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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>L U K E.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. V.</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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In this chapter, we have,
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I. Christ preaching to the people out of Peter's ship, for want of a
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better pulpit,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:1-3">ver. 1-3</A>.
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II. The recompence he made to Peter for the loan of his boat, in a
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miraculous draught of fishes, by which he intimated to him and his
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partners his design to make them, as apostles, fishers of men,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:4-11">ver. 4-11</A>.
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III. His cleansing the leper,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:12-15">ver. 12-15</A>.
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IV. A short account of his private devotion and public ministry,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:16,17">ver. 16, 17</A>.
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V. His cure of the man sick of the palsy,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:18-26">ver. 18-26</A>.
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VI. His calling Levi the publican, and conversing with publicans on
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that occasion,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:27-32">ver. 27-32</A>.
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VII. His justifying his disciples in not fasting so frequently as the
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disciples of John and the Pharisees did,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:33-39">ver. 33-39</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Lu5_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu5_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu5_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu5_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu5_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu5_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu5_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu5_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu5_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu5_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu5_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 Call of Peter, James, and John.</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 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to
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hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
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2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen
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were gone out of them, and were washing <I>their</I> nets.
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3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and
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prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And
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he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
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4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out
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into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
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5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all
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the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I
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will let down the net.
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6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude
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of fishes: and their net brake.
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7 And they beckoned unto <I>their</I> partners, which were in the
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other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came,
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and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
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8 When Simon Peter saw <I>it,</I> he fell down at Jesus' knees,
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saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
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9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the
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draught of the fishes which they had taken:
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10 And so <I>was</I> also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee,
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which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear
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not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
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11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook
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all, and followed him.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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This passage of story fell, in order of time, before the two miracles
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we had in the close of the foregoing chapter, and is the same with that
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which was more briefly related by Matthew and Mark, of Christ's calling
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Peter and Andrew to be <I>fishers of men,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+4:18,Mk+1:16">Matt. iv. 18, and Mark i. 16</A>.
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They had not related this miraculous draught of fishes at that time,
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having only in view the calling of his disciples; but Luke gives us
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that story as one of the many signs which Jesus did in the presence of
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his disciples, which <I>had not been written</I> in the foregoing
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books,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+20:30,31">John xx. 30, 31</A>.
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Observe here,</P>
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<P>
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I. What vast <I>crowds</I> attended Christ's preaching: <I>The people
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pressed upon him to hear the word of God</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
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insomuch that no house would contain them, but he was forced to draw
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them out to the <I>strand,</I> that they might be reminded of the
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promise made to Abraham, that his seed should be <I>as the sand upon
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the sea shore</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+22:17">Gen. xxii. 17</A>),
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and yet of them but <I>a remnant shall be saved,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+9:27">Rom. ix. 27</A>.
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The people <I>flocked about him</I> (so the word signifies); they
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showed respect to his preaching, though not without some rudeness to
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his person, which was very excusable, for they <I>pressed upon him.</I>
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Some would reckon this a discredit to him, to be thus cried up by the
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vulgar, when none of the <I>rulers</I> or of <I>the Pharisees believed
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in him;</I> but he reckoned it an honour to him, for their souls were
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as precious as the souls of the grandees, and it is his aim to bring
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not so much the mighty as the <I>many sons</I> to God. It was foretold
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concerning him that <I>to him shall the gathering of the people be.</I>
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Christ was a popular preacher; and though he was able, at
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<I>twelve,</I> to <I>dispute</I> with the <I>doctors,</I> yet he chose,
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at <I>thirty,</I> to preach to the capacity of the <I>vulgar.</I> See
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how the people relished <I>good preaching,</I> though under all
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external disadvantages: they pressed to <I>hear the word of God;</I>
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they could perceive it to be the <I>word of God,</I> by the divine
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power and evidence that went along with it, and therefore they coveted
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to hear it.</P>
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<P>
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II. What poor <I>conveniences</I> Christ had for preaching: <I>He stood
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by the lake of Gennesareth</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>),
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upon a level with the crowd, so that they could neither see him nor
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hear him; he was lost among them, and, every one striving to get near
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him, he was crowded, and in danger of being crowded into the water:
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what must he do? It does not appear that his hearers had any
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contrivance to give him advantage, but <I>there were two ships,</I> or
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<I>fishing boats,</I> brought ashore, one belonging to Simon and
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Andrew, the other to Zebedee and <I>his sons,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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At first, Christ saw Peter and Andrew fishing at some distance (so
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Matthew tells us,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:18"><I>ch.</I> iv. 18</A>);
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but he waited till they came to land, and till the <I>fishermen,</I>
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that is, the servants, were <I>gone out of them</I> having washed their
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nets, and thrown them by for that time: so Christ <I>entered</I> into
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that <I>ship</I> that belonged to Simon, and begged of him that he
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would lend it him for a pulpit; and, though he might have commanded
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him, yet, for love's sake, he rather <I>prayed him</I> that he would
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<I>thrust out a little from the land,</I> which would be the worse for
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his being <I>heard,</I> but Christ would have it so, that he might the
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better be <I>seen;</I> and it is his being <I>lifted up</I> that
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<I>draws men to him.</I> Wisdom cries <I>in the top of high places,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+8:2">Prov. viii. 2</A>.
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It intimates that Christ had a strong voice (strong indeed, for he made
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the <I>dead</I> to hear it), and that he did not desire to favour
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himself. There he <I>sat down,</I> and <I>taught the people</I> the
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good knowledge of the Lord.</P>
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<P>
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III. What a particular acquaintance Christ, hereupon, fell into with
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these fishermen. They had had some conversation with him before, which
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began at John's baptism
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+1:40,41">John i. 40, 41</A>);
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they were with him at <I>Cana of Galilee</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+2:2">John ii. 2</A>),
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and in Judea
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+4:3">John iv. 3</A>);
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but as yet they were not called to attend him constantly, and therefore
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here we have them at their calling, and now it was that they were
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called into a more intimate fellowship with Christ.</P>
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<P>
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1. When Christ had done preaching, he ordered Peter to apply himself to
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the business of his calling again: <I>Launch out into the deep, and let
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down your nets,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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It was not the sabbath day, and therefore, as soon as the lecture was
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over, he set them to work. Time spent on week-days in the public
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exercises of religion may be but little hindrance to us <I>in time,</I>
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and a great furtherance to us in <I>temper of mind,</I> in our worldly
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business. With what cheerfulness may we go about the duties of our
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calling when we have been <I>in the mount</I> with God, and from thence
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fetch a double blessing into our worldly employments, and thus have
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them sanctified to us by the word and prayer! It is our wisdom and duty
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so to manage our religious exercises as that they may befriend our
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worldly business, and so to manage our worldly business as that it may
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be no enemy to our religious exercises.</P>
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<P>
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2. Peter having <I>attended</I> upon Christ in his <I>preaching,</I>
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Christ will <I>accompany</I> him in his <I>fishing.</I> He staid with
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Christ at the shore, and now Christ will <I>launch out</I> with him
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<I>into the deep.</I> Note, Those that will be constant followers of
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Christ shall have him a constant guide to them.</P>
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<P>
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3. Christ ordered Peter and his ship's crew to <I>cast their nets into
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the sea,</I> which they did, in obedience to him, though they had been
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hard at it all night, and had <I>caught nothing,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:4,5"><I>v.</I> 4, 5</A>.
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We may observe here,</P>
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<P>
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(1.) How melancholy their business had now been: "<I>Master, we have
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toiled all the night,</I> when we should have been asleep in our beds,
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<I>and have taken nothing,</I> but have had our labour for our pains."
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One would have thought that this should have excused them from hearing
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the sermon; but such a love had they to the word of God that it was
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more refreshing and reviving to them, after a wearisome night, than the
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softest slumbers. But they mention it to Christ, when he bids them go a
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fishing again. Note,
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[1.] Some <I>callings</I> are much more <I>toilsome</I> than others
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are, and more perilous; yet Providence has so ordered it for the common
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good that there is no useful calling so discouraging but some or other
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have a genius for it. Those who follow their business, and get
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abundance by it with a great deal of ease, should think with compassion
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of those who cannot follow theirs but with a great fatigue, and hardly
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get a bare livelihood by it. When we have <I>rested all night,</I> let
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us not forget those who have <I>toiled all night,</I> as Jacob, when he
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kept Laban's sheep.
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[2.] Be the calling ever so laborious, it is good to see people
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diligent in it, and make the best of it; these fishermen, that were
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thus <I>industrious,</I> Christ singled out for his favourites. They
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were fit to be preferred as good soldiers of Jesus Christ who had thus
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learned to <I>endure hardness.</I>
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[3.] Even those who are most diligent in their business often meet with
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disappointments; they who <I>toiled all night</I> yet <I>caught
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nothing;</I> for the <I>race</I> is not always <I>to the swift.</I> God
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will have us to be diligent, purely in duty to his command and
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dependence upon his goodness, rather than with an assurance of worldly
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success. We must do our duty, and then leave the event to God.
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[4.] When we are tired with our worldly business, and crossed in our
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worldly affairs, we are welcome to come to Christ, and spread our case
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before him, who will take cognizance of it.</P>
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<P>
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(2.) How ready their obedience was to the command of Christ:
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<I>Nevertheless, at thy word, I will let down the net.</I>
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[1.] Though they had <I>toiled all night,</I> yet, if Christ bid them,
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they will renew their toil, for they know that they who <I>wait on him
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shall renew their strength,</I> as work is renewed upon their hands;
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for every fresh service they shall have a fresh supply of <I>grace
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sufficient.</I>
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[2.] Though they have <I>taken nothing,</I> yet, if Christ bid them
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<I>let down for a draught,</I> they will hope to take <I>something.</I>
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Note, We must not abruptly quit the callings wherein we are called
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because we have not the success in them we promised ourselves. The
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ministers of the gospel must continue to <I>let down</I> that
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<I>net,</I> though they have perhaps <I>toiled long</I> and <I>caught
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nothing;</I> and this is thank-worthy, to continue unwearied in our
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labours, though we see not the success of them.
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[3.] In this they have an eye to the <I>word of Christ,</I> and a
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dependence upon that: "<I>At thy word, I will let down the net,</I>
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because thou dost enjoin it, and thou dost encourage it." We are
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<I>then</I> likely to speed well when we follow the guidance of
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Christ's word.</P>
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<P>
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4. The draught of fish they caught was so much beyond what was ever
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known that it amounted to a miracle
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
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They <I>enclosed a great multitude of fishes,</I> so that <I>their net
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broke,</I> and yet, which is strange, they did not lose their draught.
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It was so great a <I>draught</I> that they had not hands sufficient to
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draw it up; but they were obliged to beckon to their partners, who were
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at a distance, out of call, to come and help them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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But the greatest evidence of the vastness of the draught was that they
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filled both the ships with fish, to such a degree that they overloaded
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them, and they <I>began to sink,</I> so that the fish had like to have
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been lost again with their own weight. Thus many an overgrown estate,
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raised out of the water, returns to the place whence it came. Suppose
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these ships were but five or six tons a piece, what a vast quantity of
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fish must there be to <I>load,</I> nay to <I>over-load,</I> them
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both!</P>
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<P>
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Now by this vast draught of fishes,
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(1.) Christ intended to show his <I>dominion</I> in the <I>seas</I> as
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well as on the <I>dry land,</I> over its <I>wealth</I> as over its
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<I>waves.</I> Thus he would show that he was that <I>Son of man</I>
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under whose feet all things were put, and particularly the <I>fish of
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the sea</I> and <I>whatsoever passeth through the paths of the sea,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+8:8">Ps. viii. 8</A>.
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(2.) He intended hereby to confirm the doctrine he had just now
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preached out of Peter's ship. We may suppose that the people on shore,
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who heard the sermon, having a notion that the preacher was a prophet
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sent of God, carefully attended his motions afterward, and staid
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halting about there, to see what he would do next; and this miracle
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immediately following would be a confirmation to their faith, of his
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being at least <I>a teacher come from God.</I>
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(3.) He intended hereby to repay Peter for the loan of his boat; for
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Christ's gospel now, as his ark formerly in the house of Obed-edom,
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will be sure to make amends, rich amends, for its kind entertainment.
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None shall <I>shut a door or kindle a fire</I> in God's house <I>for
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nought,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mal+1:10">Mal. i. 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
Christ's recompences for services done to his name are abundant, they
|
|
are superabundant.
|
|
|
|
(4.) He intended hereby to give a specimen, to those who were to be his
|
|
ambassadors to the world, of the success of their embassy, that though
|
|
they might for a time, and in one particular place, <I>toil</I> and
|
|
<I>catch nothing,</I> yet they should be instrumental to bring in many
|
|
to Christ, and enclose many in the gospel net.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
5. The impression which this miraculous draught of fishes made upon
|
|
Peter was very remarkable.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) All <I>concerned</I> were <I>astonished,</I> and the more
|
|
<I>astonished</I> for their being <I>concerned.</I> All the boat's crew
|
|
were <I>astonished at the draught of fishes which they had taken</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>);
|
|
|
|
they were all surprised; and the more they considered it, and all the
|
|
circumstances of it, the more they were <I>wonder-struck,</I> I had
|
|
almost said <I>thunder-struck,</I> at the thought of it, <I>and so were
|
|
also James and John, who were partners with Simon</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
|
|
|
|
and who, for aught that appears, were not so well acquainted with
|
|
Christ, before this, as Peter and Andrew were. Now they were the more
|
|
<I>affected</I> with it,
|
|
|
|
[1.] Because they <I>understood</I> it better than others did. They
|
|
that were well acquainted with this sea, and it is probable had plied
|
|
upon it many years, had never seen such a draught of fishes fetched out
|
|
of it, nor any thing like it, any thing near it; and therefore they
|
|
could not be tempted to diminish it, as others might, by suggesting
|
|
that it was accidental at this <I>time,</I> and what might as well have
|
|
happened at <I>any time.</I> It greatly corroborates the evidence of
|
|
Christ's miracles that those who were best <I>acquainted</I> with them
|
|
most <I>admired</I> them.
|
|
|
|
[2.] Because they were most <I>interested</I> in it, and
|
|
<I>benefited</I> by it. Peter and his part-owners were gainers by this
|
|
great draught of fishes; it was a rich booty for them and therefore it
|
|
transported them, and their <I>joy</I> was a <I>helper</I> to their
|
|
<I>faith.</I> Note, When Christ's works of wonder are to us, in
|
|
particular, works of grace, then especially they command our faith in
|
|
his doctrine.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) Peter, above all the rest, was astonished to such a degree that he
|
|
<I>fell down at Jesus's knees,</I> as he sat in the stern of his boat,
|
|
and said, as one in an ecstasy or transport, that knew not where he was
|
|
or what he said, <I>Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
Not that he feared the weight of the fish would sink him because he was
|
|
a sinful man, but that he thought himself unworthy of the favour of
|
|
Christ's presence in his boat, and worthy that it should be to him a
|
|
matter rather of terror than of comfort. This word of Peter's came from
|
|
the same principle with theirs who, under the Old-Testament, so often
|
|
said that they did <I>exceedingly fear and quake</I> at the
|
|
extraordinary display of the divine glory and majesty. It was the
|
|
language of Peter's humility and self-denial, and had not the least
|
|
tincture of the devils' dialect, <I>What have we to do with thee,
|
|
Jesus, thou Son of God?</I>
|
|
|
|
[1.] His acknowledgment was very just, and what it becomes us all to
|
|
make: <I>I am a sinful man, O Lord.</I> Note, Even the <I>best men</I>
|
|
are <I>sinful men,</I> and should be ready upon all occasions to own
|
|
it, and especially to own it to Jesus Christ; for to whom else, but to
|
|
him who came into the world to <I>save sinners,</I> should <I>sinful
|
|
men</I> apply themselves?
|
|
|
|
[2.] His inference from it was what <I>might have been</I> just, though
|
|
really it was not so. If I be a <I>sinful man,</I> as indeed I am, I
|
|
ought to say, "<I>Come to me, O Lord,</I> or let me come to thee, or I
|
|
am undone, <I>for ever undone.</I>" But, considering what reason
|
|
<I>sinful men</I> have to tremble before the holy Lord God and to dread
|
|
his wrath, Peter may well be excused, if, in a sense of his own
|
|
sinfulness and vileness, he cried out on a sudden, <I>Depart from
|
|
me.</I> Note, Those whom Christ designs to admit to the most
|
|
<I>intimate acquaintance</I> with him he first makes sensible that they
|
|
deserve to be set at the <I>greatest distance</I> from him. We must all
|
|
own ourselves <I>sinful men,</I> and that therefore Jesus Christ might
|
|
justly <I>depart from us;</I> but we must <I>therefore fall down at his
|
|
knees,</I> to pray him that he would not depart; for <I>woe unto us</I>
|
|
if he <I>leave us,</I> if the Saviour depart from the sinful man.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
6. The occasion which Christ took from this to intimate to Peter
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
|
|
|
|
and soon after to James and John
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+4:21">Matt. iv. 21</A>),
|
|
|
|
his purpose to make them his apostles, and instruments of planting his
|
|
religion in the world. He <I>said unto Simon,</I> who was in the
|
|
greatest surprise of any of them at this prodigious draught of fishes,
|
|
"Thou shalt both see and do greater things than these; <I>fear not;</I>
|
|
let not this astonish thee; be not afraid that, after having done thee
|
|
this honour, it is so great that I shall never do thee more; no,
|
|
<I>henceforth thou shalt catch men,</I> by enclosing them in the gospel
|
|
net, and that shall be a greater instance of the Redeemer's power, and
|
|
his favour to thee, than this is; that shall be a more
|
|
<I>astonishing</I> miracle, and infinitely more <I>advantageous</I>
|
|
than this." When by Peter's preaching <I>three thousand souls</I> were,
|
|
<I>in one day,</I> added to the church, then the type of this great
|
|
draught of fishes was abundantly answered.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>Lastly,</I> The fishermen's farewell to their calling, in order to
|
|
their constant attendance on Christ
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>When they had brought their ships to land,</I> instead of going to
|
|
seek for a market for their fish, that they might make the best hand
|
|
they could of this miracle, they <I>forsook all and followed him,</I>
|
|
being more solicitous to serve the interests of Christ than to advance
|
|
any secular interests of their own. It is observable that they <I>left
|
|
all to follow Christ,</I> when their calling prospered in their hands
|
|
more than ever it had done and they had had uncommon success in it.
|
|
When <I>riches increase,</I> and we are therefore most in temptation to
|
|
<I>set our hearts</I> upon them, then to quit them for the service of
|
|
Christ, this is <I>thank-worthy.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Lu5_12"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu5_13"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu5_14"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu5_15"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu5_16"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>A Leper Cleansed.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>12 And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a
|
|
man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on <I>his</I> face, and
|
|
besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me
|
|
clean.
|
|
13 And he put forth <I>his</I> hand, and touched him, saying, I
|
|
will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from
|
|
him.
|
|
14 And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and show thyself
|
|
to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses
|
|
commanded, for a testimony unto them.
|
|
15 But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and
|
|
great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him
|
|
of their infirmities.
|
|
16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
I. The cleansing of a leper,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:12-14"><I>v.</I> 12-14</A>.
|
|
|
|
This narrative we had both in Matthew and Mark. It is here said to have
|
|
been <I>in a certain city</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>);
|
|
|
|
it was in Capernaum, but the evangelist would not name it, perhaps
|
|
because it was a reflection upon the government of the city that a
|
|
leper was suffered to be <I>in it.</I> This man is said to be <I>full
|
|
of leprosy;</I> he had that distemper in a high degree, which the more
|
|
fitly represents our natural pollution by sin; we are <I>full of that
|
|
leprosy, from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot there is no
|
|
soundness in us.</I> Now let us learn here,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. What we must do in the sense of our spiritual leprosy.
|
|
|
|
(1.) We must <I>seek Jesus,</I> enquire after him, acquaint ourselves
|
|
with him, and reckon the discoveries made to us of Christ by the gospel
|
|
the most acceptable and welcome discoveries that could be made to us.
|
|
|
|
(2.) We must humble ourselves before him, as this leper, seeing Jesus,
|
|
<I>fell on his face.</I> We must be <I>ashamed</I> of our pollution,
|
|
and, in the sense of it, blush to lift up our faces before the <I>holy
|
|
Jesus.</I>
|
|
|
|
(3.) We must earnestly desire to be <I>cleansed</I> from the
|
|
defilement, and cured of the disease, of sin, which renders us unfit
|
|
for communion with God.
|
|
|
|
(4.) We must firmly believe Christ's ability and sufficiency to cleanse
|
|
us: Lord, <I>thou canst make me clean,</I> though I be <I>full of
|
|
leprosy.</I> No doubt is to be made of the merit and grace of Christ.
|
|
|
|
(5.) We must be importunate in prayer for pardoning mercy and renewing
|
|
grace: <I>He fell on his face and besought him;</I> they that would be
|
|
cleansed must reckon it a favour worth wrestling for.
|
|
|
|
(6.) We must refer ourselves to the good-will of Christ: <I>Lord, if
|
|
thou wilt, thou canst.</I> This is not so much the language of his
|
|
<I>diffidence,</I> or <I>distrust</I> of the good-will of Christ, as of
|
|
his submission and reference of himself and his case to the will, to
|
|
the good-will, of Jesus Christ.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. What we may expect from Christ, if we thus apply ourselves to him.
|
|
|
|
(1.) We shall find him very <I>condescending</I> and forward to take
|
|
cognizance of our case
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>He put forth his hand and touched him.</I> When Christ visited this
|
|
leprous world, unasked, unsought unto, he showed how low he could
|
|
stoop, to do good. His <I>touching</I> the leper was wonderful
|
|
condescension; but it is much greater to us when he is himself
|
|
<I>touched with the feeling of our infirmities.</I>
|
|
|
|
(2.) We shall find him very <I>compassionate,</I> and ready to relieve
|
|
us; he said, "<I>I will,</I> never doubt of that; whosoever comes to me
|
|
to be healed, <I>I will in no wise cast him out.</I>" He is as willing
|
|
to cleanse leprous souls as they can be to be cleansed.
|
|
|
|
(3.) We shall find him all-sufficient, and able to heal and cleanse us,
|
|
though we be ever so full of this loathsome leprosy. One word, one
|
|
touch, from Christ, did the business: <I>Immediately the leprosy
|
|
departed from him.</I> If Christ saith, "I will, be thou
|
|
<I>justified,</I> be thou <I>sanctified,</I>" it is done; for he has
|
|
power on earth to <I>forgive</I> sin, and power to give the Holy
|
|
Spirit,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+6:11">1 Cor. vi. 11</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. What he requires from those that are cleansed,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
Has Christ sent his word and healed us?
|
|
|
|
(1.) We must be very <I>humble</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>He charged him to tell no man.</I> This, it should seem, did not
|
|
forbid him telling it to the honour of Christ, but he must not tell it
|
|
to his own honour. Those whom Christ hath healed and cleansed must know
|
|
that he hath done it in such a way as for ever excludes boasting.
|
|
|
|
(2.) We must be very <I>thankful,</I> and make a grateful
|
|
acknowledgment of the divine grace: <I>Go, and offer for thy
|
|
cleansing.</I> Christ did not require him to give him a fee, but to
|
|
bring the sacrifice of praise to God; so far was he from using his
|
|
power to the prejudice of the law of Moses.
|
|
|
|
(3.) We must <I>keep close to our duty;</I> go <I>to the priest,</I>
|
|
and those that attend him. The man whom Christ had made whole he
|
|
<I>found in the temple,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+5:14">John v. 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
Those who by any affliction have been detained from public ordinances
|
|
should, when the affliction is removed, attend on them the more
|
|
diligently, and adhere to them the more constantly.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. Christ's <I>public serviceableness</I> to men and his <I>private
|
|
communion</I> with God; these are put together here, to give lustre to
|
|
each other.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) Though never any had so much <I>pleasure</I> in his
|
|
<I>retirements</I> as Christ had, yet he was <I>much in a crowd,</I> to
|
|
do good,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
Though the leper should altogether hold his peace, yet the thing could
|
|
not be hid,<I> so much the more went there a fame abroad of him.</I>
|
|
The more he sought to conceal himself under a veil of humility, the
|
|
more notice did people take of him; for honour is like a shadow, which
|
|
flees from those that pursue it (<I>for a man to seek his own glory is
|
|
not glory),</I> but follows those that decline it, and draw from it.
|
|
The less good men say of themselves, the more will others say of them.
|
|
But Christ reckoned it a small honour to him that his <I>fame went
|
|
abroad;</I> it was much more so that hereby multitudes were brought to
|
|
receive benefit by him.
|
|
|
|
[1.] By his preaching. They came together to <I>hear</I> him, and to
|
|
receive instruction from him concerning the kingdom of God.
|
|
|
|
[2.] By his miracles. They came <I>to be healed by him of their
|
|
infirmities;</I> that invited them to come to hear him, confirmed his
|
|
doctrine, and recommended it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) Though never any did so much <I>good in public,</I> yet he found
|
|
time for <I>pious</I> and <I>devout retirements</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>He withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed;</I> not that he
|
|
needed to avoid either distraction or ostentation, but he would set us
|
|
an example, who need to order the circumstances of our devotion so as
|
|
to guard against both. It is likewise our wisdom so to order our
|
|
affairs as that our public work and our secret work may not intrench
|
|
upon, nor interfere with, one another. Note, Secret prayer must be
|
|
performed secretly; and those that have ever so much to do of the best
|
|
business in this world must keep up constant stated times for it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Lu5_17"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu5_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu5_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu5_20"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu5_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu5_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu5_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu5_24"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu5_25"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu5_26"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Cure of a Paralytic.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching,
|
|
that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by,
|
|
which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judæa, and
|
|
Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was <I>present</I> to heal them.
|
|
18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with
|
|
a palsy: and they sought <I>means</I> to bring him in, and to lay
|
|
<I>him</I> before him.
|
|
19 And when they could not find by what <I>way</I> they might bring
|
|
him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and
|
|
let him down through the tiling with <I>his</I> couch into the midst
|
|
before Jesus.
|
|
20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins
|
|
are forgiven thee.
|
|
21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying,
|
|
Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but
|
|
God alone?
|
|
22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said
|
|
unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
|
|
23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to
|
|
say, Rise up and walk?
|
|
24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon
|
|
earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I
|
|
say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine
|
|
house.
|
|
25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that
|
|
whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
|
|
26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were
|
|
filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
I. A general account of Christ's preaching and miracles,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
1. He was <I>teaching on a certain day,</I> not on the sabbath day,
|
|
then he would have said so, but on a <I>week-day; six days shalt thou
|
|
labour,</I> not only for <I>the world,</I> but for <I>the soul,</I> and
|
|
the welfare of that. Preaching and hearing the word of <I>God</I> are
|
|
<I>good works,</I> if they be <I>done well,</I> any day in the
|
|
<I>week,</I> as well as on sabbath days. It was not in the
|
|
<I>synagogue,</I> but in a <I>private house;</I> for even there where
|
|
we ordinarily converse with our friends it is not improper to give and
|
|
receive good instruction.
|
|
|
|
2. There he <I>taught,</I> he <I>healed</I> (as before,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>And the power of the Lord was to heal them</I>--<B><I>en eis to
|
|
iasthai autous</I></B>. It was <I>mighty</I> to heal them; it was
|
|
<I>exerted</I> and <I>put forth</I> to heal them, to heal those whom he
|
|
<I>taught</I> (we may understand it so), to heal their souls, to cure
|
|
them of their spiritual diseases, and to give them a new life, a new
|
|
nature. Note, Those who receive the word of Christ in faith will find a
|
|
divine power going along with that word, to <I>heal them;</I> for
|
|
Christ came with his comforts to <I>heal the broken-hearted,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+4:18"><I>ch.</I> iv. 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
The power of the Lord is <I>present</I> with the word, <I>present to
|
|
those</I> that pray for it and submit to it, <I>present to heal
|
|
them.</I> Or it may be meant (and so it is generally taken) of the
|
|
healing of those who were <I>diseased in body,</I> who came to him for
|
|
cures. Whenever there was occasion, Christ had not <I>to seek</I> for
|
|
his power, it was <I>present to heal.</I>
|
|
|
|
3. There were some grandees present in this assembly, and, as it should
|
|
seem, more than usual: <I>There were Pharisees, and doctors of the law,
|
|
sitting by;</I> not sitting <I>at his feet,</I> to learn of him; then I
|
|
should have been willing to take the following clause as referring to
|
|
those who are spoken of immediately before (the <I>power of the Lord
|
|
was present to heal them</I>); and why might not the word of Christ
|
|
reach their hearts? But, by what follows
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>),
|
|
|
|
it appears that they were <I>not healed,</I> but cavilled at Christ,
|
|
which compels us to refer this to others, not to them; for they <I>sat
|
|
by</I> as <I>persons unconcerned,</I> as if the word of Christ were
|
|
nothing to them. They sat by as spectators, censors, and spies, to pick
|
|
up something on which to ground a reproach or accusation. How many are
|
|
there in the midst of our assemblies, where the gospel is preached,
|
|
that do not <I>sit under</I> the word, but <I>sit by!</I> It is to them
|
|
as a <I>tale</I> that is <I>told them,</I> not as a <I>message</I> that
|
|
is <I>sent them;</I> they are willing that we should preach <I>before
|
|
them,</I> not that we should preach <I>to them.</I> These Pharisees and
|
|
scribes (or doctors of the law) <I>came out of every town of Galilee,
|
|
and Judea, and Jerusalem;</I> they came from all parts of the nation.
|
|
Probably, they appointed to meet at this time and place, to see what
|
|
remarks they could make upon Christ and what he said and did. They were
|
|
in a confederacy, as those that said, <I>Come, and let us devise
|
|
devices against Jeremiah,</I> and agree to <I>smite him with the
|
|
tongue,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+18:18">Jer. xviii. 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>Report, and we will report it,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+20:10">Jer. xx. 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
Observe, Christ went on with his work of <I>preaching</I> and
|
|
<I>healing,</I> though he saw these Pharisees, and doctors of the
|
|
Jewish church, <I>sitting by,</I> who, he knew, <I>despised</I> him,
|
|
and watched to <I>ensnare him.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. A particular account of the cure of the man <I>sick of the
|
|
palsy,</I> which was related much as it is here by both the foregoing
|
|
evangelists: let us therefore only observe in short,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. The doctrines that are taught us and confirmed to us by the story of
|
|
this cure.
|
|
|
|
(1.) That sin is the fountain of all sickness, and the forgiveness of
|
|
sin is the only foundation upon which a recovery from sickness can
|
|
comfortably be built. They presented the <I>sick man</I> to Christ, and
|
|
he said, "<I>Man, thy sins are forgiven thee</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>),
|
|
|
|
that is the blessing thou art most to prize and seek; for if thy sins
|
|
be forgiven thee, though the sickness be continued, it is in mercy; if
|
|
they be not, though the sickness be removed, it is in wrath." The cords
|
|
of our iniquity are the bands of our affliction.
|
|
|
|
(2.) That Jesus Christ has power on earth to <I>forgive sins,</I> and
|
|
his healing diseases was an <I>incontestable</I> proof of it. This was
|
|
the thing intended to be proved
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>That ye may know</I> and believe <I>that the Son of man,</I> though
|
|
now upon earth in his state of humiliation, <I>hath power to forgive
|
|
sins,</I> and to release sinners, upon gospel terms, from the eternal
|
|
punishment of sin, he <I>saith to the sick of the palsy, Arise, and
|
|
walk;</I> and he is cured immediately. Christ claims one of the
|
|
prerogatives of the King of kings when he undertakes to <I>forgive
|
|
sin,</I> and it is justly expected that he should produce a good proof
|
|
of it. "Well," saith he, "I will put it upon this issue: here is a man
|
|
struck with a palsy, and <I>for his sin;</I> if I do not with a word's
|
|
speaking cure his disease in an instant, which cannot be done by nature
|
|
or art, but purely by the immediate power and efficacy of the God of
|
|
nature, then say that I am not entitled to the prerogative of forgiving
|
|
sin, am not the Messiah, am not the Son of God and King of Israel: but,
|
|
if I do, you must own that <I>I have power to forgive sins.</I>" Thus
|
|
it was put upon a fair trial, and one word of Christ determined it. He
|
|
did but say, <I>Arise, take up thy couch,</I> and that <I>chronical</I>
|
|
disease had an <I>instantaneous</I> cure; <I>immediately he arose
|
|
before them.</I> They must all own that there could be no cheat or
|
|
fallacy in it. They that brought him could attest how perfectly
|
|
<I>lame</I> he was before; they that saw him could attest how perfectly
|
|
<I>well</I> he was now, insomuch that he had strength enough to take up
|
|
and carry away the bed he lay upon. How well is it for us that this
|
|
most comfortable doctrine of the gospel, that <I>Jesus Christ,</I> our
|
|
<I>Redeemer and Saviour,</I> has <I>power to forgive sin,</I> has such
|
|
a full attestation!
|
|
|
|
(3.) That Jesus Christ is God. He appears to be so,
|
|
|
|
[1.] By <I>knowing the thoughts</I> of the scribes and Pharisees
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>),
|
|
|
|
which it is God's prerogative to do, though these scribes and Pharisees
|
|
knew as well how to conceal their thoughts, and keep their
|
|
countenances, as most men, and probably were industrious to do it at
|
|
this time, for they <I>lay in wait secretly.</I>
|
|
|
|
[2.] By doing that which their thoughts owned none could do but God
|
|
only
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Who can forgive sins,</I> say they, <I>but only God?</I> "I will
|
|
prove," saith Christ, "that I can forgive sins;" and what follows then
|
|
but that <I>he is God</I>? What horrid wickedness then were
|
|
<I>they</I> guilty of who charged him with speaking the <I>worst</I> of
|
|
<I>blasphemies,</I> even when he spoke the <I>best</I> of <I>blessings,
|
|
Thy sins are forgiven thee!</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The duties that are taught us, and recommended to us, by this story.
|
|
|
|
(1.) In our applications to Christ, we must be very <I>pressing</I> and
|
|
<I>urgent:</I> that is an evidence of faith, and is very pleasing to
|
|
Christ and prevailing with him. They that were the friends of this sick
|
|
man <I>sought means to bring him in before Christ</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>);
|
|
|
|
and, when they were baffled in their endeavour, they did not give up
|
|
their cause; but when they could not get in by <I>the door,</I> it was
|
|
so crowded, they untiled the house, and let the poor patient down
|
|
through the roof, <I>into the midst before Jesus,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
In this Jesus Christ <I>saw their faith,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
Now here he has taught us (and it were well if we could learn the
|
|
lesson) to <I>put the best construction</I> upon words and actions that
|
|
they <I>will bear.</I> When the centurion and the woman of Canaan were
|
|
in no care at all to bring the patients they interceded for into
|
|
Christ's presence, but believed that he could cure them <I>at a
|
|
distance,</I> he commended <I>their faith.</I> But though in
|
|
<I>these</I> there seemed to be a <I>different</I> notion of the thing,
|
|
and an apprehension that it was requisite the <I>patient</I> should be
|
|
<I>brought into his presence,</I> yet he did not <I>censure</I> and
|
|
<I>condemn</I> their weakness, did not ask them, "Why do you give this
|
|
disturbance to the assembly? Are you under such a degree of infidelity
|
|
as to think I could not have cured him, though he had been out of
|
|
doors?" But he made the best of it, and even in <I>this</I> he saw
|
|
<I>their faith.</I> It is a comfort to us that we serve a Master that
|
|
is willing to <I>make the best</I> of us.
|
|
|
|
(2.) When we are sick, we should be more in care to get our sins
|
|
pardoned than to get our sickness removed. Christ, in what he said to
|
|
this man, taught us, when we seek to God for health, to begin with
|
|
seeking to him for pardon.
|
|
|
|
(3.) The mercies which we have the comfort of God must have the praise
|
|
of. The man <I>departed to his own house, glorifying God,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>.
|
|
|
|
To him belong the escapes from death, and in them therefore he must be
|
|
<I>glorified.</I>
|
|
|
|
(4.) The miracles which Christ wrought were <I>amazing</I> to those
|
|
that saw them, and we ought to <I>glorify</I> God in them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:26"><I>v.</I> 26</A>.
|
|
|
|
They said, "<I>We have seen strange things to-day,</I> such as we never
|
|
saw before, nor our fathers before us; they are altogether new." But
|
|
they <I>glorified</I> God, who had sent into their country such a
|
|
benefactor to it; and were <I>filled with fear,</I> with a reverence of
|
|
God, with a jealous persuasion that this was the Messiah and that he
|
|
was not treated by their nation as he ought to be, which might prove in
|
|
the end the ruin of their state; perhaps they were some such thoughts
|
|
as these that <I>filled them with fear,</I> and a concern likewise for
|
|
themselves.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Lu5_27"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu5_28"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu5_29"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu5_30"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu5_31"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu5_32"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu5_33"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu5_34"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu5_35"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu5_36"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu5_37"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu5_38"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu5_39"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Call of Matthew; Watchfulness Inculcated.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>27 And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican,
|
|
named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto
|
|
him, Follow me.
|
|
28 And he left all, rose up, and followed him.
|
|
29 And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there
|
|
was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with
|
|
them.
|
|
30 But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his
|
|
disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and
|
|
sinners?
|
|
31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need
|
|
not a physician; but they that are sick.
|
|
32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
|
|
33 And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast
|
|
often, and make prayers, and likewise <I>the disciples</I> of the
|
|
Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?
|
|
34 And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the
|
|
bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?
|
|
35 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken
|
|
away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
|
|
36 And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a
|
|
piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the
|
|
new maketh a rent, and the piece that was <I>taken</I> out of the new
|
|
agreeth not with the old.
|
|
37 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new
|
|
wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles
|
|
shall perish.
|
|
38 But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are
|
|
preserved.
|
|
39 No man also having drunk old <I>wine</I> straightway desireth
|
|
new: for he saith, The old is better.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
All this, except the last verse, we had before in Matthew and Mark; it
|
|
is not the story of any <I>miracle in nature</I> wrought by our Lord
|
|
Jesus, but it is an account of some of the <I>wonders of his grace,</I>
|
|
which, to those who understand things aright, are no less cogent proofs
|
|
of Christ's being sent of God than the other.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. It was a wonder of his grace that he would call a <I>publican,</I>
|
|
from the <I>receipt of custom,</I> to be his disciple and follower,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>.
|
|
|
|
It was wonderful condescension that he should admit poor fishermen to
|
|
that honour, men of the <I>lowest rank;</I> but much more wonderful
|
|
that he should admit <I>publicans,</I> men of the <I>worst
|
|
reputation,</I> men of <I>ill fame.</I> In this Christ <I>humbled
|
|
himself,</I> and appeared <I>in the likeness of sinful flesh.</I> By
|
|
this he <I>exposed himself,</I> and got the invidious character of a
|
|
<I>friend of publicans and sinners.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. It was a wonder of his grace that the call was made
|
|
<I>effectual,</I> became immediately so,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>.
|
|
|
|
This publican, though those of that employment commonly had little
|
|
inclination to religion, for his religion's sake left a good place in
|
|
the custom-house (which, probably, was his livelihood, and where he
|
|
stood fair for better preferment), and <I>rose up, and followed
|
|
Christ.</I> There is no heart too hard for the Spirit and grace of
|
|
Christ to work upon, nor any difficulties in the way of a sinner's
|
|
conversion insuperable to his power.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. It was a wonder of his grace that he would not only admit a
|
|
converted publican into his family, but would keep company with
|
|
unconverted publicans, that he might have an opportunity of doing their
|
|
souls good; he justified himself in it, as agreeing with the great
|
|
design of his coming into the world. Here is a wonder of grace indeed,
|
|
that Christ undertakes to be the Physician of souls <I>distempered</I>
|
|
by sin, and ready to <I>die</I> of the distemper (he is a Healer by
|
|
office,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>)--
|
|
|
|
that he has a particular regard to the sick, to sinners as his
|
|
patients, convinced awakened sinners, that see their need of the
|
|
Physician--that he came to call <I>sinners,</I> the worst of sinners,
|
|
to repentance, and to assure them of pardon, upon repentance,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:32"><I>v.</I> 32</A>.
|
|
|
|
These are glad tidings of great joy indeed.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. It was a wonder of his grace that he did so patiently bear the
|
|
<I>contradiction of sinners</I> against himself and his disciples,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>.
|
|
|
|
He did not express his resentment of the cavils of the scribes and
|
|
Pharisees, as he justly might have done, but answered them with reason
|
|
and meekness; and, instead of taking that occasion to show his
|
|
displeasure against the Pharisees, as afterwards he did, or of
|
|
recriminating upon them, he took that occasion to show his compassion
|
|
to poor publicans, another sort of sinners, and to encourage them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
V. It was a wonder of his grace that, in the discipline under which he
|
|
trained up his disciples, he <I>considered their frame,</I> and
|
|
proportioned their services to their strength and standing, and to the
|
|
circumstances they were in. It was objected, as a blemish upon his
|
|
conduct, that he did not make <I>his disciples</I> to <I>fast</I> so
|
|
often as those of the <I>Pharisees</I> and John Baptist did,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:33"><I>v.</I> 33</A>.
|
|
|
|
He insisted most upon that which is the <I>soul</I> of fasting, the
|
|
mortification of sin, the crucifying of the flesh, and the living of a
|
|
life of self-denial, which is as much better than fasting and corporal
|
|
penances as <I>mercy</I> is better than <I>sacrifice.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VI. It was a wonder of his grace that Christ reserved the trials of his
|
|
disciples for their latter times, when by his grace they were in some
|
|
good measure better prepared and fitted for them than they were at
|
|
first. Now they were as the <I>children of the bride-chamber,</I> when
|
|
the <I>bridegroom is with them,</I> when they have plenty and joy, and
|
|
every day is a festival. Christ was welcomed wherever he came, and they
|
|
for his sake, and as yet they met with little or no opposition; but
|
|
this will not last always. <I>The days will come</I> when the
|
|
<I>bridegroom shall be taken away from them,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:35"><I>v.</I> 35</A>.
|
|
|
|
When Christ shall leave them with their hearts full of sorrow, their
|
|
hands full of work, and the world full of enmity and rage against them,
|
|
<I>then shall they fast,</I> shall not be so well fed as they are now.
|
|
<I>We both hunger and thirst and are naked,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+4:11">1 Cor. iv. 11</A>.
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Then they shall keep many more <I>religious fasts</I> than they do now,
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for Providence will call them to it; they will then serve the Lord
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<I>with fastings,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+13:2">Acts xiii. 2</A>.</P>
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<P>
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VII. It was a wonder of his grace that he proportioned their exercises
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to their strength. He would not put <I>new cloth upon an old
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garment</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:36"><I>v.</I> 36</A>),
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nor <I>new wine into old bottles</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:37,38"><I>v.</I> 37, 38</A>);
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he would not, as soon as ever he had called them out of the world, put
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them upon the strictnesses and austerities of discipleship, lest they
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should be tempted to <I>fly off.</I> When God brought Israel out of
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Egypt, he would not bring them <I>by the way of the Philistines,</I>
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lest they should <I>repent,</I> when they <I>saw war,</I> and <I>return
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to Egypt,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+13:17">Exod. xiii. 17</A>.
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So Christ would train up his followers gradually to the discipline of
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his family; for no man, having <I>drank old wine,</I> will <I>of a
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sudden,</I> straightway, <I>desire new,</I> or relish it, but will say,
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<I>The old is better,</I> because he has been <I>used to it,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+5:39"><I>v.</I> 39</A>.
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The disciples will be tempted to think their old way of living better,
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till they are by degrees trained up to this way whereunto they are
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called. Or, turn it the other way: "Let them be <I>accustomed</I>
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awhile to religious exercises, and then they will <I>abound</I> in them
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as much as you do: but we must not be too hasty with them." Calvin
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takes it as an admonition to the Pharisees not to boast of their
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fasting, and the noise and show they made with it, nor to despise his
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disciples because they did not in like manner <I>signalize</I>
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themselves; for the profession the Pharisees made was indeed
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<I>pompous</I> and <I>gay,</I> like <I>new wine</I> that is brisk and
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sparkling, whereas all wise men say, <I>The old is better;</I> for,
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though it does not give its colour so well in the cup, yet it is more
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warming in the stomach and more wholesome. Christ's disciples, though
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they had not so much of the <I>form of godliness,</I> had more of the
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<I>power of it.</I></P>
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