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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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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. XVIII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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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. The parable of the importunate widow, designed to teach us fervency
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in prayer,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:1-8">ver. 1-8</A>.
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II. The parable of the Pharisee and publican, designed to teach us
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humility, and humiliation for sin, in prayer,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:9-14">ver. 9-14</A>.
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III. Christ's favour to little children that were brought to him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:15-17">ver. 15-17</A>.
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IV. The trial of a rich man that had a mind to follow Christ, whether
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he loved better Christ or his riches; his coming short upon that trial;
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and Christ's discourse with his disciples upon that occasion,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:18-30">ver. 18-30</A>.
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V. Christ's foretelling his own death and sufferings,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:31-34">ver. 31-34</A>.
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VI. His restoring sight to a blind man,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:35-43">ver. 35-43</A>.
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And these four passages we had before in Matthew and Mark.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Lu18_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu18_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu18_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu18_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu18_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu18_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu18_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Lu18_8"> </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 Unjust Judge.</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 he spake a parable unto them <I>to this end,</I> that men
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ought always to pray, and not to faint;
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2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God,
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neither regarded man:
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3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him,
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saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
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4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within
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himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
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5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest
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by her continual coming she weary me.
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6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
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7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and
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night unto him, though he bear long with them?
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8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless
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when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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This parable has its key hanging at the door; the drift and design of
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it are <I>prefixed.</I> Christ spoke it with this intent, to teach us
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that <I>men ought always to pray and not to faint,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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It supposes that all God's people are <I>praying</I> people; all God's
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children keep up both a <I>constant</I> and an <I>occasional</I>
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correspondence with him, send to him <I>statedly,</I> and upon <I>every
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emergency.</I> It is our privilege and honour that we <I>may</I> pray.
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It is our duty; we <I>ought to pray,</I> we sin if we neglect it. It is
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to be our constant work; we ought <I>always</I> to pray, it is that
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which <I>the duty of every day requires.</I> We must pray, and never
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grow weary of praying, nor think of leaving it off till it comes to be
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swallowed up in everlasting praise. But that which seems particularly
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designed here is to teach us constancy and perseverance in our requests
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for some spiritual mercies that we are in pursuit of, relating either
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to ourselves or to the church of God. When we are praying for strength
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against our spiritual enemies, our lusts and corruptions, which are our
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worst enemies, we must continue instant in prayer, must pray and <I>not
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faint,</I> for we shall not <I>seek God's face in vain.</I> So we must
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likewise in our prayers for the deliverance of the people of God out of
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the hands of their persecutors and oppressors.</P>
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<P>
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I. Christ shows, by a parable, the <I>power of importunity</I> among
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men, who will be swayed by that, when nothing else will influence, to
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do what is just and right. He gives you an instance of an honest cause
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that succeeded before an unjust judge, not by the equity or
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compassionableness of it, but purely by <I>dint of importunity.</I>
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Observe here,
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1. The bad character of the judge that was in a certain city. He
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<I>neither feared God nor regarded man;</I> he had no manner of concern
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either for his conscience or for his reputation; he stood in no awe
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either of the wrath of God against him or of the censures of men
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concerning him: or, he took no care to do his duty either to God or
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man; he was a perfect stranger both to godliness and honour, and had no
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notion of either. It is not strange if those that have cast off the
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fear of their Creator be altogether regardless of their
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fellow-creatures; where no <I>fear of God</I> is no good is to be
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expected. Such a prevalency of irreligion and inhumanity is bad in any,
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but very bad in a <I>judge,</I> who has power in his hand, in the use
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of which he ought to be guided by the principles of religion and
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justice, and, if he be not, instead of doing good with his power he
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will be in danger of doing hurt. <I>Wickedness in the place of
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judgment</I> was one of the sorest evils Solomon saw under the sun,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+3:16">Eccl. iii. 16</A>.
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2. The distressed case of a poor widow that was necessitated to make
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her appeal to him, being wronged by some one that thought to bear her
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down with power and terror. She had manifestly right on her side; but,
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it should seem, in soliciting to have right done her, she tied not
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herself to the formalities of the law, but made personal application to
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the judge from day to day at his own house, still crying, <I>Avenge me
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of mine adversary;</I> that is, <I>Do me justice against mine
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adversary;</I> not that she desired to be revenged on him for any thing
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he had done against her, but that he might be obliged to restore what
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effects he had of hers in his hands, and might be disabled any more to
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oppress her. Note, Poor widows have often many adversaries, who
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barbarously take advantage of their weak and helpless state to invade
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their rights, and defraud them of what little they have; and
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magistrates are particularly charged, not only not to do <I>violence to
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the widow</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+21:3">Jer. xxi. 3</A>),
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but to <I>judge the fatherless,</I> and <I>plead for the widow</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+1:17">Isa. i. 17</A>),
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to be their patrons and protectors; then they are <I>as gods,</I> for
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God is so,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+68:5">Ps. lxviii. 5</A>.
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3. The difficulty and discouragement she met with in her cause: <I>He
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would not for awhile.</I> According to his usual practice, he frowned
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upon her, took no notice of her cause, but connived at all the wrong
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her adversary did her; for she had no bribe to give him, no great man
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whom he stood in any awe of to speak for her, so that he did not at all
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incline to redress her grievances; and he himself was conscience of the
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reason of his dilatoriness, and could not but own within himself that
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he <I>neither feared God nor regarded man.</I> It is sad that a man
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should know so much amiss of himself, and be in no care to amend it.
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4. The gaining of her point by continually <I>dunning</I> this unjust
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<I>judge</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>):
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"<I>Because this widow troubleth me,</I> gives me a continual toil, I
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will hear her cause, and do her justice; not so much lest by her
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clamour against me she bring me into an ill name, as lest by her
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clamour to me she weary me; for she is resolved that she will give me
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no rest till it is done, and therefore I will do it, to save myself
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further trouble; as good at first as at last." Thus she got justice
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done her by continual craving; she begged it at his door, followed him
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in the streets, solicited him in open court, and still her cry was,
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<I>Avenge me of mine adversary,</I> which he was forced to do, to get
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rid of her; for his conscience, bad as he was, would not suffer him to
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send her to prison for an affront upon the court.</P>
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<P>
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II. He applies this for the encouragement of God's praying people to
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pray with faith and fervency, and to persevere therein.</P>
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<P>
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1. He assures them that God will at length be gracious to them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
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<I>Hear what the unjust judge saith,</I> how he owns himself quite
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overcome by a constant importunity, <I>and shall not God avenge his own
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elect?</I> Observe,</P>
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<P>
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(1.) What it is that they desire and expect: that God would <I>avenge
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his own elect.</I> Note,
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[1.] There are a people in the world that are God's people, his
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<I>elect,</I> his <I>own elect,</I> a choice people, a chosen people.
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And this he has an eye to in all he does for them; it is because they
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are his <I>chosen,</I> and in pursuance of the choice he has made of
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them.
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[2.] God's own elect meet with a great deal of trouble and opposition
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in this world; there are <I>many adversaries</I> that fight against
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them; Satan is their great adversary.
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[3.] That which is wanted and waited for is God's preserving and
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protecting them, and the work of his hands in them; his securing the
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interest of the church in the world and his grace in the heart.</P>
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<P>
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(2.) What it is that is required of God's people in order to the
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obtaining of this: they must <I>cry day and night to him;</I> not that
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he needs their remonstrances, or can be moved by their pleadings, but
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this he has made their duty, and to this he has promised mercy. We
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ought to be particular in praying against our spiritual enemies, as St.
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Paul was: <I>For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might
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depart from me;</I> like this importunate widow. Lord, mortify
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<I>this</I> corruption. Lord, arm me against <I>this</I> temptation.
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We ought to concern ourselves for the persecuted and oppressed
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churches, and to pray that God would do them justice, and set them in
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safety. And herein we must be very urgent; we must <I>cry</I> with
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earnestness: we must <I>cry day and night,</I> as those that believe
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prayer will be heard at last; we must <I>wrestle with God,</I> as those
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that know how to value the blessing, and will have no nay. God's
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praying people are told to <I>give him no rest,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+62:6,7">Isa. lxii. 6, 7</A>.</P>
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<P>
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(3.) What discouragements they may perhaps meet with in their prayers
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and expectations. He may <I>bear long with them,</I> and may not
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presently appear for them, in answer to their prayers. He is
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<B><I>makrothymon ep autois</I></B>--he <I>exercises patience
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towards</I> the adversaries of his people, and does not take vengeance
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on them; and he <I>exercises the patience of his people,</I> and does
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not plead for them. He <I>bore long</I> with the <I>cry of the sin</I>
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of the Egyptians that oppressed Israel, and with the <I>cry of the
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sorrows</I> of those that were oppressed.</P>
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<P>
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(4.) What assurance they have that mercy will come at last, though it
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be delayed, and how it is supported by what the unjust judge saith: If
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this widow prevail by being importunate, much more shall God's elect
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prevail. For,
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[1.] This widow was a <I>stranger,</I> nothing related to the judge;
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but God's praying people are his own elect, whom he knows, and loves,
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and delights in, and has always concerned himself for.
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[2.] She was but <I>one,</I> but the praying people of God are
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<I>many,</I> all of whom come to him on the same errand, and agree to
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ask what they need,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+18:19">Matt. xviii. 19</A>.
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As the saints of heaven surround the throne of glory with their united
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praises, so saints on earth besiege the throne of grace with their
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united prayers.
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[3.] She came to a <I>judge</I> that bade her <I>keep her distance;</I>
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we come to a <I>Father</I> that bids us <I>come boldly to</I> him, and
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teaches us to cry, <I>Abba, Father.</I>
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[4.] She came to an <I>unjust judge;</I> we come to a <I>righteous
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Father</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+17:25">John xvii. 25</A>),
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one that regards his own glory and the comforts of his poor creatures,
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especially those in distress, as <I>widows</I> and <I>fatherless.</I>
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[5.] She came to this judge purely upon her own account; but God is
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himself engaged in the cause which we are soliciting; and we can say,
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<I>Arise, O Lord, plead thine</I> own cause; and <I>what wilt thou do
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to thy great name?</I>
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[6.] She had no friend to speak for her, to add force to her petition,
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and to use interest for her more than her own; but we have an
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<I>Advocate with the Father,</I> his own Son, who <I>ever lives to make
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intercession</I> for us, and has a powerful prevailing interest in
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heaven.
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[7.] She had no promise off speeding, no, nor any encouragement given
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her to ask; but we have the golden sceptre held out to us, are told to
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ask, with a promise that it shall be given to us.
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[8.] She could have access to the judge only at some certain times; but
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we may cry to God <I>day and night,</I> at all hours, and therefore may
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the rather hope to prevail by importunity.
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[9.] Her importunity was provoking to the judge, and she might fear
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lest it should set him more against her; but our importunity is
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pleasing to God; the prayer of the upright is <I>his delight,</I> and
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therefore, we may hope, shall avail much, if it be an effectual fervent
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prayer.</P>
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<P>
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2. He intimates to them that, notwithstanding this, they will begin to
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be weary of waiting for him
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>):
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"<I>Nevertheless,</I> though such assurances are given that God will
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avenge his own elect, yet, <I>when the Son of man cometh, shall he find
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faith on the earth?</I>" The Son of man will come to <I>avenge his own
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elect,</I> to plead the cause of persecuted Christians against the
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persecuting Jews; he will come in his providence to plead the cause of
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his injured people in every age, and at the great day he will come
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finally to determine the controversies of Zion. Now, when he comes,
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will he find faith on the earth? The question implies a strong
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negation: No, he will not; he himself foresees it.</P>
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<P>
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(1.) This supposes that it is <I>on earth</I> only that there is
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occasion for <I>faith;</I> for sinners in hell are <I>feeling</I> that
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which they would not believe, and saints in heaven are <I>enjoying</I>
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that which they did believe.</P>
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<P>
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(2.) It supposes that <I>faith</I> is the great thing that Jesus Christ
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<I>looks for.</I> He <I>looks down</I> upon the children of men, and
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does not ask, Is there innocency? but, <I>Is there faith?</I> He
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enquired concerning the faith of those who applied themselves to him
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for cures.</P>
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<P>
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(3.) It supposes that if there were faith, though ever so little, he
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would discover it, and <I>find it out.</I> His eye is upon the weakest
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and most obscure believer.</P>
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<P>
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(4.) It is foretold that, when Christ comes to plead his people's
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cause, he will find but <I>little faith</I> in comparison with what one
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might expect. That is,
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[1.] In general, he will find but <I>few good people,</I> few that are
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really and truly good. Many that have the form and fashion of
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godliness, but few that have faith, that are sincere and honest: nay,
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he will find little <I>fidelity</I> among men; the <I>faithful
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fail,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+12:1,2">Ps. xii. 1, 2</A>.
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Even to the end of time there will still be occasion for the same
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complaint. The world will grow no better, no, not when it is drawing
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towards its period. Bad it is, and bad it will be, and worst of all
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just before Christ's coming; the last times will be the most perilous.
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[2.] In particular, he will find few that have <I>faith</I> concerning
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his coming. When he comes to <I>avenge his own elect</I> he looks if
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there be any faith <I>to help</I> and <I>to uphold,</I> and wonders
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that there is none,
|
|
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+59:16,63:5">Isa. lix. 16; lxiii. 5</A>.
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It intimates that Christ, both in his particular comings for the relief
|
|
of his people, and in his general coming at the end of time, may, and
|
|
will, delay his coming so long as that, <I>First,</I> Wicked people
|
|
will begin to <I>defy it,</I> and to say, <I>Where is the promise of
|
|
his coming?</I>
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Pe+3:4">2 Pet. iii. 4</A>.
|
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They will challenge him to come
|
|
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|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+5:10,Am+5:19">Isa. v. 10; Amos v. 19</A>);
|
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and his delay will harden them in their wickedness,
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|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+24:48">Matt. xxiv. 48</A>.
|
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<I>Secondly,</I> Even his own people will begin to <I>despair</I> of
|
|
it, and to conclude he will never come, because he has passed their
|
|
reckoning. God's time to appear for his people is when things are
|
|
brought to the last extremity, and when Zion begins to say, <I>The Lord
|
|
has forsaken me.</I> See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+49:14,Isa+40:27">Isa. xlix. 14; xl. 27</A>.
|
|
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But this is our comfort, that, when the time appointed comes, it will
|
|
appear that the unbelief of man has not made the promise of God of no
|
|
effect.</P>
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|
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|
<A NAME="Lu18_9"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_10"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_11"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_12"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_13"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_14"> </A>
|
|
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Pharisee and the Publican.</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>9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in
|
|
themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
|
|
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee,
|
|
and the other a publican.
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|
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I
|
|
thank thee, that I am not as other men <I>are,</I> extortioners,
|
|
unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
|
|
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I
|
|
possess.
|
|
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so
|
|
much as <I>his</I> eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast,
|
|
saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
|
|
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified
|
|
<I>rather</I> than the other: for every one that exalteth himself
|
|
shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
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|
<P>
|
|
|
|
The scope of this parable likewise is prefixed to it, and we are told
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>)
|
|
|
|
who they were whom it was levelled at, and for whom it was calculated.
|
|
He designed it for the conviction of some who <I>trusted in themselves
|
|
that they were righteous, and despised others.</I> They were such as
|
|
had,
|
|
|
|
1. A great conceit of themselves, and of their own goodness; they
|
|
thought themselves as holy as they needed to be, and holier than all
|
|
their neighbours, and such as might serve for examples to them all. But
|
|
that was not all;
|
|
|
|
2. They had a confidence in themselves before God, and not only had a
|
|
high opinion of their own righteousness, but depended upon the merit of
|
|
it, whenever they addressed God, as their plea: They <I>trusted in
|
|
themselves as being righteous;</I> they thought they had made God their
|
|
debtor, and might demand any thing from him; and,
|
|
|
|
3. They despised others, and looked upon them with contempt, as not
|
|
worthy to be compared with them. Now Christ by this parable would show
|
|
such their folly, and that thereby they shut themselves out from
|
|
acceptance with God. This is called a <I>parable,</I> though there be
|
|
nothing of similitude in it; but it is rather a description of the
|
|
different temper and language of those that <I>proudly justify
|
|
themselves,</I> and those that <I>humbly condemn themselves;</I> and
|
|
their different standing before God. It is matter of fact every
|
|
day.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. Here are both these addressing themselves to the duty of prayer at
|
|
the same place and time
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Two men went up into the temple</I> (for the temple stood upon a
|
|
hill) <I>to pray.</I> It was not the hour of public prayer, but they
|
|
went thither to offer up their personal devotions, as was usual with
|
|
good people at that time, when the temple was not only the
|
|
<I>place,</I> but the <I>medium</I> of worship, and God had promised,
|
|
in answer to Solomon's request, that, whatever prayer was made in a
|
|
right manner <I>in</I> or <I>towards</I> that house, it should
|
|
<I>therefore</I> the rather be accepted. Christ is our temple, and to
|
|
him we must have an eye in all our approaches to God. The
|
|
<I>Pharisees</I> and the <I>publican</I> both went to <I>the temple to
|
|
pray.</I> Note, Among the worshippers of God, in the visible church,
|
|
there is a mixture of good and bad, of some that are accepted of God,
|
|
and some that are not; and so it has been ever since Cain and Abel
|
|
brought their offering to the same altar. The Pharisee, proud as he
|
|
was, could not think himself above prayer; nor could the publican,
|
|
humble as he was, think himself shut out from the benefit of it; but we
|
|
have reason to think that these went with different views.
|
|
|
|
1. The Pharisee went <I>to the temple</I> to pray because it was a
|
|
<I>public</I> place, more public than the corners of the streets, and
|
|
therefore he should have many eyes upon him, who would applaud his
|
|
devotion, which perhaps was more than was expected. The character
|
|
Christ gave of the Pharisees, that <I>all their works they did to be
|
|
seen of men,</I> gives us occasion for this suspicion. Note, Hypocrites
|
|
keep up the external performances of religion only to <I>save</I> or
|
|
<I>gain</I> credit. There are many whom we see <I>every day</I> at the
|
|
temple, whom, it is to be feared, we shall not see in the great day at
|
|
Christ's right hand.
|
|
|
|
2. The publican went to the temple because it was appointed to be a
|
|
<I>house of prayer for all people,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+56:7">Isa. lvi. 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
The Pharisee came to the temple upon a <I>compliment,</I> the publican
|
|
upon business; the Pharisee to make his appearance, the publican to
|
|
make his request. Now God sees with what disposition and design we come
|
|
to wait upon him in holy ordinances, and will judge of us
|
|
accordingly.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Here is the Pharisee's address to God (for a prayer I cannot call
|
|
it): He <I>stood</I> and <I>prayed thus with himself</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:11,12"><I>v.</I> 11, 12</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>standing by himself, he prayed thus,</I> so some read it; he was
|
|
wholly intent upon himself, had nothing in his eye but <I>self,</I> his
|
|
own praise, and not God's glory; or, standing in some conspicuous
|
|
place, where he distinguished himself; or, <I>setting himself</I> with
|
|
a great deal of state and formality, he prayed thus. Now that which he
|
|
is here supposed to say is that which shows,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. That he <I>trusted to himself that he was righteous.</I> A great
|
|
many good things he said of himself, which we will suppose to be true.
|
|
He was free from gross and scandalous sins; he was not an
|
|
<I>extortioner,</I> not a usurer, not oppressive to debtors or tenants,
|
|
but fair and kind to all that had dependence upon him. He was not
|
|
<I>unjust</I> in any of his dealings; he did no man any wrong; he could
|
|
say, as Samuel, <I>Whose ox or whose ass have I taken?</I> He was <I>no
|
|
adulterer,</I> but had possessed his vessel in sanctification and
|
|
honour. Yet this was not all; he <I>fasted twice in the week,</I> as an
|
|
act partly of temperature, partly of devotion. The Pharisees and their
|
|
disciples fasted twice a week, Monday and Thursday. Thus he glorified
|
|
God with his body: yet that was not all; he <I>gave tithes of all that
|
|
he possessed,</I> according to the law, and so glorified God with his
|
|
worldly estate. Now all this was very well and commendable. Miserable
|
|
is the condition of those who come short of the righteousness of this
|
|
Pharisee: yet he was not accepted; and why was he not?
|
|
|
|
(1.) His giving God thanks for this, though in itself a good thing, yet
|
|
seems to be a mere formality. He does not say, <I>By the grace of God I
|
|
am what I am,</I> as Paul did, but turns it off with a slight, <I>God,
|
|
I thank thee,</I> which is intended but for a plausible introduction to
|
|
a proud vainglorious ostentation of himself.
|
|
|
|
(2.) He makes his boast of this, and dwells with delight upon this
|
|
subject, as if all his business to the temple was to tell God Almighty
|
|
how very good he was; and he is ready to say, with those hypocrites
|
|
that we read of
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+58:3">Isa. lviii. 3</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>Wherefore have we fasted, and thou seest not?</I>
|
|
|
|
(3.) He <I>trusted</I> to it as a righteousness, and not only mentioned
|
|
it, but pleaded it, as if hereby he had merited at the hands of God,
|
|
and made him his debtor.
|
|
|
|
(4.) Here is not one word of prayer in all he saith. He went <I>up to
|
|
the temple to pray,</I> but forgot his errand, was so full of himself
|
|
and his own goodness that he thought he had need of nothing, no, not of
|
|
the favour and grace of God, which, it would seem, he did not think
|
|
worth asking.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. That he <I>despised others.</I>
|
|
|
|
(1.) He thought meanly of all mankind but himself: <I>I thank thee that
|
|
I am not as other men are.</I> He speaks indefinitely, as if he were
|
|
better than any. We may have reason to thank God that we are not as
|
|
<I>some men</I> are, that are notoriously wicked and vile; but to speak
|
|
at random thus, as if <I>we</I> only were good, and all besides us were
|
|
reprobates, is to judge by wholesale.
|
|
|
|
(2.) He thought meanly in a particular manner of this publican, whom he
|
|
had left behind, it is probable, in the court of the Gentiles, and
|
|
whose company he had fallen into as he came to the temple. He knew that
|
|
he was a publican, and therefore very uncharitably concluded that he
|
|
was an <I>extortioner, unjust,</I> and all that is naught. Suppose it
|
|
had been so, and he had known it, what business had he to take notice
|
|
of it? Could not he <I>say his prayers</I> (and that was all that the
|
|
Pharisees did) without reproaching his neighbours? Or was this a part
|
|
of his <I>God, I thank thee?</I> And was he as much pleased with the
|
|
publican's badness as with his own goodness? There could not be a
|
|
plainer evidence, not only of the want of humility and charity, but of
|
|
reigning pride and malice, than this was.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. Here is the publican's address to God, which was the reverse of
|
|
the Pharisee's, as full of <I>humility</I> and <I>humiliation</I> as
|
|
his was of <I>pride</I> and <I>ostentation;</I> as full of
|
|
<I>repentance</I> for sin, and <I>desire</I> towards God, as his was of
|
|
<I>confidence</I> in <I>himself</I> and his own righteousness and
|
|
sufficiency.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. He expressed his repentance and humility in <I>what he did;</I> and
|
|
his gesture, when he addressed himself to his devotions, was
|
|
<I>expressive</I> of great seriousness and humility, and the proper
|
|
clothing of a broken, penitent, and obedient heart.
|
|
|
|
(1.) He <I>stood afar off.</I> The Pharisee <I>stood,</I> but crowded
|
|
up as high as he could, to the upper end of the court; the publican
|
|
<I>kept at a distance</I> under a sense of his unworthiness to draw
|
|
near to God, and perhaps for fear of offending the Pharisee, whom he
|
|
observed to look scornfully upon him, and of disturbing his devotions.
|
|
Hereby he owned that God might justly <I>behold him afar off,</I> and
|
|
send him into a state of eternal distance from him, and that it was a
|
|
great favour that God was pleased to admit him <I>thus nigh.</I>
|
|
|
|
(2.) He <I>would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven,</I> much
|
|
less his <I>hands,</I> as was usual in prayer. He did <I>lift up his
|
|
heart</I> to God in the heavens, in <I>holy desires,</I> but, through
|
|
prevailing shame and humiliation, he did not lift up his eyes in
|
|
<I>holy confidence</I> and <I>courage.</I> His <I>iniquities</I> are
|
|
<I>gone over his head, as a heavy burden,</I> so that he is <I>not able
|
|
to look up,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+40:12">Ps. xl. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
The dejection of his looks is an indication of the dejection of his
|
|
mind at the thought of sin.
|
|
|
|
(3.) He <I>smote upon his breast,</I> in a holy indignation at himself
|
|
for sin: "Thus would I smite this wicked heart of mine, the poisoned
|
|
fountain out of which flow all the streams of sin, if I could come at
|
|
it." The sinner's heart first smites him in a penitent rebuke,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+24:10">2 Sam. xxiv. 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>David's heart smote him.</I> Sinner, what hast thou done? And then
|
|
he smites his heart with penitent remorse: <I>O wretched man that I
|
|
am?</I> Ephraim is said to <I>smite upon his thigh,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:19">Jer. xxxi. 19</A>.
|
|
|
|
Great mourners are represented <I>tabouring upon their breasts,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Na+2:7">Nah. ii. 7</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. He expressed it <I>in what he said.</I> His prayer was <I>short.</I>
|
|
Fear and shame hindered him from saying much; sighs and groans
|
|
swallowed up his words; but what he said was to the purpose: <I>God, be
|
|
merciful to me a sinner.</I> And blessed be God that we have this
|
|
prayer upon record as an answered prayer, and that we are sure that he
|
|
who prayed it went to his house justified; and so shall we, if we pray
|
|
it, as he did, through Jesus Christ: "<I>God, be merciful to me a
|
|
sinner;</I> the God of infinite mercy be merciful to me, for, if he be
|
|
not, I am for ever undone, for ever miserable. God be merciful to me,
|
|
for I have been cruel to myself."
|
|
|
|
(1.) He owns himself <I>a sinner</I> by nature, by practice, guilty
|
|
before God. <I>Behold, I am vile, what shall I answer thee?</I> The
|
|
Pharisee denies himself to be a <I>sinner;</I> none of his neighbours
|
|
can charge him, and he sees no reason to charge himself, with any thing
|
|
amiss; <I>he is clean, he is pure from sin.</I> But the publican gives
|
|
himself no other character than that of a <I>sinner,</I> a convicted
|
|
criminal at God's bar.
|
|
|
|
(2.) He has no dependence but upon the <I>mercy of God,</I> that, and
|
|
that only, he relies upon. The Pharisee had insisted upon the
|
|
<I>merit</I> of his fastings and tithes; but the poor publican
|
|
disclaims all thought of merit, and flies to mercy as his city of
|
|
refuge, and takes hold of the horn of that altar. "Justice condemns me;
|
|
nothing will save me but mercy, mercy."
|
|
|
|
(3.) He earnestly prays for the benefit of that mercy: "<I>O God, be
|
|
merciful,</I> be <I>propitious, to me;</I> forgive my sins; be
|
|
reconciled to me; take me into thy favour; receive me graciously; love
|
|
me freely." He comes as a beggar for an alms, when he is ready to
|
|
perish for hunger. Probably he repeated this prayer with renewed
|
|
affections, and perhaps said more to the same purport, made a
|
|
particular confession of his sins, and mentioned the particular mercies
|
|
he wanted, and waited upon God for; but still this was the burden of
|
|
the song: <I>God, be merciful to me a sinner.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. Here is the publican's <I>acceptance with God.</I> We have seen how
|
|
differently these two addressed themselves to God; it is now worth
|
|
while to enquire how they sped. There were those who would cry up the
|
|
Pharisee, by whom he would go to his house applauded, and who would
|
|
look with contempt upon this sneaking whining publican. But our Lord
|
|
Jesus, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no
|
|
secret is hid, who is perfectly acquainted with all proceedings in the
|
|
court of heaven, assures us that this poor, penitent, broken-hearted
|
|
publican <I>went to his house justified, rather than the other.</I> The
|
|
Pharisee thought that if one of them must be justified, and not the
|
|
other, certainly it must be he rather than the publican. "No," saith
|
|
Christ, "<I>I tell you,</I> I affirm it with the utmost assurance, and
|
|
declare it to you with the utmost concern, <I>I tell you,</I> it is the
|
|
publican rather than the Pharisee." The proud Pharisee goes away,
|
|
rejected of God; his thanksgivings are so far from being accepted that
|
|
they are an <I>abomination;</I> he is <I>not justified,</I> his sins
|
|
are not pardoned, nor is he delivered from condemnation: he is not
|
|
accepted as righteous in God's sight, because he is so righteous in his
|
|
own sight; but the publican, upon this humble address to Heaven,
|
|
obtains the remission of his sins, and he whom the Pharisee would not
|
|
set <I>with the dogs of his flock</I> God sets with the <I>children of
|
|
his family.</I> The reason given for this is because God's glory is to
|
|
<I>resist the proud, and give grace to the humble.</I>
|
|
|
|
1. Proud men, who <I>exalt themselves,</I> are <I>rivals with God,</I>
|
|
and therefore <I>they shall</I> certainly be <I>abased.</I> God, in his
|
|
discourse with Job, appeals to this proof that he is God, that he
|
|
<I>looks upon every one that is proud, and brings him low,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+40:12">Job xl. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. Humble men, who <I>abase themselves,</I> are <I>subject to God,</I>
|
|
and they shall be <I>exalted.</I> God has preferment in store for those
|
|
that will take it as a favour, not for those that demand it as a debt.
|
|
He shall be <I>exalted</I> into the love of God, and communion with
|
|
him, shall be exalted into a satisfaction in himself, and exalted at
|
|
last as high as heaven. See how the punishment answers the sin: <I>He
|
|
that exalteth himself shall be abased.</I> See how the recompence
|
|
answers the duty: <I>He that humbles himself shall be exalted.</I> See
|
|
also the power of God's grace in bringing good out of evil; the
|
|
publican had been a great sinner, and out of the greatness of his sin
|
|
was brought the greatness of his repentance; <I>out of the eater came
|
|
forth meat.</I> See, on the contrary, the power of Satan's malice in
|
|
bringing evil out of good. It was good that the Pharisee was no
|
|
extortioner, nor unjust; but the devil made him proud of this, to his
|
|
ruin.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_15"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_16"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_17"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Christ's Attention to Children.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>15 And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch
|
|
them: but when <I>his</I> disciples saw <I>it,</I> they rebuked them.
|
|
16 But Jesus called them <I>unto him,</I> and said, Suffer little
|
|
children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the
|
|
kingdom of God.
|
|
17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the
|
|
kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
This passage of story we had both in Matthew and Mark; it very fitly
|
|
follows here after the story of the publican, as a confirmation of the
|
|
truth which was to be illustrated by that parable, that those shall be
|
|
accepted with God, and honoured, who humble themselves, and for them
|
|
Christ has <I>blessings in store,</I> the choicest and best of
|
|
blessings. Observe here,
|
|
|
|
1. Those who are themselves blessed in Christ should desire to have
|
|
their children also blessed in him, and should hereby testify the true
|
|
honour they have for Christ, by their making use of him, and the true
|
|
love they have for their children, by their concern about their souls.
|
|
They brought to him <I>infants,</I> very young, not able to go, sucking
|
|
children, as some think. None are too little, too young, to bring to
|
|
Christ, who knows how to show kindness to them that are not capable of
|
|
doing service to him.
|
|
|
|
2. One gracious touch of Christ's will make our children happy. They
|
|
<I>brought infants to him, that he might touch them</I> in token of the
|
|
application of his grace and Spirit to them, for that always makes way
|
|
for his <I>blessing,</I> which likewise they expected: see
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+44:3">Isa. xliv. 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>I will first pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and</I> then <I>my
|
|
blessing upon thine offspring.</I>
|
|
|
|
3. It is no strange thing for those who make their application to Jesus
|
|
Christ, for themselves or for their children, to meet with
|
|
discouragement, even from those who should countenance and encourage
|
|
them: <I>When the disciples saw it,</I> they thought, if this were
|
|
admitted, it would bring endless trouble upon their Master, and
|
|
therefore they <I>rebuked them,</I> and frowned upon them. The spouse
|
|
complained of <I>the watchmen,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=So+3:3,5:7">Cant. iii. 3; v. 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
4. Many whom the disciples rebuke the Master invites: <I>Jesus called
|
|
them unto him,</I> when, upon the disciples' check, they were retiring.
|
|
They did not <I>appeal</I> from the disciples to the Master, but the
|
|
Master took cognizance of their despised cause.
|
|
|
|
5. It is the mind of Christ that <I>little children</I> should be
|
|
brought to him, and presented as living sacrifices to his honour:
|
|
"<I>Suffer little children to come to me, and forbid them not;</I> let
|
|
nothing be done to hinder them, for they shall be as welcome as any."
|
|
<I>The promise</I> is <I>to us, and to our seed;</I> and therefore he
|
|
that has the dispensing of promised blessings will bid them welcome to
|
|
him with us.
|
|
|
|
6. The children of those who belong to the kingdom of God do likewise
|
|
belong to that kingdom, as the children of freemen are freemen. If the
|
|
parents be members of the visible church, the children are so too; for,
|
|
if the root be holy, the branches are so.
|
|
|
|
7. So welcome are <I>children</I> to Christ that those grown people are
|
|
most welcome to him who have in them most of the disposition of
|
|
children
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little
|
|
child,</I> that is, receive the benefits of it with humility and
|
|
thankfulness, not pretending to merit them as the Pharisee did, but
|
|
gladly owning himself indebted to free grace for them, as the publican
|
|
did; unless a man be brought to this self-denying frame he shall <I>in
|
|
no wise enter</I> into that kingdom. They must receive the kingdom of
|
|
God as <I>children,</I> receive their estates by descent and
|
|
inheritance, not by purchase, and call it their Father's gift.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_20"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_24"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_25"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_26"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_27"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_28"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_29"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_30"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Riches a Spiritual Hindrance.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what
|
|
shall I do to inherit eternal life?
|
|
19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none <I>is</I>
|
|
good, save one, <I>that is,</I> God.
|
|
20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do
|
|
not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy
|
|
father and thy mother.
|
|
21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.
|
|
22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet
|
|
lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute
|
|
unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come,
|
|
follow me.
|
|
23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was
|
|
very rich.
|
|
24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How
|
|
hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
|
|
25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye,
|
|
than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
|
|
26 And they that heard <I>it</I> said, Who then can be saved?
|
|
27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are
|
|
possible with God.
|
|
28 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.
|
|
29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no
|
|
man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or
|
|
children, for the kingdom of God's sake,
|
|
30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time,
|
|
and in the world to come life everlasting.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
In these verses we have,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. Christ's discourse with a ruler, that had a good mind to be directed
|
|
by him in the way to heaven. In which we may observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. It is a blessed sight to see persons of distinction in the world
|
|
distinguish themselves from others of their rank by their concern about
|
|
their souls and another life. Luke takes notice of it that he was a
|
|
<I>ruler.</I> Few of the rulers had any esteem for Christ, but here was
|
|
one that had; whether a church or state ruler does not appear, but he
|
|
was one <I>in authority.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The great thing we are every one of us concerned to enquire after is
|
|
what we shall do to get to heaven, <I>what we shall do to inherit
|
|
eternal life.</I> This implies such a belief of an eternal life after
|
|
this as atheists and infidels have not, such a concern to make it sure
|
|
as a careless unthinking world have not, and such a willingness to
|
|
comply with any terms that it may be made sure as those have not who
|
|
are resolvedly devoted to the world and the flesh.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. Those who would inherit eternal life must apply themselves to Jesus
|
|
Christ as their <I>Master,</I> their <I>teaching</I> Master, so it
|
|
signifies here (<B><I>didaskale</I></B>), and their <I>ruling</I>
|
|
Master, and so they shall certainly find him. There is no learning the
|
|
way to heaven but in the school of Christ, by those that enter
|
|
themselves into it, and continue in it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. Those who come to Christ as their Master must believe him to have
|
|
not only a <I>divine mission,</I> but a <I>divine goodness.</I> Christ
|
|
would have this ruler know that if he understood himself aright in
|
|
calling him good he did, in effect, call him <I>God</I> and indeed he
|
|
was so
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:19"><I>v.</I> 19</A>):
|
|
|
|
"<I>Why callest thou me good?</I> Thou knowest <I>there is none good
|
|
but one, that is, God;</I> and dost thou then take me for God? If so,
|
|
thou art in the right."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
5. Our Master, Christ himself, has not altered the way to heaven from
|
|
what it was before his coming, but has only made it more plain, and
|
|
easy, and comfortable, and provided for our relief, in case we take any
|
|
false step. <I>Thou knowest the commandments.</I> Christ came not to
|
|
destroy the law and the prophets, but to establish them. Wouldest thou
|
|
inherit eternal life? Govern thyself by the commandments.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
6. The duties of the second table must be conscientiously observed, in
|
|
order to our happiness, and we must not think that any acts of
|
|
devotion, how plausible soever, will atone for the neglect of them. Nor
|
|
is it enough to keep ourselves free from the gross violations of these
|
|
commandments, but we must <I>know these commandments,</I> as Christ has
|
|
<I>explained them</I> in his sermon upon the mount, in their extent and
|
|
spiritual nature, and so observe them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
7. Men think themselves <I>innocent</I> because they are
|
|
<I>ignorant;</I> so this ruler did. He said, <I>All these have I kept
|
|
from my youth up,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
He knows no more evil of himself than the Pharisee did,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
He boasts that he began <I>early</I> in a course of virtue, that he had
|
|
continued in it to this day, and that he had not in any instance
|
|
transgressed. Had he been acquainted with the extent and spiritual
|
|
nature of the divine law, and with the workings of his own heart,--had
|
|
he been but Christ's disciples awhile, and learned of him, he would
|
|
have said quite the contrary: "<I>All these have</I> I broken from my
|
|
youth up, in thought, word, and deed."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
8. The great things by which we are to try our spiritual state are how
|
|
we stand affected to Christ and to our brethren, to this world and to
|
|
the other; by these this man was tried. For,
|
|
|
|
(1.) If we have a true <I>affection to Christ,</I> he will <I>come and
|
|
follow him,</I> will attend to his doctrine, and submit to his
|
|
discipline, whatever it cost him. None shall inherit eternal life who
|
|
are not willing to take their lot with the Lord Jesus, to follow the
|
|
Lamb whithersoever he goes.
|
|
|
|
(2.) If he have a true <I>affection to his brethren,</I> he will, as
|
|
there is occasion, <I>distribute to the poor,</I> who are God's
|
|
receivers of his dues out of our estates.
|
|
|
|
(3.) If he think meanly of <I>this world,</I> as he ought, he will not
|
|
stick at <I>selling what he has,</I> if there be a necessity for it,
|
|
for the relief of God's poor.
|
|
|
|
(4.) If he think highly of the other world, as he ought, he will desire
|
|
no more than to have <I>treasure in heaven,</I> and will reckon that a
|
|
sufficient abundant recompence for all that he has left, or lost, or
|
|
laid out for God in this world.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
9. There are many that have a great deal in them that is very
|
|
commendable, and yet they perish <I>for the lack of some one thing;</I>
|
|
so this <I>ruler</I> here; he broke with Christ upon this, he liked all
|
|
his terms very well but this which would part between him and his
|
|
estate: "In this, I pray thee, have me excused." If this be the
|
|
bargain, it is no bargain.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
10. Many that are loth to leave Christ, yet do leave him. After a long
|
|
struggle between their convictions and their corruptions, their
|
|
corruptions carry the day at last; they are very sorry that they cannot
|
|
serve God and mammon both; but, if one must be quitted, it shall be
|
|
their God, not their worldly gain.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Christ's discourse with his disciples upon this occasion, in which
|
|
we may observe,
|
|
|
|
1. Riches are a great hindrance to many in the way to heaven. Christ
|
|
took notice of the reluctancy and regret with which the rich man broke
|
|
off from him. He <I>saw that he was very sorrowful,</I> and was sorry
|
|
for him; but thence he infers, <I>How hardly shall they that have
|
|
riches enter into the kingdom of God!</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
If this ruler had had but as little of the world as Peter, and James,
|
|
and John had, in all probability he would have left it, to follow
|
|
Christ, as they did; but, having a great estate, it had a great
|
|
influence upon him, and he chose rather to take his leave of Christ
|
|
than to lay himself under an obligation to dispose of his estate in
|
|
charitable uses. Christ asserts the difficulty of the salvation of rich
|
|
people very emphatically: <I>It is easier for a camel to go through a
|
|
needle's eye than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>.
|
|
|
|
It is a proverbial expression, that denotes the thing to be extremely
|
|
difficult.
|
|
|
|
2. There is in the hearts of all people such a general affection to
|
|
this world, and the things of it, that, since Christ has required it as
|
|
necessary to salvation that we should sit loose to this world, it is
|
|
really very hard for any to get to heaven. If we must <I>sell all,</I>
|
|
or break with Christ, <I>who then can be saved?</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:26"><I>v.</I> 26</A>.
|
|
|
|
They do not find fault with what Christ required as hard and
|
|
unreasonable. No, it is very fit that they who expect an eternal
|
|
happiness in the other world should be willing to forego all that is
|
|
dear to them in this world, in expectation of it. But they know how
|
|
closely the hearts of most men cleave to this world, and are ready to
|
|
despair of their being ever brought to this.
|
|
|
|
3. There are such difficulties in the way of our salvation: as could
|
|
never be got over but by pure omnipotence, by that grace of God which
|
|
is almighty, and to which that is <I>possible</I> which exceeds all
|
|
created power and wisdom. The <I>things which are impossible with
|
|
men</I> (and utterly impossible it is that men should work such a
|
|
change upon their own spirits as to turn them from the world to God, it
|
|
is like <I>dividing the sea,</I> and <I>driving Jordan back</I>), these
|
|
things are <I>possible with God.</I> His grace can work upon the soul,
|
|
so as to alter the bent and bias of it, and give it a contrary ply; and
|
|
it is he that <I>works in us both to will and to do.</I>
|
|
|
|
4. There is an aptness in us to speak too much of what we have left and
|
|
lost, of what we have done and suffered, for Christ. This appears in
|
|
Peter: <I>Lo, we have left all, and followed thee,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>.
|
|
|
|
When it came in his way, he could not forbear magnifying his own and
|
|
his brethren's affection to Christ, in <I>quitting</I> all to follow
|
|
him. But this we should be so far from boasting of, that we should
|
|
rather acknowledge it not worth taking notice of, and be ashamed of
|
|
ourselves that there should have been any regret and difficulty in the
|
|
doing of it, and any hankerings towards those things afterwards.
|
|
|
|
5. Whatever we have left, or laid out, for Christ, it shall without
|
|
fail be abundantly made up to us in this world and that to come,
|
|
notwithstanding our weaknesses and infirmities
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:29,30"><I>v.</I> 29, 30</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>No man has left</I> the comfort of his estate or relations <I>for
|
|
the kingdom of God's sake,</I> rather than they should hinder either
|
|
his services to that kingdom or his enjoyments of it, <I>who shall not
|
|
receive manifold more in this present time,</I> in the graces and
|
|
comforts of God's Spirit, in the pleasures of communion with God and of
|
|
a good conscience, advantages which, to those that know how to value
|
|
and improve them, will abundantly countervail all their loses. Yet
|
|
that is not all; in the world to come they <I>shall receive life
|
|
everlasting,</I> which is the thing that the ruler seemed to have his
|
|
eye and heart upon.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_31"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_32"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_33"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_34"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec5"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Christ's Suffering Foretold.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>31 Then he took <I>unto him</I> the twelve, and said unto them,
|
|
Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by
|
|
the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.
|
|
32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be
|
|
mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
|
|
33 And they shall scourge <I>him,</I> and put him to death: and the
|
|
third day he shall rise again.
|
|
34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying
|
|
was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were
|
|
spoken.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
I. The notice Christ gave to his disciples of his sufferings and death
|
|
approaching, and of the glorious issue of them, which he himself had a
|
|
perfect sight and foreknowledge of, and thought it necessary to give
|
|
them warning of, that it might be the less surprise and terror to them.
|
|
Two things here are which we had not in the other evangelists:--
|
|
|
|
1. The <I>sufferings</I> of Christ are here spoken of as the
|
|
<I>fulfilling of the scriptures,</I> with which consideration Christ
|
|
reconciled himself to them, and would reconcile them: <I>All things
|
|
that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man,</I>
|
|
especially the hardships he should undergo, <I>shall be
|
|
accomplished.</I> Note, The Spirit of Christ, in the Old-Testament
|
|
prophets, <I>testified beforehand his sufferings,</I> and <I>the glory
|
|
that should follow,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+1:11">1 Pet. i. 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
This proves that the scriptures are the <I>word</I> of <I>God,</I> for
|
|
they had their exact and full accomplishment; and that Jesus Christ was
|
|
<I>sent of God,</I> for they had their accomplishment <I>in him;</I>
|
|
this was <I>he that should come,</I> for whatever was <I>foretold</I>
|
|
concerning the Messiah was verified in him; and he would submit to any
|
|
thing for the fulfilling of scripture, that not one jot or tittle of
|
|
that should fall to the ground. This makes the <I>offence of the cross
|
|
to cease,</I> and puts an honour upon it. <I>Thus it was written, and
|
|
thus it behoved Christ to suffer,</I> thus it became him.
|
|
|
|
2. The ignominy and disgrace done to Christ in his sufferings are here
|
|
most insisted upon. The other evangelists had said that he should be
|
|
<I>mocked;</I> but here it is added, <I>He shall be spitefully
|
|
treated,</I> <B><I>hybristhesetai</I></B>--<I>he shall be loaded with
|
|
contumely and contempt,</I> shall have all possible reproach put upon
|
|
him. This was that part of his sufferings by which in a spiritual
|
|
manner he satisfied God's justice for the injury we had done him in his
|
|
honour by sin. Here is one particular instance of disgrace done him,
|
|
that <I>he was spit upon,</I> which had been particularly foretold,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+50:6">Isa. l. 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
But here, as always, when Christ spoke of his sufferings and death, he
|
|
foretold his resurrection as that which took off both the terror and
|
|
reproach of his sufferings: <I>The third day he shall rise
|
|
again.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The confusion that the disciples were hereby put into. This was so
|
|
contrary to the notions they had had of the Messiah and his kingdom,
|
|
such a balk to their expectations from their Master, and such a
|
|
breaking of all their measures, that <I>they understood none of these
|
|
things,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:34"><I>v.</I> 34</A>.
|
|
|
|
Their prejudices were so strong that they <I>would not</I> understand
|
|
them literally, and they <I>could not</I> understand them otherwise, so
|
|
that they did not understand them at all. It was a mystery, it was a
|
|
riddle to them, it must be so; but they think it impossible to be
|
|
reconciled with the glory and honour of the Messiah, and the design of
|
|
setting up his kingdom. This saying was <I>hidden from them,</I>
|
|
<B><I>kekrymmenon ap auton</I></B>, it was apocrypha to them, they
|
|
could not receive it: for their parts, they had read the Old Testament
|
|
many a time, but they could never see any thing in it that would be
|
|
<I>accomplished</I> in the disgrace and death of this Messiah. They
|
|
were so intent upon those prophecies that spoke of his glory that they
|
|
overlooked those that spoke of his <I>sufferings,</I> which the scribes
|
|
and doctors of the law should have directed them to take notice of, and
|
|
should have brought into their creeds and catechisms, as well as the
|
|
other; but they did not suit their scheme, and therefore were laid
|
|
aside. Note, <I>Therefore</I> it is that people run into mistakes,
|
|
because they <I>read their Bibles by the halves,</I> and are as partial
|
|
in the prophets as they are <I>in the law.</I> They are only for the
|
|
<I>smooth things,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+30:10">Isa. xxx. 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
Thus now we are too apt, in reading the prophecies that are yet to be
|
|
fulfilled, to have our expectations raised of the glorious state of the
|
|
church in the latter days. But we overlook its wilderness sackcloth
|
|
state, and are willing to fancy that is over, and nothing is reserved
|
|
for us but the halcyon days; and then, when tribulation and persecution
|
|
arise, we do not <I>understand</I> it, neither <I>know we the things
|
|
that are done,</I> though we are told as plainly as can be that
|
|
<I>through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of
|
|
God.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_35"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_36"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_37"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_38"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_39"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_40"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_41"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_42"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Lu18_43"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec6"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Sight Restored to the Blind.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>35 And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho,
|
|
a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:
|
|
36 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.
|
|
37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.
|
|
38 And he cried, saying, Jesus, <I>thou</I> Son of David, have mercy
|
|
on me.
|
|
39 And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold
|
|
his peace: but he cried so much the more, <I>Thou</I> Son of David,
|
|
have mercy on me.
|
|
40 And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him:
|
|
and when he was come near, he asked him,
|
|
41 Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he
|
|
said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
|
|
42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath
|
|
saved thee.
|
|
43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him,
|
|
glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw <I>it,</I> gave
|
|
praise unto God.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Christ came not only to bring <I>light</I> to a <I>dark</I> world, and
|
|
so to set before us the <I>objects</I> we are to have in view, but also
|
|
to give <I>sight</I> to blind <I>souls,</I> and by healing the
|
|
<I>organ</I> to enable them to view those objects. As a token of this,
|
|
he cured many of their bodily blindness: we have now an account of one
|
|
to whom he <I>gave sight</I> near Jericho. Mark gives us an account of
|
|
one, and names him, whom he cured <I>as he went out of Jericho,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+10:46">Mark x. 46</A>.
|
|
|
|
Matthew speaks of two whom he cured <I>as they departed</I> from
|
|
Jericho,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+20:30">Matt. xx. 30</A>.
|
|
|
|
Luke says it was <B><I>en to eggizein auton</I></B>--<I>when he was
|
|
near</I> to Jericho, which might be when he was going out of it as well
|
|
as when he was coming into it. Observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. This poor blind man <I>sat by the wayside, begging,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:35"><I>v.</I> 35</A>.
|
|
|
|
It seems, he was not only <I>blind,</I> but <I>poor,</I> had nothing to
|
|
subsist on, nor any relations to maintain him; the fitter emblem of the
|
|
world of mankind which Christ came to heal and save; they are therefore
|
|
<I>wretched</I> and <I>miserable,</I> for they are both <I>poor and
|
|
blind,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+3:17">Rev. iii. 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
He sat begging, for he was blind, and could not work for his living.
|
|
Note, Those ought to be relieved by charity whom the providence of God
|
|
has any way disabled to get their own bread. Such objects of charity
|
|
<I>by the way-side</I> ought not to be overlooked by us. Christ here
|
|
cast a favourable eye upon a <I>common beggar,</I> and, though there
|
|
are cheats among such, yet they must not therefore be all thought
|
|
such.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Hearing the noise of a multitude passing by, he asked <I>what it
|
|
meant,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:36"><I>v.</I> 36</A>.
|
|
|
|
This we had not before. It teaches us that it is good to be
|
|
<I>inquisitive,</I> and that those who are so some time or other find
|
|
the benefit of it. Those who want their <I>sight</I> should make so
|
|
much the better use of their <I>hearing,</I> and, when they cannot see
|
|
with their own eyes, should, by <I>asking questions,</I> make use of
|
|
other people's eyes. So this blind man did, and by that means came to
|
|
understand that Jesus of Nazareth <I>passed by,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:37"><I>v.</I> 37</A>.
|
|
|
|
It is good being in Christ's way; and, when we have an opportunity of
|
|
applying ourselves to him, not to let it slip.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. His prayer has in it a great deal both of faith and fervency:
|
|
<I>Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:38"><I>v.</I> 38</A>.
|
|
|
|
He owns Christ to be the <I>Son of David,</I> the Messiah promised; he
|
|
believes him to be Jesus, a Saviour; he believes he is able to help and
|
|
succour him, and earnestly begs his favour: "<I>Have mercy on me,</I>
|
|
pardon my sin, pity my misery." Christ is a merciful king; those that
|
|
apply themselves to him as the <I>Son of David</I> shall find him so,
|
|
and ask enough for themselves when they pray, <I>Have mercy on us;</I>
|
|
for Christ's mercy includes all.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. Those who are in good earnest for Christ's favours and blessings
|
|
will not be put by from the pursuit of them, though they meet with
|
|
opposition and rebuke. They who went along chid him as troublesome to
|
|
the Master, noisy and impertinent, and bade him <I>hold his peace;</I>
|
|
but he went on with his petition, nay, the check given him was but as a
|
|
dam to a full stream, which makes it swell so much the more; he
|
|
<I>cried the louder, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.</I> Those who
|
|
would speed in prayer must be importunate in prayer. This history, in
|
|
the close of the chapter, intimates the same thing with the parable in
|
|
the beginning of the chapter, that <I>men ought always to pray, and not
|
|
to faint.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
V. Christ encourages poor beggars, whom men frown upon, and invites
|
|
them to come to him, and is ready to entertain them, and bid them
|
|
welcome: <I>He commanded him to be brought to him.</I> Note, Christ has
|
|
more tenderness and compassion for distressed supplicants than any of
|
|
his followers have. Though Christ was upon his journey, yet he stopped
|
|
and <I>stood,</I> and <I>commanded him to be brought to him.</I> Those
|
|
who had checked him must now lend him their hands to lead him to
|
|
Christ.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VI. Though Christ knows all our wants, he will know them from us
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:41"><I>v.</I> 41</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?</I> By spreading our case
|
|
before God, with a particular representation of our wants and burdens,
|
|
we teach ourselves to value the mercy we are in pursuit of; and it is
|
|
necessary that we should, else we are not fit to receive it. This man
|
|
poured out his soul before Christ, when he said, <I>Lord, that I may
|
|
receive my sight.</I> Thus particular should we be in prayer, upon
|
|
particular occasions.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VII. The prayer of faith, guided by Christ's encouraging promises, and
|
|
grounded on them, shall not be in vain; nay, it shall not only receive
|
|
an <I>answer of peace,</I> but of <I>honour</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:42"><I>v.</I> 42</A>);
|
|
|
|
Christ said, <I>Receive thy sight, thy faith hath saved thee.</I> True
|
|
faith will produce fervency in prayer, and both together will fetch in
|
|
abundance of the fruits of Christ's favour; and they are then doubly
|
|
comfortable when they come in that way, when we are <I>saved by
|
|
faith.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VIII. The <I>grace of Christ</I> ought to be thankfully acknowledged,
|
|
to the <I>glory of God,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:43"><I>v.</I> 43</A>.
|
|
|
|
1. The poor beggar himself, that had his sight restored, <I>followed
|
|
Christ, glorifying God.</I> Christ made it his business to glorify his
|
|
Father; and those whom he healed <I>pleased him</I> best when they
|
|
<I>praised God,</I> as those shall <I>please God</I> best who <I>praise
|
|
Christ</I> and do him honour; for, in <I>confessing that he is
|
|
Lord,</I> we <I>give glory to God the Father.</I> It is for the
|
|
<I>glory of God</I> if we <I>follow Christ,</I> as those will do whose
|
|
<I>eyes</I> are <I>opened.</I>
|
|
|
|
2. The <I>people that saw it</I> could not forbear <I>giving praise to
|
|
God,</I> who had given such power to the <I>Son of Man,</I> and by him
|
|
had conferred such favours on the <I>sons of men.</I> Note, We must
|
|
give praise to God for his mercies to others as well as for mercies to
|
|
ourselves.</P>
|
|
|
|
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