Matthew

I shall wave the context, and only speak of that which concerns our present purpose: having discoursed of the covenant of grace, I shall speak now of the Mediator of the covenant, and the restorer of lapsed sinners, Jesus the Mediator of the covenant. There are several names and…

Christ is called the Horn of Salvation (Luke 1:69). He saves from sin (Matthew 1:21), from wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10). To save is a flower that belongs only to his crown (Acts 4:12).

Quest. How shall I know I am delivered from hell? Resp. 1. Those whom Christ saves from hell, he saves from sin (Matthew 1:21). He shall save his people from their sins.

Thirdly, if it be for the safety of his life in a good cause. So Moses, Exodus 2:14-15, fled into the land of Midian, and there stayed, when Pharaoh sought his life: And Christ himself fled with his Father and Mother into Egypt, from the fury of Herod, Matthew 1. The like may be…

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…

Use. It serves to vindicate this truth from an error and mistake of the Arminians, who, as they overthrow the design of grace in the salvation of sinners in other steps thereof; so do they in this, in making Christ's death to precede Election, and Election to follow it; But, as…

(Mark 14:14): "This is my blood of the New Testament, that is shed for many," as (Romans 5:15): "Through the offence of one, many were dead" — that is, all were dead. So the sheep of Christ (John 10:11), the scattered sons of God (John 11:52), his people (Matthew 1:21), his bret…

Let Israel wait for the Lord, for with him is mercy and plenteous redemption, and he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities (verse 7, 8). And he is therefore called Jesus (Matthew 1:21). And notable is that expression (Hosea 14:2): Take away all our iniquities, and receive…

Now we must diligently observe the words, because both Hebrews and Christians interpret this place amiss. Saint Jerome expounds it of Jesus Christ, because he descended from the Moabites, of whom Ruth came (Ruth 1:4; Matthew 1:5) and the most part of Christian expositors follow…

The word conceive is enough to set aside the dream of Marcion and Manichaeus: for it is easy to gather from it that Mary brought forth not an ethereal body or phantom, but the fruit which she had previously conceived in her womb. You shall call his name Jesus The reason of the n…

Matthew 1:1-17 1. The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

For it did not happen without the undoubted Providence of God, that the Evangelists leave out the whole period which Christ spent in private, and pass at once from his earliest infancy to his thirtieth year, when he was openly exhibited to the world, invested with his public cha…

And even the adverb until extends no farther than to the time which goes before. Joseph did not know his wife until she brought forth Christ, (Matthew 1:25.) By these words Scripture does not mean, that after Christ had been born they lived together as husband and wife, but only…

2. Quest. Why is it then said the first, when no other commandments with promise follow? Answ. This particle (first) has not always reference to some other following, but is often simply taken, to show that none was before it: so is the word firstborn used in the law: and so Chr…

Jesus the Mediator saves his People from their Sins. Matthew 1:21. as well as delivers from the Wrath to come.

1. The first and most general Character which our Lord Jesus Christ assumes, is that of a Savior, by which Name he is most frequently called in the New Testament. This is the very Signification of his proper Name Jesus, in the Hebrew, Matthew 1:21. Thou shalt call his Name Jesus…

For our Love to the Law of God and a hearty Inclination to keep it, is a great Part of the very Salvation which the Gospel provides for sinful Men. Jesus Christ the Son of God is become our Saviour, not only to save us from God's Wrath, 1 Thessalonians 1:10. but also to save us…

4. The death of Christ falls more directly upon this benefit, exemption from sin. "He shall save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). "God having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities" (Acts 3:26) — not troubl…

But now on the contrary suppose a man high in honor, wallowing in wealth, spending his time and wealth in ease and pleasure, but after all this God will bring him to judgment, the world is his friend, but God is his enemy, and he is all his life time subject to bondage, (Hebrews…

Meaning thereby Christ actually exhibited or born in the flesh, which was the beginning of the kingdom of the Messiah. 3. For the benefits which we have by Christ on this side heaven; as the pardon of sin, and the renovation of our natures, these are called salvation, as (Matthe…

1 That Christ's sufferings were for sinners: Jesus Christ himself suffered, but he did not suffer for himself; for he was without sin (Hebrews 4:15 and 7:26), neither was guile found in his mouth, nor any misbecoming word, when he suffered, though it were a provoking time (1 Pet…

Repentance is not enough, for righteousness is not by repentance, but by faith (Philippians 3:9). Prayers and tears, sighs and sorrows are not our Saviour; it is Jesus only that saves from sin (Matthew 1:21). None can put our sins to death, but he that died for our sins.

God is love, and judgment his strange work; yet sin makes him out of love with men, and in love with their destruction at last; so though he delights not in the death of a repenting, yet he does in the death of an impenitent sinner. 5. It proves sin the worst and greatest of evi…

By brethren we do not understand brethren by place, those who are of the same country or nation, such are called brethren (Romans 9:3; Acts 7:23, 25). Nor do we understand brethren by race, those who are descended of the same parents: such are called brethren (Matthew 1:2). But…

For it [illegible] said, [illegible] Christ be a perfect Savior, and has [illegible] salvation for his, at the hand of divine justice, [illegible] God in justice will not hinder, sin and Satan [illegible] hinder. When the law is satisfied, the prisoner [illegible] be released; C…

Christ shed his blood to wash off our filth; the cross was both an altar and a fountain. Jesus Christ died not only to save us from wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:10) but to save us from sin (Matthew 1:21). Out of his side came water, which signifies our cleansing, as well as blood, w…

Unbelief is more contrary to the Spirit, than carnal sins, being most contrary to the flower and bloomings of the Spirit in his sweetest operations, and most against the Mediator-love of Christ. For as by the fall, Christ has a new office to redeem us (Matthew 1:21; 1 Timothy 1:…

And how soon the will is broken and dead, then is the man broken, dead and crucified with Christ. Much will, much life of sin: See (John 5:40), (Luke 19:14), (Mark 6:25), (Matthew 1:19), (Mark 15:15), (Acts 24:27), (Acts 25:9), (Luke 10:29), (Revelation 22:17). All will, argues…

Christ then by his death merited and purchased for all those for whom he died all those things which scripture assigns as the fruits and effects of his death. These may be referred to two heads: first, privative — deliverance from the hands of our enemies (Luke 1:74), from the w…

So the first part of the proposition is clear from scripture. Now Christ is expressly and pointedly said to die for those on the one side: for his people (Matthew 1:21); his sheep (John 10:11-12, 14); his church (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:25); as distinguished from the world (Roma…

In the first place they are in the front of the parable of seeking the lost sheep, in the other, they are in the close of the recovery of lost Zaccheus, and in both places set forth the end of Christ's coming, which was to do the will of his Father, by the recovery of lost sinne…

Now without faith it is utterly impossible that anyone should attain salvation (Hebrews 11:6; Mark 16:16). But Jesus Christ, according to his name, perfectly saves us (Matthew 1:21), procuring for us eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12), being able to save to the uttermost those wh…

Therefore Christ did not as a public person represent all. Seventh, for testimonies, see John 17:9; Matthew 20:28; Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 10:45; Hebrews 6:20; Isaiah 53:12; John 10:15; Hebrews 13:20; Matthew 1:21; Hebrews 2:17; John 11:51-52; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:2, 23-25; Ro…

In few words we may consider, the actions of that Agent, who in order is the third in that blessed one, whose all is the whole, the Holy Spirit, who is evidently concurring in his own distinct operation, to all the several chief or grand parts of this work, we may refer them to…

Second, that Christ should bring all to the knowledge of the truth is another bold corruption of the word. Third, John 3:17 speaks of being fully saved from sins (Matthew 1:21) and to the uttermost (Hebrews 7:25) — which confirms that only the world of God's elect is intended. I…

This is a collection that all believers, and only believers, can justly make. The all-sufficiency of the death of Christ to save every person without exception who comes to him is enough to fill all the Gospel's invitations to sinners to believe; and when they do believe, this i…

If any shall conceive that these words, (because we hope in the living God who is, etc.,) do not render an account of the ground of Paul's confidence, in going through with his labors and afflictions, but rather are an expression of the head and sum of that doctrine, for which h…

To save, and salvation are used to the same purpose. He shall save his people from their sins; Matthew 1:21. is the same, with, by him all that believe are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses. Acts 13:39.

This Jesus Christ whom they love is the Eternal Son of God, the second person in the glorious Trinity, who in time assumed our human nature, clothed himself with our mortal flesh, lived like a servant in a mean condition, died like a malefactor the cursed death of the cross, and…

And, 2. In reference to his enemies. 1. In reference to his people: 1. To govern them, it was prophesied of Christ before he was born (Matthew 2:6), And you Bethlehem are not the least among the princes of Judah, for out of you shall come a governor that shall rule my people Isr…

This is to live to him, who has died for us (2 Corinthians 5:15). The wise men did not only worship Christ, but presented him with gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:11). Let us present Christ with the fruits of righteousness, which are to the glory and praise o…

Thus the angels in heaven glorify him; they wait on his throne, and are ready to take a commission from him, therefore they are resembled by the cherubims with their wings displayed to show how swift the angels are in their obedience. This is to glorify God when we are devoted t…

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Chrysostom. The Wise Men showed honor to Christ, not only by bowing the knee to him, but by presenting him with gold and myrrh (Matthew 2:11); we hallow God's name not only by lifting up our eyes and hands to Heaven, and bowing the knee in prayer, but b…

Verse 49. I honor my Father. The Wise Men did not only bow the knee to Christ, but presented him with gold and myrrh (Matthew 2:8). So we must not only bow the knee, give God adoration, but bring presents, give him golden obedience.

(7.) By witchcraft and sorcery, a thing forbidden under the Law (Deuteronomy 18:10): There shall not be found among you an enchanter or a witch, or a consulter with familiar spirits. (8.) By having an intention to kill another; as Herod would, under a pretense of worshipping Chr…

So the raven, that unnatural creature — that will hardly feed its own young, yet — providentially brought sustenance to the prophet Elijah (1 Kings 17:6). The Virgin Mary, though by bearing and bringing forth the Messiah she helped to make the world rich, yet she herself was ver…

Secondly whereas Christ says, he preached in their synagogues and temple, which at that time were places full of disorder; in so much as he called the temple a den of thieves (Matthew 21:1[illegible]): and the Scribes and Pharisees had corrupted the doctrine of the law, transgre…

They want the Pomegranate (says Gregory Nazianzene) who have no good works. The wise men did not only bow the knee to Christ, but present him with gold myrrh and Frankincense Matthew 2. 11. Pretences of zeal are insufficient; we must not only worship Christ, but bestow something…

It is true Paul made a vow and afterward kept the same in the time of the New Testament (Acts 18), yet not as a part of God's worship but as a thing indifferent for the time, wherein he only condescended to the weakness of the Jews that by this means he might bring them the bett…

"But this he spoke of the Spirit" (John 20:23). "Then went this saying abroad among the Brethren, that that disciple (John) should not die: yet Jesus said not to him, he shall not die" — so (Matthew 2:16-18). But that Christ draws sinners by his death, was not so much controvert…

Secondly, it serves to teach us all to bemoan our own estates, or the estates of any of ours, that we yet see in the gall of bitterness, lying in an estate of nature; is it yourself, or your father, or mother, or your children or servants? Whatever he be, be he never so good a n…

As for other ordinary teachers, they are in part and in the second place to be heard as angels, and as Christ so far forth as they follow the doctrine of the Apostles. Thus are they also called the angels of the covenant (Matthew 2:7). And ambassadors in the stead of Christ (2 C…

For he was in his death a figure of Christ. The words, Matt. 2. he shall be called a Nazarite, are first spoken of Sampson, and then applied to Christ, in whome was verified that which Sampson figured. For as Sampson conquered his enemies more in his death, then in his life: eue…

For actions abide, and are of force, when words pass as the wind. Moreover, upon this depends another property of seducers, which is, to set a fair gloss upon the matter, and to make the world believe, they do these and these things, for such and such ends (as these false teache…

The Papists have also abused this place, to prove that Kings came from the East to offer gifts to Christ: wherein they show themselves too ridiculous, seeing the Prophet speaks of all sorts of people. But they snatch up without judgment all such like places wherein mention is ma…

Angels announced that “a Savior was born,” (Luke 2:11;) but their voice was only heard by the shepherds, and traveled no farther. One miracle, — everywhere published by “the wise men who came from the east,” (Matthew 2:1) that they had seen a star which proclaimed the birth of t…

For the substance of faith lay in this expectation; and it is evident, that there were few who actually cherished it in their minds. 39. They returned to Galilee The departure to Egypt, I readily acknowledge, came between those events; and the fact mentioned by Luke, that they d…

It had a very close connection with this object, that we should be informed, first, that Christ is a true man, (John 1:14,) and next, that he is “the Son of Abraham and of David,” ( Matthew 1:1 ;) as to both of which, the Lord has been pleased to give us an attestation. The othe…

Great joy as well as great sorrow transports a man in his next actions. It is said (Matthew 2:10-11) that the wise men when they found Christ, rejoiced with exceeding great joy, and presently, they fell down and worshipped him. Neither is this posture peculiar to worship in time…

2. That love to Christ, and zeal for him, holds believers stirring, and makes them send forth a sweet and savory smell. This smell is preferred to all spices, not to one or two, but to all: spices were either used as gifts, because they were precious and costly; so the Queen of…

It is not everyone's happiness thus to enjoy God, to be well-pleasing to him; some may come near with Moses, when others must worship afar off: none so capable of intimate communion with God as the well-furnished Christian: ordinarily, he that has the greatest treasure has the s…

2. God will punish for sinful thoughts. We say Thoughts are free; so they are in mans Court; but God will punish for Thoughts: it was set upon Herods score, that he thought to have destroyed Christ under a pretence of worshipping him, Matthew 2:8. Let us be humbled for the sins…

(Deuteronomy 5:1) Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that you may learn them, and do them: Otherwise we deceive our own souls (James 1:22): But be you doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own souls. We put a paralog…

Sometimes it signifies an imposing upon the credulity of others, things that seem incredible and impossible: so we read in Genesis, when Lot had declared to his sons-in-law the destruction of Sodom, it is said, he seemed to them as one that mocked (Genesis 19:14). Sometimes it i…

They want the pomegranate who have no good works. The wise men did not only bow the knee to Christ but presented him with gold, myrrh, and frankincense (Matthew 2:11). Pretenses of zeal are insufficient; we must not only worship Christ but bestow something upon his members.

2. True love is a love of desire, when we desire to be united to Christ as the fountain of happiness; love desires union; the soul that loves Christ, is ambitious of death, because this dissolution tends to union; death slips one knot, and ties another. 3. True love is a love of…

First, there is a carnal mourning, when we lament outward losses. Matthew 2:18: In Rama there was a voice heard, lamentation and weeping, and great mourning; Rachel weeping for her children. There are many such tears shed; many can mourn over a dead child, who cannot mourn over…

How cheerful may that man be who has taken Christ in the arms of his faith! When the wise men saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy (Matthew 2:10). Christian, have you seen the Lord Jesus? Has this morning star shined into your heart?

And what ground is there to exclude nursing children? For the word in (Acts 2:39) is used as in (Matthew 2:18) and (1 Corinthians 7:14), where surely the word is taken for nursing children, of whose actual faith the Scripture speaks not. Second, the promise "to you and to your c…

There is an acquired hypocrisy in all, less or more, and a habit thereof in not a few. According to men's ways so are men white and painted hypocrites; Herod professes to worship Christ and minds to kill him (Matthew 2). And Absalom covers treason and rebellion against his fathe…

So also (Esther 2:4), (Ecclesiastes 4:15), (2 Samuel 17:25), (Genesis 30:2), (1 Kings 16:10): Zimri reigned, [in non-Latin alphabet] (Ezekiel 16:32). Joseph heard that Archelaus did reign in the room of Herod his father (Matthew 2:22). Tremellius, and Trostius both turn it, loco…

But this exception has little force, for the same preposition used in a similar construction in other places does confessedly indicate a commutation — as Romans 9:3, where Paul says he could wish himself accursed from Christ for his brethren, that is in their stead. And concerni…

Now this also our Savior himself makes apparent. Matthew 20:28: 'He came to give himself a ransom for many' — the word always supposes a substitution and exchange of one person or thing in the place of another (so Matthew 2:22). So 1 Timothy 2:6; 1 Peter 3:18: 'He died for us, t…

Hebrews 1:6. Matthew 2:11. Socinus, I confess, evades the force of this argument, by denying the Divine person of Christ.

In the like manner our Saviour going by the way, meets with a young man, the only son of his mother, carried to be buried, and they wept sore (Luke 7:12-13). So Rachel wept for her children, and would not be comforted because they were not (Matthew 2:18). Though Joseph was not t…

Answ. 1. We please God when we comport with his Will. It was Christ's meat and drink to do his Father's will (John 4:34). and so he pleased him (Matthew 3:17). A voice came from heaven, saying, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.

Then what is Christ's prayer? He is the Son of God, the Son in whom he is well pleased (Matthew 3:17). What will not a Father grant his Son?

Resp. Christ's priestly office has two parts, his satisfaction and intercession. 1. His satisfaction, and this consists of two branches: 1. His active obedience, (Matthew 3:15) He fulfilled all righteousness. Christ did everything which the law required; his holy life was a perf…

2. The second thing I am to speak of is the dove; be harmless as doves. The dove is an excellent creature; it was so acceptable, that in the old law God would have the dove offered in sacrifice: the Holy Ghost, when he would appear in a visible shape, assumed the likeness of a d…

Thus I have spoken of all the three persons. The Trinity of persons may be proved out of Matthew 3:16. Jesus when he was baptized went up immediately out of the water, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him, and lo a voice from heaven, saying,…

2. Christ himself could not procure a pardon but by dying; every pardon is the price of blood. Christ's life was a rule of holiness, and a pattern of obedience (Matthew 3:15). He fulfilled all righteousness.

First, in case he has already had an abundance of revelations from God. As after that glorious testimony given to Christ at his baptism — 'This is my beloved Son' (Matthew 3) — then Jesus was led aside to be tempted (Matthew 4:1). The text points out this timing to this very pur…

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…

The like may be observed, in other famous Prophets, and servants of God: Elijah wore a garment of hair, and thereby was known, 2 Kings 1:8. And so did John Baptist, Matthew 3:4. Yea, the false Prophets went so arrayed, that they might the rather be respected of the people, Zecha…

Which flatly overthrows the opinion and practice of the Romish Church, who resemble the true God, even God the Father, and the holy Trinity, in images: what else do they herein, but make a lie of God? But the Papists say, they devise no image to resemble God in, but only such wh…

The second point to be considered is, that though these three have but one Godhead, and all make but one God: yet they are distinguished one from another: for the Father is the Father, and not the Son, or the Holy Ghost: the Son is the Son, and not the Father, nor the Holy Ghost…

Nec propter vitam vivendi perdere causam. The lives of the wicked are unprofitable, therefore compared to chaff (Matthew 3:11) and hurtful, therefore compared to thorns (Micah 7:4). But a righteous man is like the bee or silkworm, working for the good of others: It comforts me (…

Reason 2. Matthew 3:11: I baptize you with water to repentance, but he that comes after me is stronger than I — he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Hence it is manifest that grace in the sacrament proceeds not from any action in the sacrament.

And the commandment of the Holy Spirit — confess one to another and pray one for another, James 5:17 — binds as well the priest to make confession unto us as any of us to the priest. And whereas it is said in Matthew 3 that many were baptized confessing their sins, and in Acts 1…

Objection 6. Matthew 3:2: Do penance, and bring forth fruits worthy of penance, which (say they) are works of satisfaction enjoined by the priest. Answer: This text is absurd — for the word signifies this much: change your minds from sin to God, and testify it by good works, tha…

The second in these words, "Mine ears you hast opened, then said I, Lo I come in the volume of your book, it's written of me, I delight to do your will"; which implies the Father's acceptation as well as Christ's undertaking; and it also points at the way how the satisfaction is…

You shall only take two or three testimonies for this. The first is (Matthew 3:14 and 17:5): This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased; He undertook to satisfy for the elect's debt, and has accordingly performed it, so that the Father is well pleased. A second is (John 17…

The multitude heard this voice, though they understood it not. We read not often of an audible voice from heaven to Christ; only at his Baptism, there was a testimony given of him from heaven (Matthew 3:16-17) and at his Transfiguration (Matthew 17) of which Peter speaks (2 Pete…

Master Moore's universal atonement pages 4-5 tells us of a twofold reconciliation or redemption, on which Christ effected in his own body with God for men. This is perfect and accomplished fully, so as the Father is well pleased with his Son (Matthew 3:17). And this is done by s…

First, wherever there is life, there is some warmth (2 Kings 9:34). When the Prophet had lain upon the child, and had done so seven times, at length the breath of the child began to wax warm, a sign that life was a restoring, and thereby the Prophet discerned that life began to…

3. The next thing is [in non-Latin alphabet], in whom I am well pleased. This is to be interpreted of Christ as Mediator, or God Incarnate; for this was twice spoken at Christ's Baptism, Matthew 3:17, and now at his Transfiguration, both imply his Mediatorship. For his Baptism h…

Ioh. 8. 33. which vaine glorying of other mens vertues, John Baptist reproous, when he says, Thinke not to say with your selues, we have Abraham for our father&c. Mat. 3. 9. Fourthly, such as reioyce & thinke themselues in a good case, because they see others worse then themselu…

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…

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…

We have also told you that the kingdom of Christ is here depicted; not such a one as it shall be in every particular moment of time, but in its perfection. Christ at his first coming, began to accomplish that which is here said, when he purged his Church: in which regard, he cal…

Matthew 3:1-6 1. Now in those days John the Baptist comes, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2. And saying, Repent:

Matthew 3:11-12 11. I indeed baptize you with water to repentance: but he who comes after me is stronger than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.

Matthew 3:13-17 13. Then comes Jesus from Galilee to Jordan to John, that he might be baptized by him.

Matthew 3:7-10 7. And when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, Offspring of vipers, who warned you that you might flee from the wrath to come?

Nor is this inconsistent with what is said elsewhere, that Christ, as soon as he comes forth with his Gospel, has a winnowing-fan in his hand, and will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor, (Matthew 3:12.) These words describe the commencement of that cleansing, which, this pa…

That he may sift you as wheat. The metaphor of sifting is not in every respect applicable; for we have elsewhere seen that the Gospel is compared to a winnowing-fan or sieve, by which the wheat is purified from the chaff (Matthew 3:12;) but here it simply means to toss up and do…

It is, therefore, contrary to the nature of faith, that the word now should be insisted on by those whom God is training by the cross and by adversity to obedience, and whom he entreats to pray and to call on his name; for these are rather the testimonies of his fatherly love, a…

When John preached there was an extraordinary pouring out of the Spirit of God, that attended his preaching; and an uncommon awakening, and concern for salvation, appeared on the minds of all sorts of persons; and even in the most unlikely persons, and those from whom such a thi…

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…

But this belonged unto the obedience which God required of him, as for our sakes, he was made under the law. He was to observe all ordinances and Institutions of the worship of God; not for any need he had in his own person of the especial ends and significations of some of them…

Now, it were against the command of not avenging ourselves, if literally and properly understood: it must therefore signify some other thing. 5. When a literal sense answers not the present scope of the speaker, and the speaker would be thought impertinent, if his words were pro…

verse 8: But what went you out to see, a man clothed in soft clothing? John did not indulge his senses; he wore not silks, but camel's hair; nor did he choose to live at court, but in a wilderness (Matthew 3:3-4). Again, Christ commends John as being his forerunner, who prepared…

2. The next thing to be taken notice of is Christ's entrance on his public ministry, which was by baptism, followed with the temptation in the wilderness. His baptism was as it were his solemn inauguration, by which he entered on his ministry; and was attended with his being ano…

APPLICATION. MEn have their winnowing dayes, and God has his; a day to separate the chaff from the wheat, the godly from the ungodly, who shall both be held up to the wind, but only the wicked shall be driven away by it. Such a day God has in this world, wherein he winnows his w…

APPLICATION. THus deals the Lord by useless and barren Professors who do but cumber his ground, Mat. 3. 10. And now also, the ax is laid to the root of the trees; therefore every tree that brings not forth good fruit, is hewn down and cast into the fire. And Luke 13. 7. Then sai…

He was made of a woman (Galatians 4:4), but that portion whereof he was made, was sanctified by the Holy Ghost, that, what was born thereof, should be a holy thing; Not only the conjunction and union of soul and body, whereby a man becomes partaker of his whole nature, and there…

Some say to love is perfectly to acquiesce in the thing loved. And when God calls his Son, beloved (Matthew 3:17), he adds as an exposition of it, in whom I rest well pleased. 2. The return that the saints make unto him to complete communion with him herein, holds some analogy w…

He might have been perfectly holy by obedience to the law of creation, the moral law, as the angels were: neither could any more as a man walking with God be required of him. But he submitted himself also to every law or ordinance that was introduced upon the occasion of sin, wh…

From eternity he had thoughts of what he would do for us, and delighted himself therein. When he went to be baptized, John said: I have need to come to you, and do you come to me? Matthew 3:14-15. But Christ replied: permit it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all ri…

§. 43. What kind of means of grace Baptism is. 2. Baptism is no physical or natural means of working grace, as if the grace which is sealed up thereby were inherent in the water, or in the minister's act of sprinkling it (as in medicines, salves, herbs, meats, and the like, ther…

Let the soul be first thoroughly converted, and then looking on him whom they had pierced, humiliation and mortification will ensue. Thus when John came to preach repentance and conversion, he said, The axe is now laid to the root of the tree (Matthew 3:10). The Pharisees had be…

Aspergio, a bold Talker, is as confident that sprinkling, or pouring Water on the Head, is a true Method of Baptism, and is ready to say severe things against the Practice of Immersion, as if it were not only needless, but, as they are ready to call it, foolish and sinful. It is…

This was Christ's own title and honor. When God had a mind to honor Christ, he proclaims it from heaven, (Matthew 3:17) This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased. Surely, if our hearts were as apprehensive of heavenly privileges, as they are of earthly, we would admire i…

I speak not of the kingdom of his power and providence, but of the dispensation of grace by Christ. The evangelical Gospel-state is compared to a kingdom; as, (Matthew 3:2) The kingdom of heaven is at hand. So to the disciples, (Matthew 10:7) And as you go, preach, saying, The k…

As when Abraham lift up his hand to Sacrifice Isaac, he loved him; so when God Sacrificeth the Comforts of his Children, he loves them. Was not God severe against Christ: yet it was proclaimed by a Voice from Heaven, This is my beloved Son, Matthew 3:17. Well then, if God only s…

Why else did he enter into the calling of the ministry? But to teach the mysteries of Heaven (Matthew 4:23). Jesus went about teaching and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness, and all manner of diseases among the people.

Repentance is by some Antinomian spirits cried down as a legal doctrine; but Christ himself preached it. Matthew 4:17: From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent, etc. And in his last farewell, when he was ascending to Heaven, he commanded that repentance should be…

4. Watch your hearts after holy duties. When Christ had been praying and fasting then the Devil tempted him (Matthew 4:23). After our combating with Satan in prayer, we are apt to grow secure, and put our spiritual armor off, and then the Devil falls on and wounds us.

I will bless her provision. Man lives not by bread alone, but by every word which proceeds out of God's mouth (Matthew 4:4). What is that but a word of blessing?

First, in case he has already had an abundance of revelations from God. As after that glorious testimony given to Christ at his baptism — 'This is my beloved Son' (Matthew 3) — then Jesus was led aside to be tempted (Matthew 4:1). The text points out this timing to this very pur…

For then, when he is once sensible and apprehensive that he is resisted, does he flee from us, as the apostle speaks (James 4:7), and that of his own accord, as the expression there implies — even as a foiled and disgraced soldier. And this we may see in his carriage in those hi…

When therefore Christ says to him, 'Get behind me, Satan: you are an offense to me' — so still Satan was kept at a distance and could come no nearer. And that he should yet come thus near to him made Christ also in that great temptation in the wilderness, with so much vehemence…

That place in James is thus to be understood; God tempteth no man: that is, God does not stir up, or move any man's heart to sin. Yet further it will be said, That temptation is an action of Satan; for so in the Gospel we may read (Matthew 4:3,) that he is called the tempter? An…

This appears plainly in Christ's temptations by the Devil: for, in those three, Satan betrays his malice and craft against Christ and his Church most notably. Now Satan, not prevailing with the two first, makes his third and last assault from the glory and dignity of the world:…

Joab when many Aramites came against him, he heartened his soldiers though they were but few in number, bidding them be strong and valiant for their people, and for the cities of their god, and then let the Lord do that which is good in his eyes (2 Samuel 10:12). And our Savior…

Upon this sure ground I conclude that we may not pray to saints departed, for in Scripture there is no word either commanding us to pray to them or assuring us that we shall be heard when we pray. Nay, we are commanded only to call upon God: Him only shall you serve (Matthew 4:1…

Yet when the people burned incense to it, Hezekiah broke it in pieces and is therefore commended (2 Kings 18:4). And when the devil bade our Savior Christ but to bow down the knee to him and he would give him the whole world, Christ rejected his offer, saying: You shall worship…

When the poor sinner says, I have nothing to pay, but there is a price in Christ's satisfaction offered in the Gospel, and the Judge says, admits it for the sinner that lays claim to it, as if the sinner had never sinned, or had actually paid the price himself. But 4. Look a lit…

Men of private spirits, who carry a reciprocation of designs only to themselves, and die and live with their own private interests, are bad men. When our self is the circle, both center and circumference, we are so much like the devil, who is his own god, adores himself, and wou…

"You tithe every herb" — that is, herbs of all kinds (Luke 11:42). Christ cured every disease (Matthew 4:23). "You shall eat of every tree of the garden" (Genesis 2:16).

This is, first when a man has such respect to all the commandments of God, as that there is none of them but he greatly delights in it (Psalm 119:6) then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect to all your commandments: He looks at them all with such respect, as the commandm…

THE TEMPTATION OF CHRIST. Matthew 4:1. Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the Devil. This Scripture gives us the history of Christ's Temptation, which I shall go over by degrees.

Matthew 4:2-4. And when he had fasted forty days, and forty nights, he was afterwards hungry. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If you are the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

Matthew 4:5-6. Then the Devil takes him into the Holy City, and sets him on a pinnacle of the Temple. And says to him, if you are the Son of God, cast yourself down, for it is written he shall give his Angels charge concerning you, and in their hands they shall bear you up, lest…

Matthew 4:7. Jesus said to him, It is written again, You shall not tempt the Lord your God. Here is Christ's Answer to the second Temptation; where two things are observable.

Matthew 4:8-9. Again, the Devil takes him into an exceeding high mountain, and shows him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them. And says to him, all these things will I give you, if you will fall down, and worship me.

Matthew 4:10. Then says Jesus to him, Get away from here, Satan, for it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve. Thirdly, Christ's answer and reply, which is double.

Matthew 4:11 Then the devil leaves him, and behold angels came, and ministered to him. In these words you have the issue, and close of Christ's Temptations.

Will you give way to him? Resist the devil, and he will flee from you: think not you can perform a flesh-displeasing duty, when Satan is quiet, and does not molest; he will be busy to tempt when you are going to your God; this is no new thing, he will jog your hand when you are…

Secondly, he asks the giving of the pardon, that is, that God would certify his conscience thereof. The use: Seeing the intent of the Devil and wicked men, is to destroy the faith (as it appears in this place, and in the first temptation wherewith Satan assaulted Christ (Matthew…

Moses says, Him shall you serve (Deuteronomy 6:16). Christ alleging the same words, says, Him only shall you serve (Matthew 4:10). David says, Sacrifice and burnt offering you would not, but my ears have you pierced (Psalm 40:7); the author to the Hebrews citing this text, says,…

The sum is then, that even in the midst of darkness, indeed of death itself, they were nevertheless to hope, seeing God is able sufficiently to give life to his people when they shall be thought as good as dead. It seems that Saint Matthew in alleging this place turns it to anot…

36. And trembling came upon all, and they talked among themselves, saying, What speech is this? for with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they go out. This demoniac was probably one of that multitude, which was mentioned, a little before, by Matthew 4:24.…

Matthew 4:1-4 1. Then Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit, that he might be tempted by the devil;

Matthew 4:12, 17 12. And when Jesus heard that John had been delivered up,

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

Matthew 4:5-11 5. Then the devil takes

John the Baptist first began to preach it; and then after him, Christ, and his disciples, preached the same. Thus Christ preached, Matthew 4:17: 'From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.' So the disciples were directed to pr…

God indeed makes many promises to those that serve him, but he never makes any bargains with them: his own obey him freely. Satan makes bargains to hire men to his service, as he did with Christ (Matthew 4:9): All these things will I give you, if you will fall down and worship m…

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…

They may be reduced to 7. heads: the first is allegation of Scripture, which they will as often use as the true Prophet; & hereby they blind the eies of many. But the truth is, that in alleaging Scripture, they depraue & change the sense, & either adde to, or detract from the wo…

3. The lovers of Christ may be assaulted by both these extremes successively, and when temptations from the one hand fail, then temptations from the other begin, so that the believer would constantly be on his guard. 4. The temptations that come from the right hand, and entice t…

When the Devil tempted Christ, he three times wounded the old Serpent with the Sword of the Spirit. It is written (Matthew 4:7). Satan never sooner overcomes a Christian, than when he is unarmed, and without Scripture weapons.

1. The forerunner of Christ's coming in his public ministry was John the Baptist. He came preaching repentance for the remission of sins, to make way for Christ's coming, agreeable to the prophecies of him, Isaiah 40:3, 4, 5, and Matthew 4:5, 6. It is supposed that John the Bapt…

(2) It opposes it more constantly, it is like a continual dropping: a man can no more fly from this enemy, than from himself. There is a time when the devil leaves tempting (Matthew 4:11), but no time when corruption ceases from working. And lastly, it opposes grace more advanta…

There is something too great in it, to be the effect of a created power. When the Lord Jesus Christ, at one word stilled the raging of the sea and wind, all that were with him, knew there was divine power at hand (Matthew 4:39). And when the Holy Ghost by one word stills the tum…

2. Sometimes he makes use of the world, and joins forces against us, without any helps from within. So he tempted our Savior, by showing him the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them (Matthew 4:8). And the variety of the assistances he finds from the world, in persons, an…

But it is as plain that Doing the ten Commandments of the moral Law, are not the only things that are meant here in this Text: But these Commandments which give a right to the Tree of Life, et cetera include at least, if not chiefly design, the peculiar Commands of God in the Go…

(Job 12:16): "The deceived, and the deceiver, are his," his creatures; and nothing can be done or suffered in this kind, without God's providence. See it in Christ's instance (Matthew 4:1): It is said, "He was led up of the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the Devil"…

As Jubal was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ (Genesis 4:21), that is, he was the first that taught the use of that instrument: so all the sins in the world, are by his furtherance, both actual and original; therefore he may be fitly called the Evil One. Again…

4. He who Fears God dares not commit sin, though it might bring him in Emolument. Gain is the Golden bait with which Satan fisheth for Souls: this was the last temptation the Devil used to Christ, All this will I give you, Matthew 4:9. How many bow down to the Golden Image!

Besides this, he puts us not to the doing of anything which he himself has not first done for our sakes, to give us the more comfort and encouragement by his own example. If we be tempted, so was he (Matthew 4; Hebrews 4:15). If we be smitten for our sins, so was he: for he bore…

The Devil tempted Christ, when he sought to corrupt the second Adam. (Matthew 4:8) He takes him up into an exceeding high mountain, and shows him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them. He knew the best way to work was by sight, and though he could not prevail agai…

But on the other side, these benefits procure all other things. Grace gives us an advantage in worldly things above others, for certainly man does not live by bread only (Matthew 4), and his life does not lie in worldly abundance: the natural, much more the sanctified and comfor…

Now, to use carnal shifts, is an attempt to break prison: we are not able to hold out, till God send a happy issue, but take some carnal course of our own; if the heart be not the better resolved, thus it will be. The Devil will make an advantage of our afflictions, if he can; h…

It is not profession but fruit that glorifies God; God expects to have his glory from us this way (1 Corinthians 9:7): Who plants a vineyard and eats not of the fruit of it? Trees in the forest may be barren, but trees in the garden are fruitful: we must bring forth the fruits o…

The promise does not say, whoever has a giant faith, that can remove mountains, that can stop the mouth of lions, shall be saved; but whoever believes, be his faith never so small. Though Christ sometimes chides a weak faith, yet that it may not be discouraged, he makes a promis…

You shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart. 2. The threats and prohibitions of the moral law reach the heart: the law of God forbids not only the act of sin, but the desire and inclination: not only does it forbid adultery, but lusting (Matthew 5:28). Not only stealin…

7. We take God's name in vain, when we swear by his name. Many seldom name God's name but in oaths; for this sin the land mourns (Matthew 5:34). Swear not at all; that is, rashly and sinfully, so as to take God's name in vain; not but that in some cases it is lawful to take an o…

Such as boast of their sinful exploits, will have little cause to rejoice or hang up their trophies when they come to hell. 11. The evil tongue is the swearing tongue (Matthew 5:34). Swear not at all. The Scripture allows an oath for the ending of a controversy, and to clear the…

Men may be wise in some things, but in other things may betray imprudence and weakness. But God is the exemplar and pattern of wisdom, and the pattern must be perfect (Matthew 5:48). God's wisdom appears in two things: first, his infinite intelligence; second, his exact working.

But Saint Augustine brings in God replying thus to him, because you do not say my prayer, therefore I will not hear yours. The malicious man is not like to enjoy either earth or Heaven; not the earth, for the meek shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:4). Nor is he like to enjoy He…

This may cause veneration. 2. God is the best Father, because he is perfect; (Matthew 5:48) Your Father which is in Heaven is perfect. He is perfectly good: Earthly fathers are subject to infirmities: Elijah (though a prophet) was a man of like passions (James 5:17), but God is…

Solomon was first anointed with oil, and then he was king (1 Kings 1:39). First God anoints us with the holy oil of his Spirit, and then he sets the crown of happiness upon our head; pureness of heart, and seeing God are linked together (Matthew 5:8). Quest. How may sanctificati…

There is a two-fold adultery. 1. Mental (Matthew 5:28). Whoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery already with her in his heart.

These men's sins are greater than others. If the breakers of God's law sin, what do they that teach men to break them? (Matthew 5:19). 2. Such as destroy others by their bad example.

Resp. 1. He may be adorned with civility, he may be morally righteous, he may be prudent, just, temperate, he may be free from penal statutes; this is good, but not enough to bring a man to heaven. 2. He may hang out the flag of a glorious profession, yet fall short of the kingd…

1. Branch. It reproves such as do not God's Will; they have the knowledge of God's will, (knowledge they count an ornament) but though they know God's Will, yet they do it not. (1.) They know what God would have them avoid; they know they should not swear (Matthew 5:34), Swear n…

(2.) The meditation of the heavenly kingdom would much promote holiness in us: heaven is an holy place (1 Peter 1:4), an inheritance undefiled; it is described by transparent glass to denote its purity (Revelation 21:21). The contemplating heaven would put us upon the study of h…

Male de me loquuntur sed mali, said Seneca. Besides, is it not better that men reproach us for being good, than that God damn us for being wicked (Matthew 5:11)? Blessed are you when men shall revile you.

Let such men therefore take patiently what God lays upon them: for it is not their misery or mishap alone, but has been common to God's children in all ages. Again, Christ himself pronounces them blessed, who suffer persecution for righteousness sake; for, though they be exiles…

And thus was Abraham warranted to sacrifice his Son; namely, by virtue of a special, and personal commandment to himself alone. But if Abraham had not had this particular commandment, the sacrificing of Isaac had been unlawful and abominable; for, the killing of a man is a heino…

But life everlasting is called a reward in the Scripture, because it is the free gift of God, promised by GOD to his children in Christ; for this end, to allure and draw them on in obedience. And it must not seem strange, that we say a reward is a free gift: for so it may be, as…

Haman hated Mordecai in his heart: yea, his heart boiled in malice against him: yet the Story says; That nevertheless he refrained himself till he came home, Esther 5:10. And therefore Christ says, that except our righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharise…

Objection 1. But to defend their opinion, they object some places of scripture; as Matthew 5:39, Resist not evil, saith Christ: therefore (say they) a man may not wear a weapon, nor use a sword; lest those make him to resist, and so to break this commandment of Christ. Answer.

Answer. He is to pray for them all. Matthew 5:44. Pray for them which hurt you, and persecute you. 1 Timothy 2:1. I exhort that prayers, intercessions, etc. be made for all men, for kings, etc.

Many use these words long and often, yet find no assurance of pardon: and the cause is, because they have no desire of God's mercy, nor willingness to forgive others, which if indeed they had, then no doubt the forgiveness of their sins should by this means be sealed to them. Wh…

True indeed: yet are they a cause of slandering God's name among men: for as we honor him by our good works, so we dishonor him by our offenses. Matthew 5:16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven.

He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him. Matthew 5:6. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

It is said of Zachary and Elizabeth, they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless (Luke 1:6). A good Christian is God's temple; his body is the outward court of the temple, and his soul the sanctuary, or holy of holies…

All true believers have a state of true perfection in this life. Matthew 5:48: Be you perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect. Genesis 6:9: Noah was a just and perfect man in his time, and walked with God.

Isaiah 42:3: Christ will not quench the smoking flax, which as yet by reason of weakness gives neither light nor heat. Christ says in Matthew 5:6: Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be satisfied — where by persons hungering and thirsting…

Secondly to the Church, when any person has openly offended the congregation by any crime and is therefore excommunicate. Thirdly to our private neighbor, when we have upon any occasion offended and wronged him — Matthew 5:23: If you bring your gift to the altar and there rememb…

And, Let no man ask another man, but return to his own heart; if he find charity there, he has security for his passage from life to death. Hilary on Matthew 5: The kingdom of heaven which our Lord professed to be in himself, his will is that it must be hoped for without any dou…

To be of a meek, forgiving spirit is Christlike, Godlike. Then shall you be the children of your Father who is in heaven, 'for he makes his sun to rise upon the evil and upon the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust' — Matthew 5:45. How eminently also did this Spir…

4. Consider how many the Lord has given grace to already, and how He has given it freely, surprisingly, and unexpectedly; if you could bring forth any proof that never one got good of God, you might have a pretext for your discouragement and scaring, but when as many as are befo…

Is there anything more like Popery working in a mystery, yea more Popish than to say that the motions of corruption in Believers are no sins, that a man or woman may attain to perfection in holiness here, and yet to carry on this with that subtlety, as confidently to aver that i…

(4) From a sincere aim and respect to all the commandments of God (Psalm 119:6; Acts 24:16; 1 John 3:20-21; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Philippians 4:12; Revelation 22:14-15). (5) From the positive marks that Christ puts on his children as marks of true blessedness (Matthew 5:3-11; Ps…

2. A blotting out of the book of life, and time-reprobation here asserted by Mr. Moor, is the highest indignity done to the unchangeable love and grace of God, and gross Arminianism. Objection 9: Praying for their brethren could not be doubted of, but the doubt was to pray for o…

He was then a banished man from the congregation, and it was a weary sad time to him, his soul panted like a chased deer, for the rivers of water, his soul was thirsty for God! Oh when shall I come, and appear before him? this is such a longing desire, when a man wants Christ; A…

[reconstructed: Eighthly], the last virtue is a single one, and that is love of enemies. I say to you, love your enemies (Matthew 5:44), that you may be the children of your heavenly Father. Love your enemies.

Christ came into the World that he might be the Light of the World; Ministers are set to be Lights unto the Churches, and are also said to be the Light of the World. Matthew 5:14. Christ is the bright and Morning Star; Ministers are Stars [in] Christ's Hand.

Our dutie. above all things to seeke for grace and peace. The reason; true happinesse, which all men desire, consists in peace, and is founded in grace: they are said to be happie & blessed that mourne, & suffer persecution for justice sake, Mat. 5. because in the middest of the…

(Philippians 4:8): What you have seen in me, that do. (Matthew 5:16): Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works. Secondly, practice in the minister is a part of his teaching.

Paul calls the Cretans liars and slow bellies (Titus 1:12). But (Matthew 5:22) may be objected, where he is said to be in danger of a council, that says, You fool. Answer: The place is to be understood of them that charge men with folly, with a mind to reproach them, and in way…

In the mount of the Lord there is no hurt done (Isaiah 11:9), they turn their spears and swords, into mattocks and scythes (Isaiah 2:4). And they which do no wrong, but are content to suffer wrong (and that for a good cause,) are in this respect blessed (Matthew 5:10). The third…

In the example of the Galatians, we see what is the common fashion of men, namely, to extenuate their faults, and to make small matters of great offences. The Pharisees taught, that sundry of God's commandments, were small and little commandments (Matthew 5:19). To them that mak…

A meek and quiet spirit, is before God, a thing much set by. Thirdly, God has made excellent promises to them that are of a meek and humble spirit, that he will guide them in judgment, and teach them his ways (Psalm 25:9), that they shall be hid in the day of the Lord's wrath (Z…

Well, he speaks of the Sun, Moon, and stars, and the reason is, because these are excellent testimonies of the fatherly kindness of God towards men. Christ therefore shows, that God's goodness does in special manner appear, because he makes his Sun to shine upon the good and bad…

We have need to observe this diligently, because all consolations whatever are but earthly and transitory, if all be not referred to Christ. Let us then fasten our eyes upon him, if we will enjoy any prosperity or happiness: for he has promised that felicity shall accompany us,…

Where he adds, the Priest and the Prophet; he continues the amplification of their sin whereof we spoke before: so that the common people were not only drunk, but even the Priests themselves, who should have been lights to have given direction to others: for they are compared to…

Now it was very needful that this consolation should be added, for had they not recovered new strength, it is likely enough they had been subject to the tyranny of their enemies forever: God meant to arm them then, that they might be able to repulse the outrages done to them: so…

Matthew 5:1-12 1. And when Jesus had seen the multitudes,

Matthew 5:13-16 13. You are the salt of the earth: but if salt shall become tasteless,

Matthew 5:17-19 17. Think not that I am come to destroy

It is the mark of a hypocrite, he has a squint eye, he looks more to his own glory than God's glory. Our Savior deciphers such, and gives a warning against them (Matthew 6:2). When you give alms do not sound a trumpet.

3. It must be done to a right end: Finis specificat actionem; The end of obedience is glorifying God. That which has spoiled many glorious services, is when the end has been wrong (Matthew 6:2). When you do your alms do not sound a trumpet as the hypocrites do, that they may hav…

Do all to the glory of God. That which has spoiled many glorious actions, and made them lose their reward, is when men's aims have been wrong: the Pharisees gave alms, but blew a trumpet, that they might have glory of men (Matthew 6:2). Alms should shine, but not blaze.

Response: It is true, God has told you to take pains in a calling, but not hurt your neighbor; he has told you to provide for your family, but not by oppression (Leviticus 25:14): "You shall not oppress one another." He has told you to look after a livelihood, but not with the n…

But (Psalm 147:5). His understanding is infinite. He has a grate (Crates) that looks into men's breasts: he has a key for the heart, he beholds all the sinful workings of men's spirits: As in a glass hive we can see the bees working in their combs (Matthew 6:4). he sees in secre…

Having (through the good providence of God) gone over the chief grounds and fundamentals of religion, and enlarged upon the Decalogue or Ten Commandments, I shall now at the close, speak something upon the Lord's Prayer. Matthew 6:9. After this manner therefore pray you, Our Fat…

Such professors are to be disliked, who talk of living by faith, but live out of a calling. They are like the lilies which toil not, neither do they spin (Matthew 6:28). 'Tis a speech of holy and learned Mr. Perkins: Let a man be endowed with excellent gifts, and hear the Word w…

[reconstructed: Vis unita fortior] (Matthew 18:19). 7. Private prayer; when we pray by ourselves (Matthew 6:6). Enter into your closet.

Let us press forward with the greatest diligence to this Kingdom: and here let me lay down some powerful persuasives, or divine arguments, to make you put to all your strength for the obtaining this blessed Kingdom. 1. This is the great errand for which God has sent us into the…

Fear not death, but rather let your hearts revive when you think these rattling wheels of death's chariot are but to carry you home to an everlasting kingdom. Matthew 6:10. Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. We come next to the third petition, Your will be done on e…

The Apostle tells them what to do: namely, Do good, and be rich in good works, and be ready to distribute, laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may obtain eternal life: that is, that they so spend their riches in holiness and ch…

A worldly man would judge the rich man in the Gospel, a most happy man, that said unto his soul, by reason of his great abundance of outward wealth, Luke 12:19, Soul, soul, you have much goods laid up for many years, live at ease, eat, drink, and take your fill: yet because here…

To them therefore here is matter of good advice. Let such a man learn but one promise of God out of the holy Scripture, as this; Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all things else shall be given unto you, Matthew 6:33: or this; Cast all your care on him, for he careth for you, 1…

But, when David entered into himself, and considered the words he had so presumptuously uttered; upon better advice he confesses, and writes it up for all posterities to God's glory and his own shame, that it was in passion, I said in my fear all men are liars: This he said in h…

- The one is to believe that God can grant our requests, because he is almighty, and thus much is signified when he is said to be in heaven. - The second is to believe that God is ready and willing to grant the same, and this we are taught in the title father, which serves to pu…

Thus we see what the Father is. Now to believe in the Father, is to be persuaded, that the first person in Trinity, is the Father of Christ, and in him my Father particularly (Jeremiah 3:4, 19; Matthew 6:4), and that for this cause I intend and desire forever to put my trust in…

As the silk-worm, while she weaves her curious works, hides herself within the silk, and is not seen: so we should hide ourselves from Pride and Vainglory. 'Twas the sin of the Pharisees while they were distributing Alms, they did buccina canere, blow the Trumpet, Matthew 6. 2.…

Paul says (Romans 2:14), The Gentiles that have not the law do the things of the law by nature, that is, by natural strength: and he says of himself, that before his conversion touching the righteousness of the law, he was blameless (Philippians 3:6). And for this external obedi…

Objection 3. We are taught to pray for the pardon of our sins day by day (Matthew 6:12), and all this were needless, if we could be assured of pardon in this life. Answer: The fourth petition must be understood not so much of our old debts or sins, as of our present and new sins…

Which of these shall I charge upon him? Not the first: 'My Father knows what I have need of' (Matthew 6:32); my condition is not hidden from him. Not the second: 'The earth is the Lord's and the fullness of it' (Psalm 24:1); his name is God All-sufficient (Genesis 17:1).

As a bull by wrestling and straining in the furrow may make his yoke more heavy, gall his neck, and spend his strength sooner, but in no way helps himself — so it stands with you, if you are as a bull unaccustomed to the yoke. What Christ says of anxious care we may say of griev…

Our life and treasure is there. (Matthew 6:20) Lay up treasure for yourselves in heaven. Our [illegible], our city-dwelling and our haunting is in heaven (Philippians 1:21).

He does all, in inviting sick sinners to come and drink life and salvation at Christ the Fountain of life, which expresses with men who speak as they think, their sincere intention, but he intends no such thing. Answer. Make the comparison run as it should do, and it makes more…

Certainly when we pray we should turn our backs upon all earthly things, and have our hearts and minds carried up to him to whom our prayers are directed, and that place where he dwells. 2. Secrecy is necessary for this duty, partly to avoid ostentation (Matthew 6:6). When you p…

For in every command of God, general or particular, there is a promise expressed or implied of all things necessary (Deuteronomy 28:5): "Blessed shall be your basket and your store." And (Matthew 6:33): "Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things…

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…

1. Sufficiency (Genesis 17:1): "I am the almighty God, walk before me and be you perfect." (1 Timothy 4:8): "Godliness is profitable for all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come": of heaven and of earth (Matthew 6:33). "Seek you first…

We should in our whole conversation live as in his sight, and live as those that remember God stands by, and sees all that we are about: but especially in our worship, we then set ourselves as before the Lord. Pray as to our Father, that sees what we do, (Matthew 6:6). Pray to y…

I will pray with understanding: For blind devotion is not pleasing to God: 2. A sensible feeling of our wants, we must come weary and heavy laden (Matthew 11:28). Pressed with the guilt of sin, pinched with want of grace: 3. Fervency of spirit (James 5:17), arising from a consid…

I answer, we may use it as other prayers in Scripture; but, I conceive, the principal end of it, is not to be rehearsed every time we pray, but an example, platform, or directory, according to the contents of which we must direct our prayers. Therefore for the further help of yo…

For they are praised and magnified of men. So says Christ also (Matthew 6:2), that hypocrites do all things to be praised of men. And in (John 5:44) he sharply reproves such: "How can you believe (says he) which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that comes of…

God and the Lamb are all things to all the Elect in the kingdom of heaven (Revelation 21). Here we see the right way to become rich: and that is, above all things to seek to be true and lively members of Christ: for if he be ours, we can want nothing (Romans 8:32; Matthew 6:33;…

Objection. The Pharisee considered himself, when as he said, Lord, I thank you, that I am not as other men, thus, and thus, or like this Publican (Luke 18:11), and yet he is reproved by our Savior Christ. Answer. True it is: for he only considered his own supposed virtues, which…

For the multitude are always blind of themselves, as the rest of the common sort are: but if the eyes be blind, what shall become of the rest of the parts of the body? If the light, as Jesus Christ says, be turned into darkness, how great is that darkness? (Matthew 6:23). This i…

For he might conceive hope from there, that his successors should in the end be partakers of this favor and mercy. Some think he rejoiced for this delay, because we ought not to care for tomorrow, considering that the day has enough with its own grief (Matthew 6:24). But this su…

For how comes it, that almost all resort to wicked contrivances, to robbery and to fraud, but because they ascribe to Satan what belongs to God, the power of enriching whom he pleases by his blessing? True, indeed, with the mouth they ask that God will give them daily bread, (Ma…

"provide for honest things, not only in the sight of God, but also in the sight of men," (2 Corinthians 8:21.) The command, which he gives shortly afterwards, to seek concealment and a retired situation for their good works, (Matthew 6:4,) is intended only to forbid ostentation.…

MATTHEW 6:1-4 Matthew 6:1-4

Matthew 6:14-15 14. For if you shall forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Matthew 6:16-18 16. Moreover, when you shall fast, be not, like the hypocrites, dejected:

Matthew 6:19-21 19. Lay not up for yourselves treasures on the earth, where rust and the moth consume, where thieves break through and steal.

Matthew 6:22-24 22. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore your eye shall be simple, your whole body shall be luminous.

Matthew 6:25-30 25. Therefore I say to you, Do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat and drink, or for your body, what clothes you shall wear: is not the life of more value than food, and the body of more value than clothing?

Matthew 6:31-34 31. Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or what shall we drink? or with what shall we be clothed?

Matthew 6:9-13 9. Pray you therefore thus: Our Father who art in heaven, may Thy name be sanctified.

"You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts." (James 4:3) Instead of good things in the last clause, Luke says the Holy Spirit This does not exclude other benefits, but points out what we ought chiefly to ask: for we ought never to f…

We thus ascertain Christ’s meaning to be, that they who are bad stewards of earthly blessings would not be faithful guardians of spiritual gifts. He next introduces a sentence: You cannot serve God and mammon; which I have explained at Matthew 6:24. There the reader will find an…

And in this way he confirms his own saying, that to those who seek the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, all other things will be added, (Matthew 6:33.) We have no right, indeed, to expect that Christ will always follow this method of supplying the hungry and thirsty with f…

Nor is this said of the whole body, but of the three whom Christ had selected to be his chief companions; and what shall we say of the greater number, when this happened to the flower of them? Now the repetition of the same words was not a vain repetition, (battalogia) which Chr…

fourth thing proposed, namely, to answer objections. Objection 1: We frequently find promises of eternal life and salvation, and sometimes of justification itself, made to our own virtue and obedience. Eternal life is promised to obedience, in Romans 2:7: To them who by patient…

2. In buying and selling, we do all to the glory of God; the wicked live upon unjust gain, either by falsifying the balance (Hosea 12:7): The balances of deceit are in his hand: while men make their weights lighter, they make their sins heavier, or by exacting more than the comm…

Use 2. Imitate God in justice. Let Christ's golden maxim be observed (Matthew 7:12): What you would have men do to you, do you even so to them. You would not have them wrong you, neither do you them; rather suffer wrong than do wrong (1 Corinthians 6:7).

Blazing comets soon evaporate. A building on sand will fall (Matthew 7:26). Seeming grace may be lost; no wonder to see a bough fall from the tree that is only tied on.

And that which may cause the more thankfulness, is because the most go into this house of bondage, the most go to hell: therefore to be of the number of those few that are delivered from it, is matter of infinite thankfulness. I say, most go to this house of bondage when they di…

God bespangles the word with promises: as if a father should bid his son read his last will and testament, wherein he makes over a fair estate to him. God bids us pray: and he tells us, if we ask, it shall be given (Matthew 7:7). Ask power against sin, ask salvation and it shall…

Such as are unclean and profane are the spurious blood of the Old Serpent, and it were blasphemy for them to call God Father. The case of the wicked is deplorable: if they are in misery, they have none to make their moan to; God is not their Father, he disclaims all kindred with…

God will judge the judger. (Matthew 7:1). 6. Lay aside disobedience, (Romans 10:21).

We read that the wicked are to be set at Christ's feet (Psalm 110), not at his table. (Matthew 7:6; Exodus 19:12) Quest. 7. How may we receive the Supper of the Lord worthily, that so it may become effectual to us?

What should such sinners think of pardon? Believers are compared to bruised reeds (Matthew 12:20) and temptations to winds (Matthew 7:25). Now, a reed is easily shaken with the wind.

The same injury which David did to Uriah, was done unto him, by his own son, even by his son Absalom, 2 Samuel 10 verse 10, 11 and 16.22. And this, our Savior Christ teaches us, saying; (Matthew 7.1.) Judge not, that ye be not judged. We find this true likewise by experience: th…

To them therefore here is matter of good advice. Let such a man learn but one promise of God out of the holy Scripture, as this; Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all things else shall be given unto you, Matthew 6:33: or this; Cast all your care on him, for he careth for you, 1…

So that, though they wanted not authority, or outward zeal, and wisdom: yet they wanted faith, which should purify their hearts; or else they would never have lived in such notorious sins, as they were discovered to do. And this is the trial which our Saviour Christ directs us u…

Isaiah 65:34. Before they call I will answer, and while they speak I will hear. 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 hea…

This done, then comes the second work of the Holy Ghost, which is the inflaming of the will, that a man having considered his fearful estate by reason of sin, and the benefits of Christ's death, might hunger after Christ; and have a desire not so much to have the punishments of…

No — you would as soon hurt yourself as him. 'If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more does God?' (Matthew 7:11). The very consideration of his nature — a God of love, pity, and tender mercies — or of his relation to you, as a father,…

O! what a strange punishment suppose you will that be, when the Saviour of sinners shall stand by and look on till he see vengeance execute on sinners that despised him? Think on it, for there is such a day coming, when you will all appear before him, and when your reckonings wi…

And how does he complain of the Corinthians and Galatians, and of their being bewitched, and suddenly seduced, and drawn away from the truth and simplicity of the gospel, by some self-seeking [reconstructed: counterfeit ministers], coming with a dazzling show among them. We shal…

But the Scripture presses faith in the power of mercy (Romans 4:21): Abraham staggered not, but was strong in the faith, giving glory to God, being fully persuaded that what he had promised, he was able also to perform. Now Abraham is commended for that he savingly and for his j…

And he speaks of all men in an estate of nature without Christ, not one does any good, no not one; all the thoughts and imaginations of such men's hearts are evil, and only evil, and that continually (Genesis 6:1), and Christ says as much of their words (Matthew 12:33-34). And s…

Watch to that with perseverance, verse 19, where you see what course God would have his servants to take, take this course, ever follow God, watch night and day, and never give over till he bless you and yours, until he bless Magistrates, give ministers a door of utterance, that…

Secondly, come to answer an objection, and then to make use. First, when you look at the falls of your brethren, and have occasion to behold them; look not at them with a partial eye, or a hypocritical eye, as they in (Matthew 7:3-5), but reflect we our eye upon ourselves, and c…

Look not so wistfully at the privileges of the ordinances, trust not in the outward letter of them (Philippians 3:6-8). This is that which keeps off many a poor soul from coming on to grace; he lives in no open gross sin, and in the midst of the ordinances of God, Christ is prea…

For the Lord God is a Sun and a shield, the Lord will give grace and glory: No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. And seek it of him by prayer (Matthew 7:11). Ask, and it shall be given you, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you.

Therefore where God's ordinance is in the creature, there may an argument be well borrowed and applied to divine and heavenly things. So our Savior Christ in Matthew 7 argues from earthly things to heavenly things, when he says: If you then which are evil can give to your childr…

Paul teaches the very same thing which Christ taught, that is to say, that works and fruits do sufficiently testify whether the trees be good or evil: whether men follow the guiding of the flesh or of the spirit. As if he should say: Lest some of you might lay for himself, that…

Thus he brings the false apostles into suspicion among the Galatians, showing that by this goodly pretense they go about to deceive them. So our Savior Christ also warns us, saying: Take heed of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing (Matthew 7:15). Paul suffered…

After this, the Holy Ghost works a will and desire to believe, and stirs up the heart to make humble and serious invocation for pardon. After prayer instantly made, follows a settling and quieting of the conscience, according to the promise (Matthew 7:7): "Knock, it shall be ope…

An euill tree cannot bring forth good fruit. Mat. 7. It may be obiected, that naturall men may doe the workes of the morall law, as to give almes, and such like.

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.

And if she had not borne him in her heart, as well as she bore him in her womb, she had not been saved. To prophesy or preach, and that in the name of Christ, is a great dignity: and yet many having this prerogative shall be condemned (Matthew 7:22). It may be alleged, that some…

Secondly, to show how hard a thing it is for a man to consider himself. It is natural for men to spy specks in other men's eyes, and not to perceive beams in their own (Matthew 7:3); to look outward at others, not inward at themselves. Like Plutarch's Lamiae, or fairies, which c…

But since they chased them away, it was requisite that themselves should be chased and deprived of all help and succor. For just and equal is that sentence of the Lord, who commands that every one receive that measure which himself has measured (Deuteronomy 19:19-21, Matthew 7:2…

What is the reason of this speech? Surely the reprobates are so rejected of him that it seems he forgets their names, in which respect the Scripture says, that he knows them not (Matthew 7:23). Now by this opposition we see more clearly what it is to be called of God: to wit, wh…

For the firm and immovable affection he bears us, far surmounts the vehement love and amity of all fathers and mothers in the world. Let us then call to mind what Christ says, (Matthew 7:11) If you which are evil can give good things to your children, how much more will your hea…

Christ therefore admonishes us to walk while it is day, because the night will come, in which we can walk no more forward (John 12:37). Hence we are to gather a singular consolation, namely, that we are here assured not to lose our time in seeking God: Seek, says Christ, and you…

Matthew 7:1-5 1. Judge not, that you may not be judged.

Matthew 7:12-14 12. All things, therefore, whatsoever you would wish that man should do to you, do so also to them: for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 7:15-20 15. But beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.

Matthew 7:21-23 21. Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who shall do the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 7:24-29 24. Every one, therefore, who hears those sayings of mine, and does them, I will compare him to a wise man, who built his house upon a rock.

Matthew 7:7-11 7. Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you.

We must always attend to this maxim, that with what measure a man measures, it shall be recompensed to him again, (Matthew 7:2.) 8. And the master commended the unjust steward

This does Saint Peter in this place forbid us to do: and this is the effect and meaning of his speeches, as though he should say thus: Although in all outward and external things you be free, because you are Christians, and ought not to be compelled by the law to obey the magist…

Whatever then in the Old Testament, is not external or outward, is yet in force and efficacy, as are all the sayings of the Prophets, concerning faith and love. Which Christ confirms, Matthew 7, where he says: Whatever you would that men should do to you, even so do you to them:…

The difficulties are too many and too great for those who do not press violently forward to grapple with; they never get along, but stick by the way, or are turned aside and turned back and ruined. Matthew 7:14: 'Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, a…

When your face is blacker than a coal, he sees the face of your soul, shining like the face of an Angel. A person or a people are then in a woeful condition indeed, when God shall say to them, as he did to those hypocritical professors (Matthew 7:23), Depart from me, I know you…

Next, by foxes are understood false teachers (Ezekiel 13:4): O Israel, your Prophets (that is your flattering teachers as the context clears) are as foxes in the deserts. And (Matthew 7:15) they are called wolves in sheep's clothing: Hereby are meant, not every one, who in somet…

The foregoing commandment (as you have heard) requires chastity in our persons: this which I have now read to you, requires honesty and uprightness in our dealings. A virtue immediately founded upon that first practical principle of all human converse, which our Savior lays down…

Secondly; as parents owe their children protection from incident evils, so likewise provision of necessaries and conveniencies according to the rank and degree in which the divine providence has set them. And this the Scripture often inculcates (Matthew 7:9-10): What man is ther…

The Holy Spirit and good things are spoken of in Scripture as the same; as if the Spirit of God communicated to the soul, comprised all good things. Matthew 7:11. How much more shall your heavenly Father give good things to them that ask him. In Luke it is, chapter 11:11. How mu…

It was said of Nabal (1 Samuel 25:18), he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him. Some are so barbarous, as if they were akin to the ostrich, they are fired with rage, and breathe forth nothing but revenge, like those two men in the Gospel possessed with devils,…

Christ loves to see the vine flourishing, and the pomegranates budding (Song of Solomon 6:11). Christ accepts the truth of grace, but commends the growth of grace (Matthew 8:10): I have not found so great faith, no not in Israel. Would you be as the beloved disciple that lay in…

Adoption is twofold, 1. External and Federal: So those who live in a visible church, and make a profession of God, are sons (Matthew 8:12). The children of the kingdom shall be cast out.

Resp. I shall show, 1. What it is not; it is not a bare acknowledgment that Christ is a Savior; indeed there must be an acknowledgment, but that is not sufficient to justify. The devils acknowledged Christ's Godhead (Matthew 8:29): Jesus, you Son of God. There may be an assent t…

He has got your hearts, and him you will obey: His strong temptations do more draw men to evil, than all the promises of God can draw them to good. This is the state of every man by nature, he is in the house of bondage, the Devil has him in his power: A sinner grinds in the Dev…

Cain served God grudgingly, he brought his sacrifice, not his heart. To obey God's Commandments unwillingly, is like the devils who came out of the men possessed at Christ's command, but with reluctancy and against their will (Matthew 8:29). Obedientia praeest, and à est non tim…

When Solomon was to build a temple he needed many workmen, and they all had tools to work with, but God worked without tools (Psalm 33:6). By the word of the Lord were the heavens made. The disciples wondered that Christ could with a word calm the sea (Matthew 8:26-27). But it w…

You may have hot clothes, warm and lively preaching, yet be spiritually dead. Matthew 8:12: The children of the kingdom shall be cast out. Deceit 2: Men think they have the kingdom of grace set up in their hearts, because they have some common works of the Spirit.

Psalm 33:6: "By the word of the Lord were the heavens made." The disciples wondered that Christ could with a word calm the sea (Matthew 8:26), but it was far more with a word to make the sea. Let us on a Sabbath meditate on the infiniteness of our Creator, look up to the firmame…

Therefore Naaman's servants called their master father (2 Kings 5:13). And the centurion calls his servant son (Matthew 8:6). The servant is to honor his master as the father of the family.

They have got their sickness in your service; use what means you can for their recovery. Be not like the Amalekite, who forsook his servant when he was sick (1 Samuel 30:13), but be as the good Centurion, who kept his sick servant, and sought to Christ for a cure (Matthew 8:6).…

Say not thus, Lord, my heart is good, and my life blameless, God hates this. Lie in the dust, be covered with sackcloth; say as the centurion (Matthew 8:8), Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof: I deserve not the least smile from heaven. This is the way for p…

For, how can we look to be glorified with them after this life, if here we be not like them in grace? Christ tells his followers, that many should come from the East and from the West, to sit with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven, Matthew 8:11, 12, (because th…

The bag which Judas carried, doth prove the contrary; for, he was (as it were) the steward in Christ's family, who looked to their provision, and to their contribution to the poor: as may be seen, John 13.27, 28, 29. Yea Christ's Disciples, though they left the present use of th…

As for example, we know that the apostles had all true saving faith (except Judas) and when our Savior Christ asked them, whom they thought that he was; Peter in the person of the rest, answered for them all, and said; you are Christ, the Son of the living God: for which our Sav…

One of these emboldened the leper to pray, Lord, if you will you can make me clean. Matthew 8:2. Therefore both together are more effectual.

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,…

For first of all, in regard of ourselves and our disposition we cannot be certain at all, but must despair of salvation even to the very death. We cannot be sufficiently disposed so long as we live in this world, but must always say with Jacob, I am less than all your mercies (G…

First, the thing that Christ bore is called griefs and sorrows, by which we understand the effects that sin brings on men in the world, for it is the same that in verse 5 is called his being wounded for our transgression, and bruised for our iniquity; it is a wounding that iniqu…

These words, and all this Chapter, look liker a piece of the history of the Gospel than a prophecy of the Old Testament; the sufferings of the Messiah being so directly pointed at in them. We show that this first part of the fourth verse holds forth the cause of his sufferings,…

Why, then the Lord's disciples had no faith, when Christ said to them, Why doubt you, O you of little faith? It may perhaps be answered, that the disciples (Matthew 8) doubted not of their son-ship, but of the Lord's particular care in bringing them to shore, in a great sea-stor…

If any man say Christ bought these, in regard that by his death, he purchases a dominion over elect and reprobate, that all knees should bow to him, men and Angels (Romans 14:8-9, etc.; Isaiah 45:[reconstructed: 23]; Philippians 2:9-11; John 5:27; Acts 17:31), so that there is a…

The word here translated Tempted, is read by some [[illegible]] that is, vexed. Yea, and Thirdly, to helpe this also, it may be said of Christ while he was here below, that in the same sense or manner wherein he bore our sicknesses, Matthew 8:17 (who yet was never personally tai…

It is a notable place that in Jeremiah 2:25: God calls upon his people most affectionately that they would be healed, but they snuff up their iniquities as the wind, and like wild ass colts, would be at liberty, and take pleasure in their running at random; and God said, Withhol…

So (Luke 22:31). Simon, Simon, Satan has desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. Nay he could not enter into the herd of swine without a patent, and new pass from Christ (Matthew 8:31). So the devils besought him, saying. If you cast us out suffer us to go away into…

This word is spoken of (Psalm 107:20): "He sent his word, and his word healed them, and delivered them from all their destructions." It is dictum factum with God, if he speak but the word it is all done (Matthew 8:8): "Speak but the word and your servant shall be whole." So (Luk…

5. We shall have the company of the blessed saints in heaven. The disciples here did not only enjoy the company and sight of Christ, but the company and sight of Moses and Elijah, being glorified saints; so in the heavenly life (Matthew 8:11). It is made a part of our blessednes…

3. The nature of a state of glory, and how easily it makes us to forget all things here below. Peter had a family, and household affairs to mind, for we read in the Gospel that his wife's mother was sick and cured by Christ (Matthew 8:14). He had friends and a brother called And…

And he looked, and behold there was a cake baked on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head, and he did eat and drink, and laid him down again." [illegible], the word here used, is often taken in that sense in the New Testament (Matthew 8:15): "She arose and ministered to th…

Christ's touch is powerful, and a means of application. Usually thus Christ conveyed and applied his power (Matthew 8:3) — he touched the leper and cleansed him. Matthew 8:15 — he touched Peter's wife's mother, and cured her of a fever.

The first, that they which are, or desire to be dispensers of the word, must do it not for the belly, or for lucre's sake, or for the praise of men, but simply for this end, that they may gain souls to God. The scribe that would have followed Christ for gain, was repelled with t…

Lastly, in that the faithful are called a family, it shows that they are but few, even a handful in comparison of the world; for what is a family to a country or a kingdom? Indeed I grant, if those of the family of faith, be considered by themselves, they are many (Matthew 8:11)…

Surely because he bore our sorrows. Saint Matthew alleges this prophecy, after he has told how Christ healed diseases of diverse kinds (Matthew 8:17). And yet it is most certain, that he was appointed rather a physician of men's souls, than of their bodies.

“Qui n'avons point une telle prerogative;” — “who have not such a prerogative.” Again, the word sheep is applied even to the reprobate, who, properly speaking, did not belong to the flock of God, because the adoption extended to the whole nation; as those who deserved to be reje…

Mark designates Christ the Son of God. The other Evangelists testify that he was born of the seed of Abraham and David, and therefore was the Son of man, (Matthew 8:20). But Mark shows us, that no redemption is to be expected but from the Son of God.

The consequence is, that they leave no room for the providence of God. This is a reproof of excessive curiosity; for it leads us to bring upon ourselves uneasiness to no purpose, and voluntarily to make ourselves miserable before the time, (Matthew 8:29.) The expression used by…

Matthew 8:1-4 1. And when he had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.

Matthew 8:14-18 14. And when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying in bed, and afflicted with fever.

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

Matthew 8:23-27 23. And when he had entered into the ship,

Matthew 8:28-34 28. And when he had come to the opposite bank,

Matthew 8:5-13 5. And when Jesus had entered into Capernaum, a centurion came to him, beseeching him,

We have here a bright mirror in which the divine condescension towards us is beheld. If you compare the ruler of the synagogue with the centurion, who was a heathen, (Matthew 8:5-10,) you will say that the full brightness of faith shone in the centurion, while scarcely the small…

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…

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…

30. And cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness. We have also explained, Harmony, vol. 1. p. 384. under Matthew 8:12, that outer darkness is contrasted with the light which is within the house; “De la lumiere et clarte qui est en la maison;” — “with the light and brigh…

As if he should say: The very saints and holy ones are wonderfully afraid to see so severe a judgment, namely in that, God spared not his excellent spirits, and most noble creatures, which were far more perfect and wiser than we, but binding them in chains of darkness, cast them…

Satan is now as full of discontent as he can be, but he is not so full of torment as he can be. This we see expressly in Matthew 8:29, where the devils say to Christ, "Are you come to torment us before our time?" as noting that there will be a time wherein they shall have more t…

The wicked who care not for God, yet at death they would draw near to him. Then they cry as in Matthew 8:25: Lord save us, or we perish; then mercy, mercy! They run to God in distress, as in a storm men run to a tree for shelter.

Moses was forbidden to enter into Canaan, because he seemed by his speech to assume the honor of working only one miracle to himself. Nor did Christ work miracles as the apostles did, who wrought them all in the name of Christ; but he wrought them in his own name, and by his own…

Then Christ's spouse puts off her mourning. How can the children of the bride chamber mourn, when the bridegroom shall be with them (Matthew 9:15)? Thus death gives a believer his Quietus est; it frees him from sin and trouble.

How could these divine titles be given to Christ? Omnipotence (Hebrews 1:3), ubiquity (Matthew 28:20), a power of sealing pardons (Matthew 9:6), coequality with God the Father, both in power and dignity (John 5:21, 23) — how, I say, could these titles of honor be ascribed to Chr…

2. The same royal prerogatives which belong to God the Father belong also to Christ. (1.) Does God the Father seal pardons, this is a flower of Christ's crown (Matthew 9:2). Your sins be forgiven you.

1. It makes way for temporal good things. 1. It brings health, when Christ said to the palsy man, "Your sins are forgiven," this made way for a bodily cure, "Arise, take up your bed and walk" (Matthew 9:6). The pardon of his sin made way for the healing of his palsy.

The Spirit is upon him on purpose (Isaiah 61:1-3) to open the prison to them that are bound, shut up in this dungeon; to appoint to them that mourn, beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, garments of praise for the spirit of heaviness. He is the physician and has underta…

We must labor to give assent to God's promises when we pray, and strive against doubting and unbelief. Lord, I believe, Lord help my unbelief (Matthew 9:11). Why are you cast down, my soul, and why are you disquieted in me? (Psalm 42:11).

But we hold and teach that to prescribe the time of a religious fast is in the liberty of the Church and the governors thereof, as special occasion shall be offered. When the disciples of John asked Christ why they and the Pharisees fast often but his disciples fasted not, he an…

Secondly God in making promise of salvation respects not men's worthiness. For he chose us to life everlasting when we were not: he redeemed us from death being enemies: and entitles us to the promise of salvation, if we acknowledge ourselves to be sinners (Matthew 9); if we lab…

2. It's a good token of saving faith, when it has a discovery and holy suspicion of unbelief attending on it, so that the person dare not so trust and rely on his own faith, as not to dread unbelief, and to tell Christ of it. There is a poor man that comes to Christ (Matthew 9:2…

(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…

Be fully satisfied of this in your judgment and mind, that unless you have Christ, you have no life, and therefore mourn and pray. "The whole need not the physician but those that are sick" (Matthew 9:12-13). See yourself a sinner and a perishing creature unless Christ seek you…

I answer again, that Abraham believed not only the power of God (Romans 4:21), but also his will, which he had revealed in the promise, In your seed all the nations of the earth, shall be blessed. Secondly, it is alleged, that Christ in the curing of certain blind men, required…

Touching the first; It may seem, that some among the Galatians were of the Pharisees' mind, who thought they were bound to love their friends, but not their enemies; or of this persuasion that they were not bound in conscience to do good to the heathen among whom they lived, as…

Ans. I answer, that they still keep their order and dignity: but by these of the second, which Christ strictly requires, and upon which he also insists, the hypocrisy of hypocrites is chiefly discovered, so as a man may more plainly discern thereby whether the true fear of God b…

But in the miracles showed in the healing of men's bodies, Christ manifested a plain proof of that power he had to heal the sicknesses of their souls. This healing then whereof Saint Matthew speaks, extended further than to their bodies: for he was ordained a physician of souls…

But in the mean while, the most part of men do but trifle and dally with God, and labor to satisfy him with pretty gauds and toys. Isaiah therefore condemns and detests such a hypocrisy; and teaches that the Lord rather requires mercy of us, than sacrifices (Hosea 6:7; Matthew 9…

Matthew 9:1-8 1. And entering into a ship, he passed over, and came into his own city.

Matthew 9:14-17 14. Then come to him the disciples of John, saying, For what reason do we and the Pharisees fast often, while your disciples do not fast?

Matthew 9:18-22 18. While he was speaking these things to them, a certain ruler came, and worshipped him,

Matthew 9:23-26 23. And when Jesus came into the house of the ruler, and saw the musicians and the multitude making a noise, 24. He says to them, Withdraw: for the young woman is not dead, but sleeps: and they ridiculed him.

34. But the Pharisees said, He casts out devils by the prince of the devils. Matthew 9:27. And while Jesus was departing. The other Evangelists say nothing about these two miracles; for, as we have already said, and as John expressly affirms, (John 21:25,) they did not intend to…

Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, to send forth laborers into his harvest. Matthew 9:35. And Jesus went about This statement is made by way of anticipating an objection, and is intended to inform us that the whole ministry of Christ is not minutely described: for he was…

Matthew 9:9-13 9. And Jesus, passing on, saw a man sitting at the custom-house, named Matthew, and says to him, Follow me.

It is not improbable that this may have been his leading motive for adopting the plan of a Harmony, instead of writing a separate Commentary on each Gospel. He had made some observations on Matthew 9:34, But the Pharisees said, He casts out devils by the prince of the devils; an…

Such also is the import of that statement, that the fields are white, and are in want of reapers, (John 4:35;) and again, that the harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few, (Matthew 9:37.) But here the comparison is applied in a different manner; for those who occupy a plac…

If we look over the Scriptures that speak of evangelical repentance, we shall presently see that repentance is to be understood in this sense, as meaning conversion. Matthew 9:13: 'I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.' Luke 13:3: 'Except you repent, yo…

So those mourners used to awake early in the morning, or rather to awaken the morning; and they had one woman whom they called (Praefica) the leader, the first or the chief of the choir and company of mourners (plangendi Magistra) whose office it was to call up and bring on the…

But this condition imports, that we must exercise mercy towards our brethren, and so breake off the course of our sinnes, if we looke for mercie at Gods hands. Now the words here used are comparatiue, betokening a likelihood and similitude betweene Gods forgiuing and ours: which…

Fourth, to show the necessity of that ordinance. And fifth, the respect people ought to have to them, who are over them in the Lord: no flock needs a shepherd more than a congregation needs a minister, people without laborers, being like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36),…

1. The subject thereof is to hold forth the mutual and interchangeable exercise, and out-lettings of love, as well between Christ and particular believers, as between him and the Church: As also, his various dispensations to the Bride, her diverse conditions and tempers, and bot…

For until a sinner be thoroughly convinced of his guilt and misery, and his conscience awakened by the threats and terrors of the law, that he stands forfeited to the justice of God, liable to eternal wrath, and may every moment be swallowed up in the abyss of woe and torments,…

It frequently happens, that works of necessity, and mercy, will not permit us to be employed in works of piety, nor to sanctify the Sabbath after such a manner, as else we ought: for the Lord requires mercy rather than sacrifice (Hosea 6:6). And this our Saviour alleges (Matthew…

Nor did Christ work miracles as the apostles did, who wrought them all in the name of Christ; but he wrought them in his own name, and by his own authority and will: Thus, saith he, "I will be thou clean," Matthew 8:3. And in the same strain he put the question, "Believe ye that…

Or by whom shall they be gathered? It made the bowels of Christ yearn within him, when he looked upon the scattered multitude that had no shepherd (Matthew 9:36). What an easy conquest does the devil now make of them?

And that they may recover themselves out of the Snare of the Devil, who are taken Captive by him at his Will. And another thing that I would humbly recommend to those that love the Lord Jesus Christ, and would advance his kingdom, is a good attendance to that excellent rule of p…

The ground of this and other like cases is that rule laid down by the Prophets, and by Christ himself, namely I will have mercy and not sacrifice. If God in case of mercy dispenses with a duty due to himself, will he not much more dispense with a duty due to a husband (Hosea 6:6…

If he had found him sensible of his Guilt and his Imperfections, then most probably the compassionate Jesus would have preached to him the pardoning Grace of the Gospel, which he came to offer to those who repent of Sin, and believe in the Saviour. But when he heard the vain Inq…

But to answer some objections that may arise. Objection 1. It is said, (Matthew 9:6) The Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins. I answer; that is brought there, as an argument of his Godhead.

(2.) For external helps; we should pray, that God would give us pastors after his own heart. Pray to the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest: men that will discharge their duty with all faithfulness, men whose hearts are set to the building up…

We can have no true cure for our sorrow, till we be exempted from the fear of the wrath of God; do that once, and the heart of sorrow and misery is broken: others may steal a little peace when conscience is laid asleep, but not solid comfort till sin be pardoned (Isaiah 40:1-2):…

A flat dead way of praying suits their taste better. Christ compares the duties of the Gospel, fasting, with prayer in the Spirit, to new wine, which will break old bottles (Matthew 9:17), but the duties of the Pharisees, to old, dead and insipid wine, there is no life in them.…

So when Christ called Zaccheus, he made haste, and came down from the tree, and received him joyfully (Luke 19:6). So Christ to Matthew: follow me, and immediately he followed him (Matthew 9:9). Julian the Apostate scoffs at these passages, as if it were irrational to conceive s…

Mercy relents towards a sinful people, when they are a wasted people: he hears the moans of the beasts, and therefore certainly he will not shut up his bowels against the cries of his people: their very misery pleads for them. Secondly, the broken hearted that have a sense of th…

1. His condition is represented by the similitude of a bottle in the smoke, alluding therein to a bottle of skin, such as the Jews used: As in Spain their wine is put into Borachos, or bags made of hog-skins, [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] in Homer; in a vessel or bottle of a goat-…

1. Repent — Jesus Christ came to call sinners to repentance (Matthew 9:12-13). 'Twas one of the errands he came into the world about; repent then not only for, but from dead works (Hebrews 6:1).

And (4) this doctrine of God our Savior, or the Gospel doctrine, does suppose man a sinner: it is a faithful saying, (and worthy of the best and all acceptance and reception) that Christ Jesus came into the world (on this very errand and design) to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15).…

A man sensible of sin, and not of pardon, can hardly sleep or take any rest; but when the joyful sound of a pardon is proclaimed and received, the soul justified by faith has peace with God and within himself, and is at rest. Though the sick of the palsy was not cured, yet he ha…

And none but the God of all grace, rich in mercy, can remit and forgive? And which forgiveness argues him to be a God of great love, rich in mercy, etc., or else sin could not be forgiven, it being easier to heal diseases, etc., than to forgive sins, as our Savior tells us (Matt…

A new piece of cloth never does well in an old garment, for the rent is but made worse. When a man's heart is thoroughly renewed by grace, the mind savingly enlightened, the conscience thoroughly convinced, the will truly humbled and subdued, the affections spiritually raised an…

Till the sinner be convinced of sin, he can never be converted from sin, Christ's coming was as a Savior, to die for sinners, and the Spirit's coming is to convince us as sinners, that we may close with Christ as a Savior; till sin be thoroughly discovered to us, interest in the…

There is a story in the French Academy, of a daughter, who when her father was condemned to die by famine, gave him suck with her own breasts. But our love to God must be above father and mother (Matthew 10:37). We may give the creature the milk of our love, God must have the cr…

Matthew 10:16. Be you therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. The Apostle says, All Scripture is of divine inspiration (2 Timothy 3:16).

If God be our Father he will teach us how to order our affairs with discretion (Psalm 112:5), how to carry ourselves wisely (1 Samuel 18:5). David behaved himself wisely; he will teach us what to answer when we are brought before governors, he will put words into our mouths (Mat…

Providence reaches to the least of things, to the birds and the ant; Providence feeds the young raven when the mother forsakes it and will give it no food (Psalm 147:9). Providence reaches to the very hairs of our head (Matthew 10:30): The hairs of your head are numbered; and su…

Fourthly, if it be for the maintenance of pure religion, and keeping a good conscience. This has Christ's warranty, Matthew 10:23. When they persecute you in one City, flee unto another.

Then on the contrary, we must learn to love religion, because it is religion; and the professors of it, for their profession's sake. This is Christ's instruction, to love a disciple because he is a disciple; Matthew 10. Indeed we must love all men; but especially those that embr…

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…

First I call it a decree, because God has in it set down with himself and appointed as sovereign Lord, what shall be, what shall not be. I add further, that all things whatever come under the compass of this decree; as Paul says, He works all things according to the counsel of h…

Again he had the preeminence of primacy, because he was the first named, as the foreman of the company. Matthew 10:2: The names of the twelve Apostles are these — the first is Simon called Peter. Thirdly he had the preeminence of principality among the twelve, because in regard…

And Philippians 1:28: 'In nothing be terrified by your adversaries.' Indeed, in Matthew 10:26-31, within the compass of six verses our Savior commands us three times not to fear men. Does every big word of proud dust and ashes make you afraid?

What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world (and so provide for his body) and lose his own soul? And again, in speaking of the soul as considered apart from the body, Matthew 10:28. Fear not them that are able to kill but the body, and are not able to kill the soul.

Object 3. God will have as many to be saved, as he will have to come to the knowledge of the truth; but he will have all to come to the knowledge of the truth. Answ. The argument is strong for us; the Apostle speaks of the Gospel-truth; but he will not have the Gospel preached t…

Be the mercies never so rare, the way never so difficult, God is able to accomplish them. 5. This should banish the fear of man, as to any danger that can come from them to us, or to any attempts against God (Matthew 10:28): Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to…

For with an elegant Metaphor has he in this place showed plainly, that it is never a whit more easy for us, to speak boldly touching the Gospel, than to break through a gate that is shut and barred. For this is truly the work of God, as also Christ did say, It is not you that sp…

Answer: Till the death of Christ. For the disciples were forbidden to go into the way of the Gentiles (Matthew 10:5). And Christ says, that he was not sent, but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 15:22).

And this distinction of a people, and no people, stood some time after the coming of Christ. (Matthew 10:5) Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into the cities of the Samaritans enter you not. After the ascension of Christ, this distinction ended: because the mystery of man…

And to be received as an angel, or as Christ, properly and simply concerns Paul, and the rest of the Apostles. 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…

Use. First, here we see the justice of God in awarding the last sentence, nay his bounty and severity: his bounty, in recompensing men above their deserts; his severity, in punishing sinners according to their deserts. For as he will deny anything in justice that denied to Dives…

But if all be well weighed, we shall find this exposition to be far off from the scope of the text. Others, although they expound it of men in general, yet notwithstanding they refer it to this sentence; Fear not them that can kill the body (Matthew 10:28). But this opinion is n…

We know we are adopted of God, upon condition that being received into his protection, he should keep us by his power, so as none can hurt us without his leave. If a poor sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his will (as Jesus Christ says) (Matthew 10:29), will he unadvised…

Is it a small thing?] He uses comparisons between God and men; not that those of whom he speaks, to wit, the Prophets and faithful teachers, can in deed be separated from God, for they are nothing else but the instruments of the Lord, having one common cause with him, as long as…

Matthew 10:1-8 1. And having called the twelve disciples,

Matthew 10:16-20 16. Behold, I send you out, as sheep in the midst of wolves: be therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Matthew 10:21-25 21. And the brother will deliver up the brother to death, and the father the son, and the children will rise up against the parents, and will put them to death.

Matthew 10:26-31 26. Fear them not therefore: for nothing is covered that shall not be revealed, and nothing is hid that shall not be known.

Matthew 10:32-35 32. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father, who is in heaven.

Matthew 10:37-42 37. He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Matthew 10:9-15 9. Do not provide gold, nor silver, "Ne faites provision d'or ni d'argent;" — "make no provision of gold or of silver." nor brass in your purses, 10. Nor scrip for the journey, nor two coats, nor shoes, nor staff: for the laborer is worthy of his food.

He argues from the call and the command of the Father, that he must not yield any assistance to strangers; not that the power of Christ was always confined within so narrow limits, but because present circumstances rendered it necessary that he should begin with the Jews, and at…

By these words Christ declares how highly he is delighted with the confession of Peter, since he bestows upon it so large a reward. For, though he had already given to his disciple, Simon, the name of Peter, (Matthew 10:2; John 1:42,) and had, out of his undeserved goodness, app…

“A tous fideles;” — “to all believers.” We have already met with a statement nearly similar, (Matthew 10:38.) Harmony, vol. 1 p. 472.

Mark 13:11. Neither premeditate. This sentence, as well as the one which immediately follows, we have explained under Matthew 10:19. Harmony, volume 1, page 453.

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…

For he knows beforehand your purposed devises, and God suffers it so to come to pass, thereby to repress and pull down your pride and insolence, and to make you to humble yourself. Therefore if you would not that such a foil should happen to you, it behooves you to take it in ha…

For that blasphemy redounds to him, that is the Spirit of Glory, and not to us: and he will in his good time be revenged thereof, and will bring us out of it into glory. This is a notable comfort that we Christians have, in that we may say: the word which I preach, is none of my…

Objection 3. Our obedience is not only indissolubly connected with salvation, and preparatory to it, but the Scripture expressly speaks of bestowing eternal blessings as rewards for the good deeds of the saints. Matthew 10:42: 'Whosoever shall give to drink, unto one of these li…

Thus Christ preached, Matthew 4:17: 'From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.' So the disciples were directed to preach, Matthew 10:7: 'And as you go preach, saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.' It was not John the Bap…

So the Psalmist expresses his case in the words following my Text, My soul is among Lyons, and I lye among them that are set on fire. The Disciples were sent forth as Sheep into the midst of Wolves, Matthew 10:16 It will not avail in this case to object, Those miraculous events…

We obserued before, three branches of kind vsage to be showed towards an enemie; to wit, to speake well of him, to pray for him, & to do him good: now here we may annexe a fourth, even friendly salutation. This Christ enioyned to his Disciples, when hee sent them to preach,when…

The use. 1. Considering this danger of false Prophets, we must practise Christs lesson, Mat. 10. 16. Be simple as doues, that is, bee innocent and harmelesse, thinking evil of none, neither intending euil or offence to any, in thought, word, or deede: and yet we must be wise as…

3. That our blessed Lord Jesus has a particular delight in the holy simplicity and sincerity of a believer; Or, holy simplicity and sincerity, puts a great loveliness upon believers; for, by this, you have Doves eyes, we conceive to be understood a holy simplicity, separating he…

The title is, my Dove: This has a sweet insinuation and motive in it. Believers are styled so, 1. For their innocent nature (Matthew 10:16). 2. For their tenderness, and trembling at the word of the Lord (Hosea 11:11; Isaiah 38:14).

The subtlest Jesuits have been puzzled and nonplussed with the solid answers of savory Christians. That precious promise is sweetly performed to God's children (Matthew 10:19-20), dictating to them what they must speak, the reason there given is, the Spirit of your Father speaks…

1. There are degrees of torment in Hell; therefore by the rule of contraries, degrees of glory in Heaven. 2. The Scripture speaks of a prophet's reward (Matthew 10:41), which is a degree above others. 3. The saints are said to shine as the stars.

Even so has God ordained, that they which preach the Gospel, should live of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 9:14). The workman is worthy of his meat (Matthew 10:10). It is a sad thing, if those who break the bread of life to souls, should be suffered to want bread themselves.

That thus much is implied in the Apostle's Meaning, is confirmed by the 15th Verse, where the Apostle is still on the same Subject of Signs of the true Spirit, Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And it is to be observed that…

How industrious are the profane wits of the age to find out something to say against religion, and should not that quicken us to provide ourselves with the armor of righteousness, both on the right hand and on the left (2 Corinthians 6:7), aiming at the riches of the full assura…

He shuts up men under disobedience (Romans 11:32). And he shall cast both body and soul of the impenitent into hell fire (Matthew 10:28). To his wrath are men obnoxious (John 3:36), and lie under it by the sentence of the law, which is their prison.

Seeing Christ has gone before us, and given us so good an example, what a high point of ingratitude would it be for us, to prefer father, mother, or any other before Christ our husband? Note what he says in this case, He who loves father or mother more than me, is not worthy of…

3. In other debts, if the goods are taken by way of execution, and suffice, the person is free: but here God aims at the person, and the whole person. Body and soul are cast into hell fire (Matthew 10:28). 4. Here there can be no shifting, no avoiding the danger.

O be thankful that we are born in such a climate where the light of the Gospel has shined! To have the knowledge of the true God, is more than if we had mines of gold, rocks of diamonds, islands of spices, especially if God has savingly revealed himself to us, if he has given us…

That God should call you when you were in the hot pursuit of sin, admire God's love, exalt his praise. Again, that God should call you, and pass by others, what mercy is this? (Matthew 11:26) Even so Father, for so it seemed good in your sight. That God should pass by the wise a…

The lamb's innocency will not preserve it from the wolf. John the Baptist came neither eating nor drinking, yet they say he has a devil (Matthew 11:18). Slandering Job calls the scourge of the tongue (Job 5:21).

(Isaiah 59:15) Truth fails; truth on earth does, but not truth in heaven: God can as well cease to be God, as cease to be true. Has God said he will be good to the soul that seeks him (Lamentations 3:25), he will give rest to the weary (Matthew 11:28)? Here is a safe anchor hold…

God needed not to adopt us, he did not want a Son: God did not want a Son, but we did a Father; God showed power in being our Maker, but mercy in being our Father: when we were enemies, and our hearts stood out as garrisons against God, that he should conquer our stubbornness, a…

(Mark 10:19) [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], Do not steal. This is not the violence which takes the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 11:12). (2.) The house-thief, who purloins and filches out of his master's cash, or steals his wares and drugs.

Christ was the most innocent upon earth, yet was reported to be a friend of sinners. John Baptist, a man of a holy austere life, yet they said of him, He had a devil (Matthew 11:18). The Scripture calls slandering, smiting with the tongue.

Never was there such a pattern of amazing kindness. Christ bids us learn of him (Matthew 11:29); he does not bid us learn of him to work miracles, but he would have us learn of him to forgive our enemies. If we do not imitate Christ's life, we cannot be saved by his death.

That God should consecrate any heart, and anoint it with grace, is an act of pure love. That he should pluck one out of the state of nature, and not another, must be resolved into free grace (Matthew 11:26): Even so Father, for so it seemed good in your sight. This will increase…

So that phrase (Ephesians 6:12) 'we wrestle with spiritual wickednesses in heavenly things' is rather to be understood of 'heavenly things' than of 'heavenly places' — the word signifying rather supracelestial, in the highest heavens, where (if rendered of places) the devils nev…

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…

Despise not the saints for their worldly poverty, but honor them for their virtue; we esteem of a ruby or diamond, though it be in the dust. John Baptist was girt with a leather girdle, yet he was more than a prophet (Matthew 11:9). He was honored to usher in the King of Glory i…

Secondly God in making promise of salvation respects not men's worthiness. For he chose us to life everlasting when we were not: he redeemed us from death being enemies: and entitles us to the promise of salvation, if we acknowledge ourselves to be sinners (Matthew 9); if we lab…

Means 5. Shame yourselves by setting before you those eminent patterns who have been most excellent for meekness. Above all, compare your spirits with the spirit of Christ: 'Learn of me,' says he, 'for I am meek and lowly' — Matthew 11:29. Christ was meek and lowly, but I am pro…

For the first, the causes why so few believe the Gospel, we cleared to you already, that generally the powerful preaching of the Gospel has been with little fruit, so that Isaiah has this sad complaint, Lord, who has believed our report? And our Lord Jesus has it also on the mat…

I will take one of a city, and two of a family, and bring you to Zion, says the Lord; it's two or three in the corner of a parish, or in the end of a town, to speak so, who are converted, and the rest are suffered to lie in black nature. If the reason thereof be inquired after,…

And how was he esteemed, or rather disesteemed and undervalued at his death; so that it is said (Acts 3:14), they denied the holy and just one, and desired that a murderer should be granted to them; they rejected the Prince of Life, and chose Barabbas; and judging him not worthy…

So that that question needs not now to be proposed — are you he that should come, or do we look for another? Go, says Christ (Matthew 11:4-6), and tell John, the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, and the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, and the dead are raised, and th…

The elect were God's people when Christ did undertake and engage for them, and in this respect election is a fountain-grace, and Christ's death is not the cause of election though it be the cause of all the benefits that follow upon it. 3. It is free in respect of God's absolute…

But to them that desire further clearness or confirmation in this concerning business, we shall speak a little, yet you must know, that it's such a thing as is impossible to be made plain to a proud-humored or unhumbled sinner, it's the poor humbled soul that will take it up, an…

2. Why else are all the promises and encouragements that are given to sinners to believe? As that of Matthew 11:28, "Come to me all you that labor and are heavy laden," etc. And that of 2 Corinthians 5:20, where both are put together: "We are ambassadors for Christ, as though Go…

That is, that you might be declared to be so. And, Matthew 11:19: Wisdom is justified of her children. 2. We will find this meaning of the word to be clear, if we consider justification, as distinguished from sanctification, for in that Popish sense, they are both made one and t…

It's either a most inconceivable condition, beyond what others who have not heard the gospel, will come under, if the offer be slighted, or eternal salvation, if it be embraced. Woe to you Chorazin, woe to you Bethsaida (says the Lord, Matthew 11:21-22.) For if the mighty works…

And this (Isaiah 5:6) is called a taking hold of God's covenant; it is an actual committing of ourselves to him, that we may win to peace, or a leaning on him; as suppose one were to rest upon a staff, it does not only imply the effect, his having of ease, but also, and firstly,…

That though the Lord stretched out His hands all day long, yet it was to a rebellious and gainsaying people. Look forward, and see what our Lord says of John the Baptist, and of Himself (Matthew 11): "To what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the mark…

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…

A 3rd symptom of not making use of Christ's Intercession is when folk have too much anxiety, which is a fault that a believer may easily fall in, when he has no ground from himself to propose to God for a hearing, and when he cannot answer his own challenges, and is therefore di…

O! says He, that you had known in this your day the things that belong to your peace, but now they are hid from your eyes; this comes as the last and saddest word, holding out the desperateness of their condition, when the powerful preaching of the Gospel has no gracious force,…

2. It is Antinomian doctrine to make opposition between the Gospel promise, and the debt of the promise: the debt of works (Romans 4 and Romans 11) is law-debt due to the worker, as a hireling is worthy of his wages, because he has done the work perfectly, according to a covenan…

Answ. The argument is strong for us; the Apostle speaks of the Gospel-truth; but he will not have the Gospel preached to Samaritans (Matthew 10), to Bithinians, and thousands others. 2. He will not open the hearts of thousands that hear the Gospel, because he will (Matthew 11:28…

Now there (as interpreters agree and as the context shows) those words are spoken by Christ himself, for verse 5 he speaks of God's boring his ear to do his will (the same expression that is used of Christ, Psalm 40:6) and further says, 'I gave my back to the smiters and my chee…

And therefore continue in him now he is in Heaven: For though he laid down all infirmities of our nature, when he rose again; yet no graces that were in him while he was below: they are in him now as much as ever, and being his nature, (for nature we know is constant,) therefore…

That Christ does not use all his servants alike familiarly in every thing. Partly because he had his liberty, for in matters of free favor it is not [reconstructed: a matter of respect of persons] to pass by some and admit others, no not in the most necessary spiritual dispensat…

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…

This is usually made the ground and reason of the Gospel invitation, to invite sinners to submit themselves to seek after God in this way. As (Matthew 11:27-28): "All things are delivered to me of my Father, and no man knows the Son but the Father, neither knows any man the Fath…

There are also several other necessary ingredients in all prayer, which I might urge with reference to this duty of secret prayer, as 1. A right understanding (1 Corinthians 14:15). I will pray with understanding: For blind devotion is not pleasing to God: 2. A sensible feeling…

Though he says, What I would, that do I not, But what I hate, that do I — (yet says he) I consent to the Law that it is good: that is, I take part with God, and join with God's will against my corrupt and carnal affections, that would draw my neck from under this heavenly yoke:…

But let us think with ourselves, after the example of Paul, that we must glory in the cross which we bear, not for our own sins, but for Christ's sake. If we consider only in ourselves the sufferings which we endure, they are not only grievous but intolerable: but when we may sa…

This is then the principal use of the law: namely, when a man can so use it, that it may humble him and make him to thirst after Christ. And indeed Christ requires thirsty souls, whom he most lovingly and graciously allures and calls to him when he says: Come to me all you that…

Therefore even by these words, "You are known of God," he takes away all righteousness from the law, and denies that we attain the knowledge of God through the worthiness of our own works. For no man knows the Father but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him (Matthew 1…

Again, in that all ministers in their places (according to the measure of gifts received) are pillars, they are admonished hereby to be constant in the truth, against all enemies whatever. It is the praise of John the Baptist, that he was not as a reed shaken of the wind (Matthe…

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…

Motives to enforce this duty are these. First, the exhortation and example of Christ, to be followers of him (1 Corinthians 11:1), who was lowly and meek (Matthew 11:29); for he was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb dumb before his shearer; so opened he not his mo…

The Prophet here protests then, that Christ will not be the defender and protector of all in general, but of those who acknowledge themselves poor, and destitute of all good things. And this Jesus Christ himself showed to the Disciples of John the Baptist, when he told them that…

But as I think the Prophet meant another thing: he rather shows what rest it is which God affords us for the relieving of our infirmity: and certainly we are convinced of over great ingratitude, if necessity, which of itself is a sharp spur, cannot for all that quicken us forwar…

I give strength to him that is weary. And Christ speaks thus, Matthew 11:28. Come to me all you that are weary and laden. Thus he means then that God has instructed and taught them, that he might be fitted to comfort the afflicted with apt and fit words: so as the broken hearts…

But let us beware that we reject not the benefit which he offers us when he is about to smite off our irons. Generally we may note that the benefits here mentioned are distributed to us by the Gospel, but none are capable of it, except those who feeling their poverty do ardently…

15. For he shall be great He confirms what he said about joy, for John had been selected for a great and extraordinary purpose. These words are not so much intended to extol his eminent virtues as to proclaim his great and glorious office; as Christ, when he declares that among…

Matthew 11:1-6 1. And it happened that when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples,

Matthew 11:16-19 16. But to what shall I compare this generation?

3. Motion. After Christ is born in the heart, there is a violent motion; there is striving to enter in at the strait gate, and offering violence to the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 12:11). By this we may know Christ is formed in us.

The Devil fills men's heads with error, and their hearts with malice (Acts 5:3): Why has Satan filled your heart? A sinner's heart is the Devil's mansion-house (Matthew 12:44): I will return into my house. And sure that must needs be a house of bondage which is the Devil's mansi…

A wise man's words are like gold, weighty, and will sink into the hearts of others; but the words of many are light and feathery, and will make no impression. Matthew 12:36. Every idle word that men shall speak they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgment. Words tha…

O be not like the serpent, that casts one coat and another comes. This is like him in the Gospel, that had one devil go out of him, and seven worse spirits came in the room (Matthew 12:45). 4. The serpent is a venomous creature, 'tis full of poison (Deuteronomy 32:24).

Satan commands the will; though he cannot force the will, he can by his subtle temptations draw it: The devil is said to take men captive at his will (2 Timothy 2:26), the Greek word [illegible] signifies to take them alive, as the fowler does the bird in the snare. The sinner's…

The sin-offering was greater than the trespass-offering. (2.) Because some sins are not capable of pardon as others are, therefore they must needs be more heinous, as the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost (Matthew 12:31). (3.) Because some sins have a greater degree of punishment…

And that the Godhead subsists in the person of the Holy Ghost appears thus: The Spirit, who gives diversity of gifts, is said to be the same Lord, and the same God (1 Corinthians 12:5-6). The black and unpardonable sin is said, in a special manner, to be committed against the Go…

Answer. Were you indeed to stand in your own strength you might fall away; that branch withers and dies which has no root to grow upon; you grow upon the root Christ, who will be daily sending forth vital influence to strengthen you; you are imbecile and weak in grace, yet fear…

Alexander called himself cousin to the gods; what honor is it to be akin to Christ. (Matthew 12:50) Whoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. Did King Solomon arise off his throne to meet his mother, and set her on…

It would be infinite to reckon up all the false reasonings that souls in distress have. Sometimes from a passage of Scripture misunderstood and misapplied: some who are annoyed with blasphemous thoughts against God and Christ and his Spirit — thoughts which are their greatest af…

Thus the Queen of Sheba went out of the inmost parts of Africa, to Jerusalem in Asia, to see and hear Solomon: 2 Kings 10. and for that cause, she is highly commended by Christ himself, Matthew 12:42. Thus may young men travel for learning or the tongues, especially such as inte…

So says Christ: The Ninevites, who believed at the preaching of Jonah, shall rise in Judgment against the Jews, and condemn them, because they repented not at Christ's preaching. And the Queen of Sheba, who came so far to hear Solomon, shall condemn them, who then would not hear…

How? By doing his will: and therefore when one told our Savior Christ that his mother and brothers stood without, desiring to speak with him, he said, Whoever shall do my father's will which is in heaven, the same is my father, my sister, and mother (Matthew 12:50): where we may…

Second, sinners that would be at him may on this ground be confident and cheerful; the steward of grace is a friend, he is a man, their brother, and claims kindred to them that honestly aim to do the will of his Father. Whoever shall do the will of my Father, says he (Matthew 12…

The king of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue has his name Apollyon (Revelation 9:11). He is the Arch-destroyer, and destroys all in relation to the man Christ and his Church; therefore is Christ raised up a Redeemer, a Savio…

4. The fourth sense is that grace and free-will does work so as grace is the principal, first inspiring and fountain cause: 1. It being a new supernatural disposition and habit in the soul (John 14:23; 1 John 2:27; 1 John 3:9; John 4:14; Isaiah 44:3-4; Ezekiel 36:26-27; Deuteron…

[The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, [because] he has anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor:] That is, for this end, or for this very purpose has he given me his Spirit, because I was designed, or anointed to this work, and by that Spirit also has he anointed, or qualified…

The Lord looked down from heaven, to see if any of them did good, but they are altogether become unprofitable, not one does good, no not one (Romans 3:12). And he speaks of all men in an estate of nature without Christ, not one does any good, no not one; all the thoughts and ima…

There will a time come, when he that is now a soldier will be a conqueror (Romans 16:20): The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. 6. Where Satan gets possession, after he seems to be cast out, he returns with the more violence and tyrannizes the more (Matthe…

His intent in this Epistle is to treat of the righteousness that comes by faith, and to defend the same: again, to overthrow the law, and the righteousness that comes by works. Of such cogitations he is full, and out of this wonderful and exceeding great abundance of the excelle…

Outward things do not commend us to God. And it is the spiritual kindred, by means of faith, and our new birth, that brings us into favor with God (Matthew 12:49). 20 Now the things which I write, I speak before God, I lie not.

Christ then is the worker of this liberty. He dissolves the works of the devil (John 8:36; 1 John 3:8), he binds the strong man and casts him out of his hold (Matthew 12:29). He procures this liberty by two means, by his merit, and by the efficacy of his spirit.

For the doing of that which God forbids, is a sin not beside, but against the law. But idle words, jesting, and gibing, and so forth (which the Popish Doctors account venial sins,) are expressly forbidden in the word; Matthew 12:36: Of every idle word that men shall speak, they…

Ans. I answer, that they still keep their order and dignity: but by these of the second, which Christ strictly requires, and upon which he also insists, the hypocrisy of hypocrites is chiefly discovered, so as a man may more plainly discern thereby whether the true fear of God b…

He asks by way of admiration, from where it comes that every one left his house, fleeing to the tops thereof to save their lives. Now the roofs of the Jews' houses were made otherwise than ours are: and from there it is that Jesus Christ says; What I tell you in the ear, that pr…

Because the things here mentioned, cannot be attributed to any other than himself: but if this reason will not suffice, the Evangelists shall end the controversy for us. See (Matthew 12:18-21). He calls Christ God's servant, by way of excellency: for although this name belongs t…

And this promise stands in force not only against tyrants, and visible enemies, but also against the tyranny of Satan, from which we are now delivered by the admirable power of God. I grant, Satan is a powerful adversary; but the Lord which is stronger than he, will bind him, an…

Isaiah pursues that which he has already begun to treat of, namely, that the Jews should prosper in all things, if they live in such equity, and so abstain from all wrong, that from there men may take notice of their piety and religion. For he pronounces that which is said by Ho…

With regard to the perfection of his life, Christ might justly have maintained that he came to fulfill the law: but here he treats of doctrine, not of life. As he afterwards exclaimed, that “the kingdom of God is come,” (Matthew 12:28,) and raised the minds of men with unusual e…

Matthew 12:1-8 1. At that time Jesus was passing through the cornfields on the Sabbath;

Matthew 12:14-21 14. Then the Pharisees went out, and took counsel against him, how they might destroy him.

Matthew 12:22-24 22. Then was brought to him one who was tormented by a devil, blind and dumb; and he cured him, so that the blind and dumb person both spoke and saw.

Matthew 12:25-32 25. But as Jesus knew their thoughts, he said to them, “Mais Iesus, cognoissant leurs pensees, leur dit;” — “but Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said to them.”

Matthew 12:38-42 38. Then some of the scribes and Pharisees asked him, saying, Master, we desire to see a sign from you.

Matthew 12:43-45 43. But when the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest, and finds it not.

Matthew 12:46-50 46. And while he was still talking to the multitudes, lo, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak to him.

Matthew 12:9-13 9. And having departed thence, he came into their synagogue:

Matthew 16:4. A wicked and adulterous nation. This passage was explained under Matthew 12:38. The general meaning is, that the Jews are never satisfied with any signs, but are continually tickled by a wicked desire to tempt God.

So much the more ought we to admire the goodness of Christ, who rescued his disciple from such fatal ruin, and healed him. 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 again…

God commends him for what he had spoken well, but Job does not hear a word of what he had spoken ill: when the iniquity of his speeches was sought for, there was none, and his failings, they could not be found, for God had pardoned them, as the prophet speaks of Israel and Judah…

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…

Suppose this Enumeration of sins does not reach the condition of the soul, because of some especial Aggravation of its sin, not expressed. Let such a one add that of our Saviours, Matthew 12:31. I say unto you, all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men, but the…

Again, by mother here, is not understood his natural mother, but it must be taken in a spiritual sense for one of two, either, 1. For the Church Catholic, which being mother to Christ mystical, may be said to be mother to him, as (Revelation 12:5) the Church is said to bring for…

Now these are special qualifications, commendations and characters of a believer; showing, 1. That a believer, as a believer, is not dumb, but has renewed lips, whereby he can speak to God in praise of his honor, in prayers for his own good, and also to others for their edificat…

In this we have, 1. The mean applied and made use of. 2. The manner of application. (For that the worker is the Beloved himself, is clear) The mean in his hand, which in Scripture signifies three things, when attributed to God, 1. His Omnipotence, whereby he does what he pleases…

And not only are such works to be performed on the Lord's Day, but they were enjoined also on the Jewish Sabbath. And therefore says our Saviour (Matthew 12:5), Have you not read in the Law, how that on the Sabbath days the priests in the Temple profane the Sabbath, and yet be b…

Formerly they have seemed true penitents, and to be washed from their iniquities; but they have returned with the dog to the vomit, and with the sow that is washed to the wallowing in the mire (2 Peter 2, last verse). Formerly they have been swept a little within, and garnished…

Matthew 12:35. The former part of the verse. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart, brings forth good things. FINIS.

Even hypocrites also have been famous for their reformations. The unclean spirit often goes out of the formal hypocrite, by an external reformation; and yet still retains his claim in them (Matthew 12:43-44). For that departure is indeed no more than a politic retreat.

What more transient than a vain word? And yet for such words, men shall give an account in the day of judgment (Matthew 12:36). That's the first thing; actions like seed, shall rise and appear again in order to a retribution.

How sad is it to see religion wearing a coat of diverse colors, to see Christians of so many opinions, and going so many different ways. It is Satan has sown these tares of division (Matthew 13:39); he first divided men from God, and now divides one man from another. 2. One in a…

Resp. Fourfold, 1. An historical or dogmatical faith, which is the believing the truths revealed in the word, because of divine authority. 2. There is a temporal faith, which lasts but for a time, and vanishes (Matthew 13:21). Yet he has not root in himself, but endures for a wh…

The hypocrite, who has only some smack or taste of religion (as one tastes a gargle) may fall away. 4. And have felt the powers of the world to come.] That is, they may have such apprehensions of the glory of heaven, as to be affected with it, and seem to have some joy in the th…

Quest. But what is it to have other gods besides the true God? I fear upon search we have more idolaters among us than we are aware of. Resp. To trust in any thing more than God, is to make it a God. 1. If we trust in our riches, then we make riches our God: we may take comfort,…

It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. The saints' bodies then shall shine as sparkling diamonds (Matthew 13:43). Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun.

I was an hungred and you gave me meat, thirsty and you gave me drink, naked and you clothed me: Thus God will set a trophy of honor upon all his children at the last day. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father (Matthew 13:43). 18. If God b…

Quicquid cor non facit, non sit; in religion, what the heart does not do, is not done. Therefore Christ says of some, Hearing they hear not (Matthew 13:13). How could that be?

This is a great hindrance to the word preached. The seed which fell among thorns was choked, (Matthew 13:22). An emblem of the word being preached to a covetous hearer.

Covetousness hinders the efficacy of the word preached. In the parable the thorns (which Christ expounded to be the cares of this life) choked the good seed (Matthew 13:7). Many sermons lie dead, buried in earthly hearts.

You shall not covet your neighbor's wife. It was the devil that sowed another man's ground (Matthew 13:25). But how is the hedge of this commandment trodden down in our times!

Nothing does prejudice us but unbelief. Unbelief stops the current of God's mercy from running: It shuts up God's bowels, closes the orifice of Christ's wounds, that no healing virtue will come out (Matthew 13:58): He could do no mighty works there because of their unbelief. Why…

Many take a prejudice at religion, and on this rock dash their souls; they are prejudiced at Christ's person, his truths, his followers, his ways. (1.) They are prejudiced at his person (Matthew 13:57): And they were offended in him; what is there in Christ that men should be of…

When the fowler sees a bird sit still and perch upon the tree, now he shoots it. So when Satan observes us to sit still, now he shoots his fiery darts of temptation at us (Matthew 13:25); while men slept the enemy sowed tares. So while men sleep in sloth Satan sows his tares.

Many desire heaven but will not come up to the price. Affections of joy may be stirred: in the Parable the second sort of hearers are said to receive the Word with joy (Matthew 13:20). What was this but to have the affections moved with delight in hearing: yet that this did not…

Thus may young men travel for learning or the tongues, especially such as intend thereby to fit themselves for public service, so it be with safety of religion, and security of conscience. Sixthly, if it be for the practice of a man's lawful calling, as for traffic: and thus Mer…

The other sort are they, which being baptized in the Church, hear the word effectually, and receive the Lord's Supper worthily, to their salvation; because God doth establish his Covenant in their hearts. This difference is plain in Scripture, in the parables of the dragnet, (Ma…

Yea, this is one main point that Paul urges to Timothy, in both his Epistles; to keep faith, and a good conscience. And our Savior Christ in one of his parables, Matthew 13:44, compares the kingdom of heaven, to a treasure hid in the field; which, when a man finds, he hides it,…

He says not, If riches increase, refuse them; but, set not thy heart on them: and thus much of these Questions. Now this practice of the Patriarchs is as necessary for us in these days as ever it was; for the cause why we profit little after much hearing of God's word, is this:…

The laws of this kingdom are the word of God in the books of the old and new testament. Therefore it is called the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 13), the Gospel of the kingdom (Mark 1:13), the rod of his mouth (Isaiah 11:4), the arm of God (Isaiah 53:1). As a king by his laws bring…

A man may go with a heedless spirit from ordinance to ordinance, abide all his days under the choicest teachings, and yet never be improved by them. For heart neglect is a leak in the bottom — no heavenly influences, however rich, abide in that soul (Matthew 13:3-4). The heart t…

What is the finest and purest beauty of mortals compared to the incomparable beauty of the saints in the resurrection? Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father (Matthew 13:43). In this hope you part with them; therefore act in a manner consi…

3. Neither will we speak to these sovereign causes on God's part, who in His holy justice gives up people to unfruitfulness, when they receive not the truth in love. Neither Fourthly, shall we insist on these causes that may arise from the Devil, who waits on wherever the Word i…

1. You would not take up our meaning in it so, as if we made every common work that lively means may have on the hearers of the Gospel, to be conversion; the preaching of the Word will sometimes make folks tremble, as we see in Felix, and will waken convictions and terrors in th…

We call you then to Historical Faith, as necessary, though not sufficient, but not to this Faith of Miracles, it being neither necessary nor sufficient. A third sort of Faith is Temporary Faith, spoken of in Matthew 13, and set out under the parable of the seed sown on stony gro…

And the reason of this is, 1. Because there is nothing that is not saving, but a natural man may have it; now, this doctrinal faith is not saving, and so a natural man may have it — yea, the devils believe and tremble; and James does not dispute with these to whom he writes on t…

For, though they believed it to be truth which He spoke, yet they rested not on Him. So in the parable of the sower, (Matthew 13), there are three grounds that receive the seed, which implies in two of them, at least a kind of believing, but the fourth ground is only good. 3. Be…

The conduct of many among ourselves is a sad proof of it, for we are afraid that many of you do not believe to this day, though there has been among you much, long, many years, and powerful preaching of the gospel, but you are still living without faith, and perishing. If this b…

The very hazard of a soul, will be like a fire burning the heart that is tender and zealous of the spiritual good of souls. 3. The respect that a faithful minister has to the duty in his hand, has influence on this; for such a one loves to perform his duty neatly, and to go neat…

Yet these ways are among themselves all false, and they do not agree one with another. Consideration 1. The gospel is the will of God from heaven; yet it is a riddle, a parable not understood (Matthew 13:14). In the Law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips wil…

Answ. The argument is strong for us; the Apostle speaks of the Gospel-truth; but he will not have the Gospel preached to Samaritans (Matthew 10), to Bithinians, and thousands others. 2. He will not open the hearts of thousands that hear the Gospel, because he will (Matthew 11:28…

Because in Scripture phrase, there are more ways of having Christ requisite for the knowledge of every soul, I thought it therefore not amiss to open those other ways by which in Scripture we are said to have Christ. Secondly, as therefore we have him first by worshiping of him,…

1. To show us who is our grand enemy, the Devil, who sought the misery and destruction of mankind, as Christ did our salvation. And therefore he is called [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], The Enemy (Matthew 13:39): The Enemy that sowed them is the Devil. And he is called also [〈 in…

They know the least believer (Matthew 18:10): Take heed that you offend not one of these little ones, for I say to you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. And they are at length to gather them from the four winds (Matthew 13:41…

The Devil is the deceiver and grand architect of all wickedness; the Flesh is the principle that he works upon, or that rebelling faculty within us, that would be pleased before God; the World is the bait, by which the devil would deceive us, and steal away our hearts from God,…

The entrance into God's word gives light (Psalm 119:130). In this respect Christ says, The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, hidden in three pecks of meal: because God's kingdom is set up in the heart at the first upon very small beginnings (Matthew 13:33). This must teach us to…

Again experience shows, that, that which is sown, may degenerate into another kind. Answer: It is not necessary that proverbial sentences should be true at all times, and in every particular: if they be true for the most part, or in that for which they are brought, it is suffici…

To conclude, after he had spent his whole life in contempt, and continually exposed to shame and derision; was he not cruelly and shamefully put to death, by which he was to begin his kingdom? Yet notwithstanding all this, he grew into an infinite greatness, even as a great tree…

Let men make never so many laws, and that in the best form they can devise, yet they can not bring us to true righteousness: they may well bring us to some shadows of it, but they shall never attain so far as to express it to the life. He also therewithal shows the way how to pr…

And this was regarded by the inhabitants of Nazareth as a fair excuse for rejecting him in their turn. 24. Verily, I say to you He reproaches them with the blame of preventing him from exerting his power among them as he did in other places, by working miracles: for the unbelief…

By giving this name to riches, he intends to render them an object of our suspicion, because for the most part they involve their possessors in unrighteousness. Though in themselves they are not evil, yet as it rarely happens that they are obtained without deceit, or violence, o…

Matthew 13:1-17 1. And on the same day Jesus went out of the house, and sat down near the sea.

Matthew 13:18-23 18. Hear therefore the parable of the sower.

Matthew 13:31-35 31. He delivered another parable to them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard, which a man took and sowed in his field:

Matthew 13:53-58 53. And it happened, when Jesus had concluded these discourses, “Quand Iesus ent acheve ces similitudes-ci;” — “when Jesus had concluded these parables,” that he departed thence.

The word leaven is very evidently used by Christ as contrasted with the pure and uncorrupted word of God. In a former passage, (Matthew 13:33,) Christ had used the word in a good sense, when he said that the Gospel resembled leaven; See page 127 of this volume.

See p. 104 of this volume. under Matthew 13:12. 30. And cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness.

In this second clause, Christ reproves another fault, which is, that by the variety of their thoughts they throw difficulties in their own way. By saying that thoughts arise, he means that the knowledge of the truth is choked in them in such a manner, that seeing they do not see…

But this is the spirit of stupidity and of giddiness with which God intoxicates the reprobate, after having long contended with their malice. Meanwhile, let us learn that, when they were bewitched by the enchantments of Satan, the glory of God, however manifest, was afterwards h…

Even so we that believe, have Christ all and entire, and are assured of eternal life: but our perfect and consummate health we have not yet obtained: for some relics of the old Adam remain yet still within us. To the same purpose, serves that other parable, mentioned by Christ (…

Again: Isaiah 30: "The light of the Moon shall be as the light of the Sun, and the light of the Sun shall be sevenfold, and like the light of seven days." And Christ says in Matthew 13 that the just shall shine as the Sun, in the kingdom of their father. But how and after what f…

Let us not presume on our own strength. When Peter cried to Christ on the water, Lord save me, then Christ took him by the hand (Matthew 14:30), but when he grew confident of his own strength, then Christ let him fall. O pray to God for auxiliary grace.

For among all men none are more maligned and hated than those that profess Christ: and for none other cause, but because they profess Christ. And upon this the very profession of religion is laden with nicknames and reproachful terms by all sorts of men (Matthew 26:59; Matthew 1…

That this reason may be of force, two things must be proved: first that true faith is a certain assurance of God's mercy to that party in whom it is. Secondly that faith is a particular assurance thereof. For the first, that faith is a certain assurance, Christ says to Peter (Ma…

But yet he so carried on his public work as not to forget his own private communion with God. Therefore you read in Matthew 14:23 that when he had been laboring all day, yet after that he went up to a mountain alone to pray. O let the keepers of the vineyards look to their own v…

God's heart was so full, that he could not hold from expressing it in the largest favors and grants. And whereas kings upon their own birthdays use to grant such favors to their favorites: So Herod on his birthday to the daughter of Herodias, promised with an oath to give her wh…

And fourthly, faith had need be increased, in respect of the acts, the proper acts of faith, which are chiefly persuasion and trust upon the name of Christ, and those heavenly truths, in which the Lord Jesus Christ is revealed, and graciously dispensed to the hearts of his peopl…

1. For height, though God hears us everywhere, wherever we lift up pure hands without wrath and doubting, yet a mountain is not altogether disagreeable to this duty; it is good to be as near heaven as we can, I am sure it is good to get up the heart there. We have a freer prospe…

He can make a little means go far. 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 14:2…

Luke 3:19. Now Herod the tetrarch. Luke alone explains the reason why Herod threw John into prison: though we shall afterwards find it mentioned by Matthew 14:3, and Mark 6:17. Josephus says, (Antiquities 18, 5, 2,) that Herod, dreading a popular insurrection and a change of the…

Matthew 14:1-2 1. At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,

Matthew 14:13-21 13. When Jesus heard this, he departed thence to a ship to a desert place apart; and when the multitudes heard it, they followed him on foot out of the cities.

Matthew 14:22-33. 22. And immediately Jesus constrained his disciples to embark, and to go before him to the opposite bank, till he had sent away the multitudes.

Matthew 14:3-12 3. For Herod had seized John, and bound him, and put him in prison, on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip.

Matthew 14:34-36 34. And when they had passed over, they came into the country of Gennesareth.

In ancient times (and the custom in some places remains to this day) great men and princes kept the memory of their birth-days with feasting and triumph. Thus we read, (Genesis 40:20) And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birth-day, that he made a feast to all h…

This were to be wanton with Scripture. The literal sense is not to be left without necessity, nor yet pressed too literally, as if prayer should be confined to a chamber and closet: Christ prayed in the mountain (Matthew 14:23) and, (Genesis 24:63) Isaac went into the field to m…

Be not over-confident, nor over-diffident, in an hour when God casts us upon trying times. Not over-confident, in casting yourselves upon needless troubles without cause: (Matthew 14:28) Peter said, Lord, if it be you, bid me come to you on the water. Peter thought he could do a…

Or that there be three days pestilence in the land? John Baptist to Herod (Matthew 14:4): It is not lawful for you to have her. Jehu to Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 17:2): Should you help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord?

2. The Lord Christ is a Savior throughout, a perfect and complete mediator; he has not shed his blood by halves, nor satisfied the justice of God, and redeemed sinners by halves; no, but he went through with his undertakings, he bore all our sins, and shed all his blood, he died…

And thus plainly John the Baptist who had the same Spirit dealt with Herod. He does not beat the bush, and go behind the door to tell him his faults, and mince the matter with some intimations, but he speaks out (Matthew 14:4): It is not lawful for you to have your brother Phili…

They are like the church of Philadelphia which had a little strength (Revelation 3:8) — so they have a little faith, a spark of love. Christ chides a little faith (Matthew 14:31); Christians should increase with the increase of God (Colossians 2:19). The apostle prays for the Ph…

If Heathens be damned, Hypocrites shall be double-damned. Hell is called the place of Hypocrites, (Matthew 14:5). 1. As if it were chiefly prepared for them, and were to be settled upon them in fe[illegible]simple.

Whereas they object that Christ came out of the Sepulcher being shut: and entered in among the disciples, the doors being shut: that makes never a whit more for maintenance of their error. For as the water like a fast pavement made a way to Christ walking upon the lake: so it is…

1. Meditation is the soul's retiring of itself; a Christian, when he goes to meditate, must lock up himself from the world. The world spoils meditation; Christ went apart into the Mount to pray, Matthew 14:23. So, go apart when you are to meditate.

And yet were ignorant of great points of Faith, as of his death (Matthew 16:21-22), of his resurrection (John 20:9). 2. So there be great faintings and doubtings, when a storm arises, and the soul is sinking (Matthew 8:25-27; Matthew 14:3). Yet a little Faith is Faith.

4. If there be but one God, then we must pray to none but God. The Papists pray to saints and angels: 1. To saints; a Popish writer says, When we pray to the saints departed, they being touched with compassion, say the like to God for us, as the disciples did to Christ for the C…

If we pour out sighs to heaven, God hears every groan; though he does not show us his face, he may lend us his ear. 2. Faith may be strongest when assurance is weakest; the woman of Canaan had no assurance, but a glorious faith, O Woman, Great is your faith (Matthew 15:28). Rach…

There are the seeds of all atheism and blasphemy. The heart is the Trojan horse, out of which a whole army of sin comes (Matthew 15:9): "Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries — these defile a man." If a branch of wormwood be so bitter, then how bitter is th…

Keep your heart with all keeping. Every one has a tempter in his own bosom (Matthew 15:19). Out of the heart come evil thoughts.

And hence we learn, that in time of peace, all those that are called to the office of the ministry, must (if it be possible) spend their labor publicly, so as they may do most good. Secondly whereas Christ says, he preached in their synagogues and temple, which at that time were…

What made Christ admire the woman of Canaan, but her graces! Great is your faith (Matthew 15:28). Christ was more taken with that, than with all the goodly buildings of the Temple.

These thoughts being once made up into affections are quickly made out into suitable actions and practices. If the heart be wicked, then as Christ says (Matthew 15:19), 'Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, etc.' Mark the order: first, wanton or revengefu…

Not to walk in darkness, nor hate our brother (1 John 2:8, 9), for this is the new commandment. And that the Gospel has commandments is clear (Matthew 15:3; John 15:12; Romans 16:6; Ephesians 6:2; 1 Timothy 1:1; the holy commandment, 2 Peter 2:21; 1 John 3:23; Revelation 22:14;…

We, praying according to God's will, shall find acceptance according to our will. Notable is that speech of encouragement and acceptance of our Saviour to the woman of Syrophenicia (Matthew 15:28): O woman, great is your faith, be it to you even as you will. She had prayed as Ch…

But besides this confident persuasion this follows, there is another work of faith, and that is a constant wrestling against all discouragements that falls between our requests, and the accomplishment of our petitions. Famous is that story of the woman of Syrophenicia (Matthew 1…

2. In possessions, which were frequent and rife in Christ's time. My daughter is sorely vexed with a devil (Matthew 15:22). Or,

God knows the fittest season, and delights oftentimes to show our impatience, and try our faith. (Matthew 15:28): O woman, great is your faith. And that his help may not be ascribed to chance, or our industry; and that we may the more prize blessings, consider you cannot be more…

Fear is for inward worship, serve is for outward worship, and the profession of the same. Fear in Moses is expounded worship by Christ; so (Matthew 15:9) compared with (Isaiah 29:13). In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men, but in the Prophet…

It teaches them three lessons: comfort, patience, obedience. 1. Comfort and encouragement to them that are under a gloomy day, this will not always last; he may try you for a while and you may be under great conflicts, and wants, and difficulties, as he tried the Woman of Canaan…

For the disciples were forbidden to go into the way of the Gentiles (Matthew 10:5). And Christ says, that he was not sent, but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 15:22). It may be objected, that here we see the difference of Jews, and Gentiles, is standing, long a…

God requires this importunity of us (Luke 18:1). It is practiced by David (Psalm 69:4), by the woman of Canaan (Matthew 15). We must do as Jacob did, wrestle with God, and give him no rest till he fulfills the desires of our hearts, and gives us the blessing.

God must not be displeased though all men be displeased (Acts 5:29). Indeed Christ pronounces woe against them by whom offences come: but that is meant of offences given, and not of offences taken: of which Christ has another rule (Matthew 15:14): Let them alone, they are the bl…

The Prophet then comprehends all the other parts of God's worship, whereby hypocrites are wont to counterfeit and deceive, for they are every way bent to lying and vanity. We need seek no better expositor of these words than Jesus Christ, who upon the speech of washing of hands,…

Every one of us also ought to apply to himself in particular that which is here said of the whole Church in general: for we were planted of God before the foundations of the world (Ephesians 1:4), and afterward incorporated and called, to the end we might have assurance of our e…

They are blind, says he, and leaders of the blind. Will you wittingly perish together with them? (Matthew 15:14). For this cause the Prophet commands that such authority be given to the word of God, to the end we may boldly despise the whole world, if they should gainsay it; for…

When he adds, that those which are led, are devoured: although by this particle his meaning is to say, that wicked princes, and those who rule as they please, cannot but bring all things to ruin: as also because the teachers deceive and abuse the people, instead of showing them…

It ought to be understood, that dogs and swine are names given not to every kind of debauched men, or to those who are destitute of the fear of God and of true godliness, but to those who, by clear evidences, have manifested a hardened contempt of God, so that their disease appe…

41. And wept over it. As there was nothing which Christ more ardently desired than to execute the office which the Father had committed to him, and as he knew that the end of his calling was to gather the lost sheep of the house of Israel, (Matthew 15:24,) he wished that his com…

Matthew 15:1-9 1. Then scribes and Pharisees, who had come from Jerusalem, approach to Jesus, saying, 2. Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

Matthew 15:10-20 10. And having called the multitudes to him, he said to them, Hear and understand.

Matthew 15:21-28 21. And Jesus departing from there withdrew into the territories of Tyre and Sidon.

Matthew 15:29-39 29. And Jesus departing thence, came near the sea of Galilee, and he went up into the mountain, and sat down there.

If Christ pronounces it to be not only lawful, but even proper, to reject whatever of their own the scribes mingle with the pure doctrine of the Law, certainly we are not bound to embrace, without discrimination or the exercise of judgment, whatever they are pleased to enjoin. B…

If the heart rises against the act or judgment of God, in holding us obliged to the punishment, when he offers us his Son as a Savior from the punishment, we cannot with the consent of the heart receive him in that character: but if persons thus submit to the righteousness of so…

In the fourth chapter of Matthew, verse 10, Christ says to the Devil, It is written you shall worship the Lord your God, and him only you shall serve; compare this with (Deuteronomy 6:13), and there you shall have it thus expressed, You shall fear the Lord your God; that which i…

Let therefore then that fear the LORD, put their trust in him: for he is their help and defense, and think, indeed be assured, this kind of worship to be nothing but a device and imagination of men only, the which are idle and vain as says Jeremiah in the 10th chapter. And Chris…

4. Faith working by love, is a most gallant, and holy daring thing, bold in its enterprises to pursue after, to grip, and stick to Christ over all difficulties (as may be seen in her former carriage) and most successful as to the event. 5. The more steadily and stoutly, with lov…

And he affirms that this is good and acceptable before God. And therefore we find our Saviour sharply reprehending that unnatural doctrine among the Scribes and Pharisees, which dispensed with children from the relief of their parents (Matthew 15:5-6): You say, Whoever shall say…

Certainly did we but rightly weigh what is required as a part of worship, and what only as a circumstance of worship, a great deal of heat, and contention, and uncharitable prejudice would be removed and prevented. It is true our Saviour (Matthew 15:9) condemns the Scribes and P…

And therefore (as I told you) the wisdom of God has set this commandment in the last place, as a fence and guard to all the rest; You shall not covet; and then certainly, you shall not kill, nor steal, nor commit adultery, nor bear false witness; but be kept pure from all outwar…

Tophet is ordained of old, for the king it is prepared, he has made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood, and the breath of the Lord like a stream of brimstone does kindle it. The fire of London burnt the houses of the city, and consumed much of the goods; b…

And thus the tree is known by its fruits. This light must shine, that others may see the good works of it, and hear the good words of it too, not to glorify us, but to glorify our Father (Matthew 15:16), we should study to appear in all our converse, so mild, and gentle, and pea…

So that whatever abominations are in the hearts and lives of the vilest Sodomites, and most profligate Wretches under Heaven; there is the same matter in your heart out of which they were shaped and formed. In the depths of the heart they are conceived, and from there they crawl…

Now what consequence is this; Some children have been God's ministers in executing just punishment on their wicked parents, therefore children may enter into such places as shall exempt them from helping any parents, though well deserving? 3. The Levites had an express charge fo…

2. We may suppose him enquiring after some shorter and more compendious way to Eternal Life, by practicing some one or two extraordinary Instances of Duty, and thereby to atone for the neglect of the rest. This was an Error that prevailed among the Pharisees in our Savior's Time…

But because it purifies the soul, therefore it is that which does purify all. There begins impurity (Matthew 15): not only evil thoughts, but all evil actions come forth from the heart, which is there all one with the soul, and therefore this purifying begins there, makes the tr…

1. If there were no Devil to tempt us, yet the heart of man is fruitful enough of all that is evil. (Matthew 15:19) Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witnesses, blasphemies. There's a black catalogue, and all comes out of th…

As all rivers they run from the sea, and they discharge themselves into the sea again; so let all be returned to God with thankfulness, with acknowledgments that you have received them from God. I shall urge it with one example; Jesus Christ, though he were heir, Lord of all thi…

So that every word we speak to God, is a lesson to us, and our requests are as so many exhortations to glorify his holy name: with what face can we ask that which we are wholly reckless and neglectful of. Then we shall certainly come under that character (Matthew 15:7-8): This p…

All carnal men, however they defy Satan, and abominate the thoughts of serving him, yet while they remain in their sin and ignorance, they still hold the crown upon the Devil's head. Look as God's subjects may own him in verbal pretense, yet their hearts may be far from him (Mat…

Now if we would manifest our prayers to be real, we should labor to perform the same, otherwise we are but like those soldiers which spat upon Christ, and buffeted him, yet cried, Hail, King of the Jews; so it is but a mockage to say, Your will be done, yet have no care to do it…

Therefore let the papists triumph over their worship as much as they wish, and follow their foolish opinions, not content with God's wisdom; but it is certain that they both obscure and pervert the entire worship of God. For this reason our Lord Jesus Christ, in Matthew 15, repr…

The people therefore had indeed promises about a king; but they had been too precipitate in demanding a king, and therefore guilty of obstinacy before the Lord, in that they had not waited for the opportune time but importunely demanded that a king be given them, and had anticip…

David, that was called to a crown, and in a capacity of enjoying much in the world, gold, silver, lands, goods, largeness of territory, and a compound of all that which all men jointly, and every man severally does possess; yet was more pleased in the holiness of God's ways, tha…

Then the woman turns this rebuke into an encouragement, Lord! the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters table. Then Christ could hold no longer: O woman! great is your faith, be it to you even as you will (Matthew 15). So many times we come to God, and meet with a si…

1. They lose the world, and that is a great loss to the wicked; they laid up their treasure upon earth; and to be turned out of all at once is a great loss. 2. They lose their souls (Matthew 16:26). The soul was at first a noble piece of coin, which God stamped his own image upo…

The soul is a diamond set in a ring of clay. Christ puts the soul in balance with the world, and it outweighs (Matthew 16:26). The soul is a glass, in which some rays of divine glory shine: it has in it some faint idea and resemblance of a deity: it is a celestial spark lighted…

The rules he prescribes are holy: why should the master be thought the worse of because some of his servants prove bad. (4.) Men are prejudiced at the ways of Christ; they expose them to sufferings (Matthew 16:24): Let him take up his cross and follow me; many stumble at the cro…

Often we hatch the devil's motions, thinking they come from our own hearts. When Peter dissuaded Christ from suffering, sure Peter thought it came from the good affection which he did bear to his Master (Matthew 16:22). Little did Peter think Satan had a hand in it.

But the devil then appeared in a visible shape and so tempted him, for he would have had him fallen down to worship him. Another time we find him crept into one of his apostles to assault our Savior by him: 'Master, spare yourself,' says he (Matthew 16:23). When therefore Christ…

Fourthly, before the Paschal Lamb was eaten, all leaven must be removed out of their houses. This had a notable signification: which we need not to guess at, seeing the holy Ghost has set it down; namely, that we must remove all old leaven of corrupt doctrine (Matthew 16:12) out…

Surely, they did only acknowledge him to be the true Messiah, and were willing to be further instructed in his doctrine; which they testified, by going to hear him in their own persons. So likewise, Christ gives a notable testimony to the confession of the Apostles' faith (Matth…

Now faith is said to be weak, when a man either fails in the knowledge of the Gospel; or else having knowledge, is weak in grace to apply to himself the sweet promises thereof. As for example, we know that the apostles had all true saving faith (except Judas) and when our Savior…

Thirdly he had the preeminence of principality among the twelve, because in regard of the measure of grace he excelled the rest. For when Christ asked his disciples whom they said he was, Peter as being of greatest ability and zeal answered for them all (Matthew 16:16). I use th…

'Why so nice and scrupulous? It is but to stretch conscience a little, and you may make your fortune — now is your opportunity.' The heart may be kept from falling into this dangerous snare by retorting the temptation thus: 'But what profit will it be if a man should gain the wh…

1. God will have a Church upon earth. Mat. 16. 18. The gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Neither the Serpents subtilty, nor the Dragons fierceness shall overturn the Church.

3. Consider the manner of his suffering, and we will see a further proof of his willingness. How little pains he takes to escape them; yes, when Peter labors to dissuade him (Matthew 16) from suffering, he disdains and rejects the suggestion with a severe rebuke: Get behind me,…

Third, for clearing and confirming of this truth, we may take the express confession of the saints in Scripture, on which there is much weight laid; and I shall name but five or six of their confessions, which to this purpose are expressly and fully recorded. The first is that o…

2. Sin is a dear and costly thing: in heaven, in the account-book of justice, it goes for no less than the blood of God, the shaming of the Lord of glory; justice, for the request of all the world, and the prayers of Christ, could not abate one farthing. A man's soul is a dear t…

We know no such distinct posts to heaven, nor such shifting from hand to hand; the saints have many bouts in their way to glory, but all the three jointly at the same season help at the lifting of the dead out of the graves (John 6:39, 44, 45; John 5:24, 25). All the three in on…

Now Christ has, both, the keys of death, the postern gate out of this world; and of hell, even of the broad gates of that eternal prison; so as none of his can be fetched out of this world by death, but Christ he must first open the door; much less, can any go to hell without hi…

This natural life is worth the giving and parting with for a spiritual. "What shall a man give in recompense for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26). You know what Christ said of Judas, and the same reason holds true in every man that lacks life in Christ (Matthew 26:24).

Many give various reasons. Peter had led the way to the rest in that notable confession of Christ (Matthew 16:16), and is conceived to have some primacy for the orderly beginning of actions in the College of the Apostles. James was the first apostle who shed his blood for Christ…

Moses saw the face of God, but he was in the bosom of God: Moses's face shone, but not as Christ's, for it could be hidden by a veil; Christ darts his glory through his garments: Moses's shining was terrible, Christ's was comfortable, the apostles were loath to lose the sight of…

Josiah after he had prepared the temple, fell into that rash attempt against Pharaoh Necho which cost him his life (2 Chronicles 35:20): After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by Euphrates, and Josiah went out…

1. Because it was at hand, the next solemn mediatory action after this was his death and bloody sufferings; after he was transfigured in the mount, he went down to suffer at Jerusalem. 2. This was an offense to the Apostles that their Master should die (Matthew 16:22-23): then P…

2. We are said to tempt Christ; and he may be considered, either as in the days of his flesh; or in his state of glory, and with respect to his invisible presence. 1. In the days of his flesh, he was frequently tempted by the Scribes and Pharisees, who would not be satisfied in…

Observe the different methods of Christ and Satan: Satan makes a show of glory first, but Christ of the cross: Satan offers the benefit before he seems to require the service, as here he does first offer, and then ask; but fallaciously, for indeed he requires a present act, but…

2. Concerning the weight and importance of this truth. 1. It is propounded as the foundation upon which God will build his church (Matthew 16:16-18): And Simon Peter answered and said, you are Christ the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed are you…

This was not to be endured. Twice Christ uses this form of speech, [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉], to Satan tempting him to idolatry here, and when his servant dissuaded him from suffering (Matthew 16:23): Get behind me, Satan, for you are an offense to me, for you savor not the th…

3. In Luke it is said, chapter 4:13, He departed from him [illegible] for a season. He never tempted him again in this solemn way, hand to hand; but either abusing the simplicity of his own Disciple (Matthew 16:22-23). Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it…

For Paul was chief over the Gentiles, and not Peter. Secondly, this ordinance of God gives us to understand, that the place (Matthew 16:18), You are Peter, and upon this rock will I build my Church, etc., and I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: does not contain a…

To be in God's kingdom is happiness: and this is the kingdom of God, when we resign ourselves in subjection to his will and word. The preaching of the word is the key of this kingdom (Matthew 16:19), and when it is received into our hearts by faith, heaven is set open to us even…

For Eliakim was no figure of him; neither does the Prophet describe some hidden mystery here, but borrows a similitude from the dealings of men; as if one should give the keys to some steward placed over his house, (as has been said.) There is also the same reason to be given of…

True it is that God has neither hands, nor any bodily shape: but thus it pleases the Holy Ghost to stoop down to our slender and weak capacities, that he might the better set forth the infinite love which he bears us. And because the Church is in many places called the Temple, o…

Though all Christians must be living stones This alludes to the Greek word Πέτρος, (Peter,) which literally signifies a stone. We shall afterwards find (Matthew 16:18) that our Lord makes express reference to the meaning of the name. — Ed. , of the spiritual temple, yet Christ g…

Instead of this, Luke has, Depart behind me, Satan. There is no use for speculating about the phrase, behind me, which Christ addressed to Peter, Go behind me, (Matthew 16:23,) as if the same words had not been addressed to Satan. Christ simply bids him go away; “he wishes only…

Let us therefore look upon ourselves as warned, in his person, not to boast lightly and at ease, that we will be the disciples of Christ, while we are taking no thought of the cross, or of afflictions; but, on the contrary, to consider early what sort of condition awaits us. The…

The word leaven is sometimes taken in a bad sense, as when Christ warns them to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees, (Matthew 16:11;) and when Paul says, that

Matthew 16:1-4 1. And the Pharisees, together with the Sadducees, came, and tempting desired that he would show them a sign from heaven.

Matthew 16:13-19 13. And when Jesus came to the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Who do men say that I the Son of man am?

Matthew 16:20-28 20. Then he charged his disciples “Lors il commanda expressement a ses disciples;” — “then he expressly commanded his disciples.” not to tell any one that he was Jesus the Christ.

Matthew 16:5-12 5. And his disciples, when they had come to the opposite bank, through neglect had not taken bread.

18. Whatever things you shall bind. He now repeats the same words which he had formerly used, (Matthew 16:19,) but in a different sense; for there he intended to maintain their authority in doctrine, but here he appoints discipline, which is an appendage to doctrine. There Chris…

The sum of the whole is, that for none but him who has fought lawfully is the crown prepared; and especially, that none will be a partaker of the life and the kingdom of Christ who has not previously shared in his sufferings and death. In the word baptism the force of the metaph…

The Papists reckon it enough, that those who issue laws should possess the title and occupy the station; for in this way they torture the words of Christ to mean, that we are bound to receive obediently whatever the ordinary prelates of the Church enjoin. But this calumny is abu…

For we know that all mankind are banished from God, and excluded from the inheritance of eternal salvation. Now the doctrine of religion may be said to be the door by which we enter into life, and therefore Scripture says metaphorically, that the keys of the kingdom of heaven ar…

In this point have stumbled and foully failed our Grand masters and teachers which have heretofore taken upon them to expound and interpret the Scripture. As when they expound and stretch that saying of Christ, Matthew 16, "You are Peter," etc., to be meant of the Pope, which ad…

It is true, that is spoken there of a man's own soul, that it is more to himself than the world, but it is a truth here too, if one have a soul given him (and to have a child is to have a soul bestowed on us) for the present it is more than to have the whole world bestowed on hi…

When Peter confessed our savior to be the Christ the Son of the living God; He told him that flesh and blood did not reveal that unto him, but his father who is in heaven. Matthew 16:17. It is so with them who indeed believe forgiveness in God: Flesh and blood has not revealed i…

You lose heaven and your soul; and what can countervail this loss? What is a man profited if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Matthew 16:26). God (says Chrysostom) has given a man two eyes; if he lose one, he has another; but he has but one soul, and if that be l…

The first is Christ's appearing in those wonderful dispensations of providence in the apostles' days, in setting up his kingdom, and destroying the enemies of his kingdom, which ended in the destruction of Jerusalem. This is called Christ's coming in his kingdom, Matthew 16:28.…

4. This success is agreeable to what Christ and his apostles foretold. Matthew 16:18. "Upon this rock will I build my church: and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

Will it not shortly be with me, as with that careless mother, who when her house was on fire, busily bestirred herself to save the goods, but forgot the child? (though it were saved by another hand) and then minding her child, ran up and down like one distracted wringing her han…

Would we but learn in these things to cross ourselves, we should not be so apt to take it heinously if another crosses us. And therefore the method of the lessons in Christ's school, is first to deny ourselves, and then to take up our cross (Matthew 16:24). We must also mortify…

And indeed the Scripture seems to hint so much to us. For, if Peter in the Transfiguration knew Moses and Elias, whom he never saw before (Matthew 17:4), then surely in Heaven, the Saints shall know one another, and be infinitely delighted in each other's company. 3. The third t…

In Heaven there shall be perfect love among the saints; they shall as the olive and myrtle sweetly embrace each other. The saints shall know one another, (as Luther speaks,) if in the Transfiguration Peter knew Moses and Elias, which he never saw before (Matthew 17:3), then much…

A pair of turtledoves, which was the usual offering of the poor (Leviticus 12:8). Christ was so poor, that when he wanted money, he was fain to work a miracle for it (Matthew 17:27). He when he died, made no will.

Quest. What are the benefits which accrue to God's children? 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 1…

[reconstructed: in Greek], That they may behold my glory. When Christ was transfigured upon earth, it is said, That his face did shine as the sun, and his clothing was white as the light (Matthew 17:2). If the glory of his Transfiguration was so great, what will the glory of his…

So a covetous man's speech betrays him. He is like the fish in the Gospel, which had a piece of money in the mouth (Matthew 17:27). Verba sunt Speculum mentis. Bern. The words are the looking-glass of the heart, they show what is within.

3. When Christians grow more in love with the World, it argues the decrease of spiritual love. They were once of a sublime Heavenly temper, they did speak the language of Canaan; but now they are like the fish in the Gospel, which had money in its mouth, Matthew 17 last verse th…

Now for the practicing of this peace, there are three duties especially to be learned and performed: 1. rather than peace should be broken, a man must yield of his own right. When tax collectors came to our Savior Christ for tribute, he had a lawful excuse: for however he lived…

Overcome armies (Exodus 17:11). Cast out devils (Matthew 17:21). Opened prisons (Acts 12:9).

Yet this was nothing to the afflicted people; verse 14: But Zion said, The Lord has forsaken me, and my Lord has forgotten me. When the Lord's Disciples, (Matthew 17) are in the sweetest life that ever they were in, at the transfiguration of Christ, when they saw his glory, and…

THE TRANSFIGURATION OF CHRIST. Matthew 17:1. And after six days Jesus takes Peter, James and John his brother, and brings them into a high mountain apart. With Luke 9:28. It came to pass about eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John, and James, and went up into a…

Matthew 17:2. And he was transfigured before them and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. With Luke 9:29. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistening. In both these texts compared toget…

The devil tempts us sometimes to pamper the flesh, sometimes to neglect it in such a way as is destructive to our service. Thus the devil hurries us from one extreme to another, as the possessed man fell oftentimes into the fire, and oft into the water (Matthew 17:15). Those tha…

Matthew 17:3. And behold there appeared to him Moses and Elias talking with him. With Luke 9:30, 31. And behold there talked with him two men, Moses and Elias, who appeared in glory, and spoke of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. Having spoken of Christ's Tran…

Matthew 17:4. Then answered Peter and said to Jesus, Lord it is good for us to be here; if you will let us make three tabernacles, one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. With Luke 9:32-33. But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep, and when they we…

Matthew 17:5. While he yet spoke, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed him: and behold, a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear you him. In this branch of the story two things are remarkable, and there is a Behold prefixed bef…

Matthew 17:5 This is my beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased, Hear you him. 1. The design and intent of this Scripture is to set forth the Lord Jesus, as the great mediator, as appears.

Matthew 17:6-8. And when the Disciples heard it they fell on their faces, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, arise be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man save Jesus only. In this part of the history are three things.

In the scope and sense of the words, many points of doctrine are contained. The first, that Christ is the great Prophet and Doctor of the Church (Matthew 17:6). Hear him, and (Matthew 23:8): One is your Doctor, namely Christ.

She has her desire in the birth of Ishmael, but yet he is born according to the flesh, in bondage, and he is not the promised seed. In the birth of Isaac we see the virtue of the promise of God, when it is mixed with our faith: for then it makes things possible, that are otherwi…

The second is, in that he affirms James before whom our Lord Christ was transfigured in mount Tabor, to be the author of this epistle. For, that James before whom Christ was transfigured in the mount, was James the son of Zebedee, and brother of John (Matthew 17:1): After six da…

From hence we observe that fasts were celebrated when solemn prayers were made, and that all the Church was assembled together. For fasting is but the handmaid of prayer, as we have shown before; and we also see that Christ adds it to prayer (Matthew 17:21). It is not instituted…

There is a still wider import in this statement, which God next makes by the prophet, that the delight of his soul dwells in Christ; for though the calling of each of us proceeds from the free favor of God as its only source, yet in Christ there is this remarkable peculiarity, t…

Matthew 17:1-8 1. And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, and James, and John his brother, and leadeth them to a high mountain apart;

Matthew 17:14-18 14. And when they were come to the multitude, a man came to him, kneeling before him, 15. And saying, Lord, have compassion on my son, for he is lunatic, and is grievously distressed; for frequently he falls into the fire, and frequently into the water.

Matthew 17:19-21 19. Then the disciples, coming to Jesus apart, said, Why could not we cast it out?

Matthew 17:22-23 22. And while they remained in Galilee, Jesus said to them, The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men:

27. But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, throw a hook, and take that fish which comes first up; and when you have opened its mouth, you will find a stater: take that, and give it for me and for you. Matthew 17:24. And when they came to Capernaum. We must attend, first…

Matthew 17:9-13 9. And as they were going down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, till the Son of man is risen from the dead.

Christ therefore does not attach importance to the title bestowed on those who discharge the office of teaching, but restrains them within proper limits, that they may not rule over the faith of brethren. We must always attend to the distinction, that Christ alone ought to be ob…

The first expression looks to the house of wine where she was, which supposes no want, and may be rendered, Stay me in flagons, as seeking support in this holy fill of the Spirit, whereby she was staggering. The second looks to the Apple-tree, vers. 3. and she would ever roll he…

Verse 4. It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loves: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me. The beginning of this verse, contains the last step of t…

For as all Diseases are contrary to health, yet some contrary to each other, so are Lusts. Hence poor Creatures are hurried on to different kinds of servitude, according to the Nature of that imperious Lust that is in the Throne; and like the Lunatick, Mat. 17. are sometimes cas…

Whiteness (if I may so say) is the complexion of glory; in that appearance of the most high, the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9), it is said, his garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head as pure wool. And of Christ in his transfiguration, when he had on him a mighty lust…

2. Let the same judgment, and that deservedly, pass on all those different places, which are altogether inconsiderable, consisting in accents or the change of a letter, not in the least intrenching on the sense of the place, or giving the least intimation of any other sense to b…

Though I am to love all the brotherhood, and carry a respect to all in relation to me; yet I am to single out for my advantage some of the most eminent, or the most suitable (for great regard is to be had to that.) Christ made a distinction in his little flock, in his family, sh…

There is in love a desire of union and fellowship with those whom we love (1 Samuel 18:1): Jonathan's soul was knit to the soul of David, and he loved him as his own soul: and the Apostle bids all Christians to be knit together in brotherly love (Colossians 2:2): without this th…

It were the greatest misery if God should carve out our condition according to our own fancy and desires. Peter said (Matthew 17:4), "Master it is good for us to be here"; he was well pleased to be upon Mount Tabor, but little thought what service God had to do for him elsewhere…

Paul had his raptures; then a messenger of Satan to [reconstructed: buffet] him. The same disciples that were witness to Christ's transfiguration — Peter, James, and John (Matthew 17) — the same disciples are chosen also to be witness to his agonies (Matthew 26:37). He took with…

Therefore it is said in the beginning of the verse, He shall come in the Spirit and power of Elias, that is, He shall have that large measure of gracious and ministerial gifts, that special presence and assistance of the Spirit of the Lord accompanying him, as sometimes Elias ha…

If God is so beautiful here in his ordinances — Word, prayer, sacraments — if there is such excellence in him when we see him by the eye of faith through the glass of a promise, what will it be when we shall see him face to face? When Christ was transfigured on the mount, he was…

This is nothing to the unparalleled barbarism and cruelty of Satan; his name is Apollyon, the Devourer. He rent and tore the man in whom he was, and threw him into the fire (Matthew 17:15). If he was so fierce when he was chained, what will he do when he has full power?

But there is a time coming when it shall be otherwise; the bodies of the saints shall be agile and lively, they shall be made fully subject to the soul, and so no way impede or hinder the soul in its motion. 2. The bodies of the saints shall be transparent, full of clarity and b…

If Jesus Christ be so beautiful here in his ordinances, namely Word, Prayer, Sacraments, (they are the beauties of holiness) if there be so much excellency in Christ, when we see him by the eye of faith, through the perspective glass of the promise: O what will it be, when we sh…

(John 8:29) I do always these things that please him. He faithfully expounded the Law (Matthew 5), refuted heresies (Matthew 22), glorified God with his miracles, was subject to his parents (Luke 2:51), paid tribute to the prince himself (Matthew 17:27), and taught others to obe…

(Exodus 21:24, 23): You shall give life for life. Give that piece of money for you and me (Matthew 17). (Isaiah 43:4): I will give men for you, and people for your life.

It may as well be meant that the Priest should confess to the people, as the people to the Priest. Auricular confession is one of the Popes Golden Doctrines: Like the Fish in the Gospel, it has money in its mouth, (Matthew 17:27). When you have opened his mouth, you shalt find a…

Without this we cannot see him as he is. When he was transfigured on the mount and had upon his human nature some reflections of his divine glory, his disciples who were with him were rather overwhelmed than refreshed by it (Matthew 17:4). They saw his glory, but spoke thereupon…

He can hardly speak three words, but two of them are about earth. His mouth, like the fish in the Gospel, is full of gold, Matthew 17:27. So where there is a delight in God, our tongues will be as the pen of a ready Writer.

His Doubting was a Provocation: And our Savior expresses no less in that bitter reproof to his Disciples upon their wavering, Matthew 17. 17. O faithless and perverse Generation, how long shall I be with you?

The world looks upon humility as that which will make one contemptible, but it is the ready way to honor: the way to rise is to fall, the way to ascend is to descend. Humility exalts us in the esteem of men, and it exalts us to a higher throne in heaven (Matthew 18:4): Whoever s…

4. God delights in their company, he loves to see their countenance and hear their voice (Song of Solomon 2:14). He cannot refrain long from their company: Let but two or three of his children meet and pray together, he will be sure to be among them (Matthew 18:20). Where two or…

Prayer is more powerful when many join and unite their forces. [reconstructed: Vis unita fortior] (Matthew 18:19). 7. Private prayer; when we pray by ourselves (Matthew 6:6).

I wish there be none in our age guilty of this, who when they are in want, use indirect means for a livelihood, they consult with witches, who are the Devil's oracles; the end of these will be fearful as that of Saul was, whom the Lord is said to have killed, because he asked co…

He may not admit him to see his face; he may shut a son out of doors when yet he does not cast him off. He may retain their sins (as Christ's expression is, John 20:23; Matthew 18:18) — that is, call in the patent of his pardon which he had passed under his hand and seal in eart…

Whereby it appears, that when we rush on into the practice of any sin, we do as much as in us lies to cause God to send down his judgments upon us for our sins, and that by the ministry of his angels. Secondly, we are taught another lesson by Christ himself: See (says he) that y…

You are daily grieving and wronging God, and yet he bears it, forgives, and will not take vengeance upon you — and will you be so quick in avenging yourselves upon others? O what a sharp and terrible rebuke is that — Matthew 18:32-33: 'O you wicked and slothful servant, I forgav…

We have not then reason to think this secret was whispered in the ears of the Devils, before they fell. 2. It is true (Matthew 18) the elect angels, [in non-Latin alphabet], always now behold the face of Christ's Father; for now they are confirmed, that they cannot look awry, an…

Therefore it is notable, they are sometimes called God's Angels (Psalm 103:21), Bless the Lord, all you his hosts, you ministers of his that do his pleasure. Sometimes their Angels (Matthew 18:10), Take heed, that you despise not one of these little ones, for I say to you, that…

Angels know not only themselves, but all the elect now; how else do they minister about them? They know the least believer (Matthew 18:10): Take heed that you offend not one of these little ones, for I say to you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Fathe…

Thus Paul (1 Corinthians 4:9): We are made a spectacle to the world, and to angels and to men. Now the angels, that are witnesses to their combats and sufferings, cannot but make report to God (Matthew 18:10): Take heed that you despise not one of these little ones, for I say to…

So for place and manner, them that sin openly must be rebuked before all, and testify their repentance before the church. So, if the sin be private or less known, the rule in (Matthew 18:15-16) is to be observed for private admonition and confession: And consequently secret sins…

Hence Schoolmen distinguish of prayer, that it is either [Communis or Singularis] common or singular: both have their place and use. Though they lay great stress upon Christ's promise, in (Matthew 18:20), promising to be where two or three are met in his name; which as we deny n…

When he says, I travail again, he teaches, that if men fall after their first initial repentance, there is still a possibility of mercy, and place for a second repentance. We must forgive till seventy-seven times (Matthew 18:22). Much more will God do it.

Fourthly, hence we are taught, not to wonder, though sinners be so loath to be reproved, and account it so painful a thing to be restored, and think those offensive to them, and scarce their friends, which labor to reclaim them: considering the same is to be seen in the body: fo…

This was done to confirm our faith as truly as that of the shepherds. Among men, the testimony of "two or three witnesses" (Matthew 18:16) is sufficient to remove all doubt. But here is a heavenly host, with one consent and one voice bearing testimony to the Son of God.

He bestows the designation of sheep of the house of Israel not on the elect only, but on all who were descended from the holy fathers; for the Lord had included all in the covenant, and was promised indiscriminately to all as a Redeemer, as he also revealed and offered himself t…

And they were deeply grieved. Matthew 18:1-5 1. At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

Matthew 18:11-14 11. For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

Matthew 18:15-20 15. But if your brother has sinned against you, go and reprove him between you and him alone: if he hears you, you have gained your brother.

Matthew 18:21-35 21. Then Peter approaching him said, Lord, how often shall my brother offend against me, and I forgive him?

Matthew 18:6-10 6. But whosoever shall offend one of those little ones who believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were sunk to the bottom of the sea.

Came to present themselves before the Lord. Not that the angels are at any time out of the presence of God, for Christ is express in that, (Matthew 18:10). Their angels do always behold the face of my Father. But they are then said to come and present themselves before God, when…

Ephesians 4:32. Matthew 18 24. unto the end. Only there are some things that put a singular Emphasis upon this command, manifesting the great importance of this duty in us, which may be marked.

And in so doing, they perform not only a parental, but an angelical work. Take heed that you despise not one of these little ones; for I say to you, that in Heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in Heaven (Matthew 18:10). And if God, the great Fathe…

When we come to the public prayers, we are not to come as auditors, but as actors; we have our part in them; and every petition that is spread before God, ought to be breathed from our very hearts and souls: which if we affectionately perform, we may have good assurance, that wh…

1. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a debt. Sin is compared to a debt of ten thousand talents (Matthew 18:24). A talent of gold among the Hebrews was valued at almost four thousand pounds.

APPLICATION. THe care and pains you take to recover your lost cattel, carries a sweet and lively representation of the love of Iesus Christ, in the recovery of lost sinners. Iesus Christ came on purpose from heaven upon a like errand, to seek and to save that which was lost, Mat…

The Lord guide you: I am sorry to hear the complaints that are abroad. Fourthly, in the liberty that you give, use great caution, some things you may be forced to bear with for a time, take heed of endangering the truths of God, you ought to be tender of Christ's little ones; wo…

Thus, if ever we would enter into the kingdom of heaven, must we be converted from pride, envy, ambition and strife for precedency, and must become like little children. So our Savior has told us (who, even after his resurrection, is called, the Holy Child Jesus (Acts 4:27)) (Ma…

3. The person committing thus to prison and into bondage, is God himself. To him we owe our debts (Matthew 6:12; Matthew 18:27-29), against him are our offenses (Psalm 51:5). He is the judge and lawgiver (James 4:12); to sin is to rebel against him.

Masters and servants are in the same subjection, and under a like command. There is one master, even Christ: and all men whoever are brethren, fellow-servants. (Matthew 23:8; Matthew 18:28) Section 132: Of God's Being in Heaven.

Justice requires that it be a truth, and a known truth, even a thing of which he is assured, for which he reproves his wife. Christ in giving direction for reproving aright, lays down this as a ground, If your brother shall trespass, etc. a trespass therefore must go before repr…

When the soul is calm and composed, it may behold the face of God shining on it; and they that pray together, should not only have hearts in tune within themselves in their own frame, but tuned together, especially husband and wife that are one, they should have hearts consorted…

Therefore he does not forbid public praying in the assemblies of the saints, or family worship; both are elsewhere required in Scripture. God has made promises to public, and church prayer, praying with men, or before men: (Matthew 18:19) When two or three are met together, and…

1. No debt to man can be so great as our debt to God, both for number and weight. Matthew 18:24, compared with verse 28, you shall see there the parable of the Lord, forgiving ten thousand talents; and the servant goes and takes his brother by the throat, and requires from him a…

And secondly, to the subject matter, that which is forgiven, there is no proportion. When we compare the multitude or magnitude, the greatness and the number of offences forgiven of the one side and the other, we see there's a mighty disproportion; we forgive pence, and God tale…

And that is the reason why the temporal deliverance of the wicked and impenitent, is called a remission; as, (Psalm 78:38) But he being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not. And, (Matthew 18:26-28) Have patience with me, and I will pay you all. And…

Thirdly, there is the highest heaven, or the heaven of the blessed, spoken of (Matthew 7:21), Not everyone that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; that is, into the third heaven, the glorious heaven, the blessed presence of God. (Matthew 18:10) In he…

Let me see your Countenance. If but two or three of Gods Children meet and pray together, God will be sure to make one of the company; Matthew 18:20. There am I in the midst of them.

Of which kind of people the cowardliness is so much the more shameful and blameworthy, because God has given them such a Savior and Captain, as is both able and willing to minister strength to them be they never so weak and feeble, health, be they never so sick or diseased, soun…

In crosses and persecutions a man may have secret likings of truth, and a purpose to own it; but by scandal she dislikes the way of God, of religion itself; it begets a base and vile esteem thereof in the hearts of men, so they are loose and fall off. And this mischief does not…

5. Consider, that Christianity was sent into the world, not to set up a kingdom of power, but patience. Whoever therefore shall be humble as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:4). He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the…

Psalm 2. Therefore does Christ sit at his right hand, but to promote the affairs of his church, and to blast the devices of the wicked? Matthew 18. The gates of hell shall never prevail against it. 4. That the proud are near a fall.

As the captain's servant said, take heed what you do, for this man is a Roman: so these men are children of God, he is their patron and protector, God is interested in their protection. They are little ones, but they have a great God (Matthew 18:10). Therefore take heed of havin…

The grand pretense for separation, is the wickedness of many who are church members. Now our Savior's method is, that such should be first reproved and admonished, before they be cast out (Matthew 18:15-16); but it is a most preposterous and headlong course that thousands in our…

1 The devil, the tempter, will be the tormentor; they will be tormented not only with, but by devils. They will be delivered to the jailers, the tormentors, as it is in Matthew 18:34-35: "So likewise shall my heavenly Father do to you" — namely, deliver you to the tormentors. Wh…

Oh, if in this your day you consider not the things of your peace, you may have them hid from your eyes, and go blindfold to Hell, and be damned forever. And then God will require payment — even use upon use — to the utmost farthing (Matthew 18:23-34); he will be paid all that i…

Men (when sensible of sin) can hardly believe that God will or can do it, but are apt to say (as Cain) our iniquity is greater than can be forgiven. Man's mercy is large when it reaches to seven times — what is God, then, that reaches to more than seventy times seven in a day! (…

3. It has vim judicativam, a judging power (John 12:48). The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him at the last day, the sentence that God will pass upon sinners hereafter, is no other than what the word passes upon them here, the judgment of God, is not a day wherein…

Comfort in regard of the Resurrection: This seems difficult to believe, that the bodies of men when eaten up by worms, devoured by beasts and fishes, or consumed to ashes, should be raised the same numerical bodies; but if we believe the power of God, it is no great wonder: Whic…

1. If we love our estate more than God, then we make it a God. The young man in the Gospel loved his gold better than his Savior; the world lay nearer his heart than Christ (Matthew 19:22). Fulgens hoc aurum praestringit oculos, Var.

The Apostles went away rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Christ (Acts 5:41), that they were graced so far as to be disgraced for the name of Christ: this is a hallowing of God's name when we are content to have our name eclipsed that God's n…

For the wedge of gold he will part with the pearl of price. The young man in the Gospel, when Christ said, Sell all, and come and follow me; [reconstructed: Abiit tristis], He went away sorrowful (Matthew 19:22). He would rather part with Christ, than with his earthly possession…

Either God makes our burden lighter, or our faith stronger. He will compensate and recompense our sufferings (Matthew 19:29): every one that has forsaken houses or lands for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit life everlasting. Here are encouragements to suf…

Thirdly, God calls some men to some private Personal duty, which he designs not to others, but to be done by them alone. Such a calling had he assigned him (Matthew 19:21) that would needs be perfect; Go sell all that you have, etc. Now the calling of Abraham in this place, is t…

Thirdly, God tempts his servants by giving unto them some strange and extraordinary commandment; As in the Gospel, when the young man came to our Savior Christ, and asked him, what good thing he might do to have eternal life? Matthew 19:16, Christ bids him go and sell all that h…

1. that a rich man remaining a rich man may be a servant of God, and also be saved: for riches are the good blessings of God, and in themselves do no whit hinder a man in coming to Christ. But some will say, Christ himself says, It is easier for a cable to go through the eye of…

Objection 2. Matthew 19:12: Christ says, There are some who have made themselves chaste for the kingdom of heaven. Therefore (say they) the vow of single life is warrantable and is a work of special glory in heaven.

We embrace the saying of Theodoret on 1 Timothy chapter 4: He does not blame single life or continency, but he accuses those who by enacted law compel men to follow these. Men made themselves chaste for the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:12), not by vow but by a purpose of heart,…

1. To consider the dangerous ensnaring temptations attending a pleasant and prosperous condition. Few — indeed very few — of those that live in the pleasures and prosperity of this world escape everlasting perdition (Matthew 19:24). It is easier, said Christ, for a camel to pass…

For as much as Jesus Christ unto whom the children were offered, Matthew 19, to the intent he should lay his hands upon them and pray, with a favourable countenance receiving the same, declared that he came to be a savior also of such, because the very infants (as well as others…

It is most certain, and might be cleared, both from the word of God, and from experience, that many hundreds of professors dash, and perish on this stumbling block (Isaiah 48:1-2), where the Lord is speaking of a people, that made mention of his name, and swore by him, but not i…

And the frame and arrangement of the words shows that it is a judicial procedure; for they suppose a charge or libel, and a sentence, and the meritorious cause of the sentence of absolution is that Christ has died. Secondly, if we consider the nature of the two covenants, and co…

Rule 10. Nor is Christ made a loser, by losing his will for the Lord, but his will is fulfilled in that which he feared (Hebrews 5:7). Providence submitted to renders a hundredfold in this life (Matthew 19:29). God makes the income above hope (Genesis 48:11).

Now these same things befall the dying saints: 1. While the saints are here they are from home, and not at their Father's fireside, and this world their stepmother looks ever askance on them (John 16:33). And the cross gets a charge from God concerning a saint, wait on him, as h…

It is true, should a man offer his house full of treasure for Christ, it would be despised (Song of Solomon 8:7), and when Simon Magus offered to buy the gifts of the Holy Ghost for money, it was rejected with a curse (Acts 9:8-10), and if the gift of the Holy Ghost cannot be bo…

If men begin to apply themselves to a strict course, such as they have sworn to in Baptism, either it is so hard as not to be borne, as (John 6:60): This is a hard saying, who can bear it? Whereas (Matthew 19:29): Every one that has forsaken houses, or brethren, &c. for my name'…

For thus they teach: It is true (say they) that faith in Christ justifies, but withal we must needs keep the commandments of God. For it is written: If you will enter into life, keep the commandments (Matthew 19:17). Here even at the first dash Christ is denied and Faith abolish…

And generally whatever good thing a man does the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free (Ephesians 6:8). He that forsakes father and mother, etc., for Christ's sake, shall receive a 100 times more in this life, and in the world to come life everlasting (Ma…

Abraham was of an excellent faith, and constancy, of singular meekness, and holiness, yet had he not this gift. Christ himself testifies that it is not given to all, even then when his Apostles so highly commended single life (Matthew 19:6, 10, 11, 12), and Saint Paul says the l…

And thus the wife was set at liberty, and her innocence approved; and the fault was laid only upon the husband, to whose discontented mind the cause of this rent was imputed. Moses ordained this law (Deuteronomy 24:1) in regard of the people's hardness of heart, as witnesses our…

These expressions are worthy of remark; because Satan labors, with amazing contrivance, to lower the effect of doctrine, in order that the grace of the Spirit connected with it may be weakened. The outward preaching, I acknowledge, can do nothing separately or by itself; but as…

As if we asserted that true righteousness is not laid down in the law, or complained that its instruction is in fault for not justifying us, and not rather that it is weak through our flesh, (Romans 8:3.) In the commandments of God, as we have a hundred times acknowledged, life…

But as we shall, before long, meet with this sentence again in the Gospel by Matthew I now glance at it more slightly. 30. And, lo, they are last who shall be first The same words, as we shall elsewhere see, were frequently employed by Christ, but in a different sense, (Matthew…

Vain and deceitful, also, would have been that promise, “The man that does them shall live in them,” (Leviticus 18:5; Romans 10:5; Galatians 3:12.) That Christ, on the other hand, intended to make no correction in the precepts of the law, is very clear from other passages: for t…

Matthew 5:31. Whosoever shall put away his wife. As a more suitable occasion for discussing and explaining this doctrine at greater length will afterwards occur, (Matthew 19:9,) I shall now state briefly what Christ says in this passage. As the Jews falsely imagined that they di…