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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>M A T T H E W.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XI.</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. The constant and unwearied diligence of our Lord Jesus in his great
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work of preaching the gospel,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:1">ver. 1</A>.
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II. His discourse with the disciples of John concerning his being the
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Messiah,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:2-6">ver. 2-6</A>.
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III. The honourable testimony that Christ bore to John Baptist,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:7-15">ver. 7-15</A>.
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IV. The sad account he gives of that generation in general, and of
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some particular places with reference to the success, both of John's
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ministry and of his own,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:16-24">ver. 16-24</A>.
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V. His thanksgiving to his Father for the wise and gracious method he
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had taken in revealing the great mysteries of the gospel,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:25,26">ver. 25, 26</A>.
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VI. His gracious call and invitation of poor sinners to come to him,
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and to be ruled, and taught, and saved by him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:27-30">ver. 27-30</A>.
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No Where have we more of the terror of gospel woes for warning to us,
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or of the sweetness of gospel grace for encouragement to us, than in
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this chapter, which sets before us life and death, the blessing and the
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curse.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Mt11_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mt11_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mt11_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mt11_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mt11_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mt11_6"> </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>John's Disciples Come to Christ.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding
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his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach
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in their cities.
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2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he
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sent two of his disciples,
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3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we
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look for another?
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4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and show John again
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those things which ye do hear and see:
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5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers
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are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the
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poor have the gospel preached to them.
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6 And blessed is <I>he,</I> whosoever shall not be offended in me.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The first verse of this chapter some join to the foregoing chapter, and
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make it (not unfitly) the close of that.</P>
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<P>
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1. The ordination sermon which Christ preached to his disciples in the
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foregoing chapter is here called his commanding them. Note, Christ's
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commissions imply commands. Their preaching of the gospel was not only
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permitted them, but it was enjoined them. It was not a thing
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respecting which they were left at their liberty, but <I>necessity was
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laid upon them,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+9:16">1 Cor. ix. 16</A>.
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The promises he made them are included in these commands, for the
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covenant of grace is a <I>word which he hath commanded,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+105:8">Ps. cv. 8</A>.
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He <I>made an end of commanding,</I> <B><I>etelesendiatasson</I></B>.
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Note, The instructions Christ gives are full instructions. He goes
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through with his work.</P>
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<P>
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2. When Christ had said what he had to say to his disciples, he
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<I>departed thence.</I> It should seem they were very loth to leave
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their Master, till <I>he departed</I> and separated himself from them;
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as the nurse withdraws the hand, that the child may learn to go by
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itself. Christ would now teach them how to live, and how to work,
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without his bodily presence. It was <I>expedient for them,</I> that
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Christ should thus go away for awhile, that they might be prepared for
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his long departure, and that, by the help of the Spirit, their own
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hands might be <I>sufficient for them</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:7">Deut. xxxiii. 7</A>),
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and they might not be always children. We have little account of what
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they did now pursuant to their commission. They went abroad, no doubt;
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probably into Judea (for in Galilee the gospel had been mostly preached
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hitherto), publishing the doctrine of Christ, and working miracles in
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his name: but still in a more immediate dependence upon him, and not
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being long from him; and thus they were trained up, by degrees, for
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their great work.</P>
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<P>
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3. Christ departed, <I>to teach and preach</I> in the cities whither he
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sent his disciples before him to <I>work miracles</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+10:1-8"><I>ch.</I> x. 1-8</A>),
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and so to raise people's expectations, and to make way for his
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entertainment. Thus was the <I>way of the Lord prepared;</I> John
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prepared it by bringing people to <I>repentance,</I> but he did <I>no
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miracles.</I> The disciples go further, they <I>work miracles</I> for
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confirmation. Note, Repentance and faith prepare people for the
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blessings of the kingdom of heaven, which Christ gives. Observe, When
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Christ empowered them to <I>work miracles,</I> he employed himself in
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<I>teaching</I> and <I>preaching,</I> as if that were the more
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honourable of the two. That was but in order to do this. Healing the
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sick was the <I>saving of bodies,</I> but preaching the gospel was to
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the <I>saving of souls.</I> Christ had directed his disciples to preach
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+10:7"><I>ch.</I> x. 7</A>),
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yet he did not leave off preaching himself. He set them to work, not
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for his own ease, but for the ease of the country, and was not the less
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busy for employing them. How unlike are they to Christ, who yoke others
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only that they may themselves be idle! Note, the increase and multitude
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of labourers in the Lord's work should be made not an excuse for our
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negligence, but an encouragement to our diligence. The more busy others
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are, the more busy we should be, and all little enough, so much work is
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there to be done. Observe, he went to preach <I>in their cities,</I>
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which were populous places; he cast the net of the gospel where there
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were most fish to be enclosed. Wisdom cries in <I>the cities</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+1:21">Prov. i. 21</A>),
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<I>at the entry of the city</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+8:3">Prov. viii. 3</A>),
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in <I>the cities of the Jews,</I> even of them who made light of him,
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who notwithstanding had the first offer.</P>
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<P>
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What he preached we are not told, but it was probably to the same
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purpose with his sermon on the mount. But here is next recorded a
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message which John Baptist sent to Christ, and his return to it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:2-6"><I>v.</I> 2-6</A>.
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We heard before that Jesus heard of John's sufferings,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+4:12"><I>ch.</I> iv. 12</A>.
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Now we are told that John, in prison, hears of Christ's doings. He
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<I>heard in the prison the works of Christ;</I> and no doubt he was
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glad to hear of them, for he was a true friend of the Bridegroom,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+3:29">John iii. 29</A>.
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Note, When one useful instrument is laid aside, God knows how to raise
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up many others in the stead of it. The work went on, though John was in
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prison, and it added no affliction, but a great deal of consolation, to
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his bonds. Nothing more comfortable to God's people in distress, than
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to <I>hear of the works of Christ;</I> especially to experience them in
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their own souls. This turns a prison into a palace. Some way or other
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Christ will convey the notices of his love to those that are in trouble
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for conscience sake. John could not see the works of Christ, but he
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heard of them with pleasure. And blessed are they who <I>have not
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seen,</I> but only heard, and yet <I>have believed.</I></P>
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<P>
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Now John Baptist, hearing of Christ's works, sent two of his disciples
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to him; and what passed between them and him we have here an account
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of. Here is,</P>
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<P>
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I. The question they had to propose to him: <I>Art thou he that should
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come, or do we look for another?</I> This was a serious and important
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question; <I>Art thou the Messiah promised, or not? Art thou the
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Christ? Tell us.</I>
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1. It is taken for granted that the Messiah should come. It was one of
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the names by which he was known to the Old-Testament saints, <I>he that
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cometh or shall come,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+118:26">Ps. cxviii. 26</A>.
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He is now come, but there is another coming of his which we still
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expect.
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2. They intimate, that if this be not <I>he,</I> they would <I>look for
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another.</I> Note, We must not be weary of looking for him that is to
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come, nor ever say, we will not more expect him till we come to enjoy
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him. Though he tarry, wait for him, for he that shall come will come,
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though not in our time.
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3. They intimate likewise, that if they be convinced that this is he,
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they will not be sceptics, they will be satisfied, and will look <I>for
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no other.</I>
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4. They therefore ask, <I>Art thou he?</I> John had said for his part,
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<I>I am not the Christ,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+1:20">John i. 20</A>.
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Now,
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(1.) Some think that John sent this question for his own satisfaction.
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It is true he had borne a noble testimony to Christ; he had declared
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him to be the <I>Son of God</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+1:34">John i. 34</A>),
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the Lamb of God
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+1:29">v. 29</A>),
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and he that <I>should baptize with the Holy Ghost</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+1:33"><I>v.</I> 33</A>),
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and <I>sent of God</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+3:34">John iii. 34</A>),
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which were great things. But he desired to be further and more fully
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assured, that he was the Messiah that had been so long promised and
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expected. Note, In matters relating to Christ and our salvation by him,
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it is good to be sure. Christ appeared not in that external pomp and
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power in which it was expected he should appear; his own disciples
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stumbled at this, and perhaps John did so; Christ saw something of this
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at the bottom of this enquiry, when he said, <I>blessed is he who shall
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not be offended in me.</I> Note, It is hard, even for good men, to bear
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up against vulgar errors.
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(2.) John's doubt might arise from his own present circumstances. He
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was a prisoner, and might be tempted to think, if Jesus be indeed the
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Messiah, whence is it that I, his friend and forerunner, am brought
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into this trouble, and am left to be so long in it, and he never looks
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after me, never visits me, nor sends to me, enquires not after me, does
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nothing either to sweeten my imprisonment or hasten my enlargement?
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Doubtless there was a good reason why our Lord Jesus did not go to John
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in prison, lest there should seem to have been a compact between them:
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but John construed it into a neglect, and it was perhaps a shock to his
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faith in Christ. Note,
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[1.] Where there is true faith, yet there may be a mixture of unbelief.
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The best are not always alike strong.
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[2.] Troubles for Christ, especially when they continue long
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unrelieved, are such trials of faith as sometimes prove too hard to be
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borne up against.
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[3.] The remaining unbelief of good men may sometimes, in an hour of
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temptation, strike at the root, and call in question the most
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fundamental truths which were thought to be well settled. <I>Will the
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Lord cast off for ever?</I> But we will hope that John's faith did not
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fail in this matter, only he desired to have it strengthened and
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confirmed. Note, The best saints have need of the best helps they can
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get for the strengthening of their faith, and the arming of themselves
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against temptations to infidelity. Abraham believed, and yet desired a
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sign
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+15:6,8">Gen. xv. 6, 8</A>),
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so did Gideon,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+6:36">Judg. vi. 36</A>.
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But,
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(3.) Others think that John sent his disciples to Christ with this
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question, not so much for his own satisfaction as for theirs. Observe,
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Though he was a prisoner they adhered to him, attended on him, and were
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ready to receive instructions from him; they loved him, and would not
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leave him. Now,
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[1.] They were weak in knowledge, and wavering in their faith, and
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needed instruction and confirmation; and in this matter they were
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somewhat prejudiced; being jealous <I>for their</I> master, they were
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jealous <I>of our</I> Master; they were loth to acknowledge Jesus to be
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the Messiah, because he eclipsed John, and are loth to believe their
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own master when they think he speaks against himself and them. Good men
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are apt to have their judgments blessed by their interest. Now John
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would have their mistakes rectified, and wished them to be as well
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satisfied as he himself was. Note, The strong ought to consider the
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infirmities of the weak, and to do what they can to help them: and such
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as we cannot help ourselves we should send to those that can. <I>When
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thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.</I>
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[2.] John was all along industrious to turn over his disciples to
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Christ, as from the grammar-school to the academy. Perhaps he foresaw
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his death approaching, and therefore would bring his disciples to be
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better acquainted with Christ, under whose guardianship he must leave
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them. Note, Ministers' business is to direct every body to Christ. And
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those who would know the certainty of the doctrine of Christ, must
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apply themselves to him, who is come to give an understanding. They who
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would grow in grace must be inquisitive.</P>
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<P>
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II. Here is Christ's answer to this question,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:4-6"><I>v.</I> 4-6</A>.
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It was not so direct and express, as when he said, <I>I that speak unto
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thee am he;</I> but it was a real answer, an answer in fact. Christ
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will have us to spell out the convincing evidences of gospel truths,
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and to take pains in digging for knowledge.</P>
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<P>
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1. He points them to what they heard and saw, which they must tell
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John, that he might from thence take occasion the more fully to
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instruct and convince them out of their own mouths. Go and tell him
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<I>what you hear and see.</I> Note, Our senses may and ought to be
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appealed to in those things that are their proper objects. Therefore
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the popish doctrine of the real presence agrees not with the truth
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<I>as it is in Jesus;</I> for Christ refers us to the things we <I>hear
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and see. Go and tell John,</I></P>
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<P>
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(1.) <I>What you see</I> of the <I>power of Christ's miracles;</I> you
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see how, by the word of Jesus, <I>the blind receive their sight,</I>
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the <I>lame walk,</I> &c. Christ's miracles were done openly, and in
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the view of all; for they feared not the strongest and most impartial
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scrutiny. <I>Veritas no quærit angulos--Truth seeks not
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concealment.</I> They are to be considered,
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[1.] As the <I>acts of a divine power.</I> None but the God of nature
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could thus overrule and outdo the power of nature. It is particularly
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spoken of as God's prerogative to <I>open the eyes of the blind,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+146:8">Ps. cxlvi. 8</A>.
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Miracles are therefore the broad seal of heaven, and the doctrine they
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are affixed to must be of God, for his power will never contradict his
|
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truth; nor can it be imagined that he should set his seal to a lie;
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however <I>lying wonders</I> may be vouched for in proof of <I>false
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doctrines, true miracles</I> evince a divine commission; such Christ's
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were, and they leave no room to doubt that he was sent of God, and that
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his doctrine was his that <I>sent him.</I>
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[2.] As the <I>accomplishment of a divine prediction.</I> It was
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foretold
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+35:5,6">Isa. xxxv. 5, 6</A>),
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that our God should come, and that then <I>the eyes of the blind should
|
|
be opened.</I> Now if the works of Christ agree with the words of the
|
|
prophet, as it is plain they do, then no doubt but this is our God whom
|
|
we have waited for, who shall <I>come with a recompence;</I> this is he
|
|
who is so much wanted.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) Tell him <I>what you hear</I> of the <I>preaching of his
|
|
gospel,</I> which accompanies his miracles. Faith, though confirmed by
|
|
seeing, comes by hearing. Tell him,
|
|
|
|
[1.] That <I>the poor preach the gospel;</I> so some read it. It proves
|
|
Christ's divine mission, that those whom he employed in founding his
|
|
kingdom were poor men, destitute of all secular advantages, who,
|
|
therefore, could never have carried their point, if they had not been
|
|
carried on by a divine power.
|
|
|
|
[2.] That <I>the poor have the gospel preached to them.</I> Christ's
|
|
auditory is made up of such as the scribes and Pharisees despised, and
|
|
looked upon with contempt, and the <I>rabbies</I> would not instruct,
|
|
because they were notable to pay them. The <I>Old-Testament</I>
|
|
prophets were sent mostly to kings and princes, but Christ preached to
|
|
the <I>congregations of the poor.</I> It was foretold that the <I>poor
|
|
of the flock</I> should <I>wait upon him,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+11:11">Zech. xi. 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
Note, Christ's gracious condescensions and compassions to <I>the
|
|
poor,</I> are an evidence that it was he that should bring to the world
|
|
the tender mercies of our God. It was foretold that the <I>Son of
|
|
David</I> should be the <I>poor man's King,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+72:2,4,12,13">Ps. lxxii. 2, 4, 12, 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
Or we may understand it, not so much of the <I>poor of the world,</I>
|
|
as the <I>poor in spirit,</I> and so that scripture is fulfilled,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+61:1">Isa. lxi. 1</A>,
|
|
|
|
<I>He hath anointed me to preach glad tidings to the meek.</I> Note, It
|
|
is a proof of Christ's divine mission that his doctrine is gospel
|
|
indeed; good news to those who are truly humbled in sorrow for their
|
|
sins, and truly humble in the denial of self; to them it is
|
|
accommodated, for whom God always declared he had mercy in store.
|
|
|
|
[3.] That the <I>poor receive the gospel,</I> and are wrought upon by
|
|
it, they are evangelized, they receive and entertain the gospel, are
|
|
leavened by it, and delivered into it as into a mould. Note, The
|
|
wonderful efficacy of the gospel is a proof of its divine original. The
|
|
poor are <I>wrought upon</I> by it. The prophets complained of <I>the
|
|
poor,</I> that they <I>knew not the way of the Lord,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+5:4">Jer. v. 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
They could do no good upon them; but the gospel of Christ made its way
|
|
into their untutored minds.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. He pronounces a <I>blessing</I> on those that <I>were not offended
|
|
in him,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
So clear are these evidences of Christ's mission, that they who are not
|
|
wilfully prejudiced against him, and scandalized in him (so the word
|
|
is), cannot but receive his doctrine, and so be <I>blessed in him.</I>
|
|
Note,
|
|
|
|
(1.) There are many things in Christ which they who are ignorant and
|
|
unthinking are apt to be offended at, some circumstances for the sake
|
|
of which they reject the substance of his gospel. The meanness of his
|
|
appearance, his education at Nazareth, the poverty of his life, the
|
|
despicableness of his followers, the slights which the great men put
|
|
upon him, the strictness of his doctrine, the contradiction it gives to
|
|
flesh and blood, and the sufferings that attend the profession of his
|
|
name; these are things that keep many from him, who otherwise cannot
|
|
but see much of God in him. Thus he is set <I>for the fall of many,</I>
|
|
even in Israel
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+2:34">Luke ii. 34</A>),
|
|
|
|
a <I>Rock of offence,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+2:8">1 Pet. ii. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
(2.) They are happy who get over these offences. <I>Blessed are
|
|
they.</I> The expression intimates, that it is a difficult thing to
|
|
conquer these prejudices, and a dangerous thing not to conquer them;
|
|
but as to those, who, notwithstanding this opposition, to believe in
|
|
Christ, their faith will be found so much the more, to <I>praise, and
|
|
honour, and glory.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Mt11_7"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mt11_8"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mt11_9"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mt11_10"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mt11_11"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mt11_12"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mt11_13"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mt11_14"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mt11_15"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Christ's Testimony of John.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes
|
|
concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A
|
|
reed shaken with the wind?
|
|
8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft
|
|
raiment? behold, they that wear soft <I>clothing</I> are in kings'
|
|
houses.
|
|
9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto
|
|
you, and more than a prophet.
|
|
10 For this is <I>he,</I> of whom it is written, Behold, I send my
|
|
messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before
|
|
thee.
|
|
11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women
|
|
there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist:
|
|
notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is
|
|
greater than he.
|
|
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom
|
|
of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
|
|
13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
|
|
14 And if ye will receive <I>it,</I> this is Elias, which was for to
|
|
come.
|
|
15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We have here the high encomium which our Lord Jesus gave of John the
|
|
Baptist; not only to revive his honour, but to revive his work. Some of
|
|
Christ's disciples might perhaps take occasion from the question John
|
|
sent, to reflect upon him, as weak and wavering, and inconsistent with
|
|
himself, to prevent which Christ gives him this character. Note, It is
|
|
our duty to consult the reputation of our brethren, and not only to
|
|
remove, but to obviate and prevent, jealousies and ill thoughts of
|
|
them; and we must take all occasions, especially such as discover any
|
|
thing of infirmity, to speak well of those who are praiseworthy, and to
|
|
give them that <I>fruit of their hands.</I> John the Baptist, when he
|
|
was upon the stage, and Christ in privacy and retirement, bore
|
|
testimony to Christ; and now that Christ appeared publicly, and John
|
|
was under a cloud, he bore testimony to John. Note, They who have a
|
|
confirmed interest themselves, should improve it for the helping of the
|
|
credit and reputation of others, whose character claims it, but whose
|
|
temper or present circumstances put them out of the way of it. This is
|
|
giving honour to whom honour is due. John had abased himself to honour
|
|
Christ
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+3:20,30,Mt+3:11">John iii. 20, 30, <I>ch.</I> iii. 11</A>),
|
|
|
|
had made himself nothing, that Christ might be All, and now Christ
|
|
dignifies him with this character. Note, They who humble themselves
|
|
shall be exalted, and those that honour Christ he will honour; those
|
|
that confess him before men, he will confess, and sometimes <I>before
|
|
men</I> too, even in this world. John had now <I>finished his
|
|
testimony,</I> and now Christ commends him. Note, Christ reserves
|
|
honour for his servants when they <I>have done their work,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+12:26">John xii. 26</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Now concerning this commendation of John, observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. That Christ spoke thus honourably of John, not in the hearing of
|
|
John's disciples, but <I>as they departed,</I> just after they were
|
|
gone,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+7:24">Luke vii. 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
He would not so much as seem to flatter John, nor have these praises of
|
|
him reported to him. Note, Though we must be forward to give to all
|
|
their due praise for their encouragement, yet we must avoid every thing
|
|
that looks like flattery, or may be in danger of puffing them up. They
|
|
who in other things are mortified to the world, yet cannot well bear
|
|
their own praise. Pride is a corrupt humour, which we must not feed
|
|
either in others or in ourselves.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. That what Christ said concerning John, was intended not only for
|
|
his praise, but for the people's profit, to revive the remembrance of
|
|
John's ministry, which had been well attended, but which was now (as
|
|
other such things used to be) strangely forgotten: they did for a
|
|
season, and but <I>for a season, rejoice in his light,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+5:35">John v. 35</A>.
|
|
|
|
"Now, consider, <I>what went ye out into the wilderness to see?</I> Put
|
|
this question to yourselves."
|
|
|
|
1. John preached <I>in the wilderness,</I> and thither people flocked
|
|
in crowds to him, though in a <I>remote</I> place, and an
|
|
<I>inconvenient</I> one. If teachers be removed into corners, it is
|
|
better to go after them than to be without them. Now if his preaching
|
|
was worth taking so much pains to hear it, surely it was worth taking
|
|
some care to recollect it. The greater the difficulties we have broken
|
|
through to hear the word, the more we are concerned to profit by it.
|
|
|
|
2. They went out to him to see him; rather to feed their eyes with the
|
|
unusual appearance of his person, than to feed their souls with his
|
|
wholesome instructions; rather for curiosity than for conscience. Note,
|
|
Many that attend on the word come rather to see and be seen, than to
|
|
learn and be taught, to have something to talk of, than to be made wise
|
|
to salvation. Christ puts it to them, <I>what went ye out to see?</I>
|
|
Note, They who attend on the word will be called to an account, what
|
|
their intentions and what their improvements were. We think when the
|
|
sermon is done, the care is over; no, then the greatest of the care
|
|
begins. It will shortly be asked, "What business had you such a time at
|
|
such an ordinance? <I>What brought you thither?</I> Was it custom or
|
|
company, or was it a desire to honour God and get good? <I>What have
|
|
you brought thence?</I> What knowledge, and grace, and comfort? <I>What
|
|
went you to see?</I>" Note, When we go to read and hear the word, we
|
|
should see that we aim right in what we do.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. Let us see what the commendation of John was. They know not what
|
|
answer to make to Christ's question; well, says Christ, "I will tell
|
|
you what a man John the Baptist was."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. "He was a firm, resolute man, and not <I>a reed shaken with the
|
|
wind; you</I> have been so in your thoughts of him, but <I>he</I> was
|
|
not so. He was not wavering in his principles, nor uneven in his
|
|
conversation; but was remarkable for his steadiness and constant
|
|
consistency with himself." They who are <I>weak</I> as reeds will be
|
|
<I>shaken</I> as reeds; but John was <I>strong in spirit,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+4:14">Eph. iv. 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
When the wind of popular applause on the one hand blew fresh and fair,
|
|
when the storm of Herod's rage on the other hand grew fierce and
|
|
blustering, John was still the same, the same in all weathers. The
|
|
testimony he had borne to Christ was not the testimony of <I>a
|
|
reed,</I> of a man who was of one mind to-day, and of another
|
|
to-morrow; it was not a weather-cock testimony; no, his constancy in it
|
|
is intimated
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+1:20">John i. 20</A>);
|
|
|
|
he <I>confessed and denied not, but confessed,</I> and stood to it
|
|
afterwards,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+3:28">John iii. 28</A>.
|
|
|
|
And therefore this question sent by his disciples was not to be
|
|
construed into any suspicion of the truth of what he had formerly said:
|
|
therefore the people flocked to him, because he was not as a reed.
|
|
Note, There is nothing lost in the long run by an unshaken resolution
|
|
to go on with our work, neither courting the smiles, nor fearing the
|
|
frowns of men.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. He was a <I>self-denying</I> man, and <I>mortified</I> to this
|
|
world. "Was he a man <I>clothed in soft raiment?</I> If so, you would
|
|
not have gone <I>into the wilderness</I> to see him, but to the
|
|
<I>court.</I> You went to see one that had <I>his raiment of camel's
|
|
hair,</I> and a <I>leathern girdle about his loins;</I> his mien and
|
|
habit showed that he was dead to all the pomps of the world and the
|
|
pleasures of sense; his clothing agreed with the <I>wilderness</I> he
|
|
lived in, and the doctrine he preached there, that of repentance. Now
|
|
you cannot think that he who was such a stranger to the pleasures of a
|
|
court, should be brought to change his mind by the terrors of a prison,
|
|
and now to question whether Jesus be the Messiah or not!" Note, they
|
|
who have lived a life of mortification, are least likely to be driven
|
|
off from their religion by persecution. He was not a man clothed in
|
|
<I>soft raiment;</I> such <I>there are,</I> but they are <I>in kings'
|
|
houses.</I> Note, It becomes people in all their appearances to be
|
|
consistent with their character and their situation. They who are
|
|
preachers must not affect to look like courtiers; nor must they whose
|
|
lot is cast in common dwellings, be ambitious of the soft clothing
|
|
which they wear who are in kings' houses. Prudence teaches us to be
|
|
<I>of a piece.</I> John appeared rough and unpleasant, yet they flocked
|
|
after him. Note, The remembrance of our former zeal in attending on the
|
|
word of God, should quicken us to, and in, our present work: let it not
|
|
be said that we have done and suffered so many things <I>in vain,</I>
|
|
have <I>run in vain</I> and <I>laboured in vain.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. His greatest commendation of all was his office and ministry, which
|
|
was more his honour than any personal endowments or qualifications
|
|
could be; and therefore this is most enlarged upon in a full
|
|
encomium.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) He was <I>a prophet,</I> yea, and <I>more than a prophet</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>);
|
|
|
|
so he said of him who was the great Prophet, to whom all the prophets
|
|
bear witness. John said of himself, he was not <I>that prophet,</I>
|
|
that great prophet, the Messiah himself; and now Christ (a very
|
|
competent Judge) says of him, that he was <I>more than a prophet.</I>
|
|
He owned himself inferior to Christ, and Christ owned him superior to
|
|
all other prophets. Observe, The forerunner of Christ was not a king,
|
|
but a prophet, lest it should seem that the kingdom of the Messiah had
|
|
been laid in earthly power; but his immediate forerunner was, as such,
|
|
a <I>transcendent</I> prophet, more than an <I>Old-Testament
|
|
prophet;</I> they all <I>did virtuously,</I> but John excelled them
|
|
all; they <I>saw Christ's day</I> at a distance, and their vision was
|
|
yet for a great while to come; but John saw the day dawn, he saw the
|
|
sun rise, and told the people of the Messiah, as one that stood among
|
|
them. They spake of Christ, but he pointed to him; they said, <I>A
|
|
virgin shall conceive:</I> he said, <I>Behold the Lamb of God!</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) He was the same that was predicted to be Christ's forerunner
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>);
|
|
|
|
<I>This is he of whom it is written.</I> He was prophesied of by the
|
|
other prophets, and therefore was greater than they. Malachi prophesied
|
|
concerning John, <I>Behold, I send my messenger before thy face.</I>
|
|
Herein some of Christ's honour was put upon him, that the
|
|
<I>Old-Testament</I> prophets spake and wrote of him; and this honour
|
|
have all the saints, that their <I>names</I> are <I>written in the
|
|
Lamb's book of life.</I> It was great preferment to John above all the
|
|
prophets, that he was Christ's harbinger. He was a <I>messenger</I>
|
|
sent on a great errand; a messenger, <I>one among a thousand,</I>
|
|
deriving his honour from his whose messenger he was: he is <I>my
|
|
messenger</I> sent <I>of God.</I> His business was to <I>prepare
|
|
Christ's way,</I> to dispose people to receive the Saviour, by
|
|
discovering to them their sin and misery, and their need of a Saviour.
|
|
This he had said of himself
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+1:23">John i. 23</A>)
|
|
|
|
and now Christ said it of him; intending hereby not only to put an
|
|
honour upon John's ministry, but to revive people's regard to it, as
|
|
making way for the Messiah. Note, Much of the beauty of God's
|
|
dispensations lies in their mutual connection and coherence, and the
|
|
reference they have one to another. That which advanced John above the
|
|
<I>Old-Testament</I> prophets was, that he went immediately before
|
|
Christ. Note, The nearer any are to Christ, the more truly honourable
|
|
they are.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(3.) There <I>was not a greater born of women</I> than John the
|
|
Baptist,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
|
|
|
|
Christ knew how to value persons according to the degrees of their
|
|
worth, and he prefers John before all that went before him, before all
|
|
that were <I>born of women</I> by ordinary generation. Of all that God
|
|
had raised up and called to any service in his church, John is the most
|
|
eminent, even beyond Moses himself; for he began to preach the gospel
|
|
doctrine of remission of sins to those who are truly penitent; and he
|
|
had more signal revelations from heaven than any of them had; for he
|
|
<I>saw heaven opened,</I> and the <I>Holy Ghost descend.</I> He also
|
|
had great success in his ministry; almost the whole nation flocked to
|
|
him: none rose on so great a design, or came on so noble an errand, as
|
|
John did, or had such claims to a welcome reception. Many had been born
|
|
of women that made a great figure in the world, but Christ prefers John
|
|
before them. Note, Greatness is not to be measured by appearances and
|
|
outward splendour, but they are the greatest men who are the greatest
|
|
saints, and the greatest blessings, who are, as John was, <I>great in
|
|
the sight of the Lord,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+1:15">Luke i. 15</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Yet this high encomium of John has a surprising limitation,
|
|
<I>notwithstanding, he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is
|
|
greater than he.</I>
|
|
|
|
[1.] In the kingdom of <I>glory.</I> John was a <I>great</I> and
|
|
<I>good</I> man, but he was yet in a state of infirmity and
|
|
imperfection, and therefore came short of glorified saints, and the
|
|
<I>spirits of just men made perfect.</I> Note, <I>First,</I> There are
|
|
degrees of glory in heaven, some that are less than others there;
|
|
though every vessel is alike full, all are not alike large and
|
|
capacious. <I>Secondly,</I> The least saint in heaven is
|
|
<I>greater,</I> and knows more, and loves more, and does more in
|
|
praising God, and receives more from him, than the greatest in this
|
|
world. The saints on earth are excellent ones
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+16:3">Ps. xvi. 3</A>),
|
|
|
|
but those in heaven are much more excellent; the best in this world are
|
|
<I>lower than the angels</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+8:5">Ps. viii. 5</A>),
|
|
|
|
the least there are <I>equal with the angels,</I> which should make us
|
|
long for that blessed state, where the <I>weak shall be as David,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+12:8">Zech. xii. 8</A>.
|
|
|
|
[2.] By the <I>kingdom of heaven</I> here, is rather to be understood
|
|
the <I>kingdom of grace,</I> the gospel dispensation in the perfection
|
|
of its power and purity; and ho mikroteros--<I>he that is less</I> in
|
|
that is <I>greater than John.</I> Some understand it of Christ himself,
|
|
who was younger than John, and, in the opinion of some, less than John,
|
|
who always spoke diminishingly of himself; <I>I am a worm, and no
|
|
man,</I> yet greater than John; so it agrees with what John the Baptist
|
|
said
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+1:15">John i. 15</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>He that cometh after me is preferred before me.</I> But it is rather
|
|
to be understood of the apostles and ministers of the <I>New
|
|
Testament,</I> the evangelical prophets; and the comparison between
|
|
them and John is not with respect to their personal sanctity, but to
|
|
their office; John preached Christ coming, but they preached Christ not
|
|
only come, but <I>crucified</I> and <I>glorified.</I> John came to the
|
|
dawning of the gospel-day, and therein excelled the foregoing prophets,
|
|
but he was taken off before the noon of that day, before the rending of
|
|
the veil, before Christ's death and resurrection, and the pouring out
|
|
of the Spirit; so that the least of the apostles and evangelists,
|
|
having greater discoveries made to them, and being employed in a
|
|
greater embassy, is <I>greater than John.</I> John did no miracles; the
|
|
apostles wrought many. The ground of this preference is laid in the
|
|
preference of the <I>New</I>-Testament dispensation to that of the
|
|
<I>Old</I> Testament. Ministers of the New Testament therefore excel,
|
|
because their ministration does so,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+3:6">2 Cor. iii. 6</A>,
|
|
|
|
&c. John was a <I>maximum quod sic--the greatest of his order;</I> he
|
|
went to the utmost that the dispensation he was under would allow; but
|
|
<I>minimum maximi est majus maximo minimi--the least of the highest
|
|
order is superior to the first of the lowest;</I> a dwarf upon a
|
|
mountain sees further than a giant in the valley. Note, All the true
|
|
greatness of men is derived from, and denominated by, the gracious
|
|
manifestation of Christ to them. The best men are no better than he is
|
|
pleased to make them. What reason have we to be thankful that our lot
|
|
is cast in the days of the <I>kingdom of heaven,</I> under such
|
|
advantages of light and love! And the greater the advantages, the
|
|
greater will the account be, if we <I>receive the grace of God in
|
|
vain.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(4.) The great commendation of John the Baptist was, that God owned his
|
|
ministry, and made it wonderfully successful for the breaking of the
|
|
ice, and the preparing of people for the <I>kingdom of heaven. From the
|
|
days of</I> the first appearing of <I>John the Baptist,</I> until now
|
|
(which was not much above two years), a great deal of good was done; so
|
|
quick was the motion when it came near to Christ the Centre; <I>The
|
|
kingdom of heaven suffereth violence</I>--<B><I>biazetai</I></B>-<I>vim
|
|
patitur,</I> like the violence of an army taking a city by storm, or of
|
|
a crowd bursting into a house, so the <I>violent take it by force.</I>
|
|
The meaning of this we have in the parallel place,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+16:16">Luke xvi. 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
Since that time <I>the kingdom of God is preached, and every man
|
|
presseth into it.</I> Multitudes are wrought upon by the ministry of
|
|
John, and become his disciples. And it is</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[1.] An <I>improbable</I> multitude. Those strove for a place in this
|
|
kingdom, that one would think had no right nor title to it, and so
|
|
seemed to be intruders, and to make a <I>tortuous</I> entry, as our law
|
|
calls it, a wrongful and forcible one. When the <I>children of the
|
|
kingdom</I> are excluded out of it, and many come into it <I>from the
|
|
east and the west,</I> then it <I>suffers violence.</I> Compare this
|
|
with
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+21:31,32"><I>ch.</I> xxi. 31, 32</A>.
|
|
|
|
The publicans and harlots believed John, whom the scribes and Pharisees
|
|
rejected, and so went into the kingdom of God before them, <I>took it
|
|
over their heads,</I> while they trifled. Note, It is no breach of good
|
|
manners to go to heaven before our betters: and it is a great
|
|
commendation of the gospel from the days of its infancy, that it has
|
|
brought many to holiness that were very unlikely.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[2.] An <I>importunate</I> multitude. This violence denotes a strength,
|
|
and vigour, and earnestness of desire and endeavour, in those who
|
|
followed John's ministry, else they would not have come so far to
|
|
attend upon it. It shows us also, what fervency and zeal are required
|
|
of all those who design to make heaven of their religion. Note, They
|
|
who would <I>enter into the kingdom of heaven</I> must <I>strive to
|
|
enter;</I> that kingdom suffers a holy violence; self must be denied,
|
|
the bent and bias, the frame and temper, of the mind must be altered;
|
|
there are hard sufferings to be undergone, a force to be put upon the
|
|
corrupt nature; we must run, and wrestle, and fight, and be <I>in an
|
|
agony,</I> and all little enough to win such a prize, and to get over
|
|
such opposition from without and from within. <I>The violent take it by
|
|
force.</I> They who will have an interest in the great salvation are
|
|
carried out towards it with a strong desire, will have it <I>upon any
|
|
terms,</I> and not think them hard, nor quit their hold without a
|
|
blessing,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+32:26">Gen. xxxii. 26</A>.
|
|
|
|
They who will make their calling and election sure must give diligence.
|
|
The kingdom of heaven was never intended to indulge the ease of
|
|
triflers, but to be the rest of them that labour. It is a blessed
|
|
sight; Oh that we could see a greater number, not with an <I>angry</I>
|
|
contention thrusting others out of the kingdom of heaven, but with a
|
|
<I>holy</I> contention thrusting themselves into it!</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(5.) The ministry of John was the <I>beginning of the gospel,</I> as it
|
|
is reckoned,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+1:1,Ac+1:22">Mark i. 1; Acts i. 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
This is shown here in two things:</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[1.] In John the Old Testament dispensation began to die,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
So long that ministration continued in full force and virtue, but then
|
|
it began to decline. Though the obligation of the law of Moses was not
|
|
removed till Christ's death, yet the discoveries of the Old Testament
|
|
began to be superseded by the more clear manifestation of the
|
|
<I>kingdom of heaven</I> as <I>at hand.</I> Because the <I>light of the
|
|
gospel</I> (as that of nature) was to precede and make way for its
|
|
<I>law,</I> therefore the prophecies of the Old Testament came to an
|
|
end (<I>finis perficiens,</I> not <I>interficiens--an end of
|
|
completion, not of duration</I>), before the precepts of it; so that
|
|
when Christ says, <I>all the prophets and the law prophesied until
|
|
John,</I> he shows us, <I>First,</I> How the light of the Old Testament
|
|
was set up; it was set up in <I>the law and the prophets,</I> who
|
|
spoke, though darkly, of Christ and his kingdom. Observe, The
|
|
<I>law</I> is said to prophesy, as well as the <I>prophets,</I>
|
|
concerning him that was to come. Christ <I>began at Moses</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+24:27">Luke xxiv. 27</A>);
|
|
|
|
Christ was foretold by the dumb signs of the Mosaic work, as well as by
|
|
the more articulate voices of the prophets, and was exhibited, not only
|
|
in the verbal predictions, but in the personal and real types. Blessed
|
|
be God that we have both the New-Testament doctrine to explain the
|
|
Old-Testament prophecies, and the Old-Testament prophecies to confirm
|
|
and illustrate the New-Testament doctrine
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+1:1">Heb. i. 1</A>);
|
|
|
|
like the two cherubim, they look at each other. The law was given by
|
|
Moses long ago, and there had been no prophets for three hundred years
|
|
before John, and yet they are both said to <I>prophecy until John,</I>
|
|
because the law was still observed, and Moses and the prophets still
|
|
read. Note, The scripture is teaching to this day, though the penmen of
|
|
it are gone. Moses and the prophets are dead; the apostles and
|
|
evangelists are dead
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+1:5">Zech. i. 5</A>),
|
|
|
|
but the <I>word of the Lord endures for ever</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+1:25">1 Pet. i. 25</A>);
|
|
|
|
the <I>scripture</I> is <I>speaking expressly,</I> though the writers
|
|
are silent in the dust. <I>Secondly,</I> How this light was <I>laid
|
|
aside:</I> when he says, they <I>prophesied until John,</I> he
|
|
intimates, that their glory was eclipsed by the glory which excelled;
|
|
their predictions superseded by John's testimony, <I>Behold the Lamb of
|
|
God!</I> Even before the sun rises, the morning light makes candles to
|
|
shine dim. Their prophecies of a Christ to come became out of date,
|
|
when John said, <I>He is come.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[2.] In him the New-Testament day began to dawn; for
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>)
|
|
|
|
<I>This is Elias, that was for to come.</I> John was as the loop that
|
|
coupled the two Testaments; as Noah was <I>Fibula utriusque mundi--the
|
|
link connecting both worlds,</I> so was he <I>utriusque Testamenti--the
|
|
link connecting both Testaments.</I> The concluding prophecy of the Old
|
|
Testament was, <I>Behold, I will send you Elijah,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mal+4:5,6">Mal. iv. 5, 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
Those words prophesied until John, and then, being turned into a
|
|
history, they ceased to prophecy. <I>First,</I> Christ speaks of it as
|
|
a great truth, that John the Baptist is the Elias of the New Testament;
|
|
not Elias <I>in propria persona--in his own person,</I> as the carnal
|
|
Jews expected; he denied that
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+1:21">John i. 21</A>),
|
|
|
|
but one that should come in the spirit and power of Elias
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+1:17">Luke i. 17</A>),
|
|
|
|
like him in temper and conversation, that should press repentance with
|
|
terrors, and especially as it is in the prophecy, that should <I>turn
|
|
the hearts of the fathers to the children. Secondly,</I> He speaks of
|
|
it as a truth, which would not be easily apprehended by those whose
|
|
expectations fastened upon the temporal kingdom of the Messiah, and
|
|
introductions to it agreeable. Christ suspects the welcome of it,
|
|
<I>if ye will receive it.</I> Not but that it was true, whether they
|
|
would receive it or not, but he upbraids them with their prejudices,
|
|
that they were backward to receive the greatest truths that were
|
|
opposed to their sentiments, though never so favourable to their
|
|
interests. Or, "If <I>you will receive him,</I> or if you will receive
|
|
the ministry of John as that of the promised Elias, he will be an Elias
|
|
to you, to turn you and prepare you for the Lord," Note, Gospel truths
|
|
are as they are received, a savour of life or death. Christ is a
|
|
Saviour, and John an Elias, to those who will receive the truth
|
|
concerning them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Lastly, Our Lord Jesus closes this discourse with a solemn demand of
|
|
attention
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>He that hath ears to hear, let him hear;</I> which intimates, that
|
|
those things were dark and hard to be understood, and therefore needed
|
|
attention, but of great concern and consequence, and therefore well
|
|
deserved it. "Let all people take notice of this, if John be the Elias
|
|
prophesied of, then certainly here is a great revolution on foot, the
|
|
Messiah's kingdom is at the door, and the world will shortly be
|
|
surprised into a happy change. These are things which require your
|
|
serious consideration, and therefore you are all concerned to hearken
|
|
to what I say." Note, The things of God are of great and common
|
|
concern: every one that has <I>ears to hear</I> any thing, is concerned
|
|
to hear this. It intimates, that God requires no more from us but the
|
|
right use and improvement of the faculties he has already given us. He
|
|
requires those to hear that have ears, those to use their reason that
|
|
have reason. Therefore people are ignorant, not because they want
|
|
power, but because they want will; therefore they do not hear, because,
|
|
like the deaf adder, they <I>stop their ears.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Mt11_16"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mt11_17"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mt11_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mt11_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mt11_20"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mt11_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mt11_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mt11_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mt11_24"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Christ Reproaches Chorazin, &c..</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto
|
|
children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,
|
|
17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced;
|
|
we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.
|
|
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He
|
|
hath a devil.
|
|
19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say,
|
|
Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans
|
|
and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
|
|
20 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his
|
|
mighty works were done, because they repented not:
|
|
21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if
|
|
the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre
|
|
and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and
|
|
ashes.
|
|
22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and
|
|
Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.
|
|
23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be
|
|
brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been
|
|
done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained
|
|
until this day.
|
|
24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the
|
|
land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Christ was going on in the praise of John the Baptist and his ministry,
|
|
but here stops on a sudden, and turns that to the reproach of those who
|
|
enjoyed both that, and the ministry of Christ and his apostles too, in
|
|
vain. As to that generation, we may observe to whom he <I>compares
|
|
them</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:16-19"><I>v.</I> 16-19</A>),
|
|
|
|
and as to the particular places he instances in, we may observe with
|
|
whom he <I>compares them,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:20-24"><I>v.</I> 20-24</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. As to that <I>generation,</I> the body of the Jewish people at that
|
|
time. There were many indeed that pressed into the kingdom of heaven;
|
|
but the generality continued in unbelief and obstinacy. John was a
|
|
great and good man, but the generation in which his lot was cast was as
|
|
barren and unprofitable as could be, and unworthy of him. Note, The
|
|
badness of the places where good ministers live serves for a foil to
|
|
their beauty. It was Noah's praise that he was <I>righteous in his
|
|
generation.</I> Having commended John, he condemns those who had him
|
|
among them, and did not profit by his ministry. Note, The more
|
|
praise-worthy the people are, if they slight him, and so it will be
|
|
found in the day of account.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
This our Lord Jesus here sets forth in a parable, yet speaks as if he
|
|
were at a loss to find out a similitude proper to represent this,
|
|
<I>Whereunto shall I liken this generation?</I> Note, There is not a
|
|
greater absurdity than that which they are guilty of who have good
|
|
preaching among them, and are never the better for it. It is hard to
|
|
say <I>what they are like.</I> The similitude is taken from some common
|
|
custom among the Jewish children at their play, who, as is usual with
|
|
children, imitated the fashions of grown people at their marriages and
|
|
funerals, <I>rejoicing and lamenting;</I> but being all a jest, it made
|
|
no impression; no more did the ministry either of John the Baptist or
|
|
of Christ upon that generation. He especially reflects on the scribes
|
|
and Pharisees, who had a proud conceit of themselves; therefore to
|
|
humble them he compares them to children, and their behaviour to
|
|
children's play.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
The parable will be best explained by opening it and the illustration
|
|
of it together in these five observations.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Note,
|
|
|
|
1. The God of heaven uses a variety of proper means and methods for the
|
|
conversion and salvation of poor souls; he would <I>have all men to be
|
|
saved,</I> and therefore leaves no stone unturned in order to it. The
|
|
great thing he aims at, is the <I>melting</I> of our <I>wills</I> into
|
|
a compliance with the will of God, and in order to this the affecting
|
|
of us with the discoveries he has made of himself. Having various
|
|
affections to be wrought upon, he uses various ways of working upon
|
|
them, which though differing one from another, all tend to the same
|
|
thing, and God is in them all carrying on the same design. In the
|
|
parable, this is called his <I>piping</I> to us, and his
|
|
<I>mourning</I> to us; he hath <I>piped to us</I> in the precious
|
|
promises of the gospel, proper to work upon hope, and mourned to us in
|
|
the dreadful threatenings of the law, proper to work upon fear, that he
|
|
might frighten us out of our sins and allure us to himself. He had
|
|
<I>piped to us</I> in gracious and merciful providences, <I>mourned to
|
|
us</I> in calamitous, afflicting providences, and has set the one over
|
|
against the other. He has taught his ministers to <I>change their
|
|
voice</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+4:20">Gal. iv. 20</A>);
|
|
|
|
sometimes to speak in thunder from <I>mount Sinai,</I> sometimes in a
|
|
still small voice from <I>mount Sion.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
In the explanation of the parable is set forth the different temper of
|
|
John's ministry and of Christ's, who were the two great lights of that
|
|
generation.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) On the one hand, John came <I>mourning to them, neither eating nor
|
|
drinking;</I> not conversing familiarly with people, nor ordinarily
|
|
eating in company, but alone, in his cell in the wilderness, where
|
|
<I>his meat was locusts and wild honey.</I> Now this, one would think,
|
|
should work upon them; for such an austere, mortified life as this, was
|
|
very agreeable to the doctrine he preached: and that minister is most
|
|
likely to do good, whose conversation is according to his doctrine; and
|
|
yet the preaching even of such a minister is not always effectual.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) On the other hand, <I>the Son of man came eating and drinking,</I>
|
|
and so he <I>piped unto them.</I> Christ conversed familiarly with all
|
|
sorts of people, not affecting any peculiar strictness or austerity; he
|
|
was affable and easy of access, not shy of any company, was often at
|
|
feasts, both with Pharisees and publicans, to try if this would win
|
|
upon those who were not wrought upon by John's reservedness: those who
|
|
were not awed by John's frowns, would be allured by Christ's smiles;
|
|
from whom St. Paul learned to be come <I>all things to all men,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+9:22">1 Cor. ix. 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
Now our Lord Jesus, by his freedom, did not at all condemn John, any
|
|
more than John did condemn him, though their deportment was so very
|
|
different. Note, Though we are never so clear in the goodness of our
|
|
own practice, yet we must not judge of others by it. There may be a
|
|
<I>great diversity of operations,</I> where <I>it is the same God that
|
|
worketh all in all</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+12:6">1 Cor. xii. 6</A>),
|
|
|
|
and this <I>various manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man
|
|
to profit withal,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
Observe especially, that God's ministers are variously gifted: the
|
|
ability and genius of some lie one way, of others, another way: some
|
|
are Boanerges--<I>sons of thunder;</I> others, Barnabeses--<I>sons of
|
|
consolation;</I> yet <I>all these worketh that one and the self-same
|
|
Spirit</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+12:11">1 Cor. xii. 11</A>),
|
|
|
|
and therefore we ought not to condemn either, but to praise both, and
|
|
praise God for both, who thus tries various ways of dealing with
|
|
persons of various tempers, that sinners may be either made pliable or
|
|
left inexcusable, so that, whatever the issue is, God will be
|
|
glorified.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Note,
|
|
|
|
2. The various methods which God takes for the conversion of sinners,
|
|
are with many fruitless and ineffectual: "<I>Ye have not danced, ye
|
|
have not lamented;</I> you have not been suitably affected either with
|
|
the one or with the other." Particular means have, as in medicine,
|
|
their particular intentions, which must be answered, particular
|
|
impressions, which must be submitted to, in order to the success of the
|
|
great and general design; now if people will be neither bound by laws,
|
|
nor invited by promises, nor frightened by threatenings, will neither
|
|
be awakened by the <I>greatest</I> things, nor allured by the
|
|
<I>sweetest</I> things, nor startled by the most <I>terrible</I>
|
|
things, nor be made sensible by the <I>plainest</I> things; if they
|
|
will hearken to the voice neither of scripture, nor reason, nor
|
|
experience, nor providence, nor conscience, nor interest, what more can
|
|
be done? <I>The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed, the founder
|
|
melteth in vain; reprobate silver shall men call them,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+6:29">Jer. vi. 29</A>.
|
|
|
|
Ministers' labour is bestowed in vain
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+49:4">Isa. xlix. 4</A>),
|
|
|
|
and, which is a much greater loss, <I>the grace of God received in
|
|
vain,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+6:1">2 Cor. vi. 1</A>.
|
|
|
|
Note, It is some comfort to faithful ministers, when they see little
|
|
success of their labours, that it is no new thing for the best
|
|
preachers and the best preaching in the world to come short of the
|
|
desired end. <I>Who has believed our report?</I> If from <I>the blood
|
|
of the slain,</I> from <I>the fat of the mighty,</I> the bow of those
|
|
great commanders, Christ and john, returned so often empty
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+1:22">2 Sam. i. 22</A>),
|
|
|
|
no marvel if ours do so, and we prophecy to so little purpose upon dry
|
|
bones.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Note,
|
|
|
|
3. That commonly those persons who do not profit by the means of grace,
|
|
are perverse, and reflect upon the ministers by whom they enjoy those
|
|
means; and because they do not get good themselves, they do all the
|
|
hurt they can to others, by raising and propagating prejudices against
|
|
the word, and the faithful preachers of it. Those who will not comply
|
|
with God, and walk after him, confront him, and walk contrary to him.
|
|
So <I>this generation</I> did; because they were resolved not to
|
|
believe Christ and John, and to own them, as they ought to have done,
|
|
for the best of men, they set themselves to abuse them, and to
|
|
represent them as the worst.
|
|
|
|
(1.) As for John the Baptist, they say, <I>He has a devil.</I> They
|
|
imputed his strictness and reservedness to melancholy, and some kind or
|
|
degree of a possession of Satan. "Why should we heed him? he is a poor
|
|
hypochondriacal man, full of fancies, and under the power of a crazed
|
|
imagination."
|
|
|
|
(2.) As for Jesus Christ, they imputed his free and obliging
|
|
conversation to the more vicious habit of luxury and flesh-pleasing:
|
|
<I>Behold a gluttonous man and a wine-bibber.</I> No reflection could
|
|
be more foul and invidious; it is the charge against the rebellious son
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+21:20">Deut. xxi. 20</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>He is a glutton and a drunkard;</I> yet none could be more false and
|
|
unjust; for Christ <I>pleased not himself</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+15:3">Rom. xv. 3</A>),
|
|
|
|
nor did ever any man live such a life of self-denial, mortification,
|
|
and contempt of the world, as Christ lived: he that was <I>undefiled,
|
|
and separate from sinners,</I> is here represented as in league with
|
|
them, and polluted by them. Note, The most unspotted innocency, and the
|
|
most unparalleled excellency, will not always be a fence <I>against the
|
|
reproach of tongues:</I> nay, a man's best gifts and best actions,
|
|
which are both well intended and well calculated for edification, may
|
|
be made the matter of his reproach. The best of our actions may become
|
|
the worst of our accusations, as David's fasting,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+69:10">Ps. lxix. 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
It was true in some sense, that Christ was <I>a Friend to publicans and
|
|
sinners,</I> the best Friend they ever had, for he <I>came into the
|
|
world to save sinners,</I> great sinners, even the chief; so he said
|
|
very feelingly, who had been himself not a <I>publican and sinner,</I>
|
|
but a Pharisee and sinner; but this is, and will be to eternity,
|
|
Christ's praise, and they forfeited the benefit of it who thus turned
|
|
it to his reproach.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Note,
|
|
|
|
4. That the cause of this great unfruitfulness and perverseness of
|
|
people under the means of grace, is that they are <I>like children
|
|
sitting in the markets;</I> they are foolish as children, froward as
|
|
children, mindless and playful as children; would they but <I>show
|
|
themselves men</I> in understanding, there would be some hopes of them.
|
|
<I>The market-place they sit in</I> is to some a place of idleness
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+20:3"><I>ch.</I> xx. 3</A>);
|
|
|
|
to others a place of worldly business
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jam+4:13">James iv. 13</A>);
|
|
|
|
to all a place of noise or diversion; so that if you ask the reason why
|
|
people get so little good by the means of grace, you will find it is
|
|
because they are slothful and trifling, and do not love to take pains;
|
|
or because their heads, and hands, and hearts are full of the world,
|
|
the cares of which <I>choke the word,</I> and choke their souls at last
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+33:31,Am+8:5">
|
|
Ezek. xxxiii. 31; Amos viii. 5</A>);
|
|
|
|
and they study to divert their own thoughts from every thing that is
|
|
serious. Thus <I>in the markets</I> they are, and there they
|
|
<I>sit;</I> in these things their hearts rest, and by them they resolve
|
|
to abide.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Note,
|
|
|
|
5. Though the means of grace be thus slighted and abused by many, by
|
|
the most, yet there is a remnant that through grace do improve them,
|
|
and answer the designs of them, to the glory of God, and the good of
|
|
their own souls. <I>But wisdom is justified of her children.</I> Christ
|
|
is <I>Wisdom;</I> in him <I>are hid treasures of wisdom;</I> the saints
|
|
are the <I>children God has given</I> him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:13">Heb. ii. 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
The gospel is <I>wisdom,</I> it is <I>the wisdom from above:</I> true
|
|
believers are begotten again by it, and born from above too; they are
|
|
wise <I>children,</I> wise for themselves, and their true interests;
|
|
not <I>like the foolish children that sat in the markets.</I> These
|
|
<I>children of wisdom justify wisdom;</I> they comply with the designs
|
|
of Christ's grace, answer the intentions of it, and are suitably
|
|
affected with, and impressed by, the various methods it takes, and so
|
|
evidence the wisdom of Christ in taking these methods. This is
|
|
explained,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+7:29">Luke vii. 29</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>The publicans justified God, being baptized with the baptism of
|
|
John,</I> and afterwards embracing the gospel of Christ. Note, The
|
|
success of the means of grace justifies the wisdom of God in the choice
|
|
of these means, against those who charge him with folly therein. The
|
|
cure of every patient, that observes the physician's orders, justifies
|
|
the wisdom of the physician: and therefore Paul is <I>not ashamed of
|
|
the gospel of Christ,</I> because, whatever it is to others, <I>to them
|
|
that believe it is the power of God unto salvation,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+1:16">Rom. i. 16</A>.
|
|
|
|
When <I>the cross of Christ,</I> which to others is <I>foolishness</I>
|
|
and <I>a stumbling-block,</I> is <I>to them that are called the wisdom
|
|
of God and the power of God</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+1:23,24">1 Cor. i. 23, 24</A>),
|
|
|
|
so that they make the knowledge of that the summit of their ambition
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+2:2">1 Cor. ii. 2</A>),
|
|
|
|
and the efficacy of that the crown of their glorying
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ga+6:14">Gal. vi. 14</A>),
|
|
|
|
here is <I>wisdom justified of her children. Wisdom's children</I> are
|
|
<I>wisdom's</I> witnesses in the world
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+43:10">Isa. xliii. 10</A>),
|
|
|
|
and shall be produced as witnesses in that day, when <I>wisdom,</I>
|
|
that is now <I>justified</I> by <I>the saints,</I> shall <I>be
|
|
glorified in the saints,</I> and <I>admired in all them that
|
|
believe,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Th+1:10">2 Thess. i. 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
If the unbelief of some reproach Christ by giving him the lie, the
|
|
faith of others shall honour him by setting to its seal that he is
|
|
true, and that <I>he also is wise,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+1:25">1 Cor. i. 25</A>.
|
|
|
|
Whether we do it or not, it will be done; not only God's equity, but
|
|
his <I>wisdom, will be justified when he speaks, when he
|
|
judges.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Well, this is the account Christ gives of that <I>generation,</I> and
|
|
that <I>generation is not passed away,</I> but remains in a succession
|
|
of the like; for as it was then, it has been since and is still;
|
|
<I>some believe the things which are spoken, and some believe not,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+28:24">Acts xxviii. 24</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. As to the particular <I>places</I> in which Christ was most
|
|
conversant. What he said in general of that <I>generation,</I> he
|
|
applied in particular to those <I>places,</I> to affect them. <I>Then
|
|
began he to upbraid them,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
He began to preach to them long before
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+4:17"><I>ch.</I> iv. 17</A>),
|
|
|
|
but he did not <I>begin to upbraid</I> till now. Note, Rough and
|
|
unpleasing methods must not be taken, till gentler means have first
|
|
been used. Christ is not apt <I>to upbraid; he gives liberally, and
|
|
upbraideth not,</I> till sinners by their obstinacy extort it from him.
|
|
<I>Wisdom</I> first invites, but when her invitations are slighted,
|
|
then she <I>upbraids,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+1:20,24">Prov. i. 20, 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
Those do not go in Christ's method, who begin with upbraidings. Now
|
|
observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. The sin charged upon them; not any against the moral law, then an
|
|
appeal would have lain to the gospel, which would have relieved, but a
|
|
sin against the gospel, the remedial law, and that is impenitency: this
|
|
was it he upbraided them with, or reproached them for, as the most
|
|
shameful, ungrateful thing that could be, that <I>they repented
|
|
not.</I> Note, Wilful impenitency is the great damning sin of
|
|
multitudes that enjoy the gospel, and which (more than any other)
|
|
sinners will be upbraided with to eternity. The great doctrine that
|
|
both John the Baptist, and Christ, and the apostles preached, was
|
|
repentance; the great thing designed, both in the <I>piping</I> and in
|
|
the <I>mourning,</I> was to prevail with people to change their minds
|
|
and ways, to leave their sins and turn to God; and this they would not
|
|
be brought to. He does not say, because they <I>believed</I> not (for
|
|
some king of faith many of them had) that Christ was a <I>Teacher come
|
|
from God;</I> but because <I>they repented not:</I> their faith did not
|
|
prevail to the transforming of their hearts, and the reforming of their
|
|
lives. Christ reproved them for their other sins, that he might <I>lead
|
|
them to repentance;</I> but when <I>they repented not, He upbraided
|
|
them</I> with that, as their refusal <I>to be healed: He upbraided
|
|
them</I> with it, that they might upbraid themselves, and might at
|
|
length see the folly of it, as that which alone makes the sad case a
|
|
desperate one, and the wound incurable.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The aggravation of the sin; they were <I>the cities in which most of
|
|
his mighty works were done;</I> for thereabouts his principal residence
|
|
had been for some time. Note, Some places enjoy the means of grace in
|
|
greater plenty, power, and purity, than other places. God is a free
|
|
agent, and acts so in all his disposals, both as the God of nature and
|
|
as the God of grace, common and distinguishing grace. By Christ's
|
|
<I>mighty works</I> they should have been prevailed with, not only to
|
|
receive his doctrine, but to obey his law; the curing of bodily
|
|
diseases should have been the healing of their souls, but it had not
|
|
that effect. Note, The stronger inducements we have to repent, the more
|
|
heinous is the impenitency and the severer will the reckoning be, for
|
|
Christ keeps account of the <I>mighty works done</I> among us, and of
|
|
the gracious works done for us too, by which also we should be <I>led
|
|
to repentance,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+2:4">Rom. ii. 4</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) Chorazin and Bethsaida are here instanced
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:21,22"><I>v.</I> 21, 22</A>),
|
|
|
|
they have each of them their woe: <I>Woe unto thee, Chorazin, woe unto
|
|
thee, Bethsaida.</I> Christ came <I>into the world to bless us;</I> but
|
|
if that blessing be slighted, he has woes in reserve, and his woes are
|
|
of all others the most terrible. These two cities were situate upon
|
|
<I>the sea of Galilee,</I> the former on the east side, and the latter
|
|
on the west, rich and populous places; Bethsaida was lately advanced to
|
|
a city by Philip the tetrarch; out of it Christ took at least three of
|
|
his apostles: thus highly were these places favoured! Yet because they
|
|
<I>knew not the day of their visitation,</I> they fell under these
|
|
woes, which stuck so close to them, that soon after this they decayed,
|
|
and dwindled into mean, obscure villages. So fatally does sin ruin
|
|
cities, and so certainly does the word of Christ take place!</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Now Chorazin and Bethsaida are here compared with Tyre and Sidon, two
|
|
maritime cities we read much of in the Old Testament, that had been
|
|
brought to ruin, but began to flourish again; these cities bordered
|
|
upon Galilee, but were in a very ill name among the Jews for idolatry
|
|
and other wickedness. Christ sometimes went <I>into the coasts of Tyre
|
|
and Sidon</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+15:21"><I>ch.</I> xv. 21</A>),
|
|
|
|
but never thither; the Jews would have taken it very heinously if he
|
|
had; therefore Christ, to convince and humble them, here shows,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[1.] That Tyre and Sidon would not have been so bad as Chorazin and
|
|
Bethsaida. If they had had the same word preached, and the same
|
|
miracles wrought among them, <I>they would have repented,</I> and that
|
|
<I>long ago,</I> as Nineveh did, in <I>sackcloth and ashes.</I> Christ,
|
|
who knows the hearts of all, knew that if he had gone and lived among
|
|
them, and preached among them, he should have done more good there than
|
|
where he was; yet he continued where he was for some time, to encourage
|
|
his ministers to do so, though they see not the success they desire.
|
|
Note, Among the children of disobedience, some are more easily wrought
|
|
upon than others; and it is a great aggravation of the impenitency of
|
|
those who plentifully enjoy the means of grace, not only that there are
|
|
many who sit under the same means that are wrought upon, but that there
|
|
are many more that would have been wrought upon, if they had enjoyed
|
|
the same means. See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+3:6,7">Ezek. iii. 6, 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
Our repentance is slow and delayed, but theirs would have been speedy;
|
|
they would have repented long ago. Ours has been slight and
|
|
superficial; theirs would have been deep and serious, in <I>sackcloth
|
|
and ashes.</I> Yet we must observe, with an awful adoration of the
|
|
divine sovereignty, that the Tyrians and Sidonians will justly perish
|
|
in their sin, though, if they had had the means of grace, they would
|
|
have repented; for God is a <I>debtor to no man.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[2.] That therefore Tyre and Sidon shall not be so miserable as
|
|
Chorazin and Bethsaida, but it shall be <I>more tolerable</I> for them
|
|
in the <I>day of judgment,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
Note, <I>First,</I> At the <I>day of judgment</I> the everlasting state
|
|
of the children of men will, by an unerring and unalterable doom, be
|
|
determined; happiness or misery, and the several degrees of each.
|
|
Therefore it is called the <I>eternal judgment</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+6:2">Heb. vi. 2</A>),
|
|
|
|
because decisive of the eternal state. <I>Secondly,</I> In that
|
|
judgment, all the means of grace that were enjoyed in the state of
|
|
probation will certainly come into the account, and it will be
|
|
enquired, not only how bad we were, but how much better we might have
|
|
been, had it not been our own fault,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+5:3,4">Isa. v. 3, 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
<I>Thirdly,</I> Though the damnation of all that perish will be
|
|
intolerable, yet the damnation of those who had the fullest and
|
|
clearest discoveries made them of the power and grace of Christ, and
|
|
yet repented not, will be of all others the most intolerable. The
|
|
gospel light and sound open the faculties, and enlarge the capacities
|
|
of all that see and hear it, either to receive the riches of <I>divine
|
|
grace,</I> or (if that grace be slighted) to take in the more plentiful
|
|
effusions of <I>divine wrath.</I> If self-reproach be the torture of
|
|
hell, it must needs be hell indeed to those who had such a fair
|
|
opportunity of getting to heaven. <I>Son, remember that.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) Capernaum is here condemned with an emphasis
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>),
|
|
|
|
"<I>And thou, Capernaum,</I> hold up thy hand, and hear they doom,"
|
|
Capernaum, above all the cities of Israel, was dignified with Christ's
|
|
most usual residence; it was like Shiloh of old, the place which he
|
|
chose, to put his name there, and it fared with it as with Shiloh,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+7:12,14">Jer. vii. 12, 14</A>.
|
|
|
|
Christ's miracles here were <I>daily bread,</I> and therefore, as the
|
|
manna of old, were despised and called light bread. Many a sweet and
|
|
comfortable lecture of grace Christ had read them to little purpose,
|
|
and therefore he reads them a dreadful lecture of wrath: those who will
|
|
not hear the former shall be made to feel the latter.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We have here Capernaum's doom,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[1.] Put absolutely; Thou <I>which art exalted to heaven shalt be
|
|
brought down to hell</I> Note, <I>First,</I> Those who enjoy the gospel
|
|
in power and purity, are thereby <I>exalted to heaven;</I> they have
|
|
therein a great honour for the present, and a great advantage for
|
|
eternity; they are lifted up toward <I>heaven;</I> but if,
|
|
notwithstanding, they still <I>cleave to the earth,</I> they may thank
|
|
themselves that they are not lifted up <I>into heaven. Secondly,</I>
|
|
Gospel advantages and advancements abused will sink sinners so much
|
|
lower into hell. Our external privileges will be so far from saving us,
|
|
that if our hearts and lives be not agreeable to them, they will but
|
|
inflame the reckoning: the higher the precipice is, the more fatal is
|
|
the fall from it: Let us <I>not therefore be high-minded, but fear;</I>
|
|
not slothful, but diligent. See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+20:6,7">Job xx. 6, 7</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[2.] We have it here put in comparison with the doom of Sodom--a place
|
|
more remarkable, both for sin and ruin, than perhaps any other; and yet
|
|
Christ here tells us,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>First,</I> That Capernaum's means would have saved Sodom. If these
|
|
miracles had been done among the Sodomites, as bad as they were, they
|
|
would have repented, and <I>their city would have remained unto this
|
|
day</I> a monument of sparing mercy, as now it is of destroying
|
|
justice,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jude+1:7">Jude 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
Note, Upon true repentance through Christ, even the greatest sin shall
|
|
be pardoned and the greatest ruin prevented, that of Sodom not
|
|
excepted. Angels were sent to Sodom, and yet it remained not; but if
|
|
Christ had been sent thither, it <I>would have remained;</I> how well
|
|
is it for us, then, that the world to come is <I>put in subjection to
|
|
Christ,</I> and <I>not to angels!</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+2:5">Heb. ii. 5</A>.
|
|
|
|
Lot would not have <I>seemed as one that mocked,</I> if he had wrought
|
|
miracles.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>Secondly,</I> That Sodom's ruin will therefore be less at the great
|
|
day than Capernaum's. Sodom will have many things to answer for, but
|
|
not the sin of neglecting Christ, as Capernaum will. If the gospel
|
|
prove <I>a savour of death,</I> a killing savour, it is doubly so; it
|
|
is <I>of death unto death,</I> so great a death
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+2:16">2 Cor. ii. 16</A>);
|
|
|
|
Christ had said the same of all other places that receive not his
|
|
ministers nor bid his gospel welcome
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+10:15"><I>ch.</I> x. 15</A>);
|
|
|
|
<I>It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom than for that
|
|
city.</I> We that have now the written word in our hands, the gospel
|
|
preached, and the gospel ordinances administered to us, and live under
|
|
the dispensation of the Spirit, have advantages not inferior to those
|
|
of Chorazin, and Bethsaida, and Capernaum, and the account in the great
|
|
day will be accordingly. It has therefore been justly said, that the
|
|
professors of this age, whether they go to heaven or hell, will be the
|
|
greatest debtors in either of these places; if to heaven, the greatest
|
|
debtors to divine mercy for those rich means that brought them thither;
|
|
if to hell, the greatest debtors to divine justice, for those rich
|
|
means that would have kept them from thence.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Mt11_25"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mt11_26"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mt11_27"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mt11_28"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mt11_29"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mt11_30"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Christ's Invitation to Burthened Souls.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O
|
|
Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these
|
|
things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto
|
|
babes.
|
|
26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
|
|
27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man
|
|
knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the
|
|
Father, save the Son, and <I>he</I> to whomsoever the Son will reveal
|
|
<I>him.</I>
|
|
28 Come unto me, all <I>ye</I> that labour and are heavy laden, and
|
|
I will give you rest.
|
|
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and
|
|
lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
|
|
30 For my yoke <I>is</I> easy, and my burden is light.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
In these verses we have Christ looking up to heaven, with thanksgiving
|
|
to his Father for the sovereignty and security of the covenant of
|
|
redemption; and looking around him upon this earth, with an offer to
|
|
all the children of men, to whom these presents shall come, of the
|
|
privileges and benefits of the covenant of grace.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. Christ here returns thanks to God for his favour to those
|
|
<I>babes</I> who had the mysteries of the gospel <I>revealed to
|
|
them</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:25,26"><I>v.</I> 25, 26</A>).
|
|
|
|
<I>Jesus answered and said.</I> It is called an answer, though no other
|
|
words are before recorded but his own, because it is so comfortable a
|
|
reply to the melancholy considerations preceding, and is aptly set in
|
|
the balance against them. The sin and ruin of those woeful cities, no
|
|
doubt, was a grief to the Lord Jesus; he could not but <I>weep over</I>
|
|
them, as he did <I>over Jerusalem</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+19:41">Luke xix. 41</A>);
|
|
|
|
with this thought therefore he refreshes himself; and to make it the
|
|
more refreshing, he puts it into a thanksgiving; that for all this,
|
|
<I>there is a remnant,</I> though but <I>babes,</I> to whom the things
|
|
of the gospel are <I>revealed. Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall
|
|
he be glorious.</I> Note, We may take great encouragement in looking
|
|
upward to God, when round about us we see nothing but what is
|
|
discouraging. It is sad to see how regardless most men are of their own
|
|
happiness, but it is comfortable to think that the wise and faithful
|
|
God will, however, effectually secure the interests of his own glory.
|
|
<I>Jesus answered and said, I thank thee.</I> Note, Thanksgiving is a
|
|
proper answer to dark and disquieting thoughts, and may be an effectual
|
|
means to silence them. Songs of praise are sovereign cordials to
|
|
drooping souls, and will help to cure melancholy. When we have no
|
|
other answer ready to the suggestions of grief and fear, we may have
|
|
recourse to this, <I>I thank thee, O Father;</I> let us bless God that
|
|
it is not worse with us than it is.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Now in this thanksgiving of Christ, we may observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. The titles he gives to God; <I>O Father, Lord of heaven and
|
|
earth.</I> Note,
|
|
|
|
(1.) In all our approaches to God, by praise as well as by prayer, it
|
|
is good for us to eye him as a Father, and to fasten on that relation,
|
|
not only when we ask for the mercies we want, but when we give thanks
|
|
for the mercies we have received. Mercies are then doubly sweet, and
|
|
powerful to enlarge the heart in praise, when they are received as
|
|
tokens of a Father's love, and gifts of a Father's hand; <I>Giving
|
|
thanks to the Father,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+1:12">Col. i. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
It becomes children to be grateful, and to say, <I>Thank you,
|
|
father,</I> as readily as, <I>Pray, father.</I>
|
|
|
|
(2.) When we come to God as a Father, we must withal remember, that he
|
|
is <I>Lord of heaven and earth;</I> which obliges us to come to him
|
|
with reverence, as to the sovereign Lord of all, and yet with
|
|
confidence, as one able to do for us whatever we need or can desire; to
|
|
defend us from all evil and to supply us with all good. Christ, in
|
|
Melchizedec, had long since <I>blessed God</I> as the Possessor, or
|
|
<I>Lord of heaven and earth;</I> and in all our thanksgivings for
|
|
mercies in the stream, we must give him the glory of the
|
|
all-sufficiency that is in the fountain.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The thing he gives thanks for: <I>Because thou has hid these things
|
|
from the wise and prudent, and</I> yet <I>revealed them to babes. These
|
|
things;</I> he does not say what things, but means the great things of
|
|
the gospel, <I>the things that belong to our peace,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+19:42">Luke xix. 42</A>.
|
|
|
|
He spoke thus emphatically of them, <I>these things,</I> because they
|
|
were things that filled him, and should fill us: all other things are
|
|
as nothing to <I>these things.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Note
|
|
|
|
(1.) The great things of the everlasting gospel have been and are hid
|
|
from many that were <I>wise and prudent,</I> that were eminent for
|
|
learning and worldly policy; some of the greatest scholars and the
|
|
greatest statesmen have been the greatest strangers to gospel
|
|
mysteries. <I>The world by wisdom knew not God,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+1:21">1 Cor. i. 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
Nay, there is an opposition given to the gospel, by a <I>science
|
|
falsely so called,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+6:20">1 Tim. vi. 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
Those who are most expert in things sensible and secular, are commonly
|
|
least experienced in spiritual things. Men may dive deeply into the
|
|
mysteries of nature and into the mysteries of state, and yet be
|
|
ignorant of, and mistake about, the mysteries of <I>the kingdom of
|
|
heaven,</I> for want of an experience of the power of them.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) While <I>the wise and prudent men</I> of the world are in the dark
|
|
about gospel mysteries, even the <I>babes in Christ</I> have the
|
|
sanctifying saving knowledge of them: <I>Thou hast revealed them unto
|
|
babes.</I> Such the disciples of Christ were; men of mean birth and
|
|
education; no scholars, no artists, no politicians, unlearned and
|
|
ignorant men,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+4:13">Acts iv. 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
Thus are the secrets of wisdom, which are double to that which is
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+11:6">Job xi. 6</A>),
|
|
|
|
made known <I>to babes and sucklings,</I> that <I>out of their mouth
|
|
strength</I> might be <I>ordained</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+8:2">Ps. viii. 2</A>),
|
|
|
|
and God's <I>praise</I> thereby <I>perfected.</I> The learned men of
|
|
the world were not made choice of to be the preachers of the gospel,
|
|
but <I>the foolish things of the world</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+2:6,8,10">1 Cor. ii. 6, 8, 10</A>).</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(3.) This difference between <I>the prudent</I> and the <I>babes</I> is
|
|
of God's own making.
|
|
|
|
[1.] It is he that has <I>hid these things from the wise and
|
|
prudent;</I> he gave them parts, and learning, and much of human
|
|
understanding above others, and they were proud of that, and rested in
|
|
it, and looked no further; and therefore God justly denies them the
|
|
Spirit of wisdom and revelation, and then, though they hear the sound
|
|
of the gospel tidings, they are to them as a <I>strange thing.</I> God
|
|
is not the Author of their ignorance and error, but he leaves them to
|
|
themselves, and their sin becomes their punishment, and the Lord is
|
|
righteous in it. See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+12:39,40,Ro+11:7,8,Ac+28:26,27">John xii. 39, 40;
|
|
Rom. xi. 7, 8; Acts xxviii. 26, 27</A>.
|
|
|
|
Had they honoured God with the wisdom and prudence they had, he would
|
|
have given them the knowledge of these better things; but because they
|
|
served their lusts with them, he has <I>hid their hearts from this
|
|
understanding.</I>
|
|
|
|
[2.] It is he that has <I>revealed them unto babes.</I> Things revealed
|
|
belong to our children
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+29:29">Deut. xxix. 29</A>),
|
|
|
|
and to them he <I>gives an understanding</I> to receive these things,
|
|
and the impressions of them. Thus <I>he resists the proud,</I> and
|
|
<I>gives grace to the humble,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jam+4:6">Jam. iv. 6</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(4.) This dispensation must be resolved into the divine sovereignty.
|
|
Christ himself referred it to that; <I>Even so, Father, for so it
|
|
seemed good in thy sight.</I> Christ here subscribes to the will of his
|
|
Father in this matter; <I>Even so.</I> Let God take what ways he
|
|
pleases to glorify himself, and make us of what instruments he pleases
|
|
for the carrying on of his own work; his grace is his own, and he may
|
|
give or withhold it as he pleases. We can give no reason why Peter, a
|
|
fisherman, should be made an apostle, and not Nicodemus, a Pharisee,
|
|
and a ruler of the Jews, though he also believed in Christ; but <I>so
|
|
it seemed good in God's sight.</I> Christ said this in the hearing of
|
|
his disciples, to show them that it was not for any merit of their own
|
|
that they were thus dignified and distinguished, but purely from God's
|
|
good pleasure; he made them to differ.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(5.) This way of dispensing divine grace is to be acknowledged by us,
|
|
as it was by our Lord Jesus, with all thankfulness. We must thank God,
|
|
|
|
[1.] That <I>these things</I> are <I>revealed;</I> the mystery hid from
|
|
ages and generations is manifested; that they are <I>revealed,</I> not
|
|
to a few, but to be published to all the world.
|
|
|
|
[2.] That they are <I>revealed to babes;</I> that the meek and humble
|
|
are beautified with this salvation; and this honour put upon those whom
|
|
the world pours contempt upon.
|
|
|
|
[3.] It magnifies the mercy to them, that <I>these things</I> are
|
|
<I>hid from the wise and prudent:</I> distinguishing favours are the
|
|
most obliging. As Job adored <I>the name of the Lord</I> in <I>taking
|
|
away</I> as well as in <I>giving,</I> so may we in <I>hiding these
|
|
things from the wise and prudent,</I> as well as in <I>revealing them
|
|
unto babes;</I> not as it is their misery, but as it is a method by
|
|
which self is abased, proud thoughts brought down, all flesh silenced,
|
|
and divine power and wisdom made to shine the more bright. See
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+1:27,31">1 Cor. i. 27, 31</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Christ here makes a gracious offer of the benefits of the gospel to
|
|
all, and these are the things which are <I>revealed to babes,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>,
|
|
|
|
&c. Observe here,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. The solemn preface which ushers in this call or invitation, both to
|
|
command our attention to it, and to encourage our compliance with it.
|
|
That we <I>might have strong consolation,</I> in flying for refuge to
|
|
this <I>hope set before us,</I> Christ prefixes his authority, produces
|
|
his credentials; we shall see he is empowered to make this offer.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Two things he here lays before us,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) His commission from the Father: <I>All things are delivered unto
|
|
me of my Father.</I> Christ, as God, is equal in power and glory with
|
|
the Father; but as Mediator he receives his power and glory from the
|
|
Father; has <I>all judgment committed to him.</I> He is authorized to
|
|
settle a new covenant between God and man, and to offer peace and
|
|
happiness to the apostate world, upon such terms as he should think
|
|
fit: he was sanctified and sealed to be the sole Plenipotentiary, to
|
|
concert and establish this great affair. In order to this, he has
|
|
<I>all power</I> both <I>in heaven and in earth,</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+28:18"><I>ch.</I> xxviii. 18</A>);
|
|
|
|
power over all flesh
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+17:2">John xvii. 2</A>);
|
|
|
|
authority to execute judgment,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+5:22,27">John v. 22, 27</A>.
|
|
|
|
This encourages us to come to Christ, that he is commissioned to
|
|
receive us, and to give us what we come for, and has <I>all things
|
|
delivered to him</I> for that purpose, by him who is <I>Lord of
|
|
all.</I> All powers, all treasures are in his hand. Observe, The Father
|
|
has delivered his all into the hands of the Lord Jesus; let us but
|
|
deliver our all into his hand and the work is done; God has made him
|
|
the great Referee, the blessed Daysman, to lay his hand upon us both;
|
|
that which we have to do is to agree to the reference, to submit to the
|
|
arbitration of the Lord Jesus, for the taking up of this unhappy
|
|
controversy, and to enter into bonds to stand to his award.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) His intimacy with the Father: <I>No man knoweth the Son but the
|
|
Father, Neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son.</I> This gives
|
|
us a further satisfaction, and an abundant one. Ambassadors use to have
|
|
not only their commissions, which they produce, but their instructions,
|
|
which they reserve to themselves, to be made use of as there is
|
|
occasion in their negotiations; our Lord Jesus had both, not only
|
|
authority, but ability, for his undertaking. In transacting the great
|
|
business of our redemption, the Father and the Son are the parties
|
|
principally concerned; <I>the counsel of peace is between them,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+6:13">Zech. vi. 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
It must therefore be a great encouragement to us to be assured, that
|
|
they understood one another very well in this affair; that the Father
|
|
knew the Son, and the Son knew the Father, and both perfectly (a mutual
|
|
consciousness we may call it, between the Father and the Son), so that
|
|
there could be no mistake in the settling of this matter; as often
|
|
there is among men, to the overthrow of contracts, and the breaking of
|
|
the measures taken, through their misunderstanding one another. The Son
|
|
had <I>lain in the bosom of the Father</I> from eternity; he was <I>à
|
|
secretioribus--of the cabinet-council,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+1:18">John i. 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
He was <I>by him, as one brought up with him</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+8:30">Prov. viii. 30</A>),
|
|
|
|
so that <I>none knows the Father save the Son,</I> he adds, <I>and he
|
|
to whom the Son will reveal him.</I> Note,
|
|
|
|
[1.] The happiness of men lies in an acquaintance with God; it <I>is
|
|
life eternal,</I> it is the perfection of rational beings.
|
|
|
|
[2.] Those who would have an acquaintance with God, must apply
|
|
themselves to Jesus Christ; for the light of the knowledge of the glory
|
|
of God shines in the face of Christ,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:6">2 Cor. iv. 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
We are obliged to Christ for all the revelation we have of God the
|
|
Father's will and love, ever since Adam sinned; there is no comfortable
|
|
intercourse between a holy God and sinful man, but in and by a
|
|
Mediator,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+14:6">John xiv. 6</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. Here is the offer itself that is made to us, and an invitation to
|
|
accept of it. After so solemn a preface, we may well expect something
|
|
very great; and it is <I>a faithful saying,</I> and well <I>worthy of
|
|
all acceptation; words whereby we may be saved.</I> We are here invited
|
|
to Christ as our Priest, Prince, and Prophet, to be saved, and, in
|
|
order to that, to be ruled and taught by him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) We must come to Jesus Christ as our Rest, and repose ourselves in
|
|
him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>Come unto me all ye that labour.</I> Observe,
|
|
|
|
[1.] The character of the persons invited; <I>all that labour, and are
|
|
heavy laden.</I> This is a word in season to him that is weary,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+50:4">Isa. l. 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
Those who complain of the burthen of the ceremonial law, which was an
|
|
intolerable yoke, and was made much more so by the tradition of the
|
|
elders
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+11:46">Luke xi. 46</A>),
|
|
|
|
let them come to Christ, and they shall be made easy; he came to free
|
|
his church from this yoke, to cancel the imposition of those carnal
|
|
ordinances, and to introduce a purer and more spiritual way of worship;
|
|
but it is rather to be understood of the burthen of sin, both the guilt
|
|
and the power of it. Note, All those, and those only, are invited to
|
|
rest in Christ, that are sensible of sin as a burthen, and groan under
|
|
it; that are not only convinced of the evil of sin, of their own sin,
|
|
but are contrite in soul for it; that are really sick of their sins,
|
|
weary of the service of the world and of the flesh; that see their
|
|
state sad and dangerous by reason of sin, and are in pain and fear
|
|
about it, as Ephraim
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+31:18-20">Jer. xxxi. 18-20</A>),
|
|
|
|
the prodigal
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+15:17">Luke xv. 17</A>),
|
|
|
|
the publican
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+18:13">Luke xviii. 13</A>),
|
|
|
|
Peter's hearers
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+2:37">Acts ii. 37</A>),
|
|
|
|
Paul
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+9:4,6,9">Acts ix. 4, 6, 9</A>),
|
|
|
|
the jailor
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+16:29,30">Acts xvi. 29, 30</A>).
|
|
|
|
This is a necessary preparative for pardon and peace. The Comforter
|
|
must first convince
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+16:8">John xvi. 8</A>);
|
|
|
|
I have torn and then will heal.
|
|
|
|
[2.] The invitation itself: <I>Come unto me.</I> That glorious display
|
|
of Christ's greatness which we had
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>),
|
|
|
|
as Lord of all, might frighten us from him, but see here how he holds
|
|
out <I>the golden sceptre,</I> that we may touch the top of it and may
|
|
live. Note, It is the duty and interest of weary <I>and heavy laden</I>
|
|
sinners to <I>come to Jesus Christ.</I> Renouncing all those things
|
|
which stand in opposition to him, or in competition with him, we must
|
|
accept of him, as our Physician and Advocate, and give up ourselves to
|
|
his conduct and government; freely willing to be saved by him, in his
|
|
own way, and upon his own terms. <I>Come</I> and <I>cast that burden
|
|
upon</I> him, under which thou art <I>heavy laden.</I> This is the
|
|
gospel call, <I>The Spirit saith, Come;</I> and <I>the bride saith,
|
|
Come; let him that is athirst come; Whoever will, let him come.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[3.] The blessing promised to those that do come: <I>I will give you
|
|
rest.</I> Christ is our Noah, whose name signifies <I>rest,</I> for
|
|
<I>this same shall give us rest.</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+5:29,8:9">Gen. v. 29; viii. 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
Truly <I>rest is good</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+49:15">Gen. xlix. 15</A>),
|
|
|
|
especially to those <I>that labour and are heavy laden,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+5:12">Eccl. v. 12</A>.
|
|
|
|
Note, Jesus Christ will give assured rest to those weary souls, that by
|
|
a lively faith come to him for it; <I>rest</I> from the terror of sin,
|
|
in a well-grounded peace of conscience; <I>rest</I> from the power of
|
|
sin, in a regular order of the soul, and its due government of itself;
|
|
a <I>rest</I> in God, and a complacency of soul, in his love.
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+11:6,7">Ps. xi. 6, 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
This is that <I>rest which remains for the people of God</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+4:9">Heb. iv. 9</A>),
|
|
|
|
begun in grace, and perfected in glory.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) We must come to Jesus Christ as our Ruler, and submit ourselves to
|
|
him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>).
|
|
|
|
<I>Take my yoke upon you.</I> This must go along with the former, for
|
|
Christ is exalted to be both a <I>Prince and a Saviour,</I> a <I>Priest
|
|
upon his throne.</I> The <I>rest</I> he promises is a release from the
|
|
drudgery of sin, not from the service of God, but an obligation to the
|
|
duty we owe to him. Note, Christ has a <I>yoke</I> for our necks, as
|
|
well as a <I>crown</I> for our heads, and this <I>yoke</I> he expects
|
|
we should <I>take upon</I> us and draw in. To call those who are weary
|
|
<I>and heavy laden,</I> to <I>take a yoke upon</I> them, looks like
|
|
adding <I>affliction to the afflicted;</I> but the pertinency of it
|
|
lies in the word <I>my:</I> "You are under a <I>yoke</I> which makes
|
|
you weary: shake that off and try mine, which will make you easy."
|
|
Servants are said to be <I>under the yoke</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+6:1">1 Tim. vi. 1</A>),
|
|
|
|
and subjects,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+12:10">1 Kings xii. 10</A>.
|
|
|
|
To take Christ's <I>yoke upon</I> us, is to put ourselves into the
|
|
relation to servants and subjects to him, and then of conduct ourselves
|
|
accordingly, in a conscientious obedience to all his commands, and a
|
|
cheerful submission to all his disposals: it is to <I>obey the gospel
|
|
of Christ, to yield ourselves to the Lord:</I> it is Christ's
|
|
<I>yoke;</I> the <I>yoke</I> he has appointed; a <I>yoke</I> he has
|
|
himself drawn in before us, for <I>he learned obedience,</I> and which
|
|
he does by his Spirit draw in with us, for <I>he helpeth our
|
|
infirmities,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+8:26">Rom. viii. 26</A>.
|
|
|
|
A <I>yoke</I> speaks some hardship, but if the beast must draw, the
|
|
<I>yoke</I> helps him. Christ's commands are all in our favour: we
|
|
must take this <I>yoke upon</I> us to draw in it. We are yoked to
|
|
work, and therefore must be diligent; we are yoked to submit, and
|
|
therefore must be humble and patient: we are yoked together with our
|
|
fellow-servants, and therefore must keep up the communion of saints:
|
|
and <I>the words of the wise are as goads,</I> to those who are thus
|
|
yoked.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Now this is the hardest part of our lesson, and therefore it is
|
|
qualified
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:30"><I>v.</I> 30</A>).
|
|
|
|
<I>My yoke is easy and my burden is light;</I> you need not be afraid
|
|
of it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[1.] The <I>yoke</I> of Christ's commands is an <I>easy yoke;</I> it is
|
|
<B><I>chrestos</I></B>, not only <I>easy,</I> but gracious, so the word
|
|
signifies; it is sweet and pleasant; there is nothing in it to gall the
|
|
yielding neck, nothing to hurt us, but, on the contrary, must to
|
|
refresh us. It is a <I>yoke</I> that is lined with love. Such is the
|
|
nature of all Christ's commands, so reasonable in themselves, so
|
|
profitable to us, and all summed up in one word, and that a sweet word,
|
|
love. So powerful are the assistances he gives us, so suitable the
|
|
encouragements, and so strong the consolations, that are to be found in
|
|
the way of duty, that we may truly say, it is a <I>yoke</I> of
|
|
pleasantness. It is easy to the new nature, very <I>easy to him that
|
|
understandeth,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+14:6">Prov. xiv. 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
It may be a little hard at first, but it is easy afterwards; the love
|
|
of God and the hope of heaven will make it <I>easy.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[2.] The <I>burden</I> of Christ's cross is a <I>light burden,</I> very
|
|
<I>light:</I> afflictions from Christ, which befal us as men;
|
|
afflictions for Christ, which befal us as Christians; the latter are
|
|
especially meant. This <I>burden</I> in itself is <I>not joyous, but
|
|
grievous;</I> yet as it is Christ's, it is <I>light.</I> Paul knew as
|
|
much of it as any man, and he calls it a <I>light affliction,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+4:17">2 Cor. iv. 17</A>.
|
|
|
|
God's presence
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+43:2">Isa. xliii. 2</A>),
|
|
|
|
Christ's sympathy
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+73:9,Da+3:25">Isa. lxxiii. 9, Dan. iii. 25</A>),
|
|
|
|
and especially the Spirit's aids and comforts
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Co+1:5">2 Cor. i. 5</A>),
|
|
|
|
make suffering for Christ <I>light</I> and <I>easy.</I> As afflictions
|
|
abound, and are prolonged, consolations abound, and are prolonged too.
|
|
Let this therefore reconcile us to the difficulties, and help us over
|
|
the discouragements, we may meet with, both in doing work and suffering
|
|
work; though we may lose <I>for</I> Christ, we shall not lose <I>by
|
|
him.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(3.) We must come to Jesus Christ as our Teacher, and set ourselves to
|
|
learn of him,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+11:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>.
|
|
|
|
Christ has erected a great school, and has invited us to be his
|
|
scholars. We must enter ourselves, associate with his scholars, and
|
|
daily attend the instructions he gives by his word and Spirit. We must
|
|
converse much with what he said, and have it ready to use upon all
|
|
occasions; we must conform to what he did, and follow his steps,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+2:21">1 Pet. ii. 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
Some make the following words, <I>for I am meek and lowly in heart,</I>
|
|
to be the particular lesson we are required to learn from the example
|
|
of Christ. We must learn of him to be <I>meek</I> and <I>lowly,</I> and
|
|
must mortify our pride and passion, which render us so unlike to him.
|
|
We must so <I>learn of Christ</I> as to <I>learn Christ</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+4:20">Eph. iv. 20</A>),
|
|
|
|
for he is both Teacher and Lesson, Guide and Way, and All in All.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Two reasons are given why we must <I>learn of Christ.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
[1.] <I>I am meek and lowly in heart,</I> and therefore fit to teach
|
|
you.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
<I>First,</I> He is <I>meek,</I> and can have <I>compassion on the
|
|
ignorant,</I> whom others would be in a passion with. Many able
|
|
teachers are hot and hasty, which is a great discouragement to those
|
|
who are dull and slow; but Christ knows how to bear with such, and to
|
|
open their understandings. His carriage towards his twelve disciples
|
|
was a specimen of this; he was mild and gentle with them, and made the
|
|
best of them; though they were heedless and forgetful, he was not
|
|
extreme to mark their follies. <I>Secondly, He is lowly in heart.</I>
|
|
He condescends to teach poor scholars, to teach novices; he chose
|
|
disciples, not from the court, nor the schools, but from the seaside.
|
|
He teaches the first principles, such things as are milk for babes; he
|
|
stoops to the meanest capacities; he taught Ephraim to go,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+11:3">Hos. xi. 3</A>.
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Who teaches like him? It is an encouragement to us to put ourselves to
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school to such a Teacher. This humility and meekness, as it qualifies
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him to be a Teacher, so it will be the best qualification of those who
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are to be taught by him; <I>for the meek will he guide in judgment,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+25:9">Ps. xxv. 9</A>.</P>
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<P>
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[2.] <I>You shall find rest to your souls.</I> This promise is borrowed
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from
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+6:16">Jer. vi. 16</A>,
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for Christ delighted to express himself in the language of the
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prophets, to show the harmony between the two Testaments. Note,
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<I>First,</I> Rest for the soul is the most desirable rest; to have the
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soul to <I>dwell at ease. Secondly,</I> The only way, and a sure way to
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find <I>rest for our souls</I> is, to sit at Christ's feet and hear his
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word. The way of duty is the way of rest. The <I>understanding</I>
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finds <I>rest</I> in the <I>knowledge of</I> God and Jesus Christ, and
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is there abundantly satisfied, finding <I>that</I> wisdom in the gospel
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which has been sought for in vain throughout the whole creation,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+28:12">Job xxviii. 12</A>.
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The truths Christ teaches are such as we may venture our souls upon.
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The affections find rest in the love of God and Jesus Christ, and meet
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with that in them which gives them an abundant satisfaction; quietness
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and assurance for ever. And those satisfactions will be perfected and
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perpetuated in heaven, where we shall see and enjoy God immediately,
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shall see him as he is, and enjoy him as he is ours. This rest is to be
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had with Christ for all those who learn of him.</P>
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<P>
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Well, this is the sum and substance of the gospel call and offer: we
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are here told, in a few words, what the Lord Jesus requires of us, and
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it agrees with what God said of him once and again. <I>This is my
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beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, hear ye him.</I></P>
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