Luke

In this all a Christian's comfort lies. Great was the work of creation, but greater the work of redemption: it cost more to redeem us than to make us; in the one there was but the speaking a word, in the other shedding of blood (Luke 1:51). The creation was but the work of God's…

It was a great honor to Moses to be a temporal savior; but what is it to be the Savior of souls? Christ is called the Horn of Salvation (Luke 1:69). He saves from sin (Matthew 1:21), from wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10).

The purest virgin that is, her soul is stained with original sin? Answer. This knot the Scripture unties (Luke 1:35). The Holy Ghost shall come upon you, and overshadow you, therefore that holy thing which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God. The Holy Ghost shall…

Faith is the chief work which the Spirit of God works in a man's heart. In making the world God did but speak a word, but in working faith he puts forth his arm (Luke 1:51). The Spirit's working faith is called, the exceeding greatness of God's power.

2. The world was the work of God's fingers (Psalm 8:3). Conversion is the work of God's arm (Luke 1:5). 3. In the creation God worked but one miracle, he spoke the word; but in conversion he works many miracles: the blind is made to see, the dead is raised, the deaf hears the vo…

1. I begin with the first, the Preface to the Preface, vaiedabbur elohim, God spoke all these words, saying, etc. This is like the sounding of a trumpet before a solemn proclamation, [God spoke;] other parts of the Bible are said to be uttered by the mouth of the Holy Prophets (…

This is the diamond in the ring, it outshines all other comforts. 2. If we are fearers of God, we have a reverent awe upon us; we tremble at sin, and fly from it as Moses did from his rod turned into a serpent (Luke 1:50). His mercy is on them that fear him.

But fear your God. And there is honey in the mouth of this command (Luke 1:50). His mercy is upon them that fear him.

The creation was the work of God's fingers (Psalm 8:3). Redemption was the work of his arm (Luke 1:5). In the creation God gave us ourselves, in the redemption he gave us himself: by creation we have a life in Adam, by redemption we have a life in Christ (Colossians 3:3).

I will take away the stony heart, and give you a heart of flesh. Yet further, the power and Godhead of the Holy Ghost appeared in the effecting the glorious conception of our Lord Jesus Christ; the very shadow of the Holy Ghost made a virgin conceive (Luke 1:35). The Holy Ghost…

A king may pardon a traitor, but will not make him one of his privy council: but whom God pardons he receives into favor. I may say to him, as the angel to the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:30): You have found favor with God. Hence such as are forgiven are said to be crowned with loving-k…

So Paul says, Blessed be God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things in Christ: Ephesians 1:3: beginning his Epistle with this kind of blessing, that is, by praising God. And so Zachary after the birth of his…

But if we look for any reward at the day of death, we must labor in the works of godliness all the days of our life; for, therefore were we redeemed. Luke 1:74-75. In the whole book of God, we find but one man that lived wickedly, and repented at his end: that is, the thief upon…

1. In life. The Angel did comfort the Virgin Mary, Luke 1.28. The Angel did stop the mouths of the Lions that they could not hurt Daniel, Daniel 6.22.

And therefore by this confession the church of God is distinguished from all other companies of men in the world which believe not, as Pagans, heretics, Atheists, Turks, Jews, and all other infidels. This name Jesus was given to the son of God by the Father, and brought from hea…

2. A righteous man is devoted to holiness: the priests under the law were not only washed in the great laver, but adorned with glorious apparel (Exodus 28:2), the emblem of a righteous man who is not only washed from gross sin, but adorned with inward sanctity; he is what he see…

So Hannah (1 Samuel 2:1): when she received the mercy of a son, 'My soul,' said she, 'rejoices in the Lord' — not in the mercy, but in the God of the mercy. And so Mary (Luke 1:46): 'My soul does magnify the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior' — the word signifies 'to mak…

It is true, the high priest's praying for them was nothing to the soul's advantage of him or them if Christ was not made use of, both by him and by them; yet it was typical, and to show this much, that they were to improve Christ's Intercession as well as his Sacrifice and Satis…

This was Christ's personal privilege; and to lack this, is not our sin: to have it, was Christ's glory: but the nearer any is to God, the more heavenly are the affections. Secondly, when God framed the human nature and human soul of Christ, he created a more noble and carefully-…

Now he was made King, not on such terms, as he might destroy all his subjects, (for all mankind are his subjects to Arminians.) But he is made King (Psalm 72:11) that all nations may serve him; that he should deliver the poor, needy, and helpless; and redeem their souls from vio…

Or else secondly, [In] the bowels, is put for [Instar] Like the bowels, or After the bowels, according to the analogy of the Hebrew phrase: And so then the meaning were this, Like as the bowels of Jesus Christ do yearn after you, so do mine. [Bowels] are a metaphor to signify te…

We look at God as a Father, and we walk before him not in fear, but in liberty; and therefore we are free from the fear of death, to which, some are all their lifetime subject to bondage (Hebrews 2:14-15). Now this is a spirit of liberty, to have the heart set free from all fear…

It is a rule of commerce between us and God. (2.) In your whole conversation, (Luke 1:74-75) "That we might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life." A Christian's conversation is a continual act of worship; he ever behaves himse…

The word is a torment, rather than a comfort to you, you are afraid it will be found too true. 4. Do you receive it as the word of God (1 Thessalonians 2:13) It may be you do not contradict the divine authority in the Scriptures, but do you soundly believe them, and know the cer…

Math. 5. 6. Luk 1:35. Thirdly, Paul here sets downe a notable ground of true religion; That the death of Christ is made voide, if any thing be ioyned with it in the worke of our justification, as a meanes to satisfie Gods justice, and to merit the favor of God.

Zacharie and Elizabs walked in all the commandements of God, and that withoutreproofe before God. Luk 1:6. Ans.

The third is, that they have libertie to liue and serue God without feare of damnation, or any other euill. Luk 1:74. The last is, that afflictions cease to be curses, and are turned to blessings: and for this cause they are delaied and qualified for the good of them which are a…

The second part of Christian liberty is a freedom in good things: and it is fourfold. The first is a freedom in the voluntary service of God (Luke 1:74). We are delivered from our enemies, that we may serve God in righteousness and holiness before him all the days of our lives w…

Thirdly, by inchoate obedience, thus Zacharie & Elizabs are said to have walked in all the commandements of the Lord, without reproofe. Luk 1:6. And thus all the faithfull fulfill the lawe, in labouring to obey God in all his commandements; according to the measure of grace rece…

Here the Prophet means that the kingdom of Christ shall be firm and stable, as Daniel also has witnessed (Daniel 2:44 and 7:14). Likewise the Evangelist Luke: Of his kingdom (says he) shall be none end (Luke 1:33). Wherein it differs from the common condition of other kingdoms,…

We are therefore first of all to seek the kingdom of God, and the righteousness thereof, and not to place our joy and happiness in the abundance of wheat and wine, as hogs that feed in the trough. For as Zechariah sings in (Luke 1:75), the end of our deliverance from sin and Sat…

To this belong the words of Peter, where he says, We are a chosen generation, and that we should show forth the virtues of him who has called us out of darkness, into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). And Zechariah sings, That we are delivered out of the hands of our enemies to…

And therefore these are those espousals, in compassion, and faithfulness; whereof Hosea speaks (Hosea 2:19-20). Now he not only allots them an outward court to worship the Lord in, as the people in old time did (Luke 1:10), but he attributes to them a more honorable order, to wi…

But the gate which is now made large, and set wide open to us, was then narrow, and in a manner closed up. For under the law, the people were wont to stay without in the court (Luke 1:10). Nothing now hinders us from entering into the Sanctuary, because the veil of the temple is…

The Angel Gabriel in like manner had respect to this when he brought the message to the Virgin; or rather he expounded this place, because it can be understood of none but of Christ. He shall reign, says he, over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there shall be no…

We must not, therefore, look to this passage for ascertaining the common law. Again, it is objected, that Mary, the mother of Christ, was Elisabeth’s cousin, though Luke has formerly stated that she was of the daughters of Aaron, (Luke 1:5.) The reply is easy.

The other matters which we have examined, relating to “the shepherds,” ( Luke 2:8 ,) the “Magi,” ( Matthew 2:1 ,) and “Simeon,” ( Luke 2:25 ,) were intended to prove his Divinity. What Luke relates about John and his father Zacharias, ( Luke 1:5 ,) was a sort of preparation for…

It is a piece of idle sophistry to say, that John's hearers were ignorant people, and that he gave them nothing more than elementary instructions, which fell very far short of Christian perfection. John's office was, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord, (Luke 1:17) and…

"Happy are they who, though their wishes are so moderate, that they desire nothing to be granted to them but what is reasonable, are yet in a languishing condition, like persons who are famishing with hunger." Though their distressing anxiety exposes them to the ridicule of othe…

He never forgets the ties which unite all believers to each other and to their exalted Head. Are there any whose sentiments are hardly distinguishable from those things which are most surely believed among us, (Luke 1:1,) and yet who associate with the name of Calvinism all that…

He was the greatest of the prophets that came before Christ, as the morning star is the brightest of all the stars (Matthew 11:11). He came to prepare men's hearts to receive that kingdom of God, that Christ was about more fully to reveal and erect (Luke 1:17): 'To make ready a…

And his divine dignity also appeared in the holiness of his conception and birth. Though he was conceived in the womb of one of the corrupt race of mankind, yet he was conceived and born without sin; as the angel said to the blessed virgin (Luke 1:35): The Holy Spirit shall come…

No doubt but Abraham's encouragement in that case was the fruit of prayer, Genesis 24:7 His pious servant also, who was employed in that affair, did both earnestly seek counsel of God, Gen, 24:12 and thankfully acknowledge his gracious Providence in guiding it, Ver. 26, 27. The…

Therefore we find in the time of the sacrifice, still the people were at prayer, they knew the sacrifice, the incense, could do nothing, but as joined with the faith of the sacrificer in prayer. We read (Luke 1:10), when Zacharias the priest was offering the incense within in th…

I will pass over to speak of this matter at this time, for it is not now my intent so to do, lest I go too far from my purpose: that is, that I would have every man to give diligent heed to the songs that are usually sung in our churches or temples, and especially of one, the wh…

Again, Whereas the great means he has appointed for the forgiveness of sins, is by the mediation of the Lord Christ, as we shall afterwards shew, he has on several occasions confirmed his purpose in him, and the counsel of his will by his Oath. By this Oath he promised him unto…

Though there be shadows (she says) and veils between him and me, in this night of desertion; yet there is a day coming when these, by his presence, shall be made to flee away, and I shall see him as he is. There is a twofold day spoken of in Scripture: 1. A day of Christ's prese…

This beauty (says he) is real and singular, even such that it makes onlookers, the most glorious and discerning (not only the daughters but even the queens and concubines) to be much affected; the beauty of my bride is such as takes them all up. The daughters, that is, professor…

And Abraham pleads with God for the righteous in Sodom (Genesis 18:23-24). And Zachary and Elizabeth have this testimony, that they were both righteous, walking in all the commandments of God blameless (Luke 1:6). Thus we have the ways of holiness called ways of righteousness (P…

3. A third spring that feeds holy thoughts is well-gathered experiences: the Christian's breast is to be a treasury of experimental observations, which may be improved as good props to uphold a tottering faith. It is said of them in Luke 1:66, that they laid up all those strange…

Had not Christ been made flesh, we had been made a curse; had not he been incarnate, we had been incarcerate, and had been for ever in prison. Well might an angel be the herald to proclaim this joyful news of Christ's incarnation (Luke 2:10). Behold, I bring you good tidings of…

God promised to deliver Israel from the iron furnace, but this promise was above four hundred years in travail before it brought forth. Simeon had a promise, that he should not depart from here till he had seen the Lord's Christ, (Luke 2:26) but it was a long time first, but a l…

Our Lord Christ herein set a pattern to children. Luke 2:51: He was subject to his parents. He to whom angels were subject, yet was subject to his parents.

The Virgin Mary was not perfect; though her womb were pure (being overshadowed with the Holy Ghost) yet her soul was not perfect. Christ does tacitly imply a failing in her (Luke 2:49). And are they more perfect than the Blessed Virgin was?

Luther spent three hours a day in prayer. Anna the prophetess departed not from the temple, but served God with fasting and prayers night and day (Luke 2:37). How zealous and industrious were the martyrs to get into this heavenly kingdom! they wore their fetters as ornaments, sn…

What pains did Saint Paul take for the heavenly kingdom (Philippians 3:13): Reaching forth to those things which are before; [illegible] the Greek word to reach forth, signifies to stretch out the neck, a metaphor from racers who strain every limb, and reach forward to lay hold…

The Devil is called the Tempter (Matthew 4:3). Christ is called the Comforter (Luke 2:25). The Devil is called the Prince of Darkness.

So also in Psalm 7:13: 'If he turns not, God has whetted his sword and prepared his instruments of death' — to inflict torments, and eternal torments also, as Deuteronomy 32 implies. Indeed, whatever causes torment or anguish is in Scripture called a sword, and piercing with a s…

Now, where the Text saith, God provided a better thing for us, we must not understand it of all these prerogatives, but only of the first and last, touching the actual exhibiting of Christ in the flesh: as Christ also imports, Luke 10.23, 24, Blessed are the eyes which see that…

And therefore all young persons must have care of these sins of youth, and watch the more against them, because they are so incident to their years. Now, the way to avoid them, is to follow Christ's example, Luke 2:52, to labour to grow, as in years, so in wisdom and grace: and…

4. That the great complaint, weight, and grief of an honest minister of the gospel, is this, that his message is not taken off his hand, that Christ is not received, believed in, and rested on; this is the great challenge ministers have against the generality of people, and the…

But we read not that he did laugh, or that ever any worldly mirth was found in him, which clearly makes out this truth: that he was a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. For Use, It would take the tongues of Men and Angels to speak of it, it being the most remarkable and…

Isaiah 53:1 Who has believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? The Gospel is a sweet message, and ought to be glad news when it comes to a people; and therefore, when this report of our Lord Jesus Christ is made to sinners, O! but it's a sad complaint that…

4. It imports this, that the work which he performs in the redeeming of souls is so acceptable to God, and does so mightily concur, and cooperate to the promoting of his design, that the Lord owns every thing that he performs, as performed by his great ambassador; and by him, wh…

This is His meat and His drink, His work and business; as He Himself says, "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work" (John 4:34). And, in Luke 2: "Know you not that I must be about my Father's business?" Which is to rescue poor sinners from the devi…

Here is a Lord-Speaker from heaven, testifying that the Lord's name shall be, and was glorified: As 1. In Christ's person and incarnation (John 1:14): The word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory. So the angels did sing at his birth (Luke 2:14): Glory to…

Christ expounds it (Luke 4:8) exclusively: "You shall serve only the Lord," because it is the prerogative of God to be worshipped, as it is a prerogative of grace to be the ransomed and redeemed of God (Deuteronomy 21:8; Deuteronomy 7:8; Exodus 15:15; Luke 1:68; Galatians 3:13;…

There was a veil of flesh, yet the glory of his divine nature was seen, and might be seen, by all that had an eye and heart to see it. He lay in the manger at Bethlehem, but a star appeared to conduct the wise men to him; and angels proclaimed his birth to the shepherds (Luke 2:…

They as subjects and servants are bound to obey him. Therefore on all occasions they attend on Christ; at his birth (Luke 2:13-14): "A multitude of the heavenly host praised God, saying, Glory be to God on high, on earth peace, good will towards men." Now in his temptations, the…

There is a common rule among the Schoolmen of the communication of the properties, when the properties belonging to the divinity of Christ, are attributed to the humanity: which we may see everywhere in the Scriptures. As in Luke 2, the Angel calls the infant born of the virgin…

The like imagination the Monks and Schoolmen had of their Saints, as though they had been very senseless blocks and without all affections. The virgin Mary felt great grief and sorrow of spirit when she missed her son (Luke 2:48). David in the Psalms complains that he is almost…

Christ was subiect to Ioseph who was but a reputed father. Luk. 2. last. The sonnes of the Prophets obay their masters as their own fathers, 2. king. 2. 12. and so doe the seruants to their master. 2. king. 5. 13.

How can you believe (says our Savior Christ) which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that comes of God alone? (John 5:44). Secondly, we must seek for the approbation of God in the first place; and in the second place, to be approved of men, as Christ did: for…

Yet the entrance of Christ into the world was not destitute of glory; for the splendor of his Godhead was manifested from the commencement by his heavenly Father. Angels announced that “a Savior was born,” (Luke 2:11;) but their voice was only heard by the shepherds, and travele…

And with this view the Heavenly Father chose that the life of his Son should be buried, as it were, in silence, until the time of the full revelation arrived. For it did not happen without the undoubted Providence of God, that the Evangelists leave out the whole period which Chr…

Thus, Abraham saw the day of Christ afar off, and rejoiced, (John 8:56,) and yet longed to enjoy a nearer view, but did not obtain his wish. Simeon spoke the sentiments of all, “SIMEON disoit selon l’affection de tours les Peres;” — “simon spoke according to the feeling of all t…

Now as it was mean and uneducated men by whom the kingdom of Christ was called the kingdom of David, let us hence learn that this doctrine was at that time well known, which in the present day appears to many to be forced and harsh, because they are not well acquainted with Scri…

And it appears yet more remarkably, in the low circumstances of his incarnation. He was conceived in the womb of a poor young woman; whose poverty appeared in that when she came to offer sacrifices for her purification, she brought what was allowed of in the law only in case of…

For it is said, They sat down with him, seven days, etc. I answer, We need not interpret it for seven continued days and nights, without any intermission; it is frequent in Scripture, to put a part, especially a greater part, for the whole; that which is often done, is said to b…

5. That when the Angels came to bring the news of the Birth of our Lord Jesus, they say, we bring tydings of great joy to the whole people, Luke 2:10. What are these joyful tydings?

They are enemies to Idolatrie; for, Apoc. 19. 10. when John would have worshipped the Angel, he forbad him, saying, See you doe it not, worship God: herein also we must be followers of Angels, by furthering the Gospel and true worship of God to the vttermost of our power; by hin…

We have thus considered the institution, morality, and change of the Sabbath. All which are the more abstruse and intricate, partly from the silence of the Scriptures, which leave us to collect the truth, by inferences and deductions; and partly from the different opinions of le…

The Greek word signifies to stretch out the neck: a metaphor taken from racers that strain every limb, and reach forward to lay hold upon the prize. We read of Anna a Prophetess, (Luke 2:37). She departed not from the Temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and da…

This was the fourth overturning of the world that was in this period. And though it was brought to pass more gradually than the setting up of the Grecian empire, yet it far exceeded that, and was much the greatest and largest temporal monarchy that ever was in the world; so that…

He infinitely differed from other children, who, as soon as they begin to act, begin to sin and rebel. He was subject to his earthly parents, though he was Lord of all, Luke 2:51. He was found about his Father's business at twelve years of age in the temple, Luke 2:42.

Is that a sect which proclaims God in Christ reconciling the world to himself (2 Corinthians 5:19), and recovering it from that degenerate and deplorable state into which it was sunk? Is that a sect which publishes good-will towards men (Luke 2:14), and Christ the Lamb of God ta…

The deformities and distempers of mens hearts, are much discovered in the winters of their affliction: although there was much glory and beauty on their profession before, yet now they appear most vile and base. We read Luke 2:35 That Christ was appointed for the fall of many, a…

Bu[•] alas, all tenders and treaties are now at an end with me. On Earth peace, Luke 2. 13. but none in Hell O my Soul! consider these things: come, let us debate this matter seriously, before we launch o[•] into this Ocean. THE POEM.

Of which afterwards. Secondly, the fullness of grace in Christ's human nature, sets forth the amiableness and desirableness thereof: should I make it my business to consider his perfections, as to this part of his excellency, what he had from the womb (Luke 1:35), what received…

Jacob blessing his sons, lifted up his spirit when he comes to Judah, in whom he considered the Shiloh to come (Genesis 49:8-9) and a little after, wearied with the foresight and consideration of the distresses of his posterity, this he diverts to for his relief, as that great d…

This he had necessarily from the grace of union, from which it is that what was born of the virgin was a holy thing, Luke 1:35. Luke 2:52: he had an all-fullness of grace on all accounts. The apostle describes this in Hebrews 7:26: Such a high priest became us — holy, harmless,…

It is collected both by ancient and later divines, that our Lord Jesus Christ [reconstructed: in] his younger years, before he began to exercise his public ministry, occupied himself in his father's trade: and that this was the thing wherein he manifested his subjection to his p…

For me, it is sufficient, to lay down the duty in general: which is commended to us in that worthy pattern of the Virgin Mary, who though she were very poor, and forced to travel far, and brought to bed in a strange place, where she was so little respected, as she was not afford…

But now the glory of God, that is the end of all things: (Proverbs 16:4) The Lord has made all things for himself; that is, for his own glory, for the manifesting of his excellency. And so our redemption, (Luke 2:14) Glory be to God on high. When God came to show his goodwill in…

Instance in any thing that is the will of God. Here we must believe, or there we shall never enjoy (Luke 2:14) peace upon earth. Now God offers grace, and now it is his will we should come out of our sins, and accept of Christ to the ends for which he has appointed him.

To this end meditate often of it, and receive it in the love of it. 1. Meditate often of it (Luke 2:19). Mary kept all these sayings; how did she keep them?

Men of small substance grow rich by continual saving, and holding together what they have gotten; but if they spend it as fast as they get it, they cannot be rich. Luke 2:19. Mary kept all these sayings, and pondered them in her heart. 2. Delectation will grow cold, unless the m…

From some blessed experience of heavenly comforts; having tasted the fruits, clusters of Canaan, they desire to be there. So Simeon (Luke 2:29): Lord, now let your servant depart in peace according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation. The eyes of his faith, as wel…

We read of Jesus Christ, that he grew in knowledge. We do not read that he grew in grace (Luke 2:52): He increased in wisdom and stature; as his body increased in stature, so his soul in wisdom. And still Christians are growing in knowledge, and understand more of the mysteries…

We are brought all together, that we may make one body and congregation to laud, and praise, and serve God for evermore. So here, they that fear God and hope in his mercy, they often flock together to congratulate and join in thanksgiving for the mercies which any one of them ha…

2. To murder a person whose office is sacred, and comes on the King of Heaven's mission: the murdering of him may be the murdering of many. Herod added this sin above all, that he shut up John the Baptist in prison (Luke 3:20). Then much more to behead John in prison.

But, this one place of scripture (if there were no more) is alone sufficient to prove the lawfulness of war under the Gospel, if it be used according to God's will and word. When the Soldiers came to John Baptist, and asked him What they should do? he bids them not leave off the…

Malachi 2:10. Have we not all one father, etc. Luke 3:38. Which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God. And in Isaiah 36. Christ is called the father of eternity, because all that are truly knit to him, and born anew by him, they are eternally made the sons of God.

He is a Father in regard of nature (Hebrews 12:9) because he created and governs all things. In this regard he is called the Father of spirits (Hebrews 12:9), and Adam is called the Son of God (Luke 3:38). He is a Father in respect of grace, because we are regenerate by him, and…

Notable is that speech of our Savior (John 5:35, speaking of John): He was a burning and a shining light, not only a shining light to give clear instruction in the knowledge of the Messiah, and the true meaning of the Law, but withal a burning light; so as that he had a notable…

He regarded not to walk in all the commandments of the Lord, and then as he cut short with God in reformation, and did not fulfill to walk after the Lord, therefore God cut Jehu short of all the hopes of grace that ever he might have attained, to verse 32. So that if we cut at a…

And that we may thus follow Christ's Example, and be Partakers with him in his Glory, we had need to be much in Prayer for his Spirit. Christ himself, though the Eternal Son of God, obtained the Holy Spirit for himself in a way of Prayer, Luke 3:21, 22. Jesus being baptized, and…

Also that he went through Egypt, and led them in the wilderness like a flock (Exodus 11:4; Psalm 78:52). Now this place is alleged by (Matthew 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4; John 1:23) and applied to John Baptist, as if these things were foretold of him, and very rightly: for he was t…

Whereby we see how far it pleased the son of God to abase himself for our sakes; that he would not only be fed with ordinary food, but was also content to be deprived of understanding for a time, and to sustain all our infirmities according to his human nature; for this can not…

It was, I think, for the same reason that he chose a virgin betrothed to a man There is no foundation for Origen’s opinion, that he did this for the purpose of concealing from Satan the salvation which he was preparing to bestow on men. The marriage was a veil held out before th…

17. Therefore all the generations from Abraham till David are fourteen generations; and from David till the Babylonish migration are fourteen generations; and from the Babylonish migration till Christ are fourteen generations. Luke 3:23-38 23. Jesus was supposed to be the son of…

6. And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a leather girdle about his loins, and he ate locusts and wild honey. Luke 3:1-6 1. And in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his…

8. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. Luke 3:15-18 15. And while the people were waiting, and while all were thinking in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ:

11. And a voice came from heaven, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Luke 3:21-23 21. And it happened, that, while all the people were being baptized, "Quum baptizaretur omnis populus;" -- "en baptizant tout le peuple;" -- "in baptizing all the people." when Jes…

10. And now also the axe is laid at the root of the trees: every tree, therefore, which yields not good fruit, is cut down, and is thrown into the fire. Luke 3:7-14 7. He said therefore to the multitudes, which went out, that they might be baptized by him, Offspring of vipers, w…

15. And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent you, and believe the Gospel. Luke 3:19-20 19. Now Herod the tetrarch, when he was reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the wicked actions which Herod did,

This narrative is at present omitted by Luke, because he had explained it on a former occasion; and for my own part, as I am unwilling to annoy my readers by writing the same thing twice, I shall handle this passage with greater brevity. The allusion is to his exposition of Luke…

It cannot be doubted that he then engraved an uncommon Mark on the hearts of these two men, that they might at length perceive that in speaking he had breathed into them a divine warmth. For though the word of the Lord is always fire, yet a fiery rigor was at that time manifeste…

Third, this repentance that has been described, is indeed the special condition of remission of sin. This seems very evident by the Scripture, as particularly, Mark 1:4: John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance, for the remission of sins. So, Luke…

And besides these, the publicans who were some of the most infamous sort of men, came to him, inquiring what they should do to be saved. And the soldiers, that were doubtless a very profane, loose, and profligate sort of persons; they made the same inquiry (Luke 3:12, 14): 'Then…

For they hear not what is said, indeed they reckon it not to be spoken to them, but to the wretched sinner, who has need of it, they need it not. John the Baptist does call them the generation of vipers (Matthew 3 and Luke 3), and even so does Christ also (Matthew 12 and 16). Th…

The first degree of murther is Anger, not anger simply: but rash and indiser[]et anger towards a brother: and by Brother, he means, first, one Iew with an other, to whome Christ spake; secondly, one neighbour with an other, whether Iew or Gentile: for by creation we are all bret…

He preached not to them, Fight no more, Kill no man; but gives them directions how they should conduct themselves in their calling: which he would not have done, if he thought their calling itself unlawful. He bids them do no violence, accuse no man falsely; but be content with…

They smile at the curses of the poor, and grow fat with their tears. They have forgotten Christ's caveat (Luke 3:14): Do violence to no man. Ahab violently took away Naboth's vineyard (2 Kings 21:11).

Had it been reckoned to him, as a descendent from Adam, he had not been a fit high priest to have offered sacrifices for us; as not being separate from sinners (Hebrews 7:25). Had Adam stood in his innocency, Christ had not been incarnate, to have been a Mediator for sinners, an…

So says Christ, Go teach all nations baptizing them (Matthew 28:19). So did the Baptist, and the Apostles, they preached the Gospel to them whom they baptized (Luke 3:3; Acts 2:38; 8:12, 37; 10:47; 16:15, 33). 1. A Sacrament without the word is but an idle ceremony: no more than…

Holy parents commended by the Holy Ghost have been careful in performing this duty, as Abraham (Genesis 24:4), Isaac (Genesis 28:2), Naomi (Ruth 3:1), and others: indeed Hagar had learned this duty in Abraham's house (Genesis 21:21). But the perfect pattern (which surpasses all…

2. For the saints of God themselves, let us see by some instances, what issue they have had of their entering into temptation. I shall name a few: Adam was the son of God (Luke 3), created in the image of God, full of that integrity, righteousness and holiness which might be and…

Satis amplum alter alteri Theatrum sumus. But the gracious purpose of God, to impart his goodness appears in this, that he has made himself such a multitude of sons, not only angels, that are so called, but man, a little lower than they in nature — yet dignified with this name i…

Thus by creation the angels are said to be the sons of God (Job 38:7): "When he was laying the foundations of the earth, the sons of God shouted for joy" — that is, the angels. And thus Adam also was called the son of God (Luke 3, last verse). Thus by our first creation, and wit…

Many men do sin, and most men are liable (being tempted) to sin in their callings. There are many temptations attend and wait on every calling; and were I to speak to men of any calling, I would follow the example of Saint John (Luke 3:10, etc.), who spoke to every one according…

And (1 Samuel 15:22-23) he calls his sin rebellion and stubbornness; thus cuttingly did he reprove King Saul. Saint John was not afraid to tell Herod of his wickedness, and to his face too (Luke 3:19). Saint Paul would not spare Saint Peter, when he found him tripping and dissem…

It is a common saying by which persons excuse their own and other men's sins, that they are no man's foes but their own, they wrong none but themselves; if that were as true as it is false, yet therefore sin should not be committed; but sinners are God's foes, they are injurious…

A [illegible] the corruption, [illegible] the [illegible] of those to whom the Word is spoken and blessed. The [illegible] soldiers, the refuse publicans, all [illegible] and stand [illegible] at the [illegible] of [illegible] (Luke 3:11-12), they all said, Master, what shall we…

Thus it was prophesied (Malachi 3:1), I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come into his temple. Thus was it accomplished by the Baptist, to whom the word of the Lord came, and he came [illegible] in the [ille…

No, no (brethren) the Word reveals none, our Savior accepts of no such agreement, he comes upon no such terms to bring any comfort with him, unless any man should be so far forsaken of reason and sense, as to imagine the Lord Jesus would carry the drunkard and his cups, the adul…

What is this kindly and proper fruit? When we are good in our callings and relations. In a magistrate, justice is kindly fruit (Deuteronomy 16:19); in a minister, zeal (Acts 17:16); in a parent, instruction (Deuteronomy 4:10); in a child, reverence (Ephesians 6:1); in a master,…

Yet they were idolaters, murmurers, visibly known to be such. And John the Baptist was obliged to esteem the multitudes, all Judea who were baptized of him (Mark 1:5; Luke 3:7; Matthew 3:2-4), really sanctified and redeemed. Yes, and since there are prophecies under the Messiah,…

These general expressions denote only the believers of all the several nations of the world. So Joel 2:18: 'I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh' — repeated in Acts 2:17 and Luke 3:6: 'All flesh shall see the salvation of God.' Believers are called all nations (Isaiah 2:2…

As for the example of Christ, it nothing upholds their side. He was not baptized before that he was thirty years old (Luke 3:23). That is indeed true: but there is a reason thereof ready to be shown: because he then purposed by his preaching to lay a sound foundation of Baptism,…

Now faith purifies our hearts, by applying all the commandments of God to our souls, so as that we dare commit no iniquity, and so are clean and marvelously innocent, ashamed, and dare not meddle with any sin. Now the soul stands in awe of God's word, and now faith having purifi…

Close in such duties with next neighbors, rather than with those that are further off. Another occasion of fellowship, was nearness of kindred, and that is evident in the text: The family of the house of David met by themselves, and so the house of Nathan; some take him to be on…

To that noisome steam and poisonous exhalation which breathes from the mouth of an open sepulcher, their throat is an open sepulcher (Romans 3:13), that is, out of their throat proceeds nothing but stinking and rotten communication, as the Apostle calls it (Ephesians 4:29). To t…

A sign men's hearts are very evil, when such black words come from them. When I go in the streets, and hear the language of some, I think of the man in the gospel, who had the spirit of an unclean devil in him (Luke 4:33). Men's lips do not drop as the honeycomb, but they drop p…

There's a sinful escaping danger, namely, when we are called to suffer for the truth, and we decline it: But there's an escaping danger without sin, as thus, when we do not betray ourselves into the enemies' hands by rashness, nor yet betray the truth by cowardice; we have a pat…

Hannibal said of Marcellus, a Roman captain, that whether he did beat, or was beaten, he was never quiet. When Christ had worsted Satan he went away from Christ; but, for a season (Luke 4:13), as if he meant to come again. When we have gotten the better of Satan, we are apt to g…

God often gives a pastor after his own heart for a few: 'Take one of a city and two of a family, and I will give them pastors after my own heart' (Jeremiah 3:15). So even by Christ himself, as he says in Luke 4:26: 'There were many widows, but to none was Elijah sent but to the…

Hence, we learn this notable lesson: That those people in God's Church, which receive from God more graces than others, must look for more temptations. This we shall see to be true in Christ Jesus the head of the Church: for, when he was Baptized, and had received the holy Ghost…

And in place of altars which were under the law, we have now the Lord's table on which we celebrate the sacrament of his body and blood, to show forth his death till he come. The fourth point is, concerning the time of Christ's oblation, which he himself calls the acceptable yea…

We shall close this with the consideration of our Lord Jesus, who was an incomparable preacher, of whom it is said (Matthew 7:29) that He spoke with power and not as the scribes. And in Luke 4, when He is opening that sweet text (Isaiah 61:1-3), it is said, "They all wondered at…

2. This world is a thing that comes under our senses, and that [Greek text], a single one creature, that we may point with our finger. Satan from the top of a mountain showed Christ, [Greek text], all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory, or opinion of them (Matthew 4:8), an…

Nor need we flee to that exposition ever and anon, that Christ died for all, that is, all ranks of men. For "all" is put in Scripture ordinarily for many; as (Deuteronomy 1:21; Psalm 71:18; Jeremiah 15:10; Jeremiah 19:9; Jeremiah 20:7; Jeremiah 23:30; Jeremiah 49:17; Ezekiel 16:…

He was led by the Spirit, meaning thereby the impulsion and excitation of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God. For it is said (Luke 4:1). Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost, returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. He did not voluntarily put himself up…

To a man void of sin, the tempter has no way of tempting, but externally. 2. How is this access to Christ said to be after his fasting, when in Luke 4:2, it is said, Being forty days tempted of the devil, and in those days he did eat nothing; and when they were ended, he afterwa…

Whether Christ was carried through the Air, or went on his feet following him of his own accord? The last seems to be countenanced by Luke; that he led him to the pinnacle of the Temple (Luke 4:9), (in non-Latin alphabet), yet the former is preferred by most ancient and modern i…

God had said (Psalm 2:8): Ask of me, and I will give you the heathen for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession; this the devil, who affects to be like God, arrogates to himself, as if he would make him the universal king of the world. In Luke…

2. Christ had a work to do in the Valley, and therefore was not always to be detained by Temptations in the Wilderness. The Spirit that led him there to be tempted, led him back again into Galilee to preach the Gospel (Luke 4:14). Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into G…

Again: Depart not from me, for tribulation is at hand, and there is none to help. Etc. [reconstructed: (John 17)] (Luke 4:32) (Psalm 22:6, 15) This is therefore a great commendation of the Galatians, that they were not offended with this infirmity and temptation of Paul, but rec…

He offers ease to them that trauell and are heauie laden, Matth. 11. 28. He preaches deliverance to captiues, Luk 4:18. Here we are to bewaile the miserie of our people, that know not themselues to be under the law: in fact they loue and delight to be under it.

We must learn to see, feel, acknowledge, and bewail this bondage in ourselves. Deliverance belongs only to such captives as know themselves to be captives (Luke 4:18), and labor under this bondage (Matthew 11:28). Thus did Paul when he says, I am sold under sin: and, O miserable…

The non-observance of this rule, is the cause that there are so many censorious Catos, so many severe Aristarchi of other men's actions, so many that are sharp sighted and eagle eyed, in spying motes in other men's eyes: and as blind as moles, or beetles, in discerning the great…

Vers. 1. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, therefore has the Lord anointed me: he has sent me to preach good tidings to the poor, to bind up the broken hearted, to preach liberty to the captives, and to them that are bound, the opening of the prison. For as much as Christ e…

28. And immediately his fame went out into every part of Galilee. Luke 4:31-36 31. And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and there he taught them on the Sabbath-day:

“Et estoit avec les bestes sauvages.” Luke 4:1-4 1. And Jesus, full of the Holy Ghost, returned from Jordan, and was driven by the Spirit into the wilderness.

20. Added also this above all, and shut up John in prison. Luke 4:14-15 14. And Jesus returned by the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and a report went out through the whole country concerning him.

13. And angels waited on him. Luke 4:5-13 5. And the devil conducted him to a high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment.

39. And he preached in their synagogues in all Galilee, and cast out devils. Luke 4:38-44 38. And when Jesus had risen out of the synagogue, he entered into Simon’s house.

Thus you find in Acts 8. 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, &c. the Eunuch at that very instant when he was reading the Prophet Esay, has an Interpreter, one among a thousand, that joins his Chariot, just as his mind was by a fit occasion prepared to receive the first light of the knowledge of…

It is most probable that there was such a distance of time between these two afflictions, as was competent to a full discovery of Job's spirit, under the first. As when Christ was tempted and had foiled Satan in that temptation, it is said, the Devil departed from him for a seas…

But yet because no clause is expressed, implying contrarietie in the masters; therefore I take it, the words must be taken as a common prouerb among the Iewes, which Christ Iales downe for the ground of his reason. Now in a prouerb it is not requisite it should be alwaies true,…

This astonishment of the people argues some feare and reuerence in them towards Christ, which is some commendation unto them: and yet it prooues not the truth and soundnes of their faith and conuersion (though no doubt many that heard him were hereby converted:) for a man may be…

The Bride's lips were spoken of (Chapter 4:3, 11) and explained to signify her speech: by proportion they hold forth in him the loveliness of his Word, wherein he is especially lovely, in that he magnifies it above all his Name (Psalm 138:2) and makes it often sweet as the honey…

His words were perfumed with holiness: grace was poured into his lips (Psalm 45:2). He spoke to the admiration of all: his hands wrought miracles, and his tongue spoke oracles (Luke 4:22). All bore him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth.

The saints, by adoption have a largeness of heart in all holy obedience. Says David, I will walk at liberty, for I seek your precepts (Psalm 119:4-5; Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18; Romans 8:2, 21; Galatians 4:2; 5:1, 13; James 1:25; John 8:32-33, 36; Romans 6:18; 1 Peter 2:16). Now thi…

How were Judah (Genesis 38:26) and David (2 Samuel 12:13) struck to the heart after they had given sentence against such crimes as they themselves were guilty of? It is a good advice that no man be guilty of that which he reproves in his wife, but it is no good rule to say, no m…

5. From here in his name there is proclaimed redemption to the captives, freedom to poor prisoners that were in debt, and weak, and could not acquit themselves. And therefore the publication of the gospel is compared to the year of Jubilee; (Luke 4:19) Christ came to preach the…

How does the Devil tempt? 1. By propounding objects; as (Luke 4:5): He showed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. He had nothing to work upon within, therefore he propounds outward objects.

The Poets painted time with Wings, because it flies so fast— Volat ambiguis mobilis alis hora—Time lost had need be redeemed; and is there any better way to redeem time, than to improve it in trading for Heaven, and speaking of God and our Souls? 3. Jesus Christ has set us a Pat…

There is a believing with a piece, and a believing with all the heart. There is an inactive knowledge, a naked assent, which may be real, yet it is not a true faith; the devil may have this (Luke 4:34) — the devil makes an orthodox confession there: You are Jesus the Son of the…

Satan will be sure to trouble you, and will assault you again and again; though he be never so fully foiled, he will not give over the combat. Luke 4:13 — He departed from Christ for a season; he had a mind to try the other bout. And the world will be your hindrance; many discou…

Satan is not forever conquered, because he is once resisted; what he fails in at one time, he attempts at another. When he left Christ, it was with an intent to come again (Luke 4:13): when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him, for how long? For a season;…

His own will is the rule of all this, and there is no other reason to be rendered. There were many widows in Israel when the [illegible] were shut up three years and six months, [illegible] great [illegible] was through all the land, but [illegible] of them was Elijah sent, save…

Mourn for the pride of the nation — our condition is low, but our hearts are high. Mourn for the profaneness of the land; England is like that man in the gospel (Luke 4:33) who had a spirit of an unclean devil. Mourn for the removing of landmarks (Deuteronomy 27:17); mourn for t…

Malice will never lack matter for accusation. Though the demons proclaimed Christ's holiness (Luke 4:34): I know who you are, the Holy One of God — yet the Pharisees taxed him for a sinner. See what malice will do: it will make a man say what even the devil will not say.

As the eye of the body once put out, can never be restored by the creatures Art, so neither can the spiritual eye, lost by Adams sin, be restored by the teaching of men or Angels. It is one of the diseases which Christ came to cure, Luke 4:18. 'Tis true, there is a light of reas…

Sin disabled man to keep Gods Law, but it does not enfranchise or dis-oblige him that he need not keep it. Thirdly, Satan may claim a deed of gift from God himself, as he was bold to do to Christ himself upon this ground, perswading him to worship him as the Prince of the world,…

Satan tempts not when he will, but when God pleass: and the same Holy Spirit which led Christ into the field, brought him off with victory. And therefore we finde him marching in the Power of the Spirit (after he had repulsed Satan) into Galilee, Luke 4:14. When Satan tempts a S…

Compelled convictions speak a Law-state. 2. It is easier to be found orthodox than to be godly — Satan in a manner soundly believes there is one God (James 2:19), and that Christ is the Son of God (Luke 4:34), and so does the carnal Jew teach that it is not lawful to steal, to c…

All the land of Judea (Mark 1:5). All the multitude, all the people (Luke 4:7, 21). Sure the fathers were so Christianized and baptized as their children had right to the same seal.

And it is to be noted that covenanting parents (Luke 18): 1. Such as came to him to be cured of their diseases, and believed him to be the Messiah, the Son of David, as the blind call him (Matthew 20), and the woman of Canaan (Matthew 15, Luke 18:15), [illegible] brought to him…

Many who are not chosen are created and live under a Covenant of Works, having only some concomitant favors of the Gospel, as: first, the preaching thereof; second, common grace, inward warnings; third, protections of providence and forbearance, in regard they are mixed with the…

"Be it to you as you will." [in non-Latin alphabet] It is a word of omnipotency, to create being — it is spoken of Satan, and to Satan (Mark 9:25; Luke 4:35). 2. None can speak to leprosy but Christ (Matthew 8:3; Luke 4:39): Be clean.

John 14, latter part of verse 21.—And he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. We read (Luke 4:22): And all bore him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. Never did such gracious a…

Secondly, When we expound those Scriptures figuratively and allegorically, which the Holy Ghost means literally. For example, Christ said to Peter, "Launch out into the deep, and make a draught" (Luke 5:4). This text is spoken in a plain literal sense, of launching out the ship;…

O let us shake off this backwardness to duty, as Paul shook off the Viper, nescit tarda molimina Spiritus sancti gratia; (Zechariah 5:9). I saw two Women and the wind was in their wings: Wings are swift, but wind in the wings great swiftness; such readiness should be in our obed…

Peter is an instance in Scripture; let us keep to him. You see him surprised with a great passion of fear, when at Christ's command a great draught of fish came to hand in an unlikely time (Luke 5:8-9): Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was astonished, and al…

2. Sinful infirmity, consciousness of guilt is in it also, and our nonconformity to God through sin (Isaiah 6:5-6): Woe is me, [reconstructed: I am undone], I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the king, the Lord…

Paul fears that his labor is in vain, and yet he still labors. When Peter had labored all night and caught nothing, he says, at the commandment of Christ, In your word will I cast out my net (Luke 5). And thus to do, whatever follows, is true wisdom, and the fear of God.

MATTHEW 4:18-25; MARK 1:16-20; LUKE 5:1-11 Matthew 4:18-25

45. But he, having gone out, began to publish many things, and to blaze abroad the matter, so that Jesus could no longer enter openly into cities, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter. Luke 5:12-16 12. And it happened, while he was in a certa…

12. And immediately he arose, and having taken up the bed, went out in the presence of all, so that all were astonished, and glorified God, saying, We never saw such a thing. Luke 5:17-26 17. And it happened on a certain day, and he was teaching: and Pharisees and doctors of the…

22. And no person puts new wine into old bottles; otherwise the new wine bursts the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles are lost: but new wine must be put into new bottles. Luke 5:33-39 33. And they said to him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make pra…

I came not to call righteous persons, but sinners to repentance. Luke 5:27-32 27. And after these things he went out, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the custom-house, and said to him, Follow me.

21. For they shall not say, Lo, he is here! or, Lo, he is there! for, lo, the kingdom of God is within you. As, on a former occasion, Matthew and the other two Evangelists (Matthew 8:1; Mark 1:40; Luke 5:12) related that a leper had been cleansed by Christ, so Luke mentions that…

Working is our part, but prospering is the Lord's part. As it was with the disciples (Luke 5), they could fish all night, but till Christ came they could not catch: when Christ came the blessing came, and when the blessing came, there was not only fishing but catching, and there…

Christ never came into any company, but he set good discourse on foot. Levi made him a feast (Luke 5:29), and Christ feasted him with holy discourse. When he came to Jacob's well, he presently speaks of the water of life (John 4).

When he sate on Iacobs Well he falls into an Heavenly discourse with the Woman of Samaria about the Water of Life, John 4:14. And so when Levi made him a Feast, Luke 5—He feasts him again with Heavenly discourse. And no sooner was Christ risen from the Grave, but he was speaking…

It is certain that he came to save that which was lost. And again, (as it is said in another place) it is a sure and infallible saying, that our Lord Jesus Christ came to call again to salvation, the sinners that were in damnation (Luke 19:10; Mark 9:13; Luke 5:32; 1 Timothy 1:1…

But to answer a case of conscience, Whether we are to do duty in case of deadness and indisposition? etc. 1. The influence of grace is not the warrant of duty, but the help; it is the efficient assisting cause, not the ground or rule; we are to do all acts of obedience on the ac…

Wrestle through discouragements; though former endeavors have been in vain, yet still we should continue seeking after God. We have that command to enforce us to it (Luke 5:5). We have toiled all night, however at your command, etc.

Let me commend to you, 1. The adventure of faith (Luke 5:5). At your Word we will let down the net.

3. Many times we are doubtful of success, and so our hands are weakened thereby; we forbear duty because we do not know what will come of it. Now a sense of God's authority and command does fortify the heart against these discouragements (Luke 5:5): Master, we have toiled all th…

You have forbidden me to despair, and commanded your creature to come to you for grace; here I cast myself at the footstool of your mercy, and resolve you will keep up your endeavors in all the means of grace in hearing the Word, prayer, etc. though no sensible comfort comes, ye…

(John 6:29): This is the work of God, that you believe on him whom he has sent. It appears sensibly many times, a poor soul has no other motive nor encouragement; it ventures notwithstanding all discouragements to the contrary, in the strength and sense of a command: as Peter (L…

Quest. But what hurt is in this? Did not Jesus Christ converse with sinners (Luke 5:29)? Answ. 1. There was a necessity for that: if Jesus Christ had not come among sinners, how could any have been saved?

There are some so impudently profane that they will make themselves and others merry with their sins. Sin is a soul-sickness (Luke 5:31). Will a man make merry with his disease?

Luke 5:31 — They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. The occasion of the words is set down in the context; Levi was called from the tax collector's table.

And what a trembling hope have they that they be, and are to fear they shall be in the condition of Apostate Angels tomorrow? What says then Christ (Matthew 9:22; Mark 5:34; Mark 10:52; Luke 8:58; Luke 5:20, 24; Mark 5:34; Mark 9:24) indeed and much more says the Holy Ghost of o…

But that believers are forgiven in this life, is evident from the following texts, Matthew 9:2, "Son, your sins be forgiven you." See also, Mark 2:5, and Luke 5:20 — Colossians 2:13. And you being dead in your sins, and the uncircumcision of your flesh, has he quickened together…

But now go sell all that you have, and give to the poor; and our Saviour calls not every rich man to this, but he was pleased to try him, had he offered it, as a man whose heart had been pricked, he would have let all go, had it been thousands for his hundreds, but his conscienc…

The best of a saint's comfort begins when his life ends. The wicked have all their heaven here (Luke 6:28). Woe to you rich, you have received your consolation.

He opens his hand, and satisfies the desire of every living thing (Psalm 145:16). He drops his sweet dew as well upon the thistle as the rose; imitate God in works of mercy, relieve the wants of others, be rich in good works; be merciful as your Father also is merciful (Luke 6:3…

And therefore those that are in his favor, he can bend the hearts of all men, to approve them; yet this must be understood with some cautions. 1. God will not procure his children a good name amongst all men: for then they should be cursed: for, Luke 6.26, Cursed are you when al…

But if we will be Abraham's children, we must follow Abraham's practice in this place; For, the sons of Abraham will do the works of Abraham, John 8:39. Good servants will come and go, do and undo, at their Lord's pleasure; and forget themselves, to obey their masters: And so mu…

Hence Christ said unto his Disciples (upon occasion of the young rich man) that it was as easy for a great Camel to go through the eye of a needle, as for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven; that is, such a rich man as sets his heart to get riches and honor, not rega…

But the ordinary works of God's wisdom in his creatures, of his justice towards sinners, of his mercy towards his children, of his care and providence towards all, are excellent rules of direction for us. Hence we have these rules: Be ye holy for I am holy: Be ye merciful as you…

Secondly, that the curses of men must not discourage us from doing well. For though men curse, yet Christ blesses: and for this cause he says, Woe to you, when all men speak well of you (Luke 6:26): as if he should say, then you want the blessing of God. And we must remember, th…

We are bid to draw our lines according to this Copy. Luke 6. 36. Be you merciful, [⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩], as your Father also is merciful. Argument 3. 3. Argument. Alms are a sacrifice, Hebrews 13. 16. To do good, and to communicate, forget not, for with such sacrifices God…

Works are to be done in respect of God: that his commandments may be obeyed — 1 John 5:12; that his will may be done — 1 Thessalonians 4:3; that we may show ourselves to be obedient children to God our Father — 1 Peter 1:14; that we may show ourselves thankful for our redemption…

The heart is the treasury; the hand and tongue are but the shops — what is in these came from there; the hand and tongue always begin where the heart ends. The heart contrives, and the members execute (Luke 6:46): 'A good man out of the good treasury of his heart brings forth go…

First, the word "all" is, in materiâ necessariâ, in a necessary matter, taken for all and every one: "God made all nations of one blood" (Acts 17:26); "He knows the hearts of all men" (Acts 1:24); "All have sinned" (Romans 3:12; Romans 5:12; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Timothy 4:10; J…

And when he was about to choose his twelve Apostles, and send them out to preach the Gospel, he first went out into a Mountain to pray, and continued all Night in Prayer to God. Luke 6:12. Etcetera.

Hear him early, the season falls under the precept as well as the duty, now while it is called today. 4. Your consent to hear him must be real, practical, and obedient, verified in the whole tenor and course of your lives and actions: for Christ will not be flattered with empty…

As a Christian must pray all manner of prayer, so in all places (1 Timothy 2:8). I will that men pray every where: And if every where, then in their closets: This divine incense should perfume every room, and should ascend to Heaven from chambers as well as churches: Any place n…

Secondly, we must seek for the approbation of God in the first place; and in the second place, to be approved of men, as Christ did: for he grew in favor first with God, and after with men (Luke 2:52), and the elders, who by faith obtained a good report (Hebrews 11:2); read (Rom…

19. And Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. Luke 6:12-19 12. And it happened in those days, he went out into a mountain to pray, and he spent the whole night in prayer to God.

25. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and that the servant be as his lord: if they have called the master of the house himself Beelzebub, how much more his household servants? Luke 6:40 40. The disciple is not above his master, but every one shall be to his…

12. Rejoice you, and leap for joy: for your reward is great in heaven: for so did they persecute the prophets who were before you. Luke 6:20-26 20. And he, lifting up his eyes on the disciples, said, Happy are you poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.

41. And whoever shall constrain you to one mile, go with him two. Luke 6:29-30 29. To him who strikes you on one cheek offer also the other, and from him who takes away your cloak, do not forbid your coat also.

MATTHEW 5:42; LUKE 6:34-35 Matthew 5:42

48. You shall, therefore, be perfect, as your Father who is in heaven is perfect. Luke 6:27-36 27. But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies: do good to those who hate you.

24 With what measure you measure, the same shall be measured to you. Luke 6:37-42 37. Judge not, and you shall not be judged: condemn not, and you shall not be condemned: forgive, and it shall be forgiven to you.

14. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the road, which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Luke 6:31 31. And as you wish that men should do to you, do you also to them likewise.

20. Therefore from their fruits you shall know them. Luke 6:43-45 43. For the tree is not good which yields rotten fruit; and the tree is not rotten which yields good fruit.

23. And then will I confess to them, I never knew you depart from me, you who work iniquity. Luke 6:46 46. And why call you me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

29. For he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes. Luke 6:47-49 47. Whoever comes to me, and hears my sayings, and does them, I will show you to whom he is like.

28. Therefore the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath. Luke 6:1-5 1. And it happened that, on the second-first Sabbath, he was passing through the cornfields; and his disciples were plucking ears of corn, and were eating, rubbing them in their hands.

12. And he vehemently threatened them that they should not make him known. Luke 6:11 11. And they were filled with madness, and talked with each other what they should do to Jesus.

5. And when he had looked round upon them with indignation, grieving on account of the blindness of their heart, he saith to the man, Stretch out thy hand; and he stretched it out, and his hand was restored to soundness like the other. Luke 6:6-10 6. And it happened also on anot…

23. All these evil things proceed from within, and pollute the man. Luke 6:39 39. And he spoke a parable to them,

Jude a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them which are called and sanctified of God the Father, and reserved to Jesus Christ: Mercy to you and peace and love be multiplied. This Epistle is attributed to Saint Jude the Apostle, brother of James the less, and Simo…

The rich man does not perceive his vanity and misery before he dies, or perishes otherwise, as testifies Psalm 75 on this wise: The proud shall be robbed and sleep their sleep, and the mighty shall be able to do nothing with their hands. Contrariwise the hungry cannot tell how f…

These words must not be taken simply, but in this sense: give to him that asks on a just cause beeing poore, though be cannot requite you againe, nay, though he had done you wrong, and were yours enemie. This exposition is plaine, Luk. 6. for hauing set downe his commandment for…

I. Christs own example, which in morall duties is a perfect rule: Now though he had little need to pray in respect of himselfe, for he did neuer sinne, yet how often, and how long, and with what feruencie did he give himselfe to this duty? he spent whole nights in prayer, Luk. 6…

Do not even the publicans the same? And (Luke 6:33-34): If you do good to them which do good to you, what thanks have you? For sinners also do the same.

Say then with sweet Herbert in his Poems — Sin is still hammering my heart, to a hardness void of love, Let suppling grace to cross his art drop from above. 9. Be much in layings out: mental and spiritual treasures have this strange property, that the more you lay out the more y…

7. How violent was Christ about our salvation! He was in an agony; he continued all night in prayer (Luke 6:12). He wept, he fasted, he died a violent death; he rose violently out of the grave.

Where the command is doubled; indeed, not only simple rejoicing, but the highest degree of that duty comes within the command (Psalm 132:9, 16): Shout for joy, all you that are upright in heart. And (Luke 6:22-23) they are bid, to leap for joy, when about the most difficult part…

Not only those of some particular persuasion or denomination, but (without regard to that) such as have been zealous in fearing God, and working righteousness have been, in many places, very much spoken against. Our blessed Savior has told his disciples what treatment of this ki…

David, who ventured his life to save his father's sheep (1 Samuel 17:34), had many servants that ventured their lives for him (2 Samuel 21:17; 23:15). To this purpose may be applied that proverb which Christ often uses, with what measure you measure shall it be measured to you a…

And again, you have it, (Matthew 14:23) And when he had sent the multitude away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray; and when the evening was come, he was there alone. And (Luke 6:12) It is said, He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God…

As, it is a note of similitude, not equality, either of measure or manner; it only implies, that there is some correspondent action, something like done on our part. So, (Luke 6:36) Be merciful, [as] your heavenly Father is merciful. As, notes the certainty of the truth, though…

Secondly; For the other word [illegible], or much speaking. Every long prayer is not forbidden; for our Lord Jesus himself continued all night in prayer (Luke 6:12). And in extraordinary duties of fasting, length seems to be very necessary; (Esther 4:16) they fasted and prayed t…

The Tongue is the Index of the Heart. If you broach a Vessel that which is within will come out; by that which comes out of the Mouth, you may Guess what is within in the Heart, Luke 6 45. Out of the abundance of the Heart the mouth speaks. 6. Good discourse is beneficial, Job 6…

No love of Christ should encourage us to cast off duty, but continue it: he takes himself to be honored, when his people obey (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12): "Therefore also we pray always for you, that God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of…

Oh, this does not become men — surely it does not become Christians! Would you have your consolation here (Luke 6)? Your portion here (Psalm 7)?

With Matthew 5:44-45: Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you; that you may be the children of your Father which is in Heaven, for he makes his sun to rise on the evil, and on the…

We draw an ill picture of God in our mind, as always angry and ready to destroy. No — the Lord is kind, and that many times to the ungrateful, and to the evil (Luke 6:35). We should all enlarge our thoughts more about God's merciful nature that we may love him more; that we may…

They are not so divested of all human respects. Yet therein the saints moderate themselves, they do not count these things their highest consolation; so it is said of the wicked, Luke 6:24. "Woe to you that are rich: for you have received your consolation." And Luke 16:25. "You…

1 That damned sinners will be stripped naked, and deprived of all the good things they had in this life. Wicked men are called the men of this world (Psalm 17:14); they have their portion and consolation in this life (Luke 6:24 and 16:25). Many of them fare well, and prosper in…

The Spouse's breasts are compared to clusters of grapes (Song of Solomon 7:7), to show how fertile she was. Though the lowest degree of grace may bring salvation to you, yet not so much glory to God: it was not a spark of love Christ commended in Mary, but much love, [illegible]…

Faith is the queen of the graces: faith is the condition of the gospel. Your faith has saved you (Luke 7:50). Not your tears.

My bowels are troubled for him, I will surely have mercy upon him. Ephraim is troubled for sinning, and God's bowels were troubled for Ephraim, the woman in the Gospel stood at Jesus's feet weeping, and a pardon followed (Luke 7:47). Therefore I say, her sins which are many, are…

Thus (Luke 11:4) has it, Forgive us our sins, for even we forgive. (Rheims Testament on Luke 7:47) the papists take it otherwise, who say, Forgive us as we forgive, making our forgiving a cause, for which God is moved to forgive us in temporal punishments: whereas our forgiving…

Answer. We do not here pray that we might make God's name holy, as though we could add something to it to make it holy: but that we might be means to declare and make manifest to the world by the right usage of it, that it is holy, pure and honorable. The like phrase is used (Lu…

3. A righteous man's prayers are so excellent, because Jesus Christ presents them to his Father: prayer as it comes from the godly is mixed with sin, but Christ takes out the dross of their prayers, and presents nothing but pure gold; he dips the prayers of the righteous in his…

Reason 1. (Luke 7:47) Many sins are forgiven her, because she loved much. From which they gather that the woman here spoken of, was justified and had the pardon of sins by love.

Luke 7:13: And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said to her, Weep not. To be above the stroke of passions, is a condition equal to angels: to be in a state of sorrow, without the sense of sorrow, is a disposition beneath beasts; but duly to regulate our sorro…

Hence (John 5:40), our Lord says, You will not come to me, that you may get life: and (Matthew 23), at the close, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered you, and you would not; this was it that did aggravate their sin, that He would, and they would not. So (Psal…

It is fully satisfied; and then for their consolation; seeing the Father put his own Son to suffer, and to so great suffering for them, what is it that they may not confidently expect from such a fountain? 3. This serves to hold out the wonderful great obligation of the elect to…

But 5thly, consider — all these are servants and preachers under the Old Testament, and you may be disposed to think that under the gospel, when the veil is laid by, and when Christ Himself, their Lord and Master, and His apostles come to preach the gospel, it should be otherwis…

When he cured the paralytic man (Luke 2:12), they were amazed and glorified God. When he raised Jairus's daughter (Luke 7:16), there came a fear on all, and they glorified God. 3. In all his life he went about doing good; and sought (John 8:49) to glorify his Father.

As Arminians expound many that Christ died for (Matthew 20:28) to be all and every man without exception (1 Timothy 2:6, Hebrews 2:9, 1 John 2:1) so they are debtors to us for the same liberty. Malachi 4: he shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children (Luke 1:16), many…

If God give you a heart desirous and careful to maintain your peace, though it be not so lively as sometimes it was, yet it is certainly true and good. A third sign and effect of the life of righteousness is that which our Savior gives (Luke 7:47): "Her sins are forgiven her, wh…

If sorrow for other men's offenses makes Paul change his voice, much more are men to do it for their own. Peter, in his repentance left his presumptuous speaking, and fell to bitter and secret tears: and so did the woman that stood at the feet of Christ weeping, and washed his f…

Now because he might without controversy, rightly attribute these things to himself, in derision of them he answers for them; Surely we acknowledge, that he which is able to do such things, must needs be the true God. Word for word it is, we will say he is just: but the word jus…

17. And this report concerning him was spread throughout all Judea, and all the neighboring country. Luke 7:11. And it happened, that he went into a city. In all the miracles of Christ, we must attend to the rule which Matthew lays down.

For we must observe what is added, that there was a great concourse of people from all directions; from which we infer, that his fame was very widely spread. "Qu il a ete merveilleusement grand bruit de luy par tout le pays." — "That there was an astonishingly great noise about…

The kingdom of heaven means the renovation of the Church, or the prosperous condition of the Church, such as was then beginning to appear by the preaching of the Gospel. In this sense, Christ tells us, that "he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than John," (Luke 7:28…

“Et en ce mesme instant son garcon fut gairi;” — “and at that very instant his servant was healed.” Luke 7:1-10 1. Now, when he had finished all his words in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum.

6. And blessed is he who shall not be offended at me. Luke 7:18-23 18. And the disciples of John informed him of all these things;

19. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Lo, a man who is a glutton and a wine-bibber, "A glutton and a drunkard," a friend to publicans and sinners; and Wisdom is justified by her children. Luke 7:29-35 29. And all the people hearing, and the publicans, justif…

15. He that has ears to hear, let him hear. Luke 7:24-28 24. And when the messengers of John had departed, he began to say to the multitude concerning John, What went you out into the wilderness to see?

prepare the way of the Lord. (Malachi 3:1; Luke 7:27.) In short, he had pointed out Christ with the finger, and had declared him to be the only Son of God.

They believe not this report, nor take any serious notice of it. This was the ministry of the Baptist, and they who received it not, rejected the counsel of God concerning their salvation, Luke 7:10. And so perished in their sins.

Not that he has a better object to love, but because the love with which he loves her, is like himself, and more excellent than hers. 2. There is no such refreshing thing in all the work of creation of Christ, no such feast, as the warming of a sinner's heart with love to him is…

3. The third thing in the verse, comes-in by way of question, either to heighten the loveliness that is in Christ's Bride; what is it that is to be seen in her? As, (Luke 7:24) etc. what went you out to see? No common sight: or, it is to meet with an objection that strangers may…

He bids them do no violence, accuse no man falsely; but be content with your pay, or wages (Luke 3:14). Neither did our Savior, when he so highly commended the centurion for his faith, rebuke him for his profession; but extols him for taking the ground and argument of his faith,…

Discourse with such a soul about his troubles, and he will tell you, that all the sorrows that ever he had in this world, loss of estate, health, children, or whatever else, are but flea-bitings to this; this swallows up all other troubles. See how that Christian Niobe (Luke 7:3…

Religion is a most sweet and pleasant and amiable thing: let not us by our indiscretion make it a task to ourselves, and a terror to others. The more the children of God are children of wisdom, the more they justify it, and its ways (Luke 7:35). Christian prudence is very much t…

Among the Jews they were called Fools in Israel, 2 Samuel 13:13. and so Proverbs 6:32. Whoso commits adultery with a woman, lacketh understanding. And sinners, Luke 7. 37. And behold a woman that was a [[•]inner;] that is, an eminent notorious sinner: by which term, the Scriptur…

Ah Lord! if I mourn not with Sion, neither shall I rejoyce with her. O, were mine eyes opened, and my heart sensible and tender, I might see cause enough to melt into Tears; and like that Christian Niobe, Luke 7. 38. to lie weeping at the feet of Christ. Lord, What stupidity is…

1. There is a creditor to whom the debt is due, and that is God. (Luke 7:41) when he would set out God's mercy, he says, There was a certain creditor, which had two debtors, etc. God is there set forth under the notion and similitude of a creditor.

He can cast body and soul into hell (Matthew 10:28). God is thus offended, and by saucy dust that is ready to fly in his face, inconsiderable man; and yet the Lord pardons, and this he does freely (Luke 7:42). He frankly forgave them both.

To magnify God argues a high esteem, or a due sense of his greatness. Again, God is said to be justified (Luke 7:29): the people and the publicans justified God. What is it to justify God?

So it is here with God; it is called counsel, not as if it were an arbitrary thing whether we did regard it or no; but because of God's mild condescension, when men are in danger of perishing for ever, the Lord gives us counsel: You are in a miserable estate, he is pleased to te…

Will you again relapse? So (Luke 7:47): for her sins are forgiven her, therefore she loved much. Grace melts the heart.

The reproach of Christ is enough to weigh down all the honors in the world, (Hebrews 11:26), Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. 3. If your hearts be sincere with God, you will not be ashamed of his ways: For, Wisdom is justified of her c…

Now since his word bears up such a weight, all the church's weight, and our own burden leans on the promise of God, he can, by the power of his word, do the greatest things without visible means. Luke 7:7: But say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. Therefore his people m…

A fourth sort are such who have wallowed long in their own sorrows and their own performances, and services, and [reconstructed: at last] find (and therefore are forced to [reconstructed: confess]) there is neither power, nor pardon, nor peace there to be had, for their guilt an…

1. The bath of tears: go into this bath; Peter had sullied and defiled himself with sin, and he washed himself with penitential tears. Mary Magdalen who was an impure sinner, stood at Jesus' feet weeping (Luke 7:38). Mary's tears did wash her heart, as well as Christ's feet.

Tears for sin must be like the myrrh which drops from the tree freely without cutting or forcing. Mary Magdalene's repentance was voluntary; she stood weeping (Luke 7). She came to Christ with ointment in her hand, with love in her heart, with tears in her eyes.

A fountain in the garden makes it pleasant; that heart is most delightful to God which has a fountain of sorrow running in it. Mary stood at Christ's feet weeping (Luke 7:38). Her tears were more fragrant and sweet than her ointment.

You may love other things in excess, but you cannot love Christ in excess. Mary loved much (Luke 7:47), but not too much. If Christ cannot be prized enough, he cannot be loved too much; the angels in heaven cannot love Christ to his worth.

Objection one: I am discouraged from going to Christ to cure me because of my unworthiness. Just like the centurion who sent to Christ about his sick servant (Luke 7:6): Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof. So says many a trembl…

Christ will pardon a weak faith — he will honor a great faith. It was not a sparkle of love Christ commended in Mary Magdalen, but love flaming (Luke 7:47): she loved much. Christians, would you be as that beloved disciple who leaned on the bosom of Jesus? Would you have much lo…

Only these, whether old or young, that are tali modo visibili federati — such as professedly and visibly in covenant, and called (Acts 2:39) — are warrantably baptized. Hence they must be so in covenant as they be called by the word of the covenant, for they cannot be baptized a…

2. When you know not that you are poor, miserable, blind, naked (Revelation 3:17; Matthew 9:11, 12, 13; Luke 15:2; Luke 19:7), and you were never in Christ's hospital, and are whole and need no medicine. 3. You loathe Christ but know it not (Luke 7:44, 45), you love Christ as a…

One says he will go work in his father's vineyard, it may be he purposes to work, but yet he works not (Matthew 21:30), nor is a practical purpose of heart to obey either obedience or faith formally. 5. If to be justified by faith in Christ as not only Jesus who saves, but as Lo…

12. He that has the Son has life: He that believes has the Son dwelling in his heart by faith (Ephesians 3:17). 2. Faith, before it come to seed and full harvest brings solid peace and comfort and saves: So Christ to the blind man (Luke 18:42), your faith ⟨ in non-Latin alphabet…

Hesiod says, Hell is as far under the earth, as Heaven is above it. Luke 8:31: The Devils besought Christ, that he would not command them to go into the deep. Hell is in the deep.

7. If you would hear the Word aright, be not only attentive, but retentive: lay the Word up in your memories and hearts. (Luke 8:15): The seed on the good ground are they, who having heard the Word keep it. The Greek word ⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩, to keep, signifies to hold the…

In a prosperous estate there is more burden; many look at the shining and glittering of prosperity, but not at the burden; Plus oneris. (1.) The burden of care; therefore Christ calls riches, cares (Luke 8:14). A rose has its prickles, so have riches; we think them happy that fl…

He is the prince of the airy part of the little world in man, as well as of the elemental region in the great world, and so can raise unnatural storms and vapors that shall darken reason, and cause such thunders and lightnings as shall hurl all into black confusion — such that i…

Possess your souls in patience: as if he should say, If you would save your souls, you must labor to bear all crosses that fall on you, with patience. In the parable, Luke 8:15, They that receive the seed in good ground, are they, which with an honest and good heart hear the wor…

The second kind of faith is temporary faith, so called because it lasts but for a time and season, and commonly not to the end of a man's life. This kind of faith is noted to us in the parable of the seed, that fell in the stony ground (Luke 8:23). And there be two differences o…

We are justified freely, not of the law, not by the law, without the law, without works, not of works, not according to works, not of us, not by the works of the law but by faith (Galatians 2:16). All boasting excluded: only believe (Luke 8:50). These distinctions, whereby works…

After the same manner Solomon teaches us to retort this temptation — Proverbs 5:20-21: 'And why, my son, will you be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger? For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his goings.' What if I…

What wonder then that it do them no good? In the end of that parable of the sower (Matthew 13; Mark 4; Luke 8), it is said by the Lord, Take heed how you hear, for whoever has, to him shall be given, etc. If you improve well your hearing, you will get yet more, but so long as yo…

Though he could have made a thousand worlds at a word, yet so low was he, that he had not a foot of ground to lay claim to, or to lean his blessed head on. And if we look to (Luke 8) we will find that he was provided for in his necessity by some few women, such as Mary Magdalen,…

Partly because he was in the whole course of his life more intimate with these, than with the rest of the disciples. You shall see when he raised Jairus his daughter from death to life (Luke 8:51), he suffered no body to go in but Peter, James and John, and the father and mother…

7. Do you hear him so as to prefer God and Christ, and the life to come, above all the sensual pleasures and vain delights, and worldly happiness, which you enjoy here? Religion is obstructed, not soundly received: if your hearts be not taken off from these things (Luke 8:14). T…

They which cried Hosanna to the Son of David, shortly after cried, Crucify him, crucify him. The cross and persecution, will make men call the Gospel in question, if not forsake it (Luke 8:13). The multitude of people among us are like wax, and are fit to take the stamp, and imp…

Hence we learn, that there is a felicity after the time of this life, and that is, to receive and embrace the doctrine of the Gospel. So says Christ elsewhere (Luke 8:21 and 11:18; Matthew 7:26). True happiness stands in our reconciliation with God in Christ.

23. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. Luke 8:17 17. For there is nothing hid that shall not be revealed, and nothing concealed that shall not be known and come to light.

He who has ears to hear, let him hear. Luke 8:16 16. And no man, when he has lighted a candle, covered it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a candlestick, that those who enter may see the light.

41. And they feared with a great fear, and said among themselves, Who is this: for even the wind and the sea obey him? Luke 8:22-25 22. And it happened on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples.

20. And he went away, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all wondered. Luke 8:26-39 26. And they sailed to the country of the Gaderenes, which is opposite to Galilee.

34. And he said to her, Daughter, your faith has cured you: go in peace, and be delivered from your scourge. Luke 8:40-48 40. And it happened, while Jesus was returning, the multitude received him: for they were all waiting for him.

43. And he charged them earnestly, that no man should know it: and commanded them to give her something to eat. Luke 8:49-56 49. While he was still speaking, one came from the house of the ruler of the synagogue, saying to him, Your daughter is dead, do not trouble the Master.

28. but he said, Nay, rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. Luke 8:19-21 19. And his mother and his brethren came to him, and could not reach him on account of the crowd.

25. For to him who has it shall be given; and he that has not, even that which he has shall be taken away from him. Luke 8:1-10, 18 1. And it happened afterwards, and he was traveling through each city and village, “Il alloit de ville en ville, et de village en village;” — “he w…

20. There are others who have received the seed into a good soil, who hear the word, and receive it, and bear fruit, some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred. Luke 8:11-15 11. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

There is probability in the conjecture that, as Christ frequently, when he wished to try the faith of men, delayed for a short time to relieve them, so he subjected this blind man to the same scrutiny. The second difficulty may be speedily removed; for we have seen, on a former…

It is more probable, however, that Mark names her alone, because she first obtained a sight of Christ, and in a peculiar manner, in preference to the others, and yet that her companions also saw Christ in their order, and that on this account Matthew attributes it to all them in…

But his divine glory broke forth and shone, when at twelve years old, he disputed with the doctors in the temple; in that he appeared, in some measure, as the Lion of the tribe of Judah. And so after he entered on his public ministry, his marvelous humility and meekness was mani…

And that we may be the more assured and certified of this, we will compare this song of Salve Regina with Scripture, and see how they accord. But if it does not agree with God's word, I require you for the honor of God to leave it, and cleave to the word of God: and so doing you…

This appeares by the opposition of the next verse unto this, lay not up for your selues earthly treasures, but lay up for your selues treasures in heaven. This was Esaus practise, who sold his birthright for a messe of pottage, Heb. 12. 16. and the sinne of the Gadarens, that up…

III. Many that professe religion are deceiued, that measure their grace and goodnes in religion by feeling in their own hearts: but we must not relie thereon, for true faith may be in the heart without inward sense: againe, the deuill may put false comforts many times into a man…

His mother and natural relations were poor, and not able to help him: and he was maintained by the charity of some of his disciples while he lived. So we read in Luke 8, at the beginning, of certain women that followed him, and ministered to him of their substance. He was so poo…

In this also the hypocrite apes and imitates the believer (Acts 8:13): Then Simon himself believed also. (Luke 8:13) These are they which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. Does the precious eye of faith, discovering the transcendent excellencies that are…

First, If there be such power in this to help to suffering, then surely there is power in this to help to service: you that know what these things mean, be ashamed to complain of any difficulty in any service. Secondly, hence we see cause much to bless God that reveals such thin…

Love being peculiar to a husband, to him he says, Let him love his wife: and reverence being peculiar to a wife, to her he says, let the wife see that she reverence her husband. The direction in every of those several epistles which were sent to the seven churches of Asia, (in t…

3. Let us to this purpose consider the general issues of men's entering into temptation; and that of bad and good men, of ungrounded professors, and of the choicest saints. For the first I shall offer but one or two texts of scripture (Luke 8:13): they on the rock are they which…

The people meant as they spoke, when they were willing to come under the obedience of the Word, God gives them that testimony, The people have well said, but O that there were such a heart in them! (Deuteronomy 5:28-29). They may receive it, and may seem affected with it, and ha…

Now this delight (though good) I speak not of, because it may be in temporaries, who have a taste of the good word, to invite them to seek for more (Hebrews 6:4), and is a fruit of common illumination. The stony ground received the word with joy (Luke 8:13), and though it may af…

He that receives the word into good ground is he that hears the word and understands it. And (Luke 8:13) they that hear the word and keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. It is not enough to hear the word, but we must understand it; and yet that is not all, an adversary…

And "the [reconstructed: fervent] effectual prayer" (James 5:16) — that prayer which has a spirit and a life in it; not only prayer is required, but fervency, not dead and drowsy devotion. So (Luke 8:18) not only it is required that we hear, but to take heed how we hear, with wh…

God's servants must wait for his promises with patience, and self-denial (Romans 2:7): 'To them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory, and honor, and immortality, eternal life.' (Luke 8:15) 'Those in the good ground are they which in an honest and good heart, h…

Matthew 13:22: he instances in the cares of the World. And Luke instances in the pleasures of this Life, he adds voluptuous living (Luke 8:14). And Mark has it more generally, the cares of this Life (Mark 4:19), and the lusts of other things choke the Word.

5. Though there must be a friendship to all, yet some are to be chosen for our intimacy: our Lord Christ had Peter, James, and John (Matthew 17:1; Matthew 26:37): He took with him Peter, and the two sons of Zebedee. When he raised Jairus' daughter, he suffered none to go in but…

Some seem greedily to catch at promises at first, but their ardor is soon spent; and when it is a troublesome business to wait upon God, they give it over. This is the faith and hope of temporaries, but the good ground brings forth fruit with patience (Luke 8:15). God's children…

He knows the Christian's privileges lie in pronouns, but his duty in adverbs; it must not be only bonum, good, but it must be bene, that good must be right done. Here the almost Christian fails, he does the same duties that others do for the matter, but he does them not in the s…

The means of subsistence is in Scripture called our life, because it is the very sinews of life. The woman in the Gospel spent all her living upon the physicians (Luke 8:43), she spent her whole life upon the physicians, because she spent her means by which she should live. It i…

Though he fills us, and the angels who have larger capacities to receive, yet he has never the less himself — as the sun, though it shines, has never the less light. Luke 8:46: I perceive that virtue has gone out of me. Though God lets virtue go out of him, yet he has never the…

If a person had a disease in his body — a pleurisy or cancer — he would use all means for a cure. The woman in the gospel who had a bleeding disease spent her whole estate upon the physicians (Luke 8:43). Be more earnest to have your soul cured than your body.

If they were not thus immaterial, how could they enter into bodies and possess them, as the Scripture tells us they have, even a legion into one man? Luke 8:30. one body cannot thus enter into another. Secondly, the devils are spiritual substances, not qualities, or evil motions…

Fourthly, this is the season when the evil one Satan comes to tempt. What we finde call'd the time of tribulation, Matthew 13:22. we finde in the same parable, Luke 8:13. call'd the time of temptation. Indeed they both meet; seldome does God afflict us, but Satan addeth temptati…

But the act of touching was conjoined with the act of hearing: Who has touched me? Yet the act of hearing had no causative influence in the drawing virtue out of Christ, but only the act of touching did extract the virtue, as Christ says (Luke 8:50), (Mark 5:36): Fear not, 〈in n…

And what a trembling hope have they that they be, and are to fear they shall be in the condition of Apostate Angels tomorrow? What says then Christ (Matthew 9:22; Mark 5:34; Mark 10:52; Luke 8:58; Luke 5:20, 24; Mark 5:34; Mark 9:24) indeed and much more says the Holy Ghost of o…

He struck at Peter's salvation, insomuch that Christ says, If I wash you not, you have no part in me. So again, when the Samaritans would not receive Christ, the disciples, James and John said, Lord, will you that we command fire from Heaven to consume them? (Luke 9:54). They di…

And so was our Savior Christ by Herod, when he was but a babe: whereupon his Parents fled with him into Egypt for his safety. And answerable to their infancy was the rest of their life; full of danger, full of trouble: And as it was with them, so is it with others; second Timoth…

Some there be that know but little, and yet have a good mind to religion; but when they see some do nothing else, but make a mock and a jest of religion, they are thereby daunted and held back from the open profession, and embracing of it. But if we look to be saved by faith, as…

This petition puts us in mind to bewail these wants. Our Savior, when he saw the Jews as sheep without a shepherd, he had compassion on them: and he wept over Jerusalem, because they knew not the things which belong to their peace (Luke 9:11). Therefore when preachers want, to h…

The Second ground is, the commandement of God, touching the crosse, and obedience unto him therein. This commandement is expressed, Luk. 9. 23. where we are commanded to take vp our crosse euery day, and follow Christ. Abraham was commanded, with his own hands to sacrifice his o…

If you believed that the way to heaven is so narrow, and that holiness is so extensive, could you possibly with any seriousness reflect on your heart and way and not be frightened? But the truth is, this word gets not leave to sink in you as the Word of God; therefore our Lord s…

The last word of his prayer is, Turn me and I shall be turned, or convert me, and I shall be converted; he sees that when all is done, he must cleanse his hands and leave the matter to God, I cannot, but you can work the work, and it ends sweetly in words of faith, for you are t…

And then when he came to his public ministry, he has no great folks for his followers and disciples, but a few poor fishermen; over and above whom he does not exalt himself loftily, but humbles himself to wash their feet, and to serve them. And to hold forth this a little furthe…

The Saints in this life are narrow vessels; and such old bottles could not contain the new wine that Christ drinks with his, in his Father's Kingdom (Matthew 17). When the Disciples see the glory of Christ in the Mount, Peter says (Verse 4), Lord, it is good for us to be here: b…

Answer 1. It is true the Gospel is contrary to nature, and not one article more thwarts and crosses carnal wisdom, than that of imputed righteousness; that crosses moral philosophy so much, as we can more easily believe the rising of the dead, or any the greatest miracle, the dr…

She could neither have loved him nor have sought him, nor have so known the worth of him, if he had not loved her first, and if she in some measure had not had him: But when she says she found him not, the meaning is, not in that feeling and comfort, not in that measure she soug…

Christ had right and title to all, all was his due; yet he was much in prayer; how dare we go about any business without his leave, counsel, and blessing, and usurp any of his blessings without begging them by prayer. 2. While he prayed he was transfigured (Luke 9:29), which tea…

The use of it was double. 1. To convey Moses and Elias out of their sight, when this conference was ended: therefore some expound that which is said (Luke 9:34), they feared as they entered into the cloud after this manner, the disciples feared when they saw Moses and Elias ente…

Secondly, hence I gather, that there is no consultation, or deliberation, to be used at any time, touching the holding, or not holding of our religion. He that will follow Christ, may not put his hand to the plow, and then look back again to his friends, to see what they will sa…

Answer: God is faithful, and will not lay on us more than we shall be able to bear (1 Corinthians 10:3). By this we are admonished, not to make a reckoning in this world, of pleasure, and delight, as though the Gospel were a Gospel of ease, and as we use to say, a gospel made of…

The disciples of Christ would have excluded one that cast out deuills in the name of Christ, but did not follow him, and Christ forbad them. Luk 9:49. Lastly, we here see the propertie of deceiuers is to make a division betweene the Pastors and the people.

One is blindness of mind, which makes us that we see not how little our faith and repentance is, and how great is the mass of our corruption: the second, is our unbelief in the article of life everlasting. The third duty is, that we must neither look to the right or left hand, o…

Again, hence I gather, that in the prime of the Church in the Apostles' days, when the Church of the New Testament was but in founding, the ministry was in contempt: and (as it may appear out of other places) the ministers were not only neglected, or contemned, but reviled, pers…

In whom my soul delights.] By this testimony we may conceive that Jesus Christ is not only well pleasing to God his Father, but is also that his only beloved Son: so as there is no obtaining of any grace, but by the means of his intercession. In this sense it is alleged by the E…

the unclean spirits. Luke 9:1-2 1. And having called the twelve,

38. For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. Luke 9:26 26. For whosoever shall be ashamed of me, and of my words, of h…

Verily I say to you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city. Luke 9:3-5 3. And he said to them, Carry nothing for the journey, neither a staff, nor a scrip, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two coats each.

MATTHEW 8:19-22; LUKE 9:57-62 Matthew 8:19-22

13. And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many diseased persons, and healed them. Luke 9:6 6. And they departed, and went round about through the villages “Eux donc estans partis alloyent de village en village a l’entour;” — “they then having set out, went from vi…

16. But when Herod heard that, he said, It is John whom I beheaded, he has risen from the dead. Luke 9:7-9 7. Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him, and was perplexed, because it was said by some that Christ had risen from the dead;

44. Now they who had eaten were about five thousand men. Luke 9:10-17 10. And the Apostles, having returned,

And Peter answering said to him, Thou art the Christ. Luke 9:18-20 18. And it happened, when he was alone praying, his disciples also were with him, and he asked them, saying, Who do the multitudes say that I am?

38. For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him likewise will the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. Luke 9:21-27 Mark 9:1

8. And suddenly, when they looked around, they saw no other person, but Jesus alone with them. Luke 9:28-36 28. And it happened about eight days after these words, and he took Peter, and James, and John, and went up to a mountain to pray.

27. But Jesus stretched out his hand, and raised him; and he stood up. Luke 9:37-43 37. And it happened on the following day, while they were going down from the mountain, a great multitude met him.

37. Whoever shall receive one of such children in my name receives me; and whoever receives me receives not me, but him that sent me. Luke 9:43-48 43. But while all were wondering at everything that he did, he said to his disciples,

13. But I say to you, That Elijah has come, and they have done to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him. Luke 9:36 36. And they kept silence, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.

40. For he who is not against us is for us. Luke 9:49-56 49. And John answering said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbade him, because he follows not with us.

As we must bewaile the wants that hinder the doing of Gods will in our selues and others; so we must stirre up our hearts unto heauenly desires after those graces whereby Gods will may be done. As first, that we may have grace to denie our selues, our own wills and affections; f…

Like those choleric disciples that presently would command fire to come down from heaven to consume those who had affronted them by refusing to give them entertainment; only that God by such a severe miracle might vindicate their reputation, and revenge the contempt that was don…

As it is (Isaiah 28:25). And hence that expression (Luke 9:62): He that puts his hand to the plow, and looks back, is not fit for the Kingdom of Heaven. The meaning is, that as he that plows, must have his eyes always forward, to guide and direct his hand in casting the furrows…

He was looked upon as a very good man in his day, and not without cause, who yet had such an unhappy temper, and was sometimes so transported with passion, that his friend would say of him, he had grace enough for ten men, and yet not enough for himself. All the disciples of Jes…

Or, was he the author of a sect who is the great creator of unity, and who died to break down partition walls, and to slay all enmities (Ephesians 2:14-16; John 11:52), that he might gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad? Was he the author of a se…

To scoff at the mistakes and weaknesses of our brethren, is the way to provoke and harden them, but not to convince and reform them. They who think to justify this way of ridiculing those that differ from them, by the instance of Elijah's jeering the priests of Baal, perhaps kno…

But this cross it may be shall be but now and then. Yes, Luke 9:23 He must take up his cross daily. But if every day, I hope it is an easie cross.

As the Psalmist says, In your light O God we shall see light: so in the light of God we shall see nothing but light: now when Gods light does shine into us, it does discover darkness; but time will come, though Gods light shall shine never so brightly, we shall see no darkness,…

Fourthly, this opposition of wicked men against the godly, is an universal opposition. As first, opposing all that do belong unto the ways of godliness: as Luke 9:53 it is said of the Samaritans, that they would not receive Christ, because his face was as though he would go to J…

Yet though Men be convinced of this, their stubborn Will stands out▪ and will not yield up it self to the conviction. Further, It argues from this acknowledged truth, That all the delights and pleasures it this World, are but a miserable portion, and that it is the highest folly…

ROMANS 14. 3. Let not him who eats not judge him that eats, for God has received him. LUKE 9. 54, 55. His Disciples said, Lord, wilt thou that we command Fire to come down from Heaven and consume them? But he turned and rebuked them, and said, You know not what manner of Spirit…

Those who have fled for Refuge to lay hold of the Hope set before them. Hearing of Christ or hearkening to him, Luke 9:35. This is my beloved Son, hear ye him, or hearken unto him.

2. For the other wile. As Satan does transform himself into an angel of light, and cover his base designs with plausible pretences; for instance, revenge shall be accounted zeal: he will disguise it so, as that the very apostles shall count it zeal for the glory of God, when the…

He said to Peter, Get behind me, Satan, you are an offense to me. At another time, the Disciples, when their Master was slighted and contemned, they thought certainly they should do as Elijah did, call for fire from heaven to consume them (Luke 9:54). Revenge will often go for z…

Luke 9:23 — And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself. Whoever reads the Gospel with a single eye, and sincere intention, will find, that our Blessed Lord took all opportunities of reminding his disciples that his kingdom was not of this world;…

A sudden thought may be none of ours, it may be unwelcome, and find no entertainment with us; but set your hearts to it. (Luke 9:44) Let these things sink down into your hearts; let them go to the quick. (Proverbs 18:1) Through desire a man having separated himself, intermeddles…

If God's pardon helps us not, we are forever miserable. The Apostles had many failings: sometimes they manifested a weak faith, sometimes hardness of heart; sometimes passionateness when they met with disrespect (Luke 9); yet Christ returns this general acknowledgment of them wh…

Ans. They have great immunities: kings' children have great privileges and freedoms; they do not pay custom (Matthew 17:6). God's children are privileged persons; they are privileged from the hurt of everything (Luke 10:19). Nothing shall by any means hurt you.

This perseverance is comfort: 1. In the loss of worldly comforts. When our goods may be taken away, our grace cannot (Luke 10:42). Mary has chosen the better part, which cannot be taken from her.

There shall no evil befall you: it is not said no trouble, but no evil. God's children are privileged persons; they are privileged from the hurt of everything (Luke 10:19). Nothing shall by any means hurt you.

God has promised to supply the weak Christian with so much grace as he shall need, till he comes to Heaven. Beside the two pence which the good Samaritan left to pay for the cure of the poor wounded man, he passed his word for all that he should need beside (Luke 10:35). So, Chr…

Every injury done to a saint, Christ takes as done to him in Heaven; every temptation is a striking at Christ, and he is touched with the feeling of our temptations. 2. Christ's succor in temptation; as the good Samaritan first had compassion on the wounded man, there was sympat…

And lastly, the Church in the Old Testament believed in Christ to come: but, now the Church believes in Christ, which is already come and exhibited: in all which respects, the Church in the New Testament doth exceed the Church of the Old. Now, where the Text saith, God provided…

Indeed in respect of men who know not the causes of things, many chances there are: but so, as that they are ordered and come to pass by God's providence. By chance there came down a certain [reconstructed: priest] that way (Luke 10:31).

Chance is, when any thing comes to pass, the cause thereof being unknown not simply but in respect of man: and therefore in regard of men which know not the reason of things, we may say there is chance: and so the spirit of God speaks, 'Time and chance comes to them all' (Eccles…

Now the manner of loving God is to love him with all our heart and strength. Luke 10:27: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your thought. As Bernard said: The measure of loving God is to love him…

And in such another place, and among such a people, Who has believed our report? as here the prophet does. It is said (Luke 10:17) and (Mark 6:30) the disciples returned, and with joy told Christ all that they had done, and how the devils were subject to them, they made account…

For 1. a correction of the human will seems to import a jarring and a discord; 2. Christ desired that, the contrary of which, he knew was from eternity decreed of God. 3. The Law of God is so spiritual, strict and holy, that it requires not only a conformity to it, and our will,…

Zephaniah 3:10: From beyond the river of Ethiopia, my suppliants, even the daughters of my dispersed shall come. 4. Their names are particularly enrolled in the Lamb's book of life (Luke 10:20; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 20:15). As citizens of some famous incorporation, or sena…

And the means God prescribes to us are these. First, as ever you would have Christ, labor wisely to ponder upon and consider how dead you are without Christ, for you shall never find life by Christ unless you find yourself lost without him (Luke 10:10). "Christ came to seek and…

Thus he did Haman, and so he does many others, whose climbing makes way for their greater fall. The devil himself was an aspirer, and fell from heaven like lightning (Luke 10:18): I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. And though in show he may seem to befriend many that…

He began to speak and to declare the Gospel both before and after his Resurrection; and they that heard him were especially the Apostles, who being endued by the Holy Ghost declared it first to the Jews, and then to the Gentiles to whom it was continued by various signs and wond…

Nay, you must strive to do greater and weightier matters. You must fulfill the law, according to that saying: Do this and you shall live (Luke 10:18). Faith which you so highly extol, does nothing else but make men careless, idle, and negligent.

Math. 10. 19. 20. Luc. 10. 16. Hence we may gather, the certenty of our religion.

For to them it was said, it is not you that speak, but the spirit of the father in you (Matthew 10:20). Again, he that hears you hears me, he that despises you despises me (Luke 10:16). The Apostles were called of God immediately, taught and inspired immediately, and immediately…

But Paul teaches them and us another lesson, when he commands us to do good to all, suitable to that of our Savior Christ, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, pray for them that hurt you and persecute you (Matthew 9:44). Let us consider t…

This so admirable a work of God then, ought to confirm us in this point, namely, that God will never utterly abandon his church. For although the wicked do rent and tear us in pieces with cursed speakings, and that they slander and abhor us; endeavoring by all means possible to…

It implies that he is not a mortal man, but a heavenly spirit — that he did not fly here at random, but, as became a servant of God, had faithfully performed his duty: and hence it follows that God, the author of the promise, had been treated with indignity and contempt in the p…

Let us learn, even when the reason does not immediately appear, to submit modestly to God, and let us not be ashamed to receive instruction from her who carried in her womb Christ the eternal “wisdom of God,” (1 Corinthians 1:24.) There is nothing which we should more carefully…

12. I say to you, That in that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that day. Luke 10:1. And after these things the Lord appointed That the Apostles had returned to Christ before these seventy were substituted in their place, may be inferred from many circumstances.…

in the day of judgment than for you. Luke 10:13-16 13. Woe to you, Chorazin!

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Luke 10:21 to 22 21.

For whosoever has, it shall be given to him; and whosoever has not, even that which he thinks that he has shall be taken from him. Luke 10:23-24. 23. And turning to his disciples, he said to them privately, Blessed are the eyes that see the things which you see.

And after that, no man ventured to put a question to him. Luke 10:25-37 25. And, lo, a certain lawyer

And these are the diseases remaining yet of the old man: for faith has not yet here reached to its perfection, nor gotten a full power over the flesh. This may you plainly and evidently understand by the parable (Luke 10) of a certain man, who going down from Jerusalem to Jerich…

They used before to have the stream of their desires after other things, or perhaps had their concern divided between this and them; but when they come to answer the expression in the text, of pressing into the kingdom of God, this concern prevails above all others; it lays othe…

Therefore the Scripture assures us, that God has the names of none written, but the names of his own, as Moses says in the former chapter, If you will not forgive the sin of this people, blot me, I pray you, out of your book which you have written. You know me by name, my name i…

But besides this, there is a sovereign kind of judgment you c[]safed to the Prophets and Apostles, determining absolutely in matters of faith & conscience what is to be done, & what is not; and this is the judgment of God himselfe, whereupon the Apostles might say, It seem[]th g…

Again, 2. It implies respectfulness on their part, and also honesty; for, there is now no external thing to commend her to them: Which says, 1. That to the spiritual eye of honest souls, none will be so beautiful as the person that is holy; indeed, sometimes holiness will have a…

And therefore we have great reason to magnify our office, in the execution and performance of which we ought to demean ourselves as fathers, with all gravity and authority; and to let these know whose petulant affronts and scorns tend to the vilifying both of our persons and fun…

First; it signifies the temporal Sabbath, or the recurring seventh day or year, which we are now treating of. And because this was the most principal day of the week, therefore we find that the whole week is denominated from it, a Sabbath (Luke 10:12; Matthew 28:1). Secondly; it…

The Prophets of old did inquire and search, but did not so clearly understand the Gospel, as now it is revealed. Our Savior tells his disciples (Luke 10:24) that many Prophets and Kings had desired to see the things which they saw and had not seen them, and to hear the things wh…

What a man looks on as a [illegible], or thing by the by, he will never be violent for; but that which he makes his business, he will be industrious about. A man looks upon his trade as the only thing to get a livelihood by, and he follows it close: So if we would but look upon…

Prayer is also the golden key which opens these mystical Gospel clouds, and dissolves them into sweet gracious showers. God will have the whole work of the Ministry carried on by the prayers of his people, they first obtain their Ministers by prayer (Luke 10:2). Pray you the Lor…

Or, was he the author of a sect who is the great creator of unity, and who died to break down partition walls, and to slay all enmities (Ephesians 2:14-16; John 11:52), that he might gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad? Was he the author of a se…

A childe esteems of things usually as his father does; if there be any of you manifest a slight esteem of any among whom you live, before your children, your children will have the like esteem of them; if you manifest a high esteem of any, your children will do the like: Hence i…

And how remiss and cold towards things eternal? They are careful, and troubled about many things, but seldom mind the great and necessary matters, Luke 10. 40. They can rise early, go to bed late, eat the bread of carefulness: But when did they so deny themselves for their poor…

When he comes to command the return of his received love to complete communion with him, he says: my son, give me your heart, Proverbs 23:26 — your affections, your love. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and w…

2. Common equity and justice requires as much: for wages is as due for labor, as money for wares. Christ takes it for an undeniable principle, that the laborer is worthy of his hire: so also does the Apostle (Luke 10:7; 1 Timothy 5:18). This duty is to be performed to such as ar…

Section 14. For the Translations of the new Testament that are here afforded us, little need be spoken; of the Antiquity, usefulness, and means of bringing the Syriac into Europe, an account hath been given by many, and we willingly acquiesce in it: the Ethiopian and Persian are…

Objection 1. Does not Christ say, that to love the Lord our God is the Way to Life, Luke 10:27, 28? Is not this the same thing in effect, as when he directs the young Man to Eternal Life, by keeping the Commandments, and that in the same Language?

In two things; when both our care, and our delight, is lessened towards heavenly things. 1. When our care is lessened, when we are not so serious, so frequent in communion with God, as we were wont to be; as Martha that was cumbered about many things, but Mary had chosen the bet…

They try experiments so long, till the Lord has given them up to a spirit of infatuation, and then all comes to nothing, but they as a brand are fit for the burning. 5. By our worldly projects. Men show a loathing of this word, by their eagerness to the world; their hearts with…

1. As an exaction of the law, and so Christ urged it to the young man that was of a Pharisaical institution to abate his pride and confidence (Matthew 22:37): You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. Certainly these wo…

Whatever is neglected, this is a business that must be looked after. And (Luke 10:42) one thing is necessary. Let us argue from these places.

Christ is apprehended as more necessary for the soul, it comes to him under an apprehension of a deep want, and with a broken-hearted sense of misery; we are undone without him. We are not so though we want or lose the world; God can repair us here, will at last save us without…

1. Heighten all the mercies you have by all the circumstances necessary to be considered: by the nature and kind of them, spiritual eternal blessings first, the greatest mercies deserve greatest acknowledgment (Ephesians 1:3): Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Chri…

2. Go to Christ to teach you (Psalms 25:5): Lead me in your truth, and teach me. As one of the disciples said, Lord teach us to pray (Luke 11:1), so, Lord teach me to profit. Do you light my lamp, O you great Prophet of your church, give me a Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation, tha…

Ministers are lights (Matthew 5:14), and who but thieves hate the light? These persons do directly strike at God's glory; and what an account will they have to give to God, when he shall charge the blood of men's souls upon them (Luke 11:52): You have taken away the key of knowl…

The wicked may have something which looks like peace, but is not. They may be fearless and stupid; but there is a great difference between a stupified conscience, and a pacified conscience (Luke 11:21): When a strong man keeps his palace, his goods are in peace. This is the devi…

Many after a divorce, espouse their sins again; as if one's fever should leave him a while, and then come again. The Devil seemed to be cast out, but comes the second time, and the end of that man is worse than his beginning (Luke 11:24), because his sin is greater; he sins know…

This may embolden us to go to God for pardon of sin, and further degrees of sanctity. We pray to a Father of mercy, sitting upon a Throne of Grace; (Luke 11:13). If you then being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give hi…

Thirdly, adultery does pollute and befoul a person. The Devil is called an unclean spirit (Luke 11:24). The adulterer is the Devil's firstborn; he is unclean; he is a moving quagmire; he is all over ulcerated with sin: his eyes sparkle with lust, his mouth foams out filth, his h…

4. A condition on which we desire forgiveness, as we forgive our debtors. I shall speak of the term given to sin, it is [in non-Latin alphabet], a debt, that which is here called a debt, is called sin (Luke 11:4), forgive us our sins. So then sin is a debt, and every sinner is a…

But to show himself an angel of darkness by terrifying and frightening weak consciences — this is natural now to him; his power lies most in this. Therefore his title further is 'the ruler of darkness'; and also he is called 'that strong man' — strong to keep peace (Luke 11:21)…

Forgive us as we forgive others: and these words depend on the former as the reason thereof, which seems to be taken from the comparison of the less to the greater, thus: if we who have but a spark of mercy, do forgive others: then do you, who are the fountain of mercy, forgive…

For many are never troubled with temptation, but live in all peace and quietness both in body and soul. (Luke 11:21) When the strong man armed keeps his hold, the things that he possesses are in peace. Whereby is signified, that the wicked of the world being possessed of Satan,…

Debt] By debts sins are meant, as it is in (Luke 11:4), and they are so called, because of the resemblance between them. For even as a debt does bind a man, either to make satisfaction, or else to go to prison: so our sins bind us either to satisfy God's justice, or else to suff…

Matthew 7:7. Ask and it shall be given you, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened. Luke 11:13. If you which are evil can give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to them that desire him. Romans 10:12. He that…

Answer: The word does not afford any particular direction. Our Savior and his disciples prayed in various gestures: kneeling, standing, groveling, looking to heaven, looking down to the earth, sitting, lying, etc. (Luke 11:41; Acts 7). God respects not the gesture, but the affec…

Let us but view the force of this inference of the apostles (and so of all the reasonings hitherto read): But according to man, or what is found among men, (and God will be sure infinitely to surpass men in his ways of favor.) Take an ordinary friend, if his friend be turned out…

Erasmus would ask of those that will not admit a hyperbole in Scripture, if there were English and Scots there. "You tithe every herb" — that is, herbs of all kinds (Luke 11:42). Christ cured every disease (Matthew 4:23).

Pray upon all occasions for every thing that you stand in need of, and never give over till you be heard and answered, and the parable teaches thus much from the unjust Judge; shall a sinful mortal man be moved with importunity, and shall not God arise, and be moved for those po…

We cannot say that Satan's work lies about these. Satan needs not besiege the soul by temptations, that is his already by peaceable possession, when a strong man armed keeps his palace, his goods are in peace (Luke 11:21). There is no storm when wind and tide goes together.

It is said (Romans 16:26): the mysteries of the Gospel are made manifest to all nations for the obedience of faith. They are not matters of speculation and talk, but practice; and blessedness is pronounced on such as hear them and keep them (Luke 11:28): "Blessed are they that h…

Briefly, hear what Christ himself says, and what he answers to Martha, being very careful and hardly bearing, that her sister Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus and hearing his word, should leave her to minister alone. Martha, Martha (says he) you care and are troubled about man…

A small mote in the eye hurts the eye. And our Savior Christ says: The light of the body is the eye: therefore when your eye is single, then is your whole body light: but if your eye be evil, then your body is dark (Luke 11:34). Again, if your body shall have no part dark, then…

And the rather, because faith and repentance, are possible to all that by grace do will it. Indeed, they which will to believe and repent, have begun to believe and repent: God accepting the will for the deed (Luke 11:13). And having attained to a measure of true faith, we must…

Outward actions of fasting, alms, prayer. Nay, kindred and alliance, as to be mother or brother of Christ, is nothing: for if the blessed virgin had not borne Christ in her heart, as she did in her womb, she should never have been saved (Luke 11:27-28); and if his kinsmen had no…

16. And no man, when he has lighted a candle, covered it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a candlestick, that those who enter may see the light. Luke 11:33 33. No man lights a candle, and puts it in a hidden place, nor under a bushel, but on a candlestick, t…

But the latter root has been more fertile in suggestions. John Alberti, no mean authority, in his Glossarium Graecum, (under Luke 11:38,) defines Φαρισαῖος, to be διακεχωρισμένος, separated, and quotes the Septuagint as employing that participle (Ezekiel 34:12) for, נפרׁשות the…

You cannot serve God and mammon. Luke 11:34-36 34. The light of the body is the eye: if your eye therefore shall be simple, your whole body shall be luminous: but if it shall be evil, your whole body also shall be dark.

Amen. Luke 11:1-4 1. And it happened, while he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

11. If you, then, though you are evil, know to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father, who is in heaven, give good things, if you ask them from him? Luke 11:5-13 5. And he says to them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go to him at midnight,…

22. And the Scribes, who had come down from Jerusalem, said, He has Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils he casts out devils. Luke 11:14-15 14. And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb.

“Il a l’esprit immonde;” — “he has the unclean spirit.” Luke 11:16-23 16. And others tempting him sought from him a sign from heaven.

"And, lo, there is here a greater than Solomon." Luke 11:16, 29-32 16. And others tempting, sought from him a sign from heaven.

So shall it be also to this wicked generation. Luke 11:24-26 24. When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest; and not finding it, he says, I will return to my house, whence I came out.

35. For he who shall do the will of God is my brother, and my sister, and mother. Luke 11:27-28 27. And it happened while he was saying these things, a certain woman from among the multitude, raising her voice, said to him, Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts whic…

“Laquelle est receue et advouee es cieux;” — “which is received and acknowledged in heaven.” The comparison of the keys is very properly applied to the office of teaching; as when Christ says (Luke 11:52) that the scribes and Pharisees, in like manner, have the key of the kingdo…

39. And the first seats in the synagogues, and the first places at entertainments. Luke 11:45-46 45. And one of the lawyers

These shall receive a severer condemnation. Luke 11:52 52. Woe to you, lawyers! for you have taken away the key of knowledge: you did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.

28. So you also outwardly indeed appear righteous to men; but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Luke 11:42, 44 42. But woe to you, Pharisees!

39. For I tell you, that you shall never see me henceforth, till you say, Blessed be he that comes in the name of the Lord. Luke 11:47-51 47. Woe to you, for you build the monuments

And surely the threatening degeneracy of our times calls aloud to us all to be earnest in prayer for this most needed blessing — the plentiful effusion of the Spirit of truth and holiness. Nor ought the sense of our own unworthiness discourage us when we go to our heavenly Fathe…

Be ready then not only to run with the foot, but to contend with horses; prepare yourselves for other, for more violent charges than you ever felt. Satan will if he can lay a closer siege to your soul than ever he has done: As that one evil spirit returned into the person out of…

First, Importunity. The power of the importunity of faith our savior has marvelously set out, Luke 11:8, 9, 10. as also, Chap. 18:1.

This then should move all ministers, and such as set themselues to this calling, first and chiefly, to labour to become doers of the word themselues; other helpes of learning are to bee fought for with all diligence, to make them fit and able ministers of so great mysteries; but…

And beeing a father, yea our father in Christ, he must needes be willing and readie to graunt our requests: for no father is so tenderly affected towardes his naturall sonne, as the Lord our God is towardes all his children in Christ: Psal. 103. 13. As a father has compassion on…

Cor. 9. 19.—22. You that are evil can give good gifts: that is, bread, fish, and such like, as Luk. 11. 11, 12. Here it is plaine, that an evil man may have some kind of virtues in him, whereby he may doe some good works.

In it consider, 1. The answer. 2. The manner of it. 3. The particular grounds which she lays down to build it on. And, 4. The faults of this reasoning of hers, which at first may be concluded to be unsound. The answer in general, is a denial, as the event clears; and it's like t…

It is a more glorious work of power to rescue a soul out of the hands of the devil, and from the powers of darkness, and to bring it into a state of salvation, than to confer holiness where there was no opposition. Luke 11:21-22. When a strong man armed keeps his palace his good…

It is observable, the door of the tabernacle was not of brass, but had a thin covering, a veil, that they might easily enter into it: so the door of Heaven is through Christ's blood made easy, that our prayers put up in fervency may enter. Upon our asking, God has promised to gi…

Every particular elect person, and none but such as are comprehended in this purchase — the rest still remain in the devil's right. Sin made a forfeiture of all to justice, upon which Satan entered and took possession, and as a strong man armed, still keeps it in them (Luke 11:2…

It was not the Gifts but the Grace of the Apostles, that was the proper Evidence of their Names being written in Heaven, which Christ directs them to rejoice in, much more, than in the Devils being subject to them. To have Grace in the Heart is an higher Privilege than the bless…

And in the Primitive times, the people of God were then a people under great reproach: What strange things does Tertullian tell us they reproached them withal; as that in their meetings they made Thyestes suppers, who invited his brother to a supper, and presented him with a dis…

2. On this account, we are to pray the Father and the Son to give the Spirit to us. Luke 11:13: your heavenly Father will give his Holy Spirit to them that ask him. Now the Holy Ghost being God, is no less to be invocated, prayed to, and called on, than the Father and Son, as el…

The Romans when their great men died, caused an eagle to be let loose, and fly about in the air, signifying hereby that the soul was immortal, and did not die with the body. Christ tells us the soul is not capable of killing (Luke 12:4). Therefore not of dying.

When they would have made him king, he refused it; he chose rather to ride upon the foal of an ass, than to be drawn in a chariot; and to hang upon a wooden cross, than to wear a golden crown. Christ scorned the pomp and glory of the world: he waved secular affairs (Luke 12:13).…

Christ's death was voluntary (Psalm 40:7): Lo, I come to do your will, O God. (Luke 12:50) I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how am I straitened till it be accomplished. Christ calls his sufferings a baptism: he was to be (as it were) baptized in his own blood; And how d…

Thus you see their coat of arms displayed; but what is honor without inheritance? God adopts all his sons to an inheritance (Luke 12:32): It is your Father's good pleasure to give you a kingdom. It is no disparagement to be the sons of God.

You see you lose nothing by obeying: the obedient son has the inheritance settled on him. Obey and you shall have a kingdom (Luke 12:32). It is your Father's good pleasure to give you a kingdom.

He imparts his secrets to us (Psalm 25:14). He bestows a kingdom upon us for our dowry (Luke 12:32). Quest. 3. How may we come to know this covenant-union, that God is our God?

3. Serving the true God is beneficial; they have great vails here, the hidden manna, inward peace, and a great reward to come. They that serve God, shall have a kingdom when they die (Luke 12:32), and shall wear a crown made of the flowers of paradise (1 Peter 5:4). To serve the…

Those whom the world scorned and looked upon as precisians and fools, Christ will take by the hand, and openly acknowledge them to be his favorites. What is Christ's confessing of men (Luke 12:8), but his open acknowledging them to be precious in his eyes? 2. Christ as Judge wil…

Children rely upon their parents for the supply of wants: If we trust God for salvation shall we not trust him for a livelihood? There is a lawful provident care to be used, but beware of a distrustful care (Luke 12:24): Consider the ravens, they neither sow nor reap, and God fe…

The Jews could not have taken it away, if he had not laid it down; he could have called to his Father for a legion of angels to be his life-guard; but what needed that, when his Godhead could have defended him from all assaults? But he laid down his life: the Jews did not so muc…

2. If you hear the Word, and are not bettered by it, you are like the salamander in the fire, not hotter; your hearing will increase your condemnation. (Luke 12:47) That servant which knew his Lord's will and did it not, shall be beaten with many stripes. We pity such as know no…

Pope Sylvester the Second did sell his soul to the Devil for a Popedom. Use. Take heed and beware of covetousness (Luke 12:15). It is a direct breach of this Tenth Commandment.

With the conversion of the heart must go the confession of the tongue. Luke 12:8: Whoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of Man also confess before the angels of God. Peter openly confessed Christ crucified (Acts 4:10).

Judas was a great luminary, he knew God's will, but he was a traitor. Knowing without doing God's will will make one's case worse — it will heat Hell the hotter; (Luke 12:47) The servant which knew his Lord's will, and did not according to his will shall be beaten with many stri…

These words must not be understood absolutely and simply, but with limitation. For many places of Scripture are spoken simply, which must be understood with respect: as when it is said, Matthew 11.18, John came neither eating nor drinking, that is not, eating nothing at all, but…

Now because there can be no company unless it have a beginning and a cause whereby it is gathered: therefore I add further in the definition, predestinate to life everlasting. Noting thereby the ground and cause of the Catholic church, namely God's eternal predestination to life…

A righteous man is more excellent than a wicked, in respect of what he shall have: he shall have a better reward; both righteous and wicked are rewarded, but there is a vast difference; the wicked shall have a reward of punishment, the righteous of mercy (Psalm 58:11). So that a…

Know for certain that the Lord records all the mercies that ever he gave you, from the beginning to the end of your life (Micah 6:5): 'Remember, O my people, from Shittim to Gilgal.' Indeed, they are exactly numbered and recorded, in order to an account; and your account will be…

And when they were going up to Jerusalem (Mark 10:32), he went before all the rest, that is, at a swift pace. And (Luke 12:50) he says, I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how am I constrained till it be accomplished? Never did men long so much for their wedding day, and f…

This looks as if death would get the victory; thus it's said Hebrews 5:7, In the days of his flesh he offered up strong cries and supplications with tears, and was heard in that which he feared, he put up strong cries to be delivered, not from dying, but from the power of death,…

If we yet look a little forward we will find that he so longed for the saddest part of this exercise, that he is pained till it be accomplished. (Luke 12:50) I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how am I constrained till it be accomplished? His heart longed so much to be at…

And what was that — a poor whorish woman is spoken to, by Him, and brought by His speaking to acknowledge Him to be the Messiah, and to accept of Him as such; and by that blessed work, His hunger and thirst were satisfied. So in Luke 22:15, He says to His disciples, "With desire…

If we could rightly discern His sufferings, and the benefits that we have by them, it would say, that there is good reason, that He should have a kindly meeting, who has done, and suffered so much to obtain these to us. 4. Consider the cheerful way of His suffering, and of His l…

The great ground that makes God expostulate with the hearers of the Gospel, and that makes them come under the complaint, (John 5:40) "You will not come to me that you may have life," and (Matthew 23:37) "How often would I have gathered you, and you would not;" and for substance…

We are naturally perverse and peevish, bent to fretfulness and discontent, inclining rather to restless endeavoring to have our lot brought up to our spirits, than to be at suitable pains to have our spirits brought down to our lot; and therefore have much need to be tamed and c…

2. The other character is, that when the end is obtained, all operation for, or about the means ceases, and the soul has a complacency in the fruition of the end. When the wretches' chests are full, he has a heart-quietness in gold; (Luke 12) Soul, take your ease; but if the sou…

He hardened his face, he emboldened himself to go to Jerusalem to suffer, he mended his pace, and went more swiftly with a strong fire of love to expend his blood. Luke 12:50. I have a baptism to be baptized with [illegible] how am I fettered or besieged (as the word is used in…

'Behold, I come' (says he, Psalm 40); 'I delight to do your will.' 'And how am I constrained till it be accomplished!' (Luke 12:56). And though to show how great an evil and misery it was in itself he showed an aversion to it, yet as it was his Father's will for our salvation he…

As he blessed the pulse to the captive children (Daniel 1:15), and made the widow's barrel of meal, and cruse of oil to hold out (1 Kings 17:14), and his filling and feeding five thousand with a few barley loaves, and a few fishes (Matthew 14:21). On the other side he can make a…

2. The devil makes use of the world to a double end. 1. To divert us from God and heavenly things, that our time, and care, and thoughts may be wholly taken up about things here below (Luke 12:19): "Soul, you have much goods laid up for many years, take your ease, eat, drink, an…

But this must we learn, that forgiveness of sins, Christ, and the Holy Ghost are freely given to us at the only hearing of faith preached, notwithstanding our horrible sins and demerits. And we must not weigh, how great the thing is that is given, and how unworthy we are of it (…

Fourthly, it signifies by a metaphor, any grievous cross or calamity. Thus the passion of Christ, is called his baptism (Luke 12:50). Fifthly, it signifies the bestowing of extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost, and that by imposition of hands of the Apostles (Acts 1:5; Acts 11:…

Answer. It excuses à tanto, non à toto, that is, the degree and measure of the sin, and not the sin itself (Luke 12:48). Again, it may be said, that this their ignorance is invincible, because as the Gentiles do not know God, so they cannot know him.

Partaker of his goods] By goods he vnderstands foode, rayment, lodging, bookes, and other necessaries without the which, a minister of the word cannot followe his calling, for Paul calls these goods, according to the common opinion, which so iudgs of them. Luk 12:19. Soule, you…

But it ought to suffice us that although the number of the faithful be very small, yet that God notwithstanding acknowledges them for his elect people. And with this also should that consolation of Christ come into our minds: Fear not little flock, for it is your father's pleasu…

For the faithful are to hold this as a general and perpetual rule, that by mercies formerly received they ought to expect no less favors for hereafter, otherwise we should savor too much of ingratitude; and should show ourselves not to rest at all in the promises: which if they…

But it may be demanded how the Chaldeans could exceed the bounds which God had prescribed them; Objection: was not God able to have suppressed their rage? And if he were not, where is the truth of that sentence, An hair of your heads shall not fall to the ground without the will…

20. For it is not you that speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father that speaks in you. Luke 12:11-12 11. And when they shall bring you into synagogues, and before magistrates and powers, do not be anxious how or what you shall answer, or what you shall say.

17. For there is nothing hid that shall not be revealed, and nothing concealed that shall not be known and come to light. Luke 12:2-7 2. For nothing is covered which shall not be laid open, and nothing is hid which shall not be known.

and [in the glory] of the Father, and of the holy angels. Luke 12:8-9, 51-53 8. And I say to you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him will the Son of man also confess before the angels of God.

Matthew 5:14. You are the light of the world. We are all the children of light, after having been enlightened by faith, and are commanded to carry in our hands "burning lamps," (that we may not wander in darkness,) and even to point out to others the way of life, (Luke 12:35.) B…

26. Verily I say to you, You shall not depart from there, till you shall have paid the last farthing. Luke 12:58-59 58. Now, when you go with your adversary to the magistrate, do your endeavor, while you are in the way, to be delivered from him: lest perhaps he drag you to the j…

21. For where your treasure shall be, there will also your heart be. Luke 12:33-34 33. Sell what you possess, and give alms.

30. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is today, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Luke 12:22-28 22. And he said to his disciples, Therefore I say to you, be not anxious about your life, what you shall…

Its own affliction is sufficient for the day. Luke 12:29-32 29. And seek not what you shall eat, or what you shall drink, and be not lifted on high.

23. He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathers not with me scatters. Luke 12:10. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but he who shall blaspheme against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him.

13. And he left them, and returned to the ship, and departed across the lake. Luke 12:54-57 54. And he said also to the multitudes, When you see a cloud rising out of the west, you immediately say, A shower is coming; and so it is.

21. And he said to them, How is it that you do not understand? Luke 12:1 1. And when an innumerable multitude had assembled,

37. But what I say to you I say to all, Watch. Luke 12:35-50 35. Let your loins be girt, and your lamps burning;

Now this passage shows, that when a man falling through weakness of the flesh, denies the truth though he knows it, this does not amount to “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 12:31, 32.) Peter had unquestionably heard from the mouth of the Lord how detestable treachery…

(6.) The usurer, who takes of others even to extortion: he seems to help another by letting him have money in his necessity, but gets him into bonds, and sucks out his very blood and marrow. I read of a woman whom Satan had bound (Luke 13:16). And truly, he is almost in as bad a…

Many sermons lie dead, buried in earthly hearts. We preach to men to get their hearts in heaven; but where covetousness is predominant, it chains them to the earth, and makes them like the woman which Satan had bowed together, that she could not lift up herself (Luke 13:11). You…

Repentance is not arbitrary, but necessary; there is no being saved without it. Luke 13:3: Except you repent, you shall all likewise perish. And we may be thankful to God, that he has left us this plank after shipwreck.

Thus you see there are some who have gone many steps in the way to Heaven, yet have come short. Some have gone so far in profession that they have been confident their estate has been good, and they should go to the Kingdom of Heaven, yet have missed it: (Luke 13:25) When once t…

Shall I take off the head of such a drunkard, swearer, sabbath-breaker? And God's patience says as the dresser of the vineyard (Luke 13:8), Let him alone this year. O the infinite patience of God, that sin being so great an evil, and so contrary to God, he should bear with sinne…

And though Satan has will of himself and a desire to it and physical power enough and abilities to inflict this at all times, yet he must further have moral power, or leave and commission from God. And God sometimes gives to Satan power over the sons and daughters of Abraham (Lu…

I answer, that this desire of Balaam's was not grounded upon any constant persuasion, nor settled resolution, but upon some sudden motion: Secondly, though he desired to die the death of the righteous, yet he would not live the life of the righteous: he had no delight to walk in…

It must be far from us, to have our joy and our hearts set on the things of this world. Thirdly, the consideration of this; that Christ Jesus has prepared a place for us in heaven, and also has trained the way with his own blood, must make every one of us to strive to enter in a…

A ninth ground is (and it's a very poor one,) folks sitting down on the means when they have them, as if when they have gotten the Gospel they were in no hazard, and could believe whenever they please. I make no question, but where the Gospel is powerfully in any measure preache…

And then to speak a word to the last use that rises from the matter that formerly we have handled on these words: We show you, and we think the Scripture is very clear for it, that among the generality that hear the Gospel, they are very rare and thinly sown that do believe it,…

It is as certain that many that hear this gospel and profess Christ to be the only sin-offering will be disowned by Him on this account. Therefore many are brought in saying (Luke 13), "Did we not hear you preach in our streets, have we not eaten and drunk in your presence?" — t…

Was it not these who had Christ and His Apostles preaching to them? Indeed, they were not among the more ignorant sort who did not believe, but Scribes and Pharisees, and these not of the most profane sort only, but such as came to church, and attended on ordinances, as you do,…

Why is it not hewed down? There is an efficacy in Christ's intercession for sparing it a while longer, as it is (Luke 13:6): the dresser of the vineyard says, "Spare it for this year"; and it is granted. O but we would have a most sinful and miserable life, if there were not an…

For the first, that there is such a sin, it may be clear from a few considerations, that may be obvious to every one of us. 1. It may be clear from the effect, what is the cause that so many come so little speed in prayer, that they pray, and yet get not a hearing, so that in th…

3. Christ thought himself well away and out of the gate (as he foretells, when the people mourned for his death (Luke 23:28-31)) before the destruction that came on the city of Jerusalem, that killed many of the Lord of the vineyard's servants, and at last killed the righteous h…

Oh then let your hearts be upon it, desire must go before delight. 2. To move us to labor for it, and seek it in the first place, and to get it assured that we have a part in this blessed and joyful condition (Matthew 6:33), seek you first the Kingdom of God, and the righteousne…

I speak this by experience: for I know the Devil's subtleties, who at that time not only goes about to fear us with the terror of the law, indeed and also of a little mote makes many beams, that is to say, of that which is no sin he makes a very hell (for he is marvelous crafty…

But if Satan overthrow this (for he is a cunning workman, and will leave no way untried) and lay against you the word and example of Christ in this wise: True it is that Christ is meek, gentle and merciful, but to those which are holy and righteous. Contrariwise, to the sinners…

It was a great privilege to be familiarly acquainted with Christ, and to have eaten and drunk with him: yet is it of no use in the kingdom of Christ. For of such Christ says (Luke 13:26), Depart from me you workers of iniquity. It was a great privilege to be allied to Christ in…

Thirdly, all the year long, as the husbandman does; I looked for grapes, and lo wild grapes (Isaiah 5:4). Fourthly, he expects our amendment, many years together (Luke 13:7): Behold, these three years have I come and sought fruit on this fig tree, and find none. Fifthly, the Lor…

And he said to them, 24. Strive to enter by the narrow gate: for many, I say to you, will seek to enter, and shall not be able. Luke 13:23. And one says to him Although Matthew relates this answer, as if it were immediately connected with other sentences taken out of our Lord’s…

30. And, lo, they are last who shall be first, and they are first who shall be last. Luke 13:25. And when the master of the house shall have arisen Though these words, as I hinted a little before, were spoken on a different and later occasion, I have chosen to pay more regard to…

But it is more likely that he had in his eye a passage from the book of Job. In the opening description of "the devices of the crafty," Herod, who is pronounced by Calvin to have been "a man of no ordinary address, and another Herod, whom our Lord designates that fox, (Luke 13:3…

34. But without a parable he did not speak to them, but he explained all things to his disciples when they were apart. Luke 13:18-22 18. Therefore he said, To what is the kingdom of God like?

Assuredly I tell you, That it shall be demanded from this generation. Luke 13:34-35 34. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who slays the prophets, and stones those who are sent to thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a bird gathers its brood under its wings, and yo…

Matthew 9:13: 'I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.' Luke 13:3: 'Except you repent, you shall all likewise perish.' Luke 15:7, 10: 'There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repents,' that is, over one sinner that is converted.

Matthew 7:14: 'Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.' Luke 13:24: 'Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.' Fourth, the possibility of obtaining.

Storms make (as it were) a confusion among the Elements, and are the distemper of nature: diseases make a confusion among the humors, and distemper the constitution and spirits of the body. It is said of the woman in (Luke 13:16) that Satan had bound her 28 years; Observe in tha…

Our request for pardon is this; Forgiue us our debts. In the word debt is a figuratiue kinde of speech, taken from bargaining, wherein God is resembled to the Creditour, Man is the debter: the Law is the bond or obligation; and sinne is that debt of ours, for which we stand boun…

And thus wee see what manner of persons they be that shall say, Lord, Lord, and make apologie for themselues at the last day, and yet be damned; namely, some that have beene excellent preachers of the word, and some that have had extraordinary power to cast out deuils: and lastl…

2. When he is born, the Lord gives him his name, indeed, sends Nathan, (2 Samuel 12) with this warrant, to name him Jedidiah, because the Lord loved him; which cannot be a love flowing from anything in him, as if he had been well pleased with his carriage, (Solomon had not yet d…

2. For their destroying, hurtful nature, in their destroying of the Church; therefore called ravening wolves (Matthew 7:15), and grievous wolves (Acts 20:29), who subvert whole houses (Titus 1:11), and whose word eats as does a gangrene (2 Timothy 2:17). 3. They are compared to…

In this verse 12, we have three of these comparisons, whereby she is described and commended. 1. She is compared to a garden enclosed: a garden is a plot of ground, separate from other places, for delight and recreation of the owner, having many flowers in it, and much pains tak…

5. When a literal sense answers not the present scope of the speaker, and the speaker would be thought impertinent, if his words were properly taken, then it would seem necessary to expound it as an allegory; so Matthew 3:10, when John is pressing repentance, he says, The axe is…

So (Matthew 12:11): What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, will not lay hold on it, and lift it out? And so again, (Luke 13:15): Does not every one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall,…

What could the Lord have done more to his vineyard than he has done? Therefore then when he looked for grapes, brought it forth only leaves, or wild grapes? (Luke 13; Isaiah 5:4-6) And is it then to be wondered at, if the Lord pluck down the hedge thereof, that it might be eaten…

- 1. Careless loiterers. - 2. Vain-glorious boasters. - 3. Impious offenders. - 4. Unprofitable Christians. 1. Careless loiterers, that sleep out a fair summer's day of grace, and forget the day of their visitation; many poor ministers have cause to weep over their dear people,…

Therefore in Scripture our earnestness for Heaven is set out by those allegories and metaphors which imply violence. 1. Sometimes by striving (Luke 13:24). Strive to enter in at the strait gate.

(1 Timothy 4:7) in godliness, exercising, or stripping themselves, as for a race. (Luke 13:24) in the pursuit of happiness, striving, even to an agony. (Acts 26:7) in prayer, serving God instantly; or in a stretched-out manner; indeed, pouring out their hearts before him (Psalm…

The tree that is to be hewen down for the fire, stands in the Orchard among other flourishing trees, where it has enjoyed the benefit of a good soyl, a strong fence and much culture; but being barren, these priviledges secure it not from the fire. It is not our standing in the v…

Husbandmen carry out their compost; to fertilize their arable ground, they dung it, dress it, and keep it in heart; and in these western parts are at great charges to bring lime, and salt water sand to quicken their thin and cold soil. "Lord, let it alone this year also, till I…

It is an excellent expression that Luther has to this purpose: Bodily promises, says he, is as the shell or husk that covers the nut, which is Christ, and eternal life; therefore Christ coming, the shell, the husk, is broken and taken off, that is, temporal promises cease, and t…

Heaven indeed is a glorious Place, the Spacious and Royal Mansion of the great King; but difficilia quae pulchra. It has a streight and narrow entrance, Luke 13. 24. O the difficulty of arriving there!

There are also seasons and gales of Grace for our Souls; golden opportunities of Salvation afforded to men, the neglect of which proves the loss and ruine of Souls. God has given to men a day of Visitation, which he has limited, Hebrews 4:7. and keeps an exact account of every Y…

God has his seasons, and when these are past will not treat with us in such a mild affectionate manner. The means of grace are removed from a people by strange providences, when they have slighted the offers of grace (Luke 13:7). These three years I came seeking fruit on this fi…

God reckons up 120 years patience (after many before that) as to the old world (Genesis 6:3), and to Israel, forty years (Hebrews 3:17). He came to the fig tree of the Jewish nation, three years in person, seeking fruit before he cut it down, or so much as gave order for it (Luk…

Yes, on the contrary, justice calls aloud for an infinite punishment of their sins. Divine justice says of the tree that brings forth such grapes of Sodom, 'Cut it down, why does it cumber the ground?' (Luke 13:7). The sword of divine justice is every moment brandished over thei…

It is a very common thing for a man to perish, upon a mistake of his way, to go on in those paths that take hold of hell, and yet hope to find heaven at last; those twenty paths aforementioned run into destruction, and yet many choose them, and walk in them as the way of salvati…

The business of religion requires our utmost zeal and intention (Matthew 11:12). Sometimes the work we are to do for heaven is set out by striving (Luke 13:24): strive to enter in at the strait gate — strive as in an agony, strive as for a matter of life and death; so Cornelius…

If the disease of the soul is pride, he humbles it with affliction; God turned Nebuchadnezzar to grass to cure him of his tympany. If the disease of the soul is sloth, Christ applies some awakening scripture (Matthew 12:11; Luke 13:24; 1 Peter 4:18). If the disease is the stone…

O what a change is here, him has GOD highly exalted! Branch 2. Was Christ first humble and then exalted, hence learn the way to true honor is humility (Luke 14:11): He that humbles himself shall be exalted. The world looks upon humility as that which will make one contemptible,…

First, To the reproaches of men. They will divide both you and your profession (Luke 14:28). This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

So Christ has furnished his table, set bread and wine (representing his body and blood) before his guests, and they willfully turn their backs upon the ordinance, Christ looks upon it as a slighting of his love, and that makes the fury rise up in his face. (Luke 14:24) For I say…

4. Question: What are the means conducing to perseverance, or what shall we do that we may hold out to the kingdom? Response 1. Take up religion upon good grounds, not in a fit or humor, or out of worldly design, but be deliberate, weigh things well in the balance (Luke 14:28):…

2. Do we prefer God's glory before our relations? Relations are near, they are of our flesh and bone, but God's glory must be dearer (Luke 14:26). If any man come after me and hate not father and mother, he cannot be my Disciple.

So saith Christ (the wisdom of God) of the wisdom of this world: and the like also he saith for war, that no Prince will fight with his enemy on unequal terms, but will know himself able to sustain the encounter. Luke 14:28, 31. So the calling of a Christian, is to profess the G…

First, we must cast with ourselves, what may be the worst that can befall us, when trial and persecution shall come. This is the counsel of our Savior Christ to those that would follow him constantly as good disciples: they must, as good builders, consider of the cost, before th…

Fourthly, consider the expressions under which He sets out His being affected, (to say so,) with this sin; He was so affected with it (Mark 3:5) that it's said, He was grieved for their unbelief, He had many sorrows and griefs, and suffered many things, but this grieved Him in s…

This is life eternal to know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent: Now when the soul esteems nothing more worth the knowing than Jesus Christ, this is an honoring of him (1 Corinthians 2:2). I determined not to know anything among you, save Christ and him c…

5. The necessity of this self-denying, resignation of ourselves to God to bring us to Heaven in his own way is necessary. That we may begin with God (Luke 14:26): If any man come to me and hate not father and mother and wife and children and brethren and sisters, indeed, and his…

Chron. 34. 32. The king at the marriage feast of his sonne says of the guests, Compell them to enter in, Luk 14:23. It is obiected, that men may not be compelled to believe.

II. Luk 14:26. He that will be a disciple of Christ, must hate father, and mother, and his own soule.

But to look to the recompense of reward in the second place, after the glory of God, the performance of our duty, and discharge of a good conscience, is no property of a hireling; seeing God has promised to give to them which by continuance in well doing, seek glory, and honor,…

41. For whoever shall give to you to drink a cup of water in my name, because you belong to Christ, verily I say to you, he shall not lose his reward. Luke 14:25-32 25. And great multitudes went with him, and he turned, and said to them,

Is it not that it may be put on a candlestick? Luke 14:34-35 34. Salt is good: but if salt shall have become tasteless, with what shall it be seasoned?

14. For many are called, but few are chosen. Luke 14:15-24 15. And when one of those who sat at table with him heard these things, he said to him, Blessed is he who eats bread in the kingdom of God.

Even as in the old Testament, the Lord oftentimes advanced young men, to bear chief office and principality, where he saw them to excel the elder in wisdom and foresight. The same lesson teaches Christ (Luke 14): When you are bidden to a feast, set not yourself down in the highe…

But this we must do, if we would follow those who are truly turning to God. We must not only forsake sin, but must, in a sense, forsake all the world (Luke 14:33). That is, he must forsake all in his heart, and must come to a thorough disposition and readiness actually to quit a…

1. Then feasting is sinful, when any over-charge their estates; and lavish out what will but serve their necessities or conveniences upon delights and superfluities; to such, feasting is a sin. 2. When the rich feast the rich, and never think upon the poor (Luke 14:12-13). When…

Perish you must, and shall, and that for ever. Remember the Parable of our savior, Luke 14:31, 32. What king, going to make warre, against another king, sitts not down first, and consults whether he be able with Ten Thousand to meet him that coms against him with Twenty Thousand…

And thus to have her vineyard before her, signifies watchfulness and tenderness, as those who have their eye always on their orchard or vineyard. And it does import, 1. Watchfulness, as has been said. 2. Diligence and carefulness, so it's opposed to the hiding of the talent (Luk…

3. What is the scope of these allegories, in other Scriptures, as that of Psalm 45, that of planting a vineyard (Matthew 21), that of marriage (Matthew 22), (which none can deny) is meant of espousing spiritually. (See this same allegory of marriage, Jeremiah 3, Hosea 2-3, Ezeki…

Seventhly, Another rule is this, That the commands of the first table, so far forth as they are purely moral, supersede our obedience to the commands of the second table, when they are not both consistent. As for instance, We are in the second table required to obey our parents,…

Note what he says in this case, He who loves father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me (Matthew 10:37). And again, If any come to me, and hate not his father and mother, he cannot be mine (Luke 14:26). To hate here, is to be so far from preferring father and mother befo…

But chiefly this is meant at the Day of Judgment; then those which pray in secret, their heavenly Father will reward them openly. When you relieve the poor, and show comfort to the needy, they cannot recompense you; but then you shall be recompensed, at the resurrection of the j…

Men may refrain from wonted ways of sin for a little while, and may deny their lusts in a partial degree, with less difficulty; but it is heart-rending work finally to part with all sin, and give our dearest lusts a bill of divorce, utterly to send them away. But this we must do…

He that does not want a heart, will not want an occasion of interposing somewhat for God. This was Christ's manner (Luke 14:15): when he was eating bread in the Pharisee's house, he discourses, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. There will be a feast in he…

Look as it sees all things in God, so it sees God in all things. Thus Christ at Jacob's Well discourses of the Well of Life (John 4), at the Miracle of the Loaves, discourses of Manna (John 6), and (John 7) at the Feast of Tabernacles, of living waters; at the Pharisees' Supper,…

Life must be willingly laid down, when we cannot keep it but with forsaking the word. If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren and sisters, indeed and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:26). The life of et…

You must make God a good allowance when you embark with him; though called not only to dispute, but to die for religion, you must willingly submit. If any man come to me, and hate not his own life, he cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:26). How soon the fire may be kindled, we canno…

The servants of God beg this gift (Acts 4:29): Grant to your servants, that with all boldness we may speak your word; when the world rages against them. 2. Though it be a special gift of God, yet the duty is contained in our first dedication and resignation of ourselves to Chris…

She did not delay till the Army came, and the city was surprised. When the Lord is marching against sinners with vengeance and fury, you cannot come soon enough to God to prevent it (Luke 14:32). That King that had twenty thousand marching against him, does not stay till they we…

1. We entered upon the profession of Christianity on these terms (Matthew 16:24): If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. Life, wealth, and honors must be forsaken (Luke 14:26): If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and…

This proud pronoun Ego, I, I, is always interposing; this Babel which I have built: We are sacrificing to this proud self, This I have done; and if God be mentioned, it is but for fashion-sake, as those women in the Prophet Isaiah, Only call us by your name, we will eat our own…

Do you know what it is? Rash undertakings will necessarily be accompanied with a feeble prosecution; and therefore count the charges, lest you repent of the bargain (Luke 14:23). 2. Make Christ a liberal allowance, if you would come to a resolution (Matthew 16:24): He that will…

Though a Christian be not always to talk of grace, yet he is always to talk so, as to show himself a gracious person. Our very table talk, as well as our meat, should be seasoned with salt, it should be with the first and second course; for salt is the first put on, and the last…

We are not only to eschew evil, but to do good also (1 Peter 3:11). And I the rather insist a little here on this, because many are more apt and prone to omit duties, to be neglectful of doing good, than to commit (especially) gross and palpable evils; and withal, to look upon i…

Now is the season of God's gracious working and our receiving, greatest success in his Ordinances; this is the exposition [illegible] the Apostle adds in the following verse, behold now is the acceptable time, while the light shines, while Wisdom cries, and Ministers call, if ev…

And who desire to be excused from feeding upon the gospel-banquet? Surely he has no appetite who begs to be excused from eating (Luke 14:18). Third, it is a sign they have none of this spiritual hunger, who desire rather sleep than food; they are more drowsy than hungry.

We are now come to the last Beatitude, blessed are they which are persecuted, etc. Our Lord Christ would have us reckon the cost (Luke 14:27-28). Which of you intending to build a tower, sits not down first, and counts the cost, whether he has enough to finish it?

But I tell you there is only one way to blessedness, and that is through the valley of tears; if you go not this way you will miss paradise. Luke 14:3: I tell you no, except you repent, you shall all likewise perish. There are many lines leading to the center; but the heavenly c…

We see, CHRIST said to his Apostles, Follow me, and presently they followed him; (for it was not the outward voice that did it, there was a secret voice within) so, when GOD shall call men to take CHRIST, then they doe it, but not before. That word that is vsed, Luk. 14:23.Goe a…

First, for the Negative part of the Description; we are not to take it for a pure negation, as if we had no conflict with flesh and blood, but wholly and solely to engage against Satan; but by way of comparison, not only with flesh and blood, and in some sense not chiefly. It is…

Second, who they are who are in the nearest capacity to be baptized, he explains when he shows that the covenant promise is made to those who are far off — to the Gentiles, whom the Lord shall call. Then all who are under the call and offer of Christ in the preached gospel — as…

They have become the kingdoms of the Lord, not only because they are truly converted, but because they are the chosen of God in the office-house of Christ, and Christ reigns over them by the scepter of his Word whom he is to convert. And external covenanting with God is of itsel…

So Paul (Acts 20:24): You speak of bonds and affliction, but none of those things move me, neither do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my course with joy. To be mortified to life, is to hate the life (Luke 14:26) for Christ. And in Revelation 12, they overcam…

The Thorns choke the word. We read of them who were invited to Christs Supper, who put him off with worldly excuses, (Luke 14:18). One said, I have bought a piece of ground, and must needs go see it, I pray you have me excused; and another, I have bought five yoke of Oxen, &c.

13. A Christian must deny his relations. Luke 14:26, If any man come to me, and hate not father, and mother, and wife, and children, he cannot be my disciple. The meaning is, when carnal relations come in competition with, or stand in opposition to Christ, we must hate them.

They do not fall away from grace, but for want of grace. 2 If you would hold on in godliness, be deliberate and judicious, weigh things well in the balance, Luke 14:28. Which of you intending to build a Tower, sits not down first, and counts the cost: Think with yourselves, what…

Others also think not amiss of themselves in this kind, who live in palpable excesses, either of Pride of Life, or Sensual Pleasures, vain Apparel and the like. So in particular, most men in their Feastings and Entertainments, walk in direct Contempt of the Rules which our Savio…

You are just in all that is brought upon us. And confession then is ingenuous when it is free not forced (Luke 15:18). I have sinned against heaven, and before you; he charges himself with sin before ever his father charges him with it.

Response. If you will now at last seek to God by prayer, and break off your sins, God has the compassion of a Father for you, and will in no wise cast you out. When the prodigal did arise and go to his father, his father had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed…

Whores are the Devil's horseleaches, sponges that will soon suck in all one's money. The prodigal had soon spent his portion when once he fell among harlots (Luke 15:30). King Edward the Third's concubine, when he lay a dying, got all she could from him, and plucked the rings of…

As when the wind leaves the west, it turns into a contrary corner. The repenting prodigal did not only leave his harlots, but did arise and go to his father (Luke 15:18). In true repentance the heart points directly to God, as the needle to the North Pole.

This exposes to contempt. When the Prodigal was poor, his brother was ashamed to own him (Luke 15:30): This your son; he said not this my brother, but this your son; he scorned to call him brother. When the deer is shot and bleeds, the rest of the herd push it away; when God sho…

9. The tears of a righteous man are more excellent: holy tears are the costly gum which distills from the trees of righteousness: Mary Magdalene stood at Christ's feet weeping (Luke 7:38). Her tears dropped as pearls from her eyes; the tears of the wicked are good for nothing, t…

If so, truly you have more need to exercise pity than revenge toward him — and that upon a double account. First, he is beside himself; for so indeed is every unconverted sinner — Luke 15:17. Should you go into Bedlam and there hear one rail at you, another mock you, and a third…

Dan. 9. Luk. 15. The second point is, the excellencie of Humiliation, which stands in this, that it has the promises of life eternal annexed to it, Esa. 57. 15.

Where mention is made of divers Apostataes, that were by God called to repentance, with promise of pardon, if they turned unto him. And in Luk. 15. the Prodigall child, (by whome I understand one, that after grace received, ell from his repentance and obedience to God) when he d…

3. It is pleasant to Him, because in this, the Lord has a special complacency; and has evidenced in His Word, comparatively a greater delight in sinners closing with Christ, and in their accepting of life through Him, than in many other things: therefore it is, that He calls for…

So that if you would know what is the sum and effect of Christ's errand and work in the world, here it is: He came to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). He came to seek and save that which was lost; to bring home the lost sheep on His shoulder; to seek and find the lost coin; to rec…

O Lord open your lips, that my mouth may show forth your praise: and after the meeting of the Lord and the forlorn Son, besides the poor son's expression, full of sense: consider how much sense and joy is in the Father; it is a parable, yet it says much of God. Luke 15, Verse 20…

(3.) They buy and sell you [in non-Latin alphabet] with decked up and well kammed fair words. O our Redeemer that bought us, our Saviour! O free grace! O free redemption! as Libertines now do, and yet they that deny sanctification, deny Christ who in their profession bought them…

(2.) No further price for what they need (1 Peter 1:18-19), you are not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without spot and blemish. The repentance of a sinner is pleasing to him, there is joy in heaven (Luke…

Though they themselves be not the parties interested, the spectators not the guests; yet they are delighted in the glory of God, and are kindly affectionated to the salvation of lost men; and that they may have a nearer view of this mystery God gratifies them by sending them oft…

Marke the speech, I thought. The prodigall child, Luk. 15. upon his purpose to returne to his father, (before he had indeed humbled himselfe in word) was received to mercie. When Dauid said, I have sinned, Nathan in the name of God said, Your sinne is forgiuen you.

When the prodigall sonne conceiued a desire to be reconciled to his father, with a purpose to confesse his offence, before he had vttered his desire, he is received to mercie. Luk 15:21. The second example is a desire of Gods presence and protection in common iudgements.

The sin of false apostles that troubled the Galatians (Galatians 5:10). Nay, it drives men beside themselves, as appears in the example of the prodigal son, who repenting of his sin, is said to have come to himself (Luke 15:17). Small sins are like slips and slidings, whereby me…

Neither can it be but men of any good heart, will be deeply touched with extreme sorrow at the beholding of such a woeful spectacle. We read, (Luke 15:10) how the angels rejoice at the conversion of a sinner, and therefore they are much grieved at the perdition of any one of the…

Let us now examine the parable in detail. Luke 15:12. And the younger of them said to his father. The parable opens by describing a mark of wicked arrogance in the youth, which appears in his being desirous to leave his father, and in thinking that he cannot be right without bei…

14. So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven, that one of those little ones should perish. Luke 15:1-10 1. And all the publicans and sinners drew near to him to hear him.

Luke 13:3: 'Except you repent, you shall all likewise perish.' Luke 15:7, 10: 'There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repents,' that is, over one sinner that is converted. Acts 11:18: 'Then has God, also to the Gentiles, granted repentance unto life.'

It appeared in Cain who hated his brother, because he was more acceptable to God than himself; and it appears still in these times, and in this place. There are many who are like the elder brother, who could not bear it that the prodigal when he returned should be received with…

Surely yes. For if there be joy in Heaven (Luke 15) over a repenting sinner, then doubtless, there is abundant ground of joy on earth. If Angels rejoice when a sinner repents, much more may the repenting sinner rejoice.

The Angel of the Lord pitches round about them that feare him: And all this they doe unto us of loue, as though it were not inioyned them: So we after their example must imploy our selues in soule and bodie, calling, credit, and all we have for the good of men. Sixtly, the Angel…

So when the Lord had spoken unto Job, and made him see and know himselfe, he cries out, Behold, I am vile, Job. 39, 37. and againe, Now I abhorre my selfe, and repent in dust and ashes, for those things that I have said and done, Chap. 42. 6. In such sort also did the Prodigall…

The third qualification confirms the same (for, it is in effect one qualification in three expressions) and it's in these words, and in the day of the gladness of his heart; What is it (says she) that cheers Christ, and makes him heartily glad? It's even this, when poor sinners…

The first is, her bowels being thus stirred and moved, she arises to open, as being sorry she had lain still and shifted him so long: I rose up; This is opposite to her former lying still, and refusing to give him entry; now she yields, and begins to bestir herself, to draw her…

A returning sinner will be welcome to all the persons of the Godhead. 2. We, that is, I with the Angels, who (Luke 15:10) rejoice at the conversion of a sinner. And, 3. we may import, I and all the daughters that admire you.

"My spirit made diligent search." As the woman in the Gospel did light a candle, and search for her lost groat (Luke 15:8). So conscience is the candle of the Lord (Proverbs 20:27).

Every step a sinner takes is a going further from God. The Prodigal's going into a far country (Luke 15:14) was an emblem of the sinner's going afar off from God. How far are they distant from God, who have been traveling forty or fifty years from their Father's house!

Such withered grass are the wicked, who are never taken into the reapers bosom; but as soon as saints are cut down by death, they fall into the hands and bosoms of the angels of God, who bear them in their arms and bosoms to God their father (Luke 16:22). For look, as these bles…

This is represented in the parable of the Prodigal Son, by the carriage of the father towards the elder brother that was so proud, and ill-humored, so angry that he would not come in. The father did not say, "Let him stay out then," but he came himself and entreated him (when he…

Hannah's meekness and quietness was in some degree wanting, when she fretted, and wept, and would not eat (1 Samuel 1:7), but prayer composed her spirit, and set her to rights (verse 18) — her countenance was no more sad. It was the unquietness of the spirit of the elder brother…

Yes, yes; He is more ready to receive you, than you are to come to him. Luke 15:20. And he, [••]ose and came to his Father. But when he was yet a great way off, his Father saw him, and had compassion on him, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

When any particular soul is freed from the family of this world, it is revealed to the angels. There is joy in the presence of the angels of God (that is among the angels, and by them) over one sinner that repents (Luke 15:10). Now the angels cannot of themselves absolutely know…

Section 15. Of the unlawfulness of children's traveling, and binding themselves apprentices without consent of parents. Contrary also to the forenamed part of children's obedience, is the practice of such children as travel, and seek their fortunes (as they speak) without consen…

3. You discover love to others, you would have them glorify God. The angels, they rejoice when a sinner is converted; they have a great love to souls (Luke 15:7). And so do Christians; the more spiritual they are, the more they come near to the blessed spirits above, and the mor…

It may be, God may take you into his favor; he is a Father of the fatherless. 2. Own God in the humbling way; learn the policy of the prodigal (Luke 15:18-19): Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before you, and am no more worthy to be called your son. This is the policy a…

It is a child-like act to look to him for all our supplies, and to recommend our suit: as when a child wants anything, he goes to his father. 2. There's a child-like reverence many times, when there is not a child-like confidence; the soul has an awe of God, when it cannot expli…

(Psalm 32:5): I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord; and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. So (Luke 15:20), the father ran to meet him, when the prodigal thought of returning. So, that you should live a sanctified life (1 Thessalonians 4:3): This is the will of…

Dogs and swine can roam abroad all the day, and find their way home again at night; but sheep must have a guide to keep them in the fold, and to reduce them when gone astray. (Luke 15). The good shepherd brought him home upon his shoulders. Lord (says Austin) I can go astray of…

(1.) Consideration, that we may think of our end, and think of our way, and may not go on as beasts, without any recollection. (Luke 15:17) We never come to ourselves, till we consider the end why we were born, and why God sent us into the world: From where am I? Why do I live h…

Oh Christian, this means is not to be neglected, no more than reading and hearing, because of its great use, both for first conversion, and continual quickening. 1. For first conversion: a man comes to himself by serious thoughts of those great and important truths which are del…

We were sometimes foolish, [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] (Titus 3:3), like men asleep or distracted, they do not know what they are doing, nor what will be the issue of things, till God awakens their hearts to think of their condition, and then they begin to act like men again, an…

He has a Christ ready to receive you, a Spirit ready to sanctify and cure all your soul distempers, he has pardoning mercy to forgive all your sins, he has power of grace to remedy all your distempers, and will not you be ready? Luke 15:20: The Prodigal said I will go to my Fath…

Most of us are taken in our month, as the ram that Abraham offered was caught in the thickets. When stout and stubborn sinners are broken with want and distress, then they come to themselves, and think of returning to their Father (Luke 15:17-18): And when he came to himself, he…

We have more liberty to retire into ourselves, being freed from the attractive allurements of worldly vanities, and the delights of the flesh. Adversity makes men serious; the prodigal came to himself when he began to be in want (Luke 15:17). Sad objects make a deep impression u…

And (Zechariah 12:12-13): They shall mourn every family apart, the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart, etc. Sorrow affects solitude and retiredness, where no eye sees but God's; but joy does best in company and in consort, as the woman called her neighbors…

3. Among these means, afflictions, indeed sharp afflictions are some of those things which our need and profit requires: they are needful to weaken and mortify sin (Isaiah 27:9), "By this shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged"; to increase and quicken grace (Hebrews 12:10), "But…

You may make your acquittance and write, Received in full payment. Luke 16:25: Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things. But a saint's happiness is in reversion; the righteous has hope in his death.

Some think, if God should send an angel from heaven and declare his mind, then they should rather believe him; or if he should send one from the damned, and preach the torments of hell all in flames, then they would believe. But (Luke 16:31): "If they believe not Moses and the P…

It is a bad sign God is not their Father: 1. Who are fierce and cruel, as if with Romulus they had sucked the milk of a wolf (Romans 3:17). The way of peace have they not known, they sport in mischief; these are they who are of a persecuting spirit, as Maximinus, Dioclesian, Ant…

This is the stone which the builders refused. Others deride him (Luke 16:14). Others throw off his yoke (Luke 19:14).

Did we think thus when we come into God's house, Perhaps this will be the last time that ever God will counsel us about our souls; before another sermon death's alarm will sound in our ears: with what attention and devotion should we come here, and our affections would be all on…

(Ezekiel 33:31) They sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but their heart goes after their covetousness. A covetous hearer derides the word, (Luke 16:14). The Pharisees who were covetous heard all, and they derided him.

Thus covetousness obstructs the efficacy of the word, and makes it prove abortive. Such whose hearts are rooted in the earth will be so far from profiting by the word, that they will be ready rather to deride it (Luke 16:14). The Pharisees who were covetous derided him.

But sinners are worse than brutish, they fear not the fire of Hell till they are in it. Most have their conscience asleep or [reconstructed: seared]; but when they shall see the vials of God's wrath dropping, then they will cry out as Dives, O I am tormented in this flame! (Luke…

This made Averroes deny a providence, and made Asaph say, "Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain" (Psalm 73:12), but there is no cause of envy at their prosperity, if we consider two things. 1. This is all they must have (Luke 16:25): "Son, remember that you in your lifetime r…

The angel never poured out his vial but some woe followed; (Revelation 16:3) when the bitter vials of God's wrath are poured out, damnation follows. Dives cries out, O I am tormented in this flame; (Luke 16:24). In Hell there's not a drop of mercy.

A great estate may be like a long trailing garment, more burdensome than useful: many that have great incomes and revenues have not so much comfort in their lives, as some that go to their hard labor. 9. If you have less daily bread, you will have less account to give: the riche…

And thus Abraham did in his own person inherit it: for he was translated from this world, after his death, into the glory of heaven. And in that respect, the glory of heaven is rather called the bosom of Abraham, Luke 16, than of any other the Patriarchs, both for the excellency…

For so soon as he saw the fingers of a man's hand, writing upon the wall, he became quite confounded in himself: his countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him; so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against the other: What comfort had h…

I answer: God rewards them that seek him, First, by offering himself graciously to be found of them that seek him: for he never hides himself, nor turns away from the soul that seeketh him; but rather turns to him, and meets him that comes to him: he is that good Father, which s…

For the souls of the godly lie under the altar, and cry, How long Lord Jesus (Revelation 6:9)? Dives in soul did suffer the woe and torments of hell: and Lazarus had joy in Abraham's bosom (Luke 16:23). Again some others think, that men's souls after this life do pass from one m…

Argument 6 Argument 6. We are not Lords of an estate, but Stewards; and how soon may we hear that word, redde rationem, Give an account of your stewardship, for you may be no longer Steward, Luke 16. 2. An estate is a talent to trade with, 'tis as dangerous to hide our talent, a…

And to this agree Chrysostom, Ambrose, and Isidore, who says: Behold, a sign is not necessary to believers who have already believed, but to infidels that they may be converted. Lastly, our faith is to be confirmed not by revelations and apparitions of dead men, but by the writi…

Now if Abraham knew not his posterity, neither Mary nor Peter nor any other of the saints departed know us and our estate, and consequently they cannot make any particular intercession for us. If they say that Abraham and Jacob were then in Limbo, which they will have to be a pa…

We for our parts deny it, as having no warrant in the word of God, which mentions only two places for men after this life — heaven and hell — with the twofold condition thereof: joy and torment. Luke 16:25-26; John 3:36; Revelation 22:14-15; Revelation 21:7-8; Matthew 8:11. Nay,…

As yourselves (to speak in your own language) if wars should beset you, and your country house were plundered and pulled down, you would comfort yourselves with this, I have yet a city house to retire to. Neither is the terming the glory of heaven, and that as it is bestowed upo…

Secondly, consider we now again the case and outward condition of such a soul, that of itself would fall out to it upon the dissolution of the body. 1. It fails of all sorts of comforts it had in and by its union with the body in this world (Luke 16:9). When you fail, says Chris…

This has been confirmed in the experience of all that ever lived. The rich glutton (Luke 16) has the better life as to externals, and Lazarus had a poor, afflicted life — but when death comes, the rich glutton goes to hell, and Lazarus goes to the bosom of Abraham. This is laid…

And this is a reason of the former; to wit, that no other can absolve but God, the party offended, who is judge. We mark it for this practical use which the Apostle makes of it, which is to bid us lay less weight upon others, thinking well of us, or absolving us; and on our own…

I do not intend that we are to imitate the Martyr who put his hand in the fire, the night before he suffered, to try how he could endure burning-quick; but that we are to lay the supposition, what if it so fall out; (as Christ being persuaded his suffering was to come, acted sor…

For all the like places Arminians expound of the body, of the whole body of the visible Church, externally called; now this is most absurd, that all and every one should be saved, to whom Apostles, and Pastors were sent to preach the Gospel, then all must be restricted to the ch…

2. His human nature thus knowing all, [I know your works, your labor, and your patience, etc. (Revelation 22)] He therewith has an act of memory, and recalls how himself was once affected, and how distressed while on earth, under the same or the like miseries: For the memory of…

And yet thus much I say, that many times without laying out of money, he cannot be had, without parting with money we cannot get him, the case so stands that sometimes, the holding fast a man's money lets go the Lord Jesus Christ, you have a famous example in the young man (Matt…

The law is represented by Moses, and the prophets by Elias. Both did frequently foretell and prefigure the death and resurrection of Christ, and all the Scripture which was then written, was usually called by this term, Law and Prophets, (Acts 24:14) believing all things that ar…

(1.) Some will not believe the Gospel, except they see a miracle, or hear an oracle. Christ represents their thoughts (Luke 16:30): in fact, Father Abraham, if one went to them from the dead, then they would repent. They would have other ways of assurance than God allows, and ar…

4. It was injurious to Christ, to hope to learn something from Moses and Elijah which Christ could not teach them, and to equal them with his Lord and Master, in building tabernacles for all three alike and without difference, was some lessening of his respect to Christ. If they…

6. Their last office is at death and judgment. In death to convey our souls to Christ (Luke 16:22): And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom, that so we may enjoy our rest in heaven. In the last day they will gather the bodies…

Further, we must consider we have not onely received them; but that we have so received them, as that they are not our own, with which we may doe what we list, but talents lent vs for a time, and left with vs to employ, ouer which we are but stewards and bayliffes, not lords or…

For none will seek after the physician, but such as feel themselves vehemently sick, and that desire both the remedy and their health. And therefore they compare this place with that in Luke 16:15: That which is highly esteemed before men, is an abomination in the sight of God.…

They were not content with God alone, but sought a thousand inventions: for what will satisfy him that forsakes the Lord? Christ speaks also in this sort; They have Moses and the Prophets, let them hear them (Luke 16:29). For although Abraham be brought in speaking there, yet is…

Mark 1:1. The beginning of the Gospel. Though what we have hitherto taken out of Matthew and Luke is a part of the Gospel, yet it is not without reason that Mark makes the beginning of the Gospel to be the preaching of John the Baptist. For the Law and the Prophets then came to…

19. Whoever then shall break one of these least commandments, and shall so teach men, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whoever shall have done and taught them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Luke 16:17 17. Now it is easier for heaven an…

32. But I say to you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, except on account of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry a woman that is put away commits adultery. Luke 16:18 18. Whosoever puts away his wife, and marries another, commits adultery:…

36. If therefore your whole body shall be luminous, not having any part dark, the whole shall be luminous, as when a candle enlightens you by its brightness. Luke 16:13 13. No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or will hold to the…

Widely different is the account which Christ gives us, when he says, that the law and the prophets were till John, and that since that time the kingdom of God began to be preached, (Luke 16:16) Mark, too, as we mentioned a little ago, declares that the preaching of John was the…

—In an earlier portion of this Commentary, to which our author refers, (Harmony, volume 1 page 337,) no direct or formal explanation of the word Mammon is to be found; but a careful reader of the expository remarks on Matthew 6:24 will easily perceive that Calvin understands ric…

28. For I say to you, Among those who are born of women, there is not a greater Prophet than John the Baptist; yet he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. Luke 16:16 16. The Law and the Prophets (were) till John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached,…

The present division of the Scriptures is more copious than what we find in other passages; for besides the Law and the Prophets, he adds, in the third place, the Psalms, which, though they might with propriety have been reckoned among the Prophets, have, something distinct and…

Acts 17:30: 'But now commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent.' Luke 16:30: 'Nay Father Abraham, but if one went to them from the dead, they would repent.' 2 Peter 3:9: 'The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us,…

Luke 16:16: 'The Law and the Prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presses into it.' In these words two things may be observed: first, wherein the work and office of John the Baptist consisted, namely, preaching the kingdom of Go…

You will be in different interests, and in exceedingly different states, as long as you live; they the children of God, and you the children of Satan. And you will be parted in another world; when you come to die, there will be a vast separation made between you (Luke 16:26). An…

Such as are commonly despised by their fellow creatures, Christ does not despise (1 Corinthians 1:28). Christ condescends to take notice of beggars (Luke 16:22), and of servants, and people of the most despised nations. He that is thus high, condescends to take a gracious notice…

For such feasting the land mourns. 5. When feastings are frequent: feasts are not for every day, that was the thing taxed in the glutton (Luke 16), that he fared deliciously every day. 6. When we spend too much of the day at any time, or too much time any day in feasting, when w…

These persons, if they had all the gifts that Mary had, yet would they not acknowledge nor praise God in them. For as Christ says (Luke 16): He that is faithful in the least, is faithful also in much: and he that is unrighteous in the least, is unrighteous also in much. Therefor…

Our savior tells us, that the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force, Matthew 11:12. It is not of the outward violence of its Enemies seeking to destroy it, that our savior speaks, but of that spiritual servency and ardency of mind, that is in those…

Fourthly, when God by death puts an ende to all their miseries, and brings their soules to eternal life. Thus was Lazarus comforted, as Abraham saith unto Dives, Luk. 16. 25. and thus does Christ comfort the Theefe upon the crosse (who with his bodily torment for his leud life,…

There is still something lacking in our faith (1 Thessalonians 3:10). Grace is but in its infancy and minority, and we must be still adding a cubit to our spiritual stature; the Apostles said Lord increase our faith (Luke 17:5). Grace is but weak (2 Samuel 3:39).

Because he might have sacrifices of thanksgiving ready to offer to God for their deliverance. To have a thankful heart for a deliverance, is a greater blessing than the deliverance itself (Luke 17:15). One of the lepers, when he saw he was healed, turned back, and with a loud vo…

Because this sin of drunkenness does so abound in this age, I shall enlarge something more on this head. It is said of the Old World, they ate, they drank, till the Flood came (Luke 17:27). Drinking is not a sin; but the meaning is, they drank to intemperance, they disordered th…

God honors his children with the title of kings (Revelation 1:6): And has made us kings. All God's children are kings: though they have not earthly kingdoms, yet, 1. They carry a kingdom about them (Luke 17:21): The kingdom of God is within you: grace is a kingdom set up in the…

2. More Particularly. (1.) Masters must have a care to provide for their servants: As they cut them out work, so they must give them their meat in due season (Luke 17:7). And the food should be wholesome and sufficing.

3. Lay up a stock of faith. Luke 17:4: If your brother trespass against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to you, and say, I repent, you shall forgive him. And the Apostles said to the Lord, Increase our faith.

So we accordingly must labour and strive against that inbred unbelief which is in us: for every man has innumerable sins in him that resist faith; and if they be not checked and suppressed, they will master his faith: but he that would have faith to continue and last, must striv…

The sixth sign is, an exceeding deadness of heart, so as neither judgments from heaven, nor the preaching of the word shall move the hearts of men. So Christ says, It shall be in the coming of the Son of Man, as it was in the days of Noah, and in the days of Sodom: they knew not…

Reason 3. Luke 17:10: When you have done all those things that are commanded us, we are unprofitable servants — we have done that which was our duty to do. The Papists answer that we are unprofitable to God but not to ourselves.

The other ground of our answer to all the places on the contrary, is that the word [Greek text], and [Greek text]; Christ died for all: does never signify all and every one of mankind, by neither Scripture, nor the doctrine of adversaries: but is as all Divines say, to be expoun…

No, this is not the spirit of a faithful minister of Jesus Christ, and it will be but uncomfortable to such ministers, as think now they may be left to the wide world, they will shift anywhere, but where we see any seeds of faith begun, we must be desirous to increase it in ours…

If we be able to do it ourselves, we must not discover it, but do it ourselves and let it go no further; but if the burden be too great, that he cannot lift it up, it is too weighty a matter for him, then he may call in those that are able to help him in such a work, so as that…

And (Colossians 2:16) let no man judge you in meat or drink, or in a piece of a holy day, or of a new Moon, or Sabbath day, etc. So says our Savior Christ: The kingdom of God comes not with observation of the law (Luke 17:20). Much less then are men's consciences, to be burdened…

Besides this, Paul should be inconstant and unlike himself, if he should admonish unclean persons, fornicators, wantons, and that three times before excommunication: and should at the first excommunicate certain others, without any precedent admonition. Third, the word there use…

In a word, as he had described repentance by the signs, so he now sets forth their inward obstinacy and hardness of heart, by the outward testimonies of it. For even as we witness our sorrow for sin by abstinence and other exercises; so by our dissolutions and superfluities, we…

The kingdom of the Father, as the inheritance of the godly, is contrasted with the earth, to remind them that here they are pilgrims, and therefore ought to look upwards towards heaven. In another passage, the kingdom of God is said to be within us, (Luke 17:21), but we shall no…

29. And he said to them, This kind "this kind [of devils] goes not out" cannot go out in any other way than by prayer and fasting. Luke 17:5-6 5. And the apostles said to the Lord, Increase our faith.

20. For where two or three are assembled “— Ou il y en a deux ou trois assemblez;” — “— where there are two or three of them assembled.” — in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Luke 17:3 3. Be on your guard.

35. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do to you, if you forgive not every one his brother from your hearts their offenses. Luke 17:4 4. And if seven times in a day he shall offend against thee, and seven times in a day he shall turn to thee, saying, I repent, forgive him.

47. And if your eye offend you, pluck it out; for it were better for you to enter with one eye into the kingdom of God than that, having two eyes, you should be cast into hell-fire: 48. Where their worm dies not, and their fire is not quenched. Luke 17:1-2 1. And he said to his…

24. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led captive into all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles, till the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. Luke 17:22-25 22. And he said to the disciples, The days will come when you shall desire…

33. Take heed, watch and pray; for you know not when the time is. Luke 17:26-37 26. And as it happened in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

Again (Luke 21): As a snare shall that day come upon all them, that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Again (Luke 17): As the lightning that lightens out of the one part under heaven, shines to the other part under heaven: so shall the Son of Man be in his day. That is, it s…

Lawful things are oftentimes the occasion of unlawful. All the sins of the old world are described thus, they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, etc. (Luke 17:27-28). There is not one of these an act evil in itself, yet they sinned away their peace, and sinne…

When God gives unto men the outward meanes of salvation, wherein he does reueale his grace & fauour in Christ; as the Gospel preached, which is therefore called the word of the kingdome, Matth. 13. 19. And so Christ (hauing relation to his preaching, which he confirmed by miracl…

So Christs Disciples did not onely heare him preach, but desired to bee instructed in those things which they knew not, Matth. 13. 36. Declare to us the meaning of the parable: also they prayed him to increase their faith, Luk. 17. 5. Here then we may see the cause of that ignor…

25. The twenty-fifth and last sin of London, which I shall speak of, is carnal security — another of Sodom's sins. It is said of the Sodomites (Luke 17:28-29), In the days of Lot, they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built: but the same day that L…

The world of mankind being continued so long in a state of such great prosperity, shall now begin to abuse their prosperity, to serve their lust and corruption. This we learn from Luke 17:26, etc. 2. Those apostates shall make great opposition to the church of God.

No wise husbandman will neglect a fit opportunity of gathering in his hay and corn, upon a presumption of much fair weather to come; he will not say, the weather is settled, and I need not trouble myself, though my corn and hay be fit for the house, yet I may get it in another t…

The Nature of Man will not allow it. Indeed Christ says, Luke 17:20. The Kingdom of God comes not with Observation.

It will be a good evidence of our repentance toward God, to humble ourselves to our brothers, whom we have offended, as it will be also a good evidence of our being forgiven of God if we be ready to [reconstructed: forgive] those that have offended us: And such yielding pacifies…

In all the means that we use, let us look up to him, and seek a blessing of him. The latter must with the tenth leper return back to Christ, and glorify God (Luke 17:16). Whatever the means were, or whoever the minister was, the praise and glory of all must be given to him.

It is further commended in the examples of Abraham's servant, Elijah's servant, and many others (Genesis 24:9; 1 Kings 18:43). Note how far the Lord Christ exacts this duty of servants: though a servant has been all day plowing — a laborious and wearisome work — yet when he come…

And it always so fell out, to fix our faith on the right bottom, that scarce any Prophet that spoke in the name of God, had any Approbation from the Church, in whose days He spoke. Matthew 5:12. chapter 23:29. Luke 17:47, 48. Acts 7:52. Matthew 21:33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38. It is t…

There were Divisions and Parties, Schisms and Sects in the Corinthian Church, and they must be, says the Apostle, that they that are approved may be made manifest among you, 1 Corinthians 11:19. Our Lord Jesus forewarns his Disciples, that Offences will come, and it is not possi…

Others have had as much of God's patience, and as fair opportunity as you, whose souls and Christ have never met, and now know, that they never shall; they had their time of worldly projects and enjoyment, as you now have, and followed them, as if they had been immortally to abi…

By the law of creation, we were not appointed to serve and please the flesh, but to serve God. (Luke 17:10) When you have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants, we have done that which was our debt or duty to do. Obedience, worship, and…

So accordingly should we reason of God's mercy, according to the mercy that we find in ourselves. Therefore it is very notable, that when Christ had spoken of forgiving our brethren, not only seven times, but seventy times seven, the disciples said to the Lord, Increase our fait…

And mark, when God carried on his kingdom in a way of sensible manifestation, by visions, oracles, and miracles: so did Satan visibly govern the pagan world by apparitions, oracles, lying wonders, and sensible manifestations of himself. But now, when God's kingdom is spiritual,…

One is that administration which belongs to the present life, and is called the kingdom of grace; and the other belongs to the life to come, and is called the kingdom of glory. 1. The kingdom of grace is spoken of in many places, especially (Luke 17:20-21): When he was demanded…

It reproves Iovial Sinners, vvho are so far from fearing God, that they spend their time in mirth and vvantonness. Luke 17:27. They did eat, they drank, they married, till the flood came and destroyed them all.

Great is the weakness of our faith, as appears by our fears, doubts, and distrusts, so that we need to be assured more and more. We need to say with tears, as he does in the Gospel (Mark 9:24), "Lord, I believe, help my unbelief," and to cry out with the apostles, "Lord, increas…

When the saints are crowned, they cast their crowns at the Lamb's feet (Revelation 4:10). We hold all by his mercy (Luke 17:10). When we have done all, we are unprofitable servants: not in compliment, but in truth of heart we are unprofitable servants.

Now consider, is there no return due? You know the story (Luke 17:15-19). Christ healed ten lepers, and but one of them returned and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down at his feet giving thanks, and he was a Samaritan, and Jesus answering said, were there not ten cle…

Self-love will put us upon prayer, but the love of God upon praise and thanksgiving; we pray because we need God, we praise because we love God, and have a sense of his goodness to us. Luke 17:15: One of them when he saw that he was healed, with a loud voice turned back and glor…

And his argument is: For I delight in your word. Mercy is nevertheless free though the creature minds his duty, for when we have done all we are but unprofitable servants (Luke 17:10), and grace helps us to do what we do (Luke 19:18). Your pound, not my industry.

Nothing we have can [illegible] it, nothing we can do can deserve it at the hands [illegible] Christ. For the conclusion is firm, when we [illegible] done all we can we are [illegible] servants [illegible] have done no more than we should (Luke 17). Indeed we do much that we sho…

Heaven is already begun in a believer: Romans 14:17, The kingdom of God is peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. This kingdom is in a believer's heart: Luke 17:21. The people of God have a prelibation and taste of blessedness here.

1. If God have set up his kingdom within us. Luke 17:21: The kingdom of God is within you; by the kingdom of God there is meant the kingdom of grace in the heart. Grace may be compared to a kingdom, it sways the scepter, it gives out laws, there is the law of love; Grace beats d…

Oh let the high praises of God be in your mouth (Psalm 149:6). God expects thankfulness as a tribute; he wonders men bring not their thank-offering (Luke 17:17): were there not ten cleansed, but where are the nine? Are you healed? Take heed of coming into infected company, lest…

Let us then give God spirit-worship; this best suits with his nature: a sovereign elixir full of virtue may be given in a few drops — a little prayer, if it be with the heart and spirit, may have much virtue and efficacy in it. The publican made but a short prayer, God be mercif…

The more love a Christian receives from God, the more he sees himself a debtor to free grace, and the sense of his debt keeps his heart humble, but presumption is bred of pride. He who presumes, disdains; he thinks himself better than others (Luke 18:11): God I thank you, I am n…

We are kept by power of God. 3. The world's golden snares, riches and pleasure (Luke 18:24). How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God.

4. If we trust in our civility, we make it a God: many trust to this, none can charge them with gross sin. Civility is but nature refined and cultivated; a man may be washed and not changed: his life may be civil, yet there may be some reigning sin in his heart: the Pharisee cou…

Answ. 1. When our faith in prayer is humble: A presumptuous person hopes to be heard in prayer for some inherent worthiness in himself; he is so qualified, and has done God good service, therefore he is confident God will hear his prayer. See an instance (Luke 18:11-12). The Pha…

O how thankful should you be to God? Do as that blind man in the Gospel, after he had received his sight, he followed Christ glorifying God (Luke 18:43). Make Heaven ring of God's praises.

8. If you would not fall short of the kingdom of heaven, take heed of worldly-mindedness; a covetous spirit is a dunghill spirit, it chokes good affections, as the earth puts out the fire. The world hindered the young man from following Christ, abiit tristis, he went away sorrow…

The world's golden sands are quicksands. How hard is it for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven, (Luke 18:24). The consideration of this should make us submit to God in adversity, and say, Your will be done: God sees what is best for us; if we have less estate we are…

The husbandman waits till the seed spring up: wait for the harvest of glory. Some have their waiting weeks at court; this is your waiting time: Christ says, Pray and faint not (Luke 18:1). So wait and faint not.

A cunning flatterer who is continually suggesting things and taking all hints and occasions to do so may at last work hard to push out a near and dear friend and make one jealous of him. As the judge yielded to her importunity (Luke 18:5), so the mind is apt to yield to a sugges…

'Does his promise fail forever?' Remember what is said in another case in Luke 18:8 — that though he bears long, yet he comes speedily — that is, though long in our eyes, yet speedily in his own. He has all time before him and knows how much time remains to be spent in embraces…

Thus in their own defense, that which Christ says, they contradict, and justify themselves. Here mark the nature of all impenitent sinners, which is to soothe and flatter themselves in sin, and to maintain their own righteousness, like to the proud Pharisee in his prayer, who br…

1. A righteous man is a humble man; he who is proud of his righteousness, is unrighteous. Luke 18:1. God I thank you that I am not as other men are, I fast, I give tithes: Here was a triple crown of pride the Pharisee wore; righteousness though it raises the name, it depresses t…

Query 2. Though God's abhorring and final rejecting of prayer is an argument of his abhorring the person who prays, dare we conclude so from a mere suspension of the answer? God may bear long with his own elect who cry to him day and night — Luke 18:7. Query 3. Can you deny that…

Your prayers may be answered, though the thing prayed for be withheld, yes, or though it should be given for a little while and then taken from you again. There are four ways God answers prayers: by giving the thing prayed for immediately (Daniel 9:23); by suspending the answer…

Quest. But how is it possible there should be any good towards us? That the sins in which the Nation hath been so steeped, and parboil'd, should be forgiven? that our divisions and animosities should be healed, Gods Ordinances refined, and the Lord continue his gracious presence…

The 2nd symptom is deep security, and much self-confidence; where these are, Christ's Intercession is little, or not at all made use of; when a soul makes no question of, nor has any doubt about its own peace, or about its praying or getting a hearing, this is indeed self-confid…

When the Spirit of God helps us to fervency, to cry to God, and to be earnest with him in that regard, and not to give him over, and comes from a sensible want of the blessings we stand in need of, and that makes us go out of ourselves to God, for the mercy that is according to…

And this, according to Paul, is to be under the works of the law, that is to say, that hypocrites do the law, and yet in doing it, they do it not: for they understand this word doing according to the literal sense of the law, which in true Christian divinity is nothing worth. In…

These confess with their mouth that they are sinners, and they confess also that they commit sins daily, however not so great and many, but that they are able to put them away by their own works: indeed and besides all this, they will bring their righteousness and deserts to Chr…

Here he must needs fall into the hatred of God, and blasphemy against God. Before, when he was out of temptation, he was a very holy man, he worshipped and praised God, he bowed his knee before God and gave him thanks, as the Pharisee did (Luke 18). But now when sin and death is…

IV. They held, that the keeping of the morall lawe, stood in externall obedience, as appeares by the speeches of Christ, reforming their errours, Math. 5. 6. 7. chap. v. They maintained a naturall freedome of the will, in the obseruing of the law, Luk. 18. Lord I thanke you (say…

Thus much does the word, [〈…〉]stifie, import. Thus came the Publican before God, Luk. 18, when he said, Lord be mercifull to me a sinner; and departed justified. Thus in the sift petition, we are taught to come euery day into the presence of God, and to acknowledge our debts, an…

For the spirit makes us cry Abba, Father: that is, My father, and your father. God requires this importunity of us (Luke 18:1). It is practiced by David (Psalm 69:4), by the woman of Canaan (Matthew 15).

But he would have us, especially to consider ourselves, that by the consideration of our own weakness, we might learn more mildness towards others in our reproofs: for seeing we stand in need of mercy, we ought to deal mercifully: and seeing God forgives us innumerable sins, we…

16. And when he had taken them in his arms, he laid hands on them, and blessed them. Luke 18:15-17 15. And they presented to him also infants, that he might touch them; which, when the disciples saw, they rebuked them.

22. But he, affected with uneasiness on account of the saying, went away sorrowful; for he had many possessions. Luke 18:18-23 18. And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do, that I may obtain eternal life?

27. And Jesus beholding them says, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for all things are possible with God. Luke 18:24-27 24. And Jesus, perceiving that he was sorrowful, said, With what difficulty shall they who have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

“Et les derniers seront premiers;” — “and the last shall be first.” Luke 18:28-30, 22:28-31 28. And Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.

And having again taken aside the twelve, he began to tell them what things would happen to him: 33. Lo, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes; and they will condemn him to death, and will deliver him to the Gentiles: 34. And…

And immediately he received sight, and followed Jesus in the way. Luke 18:35-43 35. And it happened that, while he was approaching Jericho, a certain blind man was sitting near the road begging:

Those hypocrites which trust to their works, and live an honest and virtuous life, as it appears outwardly, do truly think, and are fully persuaded, that God must receive them into heaven, because of their works. This makes them proud, presumptuous and glorious in their own conc…

This is what I would argue from hence, that the expression of our own righteousness, when used in Scripture, with relation to the favor of God, and when we are warned against looking upon it as that by which that favor is obtained, does not signify only a ceremonial righteousnes…

Suspicion will arise, if censure pass not, from better men than Barbarians, if they see a viper on the hand of a Paul (Acts 28). It is more than probable from our Savior's question, that those eighteen upon whom the Tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, were commonly supposed gre…

This is a point of great importance, and therefore for the better obseruing of it, I will here show two points: I. what this pride is: II. why it must be so carefully auoided in our alms deedes. By pride, I meane not outward pride in apparell, but that which is inward in the sou…

For the partie: by Hypocrite wee must understand him, that in heart and speech is prone to conceiue, and give rash judgment of other mens sayings and actions: and good cause there is why he is so called, for this man has the sinne of hypocrisie raigning in him, he desires to see…

The world's silver trumpet sounds a retreat, and calls men off from their pursuit after Heaven. The world hindered the young man from following Christ: he went away sorrowful: whereupon, says our Savior, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God (Luke…

Not only so, but it seems to be foretold in scripture, that it shall be a time of but little religion, when Christ shall come to set up his kingdom in the world. Thus when Christ spake of his coming to encourage his elect, who cry to him day and night, in Luke 18:8 he adds this,…

All the medicine in the world could not have done her so much good. Always therefore, without ceasing is this duty to be performed (Luke 18:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). Whenever man and wife make any prayer, in it they must be mindful of one another: indeed, and often must they of…

3. Therefore does Christ use this comparison, that we might not miscarry by a low example. How apt are we to follow the track, and to take up with an easy and low rate of obedience, (Luke 18:11), that put great confidence in that, God, I thank you, I am not as other men. Now bec…

What Monuments of Gods Vengeance were Nero, Dioclesian, Gardner, and the rest of that persecuting tribe? Luke 18:7. Shall not God avenge his own elect?

I thought surely the fear of God is not in this place. The Judge in the Gospel is called an unjust Iudge, Luke 18:6. And no wonder, for verse 2. he feared not God.

We must glory in the Lord. 2. Not pleading of merit, as if he had deserved anything of God; so the Pharisee speaks of his good works (Luke 18:11). It is not to such a purpose as if we could challenge a reward as a due debt upon any good that we have done.

Many men, all their religion runs upon nots. (Luke 18:11) I am not as this publican. That ground is naught, though it brings not forth briars and thorns, if it yields not good increase.

He is the Savior of all men, especially of those that believe, the whole earth is full of his goodness, Lord show it to me also, he hears the cry of ravens. 2. To direct us how to sue for it in a broken-hearted manner, there are two extremes, self-confidence and desperation, sel…

First, the necessity of it, the best of God's children have no other claim. For a publican to come and say God be merciful to me a sinner (Luke 18:13) is no such wonder, but for a David to use the same plea, that should be noted. From first to last the children of God have no ot…

4. Take heed of moral pride, which consists in a lofty conceit of ourselves, joined with a contempt of others: this was the Pharisees' sin. (Luke 18:9) He spoke this parable to certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others. And it is notably p…

Secondly, to awaken our importunity. (Luke 18:1) And he spoke a parable to them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint: compared with (Luke 11:8) with the parable ensuing. So again an instance in the Woman of Canaan — she turns discouragements into argument…

We that are short-sighted, and short spirited creatures, see not God's reasons: indeed, God may delay so long, till their hearts faint, and their eyes fail, as in these two verses: till their faith and patience be quite spent, and they have left looking for it. (Luke 18:8) "Shal…

4. A natural man prides himself in his duties; if he be much in duty, then he is much lifted up under duty. So did the Pharisee (Luke 18): "God I thank you that I am not as other men are" — and why? Where lay the difference?

10. The more we grow in grace, the more we shall flourish in glory. Though every vessel of glory shall be full, yet some vessels hold more; he whose pound gained ten, was made ruler over ten cities (Luke 19:17). Such as do not grow much, though they do not lose their glory, yet…

Sweep the House, wash the Floor, adorn the Room with the richest Tapestry and Hangings, that there might be something suitable to the state and dignity of so great a Person. On the blessed Sabbath God intends to have sweet communion with you; he seems to say to you as Christ to…

Constantine the Emperor was noted for his reverent attention to the word. Luke 19:48. Christ taught daily in the Temple: And all the people were attentive to hear him — in the Greek, they hung upon his lip.

Says the prodigal, Then I will leave spending what is my own, when you leave off stealing from others. Zacheus was an extortioner, and after his conversion, he made restitution (Luke 19:8). He thought all he got by extortion was theft.

Response 1. Give great attention to the Word preached; let nothing pass without taking special notice of it. Luke 19:48: All the people were very attentive to hear him. Greek, [⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩], they hanged upon his lip.

Sixthly, if it be for the practice of a man's lawful calling, as for traffic: and thus Merchants may, and do lawfully travel into all Nations, and have their Factors there resident: provided they lose not their souls to gain for their bodies: their traveling is allowed by Christ…

All the gifts of GOD (and therefore faith) are the Lord's talents, and every true believer is the Lord's servant, called to occupy therewith. Now GOD, having put his talent into any man's hand, doth require the increase thereof, as the Parable shows, Luke 19.13. And this Paul te…

Now follows the second point, namely his dealing toward his enemies; and here by enemies I understand all creatures, but especially men, which, as they are by nature enemies to Christ and his kingdom, so they persevere in the same enmity to the end. Now his dealing towards them…

Secondly it is to be made unto the Church, after excommunication for public offenses, and it stands in duties of humiliation that fitly serve to testify the truth of our repentance. Thirdly, satisfaction is to be made to our neighbor, because if he be wronged he must have recomp…

"You will not" (says He, in John 5) "come to me, that you may have life," to show, that the best entertainment that they could give Him, was, to come and get life from Him; and it is told us, that He was angry and grieved for the people's unbelief, and hardness of heart. Indeed,…

Will He take notice how Christ carries Himself in His service, and trust, and will He not take notice of others? Most certainly He will; and therefore, (Matthew 25 and Luke 19) He calls the servants to a reckoning, to whom the talents are given; and as they have made use of them…