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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Matthew IV].</TITLE>
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"This site is for those friends and family members who may or may not know Our Lord Jesus Christ, and if not, they may come to know Our Lord through His Prophets."> <meta name="author" content="Brian Duncalfe">
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"Prophecy, Rapture,hope,bible map,bible maps, God, tribulation,Second Coming,Christ,large print bible,commentary,complete">
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<body background="../sueback.jpg" bgproperties="fixed" >
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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<h3><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank">Back to Biblesnet.com Home Page</a>
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<HR>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
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<TR>
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<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC40003.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC40005.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>M A T T H E W.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. IV.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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John Baptist said concerning Christ, He must increase, but I must
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decrease; and so it proved. For, after John had baptized Christ, and
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borne his testimony to him, we hear little more of his ministry; he had
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done what he came to do, and thenceforward there is as much talk of
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Jesus as ever there had been of John. As the rising Sun advances, the
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morning star disappears. Concerning Jesus Christ we have in this
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chapter,
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I. The temptation he underwent, the triple assault the tempter made
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upon him, and the repulse he gave to each assault,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+4:1-11">ver. 1-11</A>.
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II. The teaching work he undertook, the places he preached in
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+4:12-16">ver. 12-16</A>),
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and the subject he preached on,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+4:17">ver. 17</A>.
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III. His calling of disciples, Peter and Andrew, James and John,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+4:18-22">ver. 18-22</A>.
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IV. His curing diseases
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+4:23,24">ver. 23, 24</A>),
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and the great resort of the people to him, both to be taught and to be
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healed.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Mt4_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mt4_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mt4_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mt4_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mt4_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mt4_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mt4_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mt4_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mt4_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mt4_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mt4_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Temptation of Christ.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be
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tempted of the devil.
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2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was
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afterward an hungred.
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3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son
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of God, command that these stones be made bread.
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4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live
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by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the
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mouth of God.
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5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth
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him on a pinnacle of the temple,
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6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself
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down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge
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concerning thee: and in <I>their</I> hands they shall bear thee up,
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lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
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7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not
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tempt the Lord thy God.
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8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high
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mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the
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glory of them;
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9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if
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thou wilt fall down and worship me.
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10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is
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written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt
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thou serve.
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11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and
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ministered unto him.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here the story of a famous duel, fought hand to hand, between
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Michael and the dragon, the Seed of the woman and the seed of the
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serpent, nay, the serpent himself; in which the seed of the woman
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suffers, being <I>tempted,</I> and so has his heel bruised; but the
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serpent is quite baffled in his temptations, and so has his head
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broken; and our Lord Jesus comes off a Conqueror, and so secures not
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only comfort, but conquest at last, to all his faithful followers.
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Concerning Christ's temptation, observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. The time when it happened: <I>Then;</I> there is an emphasis laid
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upon that. Immediately after <I>the heavens were opened</I> to him, and
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<I>the Spirit descended on him,</I> and he was declared to be the Son
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of God, and the Saviour of the world, the next news we hear of him is,
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he is <I>tempted;</I> for <I>then</I> he is best able to grapple with
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the temptation. Note,
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1. Great privileges, and special tokens of divine favour, will not
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secure us from being <I>tempted.</I> Nay,
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2. After great honours put upon us, we must expect something that is
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humbling; as Paul has a messenger of Satan sent to buffer him, after he
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had been in the third heavens.
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3. God usually prepares his people for temptation before he calls them
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to it; he <I>gives strength according to the day,</I> and, before a
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sharp trial, gives more than ordinary comfort.
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4. The assurance of our sonship is the best preparative for temptation.
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If the good Spirit witness to our adoption, that will furnish us with
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an answer to all the suggestions of the evil spirit, designed either to
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debauch or disquiet us.</P>
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<P>
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<I>Then,</I> when he was newly come from a solemn ordinance, when he
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was baptized, <I>then</I> he was <I>tempted.</I> Note, After we have
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been admitted into the communion of God, we must expect to be set upon
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by Satan. The enriched soul must double its guard. <I>When thou has
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eaten and art full, then beware. Then,</I> when he began to show
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himself publicly to Israel, <I>then</I> he was <I>tempted,</I> so as he
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never had been while he lived in privacy. Note, The Devil has a
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particular spite at useful persons, who are not only good, but given to
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do good, especially at their first setting out. It is the advice of the
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Son of Sirach
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(<U>Ecclesiasticus ii. 1</U>),
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<I>My son, if thou come to serve the Lord, prepare thyself for
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temptation.</I> Let young ministers know what to expect, and arm
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accordingly.</P>
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<P>
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II. The place where it was; <I>in the wilderness;</I> probably in the
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great wilderness of <I>Sinai,</I> where Moses and Elijah <I>fasted
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forty days,</I> for no part of <I>the wilderness</I> of Judea was so
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abandoned to wild beasts as this is said to have been,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+1:13">Mark i. 13</A>.
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When Christ was baptized, he did not go to Jerusalem, there to publish
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the glories that had been put upon him, but retired into a wilderness.
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After communion with God, it is good to be private awhile, lest we lose
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what we have received, in the crowd and hurry of worldly business.
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Christ withdrew into the wilderness,
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1. To gain advantage to himself. Retirement gives an opportunity for
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meditation an communion with God; even they who are called to the most
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active life must yet have their contemplative hours, and must first
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find time to be alone with God. Those are not fit to speak of the
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things of God in public to others, who have not first conversed with
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those things in secret by themselves. When Christ would appear as <I>a
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Teacher come from God,</I> it shall not be said of him, "He is newly
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come from travelling, he has been abroad, and has seen the world;" but,
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"He is newly come out of the desert, he has been alone conversing with
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God and his own heart."
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2. To give advantage to the tempter, that he might have a readier
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access to him than he could have had in company. Note, Though solitude
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is a friend to a good heart, yet Satan knows how to improve it against
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us. <I>Woe to him that is alone.</I> Those who, under pretence of
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sanctity and devotion, retire into dens and deserts, find that they are
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not out of reach of their spiritual enemies, and that there they want
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the benefit of the communion with saints. Christ retired,
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(1.) To make his victory the more illustrious, he gave the enemy sun
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and wind on his side, and yet baffled him. He might give the Devil
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advantage, for <I>the prince of this world had nothing</I> in him; but
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he has in us, and therefore we must pray not to be <I>led into
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temptation,</I> and must keep out of harm's way.
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(2.) That he might have an opportunity to do his best himself, that he
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might be exalted in his own strength; for so it was written, <I>I have
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trod the wine-press alone,</I> and of the people there was none with
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me. Christ entered the lists without a second.</P>
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<P>
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III. The preparatives for it, which were two.</P>
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<P>
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1. He was directed to the combat; he did not wilfully thrust himself
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upon it, but he <I>was led up of the Spirit to be tempted of the
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Devil.</I> The Spirit that <I>descended upon him like a dove</I> made
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him meek, and yet made him bold. Note, Our care must be, not to enter
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into temptation; but if God, by his providence, order us into
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circumstances of temptation for our trial, we must not think it
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strange, but double our guard. <I>Be strong in the Lord, resist
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stedfast in the faith,</I> and all shall be well. If we presume upon
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our own strength, and tempt the devil to tempt us, we provoke God to
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leave us to ourselves; but, whithersoever God leads us, we may hope he
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will go along with us, and bring us off <I>more than
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conquerors.</I></P>
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<P>
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Christ was <I>led to be tempted of the Devil,</I> and of him only.
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Others are tempted, <I>when they are drawn aside of their own lust and
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enticed</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jam+1:14">Jam. i. 14</A>);
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the Devil takes hold of that handle, and ploughs with that heifer; but
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our Lord Jesus had no corrupt nature, and therefore he was led
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securely, without any fear or trembling, as a champion into the field,
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<I>to be tempted</I> purely by <I>the Devil.</I></P>
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<P>
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Now Christ's temptation is,
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(1.) An instance of his own condescension and humiliation. Temptations
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are <I>fiery darts, thorns in the flesh, buffetings, siftings,
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wrestlings, combats,</I> all which denote hardship and suffering;
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<I>therefore</I> Christ submitted to them, because he would humble
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himself, <I>in all things to be made like unto his brethren;</I> thus
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he <I>gave his back to the smiters.</I>
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(2.) An occasion of Satan's confusion. There is no conquest without a
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combat. Christ was tempted, that he might overcome the tempter. Satan
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tempted the first Adam, and triumphed over him; but he shall not always
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triumph, the second Adam shall overcome him and <I>lead captivity
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captive.</I>
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(3.) Matter of comfort to all the saints. In the temptation of Christ
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it appears, that our enemy is subtle, spiteful, and very daring in his
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temptations; but it appears withal, that he is not invincible. Though
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he is <I>a strong man armed,</I> yet the Captain of our salvation is
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<I>stronger than he.</I> It is some comfort to us to think that Christ
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suffered, being <I>tempted;</I> for thus it appears that temptations,
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if not yielded to, are not sins, they are afflictions only, and such as
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may be pleased. And we have a High Priest who knows, by experience,
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what it is to be <I>tempted,</I> and who therefore is the more tenderly
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touch with <I>the feelings of our infirmities</I> in an hour of
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temptation,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:18,4:15">Heb. ii. 18; iv. 15</A>.
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But it is much more a comfort to think that Christ conquered, being
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<I>tempted,</I> and conquered for us; not only that the enemy we
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grapple with is a conquered, baffled, disarmed enemy, but that we are
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interested in Christ's victory over him, and through him are <I>more
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than conquerors.</I></P>
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<P>
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2. He was dieted for the combat, as wrestlers, who are <I>temperate in
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all things</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+9:25">1 Cor. ix. 25</A>);
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but Christ beyond any other, for he <I>fasted forty days and forty
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nights,</I> in compliance with the type and example of Moses the great
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lawgiver, and of Elias, the great reformer, of the Old Testament. John
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Baptist came as Elias, in those things that were moral, but not in such
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things as were miraculous
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+10:41">John x. 41</A>);
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that honour was reserved for Christ. Christ needed not to fast for
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mortification (he had no corrupt desires to be subdued); yet he
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<I>fasted,</I>
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(1.) That herein he might humble himself, and might seem as one
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abandoned, <I>whom no man seeketh after.</I>
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(2.) That he might give Satan both occasion and advantage against him;
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and so make his victory over him the more illustrious.
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(3.) That he might sanctify and recommend fasting to us, when God in
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his providence calls to it, or when we are reduced to straits, and are
|
||
|
|
destitute of daily food, or when it is requisite for the keeping under
|
||
|
|
of the body, or the quickening of prayer, those excellent preparatives
|
||
|
|
for temptation. If good people are brought low, if they want friends
|
||
|
|
and succours, this may comfort them, that their Master himself was in
|
||
|
|
like manner exercised. A man may want bread, and yet be a favourite of
|
||
|
|
heaven, and under the conduct of the Spirit. The reference which the
|
||
|
|
Papists make of their lent-fast to this fasting of Christ <I>forty
|
||
|
|
days,</I> is a piece of foppery and superstition which the law of our
|
||
|
|
land witnesses against, Stat. 5 Eliz. chap. 5 sect. 39, 40. <I>When he
|
||
|
|
fasted forty days he was</I> never hungry; converse with heaven was
|
||
|
|
instead of meat and drink to him, but <I>he was afterwards an
|
||
|
|
hungred,</I> to show that he was really and truly Man; and he took upon
|
||
|
|
him our natural infirmities, that he might atone for us. Man fell by
|
||
|
|
eating, and that way we often sin, and therefore Christ <I>was an
|
||
|
|
hungred.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IV. The temptations themselves. That which Satan aimed at, in all his
|
||
|
|
temptations, was, to bring him to <I>sin against God,</I> and so to
|
||
|
|
render him for ever incapable of being a Sacrifice for the sins of
|
||
|
|
others. Now, whatever the colours were, that which he aimed at was, to
|
||
|
|
bring him,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. To despair of his Father's goodness.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. To presume upon his Father's power.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. To alienate his Father's honour, by giving it to Satan. In the two
|
||
|
|
former, that which he tempted him <I>to,</I> seemed innocent, and there
|
||
|
|
in appeared the subtlety of the tempter; in the last, that which he
|
||
|
|
tempted him <I>with,</I> seemed desirable. The two former are artful
|
||
|
|
temptations, which there was need of great wisdom to discern; the last
|
||
|
|
was a strong temptation, which there was need of great resolution to
|
||
|
|
resist; yet he was baffled in them all.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. He tempted him to despair of his Father's goodness, and to distrust
|
||
|
|
his Father's care concerning him.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) See how the temptation was managed
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+4:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>The tempter came to him.</I> Note, The Devil is <I>the tempter,</I>
|
||
|
|
and therefore he is <I>Satan--an adversary;</I> for those are our worst
|
||
|
|
enemies, that entice us to sin, and are Satan's agents, are doing his
|
||
|
|
work, and carrying on his designs. He is called emphatically <I>the
|
||
|
|
tempter,</I> because he was so to our first parents, and still is so,
|
||
|
|
and all other tempters are set on work by him. <I>The tempter came</I>
|
||
|
|
to Christ in a visible appearance, not terrible and affrighting, as
|
||
|
|
afterward in his agony in the garden; no, if ever the Devil
|
||
|
|
<I>transformed himself into an angel of light,</I> he did so now, and
|
||
|
|
pretended to be a good genius, a guardian angel.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Observe the subtlety of <I>the tempter,</I> in joining this first
|
||
|
|
temptation with what went before to make it the stronger.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] Christ began to be hungry, and therefore the motion seemed very
|
||
|
|
proper, to turn <I>stones</I> into <I>bread</I> for his necessary
|
||
|
|
support. Note, It is one of the wiles of Satan to take advantage of our
|
||
|
|
outward condition, in that to plant the battery of his temptations. He
|
||
|
|
is an adversary no less watchful than spiteful; and the more ingenious
|
||
|
|
he is to take advantage against us, the more industrious we must be to
|
||
|
|
give him none. When he began to be hungry, and that in a
|
||
|
|
<I>wilderness,</I> where there was nothing to be had, then the Devil
|
||
|
|
assaulted him. Note, Want and poverty are a great temptation to
|
||
|
|
discontent and unbelief, and the use of unlawful means for our relief,
|
||
|
|
under pretence that necessity has no law; and it is excused with this
|
||
|
|
that hunger will break through stone walls, which yet is no excuse, for
|
||
|
|
the law of God ought to be stronger to us than stone walls. Agur prays
|
||
|
|
against poverty, not because it is an affliction and reproach, but
|
||
|
|
because it is a temptation; <I>lest I be poor, and steal.</I> Those
|
||
|
|
therefore who are reduced to straits, have need to double their guard;
|
||
|
|
it is better to starve to death, than live and thrive by sin.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] Christ was lately declared to be <I>the Son of God,</I> and here
|
||
|
|
the Devil tempts him to doubt of that; <I>If thou be the Son of
|
||
|
|
God.</I> Had not the Devil known that the Son of God was to come into
|
||
|
|
the world, he would not have said this; and had he not suspected that
|
||
|
|
this was he, he would not have said it to him, nor durst he have said
|
||
|
|
it if Christ had not now drawn a veil over his glory, and if the Devil
|
||
|
|
had not now put on an impudent face.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>First,</I> "Thou has now an occasion to question whether <I>thou be
|
||
|
|
the Son of God</I> or no; for can it be, that <I>the Son of God,</I>
|
||
|
|
who is <I>Heir of all things,</I> should be reduced to such straits? If
|
||
|
|
God were thy Father, he would not see thee starve, for <I>all the
|
||
|
|
beasts of the forest are his,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:10,12">Ps. l. 10, 12</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It is true there <I>was a voice from heaven, This is my beloved
|
||
|
|
Son,</I> but surely it was delusion, and thou was imposed upon by it;
|
||
|
|
for either God is not thy Father, or he is a very unkind one." Note,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. The great thing Satan aims at, in tempting good people, is to
|
||
|
|
overthrow their relation to God as a Father, and so to cut off their
|
||
|
|
dependence on him, their duty to him, and their communion with him. The
|
||
|
|
good Spirit, as the Comforter of the brethren, witnesses that they are
|
||
|
|
the <I>children of God;</I> the evil spirit, as the accuser of the
|
||
|
|
brethren, does all he can to shake that testimony.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. Outward afflictions, wants and burdens, are the great arguments
|
||
|
|
Satan uses to make the people of God question their sonship; as if
|
||
|
|
afflictions could not consist with, when really they proceed from,
|
||
|
|
God's fatherly love. They know how to answer this temptation, who can
|
||
|
|
say with holy Job, <I>Though he slay me, though he</I> starve me,
|
||
|
|
<I>yet I will trust in him,</I> and love him as a Friend, even when he
|
||
|
|
seems to come forth against me as an Enemy.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. The Devil aims to shake our faith in the word of God, and bring us
|
||
|
|
to question the truth of that. Thus he began with our first parents;
|
||
|
|
<I>Yea, has God said</I> so and so? Surely he has not. So here, <I>Has
|
||
|
|
God said</I> that thou art his <I>beloved Son?</I> Surely he did not
|
||
|
|
say so; or if he did it is not true. We then <I>give place to the
|
||
|
|
Devil,</I> when we question the truth of any word that God has spoken;
|
||
|
|
for his business, as the father of lies, is to oppose the true sayings
|
||
|
|
of God.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
4. The Devil carries on his designs very much by possessing people with
|
||
|
|
hard thoughts of God, as if he were unkind, or unfaithful, and had
|
||
|
|
forsaken or forgotten those who had ventured their all with him. He
|
||
|
|
endeavored to beget in our first parents a notion that God forbade them
|
||
|
|
the tree of knowledge, because he grudged them the benefit of it; and
|
||
|
|
so here he insinuates to our Saviour, that his Father had cast him off,
|
||
|
|
and left him to shift for himself. But see how unreasonable this
|
||
|
|
suggestion was, and how easily answered. If Christ seemed to be a mere
|
||
|
|
Man now, because he was hungry, why was he not confessed to be more
|
||
|
|
than a Man, even the <I>Son of God,</I> when for <I>forty days he
|
||
|
|
fasted,</I> and was not hungry?</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Secondly,</I> "Thou hast now an opportunity to show that thou art
|
||
|
|
<I>the son of God. If thou art the Son of God,</I> prove it by this,
|
||
|
|
<I>command these stones</I>" (a heap of which, probably, lay now before
|
||
|
|
him) "<I>be made bread,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+4:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
John Baptist said but the other day, that God <I>can out of stone raise
|
||
|
|
up children to Abraham,</I> a divine power therefore can, no doubt, out
|
||
|
|
of stones, make bread for those children; if there thou has that power,
|
||
|
|
exert it now in a time of need for thyself." He does not say, <I>Pray
|
||
|
|
to thy Father</I> that he would turn them into <I>bread;</I> but
|
||
|
|
<I>command</I> it to be done; thy Father hath forsaken thee, set up for
|
||
|
|
thyself, and be not beholden to him. The Devil is for nothing that is
|
||
|
|
humbling, but ever thing that is assuming; and gains his point, if he
|
||
|
|
can but bring men off from their dependence upon God, and possess them
|
||
|
|
with an opinion of their self-sufficiency.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) See how this temptation was resisted and overcome.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] Christ refused to comply with it. He would not <I>command these
|
||
|
|
stones to be made bread;</I> not because he could not; his power, which
|
||
|
|
soon after this turned <I>stones</I> into <I>bread;</I> but he would
|
||
|
|
not. And why would he not? At first view, the thing appears justifiable
|
||
|
|
enough, and the truth is, the more plausible a temptation is, and the
|
||
|
|
greater appearance there is of good in it, the more dangerous it is.
|
||
|
|
This matter would bear a dispute, but Christ was soon aware of the
|
||
|
|
snake in the grass, and would not do any thing, <I>First,</I> That
|
||
|
|
looked like questioning the truth of the voice he heard from heaven, or
|
||
|
|
putting that upon a new trial which was already settled.
|
||
|
|
<I>Secondly,</I> That looked like distrusting his Father's care of him,
|
||
|
|
or limiting him to one particular way of providing for him.
|
||
|
|
<I>Thirdly,</I> That looked like setting up for himself, and being his
|
||
|
|
own carver; or, <I>Fourthly,</I> That looked like gratifying Satan, by
|
||
|
|
doing a thing at his motion. Some would have said, To give the Devil
|
||
|
|
his due, this was good counsel; but for those <I>who wait upon God,</I>
|
||
|
|
to consult <I>him,</I> is more than his due; it is like enquiring of
|
||
|
|
the god Ekron, when there is a God in Israel.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] He was ready to reply to it
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+4:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>He answered and said, It is written.</I> This is observable, that
|
||
|
|
Christ answered and baffled all the temptations of Satan with, <I>It is
|
||
|
|
written.</I> He is himself the eternal Word, and could have produced
|
||
|
|
the mind of God without having recourse to the writings of Moses; but
|
||
|
|
he put honour upon the scripture, and, to set us an example, he
|
||
|
|
appealed to what was written in the law; and he says this to Satan,
|
||
|
|
taking it for granted that he knew well enough what was written. It is
|
||
|
|
possible that those who are the Devil's children may yet know very well
|
||
|
|
what is written in God's book; <I>The devils believe and tremble.</I>
|
||
|
|
This method we must take when at any time we are tempted to sin; resist
|
||
|
|
and repel the temptation with, <I>It is written.</I> The Word of God is
|
||
|
|
<I>the sword of the Spirit,</I> the only offensive weapon in all the
|
||
|
|
Christian armoury
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+6:17">Eph. vi. 17</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and we may say of it as David of Goliath's sword, <I>None is like
|
||
|
|
that</I> in our spiritual conflicts.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This answer, as all the rest, is taken out of the book of
|
||
|
|
<I>Deuteronomy,</I> which signifies <I>the second law,</I> and in which
|
||
|
|
there is very little ceremonial; the Levitical sacrifices and
|
||
|
|
purifications could not drive away Satan, though of divine institution,
|
||
|
|
much less holy water and the sign of the cross, which are of human
|
||
|
|
invention; but moral precepts and evangelical promises, mixed with
|
||
|
|
faith, these are <I>mighty, through God,</I> for the vanquishing of
|
||
|
|
Satan. This is here quoted from
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+8:3">Deut. viii. 3</A>,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
where the reason given why God fed the Israelites with manna is,
|
||
|
|
because he would teach them that <I>man shall not live by bread
|
||
|
|
alone.</I> This Christ applies to his own case. Israel was God's son,
|
||
|
|
whom he <I>called out of Egypt</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+11:1">Hos. xi. 1</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
so was Christ
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+2:15"><I>ch.</I> ii. 15</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Israel was then in a wilderness, Christ was so now, perhaps the same
|
||
|
|
wilderness. Now, <I>First,</I> The Devil would have him question his
|
||
|
|
sonship, because he was in straits; no, says he, Israel was God's son,
|
||
|
|
and a son he was very tender of and whose manners he bore
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:18">Acts xiii. 18</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and yet he brought them into straits; and it follows there
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+8:5">Deut. viii. 5</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>As a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth
|
||
|
|
thee.</I> Christ, <I>being a Son,</I> thus <I>learns obedience.
|
||
|
|
Secondly,</I> The Devil would have him distrust his Father's love and
|
||
|
|
care. "No," says he, "that would be to do as Israel did, who, when they
|
||
|
|
were in want, said, <I>Is the Lord among us?</I> and, <I>Can he furnish
|
||
|
|
a table in the wilderness? Can he give bread?" Thirdly,</I> The Devil
|
||
|
|
would have him, as soon as he began to be hungry, immediately looking
|
||
|
|
out for supply; whereas God, for wise and holy ends, suffered Israel to
|
||
|
|
hunger before he fed them; to humble them, and prove them. God will
|
||
|
|
have his children, when they want, not only to wait on him, but to wait
|
||
|
|
for him. <I>Fourthly,</I> The Devil would have him to supply himself
|
||
|
|
with bread. "No," says Christ, "what need is there of that? It is a
|
||
|
|
point long since settled, and incontestably proved, that man may live
|
||
|
|
without bread, as Israel in the wilderness lived forty years upon
|
||
|
|
manna." It is true, God in his providence ordinarily maintains men by
|
||
|
|
<I>bread out of the earth</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+28:5">Job xxviii. 5</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
but he can, if he please, make use of other means to keep men alive;
|
||
|
|
<I>any word proceeding out of the mouth of God,</I> any thing that God
|
||
|
|
shall order and appoint for that end, will be a good a livelihood for
|
||
|
|
man as bread, and will maintain him as well. As we may <I>have
|
||
|
|
bread,</I> and yet not be nourished, if God deny his blessing
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ha+1:6,9,Mic+6:14">Hag. i. 6, 9; Mic. vi. 14</A>;
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
for though bread is <I>the staff of life,</I> it is God's blessing that
|
||
|
|
is <I>the staff of bread</I>), so we may <I>want bread,</I> and yet be
|
||
|
|
nourished some other way. God sustains Moses and Elias without bread,
|
||
|
|
and Christ himself just now for forty days; he sustained Israel with
|
||
|
|
bread from heaven, angels' food; Elijah with bread sent miraculously by
|
||
|
|
ravens, and another time with the widow's meal miraculously multiplied;
|
||
|
|
therefore Christ need not turn stones into bread, but trust God to keep
|
||
|
|
him alive some other way now that he is hungry, as he had done forty
|
||
|
|
days before he hungred. Note, As in our great abundance we must not
|
||
|
|
think to live <I>without</I> God, so in our greatest straits we must
|
||
|
|
learn to live <I>upon</I> God; and when <I>the fig-tree does not
|
||
|
|
blossom,</I> and <I>the field yields no meat,</I> when all ordinary
|
||
|
|
means of succour and support are cut off, yet then we must <I>rejoice
|
||
|
|
in the Lord;</I> then we must not think to command what we will, though
|
||
|
|
contrary to his command, but must humbly pray for what he thinks fit to
|
||
|
|
give us, and be thankful for the bread of our allowance, though it be a
|
||
|
|
short allowance. Let us learn of Christ here to be at God's finding,
|
||
|
|
rather than at our own; and not to take any irregular courses for our
|
||
|
|
supply, when our wants are ever so pressing
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+37:3">Ps. xxxvii. 3</A>).
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Jehovah-jireh;</I> some way or other <I>the Lord will provide.</I>
|
||
|
|
It is better to live poorly upon the fruits of God's goodness, than
|
||
|
|
live plentifully upon the products of our own sin.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. He tempted him to presume upon his Father's power and protection.
|
||
|
|
See what a restless unwearied adversary the Devil is! If he fail in one
|
||
|
|
assault, he tries another.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Now in this second attempt we may observe,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) What the temptation was, and how it was managed. In general,
|
||
|
|
finding Christ so confident of his Father's care of him, in point of
|
||
|
|
nourishment, he endeavors to draw him to presume upon that care in
|
||
|
|
point of safety. Note, We are in danger of missing our way, both on the
|
||
|
|
right hand and on the left, and therefore must take heed, lest, when we
|
||
|
|
avoid one extreme, we be brought by the artifices of Satan, to run into
|
||
|
|
another; lest, by overcoming our prodigality, we fall into
|
||
|
|
covetousness. Nor are any extremes more dangerous than those of despair
|
||
|
|
and presumption, especially in the affairs of our souls. Some who have
|
||
|
|
obtained a persuasion that Christ is able and willing to save them
|
||
|
|
<I>from</I> their sins, are then tempted to presume that he will save
|
||
|
|
them <I>in</I> their sins. Thus when people begin to be zealous in
|
||
|
|
religion, Satan hurries them into bigotry and intemperate heats.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Now in this temptation we may observe,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] How he made way for it. He took Christ, not by force against his
|
||
|
|
will, but moved him to go, and went along with him, to Jerusalem.
|
||
|
|
Whether Christ went upon the ground, and so went up the stairs to the
|
||
|
|
top of the temple, or whether he went in the air, is uncertain; but so
|
||
|
|
it was, that he was <I>set upon a pinnacle,</I> or spire; <I>upon the
|
||
|
|
fane</I> (so some), <I>upon the battlements</I> (so others), <I>upon
|
||
|
|
the wing</I> (so the word is), <I>of the temple.</I> Now observe,
|
||
|
|
<I>First,</I> How submissive Christ was, in suffering himself to be
|
||
|
|
hurried thus, that he might let Satan do his worst and yet conquer him.
|
||
|
|
The patience of Christ here, as afterward in his sufferings and death,
|
||
|
|
is more wonderful than the power of Satan or his instruments; for
|
||
|
|
neither he nor they could have any power against Christ but <I>what was
|
||
|
|
given them from above.</I> How comfortable is it, that Christ, who let
|
||
|
|
loose this power of Satan against himself, does not in like manner let
|
||
|
|
it loose against us, but restrains it, for he <I>knows our frame!
|
||
|
|
Secondly,</I> How subtle the Devil was, in the choice of the place for
|
||
|
|
his temptations. Intending to solicit Christ to an ostentation of his
|
||
|
|
own power, and a vain-glorious presumption upon God's providence, he
|
||
|
|
fixes him on a public place in Jerusalem, a populous city, and <I>the
|
||
|
|
joy of the whole earth;</I> in the temple, one of the wonders of the
|
||
|
|
world, continually gazed upon with admiration by some one or other.
|
||
|
|
There he might make himself remarkable, and be taken notice of by
|
||
|
|
everybody, and prove himself the Son of God; not, as he was urged in
|
||
|
|
the former temptation, in the obscurities of a wilderness, but before
|
||
|
|
multitudes, upon the most eminent stage of action.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Observe,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. That Jerusalem is here called the <I>holy city;</I> for so it was in
|
||
|
|
name and profession, and there was in it a <I>holy seed,</I> that was
|
||
|
|
the <I>substance thereof.</I> Note, There is no city on earth so holy
|
||
|
|
as to exempt and secure us from the Devil and his temptations. The
|
||
|
|
first <I>Adam</I> was tempted in the <I>holy garden,</I> the second in
|
||
|
|
the <I>holy city.</I> Let us not, therefore, in any place, be off our
|
||
|
|
watch. Nay, the <I>holy city</I> is the place where he does, with great
|
||
|
|
advantage and success, tempt men to pride and presumption; but, blessed
|
||
|
|
be God, into the Jerusalem above, that holy city, no unclean thing
|
||
|
|
shall enter; there we shall be for ever out of temptation.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. That he <I>set him upon a pinnacle of the temple,</I> which (as
|
||
|
|
Josephus describes it, <I>Antiq.</I> 15. 412) was so very high, that it
|
||
|
|
would make a man's head giddy to look down to the bottom. Note,
|
||
|
|
Pinnacles of the temple are places of temptation; I mean,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) High places are so; they are slippery places; advancement in the
|
||
|
|
world makes a man a fair mark for Satan to shoot his fiery darts at.
|
||
|
|
God casts down, that he may raise up; the Devil raises up, that he may
|
||
|
|
cast down: therefore they who would take heed of <I>falling,</I> must
|
||
|
|
take heed of <I>climbing.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) High places <I>in the church</I> are, in a special manner,
|
||
|
|
dangerous. They who excel in gifts, who are in eminent stations, and
|
||
|
|
have gained great reputation, have need to keep humble; for Satan will
|
||
|
|
be sure to aim at them, to puff them up with pride, that they may
|
||
|
|
<I>fall into the condemnation of the Devil.</I> Those that <I>stand
|
||
|
|
high</I> are concerned to <I>stand fast.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] How he moved it; "<I>If thou be the Son of God,</I> now show
|
||
|
|
thyself to the world, and prove thyself to be so; <I>cast thyself
|
||
|
|
down,</I> and then," <I>First,</I> "Thou wilt be admired, as <I>under
|
||
|
|
the special protection of heaven.</I> When they see thee receive no
|
||
|
|
hurt by a fall from such a precipice, they will say" (as the barbarous
|
||
|
|
people did of Paul) "that thou art a God." Tradition says, that
|
||
|
|
<I>Simon Magnus</I> by this very thing attempted to prove himself a
|
||
|
|
god, but that his pretensions were disproved, for he fell down, and was
|
||
|
|
miserably bruised. "Nay," <I>Secondly,</I> "Thou wilt be received, as
|
||
|
|
coming <I>with a special commission from heaven.</I> All Jerusalem will
|
||
|
|
see and acknowledge, not only that thou art more than a man, but that
|
||
|
|
thou art that <I>Messenger,</I> that <I>Angel of the covenant,</I> that
|
||
|
|
should <I>suddenly come to the temple</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mal+3:1">Mal. iii. 1</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and from thence descend into the streets of the holy city; and thus the
|
||
|
|
work of convincing the Jews will be cut short, and soon done."</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Observe, The Devil said, <I>Cast thyself down.</I> The Devil could not
|
||
|
|
cast him down, though a little thing would have done it, from the top
|
||
|
|
of a spire. Note, The power of Satan is a limited power; <I>hitherto he
|
||
|
|
shall come, and no further.</I> Yet, if the Devil <I>had cast him
|
||
|
|
down,</I> he had not gained his point; that had been his suffering
|
||
|
|
only, not his sin. Note, Whatever real mischief is done us, it is of
|
||
|
|
<I>our own doing;</I> the Devil can but persuade, he cannot compel; he
|
||
|
|
can but say, <I>Cast thyself down;</I> he cannot cast us down. Every
|
||
|
|
man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and not forced,
|
||
|
|
but enticed. Therefore let us not <I>hurt ourselves,</I> and then,
|
||
|
|
blessed be God, no one else can hurt us,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+9:12">Prov. ix. 12</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[3.] How he backed this motion with a scripture; <I>For it is written,
|
||
|
|
He shall give his angels charge concerning thee.</I> But <I>is Saul
|
||
|
|
also among the prophets?</I> Is Satan so well versed in scripture, as
|
||
|
|
to be able to quote it so readily? It seems, he is. Note, It is
|
||
|
|
possible for a man to have his head full of scripture-notions, and his
|
||
|
|
mouth full of scripture-expressions, while his heart is full of
|
||
|
|
reigning enmity to God and all goodness. The knowledge which the devils
|
||
|
|
have of the scripture, increases both their mischievousness and their
|
||
|
|
torment. Never did the devil speak with more vexation to himself, than
|
||
|
|
when he said to Christ, <I>I know thee who thou art.</I> The devil
|
||
|
|
would persuade Christ to <I>throw himself down,</I> hoping that he
|
||
|
|
would be his own murderer, and that there would be an end of him and
|
||
|
|
his undertaking, which he looked upon with a jealous eye; to encourage
|
||
|
|
him to do it, he tells them, that there was no danger, that the good
|
||
|
|
angels would protect him, for so was the promise
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+91:11">Ps. xci. 11</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>He shall give his angels charge over thee.</I> In this
|
||
|
|
quotation,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>First,</I> There was <I>something right.</I> It is true, there is
|
||
|
|
such a promise of the ministration of the angels, for the protection of
|
||
|
|
the saints. The devil knows it by experience; for he finds his attempts
|
||
|
|
against them fruitless, and he frets and rages at it, as he did at the
|
||
|
|
hedge about Job, which he speaks of so sensibly,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+1:10">Job i. 10</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He was also right in applying it to Christ, for to him all the promises
|
||
|
|
of the protection of the saints primarily and eminently belong, and to
|
||
|
|
them, in and through him. That promise, that <I>not a bone of theirs
|
||
|
|
shall be broken</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+34:20">Ps. xxxiv. 20</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
was fulfilled in Christ,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+19:36">John xix. 36</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The angels guard the saints for Christ's sake,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+7:5,11">Rev. vii. 5, 11</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Secondly,</I> There was a great deal <I>wrong in it;</I> and perhaps
|
||
|
|
the devil had a particular spite against this promise, and perverted
|
||
|
|
it, because it often stood in his way, and baffled his mischievous
|
||
|
|
designs against the saints. See here,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. How he <I>misquoted</I> it; and that was <I>bad.</I> The promise
|
||
|
|
is, They shall <I>keep thee;</I> but how? <I>In all thy ways;</I> not
|
||
|
|
otherwise; if we <I>go out of our way,</I> out of the way of our duty,
|
||
|
|
we forfeit the promise, and put ourselves out of God's protection. Now
|
||
|
|
this word made against the tempter, and therefore he industriously left
|
||
|
|
it out. If Christ had <I>cast himself down,</I> he had been <I>out of
|
||
|
|
his way,</I> for he had no call so to expose himself. It is good for us
|
||
|
|
upon all occasions to consult the scriptures themselves, and not to
|
||
|
|
take things upon trust, that we may not be imposed upon by those that
|
||
|
|
maim and mangle the word of God; we must do as the noble
|
||
|
|
<I>Bereans,</I> who searched the scriptures daily.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. How he <I>misapplied</I> it; and that was <I>worse.</I> Scripture is
|
||
|
|
abused when it is pressed to patronize sin; and when men thus wrest it
|
||
|
|
to their own temptation, they do it to <I>their own destruction</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Pe+3:16">2 Pet. iii. 16</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This promise is firm, and stands good; but the devil made an ill use of
|
||
|
|
it, when he used it as an encouragement to presume upon the divine
|
||
|
|
care. Note, It is no new thing for the <I>grace of God</I> to be
|
||
|
|
<I>turned into wantonness;</I> and for men to take encouragement in sin
|
||
|
|
from the discoveries of God's good will to sinners. But <I>shall we
|
||
|
|
continue in sin, that grace may abound?</I> throw ourselves down, that
|
||
|
|
the angels may bear us up? God forbid.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) How Christ overcame this temptation; he resisted and overcame it,
|
||
|
|
as he did the former, with, <I>It is written.</I> The devil's
|
||
|
|
<I>abusing</I> of scripture did not prevent Christ from using it, but
|
||
|
|
he presently urges,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+6:16">Deut. vi. 16</A>,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.</I> The meaning of this is
|
||
|
|
not, Therefore thou must not tempt me; but, Therefore I <I>must not
|
||
|
|
tempt</I> my Father. In the place whence it is quoted, it is in the
|
||
|
|
plural number, <I>You shall not tempt;</I> here it is singular, <I>Thou
|
||
|
|
shalt not.</I> Note, We are <I>then</I> likely to get good by the word
|
||
|
|
of God, when we hear and receive general promises as speaking to us in
|
||
|
|
particular. Satan said, <I>It is written;</I> Christ says, <I>It is
|
||
|
|
written;</I> not that one scripture contradicts another. God is one,
|
||
|
|
and his word one, and he is one mind, but that is a promise, this is a
|
||
|
|
precept, and therefore that is to be explained and applied by this; for
|
||
|
|
scripture is the best interpreter of scripture; and they who prophesy,
|
||
|
|
who expound scripture, must do it according to the proportion of faith
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+12:6">Rom. xii. 6</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
consistently with practical godliness.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
If Christ should <I>cast himself down,</I> it would be the tempting of
|
||
|
|
God,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] As it would be <I>requiring a further confirmation</I> of that
|
||
|
|
which was so well confirmed. Christ was abundantly satisfied that God
|
||
|
|
was already his Father, and took care of him, and gave his angels a
|
||
|
|
charge concerning him; and therefore to put it upon a new experiment,
|
||
|
|
would be to tempt him, as the Pharisees tempted Christ; when they had
|
||
|
|
so many signs on earth, they demanded a <I>sign from heaven.</I> This
|
||
|
|
is limiting the <I>Holy One of Israel.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] As it would be <I>requiring a special preservation</I> of him, in
|
||
|
|
doing that which he had no call to. If we expect that because God has
|
||
|
|
promised not to forsake us, therefore he should follow us out of the
|
||
|
|
way of our duty; that because he has promised to supply our wants,
|
||
|
|
therefore he should humour us, and please our fancies; that because he
|
||
|
|
has promised to keep us, we may wilfully thrust ourselves into danger,
|
||
|
|
and may expect the desired end, without using the appointed means; this
|
||
|
|
is presumption, this is tempting God. And it is an aggravation of the
|
||
|
|
sin, that he is the Lord our God; it is an abuse of the privilege we
|
||
|
|
enjoy, in having him for our God; he has thereby encouraged us to trust
|
||
|
|
him, but we are very ungrateful, if therefore we tempt him; it is
|
||
|
|
contrary to our duty to him as our God. This is to affront him whom we
|
||
|
|
ought to honour. Note, We must never promise ourselves any more than
|
||
|
|
God has promised us.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. He tempted him to the most <I>black and horrid idolatry,</I> with
|
||
|
|
the proffer of the <I>kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them.</I>
|
||
|
|
And here we may observe,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) How the devil made this push at our Saviour,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+4:8,9"><I>v.</I> 8, 9</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The worst temptation was reserved for the last. Note, Sometimes the
|
||
|
|
saint's last encounter is with the sons of <I>Anak,</I> and the parting
|
||
|
|
blow is the sorest; therefore, whatever temptation we have been
|
||
|
|
assaulted by, still we must prepare for worse; must be armed for all
|
||
|
|
attacks, with the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the
|
||
|
|
left.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
In this temptation, we may observe,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] What he <I>showed him--all the kingdoms of the world.</I> In order
|
||
|
|
to do this, he took him to an <I>exceeding high mountain;</I> in hopes
|
||
|
|
of prevailing, as Balak with Balaam, he changed his ground. The
|
||
|
|
pinnacle of the temple is not high enough; the prince of the power of
|
||
|
|
the air must have him further up into his territories. Some think this
|
||
|
|
high mountain was on the other side of Jordan, because there we find
|
||
|
|
Christ next after the temptation,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+1:28,29">John i. 28, 29</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Perhaps it was <I>mount Pisgah,</I> whence Moses, in communion with
|
||
|
|
God, had all the kingdoms of Canaan shown him. Hither the blessed Jesus
|
||
|
|
was carried for the advantage of a prospect; as if the devil could show
|
||
|
|
him more of the world than he knew already, who made and governed it.
|
||
|
|
Thence he might discover some of the kingdoms situate about Judea,
|
||
|
|
though not <I>the glory of them;</I> but there was doubtless a juggle
|
||
|
|
and a delusion of Satan's in it; it is probable that that which he
|
||
|
|
showed him, was but a landscape, an airy representation in a cloud,
|
||
|
|
such as that great deceiver could easily frame and put together;
|
||
|
|
setting forth, in proper and lively colours, the glories and the
|
||
|
|
splendid appearances of princes; their robes and crowns, their retinue,
|
||
|
|
equipage, and lifeguards; the pomp of thrones, and courts, and stately
|
||
|
|
palaces, the sumptuous buildings in cities, the gardens and fields
|
||
|
|
about the country-seats, with the various instances of their wealth,
|
||
|
|
pleasure, and gaiety; so as might be most likely to strike the fancy,
|
||
|
|
and excite the admiration and affection. Such was this show, and his
|
||
|
|
taking him up into a high mountain, was but to <I>humour the thing,</I>
|
||
|
|
and to colour the delusion; in which yet the blessed Jesus did not
|
||
|
|
suffer himself to be imposed upon, but saw through the cheat, only he
|
||
|
|
permitted Satan to take his own way, that his victory over him might be
|
||
|
|
the more illustrious. Hence observe, concerning <I>Satan's
|
||
|
|
temptations,</I> that, <I>First,</I> They often <I>come in at the
|
||
|
|
eye,</I> which is blinded to the things it should see, and dazzled with
|
||
|
|
the vanities it should be turned from. The first sin began in the eye,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+3:6">Gen. iii. 6</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
We have therefore need to make a covenant with our eyes, and to pray
|
||
|
|
that God would <I>turn them away from beholding vanity. Secondly,</I>
|
||
|
|
That temptations commonly take rise from the world, and the things in
|
||
|
|
it. The <I>lust of the flesh,</I> and of <I>the eye,</I> with the
|
||
|
|
<I>pride of life,</I> are the topics from which the devil fetches most
|
||
|
|
of his arguments. <I>Thirdly,</I> That it is a <I>great cheat</I> which
|
||
|
|
the devil puts upon poor souls, in his temptations. He deceives, and so
|
||
|
|
destroys; he imposes upon men with shadows and fast colours; shows the
|
||
|
|
world and the glory of it, and hides from men's eyes the sin and sorrow
|
||
|
|
and death which stain the pride of all this glory, the cares and
|
||
|
|
calamities which attend great possessions, and the thorns which crowns
|
||
|
|
themselves are lined with. <I>Fourthly,</I> That the <I>glory of the
|
||
|
|
world</I> is the most <I>charming</I> temptation to the
|
||
|
|
<I>unthinking</I> and <I>unwary,</I> and that by which men are most
|
||
|
|
imposed upon. <I>Laban's</I> sons grudge <I>Jacob all this glory;</I>
|
||
|
|
the <I>pride of life</I> is the most dangerous snare.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) What he <I>said to him</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+4:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>All these things I will give thee, if thou wilt fall down and
|
||
|
|
worship me.</I> See,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>First,</I> How <I>vain the promise</I> was. <I>All these things I
|
||
|
|
will give thee.</I> He seems to take it for granted, that in the former
|
||
|
|
temptations he had in part gained his point, and proved that Christ was
|
||
|
|
not the <I>Son of God,</I> because he had not given him those evidences
|
||
|
|
of it which he demanded; so that here he looks upon him as a mere man.
|
||
|
|
"Come," says he, "it seems that God whose Son thou thinkest thyself to
|
||
|
|
be deserts thee, and starves thee--a sign that he is not thy Father;
|
||
|
|
but if thou wilt be ruled by me, I will provide better for thee than
|
||
|
|
so; own me for thy father, and ask my blessing, and <I>all this will I
|
||
|
|
give thee.</I>" Note, Satan makes an easy prey of men, when he can
|
||
|
|
persuade them to think themselves abandoned of God. The fallacy of this
|
||
|
|
promise lies in that, <I>All this will I give thee.</I> And what was
|
||
|
|
<I>all that?</I> It was but a map, a picture, a mere phantasm, that had
|
||
|
|
nothing in it real or solid, and this he would give him; a goodly
|
||
|
|
prize! Yet such are Satan's proffers. Note, Multitudes lose the sight
|
||
|
|
of that which is, by setting their eyes on that which is not. The
|
||
|
|
devil's baits are all a sham; they are shows and shadows with which he
|
||
|
|
deceives them, or rather they deceive themselves. The <I>nations of the
|
||
|
|
earth</I> had been, long before, promised to the Messiah; if he be
|
||
|
|
<I>the Son of God,</I> they belong to him; Satan pretends now to be a
|
||
|
|
good angel, probably one of those that were set over kingdoms, and to
|
||
|
|
have received a commission to deliver possession to him according to
|
||
|
|
promise. Note, We must take heed of receiving even that which God hath
|
||
|
|
promised, out of the devil's hand; we do so when we precipitate the
|
||
|
|
performance, by catching at it in a sinful way.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Secondly,</I> How <I>vile</I> the <I>condition</I> was; <I>If thou
|
||
|
|
will fall down, and worship me.</I> All the worship which the heathen
|
||
|
|
performed to their gods, was directed to the devil
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+32:17">Deut. xxxii. 17</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
who is therefore called the <I>god of this world,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:4,1Co+10:20">2 Cor. iv. 4; 1 Cor. x. 20</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
And fain would he draw Christ into his interests, and persuade him, now
|
||
|
|
that he set up for a Teacher, to preach up the Gentile idolatry, and to
|
||
|
|
introduce it again among the Jews, and then the nations of the earth
|
||
|
|
would soon flock in to him. What temptation could be more hideous, more
|
||
|
|
black? Note, The best of saints may be tempted to the worst of sins,
|
||
|
|
especially when they are under the power of melancholy; as, for
|
||
|
|
instance, to atheism, blasphemy, murder, self-murder, and what not.
|
||
|
|
This is their affliction, but while there is no consent to it, nor
|
||
|
|
approbation of it, it is not their sin; Christ was tempted to worship
|
||
|
|
Satan.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) See how Christ warded off the thrust, baffled the assault, and
|
||
|
|
came off a conqueror. He rejected the proposal,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] With <I>abhorrence</I> and <I>detestation;</I> <I>Get thee hence,
|
||
|
|
Satan.</I> The two former temptations had something of colour, which
|
||
|
|
would admit a consideration, but this was so gross as not to bear a
|
||
|
|
parley; it appears abominable at the first sight, and therefore is
|
||
|
|
immediately rejected. If the best friend we have in the world suggests
|
||
|
|
such a thing as this to us, <I>Go, serve other gods,</I> he must not be
|
||
|
|
heard with patience,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+13:6,8">Deut. xiii. 6, 8</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Some temptations have their wickedness written in their forehead, they
|
||
|
|
are open before-hand; they are not to be disputed with, but rejected;
|
||
|
|
"<I>Get thee hence, Satan.</I> Away with it, I cannot bear the thought
|
||
|
|
of it!" While Satan tempted Christ to do himself a mischief, by casting
|
||
|
|
himself down, though he yielded not, yet he heard it; but now that the
|
||
|
|
temptation flies in the face of God, he cannot bear it; <I>Get thee
|
||
|
|
hence, Satan.</I> Note, It is a just indignation, which rises at the
|
||
|
|
proposal of any thing that reflects on the honour of God, and strikes
|
||
|
|
at his crown. Nay, whatever is an abominable thing, which we are sure
|
||
|
|
the Lord hates, we must thus abominate it; far be it from us that we
|
||
|
|
should have any thing to do with it. Note, It is good to be
|
||
|
|
<I>peremptory</I> in resisting temptation, and to <I>stop our ears</I>
|
||
|
|
to Satan's charms.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] With an argument fetched from scripture. Note, In order to the
|
||
|
|
strengthening of our resolutions against sin, it is good to see what a
|
||
|
|
great deal of reason there is for those resolutions. The argument is
|
||
|
|
very suitable, and exactly to the purpose, taken from
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+6:13,10:20">Deut. vi. 13, and x. 20</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou
|
||
|
|
serve.</I> Christ does not dispute whether he were an angel of light,
|
||
|
|
as he pretended, or not; but though he were, yet he must not be
|
||
|
|
worshipped, because that is an honour due to God only. Note, It is good
|
||
|
|
to make our answers to temptation as full and as brief as may be, so as
|
||
|
|
not to leave room for objections. Our Saviour has recourse to the
|
||
|
|
fundamental law in this case, which is indispensable, and universally
|
||
|
|
obligatory. Note, Religious worship is due to God only, and must not be
|
||
|
|
given to any creature; it is a flower of the crown which cannot be
|
||
|
|
alienated, a branch of God's glory which he will not give to another,
|
||
|
|
and which he would not give to his own Son, by obliging all men to
|
||
|
|
<I>honour the Son, even as they honour the Father,</I> if he had not
|
||
|
|
been God, <I>equal to him,</I> and <I>one with him.</I> Christ quotes
|
||
|
|
this law concerning religious worship, and quotes it with application
|
||
|
|
to himself; <I>First,</I> To show that in his estate of humiliation he
|
||
|
|
was himself <I>made under this law:</I> though, as God, he was
|
||
|
|
worshipped, yet, as Man, he did worship God, both publicly and
|
||
|
|
privately. He obliges us to no more than what he was first pleased to
|
||
|
|
oblige himself to. Thus it became him to fulfil all righteousness.
|
||
|
|
<I>Secondly,</I> To show that the law of religious worship is of
|
||
|
|
eternal obligation: though he abrogated and altered many institutions
|
||
|
|
of worship, yet this fundamental law of nature--That God only is to be
|
||
|
|
worshipped, he came to ratify, and confirm, and enforce upon us.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
V. We have here the end and issue of this combat,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+4:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Though the children of God may be exercised with many and great
|
||
|
|
temptations, yet God will not suffer them to be tempted above the
|
||
|
|
strength which either they have, or he will put into them,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+10:13">1 Cor. x. 13</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It is but for a season that they are in heaviness, through manifold
|
||
|
|
temptations.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Now the issue was glorious, and much to Christ's honour: for,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. The devil was baffled, and quitted the field; <I>Then the devil
|
||
|
|
leaveth him,</I> forced to do so by the power that went along with that
|
||
|
|
word of command, <I>Get thee hence, Satan.</I> He made a shameful and
|
||
|
|
inglorious retreat, and came off with disgrace; and the more daring his
|
||
|
|
attempts had been, the more mortifying was the foil that was given him.
|
||
|
|
<I>Magnis tamen excidit ausis--The attempt, however, in which he failed,
|
||
|
|
was daring.</I> Then, when he had done his worst, had tempted him with
|
||
|
|
<I>all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them,</I> and found
|
||
|
|
that he was not influenced by that bait, that he could not prevail with
|
||
|
|
that temptation with which he had overthrown so many thousands of the
|
||
|
|
children of men, then he leaves him; then he gives him over as more
|
||
|
|
than a man. Since this did not move him, he despairs of moving him, and
|
||
|
|
begins to conclude, that he is the <I>Son of God,</I> and that it is in
|
||
|
|
vain to tempt him any further. Note, If we resist the devil, he will
|
||
|
|
flee from us; he will yield, if we keep our ground; as when
|
||
|
|
<I>Naomi</I> saw that <I>Ruth was steadfastly resolved, she left off
|
||
|
|
speaking to her.</I> When the devil left our Saviour, he owned himself
|
||
|
|
fairly beaten; his head was broken by the attempt he made to <I>bruise
|
||
|
|
Christ's heel.</I> He left him because he had <I>nothing in him,</I>
|
||
|
|
nothing to take hold of; he saw it was to no purpose, and so gave over.
|
||
|
|
Note, The devil, though he is an enemy to all saints, is a conquered
|
||
|
|
enemy. The Captain of our salvation has defeated and disarmed him; we
|
||
|
|
have nothing to do but to <I>pursue the victory.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. The holy angels came and attended upon our victorious Redeemer;
|
||
|
|
<I>Behold, angels came and ministered unto him.</I> They came in a
|
||
|
|
visible appearance, as the devil had done in the temptation. While the
|
||
|
|
devil was making his assaults upon our Saviour, the angels stood at a
|
||
|
|
distance, and their immediate attendance and administration were
|
||
|
|
suspended, that it might appear that he vanquished Satan in his own
|
||
|
|
strength, and that his victory might be the more illustrious; and that
|
||
|
|
afterward, when <I>Michael</I> makes use of <I>his angels</I> in
|
||
|
|
fighting with the <I>dragon and his angels,</I> it might appear, that
|
||
|
|
it is not because he <I>needs them,</I> or could not do his work
|
||
|
|
without them, but because he is pleased to honour them so far as to
|
||
|
|
employ them. One angel might have served to bring him food, but here
|
||
|
|
are many attending him, to testify their respect to him, and their
|
||
|
|
readiness to receive his commands. Behold this! It is worth taking
|
||
|
|
notice of;
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) That as there is a world of wicked, malicious spirits that fight
|
||
|
|
against Christ and his church, and all particular believers, so there
|
||
|
|
is a world of holy, blessed spirits engaged and employed for them. In
|
||
|
|
reference to our <I>war with devils,</I> we may take abundance of
|
||
|
|
comfort from our <I>communion with angels.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) That Christ's victories are the angels' triumphs. The angels came
|
||
|
|
to congratulate Christ on his success, to rejoice with him, and to give
|
||
|
|
him the glory due to his name; for that was sung with a loud voice in
|
||
|
|
heaven, when the great dragon was cast out
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+12:9,10">Rev. xii. 9, 10</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Now is come salvation and strength.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) That the angels ministered to the Lord Jesus, not only food, but
|
||
|
|
whatever else he wanted after this great fatigue. See how the
|
||
|
|
instances of Christ's condescension and humiliation were balanced with
|
||
|
|
tokens of his glory. As when he was <I>crucified in weakness,</I> yet
|
||
|
|
he <I>lived by the power of God;</I> so when in weakness he was
|
||
|
|
tempted, was hungry and weary, yet by his divine power he commanded the
|
||
|
|
ministration of angels. Thus the Son of man did eat angels' food, and,
|
||
|
|
like Elias, is fed by an angel in the wilderness,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+19:4,7">1 Kings xix. 4, 7</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Note, Though God may suffer his people to be brought into wants and
|
||
|
|
straits, yet he will take effectual care for their supply, and will
|
||
|
|
rather send angels to feed them, than see them perish. <I>Trust in the
|
||
|
|
Lord, and verily thou shalt be fed,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+37:3">Ps. xxxvii. 3</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Christ was thus succoured after the temptation,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] For his encouragement to go on in his undertaking, that he might
|
||
|
|
see the powers of heaven siding with him, when he saw the powers of
|
||
|
|
hell set against him.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] For our encouragement to trust in him; for as he knew, by
|
||
|
|
experience, what it was to <I>suffer, being tempted,</I> and how hard
|
||
|
|
that was, so he knew what it was to be succoured, being tempted, and
|
||
|
|
how comfortable that was; and therefore we may expect, not only that he
|
||
|
|
will sympathize with his tempted people, but that he will come in with
|
||
|
|
seasonable relief to them; as our great Melchizedec, who met Abraham
|
||
|
|
when he returned from the battle, and as the angels here ministered to
|
||
|
|
him.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Mt4_12"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Mt4_13"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Mt4_14"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Mt4_15"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Mt4_16"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Mt4_17"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Opening of Christ's Ministry.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he
|
||
|
|
departed into Galilee;
|
||
|
|
13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which
|
||
|
|
is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
|
||
|
|
14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the
|
||
|
|
prophet, saying,
|
||
|
|
15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, <I>by</I> the
|
||
|
|
way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;
|
||
|
|
16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to
|
||
|
|
them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung
|
||
|
|
up.
|
||
|
|
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent:
|
||
|
|
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
We have here an account of Christ's preaching in the synagogues of
|
||
|
|
Galilee, for he came into the world to be a Preacher; the great
|
||
|
|
salvation which he wrought out, he himself began to publish
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:3">Heb. ii. 3</A>)
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
to show how much his heart <I>was</I> upon it, and ours <I>should</I>
|
||
|
|
be.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Several passages in the other gospels, especially in that of St. John,
|
||
|
|
are supposed, in the order of the story of Christ's life, to intervene
|
||
|
|
between his temptation and his preaching in Galilee. His first
|
||
|
|
appearance after his temptation, was when John Baptist pointed to him,
|
||
|
|
saying, <I>Behold the Lamb of God,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+1:29">John i. 29</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
After that, he went up to Jerusalem, to the passover
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+2:12-25">John ii.</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
discoursed with Nicodemus
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+3:1-21">John iii.</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
with the woman of Samaria
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+4:1-42 ">John iv.</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and then returned into Galilee, and preached there. But Matthew, having
|
||
|
|
had his residence in Galilee, begins his story of Christ's public
|
||
|
|
ministry with his preaching there, which here we have an account of.
|
||
|
|
Observe,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. The time; <I>When Jesus had heard that John was cast into
|
||
|
|
prison,</I> then he <I>went into Galilee,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+4:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Note, The cry of the saints' sufferings comes up into the ears of the
|
||
|
|
Lord Jesus. If John be cast into prison, Jesus hears it, takes
|
||
|
|
cognizance of it, and steers his course accordingly: <I>he remembers
|
||
|
|
the bonds</I> and afflictions that abide his people. Observe,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. Christ did <I>not</I> go into the country, <I>till he heard of</I>
|
||
|
|
John's imprisonment; for he must have time given him to <I>prepare the
|
||
|
|
way of the Lord,</I> before the Lord himself appear. Providence wisely
|
||
|
|
ordered it, that John should be <I>eclipsed</I> before Christ <I>shone
|
||
|
|
forth;</I> otherwise the minds of people would have been distracted
|
||
|
|
between the two; one would have said, <I>I am of John,</I> and another,
|
||
|
|
<I>I am of Jesus.</I> John must be Christ's harbinger, but not his
|
||
|
|
rival. The moon and stars are lost when the sun rises. John had done
|
||
|
|
his work by the baptism of repentance, and then he was laid aside. The
|
||
|
|
witnesses were slain when they had finished their testimony, and not
|
||
|
|
before,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+11:7">Rev. xi. 7</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. He <I>did</I> go into the country as soon as he heard of John's
|
||
|
|
imprisonment; not only to provide for his own safety, knowing that the
|
||
|
|
Pharisees in Judea were as much enemies to him as Herod was to John,
|
||
|
|
but to supply the want of John Baptist, and to build upon the good
|
||
|
|
foundation he had laid. Note, God will not leave himself without
|
||
|
|
witness, nor his church without guides; when he removes one useful
|
||
|
|
instrument, he can raise up another, for he has the residue of the
|
||
|
|
Spirit, and he will do it, if he has work to do. <I>Moses my servant is
|
||
|
|
dead,</I> John is cast into prison; now, therefore, Joshua, arise;
|
||
|
|
Jesus, arise.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. The place where he preached; in Galilee, a remote part of the
|
||
|
|
country, that lay furthest from Jerusalem, as was there looked upon
|
||
|
|
with contempt, as rude and boorish. The inhabitants of that country
|
||
|
|
were reckoned stout men, fit for soldiers, but not polite men, or fit
|
||
|
|
for scholars. Thither Christ went, there he set up the standard of his
|
||
|
|
gospel; and in this, as in other things, he humbled himself.
|
||
|
|
Observe,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. The particular city he chose for his residence; not Nazareth, where
|
||
|
|
he had been bred up; no, he left Nazareth; particular notice is taken
|
||
|
|
of that,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+4:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
And with good reason did he leave Nazareth; for the men of that city
|
||
|
|
<I>thrust him out</I> from among them,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:29">Luke iv. 29</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He made them his first, and a very fair, offer of his service, but they
|
||
|
|
rejected him and his doctrine, and were filled with indignation at him
|
||
|
|
and it; and therefore he left Nazareth, and shook off the dust of his
|
||
|
|
feet for a testimony against those there, who would not have him to
|
||
|
|
teach them. Nazareth was the first place that refused Christ, and was
|
||
|
|
therefore refused by him. Note, It is just with God, to take the gospel
|
||
|
|
and the means of grace from those that slight them, and thrust them
|
||
|
|
away. Christ will not stay long where he is not welcome. Unhappy
|
||
|
|
Nazareth! <I>If thou hadst known</I> in this thy day the things that
|
||
|
|
belong to thy peace, how well had it been for thee! <I>But now they are
|
||
|
|
hid from thine eyes.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
But he <I>came and dwelt in Capernaum,</I> which was a city of Galilee,
|
||
|
|
but many miles distant from Nazareth, a great city and of much resort.
|
||
|
|
It is said here to be <I>on the sea coast,</I> not the <I>great
|
||
|
|
sea,</I> but the sea of Tiberias, an inland water, called also <I>the
|
||
|
|
lake of Gennesaret.</I> Close by the falling of Jordan into the sea
|
||
|
|
stood Capernaum, in the tribe of Naphtali, but bordering upon Zebulun;
|
||
|
|
hither Christ came, and here he dwelt. Some think that his father
|
||
|
|
Joseph had a habitation here, others that he took a house or lodgings
|
||
|
|
at least; and some think it more than probable, that he dwelt in the
|
||
|
|
house of Simon Peter; however, here he fixed not constantly, for he
|
||
|
|
went about doing good; but this was for some time his head quarters:
|
||
|
|
what little rest he had, was here; here he had a place, though not a
|
||
|
|
place of his own, to lay his head on. And at Capernaum, it should seem,
|
||
|
|
he was welcome, and met with better entertainment than he had at
|
||
|
|
Nazareth. Note, If some reject Christ, yet others will receive him, and
|
||
|
|
bid him welcome. Capernaum is glad of Nazareth's leavings. If Christ's
|
||
|
|
own countrymen be not gathered, yet he will be glorious. "And thou,
|
||
|
|
Capernaum, has now a day of it; thou art now lifted up to heaven; be
|
||
|
|
wise for thyself, and know the time of thy visitation."</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. The prophecy that was fulfilled is this,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+4:14-16"><I>v.</I> 14-16</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It is quoted from
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+9:1,2">Isa. ix. 1, 2</A>,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
but with some variation. The prophet in that place is foretelling a
|
||
|
|
greater darkness of affliction to befal the contemners of Immanuel,
|
||
|
|
than befel the countries there mentioned, either in their first
|
||
|
|
captivity under Benhadad, which was but light
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+15:20">1 Kings xv. 20</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
or in their second captivity under the Assyrian, which was much
|
||
|
|
heavier,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+15:29">2 Kings xv. 29</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The punishment of the Jewish nation for rejecting the gospel should be
|
||
|
|
sorer than either (see
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+8:21,22">Isa. viii. 21, 22</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
for those captivated places had some reviving in their bondage, and saw
|
||
|
|
a great light again,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+9:2"><I>ch.</I> ix. 2</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
This is Isaiah's sense; but the Scripture has many fulfillings; and the
|
||
|
|
evangelist here takes only the latter clause, which speaks of the
|
||
|
|
return of the light of liberty and prosperity to those countries that
|
||
|
|
had been in the darkness of captivity, and applies it to the appearing
|
||
|
|
of the gospel among them.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The places are spoken of,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+4:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>The land of Zebulun is</I> rightly said to be <I>by the sea
|
||
|
|
coast,</I> for <I>Zebulun</I> was a <I>haven of ships,</I> and
|
||
|
|
<I>rejoiced</I> in her <I>going out,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+49:13,De+33:18">Gen. xlix. 13; Deut. xxxiii. 18</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Of Naphtali, it had been said, that he should <I>give goodly words</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+49:21">Gen. xlix. 21</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and should be <I>satisfied with favour</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:23">Deut. xxxiii. 23</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
for from him began the gospel; goodly words indeed, and such as bring
|
||
|
|
to a soul God's satisfying favour. The country beyond Jordan is
|
||
|
|
mentioned likewise, for there we sometimes find Christ preaching, and
|
||
|
|
Galilee of the Gentiles, the upper Galilee to which the Gentiles
|
||
|
|
resorted for traffic, and where they were mingled with the Jews; which
|
||
|
|
intimates a kindness in reserve for the poor Gentiles. When Christ
|
||
|
|
came to Capernaum, the gospel came to all those places round about;
|
||
|
|
such diffusive influences did the Sun of righteousness cast.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Now, concerning the inhabitants of these places, observe,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) The posture they were in before the gospel came among them
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+4:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
they were <I>in darkness.</I> Note, Those that are without Christ, are
|
||
|
|
in the dark, nay, they are darkness itself; as the darkness that was
|
||
|
|
upon the <I>face of the deep.</I> Nay, they were <I>in the region and
|
||
|
|
shadow of death;</I> which denotes not only <I>great darkness,</I> as
|
||
|
|
the grave is a <I>land of darkness,</I> but <I>great danger.</I> A man
|
||
|
|
that is desperately sick, and not likely to recover, is in the
|
||
|
|
<I>valley of the shadow of death,</I> though not quite dead; so the
|
||
|
|
poor people were on the borders of damnation, though not yet
|
||
|
|
damned-dead in law. And, which is worst of all, they were
|
||
|
|
<I>sitting</I> in this condition. Sitting in a continuing posture;
|
||
|
|
where we sit, we mean to stay; they were in the dark, and likely to be
|
||
|
|
so, despairing to find the way out. And it is a contented posture;
|
||
|
|
they were in the dark, and they loved darkness, they chose it rather
|
||
|
|
than light; they were willingly ignorant. Their condition was sad; it
|
||
|
|
is still the condition of many great and mighty nations, which are to
|
||
|
|
be thought of, and prayed for, with pity. But <I>their</I> condition is
|
||
|
|
more sad, who sit in darkness in the midst of gospel-light. He that is
|
||
|
|
in the dark because it is night, may be sure that the sun will shortly
|
||
|
|
arise; but he that is in the dark because he is blind, will not so soon
|
||
|
|
have his eyes opened. We have the light, but what will that avail us,
|
||
|
|
if we be not the light in the Lord?
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) The privilege they enjoyed, when Christ and his gospel came among
|
||
|
|
them; it was as great a reviving as ever light was to a benighted
|
||
|
|
traveller. Note, When the gospel comes, light comes; when it comes to
|
||
|
|
any place, when it comes to any soul, it makes day there,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+3:19,Lu+1:78,79">John iii. 19; Luke i. 78, 79</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Light is discovering, it is directing; so is the gospel.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It is a <I>great</I> light; denoting the clearness and evidence of
|
||
|
|
gospel-revelations; not like the light of a candle, but the light of
|
||
|
|
the sun when he goes forth in his strength. <I>Great</I> in comparison
|
||
|
|
with the light of the law, the shadows of which were now done away. It
|
||
|
|
is a <I>great light,</I> for it discovers great things and of vast
|
||
|
|
consequence; it will last long, and spread far. And it is a <I>growing
|
||
|
|
light,</I> intimated in that word, It is <I>sprung up.</I> It was but
|
||
|
|
<I>spring of day</I> with them; now the day dawned, which afterward
|
||
|
|
<I>shone more and more.</I> The gospel-kingdom, like a grain of
|
||
|
|
mustard-seed or the morning light, was small in its beginnings, gradual
|
||
|
|
in its growth, but great in its perfection.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Observe, the light <I>sprang up to them;</I> they did not go to seek
|
||
|
|
it, but were prevented with the blessings of this goodness. It came
|
||
|
|
upon them ere they were aware, at the time appointed, by the disposal
|
||
|
|
of him who <I>commandeth the morning,</I> and <I>causes the day-spring
|
||
|
|
to know its place, that it may take hold of the ends of the earth,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+38:12,13">Job xxxviii. 12, 13</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
III. The text he preached upon
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+4:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>):
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>From that time,</I> that is, from the time of his coming into
|
||
|
|
Galilee, into the land of Zebulun and Naphtali, from that time, he
|
||
|
|
began to preach. He had been preaching, before this, in Judea, and had
|
||
|
|
made and baptized many disciples
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+4:1">John iv. 1</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
but his preaching was no so public and constant as now it began to be.
|
||
|
|
The work of the ministry is so great and awful, that it is fit to be
|
||
|
|
entered upon by steps and gradual advances.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The subject which Christ dwelt upon now in his preaching (and it was
|
||
|
|
indeed the sum and substance of all his preaching), was the very same
|
||
|
|
John has preached upon
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+3:2"><I>ch.</I> iii. 2</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand;</I> for the gospel is
|
||
|
|
the same for substance under various dispensations; the commands the
|
||
|
|
same, and the reasons to enforce them the same; an <I>angel from
|
||
|
|
heaven</I> dares not preach any other gospel
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+1:8">Gal. i. 8</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and will preach this, for it is the <I>everlasting gospel. Fear God,
|
||
|
|
and,</I> by repentance, <I>give honour to him,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+14:6,7">Rev. xiv. 6, 7</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Christ put a great respect upon John's ministry, when he preached to
|
||
|
|
the same purport that John had preached before him. By this he showed
|
||
|
|
that John was his messenger and ambassador; for when he brought the
|
||
|
|
errand himself, it was the same that he had sent by him. Thus did God
|
||
|
|
confirm the word of his messenger,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:26">Isa. xliv. 26</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The Son came on the same errand that the servants came on
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+21:37"><I>ch.</I> xxi. 37</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
to <I>seek fruit,</I> fruits meet for repentance. Christ had lain in
|
||
|
|
the bosom of the Father, and could have preached sublime notions of
|
||
|
|
divine and heavenly things, that should have alarmed and amused the
|
||
|
|
learned world, but he pitches upon this old, plain text, <I>Repent, for
|
||
|
|
the kingdom of heaven is at hand.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[1.] This he preached <I>first</I> upon; he began with this. Ministers
|
||
|
|
must not be ambitious of broaching new opinions, framing new schemes,
|
||
|
|
or coining new expressions, but must content themselves with plain,
|
||
|
|
practical things, with the word that is <I>nigh us,</I> even <I>in our
|
||
|
|
mouth,</I> and <I>in our heart.</I> We need not go up to heaven, nor
|
||
|
|
down to the deep, for matter or language in our preaching. As John
|
||
|
|
prepared Christ's way, so Christ prepared his own, and made way for the
|
||
|
|
further discoveries he designed, with the doctrine of repentance. <I>If
|
||
|
|
any man</I> will do this part of <I>his will, he shall know</I> more of
|
||
|
|
<I>his doctrine,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+7:17">John vii. 17</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[2.] This is preached <I>often</I> upon; wherever he went, this was his
|
||
|
|
subject, and neither he nor his followers ever reckoned it worn
|
||
|
|
threadbare, as those would have done, that have <I>itching ears,</I>
|
||
|
|
and are fond of novelty and variety more than that which is truly
|
||
|
|
edifying. Note, That which has been preached and heard before, may yet
|
||
|
|
very profitably be preached and heard again; but then it should be
|
||
|
|
preached and heard better, and with new affections; what Paul had said
|
||
|
|
before, he said again, <I>weeping,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Php+3:1,18">Phil. iii. 1, 18</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[3.] This he preached as gospel; "Repent, review your ways, and return
|
||
|
|
to yourselves." Note, The doctrine of repentance is right
|
||
|
|
gospel-doctrine. Not only the austere Baptist, who was looked upon as
|
||
|
|
a melancholy, morose man, but the sweet and gracious Jesus, whose lips
|
||
|
|
dropped as a honey-comb, preached repentance; for it is an unspeakable
|
||
|
|
privilege that room is left for repentance.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
[4.] The reason is still the same; The <I>kingdom of heaven is at
|
||
|
|
hand;</I> for it was not reckoned to be fully come, till that pouring
|
||
|
|
out of the Spirit after Christ's ascension. John had preached the
|
||
|
|
kingdom of heaven at hand above a year before this; but now it was so
|
||
|
|
much the stronger; now is the <I>salvation nearer,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+13:11">Rom. xiii. 11</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
We should be so much the more quickened to our duty, <I>as we see the
|
||
|
|
day approaching,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+10:25">Heb. x. 25</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Mt4_18"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Mt4_19"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Mt4_20"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Mt4_21"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Mt4_22"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Christ Calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren,
|
||
|
|
Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into
|
||
|
|
the sea: for they were fishers.
|
||
|
|
19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you
|
||
|
|
fishers of men.
|
||
|
|
20 And they straightway left <I>their</I> nets, and followed him.
|
||
|
|
21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James
|
||
|
|
<I>the son</I> of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with
|
||
|
|
Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
|
||
|
|
22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and
|
||
|
|
followed him.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
When Christ began to preach, he began to <I>gather disciples,</I> who
|
||
|
|
should now be the <I>hearers,</I> and hereafter the <I>preachers,</I>
|
||
|
|
of his doctrine, who should now be witnesses <I>of</I> his miracles,
|
||
|
|
and hereafter <I>concerning</I> them. Now, in these verses, we have an
|
||
|
|
account of the first disciples that he called into fellowship with
|
||
|
|
himself.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
And this was an instance,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. Of <I>effectual calling</I> to Christ. In all his preaching he gave
|
||
|
|
a common call to all the country, but in this he gave a special and
|
||
|
|
particular call to those that were given him by the Father. Let us see
|
||
|
|
and admire the power of Christ's grace, own his word to be the rod of
|
||
|
|
his strength, and wait upon him for those powerful influences which are
|
||
|
|
necessary to the efficacy of the gospel call--those distinguishing
|
||
|
|
influences. All the country was <I>called,</I> but these were <I>called
|
||
|
|
out,</I> were <I>redeemed from among them.</I> Christ was so manifested
|
||
|
|
to them, as he was not manifested unto the world.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. It was an instance of <I>ordination,</I> and appointment to the work
|
||
|
|
of the ministry. When Christ, as a Teacher, set up his great school,
|
||
|
|
one of his first works was to appoint ushers, or under masters, to be
|
||
|
|
employed in the work of instruction. Now he began to give gifts unto
|
||
|
|
men, to put the treasure into earthen vessels. It was an early
|
||
|
|
instance of his care for the church.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Now we may observe here,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. <I>Where</I> they were called--by the <I>sea of Galilee,</I> where
|
||
|
|
Jesus was walking, Capernaum being situated near that sea. Concerning
|
||
|
|
this sea of Tiberias, the Jews have a saying, That of all the seven
|
||
|
|
seas that God made, he made choice of none but the sea of Gennesaret;
|
||
|
|
which is very applicable to Christ's choice of it, to honour it, as he
|
||
|
|
often did, with his presence and his miracles. Here, on the banks of
|
||
|
|
the sea, Christ was walking for contemplation, as Isaac in the field;
|
||
|
|
hither he went to call his disciples; not to Herod's court (for few
|
||
|
|
mighty or noble are called), not to Jerusalem, among the chief priests
|
||
|
|
and the elders, but to the sea of Galilee; surely Christ sees not as
|
||
|
|
man sees. Not but that the same power which effectually called Peter
|
||
|
|
and Andrew would have wrought upon Annas and Caiaphas, for with God
|
||
|
|
nothing is impossible; but, as in other things, so in his converse and
|
||
|
|
attendance, he would humble himself, and show that God ha <I>chosen the
|
||
|
|
poor of this world.</I> Galilee was a remote part of the nation, the
|
||
|
|
inhabitants were less cultivated and refined, their very language was
|
||
|
|
broad and uncouth to the curious, their <I>speech betrayed them.</I>
|
||
|
|
They who were picked up at the sea of Galilee, had not the advantages
|
||
|
|
and improvements, no, not of the more polished Galileans; yet thither
|
||
|
|
Christ went, to call his apostles that were to be the prime ministers
|
||
|
|
of state in his kingdom, for he <I>chooses the foolish things of this
|
||
|
|
world, to confound the wise.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. <I>Who</I> they were. We have an account of the call of two pair of
|
||
|
|
brothers in these verses--Peter and Andrew, James and John; the two
|
||
|
|
former, and, probably, the two latter also, had had acquaintance with
|
||
|
|
Christ before
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+1:40,41">John i. 40, 41</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
but were not till now called into a close and constant attendance upon
|
||
|
|
him. Note, Christ brings poor souls by degrees into fellowship with
|
||
|
|
himself. They had been disciples of John, and so were the better
|
||
|
|
disposed to follow Christ. Note, Those who have submitted to the
|
||
|
|
discipline of repentance, shall be welcome to the joys of faith. We may
|
||
|
|
observe concerning them,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. That they were <I>brothers.</I> Note, It is a blessed thing, when
|
||
|
|
they who are <I>kinsmen according to the flesh</I> (as the apostle
|
||
|
|
speaks,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+9:3">Rom. ix. 3</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
are brought together into a spiritual alliance to Jesus Christ. It is
|
||
|
|
the honour and comfort of a house, when those that are of the
|
||
|
|
<I>same</I> family, are of <I>God's</I> family.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. That they were <I>fishers.</I> Being fishers,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) They were <I>poor men:</I> if they had had estates, or any
|
||
|
|
considerable stock in trade, they would not have made fishing their
|
||
|
|
trade, however, they might have made it their recreation. Note, Christ
|
||
|
|
does not despise the poor, and therefore we must not; the poor are
|
||
|
|
evangelized, and the Fountain of honour sometimes gives more abundant
|
||
|
|
honour to that part which most lacked.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) The were <I>unlearned men,</I> not bred up to books or literature
|
||
|
|
as Moses was, who was conversant with all the learning of the
|
||
|
|
Egyptians. Note, Christ sometimes chooses to endow those with the gifts
|
||
|
|
of grace who have least to show of the gifts of nature. Yet this will
|
||
|
|
not justify the bold intrusion of ignorant and unqualified men into the
|
||
|
|
work of the ministry: extraordinary gifts of knowledge and utterance
|
||
|
|
are not now to be expected, but requisite abilities must be obtained in
|
||
|
|
an ordinary way, and without a competent measure of these, none are to
|
||
|
|
be admitted to that service.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) They were <I>men of business,</I> who had been bred up to labour.
|
||
|
|
Note, Diligence in an honest calling is pleasing to Christ, and no
|
||
|
|
hindrance to a holy life. Moses was called from keeping sheep, and
|
||
|
|
David from following the ewes, to eminent employments. Idle people lie
|
||
|
|
more open to the temptations of Satan than to the calls of God.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(4.) They were men that were accustomed to <I>hardships</I> and
|
||
|
|
hazards; the fisher's trade, more than any other, is laborious and
|
||
|
|
perilous; fishermen must be often wet and cold; they must watch, and
|
||
|
|
wait, and toil, and be often in <I>perils by waters.</I> Note, Those
|
||
|
|
who have learned to bear hardships, and run hazards, are best prepared
|
||
|
|
for the fellowship and discipleship of Jesus Christ. Good soldiers of
|
||
|
|
Christ must endure hardness.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
III. <I>What they were doing.</I> Peter and Andrew were then using
|
||
|
|
their nets, they were fishing; and James and John were <I>mending their
|
||
|
|
nets,</I> which was an instance of their industry and good husbandry.
|
||
|
|
They did not go to their father for money to buy new nets, but took
|
||
|
|
pains to mend their old ones. It is commendable to make what we have go
|
||
|
|
as far, and last as long, as may be. James and John were <I>with their
|
||
|
|
father Zebedee,</I> ready to assist him, and make his business easy to
|
||
|
|
him. Note, It is a happy and hopeful presage, to see children careful
|
||
|
|
of their parents, and dutiful to them. Observe,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. They were <I>all</I> employed, all very busy, and none idle. Note,
|
||
|
|
When Christ comes, it is good to be found doing. "Am I in Christ?" is a
|
||
|
|
very needful question for us to ask ourselves; and, next to that, "Am I
|
||
|
|
in my calling?"
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. They were <I>differently</I> employed; two of them were fishing,
|
||
|
|
and two of them <I>mending their nets.</I> Note, Ministers should be
|
||
|
|
always employed, either in teaching or studying; they may always find
|
||
|
|
themselves something to do, if it be not their own fault; and
|
||
|
|
<I>mending their nets,</I> is, in its season, as necessary work as
|
||
|
|
fishing.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
IV. <I>What the call was</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+4:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.</I> They had followed
|
||
|
|
Christ before, as ordinary disciples
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+1:37">John i. 37</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
but so they might follow Christ, and follow their calling too;
|
||
|
|
therefore they were called to a more close and constant attendance, and
|
||
|
|
must leave their calling. Note, Even they who had been called to follow
|
||
|
|
Christ, have need to be called to follow on, and to follow nearer,
|
||
|
|
especially when they are designed for the work of the ministry.
|
||
|
|
Observe,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. What Christ intended them for; <I>I will make you fishers of
|
||
|
|
men;</I> this alludes to their former calling. Let them be not proud of
|
||
|
|
the new honour designed them, they are still but fishers; let them not
|
||
|
|
be afraid of the new work cut out for them, for they have been used to
|
||
|
|
fishing, and fishers they are still. It was usual with Christ to speak
|
||
|
|
of spiritual and heavenly things under such allusions, and in such
|
||
|
|
expressions, as took rise from common things that offered themselves to
|
||
|
|
his view. David was called from feeding sheep to feed God's Israel; and
|
||
|
|
when he is a king, is a shepherd. Note,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) Ministers are <I>fishers of men,</I> not to destroy them, but to
|
||
|
|
save them, by bringing them into another element. They must fish, not
|
||
|
|
for wrath, wealth, honour, and preferment, to gain them to themselves,
|
||
|
|
but for souls, to gain them to Christ. <I>They watch for your souls</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+13:17">Heb. xiii. 17</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>and seek not yours, but you,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+12:14,16">2 Cor. xii. 14, 16</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) It is Jesus Christ that makes them so; <I>I will make you fishers
|
||
|
|
of men.</I> It is he that qualifies men for this work, calls them to
|
||
|
|
it, authorizes them in it, gives them commission to fish for souls, and
|
||
|
|
wisdom to win them. Those ministers are likely to have comfort in their
|
||
|
|
work, who are thus made by Jesus Christ.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. What they must do in order to this; <I>Follow me.</I> They must
|
||
|
|
separate themselves to a diligent attendance on him, and set themselves
|
||
|
|
to a humble imitation of him; must follow him as their Leader. Note,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) Those whom Christ employs in any service for him, must first be
|
||
|
|
fitted and qualified for it.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) Those who would <I>preach Christ,</I> must first <I>learn</I>
|
||
|
|
Christ, and learn of him. How can we expect to bring others to the
|
||
|
|
knowledge of Christ, if we do not know him well ourselves?
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) Those who would get an acquaintance with Christ, must be diligent
|
||
|
|
and constant in their attendance on him. The apostles were prepared for
|
||
|
|
their work, by <I>accompanying Christ all the time that he went in and
|
||
|
|
out among them,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:21">Acts i. 21</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
There is no learning comparable to that which is got by following
|
||
|
|
Christ. Joshua, by ministering to Moses, is fitted to be his successor.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(4.) Those who are to fish for men, must therein follow Christ, and do
|
||
|
|
it as he did, with diligence, faithfulness, and tenderness. Christ is
|
||
|
|
the great pattern for preachers, and they ought to be <I>workers
|
||
|
|
together with him.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
V. What was the <I>success</I> of this call. Peter and Andrew
|
||
|
|
<I>straightway left their nets</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+4:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and James and John <I>immediately left the ship and their father</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+4:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<I>and they</I> all <I>followed him.</I> Note, Those who would follow
|
||
|
|
Christ aright, must <I>leave all</I> to follow him. Every Christian
|
||
|
|
must leave all in affection, set loose to all, must <I>hate father and
|
||
|
|
mother</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+14:26">Luke xiv. 26</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
must love them less than Christ, must be ready to part with his
|
||
|
|
interest in them rather than with his interest in Jesus Christ; but
|
||
|
|
those who are devoted to the work of the ministry are, in a special
|
||
|
|
manner, concerned to disentangle themselves from all the affairs of
|
||
|
|
this life, that they may give themselves wholly to that work which
|
||
|
|
requires the whole man. Now,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. This instance of the power of the Lord Jesus gives us good
|
||
|
|
encouragement to depend upon the sufficiency of his grace. How strong
|
||
|
|
and effectual is his word! <I>He speaks, and it is done.</I> The same
|
||
|
|
power goes along with this word of Christ, <I>Follow me,</I> that went
|
||
|
|
along with that word, <I>Lazarus, come forth;</I> a power <I>to make
|
||
|
|
willing,</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+110:3">Ps. cx. 3</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. This instance of the pliableness of the disciples, gives us a good
|
||
|
|
example of obedience to the command of Christ. Note, It is the good
|
||
|
|
property of all Christ's faithful servants to come when they are
|
||
|
|
called, and to follow their Master wherever he leads them. They
|
||
|
|
objected not their present employments, their engagements to their
|
||
|
|
families, the difficulties of the service they were called to, or their
|
||
|
|
own unfitness for it; but, being called, they obeyed, and, like
|
||
|
|
Abraham, <I>went out not knowing whither they went,</I> but knowing
|
||
|
|
very well whom they followed. James and John <I>left their father:</I>
|
||
|
|
it is not said what became of him; their mother Salome was a constant
|
||
|
|
follower of Christ; no doubt, their father Zebedee was a believer, but
|
||
|
|
the call to follow Christ fastened on the young ones. Youth is the
|
||
|
|
learning age, and the labouring age. The priests ministered in the
|
||
|
|
prime of their life.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Mt4_23"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Mt4_24"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Mt4_25"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>
|
||
|
|
Christ Preaches in Galilee; Miracles of Christ in Galilee.</I></FONT></TD>
|
||
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
||
|
|
</TABLE>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their
|
||
|
|
synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing
|
||
|
|
all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the
|
||
|
|
people.
|
||
|
|
24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought
|
||
|
|
unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and
|
||
|
|
torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those
|
||
|
|
which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed
|
||
|
|
them.
|
||
|
|
25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from
|
||
|
|
Galilee, and <I>from</I> Decapolis, and <I>from</I> Jerusalem, and <I>from</I>
|
||
|
|
Judea, and <I>from</I> beyond Jordan.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
See here,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
I. What an industrious preacher Christ was; He <I>went about all
|
||
|
|
Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the
|
||
|
|
kingdom.</I> Observe,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. <I>What</I> Christ preached--<I>the gospel of the kingdom. The
|
||
|
|
kingdom of heaven,</I> that is, of grace and glory, is emphatically
|
||
|
|
<I>the kingdom, the kingdom</I> that was now to come; that kingdom
|
||
|
|
which shall survive, as it doth surpass, all the kingdoms of the earth.
|
||
|
|
<I>The gospel</I> is the charter of that kingdom, containing the King's
|
||
|
|
coronation oath, by which he has graciously obliged himself to pardon,
|
||
|
|
protect, and save the subjects of that kingdom; it contains also their
|
||
|
|
oath of allegiance, by which they oblige themselves to observe his
|
||
|
|
statutes and seek his honour; this is <I>the gospel of the kingdom;</I>
|
||
|
|
this Christ was himself the Preacher of, that our faith in it might be
|
||
|
|
confirmed.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. <I>Where</I> he preached--<I>in the synagogues;</I> not there only,
|
||
|
|
but there chiefly, because those were <I>the places of concourse,</I>
|
||
|
|
where <I>wisdom</I> was to <I>lift up her voice</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+1:21">Prov. i. 21</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
because they were <I>places of concourse</I> for religious worship, and
|
||
|
|
there, it was to be hoped, the minds of the people would be prepared to
|
||
|
|
receive <I>the gospel;</I> and there the scriptures of the Old
|
||
|
|
Testament were read, the exposition of which would easily introduce
|
||
|
|
<I>the gospel of the kingdom.</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
3. <I>What pains he took</I> in preaching; He <I>went about all
|
||
|
|
Galilee, teaching.</I> He might have issued out a proclamation to
|
||
|
|
summon all to come to him; but, to show his humility, and the
|
||
|
|
condescensions of his grace, he goes to them; for he <I>waits to be
|
||
|
|
gracious,</I> and comes <I>to seek and save.</I> Josephus says, There
|
||
|
|
were above two hundred cities and towns in Galilee, and all, or most of
|
||
|
|
them, Christ visited. He <I>went about doing good.</I> Never was there
|
||
|
|
such an itinerant preacher, such an indefatigable one, as Christ was;
|
||
|
|
he went from town to town, to beseech poor sinners to be reconciled to
|
||
|
|
God. This is an example to ministers, to lay themselves out to do good,
|
||
|
|
and to <I>be instant,</I> and constant, in <I>season, and out of
|
||
|
|
season,</I> to preach the word.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
II. What a powerful physician Christ was; he <I>went about</I> not only
|
||
|
|
<I>teaching,</I> but <I>healing,</I> and both with his word, that he
|
||
|
|
might magnify that above all his name. <I>He sent his word, and healed
|
||
|
|
them.</I> Now observe,</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. What diseases he cured--all without exception. He <I>healed all
|
||
|
|
manner of sickness, and all manner of disease.</I> There are diseases
|
||
|
|
which are called <I>the reproach of physicians,</I> being obstinate to
|
||
|
|
all the methods they can prescribe; but even those were the glory of
|
||
|
|
this Physician, for <I>he healed them</I> all, however inveterate. His
|
||
|
|
word was the true <I>panpharmacon--all-heal.</I></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Three general words are here used to intimate this; he healed every
|
||
|
|
sickness, <B><I>noson</I></B>, as blindness, lameness, fever, dropsy;
|
||
|
|
every <I>disease,</I> or languishing, <B><I>malakian</I></B>, as fluxes
|
||
|
|
and consumptions; and all <I>torments,</I> <B><I>basanous</I></B>, as
|
||
|
|
gout, stone, convulsions, and such like torturing distempers; whether
|
||
|
|
the disease was acute or chronical; whether it was a racking or a
|
||
|
|
wasting disease; none was too bad, none too hard, for Christ to heal
|
||
|
|
with a word's speaking.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Three particular diseases are specified; <I>the palsy,</I> which is the
|
||
|
|
greatest weakness of the body; <I>lunacy,</I> which is the greatest
|
||
|
|
malady of the mind, and <I>possession of the Devil,</I> which is the
|
||
|
|
greatest misery and calamity of both, yet Christ healed all: for he is
|
||
|
|
the sovereign Physician both of soul and body, and has command of all
|
||
|
|
diseases.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. What patients he had. A physician who was so easy of access, so sure
|
||
|
|
of success, who cured immediately, without either a painful suspense
|
||
|
|
and expectation, or such painful remedies as are worse than the
|
||
|
|
disease; who cured gratis, and took no fees, could not but have
|
||
|
|
abundance of patients. See here, what flocking there was to him from
|
||
|
|
all parts; great multitudes of people came, not only <I>from
|
||
|
|
Galilee</I> and the country about, but even <I>from Jerusalem</I> and
|
||
|
|
<I>from Judea,</I> which lay a great way off; for <I>his fame went
|
||
|
|
throughout all Syria,</I> not only among all the people of the Jews,
|
||
|
|
but among the neighbouring nations, which, by the report that now
|
||
|
|
spread far and near concerning him, would be prepared to receive his
|
||
|
|
gospel, when afterwards it should be brought them. <I>This</I> is given
|
||
|
|
as the reason why such multitudes came to him, because his fame had
|
||
|
|
spread so widely. Note, What we hear of Christ from others, should
|
||
|
|
invite us to him. The queen of Sheba was induced, by the fame of
|
||
|
|
Solomon, to pay him a visit. The voice of fame is "Come, and see."
|
||
|
|
Christ both <I>taught and healed.</I> They who came for cures, met with
|
||
|
|
instruction concerning <I>the things that belonged to their peace.</I>
|
||
|
|
It is well if any thing will bring people to Christ; and they who come
|
||
|
|
to him will find more in him than they expected. These Syrians, like
|
||
|
|
Naaman the Syrian, coming to be healed of their diseases, many of them
|
||
|
|
being converts,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+5:15,17">2 Kings v. 15, 17</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
They sought health for the body, and obtained the salvation of the
|
||
|
|
soul; like Saul, who sought the asses, and found the kingdom. Yet it
|
||
|
|
appeared, by the issue, that many of those who rejoiced in Christ as a
|
||
|
|
Healer, forgot him as a Teacher.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Now concerning the cures which Christ wrought, let us, once for all,
|
||
|
|
observe the <I>miracle,</I> the <I>mercy,</I> and the <I>mystery,</I>
|
||
|
|
of them.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) The <I>miracle</I> of them. They were wrought in such a manner, as
|
||
|
|
plainly spake them to be the immediate products of a divine and
|
||
|
|
supernatural power, and they were God's seal to his commission. Nature
|
||
|
|
could not do these things, it was the God of nature; the cures were
|
||
|
|
many, of diseases incurable by the art of the physician, of persons
|
||
|
|
that were strangers, of all ages and conditions; the cures were wrought
|
||
|
|
openly, before many witnesses, in mixed companies of persons that would
|
||
|
|
have denied the matter of fact, if they could have had any colour for
|
||
|
|
so doing; no cure ever failed, or was afterwards called in question;
|
||
|
|
they were wrought speedily, and not (as cures by natural causes)
|
||
|
|
gradually; they were perfect cures, and wrought with a word's speaking;
|
||
|
|
all which proves him <I>a Teacher come from God,</I> for, otherwise,
|
||
|
|
none could have done the works that he did,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+3:2">John iii. 2</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
He appeals to these as credentials,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:4,5,Joh+5:36"><I>ch.</I> xi. 4, 5; John v. 36</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
It was expected that the Messiah should work miracles
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+7:31">John vii. 31</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
miracles of this nature
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+35:5,6">Isa. xxxv. 5, 6</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and we have this indisputable proof of his being the Messiah; never was
|
||
|
|
there any man that did thus; and therefore his healing and his
|
||
|
|
preaching generally went together, for the former confirmed the latter;
|
||
|
|
thus here he <I>began to</I> do <I>and to</I> teach,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+1:1">Acts i. 1</A>.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) The <I>mercy</I> of them. The miracles that Moses wrought, to
|
||
|
|
prove his mission, were most of them plagues and judgments, to intimate
|
||
|
|
the terror of that dispensation, though from God; but the miracles that
|
||
|
|
Christ wrought, were most of them cures, and all of them (except the
|
||
|
|
cursing of the barren fig tree) blessings and favours; for the gospel
|
||
|
|
dispensation is founded, and built up in love, and grace, and
|
||
|
|
sweetness; and the management is such as tends not to affright but to
|
||
|
|
allure us to obedience. Christ designed by his cures to win upon
|
||
|
|
people, and to ingratiate himself and his doctrine into their minds,
|
||
|
|
and so to draw them with the bands of love,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+11:4">Hos. xi. 4</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
The miracle of them proved his doctrine <I>a faithful saying,</I> and
|
||
|
|
convinced men's judgments; the mercy of them proved it <I>worthy of all
|
||
|
|
acceptation,</I> and wrought upon their affections. They were not only
|
||
|
|
<I>great</I> works, but <I>good works,</I> that he <I>showed them
|
||
|
|
from</I> his <I>Father</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+10:32">John x. 32</A>);
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
and this goodness was intended to <I>lead men to repentance</I>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+2:4">Rom. ii. 4</A>),
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
as also to show that kindness, and beneficence, and doing good to all,
|
||
|
|
to the utmost of our power and opportunity, are essential branches of
|
||
|
|
that holy religion which Christ came into the world to establish.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(3.) The <I>mystery</I> of them. Christ, by curing <I>bodily
|
||
|
|
diseases,</I> intended to show, that his great errand into the world
|
||
|
|
was to cure <I>spiritual maladies.</I> He is the <I>Sun of
|
||
|
|
righteousness,</I> that <I>arises with</I> this <I>healing under his
|
||
|
|
wings.</I> As the Converter of sinners, he is the <I>Physician of
|
||
|
|
souls,</I> and has taught us to call him so,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+9:12,13"><I>ch.</I> ix. 12, 13</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Sin is the <I>sickness, disease,</I> and <I>torment</I> of the soul;
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Christ <I>came to take away sin,</I> and so to heal these. And the
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particular stories of the cures Christ wrought, may not only be applied
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spiritually, by way of allusion and illustration, but, I believe, are
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very much intended to reveal to us spiritual things, and to set before
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us the way and method of Christ's dealing with souls, in their
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conversion and sanctification; and those cures are recorded, that were
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most significant and instructive this way; and they are therefore so to
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be explained and improved, to the honour and praise of that glorious
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Redeemer, <I>who forgiveth all our iniquities, and</I> so <I>healeth
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all our diseases.</I></P>
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