him  ;  and,  for  his  encou- 
ragement, I  allure  him,  that  in  the  blefied  world, 
where  in  a  juft  fenfe  I  now  am,  and  where  in  a  little 
time  I  (hall  be,  and  abide  in  my  human  nature  for  e- 
ver,  (fee  the  note  on  chap.  vii.  34.)  there  fhall  fuch 
a  fervant  of  mine  be  alfo  with  me,  to  behold  my  glo- 
ry :  If  any  man  in  this  manner  unfeignedly  devotes 
himfelf  to  me,  how  much  foever  he  may  be  defpifed 
and  ill-ufed  for  it  by  men,  my  heavenly  Father  him., 
felf  will  put  immortal  honours  upon  him,  that  as  he 
fuffers  for  me  here,  he  may  be  like  wife  glorified  with 
me  for  ever. 

27  Whilfl  our  dear  Lord  was  thus  difcourfing  a- 
bout  fufferings,  the  terror  of  his  own  laft  conflicts 
began  to  feize  him  ;  upon  which,  to  fhew  that  he 
had  all  the  innocent  paffions  of  human  nature,  he 
faid,  At  this  very  time  my  foul  is  exceedingly  dillrefs- 
ed  in  a  near  view  of  the  bitterefl  tribulations  that 
from  every  quarter  are  coming  upon  me  :  How  (hall 
I  exprefs  myfelf  in  the  mod  becoming  manner,  under 
the  touching  fenfe  I  have  of  them  ?  Then,  turning  his 
addrefs  from  the  people  to  God,  he  faid,  O  my  hea- 
venly Father,  the  language  of  oppreffed  nature  is, 
Let  me,  if  poflible,  be  excufed  the  extreme  fufferings 
that  are  now  juft  ready  to  rufh  upon  me  :  But  I  in- 
fill not  upon  this,  as  knowing  that  the  great  defign 
of  my  coming  into  the  world  is  to  undergo  them,  ac- 
cording to  thy  eternal  purpofe,  and  my  covenant-en- 
gagements to  thee. 

28  Father,  I  freely  and  entirely  refign  to  thy  ho- 
ly will,  and  devote  myfelf  to  the  honour  of  thy  name, 
whatfoever  it  may  coft  me;  glorify  thine  own  per- 
fections by  me,  in  fuch  a  way  as  is  moil  pleafing  in 
thy  fight,  and  I  am  fatisfied  :  In  anfwer  to  which,  an 
awful  majellic  voice  was  immediately  directed  to  him 
from  heaven,  faying,  I  have  already  glorified  myfelf, 
meaning  by  Chriil's  obedience,  miniilry,  and  mira- 
cles hitherto  ;  and  will  be  Hill  further  glorified,  mean- 
ing by  his  fufferings  and  death. 

29  This  voice  was  heard  by  the  whole  alTembly  then 
prclent,  though,  by  fome  more  plainly  than  others  ; 
feme  of  them  therefore  faid  it  was  a  clap  of  thunder, 
whilft  others,  who  heard  it  more  articulately,  faid, 
It  is  certainly  the  voice  of  an  angel  fpeaking  to  him 
from  heaven. 

30  But  Jefus  knowing  that  they  obferved  it,  and 

yet 


John  paraphrafed. 


caufe  of  me,    but 
for  your  fakes. 


31  Now  is  the 
judgment  of  this 
world :  now  fhall 
the  prince  of  this 
world  be  caft  out. 


Ghap.  xii.  John  paraptra\ea.  417 

ed  and  faid,  This  yet  were  ready  to  turn  it  off,  as  if  it  were  not  a  tef- 
voice  came  not  be-  timony  to  him  from  God  himfelf,  faid,  This  extra- 
ordinary voice  was  pronounced  from  heaven,  not  on 
my  account,  as  if  I  needed  to  be  fatisfied  that  my 
Father  would  own  me,  and  glorify  himfelf  by  me  ; 
but  it  came,  in  your  hearing,  as  an  immediate  wit- 
nefs  from  him,  of  his  approving  of  me  in  my  work, 
and  of  his  crowning  it  with  glorious  confequences  to 
me  and  mine,  that  ye  might  believe  in  me,  or  be 
left  for  ever  inexcufable  for  rejecting  me. 

3 1  The  time  is  now  juft  at  hand,  and  the  thing 
itfelf  is  as  certain  as  if  it  were  already  done,  when 
the  men  of  this  lower  world  (hall  be  brought  to  a 
critical  trial,  with  regard  to  their  thoughts  about 
me  ;  when  a  reformation  fhall  be  fet  on  foot,  and  a 
diftinction  made  between  the  precious  and  the  vile  j 
and  when  judgment  mail  pafs  upon  both,  by  the 
word  and  proyidence  of  God,  as  a  prefage  of  the 
future  judgment,  to  acquit  or  condemn  them,  anfwer- 
able  to  their  believing  or  not  believing  in  me  :  Judg- 
ment (hall  alfo  be  fpeedily  obtained  againft  Satan, 
who  has  ufurped  a  tyrannical  dominion  over  worldly- 
minded  men,  and  works  in  their  hearts  by  means  of 
the  things  of  this  world,  and  who  reigns  in  the  ig- 
norance, idolatry,  .  and  wickednefs  of  the  heathen 
world  :  His  power  fhall  be  vanquifhed,  his  claim  de- 
feated, his  oracles  filenced,  his  temples  laid  wafte  ; 
and  he'himfelf  mail  be  call  out  of  the  hearts  of  finners, 
by  the  merit  and  victory  of  my  death  and  refurrec- 
tion,  and  by  the  triumphs  of  my  Spirit  and  goipel, 
till  at  length  his  kingdom  fhall  be  utterly  deflroyed. 

32  And,  as  for  me,  I  will  erect  my  throne  upon 
the  ruins  of  his  ;  immediately  after  *  I  fhall  be  lifted 
up  from  the  earth  as  a  facrifice  for  fin,  which  will 
be  very  foon,  I  will  then  effectually  prevail  upon  per- 
fons  of  all  nations,  Gentiles  as  well  as  Jews,  by  the 
endearments  of  my  love,  and  the  operations  of  my 
jSpirit,  to  come  by  faith  unto  me,  that  my  people 
may  be  willing  in  the  day  of  my  power.      {P/al.  ex, 

3-) 

33  Our  Lord  fpoke  of  his  being  lifted  up,  to  inti- 
mate, that  he  fhould  be  put  to  the  death  of  the  crofs, 

on 


3  j  And  I,  if  I  be 
lifted  up  from  the 
earth,  will  draw  all 
men  unto  men. 


33  (This  he  faid, 

signifying        what 

death 


N    O 

*  It  is  the  common  obfervation  of  cri- 
tics, that  the  particle  t«v,  here  fignifies, 
and  fhould  be  rendered,  not  if,  but  when : 
For  our  Lord  was  fpeaking  of  his  death 
as  a  certain  event,  that  was  near  at  hand. 
— His  drawing  all  men  to  him,  in  confe- 
quence  of  his  being  lifted  up,  cannot  be 
meant  of  every  individual  of  mankind; 
becaufe  many  never  heard  of  a  crucified 


T     E. 

Saviour ;  and  many  of  them  that  have, 
were  never  prevailed  upon  to  believe  in 
him,  or  to  be  his  difciples :  But,  the  oc^ 
cation  of  this  difcourfe,  which  was  thp 
Greeks  defire  to  fee  Jefus,  (wr.  21)  na- 
turally leads  us  to  underftand  it  of  all 
forts  of  people,  Gentiles  as  well  as  Jews* 
See  the  note  on  chap,  i.  7. 


418 

death 
die.) 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  xii. 


he    fliould 


34  The  people 
anfwered  him,  We 
.have  heard  out  of 
the  law,  thatChrift 
abideth  for  ever  : 
and  how  lay  eft 
Jthou,  The  Son  of 
man  muft  be  lifted 
up  ?  Who  is  this 
5on  of  man  ? 


35  Then  Jefus 
faid  unto  them, 
Yet  a  little  while 
is  the  light  with 
you  :  walk  while 
ye  have  the  light, 
Jeft  darknefs  come 
upon  you  :  for  he 
that  walketh  in 
darknefs,  knoweth 
not  whither  he  go- 
eth. 


36  While  ye  have 
light,  believe  in 
the  light,  that  ye 
may  be  the  chil- 
dren of  light. 
Thefe  things  fpake 
Tel'us,  and  depart- 
ed, and  did  hide 
hirafelf  from  them. 


on  which,  like  one  that  died  under  the  curfe,  he 
fliould  hang  between  earth  and  heaven  ;  and  that,  in 
confequence  of  this,  he  fhould  rife  from  the  dead,  and 
be  glorified  in  heaven,  and  his  name  would  be  exalt- 
ed in  the  preaching  of  the  gofpel,  and  in  its  glorious 
efitcts,  to  the  falvation  of  all  that  fhould  look  by  faith 
to  him,  as  Ijraei  looked  to  the  brazen  ferpent,  and 
were  healed. 

34  The  common  people  hearing  him  fpeak  of  him- 
felf  in  fuch  a  manner,  as  imported  that  he  mould  die, 
and  leave  this  world,  replied,  We  have  learnt  by  the 
infpired  writings,  (fee  the  note  on  chap.  x.  34.)  that, 
when  the  Mefiiah  is  fpoken  of  under  the  character  of 
the  Son  of  man,  it  is  laid,  His  dominion  is  an  ever- 
lajling  dominion,  which  Jhall  not  pafs  away,  and 
his  kingdom  that  which  Jhall  not  be  de/lroycd.  (Dan. 
vii.  13,  14.)  If  then  you  pretend  to  be  this  Son  of 
man,  how  inconfiitently  do  you  talk  of  being  lifted 
up  from  the  earth,  and  dying  out  of  this  world  ? 
What  do  you  mean  by  calling  yourfelf  the  Son  of 
man,  while  you  thus  fpeak  ?  Or  how  mull  we  under- 
ftand  you  ? 

35  Then  Jefus,  knowing  with  what  perverfenefs 
they  cavilled  at  his  words,  did  not  think  proper  to 
anfwer  directly  to  their  queflion,  by  reminding  them 
of  his  refurrection  and  afcenfion  to  heaven,  where  he 
would  erect  his  throne,  and  exercife  a  fpiritual  and 
everlailing  dominion,  according  to  the  true  intent  of 
ancient  prophecies  concerning  him  :  But  he  faid  to 
them,  I  have  already  fufficiently  told  you  who  I  am, 
and  how  all  this  may  be  reconciled,  though  you  con- 
tinue obflinately  to  reject  me  ;  and  the  light  of  my 
miniftry  will  continue  but  a  very  little  time  longer 
among  you  ;  See  to  it  that  ye  make  good  ufe  of  this 
light,  while  ye  have  it  to  direct  you  in  the  way  to 
eternal  happinefs,  left  not  only  I,  but  the  gofpel  it- 
felf  be  taken  from  you,  or  ye  be  left  under  judicial 
blindnefs  of  mind,  to  your  utter  confulion  and  mifery : 
For  he  that  walks  in  the  darknefs  of  ignorance  and 
unbelief,  walks  he  knows  not  how,  and  goes  he  knows 
not  whither  j  he  cannot  tell  what  courfe  to  take  for 
fafety,  but  is  in  perpetual  danger  of  wandering  into 
mifchief  and  ruin. 

36  While  therefore,  for  a  little  time  longer,  ye 
have  me  among  you,  who  am  come,  as  a  light  from 
heaven,  to  fhew  you  the  way  of  falvation,  believe  in 
me,  according  to  what  I  fay  concerning  myfclf,  that 
ye  may  receive  the  truth  in  the  love  of  it,  before  it 
be  too  late,  and  may  be  under  fure  guidance  here, 
till  ye  be  admitted  to  the  regions  of  everlalling  light 
hereafter.     Our  Lord  having  given  them  thefe  fo- 

.Jemn 


Chap. 


xn. 


37  But  though 
he  had  done  fo 
many  miracles  be- 
fore them,  yet  they 
believed  not  on 
him. 


3S  That  the  fay- 
ing of  Efaias  the 
prophet  might  be 
fulfilled,  which  he 
fpake,  Lord,  who 
hath  believed  our 
report  ?  and  to 
whom  hath  the  arm 
of  the  Lord  been 
revealed  ? 


39  Therefore 
they  could  not  be- 
lieve, becaufe  that 
Efaias  faid  again, 

40  He  hath  blind- 
ed their  eyes,  and 
hardened  their 
heart  ;  that  they 
mould  not  fee  with 
their  eyes,  nor  un- 
derstand with  their 
heart,  and  be  con- 
verted, and  I  mould 
hi  a  I  them. 


John  paraphrafed.  419 

lemn  warnings,  which  enraged  them,  and  made  them 
worfe  inftead  of  better*,  he  withdrew,  and  conceal- 
ed himfelf  from  them,  that  they  might  not  tumultu- 
oufly  rife,  and  immediately  apprehend  him. 

37  Now  (h)  though  he  had  talked  fo  plainly 
and  clofely  to  them  concerning  himfelf  as  the  true 
Meffiah,  and  concerning  the  extreme  danger  of  reject- 
ing him  ;  and  though  he  had  confirmed  his  doctrine 
with  (rorsevrx)  fo  many  great  and  merciful  miracles, 
which  they  themfelves  were  eye-witneffes  of ;  yet  the 
generality  of  them  were  fuffered,  through  the  hard- 
nefs  of  their  hearts,  to  perfifl:  obftinately  in  their  un- 
belief : 

38  That  the  prophecy  of  Ifaiah  might  be  evident- 
ly accomplifned,  as  a  proof  of  its  being  divinely  in- 
fpired,  and  of  Jefus's  being  the  Chrift,  faying,  (I/a. 
liii.  1 . )  Ah  Lord  !  how  few  are  there  of  the  Jews, 
that  have  heartily  embraced,  and  received  by  faith, 
the  plain  declarations  of  the  gofpel  concerning  the 
Meffiah,  as  made  by  himfelf  f  and  his  fervants  to 
them  ?  and  alas  !  how  few  of  them  have  been  fa- 
voured with  the  victorious  power  of  thy  Spirit  and 
grace  to  overcome  their  obllinacy,  and  bring  them 
into  a  willing  reception  of  him,  and  fubje&ion  to  him, 
as  their  Lord  and  Saviour  ? 

39,  40  They  therefore  remained  incurably  unbe- 
lieving, becaufe  they  were  the  very  perfons  whom 
the  prophet  Ijaiah  fpoke  of  in  another  place,  (If a. 
vi.  9,  10.)  faying  to  this  purpofe,  Their  eyes  were 
firft  wilfully,  and  thereupon  judicially,  fhut  and  blind- 
ed, and  their  hearts  were  in  the  fame  manner  harden- 
ed, that  they  might  not  fee  the  light  of  the  glorious 
gofpel  of  Chrift  in  its  truth  and  excellence,  nor  un- 
derftand  it  in  a  fpiritual  and  affecting  manner,  with 
application  to  their  own  cafe  ;  and  that,  being  left 
to  themfelves,  they  might  not  be  turned,  in  heart 
and  life,  from  fin  and  Satan,  the  world  and  felf,  to 

God 
NOTES. 

ciples,  or  by  himfelf.  It  is  in  this  light 
that  I  have  confidered  it;  and  fo  thisdif- 
courle  may  be  taken  as  delivered  at  the 


*  It  is  generally  thought  that  he  reti- 
red, as  ufual,  to  Bethany,  or  to  the  mount 
ef  Olives.  But,  as  fome  fuppofe,  the 
preceding  difcourie,  and  that  which  fol- 
lows at  t>er.  44.  and  fo  on  to  the  end  of 
the  chapter,  are  to  be  connected  and 
confidered  as  delivered  at  the  fame  time, 
all  the  intermediate  verfes  being  the  E- 
▼angelift's  own  remarks  :  And  fo  they 
underftand  Chrift's  departing,  and  hid- 
ding  himlelf  from  them,  to  relate  to  his 
taking  his  final  leave  of  them,  after  which 
he  never  preached  publicly  to  them  any 
more,  but  fpent  the  little  remains  of  his 
time  in  a  more  private  way  with  the  dif- 


fame  time  with  his  folemn  parting  warn- 
ing in  Matt,  xxiii.  39. 

f  This  began  to  be  fulfilled  by  the  ob- 
ftinate  unbelief  of  the  Jenvs,  under 
Chrift' s  perlbnal  miniftry;  and  was  after- 
ward more  fully  accomplifhed  by  their 
perfifting  in  it,  under  the  miniftry  of  the 
apotties.  {Rom.  x.  i6\)  And  I  take  the 
arm  of  the  Lord  to  fignify  his  Spirit,  who 
at  other  times  is  reprefented  as  the  finger 
of  God,  and  the  hand  of  the  Lord.  (Luke 
xi.  *c.  and  Ads  xi.  ai.) 


420 


The  Evangeliji 


Chap. 


XII. 


41  Thefe  things 
faid  Efaias,  when 
he  faw  his  glory, 
and  fpake  of  him. 


42  Neverthelefs, 
among  the  chief 
rulers  alfo,  many 
believed  on  him  ; 
but  becaufe  of  the 
Phariiees  they  did 
not  confefs  bim, 
left  they  fliould  be 
put  out  of  the  fy- 
nagogue : 


43  For  they  lo- 
ved the  praife  of 
men  more  than  the 
praife  of  God. 


44  Jefus  cried, 
and  laid,  He  that 
believeth  on  me, 
believeth  not  on 
me,  but  on  him 
that  fent  me. 


N    O 

*  I  cannot  fee  how  God's  fuffering 
men  to  act  according  to  their  own  tree, 
though  corrupt  inclinations,  and  over-ru- 
ling it  by  his  providence  into  an  accom- 
pliihment  of  what  he  forefaw,  and  fore- 
told would  be,  can  impeach  his  righte- 
oufnefs,  who  is  under  no  obligation  to 
turn  and  heal  them,  that  obftinately  re- 
fufe  to  be  turned  and  healed  :  For  what- 
soever judicial  acl  of  God  may  be  fuppo- 
fed  herein,  it  is  in  confequence,  and  as  a 
juft  punifhment  of  their  own  wilful  refu- 
lal.s  of  Chri  I  and  his  gofpel  ;  and  his  on- 
ly withholding  forfeited  grace,  and  gi« 


God  in  Chrift,  nor  be  healed,  by  my  pardoning 
and  fanftifying  grace,  of  their  finful  and  dangerous 
difeafes,  which  they  had  contracted  and  taken  plea- 
fure  in  *. 

41  Thefe  awful  things  Ifaiah  faid,  under  divine 
infpiration,  concerning  Chrift,  at  the  fame  time  that 
he  had  a  vifion  of  his  glory,  as  the  great  Jehovah,  who 
appeared  to  him  in  human  form,  fitting  upon  a  high 
throne \  and  filling  the  temple  with  his  train.  (Ifa, 
vi.   1,-9.) 

42  Neverthelefs,  there  were  many,  even  of  the 
Jewifh  rulers  themfelves,  who  were  convinced  in 
their  confeiences  of  his  being  the  MefTiah  ;  but  their 
finful  fhame,  and  fear  of  expofing  themfelves  to  the 
contempt  and  fuiy  of  the  fanhedrim,  and  particular- 
ly of  the  Pharifees,  his  moft  inveterate  enemies,  had 
fuch  a  powerful  influence  upon  them,  that  they  durft. 
not  own  what  they  believed  concerning  him,  left  they 
mould  be  excommunicated,  as  apoftates,  and  be  there- 
by deprived  at  once  of  their  reputation,  and  of  their 
civil  and  religious  rights  and  liberties.  (See  the  note 
on  chap.  ix.   34.) 

43  For,  their  hearts  not  being  changed,  they  ra- 
ther chofe,  and  were  more  folicitous  about  their  own 
having  the  efteem  and  applaufe  of  men,  and  fhewing 
refpe6t  and  honour  to  them,  than  about  the  appro- 
bation of  God  himfelf,  and  fhewing  forth  his  praife. 

44  This  being  the  carnal,  worldly  temper  of  fome, 
whilft  a  malignant  fpirit  reigned  in'  others,  Jefus  laid 
hold  of  that  opportunity  for  taking  his  laft  farewel 
of  them;  (fee  the  note  on  ver.  36.)  and,  lifting 
up  his  voice  with  great  earneftnefs,  he  faid,  The 
fum  of  all  my  difcourfes  iffues  in  this,  He  who  has 
true  faith  in  me,  as  the  promifed  Mefiiah,  believes 
not  in  me  only,  nor  in  me  ultimately  as  fuch,  but 
together  with  me,  and  through  me,  believes  in  my 
heavenly  Father,  who  fent  me  into  the  world  to  feck 
and  fave  loft  finners. 

45  And 
T    E. 

ving  them  up  to  the  corruptions  of  their 
own  hearts,  and  to  the  power  of  Satan, 
which  they  chofe  to  be  governed  by,  is 
fufficient  to  account  for  all  judicial  blind- 
nefs  and  hardnefs.  without  fuppoiing  any 
pofitive  act  of  God  upon  a  man's  foul  to 
produce  them  :  And  I  think  the  courfe, 
in  which  they  come  upon  the  (inner,  as 
reprefented  in  the  Paraphrafe,  fully  a- 
grees  with  the  account  we  have  of  this 
awful  cafe  in  Ifa.  vi.  9,  10.  which  is  the 
place  here  referred  to,  and  recited  in 
fenfc,  though  cot  ex^cily  in  the  fame 
wor^, 


Chap.  xii.  John  paraphrafed.  4-1 

45  And  he  that  45  And  he  that  by  an  eye  of  faith  beholds  who 
feeth  me,  teeth  him  and  what  I  am,  is  thereby  led  into  the  knowledge 
that  feat  me.  of  who  and  what  my  Father  is,  from  whom  I  derive 

my   mediatorial   commiffion,    and  whofe   perfections 
and  authority  difplay  themfelves  in  and  by  me. 

46  I  am  come  46  I,  who  had  a  pre-exiilence  with  him,  am  come 
a  light  into  the  jnto  tri;s  WOY\dy  to  fcatter  the  mills  of  ignorance  and 
world  that  who-  fuperflition  and  idolatry,  which  have  over-fpread 
foever  beheveth  on  '  ,  r  ,  .  ,.,-  1  •  ..  iv  r  1  «.  u  *u*> 
me,  mould  not  a-    it,  and  to  bring  life  and  immortality  to  ligh,  by  the 

bide  in  darknefs.  gofpel,  that  whoever  receives  and  trulls  in  me,  and 
yields  himfelf  up  by  faith  to  my  guidance^  mould 
not  continue  under  the  power  of  fpiritual  blindnefs, 
and  wander  in  the  .ways  of  fin  to  an  eternal  flate  of 
mifery  and  darknefs,  but  mould  find  the  way  to  eter- 
nal life. 

47  And  if  any  47  And  if,  after  all,  any  one,  who  has  had  op- 
man  hear  my  portunities  of  hearing  and  knowing  my  gofpel,  wil- 
words,  and  believe  ^y  refufes  to  embrace  it,  and  to  depend  upon  me 
not  fir  f  cam™  according  to  it,  I  do  not  as  yet  accufe  him  to  the 
not  to  judge  the  Father,  nor  pafs  a  definitive  fentence  of  condemnation 
world,  but  to  fave  to  an  immediate  execution  of  wrath  upon  him  :  For 
the  world.  ^  direct  delign  of  my  coming  into  the  world  is  not 

to  accufe,  or  Condemn,  or  take  vengeance  upon  man- 
kind ;  but  to  make  the  gracious  overtures  of  falva- 
tion  to  them,  and  effectually  to  fa've  thoie  of  them, 
whether  Jews  or  Oerififcj,  that  mall  believe  in  me, 
before   I  proceed  to  the  final  judgment.      (See  the 
note  on  chap,  iii.    16.) 
48  He  that  re-        48   But  he  that,  continuing  in  unbelief,    (0  t$Urw 
jeftethme,  and  re-    ^\    makes  light   of,   defpifes,    and  rejects   me,    pre- 
ceiveth     not     my    ferrjn„.  other  things  to  me,   and  do  not  cordially  em- 
&£*  tor  brace  my  doitrine,  mall  had  that  there  is  an  impar- 
the  word    that    I    tial  Judge  to   pafs   fentence   o't    condemnation,    and 
have   fpoken,    the    execute  wrath   upon    him  ;    and  that  very  doctrine, 
fame    fliall    judge   wh{ch    I   have  preached,   how  much  foever  it    may 
him    in    the    laft   ^^  be  treated  witll  contempt,  (hall  appear  in  evidence 
againil  him,  and  (hall  be  the  rule  of  judgment,  accord- 
ing to  which  he  fliall  be  condemned,  with  dreadful 
aggravations  of  his  guilt,  at  the  great  and  final  day 
of  account. 
For  I  have        49   For,  as  is   evident  from   the   holy,   excellent, 

ire  of  the  truths  that 
ivine  manner  of  con- 


v»g  them,   I  have  not    delivered  them  like  a  pn- 

mandment  what  I    vate  perfon,   as  from  myfelf,   much  lefs  as  the  inven- 

Jhould    fay,      and    tions  of  a  mere  man  ;  but  my  Father,  from  whom  I 

fieak      l     Ih0Uld    ^ceived  my  commiffion,  gave  me  authority  and  in- 

ftruftions,  in  covenant-agreements  between   bin 

me,  to  publifh  all  thofe  things  which  I  have  infilled 

on  among  you. 

Vol.  II.  Iii  5°  And 


422  The  EvangeUft  Chap.  xii. 

And  I  know        50  And,  whatfoever  ye  may  think  of  it,  I  know 
that  his  command-  that  the  do&rine   I  preach  by  his    authority,   from 

1  CV"      whom  I  am  come  as  the  meffenger  of  the  covenant, 
laltm^ :     whatfoe-    .  ~     q      ,       .   A  * 

I  freak  there-   1S  tQe  only  way  ana  means  or  bringing  loit  iinners  to 

.   even  as  the   eternal  life  and  bleffednefc  :    Whatfoever  therefore  I 

into    lmve  revealed,  it  is  neither  more  nor  lefs  than  the  Fa- 

Lo  x   tneafc.      therhimfelf  put  into  my  commiflion  to  be  made  known 

to  the  world  ;  and  it  is  at  your  utmoft  peril  to  reject: 

it. 

RECOLLECTIONS. 

How  wide  is  the  difference  between  a  true  believer  and  a  hypocrite  !  One,  like 
Martha  and  Mary,  thinks  he  can  never  do  too  much  to  ferve  and  teftify  his  affec- 
tion to  Chrift  ;  while  the  other,  like  Judas,  grudges  every  expence  for  him,  under 
a  fpecious  pretext  of  applying  it  to  fome  better  ufe  ;  but  Jefus  himfelf  will  take 
their  part  that  honour  him.  And  how  great  is  the  difference,  even  among  thofe 
that  have  no  laving  acquaintance  with  him  !  Some,  like  the  Greeks,  and  common 
people  of  the  jfe-a>s,  are  pleafed  with  the  notions  they  have  of  him,  and  of  his  word 
and  works ;  whilft  others,  like  the  Pharifees  and  their  partizans,  are  filled  with 
horrid  rancour  againft  them,  and  confult  to  fuppreis  and  deftroy  them. — For  once, 
the  Lord  of  glory,  whilft  on  earth,  gave  a  faint  emblem  of  his  future  triumph  :  But 
with  what  humble  ftate,  even  then,  did  he  ride  oh  a  young  afs,  amidft  the  hofan- 
nas  of  admiring  throngs  !  How  defirous  fliould  we  be  to  fee  Jefus,  not  to  gratify 
curiofity,  but  to  be  latisfied  concerning,  and  led  into  an  acquaintance  and  com- 
munion with  him !  And  how  little  reafon  have  any  to  be  afhamed  of  him  !  Though 
he  was  hung  upon  a  crofs,  and  fuffered  fuch  a  terrible  death,  as  it  could  not  but 
be  defirable  to  human  nature,  if  poffible,  to  efcape  ;  yet  how  readily  did  he  refign. 
himfelf  up  to  it,  as  an  act  of  obedience  to  his  Father's  will,  and  as  knowing  that  it 
would  turn  to  his  own  exaltation,  and  the  raifing  up  of  a  numerous  feed  to  be  glo- 
tied  with  him  !  And  what  a  remarkable  honour  did  God  the  Father  put  upon  the 
iuffering  Saviour,  by  over-ruling  the  ientence  of  the  high-prieft  againft  him  into  a 
prophecy  of  the  happy  fruits  of  his  death,  and  by  publicly  bearing  witnefs  to  him 
from  heaven,  for  our  fakes,  that  we  might  believe  in  him,  as  the  Jehovah  of  Ifrael% 
of  whom  Ifaiah  fpake,  when  he  few  his  glory  I  How  groundlefs  then,  and  perverfe, 
are  all  the  prejudices  and  objections  of  his  enemies  againft  him,  though  pretended 
to  have  their  fupport  from  fcripture  itfelf !  They  really  lhut  their  eyes  againft  the 
molt  glorious  lij^ht,  and  walk  in  darknefs,  and  know  not  whither  they  are  going  : 
But  haw  dreadful  is  it  to  be  under  fuch  blindnefs  of  mind,  and  hardnefs  of  heart,  as 
govern  them  by  their  own  confent,  till  they  are  delivered  up  to  their  own  choice, 
by  the  nghtcous  judgment  of  God !  And,  alas!  what  a  fnare  is  the  fear  of  man,, 
together  with  a  fondnefs  for  fecuiar  honours,  to  hinder  a  due  profeffion  of  Chrift, 
who  came,  as  the  light  of  this  world,  to  enlighten  them  that  believe  in  him,  and 
who  faithfully  executes  his  Fathers  will,  and  bears  long  with  obftinate  Tinners,  be- 
fore  he  removes  the  means  of  grace  from  them,  and  before  he  proceeds  to  the  final 
judgment!  Then,  his  word itrelf  being  the  rule  of  his  awards,  they  that  receive 
him  by  faith,  and  walk  in  the  ways  of  truth  and  holinefs,  lha.ll  be  admitred  to  e- 
vtjrlafting  light  and  life;  and  they  that  reject  him  by  unbelief,  and  go  on  in  the 
of  ignorance,  felf-deceit,  and  fin,  (hall  be  caft  into  everlafting  darknefs  and 
0  what  vafl  importance  is  it  heartily  to  embrace  him  ;  and  how  Ati- 
their  cafe,  that  let  themfelves  againft  him  I  Whatfoever  we  may  think  of 
;s.  he  th.it  ia  faithful  i  and  know  them  to  be  true. 


CHAP. 


Chap.  xiii. 


John  paraphrafed. 


CHAP.       XIII. 

Chrifrs  laji  time  of  eating  the  pafchal  fupper,  I, — 3.  lie  wafhes  his 
difciples  feet,  to  fet  them  an  example  of  humility  and  love,  4, — 17. 
Gives  notice  before-hand  who  fhould  betray  him,  18. — 30.  En- 
joins brotherly  love  upon  his  difciples,  31, — 35.  And '  foretels  Pe- 
ter\r  denying  him,  36, — 38. 


Text. 


J^O W,  before  the    /^UR  blefTed  Lord,  having  no 
feaftofthepais-    \J   ing  to  the  people,    devoted 

rvvpr       when        p  in  O  r       r      * 


Paraphrase. 

now  done  with  preach- 

wLed  the  fmall  remains  of 
over     when      plus       .      .     °  . 

knew  that  his'hour  ^iis  time  to  a  more  private  initruclion  ot  his  difciples, 

was  come,  that  he  and  preparation  for  his  own  death  :   Accordingly,  on 

fhould  depart   out  the  evening,  (fee  the  note  on  Matth.  xxvi.  20.)  which 

of  this  world,  unto  introduced  the  feven  days,  that  altogether  were  called 

the     Father,      ha-      ,       >    A  *,      ,  .       *  .  °         r  1     1     r         * 

ving  loved  his  own    the  *^ait    J    he»    wno  was  the  trie  paichal    .Lamb, 
which  were  in  the    knowing  that  the  appointed  time  was  then  fully  come 
world,     he    loved    for  his  being  facriheed,    and  for  his  departing  from 
them  unto  the  end.    this  world  by  death,    and  returning  to  his  Father  in 
heaven,  took  occahon  from  thence  to  intimate,  that, 
as  he  had  always  loved  \  his  own  children  and  mem- 
I  i  i   2  bers, 

NOTES. 
*  Thefeq/l  was  called  by  the  fenvs  parts  of  the  hiftcry;  for  foon  after  he 
the  Chagigah,  i.  e.  the  feaft-offering,  lpoke  thefe  words,  he  went  on  with  his 
in  which  they  made  peace-offerings  of  difcourfe,  {chap.  xv.  and  xvi.)  which  he 
Jheep  and  oxen  all  the  feven  days  of  the  concluded  with  a  prayer,  (chap*  xvii.) 
feaft,  which  are  called  the  paflbver,  Deut.  and  then  went  forth  with  his  difciples 
xvi.  2.  Luke  xxii.  1.  and  jfoh?i  xviii.  28.  over  the  brook  Cedron,  where  was  a 
And  in  Jojiah^  time,  many  thoufandsof  garden,  into  which  he  entered  with  his 
lambs,  kids,  and  bullocks  were  given  difciples;  and  Judas,  nvho  betrayed  him, 
for  the  paf over-offerings,  as  they  are  knew  the  place.  (Chap,  xviii.  I,  a.)  Be- 
called,  2  Chron.  xxxv.  7.  8,  9.  (See  fides,  Chriit's  notifying-  the  traitor  to  his 
A inf worth,  on  Deut.  xvi.  2.)  But  expo-  difciples,  at  this  f upper,  (ver.  21, — ^c.^) 
fitors  are  much  divided  in  their  thoughts  feems  to  be  the  difcovery  thai  he  mads 
about  the  fupper,  which  our  Evangelift  of  him  to  them  at  the  paffover-fwpper,  as 
here  fpeaks  of:  Some  understand  it  to  it  is  recorded  Matth.  xxvi.  %i}  25.  and 
mean  a  fupper  at  Bethany,  a  day  or  two  Luke  xxii.  21, —  1$,  And  what  our  E- 
before  the  paffover;  and  others  take  it  vangelift  fays,  (vcr.  30.)  ofjudas's  go- 
to be  the  pafchal  fupper  itfclf.  Many  ing  out  at  night  from  this  fupper,  well 
reafonsof  confiderable  weight  arc  offered  agrees  to  that  night  in  which  he  betray- 
for  each  of  thefe  opinions,  which  do  not  ed  his  Lord,  and  feems  to  be  different 
come  within  the  compafs  of  my  defign  from  his  firft  going  to  the  frnhedrim,  to 
particularly  to  difcufs.  But  after  mature  make  the  offer  of  betraying  him,  which 
deliberation,  I  am  inclined  to  think,  up-  is  fpoken  of  as  having  been  before  the 
on  the  whole,  that  it  was  the  pafchal  pafibver-fupper,  and  was  probably  in 
fupper,  as  I  have  fuppofed  in  the  Para-  the  day-time.  (Matth.  xxvi.  14,  15.) 
phrafe:  For  it  was  that  fupper,  at  which  This  account  of  the  matter  feems  natu- 
Chrift's  hour  was  conic,  and  at  which  he  ral  and  eafy,  and  keeps  the  hiftory  nee 
faid,  Now  is  the  Son  of  man  glorified,  from  many  perplexities  which  it  is  o- 
(ver.  1.  and  31.)  which  molt  naturally  therwife  thrown  into  ;  ana  I  do  not  find 
intimates  the  neareft  approach  of  his  any  tranfaclions  that  palled  alter  this 
death  :  Afcd  in  the  clofe  of  his  difcourfe  fupper,  which  mi^ht  not  ealily  be  brought 
at  this  fupper,  he  laid,  (chap.  xiv.  31.)  into  the  time  between  the  pafchal  fup- 
Arife,  let  us  go  hence;  and  that  he  then  per,  and  his  being  betrayed, 
arofe  to  go  to  the  garden,  where  he  was  f  Mr.  Henry  obferves,  that  when  his 
apprehended,  appears  from  the  following    own  are  fpoken  of,    that  received  him. 

not, 


424  The  Evangelift  Chap.  xiii. 

bers,  which  were  in  this  world  of  fin  and  forrow,  he 
rejicd  m  his  love,  (Zeph.  iii.  17.)  and  would  conti- 
nue it,  to  the  end  of  his  own  life,  and  of  their  days 
and  troubles  on  earth,  and  for  ever  afterwards  in  the 
other  world,  to  which  he  was  going,  yea,  that  he 
loved  them  to  perfection  *,  even  to  the  completing 
of  their  ilate  of  happinefs  with  him  there. 
%  Ami  (upper  1  2  And  (damn  yivou&v*)  during  the  fupper-time  f, 
$  5  :   as   foon   as   one   part   of  it  was  over,    he  gave  his 

rievtl    having    now  .    .  r_  .    n  J  b 

1  ut  into  the  heart    diiciples  a  molt  affecting   mltance  or  his  extraordi- 

bf   Judas  Ifc'ari'ot,    nary  humility  and  friendiliip,   to  fet  them  an  example 
s,n'  to  be-   0f  the  like  towards  one  another,    and  to  ihew  his  en- 

Jay    nn,J  £aging  care  an<^  concern  for  them,    as  alfo  to  fortify 

them  againft  the  great  trial,  wH»eh  was  juft  then  com- 
ing upon  them  :  For  Satan  had  already  (nS&j)  fo  far 
prevailed  upon  the  corrupt  and  covetous  heart  of  Ju- 
das f/caript,  who  was  the  fon  of  Simon,  and  one  of 
the  twelve  apoftles,  (fee  the  note  on  Matth.  x.  4.)  as 
to  bring  him  to  a  resolution  of  betraying  his  Lord  "j". 

3  Tefns  knowing         3    At  this  time,'  though  Tefus  knew  that  the  Fa- 
t.mtnehather  had    t}ier  ]iad  p-Jven  ayj  power  in  heaven  and  earth  to  him 

inds    and  as  Mediator,  and  though  he  was  thinking  01  his  own 

Yh-r  he  was  come  divine  original,  and  approaching  exaltation,  as  one  who 

from  Cod,  and  went  came  from  God  his  Father  into  this  world,  and  mould 

t0  Guc*  J  foon  return  to  be  glorified  with  him  in  heaven  : 

4  He  rifeth  from         4  Yet,   even  |]  while  thefe  grand  thoughts  filled  his 
fupm-  and  laid  a-  mind,    fo  amazing  were  his  ielf-abafement  and  grace, 
fide   his   garments  h       Qn      -fudd       he        t  from  tabl       and  1Hl 
and   tof>k    a  towel               .                                      •       '% 

and  "iidedhimielf.    off  his  upper-clothes,    took   a  napkin   or  towel,    and 

tied  it  about  his  waile  like  a  fervant  in  waiting. 

5   After 

NOTES. 

wot,  (chap.  i.  n.)  it  is  rot  <<T/a,  his  o~jj7i  Lord  rote  from  fupper  to  wafli  his  diici- 

tbvtgr,   as  a  man's  cattle  are  his  own,  pies  feet,  as  is  laid,  <ver.  4,  5. 

which  yet  he  may,  when  he  pleafes,  al-        %   I  take  this  to  relate  to  Satan's  firft 

trr  the  property  of:    But  here  it  is  tb;  inftigation  of  Judas  to  betray  his  Lard, 

«fc.'c,  his  own perfonSi  as  a  man's  wife  which  put  him  upon  going  to  the  chifi." 

and  children  are  his  own,    to  whom  he  priefts,   with  an  offer  of  delivering  him 

ftands  in  a  conftant  relation.  up  to  them,  and  was  before  the  paflbver- 

*  The  words,  uc  Ttx(gr*  fignify  toper-  fupper;    [Mat.   xxvi.    14,    15,  16.   and 

f  tothecrd.  According-  Luke  xxii.   3, — 6.)    and  fo  it  is  different 

n  both  fcr.fcs  into  the  Pa-  from  what  is  faid,    ver.  27,  30.    of  this 

raphrafe;  bec&nfe  the  following  dilcour-  chapter,  about  Satan's  entering  into  him, 

and  prayer,    to  the  end  of  chap.  xvii.  after  he  received  the  fop.  upon  which  he 

ate  mil  of  exprefiions  of  Chrifl's  love  and  went  out  immediately  to  execute  his  vii- 

after,    as  well  as  before  he  fhould  lainous  deflgn,  the  devil  having  then  got 

n,    and  that  not  only  for  the  an  entire  alcendency  over  him,  and  gain- 

ot  his  difciplesf   as  long  as  they  ed  his  point  upon  him;    and  perhaps  the 

fhould  live  i:  d,  but  likewifefor  time  of  Judas**  firft  going  into  this  de- 

rival  0!  a  lory.  fign  was  wlien  he  was  vexed  became  he 

I     Ait  .     ,i:.   S.    fays,  ..could  not  get  the  price  of  ikfory's  oint- 

■    Jeivs   ufed    firft  to  eat  fome  of  ment  into  his  hands.      {Chap.  xii.  4,  5.) 

the  but.  and  unleavened  bread,        ||    It  is  probable  that  he  was  likewife 

lh(  .    and  af-  dilcourfingon  this  iubiecl  to  his  difciples, 

frerwards  was  brought  again;    and  this  which  made  his  condtfeenfion  in  walking 

tome  to  be  tin:   time  when  our  their  feet  the  more  furprifing  to  thtm. 


Chap.  xiii. 

5  After  that  he 
poureth  water  into 
a  baion.  and  began 
to  wafli  the  difci- 
ples  feet,  and  to 
wipe  them  with  the 
towel  wherewith 
he  was  girded. 

6  Then  comr-th 
he  to  Simon  Pe- 
ter :      arid     Peter 

faith  unto  him, 
Lord,  doft  thou 
warn    my  feet  : 


7  Jefus  answer- 
ed and  faid  unto 
him,  What  I  do 
thou  knoweft  not 
now ;  but  thou 
lhalt  knew  here- 
after. 


John  paraphrafed.  425 

5  After  winch,  this  Lord  of  glory  poured  water 
into  a  bafon,  and  let  himfelf  to  warn  the  feet  of  his 
poor  difciples  and  dependents,  with  his  own  hands, 
as  if  he  had  been  the  meaneft  of  fervants  to  their; ; 
(1  Sam.  xxv.  41.)  and,  having  fo  done,  he  wiped 
them  with  the  cloth  which  he  had  tied  about  him  for 
that  purpofe. 

6  Then,  among  others,  he  came  to  Simon,  whom 
he  had  iirnamed  hcter,  to  do  the  Wke  to  him  ;  and 
Peter,  being  ftartled,  amazed,  and  (hocked  at  fuch 
a  matchleis  inftance  of  condefcenficn,  faid,  Lord, 
what  art  thou  going  to  do  ?  ihall  I,  a  poor  iinful 
wretch  ever  fuller  that  thou,  whom  I  believe,  and  have 
owned  to  be  the  Chrift,  the  Son  of  the  living  God, 
{chap.  vi.  69.)  ihouldft  debate  thyfelf  at  fuch  a  rate, 
as  to  undergo  the  irkfome  drudgery  of  the  meaneft  cf 
fervants  in  warning  my  feet  ?  I  cannot  endure  the 
thought  of  thy  doing  it. 

7  Our  Lord  anfwered,  It  is  not  for  you  to  oppofe 
my  proceedings,  of  which  you  are  no  competent  judge : 
Ycu  do  not  knew  the  reaibns  of  what  I  am  now  do- 

and  little  think  what  is  my  meaning  in  it  ;   but 


ID 


g> 


8  Peter  faith  un- 
to him,  Thou  lhalt 
never  wafli  my 
feet.  Jefus  an- 
fwered him,  If  I 
wafh  thee  not, 
thou  haft  no  part 
with  me. 


I  will  explain  fomething  of  it  by  and  by  ;  [ver.  12, 
— 17.)  and  when  my  Spirit  mall  be  hereafter  poured 
out  from  on  high,  ycu  Ihall  be  Hill  further  acquaint- 
ed with  it,  and  Ihall  experience  the  benefit  I  intend  by 
it. 

8  Peter  replied,  with  great  vehemence,  It  figni- 
fies  nothing  to  talk  of  it  ;  though  all  the  reft  of  my 
brethren  mould  admit  of  thy  doing  it  to  them,  I  know 
well  enough,  that  this  is  too  great  a  difparagement  to 
thee,  and  too  high  an  honour  for  me:  I  cannot  bear, 
and  never  will  eonient,  that  thou  fhouldii  degrade  thy- 
felf fo  far  as  to  wafh  fuch  fordid  feet  as  mine.  Jefus 
anfwered  again,  in  a  way  of  fevere  rebuke  for  his  be- 
ing fo  hafty  and  pofitive,  under  a  n.iitaken  notion  of 
extraordinary  mouefty  and  humility  ;  Nay,  if  you  fo 
far  fct  yourfelf  againft  my  authority,  wifdotn,  ard 
love,  as  not  to  fubmit  to  my  warning  your  feci,  you 
cannot  be  my  difciple  ;  and  if  you  ai  really 
cleanfed  by  me  *  in  inch  a  fpiritual  manner,  as  is  fig- 
nificd  by  warning  with  water,  you  can  have  no  com- 
munion with  me,  or  intereft  in  the  bleiiings  of  my 
kingdom. 

9  Peter,  thereupon,  feeing  that  fo  much  depend- 
ed upon  it,  and  dreading  the  thoughts  of  being  fe- 
parated  from  Chrift,  was  ioon  convinced  of  his  folly, 

and 
NOTE. 
'■    To  bare  no  part  with  another,  figmties  having  no  inheritance  or  comrr 
with  him,  no  intereft  in" him,  or  benefit  by  him,  ~Deut,  xiv.  27.   :  Sam.  sx.  1.  anijj 

2  C'jV.  VI.   15. 


0      ' 

unto 
Lord 


Peter 
him, 
not  mj 

Only, 


426 


The  Evangcltft 


Chap,  xiii. 


only,  but   alio  my 
hrfnds  and  my  head. 


to  Jefus  faith  to 

htm,    He    that    is 

wafted        needeth 

nor,   lave   'o  waft 

feet,     but     is 

1   every  whit 


and  retracing  his  former  resolution,  cried  out,  Lord, 
if  this  be  the  cafe,  I  readily  fubmit,  and  beg  that 
thou  wouldfl  pleafe  to  wafh  not  only  my  feet,  but  my 
hands  and  head,  and  every  part  of  me,  that  I  may  be 
cleanfed  throughout,  and  may  fhare  in  all  thy  bleffings. 

10  Jefus,  further  to  explain  himfelf,  and  correct. 
Peter's  miftake,  who  ran  from  one  extreme  to  ano- 
ther, replied,  He  who  is  once  juftified  and  fanctified, 
as  being  warned  by  my  blood  and  Spirit,  only  needs 
to  be  further  cleanfed,    in  the  daily  exercife  of  faith 

ind  ve  are  clean,  ano<  repentance,  from  the  guilt  and  defilement,  which, 
through  remaining  infirmity,  he  perpetually  contra&s 
by  his  converfation  in  the  world,  he  being  already 
forgiven  all  tt  ejpaffes,  (Col.  ii.  13.)  and  freed  from 
the  dominion  of  fin:  (Rom.  vi.  14.)  And  moil  of  you, 
my  difciples,  are  in  this  fenfe  cleanfed  ;  but  though, 
as  a  fymbol  of  purity,  I  warn  all  your  feet ;  yet  eve- 
ry one  of  you  is  not  really  clean. 

1 1  The  reafon  of  his  faying,  all  of  them  were  not 
clean,  was,  becaufe  he  knew  that  Judas,  though  a 
profeffed  difciple,  was  ftill  in  his  fins,  and  that  he 
would  treacherouily  betray  him  into  the  hands  of  his 
enemies. 

1  2  Then  our  blefied  Lord,  having  gone  through 
the  fcrvile  work  of  warning  all  his  difciples  feet,  put 
on  his  upper-clothes  again  ;  and,  fitting  down  at  ta- 
ble with  them,  he,  to  convince  them  of  their  igno- 
rance, and  to  raife  their  attention,  and  their  defire  of 
his  inftruevtions,  faid,  Do  ye  underlland  the  meaning 
of  what  I  have  done  to  you  :  And  what  leflons  ye  are 
to  leam  from  it  ?  I'll  tell  you  : 

1  3  Yc  often  falute  me  under  the  title  of  your  Lord 
and  Mailer,  and  profefs  to  own  me  as  fuch,  and  ye 
therein  -do  right  ;  for  I  really  am  the  only  Lord  of 
your  faitli  and  obedience,  and  your  only  teacher,  on 
whofe  authority  ve  may  depend. 

14  If  therefore  («v)  I,  who  am  indeed  your  Lord 
and  Mailer,  and  whom,  as  fuch,   ve  own  to  be  infi- 


ll For  he  knew 
who  fliould  "be- 
tray him  :  there- 
fore faid  he,  Ye 
are   not   all  clean. 

T2  So  after  lie 
had  waflied  their 
feet,  and  had  ta- 
ken his  garmen's, 
and  was  fet  down 
again,  he  laid  un- 
to them,  Know  ye 
what  I  have  done 
to  you  ? 

1 ;  Ye  call  me 
Matter,  and  Lord  : 

ye   fay    well ; 
for/?  I  am. 


14  If  I  then  your 
Lord  and  Mailer, 
have  wafted   your 

aHb  ought    nite'y  your  iupenor,    hare  neverthelels  condeicended 

one  ano-    to  fo  defpicable  and  trouble fome  an  office,  as  that  of 
:'ct-  walking  your  feet,   to  tellify  my  affection 'to  you; 

how  much  more  ought  ye  to  be  ready,  on  all  occa- 
fions  *,  to  Hoop  to  the  meaneft  and  moil  laborious 
fervices,  for  teftifying  you*  mutual  love,  and  affording 
reciprocal  aififtance  to  one  another,  who  are  all  on  a 

level, 
NOTE. 
•  We  never  read  that  the  apoftles  e-  other,  as  mean  as  this;  but  gives  no 
ver  waflied  the  feet  of  one  another,  or  of  colour  for  obferving  this  ceremony  of 
any  other  difciples :  And  therefore  what  feigned  humility,  by  wafting  people's 
our  Lord  here  lays,  is  only  to  be  under-  feet  every  year  on  the  Thurfday  of  Paf- 
ftood  oi  their  performing  offices  to  each    fion-week. 


Chap.  xiil. 


John  paraphrafed. 


427 


level,  as  fellow-fervants  aixl  brethren,  in  my  kingdom 
and  family  ? 
15    For  I  have        15   For  I  have  herein  defigncd  to  fetyouan  exam- 
given  you  an  ex-   ~\^  wnich  is  highly  worthy  of  your  imitation,  that  ye 
ample,      that 


lhould  do  as 
done  to  you. 


16  Verily,  veri- 
ly, I  fay  unto  you, 
The  fervant  is  not 
greater  than  his 
lord ;  neither  he 
that  is  fent,  great- 
er than  he  that 
lent  him. 


17  If  )e  know 
theie  things,  happy 
are  ye  if  ye  do 
them. 


iS  I  fpeak  not 
%>f  you  all ;  I  know 
whom  1  have  cho- 
fen :  but,  that  the 
fcripture  may  be 
fulfilled,  He  that 
eateth  bread  with 
me,  hath  lift  up 
Ills    heel     a^ainft 

me. 


V,  ye  mould  cheerfully  attend  to  every  duty  of  humility, 
kindnefs,  and  love,  to  the  refreshment  and  comfort, 
purity  and  welfare  of  your  fellow-chriilians  and  fellow- 
fervants,  and  not  be  afhamed,  or  think  much  of  do- 
ing any  offices  to  them,  as  mean  and  fervile  as  this 
which  I  have  now  done  to  you. 

16  To  reconcile  you  to  thefe  felf-denying  duties, 
I,  who  am  Truth  itfelf,  afluredly  tell  you,  that  no 
fervant  is,  or  mould  think  himfelf  to  be  above  his 
lord,  nor  mould  he,  who  is  fent  to  execute  any 
commifiion,  think  himfelf  above  his  principal  who 
fent  him  :  And  therefore,  as  ye  are  my  fervants  and 
apoftles,  ye  ought  not  to  be  alhamed,  of  think  it  be- 
neath you  to  condefcend  as  far  to  others  as  I  have  to 
you,  but  mould  learn  of  me,  who  am  meek  and  low- 
ly in  heart.  (Matth.  xi.   29.) 

17  Ye  may  hence  receive  ufeful  inftruction  relat- 
ing to  your  own  duty  ;  and  if  ye  really  underlland 
what  I  mean  by  all  this,  it  will  be  your  great  hap- 
pinefs  and  comfort,  honour  and  advantage,  to  prac- 
tife  according  to  it. 

1 8  I  do  not  indeed  expect  that  this  will  be  done 
by  every  one  of  you.  No,  I  always  was,  and  ilill 
am,  fully  acquainted  with  the  temper  and  difpofition 
of  all  your  hearts  :  Though  I  have  chofen  you  all  to 
the  apoftlefhip  ;  [chap.  vi.  70.)  yet,  as  I  but  now 
faid,  (ver.  10.)  ye  are  not  all  clean  ;  I  know1' 
which  of  you  I  have  chofen  to  faith,  holinefs,  and 
falvation,  as  well  as  to  the  apoftolic  office  :  But  there 
is  one  among  youf,  whom  I  have  not  chofen  to 
grace  and  glory,  but  have  taken  into  the  apoftleflnp, 
and  left  to  the  free  choice  of  his  own  perverfe  will, 
that  what  the  fcripture  fays  of  David,  my  type, 
(P/a/.  xii.  9.)  may  be  eminently  fulnlled  in  me,  vrz. 
lie  who,  like  a  friend,  fat  at  table,  and  familiarly 
eat  with  me,  (fee  the  note  on  Mark  xiv.  20.)  has 
tamed  his  back  upon  me,  and  with  an  ingratitude, 

enmity, 
NOTE 


o. 


*  It  is  manifeft  to  me,  that  Chrift 
here  means  a  mere  peculiar  and  benefi- 
cial election  than  to  the  office  of  apo- 
ftles ;  for  he  had  chofen  them  all  to  this: 
But  he  here  fpeaks  of  a  discriminating 
choice  of  Rjme  of  them,  which  did  not 
extend  to  them  all,  and  particularly  to 
"judas  :  And  to  lhew  that  his  kr, 
whom  he  had  chofen,  related  not  to 
their  temper  and  difpofition,   but  to  the 


themfelves,    he  did  not  fay,   I 

tjrotHC,   what  tbeir  qualifies  are, 

a;,   the  peribns  whom  I  have  cho- 


perfon 
know, 
but 
fen. 

f  Expofitors  generally  confider  this 
■paffag;e  as  elliptical ;  accordingly  I  have 
fupplied  what  may  be  "/anting  to  fill  up 
the  fentencc.  w  ith  what  I  take  to  be 
moft  naturally  fuggelted  by  the  forego - 
in?  words. 


428 


The  Evangetift 


Chap.  xiii. 


19  Now  I  tell 
you  before  it  come, 
that  when  it  is 
come  to  pafs,  ye 
may  believe  that 
I  am  be* 


20  Verily,  veri- 
ly, I  fay  unto  you, 
He  that  reCeiveth 
whonifoeverl  lend, 
receiveth  me  ;  and 
he  that  receiveth 
me,  receiveth  him 
that  Cent  me. 


21  "When  Jefus 
had  thus  faid  he 
troubled  in 
fpirit,  and  teftifi- 
ed,  and  laid,  Ve- 
rily, verily,  I  lay 
unto  you,  That  one 
of  you  fhall  betray 
me. 


12  Then  the  dif- 

!    one 

r,  doubt- 

61    whom    lie 

(pake. 


Now    there 

was 


enmity,  and  contempt,  worfe  than  that  of  brutes  to 
their  mailers  that  feed  them,  has  fpurned  and  kicked 
at  me  to  kill  me. 

1 9  Now  I  tell  you  of  this  beforehand,  that,  when 
the  reft  of  you  come  to  fee  the  (hocking  event,  ye 
may  not  be  difcouraged  or  Humbled  at  it ;  but,  on 
the  contrary,  may  be  the  more  ellablifhed  in  your  be- 
lief, that  I  am  the  true  Meffiah,  who  forefaw  the 
end  from  the  beginning,  and  willingly  yielded  myfeif 
up  to  the  worft  of  ufage,  according  to  the  appoint- 
ment of  my  Father,  and  this  divine  prediction,  which 
was  herein  to  be  accomplifhed  in  me. 

20  And  further,  to  take  off  their  difcouragement, 
as  if  their  ilooping  fo  low  as  he  had  ordered  them, 
and  as  if  one  of  their  own  number's  fo  openly  acting 
againft  him,  would  bring  them  under  contempt,  he 
faid  to  them,  I,  who  am  faithful  and  true,  affure 
you,  that  he  who  loves  and  honours  any  ambaffador 
of  mine,  and  receives  his  tellimony  concerning  me, 
mall  be  looked  upon  and  efteemed,  as  (hewing  the 
fame  regard  to  my  own  perfprj  ;  and  he  that  embra- 
ces me,  by  faith  and  love,  as  the  only  true  Mef- 
fiah, does,  in  effect,  receive  my  Father  himfelf  who 
fent  me. 

2 1  When  Jefus  had  faid  thefe  things  to  his  dif- 
ciples,  to  prepare  them  for  the  further  difcoveries  he 
was  going  to  make  of  the  traitor,  and  to  caution 
the  traitor  himfelf,  that  he  might  ftill  have  room  for 
repentance,  and  be  left  inexculable  for  want  of  it ; 
he  (hewed  a  more  than  ordinary  trouble  and  concern 
of  mind,  not  merely  at  his  own  fufferings,  but  at  the 
horrid  wickednefs  and  ingratitude  of  Judas,  who 
was  thereby  bringing  the  moft  dreadful  deflruction 
upon  himfelf:  And,  fpeaking  with  great  earneftnefs, 
he  faid,  I,  who  am  Truth  itfelf,  afiure  you  that  one 
of  \  our  number,  who  has  been  all  along  a  witnefs  of 
my  life  and  miracles,  and  whom  I  have  chofen  to  be 
one  of  my  apoilles,  and  laid  under  the  highelt  o- 
bligations,  will  neverthelefs  bafely  deliver  me  into 
the  hands  of  mine  enemies,  who  will  put  me  to 
death. 

22  Then  every  difciple,  except  the  hardened  Ju- 
dat,  being  Itruck  with  horror  and  amazement  at  fo 
folemn  a  deelaration,  looked  round  about  one  upon 
another,  to  obferve  what  figns  of  guilt  might  appear 
among  them  ;  they  being  at  a  lots,  and  anxioufly 
concerned   ( eurtrttpir* )    to  know  which   of  them  he 

nt,  none  of  them  being  confeious  of  any  fuch 
Wicked  delign  in  himfelf,  and  yet  each  fufpecting 
his  own,   rather  than  his  brother's  heart. 

23  Now  while  they  were  in  this   folicitous  fuf- 

pence3 


Chap.  xiii. 


John  paraphrafed. 


429 


24  Simon  Peter 
therefore  beckon- 
ed to  him,  that  he 
fhouid  afk  who  it 
fhouid  be  of  whom 
lie  fpake. 

25  He   then  ly- 


was  leaning  on  Je-  pence,  one  of  them  *,  who  was  a  peculiar  favourite 
his'  botom,  one  ot  Qf  Jefus's  fat  next  to  him,  leaning  backward  with  his 
his _d.lc.ples  whom    h     d  ^    L     ^    ^^^    according  to   the    ufual 

Jems  loved.  *  7  ° 

poiturc  at  the  paflover. 

24  Simon  Peter  therefore,  being  defirous  to  know, 
and  yet  afraid  to  alii  Chrift  publicly  whom  he  meant, 
made  a  private  fign,  as  perfons  ufe  to  do,  by  wink- 
ing, nodding,  or  pointing  with  the  hand,  to  put  that 
difciple  upon  afking  him,  which  of  them  it  war-  that 
he  had  faid  would  be  guilty  of  this  abominable  crime  ? 

25  Accordingly  that  difciple,  having  a  fair  oppor- 
ingon  Jefus'breaft,  tun;ty  for  jt  by  being  fo  near  to  Tefus,  fpoke  to  him 
faith  unto  him,  ,.  r  .  J  r  .  J  .  °  ,  .  ,  -  t  1  v 
Lord,  who  is  it  ?    ioftly,  faying,  in  an  humble  manner,   .Lord,  may  1 

have  the  favour  of  knowing  which  of  us  is  the  per- 

fon  that  will  betray  thee  ? 

26  Jefus  replied,  in  a  whifper,  fo  as  not  to  be 
heard  by  the  reft  of  the  company,  (ver.  28.)  It  is 
he  to  whom  I  fhall  give  the  next  piece  of  fopped 

dipped  it.  And  bread,  as  foon  as  I  have  dipped  it  in  the  fance  f  : 
when  he  had  dip-  And  prefently  after  this,  dipping  a  piece  of  bread, 
ped    the  fop,    he   ne  gave  lt  directly  to  Judas  Ifcariot,  the  fon  of  Si* 

gave  it  to   Judas  ^         indication  to   John,  that  this    was    the 

Iicanot,  the  Jon  or  '                                               J         ' 

Simon,  man. 

27  And  after  the  27    And  as  foon  as  Judas  had  taken  and  eat  the 

fop,  Satan  entered  f0p  j?  tne  cievil  got  fuch  a  prevalence  over  his  carnal 

!•"*?  T  rim*  ,  heart,  as  to  ens-age  him  in  a  thorough  refolution  to 
faid  leuis unto  him,    r        ,  °.  °   .  .  r  3.  ,   r°  n_       1 

That  thou  dolt    do   ^et  about  executing  his  perfidious  delign  out  or  hand  : 

quickly.  And  Jefus,  knowing  this,  faid  to  him,  Whatfoever 

you  are  refolved  to  do,  take  your  own  courfe  as  foon 
as  you  will,  I  am  ready,  and  will  no  longer  keep 
you  under  reilraint. 
2S  Now  no  man        28  Now  as  the  difciple  to  whom  Chrift  had  inti- 
**■  mated 

NOTES. 
*  This  was  the  apoftle  John  himfelf,   lifted  .'/>  his  heel  again  ft  me,   but  this 
who  wrote  this  Gofpel,   but  in  modefty    was  determinate,   and  directly  pointing 
concealed  his  own  name,  when  he  fpoke    out  Judas  himfelf  as  the   very  perion 
of  the  difciple  whom  Jefus  loved.  whom  he  meant. 

f  This  dipping  of  the  fop  is,  I  think,  \  Perhaps  Judas  might  have  fome  fuf- 
to  be  diftinguifhed  from,  and  feems  to 
have  been  after  the  dipping  of  the  hand 
in  the  difli,  which  is  mentioned  in  Mat. 
xxvi.  23.  and  Mark  xiv.  20.  when  Chrift 
faid,   He  that  dippetb  bis  hand  with  me 


26  Jefus  anfwer- 
ed,  He  it  is  to 
whom  I  ihall  give 
a  fop,  when  I  have 


picion,  as  if  Chrift's  giving  him  the  fop 
was  defigned  to  mark  him  out  as  the  per- 
fon  he  fpoke  of,  and  fo  was  the  more  fu- 
rioufly  enraged  againft  him  :  However 
Satan,  feeing  this  to  be  a  fit  opportunity 
in  the  dijh,  the  fume  fhall  betray  me  ;  to  execute  the  villainous  defign,  worked 
and  it  is  one  of  the  twelve  that  dippetb  more  powerfully  in  this  fon  of  perdition 
with  me  in  the  dijh  :  Fur  that  was  fpo-  now,  than  ever  before  ;  (fee  the  note-  on 
ken  openly  to  them  all,  but  this  private-  <ver.  2.)  and,  leading  him  captive  at  his 
ly  to  John ;  that  related  to  Judas's  dip-  will,  prevailed  upon  him  to  fet  about  it 
ping  in  the  difh  with  our  Lord,  but  this  without  delay.  And.  his  going  irnmedi- 
to  Chrift's  dipping  the  fop,  and  giving  it  ateiy  upon  this,  (ver.  30.)  ieems  to  in- 
to Judas;  that  was  a  more  indeterminate  timate,  that  Judas  went  out  before  the 
fignal,  anfwering  to,  and  probably  at  celebration  of  the  Lord's  fupper.  See  the 
the  fame  time  with  what  he  faid,  (ver.  note  on  Luke  xxii.  21. 
1 3.)  He  that  eateth  bread  with  me,  hath 

Vol.  II.  K  k  k 


43° 

at  the  table  knew 
lor  what  intent  he 
ipake  this  of  him. 


The  Evangellfl 


Chap,  xiii* 


fus  had  faid  unto 
him,  Buy  thofe 
things  that  we 
have  need  of  a- 
gainft  the  feaft:  or, 
that  he  fhould  give 
fometuing  to  the 
poor. 

30  He  then  ha- 
ving received  the 
fop,  went  immedi- 
ately out  :  and  it 
was  ni<'ht. 


31  Therefore 
when  he  was  gone 
out,  Jefus  laid, 
Now  is  the  Son  of 
man  glorified,  and 


mated  by  which  of  them  he  fhould  be  betrayed,  did 
not  apprehend  that  it  would  be  fo  foon  ;  and  as  the 
reft  at  table  did  not  know  that  Judas  was  the  man ; 
fo  none  of  them  underftood  what  Jefus  meant  by  thefe 
words,  and  fome  miftook  his  defign  in  them. 
29  For  fome  of  29  For,  as  their  little  ftock  was  committed  to  Ju- 
them  thought,  be-   dQsys  cuftody,  they  apprehended,  either  that   Jefus 

thfba^that  Ve-  gCntly  rePr6ved  him  for  neglefting  tn^  duty  of  his 
'  faid  unto  °ffice>  and  ordered  him  to  provide  the  things  that 
were  neceffary  for  the  following  days  of  the  feaft  : 
(fee  the  note  on  ver.  1.)  Or  elfe  that  he  *  ordered 
him  to  diftribute  fomething,  without  delay,  in  a  way 
of  charity  to  the  poor. 

30  Then  Judas ,  having  eat  the  fop,  forthwith 
left  the  compar-y,  and,  being  under  the  power  of  Sa- 
tan and  his  own  corruptions,  went  away  to  the  fan- 
hedrim  to  get  affiilance  for  apprehending  Jefus,  who 
he  fuppofed  would  foon  be  moving  to  his  ufual  place 
of  retirement  :  And  by  this  time  night  came  on,  fo 
that  it  was  dark. 

31  When  therefore  Judas  was  gone  out  of  the 
houfe,  Jefus,  knowing  the  buiinefs  he  went  about,  faid 
to  the  reft  of  the  difciples,  Now  the  hour  is  juft  at 
hand,  when  I,  the  Mefliah,  fhall  f  be  glorious  in  the 

God  is  glorified  in    work  of  redemption,  and  in  the  conqueft  that  I  fhall 
mm»  obtain  over  fin,  Satan,  and  all  the  powers  of  darknefs, 

by  my  death  ;  and  fhall  be  glorious  in  performing  my 
engagements  to  the  Father  ;  in  my  zeal  for  his  glory, 
and  love  to  his  people  ;  and  in  the  exercife  of  every 
grace,  and  of  all  divine  power  to  fupport  me  under, 
and  carry  me  honourably  through  the  awful  fcene  that 
lies  before  me  :  And  God  the  Father  will  be  glon'li- 
ed  in  and  by  me,  as  all  his  perfections  will  be  exalt- 
ed with  united  harmony,  in  the  humble  felf-abafe- 
ment,  obedience,  fufferings,  and  death,  which  I,  in 
the  form  of  a  fervant,  fo  freely  fubmit  to. 
If  God  be        32  And  fince  God  the  Father  will  be  thus  highly 

glorified    in    him,    glorified  in  and  by  me,   he  will  honour  me  in  my  fuf- 
«/'»l   mail  alio  glo-    9    .  .  ,  '  .       *-  .  .  . J     .  . 

rify  htm  in  himfelf  *enngs  with  amazing  ligns  and  wonders,  and  with 
teftimonies  to  me,  which  fhall  be  extorted  from  mine 
enemies  themfeives,  and  will  glorioufly  reward  me  af- 
terwards in  my  refurre&ion,  aicenfion,  and  exaltation 
at  his  right  hand  ;  he  will  glorify  me  in  my  own  per- 
ion,  and  (to^ra  uvtgv  sv  ic^itm)   will  glorify  me  with 

himfelf, 

NOTES. 

*   It  is  probable  that  at  the  paffover-    that  belonged  to  his  dying  in  fuch  a  ho- 

feaft  our  Lord  had  ufcd  to  order  a  diftri-    ly  and  victorious  manner,  as  he  did,  and 

bnlioii   of  alms   to   the  poor,    as  far  as    not  to  the  honour  his  Father  put  upon 

their  (canty  circumftances  would  admit    him,  which  is  diftinguifhed  from  it,  and 

of  it.  f poken  of  as  moftly  confecment  to  it,  in 

f  This  evidently  relates  to  the  glory   the  nest  verfe. 


and  (hall  ftraight 

way  glorify  him 


Chap. 


Xlll. 


33  kittle 
dren,   yet  a 
while.   I   am 
you.         Ye 
leek  me 
I     laid 


chil- 
little 
with 
mall 
and,  as 
unto    the 


Jews,  Whither  I 
go,  ye  cannot  come; 
fo    now  I  fay    to 

you. 

34  A  new  com- 
mandment I  give 
unto  you,  That  ye 
love  one  another ; 
as  I  have  loved  yo.u, 
that  ye  alio  love 
oce  another. 


35  Ey  this  fliall 
all  men  know  that 
ye  are  mydifciples, 
if  ye  have  love  one 
to  another. 


Simon  Feter 
faid 


John  paraphrafed.  431 

himfelf,  by  admitting  me,  even  in  *  y  human  nature, 
to  full  communion  with  him  in  his  majefty  and  glory; 
and  this  he  will  do  fpeedily,  and  in  a  right  way, 
(sv0«s)  as  is  moft  becoming  himfelf  and  me. 

33  My  dear  children,  whofe  faith  is  weak,  but 
whom  I  affectionately  love,  it  is  but  a  very  little  time 
that  I  mall  continue  in  the  body  with  you  :  When  I 
am  gone,  ye  will  be  earnestly  deiirous  of  being  with 
me  ;  but  as  I,  once  and  again,  have  told  the  unbeliev- 
ing Jews  absolutely,  {chap.  vii.  34.  and  xiiu  21.)  ■  fo 
I  tell  yoU  for  the  prefent,  [yer.  36.)  that  ye  can- 
not as  yet  come  to  the  bleffed  Hate  whither  I  am  go- 

34  In  the  mean  while,  I,  your  dying  Lord  and 
Mailer,  authoritatively  leave,  and  bind  upon  you, 
one  great  commandment,  in  a  particular  manner, 
which  indeed  is  not  in  itlelf  a  new  one  *,  but  is  fadly 
corrupted,  and  almofl  forgot  and  loft  ;  I  therefore 
enjoin  it  upon  you  by  a  new  example,  and  with  new 
explications,  motives,  and  inforcements,  that  it  may 
be  oblerved  with  a  new  fpirit  and  temper,  and  in  a. 
new  manner,  as  a  fundamental  law  of  my  kingdom, 
and  may  be  ever  frefh  in  your  minds  and  hearts,  and 
written  there  by  the  Spirit  of  the  New  Teftament, 
as  a  moft  excellent  command,  which  fhall  be  eternally 
as  much  in  force,  as  if  it  were  always  new  :  And  this 
commandment  is,  that  ye  mutually  love  one  another, 
not  in  a  common  way  merely  as  men,  but  in  an  af- 
fectionate, fympathizing,  felf-denying,  and  benefi- 
cent manner,  as  my  difciples,  in  imitation,  and  un- 
der a  fenfe  of  my  love  to  you,  in  the  greatnefs  of 
which  I  have  freely  fuffered  many  things  already,  and 
am  going  even  to  die  for  you. 

35  This  is  the  honourable  badge  of  your  holy  pro- 
feftion  of  my  name  ;  and  all  that  fee  and  obferve  you, 
whether  they  be  friends  or  enemies,  fliall  know  that 
ye  are  indeed  my  difciples,  partakers  of  my  Spirit, 
and  bearing  mine  image,  if  ye  thus  cordially  love  one 
another,  and  fhew  it  on  all  occalions,  after  my  exam- 
ple, for  my  fake,  and  in  obedience  to  my  command, 

36  Simo?i  Peter  being  more  imprefTed  with  what 

Kkk  2  Jefus 

NOTE. 

with  2  John  v.  5.)  not  only  from  the 
beginning  of  ChrilVs  mimftry,  but  even 
from  the  beginning  of  the  world,  ever 
lince  mankind  had  a  being;  and  from 
the  beginning  of  the  law,  ever  fince  it 
was  delivered  to  Ifrael,  it  being  a  fun- 
damental   law 


*  This  cannot  be  underftood  as  a 
commandment  abtblutely  new,  fince  our 
Lord  himfelf  had  faid  before,  (Matth. 
xxii.  39,  40.)  that  to  love  oar  neighbour 
as  our/elves,  is  one  of  the  two  great 
sommandments,  on  <wpich  bang  all  the 
lenv  and  the  prophets  ;  and  our  Evange- 
li.ft  fpeaks  of  loving  one  another,  as  an 
old  commandment,  ivhich  nve  had  from 
the  beginning,  (1  John  ii.  7.  compared 


of  nature,  which  runs 
through  all  difpen  fat  ions,  according  to 
the  various  relations  in  which  we  ft  and 
one  to  another. 


432 

faid  unto  him, 
I  brdi  whither  go- 
eft  thou  ?  Jefus  an- 
fwered him,  Whi- 
ther I  gothoucanft 
follow  ine  now; 
tut  thou  fhalt  fol- 
low me  afterwards. 


37  Peter  faicl  mi- 
ni, Lord,  why 
cannot  I  follow 
thee  now  ?  I  will 
lay  down  my  life 
for  thy  fake. 


3 S  Jefus  anfwer- 
rd  hipi,  Wilt  thou 
lay  down  thy  life 
for  my  fake  ?  Ve- 
rily, verily,  I  fay 
itnto  thee,  The 
cock  fhallnot  crow 
till  thou  haft  de- 
nied me  thrice. 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  xiii. 


Jefus  had  faid,  (ver.  33.)  about  his  going  whithe 
the  difciples  could  not  come,  than  about  their  loving 
one  another,  faid  to  him  in  an  abrupt  manner,  Lord, 
I  befeech  thee  to  let  us  know  *  where  it  is  that  thou 
talkeft  of  going  from  us  to  let  up  thy  kingdom  ?  Je- 
fus anfwered,  I  tell  you  again  that  I  am  going,  where 
you  are  not  at  prefent  able  to  accompany  or  follow 
me;  but  you  mall  follow  me  in  proper  time  hereafter, 
when  I  have  done  my  work  by  you,  and  ftrengthen- 
ed  your  faith  for  treading  in  my  fuffering  fteps. 

37  Peter,  not  well  knowing  what  Chrift  meant, 
replied  with  a  fincere,  but  felf-confident  and  raft  zeal, 
Lord,  what  is  the  reafon  that  I  caimot  follow  thee 
now,  as  well  as  at  any  time  hereafter  ?  I  am  fully 
refolved  to  embark  in  all  difficulties  with  thee,  even 
to  the  laying  down  of  my  very  life,  rather  than  de- 
fert  thee  :  What  then  mould  hinder  my  going  along 
with  thee,  wherever  it  be  ? 

38  To  this  Jefus,  who  knew  him  better  than  he 
knew  himfjlf,  anfwered  again,  to  humble  and  warn 
him,  Will  you  rifque,  and  even  facrifice  your  life  for 
me  ?  Alas  !  Peter,  you  are  too  felf-confident  ;  I, 
who  fpeak  the  truth,  afl'uredly  tell  you  before-hand, 
that,  notwithitanding  this  vain  boail,  you  will  this 
very  night,  before  the  time  of  cock-crowing  is  over, 
ihamefully  deny  a  fnil,  a  fecond,  and  third  time,  that 
you  are  any  difciple  of  mine,  or  that  you  ever  fo 
much  as  knew  me  f.      [Luke  xxii.  34.) 


RECOLLECTIONS. 

How  affectionate  and  abiding  isChrift's  love  to  his  own  people;  and  how  amazing- 
does  he  condefcend  to  them,  for  their  inftruction  and  advantage!  But  we  cannot 
juftly  pre  l<  rid  to  be  his  difciples,  unlefs  he  waflies  us  by  his  blood  and  Spirit,  and 
v\e  lie  rc?.iy  to  follow  his  example  of  condefcenfion,  and  to  obey  his  commands,  and 
particularly  that  great  law,  which  he  has  fo  ftrongly  enforced,  of  loving  one  ano- 
ilier  for  his  fake.  How  melancholy  is  the  thought  that  any  under  a  profeffion  of 
Ghrift,  nod  under  the  higheft  obligations,  and  the  neareft  vifible  relation  to  him, 
Ihould  lift  up  the  heel  againft  hi;n  !    And  what  fad  work  does  Satan  make  with 

them? 

NOTE. 

It  feemti  as  if  Peter  thought  that    fecms  as  if  this  were  a  converfation  that 

rift,    being   rejected    by   the    *)'<  ;"(>d   a   little  before   that  .related  by 

would   go  to   fome    other   parts   of   the    Alcittheio  and  Mark,  unlefs  we  fuppoic 

earth  to  erect  his  throne,  where  he  night    them  to  have  a  little  neglected  the  oe- 

n    without    difturbance,     and    with    dei  of  time  there,    as  in  fome  other  pla- 

rnal    ccs,    that  they  might  throw  things  of  a 

notions  be  had  r/ Chrift 's  kingdom.  like  nature  together.     But  thole  learned 

1    The  of  thefe  paflages  is   men  that  think  the  fupper,   which  our 

ted  in  Lttke  xxii.  33,  34.  39.  as  well    Evangelift  (peaks  of  in  this  chapter,  was 

•  Chrift's  go-    a  night  or  two  before  the  jvdfchal  fupper, 

out  of  the  houfe  to  the  mount  of  0-    mult  fuppofe  that  his  account  of  what 

<  < :   But  a  difcourfie  to  the  fame  pur-    parted  between  Chrift  and  Peter,   about 

•  is  mentioned  after  it  in  Mat.  xxvi.    that  apoltle's  denying  him,    is  entirely 

34,  35,  (ice  the  note  there)  and    different  in  time  from  that  of  all  the  0- 

-;i.     It  therefore   ther  Evangclifts, 


Chap.  xiv.  John  paraphrafed.  433 

them,  when,  being  left  to  their  own  corruptions,  he  leads  them  captive  at  his  will! 
But  the  Lord  knows  who  are  his ;  and  yet  how  many  are  the  miftakes  and  defects, 
how  great  the  ignorance,  felf-confidence,  and  rafhnefs,  and  how  dreadful  the  fall? 
of  fome  that  Chrift  loves,  and  that  fmceroly  lovebim  !  What  need  have  the  beft  a- 
mongit  us  for  daily  clcanling  from  daily  fins  1  And  how  becoming  is  it  for  us  to 
be  always  humble  and  modeit,  to  have  a  godly  jealoufy  over  ourfelves,  and  to  fub- 
mit  to  the  wifdom  and  authority  of  Chrift  in  whatfoever  he  fays,  does,  or  orders 
concerning  U9  !  And  if  any  thing  feems  ftrange  and  unaccountable  at  prefent,  let 
it  be  our  comfort,  that  what  we  know  not  now,  we  fhall  know  hereafter.  In  the 
mean  while,  we  can  never  haw  too  high  thoughts  of  Chrift,  whole  presence  is  our 
greateft  joy,  and  whofe  abfence  outgreateft  grief;  whole  authority  is  incontefti- 
ble  ;  who  is  intimately  acquainted  with  the  moft  fecret  difpofitions  of  our  hearts  ; 
and  not  only  knows  what  we  now  are,  but  v\  hat  we  fhall  be  and  do;  who  is  glorious 
even  in  his  fufferings  and  death,  by  which  his  Father  was  highly  glorified  ;  and  who 
is  now  exalted  to  all  the  grandeur  of  his  throne  and  kingdom  !  He  will  honour  his 
fervants  that  honour  him,  and  will  regard  thole  that  receive  his  meflengers,  as  if 
they  received  himfetf  and  his  Father  ;  and  though  they,  like  him,  may  meet  with 
treacherous  ufage  from  their  neareft  intimates,  and  with  other  fufterings  for  his 
fake,  it  will  not  be  long  before  they  will  follow  him  to  glory,  and  be  ever  with  the 
Lord. 


CHAP      XIV. 

The  beginning  of  Chrifs  farewel  fennon,  in  which  he  comforts  his 
-difciples  under  their  troubles  with  promijes  of  heaven,  j, — 5. 
Speaks  of  hi r? if e (f  as  the  way  tp  the  Father,  and  of  his  own  being 
one  with  him,  6, — 12.  yJffures  his  difciples  that  he  will  anfwer 
the  prayers  which  they  offer  up  in  his  name,  13,  14.  Promijes 
another  Comforter ,  and  gracious  manifefations  of himfelf,  and  of 
the  Father,  15, — 24  Repeats  the  promife  of  the  Comforter,  be- 
queaths a  legacy  of  peace  to  them,  and  concludes  the  frfl  part  of 
his  dijeourje,  25, — 31. 

Text.  P^raphra  sf.. 

LET    not    y°ur  A   FTER  Jiutas  was  gone  away,   (chap.  xiii.  31.) 

heart  be  iron-  £\           j^  ^        tTle  eleven  apoilles,  Take  heed 

()lcc! :     ye    believe  .                 -   . 

in  God,  believe  al-  that  your  hearts  be  not  difcompoied  and  terrified  at 

fa  in  me.  my  approaching  ignominy  and  death  ;  or  at  what  I 

faid  about  the  traitor,  (chap.  xiii.  21.)  as  if  I  meant 

any  of  you  ;  nor  be  ye  diflieartened  at  what  I  told 

you  about  your  foon  loiing  my  corporal  prefence  ; 

(chap.  xiii.  33.)    or   at   the   disappointment    ye  will 

thereupon  meet  with  in  your  feeular  expectations  from 

me,  and  the  dangers  ye  will  be  expofed  to  for  my 

fake  :  Ye  have  already  *  faith  in  God,  according  to 

r  the 

NOTE. 

*  The  verb  ■afinvt'li  in  both  parts  of  dicatively  or  imperatively  in  both,   as  I 

fhe  fentence  is  the  fame,  and  equally  be-    have  put  it  in  the  Paraphrafe,    that  the 

longs  to  the  indicative  and  imperative    reader  may  take  his  choice*:    Or,    if  he 

mood,  and  fo  admits  of  various  conftruc-    likes  it  better,    he  may  follow  oujjver- 

tions.     But  it  feems  moft  natural  not  to    fion,    according    to    which    our   bleffed 

render  ir  in  one  part  of  the  fentence  in-    Lord  owns  with  commendation,  that  the 

dicatively,  and  in  the  other  imperative-    difciples  did  believe  in  God,  as  manifeft- 

Jy,  as  in  our  trauilation ;   but  either  in-  ed  in  the  Old  Teftament,    and  enjoins 

them 


434 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  xiv. 


you. 
pare   a 
you. 


place    for 


i 


the  revelations  that  are  made  of  him  in  the  Old  Tef- 

tament  ;  and  ye  have  faith  it  me,  as  his  own  Son  and 

the  Meffiah,  according  to  the  discoveries  that,  in  my 

miniilry,  and  by  my  Spirit,  have  been  made  of  me  ; 

this  ought  to  quiet  your  fears  :   Labour  now,  in  a 

fpecial  manner,  to  live  in  the  daily  exercife  of  faith 

in  God  the  Father,  and  of  the  fame  divine  faith  in 

me  ;  and  this  will  be  an  effectual  means  of  your  fup- 

port  and  comfort,  under  all  the  troubles,   that  now 

fill  your  hearts,  or  are  coming  upon  you. 

c  In  my  Father's        2   For  in  heaven,  where  my  Father  dwells  in  the 

houfe    are     rruny   bighell  manifeftations  of  himfelf,  there  are  many  de- 

m  in  ons ;      1     it  jj-^fyj    aDOflcs     as    many    as   there  are  fons  to  be 

were    not     Ml.6        ,  2    '  ,     ■'.  r  .      ,     . 

would    have    told    brought  to  glory  ;    and  there  are  lome  particularly 

I  go  t<5  pre-  for  you,  that  ye  may  have  eternal  rell  and  Satisfac- 
tion, after  all  the  toils  and  troubles  of  time  ;  if  it  were 
otherwife,  fuch  is  my  faithfulnefs  and  affection  to 
you,  that  I  would  certainly  have  undeceived  you  as 
I  often  have,  when  ye  vainly  expected  temporal  dig- 
nities and  poffeilions  from  me  :  But  the  very  buii- 
nefs  and  defign  of  my  departure,  by  death  to  heaven, 
is  to  procure  a  right  of  admifiion  to  it,  by  the  merit 
of  my  atoning  blood,  for  you,  to  take  pofTeflion  of 
it  as  a  forerunner  in  your  names,  and  to  difpofe  of 
things  in  the  beft  manner,  and  get  them  ready  againfl 
your  arrival  thither. 

3  And  (s«v)  when,  or  as  furely,  as  I  go  in  this 
manner,  to  provide  a  bleffed  refidence  there  for  you, 
(nxM*  i^xof^Xi)  I  w^l  quickly  return  by  my  Spirit, 
to  take  care  of  you,  and  to  fit  you*  for  that  heavenly 
habitation  ;  and  I  will  receive  your  fouls  at  death, 
and  your  whole  perfons  at  my  fecond  appearing,  in- 
to my  immediate  prefence,  for  intimate  fellowfhip 
and  communion  with  me,  that  where  I  already  am  in 
my  divine  nature,  and  very  foon  (hall  be  in  my  hu- 
man nature,  there  ye  may  likewife  be  in  a  Hate  of 
.perfect  freedom,  honour,  and  delight. 

4  And,  by  what  I  have  now,  and  formerly  faid  to 
you,  ye  have  been  told,  and  may  know,  both  the 
place  to  which  I  am  going,  and  the  way,  in.  which 
ye  hereafter  are  to  follow  me  thither. 

5  Thomas,  who  was  apt  to  be  of  a  doubtful  and 
unbelieving  heart,   (chap.  xx.  25,  27.)  and  could  not 
get  rid  of  his  notions  about  temporal  dominion,  re- 
plied, 


3   And   if  I  go 

and  prepare  a  place 
for  you  I  will  come 
again,  and  receive 
you  unto  myfelf  ; 
that  where  I  am, 
there  ye  may  be 
aho. 


4  And  whither 
T  go  ye  know,  and 
the  way  ye  know. 


5  Thomas  faith 
unto    him,     Lord, 
we  know  not  whi- 
ther 


N  O 
them  to  believe  in  himfelf,  as  manifeft- 
ed,  and  to  be  dill  further  manifested,  in 
all  hi* divine  and  faving  characters  un- 
der the  New.  But  which  ever  way  we 
take  it,  Chrift  here  fpeaks  of  himfelf  as 
the  object  of  the  fame  divine  faith  e- 


ijually  with  the  Father  j  and  therefore   hira 


T    E. 

though  he  is  to  be  confidered  as  a  di- 
ftincl  perfon  from  the  Father,  and  un- 
der a  diftincF  notion  as  the  Mefliah,  who 
was  fent  by  the  Father ;  yet  he  is  not. 
diftinguifhed  from  him  as  God,  or  as 
excluded  from  flxaring  in  Godhead  with 


Chap.  xiv. 


John  paraphrafed. 


435 


ther    thou 
and   how 
know  the  way 


we 


6  Jefus  faith  un- 
to him.  I  am  the 
way,  and  the  truth, 
and   the    life :    no 


me. 


goeft,  plied..  Lord,  notwithftanding  all  that  thou  haft  faid, 
we  are  ftill  at  a  lofs  about  the  place,  to  which  thou 
art  going  ;  how  is  it  poflible  then,  that  we  fhould 
know  the  way  of  following  thee  thither  ? 

6  Jefus  anfwered  him,  I,  myfelf,  am  the  *  only 
true  and  living  medium  of  intercourfe  between  heaven 
and  earth,  and  of  your  finding  acceptance  with  God, 

man  cometh  unto  ar>d  receiving  grace  to  advance  you  to  eternal  blefs- 
the  Father  but  by  ednefs  ,  I  am  the  Way,  as  by  my  own  blood  I  am 
entering  into  the  holy  place,  and  (hall  thereby  open 
a  way  for  you  to  follow  me  ;  I  am  the  Truth,  as  all 
the  legal  types  and  fhadows  are  fulfilled  in  me,  and 
as  I,  the  Amen,  the  faithful  and  true  Witnefs,  teach 
you  the  fure  way  to  heaven  and  glory  :  And  I  am  the 
Life,  as  I  have  life  in  myfelf,  and  am  the  author  of 
fpiritual  and  eternal  life,  to  all  that  believe  in  me  :  So 
that  no  man,  in  his  fallen  ftate,  can  make  any  accept- 
able approach  in  worfhip  to  the  Father,  or  have  any- 
comfortable  communion  with  him,  by  faith  and  love 
here,  or  have  a  perfonal  entrance  into  his  immediate 
and  blefTed  prefence  hereafter,  in  any  other  way  than 
by  me. 

7  And  as  for  the  Father,  to  whom  I  tell  you  I 
am  going,  had  ye  clearly  underftood  what  I  am  in 


7lfyehadknown 
me,  ye  fhould  have 


known  my  Father  j-   •  n 

alfo:        and    from    mJ  dlvme>    as   wel1 


him,  and  have  feen 
him. 


8 
unto 


Philip 
him, 


faith 
Lord, 


my  viivmc,  as  wui  as  human  nature,  ye  muft  have 
henceforth  ye  know  known  who  and  what  my  Father  is,  he  and  I  be- 
ing in  nature  and  effential  properties  one:  [chap. 
x.  30.)  And  from  this  time  forward  ye  begin,  and 
fhall  go  on  to  know  more  of  him,  and  indeed,  ye 
have  already  feen  more  of  him  in  me,  and  in  the  ma- 
nifeftations  that  I  have  made  of  the  divine  power  and 
goodnefs,  than  ye  are  aware  of. 

8  Hereupon  Philip,  another  of  the  apoflles,  whofe 
faith  had  a  great  mixture  of  unbelief,   [chap.  vi.    7.) 

ft7-*U?tffiCF?i!her'   faid  t0  hIm>  Lord>  ifthou  wilt  but  pleafe  to  give  us 
and  it  iufhceth  us.    r  .-,  ,  /         .  r    ,      _,  \  *=>    , 

iome  viiibie  repreientation  or  the  rather,  as  God  u- 
fed  fometimes  to  give  of  himfelf,  in  extraordinary 
vifions,  to  the  ancient  prophets,  this  will  entirely  fa- 
tisfy  all  our  doubts,  and  filence  all  our  fears. 

9  Jefus  replied,  in  a  way  of  gentle  rebuke,  Have 
I  been  upwards  of  three  years  daily  and  familiarly 
converfing  with  you  all  ?  And  what,  Philip,  art 
thou,  who  waft  one  of  my  firft  difciples,    [chap.   i. 

Philip?     he   43,44.)  ftill  ignorant  of  my  original  nature  ?  I  tell 
that  hath  feen  me,   thee,  that  whoever  is  duly  acquainted  with  me,  has 

feen 


9  Jefus  faith  un- 
tohim,  Have  I  been 
fo  long  time  with 
you,  and  yet  haft 
thou  not  known 
me, 

t  hath  feei 

hath 


N    O 

*  Some  fuppofe  that  Chrift  here  ufeth 
the  figure  He?idiadis,  to  denote  that  he 
is  the  true  and  living  way,  according  to 
what  the  apoftle  fpeaks  of  believers,  ha 


T     E. 

the  blood  of '  7<? fits,  by  a  nenu  and  living 
nvay,  lubich  be  has  co7ifecrated  for  usy 
through  the  vail,  that  is  to  fay,  hisflepj. 
(Heb.  x.  19,  10.)      I  have  accordingly 


"■wig  boldnefs  to  enter  into  the  holieft,  by   given  this  fcufc  a  place  in  the  Paraphrafe, 


436 


The  Evangtlift 


Chap.  xiv. 


hath  feen  the  Fa- 
ther; aiiiJ  how  lay- 
tit  thou  thcn,S\\&w 
us  the  Father  ? 


10  Believer!  thou 
not  that  I  am  in 
the  Father,  and  the 

Father  in  me  ?  the. 
words  that  I  fpeak 
unto  you,  I  fpeak 
not  of  my'.elf :  but 
the  Father  that 
dwelleth  in  roe,  he 
doth  the  works. 


1 1  Believe  me 
that  I  am  in  the 
Father,  anf?  the  Fa- 
ther in  me :  or  elfe 
believe  me  for  the 
very  works  fake. 


XT.  Ver'%',  veri- 
'v,  I  fay  unto  you, 
Me  that  believeth, 
on  me,   the  v 

that 


feen  fuch  divine  perfections  umnifefling  themfelves 
in  my  perfon,  miniflry,  and  miracles,  that  he  cannot 
be  ignorant  of  the  Father  ;  but  Has  feen  fuch  lively 
difplays  of  his  nature  and  excellencies  in  me,  who  am 
the  exprefs  image  of  his  pcrlon,  as  exceed  all  former 
viirble  representations^  which,  in  their  main  defign, 
were  only  fo  many  types  and  fnadows  of  what  now 
appears  in  me  :  How  ilrange  is  it  then,  that,  after 
fo  long  acquaintance  with  me,  thou  fhouldfl  define 
me  to  fhew  you  the  Father,  in  order  to  your  fatis- 
faclion  and  comfort  ? 

10  What  !  Doft  thou  not  yet  believe,  that  I  and 
my  Father  are  fo  effentially  united,  as  to  be  infepar- 
able,  though  dillintt  perfons  from  each  other,  and 
that  we  have  fuch  intimate  communion  in  Godhead, 
as  imports  a  real  and  mutual,  though  incomprehenfi- 
ble  inbeing  ?  Then,  turning  his  difcourfe  from  Phi- 
lip to  all  the  difciples,  he,  to  help  the  infirmity  of 
their  faith,  faid,  This,  as  well  as  every  other  doc- 
trine that  I  deliver  to  you,  I  fpeak  not  merely  of  my- 
felf,  as  if  it  were  a  private  fentiment  of  my  own,  a- 
part  from  the  Father  ;  but  he  who,  I  fay,  infeparably 
abides  in  me,  exerts  the  fame  divine  power  with  me 
in  performing  the  miraculous  works  which  I  have 
wrought  to  confirm  it. 

1 1  Believe  me  then,  upon  mine  own  divine  autho- 
rity, who  am  the  Truth,  (ver.  6.)  that  my  Father 
and  I  have  an  efTential  and  infeparable  being  one  in 
the  other,  as  I  have  faid :  But  (s<  h  pr,)  if  ye  do  not 
believe  me  merely  upon  the  credit  of  my  own  word, 
let  the  very  works*,  which  I  perform  in  a  divine 
Godlike  manner,  fatisfy  you,  that  I  exert  no  lefs 
power,  than  that  of  God  the  Father  himfelf,  in 
bringing  them  to  pafs. 

1 2  Then  returning  to  his  defign  of  comforting 
tF«  n,  (ver.  i.)  he  faid,  with  great  folemnity,  I 
faithfully  affure  you,  that  he  who  truly  believes  in 
me,  according  to  the  declaration  I  have  made  of  my- 

felf, 
T     E. 

could  it  be  faid,  that  he  who  had  Ceen 
him,  had  alfo  feen  the  Father,  urdefs 
lie  had  been  partaker  of  the  fame  na- 
ture with  the  Father,  and  had,  in  his 
acting  like  a  divine  perfon.  exerted  the 
vi tv  lame  power  as  refides  in  the  Father 
himfelf,  and  that  in  fuch  an  abfolute 
way  as  the  Father  himfelf  would  have 
done  it,  had  he  appeared  perfonally  and 
vifibly  among  men  :  For  nothing  like 
this  was  ever  faid  of  the  apoftles,  or  any 
other  mere  man,  because  they  acred  not 
by  their  owd,  but  by  Chrift's  power. 


N     O 
*  It  fecms  to  me,  that  Child's  refer- 
rn  his  works  here,    as  often  elle- 
".li"re,    refpects  not  merely  his  miracles 
themfelvrs,    but  his   foverei^n   Godlike 
way  of  performing  them  by  his  own   di- 
vine power,  which  was  the  fame  in  him 
as  in  the  Father:  Otherwife  thole  works 
themlWves  were  no  proof  of  his  being  in 
itht-r,  and  the   Father  in  him,   or 
of  the  Father's  dwelling  in  him,  in  any 
higher  fenfe  than  the  fame  mitiht  be  af- 
firmed ot  the  apoftks,    who,   he  fays  in 
the  next  verfe,  mould  do  the  fame,   and 
greater  works  than  thefe  :    Much  lefs 


Cfcap. 


xiv. 


John  paraphrased. 


437 


that  I  do  fliall  he 
do  alio  :  and  great- 
er nvorks  than  thefe 
fliall  he  do;  be- 
caufe I  go  unto  nay 
Father. 


13  And  whatfo- 
ever  ye  fliall  afk  in 
my  name,  that  will 
1  'do,  that  the  Fa- 
ther may  be  glori- 
fied in  the  Son. 


felf,  fliall  be  highly  favoured  in  this  world,  as  well  as 
for  ever  bleffed  with  me  in  the  next :  For  he  mail  be 
enabled  to  do,  not  only  the  fame  fort  of  works,  in 
healing  the  fick,  calling  out  devils,  refloring  light 
to  the  blind,  and  railing  the  dead,  as  I  now  perform*, 
during  my  abode  on  earth  ;  but  he  mail  be  an  initru- 
ment  in  my  hand,  of  doing  ftill  greater  works  than 
thefe,  with  longer  continuance,  and  wider  extent, 
among  Gentiles  as  well  as  jeivs,  and  with  more  re- 
markably happy  effedts,  to  the  converfion  of  vail  mul- 
titudes of  both,  through  all  nations  of  the  world; 
becaufe  I  go  to  be  enthroned  in  glory,  and  to  exercife 
all  power  at  the  Father's  right  hand. 

13  And  whatfoever  ye  mall  afk,  upon  the  foot 
of  my  warrant  and  promife,  with  humble  dependence 
on  my  wifdom  and  power,  faithfulnefs  and  grace, 
and  on  my  merit  and  advocacy,  that  ye  may  honour 
me  ;  I  will  certainly  perform  it  in  anfwer  to  your 
prayers,  that  the  Father  himfelf  may  thereby  mani- 
feft  his  glorious  perfections,  in  my  gracious  and  al- 
mighty operations,  and  through  my  obedience  &nd 
fufferings,  who  am  his  own  Son. 

14  Whatfoever  ye,  I  fay,  making  mention  of  my 
name,  mall  in  this  manner  pray  for,  that  may  be  for 
the  glory  of  God  and  your  good,  and  particularly 
for  your  afiiftance  and  acceptance,  fupport,  encou- 
ragement, and  fuccefs  in  your  work  ;  I  will  not  only 
take  care  that  it  be  done,  but  I  myfelf  will  certainly 
do  it,  as  working  together  with  my  Father  therein. 

1 5  Since  therefore  thefe  will  be  fome  of  the  prin- 
cipal fruits  of  my  departure,  If  ye  indeed  love  me, 
give  proof  of  it,  not  by  being  troubled  at  the  thoughts 
of  lofing  my  company,  and  your  fecular  expectations 
from  me,  which  felf- love  will  prompt  you  to,  but  in  ha- 
ving a  confeientious  refpedl  to  all  my  commandments. 

16  And,  for  your  encouragement  herein,  I,  as  your 
High-priefl  and  Advocate,  will  intercede  effectually 
with  my  Father  for  you  ;  and  he  will  join  with  me, 
(cha/>.  xv.  26.)  in  fending  you  y  another  counfellor, 

advocate, 
NOTES. 
*  Here  our  Lord  accurately  fpeaks  of  fpeaking  all  forts  of  languages,   for  the 


14  If  ye  fliall  afk 
any  thing  in  my 
name,  I  will  do  it. 


15  If  ye  love  me, 
keep  my  command- 
ments. 


16   And   I   will 
pray    the    Father, 
and    he    fliall  give 
you  another  Com- 
forter, 


the  works  which  he  then  wrought,  (ay 
ing,  in  the  prefent  tenfe,  (a.  tyu  woi.v) 
which  I  do :  For  he  was  likewife  the 
author  of  thofe  greater  works,  that  the 
apoftles  were  afterwards  to  do,  becaufe 
he  ,went  to  the  Father  to  exercife  all 
power  at  his  light  hand  :  And  thele 
greater  works  might  partly  refpeel:  one 
apoltle's  working  miracles,  merely  by 
his  Jhadonv,  and  another  by  handker- 
chief s  carried  from  his  body;    (Acts  v. 


15.  a  id  xix.  la.) 

Vol.  II. 


but  principally  th 


l>  1  1 


propagation  of  the  gofpel  among  all  na- 
tions, and  the  wonderful  power  of  the 
Holy  Ghoft,  that  attended  their  mini- 
ftrations,  for  the  converfion  of  three 
thoufand  at  once,  and  afterwards  of  in- 
numerable multitudes  of  Jcivs  and  Gcu- 
tiles,  for  many  fucceeding  years  toge- 
ther, beyond  all  that  was  ever  done  by 
Chrifl's  perfonal  miniflry. 

f  The  Spirit  is  here  evidently  fpoken 
of  as  a  diftinct  perfon  from  Chrift  :  He 
was  one  Paraclete,  and  the  Spirit,  who 


&fter 


433 


The  Evangelljl 


Chap.  xiv. 


17  Even  tfee  Spi- 
rit of  truth,  whom 
the  world  cannot 
receive,  becaufe  it 
teeth  him  not,  nei- 
ther knoweth  him : 
but  ye  know  him  ; 
for  he  dwelleth 
with  you,  and  fliall 
be  in  you. 


forter,  that  he  may  advocate,  and  Comforter,  to  fupply  the  want  of  my 
abide  with  you  tbr  corporal  prefence,  in  init.ruc~i.ing,  afiiiting,  and  exci- 
cyet '  ting  you  to  every  duty,  in  pleading  your  caufe  againft: 

your  adversaries,  and  in  comforting  you  under  all  your 
tribulations,  that  he  may  continue  with  you,  not,  as 
1  have  done,  for  a  little  while  only,  but  through  e- 
vcry  period,  and  in  every  turn  and  difficulty  of  life, 
till  he  (hall  conduct:  you  fafe,  through  death  itfelf,  to 
an  eternal  abode  with  me  in  glory. 

1 7  The  Divine  agent  I  mean  is  the  Holy  Spirit, 
who,  being  of  the  fame  nature  with  the  Father  and 
me,  is  likewife  Truth  itlclf,  may  be  depended  upon 
for  his  faithfulnefs,  and  is  the  author  and  teacher  of 
all  truth  :  The  carnal  men  of  this  world,  remaining 
fuch,  cannot  indeed  entertain  or  embrace  him,  be- 
caufe they  have  no  true  knowledge  of  him,  nor  are 
well-affected  toward  him  :  But  ye,  who  are  enlight- 
ened, and  renewed  by  his  operation  upon  your  hearts, 
are  already  in  fome  meafure  experimentally  acquaint- 
ed with  him  :  For  he  at  prefent  dwells,  and  works, 
and  manifefts  himfeif  in  you,  as  his  living  temples, 
by  his  gracious,  as  well  as  miraculous  influence,  and 
in  a  little  time  he  will  work  and  manifeft  himfeif  in 
you,  with  increaiing  light,  and  power,  and  confola- 
tion. 

1 8  Thus,  though  I  am  going  from  you  by  death, 
I  will  not  leave  you  deftitute  and  expofed,  friendlefs, 
and  forlorn,  as  if  ye  were  fatherlefs  children  ;  (o^«- 
vag)  I  will  foon  take  opportunities  of  viiiting  you 
again  in  perfon,  and,  after  I  am  gone  to  the  Father, 
will  return  by  my  Spirit,  to  your  great  relief  and  ex- 
ceeding jay. 

1 9  It  b  but  a  very  little  while  before  the  men  of 
this  world,  who  rejected,  defpifed,  and  abufed  me, 
mall  no  more  fee  me  on  earth,  as  they  have  for  years 
pad  :  But  I  will  appear  in  perfon  again  to  you,  my 
beloved  difciples,  that  ye  may  fee  me  alive  after  my 
pafiion  :  And  becaufe  I  am  the  living  one  in  my  divine 
nature,  and  (hall  rife  to  a  glorious  and  immortal  life  in* 

my 
T    E. 

caufe  :  But  as  all  that  tbe  Spirit  does  of 
this  I  ind,  is  in  a  comfortable  manner,  for 
the  affiftance  and  relief  of  his  fervants 
and  people,  he  may  be  properly  enough 
ft  i led  tbe  Comforter,  with  regard  to  his 
work  therein,  as  well  as  with  regard  to 
the  divine  confolations  that  he  affords  be- 
lievers, under  all  their  troubles,  by  fhed- 
dtng  abroad  God's  love  in  their  hearts, 
and  witneilmg  with  their  fpirits,  that 
they  are  the  children  of  God,  and  heirs 
of  glory. 


1 3  I  will  not 
leave  you  comfort- 
Lefe  ;  I  will  come 
;o  you. 


10  Yet  a  little 
.vhile,  and  the 
world  feeth  me 
no  more ;  but  ye 
toe  :  becaufe  I 
livc,  ye  fliall  live 
alfo. 


N  O 
after hia  departure  fhould  come  from  the 
Father,   u  ■■  r,   (u\\&)    another 

perfqn,  though  not  (akKo)  another  be- 
ing, n>,r  (t7»f®>)  a  different  fort  of  Com - 
iurttr  ;  the  Son  and  Spirit  being  one  in 
effence  w  th  the  Father;  and  the  Spirit 
the  fame  fort  of  divine  Comforter 
as  Chrilt  hiiiiklf  had  been  to  his  difci- 
pies.  The  verb  na^an.akfu  Ggnifies  to  ex- 
hort, comfort,  intfeat,  and  plead  ;  and 
the  word  ■uccqux\»1<&',  derived  from 
thence,  is  molt  commonly  uied  to  figni- 
t'y  au  advocate  that  pleads    another's 


so  At  that  day 
ye  (hall  know  that 
I  am  in  my  Fa- 
ther, and  you  in 
me,  and  I  in  you. 


Chap.  xiv.  John  paraphrafed.  439 

my  human  nature,  and  mail  always  live  in  heaven,  as 
the  head  of  the  body ;  ye,  my  members,  mall  like  wife 
live  fpiritually,  in  conformity  to  me,  and  by  virtue  de- 
rived from  me  here,  and  eternally  with  me  hereafter  ; 
in  a  ftate  of  j uftification,  fandtilication,  and  confolation 
in  this  world,  and  of  glorification  in  the  next. 

20  Then,  *  when  I  am  rifen  as  your  head  and  re- 
prefentative,  and  as  a  triumphant  conqueror  over  un 
and  Satan,  death  and  hell,  and  over  all  your  and  mine 
enemies,  ye  fhall  begin  more  clearly  to  apprehend  ; 
and,  by  the  fubfequent  effufion  of  my  Spirit,  ihall  un- 
deritand  with  ftill  plainer  evidence ;  and,  at  your  com- 
ing to  live  with  me  in  glory,  ihall  know  beft  of  all, 
that  I  have  the  eflential  union  with  my  Father  which 
I  have  been  fpeaking  of,  (ver*  9,  10,  11.)  and  that 
ye  have  a  myrtical  and  vital  union  with  me  by  my 
Spirit,  which,  as  I  faid,  (ver.  17.)  dwells  in  you,  and 
fhall  be  in  you,  to  feciire  your  Viwing  by  and  with  me. 

21  Every  true  believer,  who,  by  virtue  of  this 
union  with  me,  not  only  hears,  but  heartily  receives 
my  commandments,  and  faithfully  obferves  them,  is 
one  that  fincerely  loves,  and  mews  his  love  to  me  : 
And  he,  who  in  this  manner  loves  me,  fhall  be  ac- 
cepted, approved  of,  and  delighted  in,  by  my  Father, 
for  my  fake  ;  and  I,  whofe  heart  is  the  fame  with  my 
Father's,  will  likewife  approve  of  him,  and  delight 
in  him,  and  will  make  rich  difcoveries  of  myielf,  and 
of  my  fpecial  love  and  favour  to  him. 

22  Hereupon  Judas,  not  he  who  was  called  Ifca- 
rioty  and  was  gone  out  of  the  company  before  this, 
{chap.  xiii.  31.)  but  another  apoflle  of  that  name, 
who  was  the  brother  of  James,  (Luke  vi.  16.)  cried 
out  with  amazement,  faying  f ,  Lord,  how  ailonilh- 
ing,  condefcending,  and  endearing  is  this,  and  how 
contrary  to  our  deferts,  that  thou  mouldit  thus  gra- 
cioufly  make  thyfelf  known,  aod  fhew  thy  peculiar 
favour  to  us,  and  not  to  the  generality  of  the  world  ! 
(t*  yiyoviv)  What  wonderful  kindnefs  is  this  to  us, 
rather  than  to  them  ! 

23  Jefus,  in  reply,  faid  to  him,  If  any  one  fin- 
cerely loves  me,  this,  as  I  told  you,  {ver.  21.)   will 

L  1  1  2  engage 

NOTES. 
That  day  may  relate  to  the  day    perfonally  appearing  only  to  the  apoftles, 

under  the  power  of  ignorance,  prejudice, 
and  concern  at  the  diiappointment  they 
were  thereby  like  to  meet  with  in  their 
expectations  of  lecular  honour  and  ad- 
vantages from  him  :  But  as  nothing  like 
this  appears  in  bis  words,  or  111  Chriit's 
anl'wer,  I  take  them  to  be  the  language 
of  holy    admiration,    according   to   the 


21  He  that  hath 
my  command- 

ments, and  keep- 
eth  them,  he  it  is 
that  loveth  me  : 
and 'he  that  loveth 
me,  fhall  be  loved 
of  my  Father,  and 
I  will  love  him, 
and  will  manifeft 
myfelf  to  him. 

22  Judns  faith 
unto  him,  (not  If- 
-cariotj  Lord,  how 
is  it  that  thou  wilt 
matiifeft  thyfelf  un- 
to us,  and  not  un- 
to the  world  ? 


23  Jefus  anfwer- 

ed    and   laid  unto 

him, 


when  he  mould  appear  to  them  after 
his  refurreclion,  by  which  he  would  be 
declared  to  be  the  Son  of  God  with 
power  ;  or  to  the  day  when  he  would 
fend  his  Spirit  to  them  ;  or  to  the  day 
when  they  fhould  live  with  him  in  heaven, 
t  Some  think  that  Judas,  according 
to  his  notions  of  the  temporal  dominion 


and  glory  of  the  Mefiiah,  fpoke  of  Chrift's  fenle  given  in  the  Paraphrafe. 


The  Evangel! ft 


Chap.  xiv. 


come  unto  him, 
an.,  make  cur  a- 
bode  with  him. 


C4Hethatloveth 
me   not,    keepeth 
not    my    payings 
and       the       word 
'"which   ve   hear  is 


me. 


440 

him  If  a  man  love  engage  him  to  receive  my  doctrine,  and  keep  my 
me,  he  will  keep  commands  :  And  fuch  an  one  is  a  proper  fubject  for, 
m>  words:  and  my  and  ^  u  be  favoured  ith  peculiar  *  manifestations, 
Father    will     love  .         .     •   ..-_     r.-  » 

"him.  and  we  will  not  OI"7  °*  min^>  but  likewiie  01  my  rather  s  love; 
and  we  will  multiply  tokens  of  our  fpecial  prefence 
with  him,  by  our  word,  ordinances,  and  Spirit,  and 
continue  to  hold  free  and  intimate  communion  with 
him,  as  in  the  fpiritual  houfe  and  temple,  which  we 
take  pleafure  to  dwell  in. 

24  On  the  other  hand,  he,  who  does  not  heartily 
love  me,  has  no  confeientious  regard  to  my  doctrines 
or  commands,  'and  fo  is  unlit  for,  and  fhuts  himfelf 
out  from  thefe  fpecial  privileges  :    And  as  the  doc- 

not  mine,  but  the   trine  which  I  preach  is  not  merely  mine,  but  is  like- 

1   wife  the  word  and  command  of  my  Father  himfelf, 

who  fent  me  to  difcharge  the  Meffiah's  office,  neither 

he  nor  I  will  dwell  and  commune  with,    or  manifefl 

ourfelves  to  him  that  difrelifhes  and  rejects  it. 

25  Thefe  things  have  I  delivered  for  your  prefent 

have  I  ipoken  an-   comfort  and  encouragement,  according  to  your  capa- 

>ou      eing  ye     cjtjes  0f  receiving  them,  and  as  the  little  time  would 
preient  with  you.  .  .  .  &    .         »  .    .  r       11  r 

admit,  which  remains  tor  my  being  perlonally  preient 

■with  you. 

26  But  after  my  departure,  when  the  Holy  Spirit 
fhall  come,  who  is  that  other  guide,  advocate,  and 
Comforter,  whom  I  mentioned,  {veri  16.  fee  the 
note  there)  and  whom  the  Father  will  certainly  lend, 

he  ihall  teach  you  according  to  my  merit  and  interceffion,  in  my  room, 
n\\  things,  and  and  as  my  agent  to  promote  mv  honour,  and  carry 
1  on  my  work  ;  He  (hall  lead  you  into  a  more  clear  and 
extenfive  knowledge  of  all  truths,  that  are  needful  for 
yourfelves  to  know,  or  for  you  to  preach  to  others  ; 
and  he  fhall  revive  the  remembrance  of  all  the  particu- 
lars which  ye  have  heard  from  me,  that  ye  may  fully 
apprehend  and  underftand  them,  and  know  how  to 
make  a  proper  and  feafonable  ufe  of  them. 

27  In  the  mean  timef,   I,  like  an  affectionate  and 


a 5  Thefe  things 


26  But  the  Com- 
forter, which  is  the 
Holy  Ghoft,  whom 
the  Father  will 
fend  in  my  name, 


>rour  remembrance, 
whatfoever  I  have 
laid  unto  you. 


77  Peace  I  leave 


dying  friend,  take  my  farewel  of  you  ;    and  profperi- 

unto   you  :        J      p  *  *        .  *  . 

not  as  the   world    t7  °*  tne  nobleit  kind,  even  peace  with   God,    with 


gnretb,  rive  I  utito    one  another,  and  in  your  own  fouls,    is  the,  bjeffing 

you.    Let  not  your    that  I  leave  to  you  ;   my  peace,   which  is  fuch  as  'I 

heart  myfelf 

N     O     T    L     S. 

Judas'i   queftion   was  not,   Lord,    as  characterise  of  the  objects  of  his  and 

the  Father's  love,  and  riot  as  the  caufe  of 
their  loving  them. 


how  is  it  that  thou  wilt  love  us  ;  but 
that  thou  wilt  manifefl  thyfvlf  to  us,  and 
not  to  the  wot  Id  ?  Accordingly  Chrift's 
anfwer  is  to  be  underftood,  rather  of  the 
tokens  and  dilcoveries  of  his  own  and  his 


t  Chrift's  taking  this  leave  of  his  dif- 
ciples  may  either  refer  to  the  cultom  of 


Father's  love,  than  of  the  love  itl'elf.    But  friends  at  parting,  or  of  a  father  or  friend 

which  ever  way  we  take   it,    what   he  at  leaving  this  world  ;    and  therefore  T 

re,  and  in  the  following  chapter,  have  kept  up  both  thefe  views  in  the  Pa 

on  the  like  fubjecl,  is  to  be  confidered  raphrafe. 


Chap.  xiv. 

heart  be  troubled, 
neither  let  it  be  a- 

fraid. 


;  3  Ye  have  heard 
how  I  faid  unto 
you,  I  go  away, 
come  again 
nto  you.  If  ye 
oved  me,  ye  would 
rejoice,  becaufe  I 
faid,  I  go  unto  the 
Father :  for  my  Fa- 
ther is  greater  than 
I. 


and 
^Fntc 

,ove 


John  paraphrafed.  441 

myfelf  enjoy,  and  which  I  am  the  purchafer  and  au- 
thor of,  1  freely  gi\'t  to  you  :  I  fay  this,  not  in  a 
way  of  formal  compliment,  like  the  men  of  this 
world,  who,  at  parting,  only  wifn  their  friends  happi- 
nefs  and  peace  ;  but  I  heartily  and  effectually  leave 
the  blefimg  itielf  behind  me  :  Nor  is  what  1  bequeath 
and  beftow  of  fuch  little  yalue,  and  uncertain  tenure, 
as  the  bed  legacies  are  that  they  can  leave  ;  but  it  is 
fuch  a  fort  oi  peace,  as  pafies  all  underftanding,  and 
as  nothing  in  this  world  can  either  give,  or  take  a- 
way  from  you.  Therefore,  as  1  laid  before,  [ver. 
I.)  let  not  your  hearts  be  difcompofed  with  grief 
and  terror,  at  the  thoughts  of  my  departure  from 
you  ;  nor  be  ye  afraid  of  any  difficulty  or  diltrefs 
that  may  befal  you  after  I  am  gone  to  the  Father. 

28  I  have  already  faid  that  1  am  juft  ready  to 
leave  you,  but  that  it  is  with  a  defign  of  returning, 
to  receive  you  to  my  Father's  houfe  and  king- 
dom, that  ye  may  be  with  me  there.  (ve> .  3.)  If 
then  your  love  to  me  were  truly  fpiritual,  regular, 
and  confiderate,  ye  would  be  .fo  far  from  being  dis- 
turbed and  grieved  at  my  departure,  that  ye  would 
rejoice  for  my  fake  and  your  own  ;  becaule  I  told 
you  that  I  am  going  to  my  Father,  where  I,  as  man 
and  Mediator,  ihall  be  poifeffed  of  the  utmoft  blefs- 
ednefs,  and  of  all  power  in  heaven  and  earth,  to  ex- 
ercife  it  for  your  advantage  :  For  in  the  economy  of 
falvation,  in  which  I  act  the  part  of  the  Mefliah  as 
my  Father's  fervant,  he  is  *  greater  than  I,  and  will 
reward  my  obedience  and  fufierings,  by  exalting  my 
incarnate  perfon  to  reign  with  him  in  glory. 

29  And  I  have  told  you  of  thefc  things  before- 
hand, that  when  ye  fee  them  accompliihed  by  my 
death,  and  afcenlion  to  heaven,  and  by  an  eftuiion  of 
the  Spirit,  in  confequence  thereof,  yc  may  be  the  more 
confirmed  in  your  belief,  that  I  am  the  true  Melfiah, 
both  able  and  willing  to  peiform  all  my  pi-cmifes  to 

you. 

30  The 
T    E. 

of  his  dncourfc  he  fays,  (chap.  xvi.  15.) 
All  things  that  the  Father  hath  are 
mine  :  But  he  is  to  be  nnderftood,  as 
fpeaking  of  himfelf  here  only  in  that 
fenfe  in  which  he  was  going  to  the  Fa- 
ther :  and  that  was  in  his  human  nature 
and  mediatorial  character,  or  as  the  in- 
carnate Meffiah  :  And  whilft  he  was 
fpeaking  of  himfelf  in  this  character,  it 
was  becoming  both  his  Father  and  h>m- 
felf,  and  was  fuitable  to  his  then  prefent 
ftate  of  humiliation,  and  his  care  to  ho- 
nour his  Father,  that  he  fhould  fay,  My 
Father  is  greater  than  I. 


20  And  now  I 
have  told  you  be- 
fore it  come  to  pais, 
that  when  it  is 
come  to  pat's,  ye 
.   believe. 


N    O 

*  It  is  evident  that  our  Lord  does  not 
here  fpeak  of  his  Father  as  greater  than 
himfelf,  with  refpecT:  to  his  divine  na- 
ture and  perfon,  fimply  confideted  :  For 
in  the  Deity  there  is  neither  greater  nor 
lefs;  and  he  had  faid  that  his  Father  and 
he  were  one,  and  had  called  himfelf  the 
Son  of  God  in  fuch  a  fenfe,  as  to  make 
himfelf,  properly  God  ;  {chap.  x.  30, — 
36.)  he  had  likewife  in  this  difcourfe 
(ver.  9,  10.)  afferted,  that  his  Father 
and  he  were  one  in  another,  in  fuch  a 
manner,  that  he  who  faw  the  Son,  faw 
the  Father  alio ;  and  in  a  following  part 


442 

30  Hereafter  I 
will  not  talk  much 
with  you  :  for  the 
prince  of  this  world 
cometh,  and  hath 
nothing  in  me. 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  xiv. 


%l  But  that  the 
world  may  know 
that  I  love  the  Fa- 
ther ;  jind  as  the 
Father  *gaiie  me 
commandment,  e- 
ven  lo  I  do.  Arite, 
let  us  go  hence. 


30  The  time  wears  off  fo  fall,  that  I  fhall  have 
little  opportunity  of  faying  much  more  to  you  before 
my  death  :  For  Satan,  who  in  his  former  tempta- 
tions pretended  to  offer  me  the  kingdoms  of  this 
world,  as  if  he  had  the  difpofal  of  them,  (Luke  iv. 
5, — 7.)  and  who  works  powerfully  in  the  hearts  of 
its  princes  and  rulers,  as  well  as  in  every  child  of  dif- 
obedience,  is  juft  now  making  his  laft  effort,  by  ilir- 
ring.up  his  evil  iniiruments  to  unite  ftratagem  and 
force  for  murdering  me.  And  after  all,  he  can  find 
no  corruption  in  me  to  work  upon  by  his  temptations, 
or  to  give  him  power  over  me  ;  nor  can  he  anfwer 
his  own  ends  by  all  that  he  is  able  to  do  againft  me, 
who,  by  dying,  mall  deftroy  his  kingdom,  glorify 
my  Father,  and  redeem  my  people  ;  nor  can  he  pre- 
vail againft  me,  to  bring  about  my  death  itfelf,  with- 
out my  own  free  confent. 

3 1  But,  to  make  it  evident  to  the  whole  world, 
and  particularly  to  my  difciples  in  it,  that  I  love 
my  Father,  and  that  as  I,  in  the  quality  of  his  fer- 
vant,  have  received  a  command  from  him  to  lay  down 
my  life  for  the  fheep  $  (chap*  x.  15,  18.)  fo  I  am 
heartily  willing  to  teltify  my  love  by  my  obedience. 
Come,  let  us  rife  up  from  table,  and  go  away  from 
hence  to  the  garden,  where  mine  enemies  are  coming 
to  apprehend  me.    (Chap,  xviii.  1,  &c.) 

RECOLLECTIONS. 

What  a  fafe  and  fuitable  object  of  faith,  is  Chrift,  who  neither  will,  nor  can  de- 
ceive us !  All  divine  perfections  fliine  in  him,  as  the  Son  of  his  Father's  own  likenefs  ; 
and  there  is  no  knowing  God,  or  believing  in  him  to  faving  advantage,  nor  any  com- 
ing with  acceptance  and  comfort  to  him,  or  getting  to  heaven,  but  by  this  great 
■Mediator.  How  equally  is  he  poflefled  of  deity  with  the  Father  ;  and  yet  how  a- 
mazingly  did  he  condefcend  to  take  upon  him  the  faving  office  in  our  nature,  with 
regard  to  which  his  Father  is  greater  than  he  !  And  how  freely  in  the  difcharge  of 
this  office,  and  in  the  greatneis  of  his  love,  did  he  obey  his  Father's  will,  in  yield- 
ing himielf  up  to  fufferings  and  death,  while  no  powers  of  hell  and  earth  could  have 
brought  him  to  them  without  his  own  conient !  And  as  Satan  found  nothing  in  him 
to  work  upon  ;  fo  how  fignally  were  his  defigns  defeated  by  the  death  of  Chrift, 
who  rofe  again  to  an  immortal  life,  and  went  to  be  glorified  with  the  Father!  And 
what  a  confirmation  is  it  to  our  faith  to  fee  thefe  things,  which  our  blefled  Lord 
foretold,  fo  exactly  accomplilhed  according  to  his  word  \  He  has  now  opened  a  new 
and  living  way  to  God  and  glory;  and  there  is  no  room  for  his  difciples  to  be  trou- 
bled or  afraid,  but  the  greatelt  reafon  for  them  to  rejoice,  fince  he,  who  was  dead, 
is  alive  again,  and  is  gone  in  their  nature  to  heaven,  to  provide  delightful  manfions 
for  them,  and  fecure  their  mtcreft  there  :  And  becaufe  he  lives,  they  fhall  live  al- 
fo  ;  he  doth  not  leave  them  comfortlefs  while  t^iey  are  in  this  world,  but  gives  them 
the  nobleit  and  lweeteft  peace  to  over-balance  all  their  forrows ;  he  and  his  Father 
will  dwell  in,  and  commune  with  ihem  that  love  him,  will  lend  his  Spirit  to  guide, 
afiift,  and  comfort  them  all  the  days  of  their  lives,  and  will  anfwer  the  prayers  that 
they  pre  lent  with  faith  in  hi1,  name;  and  he  will  come  again,  and  receive  them  in- 
to his  own  glorious  prefence  at  death  and  judgment,  that  where  he  is,  there  they 
may  be  with  him  for  ever :  He  will  give  then)  an  experimental  knowledge  of  their 
vital  union  with  himfelf,  in  gradual  difcovenes  of  it  by  his  Spirit  here,  till  at  length 
they  fhall  clearly  underftand,  and  be  fully  fatished  about  it  in  heaven,  where  they 
{hall  likewifc  know  more  of  his  cUential  union  with  the  Father,  than  they  can  now 
*  conceive* 


Chap.  xv.  John  paraphrafed.  443 

conceive.  O  what  matter  of  admiration  is  it,  that  he  fliould  thus  manifefl  himfelf 
to  any  of  us,  and  not  unto  the  world  !  But  as  ever  we  delire  further  ditcoveries  and 
indulgences  of  h*is  grace,  we  (hould  affectionately  love  him,  and  (hew  our  love,  by 
faithfully  keeping  his  commands,  and  cheerfully  following  him  wherever  he  calls 
us,  faying,  Ari/e,  let  us  go  hence. 


CHAP.       XV. 

A  continuation  of  CbrifP  s  farewel  fermon,  in  which  he  fpeahs  of  him- 
felf and  his  difciples  under  the  Jimilitude  of  a  vine  and  its  branches  y 
I, — 7.  Commands  them  to  abound  in  fruits  of  holinefs,  and par ti~ 
cularly  in  love  one  to  another,  by  virtue  of  their  union  with  him, 
8,-— 17.  And  comforts  them  sgainjl  the  haired  and  perfections 
of  the  world,   18, — 27. 

Test.  Paraphrase. 

JAM    the    true    /~*UR  Lord  and  his  difciples  having  rofe  from  ta- 

Father'is  the  hu7  ble  in  the  gueft"chamber>  where  he  had  celebra- 

bandman.  t  U  "  ted  his  laft  paffover,  and  the  New  Teftament-fupper  ; 
(Mattfr.  xxvi.  26, — 30. ]_  he  immediately  *  after  this, 
(chap,  xviii.  1.)  went  on  with  his  difcourfe,  ex- 
plaining more  at  large  what  he  had  hinted,  (chap. 
xiv.  20.)  about  their  vital  union  with  himfelf,  fay- 
ing, In  my  peculiar  relation  to  the  church,  I,  as  the 
fountain  of  fpiritual  influence,  and  the  great  medium 
of  conveying  it  to  its  members,  am,  by  way  of  emi- 
nence and  excellence,  like  the  root  and  flock  of  a  ge- 
t  nerous  vine,  which  forms  and  communicates  fap  for 

the  production  and  life,  nourifhment  and  fruitfulnefs 
of  its  branches  :   And  my  heave nl)  Father,  who  fent 
me  for  this  purpofe  into  the  world,  and  takes  care  of 
me   and  my  true  members,  is  like  an  hufbandman, 
who   plants,   and    has   a   peculiar  propriety  in,  and 
watchful  concern  about  his  vine  and  its  branches. 
z  Every  branch         2   As  in  the  noblell  vine  fome  of  its  branches  are 
in  me  that  beareth   barren,  and  others  fruitful,  and  a  wife  manager  cuts 
DOt  away 

NOTE. 
*  By  comparing  this  with  the  places  {Matth.  xxvi.  29.)  gave  a  proner  occa- 
referred  to  in  the  Paraphrafe,  it  appears  fion  for  his  fpeaking  of  himfelf  under  the 
that  the  difcourfe  and  prayer,  which  fol-  emblem  of  a  vine.  Or  if  he  delivered 
low  fn  this  and  the  two  next  chapters,  this  difcourfe  fomewhere  in  the  way  to- 
patted  between  the  time  of  Chrift's  fay-  the  garden,  it  proba1  iy  was  hi  o*ie  of 
in?  in  the  gueft-chamber,  Let  us  go  the  vineyards  which  that  country  a- 
henre,  and  the  time  of  his  coming  to  the  bounded  with,  or  at  leaft  in  fi<rht  of 
brook  Cedron.  It  is  indeed  uncertain  a  vine:  And  fo  he  might  take  a  further 
whether  this  difcourfe  were  in  the  gueft-  occafion  from  thence  to  (peak  ot  himfelf 
chamber,  after  he  got  up  from  fupper,  under  the  metaphor  of  a  vine,  and  ot  the 
or  in  the  way  to  the  garden,  where  he  true  vine,  in  diftin&ion  trom  the  Old 
was  betrayed  :  But,  be  that  as  it  will,  Teftament-church,  which  was  often  re- 
his  having  jufl  before  drank  of  the  fruit  prefented  under  that  -"ture  Pfal*  lxxx. 
of  the  vine  with  the  difciples  in  the  8, — 14.  Ifu.x.i^ — 7.  and  ^r.  ii.  21. 
New  Tcftaraent  ordinance  of  his  fupper, 


444 


The  Evangeli/l 


Chap.  xv. 


not  fruit  he  taketh 
away  ;  and  every 
branch  that  bear- 
eth  fruit  he  pur- 
geth  it,  that  it 
may  bring  forth 
more   fruit. 


3  Now  ye  are 
clean  through  the 
word  which  I  have 
fpoken  unto  you. 


4  Abide  in  me, 
and  I  in  you.  As 
the  branch  cannot 
bear  fruit  of  itfelf, 
except  it  abide  in 
the  vine  ;  no  more 
can  ye,  except  ye 
abide  in  me. 


away  all  thofe  that  are  fuperfluous,  as  doing  more 
harm  than  good,  and,  by  pruning  off  the  fuckers,  af- 
fifts  the  growth  and  improvement  of  the  fruitful  bran- 
ches, in  order  to  their  bearing  (till  more  fruit  :  So  in 
the  vilible  church  there  are  fome  members,  which 
are  externally  united  to  me,  only  in  profeflion  and 
appearance,  without  bringing  forth  any  good  fruit ; 
and  there  are  others,  which  are  internally  and  vitally 
united,  by  my  Spirit  and  by  faith,  to  me,  and  hy  vir- 
tue thereof,  bear  fpiritual  and  holy  fruit  ;  and  my 
heavenly  Father,  in  his  righteous  judgment,  cuts  off 
all  the  hypocritical  profeffors  of  my  name,  as  unpro- 
fitable and  injurious  ;  and  he  in  his  infinite  wifdom 
ufes  various  methods,  to  purge  away  the  fuperfluity 
of  naughtinefs,  which  Hill  remains  in  true  believers 
themfelves,  that  they  may  abound  yet  more  and  more 
in  fruits  of  holinefs,  and  that  their  end  may  be  ever- 
lafting  life.      [Rom.  vi.  22.) 

3  Now,  *  Judas  being  gone,  all  of  you,  my 
difciples,  are  of  this  fort  of  fruitful  branches,  and  li- 
ving members  in  me,  ye  being  already  partakers  of 
my  Spirit,  and  your  hearts  being  purified  by  faith, 
and  by  means  of  my  word,  which  works  effectually 
in  you. 

4  Go  on  then  to  adhere  by  faith  and  love  to  me, 
(ver.  9.)  and  I  will  be  as  a  root  and  fource  of  perpe- 
tual fupply  by  my  Spirit  to  you.  But  as  no  branch, 
how  lively  foever  it  be,  can  continue  to  bear  fruit,  or 
bring  it  to  perfection  by  any  vigour  in  itfelf,  unlefs  it 
have  an  abiding  union  with,  and  communication  from 
the  vine  :  So  neither  can  ye,  (%tw$  %h  vung)  not- 
with  (landing  your  prefent  attainments  in  grace,  con- 
tinue to  bring  forth  fruit  to  God,  any  other  wife  than 
by  a  continuance  of  your  union  and  communion  with 


me. 


5  I  am  the  vine, 
ye  are  the  bran- 
ches :  he  that  a- 
bideth  in  me,  and 
I  in  him,  the  Tame 
brin. eth  forth 

mu<  h  fruit  :  tor 
without  me  ye 
can   do  nothing. 


5  To  imprefs  a  fenfe  of  this  important  truth  the 
more  deeply  upon  you,  I  repeat  what  I  faid,  (ver.  1.) 
that  I  am  in  a  fpiritual  and  peculiar  fenfe  the  vine, 
of  which  ye,  as  my  members,  are  the  branches,  that 
derive  all  fpiritual  life,  recruits,  and  nourifliment  from 
me:  According  to  my  meaning  by  this  metaphor, 
he,  and  he  only,  who  cleaves  by  faith  and  love  to  me, 
and  has  my  Spirit  dwelling  in  him,  {chap.  xiv.  17.) 
produces  and  abounds  in  fpiritual  fruit  to  the  glory 
of  God,  and  to  his  own  and  others  advantage  :  For 
{zw^  '-P*')  feparate  or  apart  from  me,  and  without 
my  continual  influence,  even  ye,  my  difciples,  can  do 

nothing 
NOTE. 
*  While  Judas  was  with  them,  Chrift    company,    Chrift  told  them  absolutely, 
faid,  i'e  are  clean,  but  not  all;   (chap,    without  exception,  Te ate clean  throng** 
10.)  but  now  they  were  rid  of  his  the  ivord,  &z. 


Chap.  xv. 


6  If  a  man  abide 
not  in  me,  he  is 
caft  forth  as  a 
branch,  and  is  wi- 
thered ,  and  men 
gather  them,  and 
caft  them  into  the 
fire,  and  they  are 
fcurned. 


7  If  ye  abide  in 
me,  and  my  words 
abide  in  you,  ye 
mall  afk  what  ye 
will,  and  it  (ball 
be  done  unto  you. 


S  Herein  is  my 
Father  glori6ed, 
that  ye  bear  much 
fruit ;  fo  fhall  ye 
be  my  difciples. 


.  9  As  the  Father 
hath  loved  me,  lb 
have  I  loved  you  : 
continue  ye  xin  my 
love. 


John  paraphrafed.  445 

nothing  truly  good,  and  acceptable  to  God,  any  more 
than  a  branch  can  bud,  and  blofi'om,  and  bring  forth 
fruit,  without  union  with,  and  communication  of  lap 
from  the  vine. 

6  If  any  one,  who  makes  an  external  profefiion, 
and  appearance  of  being  my  difciple,  do  not  in  this 
manner  adhere  to  me,  he  is  no  better  than  a  hypor 
crite,  who  mail  be  caft  out  of  all  relation  to  me  and 
my  church,  and  whofe  gifts,  profefiion,  and  fpeci- 
ous  appearances  mail  wither  and  die  ;  and  all  iuch 
nominal  profeffors  fhall  be  gathered  together  at  the 
laft  day,  as  fit  fuel  for  divine  wrath,  and  caft  into  e- 
verlafting  burnings,  even  as  the  withered  branches  of 
a  vine  are  cut  off  from  it,  and  men  *  ufe  to  gather 
them  into  a  bundle,  and  throw  them  into  the  fire  to 
be  utterly  confumed. 

7  If,  o.n  the  contrary,  ye  ftedfaftly  cleave  to  me, 
and  I  dwell  in  your  hearts  by  faith,  and  by  means 
of  my  word,  as  a  principle  that  guides  and  governs, 
quickens  and  eftablifhes  you  ;  whatfoeverye,  as  thus 
abiding  in  me,  and  depending  on  me,  fhall  afk  ac- 
cording to  my  will,  for  the  glory  of  God,  and  your 
own  edification  and  fruitfulnefs,  ye  fhall  receive  it, 
even  to  the  utrnoft  of  your  deiires  and  wants. 

8  f  By  your  thus  abiding  in  me,  and  my  abiding 
in  you,  and  by  your  petitions  being  thus  granted, 
the  glory  of  my  heavenly  Father's  wifdom,  faithful- 
nefs,  and  grace,  is  exalted,  (im)  to  the  end  that  ye 
may  abound  in  fruits  of  righteoufnefs,  whereby  he 
may  be  ftill  further  glorified  ;  and  fo  fhall  ye  appear 
with  evidence  to  others,  and  to  your  own  confeiences, 
and  I  will  efteem  and  own  you  to  be  my  true  diiciples, 
that  have  vital  union  with  me,  and  are  an  honour  to 
me.   ( iuoi) 

9  For   as   I  myfelf,    confidered   as   the   root    and 
medium  of  all  gracious  communications  to  you> 
beloved  of  my  Father ;  fo  I  have  a  peculiar  love  for 
you,  as  branches  united  to  me,  and  deriving  \       le 

unto 
N     O     T     E     S. 

cient  to  anfwer  the  defign  of  this  part  of 
the  parable. 


*  According  to  fome  expositors,  Mens 
gathering  withered  branches,  lignifies 
hypocritical  formal  profeflprs  being  fei- 
zed  by  Satan  and  his  agents  in  this 
world,  that  they  may  bring  them  to  de- 
fhuiftion  in  the  next.  And  according 
to  others,  it  fignifies  their  being  gather- 
ed our  of  God's  kingdom,  and  caft  into 
hell,  by  the  holy  angels,  as  minifters  of 
juftice  at  the  laft  day  :  But,  as  every 
expreffion.  in  a  parable  is  not  to  be 
lira. ned,  hypocrites  and  unbelievers  be- 
ing caft  into  everlafting  fire  to  be  ;,er- 
petiraily  tormented  there,  may  be  futn- 
Vol.  II.  M  m 


f  Herein  (sv  T«7i>)  feems  to  refer  back 
to  what  Chrift  had  been  faying  con- 
cerning himfelf,  as  the  vine,  and  be- 
lievers as  branches  in  him  :  And  (<*.*) 
that,  being  a  final  particle,  naturally 
leads  one's  thoughts  To  the  fenfe  given  in 
the  Paraphrafe  :  But,  as  all  our  fruits  of 
righteoufnefs  are,  by  Jefus  Chrift,  to  the 
praife  and  glory  of  God,  I  have. likewife 
prefervgdrfhe  thought  of  God's  being 
:  ioriuQKHithcm. 


m 


iv^d  tir 


44^ 


The  Evangelijl 


Chap.  xv. 


10  If  ye  keep  my 
commandments,  ye 
fhall  abide  in  my 
love  :  even  as  I 
have  kept  my  Fa- 
ther's Jbmmand- 
ments,  and  abide 
in    his   lov>e. 


ii  Thefe  things 
have  I  fpoken  unto 
you,  that  my  joy 
might  remain  in 
you,  and  that  your 
joy  might  be  full. 


i  iThisismycom- 
mandment,  That 
ye  love  one  ano- 
ther, as  I  have  lo- 
ved you. 


13  Greater  love 
hath  no  man  than 
this,  that  a  man 
lay  down  hlb  life 
for  his  friends. 


14    Ye    are   my 
ds,    if    ye    cio 
whatsoever.  I  com- 
mand you. 


15  Henceforth  I 
call  you  not  l'er- 
vants  ;  for  the  fci  - 
v;>nt  knoweth  not 
his  lord 
doth  :  but  I  have 
called  yon  friends ; 
for  ail  things  that 


uuto  all  fruitfulnefs  from  me  :  Let  it  therefore  be 
your  great  concern  to  cleave  affectionately,  and  iled- 
fallly  to  me,  and  to  be  Hill  further  approved  of,  and 
delighted  in  by  me. 

10  And  if  from  a  principle  of  love,  ye  cheerfully 
attend  to,  and  obey  my  commandments,  as  your  Lord 
and  Saviour,  ye  fhall  continue  to  be  approved  of  me, 
and  to  know,  for  your  abundant  fatisiadtion,  that  I 
love  you  ;  even  as  I,  in  my  human  nature  and  office- 
capacity,  have  cheerfully  obeyed  my  Father's  com- 
mandments in  fulfilling  all  righteoufnefs,  and  am  con- 
tinually approved  of  him,  and  know  that  he  loves  me. 

1 1  Thele  things  have  I  thus  freely  and  plainly  de- 
clared to  you,  that  I  may  rejoice  in  you  as  fruitful 
branches  in  me,  and  ye  may  rejoice  in  your  union, 
with  me,  and  in  my  abiding  love  to  you ;  and  that, 
through  a  fupply  of  my  Spirit,  ye  may  have  fuch  a 
fulnefs  of  joy  to  fupport  you  under  all  your  troubles, 
as  fhall  abundantly  make  up  your  lofs  of  my  corpo- 
ral prefence,  and  as  fhall  iffue  in  your  complete  and 
everlafting  joy  with  me. 

1 2  Now  the  great  command,  which  includes  many 
others,  and  which  I  infill  on  your  obferving,  as  a  proof 
of  your  fincere  affection  and  difciplefhip  to  me,  is,  as 
I  have  faid,  {chap.  xiii.  34.)  that  ye  be  affectionate, 
and  ready  to  perform  all  offices  of  love  one  to  ano- 
ther for  my  fake,  in  confederation,  and  in  imitation 
of  my  fervent  love  to  you,  which  I  am  going  to  de- 
monftrate  in  the  highett  manner  poflible. 

13  No  man  can  be  capable  of  having  a  more  fin- 
cere  and  hearty  love,  or  of  exprefling  it  by  an  higher 
inflance  than  this,  that,  where  there  is  occafion  for  it, 
he  freely  put  his  own  life  in  the  itead  of  the  life  of  his 
deareft  friends  and  benefactors,  and  yield  himfelf  up 
to  death  for  their  redemption  ;  and  this  I  am  about  to 
do  for  you,  as  if  ye  were  my  mofl  important  and 
worthy  friends,  though  I  am  neither  indebted  to  you, 
nor  can  be  profited  by  you,  whom  ol  enemies  1  have 
made  friends. 

14  And  ye  will  approve  yourfelves.  to  be  my 
friends,  whom  I  efteem  as  fuch,  if,  from  a  fenfe  of 
my  love  to  you,  yc  make  confeience  of  paying  a 
ready  and  impartial  obedience  to  all  my  command- 
ments. 

15  I  might  indeed  well  fpeak  of  you,  and  accord- 
ingly treat  you,  only  in  the  quality  of  fervants  :  How- 
ever, I  will  not  keep  you  at  fuch  a  diftance  ;  for  a 
mere  fervant  does  not  uie  to  be  let  into  the  fecrets 
of  his  lord  and  mailer  :  But  I  have  converfed,  and 
will  deal  with  you  as  intimate  friends  ;  for  as  God 
would  not  hide  from  Abraham,  his  friend,  what  he 

$vas 


Chap.  xv.  John  paraphrafed.  447 

I  have  heard  of  my  was  about  to  do  ;  (Gen.  xviii.  17.)  fo  all  my  Father's 
Father  I  have  hidden  counfels,  which  I,  as  Mediator,  and  head  of 
made  known  unto   tiie  cnurch,  have  received  *  in  commilTion  from  him, 

YOU*  .  . 

to  communicate  for  his  glory  and  their  falvation,   I 
have  begun  to  impart,  and  will  proceed  by  my  Spi- 
rit to  diicover  ft  ill  further,  with  all  freedom  and  plain- 
nefs  to  you,  that  ye  may  know  them  for  yourielves, 
and  for  the  good  of  others,  and  that  none  of  them  may 
be  concealed  from  you. 
\6  Ye  have  not         16  All  this  I  do,  not  as  if  ye  were  firft  in  your 
chofen   me.  but  1   choice  of  me,  or  had  laid  any  obligation  upon  me  ; 
have   choien    you,    ^at,  from  my  own  mere  love  and  erace,  I  have  freely 
and  ordained  you,      ,     r  /   r  ^     ^'        a.  11  *      *i  m  ' 

that  you  fhould  go  ch.ofen  7°u  t0  falvaJlon  t>  as  v>eil  as  to  S»J  apoftle- 
and  bring  forth  miP>  and  have  conftituted  you  to  be  my  friends  and 
fruit,  and  that  fervants  for  this  purpofe,  that  ye  may  go  out  in  my 
your  fruit  mould  name  ancJ  ftreneth  ;  that  by  virtue  derived  from  me, 
remain,  that  what-  .  i^-'r^irv       r    •   1,         r 

foever  ye  fhall  afk  aS  y°.Ur  r00t\  7e  m*Y  hnnS  forth  fruits  ci  rightcouf- 
of  the  Father  in  ne^s  in  your  lives  and  miniilry  ;  and  that  ye  may  per- 
my  name,  he  may  fevere  therein,  till  ve  and  the  converts,  made  by  means 
give  it  you.  0f  your  labours,   fhall  propagate  my  caufe  for  its  con- 

tinuance on  earth,  and  (hall  arrive  lafe  to  heaven  ;  as 
alfo  that  my   Father  may  grant  your  petitions,    in 
whatsoever  ye  fhall  afk  to  thefe   holy  purpofes,  with 
faith  in  my  name,  as  your  prevailing  advocate  and 
friend. 
17  Thefe  things        17    Now  thefe   things   I  recommend,    and  enjoin 
y°u>    upon  you,  that  ye,  after  my  example,    may  heartily 
love  one  another,  as  members  of  the  fame  body,  arid 
partakers  of  the  fame  bleftings,    and  as  difciples  and 
friends,  as  well  as  fervants  ci  the  fame  Lord. 
rS   If  the  world         1 8    If,    according  to  the   original-  enmiiy  between 
bate  you,  ye  know    the  feed  of  the  ferpent,    and  the  feed  of  the  woman, 
that   it  hated   me    (Qeftt  fa   j^\  ye  mect   wjth   great   oppoliticn   from 

u/CIUrc  2c  uCIl  CCl  \  Oil*  f  1    r     •    •  i  1511  ■T*i* 

men  or  a  carnal  Ipint,  that  are  wholly  devoted  to  this 

world,  and  under  the  government  of  Satan,  its  god  ; 

do  not  wonder,  or  be  difcouraged  at  it :    Fcr  ye  well 

know  that  they  began  with  me,  and  have  been  as  full 

of  fpite  and  rage  again  ft  me,  your  head  and  chief, 

(sr^rov  vuwv)  as  they  poflibly  can  be  againll  you. 

19  If  ye  were  of        19  Were  ye  of  the  fame  carnal  temper  and  difpofi- 

the      woild,     the    tion  with  the  men  of  this  world,  foothing  and  encou- 

or      wou       ove   ragjng  them  in  their  finful  courfes,  they  would  efteem 

M  m  m  2  and 

NOTES. 
*  This  cannot  poflibly  mean  that  f  Judas  being  now  gone,  Chrift  here 
Chad's  difciples  knew,  or  fhoulc'  know,  fpcaks  of  his  choofmg  the  reft  of  the  dif. 
as  much  of  God's  counfels -as  he  himfelf  ciples,  not  merely  to, the' apoftlefhip,  to 
did  ;  but  it  evidently  relates  to  what  which  he  had  chofen  Judas  as  well  as 
belonged  to  his  commiffion  to  declare  them,  but  likewiic  of  his  having  chofen 
unto  them,  in  the  difcharge  of  which  he  them  to  favttig  and  eternal  bleffings, 
was  faithful  to  him  that  appointed  him,  through  faith  and  holinefs,  as  his  friends, 
and  with-held  nothing  from  them,  accordingly  I  have  given  both  thefe  con- 

fkJerations  a  place  in  the  Paraphrafe. 


that  ye  love  one  a- 
nother. 


Tt?e  EvmtjteiiJI  Chap,  xv, 

i,    as  perfons  of  their  own  party  and 
"e  no!  are  not  conionr.ed  to  their 

•        1  1  1  1  T     1 

,  corrupt  I  es.  manners,  and  cuuoms,  but  I  have, 

l      ,  '        "    T  -,-1       3  r  ^  i 

."  a  peculiar  choice,    ciuunguiihed  you  irom  the  reit 

:  "    e  world,  and  fet  you  apart  tor  mvielf,    that  ve 

y  and  preach  my  ipiritual  and  holy  gof- 

...      .i  of  this  world  have  an 

Irreconcileabk  antipathy  to  ycu. 

20  T:.  .  to  compofe  your  ipirits,  and  iilence' 

under  the  utmoil  malignity  of  your 

jam  it  ycu,  reiieCt  ienouily  and  often  upon 

er    i  •  liat  I  have  told  ycu,    once  and  again,    {chap.  xiii. 

-  die  fervant  is  neither 

:.    nor  is  to  expect  more  regard,  or  b 
.    treatment,    ths  be*  :    If  then  thefe 

:ed  their  enn 
iner  of  re  :.nd  perieeutior.s  of  me  ;  no 

wonder  that  th  w  the  like  rancour  and  fe- 

againit  you  :  Juil  as  th:  treated  my 

coi.rici,  they.  wjU  treat  :   If  they  have  *  carped 

I  cavilled  at  my  do.  delivered  by  me,    be- 

m  j 

i  it  is  fo  contrary  to  their  depraved  fentiments, 
temper,  and  view;  .  jeeted,  that  for  the 

fa:  Ives  againil  it  when 

delivered  by  you ;  whereas,  had  they  received  the 
truth  in  the  love  of  it  from  me,  no  doubt  but  they 
would  do  the  fame 

21  But  t -t  hatred,  perfecuticn?,  and  cp- 

..r.il  you,  on  account  of  your  re- 

■    -  i      .  i  '  j     •  '       n         i 

ke_   lat  t  as  ye  bear  e   and  image,    Hand 

:h  my  gofpel  ; 
'   fent    a:  a  of  their  enmity  to  you  on  this  accc 

Ine'  not  a  true  knowledge  of  God, 

rid*   to  rede 
•  iniquiti 
It  I  indeed  ha  and  acquainted  them 

have  been  no  fin 
in  th  -  ;    or  it  1  had  pone  this  oi 

ouid  have  been,  comparatively, 
r  but  uilt  in  their  rei  .  i  me: 

[  have  a] 

Me 
NOTE, 

I  that    nor  wi  apoftles  : 

.,  which  in   all   the  context  our  Lo: 

.  ca-    ("peaking   of  the   opposition,     that 
made  to  1  .     ild  he  made  t- 

difciples  after  him,    it  feems  as  if 
,   e-    cl^'jfe  were  to  be  nnderftood,   of  reject  - 
it  in  an    in^  his  doctrine.      But   tbat  the  reader 
u    fenfe,     a-    ftrongly   int  may  have  his  option,  I  have  put  it  ! 

::i  the  P.-.. 


Chap.  :  John  fa 

V-.:~:i'.,    grid  lent  l»g  ;  - ::  he.  3  t  -  them  with  Go  d 

to  be  01  Goo,  their  fin  in  difbelieving,  oppc  ting,  2nd 
deipiijog  me  and  my  words,    is  higtiv  aggiavai 
and  they  have  nothing  to  plead  in  exctrfc  I 

i  whoever  be  be,  that,  notwithfta.:. 

c  is  real  no 

than  an  enemy  to  my  hearecl 
itr  .  public  teftimc:  .  as  his 

beloved  Son,  in  whom  be  is  well  plea. 
. _        -  not         2  _ 

none    ot                    k>U5  ¥                               r  ?™P*,   to  confirn  as 

they  ban  not    H  -                                                   an 

'■ 

I  performed  them,   they  ±31 

- 
to  per. 

:. .  ;- 

r-nd  uE.dc  ubted  credentials,  ami  c: 

to  tht  :.      : 

:,    1    i 
her  witboot  excuir. 
:  need  net  be   ixamblc  7 

- 

1    the  MefHah  r  : ,  according 

complained 
wi 
(j- 

.  1 
26    _     .  thoogk 

WDC2J    I    - 

a-  aBo; 

ir. 

O    T     Z 
*  Toe  St 
-  "_ 

: 
re  period,  from  tike  F it ker  in  .u-ra 

•  _ : 
;  ether  wit 

.wk  penoB  : 

ficient  reafor. 

- 
tenit  ij  be  £urir  irgvcr 


450  The  Evangelift  Chap.  xv. 

Father,  even  the  16.)  (hall  come  to  fhed  abroad  his  gifts  and  graces, 
Spirit  of  truth,  an(j  wnoni)  m  confequence  of  my  death  and  exalta- 
which    proceeueth    ..  r        ..*   -.»  j  •  •  •  r 

from  the  Father  tlon>  *>  w,t"  the  concurrence  and  approbation  of  my 
he  fiiall  teitify  of  Father,  will  fliortly  fend  unto  you,  even  the  Holy 
me.  Spirit,  who  is  faithfulncfs  and  truth  itfelf,  and  who, 

in  a  divine  and  incomprehenfible  manner,   proceeds 
from  the  Father :  He,  as  an  advocate  to  maintain 
my  caufe,  and  as  a  counsellor  and  Comforter,  to  di- 
rect, encourage,  and  fupport  you  under  all  your  diffi- 
culties and  dangers,  fliall  bear  a  convincing  witnefs 
to  me,  by  the  revelations  he  will  further  make  of  my 
character,  and  the  miraculous  operations  he  will  en- 
able you  to  perform  ;  and  by  his  affifting,  owning, 
and  fucceeding  you,  unto  the  confutation  of  all  your 
enemies,  and  bringing  vaft  multitudes  of  all  nations 
to  the  obedience  of  faith  ;  as  well  as  by  thofe  inward 
joys  that  he  will  raife  in  your  own  fouls. 
17  And  ye  alfo        27   And  ye  yourfelves,  under  the  Spirit's  conduct 
fliall  bear  witnefs,   and  influence,  fliall  give  a  noble,  plain,  and  courage- 
becaule    ye    have    ous  teftimony  to  me  and  my  caufe,  in  your  doctrines, 
been  with  me  trom  1        i«  ,    ,     «*_    ,         j  v     r       mi  1 

*!,*.  v^  ;.,„•„  miracles,  lives,  and  deaths  ;  and  your  witnels  will  be 

jtne  beginning.  .        1 7  *  J 

unexceptionaole,  becaule  ye  have  been  my  conitant 
attendants,  and  all  along  familiarly  acquainted  with 
my  difcourfes,  miracles,  fulferings,  and  behaviour, 
in  public  and  private,  for  between  three  and  four 
years,  from  the  very  beginning  of  my  miniftry,  and 
fhall  continue  fo  till  I  be  crucified,  raifed  again  from 
the  dead,  and  taken  up  from  you  to  heaven. 

RECOLLECTIONS. 

What  blefied  provifion  has  Gor!  made  in  Chrift  for  the  fpiritual  life  and  growth, 
fruit  fulnefs  and  happinefs  of  believeis,  and  for  his  own  glory  in  and  by  them  !  And 
how  intimate,  beneficial,  and  endearing  is  their  union  with  Chrift !  How  effectual  is 
his  influence  upon  them  !  And  how  vigorous  fliould  their  faith  and  love  be  toward 
him,  who  has  freely  chofen  and  fet  them  apart  for  himlelf,  counted  them  his  friends, 
and  loved  them,  even  to  the  laying  down  of  his  life  to  redeem  them !  There  is  no 
doing  any  thing  fpiritually,  and  acceptably  in  religion,  without  him  ;  but  the  rich- 
eft  abundance  of  precious  fruits  are  brought  forth  in  union  with  him,  by  a  commu- 
nication of  grace  from  him,  and  by  means  of  his  word,  ordinances,  and  providence, 
to  lubferve  his  work  in  true  believers.  Was  faith  more  in  exercife,.  their  fruits  of 
Tighteoufnefs  would  increafc  ;  and  whatfoever  they  afk  for  the  glory  of  God  and 
their  own  good,  they  would  receive,  and  their  fruit  would  evidently  remain  to  e- 
ternal  life.  But  ah,  how  fad  is  the  cafe  of  hypocritical,  carnal. profeflbrs,  who 
take  up  with  external  forms  and  appearances,  inftead  of  vital  union  to  Chrift,  and 
who  produce  only  dead  works  !  They  are  fit  for  nothing  but  the  burning,  and  mult 
be  call  into  everlaftiilg  flames.      What  evidence  can  we  have  of  our  union  with 

Chrift, 
NOTE. 
Spirit  of  the  Son,  as  well  as  of  the  Fa-  fending  the  Holy  Spirit  to  bear  the  pe- 
thei  (1  Pet.  i.  n.  and  Gal.  iv.  6.)  and  cottar  part,  and  to  have  the  glory  that 
from  his  being  here  laid  to  be  fent  by  by  agreement  belongs  to  him  in  the  work 
Chrift  from  the  Father,  as  well  as  fent  of  falvation  :  So  that  tbe  facred  Three 
by  the  Father  in  his  name.  {Chap.  xiv.  are  here  represented  both  in  their  perfonal 
a6.)  And  this,  at  the  fame  time,  fliews  characters,  and  in  their  divine  and  ecy- 
vhe  equal  divinity  of  the  Father  and  Son,  nomical  glories, 
in  as  much  as  they  have  equal  power  of 


Chap.  xvi.  John  paraph  afed.  451- 

Chrift,  or  what  comfort  ,in  our  thoughts  about  it,  if  we  do  not  heartily  cleave  to 
him  ?  Or  what  manifeftation  and  enjoyment  can  we  expect  of  his  love,  unlets  we 
love  him,  and  keep  his  commandments  without  referve  ?  But  O  the  delight  and 
pleafure  of  knowing  that  he  loves  us  !  And  how  lhould  his  love  to  us,  and  ours  to 
him,  excite  us  to  obey  and  imitate  him  in  a  fincere,  affectionate,  and  active  love 
to  one  another  !  All  this,  and  every  thing  elfe  neceffary  to  falvation,  has  our  dear 
Lord  made  known  to  his  difciples  by  his  word  and  Spirit,  therein  dealfhg  with 
them  as  friends  ;  and  this  Divine  Spirit,  who  comes  from  the  Father  and  Son,  is  a- 
ble  to  filence  all  objections  againft  every  important  truth  of  the  gofpel :  If  we  have 
him  for  our  advocate,  guide,  and  Comforter,  he  will  infpire  us  with  a  noble  cou- 
rage in  our  holy  profeffion  of  Chrilt's  name,  and  will  be  our  fupport  under  ail  the 
tribulations  we  endure,  becaufe  we  are  not  of  the  world,  but  belong  to  him  who 
hath  chofen  us  out  of  the  world.  And  why  fliould  any  of  the  difciples  and  fervants 
of  the  bleffed  Jefus  wonder,  or  be  difcouraged  at  hatred.,  reproaches,  and  contempt 
from  the  men  of  this  world,  or  at  fufferings  for  his  lake,  when  he,  their  great  Lord 
and  Mailer,  has  gone  through  them  all,  and  worie,  for  theirs  ?  But  O  how  great 
is  their  guilt,  who,  in  the  midft  of  the  cleared  light  of  divine  revelation,  periift  in 
their  enmity  and  oppofition  to  Chrift  and  his  gofpel,  his  fervants  and  followers !  It 
is  all  without  any  juft  caufe  ;  and,  whatfoever  they  pretend,  they  really  do  not 
know  God,  but  are  ftrangers,  and  averfe  to  him  and  holinefs,  and  there iore  fhut 
their  eyes  againft  the  light,  which  is  a  high  aggravation  of  their  fin,  and  leaves 
them  without  excufe. 


CHAP.       XVI. 

The  conclujlon  of  Chrifls  far  ewe  I  fermon,  in  which  he  forewarns 
his  difciples  of  perfecutions,  and  takes  notice  of  their  prefent  grief \ 
J, — 6.  And promifes  to  fend  the  Holy  Ghof,  7, — 15.  To  vifit 
them  again  in  perfon,  as  well  as  by  his  Spirit,  after  his  refurrec- 
tion,  16, — 22.  To  fccure  a  gracious  anfwer  to  their  prayers  in 
his  name,  23, — 32.  And  to  give  them  peace  amidjl  all  their  tri- 
bulations in  the  world,  33. 

Text.  Paraphrase. 

'pHESE    things    T  HAVE  now  told  you,  my  difciples,  before-hand, 

have  I  fpoken    1  of  thg  trialg  and  comforts   which   lie   before        ' 

unto  you,   that  ye      .  .        ..-  .  .       ,  c   J 

lhould  not  be  of-   tnat  Yc  maY  not  be  dilcouraged  in  the  way  01  your 

fended.  duty  ;  nor  {tumbled  at  my  dying  and  leaving  you, 

nor  at  the  troubles  that  ye  will  meet  with  from  mine 

enemies  and  yours  for  my  fake. 

1  They  (hall  put        2   Their  rage  will  rife  to  fuch  an  height,  that  they 

you  out  of  the  iy-  vvjjj  proceed  to  all  manner  of  violence  and  cruelties  a- 

time8conietha  that   gamft  You  >  tne  men  °^  ecclefiaftical  power,   fuch  as 

whofoever    killeth   the  chief  priefts  and  rulers,  will,  excommunicate  you, 

you  will  think  that  as  apoflates  from  their  religion,  (fee  the  note  on  chap. 

he  doth  God  fer-   jx>  ^4.)  loading  you  with  reproaches,  and  expoling 

you  to  all  religious  and  civil  hardfhips,  as  if  ye  were 

the  mod  abandoned  of  wretches  :   Nay,  the  time  is 

juft  at  hand,  when  there  will  be  fuch  a  general  run 

of  mad  and  furious  zeal  againft  you,  that  every  one, 

who  can  but  have  a  hand  in  putting  you  to  death, 

will  take  a  barbarous  pleafure  in  it,  from  a  fuperlti- 

tious  blind  conceit,  as  if  he  were  thereby  honc> 

God,  and  ferving  his  caufe  and  intereft  in  the  world. 

3  And 


452 

3  And  thefe 
things  will  they 
do  unto  you,  bc- 
caufe  they  have 
not  known  the  r  «:- 
rher,  dot  me. 

j  But  thefe 
thing!  have  I  told 
yoi'  that  when  the 
time  (hall  come, 
ye  may  remember 
that  I  told  you  of 
them.  And  thefe 
things  I  faid  not 
unto  you  at  the 
beginning,  becaufe 
I  was  with  you. 


The  Evan^elift 


Chap.  xvl. 


5  But  now  I  go 
my  way  to  him 
that  Pent  me,  and 
none  of  you  afketh 
me,  Whither  goeft 
thou  ? 


6  But  becaufe  I 
have  laid  thefe 
thin  -  i.uto  you, 
ibrrow  hath  filled 
your  heart. 

..  7  Neverthelefs,  I 
tell  you  the  truth  ; 
It  is  expedient  for 
you  that  I  go  a- 
w;iy  :  for  if  I  go 
not  away  the  Com- 
forter will  not 
come  unto  you  ; 
but  if  I  depart,  I 
will  fend  him  un- 
uu. 


3  And  thefe  immoral  and  pernicious  principles  and 
practices  will  they  go  into  againft  you,  as  my  difci- 

becaufe,  through  the  wilful  blindnefs  and  hard- 
nefs  of  their  hearts,  they  neither  know,  fo  as  to  be- 
lieve and  love,  my  Father,  nor  me. 

4  But  I  have  given  you  plain  notices  of  thefe  things 
before  hand,  that  when  the  time  of  your  hottell  trials 
come,  ye  may  recolle£t,  to  the  filencing  of  all  your 
objections  and  prejudices  on  their  account,  and  to  the 
confirmation  of  your  faith  in  me  and  my  gofpel,  that 
I,  your  Lord  and  friend,  have,  by  a  divine  foreknow- 
ledge, and  with  all  faithfulnefs,  allured  you,  that 
thus  it  would  be  :  And  the  reafon  of  my  not  telling 
you,  fo  plainly  and  particularly,  of  all  thefe  troubles 
and  comforts,  when  I  firft  called  you  to  be  my  dif- 
ciples  was,  becaufe  I  myfelf  was  with  you,  to  bear 
the  chief  brunt  in  my  own  perfon,  and  to  fkreen  you 
from  it,  as  alfo  to  fupport  and  comfort  you  under 
fuch  trials  as  have  hitherto  befallen  you  for  my  name's 
fake. 

$  But  now,  as  I  am  jufl  going  to  leave  you,  and 
return  to  my  Father,  who  fent  me  into  the  world,  I 
thought  proper  to  acquaint  you  with  thefe  things  : 
And  though,  when  I  firft  mentioned  my  departure, 
fome  of  you,  out  of  curioiity,  and  with  temporal 
views,  afked  me  whither  I  was  going  ?  [chat),  xiii. 
36.)  yet,  upon  telling  you,  that  it  is  to  my  Father's 
houfe,  to  prepare  bleffed  manfions  for  you  there,  ye 
neither  rejoice  in  it,  nor  readily  underfland  my  mean- 
ing, [chap.  xiv.  5.)  nor  make  any  further  inquiries 
about  it. 

6  But  becaufe  I  have  fpoke  of  leaving  you,  and 
of  the  troubles  that  will  thereupon  befal  you,  your 
fpirits  are  fwallowed  up  with  over-much  forrow  ;  fo 
much  quicker  are  your  apprehenfions  of  grievous,  than, 
of  joyous  tidings. 

7  However,  the  truth  of  the  cafe,  as  I  have  hint- 
ed, and  will  now  further  explain  to  you,  is  this  :  Not- 
withftanding  all  your  dejerrtcd  thoughts,  and  formi- 
dable expeditions  of  the  confequence  of  my  departure, 
with  regard  to  your  temporal  concerns,  it  is  really 
convenient  and  neceffary  for  yourfelves,  as  well  as  me, 
that  I  mould  go  from  thij  world  to  my  Father  :  For 
fuch  is  the  lettlenient  of  things  in  eternal  counfels 
between  him  and  me,  and  fuch  is  their  jult  connec- 
tion and  order,  that  unleis  I  depart,  the  Holy  Spirit, 
that  blefled  guide,  advocate,  and  Comforter,  whom  I 
mentioned,  (fee  the  note  on  chap.  xiv.  16.)  as  more 
than  fufii;ient  to  fupply  the  want  of  my  bodily  pre- 
fence,  will  not  vifit  you  with  his  richeft  gifts  and 
'/races,  counfels  and  afiiftances,  fupports  and  joys  : 

But 


Chap.  xvi. 


S  And  vvben  he 
is  come,  he  will  re- 
prove t'.ie  world  of 
fin,  and- of  nghte- 
(v.it'nefs,  and  of 
judgment  : 


9  Of  fin,  becaufe 
vhey  believe  not  on 

nie  : 


10  Of  righteouf- 
nefs,  beeaule  I  go 
to  my  Father,  and 
ye"  fee  me  no  more; 


ii  Of  judgment, 
beeaule  the  prince 
of  this  world  is 
judged. 


N     O 

*  This  appears  to  be  Chrift's  meaning, 

becaufe  he  "aid  this  to  comfort,  and  not 

difrour:.'^  his    dii'ciples  ;    and  they  did 

fee  ■  ,ain  on  earth  after  his  reiur- 

Vol.  II. 


John  paraphrafed.  453 

But  (jM*J  when  I  go  to  be  inthroned  in  my  heaven- 
ly kingdom,  I  will  fend  him  to  anfwer  all  the  great 
and  glorious  purpofes  for  which  ye  and  my  church 
mail  need  him. 

8  And  he  coming  from  on  high,  by  virtue  of  my 
death,  and  in  confequence  of  my  refurreclion  and  ex- 
altation, (hall  carry  on  my  caule  in  this  lower  world 
by  demonstratively  convincing  both  Jews  and  Gen- 
tifas,  wherever  my  gofpel  comes,  of  their  guilt,  de- 
pravity, and  obnoxioufnefs  to  the  wrath  of  God  ;  of 
the  righteoufneis  which  I  bring  in  by  my  obedi- 
ence and  fufferings,  for  the  juilification  of  fuch  as  are 
helped  to  fee  that  they  have  no  righteoufnefs  of  their 
own  to  recommend  them  to  the  divine  favour  and  ac- 
ceptance ;  and  of  my  holy  and  judicial  power,  in  fet- 
ting  to  rights  the  diforders  of  human  nature,  by  fanc- 
tifying  grace,  in  overthrowing  Satan's  dominion,  and 
in  paffing  judgment  ngainft  the  finally  unbelieving  and 
unrighteous  at  the  great  day  of  account. 

9  To  explain  my  meaning  a  little  farther,  This 
Holy  Spirit,  by  his  miraculous  gifts  and  operations 
for  confirming  the  gofpel,  and  by  his  internal  illumina- 
tion and  gracious  influence,  (hall  convince  many,  a- 
mong  Jews  and  Gentiles,  of  all  the  wickednels  cl 
their  hearts  and  lives,  and  efpecially  of  their  great: 
iin  of  unbelief;  becaufe  they  wilfully  rejected  me, 
and  chofe  rather  to  go  on  in  their  iniquities,  than  be- 
lieve in  me  for  everlailing  life. 

10  He  fhall  like  wife  convince  them  of  the  righte- 
oufnefs of  my  perfon  and  caufe,  and  of  the  neceflity, 
fuitablenefs,  and  perfection  of  that  everlailing  righte- 
oufnefs which  I  am  come  to  work  out  by  my  obedi- 
ence unto  death  ;  becaufe  I  am  going  to  be  exalted 
at  my  Father's  right  hand,  in  teltimony  of  his  ha- 
ving entirely  approved  of,  and  accepted  me,  as  one 
that  has  anfwered  all  his  demands  ;  and  ye  (hall  no 
more  fee  me  again  in  this  humble  ftate  of  fufferings 
and  abafement  *,  as  if  I  had  not  fully  fatistied  his 
juft/ce,  and  finiined  the  work  he  gave  me  to  do  on 
earth. 

1 1  And  this  Spirit  fhall  convince  them  of  my 
power  and  will,  to  renew  and  fanctify  tinners,  to 
deftroy  the  kingdom  of  darknefs,  and  to  execute 
judgment  upon  all  the  finally  wicked,  impenitent, 
and  unbelieving  ;  becaufe  Satan,  who,  as  the  god  of 
this  world,  has  ruled  in  the    earts  of  the  children  of 

difobedieuce, 
T     E. 

reclion,  and  he  prayed,   that  all  wljom 
the  Father  had  given  him,  might  he  noith 
him  in  heaven  to  behold  hi;  glory* 
xvii.  34.  1 

n  n 


N 


454 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  xvi. 


difobedience,  is  tried,  and  cart,  and  judicially  defeat- 
ed in  all  his  power  and  claims,  by  my  death,  refur- 


n  I  have  yet 
many  things  to  fay 
unto  you,  but  ye 
cannot  bear  them 
now. 


13  Howbeir, 
when  he,  the  Spirit 
of  truth,  is  come, 
he  will  guide  you 
into  all  truth  :    for 


re&ion,  and  afcenlion  to  heaven,  from  whence  I  will 
fend  the  Spirit,  as  my  grand  agent,  for  demolifliing 
the  powers  of  darknefs,  and  fetting  up  my  kingdom 
of  light,  and  grace,  and  holinefs,  on  its  ruins,  till 
I  mail  come  to  judge  the  world  at  the  laft  day. 

1 2  I  have  Hill  many  other  things  to  communicate 
to  you,  relating  to  the  great  alterations  that  fhall  be 
made  in  the  itate  and  worfhip  of  the  church,  under 
the  guidance  and  operations  of  the  Spirit,  as  the  fruit 
of  my  going  through  fufferings  and  death  to  glory  : 
But,  at  prefent,  by  reafon  of  the  weaknefs  of  your 
faith,  and  the  llrength  of  your  prejudices  and  carnal 
expectations,  ye  cannot  eafily  take  them  in,  or  be 
reconciled  to  them. 

13  But  when  the  Divine  Spirit,  who  is  faithful- 
nefs  and  truth  itfelf,  fhall  come  to  do  his  work  upon 
you,  and  by  you,  he  mail  be  an  unerring  and  effica- 
cious guide,  to  give  you  an  underftanding  and  appro- 
he  fliall  not  fpeak   bation  of  the  whole  fcheme  of  the  gofpel-kingdom, 

of  himieli ;  but  which  is  infallibly  true  in  every  part  of  it :  For  as  I 
whatfoeverhefhall    ,  1  o    \  •  J.i  -^     ,  r      . 

hear  that  fhall  he  ve  alwaYs  acted  in  concert  with  my  rather  ;  io  the 
fpeak:  and  he  will  Spirit  will  aft  in  entire  concert  with  us,  by  revealing- 
(hew  you  things  to  thefe  things,  not  like  a  private  perfon,  as  from  him- 
' :ome'  felf  only,  but  in  exadt  agreement  with  the  counfels 

of  peace  between  the  Father  and  me,  as  one  that  is 
privy  to  them  all,  and  fearches-  the  deep  things  of 
God :  And,  according  to  ancient  predictions  con- 
cerning him,  {Joel  ii.  28.)  he  will  be  a  fpirit  of 
pvophecy  in  you,  and  will  acquaint  you  with  all  that 
a  may  be  needful  for  you  to  know,  or  make  known 

to  the  church,  for  ages  to  come  on  earth,  and  for  a 
blefTed  eternity  afterwards  in  heaven. 

14  His  very  coming  in  my  name,  to  do  my  work, 
will  redound  to  my  honour  ;  and  his  great  buiinefs 
and  defign  will  be,  to  manifefl  my  glory  :  For  he 
will  take  into  his  province  the  things  that  relate  to 
my  perfon  and  office,  caufe  and  kingdom,  and  will 
difcover  them  to  you,  that  ye  may  have  clear,  exalt- 
ed, and  endearing  thoughts  of  me,  and  my  love  and 
grace,  of  what  I  am,  and  have  undertaken  for,  and 

hat  I  have  purchafed  by  my  death,  and  have 
authority  to  bellow  in  my  re-alfumed  and  glorious 
life. 

15  This  will  be  a  rich  difcover)',  and  include  what 
relates  to  the  Father  together  with  me  :  For  as  I 
and  my  Father  are  one  ;   {chef),  x.   30.)   fo  his  na- 

h  fhall  rake  ture  <ir>d  perfections,  bleffednefs  and  glory  are  mine; 
of  mine,  and  fliall  {Col.  ii.  9.)  his  Spirit  is  mine;  and  whatfoever  he 
ihtw  it  unto  you,     makes  known  and  communicates  by  the  Spirit,  is 

from 


14  He  fhall  glo- 
rify me  :  for  he 
fliall  receive  of 
mine,  and  fhall 
fliew  it  unto  you. 


15 

that 

All 

the 

things 

hath 
there 

are 
Fore 

mine  . 
faid     I. 

Chap.  xvi. 


John  paraphrafed. 


455 


1 6  A  little 
while,  and  ye  fliall 
not  fee   me  :    and 

a 


£0  to  the  Father. 


.  17  Then  faid 
Jome  of  his  difci- 
ples  among  them- 
felves,  What  is  this 
that  he  faith  unto 


from  me  in  common  with  him :  In  a  word,  ail  things 
whatsoever  (x-xvrct,  o<rx)  the  Father  has,  (only  except- 
ing what  the  very  notion  of  his  being  a  Father  im- 
ports) are  already  mine  by  original  right  and  claim  ; 
and,  in  my  office-capacity,  the  adminiliration  of  all 
that  he  does,  is  in  a  peculiar  manner  commited  to 
me,  as  one  eveiy  way  equal  to  the  important  truft  : 
Therefore  I  laid,  with  great  propriety,  That,  in  the 
whole  of  the  gofpel-difpenfation,  the  Spirit  will  take 
into  his  province  what  relates  to  me  and  my  glory, 
and  will  make  it  known  to  you. 

16  It  is  now  *  but  a  very  little  while,  that  ye 
(hall  fee  me  in  my  prefent  mortal  ftate,  before   I  be 

little    taken  from  you  for  a  few  days  by  death  ;  and  foon 
while,  and  ye  (hall   after  that,  ye  ihall  fee  me  again  but  for  a  little  time 
fee  me  ;  becaufe  I   longer,  as  rifen  to  an  immortal  life,  becaufe  I  am  go- 
ing to  be  exalted  in  my  human  nature,  at  the  Father's 
right  hand,  and  to  tranfaft  the  affairs  of  my  church 
with  him  there. 

17  The  difciples,  through  ignorance,  grief,  and 
carnal  notions  of  a  temporal  kingdom,  being  at  a  lofs 
about  the  unexplained  meaning  of  thefe  lail  words, 
fome  of  them  were  exceedingly  amazed  and  troubled 

us,  A  little  while  at  them,  faying  privately  one  to  another,  What  can 
and    ye    lhall  not    our  Lord  intend,  by  telling  us,  that  in,  or  for  a  little 

Alittk  whdea§aand  while>  we  ^  not  fee  him  >  and  ttat  in»  °r  f°r  a 
ye    lhall  fee '  me  :    little  while  afterwards,  we  (hall  fee  him  again  ?  And 

and,  Beraufe  I  what  doth  he  mean  by  the  reafon  he  gives  for  it, 
go  to  the  Father  ?    v;.z^  becauf-  he  is  going  to  the  Father  ? 

18  They  faid  18  They  therefore  being  in  a  great  perplexity  and 
therefore,  What  is  conCern  about  it,  the  queftion  went  round  among 
this  that  he  faith,    .1  r     •  •  1  •/-  r     u   1      ..u 

A  little  while?  we  them>  faying>  m  a  whiiper  tp  inch  brethren  as  were 
cannot  tell  what  neareft,  What  means  this  little  white  that  our  Lord 
he  faith.  talks  of  ?  we  cannot  imagine  what  he  hints  at. 

ro    Now  Jefus        1Q/   Now  as  the  heart -fearching  Jefus  faw  the,  con- 
were    d^firous^to   ^unon  tneY  werc  *n  uPon  tnIs  account,  and  that  they 
a(k  him    and  faid   na<^  a  great  mind,  though  they  were  afraid  and  a- 
unto   ihamed,  to  afk  him  to  explain  himfelf,  *J*  he  faid  to 

N  n  n  2  them, 

NOTE  S. 
*  I  have  referred  the  little  while,  in  thefe  words,  and  his  afcenfion  to  hea- 
the  firft  claufe,  to  the  time  before  which  ven  ;  and  that  in  the  lall  claufe,  it  re- 
Chrift  would  be  taken  from  his  difciples  lates  to  the  time  between  his  afcenfion, 
by  death,  and  appear  to  them  again  af-  and  their  own  death,  or  his  lecond  ap- 
ter  his  refurrection  ;  and  in  the  fecond,  pearing  to  judgment  :  But  one  or  other 
to  the  time  during  which  he  would  be  of  the  fenfes  given  in  the  Paraphrafe,  ap- 
abfent  from  them,  and  appear  again  pears  to  be  moft  natural, 
to  them;  becaufe  from  the  grammatical  f  That  this  relates  to  his  knowing 
conftrudlion,  it  feems  uncertain  which  the  fecret  thoughts  and  defires  of  their 
of  thefe  are  referred  to,  and  neither  of  hearts,  as  well  as  their  privates  whifper- 
thefe  femes  is  abfolutely  difagreeable  to  ings  one  to  another,  appears  from  the 
the  context.  Some  indeed  fuppofe,  that  conclufion  they  drew  from  hence.-  (w. 
the  little  while  in  the  firft  claufe,  relates  30.)  that  he  knew  all  thifqs,  and  need- 
£0  the  time  between  Chrift's  fpeaking    eci  not  that  any  man  jhould  afk  him. 


45^  ^ue  ^'uameV.ft  Chap.  xvi. 

unto    them,      Do   them,  Are  ye  at  a  lofs,  and  troubled  in  your  own 

ye  enquire  apiong    thoughts,  and  folicitoufly  inquiiitive  one  of  another, 

yo,  reives  o       a     and  defirous  to  aik   me  about  my  meaning,  when   I 

I     lavd,     A     little  ,  ...-'.  °7 

wh  ie.  and  ye  mail    !p°ke  or  a  little  wluie,  with  relation  to  your  not  iee- 

noi  lee  me :  aid  a-  ing  me,  and  again  of  a  little  while,   with   refpect  to 

jrain,  Alittle  while,  Vour  feeing  me  afterwards  ? 

a**j  >'e    MJ    fc?  '     20    I,  the  faithful  and  true  Witnefs,  folemnly  af- 

zl    \  eri'v   veri-  ^ure  You>  tn-at  Ye  mau*  quickly  be  full  of  tears  and  bit- 

Jv.   <    -v  unto  you,  ter   lamentation,   for  a  fhort  feafon,  on  account  of 

That  _.-e  fhall  weep  my  fufferings  and  death;    (Mark  xvi.  10.  and  Luke 

and    lament     but  Ky.;;^   2       2g\   and  at  the  fame  time  the  men  of  this 
the  world  mail  re-  u         1  J  1  "n    *  •  1  1. 

ji  i<  e  :  and  ye  (hall  v,"orlcl>  rulers  and  people,  will  triumpn  and  rejoice, 

k>e  ftvo"ful,    but   as  thinking  that  they  have  gained  their  point  againll 
yo;       .now    (hall    me  and  my  caufe  :   Yea,  for  a  while,  ye  will  be  ex- 
be  turned  into  joy.    ceedingly  dejected  in  my  abfence,  as  if  all  your  faith 
and  hope  in  me  were  a  deluiion  ;  (Luke  xxiv.  17,  21.} 
but  very  foon,  when  I  fhall  vjfit  you  again  in  perfon 
after  my  refurreftion,  and  mail  ihed  down  my   Spi- 
rit upon  you  after  my  afcenfion  to  heaven,  all  your 
dirlreffinp-   farrows  mail  be  turned  into  the  ereateft 
joy.      (Chap.  xk.  20.  Luke  xxiv.  52,  53.  and  Acls 
ii.  46.) 
ix    A    woman        2 1    Your  cafe  will  be  like  that  of  a  woman  in  la- 
yvhen  fhe  is  in  tra-    oourj  as  me  for  a   fhort  time  has   fharp    pains,   and 

?ai        \     ,     °.'    great  anxiety  of  mind  about  the  event,  becaufe,  ac- 
becauve  her  hour  is    o  /  »  > 

come  :  but  as  foon  cording  to  God  s  ordination  on  account  01  the   nril 

?.s  Ebe  is  delivered  fin,   (Gen.  iii.    1 6.)   the   unavoidable    and   expected 

.01   the  chilH,    the  hour  of  diftrefs  is  came  upon  her :   But  as  foon  as 

remembereth      no  ^  {%  fafd    dclivered  0£  a  man-child,  the  joy  of  her 

.more    ine   angui!'  .       .        .      J     .      r      ,  _,  J    Jr 

for  jov  that  a  man  having  brought  rorta  the  uenrea  orrspnng  is  lo  great, 

is    born    into    the  that  (he  no  longer  groans  or  complains,  or  reflects 
work!,  with  any  uneafmefs  on  the  pangs  {he  endured. 

2:  And  ye  now        %j,   So  ye  now  for  a  little  while,  under  your  pre- 
there:qrc  have  for-    fent-di  final  apprehenfions  of  my  leaving;  vou,  and  bv 
tow      but   I    will                   c    -l     r        *  •  1     *u               •   Jl 
fee  vou  again,   and    mean8  °*  tne    iore   tnais    that    are  j11"    coming    upon 
your  heart  thai!  re-    V°u,  are,   and  will  be,  full  of  dillrefs  and  anguifh  of 
and  your  joy,  ioul  :   But  I  will  foon  return  to  you  in  perfon,  and 
jw man taketh  hom    afttnvards  by  my  Spirit,  with  clear  manifeilations  of 
my  triumphs  and  my  love,  as  an  earneft  of  your  be- 
ing with  me  -for  ever  ;  and  then  ye  fhall  forget  all 
your  forrows,   an4    fhall    have   unlpeakable  joy    and 
gladnefs  of  heart,  in  confideration  of  the  great  and 
glorious  tilings,  which  by  my  fufferings  and  death  I 
fhall  have  obtained  for  you  ;  and  whatsoever  men  or 
devils  mav  defign     or  attempt    againft  you,    (k^us) 
none  of  them  fhall  ever  be  able  to  fhakc  the  founda- 
tion, or  rob  you  of  your  fpiritiial  and  eternal  joy. 
$3   And  in  that         23   And  in  this  time  of  great  confolation,  under 
■  ihall  aikme    tj)e  ]■   |lt  and  jnfluence  0f  mv  Spirit,   ye  fhall  neither 
nothing.       Venn.  ,  °  ,  ,-  '.'.if  ,  ^„ 

h        verify    n        m-*  corPora*  prelcnce  with  you,  nor  have  oppor- 
tunities 


in  my  name  :  afk 
and  ye  thall  re- 
ceive, that  your 
joy  may  be   full. 


Chap,  xvi  John  pnraphrafed.  457 

verily,  I  fay  unto  lunities  of  afking  me  *  queftions,  for  relieving  your 

you,      Whatsoever  doubts  and  difficulties,   and  informing  you  about  the 

ye  mall  afk  the  Fa-  tjajflgg  0f  my  khip-dom,  as  ye  have  been  wont,  and 
ther   in   my  name,  °         ,  /  °       ,        ,    J  \       a-  .  t  *  u 

he  will  give  it  you.  are  now  dehrous  to  do.    (per,    19.)      As  I  told  you 

(ver.  16.)  that  I  ani  going  to  the  Father  ;  fo  I, 
who  am  Truth  itfelf,  folemnly  allure  you,  that  what- 
foever  ye,  by  the  afililance  of  the  Spirit,  fhall  after- 
wards afk  my  Father  and  your  Father,  with  faith  in 
my  name,  as  your  only  Mediator,  High-Prieil,  and 
Advocate,  he  will  readily  grant  it  to  you  on  my  ac- 
count. 
c^Hithertohave  24  Hitherto,  whilft  I  have  been  with  you,  ye, 
ye  afked  nothing  under  your  great  darknefs  and  difficulties,  doubts  and 
fears,  have  on  all  occalions  had  recourfe  to  me  ;  and, 
in  your  addreffes  to  God  the  Father,  ye  have  not 
applied  to  him  with  any  exprefs  mention  of  my  name; 
nor  have  ye  well  underilood  the  grounds  of  worship- 
ping him  in  that  manner,  fo  as  to  p]ead  and  depend  up- 
on my  merit  and  righteouineis,  and  my  interelt  with 
him  for  you  :  But  henceforth,  in  all  your  wants,  pre- 
fent  your  petitions  and  pleas  with  faith  in  my  atone- 
ment and  advocacy,  which  fhall  be  hereafter  fully  re- 
vealed ;  and  he  will  certainly  return  an  anfwtr  of 
peace,  that  your  holy  joy  may  be  daily  increaling, 
till  at  length  it  fhall  be  as  abundant  and  complete^ 
as  ye  yourlelves  can  wifh  for,  or  be  capable  of. 

25  Thefe  important  things  have  I  delivered  to  you 
in  fhort,  pithy  lenteuces,  which,  by  reafon  of  your 
prefent  ignorance  forrows,  and  prejudices,  are  as  ob- 
fcure  to  you,  as  parables  are  to  thofe  that, do  not  un- 
derfland  them  :  But  the  time  is  now  coming  on  apace, 
when  my  Spirit  fhall  fo  clearly  enlighten  the  eyes  of 
your  uncU  rltanding,  and  lead  you  into  the  whole 
ir heme  of  the  gofpel,  that  what  I  have  faid,  and  fnali 
further  communicate  to  you  by  him,  will  no  longer 
appear  dark  and  myilerious  like  a  parable  ;  but  I 
will  then  make  a  free,  open,  and  full  difcovery  of 

my 

NOTE. 

*   Here  is  a  plain  reference  to  their    fecrns  to  be,  becaufe  he  was  then  going 

wanting  to  afk  him  what  he  meant  by  a    particularly  to  recommend  the  Father's 

tittle  while,  &c.  [iter.  19.)   There  it  is    love  to  them,  {vet-  26,  ^7.)  and  to  give 


25  Thefe  things 
have  I  fpoken  unto 
you  in  proverbs  : 
the  time  cometh 
when  1  fhall  no 
more  fpeak  unto 
you  in  proveibs, 
but  I  (ha,ll  ihfw 
you  plainly  of  the 
Father. 


laid,  n&t>ov  avrov  f(>cjTav,  they  nvere  de- 
firous  to  afk  him  :  And  here  Chrift  fays, 
io.1  vk  tpuTvfftTi  vSiv,  ye Jhall ajh me  no- 
thing'. But  he  is  far  from  defigning  by 
this,  to  forbid  their  praying  to  him:  For 
not  only  Stephen  and  the  apoflles  did 
this  after  he  was  gone  to  heaven  ;   but  it 


them  a  hint  of  the  gofpel-fcheme  of  wor- 
fhip,  with  regard  to  his  mediation, 
through  whom  iue  have  accefs  hy  one 
Spirit  to  the  Father.  (Eph.  ii.  18.)  And 
as  the  difciples  did  afk  him  queftions  af- 
ter his  refurredlion,  (chap.  xxi.  2r.  and 
Acls  i.  6.)     I  think  the  day  mentioned' 


is  made  the  diftinguiflling  character  of  here,  and  in  ver.  16.  refers  rather  to  the 

Chriftians,  that  they  call  upon  him,   or,  time  of  his  pouring  out  the  i>p-rit,   than 

7/pon  his  name,  (Jfts  ix.  i^.Rom.x.  12,  of  his  perfonal  appearing  to  them  after 

13,  T4.  and  r  Cor.  i.  2.)     The  reafon  of  his  refurredlion, 
our  Lord's  not   mentioning    this   here, 


*5* 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  xvL 


16  At  that  day 
ye  fhall  afk  in  my 
name  :  and  I  tay 
rot  unto  you,  that 
■I  will  pray  the  Fa- 
ther for  you : 


27  For  the  Fa- 
ther himlelf  loveth 
you,  becaufe  ye 
have  loved  me, 
and  have  believed 
that  I  came  out 
from    God. 


28  I  came  forth 
from  the  Father, 
and  am  come  into 
the  world  :  again, 
I  h  ave  the  world, 
and  go  to  the  Fa- 
ther. 


29  His  difciples 
faid  unto  him,  Lo, 
now  fpeakeft  thou 
plainly,  and  (peak- 
eft  no  proverb. 


30  Now  are  we 
fure 


my  Father  ;  of  his  gracious  counfels  and  will  concern- 
ing you  and  the  whole  church  ;  of  the  nature  and  de- 
fign  of  my  fufferings  and  death  ;  of  the  reafons  of 
my  going  to  him  ;  of  the  bufinefs  which  I  go  to  tranf- 
adt  with  him  ;  of  the  confidence  which  on  thefe  ac- 
counts ye  may  have  towards  him  ;  and  of  the  way, 
in  which  ye  are  to  addrefs  him,  through  me,  for  ob- 
taining all  the  blefiings  ye  need. 

26  At  that  time,  when  I  fhall  be  with  my  Fa- 
ther, and  the  Spirit  fliall  come  down  upon  you,  ye, 
by  his  afiillance,  fhall  offer  up  all  your  petitions,  with 
an  explicit  mention  of  my  name,  and  with  an  entire 
trull  and  confidence  in  me,  as  having  made  atone- 
ment on  earth,  and  as  interceding  in  heaven  :  And 
I  need  not  tell  you,  nor  do  I  infill  upon  it  now,  as  I 
have  before,  {chap*  xiv.  16.)  that  while  ye  thus 
addrefs  a  throne  of  grace  in  my  name,  I  will  be  your 
great  Advocate  to  recommend  your  perfons  and  pray- 
ers to  the  Father's  acceptance. 

2  7  For  the  heart  of  my  Father  himfelf  is  toward 
you,  as  a  God  of  peace  through  my  blood  ;  and  he,  in 
the  greatnefs  of  his  love  to  you,  will  readily  hear  your 
prayers,  that  fhall  be  in  this  manner  prefented  to  him, 
becaufe  ye  are  indeed  my  difciples,  that  have  a  fin- 
cere  affection  foi>  me,  fp ringing  from  that  faith  where- 
by ye  believe  in  me  as  his  only  begotten  Son,  who 
came  from  him  to  be  the  Saviour  of  Ifrael :  He  has 
the  greateft  delight  in  thofe,  who  thus  by  faith  and 
love  embrace  me,  in  whom  he  is  well  pleafed. 

28  To  fum  up  all  that  I  have  been  faying,  in  a 
few  words,  it  is  plainly  this  ;  I,  who  was  with  the 
Father  from  everlafling,  voluntarily  came  forth  from 
him  into  this  world,  in  a  way  of  peculiar  manifeila- 
tion  and  operation  ;  and  having  gone  through  my 
great  work,  in  a  ftate  of  humble  obedience  and  fuf- 
ferings on  earth,  I  now  am  taking  leave  of  this  low- 
er world,  and  returning  home  again  to  my  Father, 
that  I  may  be  glorified  with  him,  may  manage  and 
fecure  the  concerns  of  the  redeemed  in  heaven,  and 
by  my  Spirit  may  apply  my  purchafe  to  -them  on 
earth  for  their  falvation.  Why  then,  upon  the  whole, 
fhould  your  hearts  be  troubled,  or  afraid  ?  ( Chap. 
xiv.  1,   27.) 

29  Our  bleffed  Lord  having  fpoke  in  this,  plain 
and  comfortable  manner  to  his  difciples  ;  they  at 
length  underilood  him  to  mean,  that  he  was  going 
to  be  glorified  with  his  Father  in  heaven,  and  cried 
out  with  ecllacy  and  afiurance,  Now  we  clearly  take 
in  the  true  fenfe  of  thy  difcourfe,  and  it  is  no  longer 
a  dark  faying  to  us. 

30  We  are  now  like  wife  fully  fatisfied,  that  thou 

hall 


Chap. 


xvi. 


John  paraphrafed. 


459 


fure  that  thou 
kr.oweft  all  things, 
and  needefl:  not 
that  any  man 
fhould  a(k  thee :  by 
this  we  believe  that 
thou  cameft  forth 
from  God. 


31  Jefus  anfwer- 
ed  them,  Do  ye 
now  believe  ? 


the 


yea, 
that 


3,2  Behold, 
hour  cometh, 
is  now  come, 
ye  (hall  be  fcatter- 
ed,  every  man  to 
his  own,  and  fliall 
leave  me  alone  : 
and  yet  I  am  not 
alone,  became  the 
Father  is  with  me. 


33Thefe  things  I 

have    i'poken    unto 

you,  that  in  rnc  ye 

might  have  peace. 

In 


haft  a  perfect  knowledge  of  all  things,  even  to  the 
very  fecrets  of  our  hearts  :  And  though  we  were 
afraid  to  tell  thee  the  perplexity  of  our  minds,  and 
how  deiirous  we  were,  (ver.  19.)  to  aik  thee  about 
the  very  thing  which  thou  hall  now  explained  to  us  ; 
we  now  find  that  thou  didft  not  need  to  be  informed 
of  our  thoughts,  but  haft,  of  thine  own  accord,  as 
exa&ly  and  directly  anfwered  the  queftion,  that  was 
in  our  hearts,  as  if  we  had  expreffed  it  in  words  : 
By  this  evident  proof,  which  thou  haft  given  of  thy 
divine  omnifcience,  we  are  thoroughly  confirmed  in 
our  faith,  that  thou  art  indeed  the  Son  of  God,  who 
cameft  from  him,  and  art  returning  again  to  him. 

3 1  Jefus  however  knowing  that  their  faith  was  not 
fo  ftrong  and  ftedfaft,  as  they  imagined,  and  that,  not- 
withilanding  their  prefent  confidence,  it  would  foon 
be  fhaken  again,  replied,  Are  ye  now  at  laft,  as  ye 
ought  to  have  been  before,  fo  clearly  apprehenfave, 
and  fo  well  aflured  of  what  I  have  faid  ?  And  is  your 
faith  fo  fully  confirmed  in  me,  that  ye  think  your- 
felves  eftablifhed  in  it  to  fuch  a  degree,  as  never  to 
be  ftaggered  more  ?  Alas  !   ye  are  much  miftaken. 

32  Obferve  what  I  fay  to  you,  for  your  humbling, 
watchfulnefs,  and  caution,  and  for  further  proof  of 
my  divine  omnifcience  with  regard  to  what  will  be9 
as  well  as  is  in  your  hearts  :  The  time  is  juft  at  hand, 
yea,  is  fo  very  near,  that  in  a  manner  it  may  be  faid 
to  be  already  come,  when  ye  will  all  be  difperied, 
and  fkulk  about  in  a  fright  among  your  friends  to 
provide  for  your  own  fafety,  according  to  former  pro- 
phecy ;  [Zcch.  xiii.  7.)  and  not  one  of  you  will  dare 
to  accompany,  own,  or  bear  witnefs  to  me  :  And 
yet,  deftitute  as  I  (hall  be  left  by  you,  I  never  am, 
nor  then  (hall  be  alone,  becaufe  my  Father  and  I, 
being  intimately  and  infeparably  united,  are  ever  pre- 
fent one  with  the  other  ;  and  though  he,  as  a  Jiu  .;e9 
will  with-hold  the  comforts  of  his  prefence  from  me, 
who  am  come  to  bear  the  fins  of  many  ;  yet  he  win 
continue  to  be  with  me,  *  as  a  Father,  to  affift  ,and 
own  me,  and  carry  me  through  all  the  conflicts  which 
I  have  confented  to  undergo,  as  his  fervant,  that  he 
may  be  glorified.      {I fa.  1.  7.) 

33  Now  all  thefe  things  have  I  delivered  unto 
you  in  my  farewtl  fermon,  that  by  virtue  of  your 
union  with  me,  and  by  faith  in  me,  ye  may  nnd  the 
nobleft  peace  with  God,  and  poffefs  your  own  fouls 

in 


N     O 

*  This  interpretation  eafily  reconciles 

what  our  Lord  here  fays  about  his  not 

bein  >    alone,    and   the    Father  s    being 

with  bimt    in  his  laft   fuflferings.    and 


T    E. 

d  atb,  with  his  faying  on  the  crofs,  yiy 
God,  m<  Go,:,  why  haft  thou  forfaken 
me  £   (ivlatth.  xxvii.  4&) 


460  The  Evangelift  Chap.  xv.. 

In  the    world    ye  jn  quietnefs  and  patience  :   Ye  may  fee,  by  what  I 

feal]  have  rribula-  have   fa;d     that    wmk          are    {n    this    WQrld              t 

tion       but    be    01  ,  ,              .           r         .J        r                 ..  ,            .'     &        , 

n-oud      chee*-        I  troubles   and   periecutions  for  my  lake,  will  attend 

have  overcome  the    you  ;   but  do  not  be  disheartened  at  them,   (GxgruTt) 
"world.  confide  in  me,  and  be  courageous  in  hope  of  an  hap- 

py event  :  For  as  I  have  weathered  all  oppolition 
from  men  and  devils,  and  come  off  with  victory  hi- 
therto ;  fo,  by  my  death  and  refurredlion,  afcenfion 
to  heaven,  exaltation  to  my  throne,  and  effufion  of 
my  Spirit,  I  am  juit  now  going  to  obtain  an  entire 
conqueft  over  the  world,  and  every  thing  elfe,  which 
Hands  in  the  way  of  your  falvation,  that  I  and  you 
may  dwell  together  in  my  Father's  houfe,  where,  as 
I  told  you  at  the  beginning  of  this  difcourfe,  I  am 
going  to  prepare  a  place  for  you.      {Chap,  xiv.  2.) 

RECOLLECTIONS. 

How  often  are  we  forrowful  at  thofe  things  at  which  we  ought  to  rejoice  !  How 
much  better  is  it  for  us.  that  Chrift  is  now  exalted  on  his  throne,  than  that  he 
lhould  have  always  continued  to  be  perfonally  preient  on  earth  !  And  O  how  di- 
vinely great  and  glorious  is  he,  who.  came  from  the  Father,  and  whofe  human  na- 
ture is  now  removed  from  our  world,  and  gone  to  heaven.  He  is  pofleiTed  of  all 
the  fame  perfections,  and  is  Lord  proprietor,  and  difpofer  of  all  the  fame  things 
■with  the  Father  himfelf ;  and  he  fends  his  Spirit  to  carry  on  his  work  in  the  world, 
and  knows  all  things,  even  the  fecrets  of  our  hearts.  With  what  fafety  then  may 
we  believe  in  him  ! — How  equally  divine  is  the  Spirit  of  truth,  who  is  perfectly  ac- 
quainted with  the  Father  and  Son,  and  with  their  whole  defign,  and  who  freely 
comes  from  them,  to  acquaint  us  with  all  needful  truth,  and  to  glorify  Chrift  by 
acting  in  his  name,  and  taking  of  his  things,  which  are  alfo  the  Father's,  and 
(hewing  them  to  us  !  And  how  efficacioufly  doth  he  convince  apoftate  men  of  fin, 
righteoufnefs,  and  judgment  !  O  bleffed  work  !  May  it  favingly  prevail  in  our 
hearts,  and  fpread  far  and  wide  through  our  world  !  But  how  ignorant  and  dull 
of  underftanding  are  we,  and  how  indolent  in  our  enquiries  after  the  moft  impor- 
tant things,  which,  how  plainly  foever  they  be  delivered  to  us,  appear  as  obfeure 
as  parables,  till  Chrift  opens  the  eyes  of  our  minds  !  And  what  an  excellent  teach- 
er is  oar  Lord,  who  fuits  his  inftructions  to  our  circumftances,  capacities,  and  oc- 
cafions,  and  to  what  he  knows  to  be  the  diftrefles  and  defires  of  our  hearts  !  How 
foon  can  he  fcatter  all  our  darknefs,  and  turn  our  forrow  into  joy,  into  fuch  joy  as 
no  man  can  take  from  us,  and  as  fhall  grow  up  to  full  perfection  !  But  alas  !  when 
we  think  our  faith  is  ftrongeft,  the  greateft  temptations  are  often  neareft  ;  and 
therefore  we  mould  not  be  felf-confident,  but  give  ourfelvcs  unto  prayer  :  And 
what  rich  encouragement  have  we  for  this,  fince  the  Father  himfelf  loves  them, 
that  believe  in  his  Son,  and  is  well  pleafed  with  their  love  to  him  !  But  as  it  is  on- 
ly on  his  account,  that  God  is  our  Father  and  friend,  how  carefully  fhould  we  al- 
ways addrefs  the  throne  of  grace,  with  a  direct  eye  to  Jefus,  and  with  explicit 
pleadings  of  his  name,  as  our  t-reat  Mediator,  according  tothe  fettlement  of  gof- 
pel-woiihip  ;    and   with  what  humble  confidence  may  we  depend  upon  an  anl 

ich  believing  pleas  through  him  ! — This  world  is  a  fcene  of  forrow  ;  and  what 
if  we  meet  with  great  tribulations  in  it  for  Chrift's  fake  ?  It  is  only  from  men  that 
know  not  God,  and  it  is  no  more  than  our  Lord  himfelf  foretold  would  be:  We 
fhould  therefore  be  fe  far  from  being  difheartened  and  (tumbled  at  this,  that  our 
faith  fhould  be  the  more  confirmed  in  the  truth  of  the  gofpel  by  it  :  And  what  can 
be  a  greater  comfort  under  it,  than  the  peace  that  he  has  prom i fed  to  give,  and 
the  victory  that  he  has  obtained  over  fin,  Satan,  and  the  world  for  us,  that  we 
may  alfo  overcome  them  by  htith  in  him  '.  \nd  if  we  are  defcrted,  even  by  our 
friends,    in  tbe    'ays  of  our  '    tribulation     we  may  encourage  ourfelves  in 

th.-,    that  we    n  all  not  be  alum  ,  But  Chrilt  and  his  Father  will  be  with  us  by  the 
Spirit,  to  fupport  and  own  us,  and  carry  us  fafe  to  glory. 

CHAP, 


Chap.  xvii. 


John  paraphrafed. 


445 


rify  thy  Son,  that 
thy  Son  alfo  may 
glorify  thee  : 


CHAP.       XVII. 

Our  Lord's  prayer  before  his  death,  for  himfelf  I, — 5.  For  all  that 
were  already  called,  6, — 10.  Mojl  immediately  for  the  apofilesj 
that  they  might  he  preferred  and  fanBified,  ri, — 19.  For  the 
whole  church,  as  well  as  the  apo/ller,  that  they  /night  be  united 
and  glorified,  20, — 24.  And  particularly  again  for  the  apofiles, 
25,  26. 

Text.  Paraphrase. 

^  f  a^fefuTTnd  0UR  ^^  L°rd  h™ng  ^^  W®  dIfcIPleS  a  fare"" 
lift  Pup  his^'eyes  ^"^  welfermon,  clofed  it  with  a  parting  prayer,  in 
to  heaven,  and  which  he,  like  an  affectionate  dying  parent,  commit- 
faid.  Father,  the  ted  his  family,  and,  like  a  merciful  and  faithful  high- 
ie;  gl0-  prieft,  recommended  the  apoftles,  and  the  whole 
church,  to  his  Father,  and  therein  gave  a  fpecimen 
of  the  continual  interceflion  which  he  was  going  to 
make  for  them  in  heaven.  He  therefore  lifted  up  his 
eyes,  with  great  folemnity,  to  the  habitation  of  God's 
glory,  and  poured  out  the  defires  of  his  heart  in  the 
following  manner,  faying,  "  O  my  Father,  the  fet 
time  agreed  upon  in  eternal  counfels,  for  finishing  my 
courfe  of  obedience  and  fufferings  on  earth,  is  now- 
come  ;  own  me,  I  befeech  thee,  as  thy  Son  ;  fup- 
port  me  under  my  lall  agonies  ;  and  give  me  fuch  a 
triumphant  victory  over  death  and  the  grave,  and  all 
the  powers  of  darknefs,  as  lhall  iifue  in  thy  receiving 
me  up  to  glory  ;  that  I,  thine  own  eternal  Son,  may 
honour  all  thy  perfections  by  my  death,  and  then, 
being  exalted  at  thy  right  hand,  may  fpread  thy  glo- 
ry, by  my  word  and  Spirit,  through  the  world  ; 
2  "  According  to  the  defign,  for  which  thou,  in 
given  him  power  confideration  of  my  fulfilling  my  engagements  to  thee, 
over  all  flefli,  that  j^fl.  g{ven  me  an  univerfal,  abfolute  dominion  over  all 
be   mould   give  e-      ,        °    r  ,  r  ^1      *-  r  11  r 

temal   "*e  Perf°ns  and  concerns  of  the  *  fallen  race  ot  man- 
kind, 
NOTE. 
*  All  jiejl)  is  commonly  ufed  in  fcrip-    meaning  them  only,  by  the  many  that 
tore  to  defcribe  the  human  race,  as  frail,    were  given  to  him  :    Our  Lord  therefore 
mortal,  and  degenerate  by  the  fall;  and    expvelsly  tells  us,  that  he  prayed  not  for 
though  the  phrafe,  As  many  as  thou  hajl    the  apojlles  alo?ie,  but  far  them  alfo  that 
given  me,  may  have  a  particular  refpect  fbould    believe    on   him    through    their 
to  the  apoftles  as  included  in  that  num-    ivord,  that  they  all  might  be  one,   and 
ber  ;  yet  it  is  not  to  be  confined  to  them,    might  be  nvith  him,  where  he  is,   to  be- 
much  lefs  is  it  to  be  referred  merely  to    hold  his  glory:  (ver.  20,  21,  24.)  So  that 
their  office :  For  power  over  all  flefli  was    Chrift  regarded  all  God's  cholen  people 
given  to  Chrift,  that  he  might  give  eter-    in  this  prayer,   that  were  committed  to 
nal  life  to  thefe  many  ;    but  furely  eter-    his  charge,  as  the  great  Shepherd  of  the 
nal  life  is  given  by  him  to  more  than  the    fheep  ;    in  fome  parts  of  which  he  had  a 
apoftles;     and   he   had  not   this  office-    refpecl:  to  all  that  were  then  already  call- 
power  over  all  things  to  give  eternal  life    ed.  whether  apoftles  or  other  believers; 
merely  to  them,   whofe  number  was  fo    in  others,  particularly  to  the  apoftles  and 
fmall,  as  hardly  to  admit  oi  propriety  in    their  office;  and  in  others,  to  the  whole 
VOL.    II.  O  O  O  number 


2    As  thou  haft 


462 


The  EvangeBjl 


Chap.  xvli. 


3  And  this  is 
eternal,  that 
they  might  know 
thee,  the  only  true 
God,  and  Jefus 
Chrift  whom  thou 
haft  lent. 


4  I  have  glorified 
thee  on  the  earth  ; 
I  haire  riniihed  the 
work  which  thou 
gavtit  me  to  do. 


temal  life  to  as  kind,  that  I  might  authoritatively,  freely,  and  effec- 
toany  as  thou  haft  tu?jj  beftow  the  great  bleffing  of  eternal  life,  with 
»iveh  hun.  ,i  V.  ,v  .         °  ' 

all  the  means  tenamg  to  it,   upon  every  one,  whom, 

in  the  greatnefs  of  thy  love,  thou  halt  committed,  as 
a  peculiar  property,  trull,  and  treafure  to  rne. 

3  "  And  the  way  to  this  eternal  life,  the  begin- 
nings and  eameits  of  it,  the  evidences  of  right  and 
title  to  it,  and  the  complete  enjoyment  of  it  lie, 
not  only  in  their  approving  and  fiducial  knowledge 
of  thee,  under  the  character  of  the  only  true  and 
faithful  God,  in  *  oppoiition  to  all  other  gods  ;  but 
alfo  in  the  like  knowledge  of  me,  the  anointed  Sa- 
viour, whom  thou  halt  fent  into  the  world,  under  the 
character  of  the  only  true  Mediator,  in  oppofition  to 
all  other  mediators,  or  other  ways  of  approaching 
thee,  and  finding  acceptance  with  thee. 

4  "  I  have  all  along  invariably  intended  and  dif- 
played  thy  glory,  in  tbe  whole  of  my  doctrine,  mira- 
cles, and  life,  and  am  ready  to  honour  all  thy  per- 
fections on  earth,  by  my  death,  which  I  am  fo  fully 
reiolved  upon,  and  which  will  be  fo  certainly,  and  fo 
foon  accomplilhed,  that  I  may  fpeak  of  it,  as  if  it 
were  already  over  ;  and  [trtXstwct)  I  have  thereby 
perfected  the  great  work  of  redemption,  anfwerablc 
to  the  utmoft  demands  of  thy  juftice,  and  to  the  trult, 
which  thou  did  ft  repofe  In  me,  as  the  head  and  fure- 
ty  of  the  church. 

5  "  And  now,  O  my  heavenly  Father,   I  plead, 
ther,  gloniy  thou   that,  according  to  thy   engagements    to    me,    thou 

me  with  thine  own    „.„,,ij,i       1  •  ..  r       <.      4.1,      u-    i.   n. 

, -  ,  -     ■  ,  „,       ,        woulait  advance  mv  incarnate   psrlon  to  the  hio;heit 
idr,  with  the  clorv  .  -  *  .  © 

which  1  had  with    S'U3T  at  tn7  nght  hand,  where  1  may  appear  in  hu- 

thee     before     the    man  nature,  and  in  the  mediatorial  office,  like  myfelf, 

W  was-  and  may  fliinc  in  all  that  divine  majefty,  which  has 

been  obfeured  in  my  ltate  of  humiliation  on  earth, 

and  which  I  was  poilefTed  of,  together  with  thyfelf, 

from  all  eternity. 

6  "  As  to  all  my  fincere  -j-  difciples,  whom  thou 

halt 

NOTES. 
number  of  the  elect,  including  thofe  that    ly  fays  of  Chrift,    This  it  the  true  Godt 
were  to  be  called,    as  well  as  thofe  that    and  eternal  life,   in  oppofition  to  idcls. 
were  already  called,  that  they  might  be    1  John  v.  20,  ii. 

eternally  faved.  f    Though  this  part  of  Chrift's  prayer, 

*  That  our  bleffed  Lord  here  fpeaks  of   to  the  end  of  ver.  10.  may  have  a  princi- 

the  only  true  God,  in  chfti nation  from  i-    ])al  reference  to  the  apoftles;   yet  I  take 

•lols,   and  not  to  the  exclusion  of  himfelf,    it  t  i  extend  like  wife  to  the  fevenly,  and 

appears  from  his  fpeaking  of  himfelf,   as    to  all  that  had  been  already  effectually 

the  object  of  the   fame   fiducial  know-    called   under   his   miniftry :     For    there 

ledge  with  the  Father,  anrl  from  hit  dtf-    feems  to  be  nothing  peculiar  to  the  apof- 

tinguifliing    himfelf    from    the    I'athtr,    ties,  till  we  come  to  -vet:  II.   where  our 

by  any  ellential  title,  but  merely  by    Lord  begins  to  fpeak  more  immediately 

office -character,   vi*.   Jefus   Chrift,    of  them,    as  appears  to  me  by  his  there 

:i  horn  thou  hajl  fent.     And  the  fame  a-    altering  the  pronoun,  from  (au7oi)  they, 

poftle,  who  recorded  this  prayer,  exprefc-   to  (ov7&<)  thtfe,  and  then  going  on  to 

mention 


5  And  now,  O  Fa- 


6   I  have   m?ni- 
fefted 


Chap.  xviL  John  paraphrafed.  465 

fefted    thy    name  kail  made  my  peculiar  charge,  by  way  of  diftinction 

unto     the      men  from  mankind  in  general,   I  have  already  begun  to 
which  thoa  gaveft      •      th€m  a  ritual  undemanding  of  thine  excellen- 

me     out     ot      the  ©.  _  *    .  ,  .      «r     .—       c * 

world  :   thine  they  cies,  of  my  relation  to  tnee,  and  cpipmiffion  from  tnee, 

were,  and  thou  n-   and  of  thy  mind  and  will  about  their  falvatioh  :  The) 

1  •  »  1     1 

veil  them  me;  and    Were  originally  thine  by  peculiar  and  eternal  choic-., 

they  have  as  wcjj  ~s  fay  creat;0n-right ;   and  thou  gaveft  them 

to  me,  that   I  might  take*  effectual  care  of  them  ; 
and  they,  under  my  powerful  influence  upon  their 
hearts,  have  embraced,  and  adhered  to  the  teftinao- 
ny  which  thou  haft  given  to  me,  and  to  the  doctrine 
which  I  have  delivered  from  th;e. 
7  Now  they  have         7  "  They  now  have  been  brought  to   underftr 
known    that      all    2M&  believe   that  all   things,  which    I,    as 
thmgs,  whatfoever    baye  undertaken*  taught,  and  performed,  are  by  thine 
thou  halt  given  me,  .  .  •  ■»«•  J  ..i       +".  '■ '«•„    ~r 

are  of  thee-  appointment  and  commulicu,   ana  are   tae  amU  Oi 

thy  ir.iinite  wifdom,  and  ibvereign  grace. 
S  For  I  have  gi-  8  "  For  I  have  effectually  revealed  to  them  thoft 
yen  unto  them  the  myftgrie,  of  the  kingdom,  relating  to  my  perfori,  office 
'Tveft  "raeCh  'and  and  benefits,  which  thou -bait  authorized  me  to  make 
they  have  received  known  for  their  inftruction  and  edification  ;  and  they, 
them,     and    have    by  the  internal  light  and  energy,  that  attended  my 


didft  lend  me.  perfon,  came  into  this  world  from  thee  ;   (chep.  xvi. 

30.)   and  they  have  favingly  believed  in  me,  as  the 

true  Melhah,  whom  thou  haft  fent. 
9    I    pray    for        9  "  I  therefore  affectionately  recommend  them  to 
them:  I  pray  not    thy  fatherly  care  for  perfecting  every  thing  that  con- 
fer the  world    but        ^        ,  mv  -    beJr     deftgned,  not  unive  : 
lor     them     which    ,      r        ,,    /     /.  *,    •  ,°    r     °,     ,-         u  .u     , 
thou    hafl     given    ty  ^or  *&  mankind,  but  only  for  thole  whom  thou, 
me;    for  they  are    in  thy  peculiar  love  to  me  and  them,  haft  committed 
thine.                       to  my  charge  ;  for  they  are  by  eternal  choice 

defignation  thine, 
i-  And  all  mine        j0  «  And  our  joint  intereft  in  them,   arif\ven 
are  thine,  and  thine    tQ  the  or£^;nal  communion  that  we  have  one  with 
are   mine;    ana   I    ^  ^^ %  ^  ^  thj  ;s  rQ   entjrcly   an<i  infepara- 

O  o  o  2  bly 

NOTES. 

mention  things  more  peculiar  to  the  apof-  may  be  moft  properly  rendered,  allthings 

ties:    And  his  lpeaking  of  what  he  had  that  are  mine  are  thine,  and  that  are 

done,   in  the  faving  illumination  of  all  thine  are  mine  :  And  the.*-  high 

theie  converts,   may  very  well  be  confi-  and  ftrong  expreffions,  to<>  «rand  lor  any 

dered  as  a  fpecimen  of  his  faithfulnefs,  in  mere  creature  to  ufe,   as  intimating  that 

what  he  would  likewife  do,   in  proper  all  things  whatibever,  inciufive  or  tne  dt- 

feafon,   for  all  the  re  it.  that  the  Father  vine  nature,  perfections,  and  operation.*, 

had  given  him,   efpecially  fince  he  doles  and   of  all   creatures    are  the  common 

this  part  of  his  prayer  with  laying,  (v-r.  property  of  the   Father   and   Son;    and 

ic.)  All  mine  are  thine,   and  thine  are  that  this  is  the  original  ground  r,i  thrv. 

mine,  and  I  am  glorified  in  them.     See  p:uliar  property,  which  they  both  have 

the  note  on  ver.  20.  in  the  perfons  who  w  ere  given  to  Chrift 

*  The  words  (T«   u.x  ndflk  <ra  irt.  *ai  as  Mediator,   according  to  what  is  laid 

1?.  vx  ru.x.)  being  in  thf  neuter  gender,  in  :'.  ms  being 


464 


The  Evangeli/l 


Chap.  xvii. 


am      glorified 
them. 


thou  haft  given 
me,  that  they  may 
"be  one,  as  we  are . 


In  bly  the  fame  ;  that  all  whom  thou  haft  given  me  are 

ftill  as  much  as  ever  thine,  and  all  that  thou  haft  cho- 

fen  for  thyfelf  are  equally  mine  ;  our  property  in  them 

is  not  divided,  nor  transferred  from  one  of  us  to  the 

other,  but  is  common  to  us  both  :    It  is  therefore 

for  them,  who  are  both  thine  and  mine,  that  I  pray  ; 

and  I,  together  with  thee,  am,  and  for  ever  fhall  be, 

glorified  in  their  redemption,  and  effectual  calling, 

in  their  faith,  love,  worfhip,  and  obedience,  and  in 

their  eternal  glorification  with  thee  and  me. 

tt  And  now  I        11  "  And  now  the  time  is  come,   when  I  muft 

am  no  more  in  the   die  a  facrifice  for  their  fins,  and  fhall  afterwards  be 

world,    but    thefe    ^ut  a  |jttje  \on„cr  wjtj1  any  Qf  them   corporally  in 

are   in   the   world,      .  .  ,.  •    n       <->       1  r     j  j  r^i 

and  T  come  to  thee.    this  world,  to  initruct,   defend,  and  comfort  them  ; 

Holy  Father,  keep    but    (oyr<w)    thefe  *  my    apoftles,    here    prefent  with 
through  thine  own   me,  as  well  as  the  reft  of  my  difciples,  are  ftill  to  be 

T,ame  t,h°?  w!10ni  left»  f°r  a  wmle>  m  a  world  of  fm  an(i  forrow,  at- 
tended with  many  infirmities,  temptations,  and  dan- 
gers :  And  as  I  am  coming  to  appear  in  thy  prefence 
for  them,  therefore,  O  my  Father,  who  art  of  purer 
eyes  than  to  behold  iniquity,  1  befeech  thee,  that, 
after  my  departure,  thou  wouldft  by  thy  mighty 
power,  and  for  thine  own  name's  fake,  preferve  them 
itedfaft  in  their  faith  and  holy  profeffion,  whom  thou 
haft  appointed,  and  given  to  me  for  fpecial  fervice, 
as  my  witneffes  and  chief  minifters  in  my,  kingdom, 
that  they  may  be  entirely  united  in  heart  and  affec- 
tion, teftimony,  interefts,  and  deligns,  as  we  are  in 
ours. 

12  "  Whilft   I  have   been   personally   converfant 

V,t  1AT1  ♦  Vne   ^ith  them  in  the  world,   I  have,  according  to  thy 
world  I  kept  them  tt  1  1  r  ,i  11 

in  thy  name;  thole    commilnon,  kept  them  from  apoitacy,  by  my  doc- 

that  thou  gaveft  trine  and  example,  and  by  my  powerful  influence  up- 
me  I  have  kept,  on  their  minds  and  hearts  :  I  have  fo  faithfully  watch- 
Sfoft  ^bu^thffo™  ed  OVer,  dbbli{hed  and  preferved  them,  whom  thou 
of  perdition  •  that  gave^  me  f°r  the  apoftlefhip,  that  not  one  of  them 
the   has  mifcarriedf  except  the  perfidious  Judas,  who  has 

forfaken 
NOTES. 
glorified  (sy  avlotc,  in  the  mafculine  [on  of  perdition,  the  particle  (a  /j.*)  buty 
gender)  in  them :  For  none  but  a  divine  is  to  be  underftood  here,  not  in  the  ex- 
perfon  was  equal  to  the.  honour,  or  dif-  ceptive,  but  adverfative  fenfe,  as  it  is  of- 
ficulty  of  fo  important  a  truft,  as  was  ten  ufed,  particularly  in  Gal.  i.  7.  and  ii. 
therein  committed  to  him.  16.  and  Rev.  ix.  4.  and  xxi.   27.     For 

*  Here,  as  I  apprehend,  our  bleffed  of  all,  whom  the  Father  in  this  refpect 
.Saviour  enters  on  his  prayer  mpft  imme-  had  given  him,  he  fays,  It  was  his  Fa- 
diately  for  the  appftles,  and  fo  on  to  <vcr.  ther's  will,  that  he  fliould  lofe  nothing, 
jo.     See  the  notes  on  i'er.  6.  and  20.         and  that  he  would  raife  every  one  of  them 

f  If,  as  fome  fuppofe,  our  Lord  in  thefe  at  the  laft  day.  {Chap.  vi.  39,  40.)  And 
verfes,  as  well*  as  in  the  former  part  of  fo  the  fenfe  of  this  pan" age  will  be,  None 
his  prayer,  intended  the  elect  and  called  of  them  whom  thou  haft  given  me,  that 
whom  the  Father  gave  him,  that  he  I  might  give  them  eternal  life,  is  loft  ; 
might  give  eternal  life  to  them;  when  but  the  ton  of  perdition  is  loft,  he  being 
he  lays  that  none  of  them  is  loft,  but  the   none  of  that  number.     But,  taking  thjs 

part. 


12  While  I  was 
with  them  in  the 


Chap.  xvii. 

the  fcripture  might 
be  fulfilled. 


13  And  now 
come  I  to  thee  : 
and  thefc  things  I 
fpeak  in  the  world, 
that  they  might 
have  my  joy  fulfil- 
led in  themfelves. 


John  paraphrafed. 


46 


14  I  have  given 
them  thy  word  ; 
and  the  world  hath 
hated  them,  be- 
came they  are  not 
of  the  world,  even 
as  I  am  not  of  the 
world. 


15  I  pray  not 
that  thou  fhouldft 
take  them  out  of 
the  world,  but  that 
thou  fliouldft  keep 
them  from  the  e- 
'vil. 


16  They  are  not 
of  the  world,  even 
as  I  am  not  of  the 
world. 


forfaken  me,  and  is  gone  to  betray  me  to  death  ;  and 
who  has  deferved,  and  brought  deftructior.  upon  him- 
felf,  under  divine  permiffion,  in  accomplifhment  of 
ancient  predictions  of  his  treachery  and  ruin.  (P/if/. 
xli.  9.  and  cjx.   8,  &c.) 

13  "  But  (£g)  now  I  am  coming  to  be  glorified 
with  thee  in  heaven  ;  and  as  my  apoitles  will  no  long- 
er enjoy  the  benefit  of  my  company,  to  guide,  pro- 
tect, and  comfort  them,  I  make  this  addrefs  to  thee 
in  their  favour,  and  in  their  hearing,  whilil  I  am 
with  them  in  this  lower  world,  that  they  may  rejoice 
in  hope,  according  to  my  promife,  of  thy  prefer- 
ving,  teaching,  and  comforting  them  by  thy  Spirit 
in  my  abfence,  and  that  their  joy  may  be  more  abun- 
dant, than  they  ever  found  in  my  perfonal  prelence 
with  them. 

14  "  I  have  given  them  an  underftanding  of,  and 
a  commiflion  to  preach  thy  gofpel  ;  and  the  men  of 
this  world,  whofe  hearts  are  carnal  and  unbelieving, 
are  full  of  enmity,  rage,  and  violence  againft  them, 
becaufe  their  principles,  tempers,  and  views  are  utter- 
ly difagreeable  to  the  fentiments,  lulls,  and  intereils 
of  natural  and  worldly-minded  men,  even  as  I  my- 
felf,  and  the  doctrines  I  have  preached,  arc  contra- 
ry to  their  corrupt  judgment  and  tafte. 

15  "  However,  my  defire  is  not  that  thou  wouldft 
immediately  rid  my  difciples  of  all  their  troubles,  by 
taking  them  from  earth  to  heaven,  or  that  thou 
vvouldft  deprive  this  lower  world  of  fo  great  a  blefs- 
ing,  as  their  holy  lives  and  miniftrations ;  but  that 
thou  wouldfr.  fupport  them  under,  fanctify  to  them, 
and  carry  them  through  the  cruel  persecutions  they 
may  meet  with,  till  they  have  iinimed  their  teftimony  ; 
as  alfo  from  the  iniquity  and  error  in  which  the  world 
lies,  and  from  that  evil  one,  the  devil,  (at  row  ttwy.^ov) 
that  none  of  his  temptations  may  ever  prevail  againft 
them. 

16  "  They  are  already  of  fuch  a  religious  fpirit 
and  difpolition,  and  engaged  in  fuch  an  excellent 
work  and  caufe,  as  is  directly  contrary  to  the  liking  of 
the  generality  of  this  world,  even  as  I  myfelf,  to  whom 
they  are  herein  conformed,  have  been  before  them. 

17  H  Let 
T    E. 

ning,  that  he  would  betray  him  ;  {chap. 
vi.  64.)  and  what  Chrift  here  fays,  a- 
bout  none  of  the  other  apoftles  beinj;  loft, 
is  mentioned  with  a  direct  reference  to 
them  in  the  next  chapter,  (ver.  8,  9.) 
when  he  flefired  his  enemies  to  let  them 
go  their  way,   that  the  faying  might  be 


N  O 
part  of  Chrift's  prayer,  from  the  nth  to 
the  19th  verfe,  to  have  an  immediate  re- 
ference to  the  apoftles  as  fuch,  (fee  the 
notes  on  ver.  6.  and  20.)  the  particle 
but  is  to  be  confidered  in  the  exceptive 
fenfe,  according  to  the  Paraphrafe,  Ju- 
das having  been  one  of  their  number, 


who   were   chofen    to    the    apoftlelhip,  fulfilled,  which  he  f pake.  Of  them  whicfy 
though  our  Lord  knew  from  the  begin-  thou  gave/l  me  I  have  lofl  no?;e> 


466 


The  Evangeltft 


Chap.  xviL 


1 7  Sanctify  them 
through  thy  truth: 
thy  word  is  truth. 


i3  As  tupu  haft 
lent  me  into  the 
world,  even  Co  have 
I  alio  icnt  them  in- 
to the  world. 


to  And  for  their 
fdkes  I  fa  notify  my- 
felf,   that  they  alto 


17"  Let  this  holy  temper  be  maintained,  cultiva- 
ted, and  increafed  in  them,  by  means  of  thy  word  ; 
and  (uyictG-ov)  *  confccrate  them  by  the  anointing  of 
thy  Spirit  to  their  office,  and  for  thy  fervice,  {v>  tv> 
nX/ihiot  cr0y)  in  propagating  the  truth  of  the  gofpel, 
which  they  are,  and  (hall  be  further  initrucled  in  : 
For  thy  word,  in  the  faith,  profeffion,  and  preaching 
of  which  I  defne  they  may  be  preferved,  is  infallible 
and  important  truth. 

18  "  Accordingly,  as  thou  halt  fent  me  into  the 
world,  with  a  commifTion  to  preach  the  everlalling 
gofpel  to  mankind  :  So  I  have  lent  them  with  autho- 
rity, as  my  arnbafladors,  to  go  on  with  the  fame 
work,  wherever  Providence  may  call  their  lot  upon 
earth,  after  my  departure  from  it. 

19  "  And  one  great  reafon  for  which  I  have  de- 
voted myfelf  to  the  mediatorial  office,   and  am  going 

.ghtTeinaSd  to  be  further  confecrated  to  it,  by  offering  up  my- 
throii'>h  the  truth.  *e"  \wxip  ccvrav)  in  their  Head,  is,  that  they  by  the 
merit  of  my  death,  and  in  confequence  of  it,  may 
have  a  fupply  of  the  Spirit  to  fanctify  them  through- 
out, by  means  of  the  gofpel  of  truth,  and  to  confe- 
crate  and  qualify  them  for,  and  affifl  and  fucceed  them 
in  preaching  it. 

20  "  Not  that  I  pray  only  (ws^  ravruv)  for  thefe  f 
my  apoflles  ;  but  likewife  for  all  thofe,  who  I  know 
(hall  henceforth,  in  this  and  fucceeding  generations, 
be  brought  to  laving  faith  in  me,  by  means  of  their 
publication  of  the  gofpel. 

21  "  My  grea.t  petition  is  +,  that  the  whole  num- 
ber 

NOTES. 
*  As  (ayia^o)  to  faiitlify,  frequent-  understanding  all  the  intermediate  ver- 
\y  figniSes  to  confecvate,  or  fet  apart  fes,  as  having  a  peculiar  reference  to 
to  office  ;  and  the  piiefts  were  fet  apart  them,  who  are  evidently  fpoken  of  in 
for  the  fervice  of  God,  by  facrifices  offer-  this  verfe  as  the  peribns  through  whofe 
ed  for  fin,  and  by  an  holy  anointing  ;  word  others  fhould  believe  ill  him. 
(Exod.  xxix.  1,  14,  2i.  and  xxx.  30.)  f  As  this  part  of  the  prayer,  till  we 
and  as  our  Lord,  fpeaking  of  his  own  con-  come  to  ver.  25.  relates  to  all  that  fhould 
fecration  to  office,  by  the  facrifice  of  believe,  as  well  as  to  the  apoftles,  and 
himfelf,  (jver.  19.)  fays,  for  their  fakes  I  thofe  who  had  already  believed;  I  ap- 
fanttify  myfelf ;  it  is  natural  to  take  in,  prchend  that  what  is  faid  (jver.  22.)  is 
at  lealt,  the  notion  of  conlerration  to  of-  not  to  be  referred  to  the  glory  which 
fice,  by  the  anointing  of  the  Spirit,  when  was  given  to  the  apoftles  in  their  work- 
he  fpeaks  of  fanctifying  the  apoftles  in  ing  miracles,  nor  to  any  thing  that  was 
both  thefe  verfes :  I  have  likewife  given    peculiar  to  them  ;  but  is  to  be  extend- 


er Neither  pray 
I  for  thefe  alone, 
but  for  them  alio 
which  fliall  believe 
on  me  through 
their   word : 

21  That  they  all 
may 


it  the  turn  that  relates  to  real  holinefs, 
that  the  reader  may  take  it  in  the  fenfe 
which  pleafes  him  beft. 

f  Here  our  Lord  paffes  from  that  part 
of  his  prayer,    which  more  immediately 


ed  to  the  benefits  which  all  believers  are 
partakers  of  in  common  with  them.  But 
the  union,  the  glory,  and  the  love,  fpo- 
ken of  in  this  and  the  two  following  ver- 
fes.    are  to  be  confidered  in  a  way  of  fi- 


and  direclly  related  to  the  apoftles,  by  militnde,  and  not  of  famenefs,  orequ?li- 
uling  the  fame  diftinclive  pronoun  (rov-  ty  with  the  union  of  the  Father  and  Son, 
tuv  the  genitive  cafe  of  ovhi)  thefe,  as  and  with  the  glory  that  is  given  to  Chrift, 
he  began  with,  (ver.  1 1.'  fee  the  note  on  and  the  love  that  the  Father  has  to  him  : 
>ver.  6.)   which  to  me  is  a  plain  key  ior    For  thele  thing?  cannot  be  faid  of  them 

in 


Chap,  xv ii. 


John  paraphrafed. 


467 


may  be  one  :     as    ber  of  believers  now,  and  in  after-ages,  may  be  join- 

thou,  Father ,  art  ec|  together  as  one  body,  in  faith  and  love,  worfhip 
in    me,     and    I   in  ,     ?     ,.  ,  >  .  .      .  r      1  1 

thee    that  they  al-    an"  obedience,  by  one  ipirit,  in  as  near  a  reiemblance 

i'o  may  he  one  in  as  poflible  of  that  inseparable  union,  which  thou,  O 
us:  that  the  world  Father,  and  I  have  together  by  our  mutual  in-being; 
may  believe  that  t}iat  t}iev  3\fof  [n  their  meafure  and  proportion,  may 
thou  hull  lent  me.     v  »     \  .  .1  1    ,1    .       . V  c     »i 

be  united  to  us  ;  to  the  end  that  others,  or  all  na- 
tions, feeing  its  powerful  effects  on  them,  may  be  in- 
duced to  believe  in  me,  as  the  true  Mefiiah. 

22   "  And,  in  purfuit  of  this  great  defign,   I  have 


2  2  And  the  Sflb- 


iChI  have  ?£   &Iven  tliem  an  intercft,  and  fort  of  partnerfhip  in  the 
them  :    that   g^ory  wkich  thou  haft  given  me,  as  their  head,  re- 


veft  me 
ven 

they  may  be  one,  prefentative  and  trultee,  that  it  may  reflect  a  luftre 
even  as  we  are  upon  them,  and  make  them  heirs  of  thee,  and  joint- 
heirs  with  myfelf,  as  thy  children,  and  as  members 
of  my  myftical  body,  who  are  made  partakers  of  my 
Spirit,  and  ihall  at  length  be  glorified  with  me  ;  {Rom. 
viii.  17.)  that  fo  they  may  be  united,  in  the  moil 
beneficial  and  honourable  manner,  to  me  and  one  an- 
other, in  refemblance  of  that  infinitely  higher  union, 
which  is  between  thee  and  me. 

23   "   In  order  to  their  being  thus  united  to  me, 

and  to  thee  through  me,  and  fo  to  one  another,   I 

will  dwell  in  them  by  my  Spirit,  according  to  the  mea- 

one;  and  that  the  fare  of  my  gift  to  them,  (Eph.  iv.  7.)  as  thou  dwell- 

world    may  know   eft  in  me  by  the  fame  Spirit,  which  thou  haft  given, 

1   not  by  meafure,  to  me,  (John  iii.  34.)  that  they,  be- 

ing  joined  to  me,  may  he  one  Spirit,  (1  Cor.  vi.  17.) 

and  may  attain  to  the  molt  perfect  union  they  are 

capable  of,  in  one  body,  under  me  as  their  Head  ;  and 

that,  by  means  hereof,   Gentiles  as   well   as   Jews, 

may  be  fully  fatisfied,  that   I  am  the  Chrift,  whom 

thou  hail  fent  into  the  world  for  the  redemption  of 

my  body  the  church,  and  that  thou  hall  a  peculiar, 

affectionate,  and  complacential  love  to  them  for  my 

fake,  and  in  refemblance  of  the  fupreme  love,  which 

thou  beareft  to  me,  as  their  head  and  mediator,  and 

as  thine  eternal  Son,  partaker  of  the  fame  nature  and 

perfections,  with  thyfelf. 

24    Father,     I        24  "  The  upfhot,  O  my  Father,  of  my  will  and 

will  that  they  alfo   pleafure,  which  I  infill  on  as  matter  of  ri^ht,  accord- 

whom     thou    haft    •  u   r  ,    .,  .-.in 

given  me,  be  with   ^g  to  my  purchafe  and  thy  agreement,  is,  that  all 


23  I  in  them, 
and  .thou  in  ire, 
that  they  may  be 
made     perfect     in 


me,  and  haft  loved 
them,  as  thou  haft 
i«>ved  me. 


whom  thou  hall  given  me,  that  I  might  give  eternal 
life  to  them,   (ver.   2.)   may  not  only  Hand  in  the 
neareil  relation  to  thee,  and  be  the  objedls  of  thy 
peculiar  love  and  care  in  this  world  ;  but  that,    in 
iovVdft    due  time,  they  may  be  alfo  admitted  into  my  imme- 
diate 
NOTE, 
in  the  fame  fenfe  as  they  are  of  Chrift,  ur.lefs  they  were  to  be  deified,  and  bear 
the  office  of  mediator1;. 


me  where  I  am : 
that  they  may  be- 
hold my  glory, 
which  thou  haft 
given  me :  for  thou 


468 


The  Evangeii/l 


Chap.  xvii. 


lovedft  me  before 
the  foundation  of 
the  world. 


■25  O  righteous 
Father,  the  world 
hath  rot  known 
thee :  but  I  have 
known  tliee,  and 
thefe  have  known 
that  thou  haft  lent 
me. 


diatc  prefence  in  heaven,  where  I  already  am  in  my 
divine  nature,  and  for  ever  (hall  be  in  my  intire  per- 
fon  ;  and  that  there  they  may  have  an  appropriating, 
beatific,  and  transforming  viiion  of  the  glory  which 
thou  haft  conferred,  on  me,  as  their  head  and  repre- 
sentative, becaufe  (ot<)  from  all  eternity  thou  hadft 
a  infinite  delight  in  me,  not  only  as  thy  Son,  but 
as  their  furety,  who  engaged  to  glorify  thee  in  their 
falvation. 

25  "  To  thee  therefore  I  apply  for  all  thefe  things, 
as  a  righteous  Father,  who  not  only  loveft  me,  and 
them  in  me  ;  but  wilt  likewife  be  jull  and  faithful  to 
me,  and  to  them  on  my  account,  who  have  purcha- 
fed  what  I  aik  for  them,  and  have  promifed  to  re- 
ceive them  to  myfelf.  [Chap.  xiv.  2,  3.)  As  for  t,he 
unregenerate  world,  which  lies  in  wickednefs,  they 
are  ignorant  of,  and  have  rejected  thee  and  thy  coun- 
fels  ;  but  I  am  thoroughly  acquainted  with  thy  na- 
ture, perfections  and  will,  and  (ovroi)  thefe,  *  my 
apoftles,  have  known  and  received  me,  as  the  true 
Mcfliah,  whom  thou  hail  fent  to  bring  falvation  to 
Ifrael. 

26  "  And  as  I  have  fulfilled  my  commiffion,  in 
delivering  thofe  parts  of  thy  mind  and  will  to  them 
which  I  was  to  reveal  on  earth,  and  in  favingly  en- 
lightening them  in  the  knowledge  of  thyfelf ;  I  will, 
after  my  refurreclion,  ftill  more  clearly  and  fully 
make  known  thy  glorious  name  to  them,  by  perfon- 
al  converfation  before  I  go  to  heaven,  and  afterwards 
by  the  effufion  of  my  Spirit  from  thence,  that  the 
infinite  love,  which  thou  haft  eternally  bore  to  me, 
may  extend  itfelf  to  them,  and  manifeft  itfelf  in  them, 
to  their  exceeding  joy  ;  and  that  I  may  dwell  in  their 
hearts  by  faith,  till  they,  as  well  as  all  that  thou  haft: 
given  me,  arrive  at  an  endlefs  enjoyment  of  that  per- 
fection of  blefiednefs,  which,  in  thy  diftinguifhing 
love,  thou  defigneft  for  them." 

RECOLLECTIONS. 

With  what  folemnity  is  God  addreffed,  when  eyes  and  hearts  are  lifteel  up  to- 
ward heaven  !  But  how  different  is  the  mediatorial  interceffion  of  our  Lord  from 
the  humble  fupplications  and  prayers  that  he  offered  merely  as  man  upon  earth  '. 
Pie  not  only  avouched  his  office-characler,  and  his  faithfulnefs  in  difcharging  it, 
but  applied  to  his  own  Father,  with  fuch  freedom  and  confidence  in  his  claims  and 
appeals,  as  would  have  been  the  higheft  prefumption  in  any  but  a  divine  perfon. 
In  what  exalted  (trains  did  he  (peak  of  the  Father's  glorifying  him,  and  of  his  glo- 
rifying the  Father  ;  of  the  power  he  has  over  all  flem  to  give  eternal  life  ;  and  of 
the  knowledge  of  himfelf,  together  with  the  Father,  as  neceffary  to  the  enjoyment 
of  it !    And  with  what  majefty  does  he  remind  his  Father  of  his  own  eternal  exift- 

ence 
NOTE. 

*  Here,  as  appears  by  the  particle  (ou'o/)  thefe,  and  the  fubjecF  matter,  our 
Lord  returns  again  to  fpeak  particularly  of  the  apoftles.  See  the  notes  on  'ver.  6. 
and  20. 


26  And  I  have 
declared  unto  them 
thy  name,  and  will 
declare  it,  that  the 
love  wherewith 
thou  haft  loved  me, 
may  be  in  them, 
and  I  in  them. 


Chap,  xviii.  John  parapbrafed.  469 

ence  and  glory,  and  of  his  communion  in  property  with  him,  in  every  thing  thafc 
belongs  to  him  !  How  did  he  infift  on  his  having  come  from  him  into  our  nature 
and  world,  and  on  his  returning  in  that  nature  to  heaven,  to  be  glorified  with 
him  !  And  with  what  affurance  does  he  plead  the  Father's  infinite  love  to  him,  and 
to  his  people  in  hiin,  and  the  merit  of  his  obedience  and  facrifice,  whereby  he  glo- 
rified him  on  earth,  and  finiihed  the  work  which  he  gave  him  to  do  !  And  what  a 
claim  of  right  did  he  thereupon  make,  not  only  that  he  himfelf  might  be  glorified, 
but  that  all,  whom  his  righteous  Father  had  given  him,  might  likewife  be  with 
him,  and  made  completely  happy  in  the  vifion  and  enjoyment  of  him  in  all  his  glo- 
ry 1  And  O  what  an  affectionate  love  and  care  have  he  and  his  Father  to  the  elect 
and  called  !  How  nearly  are  thefe  united  in  one  body,  by  his  Spirit,  and  by  faith 
and  love  to  one  another,  to  himfelf  as  their  Head,  and  to  the  Father  through  him  1 
And  what  dignity  and  glory  has  he  put  upon  them,  as  heirs  of  God,  and  joint- 
heirs  with  himfelf!  None  of  them  mall  ever  mifcarry,  apoltatize  and  be  loit;  they 
fhall  be  kept  from  the  power  of  fin  and  Satan,  and  of  this  preient  evil  world;  they 
iliall  be  enlightened,  fandtined,  and  faved,  while  the  reft  of  mankind,,  and  even 
thole  who  were  appointed  to,  and  employed  in  his  fervice,  but  were  no  otherwife 
given  to  Chrift,  are  juftly  left  to  periih  for,  and  in  their  own  iniquity,  as  fons  of 
perdition. — Faith  comes  by  hearing,  aud  the  golpel,  through  which  many  (hall  be- 
lieve and  be  fanctified,  is  infallible  and  important  truth ;  it  is  the  revelation  which 
the  great  Mediator  has  made  of  the  mind  and  will  of  God,  and  committed  to  the 
apoftles,  whom  he  lent  with  full  authority  and  inltructions  to  publiih  it,  by  preach- 
ing and  writing,  for  the  good  of  the  church  in  all  ages.  How  fecurely  then  may  \\  -s 
depend  upon  this  word  of  truth  '.  And  what  bleffed  effects  may  we  hope  for  from  if, 
through  the  interceilion  of  Chrift,  and  his  gracious  influence  !  And  when  the  de- 
iigns  of  God's  love,  and  of  the  Saviour's  death,  fhall  be  fully  accomplilhed,  accord- 
ing to  his  word,  what  a  tranfporting,  and  transforming  view  will  believers  have 
of  their  Head  in  all  his  glory,  as  God-man- Mediator  ;  and  how  glorious  will  they 
be  in  his  prefence  for  ever  '. 


CHAP.       XVIII. 

Chrijl  is  betrayed  by  Judas,  and  apprehended  in  the  garden,  r, — 12. 
Is  examined,  and  abujed  in  the  court  of  the  faigfyrpriefl,  and  denied 
by  Peter,  13, — 27.  And  is  prof  ecu  ted  before  Pilate,  who  exam;- 
ned  him,   28, — 4c. 

Text..  Paraphrase. 

^""ad*  f  Jke*  WHEN  JefuS  kad  fini[hed  his  <Jtfcourfe  and  pray- 

thefe     words     he  er>  ^e  went  ^k  the  eleven  apoftles,  over  the 

went    forth    with  brook  Ccdron  *,  to  a  garden  in  Getifemane;  (Matth. 

his   difciples    over  xxvi.   36.)   into  which  he  entered  with  them,   that 

the  brook  Ccdron,  ]le  mJght  manifefl  his  ow,n  willingnefs  to  fuffer  and 

T^Tntothewm^    die  at  the  timc>   and  for  the  £Iorious  purpofes   which 

he  entered,  and  his   he   knew   wc*re   appointed   of  the    Father :    I'y    this 

difciples,  means,  as  the  firft   Adam's  fin  was  committed,  and 

the  firft  promife  of  a   Redeemer  was  given,  lo  the 

principal  part  of  the  fecond  Adam's  atuning  fuffer- 

ings  began  in  a  garden. 

2  And 
NOTE. 
*  Ccdron  ran  on  the  eaft  fide  of  Jeru-  to  be  a  reference  to  our  Lord's  paffin^,  v- 
falem,  between  that  city,  and  »he  mount  ver  it,  in  a  prophecy  of  the  Mefilah's  fuf- 
of  Olives,  and  was  the  brook,  which  Da-  ferings,  (Pfctl.  ex.  7  )  where  it  is  laid, 
vid,  a  type  of  Chrift,  went  over  with  the  that  he  fhould  drink  of  the  brook  in  tec 
people  weeping,  in  his  flight  from  Ahfa-  <way. 
lorn,  2  Sam.  xv.  23,  30 ;  and  there  fe<  ros 

Voi,.  II.  P  P  P 


47* 

2  And  Judas  al- 
To,  whicii  betray- 
ed him,  knew  the 
place  :  for  Jefus 
oft-times  reforted 
thither  with  his 
difcipies. 

3  Judas  then, 
having  received  a 
band  of  men,  and 
officers  from  the 
chief  priefts  and 
Pharifees,  cometh 
thither  with  lan- 
terns, and  torches, 
and  weapons. 


4  Jefus  therefore 
Snowing  all  things 
that  ihould  come 
upon  him  went 
forth,  and  faid  un- 
to them,  Whom 
vck  ye  ? 


The  Evangelifl 


Chap,  xviii. 


5  They  anfwer- 
ed  him,  Jefus  of 
Nazareth.  Jefus 
faith  unto  them,  I 
am  he.  And  Ju- 
das alio  which  be- 
nay  fid  him,  iiood 
with  them. 


C    As  foon  then 
•  had  faid   un- 
to  them,  I  am  he, 
they    went    back- 
ward,   and   fell  to 
ground. 


2  And  this  was  a  place,  which  Judas,  who  was 
gone  to  betray  him,  (chap,  xiii.  30.)  was  well  ac- 
quainted with,  and  thought  to  be  the  moil  likely  for 
finding  him :  For  it  had  been  cuftomary  with  our  Lord, 
during  the  time  of  the  feaft  at  Jerufa/em,  to  retire  thi- 
ther with  his  difcipies  at  night  for  private  devotion. 

3  Judas  therefore  (ow)  taking  with  him  a  body 
of  Roman  foldiers,  together  with  officers  and  fervants 
belonging  to  the  fanhedrim,  conducted  them  to  the 
garden  ;  fome  of  them  carrying  lanthorns  and  torch- 
es, to  fearch  for  Jefus,  and  others  of  them  being 
armed  with  fwords  and  ftaves,  to  apprehend  and  fe- 
cure  him  ;  fome  of  the  chief  priefts,  captains  of  the 
temple,  and  elders  like  wife  went  with  them  ;  (fee  the 
notes  on  Luke  xxii.  52.)  and  fo  Jews  and  Gentiles 
united  again  ft  him,  who  came  to  reconcile  both  to 
God  in  one  body  by  his  crofs.      (Eph.  ii.  16.) 

4  Then  (ow)  Jefus  knowing  in  himfelf  the  defign 
of  their  marching  thither,  and  that  the  fet  time  for 
his  laft  fufferings  was  fully  come,  took  no  care  to 
abfeond,  or  get  away  from  them,  as  he  did  from  the 
people  at  one  time,  when  they  would  have  made  him 
a  king,  (chap.  vi.  15.)  and  at  another,  when  they 
would  have  laid  violent  hands  upon  him  before  his 
work  was  done:  (chap.  viii.  59.)  But  he,  of  his 
own  accord,  advanced  toward  them,  and  with  an  en- 
tire calmnefs  of  fpirit  faid  to  fome  of  them,  What  is 
the  meaning  of  all  this  company's  appearing  here, 
in  fuch  a  manner,  at  this  time  of  night  ?  Whom  are 
ye  come  to  look  for  ? 

5  They  boldly  anfwered,  We  are  come  to  fearch 
for  Jefus  of  Nazareth.  Our  Lord  replied,  Ye  need 
not  go  far  to  feek  him  ;  for  I.  am  he  :  But  what  oc- 
calion  is  there  to  come  out  in  this  hoftile  manner  a- 
gainft  me,  as  if  I  were  a  thief,  or  fome  defperate  vil- 
lain, who  would  oppofe  force  to  force  ;  fince  I  have 
often  appeared  publicly  and  peaceably  in  the  temple, 
and  ye  might  eaiily  have  found  me  there,  if  ye  were 
minded  to  apprehend  me  :  (Luke  xxii.  52,  53.)  And 
"Judas,  who  betrayed  him  into  their  hands,  was  at  the 
fame  time  Handing  among  them. 

6  No  fooner  had  Jefus  uttered  thefe  words,  /  am 
he,  but  fuch  divine  power  and  majefty  attended  them, 
that  they,  who  came  to  apprehend  him,  were  ftruck 
with  the  utmoll  confirmation  and  terror  ;  and  imme- 
diately, retiring  backwards,  fell  down  to  the  ground, 
like  men  that  had  no  fpirit  left  in  them  :  He  thereby 
mewing,  that  he  could  as  eaiily  have  ilruck  them 
dead,  as  ftruck  them  down  to  the  ground  ;  and  that, 
had  he  not  been  free  to  fuffer,  they  could  have  done 
nothing  againit  him. 

7  Then 


Chap,  xviii. 

7  Then  afked  he 
them  again,  Whom 
feek  ye?  And  they 
fain1,  Jefus  of  Na- 
zareth. 


John  paraphrafcd. 


471 


8  Jefus  anfwer- 
ed,  I  have  told  you 
that  I  am  he.  If 
therefore  ye  ftek 
me,  let  thefe  go 
their  way. 

0  That  the  fay- 
ing might  be  ful- 
filled which  he 
fpake,  Of  them 
•which  thou  gaveft 
me,  have  I  loft 
none : 

10  Then  Simon 
Peter  having  a 
fword,  drew  it, 
and  fmote  the  high 
prieft's  fervant, 
and  cut  off  his 
right  ear.  The 
fervant's  name  was 
JVIalchus. 


T  1  Then  faid  Je- 
fus unto  Peter,  Put 
up  thy  fword  into 
the  f.ieath  :  the 
cup  which  my  Fa- 
ther hath  given 
me,  fhall  I  not 
drink  it  ? 


.12  Th^n  the 
band,  and  the  cap. 
tam,  and  officers 
of  the  Jews,  took 
Jefus,  and  bound 
him, 


7  Then  Jefus,  inftead  of  taking  that  opportunity 
to  make  his  efcape,  faid  to  them  a  fecond  time,  they 
being  in  fome  mcafure  recovered  from  their  fright., 
Who  is  it,  that  ye  fay  ye  arc  come  to  feek  after  ? 
Thereby  putting  it  to  them,  whether,  after  fuch  an 
awful  repulfe,  they  durft  Hill  perfift  in  their  defign  a- 
gainil  him.  But  (h)  fo  hardened  were  they  in  their 
wickednefs,  that,  inftead  of  being  afraid  of  meddling 
any  farther,  they  wifh  a  daring  refolution  anfv.  ered, 
as  before,  It  is  Jefus  of  Nazareth,  that  we  are  come 
for. 

8  Jefus  replied,  with  the  fame  mildnefs  and  com- 
pofure  as  at  lirft,  I  have  already  told  you  that  I  am 
he:  If  therefore  ye^are  coming  to  take  me,  I  am 
ready  to  refign  myfelf  into  your  hands  ;  only  I  lnlift 
upon  it,  that  ye  offer  no  violence  to  thefe  my  friends 
and  followers,  that  are  with  me,  but  let  them  go  free. 

9  And  he  put  in  this  kind  word,  backing  it  with 
power,  for  their  prefervation,  that  his  own  declara- 
tion might  be  made  good  to  the  lait,  wherein,  with 
a  peculiar  reference  to  them,  he  had  juft  before  laid, 
Thofe  that  thou  gave]}  me,  for  the  apofllefhip,  /  have 
kept,  and  none  of  them  is  lojl,  but  the  Ion  of  perdi- 
tion.     (See  the  note  on  chap.  xvii.  12.) 

10  Upon  this  the  foldiers  took  him  into  cuftody; 
(Mat.  xxvi.  50.)  and  Simon,  who  was  fivnamed  Pe- 
ter, feeing  him  in  their  hands,  and  having  one  of  the 
fwords,  which  the  difciples  carried  into  the  garden, 
(fee  the  note  on  Luke  xxii.  38.)  rafhly  drew  it  ;  and 
in  the  heat  of  his  inconfiderate,  though  honelt  zeal 
for  refcuing  his  Lord  and  Mailer,  he,  inflead  of 
waiting  for  orders,  immediately  llruck  at  the  head  of 
one  Ma/chus,  a  domeilic  fervant  (£ovAev)  of  the  high- 
priell,  and  cut  off  his  right  ear. 

1 1  Then  Jefus  being  difpleafed  at  Peter's  intempe- 
rate and  unfeafonable  zeal,  becaufe  that  vvas  no  time 
for  fighting,  nor  was  his  caufe  and  kingdom  to  be 
maintained,  or  propagated  by  force  of  arms,  faid  to 
him,  in  a  wray  of  rebuke,  Sheath  your  fword  again  : 
What  I  am  going  to  fuffer  is  not  for  want  of  pow- 
er to  refcue  myftlf,  but  in  obedience  to  my  Father's 
will :  And  fhall  I  not  freely  fubmit  to  all  the  tribu- 
lation and  wrath  that  he  has  appointed  me  to  under- 
go for  his  glory,  and  the  redemption  of  loft  f.nnei'3  ? 
This  bitter  cup  mull  be  drank  ;  I  am  ready  lor  it, 
and  will  admit  of  no  oppofition  to  it. 

12  He  therefore  fo  willingly  religning,  the  fol- 
diers with  their  captain,  and  the  officers  of  the  jfe&- 
ijh  fanhedrim,  joined  in  feizing  him,  (ff-vveA«/3«v)  and 
having  fo  done,  they  cruelly  bound  him,  as  if  he  had 
been  the  worft  of  malefactors  and  flaves  ;  he  iubmit- 

Ppp   2  ting 


4/2 


The  Evangelist 


Chap.  xviii. 


13  And  led  him 
p.  way  to  Annas 
firfl  ;  (for  he  was 
father -in-law  to 
Caiaphas.  which 
was  the  high  pried 
thai  fame  year.) 


ting  to  all  this  for  his  people,  that  he  might  loofe 
their  bonds  of  iniquity,  and  lay  them  under  the  high- 
elt  obligations  to  himlelf,  who  was  willingly  bound 
to  fet  them  free. 

1 3  And  then  the  rude  company  huvried  him  away, 
firft  of  all  to  jtfnnax,  that  he  might  (ec  how  they 
had  fecured  him,  and,  being  an  experienced  old  man, 
might  give  his  advice  how  to  manage  their  procefs 
againil  him  :  For  this  Annas  was  father-in-law  of 
Caiaphas  the  high-prieft  of  that  year.  ( See  the  note 
on  Luke  iii.  2.) 
14  Now  Caia-        I  +  After  this,  they  carried  him,  ftill  bound,  to 

suas    e  \\       1    caiap}3as  himfelf,  (ver.  24..)   at  whofe  houfe,  thouirh 
gave  cour.iel  to  the  '     r  1  1  •  m  • 

Tews,  that  it  was  ^  was  1°  veiT  *atc>  tne  great  council  were  met,  wait- 
expedient  that  one  ing  for  him  to  be  brought  before  them,  that  they 
man  fliould  die  tor  might  fit  in  judgment  upon  him  ;  (Matth.  xxvi.  57.) 
the  people.  and  ^.j  ^i'ls  Caiaphas  was  the  man,  who,  in  a  for- 

mer debate,  fhewed  fuch  an  inveteracy  againft  Chrift, 
as  to  advife  the  putting  him  to  death  at  all  adventures, 
that  their  nation  might  not  be  expcfed  to  the  jealoufy 
and  rage  of  the  Romans.     (Chap.  xi.  49,  50.) 

15  Now  (h)  while  Jefus  was  thus  harafled,  and 
led  r.bout  from  place  to  place,  -like  a  malefactor  in 
bonds  ;  Simon  Peter  recovering  a  little  from  his  firft 
fright,  in  which  he  ran  away  with  the  reft  of  the  a- 
known  unto  the  poftles,  followed  him  at  a  diftance  with  an  heart  full 
high  pneft  and  of  fcar  and  concern  about  the  cvent  and  fo  dJd  * 
went   in   with  Je- 


15  And  Simon 
Peter  followed  Je- 
fus, and  fo  did 
another  difciple. 
That    difciple  was 


ins  into  the  palace 
of  the  high  pneft 


t6  But  Peter 
flood  at  the  door 
without.  Then 

went   out   that  o- 
therdiiciole. which 


another  of  his  difciples,  who  being  acquainted  with 
the  high-priell,  and  not  known  to  be  a  difciple,  ven- 
tured to  accompany  Jefus  into  the  hall,  whcie  the 
council  were  afTembled. 

16  But  Peter  being  a  noted  follower  of  Jefus, 
and  having  no  intereft  at  court,  was  more  cautious, 
and  fo  Rood  fome  time  without  the  door,  waiting 
for  an  opportunity  to  get  in,  which  being  known  to 

was  known  unto  that  other  difciple,  who  had  an  acquaintance  with 
the  high  pneft,  tne  high-prieft,  he  went,  and,  fpeaking  to  the  young 
and  (pake  unto  her    w  }       j.  j     d  rcd  entrance  for  P.- 

that  rcpt  t lie  door,  *  7  r 

and  brought  iu  Pe-    *cr" 

17  Soon  after  her  admitting  Peter,  fhe-filfpe&ing 

by  his  looks,  behaviour,  or  fpeech,  or  by  fome  other 
means,  that  he  belonged  to  Jefus,  challenged  him 
with  it,   faying,   Are  not  you  one  of  the  followers 

and 
NOTE. 
*  "Who  thic  other  difciple  was,  is  un-  of  figure,  who  lived  in  j'cufalcm,  and 
Certain.  It  does  not  litem  to  have  been  was  one  of  them  that  believed  in  Jefus, 
'John  ;  for  he  was  a  Galilean,  as  well  as  but  had  not  made  an  open  profeffion  of 
1'etcr,  and  \v?s  an  unlikely  prrfon  to  be  him  ;  and  fome  have  conjectured  that  it 
acquainted  with  the  high-prieft,  confi-  was  either  Nieodemus%  or  jfofeph  of  Ar{~ 
derin  ;  that  he  had  been  only  a  f.lherman,  viathea.  or  the  pcrlon  at  who'e  houfe 
and  had  carried  on  his  ti  ui<  in  Galilee  :  Chriit  had  lately  eat  the  paffover  \v;t>' 
But  thi^  difciple  was  probably  a  perfot)    his  di/ciples. 


ler. 

17    Then   faith 
ihe     d;inilel     that 
Kept  the  door  un- 
to 


Chap,  xviii.  John  paraphrafed.  473 

to  Peter,  Art  not  and  difciples  of  this  man,  who  is  now  under  examina- 
thou  alfo  one  of  tion  about  the  high  crimes  that  are  laid  to  his  charge  ? 
^sman'sdifcfples?    tQ  which  h      aU  {n      flu  replied,  No,  not  I  ;  he 

He  laith,  I  am  not.,   .  r  r     ■  /  1     ?  ••  \ 

is  a  perfect  itranger  to  me.      \Luke  xxn.  57.) 

18  And  the  fer-        j$  And  as  there  were  feveral  domeflic  fervants, 

food  Jhere°ffiwho  a"d  °fficerS  °f  the  C°Urt  (W  *"*•'  *"?  ct  *5n*5"'*0  Sa" 
had  made  a'fire  of  thered  together  about  a  fire,  which  they  had  made  to 

coals,   (for  it  was  warm  themfelves,   the  weather   being   cold ;    Peter, 

cold  ;)    and    they  inftead  of  appearing  as  a  witnefs  for  his  Lord,  min- 

yvarmed        them-  _]tcj   among  thefe   fervants   and  officers,   in  a  difcant 

ielves  •    and   Peter  °  r     1       1     n  1  •     r  ;r      •  1       1  1 

flood  with    them  Part  °*  t"e  *ia^'  to  warm  himleli  witji  them,    that 

and  warmed  him-  he  might  feem  to  be  of  the  fame  kidney  with  them- 

ielf.  felves,  rather  than  one  of  Chrift's  difciples.   (Seethe 
note  on  Luke  xxii.  55.) 
19    The    high         19   In  the  mean  while,  the  high-prieft  at  the  head 

pneft    then    afked  0f  t}ie  council,  being  defirous  to  fix  a  charge  of ' fedi- 

1  is    1  a-   jjon   Up0n  our  Lord,    ilrictly   examined   him   about 

pies,     and    of    his    .  .     ..rK   .  ,  c       '  \  ,      .         . 

ciodlrine.  "is  diiciples,  and  followers,  who,  and  what  they  were, 

how  great  their  number,  to  what  purpofc  he  conftant- 
ly  had  fo  many  attending  him,  and  had  lately  gather- 
ed fuch  multitudes  about  him  at  his  public  entry  in- 
to Jerufa/em,  and  what  were  become  of  all  that  pre- 
tended to  own  him,  fince  none  appeared  in  court  to 
fpeak  for  him  ?  And  then,  to  fix  blalpbemy  upon 
him,  the  high-prieft  examined  him  about  the  doctrine 
he  preached,  what  was  its  nature  and  tendency,  and 
whether  it  were  not  contrary  to  the  law  of  Alo/es  ? 
and  the  like. 
'20  Jefus  anfwer-  20  Jefus,  knowing  the  malicious  and  unfair  defign 
ed  him,  I  fpake  0-    0f  thefe  captious  queftions,  took  no  notice  of  what 

?  n  J  .  ,  °.  ■ '  was  faid  about  his  difciples  ;  fince  it  appeared  from 
I   ever    taught    in  .  *         '  .  *f 

the  rVnagogue,  and  tne  veiT  circumitances  or  things,  that  there  was  no 
in  the  temple,  whi-  likelihood  of  his  carrying  on  fedityous  views  by  them: 
ther  the  Jews  ah  But,  as  to  his  doctrine,  he  replied,  Whatfoever  I 
Wecret^have'11!  ^ve  taught,  it  has  been  (^gwr**)  with  all  cpennefs, 
laid  nothing.  freedom,  and  plainnefs  to  all  forts  of  people  ;  it  ha- 

ving been  my  conflaijt  cuilom  to  preach  it  in  the  iy- 
nagogues  on  Sabbath-days,  and  in  the  I  at  the 

folemn  feftivals,  when  there  has  been  the  greateft 
concourfe  of  Jews  to  hear  me  :  And  as  I  have  never 
fought  to  conceal  my  fentiments  *  ;  fo  I  have  never 
taught  any  doctrine  in  private,  that  is  different  from 
what  I  have  preached  openly,  or  that  I  am  afraid  or 
afhamed  mould  be  known  to  all  the  world. 
zi  Why   afkeft        2 1    \\  by  then  fliould  you  thus   interrogate  me  a- 

tr.ou  mc  a(k  them    Dolrt  my  doctrine,  as  if  I  were  bound  to  accufe  r.  \- 
which  felf 

N     O  T     E. 

*  Though  our  blefled  Lord  taught  his  preached  to  others.    {Mark  iv.   ro, 

difciples  privately,   when  they  were  a-  And  be  exprefsly  ordered  them  to  publilh 

inne  ;  ye*t  it  was  not  any  different  doc-  to  the  world  what  he  told  them  iu  fecret. 

trine,  but  an  explanation  of  \yhat  he  had  Matth.  x. 


474 


Tbe  Evangelift 


Chap,  xviii. 


which  heard  me, 
what  I  have  (aid 
vntothem :  beliold, 
they  know  what 
I  faid. 


felf,  or  as  if  you  would  pay  any  regard  to  my  own 
tefiimony,  who  am  brought  before  you,  and  treated 
like  a  criminal  ?  Afk  whom  you  pleafe  of  my  hear- 
ers ;  afk  your  own  friends,  and  party  ;  afk  the 
fcribes  and  Pharifees,  the  chief  priefts  and  rulers 
themfelves ;  aik  the  worft  of  all  mine  enemies  that 
ever  heard  me  preach  :  Behold,  there  are  witnefTes 
enow;  and  even  fome  of  thefe,  (ovroi)  here  prefent, 
know  what  I  have  preached  :  Let  them  be  exami- 
ned ;  and,  if  they  can,  let  them  witnefs  againft  me. 

22    Upon  his  faying  this,  with  all  the  juftnefs,  de- 
cency, and  calmnefs  imaginable,  one  of  the  infolent 
public  officers,  («<?  tuv  V7nf^srav)  to  fhew  his  zeal  for 
the  honour  of  the  high-prieft,  and  his  malignity  a- 
with  the  palm  of  gainfl  Chrift,  rudely  gave  him  a  flap  on  the  face, 


22  And,  when 
he  had  thus  fpo- 
ken.  one  of  the  of- 
ficers which  flood 
by,     (truck     Jelus 


his    hand,    faying, 
aniwereft  thou  the 
high  prieft  fo  ? 
23  Jelus  anfwer 


witnefs  of  the  evil : 
hut  if  well,  why 
fmiteft  thou  me  ? 


faying,  How  dare  you  anfwer  the  high-prieft  in  fo 
free  and  difrefpeclful  a  manner  ? 

23  Jefus,  inftead  of  ftriking  him  dead,  or  inflict- 
ed him.  If  I  have  ing  any  other  judgment  upon  him,  or  even  threaten- 
fpoken  evil,    bear    {ng  him,  or  (hewing  any  emotion  of  fpirit,  replied, 

with  wonderful  meeknefs  and  patience,  If  I  have  faid 
any  thing  unbecoming,  or  amifs,  accufe  me  to  the 
court,  that  I  may  be  punilhed  for  it  :  But,  if  what 
I  faid  was  unblameable  and  juft  *,  why  mould  you 
ftrike  me  in  the  prefence  of  the  council,  at  whofe 
bar  I  ftand  in  circumftances  that  call  for  pity,  and 
not  infults. 

24  Now  Jefus  having  been  before  Annas,  [yer. 
13.)  he  had  fent  him,  bound  like  a  criminal,  to  his 
fon-in-law  Caiaphas  the  high-prieft. 

25  And  Peter,  as  has  been  obferved,  (ver.  16, 
18.)  having  followed  him,  and  got  into  the  high- 
prjeft's  houfe,  flood  warming  himfelf  among  the  fer- 
vants  and  officers  :  And  as  the  maid-fervant,  who 
let  him  in,  had  queftioned  him  about  his  being  one 
of  Chrifl's  difciples  ;  (wr.  17.)  fo  fome  others  of  the 
company  a  little  afterwards  attacked  him  again,  fay- 
ing, Can  you  really  i'tand  in  it,  that  you  are  not  one 
of  this  man's  difciples  ?  (See  the  note  on  Luke  xxii, 
58.)  Peter,  full  of  confufion  and  dread,  perempto- 
rily, and  Hill  more  rafhly  than  before,  denied  that  he 
was  ;  faying,  and  fwcaring  to  it,  I  do  not  fo  much 
as  know  him.      (Malth.  xxvi.  72.) 

26  About  an  hour  after  this,  there  was,  among  o- 
thers,  [Luke  xxii.  59.  and  Mark  xiv.  70.)  one  of  the 
high-pricft's  domcllic  fervants,   (sk  -tw  hvXav)  a  rela- 
tion 


24  (Now  Annas 
had  fent  him  bound 
unto  Caiaphas  the 
high  prieft.) 

25  And  Simon 
Peter  flood  and 
warmed  himfelf: 
they  faid  there- 
fore unto  him,  Art 
not  thou  alio  ore 
of  his  difciples?  He 

ied  it,  and  faid, 
I  am  not. 


16   One   of   the 

mts      of      the 

high   prieft,   bcin^ 

his 


N     O 

*  This  is  no  way  contradictory  to  what 

Chrift  (ays,  about  turning  the  other  cheek 

to  him  that  fmites  us  :    (Mattb.  v.  39.) 

For  that  relates  to  rtftraining  paffioi 


T     E. 

and  malicious  refentments,  litigious  pro- 
fecutior.s,  and  private  revenge  ;  but  do 
not  forbid  a  lejjal  defence  of  our  own  in- 
nocence againit  tliofe  that  abufe  us. 


Chap,  xviii. 

his  kinfman  whofe 
ear  Peter  cut  oft', 
faith,  Did  not  I  fee 

thee  in  the  garden 
with  him  ? 


John  parapbrafed. 


475 


27    Peter 

denied  again 
immediately 
ccck  crew. 


then 
and 
the 


tion  of  Malchus,  whofe  ear  Peter  had  cut  off,  and 
he,  feeing  him,  faid  to  him,  You  certainly  are  a  dif- 
ciple  of  Jefas  of  Nazareth  :  How  can  you  fay  to  the 
contrary  ?  Did  not  I  myfelf  fee  you  in  the  garden 
with  him  ? 

27  Peter  was  fo  nettled  at  this  clofe  and  home 
charge,  that  he  loft  all  patience  and  government  of 
himfelf,  and  thinking  to  bear  this  man  down,  by  lan- 
guage, more  like  a  profane  fervant  of  the  high- 
prieit's,  than  an  holy  dlfeiple  of  Jefus  ;  he,  under 
the  power  of  violent  temptation,  denied  with  horrid 
imprecations  that  he  knew  any  thing  about  him  ; 
(Matth.  xxvi.  74.)  immediately  upon  which,  he  heard 
a  cock  crow  about  three  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
which  was  ufually  called,  by  way  of  diftin6rion,  the 
cock-crowing.      (See  the  note  on  Matth.  xxvi.  34.) 

28  After  this,  the  council  having  fpent  a  great  part 
of  the  night  in  examining  Jefus,  and  fuffering  various 
indignities  and  abuies  to  be  offered  him,  and  having  at 
length  got  a  confeffian  from  his  own  mouth,  of  his  be- 
ing the  Melliah,  and  Son  of  God,  {Mark  xiv.  61, — 
64. )  which  they  thought  might  be  a  fufHcient  ground 
for  an  accufation  of  blafphemy  and  fedition  before  the 
Roman  governor,  they  very  early  in  the  morning  car- 
ried him  away,  bound  as  he  was,  from  Caiaphas'ls 
houfe  to  the  judgment- hall  of  Pilate,  who  was  then 
governor  of  Judea.  {Mat.  xxvii.  1,  2.  fee  the  note 
there.)  And,  though  they  were  going  to  fhed  in- 
nocent blood,  they  were  fo  hypocritically  fcrupulous 
about  external  rites,  that  they  w'ould  not  enter  into 
the  hall  themfelves,  which  was  full  of  Rojjwn  foldi- 
ers,  whom  they  accounted  unclean,  left,  by  touching 
(lent lies  in  the  crowd,  they  mould  contract  a  cere- 
monial defilement ;  {Xumh.  xix.  22.)  but  they  Hood 
without  doors,  to  avoid  pollution,  that  they  might 
be  fit  to  eat  the  pafchal  feail  upon  the  facrifices, 
which  were  to  be  offered  that  day  *,  and  were  called 
the  paffover. 

29  Pilate  therefore  (<k>p)  was  fo  complaifant  and 
condefcending,  as  to  come  out  to  them,  and  afk 
them  what  was  the  reafon  of  their  bringing  Jefus  to 
him,  or  what  crime  they  had  to  lay  to  his  charge  ? 

30  The  Jews,  anfWering  haughtily,  faid  to  him, 
You  may  be  fure  that  he  is  a  notorious  evildoer, 
Ixeuuteoiaq)   otherwife  we  J  not  have  given  our- 

s  or  you  the  trouble  of  bringing  him  before  you, 
especially  fo  early  in  ihe  morning,  and  on  fuch  a  fo- 
lemn  day  as  this. 

3 1   Then 
NOTE. 
*  See  the  note  about  the  roffover-feaft  on  cl.iij.  xlii.  I.J   and  fee  Wliitby  on  this 


7,5  Then  led  they 
Jefus  from  Caia- 
phas  unto  the  hall 
of  judgment :  and 
it  was  early,  and 
they  themfelves 
went  not  into  the 
judgment  hall,  left 
they  lhould  be  de- 
filed; but  that  they 
might  eat  the  pafs- 
over. 


29 
went 
them, 
What 
bring 


Pilate    then 

out       unto 

and     laid, 

accufation 

you    againit 

this   man  ? 

30  They  anfwer- 
rd  and  hud  unto 
him,  If  he  were 
not  a  malefactor, 
we  would  not  have 
delivered  him  up 
unto   thee. 


'dace;  and  his  appendix  to  M.uk  xiv. 


476 


The  Evanpelifl 


Chap,  xviii. 


31  Then  faid  Pi-        31   Then  Pilate,  being  difpleafed  at  their  infolent 
late    unto    them,   an(j  unreafonable  procedure,  upon  the  foot  of  gene- 

-  aih'e  V1    im*  aH|C    ral  defamation,  without  any  formal  proof  acfainft  him, 
him  accord-     -  -  - 

inj.    to   your    law 

The    Jews    there - 

■  hii  • 

It  is  not  lawful  for 

us  to  put  any  man 

to  death : 


32  That  the  fay- 
.  of  jews  m 

be  fulfilled,  v. 
he   fpake,    fi  unify- 
ing What  death  he 
ihould  die. 

33  Then  Pilate 
entered  into  the 
judgment-hall  a- 
gain,  and  called 
Jefus,  and  faid  un- 


faid  to  them,  E'en  take  him  back  again  to  your  own 
court,  and  do  what  ye  will  with  him,  according  to 
the  directions  of  your  own  law  :  For  my  part  I  do 
not  care  to  meddle  with  him,  the  Roman-  law  allow- 
ing of  no  fuch  prepoflerous  methods  of  profecution. 
They  then,  being  a  little  more  humble,  replied,  We 
cannot  legally  put  any  one  to  death  *,  which  is  the 
punifnment  this  man  deferves,  as  a  traitor  to  Cefar, 
he  having  fet  up  himfelf  for  a  king. 

32  And  this  was  over-ruled  by  Providence,  to 
accomplish  what  Jefus  had  foretold,  about  the  man- 
ner of  his  death,  that  he  mould  be  lif ted  up  from 
the  earth,  (chap.  iii.  14.  and  xii.  32.)  and  mould 
be  delivered  to  the  Gentiles  to  he  crucified.  (Matth. 
xx.  19.)    . 

33  Pilate  having  found  that  Chrift's  accufers  alle- 
ged againfthim  treasonable  defigns,  in  fetting  up  him- 
feli  for  a  king,  returned  back  into  the  judgment-hall, 
and,  fummoning  Jefus   to   anfwer  for  himfelf,  faid, 

to  him,  Art  thou  Is  it  true  that  you  pretend  to  be  the  king  of  the 
the  king  of  the  Jews,  in  oppofition  to  Ccefar  ?■  Have  you  ever  pre- 
Jew?-  fumed  to  offer  at  this,  or  faid  any  thing  to  raife   the 

peoples  expectations  of  it  ? 
34  Jefus  anfwer-        34  Jefus,  to  put   Pilate  upon   ferious    confidera- 
*d  him,  Sayeft  thou  t;         anfwered  him,    Do  you  afk  me  this  queftion 

this  thine  of  thy-    r  r   r   .    .  .  J  •     «        1 

felf    or  did  others   *rom    any   iuipicion    m    your  own    mind,    about   my 
tell  it  thee  of  me  ?   fetting  up  for  a  temporal  prince,  according  to  the  no- 
tion that  the  Jew,\  have  of  their  Mefliah  ?  or  is  this 
what  mine  enemies  have  fuggefted  againft  me,   and 
you  are  pleafed  to  mention  only  from  them  ? 

35  Pilate  replied,  Am  I  a  Jew,  that  I  mould  be 
aLL  to  judge  of  their  expectations  irom  their  Mef- 

fiah  ? 

N     O     T    E. 

*  It  is  hard  to  fay  how  far  the  power   place.)     And  whether  the  yetvs  meant 

■  and  death  was  at  this  time  taken    absolutely,   or  only  under   fpme   reftric- 

from  the  Jews,  confidering  the  proceed-    tions.  that  it  was  not  lawful  for  them  to 

ings  of  the  high-pricu  1  nd  coun<  ii  in  lto-    put  any  man  to  death  ;  or  wltt-ther  they   . 

Stephen  to  death,    [A&i   vi,  ii, —   I  life  it  was  the  time  of 

iv  and  vii.    1,  Uc^    and   what-power    the  p  .  Cover,    or  that  the  odium  ot  con- 

ived  from  them,- for  perfecuting   demning  atid  executing  Chrilt,   and  the 

Ihriftians  unto  death,   (./,/.- xxii   4,    people's  rage  on  that  account,  might  ht 

5.)   and   how  they    would    have   judged    turned   off  from    tliemlchcs  to  the  Ro- 

ording  to  their  law,   had  not   mans  ;  it  was  over-ruled  by  Providence, 

Lyjias  prevented  them.     (  /./j  •  xxiv.  6  )    that  the  judgment  Qiould  fall   into  the 

fceptre  was  departed  from  jfu-   Roman]  hands,    for   accomplishing   an- 

and  the  law-giver  from   Ifr'ael,   by    cien.t  prophecies,   as  well  as  ChYift's  own 


35    Pilate    an- 
fwered,   Am    la 
Jew? 


"in^  made  a  Roman  province,  and 

ted  to  Ctvfar  as  their  kin;;,  ir  is  c- 

■  that  this  power  was  under  fame 

limitations  and  restraints  from  the  Ro~ 

vian  government.  (See  Light/cot  on  the 


predictions,  about  the  manner  of  his 
death  :  lor  crucifixion  was  not  appoint- 
ed by  the  jcivijij  law  for  any  crime 
whatsoever. 


Chap,  xviii. 

Jew  ?  Thine  own 
nation,  and  the 
chief  priefts,  have 
delivered  thee  un- 
to me.  What  haft 
thou  done  ? 


35  Jefus  anfwer- 
ed,  My  kingdom  is 
not  of  this  world. 
If  my  kingdom 
were  of  this  world, 
then  would  my  fer- 
vants  right,  that  I 
fhould  not  be 
delivered  to  the 
Jews  :  but  now  is 
my  kingdom  not 
from  hence. 


John  faraphrafed. 


All 


37  Pilate  there- 
fore laid  unto  him, 
Art  thou  a  king 
then  ?  Jefus  an- 
fwered,  Thou  fay- 
eft  that  I  am  a 
king.  To  this  end 
was  I  born,  and  for 
this  caufe  came  I 
intothe  world,  that 
I  fhould  bear  wit- 
nefs  unto  the  truth. 
Every  one  that  is 
of  the  truth  hear- 
cth  my  voice. 


3?    Pilate  faith 

unto  him.  What  is 

truth  ?   And,  when 

he   had   faid    this, 

he 

Vol.  II. 


fiah  ?  I  do  not  trouble  myfelf '  about  thefe  matters  : 
But  your  own  countrymen,  and  the  chief  prieits  and 
rulers  among  them,  have  brought  and  accuied  you  to 
me,  as  a  pretender  to  the  crown.  What  have  you 
done  to  occafion  this  charge  upon  you  ?  or  what  pro- 
vocation have  you  given  them,  that  they  are  fo  furi- 
ous againft  you  ? 

36  Jefus  anfwered  a^ain,  To  tell  you  the  truth  of 
the  cafe,  I  am  indeed  the  Mefllah,  the  King  of  I' re- 
el;  but  my  kingdom  is  altogether  ipiritual  and  hea- 
venly, confiiting  in  a  dominion  over  mens  fouls  and 
confeiences,  and  not  over  their  fecular  affairs  ;  nor 
doth  it  in  the  leaft  interfere  with,  or  tend  to  the  dis- 
turbance of  civil  government :  If  it  did,  my  follow- 
ers, like  the  fervants  of  other  earthly  princes,  would 
have  (hewn  it,  by  fighting  for  me  ;  and  would  never 
have  fo  tamely  fuffered  my  caufe  to  fink,  and  me  to 
be  delivered  into  the  hands  of  the  Jews  :  But  no- 
thing of  this  kind  was  ever  attempted,  or  intended, 
which  is  a  plain  evidence,  that  my  kingdom  does  not 
take  its  rife  from  man,  nor  is  built  upon  human  laws, 
force,  or  policy,  nor  is  defigned  for  fecular  honour 
or  advantage  to  my  fubjects,  or  myfelf. 

37  Upon  this,  Pilate  faid  to  him,  What  then  ! 
Deflitute,  mean  and  wretched,  as  you  now  appear  at 
my  bar  in  bonds,  do  you  profefs  that,  in  the  fenfe 
you  fpeak  of,  you  really  are  a  king  ?  Jefus  replied, 
Yes,  I  ftand  to  what  your  queflion  fuppofes  me  to 
have  affirmed  ;  (fee  the  note  on  Luke  xxii.  70.)  I 
freely  own  myfelf  to  be,  in  that  refpeCt,  a  king:  And 
Hill  further  to  fatisfy  you,  that  my  kingdom  is  not  of 
a  worldly  conftitution  and  defign,  the  end  for  which 
I  was  born  of  a  woman,  and  the  purpofe  for  which  I 
came,  as  fent  of  God  into  this  world,  is,  that  by 
my  preaching  and  miracles  I  might  reveal,  and  con- 
firm the  truth,  and  nothing  but  the  truth,  concern- 
ing God  and  myfelf,  and  concerning  the  way  in 
which  linners  may  be  reftored  to  his  image  and  favour, 
and  made  for  ever  happy  through  me.  This  is  the 
means  and  inftrument  of  all  my  conquefts  and  go- 
vernment, and  every  one,  that  is  acquainted  with 
and  begotten  by  the  word  of  truth,  heartily  believes 
and  embraces  my  teflimony,  and  becomes  a  willing 
fubjerii  to  me,  while  they  that  love  falfehood  reject 
me. 

38  Pi/ate  replied,  What  is  the  truth,  that  you 
fpeak  of  ?  or  wherein  does  it  confift  ?  many  philo- 
fophers  among  us,  and  many  of  your  rabbins  make 
high  pretences  to  truth,  but  give  us  very  different 
accounts  of  it  ;   pray,    let  me  Jiear  your  notion  of 


i78 


■I 


he  went  out  again 
unto  the  Jews,  and 
faith  unto  them,  I 
find  in  him  no  fault 
at  all. 


Tlje  Evangelift 


Chap,  xviif. 


59  But  ye  have 
a  cuftom  that  I 
fhould  releafe  un- 
to you  one  at  the 
pa'Vbver  :  will  ye 
therefore  that  I 
releafe  unto  you 
the  king  of  the 
Tews ? 

•J 

40  Then  cried 
they  all  again,  fay- 
ing, Not  this  man, 
but  Barabbas. 

Now  Barabbas  was 
a  robber. 


it  *,  or  what  you  mean  by  it  :  And  having  faid  this, 
he,  not  Haying  for  an  anfwer,  immediately  went  out 
of  the  judgment-hall  again  to  the  multitude  of  the 
J?ws,  that  flood  before  it,  (ver.  28.)  and  faid  to 
them,  I  have  examined  this  man  upon  the  great  arti- 
cle of  your  charge  againft  him,  as  fetting  up  himfelf 
for  a  king  ;  and,  upon  the  whole,  I  cannot  find  but 
that  he  is  an  innocent,  honeft,  and  undefigning  crea- 
ture, and  has  been  guilty  of*io  capital  crime,  for 
which,  by  the  Roman  law,  he  ought  to  die. 

39  However,  ye  having  brought  him  bound  as  a 
malefactor  to  me,  and  it  being  cuftomary,  in  honour 
of  your  paffover-feait,  that  I  mould  pafs  an  act  of 
grace  for  difcharging  fome  one  prifoner  at  your  re- 
quefl  ;  will  ye  agree  that  your  king  fhould  be  the  ob- 
ject of  this  mercy,  fince  nothing  appears  to  be  proved 
againfl  him  ? 

40  Pilate  faid  this  in  hopes  of  putting  an  end  to 
their  malicious  profecution,  and  of  procuring  his  li- 
berty :  But,  inilead  of  falling  in  with  his  propofal, 
they  all,  both  the  rulers,  and  the  people  through 
their  infligation,  cried  out  in  a  rage,  as  with  one 
voice,  No,  no  ;  we  will  not  have  this  man  releafed, 
but  beg  that  favour  for  Barabbas.  Now  this  Barab- 
b-asy  whom  they  fo  fhamefully  preferred  to  the  holy 
Jefus,  and  that  in  defiance  of  Pilate's  honourable  tef- 
timony  to  his  innocence,  was  an  infamous  criminal, 
who  lay  in  prifon  for  fedition,  robbery,  and  murder. 
{Luke  xxiii.  19.) 


RECOLLECTIONS. 

Our  garden-retirements  may  lead  our  thoughts  to  the  ruining  apoflacy  of  the 
Bfft  Adam,  and  from  thence  to  God's  gracious  promife,  and  the  redeeming  paffion 
of  the  fecond.  Was  ever  any  creature  fo  willing  to  fuffer  and  die,  at  the  divine 
appointment,  as  our  deareft  Lord,  who  went,  as  ufual,  to  the  place  where  he 
knew  his  enemies  would  come  to  apprehend  him,  and  wenf  forth  of  his  own  ac- 
cord to  meet  them,  who  otherwife,  with  all  their  lanthorns  and  torches,  might 
never  have  found  him  !  And  as  he  readily  reugned  himfelf  into  their  hands,  whom 
he  could  eafily  have  ftruck  dead,  notwithftanding  all  their  numbers,  and  their 
weapons  ;  fo  he  would  allow  of  no  oppofition  to  the  greateft  diftrefles  he  was  call- 
rd  to  endure  in  obedience  to  his  Father's  will.  But  was  ever  any  one  treated  fo 
unworthily,  as  he,  who,  though  he  was  the  King  of  Ifrael,  and  had  juft  given  a 
demonftration  of  his  divine  power  and  mercy,  was  feized  with  force  of  arms,  as  if 
lie  had  been  a  defperate  ruffian,  was  led  about  like  a  malefactor  in  bonds,  and 
rudely  boxed  by  a  petty  officer  in  the  pretence  of  the  whole  council,  as  if  he  had 
been  the  in  cane  ft  fervant  or  flave  ?    And  how  did  Jews  and  Gentiles,  prielts  and 

people, 
NOTE. 

*  This  is  a  very  important  queliion,  formation  in  a  judicial  way,  that  he 
nhich  many  put,  but,  like  Pilate,  give  might  the  better  know  how  to  proceed 
up  again  before  they  get  any  fatisfaclion  in  the  cafe  before  him  ;  or  whether  it 
abput  it;  and  it  is  uncertain  whether  his  were  in  a  way  of  contempt  and  fcorn,  as 
afking  it  were  merely  from  curiofity,   or    one  that  made  a  jeft  of  truth,   and  de- 

i  fome  good  opinion  that  he  had  of   rided  Chrilt  for  his  folemn  profefljon  1 
thrift's  ability  to  give  him  an  account  of   coming  to  bear  witnefs  to  it, 
truth  ;   or  whether  it  were  only  for  ilk* 


Chap.  xix.  John  paraphrafed.  479 

people,  all  ranks  and  degrees  of  men,  and  among  them  a  treacherous  difciple,  join 
in  affronting,  and  perfecuting  him  even  to  the  death  !  But  while,  contrary  to  all 
juftice  and  truth,  decency  and  humanity,  he  was  charged  with  the  higheft  crimes, 
and  arraigned  for  his  life,  he  undauntedly  owned  his  character  as  Mefliah,  the 
king,  whofe  kingdom  is  not  worldly  and  carnal,  but  fpiritual  and  heavenly,  and  is 
to  be  propagated  and  maintained,  not  by  the  power  of  the  ("word,  but  by  the  word 
of  truth  ;  and  Pilate  himfelf,  whilft  he  was  fitting  in  judgment  upon  our  Lord, 
was  forced  to  honour  him  with  fuch  a  teftimony  of  his  being  faultlefs,  as  ihews  that 
his  fufferings  were  indeed,  not  for  his  owu  fins,  but  for  the  fins  of  the  people  :  And 
how  was  all  over-ruled  by  Providence,  to  accomplifh  divine  prophecies  concerning 
the  manner  of  his  death,  and  his  corning,  as  the  Mefliah,  juft  upon  the  fceptre's 
departing  from  Ji/dab  .' — His  doctrine,  as  well  as  his  perfon  and  caufe,  will  bear 
the  tefl  of  the  ftricleft  examination ;  it  is  the  truth,  which  he  came  into  the  r.-orld 
to  reveal  and  confirm,  and  he  will  ftand  by  it,  how  much  foever  others  may  be  of- 
fended at  it,  or  deride  it.  And  O,  how  much  better  is  it  to  feek  jefus  as  a  Savi- 
our, than  to  feek  occafions  againft  him  !  And  how  much  better  to  hear  him  fav- 
ing,  I  am  he,  to  our  fupport  and  confolation,  than  to  our  terror  and  confufion  !  He 
can  as  eafily  ipeak  a  word  for  the  prefervation  of  his  difciples,  as  for  the  defeat  of 
his  enemies.  But  how  dangerous  is  it  to  go  into  the  way  of  temptation  !  And  how 
dreadfully  may  they  fall,  that  venture  into  bad  company  without  a  warrant  from 
God  ! — Let  Peter's  denying  his  Lord,  the  yews  thirfling  after  his  blood,  and  pre- 
ferring Barabbas  to  him,  while  they  were  hypocritically  fcrupuious  about  external, 
rites  and  ceremonies  ;  and  let  Pilate's  cowardice,  carnal  policy  and  complail'ance 
in  complying  with  them,  fill  us  with  facred  horror  and  caution:  And  O,  mav 
the  wifdom,  meeknefs,  and  patience  of  the  holy  Jefus,  under  all  indignities  and 
hardfhips,  be  reflected  upon  as  our  example,  that  we  may  tread  in  his  fteps  i 


CHAP.       XIX, 


The  remainder  of  Chrifs  trial  before  Pilate,  i, — I  <;.  His  con- 
demnation and  execution,  16, — 18.  His  title  placed  On  the  crofs 
over  his  head,  19, — 22.  Several  circumfiances  that  attended  his 
hanging  on  the  crofs,  23, — 29.  His  death,  and  the  piercing  of 
his  fide,  30,-37.  And  his  burial  by  Jofeph  of  Arimathea  and 
Nicodemus,  38,- — 42. 

Text.  Paraphrase. 

TH,ENr     Pilate    PILATE  being  unwilling  to  put  Jcfus  to  death, 

therefore  took    ■*  ,  1,      u  r       a   +      u      •  "i  j   c  j- 

Jefus     and    fcour-  whom  he  believed  to  be  innocent,    and  npding 

?ed  him.  tnat  ms  attempt  for  releafmg  him  by  a  mere  act  of 

grace  failed,  and  that  the  people  were  the  more  en- 
raged by  his  barely  propoling  it,   {chap,  xviii.   39, 
40.)   he  thought  of  another  expedient  to  appeafe  their 
clamour,  and  move  their  compamon  toward  the  rova! 
prifoner  :  And  therefore  he  took  and  delivered  him 
to  the  proper  officer,  to  be  dripped  nakedv  and  whip- 
ped publicly  in  an  opprobrious  and  fevere  manner,  ho- 
ping that,  after  this  punifkment,  they  might  confent 
tp  his  being  releaied.      {Luite  xxiii.  16.      /See  the  note 
on  Matth.  xxvii.  26.) 
2  And  the  foldi-        2   And  Pilate  turned  him  over  to  his  foldiers,  that 
ers  platted  a  crown   thCy,  as  Herod's  men  of  war  had  before,   {Luke  xxiii, 
# oa°hisS head   and    l\')  might  "*fult  him,  and  make  themfelves  merry 
'they   w*tn-  mm>  under  the  character  of  a  king;  according- 

Qjl  q  2  ly 


480 

they  put  on  him  a 
purple  robe, 


The  Evangeli/l 


Chap.  xix. 


3  And  fr.i.l,  T" 
2:in£  of  the    few.s  '. 
and     they      i'mote 
him     with      their 
hands. 


4  Pilate  there- 
fore went  forth  a- 
gain,  and  faith  un- 
to thern,  Behold,  I 
tiring  him  forth  to 
you,  that  ye  may 
know  that  T  find 
no  fault  in  him. 


5  The-i  came  Je- 
fus  forth,  wearing 
the  crown  of  thorns, 
and  the  purple 
robe,  And  Pilate 
faith  unto  thern, 
!Behold  the  man  ! 


6"  When  the 
chief  priefts  there- 
fore and  officers 
faw  him,  they  cri- 
ed out,  faying, 
Crucify  him,  criu 
rits  him.  Pilate 
faith  unto  them. 
Take  ye  him,  and 
crucify  him  :  tor  I 
no  fault  in 
him. 


7  The  Jews  an- 

d    him.    We 

have  a  law,  and  by 

our 


ly  they,  in  a  way  of  barbarous  derifion,  wreathing  a 
crown  of  thorns,  clapt  it  on  his  head,  and  threw  a 
purple  garment  upon  his  wounded  body,  in  mimickry 
of  royal  robes,  (fee  the  note  on  Mark  xv.  17.)  and 
put  a  reed  or  cane  into  his  right  hand  for  a  mam 
iccptre.      (Matth.  xxvii.  29.) 

3  And  having  thus  drefed  him  up,  they  fcoffing- 
ly  imitating  the  cuflom  of  kneeling  before  princes, 
and  of  faluting  them  with  honour  and  joy,  bent  the 
knee  before  him,  and  cried  out,  in  a  ludicrous  man- 
ner, Profperity  to  the  king  of  the  Jews  !  They  like- 
wife  buffeted  him  with  their  hands,  and  offered  many 
other  abufes  and  indignities  to  him.      {Matth.  xxvii. 

3°') 

4  Then  (flt-v)  Pilate  ordering  Jefus  to  be  brought 

forth  to  the  Jews,  who  flood  without,  went  himfelf 
before  him,  to  difpofe  them  to  companion,  faying, 
See  now  I  am  preferring  to  you  this  poor  man  again, 
in  circumftances  of  as  much  mifery  and  contempt,  as 
ye  could  wifh  him  to  be  in,  that  ye  may  apprehend 
no  danger  from  him,  and  may  be  fatisried  that  I  find 
nothing  worthy  of  death,  nor  indeed  any  caufe  for  an 
accufation,  (ovh/xixv  ccirtav)  in  him,  who  is  to  be  pi- 
tied and  defpifed,  rather  than  feared  or  envied. 

5  Upon  his  fpeaking  in  this  manner,  the  meek, 
humble,  and  holy  Jefus,  appeared  before  them  with 
his  mangled  body,  crown  of  thorns,  and  purple  robe, 
and  with  his  face  all  over  fmeared  with  fpittle  and 
blood  :  And  Pilate,  pointing  to  him,  faid  to  the 
Jews,  Behold  the  poor  wretched  man,  look  at  him, 
fee  what  a  figure  he-  makes  !  Let  what  has  been  done 
to  him  fuffice  ;  and  now  let  me  difcharge  him. 

6  But  when  the  chief  priefts  and  Jewijh  officers 
faw  him  under  all  this  mifery  and  contempt,  inftead 
of  being  moved  with  pity,  they  hardened  their  hearts 
againtl  him  ;  and,  inftead  of  attempting  to  prove  him 
guilty  of  any  fault,  were  enraged  at  Pilateys  repeated 
motion  for  his  releafe  :  They  therefore  cried  out  in  a 
tumultuous  manner,  and  with  great  vehemence  and 
outrage,  No,  no,  this  mall  not  fatisfy  us  ;  we  infill 
upon  it,  that  lie  be  crucified.  Hereupon,  Pilate 
feeing  that  there  was  no  ap;  eafing  them,  and  being 
very  loth  to  comply  with  their  demands,  faid  in  a 
paffion,  and  with  a  fort  of  fneer,  If  he  mufl  be  cru- 
cified, even  take  him,  and  do  it  yourfelves:  I  cannot 
in  juftice  condemn  him  to  death  ;  for  I  can  fee  no 
manner  of  caufe  for  it.  (See  the  note  on  Luke  xxiii. 
22.) 

7  The  Jews  finding  that  Pilate  was  ft  ill  againfl 
crucifying  him,  and  talked  ironically  of  their  own  do- 
ing it,  fled  to  another  charge,   faying,    We  have  an 

exprefs 


Chap.  xix. 

our  law  he  ought 
to  die,  becaufe  he 
made  himfelf  the 
Son  of  God. 


S  When  Pilate 
therefore  heard 
that  faying,  he 
was  the  more^a-^ 
fraid  ; 


9  And  went  again 
into  the  judgment- 
hall,  and  faith  un- 
to Jefus,  Whence 
art  thou  >  But  Je- 
fus gave  him  no 
anfvver. 


John  paraphrafed. 


481 


10  Then  faith 
Pilat'e  unto  him, 
Speakeft  thou  not 
unto  me  ?  knoweft 
thou  not  that  I 
Lave  power  to  cru- 
cify thee,  and  have 
power  to  releafe 
thee  ? 

11  Jefus  anfwer- 
ed,  Thou  couldft 
have  no  power  at 
till  againft  me,  ex- 
cept it  were  given 
thee  from  above  : 
therefore  he  that 
delivered  me  unto 
thee  hath  the 
greater    En. 


exprefs  law  for  putting  blafphemers  to  death,  {Lev. 
xxiv.  16.)  and  by  this  law  he  ought  to  die  ;  for, 
faid  they,  he  has  been  guilty  of  the  higheft  blafphe- 
my,  by  calling  himfelf  the  Son  of  God,  in  fuch  a  pe- 
culiar and  exalted  fenfe,  as  to  claim  equality  with, 
and  make  himfelf  God.      [Chap.  v.  18.  and  x.  33.) 

8  Pilate  hearing  that  Chrill  aflumed  the  grand 
and  awful  character  of  an  incarnate  Deity,  was  {truck 
with  great  furprife,  as  not  knowing  what  to  think  of 
it,  and  was  more  than  ever  afraid  of  proceeding  any 
further  againft  him,  left  he  mould  bring  divine  ven- 
geance on  his  own  head. 

9  And  therefore  returning  into  the  judgment-hall, 
to  which  he  remanded  Jefus,  he  faid  to  him,  What 
is  your  original  ?  Are  you  only  a  man,  or  are  you  an 
incarnate  God  ?  Tell  me  your  parentage,  and  from 
whence  you  came.  But  our  blcffed  Lord,  knowing 
that  Pilate  was  no  competent  judge  of  this  matter, 
and  had  forfeited  his  right  to  information  about  it,  by 
fo  cruelly  ufing  him,  whilft  he  believed  him  to  be  in- 
nocent, thought  proper  to  make  no  reply  to  this  un- 
feafonable  queftion. 

10  Then  Pilate,  full  of  wonder  and  refentment  at 
this  feeming  contempt  of  his  authority,  faid  to  him, 
with  an  haughty  air,  What  is  the  reafon  that  you 
Hand  mute,  and  make  no  anfwer  :  Do  ycu  neither 
know,  nor  confider  that  you  are  here,  as  a  criminal 
at  my  bar,  and  that  your  life  is  in  my  hand,  wTho  have 
power  either  to  condemn  you  to  be  crucified,  or  to 
difcharge  you,  juft  as  I  pleafe  ? 

1 1  Jefus,  to  correct  his  miftake  and  arrogance, 
replied,  Notwithftanding  all  this  imperious  boaft,  you 
have  no  legal  authority  but  from  God  ;  nor  could 
you  excrcife  any  power  to  my  hurt,  had  not  my  hea- 
venly Father  appointed  and  permitted  it,  for  glorious 
ends  and  purpofes,  which  you  are  ignorant  of,  and 
far  from  defigning  to  accomplifli  :  Though  *  there- 
fore your  fin  is  great  in  hearkening  to  the  clamours 
of  the  people,  and  in  abufing  your  truil,  as  a  magi- 
ftrate,  by  ufing  me  fo  ill,  and  that  in  defiance  of  your 
own  convictions  of  my  being  faultlefs;  yet  the  fin  of 
Judas  and  Caiaphas,  and  of  all  the  people  of  the 
Jews,  who  have  brought  me  before  you  as  a  crimi- 
nal, is  Hill  more  abundantly  aggravated,  as  being  com- 
mitted againft  knovVn  inftances  of  my  extraordinary 

power 
T     E. 

was  prevailed  on  by  their  importunity  to 
abufe  his  power,   his  fin  was   left   than 
theirs,    vvhofe  malice   and   cr.vy  | 
him  to  it. 


N     O 
*'   Therefore  (J/x  rot/lti)  may  proba- 
bly refer  to  Pilate's  having  judicial  pow- 
er from  above,  which  the  Jeruus  at  that 
time  had  not ;  and  therefore,  though  he 


1 2  And  from 
thenceforth  Pilate 
fought  to  releafe 
liim  :  but  the  Jews 
.cried  out,  faying, 
If  thou  let  this 
man  go,  thou  art 
not  Cefar's  friend  : 
whofoever  maketh 
himfelf  a  king, 
ipeaketh  again  it 
tie  far. 


482  The  Evangeliji  Chap.  xix. 

power  and  goodnefs,  and  with  the  greateft  ingratitude 
and  malice. 

1 2  From  this  time  forward,  Pilate,  being  Hill  fur- 
ther perfuaded  of  Chrifl's  innocence,  and  of  the  Jews 
malice,  was  more  than  ever  defirous  in  himfelf,  and 
induitrious  in  dealing  with  them,  to  get  him  difchar- 
ged  :  But  the  Jews  finding  that  their  lait  accufation 
rather  obitru&ed,  than  promoted  their  blood-thirity 
defign,  returned  to  their  former  charge  ;  and  enfor- 
ced it  with  an  argument,  which  touched  Pilate  in 
the  tenderer!  part,  crying  out  with  Hill  greater  noife 
and  vehemence,  If  you  will  not  crucify  him  to  oblige 
us  ;  yet  how  will  you  anfwer  it  to  the  emperor?  It 
will  be  proved  againft  you  that  you  betray  your  truft, 
and  have  not  a  due  regard  to  his  authority  and  govern- 
ment, in  cafe  you  let  his  competitor  go  free  ;  fmce 
whofoever  fets  himfelf  up  for  a  king,  in  one  of  Ccefar's 
provinces,  is  guilty  of  high  treafon  againil  him,  and 
fays,  in  effect,  that  he  is  not  its  rightful  fovereign. 

13  When  therefore  Pilate  heard  them  talk,  as  if 
they  would  accufe  him  of  unfaithfulnefs  to  Ccefar, 
his  fears  of  Tiberius' s  wrath,  who  was  a  jealous 
prince,  bore  down  his  concern  for  Jefus  ;  and  being 

down  in  the  judg-  °f  a  timorous  temper,  and  chufmg  rather  to  fin  than 
ment-feat,  in  a  fuffer,  he  ordered  Jefus,  with  his  thorny  crown  and 
place  that  is  call-  pUrple  robe  upon  him,  to  be  conducted  out  of  the 
hall ;  (nyayiv  tfy)  and  he  himfelf  went,  and  fat  down 
on  a  throne  of  judgment,  to  pafs  fentence  upon  him, 
in  another  place,  which  was  called  the  Hone-pave- 
ment *,  ( 'hiUs^oncv )  but  in  the  Jews  language,  Gab- 
batha,  which  fignifies  a  raifed  or  elevated  place. 

14  And,  as  tp  the  time  when  things  were  brought 
the  preparation  of  to  t}1js  crjf1S)  ft  was  tne  day  before,  and  fo  the  prepa- 

abou[)a  the  '  fix th   rat^on  t  day  f°r  tne  paffover-Sabbath,  and  about  fix 
hour:  and  he  faith    o'clock  in  the  morning,  a  folemn  day  and  time,  when 
unto  the  Jews,  Be-   the  Jews,  and  efpecially  the  priefts,  ought  to  have 
hold  your  king !        Deen  employed  in  facred  work  :   And  Pilate,  having 
placed  himfelf  on  the  judgment-feat,  called  to  the 
Jews,  faying,  Look  at  your  king  ;  fee  what  a  refer- 
able and  defpicable  appearance  he  makes  :   Is  tills  the 
man,   from  whom  any  danger  to  the  government  is  to 
be  expected  ?  Is  it  worth  while  to  condemn  fuch  an 
one  to  death  for  pretending  to  the  crown  ? 

1 5  But  they,  inilead  of  being  in  the  leaft  mollified 
or  aihamed,  cried  aloud,  and  eagerly  repeated  it,  A- 

way 
NOTES. 
•  Dr.  Lightfoot  feemed  to  think  that   Hebrew  and  Talmiidical  exercitatio?is  on 
this  was  the  room   Gaxith,   where   the    the  place. 

fanhc-drim  ufed  to  (it ;  and  fo,  when  the  f  This  was  on  what  is  called  Good- 
jfews  would  not  go  into  Pi/ale's  judg-  Tridqy  ;  and  for  the  time  of  day,  fee  the 
picnt-hail,  he  went  into  theirs.   See  his    notes  on  ckap.  i.  10.  and  Mark  xv.  25. 


13  When  Pilate 
therefore  heard 
that  faying,  he 
brought  Jefus 

forth,       and       fat 


ed  the  Pavement, 
but  in  the  Hebrew, 
Cabbatha. 


14   And  it   was 


15  But  they  cri- 
ed out,  Away  with 
him. 


Chap.  xix. 

9any  away  with 
him,  crucify  him. 
Pilate  faith  unto 
them,  Shall  I  cru- 
cify your  king  ?  The 
chief  priefts  an- 
fwered,  We  have 
no  king  but  Cefar. 


John  paraphrafed. 


483 


1 5  Then  deliver- 
ed he  him  there- 
fore unto  them  to 
be  crucified.  And 
they  took  Jefus, 
and  led  him  away. 


17  And  he  bear- 
ing his  crofs,  went 
forth  into  a  place 
called  the  place  of 
a  fculi,  which  is 
called  in  the  He- 
brew Golgotha ; 


iS  Where  they 
crucified  him,  and 
two  other  with 
him,  on  either  fide 
one,  and  Jefus  in 
the  midft. 

19  And  Pilate 
wrote  a  title,  and 
put  it  on  the  crofs. 
And  tl>e  writing 
was,  JESUS  OF 
NAZARETH, 
THE  KING  OF 
THE    JEWS. 


way  with  him  out  of  our  fight,  we  hate  to  fee  him  ; 
hang  him  up  on  a  crofs,  as  one  that  deferves  to  die 
under  a  curfe.  Pilate^  feeing  their  implacable  enmity 
and  fury  againft  him,  replied,  What  then,  have  ye  no 
compafiion  for  him  nor  concern  for  your  own  honour? 
Mull  I  pafs  fo  ignominious  a  fentence,  as  that  of  cru- 
cifixion, upon  your  king  ?  The  chief  priefts,  though 
at  other  times  they  were  great  fticklers  for  Jewijb 
freedom,  and  boafted  that  they  were  never  in  bon- 
dage to  any  man  ;  {chap.  viii.  33.)  yet  now'to  pleafe 
Pilate,  and  ferve  their  malicious  turn,  virtually  re- 
nounced God's  dominion  over  them,  and  publicly 
owned  that  the  fceptre  was  departed  from  them,  in 
an  exprefs  declaration,  that  Ccefar  was  their  only 
king. 

16  Then  Pilate,  having  no  longer  courage  to  ftrive 
againft  the  ftream,  palled  fentence  upon  our  Lord, 
delivering  him  up,  according  to  their  demand.  ( Sec 
the  notes  on  Matth.  xxvii.  26.)  And  no  fooner  was 
this  done,  than  they  hurried  him  away  by  the  afilft- 
ance  of  the  foldiers,  who  then  took  off  his  purple 
robe,  and  put  on  his  own  cloaths  again;  {Matth. 
xxvii.  31.)  and  they  led  him  to  the  place  of  execu- 
tion, like  a  lamb  to  the  (laughter,  without  delay,  left 
the  governor  mould  change  his  mind,  or  the  friends 
of  Jefus  fhould  rife  to  refcue  him. 

1 7  And  he,  carrying  his  crofs  upon  his  fhoulders, 
(fee  the  note  on  Matth.  xxvii.  32.)  went  out  of  the 
city  to  a  place  called  Golgotha,  in  the  dialect  then  u- 
fed  by  the  Jews,  which  fignifies  the  place  of  a  fkull, 
and  which  was  ceremonially  unclean,  it  being  the 
common  place  where  criminals  were  executed,  and 
many  of  their  fkulls  and  bones  were  left ;  (iee  the  note 
on  Matth.  xxvii.  33.)  and  fo  was  a  fit  emblem  of 
Chrift's  being  made  fin  for  us. 

1 8  There  they  crucified  him  in  company  with  two 
thieves,  [Matth.  xxvii.  38.)  one  of  which  hung  on 
his  right  hand,  and  the  other  on  his  left,  as  if  he 
had  been  the  greateft  finner  of  them  all,  whiift  in  thr.t 
manner  he  was  numbered  with  tranjgrejjars.  ( lia. 
liii.  12.) 

19  And  as  it  was  ufual  for  the  caufe  of  condemna- 
tion to  be  fignified  in  writing,  and  placed  over  the 
heads  of  thofe  that  were  crucified  ;  fo  Pilate  wrote 
this  inscription,  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  the  King  of 
the  Jews,  and  ordered  it  to  be  fixed  on  the  top  of 
Chrift's  crofs,  above  his  head ;  which,  whatever  Pilate 
defigned,  was  over-ruled  by  Providence,  to  be,  in  ef- 
fect, a  condemnation  of  his  own  unrighteous  j'ldg-r 
ment,  and  an  honour  to  the  holy  Jefus,  as  having 
been  put,to  that  fhameful  death,  only  for  afferting 


484 


20  This  title  then 
read  many  of  the 
Jews .  for  the  place 
where  Jefus  was 
crucified  was  n: 
to  the  city :  and 
it  was  written 
in  Hebrew,  and 
Greek,  and  La- 
tin. 

■z  I  Then  faid 
the  chief  priefts 
of  the  Jews  to  Pi- 
late, Write  not. 
The  King  of  the 
Jews  ;  but  that  he 
laid,  I  am  King  of 
the  Jews. 


22  Pilate  an- 
f we  red,  What  I 
have     written,      I 

have  written. 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  xix. 


23  Tl-.en  the  fol- 
diers,  when  they 
had  crucihed  Je- 
fus, took  his  gar- 
ments, (and  made 
-four  parts,  to  eve- 
ry foldier  a  part,) 
and  alfo  bis  coat : 
now  the  coat  was 
without  feam,  wo- 
ven from  the  top 
throughout. 

24  They  faid 
therefore  among 
them'.'t  ives,  Let  us 
not  rend  it,  but 
cart:  luts  for  it, 
whole  it  (hall  be  : 
thflft  the  fcripture 
htt  be  fulfilled, 
which  faith,  They 
parted  my  raiment 
among  them,  and 
for  my  velture  they 
did caft lots.  Thefe 
things  therefore 
the   foidiers  did. 


a    title,    which  he  had  a  juft   claim    to,   and  could 
not  be  diverted  of. 

20  This  title  was  read  by  great  numbers  of  Jews, 
that  were  come  from  all  countries  to  celebrate  the  pafs- 
over  at  Jeru fa/em  :  For  the  place  of  crucifixion  was 
near  the  city  ;  and  the  infeription  was  maae  in  large 
letters  of  the  Hebrew,  Greek,  and  Latin  tongues, 
the  mod  known  languages  of  that  day  ;  and  fo,  as 
the  benefit  of  the  Mefliah's  death  was  to  extend  to 
perfons  of  all  nations,  many  of  them  had  an  opportu- 
nity of  reading  the  caufe  for  which  he  fuffered  it. 

2 1  This  was  indeed  fuch  an  honourable  and  public 
teftimonial  to  the  dying  Saviour,  as  might  eafily  be 
conftrued  to  his  advantage  ;  and  therefore  the  chief 
priefts  among  the  Jew  were  highly  difpleafed  at  it, 
and  went  to  Pi/ate  with  a  requeft,  that,  inftead  of 
thefe  words,  The  King  of  the  Jews,  it  might  be 
wrote,  He  said,  I  am  the  King  of  the  Jews  ; 
and  fo  the  infamy  of  a  pretender  might  be  fixed  on 
his  memory-,  and  the  difgrace  of  their  king's  being 
crucified  might  not  lie  upon  them. 

22  But  Pilate  was  fo  much  out  of  temper,  for 
their  having,  in  a  manner,  forced  him  to  condemn 
Jefus,  and  was  fo  offended  at  their  boldnefs,  in  pre- 
tending, after  all,  to  correct  the  form  of  his  inferip- 
tion, and  God  fo  influenced  his  mind  to  abide  by  this 
conftru&ive  teftimony  to  Chrift's  real  character,  that 
he  refolutely  replied,  What  I  have  written  lhall  Hand 
without  any  alteration. 

23  Now  the  foldiers  having  {tripped  Jefus  of  his 
cloaths  again,  when  they  came  to  fallen  him  to  the 
crofs,  took  them  as  their  own  perquifite,  and,  while 
they  were  watching  him,  diverted  themfelves  with  di- 
viding the  fpoil ;  the  bulk  of  his  cloaths  they  laid 
in  four  parcels,  of  which  every  foldier  had  one,  there 
being  only  four  of  them  that  were  immediately  em- 
ployed in  crucifying  him  :  But  as  his  upper-garment 
was  without  any  foam,  being  woven  or  knit  all  in  one 
piece  from  the  top  to  the  bottom  ; 

24  They  therefore  faid  one  to  another,  -Do  not  let 
us  divide  this  coat  into  four  parts,  which  would  utter- 
ly fpoil  it ;  but  let  us  call  lots,  to  determine  which  of 
us  fhall  have  the  whole.  This  they  accordingly  did, 
God  fo  ordering  it  in  his  providence,  that,  contrary 
to  their  defign  or  knowledge,  a  remarkable  prophecy 
of  the  Mcffiah  might  be  fulfilled  in  this  very  circum- 
ftancc,  where  it  is  faid,  {Pfal.  xxii.  18.)  They  part  - 
ed  my  garments  among  > hem,  and  caj}  lots  upon  my 
vejiure  :  Hence  it  was  that  the  foldiers  were  fecretly 
influenced  to  do  thefe  things,  relating  to  Chrift's 
cloaths.  ' 

25  Ani 


Chap.  xix. 


John  paraphrafed. 


485 


26"  When  Jefus 
therefore  faw  his 
mother,  and  the 
difciple  (landing 
|ay,    whom    he   lo 


25   Now.  there  25  And,  (2g)  while  Jefus  hung  upon  the  crofs,  fe- 

ftood  by  the  crofs  veral  pious  women  flood  near  it,  particularly  his  own 

of  Jefus     his  mo-  th         ft      th    fl  ^     and  her  fiacr  Mary,  who  was 

ther,   and  his  mo-  -r       r  ^,,       1       *.           1    **          n  r      1   1 

ther's  fitter,  Mary  the  wife  or  Lleophas  t  ,"  and  Mary   Magdalene,    out 

the  wife  of  Cleo-  of  whom  he  had  call  feven  devils.  Thefe  having  a 
phas,  and  Alary  touching  and  affectionate  concern  for  him,  ventured  to 
Magaalene.  t  as  near  as  t^ey  could,  to  behold  with  weeping 

eyes,  and  lament  with  aching  hearts,  the  difmal  tra- 
gedy, which  was  like  a  /word piercing  through  his 
mother's  foul.      (Luke  ii.  35.) 

26  Jefus  therefore  calling  his  eye  upon  his  dear  mo- 
ther, Mary,  as  (he  was  Handing  by  the  crofs,  together 
with  that  difciple  whom  he  had  all  along  diflin- 
guilhed  by  the  moll  familiar  tokens  of  his  love,  ten- 

ved,  he  faith  unto  derly  recommended  her  to  his  fpecial  regards  :  And 
his  mother,  Wo-  th{s  he  did  [n  fucn  a  prudent  manner,  as  might  foften 
mar,,  behold  thy  her  gnt£9  and  not  expofe  her  to  the  observation  and 
fury  of  his  enemies,  as  one  fo  nearly  a-kin  to  himfelf ; 
and  as  might  intimate,  that  her  relation  to  him,  ac- 
cording to  the  flefh,  was  then  expiring,  and  that  he 
died  under  a  higher  character,  than  that  of  her  fon, 
faying  to  her,  and  at  the  fame  time  turning  his  head, 
and  looking  toward  that  difciple,  Woman,  obferve 
the  man,  who  will  take  care  of  you,  and  pay  the  du- 
ty, honour,  and  affection  of  a  fon  to  you. 

27  Then  he  fpoke  to  that  difciple,  faying  to  him, 
and  turning  his  head  again  toward  her,  Behold  your 
mother,  whom  I  commit  to  your  filial  reverence, 
care,  and  kindnefs,  as  if  Ihe  had  bore  you  in  her  own 

her  unto  his  own  body  f :  And  that  difciple  was  fo  affecled  with  thefe 
home.  words,  that,  in  love  and  obedience  to  his  Lord,  he, 

from  that  time  forward,  took  her  into  his  own  houfe 
and  family,  and  treated  her  with  all  the  refpecl  due  to 
a  parent. 
28  After  this,  Je-        28  After  this,  Jefus  knowing  that,  according  to 
fus  knowing   that    eternal  agreements  between  the  Father  and  him,  and 
all     things     were    accor(];no-  to  ancient  prophecies  concerning-  him,  every 
now  accomphlhed,      .  .         ,  P  \  •    a.  1  •   «.     c  \    • 

that  the  fcripcure    tnm3  V™  TiTite<rrui)  was  jult  upon  the  point  of  being 
might   perfectly  accomplilhed,  to  the  full  fatisfaclion  of  di- 
vine 
NOTES, 
writer  of  this   Gofpel,    of  this  world's  goods  to  leave  her,   gave 
an  example  of  filial  love  and  duty,  in  put- 
ting her  under  the  care  of  the  apoftle 
John  to  provide  for  her  ;    who,   though 
he,  like  the  reft  of  the  apoftles,  had  quit- 
ted all  his  bulinefs  and  affairs  in  life  to 
follow  Chrift,   might  nevertheless  retain 
his  property  in  what  he  had  before  he 
left  oft*  trade,  or  in  what  his  father  Ze- 
f   Her  hufband  Jofepb  was  probably    bedee  had  afterwards  given  him.     But  it 
by  this  time  dead  :  And  Jefus,  who  had    is  uncertain  where  he  dwelt,   and 
taken  care  of  her  hitherto,   having  none    long  Mary  Eyed  with  hifla. 


27  Then  faith  he 
to  the  difciple,  Be- 
hold thy  mother  ! 
And  from  that  hour 
that   difciple    took 


*  jfohn,  the 
was  alio  ftanding  with  them,  as  appears 
from  the  next  verfe  ;  but  out  of  modefty 
did  not  fay  it  was  himfelf:  And  Mary, 
who  was  of  Cleophas,  (Ma*;a  »  ro-u  Kxo- 
jra)  is  thought  by  fome  to  have  been, 
not  the  wife,  but  the  daughter  of  Cleo- 
plms. 


Vol.  II. 


K.  r  r 


486  The  Evangelift  Chap.  xix. 

might  be  fulfilled,  vine  juftice  ;  he  faid,  as  well  he  might,  confidering 

j.uth,  I  thirft.  what  a  fever  he  was  in,  through  fatigue,  pain,  and 

anguifh,  *  I  am  grievoufly  a-thirft. 

20   Now  there        29  Now  there  was,  near  at  hand  f,  a  veffel  full  of 

was    fet    a    veffel  vinegar  ;  and  the  foldiers,  filling  a  fpunge  with  that 

a  d  t\     ^llifd*  n<luor»  ^uck  it  upon  the  top  of  a  reed,  or  long  ftalk 

fpun<*e  with  vine-  of  hy flop,  and  lifted  it  up  to  his  mouth,  that  he  might 

gar,  and  put  it  up-  fuck  it. 

on  hyflbp,  and  put        go  When  therefore  Jefus  had  tailed  the  vinegar, 

zt  to  hismouth.    ^  jn  acc0mpljftirnent  of  a  prophecy  relating  to  his  lafl 

therefore    had  re-  moments,   (P/a/m  lxix.  21.)  he  faid,  to  the  honour 

ceived  the  vinegar,  of  his  Father,    the  confufion  of  devils,    the  joy   of 

he  faid,  It  is  fimfh-  faints,  and  his  own  triumph,  Now  all  is  over,  and 

ej:   and  he  bowed    done  to  perfeaion  :    frifeXttitti)   The  great  council  of 
his  head,  and  gave    ^     ,        r^    ,  v  ,  1  •        ^v 

up  the  k holt  God  my  rather,  my  engagements  to  him,  the  types 

and  prophecies  of  the  Old  Tellament,  relating  to  the 
work  of  redemption,  and  the  full  meafure  of  my  fuf- 
ferings  according  to  all  thefe,  are  now  accomplifhed  to 
the  utmofl ;  the  ceremonial  law  is  fulfilled  and  abolifh- 
ed  ;  the  moral  law  is  fatisfied  and  magnified  ;  an  end 
is  made  of  fin ;  an  everlafting  righteoufnefs  is  brought 
in ;  the  covenant  of  grace  is  fully  confirmed  ;  the  foun- 
dation of  the  church  is  completed  ;  God  is  glorified ; 
all  the  powers  of  darknefs  are  vanquished  ;  and  the 
whole  work,  which  my  Father  gave  me  to  do  upon 
earth,  is  fmifhed  :  And  having  fpoke  in  this  manner, 
he,  to  (hew  his  willingnefs  to  die,  immediately  bow- 
ed down  his  head,  and  breathed  out  his  holy  foul,  fay- 
ing, with  faith  and  fervour,  and  with  a  loud  voice, 
Father,  into  thy  hands  I  commend  my  Spirit.  (Luke 
xxiii.  4.6.  fee  the  note  on  Matth.  xxvii.  50.) 
51  The  Jews  31  Then  (oyi/)  the  Jews  went,  and  intreated  P/- 
th -refore    became    [ate  t0  gjve  orders  for  the  legs  of  the  three  crucified 

ration*  'tha^he  men  t0  be  broken>   that  theY  might  be   the   more   cf" 

bodies  flioilld  not  fectually  difpatched,  and  that  thereupon  their  bodies 

remain    upon    the  might  be  taken  down  from  the  crofs  before  the  Sab- 

cfofe  on  the  Sal)-  v,ath  ;  becaufe  the  day  on  which  they  were  crucified 

bath-day,  (fot  that  ^  tjie  ,       qC  preparation  for  an  extraordinary  Sab- 

oabbatn-day     was  .      .        -       J     ..  r   r r,  .  .    ,     .         .       ,         '  «- 

an  bath  or  peculiar  lolemnity,  it  being  in  the  paiiover 

week : 
NOTES. 

*  The  reafon  of  our  Lord's  faying  might  be  fet  for  their  ufe,  a*  they  fhould 
this,  Was  not  from  any  murmuring  com-  have  occafion  for  it,  while  they  were  at- 
plaint  of  his  lufferings ;  but  to  evidence  tending  the  crucifixion  :  This  four  li- 
that  the  moil  minute  circumftances,  quid  they  gave  to  Chrift,  inftead  of  a 
•which  the  fcripture  had  foretold  of  the  cordial,  or  a  cooling  draught  :  And  their 
Mefiiah,  were  fulfilled  in  him,  as  parti-  hyflbp,  like  their  muftard-tree,  being  of 
cularly  in  Pfcil.   xxii.    15.  and  lxix.   it.    much  larger  growth  than  ours,  might  af- 

.  tongue  rleavcth  to  my  jaws ;  and  in  ford  a  ftalk  long  enough  to  reach  up  to 
7nythir/t  they  gave  me  vinegar  to  drink,    his  mouth,   as  he  hung  upon  the  crofs  ; 

or  a  fpunge  full  of  vinegar   might   be 

t  Vinegar,  mixed  with  water,  is  faid  ftuck  on  the  top  of  fome  other  reed,  in 
tu  have  been  the  drink  of  the  Roman  the  midft  of  a  bunch  of  hyfibp.  {ytrawmt 
foldiei^j    and  fy  this  veflcl  of  vinegar    %ngi'avhi*) 


Chap.  xix. 


John  paraphrafed. 


437 


an  high  day,)  be-  week  :  And  thefe  hypocrites  pretended  to  have  fo 
fought  Pilate  that  high  a  veneration  for  this  Sabbath,  as  not  to  be  able  to 
bear  the  thoughts  of  its  being  defiled  and  difgraced, 
by  the  crucified  bodies  continuing  to  hang  upon  the 
crofs,  and  being  expofed  to  public  view  on  that  day; 
though,  inilead  of  making  due  preparation  for  it, 
they  had  been  in  the  vileil  manner  imbruing  their 
hands  in  the  moil  innocent  and  noble  blood  that  ever 
was  fried. 

32  Accordingly,  'Pilate  ft  ill  gratifying  them  fo  far 
as  to  comply  with  this  requeft,  fome  of  the  foldiers 
came,  and  broke  the  legs  of  both  the  malefactors  that 
were  crucified  with  our  Lord,  there  being  fymptoms 
of  remaining  life  in  them. 

33  But  when  they  came  up  to  Jefus,  with  a  defign 
of  doing  the  like  to  him,  as  (;■?)  they  plainly  faw  that 
he  was  certainly  dead  already,  they  forbore  breaking 
his  legs,  there  being  no  occaiion  for  it. 

34  But,  to  put  the  matter  pafl  all  difpute  with  o- 
thers,  as  well  as  themfelves,  and  to  (hew  their  fpite 
at  him,  as  well  as  to  make  lure  of  his  death  in  the 
mod  effectual  manner,  one  of  the  foldiers  thruit  a  fpear 
into  his  fide  ;  and  immediately  there  ran  out  of  the 
wound  *  both  blood  and  water,  fo  diftinftly,  as  to 
be  eafily  difcerned  by  their  different  colours. 

$5  And  the  writer  of  this  Gofpel,  who  was  an 
eye-witnefs,  took  very  particular  notice  of  it,  as  a 
remarkable  circumilance,  which  not  only  proved  that 
Jefus  was  really  dead,  but  likewife  (as  he  afterwards 
knew)  carried  an  intimation  of  the  juilifying  and 
fan6tifying  virtue  of  his  death ;  and  this  hiitorian's 
record  is  faithful  and  true  :  Yea,  he  being  not  only  an 
eye-witnefs  of  it,  but  being  likewife  under  the  conduct 
of  the  Spirit  of  truth,  is  fully  affured  that  his  fenfes 
did  not  deceive  him  ;  but  that  what  he  here  commits 
to  writing  is  infallibly  true,  which  he  declares,  (<>*) 
to  the  end  that  ye,  to  whom  this  teflimony  fhall  come, 
in  every  age,  may  believe  in  Jefus  as  the  true  Mef- 
fiah,  who  died  and  rofe  again  for  cleanfing  from  the 
R  r  r   z  guilt 

NOTE. 

this  circumftance  of  his  death,  fince  the 
Evangelift  here  takes  foch  pArticuhff  no- 
tice of  it,  and  lays  fuch  weight  upon  the 
truth  of  his  record  ahout  it,  £*#r.  35.) 
and  refers  to  it,  (1  John  v.  6.  S.)  as  a 
matter  of  great  importance,  faying, 
This  is  he  that  came  by  nvater  and 
blood,  even  Jefus  Chrifl,  not  by  water 
only,  but  by  -water  and  blood.  And  there 
ore  three  that  bear  nbithefs  on  earth,  the 


their  legs  might  be 
broken,  and  that 
they  might  be  ta- 
ken away. 


3Z  Then  came 
the  foldiers,  and 
brake  the  legs  of 
the  firft,  and  of  the 
other  which  was 
cmcified  with  him. 

33  But  when 
they  came  to  Je- 
fus, and  faw  that 
he  was  dead  al- 
ready, they  brake 
not  his  legs. 

34  But  one  of 
the  foldiers  with  a 
fpear  pierced  his 
fide,  and  forth- 
with came  there- 
out blood  and  wa- 
ter. 

35  And  he  that 
faw  it  bare  record, 
and  his  record  is 
true :  and  he  know- 
eth  that  he  faith 
true,  that  ye  might 
believe. 


*  How  far  the  fpear  entered  Chrift's 
body,  and  whither  it  ftruck  into  the  ca- 
vity of  the  bre aft,  or  into  the  pericardi- 
um, and  let  out  the  liquid,  in  which 
the  heart  fwims  there  ;  or  whether  it 
pierced'the  heart  itfelf,  has  been  vari- 
oufly  conjectured  :  And  poffibly  it  may 
be  difficult  to  account  for  this  diftincl: 
flow  of  blood  and  water,  upon  the  prin- 
ciples of  anatomy.     But  it  was  an  evi- 


dent proof  that  Jefus  was  really  dead  ;   fpirit,  and  the  water,  and  the  blood,  an  I 
and  there  was  fomething  extraordinary    thefe  three  agree  in  one. 
and  myfterious,   if  not  miraculous,    in 


4^8 


The  Fvangelift 


Chap,  xix; 


36  For  thefe 
things  were  done, 
that  the  fcripture 
fhould  he  fulfilled, 
A  bone  of  him  fiiall 
not  be  broken. 


37  And  again 
another  fcrifture 
faith,    They    fliall 


guilt  and  defilement  of  fin,  by  his  blood  and  fpirit, 
through  faith  in  him. 

36  For  how  trivial  foever  the  circumltances  of 
not  breaking  his  legs,  and  of  piercing  him  with  a 
fpear,  may  feem  to  be;  they  were  ordered  by  Pro- 
vidence, that  two  different  predictions  of  the  Mefliah 
might  be  literally  fulfilled  in  him  :  One  is,  what  God 
commanded  about  the  pafchal  lamb,  which  was  an 
eminent  type  of  Chrilt,  (1  Cor.  v.  7.)  faying,  *  Not  a 
bone  of  it  /ha//  be  broken.      (Exod  xii.  46.) 

37  And  the  other  is,  what    the    fcripture 
with  a  plain  reference  to  him,  (Zech.  xii.    10.) 


look  on  him  whom  /ball  look  on  him  whom  they  have  pierced. 


fays, 
They 


they  pierced. 

3S  And  after  this, 
Jofeph  of  Arima- 
thea,  (being  a  clif- 
ple  of  Jems,  but 
iecreUy  for  fear  of 
the  Jews)  befought 
Pilate  that  he 
might  take  away 
the  body  of  Jefus  : 
unci  Pilate  gave 
him  leave.  He 
came  therefore  and 
took  the  body  of 
jefus. 


30  And  there 
came  alio  Nicode- 
mus,  (which  at 
the  firit  came  to 
Jefus  by  nir^ht,) 
and  brought  a 
-mixture  of  myrrh 
and  aloes,  about 
-.in  hundred  pound 
nJbetght.' 

40  Then  took 
they  the  body  of 
Jelus,  and  wound 
it  in  linen  clothes 
with  the  fpices,  as 
the 


N     O 

*  Though  God  is  fovereign  in  his  in- 
■flitutior.^,  and  his  bare  command  is  a 
fufficient  obligation  to  obferve  them  ; 
yet  as  be  appointed  ifrael  to  eat  the 
pafiover,  with  their  ioiris  girded,  their 
//  oet  en  their  feet,  and  their  j/af  in 
their  hand;  and  they  were,  in  that 
manner,  to  eat  it  in  hajie,  Itcanfc  it 
1  vr  tl'c  Lord's  pajjozer.  (Exod.  xii. 
XI.)  So  his  command  that  a  bone  of  the 


38  And  after  it  appeared  that  Jefus  was  really 
dead,  Jofeph  of  Arimathea,  that  honourable  coun- 
fellor,  (fee  the  note  on  Luke  xxiii.  50,  51.)  who  was 
in  heart  well  affected  toward  him,  and  a  believer  in 
him,  though  hitherto  he  had  not  ventured  to  make  an 
open  profeffion  of  it,  for  fear  of  fuffering  reproaches 
and  injuries  from  the  Jews  :  This  Jofeph,  I  fay, 
being  a  man  of  figure  and  intereft,  now  took  courage, 
and  going  to  Pi/ate,  begged  a  warrrant  for  empower- 
ing him  to  take  down  the  body  of  Jefus,  and  to  have 
the  difpofal  of  it  ;  and  Pi/ate  granted  his  requelr, 
who  accordingly  went,  and  took  the  body  down 
from  the  crofs,  that  he  might  give  it  an  honourable 
burial. 

There  came  likewife  Nicodemus,  who  was  alfo  a 
ruler  of  the  Jews,  and  a  member  of  their  great  coun- 
cil, and  who  had  formerly  gone  to  Jefus  in  private 
by  night,  for  fatisfaction  about  his  doctrine  and  cha- 
racter ;  [chap.  iii.  1,  2.  and  vii.  50.)  and  he  being 
a  rich  man,  and  having  got  more  'courage  now  than 
before,  brought  a  great  quantity,  about  an  hundred 
pound  weight,  of  a  fine  embalming  mixture,  com- 
pofed  chiefly  of  myrrh  and  aloes,  for  his  funeral. 

40  Thefe  two  perfons  therefore,  (wv)  who  were 
fo  remarkable  for  their  high  rank  and  ftation,  and 
for  their  former  cowardice  and  weaknefs  of  faith, 
joined  together  in  teftifying  their  affection,  and  re- 
flect to  Chrift,  by  taking  down  his  body  from  the 

crofs, 
I     E.     , 

pafchal  lamb  fliould  not  be  broken,  as 
well  as  their  eating  unleavened  bread, 
might  likewife  be  defigried  to  lieep  up  a 
memorial  of  the  hafte  with  winch  God 
delivered  them,  and,  as  fome  have 
thought,  mitht  poffibly  prefigure  the 
flrength,  fignified  by  unbroken  bones 
with  which  Chrift  our  pafiover  wrought 
falvation,  by  his  being  crucified  for  iis« 
Vid.  Lamp,  in  Lqc. 


Chap.  xix. 

the  manner  of  the 
Jews  is  to  bury. 


John  paraphrafed. 


489 


41  Now  in  the 
place  where  he  was 
crucified,  there  was 
a  garden  ;  and  in 
the  garden  a  new 
fepulchre,  wherein 
was  never  man  yet 
laid. 


42  There  laid 
they  Jefus  there- 
fore, becaufeof  the 
Jews'  preparation- 
day,  for  '  the  fe- 
pulchre was  nigh 
at  hand. 


crofs,  and  wrapping  it  up  with  linen  cloaths,  and 
with  prefervative,  as  well  as  fragrant  fpices,  accord- 
ing to  the  Jewijh  cuftom  in  burying  perfons  of  re- 
putation and  eminence  ;  whofe  bodies  did  not  ufe  to 
be  embowelled,  but  perfumed  and  embalmed. 

41  Now  there  was  a  garden  near  that  fpot  of 
ground  where  Jefus  was  crucified  ;  and  as,  among 
the  Jews,  great  men  often  built  fepulchres  in  their 
gardens,  which  might  remind  them  of  their  own  mor- 
tality, amidfl  the  delights  of  life,  and  might  aflift 
their  meditations  and  hopes  of  their  dead  bodies  ri- 
fing  again,  like  the  fpringing  of  plants  and  flowers 
out  of  the  earth  :  So  in  this  garden  Joleph  had  a  new 
tomb  hewn  out  of  a  rock,  [Ma  .  xxvii.  60.)  in  which 
no  one  had  ever  been  buried  before.  (See  the  note 
on  chap.  hi.  38.) 

42  In  this  fepulchre  therefore,  becaufe  it  was  fo 
very  near,  they  interred  the  body  of  Jefus  for  the 
quicker  difpatch,  it  being  a  folemn  day  of  prepara- 
tion for  the  paffover-Sabbath  among  the  Jews  :  And 
Providence  fo  over-ruled  thefe  circumilances,  that 
though  he  died  fo  poor,  as  to  have  no  burying  place 
of  his  own  ;  yet  he  made  his  grave  with  the  rich  in 
his  death  *,  in  accomplishment  of  a  prophecy  con- 
cerning him.     (Ifa.  liii.  9.) 

RECOLLECTIONS. 

What  draggles  are  there  in  carnal  hearts,  between  convictions  of  conference  and 
secular  interefts,  the  fear  of  God  and  the  fear  of  man  ;  and  how  dreadfully  preva- 
lent is  the  corruption  of  nature,  which  bears  down  all  religion,  truth,  and  juftice, 
as  it  did  in  Pilate  ■'  But  how  (hocking  mult  their  fin  be,  which  is  committed  with 
ftill  higher  aggravations,  as  the  cafe  was  with  the  Jews!  With  what  outrage,  in- 
dignity, and  barbarity,  was  the  great  king  of  Ifrael  ufed,  when  they  cried  out, 
Crucify  him,  crucify  bim,  and  their  unrighteous  demand  was  fulfilled  in  every  cir- 
cumitance  of  contempt  and  horror,  even  to  the  ignominious  and  painful  death  of 
the  crofs  !  Behold  the  man,  who  encluied  the  crofs  and  defpifed  the  fbame  ;  iook 
and  love;  wonder  and  mourn.  There  was  no  fault  in  him  :  For  whofe  fake  then 
did  he  freely  undergo  all  this,  but  for  his  people's,  in  the  greatnefs  of  his  love  to 
them  ?  He  was  fahely  accufed,  that  they  might  be  honourably  acquitted  ;  he  was 
wounded  and  fcourged,  that  they  might  be  healed  by  his  ftripes  ;  he  was  clothed 
with  a  robe  of  derifion,  that  they  might  be  adorned  with  a  robe  of  righteoufnefs  ; 
he  was  crowned  with  thorns,  that  they  might  wear  a  diadem  of  glory  ;  his  kingly 
office  was  infulted  and  ridiculed,  that  they  might  obtain  royal  dignity,  as  kings 
to  God ;  he  was  condemned,  that  they  might  be  juftified ;  he  carried  his  own  crofs, 
and  was  crucified  upon  it,  that  he  might  bear  their  fins  and  forrows,  and  the  curfe 
due  to  them,  and  that  they  might  take  up  their  crofs  and  follow  him  ;  he  was 
numbered  with  tranfgreffors,  that  they  might  be  numbered  with  the  righteous ; 
he  had  vinegar  to  drink,  that  they  might  pledge  him  in  a  cup  of  falvation,  joy,  and 
praife  ;  he  bowed  the  head,  and  gave  up  the  ghoft,  that  they  might  be  exalted, 
and  live  for  ever ;  he  was  buried  in  the  grave,  that  he  might  fanclify  it  for  them  ; 

he 
NOTE. 

*   As  fin  and  death  commenced  in  a   might  be  an  emblem  of  his  fanclifying 
garden,   the  conqueror  of  both  rofe  and    the  grave,  as  the  firft  fruits  of  them  that 
triumphed  over  them  in   a   like  place  ;    fleep  in  Jefu>\ 
and    Chrift's  rifing  from  a  new  tomb 


49°  The  Evangelift  Chap.  xx. 

he  finiftied  the  whole  work  of  their  redemption,  that  no  demands  of  fatisfac"tion  to 
juftice  might  be  made  upon  them  ;  and  the  benefit  of  all  this  extends  to  finners  of 
the  Gentiles,  Rorna?is  and  Greeks,  as  well  as  Jews.  His  enemies  could  have  had 
no  power  againft  him,  without  his  Father's  appointment,  and  his  own  free  confent ; 
but  many  prophecies  were  hereby  fulfilled  in  him,  and  the  title,  which  Pilate  or- 
dered, as  if  it  were  a  difgrace,  owned  him  to  be  Melliah,  the  King.  With  what 
holy  confidence  and  joy  may  believers  now  behoid  their  King  !  And  how 
worthy  is  he  of  their  imitation,  in  his  meeknefs,  patience,  and  holy  fortitude  un- 
der all  his  lufferings,  in  his  filial  care  of  his  mother  after  the  flefh,  and  in  his  refig- 
nation  and  faith,  whereby  he  committed  his  departing  foul  into  his  heavenly  Fa- 
ther's hand  !  And  how  can  he  embolden  the  molt  timorous  of  his  difciples  to  own 
him  in  the  worft  of  times  !  His  crucifixion  is  recorded  by  a  faithful  eye-witnefs, 
that  we  might  believe,  and  be  partakers  of  the  virtue  of  his  death,  as  fignified  by 
the  water  and  blood,  which  proceeded  from  his  wounds,  for  the  remiffion  of  our 
fins,  and  cleanhng  us  from  all  unrighteoufnefs. 


■»  *-r.T.3i- 


CHAP.       XX. 

The  refurrecHon  of  Chri/f  is  proved  by  his  body's  not  being  found  in 
the  fepulchre,  aud  the  grave  clothes  lying  in  good  order  there , 
J, — 10.  By  two  angels  appearing  to  Mary  Magdalene  at  the  fe- 
pulchre, II, — 13.  By  Chrifls  own  appearing  to  her,  14, — 18. 
By  his  appearing  that  evening  to  all  the  apojlles,  except  Thomas, 
19, — 25.  And  by  his  appearing  to  them  again  that  day  /even- 
night,  Thomas  being  then  with  them,  26, — 31. 


'pHE  firft  day  of 
the  week  com- 


Text.  Paraphrase. 

/^\N  the  firft  day  of  the  week,  after  the  Sabbath 

^-^    was  over,   (fee  the  note  on  Matth.  xxviii.   1.) 

lene   early     when    Mary  Magdalene,  with  fome  other  women,  in  the 

it  was    yet  dark,    fervour  of  their  zeal,  and  that  they  might  the  better 

unto  the  fepulchre,    pafs  along  undifcovered,  fet  out  early  in  the  morning, 

and  feeth  the  ftone    before  it  was  quite  day,  and  got  to  Chrift's  fepulchre 

theTepukhre.  r°m   *>Y  fun"rifing»    {Mark  xvi.  2.)  in  order  to  a  further 

embalment  of  his  body  ;  and,  at  their  arrival,  they 

found  the  great  ftone  was   removed,   which,    while 

they  were  looking  on,  Jofeph  of  Arimathea  had  laid 

at  the  mouth  of  the  tomb  the  day  before  the  Sabbath. 

(Matth.  xxvii.  60,  61.) 

1  Then  fiie  run-        2  Hereupon  flic,  with  the    reft    of  the    women, 

avtfa,  and  comcth    looking  into  the  fepulchre,  miffed  the  body  of  Jefus, 

to    Snuon    Peter,    kut  faw  two  angels,  who  told  them  that  he  was  not 

and    to   the    other      ,  .  ^>.r  /  T    1  •  /rr^u 

difoiple  whom  Je-   therc>   »ut  was  nien  :   (Luke  xxiv.   3, — 6.    iee    the 

lus  loved,  and  faith    note  there.)   Then  they,  full  of  wonder,   fear,   and 

unto  them,    They  joy,  haftened  away  to  the  apoftles  ;  and  Mary,  fpeak- 

t£l£d*°  Tt\y  lng  PartJcularly to  Pctcr'  and  John  the  beloved  dtf- 

fepulchre°°and  we  clPle>  faid  to  them,  We  have  been  at  the  fepulchre, 
know  not  where  and,  inftead  of  finding  the  body  of  the  Lord  Jefus, 
they  have  laid  were  furprifed  with  fomething  like  an  appearance  or 
h1D1«  angels,  who  told  us  lie  was  rifen  :    (Luke  xxiv.  4,  9.) 

But,  alas  !  we  fufpect  the  vifion,  and  are  ready  to 
believe  that,  either  fome  of  his  enemies  in  fpite  to 

him, 


Chap.  xx. 


3  Peter  there- 
fore went  forth, 
and  that  other  dif- 
ciple,  and  came  to 
the  fepulchxs. 


John  paraphrafed. 


4    So 


they    ran 
both 


49* 

him,  or  fome  of  his  friends,  with  a  kind  defign  of 
taking  his  body  into  their  cullody,  have  removed  it 
to  fome  other  place,  we  know  not  where  *. 

3  Peter  and  Johny  being  ftartled  at  this  unexpect- 
ed and  amazing  account,  immediately  ran  to  the  fe- 
pulchre,  that  they  might  fee  how  things  itood  there, 
and  that,  in  an  affair  of  fuch  vail  importance,  they 
might  judge  for  themfelves. 

4  So  they  both  fet  out  in  all  hafte  together,  like 

men 
T    E. 

tells  us,  they  departed  with  fear  and 
great  joy,  which  mixture  of  paifions  ve- 
ry well  fuits  the  temper  they  might  be 
fuppofed  to  be  in  at  the  angels  appearing 
again,  and  repeating  their  former  decla- 
ration. But  that  which  feems  to  deter- 
mine the  point  is,  that  Mat.  xxviii.  9. 
fays,  As  the  women  went  to  deliver  the 
angel's  meffage  to  the  difciples,  Jefus 
met  them  ;  and  yet  it  appears  from  all 
the  other  Evangelifts,  that  none  of  them 
had  feen  him,  when  they  went  with  this 
firft  meffage  to  the  apoftles  :  But  it  is  e- 
vident  from  our  Evangelift,  in  this  chap- 
ter, <ver.  12, —  rS.  that  Mary  faw  him 
immediately  after  the  vifion  of  angels 
there  mentioned,  and  then  went  to  the 
apoftles  again  to  make  her  report  of  it  ; 
and,  as  appears  from  Matth.  xxviii.  5, 
—  ir.  the  other  women,  immediately  af- 
ter the  vifion  there  recorded,  faw  Jefus, 
which  was  either  in  company  with  Ma- 
ry, or  foon  afterwards  by  themfelves  ; 
and  then  they  went  forward  with  the 
like  tidings  to  the  apoftles.  This  appears 
to  me  to  be  the  moft  natural  account  of 
thefe  things,  and  takes  off  the  difficulty 
of  reconciling  all  the  Evangelifts  toge- 
ther, beyond  any  thing  I  have  met  with, 
either  in  the  harmonifts,  or  other  expo- 
fitors,  that  have  come  within  my  notice. 
But  as  I  had  not  fallen  upon  this  thought, 
till  after  the  Paraphrafe  on  Matthew 
was  printed,  I  hope  what  little  difagree- 
ment  with  this  fcheme  may  be  found 
there,  will  be  excufed  by  the  reader. — 
Some  fuppofe  that  the  narrative  from 
the  beginning  of  this  chapter  to  ver.  iS. 
is  of  fadxs  entirely  new  ;  but  others  take 
them  to  be  nioftly  different  circumftan- 
ces  of  the  fame  tacts,  and  that  Mary 
Magdalene  only  is  mentioned,  becaule 
fhc  was  the  moft  remarkable,  zealous,  and 
active  woman,  and  the  principal  fpeaker 
in  the  whole  of  this  affair  ;  and  1  have 
cliofen  to  reprefent  it  in  a  confitiency 
with  the  laft  of  thefe  views,  at  leait  till 
we  come  to  yer*  11. 


N    O 

*  Oux  tiiSotfttv  -rev,  we  know  not 
■where,  in  the  plural  number,  intimates 
that  the  other  women  were  with  Mary  at 
the  fepulchre  at  leaft,  and  faw  that  the  bo- 
dy of  Jefus  was  removed,  before  fhe  went 
to  the  apoftles ;  it  was  likewife  upon 
their  telling  what  they  had  feen,  and 
what  the  angels  had  faid,  that  Peter 
got  up  and  ran  to  the  fepulchre  :  (Luke 
xxiv.  9, — 12,  23,  14.)  And  we  need  not 
much  wonder  that,  notwithftanding  all 
this,  the  women,  under  their  ftrong  pre- 
judices, fears,  and  unbelief,  fufpedled  the 
body  of  Jefus  to  have  been  removed  by 
the  hands  of  men ;  fince  we  are  afuired 
that  Mary,  after  fhe  had  feen  the  angels, 
expreffed  herfelf  in  the  fame  manner  to 
them,  <ver.  12,  13.  of  this  chapter.  It  is 
indeed  very  difficult  to  fettle  the  ac- 
count of  this  part  of  the  hiftory,  in  its 
proper  connection  with  what  is  faid  by 
the  other  Evangelifts.  But,  upon  care- 
fully comparing  them  together,  it  feems 
to  me,  that  there  were  two  appearances 
of  the  angels  to  the  women  ;  and  that 
Mark  and  Luke  fpeak  only  of  the  firji, 
whilft  Matthew  and  John,  after  men- 
tioning the  womens  coming  to  the  fepul- 
chre, and  finding  it  open,  with  fome  0- 
ther  circumftances,  pafs  on  to  the  fe- 
cond :  For  Mark  xvi.  5.  and  Luke  xxiv. 
3.  fpeak  of  the  womens  entering  into  the 
fepulchre;  but  Matth.  xxviii.  6.  and  our 
Evangelift,  'ver.  11.  reprefent  Mary  as 
jtaudbig  without :  Matthew  fays  no- 
thing about  the  angels  meffage  particu- 
larly to  Peter ;  whereas  Mark  xvi.  7. 
exprefsly  mentions  it ;  and  Luke  xxiv. 
9,  1 2.  fays,  that,  upon  delivering  their 
meffage,  Peter  ran  to  the  fepulchre  ; 
and  our  Evangelift  fpeaks  of  this  as  ha- 
ving been  before  Mary  faw  the  angels 
he  mentioned,  tier.  2,  12.  Again, 
Mark  xvi.  8.  fays  the  women  fled  from 
the  fepulchre,  trembli?ig  and  anuztd, 
like  perfons  terrified  at  the  fight,  as  one 
might  reasonably  expect  them  to  be 
at  the  angel's  fir  ft  appearing  and 
fpealang  to  thera  ;  but  Mat.  xxviii.  S. 


492 


The  Evangeliji 


Ghap.  xx. 


both  together:  and 
the  other  difciple 
did  outrun  Peter, 
and  came  firft  to 
the  fepulchre. 


5  And  he  ftoop- 

g  ' 
mg 

nen  clothes 

yet  went  he  not  in. 


6  Then  cometh 
Simon  Peter  fol- 
lowing him,  and 
went   into   the  fe- 


men  eager  to  run  a  race  ;  and  John  being  the  young- 
er of  the  two,  and  not  fo  depreffed  with  fear  and 
guilt,  as  Peter  was,  on  account  of  his  having  de- 
nied his  Lord,  ran  fafter  than  he,  and  reached  the 
tomb  before  him. 

5   And  he,  Hopping  at  the  mouth  of  the  fepul- 

^^rkw^hTLi'  chrc'  ftooPed  down  to  look  into  itj  and  PlaInly  faw 

V  \y[nJ~  tnat  tne  body  of  Jefus  was  really  gone,  and  that  the 
linen  cloaths,  in  which  it  was  wrapped,  were  left  be- 
hind it ;  but  being  timorous,  and  full  of  confirmation, 
he  did  not  venture  in,  to  make  a  more  exacl:  fcrutiny. 
6,  7  Then  Peter  haftening  after  him,  as  fait  as 
he  could,  foon  came  up  to  the  place,  and,  being  na- 
turally a  man  of  a  more  adventurous  temper,  went 
pulchre,"  and  feeth  directly  into  the  fepulchre  itfelf,  that  he  might  get 
the  linen  clothes  the  fulleft  fatisfa&ion  poffible,  about  the  true  Hate  of 
*ie ;  things  there  :   And  when  he  came  to  furvey  it  in  the 

7  And  the  nap-   ftrj&eft  manner,  he  not  only  found  that  the  body  of 
Km  that  was  about     Tr  ,.  riiii*  i     ,i 

his  head,  not  King   Jeius  was  removed,  but  law  both  the  linen  cloaths 

that  had  been  wrapped  about  it,  and  the  napkin 
which  had  been  bound  aboat  his  head  ;  and  obfer- 
ved  that  that  they  were  not  thrown  in  a  heap  toge- 
ther, but  wrere  folded  up,  and  laid  apart  in  different 
places  from  each  other,  which  was  a  certain  indica- 
tion that  no  perfon,  whether  friend  or  foe,  had  ta- 
ken away  the  body  in    a  hurry. 

8  Thereupon  the  other  difciple,  who  firft  arrived 
at  the  fepulchre,  took  courage,  from  Peter's  exam- 
ple, to  enter  into  it  likewife  ;  and  he  feeing  all  thefe 
circumftances,  and  comparing  them  with  what  the 
women  had  faid  about  the  vifion  and  admonition  of 
the  angels,  (Luke  xxiv.  9.)  was  in  fome  meafure 
perfuaded*,  merely  upon  thefe  confiderations,  that 
Jefus  was  really  come  to  life  again,  and  had  no  oc- 
cafion  for  burial-cloaths  ;  as  he  indeed  had  not,  be- 
ing to  die  no  more. 

9  For  hitherto,  though  Chrift  had  fo  often  refer- 
red to  Old  Teftament-prediclions,  and  declared  that 
they  mull  be  accomplished  in  himfelf ;  yet  fuch  was 
the  ftupidity  and  backwardnefs  of  all  the  difciples, 
to  entertain  any  notions  of  a  dying  Mefliah,  that  nei- 
ther Peter  nor  John  underflood  the  meaning  of  thofc 
fcripture-prophecies,  which  fpoke  of  his  refurredtion 
from  the  dead,  or  had  any  hope  about  it  on  that  ac- 
count f . 

10  Then 
NOTES. 
*  Peter  wondered    at  thefe  things;    of  thefe  difciples  faw  them  at  the  fepul- 


with  the  linen 
clothes,  but  wrap- 
ped together  in  a 
place  by  itfelf. 


8  Then  went  in 
alio  that  other  dif- 
ciple which  came 
firft  to  the  fepul- 
chre, and  he  faw, 
and  believed. 


9  For  as  yet  they 
knew  not  the  fcrip- 
ture,  that  he  muft 
rife  again  from  the 
<icad. 


(latke  xxiv.  12.)  but  it  does  not  appear 
that  he,  as  yet,  believed  that  Chrift  was 
rifen  from  the  dead  :  And  as  angels  can 
appear  or  difappear  at  pleafure,  neither 


chre,  to  help  their  faith,  which  was  in  a 
little  time  to  be  fatisned,  and  confirmed 
by  Chrift's  own  appearing  to  them, 
f  So  wonderful  was  the   wifdom  of 

God3 


Chap.  xx. 

I o Then  the  dif- 
ciples  went  away 
again  unto  their 
own  home. 


Jo  An  paraphrafsd. 


x  i  But  Mary 
flood  without  at  the 
fepulchre,  weeping: 
and,  as  fhe  wept, 
fhe  (looped  down, 
and  looked  into  the 
iepulchre, 


1 2  And  feeth  two 
angels  in  white, 
fitting,  the  one  at 
the  head,  and  the 
other  at  the  feet, 
where  the  body 
of  Jefus  had  lain. 


13  And  they  fay 
unto  her,  Woman, 
why  weepelt  thou? 
She  faith  unto 
them,  Becaufe  they 
have  taken  away 
my  Lord,  and  I 
know  not  where 
they  have  laid  him. 


14  And  when 
ftje  had  thus  laid, 
fhe  turned  herfelf 
back,  aud  faw  Je- 
fus Handing,  and 
knew  not  that  it 
Wis  Jefus. 


493 

10  Then  thefe  two  difciplcs,  having  learnt  as  much. 
as  they  could  for  the  prelent,  and  being  afraid  left, 
were  they  to  ltay  long  at  the  fepulchre,  fome  fufpi- 
cion  might  be  raifed  about  their  tampering  with  the 
body  of  Jefus,  returned  home  (^<k  ixvrcvq)  to  their 
own  companions,  to  tell  them  what  they  had  feen, 
and  confer  with  them  about  it,  and  to  wait  for  fur- 
ther difcoveries  of  this  important  event. 

1 1  But,  foon  after  thefe  things,  Mary  Magda- 
lene being  returned  to  the  tomb,  with  an  heart  full 
of  perplexity,  doubts,  and  fears,  and  defirous  of  hear- 
ing fome  good  tidings  of  her  beloved  Jefus,  flood  la- 
menting her  lofs  with-out-iide  of  the  entrance  into 

o 

the  fepulchre  ;  and  as  fhe  was  venting  her  grief  id 
tears,  fhe  Hooped  down,  and  looked  wifhfully  into 
the  tomb,  like  one  that  could  not  tell  how  to  depart 
till  fhe  found  him. 

12  And  there  £he  again  faw  two  angels  in  bright 
and  glorious  apparel,  and  in  human  form,  (fee  the 
note  on  Matth.  xxviii.  6.)  one  placing  himfelf  where 
the  head,  and  the  other  where  the  feet,  of  the  body 
of  Jefus  had  lain  ;  and  fo  they  refembled  the  appear- 
ance of  the  cherubims  at  both  ends  of  the  mercy- 
feat,  and  paid  a  vifible  honour  to  their  Lord,  as  ir 
he  had  rofe  up  between  them,  who  had  been  fo  late- 
ly crucified  between  two  thieves. 

13  And  one  of  them  fpoke  to  her,  faving,  in  a 
kind  and  tender  manner,  Woman,  why  mould  you 
thus  grieve  and  cry,  who  have  more  reafon  to  re- 
joice ?  She  replied,  Alas  !  I  have  caufe  enough  for 
my  forrovv  and  tears  :  For  I  have  loft  my  dearer! 
Lord  ;  iome  unknown  perions  have  removed  his  body 
from  this  iepulchre,  where  it  was  laid,  and  I  cannot 
learn,  by  any  means,  where  they  have  put  it,  or 
what  is  become  of  it. 

14  And,  having  fpoke  thefe  words,  fhe  flung  her- 
felf round  *,  like  one  in  an  agony,  and  one  deOrous 
to  look  every  way,  to  fee  if  Ihe  could  get  any  tid- 
ings of  her  Lord,  nothing  fliort  of  which  could  fa- 
tisfy  her  ;  and  inftantly  ihe  faw  Jefus  himfelf  ftandmg 
near  her  :  But  little  expecting  him  there,  and  her 
eyes  being  dim  with  tears,  and  in  modefty  turned  oft' 
from  itedfallly  looking  at  him,  ihe  knew  not  that  it 
was  he. 

15  Then 
NOTE    S. 

of  it ;  though  afterward,  being  fully  con- 
vinced, they  bore  a  brave  and  noble  tef- 
timony  to  it. 

*    "erbaps    (lie    heard    the    noife    of 

Chrift's  feet  behind  her,  and  looking  to 

fee  who  it  w;i-,  might  not  obferve  his 

S  ft  fa  6 


God,  in  giving  unqueftionable  evidence 
of  Chrift's  refurreclion,  that  his  enemies, 
who  were  afraid  of  it,  and  did  all  they 
could  to  prevent  it,  were  jealous  about 
it;  and  his  own  difciplcs,  who  could  not 
but  heartily  wifh  for  it.  thought  nothing 
Vol.*  1 1, 


494 

15  Jefus  faith 
unto  her.  Woman, 
why  weepeft  thou  ? 
whom  feekert  thou? 
She,  fuppofmg  him 
to  be  the  gardener, 
faith  unto  him,  Sir, 
if  thou  have  boiiie 
him  hence,  tell  :ne 
where  thou  haft 
laid  him,  and  I 
will  take  him  a- 
way. 

1 6  Jefus  faith 
unto  her,  Mary. 
She  turned  herfelf, 
and  faith  unto  him, 
Rabboni ;  which  is 
to  fay,  Mailer. 


The  Evangeli/i 


Chap.  xx. 


1 7  Jefus  faith 
unto  her,  Touch 
me  not ;  for  I  am 
not  yet  afcended 
to  my  Father:  but 
go  to  my  brethren, 
and  fay  unto  them, 
I  afcend  unto  my 
Father  and  your 
Father, 


face  at  the  firft  glance  ;  or  if  (be  did,  he 
could  eafily  fo  aft  eel:  her  organs  of  light, 
as  to  prevent  her  knowing  him,  till  the 
time  was  come  for  manifefting  himfelf 
to  her,  as  he  dealt  with  the  difciples  in 
the  way  to  Emmaus.  (Luke  xxiv.  16.) 
See  the  Paraphrafe  and  note  there. 

*  It  was  natural  for  her  to  think  that 
it  might  be  the  gardener,  his  bufinefs 
jying  there,  and  that  he  might  be  ready 
to^give  her  what  information  he  could, 
fmce  he  belonged  to  jofeph,  who  had 
(hewn  fuch  t  nerd  Chip  to  Jefus  :  How- 
ever, the  diftrei's  of  her  fpirit  infpired  her 
«  tth  courage  to  Ix'g  this  favour  of  him. 

f  Several  critics  ha\e  obferved  that, 
as  Rabbi  is  more  emphatical  than  Rabb, 
fo  Rabbuu,  or  Rabbo?i  is  more  emphati- 
cal  than  Rabbi,  and  figoifies  fuch  a  mai- 
ler as  is  of  chief  eminence  and  authority  ; 
and  fo  Alary  calling  Chrift  Rabboni, 
with  an  appropriating,  pronoun,  faluled 
the  rifen  Saviour  i  her  great  Matter, 
whorti  fhe  arlecrion.-'cly  loved,  and 
verenced.  and  claimed  an  intcrcft  in. 


1 5  Then  Jefus  faid  to  her,  Woman  !  what  is  the 
reafon  of  your  weeping  at  this  rate  ?  Who  is  it  that 
you  want,  and  are  inquiring  after  ?  She  fuppofmg 
him  to  be  the  man  %  who  had  the  care  of  the  garden 
in  which  the  fepulchre  was,  replied,  Sir,  no  wonder 
I  am  in  fo  much  trouble  ;  the  body  of  a  dear  friend 
of  mine  was  lately  buried  here  ;  If  you,  or  any  by 
your  order,  have  taken  it  from  hence,  I  earneftly  beg 
the  favour  of  you  to  tell  me  where  it  is  lodged,  and 
I'll  take  care  to  give  it  a  fafe  and  honourable  inter- 
ment. 

1 6  Hereupon  Jefus,  defigning  now  to  difcover 
himfelf  to  her,  fpoke  with  his  ufual  voice,  and  in  the 
fame  affectionate  manner  as  formerly ;  and  calling  her 
by  her  name,  faid,  What!  is  it  you,  Mary,  that  are 
lamenting  after  your  beloved  ?  at  which,  fhe  turned 
her  face  and  eyes  toward  him,  and  immediately  know- 
ing him,  faid,  with  faith,  affection,  and  reverence, 
in  the  Jewijh  language,  f  Rabboni,  which  was  the 
higheil  title  of  honour  that  was  ever  given  to  any  of 
their  teachers,  and  fignifies  my  Majler. 

17  Then  fhe,  in  a  perfect  rapture  of  love  and  joy, 
running  to  embrace  him,  and  to  catch  hold  of  his  feet 
and  adore  him,  as  all  the  women  did  likewife,  when 
they  faw  him  ;  [Ma tth.  xxviii.  9.)  Jefus,  to  reftrain 
her,  faid,  Do  not  flay  now  to  exprefs  your  affection 
in  this  manner  to  me,  whom  you  will  have  opportu- 
nities hereafter  of  feeing  again  :  For  as  I  have  not 
yet  I  afcended,  fo  I  am  not  juft  now  going  up  to  my 

heavenly 
NOTES. 

X  The  verb  avorCffijjta  and  ctvzGatvv, 
ufed  here  and  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
verfe  is  active,  as  it  likewife  is  in  chap. 
iii.  13.  and  vi.  6z.  and  Eph.  iv.  8,  9,  10.  t» 
fignify  that  our  Lord's  afcenfion  was  by  his 
own  power,  as  his  own  act,  or  that  he 
was  not  paflive  in  it,  as  believers  will  be, 
who,  I  think,  are  never  faid  in  a  literal 
fenfe  to  afcend  to  heaven,  but  will  be 
caught  up  i?i  the  clouds  to  meet  the  Lord 
in  the  air,  ( r  Thejf.  iv.  17.)  And  though 
his  difciples  had  fo  lately  forfaken  hira 
in  the  time  of  his  reproach  and  fufferings, 
and  he  was  now  rifen  to,  and  going  to 
take  poffeffion  of  his  glory;  yet  he  was 
not  afhamed  to  call  them  brethren;  and 
this  being  the  firft  time  of  his  ever  direct- 
ly calling  the.n  fo,  may  intimate  that 
Ire  hail  then  fecured,  and  eftablifhed  this 
happy  relation  between  himfelf  and 
them,  and  that  his  exaltation  would  be 
no  abatement  of  his  condelcenfion  and 
grace  to  them.  Dr.  Goodvuy?2'S  fenfe  of 
the  former  part  of  this  verfe  is,  (/un  jc-t^v) 
Do  not  at  prelent  in  fo  famili%r  a  m an- 


te- 


uer 


Chap.  xx. 

Father,  and  to  my 
God,  and  your  God. 


John  paraphrafed. 


495 


1 8  Mary  Mag- 
dalene came  and 
told  the  difciples, 
that  the  had  feen 
the  Lord,  and  that 
he  had  fpoken  thefe 
things  unto  her. 


1 9  Then  the  fame 
day  at  evening,  be- 
ing the  fir  ft  day  of 
the  week,  when  the 
doors  were  fhut, 
where  the  difciples 
were  affembled  for 
fear  of  the  Jews, 
came  Jefus,  and 
ilood  in  the  midft, 
and  faith  unto 
them,  Peace  be 
unto  you. 


20  And    when 

he  had  fo  faid,   he 

fhe  wed  unto  them 

his 


ner  hang  about  me, 
fcended,  as  I  fnall  be 
yqu  and  I  fliall  be 


heavenly  Father  :  But  haften  thou  away,  with  all 
fpeed,  to  my  poor,  difconfolate,  and  diftrefled  difci- 
ples, whom  I  ftill  love  as  much  as  ever,  and  whom  1 
efteem  and  own  as  my  brethren,  having  taken  them 
into  my  Father's  family,  and  made  them  heirs  with 
myfelf  of  the  glory  to  which  I  am  going  :  And  tell 
them,  as  from  me,  that  I  am  rifen  to  immortal  life, 
and  not  to  fet  up  a  temporal  throne  among  them  on 
earth  ;  and  that,  according  to  what  I  lately  faid  to 
them,  [chap,  xiv.  2,  3.)  I.  am  about  to  afcend  to  my 
own  Father,  who  is  lo  by  nature,  and  to  their  Fa- 
ther, who  is  fo  by  adoption  and  grace  ;  and  to  my 
God,  who  is  in  covenant  with  me,  as  their  head, 
and  to  their  God,  who  is  in  covenant  with  them, 
through  me,  and  under  me,  and  in  whom  they  may 
have  the  greateft  confidence  on  my  account. 

1 8  Accordingly  Mary  Magdalene,  preferring  pre- 
fent  duty  to  prelent  enjoyments,  went  immediately  in 
obedience  to  his  command,  and,  with  an'  air  of  plea- 
fure  and  fatisfaclion  in  her  countenance,  told  the  dif- 
ciples that  the  Lord  Jefus  bad  appeared  to  her,  and 
had  fent  her  with  the  wonderful,  condescending,  and 
gracious  tidings,  which  fhe  rehearfed  as  from  himfelf, 
to  affure  them  of  his  great  love,  care,  and  concern 
for  them. 

19  After  this,  in  the  evening  of  the  very  fame  day 
on  which  he  arofe,  and  appeared  to  Mary  Magdalene, 
viz.  the  firil  day  of  the  week  ;  when  the  difciples  were 
gathered  together  in  a  private  room,  and  were  com- 
paring notes  about  his  resurrection,  [Luke  xxiv.  34, 
— 36.)  after  the  doors  were  fattened  (Qv^cov  jcskA^c-^s- 
vm)  for  fear  of  being  difcovered  and  broke  in  upon 
by  the  Je^s,  Jems  himfelf,  whofe  divine  power  could 
eafily  make  his  way,  (fee  the  note  on  Luke  xxiv.  37.) 
came  in  his  ufual  form,  before  they  were  aware,  to 
confirm  his  love  to  them,  and  their  faith  in  him  ;  and, 
Handing  in  the  midft  of  them,  he,  inilead  of  upbraid- 
ing them  for,  or  taking  any  notice  of  their  having  fo 
fhamefully  deferted  him  in  his  late  diftrefs,  faluted 
them  in  a  friendly,  affectionate,  and  authoritative  man- 
ner, faying,  All  fafety,  comfort,  and  quietnefs,  and 
the  bell  of  profperity,  be  to  you,  as  conlilting  of 
peace  with  God,  with  one  another,  and  in  your  own 
fouls  ;   /  have  blejfed  you,  and  ye  Jhall  be  blcffed. 

20  And  as,  at  this  fudden  appearance  and  faluta- 
tion,  they  were  in  a  great  fright,  imagining  that  they 
faw  a  ghoil,   (Luke  xxiv.   37.)    he,  to  rectify  their 

S  f  f  2  miftake, 

N     O     T     E. 
for  I  am  .not  yet  a-    with  all  my  faints  and  children,  you  fhali 
ere  long:  And  when    have  familiarity  enough  with  me.     Vol 
in  heaven  together   IV.  Part  II.  pdg.  112,  115. 


496 


TJse  EvangeVJl 


Chap,  xx. 


his  hands  and  his 
ilde.  Then  were 
the  difciples  glad 
when  they  few  the 
Lord. 


z\  Then  faid  Je- 
fiis  tc  them  a^ain. 
Peace  be  unto  yon : 
as  7.vy  i-'aiher  hath 
ient  rae,  even  lb 
lend  I  yon. 


Ana"    when 

i:e  Rad  faid  thi>, 
he  breathed  on 
.-.  and  faith  un- 
to them,  Receive 
ye  the  Holy  Ghoft. 


foever 

rmit,  they 

7're  remitted   unto 

them  ;   unci  whofe 

Bf  fins   ye  re- 

.   they  :.rc  re- 


rniitake,  immediately  prefented  to  their  view  his  hands 
and  feet,  {Luke  xxiv.  39.)  and  his  iide,  that  they 
might  fee  the  fears  of  the  wounds,  which  had  been 
made  on  all  thofe  parts  at  his  crucifixion  ;  and  fo 
might  be  the  better  fatisiied  that  it  was  really  himfelf 
who  then  appeared  among  them.  And  they  being 
thereby  convinced  that  it  was  the  fame  body  which 
had  been  crucified,  were  filled  with  exceeding  great 
jov,  he  therein  making  good  his  promife  of  Jceing 
them  again,  that  their  hearts  might  rejoice  after  their 
forrow.      {Chap.  xvi.  22.) 

2 1  Then,  they  being  recovered  from  their  furprife, 
Jefus  repeated  his  blefilng  upon  them,  with  further 
enlargement,  faying,  The  excellent  peace,  which  I 
promifed  you,  [chap.  xiv.  27.)  I  am  now  come  to 
confer  in  the  mod  effectual  manner  upon  you  :  And 
as  my  heavenlv  Father  fent  me  into  the  world,  to  dif- 
charge  the  office  of  the  MeiTiah  ;  even  fo  I,  by  my 
plenary  authority,  and  in  proof  of  my  mediatorial  com- 
miflion,  fend  you  to  discharge,  the  office  of  apoftles 
and  miniflers,  in  preaching  the  gofpel  to  ever)'  crea- 
ture, and  to  confirm  it  with  miraculous  figns  wherever 
ye  may  go.      {Mark  xvi.  15,  17,  18.) 

22  And,  having  fpoke  thefe  words,  he  breathed 
upon  them,  in  an  emblematical  way,  to  intimate  that 
the  Spirit  proceeded  from  his  divine  perfon,  as  truly 
as  the  breath  did  from  his  human  body  ;  and  that  as, 
in  the  creation  of  this  world,  God  breathed  into 
?nan  the  breath  of  life,  and  he  became  a  living  foul ; 
{Gen.  ii.  7.)  fo  in  the  new  creation,  he  could  as  ea- 
iily  .convey  his  quickening  fpirit  to  them,  as  breathe 
upon  them  ;  and  at  the  fame  time  he  faid  to  the  dif- 
ciples, with  all  the  authority  of  a  God,    Receive  ye 

now  the  gifts  and  graces  of  the   Holy  Ghoft,  to  en- 
s' ©  j  ,      . 

lighten  vour  minds,  and  ftrengthen  your  faith  m  me 
the  rifen  Saviour,  as  an  earneil  of  what  ye  fhall  re- 
ceive mere  abundantly  a  little  while  hence,  for  your 
ipiritual  illumination,  fanctiticaticr.,  and  confolation, 
and  for  your  aflifiance  and  fuccefs  in  the  minifterial 
work,  which  I  commit  to  you. 

23  And  this  mall  be  attended  with  fuch  divine  au- 
thority, that  whoever  fincerely  believes  in  me,  accord- 
ing to  the  gofpel  which  I  fend  you  to  preach,  and  ye 
thereupon  declare  him  to  be  forgiven  all  trefpafies  ; 
he  is  certainly  forgiven,  by  the  riches  of  divine  grace, 
on  my  account,  and  may  take  the  comfort  of  it: 
And  whoever  perfiits  in  unbelief,  finally  rejecting  me, 
and  my  gofpel  of  faivation,  which  I  fend  you  to  pub- 
Hfh,  and  ye  thereupon  declare  him  to  be  in  a  ftate  ot 
condemnation  ;  his  fins  are  not  blotted  out,  or  forgi- 
.   but  Ik  :n  judgi  jainft  him,  as  he  will  find 


Ghap.  xx.  John  paraphrafed.  497 

to  his  ftrrow  ;  fo  that  the  fentence  of  abfclution  or 
condemnation  mail  be  valid,  which  ye  fhall  regularly 
pronounce  in  my  name  and  authority,  according  to 
my  word  ;  (Mark  xvi  1 6.)  *  God  himlelf  will  con- 
firm it,  and  proceed  according  to  it  in  the  great  day. 
24  Bat  Thomas,  24  But  when  the  bleffed  Jefus  made  this  gracious 
one  of  the  twelve,    viiit  to  the  reft  of  the  apoftles,    Thomas,  who  was 

called  Didymus,  fckewife  called  Z)/VtW<,  (fee  the  note  on  chap.  xi. 
was  not  with  them       ,,  x         .  1     r  j   «•  1  r    i 

when  Tefus  came.      I^*)  an"  was  cnolen  and  let  apart  to  be  one  of  thtm 
that  were  originally  twelve  in   number,  was  not  pre- 
fent  with  them  ;  and  as  this  neglect  was  his  own  great 
lofs,  fo  providence  over-ruled  it  to  make  way  for  fuch 
further  evidence  of  ChrifVs  refurrection  from  the  dead, 
as  might  put  it  paft  all  reafonable  difpute,  in  that, 
and  lucceeding  generations. 
•25    The    other        25    The  reft  of  the   difciples  therefore,    meeting 
difciples    therefore    rffa  h£m  a  Httle  afterwards,  faid  to  him  with  a  tranf- 
a:<  un  0    im,      e  q£  •         y^    ourfelves  have  feen  the  Lord    Tefus 

have  feen  the  Lord,    r  •  1       r     1       •       1  n  • 

But  he  faid  unto    alive  again,  who  lpoke  in  the  molt  endearing  manner 

them,  Except  I  tons.  But  Thome.',  though  he  had  often  feen  (Thrift's 
fhall  fee  in  his  mighty  works,  and  heard  him  fpeak  of  his  refurrec- 
fcands  the  print  of   t«  ^  ^ag  prerent  at  ^  report   that  the   women 

the  nails,    and  put  7'     c  •  n      «  r      t  t    1  ■  \ 

mv  finger  into  the    made  01  it,  as  actually  come  to  pals;  {Luke  xxiv.  9.) 

print  of  the  nails,  and  though  he  knew  his  brethren  to  be  fober  and 
and  thruft  my  hand    faithful  men,  whom  Jefus  had  chofen  to  be  his  witnefs- 

noTbeTie^'  '  ^  es  ;  >'et  fo  defPerate  was  his  unbelief,  that  he  replied 
Alas  !  ye  have  been  fome  way  or  other  impofed  upon, 
.as  we  all  know  the  women  were,  when  they  told  us 
juft  fuch  another  unlikely  iiory  :  (Luke  xxiv.  11.)  For 
my  part,  I  do  not  believe  a  word  of  what  you  fay, 
the  thing  itfelf  is  impofhble  ;  and  unlefs  I  were  to  fee 
him  and  his  fears  with  mine  own  eyes,  and  feel  him 
with  mine  own  hands,  fo  as  to  put  my  nnger  into  the 
dents  made  in  his  hands  by  the  nails  that  fattened  him 
to  the  crofs,  and  my  hand  into  the  hole  that  the  fol- 
dier's  fpear  made  in  his  lide,  I  will  never  believe  that 
he  is  really  rifen  from  the  dead. 
2*6    And,    after         26  And  in  this  unbelieving  condition  he  continued, 

right  davs  again  diftreffed  and  comfortlefs,  as  a  ftranger  to  his  bre- 
his    dilciples   were    J,  .  .,,     ,  r    ,  °  r   n   ,  r   , 

within    and  Tho-    threns  J°YS>  till  the  next  return  or  the  hrit  day  of  the 
raas    week"*,   when  the  difciples  afiembkd  privately  again; 

and 
NOTES. 
*  What  is  here  faid  is  applicable,  ac-    be  healed,  as  in  the  cafe  of  the  c  1 
cording  to  the  Paraphrafe,  to  every  faith-    at  Lyftra,  (Acts  xiv.   S,  9,   10.)  aid  of 
fill  minifter  of  Chrift,  as  well  as  the  apof-    inflicting  corporal  punifhrnents  on  other«, 
ties,  to  encourage  them  in  the  dilcharge    whom  they  knew  to  be  hypocrites  and 
of  their  office:  But  if  our  Lord  meant    enemies  to  the  gofpel:  Inflances  of  which 
any  thing  further,  which  was  peculiar    we  have  in  Ananias  and  Sapphira,  and 
to  the  apoftles,  it  might  refer  to  the  pew-    El\mas  the  forcerer.     rACls  v.  3,  izc. 
er  he  fcave  them  of  difcerning  fpiiits,  and    and  xiii.  ic,  11.)  fee  the  note  on  Mattk. 
thereupon  of  healing  the  corporal  difea-    xvi.  19. 
ies  of  fuch  as  they  perceived  had  faith  to        *  After  eight  days  in  the  yewijb  idi- 


om 


49s 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  xx. 


mas  with  them. 
Then  came  Jefus, 
the  doors  being 
fhut,  and  flood  in 
the  mid  ft,  and  laid, 
Peace  be  unto  you. 


27  Then  faith  he 
to  Thomas,  Reach 
hither  thy  finger, 
and  behold  my 
hands;  and  reach 
hither  thy  hand, 
and  thruft  it  into 
my  fide  :  and  be 
not  faithlefs,  but 
believing. 


and  Thomas  having  fuffered  fo  much  by  his  late  ab- 
fence,  took  care  to  be  with  them,  they  ftill  admitting 
him  to  their  fociety  as  a  fincere  difciple,  though  at 
prefent  under  the  power  of  unbelief,  from  which  they 
hoped  that  Chrift  would  fome  way  or  other  foon  reco- 
ver him  :  Then  Jefus  came  into  the  room,  after  the 
doors  had  been  fattened,  in  the  fame  manner,  and  for 
the  fame  reafon  as  before,  [ver.  19.)  and  ftanding 
vilibly  among  them,  repeated  his  former  friendly  falu- 
tation,  faying,  I  command  that  all  the  bleffings  of  fpi- 
ritual  peace  and  profperity  may  reft  upon  you. 

27  Hereupon  Jefus,  knowing  the  incredulity  of 
Thomas's  heart,  and  yet  his  real  concern  not  to  be 
deceived  in  a  point  of  the  laft  importance,  fo  far  con- 
delcended  to  his  weaknefs,  as  to  fpeak  particularly 
to  him  by  name  ;  and  inftead  of  upbraiding  him  for 
his  obftinacy  and  p^rverfenefs,  in  refufing  the  reafon- 
able  and  fufficient  evidence,  that  had  been  given  be- 
fore, he,  with  amazing  endearments  of  grace,  faid 
to  him,  Come  Thomas,  take  the  very  proof  that  you 
yourfelf  infift  on,  of  my  being  rifen  indeed  ;  reach 
hither  your  finger,  and  examine  the  wounds  that 
were  made  in  my  hands,  by  your  own  feeling,  as  well 
as  eye- fight ;  and  then  put  your  hand  to  the  hole 
that  was  made  in  my  fide  ;  fatisfy  yourfelf  by  all 
means  poffible,  that  this  is  a  real  body,  the  very 
fame  which  was  crucified  ;  and  be  no  longer  incredu- 
lous ;  (asflWIo?)  but  believe  that  I  am  rifen  from  the 
dead,  depending  on  me  for  all  its  glorious  confe- 
quences  *  :  And  this  word  of  command  was  attended 
with  fuch  power,  as  worked  effectual  faith  in  his  heart. 

28  Then 
NOTES. 
cm  fignifies  a  week,  or  that  day  feven-  *  It  is  uncertain  whether  Thomas 
night,  which,  including  the  day  reckoned  made  the  experiment,  that  was  offered 
from,  and  the  day  reckoned  to,  is  eight  him  ;  it  rather  feems  as  if  he  did  not,  by 
days;  (fee  the  note  on  Matth.  xxvii.  63.)  Chrift'S  only  faying  in  the  next  verfe,  be- 
probably  Chrift,  in,  his  former  meeting  caufe  thou  haft  /ten  me  thou  haft  belie- 
of  the  difciples  on  the  firft  day  of  the  ved  :  But,  be  this  as  it  will,  his  bare  fee- 
week,  gave  them  an  intimation  of  his  ing  and  handling  the  rifen  body  of  our 
appointing  it  for  the  I\cw  Teftament-  Lord  would  have  been  no  more  effectual 
Sabbath,  if  not  of  his  vifiting  them  per-  of  themfelves  to  cure  his  unbelief,  than 
fonally  again  at  its  next  return  ;  and  the  other  evidences  were,  that  had  been 
fome  think  that  he  appeared  to  them  e-  given  him  before  ;  for  a  carnal  heart 
very  firft  day  of  the  week,  between  his  might  have  railed  fome  perverfe  and  un- 
refurrection  and  afcenfion  to  heaven:  reafonable  objections  againft  thefe  proofs, 
Hovever,  he  fo  fancliiied  and  blelfed  it,  as  well  as  them  :  And  therefore,  though 
by  thefe  vouchfaftments  of  his  prefenoe  thefe  were  extraordinary  means  of  ih'ii 
now  and  before,  and  by  the  wonderful  divine  and  appropriating  faith,  and  ftrong 
elfufion  of  his  Spirit  at  the  following  pen-  inducements  or  motives  to  it ;  yet  it  was 
tecoft,  that  from  thenceforward  it  was  the  word  of  Chrift  fet  home  upon  his 
<  onftantly  obferved  by  the  apoftles,  and  heart  with  power,  which  begat  it  in 
the  primitive  church.,  mid  was  commonly  him  ;  for  it  Was  immediately  upon  Chrift's 
railed,  by  way  of  eminence  and  diftinc-  faying,  Be  not  faith  left,  but  believing, 
tion,  the  Lord's  day.  (Rev.  i.  10.)  that  Thomas  cried  out,  My  Lordt  and 

my.Cfod. 


Chap.  xx. 

«8  And  Thomas 
anfwered  and  faid 
unto  him,  My  Lord, 
and  my  God. 


29  Jefus  faith 
unto  him,  Thomas, 
becaufe  thou  haft 
feen  me,  thou  haft 
believed :  blefled 
are  they  that  have 
not  feen,  and  yet 
have  believed. 


30  And  many 
other  ligns  truly 
did  Jefus  in  the 
prefence  of  his  dif- 
ciples,  which  are 
not  written  in  this 
book. 

3 1  But  thefe  are 
written,  that  ye 
might  believe  that 
Jefus  is  the  Chrift, 
the  Son  of  God, 
and  that  believing 
ye  might  have  life 
through  his  name. 


John  paraphrafed.  499 

28  Then  Thomas .,  full  of  admiration  at  the  con- 
defcenfion  and  grace  of  Chriil,  and  at  his  own  liupl- 
dity  and  backwardnefs  to  believe,  and  full  of  holy 
ihame  and  joyful  ecllacy,  cried  out,  I  now  declare, 
before  all  the  company,  that  I  am  fully  fatisfied,  and 
do  believe  thee  to  be  the  rifen  Redeemer,  and  the 
God  of  all  falvation  ;  as  fuch  I  adore  thee,"  and  I 
take  thee  for  my  Lord,  and  my  God. 

29  Jefus  replied,  in  a  way  of  gentle  rebuke, 
Thomas,  you  have  indeed  now  believed,  being  indu- 
ced thereunto  by  the  teftimony  of  your  fenfes  ;  it  is 
well  for  you,  that  any  means  have  been  at  length 
made  effectual  to  overcome  your  unbelief:  But  their 
faith  is  ilill  more  noble,  fpiritual,  and  ingenuous,  and 
brings  more  honour  to  God,  who  believe  in  me,  bare- 
ly upon  a  divine  teftimony  fufficiently  notified,  as  the 
Old  Teftament-faints  did,  whofe  faith  refted  on  a 
mere  word  of  promife  ;  and  as  they  will  do,  who 
mall  hereafter  believe  through  the  word  of  my  infpi- 
red  witneffes,  though  it  be  not  confirmed  to  them  by 
fenfible  evidence,  as  it  hath  been  to  you. 

30  And  as  Jefus  gave  thefe  undeniable  atteftations 
to  his  refurrection,  by  doing  and  faying  wonderful 
things,  to  fatisfy  the  doubts  of  his  difciples  about  it ; 
fo  he  added  many  other  infallible  proofs,  being  feen 
of  them  forty  days  after  his  pajjion,  ( Acts  i.  3.) 
which  are  not  recorded  in  this  facred  hiliory. 

3 1  But  thefe  particulars  are  recited,  under  divine 
fuggeftion  and  conduct,  as  fufiicient  fpecimens  of 
the  reft,  that  ye,  to  whom  thefe  prefents  fhall  come, 
may  be  induced  to  believe,  that  Jefus  is  indeed  the 
Saviour  of  finners,  whom  the  Father  has  anointed 
to,  and  has  owned  and  accepted  in  his  office,  and  that 
he  is  the  eternal  Son  of  God,  pofTefTed  of  the  divine 
nature  and  perfections,  and  demonfl rated  to  be  fo, 
by  his  refurreB i07i  from  the  dead ;  (Rom.  i.  4.)  and 
that,  through  faith  in  him  as  fuch,  ye  may  be  par- 
takers, of  fpiritual  and  eternal  life,  by  the  merit  of  his 
blood,  and  the  power  of  his  refurrection,  who  is  a- 
live  for  evermore,  and  has  the  keys  of  hell  and  cf 
death,      (Rev.  i.  18.) 


RECOLLECTIONS. 

Blefled  be  God  for  the  ftrong  and  numerous  evidences  he  has  given  of  Chrift 's  re- 
furrection from  the  dead.  How  clearly  does  this  appear  from  the  open  fepulchre, 
from  the  orderly  pofition  of  his  burial-cloaths  there,  from  the  teftimony  of  angels, 
and  from  his  own  frequently  (hewing  himfelf  after  his  crucifixion  to  many  faithful 
witneffes,  who  faw  and  converted  with  him !  And  how  were  the  jealoufies,  and 
diftrufts  of  his  difciples  about  it.  over-ruled  by  Providence  into  occafions  ol  tranfmit- 
ting  to  us  the  more  abundant  and  unquestionable  confirmation  of  th;s  fundamental 
article  of  our  faith,  which  we  are  allured  was  likewife  attended  with  many  other 
infallible  proofs,  that  are  not  recorded  in  this  book  !  And  O  the  aftonifhing  con- 
defcenfion  and  love  of  the  rifen  Saviour  to  them,  that  had  fo  lately  forfook  him  in 

his 


5cd  The  Evangelifl  Chap.  xxL 

his  Iaft  extremities;  to  Peter,  who  had  fo  fhamefully  denied  him;  and  to  Thomas, 
whofe  unbelief  was  fo  obltinate  and  perverfe  !  He  appeared  and  pronounced  peace 
unto  them,  and  owned  them,  as  he  does  all  that  believe  in  him,  for  brethren,  and 
is  gone  to  heaven  to  manage  and  fecure  their  in te celts  with  his  Father,  and  their 
Father,  his  covenant-God,  and  their  God.  Happy  fouls!  that  are  brought  to  be- 
lieve in  the  rifen  and  exalted  Jefus,  and  to  claim  and  adore  him,  as  their  Lord  and 
their  God.  Though  we  have  not  the  fenfible  evidence  which  he  vouchfafed  to  thofe 
witneffes  of  his  reiurrection ;  yet  we  have  faithful  and  unexceptionable  records  from 
one,  whom  he  infpired  with  the  Holy  Gholt,  to  be  the  ground  of  faith  in  him, 
as  the  Son  of  God,  and  our  Saviour  :  And  though  darknefs  and  fears  may  fome- 
times  overfpread  our  minds  in  an  hour  of  temptation,  Chrift  can  eafily  fpeak  us  in- 
to faith  and  joy  by  his  word  and  Spirit ;  and  blefied  are  they  that  have  not  feen, 
and  yet  have  believed  ;  they  fiiall  obtain  eternal  life  through  his  name.  But  with 
what  care  fhould  we  take  all  opportunities  of  attending  religious  allemblies,  and 
oblerving  the  Lord's  day,  in  hopes  of  meeting  with  Jefus,  and  of  hearing  him  fpeak 
peace  to  our  fouls ! 


CHAP.       XXI. 

Chrijl  difcovers  himfelf  again  to  fever al  difciples  at  the  fca  of  Tibe- 
rius, and  eats  with  them,   i, — 14.      Orders  Peter  to  feed  his  fheep 
and  Iambs,    15, — 17.      Foretels  the  manner  of  Peter' s  death,   18, 
19.      And  checks  his  curiofuy  about  John,   20, — 23.      The  conclu- 
Jion  of  this  gof pel,   24,  25. 

Text.  Paraphrase. 

AFTEl1  thefe  A  FTER  the  appearances  of  Jefus,  that  have  been 
f     •  ^W    f  if  a*  already  recorded, 'the  difciples,  as  he  had  or- 

dain to  the  difci-  dered  them,  [Matth.  xxviii.  10.)  retired  from  Jeru- 
ples  at  the  fea  of  fa/em  to  Galilee  ;  and  as  he  had  promifed  to  meet 
Tiberias ;  and  on  them  there,  fo  before  his  interview  with  them  all  to- 
1  l/  '^f/f  gether  on  a  mountain,  according  to  his  appointment, 

(Alatth.  xxviii.  16.)  he  took,  an  opportunity  to  dif- 
cover  himfelf  again  to  feveral  of  them,  at  the  fea  of 
Tiberias,  which  is  alfo  called  the  fea  of  Galilee  ;  and 
it  was  in  the  following  manner  : 
7.  There  were  2  Simon  Peter  and  Thomas,  who  was  likewife  call- 
together  Simon  Pe-,   ej  DUJymus,  and  had  now  got  over    his    unbelief, 

™ii  a  t%'.a  ~  .-  and  Nathanael,  an  inhabitant  of  Cana  in  Galilee,  as 
called       JJidymiis,  '  "- 

and  Nathanael  of  ai'°  James  and  John,  the  two  fons  of  Zebedee,  and 
Cana  in  Galilee,  two  other  difciples  *  of  the  Lord,  were  got„together 
and  the  fons  ot  '/.<•-   waiting  for  the  appointed  meeting,  according  to  his 

bedee,  and  two  o-  -r'  1   ■        u    r  *  '  1,-         J  A 

„,       \,  .    ...  •  ,       promite,  and  111  obedience  to  his  command. 

7,  Simon  Peter  3    *n  the  mean  while,  that  they  might  not  be  idle, 

faith    unto    them,  but  employ  themfelves  in  fome  ufeful  way  for  a  liveli- 

1      go      a-fiihing.  hood,   Peter  faid  to  the  reft  of  his  brethren,   I'll  go 

ihey     fay     unto  ^fif^fnor ;  and  thev,  being  defirous  to  keep  together, 

him,  *                                                                              told 

N     O  T    E. 

*  It  is  uncertain  who  thefe  were;  but  is  plain,  from  ver.  7.  and  ?.o.  that  John 

Andrew   and   Philip    being    Galileans,  was  one  of  this  company,  though  he  is 

(chap.  i.  44.)  fome  have  thought  that  not  here  mentioned, 
were  thefe  other  two  :  And  yet  it 


Chap.  xxi. 

him,  We  alfo  go 
with  thee.  They 
went  forth,  and 
entered  into  a  flap 
immediately ;  and 
that  night  they 
caught   nothing. 

4  But,  when  the 
morning  was  now 
come,  Jefus  flood 
on  the  fliore  :  but 
the  difciples  knew 
not  that  it  was  Je- 
fus. 

5  Then  Jefus 
faith  unto  them, 
Children,  have  ye 
any  meat  ?  They 
anfwered  him,  No. 

6  And  he  faid 
unto  them,  Caft 
the  net  on  the 
right  fide  of  the 
ihip,  and  ye  lhall 
find.  They  caft 
therefore,  and  now 
they  were  not  a- 
ble  to  draw  it  for 
the  multitude  of 
fifties; 


7  Therefore  that 
difciple  whom  Je- 
fus loved,  faith  un- 
to Peter,  It  is  the 
Lord.  Now,  when 
Simon  Peter  heard 
that  it  was  the 
Lord,  he  girt  bis 
fiflier's  coat  imtu 
bim,  (for  he  was 
naked,)  and  did 
caft  himfelf  into 
the  fea. 


N  O 
*  The  critics  varioufly  difpute  about 
this  coat,  (tirivSvhv)  tome  taking  it  to  be 
an  inner,  and  others  an  outward  gar- 
ment ;  but  which  ever  it  was,  there  is 
no  occafion  to  fuppofe  that  Peter  was 
quite  naked  before :  For  perfons  are  faid 
to  be  naked,  when  they  have  only  their 
fhirt  on,  or  even  when  they  have  only 
You  II.  T  t  t 


John  parap hra fed.  .501 

told  him  they  would  go  along  with  him  :  Accord- 
ingly they  all  went,  and  forthwith  took  a  boat  for 
their  purpofe,  and  fpent  that  night  in  fruitlefs  la- 
bour, catching  nothing  ;  God  fo  ordering  it  in  his 
providence,  to  make  the  following  miracle,  and  the 
inftru&ion  defigned  by  it,  the  more  remarkable. 

4  And  (£s)  the  next  morning  Jefus  came,  and 
Hood  on  the  fhore  within  light  and  call  :  Neverthe- 
lefs,  ((AivToi)  the  difciples,  not  expecting  to  meet 
with  him  there,  were  fo  far  from  knowing  him,  that 
they  took  him  for  a  perfect  ftranger. 

5  Then  our  bleffed  Lord,  as  if  he  had  wanted  ei- 
ther to  gratify  his  curiofity,  or  to  buy  provisions, 
called  to  them,  faying,  in  a  familiar  manner,  Have 
ye  catched  any  fifh,  (noahx)  my  lads  ?  They  repli- 
ed,  No,  none  at  all.  , 

6  Whereupon  Jefus  defigning  to  difcover  himfelf 
to  them  by  further  miraculous  figns,  and  to  give; 
them  a  hint  of  the  great  fuccefs  they  ihould  have  in 
their  minifterial  work,  according  to  his  appointment 
and  command,  and  by  his  afliftance,  though  without 
him  they  could  do  nothing  to  good  purpofe  ;  he 
fpoke  to  them  again,  faying,  Throw  your  net  on  the 
right  fide  of  the  boat,  and  ye  will  certainly  find  a 
great  fhoal  there.  Then  the  difciples  being  willing 
to  try  what  might  be  done,  rather  than  return  with- 
out catching  any  thing,  call  their  net  according  to 
his  direction  ;  and  it  inclofed  fuch  a  furpriling  num- 
ber of  fifties,  that  they  could  not  draw  it  up  into  the 
boat. 

7  This  was  fuch  a  demonfhration  of  Chrift's  do- 
minion over  the  fifhes  of  the  fea,  [Pfal.  viii.  6,  8. 
compared  with  Heb.  ii.  6,  8.)  and  was  fo  like  the 
miracle  he  had  wrought  in  the  fame  lake  before, 
[Luke  v.  5, — 10.)  that  his  favourite  diiciple  John, 
reflecting  upon  it,  and  being  under  divine  illumina- 
tion, faid  to  Peter,  Undoubtedly  this  is  no  other 
than  the  Lord  Jefus,  who  now  again  appears  to  us  : 
Upon  which  Peter,  being  convinced  that  it  really 
was  fo,  immediately  girded  about  him  his  fiflier's 
coat  *,  and  in  the  warmth  of  his  love  and  zeal,  jump- 
ed, at  all  adventures,  into  the  water,  to  get  to  Chrift 
with  the  utmoft  fpeed. 

8  And 
T    E. 

ftripped  ofFfome  of  their  upper-cloaths  ; 
(1  Sam.  xix.  24.  2  Sam.  vi.  20.  and 
J^Iatth.  xxv.  36.)  and  fometimes  when 
their  garments  only  hang  fo  loole  about 
them,  that  their  flefh  may  be  fera  ;  {Ifa. 
xx.  2,  3.)  and  perhaps  Peter  only  girt 
the  garment  about  him.  which  was  loofe 
before. 


-J 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  xxi. 


S  And  the  ether 
difciples  came  in 
a  little  ihip,  (for 
Eney  were  not  far 
from  land,  but  as 
it  were  two  hun- 
dred cubits,)  drag- 
ging the  net  with 
fidies. 

o  As  foon  then 
as  they  were  come 
to  land,  they  faw  a 
lire  of  coals  there, 
and  filh  laid  there- 
on, and  bread. 

10  Jems  faith 
unto  them,  Bring 
I  f  the  rifh  which 
ye  have  now 
caught 


8  And  the  reft  of  the  difciples  made  the  bed  of 
their  way  to  him,  as  fail  as  they  could,  in  the  boat, 
dragging  the  net,  that  was  fo  full  of  filh,  along  with 
them  in  the  water  ;  for  they  were  but  about  an  hun- 
dred yards  off  from  the  land. 

9  Now,  as  foon  as  they  came  a-fhore,  they  faw  a 
good  lire  ready  made,  to  warm  and  dry  them,  and 
drefs  their  food  ;  and  faw  fifn  already  broiling  on  the 
coals,  and  bread  at  hand  to  be  eaten  with  it*. 

io  And  that  they  might  take  the  more  particular 
notice  of  the  preceding  miracle,  in  the  great  draught 
they  had  made,  as  alfo  that  they  might  eat  the  fruit 
of  their  labour,  he  ordered  them  to  bring  fome  of 
the  filh,  which  they  had  catched,  and  to  drefs  it  on 
the  coals  to  make  up  their  meal. 

1 1  Then  Peter  went,  and,  with  the  afliftance  of 
it  Simon  Peter   his  brethren,  drew  the  net,  till  they  landed  it  ;  and 

*ent  up,  and  drew  it  was  found,  upon  a  careful  reckoning,  to  be  full  of 
1  large  fifties,  to  the  number  of  one  hundred  fifty  and 
three  :  And  though  they  were  (toctoi/ts*)  fo  great, 
itrong,  and  many  ;  yet,  by  another  miraculous  ope- 
ration of  Chrilt's  power,  the  net  was  preferred  f  from 
being  rent  and  torn. 

1 2  Jefus  feeing  with  what  awe  the  difciples  were 
flruck  at  his  prelence,  and  at  his  performing  thefe 
miracles,  faid  to  therfl,  in  a  kind  and  affable  manner, 
Come,  fit  down,  and  eat  with  me  ;  (fee  the  note  on 
Luke  xxiv.  43.)  which  he  did  as  a  further  proof  of 
the  reality  of  his  refurrection,  and  as  an  emblem  of 
that  fpiritual,  free,  and  friendly  communion  he  would 
have  with  them,  while  they  fhould  remain  upon  earth, 
though  he  was  rifen  to  be  glorified,  and  of  the  ftill 
more  intimate  communion  he  would  admit  them  to 
in  heaven.  And  they  were  fo  fully  fatisfied  of  its  be- 
ing the  Lord  himfelf,  that  none  of  them  thought 
there  was  any  room  to  afk  him,  whether  he  were  or 
not ;  nor  durlt  they  venture  to  put  fuch  a  quellion 
to  him,  becaufc  it  would  have  earned  an  appearance 
of  remaining  unbelief. 

13  Then,  they  fitting  down,  he  went  and  placed 
himfelf  umo-.g  them,  having,  as  the  mailer  of  the 
feait,  aiked  a  bleffing  on  the  food,  which  he  conti- 
nued 

NOTES. 
*  'Tis  highly  probable  that  Chrilt,  as    the   fifli  were  fecured  ;   but  in  this  the 

net  was  kept  whole,  notwithftanding 
the  flouncing  of  the  great  fifties.  Per- 
haps, as  lome  have  thought,  that  net  whs 
their  own,  and  this  was  borrowed,  the 
difciples  having  left  off'  their  liming- 
trade ;  and  fo  Chjift  preserved  it  from 
damage,  to  teach  us  to  take  care  of  bor- 
rowed goeds. 


of  great  fifties,  an 
hundred  and  fifty 
and  three  :  and  for 
ail  there  were  fo 
many,  yet  was  not 
the  net  broken. 

12  Jefus  faith 
unto  them,  Come 
and  dine.  And 
none  of  the  difci- 
ples durlt  afk  him, 
\Vho  art  thou  ? 
knowing  that  it 
was    the   Lord. 


Jfefua    then 

cometh  and  t.iketh 

bread,    and  gtveth 

them, 


the  Lord  of  the  earth,  as  well  as  of  the 
Vea,  had  miraculonfly  provided  all  this 
tor  their  fpeedy  refrefhment,  and  for  a 
further  rnanifeftation  of  his  power  and 
mercy  on  their  behalf. 

i  In   a  former  miracle  of  this  kind, 
{Luke  v.  6,  7.)  the  net  broke,  and  yet 


Chap.  xxi.  John  paraphrafed.  503 

them,  and  fifh  like-   nued  to  do  after,  as  well  as  before  his  death,  to  fet 
us  an  example;  (Luke  xxiv.  3c.)   and  lie  distributed 
both  the  bread  and  fifth  among  them.   ' 
14  This  is  now         14.  Now  this  was  the  third  time,   {chap.   xx.    19, 
the  third  time  that    2g  \  that  jefug  difcovercd  himfelf,   as  really  alive,  to 
J.'as  flie  wed  him-  '         r  -T     ,,  ,  r,  .      ..'       .  '      ,  r 

felf  to  his  difciples     an^  con"derabie  nuirber  01  ni-s  diiaples  together,  ar- 
after  that  he  was    ter  his  refurredtion,  though  he  more  privately  appear- 
nfen  from  the  dead,    ed,  on  various  occaiions,  to  feveral   particular    per- 
fons  *. 

had5  di°.  WdhenT^y  *5    AftCr  they   had  d°ne   eatl'nS>   and   Clm'ft  had 

faith  to  Simon  Tt  thereby   given    them    tokens    of   his    friendlhip,    he 

ter,  Simon,  /on  of  thought  it  a  proper  feafon  tacitly  to  reprove   Peter 

Jonas,  lovelt  thou  for  his  late  fthameful  denials  of  him,  and  to  intimate 

me      more      than  the  greatnefs  of  his  own  love  in  forgiving  him,  as 

iee.       ie      ai  pjr0  to  admoni{h  him  of  his  duty  for  time  to  come, 

unto     him,      Yea,  r    .  r        .                               iri       it  •   i           1 

Lord  •  thou  know-  anc*  to  l&tisiy  him,  and  the  reit  or  the  diiciples,  that 

eft  that  I  love  thee,  he  had  reilored  him  to  his  commiiiion,  as  well  as  ta- 
He  faith  unto  him,  ken  him  into  favour,  notwithstanding  all  that  had 
Feed  my  iambs.  palled  :  And  therefore  he  fpoke  to  him  particularly, 
by  his  original  name,  and  not  by  that  which  he  hint- 
felf  had  given  him  with  a  view  to 'his  ftrong  faith, 
(Matth.  xvi.  17,  18.)  faying,  Simon,  fon  of  Jonas, 
you  not  long  ago  faid,  7  hough  all  men  be  offended 
becaufe  of  thee,  yet  iviii  not  I :  (Matlh.  xxvi.  33.) 
.Have  you  indeed  a  greater  affection  to  me  than  y  any 
of  thefe  my  difciples  have  ?  Peter  anfwered,  Lord, 
thoucrh,  were  I  to  be  Judged  of  bvmv  laee  behaviour, 
there  is  too  much  realon  to  fufpecl  me,  and  though 
I  dare  not  pretend  to  exceed  my  brethren  \\\  their 
love,  having  too  much  already  experienced  the  vani- 
ty of  fuch  prefumptuous  thoughts  ;  yet  I  dare  hum* 
bly  appeal  to  thee,  that  thou  knoweil  I  fincerely  love 
thee.  Jefus  replied,  Shew  then  your  love  to  me,  in 
T  t  t   2  ex  ere  i  ling 

NOTES. 
*  This  may  likewife  be  underftood  of  more  than  thefe  nets  and  boats,  and  the 
the  third  day  of  his  fliewing  himfelfto  pleafure  and  profit  of  fifhing  ?  But  Pe- 
any  of  his  difciples :  For  his  appearance  ter's  dropping  this  part  ol  the  queftion 
to  Mary  Magdalene,  and  other  women,  in  his  anfwer,  feems  to  intimate,  that 
to  Peter,  and  the  two  difciples  at  Em-  he  underftood  it  to  relate  to  his  loving 
ma/>r,  and  to  all  the  apoftles  together,  Chrilt  more  than  his  fellow-ciifciples  lov- 
except  Thomas,  was  on  the  day  of  his  ed  him  :  For  no  doubt  but  he  could 
refurrecYion ;  Mat.  xxviii.  9.  and  Luke  have  faid,  that  he  loved  him  more  than 
xxiv.  13,31, — 36.^)  and  his  Ihewing  him-  thofe  other  earthly  things,  or  elfe  he  could 
felf  to  them  all,  when  Thomas  was  with  not  have  appealed  to  him  for  his  fince- 
them,  was  on  that  day  feven-night ;  rity  therein  ;  finceifhe  did  not  love  Li- 
{chap.  xx.  26.)  and  after  this  we  have  Lord  in  preference  to  ail  things  here,  he 
no  account  of  his  appearing  a^ain  to  any  could  not  be  truly  laid  to  love  him  at 
of  them  till  now.  all ;  (Alatth.  x.  37.)  but  a  remembrance 

f  More  than  thefe,   (cta«cv  t<3v7o>v)   ofhisfbi  merfelf-canfideace^  and  its  dread- 
may,  by  the  conilruclion,  refer  to  the   ful  effects,  might  well  makerhim  afraid 
objects  of  Peter's   love,    which   would   of  fpeaking  of  his  love,  as  excelling  that 
make  the  meaning  of  the  queftion  to  be,    of  the  reft  of  his  brethren;    accordiuj 
Do  you  love  me  more  thv.'i  you  do  thefe,   Jefus  condefcended  to  rgmew  the  que.;;    ■. 
your  earthly  friends  and  companions,,  or  without  the  companion. 


504 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  xxi. 


exercifing  a  tender  care  toward  the  weakeft  of  my 
flock,  by  adminiftring  fuch  doctrines,  as  may  be  re- 
freshing and  (lengthening  to  them  whom  I  now  com- 
mit to  your  charge. 
1 6  Kc  faith  to         16  Again  he  faid  to  him  a  fecond  time,   Simon, 
him   again  the  fe-    ror[  Q£  jonas     }iave  y0U  t]len  a  hearty  and  affection- 
cond  time,  Simon,  %  r  •>     ti  r  i  -  ' e  -\t 

fan  of  Tonas,  loveft  ate  love  for  me  ?  Vete1!  anfwered  as  before,  Yea, 
'thou  me?  He  faith  Lord,  I  trull  I  can  abide  by  this  appeal,  that  thou 
unto  him,  Yea,  knoweft  I  have  a  fincere  deiire  toward  thee,,  efteem, 
"  of  thee,  and  delight  in  thee.  Jefus  replied  again, 
Let  it  then  appear  by  your  difcharging  the  office  of 
a  faithful  fhepherd  toward  all  my  fheep  that  may  vcome 
under  your  care. 

17  After  this  Chrift  put  it  clofe  to  him  a  third 
time,  faying,  Simon,  fon  of  Jonas,  will  you  then 
Hand  to  it,  that  you  thus  unfeignedly  love  me  ?  Then 
Peter  being  fo  plainly  reminded  of  his  having  three 
times  over  denied  his  Lord  a  few  days  ago,  notwith- 
faid  unto  him  the    {landing  his  high  profeffions  to  the  contrary,  was  ex- 

thtrd  time,  Loveft  ceedinp-lv  troubled  in  fpirit  at  this  further  repetition 

thou  me  ?    Ana  he  r    ,     ar  J               n .           r  .  r  .  .        .  .     n ...            r          „ 

faidtmtohim  Lord  °*  the  iaRle  queition,  and  laid,  with  itiilmore  earneit- 

thbu    knoweft   all  nefs  than  before,   Lord,   I  know  there  is  no  deceiving 

things;  thou  know-  thee,  who  art  fully  acquainted  with  all  things,  even 

eft  that  I  love  thee.  to  the  mofl.  recret  difpolitions  of  the  heart  ;  but  my 

lefus     faith     unto  r     .  •       .1     f     1  •    m      r  t  re 


eft  that  I  love  thee. 
Ke  faith  unto  him, 
Feed  my  fheep. 


17  He  faith  un- 
to him  the  third 
time,  Simon,  fo;?  of 
Jonas,  loveft  thou 
me  ?  Peter  was 
srieved.  becaufe  he 


him, 
fheep. 


Feed 


my 


great  comfort  is,  that,  how  juftly  foever  I  may  fuf- 
pecl:  myfelf,  and  deferve  to  be  fufpefted  by  thee  and 
others,  thy  omnifcient  eye  fees  the  principle  of  love 
which  is  in  my  foul  toward  thee,  and  the  upright- 
nefs  of  my  appeal  to  thee  about  it.  Jefus  anfwered, 
as  before,  Prove  then  the  fincerity  of  your  love*,  by 
feeding  my  people  with  knowledge  and  underftanding, 
like  a  paftor  after  mine  own  heart,  whatfoever  dan- 
gers and  fuffcrings  you  may  be  expofed  to  for  it. 

1 8  And  I,  who  am  Truth  itfelf,  afTuredly  tell  you, 
that  though,  in  the  days  of  your  youth  and  vigour, 
you  ufed  to  gird  your  cloaths  about  your  loins,  and 
go  wherever  you  pleafed,  as  but  now  you  girded  your 
rimer's  coat  about  you,  and  came  to  me  ;  (ver.  7.) 
thou  would!?:  but  yet,  in  the  declining  age  of  life,  to  which  you  mail 
when  thou  (halt  br    be  preserved  to  feed  my  flock,  you  will  be  forced  to 

old,     thou     (halt   ftrctch  4-  out  vour  hands  in  fuch  a  difasrceable  man- 
ftretch  '  ■>  o- 

ner, 

NOTES. 

*  I  flo  not  fee  that  any  great  depend-        f  Stretching  forth  the  hands,  has  a 

oire  is  to  be  had  on  the  oblervntions  of    plain  reference  to  the  pofture  of  a  cruci- 

critics,  about  the  different  fenfes  of   lixion.  as  the  following  verfe  explains  it: 

the  verbs  jj-i'tk*  and  pii.it*,  to  lo<be,  and    And  as  it  is  here  mentioned  before  Pe- 

'■iv  and  CT"v.</.6t<vfiv,  to  feed,  in  this  and    tcr\  being  girded,  and  carried  whither 

the  two  prcccdin  The  two  for-    he  would  not,  it  may  relate  to  the  cuf- 

rofthefe  fecm  to  be,  here  at  leaft,    torn  of  laying  tire  crofs  on  the  (boulders 

nfed  promifcuottfly  one  for  the  other,  as    of. him  that  was  to  be  crucified,  who  it 

terms  of  the  funic  import,  as  alio  do  the    l'cenis  carrie:1.  it  with  his  arms  extended, 

two  1.  ami  bound   on  the   tranfverfe  piece   of 

wood 


7r.  Verily,  veri- 
Iv.  I  fay  unto  thee, 
"when  thou  waft 
young,  thou  gircU 
edft  thyfelf,  and 
Walkedft     whither 


Chap.  xxi. 


John  paraphrafed. 


505 


flretch    forth    thy  ner,  and  others  will  bind  and  carry  you  to   fuch   tor- 
hands,  and  another  turcs  an(j  death  for  my  fake,  as  human  nature  cannot 
lhall  gird  thee,  and  ,  -n      .c       n-ui       i  -j 
carry  thee  whither  but  Wl{h>  lf  pofiible,   to  avoid. 

thou  wouldft  not.  1 9   Our  bleffed  Lord  fpoke  thefe  laft  words  to  in- 

19  This   fpake  timate  that  particular  fort  of  martyrdom,  even  the 

he,    fignifying    by  death  of  the  crofs  *,  by  which  Peter  fhould  at  length 

mould  glorify  God*!  fe*1  his  teftimony  to  hIm  and  the  gofpel,  mould  give 
And  when  he  had  evident  proof  of  the  power  of  divine  grace,  in  its  ena- 
ipoken  this,  he  bling  him  to  fubmit  to  that  cruel  and  fhameful  death, 
iaith  unto  him,  with  a  becoming  exercife  of  faith  and  love,  and  of 
cheerful  relignation  and  patience,  and  fhould  thereby 
,  encourage  and  eftablifli  the  faith  of  others,  for  the 

.glory  of  God.  And  Chrift  having  faid  this,  he  fur- 
ther confirmed  Peter's  commiffion,  and  ordered  him 
to  yield  himfelf  up  to  his  fervice,  faying,  Keep  clofe 
to  my  inftru&ions  and  commands,  in  all  your  preach- 
ing and  labours,  under  the  guidance  and  influence  of 
my  Spirit  ;  and  follow  my  example,  in  the  exercife  of 
every  grace,  through  fufferings  and  death  to  glory  ; 


and  for  the  prefent  come  along  with  me. 

Then  Peter         2o  Then   Peter  getting  up,  and  going  after  his 

.a.  ?lV'    Lord,  looked  behind  him,  and  faw  that  difcipie  alfo 
ditciple    r  „     7.  r  ,  ,  ,.   '    ,  ,  F   , 


aiming 
feeth    the 
whom  Jefus  loved 
following  ;     which 
alfo  leaned  on  his 
breaft    at    fupper, 
and     faid,      Lord, 
which   is 
betrayeth  thee? 

21  Peter  feeing 
him,  faith  to  Je- 
fus, Lord,  and 
what  Jhnll  this 
man  do  ? 

22  Jefus  faith 
unto  him,  If  I  will 
that  he  tarry  till 
I  come,  what  is 
that  to  thee  ?  fol- 
low thou  me. 


23   Then   went 
this  faying  abroad 
among     the     bre- 
thren, 


following,  for  whom  Jefus  had  a  peculiar  kindnefs, 
as  appeared  on  various  occafions,  and  who  particular- 
ly at  the  laft  pafchal  fupper,  leaning  like  a  bofom- 
friend  on  his  breaft,  faid  to  him,  at  Peter's  giving 
■  that  t^ie  Deck,  Lord,  Who  is  it  of  all  this  company  that 
will  betray  thee  ?     [Chap.  xiii.  23, — 25.) 

21  Peter,  I  fay,  obferving  this  difciple,  and  be- 
ing partly  concerned  as  a  friend  for  him,  and  partly 
curious  to  know  what  would  become  of  him,  faid  to 
Jefus,  Lord,  What  is  the  lot  that  will  befal  this  thy 
peculiar  favourite  ? 

22  Jefus,  not  thinking  proper  to  gratify  his  curio- 
fity,  replied,  with  fome  obfeurity,  If  it  be  my  plea- 
fure  that  he  mould  continue  in  life,  till  I  come  to  ap- 
pear in  great  glory  ;  What  have  you  to  do  with  that  ? 
your  duty  is  to  mind  your  own  bulinefs  and  concerns, 
and  not  trouble  yourfelf  about  his  :  Whatfoever  be- 
comes of  him  yield  you  yourfelf  up  to  me,  and  follow 
my  fteps,  as  I  have  already  ordered  you.   (ver.  19.) 

23  The  determinate  fenfe  of  this  anfwer  not  being 
eafily  underftood,  a  report  was  immediately  fpread  a- 
broad  among  the  difcipies,  who  were  all  brethren  in 

Chrift, 
NOTES, 
hands  were  after-    nefs  and  pleafure  in  fwimmiflg  from  the 
boat,  ver.  7. 

*  All  antiquity  agrees  that  Peter  was 
crucified  at  Rome,  though  there  is  a  great 
diverfity  in  its  account  of  the  circam- 
ftancr?  of*:. 


wood  to  which  his  hands  were 
wards  to  be  nailed.  (Jrid.  Lamp,  in  Loc.} 
And  polTibly  the  occafion  of  our  Lord's 
expreffmg  Peter's  crucifixion  in  this  man- 
ner, was  taken  from  his  having  juft  be- 
fore ftretched  out  his  hands  with  eager- 


5o6 


The  Evangelift 


Chap.  xxi. 


thren,    that    that    Chrift,  and  children  of  the  fame  heavenly  Father  with 

d^-^eaefas  /aid  himft'lf>  that  this  beloved  aPollle  moul<i  never  die, 
not  unto  him  He  nke  otner  men>  but  Should  remain  alive  on  earth,  till 
fhall  not  die^but,  their  Lord  fhould  appear  at  the  final  judgment:  But 
If  I  will  that  he  this  notion,  as  is  ufual  in  oral  traditions,  was  grour.d- 
tarrv  till  I  come,  ed  on  mifconftru&ions  of  Chrift's  words,  and  additions 
*a  \  of  men  to  them  ;  he  having  faid  no  fuch  thing  to  Pe- 

ter, but  only,  If  I  am  minded  that  he  mould  prolong 
his  days  upon  earth  till  I  come  *,  meaning  till  I  come 
to  deftroy  ferufalem,  and  after  that  to  take  him  to 
heaven,  not  by^a  violent  death,  but  in  the  ordinary 
courfe  of  nature,  at  a  good  old  age,  what  iignifies 
that  to  you  ?  It  is  no  bufinefs  of  yours  to  inquire  af- 
ter it ;  nor  is  it  for  you  to  be  made  acquainted  before- 
hand with  it. 


74  This  is  the 
tlifciple  which  tef- 
tifieth      of      thefe 


25     And    there 
are   alfo   many   o- 


24  This  difciple,  concerning  whom  thefe  things 
were  faid  to  Peter,  is  he  who  here  records  them,  and 
wrote  the  prefent  hillory  of  Chrill ;  and  as  he  is  an 

thefe  things  •  and  infpired.  writer  of  what  he  has  feen  and  heard,  his 
we  know  that  his  teftimony  is  undoubtedly  true  :  So  that  it  is  to  be 
\  teftimony  is  true,  afiuredly  believed  f,  according  to  the  bell  rules  that 
men  can  have  to  judge  of  fuch  things  ;  what  he  hath 
faid  is  already  received  with  the  fulleft  fatisfa&ion  by 
the  churches  as  divine  truth  ;  and  I,  who  have  com- 
mitted it  to  writing,  am  infallibly  certain  of  its  being 
fo. 

25  And  now,  to  conclude  the  whole,  fo  indefati- 
gable was  the  Lord  Jefus  in  his  labours,  who  went 

Tefus  'dfdS  the  aDout  doing  good,  {Acts  x.  38.)  that  a  vail  abun- 
which,  if  they  dance  of  other  things,  well  worthy  of  remembrance, 
fhould  be  written  were  done  by  him,  befides  thofe  which  are  recorded  ; 
every  one,  I  lup-  an(j  were  a  particular  account  to  be  written  at  large 
po  e  a  eve^oi^  of  all  his  excellent  prayers,  difcourfes,  and  perfor- 
mances 
NOTES. 

*  Both  the  fenfes  given  in  the  Para-  Jefus  loved.  Therefore,  according  to 
phrafe  were  fulfilled  in  John,  who  was  the  various  fenfes  given  in  the  Para- 
the  only  apoftle  that  furvived  the  de-  phrafe,  which  are  fubmitted  to  the  read- 
ftruction  of  Jen/falem,  and  that  died  a  cr's  choice,  <we  know,  may  relate  either 
natural  death.  to  the  common  ienfe  of  mankind,  as  to 

*       what  we  all  know  in  like  cafes,  or  to 

f  The  words,  nve  know,  have  been  what,  in  fact,  is  the  ienfe  of  frue  belie- 
drawn  by  fome  into  an  argument  for  this  vers  with  regard  to  the  things  contained 
laft  chapter's  being  written  by  other  in  this  particular  hiftory;  or  to  the  a- 
hands  than  the  apoftle  John's.  But  the  poftle's  own  afiurance,  upon  infallible, 
beginning  of  this  verfe  is  a  plain  confuta-  evidence,  of  the  truth  of  what  he  wrote; 
tion  of  that  opinion,  where,  referring  to  and  fo  it  agrees  with  what  he  had  laid 
what  Chrift  had  mentioned  concerning  before  in  a  cafe,  of  which  he,  was  an 
John,  it  is  laid,  This  is  the  difciple  eye-witnefs,  chap.  xix.  35. :  For  though 
which  teftifes  of  thefe  things,  and  wrote  he  here  fpeaks  in  the  plural,  he  in  the 
thefe  things ;  and  in  this  chapter  he  ap-  next  verfe  refumes  the  fingular  number, 
parently  ufes  the  fame  Mile  as  he  had  in  faying  f  fvppofc ;  and  this  very  apoftle 
the  foregoing  parts  of  the  hillory,  con-  ufed  the  plural  number,  juft  in  the  fame 
tinning  to  conceal  his  own  same,  and  manner,  when  (peaking of  himfelf.  ijol  . 
ipeak  of  himfelf  as  the  dilctple  whom   i.  i, — 5. 


Chap.  xxi. 

world  itfelf  could 
not  contain  the 
books  that  fhould 
be  written.  A- 
men. 


John  paraphrafed. 


507 


mances  of  a  religious,  moral,  and  miraculous  nature, 
I  am  perfuaded  (e<^a<)  they  would  fill  fuch  an  in- 
credible number  of  volumes,  as  would  over-load  the 
mind  and  memory  ;  and,  after  all,  the  unbelieving 
world,  through  their  carnality  and  prejudices  againlt 
Chrift  and  the  gofpel,  could  not  (%v%wxi)  receive* 
the  things  contained  therein  ;  and  fo  they  would  be 
of  no  more  advantage,  than  this  compendium  may  be 
to  them.  In  ratification  of  all  the  foregoing  record, 
I  hereunto  fet  my  Ameh  ;  and  may  every  one  that 
reads  it  fay,  by  way  of  affent  and  confent,  So  it  is, 
and  fo  let  it  be  ! 


RECOLLECTIONS. 

How  repeated,  miraculous,  and  plain  are  the  proofs  of  Chrifl's  refurreclion,  who 
has  given  us  fuch  abundant  fatisfadtion  concerning  it,  as  fhould  make  us  afraid  of 
entertaining  a  fufpicion  to  the  contrary !  He  is  often  near  his  people  while  they 
know  it  not,  is  better  to  them  than  their  own  expectation,  and  vifits  them  in  the 
greatnefs  of  his  mercy,  even  before  they  look  for  him  :  And  O,  with  what  wonders 
of  divine  power,  condefcenfion  and  kindnefs,  does  he  manifeil  himfelf  to  them,  fince 
his  refurredlion  from  the  dead!  But  when  they  have  mifbehaved,  he  puts  them  to 
the  trial,  and  to  the  proof  of  the  fincerity  of  their  love  to  him  :  And  how  happy  is 
it,  upon  clofe  and  ferious  reflection,  to  be  able  to  appeal  to  him,  as  the  omnifcient, 
heart -fearching  God,  that  he  knows  we  love  him  !  We  may  then  be  aflured  that 
he  firft  loved  us  ;  and  whatfoever  trials  he  may  further  call  us  to,  he  will  en- 
able us  to  follow  him,  even  unto  death,  that  God  may  be  glorified  thereby  :  But 
Let  us  take  heed  of  indulging  curiofity,  by  prying  into  his  fecrets,  or  meddling  with 
things  that  do  not  concern  us. — Whilft  his  miniftring  fervants  fifh  for  fouls,  unlefs 
it  be  under  his  direction  and  bleffing,  how  much  foever  they  toil,  they  will  catch 
nothing  :  But  when,  at  his  command,  they  caft  the  gofpel-net,  and  he,  by  a  fecret, 
efficacious  influence,  brings  a  flioai  under  its  power  ;  how  furprifing  is  the  fuccefsl 
And  when,  by  their  miniitry,  he  has  gathered  a  church  for  himfelf,  with  what  ten- 
dernefs  does  he  take  care  of  the  weakeft,  as  well  as  the  ftrongeft  among  them  ! 
With  what  folemn  injunction  has  he  laid  it  upon  his  fervants  to  feed  them  with 
good  doctrine  !  and  how  can  they  fhew  their  love  to  Chrift,  without  attending  to 
the  charge  he  has  given  them  of  his  Iambs  and  iheep! — Bleffed  be  God  for  the  luf- 
ficiency  of  the  fcripture,  free  from  all  the  uncertainties  of  oral  tradition,  and  with- 
out any  need  of  fupplements  of  that  kind,  which  are  no  way  to  be  depended  upon, 
unlefs  they  agree  with'the  word  of  God  :  But  we  are  well  allured,  that  whatever 
is  left  upon  record  there  is  infallibly  ;.rue;  as  fuch  may  we  believe  it,  approve  of  it, 
and  rejoice  in  it,  faying,  as  with  one  heart  and  voice,  Amen  1 

NOTE. 

*   The  word  (^a^no-ai)  rendered  to    viii.  37.  and  Matth.  xix.  ir,  12.     And- 
eontabi,  is  fometimes  taken  in  a  meta-    fo  there  is  no  neceffity  for  an  Hyperbole 
pliorical  lenle,  and  fignifies  to  receive,   to  account  for  this  phrafe. 
«r  to  have  plate  in  the  mind,  as  in  clap. 


THE  END  OF  THE  SECOND  VOLUME, 


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