£.x Lihris K. OGDEN THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES THE GOSPEL TREASURY AND EXPOSITORY HARMONY OF THE FOUR EVANGELISTS. THE TEXT IN THE WORDS OF THE AUTHORISED VERSION, ARRANGED ACCORDING TO GRESWELL'S HARMONIA EVANGELICA. WITH ANALYTICAL INTRODUCTIONS; SCRIPTORE ILLUSTRATIONS; NOTES, SELECTED PROM THE MOST APPROVED COMMENTATORS; PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS; GEOGRAPHICAL NOTICES; COPIOUS ADDENDA AND INDICES. AND SEVEN GRADUATED CHARTS, GEOGRAPHICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY LOCALISING EVERY EVENT IN THE GOSPEL HISTORY OF OUR LORD'S LIFE AND MINISTRY. COMPHED BY ROBERT MIMPRISS, .AUTHOR OF "the SYSTEM OF GRADUATED SIMULTANEOUS INSTRUCTION," "CHRIST AN EXAMPLE FOR THE YOUNG," ETC. THIRD EDITION. TO THE ONLY WISK GOD OUR SAVIOUR, DE GLORY AND MAJESTY, DOMINION AND POWER, BOTH NOW AND EVER. AMEN." LONDON : THE SYSTEMATIC BIBLE TEACHING MISSION DEPOSTTOl^Y, 67, PATERNOSTER ROW, EC. Bl'TIER & TaKNEF, Tlllt Sei-wood Printing Wosk^. Frome, and I^ndon. TES TIMON IALS. The late ROBERT MIMPRISS has left this testimonial :— " I am gladdened by the fact that my System has heen successfiilly blended with an excellent scheme of Catechism Teaching, carefully arranged by Mr. J. Green. Ey this happy combination of both Systems, each is, in my opinion, rendered more useful than it ever could be alone. Home teaching may be more readily effected than by my former plans, while to the glorious narratives of the New Testa- ment is added a comprehensive view of the whole system of Bible doctrines." DR. THOMPSON at the Methodist (Ecumenical CoiincU, 1882, states :— Dr. DOWS CLAEK, of Boston, a venerable Congregational clergyman, of extensive experience, in an address before the New England Histor- ical Society in 1878, speaks of the practice of teacliing the children the doctrines of the Church, and its effects upon a town in which for many years he was pastor. " The Catechism was as truly a classic as any other book. It was taught everywhere — in the family, in the school, in the church ; indeed, it was the principal intellectual and religious pabulum of the people. We had it at breakfast, and we had it at dinner, and we had it at supper. Indeed, the town was saturated with its doctrines, and is almost as much so at the present day." What were the effects of such persistent teaching of vital truths ? The same writer says : "The general result was, and still is, that sobriety, large intelligence, sound morality, and unfeigned piety exist there to a wider extent than in any other community of equal size within the limits of my acquaintance. Kevivals of religion have been of great frequency, purity, and power; and to-day, more than one-third of the population (all told) are members of the Congregational Church. Nine-tenths of the population are regular attendants on public worship. Thirty-eight of the young men have graduated from College, have entered the learned professions, and especially the Christian ministry, and several of them have risen to positions of the highest usefulness and honour. These, I believe, are much larger percentages of educated men, of Christian men, of useful men, than can be found in any other town in this or any other commonwealth." The Kev. JOSEPH MATTHEWS, Kector of Chesham Bois.— " No one can form an idea from hearing or reading about the System, what a marvellous thing it is when in full operation. Having tried it for some years, I can speak from experience, and have the greatest cause for thankfulness that I was led in God's providence to adopt it." The Eev. G. E. YATE, Vicar of Madeley. — " I have had some years' trial of it, and am therefore well able to speak about it. Let me speak of some of its points of excellence in the hope that it may be more largely adopted. " 1. The teaching is systematic. 2. It comprises graces, daily lessons, morning and evening prayers, and additional ones for the Lord's Day, also catechisms and hymns replete with Scripture. 3. The hymns have congregational tunes annexed to them, which the children learn easily and like to sing. 4. There is no time under this System for what is irrelevant to a Sunday School — e.g., the reading of story books or preaching. 5. The knowledge of the order of the books of the Bible, soon acquired by the children, is very helpful to ministers, and teachers in examining and teaching. 6. "The quarterly examinations in the church are an incitement to the children, and afford interest and profit to the parents and others present. 7. The System makes teachers, and the lessons of it can be easily taught by the parents in their homos, and soon mastered by the teachers, who, most of them, have not much time for preparation in Sunday School teaching. I consider its special point of excellence to be this — that the System enables the parents to teach and train their own children, and so makes them fellow-helpers with the clergyman and his teachers." The Eev. MAELBOKOUGH CEOSSE, Vicar of Terrington.— " I have been able to get the System into our three day schools, and not only are the teachers benefited, but also the pupil teachers, whom we now find it easy to train in Scripture ; and what a blessing that wiU be when they go out to be masters and mistresses of schools ! I am growing in my fondness for this System." The Eev. CHARLES BULLOCK, on " Systematic Bible Teaching," in The Fireside News.—" ' Systematic' is a hard word, but it has a simple meaning. Perhaps ' thorough ' would convey best part of the meaning but not all. We fear there is too little ' systematic or ' thorough ' teaching in our Sunday Schools, and less still in Christian homes ; and we heartily welcome a volume which has been sent to us entitled ' The Systematic Bible Teacher for School and Home,' as likely to be most beneficial and useful. We really could not say too much in its favour. Let our readers obtain a copy, and they will find it a treasury of Bible criticism, infor- mation, and iUustr.ation. Happy the home, and most successful the Sunday School where instruction is system- atically given in this most interesting form. It should be ordered from the Systematic Bible Teaching Depository, 67, Paternoster Eow, E.G." The Eev. Dr. WHITTEMORE, Vicar of St. Katheriue's Kree, Loudon, at the Annual Meeting, said— "He was much delighted to bear his testimony to the value of Mr. Green's excellent System. In his own Sunday School they had only recently attempted it, but the Superintendent told him that, although six months had not passed since its introduction, it had taken firm hold on the children. Some had come there that night, and they were quite satisfied that the root of the matter of Sunday School teaching was in the System of Mr. Green. If they had carefully given their attention to the System, they would have noticed three fundamental principles forming the basis of that System. One was, its deep reverence for the Lord's Day, for the necessities of the child's religious life, and for the serious hearing to be given to all the statements of Divine truth. Thus they had very clear doctrinal teaching, never more needed than at the present d.ay. Then they had very careful lodging of that truth in the chilch-en's memories, and earnest endeavour made to make it bear on the children's homes. Those seemed to him the three fundamental principles of the System, — its deep reverence, its clear teaching of God's word, its careful arrangement of lessons ; so that the children's memories were not over- loaded, and yet the children were not likely to forget the lessons in after days. He was speaking of it-«s a simple system of teaching, — he was leaving out its influence on the children's homes." The Eev. W. C. WATSON, of St. Paul's Parsonage, Barbadocs, writes :— " April 28, 188.5.— You will be glad to know that the System is working most beneficially with us ; the numbers of our Sunday scholars have about doubled, and the two examinations which have been held have been as satisfactory as we could expect.'' The Editor of The Protestant says: — "We are amazed at the wonderfully complete nature of the instruction laid down, and we feel sure that a great future is in store for the system when it becomes more widely known than it is. The author has made the question of how to teach the children, and, through the children, tlie parents, his life-work, and he has been successful. He found by personal investigation that the cause of the masses of the people being lost to religious influence, even though the great majority had passed through Sunday schools, to be due to the unsatisfactory nature of the ' ever-changing subject-lessons, that teachers cannot teach or even learn every week.' This system supplies that defect and does it admirably. May God bless this and all other efforts to send the Holy Word into the homes and liearts of the people." Full particulars and Catalogues sent on ai>plication to the Manager of the SxsTEUATic Bible Tii.vcnixo Mission, 67, Paternoster Eow, London, E.C. 20G8178 \ THE SECTIONAL CHAWT .\vm/,rrrri moff f^ewi/ynir ll.irii.ouyurilic Four F.VTlDgcllSts' ^ .i/ JTif prvhaiU trvrsittr i\ - Note Towns r>rest^ihr.5ea. C Chor/Xx^rU B. BethsoLda, TJamesof Flare li cm the Chart mrtDOOnedm the Gospels Abilriiff Enun/xus. Jfe/iran. Sethabara, £nan. Ma^daln- /fppc!nteJen£fiBi^Epkra,tTTt. J/a^tft- xBezhabara, GaUii'^, K'J""' jVox^i:^ Ih^iftTnd^'m^tmi Galilee:; lower M^fuhalim. Bhhexd^ Gahlee Sea-of Otses. M^(f Setiisai3^ w Gerninsare4^ Dixiiff'hs -fieaion of Do et Oahlix- GaJanz- Jfa^.a Beduzni/ Oer^esa Sah,7n^. BftApna^f^ G^isema^t£ S, dp.)-.', Xiyto v/x2i>. Another cx.ample may suffice to ' "justify the importance of the liyphen : ' Aud ye will not come unto me, that ye might have life ;' where it will " appear that ' ye-will ' is the rendering of OiXere, and not the form of the verb coine."f The hyphens having dots, indicate that the words, cutoriiig into eombiiiation, are sep.irated from each other by the words that coine between the dotted ends of the hyphens : as Matt. v. 10, § 19, p. 175 ; ' Lct-your^light • See Preface to the First Eilition. t Ibid. PLAN OF THE GOSPEL TREASURY. BO'-shine,' otc. Hero, between the two English words ' let ' and ' sliiue,' representing the word Xa/ii/raro), three other words aro inserted, ' your light so,' for wliich there are four words in the Greek, Ovtco \. to (pw vfidv. The Greek word unrepresented in our translation of the above is the article to ; to mark which omission a * is inserted in the text of the present work. Wlicu any other word except our definite article 'the ' represents the Greek article, or wlicn in the Authorized Version a preposition is used, which has been indicated by the Greek article, but is not in the Greek text, it is marlicd thus, — a', this', to', of, etc. There are, consequently, three ways in which the presence of the Greek article is expressed, — 1st, by the English definite article ' the,' and not hyphened, except to a preposition ; 2ud, when the definite article is wanting in the authorized trans- lation, tlieu a « is inserted ; and, Srd, a word is marked ' which represents the article, or the sense of which is imphed in the number, gender, or case of the article. Tho whole history is divided into Oaa Hundred Sjctions, corresponding with " Mimpriss's Geographical Delineation of tho Life and Ministry of our Blessed Lord," and into One Hundred Lessons, adapted to his " System of Graduated .Simultaneous Listruction ; the Lessons being indicated by the black figure in the inner margin, at tho bottom of the page. Tho book may, notwithstanding, be used independently. The Division of tho Harmony into i'auts is according to Grcswell's " Ilarmonia Eoangelica ;" to whose invaluable "Dissertations upon tlie Principles and Arrangement of a Hanuony of the Gospels" constant reference is made, for explauation of tho occasional transpositions, etc. Tho Sections of the " JLtrmoiiia Eoaajelica" are indicated at the commencement of every Division or subject: as at page 3 — SECTION 1. — [G. 1— 3.]— PiiEFJLCE op the GosueIi Accoauiiva to St. Luke. And at page 33, Seutiux 1 — (G. 9.) The Messiah horn. — LuJce ii. 1 — 7. Bethlehem. Each Sectiov is preceded by an Analtsis, occasionally introductory to its general design, as well aa exhibiting a connected view of its several parts. In tho ScBtPTUttE Illustbatioxs, ample use has been made of what was already available ; but in no case without a careful revision : while much has been added calculated to load into an intelligent acquaintance with tho whole inspired volume. It is uiuicces.sary to add tliat the best expositor of the Scriptures is unquestionably God's own word ; in the " SciuiTUKE Illustu.itioxs," thcrcrorc, we anticipate, the children of God will most delight. " To the law and to tho testimony " (Isa. viii. 20). " Prove all things ; hold liiat that which is good " (1 Thcss. v. 21). Tho Notes have been very carefully selected, and ii is hoped \vill prove gems of biblical literature. Tho Practical Keflectio.vs will, it is trusted, be found well chosen, and helpful to a useful application of tho text. Tho GEOonAi'itrcAi, Notices, wliich aro mostly from recent authorities, wo trust wiU be sufficient for all practical purposes. In tho Addenda is given extra matLer, which it may bo good to consult ; but whicli it was not necessary to mtroducc under any of tlicso specific hcjuls. Tho AyAr,VTtcAi, AND llisTonicAT. Table, jip. xiil—lxi., exhibits the most prominent subjects in each Section; and the i'Hnillcls which occur in other portions of the Evaugcb-cal History [within brackets] will, with the column of illusliatious, be usefully suggestive. PLAN OF THE GOSPEL TREASURY. To the present edition is added a copious " Index," whereby any part of the book can be readily referred to, and its contents on any particular subject viewed more connectedly. On any topic referred to in the " IifDEX " it will be well to consult the " Scriptuke Illtisteations," " Notes," and " PnACiiCAi, Eeflections," as some- thing will be found in one or other illustrating the subject. Many works have been laid under contribution for the enrichment of this Volume. Things new, as well as things old, will doubtless be found in this " Treastjrv." It may also be observed, that care has not always been taken to distinguish the sources whence the multifa- rious materials, of which this Volume is composed, have been derived ; — it must not, therefore, be supposed that a claim to originality, either as to sense or expression, is made in behalf of all those explanatory portions to which no name, as authority, is attached. The favourable reception given to the first edition, warrants the hope that this, also, will be serviceable to all who are engaged in extending the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in promoting the interests of HIS kingdom, whether as Sundai/sclwol Teachers, Bible-class Leaders, Gatecliists, or Ilinisters : and equally so to Conductors of Seminaries, and to Heads of Pamilics. Whatever excellence there is in the book, the Compiler most unfeignedly acknowledges is due, not to himself, but to others ; especially to the valuable contributions, and disinterested and laborious revision and superin- tendence, of a dear Christian brother.* The gatherings of many years, most carefully and impartially sifted, are hero offered to the Christian Public, and with an earnest prayer that G-OD will add His blessing to what is HIS OWN. London, 1855, The nattering ana nearly unanimous oommeudation given to The Gospei. TrkasltvY, liy nil who have used it, makes it my very Krateful duty now, to record, with unfeigned tlianks, that the dear Christian hvother above referred to, is John Wilson, Esq., author of 'Lectures on the Israelitish Origin of the English Nation;' without whoso serviceable and almost gratuitous aid, and most valu- able contributions, in Notes, Practical Reflections, &c., the volume would, probably, have had no existence. AN INTRODUCTORY SKETCH OF A JOURNEY FROM LONDON TO JERUSALEM. Jehusaieji. — In Jerusalem was the stupendous exliibition of the love of God, in deUvering up Ms dear and only begotten Son, to die for the sin of the world. From thence the Gospel flowed imto us. It is gratifying to trace our proximity to a place, which heretofore was considered only approachable after a long and tedious pUgiim- age, but is now brought within the reach of a hoUday trip for recrea- tion. Let us in imagination make oiu- way to the scene of our Saviour's Bojoimi upon earth. Everything being prepared, three hours' rim by the railway to Southampton, and a few minutes for embarkation, wiU secure the traveller comfortably on board a gigantic steamer, which shortly after will be majestically cleaving the placid bosom of Southampton Water ; and after passing the venerable pile of Netley Abbey, and Calshot Castle, the Isle of Wight is coasted, and soon the vast Atlantic entered. In tlu'ce or four days the Spanish coast is made ; and shepherds' and fishermen's huts are seen dispersed on the rocky shore, and the sea is animated by fishing boats 'skunming along the water Uke tilings of life.' Instead of the toil and danger experienced by ancient pilgrims, in the soft evening, music charms the ear, and the deck is promenaded by ladies and gentlemen, as at the Spas and watering places of home : the difference being the vessel's deck instead of kwns and gravel walks ; and for flowering slu-ubs is the smooth sea ; and instead of variegated lamps deviced, the silvery beams of the moon fantastically dancing upon the water. And in the morning, tlie sim emerging fi-om liis ocean bed, amply repays him who wit- nesses the gorgeous display of his early beams, and brings in view the coast of Portugal ; and, perhaps, a finny inhabitant of the deep sportively spouting water in the air. Then comes the evening, and sweet music again refreshens and enhvens the gay scene. Another day the artificial monster of the deep foams onward, and having neared the barren and mountainous coast, the evening brings its former delights. On the seventh day, the impetuous vessel pro- gresses through Gibraltar's straits, affording a distinct view of the Spanish mountains, richly cultivated from the base almost to their smnmits ; and the mountains on the African side are also sighted. This, perhaps, is the Lord's day, and its decent obseiwance is felt in the mustering of all hands for prayer and praise. (Isaiah Ivi. 2.) Soon the delightful passage is varied by a walk on terra firma ; and whati has been glowingly set forth, beautiful, in the picture, is surpassed in personal experience. The houses are clean and neat, standing oul in pleasing relief £rom the steep, bold mountain side wliich flanks the town. All those plants which, m England, can be reared only in the hot-house, here grow in open air. The finest grapes are sold for one penny per pound, and every other fi-uit proportionably cheap. GlBEAXTAE is defended in an almost impregnable manner. Its inhabitants consist of Jews, Spaniards, Tiu'ks, &c., wearing the costumes of their different countries ; presenting a grotesque appear- ance ; and which, to a stranger only a few days removed from English society, makes the place appear to liim another world. After a few hours, the boUing steam is again plied, and the cal m evening renews its music and its graceful charms. On the eighth day, the blue waters of the Mediterranean are stemmed, and the playful porpoise gambols on its surface. The day following, the blazing sun asserts liis power, and is acknowledged by all who expose themselves to liis influence. The Algerine coast is neared ; the town is clearly seen, nearly surrounding the harbour, as an amphitheatre : the cm'ious sails of its small craft affording scope for the pencil's mimic art. Hitherto all has been smooth, calm, and deUghtful ; but the day dawns with storm, and tempest, and angry billows ; and, instead of the pleasant evening cool, sickness is an unwelcome visiter. The eleventh day, the power of steam quails — trembling and roUing, like a drunken man, before the lashing of the surge. Onward stUl, she passes one island after another. On the morning of the twelfth, Malta, the island on which St. Paid was shipwrecked, opens its capacious harbour, and boatmen clamouring for engagement sm'- rouud the vessel; others present shells and curiosities for sale; others carry in their skiffs brown naked boys, who sportively dive for money, or other tilings tlirown into the water, which they never fail to reach ere it touches the bottom ; and for applause, frequently descend under the ship to the other side. The houses are built of wliito and yellow stone; which the beautiful light and clear atmosphere of the Slcditcrranean strikes, and causes all the designs of the cornices, corners of the angles, balustrades of the terraces, and carved work of the balconies, to bo articulated fully and clearly in the blue horizon. Tins quality of the aii-, this white, yellow, golden colour of the stone, imparts to the meanest edifice a firmness and neatness wliich revive and gladden the sight. As at Gibraltar, the inhabitants arc dressed in the most diversified colours, and seemingly are from all parts of the world, amid a melancholy exhibi- tion of squalid disease and mcnilieity. Another day, tlie thirteenth, at Malta, wiU affowl an opportunity do witness the illustration of our Lord's beautiful description, Juo. x. 4, of a shepherd going V h FROM LONDON TO JERUSiXEM. before hU flock, Imding them out to pMturc, ' And tchtn ke puttrlh forth hit oicn titfp, he goeth before them, and the sheep folloic him : for they know hit roiee.' Some of tlic streets are named after the craftsmen who occupy them ; as the Tailor Street, where, almost at ercry door, may bo seen two or three tailors, cutting and sowinj;. Further on may bo seen cobblers, shoemakers, and otliers, following their handicraft with might and main, in the middle of the street. Grapes, of the most luscious kind, aro sold at one halfpenny per pound, and arc seen everywhere hanging from the trcea in largo clusters. Some of the Roman CathoUc churches are magnificent in their structure, and richly adorned ; that of St. John has two gates, OS Urgo as those of a gentleman's mansion, of sohd silver. The gates wero formerly of solid gold, but Buonaparte unceremoniously removed them. After an agreeable detention of, sometimes, two days for the Marseilles mail, a bustle pervades tho vicinity of the packet, and again tho passenger for tho Iloly Land and the Holy City sleeps on the bosom of old Ocean. The fourteenth day, only the' broad and blue sea, besprinkled with a few vessels gracefully gliding along, and the canopy of heaven, can be seen. Tliia brings again tho heavenly blessing, 'tho Lobd's day," mercifully appointed a day of rest for man and beast. Again tho bell tolls ; and all bow down to tho Lord God Almighty, meekly bending upon their knees. Tho siiteenth— Tho rcfresliing sweetness of tho early breeze is delightful to him who can forego tho luxury of slumber. riie seventeenth — The never tiring vessel now approaches land ; tho coast of Africa is beheld ; preparations aro made, by assorting the passengers' luggage, for ihsembarkation on tho following day — tho eighteenth. Awaking in tho morning, Alexandria, tho seaport of tho land of tho Pharaohs, is entered j whero Turk and Arab boat- men contend, and on shore hundreds of brawny natives witli camels and donkeys squabble for employment. Dr. Robinson (Bib. Bes. in Palestine) describes tho scene, Vol. I. p. 20, thus : — ' The moment wo set foot on shore, wo needed no further conviction that we had left EuroiM) and were now in tho Oriental world : wo found ourselves in tho midst of a dense crowd, througli wliich wo made our way with didiculty ; Egj'ptians, Turks, Arabs, Copts, Negroes, Franks ; complexions of white, black, olive, bronze, brown, and almost all other colours ; long beards and no beards at all ; nil costumes and no costiuncs ; silks and rags ; wide robes and no robes ; women muffled in shapeless black mantles, their faces wholly covered, except peep-holes for tho eyes ; endless confusion, and a clatter and medley of tongues, Arabic, Turkish, Greek, Italian, French, German, and Englisli, as tlic case might be ; strings of huge camels in single file, with liigh loads j littlo donkeys, bridled and saddled, each guided by a sore-eyed Arab boy, with a few words of tailor-English, who tlurusta his littlo animal, nolens volens, almost between your legs.' All travcUorB to Jerusalem must proceed from Alexandria to Joppa, or across tho desert by Suez, Sinai, &c. Tho mail leaves Alexandria for Bcyrout, calling at Joppa, within -18 hours after the nrriral of tho EngUsh packet. Beyrout is a sea-port on tho coast of Palestine, about 250 miles from Alexandria. Joppa is a port on tho same coast, about halfway. Passengers by other vessels for Jerusalem, must go to Bcyrout, and return thenco in a hired vessel to Joppa : which materially increases tho length of tho journey to sneh as cannot afford to go by land from Beyrout to Jerusalem. The following dc-scription of the passage from Alexandria to Bcyrout ia from on interesting modem publication:— • It was blowing very fresh as wo ran out to sea under a close-reefed mainsail, but the sun shone brightly, and the waves were of the pur- ple hue that they wore in tho days of Homer ; their foam flow from them in rainbow fragments ; and the gaUant littlo craft darted from wave to wave, like the joyous sea birds that flew around her. Now ■he hovers for a moment on tho watery precipice, now flings herself into the bosom of old Neptune, whoso next tlu'ob sent her aloft ogain into the golden sunshine and tho diamond spray, till tho merry pale catches her draiierj-, and she plunges oneo more into the watery TBllcy, as if at hide and seek with her invisible pUjyfeUow, tlu) wind. ' Wc never saw a sail, or caught sight of land, but now and then we had a glimpse of a dolphin j several flying flsh fluttered on board with their iridescent wings, and lay panting, and apparently quite contented. Our voyage savoured more of a cruiso in a yacht than a passage in a packet. ' On the fourth morning, the coast of Syria rose over tho horizon ; and tlie elgamcss of tho atmosphere, together with the speed of our yacht bounding before a southerly gale, mado the magnificent panorama of Lebanon start into sight, and develop its complicated beauty, as if by magic. At sunrise, a faint wavy lino announced our approach to land ; at eight o'clock, wc seemed in the very shadow of its mountains, and that country before us was the Holt Land. ' For 1,800 years, tho Western world has looked with reverence and hope towards that hopeless and stricken, but yet honoured land. After ages of obscurity and oblivion, as a mere province of a fallen empire, that country suddenly became invested with a glory till then unknown to earth. A few poor fishermen went forth from those shores among tho nations, and announced such tidings, as changed their destiny for ever. Human life became an altered state ; new motives, sympathies, and principles arose, new humanities became developed ; new hopes, no longer bounded by, but enlarging from, tho grave, animated our race. God had been amongst us, and spoken to us, liko brethren, of our glorious inheritance. 'NaKBOW as ABE ITS BOCMDAHIKS, THE POSSESSION. WnAT A CUUECU IS TO THE WOBLD. WE HAVE ALL A SnAKE IN IS TO A CITY, Palestine ' Phoenician fleets once covered these silent waters ; wealthy cities oneo fringed those lonely shores ; and during 3,000 years, war has led all the nations of tho earth in terrible procession along those historic plains ; yet it is not mere history that thrills tho pilgrim to tho Holy Land with such feelings, as no other spot on the wide earth inspires ; but the belief that on yonder earth the Creator once trod with human feet, bowed down with human suffering, linked to humanity by its closest sympathy of sorrow, bedewing our tombs with liis tears, and consecrating our world with his blood. Such thoughts wUl influence tho most thoughtless traveller on his first view of Palestine, and convert into a pilgrim, for tho time, tho most reckless wanderer: even the infidel, in his lonely and desecrated heart, must feel a reverence for tho human character of one who lived and died like him of Nazareth. ' And now wo can recognise Tyre and Sidon ; now the pine forest and tho garden-covered promontory ; and now we open the city of Beyrout, with its groves and dismantled towers, and tho magnificent scenery that surrounds it. ' Tho promontory of Beyrout is of a triangular form, and the town lies on the N. W. coast, about an hour distant from the cape, directly on tho shore. A broad plain or valley extends from S. to N. across the promontory, full of cultivation, and containing the largest olivo grovo in Syria.* All around Beyrout is covered with mulberry groves : tho culture of sUk being the chief employment of all the inliabitants. The plain and adjacent mountain side swarms with villages. The port is now filled up ; so that vessels can anchor only in the open road. Tho town is surrounded, on the land side, by a wall, of no great strength, with towers. The houses are high, and soKdly built of stone. Tho streets ai'o narrow and gloomy, badly paved, or rather laid, with largo stones, with a deep channel in the middle for animals, in which water often runs. Tho city lies on a gradual slope, so tliat tho streets have a descent towards the sea ; but back of the town, tho ground rises towards the south, with considerable elevation. • In the TaUey that lies between the promontory and the moun- tains spreads one of tho richest and most varied tracts of verdure in tho world. Gardens, groves, tho gleams of a winding river, white cottages, half covered by creeping shrubs, lanes of flowering cactus altematmg tracts of yellow sands, and clumps of pine trees, afl'ord a delightful range for the searching eye. For those who have any time to spare, few places in tho East afford so desirable a resting pkco as tills, combming, vnQx many resources, such opportunities • Since tho above was written, this is said to have been destroyed in tho Cerco contests of the Di-uses and tho Maronites. FEOM LONDON TO JERUSALEM. of acquiring information. A tolerably clean and comfortable board- ing-house is in the vicinity. All Bcyi-out seem to be perpetually bathing in the delicious sea : little pyramids of red, and blue, and ivliite garments, may be seen all along the shore, and the shaved heads of their owners dotting the surface of the -water. Little children, almost as soon as they can sprawl upon the ground, are to bo seen kicking among the waves.' — Crescent and the Cross, pp. 4 — 26. ' The dwcUiags of the Franks are scattered upon the hUls towards the south, each in the midst of its garden ; they are buUt of stone, in the European style, and exhibit many of the comforts of the West, heightened by the luxm-ies of the East. On the right, the mighty wall of Lebanon rises in indescribable majesty, teeming with villages, and more or less cultivated to the very top. Beyrout is the centre of Eiu-opean trade, and the port for Damascus. From the convenience of its communication with the interior, it is made the cliief seat of the American mission in Syria ; having flom'ishing schools, and domg good according to their means. The population is supposed to bo about 10,000.' — See aUo Iiowthian's Jom-nal, pp. 26 — 40, for a short residence at Bcyi-out. The passage by sea from Beyrout to Joppa introduces many places of Old Testament interest. A few houi-s' sail brings Sidon close at hand, Lebanon continuing long in sight, a magnificent and sublime object. From a distance, Sidou looks clean and neat ; and many small villages are seen on the sides, and even on the summits of the mountains.* About 6 miles south of Sidon is Ttke, a city of ancient renown, but now poor and miserable, ' a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea.' Multitudes of ruins mark its former greatness. The sin of Tyre was 'pride-'f Coasting southward, Cakmel is reached. The village of KisnoN, about two miles and a half north of Cai-mel, is mean and dii-ty, but on the mount is a convent of great magnificence j the seat of supei-stitiou and idolatry, as in the days of Elijah. C^sakea, the town where Herod was eaten of worms, is south of Carmcl ; after which ia JorPA. Travellers from Europe to the Holy City usually land at Jaffa, anciently Joppa, the priucipal sea-port in Palestine ; and to which the cedar, employed by King Solomon in the building of 'the temple,' was bi'ought from Mount Lebanon. It is a small fortified town, standing on a promontoiy ; having for its hai'bom- a miserable enclosure of rocks. The town is a labyrinth of khans, convents, nan'ow lanes, deserted ruins, and waste places, with a few du-ty streets leading from one quarter to another. The Franciscan convent often shelters 1,000 pilgrims at Easter, and other seasons of pilgrimage. The bazaars and markets look very gay with Syiian silks, and shining arms, and a profusion of fruit and flowers. From Jafia, to Jcnisalem is about 40 miles. The road for nearly 3 miles is through cultivated gardens, wcU filled with fig, orange, lemon, pome- granate, and palnr trees. The Indian fig, with its prickles, is used for and makes a durable fence. The road then opens on the liigldy fertile, but almost deserted and uncultivated plain of Sharon. Ramleh is about 10 nulcs distant, and is ordinarily made the resting place for the night, the remainder of the jom-ney being poi'formed the followmg day. Ramleh stands on a slight elevation, and is a mean, straggling town, without fortification, and siuTOmidcd with gardens and orchards. Fi'om Ramleh the road continues for several miles through a luxm-iant but almost waste plain, with scarcely an inha- bitant; after wliich it enters a narrow defile of rocky mountains, rising almost perpendicularly, with toppling precipices all around, and obstinicted with huge stones. Slippery rocks, yawning into deep fissiu-es, and ahnost impracticable footing, is tho only road, and tins for 4,000 years probably the highway from Jafia to Jerusalem. When at length the last acclivity is reached, emergmg on a wide and sterile plain, and the fii'st glimpse of tho Holy City is gained, the leading pilgrims suik on then- knees, and a shout of enthusiasm bursts from each traveller, and Arab, ItaUan, Greek, and English- man exelauns, each in his own tongue, 'El Klmds!' '(Jerusa- lemma!' 'Hagiopolisl' 'The Holy City !' From tliis height not a tree or green spot is visible ; no sign of life breaks the solemn stillness. To the right and left, as far as the eye can reach, vague imdidations of colourless rocks extend to the horizon. A broken and desolate plain in front is bounded by a wavy battlemented wall, over which are seen towers, minarets, and mosque domes, inter- mingled with chm:ch tm-rets and terraced roofs. High over tho city, to the left, rises the Moimt of Olives ; and the distant hUls of Moab afibrd a backgi'ound to the picture. As the city is approached, nothing but the bare walls are visible, with the massive gates and lofty towers ; and Jerusalem is entered imder a liigh archway called the Jafi'a or Pilgrhn's gate.— See § 5, p. 58 ; § 6, p. 67 ; § 23, pp. 234— ..8 ; § 55, pp. 521— ..3 ; § 92, pp. 940t— ..3. '. Sect, xlv., pp. 416— ..9. t Sect, ib., pp. 412— ..6. X Note to the Second Edition. It 13 said that outside the present vei7 exposed port of Jaffa, there is a very good natural foundation for a Breakwater, whereby a eecure anchorage and comfortable landing may bo obtained. This, and a Eailway from Jaffa to Jerusalem, would certainly be a very gi-eat boon to those who, from our part of the world, have occasion to visit the Holy City. The opening up of this entrance into the Land would cost, it is supposed, about £1,000,000. It ia quite possible that such a project, if well carried out, would ultimately prove remunerative ; but, as yet, it does not seem to attract the attention of those who command the money market. Perhaps a matter of this kind should not be entirely left to those who are chiefly influenced by pecuniary considerations. Wc, who have been so long and so highly favoured with the Gospel, which was sent to us from Jerusalem, should perhaps do some- thing generously towards opening up the way for the Messengers of Peace to approach Jerusalem. Let our Missionaries, whether for home or foreign service, and as many of our preachers as can find time and means to visit Palestine, have all obstructions removed which bar their realizing, in the places of their occurrence, the facts of Old and New Testament History. A worship of places ia no better than any other kind of idolatry : still it is very advantageous, for both teacher and taught, that the teachings of Scripture should, in very many instances, be associated in thought with the several localities ia which they were first given forth ; especially when these localities are themselves the subjects of prophecy remarkably fulfilled. It is of importance that as many of oiu: teachers aa can well do so, should, with their own eyes, read the lesson which God has been giving, in having accomplished tho threatened desolations in the land. Let us therefore Icaru righteousness. May we also have tho delight of seeing and helping forward the promised happy change. Trust in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, is tho prime quaUfication for this good work. " Ho that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain ; and shall say. Cast ye np, cast yo up, prepare tho way, take up tho stumbhng-block out of the way of my people." Is. Ivii. 13, 14. A French Company are cutting a Canal between the Ked Sea and tho Mediterranean. The possessors of this Canal may bo said to command the Isthmus of Suez, and thus also the way out of Egj-[)t into Palestme. Northward, also, at Beyrout, the French seem to have made sure their footing, and thonce they have formed a toad to Damascus, between which and tho sea coast there ia now, by this Ime, regular communication and traftic. It is not fitting that England, which has been so immensely benefited by the Bible, should be tho last in opening the Lord's Land to a participation of the blessings which lie has given us to enjoy in the ends of the earth. Let every one who visits tho Land bo a bearer of precious seed ; and let him sow in faith, and love, and hope ; and God will give the blessing. Ho waitcth to be gracious. vii AN HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE LAND OF PROMISE. The Land op Iseaei. — Is washed on the W. by the Slcdilcr- ranean, or Great sen, as it is called in the Bible : Numb, xxxiv. 6, 'And as for the western border, ye shall even have the great sea for a border : this shall be your west border.' Josh. i. 4, ' From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sim, shall be yoiu- coast.' NoBTH- WAED, it reaches along the Mediterranean sea to Mount Casius at the mouth of the Orontcs, which is the entrance into Hamath. Numb, xxxiv. 7 — 9, ' . . . this shall be your north border : from the great sea ye shall point out for you MOUNT Hon (Hcb. Hor-ha-hor):* 8, from moimt Ilor ye shuU point out your horder unto the entrance of Uamath,' &c. Its SouTn border — is the ' Eiver of Egypt,' — see Gen. XV. 18, ' Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates : ' and the East border, — see Deut. xi. 24, ' Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be your's : . . . from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be.' 'The difference of latitude and longitude in the land actually occupied by ancient Israel, and that which was promised in the everlasting covenant, and still remains to be fulfilled, is as follows : — see 1 Kings iv. 25, " Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, aU the days of Solomon." (But Solomon, like liis father David, exercised a nominal or real sovereignty over all the regions which the Lord had given to the seed of Jacob. — See ver. 21.) ' The latitude of Beersheba is 31 deg. 15 min. ; of Dan, 33 deg. 15 min. ; — the south point of the Dead sea, tlie ancient border of Israel, is 31 deg. 7 min. m the same longitude with Dan, the inter- vening distance, in a line from north to south, being 12S geograph- ical, or about 150 English miles. ' The latitude of the north point of the Elanitic gulf of the Sed sea, on wliich Ezion-r/eler, a port of Solomon's, stood, is 29 deg. 31 min. Tliis is the soul/i border promised to Abraham. The mouth of the Oronles, or the entrance into Uamath £i-om the Mediterranean, is 3G deg., and thiit of Beer, or Berothah on the Euphrates, 37 deg. But the range of Amanus lies beyond it, and the medium longitude of the iiorlk boundary is more tlian 3G deg. 31 min. N. ; or in an ideal line, from south to north, the length of the land is upwards of 7 degrees, or 500 miles, instead of 150 as of old. 'Tlio breadth of Immanpel's land, instead of its anciently contracted span, from the Mediterranean sea on the west, to a few miles on the east of Jordan, stops not short of a navigable frontier cverywlicre, and on every side. The longitude of the river Nile is 30 deg. 2 min. ; that of the Euphrates, as it flows through tlie Persian Gulf, 48 deg. 2G min. j or a diflcrenco of nearly 18 deg. and a half, or more than 1,100 miles. ' On the northern extremity of the land, the range of Amanus mountains, from the river Euplu'ates, to the uttermost sea, or extremity of the Mediterranean, scarcely exceeds 100 miles. In roimd numbers, the average breadth of the I'eomiskd Land is 600 miles, wliich, mulliphcd by its length, 500 miles, gives an area of 300,000 square nulcs, or more than that of any kingdom or cmph-o iu Em-ope, Kussia alone excepted. ' Separated as Israel is from other lands, sueli are its borders, that it has imequaUed freedom of access to all . . . and is stiU fitted for becoming " the gloiy of all lands," the heritage of a people blessed of the LoED.'t The Land op Peomise was so caUed from God's having given it by promise to the seed of Abraham, Gen. xii. 7 ; see also oh. xiii. 14 — .7, ' And the Loud said unto Abram, after that Lot was sepai'atcd from him. Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward : 15, for all the land wliich thou seest, to thee wiU I give it, and to thy seed for over. 16, And I vriU make thy seed as the dust of the earth : so that if a man can nmnber the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. 17, Ai-ise, walk through the land m the length of it and in the breadth of it ; for I will give it unto thee.' — xvii. 8, ' And I will give imto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, aU the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession ; and I will be their God.' It was called the Land op Canaan, because, upon the dispersion of the thi'ee great families of mankuid, the coimtry lying at the south-eastern extremity of the Mediterranean, from Sidon to Gaza, was usui-ped by Canaan, the eldest son of Ham. And tlie name of Paiestinb was derived fi'om the Philistines, whose ancestors were the Philistim, or children of the Caphtorim and Casluliim, who were descendants of Mizraim {see Gen. x. 13, .4), and came fi-om Egypt. Tliey passed into Canaan, whence they di'ove out the ancient inhabitants, and. they possessed a considerable tract of counti-y at the time Abraham sojom-ncd in Canaan. — See eh. xxi. 34, 'And Abraham sojourned iu the Philistmes' land many days.' — See also xxvi. 14, .5. They extended theu- conquests as far northward as Ekron, and nearly to Joppa, and divided theu' territoiy into five lordslups, called after theu" principal cities, viz., Ekron, Ashdod, Gath, Asealon, and Gaza. — See Josh. xiii. 3. These dwelt in the western or marituue part of it, bordering on Egypt ; and, though they were subjected by David, and kept m obedience by some of his successors, they became afterwards so powerfid as to furnish the Greek and Latin ^Titers, as well as the neighbom-ing people, with a general appellation for the whole coimtry. Tlie Israehtes left Egypt B.C. 1560,1 ""'^ after wandcrmg forty years in the wilderness, two tribes and a half of tliem were settled E. of the Jordan by Moses, who died shortly afterwards ; the children of Israel crossed over tlie river, under the conduct of Joshua, and, after six years' successful Cglituig agamst the Canaanitcs, dividi.'d then- land amongst tlie nine tribes and a half. The southern part of tlio country, between tho Dead sea and the Mediterranean, from the Torrent of lEgypt to Jabneel, now called Yebna, was at first allotted to the tribe of Judah ; but as it was subsequently found fliat this was too much for them, tlie western part of it was given to tlie tribes of Simeon and D.an, and that to the north was bestowed upon Benjainin. The la.st-menl ioned tribe, on whose southern Umils was the city of Jerusalem, touched to the E. on a small part of tlie Jordan, and to the W. upon Dan. — After the death of Joshua, tho Israehtes became subject to the surroimding nations; but imder Said and David they rcgamed thcii- indepoudaneo. The name of JuDAii, or JtJDiEA, was first applied to the southern • A very high mountain, viii t See Keith's ' Land of Israel.' X See Greswell, Vol. 111., p. 443. HISTORICAI; SKETCH OJ? THE LAND OF PROMISE. part of Palestine, when ten of the tribes revolt-cd from the house of Darid. Upon the death of Solomon, B.C. 974, the khagdom was di- vided ; Eehoboam, liis son, being chosen by the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and Jeroboam by the remaining ten tribes ; the former was henceforward called, The kingdom of Judah ; the latter, The kingdom of Israel (1 Ki. xii. 16, .7). Judah, and the children of Israel, his companions, were from that time called the 'kingdom of Judah.' After the defection of the ten tribes from under Rehoboam, the two kingdoms mamtained their freedom for many years, amidst the conthiual wars by which they were harassed ; but Hazacl, king of Syria, at last subdued Israel, and for a long time kept it in subjection. The king of Assyria next invaded them, and having besieged their city Samaria for three yars, reduced it to ashes. — See Samaeia, next column. Such of the inhabitants as survived the dreadful carnage which ensued, were carried away captive into Assyria, B. C. 719 ; and the kingdom of Israel, which had stood divided from that of Judah for more than 250 years, was now at an end. After thL', Judah also was attacked by the Babylonians, and subsequently by the Egyptians, the latter of whom reduced it to subjection ; But upon the defeat of the Egyptians by the Babylonians, Nebuchadnezzar seized upon Jerusalem, and, after having tyrannized over the people for some years, at last levelled the city and the temple with the groimd, and carried away the inhabitants to Bahi/lon, and thus put an end to the kingdom of Judah, about B. C. 588, or 476 years from the time that David began to reign over it. — See 2 Chron. xxxvi. Seventy years after, when Cyrus was king of Persia, a remnant of the Jews returned, and bmlt again their city and temple, around which they settled ; and the southern part of Palestiije was henceforth called JtJDiEA. To the N. of them, in the former inheritance of Ephraim and the half tribe of Manasseh, sat a mixed race of people, among whom may have been some faniihcs casually left behind in the great captivity. More certain are we, that colonies of idolatrous heathen were placed there by the Assyrian monarch, 2 Ki. xvii. 24 — 34; and that these were subsequently joined by some Jews, such as Joiada, mentioned Neh. xiii. 28. They were called Samaritans, from their dwelling round the old capital of the kingdom of Israel; and were looked upon by the Jews as so unpui-e, that they had no dealings with them. Alexander the Great subdued Palestine, and at his death its possession was disputed by Antigonus and the Egyptians, imtil Antiochus the Great, king of Syria, united it to liis dominions. The Jews, imder Judas Maccabeus, revolted, and established their freedom. They over-ran Samaria, and planted colonies in the northern part of the country, wliich assumed henceforward the name of Gaiiiee ; and raised ] up a king about B. C. 107. His successors called in the Romans to settle their disputes ; and the Roman general, Pompey, irritated by ! the hltlo respect shewn to him, marched against Jerusalem, and i reduced "it, B. C. 63, and soon after completed the subjugation of i the whole country. In the time of Marc Antony, Herod was made king of Judtea ; and it was during his reign that om' S;ivioiu" was bora. Judtea remained subject to the Romans till A.D. 66, when a contest arose between the Jews and Syrians respecting the possession of Csesarca : the case being referred to Nero, he decided in favour of the latter; upon which the Jews took up arms, and, after committing some dreadful massacres, succeeded in driving all the Romans and Syrians from Judjea. Vespasian was sent against them with a powerfid army, and woidd soon have brought them to Bubjection, but) on his march to Jerusalem, he received the intelligence of his liaving been chosen emperor : he accordingly left the command of the army to his son Titus, who, A.D. 70, reduced the city to ashes, and put an end to the Jcwisli nation, as liad been prophesied for ages beforeliand. The name of the Holt Land is applied to it by Clu-istians in nearly all the languages of Europe ; chiefly and eminently from its liaving been the scene of oiu: Blessed Lord's life, death, and n-sm- rection. In the time of the events recorded in the history of the New Testanipnl, Palestine was divided into five principal parts. These were Galilee, Samaria, Judxa, properly so called, Uatansa, and Pera;a ; the fh-st three of wliich were on tliis side Jordan, and the last two beyond it : over all of which Herod, sumamed ' the Great,' was king. — See Note, § 5, p. 56; and Abdesda, p. 02, 'Hebod.' Galilee. — Was the northenuuost province of Palestine, and was exceedhigly fertile and populous, having 204 towns and villages, containing, upon an average, 15,000 souls, making in all above 3,000,000 inhabitants. It touched to the W. on Phanice; to the N. on Cxlo-Si/ria ; to the E. on Hatancea ; and to the S. on Samaria. • It contained 930 square miles. It was subdivided into Ujiper and Lower, so named with respect to the river Jordan ; the foi-mer being also called ' Galilee of the Gentiles^ from its being inliabited not only by Jews, but by Syrians, Greeks, Phceniciaus, and Egyptians. This province was, above all, honoured with our Saviom-'s presence. It was here that he was conceived ; and here, in an obscure village, he Eved with his reputed parents xmtil lie began to be about thirty years of age, and was baptized of John. And though ho visited the other provinces and Juda;a at the stated feasts, when the male Israchtes were commanded to go up to worship in Jerusalem, yet he fixed upon Capernaum to dwell in : and after his resmTcction the disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain, where they saw and worshipped him : the same probably on which he had been seen by Peter, James, and John, in gloiy, along with Moses and Ehas.* And they were ' men of Galilee ' whom he commissioned, saying, ' Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creatm'c' + — IJpPEE Galilee belonged formerly to the tribe of Naphtah. It bordered on Tyre and Sidon, and extended E. of the river Jordan. In its northern part, close to the W. source of the Jordan, stood Dan, which was formerly Laish, untU it was wrested by conquest from the Sidonians, when it received the name of the tribe which took it. It was the northernmost town occupied by the childi'cn of Israel, in the same way that Becrsheba was the southernmost : hence the fi'cquent definition of the land of Israel — 'from Dan to Bcer-sheba.' J LoWEE Galilee lay between lake Gennesaret and the Mediterranean sea. The northern part belonged to the tribe of Zebulun, and the southern part to the tribe of Issachar. Samaeia. — Touched to the W. on the Mediterranean ; to the N. on Phoenice and Galilee ; to the E. on Perrea ; and to the S. on Judoea : it contained 1,330 square nules. It occupied the whole coimti-y between the Jordan and the sea; and therefore such as travelled from Judsea into Galilee ' must needs go tlu'ough Samaria.' Samaria is intersected by a range of mountains connected with Mount Hermon of Galilee; where this range enters the province, it is called Gdboa. Moxuit Gdboa, celebrated for the death of Saul and Jonathan, and for the defeat of the Israchtes by the Philistines, was in the northern part of Samaria, and formed part of that range of bills which traverses the whole province from north to south; towards the city of Samaria, it is known by the name of Phuieha.", Ebal, and Gcrizim; and upon the borders of Judoea as the mountains of Ephraim. Upon the division of the Iribee into the two kingdoms of Judah and Israel, Jeroboam, king of the latter, built Siehem, or Slicchem, in Moimt Ephi-aim, about the centre of Samaria, and made it tlic capital of his dominions. — See Geogeapuical Notice, § 13, p. 114. Samaria, the subsequent metropolis of the kingdom of Israel till the time of the Assyrian captivity, was only a few nules to the north of Siehem; it was nearly destroyed by (he Assyrians, but was restored by the colonists, wliom they scut into the comiti-y ; and who, from this city, first assumed the name of Samaritans. -It was very lloiu-ishiiig under the Maccabees, but being once more destroyed, it was again re-built and beautified by Herod, who named it Scbaslc, in honour of Augustus ; it is still called Sebasle, or Kalaal Sanour. JuD.EA, properly so called. — Was bounded on the N. by Samaria ; on the E. by the Dead sea ; on the S. by Ai-abia Petraja ; and on the W. by the Mediterranean sea. It contained 3,135 square miles, and constituted tlio inheritance of four out of the twelve tribes, viz., of Benjamin, Dan, Judah, and Simeon, the last two being in tlio soutliem part of the province. The frontier between Judaa and Arabia Propria is formed by a range of mountains, connected with • See Sections li., pp. 449 —.66, & icvi., p. 969. + Mk. xvi. 15, § leviii., p. 985. J Pago viii., first paragraph, et scq. ix nisioBicAi SKETCH op the land of promise. Mount Scir, and known by the names of UaJaJc and Maalch Acrab- bin; tliis latter gives the adjacent district the name o{ AcrabaUene. These mountains separated the possessions of the children of Israel from the land of Edom, or Iduratea, as tlio Greeks called it : but when the Jews were carried captive to Babylon, the southern part of their country, being left destitute, was seized by the Idumteans, who became so strong as to bo able to maintain possession of it long after the Jews returned fi-om their bondage. They were conquered at last by the Maccabees ; but, having embraced Judaism, they were incorporated with the Jewish nation, and allowed to retain possession of the country they had seized upon, which fi-om them was called Idiunn^a ; it extended as far northward as Hebron, and was noted, as was the whole of Juda:a, for its fine palm trees. To tlie northward of this, lay the district Daromas, wliich stiU preserves its name in Darom : between it and Samaria stretches a range of liills, which caused the district they traversed to be called Orine, or 'The lull comitry of Judtca.' — See GEOGBAPniCAii Notice, Sect. 2, p. 24. Judaa is celebrated above all other divisions of Palestine. The chief city of the whole land was there. In Jerusalem was the temple of the LoED, to which the Jews were commanded to go up three times every year to worslup jEnoVAH, the Loed their God. In JuDJEA was Bethlehem, the city of David, out of which, although it was little among the thousands of Judah, came forth He ' ihat is to bo ruler in Israel ; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.' He who was David's son, and is David's Lord, was bom there. Jerusalem was the scene of his sufferings ; for there he offered himself, ' a Lamb without blemish and without spot,' without the gate ; there he bui-st the bands of death ; and fr-om Olitit, on the east, he ascended into heaven. "Bi.TASS.k. — Was boimded on the W. by Galilee ; on the N. and E. by Syria ; and on tlie S. by Pcraa ; and corresponded ncai-ly with the inheritance of the half tribe of Manasseh beyond Jordan: it contained 1,000 square miles. It derived its name from Basan, or Bashan, of the Bible, and was noted for its fine cattle and good pasturage ; its lofty hills were hkewise much celebrated for their beautiful oaks. In the northern part of the province was Moxmt Hermon, — Seish, called by the Sidonians Sirion or Sion, and by the Amoritcs Shenir. In its western part was Cicsarea Philippi. — See Geoobapuicai Notice, Sect. 50, p. 442. In the south-western comer was Gadai-a— (0»;» Keis).—See ibid.. Sect. 35, p. 333. Pebjea, — Was bounded on the N. by Batancea ; on the W. by Samaria ; on the S. by Arabia ; and on the E. by Si/ria : it contained 1,505 square miles. It derived its name from the Greek word TTipai', ultra, from its lying beyond Jordan. The southern part of Pera?a, between the two rivers Anion and Jalol; formed the kingdom of the Amoritcs, whose king, Silion, was defeated by the IsraeUtcs. In the centre of Pcra?a rose the lofty Mount Oilead, or Galecd, still called DJelaoud, near which Jacob and Laban raised a lieap of stones in token of friendship ; ' therefore was the name of it called Galecd,' i. c, ' The heap of witness.' — Gen. xxsi. 48. Of the Land of Peomise Moses said, Deut. xi. 10— .2, ' . . . the land, whidier thou goest in to possess it, is not as the land of ^".vpt, from whence ye came out, where thou sowedst thy seed, and wateredst it with thy foot, as a garden of herbs : 11, but the laud, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven : 12, a land wliieh the LoED thy God careth for : the eyes of the LoED thy God are always upon it, from the bcgmuing of the year even imto the end of the year.' The Jordan is the piincipal river. — See Geooeaphical Notice, Sect. 8, p. 93. Pew of the iiins approach to the character of mountains. QtrAEANTiNA, north of Jericho, rises an almost pei-pcndicular rock, 1,200 or 1,500 feet. Hebmok.— In the N.E. of Gahlee is the majestic Ueemon, or SroN, of (lie Old Testament. Tlie usual estima'le of the height of Hermon {Jebel esh Sheikh) is 10,000 feet above the Mediter- ranean. Tlio top is partially crowned with snow, or rather ico, during (he whole year, which however lies only in the ravines, and thus presents at a distance the appearance of radiant stripes around and below the summit. North-westward of Hermon is Lebanon, so full of interesting associations. Taboe. — Although undesen'ing of the name of Mountain, for height, yet is prominent in Scripture for many important trans- actions. In its neighbourhood, Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and Ills multitude, were deUvered into the hand of Barak, Judg. iv, 6 — 15 ; and by many it has been regarded as the place of our Lord's transfiguration.* The beauty of the moimtain, and its conspicuous position, rendered it a favourite subject of poetic contemplation ; and when the Psalmist (Ixxxix. 12) exclaims, ' Tabor and Hennon shall rejoice in thy name,' he selects these two as the representatives of all the mountains of Palestine ; the former as the most graceful, and the latter as the loftiest — See foot-note, § 51, p. 450, and GeoqeaphicaI; Notice, p. 460. Mount Cabmel. — Is often mentioned by the sacred writers ; it fonns one of the most remarkable headlands on the whole coast of the Mediterranean sea, and is about 1,500 feet high. The prophecies concerning the Land op Isbael have been so exactly accomplished, that they may be used as history. The traveller, however careless of Divine revelation, and even the scorner, abundantly testifies to the present desolation of the land : the once strong forts and towers are become dens — defenced cities are destroyed, uninhabited, and laid waste. The once productive and well-watered plains are become barren, and the herbs of eveiy field wither. The infidel Volney beai-s witness to the truth of prophecy ; for as it had been foretold, he writes, ' The temples are tlirown down, the palaces are demolished, the ports are fiUed up, the towns desti'oyed, and the earth, stripped of its inhabitants, seems a dreai-y bmying place.' The ancient population was, for the limits of the countiy, greater than that of any other part of the then known world. In the time of David, the population must have amounted to several millions, as the men able to bear arms were numbered, at the lowest computation, and after an imperfect census, at 1,300,000. In the time of Jehoshaphat, the men of war, in Judah alone, amounted to 1,060,000. Joscphus tells us that at one celebration of the Passover, in the reign of Nero, there were present at Jei-usalem 2,700,000 persons. The valleys are composed of a deep, rich soil, free fi'om stones. The rocks are principally of grey limestone, and they contributed greatly towards the sustenance of a large population, as they were terraced in all directions with embankments built up with loose stones, on wliich grew melons, cucumbers, and other creeping plants, as well as the vine, the fig, and the oHve, as now seen on a few cidtivaled spots. It would be wrong to argue the former capa- bUitics of the Holy Laud from its present appearance, as it is now under the em'se of God, and its general baiTenness is in full accord- ance with prophetic denunciation. But the time is fast approaching, when, as said Moses, Deut. xxx. 3 — 5, ' . . . the Loed thy God wUl tm'n thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, wliither the LoED thy God hath scattered thee. 4, If any of tliine be di-iven out imto the outmost parts of heaven, from Ihenco wiU the Loed thy God gather thee, and from thence wiU he fetch thee : 5, and the Loed thy God will bring thee into the land wliich thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it ; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers.' — See also Isa. bd. 4 ; Ezek. xxxvi. 8 ; Amos ix. 13 — .5. To the antiquary, to the lover of the subUmc and beaut if id, and, above all, to the eluld of God, no land aboimds with so many attractions as ' The Laud of Israel.' We have connected therewith the earliest and most faitliful records of the wonderful providence of God, from the beginumg of creation, to the redemption of man. Magnificent remains of the oldest cities ui the world are there : its scenery is of the most diversified beauty. The position is best fitted for its becoming what it is appomted to be — ' the glory of all lands' * See Sect. U., p. 460. SUPPOSED CHRONOLOGY OF THE GOSPEL HISTORY. {Greswell, Vol. IV. Part II., pp. Til— ..G.) B.C.* Vision of tlie angel to Zacliarias, Thursday, October 5 ... 6 Birth of John Baptist, Satm-day, October 5 ; Circumcision, October 13 5 Birth of Christ, Saturday, April 5, Nisan 10 4 Circumcision of Jesus, Saturday, April 12 Presentation in the Temple, Friday, May 10 Arrival of the Magi, about August 2 Flight of the Holy Family to Eg3ri3t, about August 9 Eeturn from Eg5rpt, about March 31 3 Visit of Jesus to Jerusalem, in his twelfth year, Passover, Aprils 8 Beginning of the ministry of John, Monday, October 5 . 26 Baptism of Jesus Christ, end of January 27 Beginning of the ministry of Jesus Christ, and first cleansing of the Temple, Monday, April 5, Nisan 10 First Passover, Friday, April 9 Arrival of Jesus at Sy char, Thursday, May 13 Imprisonment of John, Simday, May 16 First feast of Pentecost, Sunday, May 30 Call of the four disciples, Friday, June 4 Beginning of the ministry at Capernaum, Saturday, June 5 Commencement of the first circuit of Galilee, Sunday, June 6 '. First feast of Tabernacles, Monday, October 4 Two hundred and twentieth sabbatic year, seed-time or autumn First feast of Encaenia, Sunday, December 12 Miracle at the Pool of Bethesda, Saturday, March 25, Nisan 10 t28 Second Passover, Wednesday, March 29 Walliing through the corn-fields, Saturday, April 1 First partial circuit of Galilee Second feast of Pentecost, Friday, May 19 Ordination of the Twelve Second general circuit of Galilee Second feast of Tabernacles, Saturday, September 23 ... Death of John Baptist Third general circuit of Galilee , Second feast of Dedication, Friday, December 1 Mission of the Twelve, February Second partial circuit of Galileo First miracle of feeding, Thursday, April 5 Discourse in the synagogue at Capernaum, Saturday, April 7 Third Passover, Monday, April 16 Confession of Peter, Sunday, May 20 Transfiguration, Sunday, May 27 Third feast of Pentecost, Wednesday, June 6 Third feast of Tabernacles, Thursday, October 11 Appearance of Jesus at the feast, Monday, October 15... Miracle on the blind man, Thursday, October 18 Third feast of Dedication, Wednesday, December 19 ... Eaising of Lazarus, and retreat to Ephraim, January ... Eeturn to Capernaum, and mission of the Seventy, February Fourth general circuit of Galilee, March Passage through Jericho, Friday, March 29 Arrival at Bethany, Nisan 8, Saturday, March 30 Unction at Bethany, Saturday, March 30 Eesort of the Jews to Bethany, Sunday, Nisan 9, March 31 Procession to the Temple, afternoon of Monday, Nisan 10, AprO. I Second cleansing of the Temple, morning of Tuesday, Nisan 11, April 2 Close of ourLord's public ministry, evening of Wednesday, Nisan 12, AprQ 3 Prophecy on the Mount of Olives Compact of Judas with the Sanhedrim Celebration of the last supper, night of Thursday, Nisan 14, April 4 Fourth Passover, and Passion of Jesus, Friday, Nisan 14, April 5 Eesurrection of Jesus, Sunday, Nisan 16, April 7 Ascension into heaven, Thursday, Zif or Jar 26, May 16 A.S. 28 29 30 DATES AND PLACES OF THE GOSPELS. Judaea 42 Eome 55 Rome 55 Eome <>0 St. John Ephesus 101 Hebrew Gospel of St. Matthew Greek Gospel of St. Matthew.. Gospel of St. Mark . St. Luke • ■ Tlic date adopted in the margin of the authorized English version of the Scriptures fixes tho creation of the world at -lOOl years before the birth of Jesus Christ. The chronology of that version was settled by Dr. WiUi.ims Lloyd, Bishop of St. Asaph ; it is a modilieation of Archbishop Usher's chronology, who follows tho computation of tho Hebrew Bible, and fixes tho creation of tho world at 4000 years before the birth of Christ. The chronology followed here is that of Bishop Lloyd, which is that most generally received.' t This year was intercalated one day. XI INDEX TO THE GEOGrtAPHICAL NOTICES. sect. page AbiIiEKE 7 87 Akra §5.oS 92 942 Arimathsea 93 g-M) SECT. PAGE "Daiaxitca, {see Historical Sketch of JudcBo) x Betliabara, beyoudJordan &e § 57. 530 10 111 Bethany (and see § CI, p. 558, ' The village of Martha and Mary') 58 538 Bethesda, true site of the pool of 23 239 Bethlehem §4.40 5 59 Bethphage 58 539 Bcthsaida in Galilee 11 117 • in Deeapolis 40 876 Bezetha §5.58 92 943 Cana 11 116 Capernaum § 11. 116, § 16. 160 25 252 Carmel, mount (see Historical Sketch of Judcea) x Cajsarea Pliilippi 50 442 Cedron— JKiron 87 859 Dabnanutha 47 426 Deeapolis 18 169 Mnon 13 144 Emmaus 94 962 Endor § 29.285 51 462, ..3 Ephraim 58 539 Esdraelon, Plain of 51 463,..4 Fountain of the Virgin at Jerusalem 55 Galilee, Historical Sketch of. p. ix of the GentUcs seaof §26.257 length of the sea of Geimesaret, lake of land of § 47. 427 Gergescncs, country of Gadarencs, Gethscmane Hermon, the Holy Mount, the supposed scene of the Transfiguration § 51, pp. 450, .65 Hill countiy of Juda;a Hinnom, valley of Holy Land (see Historical Sketch ofJudwa) ... 15 15 32 42 20 42 35 88 522 155 155 308 385 209 384 333 877 Idumaia Itura:a... Jacob's Well Jericho Jerusalem § 5. 58, § 6. 67 as it exists outwardly the walls of the city the gates of as approached from Jalfa mount of OHves . Bethlehem — the north 2 24 19 181 IX 26 257 7 87 13 145 78 663 92 9'«) 23 234 Jerusalem, supply of water — Cisterns — Eescr- voirs — Fountains 92 Sketch of a Journey from London to Jordan, river 8 beyond ...§ 10. Ill, § 18. 170, § 2G. 255 57 Judaa 18 Historical sketch of HlU country of. 2 ils Inhabitants ,, Pilgrims visiting, xii 235 236 237 238 Khan Minych 42 Kishon §29.285 51 Land of Promise, An historical sketch of the . . . Israel Canaan Holy Gennesaret § 20. 209, § 42. 384 47 941 V — vii 93 530 170 ix 24 385 4«4 viii — X viii viii ix 427 Magdala — El Mejdel . . . (see land of Gennesaret, §42.385.) 47 Mar Saba 87 Moriah 92 Mount Tabor 51 Naia—Nein §29.285 51 Nazareth § 2. 24, § 6. 68 37 Nephthalim or Naphtali 16 Olives, mount of Ophel, ... 86 92 427 860 943 460 462, ..3 348 160 797 943 Pera^a (see Historical Sketch ofJudoea) Quarautiua, mountain (see ibid) Eama Salem, or Salim 13 Samaria (see Historical Sketch ofJudcea) Sarcpta — Zarephath 15 Shechem, Sichem — Neapolis, Nahulus, Napolose 13 Sidon, or Zidon — Saida 45 Siloam, pool of 55 subterranean communication between the fountain of the virgin and the pool of 55 village of Sychar, Shechem, or Sichem 13 Syria 18 Tabor, mount p. s 51 Tiberias, lake of 32 Tophet 19 Trachonitis 7 Tyro, Tyrus — Sur or Soor 45 Valley of Hinnom 19 Wilderness — scene of the Temptation of Jesus 9 Zarephath — Sarejata 15 Zcbidun 16 Zion 92 60 144 ix 155 144 416 521 522 523 144 169 460 308 181 87 412 181 102 155 160 940 THE L E S SON CHART. THK Ml K. AND MIMSTKY DtLiSEAlKI) BY Ki>HKUT MIAIKKISS A'utnhrrrd toar/rer tvtih Itw^onxllOO tuthr ".Utntftrt.'^'t'^^strnLOjOratllfiitrdStmtJ^JXiiraus English Miles ^ ^ V^, o fh*;- probuhlr trtu-.vUv * of the /'rmi^ fufttra/toTt I See /hniy frrnji l/rt'itiorty Ser ■''J f, tf-.-'tO /iiutuntf Note Tow^-zs ivext^fAr.Sda.. B Bethsax^a.. D IJajTnajuUhil., 'BezJiabara, Galilee, i^j}t'r NazaratJi. i'hG/iTniLjaniaR^. GalLlee. Xower Ji^^hl/ialifr'-. B,thr.schi, Gaiilec. Smof Olives. M'of Deco'oli,'!. 'J^aqum-of 2)o » Galilee. Goiza/s. J}eu*ta,. Salz-TTv-. Sarejpta Oer^esa- ■thpfLitje' Gs^is ema^ie . Colt/ or y Ju-.o 'The voiee of one crying in the wilderness,' &c. — 3 — 4 — G 40.3-5 80,. 1 The Baptist's clothing and food —4 — C [1-15] 81 Mpltitudes besobt to the daptism of John : the Pharisees and Saddvcees are reproved by uim : the COMUO.N people, THE PUBLICANS, THE SOLDIEBS, ARE EACH INSTRUCTED BY HIM IN THEIR PROPER DUTY. Matt. 3. 5—10. Mark 1. 5. Luke 3. 7— ll licUuibara, East of Jericho. Pp. 82 — .5. John baptizes multitudes in the river Jordan ... 3. 5, G 1.5 Jos. 3., 4 82 ^^'^ms against trust in natural descent, &e — 7 — 9 3.7,8 Ga. 3 82,.3 Must bring forth good fi-uit —10 —0 Ac. 3. 19-26 83 Kiliorts the people to brotherly kindness, &c.... — 10, .1 De. 15. 7-10 ; Eoin. 12. 84 the publicans to honesty — 12, .3 — 16.18-20 —^ soldiers ag., violence & oppression, &c. . — 14 Mi. 2. 2, 8 85 The people deoinnino to doubt whethee John -nERE not the Christ, he foretells the coiiino of another AND A OBEATER PEBSON.ArTER HIM ; WHICH IS THE FIRST OF HIS TESTIMONIES TO THE MeSSIAH OR ChRIST. M.\TT. 3. 11, .2. Mark 1. 7, 8. Luke 3. 15— .7. BctJuihara, East of Jericho. Pp. 85, .G. Is .Jolrn the Christ? 3.15 85 The two baptisms contrasted 3.11 1-7,8 — IG [1. 20, 33] Ac. 1. 5 ; Ilcb. 9. 10 Christ will purge his floor, &c —12 —17 Hcb. 10. 2G-30 86 The residue of the histoby of the public ministry of John the Baptist, according to Luke 3. 18 — 20. P. 87. John preachos many other things 3.18 87 Herod shuts him up in prison [14.3—5 6.17—20] —19,20 GEooBAPniCAL NoTiCBS. — 'Judoia;' 'Galilee;' 'Ituraa;' ' Tracbonitis;' 'Abilene;' 'The Eivcr of Jordan,' p. 87. Addenda.— 'Pontius Pilate," p. 87. ' Pharisees,' jJjc?. ' Sadducees,' p. 8S. 'The Ministry of John the Baptist,' ibid. 'Fruits worthy of Kcpcntancc,' p. 89. SECTION 8.-Jesus is Baptized by John. Matthew iii. 13-.7. Mark i. 9—11. Luke iii. 21-.3. Pp. 90—6. Introduction and Analysis. P. 90. About the middle of the ministry of John the Baptist, Jesus comes to uis baptism ; the Holy Ghost descends UPON him ; A voice FROM HEAVEN BEARS WITNESS TO HIM. Liuc from Nazitrctk lo Jorduii. Pp. 90— .3. Jesus comes to John's baptism 3.13 1.9 [1.29] 90 John confesses himself unworthy 11 . , Jesus a servant ' to fulfil all righteousness,' &c. . —15 —9 Horn. 15. s' ............... .. is baptized _ IG _ lo 3.21 91 praying 21 The heavens opened 1(5 ^q 21 Jesus anointed by the Spirit —10 —10 —22 [— 32, .3] Is.ii."i-5 '.'.'. 92 ■TestiCed to by the Father [Mt. 17. 5] —17 —11 —22 [5.37] 2 Po. 1 17 ^'''""'"K" -23 Nu.4.3/23,30,.5,.9,43,'.7 93 Geographical Notice.— 'Jordan,' pp. 93— .5. Addenda.—' On the Baptism of our Lord,' p. 95. ' On YcvhaX Difleronces/ ibid. SECTION 9.— Jesus Tempted of the Devil. Matthew iv. 1-11. Mark i. 12, .3. Luke iv. 1-13. Pp. 96-102. Introduction and Analysis. P. 96. Jesus, being baptized, is driven of the Spirit into the wilderness : He fasts forty days and forty NianTS • He 18 tempted by the devil. South and East of Jordan. Jerusalem. North of Jericho. Jesus is driven into the wilderness, and fasts nq o.r<, o a. TTpb d t; °'Krari:l't^'''*'fl?•*'^if■'"r'^"''^ '■''' '■'''■' ^-^-^ — ulSW^^^l^ 1. limplatum-Di.slruHt-' Com. these,' ic. -3,4 -31 • De 8 3 07 -. 1 resumption-' C«.sl thyself,' &c.(rc,«yc) -5-7 -9-12 P.'gi ll'"'V."D::fi'r,i os Ti'i^ird;;":^-'^"^"^-'^^-^^^'-^"^"^ -^r^« - -^-^ - D:?J:;t;:S::.^.':: 2 A^eW.i.tertoW.^^ I ^ ~ ^ - ^^:^t^,^^^:^^ Addlnda^- Ou the ^V ilJerness. the Scene of the Temptation of .Jesus.' p. 102. < On the Order of the Temptations,' ibid. ANALYTICAL AND HISTORICAL TABLE. SECTION 10— John's Testimony to Jesus. John i. 19—51. Pp. 103— .12. Inteoduction and Analysis. P. 103. Deputies aee sent bt the council op the Jews to question John tub Baptist ; John bendees nig second TESTIMONY TO THE Messiah ob Cheist. Veb. 19—28. Bctliobara or Bcthani/, opposile ScytJiopoUs. Pp. 103, .A. MATT. MAEK. LUKE. JOHN. ILLUSTEATIONS. PAGE Joliu answers the priests and Levitos 1.19 — 21 Mai. 3. 1 103 Why lie baptized — 25— .8 101 PaETICULABS OF TWO DAYS SPENT AT BeIIIABAEA ; DUEING WHICH JoHN EENDEES A DOUBLE TESTIMONY TO JeSUS. Vee. 29—36. Hid. Pp. 105, ..6. John points to Jesus as ' the Lamb of God ' ... 1.29 Ex.l2.;Le.l6.21,.2;Ee.5.105 Refers to his former testimony concerning Jesus ■ — 30, .1 Mt.3.11, .2;Lu.3. 16,.7 ... Bears record of descent of the Spirit on Jesus... —32 — A ■ IG; Mk. 1. 10 ; lOG Again points to Jesus as'the Lamb of God' ■ • ■ — 35, .0 (Lu. 3. 22 ... Andeew AND Simon follow Jesus. Vee. 37 — 42. Ibid. Pp. lOG, ..7. Andrew & another follow Jesus : ' Come & see ' ■ 1. 37 — .9 lOG brings his brother Simon (Cephas) [16. 17, .8] ■ • — 40— .2 1 Pe. 2. 4— 8 107 The NEXT DAY Jesus eetuens into Galilee. Jesus findeth Philip; Philip beingeth Nathanael to Jesus ; Jesus' testimony to Nathanael. Tee. 43 — 51. Ibid. Pp. 107 — .10. Jesus findeth Pliilip (' Lover of the horse ') 1. 43, .4 Eey. 19. 11-.6 107 Philip findeth Nathanael : 'Comeandsee' ■ • ■ • — 45, .6 6.1,3,5,7 Jesus' recognition of Nathanael ■ ■ ■ ■ — 47, .8 Gc. 32. 24-30 108 Nathanael's confession, ' Thou art the Son ' ... [16.16] ■ • —49 Ps. 2 109 Promise, to Nathanael, of the Apocalypse • — 50, .1 Ge. 28. 11, .2 ; Eey. 1., 4. ... Geogeaphical Notice. — ' Bethabara beyond Jordan,' p. 111. Addenda. — ' On John 1. 15, 27 — 30,' p. ibid. ' Priests,' ibid. ' Lcvites,' ibid. ' Simon,' p. 112. SECTION 11.— The Beginning of Miracles. Water turned into Wine. John ii. 1—11, .2.— Cana. Pp. 113 -..7. Inteoditction and Ajjalysis. p. 113. Jesus is peesent at a maeeiage feast in Cana: he tuens watee into wine, which is the beginning of HIS mieacles. He goes down to Capeenaum. Marriage in Cana of Gahlee ■ ■ • Jesus and his disciples (see ch. 1. 37 — 47) invited Mary's request and Jesus' reply (ch. 7. 6) • ■ ■ She bids the servants obey Jesus The vessels filled with water [7.2-^5] WHiich when drawn out is the best wine • ■ • ' Tliis beginning of miracles,' &c ■ Goes down to Capernaum [4. 13] Geogeaphical Notices. — 'Cana,' p. 116. 'Capernaum,' ibid. 'Bethsaida,' p. 117. SECTION 12.— Jesus at the First Passover. Cleanses the Temple. Converses vidth Nicodemus. John ii. 13— iii. 21. Jerusalem. Pp. 118— .30, Inteoduction and Analysis. P. 118. Jesus attends the passovee at the commencement of his public ministey ; he casts the buyeus and sellees out of the temple. Ch. 2. 13 — 22. Jerusalem. Pp. 118 — .20. Jesus goes up to Jerusalem • 2. 13 1 Cor. 5. 7, 8 lis Cleanses the temple. ' Make not,' &c [21. 12, .3 11. 15— .7 19. 45, .6] — 11— .7 Mai. 3. 1 ; Ps. 69. 9 A sign asked: predicts his resurrection [26.01 14.58. 24.8,9] —18—22 Hos. 6. 2 119 Mieacles weought dueino the passovee. Many believe upon Jesus. Vee. 23 — .5. P. 120. Many believe his miracles 2. 23 120 Jesus knew the Jews were not to be trusted ... ■ ■ — 21, .5 Je. 17. 10 Nicodemus visits Jesus by night. Cii. 3. 1 — 21. Pp. 121 — ..8. Inteoduction and Analysis. P. 121. Nicodemus comes to Jesus. 'Eabbi,'&c ■ — — 3. 1,2 [Juo. 7. 50, .1] 121 Necessity of the new birth —3 [ 1. 13] 1 Pc. 1. 23 ... Nicodemus asks, ' How can a man be,' Ac . ■ — 4 122 Jesus' reply :' born of water,' &e . —5—8 Eze.36.25-.S;Heb.l0,22 ... Nicodemus asks, 'How can these things be?' ... ■ • — 9 [Jno. 6. 52-60] 123 They were things Nicodemus should have known • ■ — 10— .2 [ 16.28] The Son of man on earth and in heaven • ■ ■ ■ — 13 Pr. 30. 4 125 xvi 2. 1 Is. 62.5; Je.3.14; Ho3.2. 113 — 2 (14-20 ; Eph. 5. 25-33 ... -3,4 Comj). Jno. 19. 26 Ill — 6,7 2Ki. 4. 1-7 — 8-10 Is.55. 1 — 11 115 — 13 116 ANALYTICAL AND HISTORICAL TABLE. TIic sarinf; truth, 'As Moses lifted,' &c - — 'GcmI «o lored the world," &c Tlio Son wna sent not to condemn Rcjoelion of the li^ht nRKravales guilt Of hating and loving the light AsDBNDA.— ' Miracles," p. 129. ' The Passover,' ibid. LUKE. JOHN. 3. U, .5 [9. OUJ — 16 —17 — 18, .9 — 20, .1 ILI.CSTKATIOSS. PAGB Nu. 21. 7-9 126 [Jno. 6. d7 ; Ac. 16. 31] ... (Itom. 8. 32 ... Jno. 15. 21 127 Eph. 5. 8-17 128 'Eabbi," ibid. 'Our Lord's Ministry iu Juda.'a,' p. 130. P. 131. SECTION 13.-John's Last Testimony. The Woman of Samaria. John iii. 22-iv. 42.— -ffinon. Sychar. Pp. 131-.46. Intboduction and Analysis. P. 131. Jesus" disciples oegik to baptize ; John also continues baptizing. Cii. 3. 22 — .1. JEnon, near lo Salim. Jeeua' disciples baptize 3. 22 [Juo. 4. 1, 2] John continues to buplizo . — 23, .4 Mt. 3. 5, G; Mk. 1. 5. A dispute uavino arisen uetwbbn the Jews and the disciples of Joun, concebning pubification, John bekdebs the last, and the most explicit, of his testimonies to Jesus Cheist. Veb. 3. 25—36. .^non, near to Salim. Pp. 131— ..5. Tlie Jews seek to provoke John to envy 3. 25, .6 [Juo. 1. 7, 15, 27-31]. John, the friend of the Bridegroom • — 27-.9 Mai. 3. 1 bears increased testimony to Jesus — 30-.6 1 Cor. 15. -17 132-..5 Jesus dbfabts ikto Galilee ; and, on his way, abides two days at Sychab, in Samaeia, John not being YET cast into peison. Cii. 4. 1 — 42. Pp. 135 — .13. Inteoduction and Analysis. Jesus leaves Judnea for Galilee 131 P. 135. Comes to Jacob's well Converses with a woman of Samaria Concerning the ■ living water " Intimates his knowledge of her character, &e.... Shews how the Father is to be worshipped Messias — ' I that speak unto thee am He ' The disciples return to Jesus ' Come,scc,' &c. ' Is not this the Christ?' Jesus' meat — the ' harvest ' — sowint; aud reaping Jesus .... 'the Saviour of the world ' Geogbaphical Notices.—' Samaria," p. 144. ' iEnoii," ibiJ. Addenda.— 'Samaritans," p. IIG. ' Salem,' ibid. 1. 1-3 — 4-6 - —7-9 — 10-.5 — 16-.9 — 20-.4 — 25, .6 — 27 — 28-30 — 31-.8 — 39-12 ' Shccbem," ibid. /-iKi. 16. 23, .1; 2Ki. ]l7.21r-.6. Ge.33.18, 136 (..9; Jos. 24. 32 137 Is. 44. 3 [Jno. 1.48] ...(Ti. 2. 8 139 Gerizim, De. 27. 12; 1 ... [Jno. 9. 37] De. 18. 18 . 141 142 De. 18.15 [Jno. 6. 38] Ps. 40. 8 1 Juo. 4. 14 143 ' Jacob's Well,' p. 145. SECTION 14.— Jesus Heals a Nobleman's Son. John iv. 43—54. Cana. Pp. 147, ..8, Intboduciiun and Analysis. P. 147. Fbom Sychab Jesus pboceeds to Galilee; John being now cast into peison. Jesus again visits Cana. Ch. 4. 43— .6. P. 147. Jesus leaves Sychar, and goes into Galilee 4.-13 Aprophet hath no houour in his own country... [13.57 4.24] -^44 The Galila>ans receive him [8.40] — 45, .0 Juo. 2^1, 23 ; 1-^11. !!! Jesus heals a kodlemas's son lying sick at Capeenau-m. Veb. 46—51. Cana. Pp. 14", ..8. 147 Requested to heal a uubkmau's sou [8.5,6 Jesus gives a token of his power [ 7-13 It is found as Jesus had said— who thus luani- fesls his Omniscience, Omnipotence, and Om- uiprcseuco 7. 2-5] -0-9] [-10] 4. 46, .7 — 48-50 51-.4 .14; 147 ',..8 148 SECTION 15.— Jesus Preaches ; is Rejected of bis Townsmen. Luke iv. 14—30. Nazareth. Pp. 149— .56. Inteoduction and Analysis. P. 1-49. Jesus visits Nazabeth, and pee.vches there in the synagogue on the sabbath day, and is theeatened A'i:e. 14—30. Pp. 149— .55. Jesus in the power of the Spirit There goes forth a fume of him, &e [4. 2 1 Jesus iu the sy niigugue reads Is. l.\i. 1—3 [13. 51 His townsmen expect much for themselves [— "i 1 -.6 Ifo prophet is aiiepted in his own country [— 57 Jesus speaks of Elias and Kliseus . . The hearers filled with wrath 4. 14 Lu. 3. 22; Is. 11. 2; 42.1 149 1. 28] — 14 Ge. 12. 2 6. 1, 2] — 15-21 [18. 20] - 2. 3] - 22, .3 [Lu.2.47] 1.53 -4] — 24 [4. 41] Will — 28 lKi.l7.;2Ki.5.1 — 14 ... [Lu. 6. 11 ; Juo. 8. 37J. 154 ANALYTICAL AND HISTORICAL TABLE. MATT. MAHK. LUKE. JOHN. 1LLUSTEATI0X5. PAGB They seek to km him 4.29 [11,53] Ps. 37. 14, 32, .3 154 He passes through the midst of thorn - — - —80 [8. 59; 10. 39] 155 Geogeaphical Notices. — ' Nazareth,' p. 155. ' Galilee,' ibid. ' Galilee of the Gentiles,' ibid. ' Sarepta,' ibid. Addenda. — ' Synagogue,' p. 156. SECTION 16.— Jesus Makes Choice of Capernaum. Second Call of Jesus' First Disciples. Matthew iv. 12—22. Mark i. 14—20. Luke iv. 31. Pp. 157— .60. Intbodtiction and Analysis. P. 157. Jesus makes choice of Cafeenaum as his place of abode, and peepaees to entee thebe on his public ministbt. Matt. 4. 12— .7. Maek 1. 14, .5. Luke 4. 31. Pp. 157, ..8. Jesus dwells at Capernaum 4. 12, .3 1.14 4.31 157 On the sea coast in the borders of Zahulon and (32-.9 Nephthallm —13 Zeb.Jos.l9.10-.6;Neph. ... In fulfilment of prophecy — 14-. 6 • • Is. 9. 1, 2 Proclaims the kingdom, and calls to repentance — 17 — 11-, .5 ■ [Mt. 3. 2, 8] 158 The foue disciples, Simon and Andeew, James and John, aee called bt Jesus. Matt. 4. 18—22. Maek 1. 10—20. Sea of Galilee. P. 159. Jesus walks by the sea of Galilee 4.18 1.16 [5.1 21.1] [Mt. 13. 1, p. 299] 159 Calls Simon and Andrew, the second time -18-20 — 16-.8 [—1-11 1.35-42] AndtwosonsofZebedce — 21, .2 —19,20 Lu.9.54-.6;Mk.l0.35-45 ... Geogeaphical Notices. — ' Capernaum,' p. 160. ' Zabulon,' ibid. ' Nephthalim,' ibid. SECTION 17.— A Sabbath in Capernaum. A Demoniac, &c., Healed. Matthew viii. 14-.7. Mark i. 21—34. Luke iv. 31—41. Pp. 161— ..5. Intboduction and Analysis. P. IGl. Jesus teaches foe the fiest time in the synagogue op Capeenaum on the sabbath day : the people aee astonished AT HIS MANNEE OF TEACHING: HE CASTS OUT A DEVIL. MaEK 1. 21 .8. LuKE 4. 31 — .7. Pp. 161 ..3. Jesus teaches with power in the synagogue 1. 21, .2 4. 31, .2 [Mt. 7. 28, .9 ; 13. 54]. 161 Forbids an unclean spirit to speak of him — 23-.5 — 33-.5 • [Lu. 4. 4l]Ja.2.19. ... Casts out the unclean spirit ■ — 25, .6 —35 -^ ■ [Mk. 5. 7, 8 ; 9. 25-.7] . 162 His fame spread abroad — 27, .8 — 30, .7 [Lu. 4. 14; Mt. 4. 24]. 163 The SAME DAY, Jesus heals Simon's mothee-in-law. Matt. 8. 14, .5. Maek 1. 29 — 31. Luke 4. 38, .9. Capernaum. Pp. 163, ..4. Simon's mother-in-law sick of a feyer 8.14 1.29,30 4.38 103 Jesus touches her hand, and she is healed — 15 — 31 —39 [Mt. 9. 25] 103, ..4 Aftee sunset Jesus peefoems divees mieacles of healing and dispossession. Matt. 8. 10, .7. Makk 1. 32— .4. Luke 4. 40, .1. Pp. 164, ..5. At even he heals and dispossesses many 8.16 1. 32-.4 4, 40, .1 [Mt. 4. 24] 1 Pe. 2. 24. 164 Fulfilmentofprophecy (Is. 53. 4) —17 [19- 36, .7 Mt. 2. 23 ; 4. 14] 165 Addenda. — ' On Christ's Manner of Teaching,' p. 165. SECTION 18.— Jesus' First General Circuit of Galilee. Matthew iv. 23— .5. Mark i. 35— .9. Luke iv. 42—4. Pp. 166— .70. Intboduction and Analysis. P. 166. Eaely in the mobning of the next day, that is, of the fiest day of the week, Jesus depaets feom Capeenaum TO A desert place TO PBAY : HIS DISCIPLES FOLLOW HIM THITHEE ; ATTENDED BY WHOM HE SETS OUT ON THE FIEST , geneeal ciecuit of Galilee, peeachino the gospel of the kingdom, teaching, and wobking mieacles of healing and dispossession eveeywheee. See line from Capernaum going northward, westward, southward, eastivard, and to the north of the lake of Galilee. Jesus is early at secret prayer [Mt. 6. 6] 1.35 4.42 Simon, &.C., follow after and find Iiim His special mission is to preach The people find and wish to detain him • [— 36, .7] — 42 [4. 40] He must preach the kingdom to other cities also First genei-al circuit of Galileo 4.23 Performs sundry miracles — 23 His fame goes throughout Syria, &c — 24 Is followed from many quarters — 25 [3. 7-12 6. 17-.9] Geogeaphical Notices. — 'Decapolis,' p. 169. ' Syria,' ibid. {Propliecies concerning Syria, ibid.) ' Judfea,' p. 170. 'Bey. Addenda.—' On Jesus' First General Circuit,' p. 170. xix (Jordan,' ib. — 36, .7 — 38 [-36, .7] — 42 [-38] — 43 — 39 — 44 Ps. 5.3.... •• 100 107 Is. a 61.1 >m2>. Mt. 8. 34 P 331 See Mk. 1.2S, P- 103 168 ANALYTICAL AND HISTORICAL TABLE. SECTION 19— Sermon on the Mount. Matthew v.— viii. 1. Pp. 171—206. IsTnoDrcTioN and Analtsis. Cii. 6. P- 171- WnB.V THB CIBCPIT WAS DnAWI.NO TO AU END, AND THE CONCOUBSE OP THE TEOrLE IS OnEATEST, JeSUS TEiCnE3 ni8 DISCITLES FnOM A MOl'NTAIN IS TnE NEIOnDOmnOOD OF Capeen'acm. Cii. 5. — 8. 1. Pr. 171 — .94. LUKE. [6. 20..3] 8. 10; 11.3:1] [6. 27, .8] [- 32..7] ' Tophet,' ibid. ' Valley of Hinnom,' ibid. , ASD Analysis, en. 6. P. 182. [8. 17] MATT. JIABK. 1. Tlio Beatitudes 6.3-13 2. • Salt of the earth." ' Light of the world •... — 13-. G [9. 50 3. Tlw law and prophets, Clirist enmc to fulfd — 17-20 4. Ye hare heard, But I say unto, vcr.21 — -18 Of KilliiiK — 'anccr without cause' — 21-.6 „ Adultery and putting nway • — 27-32 „ Oaths or VOWS — 33-.7 „ llctaliation — suing at tho law — 38-42 Lovo your enemies — 43, .4 Bo ye . . . perfect, . . as your Father in heaven — 15-.8 Addenda.—' One Tittle,' p. 180. ' The Council," p. 181. llECAriTrLATION, Cll. 5 C. Hole to honour our Father, S(c., ch. 6. 1 — 18* ' When thou doest alms ' 6.1-4 - — ■ ' When thou prayest ' — 5,6 ' Use not vain repetitions ' — 7, 8 • Our Father which art in heaven " —9-13 [11. 2, &c.] We must forgive, as we seek forgiveness ... — 14, .5 [11. 25, .6] ' Moreover when ye fast," &c — 16-.8 C. To have the first care for the spiritual life, ver. 19—34 To lay up treasure in heaven — 19-21 We must be single eyed — 22-.4 Tlie Christian has God to care for him — 25-30 Not to be like the Gentiles : ' Seek first," &c. — 31-.4 Eecapitulation, Cir. 7. ' Judge not." ' First east out the beam 't ... 7. 1-6 8. ' Ask." ' Seek." ' Knock," &c —7-14 ' Beware of false prophets," &c — 15-20 9. ' Not every one that saith," &c — 21-. 3 10. Of building on the rock, and on tho sand ... — 24-. 7 Jesus' te.n-hing is with authority — 28, .9 ILLUSTE-iTIOXS. PAOB Ps. 37. 11; Ge. 12.1-3... 172 Pr. 4. 18 ; Ph. 2. 15 174 Is. 42. 21; Horn. 3. 21... 175 lleb. 4. 7-11 17G-.80 Ex.20. 13; lJno.3.15... 176 — .20. 14 ; Job 31. 1 ; 177 Nu. 30. 2...(Mt. 18. 8, 9 178 Es.21. 24, .5 179 Eom. 12. 14-20, .1 Job 25. 3 180 [18. 24, .5] [11.31-.6; 16.13] [12. 22, &c.] [10. 30 5., 6., AND Analysis, 12. 31 6. 27] en. 7.-8. 1. P. 189. Mt.25.34;Lu.l4.14 183-..6 Pr. 20. 6; Rom. 12. 8. 183 Pa. 34. 15 ; Is. 65. 24 IKi. 18. 26-.9 Is. 66. 1; Eom. 8. 15 ... 184 Ja. 2. 13; Mt. 18. 35 ... 185 Is. 58. 5; Job 2. 12 Mt. 19. 21 186-..8 1 Ti. 6. 9, 17-.9; lPe.1.4 18G l.Tno. 2. 15 Ps.l04.27,.8;lTim.6.8 187 Ps. 37.25 [4. 24 [11. 24 [13. 22] [1. 22 6.37] 11. 9, 10] [6. 43-.5 [6. 47-.9 4.32 Eom.l4.3,4,10;Ju. 1.6,7 189 Is. 55. 6 ; 58. 9 ; 65. 24 190 15.26] Jo. 23. 16 192 13.17] 193 7. 4G] Tit. 2. 15 194 lie is followed bj' multitudes 8.1 Addknd.i.— 'Tlio Recognition of tho Law and the Prophets by our Lord, in his Sermon on the Mount,' Matt. v. — vii. 29, p.l!) t .'!.' The ^Minor Prophets and Decalogue, Compared,' pp. 19C — ..8. ' The Sermon on the Mount Introductory to St. Paul's Epistle.'!,' pp. 199 — 202. ' Summary of the Contents of Paul's First Epistle to Timothy, and tho Epistles of Paul generally, in the Charge to the " Man of God," given 1 Tim. vi. 11— .G,' p. 202. ' Tho Charge to tho " Man of God," which may thus be viewed as containing a Summary of the preceding Epistles of Paul, gives, at the same time, a Recog- nition of " the Words of our Lord Jesus Christ," as presented in " the Sermon on the Mount," ' ibid. ' An Application of tho Commandment to the ease of the "Rich in this World'" ibid. 'The same passage which recognises the contents oC'thc Sermon on the Mount," may bo viewed as sketching the general contents of the Epistles of St. Paul,' p. 203. ' The " Hock;" Matt. vii. 21 ; the " Name," Is. is. 6, exhibited in tho Books of the New Testament,' ibid. ' Concluding Romarks,' p. 205. ' Tabular View of the Sermon on tho Moimt and its Correspondencies,' p. 20G. SECTION 20.1- -The Miraculous Draught of Fishes. Luke V. 1—11. Pp. 207-.12. Inteoduction and Analysis. P. 207. Jesus teaches tke people from the lake of Gennesaeet: Simon Petee and his paetnees having let down THEIE NETS AT JeSUs' COMMAND, ENCLOSE A CBEAT DEAUGHT OF FISHES. Jesus by the lake of Genncsarct 5.1,2 — — 207 teaches the ijcople out of a ship [13.1-9 4.1-9] — 3 Bids Simon launch out into tho deep, &c — 4,5 208 Miraculous draught of fishes — 6,7 [21. 13, .4] Simon Peter's confession — 8-10 Jesus' reply — 10 209 Jesus' first disciples forsake all and follow him... [4.18-23 1. lG-20] —11 [1.42] OEooiuniicAL Notice. — 'Lake of Genncsarct,' p. 209. Addenda.—' Comparison of the Call of the Four Disciples, Matt. iv. 18—22 ; Mark i, 16—20, and tho Mii-aculous Draught of Fishes,' Luko v. 1 — 11. pp. 210 — ..2. • Lesson zx.,firttpart, ombraocg Matt. vi. t Lesson xx., second part, Matt. vii. — viii. 1. X Sections XX., ..i., form Lessok xxi. in tho Coxirse Graduated for ' Simultaneous lustructiou.' XX ANALYTICAL AND HISTOEICAL TABLE. SECTION 21.-A Leper Healed, etc. Matthew viii. 2-4. Mark i. 40— .5. Luke v. 12— .6. Pp. 213— ..6. Introduction and Analysis. P. 213. Jestts HEAts A LEPEK. Matt. 8. 2 — 4. Maek 1. 40 — .4. Luke 5. 12 — .4. Prohahly near C/iorazhi. Pp. 213, ..4. MATT. MAKE. LUKE. JOHN. ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE A leper beseeclios Jesus to heal him 8.2 1.40 5.12 213 Jesus is moved with compassion. — 41 Ja. 5. 11 ; lPe.3.8 214 heals the leper —3 — 41, .2 —13 • CWf^). Lu. 5. 12; Mt. 9.29 ... And charges him to teU no man [Mt. 9. 30; 17. 9] —4 — 43, .4 —14 But to make an ofTering for a testimony — 4 — 44 — 14 ■ Le. 14. 3, 4, 10, .1 To ATOID THE PUBLICITY OCCASIONED BY THE PRECEDING MIRACLE, JeSUS WITHDRAWS INTO THE DESERT, AND SPENDS SOME TIME THERE, IN PRAYER TO GOD. MaRK 1. 45. LuKE 5. 15, .0. P. 215. The leper publishes the matter 1.45 5.15 Com;). Mk. 1. 44 ; Ec. 3. 7 215 Multitudes come to Jesus [Mt. 4. 24, .5 ; Lu. 5- 1] ■ —45 — 15 He withdi-aws to the wilderness to pray — 45 — IC [Mk. 1. 35] And is followed ft'om every quarter — 45 Addenda. — 'On the Locality of the Cure of the Leper,' p. 215. — 'Of Leprosy,' ibid. SECTION 22.— [Lesson 22.]-A Man Sick of the Palsy Healed, Matthew Called. Supper with Levi. Matthew ix. 2—9. Mark ii. 1—22. Luke v. 17— 39.— Capernaum. Pp. 217— .24. Introduction and Analysis. P. 217. Jesus eeturns to Capernaum, where he heals a man sick op the palsy. Matt. 9. 2— S. Mark 2. 1—12. Luke 5. 17—26. Pp. 217— .21. Jesus enters into Capernaum after some days... 2.1 217 Many gather together. Jesus preaches to them — 2 • Lu. 8. 1 ; Is. 61. 1 218 'Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by'... 5. 17 [Mt. 3. 7 ; Lu. 2. 46] Men bring one sick of the palsy 9.2 — 3 — 18 And let him down through the tiling —4 —19 De. 22. 8 ; Mt. 10. 27 ; Ac. 10. 9 ... Jesus pron. the man's sins forgiven [Lu. 7. 47-50] —2 —5 —20 Ps. 103. 3, 13 219 is thought guilty of blasphemy —3 —6,7 —21 Da. 9. 9 ; 1 Tim. 3. 16 . ... He knows their thoughts [Mt. 12. 25; Lu. 6. 8] —4 —8 —22 [2.25] lChr.28.9; Heb.4. 13; 220 Proves his power to forgive by healing, &c —5-7 —9-12 — 23-.5 [10. 37, .8] (Eev. 2. 23 ... The people glorify God —8 —12 —26 221 Jesus teaches the people again by the lake ; he calls Levi, or Matthew, to be his disciple. Matt. 9. 9. Mark 2. 13, .4. Luke 5. 27, .8. T!ie Sea of Galilee. Pp. 221, ..2. Jesus teaches the people by the sea side [13. 1—9] 2. 13 5. 27 [Lu. 5. 1-3] 221 Jesus calls Matthew (Levi) to follow him 9.9 —14 — 27, .8 Pr. 27. 2 Jesus is entertained in the house of Levi, where he makes answer to the Pharisees why he ate with publicans and sinners ; AND EXCUSES HIS DISCIPLES FOE NOT YET OBSERVING FASTINGS.* Mark 2. 15—22. Luke 5. 29—39. Capernaum. P. 222. Levi makes a great feast for Jesus [9.10] 2.15 5.29 222 Why Jesus went among publicans and sinners. [ — 11-.3] — 16, .7 — 30-. 2 Lu. 7. 34 Why his disciples did not fast [— 14,.5] —18-20 — 33-.5 Parable of new cloth on an old garment [—16] —21 —36 223 of new wine in old bottles [ — 17] of having drunk old wine. Addenda. — 'On the Irregularities of St. Matthew's Gospel, ch. ix. ver. 2,' p. 224. — 'On Mark ii. 4, "They uncovered the Koof," &c.,' ibid. • Matthew records a feast, or meal, ch. ix. 10— .7, § 36, pp. 336 — ..8, very similar to this, and wliudi Mr. Greswell refers to a much later period in oui- Lord's ministry. SXl ANALYTICAL AWD HISTORICAL TAULK. PART III. Matthew VIII. 5-13, 18-34; IX. 1, 10-38; X.-XIV. Mark II. 23- Liike VI.-IX. 17. John V. ; VI. .8; III.-VI. ARRANGED IN THE ORDER OF TIME. Comprehending the space of twelve months ; viz. — From the end of the first year of the MINISTRY of Jesus Christ, U.O. 781, A.D. 28 (ineunte), to the end of the second year of THE SAME, U.C. 782, A.D. 29 (ineuntem). SECTION 23.— [Lesson 23.]— Jesus, at the Second Passover, Heals a Lame Man. Adverts to the Proofs of his Messiahship. John ch. v.— Jerusalem. Pp. 227— .40. Introduction and Analysis. P. 227. On the appboach of the second passoveij Jesus goes up to Jeetjsaiem ; he heals a sick man at the pool op I3ETnESD.v on a sabbath day, foe which supposed beeach of the sabbath, the Jews thencefoewaed go about to kill him. John 5. 1—18. Tp. 228— .30. matt. Jesus goes up to the feast At BctLesda, he hcftls an impotent man The man blamed for carrying his bed [12. 2 Tlie Jews seek to kill Jesus [ — 14 3.2,4 13. 14] 4. 28-30] JOHN. ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE 5.1 Lu. 2. 41, .2 ; Jno. 2. 13 ; 228 — 2-9 Mt. 9. e (De. 16. 1, &o. ... — 10-.3 Je. 17. 21, .2 229 — 14-.8 Ph. 2. 6 The di8coubs£ op Jesus eespectino his oneness with the Father, his life-giving powee, and the proofs of HIS Messiahship. Vee. 19—47. Pp. 230— ..3. Jesus declaees his oneness with the Fathee. Vee. 19 — 30. Pp. 230, ..1. He is o.se with the father in working 1. The ' Wonderful '. in knowledge 2. ' Counsellor ' power and honour 3. ' Mighty God ' ... bestowing evcrlast., life 4. 'Evcrlast., Father' first resurrection and executing judgment . 5. 'Prince of Peace' general resurrection Jesus is one with the Father as to will Adverts to the peoofs of his Messiahship Witness of ' another '(' the Spirit of truth ') ... ■ .lesus' forerunner, John ownworks thcFather [3. 17; 17. 5 1. 11 5. 19 — 20 — 21-.3 — 24 — 25-.7 — 28, .9 — 30 230 [Ch. 17. 2] 2 Cor. 5. 10 1 Jno. 5. 11 231 - ' liis word abiding in j-ou ' -the Holy Scriptures Da. 7. 13, .4 — 12.1; ITh. 4. 16. ... P8.40. 7, 8 231 Vee. 31— .9. Pp. 232, ..3. 6. 31, .2 [Ch. 15.26] lJno.5.6,7,9 232 Ch. 1. 6, 7, 15, 26, .7 Ac. 2. 22 [Jno. 12. 28] , 1 Jno. 2. 14..., Is. 8. 20; Pa. 19. 7. — 33-.5 — 36 — 37 [24. 27, 44..7] — 39 3.22] 14 Why they did not receive the witness to his Messiahship, etc. Ver. 40 .7. P. 233. It was not their will to come to Jesus He received not honour from men They ha— a merchantman seeking goodly pearls — 45, ,6 Joh28.12-.7,.8,28; IPe. 320 — a net gathering of all kinds [Mt. 22. 10] — 47, .8 [1. 17] — Explanation [Ver. 41, .2 ; 25. 32] —49,50 — — • Well-instructed scribe — 51, .3 — ■ -— Pr. 10. 21 The relations of Jesus make a second attempt to see him : he returns the same answer aa before [12 46-50 3. 31-.5] 8.19-21 [15,14] 321 Addenda. — On our Lord's saying to his disciplea, 'Unto you it is given to know,' &c,, Mark iv. 11, .2, p. 321. Ps. 36. 9 ; 1 Pe. 1. 23, .5 Mt.12.23,.4; Ja.1.23,.4 Ga. 1. C ; 3. 1 ; 4. 9, 15 lJno.2.15-.7;Eom.8.13 Ee.l.3;22.7,ll.:.Ja.5.7,8 [Lu. 11. 33] 1 Cor. 12. 7 Eev. 2. and 3 1 Jno. 4. 1-3 [Mt.25.29;Lu. 19.26] [Ver. 24-30] Eev. 1.13, .6 Eom. 10.18 Go. 3. 15 Ac. 13. 10 ; 1 Jno. 3. 8 2Co.ll.13, .4; Ja. 3. 15 Joel3.13;Eev.l4.14-.0 lTh.4. 10, .7;2Th.l.7 Mai. 4. 1 ; Eev. 18. 8 . Da. 7. 11; Eev. 19.17-21 Ps. 37. 34; Da. 12. 3; (1 Jno. 3. 2 Is.40.27, .8;lCor.6.20 Job28.12-.7,.8,28;lPe. (1.18, .9; Ph. 3. 7, 8 312 313 314 315 310 317 318 SECTION 34.— [Lesson 34.]— Of following Jesus. The Winds and the Sea Obey Him. Matthew xiii. 53 ; viii. 18—27. Mark iv. 35—41. Luke viii. 22— .5. Capernaum. Sea of Galilee. Pp. 323— ..6. Inteoduction and Analysis. P. 323. On the evening of the same day .Iesus gives commandment to cnoss THE lake, a ceetain SCBIBE, AND ANOTHEE DISCIPLE, FOLLOW JeSUS. JeSUS ENTERS INTO A SHIP. Matt. 13. 53 ; 8. 18—23. Maek 4. 35, .6. Luke 8. 23. Pp. 323, ..4. Jesus departs from Capernaum 13. 53 Gives commandment to cross the lake 8.18 Warns a scribe who proposes to follow him — 19, 20 Jcsus bids another follow him without delay ... — 21, .2 Enters a ship, the disciples following — 23 4.35 •36 [9. 57, .8] [— 59, 60] 8.23 323 (4-10; Heb. 13. 13 ... Lu. 22.33, .4; 2 Cor. 6. ... 1 Ki. 19. 20 334 Jesus calms a violent stoem on the lake. Matt. 8. 24 — .7. A great tempest — the waves beat into the ship. .Tosus asleep on a pillow The cry of distress Jesus rebukes the winds and sea Eeproaches the disciples for want of faith 8. 2t 4. 37 — 24 — 38 — 25 — 38 — 26 — 39 — 26 — 40 Theyfearcxceedingly,andsay,'Wliatmanner,'&c. — 27 — 41 Maek 4. 37—41. 8. 23 — 23 — 24 — 24 — 25 — 25 Luke 8. 23— .5. Pp. 324— ..6. - Ps. 107. 25-.7 324 - Ec. 5. 13 325 - Ps. 107. 28 - Ex. 14. 21-31; Ps.65.7 ... - [Mt. 6. 30; 14.31] - [ — 14.33,.3]P8.89.7-9 320 Addenda.—' On the incidents in tho way, and on the time of crossing the Lake to Gergcsa,' p. 330. XXVll ANALYTICAL A>T5 HISTOBTCAL T.VBLE. SECTION 35— [Lesson 35.]— Jesus Casts out Devils. He Returns to Capernaum. Matthew viii, 28-34; ix. 1. Mark v. 1—21. Luke viii. 26—40. East of the Sea of Galilee, and West of the Same. Pp. 327— .35. IsTBODrCTION AND AXAI-YSTS. P. 327. Jesus lands in the countbt of the Gadaheses, and casts devils out of two men wno lived amoxg tite tombs. Matt. 8. 2H— 33. I^Iabk 5. 1—14. Luke 8. 2G— 31. Pp. 327— .31. matt. MABK. LUKE. JOHN. II.LrSTEATIONS. TAGE Josiis is met by two possessed wilb devils 8.28 5.1-3 8. 2(;, .7 -^27 Tlieirelmractor and abode -28 -3-5 -27 — 1 Ki. 18.28 (Mt.26. 63] 328 They confess .Testis to be the .Son of God —29 — C, 7 —28 [Mk. 1. 21.; Lu. 4. 11 ; ... Legion commanded to leave tlie man - 8. 9 - 29, 30 [ - 1. 25 ; 9. 2.5] Eev. 329 They request not to be sent out, &c — lO (18.2,1 ... i . into tho deep —31 Eov. 20. 3 But to enter the swine - 30, .1 -11, .2 -32 Do. 14. 8 330 .Te.tus assents the swino perish in tbo lake . — 32 — 13 — 33 Eev. 18. 21 The swineherds spread the alarm — 33 — 14 — 31 331 The people of the citt and NEionnorBnooD request Jesus to depaet out of their coasts. Matt. 8. 31. Maek 5. 1-^—20. Luke 8. 35— .9. Pr. 331, ..2. They find theman .clothed and in his right mind 8. 34, 5. 14-.6 8. 35, .6 2 Tim. 1.7 331 request Jesus to depart from them — 34 — 17 — 37 Compare Mk. 4. 39 ; 6. ... Tlie man asks to follow Jesus —18 — 38 (2,8,9 333 Je.^us' answer — 19 — 38, .9 The man puUishes in Decapolis — 20 —39 Jesus eetubns to Capernaum. Matt. 9. 1. Mark 5. 21. Luke 8. 40. P. 332. Jesus p.isses over into his own city 9.1 5.21 8.40 332 The people gladly receive him — 21 — 40 [4.45] Geoobaphical Notice. — ' The country of the Gcrgesenes ' — ' The country of the Gadarenes,' p. 333. Addenda.—' Into the deep,' p. ihid.—' On healing the demoniacs at Gergcsa,' &c., p. ibid.—' On our Lord's passing the night upon the lake,' p. 334. SECTION 36.— [Lesson 36.]— Jesus Eats with Publicans and Sinners. Restores Jairus' Daughter to Life, etc. Matthew ix. 10-34. Mark v. 22—43. Luke viii. 41— 56.— Capernaum. Pp. 336— .45. Introduction and Analysis. P. 336. •TeSUS sits at meat ; THE PHARISEES MUEMUR THAT HE EATS WITH PUBLICANS, &C.; THE DISCIPLES OF JoHN INQUIRE WHY THE DISCIPLES OF JeSUS DID NOT FAST; JeSUS' EEPLT. MaTT. 9. 10 — .7. Pp. 336 — ..8. Jcsus eats with publicans and sinners 9. 10-.7 [2.15-22 5.29-39] 336 Jaibus APPLIES TO Jesus to visit his d.iughter, who is at the point of death. Matt. 9. 18, .9. Mark 6. 23— .4. Luke 8. 41, .2. Pp. 338, ..9. .Tairtis falls at .Tesus' fi'et and worships him ... 9.18 5.23 8.41 [Mt. 8. 2 ; 15. 25] 338 Bcseeibes him to heal his daughter — 18 — 23 — 41 [4. 46-.9] Coiiq}. Lu. 7. 1-3, 6-8 AVho is about twelve years old, and dying ... — 42 339 Jesus while going witli .Tairus ia thronged — 19 — 24 — 43 On the way, a woman is healed who had an issue of blood twelve tears. JIatt. 9. 20— .2. Mark 5. 25—34. Luke 8. 43— .8. Pr. 339— .41. A woman who has been long diseased 9.20 5.25 8.43 339 Having spent all & nothing bettered — 26 — 43 Job 13. 4 In faith touclios the hem of Jesus' garment — 30, .1 — 27, .8 — 44 [Lu. 6. 19] Ac. 19. 11, .3 And feels .xhc is healed — 39 — 44 [4.50,.2,.3] 3dO Jesus knowing, &.C., asks, 'Who touched me?' . — 22 — 30-.3 — 45, .6 Na. 1. 7 ; Ac. 5. 12-.C . The woman declares before all what she had done — 33 — 47 Ps. 103 Jesus comforts her, and commends her faith ... —22 —34 — 48 [Co)np.ll.40 &eo?jMt.8.13,p.xxiv] 341 In the mean time the dauohter of Jairus expires, whom Jesus raises to life again. Matt. 9. 23— .6. Mark 5. 35—43. Luke 8. 49—56. Pp. 341— ..4. Jairus encouraged to exercise faith [Com^. 9. 18] 6. 35, .6 8.49,50 Eev. 1. 17, .8 341 Jesus (with the three) enters JaLi'us' house — 33 .— 37, .8 —51 . • Mt. 17. 1-7 ; 26. 36, .7. The scorners excluded — 24, .5 —39,40 — 53-.4 ■ 2 Chr. S5. 25 ; compare (.Je. 22 18 343 The damsel raised to life —25 — 41, .2 — 54, .5 [11. 43, .4 Mk. 1. 31 ; Lu. 7. 14, .5] Commands it not to be told — 42, .3 — 56 [ 1.43,.4;9.9] ...344 II is fame goes abroad —20 [Mt.4.24;9.3i;Lu.4.14i ... xxviii 6.1 — 2 [4. 16] [— 16-22] [- 22, .3] [-24] [6. 42] 346 — 2 — 3 — 4 Mt. 13.14, .5; 18.6.9, 10 ... Lu. 2. 34 347 — 5,6 [Mk.3.5] ANALYTICAL AND HISTOEICAL TABLE. Jesus, being UETunNED home, heals two blind men. Matt. 9. 27 — 31. P. 344. MATT. MARK. LUKE. JOHN. ILLUSTBATIONS. PAGE IVo blind men cry out after Jesus [ilt. 20. 30] 9. 27, .8 [10.47-51 18.38-40] 311 He touclies their eyes [ 31] —29,30 [—52] [— 42, .3] . ■ Is. 35. 5, 6 ; 42. 5-7 Charges them, ' See ^Aai no man know (7 ' — 30 [&c ojj Mk. 5. 43, p. xxviii] But they spread abroad his fame, &c — 31 Dispossesses a dumb demoniac : the Phabisees again asceibe the mieacle to Satan. Vek. 32 — .4. P. 31.5. Jesus casts out a dumb devil 9. 32, .3 3.J.5 The multitudes marvel [Mt. 12. 22, .3] —33 [3.22 11.14] Pharisees blaspheme [ 24]... —31 [— 15, .6 8. 48-52] Is. 32. 6 ... Addenda. — 'A Euler of the Synagogue,' p. 345. SECTION 37— [Lesson 37.*]— Jesus Revisits His Own Country. Matthew xiii. 54— .8. Mark vi. 1—6.— Nazareth. Pp. 346— .52. Inteoduction and Analysis. P. 346. Jesus comes into his own country... [4. 13; 9. 1] 13. 54 Teaches in a synagogue — 54 ' Whence hath this man this wisdom F' &c — 54 ' Is not this the carpenter ?' &c — 55-.7 Where a prophet is without honour — 57 The cause of Jesus not doing many mighty works there — 58 Geogeaphical Notice. — ' Nazareth,' pp. 348 — .50. Addenda. — 'On the Brethren of our Lord,' p. 350. — ' Of unbelief,' p. 352. SECTION 38.— Jesus' Third General Circuit of Galilee. Matthew ix. 35. Mark vi. 6. P. 353. Inteoduction and Analysis. — See line from Nazareth, going through Galilee. Jesus journeys teaching in the synagogues 9.35 6.0 [Mt. 4. 23; Lu. 8. 1-3] 353 Preaching the Gospel, &c., and healing — 35 [ 23 ; Mk. 1. 39]. ... SECTION 39.— [Lesson 38.]— The Twelve Apostles sent out. Matthew ix. 36-.8 ; x. 1, 5— xi. 1. Mark vi. 7—13. Luke ix. 1—6.— Capernaum. Pp. 354— .64. Inteoduction and Analysis. P. 354. The twelve apostles, having fibst received a chabge fbom Jesus, and powee to work miracles of healing, etc., are sent out in companies of two and two, to teach and to preach in his name. Jesus departs also on his second partial circuit. — From Capernaum. Matt. 9. 36— .8 ; 10. 1, 5—11. 1. Mark 6. 7—13. Luke 9. 1—6. Why Jesus is moved with compassion 9. 36 [7. 13; 19.41-.4 11. 35 Mt. 14. 14] 1 Pe. 3. 8 . 354 Directs to pray for labourers for the harvest ... — 37, .8 [10.2] 2 Th. 3. l...(Ec. 4. 9-12 Sends forth the twelve, by two and two 10.1 6.7 9.1,2 [Mk.3.14,.5]Nu.l3.23; 355 Sent to lost sheep of the house of Israel — 5,6 - — — [Mt. 15. 24] Ja. 1. 1 To preach and heal —7,8 [—2] [Lu. 10. 9] 356 Provision for the journey — 9,10 — 8,9 — 3 [ 4] With whom to lodge —11 —10 —4 [ 5-7] Ac. 16. 15 .357 How to enter an house — 12, .3 to act when rejected — 14, .5 —11 —5 [Lu. 10. 10, .1] Ac. 13. 50, .1 358 'Be. . .wise as serpents," &c —16 [10.3] Eom. 16. 19; Eph. 5.15; Col.4.5 ; (10o.l4.20;Ph.2.15;Ja.3.17 ... What they might expect from men — 17, .8 Ae.25. 7,23; 2Co.ll.24 359 To trust God for their defence —19,20 [13.11 12. 11-.3] Je. 1. 7 ; Ac. 4. 8, 12, .3 ... Persecution from relatives, &c., hated of all ... — 21, .2 [— 12,.3 21.17] Mic. 7. 6 360 He that shall endure to the end ...[Ch. 24. 13] —22 Not to court persecution — 23 [3.6,7] Ac. 14. 5, 6 To expect it like their Master — 24, .5 [— 22 6.40 13.10] Boldly to proclaim the truth — 26, .7 [12.2,3] 361 Whomtofear —28-31 [ — 4] Is. 51. 7, 12 Such as confess Jesus he will confess, &c — 32, .3 [9. 26; 12.8] Eom. 10. 9, 10; l.Tno. 2. ... Dissensions in families to arise — 34-.6 [12. 51-.3] Ps.41. 9 (23 ; Ecv. 3. 5 362 Christ must be loved supremely — 37-.9 [14. 20, .7 12.25] received in his messengers — 40 [9.48 13-20] 363 Who shall receive a prophet's reward, &c — 41 1 Ki. 17. 8-16 A cup of cold water given for Christ's sake, &c. —42 [9.41] Ileb. 6. 10 * Lesson 37 embraces Sections 37, .8. XXI. K ANALYTICAL AND HISTORICAL TABLE. MATT. MARK. tUKE. JOHN'. IHUSTEATIOXS. TAGK Tlic aj>08tlcs K"^ forth preaching, lie [3.2] 6- 12, .3 9.0 - Jesus aUo departs to teach and to preach 11-1 ~ SECTION 40.— [Lesson 39.*]-The Death of John the Baptist Recorded. Five Thousand Fed. Matthew xiv. 1-21. Mark vi. 14—44. Luke ix. 7—17. John vi. 1—13. Capernaum and Desert of Bethsaida, in Decapolis. Pp. 365— .77. The FAME or JEsrs beaches Herod the tetbabch of Galtlee : paiiticulabs of the death of Jons the Baptist. Matt. 14. 1—12. Mark 6- 11—29. Luke 9. 7—9. Probably Capernaum. Pp. 365— ..9. iNTRODrCTlON AND ANALYSIS. P. 3G5 The fame of Jesus reaches Herod 14.1 6.11 9.7 .............. 365 Ucrod's perplexity _ 7-9 Mai. 4. 5 ; Lu. 1. 17 .Tesus supposed to be John raised from the dead —2 -U Cow/)are Jno. 10. 41 ... 366 Herod's desire to see .Jesus S ' ' Conjectures respecting Jesus [16.14] — 15 [ — 8] Herod's saying, ' It is John," &c 14.2 —10 Herod had laid hold on John —3 —17 [3.19,20] ■■_ Why John was apprehended — 4 — 18, .9 ■ Compare Ge. 39. 14-20. 30/ his death had been delayed —5 —20 • Eze. 2. 5-7 The occasion on which John was slain —0 — 21 Pr. 22. 14 dancinggirl -6 -22 — 368 rashoath -7 - 23 _ Est.5.6;7.2 girl instructed by her mother — 8 — 24, .5 Pr. 29. 10. -danger of evil company —9 —20 Ju. 11. 30-.5; Ec. 5. 2; 369 Johnbcheaded —10 —27 (Da. 6-14; Ja. 1. 15, .6 ... His head presented to Herodias — 11 — 28 John's disciples bury him, and tell Jesus — 12 —20 Ac. 8. 2 [Lesson 40.] Upon the RETrRN of the aposties, they are taken by Jesus apart to the desert of Bethsaida ; THE multitudes FOLLOW THEM THITHER; FIVE THOUSAND MEN, BESIDE WOMEN AND CHILDREN, ARE FED WITH FIVE LO.VVES OF BREAD AXD TWO FISHES. MaTT. 14. 13—21. MaRK 6. 30—44. LuKE 9. 10— .7. JoHN 6. 1—13. Desert of Bethsaida in Beeapolis. Pp. 370 — ..5. Introduction and .\nalysis. P. 370. The apostles return from their mission 6.30 9.10 First called Apostles, L^x. Q. IB-.Q 270 Jesus invites thcra to a desert place — 31 ■ [Ch. 3. 20] 371 They go by ship, many foUow on foot 14.13 — 32, .3 ^ 10, .1 6.1,2 Jesus compassionates the multitudes — 14 — 34 — 11 [Mt. 9. 36; 15.32] speaks to Philip of providing bread • — 3-7 372 —^- is advised to send the people away — 15 — 35, .0 — 12 [ — 5] says, ' Give ye them to eat ' —16 —37 —13 Nu. 11.13-22:2X1.4.43 373 Their stock of provisions —17 —38 —13 —8,9 [Mt. 15. 34 ; Mk. 8. 5] ... Arrangements for feeding the people — 18, .9 — 39-41 — 14-.6 — 10, .1 [ 35,.6; 0,7 374 They all eat, and are fiUed —20 —42 —17 — 11, .2 [ 37; 8] 375 Twelve baskets of fragments taken up — 20 — 43 — 17 — 12, .3 [ 37 ; 8] ... The number fed 5,000, &c. —21 —44 [—14 —10] [ 38; 9] ... Geooraphical Notice. — 'Desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida,' Luke ix. 10, p. 376. Addenda. — 'On the time of the year of the feeding of the Five Thousand,' p. 377. SECTION 41.— [Lesson 41.+]— Jesus Dismisses his Disciples to Capernaum. Avoids the Mtiltitude. Walks upon the Water, etc. Matthew xiv. 22—33. Mark vi. 45—52. John vi. 14—21. Pp. 378— .82. Introduction and Analysis. P. 378. Jesus dismisses ms disciples to Capernaum. Matt. 14. 22 — .1. Mark 6. 45 — .7. John 6. I'l — -7. Pp. 378, ..9. Thcmenconclude Jesus is 'that prophet,' &c.... 6.14 [Ch. 7. '10] De. 18. 15-.8 378 Jesus bids his disciples cross the sea 14.22 6.45 The people would by force make him king — 15 Mt.26.52,.3;Jno.l8.36; ... Jesus' conduct thereupon —23 — 40 [9.28] —15 (2 Cor. 10. 4, 5 379 The ship tossed with waves —24 —47 - — - — 16, .7 Mt. 8. 24, .5 ; Ps. 34. 15 ... Jesus walks upon the water ; and empowers Peter to do the same : the ship in which the disciples were is miraculously transported across the lake. M.ATT. 14. 25—33. Mark 6. 48—52. John 6. 18—21. Pp. 380— ..2. Jesus waibs upon the w.itcr 14.25 6.48 [24.28] 6. 18, .9 Job 9. 8 ; Ps. 77. 19 ... 380 The disciples are aliirmed at his appearance ... —26 —49,50 [—37] —19 Lu. 1.12, .3,28, .9; 2.8-11 ... 'Be of good cheer; it is I' —27 —50 [—38] —20 [Mt.9.2]Is.41.10, .3, .4; (Ac. 23. 11; Eev.l. 17, .8 381 Peter empowered to walk on the water — 28, .9 [21.7] Ph. 4. 13 .., • Lesson 39. Matt. xiv. 1—12 ; Mark vi. 11— 29 ; Luke ix. 7—9. t Lesson 41 embraces Sections 41, .2. XXX ANALYTICAL AND HISTORICAL TABLE, MATT. MABK. LUKE. JOHN. ILLUSTBATIOKS. PAGE His faith faUs— is upheld by Jesus 14. 30, .1 [Mt. 8. 26] Ja. 1. 381 They go up into the ship —33 6.51 6.21 [Mk. 4. 39] 383 Immediately the ship is at the land ■ — 21 Jesus is confessed to be the Son of God —33 [1.1 1.35 — 68, .9 Mt. 16. 15, .6] "Why the disciples were amazed — 51, .2 [Mk.16.11] Ps. 108. 13; (Heb.S. 8-13 ... SECTION 42.— Jesus Returns through the Region of Gennesaret to Capemaiun: the Multi- tude, which had been left on the other side of the Lake, also Return to Capernaum in Quest of Jesus. Matthew xiv. 34—6. Mark vi. 53— .6. John vi. 22—4. Pp. 383— ..5. Intkoduction and Analysis. P. 383. Jesus and the disciples land in Gennesaret 14.34 6.53 [5-1 6.17] 383 The people know him —35 —54 Mk. 3. 7-11 ; Mt. 9. 35 ... They gather to him all who are diseased — 35 — 55, .G ■ Ac. 5- 15, .6 These, by touching his garment, arc healed —36 —56 [Mt. 9. 21, §36]; Ac. 19. 11, .2 381 The people who had been fed foUow him ■ — 22..4 Sec ver. 25, .6 383 Geoobaphical Notice. — ' The land of Gennesaret,' pp. 384, ..5. SECTION 43.— [Lesson 42.]— Discourse which Ensued with the Multitude in the Synagogue of Capernaum : many of the Disciples being Offended thereby, Jesus Tries the Faith of the Twelve ; and, a Year before the Event, Foretells his own Betrayal by one of them. John vi. 25—71. Pp. 386—96. iNTEODtrCTION AND ANALYSIS. P. 386. Jesus discoueses of the bbead of life. Those who had been fed find Jesus 6.25 Ps. 77. 19 386 Their worldly motives ■ • — 26 For what men should labour [6.19,20 10.43] —27 Is. 55. 2 387 The sealed of the Father ■ —27 4 [Juo. 1. 32-.4; ... They ask, ' What shall we do,' &c • — —28 3. 33] 388 Jesus points out the work of God —29 Is. 55. 3 ; 1 Jno. 3. 23 . ... They ask, 'What sign shewest thou," &c [12.38;16.1 8.11 11.16] —30 [Jno. 2. 18] Is. 55.11-.3 ... Our fathers were given bread from heaven — 31 E.\. 16. 11-30 He who gave manna now gives the true bread . ■ — 32 Jno. 3- 16;Ps. 78. -A,-o o8J ' Life unto the world ' —33 — 14.6 ' Lord, evermore give us this bread ' — 34 [ 4.15] ...(55. o, 7 ... Jesus is ' the bread of life ' — — — 35 14; 7. 37; Is. ... The Jews saw, yet believed not ■ ■ —30 [ — 12. 37] Is. 55. 8,_9 300 Who they are who come to Jesus — 37 10. -/--Ojls.oo.o; (Kom. 8. 28-30 ... Whence and wherefore Jesus has come [26. 39] 38 — 4. 34 ; 5. 30 ; Ps. Of such as are given to Christ [18.14] —39 —18.9 (40.7,8 Will be raised up at the last day [11.6] — W — 3.15, .6; 11.24, .5 391 The Jews, being disappointed, murmur — 41 Their ignorance of whence Jesus came [13. 55-.7 6.3 4.22] —42 See Mt. 22. 45, § 85, p. 741 ... Jesus aUudcs to his words, ver. 39, 40 — 43, .4 Ps. 25. 8, 9, 14 . —45 Is. 64. 13; Mic. 4. 2... 393 He who is taught of God comes to Christ • Who hath seen the Father [11.27] — 'I'j [Jno. 1. 18] The bread of life and the manna contrasted ... ■ —47-51 — 16. 27,«eco»vcr.31 ... The -Jews cannot understand - — ■ — a2 [—3.9] 393 Christ the true Passover [26.26] —53 He who has eternal life [Jno. 6. 27, 40, 63; 4.14] —51 lCo.l5.45-.9;Eph.3.17 ... Excellence oftho bread of life [Ch. 14. 21] — 5.5-.8 1 Jno. 3. 24; 4. 13, .5, .6 ... Not as their fathers ate —58 Ps. 78. 30, .1 •An hard saying; who can hear it?" —59,60 (Eph. 4. 8-10 ... Jesus' pre-cxistencc and future ascension [16.19] — 61, .3 Jno. 3. 13; Ac. 1. 9; 394 Feeding on Jesus' words we have life — ''3 2 Cor. 2. 15, .6 ; 3. 6 Jesus' foreknowledge as to Judas. — Compare ver. 71, and ch. 2. 24, .5. — G4 [Jno. 13. 11] He who is given of the Father comes, &c — '"'5 [ &e ver. 37, 4 1, -5] ..... • ■■ ■ Many forsake Jesus -GO Is. 1. 28 ; Heb. 10. 38 . 30o To the twelve— ' Will ye also go away ?' [14.27,50 6. 13-.G] —67 Peter's answer and confession [Mt. 14. 33 16. 16 8. 29 9. 20] — GS, .9 Jno. 1. 49 ; Is. 55. 3 .. ... Jesus speaks of Judas Iseariot, the betrayer ... [26. 48, .9] — 70, .1 — 12. 6 ; 13. 21-30] ... Addenua. — 'Esccpt ye cat,' kc, p. 306. — 'This is the work of Ciod,' &.C., ibid. End of our Lord's Second Year's Ministry. SXXl ANALYTICAL AND UISTOBIC.VL TALLE. PART IV. Matthew XV.-XXVII. Mark VII.-XV. Luke IX. 18-XXIII. Jobii VII.-XIX. Pages 397—943. ARRANGED IN THE OUDEll OF TIME. Comprehending tiik space of twelve months; viz. — From the end of the second year of the MINISTRY OF Jesus Christ, U.C. 782, A.D. 2'J (ineunte), to the end of the third year of the S.1ME, U.C. 783, A.D. 30 (ineuntem). SECTION 44.— [Lesson 43.]— Of Unwashen Hands, or Ceremonial and Real Defilement. Matthew xv. 1—20. Mark vii. 1—23.— Capernaum. Pp. 399—407. . Inteoduction and Analysis. P. 399. Jesus defends nis disciples against the complaints of the Phaeisees, that they did not obsebve the THADITION OF THE ELDEIiS IN WASHING THEIK HANDS IIKFOHE EATING BKEAD. matt. make. LUKE. JOHN. ILLUSTEATIONS. PAGE Jcsus' disciples not ceremonially cleau 15.1,2 7.1-5 • • Col. 2. 8, 20-.3 399 answer, ' Full well ye reject,' &c — 3 — 9 401 A case in point — the fifth commandment — 4-6 — 10-.3 r Ex. 20. 12 AVorship taught by tradition vain —7-9 —0-8 — — - Is. 29. 13 4(»2 "What defileth a man — 10, .1 — 11-.6 Ac. 10. 15; Horn. 14.403 Jesua' reply on the Pharisees being offended ... — 12, .3 — 17 {14-.7 ; 1 Tim. 4. 4 ... ' Blind Icacicr-s of the blind,' &c [Ch. 23. 16] — 11 [6.39] Is. 9. 16; Mai. 2. 8 ... 404 Jesus explains Mt. 15.10, .1, 'AVhatdefileth,'&c. — 15-20 —17-23 [—45] Je. 17. 9 ; Ga. 6. 19-21 ... A.DDENDA. — 'On the Question concerning Eating with Unwashen Hands,' p. 406. — 'The Tradition of the Elders,' p. 407. SECTION 45.— [Lesson 44.]— A Canaanitish Woman's Daughter Healed. Matthew XV. 21- .8. Mark vii. 24— 30.— The Coasts of Tyre and Sidon. Pp. 408— .19. Inteoduction AND Analysis. P. 408. Jesus visits the quaetee oe Tvee and Sidon : he heals the daughter of a Syeo-Phcenician woman who was possessed with a devil. .lesus departs into the coasts of Tyre and Sidou A woman of Canaan beseeches him — 22 [ — 26] [18. 38, .9] Her apparentlj- unfavourable reception Christ sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel The woman continues to follow Jesus Is a Grcolv, a S\TO-Phcenician by nation Further trial of her spirit She aeceiits mercj' upon any terms Jesus replies, 'Be it . . . even as thou wilt' Her daughter made whole from that hour [8. 13] —28 —30 ■ [4. 50, .1-.3] Geogbaphical Notices.—' Tyre, Tyrus (Sur, Suor),' pp. 412— ..G.—' Sidon or Zidou (Saich),' pp. 416— ..9. SECTION 46.— [Lesson 45.]-Four Thousand Men, etc., Fed. Matthew xv. 29—38. Mark vii. 31— viii. 9.— In Decapolis. Pp. 420— ..3. l.NTEODUCTION AND ANALYSIS. P. 120. JeSUS RETUIiNS TO THE NEIGIIBOUHHOOD OF BeTIISAIDA, ON THE LAKE OF GaLILEE, THEOUGH THE COASTS OF DeCAPOLIS : HE HEALS A DEAF MAN WHO HAD AN IMPEDIMENT IN HIS SPEECH : AND PEEFOEMS MIBACLES OF SUNDEY KINDS. FoUR THOUSAND MEN. BESIDE WOMEN AND CHILDBEN, ABE FED WITH SEVEN LOAVES OF BEEAD AND A FEW SMALL FISHES. Matt. 15. 29—38. Mabk 7. 31—8. 9. Pp. 420— ..3. {Compare Sect. 40, pp. 370— ..5.) Jesus heals a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech. Matt. 15. 29. Maek 7. 31— .7. P. 420. Jesus comes nigh to the sea of Galileo 15.29 7.31 420 Through the coasts of Decapolis 31 . . Heals a deaf man. 'Epliphatha' — 32-.7 Is. 29. 18; 35. 5, e!!!.!. ... xxxii 15.21 7. 24 22 — 23 — 24 [-26] — 25 — 24, .5 — '26 — 26 — 26, .7 — 27 — •28 — 28 — 29 — 28 — 30 1 Ki. 5. 1-12 408 409 [Mt. 10. 6] Ac. 6.1 .110 Mt.7.6 Lu. 15. 19 411 ANAI;YTICAL AND HISTOEICAL TABLE. Jesus pekfokms mieacles of sundey kinds. Matt. 15. 29 — 31. P. 421. M.ITT. MARK. LUKE. JOHN. ILLUSTEATIONS. PAGB Jesus goes up into a mountain 15.29 [Mt. 5. 1] 421 Heals the lame, blind, dumb, maimed, &c —30 [7.22] [—10.1,8] The multitude glorify the God of Israel —31 ■ [—16] [ _ 9. 8] i^OUE THOUSAND MEN, BESIDE IVOMEN AND CHILDUEN, AKE FED WITH SEVEN LOAVES OF BREAD, AND A FEW SMALL FISHES. On the same LOCALITY WHERE THE FORMER INSTANCE OF MIRACULOUS FEEDING TOOK PLACE. Matt. 15. 32— .8. Mark 8. 1—9. Pp. 422, ..3. Jesus has compassion on the people 15.32 8.1-3 [Mt. 14.11] 422 The disciples have only seven loaves, &c — 33, .4 — 4,5 [ 15-.7] The second multitude fed — 35-.7 — G-8 [ 18-20; Lu.24.30] ... Seven baskets full of fragments taken up —37 —8 [9.17 6. 12, .3] [ 20] 423 Thenumberfed —38 —9 [ 21] Jeaus sends the multitude away [ — 39] — 9 SECTION 47.— [Lesson 46.*]— The Pharisees demand a Sign.— Magdala. Matthew xv. 39— xvi. 4. Mark viii. 10— .2. Pp. 424— ..7. Introduction and Analysis. P. 424. JeSUS COMES BY SEA TO DaLMANUTHA, OR MaGDALA, AND MAKES ANSWER TO THE PhAEISEES THEEE, who demand OF HIM A SIGN FEOM HEAVEN. Jesus and disciples cross to the coast of Magdala 15.39 8.10 424 Pharisees, &c., ask for a sign [Mt. 12. 38] 16.1 —11 1 Cor. 1. 22 ' Can discern the face of the sky ; but," &c —2,3 ■ [12.54-.6] 425 'Signof the prophet Jonas' ... [Mt. 12. 39, 40] —4 [11.29,30] Jonah 1. 17 ' No sign ... unto this generation ' — 12 42G Geoqeaphical Notices. — ' Dalmanutha,' Mark viii. 10, p. 426. — 'Magdala,' Matt. xv. 29, p. 427. SECTION 48.— Of the Leaven of the Pharisees and others. Matthew xvi. 4-12. Mark viii. 13—21. Pp. 428—30. Inteoduction and Analysis. P. 428. Jesus eetuens to Bethsaida, in Decapolis ; and on the way cautions his disciples against the leaven of THE Pharisees, &c. — Luwfrom Dahnanutha across the Lake to Bethsaida in Dccajjolis. Jesus departs again by ship, &o 16.4 8.13 428 The disciples forget to take bread — 5 — 14 • 'Bowaa-e of the leaven of the Pharisees,' &c. ... —6 —15 [12.1] Mt. 23. 2-7; 1 Cor. 5. 6-8 ... Vain reasoning of the disciples — 7 —16 ' 429 Jcsussays to them, 'OyeofUttlefaith,' &c. ... —8,9 — 17, .8 ■ — - —6.30 K«ninds them of the two miraculous feedings. . — 9,10 — lS-20 — 14. 13-21 ; 15. 32-.8 430 What is meant by the leaven, &c — 11, .2 — 21 SECTION 49.— Jesus Heals a Blind Man. Mark viii. 22 -.6. P. 431. At Bethsaida, in Decapolis. Inteoduction and Analysis. Jesus gives sight to a blind man 8.22 — .0 431 SECTION 50.— [Lesson 47.]— Jesus Foretells his Sufferings, Death, etc. Matthew xvi. 13—28. Mark viii. 27— ix. 1. Luke ix. 18— 27.- Coasts of Csesarea Philippi. Pp. 432— .48. Inteoduction and Analysis. P. 432. Jesus visits the vicinity of C;esaeea Philippi; he inquires of his disciples, first, whom the people at large, AND then whom THEY THEMSELVES, CONSIDER UIM TO BE; PeTEU ANSWERS IN THE NAME OF THE BEST: AND IS BLESSED BY Jesus. Matt. 16. 13—20. Mauk 8. 27—30. Luke 9. 18—21. Pp. 432— ..7. Jesus enters the coasts of C;csarea Philippi 16.13 8.27 ■ — — 432 Prays privately with his disciples 9.18 [Lu. 5. 16] 'Whomdomensay that I the Sou of man am?' — 13 —27 — IS 433 'Some. . .John the Baptist: some, Ehas,'&c... — 11 — 28 — 19 — — 'Whom say ye that I am?' —15 —29 — 20 Peter's confession [Jno. 1. 41-.9 ; 6. 69 ; 11. 27] — 16 — 29 — 20 Ps. 2. 7 ; llcb. 1. 2, 5 Jeaus answers, 'Blessed art thou, Simon,' &c.... — 17 Mt. 11. 6, '25-.7 434 Peter, a stone, Christ, the Bock, &c — 18 ■ [1. J2] 1 Cor. 3. 11 ; Eph. 2. 20 '135 The keys of the kingdom promised — 19 ■ 436 * Lesson 10 embraces Sections 47, .8, .9. xxxiii ANALYTICAL AND mSTORICAL TABLE. MATT. MAHK. LUKE. JOHN. IlirSTBATIONS. PAGE Of binding and loosinij [Ch. 18. 18] 16. 19 [20.23] :--„\-:;'^t The disciples not yet to make him known —20 8.30 9.21 [Lu. 4. 41 ; ML 3- 12] 437 Fbom this time forwakd Jesus beoiss to fobeteli,, cincrMSTANTiALiT, to the disciples nis suffeeings and TEATH: PeTKB EXrOSTULATES WITH HIM, AND IS SIIABPLY BEDCKED : JeSFS TAKES OCCASION THENCE TO DISCOURSE BOTH TO niS DISCIPLES AND TO TnE PEOPLE ON THE DUTY OF SELF-DENIAL AND TAKING UP TEE CBOSS, AND PKOCEEDS TO SPEAK OF TUE OLOBY, PROMISING A VIEW OF THE COMING KINGDOM. Pp. 437— .12. ]\I.\TT. 16. 21— .8. Mabk 8.31—9. 1. Like 9. 22— .7. JcsuB foretells his sufforings, &e., tlie/>-*< time 16. 21 8. 31 9. 22 [Mt. 17. 22, .3] 437 Peter's ignoraneo of this key of the kingdom ... — 22 —32 438 lie is rebuked l.v Jesus —23 —33 439 Christ our example ...[Mt. 10. 38; Lu. 14. 27] — 24 —34 —23 (The disciples aee instbucted with eegabd to nis second advent. Matt. 16. 25— .8. Mark 8. 35—9. 1. Luke 9. 24— .7. Pp. 440— ..2.) Who shall save his life [Mt. 10. 39] 16. 25 8.35 9.24 [12.25] Kev. 20. 4 410 '"Wliat is a man profited," &c —26 — 36, .7 —25 Job27.8; Lu.l2. 19-21 ... Chri8l'8cominginRlory...[Mt. 25. 31; 26. 64] — 27 —38 —20 Promises a sight of his kingly glory —28 9.1 —27 Mt. 17.1-8; 2 Pe.Lie-.8 412 Geogbapdical Notice. — 'Ca;sarca Philippi,' p. 442. Addenda.—' On the Principle of Ecward in general," Matt. xvi. 27, p. 444..—' Suffer many things," Malt. xvi. 21, ibid.-^' Of the Keys of the Kingdom "of Heaven exhibited in the Two Epistles of Peter," pp. 445— ..8. — 'A Tabular View of Eeve- lalion xxi. 19, 20 ; chap. iv. ; and 1 Ep. Peter,' p. 448. SECTION 51.— [Lesson 48.]— Jesus Appears in Glory, witli Moses and Elias, etc. Matthew xvii. 1—21. Mark ix. 2—29. Luke ix. 28-42.— Mount Hermon. Pp. 449-.68, Intboduction and Analysis. P. 449. Jesus is tbansfigueed on a certain mountain, in the presence of Peter, James, and John. Matt. 17. 1—8. Mark 9. 2—8. Luke 9. 28—36. Pr. 449— .55. Jesus takes the three up to a mountain to pray 17-1 9.2 9-28 • 419 Is transfigured before them —2 —2,3 —29 [1.14] llcv. 1. 10 ; 2 Pe. 1. 16 450 The two witnesses, Moses and Elias —3 —4 —30 - — ■ Do. 34.5,6; 2 Ki. 2. 11 451 Subject of their conversation • — '31 • 452 Peler, &c., heavy with sleep [14.37-42] —32 Petei-'s proposal to build three tabernacles —4 — 5,0 — 33 453 A bright cloud overshadows them —5 —7 —34 Ex.40.34; lKi.8. 10, .1 ... The Father acknowledges Jesus as the Christ. . . — 5 — 7 — 35 [Mt. 3. 17 ; Mk. 1.11; Lu. 3- 22] 454 The Kino, ' My beloved Sou " —5 —7 —35 2 Pe. 1. 17, .8 The Priest, 'In whom I am well pleased'... — 5 Is. 42. 1 The Prophet, ' Hear ye him " —5 —7 —.35 De. 18. 15, .8, .9 The disciples ' sore afraid " — 6 • Ex. 40. 35 455 Bid arise and not be afraid — 7 Ecv. 1. 17, .8 .Tesus is found alone — 8 — 8 — 36 The disciples sQent on the subject — 30 The next day, as they are coming down from the mountain, Jesus discourses with the three disciples ON THE COMING OF Elias. Matt. 17. 9—13. Mabk 9. 9—13. Luke 9. 37. Pp. 455, ..6. Jesus speaks of the rising from the dead 17.9 9.9,10 9.-37 Mt. 28. 7 455 They ask about the coming of Eliiis — 10 —11 'Elias Indy f-hall first come, and restore,' &p.... —11 —12 [1. 16, .7] Mai. 4. 5, 6; Ac. 3.20, .1 450 Ilad begun to come in John the Baptist — 12, .3 — 13 [— 76-.8] Jesus is met by much people 9.37 Jesus heals a demoniac, which his disciples in his absence had not been able to do. Matt. 17. 14— .8. Mark 9. 14—27. Luke 9. 38— 42.— i); i/w Plain. Pp. 457— ..9. The scribes found questioning the disciples 9. 14-.0 457 Who have failed to cast out a dumb spirit 17. 14-.0 — 17, .8 9.38-40 ^ ' O faithless and per^-erse generation,' &e —17 —19 —41 > De. 32. 20 458 The demoniac brought to Jesus — 20 43 His father describes the case 21, .2 Jesus says, ' If thou canst believe,' &e —23 [17.6 11.40] 459 The parent's prayer, ' Help thou," &c — 24 • The child is healed — 18 25-.7 42 — xxxiv ANALYTICAL AND HISTORICAL TABLE. Jestts in pbivate ESPLiiNS HIS DISCIPLES* iNABiLiTr. Matt. 17. 19 — 21. Mahk 9. 28, .9. p. 459. MATT. MARE. LUKE. JOHN. ILLUSTHATIONS. PAGE The disciples ask, ' Why could not we,' &c 17.19 9.28 459 Jesus speaks of the power of faith — 20 . [Mt.21.21; Mk.11.23] Uscfulucss of prayer and fasting — 21 — 29 [ 22] 400 GEOGEAPniCAL NoTiCE. — ' Mount Tabor, traditionally the scene of our Lord's Transfiguration,' pp. 400 — ..5. Addenda. — ' The Transfiguration of Christ,' p. 405. — ' Prophecies concerning the restoration of " all Israel," ' pp. 466 — ..8. SECTION 52.— [Lesson 49.]— Jesus, the Second Time, Forewarns his Disciples of his Suffer- ings, &c. Matthew xvii. 22— .7 [xviii. 1—9], Mark ix. 30—50. Luke ix. 43—50. John vii. 1. —From Hermon to Capernaum. Pp. 469— .81. Intbodtjction and Analysis. P. 469. Jesus jouenets and resides in Galilee ; and again plainly foeetells his sufferings, &c. Matt. 17. 22, .3. Mark 9. 30— .2. Luke 9. 43— .5. John 7. 1. P. 460 Jesus walks through GaUlce 17.22 9.30 7.1 469 While all are amazed at his mighty power ■ 9.43 470 He again predicts his sufferings, &c — 22, .3 — 31 — 43, .4 — — The disciples understand not, &c — 23 — 32 — 45 The disciples dispute among themselves. The collectors op the tribute money make application TO Petee. Matt. 17. 2-4— .7. Mark 9. 33. Luke 9. 'ii>. —Capernaum. P. 471. The disciples dispute among themselves 9.46 [Lu. 22. 21J 471 Peter directed to pay tribute 17. 24-.7 9.33 Jesus questions the disciples about theib dispute ; and, upon their making no answer, he proceeds, both BY A significant ACTION, AND BY WORD OF MOUTH, TO INSTRUCT THEM IN HUMILITY, AND TO AVOID CAUSING OFFENCE. Mark 9. 33—50. Luke 9. 47—50. P. 473. Jcsus questions the disciples about their dispute [18. 1] Sets a child in the midst of them [ — 2-5] The disciples' intolerance Jesus says, ' Forbid him not : for,' &c [26. 10] Cup of water given in Chi-ist's name [10. 42] Of offending one of the little ones [18. 6] Better to part with hand, &o [18.8; 5.30] — 43, .4 ■ • foot [—8] — 45,.6 477 ; — eye [— 9; 5.29] — 47, .8 Every sacrifice must be salted — 49 — — Le. 2. 13 ; Eze. 43. 24 . 478 Salt is good, &c. Have peace, &c [5. 13] — 50 Eom. 12. 18 Addenda. — ' On the identity of Matt, xviii. 1 — 9 ; Mark is. 33 — 50 ; Luke is. 47 — 50,' p. 479. — ' On the first instance of disjnitc among the disciples concerning precedence,' ibid. — 'Drowned in the depth of the sea, Matt, xviii. 6,' p. 481. — ' On the connection of Matt, xviii. with Mark is. 33, &c., Luke ix. 47, &c.,' ibid. SECTION 53.— [Lesson 50.]— Of Humility and Forgiveness of Injuries. Capernaum. Matthew xviii. Pp. 482— ..6. Introduction and Analysis. P. 482. The disciples agree to refer their dispute to Jesus ; he discourses to them upon that subject as before. Matt. 18. 1—22. Pp. 482— ..4. Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven P ... 18.1-4 [9. 33-.6 9. 40, .7] 482 Of receiving and of offending the little ones ... — 5,0 [ — 37,42 — 48] Exercise self-denial rather than cause offence .. . — 7-9 [ — 43-.8] — Lu. 9. 25 Eeasons for not despising the little ones, ver. 10 — .4. 1. Their angels have ready access to the Father — 10 ■ Ac. 12. 15 2. The Son hath come to save the lost —11 [9.56 3.17] 1 Tim. 1. 15 3. Ecjoicing over the lost when found — 12, .3 [15.46] 4. Not the Father's will that one should perish — 14 — — [10. 28] 2 Pe. 3. 9 483 Means for recovering an erring brother, ver. 15 — .7. 1. Tell him his fault privately —15 2. If ho refuse, take one or two more w7«Mses — 16 [8.17] 2 Cor. 13. 1 3. Ifstill careless, teU it to the church —17 2 Th. 3. 6, 14 In seeking to reform others, exercise self-watchfulness, ver. 18 — 20. As yo do, it will be done to you ... [Ch. 16. 19] —18 • 2 Cor. 2. 10 Unity in prayer —19 Ja. 5- 10 ; 1 Juo. 5. 14. 484 Christ in their midst [ — 28.20] —20 To forgive ' Until seventy times seven ' — 21, .2 [17.4] Da. 9. 24 XXXY 9.33, .4 [Mt.20 26, .7; Lu. 22. 24-30] 473,..4 — 35- .7 9. 47, .8 474 — 38 — 49 Nu 11. 27-.9 475 — 39, 40 — 50 — 41 — 42 470 ANALYTICAL AKD HISTORICAL TABLE. The PABADiE or the kikg hoidiko ACCorsT with nis debtors. VEn. 23—35. P. 481. MATT. MAHK. irKE. JOIIX. ILLUSTR-tTIOXS. PAGE Tho servant who owed 10.000 talents 18. 23-.7 — 2 Ki. 4. 1; Ps. 78. 3S . 481 , His foUow-serrnnt who owcdhim 100 pence ... —28-30 BinilinR his fellow-sorvnnt, he is himself bound. — 31-.4 P oi ii The warninf; 118 before suKRested, ver. 18 —35 lr.21. 13 Addenda.— 'On the conclusion of two years and a half of Jesus' ministry," p. 480. SECTION 54— [Lesson 51.*]— The Feast of Tabernacles. John vii. 2— 9.— Capernaum. Pp. 487— .90. IXTRODrCTION AND ANALYSIS. P. 4S7. Jesus'brethrcnbid him shcwhimsclf in Jerusalem [3.21] 7.2-5 487 Je.su9 answers, ' My time is not yet come ' — *'-9 [Ch. 2. 4; 8. 20] Adde.sda.— 'On the supplementary relation of John vii. 2— xi. 51, to tho first three Gospels,' p. 488.— The 'Feast of Tabernacles,' p. 489. SECTION 55.— Jesus sets out to go to Jerusalem. He Teaches in the Temple. John vii. 10— x. 21. — Jerusalem. Pp. 491—523. Intkodxtction and Analysis. Chap. 7. 10—8. 1. P- 491. After the depabtube of nis brethren, Jesus himself sets out to go to Jerusalem. Opinions of the Jews as TO the character of Jesus, and the probability of his coming to the feast. Chap. 7. 10— .3. P. 491. Jesus goes up ' as it were in secret ' ■ ■ 7. 10 491 Different opinions respecting him [21.40 7.10] — 11..3 Jno. 9. 10; 11. 56 About the middle of the feast Jesus appeaes in the temple, and teaches. Vee. 14—30. Pp. 492 — ..5. .Tesus teaches publicly in the temple 7.14 492 The Jews marvel at his learning [13.54 6.2 4.22] —15 Ac. 2^7-12 Jesus declares his teaching to be of God How men may discover it to be so The true messenger seeks glory of him who sent .Tesus charges the Jews with seeking to kill him [12. 14 3- 0] — 19 Denying this, they proceed to blastphemy ■ • — 20 Charge him with s.ibbath breaking — 21-.4 Jesus recognised bysome belonging to Jerusalem ■ 25 They reject him as knowing whence he is — 20, .7 See ifie rule, ver. 17 Yet they do not know ... from whom ho is ... [11-27] — 28, .9 Ch. 1. 18 — 16 Ch. 14. 10-24 — 17 — 18 493 25 494 S'omc seek to take Jesus [11.18 19.47] —30 495 PaBTICULABS of the last D.AT OF THE FEAST, THE TWENTY-FIRST OF THE JeWISH TiSEI. Chap. 7. 31—8. 1. Pp. 495— ..8. Many believe Jesus to be the Christ 7.31 495 Officers sent to take him — 32 Ch. 11. 47 His time of leaving is not yet — 33 [ — 16.16] ' Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me ■ — 34 Hos. 5. 6 ; [Jno. 13. 33] ... The Jews a-sk, ' Whither will he go,' &c — 35, .0 Is. 11. 12 ; Ja. 1. 1 Jesus earnestly invites to the Fountain of life (Is. 44. 3; 55. 1; 58. 11 496 [Jno. 6. 35] — 37-.9 Le. 23. 36 ; Joel 2. 28 ; 'This is the prophet' [—1.21] [11.3] —40 De. 18. 18; Ac. 7. 37 . 497 Others ' the Christ,' some object— com;;, v. 27... [2. 5 2. 11] — 41, .2 Ps. 132. 11 ; Mi. 5. 2 ; (Jno. 1.40; 4.42; 6. 69 ... Tlie people are divided — 43, .4 The officers report— 'Never man spake like,\*;.e. [7.29 4.22] —45, .6 The Pharisees ask, 'Have any of the rulers,' &i'. — 47-.9 Jo. 5. 4, 5 Nicodemus pleads for a fair investigation — 50, .1 Pr. 18. 13 498 The sneer, 'Art thou also of Galilee P' ■ — 52 They go each to his own home — 53 And'JesuB. .. -to themouut of Ohves' [21.37] 8.1 [Lesson 52.]— Jesus, the light of the world, etc. John 8. 2 — 59. Pp. 449—510. Introduction and Analysis. Veb. 2 — 59. The adulteress released. Abraham's seed, &c. J jsus teaches in the temple 8.2 500 An adulteress brought before him — 3-6 Jesus answers her accusers — 7-9 Eom. 2. 22 Says to her, ' Go, and sin no more • [9.56] — 10, .1 Ch. 3. 17; [ch. 5. 14]... 501 • Lesson 51 embraces Section 54, and part of Section 55. — John vii. 2 — viii. 1. xxxvi .ANALYTICAL AND HISTORICAL TABLE. Jesus' followers sliall not walk in darkness Jesus is accused of witnessing of himself He adverts to the witness of the Father Uis answer to ' Wliere is thy Father ? ' ' In the treasury,' ' his hour ' not yet come ' Whither I go, ye cannot come ' 'Will he kill himself?' {see note) Intimates whence ho is, and warns of unbelief The question, 'Who art thou?' The Son of man to be lifted up Contrasts his own case with theirs Many believe on him Ke tells who are his disciples indeed The truth makes free The Jews say, ' We bo Abraham's seed,' &c. . . Their bondage spiritual Not in the best sense children of Abraham They claim to have God for their father Jesus shews who is their Father Exposes the ground of their unbelief The Jews begin to blaspheme Jesus' reply, ' I have not a devO,' &c They become confident in their blasphemy True honour, Jesus' knowledge of the Father . . Abraham's knowledge of Jesus The Jews' ignorance of his Divinity Jesus declares that he is 'I am' Escapes from bemg stoned [4. 30] JOHN. ILI.USTBATIOXS. PAGE 8. 12 Lu. 2. 32; 13.49.6 ... 501 — 13 — 14-.8 Ch. 16. 32; Mt. 3. 17 . 502 — 19 — 5. 18; 14. 0, 7. 9; ... — 20 (16.3; 17.25 503 — 21 [— 13.33]; Pr. 14. 32 ... 22 — 23, A — 3.31 — 25-.7 — 5. 17-30; Heb. 13. 8 501 — 28 — 3. U; 5. 19, 30; ... — 29 (Rom. 1.4 ... — 30 [— 11.45] 505 — 31 Eom. 2. 7; Col. 1. 23; ... — 32 Hos.6.3(Heb.l0.3G,.9 ... — 33 ICor. 7. 22 — 31.-.8 50C — 39,40 507 — 41 — 42- .4 Is. 63. 16; 64.8; Mai. 1.6 508 — 45-.7 Ch. 10. 26, .7 — 48 509 — 49,50 — 5. 41-.4 — 51-.3 — 54, .5 —5. 41; Ac. 3. 13 — 56 Lu. 10. 24 510 — 57 — 58 Ex. 3. 14; Is. 43. 13 — 59 Ch. 11. 8 ; [10. 31-.9] .... [Lesson 53.] — Jesus heals a man who was boen blind. John 9. Intboduction and Analysis. P. 511. Pp. 511— .16. [8. 23] 9.1-3 — 4,5 — 6 — 7 — 8-12 — 13-.7 — 18-23 — 24, .5 — 26, .7 — 28, .9 — 30-.3 — 34 — 35-.8 — 39-41 Ch. 11.4; Lu. 13.2, 3; 511 (Ac. 28. 4 512 2 Ki. 5. 10 ; Ne. 3. 15. 513 [Ch. 3. 2].. — 16.2; Ps. 50. 14, Is. 26. 11 .5 514 Ps. 103. 7 ; Ch. 10. 3] ; Heb. 3. 5.. Job 27. 9 515 [— 4.26] (Is. 5. 21 ... [— 3. 19] Eom. 2. 19 ; 516 A man blind from his birth, why ? Jesus speaks of approaching darkness, &c anoints the eyes of the blind man • ~— sends him to the pool of SUoam • The man being questioned by the Jews Confesses Jesus to be a prophet His parents questioned The man's answer, ' One thing I know,' &c. ... • ' How opened he thine eyes ? ' &c ■ ' We are Moses' disciples,' &c ■ • The man bears testimony for Jesus . • Is reproached and cast out Jesus further reveals himself to him The blind made to see, the seeing made blind... ■ (Jesus intimates that this case of the man born blind may be taken to express the result of his coming into the world, by which the nations born blind have been made to see, whilst the Jews, who said, ' We see,' have been left to blindness and blasphemy.) Jesus deliveks the pabable op the Good Shepheed. Chap. 10. 1 — 21. Pp. 516 — .21. Parable of the sheepfold, &c Jesus is the door The thief and the Saviour contrasted The Good Shepherd contrasted with the Hireling Other sheep than those of the Jewish fold The Father's will DisputingB among the Jews for these sayings... GEoc.KArnicAL Notices. — ' The Pool of Siloam,' p. 521. — 'Dr. Robinson's E.xploration of the Subterranean Communication of the " Fountain of the Virgin " \vith the " Pool of Siloam," ' p. 522.—' The Village of Siloam,' p. 523. 10. 1-6 Rom. 5.1, 2 516 — 7-9 517 — 10 518 — 11-.5 Eze. 34. 12-23 — 16 Is. 49. 6; 56.8 519 — 17, .8 Ph.2. 8,9; Ac.2.21,,32 520 — 19-21 521 SECTION J)o.-[Lesson 54.*]- Jesus at the Feast of Dedication. John x. 22-39. Pp. 524-..9 Intboduction and Analysis. P. 524. Jesus distinguishes dktween the Jews and nis sheep. Is accused of blasphemy. JesuB walks in Solomon's porch 10.22, .3 Ac. 3. 11-26 ; 5. 12 52-1 * Includes Sections 56, .7. xxxvii y ANALYTICAL AND HISTORICAL TABLK. MATT. MARK. 526 [1. 35] The Jews ask, ' If thou be the Christ,' &c .losus hnd already declared himself What the characteristics of his sheep Their security, and the cause thereof^ Jesus declares his oneness with the Father The Jews ngaiu take up stones to stone him .. Jesus asks for his accusation They chari;e him with blasphemy Claims only what the Scriptures warrant Ilis works declare what he is Enough to prove his oneness with the Father. . . Jesus again escapes Addenda.— 'The Feast of the Dedication," p. 528 p. 529. SECTION 57.-Jesus Departs from Jerusalem to the Quarter beyond Jordan, where John at first Baptized. Many BeUeve on him there. John X. 40-.2.-See North of Bethshan. Pp. 529, .30. Inteoduction and Analysis. P. 529. JOHN. 10. 24, — 25 — 26, .7 — 28, .9 — 30 — 31 — 32 — 33 — 34-.6 — 37 — 38 — 39 n.LrSTIlATIOXS. PAGE . 525 Ch. 5. 36 l.Tno. 4. 6 1 Pe. 1. 5 ; neb. 7. 25 Ch. 17. 21-.3 [— 8.59] Ec. 4.4 Ch. 5. 17, .8 27. 36, .7; 8. 42; 527 ...(Ps. 82.; 18.11.3,3 ... 528 ■Solomon's porch,' iJW.— 'How long dost thou make us to doxibt?' Jesns goes beyond Jordan, 'where John,' &c... — " Many acknowledge .John's testimony of him ... [3. 11, -^J GEOQBArniCAL Notice.—' Went away again beyond Jordan,' &c., p. 10.40 -41, ,2 Ch. 3. 30 529 530 530. SECTION 58.-[Lesson 55.]-Jesus Restores Lazarus to Life John xi. 1—54.— Bethany in Judaea. Pp. 531— ..9. iNTBODrCTION AND ANALYSIS. P. 531. Jesus eeceives news of Lazabtjs' sickness. Veb. I—IG.—Xoiili of Bethshan. Bethany or Bethahara, East of Jordan, Lazarus and his sisters [10. 38, .9] 11. 1. 2 Jesus is informed of Lazarus' sickness proposes to go into Judsa again The disciples object. Jesus' reply He says, ' Our friend Lazarus sleepeth,' &e. ... [9. 24] ' Lazarus is dead.' ' Let us go unto him.' Thomas proposes to go and die with Jesus — 3-5 — 6,7 -8-10 — 11-.3 Pp. 532, ..3. Cli. 5. 23, .8 ; 9. 3 532 Ec. 2. 14 Da. 12. 2; Ac. 7. 60; ... — 14, .5 (1 Cor. 15. 20, 51 533 — 16 Jesus abeives at Bethany, in Jud^a. Veb. 17 — 35. Pp. 533, ..4. Lazarus has lain four days in the grave Bethany, fifteen furlongs from Jerusalem Many visit the bereaved sisters Martha's intercession, 'Lord, if thou,' &c Jesus saith, 'Thy brother,' &c Martha, ' In the resur.' [ Jno. 5. 25, .6; 6. 39, -10] Jesus says, 'I am the resur.,' &c.... [Jno. 8. 51] Martha confesses Jesus to be the Christ Mary is told of the IMaster's arrival She repeats Martha's saying, ver. 21 The sympathy of Jesus [14. 14] [10. 49] [19. 41] n.i7 — 18 — 19 — 20-.2 — 23 — 24 — 25, .6 — 27 — 28-31 — 32 — 33-.5 533 Job 2. 11; Eom. 12. 15 ... ITh. 4. 14 Jobl9. 25-.7 534 Is. 26. 19; Col. 3. 4 Lu.2. 11 Ch. 13. 13 535 [— 4.49] 18.63.9 Reasonings of the Jews Jesus at the grave of Lazarus [13. 58] Tlie stone removed [27. 60, .6] Prayer to the Father [11. 25] ' Ijazarus, come forth ' [Jno. 5. 28, .9] ' Looge him, and let him go ' ... [— 20.7].., Jesus eaises Lazaeus to life. Veb. 35 — 44. Pp. 535, ..6. 11.36, .7 — 38-40 —41 — 41, .2 [7. 14, .5] — 43 535 Ge. 23. 19,20.. 536 Heb. 4. 15, .6 IKi. 17.21,.2; 2Ki.4. ... (34, .5; Ac. 20. 9-12 The oidings of this miracle being BKouonT to the Phabisees, they abe the moee determined theeeby to put Jksds to dk.ath. Jesus withdraws to Epiibaim, where he st.ays some time. Veb. 4.5 — 54. Pp. 537, ..8. Many believe, others tell the Pharisees 11. 45, .6 537 The chief priests and Pharisees in council — 47 Ac. 4. 15, .6 Their fear. ' The Eomans shall come,' &c —48 xxxviii ANALYTICAL AND HISTORICAL TABLE. MATT. MABK. LUKE. JOHN. IHUSTBATI0N3. PAGE Caiaphas' prophecy respecting tlie expediency "^ 097 in r of a propitiatory aacrifice, upon the ground/ C -r^°,' , „', "oii -is' of wMcli were to bo gathered together the > 11.49-52^ f^,, ;,"'7, "V children of God that were scattered abroad I / ^^: "• }^ ' -^^^- ^'- ^ ,, [Jno. 18. 14]} '^ 21, .2; Hos. 1. 11 ... 537 They resolve upon Jesus' death —53 Ps. 37. 32 ; 109. 4, 5... 538 Jesus retires to Ephraim [ — 7.1]... —54 2 Sa. 13. 23 Geogeaphical Notices. — ' Bethany,' p. 538. — ' Ephraim,' p. 539. SECTION 59.— [Lesson 56.]— When the Fourth Passover is drawing nigh, Jesus departs from Ephraim, through Samaria to Capernaum ; intending to commence his Fourth and last Circuit of Galilee from thence. Luke ix. 51—62. Pp. 340— ..5. Intboduction and Analysis. P. 540. Jesus departs. Vee. 51. — From Ephraim. Jesus sets his face to go to Jerusalem 9.51 540 Messengees sent into Samaeia to peepaee fob niii. Vee. 52 — .6. P. 541. Kefused by a Samaritan village 9. 53, .3 541 Of calling down fire from heaven — 54-.6 2 Ki. 1. 9-12 A CEBTAIN MAN PEOPOSES TO FOLLOW JeSUS. VeE. 57, .8. P. Hid. Self-denial required in following Jesus [8.19,20] 9. 57, .8 3 Cor. 8. 9 511 Jesus calls one to follow him. Vee. 59, 60. P. 543. Jesus must be preferred [8. 21, .2] 9.59,60 543 AnOTHEE SATS, 'LOKD, I WILL FOLLOW THEE,' &C. VeB. 61, .2. P. ibid. Oflookingback • 9. 01, .2 Ph. 3. 14 ; Heb. 10. 38 542 Addenda. — ' Comparison of the cases recorded by Matthew and Lulie, of persons who proposed, or were invited, to become followers of Jesus, Matt. viii. 19—23, and Luke ix. 57—02,' p. 542. — ' On the supplementary relation of Luke ix. 51 — xviii. 14, to the first two Gospels,' p. 543. — ' Suggestions on the probable place and time of Luke ix. 51 — 63,' p. 545. SECTION 60.— [Lesson 57.]— The Seventy sent. The Good Samaritan. Luke X. 1-37. Pp. 546— .56. Introduction and Analysis. P. 546. The seventy sent out in companies or two and two. Jesus waits for theie return. Vee. 1 — 24. Capernaum. Pp. 546 — .51. The seventy appointed, and sent two and two. . . [6. 7] 10. 1 Ku. 11. 16 5 16 The harvest i.s great— pray for labourers [9. 37, .8] —2 [4.35] 1 Cor. 3. 9; 1 Tim. 5. 17 Sends them 'forth as lambs among wolves' [10.16] • — 3 ■ 517 To carry neither purse, &c [—9,10 —8,9] —4 ■ 2 Ki. 4. 29 ; Pr. 4. 25 'Lito whatsoever house ye,' &e....[Lu. 19.5-10] [— 12, .3 —10] —5-7 lSa.25, -6; lCor.9.4-14 ... What to do when received in a city [ — 11] — 8,9 • when not received [ — 14, .5 — 11] — 10-. 3 543 "Woe to Chorazin ; woo to Bcthsaida [11. 20-.2] — 13, .4 ■ — — Capernaum; -Exalted to heaven' [ — 23] —15 Is. 14. 13-.5; Am.9. 2, 3 ... ' He that heareth you,' &c [10.40 9.37] —16 [5.33] 1 Sa. 8. 7; 1 Th. 4. 8... 549 Iveturn of the seventy ;... devils subject to them [ — 1] — 17 Jesus declares Satan's fall and overthrow [16.18] — IS, .9 (Ilob. 12- 23 ... The true cause of rejoicing —20 Da. 12. 1 ; Ph. 4. 3 ; 550 Thanks to the Father for revealing to babes ... [11.25, .6] ■ —21 Ps. 25. 9 ; Is. 29. 14 All thiugs are delivered to Jesus [ — 27] —23 [14.8,9] 551 Blessed are the eyes which see, &c [13. 16, .7] — 33, .4 Jesus answers the inquiry of a certain lawyer concerning eternal life, and takes occasion thence to deliver the second of his moral parables, which sets forth the humanity of a certain Samaritan. Veb. 25—37. Pp. 551— ..4. A lawyer asks, 'What shall I do P'&c [22.35] 10.25 551 •Jesus directs him to the written word — 36 The two great commandments [ — 37-.9 12.29-31] —27 (.3,21... ' This do, and thou Shalt live ' [19.17] —38 Le. 18. 5 j Eze. 20. U- 553 • Who is my neighbour ?' —29 Mt. 5. 43, .4; Lu. 16- 15 ... Tlic parable of the man who fell among thieves — 30, .tr. priest aad Levite — 31, .3 553 xxxix ANALYTICAL AND niSTORICAL TABLE. MATT, MARK. jonu. ILLrSTBATIONS. PAQB 553 554 LHKE. Tlio Sniiiariian 10.33-.5 • Go, and do thou likowisi- ■ [23.23] — 30, .7 Appenpa.— 'TlicITarmony of the accounts of the sending of tLc Twelve and of tho Seventy, Matt. x. 1,5—16; ix. 37, .8; Mark vi. 7—11 ; Luke x. 1—12," p. 554.— ' The Woe and the Blessing, as recorded by Matt. xi. 21— .3, 25— .7; xiu. 10, .7 ; and Luke x. va— .5, 21— .4,' pp. 555, ..6. SECTION 61— [Lesson 58.*]— Jesus is Entertained by Martlia. Luke X. 38-42. Pp. 557, ..8. Commends Mary's Choice. Inteoduction and Analysis. jEsrs IS ENTEBTAiNED BY Maetha ; coJiiiENDS Maey. — Oil ilic last General Circuit. Jesus is entertained by Martha Mary and Martha contrasted Tlie Lord pronounces upon Martha's case [6. 33] And upon Mary's [Lu. 18.28 —20,33] Addenda. — 'On the Village of Martha and Mary,' p. 558. 10.38 — 39, 10 — 41 — 42 [12.1,2] 557 ICor. 7. 32-.5 Ps. 27. 4; 73. 25; Ec. 12. 13 ; 1 Cor. 13. 2, 3; Heb. 11. 25, .6.... SECTION 62.— A Form of Prayer; and Encouragement thereto, etc. Luke xi. Pp. 559-.72. Inteodtjction and Analysis. P. 559. Jesus peescbibes foe the use of his disciples a foem of prayee ; and adds a fuethee discouese upon the efficacy of phayee. Vee. 1 — 13. Pp. 559, .CO. ' Lord, teach us to pray ' 11.1 559 Jesus teaches how to pray, 'Our Father,' &c.... [6. 9-13] —2-4 Mk. 11. 25, .6 Perseverance in prayer encouraged — 5-8 Ch. 18. 1 ; Ge. 32. 26... 560 Jesus farther encourages to prayer — 9-13 [Mt. 7. 7-11] A Dumb Devil cast out, etc. Luke xi. 14—54. Pp. 561— ..6. [Lcssou 59.] — Jesus casts out a dumb spieit: some make light of the mieacle; othees demand a sign fbom heaven. Jesus eeplies to both in oedeb. Vee. 14 — 36. Pp. 501 — ..0. Inteoduction and Analysis. Vee. 14 — 54. P. 561. .Tesus easts out a dumb spirit ; some refer his power to Beelzebub, others ask for a sign ... [12. 22-.4] Jesus' answer, 'Every kingdom divided,' &c. ... [ — 25-30 They aro themselves to be ' a sign ' [ — 43-.5 ' Blessed is the womb,' &c. — Jesus' answer Of not attending to God's witnesses. Of Jonas [ — 38-42] Light is given in order to be manifested [5. 15, .6 To profit by the light, the eye must be single... [6. 22, .3] 11. 14- .6 501 3. 24] — 17-23 Ex. 8. 19 -27] — 24-.6 502 — 27, .8 Ps. 119. 1,2 — 29-32 563 4.21, .2] — 33 — 34-.6 Pr.28.22 Jesus is invited the same day to dine with a certain Phaeisee. He sits down without first washing his HANDS ; THE Pharisee being secretly offended thereby, Jesus eebukes the hypoceisy and carnal eighteousness of his sect. Vee. 37 — 54. Pp. 504 — ..0. Jesus goes in to dine wilh a Pharisee The manner in which to prepare for dinner [23. 25, .0 Three woes — the vain scrupulosity, pride, and hypocrisy of the Pharisees [ — 23-.7] Three woes upon the lawyers As binding hea\^' burdens upon the people ... As hating the living, whilst worsh. the dead... [ — 29-30] For taking away the key of knowledge [16. 19] They evidence the truth of what he says Addenda.—' The Parallelism of Luke xi. 1—4; 9- ' 14—20, 29- • — 33— .0 — 7.3] 11.37 — 38-41 Is. 58.7; Ti. i". 15!!! .. 504 — 42-.4 — 45, &c. Ps. 5.9... Is. 58. 6 .... ... .. 505 — 46 — 47-51 Ge. 9. 5 Mai. 2. 7 — 52 — 53, .4 .. 506 13, and Matt. vi. 7—13 ; vii. 7—11,' p. 567. 32, and xii. 22—30, 38—45,' ihid. — , and v. 15 ; vi. 22, .3,' p. 569. 37—54 , and xxiii. 4, 6, 7, 13, 23-36,' p. ihiJ. • On the Two Dispossessions, and the Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost : or the comparison of Matt. xii. 22—45, with Luke xi. 11~'26,' p. 571. xl * Includes Section 61, and port of Section 62. Analytical and histoeical table. SECTION 63.— [Lesson 60.]— Jesus Discourses on various Topics, and Delivers Three Parables. Luke xii. Pp. 573 — .84. Inieoduction and Analysis. P. 573. On the Last Circuit of Galilee. MATT. Jesus bids his disciples beware of bjrpocrisy ... [16. 6] For all shall be revealed and made known [10. 26, .7 Not to tear man, but God [— 28] ' Are not five sparrows sold for,' &c. [Lu. 31. 18] — 29-31] Of confessing him before men, &c. [ — 9. 26 — 32, .3 The danger of blaspheming the Holy Ghost ... [12. 31, .2 To trust God for their defence [10. 16-20 One wants his brother to share with him Jesus' reply He warns against covetousness Parable of the rich glutton Not to care for the body, but the soul [6. 25-34] ' Fearnot, httle flock,' &c Treasure in the heavens [19.21] Waiting for the return of their Lord [24. 42-.4] The faithful and wise steward [ — 45-51] Knowledge of duty enhances guilt Jesus come 'to send fire on the earth ' Straitened until the predicted baptism [20. 22 Division in households anticipated [10. 3'l-.6] He reproaches for not discerning ' this time ' . . . [16. 2, 3] 'Why even of yourselves judge ye not,' &c. ... To seek immediate reconcfiiation [5. 25, .6] Addenda. — ' Comparison of Luke xii., with portions of Matthew v., vi. Hebrew Parallelism in our Lord's discourses,' pp. 582 — ..4, MARK. LUKE. JOHN. ILLirSTBATIONS. PAGE 12.1 573 4. 22] — 2,3 Job 12. 22; Ec. 12.14 ... — 4,5 — 6,7 — 8,9 [15. 14, 5] Is. 51.7,8, 12, .3; Je. 1.8 574 8. 38] 2Tim.2.12;lJno.2.23 ... 3. 28, .9] — 10 13. 11] — 11, .2 — 13 — 14 Ac. 7 [18. 36] — 15 Jos. 7. 21; Ec. 11. 9; ... — 16-21 f.Job 20. 22 &c 575 — 22-31 Ps. 34. 10 ; Heb. 13. 5 576 — 32 [10. 27, 8]Is. 40. 2 — 33, .4 Ac. 2. 45; 4. 34 — 35-40 Is. 11. 5; Eph. 6. 14... 577 — 41-.6 Ps. 37. 9 578 — 47, .8 — 49 — 50 [9. 41] Ja. 4. 17 ; 1 Tim. 1. 13 580 10. 38] — 51-.3 [7.43;9.16] Mic.7.6 581 — 54-.6 — 57 — 58, .9 itthew v., vi ., X., xii., xvi., xsiv., shewing also the principle of SECTION 64.— [Lesson 61.*]— All Warned to Repent. The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree. Luke xiii. 1 — 9. Pp. 585 — ..7. Inteoduction and Analysis. P. 585. Jesus, in Galilee, fobewaens the Jews of the calamities coming on them in connection with the desteuction of Jerusalem. The Galila^ans, whose blood Pilate had, &.C., a sign of what was about to befaU the people 13.1-3 Ac. 5. 37; Is. 1. 11-.7 585 So the eighteen and the tower in Siloam ■ • — 4,5 Ch. 19. 12-.4 The fig tree which encumbered the ground [21. 19] — 0-9 Ex. 32. 9, 10 ; Is. 5. 2 586 SECTION 65.— Jesus Heals a Woman. Parables. Luke xiii. 10—21. Pp. 588, ..9. Inteoduction and Analysis. P. 588. Jesus on the sabbath day hbals a woman who had a spibit of infibmitt eighteen yeaes; and justifies tub ACT, against the euleb of the synagogue. Luke 13. 10 — .7. Pp. 588, ..9. A woman who had an infirmity 18 years, healed [16.18] 13. 10-.3 Ac. 9. 17 588 The ruler of the synagogue is indignant — 14 Ex. 20. 9 Jesus vindicates liis having liberated the woman — 15, .6 [Ch. 14. 5]; Pr. 11. 9 ... His adversaries ashamed: the people rejoice ... — 17 Is. 45. 24 589 Jesus again delivees the pabable of the grain of mustard seed, and also that of the leaven. Vee. 18—21. P. 589. Parable of the grain of mustard seed [13. 31, .2 4. 30-.2] 13. 18, .9 589 leaven hid in 3 measures of meal [ — 33] — 20, .1 Addenda. — 'Comparison of Luke xiii. 18 — 21, with Matthew xiii. 31 — .3,' p. 587. SECTION 66.— Of the Saved. Herod. Jesus Predicts his Death. Laments over Jerusalem. Luke xiii. 22 — 35. Pp. 590 — ..4. Intboduction and Analysis. P. 590. Jesus answebs the question, ' Loed, aee theee few that be saved ? Luke 13. 22 — 30. Pp. 590, ..1. Jesus journeys toward Jerusalem 13.23 — — 500 Is asked, 'Are there few that be saved P' —23 — — * Includes Sections 61, .'>, G. xii ANALYTICAL AND HISTORICAL TABLE. MATT. JIAUK LUKE. JOHN. ILLUSTEATIONS. PAQB Bids them' strive to enter in at the Strait gate" [7. 13, .4] 13 21 590 Ere the door be shut [26.10] —25 Is. 55. 6 ... Past miduscd priviU-^'os will not then avail [7. 22, .3] — 2(), .7 The bittor cuw and regret [8.12] —28 ^^•heuce »haU come the heirs of the kingdom ... [8.11] —29 Kcv. 7. 9, 10 The bst first, and the first last [19.30 10.31] —30 JeSCS is ADV18BD BY CBBTAIN OF THE TuAKlSEES TO DEPAET OUT OF HeBOD's DOMINIO.NS. Ue LAMENTS ovEB Jebusalem. Veb. 31 — .5. Pp. 591 — ..3. Certainsay. 'Depart hence: for Herod,' &c. ... 13.31 [Ch.3.1; 23-7]; Am. 7.12 591 Jesus' answer, 'Go ye, and tell that fox,' &c.... — 32, .3 Zip. 3. 3 592 lament. 'O Jerusalem, .. .whiih,'&c.... [23. 37] —31 Desolation and blindness predicted till the time spoken of, I's. 118. 2G [Mt.21.9; — 38, .9 11.9,10] —35 [12.13] Adde.nua.-' Comparison of Luke xiii. 22—30, 3t, .5, with portions of our Lord's discourses, as given by Matthew, ch. vii. 13, .1, 21— .3; viii. 11, .2; xix. 30; Xiiii. 37— .9,' p. 591. SECTION 67- [Lesson 62.]— A Dropsical Man Healed. Of Self-Denial. Luke xiv. Pp. 595—601. Intboduction and Analysis. P. 595. Jesus, while eatiso bbead on the sabbath day in the house of a ceetain buleb, a Phaeisee, heals a man of the dbopsy. Luke 14. 1 — 6. P. Hid. Jesus in the house of a chief Pharisee 1-1.1 595 Watched if he would heal on the sabbath day... [3. 2] — 1, 2 Ch. 6. 7 ; Ps. 37. 32 SUences the Pharisees, &c., as at [12. 11, .'2] [—4] —3-6 De. 22. 4; Lu. 13. 15-.7 ... Jesus gives suitable advice to the quests, and also to his host; and in answee to an obseevation of one OF THE GUESTS, DELIVEE3 A PABABLE BELATING TO THE MYSTEBIES OF THE KINGDOM. YeB. 7 — 24. Pp. 596 — ..8. A parable, 'WTien thou art bidden,' &c 14.7-10 Pr. 25. C, 7 596 The proud shall be abased [Lu. 18. 14 23.12] —11 — 15. 33; Ja. 4. 6, 10 ... Advises his host whom he should feast [25. 34-14)] — 12-.4 — 22. 16. The parable of the great supper ...[—22.30 22.1-4] — 15-.7 597 Those bidden make various excuses [ — 5,6] — 18-20 [1- H] 1 Cor. 7. 33 •^— in the streets and lanes are invited — 21 Eev. 22. 17 598 in the highways, &c [—9,10] — 22, .3 None that were bidden allowed to partake [ — 8] — 24 Pr. 1. 24-.6 Jesus waens the multitudes, who webe following him in nis joueneyings, what was necessaey TO ANY one desieino TO BECO.ME HIS DISCIPLE. Vee. 25 — 35. Pp. 599, 600. Self-denial necessary in Jesus' disciple [10. 37-.9] 14. 25-.7 Ac. 20. 24 ; Eev. 12. 11 599 Unlike him, who began to buUd, &c —28-30 Pr. 24. 27 Unlike the king going improvidently to war ... — 31, .2 — 20.18 Jesus' discii.le must forsake all [16.24 10.21] —.33 Ph. 3. 7, 8 Of salt which has lost its savour [5.13 9.50] — 34, .5 600 Addenda. — ' The Parallelism of the Parables of the Great Supper, Luke xiv. 16 — 24, and of the Marriage Feast, Matthew ixii. 1—10,' p. 601. SECIION 68.— [Lesson 63.]— Jesus' Defence of Himself against the Pharisees, etc. He Delivers Three Parables. Luke xv. Pp. 602— .13. Intboduction, p. 602, and Analysis, p. 603. Jescs defends himself A(;ainst the exceptions of the sceibes and Phaeisees, foe beceiving and eating with publicans and sinnebs. He delivebs the fabadles of the lost sheep, and the lost piece of money. LvKE 15. 1—10. Pp. m'i—..h.— Eastward. Jesus receives pub., and sin. Pharisees murmur [9. 10- .2 2. 15-. 7] 15.1,2 Lu. 7. 29 603 Jbsus delivebs thbee pabables, illustea- tive of wimt was about to be done foe the LOST Eze. 11. 16;34. ll-.C; Ps.119.176; lPe.2.10,25 604 1. The lost sheep [18. 12, .3] —3-7 (Jesus speaks as if by contrast; thus. If one simp out of a Jlock would be .soufffit after, and rejoiced over tehcn found, how much more the whole flock.) [10. 6] 2. The lost piece of silver — 8-10 ..,,,, 605 {If one out of ten pieces of silver would be sought fur diligentli/, much more the whole ten ; and the Lord accounted all the ten tribes his peculiar treasure, Ex. 19. 5 ; Le. 20. '26; De. 14. 2— had been lost, 2 Ki. 17. 20-.3.) xJii ANALYTICAL AND HISTORICAL TABLE. JrStTS TAKES OCCASION FEOM THE SAME OCCUBBENCE, TO DELIVEE THE PABABIE OF THE ElDEE AND THE TotTNGEB BEOTDEB; OE, AS IT IS COMMONLY CALLED, THE TAEABLE OF THE PeODIGAL SON. VeE. 11 — 32. Pr. 60G .11. MATT. MAEK. LUKE. JOHN. ILLUSTEATIONS. PAGE 3. Tlie Prodigal son 15.11-24 Ho. 12. 1; Ps. 51.4; Je. 3. 18, .9 606 Jf the younger son would he received back with rejoicing, equally so, at the least, may it be expected, would the Jirst-horn, the favourite son, unto whom especially the inheritance had been promised, Je. 31. 9, 18-20. Eefusal of tlie elder son to rejoice at his brother's return. His father's entreaty —25-32 Is. 35. 10 ; Eom. 11. 1 ; Ph. 3. 6 610 The case of Judah, who was angry, and would not come in, and the father's gracipus invita- tion to him also, to partake of the blessing. Addenda. — 'Queries on the subject of the Israelitish Origin of the English,' p. 612. SECTION 69— [Lesson 64.]— Parables— The Unjust Steward; and the Rich Man and Lazarus. Luke xvi. Pp. 614— .24. Inteoduction and Analysis. P. 614. Jestis delivebs the paeable of the unjust stewaed. Luke 16. 1 — 18. Pp. 614 — ..7. The wisdom of peoviding in time foe eteenity. rEc.l2. 14; Eom. 14. 12; The steward who wasted his master's goods 16.1,2 < 1 Co. 4. 2; 1 Pe. 4. 5; Thinks to provide friends when put out, &e. ... • — 3-7 vBev. 20. 12 614 This parable also is to be understood by way of contrast, for we act most justly towards our Lord, as well as most surely for ourselves, when we expend his goods for the beneft of others .. . — ^ —8,9 [12.36] 1 Th. 5- 5, 8 615 If men would be entrusted with true riches, they must shew themselves faithful in what is already committed to their care [25.21] — 10, .1 616 If not faithful in another man's, who, &c -^12 'No servant can serve two masters,' &c [6.24] — 13 Jos. 24. 15-.9 The Pharisees, being covetous, deride Jesus ... [23.14] — 14 Heb. 12. 3 Actions are differently viewed by God and man [6. 5-8] — 15 Ps. 7. 9 ; 1 Sa. 16- 7 ... 617 The law and prophets witnessed until John [5.18 13.31] — 16, .7 Is. 40. 8 ; 51. 6 The Gospel requires a stricter obedience than even that demanded by the law, exemplified ini\i& case of divorce [5. 32; 19. 9 10. 11, .2] —18 Mai. 2. 14-.6 The PARABLE OF the EicH MAN AND Lazabus. Vee. 19 — 31. Pp. 618 — .20. DiSCOUESE ON the EIGHT USE OF PEOPEETY 16. 19, &C. The rich man and Lazarus; their cases contrasted — 19-21 Their cases in another state ■ • — 22, .3 ■ Prayer to saints, its ill success, for (he rich man — 24-.6 And also for his brethren — 27, .8 — The sufficiency of Scripture vindicated, in op- position to the voice from hell —29-31 Jno. 12. 10, .1 Addenda. — 'On the existence and locality of Hades,' pp. 621 — ..4. SECTION 70.— [Lesson 65.*]— Of Giving Offence, etc. Of Ten Lepers. Luke xvii. 1 — 19. Pp. 625 — ..7. Inteoduction and Analysis. P. 625. While Jesus is discouesing on the subject of offences, and on the fobgiveness of injubies, the apostles ASK foe inceease OF FAITH. Jesus' beply. Luke 17. 1 — 10. Pp. 625, ..6. Woe to him by whom offences come [18.6,7 9.42] 17.1,2 Rev. 18. 21 625 Brotherly forgiveness 'seven times in a day' ...[— 15-22] —3,4 Le. 19. 17 ; Eph. 4. 32. ... The apostles' prayer, 'Lord, increase our faith' [ — 23, .4] — 5 626 Jcsus'rcply, 'Ifyehadfaithasagrain,'&c. ... [17.20;21.2111. 22, .3] —6 1 Cor. 13. 2 'We are unprofitable servants,' &c [«eeMt. 25.3] —7-10 Job 22. 3 ; Is. 64. 6 Jesus heals ten lepers, one of them being a Samaeitan. Veb. 11— .9. In Galilee, before crossing into Percea. P. 627. Jesus on his journey to Jerusalem 17.11 [4.4 Lu. 9. 51, .2] 627 Ten lepers cry to him for mercy [1.40] — 12, .3 Le. 13. 46 • Includes Sections 70, .1. xliii 618 Ch. 12. 19; Ac. 3. 2 Job 5.1; 21.13 . 619 . 620 ANALYTICAL AND HISTORICAL TABLE, MATT. MAIIK. ttJKE. JOHN. ILLrSTHATIOXS. lA^H Jeans commnnds, ' Go,' &c. ; tl.oy arc cleansed . [8. 4]' 17. 11 Le. 14. 2 [Lu. 5. U] ... G37 One. 'a Samaritan.- Kloriliea God. &c — 15, .6 L*- 31. 4-J^...^^^...^.. ._.... .^..••••^ - , , .,,-, " ., • (!•«.« 17 8 Ps. 106.13; Eph.2.11-.8 ... Jesus aali.t. ' ^^hero arc the nine ? &c i'' •" r;i c -ici • Arise, go thy way : tl.y faiUi Imth made.' Ac. . [- 13 7. 29J — 19 L^''- »• l^J SECTION 71.— Jesus Passes out of Galilee into Peraea. Matthew xix. 1, 2. Mark x, 1. P. 628. CiiossiNO JoBDAN AT THE FORD orrosiTE Sc\rnoTOLis.— Soiil/i-east comer of Galilee. Multitudes healed and tannht by Jesus 19.1,2 10. I [6-17 10. 40-.2] 628 Addenda. — ' Ho departed from Galilee,' p. 028. SECTION 72.— [Lesson 66.]— When the Kingdom of God should come. Luke xvii. 20— 37.-In Persea. Pp. 629— .32. Introduction and Analysis. P. 029. jESr.-i ANSWERS THE PHARISEES CONCERNING THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM OP GoD ; AND ADDRESSES HIS DISCIPLES ON THE COMING OF THE SoN OF MAN, WHICH SERVES AS A PRELUDE TO THE PROPHECY AFTEBWABDS DELIVERED FROM MouNT OnvET. — In Fcraa, East of Sci/thopolis. The kingdom ofGodcometh not with observation [17. 12] 17.20 [1. H] 629 Already among them (as promised, Mt. 16. 28). — 21 ••• lie forewarns his diseiplcs of worse days [9.15] —22 [16.20] 630 Nottobodeceivedby 'Sceherc; or,'&c ,.[34.20 13.21] —23 ■ As the lightning, eo the coming of the Son of man [-27] -24 ^°^,^IL .Must first sutler and be rejected of the Jews ... [16. 21] —25 [Ch. 9.2w] As in the days of Noah [24. 37-.9] - 20, .7 Ge. 6. 7 (2 Th. 1. 7-10 ... Lot, the day.. Son of man is r. —28-30 — 13. 10 ; 19. 12-25 ; 631 Then, no time to look back [— 17,.8 — 15, .6] - 31, .2 —19.20 ncthatseekstosavchislifeshaUloseit, &c.... [10. 39 8.35] —33 [12.25] The separation that will then take place [34. M), .1] — 31-,6 1 Th. 4. 17 Wheresoever the body, thither the eagles, &c. . — 37 De. 38. 26 ; Job 39. 30 632 \ddenda.— 'Parallelism of Luke xvii. 23— .7, 30, and Matthew sxiv. 26, .7, 37— .9,' p. 032. SECTION 73.— [Lesson 67.]— Two Parables on Prayer. Luke xviii. 1—14.— In Persea. Pp. 633— ..6. Introduction and Analysis. P. 033. The parahle of the unjust judge and the impoetunate widow. Luke 18. 1 — 8.* Pp. 633, ..4. Thepoor widow, an example of perseverance... [Lu. 21. 36] 18.1-8 Eom. 12. 12; Eph.6. 18; lTh.5. 17 633 ' Shall he find faith on the earth P' -^ —8 634 JbSUS DEtlVEHS THE PARAULE OF THE PHARISEE AND THE PUBLICAN, WITH REFERENCE TO CERTAIN WHO ACCOUNTED THEMSELVES EIGHTEOUS, AND DESPISED OTHERS. VeR. 9—14. Pp. 635, ..6. The Pharisee boasts — 1. His superiority to others [Lu. 16. 15] • 18.9-11 Eev. 3. 17 635 a. That he fasts twice in the week, Ac — 12 636 The publican relies on God's mercy — 13 Je. 31. 19 Each dealt with according to ch. 14. 11 [33. 12] — 14 Job 22. 29 ; 1 Pe. 5. 5, 6 ... SECTION 74. — [Lesson 68.]— Jesus Treats of Divorce, and Welcomes Little Children. Matthew xix. 3—15. Mark x. 2—16. Luke xviii. 15— .7.— In Peraea. Pp. 637—41. Introduction and Analysis. P. 637. The Pharisees question Jesus concerning the lawfulness of divorce foe every cause ; his answer to them IN public, and likewise to his disciples in private. Matt. 19. 3 — 12. Maek 10. 2 — 12. Pp. 637 — ..9. Jesus questioned regarding the law of divorce... 19.3 10.2 637 He refers them to Moses —3 De. 24. 1-4 Who, they think, favours this license — 4 Mt. 5. 31, .2 The bill of divorce required for thcirhardnesa, etc. — 7,8 — 5 — Argument against divorce from the first institu- tion of marriage —4-6 -0-9 Go.l.27;3.24;5.2;Eph.5.31 638 • Tliis parahlc also is to be uiulenitood by way of contrast j thus, Our Jiulgo is not unjust, but Hho Lord our Righteousness.' Our Judge ia ho wlio foared God, and regarded mun, so as to lay dovra his lil'i- for us, according to the Father's commandment. The church 13 not a poor widow, but his own chosen bride. Ucr prayers do not weary him ; he is waitmg to be gracious at the voice of her cry. 'Hub contrast is inipUcd in vcr. 7 ; KcT. yi. 10. zliv ANALYTICAL AND HISTORICAL TABLE. MATT. MARK. LUKE. JOHN. ILLUSTBATIONS. PAGE Of divorce, preparatory to another marriage ... 19.9 [16.18] 638 The same warning to his di.sciples privately ... [5-32] 10. 10-.2 ■ 1 Cor. 7. 10, .1 639 Their objection, ' It is not good to marry ' —10 Pr. 21. 19; ICor. 7.25-37 ... Grace necessary to keep the law — 11, .2 ■ 1 Cor. 7. 2, 9, 17, 32- .4 ... Jesus eepboves his disciples foe peeventing the bringing of little children to him. Matt. 19. 13— .5. Mark 10. 13— .6. Luke 18. 15— .7. Pp. 639— .41. Disciples rebuke those who bring childi-en 19.13 10.13 18.15 639 Jesus says, ' Forbid them not,' &c —14 —14 —16 • (1 Pe. 2. 1, 2 640 How the kingdom of God is to be received [18.3] —15 —17 [3.3] Ps.131.1,2; lCor.l4.a); ... Jesus takes the little children in his arms — 15 — 16 Go. 48. 14, .5 641 SECTION 75.— [Lesson 69.]— Jesus Answers a Rich Young Ruler, etc. Matthew xix. 16—30. Mark x. 17-31. Luke xviii. 18— 30.— In Persea. Pp. 642— ..9. Inteoduction and Analysis. P. 642. Jesus answers the question of a rich young ruler, regarding what he should do to inherit ETEBNAL LIFE. Matt. 19. 16—22. Maek 10. 17—22. LuKE 18. 18—23. Pp. 642— ..5. ' Good Master, what good thing shaU I do,' &e. 19.16 10.17 18.18 • [Lu. 10. 25-.8] 642 Jesus asks why he calls him 'good' -17 —IS —19 Mic. 6. 8 ; 1 Tim. 3. 16 643 ' Keep the commandments ' —17 The ruler asks, 'Which?' —18 • ■ 644 Jesus directs to the second table of the law — 18, .9 —19 —20 Ex.20.12-.7; Eom.13.9 ... The ruler asks, 'What lack I yet?' —20 —20 —21 ■ — - 1 Jno. 1. 8 Call to follow the Saviour —21 —21 —22 2. 15 ; 4. 9-17 The ruler wanting in the one thing needful — 22 — 22 —23 645 Jesus takes occasion, from the case of this young man, to speak of the danger of riches, as hindering an ENTRANCE INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN : PeTEE, IN THE NAME OF THE APOSTLES, INQUIBES WHAT SHOULD BK their portion who had fobsaken all to follow him. Matt. 19. 23—30. Mabk 10. 23—31. Luke 18. 24—30. Pp. 645— ..9. The rich shall hardly enter the kingdom 19.23 10.23 18.24 1 Tim. 6. 8, 9 645 Thattrust in riches... easier for a camel, &c.... — 24 — 24, .5 —25 ■ • Ps. 49. 6, 11, .2, 16-20 ; 646 'Who then can be saved?' —25 —26 —26 ■ ■ (1 Tim. 6. 17 ... Things impossible with men, possible with God — 26 — 27 — 27 Je.32.17,.8; Eom. 8.3,4 647 10.23 18.24 -24, .5 — 25 — 26 — 26 — 27 — 27 — 28 — 28 — 29, 30 — 29, 30 — 31 [13. 30] Peter says, ' We have forsaken all, ' &c — 27 Jesus gives a special promise to the twelve — 28 Rev. 20. 4; 2.26 Promise to the disciples generally —29 —29,30 —29,30 Ps. 37. 16 ; Is. 61. 7 The'first shall be last; and the last first* —30 —31 [13.30] Ac. 13. 46 649 SECTION 76.— [Lesson 70.]— Parable of the Labourers Hired. Matthew xx. 1 — 16. Pp. 650 — ..4. Inteoduction and Analysis. P. 650. In Peraa, opposite Jericho. The first hired at a penny a day 20.1,2 [10.2] Rev. 6. 6 650 Those at the third hour on terms of free grace . — 3,4 • Pr. 19. 15 ; Heb. 6. 10 651 6th, 9th, and 11th hour the same . —5-7 Heb. 6. 12 At evening the last are made first ^8,9 652 Those first hired begin to murmur — 10-.2 The householder vindicates his conduct — 13, .4 ■ [17.2] Rom. 9. 21 'Is thine eye evil, because I am good?' — 15 De. 15. 9 ; Pr. 23. 6 ... 653 ' So the last shaU be first, and the first last,' &c. — 16 [10. 31 13. 30] Mt.19.30; 8.11,.2; 22.14 ... Addenda. — ' Many be called, but few chosen,' ' Matt. xx. 16,' p. 654. SECTION 77.— [Lesson 71.}-Jesus a Third Time Predicts his Sufferings, etc. Matthew xx. 17-28. Mark x. 32-45. Luke xviii. 31-.4. Pp. 655-.61. Inteoddction and Analysis. P. 655. West of Jordan, near the Ford opposite Jericho. Jesus entebs Judjea ; and a thibd time pbedicts to his disciples, the circumstances op his suffbbtnos and DEATH. Matt. 20. 17— .9. Mark 10. 32— .4. Luke 18. 31— .4. Pp. 655— ..7. Jesus predicts his death, &c., the third time ... 20. 17-.9 10. 32-.4 18. 31-.3 Is. 53. 5 ; Ac. 3. 13-.8... 655 Theimport of the saying hid from the twelve... [9.32] —34 • 637 xlv ij 665 666 ANALYTICAL AND HISTOEICAL TABLE. Tames anp .Tonv. dt Salome rnniR MornEn. petition Jesus Fon Tnn privilege of sitting on nis niGnx hand AND ON ...S LKrr IN HIS KINGDOM: THE TEN BEING OFFENDED THEREAT, JeSUS ADDRESSES A DISCOURSE TO THEM AIL IN COMMON. Matt. 20. 'iO— .8. Mabk 10. 35—45. Pp. 657— .01. MATT MARK. LUKE. JOHN. ILLUSTR.4.TION9. PAGE I.equestoftbe.othorofZebedeo.cluld.^^ 20. 20. .1 la 33 7 _- — 2.2\^L''l.l; Ko.-.S.lV 658 .KWnTlytoJ«meBandJolm[Mt.26.39.U] --.,.3 38 W 1 Pe. 5. 3-5 059 Jesus forbiJ.. Ins a>s.->i.Ie.soc.verc,sedommioa. - il-.G - 41-.3 22- -l- -J 1 Cor. 9- 10 000 The lender to bo .servant of all --7 -U L-J ^g ^ 5^ j^j i^.gg.io,.!; Da.9. 2-i-.6= Christ our ex..mi,lc -^8 4o L ^ (1 Tim. 2. 6; Ti. 2- U ... SECTION 78.— [Lesson 72.*]— As Jesus is Approaching Jericho, he Heals a Blind Man. Luke xviii. 35-43.— East of Jericho. Pp. 662, ..3. Introduction and Analysis. P. 662. Jesus Leak a blind man [20.29-31 10.40-52] 18.35-43 — 662 Tlie man follows .lesus, glorifying God [—34 —52] —43 GEOonAPniCAL Notice.— 'Jericho,' p. 663. SECTION 79.-Having Entered and Passed through Jericho, Jesus Heals another Blind Man. Matthew xx. 29-34. Mark x. 46-52. Luke xix. 1.— West of Jericho. Pp. 664— ..7. Introduction and Analysis. P. 664. Jesus passes through Jericho 20.29 10.46 19.1 664 Blind Bart iniffus cries after Jesus — 30, .1 — 46-. 8 ■ ■ Jesus speaks comfort to him — 32, .3 — 49-51 ' Thy faith hath made thee whole' — 34 — 52 He follows Jesus in the way — 34 —52 ■ Addenda. — ' On the Miracles performed at Jericho,' p. 666. SECTION 80.-[Lesson 73.]— Zacchaeus Entertains Jesus. Of a Nobleman and his Servants. Luke xix 2-27.-West of Jericho. Pp. 668-.74. Inteoduction and Analysis. P. 668. On the evening of the same day, the sabbath being at hand, Jesus stops at the house of Zacchjeus. Luke 19. 2—10. Pp. 668— .70. Zacchfcus makes great exertions to see Jesus .. . • • 19.2-4 668 Jesus makes choice of him as his host — 5,6 - — — All murmur at his having 'gone to be guest,' &c. [9.11] — 7 (Mic. 6. 8 669 Zacehfrus proposes to shew mercy and justice... ■ — 8 Ex. 22. 1 ; 2Sa. 12. 6; ... a ' son of Abraham ' —9 Ga.3.7;Eom.lll,.2,.0 ... The Son of man come to seek and save the lost. — 10 Eze. 34. 11 670 Jesus, in the house of Zacchj;us, delivers the parable of a nobleman and his servants. Vee. 11—27. Pp. 670— ..3. Parable of a nobleman and his ten servants . . . [25. 14-30 13. 34] 19. 11-27 Ac. 1. 4-11 670 The servant who gained ten poimds [ — 20, .1] • ■ — 10, .7 • • 672 five [ — 22,.3] • — 18,.9 laid up the pound, &c. ... [—24-.9] ■ — 20-.6 Job 15. 5, Those who would not he should reign, &c [ — 30] — 27 [19. 14, .5] Is. 1. 20, .8 673 Addenda. — 'Parallelism of Luke jox. 12 — 27, and Matthew xsv. 14 — 30,' p. 674. SECTION 81.-[Lesson 74.]— Mary Anoints Jesus. Matthew xxvi. 6—13. Mark xiv. 3—9. Luke xix. 28. John xi. 55— xii. 11.— Bethany in Judaea. Pp. 675 -.81. Inteoduction and Analysis. P. 675. After the expiration of the sabbath, six days before the passover, that is, on Saturday, the evenino of thf. ninth of Nisan, Jesus arrives at Bethany. Luke 19. 28. John 11. 55 — 12. 1. Pp. 675, ..6. Jesus ascending to Jerusalem . 19.28 675 The .lews reason as to the probability o! Jesus being at the feast • 11. 55, .6 Measures taken for lii.s apprehension 57 Ch. 7. 1 676 Jesus reaches Bethany days before the passover 12.1 — 11.1-43 * Includes Sbciions 78, .9. xlyi ANALYTICAL AND HISTORICAL TABLE. Jesus is entertained at suppee in tub house of Simon the lepee ; and is anointed theee by Maet the SISTEE OF LaZAKUS : THE DISCIPLES, AND ESPECIALLY JuDAS IsCAEIOT, TAKING OFFENCE THEUEAT, AUE liEl'EOVED BY Jesus. Matt. 26. 6—13. Maek 14. 3—9. John 12. 2—8. Pp. 676— .80. MATT. Jcsua at meat in the liouse of Simon the leper 26. 6 The anointing by Mary of Jesus' head, &c — 7 Indignation of the apostles at the waste — 8, 9 Why Judas opposed the anointing Jesus vindicates Mary against the apostles — 10- .2 The universal preaching of the Gospel will mani- fest this free bestowal of love upon Jesus ... — 13 — 9 Ps. 112. 6; Ec. 7. 1 680 MAKE. 14.3 LUKE. [10. 38-42] [7. 36,&c.] JOHN. 12.2 — 3 — 4, 5 — 6 — 7, 8 ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE 676 — 3 -4,5 — 6-8 IJuo. 2. 18-29 ... 677 ... 678 ... 679 The first day in Passion Week, Sunday, the ninth of the Jewish Nisan. John 12. 9— 11.— Bethany. P. 680. Much people go to see Jesus and Lazarus 12.9 Chief priests consult to jjut Lazarus also to death • — 10, .1 Lu. 16. 31 Addenda. — ' On the time of the arrival at Bethany, and the day of the procession to the temple, Jno. .\ii. 1, 13, .3,' p. 681. — ' On the time of the unction at Bethany,' ibid. 680 The second day in Passion Week, Monday, the tenth of Nisan. SECTION 82.— [Lesson 75.]— Jesus' Public Entry into Jerusalem. Matthew xxi. 1—11, 14— .7. Mark xi. 1—11. Luke xix. 29—44. John xii. 12—36. Pp. 682—701. Inteoduction and Analysis. P. 682. Jesus goes in procession from Bethany to Jerusalem. The people meet him. John 12. 12, .3. Ibid. Much people go to meet Jesus -- — ■ ■ 12. 12, .3 Ps. 118. 25, .6 682 Jesus bends from Bethphage for an ass. Matt. 21. 1 — 6. Mark 11. 1—6. Luke 19. 29—34. Pp. 683 ..5. Jesus sends for an ass 21.1-3 11.1-3 19.29-31 683 That the prophecy might be fulfilled — 4,5 Zee. 9. 9 684 The disciples do as they are bid — 6 — 4-6 — 32-.4 685 Jesus makes his public entry into Jeeusalem. Matt. 21. 7—9. Mark 11. 7—10. Luke 19. 35—44. John 12. 14— .8. Pp. 685— ..9. Preparation for Jesus' enti-y into Jerusalem ,,. 21.7,8 11.7,8 19. 35, .6 12. 14-. 6 Ju. 10. 4; 12.14 685 He is welcomed at descent of Mount Olivet ... — 37, .8 Ps. 118. 20 686 Why the people meet him — 17, .8 , Is requested to rebuke his disciples — 39,40 687 Hosanna to the Son of David, &c — 9 — 9,10 Jesus weeps over the city, 'If thou,' &c [24. 2] — 41-.4 Dc. 28. 49, 52, &c 688 All the city is moved: the Pharisees displeased. Matt. 21. 10, .1. Mark 11. 11. John 12. 19. P. 689. Jesus enters Jerusalem, all the city is moved .. . 21. 10, .1 11.11 689 Pharisees vexed, ' the world is gone after him'. . 12.19 The blind and the lame healed. Jesus departs from the temple. Matt. 21. 11 — .7. Mark 11. 11. P. 690. Blind and lame healed in the temple 21.14 2 Sa. 5. 6-8 690 'Out of the mouth of babes,' &c — 15, .6 Ps. 8. 2 Jesus goes out from the temple — 17 11.11 Greeks wish to see Jesus. John 12. 20 — 36. Pp. 690— ..3. Is told that Greeks desire to see him 12. 20-.2 690 Speaks of his glorification and passion — 23, .4 1 Cor. 15. 36 Of the death and glorification of his saints [10.39 8.35 17.33] — 25, .6 691 Prayer answered by a voice from heaven [3. 21, .2] —27-30 The judgment of the world —31 692 The Son of man must be lifted up — 32, .3 Ch. 3. 14, .5 'Who is this Son of mau?' • — .34 693 Jesus exhorts to walk in the light, &c — 35, .6 Jesus goes out of the city to Bethany. Matt. 21. 17. Mark 11. 11. P. 094. Jesus goes to Bethany with the twelve 21.17 11.11 694 Addenda.—' The temple," p. 694.—' The second temple,' p. 695.—' Temple of Ilerod,' p. 096.—' On tlie day of the procession to the temple,' pp. 698—701. xlvii ANALYTICAI. AND HISTORICAL TABLE. The third day in Passion Week, Tuesday, the eleventh of Nisan. SECTION 83— [Lesson 76.]— The Second Cleansing of the Temple. Matthew xxi. 18-22, 12, .3. Mark xi. 12-.9. Luke xix. 45 -.8. Pp. 702-..7. Intboduction and Analysis. P. 702. Jbsus combs to a dabben fig tbee in the way from Bethany to Jerusalem. Matt. 21. 18—22. Mark 11. 12— .1. Tp. 702— ..4. matt. mark. luke. john. illustrations. tagb The barren fic tree dcuounced 21. 18, .9 11.12-.4 [13.6-9] 702 disciples marvel at tiie sudden blight —20 [— 20,.l] 703 ' If ye have faith,' ic — 21, .2 [ — 22, .3 17.5,6] [Mt. 17. 20] Jesus deives out the muney-chanoebs, etc., from the temple. Matt. 21. 12, .3. Mabk 11. 15— .9. Luke 19. 45— .8. Pp. 704— ..6. Jesus drives out those who sold and bought ... 21. 12 11. 15, .6 19. 45 [2. 13-.6] Jc. 7. 11 ; 1 Cor. 3. 17 704 My house, the house of prayer for all —13 —17 —46 Is. 56. 7 705 Different condition of the people & their leaders —18 — 47, .8 — 3.12 706 Jesus goes out of the city at even [ — 17] — 19 [8.1] Addenda. — ' On the proceedings of Tuesday in Passion Week ; and the time of the cleansing of the temple,' p. 706. The fourth day in Passion Week, Wednesday, the twelfth of Nisan. Sections 84— .6. Pp. 708—805. SECTION 84.— [Lesson 77.]— Conversation Renewed concerning the Fig Tree. The Jewish Rulers Question Jesus' Authority. Parables respecting the Transferring of the Kingdom to another People, etc. Matthew xxi. 23— xxii. 22. Mark xi. 20— xii. 17. Luke xx. 1—26.— Jerusalem. Pp. 708— .30. On the mobnino of the fourth day in passion week, Wednesday, the twelfth of Nisan, as Jesus and thb disciples ABE RETURNING TO JERUSALEM, PeTEE RENEWS THE CONVERSATION RELATING TO THE FIG TREE, WHICH HAD BBEN CURSED THE DAY BEFOEE. MaRK 11. 20— .6. P. 709. Bbief Intboduction and Analysis. P. 708. The Jews aebaigned and condemned. Ibid. Conversation relating to the fig tree [21. 21, .2] 11. 20-.6 709 Jbsus answebs the Phabisees, who demand of him by what authority he did the things befoee recorded. Matt. 21. 23— .7. Mark 11. 27—33. Luke 20. \—%.—At Jerusalem. Pp. 710— ..2. Analysis. P. 710. Jesus' authority called in question 21.23 11. 27, .8 20.1,2 Ac. 4. 7-10 710 'The baptism of John, whence was it P' — 24, .5 —29,30 —3,4 711 Thcdilemma — 25-.7 — 31-.3 —5-8 The pabable of a father and his two sons. Matt. 21. 28—32. — In the temple. P. 713. Introduction and Analysis. P. 713. Parableof the two sons sent to work, &c 21.28-30 Jc. 3. 11; 31. 18-20 ... 713 Application of the parable, ' John came,' &c. ... — 31, .2 • ■ The pabable of the vineyaed let out to husbandmen. Matt. 21. 33—46. Mabk 12. 1—12. Luke 20. 9—19. Pp. 714— .20. Intboduction and Analysis. P. 714. (-Na. 2. 2; Ac.7.54;Ps. Parable of the vineyard let out to husbandmen . 21.33-41 12.1-9 20.9-16 \ 80. 8-16 ; Is. 6. 1-7 ; I. Je. 2. 21 ; Hos. 10. 1 715 ' The stone which the builders rejected,' &e —42 — 10, .1 — 17 Ps. 118. 22, .3 719 ' The kingdom of God shall be taken from you ' — 43 Je. 3. 11-.8 720 ' Whosoever shall fall on this stone," &c —41 —18 Is. 8. 14, .5 ; Da. 2- 34,.5 ... The priests, &c., fear to take Jesus — 45, .6 — 12 — 19 Pabables on tbansferbing the kingdom, continued. [Lesson 78.]— Matt. 22. 1—22. Mark 12. 13— .7. Luke 20. 20— .6. Pp. 721— ..8. Jesus delivebs the pabable of the maebiaqe feast. Matt. 22. 1—14. Pp. 721— ..5. Analysis. P. 721. Marriage lor the king's son 22.1-10 [14.15-24] Rev. 22. 17... (2 Cor. 5. 3 721 The guest without u wedding garment — 11-.4 Is. 61. 10; Je. 2. 26; 723 xlviii MARK. LUKE. JOHN. UlUSTHATIONS. PAGE 12.13 20. 20 Pb. 59. 3; 55.21 ... .. 726 — 14, .5 — 21, .2 — 12.2 ... 727 — 15-.7 — 23-.6 . Eom. 13.7 ANALYTICAL AND HISTORICAL TABLE. Jesus answbes the question of the Hebodians, concerning the payment op tbisute to the Roman empeboe. Matt. 22. 15—22. Mabk 12. 13— .7. Luke 20. 20— .(!. Pr. 725~..8. Intboduction and Analysis. P. 725. matt. Conspiracy to entangle Jesus 22. 15, .6 They ask, ' Is it lawful to give tribute,' &c — 17 Jesus puts them to silence — 18-22 Addenda. — ' On tlie proceedings of Wednesday in Passion Week,' pp. 728 — .30. SECTION 85.*— [Lesson 79.]— Jesus puts to Silence the Sadducees and Pharisees. Matthew xxii. 23— xxiii. Mark xii. 18—44. Luke xx. 27— xxi. 4. John xii. 37—50. Pp. 731—58. Analysis. P. 731. Jesus answebs the inquiey of the Sadducees, concerning the woman mabbied to seven brethren in succession, IN which was involved the question of a resueeection to come. Matt. 22. 23—33. Mabk 12. 18—27. Luke 20. 27—40. Pp. 731— ..5. The Sadducees quibble, ' Wliose wife,' &c 22. 23-.8 12.18-23 20.27-33 De. 25. 5, 6 731 Jesus points out the source of their error — ^29 — 24 '^'-^ Declares the resurrection state — 30 — 25 — 34-.6 1 Cor. 15. 42, .9, 52 ...733 Quotes Moses in proof of resurrection — 31, .2 — 26, .7 — 37, .8 Ge. 35. 12 ; Ex. 3. 6 . . . 73 1 The multitude astonished at his doctrine — 33 [ — 37] — — • "'^'^ Certain of the scribes approve — 39 The Sadducees are reduced to silence [ — 46 — 34] — 40 A CEETAIN SCBIBE AND PHARISEE, WHOSE ADMIRATION HAS BEEN EXCITED BY THE REASONING OF JeSUS, DESIRES OF HIM A SOLUTION OF THE QUESTION, WhICH IS THE FIRST AND GREAT COMMANDMENT? JeSUs' ANSWER. Matt. 22. 34—40. Mark 12. 28—34. Pp. 736— ..8. The Pharisees are gathered together 22.34 '36 ' Which is the great commandment in the law ? ' — 35, .6 12. 28 ■ Mk. 7. 8, 9, 13 Hear.OIsrael' —29 De. 6. 4; Je. 7. 21, &c. ... ' Thou Shalt love the Lord thy God,' &o — 37, .8 —30 ; 5 ; 10. 12 The second great commahdment —39 —31 ■ ■ Le. 19.10,.8; Eom. 13. 9 737 On these two hang all the law, &c —40 —31 • Mt. 5. 17 ; 7- 12 A scribe answers discreetly — 32-.4 — • Hos. 6. 6 738 The Pharisees reduced to silence [ — 46] — 34 Jesus inquires of the Pharisees whose son the ("hrist was to be ; and then reduces their answer to an ABSURDITY. Matt. 22. 41— .6. Mark 12. 35— .7. Luke 20. 41— . 1. Pp. 739— .41. 'Whatthinkyeof Chi-ist? whosesonishc?'... 22. 41, .2 • ''30 How can ho be both David's Lord and son? ... — 43-.5 12. 35-.7 20. 41-.4 Ps.89.35-.7 ; 110. 1 ; 132. 11 ... Tlie common people hear him gladly — 37 ■ ■ '*^ None dare ask him any more questions — 46 [ — 34 — 40] [Lesson 80-] — Of the scribes. The widow's offering. The Jews' unbelief. Mabk 12. 38— 41. Luke 20. 45— 21. 4. John 12. 37— 50. Pp. 742— ..7. Jesus waens his disciples to bewaee of the scribes. Mark 12. 38 — 40. Luke 20. 45 — .7. P. 742. The scribes, their ambition and rapacity 12.38-40 20. 45-.7 ''^2 Jesus declares the widow's farthing a greater donation than the offerings of the rich. Mark 12. 41— .4. Luke 21. 1—4. P. 713. The poor widow's two mites 12. 41-.4 21.1-4 2 Ki. 12. 9 743 St. John the Evangelist comments ok the continued infidelity op the Jews: and adds a last discourse of Jesus, eelatino to the same subject, and probably now delivered. John 12. 37— 50.— /» the temple. Pp. 744— ..7. Comparatively none believe -■ — ■ 12. 37-41 Is. 53. 1 ; 6. 10 744 Why those who believe do not confess — — '^2, .3 Ch. 3. 1 , 2 ; 5. 41 ; 9. 22 745 Jesus describes the true believer • ■ — 44-.G '4t) The case of him who does not believe — ^ ■ — 4/, .8 Jesus speaks with authority from the Father ... — — — 49,50 /47 • Includes LESSONS 79— 81.— Lesson 70, M.'itt. Xiii. 23—10 ; Mark xii. 18—37; Luke xx. 27—44. xli-x. ANALYTICAL AND HISTORICAL TABLE. [Lesson 81.]-Jksus. beino about to lkave the templk fob tue night, and at the same time to make an end of HIS ITDLIC ministry, DENOCNCES 1'ENAL KETBIDUTION UPON TUE SCRIBES AND TUAUISEES, IN EIGHT WOES; THUS WAIININO HIS DISCin.ES WITH BEOABD TO TUE PBIUE, HTPOCBISY, GUILT, AND CONDEMNATION OP THE SCBIBE8 AND Phabiskes. Matt. 23. I'p. 718— .58. „ „,^„ matt. mark. LUKE. JOHN. ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGB Those sittinK in Moses' seat, say and do not ... 23.1-3 Ne. 8. 1-8 7 They impose heavy bur. .-ro/n^.Mt. 11. 28-30 —4, [11.46] S*„'?"i''^;'-,= ooV/; -^'m Their love of shew and mastery - 5-7 [12. 38, .9 - 43;20.16] De. 6. 4-8 ; Nu. 15.38-40 749 ■ Be not ye eaUcd Kal.lii,' ie —8-11 .Ta. 3. 1. ...^ ^„' „; ^lU Ho who exalts himself shall be abased. &e - 12 [14. 11; 18. 11] Job 22. 29 ; Pr. 15. 33 ; 29. 23 7o0 1. Woe upon hypocrites, who shut up the kingd. — 13 [11.52] 2. who devour widows' houses, ic — 14 [ — 40 20.47] 3. who make proselytes by all means — 15 ■•■ 4. (blind fruides) skilful in unrighteousness — 16.23 Ch. 5. 33, .4 75i 5. who tithe mint, and omit judgment ... — 23, .4 [11.42] '^^ 6. clean without, whilst filthy within — 25, .6 [—39] Rev. 17. 4, 5 ; 18. 2 7. like to whited sepulchres — 27, .8 [—44] 754 8. build the tombs of the prophets, and manifest the spirit ofthose who slew them ... —29-32 [— 47, .8] 2Chr.36.10; Ac.7.51,.2;lTh.2.15,.6 ... Forewarned of damnation —33 Is. 30. 8-14; Jc. 19. 11 755 How they would receive the Lord's messengers. — 34 — 'That upon j-ou may come all . . . blood,' &c.... — 35 — Judgment to begin with that generation — 3G — Lament over Jerusalem, as refusing peace — 37 — Their house left desolate — 38 — Not to see the Lord until his messengers are received in peace — 39 [ — 35;19.41-.4] SECTION 86.*— [Lesson 82.]— Jesus' Prophetic Discourses on the Mount of Olives. Matthew xxiv. 1— xxvi. 1—5, 14— .6. Mark xiii. 1— xiv. 1, 2, 10, .1. Luke xxi. 5— xxii. 1—6. Pp. 759—805. InTEODUCTION AND ANALYSIS. P. 759. As Jesus is leaving the temple, one of his disciples observes to him upon the buildings. Jesus' reply. TUE PKOPHECY upon MoUNT OlIVET, DELIVERED TO FOUR OF THE APOSTLES, PeTEE AND AnDEEW, JaMES AND JoHN. Matt. 24. 1—41. Mark 13. 1—37. Luke 21. 5—36. Pp. 760— .84. Destruction of the temple predicted 24.1,2 13.1,2 21.5,6 1 Ki. 9. 7, 8 ; Je. 26. 18 760 Three questions asked by the disciples — > /-, , 1. WTien shall these things be ? , ., , ^ CO,i the order of these, ^ ^ — 3 — 3, 4 — 7 \ see Sect. 84, ^j. 709, J V note at foot 761 [-49] [-50,.l] [21. 32] [13. 34] [-35] [—35; 19. 41- Ge 4.8; 2 Chr 24. 21 756 757 Je. 7.11- .5 .... 2. What the sign of thy coming ? 3. And of the end of the world ? . Beginning and end. Jesus warns against deceivers — 4,5 — 5,6 — 8 Eph. 5. 6 ; 2 Th. 2. 3 Of wars and rumours of wars — 6 — 7 —9 Eze. 7. 26 ; Ps. 112. 7 . 762 — the sore judgments ujiou Jerusalem — 7 — 8 — 10, .1 — 14.17-21; Eev.6.4-8 ... The beginning of sorrows — 8 — 8 . 764 Persecution of the disciples —9 —9,10 — 12, .3 lPe.4.12-.9;Eev.6.9-ll ... Promise of Holy Ghost for their defence [10.19,20] —11 — 11, .5 Ac. 4. 13 765 The disciples forewarned of offences and betrayal — 10 — 12 — 10 Is. 8. 15 766 Of being hated by all [24.9] —13 —17 Exhorted to patience — 18, .9 707 Of false prophets, iniquity abounding, &c — 11, .2 ■ . 2 Tim. 3. 1-13 He that endureth to the end shall be saved — 13 — 13 Eev. 2. 10 708 Wlien the Gospel shall be preached to all nations, then shall the end come — 14 Signs fur Jlight, and for gathering. The ensign of desolation —15 —14 Da. 9. 27 ; 12. 11 769 A signal for flight — 15, .6 —14 — 20, .1 De. 28. 49-58 !!!!!! 770 No time to look back — 17, .8 — 15, .6 [17.31] Go. 19. 17 771 These the days of vengeance 22 Woe to them that give suck, &c —19 —17 —23 De. 28. 53-.7!^!!. !!!!!! 772 Pray that your flight be not in the winter, &c. . —20 —18 Unprecedented tribidation — 21, .2 — 10,20 23 De. 28. 60- 8 The great captivity and long treading down ... 21 • 773 False Christs and false propliets — 23-. (! — 21-.3 • ■- 2 Th. 2. 11 2 774 lIopoiKTia of Son of man, and gathering of eagles — 27, .8 ' 775 Signs in the heavens, and upou earth —29 — 24, .5 — 25, .0 Eev. 6. i2-.7' !]!!!!!!!/ 776 • Includes Lessons 82, .3, .4.— Lesson 82, Mutt. xxiv. 1— llj Mark xiii. 1—37; Luke xxi. 5—36. ANALYTICAL AND HISTORICAL TABLE. MATT. MAEK. LUKE. JOHN. ' Sign of the Son of man in heaven ' 24.30 Ilis coming ' with power and great glory ' — 30 13. 26 21. 27 The gathering of the elect — 31 — 27 TIte times contrasted — the one known, the other unl-nown. To look to the end, from the beginning — 28 The budding of fig tree shews summer nigh ... — 32 — 28 — 29, 30 So these things the kingdom to be at hand — 33 — 29 — 31 ' This generalion shall not pass tUl,' &c — 34 — 30 — 32 ' My words shall not pass away ' — ^35 — 31 — 33 Be prepared to stand before the Son of man ... [4-19] — 34-.6 The day and hour of second advent not revealed — 36 — 32, .3 Warning from the case of the flood — 37-.9 [17.26,.?] The separations at the Lord's coming — 40, .1 [ — 34-.6] Watch therefore —42 [13.33] ■ — as for the Master's return — 34-.6 as against a thief — 43 Be ready, ' for in such an hour,' &c — 44 [ — 33-.5 21-36] ' What I say ... I say unto all, Watch ' — 37 The Rest of the Prophecy upon Mount Olivet, as Related by Matthew. Chap. 24. 45—25. 30. Pp. 784— .92. Analtsis. Chap. 24. 45—51. P. 784. [Lesson 83.] — Paeables on the second advent. Chap. 24. 45 — 25. 30. The sebvant who beat his fellows. Chap. 24. 45 — 51. Pp. 784, ..5. The purpose for which the wise servant is given power 24.45 [12.42] Je. 3. 15 ; Ac. 20. 28 ; 1 Cor. 4. 2 784 His reward, if obedient — 46, .7 [ — 43, .4] The evil servant described — 48, .9 [—45] — - Ec. 8.11; Eev. 17.1,2,6 785 His surprise and portion — 50, .1 [ — 46] Heb. 4. 12, .3 The paeable of the ten vibgins. Chap. 25. 1 — 13. Pp. 786 — ..9. Introduction. Veb. 1—30. P. 786. Analysis. P. 787. The TEN vibgins 25.1 ■ ■ — - Five wise and five foolish — 2-4 — In what they are alike — 5-7 [12.35] — . difler —8-12 • — ILLtrSTBATIONS. Is. 64. 1-4 PAGH 778 779 1 Co. 15. 52 J lTh.4.16 780 Ps.24.7 781 Ac. L6, 7 lPe.3.20 782 783 ICor. 16. 13 Heb. 9. 28 2Pe. 3. lOj Eev. 3. 3. 781, ITh. 5. 5-10 Eev. 19.7 787 ITh. 4. 16 788 789 ' Watch therefore,' &c —13 [21.36] The PARABLE OF the TALENTS. Veb. 14 — 30. Pp. 789 — .92. The TALENTS 25.14,.5 [19- 12, .3] Eom.12.6; 1 Cor. 12. 11 789 Conduct of the three servants — 16-.8 The Lord reckoneth vrith them —19 ■ [—15] 790 Case of him who had received five — 20, .1 [— 16, .7] 2 Tim. 2. 12; Heb. 12. 2 ... two —22, .3 [-18, .9] ■ hid his lord's money —24-7 [— 20-.3] lCor.9. 16. Doublereward —28 [—24] — 792 ' Unto every one that hath,' &c -29 [—26] Eeward of the unprofitable servant — 30 [Lesson 84.] — Of the judgment of the nations. Conclusion of the parables. Conspiracy, etc. Matt. 25. 31_26. 1—5, 14— .6. Mark 14. 1, 2, 10, .1. Luke 22. 1—6 ; 21. 37, .%.— Mount of Olives. Pp. 793—801. The judgment op the nations. Matt. 25. 31 — 46. Pp. 793 — ..7. Intboduction and Analysis. P. 793. /-Da. 7. 13; Ps. 8. 4-9; Christ at his second advent [16. 28] 25. 31 [8.38 5. 27] j Heb. 2. 6, 9; 2 Th. 1.7; shall sit on the throne of his glory ■ (,Eev.5.11 793 AH nations gathered before him [13.41] — 32 The sheep and the goats —33 Eze. 34. 17, 20 King's welcome [5.3-10] — 34-.6 ■ — - Ps.2.12;Ja.l.l2;Ho.l3. 794 righteous say, ' When saw we thee,' &c. ... — 37-.9 - — ■ (2; Ja. 1. 27; 2 Ti. 1. 16 795 King's answer — 40 Jno. 21. 15-.7 His address to those on the left hand — 41-.3 — 15. 2-6 ; Is. 1. 28 . 796 They ask, ' "WTien saw we thee,' &c —44 (Lu. 14. 12-.4 ... The Lord answers —45 ■ lJno.3.16,.7;4.10,.l,.6; ... Theii- different destinations —46 2 Th. 1. 9 ; Eom. 2. 6-8 797 Geographical Notice. — ' Mount of Olives,' p. 797. ANALYTICAL AND HISTORICAL TABLE. The ArPBOAcn of the passoveb. .Tkscs bktbatkd to be crucified. Matt. 26- 1—5, 11— .0. Mark 14. 1, 2, 10, .1. Luke 22. 1— C I'p. 798—800. Intboduction. p. 798. matt. mark. luke. john. iltustbations. page Jesus foretells liis betrajnl 26.1,2 14.1 22.1 - — - 798 The council ok the Jews deliberate ox the mode of appbehendino Jesus. Judas Iscabiot COVENANTS with TIIEM TO DETEAY niM. Matt. 26. 3—5, 14— .6. Mark 14. 1, 2, 10, .1. Luke 22. 2— G. Jerusalem. P. 799. Cliiorpriosf.(/ appearance to certain of his disciples 21.1-14 Ac. 1.3: 10. 11 973 ' Simon... lovcst thou me, &c.' 'Feed my lambs' — 15-.7 Heb. 13.20; 1 Pe. 2. 975 Predicts the manner of Peter's death — 18, .9 2 Pe. 1. 14. ..(2.5 ; 5. 2, 4 977 'FoUowme' [16.28] — 19-21 Eev. 2. 25 978 'If I will that he tarry till I come, what,' &c.... — 22-.4 22.7,12,20 Jesus appears to James ; his ?»'«//( appc.iranco . lCoE.15.7 979 SECTION 98.- [Lesson lOO.t]— Jesus Ascends into Heaven.— Bethany. Mount of Olives. Acts i. 4—11. Luke xxiv. 44 — 5L 1 Corinthians 3cv. 7. Mark xvi. 15— .9. Pp. 980— ..7. Inteodtiction and Analysis. P. 980. On the mobbing of Ascension day, or Holy Thursday, Jesus appears to the apostles, assembled in Jerusalem : which is his tenth or last appearance. Luke 24. 44— .9. Acts 1. 4—8. 1 Coe. 15. 7. Pp. 980— ..4. The disciples to wait for promise of the Father. Acts 1. 4 Jno. 7. 38 ; 12. 28 980 Jesus the FulCllcr of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms ■ opens the disciples' understanding It behoved Christ to sudor and to rise again ... The Gospel to be preached to all nations [28. 19] apostles to bo witnesses Endued with power from on high • . John truly baptized with water • Tliey are to be baptized with the Holy Ghost... Wilt thou now restore the kingdom to Israel 'i* . ■ They cannot yet bear the knowledge of times, &c. But shall receive power • Embraces Sections 96, .7. t Embraces Sections 98—100. 24.44 Ch. 18. 31-.3 . — 45 Ps. 119. 18 .... . 981 — 46 — 40.7 — 47 . 982 — 48 Jno. 15. 27; Ac. 5. 32.. • *• t — 49 — 14. 26 ; - 2. 33.. Acts 1. 5 Mt. 3. 11 . 983 5 6 Jno. 14. 26 .... Mt. 19. 28 .... . ••• 7 Jno. 16. 12 .... . ..• :— 49] 8 Ac. 15. 15-.8 . . 984 ANALYTICAL AND HISTORICAL TABLE. The same dat, Jesus conducts the apostles unto Bethant, and being about to ascend into heaven, BEPEAXi THE CHABGE ITE HAD BEFORE GIVEN THEM TO PllEACH THE GoSPEL. MaEK 16. 15— .8. LuKE 24. 50. Pp. 985, ..0. MATT. MAEK. lUKE. JOHN. ILLUSTBATIONS. PAGE Jesus leads tlie apostles out unto Betliany 24.50 985 The commission, 'Go ye into all the world,' &c. 16.15 alternative, ' He that believeth,' &o — 16 Eom. 10. 9; Ac. 11. 15, .6; 15. 8, 9; 1 Cor. 1. 17 Signs folloTving them that believe — 17, .8 Ac. 13. 6-12; 28. 3-0... 98G Jesus blesses the apostles, and in the act or blessing them is taken up into heaven. Two angels appeau TO THE APOSTLES, AND FOBETELL HIS COMING AGAIN IN LIKE MANNEE AS THEY HAD SEEN HIM DEPAET. Mark 16. 19. Luke 24. 50, .]. Acts 1. 9—U.—Bet/uin,!/. P. 987. The Lord having spoken to Ms disciples 16.19 Acts 1. 9 987 While blessing them is taten up —19 24. 50, .1 • 9 Ps. 110. 1 ; Col. 3. 1 Two men stand by them in white apparel ■ ■ 10 Lu. 24. 4-7 Who promise Jesus' return . 11 — 19.12 SECTION 99. -The Apostles Worsliip Jesus, and Return to Jerusalem. Luke xxiv. 52, .3. Acts i. 12. P. 988. The apostles worship Jesus, and return with grcatjoy ■ 24.52 Acts 1. 12 Jno. 14. 28 988 Are continually in the temple praising God • — 53 Ac. 2. 46, .7 SECTION 100.— Conclusion of the Gospels by John and Mark ; the Former Relating to such Particulars of the History of the Ministry of Jesus Christ, as are not Contained in the Gospels. John xx. 30, .1; xxi. 25. Mark xvi. 20. P. 989. Intboduction and Analysis. P. ibid. Conclusion of the Gospel by John, 20. 30, .1 ; 21. 25. Many of Jesus' signs not recorded ■ Jno. 20. 30 ....989 Why these are written 31 1 Pe. 1. 8, 9 notthe whole - — — — 21.25 Conclusion or the Gospel by Maek, 16. 20. The apostles experience the truth of the promise 16.20 Mt. 28.20; Mk. 16. 16, .7 989 Addenda. — ' These are written, that ye, &o., John x.x. 31,' p. 990. — On the'Seventy Weeks of Daniel,' p. 991. INDEX TO THE 'ADDENDA.' BECT. Aaron ; 1 AbomiDatioD, ' ^^'^len ye therefore shall see' . 8G Accusoth, ' There is one that . . . you ' 23 Angel 2 Apostles, Ordination of the twelve 27 See also ' The tnelre' ih. Names of the twelve a., descriptive of (he manner in which the disciples of Christ buikl \ipon him ili. Baptism of our Lord 8 Bethany, On the time of the arrival at 81 unction at Hi. Bethesda, Site of the pool of 23 Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, § 31. 298 02 Book 4i Brethren of our Lord, On the 37 their unbelief ib. Christ, Evidence that Jesus is the 100 Circuit of Galilee, On Jesus' first general 18 partial 20 Council, The 19 Days, ' Those . . . shall be shortened ' 86 Deep,Intothe 35 Demoniacs at Gergesa, On healing the ib. Disciples, Comparison of the call of the four, Mt. iv. 18—22; Mk. i. 16—20; and the miraculous draught of fishes, Lu. v. 1 — 11 20 Dispossessions, On the tvro d. and blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, Mt. xii. 22—15; Lu. xi. 14— 26 62 Dispute (First) con cerning precedence 52 ' Drowned in the depth of the sea ' ib. Eating with unwashen hands. On 44 Evangelists — .lec ' Many ' 1 Evidence (Summary) of .lesus' Messiahship. . . KX) Except ye eat, &c. (Jno. vi. 53) 43 Father, The everlasting 19 Fearful sights 8(^, Feast (Jno. V. 1) 23 of the Dedication 56 of Tabernacles 54 Five thousand, Time of feeding the .10 ' Foxes have holes,' (Stc 3j, Fruits worthy of repentance 7 Galilee, Jesus' departure from G. into Pertea (Mt. xix. 1) 71 Genealogies according to Matthew and Luke. 4 Gergesa, On the time of crossing to 34 Hades, On the existence and locality of 69 Of the locality and division into regions ib. Hagiograplia and the Decalogue compared ... 19 Hands, Eating with unwashen 44 Harmony of the accounts of sending forth the twelve and of the seventy, Mt. x. 1, 5—16 ; ix. 37, .8; Mk. vi. 7—11; Lu. x. 1—12 ..'. no Herod 5 Holy Ghost, On the blasphemy against the... 31 Jxii PAQK 13 803 240 25 260 208 270 95 081 ib. 239 571 47 350 352 990 170 259 181 803 333 ib. 210 571 479 481 406 12 990 396 205 802 238 528 489 377 326 89 628 48 3-20 021 622 197 400 554 02 298 tiECT. PAGE Identity, On the i. of Mt. xviii. 1—9 ; Mk. ix. 33— 50; Lu. ix. 47— 50— see a/.so p. 481 ... 53 479 Israclitish origin of the English, Queries on the subject of the 08 012 Jericho, On the miracles performed at 79 C66 .rerusalem shall be t rodden down 86 805 John the Baptist, The ministry of 7 88 the Evangelist 1 12 On ch. i. 15, 27— 30 ... 10 111 eh. V. 1, ' Feast ' 23 238 I ch. vi. 53, ' Except ye cat ' 43 396 .Jno. vii. 2 — xi. 54, Supplementary relation of 54 488 X. 24, ' How long dost thou make us to doubt?" 57 529 xx. 31, ' These are written that ye,' &c. 100 990 Judas' repentance 89 895 Keys of the kingdom of heaven, &c 50 445 Kingdom of God, On our Lord's saying, ' Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the ' 33 321 Lake, Time of crossing ... to Gergesa 34 326 Incidents in the way, ' Foxes have holes,' &c ib. ib. On our Lord's passing the night on the 35 334 Law and the Prophets, Recognition of the . by our Lord in his Sermon on the Mount... 19 194 Levites 10 111 Leper, On the locality of the cure of the 21 215 Leprosy ib. ib. Luke I 12 Lu. ix. 51 — xviii. 14, On the supplementary relation of ... to the first two Gospels 59 543 51 — 62, Suggestions on the probable place and time of Lu. ix. 51 — 62 ib. 545 Magi, On the visit of the 5 00 Many 1 12 ' Many be called, but few chosen,' Mt. xx. 10 76 654 Mark, The Evangelist 1 12 Martha and Mary, On the village of 01 558 Mary, Of M. the mother of Jesus 91 929 Matthew, The Evangelist 1 12 Irregularities of his Gospel 22 224 Mt. xxiv. oh., Prophecy on the Mount Olivet 86 801 'Kingdom against kingdom'.,. ib. ib. ' Fearful sights ' ib. 802 -'Persecution' ib. ib. ' Neither do ye premeditate ' . . . ib. ib. ' Gospel of the kingdom ' ib. 803 ' When ye therefore shall see the abomination,' &c ib. ib. ' Those days shall be shortened' ib. ib. ■ ' They shall fall by . . . sword ' ib. ib. — ' Jerusalem shall be trodden down' ib. 805 ' False Christs ' ib. ib. ' Eetrospeet of ' ib. ib. Ministry of John the Baptist 7 88 of our Lord in Judaea 12 130 On the conclusion of two years and a half of our Lord's 53 486 INDEX TO THE 'ADDENDA.' SECT. PAGE Minor prophets and the Decalogue compared 19 190 Miracles 13 129 Miraculous draught of fishes — see ' Disciples ' 20 210 Mystery, ' Unto you it is given to know the m. ofthekuigdomof God' 33 321 Name, The (Isa. L\. 6, 7), exhibited in the books of the New Testament 19 203 Ordination of the twelve apostles 27 266 Order,In 1 12 Our Lord taken to Jerusalem at 12 years old 6 68 • His baptism 8 95 The brethren of 37 350 Hisministryin Judaea... (§ 12. 130) 53 486 His manner of teaching 17 165 On passing the night on the lake... 35 334 On his residence in Egypt 5 61 On his return to Nazareth ib. ih. Time of his birth 4 47 Parables, On Jesus beginning to teach in 32 309 ParaUelism of Mt. viii. 19—22, with Lu. ix.57— 62 59 542 -of Mt. X. 1, 5—16; ix. 37, .8; Mk. vi. 7—11 ; Lu. x. 1—12 ; the sending of the twelve and of the seventy 60 554 -of Mt. x-i. 21— .3, 25— .7; xiii. 16, .7; Lu. X. 13— .5, 21— .4, the Woe and the Blessing ih. 555 of Mt. xii. 22—30, 38—45, with Lu. xi. 14—26, 29—32; the two dis- possessions, and blasphemy against the Holy Ghost 62 567 ofLu. xi. 1—13; Mt. vi. 7—13; vii. 7 — 11 ih. ib. of Lu. xi. 33— .6 ; Mt. V. 15 ; vi.22, .3 ih. 569 • of Lu. xi. 37 — 54; Mt. xxiii. 4,6,7,13,23—36 ib. ih. of Lu. xii., with portions of Mt. v., vi., X., xii., xvi., xxiv. ; shewing also the principle of Hebrew Parallelism in our Lord's discourses 63 582 • of Lu. xiii. 18—21, with Mt. xiii. 31— .3 (§65) 64 587 of Lu. xiii. 22—30, .4, .5, with portions of our Lord's discourses as given by Matthew, ch. vii. 13, .4, 21 — .3 ; viii. 11, .2 ; xix. 30 ; xxiii. 37— .9 66 594 of Lu. xiv. 16 — 24, the parables of the Great Supper and of the Marriage Feast, Mt. xxii. 1—10 67 601 ■ of Lu. xvii. 23— .7, 30; and Mt. xxiv. 26, .7, 37— .9 72 632 ofLu.xix.12— 27; Mt. XXV. 14^30 80 674 Passion week. The proceedings of Tuesday in 83 706 ■ AVednesday 84 728 Passover (§6.68) 12 129 Peter's denials. On the times of 89 894 Pharisees 7 87 Pontius Pilate ih. ib. Premeditate, Neither do ye 86 802 Priests 10 m Prince of Peace, The 19 204 Prophecy on M. Olivet— see Mt. xxiv 80 801 1 Kabbi 12 129 Eepentance, Fruits worthy of Restoration of all Israel, Prophecies concern- ing the Keward in general. On Eich in this world. The Eock, The (Mt. vii. 24) .....!!.! Eoof, They uncovered the Euler, A r. of the synagogue Sabbath day. The Supposed change of ... at the Exodus Eestitution of the Paradisiacal s. at our Lord's resurrection = Jews' preparation for the. Eememberthe . . . day A day of rest exercises -The second s. after the first. Sadducees Samaritans, The Scribes Sermon on the Mount, and the Law and the Prophets Introductory to St. Paul's Epistles Tabular view of ■ Mt. V. — viii. 1, and the Sermon in the Plain, Lu.vi. 17 — 49 compared Seventy (The) and the twelve sent Simon Solomon's porch ' Suffer many things,' Mt. xvi. 21 Supper, The time of the celebration of the last Synagogue Sword, Shall fall by the edge of the Tabernacle of Testimony Tabular view of Eev. xxi. 19, 20 ; ch. iv., and 1 Epistle of Peter Temple (The) of Solomon ■ The second of Herod On the day of the procession to the... Time of the cleansing the Temptation of Jesus, Scene of the . Order of the. Time of our Saviour's bh-th ... ■ feeding the five thousand crossing the lake. Timothy, Summary of contents of the first Epistle to Tittle, One Tophet Tradition of the elders Transfiguration of Christ Twelve, The — see also p. 270 Unbehef VaUey of Hinnom Verbal differences 'Who is the gi'eatestP' &e Withered hand. Analysis of the Harmony of the narratives of the Woe and blessing, Mt. xi. 21 — .3, 25— .7; xiii. 16, .7; and Lu. x. 13 — .5, 21 — .4 Wonderful, The Work of God, The (Juo. vi. 29) Zacharias SECT. PAGE 7 89 51 466 50 444 19 203 ib. 203 22 224 36 345 24 19 ih. ib. 27 60 10 56 50 87 15 86 I 50 1 83 ih. ih. 81,.3 83 9 /*. 4 40 34 19 ib. ih. 44 51 27 37 19 8 53 25 60 19 43 1 Ixiii 244 245 ib. 24(5 ih. ih. ih. ih. ih. 247 ib. ib. ib. 248 7 88 13 146 25 253 194 199 206 267 554 112 528 414 860 156 80.S 14 418 13 691 695 696 681,.98 706 103 ib. 47 377 326 203 180 181 407 465 268 353 181 95 479 253 555 203 396 Vi I. VerM. l'«RC. Sfcl. 1—16 39 4 17 'U) 18, .9 22 2 2it— .3 23 21, .5 24 n. ... 1 50 5 2—1 51 5—7 52 8—11 63 12, .3 54 LI— .8 55 19—22 56 23 • 57 III. 1 79 7 2.3 80 4 81 5—7 82 8—10 83 11 12 13— .5 IG 17 85 80 90 91 92 IV. 1 2 — 1 5,6 7,8 9 10, .1 12— .6 17 18—22 23 24, .5 1—6 7—9 10— .5 16— .9 20— .2 23— .9 30— .6 37—11 45— ,8 1— S 9—11 12— .8 19—24 25—32 33, .4 96 97 98 99 100 101 157 158 159 1G7 168 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 VI. 183 181 185 186 187 188 VII. 1—3 -t— 8 9—14 15—21 22— .7 28, .9 189 190 191 192 193 194 10 18 19 19 19 INDEX TO THE GOSPELS, CHAPTERS, AND VERSES. VIII. ^'c^sc. !>nge. 1 194 2 213 3,4 214 5,6 274 7—10 275 11— .3 270 14 163 15, .6 164 17 165 18—20 323 21— .4 324 25, .6 325 27 326 28 327 29 328 30— .2 330 33, .4 331 IX. 1 333 2 218 3 219 '4-7 220 8,9 221 10^.2 336 13— .6 337 17, .8 338 19—21 339 22 340 23 342 24, .5 343 20—31 344 32— .4 345 35 353 36— .8 354 1 2 3,4 5 6—8 9—12 13— .0 17—20 21—5 20—32 33— .9 40— .2 1 2,3 '1—7 8-13 14— .0 17—21 22— .5 26—30 1 2—4 5-7 8 9,10 11— .3 14 15 10— .8 355 201 262 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 XI. 304 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 XII. 241 242 213 244 219 251 252 254 255 Sect. 19 21 28 17 34 35 35 •2'2 36 38 39 39 27 39 39 29 24 25 26 MATTHEW. XII. continued). XV. [contim Verse. Pttge. Sect. Verse. I'uxe. 19,20 256 26 36— .8 423 21 257 39 424 22, .3 24— .7 28—31 32— .4 35—40 41— .5 46—50 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 31 1 2—'! 5, 7,8 9—12 13 XVI. 424 425 428 429 430 432 xm. 14— .6 433 1,2 299 32 17 4u4 3, 4 300 18 435 5—11 301 19 436 12, .3 302 20, .1 437 14— .7 303 22 438 18 312 33 23, .4 439 19—21 313 25— .7 440 22 314 28 442 23 315 XVII. 24, .5 303 32 1 449 26—30 304 2,3 451 31 305 4,5 453 32, .3 306 6—10 455 34, .5 307 11— .3 456 36 311 33 14, .5 457 36—41 318 16, .7 458 42— .4 319 18—20 459 45—51 320 ... 21 460 52 321 22, .3 470 53 323 34 24 471 54, .5 346 37 25— .7 472 56— .8 347 ■ 1 . XIV. 1 2,3 4-6 7—9 10— .2 13, .4 15 10, .7 18, .9 20, .1 22 23, .4 25, .6 27—31 32, .3 34, .5 30 365 366 367 368 309 371 372 373 374 375 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 40 XV, 1 2—4 5—8 9—11 12— .7 18, .9 20 21, .2 23— .5 26, .7 28 29 30, .1 32— .5 399 '101 402 403 404 405 406 408 409 410 411 420 421 422 41 42 44 45 46 1* 2—4 5 6—8 9 10— .2 13— .8 19—24 25—35 1,2 3 4—9 10— .3 14 15 16 17 18—21 22, .3 24, .5 26— .8 29 30 1,2 3—7 8—13 14— .(! 17 18, .9 20 XVIII. 473 474 475 476 477 482 483 484 485 XIX. 628 637 638 039 640 641 642 643 6d4 645 646 647' 648 649 XX. 650 051 052 053 ■ 655 056 057 Sect. 46 47 47 48 50 51 52 53 71 74 75 76 77 XX. {continued). Verse. I'lipi 21, .2 058 23— .5 659 26— .8 600 29,30 664 31— .3 665 34 666 XXI. 1,2 683 3—5 684 6,7 685 8 686 9 087 10, .1 689 12 704 13 705 14— .7 690 IS, .9 702 20— .2 703 23 710 24, .5 711 26, .7 712 28—31 713 32 714 33 715 34 716 35, .6 717 37—41 718 42 719 43— .0 720 1—4 5—7 8—12 13 14 15, .0 17—20 21, .2 23, .4 25— .9 30 31 32, .3 31,— .7 38—40 41— .3 44 45, .0 XXII. 721 723 723 724 725 726 727 728 731 733 733 734 735 730 737 739 74fl 741 XXIII. 1—4 748 5—8 749 9—12 750 13— .5 751 10—22 752 23— .6 753 27—32 754 33, .4 755 35.. 750 37— .9 757 XXIV. 1 700 2—4 761 5—7 763 8, 9 764 77 79 82 S3 83 S3 84 84 85 86 * Ver. 1—9; see also p. 482. INDEX TO THE GOSPELS, CIIAPTEES, AND VERSES. XXIV. (continued). Verse. Page. Sect. 10 76G 86 11, .2 767 13, .4 768 15 769 16 770 17, .8 771 19—22 772 23, .4 774 25— .7 775 28, .9 776 30 778 31 779 32— .4 780 35 781 36— .8 783 39—43 783 44^.6 784 47—51 785 XXV. 1—3 787 4—11 788 12— .6 789 17—24 790 T. 1 73 2—4 79 5 82 6 81 7 85 8 86 9 90 10 91 11 92 12 96 13 97 14 157 15 158 16—20 159 21— .3 161 24— .6 162 27, .8 163 29,30 163 31— .4 164 35 166 36— .9 167 40 213 41— .4 214 45 215 11. 1 217 2—4 218 5—7 219 8—12 220 13, .4 221 15— .8 222 19—22 223 23 241 2.^^.6 242 27, .8 244 III. 1,2 249 3,4 250 5 251 6 252 7,8 254 9—12 255 13 260 14— .7 261 18, .9 262 1',) 289 20, .1 290 22— .6 292 27, .8 293 86 16 17 18 21 24 25 26 27 iio 31 XXV. {continued). Verse. Pajje 25, .6 27—30 31— .3 34, .5 36—40 J-l- .5 46 1,2 3—5 0,7 8 9 10— .2 13 14— .6 17 18, .9 20 21 22— .4 25 26 791 792 793 794 795 796 797 XXVI. 798 799 676 677 678 679 680 800 806 807 808 815 816 818 813 Seul. 86 86 81 86 87 III. [continued). 29, 30 294 31 31— .5 297 IV. 1 2—4 5—9 10, .1 12— .4 1.5— .7 18, .9 20 21 22— .4 25 26—30 -31, .2 33, .4 35 36, .7 38—40 41 1,2 3—7 8—10 11— .3 14— .7 18—21 22, .3 24— .8 29—33 34, .5 36— .8 39—42 43 1—3 4—6 6 7 8 9, 10 11 12, .3 14 15— .7 18—21 22— .6 299 300 301 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 305 306 307 323 324 325 326 32 33 32 34 V. 327 328 329 330 331 332 338 339 340 341 342 343 344, 36 VI. 340 37 347 353 38 355 39 356 357 358 363 365 40 366 367 308 XXVI. Verse. 27 28 29 30 31— .3 34, .5 36, .7 38, .9 40 41— .3 44— .6 47 48 49, 50 51, .2 53— .5 56 57 58—61 62, .3 64, .5 66— .8 69,70 71, .2 (continued ■ 1 Page. Sect. 824 87 825 826 857 858 859 866 88 1 867 868 869 870 871 872 873 874 875 876 880 89 1 882 883 884 885 886 887 MARK. VI. (continued). 27— .9 30 31— .4 35 36— .8 39—41 42— .4 45 46, .7 48—50 51, .2 53— .6 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 378 379 380 382 383 40 VII. 1,2 3—5 6 7,8 9, 10 11— .3 14-.7 18 19—21 23, .3 24 25 26— .8 29, 30 31, .2 33— .7 399 400 4«3 403 401 402 403 404 405 406 408 409 410 411 420 431 41 42 44 VIII. 1—6 7—9 10, .1 12 13— .5 16, .7 18—21 22— .6 27 28, .9 30, .1 33 33, .4 35— .7 38 423 423 421 426 428 429 430 431 432 433 437 438 439 440 441 45 40 40 47 49 50 IX. 1 41.2 2 449 50 51 XXVI. (continued). Verse. Page. Sect 73, .4 888 89 75 889 XXVII. 1,3 3—5 6,7 8—10 11 12— .4 15— .8 19,20 21— .3 24, .5 26 27 38—30 31, .2 33, .4 35 36— .8 39,40 41— .3 890 891 892 893 903 904 908 909 910 911 912 913 914 915 918 920 921 922 923 924 89 90 91 IX. (continued). 3,4 5—7 8—11 12, .3 14— .7 18—21 22— .9 30 31, .2 33 33^.6 37—41 42, .3 44— .7 48—50 1 2—4 5—9 10— .3 14, .5 16 17 IS 19—21 23, .3 24, .5 26— .9 30 31 33 33, .4 35 36— .8 39—43 43— .5 46 47—51 53 1,3 3 4—7 8 9 ■ 10 11 12— .4 15 451 453 455 456 457 458 459 469 470 471 474 475 476 477 478 628 637 638 639 640 641 643 643 644 645 616 617 648 649 655 656 657 658 659 660 664 665 666 51 71 74 77 79 XI. 083 684 6S5 68(i 687 688 689 702 701 82 XXVII. (continued). Verse. 45— .7 48, .9 50 51 52, .3 54, .5 56 57 58 59, 60 61, .2 63— .6 Pane. 926 927 928 930 931 933 933 935 936 937 938 939 Sect 91 1 2—4 5—7 8 9, 10 11— .3 14, .5 16— .8 19 20 XXVIII. 948 949 950 951 968 951 952 969 970 971 93 95 93 96 83 XI. (continued). 16, .7 18, .9 20— .4 25— .8 29—31 32, .3 705 706 709 710 711 712 XII. 1 2 3—6 7—9 10, .1 13 13, .4 15, .6 17 18, .9 30— .4 35 26 27 28, .9 30, .1 32— .4 35, .6 37 38—40 41— .4 1 2-5 6—8 9 10, .1 13, .3 14 15, .6 17—30 21, .2 23 24 25 26, .7 28—30 31 32, .3 34— .6 37 715 716 717 718 719 720 726 727 728 731 7.32 733 734 735 7.36 737 738 740 741 743 743 XIII. 760 761 763 764 765 766 769 771 772 7/4 775 776 777 779 780 781 782 783 784 83 84 84 85 80 ]> INDEX TO rUK GOSPELS, CUAPTEES, AND VERSES. XIV. Verse. Pqc-. 1 79S 2 700 :i ('.■(5 -1 t!-7 5 678 C— 8 679 680 10, .1 8(X) 12 806 13— . 13— .5 76 VI. 8—20 513 2—5 810 18 887 II I 16— .8 77 1, 2 371 40 21— .9 514 6—11 811 19—24 881 • i> 19—21 103 10 3—7 372 30— .8 515 12— .7 812 25 887 III 22— .8 104 8,9 373 39—41 516 18—21 815 26, .7 888 ■ ■• 29,30 105 10, .1 374 X. 22 816 28 890 31— .8 106 12, .3 375 1,2 516 55 23— .9 817 28—31 897 90 39—4.5 107 14, .5 378 41 3—8 517 30 818 32— .6 898 46, .7 108 16, .7 379 9—11 518 31— .5 819 37, .8 899 • •. 48—50 109 18, .9 380 12— .6 519 36— .8 820 38—40 900 Ill 51 110 20 381 17, .8 520 XIV. XIX. II. 21 382 19—21 521 1, 2 827 87 1—4 900 90 1—3 113 11 22— .4 383 42 22, .3 524 56 3—7 828 5—11 901 4-8 114 25, .6 386 43 24— .8 525 8—12 829 12— .4 902 9—11 115 27 387 29—33 526 13— .6 830 15 907 12 116 28—31 388 34— .8 527 17 — .9 831 16 912 13— .0 118 12 32— .5 389 39 528 20 — .4 832 17, .8 918 91 17— .9 119 36— .9 390 40 529 57 25_.7 833 ... 19, 20 919 20— .5 120 40— .4 391 41, .2 530 28—31 834 21— .4 920 III. 45—51 392 XI. XV. 1—5 836 87 6—12 837 13— .6 838 17 21 839 25— .7 925 1—3 121 12 52—60 393 1—11 532 58 2S— 30 927 4,5 122 61— .5 394 12—23 533 31— .5 933 93 6—10 123 66—71 395 24 .7 534 36, .7 934 11, .2 124 VII. 28—39 535 38 935 13 14— .7 125 126 1 469 52 2—6 487 54 40— .4 45-51 536 537 22— .5 840 '.'.'. 26, .7 841 XVI. 39 40— .2 936 937 ... 18, .9 127 7—9 488 52— .4 538 XX. 20, .1 128 10— .2 491 55 55, .6 675 81 22— .7 131 13 13— .7 492 57 676 1_4 842 87 1, 2 953 93 28—30 132 18—22 493 XII. 5—10 843 3—10 954 ... 31— .3 133 23— .8 494 1 676 81 11— .3 844 11— .4 955 34, .5 134 29—36 495 2,3 676 14— .9 845 15— .7 956 ... 36 135 37— .9 496 4 677 20— .5 846 18 957 IV. 40— .8 497 5,6 678 26—32 847 19, 20 964 95 1-3 136 13 49—53 498 7,8 679 33 848 21 — .3 965 dr-lO 137 VIII. 9—11 680 xvn. 24 — .6 27— .9 30, .1 966 967 989 11— .4 138 1 498 55 12, .3 682 82 1, 2 849 87 100 15—21 139 2—7 500 14 685 3_6 850 22, .3 140 8—13 501 15— .7 686 7—11 851 XXI. 21r-.6 141 14— .9 502 18 687 12 852 1,2 973 97 27—35 142 20— .4 503 19 689 13— .7 853 3—7 974 3(5— -12 143 25— .9 504 20— .3 690 18—21 854 8—15 975 ... 43— .8 147 14 30— .3 505 24— .8 691 22— .4 856 16, .7 976 49—54 148 34— .6 506 29—32 692 25, .6 857 18 977 ■ 11 V. 37—41 507 33— .6 693 xvin. 19—22 978 ... 1-9 228 23 42— .6 508 37— .9 744 85 1 857 87 23, .4 979 10— .8 229 47—54 509 40— il 745 2—4 871 88 25 989 100 ■xvii SECTIONAL>y»/>^«7-f/rrf^.^-m-H...Ti.».il^.flhfFo»irF.v^mgd.s^ PART :i o TnB PRIVATK aiSTOlUKS Otf AW!C or UlTit il.OK'D' ^i:K;5'1'3 rjitKllST • xmijirphiaidiiig ihe spjcf uf HI Yertrs FROM THE PREDICTION TO THE COMMENCEMENT u»Hin rifHi;ir^iiii!aH:c«!rAr',26. N" 1-6 THE GOSPEL TREASUHY AND EXPOSITORY HARMONY OF THE FOUR EVANGELISTS. PAKT FIKST. Matthew I., II. Luke I., II., III. 23 — 38. ARRANGED IN THE ORDER OF TIME Comprehending Ihe Space of'?,\ Years; vi::.,—from the Prediction of the Birth of John the Baptist, B.C. 6,» to the Commencement of his Public Ministry, A.D. 20. SECTION l.t [G. 1-3.] The Preface of the Gospel accokding to St. Luke. — The Rirth of John FORETOLD, AND HIS CONCEPTION. Lllke i. 1 25. introduction ;aged in giving a connected 1. Tlio Evnngelist refers to some as eni view of Clu'istian doctrine. 2. The matters so taiiglit were communicated by those wlio liad the best opportunity of knowing theii' trutli ; tliey having been ' ej/e-ioUnesses, and ministers of the Word.' 3. Luke fully qualified, and disposed, to give an orderly account of the ftvets councetcd with the first promulgation of the gospel ; — [the first part of his plan is contained in the present treatise ; — the second, whieli ali-o is addi-essed to Theopliilus, ia found in the Acts of the Apostles. ] 4. Purpose of tliis narrative : — It is more especially designed for those who, as catechumens, have already been given an elementary knowledge of Cliristianity — faith in which is strengthened by a more perfect knowledge oi the f;iets upon which it is founded. 5. Tlie narrative begins in the reign of Herod : and with the ease of a priest named Zacharias, and his wife Elisabeth. 6. These are ' righteous before God ; ' and in the sight of men blameless, in regard to both the moral and the ceremonial law. 7. Zacharias and Elisabeth are both old. 8 — 10. AVliile ' in the order oj his course,' Zacharias is performing the duties of his priesthood before God, it fulls to Ins lot to burn incense in Ihe temple. 11, .2. An angel appears to Zacharias ; who is troubled thei-eat. 1.3 — .5. Tlie angel speaks to him with comforting words, telling liim that his prayer is heard ; in evidence of which his wife Elisabctli AND ANALYSIS. shall bear him a son, whom lie shall call John, a name expressive of gratitude for the free favour of the Lord. At the birth of the child, the favour of the Lord in the case is to be acknowledged by many. But the propriety of liis being n.amcd John is especially to be seen in the favour with which the Lord will regard him, and the grace to he bestowed upon hira. He is to be a Nazarite, and to be flUed with the Holy Ghost from his earliest infancy. 16. As to lus office, — ^he shall begin to accomplish that for which Elijah prayed, the conversion of Israel to the Lord. 17. Ho shall also have the honour of being the Lord's harbinfer ' in the spirit and power of Mias ;' to produce in Israel that which the Lord recognised in the father of the faithful. Gen. xviii. 19. 18. Zacharias inquii-es liow he is to know this shall be. 19. 20. The angel makes known his own name, ofUce, and message, as evidence of the truth of the glad tidings ho has declared ; and predicts that Zacharias shall not he able to speak until he acknow- ledge the kindness of the Lord in tlie aecomplislunent of his word. 31. The people wonder that the priest delays so long ui the temple. 22. Zacharias having come out to them, is dumb, but makes tliem understand that he has seen a vision. 23. The days of his ministry being finished, Zacharias returns to his home — in the hill country of Judiea. 24. .5. EUsabeth, having conceived, remains in seclusion five months ; as feeling that, in the visitation upon her husband, the Lord is dealing hardly witli her, .at the time he is regarchng her with favour, in taking away her reproach. (G. LJ) The Preface according to St. Lu/ce. — Lit/i-e i. 1 — 1. Jerusalem. 1 FoRASMUCH-as many have-takcn-iu-liaiid to-set-fortli-in-order uvuTa^aaOm a-declaration of thoso'tliings 2 which - are - most - surely - believed Trnr\r)poij>oprifdv(M)v among us, even -as they -delivered them uuto-us. NOTES. 1. Man!/. Matthew and Mark, the only Evangelists supposed to have written before Luke, cannot well be called 'many'! And tlie gospel by John was not yet written. Luko probably refers to verbal statements. — See Addenda, p. 12. Have taken in hand. 'The word here translated "havs taken in hand," is used by St. Luke in Acts ix. 29 ; xix. 13 ; and occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. In the former of these passages it is translated, "went about," and in the latter, "took upon them." In both it relates to faUuro of purpose ; in the latter of them, to want of due authority also.' — Lonsdale and Male, PRACTICAL REFLECTION. 1 ver. We should seek to obtain for ourselves and present to I nccted with our religious belief; especially as to the life, teachings i others, a clear, consistent, and orderly view of the matters con- | death, and resurrection of om- blessed Ecdcenier. * Before the common account, called Anno Domini the sixtb year. — See Chronological Table, p. xi. t The Sections are continuous, and agi'co with the Nmnbers as Geographicallv localized in the Gospel Chai'ts. t Is the Section of the 'Haraiouia Evangelica,' by Kcv. Edward Grcswcll, B.D. Lesson 1.] Malt. i. 1, § 1, p. 30. Marh: i. 1, § 7, p. 78. Mm i. 1, § ib., p. 73. s SECT. I.] LUKE'S PREFACE. [PART 1. LuKK i. '3, 4. ;{ wliid;' from tho-bc^iuning wfi-c cyo-witncsscs, and niiuisters of-tlio word ; it-spciiicd-f^ood to-me-alsO; haviufj-hiid-'porfect'-undorstaiidiug-of all-things from-tho very first iropriKoXovdi^KOTi, avuiOev iraaiv UKpi- 4 /9ws', to-writt> unto-tlieo in-order KaOe^rj<;, niost-cxcollont Thcopliiliis, that thou-mightcst-kuow the certainty u(T(Pu\iiav of thoso-thinysj wherein thou-hast-beeu-iustructed. 2. KVE-WITXESSES. Jppo!nle(l,Jno.-rr.27, § 87, 'Aiidvc also shall boar witness, bccauso yo Imvo been witli me from the beginning.' — Lu. xxiv. 48, § 98, 'And ye are witnesses of these things.'— Ac. X. 39—41, "And we are witnesses of all things wliich he did botli in the land of the Jew.-!, and in Jerusalem ; whom they slew and Imngod on a tree: 40, liim God raised up the thii-d day, and showed him openly; 41, not to all tlie people, but xmto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after lie rose from the dead.'— 0/" the sufferings of Christ, 1 Pe. T. 1, 'The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an cider, and a witness of the sulfcrings of Christ, and also a partaker of the gloiy that shall be revealed.'- His majesty, 2 Pe. i. 16, * For wc have not followed cunningly dev'sed fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Clu-ist, but were eye-witnesses of liis majesty.'- —l?** resurreetion, Ac. i. 2—8, 'Tlio apostles whom he had chosen : to whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by ma.-sy infallible proofs, being Bccn of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.' . . . . — 1 Jno. i. 1 — 3, 'That wliich was Irom the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands liavo ]iandled, of the Word of life ; 2, (for the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, whii-li was with the Father, and was manifested unto us ;) 3, that which we have seen and heard declare we mito you, that ye also may have fcUowsliip with us,' &e. — Their alligation to speak, Ac. iv. 19, 20, ' But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it bo right in the sight of God to hearken xmto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20, For we cannot but Epeak the things which wc have seen and heard.' — Our ohliga- iion to hear, lie. ii. 3, ' How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation ; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him ? ' MlNlSTEBS. Those toTio attend on others for service. Thus Joshua was minister to Moses, Ex. xxiv. 13 — so Elisha to Elijah, 1 Ki. xix. W—i\.— Christ the example, Mt. xx. 26— .8, § 77, p. 6G0, ' Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27, and whosoever will be chief among you, let him SCUIPTUKE ILLUSTRATIONS. be your servant : 28, even as the Son of man came not to bt ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ran* som for many.' — Jno. xiii. 12 — .5, § 87. . . , ' So after lie had washed their feet,' Sue. — Eph. v. 26, .7, 'That he might sanctify and cleanse it,' &c. — Christ a minister in heaven. He. viii. 6, 'But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.'— TAe ministry on forth, Eph. iv. 11, .2, ' And he gave some, apostles ; and some, prophets ; and some, evangelists ; and some, pastors and teachers ; 12, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Clirist.'— 2%e tu-elve,lil\. iii. 14, § 27, ' Aud ho ordained twelve, that they shoidd bo with him, and that he might send them forth to preach.' — Paul a minister, Ac. xxvi. 16, 'But rise, and stand upon thy feet : for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things wliich thou hast seen, and of those tilings in the which I will appeal unto thee.' — Rom. xv. 16, 'That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God,' &c. The Woed. Jesus the Christ, of ivhom the apostles were 'eye- witnesses and ministers,' is spoien of as ' The Woed,' Jno. i. 1 — U, § 7, which see ; and 1 Jno. i. 1 — see supra, first column, line 18. 3. Most excellent. Title of office, Ac. xxiii. 26, 'Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeih greeting.' — xxvi. 25, 'But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth aud soberness.' — Those to whom it trull/ belongs, Ps. xvi. 3, ' But to the saints that are in tlie earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.' — Pr. xii. 26, 'The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the -way of the wicked seduceth them,' Theophilus. ' Lover of God,' Ac. i. 1, ' The foi-raer treatise,' &c. — Jppropriafe name to a keeper of Christ's words, Jno. xiv. 23, .4, § 87, ' If a man love me, he will keep my words,' &e. — 1 Jno. v. 3, ' For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments,' &c. 4. Ceetaintt. Should knou} the truth of what is commended to our religious belief, Pr. iv. 4, 5, ' Ho taught me also, aud saic' NOTES. From the time John pointed to Jesus 2. From the beginning. as 'the Lamb of God.' Ege-witnesses. One of these, Matthew, wrote for the use of the Jewish converts. St. Mark did the same under the direction of 6t. Peter for the Gentiles. Luke wTote this histoi-y under the advice, it is commonly believed, of St. Paul. 3. Having had perfect. Having fully traced all. From the verg first. 'There is peculiar propriety in this expres- gion, since Luke begins his gospel from an earlier period of the history than any other of tlie Evangelists; the facts recorded in his first chiipter being all prior to llie birth of Jesus, and being related by tlii.s Evangelist alone.' — Lonsdale and Male. It was by tracing op every account tUl he became satisfied of its truth. Here observe — lat. That in religion God does not set aside our natural faculties. He calls us to look at evidence, tr examine accounts, to make up our own minds. Nor will any uiSTi be couvinccd of the truth of rchgion who does not make investi- gation, and set himself seriously to the task. 2nd. We see the natiu'o of Luke's insjju-ation. It was consistent with his using his natiu'al faculties. God by his Holy Spirit kept him from error. In order. Clironologieally. — See Addenda, ' Ix obdei!,' p. 12. Most excellent Theophilus. See SCKIP. Illtjs., supra. Mr, GresweU says: — 'It appears to me a probable conjecture PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS, 2 ver. Wc are to bo thankful to our God, who, in the testimony of those that, from the beginning, were cyc-wil iicsscs and ministers of the word, luitli provided abundant materials for our possessin" this most profitable knowledge. 3 tier. The eanio help from above being ofl'cred unto us in the ■tudy of this history, whicli w.is granted unto the Evangelists in tho writing thereof, wo do weU earnestly to look up for the Divine teaeliing, at the same time that we use all diligence in the use of all the ordinary means with which we are favoured. 4 ver. It is not enough that we are given a general knowledge of those things whicli God has been pleased to make known to us in his word : we should shew our gratitude for his condescension in instructuig us, by diligently inquu-ing into the particulars of what he does reveal, that we may know the certauity of them. Ma/f. i. 1, § 4, p. 39. Mark i. 1, § 7, p. 78. John i. 1, § ib., p. 73. LI. PAKT I.] HEROD— ZACHARIAS—ELTSABEin. [SECT. I. (G. 2.) JoJdi's Birth foretold. — Luke i. 5 — 23. Jerusalem. 5 There-was in the days of-Iferod, the king of 'Juda3a, a-certain priest named Zacharias, of the-course of- Abia: and his^wife was of the daughters of- Aaron, and her^name was Elisabeth. And they-were both SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. iinf me, Let thine heart retam my words : keep my commandments, ami hye. 5, Get wisdom, get understanding; forget it not; neither declme from tlie words of my mouth.' — Is. xxxiii. 6, ' And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation : the fear of the LoED is liis treasure.' — Jno. XX. 31, § 100, 'But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God ; and that believing ye might have life through his name.' — The Bereans, Ae. xvii. 11. 5. Heeod. The king of Judaa, Mt. ii. 1—15, .6, § h.—To he distinguished from his son, Herod Antipas, the telrarch, Lu. iii. 1, 19, 20, § 1, pp. 79, ST, who beheaded John the Baptist, Mt. xiv. 1 — 12, § 40 — to whom Filate sent Jesus, Lu. xxUi. 7 — 12, § 90. Zaohabias. 'Memorial of the Lord,' Lu. i. 72, § 3, ' To perfoi'm the merry promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant.' — The Lord's memorial, Ex. iii. 15, ' And God said moreover mito Moses, Thus shalt thou say imto the eliildreu of Israel, The Lokd God of yom- fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you : this is my name lor ever, and this is my memorial unto all gene- rations.'.^ .ffe tvill remember his covenant, his people, and the land, le. xxvi. 42, .5, ' Then wUl I remember my covenant,' &c. — See § 3, p. 30,o» Lu. i. 72, under 'Remembee.' — He would be put in remem- brance. Is. xliii. 26, ' Put me in remembrance : let us plead to- gether: declare thou, that thou-wayest be justified.' — Ixii. 6, 'I have set watclunen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor niglit : ye that make mention of the LoED (oi; ye that are the Lord's Remembrancers), keep not silence, 7, and give him no rest, till,' &c. — See Addenda, ' Zacharias^ p. 13. Course op Abia {or AUiah), 1 Chr. xxiv. 7, 10, .9, ' Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiai'ib,' 10, 'the eighth to Abijah.' 19, 'These were the orderiugs of them in their sen-ice to come into the house of the Loed, according to their manner, under Aaron then- father, as the Loed God of Israel had commanded liim.' — 2 Clu\ vili. 14, ' And he appointed, according to the order of David liis father, the courses of the priests to their sei-vicc, and the Levites to then- charges, to praise and minister before the priests, as the duty of every day requu-ed : the porters also by then- courses at every gate : for so had David the man of God commanded.' — See xxxi. 2, and Ezr. vi. 18. Aaeon, ' teacher' Was taught of Ood ichat he should teach the people, Ex. iv. 14 — .6, 'And the anger of the Loed was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother ? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he comoth forth to meet thee : and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart. 15, And thou shalt speak unto him, aud put words in his mouth : and I wUl be with thy mouth, and witli his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. 16, And he shall be thy spokesman inito the people : aud he shall be, even he shall be to tli^ instead of a mouth, and thou shalt he to him instead of God.' — De. xxxiu. 10, ' They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, aud Israel thy law,' &c. ■ — Mai. ii. 6, 7, ' The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in liis lips : he walked with me in peace and equity, and did tui-n many away from uiiquity. 7, For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at lus mouth : for he is the messenger of the Lobd of hosts.' Elisabeth. The Greek form of the Sebreto name ' Elisheba,' the name of the wife of Aaron, Ex. vi. 23 ; this means ' Oath of mt/ God; Lu. i. 73, § 3, p. 30.— To Abraham, Gc. xxii. 16— .8, for which see on ver. 73, § 3, p. 30, Notes. — Mi. vii. 20, 'Thou wilt perform the trutli to Jacob, and the mercy to NOTES. that TheophUus was one of the freedmen of Nero, or some other personage about the com-t of that emperor, to whom, among others, St. Paul alludes in the Epistle to the PhiUppiaus, iii-st, when he speaks of his bonds having become manifest, iv oXiij r(;j Trpninupiif), as well as roTj XoiTrolg Traai, Plxil. i. 13, " So that my bonds in Clirist are manifest in all the palace, and in all ofl:er places ; " which proves that some converts had been made in the imperial palace, as well as among the other inhabitants of Rome. Tliis is cori'oboratcd by what he again says in ch. ir. 22, "All the saints salute you, chiejly they that are of Caesar's household." 'That Thcoplulus was a recent convert, or had been only just instmcted in the facts and doctrines of Clu'istianity, when the gospel was written, appears, I think, plainly from the language of the px'eface — 'iva iirtyi'tiig 7rf,ot uiv Kartjy^i'iOijt; Xoyiov ri/v datpd- \(tav: That thou may est be assured of the certainty of the things, concerning which thou hast received the fii'St instruction.' — Vol. I. Diss. ii. pp. 182, ..3, Greswell. 4. Been instructed. In the early times of the Christian Chm'ch, young behcvers were catechized upon the facts contained in the gospel histoiy, and were called catechumens. Theophilus was here presented with that wliicli was calculated to seem-e what ho had already received as a catechumen. 5. Herod. Was commonly called the Great. He was the first king of Juda;a of that name ; the son of Antipater, by extraction and birth an Idumcan, but a Jewish proselyte. When a young man Antipater gave him the govennuent of Galilee. With great prudence and valour he cleared the country of thievish banditti, who swarmed there. Ho was appointed king of Juda;a by Die Romans. lie was cruel and ambitious. To ingratiate liimself with the Jews he rebuUt then- teiuple, and rendered it exceeduigly •tately aud glorious. lie oruamentcd, likewise, with great magnifi- cence, the cities of his kingdom. He had reigned thirty-six years at the time of Jesus' bu-th. — See Sect. v. pp. 50 — .G, cj' Adden., p. 6?. Friest. The word Cohen signifies one that intercedes, or deals famiharly with a sovereign. When it relates to civil things, it denotes such as are cliief and intimate rulers xmder a king. — Compare 2 Sa. viii. 18, wil/i 1 Clir. xviii. 17 : iu the former tht, same persons are iu the Hebrew called Cohenim, who in the latter are described as the cliief at the hand of the king. When il relates to reUgion, Cohen signifies priest, or one who, by vu'tue of a Divine appointment, ofiered sacrifices, and interceded for guilty men. — See Addenda, ' Aaeon,' p. 13. Before the consecration of Aaron, fathers, elder brothers, princes, or evei-y man for himself, ofiered sacrifice, as is clear in the case of Abel, Cain, Noah, Abriiham, Isaac, Jacob, and Job. Mlieii God at Sinai ratified his covenant with the Hebrews, young men, perhaps the eldest sons of then- princes, otficiated as priests, when Moses came down from the mount. — See Ex. xxiv. 5. The whole Hebrew nation are called piriesls, because they were devoted to God, and much employed iu liis sei-vice. Ex. xix. 6, 'And ye shall he unto me a Icinydom of priests, and an holy nation.' In the consecration of Aaron and of the tabernacle, Moses acted as priest, Ex. xl. ; Lev. viii. After which, the priesthood, in ordinary cases, pertained solely to the family of Aaron ; and Korah, Vzza, and king Azariah, were pimished for interfering with their work. Zacharias. See Addenda, ' Zacharias,' p. 13. Of the course of Abia. David divided the priests into twenty- four classes or courses, each one of wliieh ofBciated for a week, 1 Chr. xxiv. These courses begau each successively on the sabbath. — See 2 Ki. xi. 7 ; 2 Chr. xxiii. 4j and ScniP. Ilitrs. supra. Aaron. Of the tribe of Levi j wliicli, under the law, was accepted for the £u-st-born of all the tribes of Israel. Out of all the famiUes 1.] Mall. i. 1, § 4, p. 39. Mark i. 1, § 7, p. 78. John i. 1, § ib., p. 73. CriARACTER OP ZACKAKTAS AND ELISABETH. SECT. I.] CITAHACTER OF ZACIIAKIAS AINJJ ssijiaAutLiu. [PAST 1. Luke i. 7, 8. ligiitcous beforo^God, ^YalluIlg in all the commandments and ordinances StKauoimai of-tlic Lord blameless. 7 And 8 And tliey had no child, because-that^Elisabcth was barren, and they-'botlr-werc /?oio wcll-strieken in jcars. »d it-came-to-pass, that wliile he^executed-the-priest's-office before^God in the order of his course, SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Abraham, whicli (hou hast sworn unto our fathers from the (lays of old.'— Uc. vi. 13—20, ' For when God made promise to Abraliam, because he could swear by no gi-eatcr, ho swaro by himself, 14, saying, Surely blessing I will bless Ihcc, and multiply- ing I will multiply thee. 15, And so, after lio had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16, For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation it to them an end of all strife. 17, AVlicrciii God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the imniulability tf his counsel, con- firmed il by an oath : 18, that by two iramutalilo things, in which il teas impossible for God to lie, wo might have a strong consola- tion, who have iled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us : 19, which hope wo have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and wliich cntereth into that within the veil; 20, whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high l)riest for ever after the order of Melchiscdcc' (5. Rianmious. Examples, 'NoAii,' Oe. vi. 9, 'Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.' — \ii. 1, 'And the Loud said unto Koah, Come thou and all tliy liouso into the ark ; for thee have X seen righteous before me in this generation.' — 'Job,' Job i. 8, ' AjkI the Loed said unto Satan, lla.st thou considered my sciTant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fearcth God, and escheweth evil?' — ' S1.UEON,' Lu. ii. 25, § 4. — How men are made rlyhlcous, Horn. iii. 21 — .G, 'Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Clu-ist Jesus : 25, whom God hath set forth to he a propitiation through faith in liis blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God ; 2G, to declare, I say, at tliis time his righteousness^: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.' — viii. 3,4, 'For what the law eoidd not do, 'm that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his ovf-n Son in the likeness of sinfid tlesh, aud for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.' — 2 Cor. v. 21, 'For he hath made him to he sin for us, who knew no sin ; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Iiini.' — 1 Juo. ii. 1, 2, ' My little children, these tilings write I mito you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous : 2, and ho is the propitiation for oui- sins : and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world.' — Actually so, iii. 7, ' Little children, let no man deceive you : he that docth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.' — Their prayers acccptahle, I'r. sv. 29, ' The Lord is far from the I wicked: but he he;u-utli the prayer of the righteous.' — See Jas. v. 16— .8. Before God. Of Enoch il is said. Go. v. 24, ' And Enoch walked with God : and he was not ; for God took him.' — And to Ahraham, xvii. 1, 'I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and bo thou perfect.' — Solomon called to do so, 1 Ki. ix. 4, 5, 'And if thou wilt walk before mo, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments : 5, then I wiU estabUsh the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the tlirone of Israel.' — Paul could say, Ac. xxiv. 16, ' And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a con- science void of offence toward God, and toward men.' — 2 Cor. i. 12, ' For our rejoicing is tliis, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had om- conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.' — Contrasts, Pli. iii. 17, .8, 'Brethren, bo followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensamplc. 18, For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Clu-ist.' — 2 Pe. iii. 3, ' Scoffers, walking after theu- own lusts.' Blameless. Tliere is loth a blamelessness according to the law, Ph. iii. 6, ' Concernuig zeal, persecuting the church ; touching the righteousness which is in the lawj^lameless.' — And also accord- ing to the gospel, ii. 15, 'That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.' — 1 Th. ii. 10, 'Ye are witnesses, aud God also, howholily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that beUevc.' — In the Judgment, Col. i. 21, .2, ' And you, that were sometime alien- ated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh tlu-ough death, to present you holy and unblameable and imrcprovcable in liis sight.' 7. No child. Abram^s case, Ge. xt. 2, 3 — lohicli see on ver. 18, p. 10, under ' Whereby,' &c. — Manoah's, Ju. xiii. 2, 3 ; Ban- nah's, 1 Sa. i. 10, .1. Well stricken in tears. So Ahraham, Go. xvii. 17 — tekich see on ver. 18, p. 10, ' AVhehebt,' &e. 8. Priest's office. Aaron and his sons chosen thereto, Ex. xxviii. 1, 'Ajid take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, i'om among the childi'en of Israel, that ho may minister unto me iu the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Itliamar, Aaron's sons.' — Transf. of the office to Christ anticipated, De. xxxui. 8 — see Notes, p. 5, 'Aaron.' — Confirm., He. vii. 21, ' For those iiriests were made without an oath ; but tliis NOTES. of Levi, that of Aaron was taken to exercise the priestliood, until the coining of the Holy One of Israel, with regard to whom it was spoken by Moses, the brother of Aaron, De. xxxiii. 8, 'And of Levi he said. Let thy Thummim and thy Urim bo with thy Holy One, toliom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst 1 strive at the waters of Mcrihah.' It was with the Lord that the i children of Israel there strove. Jesus is the lloly One, whose ' assumption of the piiesthood was thus contemplated even from the beginning of tlie Levitical priesthood. Perfection, or ' Thum- mim,' was not by the law, but Clu-ist hath brought life and unmor- tality to light, ' Ur^m,' by the gospel.— &c Addenda, 'Aaron,' p. 13. 6. Pighteous. Just or holy, it means more than outward con- formity to the law. No man, by the deeds of the law given by Moses, can be justified before God, but only as possessing the faith of Abraham. Walhing in all tlie commandments. The ten commandments, or moral precepts of the law, directing as to the general exercise of love to God and love to man. Blameless. Speaking after the manner of men ; ' blameless ' in pubUc deportment; 'blameless' as lar as man ought to judge. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. 6 rcr Let us like Zacharias and Elisabeth, seek to bo righteous ' or the ordinances of the Lord ; let us walk in all the appointments before God, which can only be through the priesthood of Him ' of the Lord, and that Uamelcss. whom John declared unto the ]>eople. Let us not be contented ' 7 ver. The Lord's deferring a favoiu- mitil the time he sees most witn perlornuug a part of oui- duty, cither as to the commandments fit to grant it, may rather be cause of tliaukfuhiess than of regret. 6 Mall. L 1, § 4i p. 89. Marie i. 1, § 7, p. 78. John L 1, § ii., p. 73. [1. VAKT I.] AN AIJfGEL APPEAES TO ZACHARIAS. Luke i. 9—11. [SECT. I. 9 according- to the custom of- the priest's-office, liis-lot-was^to-bura-inconse -when-hc-went into the temple of- 10 the Lord. And the whole multitude of-tlie people were praying without at-the time ol" incense. 11 And there-appeared unto-liim an-angel of-the-Lord standing on the-right-side of-the altar of 'incense. SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. with an oatli by him that said unto liim, Tlie Lord sware aiid will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec' — s. 19 — 22, 'Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest bj the blood of Jesus, 20, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the vail, that is to say, his flesh ; 21, and lianing an high priest over the house of God; 22, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having oiu- hearts sprinkled from, an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with piue water.' 9. Lot. Sow used, Pr. rvi. 33, ' The lot is cast into the lap ; but the whole disposing thereof is of the I/OED.' — Purpose, xviii. 18, ' The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.' — Used in reUffious service, Lc. xvi. 8 — 10, 'And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats ; one lot for the Loed, and the other lot for the scapegoat.' — 1 Chr. xxiv. 5, 'Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another.' — Appointed to he v.scd in dividing the land, Nu. xxsiii. 54 And see Jos. xiii. — ssii. ; Eze. slvii. 22 jxlviii. 29. Incense. Compounded of four ingredients, Ex. xxx. 7, 8, 34 — .8. — Represented the prayers of saints, Ps. cxli. 2, 'let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense ; and the liftmg up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.' — Kcv. v. 8, ' And when he had taien the book, the four beasts and foiu- and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.' — viii. 3, 'And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer ; and there was given unto him much iucense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.' Temple. Btiilt hg Solomon, 1 Kj. vi. — The ark received into it, viii. 1 — 11. — Destroyed, 2 E. xiv. 8, 9. — EehUlding foretold. Is. xliv. 28. — Seluilding ordered, Ezr. i. 1 — i. — Messiah to come to this latter house, Hag. ii. 9, 'The glory of tliis latter house shall be greater than of the foi-mer, saith the LoED of hosts : and in this place wiU I give peace, saith the LoED of hosts.' — Mai. iii. 1, see on vcr. 17, p. 9, ' Go befoee.' — Jesus entered the temple as his oion house, Jno. ii. 13— .7, § 12 ; Mt. xxi. 12, .3, § 83.— iTe, the glory, departed therefrom, and foretold its destruction, Mt. xxiii. 37 — .9, § 85, p. 757 ; xxiv. 1, 2, § 86, p. 760. — The temple was destroyed by the Komans under Titus, about forty years after. — See Addenda, ' Temple; p. 13. 10. Peating without. Le. xvi. 17, ' And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth iu to make an atonement in the holy place, until ho come out, and have made an atonement for Iiimself, and for his household, and for all the congre- gation of Israel.' — This rule helonged to the high priest in particular, and to his entrance into the most holy place, hut seems to have had a more general application, as well as that with regard to blessing, Nu. vi. 22 — .6, which see on ver. 21, p. 11, 'Waited.' 11. Angel. The ministry of angels in hehalf of the heirs of sal- vation — to Lot, Ge. xix. 1 — Jacob, Ge. xxviii. 12 — Gideon, Ju. vi. 11 — 21 — Daniel, vi. 22; viii. IG, kc.—They serve those that truly serve the Zord, Ps. xxxiv. 7, 'The angel of the LoED en- campeth romid about them that fear him, and delivereth them.' — He. i. 14, ' Are they not all ministering spirits, sent fortb to minister for them who shall be heu-s of salvation ? ' — Peter was delivered from prison hy an angel, Ac. xii. 7 — 10. — Angels, messengers of God's mercy ; — to Mary, ver. 26 — 38, § 2 — to the shepherds, eh. ii. 8 — 15, § 4 — to the apostles, Ac. i. 10, .1, § 98. AiTAB OP INCENSE. T!ie pattern, Ex. xxx. 1 — 5, 'And thou shalt make an altar to bm-n incense upon : o/'shittim wood shalt NOTES. 9. Mis lot. Zacharias was not high priest : he was chosen by lot to bm'n uicense ; the high priest did it by right of succession, and burned it in the Holy of Hohes, into which Zacharias entered not. Zacharias was priest of the course of Abia, whereas the high priest was of no course at all. It wa3 customary for the priests to divide theu- daUy task by lot. Incense. That which is ordinarily so called, is a precious and fragrant gum, issuing from the frankincense tree. The incense used in the Jewish offerings, at least tliat which was bm-nt on the altar oi incense and before the ark, was a precious mixture of sweet spices, stacte, onycha, galbanum, and piu-e fi-ankmeense, beaten very small. None but priests were to buiTi it, nor was any, under pam of death, to make any like to it. This incense was burnt twice a day on the golden altar, Ex. xxi. 7, 8, 31 — .8. Among the various oilices distributed by lot, the most honourable was this of burning incense; so much so, that no priest was allowed to bum it more than once. There is something poetical in that part of the Jewish ceremonial, which supposes the prayers of devout worsliippers to be wafted to heaven in odoriferous -svreaths of incense. — See Scmr. Ijl. supra. The temple. By 'the temple,' here and in ver. 21, .2, we are to understand (according to the usual meaning of the origmal word) that part of the Temple of Jerusalem called the Holy place, in which the altar of incense stood, and into which none but the priests were permitted to enter. The entrance into it fi'om the outer courts of the temple was closed by a vaU, or curtain ; and it was separated by another vaU fi-om the Holy of Hohes, which was stiU farther within. 10. Frai/ing ivithout. That is, iu the courts aroimd. When the priest, whose lot it was to bm-n incense, entered the holy place, a small bell was rimg to notify that the time of prayer was come. Wlien this was heard, those priests and Levites who had not taken their stations, hastened to do so ; the space between the altar and the sanctuary was cleared ; and the whole multitude, in all the courts of the temple, commenced their prayers. These prayers wore perfectly silent; and it is probably to the deep sUenco which prevailed tirroughout the temple dm'ing the time of offering incense and of prayers, that there is an allusion in Kcv. viii. 1 — 3, ' There was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.' When the priest came forth from the holy place, the sacrifice was laid upon the altar, and then the Levites commenced theb psalmody, and their sounding of trmnpets ; to wliich, also, there seems to be an allusion in the sequel of the above-cited passage fi-om the Revelation. 11. An angel of the Lord. The word 'angel' Uterally means a messenger. — See Addenda, p. 25, infra. This vision appeared to Zacharias about 400 years after Malachi, the last of the prophets ; dui-ing wliich period there is no divinely recorded prophecy not angelic ministry. Altar. The altar of incense was a small table of shittim wood, PR.\CTICAL REFLECTIONS. 9 ver. Let us rejoice that we have a Priest on high, tluough We are not out of (he way of obtaining blessing for our- whose intercession our prayers ascend up as the incense of the morning and evening saci'ifice. LI MttU. i. 1, § 4, p. 39. Mark i. 1, § 7, p. 78. John i. 1, § ib., p. 73, selves, when engaged in public service for others, as iu the sight of God. THE BIETH OF JOHN FOEETOLD. SECT. I.] THE BIKTH OF JOHN I'UKETULU. [PAKT I. LuKK i. 12 — .4. 12 And wlicu--Znclmrins--saw him, be-wiis-troubled, nnd fear fell upon him. 13 But the him, Fear not, Zachaiias: for thv, prayer ?'; Ui}mQ is-hcard; and thy^wilb Elisabeth shall-bcar thee n-son, 11 and thou-shnlt-call his.name Jolin. And thou shalt-have joy and gladness; and many shall-rejoico at angel said unto SCRIPTURE thou make it,' !cc.— Position and use, G— 10, ' And thou slialt put it before tlic vail that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy scat that i> over the testimony, where I will meet with thcc. 7, And Aaron shall bm-n thereon sweet incense crery morning; wlien he dresseth the lamps, ho shot] bum incense upon it. 8, And when Aaron lighteth the hxmps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a pcrjietual inccnso before the Lono tlu-oughout yoiu- generations. U, Yo shall offer no strange mcense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither sliall yo pour drink offering thereon. 10, And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the homs of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements : once in the year sliall he make atonement upon it tlu'oughout yom- generations : it is most holy unto the Loed.' — See eh. xxxvii. 25 — .8. — Used symbolically/, Kc\r. viii. 3, for tchich see ver. 9, p. 7, ' IxCEKSE.' 13. Fear not. Same to Ahram, Gc. xv. 1 — see on ver. 18, p. 10, 'WiiEnEBT,' &c. — to Israel, Is. xli. 10, .3, 'Fear thou not; for I am with thee,' &c. — to Mart/, Lu. i. 30, § 2— aruh thy wife shall have a son.' 11, 'Is anythuig too hard for the LoiiD ? At the time appointed I will retm-n unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.' Call nis name. Importance attached to names, ' Adam,' likeness, Gc. y. 1 — 3, 'This is the book of the generations oi Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him ; 2, male and female created he them ; and blessed them, and called llioir name Adam, in the day when they were created. 3, And Adam lived an himibed and tliu-ty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after liis image; and called his name Scth.' — 'Ete,' iii. 20, 'And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the motlier of all living.' — 'Cain,' gotten, or possession, iv. 1, 'And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lobd.' — 'Seth,' placed, or appointed, ver. 25, 'And Adam knew his wife again ; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth : for God, saidshe, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.' — 'Noah,' comfort, or rest, V. 29, 'And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall eom- ILLUSTR.\TIONS. fort us conceraing our work and toil of oiu' hands, because of the ground which the LoiiD hath cm-scd.' — 'Abeam,' great father, -ui. 1 — 3, ' Now the Loed had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy counti-y, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee : 2, and I will make of thee a great nation, and I wiU bless thee, and make thy name great,' &c. — ' Aji'OiSkTsi,' father of a multitude, xvii. 5, 'Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham ; for a father of many nations have I made thee.' — ' Melchizedek,' xiv. 18. — Comp. mthTle.yii.2,, . . 'Fii'st bemg by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace.' — ' Isaac,' laughter, Ge. xxi. 3, 6, ' And Abraham called the name of liis son that was bom unto him, whom Sai'ah bare to hun, Isaac' 6, 'Aad Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.' — ' Jacob,' heeler, or supplanter, xxt. 26, ... ' And liis hand took hold on Esau's heel ; and his name was called Jacob.' — xxvii. 36, 'jVnd he said. Is not he rightly named Jacob ? for he hath supplanted me these two times : he took away my bu'tliright ; and, beliold, now he hatli taken away my blessing.' — ' Iseael,' prince of God, or he that prevails, or overcomes, xxxii. 28, 'And he said. Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.' — JACOB'S SONS: 'Eeuben,' see a son, Ge. xxix. 32, 'And Leah conceived, and bare a son. and she called his name Keuben: for she said, Sm-ely the Loud hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.' — ' Simeon,' hearing, ver. 33, 'And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, 'Because the LOHD hath heard that I was Imted, he hath therefore given me tlds son also : and she called his name Simeon.' — ' IjJ^vi,' joined, ver. 34, 'And she eoncoivod again, and bai'e a son ; and said. Now this tune will my husband be joined imto me.' — ' Jitdah,' praise, ver. 35, ' And she conceived again, and bai-e a son: and she said. Now AviU I praise the Lord.' — 'Dan,' judgment, xxx. 6, 'And Kachel said, God hath judged me.' — ' Naphtali,' wrestling, ver. 8, ' And Kachel said. With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed.' — 'Gad,' troop, yer. 11, 'And Leah said, A troop eoraeth.' — 'Ashee,' happy, Ter. 13, 'And Leah said, Happy am I, for tlie daughters wdl call me blessed.' — ' IssAcnAE,' hire, or reward, ver. 18, 'And Leah said, God hath given me my hire' — 'Zebulun,' dwelling, ver. 20, ' And Leah said, God hath endued me tcith a. good dowry; now wUl ray husband dwell with me.' — 'JosErii,' adding, or increase, ver. 24, 'And she called his name Joseph; and said. The Loed shaU add to me another son.' — 'Benjamin,' NOTES. OTCrloid with gold, about twenty-two inches iu breadth and length, and forty-four in height. Its top was surrounded with a cornice of gold: it had spires, or horns, at the four corners thereof; and was portable by staves of shittim wood, overlaid with gold. — See ' An horn,' &e.. Sect. iii. ver. 69. The altar of incense stood in the sanctuary, just before tlio inner vad ; and on it was sacred incense .•\nd nothing else. — See 'Incense,' p. 7. The altar of incense and Ihe altar of bui-nt ofi'ering were solemnly couseerated with sprinkling of blood, and unction of oil ; and their horns yearly tipped with the blood of the general expiation. The altar of burnt offering .itood in the open com-t, at a small distasee from tho east end of the tabernacle, or temple: en it were offered the morning and evening sacrifices, and a multitude of other oblations. To it criminals fled for pi-otection. 13. I7ig prayer. ATe may suppose that Ids prayer was for tlio deliverance of Israel by the expected Messiah. Tliis is the piincipal subject of his song upon receiving, iu the bu-th of his son, an assurance that God had heard and woidd answer his prayers. He then speaks of redemption by Chria*, as if it were ah-eady accom- plished. John. The gracs or favoiu' of the Lord. — See SoE. III., next page. 14. And thou shalt have Joy and gladness. Ka! ".croi .W*^- «^-""i ' he wUl be joy and gladness to thee.' PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS, 12 ver. If Zaeharias, a rigldeous man, was tTOubled at the sight ^f till- angel of tho Lord, bringing a message of peace, how must Die wicked tremble at tho presence of the Lord, when he eometh in llammg fire to punish tho despisers of liis word ! 13 ver. Those who, like Zaeharias, are the Lord's remembrancers. Malt, i need not fear. Their prayer shall be heard. The answer of praye.-, as in the case of tliis man of God, may sometimes be deferred only that it may bo the more signally answered. 14 ver. We should rejoice more especially iu sueh favours aa occasion rejoicing to others. 1, § 4, p. 39. Hark i. 1, § 7, p. 78. John i. 1, § ib., p. 73. [I, PAET I.] THE LORD'S HAEBINGER. [SECT. 1. Luke i. 15 — .7. 15 Iiis^biitli. For hc-shall-be great iii-tlic-siglit of-tlie Lord, and sliall-drink neither wiuo nor strong-drink; 10 and lie-sliall-bc-filled-witli tlie-Holy Ghost, even from iVt ek his mother's womb. And many of-the 17 children of-Israel shall-he-turn to the-Lord their^God. And ho shall-go before him in thc-spirit and power of-Elias, to-tm-n the-hearts of-the-fathers to the-children, and the-disobedient to the-wisdom of-the- SCRIPTUEE ILLUSTRATIONS. son of the right hand, xxsv. 18, ' And it came to pass, as her soul was in depai'tiiis, (for slie died) that she called his name Ben-oni: [Son of my sorrow] but liis father eallcd him Benjamin.' 13. John, ' Grace of the Lord.' (The same with Johanan in the Old Testament.) — Sent to declare the grace of the Lord, Lu. iii. 3, § 7. — Tavrfht men to manifest the same in their conduct, Lu. iii. 11, iib. — Grace is the character of the dispensation he came to intro- duce, Jno. i. 10, .7, 20, § § 7, 10. — The grace of the Lord in the great promised salvation and blessing of his people, spoken of Ig his father, Lu. i. 6S— 79, § 3. 15. G-EEAT. John acJcnoiolcdged Jesus as mightier, Mt. i. 7, 8, § 7. — Jesus tvlto made himselj the least in the kingdom of heaven greater than John, Lu. vii. 28, § 29, p. 280, Neither wine. The Wazarite, Nu. vi. 2 — 4, 'Speak unto the children of Israel, and say imto them. When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a tow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LoiiD : 3, he shall sejiarate himself from wine and strong drint, and shall di'ink no vinegar of wine, or vmegar of strong drint, neither shall ho di'ink any hquor of grapes, nor cat moist grapes, or di-ied. 4, All the days of his separation shall he eat notliuig that is made of the vine tree, &om the kernels even to the husk.' — Samson, Ju. xiii. 4 — 7, ' K"ow therefore beware, I pray tlicc, and ch'uik not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any un- clean thing : 5, for, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son ; and no razor shall come on his head : for the child shall bo a Nazarite unto God fi'cm the womb : and he shall begin to dehver Israel out of the hand of the Pliihstines,' &e. — See of John, Mt. iii. 4, § 7, p. 81 ; xi. 18, § 29, p. 282. Filled with the IIolt Ghost. licciuired in the Christian, Eph. V. 18, ' And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess ; but be filled with the Spirit.' — Promised to Israel, Eze. xxxvii. 14, 'And shall put my Spirit in you, and yo shall live, and I shall place you in yom- own land : then shall ye know that I the Lokd have spoken it, and perfoinncd it, saith the Lord.' Feoii his mothee's womb. Jer. i. 5, ' Before I formed thee in the beUy I knew thee; and before thou camcst forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.' — See also Is. xlix. 1, 5. — I'aul, Ga. i. 15, .6. 17. Go BEFOEE. Predicted, Mai. iii. 1, 'Behold, I wiU send my messenger, and he slinU prepare the way before me : and the Loed, whom yo seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the mes- senger of the covenant, whom ye dehght in : behold, ho shall come, saith the LoED of hosts.'— -4.s L:iijah, iv. 5, 6, 'Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and di'eadful day of the Loed: 6, and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a cm-se.' — Fulfilment, Jno. i. 19—34, § 10, p. 103. Elias. PropJiesies concerning rain, 1 Ki. xvii. 1 — convinces the people that ' The Loed ho is God,' 1 Ki. xviii. 17 — 40, .6 — threatened hg Jezebel, xix. 2 — brings fire from heaven njion those ivhotn Ahaziah sent to apprehend him, 2 Ki. i. ; comp. Lu. ix. 5t, § 59 — divideth Jordan, and is taken in a fiery chariot by a whirlwind «j) into heaven, 2 Ki. ii. — Effectual in prayer, Ja. v. 17, 'Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain : and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.' — John was not the very person Elias, Jno. i. 21, .5, § 10. — Yet was by the disciples understood to be the Elias that was for to come, Mt. xi. 14, § 29, p. 281. To TURN THE HEARTS. See the prayer of Elijah, correspondent lohis name meaning 'GoD is the Lord ;' and Tishbitc, meaning 'lie that turns back,' 1 Ki. xviii. 37, ' llcar me, O Lord, hear mc, that this people may know that thou art tlie Loed God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.' — John directed tnulfitudcs to the God of Abraham, in simplicity of faith and practice, Mt. iii. 5 — 10 ; Lu. iii. 7 — 14, § 7. — to Jesus as the Lamb of God, Jno. L 29—36, § 10.— as the bridegroom, ch. iii. 29, § 13, p. 132. Wisdom of the just. The wise shall understand, Hos. xiv. 'J, 'Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them ? for the ways ot the LOED are right, and the just NOTES. 15. Shall be great. Herod, who beautified tlio temple, was called ' Great ' among men : but the son of the poor priest serving in the temple, and to be brought up in obscurity, was to bo called ' great in the sight of the Lord ; ' i.e., God shall regard liim as truly gi-eat. — See our Lord's testunony to John, at Nain, Mt. xi. 7 — 15, § 29, p. 2/9. Brink neither wine. The kind of wine used in Judsea was a light wine, often not stronger than cider in this country. It was the common ch-ink ot all classes of the people. The use of wine was forbidden only to the Nazarite, Nu. vi. 3. As John was to preach repentance and sell-denial, so ho was to be a pattern of both. Strong drink. Distilled spirits were not then known. The art of distillmg was discovered by an Arabian chemist, in the ninth or tenth centm\y. Eui-ope and America liave been the places where tills poison lias been the most extensively used ; and there it has degraded and ruined milUons, and is yearly sweeping tens of thou- sands, unprep.arcd, into a wretched eternity. Tliere is no scourge, whether pestilence or war, so fatally destructive of the best interests of man, nor any custom so paralyzing to all benevolent exertions to train the young in the love and fear of the Lord, as the use of distilled and fermented liquors. Tlie strong th-ink among tlio Jews was probably fermented hcpior obtained from dates, figs, and the juice of the palm, or the Ices of wine, mingled with sugar, and having the property of producuig intoxication. Shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, cfc. Shall be divinely designated or appointed to tliis office, and qualified for it by all needful communicatious of the Holy Spirit. 17. In the spirit and poiver of Elias. As possessing the same prophetic spirit, and commissioned with similar authority. The disobedient. The people who had, because of their disobedi- PRACTIC.\L REFLECTIONS. 15 ver. ScU'-dcnial, and want of tlio wcaUli, honours and pleasures of the world, however looked upon by man, arc not inconsistent with greatness in the sight of the Lord. Those who are employed in preparing others for the coming of the Lord, should seek to bo themselves filled with the Holy Ohost. 1.] 17 ver. Wo should set before us the example of tliose who have been eminently serviceable in the cause of God. The great preparation requu-ed is, the preparation of a people for the Lord. The reconciling of men, one to another, in the Lord, and the bringing them back to the simplicity, in faith and practice, of those who were truly just before God, arc among the best Matt. i. 1, § 4, p. 39. Mark i. 1, § 7, p. 78. John i. 1, § ib., p. 73. ,j SECT. I.] ZACUARIAS' UNBELIEF— HIS PUKISUMENT. [PART 1. Luke i. 18—20. just; to-mokc-rcady a-pcoplo prepared for-tlie-Lord. 18 And Ziichiirirts soid'uuto the "angel, Whereby sliiill-I-knnw this ? for I am nn-old-man, and my.wifo ID well-striekou in, years. And the angel answering said imlo-liim, I am Gabriel, that'stand iu-llie-presenee of 'God; and am-scnt to-speak unto thcc, and to-sliew-'thee these'-glad-tidings tvayytXiaaadui (toi ravra. 20 And, behold, thou-slmlt-bo dumb, and not able to-spcak, until tho-day that these-thiugs shall-Lc- performed, because avO' uiv thou-bclievcst not my^words, whieh shall-be-rulfilled iu their^seasou tic top Kaipov avTuiv. SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. sliall walk ill thom: but the Iransgi-cssors shall fall llierciii.' — Christ made uhIo us wisduin, 1 Cor. i. 30, ' But of liini are ye iu Clirist Jcsa«, nlio of God is niailo unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and I sanctification, and redemption.' — T/ie wisdom from above . . . Ja. iii. 17, 'But tlio wisdom that is fi-om above is lu-st pm-e, then peaceable, gentle, and ea.iy to be entreated, fidl of mercy and good fruit.i, without jiarliality, and without hjpoci'Lsy.' — lYic just arc those tcho, like Abraham, submit to the wisdom of God in the gospel, Rom. iv. 20^.5, ' He staggered not at the promise of God tlurough unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21, and being fully persuaded that, what ho had promised, ho was able also to perform. 23, And thercfoi-o it was imputed to hini for righteous- ness. 23, Now it was not written for liis sake alone, that it was imputed to him ; 21, b>it for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we boUevo on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead ; 25, who was deUvercd for our offences, and was raised again for om- juslilieation.' — True wisdom rei/ards the reeompense to be enjoyed at the resurrection of the just, Ue. xi. 13 — .G, ' These all died in faith, not luiving received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced Ihcm, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. II, For they that say such things declare plainly that Ihcy seek a country. 15, And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16, But now they desii-e a better country, that is, an heavenly : wherefore God is not ashamed to bo called their God : for ho hath prepared for them city.' 1 7. Make eeadt. Jlesekiah ami people prepared, 2 Chr. rxix. 30, 'And Hezekiah iTJoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the tiling was done suddenly.' — Call to be ready, Lu. xii. 40, § 63, ' Be ye therefore ready also : for the Sou of man eonieth at an hour when ye think not.' — The bride made ready, Ecv. xix. 7, 8, ' Let us bo glad and rejoice, and give lionom- to liim : for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8, And to her was gi-anted that she should be aiTayed in fine linen, clean and wliite : for the fine hnen is the righteousness of saints.' — xxi. 2, 'And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of licaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.' 18. Whebeby shall I know, &o. Abraham aslced a sign, Ge. XV. 1 — 8, 'After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram : I am thy sliield, and thy exceeding gi'eiit reward. 2, And Abram siud. Lord Gon, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go cliildless, and the steward of my house (V (liis EUezer of Damascus? 3, And Abram said. Behold, to mo (hou hast given no seed : and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. 4, And, behold, the word of the Loud came unto him, saying, Tlus shall not be thine heu' ; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine lieu\ 5, And ho brought him forth abroad, and said. Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them : and he said luito him, So shall thy seed be. G, And he believed in the Loed ; and he eoimted it to him for righteousness. 7, And he said unto him, I am the Lord that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaklccs, to give tliee tliis land to inherit it. 8, And he said. Lord God, whereby bIkiIU I know that I shall inlierit it?' — xvii. 17, ' Then Abraham foil upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart. Shall a child be bom xmto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarali, that is ninety years old, bear?' — Gideon, Ju. vi. 36 — 10. 19. Gabriel, 'Man of God,' or ' God is my strength.' Appeared to Daniel, Da. viii. 16, 'And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which railed, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vbion.' — To Mary, Lu. i. 26, § 2, p. 15. And am sent, &c. He. i. 7, 14, 'And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fu'e.' 14, 'Ai'e they not all ministering spirits, sent forth,' &e.- — See on ver. 11, p. 7. 20. Because thou belietxst not. Moses and Aaron, Nu. xx. 12, ' And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctity me in the eyes of the clulch'cn of Israel, therefore ye shall not bruig this congi-egation into the laud which I have given them.' — God faithful notwithstanding, 2 Ti. ii. 13, 'If we beUeve not, yet he abideth faithful : he camiot deny himself.' NOTES. cncc to the law, been called ' Backsliding Israel ; ' and who were given a bill of divorce and sent away out of the land, but who were lo bo espoused to the Lord, according to the gospel, Je. iii. 8 — 12 ; Hos. ii. 11 — 20. In the gospel Clirist is shewn to be made of God unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. All that liave been truly just before God, such as Abraham and David, have dcUghted in this hidden wisdom, in Chi-ist, who is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. 17. To mal-e ready a people. By shewing them what they were in the sight of God, and what they ought to become. Thus preparing tliem for his free offer of salvation, by provhig their want of that mercy and divine grace, wliich might enable them to walk before God in righteousness and holiness. The Lord. The three persons in the Godliead seem to be referred to iu ver. 14 — .7. — Jolm was to ' be filled with the Holy Ghost; ' he was to tiirn many of the childreti of Israel to the Lord their God, i.e., the Father ; and with regard to the Son, in whose sight he was lo ' be great,' ho was to 'go before Him in the spirit,' &e. 19. In the presence of God. An image borrowed from the cus- toms of oriental coiu'ts, where he is said to stand before the king, who has always access to the royal presence; it may, therefore, be interpreted, ' a favourite minister.' So to stand before God, signifies that ho was honoured or favom-ed by God ; permitted to come near him, and to see much of his glory. — See 1 Ki. xvii. 1. 20. Because thow believest not, S(c. This was both a sign and a judgment : a sign that he had come fi-om God, and that the thing rr.ACTICAL REFLECTIONS. preparations for the coming of the Lord. Those who would sit down with Abi'uham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of God, must walk in the steps of faitliful Abraham. 19 ver. The very appearance of the angel was a sufficient sign that the word of promise would bo fulfilled to Zacharias. The lirst appearance of Jesus, the angel of the covenant, is to us a sufficient sign that all covenant mercy will be bestowed. 20 ver. However long delayed the thuigs promised may have been, those that stand in the presence of God and know liis mighty jiower, can, with assm'ance, testify that the words of God will all bo fulfilled in then* season. God rcquii-es of us that wo should not be unbeheving as to uufulQllcd prophecy ; we shovdd know his revealed purposes, and look forward to their fulfihnent. God punishes unbelief, even in those who are truly righteous in his sight. 10 Matt. i. 1, § 4, p. 39. Mark i. 1, § 7, p. 78. John i. 1, § ti., p. 73. CL PART I.] TtlE CONCEPTION OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. [SECT. I. Luke i. 21 — .3. 21 And the people waited-for/j^Zacliarias, and marvelled that lie^tarricd-so-long in the temple. 22 And when-he-came-out, he-coukt not speak nnto-thcm : and thoy-perccived that he-had-sccn a-vision in 23 the temjile : for kuI ho beckoned unto-thcm, and remained Bi,e/j.eve speechless. And it-came-to-pass, tJiat, as-soon-as the days of his ministration were-accomplished, he-departed to his-own^house. (G. 3.) T/ie Conception of John the Baptist. — Luke i, 24, .5. Hill Country of Judxea. 21 Ami after those ^ days his^wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, 25 Thus iiath-'tlio Lord'-dcftlt with-me in the-days wherein he-looked-on me, to-take-away my^ reproach among men. — \_For Luke i. 20, see Sect, ii., p. 15.] SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. 21. Waited. For his coming out, to lless them, as locis the custom of the priest to do, Nu. vi. 22— .6, 'Ajid the LoED spake unto Moses, saying, 23, Speak unto Aaron and uufo liis sons, saying, On this wise ye sliaU bless the eliUdren of Israel, saying unto tliem, 21, Tlie Lord bless thee, and keep thee: 25, the LoKD make his face shine upon thee, and be gi'acious unto thee : 26, the LofiD lift up liis countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.' 22. Visioif. First vision recorded, Ge. xv. — God spalce in visions to Jacob, &e. xlvi. 2, 'Aud God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, jacob. And he said, Ilere am I.' — To prophets general! t/, Nu. xii. 6, ' And he said. Hear now my words : If there be a prophet among you, I the Loed wiU make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto liim in a di-eam.' — Balaam, Nu. xxiv. 4, ' Ho hath said, which heard the words of God, wliicli saw the vision of the Almighty, faUing into a trance, but having his eyes open.' — Daniel, Da. ii. 19, 'Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel iu a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.' — Ananias, Ac. ix. 10, 'And there was a certain dis- ciple at Damascus, named Ananias ; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ajianias. And he said, Echold, I am here. Lord.' — Cor- nelius, Ac. X. 3, 'He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth horn- of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unt» liira, Comehus.' — Paul at Troas, Ac. xvi. 9, 'And a vision appeared to Paid in the night ; there stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.' — At Corinth, xviii. 9, 'Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace.' 25. Thus hath the Loed dealt with me. Naomi dealt hiltcrly with, whilst the Lord was leading her into great hlessing, Iluth i. 20, 'And she said unto them. Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.' — iv. 15, 'And he sliaU bo unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nom'isher of thine old age : for thy daughter iu law, which lovcth thee, wliich is better to thee than seven sous, hath boni him.' — See He. si. To TAKE AWAY MT EEPEOAcn. It appears from several passages of scripture, that harrenness was a suhjeci of reproach among the Jews, see Ge. xxx. 23 ; 1 Sa. i. 6, 7 ; Is liv. 1 j heing con- sidered a withholding of that blessing of children which God had promised at the beginning to our first parents, Ge. i. 28 ; which was again promised to Noah, ix. 'i.—l; and afterward included among the rexoards of obedience especially promised by God to the Israel- ites. See Ex. xxiii. 26, ' There shaU nothing cast theu- young, nor be ban-en, in thy land ; the number of thy days I wiU fidfil.' — De. vii. Ii, ' Thou shalt be blessed above all people : there shaU not be male or female barren among you, or among yom- cattle.' — Le. xxvi. 9, 'For I will have respect unto you, and make you friiitfid, and midtiply you, and estabUsh my covenant with you.' — Ps. cxxvii. 3, ' Lo, children are an heritage of the Loed : and the fruit of the womb is Jiis reward,' — exxviii. 3, 4, 'Tliy wife shall be as a fruitfid vine by the sides of tliine house : tliy ehikh'cn like olive plants roinul about thy table. 4, Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that fcai-eth the Loed.' — Is. iv. 1, ' And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying. We wiU eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us bo caUcd by tliy name, to take away our reproach.' NOTES. would be fulfdlcd, and a judgment for not giving credit to what he had said ; it was wisely ordained to Hx the attention of the Jews on the promised child. 21. Marcelled. Wondered. Tlic priest, it is said, was not accustomed to remain in the temple more than half an hom\ 22. Tliey perceived,— for lie becJconed. He made signs, ho nodded assent to what appeared to be their impression. Had seen a vision. The word 'vision' means sight, appearance, or spectre, and is commonly appUed to spirits, or to beings of another world. Speechless. 'The word here translated "speechless," has the meaning both of deaf and dumb, and is translated by both these words in tlio gospels. It seems that Zaeharias became deaf, as well as dmnb, after the vision; since in vcr. 63, we read of his and not in words.' — Lonsdale being asked a question by " si and Hale. 23. As soon as the days of his ministration, cf'e. As soon as he had fulfilled the duties of the week. It might have been supposed that the extraordinary occurrence in the temple, together with his own calamity, might have induced hun at once to leave his place, and return home. But his duty was in the temple. His piety — his strong sense of the hupcrative nature of obedience — prompted him to remain there m the service of God. Ho was n6t unfitted for burning incense by his dumbness, and it was not proper for him to leave his post. 25. Thus hath the Lord dealt with me. Alluding to the pamfiJ dealing of God as to her husband's inabiUly to speak, wliich sobered the joy she woidd naturally feel at being given a child. She felt that, although specially blessed, she was under the chastisement of the Lord, in Zacljarias' punishment. PR.\CTICAL REFLECTIONS. 23 vcr. AVlien under chastisement, wo must patiently continue in the performance of duty. Perseverance iu the service of God 18 the best way to have our afflictions removed, and to lighten them while they continue. PubUc worship is but a part of ovu' duty; tho domestic cii-clo claims much of our time and care. 1.] Malt. i. 1, § I, p, 39. Mark i. 1, § 7, p. 78. 21, .5 vcr. Wlien God sees it meet to temper mercy with judg- ment, as in the case of Elisabeth, who was so dealt witli as to her husband, wlulst she was being given a son, wo should, like her, luuuble om-selves under the mighty hand of God, and bo thankfid for the grace bestowed. Correction is no sign of the Lord's having forsaken his people; the time of his hiding may be tho lime of ripening mercy. Luke i. 2G, § 2, p. 15. John i. 1, § 7, p. 7;i. , . SECT. 1.] ADDENDA. 'MANY.'-'IN OKDEK." [PAET I. ADDENDA. MANY,' p. 3. JCcfinffelhls. Mntllion-, Mark, Luke, nnd John are called 'Tlic four Evangelists,' in a special sense. They give us an acco\iiit of the first preaching of tho gospel. Matthew, eig. ' T/ie Oift' surnamed Levi, (ho son of Alpliscus. Ho was n Jew, and a publican or tax-gatherer. Jesus called liini from tho receipt of custom, ' and lie left all, rose up, and followed him.' — Seo § 22, p. '^22 Ho was chosen an Apostle — aee Malt. x. 3, § 27 ; and is supposed to have remained in Jerusalem, with tho rest of tho apostles, until after tho council recorded in Acts xv. (a.d. 42) ; about which time he wrote his gospel in Hebrew for tho Jewisli converts who remained in Judaja after the dispersion of tho motlier church, when all tho apostles, except James, departed on their evangelizing mission. It is supposed Matthew tool; Ethiopia for his lot, and there suffered martyrdom. Matthew presents Christ to us as our Prophet ; as He who was sent of the Father, to reveal to us a knowledge of the kingdom of lieaven, which is 'the gift of God,' in Cln'ist Jesus. He speaks mucli about tho reward of tlie righteous in tlic world to come. He has the most frequent reference to Clu-ist's liddlling or conCrra- ing the words of the prophets ; and our Lord's prophetic discom-scs are more fully given in this gospel. Mauk (sig. ' C/eansini;'), Ho was converted by the instrumen- tality of Peter, who (1 Pe. v. 13) styles him his son. The internal evidence of this gospel proves him to have been a Jew, intimately acquainted witli tlie language, idioms, and topography of Palestine. He is thouglit to be the young man alluded to, Mark xiv. 51, .2, § 88. He is supposed to have written his gospel at Kome, as tho interpreter of Peter. Tlie fi'cqucncy of Latin terms and phrases, clotlicd in Greek, prove it to have been designed not for Jews, but for Roman converts in particular. The Mark mentioned in the Acts, and at Col. iv. 10; 2 Tim. iv. 11 j Philem. ver. 2i, Mr. GreswcU tliinks is not the same as the reputed convert of St. Peter. It is a character of Mark's gospel, that wlioro Matthew is full, Mark is concise, and vice versd. Mark dwells more on tho miracles, or power, of Hiir wlio is our King, and also our example of service. LCKE (sig. 'Lifflil-fficinij'). Ho is the writer of this gospel and of tlio history of tho Acts of the Apostles. Tho first intimation of lus connexion witli the propagation of the gospel is at Acts xvi. 9 — 18, in tho account of St. Paul's second nussion, and when he was arrived at Troas : where the use of the pUu'al number plainly indicates that the wi-iter of the ' Acts ' was in company with St. Paul. From Col. iv. 14-, ' Zui:e, the heJoeed physician, and Demos, greet you,' — wc learn lie was a surgeon or physician, between whom and Paul it is clear there was reciprocal attachment. — Hee Philem. vcr. 2)', 'Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow-labourers ;' and especially at a time when tho 'Acts' history had ceased, and the close of St. Paul's ministi-y itself, by his martyi-dom, was at hand, see 2 Tim. iv. 11 (' Only Luh-e is ii'ith me'). It is a natural inference from these proofs, that he was either liis convert or a favourite disciple. If wc may advance a conjecture where tliere is total absence of positive information to direct us, St. Luke, though he might first become acquainted with St. Paul, and might even be first converted at Troas, was a native or an inhabitant of Philippi, in Macedonia ; whicli was a Eoman colony. Luke enlarges more upon those tilings which belong to the priest- hood of Clirist ; his receiving sinners, and introducing them into the favour of God, through the lorgiveness of sins, by liis blood, so that wo are brought to enjoy the light of our Father's counte- nance. John (sig. 'Grace of JeJwvah ')v/as tho sou of Zebedee and Salome. He was called by our Lord to bs his disciple wliile he was following his ordinary calling of a fisherman— see § 16. He was one of the twelve apostles — see § 27 ; and, with James liis brother, was surnamed ' Soanerges' ' sons of thunder.' These two apostles, with Peter, were peculiarly favoured on several occasions — see §§ 36, 51, 86, .7; and John is called 'the disciple whom Jesus loved' — see §§ 91, .7. He was tho youngest of the apostles when called ; and is the only one who is supposed to have died a peace- ful death. He suflered banishment, under Domitian, in the Isle of Patmos, where he wi'ote the Apocalvpse. He probably resided in Juclaa until the Roman war, A.D. 66 or 70, and died at Ephcsus, when he was above 100 years old. Dui'ing his later years he was accustomed to say uotliing but — ' Little chdch'cn, love one another.' This gospelj while it sanctioned the rest, added what was necessary to theii- completion. The others recorded the miracles and tho external evidence of Jesus' Divine mission : John's gospel contains more about Christ, his person, design, and work. He aims to shew that Jesus was the Messiah, and fi'om Jesus' tcords what the Messiah was. Tho great grace of tho Lord that we enjoy, through the adoption that is in Jesus, the Son of God, the Word made flesh, that came to give himseK for the life of the world, is the subject oi this sweetly simple, but truly subhmc gospel. John's gospel is said to have been written at Ephesns at the close of his lite. He wrote also tho three Ep'stlcs which bear his name. — And see Qreswell on the Times and Order oj'the Gospels, Vol. I. Diss. iL 'in order," p. 4. Mr. GrcswcU says :— ' The possession of a preface, which is not tho case witli any other of the gospels j a model of conciseness, and yet of sufTicicney ; asserting, in tho most compendious form, what- soever an introductory admonition might be expected to assert the motive which induced the author to undertake the work— his qualifications for its execution— tho method which he proposed to obseiTO in it — and tho end which ho had in view by it. Now pn-faccs are not commonly premised except to regiUav histories, and if St. Luke's gospel agrees with a fomial and methodical history at the outset, this is some argument that it will be found to a"Tee also with such a Iiistory in the subsequent arrangement and distribu- tion of the work. 'His own declaration that lie proposed to write in order, and, consequently, to observe the course of time and succession in the detail of events : for what other meaning can bo put ou the words in question, 'E^oEe ra/ioi, irn/)>j».o\ciiO))i;ori iivuBiv TTaaiv aKpi/3wf, KaOi^j'n; aoi ypa^ai, KpunaTi OiopiXi, I. 3. ' " It hath seemed good to me also, having carefully attended to tlie coui'se of all things from tho beginning, to wi'ite oj them in order for thy sake, most excellent Theophilus." ' Tlie natural and obvious constructicn is clearly to convey the promise of a regular account. 12 Mail. i. 1, § 4, p. 39. Mari i. 1, § 7, p. 78. Luke i. 26, § 2, p. 15. John i. 1, § 7, p. 73. 'For an integral period of the Cln-istian histoi-y, and through an integral portion of its contents, the gospel oi St. Luke is regular and consistent with tho professions of its preface. For, first, pro- posing to deduce that history from its earliest point of time, he begins with the conception and the birth of the Baptist, and after- wards passes to the conception and the birth of Jesus Christ; that is, lie begins with the private Iiistory of each, before he proceeds to the public. Secondly, as far as was practicable, without actually violating the order of events, he manifests a strict anxiety to sepa- rate the private history of the Baptist from the private history of Clirist. There were some cii'cimistances connected with the con- ception, wliich preceded the bu'th of Christ, but followed upon [1. PART I.] ADDENDA. 'ZACHAEIAS.'-'AAEON.'-'THE TEMPLEJ [SECT. I. the conception of John : these he has related, as historical precision requii'cd, between the two. But after tlie bii'th of John, when there was nothing in Jiis private history any way connected with the private history of Christ, he despatches that history once for all — summing up in a single sentence — ' T/ie cltild grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel,' i. 80 — the substance of thuiy years, before lie proceeds to the account of tlie birth of Christ. Wliy was this done, except tliat the course of the history might be left free to begin, and to continue, in lite manner, tlie account of the bu'th, the infancy, and the domestic privacy, of Clirist? all which are next related, and in a strictly methodical order. 'Again, being arrived at the point of time when the public ministry of both the Baptist and Christ was about to commence, ho begins with the ministry of John, and despatches, as before, the ministry of John, before he says a word upon the ministry of Clirist ; of this there cannot be a clearer proof than that, after a regular account of the preacliing, the teaching, and the testimonies, of John, he concludes the whole by the history of his imprisonment, before he relates even the baptism of Clirist. This was to introduce an anachronism of probably four months in extent ; but it is mani- festly an anaclironism introduced on purpose, to keep the unity of his next and principal subject unbroien ; that so the liistory of oui- Saviom-'s ministry might begin and be continued from his baptisu. forward, without any admixtm'c of the history of John. In this case, then, this exception, instead of wcnkeniiig, serves rather to confirm our assertion. ' From the tunc of the commencement of this ministry to the end of the gospel, there is no instance of a supposed transposition, which, upon a fan- and dispassionate examination, will not turn out to be quite the contrary.' — See Greswell, Vol. I. Diss. i. pp. 6 — 12. ZACHARI.VS, Zacharias. Every word of God is good. The very names of scripture are most significant. Thus, Zacharias means, ' memorial of the Lord,' and Elisabeth, ' oath of my God.' The former name is pomted out, Ex. iii. 14, .5, 'And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM : and he said. Thus shalt thou sat/ unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. 15, And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou sagtuito the children of Israel, The LoUD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you : this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all genera- tions' And, as we learn from our Lord, Mk. xii. 24 — .G, § 85, it inipHcs the resiu-rcetion of the Lord's people. That which is relerred to in the name Elisabeth, ' the oath of my God,' is given, Ge. ssii. 15 — .8, and it contains the same three tilings referred to &c., p. 5. in the three names mentioned in the memorial of the Lord. Tlius, the promise of the seed, numerous as the stars of the heaven or as the sand on the sea-shore, is contained in the name Abraham ; and theu- being made blessed and the cause of blessing to all the nations of the eartli, is expressed in Isaac ; and their supplantiiag power, so as to possess the gate of their enemies, we have in the name Jacob. Clu'ist came to confirm the promises made unto the fathers, and that confinnation seems to have been written in the veiy names of the parents of Iiis forerunner, whoso name also describes the peculiar character of the dispensation he came to introduce : the word John, meaning 'the grace of Jehovah,' at whose bii-th not only his father, but the prophets generally, began to speak, according to the prediction of Hab. ii. 3, ' The vision is yet for an apjjolnted time, hit at the end it shall siieah; and not lie.' ' AAEON,' p. 5. Aaron. Was a Levite, the son of Auu-am, and brother of Moses and Miriam. He was born about a year before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, ordered the male infants of the Hebrews to be slain ; appointed of God to be spokesman for liis brother Bloses to Pharaoh and the Hebrews, Ex. iv. 14 — .6. Along with his brother, and in the name of God, he demanded of Pharaoh immediate permission for the Hebrews to go into the wilderness of Ai'abia, to serve the Lord then- God. Shortly after the departure ot the childi-en of Israel from Egypt, when the Hebrews lought with Amalek in Eephidim, Aaron and Hiu: attended Moses, and held up liis hands, wliile he continued encouragmg the struggluig Hebrews, and praying for vietoiy to their anns, Ex. xvii. 10 — .3. At Sinai, he, with his two eldest sons, and seventy of the elders of Israel, accompanied Moses part of liis way up to the mount : and had very near and distinct views of the glorious symbols of the Divine presence, when the Lord talked with Moses, Ex. xxiv. 1 — 11. Soon after, he fell into the most gi'ievous crime. The Hebrews Bolicited him to make them gods, to be their du'ectors, instead of Moses, who still tarried in the mount. He ordered them to bring him all thcii' pendants and eamiigs ; and caused them to be melted down into a golden calf, in imitation of the ox Apis, which the Egyptians adored. He appointed a solemn feast to be observed to its honour; and caused to proclaim before it, ' These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee tip out of the land of Egypt.' Wliile he was thus occupied, Moses descended from momit Sinai, and sharply reproved liim for his great ofience, Ex. xxxii. Aaron heartily repented of liis scandalous crime ; and, with liis four sons, was, about two months after, solemnly invested with the sacred robes, and consecrated by solemn washing, unction, and sacrifices, to his office of priesthood, Le. viii. He immediately ofiered sacrifice for the congregation of Israel ; and whUe he and his brother Moses blessed the people, the sacred fire descended from heaven, and consumed what lay on the brazen altai", Le. ix. His two eldest sons, instead of taking sacred fire from the brazen altar, took common fire, to bum the incense Avith, on the golden altar: and God immediately consumed them, with a flash of lightning ; and ordered, that henceforth no priest shoidd taste wine before officiating in holy things, Le. x. It was perhaps scarcely a year after, when Aaron and Mu-iam, envying the authority of Moses, rudely upbraided him for his mar- riage with Zipporah the Midianitess ; and perhaps for overlooking them in the matter of the seventy eldei-s. Aaron, whose priestly performances were daily necessary, was spared ; hut Miriam was smitten with a leprosy. Aaron immediately discerned his guilt, acknowledged his fault, begged forgiveness for himself and his sister, and that she might speedily be restored to health, Nu. xii. It was not long after, when Korah and his company, envying the honours of Aaron, thought to tlirust themselves into the office of priests. These rebels being miraculously destroyed by God, the Hebrews reviled Moses and Aaron, as guilty of murdering them ; the Lord, provoked herewith, sent a destructive plague among the people, which threatened to consume the whole congi-egation. Aaron, who had lately by his prayers prevented their being totally ruuied along with Korah, ran in between the Hving and the dead, and by ofTering of incense, atoned for then' trespass, and so the plague was stayed. — See Nu. xvi. THE TEMPLE, p. 7. Tlie temple. The temple of God, or the temple dedicated and devoted to the service of God, was built on moimt Moriali, as some tlun'.r, where Abraham offered up liis son Isaac. The first temple was built by king Solomon about 1005 years D.c. David, with liis 1.] Matt. i. 1, § 4, p. .■?0. Mark i. 1, § 7, p. 78. LnJce i. 2G, § 2, p. 15. John i. 1, § 7, p. 73, princes, provided immense treasures for it, amounting, it is com- puted, to 939 millions sterUng ; and in weight to about 40,000 tons of gold and silver. About 183,600 men, Hebrews and Cauaanites, were employed m its erection. Evcrytliing was made ready ere it I.T SECT. I.] .\rnii:\Ii.V. 'TIIR TEMrLK.' eamo to tlio spot ; and no tool was heard in its progress, niram, king of T)-re, supplied the cedar from Lebanon, vrliicU was floated to Joppa, and thence conveyed to Jcrussilein. It was seven years in building, 1 Ki. Ti. 38. David was not suflercd to build it because he had been a man of war, 1 Chr. xxii. 1 — 19. About eleven months after the building was finished, and just before the feast of taber- nacles, tliis temple was furnished with the ark, and other sacred utensils ; and the Sheehinah, or cloud of Divine glory, entered it, to take up its rest over the ark, between the cherubims ; and it was dedicated with a solemn prayer by Solomon, and by seven days of sacred feasting, and by a peace oflering of 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep, 1 Kt. viii. 63 ; on this occasion, the holy fu-o anew came down from heaven, 2 Clir. vii. 1 — 3. The temple service consisted in sacrificos, songs, prayer, &c., 1 Clir. xxv.^ xxix. 1 — 9; 1 Ki. vi. — viii.; 2 Chr. iii. — vi. Tliis temple remained only about tliirty- four years in its glory, when Shishak, king of Egypt, earned off its treasures, 1 Ki. liv. 25, .6. After repeated desecrations, its golden vessels wore carried to Babylon, and the temple was demolished by Nebuchadnezzar, about 588 years B.C., 2 Clir. xxxvi. G, 7, 17 — 20. After the Babylonish captivity it was rebuilt by command of Cyrus, but with greatly diminished beauty. The aged men wept when they compared it with the glory of the former temple, Ezr. iii. 8 — 12. This temple was often deHled in the wars, and before the lime of Christ had become much decayed. Ilcrod the Great, being exceedingly unpopular among the Jews on account of liis cruelties, to gain their alTcctious, and to gratify his own ambition. TIIK T.\r.ERN.\Cr-E OF TESTIMOXY.' L^'AKT 1. about B.C. 20, began to rebuild it: this he did not by taking it down entirely at once, but by removing one part after another until it became a new temple. Ho employed 18,000 men upon it, and completed it, so as to be fit for use, in nine years : but forty-six years after he began to repau- it, when our Saviour had begun his public ministry, it was not quite finished ; nay, till the beginning of their iniinous wars, the Jews added to its buildings. The temple itself was 60 cubits high, and as many broad. But in the fi-ont Ilerod added two wings or shoulders, each of which projecting 20 cubits, made the whole length of the front 100 cubits, and the breadth as many ; and the gate was 70 cubits high, and 20 broad, but without any doors. The stones were white marble, 25 cubits in length, 12 in height, and 9 in breadth, all polished, and unspeak- ably beautiful. Instead of doors, the gate was closed with vails, flowered with gold, silver, purple, and evei^thing rich and curious. At each side of the gate were two stately pUlars, fi-om whence hung golden festoons, and vines with leaves and clusters of gi'apes, curiously ^vrought. The whole enclosure was about a furlong square, sun'ouuded with a high wall of large stones, some of them above 40 cubits long, and all fastened to one another with lead or ii-on. The wall of the temple, and its roof, being covered witli gold on the outside, made a most brilUant appearance in the sun- shine. Tliis vast, and splendid, and apparently imperishable pile, was destroyed A.D. 70, by the Romans under Titus, after about oiJy seventy years' continuance ll'om the time of its rebuilding by Herod. — And see Sect. kssU. p. 09 J. 'the TABEENACIiE OP TESTIMONY.' The gorgeous Temple of Solomon took the place of the moveable tent, or tabernacle, elected by Moses, at the command of the Lord, when Israel were brought up out of Egypt. The nucleus of the tabcruacle was the Ark, or chest, containing the two Tables of stone, whereon were written the terms of the Covenant, according to which God gave Himself to Israel to be the Lord their God, and took tliem to be His people. These two tables are called the Tables of Testimony : the chest in which they were deposited is called the Ark of the Covenant : and the tent itself, the Tabernacle of Testimony, Wlien the Lord entered into covenant with Abraham, He gave the sign that lie would, at a certain period, emancipate hia posterity from under cruel bondage, and judge their oppressors. At the Exodus He did so : and in the Decalogue He claims to be recognised as the Lord their God. Under the covert of ' the blood,' they have been given salvation ; and, following the ensign of tlie Dirine Presence, tlicy have been bronglit fovtli from Egypt, and constituted a holy nation, tlie Lord Himself being tlicir King. Upon the ground of His Covenant Mercy promised unto their fathers, He takes them to be His people ; and by their keeping His commandments. He requires them to give evidence that they take Him to be the Lord their God : so would He continue to bear witness of His power and willingness to save and to bless. Should they prove unfaithful to His covenant. He would as assuredly byjudgmenttestify against them. The covering of the chest containing the tables of testimony was called the Mercy Scat. It was of pure gold, and beaten out of the same piece with two remarkable figures called Cherubim, one at eacli end of the mercy seat or tin-one of the Great King. The cherubim had their wings extended forward over the ark, embracing as it were the ensign of the Di\ino Presence. A glorious brightness, called the Sheehinah, rested on the mercy seat, and dwelt between the cherubim. Tlie clienibim had their heads towards each other, and bent down as if inquiring into the mystery of the blood-sprinkled mercy seat covering the oik of the covenant. -from A Veil separated this inner apartment — the Holy of Holies- that which is more ordinarily called the Sanctuaiy. Imme the Loud of hosts : llio whole earth is fidl of his glory.' — Kev. iv. 8, 'And the four boasts had each of them six wings about Jilm; and thci/ ircrc full of eyes williin: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy. Lord Ood Aluiighty, which was, and is, and is to come.' — ITis name lioh/. Is. Ivii. 15, Tor thus saitli the high and lofty Ono that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also i/iat is of a eon- ti'itc and hvunblc spirit, to revive the spirit of the hiunble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.' — Ps. xeix. 3, ' Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy.' — T/te Holy One of Ood ; his coming disliirbcd the unclean spirits in the si/nar/or/ue, liu. iv. 3I, § 17. — The saints to reflect his holiness. Lev. xix. 2, 'Speak unto all the congregation of the children ol Israel, and say unto them. Ye shall be holy ; for I the LoitD yom- God am holy.' — 1 I'e. i. 15, .G, 'But as ho which hath called yon is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation ; 16, because it is written, Pe ye holy; for I am holy.* — 1 Cor. vi. 10, 20, 'WTiat? know yo not that your body is the temple of the Uoly G'aost whicli is in you, which ye have of God, and yc arc not your own? 20, For ye are bonglit with a ]irice: tlierefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.' 51. Strengtu. -S'»»,7 rf hij Moses, Ex. xv. 1—19.—% Darid, Ps. Ixv. C, 'Which by his strength sctteth fast the mountains; leinrj girded with power.'— xeviii. 1, 'O sing unto the Loud a new song; for ho hath done marvellous things i his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.' — Arm of the Lord to put on strength, Is. li. 'J— 11, 'Awake, awake, put on strcngtli, O arm of the Lord ; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hatli cut Eahab, and wounded tho dragon? 10, Art thou not it which hath cbied the sea, the waters of the great deep ; that hath made the depths of tho sea a way for the ransomed to pass over? 11, Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and ever- lasting joy shall be npou their head : they shall obtain gladuess and joy ; and sorrow and mourning shall lice away.' — Zion to put ore strength, Is. lii. 1, 'Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more eome into thee the uncircumeiscd and the unclean.' Scattered the PEOtrD. Same sung ly Moses, Ex. xv. 1 — 10. — And htj Hannah, 1 Sa. ii. 1 — 10, Khieli see, (vcr. 'IG, p. 19, 'Mr soul').— .'tH(2 liyDavid,Vs. ii., 'Why do the heathen rage, and tlic people imagine a vain thing ? 2, Tlie kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against tho Lord, and against his anointed, saying, 3, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away theu" cords from us. 4, Ho that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh : the Lord shall have them in derision. 5, Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, aud vex them in his sore displeasure. 6, Yet have I set my king upor/ my holy hiU of Zion. 7, I will declare the decree : the Lord hath said unto me. Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 8, Ask of me, and I shall give thee the lieatheu for thins inherit- ance, and the uttermost parts of the earth. /b)' thy possession. 9, Thou shalfc break them with a rod of iron ; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. 10, Be wise now therefore, ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11, Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12, Kiss the Son, lest ho bo angry, and ye perish from tho way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. NOTES. Holy is /;/.'; name. Holy and to bo. reverenced is his name. That name is holy, and to bo regarded as holy; aud to make a common or profane use of it, is solemidy forbidden in the third coumiand- mcnt, Ex. XX. 7. 50. That far him. That reverence or honour him. One kind of fear is that which a servant has of a cruel master, or a man has of a precipice, the plague, or danger. This is not the fear which we ought to have ol Ood. It is the fear which a dulilul child has of a kind and virtuous liilhcr: a it'ar of dishonouring him by our life; of doing anything which he would disapprove. It is on those who have such fear of God that his mercy descends. This is the fear of tho Lord which is tho beginning of wisdom, Ps. exi. 10 ; Job .xxviii. 28. i'rom generation to gcncralion. From ono ago to another ; it continues; is unceasing; aud abounds. 51. He hath shewed strength with his arm. A metaphor derived from putting to Ihght a defeated enemy. Ho utterly discomfits. Tiio arm is tho symbol of strcngtli. The cspressiou in tliis and the subsequent verses has no particular refereuoe to his mercy to Mary. Having smig of her Saviom-, tho promised seed of the woman, she reaches forward, m the spirit of prophecy, to a eontem- pbtion of his idtimate triumph, in bruismg the serpent's head. Scattered the proud, <|'o. Mary speaks of tho ultimate triumph as it already como. It was secured by the coming of the conqueror, the seed of the woman, wliich shall bruise the head ol the serpent. 52. E.valted them, cfv. In the first commg of Christ an assiu-anco was given, that all the promises shall be fuUilled. The meek shall inherit the earth : the poor in spuit shall be given the kingdom of heaven. 53. The hungry with good things. Tliis is a celebration of tho general mercy of God: but more partieiJarly for the abundance of blessmg which om- God hath designed for his chosen people. The rich he hath sent, ^-c. See Vs. xxxvii. rilACTICAI. REFLECTIONS. CO — .5 ecr. Wo may, with Mary, and ns in the general 1 niguiigc of prophecy, speak of that as done, which God hath besun to do. It should be to us as nuuh a reality. Thus mav we walk by faith. 51 rcr. The counsels of the proud will produci comGtiu'e. '20 63tYr. The exaltation of the wicked will but prepare for their greater downfall. 53 vcr. It is not the full and self-satisfied that may be expected to enjoy the promised good, but those who, knowing thch- own folly, weakness, and poverty, are willing to be guarded, upheld, and provided for sunply as tlie Lord may choose. Matt. i. 1, § 4, p. 39. Marl- i. 1, § 7, p. 78. John i. 1, § ib., p. 73. [ 2. their own dis- PART I.] MAEY'S SONQ OF PEAISE. [SECT. II. Luke i. 55. 55 liatli-lioliicn uvTcXafteTo liis servant Israel, iii-remeniLraiicc nvi}ad7ivat of-liis-mercy ; (as lie-spakc to our ^fathers,) to 'Abraliam, and to ' las seed for^ever dg tov alwva. [Fo?- vcr. 50, see p. 21.] SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Blessed are all tliey that put Ihch' trust in him.' — To le fuJJiUed in falnre deliverances, Eze. sxsviii. 14 — 23, 'Therefore, soa of mim, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GoD; In that clay when my people of Israel dwellelh safely, slialt thou not know il 1 15, And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them ritling upon horses, a gi'cat company, and a mighty army : IG, and thou slialt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land ; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before theu' eyes. 17, Thus saith tho Lord God ; Art thou ho of whom I hare spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, wliich prophesied in those days manij years that I woidd brin" thee against them? 18, And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saitli the Lord God, that my fury shall como up in my face. 19, For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Sm'ely in that day there shall be a great shaldng in the land of Israel ; 20, so that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and tho beasts of the field, and aU creeping thuigs that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon tho face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be tlu'own down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall f^iU to the ground. 21, And I will call for a sword against hun throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord God : every man's sword shall be agamst his brother. 22, And I will plead agamst him with pestUenco and witli blood ; and I will rain upon liim, and upon his bands, and upon tho many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, Ci'c, and brimstone. 23, Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I wdl be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Loed.' — See ch. xxsis. ; and Eev. six. 17 — 21, ' And I saw an angel standing in tho sun ; and he cried with a loud voice, sayhig to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven. Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God ; 18, that yo may eat tho flesh ot kings, and the flesh of captams, and the flesh of mighty rncn, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, hotli free and bond, both small and great. 19, And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against liis army. 20, And tho beast was taken, and with him tho false prophet that wi-onght miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark ol the bca.5t, and them that worshipped Ins image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning -with brimstone. 21, And the remnant were slain with the sword of liim that sat upon the horse, which sn-ord proceeded out of his mouth: and all tlie fowls were filled with their flesh.' — Zep. iii. 3—13, 'Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for ray determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble tho kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. 9, For then will I turn to tho people a pm-o language, that they may all call upon the name of the LoED, to seiTO him with one consent. 10, From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall brmg mine ofloring. 11, In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed agamst mo : for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy moimtain. 12, I will also leave in tho midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. 13, The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies ; neither shall a deeeitfid tongue be foiuid in theii' mouth : for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make tliem afraid.' — See also Joel iii. 11 — .7. 55. Adeaham. First 2>romise to, Ge. xii. 1 — 7, 'Now the Loed had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, mito a land that I will shew thee : 2, and I wUl make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing : 8, and I wUl bless them that bless thee, and curse him that cm'seth thee : and m thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. 4, So Abram departed, as tho Loed had spoken mito him ; and Lot went with him : and Abram teas seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. 5, AjkI Abram took Sai'ai Ins wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten m Ilaran ; and they wont forth to go into tho land of Canaan ; and into tho kind of C.-.naan they came. 6, And Abram passed through the land imto the place of Sichem, unto the plam of Moreh. And the Canaanite teas then in the land. 7, And the Loed appeared unto Abram, and said. Unto thy seed wUl I give this land : and there budded he an altar unto the Loed, who appeared unto him.' — Vision, Ge. sv. — Covenant, svii. 1 — 8, 'And when Abram was nhiety yeai's old and nme, the Loed appeared to Abram, and said unto hiui, I am the Almighty God ; walk before me, and be thou perfect. 2, And I wiU make my cove- nant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. 3, And Abram lell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, 4, NOTES. 51. He hatli Iiolpen. Hath euccourcd. \Vhatever may tlu-eaten, he will dctend his seiTant Israel in pos- session of the goodness he hath prcpai'ed. He will tridy fidtll the mercy promised to Abraham and to liis seed for ever. In rememlrance of his merry. Of liis promised mercy. The expression has here peculiar emphasis, meaning, to give a fresh proof of mercy and favour to Israel, in addition to the ancient mercies shewn to that people. The fidfihneut of all the promises made to the lathers, as to the multitude, power, and blessedness of the chosen seed, was secured in Crod's giving his only begottca Son to the world. 53. As lie spaJce to our fathers, ^-c. That Ls, he hath dealt mer- ciiuUy with the chUdi'en of Israel, according as he promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, &c. Seeing that God did not withhold his own Son, there could be now no doubt as to the full accomplishmeni of the promises made to the fathers, however difficult that accom- plishment may at one time have appeared to be. As truly as tho Priuco hath come of Judah, liis people Israel shall bo foimd, and find in Him tho blessing and the deliverance pi-omiscd. Alrakam. First called Abram, or ' Great father.' It was pro- mised that a great nation would proceed ot luiu, Ge. xii. 2. After- wards his name was changed to Abraham, sig., 'Father of a great PRACTICAL REFLECTION'S. 51 vcr. As tho high priest had the names of the cluldren of Israel upon his shoulders and upon his breasl-platc, ibr rcmcmbranco belore God, so of God our Saviour it shall yet be said, ' He hath holpen ?iis servant Isj-ael,' tj-e. 5i, .5 ver. As truly as the Lord will give help to his sci-vant Israel, in raising up the tribes of Jacob, so truly will he remember to perform tho fidness of the mercy promised to Abraliam, and to his seed for ever. — Let us prove that we are tridy the cuildren of Abraham, by om* having tho same faith, and manifesting it by the same patient waiting and ready doing tho will of our God. — Let lis sec the grace of God as manifested in these, the very first instances of prophesying as recorded in the New Testament. They ai-e both by woman, who was first in the transgression. And with the Spirit of prophecy, which is the testimony of Jesus, lie Iiaili thus honoiu'cd both youth and old age. 2.] MaU. i. 1,. § 4, p. 39. Marl- i. 1, § 7, p. 78. Lfl-s i. 50, p. 21. John i. 1, § 7, p. 73. 21 BKcr. II.] JOSKPII IIKSITATES TO TAKE MABY TO WIFE. [PABT I. Matt. i. IH, .9. (O. C.) M»,y ntiinis home, and is tahrn into the Iwiixe of Joseph as his espoused wife.— Matt. i. 18—25. Luke i. 50. At Nazareth. Irt N..W llio l.irtli ofj.'si.s Cl.rist wns on-tliis-wise: wl.on-ns liis, mother Mury wns-esponsed toMoseph, 10 Lefore llioy i'uin.-t..-,'.ilKT. Hli.-wus-f..mi.l wiUi-cIiiM oi' tl.c-IIoly Gliost. Tlicn U Joseph her l.usbaud, bciiiK (i-ju8t man, ami not williiij,' to-miike--lier--a-pul)lick-ex(implo vupaM-^ixaTiaai, was-mmded to-put-- SCniPTUKE ILLUSmATIONS. A» for mc, MioM, my coTcnimt u nilli tlico, and tliou elmlt bo n fallMTof iimii)- iialioiia. 5, N.-itlicr xlinll tliy iiiiine niiy more be called Abraiii, bill Ihy immo dlinll bo Abrnliam ; for a fiitlicr of many nations linvo I made tliee. 0, And I will make tlieo eiocedint; fruitful, nnn. [/••„/•;•<■/«(/////// c "/"ver. Ji'), .svr '^ I, p. JiH.J --ir ^.^ i o ^ t Lii. i. 50 And Jfiiry ul-odo wilh her about thrco months, nud returned to hcr-own,liousc. [Ver. .j7, ^ 3, p. 20.] [/■'or ver. &5, 8tr p. !^1.] SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. come, as predicted, Tcr. 17—25, ' TIic Loud eliall bring upon thee, jailiiib, which incnns 'Ihe remnant shall return' refiTrcd lo Tcr. 3, 10— .C, 'Thi'ii Mill llio IxiliD unto Isuiali, Go forth now to meet Aluu, tlioii, nud .Sheor-jiishuh tliy eon." 10, 'Jloi-covcr tlic Loud ■pako npiin unto Ahaz, s.ivin;;, 11, Ask tliec a sign of the LoiU) tliy Ooil ; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. 12, But Alini i>ai7iel's son Shear-jashuh) cat, that he may know to refuse the evil, aud choose the good. IG, For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall bo forsaken of both Iicr kings.' — The remnant, the Jeics, did rctiiyn from Babylon: lul when the fulness of the time came they did not lelieie in the siyn Emmanuel, tehich teas then gieen: in consequence, they were not eslallished, ver. 9, ' If yo will not; believe, sui-ely ye shall not bo cstablidlicd.' — The consumption determined upon the whole land has nnd upon thy people, and upon thy father's house, days tliat have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah ; even the king of Assyria,' kc— Christ is God teilh vs, Jno. i. 1, It, § 7, 'The Word was God.' 14, 'And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the gloiy as ol the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.'— viii. 24-, § 55, 'I said theroforo unto you, that ye shall die in youi- sins : for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.' — Eom. ix. 5, ' Whose arc the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Clu-ist came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.' — 2 Cor. v. 19, ' To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them ; and hath committed uijto us the word of rcconeiliation.' — Col. ii. 9, ' For in liira dwellctli all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.' — The fulness of ihe promises yet to le realized, Eev. xxi. 3, ' And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabcmaclo of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shaU be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and Is theii- God.' PIl.\CTICAL KEFLECTIONS. U rer. Wlicro wo find wo have unjustly condemned any, we iliould bo eager to make ivparntion. And, in nil cases, make haste to do God's holy will, when it is clearly made known to us. 24, .5 ver. Jesus Bubmitted to be thought the son of Joseph, although ho was in truth the only-begotten Son oi God. 'Beloved, now are loe the sons oj God,' (f'c, 1 Jno. iii. 2. GEOGRAnilCAL NOTICES. OAIIIEE — NAZAEETE — HILL COUNTRY OP JTJBJEi.. pp. 15, .8. Galilee. — See 'Ilistorieal Sketch of the Land of Promise,' p. x. Nazaketu. — In Arabic, Eti Kasirah. Is a small city in Galilee, •bout seventy miles north of Jerusalem, and about six miles west from mount Tabor. Tho town lies upon the lower slope of the western side of an oblong basin extending about a mile from S.S.W. to N.N.E., nnd about half a milo in breadth. Tlic valley has sometimes been compared to a cup : nnd tlie hills have all a whitish appearance, from the limestone of which they are composed. Tlie houses aro substantially built of white stone, nnd have only flat terraced roofs, without the domes so common in Jerusalem nnd tho south of the land. Thera aro but few niins. The largest building is tho Latin convent, which monkish legends say is built over the house where Mary, the mother of our Lord, lived. Under tho church is shewn tho grotto in which it is protended Mary received tho salutation of tho angel Gabriel — ' JIail, thou tliat art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee' ^-c. The buildings of tho convent nro massy ; and there is a mosque in the town adorned wilh cypress trees. Fig trees nnd olives nbound in tho gardens, hedged in with priekly-pear. The pretended dwefling of Joseph, cut out of the rock, is shewn, nnd tlio pillar eiuiously (the iuhabi- Innts say niirucidously) susjicnded from tho roof. In another part of the town is also shewn the stone table, olf which, accordin" lo a lying tradition of tho monks, Cluist dined with his disciples, bdlh before nnd after his resurrection: a visit to which procures wwn years' indulgcnco to tho deluded pilgi-ims of the church ol Borne. They have also a curious ancient picture, which tlicy say ia a portrait of our blessed Lord, and the very one sent by him to tlia king of Edcssa, on w Inch is inscribed, 'Hesc vera iinayo Domini.' A late traveller thus describes his visit to Nazareth : — ' Wc rode directly to the Latin convent, and were civilly received in a dii-ty cell set apart for pilgrims. Two rude beds were allotted to us, and a suitable place to stow away our baggage. I was unwell, and ill at ease. Kazareth, of all places, seemed to me the most outrageously clamorous. Every horn- of tho day and night was broken by incessant yelling ; scores of children were all crying and screaming at once, and at the top of tlieu- voices j donkeys were braying, cocks crowing, aud camels grunting. ' Notwithstanding all that is wearisome at Nazareth, one dehght- ful train of thought is kept up : that there the luunau nature of our adorable Kedcemer expanded to its full maturity ; and that there, in humble obscurity, he trained his soul for those achieve- ments which have shed light and lustre and hope upon a blighted world. It is delightful to gaze upon every rocky height, aud upon every silent valley around, and to be assured that there lie walked and meditated and prayed, and yearned over the degraded posterity of the fallen Adam.' — See ' A Baslor's Memorial . ... of the Holy Land,' p. 354. ' TI\e greater part of tho population of Nazareth is professedly Clu-ist ian: but it is tho deformed and lifeless Chi-istianity of the Roman and Greek churches. Only a few attend vespers on the Lord's day. 'Tho extreme seclusion of the town, and the resort of bad and doubtful characters of Galilee, g.ave rise to tho ancient proverb, " Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth V It is not much better now, if any judgment m.ay be formed from the physiognomy of the idle and wretched looking population. A great many bony- featured Bedouins, witli the rope of camel's hair round their head, loiter hi tho streets.' — Hid. — And see Sect, vi., p. OS. IIiLt, Country op Jpdsa.— By the ' hill country" wo may undi tt.ind, geucmlly, the whole hilly district of Judxa, from tho region around Ifcbrou northward to tho plain of Sharon. That part of it into which Mnry went on a visit to Elisabeth, was most probably tho district south of Uebron, where Juttah is niLL COUNTRY OP JUD.EA. 21 situated ; which city is supposed by some to have been tho birth- place of John Baptist. It is now called Yutla; and from a little distance has the appearance of a largo Midiamniedan town, on a low cmi;.enee, with tr, ■ s around. It was a city of the priests ; and has been lost sight of .incc the days of Jerome. Matt. i. 1, § 4, p. 3'J. Mark i. 1, § 7, p. 78. Lnlai. 57, § 3, p. 26. John i. 1, § 7, p. 73. [2. PAKT I.] ADDENDA. ANaEL. [SECT. 11. Hlli COITNTET OP Dr. Eobiiison says, ' Tlie distance tetween Hebron and Jerusalem is dellnitelv given by Eu3ebiu3 and Jerome at twenty-two Roman miles, equivalent to about seventeen and a balf geograpliieal miles. Our time between the two cities was eigbt and a quarter hours witli camels ; affording a good coincidence.' In the division of the land, among other cities (see Jos. xxi. 4, 11, .6), 'T/ie cldldren of Aaron tJie priest, which were of the Lerites, had lu lot out of ike tribe of Judali, and out of the tribe of Simeon, anil out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities. . . 11, And ihei) gave them the citi/ of Arha the father of Anal; wJiicJi, city is Hebron, in the hill country of Jiidah, with the suburbs thereof round about it. . . IC, And Aia with her suburbs, and Juttah with her suburbs, and Belh-sliemesh with her suburbs.' Indeed this whole region of Hebron is what is exj^rcssly caUcd in the book of Joshua tlie hill country. Of the district south of Wady-el-Musmr, Dr. Eobinson observes, 'The precipitous western wall of the higher mountainous tract towards Hebron Ues further back, nearly in a lino witli tlie spot on which we stood, viz., a hiijh.point, west of Wady Billir, about one hour and a half from Jerusalem going to Gaza ; while a broad region of lower liiUs and open valleys is spread out between it and tlie western plain. This higher tract of mountains . . . .rises to the lieiglit of r.cavly 2,800 feet ; the region of lulls reaches apparently about one-third of the same elevation above the sea and plaui.' Of this liilly region the same writer elsewhere observes, ' This may be called tlie "hill country," m distinction fi'om the higher moimtains on tlie east. It is the middle region between the mountains and the plain, stretchmg, as we have seen, far to the north and south. , . Tins region is for the most part a beautiful open country, consisting of low Iiills, usually rocky, separated by broad arable valleys mostly somi with grain, as are also many of the sweUing hills. The whole tract is full of villages and deserted sites and ruins ; and many olive-groves appear around the former.' — Kobihson's Biblical Me- tearches in PalesUite, vol. ii. pp. 327, .41. JTlDiEA — continued. 'As we approached the hills' (writes Mr. Paxton, when travelling towards them from Eanileh), ' the face of the plain became more uneven ; the points of the ridges ran out irregularly, and more rocks began to appear on the surface. The line of liills is, however, more regular than is usual, and the transition from the plain to the hills is more gradual than is usually found on the borders of large plains. . . . The hills are not continuous ridges, but knobs, not very high, nor very steep; the top rounded over, llany of them are separated from each other, almost to the base ; but a greater number join at one or more sides, at various heights from their bases. Taking the hollows, and the passages between the hills (and, in some places, there are little level spots), as the level of the comitry, I slioidd say that the general level, as we pass east, rises ; and the height of the hills above tliis general level continues about the same for a great part of the way from tlie commencement of the hills to near Jerusalem. This district is well caUed the " Sill country of J'ddiea;" nothing coidd better express it. They are usually, in books, called mountains, but their size — that is, their height above the general level of the coimtry — hardly entitles them to that appellation ; they are rather hills than mountains. As we rode among the lulls, we began to see a few small slu-ubs and bushes of oak. Most of them, however, were small ; few as liigh as a man on liorseback. ... As we passed farther in among the liiUs, the vegeta- tion increased, both as to size and quantity ; it, however, never amounted to much. As we approached the higher part of the liiUy district, we saw some liills that were, to some extent, covered with the olives. A ride of between two and three hours, from the time we entered the liill comitry, brought us to the liigher pai't of the district. Our road sldl lay along what ni.ay be called a lioUow, and on each side of ns the-hUls rose to a considerable size. We passed on tlus high chstrict one or two villages. In one of them were some j>retty good houses The country around was in a better state of cultivation.' ADDENDA. 'angel,' Luke i. 20, p. 1.5. Angel, or messenger, is the common name given to those spiritual and intclhgent beings, by whom God partly executes his providen- tial work, and who are most ready and active in liis service. They were created with eminent wisdom, holiness, and purity, and placed in a most happy and honourable estate ! but capable of change. Their knowledge is great, but not infinite : they desire to look into the mystery of our salvation, and learn from the church the manifold nisflom of God. Nor can they search the hearts of men, nor know future things, but as particularly instructed of God. Mt. xxlv. 36, § iJG, ' But of that day and hour hwueth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.' Nor do we understand their manner of knowing things corporeal and visible ; nor the manner of their impressing bodies, or their method of commimicating among themselves. Their power, too, is very extensive ; but reaches to notliing strictly called mu-aculous. Their number is very gi'cat, amountuig to many millions: Ps. Ixviii. 17; Mt. xxvi. 53, § 88; Kcv. V. 11. And the nauies, of archangels, thrones, dominions, principaUties, and powers, suggest an order among them, though of what kind we know not. 1 Th. iv. 16 ; Col. i. IC. — And see on ver. 11, § 1, p. 7. 2J Matt. i. 1, § ■?-, p. 30. Marl- i. 1, § 1, p. 78. Irh :. 57, § 3, p. CG. John i. 1, § 7, p. ;:(. 85 SECT. Ill] TIIK IllKTlX OF JOnN TUR BArTIST. [PABT I. SECTION 3.-TJIE Brmir and CiucuMCisroN of John the Baptisi, and his trivate IIistoiiy. Luko i. Tj?— 80. LU. 7, H.J INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS. 67. At «lio time nppoiiilwl, tlio son promised to Zaolmrias is bom. 6a Tlw kindnow of the Lonl to Elisolwtli is made known (o her friends and n-Utivos ; wlio, as hud been predicted, rejoice with licr. B9. Wien, acoordiiiR to custom, they como to circumcise tlie child, they take for granted that ho shall be named aft«r his fallicr, Zae)>ariu. 60. Tlio mollicr objects to tliis— preferring that ho should be tUsiRnatcd a gift from tlic Lord, as expressed in the name John. 61, .2. Thoy remind her that none of her kindred are called by tliis name; and by signs they inquire of his fallier, how he would bare liiui named. C3. Zailmrias asks for writing materials, and writes, ' His name is Join;' at whiih all marvel, not being aware, perhaps, of the Uivino guidance in the matter. ftl. Having been obedient to the heavenly vision, Zaeharias has his speech innnediatoly restored j — his mouth is opened in the praise of God. C5, .6. An awo is felt by the inhabitants of the neighbourhood ; and those mailers nro spoken of Ihrougli the whole hill country cf Juihca i all who hear meditate mueli upon them, wondering what is to be the result. In the meantime, the hand of the Lord continues to be manifested in favour of the chiUh C7, 4c. Zaeharias, moved by the Iloly Ghost, opens his mouth in prophetic utterance ; first with regard to the Saviour, of wliose im- mediate advent, the birlh of the Baptist was a jilcdgc (ver. 68 — 75) ; and secondly, with regard to his own child, the harbinger of tlie Prince of Peace (ver. 7G— .9). The tirst portion (68—75) may be regarded as a paraphrase upon the name jEStTS. The divinity of Ilim who hath visited and redeemed liis people is recognised in ver. 08. The humanity of tlio Saviour, as being of tlio house of David, in ver. 69. The Saviour's advent as being the subject of prophecy from tl\c earliest period, is noticed in ver. 70. The salva- tion of Israel, ver. 71. In speaking, ver. 72, .3, of the salvation promised, a recognition seems to bo made of the import of the names both of Jolm and of his parents. Correspondent to the name Zaeharias, tlie Lord calls to remembranco the mercy promised to the fathers, and written in their names. He will perform the oath he sware to Abra- ham (the 'oath of my God,' expressed in the name Elisabeth), and the salvation thus to be obtained is expressed in the name John (granted freely — it is the gift of God). The salvation is not merely temporal and external — it is to be spiritual and continuous salvation. He shall save his people from their sins; that we may serve liim in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life. 7G. Having sung of Him whoso arm alone can bring salvation, and of whose coming the birth of the Baptist was a pledge ; the father next addresses his child, as appointed to become the prophet of the Highest ; and, as if in recognition of tlie names, both oi Jesus and of John, says that he is to ffive knouiledye of salvation mito his people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, ver. 77. 79. The song concludes with a beautiful reference to the name Jerusalem — we are given assurance of seeing peace : the early dawn hath visited us, 'to ijive liyht to them that sit in darloiess and in the shadow of death, to gtiide our feet into the way of peace.' (G. 7.) r/if Birth of John, &c.—Luhe i. .07—79. In the Bill Country of Judaia. [Ver. 5(5, § 2, p. 24.] r>7 Now,Elisabctli's full-\timo"-came that'slio slioultl-bo-deliverecl ; and she-brouglit- forth a-son. 58 And licr, neighbours and hcr^cousins heard how tho-Lord had-shcwed-great^mercy i\ii-^d\vvi to tXtoc upon her ; nnd they-rejoiced-witli her. 69 And it-came-to-pass, that on the eighth day they-came to-circumcise the chikl ; and thcy-called him SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. C8. Rejoiced vnin heu. Foretold, ver. It, § 1, 'And thou •halt have joy nnd gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.' — Compare the l/irth nf Isaac, Ge. xxi. G, 'And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.' ^Rfjoicing at the hirlh of Zion's children, Is. Ixvi. 8 — 13, ' Who hath hoard such a thing? who liath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day ? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth lier children. 9, Shall I bring to the birth, nnd not cause to bring forth ? snilh the Loud : shall I cnuse to bring forth, nnd shut the teomh f saith thy God. 10, Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that lovelier: rejoice for joy with her, all yo that mourn for her: 11, that ye may suck, and bo satisfied with the breasts of her consolations ; that ye may milk out, nnd be ficlightcd with the abundance of her glory. 12, For thus saith the Loud, Beliold I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream : then shall ye suck, yo shall be borne upon her sides, Snd be dandled upon her knees. 13, As one whom his mother comfortcth, so will I comfort you ; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.' — Compare with Bev. vii. 9, 10, ' After this I beheld, and, lo, a great midtitudc, which no man coidd number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed witli white robes, nnd palms in tlieu- hands ; 10, and cried with a loud voice, saying. Salvation to our God which sittcth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.' 59. Eionin day. Commanded AlraJiam, Ge. xvii. 12, 'And he that is eight days old shall bo circumcised among you, every man cliild in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.' — And ill the law, Lc. xii. 3, 'And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall bo cn-cumciscd.' NOTE. 69. Circumcise. To distinguish Abraham's family from others; I laws thereof; and to represent the removal of their natural corrup- lo seal the new covenant to them, and thou- obhgation lo keep the | tion, by the blood and Spii-it of Jesus Christ, in virtue of liis resur- PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. C7 v.r. Ix-t us rest nssunxl that, at the fuU time, the word of God I 58 ver. We should rejoice at seeing th*- good which oui- God is wUl be truly accomplished. | ^i,^^^^ to bestow upon others. Mull. 20 . 1, § t, p. 39. Mark i. 1, § 7, p. 78. John i. 1, § ib., p. 73. [3. PABT I.] ZACHARIAS PRAISES GOD. [SECT. III. Luke i. GO — .0. CO Zacharias, after tlie name of his father. And his^mother answered rt;/r/-said, Not so; but lio-shall-be- 61 called Jolm. And they-said unto her, There-is none of thy, kindred that is-called by-this,name. C2 And 03 they-made-signs to 'his father, Jiow he 'would have-'him'-called. And he-asked-for a-writing-table, and 04 wrote, saying, His, name is .John. And they-marvelled nil. And liis, mouth was-opened immediately, 05 and his, tongue hosed, and he-spake, rt//(/-praised,God. And fear came on all that 'dwelt-rouiid-aljout C6 them : and ail these, sayings were-noised-abroad throughout all the hill-country ofJudsea. And all they ' that-heard them laid-^M«-up in their, hearts, saying, Wliat-mannor-of, child shall-'this"-be ! And the-hand of-the-Lord was with him. SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. 64. JIoTJTn WAS OPENED. A^ forefold, ver. 20, § 1. — Promise of opening the mouth to EzeJciel, ch. xxix. 21, 'In that day will I cause the horn of the house of Israel to buil fordi, and I will give thee the opening of the mouth in the midst of them; and t)iey shall know tliat I am the Lord.' — The fulfilment, xxxiii. 22, 'Now the hand of the Lord was upon me in the evening, . . . until he came to me in the morning ; and my mouth was opened, and I was no more dumb.' — The vision sealed up. Is. xxix. 10 — .2, 'For the Loud hatli poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes : the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. 11, And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which «»e» dehver to one that is learned, saying. Read this, I pray thee : and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: 12, and the book is delivered to him that is not leanied, saying, Read this, I pray thee : and he saith, I am not learned.' — But at length shall speak, Ilab. ii. 2, 3, 'And the Lord answered me, and said. Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, tliat lie may run that readetli it. 3, For the vision is yet for an appomted time, but at tlie end it shall speak, and not lie : tliough it tarry, wait for it ; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.' — The new song then to be sung. Is. xlii. 9 — 12. — Compare with Rev. v. 9 — 14, ( quoted, Mt. ii. 11, § 5, p. 53, ' WOBSHIBPED.') C6. The hand op the Lord, &c. Was with Joseph, Ge. xxxix. 2, 3, 'And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man ; and he was in tlie house of his master tlie Egyptian. 3, And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in liis hand.' — With th-e disciples, in preaching to the Gentiles, Ac. xi. 21, 'And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number beUeved, and turned unto the Lord.' — See further with regard to John, ver. 80, p. 32. NOTES. rection, — on the eighth day, God appointed that all the males in Abraham's family should be circumcised, and tliat his posterity should afterwards be circumcised on the eighth day of then- life. — See Ge. xvii. 10-27 ; xxi. 4. The uncireumciscd cliild was to be cut off from his people ; but that threatening seems not to have affected the chUd, till he was grown up, and wUfully neglected that orcUnance of God for hunself, Ge.xvii.l4. For the last tliirty-eiglit years of theu" abode in the desert, the Hebrew children were not ch'cumcised. Just after the Hebrews passed the Jordan, their males were all circumcised : this is called a circumcision of them the second time, as, on this occasion, the institution was again revived, after it had long gone into disuse : and it was a rolling away of the reproach of J^gypt ; God hereby declared they were his free people, and heirs of the promised land, and removed from them what they reckoned the shame of the Egyptians, Jos. v. 1 — 10. No man is a whit more readily ac- cepted of God, or saved by him, on account of cireimicision, or un- circumcision, 1 Cor. vii. 19 ; Ga. v. 6 ; vi. 15. Beside tlie outward circumcision of the flesh, wc find the eircura- cbion of the heart mentioned, as (hat whicli was signified thereby. It consists in God's changing of our state and nature, through the application of the blood and Spirit of liis Son. By tliis we are made God's pecidiar people, have our corruptions mortified, and our souls disposed to his service ; and, for tliis reason, the saints are called the circumcision, wliile the Jews, with their outward circumcision, are, in contempt, called the concision, Ph. iii. 2, 3. And they called him Xacharias. The name of the child was commonly given at the time of circumcision, Ge. xxi. 3, 4. We find no instance in the ancient scriptures of any ]icrson in Israel who was called after the name of his father ; but it seems to have become customary, as ui the case of Herod. CO. John. Means ^ Grace of Jehovah' — the peculiar character of that dispensation John came to introduce, wherein God's grace shines more brightly than ever. G3. A writing talle. UivaKitiov, 'a tablet;' a diminutive of TTi'i'aJ, 'a table.' 'A Httle table,' such as they used to write not only upon, but in, using a stylus or pen. The ancients ti-ccpiently wrote on a thin board, or lead smeared over with wax. 64. His mouth, 4'c. Tliat is, he was enabled to speak. With true gratitude, he offered praise to God, for the birth of a son, — a pledge of the speedy coming of Messiah. 65. And fear came, ,^c. The word fear often denotes religious reverence. The ixmiarkable circumstances attending the bu-th of John, and the fact that Zacharias was suddenly restoi-od to speech, convinced them that GoD was there, aud filled their minds with awe and veneration. Sayings. Rather, ' things,' comprehending both what was said and done; (Jij; : for I w ill forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.' — Eze. xxxiv. 30, ' Thus shall they know that I the LoHD their God am with them, and tluil they, ci:c» the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord God.' — Only to be eiijoi/nl in CfirisI, Ga. iii. 13 — 21). Visited. T/ie Lord visited bis people Israel in Hyi/pt, Ex. iii. IG, • Qo, and gather the cldera of Israel togetlier, and say unto them, Tlie Ix>nD Ood of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, ap|>cared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt.' — Qod is tpohen of as visiting man, Ps. viii. 4, ' What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visilest him? '- — Tie Lord, as predicted Zee. x. 3, visited hisjloclc, the Iwuse of Judah, but Jerusalem knew not the time of Iter visitalion, Lu. xix. 4A; § 82, •And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within llicc ; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another ; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.' — Compare Je. xiv. 8, 'O the hope of I.sracl, the saviour thereof in time of tro\ible, why shoiddest thou be as a stranger in the land, and a.s a wayfaring man that turueth aside to tarry for a night ? ' — Shall see him ai/ain, when prepared to receive him, Zep. iii. U — .7, 'Sing, O daughter of Zion ; shout, Israel ; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, daughter of Jerusalem. 15, The Loud li.ith taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the Loud, is in tlie midst of thee: thou shalt not SCO evil any moi-e. IG, In tliat. day it shall bo said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not : and to Zion, Let not tliine hands be slack. 17, Tlio LoBD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over theo with singing.' Bedef.med. Of the Lord it is said, Ps. cxi. 9, 'Ue sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his cove- nant for ever : holy and reverend is liis name.' — Joy of the redeemed people. Is. XXXV. 10, 'And the ransomed of the LoitD shall return, and come to Zion with sougs and everlasting joy upon their heads : they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing .shall flee away.' — li. 11, 'Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and eorao with singing unto Zion ; and everlasting joy shall be upon theii' head: they shall obt.iin gladness and joy ; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.' — Their Redeemer, liv. 5 — 8, ' For thy Maker is thine husband ; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall ho be called. 6, For the Loed hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spii'it, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. 7, For a small moment have I forsaken thee ; but with great mercies will I gather thee. 8, In a little wrath I liid my face from thoe for a moment ; but with everlasting kindness willl have mercy on thee, saith the Loud thy Redeemer.' — Their redemption to be consummated in the resurrection, IIos. xiii. 14, ' I wUl ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues ; O grave, I will be thy destruction : repentance shall be hid from imno eyes.' — 1 Cor. xv. 54, .5, ' So when this corruptible shall have jiut on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written. Death is swallowed up in victory. 55, O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where i.s thy victory?' — Jesus, often called a ransom, see Mt. xx. 28, § 77 ; Mk. x. 45, § ib. — Tit. ii. 14, ' Who gave himself for us, that lie might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.' — He. tx. 12, ' Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood ho entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption /o;- «s.' NOTES. C7. rrophrsied. The word is to he taken here in its proper acceptation as predicting future events, for Zacharias speaks by inapiration both of what God had done and what he was about to do. C8. Ilalh visited. 'Hath visited with his mercy or favour.' The metaphor is derived either, as is commonly supposed, from the custom of princes to visit the provinces of their kingdom to mlross grievances and to confer benefits; or rather from the visituig of the distressed by the benevolent, to afford them relief. God lool-ed iipon the world — He saw it miserable — He came to relieve it, and brought salvation. — See 78 ver., p. 31. And redeemed. That is, was aboxd to redeem, or had given the pledge that Ho would redeem. This was spoken imdcr the belief that the Messiah, the Sedeemer, was about to appear, and would certainly accomplish his work. The literal translation of this passage is, ' He hath made redemption, or ransom, for his people.' riUCTICAL REFLECTIONS. C7 ver. The word of prophecy b not to be regarded as the word j sware to our father Abraham.' He .nlso alhules to the deliverance of nmn, but as dictated by the Holy Ghost, and so may bo ex- jK'clcd logo beyond the ordinary conceptions or understanding of tliu individual who uttered it. C8— 79 ver. Zacharias is no more doubt fid as to the fulfilment of the prophecies ; hut sings of their accomplishment as if it had nlrcndy come, lie looks forward to the lime when the vision shall indeed speak, and to the limes of restitution, which Inuo been •pokcn of by all Iho holy prophets since the world began ; and ttipccially to tlic promises written in Die names of himserf and his wife ElUabclh, ' 2'o remember his hot// covenant; the oath which he 28 Mall. i. 1, § 4, p. 39. Mark i. 1, § 7, p. 78. John i. 1, § ,4., p. 73. the Lord w ill cllict for Israel, from the hand of their cncmiis, when he will grant unto them to serve him, witjiout fear, in holiness and rightcousnes.s before him, all the days of their life, — the salvation and the grace spoken of in the names of Jesus and Jolui, are the beginning and ending of the song. 68 ver. God in his prophetic word speaks of those things that are not yet, as though they already were ; as here when Zaehm'ias gives thanks for God's having visited and redeemed his people, although Jesus was not yel born, and the day of redemption was yet future. [3. PABT I.] ZACHAEIAS PROPHESIES. [SECT. III. Luke i. 70— .2. 70 an-horn of-salviition for-us in the house of his servant David; as he-spake by thc-mouth of his holy 71 prophets, w]ncli'/!«^'^^omised salvation, Dc. xsxiii. 26 — .9, ^ There is none like unto the God of Jeshnrun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky. 27, Tlio eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms : and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee ; and shall say. Destroy ihem, 28, Israel then shall dwell in safety alone : tlie fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine ; also his heavens shall drop down dew. 29, Happy art thou, O Israel : whoi« like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, tho shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency!' — David spaJce, 2 Sa. xxiii. 2 — 5, ' Tho Spirit of tho Lord spake by me, and Ids word was in my tongue. 3, Tho God of Israel said, the Eock of Israel spake to me. He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. 4, And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun risclli, even a morning without clouds ; as the tender gi-ass springinij out of the earth by clear shming after rain. 5, Although my house be not so with God ; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all thiitris, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to gi'ow.' — Words of the prophets confirmed by Christ, Lu. xxiv. 26, .7, § 94,p. 961, 'Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory ? 27, And begmning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerrung himself.' — ■ Compare 2 Pc. i. 21, ' For the pro- phecy came not in old time by the will of man : but holy meu of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.' 71. Saved prom our enemies. Prediction, Je. xxiii. C, 'In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely : and this is his name whereby ho shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.'— xxx. 8, ' Eor it shall come to pass m that day, saith tho Lord of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will bm-st thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him.' — Eze. xxxiv. 23, ' And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land : and they shall dwell safely in the wUdcrness, and sleep in the woods.' — The salvation tvas to be by him who first came as described. Zee. ix. 9, 'Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem : behold, thy ICing conicth imto thee : he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon au ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.' NOTES. A ransom was the price paid to deliver a captive t.akcn in war. iiod gave his Son a ransom, to shew his love, his justice, and liis willingness to save men ; — and liis Son in his death was a ransom. Jesus is often so called in the New Testament. — See ScR. III. p. 2S. 69. An horn of salvation. The metaphor may be derived from horned animals, whose strength is in tlieu- horns : hence 'horn' was a term commonly used to denote strength, and thus became an emblem of power and principality. On each of the four corners of tho altar there was an emuicncc, 1)1' small projection, called a horn. To this, persons might (lee for safety, when in danger, and were sal<3, 1 Ki. i. 50, 'And Adunijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caiiyht hold on the horns of the altar.' — ii. 28, 'And Joah fed unto the tabernacle of the Lord, and canylit hold on the horns of the altar.' So the Redeemer may be called the ' horn of salvation,' because those who (lee to him are safe. 70. Since the toorld began. AU true prophets, from the beginning o( the world, bare witness to tho coming Messiah. 'Tlie testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.' 72. To perform ilie mercy. To shew the mercy promised. Tho expression in the original is, 'to make mercy witli our fathers,' Which seems to point forward to tho great result of tho work of redemption, through Christ, when all true believers shall sit dowu with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of God. 69 rcr. Let us pray lliat the horn of salvation upon which the shedder of blood may lay hold, will be recognised by tho Jew, in Ilim, who by w ickcd hands was crucified and slain. /O ver. Let us never neglect to recognise the unity of (he pro- I'hclie word as testifying of Jesus. 3.] Mall. i. 1, § 4, p. 39. Mark i. 1, PRACTIC.VL REFLECTIONS. 1 ver. When Jesus hath saved hia people fi-om their sins and brought Judah to the cross, ho will also be their salvation from their enemies ; and he will remove the hand that hath alUicted them. 72 ft;'. The promised redemiilion to Israel reaches not only to the soul but to the body ; not only to the children but tho fathers. § 7, p. 78. John i. 1, § ib., p. 73. 20 SECT, iir.] ZACnARIAS PROPUESIES. Luke i. 78 — .0. lioly covenant; llie- [PART 1. 73 our. ruUiers, nnd to-rcmcml>er liis Imly covenant; llie-oiitli wliicli lie-swavc to oui\ I'litliur Abraham, 71 tliiit''lie-wi)iil(l-(,'nint rou coiivat unto-us, llial-we-bcing-dclivcicJ out-of the-linnd of our enemies might- 75 Borvo liim without-feiir, in holiness and righteousness bei'orc him, all llio days of' our lite. 70 And thou, SfldlTUIlE I 72. Ukutuutu. tHrg TiT. 5, § 1, ]>. 6, ' Z.vriiAHi.\s.' — T/ie LonC* promlsr to rrmembrr his coeenanl irilh Jacob, cj'c, Lo. ixvi. 42 — .5, 'Tlicii will I rcnieinber my covcnanl witli Jacob, and ako my covenant with Isaac, ami also uiy covenant witli Abra- bun will I remember; and I will remember tlie land. 43, Tlie land aUo sliall be left of them, and shall enjoy licr sabbaths, wliile ■bo lii'tli desolate without them : and they shall accept of the punbhnicnt of their iniquity : because, even because they despised my judgments, and bceau.«e their soul abhorred my statutes. 4A, And vet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not caj2iearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.' 79. hi darkness ami in the shadow of death. Terms expressive of a sad and miserable condition. To guide our feet, (.fc. The figure in these verses is taken from travellers, who, being overtaken by night, know not what to do, and who wait patiently for the moniing light, the risuig of the sun, that tlicy may know which way to go. — Is. xl^x. 9 — 12, (quoted, f'li. ii. 3, § 4, pp. 43, .4, SfRir. Illus. 'Fall,' &c.) This song of Zaeharias is exceedingly beautiful. It expresses with elegance the great points of the plan of redemption, the doings of John, and the mercy of God in providing that plan. That mercy was great. It is worthy of praise ; of our liighest, loftiest songs of thanksgivuig ; for we were in the shadow of death — sinful ^vretchcd, wauderuig— and the hglit arose, the go.-fpel came, and men may rejoice in hope of eternal life. PRACTICAL REFLECTION. ; 76 ver. If the ways were to be prepared for the Lord as coming I m Inniiiliatioii, how much more should we desire their preparation for his appearing in glory ?— That which John preaclicd, the gracious manifestation of practical charity, is one of the best pre- parations for the coming of Him who gloried in this charaeteristio of his ministry. ' To the poor the gospel is preached.' 3.] Matt. i. 1, § 4, p. 39. Mark i. 1, § 7, p. 78. John i. 1, § ih., p. 73. 31 SEcr. III.] THE RESIDUE OF UJIE PRIVATE IITSTORY Ol? JODN BAPTIST. [PART I. (G. «.) The reniiluc of the private hklory nf John the Ba],tht.—Lu];e i. 80. In the WiMenicss of Jmlaa, East of Jordan. 80 And llio cliild grew, niul wnxetl-slrong iii-spirit, and was iu the deserts till llic-diiy of-liis--sliewii:g avaciiUwq uii to, Israel. [Cli. ii. 1, § 4, p. 33-] SCRIPTURE wing* ; «n(l yo slittll go fortli, niul grow up as cakes of tlic stall.' — Confirmation, Jiio. viii. 12, § 55, 'I am the light of (lio world: lio tlmt followclli nic slmll not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.'— Rev. uii. 10, ' I Jcsils Imvo sent mine angel to testif)- unto you tlirjc things in the churches. I am the root and the ofli-pring of David, anil the bright and morning star.' 79. To Gn-E LioiiT. rrcilicllon: the light, Is. ix. 2, 'The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in llio land of tho shadow of death, uiiou them hath the light ►hine.!.'— Cowi/inre Jft. iv. Ki, § ICt.—T/ie darkness to become Uglit, Is. xlii. Ifi, 'And I will bruig the blind by a way that they knew not ; I will lead tlicni in paths that they have not known : I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These tilings will 1 do unto them, and not forsake them.' — Ix. 1—3, 'Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and llio glory of tho Loed is risen upon thee. 2, For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LouD shall arise upon Iheo, and liis glory shall bo seen upon thee. 3, And flic Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to tho brightness of thy vising.' — Confirmation, see the tcords of Simeon, Lu. ii. 2G— 32, § 4, pp. -11, .2, and of the Sa2>list, Jno. i. 9, § 7, p. 75.— Pra. — See described the case of those unto icliom the icord and Spirit of God icere cspcciaUg sent, Eze. xxxvii. 1 — II. Compare Amos v. 8. OriDE. Is. xlviii. 17, .8, 'Thus saith tho Loud, lliy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; 1 rt»i tho Lord thy God wliieli teachctli Ihcc to profit, which leadcth thee by the w.iy that thou shouldcst go. IS, O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandmciLts ! then had thy peace been as n river, and thy righteousness as the waves of tho sea.'— xlix. 10, 'They shall not lunigor nor thirst; neither shall tho beat nor smi smito them : for ho that halh ILLUSTRATIONS. mercy on fhcm shall lead them, evon by Die springs of water shall he guide them.' — Thcg shall ask this guidance with true repentance, and their faces Ziontcard, Je. 1. 4, 5, ' In those day."!, and in that time, saith the Loud, tho ehiltU-en of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping : they shall go, and seek the Loud thcii- God. 5, They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saging. Come, and let us join ourselves to tho Loed in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.' — And asking, ikey shall obtain, xxxi. 9, ' They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them : I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wliercin they shall not stumble : for I am a father to Israel, and Fphraim is my firstborn.' — Taking heed according to the word, Ps. exix. 1, 9, ' Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Loed.' 9, 'Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.' — Confirmation, ' Tlie good shepherd,' Jno. x. 4 — 10, § 55 ; 1 Pe. ii. 21, ' For even hereunto were ye called : because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us au example, that ye slioidd follow his steps.' — Rev. vii. 17, ' For the Lamb wliicli is in the midst of tho throne shall feed them, and shall lead tliem unto living fountains of waters : and God shall wipe away all tears fi-om their eyes.' — xiv. 1 — 5, (qiiulid, Jno. ii. 11, § 11, p. 115. 'ills DioCiriES,' i-e.) SO. Geew. So Samson, Ju. xiii. 24, .5. — Samuel, 1 Sa. iii. 19 — 21. — Jesus, Lu. ii. 40 — 52, § 6. DESEET3. The call to repentance, and comforting promised to be given in the tcilderness, IIos. ii. 14, 'Tlicrcfore, behold, I will allure her, and brhig her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably mito her.' — Eze. xx. 35 — .7, 'And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. 36, Like as I pleaded with your f;itlicrs in the wilderness of tho laud of Egyiit, so will I plead with you, saitli tho Lord God. 37, And I will cause you to pass under tho rod, and I will bring you into the bond of tho covenant.' — Is. xl. 1, 3, ' Comfort yc, comfort ye my people, saith your God.' 3, ' Tho voice of liuii that crieth in the wilderness. Prepare ye the way of the Loud, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.' — Confirmation, Mt, iii. 1, &c., § 7, p. 70 ; xi. 7, § 29, p. 279. SnEwiNa TJNTO Israel. Jno. i. 31, § 10, p. lOG. 'I knew him not: but that ho shoidd bo made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come.' — JoJin belonged to the jjricsthood, and every priest, ivhen he came to be thirty years of age and entered upon his oj/ice, teas shewn to all Israel, as directed, Le. viii. 33 — .5, ' And ye shall not go out of the door of tho tabernaele of the congregation in seven days, until tho days of yom' consecration be at an end: for seven days shall he consecrate you. 34, As he hath done this day, so tho Loud hath commanded to do, to make an atonement for you. 35, Therefore shall ye abide at the door of the tabernacle of the congre- gation day and night seven days, and keep the charge of the LoBD, tlial ye dio not : for so I am commanded.' NOTES. 80. Strong iu spirit, lias been supposed to mean, 'remarkable for strength of intellect and boldness of resolution, and his altain- nieiits in religious knowledge:' but we are to recollect that John WII.1 to 1)0 filled with the Hoiy Ghost even from his uiolher's womb ; ami it is not unlikely that tho truth of this prediction became more and mora manifest. /ii the deserts. Some have supposed the period of his rctii-ement was proliaMy when ho would have strength of body and mind to bear that solitude, which for hiiu was so ncccssaiy. Others have Matt. i. 1, § 4, p. 39. Mark i. 1, § 7, p. 78. L«ke u. 1, § 4, p. 33, John i. 1, § 7, p. 73. said, that to avoid tho fury of Ilerod, he was from his infancy brought up iu tho wiUlerncss.— &e Mt. iii. 1, § 7, p. 79, '/» thi wilderness.' His shewing, ij'c. iiraSfiUi^e- The word avai'iitis is used for the entering upon nn oITicc to which any one has been previously appointed. Until his nianifcstation unto Israel, Lc. viii. 33 — .5 Until he entered on his public ministry, as recorded in Matt. iii. § 7. Tliat is, probably, until ho was about thirty years of age.— Sm Luke iii. 23, § 8, nf Jesus' age at baptism, Sceip. Ilius. [3. PART I.] JOSEPH AND MARY GO TO BE TAXED. [SECT. IV. SECTION 4.— Messiah is born at Bethlehem ; * his Birth is announced by an Angel to the SHEPHERDS ; the shepherds go to Bethlehem ; he is circumcised and called Jesus ; the Genealogies of Christ; he is presented in the Temple; Simeon and Anna be\r witness to jjiM._Matt. i. 1—17, 25. Luke ii. 1—38; iii. 23—38. [G. 9—11.] introduction Luke ii. 1, 2. A decree is issued by the Roman Emperor requiring an em-olraent of the wliole community. 3 — 5. In compliance with the decree, all go to be enrolled, each into his own city. Joseph, being a descendant of David, goes to Bethlehem, accompanied by Mary, his espoused wife, she being near the time ot licr delivery. 6, 7. 'miUe at Bethlehem JIary is delivered of her fh'stborn son, who, being ^vl•apped in swaddling clothes, is laid in a cattle-shed, there being no room in the caravansai-y for the parents of our Loi'd. 8, 9. In the neighbourhood of Bethlehem shepherds are in the field watching over their floct by night. The angel of the Lord comes upon them, and the glory of the Lord surrounds them. They are greatly afraid. 10, .1. The angel exhorts the shepherds not to be afraid, for he brings them good tidings of great joy, which ai-o not for their nation only, but for all people. He informs them of the time and place of the nativity of their Messiah, who is the Lord of all. 12. The siga given them by the angel is one characteristic of Christ's humiliation ; they are to find him a helpless babe, lying in a manger. 13, A. Suddenly a midtitude of the heavenly host are with the angel praising God ; and, as if anticipating the ultimate triumph of redemption, they sing, ' Olon/ to God in the JilgJiest.' In re- ference to that faith whereby we have peace with God, the angels sing, 'Oil earth 2>eace ;' and, as expressive of that charity which the knowledge of Divine forgiveness and love should produce, the heavenly host conclude with ' Good u'ill toward (among) men.' 15. Upon the departure of the angels the shepherds resolve to go to Bethlehem, and see that which the Lord hath made known to them. IG — .8. The shepherds, on coming to Bethlehem, find the infant Saviour, as had been told them by the angel ; and make known abroad the heavenly message respecting him. All wonder at the report ol the shepherds. 19. Mary treasures up all these things in her heart, and deeply meditates upon them. AND analysis. 20. The shepherds in returning glorify and praise God. Mt. i. 25 ; Lu. ii. 21. The child when eight days old, the time for his circumcision, is named JESUS, as the angel had at the annun- ciation directed Mary, Lu. i. 31, § 2, p. 16. Lu. ii. 23 — .4. Forty days after the birth of Jesus he is brought to the temple and presented to the Lord ; according to the law of Moses, his parents pi-eseut upon the occasion the offering required of the poor, Le. xii. 8. 25, .6. Simeon, a righteous and pioxis man, one waiting for the consolation of Israel, and endowed with the Holy Ghost, has been assured by the Holy Spirit that he shall not taste ot death until he has seen the Lord's Anomted. 27. Led by the Spu-it, Simeon comes into the temple at the instant the infant Jesus is being there presented. 28 — 32. Taking this, the pledge of the Divine love, into his arms, the aged Simeon blesses God, and prays that now he may be allowed to depart in peace, his eyes havmg seen the Lord's salvation. He has been given the sight of Him who is our peace, — the Lord's pre- paration for the enlightenment of all with the light of life. 33. Joseph and Mary marvel at the utterance of Simeon. 34. He blesses them, and proceeds to address Mary, who, in dan- ger of being too elated, may have required such words of warning. He tells her that this child is to prove a stumblingblock, as well as that he is set for the raising up of many in Israel. That this token of the Divine love and faithfulness wUl be blasphemed, that she her- self wiU not escape. This revelation of mercy and truth ii-om heaven will give occasion to the disclosure of the thoughts of many hearts. 36. Anna, a prophetess of the tribe of Ascr, an aged widow, a con- stant attendant on the service of God in the temple, ^vith fastings and prayers night and day. She also, at this time, enters the temple, and, like Simeon, gives thanks unto the Lord. She also speaks of hun to all in Jerusalem who are looking for the redemption typified by the rite which the parents of om- Lord had come to perform, and of which he was to bring forth the reality, being himself the promised Eedcemer of Israel. (G. 9.) The Messiah born. — Luke ii. 1 — 7. At Bethlehem. 1 And it-came-to-pass in those^days, that tliere-went-oiit a-decree from Coesar Augustus, tliat-'all the 2 world ok-ou/.(EV))i''-s]iould-be-taxed. {And this^taxing was-' firsf-made wlien-'Cyi-enius'-was-governor 3of'S)Tia.) And all wont to-be-taxed, every-one into liis-own^city. 4 And Joseph also went-up from NOTES. 1. In those days. About the time of the birth of John and of Christ. A. decree. A law, commanding a tiling to be done. Caiar Augustus. This was Caius Csesar Oetavianns Augustus {Augustus — i. e., august, or honourable — as a compliment to liis own greatness ; and from him the month August, which was before called Sei(r7i>, received its name); he was proclaimed Emperor of Rome, DC. 29 j died, a.d. 14. He had received the name of Ca;sar from Julius Cassar by adoption ; and by that name were called, first, all those of the family of Augustus, afterwards the hcii's of the empii-e, and finally the emperors themselves. All the world. ' Tlie whole commonwealth. Judaa the earth of all the earth.' — Bloomjield. The Jews called Should he taxed. Our word tax means to levy and raise monev for the use of the government. This is not the meauiug of the original word here. It means rather to enrol, or take a list of the citizens, with their employments, equivalent to what was meant by census. An enrolment jjer capita would necessarily reqiure the Jews to repair to the places where their genealogical records were kept ; a valuation of property could have been made only where they were residing and had possessions. 'To decide upon its nature, or its object, regarded as a state PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. (Lu. ii.) The movements of the mightiest empires are oveiTulcd 80 as that the words of God sh.all be fulfilled in theii- season. On account of the decree of the Roman Emperor, Joseph and Mary ivere brought to Bethlehem, where Jesus should be bom. 1 ver. Tliat which seems to bo a gi-ievous oppression, as in the circumstances, Mai-y being compelled to make such a serious journey, God is able to overrule for the more efl'eclual secm-ing of our right, and prociuing our deliverance. 4] * See Geoobaphicat, Notice, p. 46. MaU. i. 1, p. 39. Mark i. 1, § 7, p. 78. John i. 1, § ib., p. 73. 83 SKCT. iv.J JESUS* BIKTII ANNOUNCED TO THE SIIEPHERDS. [I'ART I. Luke ii. u — 7. Galilee, out-of thc-city of-Nnzaretli, into.Jmliun, imto tlie-city of-David, wliicli is-enlled Bctlilehem ; 5 (beciuiso l.e.wus of llie-liouse luid liiic.ge of-David:) to-bo-taxed witli J*laiy Ins^espoused wife, being ifrcnt-willi-cbikl. ,• , i , i ^ n i i v i And BO-it-was, //<«/, while tliev.were there, the days wcrc-accomi)lislied tliat-sho^slionld-bo-ilelivcrcd. 7 And KlR-brou^dit-fonh lKr,«rst-born,son, and \vrai)ped--liim--in-swaddliiig-clothes, and laid lum in a' manger; beeausu iheru-wus no room for-lhom in the inn. Jr. Ills birth is (innoiiiiced hi/ uii uixjel to the she2>henh.—Luke ii. 8—15. hi the , fields of Bethlehem. 8 And there-wero in the siimo^counUy shepherds abiding-iu-the-ficld, keeping watch over tlieii^flock^by' SCRirTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. 4. nETllI.BnKM. Kaehel died in the Kay to Eph-alh, 'fruit bearing,' nliii'Ii is licllilelicni, ' liouso of bread'— Mere he n-ho is the bread of life, Jiio. vi. 18—51, § 13, tra* lrou;//il forth.— It appears to *«r« *<■<■» the birthplace of Darid, 1 Sa. xvi. 1, 13. — David's appearance in the camp if Israel was as conveying bread to his brethren there, ivii. 17, 'Ami Jesse eaicl unto David liis son, Take now for tliv brctlnvn an epliah of lliis parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the eanip to Ihy brethren.' — See as to Boaz, Ruth ii. 4, 'And, behoUl, Boaz ennie from Betli-leliem, and said unto the rcapera, Tlie LoBD he with you. And they answered liini, Tlio LonD bh-ss thee.' — Wlien Boaz acted the part of a Unsinnn redeemer, iv. 11, "... all the people that were in the gate, and the eUlers, said. We are witnesses. The Lord make tlie NOTES. measure of tlio reigning emperor, may be extremely difllcidt ; but its u«e, in n providential point of view, is too obvious to be raistnlicn. The safest eourse is to luulerstand the w ords of St. Luke, as a paren- thetic admonition not to confound this uTroypa^v at the bii-th of Christ, with the mueli later, and much more memorable, nTroypajSi) in the time of Cyrcnius. Such an admonition wa.aiv'[7, 1 S;i. xvi. 11, ' And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all ihi/ children? And he said, There rcmaiueth yet (he youngest, and, behold, he kcepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him : for we will not sit down till he eome hilhcr.' — The Good Sheplierd, Jno. x. 1—18, § 55, p. 510. 9. Glokt of the Loed. Its appearing to the children of Israel, Ex. xvi. 7, 10, 'And in the morning, then ye shall sec the glory of the LOBD J for that he hearcth your mnrmurings against the LoED : and v.hat are we, that ye mm-niiu- against us ? ' 10, ' And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the cliildren of Israel, tliat tlicy looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the eloud.' — Its fdlinrj thetemple, 1 Ki. viii. 11, ' So that the priests could not stand to minister be- cause of the cloud: for the glory of the LoED had filled the house of the Loed.' — Frediction, Hag. ii. 7, 'And I will shake aU nations, and the desire of all nations shall come : and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Loed of hosts.' — Confirmation, Jno. ii. 13-.7, § 12 ; Mt. xxi. 12, .3, § 83, p. 701. ; xxv. 31, § 8C, p. 793. — The Irii/htness that appeared to Saul in the wai/, Ac. ix. 3, ' And as he journeyed, ho came near Damascus : and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven.' — xxvi. 12 — .8, — Qlori/ oj Ood, 2 Cor. iv. 6, ' For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to ijire the light of the knowledge of the glory of Godin the face of Jesus Christ.' 10. You. Jews — the gospel was first to he preached nnto Jews, and of them were made the first heralds of salvation, Zee. x. 3, 'Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats : for the Loed of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the b.attle.' — Ac. ii. ; xi. 19, 'Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.' — xiii. 46, .7, 'Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you : but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. 47, For so hath the Lord comni.iudcd us, saijing, I have set thee to bo a light of the G.-ntdcs, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of tlic cai'th.' TlDINOS OP GEEAT JOY. Good tidings predicted. Is. xl. 9, 'O Zion, that bringcst good tidings, get thee up into the high moun- tain; Jerusalem, that bringcst good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength ; lift it up, be not afraid ; say imto the cities of Judah, Behold your God !'— xli. 27, 'The first shall sag to Zion, Beholdi behold them : and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings.' — Iii. 7, ' How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; tliat bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy Go d reigneth ! ' — The mission of Christ, Ixi. 1, ' The Spirit of the Lord GoD is upon me ; because the Loed hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek ; he hath sent mo to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to tliem that are bo\ind.' — Confirmation, at Nazareth, Lu. iv. 17—21, § 15. Eev. xiv. 6, 'And I saw another angel ily in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach imto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.' — xxi. 3, ' And I heard a gi-eat voice out of heaven saying. Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, arid he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and he their God.' All PEoriE. Ge. xii. 3, 'And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.' — Ps. Ixvii. 3, 'Let tlie people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.' — xcviu. ; Is. slix. — Speciallg all the house of Israel, tj'c., Eze. xxxvii. 11 — ,4. — in the countries where iheg shall come, xi. 15, .G, 'Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly, nre they unto whom the mhabitants of Jerusalem have said. Get you far from the Loed : unto us is this land given in possession. IG, Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord God ; Although I have east them l;ir off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among tlie countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they sliall come.' — The glad tidings sent after litem toward the north, Je. iii. 11, .2, ( quoted, Mt. ii. 6, § 5, p. 53, ' My people Iseael.') — Confirmation, Mt. xxviii. 18—20, § 9G, 'Go teach all nations.' — Mk. xvi. 15, § 98, 'Preach the gospel to every crea- ture.' — Jno. iii. 16, § 12; Col. i. 20, 'And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I sag, whether theg Ic tilings in earth, or things in heaven.' — Chief of sinners, 1 Ti. i. 15, .G, 'This is a faithful saying, and worthy of aO acccjitation, th.at Ciirist Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 16, Ilowbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth nil lougsutfering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to hfe everlasting.' — ii. 6, 'Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.' — 1 Jno. ii. 2, ' And he is the propitiation for our sins : and not for our's only, but also for the sins of tlie whole world.' — See 'Tidings,' &c., supra. 11. Cueist tub Lobd. The Shiloh, Ge. xlix. 8—10, 'Judah, tliou NOTES. 9. Angel of the Lord. Probably Gabriel, who stands in the pre- sence of God.— See eh. i. Tcr. 11), § 1, p. 10 ; and vcr. 20, § 2, p. 15. The glorg o/" the Lord. The extreme splendour in which the Beity is rc))rescnted as appearing unto men ; and sometimes called the Sliechinah, an appearance frequently attended, as in this case, by a company of angels. — See ScEiP. Illus., supra. Th.c anointed Ouo of God, chosen to be 11. Christ the Lord. King ui Zion. 12. And this shall be a sign, c^-c. The birth of Jesus, in the cir- cumstances prcchctcd, was an assured sign that God will fidfil all his promises as to the great salvation. It was the sign long before pointed out, as in Is. tU. 14, ' Therefore the Lord himself shall,' <^c. PR.\CTIC.\L REFLECTIONS. 8, 9 ver. It is good to be found diligent in business, and fiiithful ground have they for obeying the command, who repose their con- to our charge, as wore the shepherds, when called lo a higher service fidence in the uicarnato Son of God. and a rich participation in the joys of heaven. j ^ ^^,.^ Although the gospel was first preached to and by Jews, 10 ver. How gracious is the command 'Fear not!' and true yet was it specially designed for 'All people.' It is not selfish, 4.] Malt. i. 1, p. 39. Mark i. 1, § 7, p. 78. John i. 1, § ib., p. 73. tjfj SECT. IV.] A MULTITUDE OF THE UEAVENLY HOST. Luke ii. 13, .4. IS ihf-bnbo \vrnppc(l-in-swftd(lling-clothcs, lying in a' manger [PART I. 14 luultiliide oi'-ihc-lieavcnly host praising^God, and saying, Aiul suddenly theru-was with the nngel a- Glory to-God in the-liigliest, and on earth art he,' ke., as qnoteJ, Lii. i. 70, § 3, p quoted, Lii. i. 61, § 2, p. 20, 'Sc.vTTEliKP.'— Ixxxix. 15—37; cx.l, 2, 4, 'Tlio Lono fiii.l unto my Lortl, Sit tliou Bt my right linml, n-tI.cv-l..i(l-soon-»7, Ihcy-madc-known-nbrond the saying which 'was-tolrl them concenimg this.clald. 1 ft An.l all ti..v ■ Mua-h.-urd-// ^unulcml at those-things ' which-wcre-tohl them by the shcph"-ds 10 JJiit Murv lu-pl all tiiose things. <^w,/-pondcred-///c'/« au/i/3cT)A, ' Gexealogies,' p. 48. 4.] • See Addenda, ' Book,' p. 47. Matt. ii. 1, § 5, p. 50. Mark i. 1, § 7, p. 78. Luke ii. 22, p. 40. John i. 1, § 7, p. 73. 89 SKC'l. IV. Matt. i. 17. 17 So all tlip Kcncrntions from Abralmm to David arc fourteen pencrntions ; nml from Diwiil until the corrying-nwiiy-into Babylon arc fourtc.ii genorntions ; imJ from the ciir- rying-iiway-into Uubylon unto. Christ are fourteen generations. [For ^ratt. i. IS, sve § 2, p. 22.] JKSUS IS I'KKSKNTED IN THE TEMPLE. [PARI: I. liUKE iii. 3G — .8. the son of'Hcbcr, which was the son of Sala, which 3G was the son of'Cainnn, which was the son of'Arphaxad, which was the son of'Sem, which was the son of Noe, which was the son of'Lamech, which was the son of 37 iSIathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, ichich was the son of Malcleel, tvhich was the son of Cainan, tchich was the son of Enos, 38 which was the son of Sctb, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God. [Ch. iv. 1, § 9, p. yo-] Simeon and Anna bear witness. — Li//cc ii. 22 — 88. (('• 1 1.) Jcsiis is presented in the tenijde ; [For ver. 21, sec p. 3s.] At Jcrasaicn. r ,, . .x. 22 And ^vhcn the days of her avrr^u purification accordmg-to tlic law of-Moses ^Yere-accomphshed, they- 23 brought him to Jerusalem, to-present ^aoa.ru.cu him to- the Lord; (as it-is-wntten m the-law of-the- SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. they be : I am the LoED.'— /See viii. $—22.—liedemj)lion of the remnant, iii. 40—51, ' And tlie Lord said unto Moses, Number all the firstborn of the males of the childi'eu of Israel from a month old 22. PuBlFiCATlos. rrescribcd, Lev. xii. PBKBEJtT him TO THE LoilD. The (lodrinc of sulslilulion teas very extmsiceig taught under the Old Testament : especially in what was commanded Israel respecting the firstborn. The firsthorn males trere to be redeemed, liii. 11— .6, 'And it shall be when the Lohd shall bring tlicc into the land of the Canaanitcs, as he swai-e unto theo and to thy fatlicrs, and shall give it thee, 12, that thou ahalt set apart unto the LoED all that ojiencth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the Lom's. 13, And every firstling of an ass thou shall redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then tliou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among tliy children slialt thou redeem. 14, And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to eome, saying. What is tliis ? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the Lokd brought us out fi-om Egypt, from the house of bondage : 15, and it came to pass, when Pliaraoh would hardly let us go, that the Lord slew all the firstborn in the land of Egyjit, both the first- born of man, and the firstborn of beast : tlierefore I sacrifice to the Lokd all that opcneth the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem. 16, And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes : for by strength ol hand the LoHD brought us forth out of Egypt.' — The Leriles accepted in the place of the firstborn of Israel, Nu. iii. 12, .3, 'And I, behold, I have taken the Levitcs fi-om among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine ; 13, because all the firstborn arc mine; for on the diiy that 1 smote all the firstborn in the laiul of Egypt I hallowed imto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast : mine shall and upward, and take the nmnber of their names. 41, And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am the Loed) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel. 42, And Moses numbered, as the Lord commanded him, all the firsthorn among the ehildi'cn of Israel. 43, And all the firstborn males by tlie number of names, from a month old and upward, of those that were numbered of them, were twenty and two thousand two hundred and thi-eescore and thii-teen. 44, And the Lord spake imto Moses, saying, 45, Take the Levites instead of all the first- born among the chilch-en of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the Lord. 46, An d for those that are to be redeemed of the twohun- ch-ed and tUi-eescore and tlui-tceu of the firstborn of the cliildren of Israel, which are more than the Levites; 47, thou shalt even take five shekels apiece by the poll, after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them : (the shekel is twenty gcrahs :) 48, and thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to bo redeemed, mito Aaron and to his sons. 49, And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that w-ere redeemed by the Levites: 50, of the firstborn of the children of Israel took he the money ; a thousand thi'ee hunth'ed and tliree- score and five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary : 51, and Moses gave the money of them that were redeemed imto Aaron and to liis sons, according to the word of the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses.' — Aaron chosen to rejtresent the firstborn, ij-c, Ex. xxviii. 1, 9 — 12, 29, ' And take thou unto thee Aaron thy bro- ther, and his sons with him, fi-om among the children of Israel, that NOTES. 22. liaijs. Among the Hebrews, a mother was required to remain at homo for about forty days after the bu-th of a male child, and eighty for n female i diu-ing that time, she was not permitted to go to the temple, or to engage iu religious services with the con- gregation, Lo. xii. 2 — 5. To Jerusalem. The place where the temple was, and the ordinances of religion were celebrated ; and also the seat of the civil govenimcnt among the Jews. It had been established as such by David. Its name means sight or vision of peace, which it partly was during the n'ign of Solomon, but lie was only a type of the greater Son of David, tlio true Prince of Peace, of whose govern- ment and i>eace ... no end. — See 0£0GB.\pnic.\L Notice, p. 58. 7'o present him lo the Lord. Every first-born male child, in I'rael, was rcgai-dcd as holy to the Lord, Ex. xiii. 2, ' Sanctify unto me nil the firstborn, ichattoerer openeth the uomb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast ; it is mine.' The firsthorn were presented to the priest, as God's representative, at the eastern gate. ' If the day of om- Saviom-'s bfrth coincided with the first day of the week, the fortieth day, reckoned from the diiy of his bfrth, according to the usage of the Jews, inclusive, comcided with the fifth, or fell on the Thursday. The forty-first, therefore, which ivas the day after the pm-ification of the Tirgiu Mary woiUd be complete (Le. xii. 2 — 6), and of the presentation of our Lord in the temple, when he was manifested to Suucon and lo Anna, coincided with the sixth, or fell on the Friday ; that is, our Lord's presentation iu the temple after his bfrlh at first, coincided with the same day of the week on which he suifered at last.' — G-reswell, \o\. I. Diss. xii. p. 410. 23. As it is written. In Ex. xiii. 2 ; Nu. iii. 13. 'When God smote the firstborn of Egypt, he saved the firsthorn of Israel; hence this chum of redemption. — See Nu. iii. 12, .3, 46, .7, supra, SCRIT. iLirs., and xviii. 15, .6. 22 r.r. May all those who seek to present others to the Lord, B«k lo be first themselves pmr. Let us 6c«k that both om-selves and all that may he placed mider rRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. om- care, be not only called holy to the Lord, but be actually made so, through a imion with Jesus, iu whom alone we can be accepted before God. ■IU Halt. ii. 1, § 6, p. 50. Mark i. 1, § 7, p. 78. John i. 1, § ii., p. 73. [4. PABT I.] SIMEON A JUST MAK. [SECT. IV. Luke ii. 21 — .7. 24 Lord, Every male that-openeth tlie-womb shall-be- called holy to-the Lord;) and^to-offer a-sacrifice according-to that' wliich-is-said iu the-law of-the-Lord, A-pair of-turtle-doves, or two young pigeous. 25 And, behold, there-was a-mau in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon ; and the same man tca.i just and 2G devout £uAo/3»)c, w'aiting-for the-consolation of Israel: and the-Holy Ghost was upon him. Audit-was revealed KixP'Ofjanafiivov unto-him by the Holy^Ghost, that-he-should-'nof-see death, before he-had-seen 27 the-Lord's^Christ. And he-came by iv the Spirit into the temple: and when koX iv rw the parents SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. he may miuistei' unto inc in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abiliu, Eleazar and Itliamar, Aaron's sons.' 9, ' And tliou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel : 10, six of their names on one stone, and ilie other six names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth. 11, With the work of an engraver in stone, li/ce the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engi-ave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel : thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold. 12, And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the Lohd upon his two slioulders for a memorial.' 29, 'And Aaron shall bear tlie names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy ^^Zcrce, for a memorial before the Lokd continually.' — Conjlriiiafion, Jesus is *tho firstborn among many brethren,' Rom. viii. 29. — Hedeemed with the precious hlood of Christ, 1 Pe. i. 18 — 21, 'Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot : 20, who verily was foreordained before the fomidation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21, who by him do believe in God, that raised liim up fi'om the dead, aiid gave him glory ; that yoiu' faith and hope might be in God. — Christ, the Jirslboni of every creature, HOW appears in the presence of God for ns, Heb. is. 21, ' For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.' — Col. i. 14 — .9, ( quoted, Lu. i. 35, § 2, p. 18, 'Son op God.')— And see the Epistle to the Hebrews throughout. 24. A PAni OF TURTLE DOVES. Offering of the poor, Le. xii. 8, 'And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two yomig pigeons ; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering : and tlie priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.' — The dove is the emhlem of simplicity, love, and peace, Ca. i. 15 ; ii. II ; v. 2 ; vi. 9. — See Christ's baptism, Lu. in. 22, § 8, p. 92 ; Mt. x. 16, § 39, p. 358.—' Be harmless as doves.' The wisdom from above, Ja. iii. 17, .8, ( quoted, Mt. T. 9, § 19, p.l73,'PEACElIAKEES.') 25. Jeeusaleit, ' the seeing of peace.' There the Lord prodded a lamb for a burnt offering, Ji'c., 6e. xxii. 8, 13, .4, ' And Abraham said, My son, God will provide liimself a lamb for a burnt offering ; so they went both of them together.' 13, ' And Abraham hfted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns : and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. 14, And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah- ju-eh : as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.' — At the presentation of the infant Jesus in the temple at Jerusalem, Simeon, as had been revealed to him, teas given to see Sim, who is our peace, presented as a lamb without blemish, ver. 29—32, p. 4:2.— The Lord ivill hear the erg of a people, waiting to see the Lord himself, provide peace for his people. Is. XXX. 18, .9, 'And therefore wiU the Lord wait, that he may be gracious uuto you, and therefore wUl he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are aU they that wait for liiui. 19, For the people shall dwell iu Zion at Jerusalem : thou shalt weep no more : he wUl be very gracious uuto thee at the voice of thy ciy; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.' — The people that truly and obediently hear the word of the Lord will be given to see the promised peace, Ii. 1, 4 — 7. — xxxiii. 13 — 22, 'Hear, ye that are far off, nhat I have done ; and, ye that are near, acknowledge my might. 14, The sumers in Zion are afraid ; fearfiUness hath sm-prised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire ? who among us shall dwell with everlasting bm-nings ? 15, He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil ; 16, he shall dwell on high : his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks : bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. 17, Thine eyes shall see the kmg in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off. 18, Tliine heart shall meditate teiTOr. AVhere is the scribe? where is the receiver? where is he that counted the towers ? 19, Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive ; of a stammering tongue, that thou canst not understand. 20, Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities : thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof sliaU ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken. 21, But there the glorious Lord xcill he unto us a place of broad rivers and streams ; wlierein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby. 22, For the Lord is our judge, the Loud is owe lawgiver, the Lord is our kiug ; he will save us.' — See also eh. Ih. 26. The Lord's Christ, 'Messiah,' or 'Anointed.' Aaron chosen 24. And to offer a sacrifice, S;c. Those who were able, on such an occasion were required to offer a lamb for a burnt-offering, and a pigeon or a turtle-dove for a sin-offeruig. If not able to brrug a lamb, then they were permitted to bring two tm'tle-doves or two young pigeons.— ,SVe Le. xii. 8 ; xiv. 21, .2. 2o. Just. Righteous before God and man ; approved by God as a nghteous man, and discharging faithfully his duty to man ; piously and devoutly performing Ids duty to God. — See Ac. x. Wailing for the consolation of Israel. That is, waiting for the Messiah, who is called ' Tlie consolation of Israel ' because he would give comfort to them by liis appearing. It was common to swear, NOTES. also, by ' the consolation of Israel ' — tliat is, by the Messiali about to come. 26. It was revealed. ' lie was ch\ inely informed,' it was expressly counuuuieated to him from God, by the Holy Ghost. A'oi see death. Should not die. To see or to taste of death was a common way among tlie Hebrews of expressing death. — Compare Vs. Ixxxix. 48, ' What man is he that livelh, and shall not see death I shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave I Selah.' The Lord's Christ. ' The Lord's Anointed.' — See ' Christ the Lord,' vcr. 11, p. 35. 27. Temple. Place of prayer for all people, where sacrifices were 2o ver. Let our ears be open to the word o. God, so as, with Siineou, to know both what ho had promised, and what lie would have us to do ; and, in the spirit of humble and loving obedience, look and long for the accompUshment of his promise. rR.\CTICAL REFLECTIONS. 26, .7 ver. Let us earnestly desire that (he anointmg from our great exalted Head, may descend upon all the members of the body of Christ, so that both our miiuls nniy be cnhglitcued, aud oiu- feet may be led, Uke those of Simeon, by the Holy Ghost. 4.] Matt. ii. 1, § 5, p. 50. Mark i. 1, § 7, p. 78. John i. 1, § i4., p. 73. 41 SECT. IV.] SIMEON DESIRES TO DEPART. Luke ii. 28—32. [PART 1. 28 brouRl.l-in llio child Jesus„Io-clo f..r hi.u alter ll.e custom of-llio la-.v. tl.cu t<.(,k-lic Li-.V-up m li anjirms. nn.l blcssecl^Uod, mul sai.l, Lonl, now lcttcst-tl.ou--t!.y,serviii, tliat t/iey may niinister unto ino in the priest's ofliiv. 31, Anil tlion sliiilt s|H'ak unto tlio cliildrcn of Israel, sajing, TUij shall l(o an liolv anointin); oil unto nio tlirougliout vour genera- tion*. 32, I'lHjn nian'» Uesh shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make any other like it, after the eoniposition of it : it is holy, and it •hall be holy unto you. 33, Whosoever conipoundeth ani/ like it, or whosoever putteth any of it upon a stranger, shall even be cut off from hia people. 3i, .Vnd the LoiiD said unto Hoses, Take unto thee awcet spices, staete, and onycha, and galbanmn ; these sweet spiees with pure fnnikinecnse : of each shall there be a Uke weiijhl : 35, and thou shalt make it n perfume, a confeclioii after the art of llio apothecary, tenipered together, pure and holy : 36, and thou Blinlt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernaelc of the congregation, where I ■nill meet with tliee : it shall be unto you most holy. 37, And as for the perfume which tlion slinlt make, yc shall not make to yoiu'sclves according lo the coniposilion (hereof: it shall be unto thee holy for the Loiii). 38, ■NVliosocvcr shall make Ukc unto that, to smell thereto, shall even bo cut oil" from his people.' — Lc. viii. 12, 30, 'And lie poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to Bnnctify him.' 30, 'And Moscstookof the anointing oil, and of the blood,' jce. — Jarfver. 22, his consecration, tjc. — Referred lo, PsALJi CX.XMII., ' Behold, how good and how pleasant i< w for brethren to dwell together in unity ! 2, II is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard : that went domi to the skirts of his garments ; 3, as the dew of llcrmon, and as the dew that descended upon the moimlains of Zion : for there the Loi:d commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.' — Darid, i.e., 'beloved,' anointed to he kinij of Israel, 1 Sa. xvi. 13. •~A type of the true belored, Ps. Ixsxix. 20, ' I have found David my servant ; with my holy oil have I anointed him.' — Whose anointing is foretold. Da. is. 2 1, ' Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgi-ession, his ■y the- airoKuXvxPiv tlic-Genliles, and the-glory oi- tliy -people Israel* and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and jn'ophccy, and to anoint the most Holy.' — Messiah the Prince, Tcr. 25, 'Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem milo the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks : the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.' — to be cut ojJ\ but not for himself , ver. 2G, 'And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary ; and the end thereof shall be with a Uood, and unto the end of the war desolations arc dclermiued.' — Upon the Pentecostal anoinlinp, Jesus icas declared to be both Lord and Christ, Ac. ii. 3G, ' Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.' 28. Blessed God. Ps. ciii. 1, 'Bless the Loeb, O my soul : and all that is within nic, bless his holy name.' — Compare Eph. i. 3, 'Blessed he the God and Father of om- Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spu'itual blcssuigs in heavenly places in Christ.' 29, 30. Depaet in peace, &c. See Ter. 25, p. 41. — So Paul, 2 Tim. iv. G, 'For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.' 31. All people. Is. xlv. 22, .3, 'Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the cartli, &c.— 1 Tim. ii. 6, ' Who gave him- self a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.' — Bev. xiv. 32. A LIGHT TO LIGHTEN, &c. Fur an apocalypse, for the re- moval of the i^ail sjyread over all nations. Is. xxv. 1, 8, ' And he will destroy in tins mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations. 8, He will swallow up deatli in victory ; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces ; and the rebuke of Ids people shall he take away from off all the earth : for the Lobd hath spoken it.' — xxix. 17 — 24, ' Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon sliall be turned into a fruit- offered for the whole nation, by tlio sons of Levi, as types of Him who hath offered the atonement for us, and is gone withm the most holy place, ' iioie to appear in the presence of God for us.' — See Hcb. ii. 24, and Addenda, Sect. i. p. 13, ' The Temple.' The custom of the law. That is, to make an oQ'ering for pmifiea- tion, and to present the child to God. 29. A'oio lettcst. Now thou dost let, or pennit. This word is m the indicative mood, and signifies that God was permillinyhhn to die in pence, by having relieved his anxieties, as having given us liis dear Son, the assured pledge that all would bo fidfilled which Qod had promised. Depart, cj-r. 'AwoXvcii;. 'AttoXvuv sig., properly, to let go from any place, or fig., from any state which implies coercion.— ^/oom- field. According to thy word, lie seems lo have understood, by the rcvclalion made (o him, (hat, as he should not die boforc he saw the JfcKinh, so, wlicn ho had seen him, ho should speedily be removed by death. NOTES. 30. Thy salvation. The Savioui- ; or He who is to procure salva- tion for his people. 31. Before the face of all people. Whom thou hast provided /or all people, or whom thou dost design to reveal to all people. 32. A light to lighten the Gentiles. This is in accordance with the prophecies in the Old Testament, Ps. xcviii. 3, ' He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel : all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.' — Is. xlix. 6, 'And he said. It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise tip the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: Itcill also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou maycst be my saUation unto the end of the earth.' — Ix. 1, 'Arise, shine ; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LoED is risen upon thee.' — Mai. iv. 2, ' Put unlo you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go ffirlh, and grow np as calves of the stall.' The Gentiles are represented as sitting in darkness, i. e., in ignorance and sin. Clu-ist is a light to them, as by him they will be made acquainted wilh the character of the true God, his law, and (he plan of redemption and salvation. OQ T . ,, /.. , , PRACTICAL REFLECTIOKS 28 rer. Let us bless God for tlic gift of his Son, in wliom all 81 ver. Let us not only seek salvation for ourselves, but that the manifestation of the prepared salvation may be made before the face of all people on the face of the whole earth. 32 ver. Let us not forget tliat it is only by then- looking imto For ScBiPTtJKE ILLUSTHATIONS and NoTES On ' The gloi7 of thy people Israel,' see next page. Matt, ii. 1, § 5, p. 60. Mark i. 1, § 7, p. 7S. John i. 1, § ib., p. 73. [4. new covenant mercy is secured ; in whose blood we have redemption. 20 ver. Lot our only desire of living be, that we may serve God, Ud witness the development of his great salvation. 42 f ART I.] SIMEON PROPHESIES. [SECT. IV. Luke ii. 30, .4. 33 And Joseph and his, mother marvelled at those-('//7V/.s' which-were-spoken of him. .34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his^mothcr, Beliold, this child is-set for the-fall and rising-ao-ain of- SCRIPTUItE ILLUSTRATION'S. ful field, and the fruitful field shall bo esteemed as a forest ? 18, Aiul iu that day shall the deaf hear the -n-ords of the hook, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness. 19, The meek also sliall increase their joy in the LoED, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. 20, For the terrible one is brought to nought, and (he scomer is consumed, and all that -natch for iniquity are cut off; 21, that make a man an olTendcr for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproTCth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought. 22, Tliercfore thus saith the Lord, v.'ho redeemed Abraham, concerning the iiouse of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale. 23, But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify tlie Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel. 21, Tliey also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine' — Secognition of Israel, Hos. i. 10, .1, 'Yet tlie nimiber of the childj-en of Israel shall bo as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shaU come to pass, that in the place whore it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God. 11, Theu shall the children of Judah and the cliil- dren of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land : for great shall he tlie day of Jczreel.' — See our High Priest proeeediag to titivail, Rev. i. 12— 20.— Compare with 2 Cor. iii. 16, ' Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail sliall be taken away.' — The ghrg unreiled, Rev. iv., xxi., xxii. — Compare with Is. Ix. ], 2, ns quoted, Lu. i. 79, § 3, p. 32, 'To... LIGHT.'— /» the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be ji'.stijied, and sliall glory. Is. xlv. 25. The Gionr. All redemption, blessing, and sanclifieation, is by Christ, Is. xlv. 22— .5— see on ver. 21, p. 38, ibid. - lescribed; Eze. i., x. — Compare with Eev. iv., &c. - See i/ie glory 34. Fail ajjd BisiNa again, airist predicted to be a roek of NOTES. 32. Glory. The manifestation of excellency, 2 Cor. iii. 7 ; and is applied in Scripture variously. The glory is eminently considered as the emblem of the Divine presence, or rather the Divine presence itself. The church expresses her hope, Ps. Ixxxv. 9, ' that glory may dwell in our land ;' and John bears witness, that this glory was displayed tabernacling in flesh, and they beheld it, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, ic, Jno. i. The ark of the covenant was called the glory of the Lord, because it represented Ood manifest in flesh ; therefore said the mother of Ichabod, when the ark was taken, 'The glory is departed; 1 Sa. iv. 21. The ark seems also to be the glory referred to in Eoni. ix. 4, 'Who are Israelites ; to lohom pertaineth the adop- tion, and the glory, and tlie covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the 2'romiscs.' Therefore, when the taber- nacle was completed, the Shechinah, or visible display of Divine glory, filled the tent, and took n)i its residence upon the ark, between the clierubims, signifying that the Divine gloiy should rest upon tlic man Clirist Jesus; and hence, the worship of the Old Testament ehiu'ch was addressed to him who dwelt between the eherubims, Ex. xxix. 43, ' And there I will meet tcith the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory.^ When Solomon liad dedicated the temple, the cloud of Divine glory so filled the house, that the priests coidd not stand to minister in it, 1 Ivi. viii. 11. We find the prophets who prophesied after the glory was indeed de- parted, promising that tlie glory of the second house should be greater than tlio glory of tlie first. Hag. ii. 3, 7, 9 ; and God pro- mises in the latter day blessedness, in Jerusalem to be a wall of fire round ahout, and [will be~\ tlie glory in the midst. Zee. ii. 5. Moses requested to see this gloi^, Ex. xxxiii. 18 ; but the time had not then come when it could be displayed, so as guilty man could see and live. Isaiah foretold the ihiys when the glory of the Lord should be revealed, cli.xl. 5, 'And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together : for the mouth of the LoED hath spoken it.' When Simeon took up his infant Lord in liis arms, he called him 'a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.' The glory of thy people Israel. The Glory is Jesus, rejoiced in by his people, as tbeir Prophet, Priest, and King. The children of Israel and the children of Judah are to bo gathered together, and Wake to themselves one Head. For a description of the glory upon the heads of the living crea- tures, see Eze. i. and x. The four living creatures are supposed to represent the hosts of Israel, whose four leachng standards, the Man for Reuben, the Lion for Judah, the Ox for Ephraim, and the Eagle for Dan, were eon-espondcnt to those mentioned in Ezckiel's vision. Tlie ox of Ephraim was more particularly characteristic of the cherub. — Compare ch. i. 10, 'As for the liheness of their faces, t/iey four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side ; they four also had the face of an eagle,' — with x. 14, 'And every one had four faces : the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third tlie face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.' Over the heads of the living creatures was the gloiy, consisting of a bright firmament or platfoi-m, bavin" placed on it a sapplui-e throne, and the appearance of a man above upon it. It is Christ, our High Priest, occupying liis kingly throne, borne aloft on the body of glorious light supplied by Himself as our Prophet. It is Jesus rejoiced in as their Prophet, Priest, and King. Then shall be the great predicted return fi-om the north countiy. — Compare Jc. xxiii. 7, 8, ' Therefore, behold, the days come, sailh the Lord, that they shall no more say, The Lord liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt ; 8, but, The Lord liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their oion land,' — tvith Eze. i. 4, 'And I looked, and, behold, a whirlivind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a bright- ness vOii about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.' Tlien sliall it be said, as in Ps. xlvii. 8, 9, ' God reigneth over the heathen ; God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. 9, The pirinces of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham : for the shields of tlie earth belong unto God : he is greatly exalted.' 34. Tor the fall, l\-c. Tliere is a plain reference here to the pas- sage where it is said that he should be a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence. Is. viii. 14, .5. The nation rejected liiin, and put him to death, and, as a j udgment, /c?i into the hands of the Romans ; thousands were led into captivity, and thousands pcrbhecL The nation rushed into ruin ; the temple was destroyed, and the people were scattered into all the nations. Jesus, 'the light of life,' that the true unveiling of the nations can take place; and let us earnestly desire that soon, by the bright reflection of his image, his people Israel may indeed be to him for a glory. 33 ver. Let us marvel at our own stupidity, who have inquired rK.VCTICAL REFLECTIONS. 4.] so little into the meaning of Simeon's words, at which even Joseph and Jlary marvelled — they who bad ah-cady heard and seen such marvellous things concerning Jesus. 31 ver. As traly as Jesus, the one Fouiidalion-stonc laid in Zion, hath proved to be for flie fall of many in Israel, so truly will Matt. ii. 1, § 5, p, 50. Mark i. I, § 7, p. 78. John i. 1, § ib., p. 73. 43 SECT. IT.) 8TME0N PROPHESIES. [rART I. LuKK ii. 05. 35iuaiiv inl-^racl; and for n-siRu wliich-shall-bc-si-oken-agniiisl ; (yea, a-sworcl sli.iU-rierce-lbrough thy _^-' — ..; „!.„ i .i.„. .i..,.,i.,.,.r,i.f<. S„.Xnvimio/ of miinv hearts may-be-revealed. ONm.soui also,) that the-thoughts dia\oyic also 1 Cor. i. 23, A, ( 7.t btani of 1io|K' for future bliss is ever associated with Uethlehcm of Judxa. Its earliest notice by the sacred historian is Qe. xxxv. 10 — 20, when Jacob was bereaved of his beloved Kaclicl. 'And Saehtl died, and init lur'ud In ihe icay to Ephrath, tMch is Beth- lehrm. And Jacob id a pillar upon her grave : that is the pillar of Rachrfi grave unto this dag.' This history is phiiutively touclied again by Jacob, when preparing to bo gathered to his fathers, Ge. xlviii. 7, 'And as for me, when I came from Padan, Sachet died htj me in the land of Canaan in the way, when get there was hut a little trag to eome unto ICphrath : and I buried her there in the tcag of E/ihrath ; the same is Beth-lehem.' This spot, iu the way from Jerusalem to Ikthlehem, about one mile from the latter place, on the right, at a little distance from the road, is still an object of much Muslim veneration : the small scpiaro building of stone with a dome, and within it a tomb iu the ordinary iluliamnicdan form, the whole plaslcri'd over with mortar, is kept in order by the Muhammedaus : and those of Bethlehem were fonnerly accustomed to bmy around it. The touching storj- of the devoted Ruth to her widowed and childless mother, and the tender sympathy of the benevolent Boaz, the progenitor of king David, have Bethlehem for their locality. — See Until. In the tlehls of Bethlehem David kept his father's sheep. —See 1 Sa. ivi. 11— .3. There too, in a deep valley on the cast of Bethlehem, still exists the refix-sliing well,* so ardently longed for by Israel's king, as he lay concealed, with four hundred faithful followers, in Adullam's cave.— Sfe 2 Sa. rxiii. 13— .7 j 1 Clir. xi. 15— .9. Bethlehem is called ' the dig of Dacid,' Lu. ii. 4, because it was the place of his birth. God put special honom' upon it, in bringing to pass there his ancient prophecy (see Mi. v. 2) ; and making it the birthplace of his own dear Son, whom he gave for the sin of the world. From this eireumstance, pilgrims and tomists to the Holy Land, of every creed and from every clime, look upon tlieir visit to Bethlehem among the most interesting incidents of eastern travel. The road to Bethlehem, from ' Solomon's pools,' which are about six miles to the south, is extremely rugged, shut in on both sides by hills, sometimes quite bare, and at others covered with low prickly alirubs and slender herbage : an abrupt bending of the pass gives the first glimpse of the town, which soon again disappears in the winding of the path. At length, crossing a somewhat level plain, Ihe ascent of the rocky path is begun, by which the elevated site of Bethlehem is approached ; and looking back and around, naturally and mentally are vividly represented the hills, the plains, and the birthplace, where the royal shepherd boy and sweet psalmist of Israel, the princely David, had wandered with his flocks, and with every jK^ak and slope of which his eye had been familiar. The hills in the vicinity are tcn-aecd, and vines and figs abound. The towers in the vineyards are numerous, and remind one of Ca. ii. 15, ' TaH-e tu the foxes, Ihe little foxes, thai spoil the vines : for our vines have tender grapes: Near the top of the hill, it is said, you come \ipon 'the well of Jhthlehcm, that is at ihe gate' It is protected by a piazza of four small arches, under which the water is drawni up through two apcrtinvs. t And to this well may be seen the women of the city coming out to draw water, bearing tlicir earthen vessels upon their heads: their figures easy and gi-accful, as their flowing drnpciy casts its long folds about them. Delicate com- pleiiuns, unitetl to the ever-brilliant eastern eye, distinguish tlicm from all other Arab women ; while the finely cut lips, thin, but Vermillion bright, and a Grecian profile, distinguish them from the Jewish race. The city occupies a commanding position, on the E. and N.E. slope of a long vidge, looking over towards the region of Moab. The substance of the hill is limestone, which, like white marble, reflects the sun's rays, and makes it very painful to the eyes. The winding path of ascent is, in several places, slippery, toilsome, and diflleult. The hill on which the city stands is terraced iu all direc- tions, and planted with fine healthy ohve and fig trees. On the south side it is very steep. Tlie fig trees, olives, and pomegi'anates, and tlie ripe barley fields which cover the north side, shew that it is still capable of being made what its name imports, ' The House of Bread.' The aspect of the town itself is poor. Its buildings are in the usual style, square and rude, and finished with small domes. It is a saddening thought, while entering within the walls of Beth- lehem, that the crescent of Mahomet gleams over the spot where the wondrous star gxiided to the. humbled presence of the incarnate God ; and that Clu-istianity is there but a tolerated, a permitted, a despised thing. The present population is about 3,000, and nominally Christian, which arises from the cu'cumstance of Ibrahim Pacha, a Mussulman, drivuig out the Arab population, who defended the place for the sidtan, in the rebellion of 1834, against his attacks : and spared the Christians, as he said, because they had beeu guilty of no olTence. The inhabitants chiefly subsist by agriculture, and by making crucifixes, beads, models of the Holy Sepidchi'c, &c., iu olive wood, palm, and mother-of-pearl, which are highly valued and eagerly purchased by the visitors. The monks of Bethlehem claim the exclusive privilege of marking the limbs and bodies of pilgrims who choose to submit to the operation, with crosses, stars, and monograms, by means of gunpowder. This is a very ancient practice, and, like other superstitions, may be traced to the rehgious customs of the heathen nations. The town has gates at the entrance of some of the streets. The main street is steep, narrow, gloomy, and dirty. To the east of Betlilehem, not much more than a mile and a half distant, is the village traditionally said to be that iu which the shepherds dwelt, to whom was made the supernatural announce- ment of Messiah's birth. It is approached by a steep descending road, with fig and olive trees scattered on every side. The soil is very wliite and chalky. It is inhabited by Greek and Latin Chris- tians. Is miserably dUapidated, in poverty and wretchedness. Many of the inhabitants are engaged in thrashing and winnowing corn. Passing downwards from the village, a view presents itself of the spot, where it is said the shepherds heard that heavenly minstrelsy, which still sounds forth sweetly from the pages of insph'ation. It is carefully enclosed with a rough stone wall, and covered with numerous olive trees of vigorous growth and considerable age. In the midst of the enclosure is a small grotto-chapel. It contains a rude altar, and the usual pictorial appendages. Of the road from Jerusalem to Betldehem, a modem traveller writes, 'Across the plain of Eephaim to Bethlehem is about five miles ; and the way lies, for the most part, over arid and dreary hiUs, with here and there a scanty croiJ of wheat in the inteiTcning valleys ; and an occasional herd of goats browsing invisible herbsige, under the guardianship of a herdsman as shaggy as his flock, and as ' brown, and almost as bare as the rocks around liim. ' Occasionally we catch glimpses of the wild mountain scenery ! that wraps the Dead Sea iu its barren bosom. No other landscape 1 in the world is like this. It resembles rather some visionary sketch roughly done in raw sienna, than anything in nature ; distorted piles of cinderous hills, with that Dead Sea lying among them like melted lead, unUghted,t even by the sunshine that is pouring so vertically down as to cast no shadow. After passing the convent of Dr. Robinson says, ' That to which the monks give the name of the illage overlooks : • Dr. Clarke describes it as containing pure and delicious water. "Well of Davi.l," is about half or three-quarters of a mile N. by E. of Betldehem, beyond the deep vaUey which the wluili was dry when we saw it.' t Dr. Robinson thinks these to be oidy openings over an aqueduct, which here passes through a deep vaidt or reservoir, from which the waUT la di-awn up about twenty feet. J Paxton calls it ' that black sea.' 40 JW««. ii. 1, § 5, p. 50. Jfari i. 1, § 7, p. 78. .t«ie ii. 39, § 5, p. 56. JoA» i. 1, § 7, p. 73. [4. ADDENDA. 'BOOK.'— 'ON THE TIME OF OUE SAVIOUR'S BIRTH.' PART I.] Jlar Elvas upon the left, and the tomb of Rachel in a TnUey on the [•["ht the scenery becomes more attractive : some olive gi'oves, interminKlcd witli small viiicyartls, clothe the hills ; rich eorn-ficlils gre in the valleys : and, lo ! a3 we round a rugged projection in the [SECT. rv. path, Betuieiiem stands before us. This little city, as it is called by courtesy, has an imposing appearance ; waUcd round, and com- niandmg a fertile vuiley fi-om a rugyed cuuiKuce.'— {Continued, Sect. v. p. 59.) ADDENDA. BOOKj EooiC. In Latin Liher, in Hebrew Sepher, in Greek Biblos. Several sorts of materials were used fonnerly m making books. I'lates of lead and copper, the barks of trees, bricks, stone, and wood, were the first matters employed to cngi-ave such things and monmueuts upon as men were wilhng to have transmitted to posterity. The letters whicli Rabsliakch delivered from Sennacherib lo llezekiah are called ' a book.' The contract which Jeremiah con- firmed for the purchase of a field, is called by the same name. Ahasuci-us' edict in favour of the Jews is likewise called ' a book.' Job writes, that his judge or Ins adversary would himself write liis sentence. The writing Ukewise wliieh a man gave to his wife when he divorced her, was called a hook of divorce. Book, a wi-ittcn register of events, or declaration of doctrmes and laws, Ge. v. 1 ; Est. vi. 1. The books of Moses are tlie most ancient in being ; nor does it appear that any were wi'itten before them. Josephus says, the children of Seth, before the flood, wrote their discoveries in arts, and in astronomy and other sciences, upon '«-o pillars ; the one of stone, to witlistand a deluge ; and the other of brick, to endure a conflagration : but the obscm'ity of his narrative, and tlie want of conem'ring evidence, render liis accoimt very suspicious. SIoscs' books are called the bool- of ike lam ; and a copy of Deuteronomy, if not the whole of tliem, was laid up in some repository of the ark, De, jiisi. 20. Hcsiod's works were 'on the time of our saviour's 'The year of our Saviour's bii-th, was TJ.C. 750, B.C. 4 ; and the passover was celebrated in that year, on April 10 ; that is to say, the fourteenth vvyfiii^tpov of I^isan, on which the passover was always slain, coincided with the interval between sunset April 9, and sunset April 10. If so, the tenth wxOiijitpov of Risan, which began and expired four days before the fourteenth, began at sunset April 5, and expired at sunset April 6. The tenth of Nisan, then, U.C. 750, comcidcd partly with April 5, and partly with April G. April 5, therefore, or April 6, must express the day of our Saviom-'s bii'th ; the former, if he was born on the evcnmg of tlie tenth of Nisan J the latter, if he was born on the morning. ' From the nan'ative of St. Luke, who only of the Evangelists has given any account of the circumstances of our Savioui-'s bii'tli, especially from ii. 8, 9, 11, though the fact is not expressly asserted, yet it is plainly to be inferred, tliat the Nativity took place on the cvenmg of some Jewish day ; either in the night time as such, or after smisct at least. Sunset, on April 5 or G, U.C. 750, thirteen or fourteen days later than the vernal equinox, would not take place earlier tlian G.30 in the evcnmg; and tlie tenth of Nisan, which would begin with sunset, would begin with G.30 in the evening "Iso. If our Saviour, then, was born in the evening of a Jewish ilay, and born on the tenth of Nisan, ho was born on the night of .'\pnl 5, or the morning of April G : if lie had been born in the I'vening, and born on the sixtli of April, he \vould have been born in the eleventh of tlie Jewish Nisan. It may be diflicult to decide ■ftween these two dates, eacli of which, apparently, possesses an ' 'l>'al riglit to be pronounced the true birthday of Christ ; for the 'vcning of t)io same Jewish day coincided in part witli both. I iHsume, liowever, for the present, that the date of oiu' Saviour's I'irth, it it was Nisan the tenth, in a lunar Jewish year ansHcring to t'.C. 750, was April 5 in the solar or Julian, answering to the same .^car, on which the tenth of Nisan at that time began. For subse- iiicnt years, tliercfore, the tenth of Nisan will express the nominal, iiid the fitth of AprU tlie actual, birtliday of Christ; but the tenth "f Nisan will never express Die actual date of the Nativity, unless It coincides witli the filth of Ajiril also. 4.] Matt. ii. 1, § 5, p. 50. Slark i. 1, § 7, p. 78. ' p. 39. written on tables of lead; the Roman laws on twelve tables of brass ; Solon's on wood ; and tliose of God on stone, probably marble. In very ancient tunes the Persians and lonians wrote on skins. AVhen Attains fonned his library, about A.M. 3770, he either invented or improved parchnieut. Tliis, when wTitten on, was either sewed togetlicr in long roUs, and written only on one side, in the manner of tlie copy of the law now used in tlie Jewish sjTiagogues, or it was formed in the manner of om- books. Some Indian books are extant, WTilten on leaves of the Malabar palm tree. Books now, and for about five huncL-ed years backward, have been generally written on linen paper. The BOOK OP TUE LOED is either the Scriptures, Is. xxxiv. IG : or his purpose, wherein everytliing is regulated and fixed, Ps. cxxxix. 16 ; Rev. V. 1 ; x. 2 : or his providential care and support of men's natui-al life, Ex. xxxii. 32 ; Ps. Ixix. 28 : or his omniscient observation and fixed remembrance of things, Ivi. 8 ; 5Ial. iii. 10. Men's conscience is hke to a hoolc ; it records whatever they have done T/ic openiny of the loois at the last day denotes the manifestation of the purposes and words of God, and the exact procedure in judgment, according to Divine pui'poscs, laws, and real facts. Rev. xx. 12. Clu-ist's opcnmg the sealed look, imports his pre-dcclaration and exact fulfilment of the piu'poses of God, relative to the New Testament chm-ch, Rev. v. 5, 6 ; viii. 1. BIRTH.' See Greswell, Vol. I. Diss. xii. 'Let us now consider on what days in subsequent years, more especially in the three years of om- Lord's personal ministry, this tenth of Nisan would fall. These days may be immediately obtained from the Table of Passovers {see Diss. vii. p. 331, Vol. II.) ' I. U.C. 780, A.D. 27, the foiu-tcenth vvxBSjuioov of Nisan began at sunset April 8, and expired at sunset April U ; and, consequently, the tentli t'vx6i}fiipou of Nisan began at sunset AprU 4, and expired at sunset April 5. 'II. U.C. 781, A.D. 28, the fourteenth i'ux9/;/i£pov of Nisan be- gan at sunset March 28, and expired at sunset March 29 ; and, consequently, the tenth wx^niit^iov of Nisan began at sunset March 21-, and expired at sunset ilarcli 25. 'IIL U.C. 782, A.D. 29, the fourteenth wxOi'ifupoi' of Nisan began at smiset April 15, and expired at sunset April IG ; and, consequently, the tenth viix8iiiii(>ov of Nisan began at sunset April 11, and expired at sunset April 12. 'IV. U.C. 783, A.D. 30, the fourteenth vvx9i)f(pov of Nisan began at sunset April 4, and expn-ed at sunset April 5 ; and, consequently, the tenth yvx^'iiiipov of Nisan began at sunset Marcli 31, and expired at sunset Ajiril 1. ' It appears, then, that U.C. 780, the year when our Lord began his ministry, the tenth of Nisan and the fifth of April, tliat is, his nominal and his real birthday, coincided together, as they liad done in the year of his birlli: but in no otlicr ye.ar of his ministry besides. ' It appears also, that U.C. 783, the year when he concluded his ministry, the fourteenth of Nisan, llie day on wliich our Saviour .suffered, coincided with April 5, the day upon w liicli he was born.' — Vol. I. Di.ss xii. pp. 401— ..1. 'All the cardinal jioiufs, in the transaction of our Lord's part in the Christian scheme, are determined to the vernal, and not to the autumnal, qnai'ter of the year; or, what is the same thing, to the passover, and not to the feast of Tabernacles. No special distinc- tion is confen-ed, du ving his lifetime, on any feast but the passover; Zuke ii. 39, § 5, p. CO. John i. 1, § 7, p. 73. 4 7 r SECT. IV.] nor, after li'n rMurrortion, on any but tlic feast of reiitocost. Tlie frut of TslH-mnolos, iii particular, lias nothing to render it mi'momblc cillu-r before or after. Ho began bis ministry at one jMUjover, and ho endelioiiably the liveliest emblems of the sacrifice of Christ— tlic one of its perpetual, the other of its unieersal, elTu-acy, — were botli n-ciuirod to bo made with a lamb, or at least, in the case of the latter, witli a kid instead of a Iamb. Concerning tliis requisition, tee Sraiuiouides, De Eat. Sacrif, i. It. This requisition was not jK'Culiar to other saciificos, numerous as they were : nor would it be easy to assign a reason why it ehouhl have been peculiar to the two most Kvangelieal of tho legal ordinances, except by supposing (hat Clirist, as soon as, in the integrity of our nature and substance, he came into the world, was virtually the true iiiiXixi'is Ovata of morning and evening prayer, and tlie tnie spiritual antitype designed by the paschal victim. And Christ, when lie came iulo the world, came as a child : and, though he suflcred as a man, yet in all tlio.se qualities, which rendered his sacrifice of himself acceptable to God, and which especially were adumbrated by tho properties of the typical victim— in meclincss, simplicity, and innocence — he con- tinued over a child.' — Ibid., p. 388. ' At tho original institution of tho passover, it was commanded, the lamb, to be offered on Ihefoiir/eenUi, should be taken up and set apart for that purpose, on the Icnlh of the same month ; foiu' days ADDENDA. 'THE GENEALOGIES.' [PART I. before its sacrifice. The reason of this provision does not appear : but, if we were to conjecture that, in the fulness of time, the birth of our Saviour was to happen on the tenth of Nisan, as it is certain that his death was to happen on the fourteenth, we should assign a reason which would explain it at once, and he entirely in unison with what has been proved respecting the period of the nativity in general.' — Ibid., p. 389. — See Sect. Ixxxii., ' Ox the day or the PROCESSION TO TUB TEMPLE.' 'I advance it, therefore, as a conjecture wliich to pious minds may not appear improbable (though it must still be received as a conjecture), that the true day of our Saviour's birth, and, conse- quently, the true date of the nativity, is the tenth of the JewisV. Nisan. The Paschal Chronicon assigns this date to the fact of the Annuneiaf ion ; and tradition may so far have blended, in this instance, as well as in others, error with truth, as to have con- founded the day of the birth with the day of the supposed conception of Christ. It woidd follow that the Baptist, who was born six months before Christ, might be bom on the tenth of Tisri, or about the feast of Tabernacles ; which, however, must be received as even a more conjectural date than the other. Yet there would be occa- sion from this coincidence also, to adniii-e the economy of the Divine Providence in causing one, designed by his office not merely to be the precursor of the Messias, but a preacher of repentance and righteous- ness — one who by coming and acting, ei' uCw ^ticatoCTi' j'jyc, w'as not only to preach, but also to practise the lessons of his preaching — to be born at this season of tho year in general, if not on tliis day in particular.' — Ibid., p. 390. ' There is no fact in the subsequent history of our Saviour, whether more or less remote, which is not altogether consistent, with tliis fu'st and cardinal point in the whole, viz., that he was born about the vernal equinox. I have proved thus much of the time of the commencement, and of tlie time of the close of his ministry ; and of his age at the first of those periods, and of the duration of his ministiy previously, at the other.' — Ibid., p. 391. THE GENEALOGIES, ACCORDING ' The necessity of some genealogy of our Lord in general must be evident : for if he was the predicted Messias of the Jews, whose birth and descent had been fixed long before to a certain line, the fulfilment of the prophecy in his person could not be made apparent but by exhibiting his descent accordingly. That their genealogical records were still preserved, among tho Jews, after, as well as before, the Babylonish captivity, is too notorious a fact to require proof. (Jos. Vit. i. Contra Ap. i. 7.) The numerous family notices, which occur in tho books of Clironiclcs, E^ra, and Nehemiah (1 Chr. ix. 1—22; 2 Chr. xxxi. IG— .9; Ne. vii. 5), passim, were doubtless extracted from such records ; and so late even as tho reign of Dumilian, when Joscphus composed his omi Memoirs (Ant. Jud. XX. xi. 2), he may still be found appealing, in proof of his extrac- tion, to tho (Jij/ioffiai I'iXroi, as yet in existence, and yet open to inspection. ' Again ; As our Saviour's parents, whether both really, or both nominally, such— or the one really, the other only reputed so — were necessarily distinct individuals, his descent might he exliibitcd through cither; and, as traced tlu-ough the one, must necessarily didtr from the same descent as traced through the other. Yet the one would be truly an account of his descent, as much as the other. ' Again ; If Joseph was really the father of our Lord, tho genealogy of Joseph, according to the flesh, would be the genealonr of our Lord, in tho same respect ; and it would be superfluous to search for any other, llut if Joseph was not really the father of our Lord, tlint is, if the Cliristian doctrine of the Incarnation be scriptural and true— a doctrine, which St. Jfatthew confirms as plainly as St. Luke— tho genealogy of Joseph, according to the llesli, could in no wise be tho similar genealogy of Christ. Now tlie genealogy, which is given by St. Matthew, is obviously the genealogy of Joseph, according to the (Icsh : tho use of tlio assertion iylvyiiot, between its several links, from fu'st to last, admits of no other conclusion. If so, it could not be the genealogy of Christ in the natural sense. But it might still be his genealogy in some other ^g Mall. ii. 1, § 5, p. 50. mark i. 1, § 7, p. 78. TO ST. MATTHEW AND ST. LUKE. sense — as reputed, for instance, the son of Joseph — that is, as naturally the sou of the wife of Joseph. It might be, therefore, his genealogy in a civil or political sense. Accordingly, the same Evangelist, who so clearly propounds it as tlie uatm'al genealogy of Joseph, does by no means propound it as the natural genealogy of Christ ; for, when he has arrived at the name of Joseph, instead of continumg, as he had begun, and had proceeded all along until now — 'Iw(Tj)0 H tykvvijtTi TOP 'I?j 18. „ ,. 17. Ps. xcii. 1— G. „ „ 7,9,11. „ „ 8,10,.l. „ „ 12— ..5. Ps. Ixvlii. 1— (!. „ „ 7—18. „ „ 111— Jl. 32- Peaeeablo reward Extended 11 Boaz In strength . . , Eulh Well watered . . . 12 Otied Servant 13 Jesse He Is 11 David . , , . Beloved— the King . Ps. Ixv. 1—1. „ >• 5. „ „ c— s. „ „ 9—13. Phil. il. 9! 10, .1. It [fl to be recollected, that the tii"st three of these names, Abi-aham, Isaac, and Jacob, were expressive of the Divine priiuiises n-speeting their seed. AiniAHASi— )/i« Father nf a i/rcat mnltiludi:. They were to bo numerous as tile stars of lie.aveu, and as tiio sand by the sea-shore. H\m; -Ijiuniliier, vr i/ri'iU jiiii. They were to be given the privilege ot imbllahlng gbid liilings iimcing till people. Jacou— II Hiipiilanler. They were to possess the gates of their enemies, and to have the power of executing Judguieut, as well as of shewing fortli the lovlng-klnduess of the Lord. The next names mentioned in tlie Genealogy arc these four, — Judas, his two Boris Phares aud Zara, and their mother Thamar. It happens remarkalily tliat P», xcil. is a beautiful paraphrase of thise four names in the same order. Judas— yraisc in its various iispects. The delightful employment of those who are Jews inwardly is sketched in Ps. xcii. 1— « : ' It Is a good thing to clvo thanks unto the Lord, &c.' Then follow intermingled intimations of Breaking forth and Rising up, as ' xprcKicd in the names of Phares and Zara, 7—11. And lastly, In vr. 12— ..1, a paraphrase on the name of the mother, TlIAMAU, a I'alm-lrei: : 'The righlroiis .shall ll'iurish lik.^ the palm-tree;' a tree remarkable for its upright stem, wide-apruailiug top, aud for bearing nljundaut fruit in old age. Esroni, Aram, Aminadab, Naasson. These, the next four names, are, in tlio same order, paraphrjised in Ps. Ixviii. EsnoM- XiarJ 0/ joij, or Burst of otadsome song. Wlien the ark moved forwaril, this was the word, ' Rise up. Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered.' Num. X. 35. And this is the subjectof the song, Ps. Ixviii. 1—6, where also It is said, ' Let the righteous bo glad ; let them rejoice before God : yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.' Aram— (;j« High or magnificent One. The goings forth of the Almighty at the head of the hosts of Israel is described, w. 7—18. AMi.NADAB- .Vy people is willing. The recognition by His people of tho Lord's great goodness, and their hearty devotedness to Him, provoking universal liberality, are spoken of vv. 19—31. Naasson. This name seems to have a reference to brass, as used in defence. He that is over Israel is a strong defence. 'The God of Israel is He that giveth strength and power unto liis people,' vv. S2—.b. Salmon, Raehab, Boaz, Ruth. These four names seem to bo, in the same order, paraphrased in Ps. Ixv. .Salmon- Per/ec( peace,— that which fully satisfies,- the Reward of the Redeeuier of Isr.ael, vv. 1—4. RACUXB^Ejiended. God is made known bvjudcrment and mercy. 'Thecoufi- .IciiCMif all the ends of tlie earth, and ..I I iH'iu t Ikii aiv afaroll upon the sea,' r..'.. r.iiAZ— /« slremjth. ' liv his slivugll! (lie) srUrtli fast the mounlaius; girded with power. (Ho) stilleth tlie noise of the seas, . . . and the tumult of the people,' &c., CT. 6— 8. lluiLi— li'iU matered. The earth, having been made to desire the ram. Is refreshed abuud.antly under tho blessing of heaven, and giveth forth plenti- fully what is beautiful and good, vv. 9—13. Tlie last three names of the first fourteen Generations are, Obcd, Jesse, and David. As tho first three, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, contain the; iiromises respecting the multitudinous seed in Christ ; so the last three are expressive with regard to Christ himself. Ouiiu— a Servant. ' He took upon Ilim the form ot a sen-ant, . . . and became o})Cdient unto death,' Pliil. ii. (i, 7. Like Jacob, 'Ho served for a wife'. Gen. xxix. 20. He even ' bought liia- for Himself with His own blood.' JKSSE— //c is. That raising up from tho deail which was figured forth in Isaac, wiis truly realized in lIiM who is ' tho author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Ilim,' Ileb. v. 9. Daviu- (ftc King. He, the Beloved, and tho law of whose kingdom is love, hath gone to receive for Himself the kingdom, and to retiu-n ; then the true childr(!U of faithful Abraham will each ' i-w-elve the crown of life, which tho Lord hath promised to them that love Him,' Jas. 1. 12. Thus tho first three and the last three of these names are expressive of the promises with regard to the people ot the God of Abraham, as being fi>uud • in Him', 'who was made of the seed of David according to theflesh,' llom. i. :l. liitween these two threes, are three times four names ; the lli>t four of whieli. I. ■siril.e I he p"o;ili' who are found in Cliiisl, and are paraphrased Pa. xcii. The second four deseribe III. ir'/reat L.adi'r. as eondueling llelil through the wilderness, towards tlie pniniisrd inherilanee.and are parapbrasr,! I's. Ixviii. And thi-third fourdescribe the kingdom-state, when, thr.uigh the mediation of Chrlst.rightooiisnessand peace, and ble»scauc«s shall be universally attain- ed. I's. Ixv. •k] ilfaff. ii. 1, § 5, p. 50. il/cirfc i. 1, § 7, p. 78. Liifo u. 39, § 5, p. 56. Ji^/id i, J, § 7, p. 73. 49 8KCT. v.] WISE MEN FROJI THE EAST. [PAET I. SECTION 5. — ^Fagi, oh Wise Men, fkom the East, being warned by the ArrEARANCE of a M AU ur THE Incarnation and Birth of the Messiah, arrive at Jerusalem ; they are sent TO Bethlehem ; and being conducted, by the same star, to the house of Joseph, they WORSHll- THE infant ChUIST ; AND RETURN HOME. JOSEPH IS WARNED OF GoD TO FLEE, WITH THE INFANT Jesus and Mary, into Egypt. The children at Bethlehem, from two years old and UNDER, UV command OF HeROD, ARE PUT TO DEATH. AfTER THE DEATH OF HeROD, JoSEPH IS AGAIN WARNED OF GOD TO RETURN FROM EOYPT. HE SETTLES WITH THE HoLY FaMILY AT NaZA- HETH. — ^latt. ii. 1 — 'i'-i ; Luke ii. 39. [G. 1 2-. I.] INTRODUCTION Mt. ii. 1, 2. (Lii. ii. 39.) After the presentation in tlie temple, JcMcph and Slarv mny liavc returned to Nazareth ;• they seem, howeTcr, not to iiave remained there, but to liave gone to settle at Bctlilelicm ; to whieli arrangement they may have tliought there were important inducements connected witli their sacred charge. Tlii'i-e tliey are found when tlie Magi conio fi-om the east to Jeru- aalem, inquiring for Uim wlio ' is lorn King of the Jeics.' Having sotMi some remarkable briglitness in the heavens, by which they have been made anarc of the birtli of Jesus, those wise men come to do him homage. 3. Herod, the Idumtean, who was by tlio Romans made king of the Jews, hearing of the object for which tho Magi have come, is troubled; and, as h,' is likely to make this an occasion of shedding blood, all Jerusalem are troubled along with him. 4. Herod asucmblos tl\o chief priests, &c., and demands 'of them wh«r» Christ should ie born.' 5. 0. They reply, ' In SethMiem of Jtulaa ,' and refer as thcii- authority to Mi. v. 2. 7, 8. Herod privily ascertains from the Magi tlie time when tlie gtar was lirst Been ; and, sending them to Bethlehem, bids them 'search diliyentJi) for the young child,' and bruig him word, — pre- tending a wish like them to go and do homage to the infant King of the Jews. 9. Having resumed their journey, as diiveted by the prophet, the star wliich had previously guided them goes before them ; and, still more definitely, points out to them the object of their search. 10, .1. At tho sight of tho star they greatly rejoice; and enteruig AND ANALYSIS. the house over which it rests, they find ' the young child uith Mary his mother:' and, falling down, they do homage to Jesus. Having opened tlieir treasures, they also present unto him gifts, cliaracteristie both of tlie quarter from which they come, and of their expectations with regard to the infant King. 12. The Magi, being divinely warned respecting the intentions of Herod, return to theii- own country by another route. 13. After the departure of the Magi, Joseph is, in a dream, divinely warned to hasten with the child and his mother into Egypt, to escape the destructive wrath of Herod. 14. .5. Joscpli unmediately obeys, and that very night escapes with the cliild and his mother ; and in Egypt they remain mitil the death of Herod, thus giving occasion for the fulUbnent of the words of the prophet, Hos. xi. 1. 16 — .8. Herod, on finding that the Magi have not been duped by him, is gi'eatly enraged ; and gives forth a command that all the children in and aroimd Bethlehem, 'from two years old and under,' should bo slain. Thus a fulfilment is given to the words of the prophet, Jer. sxxi. 15. 19, 20. Herod being dead, Joseph is divinely directed to return into the land of Israel. 21, .2. Joseph obeys, but finding that Archelaus reigns 'in the room of 7ds father Herod,' he fears to go into Judiea, but turns ' aside into the parts of Galilee.' 23. (Lu. ii. 34.) He takes up his abode in Nazareth, gi\ ing further occasion to the fidfilment of prophecy, which not uafrequentlv speaks of Jesus as a Branch, and as One desjiised. (G. 12.) T/te Magi from the East inquire for the Messiah, and are sent to Bethlehem. — Matt. ii. 1 — 8. [Ch. i. ver. 25, § -1, p. 38.] ^-i-i Jerusalem. 1 Now \N-heu-"„Jesus"-was-Lom in Bethlehem of Judsa iu the-days of-Herod the kiug, behold, there-came SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. 1. HtnOD. 27ii,v name, considered as from the Oreck, is supposed to mean 'glory of the skin ;' fur ichich, as to JSsau or JEdom, his ancestor, see Go. xiv. 25, ' And tho first came out red, all over like an hairy garment ; and they called his name Esau.' — xxvii. 21, .2, ' And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, tliat I may feci thee, my son, whether thou le my very son Esau or not. 22, And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father ; and he felt him, and anid, Tho voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.' — in the Hebrew, Herod means 'the reigning or domi- nating one;' and Herod the king, aa Edomite, who, by i/iefai'our of the Soman*, had attained to the kingdom, as well as his successor of the same name, Justified the prediction. — &e ver. 40, 'And by thy sword shall thou live, and slialt serve lliy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke fi-om off thy neck.' — Compare Ps. ii. 2, 3, ( quoted, Lu. i. 51, § 2, p. 20, ' ScATTEEED,')«w'rt Ac. iv. 25—8, ' Wlio by the month of thy servant David hast said, AMiy did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things ? 26, The kings of . the earth stood up, aiid tho rulers were gathered together against the , Lord, and against his Chi-ist. 27, For of a truth against thy holy ■ clidd Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 28, for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel de- termined before to be done.' — Lu. sxiii. 6 — 12, § 90, . . . ; (""^ see ch. i. 5, § 1, p. 5, ' Heeod.' PRACTICAL REFLECTION. (Mt. ii. 1—12.) 1 )■(/■. Let us beware of mistaking worldly dignity, outwanl prosperity, or oven intimate connection with the cause of Ood, as sure indications of tlie Divine favom-. They only gave to Herod tho power of bringing upon liimself the greater con- demnation. He rebuilt witli remarkable splendour the house of the Lord, yet refused him, the Lord of glory, a place where to lay his ■ head. He even, with sweeping fm-y, sought to put to death the infiiut Prince of Life. SO • Mr. Greswell delays the return to N.v.avetli until after the departm-c to and from Egypt. Mark i. 1, § 7, p. 78. Zuke ii. 39, p. 56. John i. 1, § 7, p. 73. [5. PART I.] HEROD IS TROUBLED. [SECT. V. Matt. ii. 2— i. 2 wiso-men from tlie-east avaroXwv to Jerusalem, saying, Wliere is lie' tliat-is-born King of-tlie Jews ? for we-liaTe-seeu his y^ star iu the east uvaToX/rj, and are-come to-worship him. 3 Wlien-'Herod the king"-had-heanl theae thiin/x, he-was-tronbled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And SCRirXURE 1 2. Wise mex. There were those in Eyypt tcho were so called Ex. Tii. 11, ' Then Pharaoh also called the vrise men and the sorccrer.i : now tl' v magicians of Egypt, they also did in like mannei' with their enchantments.' — so also in Saii/lon, Da. ii. 18, ' That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret ; that Daniel and his icllows should not perish with the rest of tlie wise men of Babylon.' — Daniel intercededfor them, rer. a, 'Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon : he went and said thus imto him; Destroy not the wise meM of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation.' declared their incoinpetenee, ver. 27, 'Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the -wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king.' — and was made chief of the governors over all the teise men in Balylon, ver. 48, 'Then the king made Daniel a gi-eat man, and gave him many great gifts, and made hhn nder over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.' — Solomon the hing had heen renowned for wisdom over all the East, 1 Ki. x. 6, 'And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom.' — And Daniel, ILLUSTK.\TIOXS. who had heen over the wise men in the J^ast, was made acquainted with the time of Chrisfs appearint/, as One to he cut off. Da. ix. 26 — see Note below, on ver. 2. — It is to he ohserved that these wise men had come to a X-nowledr/e of the promises, as to the Messiah, through the medium of the Jews, such as Daniel, and not through the outcasts of Israel; else the?/ would have called him, what he is called hi/ the prophets, ' King ol Israel,' not ' Kmg of the Jews.' — and see Is. xUv. G, ' Thus saith the Loed the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LOBD of hosts ; I am the first, and I am the last ; and beside me there is no God.' — Hos. xiii. 9, 10, ' O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help. 10, I will be thy king : where is ani/ other that may save thee in all thy cities ? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes?' Kino op the Jews. So questioned by Filate in private, Jno. Sviii. 33, § 90 — mocked hy the soldiers, xix. 3, § ib. — presented as such hy Pilate, ver. 14, § ib. — again mocked by the soldiers, after condemnation, Mt. xxvii. 29, § 91 — see his superscription, ver. 37, 3. He was troubled. So. Zacharias, Lu. i. 12, § 1, p. 8^ Mary, i. 29, § 2, p. 16 — the shepherds, ii. 9, § 4, p. SS—Filaie, Jno. xix. 8, § 90 — the guard at his resurrection, Jit. xxviii. 4, § 93— ««(? see ' Teoubi.ed,' Lu. i. 29, § 2, p. 16. NOTES. 1. irise men. Or magi. Tliese probably came from Persia, or be- Tond the Euphrates, a coimtry east of Juda'a, 1 Ki. iv. 30, ' And SolotnoH^S wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom oj Egypt.' Daniel was placed over tliis class of men in Babylon, ch. v. 11, ' There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is tJie spirit of the holy gods ; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and loisdom, like the tcisdom of the gods, was found in him ; whom the Mng Nehuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy 'ather, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers.' These magi might have been Jews, as many were mixed with the people of the East. The word is of Persian origin, Mogh, and designated throughout the East (and especially Persia, the original seat of this class of persous), the priests, philosophers, and men o] letters in general ; who devoted themselves to the study of human science, especially medicine and astrology. Their doctrmes are said to have been derived fi'om Abraham, or at least pm'ified by him fi'om Zabian idolatry. They again became comipted, and were again purified by Zoroaster, who is supposed to have been a descendant of the prophet Daniel ; deriving fi'om him that intimate knowledge of the Mosaic writings, which liis religion evinces. — See Addenda, ' On the Visit of the Magi,' p. 60. 2. Where is he, ^c. There was, at this tune, a prevalent expec- tation that some remarkable personage was about to appear in Judaea. Ihe Jews were anxiously looking for the coming of the Messiah. By computiug the tune mentioned by Daniel, eh. ix. 25 — .7, Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth oJ the 'ommandmciit to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah 'he Prince shall be seven iceeks, and threescore and two weeks : the freet shall be built again, and the wall, even in trouhlous times. :t», And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut oJJ, but I >t for himself : and tlie people of the prince that shall come shall ''drag the city and the sanctuary ; and the end thereof shall be ivith a food, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27, And he shall csnfrm the covenant with many for one week ; and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifce and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall he poured upon the desolate,' they knew that the period was approach- ing when the Messiah shoidd appear. Tliis persouage, they supposed, would be a temporal prince, and they were expecting that he would deliver them from Eoman bondage. It was natural that this expec- tation shoidd spread into other countries. Many Jews, at that time, dwelt in Egyj>t, in Eome, and in Greece' ; many, also, had gone to eastern coimtrles, and in every place they carried then- scrip- tiu"es, and dillused the expectation that some remarkable person was about to appear. He whom the nation was looking for. Sis star. Wliich seems to have moved in the middle region of the ail', somewhat in the manner of the cloudy pillar before the Hebrews in the wilderness, Ex. xiii. 21. In the east. Being in the east, they saw the star in the west, and wei'e guided by it to Jerusalem. To worship him. irpoanvviiaai ain^. 'To prostrate ourselves before him.' ' To do him homage.' It signifies a complete pros- tration of the body (especially the head) to the gro>md, a form of reverential salutation which has ever prevailed in the East. 3. Wlien Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled. Lest he should lose his kuigdom by the birth of tlie rightful heir ; he himself bemg a foreigner and usurper. And all Jerusalem, S{c. Lest it might occasion a renewal of some of those tyrannical actions ol which Herod was continually capable. There were many ' waiting for the consolation of Israel,' and to wliom the coming of the Messiah would be a matter of joy ; but Herod's friends woidd be alarmed. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. 2 ver. Let us learn from the example of our Great Teacher, to I the wise men were led to Jesus by 'his star.' These last, however, lUlresa men according to then- condition in Ufe, previous pursuits, ' had to be assisted in tliis by the cliief priests and scribes, who had nd means of ascertaining evidence. Zacharias, a priest, was met in 10 exercise of his priestly office, Lu. i. 8 — 11 ; — Mary was given a (,'n in domestic life, correspondent to her own predicted condition, .T. 36 ;— the shepherds were with their flocks, when they were oint«d to the sign of the babe in the manger, ch. ii. 8 — 12 ; — whilst 5.] infonnation, according to their peculiar vocation, from the written word, Mt. ii. 4 — 6, infra. From the ease oi the wise men, who appear to have profited by instruction, derived from the dispei-sed of Judali, so long after the time th.it they had Daniel for their teacher, let us learn to attend to Mark i. 1, § 7, p. 78. l^'ike ii. 39, p. 56. John i. 1, § 7, p. 73. 61 SECT, v.] THE PROPHECY CONCERNING CHRIST. [PART I. Matt. ii. 5 — 7. wlien-ho-liad-gntlicred-'nll the cliicf-priests nnd scribes of-the pcoplo--togcthcr, he-demanded of them U whei-t\t'hi-ist shDiihl-be-horn. And they'said unto-him, In Bethlelieni ol'Jiulsea; for thus it-is-wrilten by the projihft, And thou Jjetlilohcm, in the land of-Jiuhi, art not the -least among tlie princes of-Juda: for 7 oiit-uf thee shull-como ii-Goveruor, tliat sball-rule rroi/iava my j)Cople^ Israel. Then Herod, when-he- SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. 4. GATnEBED All. THE CniEP rnlXSTS AND SCnTOES. They were aJJentanh gulkired toi/ether to condemn him, Lu. xxii. GG, § 89. — Scribes, called ' Doctors of the law,' v. 17, § Z2.—AUo Lawyers, lit. iiii. 35, § 85, i>. 7:i0. 5. Betiileiiesi op JrDXA. JosepJi went fo his own ci/i/, i^c., Lu. ii. 4, § 4, p. as.— See also Tcr. 6, § i*., p. 34. C. GOTEBNOK, THAT SHALL RULE. Mi. V. 1 — 3. — This JiropheCI) invites to the future gathering of Israel, ver. 1, 'Now gatiier thyscH' in troops.' — it recognises the past desolation of Jerusalem, 'lie liutli laiil siege against us.' — intimates the cause of the Jews being given up to the terrors of the Itoman siege, ' They shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.' — The prophecy then goes back to his birth, and the pvrpose for which he came into the tvorld, ver. 2, 'But thou, Beth-lehcm Ephratah, though tliou be Uttle among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel;'— wc/t was his origin as man ; but he is also God, ' whose goings forth have been from of old.' — Having stated the cause of the Jews being given up, it is intimated, that so they would be left, until the people of promise had been gathered unto their King, when the remnant of his brethren, the Jews, shall return to the children of Israel, ver. 3, 'Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaUeth hath brought forth : then the remnant of his bretlu'cn shall retiu'n unto the children of Israel.' Rule, or 'feed.' Vs. Ixxviii. 71, .2, 'From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel liis inheritance. 72, So ho fed them according to the integrity of liis heart ; and guided them by tlie sliilfulncss of his hands.' — Is. xl. 11, 'He shall feed liis Hock like a shepherd.' — Jer. xxiii.; Eze. xxxiv. 23 — .5, 'And I wUl set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David ; ho shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. 21, And I the Loud will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them ; I the LoiiD have spoken it. 25, And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and wUl cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land : and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.' — xxxvii. 21 — .0, 'And David my servant shall be king over them ; and they all shall have one shepherd : tlioy shall also walk in my judgments, and obseiTC my statutes, and do them. 25, And they shall dwell in the land that I liave given unto Jacob my ser- vant, wherein your fathers have dwelt ; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their cliilth'cn, and then- children's cluldi'cn for ever: and my servant David sJiall be their prince for ever.' — Ps. c., 'Make a joyful noise unto the LoiiD, all ye lands. 2, Sei-ve the LoKD with gladness : come before his presence with singing. 3, Know ye that the Lord he is God : it is he tJtat hath made us, and not we ourselves ; we are his people, and the sheep of ids pasture. 4, Enter into liis gates with thanksgivuig, and into his com-ts with praise : be thankful unto him, and bless liis name. 5, For the Lokd is good ; his mercy is everlasting ; and his truth endureth to all genei-ations.' — Christ, the good Shepherd, who gave his life for the sheep, Jno. x. 11, § 55, p. 518 — other sheep than the Jews, ver. 16, § ib. ; ver. 26, § 56, p. 525. Mt people Israel. The name of ' Ammi,' ' jrT people,' ?tad been taken from the house oj Israel, as under the Old Covenant, Hos. NOTES. 4. The chief priests. By the chief pricilshcrc are meant not only the high priest and his deputy, but all those who had passed the ollice, and who still, by com-tcsy, enjoyed the title, and probably wore an Arcliieratlcal robe; also the heads or chiefs of the twenty- fom- chisses into which David had divided the sacerdotal families, 1 Chr. xxiii. C ; xxiv. ; 2 Chr. viii. 14 ; Ezr. viii. 24. All the mem- bers of the Sanhedrim or gieat Ecclesiastical Coimcil. And scribes. See Addekda, § 25, p. 253. 5. In Bethlehem of Judtea. The word Bethlehem denotes 'house of bread ' — jierhaps given to the place on account of its great fer- tility. It was also called liphralah. Mi. v. 2, a word supposed like- wise to signify fertihty, Ruth iv. 11; Eplu'atli, Ge. slviii. 7. Helhlehem. See OEOOEAPnicAi Notice, p. 5y. By the prophet. The Sanhedrim answered without hesitation. It was settled by prophecy. This prophecy is found in Mi. v. 2. See above, 'GOVERNOR.' The scope of the pro)ihct and of tlie Evan- gelist is the same— namely, to state, that though Bethlcliem be one of the smallest cities of Judah, yet it wUI not be the smallest {i.e., will be the greatest) in celebrity— since out of it shall come forth, &c. The passage in Micah, which was referred to by the Jews thcm- Bclves, as denoting the place of Jesus' birth, clearly intimates, that although he was f o be born in Jiiduh, his dominion slioijd be Israel ; in order to which he had first to ascend unto the Father : ' But thou, Belh-leliem Ephratah, though thou he little among the thousands of Judah, yet otd of thee shall he come forth unto ME that is to be RULEE IN IsEAEL,' Mi. T. 2. — See Nathanael's confession, Jno. i. 49, §10, and the taunt of the chief priests, Mt. xxvii. 42, § 91, 6. In the land of Jiida. The word yfi without the article, joined to the name of a tribe also without the article, denotes the canton or territory assigned to that tribe. In this sense, yij Zn/Soi'Xwp and yij "Ht^BaXt'ip, occur in ch. iv. 15, Therefore, yij 'lov?u does not signify the country of JCDJEA, but the canton or district of the tribe of Judah. T/te princes tfjuda. In Mi. v. 2, it is, ' the thousands of Judah' There is much reason to believe, that each tribe was divided into small portions called thousands, i.e., companies of 1,000 faniiUes ; so the term was sometimes taken to denote the district where they resided: as in England certain small divisions are called hundreds. See Ju. vi. 15, where, instead of my FAMILY is poor in Manasseh, the Hebrew is, 7ny THOUSAND is the meanest in Mtinasseh.—See 1 Sa. x. 19; 1 Chr. xii. 20; Ex. xviii. 25, 'And ]Uoses chose able men out nj all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers oJ thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of fens.' These thousands being petty governments, the apostle renders the viori\ princes or governors, as more intelligible in the Greek tongue than thousands, though hi this case both may signify the same. A Governor. A ndcr. This is one of the characters of the PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS, the precept, ' Cast thy bread upon the waters : fur thou sJmlt find it as by the wise men for the King of the Jews, that they might wor- nn^^„n..,l..„' .A. /».„,„...,.•„,.„.„...,......,. i... r.- .: , ^ ^,,jj, ,,ij^^. ^,,^, by Herod, that he might destroy the lieu- to the after many days.' ' In the morning soio thy seed,' ij-c, Ec. xi. 1, 6, 5 rer. Those who had the mitten word were privileged to dii'cet others to Jesus ; yet, it does not appear that they went themselves. Let U3 hereby be warned, for those who are nearest to the greatest means of grace may be the farthest from the right use of them. The same investigation may be made from very different motives, 52 Mark i. 1, § 7, p. 78. throne of David, which throne he had himself usurped. 6 ver. That may be little in men's esteem, which, in the eye of God, may be far from being the least, as was the case with the small political division of Bethlehem of Judah, out of which the kmg, not only of the Jews, but of ' all Israel,' was to proceed. Zuie ii. 39, p. 56. John i. 1, § 7, p. 73. [ 5, [SECT. V. PART i.j THE MAGI WORSHIP CHRIST. Matt. ii. 8. had-'privily-called the wise-men, enquired--of tlicnr-diligcntly vKntftwdi Trap (wtojv wliul' time tlie star 8 appeared. And he-sent them to Bethlehem, (u/if-snid, Go (u/d-search diligently ibr the youn"-cliild ; and when ye-have-found /ti/n, bring-'me' -word-again, that I-'may-come a //d -worship him'-also. T/ie Mar/i worship) Christ, and return home. — Matt. ii. 9 — 12. At Bethlehem. 9 When they' had-hcard the king, they-departed ; and, lo, the star, which they-saw in the east, went- 10 before them, till it-came and-stooA. over where the young-child was. When -they-saw the star, tlicy- 11 rejoiced-with exceeding great joy. And when-they-wero-come into the house, tlioy-saw tvpov the young- child with Mary his„raother, and fell-down, «//(/-wors'hipped him : and wheu-they-had-opcued their^treasures, SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. i. 6 — 9, ' And she poiK-civecl again, and tare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call liei' name Lo-ruliaiiiali : for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel ; but I will utterly tatc them away. 7, But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, anil will save thera by the LoBD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen. 8, Now when she had weaned Lo-ndiamah, she conceived, and bare a son. 9, Then eaid Ood, Call liis name Lo-ararai: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your Gorf.' — hut it was to he restored under ilie Neu\ ver. 10, .1, 'Yet the number of the cliildren of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered ; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Te are not my people, there it shall be said unto them. Ye are the sons of the living God. 11, Then shall the cliilcben of Judah and the childi-cn of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land : for great shall he the day of Jezreel.' — ii. 19 — 23, 'And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee imto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovuigkindness, and in mercies. 20, I will even betroth thee unto me in faithful- nesa : and thou shalt know the Loed. 21, And it shall come to pass in that day, I wUl hear, saith the Lokd, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth ; 22, and the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil ; and they shall hear Jezreel. 23, And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy ; and I will say to them which iccre not my people. Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.'— to be re-married to the Lord under the gospel, .Tc. iii. 11 — .4, ' And the LOHD said unto me, Tlie backslitUng Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah. 12, Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LoKD ; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you : for I am mereifid, saith the Lokd, and I will not keep anger for ever. 13, Only acknow- ledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Loed thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers imder every green tree, aud ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the Loed. 14, Turn, O backshding children, saith the LoED ; for I am married unto you : and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion.'— See of the Lord stihsequenl/y ruling his people, ver. 15— .7, 'And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and under- standing. 16, And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those d.ays, saith the Loed, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the Loed : neither sliall it come to mind : neither shall they remember it ; neither shall they visit if; neither shall that be done any more. 17, At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Loed ; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the Loed, to Jerusalem : neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.' — and of Judah being then added vnto them, ver. 18, .9, 'In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inlieritance unto your fathers. 19, But I said, How sliall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father ; and shalt not turn away from me.' 8. Go AND SEAECH DILIGENTLY. See such as Herod descrihed, his pride, cruelty, and deceit, Vs. x. 4 — 10. — his icords, Iv. 21, ' The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart : his words were softer than oil, yet were they di'a\vn swords.'— //ie folly of such wisdom, 1 Cor. iii. 19, 20, ' For the wisdom of this world is foohshness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 20, And again, Tho Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.' — overruled, Ps. Ixxvi. 10. They eejoiced. So Elisabeth's cousins, ^-c, Lu. i. 58, § 3, p. 26. 11. WOEsniPPED. See Ps. kxii. 10, .1, .5, 'The kmgs of Tar- shish and of the isles shall bring presents : the kings of Sheba , and Seba shall offer gifts. 11, Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.' 15, 'And he shall NOTES. Mcs»i.ih, who is the King of Jiis people, Jno. xviii. 37, § 90. The word rule here means to rule .as a shepherd does his flock, in faitlifidncss and tenderness. — Compare Jno. x. 11, § 55, p. 518; Is. xl. 10, .1, ' Behold, the Lord GoD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. 11, He shall feed his Jlock like a shepherd,' ij'c. — See also ix. 7. 7. Privily. To ascertain the time when Jesus was boru. DiUgenlly. Accm'ately ; exactly. Ho took pains to loam the exact time that the star appeared ; for he wished to know precisely how old the child was. 11. Fell down. Tliis was the usual way of shewing respect or homage among the Jews. — See Est. viii. 3 ; Job i. 20 j Is. xlvi. 6 ; Da. iii. 7. — See also Ps. kxii. 11, ScRir. ILLUS., stipra. Worshipped him. See ScEir. Illus. Opened their treasures. Oijaav^ovs. ' Caskets,' ' chests,' or other receptacles. — See Mt. xii. 35, § 31, p. 295, ' A good man out of the good treasure of the heart,' i'^'c. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. 8, 9 ver. The greatest tyrants have frequently to submit to the meanest actions: as was the case with Herod, who used such cowardly concealment and falsehood in order to make tho wise men the unsuspecting instruments of his tyranny. 9 rer. Those who rightly use the light they have, may expect its continuance and increase, as shewn in the case of the wise men coming to Jerusalem. They had there the tcachuig of the prophets, and thereafter the renewal of the star for farther guidance. 5.] JI/«)/i: i. 1, § 7, p. 78. ii/t<. ii. 39, p. 56. John i. I, ^ 7, p. 73 10, .1 rer. We should neither despise fonncr nssislaiicc because new is given, nor reject the liiiht which more peculiarly belongs to others : had the wise men neglected either the written word, or tho star they had previously seen, it is not likely they would have been led 80 directly, and without being involved in trouble, to pay their homage to the infant Redeemer. Jesus, who hath a right to reign, who is appointed to nJe over Israel, we should, as did tho wise men, servo with our best : wor- 08 SECT, v.] AN ANOKL APPEARETH TO JOSEPH. [PAET I. ]\rATT. ii. 12. 12 tlicy-prescntcd unto-bim gifts; gold, nnd frankincense, nud myn-li. And being-Wiiroed-q/'-6'of/ in a-diciim tliat-thcy-slioiild-'nnf-retiim to Ilerod, tlicy-departed into tlieir-own^country another way. (G. 13.) Joscj)h is learned to flee with the infant Jesus and Mary into Efjrjpt ; thcij depart hij ni;/ht. Matt. ii. 13 — .5. From Bethlehem. 13 .And \vlion--tbcy-were-departed, behold, the-angel of-the-Lord appoareth to'Ioscph in a-drcam, saying, SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. live, ami lo him slinll be givoii of tlio gold of Slicba : prayer also shoU be iiinde for liim coutimially; and daily ehall he be praised.' — Jno. T. 23, § 23, 'AU men should honour the Son, even aa they honour the Father.'— *ad leen predicted, Ge. xlix. S, 'Thy father's ehildi-en ehall bow down before thee.' — Confirmation, Ph. ii. 9 — 11, as quoted, Lu. ii. 11, § 4, p. 35, ' CiinisT THE Loud.'— Heb. i. 6, 'And again, when he bringcth in the firslbegottcn into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship hira.'— Examples : By the apostles in tJte ship, Jit. xiv. 33, § -11, p. 382— Jy t/ie women after his resurrection, xiviii. 9, § 95 . p. 96*. -iy the disciples, ver. 16, .7, § 90. p. '.Mi'.l.- not only his brethren, but all creation, will yet harmoniomly join in the worship oj our blessed Redeemer, Rev. v. 8 — I'l, 'And when he had taken the book, the four bea.«ts and four and twenty elders fell down before tlie Lanib, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9, And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to fake the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation ; 10, and hast made us nnto our God kings and priests : and we shall reign on the earth. 11, And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and tlic ciders : and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands ; 12, saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, nnd wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 13, And every creature which is in hcivcn, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, he.ard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 14, And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down nnd worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.' Pkesented unto him SIPts, &c. Oifts were especially presented to prophets, 1 Sa. ix. 6 — 9; 2 ICi. viii. 8. — These lived more immediately upon the providence of God; so the apostles of our Lord were sent forth, 5It. x. 9 — 14, § 39, p. 357 — and required assistance in temporal thinys from those to whom they ministered, ver. 4-0 — .2, § ib.— Jesus himself, as being a prophet, «•«.? thus prorided for, Lu. viii. 2, 3, § 30, p. 289. — Paul vindicates his claim, cf'c., 1 Cor. ix. II, ' If we have sown unto you spiritual tilings, is it a gi'cat thing if we shall reap your carnal things?' — yet would not receive front the Corinthians, 2 Ep. xi. S— 12— althouyh he did from the I'hilip- plans, Phil. iv. 15 — .8. Gold. May have more respected the kingly office, and frankin- cense and myiTli the priesthood of Christ. — Such offerings yet to be from the East, Ps. kxii. 10, .5, as quoted, p. 53, supra, 'WoRsairrED.' —Jesus is ' The Christ ; ' the anointed Propliet, King, and Priest. 12. In a deeam. Dream of Abimelech, Ge. xx. 3, G — of the butler, &c., xl. 5, 8, 12, .8— a?so oj Pharaoh, xli. 15, 25.— Me Lord expressly declares that he would sometimes thus reveal himself, Nu. xii. 6, ' j\jid he said, Hear now my words : If there be a prophet among you, I the LOKD wiU make myself known imto liini in a vision, a»d will speak imto him in a dream.' — 'A dream.' Py this word are to be understood those images whicJi are formed in tlte imagination while toe are asleep. They are — I. 'Natural,' Ec. v. 7, 'For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.' — II. 'Divine:' God shewed Jacob the mysterious ladder, Ge. xxviii. 12 — .4, ' And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top ol it reached to heaven : and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.' For ver. 13, .4, see, ( quoted, Lu. i. 45, § 2, p. 19, ' Pee- FOBAIANCE.')— Jo.sr/)A was early forewarned, Ge. xxxvii. 4 — 6, 'And when liis brethren saw that then- father loved him more than all his brethivn, they hated liim, and could not speak peaceably unto Mm. 5, And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his bretlu-eu : and they hated him yet the more. G, And he said imto them. Hear, I pray you, tliis dream which I have dreamed.' — and Kebuchadnezzar, see Da. ii. — and oJ his abasement, ch. iv. — And III. ' Diabolical and sinful,' as De. xiii. 1, 3, 5, ' If tliere arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, aud givcth thee a sign or a wonder,' 3, ' thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams : for the Lord yom' God proveth you, to know ■whether ye love the Loed your God with all voiu- heart and with all your soul.' 5, ' And that NOTES. They presented unto him gifts. Agreeably to the oriental custom (still existing), of never appearing before a king, or any great per- sonage, without ofTering him gifts ; usually the choicest productions of the country of the giver. It was cuslomai-y, at the bu'th of a prince, to shew respect for him by making him presents, or olferings ot this kind, and to approach a gi'cat personage with gifts. — See Ge. xxxii. 13 — .5 ; 1 Sa. ix. 7, 8 ; x. 27 ; 1 Ki. x. 2, the queen of Sheba * came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones,' c\'c. The gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh, might bo no mere ceremonial offering, but to Joseph and Mary a most seasonable provision for them in their long jom'ney which was so soon to follow. Gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. It is evident from the gifts wliich the wise men presented, that they considered the infant as a royal child. If they )iad judged li'om appearance only, a citron, a rose, or even the least gift, would have been suillcient for the infant of the poor Mary. But, mean as his appearance was, they treated him as a royal child : and even after they discovered the poverty of his paivnts, they presented him with presents of the richest kind. Frankincense. This was a production of Ai'abia. It was a yellowish-wliite resin or giun, of a bitter taste. It was obtained fi'om a tree by makmg incisions m the bark, and suffering the gum to flow out. It was higUy odoriferous or fragrant when bmmed, and was therefore used in worship, where it was burned as a pleasant oflSring to God. — See Ex. xxx. 7, 8, as quoted, Lu. i. 11, § 1, p. 7, 'Altar OP INCENSE.' It is produced in the East Indies and Arabia. Myrrh. A precious kind of gum, procured, in the same manner as franlduccuse, from a tree growing in Egypt, Ai'abia, and Abyssinia. Its name denotes bitterness ; but its smell, though strong, is not disagreeable. Among the ancients it entered into the composition of the most costly ointments : and as a perfume, it appears to have been used to give a pleasant fragrance to vestments ; and was much used to embalm the dead. Jno. xix. 39, § 92, ' And there came also Nicodemus, . . . and brought a mixture of myrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.' 12. Another way. 'They bent back their course.' rKACTICAL REFLECTIONS. eliil)ping him as God, nnd acknowledging liim as our Prophet, Priest, nnd King. 12 ctr. Tliose who, in BimpUcity, follow the direction of heavenly u wisdom, will be likely to find flicu- guide fully a match for the most crafty. 2 — 12 ver. The wise men were led in such a way as to teach them 3/B»*i. 1, § 7, p. 78. iifi-e ii. 39, p. 56. Jo/ih i. 1, § 7, p. 73. [5. PART I.] 'Me massacre or the children. [sect, f Matt: ii. U— .5. Arise, (a/d-take tlie young-child and his^mother, and flee into Egypt, and be-tliou there until I-brin"-- 14 thee'-word : for Herod will seek the young-child^ to-destroy him. When he 'arose, he-took tjie voun"^"- 15 child and his^mother by-night, and departed into Egypt: and was there luilil the deatli of-IJcnid: tliat it-might-be-fulfillcd which 'was-spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out-of Egypt havc-I-called my^son. T/te massacre of the children. — Matt. ii. 10 — .8. At Bethlehem and Rama. 16 Then Herod, when-he-saw that he-was-mocked of the wise-men, was-'exceeding"-wroth, and sent-forth ai/d-iAnw all the children that' were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two-A'cars-old and 17 under, according-to the time which he-had-diligently-enquired of the wise-men. Then was-fulfillcd tliat' 18 which-was-spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying. In llama was-thcre-'a-voice'-heard, lamentatifju, and wecping-yor her^ children, and would not be-comfortcd, because wccpuig, and great mourning, llachel thcy-are not. SCRirXUIlE ILLUSTRATIONS, prophet, or that dreamer of dreaius, shall he put to death; ; hand the LoED brought you out from [\ns place : there ehall nci because he hath spokeu to tiu'n yoti away from the Lord yoiu- leavened bread be eaten.' — Jesus, the true Firsfboni, fulfilled the God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed case of the people he represented, Is. Ixiii. 9, 'In all tlicir adlictioit you out of the house of bondage, to tlu-ust thee out of the way which the Lokd thy God commanded thee to walk hi. So shalt thou put the evil away fi'ora the midst of thee.' — such dreamers were to be put to decMi, and Jeremiah exclaims against such, Xiiii. 32, 'Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the Lokd, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by theii- lies, and by theu- lightness ; yet I sent them not, nor com- manded them : therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the Louv.'—Iiut see oh Mt. i. 20, § 2, p. 23. 15. Out op Egtpt. Hos. xi. 1, ' "When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.' — the Lord encouraged Jacob to rjo down into Eggpt, Ge. xlvi. 3, 4, 'And he said, I am God, the God of thy father : fear not to go down into Egypt; for I wUl there make of thee a great nation : 4, I wUl go down with thee into Egypt ; and I will also surely bring thee up again : and Joseph shall put liis hand upon tliine eyes.' — lie thence brought out Israel as his firstborn, Ex. xii. 51, 'And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the Lord did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their ai-mies.' — xiii. 2, 3, 'Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever opcueth the womb among the ehildi'eu of Israel, botli of man and of beast : it is mine. 3, And Moses said imto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage j for by sti-ength of he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them : hi his love and m Ins pity he redeemed them ; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.' — This sympathy rri-inplificd in the bringing out of Egypt, 10 — .4, 'But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spu-it : therefore he was turned to bo tlieir enemy, and he fought agamst them. 11, Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying. Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock ? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him? 12, That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious ann, dividing the water before llicm, to make liimself an everlasting name ? 13, that led them througli the deep, as an horse in the wilderness, that they should not stumble ? 14, As a beast goetli Aovm into the valley, the Spirit of. the Lokd caused him to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name.' 16. Wkotu. See this case described, Vr. xxvii. 3, 4, ' A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both. 4, Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy ? ' — xxviii. 15, ' As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear ; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.' — See of Nebuchadnezzar against Shadrach, Sfc, Da. iii. 13, .9, 20. 18. Bacuel wtemno for heb childeen. Je. rxxi. 15, ' Thus saith the Lokd ; A voice was heard in Eamah, lamentation, a«<>.5utsidcs, these hills are surrounded by deep valleys, and, by reason of the precipices belonging to them on both sides, are everywhere impass- alilc. A\'e find mention made of ten or eleven gates of it, whicli we Blippose were situated in the following manner : the sheep-gate, near to which was the shcep-mai-kel, on the north-east and northward of the temple; ihc fish-gale, at some considerahlo distance to the westward ; the old gate, or gate of Damascus, still farther westward, and which is perhaps the same as the high gale of Benjamin; the gate of Uphraim, on the north-west j the valley-gate, at the west end; the dung-gate, on the south-west ; east from it the /o»h/«(h- gate; on the south-cast corner, the water-gate; and at the east end, BOHth of the temple, the horse-gale, and the Bliphkad or prison-gate. The walls round Jerusalem never seem to have been above four miles and a half, if they were anciently so much. On these walls towers were built ; 2 Chr. xxvi. 9, ' Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turn- 08 Matt. iu. 1, § 7, p. 78. Mark i. 1, ibid. Luke U. 10, § C, p. 63. John i. 1, § 7, p. 73. ing of the wall, and fortified them;' the towci- of Meah on the east, of Ilananeel on the north-cast, Ne. xii. 39 (and in tlio future restora- tion of Jei-usalcm, Ilananeel is referred to, Zee. xiv. 10), of llattan- ourim or the furnaces on the west, and of Ophel on the south. The city had but a moderate supply of water, and what it had was brackish. Kor was the country around it proper for digging wells. Solomon brought water, by an aqueduct, from the country south of Bethlehem ; — the remains of the pools or resci-voirs are the wonder and admu-ation of all modern travellers. In order to prevent Sen- nacherib's army having plenty of water iu the siege, Ilezekiah brought the stream of Gilion, which used to nm along the south of the city, into it, and caused it to run straight eastward, 2 Clir. xxxii. 3, 4 ; (2 Ki. XX. 20). POate brought water fi-om Dtam, by an aqueduct, into the city. It is said that no trees except rose- bushes grew there; that fire being not much used in it, except of charcoal, there were no chimneys in it, any more than latticed whi- dows. Ilaving become the residence of the symbols of the Divine presence, or the holy city, Jerusalem became as it were common to all the tribes of Israel; they visited it thrice a year at the solemn feasts ; at the feast of the passover nearly 3,000,000 of people have lodged iu it ; and it was every wliit as capable to lodge them all in houses or tents, as Sleeca, wliich contains but about 1,000 families, is able to lodge 70,000 when the caravans go thither. Under Reho- boam, it was taken and pillaged by Shishak, 2 Chr. xii. 2 — 9. Under Amaziah, it was taken by Joash, king of Israel, 2 Ki. xiv. ; 2 Chr. XXV. No doubt the Assyrians took it in the tune of Mauasseh, 2 Chr. xxxiii. 11, ' Wherefore the LonD brought npon them the cap- tains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound hhn xi'ith fetters, and carried him to Babylon' Pharaoh-necho entered it ; but we do not find that he plundered it when he made Jehoiakun king, eh. xxxvi. Nebuchadnezzar ravaged it oftener than onee. After a siege of about two years, he com- mitted terrible ravages, iu the 11th of Zedekiah's reign, razing the fortifications, setting flames to the temple, and carrying away tho inhabitants to add to the population of Babylon ; 2 Ki. xxiv., xxt. ; 2 Chr. xxxvi. ; Je. lii. Seventy years afterward they were restored, and Zorobabel began to rcbiuld the sacred structure. After it had lain almost in ruins about 136 years, Neheniiah, together with Eliasliib the high-priest, and a great nmnher of others, repaired its walls, and it became populous, as in former times. Alexander the Great became master of it by the voluntary submission of the people, and offered sacrifices in the temple. Long after, Ptolemy took it by stratagem, and carried off 100,000 of the inhabitants to Egypt, whom he settled iu ^ilexanch-ia and Cyrene. Antiochus Epiphancs ravaged it, and murdered about 40,000, and sold as many more to be slaves. He profaned the temple by sacrificing a swine on the altar, and making broth of its fiesh, which he spruikled about the Holy place ; and ho set up the image of Jupiter in the temple. Two years after, ApoUonius took it, and mm-dercd nudtitudes of the uihabitants. Many of the survivors left it to the heathen and thcii- idolatries. Judas Maecabffius re-took it, and buUt n thu-d part on the -north side, which was chiefly inhabited by artificers. Pompey the Roman took it about sixty-three years before om- Saviour's birth. About twcnty-fom- years after, it was taken by Sosius the Roman, and Herod, surnamed ' the Gmat.'^See ' Hehod,' p. 62. At the time of our Lord, the city and temple existed in great magnificence, havuig been richly beautified and extended by Herod ; ncvertlieless it was doomed to destruction. Of the temple, our Lord declared that not one stone should be left npon another. — See Sect. Ixxivi.p. 700. At that time it was governed by the Romans. Judu;a revoltuig from the Roman yoke, Jerusalem was besieged by Titus, captured, and totally destroyed, A.i>. 70, wlien 97,000 persons were taken prisoners, and 110,000 perished. Reflecting OD its former beauty, riches, and glory, Titus could not forbear weeping, and cursuig the obstinacy of the seditious Jews, who forced hiui, against his inclination, to destroy so magnificent a city, and such a glorious temple as was not to be paralleled in the whole world.— iSef Sect. Ixxxvi. p. 801. About a.d. 130, or a Uttle later, Atliian begar r-lUX I.] BETHLEHEir. JEErsALEit — continued. a new city on the ruins of the oUl (wliieh is supposed to be the present one), and expelled every Hebrew : he made it death for any of them to enter it ; and erected a temple to Jupiter on the site of the true temple. The name of the city was changed to ^lia, so that its ancient name was efitirely forgotten, until the days of Constantine, in whose reign the Jews were again permitted to enter the holy city once a year to wail over the ruins of their ancient sanctuary. Constantine, and his mother Helena, had the honour of restoring here the worship of the one living and true God, about A.I>. 326. About A.D. 363, Julian, the apostate emperor, to falsify our Saviour's prediction, encouraged tlie rebuilding of the city and temple ; but fiery earthquakes stopped them. About a.d. 614, CosrJioes II., king of Persia, took Jerusalem, when 90,000 of the Christian inhabitants were sacrificed to the malice of the Jews, and everything venerated by the Clu-istians was demolished ; but [SECT. T. from them. In 1099, Godfrey of Bouillon, with liis European croisades, wrested it from these, and the standard of the cross was triumphantly displayed upon its walls. In 1187, Saladin, the sultan of Egypt, took it from the Cluistian croisades. In 1517, the Ottoman Turks took it from the Egyptians, and it still con- tinues under the Turkish dominion, ' trodden dovra of the Gentiles,' (lu. xxi. 24, ' And the;/ shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations : and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled,') in Hteral fulfihnent of oiu- Lord's predictions. — .See Sect. Ixxxvi. The Jeecsalem of sacred history is, in fact, no more. Not a vestige remains of the capital of David and Solomon ; not a monument of Jewish times is standing. The veiy course of the walls is changed, and the boundaries of the ancient city arc become vei-y doubtful. The monks impose on the credidous, and make a it was quickly retaken by Heraclius the Eoman Emperor, who ; gain of pretended sites for every remarkable event connected with retm-ned tlie Jewish malice upon theu- own heads. In a.d. 637, tlie ancient history of this most interestuig city; a visit to which, the Arabic Saracens, under the Caliph Omar, the third in succession superstitious minds make meritorious, to weigh with their good from Jlahomet, seized on it. In 1077, the Seljukian Turks took it I works as a right to salvation. — Continued, 5 § vi. xxiii. pp. C7, S.Tl. BETHLEHEM. BETni.inEM (continued from p. 47). — At tlie eastern extremity of the town, like a citadel, stands the convent of Saint Giovanni, which contains 'the church of the Xativity.' This convent is divided among the Greek, Roman, and Armenian Christians, to each of whom are assigned separate portions, as well for lodging as for places of worsliip ; and who, on certain days, all perform tlieii- devotions at the altars which ai'e erected over the most memorable spots within these sacred walls. The monastciT is said to have been built by the Empress Helena, over the spot on wliieh our blessed Saviour was honi ; she having previously swept away a heathen temple built in the tune of Adi'ian in contempt of Christianity. Externally, it has less tjie appearance of an ecclesiastical, than a defensive, edifice. Its hold buttresses, and small grated windows, betoken a great regard to inward secm-ity ; while its low and iron- bound portal, too narrow to allow more than one person to pass at a time, seems intended to prevent the once daring custom of the Arabs, of riding into the interior of religious houses, for the purpose of violence and spohation. The whole structure is of extreme solidity, and appears capable of resisting all modes of assault short of a vigorous cannonade. From the roof of the monastei-y is an extensive view of spots endeared to the heart of the Cliristian. In the distance, eastward, are the mountains of Moab, and the plains of Jordan ; wliile southward is the liill of TeVoah, from which the sun'ounding wilderness takes its name, familiar as the scene of the pastoral life of the prophet Amos. — See ch. i. 1, ' The words of Amos, who teas among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the dags of Vzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash Mng of Israel, two years before the earthquake.' (B.C. 786.) And vii. 14, ' Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son ; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycamore fruit,'- — Beyond, and rather more towards the east, hes the wilder- ness of Engedi, to wliieh David retreated for concealment from the pursuit of Saul; 1 Sa. xxiii. 29, 'And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Un-gedi;' and where the allied armies of the Amorites, Moabites, and others encamped, when they came forth against Jehoshaphat king of Judah ; 2 Chr. xx. 1, 2, ' // came to jiass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came '"I'linst Jehoshaphat to battle. 2, Then there came some that told J'/iushaphal, saying. There Cometh a great multitude against thee fniiii beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Jliizaxon-tamar, which is Hn-gedi ;' and nearer at hand, a little iiHire to the south, is seen the spot which tradition assigns a- that wherein there were 'shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.' Many of the surrounding hills arc thinly clothed with fig and olive trees, and here and there are traces of scanty corn growth. In the more distant parts of the picture, a brown and sterile appearance pervades the surface both of hill and plain, betokening that the liand of God is withdrawn for 5.] Matt. ui. 1, § 7, p. 78. Mark i. 1, ibid. Luke ii. 40, § C, p. 63. John i. 1, § 7, p. 73. a season fi'om the once luxuriantly productive soil. Among these hills, and in these valleys, the sweet Psahnist of Israel once tended liis father's flock : and amid these scenes did the Almighty uei-ve the arm of his youtlifid servant, who said unto Saul, 1 Sa. xvii. 34, .5, ' Thy servant kept his father s sheep, and there came a lion^ and a bear, and took a lamb out of tlie flock : 35, an(l I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth ; and when he arose against me, I caught liim by his beard, and smote him, and sleic 7ilm.' The church of the Nativity is a fine spacious building, and the rows of Corintliian columns arc substantial masses of gi*anitc. This is called the upper chiu-ch, and is in the form of a Latin cross ; it contains nothing worthy of particular notice, except some paintings of Scripture subjects, rude, and apparently ancient ; and a star in the floor, immediately under that part of the heavens, where the star of Bethlehem, it is said, became visible to the Wise Men, and directly above the grotto, or place of the Nativity, in the church below. It is the church undergi'ound which absorbs all interest, especially in minds possessing credulity enough to find the actual place of the nativity, amidst the paintings and gildings and lamps, in which the ehm-ch of Bome has disguised the humble realities which she professes to venerate. The entrance to this grotto (as all such places are called) is by a (light of narrow steps cut in the rock ; the grotto is of small dimensions, about thii'ty feet long and twelve feet broad, not very lofty, and the roof is supported by a single column. It receives no light from without, being also cut in the rock ; but is illuminated by a great number of suspended lamps, presented by various princes of Clu-istendom. There are here also several good paintings by the fu-st artists. The alleged scene of tho nativity of the Eedccmcr is designated by a tawdi-y altar, above which massive silver lamps are kept continually burning. The precise spot where Immanucl, having laid aside his glorj-, first appeared in human natiu-e, is indicated by a circle of agate and jasper, s>ir- rounded with a silver glory, or halo, with the following inscription : — ' Hie de Virgine Maria Jesus Christus natus est.' In a crypt on one side, into which there is a descent of one or two steps, is exliibitcd a manger, entirely composed of white marble, retaining its supposed original form, upon which stand large silver candlesticks, with wax tapers constantly burning. Immediately opposite is another altar, illuminated with lamps like the former, where, it is said, the wise men of the East sat, \\heii they came to worship ; and in another crypt is an altar ivpresciiting the table on which they offered their gifts. Desceuding still further, by a winding passage of some length (cut in the rock), arc two similar grottos : one said to be that in which Ilcrod caused the chiUhvn of Beth- lehem to be Diassacreil ; and the other, the cave in which St. Jerome is said to ha^c made his Latin traii.-lalion of the liiblc. All this is only a miseiable profanation, calculated to call up, in tlie truly devout Cliriftian, mingled feelings of sorrow and indignation. 59 SECT, v.] ADDENDA. 'ON THE VISIT OF TUE MAOI.* [PART t. BETnLEHEM A ceremony connected with tlio niidniglit masa of tlio Romish churcli lit Chii.-tmiis, as pcrformcil in the gi-otlo of the nativity, is thus dosciiliod by a member of that church; — 'At miilniglit, at the hour of salvation, wlicn, in all the Catholic churches iu the world, the infant Jesus receives tho homage of all liiitlilid Christians, the rcvcrcud father warden opens tho procession, and advances with slow step, his head bowed, and i-evcrcnl ially carrying in his arms tho "infant Jesus" (or, as we should say, the idolatrous representa- tion of him). On reaching tlic very spot of the nativity, the deacon, witli deep devotion, chants tho gospel. ^Vhen he comes to the worvis, "and wrapped him in swaddling clothes," he receives tlie infant fi-om tho hands of the father warden, wraps him in swadilliiig clothes, lays liim in a manger, falls on his knees and worships.' — {What I wo ask.*) 'At lliat moment,' coutmucs Baron Geramb, tho Komish narrator, ' there Hashes into tlic soul something sxipcr- nntural, I may venture to call it, judging from what I have witnessed — from what I myself have felt. Piety ceases to find a Toico to express its gi-atitude, its love : it speaks only in the melting language of the eyes, in sighs and tears.' Those who know what it is to live iu tlic habitual exercise of faith by the power ot tho Holy Ghost, will smile witli pityuig concern, at that morbid piety which displays itself in sighs and tears, amidst the cliildish stage-play of such a scene as tliis. Tho tendency of man's natural heart, is to walk by sight and not by faith ; and to this corrupt tendency, tho chmch of Rome ministers in all her externals. All — continued. these tilings suggest an idea of littloicsG utterly beneath the regard of simple c'M'istian faitli, which absorbs tho soul on the sacred eito of B£rin-i;i.'EJl. What a mighty influence for good lias gone forth from this little spot upon the human race, both for time and for eternity ! It is impossible to approach the place without a feclmg of deep emotion, springing out of those high and holy associations. The legends and puerilities of monastic tradition may safely be disregarded : it is enough to know that tliis is BEinLEnEii, 'the city ot David,' and where David's greater Sou, Jesus tho Redeemer, Christ the Saviour of the world, was boi-n. For eighteen hundred seasons the earth has now renewed her carpet of verdure, and seen it again decay. Yet the skies and fields, the rocks and the hills, and the valleys around, remain unchanged; and arc still the same as when tlio glory of tho Lord shone round about, and the song of the multitude of the he.ivenly host rcsoimded among the lulls, proclauuuig 'Glory to God iu the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.' This once highly privileged city now presents a sad pictiu-e of filth, poverty, and ruinous desolation; tlius to remain while under the grasp of Mohammedan dominion. But there is a day coming — and we think not far distant — when tlie glory so long departed from the land sliall return with renewed lustre, and gatlicred Israel, with the now dispersed of Judah, shall chant lorth the promised anthem, ' Blessed he he that cometh in the name of tho LoED.' — A Pastor's Memorial of a Visit to iJie Eohj Land, pp. 225— .36. ' Eamah (no'i. a high }>!ace, hcighl. Sept., 'Pn/i«). — The name of several towns and villages in Palestine, which it is not, in ail cases, easy to distinguish from one another. ' RAMAn, a town of Benjamin (Jos. xviii. 25), in the vicinity of Gibeah and Ceba (Ju. xix. 13; Is. x. 29; IIos. v. 8; Ezr. ii. 26; Nc. vii. 30 ; xi. 33), on the way from Jerusalem to Bethel (Ju. iv. 5), and not far from the confines of tlie two kingdoms (1 Ki. xv. 17). It is also mentioned in Je. xxxi. 15 ; si. 1. Jerome places it six Roman miles north of Jerusalem ; and Joscphus, who calls it 'PajiaOiov, places it forty stadia fi-om Jerusalem (Aiitiq., viii. 12, .3). In accordance with all these intimations, at the distance of two hom-s' jouniey north of Jerusalem, upon a hill a little to the cast of the great nortlicrn road, a village still exists under the name of Er-liam, in which we cannot hesitate to recognise tho representative of the ancient Eamah. This is one of the valuable identifications for which biblical geography is indebted to Dr. Robinson {Researches, Tol. ii. pp. 315— ..7). Tho difficult text (Je. xxxi. 15), " A voice teas heard in liamalt . . . Sahcl weeping for her children," which tho evangelist (Mt. ii. 18.) transfers to the massacre at Bethlehem, has been thought to require a southern Ramah, not far from that place, near which indeed is Rachel's sepulchre. But no such Ramah has been found ; and Dr. Robinson thinks that the allusion of the pro- phet was originally applicable to this Ramah. The context refers to the exiles carried away captive by Ncbuzar-adan to Babylon, who passed by way of Ramah, which was perhaps their rendezvous (Je. xl. 1). As Ramah was in Benjamin, the prophet introduces Rachel, the mother of that tribe, bewailing the captivity of her descendants. ... In the midst of all the uncertainty. Dr. Robinson tliiuks that interpreters may yet be driven to the conclusion, that the city where Saul found Samuel (1 Sa. ix. 10) was not Ramah his home.' — Kiltd's Biblical Cijcloi>adia, Art. ' RiiTAn.' Galilee. — See ' HLitoriral Sketch,' &c., p. xi. Nazareth.- See Sect. ii. p. 21,. ADDENDA. ON THE VISIT OF 'When tlie Magi were come to Jerusalem, Herod, having privately sent for them, fiKpifiMai mtp' nunov riv xpovov roS y to us, or do with us. 6.] lifalt. iii. 1, § 7, p. 78. ^farl■ i. 1, ibid. John i. 1, § ib., p. 73. fiS SECT. VI.] JESUS IS TAKEN TO JERUSALEM. Luke ii. 41 — .3. [PAET I. 41 liim. Now liis.pnrcnts wont to Jerusnlcm every yenr nt-tlie feast of-tlio passovcr. 48 And when lie-was 43 twelve years-old, tliey wenl-np to Jerusalem alter tlie custom of-the feast. And whcn-tliey-liad-fulfilled SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. and his fonn more than the sons of men : 15, so shall he sjirinkle mony nations ; the kings shall sliut tluir nioiitlis at him : for that wliich hud not been told them slinll they sec; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.'— co>i/(n«a/;on, eh. ii.47, 52, pp. G6, .7 ; Jft. xiii. 51, § 37, p. 3 IG— Col. ii. 3, ' In whom are hid all the tirasures of wisdom and knowledge.'— 7rjs(/o«i/;-o«( ahove, even of Christ crucified, contrasted Kith world/i/ mijidom, 1 Cor. i. 17 31 Ja. iii. 15— .7, 'This wisdom dcseendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16, For where envying and strife M, there is eonfusion and cveiy evil work. 17, But the wisdom that is from above is Crst piu-c, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be iiitreated, full of mercy and good Iruiis, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.' — the first of sjnrilual gifts, 1 Cor. xii. 8, ' For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom ; to another the word of knowledge by' the same Spirit.' — compare with Is. xi. 3, „ipra — see also ' AsroxisilED,' ver. 47, p. 66; and compare Pr. iv. 4—9, OS quoted, p. 63, ' the principal thing.' 0EACE OP G-OD WAS tjroM UIM. Represented hij the anointing of .^aTOM, ij-c, Ex. XXX. 30, 'And thoushalt anoint Aaron andliis sons, and consecrate them, that thci/ may minister mUo me in the priest's office.'— Le. viii. 12, ( quoted, vcr. 2G, § 4, pp. 41, .2, ' The Loud's CiiRlST')-com;)nre with Vs. exxxiii. 1, 2,— see ibid.; Is. xlii. 1 — i, •Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my Boul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. 2, He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to bo heard in the street. 3, A bruised reed bIiuU ho not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench : he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. 4, He shall not liiil nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth : and the isles shall wait for his law.'— Ixi. 1—3, 'The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me ; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken- hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound ; 2, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God ; to comfort all that mourn ; 3, to appoint uuto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness ; that tliey might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LoED, that ho might be glorified.'— ///syeop^e ^0 he found as having his grace upon them, ver. 9, 10, 'And their seed shall bo known among the Gentiles, and their oflspring among the people : all that see them shall acknow- ledge them, that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed. 10, I will gi'eatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful ui my God ; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of right- eousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorncth herself with her jewels.' — and manifesting th( same in their conduct, Iviii. 7 — 9, ' Is it not to deal thy bread to tlie hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house ? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him ; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh ? 8, Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go belore Ihec; the glory of the Lord sliall be thy rereward. 9, Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer ; thou shalt cry, and he shall say. Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and spcaldng vanity.' — after the example of the grace of our Lord, 2 Cor. viii. 9, ' For ye know the grace ot our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakcs he became poor, that ye tlu*ough Ids poverty might be rich.' — a sweet smelling savour, Eph. v. 1, 2, ' Be ye therefore loUowers of God, as dear children ; 2, and walk in love, as Clu-ist also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.' — Ph. iv. 8, 'Finally, brethren, what- soever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoewer things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever tlungs are oi good report ; ii there be any vii-tue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.' 41. Went to Jeritsalem. This rejoiced in, Ps. cxxii. — pre- dicted as to both Israel and Judah, Je. 1. 4, 5, (quoted, Lu. i. 79, § 3, p. 32, ' Guide') -Zee. viii. 20— .2, (quoted, Lu. ii. 15, § 4, p. 37, 'Now go,' &e.)—true worship of God at Jerusalem was for a time to cease, Juo. iv. 21, § 13, p. 139 — Paul went thither bound in the spirit, knowing that bonds and imprisonments awaited him there, Ac. XX. 22— .4. Passover. Instituted upon the escape of Israel, the Zord^s first- born, out of Etjgpt, Ex. xii. — the paschal lamb, ver. 3 — G, ' Speak thirty years of his life. The design of the Evangehsts was to give an account of his public ministry, and not his privsite life. Hence they say little of him in rcg.ard to his first years. AVhat they rfo Bay, however, corresponds entirely with wl\at we might expect. He was wise, pure, and deeply skilled in tlic knondedge of the Divine law. He set a lovely example for all children ; was subject to his parents, and increased in favour with God and man. 41. Hverg gear. Men went three times a year to Jerusalem, viz., at the feasts of tlio paasover, pentccost, and tabcniaeles, De. xvi. 16; but women were not obliged to go to the passovcr; this was quite a voluntary thuig in Mary, wliieh discovers her piety. At the feast of the passorer. It was instituted to be observed every year, to prcsei-ve the memory among the children of Israel, of their deliverance from Egyptian bondage, where they had sojourned, according to God's word, 'WO years. — See Gc. xv. 13, .4. The name piissover was given to the feast, because the Lord passed over the NOTES. houses of the Israelites without slaying their firstborn, while those of the Egyptians were cut off, Ex. xii. 21 — 30. — See Addenda, ' Passover,' p. GS. 42. Twelve gears old. It is probable that this was the age at wliich males at first went up to Jerusalem. They were commanded to appear three times a year before God, to attend on the ordinances of religion, in the temple ; which they commenced to do at the age of twelve years, Ex. xxiii. 14 — .7 ; Do. xvi. 16. — See Addenda, ' Our Lord taken,' &c. p. 68. 43. Had fulfilled the days. The days of the passovcr. Eight days in all — one day for kilhng the paschal lamb, viz., the fourteenth of the month Abib, or Nisan (April), Ex. xii. 1, 3 — G ; and seven days for the observance of the feast of unleavened bread, viz., u-om the fifteenth to the twenty-first, xii. 15; Le.' xxiii. 5, 6, 'In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord's passover. 6, And on the fifteenth dag of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the Lord : seven dags ye must eat unleavened bread.' Vilnht we seek to bo strong ana wise, let us at the same tune earnestly desire that the grace of God may ho iqion us. Let us be 'hind, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sah-e hath forgiven gou,' ICpli. iv. 32. •11 ver. However indiviilually favoured of God, as to communion with Him in knowledge and grace, let us not forsake the assembling together, for tlie more pubUc observance of religious ordinances. PR.\CTICAL REFLECTIONS. 42 ver. Children should be early accustomed to the public as well as family worship ol God with their parents. 43 rer. We shoidd not be imnecessarily singular in the public worship oi God, but observe the custom of the feast, so far as is allowed of God, whilst at the same time our trust is only in Ilim who hath fulfilled for us all righteousness. CI JI/a«. iii. 1, § 7, p. 78. Mark i. i, ibid. John i. i, ^ ib., p. 73. [6. TAKT I.] JESUS FOUND IN THE TEMPLE. [SECT. VI. Luke ii. 44 — .0. the days, ns tliey.returned, tlie cLilJ Josus tarried-behiiul in Jerusalem ; nnd Joseph and liis^mothcr knew 44 not of it. But they.-supposing him to-have-beeu in the company, went a-day's journey; and they-sought 45 him among ^/n^V^ kinsfolk and^acquaintance. And when-they-found him not, tliey-tumed-back-again to 40 Jerusalem, seeking him. And it-cume-to-pass, that after three days they-fouud him in the temple, sitting SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS, ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the teutli dan of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, accordhig to the house of their fatheris, a lamb for an house : 4, And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his ncigliboiu- next unto his house take it according to the nmuber of the souls ; every man according to his eating shall make yoiu- count for the lamb. 5, Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the lirst year : yc shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats : C, and yc shall keep it up until tlie foiu'tccnth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the eongi-egation of Israel sliall kill it in the evening.' — The blood to be sprinkled upon the door-posts, ver. 7, 13, 22, 'And they shall take of the blood, aud strike it on the two Bide posts aud on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.' 13, 'And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: aud when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy yoM, when I smite the laud of Egypt.' 22, 'And ye shall take a bunch of liyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason ; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.' — The lamb to be eaten roast, and with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, ver. 8, 9, ' And they sliall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. 9, Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast loith fire ; his head with his legs, and with the pur- tcnanoc thereof.' — by Israel, tohen equipped for their journey, ver. 11, 'And thus shall yc eat it ; with your loins gu-ded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff ui your hand ; and ye shall eat it in haste : it is the Loed's passover.' — Tyhjj called the Lord's passover, ver. 12, .3, 'For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of EgyiJt, both man and beast ; aud against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment ; I am the LoiiD.' — ver. 13, see supra. — See also xxiii. 15, 'Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread : (tliou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the tune appointed of the month Abib ; for in it thou earnest out irom Egypt : and none shall appear before me empty.)' — De. xvi. 1 — 8, 16. — Kept in the wilder- itess, Nu. ix. 5, 'And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai : according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so did the chilcb'cn of Israel.' — in Cmiaan, Jos. v. 10, 'And the children of Israel en- camped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on tlie fourteenth day of the montli at even in the plains of Jericho.' — by ITezekiah, 2 Chr. XXX. 13 — 27. — Josiah, xxxv. 1 — 9. — Our Lord? s observance of it: FinsT, Jno. ii. 13, § 12 ;— second, v. 1, § 23 ■,—the next passover, about the time of the feeding of the fire thousand, vi. 4, 10, § 40, in the desert of Bethsaida, Jes^is does not ap>pear to have attended. 45. TniiNED BACE. There is yet to be a turning back to Jeru- salem, Je. iii. 12, .4 — .7. — See quoted, JIt. ii. 6, § 5, p. 53, ' My PEOPiE Israel.' Seeking niM. TJhe promised return is to he oj a people seeking the Lord, Is. Ii. 1, 'Hearken to me, ye that follow after right- eousness, ye that seek the Lord : look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.' — Zee. viii. 22: as quoted, ver. 15, § 4, p. 37, 'Now 00.' — The cha- racter of the generation who shall seelc him successfully is described, Ps. xxiv. 3 — 6, ' Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord ? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4, He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart ; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 5, He shall receive the blessing fl'om the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6, This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob [Marg. — O God of Jacob]. Sclah.' — The earnest manner in which he is to be sought, Joel ii. 12 — .7, as quoted, Lu. iii. 21, § 8, p. 91, 'AMD rEATiNG.' — The success of this seeking, ver. 18—27, ibid. 46. Aftee THREE DATS. With regard to liis seeking people, Hoa. vi. 2, 3, 'jUler two days will he revive us: in the third day ho will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. 3, Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord : his going forth is pre- pared as the morning ; aud he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.' — Compare with 2 Pe. iii. 8, 'But, beloved, be not ignorant of tliis one thuig, that one day i* with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.' — As to the commencement of the time. Is. viii. 8, ' And he sliall pass tlu'ough Judah ; he shall overflow and go over, lie shall reach even to the neck ; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.' — Jesus sjjake of his resurrection, Jno. ii. 19, § 12— to the Pharisees, Mt. xii. 39, 40, § 31, p. 295; xvi. 21, § 50, p. 437; Mk. ix. 31, § 52, p. 470; Mt. xx. 19, § 77, p. C56. NOTES. a. Supposing him to have been in the company. 'Ev ry avvoSia means, properly, ' a company of travellers.' Those who came from a distance to attend the festivals at Jerusalem, usually travelled in largo companies, for greater safety against the attacks of robbers. They carried tents for their lodging at night. In the daytime, as cirounistanccs might lead them, the travellers would probably mhigle with their friends and acquaintance ; but in the evening, when they were about to encamp, every one would join the family to which he b.^longcd. As Jesus did not appear, his pai'cuts first sought him where they supposed he would most probably be, among his relations and acquaintances. 4€. After three days. The first day spent in their jouniey home- ward ; the second, in their return to Jerusalem ; and tlie tliird, in searching after Jesus there. In the temple. In the court of the temple ; for Jesus, not being a Levitical priest, could not enter into the temple itself. rRACTIC.\L REFLECTIONS. 44 ver. Had the parents of Jesus sought for him at the proper time, they would have been saved much trouble and anxiety ; let us hence learn to do everything at the right season, takuig notliing for granted that may be easily ascertained. 45 ver. As soon as we perceive our error, let us instantly seek to remedy it ; grudging no necessary laboiu- for the purpose. We should not expect our godly relations to love us and our company, more tlian they love God, and his more iimiiediate service. We shoiJd, with Josus, choose the society of those who make it their bii^iucEs to obtain and communicate tlic knowledge of God's liolv will. 6.] Matt. iii. 1, § 7, p. 78. 46 ver. We should speak and act with becoming modesty, ac- cording to our station in life, as did Jesus, wlio, although the Teacher sent iiom God, was, when a child, among the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. Our first duty is to hciu-, and then clearly to elicit the truth of what has been spoken, so as to ascertain whether we, aud those witli whom wo converse, understand the terms of discourse: otherwise we can scarcely expect to attain to a satisfactory conclusion. When we have excited tlie sjiirit of inquiry in others, we should endeavour to jratify it, by the eommunication of knowledge to thom, accoi-ding lU they ore able to boar it. We should especially encoui-age tho Mark i. 1, ibid. John i. 1, § ib., p. 73. g(j £ aiiCT. TI.] JESUS IN THE MIDST OV THE DOCTOUa. [PART 1. Luke ii. 47 — oO. 47 in tlie-midst of-tlio doctors, both lioarinf? tlicm, and asking tliom qucsliniin. And all tliut' heard liim 48 woro-ustonished at iiis^undiTslnndini,' aud^answers. And whon-they-siiw liim, they-woro-amazed : and liis ^niotiicr said unto liini, Son, why iiast-thoii-'tlms'-dt'all with-ns? behold, thyj'ather aiid-I have-soiiglit, 49 Iheo sorrowing. And lio-said unto them, Mow is it that yu-soiiglit me? wist-ye not that 1 must bo about 60 my. Father's buaincss iv to7c tov WuTftf'x: juou ? And they understood not the saying which he-spakc unto- them. SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. MinsT ov TIIB DOCTORS. The irnse, Pr. xiii. 20, 'lie tliat walkcth with wise men shall bo wi^e ; but a lomiiainon of i'ools ulmll bo lUstrovecl." — Ps. c\\\. 03, ' I am u companion of all them that fear thee, ond of them that keep thy precepts.' IlEARlNa THEM. Pf. xviii. 13, 'He that answorcth a matter before ho heareth it, it is folly and sliamo unto him.' — Eli/i'i's conduct, job xxxii. (i, • And Eliliu tlio son of Uarachel the Buzite onswored and said, I am young, and yo are very old ; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion.' And A3KIXO tiiem questions. So, upon their return, the Lord will, hi) catechising, instruct his people, and all the nations around, Is. xliii. 8—12, 20. 'Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have cars. 9, Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people bo assembled: who among Ihcni can declare tliis, and shew us former things? let tliem bring forth theii- witnesses, that they may be justified : or let Ihem hear, and say, Jt is truth. 10, Ye ore my witnesses, saith the Loud, and my servant whom I havo chosen : that ye may know and beUeve me, and under- stand that I am he : before me there was no God formed, neither ehall there bo after mo. 11, I, even I, am the Loed ; and beside mc there is no savioiu-, 12, 1 have declai-ed, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange r/vd among you : therefore yo are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God.' 2G, ' Put me in remembrance : lot us plead together : tleelaro thou, that thou mayest be justified.' — xlv. 19 — 21, ' I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth : I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek yo me in vain ; I the Loud speak righteousness, I declare things that are right. 20, Assemble yourselves and come ; di'aw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations : they have no know- ledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray mito a god that cannot save. 21, Tell ye, and bring them near ; yea, let them take counsel together : who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.' — So also one of the iu-eulj/-fuur elders excited attention to the subject, upon which he afterwards gave the required information, Ecv. vii. 13 — .7, 'And one of the elders answered, saying unto me. What arc these which are arrayed in white robes ? and whence came they? It, And I said unto htm. Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me. These are llicy which came out of great tribidation, and havo washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15, Therefore arc they before the throne of God, and servo him day and night in his temple : and he that silleth on the throne shall dwell among them. 16, They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more ; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 17, For the Lamb which is in the. midst of the tlu-one shall feed them, and shall lead them unto hving fountains of waters : and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.' 47. Astonished at his undehstandino and answers. Ps. cxix. 99, 100, ' I have more understanding than all my teachers : for thy testimonies are my meditation. 100, I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.' — See also viii. 2, ' Out of the mouth of babes and suekhngs hast thou ordained strength because of tliine enemies, that thou mightcst still the enemy and the avenger.' — Is. xxis. It, .7 — 2'1', 'Therefore, behold, I wiU proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a mai'vcllous work and a wonder : lor the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understaniUng of their prudent men shall be hid.' — -Fo;- ver. 17— 2t, (s,?e quoted^ ver. 32, § 4, p. 42, 'A light to lighten,' &.c.)-As to Jesus, lit. vii. 28, § 19, p. 194; Jno. vii. 15, 4G, § 55, p. 192. 49. How . . . that TE SOCGHT me? Christ to he found in the sanctuarij, Ps. Ixviii. 24, 'They have seen thy goings, O God ; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.' — Eev. i. 12, .3. Father's business. This had been foretold, Ps. xl. 7 — 10, 'Then said I, Lo, I come : in the volume of the book it is written of me, 8, I delight to do thy will, O my God : yea, thy law is withui my heart. 9, 1 have preached righteousness in the gi-eat congre- gation : lo, I havo not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest. 10, I have not hid thy righteousness witlnn my heart; I havo declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great con- gregation.' — Jno. iv. 34, § 13, p. 142, 'My meat is to do the wiU of him that sent me.' — See also vi. 38, § 43, p. 390 ; xvii. 4, § 87. ..." Finished the work ' the Father had appointed. 50. Understood not. So afterwards, the Jeios, when he spate of his Father, Jno. viii. 2C, .7, § 55, p. 504 — and hisdiscijiles, when he spai-e to them of his death, the 2nd ^ime, Lu. is. 44, .5, § 52, p. 470 — and tte third, xviii. 34, § 77, p. 057. — The commandment he had received of the Fatier, Jno. x. 17, 20, § 55, p. 520. NOTES. In the midst of the doctors, teachers, and rabbis, the appointed instructors of the people in matters of religion. They sat on benches of a semi-circular form, raised above their nutlitors and disciples, the learners sitting at tlKu- feet. — iS»r; Ac. xxii. 3. Asking them questions. Proposing questions to them respecting the law and the prophets. The questions were doubtless proposed in a respectful manner, and the answers listened to with proper deference to their age and rank. Jesus was a child ; and reliirion docs not tench a child to be rude or conceited, oven though he mav really know much moi-e than more aged persons. Kcligion teaches all — and especially the young — to treat others with respect ; to shew them the lionom- that is their due; to venerate age; and to speak kindly of and to all. 48. Whi/ hast thou thus dealt with us ? Why hast thou given us all this trouble and anxiety, in going so far, and returning ? Thi) father. Joseph was lei/alli/ so ; and as the secret of Jesus* birlh was not eomraouly known, Joseph was called his father. Mary, ui accordance with that usage, also called him so. n;.\CTIC.\L riOFl.EUTIONS. young in their searching after truth ; thus may wo expect to be ourselves tlio more taught, as doubtless were the doctors in their conversing with Jesus. •IH ver. Let us not be rash or severe in our judgmcnla or reproofs : the fault we eondcmn may be occasioned by our own negligence. 49 i-cr. Hay our conduct ever be suili, as that, when we arc GG liliilt. iii. 1, § 7, p. 78. missing from our families, they may havo reason to feel assured that wo are about our heavenly Father's business. Let the work of God be the delightful business of our lives, and not merely our occasional occnpation. Mary had spoken of bis sni>i>osed earthly father, but Josns gently corrected her, by referring to Him who was really his Father— bis i1/(i|-.'. i. 1, Hid. John i. 1, § (7)., p. 73. r,; PART I.] JESUS IS SUBJECT TO IIIS PARESTS, Luke ii. 51, .2. [SECT. VI. 51 And hc-weiit-tlmvn with them, niid camo to Nazareth, and was subjoct-unto tliem : but his^motliev kept 52 all tliese.sayings in horjicart. Aud Jesus iucreasud in-wisdum aud stature," aud in-favour with God and man. [Ch. iii. 1, § 7, p. 78.] Maeoinal Eeadiss: — 'Age. SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. 51. Sfdji-ct fnto TUT.st. AcporiJIiiff to the fifth commamlmenl, Ex. XX. 12, 'Honour tliy father and tliy mother: lliat tliy days may be long upon tlie hind whicli tlie Lokd thy G od giveth thee.' — The first commaiuhneiit ivllh promise^ Epli. vi. 1, 2, * Children, obey your parents in the Lord : for this is right. 2, Honour tliy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise.' — Well plet, this was done in tlieu" private dwcUiiigs ; but after their settlement in Canaan, it was ordered to be performed " in the place which the Lord shall choose to place his name there" Do. xvi. 2. Iliis a])pcars to have been at first wherever the ark was deposited, and ultimately at Jerusalem in the courts of the temple. t Every particular person (or rather a delegate from eveiy paschal society) slew his own victim, according to Josephus, between the ninth hour, or three in the afternoon, and the eleventh, that is, about sunset ; nnd within that sp.acc of time it was, that Jesus Christ, our true paschal lamb, was killed, Mt. xxvii. 46, § 91. The victim being l>illcd, one of the priests received the blood into a vessel, which was lianded from one priest to another, until it came to him who stood next the altar, and by whom it was sprinkled at the bottom of the Matt. iii. 1, § 7, p. 78. Mark I 1, ibid. Luke iii. 1, ibid. John i. 1, § i*, p. 73. no S ECT I OHUL.Yumherr^ acf»r<&>y /gtheHannoiiyof the Four tA-ansfehsts!^ ® PAET SECOND. MATT. CIIAr. III.— YIII. 1—1, 11— .7; IX. 2—9. IMARK CIIAr. I., II. 1— Ji2. LUKE CHAl'. III. 1—2(3; IV., V. JOHN CIIAr. I.— IV. ARRANGED IN THE ORDER OF TIME. COMPREHENDING THE SPACE OF ONE YEAR AND SIX MONTHS; VIZ.— FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE PREACHING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST, U.C. 779, A.D. 20 (MEDIO), TO THE END OF THE FIRST YEAR OF THE MINIS'IRY OF JESUS CHRIST, U.C. 7«1, A.D. 28 (INEUNTEM). PAET II.] INTRODUCTION OF TUE GOSPEL BY JOHN. [SECT. VII. SECTION 7. — The Introduction of the Gospel according to St. John. John thi; ISai-tist BEGINS to Preach in the Wilderness of Jod.ea. Multitudes resort to iiim, and are B.\PTIZED IN THE ElVER JoRDAN, AND INSTRUCTED IN THEIR PROPER DUTY. JoHN BEARs' TESTIMONY to the Messiah. The Hesidue of John's Public Ministry, according to St. Luke.— Matt 1—12. Alark i. 1—8. Luke iii. 1—20. John i. 1—18. '- ■ "^■' introduction and ANALY-SIS. John i. 1—18. 111. Juo. i. 1,2. Jesus is tlic eternal Jdiovali; one wHh the Fatlicr and the Spu-it. 3. He is the Almighty Creator, by whom all things were made. 4. He is the source of life and light to men. 5. He is the autlior and subject of Divine revelation : the Mosaic disiicnsation is only darkness, except as viewed iu relation to Him, and tliose are in dai-knoss who receive huu not. 6. 7. John sent from God to bear witness concerning Clu'ist, througli whom aU should bchcve. 8. John, not liimself the Light, but only a witness concerning the Light. 9. At length there comcth into the world the Light, wliicli enlighteneth cveiy man. 10. Tlie Creator of the world comes into the world, but is not recognised by it. 11. He comes to his own land, to his own house, but his own kindred and nation receive him not. 13. Tlioso wlio receive him experience his Almighty power, being given the adoption of sons through faitli in his name. Vi. The sons of God become such, not by natural birth, neither by any subjection to carnal rites, but only as being born of God. 14. Tlie whole substance of tho gospel history may be briefly stated ; thus — i. The Word became incarnate, bemg bom of the Virgin. ii. Ho tabernacled among men, manifesting a sympathy with us in all our wants and woes, as exemplified in the active part of our Lord's ministry, iii. Hia glory as of the only begotten of the Father, was beheld on the holy mount, when liis ministry was drawing to a elosc. iv. His fuhiess of grace and trutli was especially manifested in liis communing witli liis disciples ; — in liis discourses to the Jews in the temple, &c. ; and in his offering himself up a sacrifice for all, in fulfilment of the Divine pm-pose and promise from tha beginning. 15. Joliu publicly testified of Clu-ist's prc-eiistcnce, and superior dignity. 16. Out of Ills fulness liave all the son^ of God received. 17. Tlu'ough Moses, who was the mediator of the new covenant, were given the types of blessing ; but by Jesus Christ comes tha blessing in its fulness. 18. No previous manifestation of tlie Godhead is at all to be com* pared with that given us in the person of Jesus Clu'ist. (G. 1.) Introduction of the Goxpel accordinr/ to St. JoJdk* — John i. 1 — 18. I In tlie-bcgiuning was the Word, aiid the Word was witli^God, and tlie Word was God. 2 Thc-same scripture illustrations. 1. In the begixxix& was the Woed. Ge. i. 1, 'In the be- ginning God created the heaven and tho earth.' — Compare ioHh He. i. 2, 10, ' Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hatli appomted lieu- of aU things, by whom also he made the worlds.' 10, 'And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning Inst laid the ibundation ot the earth ; and the heavens are the works ol thine hands.' — Also Eph. iii. 9, 'And to make all men sec what is the fellowship of tho mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.' — Col. i. 17, 'And he is before all things, and by liim all thiugs consist.' And the Woed was with Gob. The Word called ' the voice of the Lord,' Ge. iii. 8 ; — ' mine angel,' Ex. xxiii. 20 — .3 ; — ' the angel of his presence, who saved and redeemed,' Is. Ixiii. 9, ( quoted, Matt, ii. 15, § 5, p. 55, ' Out of Eorpi,' &c.|)-' the messenger of the cove- nant,' Mai. iii. 1, quoted, Lu. i. 17, § 1, p. 9, 'Go DEroBE;' — 'the sent of the Lord,' S^-c., Zee. ii. 8 — 11 j — ' made flesh,' ver. I!-, itfra, p. 76 i 1 Jno. i. 1, 2. And the Wokd was God. Jno. x. 30, § 56, 'I and my Father are one.' — Rom. ix. 5, 'Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Clu'ist came, who is over all, God blessed for notes. 1. In the beginning. Tliis expression is used also in Ge. i. 1. To that place John evidently has allusion here, and means to apply licre to 'the Word,' an expression which is there appUcd to God. In both places it clearly means 'before creation,' 'before the world was made.' Tliis is not spoken of the man Jesus, but of that which became a man, or was incarnate, ver. It, p. 76. Tlie Hebrews, by expressions hke this, eonmionly denoted eternity. Thus the eterniiy of God is described, Ps. xe. 2, ' Before the mountains were Irouglit forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.' That this is not said of the written word, but of the ^jScntial Word of God, the Lord Jesus Clu'ist, is clear from nil that is said from hence to ver. \i; and likewise from what this Evangelist else- where says of him, when lie calls liim ' the Word of Life,' and places liim between the Father and the Holy Ghost j and speaks of the record of the Word of God, and the testimony of Jesus, as the same thing, and represents him as a warrior and conqueror; 1 Jno. i. 1, 2, ( quoted, Lu. i. 2, § 1, p. i, ' ErE-WITNESSI.s' ;) and v. 7,(quoted p. 71', Scnir. Illub., 'The Word was GoD.')-Rer. xix. 11— .6, ' And I saw heaven oiiened, and behold a white horse ; and he that fat upon him u-a.i c.iUcd Faithful and True, and m righteousness lie dotli judge and make war. 12, His eyes were as a flame of fu-e, and on liis head were many crowns ; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13, And he was clothed with a vesture dipped iu blood : and liis name is called The AVord of God,' &c. Moreover, this appears to have been spoken of Clirist, from what other inspii'ed writers liave said of him under the same cliarnetcr. — See Lu. i. 2, § 1, p. 4; Ac. sx. 32; He. iv. 12, 'For the word of God is quick; ^-c— 2 Pc. iii. 5. And the Word teas with God. 'The term "God" is here plainly meant of God the Fatlier, though he is not here so called, because the Evangelist had not yet spoken of Clirist under the title of tho Son ; and this Word, who, in the close of the verse is called God, was with God ; not as one God with another God, but as one divine person [subsistence] with another in tlic same Godlicad.' — Gugse. The fair interpretation of being with God, iu tho time and cirenin- stances pointed out by the connection, is, that the Word existed in tho eternal period before all creation, naturally and essentially ONE BEING with the Deity, yet possessing some species of relative tUstmetion from the Father — See Jno. xvii. 5, § 87, p. 850, 'And now, O Father,' .-J-c; ver. 18, p. 77, 'JVb man,' ^'c. —See also Jno. iii. 13, § 12.— Compare Ph. ii. 6, 7, ( quoted, Lu. ii. 11, § 1, p. 36, ScBir. Illvs., ' Cubist the Loud.') And the Word was God. Not made n God, as he is said hoivafter to bo 'made flesh.' As to the personaUty of Jesus, there is dis- 7.] • See Grcswell, Vol. II. Diss. xxi. p. 197, on the supplemental relation of John i.- Malt. iii. 1, p. 78. Mark i. 1, ibid. Luke iii. 1, ibid. 73 SECT. VII.] JOHN SKNT FOR A AVITXESS. [I'AIIT II. John i. 3—8. ■•J wns in tlic-boginiiing witli C,m\. All-lliinf;s wt'iv-miido by liim ; niul williout liiin wns-'iiot nny-tliinfr'- •1 iiuiilc tliiit wiis-miuli'. Ill liim WHS lilb; iiiul tliu life wiis tliu light of mcu. 5 Ami thu light shiiRth in ^darkness; and the dnikness comprcheiuk'd Karf/\a/3£i' it not. (! Tlicrc-was a-iniin Hont from God, whose uame ira.s John. 7 Thc-samc came for a-wilncss, to 'iva beai- 8 witness of mpi the Light, that all men through him might-believe. He was not that' Light rci (jiwg, but SCKIPTURE ILLUSTR.\TIONS. over. AiTion.' — Pli. ii. G, ''SVlio, being in the form of God, tliouglit il not i-oblxTV to be equal with God.' — See also Jno. xx. 28, § 95. — lleb. i. 8, 'But unto the Son he sail h, Tliy throne, O God, is for ever and ever,' Ac. — 1 Jno. v. 7, 'For there arc three that hoar record in heaven, tlic Father, the AVord, and the Holy Oliost : and llicsc three ore one.' 3. Al.L THINGS WTillE M.4DE BY nijf. CIl. T. 17, § 23, ' My Father worketh liillicrlo, and I work.' — Col. i. 1(>, see Kotes, infra. — 1 Cor. viii. fi, ']3ut to us lla^i-c is but one God, the Father, of whom are all thing?, and we in him ; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.' — Kpli. iii. 9; Ileb. i. 2, 10 — see ver. 1, p. 73, 'Ix THE BEaiNNINQ.' 4. In injt WAS I.IPE. This, Jesus himself ivilnessed, eh. v. 21, .2, § 23 ; vi. 48, 51, § 43 ; x. 27, .8, § 56, p. 523 ; xi. 25, § 58, p. 531; xif. 6, § 87. p. 828— TO Peter, vi. G7— .9, § 13 j Ac. iii. 15, ( quoted, ver. 11, infra, 'His own keceived nut NOT;')-oHrf Paul, 'Rom. y. 21, 'That as sin hath reigned imto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.' — vi. 23, ( quoted, ver. 17, p. 77, ' Grace and TnrTii.')-l Cor. xv. 45, 'And so it is written, The first man Adan\ was made n living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.' — Col. iii. 3, 4, 'For ye are dead, and yonr life is hid with Christ in God. 4, When Christ, irho is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.' — 2 Tim. i. 1, 'Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus.' — And 1 Jno. V. 11, .2, 'And tills is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is m his Son. 12, lie that hath the Son hath life; aiid ho that hatli not the Son of God hath not life.' The life was the light, etc. A sun and shield, Ts. Ixxxiv. 11, 'For the LoBD God is a sun and shield : the Loud w ill give grace and gloiT : no good thing will he witlihold from them that w.ilk uprightly.'— Jno. viii. 12, § 55, p. 501, 'The light of the worlil ...the light of life.' — Eph. v. 14, 'Arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.' — See also Jno. ix. 4, 5, § 55, p. 512. 5. TuE LIGHT sniKEiu IS DAnKNESS. Ch. iii. 19, § 12, 'Light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light.'— xii. 35, § 82, 'Walk while ye have the light, lest dark- ness come upon you.' — 1 Cor. ii. 14, 'Kut the natural man reeeiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they arc fooUslmess unto him : neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.' — See also, 2 Cor. iii. 14. 6. Sent from God. The same messenger predicted, JIal. iii. 1, as quoted, Lu. i. 17, § 1, p. 9, ' Go before.' — Compare here ti-ilh Mt. iii. 1—4 J Mk. i. 2, pp. 78, .9 ; Jno. i. 33, § 10 ; iii. 2G— .8, § 13. 7. TlIAT ALL . . . THEOUOn niJI MIGHT BELIEVE. Is. xlv. 25, ' In the LOED shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.' — See Lu. ii. 10, § 4, p. 35. — Through him, Eph. ii. 18, ' For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.' 8. Was not that Light. John 'was a burning and a slaining light,' ch. V. 35, § 23 ; — but Christ is ' the Light of the world,' viii. NOTES. tincfness from the Father's, 'The Word was with God;' as to his essence, there is oneness with the Father's, lie was God. The name Ood is elsewhere given to Christ, slicwing that he is the supreme God, Eom. ix. 5, ' Whose are the fathers, and of whom as coneerning IheJIesh Christ came, w7io is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.' He. i. 8 — 14, 'But unto the Son 7ie saith. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever : a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9, Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity ; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee witli the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 10, And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth ; and the heavens are the works of thine hands : 11, they shall perish ; but thou remainest ; and they all shall wax old as doth a gannent ; 12, and as a vesture shall thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years .-ihall not fail. 13, But to which of the angels said he at any time. Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? 14, Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heu-s of salva- tion ? ' 1 Jno. V. 20, ' And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an vmdcrstanding, that we may know him tliat is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.' It may here bo remarked, that Die other Evangelists leave us to collect the Deity of Christ from his miracles and doctrine, and from the various deelarations and displays of his glory and perfections whicli they record ; but John opens his gospel with an express avowal and statement of this fundamental tnith. 2. The same. An cmphatical repetition. — Tlic Logos or the Word. 3. All Ihinrfs. The expression cannot be limited to any part of the universe. — SeeCo\.i.W,'For by him v:ere all things created^ &c. And He. i. 2, ' Bi/ whom also 7te made tlie worlds' 4. In him was life. The life which is here spoken of appears to be the Iloly Spirit, which can be had only in Christ, and whereby those who know him as the Light, are enabled to live unto God. ' The Spirit is life because of righteousness,' Eom. viii. 10. And the life was the light of men. The Messiah was predicted by the prophets, and described by Idmself as the light of Israel ; the hght to illuminate aU nations ; the light of men ; the light of tho world. Is. viii. 20; ix. 2,.--Compare Mt. iv. 15, .6, § Ifi, p. 157 j Is. Ix. 1, 2, ' Arise, shine,' &a. Kcv. xxi. 23, ' And the cily had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it : for the glory of Ood did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof Light is in all languages put for knoicledge. ' Whatsoever doth make mani- fest is light, Eph. v. 13. — See Jno. viii. 12, § 55, ' / am the light of tlm world ' — and xii. 4G, § 85, ' I am come a light into the world.' 7. Of the light That is, of Messiah.— &e Is. k. 1. That all men through him might believe. Jesus was to be regaiidcd by all men as the author of salvation. l,2rer. lie wns coexistent with the F.ather; one with him in counsel and in works ; so that we are not to look upon God's pre- vious working in erealion and providence as inconsistent with, or Isolated from, the subsequent work of redemption. 3, 4 ver. Jesus has a natural right to tho headsliip over all crea- tion, and He only, of all teachers, can lead into the true knowledge of tho natm'c and uses of tho things that are made. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. 7-t il/««.iii. ], p. 78. Hark I \, ibid. Luke ui. I, ibid. 4 ver. No life, nor power to act aright, can be had but in Jesus ; and the living ui him, by the power of Ids Spirit (for the Spu-it is life), luito the glory of God tho Father, is the only true knowledge. 7 rer. John, who proclaimed the grace of the Lord, and who so directed that it shoidd influence the lives of all, had this written in his very name. Let us hence learn to look for light in ' every word of God: [7. tAKT II.] THE TRUE LIGHT. [SECT, TIL John i. — 12. 9 was xc/it to licar-witness of tlint' Lip;]it. T/idt was the true J.iplit, -which li. 10 1. 10. Of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. In the litli verse the Evangelist had said that Christ was full of grace and truth. Of that /«/«;?.'.? he now says that all tlie disciples received grace answering or correspondent to that which is in CImst Jesus ; that is, tlicy derive from Christ, fi-om his abundant truth and mercy, grace to understand the plan of salvation, to preach the gospel, and to live lives of holiness. The declaration had not exclusive reference proliably to the apostles, but it is to be extended to all Christians, for all believers have received of ihe fulness of grace and truth that is in Clu-ist.- CoHipore Eph. i. 23; iii. 19; Col. i. 19; ii. 9. In all these places our Saviour is rejiresented as the fulness of God, as abounding in mercy, as exhibiting the Divuie attributes, and possess- ing in himself all that is necessary to fiU his people with truth, and grace, and love. — 'Tea, of his fulness {i.e., his exuberant abun- dance) have we all received [grace], even grace upon grace, blessings superlatively great.' — Ibid. Grace for grace. Con'cspondent to his grace of 'wisdom,' he, as our I'liOrUET, gives us 'understanding;' — correspondent to liis 'counsel,' he, as our KiNO, bestows upon us 'niiglit,' or power to do his will ; and, correspondent to his * knowledge,' or the acquaintance with God, into which he, as a Peiest, introduces us, he imparts 'the fear of tlic Lord,' a holy, reverential confidence in him, Is. xi. 2, 'And the Spirit of the LOBD shall rest vpon ?iim,' ijf-c. 17. Bg Moses. By Moses, as the seiTant of God. lie was the great legislator of the Jews, by whom, under God, tlieir polity was formed. The lam workctli wratli, Rom. iv. 15, ' licvause the law Korketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.' It was attended with many burdensome rites and ceremonies, Ac. xv. 10, * Nouf therefore whg tempt ye God, to put a yolce upon the nech of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear V It was preparatory to another state of things. Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. A system of religion full of favours. The old system was one of law, and shadoics, and burdensome rites. This was full of mercy to mankind, and was true in all things. This excludes proud boasting, by shewing tliat we have nothing but what we have received; and silences per- plexing fears, for whatever we want, we may receive it. 18. No man hath seen God at any time. See ch. t. 37, § 23, p. 232; vi. 46, § 43, p. 392; 1 Jno. iv. 12, 'No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dtvelleth in us, and his love is 2^erfected in us^ — Ex. xsxiii. 20, * And he said. Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.' The prophets dehvered what they heard God speak : Jesus communicated what he knew of God as his equal, and as understanding fully his nature. In the bosom of the Father. ' This expression is taken from the custom among tlie Orientals of reclining at their meals. — See Note or. Jno. -viii. 25, § 87, p. 817. It denotes an intimacy of com- munion, not merely tnat of saints with angels, but of one who is his Son, in a sense absolutely unique; intimating that the acquaint- ance the Messiah has with the Divine nature, will, and purposes, is pecuhar to him, and such as could be alllnned of no other being: and corresponds with ver. 1, "the Word teas with Ood."' — Pye Smith. Declared him. 'Made him known.' Fully declared hia nature, perfections, purposes, promises, counsels, covenant, word, and works — his thouglits and schemes of grace — his love and favour to the sons of men — his mhid and will concerning the salvation of his people.— See SCBir. Iiius., above, 'No man hath,' ic. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. IG rer. The fulness which is in Christ is that out of which all must be supphcd, with grace answering to the grace which shone forlli in the only begotten Son of God. 17 ver. The law ministered by Moses was but the shadow of 7.] Matt. iii. 1, p, 78. better things to come : the grace and the truth to wliicli lie pointed are truly louiid in Jesus Christ. Mark i. 1, ibid. Luke iii. 1, ibid. 77 SECT. VII.] JOHN TUE BAPTIST COMJIENCES UIS MINISTRY. [I* ART II. John thk B.^rrisr ukciins to i'i!K.\cir, TESTIMONV TO THE MeSSIAII, &C.- AND MULTITUDES AKE KAPTIZED IIV linf. JoiIN BEARS -Mutt. iii. 1—12. }tliirk i. 1—8. Luke iii. 1—20. INTUODUCTION Mk. i. 1. Tlio more immediate beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, was in the fuIUlment of proiilieey respecting his precursor, as in the latest prophet, Mul. iii. 1, and in one of tlio greatest, Is. il. 3. Lu. iii. 1, 2. Tlie .Jewish people, aiul the land of Israel, under a foivign yoke, and greatly divided at tim time when the harbinger of Christ oppcars. Mt. iii. 1, 2. Mk. i. -1. Lu. iii. 3. John eoniea into the wilder- ness of Judiea, preaching the baptism of repentance; for soon it will bo made manifest ' that ilic heareiis Jo rule.' Mt. iii. 3. Lu. iii. 4. A reference, ns in Mk. i. 3, to Is. xl. 3. Lu. iii. 5, C. A refcivnce to Is. xl. 5. Mt. iii. 4. Mk. i. 6. John's elotlung and food the most simple and inexpensive. Mt. iii. 5, C. 2Hk. i. 5. From city and country the Jews crowd to John, to be baptized by him in tlie river Jordan, acknowledging themselves sinners. — iii. 7. Lu. iii. 7. A multitude of riiarisoes and Saddueees come to his baptism ; but so far from flattering their pride of birtli, or knowledge of ritualism, John recognises them as a genera- tion of viijcrs, and asks who hath warned tliem to flee from the coming wrath. — iii. 8, 9. — iii. 8. lie tells tliem to bring forth fruits worthy of repentance, and not to boast of tlieir descent from Abraliam ; for of those represented by tlie twelve stones set up, not far from where John is baptizing, Qod is able to raise up sous to Abraham. — iii. 10. — iii. 9. Ho warns them that judgment is about to commence, that the axe is laid to tlio root of the trees ; a sure AND ANALYSIS. indication that those who bring not forth good fruit are about to be cut down and consumed. Lu. iii. 10, .1. On being asked by the people, he tells them how tliey are to cxpi'ess theii* repentance, by practically loving their nciglibour as themselves. . — iii. 12, .3. To the publicans he also gives advice, directing them to resist tbc great temptation of theii- calling, — fraud. — iii. 14. And lastly, lie exhorts tlie soldiers to avoid doing violence, accusing any one falsely, or looking for more than is ap- pointed Ihem. — iii. 15. The people are in expectation of the appearing of the long-promised Deliverer, and are questioning whether John may not himself be the Messiah. Mt. iii. 11. Mk. i. 7, 8. Lu. iii. 10. John draws a contrast between liiinsclf and Christ, in respect to two main points, — First, as to tlignity ; he is vmwortliy of tlie meanest olllco about the person of Ilim, of whom he is privileged to be the harbinger. Secoiiilh/, His baptism is ^ with water unto repentance ;' but the baptism which Clirist will minister is ' iclth the Uoli/ Ghost and Jire.* — iii. 12. Lu. iii. 17. He teUs tliem that the trials which afflict Ills people, Christ has the power of overruling for their greater purii!{'tttiou and usefidness, and that he lias equally the power of executing judgment upon the unprofitable. Lu. iii. 18. Only a brief sketch of the preaching of the Baptist is given. — iii. 19, 20. Herod the tefrarch, being reproved by John for taking to himself his brother's wife, as well as for otlicr evil deeds, adds this to them all, that he shuts up John in prison. (G. 2.) Ju/i/i the Pxiptist enters tipon Itis i^tillic ministry. In the Wilderness uf Jiida-a, East of Jordan. M.\TT. iii. 1 — 4. Mark i. 1 — 4, C. Luke iii. 1 — 0. [Chap. ii. 23, § 5, p. 57.] 1 '■*The-Le{^inning of-tlio gospel of- [Cliap. ii. 52, § 0, p. 07.] Jesus Clu'ist, tlie-Son ol" God; SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Mk. i. 1. Beoixnino op thb oosm. Lu. ii. 10, § 4, p. 35, ' Good tidings of great joy.' — Bom. i. 2, ' (Which he had promised afore by liis prophet s in the holy Scriptures.)' — 3,4, ' Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the (Icsli ; 4, and declared to he the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.' — Ac. xiii. 2t, 'When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.'— The fcUowship of the gospel, 1 Jno. i. 1 — Z,{qiiotcd Lu. i. 2, § 1, p. 4, 'ElE-VVITHESSES.') Jesus Cukist. 1 Jno. ii. 22, 'Who is a liar but he that denicth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denicth tlie Father and the Son.' — iv. 15, ' Wliosocvcr shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth iu huu, and he in God.' Son of God. See Lu. i. 33, § 2, p. 17, and Rom. vui. 3, quoted NOTES. Mk. i. 1. The leglnning of the gospel. The word gospel literally signifies good tidings, and particularly the good tidings respecting the way of salvation by the Lord Jesus C'lu-ist. Good lidings of the coming kingdom. Jesus Christ. The name of Jesus so often added to the name of Christ in the New Testament is, not only tliat Christ might be thereby pointed out as the Saviotir, but also that Jesus might bo pointed out ns the true Christ, or Messiah, against the unbelief of the Jews. This observation will be of great use in many places of the New Testament. — See Ac. ii. 30, ' Therefore let all the house of Israel know a.isiiredlg, that God hnth made that same Jesus, n-hom ye have crucified, loth Lord and Christ.' — See Jvio. V. 31, § 23 ; 1 Jno. ii. 22 ; iv. 15. — See Sciiip. Illus., supra. PRACTICAL REFLECTION. Mk. i. 1. Tlic message which Ood was pleased to send rcspectmg his Son Jesus Clirist is to be regarded as good news. • This, and other superior letters, are introduced to direct to the commencement of the history ; and a letter, as at the end of ver. 3, signifies that the reailer is to find the succeeding or supplemental portion in anotlier gospel ; so that, by taking up each part ui proper sequence, a continuous history may bo obtained : as, Mk. i. 1, " The leginning of, cj-c, going on to the end of ver. 3, indicated by ' after straight.'— tho second portion is in Lu. iii. 1, 'Now in the, cfc, ending at ver. 2, wilderness.'— t\\o sueceediug portion is at Mt. iii. 1, 'In those dags, ,{c., concluding at ./lo/fcn."— continued at Lu. iii. 3, "And he came into, ^"c, to the end of the verse, the remission of sins.' —and is taken up at Jit. iii. 2, 'saglng, Mepent ye, ij-c. 78 John i. 19, § 10, p. 103. [7. PAltT IJ.] Matt. iii. 1 'In tliose^days camo Joliu the Baptist, preitcliing in tliu wilderness ol" Jiidcea/ TIBERIUS C^SAR, EMPEROR. [SKCT. YII. ]\rAKK i. 2—1. Luke iii. 1—3. 2 As it-is-writton in the prophets, Behold, I send tnroariWii) my,nicsseuger rov a-y-yeXoi/ before thy face, which shall-prepare thy^way before thee. 3 The -voice of- one -crying in the wildemess, Prepare-ye the way of-the-Lord, make liis^patlis straight.* 'Now in the-fifteenth year of-thc roign of-Tiberlus Ctcsar, 1 Pontius Pihite being-governor of ' JiuUea, and Herod being- tetrarch of Galilee, and his^brother PhiHp tetrarch of Iturtea and of-the-region of-Trachouitis, and Lysanias tbe-tetrarch of Abilene, Annas and Cainphas being-the-liigli-priests, the- S word of- God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.' 4 John 'And ho- 3 did baptize came into in the wilderness, all the countiy-about^Jordan, SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Jno. i. 17, p. 77, supra, ' Grace and TRtrTn,' &c. i—for a parapJirase jn (his first sentence in Mark^s Gospel, see the Gospel of John, eli. i. I — 18, p. 73. — Jesus' (estimoni/ of himself, vi. 46, § 4-3 ; Sit. xi. 27, § 29, p. 2St', — the attributes of God ore often ascriljed to him as the Son — see John's last testimony, Jno. iii. 30, .1, .4, .5, § 13; — testimoni/ of the centurion, Mt. xxvii. 54, § 02, p. 932.^ — His character as Sox is often jjlainlj/ distinguished from his office as CiluIST — see Jno. i. 49, § 10 ;— so Teler, vi. G8, .9, § 43, and Mt. xvi. 15, .G, § 50, p. 433. — Jesus' testimomj, Juo. vii. 29, § 55, p. 495 ;^ofteu hy his silence Jesus granted to his enemies that his claim to he the Son of God imported his asserting himself equal trith Gop, v. 17 — .9, § 23 ; X. 30— .8, § 50, p. 520.— See ScKir. Illus., Lu. i. 35, g 2, p. 18. Mk. i. 2, 3. Behold, I send. M.1I. iii. l,(qiCoted Lu. i. 17, § 1, p. 9, ' Go BEEOBE ■,')-fhe voice, Is. xl. ^{quoted Lu. i. SO, § 3, p. 32, ' T)t.SEm:s')-Confrmalion, Jno. i. 15— .8, p. 70 j ver. 19, 20, § 10, p. 103; — John's last testimony, ch. iii. 25 — 30, § 13, p. 131, Lu. iii. 3. JoEDiX, ' rieer of judgment.' See Mt. iii. 13, § 8, p. 90. NOTES. Ml. i. 2. Prepare thy way, f^c. Vfhcn a man of rank has to pass through a town or village, a messenger is despatched to tell the people to prepare the wa}', and to await his orders. Some then sweep the road, others spread garments, others form arches and fes- toons on the way. 3. The voice of. See ' Freachitig,' next column, also p. 8IX- Lu. iii. 1. yowin the ffte'enth year. This was the thirteenth year of liis being sole emperor. lie was two years joint emperor with Augustus ; and Lute reckons from the time when he was admitted to sliarc the empire with Augustus C'tcsar, Tiberius. He was a most infamous character — a scourge to tlie Roman people. lie reigned tweuty-thrce years, and was succeeded by Cains Caligula, whom ho appointed his successor on account of his notorious wickedness, and that he might be, as he expressed it, a serpent to tlie Eonians. And yet it is said that Tiberius, hearing of the miracles of our Saviom-, was earnest to havo him enrolled among the Roman deities, but was hindered by the senate. He so favoured the Christians, as to tlireaten death to such as molested them on aceount of their religion. Puntiits Pilule. See Addenda, p. 87. Herod being telrarch of Galilee. This was Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great, to whom Galilee had been loft as his part of his father's kingdom. The word tetrarch properly denotes one who presides over a fourth part of a country or province; but it also came to be a general title, denoting one who reigned o\er any part, a third, a hall', &c. It was this Herod who impri.-oued John the Baptist, Tcr. 18—20, p. 87 ; and to whom our Saviour, when arraigned, was sent by I'ilate, ch. xxiii. 8 — 11, § 90 p. 9I.G. Philip. Another son of Herod, said to be of u mild disposition. He raised Bethsaida, in Deeapolis, from a poor village to be a bcaulil'ul city, and named it Julia, after a daughter of the emperor Augustus. — Sec Sect, xl., p. 376, GEOonAnucAL Notice. 2. Annas and Caiaphas, ijc The law of Moses appointed one high priest, therefore in strict propriety there could he but one. But after the subjection of Judaa to the Roman yoke, gi'eat changes were made; and the occupants of an ollice, in which had been vested almost regal authority, were removed at the will of the con- querors. Annas Iiad held the office eleven years, when ho was deposed by the Komai> governor, and succeeded by his son-in-law, Caiaphas. Probably the authority of Annas was still respected by the people, and he is on that account mentioned here conjointly with Caiaphas. Some imagine that the title is given to Annas, as being the cliief of Aaron's family then alive, and regarded as tho rightfid high pi-iest of the Jews, though Caiaphas held the office by appointment of the Roman governor. The word of God, Sec in Jeremiah, Ezckiel, &c., for many examples of the word of the Lord coming to the pi'ophets. Mt. iii. 1. Lt those days. This plu-ase is here used with great pro)iriety, as John did indeed appear under his public character, while Clu'ist continued to dwell at Nazareth; which was the event that Matthew last mentioned. Came John the Baptist. So named, because he baptized those who professed to be contrite on account of their sins. B.'iplism, or the application of water, was a rite well known to the Jews, and practised when they admitted proselytes to their religion from heathenism. It was believed that tho administration of this rite w ould form part of the ofllce of the Messiali. Preaching. K>]f)vaaiiit'. It signifies, to proclaim as a herald and common crier ; to pubhcly teach, vica voce, i.e., to pivach. And is applied to those who in the streets, fields, and open air, lift up tlieir voice, that tliey nuiy be heard by many, while they proclain> what has been committed to them by regal or public authority : as the Kekukes among the Greehs, and I'li^coNES among the Bomam, John made procuimation of the speedy coming of Iho Messiali. In the n-ildcrness. f(»';^or, Hebrew ■qtq: means any uncul- tivated and generally mountainous countrj', sometimes totally dry PRACTICAL KEI'LECTIONS. Mk. i. 3. I^t us fake warning from the case of the highly-favoured 1 Lu. iii. 1, 2. There were abundance of nilers and 'high priests' in Jews, so as rightly to empluy tlie f;u' more abumlaut means we j the days of John ; but he ivccivcd not his coinmission from IheiU) possess for prcparuig the way of the Lord. I he had a higher authority, 'the Word of Qod came unto him.' 70 John i. 19, § 10, p. 103. 79 SEOT. VII.] Matt. iii. 2 nnd 2. 3 'saying, Repent-ye : for tlic kingiloin ol" licavcn is-iit-liand. a i'ur lliis is liu-that' was-spoken- of by tlio prophet Esaiiis, JOHN CALLS TO REPENTANCE. Mark i. 4. and preaeli tlie-baptism of-repentance for tlie-rcmission of-sius. [Ver. 5, p. 82.] SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. [PAET n. Luke iii. 3, 4. preaching thc-baptisin of-repentance i'or the-remission of-sins ; ' As it-is-written in the-book 4 of-the-words of-Esaias the prophet, Lu. iii. 4. 13.\rTI3M op BEPESTANCE. Saplism denolvs washinr/ in general, Mk. vii. 8, § 44, p. '103 ; i«< "«■ toushinr/ of pei-.sons in token of dedication to God, is peculiarli/ so called. Tossil/li; tin's rite com- menced immediateli/ after the Jluod. Jacob and hisfamili/ was/ied themselres before thet/ approached to Gud at Jiethel, Gc. xxxv. 2, 'Tlien Jacob said unto liis liousehokl, ami to all that loere with him. Put away tlie strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments.' — The Hebrews washed llicniselfes lefore they entered into covenant with God at Sinai, Ex. xix. 14, ' And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanc- tified the people ; and they washed their clothes.' — Aaron and his sous washed their clothes before their consecration to the priest- hood, xxix. 4, ' And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernarle of tlie congregation, and shalt wash them with water.' — 1 Pe. iii. 21, 'The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of tlie flesh, but the answer of a good eonscienec toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.' — Mi. vi. 8, ' He hnth shewed tliee, O man, what is good ; and what doth the Loed recjuu'e of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?'— The goodness of God should lead to repentance, Koni. ii. 4, ' Or despisest thou the riches of liis goodness and for- bearance and longsidTering ; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?' — Tit. ii. 11 — .4, Tor the grace of God that brmgeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world ; 13, looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ ; 14, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all inif]uity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.' — 1 Jno. iv. 19, 'We love liim, because he first loved us.' Mt. iii. 2. Repent te. Is. Iv. 7, 'Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let hini -. return unto the Loed, and he will have mercy upon him ; and ' to our God, for ho will abundantly pardon.' — Eze. xxxiii. 11, ' Say ■ unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: tm-n ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for wliy will ye die, O house of Israel?' — Jesus preached, Mk. i. 13, § IG, p. 15S ; — preached by the twelve, vi. 12, § 39, p. 3G3 ; — joy in heaven over such as repent, Lu. xv. 7, 10, § G8, p. (;o4 ; — repentance to be preached among all nations, xxiv. 47, § 98 ; — It loas preached to the Jews, Ac. ii. 38, 'Peter said, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remissiou of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.' — iii. 19, 'Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may bo blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.' — And by Paul to the Gentiles, xvii. .SO, ' the times of tliis ignorance God winked at ; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent.' — See xxvi. 20, 'shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judiea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.' 3. By the PRornET. Is. xl. 3—5, ' The voice of,' &c. ; — 2>''0>ii'scd to Zacharias, Lu. i. 10, .7, § 1, p. 9, — and spoken of bij him, vcr. 76, NOTES. and barren ; often floiu'ishing and fruitful in wood and herbage ; belter fitted for pasture than for tilling, like the steppes of Asia, the llanos of South America, the sheep walks of Spain, and the extensive commons lately existing iu our own country. ^Compare Ps. Ixv. 13; Je. ii. 10; Joel i. 20. It is probable that John first began to preach, or proclaim, the baptism of repentance in the towns as well as in the rural districts belonging to the city of Hebron, and then toward Jordan near Jericho. Tliis tract was sufficiently desert, yet had a great resort of people, and was near large cities ; for Jericho had ten thousand men of the courses of the priests in it ; and the road fi-om Jerusalem to that city and to Pertea, especially near the time of the passover, was frequented by multitudes. The wilder- nesses of Canaan were not without towns, nor cities, so called, but they were districts little cultivated and thinly inhabited. Iu the time of Joshua, there were six cities, in what was called the wil- derness.— See Addenda, p. 88, ' The Ministry,' tOe. Lu. iii. 3. The baptism of repentance. Ecpentance, or change of mind — so to sec all our unprofitableness towards God, the in- gratitude of idolizMig the world, and folly of seeking our portion among the things that perish, as that our minds and purposes are changed : ashamed of ourselves, and grieved for our sins, we place all our dependence for forgiveness upon God, tlirougli the merits of Christ, and seek to live altogether unto the praise of the gloi-y of his grace, having a good hope, through grace, of the coming and kingdom of our Lord Jesus Ciirist. Mt. iii. 2. Repent ye. See ' Baptism op eepentance,' above. In the time of John, the nation had become extremely wicked and corrupt, perhaps more so than at any preceding period. Ilcnce, both he and Clu-ist began their ministry by calling to repentance. Kinydom of heaven. The object of hope presented to us ; not merely in the ^irophets and the Gospels, but also in the Acts, Epistles, and the Apocalypse. The promised kingdom oi God, in which the saints shall reign with Christ, is one of the grand i lotives to godliness. ' Whereby are given unto ns exceeding great atd pre- cious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the Divine nature,' 2 Pe. i. 4. ' We are saved,' or delivered from the influence of the present evil world, 'by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope,' Kom. viii. 24. It is still matter of promise, and is a motive to repentance, as in the days of John, and the ministry of om- Lord and his apostles : all of whom preached the same good news or glad tidings, ' the kingdom of heaven is at hand,' 3. Spoken of by the prophet. The ministry of John fulfilled the prophecy, la. xl. 3 — 5. John was 'a voice,' which conveys the mind of the speaker, and then vanishes : he declared the mind of God concerning his Son, and then was seen no more ; for his minis- try was of short continuance. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. Mt. iii. 1 — 4. .Seeing God lias been pleased to declare the free remission of sins through the Lamb of God who hatli taken them away, it becomes us to repent— to have no longer hard thoughts of God, but to seek to be cleansed from our sins, and to obtain the gift of the Holy Ghost through faith, Mt. iii. 2. We should repent, not only because of that whicli is presented to our faith — the Lamb of God ; but because of that which is presented to our hope — the kuigdom of heaven. 80 3 ver. Soon also may every obstruction be removed from the John i. 19, § 10, p. 103. [7. PABl 11.] Matt. iii. 3, 4. saying, The-voice of-one-crying in the wildevnoss, Preparo-ye the way of-the- Lord, make his^paths straight.-' .JOHN CLOTHED IN CAMEL'S HAIE, &e. [SECT. VII. ^And the same John had liis^raimeut of camel's Iniir. and a-leathern girdle about his Joins ; and his^meat was locusts and wild honey. Mark i. 0. Luke iii. 5, G. saying, The-voice of-one-crying in the wilderness, Prepare-yc the way of-the- Lord, make his^patlis straight. '^Every valley shall-be-fillcd, and eveiy 5 mountain and hill shall-be-brought-low TaTTtivwOiiaeTai; and the crooked shall-be- made straight 'iaTai uq tvOtXav, and the rougli ways s/iall //t'-miide-smooth ; And all flesh shall-see tlie salvation G [Yer. .5, p. 82.] awn'/pioy of ' God." [Ver. 7, p. 83.] And .Tohn was clothed-with camel's hair. and with a-girdle of-a-skin about his^loins ; and he-did-eat locusts and wild honey ; [Ver. SCI5IPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. p. 85.] § 3 ; — /';/ tlie Baptisf, Jno. i. 23, § 10 ; — t^e mission not completed until the restoration; .... .hi/ Jesus at thetransjirjuraiion^'M.t.'S.yu.. 11, § 51. — Compare with Is. i. 25 — .7, 'And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge awiiy thy dross, and take away all thy tin : 26, and I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning : afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city. 27, Ziou shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.' — See also Ivii. 14, ' And shall say. Cast ye up, east ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people.' Lu. iii. 5. Eteet valley, &c. The like language seems to be used literally, as Is. xlix. 11, 'And I will make all my moun- tains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.' — And figura- tively, as \i.V[, 'The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Loud alone shall be exalted in that day.' — xlii. 16, 'And I will bring the blhid by a way that they knew not ; I will lead them in paths that they have not known : I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.' 6. Ail plesh shall see, &c. Is. xl. 5 — see ver. 3, supra — all the ends of the earth, Iii. 10, {quoted, Jno. i. 9, p. 75, 'Wnicu LIOHTETH,' &c.)-Joel ii. 28, ' And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh ; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.' — Mai. i. 11, 'For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall he great among the Gentiles; and in everyplace incense shall he offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LoED of hosts.* Mt. iii. 4. Raiment of camel's haie, &c. So Elijah, 2 Ki. i. 8, ' And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and gu-t with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said. It ii EUjah the Tishhite.'—Sef erred to by our Lord, Mt. xi. 8, § 29, p. 280. Locusts. Allowed by the law, Le. xi. 22, ' Ei^en these of them ye may eat ; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after liis kmd.' NOTES. Lu. iii. 4. Of one crying. Or, 'of a crier;' one proolaiming. — See 'Preaching,' p. 79. Prepare ye the may of the Lord. The office of John the Baptist was to prepare the way for the Redeemer by i-emovmg difficulties, and counteracting prejudices. 6. All flesh, S(c. Persons of all nations should know and enjoy that great and glorious salvation wliich God was then brUiging into llie world by Jesus Christ. Mt. iii. 4. His raiment of cameVs hair. A sort of coarse or rough covering, which it appears was common to the iirophcts, 2 Ki. i. 8 ; and was made of the long and shaggy hair of camels. In the East there is a coarse kind of stufl' manufactured, which was anciently worn by monks and anchorets. Such garments are still worn in the East by the poor, and such as afl'uct austerity of life. Camel's hair is also made into fine aad luxiu-ious clothing for the rich. Leathern girdle. 'The austerity consisted in the materials : for otherwise these girdles formed a regular part of the dress, and were of linen, silk, or even of silver, and sometimes gold.' — Bloomfield. — .Such the Orientals now wear. Its uses are to keep the lower gar- ments fast to the loins, to strengtlieu tlie body, and to command respect. Cliiefs have numerous folds of muslin ro\uid their loins, and they march along with gi-eat pomp, thus enlarged in their size. —See Lu. xii. 35, § 63, p. 577, ' Let your loins he girded about.' His meat was locusts. His food. Tliese were the food of the common people among the Greeks ; the vilest of the people used to cat them ; and the fact that John made his food of them is sig- nificant of his great poverty and humble hfe. They are at tliis day eaten in many parts ot Asia. When sprinkled with salt and fried, they are not unhke our fresh-water crawfish in taste. The Arabs salt them, and eat them as a dehcacy. The Hottentots look for their an'ival among them with anticipations of a great feast. Locusts are flying insects, and are of various kinds. The green locusts are about two inches in length, and the thickness of a man's finger. The common brown locust is three inches long. The general form and appearance of the locust is not unlike tho grasshopper. They were one of the plagues of Egypt, Ex. x. 12. In eastern countries they are very numerous. Tliey appear in such quantities as to darken the sky, and devom- in o short time every green thing. The whole earth is sometimes covered with tliem for many leagues. They are sometimes dried and salted, or grouiul into a kind of cake, &c. Wild honey. Tliis was probably the lioney that is found in tho rocks of the wilderness. I'alesline was often called 'a land floicing with milk and honey,' Ex. iii. 8, 17 ; xiii. 5. Bees were kept with PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. minds of men, and all be maae willing to spread abroad the message of salvation. Mt. iii. 4. Those who give themselves more immediately to tho 7.] John i. 19, § 10, p. 103, service of God for the good of man should not seek great things for themselves; but, like John, be examples ol Iho sell-denial and benevolence they i-eijuii-e in others. 81 SECT, vn.] MTTLTITUDES BESOET TO JOHN'S BAPTISII. [PART II. (G. 3.) Multitudes resort to the baptism of John : the Pharisees and Sadducees are reproved ly him : the vommuii people, the pullicans ami soldiers, arc each instructed by him in their jrruper duty. At Bcthubara, East of Jericho. Mark i. 5. "And there-went-out unto liini all the land of-Judsea, and they of" Jerusalem/ Matt. iii. 5 — 10. 5 Then wont-out to him Jerusalem, and all^Judfca, *nnd all the region-round-about^Jordan/ 6 and were-baptized of him in ^Jordan, confessing l^ofioKo^ovfuvoi their^sins. 7 'But when-he-saw many of-the Pharisees and Sadducees come to liis^baptism,' Luke iii. 7 — 14. 'and werc-'all'-baptized of liim in the river of-Jordan, confessing their^sins.'' [Ver. C, p. 8] ; ver. 7, p. 85.] SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Mk. i. 5. CoxFEssiNO THEIR SINS. Pr. xxviii. 1."!, ' He tliat coverelli his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh Ihem shall liave mercy.' — So Joh, ch. xxxiii. 27, .8, ' He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited mo not ; 28, he will deliver his soul from going into the jiit, and his Ufe shall see the hght.' — — Ps. xxxii. 5, 'I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity hare I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions imto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sm. Selah.' — 1 Jno. i. 8, 9, 'If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9, If we confess our sins, lio is faithfid and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.' — Spoken of Israel, Le. xxvi. 40 — .2, ' If they eliall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed agamst mc, and that also they have walked contrary unto me ; 41, and that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of theu- enemies ; if then their uncircumcised hearts be hum- bled, and they then accept of the punisliment of their iniquity : 42, then will I remember ray covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham wUl I remember j and I will remember the laud.' — Is. Ixiv. 5 — 9, ' Thou meetest him that rejoieeth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways : behold, thou art wroth ; for wo have sinned : in those is continuance, and we shaB be saved. 6, But we arc all as an unclean tt»iy, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags j and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, hke the -vvind, have taken ns away. 7, And there is none that caUeth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee : lor thou hast liid thy face from us, and hast consumed »is, because of our iniquities. 8, But now, O Loed, thou art oiur father ; we are the clay, and thou our potter ; and we all are the work of thy hand. 9, Be not wroth very sore, O Loed, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.' — Hos. v. 15, 'I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face : in their affliction they will seek me early.' Mt. iii. 7. PnAElSEES. Self-righteous, Lu. xviii. 10 — .2, § 73, p. 635 ;— formalists, vi. 6—11, § 25, p. 219 ; xi. 39—14, § 62, p. 56 1 ; — hypocrites, xii. 1, § 63, p. 573 ; — covetous, xvi. 14, § 69, p. 616 j — boastful, doing their worl's, i^c, to le seen of men, Mt. xxiii. 1 — 7, § 85, p. 748. Sadducees. Said there is no resurrection, ch. xxii. 23, § ih., p. 733; — neither angel, cf'c, Ac. xxiii. 8, 'For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit : but the Pharisees confess both.' — They and the Pharisees were mthelievers in the signs given of God, Mt. xvi. 1 — 4, § 47, p. 424 ; — the disciples oj Jesus were to beware of their doctrines, 5 — 12, § 48, p. 128. great care ; and great numbers of them abounded in the fissures of trees and the clefts of rocks.— See also Ju. siv. 8. There is also a species of honey called wild honey, or wood honey, or honey dew, produced by certain little insects, and deposited on the leaves of trees, from which it frequently flows in great quantities to the ground. — See 1 Sa. siv. 24 — .7. Tliis is said to be produced still in Arabia. There the honey of bees is drunk with water, and forms a common beverage among the Arabs. Ju. xiv. 8, 9, ' And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion : and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion. 9, And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat : but he told not them that he had taken the lioney out of the carcase of the Uoir.' Mk. i. 5. There went out unto him. The novelty oiaprophefs appearance hi Israel, the family of John, the circumstances of his birth, liis prophetical habit and mode of life, the extraordinary cha- racter he had no doubt maintained for strict and undisscmblcd piety, togelhcr willi the general expectation which prevailed, that tlie Messiah would innnediately appear to liberate them from the Bomnn yoke which then bore hard upon them— all concun-ed to draw gi-cat miUtitudes after liim. All the land of Judaea. It docs not mean tliat literally every individu.il went, but that vast nudtitudcs from all the cities, towns, and vilhiges oC Judaa, and from Jerusalem itself, went out. Were all baptised, Sfc. Baptismal ablutions or lustrations had been, even among the heathens, thought necessary for admission to NOTES. 82 mi J lur uuiuiozjj'ju tu were j^eiieraiiy liiu ri Mwrlc i. 7, p. 85. John i. 19, § 10, p. 103 religious ceremonies, and for the expiation of offences. That they were in use, too, among the Jews, we find alike from the Old Tes- tament, the rabbinical writers, and Josephus. — See J. E. ii. 8, 7. But the baptism here meant is one solemn rite, founded partly on the ceremony which (as the Jewish theologians inform us) took place immediately previous to the promidgatiou of the law, at Jlount Sinai, and partly on the Jewish baptism of proselytes; though essentially differing from it : the one involving an obligation to perform the whole law ; the other, an obligation to reformation, and faith in the Messiah about to appear — the one founded on a system of justification by works, the other on faith in Clirist. — See ' Baptism of repentance^ on Lu. iii. 3, § 7 p. 80. Confessing their sins. A general confession of sins, and ivnun- ciation of all hope of justification by works, Mt. iii. 7. Many of the Pharisees, cj-e. They were called Peru- shim, which signifies persons who are separated from others. They pretended to more sanctity and strictness in rehgious observances, Ac. xxvi. 5. They held the traditions of the elders in equal, if not greater, veneration than the word of God. — See Addenda, p. 8". Sadducees. See Addenda, p. 88. They are commonly repre- sented as the most wicked and profligate of aU the Jews. They rejected the traditions of the Pharisees, and did not, like them, boast of their own righteousness. They acknowledged the world to have been created by God, and that it was upheld by liim. They denied that there was any resurrection, or angel, or spirit ; and, it is said, rejected all the Scriptures but the five books of Moses. Caia]ilias, the liigh priest who condemned our S.aviom', was a Sadducee. They were generally the richest men among the Jews. [7. PAET II.] HE WARNS OP JUDGMENT ABOUT TO COMMENCE. [SECT. VII. Matt. iii. 8 — 10. he-said unto-them. 0-generation rtvvjj/uara of-vipers, who hath-warned vniSet^iv you to-flee from the wrath to-come jueXXouuiic ? 8 Bring-forth iroii'iaaTt therefore fruits meet-for^repeutance : * 9 and think not to-say witliin yourselves, We-liave,Abraham tov 'A/3padju to-o;/;--fatlier : for I-say uuto-you,That^God is-able of these^stones to-raise-up chikb-en unto' Abraham. 10 And now also the axe is-laid unto the root of-the trees : therefore every tree wliich^ bi'ingeth-'nof-forth good fruit is- hewn-dowu, and cast into the-fire. [Ver. 11, p. 85.] SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS Mark i, ^ Luke iii. 7—9. 'Then said-lio to-tlie multitude 7 that-came-forth to-bc-baptized of him, 0-generation of-vipers, who hath-warned you to-flee fi'om tlic wrath to-come ? Bring-forth therefore fruits 8 worthy of repentance, and begin f not to-say within yourselves, We-have^Abraham to-o«/- father : for I-say unto-you,That^God is-able of these^stones to-raise-up children unto 'Abraham. And now also the axe is-hiid unto the 9 root of-the trees : every tree therefore wliich- bringeth-'nof-forth good fruit is- hewn-down, and cast into the-fire. Lu. iii. 7. Geneeation of vipees. Mt. xii. 34, § 31, p. 294 ; iiiii. 33, § 85, p. 755~seed of the serpent, predicted, Ge. iii. 15, 'And I will put enmity between tliee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy liead, and thou shalt bruise his heel.' — Children of the- wicked one, Mt. xiii. 38, § 33, p. 318 ; — of the devil, 1 Jno. iii. 8, 10, 'He that committeth sin is of tlie devil ; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For tliis purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.' 10, ' In this the children of God are manifest, and the chikh-eu of the devU : whosoever doeth not righteous- ness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.' 8. Feuits woethy op eepentaxce. Represented hy washing, as in bnjilism. Is. i. 16, 'Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes ; cease to do evil.' —Amend your ways, Je. vii. 3, ' Tims saith the Loed of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in tliis place.' — Worts meet for repentance, Ac. xxvi. 20, ( quoted, Mt. iii. 2, p. 80, siijira, 'Eepent ye.') 9. EvEET TEEE. Is. V. 1—7, ' Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching liis vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruit fiU hill : 2, and he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein : and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wold grapes. 3, And now, O inhabitants of Jeru- salem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my NOTES. Lu. iii. 7. Generation of vipers. 'Ye brood of vipers.' By this was meant to be designated their deadly malignity and wickedness. Vipers are a species of serpents. They are from two to five feet in lengtli, and about an incli thick, with a flat head. They are of an ash or yellowisli colour, speckled with long brown spots. Wliereas other serpents have two rows of teeth, vipers have but one, con- sisting of sixteen small ones in each jaw ; and at least the male vipers have two large teetli, which being raised when they are angi-y, their bite distils poison into the wound. There is no serpent's bite more poisonous than theirs. The person bitten swells up almost immediately, and falls down dead. — See Ac. ixviii. 3 — 6. Who hath learned 1 riq viriSttUv i'P'v, Inc. ' Wlio hath shewn or taught ? ' Wrath to come, inrb Ttjg fitWovertig opyijg, 'from the impending vengeance.' The passage might possibly glance at the desti'uction of Jerusalem ; but, doubtless, Jolm looked forward to the iinal revelation of the wrath of Jehovah. John expresses his astonish- ment that smners bo hardened and so hypocritical as they were, should have been induced to flee from coming wrath. ' The wrath to come ' means the Divine indignation, or the punishment that will come on the guilty.— jSee 1 Th. i. 10 ; v. 9. 8. Srlny forth therefore fruits, ^-c. That is, the proper fruits of rcfonnation ; the proper evidence that you are sincere : humility, meekness, patience, faith, love, equity, mercy, and every good work, worthy, consistent with, expressive of repentance. Begin not to say, i\-c. ni) aptr)a6( Xtynv, 'presume not to say.' Think not the Messiah will advance you for behig the carnal seed of Abraliam, without liis faith and holiness. These stones. The words, however, are iceant to shew the om- nipotence of God, who can raise up instruments to cfTeet his own wise and benevolent purposes from the meanest subjects. 9. The axe is laid. That is, 'the axe of judgment and punishment is now being directed at;' directing the axe at the root of a tree denotes that it is to be cut down, not merely lopped. It was cus- tomary with the prophets to represent the kingdoms, nations, and individuals, whose ruin they predicted, under the notion oi forests and trees doomed to be cut down. The Baptist follows the same metaphoi-, representing the Jewish nation as the tree, and the Romans as the axe. — See of Pharaoh's overthrow, Je. xlvi. 22, .3, 'The voice thereof shall go lite a serpent; for they shall march with an army, and come against her with axes, as hewers of wood. 23, They shall cut doivn her forest, saith the Loed, though it cannot he searched; because they are more than the grasshoppers, and are innumerable.^ The root of the trees. In all the calamities that had befallen the Jewish nation, the line of Jesse could never be rooted out or extinguished, because the promised SIcssiah was to proceed from it. But now Messiah was come, and about to be cut off. When such was the case, the Jewish nation, which until this time had been preserved, might well stand in fear. Bringeth not forth, <5c. This is a beatttifid and very striking figure of speech, and a very direct threatening of future wrath. Jolui regarded them as making a fair and i)roniising profes.sion, &a trees do in blossom. But ho told them, also, that they ought to hear fruit as well as flowers. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. Lu. iii. 7. Those who are the most famih'ar witli the forme and doc- trines of religion, such as the Pharisees, are in the greatest danger of in what they may have done for u.', any more than in o\ir omi Pharisaic observances or Sadduccan pliilosophy. Tliose may he remaming unwarned ; such are particularly called to self-examination, manifested as the children of Abraham, yea, as the sons of God, Mt. iii. •). We arc not to trust in what our ancestors were, nor | who have been the least expected to be found such. 7.] • On repentance, see p. 89. t On verbal differences, &c., see Sect. viii. p. 95, AoDElfTA. Matt. iii. 11, p. 85. Mark i. 7, ibid. John i. 19, § 10, p. 103. 8» SECT. VII.] Matt. JOHN INSTKUCTS THE PEOi'LE. [PART II. Mark. Lukk iii. 10— .3. And the people askud him, saying, What slmll- 10 we-do then? He-answereth imd-snitli unto-tliem, He that- 11 hath two coats, let-liim-impart to-him' that-hath none; and he tliat-huth meat, let-him-do likewise. Then came also publicans to-be-baptized, and said unto 12 him, Muster, what sliall-we-do ? And he said unto them, 13 Exact irpaaatTC no more than that' which-is- appointed you. SCKIPTtlRE ILLUSTRATIONS. vineyard. 4, WHiat could have been done more to my vineyard, tlmt I liave not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? 5, And now go to ; I will tell you what I wUl do to my vineyard : I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: 6, and I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. 7, For the vineyard of the LoED of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant : and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for right- eousness, but behold a cry.' — xxvii. 11, 'When the boughs thereof ore withered, they shall be broken off: the women come, and set them on Are : for it is a people of no understanding : therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will shew them no favour.'— IWe unfndlfid fig tree is to he cut down, Lu. xiii. 6 — 9, § 64, p. 586 ; — aUo eeeri/ Iranch that leareth not fruit, Jno. xv. 2, § 87, p. 836. Lu. iii. 11. He that hath two coats. Low, practical cliarify, called for under tlie law, De. xv. 7 — 10, ' If there be among you a poor man oi one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land wldch the LoED thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother : 8, but thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth. 9, Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying. The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand ; and tliine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought ; and he cry unto the Loed against thee, and it be sin imto thee. 10, Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LoBD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, aud in all that thou puttest thine hand imto.' — JSy the 2'rophets, Zee. vii. 9 — 11, 'Thus speaketh the LoED of hosts, saying. Execute true judg- ment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: 10, and oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. 11, But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.' — The same under the gospel, Mt, xxv. 35, .0, § 86, p. 791. Lu. vi. ,30— .G, § 27, p. 263.-2 Cor. viii. 14, 'But by an equality, that now at this lime your abundance may le a supply for their want, that thcu' abundance also may \)0 a supply for your want: that there may be equality.' — 1 Tim. vi. 17, .8, 'Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust iu uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all tilings to enjoy ; 18, that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribiite, willing to communicate.' — Ja. ii. 15, .6, 'If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16, and one of you say unto them. Depart in peace, bo ye warmed and filled ; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body ; what doth it profit ? ' — 1 Jno. iii. 17, ' But whoso hath this world's good, and scctli liia brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?' — Christ the example, Eom. v. 7, 8, ( quoted, Lu. i. 78, § 3, p. 31, ' Tendee MEECT.')— 2 Cor. viii. 9, ' For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesug Chi-ist, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might he rich.' 13. Exact no MOEe. Justice required, under the law, just judg- ment, De. xvi. 18 — 20, ' Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in aU thy gates, which the LOED thy God giveth thee, thi'oughout thy tribes : and they shall judge the people with just judgment. 19, Thou shalt not wrest judgment ; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift : for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. 20, That which is alto- gether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the Loed thy God giveth thee.' — Jiy the prophets. Is. i. 17, 'Learn to do well; seek judgment, reheve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.' — ■ Zee. vii. 9, 10, ( quoted first column, ' He that hath two COATS,' under 'Sy the prophets')— Tinder the gospel, Mt. vii. 12, § 19; p. 191. — 1 Cor. vi. 7 — 11, ' Now therefore there is utterly a faiUt among you, because ye go to law one with another. Wliy do ye not rather take wrong ? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded ? 8, Nay, ye do wrong, aud defi-aud, and that yonr brethren. 9, Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither forni- cators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drimkards, nor revUers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11, And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spu-it of our God.' — Christ the example, Rom. viii. 3, 4, ( quoted, Lu. i. 6, § 1, p. 6, 'RiOHTEOiTs.')-Ga. i. 4, ' Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from tliis present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.' Lu. iii. 11. He that hath two coats, ^'c. It is remarkable that one of the first demands of religion is to do good; and in this way it is that it may be shewn that the repentance is not feigned. For — 1st. The nature of rehgion is to do good. 2nd. This requires self- denial, and few will in truth deny themselves who are not assisted by Divmc grace. 3rd. This is to imitate Jesus Christ, who, though he was rich, yet for our sakes became poor. 12. Pullicans. Collectors of the pubUc moneys or taxes belonging to tlic Roman government, an office generally undertaken, among the Jews, by those wlio had not much regard for the esteem m which they were held by their fellow-countrymen, who felt it degrading to be under a foreign yoke. There is reason to think that the publicans NOTES. or tax-gatherers were peculiarly oppressive and hard in their deal- ings with the people ; and that, as they had every opportunity of exacting more than they ought, so they often did it, and thus enriched themselves. The evidence of repentance in them would be to break off then- extortions, and to deal justly. 13. JUxact no more, S(c. That is, by the government. Though it was hated by the people — though often abused, and therefore unpopular — yet the office itself was not dishonourable. — See Rom. xiii. 1, 6, 'ie^ every soul he subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power hut of God ; the powers that he are ordained of Ood.' 6, ' For for this cause pay ye trihute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.' PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. Mt. lii. 10. The repentance which John required, was a real I Lu. iii. 12 — .4. It becomes us to inquire into what is our own onangc of lioart and life, Irom selfishness to justice and benevolence. | more especial duty in our particular station or occupation, that we Matt. iii. 11, p. 85. Mark i. 7, ibid. John i. 19, § 10, p. 103. [7. 8d I'AKT II.] JOHN'S FIRST TESTIMONY TO CIIHIST. [SECT. VII. Matt. iG. 1.) T lie people hefiinniiifj to and a f/rcater pcrso//, aftcy h Betliahura, East of Jericho Matt. iii. 11, .2. Mark. Luke iii. 14. And tlic-soldiers likewise demanded-of liim, sayingr, And 14 wliiit shuU-'we'-do ? And he-said unto tliem, Do-violencc- to 8iaid. Luke iii. 21, ibid. John i. 19, § 10, p. 103. from the more populous parts, yet not unoccupied by villages. Thus Josephus mentions "BTjQaXaycht . . . kio^ijv otiaai' ev ry Ipijiit^, a village in the desert. — (Ant. Jud. xiii. i. 5.) The principal scone of his ministry, we learn from St. Lidse, was the Pcrichorus of Jordan ; the proper name of wliich was the Aulon, — (Hieron. Oper. ii. 393, ad calccm, De Situ et Nominibus) ; described by Josephus, — (B. iv. viii. 2 ; Ant. xvi. v. 2), — as two himdred and tliu'ty stades in length, one huiicU'cd and twenty iu breadth ; iuterseeted by the Jordan, enclosed on either side by mountains ; desert and barren, and reaching fi-om the southern extremity of the lake of Tiberias, to the northern extremity of the lake Asphaltites. The locahty of this Perichorus appears to have been chosen as the fittest scene for the ministerial labom's of John, because when overflowed by the Jordan, and laid under water, without bcuig too deep, it woidd all'ord the greatest facilities for baptism, or immersion. The scene, thus chosen, seems to have been ever after tho same ; Bethabara or Bethany, ^Euon or Salem ; all contiguous places, or not vei-y remote from each other ; the former in Pera;a, on the easteni side of the Jordan, the latter in Galilee, on the western. Tho locality of Bethabara continued to be still pointed out by tradition, even in the time of Origen — (Oper. iv. 140. A — 142. A. in Joan. tom. vi. 24) ; but whether correctly or not, may be doubted. The pre- ponderance of critical reasons makes rather in favoiu' of Bethany beyond Jordan, than of Bethabara in St. John's Gospel. Such a comitry was well adapted for the supply of John's pecuUar food, fiKpiOE^ Kai ii'tXi dypwTj locusts and tcild honey ; as the desert had been previously for the materials ot his dress. Clothes made of liau-, in general, are alluded to by Josephus as characteristic of poverty, or a mean state of life (B. i. xxiv. 3, Ant. xvi. vii. 3). ' Tho Pcrichorus of Jordan, for a great part of its extent, bordered upon Judaea ; hence, among those who resorted to the baptism of John, tho inhabitants of Jerusalem and of Judica are specified among the first. It is, however, a cu'cumstancc of resemblance between John's ministry and om- Saviour's also, that both appear to have been almost confined to Galdce, or to the dominions of Herod Antipas, beyond tho jm'isdiction of the Jewish sauhedi'im,' —Ibid., Vol. II. Diss. xix. pp. 183— ..5. [7. PART n.] ADDENDA. 'THE MINISTRY 01? JOUN 1:HE BAPTIST.' [SECT, VII. 'The first character in wliich Jolm is represented, upon the public assumption of his ministerial ofUcc, is that of an herald, or a proclaimer, of the tidings of the kingdom, accompanied by the con- ditions of faith, tliat is, belief in the tidings, and of repentance, or reformation of life, as a consequence of the belief, Mt. Hi. 1, 2 (p. 78). 'His next character is the character of a baptizcr, ver. 5, 6. Anotlicr, and a third character, is that of a teacher of morals, as well as of a preacher of the kingdom, Lu. iii. 10 — .4 (p. 81). ' 'A fourth, and the last character, is that of an harbinger of the Messiah, or of one commissioned to bear express testimony to the approaching advent of the Chi-ist, Mk. i. 7, 8 (p. 85). ' Besides these cliaracters, we meet with no more : and of these the first and the last alone are really distinct ; the intermediate two are not so much different fi-om, as natui'al consequences of the first. The character of a preacher of repentance could not fail to include tlio character o. a moral teacher ; and the doctrine of tlio kingdom, as preached by John, being accompanied by the requisition of repentance, gi-ounded upon faith m the approach of the kingdom, baptism was administered as the sign and seal of both. ' The administration of baptism, withoxit any regard to the use of that rite among the Jews m the admission of proselytes, was a necessary part of the ofEce of John ; whether as a prophet of the kingdom, or as a teacher of morahty : in whicli might be supposed to be comprehended the sum and effect of his mmistry as both. The reception of baptism at his hands was the last and most decisive step, to dcclai-e the faith of the recipient in both tlie message and the authority of John, llence it is that the final end of his mission, so far as these objects are contemplated by it, may be fitly described as simply and solely to baptize ; that liis ministrj', regarded in the complex, might be called his baptism ; that liis personal denomina- tion, both in the Gospels and out of tliem, is John o Ba-n-riarrig — John the baptizer ; that St. Mark and St. Luke do each concisely express both liis first and his second office ui this one description, that Jolm came preaching or proclaiming the baptism of repentance, nnfo remission of sins ; and that St. Paul, in the synagogue of Pisidian Autioeh, employs the same language : Jolm having pro- claimed, before the face of his entrance, baptism of repentance to all the people. — See Ac. xiii. 24.' — Ibid., pp. 150 — ..2. 'The Baptist wi-ought no mu'aeles ; but in other respects, whether as a preacher of the kingdom, or as a teacher of moral duties, he was absolutely the counterpart, and merely the forerunner of Clu'ist. 'mUITS WORTHY The word a^iovg, 'vrorthy,' in Lu. iii. 8, is in Mt. iii. 8, trans- lated ' meet ; ' not a mere empty profession, but works correspon- dent to, or befitting the repentance professed, were required by tlic Baptist of those who came to liis baptism. These plulosophic Sad- ducccs, and scrupulously formal Pharisees, the noisy disputants among the Jews, were to beware of the evil to wliich tlicy were pecuharly liable, the making rehgious tnitli a matter of dispute instead of placing it in the affections, and giving it the government of Ihe life. As the people were to repent of their sclfislmcss, and unpart to tliose who lind need ; as the publicans were to exact no more than was due, and the soldiers to do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely — so were those most conversant with religious dogmas and ceremonies, to beware of their besetting sin, and sec tliat the change professed by them was_ not a mere change of opinion, but did really reach the heart and result in correspondent practice, in 'fruits worthy of repentance.' The word jitTavoia, translated repentance, is literally chanrje of mind, and is used to express that change of the will, as well as of the understanduig, which arises from a conviction of having done amiss; and which implies a resolution to act differently for the future. Now they were no longer to maso their attention to ritualism an excuse for the non-perfonnanco of duty in the several relations, occupations, and conditions of life. They were to look luito ' the Lamb of Ood thai iaketh away the sin of the n-orld ;' they were to know the Son of God as the Baptizcr witli the Holy Ghost, and to ciptricnco the power of the truth in purifying the affections, rightly ' The mission and ministry of John, as far as they were subservienl; to the futm-e gospel dispensation, were the same in kind with the mission and ministry of om' Lord himself, of the twelve and of the seventy, respectively, during the hfctimo of Clirist.' — Ibid., pp. 155, ..7. ' The personal ministi-y of Jolm is not to be regarded as distinct from the personal ministry of oiu- Savioiu', except in the order of succession : both were continuous, though individual parts of the same scheme or dispensation in general, which may be called uidifferently either the ministration of the kingdom, or the ministra- tion of the Messiah, as discriminated from the propagation of formal Cliristianity, or the ministration of the apostles. It may be said, however, that prophecy, both ancient and recent, had represented the ministry of John in a different light, viz., as the ministry of an herald, harbinger, or precursor specially in reference to the coming of Chi'ist ; and therefore as distinct from the minietry of Christ.' — Ibid., pp. 170, ..1. 'If such had not been the original design of the ministry of Jolm, would the prophet Isaiah have specified this, as the fhial result of that preparation which he attributes to the spiritual har- binger, that all flesh should see the salvation of God ? For what is the salvation of God, but God the Saviour ? and what is God the Saviour, but a crucified Saviour 1 and when was a crucified Savioiu- revealed, or seen, before the day of Pentecost, when the first Christian semion was preached? Would the angel Gabriel have said that John should get ready for the Lord, Xaov Kann- Kivaafiivov ? For what is this duly prepared or befitting people, but the members of his futm-e church, his peculium among the Jews, the £K\oy/}, in short, of Israel? Woidd his father Zaeharias have said, that he should go before the face of the Lord to give know- ledge of salvation to his people ? For when was the knowledge of salvation, that is, the knowledge of a Saviour, commimicated in the lifetime of John ? Or when were the tender mercies of God fully developed in the remission of sins, before the great forfeit had been paid in the sacrifice for sins, and human redemption was complete ? Or when could the dayspring from on liigh be said to have shono forth on the darkness of the Gentile world, before the gospel was preached to that world ? Or when were the feet of simiers, whether Jews or Gentiles, safely guided into the way of peace, before Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, the Captain of salvation, and the Prmce of peace, had been distmctly proposed in all these capacities, to the Jew fii-st, and afterwards to the Gentile ?'—lbid., pp. 181, ..2. OF REPENTANCE.' directing the will, and producing conduct correspondent to the expressed mind of God. Wlien the evil of sin is more present to the mind than the grace of God, and when the peace and joy wliich are through believing have not been fully reahzed, deep sorrow is apt to be felt for what was done previous to conversion ; and this sorrow may be expressed by outward signs of self-loathing, and extraordinary self-denial. These outward signs of repentance, m as far as they are the genuine expression of a real change of mind, and determination by Divine aid to lead a new life, are allowable, and to be looked for : but to put them in the place of cither a change of mind or a cliange of conduct, would be doing that for which the Jews were reproached — woidd be committing the fallacy of wliich the Romanists also have been guUty — substituting penance for repentance ; as in otlier instances, the sign for the substance. Tlie Romish church teaches that baptism washes from all previous sin ; and that for sin subsequently committed penance is to be per- formed. According to this view, penance was a work of supereroga- tion on the part of any coming to John's baptism. John, however, wo may well conclude, did not believe in Romisli penance ; lie called for evangelical repentance; an outward cleansing resultuig from a change of mind ; that holiness without which no man shall see the Lord; and without a true desire for which, and constant endeavour to obtain it, we want the evidence of being given the remission of sins. To om- enjoyment of the Divine forgiveness, it is needful that wo do not receive the grace of God in vain — that wc do in very deed 'BBINO FORTH PEUITS, . . . MEET FOR BErENTAKCB.' 7.3 Matt. iiL 13, § 8, p. 90. Mark i. 9, ibid. LuTce ui. 21, ibid. John i. 19, § 10, p. 103. RO Sect, vm.] THE BAPTISM OF JESUS. [PABT II. SECTION 8. — Ahout the middle of the ministry of John the Bapiist, Jesus comes to his n.\PTisM ; the Holy Ghost descends upon him; a voice from heaven bears witness to him. Miitl. iii. 13— .7. Marki. 9— 11. Luke iii. 21— .3. introduction Mt. iii. 13. Mk. i. 9. Jesus comes from Nazareth of Galileo to Jordan, at the time when the great body of the people are being baptizexGii . . . waii Itwv rpia- KovTtt apxofievoc^ [Ver. 21 — 38, § 4, p. 39.] SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. I have exalted one chosen out of the people. 20, I have found David my servant ; with my holy oil have I anomted him.' — See Mt. xii. 18, § 26, p. 255 ; Jno. iii. 35, § 13 ; v. 20, § 23.— God 'hath made us accei^ted in the Beloved,' Eph. i. 6, — 'hath dehvered us fi'om the power of darkness, and hath translated . . into the king- dom of his dear Son,' Col. i. 13, — of whicJi kingdom the late is 'Love,' Ja. ii. 8, 'If ye f ulfil the royal law according to the scripture. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyseh", ye do well:' — of obedience io which latu, the Christy the Seloved^ the Kitjg^ is himself the great examjile, Eph. v. 2, 'And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given hunself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.' Mk. i. 11. Ix WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED. Tlie Father accepted him as fulfiUing all righteousness substifufionallg for his people^ Jno. iii. 13— .G, § 12.— Ileb. x. 14—22, 'For by one offermg he liath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 15, Whereof the Holy Ghost also ia a witness to us : for after that he had said before, 16, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them ; 17, and their sms and iniquities wiU I remember no more. 18, Sow where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. 19, Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20, by a new and living way, wliieh lie hath con- secrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh ; 21, and having an high priest over the house of God; 22, let U3 draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprmkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.' Lu. iii. 23. TniRTT teaes. Tlte age at tvhich the priests entered upon their office, Nu. iv., where it is mentioned seren limes, ver. 3, 23, 30, .5, .9, 43, .7. — See, as io the priesthood of Christ, Heb. ii. NOTES Jesus. It denotes the nearness of his relation to the Father, and the love of God for liim ; He. i. 1, 2, ' God, who at sundry times and in divers mamiers spake in time past imto the fathers by the prophets, 2, hath in these last days spoken luito us by his Son, whom he hath ajipoiuted heir of all tilings, by whom also he made the worlds.' It implies that he was equal with God, ver. 5 — 8, ' For unto which of the angels said he at any time. Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee ? And agam, I will be to him a Father, and he shaU be to me a Son ? 6, And again, when he bringeth in the fu'st-begotten into the world, he saith. And let all the angels of God worsliip him. 7, And of the angels he saith, AVho maketh his angels spirits, and liis ministers a flame of fire. 8, But luito the Son he sai/h. Thy tlu'one, O God, is for ever and ever : a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.' — Jno. x. 29 — 33, § 56, ' My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all ; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30, I and mg Father are one,' &c. — xix. 7, § 90, ' The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.' Mk. i. 11. In whom I am tvell pleased. By this voice and over- shadowing of the Spirit, the mission of Clu-ist was publicly and solemnly accredited : God intijnating that he had before deliglited they could not be pleasing to God, but as they were fiUfiUed in, and shewed forth the Son of man, till he came. Lu. iii. 23. Jesus pleted his thirtieth year. hegan, l;c. That is, he had nearly com- The baptism of Jesus has usually been considered a striking manifestation of the doctrine of the Trinity, or the doctrine that there are three persons m the Divine natiu'e. — I. The Son of God, the Divine Person, Jesus Clu'ist, who was baptized m the Jordan, elsewhere declared to be equal with God, Jno. x. 30, § 5G, '/ and my Father are one.' — II. The Solg iSI.,who descended in a bodily form upon the Saviour. The Holy Spirit is also equal to the Father, or is also God, Ac. v. 3, 4, 'But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to he to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land ? 4, Whiles it remained, was it not thine own ? and after it was sold, was it not in tliine own power? why hast thou conceived tliis tlung in thine heart ? thou hast not hed unto men, but unto God.' — III. The Fattier, who addressed the Son, declared that he was well pleased with him. It is im- possible to explain this transaction consistently in any other way than by supposing that there are three equal Persons in the Divine nature, or essence, and that each sustains an important part in the in him ; the law, in all its ordinances, having pomted him out ; for i work of redeeming man. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. dead in trespasses and sins, and were worthy of eternal death, but Jesus ever livetli to make intercession for us. Let us acknowledge Oirist as our true David — the Beloved, who is not only David's son, but David's Lord, the Son of the Highest, unto whom his Father in heaven will give the throne of liis father David. In John we have an example of Immdity. Blessed with great success ; attended by the great and noble, and with notlhng but principle to keep him from turning it to his advantage ; he still kept lumself out of view, and pouitcd to a far greater pei'sonage at hand. Everything about the work of Jesus was wonderful. No person had before come into the world imder such cuTumstances. God would not have attended the commencement of his life with such wonderful events, if it had not been of the greatest moment to our race, and if he had not possessed a dignity above all prophets, kings, and priests. He was the Redeemer of men, the mighty God, the Prmce of Peace.— 5ee Is. ix. 6, quoted Lu. i. 32, § 2, p. 17, SCBIP. Illus., ' Great.' And it was proper that a voice from heaven should declare it, that the angels should attend him, aud the Holy Spirit signalize liis baptism by liis jiersonal presence. JoEDAK.— There is no river of any magnitude in the Holy Land besides the Jordan. The liistorical notices respecting this river arc extremely interesting. Moses mentions it, De. iii. 25, ' I pray thee, let me go over, ami see the good land that is begond Jordan, that goudlg mountain, and Lebanon.' He continues,- — see ver. 26, .7, ' But the LOKU was teroth with me for your sakes, and would not GEOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. hear me : and t?w LoBD said unto me, Let it sufpce thee ; speaJc no more unto me of this matter. 27, Get thee up into the top of I'i.igah, and lift lip thine cges westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold it with thine ei/es : fur thou shalt not go over this Jordan. In Joshua, ch. iii., is a beautiful description of the Israelites passing 'over on dry ground,' 'clean over Jordan.' Whcu 8.] Matt. iv. 1, § 9, p. 96. Mark i. 12, ibid. Luke iv. 1, ibid. John i. 19, § 10, p. 103. oa TEE KIVEE .TORDAJf. SECT, yni.] David flwl before his rebellions eon, Absnloiti, 2 Sn. xvii. 22, ' Then David arose, ami all the people thai wi re with him, and they passed over Jordan : by the morning liyhl there laded not one of them that tvas not gone over Jordan.' But the most interesting of nil the associations with this river is, that Jesus eamo from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. It has two eourccs. The one at Banlas, the ancient Panea-s, afterwards called Casarea IViillppi. — See Sect. 1. p. 142. ' Just on the north-cast side of this village is the source of the river (here called Banias), issuing from a spacious cavern under a wall of rock, at the base of the eastern mountain. In the face of the perpendicular rock, directly over the cavern, and in otlicr parts, several niches have been cut, apparently to receive statues. Each of these niches had once an inscription. The stream ilows off on the nortli and west of the village, and joins another in the plain below ' The fountains at 71??/ el-Kady directly correspond to the source, which Josephus speaks of as the "other source" of the Jordan, called also Dan ; where stood the city Dan, anciently Laish. The same city Van, placed by Eusebius and Jerome at four Roman miles from Taneas, towards Tyre, corresponds well to the present distance of the sources. ' Thus we find, at Banias and Tell el-Kady, the two sources of the greater and lesser Jordan, precisely as described by the ancients at Paneas, and the site of Dan. ' These streams unite about one hour from the Tell, and flow for about five miles, keeping along near the eastern hills, quite dowii to the lake or Marsh elSuleh (the waters of Merom, of the Old Testament, Jos. xi. 5, 7). ' From lake Tliileh it continues eight or ten miles south, and enters lake Tiberias, where it is from twenty to twenty-five yards across. The Jordan, at its entrance into the lake of Tiberias, runs near the foot of the western hills, which next its valley are steep, but not high ; while on the other side of the stream, a flue fertile plain stretches off along the end of the lake, for an hour or more, quite to the mountains wliieh skirt the eastern shore. — See Sect, xl., Bethsaida, p. 376. ' The present Arabic name for the Jordan is esh-Sheriah, " the watering-place," to which the epithet el-Kelir, " the great," is some- times annexed. The common name of the great valley through wluL'h it flows below the lake Tiberias, is el-Ohor, signifying a depressed tract or plain, usually between two mountains ; and the same name continues to be applied to the valley quite across the whole length of the Dead Sea, and for some distance beyond. 'The Jordan issues fi-om the lake of Tiberias, near its south-west comer, whei-e are still traces of the site and walls of the ancient Tarichna. The river at flrst winds very much, and flows, for three hours, near the western hills ; then turns to the eastern, on wliieh side it continues its course, for several hours, to the district called Kurn el-Uemar, "Ass' Hum" two hours below Seisan, where it again returns to the western side of the valley. Lower down, the Jordan follows more the middle of the great valley ; though opposite Jericho, and towards the Dead Sea, its course is nearer to the eastern mojintains ; about two-thirds or three-quarters of the valley lymg here upon its western side. ' A few hundred yards below the point where the Jordan issues from the lake of Tiberias is a ford, close by tlio rains of a Roman bridge of ten arches. About two hours fiu-thcr down is another old bridge, called Jisr el-Mejamia, consisting of one ai'ch in the centre with small arches upon arches at the sides ; and also a khan upon the western bank. Soniewliat higher up, but in sight of this bridge, is another ford. That near Beisan lies in a direction S.S.E. from tlio town. Indeed, the river is fordable in many places during summer ; but the few spots where it may be crossed in the rainy season are known only to the Arabs. 'The banks of the Jordan appear to preserve everywhere a tolerably iniiforni character. The river flows in a valley of about a quarter of an hour (or one-third of a mile) in breadth, which is con- siderably lower than the rest of the valley of the Qhor, — in the [PART II. 94 Matt. iv. 1, § 9, p. 96. MarJc i. 12, ihid. northern part about forty feet. Tliis lower valley, when Burckhardt saw it, was covered with high trees and a luxuriant verdure, aliord- ing a striking contrast with tlio sand slopes that border it on both sides. Further down, the verdure occupies in some parts a still lower strip along the river's brink. The channel of the river varies in dUTerent places ; being in some wider and more shallow, and in others narrower and deeper. At the ford, near Beisan, on the 12th of March, Ii'by and Mangles found the breadth to be about 14-0 feet by measure ; the stream was swift, and reached above the bellies of the horses. When Burckhardt passed there in July, it was about tlircc feet deep. On the return of the former travellers, twelve days later (March 25), they found the river, at a lower ford, extremely rapid, and were obliged to swim their horses. On the 29th of January, in the same year, as Mr. Bankes crossed at or near the same lower ford, the stream is described as flowing rapidly over a bed of pebbles, but as easily fordable for the horses. Near tho convent of St. John, the stream, at the annual visit of the pilgrims at Easter, is sometimes said to be narrow, and flowing six feet below the banks of its channel. At the Greek bathing-place, lower down, it is described, in 1815, on the third of May, as rather more than fifty feet wide and five feet deep, nmning with a violent current ; in some other parts it was very deep. ' Tho Upper Jordan is less broad, less deep, and less rapid, than near the Dead Sea.' Of the river near the Dead Sea (the Lower Jordan), Dr. Robinson observes : — ' The upper or outer banks of the Jordan, where we came upon it (at the ford el-Helu, wliieh is the lowest point where the river is ordmarUy crossed), are not more than one hundred rods apart, with a descent of fifty or sixty feet to the level of the lower valley in which the river flows. There was here no sign of vege- tation along the upper banks, and little, if any, in the valley below ; except a narrow strip of canes, here occupying a still lower tract along the brink of the channel on each side. With these were intermingled occasionally tamarisks, and the species of wiUow from wliieh the pilgrims usually carry away branches for staves, after dipping them in the Jordan. Looking down upon the river from the high upper bank, it seemed a deep, sluggish, discoloured stream, wmding its way slowly. Further up the river we could see that the liigh upper banks were wider apart, and the border of vegetation much broader, with many trees. There was a stUl though very rapid current ; the water was of a clayey colour, but aweet and dehghtfully refreshing. 'In the Bool of Joshua, eh. iii. 15, the river Jordan is said fo overjloto its bants in the flrst month, or all the time of harvest. The original Hebrew expresses in these passages notliuig more than that the Jordan "was fuU (or fiUed) up to aU its banks," meaning the banks of its channel ; it ran with full banks, or was brim-full. The phrase "swelling of Jordan," Eng. vers., Je. xii. 5 ; xlix. 19 ; 1. 44., should be rendered " pride of Jordan," as in Zee. xi. 3, where the original word is the same. It refers to the verdure and thickets along the banks, but has no allusion to a rise of tho waters. ' Thus understood, the biblical account corresponds entu-ely to what we find to be the ease at the present day. The Israelites crossed the Jordan foiu" days before the passover (Easter), which they afterwards celebrated at Gilgal on tho fourteenth day of the first month, Jos. iv. 19 ; v. 10. Then, as now, the harvest occmTcd during April and early in May, the barley preceding the wheat harvest by two or three weeks. Then, as now, there was a slight annual rise of the river, wliieh caused it to flow at tliis season with full banks, and sometimes to spread its waters even over the imme- diate banks of its channel, where they are lowest, so as in some places to fill the low tract covered with trees and vegetation along its sides. Farther than tliis, there is no evidence that its inunda- tions have ever extended. ' The low bed of the river, the absence of inundation and tributary streams, combine to leave the greater portion of the Ohor a sohtary desert. Such it is described in antiquity, and such we find it at the present day. Josephus speaks of the Jordan as flowing "through a desert ;" and of this plain as in summer scorched by heat, insalu- Zvke iv. 1, Hid. John i. 19, § 10, p. 103. [8. PAKT II.] ADDENDA. 'THE BAPTISM OP JESUS.' — ' VERBAL DIFFERENCES brious, and watered by no stream except the Jordan. Near the ford, five or six miles above Jericho, the plain is described as "generally unfertile ; the soil being in many places encrusted with salt, and having small heaps of a white powder, like sulphur, scattered at short intervals over its surface;" here, too, the bottom of the lower valley is generally barren. In the northern part of the Qhor, according to Burcthardt, " the great number of rivulets wliich descend from the mountains on both sides, and form numerous pools of stagnant water, produce in many places a pleasing verdm-e, and a luxuriant growth of wild herbage and grass ; but tho greater part of the groimd is a parched desert, of wliich a few spots only are cultivated by the Bedawin. So, too, in the southern part, where similar rivulets or fountains exist, as around Jericho, there is [SECT. vin. an exuberant fertility; but these seldom reach the Jordan, and have no effect upon the middle of the Qhor. Nor are the moun- tains on each side less rugged and desolate than they have been described along the Dead Sea. The western cliffs overhang the valley at an elevation of a thousand or twelve hundred feet ; while the eastern mountains are, indeed, at fh-st less lofty and precipitous, but rise, further back, into ranges from two thousand to twenty-five himdred feet in height." After a course of about 160 miles, inclusive of windings, it discharges itself at the rate of 250,000 tons an hour into the Dead Sea, being at tlus part a deep, discoloured stream, of about 100 feet wide.'— i>r. Robinson's Biblical Researches, Vol. IL pp. 257— .67. Nazaeeth.— &e Sect. ii. p. 24, and Sect. vi. p. 68, ADDENDA. ' ON THE B.\PTISM OF OUR LORD.' ' The conduct of the Baptist, when he would have declined the administration of his own baptism on our Lord, was founded in a genuine humility, and a sincere conviction of the superior dignity of Christ, such as this knowledge of liis person either conveyed or implied ; and our Lord's answer, by which he impressed on him the necessity of performing his part in that ceremony, rightly under- stood, may instruct us in the final end of liis baptism itself. .... Oui- Lord would not have said. Suffer it to be so noii\ could it hiive been as well suffered at any other time, before or after it, as at that — nor. For thus it behoveth lis to folfil all righteousness, had the same fulfilment in that one respect, been equally incumbent on others, as on them in particular The obligation in question was to no moral duty, binding upon moral agents in general ; but to some legal requisition, incumbent on those two more especially ; the nature of which we must needs collect from the instance of its observance, which was our Lord's receiving from John, and John's administermg on our Lord, one and the same rite of baptism; but each, as part of a further, and much more important, ceremonial — the consecration of om- Lord to his ministerial office, preparatory to his entering upon it. ' That the Levitical liigh priest was always a type of the Christian, may be taken for granted ; and that John, as the son of Zacharias and Elisabeth, was competent to have sustained even the character of the Levitical high priest, is not less obvious. That there existed also, imder the law, a liigh priest, and one only not the high priest, but, in other respects, superior in dignity, and in the sacredness of his character, to all besides, is proved by various authorities. • In this relation may the Levitical high priest be considered to have stood to the Cliristian, in general ; and certainly, Jolm, the representative of the Levitical high priesthood, the forenmner of the Messiah, the paranymph of the spiritual bridegi'oom, and the gi'eatest prophet among all who had been born of women, to our Saviour, in particular. Now the consecration of the Levitical high priest was a necessary ceremony before he could enter on his ministry : much more, then, the consecration of the Christian 'We may look upon this baptism, therefore, with all its circum- stances and its effects, as constituting his true and his proper con- secration ; such as was naturally to be expected in the spiritual antitype of the legal prototype. Nor is there any particular, requisite to the integrity of the legal form (Ex. xxix. 1 — 7 ; xl. 12 — .5 ; Le. vUi. 5), which may not be seen, mutatis mutandis, to have held good in what now took phice. The previous ablution of the body of the priest was suppUcd by the baptism itself; and the agency, which performed that part of the ceremony, was a competent agency ; for it was the agency of John. The absence of the sacred chrism (Ex. xxx. 22 — 33) was compensated by the presence of its antitype, the gifts and graces of tho spiritual unction (Ps. xlv. 7, "Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness : therefore God thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows") ; and the medium by which these were effused was the medium of the Holy Ghost. The robes of beauty and of holiness which adorned the person of the priest (Ex. xxviii. 2, " And thou shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty"), were the essential innocence and spotless purity of the nature of Cln-ist, a much more glorious garb, and more becoming for the Clu-istiau high priest, than the Aaronical vesture, and always typified by that. More than this I do not know to have been requisite to the inaugm-ation even of the legal high priest ; and, if it answered to all this, the baptism of our Lord, regarded as liis inauguration also, would be complete.' — See Oreswell, Vol. II. Diss, xix. pp. 189— .91. 'From the time of this baptism, the sequel of the ministry of John is to be collected entirely from the last Gospel ; shewing that the baptism of our Saviour, which, from the importance of the event itself, and from the nature of the testimony which John was thence- forward enabled to bear to the Clirist, compared with what he had been restricted to before it, was evidently qualified to become a cardinal point in the course of his ministry, actually was such ; happening about the same distance of time from its commencement, as before its termination. The first public testimony after the baptism borne to om- Lord, was probably by the voice from heaven; and as he was immediately impelled mto the wilderness, the first opportunity after the same event, which John had of bearing witness to lum, was the opportunity afforded by the deputation and the question of the sanhedrim : and his answer to this question, as far as it conveys any such testimony, is no longer general and mdefinite, — speaking of some one, merely as to come, — but par- ticidar and definite, so far as to speak of some one, who was already standing in the midst of them, and who was ahvady known to the Baptist, though stUl unknown to them (Jno. i. 19 — 28). This, then, is that instance of his testimony, to which, as understood to be given to himself, though without any mention of himself, our Savioiu' referred (v. 33).'— i4/ 7nipa'(ioi', ' the trier,' from Tnlpu, ' to pierce tlu-ough.' This is very emphatic, and explains Eph. vi. 16, ' Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fieiy darts of the wicked.' If thou be the Son of God. Correspondent to this taunt of the enemy, was the fu'st temptation presented to Eve in the garden, when suggesting hard thoughts of God, as putting restraint upon the enjoyment of his creatures. — See Ge. iii. 1, ScBir. IiLrs., 'Com- mand,' &c., supra : and Phac. Beflect., 3 ver. Command that these stones. He had just been declared to be the Son of God, ch. iii. 17, § 8, p. 92. Satan here taunted him with the PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. Lu. iv. 2. We may thus the more confidently rely upon our Guide, seeing he was himself in all points tempted like as we are ; not only as God, but even as man, he knows how to succour those that are tempted. Let us not think that we may escape the attacks of Satan, seeing that he spared no efforts to cause him to fall whom no temptations could overcome. — iv. 3 — 13. Let us contemplate the second Adam, who over- came, as contrasted with the first, who was overcome. Om- first parents were in the garden of God ; Jesus was in ' the wilderness.' They had abundance, with all under them in peaceable domhiion ; 9.] John i. 19, § 10, p. 103, Jesus was an lumgred amid tlic niins of the fall, 'and was with the wild beasts.' They were tempted with 'the lust of Ihejtesh,' that whicli appeared good for food ; ' the lust of the ryes," it was pleasant to the eyes ; ' ' and the pride of life,' it was a tree to be desired to make one wise, 'knowing good and evil;' they were overcome in circumstances the most favourable to their virtue. He was tempted in all these respects, and he overcame, in circumstances the most discoiu-agmg and trying. 3 ver. The grand attack of Satan is against our faith, by in- sinuating hard thoughts of God; as when he said to Jesus taunt «>7 SECT. IX.J JESUS IS TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL. [PAKT II. Matt. iv. 5, 0. 'nnd-sniil, It-is-written, Man shiiU-'nof-live Ly brcntl nlonc, but by every word tlmt-procecdeth out-of tlie-mouth oi-God. Luke iv. 9. saying, It-is-wiitten, Thnt^mnn slinll-'nof-Hve by bread"filone, but by every wovd of-God. ■ Jesus is tempted to throw himself from the iritinacle of the temple. At Jerusalem. Matt. iv. 5—7. Luke iv. 9—12. 5 "■ Then the devil taketli--lnm--up TrapoAafjjSavEi into And he-brought JjyayEi; him to the holy citv, and settetli him on a'pinnucle of-the temple, .Jerusalem, and set him on a'pmnacle of-the temple, ■ and saith unlo-him, and said unto-lum, If thou-be the-Son of'-God, cast thyself down : " If thou-be the-Son of ' God, cast thysell down ^ from-hence : " SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Bhc took of the fruit tliorcof, and did eat, and gave also unto | eat thereof, then yom- eyes shall be opened, and ye shall lie a: gods, licr husband with her; and he did eat. So was Israel hy the lust of t/ie flesh, in the wilderness, Ex. xvi. 2, 3, ' And the whole congre- gation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness : 3, and the cliildren of Israel said unto tliem, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LoED in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wildeniess, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.'— Nu. xi. Mt. iv. 4. Man shall kot live by eeead alone. De. yiii. 3, ' And he humbled thee, and suflercd thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know ; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proeeedeth out of the mouth of the LOED doth man live.' — The manna represented the word of life, which feeds and sustains the soul, as the manna nourished the lodi/, see Jno. vi. 27, 32, .3, § 13, pp. 387— ..9 i—also Job xxiii. 12, ' Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth' more than my necessary /oo(i'.'—Je. xv. 16, 'Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto mo the joy and re- joicing of mino heart: for I am called by thy name, O Loed God of hosts.' 5. On a riNSAClE of the temple. This appears to have heen correspondent to the third inducement to eat the forbidden fruit — that they should he 'as gods.' Fride and presumption would be gratified by having angels at command, for the disptla;/ of power, not for the glory of God, according to God's appoint- ment, Ge. iii. 4, 5, 'And the serpent said unto the woman. Ye sliall not surely die : D, for God doth know that in the day ye knowing good and evil.' — Ver. 6, a tree to be desired to make one ' wise,' see p. 97, on ver. 3, ' Command that,' &c. ; — the pride of life, 1 Jno. ii. IG, ' For all tliat is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.' — The temptation with which Israel was tried, under the wise Icing, Solomon, when the kingdom was placed as on the pinnacle, not only of earthly glory, but of reliyious prii-ilege, and wlM-h even he could not bear, 1 Ki. xi. 6—11, 'And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Loed, and went not fully after the Loed, as did David liis father. 7, Then did Solomon build an high jilaee for Cliemosh, tlic abomination of jMoab, in the liill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. 8, And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacriUced unto then- gods. 9, And the Loed was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Loed God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, 10, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods : but he kept not tliat which the Loed commanded. 11, Wlicrefore the Loed said unto Solomon, Foras- much as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I wUl surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.' — From this height Israel was precipitated into destruction and death, xix. 17, ' And it shall come to pass, that liim that escapeth the sword of Ilazael shall Jehu slay : and liim that escapeth fi-om the sword of Jehu shall Ehsha slaj'.' — Compare with Hos. vi. 5, ' Tliovefore have I hewed them by the prophets ; I have slain them by the words of my mouth : and tliy judgments are as the light that goeth fortli.' — ■ vii. 12, .3, '"When they shall go, I wiU spread my not upon them ; NOTES. destitution in which He was left ; and thus freqtiently the children of God are sorely tempted to question the truth of their high relationship, because of the destitution in wliich they are left as to the tilings of this hfe. Mt. iv. 4. Man shall not lice by bread alone, tj'c. The life of man depends on God, and not on food, wliich was abundantly proved in the ease of Moses and Ehjnh (see Scbip. Illtts., Mk. i. 13, p. 97), and in that of our blessed Lord. The temptation is repcUed by reference to the time when the cliildren of Israel were in the like perilous situation in tlic wilderness, without the ordmary means of subsistence. God supplied them with food, by which their Hves wore preserved, wliich teaches us that no strait, however pressing, ought to shake oui- eonCdeneo in HIM. By every word, tj-e. Jesus, whoso meat and drink was to do his Father's will, is luinself the ' living bread,' the word of life. The soul ought to feed upon the whole word of God. 5. The holy city. So Jerusalem was called. Da. ix. 16 ; Mt. xxvii. 53, § 92 : there God spake with the high priest on the great day of atonement once a year. The inscription on the Jewish shekel was Jerusalem the holy; because the temple was there. Jerusalem is the appointed throne of the Lord, Je. iii. 16, .7, as quoted, ch. ii. 6, p. 53, ' My people,' &e. A pinnacle. It is very likely this is what was called the area (iaaiKiK)), ' the king's gallery,' at the south-east corner of the temple, wliich, Josephus says, Herod erected over the stupendous depth of the valley, scarcely to be fathomed by the eye of liun that stood above. — Ant:, Ub. xv. e. 14. This was probably the porch called Solomon's, which was 150 feet high, on a wall of 400 cubits, built from the bottom of the valley. — See Addenda, § 1, p. 13, 'The Temple.' 6. Cast thyself dotcn. The former temptation was to distrust God's providence, this to presume upon it. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. ingly, ^ If thou he the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.' Look at the provision He hath made for thee, his child! He hath provided but stones in place of bread for thee, Itis son ! Mt. iv. 4. Let ua, when tempted to unbelief by temporal privations, look at the ample provision for our spiritual wants ; and taking the ehield of faith with the sword of the Spirit, say, ' It in written, Man 08 Marl- i. 13, p. 101. John i. 19, § 10, p. 103. shall not live by bread alone, but hy every word that proeeedeth out of the mouth of God.' Let us live upon the eeead of life, that Cometh down from heaven, who hath given us example : and also said, ' I have meat to eat that ye knoio not of Jno. iv. 32 — .4, § 13. 5, 6 ver. Wlieu we have overcome in any one respect, let us beware lest that whereby we have overcome be made the occasion [9. PAET II.] JESUS IS TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL. Matt. iv. 7. ' for it-is-written, He-shall-givc-'his ^fiugels"-cliarge concerning Trtpl thee : ^ and in //leir hands they-shall-bear-"thee'-up, lest- at-any-time thou-dash thy^foot against a-stone. 7 „ Jesus said uuto-him, ' It-is-wi'itten again, Thou-shalt-"nof- tempt the-Lord thy^God. Jesus is temjjted to fall down and worship Satan Matt. iv. 8—11. » 8 "Again, the devil talceth-'liim'-up 7ra/>aXa/i|3ai'£t into an-exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms [SECT. IX, Luke iv. 10 — .2; 5. for it-is-written, Hc-shall-give--his ^angels'-charge over thee, / to keep Tou ^la^vXd^ai thee : and in their hands they-shall-bear--thee--up, lest- at-any-time thou-dash thyjoot against a-stone. And^ Jesus answering said unto-him/ It-is-said, Thou-shalt-'nof- 10 11 12 tempt the-Lord thy /^ God. [For ver. is see\\ loi.] Siqiposed North of Jericho. Luke iv. 5 — 8, 13. C^oi-tc-^seep. ss.] And the devil, taking-'him"-up ava-^a-^wv into an-high mountain. shewed unto-him all the kingdoms I wiU bring them down as flie fowls of the heaven ; I will chastise them, as theu" congregation hath heai'd. 13, Woe unto them ! for they hare fled from me : destruction unto them ! because they have transgressed against mc : though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.' — Je. ii. 31, ' O generation, see ye the word of tlie Loed. Have I been a wilderness imto Israel? a land of dartness? wherefore say my people. Wo arc lords; we will come no more unto thee?' — Against Hie sin of presump- Hon, to which those loho are higMy fatsourei of God, even as to the IcnowJeclge of his ivor/cs and word, are particularlg exposed, the psalmist prags, Ps. six. 13, ' Keep back thy servant also fi-om presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me : then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent fi'om the great trans- gression.' Mt. iv. 6. He shall orrE his angels chaege. Satan omits 'In all thy ways,' Ps. xci. 11, .2, ' For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12, They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.' — In all the ways proper to the man of God : tchicJi, of course, does not imply the promise of preservation to those who plunge needlessly into danger ; but when the call of duty is into the lions' den, asDvi.-n.22,(^'My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the Uous' mouths, that they have not hiut me : forasmuch as before him iiinocency was found in me ; and also before thee, O kmg, have I done no hurt : ' — the burning furnace, iii. 25, 'He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt ; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God;')— o>- the devouring deep, the children of God need not fear to follow, Ex. xiv. — Is. xliii. 1, 2, 'But now thus saith the Lobd that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not : for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou SCraPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. art mine. 2, "When thou passest through tlie wafers, I rvlll he with thee ; and tlu-ough the rivers, they shall not overflow thee : when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be biuned j neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.' 7. Tnou SHALT NOT TEiin the Lobd thy God. Seferring to tlie presumptuous chiding of the children of Israel, De. vi. IG, 'Ye shall not tempt the Lobd your God, as ye tempted him in Massah' {temptation), — tvhen they demanded water of Moses in the wilderness ; as if past deliverance had given them a claim to that as a right, which God would, in his own good time, have bestowed of his own free mercy, Ex. xvii. 1 — 7, 'And aU the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after then- journeys, according to the commandment of the Loed, and pitched in Eephidim : and there was no water for the people to di-ink. 2, Wlierefore the people did chide with Moses, and said. Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, "Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the Loed? 3, And the pco^jle tliirsted there for water; and the people murmured agains*- Moses, and said, "Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and om- childi-en and our cattle with tliirst ? 4, And Moses cried unto flie Loed, saying, What shall I do unto tliis people ? they be almost ready to stone me. 5, And the Lobd said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go. 6, Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the aoek in Horeb ; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shaU come water out of it, that the people may drmk. And Moses did so in the sight of the ciders of Israel. 7, And he caUed the name of the place Massah [temptation], and Mcribah [chid- ing], because ol the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Loed, saying, Is the Loed among us, or not?' NOTES. Mt. iv. 6. For it is written. In the former temptation the devil did not quote Scriptiue ; but havuig been repelled in that assault by the sword of the Spu'it, lie here takes up the same weapon. 7. Thou shalt not tempt, S;c. That is, thou shalt not try him ; or, thou shalt not, by throwing thyself into voluntary, 'uncom- manded' dangers, appeal to God for protection, or trifle with the promises made to those who are thrown into danger by his pro- vidence. The metaphor is taken from parents, who, in travelling along rough ways, lift up, and carry their clulch-cn over the stones m then* path, lest they sliould trip and stumble upon them. Thus Satan, artfully using aud perverting Scripture, wais met and repelled by Scriptm-e rightly applied. 8. An exceeding high mountain. It seems that: thij was one of the higlicst, if not the very highest mountain in Judaea. If so, it was one very nearly in the centre of the land promised to Abra- ham. The mountain Quarantania, north of Jericho, is fixed upon by tradition : from it is a commanding prospect of the mountains of PRACTICAL of our fall. Satan woiUd have raised the failh of the Sou of God into presumption, and by trust in God's word of promise he woidd have precipitated him into the gulf of destruction. Mt. iv. 7. Although Satan may endeavour to pervert the word Ai'abia, the country of GUead, the country of the Ammonites, the plains of Moab, the jilains of Jericho, the river Jordan, and the whole extent of the Dead sea. Others think it hkely to have been S^ebo, whence Moses was given a sight of the promised land. Con- trast Moses in tlie mount with God, and Clirist being in a mount with Satan : and tlic Lord's shewing to Moses from a high moun- taui (Dc. xxxiv. 1 — 4) all tlie kingdoms of Canaan, saying, ' This is the land which I sware tinlo Abraham, unto Isaac, and vnto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed' Israel ; and tlic devil shewing to Christ all the kingdoms of the earth, and saying, ' All these things will I give thee.' AU the Icingdoms of the world. Satan appears to have pointed to all the kingdoms of the world, as recognising the bcautiluUy relative position wliieh all otlier parts of the world bear to the Ugly Land. See the ancient kingdoms, as if in a circle around it. Africa, Asia, and Europe have it as their common centre ; whilst bodies of water stretch out from it to America on the one hand, and to REFLECTIONS, of God to his own evil puqioscs, by inducing fanatical pride and presumption, let us not thereby be prevented from the right use tlicrcol; but, still appealing to the inspired word, say, 'It is written' 9.] Mark i. 13, p. 101. John i. 19, § 10, p. 103. 90 SECT. IX.] IVrATT. iv. 0. of-tlie world row Koafiov, ;uul the glory ol JESUS IS TEMPTED liV THE DEVIL. [PAKT 1 1, nnd saitli uiUo-him, All ihesc- 1 /lififfs will-I-givc tliee. if tlioii- ■wilt-fiill-down aiul-worsliip me.'' SCRIPTURE ILI.U.'iTRATIONS Luke iv. C, 7. of-the world rric; olKOVfitvrtg ''in ii-moment rrTiy/iij ot'-tirae. And tlio devil said nnto-liim, All this, power will-I-give thee, nnd the glory of-them : for ^/<«/-js-delivered iinto-me; and to -whomsoever I-will I-give it. If thou therefore" wilt-worship me Trpotncui'i'jtryc ivwiriov fiov, Mf . iv. 8. And the gi.oky of them. The land of Israel is desiy- natetl, 'the glory of all lands,' Eze. xx. G, 15, 'lu the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring fhera forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, wliidi is the glory of all lands.' 15, 'Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with mUli and honey, which is the glory of all lands. '-^^H/o n-J:ich all lands are to contribute their s/lori/, Is. Ix. 3—16, 'And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rismg. 4, Lift up tliine eyes round about, and see : all they gather themselves together, they come to thee; thy sous shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thj/ side. 5, Then thou shalt see, and (low together, and thmc heart shall fear, and be enlarged ; because tlic abundance of the sea shall be converted unto tliee, [or, noise of the sea shall be turned toward thee'] the forces [or, wealth'] of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. 6, The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah ; all they from Sheba shall come : they shall bring gold and incense ; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LoED. 7, AH the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee : they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory. 8, Wlio are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to theu- windows ? 9, Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sous from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the loSD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee. 10, And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister uuto thee : for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favoiu- have I had mercy on thee. 11, There- fore thy gates shall bo open contmually ; they shall not be shut day nor night ; that men may bruig uuto thee the forces [or, wealth] of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought. 12, For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish ; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted. 13, The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sant-tuary ; and I will make the place of my feet glorious. 1 •>, The sons also of them that afllicted thee shall come bending unto thee ; and all they that despised thee shall bow them- eelves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the Lokd, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel. 15, Wlicreas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so tliat no man went through thee, I wUl make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations. IG, Thou shalt also suck the milk of llie Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings ; and thou shall liuow that I the LoBD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.' — The seat of a kingdom widely extended over all kingdoms, Vs. Ixviii. 10, '\Vliy leap ye, ye high hills ? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LoKD will dwell in it for ever.' — Compare with Ixxii. 8 — 11, ' He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the eartli. 9, They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him ; and his enemies shall Uck the dust. 10, The kings of Tarsliish and of the isles shall bring presents : the kings of Sheba and Seba shall oSer gifts. 11, Yea, all kings shall fall down before liim : all nations shall serve him.' — It is Immanuel's land, Is. viii. 8, who is appointed to reign over the predicted kingdom, ix. 6, 7, ' For unto us a eliild is born, unto U3 a son is given : and the government shall be upon liis shoulder: and his name sliall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7, Of the increase of liis government and peace there shall be no end, upon the tlu-one of David, aud upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for eter. The zeal of the Loud of hosts will per- form this.' Lu. iv. 6. Deliveeed unto me. Israel defiled the land which God had given them, Je. ii. 7 — 9, ' And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my laud, and made mine heritage an abomination. 8, The priests said not, Where is the LOED ? aud they that handle the law knew me not : the pastors also transgi-essed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit. 9, Wherefore I wiU yet plead with you, saith the Lord, and with yom- childi-en's children will I plead.' — Elijah had to testify against the king of Israel, 1 Ki. xxi. 20, ' And Ahab said to Ehjah, Hast thou found me, O nime enemy ? And he answered, I have found thee : because thou hast sold thyself to work evil iu the sight of the Lord.'— TAe same is said of the nation, 2 Ki. xvii. 17, ' And they caused their sous and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil iu the sight of the Loed, to provoke him to anger.' — Is. lii. 3, ' For thus saith the LoED, Ye have sold yourselves for nought ; and ye shall be redeemed without money.' — ME whose is the right of redemption is shadowed forth, Je. xsxii. 7 — 44; — the redemption is acknoicledged. Rev. v. 7 — 10, ' Aud he came and took the book out of the right hand of liim that sat upon tlie tlirone.' — . . . . ver. 8 — 10, (quoted, Mt. ii. 11, § 5, pp. 53, .4, 'Worshipped.') — The Lord, the Eedeemer, will vindicate his claim, 'Ps. xiiv. 1, 'The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.' — when those who have resisted the temptation to serve Satan mil he given possession with their Eedeemer, 3 — G, (quo. Lu. ii. 45, § 6, p. 65, 'Seekino him.') -Is. xxxiii. 13 — 23, {qno. Lu. ii. 25, § 4, p. 41, ' Jeeusalem.') Mt. iv. 9. Fall down and worship me. Covetousness is idol- atry. Col. iii. 5, ' Mortify therefore your members which are upon the Austraha on the other. By thus far acknowledging the truth of nature, of providence, and of revelation, with regard to the appointed scat of Messiah's empire, Satan may have intended both to throw oiw Lord off his guard, with respect to his insidious design, and to awaken an impatient desire to possess that which was in itself so desirable, and which, through nuich tribulation both as to liimself NOTES. and people, he is appointed to possess, but whicTi he might at onco obtain on terms so appai-cntly easy. Lu. iv. 6. And the glory of them. This He will have when He comes, whose riglit it is to reign. Mt. iv. 9. If thou wilt fall down and ivorship me, S,'c. irpoaKV- vi'iayg. The word implies not merely homage, but adoration. The PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. All longh God may grant more particular direction in new or i us, we should wait to obtain in his own appointed way and time, very dill.cult curunistanccs, yet He who was 'the Word' itself hath Thus Jesus, although aU tluiigs are his, would not receive them at g.veu us example of look mg for light (o the written word. the hand of Satan, who had usiu'ped the dominion, but would wait Mt. IV. 8, 9. Even that which wc know God intends to bestow upon | the will of his Father to have all things put under his feet. 100 Mark i. 13, p. 101. John i. 19, § 10, p. 103. [9. PARX II.] THE DEVIL DEPARTS.— ANtHiLS MINISTEK TO JESUS, Matt. iv. 10, .1, Mark i. 13. [SECT. IX 10 11 Then saith^Jes^ls imto-liim, Get-thee-lience, Satan: for it-is-written, Tliou-shalt-worsliip the-Lord thy^God, and him only shalt-thou-serve. Then the devil leaveth him, 'and, behold, angels came and ministered nnto-him. [Ver. 12, § 10, p. ir,7.] [I'ur/onncrpart fer. 13 see p. 03.] and the angels miuislered unto-him. [Ver. U, § il>., p. 157.] Luke iv. .'^, in. '' all shall-be thine. Aud^ Jesus answered and-said unto-him, Get-tliee behind me, Satan : for it-is-written, Thou-shalt-worship the-Lord thy^God, and him only shalt-thou-serve XaTpivanc. U'or ver. 9— la seep. 88.J Aud when-'tku duvil-- iiad-ended all the-temptatiou, he-departed from him lor a-scason a\pi Kuipov.^ [Ver. If, § 15, p. M-j.] 13 SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. cartli ; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate afi'ection, evil concupis- cence, aud covetousness, which is idolatry.' — Eagerness after riches dangerous, 1 Ti. vi. 9, 10, 'But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hui'tfid lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10, For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.' — Mt. vi. 24, § 19, p. 186, ' Ye caunot serve God and mammon.' — Sy this temptation, — an impatience to possess the outward pomp of a kingdom, — Israel was tempted, in the dags of Samuel, and teas overcome, 1 Sa. viii. 19, 20, ' Never- theless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel ; and they said. Nay; but we will have a king over us; 20, that we also may be hke all the nations ; aud that our king may judge us, and go out before lis, and fight our battles.' Lu. iv. 8. Gei thee behind me. So our Lord addressed Peter, tojio, although he had acknowledged him, Mt. xvi. 16, § 50, p.433, ' the Christ, the Sou of the living God,' teas for refusing his paging the price of our redemption, ver. 33, 'Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an oifence unto me: for thou savoiu-est not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.' — Correspond- ing to this is the e.vhortation afterwards given hg Peter, 1 Ep. v. 8, 9, ' Be sober, be vigilant ; because yoiu- adversaiy the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seekuig whom he may devoiu* : 9, whom resist stedfast in tlie faitji, knowing that the same afllictious are aceomphshed in your brethren that are m the world.' — As also Ja. iv. 7 — 10, ' Submit yourselves therefore to God. Eesist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8, Draw nigh to God, and he will di-aw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners ; and piu-ify your hearts, ye double minded. 9, Be afflicted, and nioiu'u, and weep : let your laughter be turned to mom-nmg, and your joy to heaviness. 10, Humble yom'selves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.' Tuou SHALT WORSHIP. It is written, De. x. 20 ; vi. 13, .4, ' Thou shalt fear the Lokd thy God, and serve liim, aud shalt swear by his name. 14, Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are roimd about you.' — The correspon- dent direction of our Lord is, Mt. vi. 33, § 19, ' Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness j and all these things shall be added unto rou.' Mt. iv. 11. Akgeis came and ministeeed ttnto him. Thus (after all their trials) shall those that overcome in Christ be favoured, ch. xxv. 31 — 40, § 86, p. 793. — Even now are they assisted. He. i. 14, 'Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?' — An angel ministered to Jesus in his extreme suffering, Lu. xiii. 43, § 88, p. 868._^ee on Lu. i. II, § 1, p. 7, ' Angel.' NOTES. temptation here seems to be this, that Jesus should acknowledge Satan's right and power to bestow ; and that he should now take the kingdom at Satan's hand, and not wait until, hiiving satisfied Divine justice, and until, havuig been long a suitor in heaven for his kingdom, all things should be put under Ins feet by his Father. Here was a higher attempt, a more deadly thi-ust at the piety of the Saviom-. It was a proposition that the Son of God shoidd ivorship the devil, instead of honouring and adoring Him who made heaven and earth : that he should bow down before the prince of wickedness, and give him homage. Lu. iv. 8. It IS written. Satan asked him to worship him. In De. vi. 13, I. 20, this is expressly forbidden. Jesus, therefore, di'ove him irom his presence. Shalt toorship. God, the Creator of the world and our Saviour, is alone to be worshipped, as the suj^reme cUsposer of all things. 13. Departed . . . for a season, alace, ver. 80, § 3, p. 32. 32. And it aeode upon him. That is, during his baptism, after which it is especiaUg noticed, Mt. iii. 16 ; Lu. iii. 22, § 8, p. 92. 34. The Son oe God. So testified of hg the Father, Mt. iii. 17, ihid. ; — also at the transfiguration, xvii. 5, § 51 ; — he toho had been represented ly the high priest, see ' PuEIEICATION,' Lu. ii. 22, § 4, p. 40. 37. They followed Jesus. The election of Israel are repre- sented as folloimng the Lamh of God, Eev. xiv. 4, 'These are they which wci'e not defiled with women ; for they are vh'gins. These are they wliicli follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men leing the first fi-uits imto God and to the Lamb.' 38. Eabbi. Ver. 49, p. 109 ; ch. in. 2, § 12, p. 121 ; vcr. 26, § 13, p. 131 — see ch. xiii. 13, .4, § 87; — Jesus commanded his dis- ciples not to be as the Pharisees, Mt. xxUi. 8 — 10, § 85, pp. 719, .50, [comp. ver. 1 — 7. NOTES. actual, of all men throughout the world, who rely on him by huuible faith. Tlu'oug'ii his atoning sacrifice it consists with the glory of Sod to pardon all persons who thus trust in lum. And out of his kingdom, which shall idtimately extend itself over the whole world, he will root all things that offend and them that work iniquity. Not only has he meritoriously, but he will actually, take away the sin of the world. 31. I knew him. not. 'It would seem impossible to dotibt that John asserted a matter of fact, when he asserted that he knew not the Christ — ver. 33 — before, at least, his baptism : and, if it is im- plied by St. IMatthew's account of wliat passed between them at the time of his baptism — iii. 14, § 8, that he must have known liim then, wo have only to suppose that the knowledge in question was communicated to him, on the appearance of Christ — as the knowledge of Said, and aftenvards of David, was commmiicated to Samuel, 1 Sa. ix. 16, .7 ; xvi. 12 ; and the knowledge of the wife of Jeroboam to Abijab, 1 Ki. liv. 6 — by a direct inspu-ation from above; and both facts become consistent. For as to the recognition implied by the descent of the Holy Ghost, and, consequently, not imtil the baptism was over, however much commentators may have overlooked this truth, notlung is clearer than that this descent was intended to mark out not the person, but the office, of Clu-ist, Jno. i. 33.' — Gretwell, Vol. II. Diss. xii. pp. 187, ..$. Should be made manifest. The priest, at the time of his con- secration, was to be shewn unto Israel, abiding at the door of the tabeniacle of the congregation, day and night, seven days, keeping the charge of the Lord. — See ScEip'. Illus., supra. 36. Looking upon Jesus. Contemplating him as the long-expected Jlcssiah, and Deliverer of the world, he fixed his eyes intently upon liim. Behold the Lamh of God ! Jesus is not only, in a proper sense, the Sou of God, typified by the high priest : he is also the atoning Lamb represented by the sacrifice oiTcred imder the law. — See on ver. 29, p. 105. 38. What seek ye ? ' What is your business with me ?' It was a kind inquii-y respecting then' dcsu'cs ; an invitation to them to lay open thcu- mind, to state their wishes, and to express all their feelings respecting the Messiah and their own salvation. Palhi. This was a Jewish title, confeiTcd somewhat as the title of Doctor of Divinity now is, and meaning master. Om- Saviom- solemnly forbade Ids disciples to bear this title, Mt. sxiii. 8, § 85. By calling Jesus Eabbi, they shewed that they sought instruction. By styling themselves ' Doctors of Divinity,' they made profession of abiUty to teach. entrance upon his miuistiy on earth, but as bemg ' tJie Lord from heaven,' wIk) was before all things, and by whom aU tilings consist. 31 ver. Tliosc who know the witness of God respecting his Son ehoidd, like John, testify of Jesus to others.— John's baptism ilid not enve from sin ; it was for witness respecting him who is now exalted to give repentance to Israel, and the forgiveness of sins, Ac. T. 31.— See Peactioai, Reflections, § 8, pp. 90— .3. 32 cer. Let us pray that the Spirit wliich abode upon Chi-ist may abide will, us as the Spirit of peace and of love; which blessing can only be enjoyed by om- abiding in Clnist. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. 106 Matt. iv. 12, § 16, p. 137. Mark i. 14, Hid. Luke iv. 14, § 15, p. 1 10. 33 rer. Let us, wliUo attending to the sign, look, as God directed John, to the tlung signified. — Let us be observant of the signs which God hath been pleased to give in testuuony of liis Sou. 34 ver. As John's b.aptizing woidd h.avc been T.ilucless without the coming to him of Jesus, of whom ho was to testify, so let us remember that all outward ordinances are notlung without the Ufe of Jesus being manifested, by his Spirit, in those who obseiTO his ordinances. 36 ver. Let us, whilst we contemplate Jesus as the Lamb of God, and om- atonmg sacrifice, seek to be made partakers of his meek and lowly spu'it. [10. PART II.] SIMON NAMED CEPHAS.— PHILIP FINDETH NATHANAEL. [SECT. X. John i. 39 — 42. ■39 to-sny, being-interpreted, Master,) -where dwellest-tliou ? He-saith unto-them. Come and see. Tliey- cnme and saw where he-dwelt, and abode with liim that^day : for it-was about the tcntli hour. 40 One of the two whicli' heard tCov uKovauvTwv irapa John xpcah, and followed him, was ^Vndrew Simon 41 Peter's, brother. He first fiudeth Jiis-owu Jjrother Simon, and saith unto-him, We-havc-found the 43 Messias, which is, being-interpreted, the Christ. And he-brought him to, Jesus. And when-\Jesus'- beheld him, he-said. Thou art Simon the son of-Jona : thou shalt-be-called Cephas, which is-by-intei-pre- tation, A-stone. (G. 10.) The next day Jesus returns into Galilee. Jesus jindeth Philip ; Philip hringcth Nathanael to Jesus ; Jesus' testimony to 'Nathanael. — Jolm i. 43 — 51. 43 The day-following,Jesus would go-forth into^Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto-him, Follow me. 44 Now, Philip was of Bethsaida, (Ik) the city of- Andrew and Peter. 4-5 Pliilip findeth, Nathanael, and SCRIPTUKE ILLUSTRATIONS. 39. Come anti see. Tlie hivitalion given to Nathanael, rer. 46; — and hj llie Samaritan woman to Jier ioKn.men, cli. iv. 29, § 13 ; — and by each of the four living creatures, Eey. Ti. 1, 3, 5, 7. 40. AfTDTtEVJ,' a strong man.^ Such should the follower of Christ he, Eph. iii. 16, 'That he would grant you, according to the riches of his gloi-y, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.' — Rom. xv. 1, 'We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.' 41. Simon, 'liearing ;' or, 'one that hears or olei/s.' Is. It. 2, 3, (jMo/erf Lu. ii. 18, § 4, p. 3S,'WoifT>'En^i>.')-The importance of hear- ing Jesus acl-noicledged, Jno. \i. 68, § 43, p. 395 ; which contrast with ver. 60. — We should diligenily searcti into, and carefully remember, what tee Jiear, 1 Pe. i. 10 — .2, ' Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the gi'ace that should come unto you: 11, searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the suiTerings of Clu-ist, and the glory that should follow. 12, Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but ynito us they did minister the things, wliicli are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down fi-om heaven ; which things the angels desu'e to look into.' — 2 Pe. iii. 1, 2, 15 — .8. — And see Addenda, p. 112. Messias, which is, . . . the Cheist, or 'Anointed.' See lu. ii. 11, 26, § 4, pp. 35, 41 ; 1 Sa. ii. 10, quoted Lu. i. 46, § 2, p. 19, ' My soul.' — Ps. ii. 2, ' The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Loed, and against his anointed.' — xlv. 7, 'Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wicked- ness : therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.' — Da. is. 25, .6, quoted Lu. ii. 26, § 4, p. 42, ' The Loed's Cheist.' 42. A STONE. Meaning of the word 'Ccplias' or 'Peter;' — to which our Lord refers, Mt. xvi. 18, § 50, p. 435 ; — Peter lutnself refers to it, 1 Ep. ii. 4 — 8, 'To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5, ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priest- hood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Clirist. 6, Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious : and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7, Unto you therefore which believe lie is precious : but unto them which be disobedient, the stone winch the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the comer, 8, and a stone of stumbUng, and a rock of offence, even to them wliich stumble at the word, being dis- obedient: whereunto also they were appointed.' — Those who hear Christ aright are by the poiver of his Spirit built up as lively stones in Sim who is the living stone. — See Peter's confession, Mt. xvi. 16, .7, § 50, p. 1-33. 43. Galilee, 'circuit.' The north part of the land, around wtiich Jesus made so many circuits in tlie ministrations of the word. —See Lu. i. 26, § 2, p. 15. Philip, ' lover of tlie horse.' A native ' of Bethsaida of Galilee;' — see as to the messengers on different coloured horses, Rev. vi. 2, 4, 5, 8. — six. 14, 'And the armies which were in heaven followed hun upon white horses, clothed in fine hnen, white and clean.' — Philip chosen an apostle, Mt. x. 3, § 27 ; — he informs Jes^ts that Greel's desire to see him, Jno. xii. 20 — .2, § 82. — A speedy and welcome messenger of this name occurs in Ac. viii. 26 — 40. 44. Bethsaida, ' house of fishing.' The name of their native town as well as their occupation. It probably 2cas referred to when Jesus promised to make Peter and Andrew ' fishers of men,' Mt. iv. 19, § 16. NOTES. IFIifre dwellest thou ? ttou /iiveic. ' Where abidest thou ?' Is used either of a fixed habitation or a lodging. — See Lu. xix. 5, § 80 ; xxiv. 29, § 94. By this question they probably requested a private conversation on the great doctrine which then occupied the minds of all serious and reflecting Jews. His usual home was Nazareth. 39. The tenth hour. According to the Jewish reckoning, four m the afternoon, when there were but two hours to night. This was shortly after the time when the lamb of the daily saci-ifico of the evening was offered up ; very seasonably, then, did John point to Christ, the Lamb of God, the antitype of that sacrifice. 41. We have found the 3£essias. They had learned from the testimony of John, and now had been more fully convinced from conversation with Jesus, that he was the Messiah. The word Messiah, or Messias, is Hebrew, and means the same as the Greek word Cln-ist, 'anointed.' The Jews speak of Messiah; Clu'istians speak of hun as the ' Christ : ' sig. ' the anomted one.' 42. Called Cephas. Jleaning the same as the Greek Peter,* a stone.' John wrote his Gospel ia Greek, and in a Grecian city of Asia Minor, and therefore was the more carefid to transUitc into Greek the Hebrew, Chaldce, or Syriac names, given for a special purpose, M'hereof they were expressive. 'St. John's allusion to this name is entirely prospective. Our Lord's address to Peter contained a prophecy, which was designed to have both a literal and a typical fulfilment In St. John it is, Thou art Suuon ; Thou shall be called Peter— in St. Matthew (Mt. xvi. 17, .8, § 50) it is. Blessed art thou, Simon ; . . . Thou art Peter.'— G)-ra!ceH, Vol. II. p. 415. 45. Nathanael. Is (o be distinguished from ' Nathanael of Cana PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. 37— .9. Let us not only bo hearers of the word ; let us also follow ; 43 tec. In ourselves we are, lite Peter, loose rolling stones ; liable Jesus, and take up oiu- abode with him. to suik under trial, or to be tossed to and fro by temptation. That 40 — .2 ver. Let us, when wc have found Jesus as the Cln-ist, cpcak Peter was in this respect a true sample of the professed followers of of him evciy man to his brother; and not rest contented imtil Christ, see his repeated defections at the commencement of his dis* we have brought om- relations to HiM, in whom alono we can bo eipleship— at the trial of Jesus— and aftcnvard, when Paul ' «»/*• cstabhshed in trath and blessing. I stood him to the face, because he was to be blamed,' Ga. ii. 11, 10.] Malt. iv. 12, § 16, p. Ii7. Mark i. 14, ibid. Lute iv. 11, § 15, p. 119. 107 SE Ll. X.] NATHANAiiL COMETH TO JESUS. [PAKT II. John i. 4G, .7. saitli unto-liim, We-havc-found-him, ol'-whoiu Moses in the law, and the prophets, did-write, Jesus ^of ■1(1 Nazui-cth, the son of Joseph. And Nuthauael said uuto-him, Can there-'any good-thing'-come out-of •17 Nazareth? Philip saith unlo-hiiii. Come and see. ^ Jesus saw, Nathnnael coming to him, and saitli of SCIUPTURK ILLUSTKATIONS. 45. Op whom the peopitets, did write. As Mvses vrole of the seed of the woman, Oe. iii. 15 ; — of the Shi/oh, Ge. xlix. 10;— of the Prophet, Dc. xviii. 15 — .9. . . (quoted vcr. 25, p. lOl, 'That rBOPliET.') — JDau/rf, who describes the sufferings of Christ, Vs. xxii. 1 — 21, 'My God, my God, w)iy hast tliou forsaken mc? whi/ art thou so far from lielping me, and from the words of my roaring ? 2, O my God, I cry in tlie daytime, but thou hearest not ; and in the night season, and am not silent. 3, But thou art holy, O thou tlial inhabitest I ho praises of Israel. 4, Our fathers trusted in thee : tliey trusted, and thou didst deliver them. 5, They cried unto tliee, and were delivered : they trusted in thee, and were not confounded. 6, But I am a womi, and no man ; a reproacli of men, and despised of the people. 7, All they that see me laugh me to ecoru : they shoot out tlie Up, they shake the head, saying, 8, He trusted on the Loud that he would deliver him : let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in liim. 9, But thou art he that took me out of the womb : thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts. 10, I was cast upon thee from the womb : thou art my God from my mother's belly. 11, Be not fur fi'om me ; for trouble is near ; for there is none to help. 12, Many bidls have compassed me : strong hulls of Bashan have beset me round. 13, They gaped upon me n-ith their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. 14, I am poured out like water, and aU my bones are out of joint : my heart is Uke wax ; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. 15, My strength is dried up like a potsherd ; and my tongue eleaveth to my jaws ; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. 16, For dogs have compassed me : the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me : they pierced my bands and my feet. 17, I may tell all my bones : they look and stare upon me. 18, They part my garments among them, and east lots upon my vestm-e. 19, But be not thou far from me, O Loed: O my strength, haste thee to help me. 20, Dehver my soul from the sword ; my darling from the power of the dog. 21, Save me from the lion's mouth : for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.' — And the (jlurij that should follow, ver. 22 — 31, ' I will declare thy name unto my brethren : in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. 23, Ye that fear the Lobd, praise him ; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify bun ; and fear liijn, all ye the seed of Israel. 24, For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted ; neither hath ho hid his face fr'om him ; but when he cried unto liim, he heard. 25, My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation ! I will pay my vows before them that fear him. 26, The meek shall eat and be satisfied : they shall praise the Lobd that seek him ; your heart shall live for ever. 27, All the ends of the world shall remember and turn imto the Lord : and all the kindreds of the nations shaU worship before thee. 28, For the kingdom is the Lord's : and he is the governor among the nations. 29, AU theij that be fat upon eartli shaU eat and worship : aU they that go down to the dust shaU bow before him : and none can keep alive his own soul. 30, A seed shall serve him ; it shall be accoimted to the Loud for a generation. 31, They shaU come, and shall declare his right- eousness unto a people that shaU be born, that he hath done this.' — Ps. Ixxxix. 19—37; also Is. vU. U,(qiio(ed Mt. i. 23, § 2, p. 24, 'E.MMANriEi;')-ix. 6, T, {quoted Mt. iv. 8, § 9, p. 100, 'And the GLORY.') -xxviii. 16, 'Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sui-e foundation : he that believeth shall not make haste.' — Uu. ; Mi. V. 1—4 (ver. 1—3, quoted Mt. ii. 6, § 5, p. 52, ' Govee- noe'), 4, 'And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the Loed, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God ; and they shaU abide : for now shaU he be great unto the ends of the earth.' — Mai. iii. 1. — And see on Mt. ii. 5, 6, § 5, pp. 52, .3. Jesus of Nazareth, ' branch carefully preserved.' See Lu. i. 26, § 2, p. 15 ; iv. 16, § 15 ; Mt. u. 23, § 5, p. 57. 46. Can theee asy good thing, &c. The Jews thought meai:li/ of his supposed origin, ch. vi. 41, .2, § 43, p. 391. — Ac. u. 7, ' And they wei-e aU amazed and marveUed, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilseansf — Jesus was called a Nazarene, Mt. ii. 23, § 5, p. 57 ; — but his birthplace teas Betldehem, Lu. ii. 4. — 10, § 4, pp. 33 — .5. — Se was despised, Ac. iv. 10, .1, ' Be it known unto you aU, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Clu-ist of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before yon whole. 11, This is the stone which was set at nought of yon biulders, wliich is become the head of the corner.' — As also had been the people, Eze. xi. 15, quoted Lu. ii. 10, § 4, p. 35, ' All people ;' — loho are to be found in him, ver. 16, ibid. Philip saith rsTO him, Come and see. So Jesus, ver. 39, p. 107 i—and each of the living creatures, Eev, vi. 1, 3, 5, 7. in Galilee,' mentioned at the close of tliis Gospel. The present Nathanael is introduced among other disciples 'of Seihsaida, the cit;i of Andrew and Peter;' along with whom, John, and his brother James, are always found in all Usts of the apostles. John, grace of the Lord, means much the same as Nathanael, gift of God. The probability is that the beloved disciple here calls hmiself 'Nathanael;' and afterwards, in reference to the favour with which ho was from the first received, 'the disciple whotn Jesus loved.' The character of Nathanael, as given by Him who knew aU men, is the character of Jolm. The promise to Nathanael, 50, .1, was eminently fulfilled to Jolm in ' The Sevelation of Jesus Christ, tvhich God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come io pass ; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.' The overwhelming impression which was made upon the mind of Nathanael, as to the omniscience of Jesus, ver. 49, is conspicuous throughout tho whole of Jolm's Gospel ; NOTES. which was written with the special design of exhibiting the truth of the fii'st part of Nathanacl's testimony, ' Thou art the Son of God.' The ' Israelite indeed ' is described in his epistles ; and for what concerns ' the King of Israel,' ' the Prince of the l-ings of the earth,' see the Apocalypse. — Continued Sect. U., Addenda, p. 466. Moses in the law. Moses in that part of the Old Testament which he wrote, caUed by the Jews ' the law.' — See De. xviu. 15 — .9 j Ge. iii. 15 ; xlix. 10. 46. Come out of Nazareth. The whole country of GaUlee was had in contempt with the Jews ; but Nazareth was so vile, that it seems it was even despised by its neighbours, the GaUlseans themselves. Come and see. 'Judge for yourself; seeing is bclieviug.' This was the best answer to Nathanael. He asked him to go and examine for lumself, to see the Lord Jesus, to hear him converse, to lay aside his prejudice, and to judge from a fair and candid examination. Although we be, Uke Peter, loose rolUng stones ; yet, let us seek to attain stabUity, as bcuig built upon the Kock, the one foundation, pointed out by Peter, as weU as by aU the apostles. That stabiUty in Clu-ist we can attain only by hearing the Father, and by being born of the Spirit—as being by the God and Father of our Lord Jesns Christ given Uis own blessed Spirit of peace and love. 43—5 ver. Let us also seek to bring onr neighbours to Christ, as PR.'iCTICAL REFLECTIONS. 108 Matt. W. 12,^16, -p. -[51. Phihp did Nathanael, and increase our testimony of Jesus, aecorcUng to om* increase of knowledge, and the preparedness of mind in om' heai-ers. 45 ver. We may not despise the testimony of the Father, by Moses and the prophets, on account of oui- having found the substance of their prophesying. Neither, although we have the words of the Father and the Son, should we despise the w itness of the Spfrit. Mark i. 14, ibid. Lule iv. 14, § 15, p. 149. [IQ PART II.] JESUS' TESTIMONY TO NATHANAEL. [SECT. X. John i. 48 — .50. 48 him. Behold an-Israelite indeed aXnOwg, in whom is no guile ! Nathnnael saith uuto-him, Whence knowest-thou me ? ^Jesus answered and said unto-him, Before that' Philip called thee, when-'thou-wast 49 under the fig-tree, I-saw thee. Nathanael answered and saith unto-him, Rabhi, thou art the Son of ' God; 50 thou art the King of ' Israel. Jesus answered and said unto-him, Because I-said unto-thee, I-saw thee SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. 47. IsEAELiTE INDEED. ' Israel,' Ihe name given to Jacob, because he prevailed wUh the angel of ihe covenant at Peniel, Go. xxxii. 24 — 32. — Hos. xii. 4, 'Tea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed : he wept, and made supphcation unto him : he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us.' — See Fhannel, Lu. ii. 36, § 4, p. 45. — The wrestling v;hich will prevail, Joel ii. 15 — 2l,{quoted Lu. iii. 21, § 8, p. 91, 'Akb peaying.'^— TOe blessing upon him that overcometh (the Israelite indeed), Eev. ii. 7, 11, .7, 26 — .9, ' He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the chm-ehes ; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.' 11, ' He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches ; He that over- cometh shall not be hurt of the second death.' 17, ' He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches ; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and iix the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth if.' 26, 'And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron ; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers : even as I received of my Father. 28, And I wiU give liim the morning star. 29, He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.'^iii. 5, 12, 21, ' He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of hfe, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.' 12, 'Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out : and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God : and / will writa upon him my new name.' 21, 'To him that overcometh wiU I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.' — xxi. 7, ' He that over- cometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall bo my son.' No GVTtM. Although an Israelite, yet it was as one, in the moral sense of the word, that he is here spol-en of. Not bg acting as a Jacob, ' supplanter,' in a bad sense, Ge. xxvii. 35, .6, — but as putting away all guile, is Israel to be exalted. Is. xssiii. 15 — .7, (quoted Lu. ii. 25, § 4, p. 41, 'JeeFSAXEM ;')-ledge was given to the shepherds, Lu. ii. 9, 13, § 4, pp. 35, .G. — Examples of angels ministering to Jesus, after his temptations, Mt. iv. 11, § 9, p. 101 ; — in the garden, Lu. xxii. 43, § 88, \t. 8BS — at his ascension, Ac. i. 10, .1, § 98, p. 987;— also to Peter, Ac. xii. 7— 11.— Are sent forth to minister, ITcb. i. 14. — See on Lu. i. 11, § 1, p. 7 ; ver. 2G, § 2, p. 25, Addenda. — Kev. i. IG, 20, 'And he had in his right hand seven stars : and out of Ins mouth went a sharp twoedged sword : and his countenance was as the sun shineth in liis strength.' 20, ' The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, aud the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches : and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.' The Son op man. Jesus, the Son of man — the Son of God — Jiad not where to lay his head, Mt. viii. 20, § 34, p. 323; — •I'-'t is his Idngdom appointed to be universal. Da. vii. 13, .4, {quoted Lu. i. 33, § 2, p. 17, ' No END.')-Col. i. 12— .7 (ver. 12— .5, quoted Lu. i. 35, § 2, p. 18, ' Son op God '), 16, ' For by liim were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or prhicipalities, or powers : all things were created by him, and for him: 17, And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.' — He did not become the Son of man that fie should repent, Ku. xxiii. 19, 'God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent : hath he said, and shall he not do it ? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good ? ' — But by his death all is made sure that Ood hath, promised, Eoni. viii. 32, ' He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for U3 all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all tilings?' — The Son of man hath power to forgive sins, Mt. ix. 6, § 22, p. 220 ; — is 'Lord even of the sabbath day,' xii. 8, § 24; — soweth the good seed, xiii. 37, § 33, p. 318 ; — the angels and the kingdom are his, ver. 41 ; — to be betrayed into the hands of men, xvii. 22, § 52, p. 470 ; — put to death, as teas tvritten of him, xxvi. 24, § 87. . . . see ch. xxvii. 24, § 90 — to remain in the grave until the third day, xii. 40, § 31, p. 295 ; — but having risen from the dead, xvii. 9, § 51, p. 455 ; — he shall come as the lightning, xxiv. 27, § 86, p. 775; — and all the holy angels with him, 'then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory,' xxv. 31, § ib., p. 79?. NOTES. been really the Son of God.— .S'ce Mk. i. 1, § 7, p. 78 ; Heb. i. 8, 'But unto the Son he saitli, Tliy throne, Ood, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.' This case of Nathanacl, John adduces as another evidence that Jesus was the Christ. The gi'eat object he had m view in "wiiting this Gospel was, to collect the evidence that he was the Messiah, ch. XX. 31, § 100. A case, therefore, where Jesus searched the heart, and where Ins knowledge of the heart convinced a pious Jeio that he was the Christ, is very properly adduced as important testimony. This testimony of Nathanael is very sunilar to that by Peter, Mt. xvi. 16, § 50, ' Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living Ood.' To the usual expression, to denote the Messiah, he adds, that of ' King of Israel;' one of the titles designating the expected Saviour, and wliidi is applied to Christ in various parts of the Gospels. 51. Verily, verily. aft))v, in the Greek ; a solemn asseveration, intimating that the saying is time, and that we must ivg.ird it as proceeding from the ' Amen,' the true aud faitlifid Witness. The word Amen is from a verb to coufu'in, to estabUsh, to be true. It is often used in this Gospel. When repeated, it expresses the speaker's sense of the importance of what he is about to say, and the certainty that it is as he atfii-ms. Ye sliall see. In prophetic vision, and in the pledge of full ac- comphsliment, as well as afterwards in their glorious consummation. Shall see heaven open, ij'c. ' See the frame of natiu-e subject to my commands, and such a train of events, miracles, aud providences, as shall leave no doubt of my mission : it will appeal' as the vision of Jacob.' — See Ge. xiviii. 12, and the Apocalypse thi'oughout. PRACTICAL REFLECTION. 51 ter. Let us not lose sight of one truth by attending to nnothcr. Nathanacl acknowledged Jesus as the Son of God : Jesus remmded him of liis being the Son of man ; and as he, as Die Son of man, was to descend lo a depth of humiUation wliieh Malt. iv. 12, § 16, p. 157. Mark 110 Nathanacl may not have thought of; so also was he, as the Son of God, to ascend to a height of glory, and extent of dominion, wliieh Nathanacl may not have anticipated when he called liim the King of Israel. 14, ibid. Luke iv. 14, § 15, p. 149. John ii. 1, § 11, p. 113. 10.] PAET 11.] ADDENDA. 'ON JOHN i. 15, 27— 30.' — ' PRIESTS.' — ' LEVITES.' GEOGKAPHICAL NOTICES. [SECT. X. Bethabaea betond Joedan. — Bcthabara sigmfics a place of passage ; of which there were, and are, several in the course of the river Jordan. ' Bethalara ' was a common name for such. The place of this history is supposed to have been near LaJce Tiherias, and in the region under the jurisdiction of Herod, who afterwards impiTsoncd Jolm. Sci/t7iopoUs, or the ancient Belhshan, in the south-cast comer of Galilee, agrees very well with a knomi ford, fi-equeutly crossed by modern travellers, about eight or ten miles south of the Sea of Galilee.— See Addenda, § vii. p. 88, on ' Tbb Ministry op John tue Baptist.' Bethsaida.— &e Geoqsaphical Kotice, § 11, p. 117. ADDENDA. ON JOHN i. 15, 27 — ; ' It is evidently necessary that' Cluist should be understood to have come after, in the same way, and in the same sense, in wliieli John himself had gone before ; in other words, that the personal niiuistiy of each respectively was to be the same, dilTering only in tne order of succession The successor of the Baptist, even in a common work, was such as by the superior lustre of his person, and by the corresponding authority of liis teaeliing, coidd not fail to ecUpse and to supersede liis predecessor. For He, who was from eternity ; He, who was before the Baptist ... by vu'tue of his essential pre-existenee, his subhme and mysterious Divinity, could not possibly ranlc, or long continue to rank, after or beneath him ; but must be preferred before him . The same assertion, therefore, of liis omi subordination to his successoi', and the same reason for that subordination ; mz., that John was from the earth, Christ was fi-om heaven ; John was fi'om below, Cluist was from above ; are not more piously than natm'aUy repeated in that other testimony of the Baptist, which holds out the torch to the meaning of this, ch. iii. 30— .2 (§ l'i):—GnsivcU, Vol. II. Diss. xii. pp. IGG, ..7. ' The only dUTereuco between the personal ministry of John, and the personal ministry of Jesus Clu'ist, ivas, that John baptized, and ' PRIESTS ' These were superior to the Levites in dignity, and chosen fi'om the family of Aaron esclusively. They seiTcd immechately at the altar, prepared the victuns, and oflered the sacrifices. They kept up a perpetual fire on the altar of the bm-nt sacrifices, and also in the lamps of the golden candlesticks in the sanctuary ; they kneaded the loaves of ehewbrcad, which they baked, and offered on the golden altar in the sanctuary ; and changed them evei-y sabbath day. A.nd as the number and variety of their functions requhed them to be well read in then- law, ui order that they might be able to judge of the various legal uuoleamiesses, &c., this cu-cumstance caused them to be consulted as interpreters of the law, Hos. iv. 6 ; Mai. ii. 7, &c. ; Le. siii. 2 ; Nu. v. 14, .5 ; as well as judges of contro- versies, De. sxi. 5 ; xvii. 8 — 13. To them it belonged pubhcly to bless the people in the name of the Lord, Nu. vi. 22 — .7. 'The priests were divided by David uito twenty-four classes, 1 Chr. xxiv. 7 — 18 ; wliich order was retained by Solomon, 2 Clu. viii. 14 ; and at the revivals of the Jewish rehgion by the kings Hezckiah, xxxi. 2, and Josiah, xxxv, 4, 5. As, however, only four classes retmnied from the Babylonish captivitj', Ezr. ii. 36 — .9 ; Ne. vii. 39 — 42 ; sii. 1, these were agam divided into twenty-fom" classes, each of which was chstinguished by its original appellation. This aecoimts for the introduction of the class or order of Abia, men- tioned in Lu. i. 5, § 1, p. 5, which wo do not find noticed among those who returned from the captivity. One of these classes went up to Jerusalem every week to discharge the sacerdotal office, and succeeded one another on the sabbath day, till they had all attended. ' To each order was assigned a president, 1 Clir. xxiv. G, 31 ; 2 Chr. sxxvi. 14, whom some critics have supposed to be the same as the ' LEVITES ' The Levites were the posterity of Levi, the thii-d son of Jacob by Leah, and one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Levi assisted Simeon in mm'dering the Sheehcmites, for which his father Jacob denounced liis family to be scattered among the Hebrew tribes in Canaan, Ge. xxxiv. 25 — 30 ; xlix. 5 — 7. They were appomted by God to the seiTicc of the sanctuaiy, Nu. iii. 12, .3 ; viii. 18, in Heu of the 'first- lorn' males, iii. 14 — .6 ; viii. 17. They were originally chstiiigiushed into three classes, or fumiUes, from the three eons of Levi — Kohatli, 30, pp. 70, 101, ...5. with water, because he was not to baptize with the Holy Ghost ; Chi-ist did not baptize with water, because he was to baptize with the Holy Ghost. The water-baptism, then, of Jolm was typiral of the Spirit-baptism of Chi-ist ; and water, as the medium of the baptism of Jolm, was analogous to the Holy Ghost, the medium of the baptism of Christ. So far, therefore, from introducing a real dilTerence into the office of John, compared with the office of Clu-ist, this distinction brings them ncai'cr to a resemblance than before ; making the Baptist so exactly the countei-part of Clu'ist, that even that most important particidar in the functions of the latter, the mission and effusion of the Holy Ghost, was not without its signifi- cant prototype in the functions of the former. And this may be one reason why the baptism of John, though, as conveyed by the same external mediimi, but destitxito of the same inward grace, might so far appear the appropriate emblem of Chiistian baptism in general, should be considered in reahty no type, or simihtude, of that sacrament, but only of the one baptism, once for all admuiistered, at the day of Pentecost, by Chiist himself, upon the (h'st Clu-istian converts, in the commmiiealion of the extraordmary graces of the Spuit — and afterwards, as often as those graces were repeated, upon all converts subsequently.' — Ihiil., pp. 158 — .60. ' p. 103. cliief priests, so often mentioned in the New Testament, Mt. xxvii. 1 ; Ac. iv. 23 ; V. 24 ; ix. 14, 21 ; xxii. 30 ; xsiii. 14 ; xxv. 15 ; xxvi. 10. The pruice or prefect of each class appointed an cntu-e family to offer the daily sacrifices ; and at the close of the week, they aU joined together in sacrificing. And as each family consisted of a great number of priests, they chew lots for the diflerent offices wliich they were to perform. It was by virtue of such lot that the office of bui-nhig incense was assigned to Zaeharias, Lu. i. 9, § 1, p. 7 ; and the most honom-able in the whole semce. This office could be held but once by the same person. ' In order that the priests, as well as the Levites, might be wholly at hberty to follow theu- sacred profession, they were exempted from all secidar bm'dens or labom-s. Of the Levitieal cities {see- last paragraph, 'Levites,' p. 112), tliirtccn were assigned for the residence of the priests, with then' respective suburbs, Nu. xxxv. ; the limits of which were confined to 1,000 cubits beyond the walls of the city, wliich served for outhouses — as stables, barns, and perhaps for gardens of herbs and flowers. Beyond tliis they had 2,000 cubits more for their pastm-e, called properly, the field of the sulurhs, Le. xxv. 34. In all 3,000 cubits. — See Nu. xxxv. 4, 5. 'Their maintenance was derived from the tithes offered by the Levites out of the tithes by them received, from the fii-st fniits, from the first chp of wool when the sheep were shorn, from the offerings made in the temple, and from their share of the ein offerings and thanksgiving offerings saciiCced iu the temple, of which certain parts were appropriated to the priests, Le. vii. 33, .4, .0, .6 ; De. xviii. 3, i.—See also Nu. xviii. 13— .8 ; Le. xix. 23, .4 j Ku. xiii. 28—41.' — Some's Introduction, Vol. III. pp. 275— ..7. ' p. 103. Gcrshon, and Mcrari. To them woiv committed the removal and setting up of the tabcniaele in the wi'.dcniess. In David's time, (ho whole body of the Levites amounted to thirty -eight thousand, 1 Chr. xxiii. 3, of whicli number he appointed four-and-twcniy thousand to attend the constant duty and vovk of the temple; and these being divided into twenty-foiu- courses, xxiii. 4 ; 2 Chr. ixxi. 17, there were one thousand for each week. Each class had its rUstiuct 10.] Slatt. iv. 12, § IC, p. 157. Marl- i. 14, ibid. Luke iv. 14, § 15, p. 1 19. John ii. 1, § 1], p. 113. Ill SECT. X.] ADDENDA. ' SIMON.' [PAKT II. ' Tlie first class was "to wait on t/ic sons of Aaron J or the service of the house of the LoKD," i.e., to assist tlie priests in the exercise of tliiir ministry, to purify tlio holy things, to prepare the shew- bread, and flour, and wine, and oil for the sacrifice; and sonuiinios to kill the sacrifice, 1 Clir. xxiii. 28, .9 ; 2 Clir. xxix. 31 ; xxxv. 10 — .4. Some liad charge of the sacred treasures, 1 Chr. xxvi. 20. 'The second class consisted of four thousand, 1 Chr. xxlii. 5. David divided them into twenty-four courses, and formed the temple choir, who thanked and praised the Lord every morning and even- ing, xiiii. 30 — XXV. Tlie music was both vocal and instrumental : " As veil the sinyers as the players on instruments shall bo there," Vs. Ixxxvii. 7. In David's time, tlierc were appointed tlirce masters of the band of music, Ilcman, Asaph, and Ethan, 1 Clu\ XV. 17, whoso names are prefixed to some of the Psalms, probably because they set them to music. Asaph's name is inscribed to the fiftieth, seventy-tliird, and ten following Psabus : Hemau's to the cighty-eightli ; and Ethan's to the eighty-ninth. There was, also, over all the rest, one chief musician, or head master of the choii-, to whom several of the Psalms are inscribed. At the time of writmg the ixxix., Ixii., Ixxvii., Jedutlum was master. 'In the temple choir were both wind and stringed instruments, 2 Clir. vii. 6 ; xxix. 26. In both these passages the priests are said to sound the tiiunpcts. See 1 Clu-. xv. 16, 24, as it was prescribed in the law of Moses, " The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall How with the trumpets," Nu. x. 8 ; this was done "for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps," ver. 2. 'Tlie third class was the porters, consisting of fo\u' thousand, 1 Chr. xxiii. 5, to whose charge the several gates of the sanctuaiy were appointed by lot, xxvi. 1 — 13, .9 ; 2 Chi-, xxxv. 15; and they attended by tm'ns in their courses, as the other Levites did, viii. 14. Their proper business was to watch over the safety and purity of the holy place and service, xxiii. 19. They also kept guard by night about the temple and its courts. They are said to have been twenty-four, including tlu'ce priests, who stood sentry at so many dilTerent places. There was a superior officer over tlie whole guard, called by Maimoiiides, " the man of the moimtaia of the house." He walked the round, and when he passed a sentinel that was standing, he said, " Peace be unto you." But if he found one asleep, ' SIMON,' Simon was a son of Jonas, and brother to Andrew ; was a fisher- man, and native of Beihsaida in Galilee, see ver. 44. Jesus called him ' Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone,' ver. 42. Simon was called to be a disciple, Mt. iv. 18—22, § 16 — to be an apostle, ' Simon he surnamed Peter,' Mk. iii. 16, § 27 — walked on the sea to Jesus, Mt. xiv. 28, § 41 — blessed by Jesus as having revealed to liim from God that Jesus was the Christ, xvi. 17 — 20, § 50 — chosen to be a witness of Jesus' glory, xvii. 1—8, § 51, comp. 2 Pe. i. 16 — .8 — appointed by Jesus to pay the tribute, Mt. xvii. 21— .7, § 52 {at Capernaum) — chosen with James and John and Andrew to be instiiietcd concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, and the second coming of Christ, Mk. xiii. 3, § 86 {on Mount 0//i'e<)— appomted with John to prepare the passover, Lu. xxii. 8, § 87 {at Jerusalem) — refused to sutler Jesus to wash his feet, &c., Jno. xiii. 0-11, § ih. {in the supper chamher) — boasted of his attachment to Chi-ist, ver. 36, .7; Lu. xxii. 33, .4 ; Mt. xxvi. 33, .4, § iS.— chosen with James and John to witness Jesus' agony, Mt. xxvi. 37, § 88 {in Oethsemnne)- he smote off the ear of the high priest's sei-vant, Jno. xviii. 10, § ih. -With the rest of the disciples he forsook Jesus and fled, Mt. xxvi. 50, § li.-ITe denied Jesus tlu-ee times; the last time with an oath; and aftcTO'ards wept bitterly, ver. 69—75, § 89— he was the first of the apostles to enter the tomb after Jesus' resmTcctiou, Jno. XX. 3—10, § 93— he had a special manifestation of the Lord Jesus, Lu. xxiv. 34, § 95— he threw himself into the water to go to the Lord, as he appeared to the thsciples, Jno. xxi. 7, § 97 {at the sea of Tiberias), and received a special commission from Jes\is to feed Ilia lambs, &c., ver. 15— .9— was reproved, 20— .2. After our Lord's ascension Peter was the chief speaker in the chm-cli at Jerusalem, Ac. i. 15— 22— on the day of Pentecost he defended the he struck him ; and he had hberty to set fire to his garment. This custom may bo alluded to in Rev. xvi. 15, "Behold, I come as a thief Blessed is he that watcheth, and ieepeth his garments." Thus were the Levites employed in tlic work " day and night," 1 Clu'. ix. 33. The consecration of the Levites in Moses' time was at the twenty-fifth year of their age, and they continued until fifty ; but in David's tune, yoimg men were chgible at twenty. 'None of the Levites, of what degree or order soever, had any right to sacrifice, for that was the proper duty of the priests only ; the Levites, indeed, were to assist the priests in kUling and flaymg the sacrifices; and during the time they were offered up, to sing praises unto God. Neither had they any title to bum incense to the Lord. — See q/'Korah and his company, Nu. xvi. 1 — 35. ' The Levites, as well as the priests, were precluded by law from sharing the promised inheritance of Canaan with the other tribes, De. xviii. 1, 2 ; Jos. xxi. In Ueu thereof they had forty-eight cities, with their subiu-bs, assigned them out of the other tribes ; thu'teen of which belonged to the priests, and thirty-five to the rest of tlie tribe of Levi, Nu. xxxv. 1 — 8. The cities of the priests were mostly in the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and consequently nearer to Jerusalem, which stood in the confines of the two tribes ; whereas those of the Levites were divided to them by lot, out of the other tribes on either side Jordan. And thus God converted Jacob's curse on Levi, Ge. xlix. 5 — 7, into a national blessing, by dispersing the priests and Levites, whose oflice it was to instruct the people where they resided in the Mosaic law, throiighout the whole land. They also kept the pubUc records and genealogies. David made six thousand of them officers and judges, 1 Chi-, xxiii. 4. Dr. Lightfoot makes the forty-eight cities to be so many universities, where the ministerial tribe stucUed the law, and diffused the knowledge of it thi'ough the nation. Of these, six were appointed cities of refuge, for protecting persons fi'om the severity of the law in case of in- volmitaiy homicide. The Levitical cities had suburbs and fields surroimdiug them, to the extent of 3,000 cubits on every side, Nu. xxxv. 4, 5. From these subxu-bs they were maintained when not ministering in the temple, at which time they were supported by the dues arising li'om the sacrifices. The priests and Levites received Hkewise a tithe of a tenth of all the inheritance in Israel, xviii. 21, that they might give themselves whoUy to serve the Lord.' * . . . . p. 107. bretlu-en, ii. 14, .5, and preached a sermon to the people, when 3,000 were converted, ver. 16 — 41 {in Jerusalem) — he healed a lame man at the Beautiful gate of the temple, iii. 1—11, and again preached Jesus, ver. 12 — 26 — was imprisoned, &c., iv. \—22 — at his word Ananias and Sapphira fell down dead, v. 1 — 11 — the sick laid in the streets, that the shadow of Peter, &e., ver. 15 — ^with the other apostles he was again imprisoned, 17, .8, and released by an angel, 19 ; and as they taught in the temple, were taken and set before the council, and being beaten were let go, 21 — 10 — he rejoiced in suffering, and ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus Clirist, 41, .2 — appointed by the cluu-ch to go to Samaria, viii. 14-25 — he raised Eneas, ix. 32 — .5 {at Lydda) — restored Tabitha to life, ver. 36 — 43 {at Joppa) — was warned by a vision to go to Coesarea, x. 9 — 17 {ibid.) — baptized Cornehus, ver. 18 — 48 {at Ccesarea) — was imprisoned by Herod, the tctrarch of Galilee, etc., and delivered by an angel, xii. 3 — 17 — was in Jerusalem at Paul's first visit after liis conversion, Ga. i. 18 — the gospel of the circum- cision was committed to him, ii. 7 — Peter and Paul met at Antioch, ver. 11 — Paul withstood him to the face, 11 — .6. At the time Paid set out on liis evangehcal circuit fi'om Autioch tlu-ough Phrygia and Galatia, Ac. xviii. 23, a.d. 52, Peter is also supposed to have departed thence tlu-ough Ponfus, Galatia, &e., and passing by Corinth, to have arrived at Rome, accompanied by Mark, A.D. 54 — during his stay there Mai-k's gospel was written, a.d. 55 — and fi-om Babylon in Egypt, Peter wi-ote his first epistle, A.D. 59 — he arrived iu Rome a second time, a.d. 64, having ordained Mark bishop of Alexandria ; and wrote liis second epistle, A.D. 05 — and in the same year suffered martyrdom, being, it is said, crucified with his head downwards, deeming it too great an honour even to die as his Lwd. • The Levites bad under them others, called Nethinims, chiefly of the posterity of the Gibeonites, whose busmess it was to eaiTy the water and wood tliat were wanted in tlio temple for the use of the sacrifices, and to perform other laborious services there. They had a particular place m Jerusalem where they dwelt, called Ophel, being near thcii- place of service-the temple, Nc. iii. 26. n n 112 l-^"- PAKT ir.] THE irARKTAGR AT CANA. [SECT. XI. SECTION 11. — Jesus is present at a m.\rriage-feast in Cana: he tiuns wafer into wine WHICH IS the beginning OF HIS MIRACLES. He GOES DOWN TO CaTERNAUM, kut STAV>S THERE NOT MANY DAYS. JollU ii. 1 12. [G. 10, coiHinued.l INTRODUCTION and analysis. Jno. ii. 1, 2. Three days after receiying his first disciples, Jesus, with liis motlicr, are »' a marriage in Cana of Galilee ; liis disciples also are there. — ii. 3. Jesus' mother informs him of theii' not having a suffi- ciency of wine. — ii. 4. Jesus intimates that in the exereise of his miraculous power, ho does not acknowledge his relationsliip to Mary. ■ — ii. 5. His mother directs the servants to do whatercr Jesus conunauds them. — ii. 6. Six large stone resscls for pmnfyings are at hand. Jno. ii. 7. Jesus bids the servants fdl the vessels with water. They fill them brimful. — ii. 8. He next bids them ' draw oi'f, . . . niii.ia, and overtlu'ew the tahles ; and said SCRIPTURE ILLUSTR.iTIONS. 13. Je^s' passoteh. For Hs initUutio;!, see Ex. xii. 1 — 28 ; — ike fust of the three great feasts, De. xvi. 1 — 8 ; — at which all the males trere to appear, ver. 16. — For suhsequent passorers dvrhiff the niinistri/ of Christ, see NoiE, vfra. 14. Found in the temple. The people from a great (.Jistance had to purchase in Jerusalem the things necessary for the feast, De. xiv. 25, ' Tlieu slialt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place wliich the LoED thy God shall choose.' — The sellers made it an occasion of scandalous abuse, Jc. vii. 11, ' Is this house, wliich is called by my name, become a den of robbers in yom- eyes? Behold, even I have teen it, saith the LoKD.' Dotes. Required to le offered, he. xiv. 22, 'And two turtle- doves, or two young pigeons, such as he is able to get ; and the one shall be a sin ofl'eriug, and the other a bui-nt offering.' — Offered hg Uarg, Lu. ii. 24, § 4, p. 41. 15. Drove. So INehemiali turned out Tobiah, Ne. xiii. 4 — 9, 'And before this, Eliasliib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of tlie house of our God, icas allied mito Tobiah : 5, and he had prepared for hun a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to he given to the Levifes, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests. 6, But in all this time was not I at Jeru- salem : for in the two and thirtielh year of Ai'taxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king : 7, and I came to Jerusalem, and luiderstood of the evil that Eliasliib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. 8, And it grieved me sore : therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. 9, Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.' — The cleansing NOTES. 13. Jews^ passooer. See Addikda, 'Passovee,' p. 68. The best commentators, ancient and modem, are generally agi-eed that John mentions ybrcpassovers as occurring during Christ's ministry, of which this is reckoned the frst : that mentioned at cli. v. 1, § 23, as the second : that at eh. vi. 4, § 40, p. 372, as the third: and that at which Clirist suffered, the fourth, §§ 81—92, pp. . Thus the united ministry of John and Jesus will ex- tend to three years and a half. — See 'On ouk Lohd's Ministry IN JUD.EA,' p. 130. Jesus Kent up to Jerusalem. Every male among the Jews was required to appear at tliis feast. 14. Sold oxen, ij-c. /3onc, i.e., ' cattle.' Tlicre must have been a grand market, for 256,500 victims are mentioned by Josephus as being ofli-red at the passover. And it is certain, from the rabbinical writers, that immense traffic was carried on in beasts and birds for Tictims, and much extortion was practised, and a great part of the profit thence arising came into the hands of the priests. Chanqcrs of moneg. The current coin was Koraau. Yet the law rcquii-ed that every man should pay a yearly tribute to the service of the sanctuary of half a sheiel, Ex. xxx. 11 — .6. This was a Jewish coin. Of course the money-changers would demand a small sum for the exchange ; and among so many thousands as came up to the gi'cat feasts, it would be a very profitable enijiloyment, and one which no doubt soon gave rise to much fraud and oppression. 15. A scourge of small cords. The original word implies that these cords were made of twisted rushes or reeds ; probably the ancient material for making ropes, such as were used for tying up the cattle. lie drove. t|f/3nXf may be understood not of forcible ejection by stripes, but of strict and authoritative injunction, driving out the oxen and beasts only with the whip Poured out the changers' moneg. to Kfp/in, 'the small money.' Nobody resisted ; for, by a law of the Jews, profaners of the temple might be killed or scom'ged by any person. If it be asked how it was that those engaged in this traffic so readily gielded to Jesus of Nazareth that they left theii" gains and property, and fled from the temple at the comiuaiid of one so obscure as he was, it may be replied : — 1st. That then- consciences reproved PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. 14 rrr. In the church of God, we should fear n self-seeking rest, I 15 ver. The Lord may be pleased to make use of means small and Which tho Lord wiU certauily distiu-b and pour contempt upon. | despised for the effectmg of great and salutary changes. 118 ar»;E-e iv. 11, § 15, p. 119. [12. rillT II.] THE JEWS DEMAND A SIGN; [SECT. XII. John' ii. 17 — .9. iinto-them ' that-sold ^ doves, Take tliese-tlsiugs hence ; make not my ^ Fatlier's house an-housc of- 1 7 merchandise. And his ^ disciples remembered that it-was -written. The zeal of-thine house hath-eaten-' me'-up. Then answered the Jews and said unto-him, Wliat sign shewest-thou unto-us, sceiiiq that thou-doest Jesus answered and said unto-them, Destroy Aucrare this ^temple, and in three days I- SCRirXURE ILLUSTRATIOX.-. 18 19 these- things ? of the sancluari/ foretold. Da. Tiii. 14, 'And ho said unto me, Uuto two thousand and three hundred days ; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.' — Another preparatory cleansing is recorded in Mt. xxi. 12, .3, § 83, 1). 701. 16. Mr Fathdk's norsE. Not for a parllcular nation, hit for the children of God, of all people, Is. Ivi. 3—8, ' Neither let the son ol' the stranger, that hath joined himself to the Loed, speak, saying, The LoKD hath utterly separated me from his people : neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. 4, For thus saith the Lord unto the eimuchs that keep my sahbaths, and choose the things that please me, aud take hold of my coTenant ; 5, Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters : I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut oil". 6, Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LoKD, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lobd, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and takcth hold of my coveiiant; 7, even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer : theii' burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. 8, The Lord God which gathered the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him [Heb., to his gathered^.' — The desirableness of the Lord's house, Ps. Ixxxiv. 10, ' For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper [Heb., I would choose rather to sit at the threshold'] in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.' — cxxii. 1, 'I was glad when they said imto me. Let us go into the house of the LoED. 2, Our feet shall stand within thy gates, Jerusalem. 3, Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together : 4, w'nither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LoED, imto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Loed. 5, For there are set [Heb., do sit] thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David. 6, Pray for the peace ol Jerusalem : they shall prosper that love thee. 7, Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. 8, For my brethren and companions' sakcs, I will now say. Peace be within thee. 9, Because of the house of the Lord our God I wiU seek thy good.' — Is. ii. 3, ' Aiul many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the momitain of the LoED, to the house of the God of Jacob ; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths : for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.' House op meechandise. Zee. xiv. 21, ' Yea, every pot in Jeru- salem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the Lord of hosts ; and aU they that sacrilice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein : and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanito in the house of the Loed of hosts.' 17. Weitten. The zeal, Ps. Ixix. 9, 'For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up ; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.' 18. Sign. Sec ' Miracles,' p. 129.~Signs referred to, Dc. vi. 22, 'And the Lord shewed signs and wonders, great and sore [Heb., evil], upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all liis house- hold, before oiu' eyes.' — 1 Sa. ii. 34, 'And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come ujion thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinchas ; in one day they shall die both of them.'— 1 Ki, xiii. 3 — 5, 'And he gave a sign the same day, saymg, This is tho sign which the Lord hath spoken ; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall bo poured out. 4, And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard tlie saying of the man of God, winch had cried against the altar in Beth-el, tiiat he put forth liis hand from the altar, saying. Lay hold ou him. And his hand, which he put forth against hun, dried up, so that he coidd not pull it in again to him. 5, The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LoBD.' —Is. vii. 11— A,(qiioted Mt. i. 23, § 2, p. 23, ' EllMAxrEL.') - A sign ash-ed, Mt. xii. 38, § 31, p. 295 ; xvi. 1, § 47, p. 12 1 ; Lu. xi. 16, § 62, p. 5G1. 19. Destroy this tehple. Mis accusation, Mt. xxvi. GO, .1 j § 89, p. 882, u-ith this lie teas taunted on the cross, Mt. ixvii. 40, § 91, p. 922. This temple. Of old in the temple, so in Christ, Col. ii. 9, ' dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." — Believers in him are the temple of God, 1 Cor. iii. 10, ' Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and ?/ifl( the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?' — vi. 19, 'What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which iV in 3'ou, which NOTES. them for their impiety, and they covdd not set up the appearance of self-defence. 2nd. It was customai-y to cherish a profound regard for the authority of a prophet. There was soniotliiug in Cluist's manner, as well as in his doctrine, that awed men, and made them tremble at his presence. 17. The zeal of thine house. The zeal of thine house means ex- traordinary concern for the temple of God j intense sohcitude that the worship should be pure. Sath eaten me tip. Ilath sm-pnssed aU other fccUngs, so that it m.iy be said to be the one great absorbing desh'C of the mind. 18. What sign, ^-c. AVhat miracle dost thou work? lie was refonning, by his aulhorily, the temple. It was natural to ask by what authori'g this was done ; and as tlicy had been accustomed to miracles in tho times of Moses, and Elijah, and other prophets ; so rR.\CTIC.\L REFLECTIONS. 17 ver. The honour of God's house does not consist in the costU- ness of its worship, or the crowding thereunto of worldly men ; but in the worshipping of God 'in spirit and in truth.' 18 cer. We should sincerely use the means we already have of they demanded evidence that he had authority thus to cleanse the liouse of God. Oiu- Lord, in the next verse, enigmatically adverts to this question, intimating tliat, by his resurrection fi-om the dead, they shoidd have abundant proof of his Divine mission. 19. Destroy this temple, rtiv va'ov tovtov, ' this vei-y temple,' perhaps pointing to his body at the same time. Tiiis was n some- what obscure sentence, but of that sort which is not unfrcquently used by the best teachers, for the purpose of exciting the attention and sharpening the perception of thcu- audit oi-s. He spoke obscurely of his death, that ho might not discourage his disciples; and, to vindicate his authority and dignity, appealed to his resurrection. The word temple, or dwelling, was not mifi-cqucntly used by tli« Jews to denote the body, as being tho residence of tho Spirit, Christians are not unfrcqucnily called the temple of God, as being those in whom the Holy Spirit dwcUs on earth.— &e ScBIP. IllVS. ascertaining tho truth ; ebc increase of evidence may only bo to our gi-eater condemnation, as it was to flie unbeUeving Jews. 19 rer. As it was in the temple that God more especially met with man, so was it n type of ' Immanuel' 'God irilh us,' as well as 'of 12.] Matt. iv. 12, § 16, p, 157 Mark i. 14, ibid. Luke iv. U, § 15, p. 1 19. 110 MIRACLES WROUUllT !>' JKEL'SiALEM. PARI il. Sect, xil] miracles wrought i> jjiRtsALiiAi. l John ii. 20— .'J. •20 \vill-raisc--if-np iyeoM. Tlicn said the Jew?;, Forty iind six years was-'this^temple'-in-biiilding, find •21 \vilt--tliou--roar--if-iip iyeotlc in three days? But lie spake of the temple of liis body. 2'2 When therefore he-was-risen from iiyipOn ik the-dead, his^ disciples remembered that he-had-said this iiuto- them ; and they-believed the scripture, and the word which^ Jesus had-said. (G. 1'2.) Mi)fir/fs arc iirni/f//if diiiimj the puxxover ; many helicre upon Jesus. — John ii. 23 — .5. At Jerusalem. 23 Now wlien he-was in Jerusalem at the passover, in tlie feast-^A/y, many believed in his, name, when- 21 thcy-saw QiwoovvTm the miracles which he-did. But, Jesus did-'nof-commit ImoTtviv himself unto- 25 them, because hejaiew all men, and needed not that any should-testify of, man : lor he knew what ■was in, man. [ch. iii. \, ne.i/ pa,/,'.] SCEIPTUKE ILLUSTRATIONS. ve have of God, and ye avc nol your own?' — 2 Cor. vi. 16, 'And ivliat agreement halli tlie temple of God with idols? for yc are the temple of the living God; as God hath faid, I will dwell ill them, and walk in them ; and I will be their God, and they shall be my jioople.' — This loih/, lifre that of Jesiia, the Jews sought to flestro!/, Ac. viii. 1, ' And Saul was consenting tinto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerasalem ; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Juda?a and Samaria, except the apostles.' — ix. 1, 2, ' And Saul, yet breathing out tla-catenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way [Gr., of the «'oj/], whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.' 19. Im thbee DATS. On the third dat) he arose, Alt. sx\iii. 1 — 8, § 93 ; — so also his jyeople Israel are to be raised tip on the third daii, IIos. vi. 2, 3, {quoted, Lu. ii. 46, § 6, p. 65, 'After three days.') — CoHi^ace a'(7/j Is. xxvi. 19, 'Thy dead men shall live, together tilth my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust : for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth NOTES. 19. /» three days, if'c. See ver. 18. An irrcfi'agable proof of Di- vinity, since such language would be unsuitable to any created being. 'c. They understood him as speaking What he said here was all the evidence 20. Then said the Jews, of the temple at Jerusalem, adduced on his trial. The language which he used was often that of parables, or meta- phor ; and as they sought to misunderstand liira, and pervert his language, so he often left them to their own delusions, as he himself says. — See Mt. xiii. 13, § 32, p. 302. Forty and si.v years, ^-c. The temple in which they then were was that which was commonly called the second temple, built after the retm-n from Babylon.^See Addenda, 'The Temple,' § 1, p. 13. As Herod began to rcpau- the temple sixteen years before the bu'th of Jesus, and as this conversation took place in the thirtieth year of his age, so the time occupied in the rebuilding of the temple was forty and si.v years. 22. They beliered the scripture. iwiuTivaav ry ypaipfi, i.e., by a comparison of those parts of the Old Testament, including Ps. xvi. 10, ' For thou wilt not leave my sold in hell ; neither wilt thou suH'er tlune Holy One to see corruption,' which predict the Messiah's rising from the dead, with the vords of Jesus, treasured up in their minds, and the fact of his resurrection, they thoroughly believed what the Scriptures declared, and were convinced of the Divine mission of Jesus. Uitrrivio here simply signifies to believe, though iu the next verse it is used, as generally in the New Testament, of faith in Jesus as the Messiah. t'lf body the church.' ' A'oio ye are the body of Christ; 1 Cor. xii, 27.— Let us contemplate in Jesus the example of those livin; temples, whose worsliip is acceptable to Giod ; and who shall hi brought together into one holy temple in the Lord.— Let us see ii Him the assured pledge that ;dl Scripture will be fulfilled. 25. Should testify of man. any man. Me h-new what was, t^x: ' He knew the heart of man.' This passage supphes one of the strongest proofs of Christ's Divinity ; omniscience being the attribute alone of Deity. — See 1 Ki. viii. 39, ' Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the childi-en of men.)' ( PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. given of the truth of God, see the great occasion there is for believing both what God bath caused to be written in the Old Testament prophets, and the words which Jesus spake as recorded by the New Testament writers. 25 ver. If we would know the secret of the Lord, and hava , intimate fellowship with him, let us regard him as the Searcher of 22 ver. Let us, by the abundant confirmation which hatli been ' hearts, and seek to be holy in heart as well as fair in profession. MiUf. iv. 12, § 16, p. l.-,7. Mar/c i. 14, ibid. Luke iv. 11, § 15, p. 149, shall east out the dead.' — Jesus' first prediction of his death and resurrection — see Sect. 1. p. 137 ; and Sect. hi. p. 470. 21. Temple of nis body. See on ' This temple,'' p. 119. 24. Did not commit himself. So when they would make him a h-ing, ch. vi. 15, § 41, p. 378, 'When .Tesus therefore perceived that they would come and take huu by foi'ce, to malce him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.' 25. Knew what was in man. Ch. i. 47, .8, § 10, p. 108 ; iv. 29, § 13 ; V. 42, § 23 ; vi. 64, § 43 ; Ps. ciii. 14, ' He knoweth our frame.' — cxxxix. — Je. xvii. 10, 'I the Lord search the heart, /tiy the reius, eveu to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.' — Jesus Icnew the thoughts of men, Mt. ix. 4, § 22, p. 220 ; Lu. vi. 8, § 25, p. 225 ; Jno. xvi. 30, § 87. . . . — Heb. iv. 13, 'Neither is there any creature that is not manifest iu his sight; but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.' — See also Rev. ii. 23, 'AH the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts : and I wUl give imto every one of you according to your works.' 23. Feast day. During the celebration of the passover feast, which lasted eight days. — See Sect, vi.. Addenda, ' The Passover,' p. 68. Many believed. Their faith, however, as appears from what follows, was but external and historical ; not an internal and vital one. The understanding was convinced, but the will was not sub- dued to obedience. The miracles. See Addenda, ' JIiracles,' p. 129. What these were, we know not. But from this passage, and ch. iv. 45, § 14, and vi. 2, § 40, it is certain Clu'ist worked mauy miracles not recorded by the sacred writers. — See eh. xxi. 25, § 100. 24. Did not commit himself. The word here translated commit is the same as in ver. 23 is translated believed. It means to put trust or confidence in. Jesus chd not put trust or reliance on them. They were not yet in a fit state to receive then- king, and to act worthy of his kingdom. Should give him the diaractcr of 120 [12. PART II.] JESUS' INIERVIEW WITH NIC0DEMU3. [SECT. XIL INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS. Jno. iii. 1, 2. Nicodcmus, a Pliarisce and ruler of the Jews, comes to Jcsiis by night, and addressing liim as his teacher, acknowledges that the Divine mission of Jesus is suflieicntly attested by miracles. — iii. 3. Jesus du-cets Nicodemus to that which is the residt of Ills teacliing, now iu grace, the being born again, and hereafter in glory, the being given to see the kingdom of God. — iii. 4. Nicodcmus desires to know how a man who is old can be again bom. He expresses sm'prise tliat another birth slioidd be reqira-ed of one wlio, being a natm-al descendant of Abraham, is already an heir of the kingdom. — iii. 5. Jesiis, again solemnly declai-ing the necessity of tlic new birth, tells Nicodcmus how it is effected, viz., by that which cleanses, and by the quickening Spirit. — iii. 6. It requiies the Spiiit to produce spiritual regeneration. — iii. 7. Surprise ought not to be felt at the saying, ver. 3, 5. — iii. 8. Analogy between the wind and the Spirit, both of wliidi are expressed by the same word in the original ; in either case the efiect is seen, but not the agent. — iii. 9. Nicodemus asks, ' Hoto can these filings be V — iii. 10 — .3. Before proceeding fartlicr to tell Nicodemus how the change is effected, Jesus points out some of the great hindrances thereto i — -John iii. 1—21. 1. The office of teacher is occupied by those who arc grossly ignorant of what God has been pleased to reveal, vcr. 10. 2. Tlie witness of tliose who really speak from an experience of Divine things is disregarded, ver. 11. 3. Men do not attend to that which is intermediate, and which must take place upon earth ; and so are unprepared for tho lUtimate blessing in heaven, ver. 12. Jno. iii. 13 — .6. Jesus now presents the truth wliercby regenera- tion is effected. — iii. 13. Our Ecdeemer is both Divine and human, ' tke Hon of man which is in heticen.' — iii. 14, .5. Salvation is through Christ, the great object of faith, prefigured by the lifting up of ' the serpent in the wihlo'ness.' — iii. 16. By the gift of liis Son is manifested tlie marvellous love of God. — iii. 17. Contrast between what too many make of the gospel, and what God hath designed it to be. — iii. 18. How a man may know wliether he lias an interest in Clu-ist. — iii. 19. It greatly aggravates condemnation, to have au opportunity of embracing tlie light, and to prefer the darkness. — iii. 20, .1. There is an intimate connexion between evil practices and errors of judgment. He who entirely submits himself to God, need not fear coming to the light. Kicodeiiu/.t visits Jesus hi/ nir/ht. — Jolm iii. 1 — 21. Jerusalem. [Cli. ii. 'Zb, p. 120.J 1 There-was a-man of the Pliarisees, named Nicodemus, a-ruler of-thc -Jews: 2 the-samc came to^.Tesus by-night, and said iiuto-him, Eabbi, we-know that thou-ai-t-"a-teaohei--come from God : for no-man can 3 do these ^ miracles that thou doest, except^ God be with him. ^ Jesus answered and said unto-him, SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. 1. Nicodemus, 'innocent blood.' Heb. is. 22 — .8, 'And almost all things are by the law pui-ged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 23, It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens shovdd be pm-ified with these ; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24, For Christ is not entered into the holy places niade with liands, which are the figures of the true ; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us : 25, nor yet that he should ofler himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others ; 20, for then must he often have sniiered since the foundation of the world : but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27, And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment : 28, so Chi'ist was once offered to bear the sins of many ; and imto them that look for liim shall Jie appear the second time without sin unto salvation.' — Throttgh Jesus is that new birth, ver. 2, 3 ; — concerning w/iich is the ensuing discourse, ver. 3 — 31. 2. By night. Some of the chief riders beUeved in him, yet feared the Jews, ch. xii. 42, § 85, p. 745. These miracles that, &c. Sefen-ed to, ch. ii. 23, § 12, p. 120; — his 'miracles are also referred to bg Jesus, ch. v. 36, § 23, p. 323 ; X. 25, § 56, p. 525; xv. 21-, § 87, p. 810;— Jy the people, vii. 31, § 55, p. iri5 ; X. 21, § ib., p. 521 ;— iy the Pharisees, ix. 16, § ib,, p. 513 ; xi. 47, § 58 -.—bg Peter, Ac. ii. 22, ' Ye men of Israel, hear these words ; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yom-selvcs also know.' NOTES. 1. A ruler of the Jews. A professor of laws, and one of the sanhe- drim, or great coimcil of the nation. In the rabbinical ^\ritiiig.s he is described as a man of unbounded wealth, of magnificent liberaUty, and of piety the most ardent ; msomuch that they ascribe to hiin tlie working of miracles. His splendid fortunes were attended, they say, with almost as great a reverse as Job's. He is twice mentioned after this as being friendly to our Saviour; Jirst as advo- cating his cause, and defenduig him against the unjust suspicions ol the Jews, ch. vii. 50, .1, § 55, and in the second instance as one who came to aid in embalmuig his body, ch. six. 39, § 92) p. 03(i. 2. IJ'e l-noK, S[C. Nicodemus seems here to intimate, that ofhcra beside himself, among the rulers, believed that Jcsus was ' a teacher come from God,' was vested with extraordinary authority, as being commissioned to dcHver some important message relative to tho long-promised kingdom of Messiah, which was now expected specddy to appear. Our Lord, who knew what was in man, immediately proceeds to point out tlie preparation necessary to the enjoyment of the kingdom of God. By a .-similur allusion did he oftcrwai-ds bring down the high looks of his disciples when there was a strife among them which should be the greatest, Mt. xviii. 1—4, § 53. ( PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. i ver. Although we may have been laboriously engaged through the day, let us not refuse to be at night employed ui assisting others, or being ourselves assisted, in inquiries after the kingdom of God. It is not enough that we acknowledge Jesus to be a teacher 12,] Matt. iv. 12, § 16, p. 157. Mark i. 14, ibid come from God ; we must expei-icnce the [wwcr of his doctrine. God deals with men as rational luings. He gives ii» evidence upon which to bcUevc. Thus, as appealing to Divine evidence, w« ought to be able to give, like Nicodemus, a reason for our faith. iiiAciv. 14, § 15, p. 149. 121 SKCi. XII.] THE NECESSITY OF THE NEW BIETH. JOHN 111. [PART II. the Yei-ily. vcrilv, I-say unto-thee, Except a-mau be-born again 7£i;v()fly avivOiv, ye-can not see 1 kingdom of' God. .Nicodemus saith unto him. How cnn a-man be-born when-he-is ohl ? can-he enter o the-second-time into his , mother's ^ womb, and be-born? ^ Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I-say unto- thee, Except a-mau be-born of water and of the Spirit, he-can not enter into the kingdom of God. 3. BORX AGAIS. Or, from alote, cli. i. 13, § 7, p. 76, 'AVliicli n-cro born, not of blood, nor of the will of the ilesli, nor of the will of man, but of God.'— J new creature, Ga, vi. 15, 'For in Christ Jesus neither cirounu-i:*ion availeth any tiling, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.'— Co»ieointa of resemblance between the eflects of the wind in nature and those of the Spirit in him who is bom of the Spirit ; and that they arc of a kind wliich cveiT one must ascribe to the Author of all good, lie cannot indeed trace the exact process by which that heavenlv agency is emiiloyed for tliis effect ; but he docs not the less believe it. 10. Art thou a master of Israel. ' The teacher of Israel.' Nico- demus w as so called as compared with others. As sudi lie ought to have understood this doctrine. It was clearly taught in the Old Testament. — SeeScair. Illcs., supra ; and Notes, p. 122. l'n.\CTIC.\L KEVLECTIONS. j 6 ver. Men are by nature carnally-minded, and can only become epiritually-raiuded by being born of the Spirit. 7 ver. Man must be deeply impressed that his being born into I the kingdom of God must be from above: 'Xot of blood,' <^c.,Jno.i.l3. 8 ver. Regeneration must be known by its cfTects. Tlie Spirit of God operates freelv as the wind. Its coming and issue arc not other- wise visible. 9 ver. Men will of'»'4i admit facts on other subjtvls, and be greatly perplexed by similar facts in religion. Let us, whatever may be our standing, candidly acknowledge our diiriculties, not to puzilc the weak, but that we may have the help of the strong. 10 rer. Li't the strong not bo olTended nt the inquiries of the weak ; but, like Jesus, )xTscvere in presenting the truth to hiquiring minds, according as lliey are able to bear it. Jesus, in tcadiing [12. Matt. iv. 12, § 16, p. 157. Mark i. 14, ibid. Luke iv. 1 1^ § 15, p. 149. 123 SKCT. XII.] HINDRANCES TO THE NEW BIRTH. John iii. 11, .2. [PART II. 11 ]ciio\vcst not lliesc-tliiugs? Verily, verily, I-siiy unto-tliee, We-spcnk that wc-do-know, and testify I 12 that we-have-seen ; and ye-receive not our, witness. It' l-hnve-told you^carthly-thiugs tu iiriynci, and 1 SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. will publish the iiiimo of tlio Lord : ascribe ye greatness unto our GoJ. 4, Re is the Rock, his work is perfect . for all his ways are jutlgmcnt : a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is Iic.'J— «o as to hiom Ilim lo be Vuir Father, who hath bought them, made them, established them, ver. 5, 6, 'They hare cornipted thcm- scItcs, their spot is not the spot of hi? children : the;/ are a perrcrse and crooked generation. 6, Do yc thus requite the LoED, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? imtli he not made thee, and established thee?' — They should have known what God had thus teslifted respecting the regeneration of his people : and afterwards by the prophets, as in Eze. xxxvi. 25 — .7, (see quoted, rcr. 5, p. 122, NoTE3.)-xxxTii. 1—10, ' The hand of the Loud was upon me, and canied me out in the spirit of the LOED, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was fidl of bones, 2, and caused me to pass by them roimd about : and, behold, there were very many in the open valley ; and, lo, flieg were very dry. 3, And he said unto me. Son of man, can these bones live ? And I answered, O Lord God, thou knowest. 4, Again he said imto me. Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, ye diy bones, hear the word of the Lord. 5, Thus sailh the Lord God uuto these bones ; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live : 6, and I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live ; and ye shall know that I am the Lord. 7, So I prophesied as I was commanded : and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his boue. 8, And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above : but there toas no breatii in them. 9, Then said he unto me, Propliesy irato the wind, prophesy, Bon of man, and say to the wind [or, breath']. Thus saith the Lord God ; Come from the foiu' winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. 10, So I prophesied as he com- manded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.' — But the spirit of deep sleep had fallen upon them, Is. xxix. 10 — .2, (qtioted, Lu. i. 64, § 3, p. 27, ' Mouth was opened.') -Ivi. 10, 'His watchmen are blind.' — Je. viii. 8, 9, ' How do yc say, We are wise, and the law ot the Lord is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is iu vain. 9, The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken : lo, they have rejected the word of the Lord ; and what wisdom is in them?' — So our Lord afterward testified, Mt. xi. 23, § 29, p. 2s:i, 'Hid these tilings from the wise,' &e. — XV. 14, § 44, p. 4U4, ' They be blind leaders,' &e. — xxii. 29, § 85, p. 732, 'Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures.' — Tet not consciorx of their ignorance, Jno. ix. 39 — 41, § 55, p. 510. 11. We speak that we do know. Ch. i. 18, § 7, p. 77, 'No man hath seen God at any tune ; the only begotten Son, which is iu the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.' — viii. 38, § 55, ' I speak that which I have seen with my Father.' — See xii. 49, § 85 ; and Mt. xi. 27, § 29, p. 284; Rev. i. 5.— Men are to testify that which they know. Is. xliii. 8 — 12, quoted Lu. ii. 46, § 6, p. 66, ' And asking them questioxs.' Receive not otjb witness. -So had they been forewarned, Is. i. 2, ' Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth : for the Lord hath spoken, I have nom-ished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.' — liii. 1, 'Who hath believed our report [or, doctrine'] ? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?' — xlviii. 8, 'Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time iliat thme ear was not opened : for I knew that thou wouldcst deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb.' — Ixv. 2, ' I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, w-hich walketh in a way that was not good, after thcii- own thoughts.' — Ixvi. 4, 'I also wiU choose their delusions [or, devices], and will brmg their fears upon them ; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear : but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.' — So Jesus afterward testified, Jno. v. 40, .3, § 23, ' And ye will not come to me, tliat yc might have life.' — Mt. xxiii. 37, § 87, 'O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonost them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy eluldren together, even as a hen gathereth her ehickeua under her wings, and ye would not.' 12. Earthly things. Things which are to take place upon earth, in preparation for the heavenly glory, ichich shall come to the people while ti-aiting for the King : see Eze. xxxvi. 25 — 38, (as quoted, ver. 5, p. 122, Notes ;■) and ver. 29— 38,rs»o/erf ver. 3, ' BoEN again.') -Compare with Is. xsx. 18 — 26, 'And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious uuto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you : for the Loed is a NOTES. 10. And knowest not these things I The things which Jesus had been teacliing, having been previously taught by the prophets, ought to have been known by Nicodcmus. Nicodcmus having expressed liis ignorance of what Jesus had taid, our Lord refers to the words of the prophets, see Eze. xxxvi. 22 — .8, who had prophesied that before God would receive Israel into the promised kingdom, he would sprinkle clean water upon them ; and also that a new heart he would give them, and aright spirit he would put withiu them, lie woidd put his Spu'it within tliem : so they, being born again, shall be his people, and he will be their God. Nicodcmus, who, as being ' « master of Israel,'' ought to have known these things, still, in amazement asks, 'Jlow can these things be ? ' And our Lord proceeds to shew him how these things can be, by pointing to his being the Divine Saviom-, the anti- type of the brazen serpent, lifted up by Moses, for the healing of the people in the wilderness ; by believing in whom, as given of the Fathci-,out of pure love to the world, we are renewed in his image, who was made after oiu- likeness, the likeness of sinful flesh. regeneration by the word and Spirit of God, taught no new doctrine, but that wliich had been taught by the prophets : wliich it should liavc been the busmcss of Nicodcnuis, as a master of Israel, to make plain to the people— See as to 'water and spirit,' Eze, xxxvi. 25— .7 ; quoted ver. 5, p. 122, Notes ; as to ' word and spirit,' xxxvii. 1—10, SCEIP. Illus., supra. PR.\CTIC.\L REFLECTIONS. 11. TFe speak. Jesus, agreeably to the usage of persons in authority — see Slk. iv. 30, § 32 — here speaks in the plural number. Nieodemus had said (ver. 2), ' We know that thou art,' cf'c, including himself and those witli whom he acted. We speak thai ice do know, and testify that we have seen. Both are expressive of that complete knowledge which the Sou, as united with God the Father, could not but possess. There is also implied knowledge by a virtue of his own, and not by revelation. Our witness. Our testimony. The evidence which is fiu'iiished by miracle, and the saving power of the gospel. 12. If I have told you earthly things, t^'c ' If I liave told you of that preparation which must be made upon earth, as introductory to the possession of the earthly portion of the udicritancc, and yet you believe not things so evident, how shall you beUeve it I tell you of the unseen tilings of heaven?' 124 Matt. iv. 12, § 16, p. l,-,7. Mark i 11 ver. He who hath Jesus for liis teacher hath a teacher imlike many masters of Israel, who know not the tilings, nor the evidence of the things which they teach. The chsciplcs of Jesus shoidd, like their Master, speak according to then- knowledge, having for themselves full evidence of what they call upon others to believe. 14, ibid. Luke iv. 14, § 15, p. 149. [12. PAKT IL] HE THAT CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN. John iii. 13. [SECT. XII. la ye-believe not, how shall-ye-believe, if I-tell you o/Jieavenly things to Inovpavta? And no-man hath-ascended-up to ^heaven, but lio ' that-came-down from ^ heaven, even the Son of man which 'is in SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. God of judgment : blessed are all they tliat wait for him. 19, For the people shall dwell in Ziun at Jerusalem : thou shalt weep no more : lie will be very gracious imto thee at the voice of thy cry ; when he sliall hear it, he will answer thee. 20, And thour/h the Lord give you the bread oi adversity, and the water of affliction [or, oppivssioii], yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers : 21, and tliine ears shall liear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the rig)it hand, and when ye turn to the left. 22, Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt east [Kch. ,scafler] them away as a menstruous cloth ; thou shalt say unto it. Get thee hence. 23, Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal ; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous : in that day shall thy cattle feed in large^iastures. 24, The oxen Ukewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean [or, savoury ; Ueb., learenecf\ provender, wliich hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan. 25, And there shall be upon every liigh mountain, and vipon evei-y high [Heb., lifted tip] hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. 26, Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sim, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the Lohd bindeth up the breach of his people, and healcth the stroke of theu' wound.' — xhx. 18 — 23, 'Lift \ip tliuic eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the LoED, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeih. 19, For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land of thy destruction, sliall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants, and tliey that swallowed thee up shall be far away. 20, The cliildren wliich thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in thine ears. The place is too strait for me : give place to me tliat I may dwell. 21, Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten nio these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro ? and who hath brought up these ? Behold, I was left alone; these, where had they leen 1 22, Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I wUl lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people : and they shall bring thy sons in ilieir arms [Heb., hoson{\, and thy daughters shall be carried upon tlieir shoulders. 23, And kings shall be thy nursing fathers [Ileb., «Oi()vV;eri], and their queens \)i.ch.,princesses'\ thy uiu'sing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet ; and thou shalt know that I am the LoED : for they sliall not be ashamed that wait for me.' — And Joel u. 16—32, qiioted Lu. iii. 21, § 8, p. 91, 'Akd peating.' 12. Heavenly tuikcs. Is. Ixiv. 4-, 'For suice the beginning of the world men have not hoard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, wTiat he hath prepared for him [or, seen a God heside thee, which doeth so fur him, cf-c] that waiteth for him.'— 1 Cor. ii. 9, 10, quoted eh. i. 50, § 10, p. 110, 'Thou shalt see,' &c.— 2 Tmi. i. 10, 'But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to liglit through the gospel.' — Jno. xiv. 2, 3, § 87, 'In my Falher's house are many mansions : if il were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3, And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.'— 1 Th. iv. 16, .7, 'For the Lord himselt shall descend from heaven with a shout, wilh the voice of the areliangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first : 17, Then we wliieh are alive and remain siiall be caught up together with them in the clouiils, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." — Heb. xi. 16, 'But now they desii'e a better coiiutrif, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God : for he hat h prepared for them a city.' — Kev. xxi. 10 — 27. — xxii. 5, 'And there shall be no night there; and tliey need no candle, ueilher light of the sun ; for the Lord God giveth them light : and they shall reign for ever and ever.' 13. No MAX, ic. Pr. 5XS. 4, "Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended ? who hath gathered the wind in his fists ? who hath bound the waters in a garment ? who hath estabhshed all the ends of the earth ? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?' — See aiso Jno. i. 18, § 7, 'No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.' — vi. 46, § 43, 'Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath .seen the Father.' — xiv. 6, § 87, 'Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life : no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.* But he that came down eeom hea\'en. Ch. vi. 33, .8, 51, § 43, ' The bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven,' &c. — ver. 62, ' where he was before ' — viii. 23, § 55, ' from above' — ver. 42, 'from God'— xiii. 3, § 87— xvi. 28, § ib., 'came forth from the Father' — xvii. 5, § ib., 'with tliee before the world was.' — The Lord from hearen,.! Cor. xv. 47, ' The first man is of the earth, earthy : the second man is tlic Lord from heaven.' — When the fulness, 4'c., Ga. iv. 4, 'But wlien the fulness of the time was come, God sent fortli his Sou, made of a woman, made under tlie law.' — Eph. iv. 8 — 10, ' Whereiore he saith, ^^'llen he ascended up on liigh, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts luito men. 9, (Now that lie ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earlli? 10, He that descended is tlie same also (liat ascended up tM above all heavens, that he might fill [or,/(f//iV] all things.)' NOTES. 12. Seavenli/ things. The things belonging to the heavenly portion of the kingdom, to be enjoyed by the saints in resiu'rection glory. 13. And no man hath ascended up to heaven. ' To one alone, even the Son of man, belongs the knowledge of these heavenly things. He alone knoweth, and can declare the counsels of God.' — Bloomjield. 'Tlie expression must bo iakoi figv.ratirettj, to denote the inves- tigation of hidden things, for which Christ, who came down from heaven, was pecuharly qualified. The phrase uvajiait'iiv ilg rliv oiipavuv is here used agreeably to the language commonly employed of one who announced any revelation ; q. d., that lie had ascended into heaven, and fetched his knowledge from tlience. " No one knoweth the counsels of God, but lie who came down from God." Compare De. xxx. 11, .2, toilh Eoni. x. 6. Clirist, then, who lileraUy had been in heaven, is ftgHraiiveh/ said to have ascended thither, because, behig in the bosom of his Father, lie had the fulness of knowledge in heavenly tilings.' — Ibid. PRA(JTIC.\I. IIKIXECTIONS. 12 rer. Tlie change which Jesus had declared to Nicodcmus, and the kingdom for wliicli it is appointed a pir|)aralion, take place upon earth: but they are connected will i still more wondrous things in the heavens. [12. Matt. iv. 12, § 10, p. l.'>7. Marl- i. II 13 ver. Tlint wc be bom again, it is neeo«?arT to sec .Tesns, as God, who both came down from licaven, and who yet was in heaven, at the same time tliat he was the Son of man talking with Niio ,.,>,wi.„,„ n.^ For God sent aniaTtiXiv not his Son into the world to condemn the SCRIPTURE II 14. As Moses lifted u^ the skkpext. Nu. ixi. 7—9. — I'/iis sii/n ahiaedj like that of the ct'oss amonff viantf professing Christians^ llezel-iah destroyed, 2 Ki. xviii. 4, 'lie removed tlio high places, and hriike the images [Ileb., statues], iind cut down the groves, and brake iu pieces tlic brasen serpent that Moses had made : for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and ho called it Nehushtan.' — [Mako., that is, a piece of brass.'] — Jesus again referred to his heing lifted up, ch. viii. 28, § 55, p. 501.; lii. 32 — A, § 82, p. 692.— Ga. iii. 13, 'Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us : for it is ^v^ittcn, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.' — 2 Cor. V. 21, Tor he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin ; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.' 15. ■\Vhosoevee BEilEViiH. Thus Abraham, 6e. xv. 6, 'And lie believed in the Lord ; and he counted it to him for righteous- ness.' — Rom. iv. — Thus all the ends of the earth are invited, Is. xlv. 22, 'Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.' — Theg shall tool; ^'c., Zee. xii. 10, 'And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications : and they shall look upon me whom tliey have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one moiu'neth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one tliat is in bitterness for his firstborn.' — Jno. iii. 36, § 13, p. 135, 'He that believeth on the Son hath ever- lasting life.' — xi. 25, § 58, ' Thougli he were dead, yet shall he live.' — Ac. xiii. 39, 'And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from wliich ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.' NOTES. II. AmI as Moses. Jesus proceeds in this and the following verses to state the reason why he came into the world, and illustrates his design by a reference to the case recorded in Nu. xxi. 8, 9. The people were bitten by flying, fiery serpents. There was no cure for the bite. Moses was du'ected to make an image of the serpent, and place it iu sight of the people, that they might look on it, and be healed. Jn the wildeniess. Near the land of Edom. In the desert and desolate country to the south of mount Ilor, Nu. xxi. 4, ' And they joiirneyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom : and the soul of the people was much discom'aged [or, grieved'] because of the way.' Hcen so. He here refers doubtless to his death. Compare ch. viii. 28, § 55 p. 5u-l ; xii. 32, § 82, p. 692. The points of resemblance between his being lifted up and that of the brazen serpent, seem to be these : — 1st. In both eases, those who are to bo benefited can be aided in no other way. The bite of the serpent was deadly ; and thei-e is no cure for siu iu any other manner. 2nd. The mode of their being lifted up. The brazen serpent was set on a pole in the sight of the people. So Jesus was exalted from the earth ; raised on a tree, or cross. 3rd. The design was similar. The one was to save the life, the other the soul. The one to save from temporal, tlie other from eternal death. 4th. The manner of the cure was similar. The people of Israel were to look on the seiijent, and be healed. And so sinners are to look, or believe, on the Lord Jesus, that they may be saved. Must. It is proper, necessary, indispensable, if men are to be saved. — Compare Lu. xxii. 42, § 88. . . . xxiv. 26, § 94. The Son of man. The Messiah. 15. Here consider — 1st. The universality of the invitation, 'm'/jo- soever ;' all need, and all may have salvation. 2nd. The medium of salvation, 'faith;' 'whosoever beliereth.' 3rd. The object of faith, in whom is salvation, Jesus Christ the Son of God, as made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him ; ' whosoever beUeveth in him.' 4th. The danger of neglecting this great salvation : there is no other way of escape from perdition ; 'should not perish.' 5th. That which is to be obtained through faith in the Saviour, ' life ,•' it is the joy of the Holy Ghost now ; it is ' eternal life,' eh. iv. 14, § 13, p. 138. It is an ever-blessed abiding in the presence of God. 16. For God so loved. Tliis does not mean that God approved the conduct of men, but was desirous of their happiness. A parent may love his eliild, and desire his welfare, and yet be strongly opposed to the conduct of that child. The world. All mankind, the race, who had rebelled, and deserved to die, ch. vi. 33, § 43; xvii. § 87, pp. 389, 849. His only begotten Son. This is the highest expression of love of which we can conceive. A parent who should give up his only son to die — if this coidd or might be done, woidd shew higher love than could be mauifested in any other way. From the 17 — 21 ver. seems to be levelled against the Jewish notion, that Messiah woidd come for the beuefit of the Jews only; nay, would rather destroy the Gentiles. 17. Not . ... to condemn the world. Not to judge, or pronounce sentence on mankind. Man desei-ved condemnation ; but God was willing that there should be an offer of pardon, hence the sentence of 14 ver. As it was in the wilderness that the lifting up of the serjicnt took place, for the healing of the people who would otherwise have perished, so it is in the wildcniess of this world now that the Son of man must be lifted up ; that by him, tlirough faith, the people may receive healing. 16 ver. Ilegeneiation is of tlie free love of God the Father, who Matt. iv. 12, § 10, p. 1.57. Mark i, 120 PR.\CTICAL REFLECTIONS. gave the dearest object he had, ' Ids only begotten Son,' that men might not have the reward of then' own evil doings, but the recom- pense of His perfect work in their behalf — have the Spirit given them, wliich is life — 'life eteraal.' Salvation is free to all who will have it, as confiding in liim who is God-man, given of the Father, lifted up for our redemption, that we might be regenerated through the power of his Spii'it. I.USTR.\TI0NS. Etehnal life. Ch. X. 28 — 30, § 56, 'I give unto them eternal life.' — xvii. 2, 3, § 87, ' As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 8, And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, aud Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.' — 1 Jno. v. 11, 'This is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.' 16. So LOVED. Rom. v. 8, 'But God commendeth his love toward us, m that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.' — Eph. ii. 4, 5,(quoled Lu. ii. 1-4, § 4, p. 37, 'Ricn nr MERCY.')— 1 Jno. iii. 16, 'Hereby perceive we the love of Gorf, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethi'en.'- — iv. 10, ' Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.' • He ga%-e his only begotten Son. Mk. xii. 6, § 84, p. 717, ' His wellbelovcd, he sent him.' — Rom. viii. 32, ' He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?' Shall not perish. Rom. vi. 23, 'For the wages of sin is death ; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ , om- Lord.' 17. Sent NOT .... to condemn. Mt. xviii. 11, § 53, 'is come to save that which was lost' — Lu. ix. 50, § 59, 'not come to destroy men's lives, but to save ' — Jno. xii. 47, § 85, p. 746, 'came not to judge the world, but to save.' — But he toill come to judge, Mt. XXV. 31 — 46, § 86, p. 793. 14, ibid. Luke iv. 14, § 15, p. 149. [12. PART II.] THE BEI.TEVER AND THE UNBELIEVER. [SECT. XII. John iii. 18, .9. 18 world ; but tliat tlie world tlirougli liim miglit-be-saved. He ' tliat-belioveth on him is--nof-condemned • but be' that-believeth not is-coudemued already, because be-hath--nof-beliL-ved iu the name of-tbe ouly- ■A-nd this is the condemnation, that, light is-come into the worhl, and men 19 begotten Son of God SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. 17. But that the world, &c. As before, on ver. 15 — cli. iy. 42, § 13, ' the Christ, the Savioui' of the world.' — 1 Jiio. iv. 14, ' And we have seen and do testify that the Fatliei- sent tlie Son to he the Saviour of the world.' — The propittcdion, ii. 2, 'And lie is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the siiiD of the whole world.' — for us all, Rom. viii. Z2,{qiioled ver. 16, p. 12G, 'He gave his," &c. ;)-rf/erf for all, 2 Cor. v. 14, .5, .9, ' For the love of Christ constraineth us ; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead ; 15, and i/iat he died for all, that they which live should not lienccforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.' 19, 'To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them ; and hath committed unto us [Gr., put in tinto us right things, speak unto us smooth thing's, prophesy deceits.' — Rom.i. 28, 'Anil even as tliey did not like to retain [or, ^o adcnomledcie] God in fheir knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind [or, « mind void ofjudgment'], to do those tilings which are not con- venient.' — 2 Th. ii. 9, 10, '■Even him, whose coming is after the workhig of Satan with all power and signs and lyuig wonders, 10, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish ; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.' — 1 Jno. i. 5—8, ' This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. G, If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we he, and do not the truth: 7, but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8, If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.' 20. Hateth the light. Pr. i. 29, ' For that they hated know- ledge, and did not choose the fear of the LoED.' — xv. 12, 'A econicr loveth not one that reproveth him : neither will he go unto the wise' — Compare 1 Ki. xxii. 8, 'And the king of Israel said unto Jchoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the Lord : but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good eoncernmg me, but evil. And Jchoshaphat said. Let not the king say so.' — So Am. v. 10, 'They hate liim that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly.'— Jno. viii. 44, .5, § 55, p. 508, 'Ye are oi your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will,' &o. 21. He that boeth teuth. Ps. i. 1 — 3, ' Blessed is the man that walkcth not in the coimsel of the ungodly [or, wickedl, nor standcth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scorn- fid. 2, But his delight is in the law of the Lord ; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3, And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringcth forth his fruit in his season ; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth before the Lord his God.' — Ps. cxix. 142, 'Thy righteousness IS an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the trutli.' — Jno. i. 17, § 7, p. 77, 'Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.' — xiv. 6, § 87, p. S2S, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto tlie Father, but by me.' — xvi. 13, § /4. . . . ' "When he, the Spirit of truth, is come,' &c. — Heb. x. 22, 'Let us draw near witli a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.' — Ja. i. 25, 'But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continucth therein, he being not a forgetfid hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed [or, doing].' CoMEin to the eight. Ps. exix. 105, 'Thy word is a lamp [or, candle'] unto my feet, and a light unto my path.' — cxxxix. 23, .4, ' Search me, O God, and know my heart : try me, and know my thoughts : 24, and see if there he any wicked way [Ileb., way of pain, or, grief] in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.' — Pr. ix. 8 — 10, ' Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee : rebuke a wise num, and he will love thee. 9, Give instruction to a wise )«ff«, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just )«««, and he will increase in learning. 10, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom : and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.' — Jno. vi. 45, § 43, p. 302, 'Every man therefore that liath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh xmto mc' That his deeds may be, &c. Mt. v. 16, § 19, 'Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify yoiu' Father whlcli is in heaven.' — Jno. xiii. 35, § 87, p. 819, 'By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.' — 2 Cor. iii. 3, ' Furasmueh as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by lis, written not with ink, but w ith the Spu'it of the living God ; not in tables of stone, but in ileshy tables of the heart.' — Rom. viii. 16, 'The Spirit itself bcareth witness with om- spirit, that we are the children ot God.' — 1 Cor. xiv. 25, ' And thus are the secrets of liis heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.' Wrought in God. Is. xxvi. 12, ' Loud, thou wilt ordain peace shall prosper.' — xv. 1 — 5,(2!(o/erf Mt. v. 8, § 19, p. 173, 'Pure,' &0,) for vis: for thou also hast wrought all our works in [or, /o/-] — Compare 2 Chr. xxxi. 20, ' And thus did Hezekiah throughout all ! us.' — Ph. ii. 13, ' For it is God which worketh in you both to will Judah, and wrought that ii'hieh v:as good and right and truth i aud to do of /«'s good pleasure.' NOTES. the world, but men refuse to receive the truth, though coming with the fullest evidence, and spuni tlie gracious offer of salvation. 2 Cor. iv. 4, ' In whom the god of this world hath bhnded the minds of tliem which believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should slune unto them.' 19. That light is come. Light often denotes instruction, teaeliing, doctrine, as that by which we see clearly the path of duty. All tlie iuslrucliou that God gives us by conscience, reason, or revelation, may thus be called light. But this word is used peculiarly to denote the Messiah, or the Christ, who is often spoken of as the light— see Is. ix. 2, ' The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light : they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon thein hath tlie light shined.' — Ix. 1, ' Arise, shine,' ij-c. Men lored darkness. Darkness is an emblem of iniquil v, error, Bupcrstition, yea, whatever is opposite to truth and piety. 20. J{is deeds should be reproved. The sentiment at the last I'lause of ver. 19, is here illustrated, and the discourse concludes with a sentiment of general application, shewing the evil effects of a corrupt life on all inquiries after truth, and cvinchig, that 'when truth is against a man, a man is agauist truth.' 21. lie that doeth truth. The sinner acts from falsehood and error, the good man acts according to truth. The sinner believes a lie — that God will not punish ; or that there is no God ; or that there is no eternity, or no hell ; the Christian believes all these, and acts, knowmg them to be true. Cometh to the light. By prayer, and searching the Scriptures, he endeavoiu's to ascertain the truth, and yield his mind to it. Wrought in Ood. That they are performed according to the will of God ; by the influence and aid of God, see ScR. III., Ph. ii. 13. Here is the character of a sincere Christian : — 1st. He does truth. He loves it ; seeks it ; follows it. 2nd. He comes to the light. He does not attempt to deceive himself or others. 3rd. He desires to know the true state of his heart before God. 4th. An especial object of his efforts is that his deeds may be wrought in God. He desires to be a good man ; to receive continual aid from God, and to perform such actions as God wUl approve. Tliis is the close of our Lord's discourse with Nicodemus — a dis- course condeusuig the gospel ; giving the most striking exhibition and illustration of truth ; and presenting especially the fundamental doctrine of regeneration, and the evidence of the change. It is clear that the Saviour regarded this as lying at the foundation of religion. Without it we cannot possibly be saved. PR.\CTICAL REFLECTIONS. 19 ver. Condemnation is aggi-avatcd by the abuse of privilege.— i 20, .1 rer. Men may be known to be in the truth by their walking The great cause of unbelief is the love of that which the principles in the Uglit, and rejoicing to have their case fully investigated of the gospel eondcmn, viz., the love of tins world and its riches. | according to the truth of God, as revealed in his Holy'Scripturcs. -Vn//. iv. 12, §10, p. 1.57. 3Iar/ci. Ii, ibid. X«'re iv. 14, § 15, p. 140. Jo/.u iii. 23, § 13, iJ. 131. [12. PAET II.] ADDENDA. ' MIRACLES.'— ' THE PASSOVEE.'— ' I? ABBI.' [SECT. XII. ADDENDA. MIRACLES, p. ' Mii'acle, a wonderM effect, euperior to the laws of nature. To pvetend that there can be no mu-acles, as the laws of nature are fixed by the Divine will, and so very good, is stupidly and blasphemously to chain down the Almighty to the order of second causes. To pre- tend that no niii'acles ought to be credited, because they are contrary to the conmion obsciTation of mankind, is idiotic in a superlative degree. If miracles were not coutrai'y to the common observation of mankmd, they could be no miracles at all, nor have any effect as such. The negative testimony of millions unnumbered, as to an event wliich they are not allowed to witness, is of no force at all. Miracles are never a wliit more real discoveries of the power of God, than the common prcseiTation and goveramcnt of tilings ; but are an exertion of his power in an uncommon manner, to alann the world, and answer some important end. As we are not able to understand how far the power of second causes may go, or the power of evil angels may extend, God has not allowed us to rest the proof of a revelation upon mu'aclcs alone, but to examine also the doctrine conlh-med thereby, whether it be worthy of God. Nor are the mii-acles, wliereby he has confii-mcd the mission of the principal pub- lishers of liis revelation, a few, or any way doubtfiU, but midtitudes, all of the uncontrolled kind, neither -nTought to confirm anytliing trifling or base, nor contradicted by a superior power; and most of them in the openest manner, before friends and foes. Many of them were often repeated : they conciuTed to cstabhsh a system of religion, honourable to God, and imspeakably nsefid to men, calculated to render them happy m tliis, and in a futm-e, state. Nor did the workers thereof make any proud boasting of these wondi'ous exploits. 120. — Johnii. 23. Tlie miracles pretended by the Papists either relate to trifles un- worthy of the Divine inteiijosal, or they have been wi-ought before persons drowned in gi'oss ignorance, and incapable to ti-y them ; or before persons resolved at any rate to.beheve them. Nothing of tho delusive kind ever exceeded tlie exploits of the Egyptian magicians, but the miracles of Moses controlled them. Aaron's rod, when tm-ned into a serpent, swallowed up then- rods, wliieh were trans- fonned in like manner. Moses produced many miraculous plagues, wliich they could not. Om- Saviom^'s miracles were so transecndant in their natm-c, so benevolent in their tendency, so Divine in the manner, by a touch or a word, so full in their evidence, before thou- sands of friends and foes, and so correspondent to the ancient pro- phecies concernmg the Messiah, and so dii-ected to eonfinu the most exalted and benevolent system of doctrmcs and laws, and the history thereof so plain and smiple, and exposed to' the trial of his worst enemies, that nothing but want of capacity to examine and perceive them, or hearty hatred of him and liis way, can hinder us to believo them, and tho gospel confirmed thereby. When the form of true reUgiou is once established m the world, there is no need of the con- tinuance of mii'aclcs for its confU-matiou ; as men have been ah-cady sutncieutly alai'med to consider it, and the mission of its publishers sufficiently attested ; and the prevalence of the trae rehgion in opposition to the inclinations and endeavours of men, with fulfilment of prophecies, succeed in their room. The miracles of Moses were similar to his fiery law, mostly ruinous and desti-uctive ; the miracles of Jesus, like his gospel, were wholly of the benevolent kind.' — And see Notes on ch. ii. 1, Sloomfield's Greet Testament, ' THE PASSOVER.'— (Co«< ' The paschal lamb was to be eaten with xmleavened bread, on pain of being cut off from Israel, or excommimicated ; though some critics miderstand this of bemg put to death. Tho reason of this injunction was, partly to remind them of the hardships they had sustained in Egypt : mileavencd bread being heavy, and less palatable than that which was leavened ; on which account it is called the bread of affliction ; De. xvi. 3 (" Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it ; seven days shalt thou eat imleavened bread therewith, even the bread of aflliction ; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egyjjt in haste : that thou mayest remember the day when thou earnest forth out of the land of Egyjjt all the days of thy hfe ") ; and partly to commemorate tlie speed of their deliverance or departm'e from thence, which was such, that they had not sufficient time to leaven their bread ; Ex. xLi. 39 (" And they baked vinloavened cakes of the dough which tliey brought forth out of Egyjit, for it was not leavened ; because they were thrust out of Egyjit, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual") ; and on this account it was enacted u;to a standing law, De. xvi. 3. This rite, therefore, was not only observed at the fii-st passovcr, but in all succeeding ages. ' The passover was likewise to be eaten " with bitter herbs :" this was doubtless prescribed as " a memorial of then- severe bondage in Egypt, which made their lives hitter unto them." To tliis sauce the Jews afterwards added another, made of dates, raisins, and several ingredients beaten together to the consistence of mustard, which is called cliarosetli, and is designed to rcpreseut the elay in which theii' forefathers wrought wliile they were in bondage to the Egyptians. ' It was further prescribed, that they should eat the flesh of the lamb, without breaking any of his bones, Ex. xii. 46, " In one house shall it be eaten ; thou shalt not cany forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house ; neither shall ye break a bono thereof." \imied from Sect. vi. p. 69.) This the later Jews imderstand, not of the smaller bones, but only of the greater wliich had marrow in tliem. Thus was tliis rite also intended to denote thcu- being in Iiaste, not having time to break tho bones, and suck out the marrow. ' Lastly, it was ordered that nothing of the paschal lamb should remain till the morning ; but, if it were not all eaten, it was to bo consumed by fire, Ex. xii. 10, " And ye shall let nollung of it remain vmtil the morning ; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fu-e." The same law was extended to all eucha- ristical sacrifices, Lc. xxii. 30 (" On the same day it shall be catcu up ; ye shall leave none of it until the morrow : I am the Loed") ; no part of which was to be left, or set by, lest it shoidd be corrupted, or converted to any profane or common use, — an injunction which was designed, no doubt, to maintain the honour of sacrifices, and to teach the Jews to treat with reverence whatever was consecrated more especially to the service of God. ' Such were the circumstances under which the first passovcr was celebrated by the Israelites ; for, after they were settled in the land of Canaan, they no longer ate it standiug, but the guests reclined on their left arms upon couches placed round the table, Jno. xiii. 23, § 87. This posture, according to the Talmudieal writers, was an emblem of that rest and freedom which God had gi-antcd to tho children of Israel by bringing them out of Egypt. This custom of recHuuig at table, ovr one another's bosom, was a sign of equality and strict union among the guests. Tliis custom, Beausobre well observes, will explain several passages of Scripture, particularly those in which mention is made of Abraham's bosom, Lu. xvi. 23, § 69, and of the Son's being in t/ie borom of the Father, Jno. i. 18, § 7, p. 77, compare with Ph. il. 6, and Jno. xiii. 23, § S7.'—Uorne't Introduction, Vol. III. pp. 309, .10. — Continued, Sect. Ixxxvii. ' RABBI,' p. 121 .—John iii. 2. Jlalbi, rah, rahhan, rahhon; a title signifying master. It seems I saris, the master of the eunuchs:— m Nebuchadnezzar's, wo find also to have come originally from Assyria. In Scnuacherih's army, we Eab-mag, the chief of the magi; and Nebuzar-adan is called Rab- find Eab-shakeh, the master of tlie drinking, or butler, and Rab- | tebaehim, the master of tlie butchers, cooks, or guards. Wc find 12.] Matt. iv. 12, § 16, p. 157. Marie i. It, ibid. Luke iv. 14, § 15, p. 149. John ui. 22, § 13, p. 131. SECT. XII.] ADDENDA. 'OUR LORD'S MINISTRY IN JUD.I^A.' EABBI — continued. slso at Babylon, Bab-sngnnim, the master of the governors; and [PART II. Rub-clmrtiunim, the master of the interpreters of dreams, Je. xxxix. V> ; 2 Ki. XXV. 8 ; Da. i. 3 ; ii. 48 ; v. 11. To keep order, Aliasuerus 8el a rab, or governor, at every table of his splendid feast, Est. i. 8. Ilatj is now with the Jews reckoned a more dignified title than rabbi; and rabbin, or rabbin), greater tlian either; and to become such, one must ascend by several degrees. The rector of tlieli- scliool is called rab-cltacliam, the wise master. lie that attends it in order to obtain a doclorship is called bacliur, the candidate. After that he is called chaharleratj, the master's companion. At his ne\l degree, he is called rab, raliji, and morenu, our teaclier. The rab-chacham decides in religious, and freqiiently in civil afluirs. He celebrates marriages, and declares divorcements. He is head of the collegians, and preaches, if he has a talent for it. He reproves the unridy, and excommunicates ollcnders. Both in the school and synagogue he sits in the chief seat ; and in the school his scholars sit at his feet. Where the sjamgoguo is small, he is both preacher Bud judge ; but where the Jews are mimerous. tliey have ordinarily a council for their civil matters ; but if the rabbin be called to it, ho usually takes the chief seat. Our Saviour inveighs agamst Hio rabhuis, whether Scribes or Pharisees, of his tune, as extremely proud, ambitious of honorary titles and honorary scats, and as given to impose on others vast munbers of traditions not wan-anted in the word of God, Mt. xv. 1—20, § 44, p. 399 ; xxiii. § 85, p. 718. Since that tune, God has given up the Jewish rabbins to the most astonishuig folly and trifling ; they chiefly deal in idle and stupid traditions, and whimsical decisions, on points of no consequence, except to render the obseiTcrs ridiculous. In geography and Idstory they make wretched work. Inconsistencies of timuig things, absurdities, and di-y rehearsaU, crowd theu- page. In their commentaries on tho Script m-e, they are commonly blind to what an ordinary reader might perceive, and retail multitudes of silly fancies, fit to move our pity or contempt. The judicious Onkelos, laborious Nathau- mordecai, tho famed Maimonides, the two Kimchis, Aben-ezra, Solomon Jarchi, Jacliiades, SephornOj and some others, however, desei'vo a better character. OUR lord's ministry in JUD.EA,' p. 118.— John ii. 13, ■Tlie entire history of our Lord's public ministry is divisible into that part of it wliich was discharged in J uda?a, and that which was confined to Galilee ; and ... is recorded hi distinct and independent gospels. The history of the mmistry in Juda-a is confined almost totally to St. John ; the liistory of the mmistiy in Gahlee almost as exclusively to the other thi-ee Evangelists. ' Tlie times and occasions of the ministiy in Judtea are likewise twofold ; the times and occasions when our Saviom- was visiting Jerusalem, and the times and occasions when he was residing else- where in Juda?a. The first instance on record of any attendance at Jerusalem is the attendance at the passover, Jno. ii. 13 [p. 118] ; and the first mstance of any residence in Judffia, apart from Jerusalem, is that which begins to be recorded, ch. iii. 22 [§ 13, p. 131] ; and is supposed to continue, or go on, tiU the time of the retimi uito GaUlec, iv. 1—3 [§ ib. p. 136]. Of any residence m Juda>a, out of Jerusalem, tho only other instance, distinct fi'om the first, is that which is specified at ch. xi. 54 [§ 58, p. 538], for though Ephraim might border upon Samai-ia, it was, iiotwith- Btanding, a city of Juda;a. ' Besides these two instances, there is none other on record, either in St. John's gospel, or out of it, during wliieh there is any reason to suppose that our Saviour was residing m Judtea : for as to Bcth- abara, supposing tliat to be tho locahty impUed at ch. x. 40 [§ 57, p. 529], as the scene of a temporary residence, it is proved, by a comparison with other passages, i. 28 [§ 10. p. 104] ; iii. 23, .5, .G [§ 13, p. 131], to have been situated m Pera;a, or, at least, in Galileo. 'Tho times and occasions of Jesus' attendances at Jerusalem were five; viz., two, of attendances at a passover, eh. ii. 13 [p. ] 18] ; xii. 1 [§ 81, p. 676] ; one, of an attendance at a feast of tabernacles, ch. vii. 2 — 10 [§§ 54, .5, p. 487] ; one, of an attendance at a ibast of dedication, ch. x. 22, .3 [§ 56, p. 524] ; and one, which is left indefinite, ch. v. 1 [§ 23] ; but besides these there arc no more. ' The Gospel of St. John is supplementary to tho rest not oidy in general, and even where they .all relate to transactions in Galilee, or elsewhere out of Judffia, but especially with respect to the transactions ui Judffia. It was in this department of the Gospel histoiy that the preceduig accounts were principally, or rather totally, defective ; suice, with the exception of the liistory of passion week, that is, of seven or eight days before the close of our Lord's pubhc miiiistiy, it is a notorious fact that they nowhere speak of any visit to Jeru- ealem j they nowhere, except by impbeation, prove our Lord to have been m Judtea at all. The reverse of this is true of St. Jolm ; the scene of whose accounts, with tho same exception of a very little transacted in Galilee, or on the other side the Lake of Tiberias, is uniformly placed in Judaea. ' These visits of our Lord were cardinal points in the discharge of Ids mmistry in Judtea ; the uicidents which then transpu'cd were always of a peculiar kind, and emhiently deserving of record. They prove not merely the fact of our Lord's compUance with the legal requisitions, which enjoined attendance, at stated times, on all the male Israehtes, but what was stiU more to be expected from him, his anxiety to convmce the Jews, strictly so- called, — his brellu-en according to the flesh,— of the truth of liis character by both liis discourses, and by his mu-acles ou the spot.' — Oreswell, Vol. II. Diss, xxiii. pp. 245 — ..8. 'At the fh-st passover, Jno. ii. 13, by the remarkable act of cleausmg the temple, Jesus assumed and exercised an autliority wliieh he never assumed or exercised again, until the same time before tho last ; whereby he may justly be considered to have stamped this ih'st passover with an importance, in the order of his ministry, scarcely inferior to that of the last. He predicted, at this early period, liis death and resmTCction, with a degi'ce of significancy wliieh ho did not employ in alluding to them again untU the last year of his ministry itself; and the words winch he uttered now were remembered, and produced against him, three years afterwards. He WTOught mu'acles now in the sight of all who attended the feast, both Jews and Galila>ans ; though a little before he had declined to work a mu'acle in private at Caiia in Galilee. That hour, therefore, which was not come tlien, must have arrived now; and that evidence of liis gloiy, with its effects in making hhu chsciples, which had there been confined to his immediate fi-iends, was now puhhshcd to all the world. Ho held a discourse with Nicodemus ou some of the abstruse points of Clu'istiau doctrme. When he left Jerusalem, he began to baptize somewhere in Juda;a ; by tho hands, at least, of his disciples ; and to make converts in such numbers, as to eclipse the fiime of John, and to divert the eyes of the Pharisees from John towards liimself. And finally, when he returned uito Gahlee, he declared himself more openly to the woman of Sycliar than he ever declared himself afterwards, on any occasion but the last, when before the sanhedi'im, or Pilate. ' The open assumption of tho character of the Messias, and the begmning to act thenceforward in that character, which are in one sense the formal commencement of our Lord's ministry, must be dated from the passover, Jno. ii. 13' [supra, p. 118].— ii/rf.. Vol. I. Diss. X. pp. 357, ..8. IBO Matt. iv. 12, § 10, p. 157. MarJc i. 14, ibid. LuJce iv. 14, § 15, p. 149. John iii. 22, § 13, p. 131. [12. PAllT II.J JOHN'S LAST TESTIMONY TO JESUS. [SECT. XIII. SECTION 13. — After the passover, Jesus remains in Jod.ea ; * his discipi.e.> begin to baptize • John also continues baptizing. A dispute having arisen between the Jews and the disciples of John, concerning purification, John renders the last, and the most explicit OF HIS testimonies TO Jesus Christ. Jesus departs into Galilee; and, on his way, abides TWO days at Sychar, in Samaria — John not being yet cast into prison. — John iii. 22— iv. 42. [G. 13 •''•J introduction Jno. iii. 22. Jesus witli liis disciples are ia Juclica ; the people come to liim, and are baptized. — iii. 23, .4. Tliis being prerious to the imprisonment of Jolm, he also is baptizing ; and has chosen for the scene of his ministry .^non, that bemg well suppUed with water. — iii. 25, .6. A dispute concerning cleansings having arisen between some of John's disciples and the .Tews, these, probably to gratify their spleen, come to Jolm, and tell him that he of whom he spoke so highly on the other side of Jordan, is now himself baptizing, and di-awing all after him. — iii. 27 — .9. Jolui, so far fi-om being envious or discontented, replies by recognising the Divine sovereignty in the disposal of gifts Spiritual, reminding the Jews that he had expressly denied beiiig himself the Chiist ; tliat which they suppose would annoy him, is the very cause of his rejoicing, his having iutroduced Christ and the people to each other. — iii. 30. Jesus must increase, — John decrease. and analysis. Jno. iii. 31. Jesus comes fi-om above, — is supreme, and in contraet to him that is eai-tlJy, and speaketh of the earth (such as those who, because of a dispute about carnal ordinances, sought to excite in Jolm unhappy feelings, and even dislike to the Saviour). — iii 32. The testimony of Cln-ist is truth ; and although he may now seem to be gatliering many followers, yet comparatively none are receiving that testimony. — iii. 33. He who receives Jesus' testimony, testifies in so doing that he beheves God is true. — iii. 34. The words of Jesus are the words of God. Unlike all other prophets, the Spbit is his without measure. — iii. 35. The Son is the object of the Father's love ; all tilings are given into his hand. — iii. 36. Everlasting life is the portion of him that believes ia Jesus. The %vi-ath of God abides on him who bcUeveth not. [_For Analysis of ch. iv. 1 — 42, see p. 133.] (G. 13.) Jesus' discij>les baptise; John also continues haptizing. — John iii. 22 — .4. rVer. 21, ^ 12, p. 128.] Mnon, near to Saiim. 22 After tliese-tliiiigs came ^ Jesus and his ^ disciples into the land of-Judtea; and there he-tamed SteVpi/Se 23 with them, and haptized. And John also was haptiziug in ^Euon uear-to^Salim, because there-was 24 much water i/Sara ttoXAci there: and they-came, and were-haptized. For ^ Jolm was not-yet cast iuto^ prison. (G. 14.) John's lust ti'stimoni/ to Jesus. — John iii. 25 — 3G. The same. Then there-arose a-question between some e/c of Johu'sy^ disciples and fiera the-Jews about purifying. And they-came uuto^-John, and said unto-him, Rabbi, he-that was with thee bej'ond^ -Jordan, to- whom thou barcst-^vitness, behold, the-same baptizeth, and all men come to him. John answered and said, A-mau scripture illustiution. Siilil. Or Shalem. Ge. xxiiii. 18, 'And Jacob came to Shalem a city of Shcchem, wliich is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan-aram ; and pitched his tent before the city.' 25 20 23. NOTES. 22. LanJ of Jii(l(?a, That is, ' the f eiTitory of Judaea, as dis- tinguished from its metropolis.' — Bloomfield. And hajitized. Jesus did not liimself administer the sign. — See ch. iv. 2, p. 13G. Thus what a king's servants do, is often spoken of as done by himself. 23. Near lo Sulim. Salem was a few miles west of iEnon. — See Geoobaphical Notices, p. 144. Much wa(er there. vSara ttoXXu. 'Abundance of water.' *A multitude of waters.' ' Many waters.' 24. For John was not t/el. See Lu. iii. 20, § 7, p. 87. 25. A question. Rather, a controversy ; a dispute. About purifi/inff. The methods of purification from ceremonial defilement were veiy dillerent in form ; but all represented the gradual purging of our conscience, heart, and life, by the word, the blood, and Spirit of Jesus Christ. He that olTered the expiation- goat, or sprinkled his blood; he tliat led the scape-goat into the wilderness ; he that burned the flesh of a sin-offering for the liigh priest or congregation ; and the person or garment merely suspected of leprosy, was purified by a simple washing in water. The brazen pot wherein the flesh of a sin-offering had been boiled was to be washed and rinsed in wat<>r, Le. vi. 28. He that burned tlie red heifer, or cast the cedar wood, scarlet, or hyssop into the fire ; he that earned her ashes ; he that sprinkled, or unnecessarily touched the water of separation ; he that did eat or touch any part of the carcase of an unclean beast, washed himself in water, and continued unclean until the even, Nu. xix. ; Le. xv. ; De. xiv. ' It would seem that the discussion was on the nature, efficacy, and necessity to Jews of baptismal purification, as KaBaptaftuQ sig- nifies in 2 Pe. i. 9 : which, however, was closely connected with another, on the comparative eflicacy of the baptism of John.' — Stoomfield. 2G. Salhi. Master.— S<>e Addekda, § 12, p. 129. All men. vuvTic for oi TroXXoi, ' verj/ many ;' ' by an liyperbole usual in tlie language of those who speak under the iiifluenoo oi passion and prejudice.' — Bloomfield. Come to him. 'Bpxovrai Trfiig aiiToy, ' retort to him.' PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. 22 — .5 ver. Disputes about ceremonial purifying do not become gion, had they occupied John's position, the oiiperior success of tlie disciples of Jesus. It would have been well had they ended as tlicy began, with John's disciples and the Jews, Soon may He give from above the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. .lesus would have been a cause of great \mhappiness ; tliey would have deeply regretted Iiaving contributed to the introduction to pubhc life of one wlio was likely to prove so powerful a supplantcr. Let the servants of God beware of tliis spirit. Let us rather njoice in seeing the work of God go forward, whether by means of ourselves, or others. 26 fer. To the Jews, as being worldly-minded professors of reli • Possibly Bethel, or Bethar, on the confines of Samaria and Juda?o, twelve Roman miles from Jerusalem, and twenty-eight from Sychar.— 5ce Oreswell, Vol. II. Diss. xxi. pp. 210, ..9. 13.] Matt. iv. 12, § IG, p. 157. Mark i. 14, Hid. Luke iv. 1 1, § 15, p. 140. 131 SECT, xin.] JOUN'S LAST TESTIMONY TO JESUS. [PART II. John iii. 28—30, 2S can receive nothing, except it-be given him fromjieavcu. Ye yourselves tear'-me'-witness, that I-said, 29 I am not the Cln-ist, but that 1-am sent before him. He ' tliat-hatli the bride is the-bridegroom : but the friend of-tho bridegroom, wliich ' standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly xoi>V X^'P" beeause-of 30 tlie bridegroom's voice: this, my Joy therefore is-fulfilled. He must increase, but I muni decrease. ^ my joy SCRIPTURE IL 27. Can liECEn-E, &c. Similar confession hi/ David, 1 Clir. xxix. 11 — .5, 'Thine, O Loud, is tlic greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for aWihatis in the heaven and in the earth is thine ; thine i* the kingdom, O LoiiD, and thou art exalted as head above all. 12, Both riches and lionour come of thee, and thou rciguest over all; and in thine hand is power and might ; and in thine liand it is to make great, (.nd to give strength unto all. 13, Now therefore, om- God, wc thank tliee, and praise thy glorious name. 14, But who am I, and ■what is my people, that we should be able [Heb., retain, or, obtain strength'] io offer so willingly after this soH? for all things come of tliee, and of tliino own [Ileb., of thine hand'] have we given tliee. 15, For wc are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as n-ere all our fathers : our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding [Ileb., expectation].' — T/ie Spirit distribitteth, 1 Cor. xii. 11, ' But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.' — xv. 10, 'But by the grace of God I am what I am : and his gi'ace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain ; but I laboured more abundantly than they all : yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.' — So Ga. i. 1, ' Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him fi-om the dead.)' 28. Beak me witness. See Mt. iii. 11, § 7, p. 85 ; Jno. i. 19, 20, § 10, p. 103. 29. Hath the eeide. The bride described, Ps. xlv. 9 — 17, ' Kings' daughters teere among thy honourable women : upon thy right liand cUd stand the queen in gold of Ophir. 10, Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house ; 11, so shall the king gi'eatly desu-e thy beauty : for he is thy Lord ; and worship thou him. 12, And the daughter of Tyi'c shall be there with a gift ; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favom* [Heb., face]. 13, The king's daughter is all glorious within ; her clothing is of wi'ought gold. 14, She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needle- work : the virgins her companions that follow lier shall be brought imto thee. 15, With gladness and rejoicing sliaU they be brought : they shall cuter into the kuig's palace. 16, Instead of thy fathei-s LUSTRATIONS. shall be tliy children, whom thou niayest make princes in all the eartli. 17, 1 will make thy name to be remembered in all genera- tions : therefore shall the people prai'se thee for ever and ever.' — Is. liv. — Ixii. 4, 5, ' Tliou shalt no more be termed Forsaken ; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate : but thou shalt be called Heiihzi-bah [that is, 3Ii/ delight is in her], and thy land Bculah [that is. Married] : for the LOED dehghtcth in thee, and thy land sliaU be mamed. 5, For as a young man man-ieth a vu-gin, so shall thy sons marry thee : and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over tlie bride [Heb., tcith the Joy of the bridegroom], so shall thy God rejoice over thee.' — The church, 2 Cor. xi. 2, 'For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy : fori have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.' — Eph. v. 25 — .7, {quo. Jno. ii. 1, § 11, p. 113, 'A MAnElAGE.'J— Jbj when she hath made herself ready. Rev. xix. 7, 9, {quoted Jno. i. 29, § 10, p. 105, ' Lamb of God.')— r//e figure is applied to outcast Israel, Is. Uv. 4 — 8, ' Fear not ; for thou shalt not be ashamed : neither be thou confounded ; for thou shalt not be put to shame : for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.' — For ver. 5 — 8, see Lu. i. 68, § 3, p. 28, 'Redeemed.' — Also to the new Jerusalem, Rev. xxi. 2 — 10. 30. He must rNCEEASE. Is. ix. 7, 'Of the increase of his governmeut and peace ... no end.' — The stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. La. ii. 34, .5, ' Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands [or, which was not in hands, as ver. 45], wliich smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. 35, Then was the ii-on, the clay, the brass, the sUver, and the gold, broken to pieces togetlier, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingHoors ; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them : and the stone tliat smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.' — The kingdom is likened to a grain of mustard seed, which becomes the greatest of herbs, Mt. xiii. 31, .2, § 32, p. 305 ; — it is to spread till ' the khig- doms of tliis world are become the kingdoms of oiu- Lord, and of his Chi'ist ; and he shall reign for ever,' &e.. Rev. xi. 14 — .8. I must DECEEASE. Jolnis baptism belonged to the ceremonial dispensation, Mt. xi. 11 — .3, § 29, p. 280 ; — which was io pass away. NOTES. 27. A man can receive nothing. It is not from man, but from heaven, that the cleansing represented by baptism, and gift of the Spbit mxist come. No one intrusted with a commission must exceed his commission. 28. Sear me witness. I came not to form a separate party, a peculiar sect, but that the people might be preptu'cd for His coming ; 60 far from indulging in envy, I greatly rejoice at his success. 29. Jle that hath the bride, Sfc. So the church, the bride of the Messiah, belongs to him — see Eph. v. 25 — .7 (quoted Jno. iii. 1, § 11, p. 113, 'A uaeeiaoe' ). It is to be expected, therefore, and desired, lliat the people should flock to him. Jiut the friend of the bridegroom. He whose office it is to attend him^ on the marriage occasion. This was commonly the dearest friend. o ix^v Ti)v vvitresent tlie Iwsts of Israel, Eze. i., X. — The children of Judali and of Israel shall be gathered together, and shall appoint themselves one head, Hos. i. 11, ' Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land : for gi-eat shaU be the day of Jczreel ; ' — the Lord shall lead iliem. Mi. ii. 13, 'The breaker is come up before them : tliey have broken up, and have passed tln'ough the gate, and ai-e gone out by it : and their king shall pass before them, and the Loed on the head of them;' — even the Lord of all, Ac. x. 36, 'The word wliich God sent unto the children of Israel, preacliing peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all.)' — Rom. ix. 5, ' Whose NOTES. 31. He that cometh from above. The Messiah, represented as eommg down fi'om heaven. — See ver. 13, § 12 ; eh. vi. 83, § 43 ; viii. 23, § 55. He that is of the earth. He whose only origin or existence is in tliis world. 32. And what he hath seen, c'fc. See vcr. 11, § 12, p. 124. 'Tliis is a beautiful instance of humility in Jolm, and is liis third testimony to the exalted character of Jesus, whom he had before pointed out as " the Lamb of God, which taJceth aioag the sin of the tvorld." A man, though a prophet from God, can be of no greater chgnity or authority than God has thought fit to confer on hun. Jesus having entered upon liis ministi-y, his kuigdom and gloiy must increase to perfection ; and Jolm havuig fulfilled the ofRcc to wliich ho was sent, a harbinger or messenger of the bridegi-oom, must retu-e and make room for Hun whom the Father loveth, and into whose hands he hath given all tlungs. The Baptist speaks oiEeially, as it were, for the last time ; he describes his own ministi-y as more than anti- quated, and as almost superseded entirely : his own joy was now ful- filled ; Ills proper part and province in a common w ork had been ilischargcd, and were, therefore, to cease : Cluist was to increase, and to go on incrcasuig, wliile he was to decrease and to dwmdle, in com- parison to him, to nothing.'— Greswell. Ko man receiveth his teslimong. The world flocked to a carnal ordinance, but few received ' the testimony of Jesus,' which ' is the spirit of prophecy,' Rev. xix. 10. 33. He that hath received his testimony. Hath received and fully believed liis doctrine— hath yielded liis heart to its influence. Hath set to his seal. To seal an insti-mnent is to make it sure, to PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. 33 ver. Let every despised witness for the fmlli of God remember, that the truest and best accretUted Witness that ever appeared in our world, was one whoso message was least understood — was one 31 ver. Carnal professors will have their mind-, occupied with carnal ordinances ; and being themselves moved by eartlily motives, will impute tlie same to others, as appears to have been the case with those Jews who thought to awaken discontent in the mind of who was himself the most despised and rejected of men John at the superior success of Jesus. He that is the true servant of God will, both in liis testimony and in his life, acknowledge Clu-ist as above all. And he that is risen with Christ will rise far above those mean and selfish eonsidcrntions that keep in continual torment the chilcU-en of this world. 13.] 3Iatt. iv. 12, § 16, p. 157. Mark i. 14, ibid. 33 i-er. Ho that hos truly received the testimony of Jesus thereby signifies his belief that God will prove true to all the promises — tliat the prophetic word is n grc.nt reality, of the full aecomplisliment of which the fullest pletlge is given in thc_/i>rf coming of Christ. Zuie iv. 14, § 15, p. 140. las SECT. XIXI.] JOHN'S LAST TESTIMONY TO JESCS. [PAliT 11. John iii. 34, .5. 84 tlint God is true. For lic-wliom,Gocl liaUi-scnt spcnkcth the words of God: for, God givctli not the 80 Spirit by mcusuro iniio him. The Father lovctli the Son, and hath-givcn all-tiimgs into his, hand. scRirxuRE ir become the father of niBny nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 19, And being not weak in fiiith, he considered not liis own body now dead, when lie was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb : 20, he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God ; 21, and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.' — The apostle's trust in the Lord, 2 Ti. i. 12, 'For the which cause I also Buller these things : nevertheless I am not ashamed : for I know whom I have believed [or, trusted^, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.' — 1 Jno. v. 9, 10, ' If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater : for this is the witness of God wliich he hatli testified of his Son. 10, Ho that believelh on the Son of God hath the witness in hunself : he that believcth not God hath made him a liar; because he believcth not the record that God gave of liis Son.'— Eom. x. 9, 10, 'If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God liath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10, For with the heart man believcth unto righteousness ; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.' 33. God is trite. So 2 Cor. i. 18, .9, 'But as God is true, oiu- word [or, preacJiinif] toward you was not yea and nay. 19, For the Son of God, Jesus Clu-ist, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in liim was yea.' — Christ is the truth, Jno. xiv. 6, § 87, 'Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life : no man Cometh unto the Father, but by me j ' — a minister for the truth of OocI, Rom. XT. 8, 'Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.' — 2 Cor. i. 20, ' For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, imto the gloiy of God by us.' — Eev. iii. 14, 'And unto the angel of the church of the Laodieeans [or, in Laodicea^ WTite ; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the begmning of the creation of God.' Z^. SPEAKExn THE WORDS OF GoD. De. xviii. 18, ' I wdl raise them up a Prophet from among their bretliren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.' — Jno. viii. 26, 40, § 55, 'He that sent me is true ; and I speak to the world those thhigs which I have heard of him.' 40, 'But now ye seek to kUl me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God : I,USTR.\TIOXS. this did not Abraham.' — So again Jesus testified thai he was that Prophet, who spale that lohich the Father had commanded him to speak, xii. 49, § 85, 'For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent nic, he gave mo a commandment, what I shoidd say, and what I should speak.' — And again, xiv. 10, 24, § 87, ' Behcvcst thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me ? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dweUeth in me, he doeth the works.' 24, ' He that loTcth me not kcepeth not my sayings : and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent mc' GrVETH KOT THE SPIRIT BT MEASURE. The Spirit was seen descending upon him lodilg, Lu. iii. 22, § 8, p. 22 ; — and not like tongues offre, representing individual members, as on the disciples, Ac. ii. 3, 'And there appeared unto them cloven tongiies like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.' — Compare 1 Cor. xii. ; Jno. i. 1", § 7, p. 77, ' Of liis fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.'— V. 26, § 23, liafk ' life in himself.'— .^^//h/hms, Col. i. 19, 'For it pleased the Father that in !iim shoidd all fulness dwell.' — ii. 9, ' For in Iiim dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.' — Safh the seven Spirits of God, Eev. iii. 1, 5, 6, 'And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write ; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars ; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.' 5, ' He that ovcrcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment ; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 6, He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the ehm'ches.' 35. TnE Father ioveth the Son. So eh. v. 20, § 23; Mt. iii. 17, § 8, p. 92, ' My beloved Son.'— xii. IS, § 2G, p. 255, ' Uy beloved, ui whom my soul is well pleased : I will put my spirit upon him.' — Is. xhi. 1, 'Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom mj soul delighteth ; I have put my spii-it upon him; he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.' Ail TnilTGS. So Mt. xi. 27, § 29, p. 284 ; Jno. xiii. 3, § 87 ; xvii. 2, § ib. — Christ is heir of all things, Heb. i. 2, ' Hath in these last days spoken luito us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.' — ii. 10, 'For it became Mm, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation pei-fect through sulferings.' — Predicted, Ps. ii. 8, ' Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy acknowledge it as ours, to fake it as ours, and to pledge our veracity that it is true and binding : as when a man seals a bond, a deed, or a wUl. Thus the meaning is, ' He who admits this doctrine doth thereby attest the truth of God in the fidiilment of his promises.' The sealing is by the Spu-it tlu-ough faith. KOTES. as man, yet as Mediator God anointed him, or endowed him with 34. Speaketh the words of God. law. The truth, or substance of the The Spirit. The Spirit of God. Though Jesus was God as well liis Spirit, so as to be completely qualified for his great work. Bg measure. Not in a small degree. ' This is said with allusion to the prophets, the very greatest of whom were allowed by the Jewish rabbis to have only had the gifts of the Holy Spu-it, i/c /itTpov. Nay, the law itself they considered as only given ad mcnsuram.' — Bloomjield. 35. Alt things Into his hand. As king and judge uuivcrsal. PEACTICAL KEFLECTIONS. 34 vcr. Jesus, the Sent of God, the Messenger of the covenant, had not come to set aside the words of God spoken in covenant unto the fathers, tnit to declare them more plainly. They do greatly err, who s\ii>))ose that the words of Jesus are not according to the words of God by his servants the prophets. Although the several members of Christ are given the Spirit only in measui-c, it was not so with Him in whom dwelleth ' all the Matt. iv. 12, § IG, p. 157. Murk i. J o4 fulness of the Oodhcaa bodllg ;' and from whom the body hath not yet received the fulness of the promised measure, which it is to receive when grown up luito the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. 35 rer. Although we do not yet see all tilings put under Christ, yet assuredly they shall be made subject to liim. It, ibid. Luke iv. 14, § 15, p. 149. [13, PART II.] JOHN'S LAST TESTIMONY TO JESUS. [SECT. XIIL John iii. oG. 86 He ' that-beiieveth on the Son linth everlasting lilb : and ho ' that-believeth-not the Son shall- •nof-6( life ; hut the wrath of God abidcth on him. SCRirTUEE ILLUSTRATIONS. £oe possession.' — viii. 5, 6, 'Foi- thou Iinst made him a Httle lower than the angels, and liast crowned him with glox'y and honour. 6, Thou madcst him to have dominion over the works of thy liands ; thou hast put all thinrjs under his feet.'- — Da. vii. 14, ' AjkI there VTas given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should sci-ve him: his dominion is an ever- lasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kuigdom ihat wliich shall not be destroyed.' 36. He that believeth, &c. Ga. ii. 20, ' I live by the faith of the Son of God, wlio loved nic, and gave liimself for me.' — See the case of the believer as viewed in the Son of God, contrasted with that of man as inheriting curse from the first Adam, Kom. v. Wbath. Danger of incurring icrath for neglecting to emhrace the Son, Ps. ii. 12, 'Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put thcii- trust in liim.' — Danger of holding the truth in unrighteousness, Rom. i. 18, 'For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against aU ungodliness and um'ighteousncss of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.' — Danger of not oheg- ing the truth, ii. 8, 9, 'But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9, tribiJation and anguish, upon every soul of man tliat doetli evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile [Gr., GreelS].^ — Coming wrath, 2 Th. i. 8, 9, ' In flaming fire taking [or, giilding'] vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Clu'ist : 0, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction fi-om the presence of tlie Lord, and from tlic gloi-y of his power.' — Jude, vei*. 15, 'To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all theii- ungodly deeds which tlicy have ungodly committed, and of all their liard sj'eeches wliich ungodly sinners have spoken against him.' — Rev. vi. 1.5, .G, ' And tjie kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, liid themselves in the dens and m the rocks of the moinitains ; 16, and said to the moun- tains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of liim that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.' — xiy. 9 — 11, .9, 20, ' And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice. If any man worship the beast and liis image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or m liis hand, 10, the same shall drink of the wiuc of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation ; and he sliall be tormented with lire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the prcseueo of the Lamb : 11, and tlio smoke of then- torment asccndcth up for ever and ever : and they have no rest day nor niglit, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receivetli the mark of his name.' 19, ' And the angel thrust in his sickle uito the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20, And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.' — xix. 15, ' And out of his mouth gocth a sharp sword, that with it he slioiUd smite tlio nations : and lie shall rule them with a rod of iron : and he trcadcth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.' — xxi. 8, 'But the fearful, and unbehevhig, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all bars, shall have their part in the lake wliich burneth witli lire and brimstone : wluch is the second death.' NOTE. 36. That helieveth not. b ciiniOrov. The word includes both incredidity and disobedience. The full sense of the passage is well expressed by Bishop Jcbb as follows : — ' He who with liis heart bcheveth in the Son is ah'cady in possession of eternal life ; he, whatever may be his outward profession, whatever his theoretic or historical belief, who obegelh not the Son, not only docs not possess eternal life, he docs not possess anything worthy to be called life at all. But tliis is not the wliole ; for as eternal life is the present possession of the faitlifiJ, so the wrath of God is tlie present and permanent lot of the disobedient j it abidcth on hun, not beuig removed by the atomiig merits of the Redeemer.' PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. 36 ver. How distinctive tlic state of him who believes on the Son. He hath everlasting life : and this must of course be manifested by his presenting a veiy diil'erent appearance from what he did when in spiritual death. Let no man suppose that he can witli impunity evade the great INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS— Jno. iv. 1 — 3. Knowing that the Pharisees were endeavom-ing to excite envy in John by teUing him of the greater nimibcrs resorting to Jesus to be baptized, om- Lord leads away liis disciples fi'om the scene of his supposed success, and takes them into Galilee. — iv. 4. In the route he has chosen to pass from Juda;a into Gahlce, he rcquu'es to ' go through Samaria.' — iv. 5. Ho comes to Sychar (meaning tU'ink), near the Held given by Jacob to Joseph. — iv. 6. Jesus, being wearied with liis journey, scats himself by the well of Jacob. — iv. 7. A Samaritan woman having come to the well to di'aw water, is rerjucsted by Jesus to give him to ih-iiik. — iv. 8. His disciples are gone into the city to buy bread. — iv. 9. The woman expresses surprise that a Jew shoidd ask even a di-ink of water from one belonging to a people with whom 'the Jews hate no dealings.' 13,] Malt. iv. 12, § 16, p. 157. Mark i moral obligation of inquiring, with sincerity and carnestnes.?, wliat is truth. Life can only come through the behef of the truth. Men need not wait to know whether they will be condemned or not: ah-eady tlic wrath of God abidcth on man ; and from this lie can be set free only thi'ough Him who hath borne the curse of the law for us. (Sect. xiii. continued). — John iv. 1 — 42. Jno. iv. 10. Jesus tells her that if she knew the gift of God, of Him who has just said to lier, ' Give me to drink,' she would have asked of him, and he, so far from refusing iutcrcoui'sc with Samaritans, wovUd have given her ' living water.' — iv. 11, .2. The woman is astonished that he who has not even the means of di-awing fi-om that well, should spcik of giving her 'living tvater;' and asks if ho is £r"-ntcr than tlieir father Jacob, who gave them the well, &c. — iv. 13, .4. .Tcsus informs her that the water of tliis well gives only tcniporai-y refrcslimcnt ; but tlic water which ho gives shall be, in the recipient, a Uviiig fountain of eternal joy. — iv. 15. The woman, still ignorant of the gift of God, asks to be given tlie water ho speaks of, that she may bo saveJ from any fiu'ther thirst, or laboiu- of drawuig water. — iv. 16. Jesus now begins to lead her into a Jiuowledge of himseh'. . 14, ibid. Luke iv. 14, § 15, p. ll'J. 135 aECi'. xiii.j JESUS DEPARTS INTO GALILEE. [PART It. INTnODUCTlON AND Jno. iv. 16 — .8. lie bids the woman bring licr husband to liim ; which request leads her to say, she has ' 710 husband ; ' lier acknow- ledging which, gives our Lord ojiport unity to remind her of her suiful course of Ufe. — iv. 19, 20. The woman, remarking that he is a prophet, wishes to turn the conrei'sation from her own case to the great subject of dispute between the Jews and Siiniaritans, whether the central place of worshij) slioidd bo Jerusalem or on Moiuit Gerizim. — iv. 21. Jesus tells her that the tune approaches when, neither in the one place nor in the other, will the Father bo worsliipped. — iv. 22. The Samaritans know not Him whom they profess to worship ; not so those who arc enh'ghtcned by Him who was to come of Judah, and whose name is Saltation. — iv. 23, .4. The tune is come when the true worshipper 'shall worship the Fathei' hi spirit and in truth^ irrespective of par- t iciUar localities j '■the Father seeketh aueh to worship hlm.^ ' God is a Spirit,' and recjuu'cs spii'itual worsliip. — iv. 25. The woman refei's to the coming of Messias ; and seems to think that by him all such matters of dispute wiU be settled. — iv. 26. Jesus intimates that what slio woidd put oiT tUl the future may now bo enjoyed :— 'The Cueist' is come ; and he it is who now converses with her. — iv. 27. The disciples who went to buy bread now retiu'n, and wonder why Jesus talks with the woman ; but refrain from making any remark to him on the subject. — iv. 28, .9. The woman, forgetfiU of the purpose for which she came to the well, leaves her vessel, and hastens into the city, and invites the men to come and see a man wlio has told her all that she ever did, and requests them to consider whether he be not 'the Christ: At; ALYSIS— continued. Jno. iv. 30. They comply with the invitation, and come out to see Jesus. — iv. 31, .2. His disciples entreat Jesus to partake of the food they have i^rocm'cd from the city. He tells them he has provision of wliich they are not aware. — iv. 33. The disciples, who, Uke the woman with the water, are thinking only of food for the body, inqiiii-o wliethcr ho has been otherwise provided %Yith food. — iv. 34. Jesus explains, saying, ' My meat is to do the will oj Him that sent me,' <^'e. — iv. 35. Remarking tliat foiu' months after seed time Ihcy were accustomed to look for the harvest, he bids them lift up their eyes, and see the fields white already to the harvest (in the crowds of Samaritans coming out to liim, in consequence of the labom- he had bestowed upon that seemingly ungenial sod, the mind of the Samaritan woman), — iv. 36. Now he that reapeth hath not oidy present wages, but gathereth in an harvest of eternal joy ; while he that is engaged in sowing rejoiceth along with the reaper. — iv. 37, .8. The present advantages of the labourers in tlie word have been procm'cd at much cost by those ^^•ho have gone before. — iv. 39. Many of the Samaritans believe on Jesus, because of the declaration of tho woman, ' He told me all,' 4"c. — iv. 40. The S«maritans beseech him to stay with them ; and he complies, so as to remain with them ' two days.' — iv. 41, .2. Many more believe on account of what they them- selves hear from the mouth of the Lord ; and confess him to be uideed ' The Cheist, the Savioue of the woeld.' (G. 1.5.) Jesus departs into Galilee ; and, on his waij, abides two days at Sijchar, in Samaria — John not being yet cast into irrison. — John iv. 1 — 42. 1 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had-heard that Jesus made and baptized more 2 disciples than John, (though Jesus himself baptized not, but his ^ disciples,) 3 he-Icft ^ Judsea, and departed again into ^Galilee. SCRIPTDRE ILLUSTRATION. 2. jEStJS HIMSELF B.^MIZED NOT. Nor Was Fatil sent to baptize, 1 Cor. i. 10— .7, 'Now I beseech you, bretlu-en, by the name of our Lord Jesus Clu-ist, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions [Gr., schisms'] among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same jvulgment. 11, For it hath been declared mito me of you, my brethren, by them w-hich are of the house of Chloe, that there ore contentions among you. 12, Now lliis I say, that eveiy one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos j "and I of Cephas ; and I of Clu-ist. 13, Is Christ divided ? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 14, I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius ; 15, lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. 16, And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. 17, For Clu-ist sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words [or, speech], lest the cross of Christ shoidd be made of none eifect." 2. Though Jesus himself bapthei not. baptized with water, men might have been still more m danger of confounding John's baptism with that which it was promised Jesus NOTE. Had Jesus himself should administer, ' the baptism of the Spirit.' As it is, there is no necessity for confounduig tiio sign witli the tiling signiiied — ' the washing of regeneration, and reneuing of the Holij Ghost.' PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. 1—3 ter. Let us learn, from the example of Jesus, to avoid giving occasion to the enemy to sow dissension amons the cluldi-en of God. If baptizing with water had been in truth an introduction uito tho kingdom of God, it is not likely that Jesus would so easily have been induced, to cease tho practice of tho rite. And wo are to observe, that he was not only careful to give no occasion to its bemg Matt. iv. 12, § 16, p. 1 67. Mark i 136 '^ said that he made disciples by that rite, but began very sedidously to explain that the water which was truly eflk-aeious was the living water — that which springeth up unto everlasting life; not by t lie mere water wherewith he washed his disciples' feet, but by the word wliich ho spake unto them. Those who hate the gospel will always bo exasperated at its success ; and, if duty do not reqiiii-e us to stand, it is best to avoid then- resentment by flight. 14, ibid. Lul-e iv. 14, § 15, p. 149. [13. PART II.] Sesvs at the well of sychar. [SECT. XTIt. John iv. 4 — 10. i And he must-needs tSti go through ^Samaria. 5 Then cometh-he to a-city of ' Samaria, which-is- 6 called Sychar, near-to the parcel-of-ground that Jacoh gave to' his son Joseph. Now ^Jacob's well was there. ^Jesus therefore, being-wearied K£K07r(aica.e with ///s journey, sat thus on the well: and it-was about the-sixth hour. 7 There-cometh a- woman of, Samaria to-draw water : ^ Jesus saith imto-her, Give me to-drink. 8 (For 9 his, disciples were-gone-away unto the city to buy meat.) Then saith the woman, of- Samaria unto-him, How is it that thou, being a-Jew, askest drink of me, which-am a-woman of-Samaria ? for thc-Jews 10 have-'no--dealings-with av^yoZivrai thc-Samaritans. Jesus answered and said uuto-her, If tliou-luiewest SCRIPTDEE ILLUSTRATIONS. 5. Samaeia. Bv.'M hi Owri, 1 Ki. xvi. 23, .4, ■ In the tliii-ty and first year of Asa king of Judali began Omri to reign over Israel, twelve years : six years reigned ho in Tii-zah. 21, And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which lie built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the lull, Samaria [lieb., Shomeroii]' — Taken hy the king of Assi/ria, 2 Ki. xvii. 5, 6, ' Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years. 6, In the ninth year of Hoshea the ting of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor hy the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.' — xviii. 9 — 13, ' jVnd it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, wliich was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah kmg of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it. 10, And at the end of tlu'ce years they t ook it : even m the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken. 11, And the king of Assvi-ia did cany away Israel imto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes : 12, because they obeyed not the voice of the Loed theii- God, but transgressed his covenant, and all that Moses the servant of the LoED commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them.' — Given to he inhabited by the heathen, xvii. 21— .6. — Its ruin predicted, Hos. viii. 5 — 7, ' Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast tliee off; mine anger is kindled agamst them : how long icill it he ere they attain to innoceuey ? 6, For from Israel was it also : the workmen made it ; therefore it is not God : but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces. 7, For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirl- wind : it hath no stalk [or, standing corn'] : the bud shall yield no meal : if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.' — Mi. i. 5 — 7, ' For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob ? is it not Samaria? and what are the high places of Judah? are they not Jerusalem? 6, Therefore I will make Samaria as an heap of the field, and as plantings of a vineyard : and I will pour down the stones thereof into the valley, and I will discover the founda- tions thereof. 7, And all the graven images thereof shaU be beaten to pieces, and all the hires thereof shall be bunied with the fire, and all the idols thereof will I lay desolate : for she gathered it of the hire of an harlot, and they shall return to the hii-e of an harlot.' — Future restoration, Je. xxxi. 4, 5, 'Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be buUt, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets [or, timbrels'], and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make meny. 5, Thou shalt yet plant vuies upon the mountauis of Samaria : the planters shall plant, and shall eat [Keh., profane] them as conunon things.' — Tlie Gospel was to be preached in, Ac. i. 8, ' But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you : and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jenisalem, and in all Juda?a, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.'— Fulflmenf, viii. 1, 4:— 25.— Churches edified therein, ix. 31, 'Then had the churches rest throughout all Juda:a and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified ; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiphed.' SrenAE. Called Shechem, Gen. xxxiii. 18, .9, -see infra, ' That Jacob gave,' &e. — Joseph buried there, Jos. xxiv. 32, ' And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Sheehem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundi-ed pieces of silver [or, lambs] : and it became the mheritaneo of the children of Joseph.' That Jacob gate, &c. This portion had been bought tcith money, Ge. xxxiii. 18 — 20, ' And Jacob came to Shalem a city of Shechem [Maeq., called Sydiem, Ac. vii. 16], which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan-aram ; and pitched his tent before the city. 19, And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor [called Emmor, Ac. vii. 16], Shechem's father, for an hundi-ed pieces of money [or, lamhs]. 20, And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel [that is, God tlie God of Israel].' — xlviii. 22, ' Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy bretlircn, which I took out of the hand of the Amoritc with my sword and with ray bow.' — See also ch. xxxiv. 6. Weaeied. Sis becoming a wayfaring man predicted, Ps. ex. 7, 'He shall ch-ixdc of the brook in the way; therefore shall he lift up the head.' — Heb. iv. 15, ' Touched with the feeling of our infii'mities.' — ii. 18, 'For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are temiJted.' 7. Deaw watee. See the case of Abraham's servant, Gc. xxiv. 11— .3, 20, 43, .4 i—and of Moses, Ex. ii. 15— .7.— Joy at the drawing o/"' water out of the wells of salvation,' Is. xii. 3. 9. No BEALISGS. Trading dealings they had, but not friendly intercourse ; for Ihe Samaritans were of foreign origin, superstilious, and idolatrous, 2 ^i. xvii. 24, 33 — 11 -.—and had ill treated the Jews; they being not accepted by the Jews in tlie building of the temple, endeavoured to hinder it, Ezr. iv. 1 — 6 ; Kc. vi. 1 — 14. NOTES. 5. Sychar. 'The place was originally called "S.vxiji, "Shechem," The sixth hour. According to St. John's computation of time, or "Sychar," from the name of the person of whose family Jacob which is the modem, this woiUd be probabk six o'clock in the bought the land.— See Ge. xxxiii. 18, .9. The name is supposed to evening ; and this is the most usual lime in the East for fctclung have been altered by the Jews to Sux"?, to denote the drunkenness water. After the autumnal equinox and ncm- to midwiulor, it would or the idolatry of the inhabitants.' — Bloomficld, Near to the parcel of ground. v\r]aiov too x'wpi'ot/, ' near the heritage.' The word means, ' an estate in land,' and is properly denominated ' heritage,' agreeably to what wo are told, Jos. xxiv. 32. 6. Jacob's well. See GEOQEAPniCAi Notices, p. 145. On the well. The Greek UnOiZiro, simply signifies he sat, not upon a stone, seat, or cushion, but aa the cii-cumstanccs of the case required, by the side of it, on the brink of it, upon the ground. 13.] Matt. iv. 12, § 16, p. 157. Mark i. 14, ibid. bo necessarily dark ; but after the vernal equinox and near to midsummer, it would stiU bo open day.— &« Orencell, Vol. II. pp. 216— .20. 7. Of Samaria. Not of the citi/ of Samaria, but from the city of Sychar, in Samaria. 9. Xo dealings. The Jews say, ' It is an auommation to eat the bread or drink the wine of a Samaritan.' | Samaritans. See Addekda, ' Samabitass,' p. 146. Luke iv. 14, § 15, p. 149. 137 SECT. XIII.] JEStrS COJJA'EKSES WITU A SAMARITAN WOJIVIf. John iv. 11 — .1. [PAET II. tlic pift of God, find who it-is tliat ' siiitli to-tlico, Give me to-drink ; thou wouldest-have-nsked-of him, 11 nnd hc-would-have-givcn thcc liviug water. The woman saitli uiUo-him, Sir, thou-hast nothing to-clraw- 12 with, and tlie well is deep: I'rom-whence then hnst-thou tliat 'living, water ? Art thou greater-tliau our 13 .lather Jncoh, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his.children, and his.cattle? .Jesus 14 answered and said unto-her, Wlio.socver,drinketh of this.watcr shall-thirst again: but whosoever driuketh of the water that I sliall-givo him s]iall--nevcr ov fii) iig tov tiiwra'-tliirst; but the water that I-shall-give SCRirTURE 1 10. Gift op God. Tlie Father gives the JIoli/ Spirit to those trho ask- him— see Lu. xi. 13, § 62, ]). 5Q,0.—Moneii cannot pur- chase this gift, Ac-, viii. 20, 'But Tctcr said unto liim, TIiv money perish with thcc, bocaiiso thou linst tlioughl that the ^\(i of God may be purchased with nionev.' — Rom. vi. 23, 'The gift of God w eternal hfc tlirough Jesus C'lu-ist our Lord.' WouLDEST HAVB ASKED. Invilation to aslr, Is. It. 1, ' Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money ; eome ye, buy, and cat ; yea, come, buy wine and milk with- out money and without price.' — Zee. x. 1, 'Ask ye of the LOBD rain in the time of the latter rain ; so the Lord shall make bright clouds [or, lightnings^, and give them showci's of ram, to every one grass in the lield.'— Jno. svi. 2t, § 87, 'Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.' LrriNO WATEK. GotI, ' the fountain of liring ifalers,' Je. ii. 13, 'For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out eistems, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.' — Zee. xiii. 1, ' In that day Lr.USTK.VTIOXS. there shall be a fountain opened to tne house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uneleanness.' — Foreshadowed by the water from the rock that fulloteed Israel in the loilderness, 1 Cor. x. 4, 'And did all drink the same spu-itual drink : for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them [or, went with theni]: and that Rock was Christ.' — Free to all. Rev. xxii. 17, 'And the Spirit and the Bride say. Come. And let him tliat heareth say. Come. And let him that is afhu'st eome. Aiid whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.' 14. Kever thirst. Prediction us to delicerance from thirst. Is. xlix. 10, 'They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them : for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.' — Confir- mation, Jno. vi. 35, § 43, 'And Jesus said mito them, I am the bread of life : he that eometli to me shall never hunger ; and he that believcth on me shall never thirst.' — Rev. vii. Ifi, 'They shall hunger no moi-c, neither thirst any more; neither ehall the sun light ou them, nor any heat.' NOTES. ■ nmning water,' as that of , wev 10. Liring water, v^un 'Cwv, i.e., 'nmning water,' as that of ^ were the cliildren of Joseph; we liave no evidence, however, that fountains and rivers, in opposition to dead, i.e., stagnant pools of they were so: Ephraim had indeed been given this portion, but tha water. — See Gc. xxvi. 19 ; Lc. xiv. 5. The sanctifying and com- forting uifluences of the Holy Spirit, confei-ruig, sustainmg, and perfectuig spu-itual life. 11. Hast nothing to draw with. The woman understood it in its natural sense, but our Lord employed it figuratively for JdioTroinf'r ; it being liis custom, from thuigs coi-poreal, to stu- up the minds of Ills hearers to the study and knowledge of things spiritual. It is, indeed, common in the Scriptures and Die rabbinical wTitcrs to hken unto spring water that wliieh refreshes and blesses the soids of men. — See Pr. x. 11, ' The month of a righteovs man is a icell of life : but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked ;' and especially Je. ii. 13, wliich seems the origin of the expression : an image most apt and expressive ; smee, in the hot eoiuitries of the East, pm-e water is reckoned among the blessings of life. 12. Art thou greater. This has reference to what om- Lord had just before said, 'If thou l-newest the gift of God, and icho it is that saith to thee.' The words following are as much as to say, ' It was good enough for our ancestor Jacob, who himself drank of it, etc. ; which he would not have done, if he had known a better. If thou canst shew us a better, thou wilt, in that respect, be greater than Jacob.' Our father Jacob. The Samaritans took it for granted that tliey whole seed of Ephraim had been cast among the Gentiles, Je. vii. 15 ; and these Samaritans who now dwelt in the portion of liphi-aim appear to have been of Gentile origin. Which gave us, c\-c. See Ge. xlviii. 22. And his children, ol I'ioi, i.e., the family in general, including the servants, as in Ge. xlv. 11, 'And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine ; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty.' This, and the mention of the cattle conjoined, is agreeable to the siniplieity of early times, espe- cially in the East. 14. The water that I shall give him. Jesus here refers without doubt to his teaching, liis grace, his Spirit, and the benefits which come into the soul that embraces his gospel. It is a strikhig image, and especially in eastern eoimtrics, where there ai'e vast dcsci-ts and often a gi-eat want of water. Shall never thirst, oif ^i) ci^i}ny tic; tov aiiora, i.e., shall have nothing more ever to desii-c. — See Rev. vii. IG. ' Meaning that the vivifying eifcet of the " word of life" shall be such as to satisfy the most ardent desires of the soul ; which, placing its happiness in God and his worsliip, no other desire will be thought of. Also, that such is the natvire of that truth, that by its pui-ifying and sanctifying rK.VCTIC.\L EEFLECTIOXS. G — 10 rer. Let us admire and imitate the diligence of the great Shepherd of the sheep in the ministry of the Gospel: although ■weai-y and hungry and thirsty, he fully unproves the opportunity given him of instructing a poor, ignorant, superstitious, and sinful Samaritan woman. Let us earnestly seek to know the gift of CroU, and Him, throiigh whom that gift, is given, and wc shall not fall to ask and obtain tluit rich consolation which can only come through the enjoyment of the Spirit of God in Clu-ist Jesus. 11 rer. The woman of Samaria was a singiilar instance of mis- taking the language of o>u- blessed Lord when speaking of the living water — the Holy Spirit — in liis cleansing power and refreshing influence, 12 ver. Our heavenly Father is not less provident with regard to 1 as «"«■ iv. 1 2, § 10, p. 1 57. JUark i his spiritual offspring who truly ask him for blessuig, than was our father Jacob to his family, for whom it is said he provided the well at Sychar. 13, .4 ver. Other delights perish in the using, and will be found wanting when those who have sought their enjoyment will stand most in need of comfort : but he who hath the Couil'orter hath that which shall rejoice him for ever. AVe may learn here : — 1st. That the Christian has a nevcr-faihng source of consolation, adapted to all times and eireiunstances. 2nd. That religion has its seat in the heart, and that it should constantly live there. 3rd. That it sheds its blessings ou a w-orld of sin, and is manifest by a constant life of I'iety, like an evcr-bubbhng spring. 4th. That its end is everlasting life. It will continue for ever; and whosoever drinks of it shall never thirst, for in him there is a pure fountain springing up into everlasting life. 1 1, ibid. Luke iv. 14, § 15, p. 149. [13. tAUT 11.] Jesus converses witil A Samaritan woiiAir. [sect. xrti. John iv. 15 — 21. 15 liim shall-bc in him a-weli of-watcr springing-iip aWofuvov into everlasting life. The womrm siiith 10 unto him, Sir, give mo this^watcr, that I-thirst not, neither come hither to-draw. ^Jcsus saitli unto- 17 her, Go, call thy ^ hushand, and come hither. The woman answered and said, I-have no husband. 18 , Jesus said unto-her, Thou-hast-"well"-said, I-havc no husband: for thou-hast-had five husbands; and 19 he-whom thou-'now-hast is not thy husband: ///-that saidst-thou truly. The woman saitli unto-him, 20 Sir, I-perceive Oiiii/jw that thou art a-prophet. Our^i'athors worshipped in this^mountain ; and ye suy, 21 that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to-worship. , Jesus saith uuto-hcr, Woman, "believe SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. 14. SpniNQiNO UP. ' Rivers of living water,' Jno. vii. 38, .9, § 55.— r/(e Comforter, the Spirit of irnth, xiv. 16, .7, § ?,1.— Waters issued out, cjr., Eze. xlvii. 1, 'Afterward lie broiiglit mo again unto tlie door of the lioiise ; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters eame down from under £i-om the right side of the house, at the soutli side of the altar.' — A pure river, 4'<'-, Rev. xxii. 1, 'And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the tlu'one of God and of the Lamb.' 15. Give me, &c. So had Jesus been misunderstood as to the new birth, ch. iii. 4, § 13, p. 122;— and as to bread, vi. 34, § 43. — 1 Cor. ii. It, ' The natural man recciveth not the things of the Spirit of God : for they are foolishness unto him : neither can he know (hem, because they are spiritually discerned.' 20. This mountain. Mount Gerisim and Mount Ebal were the places where the tribes made a public recognition, of the blessing and the curse. — Appointed, Do. xxvii. 12, .3, see Notes. — Jos. viii. 32 — .5, ' And ho wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he \\TOtc in the presence of the childi-en of Israel. 33, And all Israel, and their ciders, and olEcer.-, and their judges, 4ood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Lcvites, which bai-e the ark of the covenant of the Loed, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them ; half of them over against mount Oeriziui, and half of them over against mount Ebal ; as Moses tlie servant of the LonD had commanded before, that t'noy should bless the people of Israel. 34, And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law. 35, Therc was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with tlie women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant [Hob., tcalked'] among them.' In jEBUS-ilEM. A place west of Jordan had been spoVcn of by Moses, as to be cqypoinied for united worship, Do. xii. 1 — 11, 'These are the statutes and judgments, which yo shall observe to do in the land, which the Loed God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the eartli. 2, Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations wliich ye shall possess [or, inherit^ served their gods, upon the liigh mountains, and upon the hills, and under every gi-ecu tree : 3, and ye shall overthrow [Heb., break dowii] their altars, and break their pillars, and bum their groves with fire ; and ye shall how do'rni the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. 4, Ye shall not do so unto the Loed yom- God. 5, But unto the place which the Lord yom- God shall choose out of aU your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall yc seek, and thither thou shall come ; 6, and thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave oflcrings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firsthngs of your herds and of yom- flocks ; 7, and there ye shall eat before the Loed NOTES. intlucncc on the soul, it is, as it were, an ever-springing founfaui of holy afloctio-is, producing comfort here, and everlasting happiness hereafter.' 16. Go, call thg husband. By thus shewing her that he knew her manner of life, he convinced her that he was quahflcd to teach her the way to amend it, and so be prepared to enter heaven. 18. 7s not ihg husband, oinc lari a. it. 'Is not [really] thy husband. It appears that the woman had been five times married; but whether those marriages had been dissolved by death, or by divorce, does not appear. Both might bo the ease ; and as divorce was then shamefully prevalent, this impUes no certainty of infidelity on the part of the woman.' 19. I perceive . . . . a prophet. The woman is justly amazed that a stranger should be acquainted with the general tenor of her life — see ver. 29, p. 143. Such knowledge she knew could not be acqmred but by Divhio revelation, and therefore she justly infcn-cd that Jesus must be at least a prophet ; and, as such, be a proper autho- rity to appeal to for the solution of the controverted question, as to the comparative holiness of the Jewish and the Samaritan places of common national worship. 20. Our fathers. The Samaritans ; perhaps also meaning to inti- mate that the patriarchs had done it also ; Ge. xii. 6, 7, ' And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sicheni, unto the plain of Moreh, ... 7, there builded he an altar unto the Lord.' And of Jacob it is said, xxxiii. 20, ' And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohc-Isracl.' In this mot'.nfah. Mount Geriam, but a Uttlc way from Sy^liar. The Samaritans maintained that on this mountain Abraham and Jacob had erected an altar, and offered saerificcs to Jehovah — see above ; and therefore, that the Deity had willed blessing to bo pro- nounced from thence, and an altar to be erected, alleging in pi'oof De. xxvii. 4, 12, .3, 'Therefore it shall be when ye be gone over Jordan, that ye shall set up these stones, wliich I command you this day, in mount Ebal, and thou slialt plaister them with plaister.' 12, 'These shaU stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are come over Jordan j Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin : 13, and these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse j Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zcbulun, Dan, and Naphtali :' and, in order to 'make sm'cty doubly sure,' interpolating the text at ver. 4, and changing h:ti Ebal, uilo crtJ Gerizim. Hence they called it ' the blessed mount,' 'tlie holy place.' Not only did the Samaritans then worship on mount Gerizim, but the remnant of them yet subsisting continue to do so three times in the year, with great solemnity. On this mountain Sanballat had built a temple for his son-in-law Manassch ; which was destroyed by John Ilyrcanus, the high priest. Sanballat was chief governor of the Cutliitcs, or Samaritans, and a secret enemy to Nehciniah. Ye say. Yo Jews say or assert as a positive truth. In Jerusalem. As it was conteinplaled in the law of Moses that there should bo but one place to oiler sacrilice and to hold the great feasts, so it followed that the Samaritaus were in error in supposing that their temple was the place. rR.\CTIC.\L REFLECTIONS. 20 ver. Let us beware of making religion consist in attention to I 21 ver. Tlie fulfilment of this prediction — with regfliil to tho outward forms, instead of hcai-t devotion to God. Let ns never ceasing of the true worship of God, even in the place he had hiinsell prefer denominational distinctions to the knowledge of God's mercy and truth in the gift of his Son. specially appointed for meeting with his people — teaches us rot to trust in exti.Tual privileges. 13.] Matt. iv. 12, § 16, p. 157. Mark i. 14^ ibid. oiln iv. 14, § 15, p. 149. jsg SECT, xm.] JESUS COUVEESES WITH A SAMARITAN WOMAN. .JuiiN iv. 22, .3. [PART II. mc, thc-liour comctli, wlicu yc-shall-ueithcr in this, mountiun, nor-yet nl .Terusalcm,'-worsnip the not what: wc-know what we worship ij/uie iri^ioaKWoviitv o niSaixev. for 22 Father. Ye worship ye-know 23 ^salvation awTi}pla is ol' the Jews. But thc-hour comctli, and now is, when the true worshippers shall- SCRIPTURF. 11. your God, and yc shall rejoice in all Itiat vc put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the LoKD thy God luitli blessed thee. 8, Ye shall not do after all the t/niiffs that we do hero tliis day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes. 9, For ye are not as yet como to the rest and to the inheritance, which the Loiii) your God giveth you. 10, But if/ien ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the land wliicU the Lord your God giveth you to inherit, and kIicii lie giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety ; 11, then there shall be a place which the LoKD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there ; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your bm-nt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all yoiu- choice vows [Heb., the cJioice ofyovr voids] which yc vow unto the LoED.' — The Lord chose Jerusalem, con- dilionalli/, 2 Chr. vii. 12 — 22, 'And the LoBD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, 1 have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice. 13, If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people ; 11, if my people, which arc c;illcd by my name [Heb., vpoii whom my name is called], shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and timi from their wicked ways; then will I hear from hcaveii, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 15, Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attcnt luito the prayer that is made in this place [Ileb., to the prayer of this jjlace]. 16, Por now have I chosen and sanctified tliis house, that my name may bo there for ever : and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. 17, And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments; 18, then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy fatlier, saying. There shall not fail thee [Ileb., there shall not be cut off to thee] a man to he rider in Israel. 19, But if ye tuni away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shaU go and serve other gods, and worship them ; 20, then wUl I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I liave given them ; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and wUl make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations. 21, And this house, which is high, shall be an astonislunent to every one that passeth by it ; so that he shall say, Wliy hath the LoKD done thus unto this land, and unto this house? 22, And it shall be answered, Because they for- sook the Lord God of their fathers, wliich brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped f hem, and served them : therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.' — Shall choose Jerusalem ayaiii, Zee. ii. 12, ' And the Loud I.Uf5TRATI0NS. shall inherit Judali his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.' — Under the new covenant, Je. iii. 14 — .7, {quo. Mt. ii. G, § 5, p. 53, 'My teople Iseaei.') 21. Tnis MOUNTAIN, NOR . . AT Jerusaiem. A great forsaliny predicted, Is. vi. 9 — 12, ' And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed [or, withotd ceasing ; llcb., hear ye in hearing, c^'c], but understand not ; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. 10, Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and sh\it tlicir eyes ; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and bo healed. 11, Then said I, Lord, how long ? And he answered. Until the cities be wasted without inliabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate [Heb., desolate with desolation], 12, and the Lord have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land.' — Desolation both of Samaria and Jerusalem predicted, Mi. i. 5, 6, (quoted ver. 5, p. 137, ' Samaeia,' and eh. iii.) 22. Ye worship te know not what. See as to the first insti- tution of the Samaritan worship, 2 Ki. xvii. 2-1 — 41. — See Ezr. iv. 2, 'Tlien they came to Zerubbabel, and to the cliief of the ftithers, and said imto them. Let us build with you : for we seek your God, as ye do ; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assur, which brought us up liither.' — The Athenians made an acknowledgment of similar ignorance, Ac. xvii. 23, ' For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions [or, gods that ye icors/iip], I found an altar with tliis inscription TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorautly worship, him declare I imto you.' Salvation is or the Jews. The Shiloh predicted to come of Judah, Ge. xhx. 10. — Salvation for Israel, Is. xlvi. 13, ' I bring near my righteousness ; it shall not be far off, and my salvation sh.iU not tan-y : audi will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.' — Jesus was a Jew, Zee. viii. 23, ' Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the sku-t of Him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you : for we have heard that God is with you.' — ' Our Lord sprang out of Jnda,' Heb. vii. 14, 'For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake notliing concerning priesthood.' —Called, Mt. i. 21, § 2, p. 23, ' JESUS : for he shall save his people fi'om theu' sins.' 23. True worsuippees. Is. xxvi. 2, ' Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepcth the truth may enter in.' — Ps. Ii. 6, ' Iliou desbest truth in the inward parts.' — Zep, iii. 9, \Z,{quoted Lu. i. 51, § 2, p. 21, second column.') NO' 21. Vorship the Father. Both places were to be laid waste, as being neglected of God ; the worship offered there being not ' in spirit and in truth.' It is worthy of remark, that all worship is most carefully shut out from the space formerly occupied by the temple at Jerusalem, except that of Muhammed, wliich most expressly refuses to acknowledge God as a Fatlier. 22. Ye worsliip ye know not what. Thougli the Samaritans received the five books of Moses, yet they rejected the prophets, and of course all that the prophets had said respecting the true God. TES. Originally, also, they had joined the worship of idols to that of the true God. — Sec 2 Ki. xvii. 26 — 34. Salvation is of the Jews. Christ the Saviour sprang of them, as also did the twelve apostles, and in general the first preachers of the gospel : the gospel proceeded from them to the Gentiles. 23. And now is. The old dispensation is about to pass away, and the new one to commence. Already there is so much light that God may be worsliipped acceptably in any place. The true worshippers. AU who worship God with the heart, and not merely inform. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. 22, .3 ver. I,et us never forget, that the salvation which hath been eo remarkably manifested towards us was of the Jews, and that it was sent from them to us, that we might become the true worship- pers, who should ' worship the Father in spirit and in truth.' 23 ver. Lot us know, that as truly as the former prediction, with regard to the ceasing of true worsliip in the land, has been fulfilled, so truly will this purpose of God with regard to the true worsliippers be fully accomplished also. )40 Malt. iv. 12, § 16, p. 157. Mark i. 14, ibid. Luke iy. 14, § 15, p. 149. [18. P-ART IT.] JESUS MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN. fSECT. xni. John iv. 24 — .6. 24 worship the Father in spirit and in- truth : for the Father seeketh such^to-worship him. 25 Spirit : and they ' that- worship him must worship / ' The Son of man is come to seek and to save tliat which was lost.'— Mt. X. 6, § 39, ' The lost sheep of the house of Israel ; '— whicJi are contrasted with treacherous Judah, Je. iii. 11. — 8,(^uoted Mt. ii. 6, § 5, p. 53, 'My people,' &c.) 21. God is A Spirit. Do. iv. 12, ' And the Lord spake unto you out of the midst of the fire : ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude ; only ye heard a voice.' — Ku. xxvii. 16, ' Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation.' — Heb. xii. 9, ' Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected lis, and we gave them reverence : shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and Uve?' — 1 Jno. iv. 12, 'No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is per- fected in us.' — 2 Cor. iii. 17, ' Now the Lord is that Spirit : and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there 2.! liberty.' 26. I THAT SPEAK UNTO THEE AM lie. Ch. is. 37, § 55, ' It 13 he t\)at talketh with thee.' — So tchen adjured by the High Priest, Mk. xiv. 61, .2, § 89, NOTES. 23. Ill truth. Not through the medium of shadows and types ; not by means of sacrifices and bloody oflerings, ' . . . a figure for the time then present, in whicli were olfered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience,' Ueb. ix. 9 ; but in the manner represented or typified by all these — in the true way of direct access to God through Jesus Christ. ' For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us,' ver. 21. For the Father seelceth, ^c. Jesus came to fulfil his Father's will ; he came ' to seeh and to save that which was losf,^ Lu. xix. 10, § 80. ' Salvation ' -was to be * of the Jews,' unto a people who were to be sought out ; that in them the Lord might more particularly manifest the wonders of redeeming love. 2t. Ood is a Spirit. This is the second reason why men shoidd worship him in spirit and in truth. 'The most Uigli dwcilelh not in temples made with hands,' Ac. vii. 48 ; ' neither is worshi))ped with men's hands, as though he needed anytliing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things,' xvii. 25. A pm'c, a holy, a spiritual worship, therefore, is such as he seeks — the oS*ering of the soul rather than the/ornial oflc'ring of the body — the homage of the Jieart rather than that of the lips. 25. Iknov) that Messias cometh. As the Samaritans acknowledged the five books of Moses, so they expected also tlie coming of the Messiah. Jl'ill tell us all things. Jesus had decided the question proposed to him, ver. 20, in favour of the Jews. The woman seems not to have been fidly satisfied, and therefore was disposed, as was cus- tomary in that age, to leave (he matter undecided till the advent of the Messiah, who would finally determine these controvci-sies. 2(5. I . . . am he. I am the Messiah. — See Kathauael's confession, ch. i. 49, § 10, p. 109. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. 24 ver. He who was sent of tlie Father to seek and to save the lost sheep of the house of Israel ha(h found us in the outward manifestation of his grace ; may he also find in us the character of the people he hath for so long a time been forming for liis praise. Let it be duly impressed upon us, that no mere outward cere- monies will suflice, — that God who is a Spirit can only be worshipjicd aright after his own nature, ' in spirit and in truth.' 25 ver. Let us beware of puttmg away from us that true know- ledge of God and his ways which he is even now wiUiiig to bestow. 2.0 ver. 'From the whole of this discourse we may learn — 1st. The great art and wisdom of the Lord Jesus in leading tlie thoughts along to the subject of practical personal religion. — 2nd. His know- ledge of the heart and of the life ; he must be, therefore, Divine. — 3rd. He gave evidence here that he was tlic Messiali. — Kb. We see 13.] Matt. iv. 12, § 10, p. 157. Mark i. 14, ibid. Luie iv. 14, § 15, p. 149. 141 SECT. XIII.] JESU3 ENTREATED BY HIS DISCIPLES TO EAT. [PAKT II. .John iv. 27—3.5, 27 And upon this came liis^ disciples, and marvelled that he-talked with the-woman : yet no-man said, 28 What seekest-thou ? or. Why talkest-thou with her? The woman then left her, water-pot, and wen t- 29 her-way into the city, and saitli to-the men, Come, see a-man, which told me all-things that-ever oaa I- 30 did : is not this the Christ? Then they-went out-of the city, and came unto him. 31 In the mean-wliile /<«, disciples prayed him, saying, Master, cat. 32 But he ' said unto-them, I haye 33 meat to-cat that ye know not of. ' Therefore said the disciples one--to--another, Hath--any-man-- 31 brought him oi/'//if to-eat ? ^.Tesus saith unto-them. My meat is to do'lva iroiw the will of'him-that- 3.') sent me, and to-finish TtXetwau) his, work. Say not ye. There- are yet four-months, and f/ten cometh harvest ? behold, I-say unto-you. Lift-up your^eyes, and look-on OiuaaaOt the fields ; for they-are white SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. 34. Mr MEAT. So Job, ch. xxiii. 12, ' I hare esteemed the wortU of Ilia mouth more than my necessary /oorf.' — Predicted of Christ, Ps. il. 7, 8, ' Tlien said I, Lo, I come : in the volume of the book it i> written of me, 8, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart [Ileh., in the midst of mi/ loicehy — Confirmation, Lu. ii. 49, § G, p. GG ; Jno. vi. 38, § 43, p. 390 ; xtu. 4, § 87, . . . — Our example, Heb. xii. 2, ' Looking uuto Jesus the author [or, beginner'] and finisher of our faith ; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throue of God.' 35. Habvzst. 7.S the reaping time— promised continuance of, Ge. viii. 22, ' While the earth [Heb., as get all the dags of the earth'] remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.' — A proper time for tcorJc, Pr. X. 5, 'He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: lilt he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.' — Is IJidfor a people whose sins are ripe for judgment, Je. li. 33, Tor tlius saith the Loed of hosts, the God of Israel ; the daughter of Babylon is Uke a threshing floor, it is time to thresh her [or, in the time that he thresheth her] : yet a little wlule, and the time of her NOTES. 27. Marvelled. VTondered. Tliey wondered because the Jews had no intercourse with the Samaritans, and they were surjirised that Jesus was engaged with her in conversation, for our Lord seemed rarely to converse with females, and the Jewish rabbins con- sidered it indecorous for a doctor to hold pubhc conversation with a woman, even though she were his wife, si^ter, or daughter. 29. 7s not this the Clirist 1 lii/Ti ovr6s iaTtv i> Xp. ' The woman seems to have meant, com-teously, to propose this rather as a ques- tion for fheii- consideration, than to ajprni it, at least by impUcation. In sliort, the sense expressed in fiJl would be, " Is this the Christ, or is he not ?" The latter member being iraphed and suggested by the n indefinite, which signifies perhaps. So I would understand Mt. xii. 23, fiiiTi ovrug iartv o v'lug Aauiii; besides other passages. The context, indeed, can alone, in such cases, decide whether beUef or disbehcf preponderated, and thus determme the exact sense.' 32. I hare meat to eat. ' I have mental and spii-itual enjoyments.' In the scriptural and rabbinical phraseology that is said to be any one's meat or drink, wrhereby Uc is supported, refreshed, or dehghted. 3 1. j1/// meat, ijt . Jesus here explains what he said in ver. 32. His great object — the gi-eat design of his life — was to do the will of God. lie eanie to that place weary and thirsty; an opportunity of doing good presented itself, and he fouud comfort and joy in doing the will of God — of him that sent him. To finish his wori: To complete or fully to do the work which he has commanded in regard to the salvation of men. It is his work to provide salvation, and liis to redeem, and his to apply the salvation to the heart. Jesus came to do it by teaching, by his example, and by dying to redeem. 33. Four months, ij'e. In Palestine there are about four months between the time of sowing and that of reapuig ; in other countries, generally more ; but here the seed sown in the woman at the well immecUately produces a plentiful harvest, in the many wUling hearers who may now have been seen coming from the city to welcome the Saviour of the world. This was a most expressive answer to the question of the disciples, ' JFhg talkest thou uith her?' And thus were they taught to be diligent in season and out of season. ' The allusion is to a proverb ; and its connexion with what follows may be thus explained: — Wlien the seed is first sown, is it not a common fiaymg, that there are yet foiu- months, and the harvest or reaping time will come ? Lift up your eyes, sm-rey the countiy round about, and be convinced, by the whiteness of the fields, that the fom- months are di'awing to a close ; and that the season of reaping is at hand. The end which was proposed by the reference to tliis natural phenome- non may also be explained as follows : — This ripeness of the visible and tlie natural harvest, now that the period requisite to the maturity of the seed is ■accomplished, may be an earnest to you of the ripeness of that as yet miseen and spu-itual haiTest, to bring wliich to maturity will be the object of my personal laboiu-s ; but to reap which will be the object of gours Our Lord was speaking prophetically .... of what was still future, as if it were already past.' — Greswell, Vol. II. Diss. sxi. pp. 222 — ..9. ' If a figurative import is put upon this efieet, however incon- gruous to the simpUeity of the acts wliich precede, it can still signify only one tiling, viz., that the fields were to be seen crowded with those among whom the spiritual haiTCst of our Saviour's miuisti-y either had begun, or was about to begin ; which crowding at least must have been a matter of fact. If so, the crowds of Samaritans were flocking from Sychar ; for our Lord was now on Gerizim ; and these inhabitants of Sychar were the proper subjects of om- Saviom-'s ministry.' — Hid., p. 223. PR.\CTICAL REFLECTIONS. our duty. It is to seize on all occasions to lead sinners to the belief that Jesus is the Oirist, and to make use of all topics of conversation lo teach them tlie nature of religion. There never was a model of so much wisdom in tliis as the Savioiu-; and we shall be successful only as we diligently study his character. — 5th. AVe see the nature of true religion. It does not consist merely in external fonus. It is pure, spiritual, active — a well, an cver-llowing fomitain. It is the worship of a pure and holy God, where the heart is offered, and wliere the desires of an humble soul are breathed out for salvation. 27 ver. Let us not question any of the words and works of Jesus. — Let us believe that he is right, even if we cannot fidly understand all tliat lie does. 29 ver. Let us, like the woman of Samaria, spread before others Matt. iv. 12, § 16, p. 157. Mart i. 14, ibid. 142 the evidence that Jesus is the Christ, and invite them to come and have personal knowledge of his being indeed the Sent of God. 31 — .4 rer. Let us truly do the will of God from the heart, so shall we find the saying true, In the keeping of his commandments there is a great reward (see Psa. xix. 11), aud be enabled to say with Jesus, ' 3fg meat is to do the will of him that sent me.' 34 ver. Let us not look for provision from God apart from the service unto which he hath called us, and let us be careful to finish the work he hath appointed us, ere we look for the full reward. If he was so diligent for our welfare, if he bore fatigue and want to benefit us, then ire shoidd be diligent also in regard to our own salvation, and also in seeking the salvation of others. Luke iv. 14, § 15, p. 149. [13. PART ir.] JESTJS ABIDES TWO DAYS AT SYCHAR. [SECT, xm John iv. 30—42. 3() already to harvest. And lie that-reapeth receivetli wages, and gatlieretli fruit unto life eternal : that 37 both he ' that-soweth and he ' that-reapeth may-rejoice together. And herein is that ' saying true, One 38 ^soweth oAXoc lariv 6 (XTTii^ujv, and another ^reapeth ilXXoe 6 depiZiov. I sent you to-reup that-whereon ye hcstowed-'uo'-liibour : other-men laboured, and ye are-entored into their^labours. 39 And many of-the Samaritans of that^city believed on him for the saying of-the woman, wliicli- 40 testified, He-told me all that-ever ocra I-did. So when the Samaritans were-come unto him, they- 41 besought him that-he-would-tarry with them: and he-abode there two days. And many more believed 42 because-of his-own^word ; and said unto-the woman. Now we-believe, not because-of thy^saying: for we-have-heard /lim ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of-the world. [Ver. 13, p. 117.] SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS, harvest sliall come' — and the gnfJteriiir; of ilie people to the gospel^ Mt. ix. 36, .7, § 39, p. 3.'> t ; Lu. x. 2, § 60, )i. 51C ;— ' the end of the world,' or ' the day of the Lord,' Mt. xiii. 39, § 33. — It is God that fliveih the increase, 1 Cor. iii. C — 9 : 6, ' I liave phvnted, Apollos watered ; hut God gave the increase. 7, So then neither is he that planteth any thing, ueitlier he tliat watereth ; but God that givetli the increase. 8, Now he that plantetli and he tliat watereth are one : and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9, For we are labourers together with God : ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.' 36. Both he that soweth and he that BEAPExn. Ee. xi. 1, ' Cast thy bread upon the waters : for thou slialt find it after many days.' — Is. xxxii. 20, 'Blessed are ye tliat suw beside all waters.' — Pa. cxxvi. 5, ' They that sow in tears shall reap m joy.' — Da. xii. 3, ' They that be w ise sliall shine as the brightness of the firmament ; aiid they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.' — See Pant's various service in the Gospel, 1 Cor. ix. 19 — 23, ' For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 20, And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews ; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law ; 21, to them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that arc without law. 22, To the weak became I as weak, that I miglit gain the weak : I am made all things to all men, that I might by aU means save some. 23, And this I do for the Gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.' — Ph. ii. 15, .6, ' That ye may be blame- less and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom yc shine [or, shine i/e'] as lights in the world ; 16, holding forth the word of Ufe ; that I may rejoice in the day of Chiist, that I have not ruu in vain, neither laboured in vain.' — 1 Th. ii. 19, 20, ' For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing [or, glori/ing'] ? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming ? 20, For ye are om- glory and joy.' — 2 Ti. iv. 7, 8, 'I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith : 8, henceforth tliere is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day : and not to me oiUy, but mito all them also that love liis appeariug.'^T/ie reaping. Rev. xiv. 14 — .6, ' And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like imto the Sou of man, havmg on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sliarp sickle. 15, And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud. Thrust in thy sickle, and reap : for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. 16, And he that sat on the cloud thrust in liis sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.' NOTES. 36. He that reapeth. u GipO^uiv. 'Jleaning one employed in any sort of harvest work. Here we have, as RosenuuiUer observes, a bleiuliug of the ajjodosis with the comparison. The sense being, "As the agriciUtm'al labourer receives his wages, whether for plough- ing or sowing, or for reaping and gathering the corn, so shall ye receive your reward for gathering men unto the kingdom of God ; and whether your labour be only preparatory, or such as consum- mates the spiritual hai-vest, ye sliall alike be blessed with an ample recompense."— B/oo/H_/ie?d. That both he that soweth, cj'c. It is the same work ; and whatever part we may do, we should rejoice. God gives the increase, while Paul may plant, and Apollos water. The teacher in the Sunday school who BOWS the seed in early life shall rejoice with the minister of the gospel who may gather in the haiTcst ; and if any good be elfected, by whatever instrument, to God belongs the praise. 37. One soweth, ^'c. The application of the provei'b is, that as Moses and the prophets, and finally John the Baptist, prepared the minds of men for receiving the gospel from Christ, so will the New Testament messengers reap tlie harvest of converts for wliich he had prepared. 41. Many more heliered. iTriarivaai', i.e., professed to believe in him as the promised Messiah. 42. The Saviour of the world. louse, or Kapalose. •SuECHEM was a very ancient place, though we do not find it mentioned as a city until tlie time of Jacob. "And Abram passed tlirough the land unto the place of Sicliem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land," Ge. xii. 6; miii. 18, .9. 'This con-esponds to the present village of Salim, which hes east of Nabulus across the great plain. In this plain the patriarch encamped, and purchased the "parcel of ground" still marked by his well, and the traditional tomb of Joseph. It was here that Dinah was defiled by Shechem, the son of Hamor, prince of the country, and the city SliecJiem, with its gates, is spoken of, named probably after tliat prince. It would seem not then to have been large, inasmuch as the two sons of Jacob were able to overcome and slay all the males, see Ge. xxxiv. Jacob's field, as we have seen, was a pennanent possession ; and the patriarch, even when residing at Hebron, sent liis flocks to pasture in this neighbom'hood. It was on a visit to them in this region that Joseph was sold by his brethren : xxxvii. 12 — .4, " And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Slicchem. 13, And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed I he Jloclc in Shechem ? come, and I will send thee imto them. And he said to him, Here am I. 14, And ho said to him. Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy bi-etlu'cn, and well with the flocks ; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem." ' On the return of tlie Israelites from Egypt, after they had passed over Jordan, they were dii'ccted to set up great stones and buUd an altar on mount Kbal ; and to station six of the tribes upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, and six upon mount Ebal to ciu'se. Between these two mountains, according to Josephus, lay Shechem, having Ebal on the north, and Gerizim on the south. In the division of the land, Sheeliem feU to the lot of Ephraim, but was assigned to the Levitcs, and made a city of refuge : " For they gave them Sliechem with her suburbs in mount Eplu'aim, to be a city of refuge for the slayer," Jos. xxi. 21. 'Here Joshua met the assembled people for the last time: ch. ixiv. 1, 25, 32, " And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for theii- judges, and for then- officers ; and they presented themselves before God." 25, "So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem." 32, "And the bones of Joseph, which the chikh-en of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver : and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph." ' In the days of the judges, Abunelech treacherously got possession of (he city, whii-h gave occasion for the beautiful parable of Jotham, delivered from mount Gerizim ; in the end the people proved treacherous to the usm-per, and he destroyed the city, Ju. ix. ' At Shechem all Israel came together to make Rchoboam kmg : "And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make hun kmg," 1 Ki. xii. 1. Here the ten tribes rebelled, and the city became for a time the royal residence of Jeroboam : " Then Jeroboam buUt Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein j and went out from thence, and built Pcnuol,'' ver. 25, ' We hear nothing more of it before the exile ; dm-mg wliich it seems still to have been inhabited : " There came eertam from Sheeliem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, even fom'seore men, having then" beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and having cut them- selves, with offerings and incense in their hand, to bring them to the house of the Loed," Je. xh. 5. After tlie exile, Shechem is mainly known as the chief seat of the people who thenceforth bore the name of Samaritans. ' Sichem, at the foot of Gerizim, became the metropolis of the Samaritans, and was inhabited by Gentiles, mixed with apostate Jews. ' The modem liistory of " Sheeliem" " Sichem," now Nabuhis, and the surrounding region, is one of wars and rcbeUion. Tliese districts were fonnerly regarded as among the most dangerous in Palestine. 'If of old the Jews had "no deaUngs with the Samaritans," the latter at the present day reciprocate the feehng ; and neither eat, nor drhik, nor marry, nor associate with the Jews ; but only trade with them.' — Sobitison's Billical Mesearches, Vol. III. pp. 114. — .36. 'Sychar is nearly concealed by the tliick olive groves of the vaUey, till you are within a few hundred yards of its walls, when it breaks upon the view — a charming object, with its gi-aeeful minarets enbosomed in the richest fohage. Almonds, pomegranates, vines, figs, mulberries, apples, and orange trees, grow with the greatest luxuriance ; while the cultivation of melons, cucumbers, &c., is abundant, and the produce carried as far as Jerusalem. The melons of Sychar are much esteemed. The garden hedges are for the most part foi-med of the priekly-pear (which is of the cactus/am.), and often interlaced with the luxm-iant vine. 144 Mail. iv. 12, § IG, p. 107. Mar/c i. 14, ibid. ' Sychar should be always viewed from without. The charm is lost when you enter into its miserable sti'ccts and offensive bazaars. Of its inhabitants, some were seated m groups, amidst pUes of melons, cucumbers, and other fruits ; some were engaged m cutting and preparing for sale large suppUes of tobacco ; others were carry- ing to and from the fomitaius water-bottles made of the untamied skins of sheep and goats ; while veUcd women were shuffling about in then- yeUow morocco boots, thrust into loose shppers, which gave them an awkward gait. In many of the houses and bazaars were extensive manufactures of cotton, in various stages ; some were carding, others were spinning, and not a few weavmg. There was a general appearance of activity, though m most streets were to bo found large parlies of those lovers of ease, whose day is spent re- clining in the shade, and inhaUng the fimies of Latakia.' — A Pasior's Memorial, cf-c, pp. 342 — ..4. 'Ti'aveUing fi-om Jerusalem to Nabidus, ana after passing the village of Lubban, the ancient Lebonah, and proeeeduig some dis- tance beyond it, we made,' Dr. Robinson wi-ites, ' a very considerable descent along a steep, narrow wady ; and very soon reached the bottom of a large and very stony valley, running towards the W.S.W. .... We coidd not learn the name of the valley Prom this valley we had rather a steep ascent to the summit of the liigh ridge on the north. We reached the top .... liavhig just before passed "the foiuidations of a ruined tower. Here we had our first view of the great plain of Mukhna, wliich stretches along for several hom-s on the east of the mountains among which Nabulus is situated. Those mountains were now before us in all their beauty ; mount Gerizim, crowned by a wely on its liighest pomt, bearhig north ; Litlce iv. 14, § 15, p. 149. John iv. 43, § 14, p. 147. , [13, PART II.] SHECHEM.— JACOB'S WELL. just beyond it tlio cntranre of the valley of Nabulus .... fiirtliei' nortli, the rugged hoiglita of mount Ebal ; and then the fine plain extending still beyonil towards the N.N.E., skirted on its eastern side, in its whole IcTigth, by tracts of pieturesque, though lower hiUs. .... Wo could pereeire our road forming a waving line along the foot of the high western hUls, and luider mount Gerizim, until it entered the valley of Nabidus, still two hours distant. ' A steep descent brought us in twenty minutes to the southern extremity of the plain, near a cistern ; in this part, indeed, the plain comes almost to a pomt .... (after a while,) the plahi spreads out to a greater width, the eastern hills retiring somewhat more. On that side they arc quite irregular and rocky, and often jut out into the plain ; while, on the western side, the base of the slopes departs nuicli less from a right line. The broad plain presented a beautiful appearance ; it is everywhere ciJtivated, and was now covered with the rich green of millet, mingled with the yellow of the ripe gi'ain, nduch the peasants were harvesting.* ' Instead of keeping along at the foot of the mountain quite to the entrance of the valley of Nabulus, the road ascends and winds aromid the N.E. corner of mount Gerizim. Wc tm'ned tlus point and entered the narrow valley running up N.W. between mounts Gerizim and Ebal ; thus leaving behind us the plain, wliich extends still further north. Below us, on the right, and just on the edge of the plain, are the ruins of a little hamlet, called Belat (xpe p. 146, of 'Jacob's well'); nearer at hand, and about in the middle of the mouth of the narrow valley, stands a small white building, a welt/, called Joseph's tomb ; while still nearer to the foot of Gerizim is the ancient well, known as that of Jacob. Directly opposite to the mouth of the valley, among the eastern hills, a beautiful smaller plain runs up eastward from the larger one ; and on the low hills, near its entrance on the north, are seen .... three villages, one of wliich is named Salim. — See Ge. xxxiii. 18 — 20. ' After turning the point of the mountain, our path descended very little ; yet so great is here the ascent of the narrow valley, that ill a quarter of an hour we came out upon its bottom, near a fine copious fountain in its middle, furnished with a reservoir. At about lialf-past one o'clock, we were opposite the eastern end of the Jong narrow town, which we did not now enter. Keeping the road along its northern side, we passed some high mounds, apparently of rubbish ; where, all at once, the ground sinks down to a valley riuining towards the west, with a soil of rich black vegetable mould. Here a scene of luxuriant and almost unparalleled verdure burst upon our view. The whole valley was filled with gardens of vegetables and orchards of all kinds of fruit, watered by several fountains, wliich bm-st forth in various parts, and flow westward in refi-eshing streams We saw nothing to compare with it hi all Palestine. Here, beneath the shade of an immense miUben'y tree, by the side of a purling rUl, we pitched our tent for the remainder of the day and night. ' The city of Nabidus is long and naiTow, stretching close along the N.E. base of mount Gerizim, in this small deep valley, half an [SECT. Xtll. hour distant from the great eastern plain. It has two long narrow streets running through the centre of (he valley, intersected by several smaller, and contains about 10,000 inhabitants, chiefly iMoslcnis ; the houses high, and in general well-built, all of stone, with domes upon the roofs, as at Jerusalem. The valley itself, from the foot of Gerizun to that of Ebal, is here not more than some 500 yards wide, extending from S.E. to N.W. The city lies directly upon a water summit in this valley, the waters in the eastcm part .... flowing off east into the plain, and so to the Jordan ; while the fine fountains on the western side send off a pretty brook down the valley, N.W., towards the Mediterranean. . . . Mounts Gerizim and Ebal rise in steep rocky precipices immediately from the valley (which runs nearly due east and west) on each side, apparently some 800 feet in heiglit. Mount Ebal, or the mount of cursing, rises on (he north side of the valley ; and mount Gerizim, or the mount of blesxing, on the south side of the valley. The sides of both f liese mountains, as here seen, were, to our eyes, equally naked and sterUc .... the only exception in favour of the former, so far as we could iierecive, is a small ravine coming down opposite the west end of the town, which, indeed, is full of fountains and trees; in other respects, both momitains, as here seen, arc desolate, except that a few olive trees are scattered upon them. The side of the northern mountaui, Ebal, along the foot, is fidl of ancient excavated sepulelires. 'Twenty minutes of ascent from the city .... led us to the top of Gerizim ; w liieli proved to he a tract of liigh table-land, stretching off far towards the W. and S.W. Twenty minutes more towards (he S.E., along a regular path upon the tabledand, brought us to the wely we had seen before, standing on a small eminence on the eastern brow of the moimtain. Here is the holy place of the Samaritans, whither they stUl come to worship. ' The whole valley of Nabulus is fidl of fountains, in-igating it abundantly ; and for that reason not flowing off in any large stream. The valley is rich, fertile, and beautifully green, as might be expected from this bomitiful supply of water. The sides of the valley, too, the continuation of Gerizim and Ebal, are studded with vUlages, some of them large ; and these again are smTounded with extensive tilled fields and olive groves; so that the whole valley presents a more beautiful and invithig landscape of green hdls and dales than perhaps any other part of Palest ine.f It is the deep verdure arising from the abundance of water which gives it this peculiar charm ; in the midst of a land where no rain falls in summer, and where of course the face of nature, in the season of heat and drought, as- sumes a brown and dreary aspect.' — Ibid., pp. 89 — 136. Sycliar is about forty miles north of Jerusalem. The cotton and soap manufactures are carried on there. In the town is a covered bazaar for fine goods, and an open one for provisions, and shops of every description ; it is about ten miles S.E. of the city Samaria. Lord Lindsay says, after leaving Nabidus, ' Two hours' ride, the following morning, through mule tracks, over the rocks, woni deep by the feet of ccntui-ies, took us to Siibaxln, the ancient Samaria, named by Herod Sebaste, in honour of Augustus.' — Lo>d Limlsaya Letters, Jidy, 1837, A'ol. II. p. 71. Jacob's well, John iv. 6, p. 137 Jacob's Well. — ' It lies at tlic mouth of the valley, near the south side. We came to the opening of the valley on the north side, at the ruins of the little Immlet called " Sehit." Joseph's tomb stands in the middle of the mouth of the valley ; and the well is a Uttle south of the tomb,J and just at the base of Gerizim, below the road by wliich we had passed along this morning. We were * ' After following the beautiful valley of Leban (old Lehonah), wliich wo entered about eight hours and a lialf from Jerusalem, for rather more than three hours, it expanded into a magnificent plam, waving with com — the parcel of groimd, there can be no doubt, which Jacob gave (o his son Joseph, and the gathering place, in every age of their history, of the elans of Israel • we saw camels and cattle wuiding their way through the coni-ficlds far below us.' — Lord Lindsai/'s Letters, July, 1837, A'ol. II. p. 73. f ' The valley of Naplous was, if possible, more beautiful by morning than by evening light, shaded tiy groves of figs, olives, almonds, and apricots, in full bloom, and bounded by lofty mountains, with a clear and beautiful stream winding and murmuring through its centre. For more than an hour we followed the course of the stream, and nothing could he more beautifully pietm-csquc than the little mUls on its banks, low, completely embosomed among the trees, and with their roofs covered with grass ; and sometimes the agreeable sound of a waterfall was the first intimation wc had of then- presence.' — See Stpj>/ipiis' Incidents of Trartl. t Mr. Fisk thus describes it: 'About a quarter of a mile northward of Jacob's well stands a whitetl sepulchre. It consists of four walls, open at the top, and has a doorway opening to the north. On the left is a kind of covered sareopliagus, over which a wild vine clusters luxuriantly. Towards the right is a raised jiiece of rude masonry, like the common coverings of Arab graves: iindis)uited tradition claims it as the tomb of Joseiili.' — A J'astor's Memorial, J^'c, p. 311. 'Tliere is a low pile of rude masonry, surrounded by large loose stones, and foundations of walls. A very ancient well is concealed 13.] Malt. iv. 12, § 16, p. 157. MarH: i. 14, ibid. Lvte iv. 14, § 15, p. 149. Juki, iv. 43, § 14, p. 147. 11.') K SECT. XTII.] tliirty-fivo mimitos in coming to it fioni the city. It was now dry and doiicrted ; but iisunlly contains living water, and not merely to bo nUod by the rains By dropping in stones, wo could perceive that it was deep* Maimdrcll describes it as dug in a firm rock, and abont three yards in diameter, and thirty-five feet deep, five of wliieli were full of water. ' I Bee much in the circumstances tending to confirm the sup- position that thi'f i-i uctually the spot where our Lord lield his con- versation with (he Samaritan woman. Jesus was journeying fi'om Icnisalem to Galilee, and rested at the well, while " ?iis cllsciphx were gone awai/ unio fhe cUy to Imj meat," Jno. iv. 8. The well, therefore, lay apparently before the city, and at some distance from if. In passing along the eastern plain, Jesus had halted at the well, and sent his di-scijiles to the citj- situated in the narrow valley, intending on their return to proceed along (he plain on his way to Galilee, without himself visiting the city. All this corresponds exactly to the present character of the groimd. A very obvious question presented itself to us upon the spot, viz., how "it can be supposed tliat (he woman should have come from the city, now half an hour distant, with licr water-pot, to di-aw water fi'om THE SAMAEITANS. [PART 11. Jacob's well, when there are so many fountains just around the city, and she must have also passed dii'cclly by n large one, at mid- distance ? The ancient city might probably biy in part nearer to this well than the modern one j and there is nothuig improbable or unusual in the sujiposition, that tlie inhabitants may have set a pecidiar value on the water of this ancient well of Jacob, and have occasionally put themselves to llie trouble of going thither to di-aw. That it was not the ordinary public well of tlie city is probable fi-om the circiuustancc, that there was here no public accommodation for drawing water, iv. 11. It was probably dug by the patriarch in some connexion with the possession of the "parcel of (/round" bought of Ilamor, the father of Shechem, which he gave to his son Josepli, and in wliich Joseph and probably his brethren were buried. Tlie practice of the patriarchs to dig wells wherever they sojom'ued is well known ; and if Jacob's field, as it would seem, was here before the mouth of the valley of Shechem, he might pi'cfer not to be de- pendent for water on fountains wliich lay up that valley, and were not his own. I think we may thus rest with confidence in the opinion that this is Jacob's well, and here the parcel of gromd which Jacob gave to his son Joseph.' — Rolinson^s BlUical He- searches, Vol. III. pp. 107— .13 Sec sect. 15, p. ISfi, Infra. ADDENDA. THE SAMARITANS 'The Samaritans, mentioned in the New Testament, are generally considered as a sect of the Jews. ' Tliis appellation is, in the New Testament, given to a race of people who sprang oi-iginally from an intermixture of the ten tribes .vith Gentile nations. When the inhabitants of Samaria and of the adjacent counti-y wei'C can-ied into captivity by Shahnaneser king of Assyria, he sent in then- place colonies from Babylonia, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, and Sepharvaim ; ... Of them it is said, 2 Ki. xvii. 2t, "And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and fi'om Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Ilamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the childi-en of Israel : and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof" An origin like tliis would, of course, render the nation odious to the Jews ; and the Samaritans further augmented this cause of hatred by rejecting aU the sacred books of the Jews, except the Pentateuch, which they had received from the Israelitish priest who had been sent to them from Assyria to instruct them in the tnie religion, ver. 27, .8. On the return of the Jews from the Babylonish captivity, when they began to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple, the Samaritans requested to be acknowledged as Jewish citizens, and to be permitted to assist in the work ; but their application was rejected, Ezr. iv. 1—4'. In consequence of this refusal and the subsequent state of enmity, the Samaritans took occasion to calum- niate (he Jews before the Persian kings, ver. 5. Reciu-ring to the dircc(«ons of Moses, De. xxvii. 11— .3 {see "In this mountain," Notes, p. 139), that on entering the promised land the Hebrews shoiUd oU'er sacrifices on mount Oerizim, they also erected a temiJe on that mountain, and instituted sacrifices according to the pre- scriptions of the Mosaic law.t From all these and other cu-eum- stances, the national hatred between the Samaritans and Jews increased to such a height, that the Jews denounced the most bitter anathemas against them, Ecelus. 1. 26, and for many a^es refused them every kind of intercourse. Hence the woman of Samaria was astonished that Jesus Clu-ist, who was a Jew, shoidd ask drink of her, Jno. iv. 9, p. 137. Hence also the Jews, when they would express the utmost aversion to Christ, said to liim. Jno. iv. 9, p. 137. " Thou art a SamaeitaN, and hast a deril," ch. viii. 4S, § 55. The temple on mount Gerizim was destroyed by Hyrcanus, B.C. 129 : but the Samaritans, in the time of Jesus, esteemed that mountain sacred, and as the proper place of national worship, ch. iv. 20, .1, p. 139. At that time, also, in common with the Jews, they expected the advent of a Slessiah, ver. 25, p. 141, and many of them afterwards became the followers of Jesus Christ, and embraced the doctrines of his religion : Ac. viii. 5, 12 ; ix. 31 ; xv. 3. 'At present, the Samaritans are very much reduced in point of numbers. Their principal residence is at Sichem, or Shechem, now called Napolose or Nalulus. In 1823, there were between twenty and tliirty houses, and about sixty males paid the capitation tax to the Muhammedan government. Formerly tliey went four times a year, in solenni processior., to the old synagogue on momit Gerizim : and on these occasions tliey ascended before sunrise, and I'cad the law till noon. The Samaritans have one school at Napolose, where then- language is taught. The Samaritans at Napolose are in posses- sion of a very ancient MS. Pentateuch, said to be nearly 3,500 years old ; but they reject the vowel points as a rabbinical inven- tion.'— Hbrne'i Introd., Vol. III. pp. 371, ..2. 'The Samaritans pretend to great strictness in their obseiTance of the law of Moses, and account the Jews intolerably lax. From the letter of their high priest to Joseph Scaliger, about 200 years ago, and which was in the library of the French king, it appears that they profess to believe in God, and in his servant Moses, and in the holy law, the mount Gerizim, the house of God, and the day of vengeance and peace. They keep the Jewish sabbath so strictly, that they will not move out of then- place, except to their synagogue. They always circumcise their children on the eighth day after birth. They do not marry their own nieces nor allow a plurality of wives, as the Jews do. Tlieir high priest still resides at Shechem, and otlcrs their sacrifices at then* temple on mount Gerizim.' — 'No individual of the Samaritan faith, with whom they have any ac- quaintance, are supposed to be resident at any other place but NabiUus.' — See Dr. IVilson's Lands of the Bihle, Vol. II. p. 64. by these remains, caUed by the Arabs " Sis Yaioob," the descent to wluch is through a nai-row mouth in the stonework above, covered with a massive fragment of stone, too heavy for us to remove. In addition I learnt that the " well is deep," and I had " nothing to draw with."'— Hill., I,. S30. '^ • Mr. Calhoun, a recent European traveller, ascertained its depth at seventy-five feet, with about twelve feet of water. + The nnmedrnte occasion appears from Nehemiah, ch. xUi. 28, 'And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashih fhe high priest, was son ,n law to Sanlallat the JToronite : therefore I chased him fro,,, me.' And for whom Sanballat built (he temple, . con- stitulmghim high priest. According to Joscphus, 'If a Jew at Jerusalem was called to an account for eating unclean food, or for tIT, "fp '",•,!' ,°'^,x °"^ '"'"''"■ "■™^' ''" ^'^ '° ""■ S'^l"'=i"^es, declaring hmiself to be unjustly ^coixscd.'-Solinson's JJiOlical Researches, Vol. III. p. 117. j j 14G iU«/«. iv. 12, § IC, p. 157. Marl: i.U, Hid. i»^e iv. 14, § 15, p. 119. Jo7,» iv. 43, § 14, p. 147. [13. PART IT.] JESUS DEPARTS INTO GALILEE. [SECT. xiy. SECTION 14. — From Sycpiar .TEfsus proceeds to G.\lilee; John being now cast into prison, Jesus again visits Cana. He heals the son of a nobleman, lying sick in Capernaum—'' Joliu iv. 43—54. introduction sojourning two days witli tlie Samaritans, [G. Hi.] Jno. iv. 43. After Jesus proceeds into Galilee. — iv. 41. He testifies ' tlial a prophet ha/h no Jionour hi 7iis own country.^ — iv. 45. Being come into Galilee, lie is received by those who had seen his miracles at Jerusalem. — iv. 46. Jesus comes again into Cana. — iv. 40, .7. He is met by a nobleman who has a son sick at Capernaum, and, having hoard of Jesus' arrival, has come to beseech him to go and heal his son, who is at the point of deatli. — iv. 48. Jesus remarks, that except they see signs and wonders they will not believe. AND ANALYSIS. Jno. iv. 49. The nobleman is afraid liis child will die ere Jesua comply with his request. — iv. 50. Jesus tells him to go home, that his son lives. The man believes, and obeys. — iv. 51. He is met by his servants, who salute him with the very words Jesus had uttered, ' Thy son llveth.' — iv. 52, .3. The father, on inquiry, finds that the amendment took place the same time as Jesus first spake to him the words now repeated by the servants. — iv. 53. The nobleman and liis family beUeve on Jesus. — iv.' 54. Compare with ver. 46. (G. IG.) Jesits departs into Galilee. — John iv. 43 — .G. Cana. [For ver. 42, see § 13, p. 143.] 43 Now after two^days he-departed thence, and went into^Galilee. 44 For.Jesus himself testified, that a- 45 prophet hath no honour in Jiis-own country. Then when he-was-come into ^Galilee, the Galilieans received him, having-seen all-the-things that he-did at Jerusalem at the feast : for they also went unto 4G the feast. So- Jesus came again into^Cana of GaUlee, where he-made the water wine. A nolleman s son healed. — John iv. 4G — 54. And there-was a-certain nobleman, whose ^ sou was-sick at Capernaum. 47 When-"hc"-heard that Jesus was-come out-of^ Judaea into ^ Galilee, he-went unto him, and besought him that he-would-come-down, 48 and heal his^son: for he-was-at-the-point-of death ?}ju£XXe airoOviiuKHv. Then said^.Jesus unto him, scripture illustrations. 43. Afteb two DATS. See ver. 40, § 13, p. 143. This allotoed time for those who had seen his miracles in Jerusalem to return to Galilee, and prepare the minds of the people for him there, ver. 45. 44. No HONOUE IN HIS OWN couxTET. See Mt. xiii. 57, § 37, p. .■! 17 ; Lu. iv. 24, § 15, p. 153. 45. HiVlNa BEEN. See ch. ii. 23, § 12, p. 120. 46. Sick. See other instances : The woman of Canaan's daughter, Mt. XV. 22, § 45, p. 408 ;— Ja/*-!fs' daughter, Mk. v. 22, .3, § 36, p. 338 ; — Lazarus, Jno. xi. 3, &c., § 5S, p. 532. 47. BESoronx. Invitation to call vpon the Lord in troulle, Ps. 1.15, 'And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou slialt glorify me.' — Case of centurion's ser- vant at Capernaum, Mt. viii. 5 — 13, § 28, p. 274. NOTES. 44. For Jesus himself testified, S;e. He did not immediately go into his own coiuitry, but delayed two days in Samaria, at Sychar, to allow time for those wlio witnessed his miracles at Jerusalem to return home, and prepare the mmda of the people for a favourable reception of him. At Cana he spake the word which healed the nobleman's son at Capernaum, and led to liis being more readdy received as a prophet there and in the region aroimd. 45. Seceived him. Gave him a favourable reception as a mes- senger from God. Tliey had seen his miracles and believed on him. 46. Cana of OalUee. See Geoo. Notices, § 11, p. 116. A certain nohlenian. rig jiaaiXiKoQ, ' ruler.' — Tindal. This is thought to have been Chuzai Herod's stewai-d, whoso wife became afterwards an attendant upon our Lord, Lu. viii. 3, § 30, and, it has been supposed, in consequence of the miracle wrought upon her son. Capernaum. See Geog. Notices, § 11, p. 116. 47. He went mito him. The rich and the poor, the high and the low, must come personally as humble suppliants ; and must be willing to bear all the reproach that may be cast on them for thus coming to him. This man shewed strong faith in being willing thus to go to Jesus : but he had an eiToneous view that Jesus could heal only by his being present with liis son. Come down. 'The whole route from Cana, according to the position of the place now so called, is a continued descent toward Capernaum.' — E. D. Clarke. The distance was about twelve or fourteen miles. PRACTICAL reflections. 44 ver. Let us beware of despising those of the Lord's messengers i 45 ver. God overrules man's evil for good, with whose early history we are familiar. 43, .4 ver. How conde«cending was our Lord, in taking upon him, not only the form of a servant, but iti also enduring the neglect, reproacli, and suffering connected with his office! leaving us an example of patient labour, in tlie most trying circumstances. The seiwant of God must not shun to deliver his message, where he knows he will be slighted, as well as where he is favoin-ably received ; * whether they vill hear, or whether they will furhear,' Ezc. ii. 5 ; but ho must be careful to use whatever means may be in his power for removing the obstacles to a favourable reception of his message. The rejection of the Lord's message in one place may be the occasion of its conveyance to anotlier, from whence the manifestation of the truth may go forth with gi-eatcr power to the place of its first appearance. 46 ver. Let us, witli oiu- Lord, sympathize not only with tlie joys, but also with the sorrows of those around us. 47 ver. Let us have faitli in Jesus,— in his gi'acc and power, so as to apply to him for healing, both for ourselves and those that are dear to us. Let us not, by ourmibelief, limit liim as to his jiower to relieve and to bless, but look for deeds to be done by hiin worthy of God. 14.] Matt. iv. 12, § 16, p. 157. Mark i. 14, ibid. LvTte iv. 14, § 15, p. 149. 147 SKCT. XIV.] JESUS HEALS A NOBLEMAN'S SON. [PART TT. John iv. 40 — 51. •li) Exccjit ye-see signs aiitl wonders, yo-will--uof-belicvo. The noblemnn snitli iiiilo him, Sir, como-down r)0 ero niy/chihl die. ^.Tusus siiitli un'to-liiui, Go-tliy-way ; thy, son liveth. And the niiin believed tho .01 word that,.lcsiis hiid-si)oken nnto-liini, and lie-went-liis-way. And as--he--was--now-going-down, liis 52 servants met him, and told him, saying. Thy, son liveth. Then cnqnired-hc of them the hour when hc- M began to-amcnd Koi4<',Tipov taxt. And they-said unto-him, Yesterday at-the-seveuth hour the lever left hiin. So the hither l■, he-went into the 17 synagogue on the sahbath^day, and stood-up for-to-read. And-there-was-dehvered unto-him the-book scripture illustrations. 11. Power op the Spieit. Had been promised. Is. xi. 2, ' And the Spirit of the Loud shall rest upon him, the spii-it of wisdom and understanding, the spu'it of counsel and miglit, the spii'it of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.' — xlii. 1, ' Behold my servant, whom I uphold ; mine elect, in whom my soul delightcth ; I have put my sjiirit upon iiim: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.' — The Spirit descended upon him, Lu. iii. 22, § 8. — The disciples were to receive power hy the Moli) Ghost coming upon them, from their exalted Head: so tvere they to become witnesses for him ' unto the uttermost part of the earth,' Ac. i. 8, § 98. Fame of him. The fame of Jesus ' went throughout all Syria,' Mt. iv. 21, § 18, p. 168 ; — ' and tlu-ough all the region round about Galilee,' Mk. i. 28, § 17, p. 163. 16. Custom. Referred to by Jesus, Jno. xyiii. 20, § 89 ;— followed by the apostles, Ac. xiii. 5, 14 — .6. — xvii. 1, 2, ' Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessa- lonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews ; 2, and Paul, as his manner was, went in mito them, and tlu'ce sabbath days reasoned with tliem out of the Scriptures.' — xix. 8, &c., 'And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of tlu'ce montlis, dis- putuig and persuaduig the tilings concerning tlie kingdom of God.' — Prediction, Ps. xxii. 22, ' I wiU declare thy name unto my brethren : in the midst of tlio congregation will I praise thee.' — xl. 9, 10, ' I have preached righteousness in the great congregation : In, I have not reframed my lips, O Lokd, thou knowest. 10, I have not liid thy righteousness witliin my heart ; I have declared thy faithfuhicss and thy salvation : I have not concealed thy loving- kindness aud thy truth from the great congregation.' NOTES. 11. In the poioer of the Spirit. Under the powerfid influence of the Spu'it . A fame. A report.— See Mt. iv. 21, § 18, p. 168. 16. And, as his custom teas, he went, ^e. From this it appears tliat our Lord regularly attended the service of the synagogue. The synayoyue. See Addenda, ' Synaooque,' p. 156. Stood tip for to read. AH the people stood up at the reading of the law. 17. There loas delivered unto him. 15y the minister of the synagogue, or the keeper of the sacred books. Tlicy were kept m an ark, or chest, not far fi'om the pulpit, and the minister gave them to whomsoever he chose, to read them pubUcly. The book. The roll, or volume containing Isaiah. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. 11 ver. Let us seek that the messengers of Jesus may go forth ' in the power of the Spirit,' in the declaring of liis message ; earnestly desiring that the fame of Jesus may be spread abroad, in all the region around. 15 ver. Let lus not mistake our glorifying I he speaker for the being truly and permanently benoHtcd by his message. Jesus was glorified of all in the synagogues, and yet, speedily, they cast liim out. 16 ver. Let it bo our custom, like that of Jesus, to go on the sabbatli day where we may have an opportunity, along witli others, of rcadhig the Holy Scriptures. 15.] Matt. iv. 12, § 16, p. 157. Mark i. 11, ibid. John v. 1, § 23, p. 228. ' It is of vast importance that the public worship of God should be maintained j and it is our duly to assist ui iiKiintauiing it, to shew by our example that we love it, and to win otlicrs to love it also.— See Heb. x. 25, " Nut forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is ; but exhorting one another : and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." At the same time this ivmark cannot bo construed as enjoming it as our duty to attend a place where the true God is not woi-sliii)iH-d, or where ho is worshipped by pagan rites and pagan prayers. As, therefore, tho Unitarian does not worship the true God in Christ, and as the Roman Catliohc worships God in a manner forbidden, and offers homage to the creatures of God also, thus being guilty of idolatry, it cannot be our duly to attend on such worsliip.' MO SECT. XV.] JESlS PEliACHES AT NAZAEETH. fPART II. Ll'KE iv. 18. of-thc propliet Esnins. And whcn-lic-lmcl-opcned the book, lic-foinul the place where it-was writtca, 18 Thc-Spiiit ol-thc-Lord i.i upon mc, bcuauso ho-hath-anoiutcd me to-picach-the-gospel to-the-poor; he- hatb-scut me to-hcal tlic broken hearted (Tui/TtTpijujueroDf r»> Kup^iav, to-prcach deliverance o'^Effd- to- SCKIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. 17. Opened the cook. See as to E:,-a, Nc. viii. 5, 'And Ezra j are mighty.'— Israel, aftef lehig made pooi; Uos. ii. 3, 13, 'Lest opened tlic book in the sight of nil the people ; (for he was above I strip her naked, and set her as in the day that she was bom, sU tlie people ;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up.'— /i! ^ and make her as a wikleniess, and set her Uke a diy land, and slay teas after hh death and resurrection more particularly that Jesus her with thirst.' 13, 'And I will visit upon her the days of Baalim, wherein she burned incense to them, and she decked her- self with her earrings a:id her jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgat me, saith the Lord.' — ivas to have the words of corn- opened the Scriptures to his disciples, Lu. xxiv. 32, 45, §§ 94, .8, The Lamb as hai'inr; been sluin took the bool; Sic, Eev. r. 7, 'And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.'— .4< his opening of the first seal, there went forth, ^■c, vi. 2, ' And I saw, and behold a white horse : and he that sat on liim had a bow ; and a crown was given unto him : and be went forth conquering, and to conquer.'— r/;('s white horse seems to have been expressive of the same glad tidings declared. Is. Ixi. 1 — 3 (quoted Lu. ii. 40, § 6, p. 64, ' Grace,' &c.) 18. Anointed. Predicted also, Da. ix. 24, ' Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish [or, to restrain'] the transgression, and to make an end of [or, to seal upl sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in ever- forl spoken to her in the wilderness, ver. 14, ' Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wildernes.o, and speak comfortably unto her,' [or, upon Iter heart], — Is. xl. 1 3, ' Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 2, Speak ye comfortably [Heb., to the heart] to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare [or, aj'pointcd time] is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned : for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins. 3, The voice of him that crieth in the wilder- ness. Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight iu the desert a highway for ora- God.' — Of lohich preaching, that of John was a lasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and J''^''.?''> ^^k. i. 3, § 7, p. (\). to anoint the most \lo\y.'~Eecognised, Jno. iii. 34, § 13, p. 134.— jjj,^^ ^jjj, BROKEN UEAETED. The Lord doeth this, Ps. xxxiv. IS, Ac. iv. 27, 'For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou .rpj^^ -^^^^ -^ ^^■^„^^ ^^^jj, „jp„^ tj^^t ^^.^ ^f ^ broken heart ; and hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the GentUes, ! s^veth such as be of a contrite spirit.'— exlvu. 3, 'Uo hcaleth and the people of Israel, were gathered together.'- x. 38, 'God'jj^g broken in heart, and bindeth up then- wounds [Ilcb., anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.' GosrEL to the roon. It had been predicted that, Is. xxix. 19, 'the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.' — Thus Jesus commenced his sermon on the mount, Mt. v. 3, § 19, 'Blessed are the poor in spirit : for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.' — Thus he characterised his ministry to John, xi- 5, § 29, 'The poor have the gospel preached to them.' — See the invitation to the griefs].' — Fragcrfor healing, xh. 4, 'I said. Lord, be merciful unto mc : heal my sold ; for I have sinned against thee.' — Je. xvii. 14, 'Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed ; save me, and I shall be saved : for thou art my praise.' — The brol-en-heartedness of Israel, Eze. xxxvii. 11, ' Then he said unto me. Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel : behold, tliey say. Our bones arc dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.' — Is. liv. 6, 'For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.' — marriage, xxii. 9, 10, § 84. — The poor are instruments of God's The promise of healing, ver. 7, 8, 'For a small moment have I for- power in the Gospel, Ja. ii. 5, 'Ilath not God chosen the poor of ^ saken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. 8, In a fliis world rich in faith ?' — 1 Cor. i. 26, .7, ' Foi- ye see yom' calUng, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called : 27, but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise ; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which little wTath I liid my face from thee for a moment ; but with ever- lasting kindness will I have mercy on tliee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.' — Ivii. 18, ' I liave seen liis ways, and will heal him : I \vill lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.' — Je. xxx. 17, 'For I will restore health unto thee. NOTES. WlienTie had opened. drnnri'Snc, 'having unrolled ;' for books formerly wci'e written on voUs of paper or parchment, or vellum. These rolls were fastened to two laths with handles, by holding which m his hand the reader coidd roll or unroll the book. 18. The Spirit of the Lord, ifc. The Holy Ghost, which had descended upon liim in the form of a dove, abode upon him. Anointed. The anointing of persons or tilings imder the law imported the setting of them apart to the sciTioe of God, or to some noted olfice of prophet, priest, or king; and was typical of the comnuuiication of the Holy Ghost to Christ and liis cluu-ch, Ex. ixviii., xxix. The Holy Ghost is called an nnciion, or anointing. God's anointing of om' Redeemer imports his caUiug bun to the ofBcc of Mediator, Prophet, Priest, and King ; hence the Son of God is called the Messiah, a Hebrew word signifying the Anointed; or the Christ, a Greek word signifying the same thing. Chi-ist's unction was the descent of the Holy Spirit upon liun at his baptism ; whereby, as Peter says, Ac. x. 38, ' God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Uohj Ghost and with poicer' To preach the gospiel to the pioor. By the poor, are meant all those who are sensible of then' sins, or are poor iu spirit, Bit. v. 3, § 19 ; and aU the vuserahle and the afflicted, described iu Is. Iviii. 7, as luuigiy, and cast out, and naked. The Pharisees and Sadducees despised the poor. Aucieut pliilosophcrs neglected them. Riches too often fill the mind with pride, with seU-complaeency, aud with a feeling that the gospel is not needed. — See Eev. iii. 17. But the Gospel pom's contempt on all hmnan gi-eatncss, and seeks, hke God, to do good to those whom the world overlooks or despises. To heal the broken-hearted. To console those who are deeply afflicted, or wliosc hearts arc broken by external calamities, or by a deep sense of thcii" sinfidncss. PRACTICAL REFLECTION'S. 17 ver. Let us beware, upon any pretence, of neglcctmg the written word, and especially the word of prophecy. — It was Jesus, tho Son of God, who entered the synagogue, and he came there ' in the power of the Spirit; aud that m wliich we find him there engaged is, readmg ' the booh of the prophet Esaias.' 18 ver. Let us not say that tho Spu-it is not needed now ; it was 150 Matt. iv. 12, § 16, p. 157. upon Jesus as tho Head of liis body : and should bo earnestly desired for the work of the ministry in every member of the body. As we desu-e that Jesus may see of the travail of liis soul, let us aid, to the utmost of our power, in preaching the glad tidings to the poor, in hcahng the broken-hearted, iu setting at liberty the bound, and those that are oppressed, and in doing good to all as we have Mark i. 14, Hid. John v. 1, § 23, p. 228. [15, PART II.] ^StlS PEEACSES AT NAZAEETfl. [SECT. XV. Luke iv. 18. thc-captivesj and rccoveiing-of-siglit to-the-bliud, to-set at liberty tlicni-tliat aic-bruiscd, aTruoTuXai SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. and I will heal (heo of thy wounds, saitli the LoED; because they called thee an Outcast, sat/iiii/, This is Zion, whom no man scelicth after.' — Wi/h /lis stripes, ifr., Is. liii. 5, 'But he !c«4' wounded [or, iormeiiteil^ for our transgressions, lie iras bruised for our iniquities : tlic chastisement of om- peace icas upon liim ; and with liis stripes [Heb., Iruise'] we are healed.' Deiivebance to the CAniVEg. The Deliverer is called Jesus, because he saves 'his people from thcii' sins,' &c., Mt. i. 21, § 2, p. 23; — delivers from the dominion of sin, Kom. vi. 11 — 23, 'Like- wise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed imto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12, Let not sin therefore reign m your mortal body, that yo should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13, Neither jield ye your members as instrmncnts [Gr., arms, or, iveapons'] of unrighteousness unto sin : but yield yom'selves unto God, as those that are ahve from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousucss mito God. 11, For sin shall not bare dominion over you : for ye arc not under the law, but under grace. 15, What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but uuder grace ? God forbid. 16, Know ye not, that to whom yo yield yom'selves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey ; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience xmto righteousness? 17, But God he thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye liave obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine wliieh was delivered you [Gr., whereto ye irere delivered^. 18, Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19, I speak after the manner of men because of the inCnnity of yom- flesh : for as ye have yielded yoiu- members servants to unclcamicss and to iniquity luito iniquity ; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20, For when ye were the servants of sui, ye were free fi'om I'ight- eousness [Gr., to righteousness']. 21, Wliat fruit had ye then in those things whereof yc are now ashamed? for tlie end of those things is death. 22, But now being made free from sui, and become sciTants to God, ye have your fruit unto liohncss, and the end everlasting life. 23, For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord:'— ajirf^jue* jkck repentance, 2 Tim. ii. 25, .6, ' In meekness mstructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventm-e will give them repen- tance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26, and that they may recover [Gr., awal-e'] themselves out of the snare of the devU, who are taken captive [Gr., taken alive'] by liiiu at his will.' — Israel's captivity predicted. Am. vii. 17, 'Therefore thus saith the LoiiD ; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt the in a polluted land: and Israel shall Burely go into captivity forth of his land.' — Accomplished, 2 Ki. xvii. 18 — 23. — Deliverance predicted, Je. xxx. 8, 9, 'For it shall come to pass in tluit day, saith the LoED of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and wiU burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him : 9, but they shall seiTC tlic Lord their God, and David their king, whom 1 will raise up mito them.'— Ps. cii. 19—22, 'For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary ; from heaven did the Loed behold the earth; 20, to hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death [Hcb., the children of death] ; 21, to declare the name of the Loed in Zion, and Ids i^raisc in Jerusalem ; 22, wlien the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to scne the LOED.' — cvii. 10 — .6; cxivi. 1—4; Is. xlii. 7, 'To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house' — xlis. 9, 21 — .6 ; lii. 2, 3, ' Shake thyself from the dust ; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem : loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion. 3, For thus saith the Loed, Yc have sold youi-sclvcs for nought; and yo shall be redeemed mthout money.' — Israel shall work deliverance for others, when folloicing Him who is their riyhfe- ousness, cf'c, Iviii. 6 — 8, ' Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickcthiess, to undo the heavy burdens [Heb., the bundles of the yoke], and to let the oppressed [Hcb., broken] go free, and that ye break every yoke ? 7, Is it not to deal thy bread to the huugiy, and that thou bring the poor [or, afflicted] that ai-e east out to thy house ? when thou secst the naked, that thou cover him ; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh ? 8, Then shall thy light break forlli as the morning, and thine health shall spruig forth speedily : and thy righteousness shall go before tlicc; the glory of the Loed shall be thy rcreward [Heb., shall gather thee np]^ — So shall their own captivity be fully restored, 11, .2, 'And the LoKD shall guide thee contuuiaUy, and satisfy thy soul in di-ought, and make i;it thy bones : and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and Uke a spruig of water, whose waters fail [Heb., lie, or, deceive] not. 12, And tltey that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places : thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations ; and thou shalt be called. The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell m.' — Ixi. 1 — Z,{quotcd Lu. ii. 40, § 6, p. 64, ' Grace,' &c.)-Pr. xxiv. 11, .2, ' If thou forbear to dchvcr them that are di-awni unto death, and those that are ready to be slain ; 12, if thou saycst. Behold, we knew it not ; doth not he that pondcreth the heart consider it ! and ho that kecpcth thy soul, doth not he know it ? aud shall not he render to every man according to his works?' Eecoteeixg of sight to tue beixd. IsracVs blindness pre- dicted. Is. xxix. 9 — 14, ' Stay yourselves, aud wonder ; cry ye out, aud cry [or, take your pleasure, and riot] : they are ch'imken, but not with wine ; they stagger, but not with strong di'uit. 10, For the Loed bath poured out upon you the spiiit of deep elccp, and NOTES. Deliverance to the captives. Captive, one taken prisoner ui war. There is a two-fold captivity — 1. Natueai, when men are appre- hended by the enemy, and are carried out of then' own land, and held in slavery. Do. xxviii. 48. 2. Sinful, when one is carried away, and oppressed or enslaved uuder the power of Satan, and his own inwiu-d eoiTuption, Rom. vii. 23 ; 2 Tim. ii. 26. Israel had been led away captive by the Assyrian, 2 Ki. xvii. 6 ; and they had not been restored from captivity, ver. 23, as the Jews were from Babylon, 2 Clu\ xxxvi. 22, .3. The Jews in Galilee were dwelluig ill llic portion of eaot-out Israel. A more important deUvcrance is provided for the captives, without which, a literal rctm-n from captivity can be of but little value. The Gospel releases the mind which is held captive under sin. To set at liberty them that are bruised. It means those who are pressed doton by great calamity, or whoso hearts arc pressed or bruised by aflliction or sin. Israel had, by the Assyrian, been given to be trodden under foot like the niu-c of tlie streets. Is. x. 5, 6, ' Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. 6, / mil send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.' Bruised. Alludes to the pressm'e of the heavy chains. — See Judg. xvj. 21 i 2 Ki. XIV. 7.— Doddridge. PRACTIC.VL REFLKCTIONS. opportunity, making the most destitute the special objects of our affectionate regard. And, that all this may be done most effectually, let us know our own bhnducss, depravity, and weakness ; and seek first to have the enlightening, sanctifying, and enriching power of Jesus exerted upon ourselves ; that we may, in liis strcngtli, and not in our own, engage in the work which ho has given us to do, and of which he must have all the glorj-. 61.] Matt. iv. 12, § 16, p. 157. Mark i. 14, ibid. John T. 1, § 23, p. 238. 161 SECl'. iV.J JESOS PEEACHKS AT ^AZAKliTlI. [PART ir. I.UKE iv. 1!), 20. 1'.) TLi)(_uwniiivovr Iv iKJjtaii, lo-picatli tjic-iicccptablc ciktov ycnr ' ^'"^ graceful words ;' literally, ' words of gi'ace.' May refer both to liis manner and the matter. This proverb was probably in eom- 23. Phi/sician, heal thyself. mon use at that time. Whatsoever we have heard done. Wliatsoever wo have heard that thou hast done. It woidd seem, fi-om tliis, that Clirist had before this wrought miracles m Capeniamn. There had taken place the heahiig of the nobleman's sou, and probably a remarkable change in liis family, consctpient upon then* beheviug. 24. Ao prophet. See Mt. xiii. 57, § 37. Has liouoiu-, or is acknowledged as a prophet ; ' It is therefore much litter lor mo to perform my mu'aclcs in other places tlian among a people whoso prcjiidioes will not give way even to conviction.' The prophets of God, however their words may have appeared to delight the cars of the Jews, among whom they lived, were not, as to the fuhicss of thcii' message, received in their own country. Tliis blessmg was reserved for a people cast afar off, and imto whom the Lord was to be as a Utile sanctuai-y ui the comilries where they should come ; a people despoiled, and who uito captivity had been led away, broken-hearted, bhnd, and bruised ; ' tite lost slieep of the house of Israel,' Ezc. xi. 15, .6 ; xxxvii. 11. 25. Many widoios, ^c. God uses a holy sovereignty in the dis- pensation of liis fiivours, not as man judges to be most likely, but as seems good in liis sight ; witness the widow of Sarcpla, and Naaman the Syrian. This was a stab to then' pride, and an intuiiation of the gracious regai'ds of heaven towards other nation-. In Israel. In the land of Israel. It was therefore the mora remarkable, since there were so many hi his own country wliom ho might have helped, (hat he should have gone to a heathen city, and aided a poor widow there. 20 vcr. Let us look to Jesus, not merely willi wonder, or with the desire of selfish advantage, as did his countrymen, but with i'aith and hope in him as the promised Redeemer, and with earnest desire for the aecomplishment of his gracious pui'poses with regard to his whole redeemed people. 21 IT)-. Let us sec to it that the mission of Christ is not only fulfilled in our ears, but iu our lives. rR.\CTICAL REFLECTIONS. 22 ver. Let us not merely wonder at the words of his grace, but receive them with luith, so a^ to b.- profited thereby. 25 — .7 rcr. Tlic Lord early indiealod his intention of com* nuinicating the blessing of his electing love iiorth-weslward, as with regard to the widow of Sarepta, by Ehas ; and northwai-d, as in the instance of Nuaman the Syrian, by Ehscii3. 25 — .7. Ood has a right to dispcnso his extraordinary favours U !5.] Malt. IV. 12, § 16, p. 157. Mark i. 14, ibid. John v. 1, § 23, p. 228. 158 SECT. XV.] I1IJ2 KAZARKNES ARE ENKAGEU AT JESUS. LrKK iv. 20— .0. [PART It; 2(1 tliroiigliout all tlic land ; l.ul iinlo none of-thcm was-'Elias'-senl, save unto Sairpta, a citij of Rulon, 27 unto a-woman that itas a-widow. And many leiiers were in, Israel in-tlic-time-of Eliseiis the prophet; 2« and none of-them was-clcansed, saving Nanmnn the Syrian. And all-they in the synagogue, whcn-they- 89 heard thcbc-things, wcrc-hllcd with-wrath, and rose-up, fl//rf-thrust him out-of the city, and led him unto SCRIPTt;EE ILLUSTRATIONS. 27. Eliseus. Appointed to the prophetic office, 1 Ki. xix. 16— .9, • And Ji'hu the son of Nimslii fhalt thou nnoint to be king over Israel : nnd Elisha tlie son of Sliaphat of Abcl-meholah shall thou anoint to be prophet in Ihv room. 17, And it shall eomc to pass, that him that cseapcth the sword of llazael shall Jehu slay: and him tliat eseapeth from the sword of Jehu sliall Elisha slay. 18, Yet 1 have left [or, / %cill leace] me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth wliieh hath not kissed him. lU, So he departed thenee, and found Elisha the eon of Shaphat, who u-as plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before )iini, and he with the twelfth : and Elijah passed by him, and cast liis mantle upon him.'— 7/(> curinij Naaman, 2 Ki. v. 1 — 14, ' Kow Kaanian, captain of tl>e host of the king of Syria, was a great man with [Heb., before'] his master, and honourable [or, gracious, Heb., lifted vp, or, accepted in countenance], because by him the LoKD had given drUverance [or, victor//] unto Syria : he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper. 2, And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a Uttle maid ; and she waited on [Heb., icas before] JTaaman's wife. 3, And she said unto her mistress. Would God my lord n-ere with [Heb., before] the prophet that is in Samaria ! for he would recover [Heb., gather in] him of his leprosy. 4, And one went in, and told liis lord, saying. Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel. 5, And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment. 6, And he bi-ought the letter to the king of Israel, saying. Now when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have therewith sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou maycst recover him of his leprosy. 7, And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and saiil. Am I God, to kUl and to make aUve, that tliis man doth send imto me to recover a man of his leprosy ? wherefore consider, I pray you, and eee how he eeeketh a quai-rel against me. 8, And it was so. when EUsha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, 'Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let huu come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel. 9, So Naaman came n ith liis horses and with liis chariot, and stood at the door of the house of EUsha. 10, And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying. Go and wash in Jordan seven limes, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. 11, But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought. He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LoRB his God, and strike [Heb., move up and down] lus hand over the place, and recover the leper. 12, Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than aU the waters of Israel ? may I not wash in them, and be clean ? So he turned and went away in a rage. 13, And his seiTants came near, and spake imto him, and said. My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it 1 how much rather tlien, when he saith to thee, AVash, and be clean ? 14, Tlien went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God : and his flesh came again like imto the flesh of a Uttle child, and he was clean.' 28. These things. Which went to shew thai God chose Israel, not for blessing to themselves alone, but that they should dispense blessing to the nations, according to the original purpose, declared unto Abraham, Ge. xii. 3, ' And I will bless them that bless thee, and cm-sc him that curseth thee : and in thee shall all famiUcs of the earth he blessed.' — xxu. 18, ' And in thy seed shall aU the nations of the earth be blessed ; because thou hast obeyed my voice.' Filled with WEATn. See Zechariah's martyrdom, 2 Chr. xxiv. 20, .1, ' And the Spirit of God came upon [Heb., dollied, as Ju. vi. 34] Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said mito them. Thus saith God, Why transgress yc the commandments of the LoED, that ye cannot prosper? because ye NOTES. 25. The days of alias. The days of Elijah j see the account of this in 1 Ki. xvii. 8—24. He was not a prophet in Judah, but in Israel ; as was also EUsha, afterwards mentioned. Three years and six months, From 1 Ki. xviii. 1, 4.5, it woidd seem that the rain fcU on the third year. That is, at the end of the third year after rain had ceased to faU at the usual time. There were two seasons of the year when rains feU in Juda;a, in October nnd April, called the early and latter rain. Consequently, there was an interval between them of six months. To the three years, there- fore, when rain was withheld at the usual times, are to be added the previous six months, when no ram fell as a matter of course ; and consequently three years and si.v months elapsed without ram. Great famine. A great want of food, from long-continued and distressing drought. 26. Save unto Sarejpla. Sarepta was a town betwcfn Tyre and It was a Sidonian, and there- Sidon, near the Mediterranean sea. fore a Gentile town. 27. Many lepers. For an accoimt of the leprosy, see Note on Lu. V. 12, § 21, and Abdexda, p. 215, ' Of lepeosy.' Time of Eliseus. Time of Elisha. The word Eliseus is the Greek way of writing the word EUsha ; as Elias is of Elijah. Saving Naaman the Syrian. Naaman, the general of Benhadad the Syrian's anny. He was highly esteemed by his master, because he had saved Syria from ruin, probably in the battle where Aliab gave Benhadad his last defeat, or at the siege of Ramoth-gUead, when Aliab was slain. The accoimt of liis ciu-e is contaiucd iu 2 Ki. T. 1 — 14. — See Sccir. Illus. 29. And led him. Ka'i yyayov. ' Render : " and they were leading or taking him," ' ic. — Slooiiijield. PE.\CTIC.\L REFLECTIONS. he pleases. He does this in a way which sometunes appears strange to man's judgment, but is nevertheless consistent with perfect wis- dom and equity ; as in the instances adverted to. 25 — .8 vcr. The words which to the Jews appeared gracious when they sclGshly, and in the flesh, appropriated them to themselves, lost all their sweetness when Jesus pointed to the electing love of God to Gentiles. It maybe noticed tliat llie two instances of Divine favour here referred to by our Lord, were both through tlic medium of prophets of Israel— of that house which had been long cast out among the Malt. iv. 12, § 16, p. 157, 164 GentUes, and whose heritages m Galilee were now possessed by their brethren of the house of Judah. It is also to be observed, that the objects of favour were, the one in Sarepta, to the west, and the other from Syria, to the east, of licbanon — ' that goodly mountain,' De. iii. 25 ; ' the mountain of the height of Israel,' Eze. xx. 40 ; ' the holy mountain of God,' xxviu. 14 The region of Tyre and Sidon, n the midst of which was Sarepta, and the region ]>roperly caUed Syria, of which Damascus was the capital, were both to the north of that portion ^of the promised land which was possessed by Israel midcr the law. Lebanon, Mark i. 14, ibid. John T. 1, § 23, p. 228. [15. PART II.] JESUS IS LED TO THE BROW OF A HILL. [SECT. T^. Luke iv. 80. the brow of-tlie hill whereon their^city was-built, tlmt^they-miglit-cast--hira--clo\vn-]icacllong KaTUKfitjiivlaai. 30 But he passing through the-midst of-them went-his-way. [Fur vcr. 81, nee § 16, p. 157.] SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIOXP. have forsaicn the LoiiD, lie lififh also forsaken you. 21, And they | 30. Passixg iurouoh, ie. Ol7icr iiislaiicc:-; Jno. vUi. 59, § 55; conspu-cd against liini, and stoned him with stones at the com- ' i. 3'J, § 5G. — In illiislratioii of t/ie iupei-naiiiral power hy lohich he mnndment of the king in the coiu-t of the house of the Loed.' — was thus enabled to pass 'through the midst of his most deadly 'Were filled with madness' against Jesus, Lu. vi. 11, § 23 — and enemies unhurt, u-e have only to adi-ert to the words of Jno. vii. 30, sought to kill him, Jno. viii. 37, 40, § 55— /or they hated both him § 55, in a similar instance ; and when in Getliscmanc he said, ' I and his Father, xv. 24, .5, § 87. | am he, they went backward,' &c., xviii. 6, § 88. NOTE. Cast him down. '"Hurl him down the precipice." A death \ o{ sacri/eye ; of wliich, it seems, these superstitious zealots thought sometimes, as among the Romans, adjudged by the law in the case | Mm guilty. Tliis was the effect of a popular tumult.' — Bloomfield. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. between Damascus and Sarepta, seems to occupy the most central position, with regard to the whole land given by oath to Abraham, Ge. XV. It is midway between the river of Egypt and the great river Euphrates. This whole land is yet to be possessed by the children of promise, according to the everlasting covenant.* Then wUl be fulfilled the words of Isaiah, ii. 2, ' And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lono's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills ; and all nations shall flow unto it.' A pledge of the healmg and help then to be freely bestowed upon the Gentiles, through the instrumentality of Israel, seems to have been given in the case of the widow of Sarepta and Kaaman the Syrian. 29 ver. How little do men know of themselves ! How speedily were the worshippci-s in the synagogue, wlio had been hstcning with dehght to the words of the evangeUcal prophet, — the great Teacher sent fi'om God, of whom all the prophets testified ! — how speedily, when their selfish nature and narrow sectarian prejudices were touched, were they turned into au infm-iated rabble, hasteniiig to hm-l to destruction, out of their sight, Him upon whom tlieu- oye» had been, just before, in admiration fixed ! 30 ver. Tlie death of Jesus woiJd at this time have been the act of individuals, but he was to be offered up in the view of the whole people, and by the authorities, civU and ecclesiastical, of the nation, and at the place and tunc appointed ; therefore it was that passing tlirough the midst of them he went his way. There is in tliis narrative a very clear indication of the great purpose of God in revelation, as being especially designed for a people in another temper than the Jews, and dwelling in other countries than those in which the prophets prophesied. The words were then dosed up, and it is as vain to look for a true vuiderstanchng of the prophets from the Jews, as it would have been to expect mercy at their hands for the meek and lowly Jesus. As Jesus who was of Jndah hath shewn compassion to us, who were outcasts, let us shew compassion to his brethren according to the flesh, who are now suffering for their sin and folly, iu rejecting Him, in whom we have been given to inherit blessing. GEOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. NAZAEETH • Kazabeth. — See Sect, ii., p. 21 ; vi., p. 68 ; xxivii., p. 348. Galilee. — A large and fertile territory in the north of Canaan. The Lower Galilee lay on the west of Jordan, and sea of Tiberias ; and contained the portions of Issachcr, Zcbulun, Naphtah, and Asher. Upper Gahleo lay eastward of the Jordan, and took in a gi'eat part of the lot of the eastern half-tribe of Slanasseh. Galilee of the Gextiles. — So called, because it was inhabited by Egyptians, Arabians, and Phoenicians, according to the testimony otStrabo, and others. But it is, with a great degree of probability, refciTcd to, 1 Ki. ix. II — .5. Solomon gave twenty cities of Lower Galilee, called the land of Cabul, to Hiram khig of Tyi'e ; ' (Xow • GALILEE — BAEEPTA. Hiram the king of Tyre JiadfurnisJted Solomon with cedar frees and fir trees, and with gold, according to all his desire,) .... king Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee,' ver. 11. From this circimistance we may suppose this tract of coimtry received the appellation ' Galilee of the Jfations,' or of the Gentiles, Is. ix. 1. Benhadad, 1 Ki. xv. 20, and, long after, Tiglath-pilcser, tenibly ravaged the land of Galilee, 2 Ki. xv. 2'J. After the .Tews returned from Babylon, the Samaritans kept possession of Samaria, or the portions of Ephraim and the western Manassites ; but the Jews spread themselves into Galilee, and into the country called Pcra?a, beyond Jordan. In Galilee, om* Saviour, and most of liis disciples, were educated ; and fi'om this country he and they were sometimes called Gahhvans. SAliErTA, or ZiHErHATH. — Amaritime city of Phoenicia, within the boundaries of the tribe of Asher, on (he coast of the Mediterranean sea, Ju. v. 17, situate about midway between Tyre and Sidon, and is called ' a city of Sidon,' Lu. iv. 26. Dr. Robinson, describing his journey from Tyre to Sidon, at about four and three-quarter hours from Tyre, says, ' We came to a wely, " tomb," near the shore, with a smaU khan close by, called el-Khudr, the Ai-ab name of St. George. Five minutes beyond is a site of ruins on the left, indicating in themselves little moi-e than a mere village. Opposite to this spot, jiigh up on the southern slope of a partially isolated hill, and hardly half an liour distant, is a large village with two or three welys, bearing the name of Surafend. In tins name we here have the Zarephath of the Old Testament, 1 Ki. xvii. y, 10, and the Sarepta of the New, Lu. iv. 2(1, see p. 151, a place situated, according to Josejihus and Pliny, between Tyre and Sidon, and belonging to the tcrritoi-y of the latter. Here Elijah dwelt long in the house of Hio widow, and mu-aculously continued to her the oil and meal, and restored her son to hfe, 1 Ki. xvii. 8—24. Euscbius and Jerome have the name, aiul the latter says Paula visited the spot. . . . The crusaders made it the seat of a Latin bisliop, inider the archbishop of Sidon, and erected near the port a small chaiH-1 over the reputed spot where Elijah dwelt, and raised the widow's son fi-om the dead. The Clu-istian chapel was doubtless succeeded by the niosq\ie .... and at the present day ijs probably found in the M'cly el-Khudr. It would tluis seem that the former city of Sarepta, or Surafend, stood near the sea-shore ; and that the present village, bearing the • See Dr. Keith's work on 'The Land of Israel according to tlic Covenant with Abraliam, with Isaac, and with Jacob,' chap. ii. §§ 2, 8, 4, 6, pp. 57—161. 15.] ifatt. iv. 12, § 16, p, 157. Mark i. 14, Hid. Luke iv. 31, Hid. John v. 1, § 23, p. 228. 15S SECT. XV.] ADDENDA. SAULMA- Bamo name, ujioii tlio ndjacciit liilln, has sprung up since (lie lime of tlio cnisndcrs. In the rocks along llio foot of lUo hills are many cxenvuled tombs, oneo doubtless belonging to the ancient city.' — Jlol/htsoiis Biblical Researctut, Vol. III. pp. 112— ..4. SYNAGOGUE. —continued. [PART 11. The neighbouring scenery is described as ' exquisitely beautiful ; the country rising gradually into hills of moderate height, and even to their sunnuils covered with grain, and interspersed with olive trees.' Anciently, the wine of Surepta was much celebrated. ADDENDA. ' SYN.\< Stjiagooue.— Tlie place where the Jews met for their pubUc worship on ordinary occasions. When synagogues, properly so called, had Ihcir rise, we arc uncertain. It is plain, that before the captivity the law was not read in them every sabbath, as it was afterwards ; hence Jehosliaphat's reforming teachers had to cai-ry a copy of it along witli tlieni, 2 Chr. xvii. 9. As most of the Jews, from the beginning of their settlement, attended the tabernacle or temple only at the three soleuni feasts, it is prob.ible they had a kind of synagogues, or schools, or proscuchre, or prayer places, in one of which last our Saviour prayed all night, Lu. vi. 12, § 27. These differed from synagogues, as in them evciy one prayed by himself; they were in retired places, as by river sides, &c., Ac. xvi. 13, .6, and were uucovercd, like groves ; whereas synagogues were in elevated places, were covered with a roof, and one prayed as the mouth of the rest. Perhaps it was the proscucha; that were the mohcde (synagogues) or meeting-places, bm'ned up by the Chaldeans, Ps. Ixxiv. 8. Every trading ft'aternity had its synagogue, and companies of strangers, as Alexandrians, Cyi'cniaus, and others, had theirs, for pubUc prayer, and for the reading of the Scriptures. Tlie scattered Jews, too, had theu-s about Babylon; and almost everywhere in the eastern part of the Roman empire. The most famous synagogue the Jews ever had was the great synagogue of Alexandi'ia. Synagogues coidd oidy be erected where ten men of age, learning, pii'ty, and easy cii'cumstances, coiJd bo found to attend to the service which was enjoined on them. The erection of a synagogue being esteemed a mark of piety, they soon multiplied over all the land, and in Jerusalem alone, in our Saviour's time, there were from four hundred and sixty to fom' hundred and eighty. A council of three took cognizance of civil matters, and sometunes inflicted simi- mary punisluncnt ; as we read in Mt. x. 17, § 39 ; Mk. xiii. 9, § 86. Tlie sacrifices of the Jews were appointed to be offered in one place, at Jerusalem. But there was nollung to forbid the other services of religion to be performed at any place. Accordingly, the praises of God were sung iu the schools of the j)rophets j and those OGDE. who chose were assemb'.ed by the seers on the sabbath, and the new moons, for rehgious worsliip — see of the Sliunannnite woman's visit to Elisha, for her son ; ' And he said. Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day ? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath, 2 Ki. iv. 23 ; 1 Sa. X. 5—11. In the synagogues the law, i. e., the five books of Moses, divided into suitable portions, was read, prayers were offered, and the Scriptures were expouuded. The Pentateuch was so distributed mfo portions for sabbath reading, that the whole might be gone through in the year ; also that to them should be adjoined some such portion from the prophets as cither had an affinity to the lesson from the Pentateuch, or was selected by the reader for edifica- tion. After reading the law and the prophets, tlie heads of the synagogue desh-cd such learned and grave persons as happened to be there, to make a discom'se to the people; and by vu'tne of tliis custom it was that our Saviom- and the apostles were m the habit of attcntling at those places constantly, and of speaking to the peopie, Wk. vi. 2, § 37 ; Lu. iv. 15—22, pp. 149— .53 ; Ac. xiii. II, .5, 44, &c. A short prayer concluded the service. On the synagogue days the people assembled thrice : at the time of the morning and evening sacrifices, and in the dusk of the evening ; and thither the devout persons oft retired for their secret prayers. There it was that the Pharisees stood, that theii- ncighbom-s might hear them the better, Mt. vi. 5, § 19, p. 183. The synagogues were biult in imitation of the tcmi)le, with a centre building, supported by pillars, with courts and porches. In the centre builduig, or chapel, was a place prepared for the reading of the law or the prophets. The law was kept in a chest, or ark, near to the pidpit. The chief scats, Mt. xxiii. G, § 85, were (hose nearest to the pidpit. The people sat roiuid, facing the pidpit. When the law was read, the officiatmg person rose; when it was expomided, he was seated. Our Saviour imitated their example, and was coimnonly seated in addi'cssing the people, v. 1, § lU, p. 172; xiii. 1, § 32, p. -"J9. lit; 'Jacob's well/ continued fi'iuu p, Tlic author of Tlirce Munilis' naidince at Nahlits says, pages 40, 47 : — " On my second visit in 18G0, the month of the well was completely filled up, so tliat it was with difficulty I cotild identify the spot ■where it was. Nor could I learn how tliis had occurred. Some of my friends at Nalilus tlinught that the torrents dining the rains of the previous wmter were the cause ; but others believed that it was done by the inhabitants of the little village close by, on acconnt of the well being bought by the Greek Church. The well, however, was completely hid from sight, to the great disappointment of many travellers tesidcs myself. " On further inquiry, I learnt from the Gr^ek priest, that their Church had actually bought the well from the Tm-kish Goveriuneut, jncluiling a plot of gi'ound siirronnding it, of 229 feet by 180 feet. For this they had paid, he told me, 70,000 piastres ; but another fricnil, belonging to the same community, told mc it was at least 100,000. The priest aiul members of the community kept the matter as quiet as possible for the present, until tlic proper time should come, when it is intended to adorn the well in the most magnificent style, nnd to build a splendid elunch over it. What a pity and a shame it will be, if one of the most interesting and genuine spots in Palestine be buried under marble slabs, and silver, and gold, out of the sight of travellers, merely to gratify the superstitious tastes of a religious community!" 156 il/e who wickedly oppose us, and from him learn, that when we have great duties to perform for the cliurch of God, we are not w.inlonly to endanger our lives. When wo can secure them without a sacrifioo of principle, we are to do it." —.70. On the choice of Capernaum. Jotm V. 1, § 23, p. 228. 1S7 SECT. XVI.] JESUS BEGINS TO PREACH IN GALILEE. [PAKT II. Matt. iv. 17. shadow of-deatli liglit is-spning-up aviniXiv. 17 Fioui tliat-time^Jesus began to-iircach/ 'and to -say, Kepent/ fur the kingdom of heaven is-at-hand. }il.\ui< i. 15. preaching ''the gospel ol'-tho kingdom of God,' and saying, .'^The time Kiuphg is-fulfilled, and the kingdom of" God is-ut-hand : repent-ye, and believe {ivj the gospel. 15 Mt. SCKIPTURK ILLUSTRATIONS. It. Oosprt OF THE KIXODOM. Jieferml to. Is. ix. 7, tlie good of the land: 20, but if ye refuse and rebel, ve shall be 'Of the increase of hh government and pcaec there shall le no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it nith judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.'— xxxii. 1, ' Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.'— Da. vii. 13, .i,{quoted Jno. i. 51, § 10, p. 110, 'The Sox OF MA>';')Je. iii. 12— .1, {quoted Mt. ii. 6, § 5, p. 53, ' Mv PEOPLE, kc')~FredidioH as to Jesus preaching, Is. lii. 1 — 3,(quofed Lu. ii. '10, § 6, p. Gt, 'GuACE op God,' &e.)-FutJilment, Mt. iv. 23, § 18 J Lu. viii. 1, § 30 ; Mk. ix. 35, § 38.— Carried out bj/ the apostles,Mi. x.7, § 39.— Eph. ii. 17, 'And came and preached peace to yo\i which were afar oil', aud to them that were nigh.'^2Z« apeaketh to vsfrom heareii, Ileb. xii. 25— .9, ' See that ye refuse not him that spcakcth. For if they escaped not who refused him that epake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speahelh from heaven : 26, whose voice then shook the earth : but now he liath promised, saying. Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27, Aud this ivord. Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that arc shaken [or, tnai/ he shah-en'], as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28, AVherefore we receiving a kmg- dom which cannot be moved, let us have grace [or, let us hold fast], whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear : 29, for our God is a consuming fh'c' 15. The time is fulfilled. The coming of Shiloh predicted ly Jacob, in the blessing of Judah, Ge. xlix. 9, 10 {quoted Lu. i. 70, § 3, p. 29, 'A3 HE SPAKE '), — when the alternative would be given to the Jews of being willing and obedient, or of refusing and rebelling against — {as Is. i. 19, 20, ' If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat devoured witli the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.')— ' Messiah the Prince,' Da. iv. 25, 'Know therefore aud under- stand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore [or, to build again Jerusalem] and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, aud threescore and two weeks : the street shall be built again [Ileb., shall return and be built], and the wall [or, breach, or, ditch], even in troublous times [Hcb., in strait of times].' — Ga. iv. 4, 'But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.' — Eph. i. 10, ' That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which arc in heaven [Gr., the heavens], and which arc on earth ; even in him.' At hand. iSo John had preached, Mt. iii. 2, § 7, p. 80 ; — the seventg, Lu. x. 9, 11, § 60, ' The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.' — The word is nigh thee, Horn. x. 6 — 9, 'But the righteous- ness wliich is of faith spcakcth on this wise, S.iy not in thine heart, \^^^o shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring CLu-ist down/j-om above :) 7, or, Vilio shall descend into the deep ? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 8, But ivhat saith it ? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart : that is, the word of faith, which we preach ; 9, that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt beUeve in tliine heart that God hath raised him fi-om the dead, thou shalt be saved.' — 1 Pe. i. 10, ' Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you.' Repent ye. Is. i. 16, .7, ' Wash you, make you clean ; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes ; cease NOTES. iii. 19, § 12 ; 1 Jno. i. 5, 'This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.' As ignorance is often connected with crime and vice, so darkness is sometimes used to denote sin, 1 Th. V. 5, ' Ye are all the children of light, and the cliildren of the day : wc are not of the night, nor of darkness.' Eph. v. 11, 'And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.' Lu. xxii. 53, § 88, p. — . Light is sprung up. The heathen writers represented the arrival of a public benefactor in a place as a new light sprung up in the midst of darkness. The blessed hope of Israel, the long-expected Messiah, was come — Christ, who came to give the light of the Gospel, that we might have the light of life. 5Ik. i. 14-. The Gospel. The glad tidings respecting the full and free remission of sins through Jesus Christ, and his coming kingdom. Of the kingdom of God. God is about to take the government more manifestly into his own hands. 15. The lime is fulfilled. 'The time of my kingdom, foretold by Daniel, and expected.' ' The time here spoken of,' says Campbell, ' is that which, accord- ing to the predictions of the prophets, was to intervene between their days, or between any period assigned by them, and the appear- ance of the Messiah. This had been revealed to Daniel, as consist- ing of what, in prophetic language, is denominated seventy %vecks, that is (every week being seven years), four hundred and ninety years ; reckoning from the order issued to rebuild the temple at Jerusalem. However much the Jews misunderstood many of the oW;er prophecies relating to the reign of Messiah, what concerned both the time and the place of his tii'st appearance seems to have been pretty well appreliended by the bull; of the nation.' — Compare Ga. iv. 4 ; Eph. i. 10 ; Da. ix. 25. — See Scrip. Illus. Jtepent, ,.\c. In submitting to the government of Christ, men must renouuce the dominion of sin. — See Note on Lu. iii. 3, § 7, i ' The baptism of repentance,' p. 80. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. 17 ffr. Jesus shunned not to identify himself with the imprisoned place their immediate dependence upon God, through the one scnant of God; takhig up the message which John had not now ' Mediator of the new covenant. power to deliver, he ]u-oclaimed the words of warning and of grace, ' Jlepent : fur the kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Mk. i. 15. Tlio time was come for men to cease fi'om looking to rites perlormcd for them according to the law, and when they should Tliose who would enjoy the kingdom of God in glory, must now become the subjects of that kingdom, tlu'ough grace; aud have the law of tliat kingdom, which is love, written upon their hearts, and put in their inward parts — no longer regarding tlie words of Jeaus as hard sayings, but as gospel, as 'good tidings of great jog.' 158 Luke iv. 31, § 17, p. IGl. John v. 1, § 23, p. 228. [16. PART II ] FOUR niSClPLKS CALLED. [SECT. XVI. (Cr. 19.) The Four (Uxciples, Shimon find Andre Al the Sea oj Matt. iv. 18 — 22. "And^.Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethreu, Simon^called Peter, and Andrew liis^brother, casting a-netf into the sea: for they-were fishers. And he-saith unto-them. Follow me, and I-will-mnke you* fishers of-meu. 'And they ' straightway left t/ieirjieta, ««rf-followed him. And going-on'' from-thence, he-saw 'other two brethren, .James the son of Zebedee, and John his^brother, in a ship with Zebedee their^father, mending their^nets / and he-called them. 22 *Aud they 'immediately tvdiwg left the ship and'' their Jatlier, «;/f/-followed him. [Ver. 23, § 18, p. IGC.] 18 19 20 21 ir. James rind John, are called hi/ Jesus.* Galilee. Mark i. 10 — 20. Now as-he-walked by the sea of ' Galilee, he-saw Simon and Andrew liis^brother casting a-net into the sea : for they-were fishers. And,Jesus said unto-tliem, Come-ye after me, and I-will-mako you *to-become fishers of-mcn.*^ And straightway they-forsook their^nets, a«rf-followed him. And when-he-had-gone ''a-little farther-thence, he-saw' James the son of Zebedee, and John liis^brother, who also uere in the ship mending t/ieirjieta. ■'^And straightway ivOiivg he-called them :' and they-left ''tlieir.^ father Zebedee in the ship with the hired-servants, «//(/-weut after him. 16 17 18 19 SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. to do evil; 17, learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve [or, righteii] the oppressed, judge tlie fatlierlcss, plead for the widow.' — It. 7, 'Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighte- ous man [Heb., the man of itiiqiiilj/'] his thoughts : and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon liim; and to om* God, for he will abundantly pardon [Heb., he will multiplj/ to y««/o»].' — Eze. xviii. 30, ' Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one aceoi'ding to Iiis ways, saith tlie Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions : so iniquity shall not be your iniin.' — Jc. iv. 1, 'If thou wilt return, Israel, saith the LOED, return unto me: and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not remove.' — The repentance of Israel contemplated hi/ Moses, Le. xxvi. ■iO— .2, (quoted Mk. i. 5, § 7, p. 82, ' Confessixo,' &c.)-% Solomon, 1 Ki. viii. 47 — .9, ' Yet if tliey shall bethink [Heb., bring laclc to their hearfl tliemselves in the land wliither they were carried captives, and repent, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captives, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wicked- ness ; 48, and so return unto thee with all their heart, and with all their soid, in the land of their enemies, which led them away captive, and pray imto thee toward then- land, which thou gavest unto theii- fathers, the city whieli thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name : 49, then hear thou their prayer and their supplication in heaven thy dwelling place, and maintain their cause [or, right"].' — Repentance of Ephraini, Je. xxxi. 18 — 20, 'I have smvlv heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou liast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the t/ohe : turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LoKD my God. 19, Surely after that I was turned, I repented ; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my tliigh : 1 was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth. 20, Is Ephraim my dear son ? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly re- member him stiU ; therefore my bowels are troubled for him ; I wiU surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord.' — Jesus came to call, Mt. ii. 13, § 36, p. 337, 'sinners to repentance.' — Ac. v. 31, 'Him hath God exalted with his right hand , . . . a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.' — iii. 19, ' Repent ye therefore, and bo converted.' — The goodness of God leadeth to repentance, Rom. ii. 4, ' Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsufi'ering ; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?' — Sepen- tance to salvation, 2 Cor. vii. 9 — 11, ' Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sony, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner [or, according to Ood~\, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10, For godly soiTOW workcth repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world workcth death. 11, For behold this self- same thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, xchat vehement desire, yea, vhat zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yom'selvcs to be clear in this matter.' — Sepentance to the acknowledging of the truth, 2 Ti. ii. 25, .e,{quoted Lu. iv. 18, § 15, p. 151, ' Deliteb- Ayc-E.')-The Lord is longsuffering, 2 Pe. iii. 9, 'The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness ; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not wiUnig that any shoidd perish, but that all should come to repentance.' — James, addressing the twelve tribes, says, iv. 8, ' Draw nigh to God, and he will di'aw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, j/p siimers ; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.' IG. Sea. Jesus was accustomed to minister the word by the sea of Galilee, Lu. v. 1, § 20 ; Jlk. ii. 13, § 22 ; ui. 7, § 2G ; Jiio. vi. 1, § 40 ; Mt. XV. 29, § 46. — Jfter his resurrection, he there shelved himself to his disciples, Jno. sxi. 1, § 97. lit. iv. 19. Follow me. Jesu-i had already called Peter by a new name, Jno. i. 42, § 10, p. 107 ■,—caU of Philip, ver. 43 ;— M» same call to Matthen; jWt. ix. 9, § 22, p. 221, or Levi, Lu. v. 27, § ib.— Through suffering, the followers of Jesu.'s are being led into glory, Mt. xvi. 24— .7, § 50, p. 439.— Sef also lix. 27—30, § 75, p. 647 j Lu. xxu. 28— 30, §87. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. 19 ver. How much in contrast to their previous employment was that to which Simon and Andn-w were invited ! It was not to draw unto death, but out of ovenvhclming cares of tliis life, into a )H>ace- ful trust in God, and joyful hope of the world to come— out of that Jit. iv. 18. How prone are men to be cumbered with the world, and to depart from the rule, ' Seel- ye first the kingdom of God'! Although Peter had already been called, Jno. i. 42, § 10, p. 107, yet here we find him as having returned to liis fisliing. * ' In the vicinity of Capernaum,' GresweU, Vol. II. p. 280. On this caU, see Sect, zx., Addenda, p. 210. t 'A/i^i/3\rj(7rpo>' answers to that kind of net which we call a drag-net. ZuHe W. 31, ibid. John v. 1, § 23, p. 228 lea Mall. iv. 23, § 18, p. 100. Mark i. 21, § 17, p. 101. ir)9 SECT. XVI.] C.Vl'ERNAUJr.— Z.VBTJLON.— NF.nTTTTAT.TM. [PART II. pmlifion into wliifli thoir coiinfrvmeri were fust .sinking, into tlic sure iirolection of Aluiiglity Clod, in nil the I rials through wliich tlicy lind to jinsa in preparation lor the kingdom. 20 ver. Let U3 not .slo)> lo ealeulntc the worldly loss to wliieli we may be called in obeying the comninnd of Cln-ist ; but straightway leaving all lo wliieh we may previously liavo looked for support, let lis in all simplicity of heart follow Jesus. PHACTICAL REFI.KOTIONS — COIllilHlcd. than mere selfi.sh considerations, prevent our entire dcvotcdness to the service of our Lord, who is equally able to provide for those we leave behind, as he is for us, iii his more immediate service. At the same time, let us beware of mistaking the suggestions of our own vain imaginations for the call of our Divine Master, who has a rigid to dispose of us as secmeth to him good. Let us not despise the poor : such the Lord chose to be his moro privileged associates upon earth ; nor has he ceased to honour such 22 ver. Ncilhcv let the claims of natural relationship, any more iu his service now that he is in heaven. GEOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. OAtllEE OP THE DENTILES — CAPEEKATJM — ZEBULON — NErnTnALIM. GAtiiEE OP THE Gentiles. — See Sect. iv. p. 155. Capernaum. — The denunciation of our blessed Lord against tliis city, ]ironounced Mt. xi. 20— .4, § 29, has been awfully fulfilled, so that, of it, and the other cities, Chorazin and Belhsaida, iipbraided at the same time, no traces of former grandeur can be foinid. Caper, aum must have been a cily of vast importance ; for the form of our Lord's imprecation was, '^jirf Ihou, Capernaum, n^iich art exalted unto /leaven, shalt he brougld down to Jiell.' It was highly favoured above all the neighbouring cities ; being chosen as tho dwelling-place of the Son of God, and as the city which had number- less opportunities of witnessing his Divine power and mercy. — See Sect. xi. p. 116. An awful voice rises from the ruined heaps of Genncsarct, warning tho cities of our favoured land, that a despised gospel will bring (hem low as Capernaum. — See Sect, xx,, 'Lake Gennesaket,' p. 21'!). zabulon, p. 157. Or Zehihiv, the tenth son of Jacob, the sixth by Leah, Ge. xxx. 20. From his three sons, Sered, Elon, and Jahleel, sprang three nmnc- rous families. When this tribe came out of Egypt, their fighting men amounted to 57,400 men {see Nu. i. 31), commanded by Eliab the son of Elon, vor. 9: they increased 3,100 in the wilderness, ch. xxvi. 20, .7. Then- spy to search Canaan was Gadiliel the son of Sodi, xiii. 10 ; and their prince to divide it was EUzaphan tho son of Parnach, xxxiv. 25. They had thcu' inheritance on the south of the tribes of Asherand Najihtali, and north of Issachar, and had the sea of Galilee on the cast, and the Mediterranean on the west ; theirs was an eniinently flourishing portion : they enriched themselves by their fisheries, thcii' sea trade, and making of glass : they did not drive out; the Canaanites from Kitron or Nahalol, Ju. i. 30. But they and the Naphtalites, under Barak, were very active in routing the host of Jabin, iv. 10 ; v. 14, .8. They assisted Gideon against the Midiauites, vi. 35. 'Elon, a Zeljulonite, judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years' xii. 11. And 50,000 of them attended at David's coronation to be king over Israel, and brought large quan- tities of provision, 1 Chr. xii. 33, 40. They partly joined with Ilezckiah iu his reformation, 2 Clu\ xxx. 11. Perhaps there was also a city called Zchiilun, near Accho,(Jos. xix. 27,)wliieh is said to have been built in the form of Tvrc and Sidon, and to have been taken and bm'ued by Cestius the Roman about a.d. G6. NEPnTHAIIM, p. NAPHTAtl. — Tlie sixth son of Jacob, and by Bilhah, the handmaid of Rachel, Ge. xxx. 8. Ilis sons were Jahzcel, Gnni, Jezer, and .Sliillem, xlvi. 2 1, all of them parents of a numerous progeny. Wlicn this tribe came out of Egypt, it consisted of 53,400 fighting men, see Nu. i. 42, .3 ; ii. 29, 30, under the command of Ahira, the son of Euan, ver. 29 ; x. 27 ; but they decreased in the wilderness to 45,400, xxvi. 50. They encamped on the north of the tabernacle, and marched in the rear of the llebrew host, in the camp of Dan. Their spy to search Canaan was Nahlii llie son of A'ophsi, xiii. l-l ; and their agent to di\ide it was Pcdahd the eon of Ammiliud, 157. xxxiv. 28. Their iulieritance was the 'west and tJie soutli,' along tho south of Lebanon ; on the east were the seas of Merom and Tiberias ; on the west lay Asher. Their iuheritauee was extremely fertile, De. xxxiii. 23, 'And of Naphtali he. said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the Lord ; possess tliou the west and the south.' Jos. xix. 32, .3, ' The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to theii- famiUes. 33, And theii- coast was from Ileleph, from Alton to Zaanannini, and Adanii, Nekeb, .and Jabueel, unto Lakum ; and the outgoings thereof were at Jordan." IGO ilf.itt. iv. 23, I 18, p. 1G7. il/(ir^i. 21, § 17, p. ICl. Luke n. 31, Hid. Jo/i« v. 1, § 23, p. 228. fl6. PART II.] JESUS TEACUES AT CAPERNAUM. [SECT. XVU. SECTION 17. — Jesus teaches for the first time in the synagogue of Capernaum on the SAHBATH day;* THE PEOPLE ARE ASTONISHED AT HIS MANNER OF TEACHING; HE CASTS OUT A DEVIL. The SAME DAY HE HEALS SiMON's MOTHER-IN-LAW. AnD AFTER SUNSET PERFORMS DIVERS MIRACLES OF HEALING AND DISPOSSESSION. — Matt. viii. 11 — .7. Mark i. 21 — 31. Luke iv. 31 — II. [G. 20, .1.] INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS. Mk. i. 21. Lu. iv. 31. On tlie sabbath, Jesus teaches in ' Mt. viii. 14. Mk. i. 29. Lu. iv. 38. Upon leavin" the the synagogue at Capernaum. synagogue, Jesus, with James and John, enter into the house of — i. 22. — iv. 33. Tlie people are astonislied at liis Simon Peter and Andrew. tcacliing : for, unlike the scribes, lie speaks as one having an imme- ■■; i^ e ■ on i ■ na n -n . , ... " ' ° > — vm. 14, .&. — 1. do, .1. — IV. 38, .9. Peter s mother-in- diate conmiission from God. — i. 23, .4. — iv. 33, .4. In the synagogue is a man with an. imclean spirit, who cries out, deprecating the coming of Christ as being for their destruction. He acknowledges Jesus to be 'the llolij One of Goii: — i. 25. — iv. 35. Jesus commands the devil to bo silent, and come out of the man. — i. 26. — iv. 35. The devil having torn the man, thrown him in the midst, and cried with a loud voice, is dispos- si-ssed. — i. 27, .8. — iv. 36, .7. The people express astonishment j that even the unclean spirits should obey Jesus; and his fame is to speak of hmi. spread in all the surroundmg countiy. I — viii. 17. FidClment of Is. Uii. 4. law being ill of a fever, Jesus, upon being spoken to in her behalf stands over her, and rebukes the fever ; takes her by the hand, hfts her up, and forthwith, the fever leaving her, she rises, and waits upon the guests. — viii. 16. — i. 32, .3. — iv. 40. The sabbath day be- ing ended, at sunset, they bring many who are alUicted with diseases and possessions, and he heals tliem. — iv. 41. Devils acknowledge Jesus to be the Ctirist the Son of God. — i. 34. — iv. 41. He forbids the devils 21 22 (G. 29.) Jfsi/s teaches for the first time in the si/naffor/iie of Capernaum on the sabbath clay ; the people are astonished at his manner of teaching ; he casts out a devil. Mark i. 21 — .8. Luke iv. 31 — .7. [Ver. 21), § JO, p. IfjO.J [For preceding part, see § JO, p. 157.] °Aiul tliey-weiit ioto Capernaum ; and straightway on-the sabbath-day and taught them on the sabbath-days, hc-entei'ed into the synagogue, and-i-Awght. " And tliey-weve-astonislicd at his,doctrine : 'And they-were-astouished at his^doctrine I'or lie-tauglit them as one-tliat-had authority for his^word was with power" 31 32 tsoucrtai', and not as the scribes. IV iC,o\)C!ia. 23 And tlicre-was in tlieir^synagogue a-man with Iv an-uncloan spirit ; and lie-cried-out. 'And in the synagogue there-was a-nian, whicli-had a-spirit ol'-an-unclean devil. 33 and cried-out with-a-loud voice, scripture illustrations. Mk. i. 21. Stnagosue. See ' Custom,' lu. iv. 16, § 15, p. 149 ; Mt. iv. 23, § 18, p. 167 ; ix. 35, § 38 ; xiii. 54, § 37 ; Lu. xui. 10, § 05 ; Jno. vi. 59, § 43. 22. Astonished. So at the conclusion of his sermon on Vie mount, Mt. vii. 28, .9, § Vd.—See prediction, Is. viii. 18, 'Behold, I and the chilih'cu whom the Lord hatli given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LoED of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.' — ConJirmed,'Mi.\\\\. 54, § 37, 'Whence haOi this man this wisdom, and tliese mighty works ? ' 23. An unclean SPIEIT. See tlie remarkahle instance of Saul, who fell a frey to an evil spirit, n-hen ihe Spirit of the Lord departed from him, 1 Sa. xvi. 14, .5, 'But the Spirit of tlie Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LoiiD troubled [or, terrified'] him. 15, And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold NOTES. Mk. i. 21. Sfraightwai;. On the following sabbath. The si/nagogtte. See Addenda, Sect. xv. p. 150. 22. At his doctrine, t-jri Tg Si5axy aiirov, at his manner of teaching. The word ciSaxy denotes often the doctrine iauj^ht, some- times the act of teaching, and sometimes even the manner of teaching. As one that Iiad authority, and not as tlie sorihes. The scribes were the learned men and teachers of tlie Jewish nation, and were princijially Dmrisees. They taught chiefly tlie sentiments of their rabbins, and the traditions which had been delivered; they con- sumed much of their time in useless disputes and ' vain janghng.' Jesus was open, plain, grave, practical : delivering truth as became the oracles of God, not trifling ; and confirming his doctrine by miracles and argument ; teaching as having power, as it is in the original, and not in the vain and foohsh manner of the Jewish doc- tors. — See Addenda, ' On Cheist's mannee of teaching,' p. 165. Scribes. See Addenda, Sect. xxT. p. 253. 23. A man with an unclean spirit. 'Iv, " in an unclean spirit," for the spirit had tlie man in his possession.' — Henry. It is probable that this man had lucid intenals, or ho would not have been admitted into the synagogue. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. Mk. i. 21. Lt.t us improve the sabbath day, as our Lord so constantly gave us example, by frequenting the house of prayer, and engaging in religious instruction, either as teachers or as taught. 2'i ver. How dill'ereut is the teaching of one who knows his mission is from God, and is well ncqunintod \:hh the truth of his message, from that of the scribes, who doubtfully reported the con- flicting opinions of the doctors ! The word of Jesus was with power, but there was another and an • 'June 5, the first sabbath after tlie day of Pentecost, May 30, A.u. 180.'— Oreswell, Vol. 11. Diss, ixiii. p. 2S0. 17.] Matt. iv. 23, § 18, p. 167. John v. 1, § 23, p. 228. Id SECT. XVII.] JESUS CASTS OUT AX UNCLEAN DEVIL. [PART XL IVfAUK i. 21— .0. 24 saying, IjCt-z/s-aloue ; wlint have we to do witli theo t[ iifiiv koI ctoi, f/iou Jesus of- Niizareth ? nrt-tliou-como to-destroy us ? I-know tliee who thou-iivt, the Holy 0//e of God. 25 Aud^Jesus rcliukrd him, saying, Hold- thy-peaco irit, for he instantly commanded the same being to come out of the man. His conversation was with the evil spirit; proving conclusively that it was not a mere disease, or derangement — for how could the Son of God hold converse with disease or delirium ? — but that he conversed with a being, who also conversed, reasoned, cavilled, felt, resisted, and knew him. 2C. And when the unclean spirit, S(c. Still malignant, though doomed to obey ; submitting because he was obliged, not because he chose — he exerted his last power, inflicted all the pain he coiUd, PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. adverse si)iritual power in the same synagogue. And it was the duty of the hearers not to confound the two powers, so as to blame Jesus for the confusion that resulted. It would not have become them to be scandalized at all exiraordinary manifestation of spiritual power, but carefully to survey the facts, and honestly and clearly to distinguish between things that so widely diUered.— See Mt. xii. 24, .5, § 31 i Lu. iv. 34, supra. Lu. iv. 31. Uow opposite the call of Jesus and that of the unclean devil ! Jesus caUed for change of heart and Ufe, saying, ' Sepent ye.' But the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice, ' Let us alone.' Jesus had invited to a blgssed and eternal union with himself in the kingdom of God, Mk. i. 15, § 16, p. 158 ; but the devil cried out, ' What have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of NazaretkV How crafty was Satan in uniting the name of Jesus with a place which had just recently been the scene of confusion and outrage, in connection with his preaching, and which had repudiated him even so as to seek his destruction ! The name ' Jesus of Nazareth,' also, covered over the most important truth, that Jesus had, according to the promises, been born in Bethlehem. Jesus had eomo pi'caching the Gospel, or glad tidings, but Satan insinuates that his coming was for a very different purpose : ' Art thou come to destroy us V It is true that the word preached is either the savour of life unto life, or of death unto death. 102 Malt. iv. 23, § 18, p. 167. John v. 1, § 23, p. 228. [17. PAET II.] SIMON'S WIFE'S MOTHER IS SICK OP A FEVER Mark i. 27, .8. 'had-tom (nrapuE.av liim/ *ancl cried witli-a-loud voice, he-came-out of him. '' 27 ' And they-were-'all'-amazed iBa/iftiiOt^eniv, insomuch-that they-questioned (Tu^ijrfTi' amoug themselves, saying, What-tliiug is this ? what^new^doctrine in this ?''' for with authority commaudeth-he iiriTuaaH 'even the unclean^spirits, and they-do-ohey him.'" 28 "And immediately his^fame j/ aKoi) spread-abroad throughout all the region-round-about .Galilee. for [SECT. xvn. Luke iv. 30, .7. •''had-throwu {AxPuv him in the midst,* he-came-out of him, *and--hurt ]jim--not /jijSh' (iXa^^av.' And they-were all amazed, 3G i7£v£ro Oa/jjioQ, and spake (Tui/EXaXoui; among tliemselves, saying, *What a word w this ! With authority and power SuDo^tt he-commaudeth' the unclean spirits, "and they-come-out." And the-fame of j'/xoc -n-ipl him went-out 37 into every place of-the country-round-about. (G. 21.) The same day he heoh Rimnns mother-in-law of a f ever. M.\TT. viii. 14, .5. [Ver. 13, § 28, p. 270.] 14 And when-\Jesus'- was-come into Peter's^house, he-saw his^wife's-mother laid /3t/3/\));(fi'))i', and sickof- a-fever. Mark i. 29—31. 29 "And forthwith, when- they- were-come out-of the synagogue, they-entered into the house of-Simon and Andrew, with James and .Tohn.° 30 IJut 8iir>on's^wife's-mother lay KaTiKUTO sick-of- a-fever, 'and anon tliey-tell him of her.'' At Capernaum. Luke iv. 38, .'J. And 38 he-arose out-of the synagogue, ff//r/-entered into Simon's. house. *And^Simon's,wife's-mother was taken- with a\>vi\<>\xivn a-great fever/ Lord rebuke thee, O Satan ; even the Loed that hath cliosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked o>it of the fire ?' — Mk. ix. 25 — .7, § 51, ' Wlien Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Tkon dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. 26, And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him : and he was as one dead ; insoraucli tliat many said, lie is dead. 27, But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.' — Also the ferer, Lu. iv. 30, supra ; — and ' the winds and the sea,' Mt. viii. 20, § 34, p. 325. ''and they-besought him for her. And he-stood over her, 39 awrf- rebuked the fever;' SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Israel.'— xii. 22, .3, § 31, p. 291, 'BUnd, and dumb. ... 23, And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David ?' Lu. iv. 38. Besought niM foe hee. Ja. v. 16, ' Confess j/ovr faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The efleetual fervent prayer ot a righteous man availetli much.' — Jesus lislened to such prayer for others, as in the case oj Jairus' daughter, Mk. v. 22— .4, § 36, p. 338, ' And, behold, there cometli one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name ; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, 23, and besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death : 7 27. Amazed. Same at casting out of a dumb deoil, Mt. ix. 33, pray thee, come and lay tliy hands on her, that she may be § 36, p. 345, ' And wlicn the devil was east out, the dumb spake : j healed ; and she sliall live. 24, And Jesus went with lum ; and the multitiulea marvelled, saying, It was never so seen iu I and much people followed him,' &c. — See Lu. vii. 2- 10, § 2H. |i. 27 1. NOTES. and then bowed to the Son of Ood, and came out. This is tlie nature of an evil disposition. Tom. uTrapuKav, 'convulsed.' 'Thrown into violent convulsions and spasms.' — Bloomfwld. 27. And they were all amazed, . 78. The gospel of tite kingdom. The good news respecting the king- PUACTICAL REFLECTIONS. ' If Jesus jn-aycd in the morning, how mucli more important is it for «,v, before l.lic world get possession of oin- tlioiights — before Satan fills us with unholy feelings ; when we rise fresh from beds of repose, and while the world around us is still !' ' This will be found to bo true, universally, that the pious feelings — Ihe religious enjoyment ihrongh ihe day, will be according (n tht state of Ihe heart in the morning, and can therefore be meatared by our faithfulness in early, secret prayer.* Mk. i. 36 — .8. Let us, with the disciples, follow after Jesus early to the place of retirement and prayer ; and, not contoulod with the 18.] Mark i. 40, § 21, p. 213. Luke v. 1, § 20, p. 207. John v. 1, § 23, p. 228. 16T SECT. XVIII.] JESUS' FIKST GENERAL CIRCUIT OF GALILEE. M.\n. iv. 'M, .5. Mark. 24 'And liis, fume went througliout all, Syria: and tlicy-brouglit uiito-him nil , sick-people lliiit-wcre-taken ai/rtxo/iti'oi^t with-flivcis diseases and torments (iaaavui^, and tliose-wliieli-wero-posscsscd-witli-dcvils, and tliosc-wliich-were- 25 lunatick, and those-tliat-liud-tlie-palsy ; and lic-liealed tlicm. And tliere- I'oUovved him f,Meat multitudes o/' y'co/Ve from , Galilee, and y>w« Decapolis, and /'ro)/i Jerusalem, nndy>w« Judsca, and fivm beyond ^ Jordan. [Ch. v. I, § lO, p. 17;^!.] SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. [PART ll. Luke. Mf. ir. 24. Those wnicn were possessed with devils. C/irUl and the apostles fpoke to them, and of them, as tinder the iiijlueiice of evil spirits. Thti/ xpate, conversed, asked questions, gave answers, and expressed their knowledge of Christ, and their fear of him ; things that ccrlainly could not be said of diseases, vUi. 28 — 32 [Mk. T. 2—13; Lii. viii. 27—33], § 35, p. 3:^9.-27'^^ are represented as going out of the persons possessed, and entering other bodies, Mt. viii. 32, ib. — He threatened them, commanded them to be silent, to depart, and not to return, Mk. i. 25, § 17, p. 162 ; v. 8, § 35 ; ix. 25, § 51. — Christ sags, he cast out devils bg the Spirit of God, Mt. xii. 25 — .8, § 31, p. 202. — Those possessed are said to know Christ ; to be acquainted with tlic Son of God, Mk. i. 24 [Lu. ir. 34], § 17, p. 1G2;— this could not be said of diseases. — See ' Ukolean spibit,' ver. 23, § ibid., p. 161. Those that had the paest. One carried Igjour, and let down to Jesus, Mk. ii. 3, 4 [Lu. v. 18, .9], § 22, p. 218. 25. Great multitudes. At the conclusion of this circuit, ' seeing the multitudes, ho went up into a mountain,' oh. v. 1, § 19, p. 172. — Having ended his sermon on the mount, Lu. v. 1, § 20, 'it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, ho stood by the lake of Genncsaret.' — When uithdrawn from the malice of the Pharisees, Mt. xii. 15, § 26 ; 'great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all.' — After the ordination of the twelve apostles, 'he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and ... a great multitude . . . came to hear hun, and to be healed,' Lu. vi. 17— .9, § 27 ;— Jlk. iii. 20, § 30. So on his second circuit of Galilee, 'the multitude comcth together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread,' — as he icent to raise Jairus' daughter, Mk. v. 24, § 36, 'much people followed him, and thronged him,' — and on his thu'd circuit of Galilee, Mt. ix. 35, .6, §§ 38, .9 — see the miracles of feeding multitudes, §§ 40, .6; — and as Jesus went up to the last piassorcr, Lu. xii. 1, § 63, 'they trode one upon another;' — and iclien he had finished his sagings, Mt. xix. 1, 2, § 71, ' he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Juda;a beyond Jordan ; 2, and great multitudes followed him ; and he healed them there j ' — and, Lu. xviii. 35, .6, § 78, ' as he was come nigh unto Jericho ; ' — and having, xLx. 1, 3, 4, § 80, 'passed through Jericho,' Zacchaus ' sought to see Jesus . . . and could not for the press ; ' — Mt. xxi. 10, .1, § 82, 'and when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved ; ' — Mk. xv. 11, .3, .4, § 90, a few dags after this the giddy multitude cried out, ' Crucily him,* Galilee. North-west part of the land, n-licnce his disciples ive re mosllg gathered, Ac. ii. 7, ' And (hey wore aU amazed and marvelled, sayuig one to another, Behold, are not aU these which speak Gali- Iteans ? ' Deoapolis. North-east, referred to, Mk. v. 20, § 35, p. 332 j— and vii. 31, § 46, p. 420. NOTES. dom which he was about to set up ; or the good news respecting the coming of the Messiali, and the nature of his kingdom. — See Notes, ' The beginning of the gospel,^ § 7, p. 78; and SCBIP. Illus., Mk. i. 14, § 16, p. 158. Mt. iv. 24. And his fame went throughout all Sgria. It is not easy to fix the exact bountls of Syria in the time of om- Savioui', of which the country of the Jews and the Samaritans was but a Tory small part. It was, perhaps, the general name for the country lying between the Euphrates on the east, and the Mediterranean on the west ; and between mount Taurus on the north, and Ai-abia on the south — but more properly referred to the region north-east of Palestine. — See GEOGRAPmcAX Notices, ' Steia,' p. 160. Possessed with devils. Persons possessed by evil spli-its. It is evident from Scripture, and the writings of primitive Chr-istians, that evil spirits, devils, or some of those angels who kept not their first estate, and u-hich are called bg the collective name Satan, and AiafioXoi the Devil, wore permitted about the tune of our Saviom-'s appearance in the world to possess, and in various and di-cadfid manners to torment, the bodies of men, by which their mahee to mankind was manifestly displayed, as well as our Saviom-'s Divine power and benevolence demonstrated in casting them out. 'Aai/jovt^o/«lvow£, "devils," is not the strictly correct rendering. The word hafioXoi, " devil," is not fomid in the plural in any part of the sacred writings ; evil spirits are called demons, of which there are multitudes, Mk. v. 9, § 35 ; but there is but one devil, supreme or head over the rest.' — Dr. Adam Clarke. Those wluch were lunatick. Literally, ' moon-struck,' but figura- tivelg denoting ' epileptic persons ; ' so called from the common notion that the disorder was aggravated by, and retm'ned upon them with, the increasing moon. It is mentioned only in tins place, and in ch. xvii. 15, § 51, p. 457. And those that had the palsg. Many hifirmities were included under this general name of palsy, in the New Testament. 1st. The apoplexy, or paralytic shock, airocting the whole body. 2nd. The hcmiplegy, afTecting only one side of the body ; the most frequent form of the disease. 3rd. The paraplegy, affecting all the system below the neck. 4th. The catalepsy. This is caused by a contrac- tion of the muscles in the whole or a part of the body, and is very dangerous. The effects are very violent and fatal. For instance, if, when a person is struck, he happens to have his hand extended, he is unable to di'aw it back ; if not extended, he is unable to stretch it out. It appears diminished in size, and cU'ied up in appearance. Hence it was called the withered hand, ch. xii. 10 — .3, § 25. 5tli. The cramp. This, in eastern comitries, is a fearfid malady, and by no means imfi-equent. It originates from chills in the night. The limbs, when seized with it, remain immovable, and the person afflicted with it resembles one midergoing a torture. This was probably the disease of the servant of the centmion, ch. viii. 6 [Lu. vii. 2], § 28. Death sometimes follows from this disease iu a few days. good which has been done, let us, with Jesue, contemplate the much that remains to be accomplished. Lu. iv. 42, .3. As Jesus could not be driven from the work which he came forth to do, so neither could he bo di-awn therefrom into a comer, by the kindly soUeitationa of friends, who would have dctamed him in Capernaum. From the example of Jesus, let us du'ect the attention ol others, as frequently as wo have opportunity, to the comuig kingdom : by afaW. V. 1, § 19, p. 171, JtforAi.40, §2J,p. 213 168 PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. keeping this constant ly in view, we shall bear tlic more cliccrfuUy with the evils of the present time, and become assimilated to those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Mt. iv. 23 ; Mk. i. 39. Jesus did not let one work prevent his doing another; he both taught in their synagogues, and proclaimed the Gospel of the kingdom in other places ; and, at the same time, healed all manner of sickness and disease, and cast out devils. He is om- example, with regard to diligence in service, as well as watch- fulness in prayer. XuAe T. 1, § 20, p. 207. Jo7mr. I, § 23, p. 228. [18. PAET n.] DECAPOLIS.— SYRIA. [SECT. XVIll. GEOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. DECAPOLIS, J). 168. Decapolis. — A country of Palestine, wliieli was mainly in the lialf-tribe of Manasseli, so called from its coutaiuing ten cities j about the names of which the learned are not agreed. 'The city of Bethslian, or Bethsean, Bysan, was in the N.E. corner of Samaria, on the borders of dalilcc and Pcrsa, and close to the river Jordan : to this place the Pliilistines brought the body of Said after the battle in Gilboa, and fastened it to a wall. It was nflcrwards called Scythopolis, from the Scythians, who, during the time of the Medcs, overran all Asia, and advanced as far as the hmits of Egypt. It became subsequently a very floui'ishing place, being the metropolis of the Dccapolis, or those ten cities, which were cliicfly mhabited by Syrians, and luiitcd themselves iu a league to resist the oppressions of the Maccabees, 'Stria, or Sham, as it is called by the natives, was bounded on the west by the Mediten'ancan ; on the north by mount Amanus, and by mount Tam-us ; on the east by the river Euphrates, and tlie desert of Palmyi'a ; and on the south by the river Ai'non, the Dead Sea, and the torrent of Egypt. To the north it touched upon Asia Jlinor, to the cast on Mesopotamia, and to the south on Arabia and Egypt: it contained 55,800 square miles, and was divided into the three great divisions of Syria Superior, or Syria properly so called ; Phceniee ; Palestiua, or Judaea. Syria is also called Assyria, as forming part of that great empire, and the two names, though BufEciently defined in geography, are often used indiscriminately in history. ' The name of Syria, which seems to have been derived fi-om Sora, or Tp-e, does not appear to have been applied to the country until this city had arrived at the pre-eminence it enjoyed, wliich was long after the time of Homer, who mentions neither the one nor the other. Tlie old Greeks called the inhabitants of Syria, Arminia, and Mesopotamia, Arhncely or Arim}^ a name derived from Aram, one of the sons of Shem, to whose lot these countries fii'st fell (except Phceniee and Palestine, which came into the possession of Canaan) ; they seem, also, to have extended the appellation to the , Leuco-Syri of Asia Minor. Syria, prior to Assyiian invasion, does not appear to have been governed by one king ; for besides the Plio^nicians and the Israelites, who were a people distinct from all others, (here were also the kingdoms of Damascus, of Hamath, and probably otiicr dynasties in the northern part of the country. From the hands of the Assyrians and Medes, the whole of Syria fell under the Persian yoke, to which it remained subject until wrested from it by Alexander the Great, after whose death, Seleueus Nicanor, one of his generals, received this province as part of his lot m the division of the Macedonian dominions : he raised it, B.C. 312, to an empire, which is known in history as the kingdom of Syria or Babylon. The Selucida>, or successors of this prince, governed the countiy for more than two huncbed years, during which they contested parts of it with the Egyptians, the Parthians, and the Jews ; the last of their race was Antiochus Asiaticus, who was dethroned by Pompey, The following are some of (he Am. i. 3 — 5, ' Thus saith the LoKD j For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not tiu-n away the punUhment thereof; because they have tlii'eshcd Gilcad with threshing instru- ments of iron : 4, but I will send a fii-e into the house of Ilazacl, which shall devour the palaces of Ben-hadad. 5, I will break also tlie bar of Damascus, and cut ofl' the inhabitant from the plain of Aven, and him tliat holdeth the sceptre fi'oni tlic house of Eden : and the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir, saith the LoBi).' — iii. 12, 'Thus saitli the Lord; As the shepherd takcth out of (lie moutli of the lion two legs, or a piece of an car ; so shall (lie children of Israel be (akcn out that dwell in Samaria in tlio corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch.' Is. vii. 4, ' And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet j fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierco anger of Rczui with Syria, and of the son of Eemuliali.' 18.] iUa«. V. 1, § 19, p. 172. il/orii. 40, § 21,p. 213. ' The other nine cities which constituted the Dccapolis arc sup- posed to have been all on the eastern side of the Jordan ; they were Capitohas, Canatha, AbUa, Hippos, Gadara, Pella, Dimn, Gerasa, and Philadelphia. The whole of these belonged to the kingdom of Israel, prior to (he captivity, but they were subsequently reckoned as belonging to Syria ; the Romans included them in their province of Ccele-Syria, and though they gave Herod some of (hem, yc(, upon liis death, they were withheld from his heirs. A few miles to the south of Scythopohs was Bezec, where the men of Judah defeated the Canaanifes with great slaughter, Ju. i. 4, and where also Saul mustered his army prior to giving the Ammonites a signal over- throw, 1 Sa. xi. 8. To the eastward of (his stood yEnon, near to Sahm, where John baptized after he quitted Betliabara,' Juo. iii. 23— .4, § 13, p. m.—lbul. p. 168. B.C. 65 ; and from that time Syria became a Roman province. The new conquerors allowed the ancient divisions of the count ly to remam, and kept possession of it imtil it was reduced by the Saracens, A.D. 640.* — Arrotvsmith^s Ancient and Modern Geog- raphy, p. 497. 'Its excellent soil and agreeable rivers, the Euphrates, Oronfes, Cassimii'e, Adonis, Barrady, &c., rendered it a most deliglitful coimtry. It was anciently divided into a variety of cantons, as Ai-am-naharaim, Aram-zobah, Ai-am-maachah, Aram-rehob, and Ai'am of Damascus. Zobah, Damascus, Hamath, Geshiu-, &c., were its most noted states about the time of David, who conquered it, 2 Sa. viii. — x. About sixty years after, Eezin, who had fled from Haddadczer liis master, erected a kingdom at Damascus. He, and liis successors, Benhadad and Hazael, did much mischief to the Hebrews, 1 Ki. xv., xx., xxii. ; 2 Ki. vi., viii., x. ; but Joash and Jeroboam, kings of Israel, sufficiently resented these injuries, and brought the Syrian kingdom to the point of ruin, ch. xiii., xiv. They recovered themselves, and imdcr Rezin they made a consider- able figure, and terribly harassed Aliaz and his subjects, and even took Elath, on the Red Sea. But Tiglath-pilcscr, instigated by Ahaz, ravaged then" eoimtry, demohshed their cities, and carried the inliabitants to Media. During the decline of the Assyrian empu'C, the Syrians retiumed, and recovered themselves not a little ; but Nebuchadnezzar again reduced them. In the end of the eleventh century, tlie Seljukian Turks seized on it, and erected one of then- four siUtauies at Aleppo, and another at Damascus. Soon after, the Eiu'opcan croisaders took the most of it, and after terrible struggling were, about an hundred years after, driven out of it, by Salachn, sultan of Egypt, and his successors. In the beginning of the sixteenth ccntui-y it was seized by Oie Ottoman Tm'ks, who retain it to this day. We know no place in it at present of note, except Aleppo and Damascus. Its principal rarities are tiia ruins of noted buildings, especially those of Tadmor and Baalbek. A christian ehm'ch was early planted here, and was famous at Antioch, and other places of the comitiT : and there is still a sha- dow of Clu'istianity with not a few. — Ac. xr. 23, 41.' prophesies concerning Syria. Is. viii. 4, ' For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before (he kuig of Assyria.' — k. 11, .2, 'Therefore the LoBD shall set up the adversaries of Rezm against him, and join his enemies together; 12, (he Syrians before, and the Pliilistmcs behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all (his liis auger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.' — xvii. 1—3, ' The bm-den of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a rumous heap. 2, The cities of Ai-oer are forsaken : they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall nnikc l/iem afraid. 3, The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and (he kingdom from Damascus, and the renmant of Syria : they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the LonD of hosts.' Luke V. 1, § 20, p. 207. John r. 1, § 23, p. 228. 169 SECT. XVIII.] ON JESUS' FIKSX GENERAL CIRCUIT OF GALILEE. [rAiiX II, jrD.SA, p. 1G8. JrD*;*, jiropcrly so callod, was tlio Eoulli division of the Holy Land. — See ' HiSTOniCAt Sketch of the Land of PnoMiSE,' p. ix. BETOKD JonrAK, ibid. Probably including llic parts about and east of tho sources of tbo | da, Sect, vii., ' On the IMinistrt of John the BAriisT," p. 88, Jordan.— Sro GEOonAniiCAl. Notice, Sect. x. p. Ill ; also Adden- I commencing at 'The bcenc of tliis ministry,' &c. ADDENDA. 'on- JESUs' riRST GE\EK.\L 'Tlic next morning . . . Jesus retii'ed early to a solitary place, for tlic sake of private prayer, Jlk. i. 35— .9 [Lu. iv. 42— .4]. . . With this time, then, that is, with the morning of the first day of the week, answering to Sunday with us, and, probably, witliin seven duys since tho recurrence of the feast of Pentecost, consequently on June 6, we must date tho commencement of a circuit of Galilee ; ■which evidently set out from Caperaaura, and though it was con- fined to Galilee, yet was general in that country, and ou all these accounts tlio first of its kind, and as complete as any. Tlie inten- tion of making such a progi'css, in the departure of our Lord from Capernaum ilscll', is implied by his answer to Simon, and the people, when they would have detained liim, or prevailed upon him to return to that city; Let us go to the neighbouring KojfioTroXdQ — (Ktoftac Kiii TTiiXiig) towns or cities — that I may preach there also ; for for this purpose am I come forth, Mk. i. 38. . . . This circuit is also described by St. Matthew, iv. 23— .5. St. Luke says, the work of the circuit was discharged in the synagogues of Galilee ; St. Jlark, in their synagogues tln-oughout all Galilee ; and St. Matthew, that Jesus went about all Galilee ; and each of them, that the circiut consisted in teaching, and preaching, that is, proclaiming, and per- forming mii'acles. . . . ' The expediency of undertaking such a progi-css, as soon alter the pubhc eommenecment of the mmisti-y in Galilee as possible, must be undeniable ; . . . and whatever length of time might be occnpied by one such circuit, the same, it may be supposed, would bo taken up by another. . . . Every circuit, whether in Galilee or elsewhere, undertaken in the coiu"se of om" Lord's miuistiy, being designed for the benefit of the inhabitant?, . . . must be detennined by the number of places which he would visit, and the length of the stay which he would make in each. ... It is not to be supposed that he would merely perambulate GalUcc in a circle, and, consequently, pass through such towns and villages only as lay on the Unc of his route: the expression, Treptj/yjj' oXijv Tt)i> TaXikaiav^'m reference to this cu'cuit, must be understood and interpreted, confonnably with others, 7rfniJ/y£i' 6 '\i}Govq rag ttoXej*; Trdrrac Kat raQ K-w/mc, 5It. ix. 35, § 38 — and, hiolivt Kara iroXiv Knt Kio^iriv, Lu. viii. 1, § 30, in reference to cii'cuits subsequently undertaken. . , . 'The nmnber of towns and villages— TroXjie km Kw/mi— which Galilee contained is estimated by Josephus, Tita 45, at 204, and the population of each, upon an average, at not less than 15,000 souls.' —Greswi-U, Vol. II. Diss, xxiii. pp. 289- .92. ' Many of them, especially the cities, as we may presimie, woidd contain nuieh more. To assume, however, the average population of every town or city at 15,000— and to understand the specified number of such towns and villages as intended of both the Gahlees ; on these suppositions the population of all Galileo amoimted to 3,060,000 souls. 'The whole extent of Palestine from Dau to Bcershcba, that is, from Bcershcba to Ca;sarea PhUippi, is estimated by Keland, ii. cap. y. 423, at 156 Eoman miles ; of which 52 miles, or one thii-d, at least, must bo assigned to the leugth of Galilee, Upper and Lower, in particular. And as tho breadth of the country (that is, of the habitable part of the country, on the west of the Jordan) was sufil- cicnlly nnifonn, if the popidalion of cveiy part had been on an equal scale, llie population of the whole in general would have been flu-ce times the population of a third part in particular. On tliis principle tho whole population of Palestine, west of tho Jordan, must be cstimateil at 9,180,000 souls. In this number, however, tho inhabi- tants of Judffia, east of tho Jordan, are not included; and their 170 CIRCUIT OF G.\I,ILEE,' p. 107. countiy, which was once adequate to the support of two tribes, and one half, out of tho twelve, would probably supply a million of soids additional. The popiUation of all Palestine, then, both west and east of Jordan, woidd appear to be, on this principle, not less than ten millions of souls. ' Tlio populousness of Judcca is a ciremustance often insisted on by profane writers, {DiorJ. Sic. lib. xl. Ecloga I., Openim x. 215 — ..9; Tac. Hisf. V. 5;) and there is little doubt that, in proportion to its size, it was the most abundant in numbers of any country within the Roman dominions. Strabo tells us, that in his time, the small districts of Janmca and its subiu'bs could bring into the field an army of 40,000 men. Lib. xvi. 2, § 28, 347, which woidd require a general populat ion of at least 160,000.' — Ibid., Vol. IV. App. Diss, xxiii. pp. 491 — ^..3. 'AVewUl assume that our Lord would visit only one half of the towns and villages ; and, what is no extravagant supposition, that he would pass, upon an average, one day in each. AVc wiU assume also that, for evci-y week of the continuance of the progr'css, lie would necessarily be statioiiaiy somewhere during the fom- and twenty hours of the sabbatic rest. Even upon tliis calculation, wliicli every one will allow to be moderate and reasonable, the diu'ation of a circuit would never be less than three months, and probably not less than four. This, then, we may assume, in evci-y instance of what is perceived to have been a general cii-cuit, not otherwise limited, as the nearest approximation to the exact measure of its continuance. Consequently, the cu'ciiits which began about the feast of Pentecost would be over about the feast of Tabernacles ; of which fact we shall find incidental notices supplied, on more than one occasion, by the gospel narrative itself. And it is a general argument in favoui- of its truth, first, that ou this pruieiplo a circuit would commonly begin after wheat-harvest was over, and terminate when seed-tune was ready to an'ivc; the effect of which would bo that the peojile in the interval woidd be enabled to attend upon oiu' Saviour with the least inconvenience to themselves : and, secondly/, that it would coincide with the period of the year when travelling could best bo performed only in tho inoniing and the cvcnuig of the day, and when resting throughout the day, so obviously nccessaiy for tho purpose of teaching, woidd not be more neeessaiy for that purpose than expedient in itself. ' The course of the present ckeuit, we may conjecture from St. Muttheio, iv. 24, .5, was, upon the whole, as follows— ^c*^, along the western side of tlie Joi-dan, northward ; which would disseminate the fame of Jesus in Deeapolis : secondli/, along the confines of the tetrarchy of Philip, westward ; which would make him known throughout Syiia: t/iirdli/, by the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, south- ward : and lastly, along tho verge of Samaria, and the western region of the lake of Galilee — the nearest points to Judica Proper, and to Pera;a — until it retimicd to Capeniaum. In the course of the progress, if ho visited Bethsaida, he might be joined by Philip [Juo. i. 44, § 10, p. 107] ; if he visited Cana, by Nathanacl [xxi. 2, § 97] ; and if there was such a village as Iscarioth, by Judas Iscariot also. All our Lord's disciples were natives of Galilee, and, probably, fii'st became disciples in Galilee. No incident, however, is expressly recorded as having transpu-cd ou the circuit itself; a circumstance by no means nioro peculiar to tliis fii'st, than to any other of the number, except the last ; for these periods in oiu' Lord's ministry, though in themselves integral portions of its whole dura- tion, and as full of action and employment as any part of it, arc invariably the least related iu detail of aiX'—Ibid., Vol. II. Diss. xxiii. pp. 293 — ..4. [18. Mall. T. 1, § 19, p. 172. Mark i. 40, § 21, p. 213. LuJce v. 1, § 20, p. 207. John v. 1, § 23, p. 228. TAET il.i THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. [SECT. XIX. SECTION 19. — When the circuit was drawing to an end, and the concourse of the people WAS greatest, Jesus teaches his disciples from some mountain in the neighbourhood of Capernaum.* Matt. v. — viii. 1. [G. O.3.] introduction AND ANALYSIS. The Sermon on the Mount may be viewed as consisting of ten divisions : these are generally distinguished, each from the others, by some pccuharity of form as well as of subject. The Jlrst portion, ch. v. ver. 3 — 12, consists of Beatitudes, de- Bcribing the Christian life fi-om its commencement to its consum- mation. The second, ver. 13 — .6, calls for the manifestation of that life, for the good of man, unto the glory of God. The third, ver. 17 — 20, points to tlie truth and importance of that whereby the life Divine is nourished ; the word of righteousness as fulfilled by Chi-ist. The Jbitrth, ver. 21 — 48, consists of six paragraphs, each begin- ning with ' Te hare heard,^ or, 'It hath been said.' In each, there is a contrast between the law, as viewed by them 'of old time,' and the truth of the word, as revealed by Him who introduces us into the perfect law of liberty. The Jiftli, ch. vi. ver. 1 — 18, consists o{ four paragi-aphs, warning agamst fonnalisui ; and directing to the true manner of serving or worshipping God, oiu- Father, ' whieh sccth in secret.' The sixth, ver. 19 — 31', shews the reasonableness of faith in God, and exposes the folly of that worldly wisdom wliich is most destruc- tive to the spiritual life. Tlie sevcni/i, ch. vii. ver. 1 — 6, forbids presiunption in judging, and also the prostituting that which is holy. The eighth, ver. 7— 14, invites us to 'ask — seeic — JnwcJc' giving the assurance of a favourable answer. It then speaks more fuUy as to wliat, and of whom, we are to ast. Then we have the golden ride, the practical use of the Law and the Prophets, as read in the light of the Gospel. Then, as to where we are to knock — it is ' at the strait gate.' AVc must practise self-denial, if we would fully participate in the blessings of the life everlastuig. The ninth, ver. 15 — 20, bids us beware of false prophets; and tells us how they, as well as the true witnesses, may be known ; and intimates that, however men may deceive others now, the faithful Judge will give a true witness hereafter. In the tenth, ver. 21 — .7, we arc told that nothing can stand the trial, except that which is in truth built upon the l?ock. It is only as standing in the grace of God, that faith can endure the trials to which it is, and will be, subjected. These ten sections of oiu' Lord's exposition of the new covenant may be viewed as exhibiting the manner in which God, by his Gospel, writes his Liw (see the ten commanchnents, Ex. xx. 3 — 17) in its spii'ituality upon the fleshy tables of the heart. I. In the Beatitudes, ch. v. ver. 3 — 12, is described the character of those who truly take the Lord to be theu* God. ' The poor in spirit,' ver. 3, are they who, being divested of every other depen- dence, are brought into obedience to the first commandment, Ex. XX. 3, ' Thou shall have vo other gods before me.' II. Ter. 13 — .0. Tliosc who are thus joiueil unto the Lord as their God arc to manifest the life and light into which they are introduced, throiigli Christ Jesus their Lord, the image of the in- visible God, and after whose image they are to be formed anew. They arc made one with Hiin who is 'the light of the world:' eschewing all the darkness of idolatry, they are to be for light unto others, being as stars in the right hand of their Redeemer, to reflect the glorious light of that 'Sun of Righteousness.' They are to let their light so sliinc, as that not their works, however good, may arrest the attention of men, but tiiat men may bo led to glorifi/ their Father who is in heaven: Compare Ex. xx. 4 — G, icith Mt. V. 13— .6. III. In order that we thus in trutli manifest the Name of the Lord, it is needfid that we have a due regard to, and a right under- standing of, that whereby God hath made liimself known. He hath inagnifled his word above all his name. He hath made himself known in the Son of his love, as foreshcwn by the Law and the Prophets ; and we must duly prize the Scriptures of truth, as revealing the pm-pose for which Clirist came into the world — Ue ' is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth,' Rom. X. 4. He also came to seal the testimony of the prophets with his blood. Let us beware of making a vain use of Holy Scrip- tiu'e, wliich is tluis so wondrously confii'med. And men must not esteem it a hght thing to take upon them the name of Christ : we are taking the Lord's name in vain, if, while professing to belong to the family of God, we yet arc conformed to the world — tliink lightly of God's manifestation of love in the gift of bis Son, and care not to manifest that love to others : Compare Ex. xs. 7 icith Mt. V. 17—20. rV. Ver. 21 — 48. Tliose 'of old time' had been labouring to work out a righteousness of their own, according to the law ; but we, who trust in the Son of God, by whom the law has been most perfectly fulfilled, do enter with him into rest ; as is taught us in tlie exposition of the fourth commandment, Heb. iv. 10, ' He that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own worhs, as God liid from his.' Thenceforth the law is life, and his commandment.^ arc not grievous, but are rest and peace. It is as reaching the heart, that our Lord here presents a view of the second table of the law, as with regard to the sixth commandment, ver. 21 — .6, and the seventh, ver. 27 — 32 ; and as to the eighth, we are taught not to subtract from that which is vowed or promised, but to act in all simpUcity toward man, the same as if under a vow to God, ver. 33 — -.7. So far ti'om bearing false witness, against which we are warned in the ninth, we are not even to prosecute aecorduig to the strict rigour of justice, ver. 38—42 ; and, so far from wishing evil to om' neighbour, as forbidden in the tenth commandment, we are even to love our enemies, and do them ail the good we arc able: and as being made one with the Son of God. We are tlius to bring forth the fruit of the perfect work of Christ, even as our Father in heaven continues to bestow the blessuigs of liis completed work of creation, ver. 43 — .8. These, the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth commandments, viewed in relation to our neighbour, we are to obey, as being brought into obedience to the fflh commandment, viewed as reach- ing to the highest relation of parent and child. Those of old time had been claiming the honour tliat belongs to God. These fathers were heard and obeyed, to the making void the word of the ever- lasting Father. He is honoured by our hstening to the voice of his ' beloved Son,' and by our thus becoming, coiifonncd to his image, according to his word :' Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.' It is only as resting in the perfect work of Jesus, the Son of God, who hath for us brought in everlasting righteousness, that we can rejoice in the spii-ituahty of the law, become followers of God aa dear children, and serve him in the Sonship. 19.] See Abdexda, ' On this Sermon and that in St. Lulc vi. 20—19,' § 27, p. 267. Mark i. 40, § 21, p. 213. Ltike v. 1, § 20, p. 207. John v. 1, § 23, p. 228. 17J SECT. XIX.] THE SEKJ10>« ON TilK MOUiXT [PABT 11. (G. 23.) Malt. V. 1 — (5. On a mountain 'North of Capernaum. [For ch. iv. 25, xrc § is, p. \(\H.] J And seeing the inukitmlcs, he-wenl-up into ii' mountain : and wlieu-hc--was-sct, his^ disciples came- nnto liim : 2 And lic-opencd liis^nioiitli, aiid-tiUighl them, saying, H Jllessed nuKi'ti>ioi c/n,' tlie poor in ' spirit : lor 4 tlieir's is tlic kingdom ol" heaven. Blessed arc they'that-mourn : for they sliall-be-comlbrtcd. T) Blessed C are the meek : lor they shall-inlierit tiie eartli. Blessed are they ' whieh-do-huuger and thirst-after SCIUr-TURE ILLUSTRATIONS. 1. Set. See cli. xiii. 2, § 32, p. 299; Lu. iv. 20, § 15, p. 152; T. 3, § 20, p. 2U7; Jnt. viii. 2, § 55, p. ^00.— Compare Lu. ii. -16, § C, p. 65. 3. I'OOK I.\ SI'IHIT. T/ie humble hearl is the throne in which llie King of heaven dclifi/ilclh to dwell. Is. Ivii. 15, ' For thus saitli tlie liigh mill lofij- One tlial iiihabitcth eternity, whose name is Holy ; I dwell ill the higli and lioly place, willi him also that is of a con- trite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.' — Ja. ii. 5, 'Hearten, my beloved brethren. Hath not God ehoscn the poor of this world rieh in faith, and heirs of the khigdom whieh he hath promised to them that love 1dm ?' — Zep. iii. 12, ' I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord.' 4. MotJBX. Occasioned by the prevalence of evil and absence of the Lord Jesus, Jno. xvi. 20, .2, § 87, ' Verily, verily, I say unto you. That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice : and yc shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.' 22, 'And yo now therefore have sorrow : but I wiU see j'ou again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.' Comforted. Jno. xvi. 7, § ib., 'If I go not away, the Com- forter will not come unto you j but if 1 depart, I will send liun imto you.' — The Comforter, ch. xiv. 16 — 36, § ib. ; Is. Ixi. 1 — 3, (riuoledlM. ii. 40, § 6, p. 64, 'Grace of GiOd.') -Comfort pro- mised ill Zion, Is. XXX. 18, .O,(quoled Lu. ii. 25, § 4, p. 41, * Jerusalem.') -r//e comfortinij acknowledged, Is. sii. 1-^6, 'And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I will praise thee : though thou wast angry with luc, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. 2, Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and mt/ song; he also is become ray salvation. 3, Tlierefore with joy shall yc di-aw water out of the wells of salvation. 4, And in tliat day shall ye say. Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. 5, Suig mito the Lord ; for he hath done excellent things : this is known in all the earth. 6, Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee' — Ixvi. 10, .'i,{quoted Lu. i. 58, § 3, p. 26, 'IIejoiced,' &c,) 5. The meek. Ps. xxxvii. 11, 'The meek shall inherit the earth ; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.' — Nu. xii. 3, 'The man Moses was vei-y meek, above all the men which were upon the fiice of the earth.' — He, however, came short, XX. 12, ' And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, ther'efore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I liave given them.' — Jesus our example, 'meek and lowly in heart,' Mt. xi. 29, § 29.— Zee. ix. 9, ' Kcjoice greatly, O daughter of Zion ; shout, daughter of Jerusalem : behold, thy King cometli unto thee : he is just, and havmg salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.' — Ja. v. 7 — 11, 'Be patient therefore, brctlu-en, imto the coming of the Lord.' Tit. iii. 2, 'Speak evil of no man, . . be no brawlers, hut gentle, shewing all meekness imto all men.' 6. Hunger and thirst after, &e. Ps. xvii. 15, ' As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness : I shall be satisiied, when I awake, with thy likeness.' NOTES. 1. Seeing the multitudes. ' Seeing so gi'cat a concoiu-se of jieoplc' This is commonly called the sermon on the movmt. It is not im- probable that it was repeated, in substance, on different occasions. — See Lu. vi. 17—49, § 27, p. 262. The design of om- Lord in this discom-se was to make known the nature of that kingdom lie had announced as being about to be estabUshcd, and to rescue the moral law from the false glosses put upon it by the Pharisees. Set. Tlio master sat in the chief place, and the disciples before him in a circuit — see Lu. ii. 46, § 6, p. 65. His disciples came tinto him. The apostles, or the peculiar dis- ciples of Christ, may be principally concerned. From Lu. vi. 13, .7, § 27, p. 201, and Jno. vi. 66, .7, § 43, all who followed om- Saviour, and heard lihn favourably, were called 'his disciples.' 2. Opened his mouth. This phrase is expressive of free and full discourse, Eph. vi. 10, 'And for me, that utterance may bo given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,' of some weighty and important matter, uttered with great alacrity of spirit. 3. Messed. Mntcopcoi, ' Eapipg.' The best commentators gene- rally render /toKapioi happy, and tuXoyijTbi;, and ivXoyiifdvoi;, blessed. The several blessuigs here pronounced appear to have some opposition to the vices to wliich the Jews were chiefly addicted. Such are truly happy who are sensible of their own ignorance, Binfuluess, and insulliciency, and who depend on God's ii-ee grace for instruction, forgiveness, and supply ; and whose hearts are so weaned from the riches, honours, and pleasures of this Ui'c, that they readily submit to God's disposal, and part with everything temporal for the Gospel's sake;— such only have a full and everlast- ing interest in all the riches and honours of the kingdom of glace here, and of the kingdom of glory that is about to come. Mark i. 40, § 21, p. 213. Lulce v. 1, 172 4. Blessed are they that mourn. All kinds of mourning cannot be here intended ; for ' the sorrow of the world ivorketh death.' Oxxr Lord predicted that the days were coming when the Bride- groom woidd be taken from liis disciples, and then should they fast or mom'n ; and when he did make them understand that he was indeed going away, soitow filled their heart. But he did not leave them comfortless ; he left the promise of his retiuii : to apply w liich promise was one of the special pm'poscs for which the Comforter was to be sent. 5. The meek ; i.e.. Those who, il'om principle, patiently submit to the will of God, whether it be as to sidlcring, or doing. Thfy shall inherit tlie earth. This might have been translated the land. It was promised to Israel that they shoidd inherit the land of Canaan. The patriarchs looked forwm'd to tills — see Ge. XV. 7, 8,{quoted Lu. i. 18, § 1, p. 10, ' Whereby ;') and Ex. xxxii. 13, ' Kemember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swai-est by thine own self, and saidst mito them, I will mijtiply yom- seed as the stai's of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall iiilicrit it for ever.' Yet they did not possess it till after the Exodus from Egypt. Moses, although the meekest of men, did not enter into the laud, although he led the children of Israel to the borders of it. Abra- ham, Isaac, and Jacob, although they sojourned in the land, were not given it in possession, notwithstanding then- being given it in promise. Nevertheless, those who patiently wait for God will find his promise sure. ' The meek shall inherit the earthy when the wicked are cut off. 6. Blessed are they which do hunger, Sfc. The words are descrip- tive of a holy ardour of sold, in piu'suit of the most eminent attaiu' ments in universal goodness. § 20, p. 207. John v. 1, § 23, p. 228. [IQ. PART II.] blessed are the peacemakers. Matt. v. 8, 9. [SECT. XIX. , righteousness : for they shall-be-filled. 7 Blessed are tho merciful : for they shall-obtnin-mercy S iXeiidi'iaovTcu. Blessed ««' the pure in 'heart : for they shall-see^God. !J Blessed rt/'t' "the peacemakers : for SCRIPTDRE ILLUSTRATIONS. 6. Shall be pilled. Is. It. 1 — 3, 'IIo, every one that tliirstetli,' &c. I doeth evil to his neighbour, nor tateth up a reproach against his — Jno. iv. 1I-, § 13, p. 138, ' wliosocver drhiketli,' &c — vii. 37, .8, § 55, 1 neighbour. 4, In whose eyes a vUe person is contemned ; but he p-4yO,'If any man thirst,' &p. — vi. 33 — .5, §43, ' thobreadof Godishe i honoureth them that fear the LoED. ife ,(quoled Lu. ii. 45, § 6, p. G5, 'Seeking- him.') Purity necessary to seeing God in his word. Da. xii. 10,(' JIany shall be purified, and made white, ami tried ; but the wicked shall do wickedly : and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.') — and in his works, Ps. cxi. — Heb. xii. 14, 'Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.' 9. Peacemakees. Ge. xiii. 7, 8, 'Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife,' &c. — Moses was a peacemaker, Ex. ii. 13. — Compare Ac. vii. 2G; Ln. vi. 27, § 27.— Rom. xu. 14—21, 'Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.' — xiv. 1 — 19. — Ja. iii. 16 — .8, ' For where envying and strife is, there is con- fusion and every evil work. 17, But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intrcated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and witliout hypocrisy. 18, And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them tliat make peace.' — Christians to seek that men may be reconciled to God, 2 Cor. v. 20, ('Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech yoit by us : we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.') — and to one another in the Lord, Eph. iv. — See the disposition in which this peace is to be sought, ver. 1 — 3 ; — the power to accomplish it, ver. 4 — 10 i^the ministry appointed for the purpose, ver. 11, .2 ; — and the grand result contemplated, ver. 13 — .6 ; the obstructions to be remoced out of the way, ver. 17 — 31 ; — the example of forgiveness in the Father, ver. 32 ; — and of sacrifice in the Son, ch. y. ver. 2 ; — to be followed by the sons of God, ver. 1. — For cli. v. 1, 2, ( quoted, Lu. ii. 40, § 6, p. 64, ' Geace,' &c.) NOTES. 6. They shall be filled. xopTaaQljaovTai, 'satisfied,' so as to desire nothing more. It is derived from x^croc, 'grass,' or 'lierbage;' and is a flgiu-e taken from cattle in a good pasture, fed till tliey are satisfied, and graze no longer. 7. Blessed are the merciful. In nothing do we imitate God more than in shewing mercy. Of the ' mercy seat,' he said, Ex. xxv. 21, .2, ' there I will meet with thee.' 8. Pure in heart. Those, in whose souls all carnal, sinful, and sensual desires are mortiQed ; who are inwardly replenished with holy natures and affections, and influenced by tho fear and love of God in their habitual conduct. In opposition to the Pharisees, wlio affected outward purify, while their hearts were full of coiTuption and defilement. ' The clean in heart,' o'l icaSnpoi rj; KafSi. A.i learing rescmllance to Ooi!, 2 Cor. siii. 11, ' Be perfect, bo of good coiiiforf, be of one mind, live in peace ; and tlie God of love and peace shall be with you.' — See Hos. i. 10. 10. PeRSECCTED fob nlQHTEOUSNESS' SAKE. To le willing to mfferfor the Son of man's sal-e, Lu. vi. 22, § 27.-2 Tim. iii. 12, 'All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer perse- cution.' — ii. 12, 'If wo suffer, we shall also reign with //im ; if we deny /'im, he also will deny us,' &e. — T/ie lieirs of the l-ingdom are described as those who had lost their lives ' for the witness of Jesus,' &c.~See also Rev. xx. 4, 6,(quoted Jno. vl 89, § 43, p. 390, 'SnoFLD iiAisE,' &e.)-xi. 18. 12. So PERSECUTED TilEY THE rnoPHETS. Zcchariah stoiied, 2 Cln-. xsiv. 20, .^(qKofed Lu. iv. 28, § 15, p. 154, Tilied,' &e.)- Ne. ix. 2G, ' They were disobedient, and rebelled agamst thee, and east thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets wliich testiCed against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations.' — So Jeremiah, ch. xxvi. 8, 9, 20 — .3. — See the parallel passage, Lu. vi. 23, § 27, p. 263. — Our Lord twice bewailed Jeru- salem, on account of her hardness of heart in slaying the prophets, xiii. 34, § GG ; Mt. xxiii. 37, § 85, p. 757 ;— So Stephen accused the Jewish sanhedrim, Ac. vii. 51, .2, 'Ye stiiTnecVcd and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost : as your fathers did, so do yc. 52, Wliich of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just Due ; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers.' — Compare 1 Th. ii. 14, .5, {quoted, Lu. xv. 28, § 68, 'Would not go in ;')««(? Heb. xi. 36, .7, 'And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourging?, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment : 37, they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword : they wandered about in sheepskms and goatskins ; being destitute, afflicted, tormented.' 13. Ye ABE THE SAIT, &c. Salt was to le offered with the meat offering, Le. ii. 13. — Col. iv. C, 'Let your speech le alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.' — Christians are said to escape, 2 Pc. ii. 20, ' tlie pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.' 14. Ye are the eight. Chrislians are individually to shine as 'lights in the world,' Ph. ii. 15, ' Blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and pei-verse nation, among whom ye shuie as lights in the world.' — Also col- lectioely, as 'light in the Lord,' Eph. v. 8 — 21 — Christ is the ' true Light, which Ughteth,' &c., Jno. i. 9, § 7, p. 75. NOTES. 9. Children of God. It is here implied that they will, by the Father, be loved and blessed with a truly paternal affection ; they being made conformable to his dear Son, who came to make 'peace through the blood of his cross,' Col. i. 20. 10. Persecuted. SiSuoyfdvoi. They who are hard pressed upon, and pursued with repeated acts of enmity. 11. And persecute you. The persecution in the preceding verse Bignifies that of the hand ; (his of the tongue, as calumny, &c. ; but as hi'iKcti', which we render 'to persecute,' is a foi'eusic term, and signifies ' legal persecutions and public accusations,' our Lord pro- bably refers to such in relation to the primitive Christians. — Clarke. 12. Great is your reward. A patient and cheerful sufferuig for Clu'ist in this life will certainly be rewarded in the blessedness of the life to come. Not a reward of debt, but of grace; 2 Cor. iv. 17, 'For our light allliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.' 13. Salt. This is the grand preservative from corruption in the material world ; and is a common symbol of wisdom. The disciples and ministers of Christ are, by their doctrine, conversation, example, labours, and prayers, to opjiose the progress of shi and impiety, and eeason men's minds with holiness. If the salt hare lost his sarour. As salt which has lost its savour is useless, so Christ's disciples will bo wortldess and contemptible, even in the most eminent stations, if by their conduct they maintain not their character for real and vital religion. In eastern countries salt is found in the earth in veins or layers, and when exposed to the sun and rain loses its saltness entu-ely. But to le cast out. 'Who shall teach the teacher?' Ei pi/ p\)jdiivai ijit). A sort of rustic proverb, signifying ' to be good fur nothing.' — Bloomfield. 14. Light of the world, to diwt,' rov Kutypov, i. c., 'the means by which God is pleased to enlighten the minds of men with true i-eligion, as the globe is enUghtened by the rays of the sun ; wliich is, in the p)roper sense, to ^mg too Kuapov. The term was applied by the Jews to then- rabbins, as among the Greeks and Romans celebrated persons were called lights of the world.' — Ibid. Christ is the true Light, but Christians shine by the light of knowledge and holiness derived from him. A city ...set on an hilt. Not far fi-om the Mount of Beatitudes is Saphet, supposed to be the ancient Sethulia. It stands on a very conspicuous mountain, and might easily be seen from the mountain on which om- Lord made this discourse. Many writers have justly observed that Christ takes his similes from the most obvious things, fomiliarly known to his hearers, and often before their eyes, even while he was speaking. See this beautifully illustrated by Sir Isaac Kewton in his Tl^ork on the Prophecies, 10 rer. Those who are espoused unto Jesus, the Lord our Right- eousness, are not to be discouraged, on account of theu- being hated of the world. 11, .2 ver. Christians must not be surprised, although they should be reviled for their work of faith and labour of love, and although they should have their motives misrepresented ; they niust have the patience of hope, looking for their reward, not from man or in time, but from God, and in the coming kingdom, like the prophets who have gone before them. 13fer. As salt was of old a token of friendship, and actually il/orA^i. 40, §21, p. 213. LideY.l, 174 ritACTICAL REFLECTIONS. brings more closely together, so as to preserve from putrefaction, the several particles of the substauees into which it is put — so should true believers exhibit the power of the salt of 1 lis covenant, in dif- fusing his purifying, healing, and preserving grace around them. 14 ver. Christians should not merely be as lights ; they should, in Christ, concentrate their efforts, so as to be like one great light, for the enlightenment of the world. They should not be as dwelling in scattered tents, they should be as fellow-citizens, combining their eil'orts for the common good, and as an open example to the world, not merely of individual holiness, but of social harmony, beauty, and blessing. § 20, p. 207. John v. 1, § 23, p. 228. [19. PART II.] CHRIST CAME TO FULFIL TIIE LAW. [SECT. XIX. Matt. v. 10 — .9. candle, and put it under a'buslicl, but on a' candlestick ; and it-giveth-liglit unto-all that'arc in the 16 house. Let-7oui\ light so'-shiue before ^ men, that they-may-see your^good works, and glorify your , Father which ' in in . heaven. 17 18 but 19 one tittle Ktpaia shall-'in-no-wise'-pass from the law, till all be-fulfillcd Think not that I-am-come to-destroy KaraXvaai the law, or the prophets : I-am-"nof-come to-destroy, t to-fulhl Tr\i}pw(Tni. For verily I-s'ay unto-you, Till Jieaven and^earth pass irapiXBri, one jot iwra or Whosoever therefore slmll-brenk SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. 15. On a CANDMSTIOK. Chmlies Jil-ened to candlesticks, see Rev. i. 20 — Chrl'itians to attach themselves to the assemblies of the saints, for the 'purpose of itnifedli/ and openly exhibiting the Uqht, Ileb. X. 23 — .5, 'Let us liold fast the profession of oitr faitli without wavering ; (for he is faithful that promised ;) 2t, and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works : 25, not forsaking the assembling of om-sclves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another : and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.' — See as to the armour of light, with which the darkness and the powers of darkness are to be opposed, Eph. vi. 11— .9.— Mt. x. 27, § 39, p. 301, 'What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in hght,' &e. 16. Let totib MOHT. Ercn tliose v.iho occiipi/ the lowest stations may 'adorn the doctrine of God our Savioui- in all things,' Tit. ii. 10 — .2. — 'Christians are practically to exhibit the light, so that their enemies may be led to glorify Ood, 1 Pe. ii. 12 — Thus even in this life are the meek to be beautified loith salvation, whether as subjects, ver. 13 — .7 ; — or as servants, ver. 18 — 25 ; — or as wives and husbands, iii. 1 — 7. — ii. 9, 'a chosen generation, a royal priesthood,' . . .to' shew forth the praises of him wlio hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.' — 1 Juo. i. 5, ' God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.' Good woeks. 'Tabifha,' Ac. is. 36.— Eph. ii. 10, 'We are his workmansliip, created in Christ Jesus luito good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.' — Through the Scripture, the man of God is 'throughly fiu'nished unto all good works,' 2 Tim. iii. 17. — A doer of the word, Ja. i. 22, ' But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.' — God is glorified in such as bear much fruit, J no. xv. 8, § 87. 17. TniNK NOT ... TO BEsmoi TUB LAW. Rom. iii. 31, ' Do we NOT 15. Light a candle, ^'c, \vxvov,' a, lamp.' Their houses were ilhmiinated all night by lamps placed on a large stand, here ren- dered ' candlestick,' fixed in the ground, from which the smaller lamps used in the apartments were lighted. Under a bushel, vtt'u tuv ^wciov, 'under a corn measure ;' a bushel was unknown to the Jews. A proverbial saying, illustrative of the folly of depriving anything of its utility, by putting it to a purpose the farthest from what it was intended for. 16. Let your light so shine. OiVoj Xa/ii/zarw Ti} ^wg, * thus let your light shine,' 'the light of your example,' 'unequivocal profes- sion of the truth.' That they may see your good works. This is not tlie motive to influence us, simply that we may be seen — see cli. vi. 1, p. 183 — but that oiu' heavenly Father may be glorified. The Plun-isces acted to be seen of men ; true Christians act to glorify God ; and care liltlo what men may think of tliem, except as by theu- conduct others may be brought to honour God. 17. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, i^-c. As if he had said, 'I am not come to make the law of none effeet — to dissolve the connexion wliich subsists between its several parts, or the obliga- then make void the law through faith ? God forbid : yea, we estab- lish the law.' — X.4, 'For Christ is the end of the law for righteous- ness to every one that believeth.' — sv. 8, ' Jesus Christ ... a minister of the circiuncision for the tnitli of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.'— Ga. iii. 17, ' The covenant, that was con- firmed before of God in Christ, the law, wliich was fom- hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the pro- mise of none elTect.'- Is. xhi. 21, 'The LOED is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.' 18. TlXL HEAVEN AND EAETH PASS. Ps. ciix. 89, 152, 'For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.' — Is. xl. 8, 'The grass witheretli, the flower fadcth : but the word of our God shall stand for ever.' — Lu. xvi. 17, § 69, 'And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.'— xxi. 33, § 86 ; Mt. xxiv. 35, § ib. — It is not in order to make void his word, that God hath become incarnate, Nu. xxiii. 19; — but in order to make it sure, Rom. viii. 32, ' He that spai'ed not his own Son, but delivered liim up for us all, how shall he not with liim also freely give us all things?' 19. WnosoEVEE . . . SHALL BBEAK. The word of the Lord, given to Moses, to be kept in integrity, De. xii. 32, ' What thing soever I command you, observe to do it : thou shalt not add tliercto, nor diminisli from it.' — The I'harisees made ' the commandment of God of none effect by ... . tradition, Mt. xv. 3 — 6, § 44 ; xvi. 6, § 48. — To the angel of the church at Fergamos it is said. Rev. ii. 14, 'But I have a few things against thee, because tliou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stmnbling- block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.' — 1 Th. v. 22, 'Abstain from all appear- ance of evil.' ES. tion men are under to have their lives regulated by its moral precepts ; nor am I come to dissolve the connecting reference which it has to the good things promised. But I am come, ;7-X);puJ!eadfor them, ver. 16, .7, 'Wash you, make you clean ; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes ; cease to do evU ; 17, learn to do well ; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.' — And then he viould le gracious to them, ver. 18, ' Come now, and let us reason together, saitli the LoKD : though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow ; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.' 24. Be eeconciled. Lahan warned of God to he reconciled to Jacob, Ge. xxxi. 24 — .9. — Christians are to be willing to suffer icrong, 1 Cor. vi. 7, ' Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong ? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded ? ' — 1 Pe. iii. 8 — 11, ' Be ye all of one mind, Imving compassion one of another.' 25. Aqeee with. Jacob sought agreement with his brother Esau, Ge. xxxii. 3 — 5. — xxxiii. 11, 'Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee ; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have eriough. And he urged him, and he took it.' — Is. Iv. 6, 7, ' Seek ye the Loed while he may be found.' — Ps. ii. 12, 'Kiss tlio Son, lest lie be angry.' — Heb. iii. 7 — 12,(quoted Jiio. iii. 18, § 12, p. 127, 'Beliktoih not.') 27. TeoU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTEET. Ex. XX. 14.— ^Hei to be put to death, Le. xx. 10. — Pr. vi. 32, ' Wlioso committeth adul- tery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that docth it destroyeth his own soul.' — Heb. xiii. 4, 'Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.' — The adulteress, Pr. ii. 17, ' forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.' 28. Whosoeveb lookeih, &e. Thus Shechem sinned, Ge, xxxiv. 2 ; — so Fotiphar'sioife, xxxix. 7 ; — so David, 2 Sa. xi. 2. — Ja. i. 14, .5, ' Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.' NOTES. 22. Hell fire, yhvvav tov TrvpoQ, the Gehennah of fire. The place referred to is supposed to have been a beautifiJ spot at the foot of mount Moriali, lying partly within the mouth of Hinnom, and partly in the valley of Jehoshaphat, and in'igated by the waters of Siloam. It was called Tophet because of the sacrifices that were offered there to the god Molech, by beat of di-um, which in Hebrew is called Toph (on). The statue of Molech was of brass, hollow witliin, with its ai-ms extended, and stooping a httle forward. They lighted a great fire within the statue, and another before it. They put upon its arms the children they intended to sacrifice, wliich soon fell into the fire at the foot of the statue. To stifle the noise of their cries, they made a great rattling of drums and other instruments, tliat the spectators might not be moved with compassion. And this, as they say, was tlie manner of sacrificing in Tophet. — See Addenda, ' Tophet,' p. 181. 23. As the former verse forbids ill-timed and excessive anger and hatred, so this and the following enjoin love to our neighbour, and a placable spirit. And since the Pharisees reckoned anger, hatred, and reviling among the slighter offences ; and thought that they would not incur the wrath of God, if sacrifices and other external ntes were accurately obsei-ved ; so here we are taught that external worship is not pleasing in the sight of God, unless it be accompanied by a meek and charitable spirit. 25. Adversary. dyTiSiKos, 'one going to law with another.' It here means a creditor; a man who has a just claim on us. It is wrong to carry the contention to a court of law — see 1 Cor. vi. 7, ver. 24, ScElP. Illus. Whiles thou art in tlie way. According to the Roman custom, an aggrieved person could compel the party to go witli liini before the praetor, unless he agreed by the way to adjust the matter. 26. Farthing. no^fnivTriv. A word formed from the Latin quadrus, which (from quaiuor, four,) denotes a Roman coin, made of brass or lead, the fourth part of an as, and equal in value to about thi-ee-fom-ths of om' fartliing. There was a smaller coin than tliis in use among the Jews. — See Mk. xii. 42, § 85, p. 713. 28. LooTceth, S;c. u /iXtjrw)/ yvvaiica. ' Gazcth on a woman.' Indulges unchaste imaginations, desu-es, and inlentions. Such was the guilt of David — see 2 Sa. xi. 2. ' Our Lord means to say, that it is not the act onlv, but the unchaste desire also, (wliat is called at 2 Pe. ii. 14, " eyes full of adultery,") which is included in the com- mandment. 'KTTtlJvfila may be defined, "such a desire as gains the full consent of the will, and would certainly terminate in action, did not impediments from other causes arise ;" thus making the essence of the vice to be in the intention.' — Bloomfield. 29. li U !) /i(p9a\fi6g — aKavSaXi^u ae. ' If thy right eye prove a stumblingbloek to thee,' 'occasion thee to stumble,' ' lead fhce uifo sin.' It is used as a metaphor for whatever proves the occasion of the commission of sin. The Hebrews were accustomed to compare lusts and evil passions with members of the body ; for example, an evil eye denoted envy, ch. xx. 15, § 76 ; the bowels denoted com- passion ; the heart, affection, &c. Thus, to pluck out the eye, and cut off the hand, is equivalent to cnicify ' the flesh with the affections and lusts,' Gra. T. 24 ; and Col. iii. 5, ' Mortify therefore your mem- bers which are tipon the earth.' — Ibid. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. punctilious observance of religious ordinances. It must be the righte- ousness whidi is of God by fuith ; faith in Christ, as the end of the law for righteousness, must be in the heart, working by love, so as to bring the soul and the life into a living conformity to the will of God. 21 — .6 ver. Justice must be observed ir thought and word, as well as in deed. Without cause, we must neither be angry, nor at any time speak despitefully of others. ' Oiiporiunities of reconcilis- tion ought not to be (lespi.^eil.' 19.] iUbri i. 4iJ, § 21, p. 213. inie v. 1, § 20, p. 207. JuAn v. 1, § 23, p. 228. 177 U SECr. XIX.] NOT TO DEFBAITD, [PART IL Matt. v. 30— .0. 80 avfi(t>ipii for-theo that one of'tliy mcmLcrs slioiild-peiisli, and not f/iat tliy whole >o(ly should-he-cnst into hull. And if thy ^ right hand otfund thee, cut--if-off, and oust //from thee: for it-is-profitahle for- theo that one of 'thy inemhcrs should-perish, and not that thy whole ^ body should-be-cast into hell. 81 It-hath-heon-said, Whosoever shall-put-awuy his, wife, lot-him-give her a-writing-of-divoroement : :)2 but I say unto-yoii, That whosoever shall-put-away his , wife, saviug-for the-cause-of irapiKTo^ \6yov " fornieation, caiiscth her to-commit-adultery : and whosoever shall-marry her-tliat-is-divorced committeth- adultery. 83 Again, ye-lmve-hcard that it-hath-heen-said by-them ' of-old-time, Thou-shalt-'nof-forswcnr-thyself, but 31 shall-perforni unto-the Lord thine, oaths : but 1 say unto-you. Swear not at-all ; neither by, heaven; for 35 it-is, God's throne: nor by the earth; for it-is his, footstool • neither by Jerusalem ; for it-is the-eity 80 of-tlie groat King. Neither shalt-thou-swear by thy, head, because thou-canst not make oue hair whito SCRIPTURE I 20. IV TUT RIOnT HAND OFFEND TnEE. Cll. XTUi. 8, 9, § 53, p. 182 ; Mk. ix. 43— .8, § 53, p. 47(5. 31. Whosoever shall pft away, &c. Permilled It/ Moses, De. xxiv. 1, 'Wlicn a man Imtli taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass tliat she 0nd no favonr in liis eyes, because he hath found some uncleanncss in her : tlien let liim write her a bill of ■livorccmcnt, and give it in her liand, and send her out of his house.'— Com;)nre Mk. x. 5—12, § 74, p. (J3^.—T/ie Pharisees tempted Jesus with this question, Mt. xix. 3, § ih., p. 637. 32. But I sat rNiO totj, &c. So Pan! admsed the Corinthians, 1 Cor. Tii. 10, ' And imto the married I eomniand, i/et not I, but the Lord, Let not tlie wife depart from her husband.' 33. TlIOTJ SHALT NOT FOBSWEAE, &e. Ex. sx. 1. — Le. xix. 12, ' And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou pro- fane the name of thy God.'— See described the man who swears to his oum hurt and chanijes nut, Ps. xv. — De. xxiii. 21, ' When thou shalt TOW a vow unto the Lobd thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for tlie Loud thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would bo sin in thee.' — Ee. v. 4, ' When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; iov he hath no pleasxire in fools : pay that which thou hast vowed.' 34. SwEAH NOT AT ALL. Jesus himself did not refuse to take an oath in a court of law, eh. xxvi. 63, .4, § 81), i). 883. — So Paul often called God to witness his sincerity, which is all that is meant Ijy an oath, Rom. i. 9, ' For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers.' — ix. 1, 'I say the truth in Clmst, I LLUSTKATIOXS. lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost.* — The Lord speaJcinr/ of New Testament times, Is. xlv. 22 — .5, (quoted Lu. ii. 21, § 4, p. 38, 'Which was so named ;')-sicpar« ' unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear,' ver. 23. — To Israel it is said, Je. iv. 2, ' Thou shalt swear. The LoBD hvcth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness ; and the nations shall bless themselves in liim, and in him shall tliey glory.' Neitheb bt HEAVEN; FOB IT, &c. Is. Ixvi. 1, 'Thus saith the LoHD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?' — Mt. xxiii. 22, § 85, p. 752, 'IIo that shall swear by heaven, swearcth by the throne of God.' 35. Non BY THE EAETH ; FOB IT IS, &c. Ps. xcix. 5, ' Exalt ye the LoED our God, and worship at his footstool ; /or he is holy. Neitheb by Jeeusaleu. Ch. iv. 5, § 9, p. 98, ' The holy city.' — Ps. xlviii. 2, ' Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.' — Ixxxvii. 3, ' Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God.' — unto ti'hich the kingdom is to come. Mi. iv. 8, 'And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the fU'st dominion ; the kingdom shaU come to the daughter of Jerusalem.' — Je. iii. 12, .4, .7, (quoted Mt. ii. 6, § 5, p. 53, ' My people,' &c.)— Jbr a description of 'the holy city, new Jerusalem,' see Kev. xxi., xxii. 36. Neither . . BY thy UEAi),&e. Ch. vi. 27, p. 187, 'Wliichof you by taking thought,' &c. — Lu. xii. 25, § 63, p. 57G. NOTES. 81. It hath leen said. Having before adverted to the seventh commandment, our Lord takes occasion to allude to that abuse of the judicial law, which, though intended to regulate and repress divorces, had rendered them more frequent, and become almost as pestilent to good morals as aduKi'ry itself. Wo are to bear in mind, — I. That the Jews were permitted to divorce their wives witliout assigning any cause; — II. That our Lord, neither here nor at ch. xix. 3, § 74, p. 6:)7, meant to give jwlitical directions ; — III. That he, moreover, did not contradict Moses, who even himself never a]>proved of the arbitrary divorces of his times — see ver. 8, § (4. ; — and, IV. That the Jewish electors in the age of Christ were not agreed on the sense of the passage of De. xxiv. 1 — sec Scrip. lu-rs. 82. Sarinfi for the cause of fornication. Trnpn-rif Xdyou Tropviiaq. Except for whoredom. The Jews had extended it to any cause, and to such an extent, that Mahli Akiha said, ' A man may put away his wife, if ho sec another woman that pleases him better.' 33 — .7. Thou shall mtforsicear thi/self. An oath 13 a solemn act wherein we swear by God, or call on him to witness the truth of what we assert or promise; and to avenge us in time and eternity, if we swear what is false or unknown to us, or if we do not perform what we engage. An oath was not to be taken but in the name of the one true God : De. vi. 13, ' Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name ;' Jos. xxiii. 7 ; Ja. v. 12— see ver. 37, ScEir. Illvs., p. 179 ; and see ver. 34, .5, siipra. Perform unto the Lord thine oaths. The morality of the Jews on this point was ti-uly execrable ; they maintamed, that a man might swear with his Ups, and annul it at the same moment in his lieart. 36. Thj/ head. ' This was a practice common to both Greeks and Romans. Tke liaud, it should seem, was placed on the head diu-in" swearing ; implyhig imprecation in case of perjury, since the head was peeuharly spoken of in such imprecations.' — Bloomfield. To swear by the head was the same as to swear by the life; or to say, I will forfeit my Ufe if what I say is not true. God is the author of tlie life, and to swear by that, therefore, ia the same as to swear by him. 27—32 rer. The stability of our Cliristian character is manifested not merely by etunding the force of great trials, but by resisting the first apijroaches of evil, and it is secured by denying ourselves to cyerylliing that may be likely to lead into sin, although the thing should in itself be lawfuL PRACTICAL REl'XECTIONS. Let our fii-mness be manifested, not merely by the resisting of evil in ourselves, but in bearmg with the inCrmitiesof others, and in our being constant to our engagements in the several relations of hfe, as here with regard to the marriage covenant. 178 Mark i. 40, § 21, p. 213. Luke v. 1, § 20, p. 207. Jo7>n v. 1, § 23, p. 228. [19. PART II.] CHRIST EXIIOETETH TO SUFFEE WRONG. [SECT. xrx. Matt. v. 37 — 44. 37 or black. But let--your,communicatioii--be. Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever '?'s raoro Trcpiamv tlian-these cometh oi\ evil t' k- tov Troi'i/pou. 38 Ye-have-lieard that it-hath-beeii-said, An-eye for avA an-eye, and a-tooth for a-tooth : 30 But I say unto-you, That-ye-resist not, evil: but whosoever shall-smite thoe on thy^right check, turn to-him the 40 other also. And if-auy-mau' will sue-'thee^-at-the-law, and take-away thy, coat, let-'him'-have My^cloke 41 also. And whosoever shall-compel'-'thee'-to-go ayyapevau a mile, go with him twain. 48 Give to-him' that-asketh thee, and from him ' that-would borrow of thee tnrn-'nof-thou-away. 43 Ye-have-heard that it-hath-been-said, Thou-shalt-love thy, neighbour, and hate thine^enemy. 44 But SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. 37. Yea, tea ; Nat, nay. Eph. iv. 25, ' Putting away lying, speak every man trutli with his neighbour : for we are members one of another.' — Ja. v. 12, ' Above all tilings, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath : but let your yea be yea; antl)/0!(j' nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.' 3S. An eye fob an eye. De. xix. 21, 'And thine eye shall not pity ; but life sJiitl! go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.' — Ex. sxi. 24 ; Le. xsiv. 20. 39. Resist not evil. Le. six. 18, ' Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge,' &c. — See ver. 43, infra. — Is. liii. 7, ' He is brought as a lamb to Ihe slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.' — Kom. xii. 17 — .9, ' Recom- pense to no man evil for evil.' — 1 Th. v. 15, 'See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.' — Ja. v. G, ' Ye have con- demned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.' — 1 Pe. iii. 9, ' Not rendering evil for evil, . . . but contrariwise blessing.' WnOSOETEE SDAXL SMITE THEE, &c. Lu. sxii. 64, § 89, 'And when they had blindfolded Iiirn, they struck,' &c.— 1 Pe. ii. 22, .3, ' ^Vlio did no sm,' &o. 42. &ITE. De. XV. 7—10, quoted Lu. iii. 11, § 7, p. 84, 'Hb THAT HAin TWO COATS.' — Lu. Ti. 35, § 27, ' Do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again.' 43. Y'e HAVE HEAED, &c. Le. six. 18, 'Thou slialt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the cliildrcn of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lokd.' — Stit as to the MoaJjites and Ammonites, it was commanded, De. xsiii. 6, 'Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever.' NOTES. 37. Tea, yea. N«i, va\, The Hebrew repeats the nflirmative, to give it more strength. It was a proverbial manner among the Hebrews of characterising a man of strict probity and good faith, by saying, ' his yes is yes, and his no is no.' 38. An eye for an eye, cj-c By the Mosaic law, retaliation was permitted. — See SciilP. Illus. There was a rule given to rcgidate (he decision of the judges, but the Jews made it a rule to take private revenge. Greeks and Romans Iiad the same law. The savage nations in America, as well as in almost every other part of the world, set no bounds to the cool, deliberate malignity, with which they will pursue, for years together, not only the person him- self, ii'om whom they have received an injury, but sometimes evei-y one related to or connected with lum. The Arabs are equally im- placable in theu" resentments ; and the Koran itself, in the ease of murder, allows private revenge. Christianity only is powerfiJ to overcome evil with good. 39. Whosoever shall smite thee, pan'wii. The word corresponds to our rap or slap ; and was cliicfly, as here, used of striking on the flee ; which was regarded as an affront of the worst sort ; and was severely punished both by the Jewish and Roman laws. — Jiloonfteld. Turn to him the other also. A proverbial phrase, to express a meek submission to injuries and affronts : Isa. 1. C, 'I gave my back to the smiters, and my checks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from sharae and spitting.' — La. iii. 30, 'He giveth his dieck to him that smiteth him : he is filled full with reproach.' — See oh. xxvi. C7, .8 ; Jno. xviii. 22, .3, § 89, pp. 881, ..5.— So the heathen writers, Liv. iv. 35 ; and Tacit. Hist. iii. 31. 40. Coat, xiriiva. The linen tunic encircling the body. The Jews wore two principal garments, an interior and an exterior. The interior, here called the coat, or the tunic, was made commonly of luien, and encircled the whole body, eitendmg down to the knees. Sometimes beneath this garment, as in the case of the priests, there was another garment corresponding to pantaloons. The coat, or tunic, extended to the neck, and had long or short sleeves. Over this was commonly wora an u|)per garment, here called cloak, or mantle. It was made commonly nearly square, of difi'ereut sizes, five or six cubits long, and as many broad, and wrapped ai'ound the body, and tlirown oil" when engaged in labour. By xiruiva is denoted the under garment ; and by l/tariov the upper, usually of greater value than the former. Indeed, from the circumstance of its being used as a blanket, to wrap the person in by night, it was not allowed by the law to be taken by the creditor, though the ;(;trECAriTUL.\TION AND ANALYSIS. [PART It. I. IlaTing in (lie I!cn(i(udc3 elicwn wliat it is to take the Lord slono to be our God — tlio sclf-dcniul and alienation from the world which it implies, and the blessing which it brings, oh. v. 3 — 12, pp. 172— ..4. II. Huring shewn that his disciples arc to be made in the image of llim who is the Preserver of men, the Light of the world, and the Producer of good ; whom, and not their own works, they arc to endeavour to glorify, ver. 13— .6, pp. 171 — ..5. • III. Having shewn how the Name of the Lord is to be reverenced ; viz., by seeing, the Law and the Prophets, as testifying of Clu'ist ; and by rightly regarding the purpose for which he came into the world, as Ihc Fidfillcr of all righteousness, ver. 17 — 20, pp. 175 — ..G. IV. naving also shcmi what it is to cease from our own works, and rest in the (hiishcd work of the Son of God ; that it is to be as our Father who is in heaven, who continues to bestow the blessing of his completed ci-cation, even upon the evil and unthankful: so ehould his children, as having entered upon the finished work of the Son, continue to bring forth, for the benefit of men, the fruits of the new creation — ' Sc i/c therefore perfect, as your Father ichieh is in hcacen is perfect,' ver. 21—48, pp. 176—180. V. Having thus led us into the adoption of sons, the Great Teacher next instructs us in the spirituality of the ffth commandment. If Ood bo om- Father, honour belongs to him in that relation : if wc havo been made the sons of God, who is just and good, omniscient and omniiTOtcnt, wc should honour him, the Father of om- spu'its, by ever acting as in the sight of Him our Heavenly Father, and as having a regard to the honour that cometh from God only, eh. vi. 1—18, pp. 183— ..6. Cn. vi. 1 — 4. It is thus that, in our contributions, whether for religious or charitable purposes, wo arc to act as under the eye of our Father who secth in secret. Ver. 5, 6. So are wo to acquaint ouraolves with God, as that our prayers will bo for communion with Ilim, and not for display before men. Ver. 7—15. Prayer is to be made with holy reverence and child- like confidence, in comnnmion with the saints, for God's kingdom of righteousness and peace to come ujjon earth ; and it is to be made with the ascription of glory to God, and with good-will towards men. Ver. 16— .8. Our Heavenly Father is to be honoured by om' liaving such a regard to the happiness of his creatm-es, as that even, when most sad within ourselves, and most deeply humbled before him, we shall endeavour to put ou a pleasing extei-ior before them. Thus are we to worship God— to love the brothci-hood : thus arc we to become truly obedient to the ////, commandment, as appHed to the highest relation of parent and child. It may be remarked, that in the form of prayer taught us in the third of the four paragraphs of this fifth section of the 'Sermon on the Mount,' arc six pciilion^, ver. 9-13, wliich are the last six COMMANDMENTS, or second table of the Law, spiritualised and pre- sented in the form of prayer. It is thus we arc to honour oun HEAVEKLT Fatheb, by seeking not the gratification of om- selfish wishes, but the aecomplialmicnt of his will for the good of men. The NAME of the Lord, or that by which he is made known, or brought to remembrance, had been the subject of the first four com- mandments ; and God claims that the filial piety called for in the fsflh commandment should bo especially rendered to Him. Having been given the Spirit of adoption, and being thereby taught, as before, to clear ourselves from all malevolence against our neighbour, wc, as in commtinion with the whole household of faitli, pray, ' Our Father which art in heaven. Hallowed he thy name.' In praying, ' Thy fntii/dom come,' we pray that his kingdom's law, wliich is 'LOVE,' may prevail ; that righteousness and pence, and joj in the Holy Ghost, may abound : so will the being angry without cause, and all other breaches of the sixth commandment, cease. In praying, ' Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven,' we pray that his people may bo 'hohness imto the Lord;' that the Bride may not longer submit to other lords ; that the great and the manifold spiritual adultery may bo done away : wliich cannot bo imtil human will ceases to have sway in the clnu-ch of God, and there resxUts a holy keeping of the seventh commandment. In praying, ' Give its this day our daily bread,' we cast ourselves fully upon our Father's care, and that simply for what we need ; knowing that what is good, the Lord will give : so are we frceil from all transgression of the eighth commandment. In praying, ' Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors' wo express a disposition the very i-everse of that which leads to a breach of the ninth commandment : so f;\r from witnessing falsely against our neighbom-, we, as truly witnessing of the grace of God, are willing to forgive our neighbom- that wliich is justly our due. In praying, 'Lead tisnot into temptation, hut deliver us from evil: For thine is the Kingdom,' c'^c, we renomice all covetousness — all desii'e for anything apart from the will of om' God. An entire recognition of the Divine sovereignty is one of the best means whereby wc may repel every approach of the deceiver, and all attacks of the advcrsaiy. VI. Having taught us how to hold fellowship with the gi'eat Author of life and Giver of all good — our Lord next du'ccts us to the conservation of the life which is given ; how to avoid the worst kind of miu'der — the killing of the spu-itual hfe. AVc avoid this— By having our treasure in heaven, ver. 19 — 21. By being single-eyed iu the service of God, 22 — .4. By having an entu'o trust m the good providence of God, 23 — 30. By resisting the common example — a seeking the things belonging to the present life, 31 — .4. The ' life tvhich {tve) now live in the flesh ' must bo a life of faith upon the Son of God — a life in which wo lionoiu' God, by rcposmg in llim a child-hkc confidence. It is thus only that wc can escape a breach of the sixth commandment. The Ufc of the soul is destroyed by worldly anxiety about the life of the body. 'iZe that loveth his life shall lose it;' and he that, for the kmgdom of heaven's sake, 'hateth his Vfe,' 'shall Jceep it unto Vfe eternal^ Jno. xii. 25, § 83. Let us beware that wc kill not the life, cither ui om'sclves or in others, by dejiartuig from the living God, tlu'ough a love for the service of mammon, or through a want of confidence m the almighty God, as if he had not power to support the life he has given. Upon the folly of fliis sm wliich doth so easily beset us, and whereby so much spu-itual murder is peqietrated, or Lord power- fully reasons in ver. 19 — 34. It was by inducing distrust iu God, that the father of lies, who 'teas a murderer from the beginning,' brought death into the world, and all our woe ; and his kingdom of darkness and of death is upheld by the same means whereby it had its commencement amongst men : iu opposition to which we are given du-cctions, 'Seek ye first the kingdom of God,' cj-c, ver. US.— For ch. vii., see p. 189. • This is Lesson XX. (First Pari) of ' The System of Graduated Simultaneous Instruction:— MM. vi., i ifatt. vi. 1, p. 183. Mark i. 40, § 21, p. 213. Luke v. 1, § 20, p. 207. John v. 1, § 23, p. 228. 182 [20. PARt tl.J THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. [SECT. XIX. The Sermon on the Mount — {continued.) — Matt. vi. I — 7. 1 TAKE-liced tliat-yc-do not your ^ alms before^ men, to^be-seen 6iadi]vai of- them : otberwiso ye-havc no 2 reward of yoin\ Father whicli'^? injieavcn. Therefore when thou-docst thine alms, do-'nof-sound-a- trumiiet before tliee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that thcy-may-liave-glory 3 of ^ men. Verily I-say unto-you, Thcy-havc airi\ovavepiy. 5 And when thou-prayest, thou-shalt-'nof-be as the hypocrites are : for they-love to-pray standing in the 6 synagogues and in the corners of-the streets, that they-may-be-seen of men. Verily I-sny unto-you, They-have their „ reward. Eut thou, when thou-prayest, enter into thy^closet, and when-thou-hast-shut thy J door, pray to' thy Father wliich '/« in, secret; and thy. Father which ' seeth in, secret shall-reward 7 tliec, openly. But when-ye-pray, use-"nof-vain-repetitions (iaTToXoyi'iariTi, as the heathen do: for thcy- 8 think that they-shall-be-heard daaKovaOi'irrovTai for tlieir, much-speaking iv ry Tro\v\oyiq. Bc-"nof-ve-* SCRTPTtJRE ILLUSTRATIONS. 1. Alms — or rigtileousness ; the reiiinihirf of the pledge to a poor irothcr, altlwngli Jcindness to him, was to ie ree'koned asjti-sliee in the sight oj God, De. xxiv. 13, 'It shall be righteousness unto thee before the Loud thy God.' — Of the man who hath dhpersed and given to the poor it is said, Ps. cxii. 9, 'His righteousness enduretli for ever.' 2. Sound a teumpet. Gifts were deposited in a ehcsl — see Notes, 2 Ki. xii. 9, ' Jehoiacia the priest took a chest, it bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one eometh into the house of the Loed : and the priests that kept the door put therein all the money that teas brought into the house of the Loed.' — 2 Chr. xxiv. 8 — 11 ; Mk. xii. 41, § 85, 'Jesus .... beheld how the people cast money into the treasui-y : and many that were rich cast in much.' TlIEY HATE THEIB EEWAED. Lu. xvi. 25, § 69, ' Thou ill thy life time receivedst thy good things .... but now,' ^^ signifies, in Hebrew, 'true,' 'faithfid,' 'certain.' It is used hkewisc in afflrmation, and was often thus employed by our Saviour, ' amen, amen,' reudered, ' verily, verily.' 14. Your heavenly Father will also forgive yon. Not that the forgiveness of others is the procuring cause of God's forgiver.css. 16. Hypocrites. A hypocrite is one who learns liis postui'es, has his tongue tipped with Scrijitiu'c language, and walks in the habit of a Christian. Tliis is taking up God's arms, aud using them in the devil's service. — See ver. 2, p. 183. They disjigure their faces. It was the custom anciently to express bitter son'ow by epriukling ashes and earth upon the head, 2 Sa. i. 2 ; Est. iv. 1, ' When Mordecal perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth willi ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, a:id cried with a loud and a bitter ciy.' Also Eze. xxvii. 30. Or if their gi'iefs were of a lesser kuid, they shewed them by neglecting to wash and anoint themselves. Da. x. 3, ' I ate no pleasant bread, neitlier came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled ; ' a custom wliich it is probable om- Lord had now in view. — See ver. 17. 17. Anoint thine head, and wash thy face. Tlieso were forbidden, in the Jewish canon, on days of fasting and humihation ; and hypo- crites availed themselves of tliis ordinance, that they might ai>pcur to men to fast. The Jews and all neighbouring nations were mucli in the habit of washing and anointing tlieir bodies. Tliis wasliing was performed at every meal ; and where it could bo efli-cted, the head (or other parts of the body), was daily anointed with sweet or olive oil. — Sea Vs. xxiii. 5 ; Lu. vii. 46, § 20, p. 288 ; Mk. vi. 13, § 39, p. 363 , vii. 2, 3, § 44, p. 399 ; Jno. xu. 3, § 81, p. 676. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. 12 ver. May wo be duly convinced of the forgiving grace of God, with our affections drawn fcu'th mito him in grateful love, and so be able in truth to pray, 'Forgive ns our debts, as tee forgive our debtors.' 13 ver. Distrustful of ourselves, let us seek not only to avoid sin, but the first approaches to it ; that we may bo able, consistently 20.1 with our daily life, to pray, ' Zead us not into templaiion, but deliver us from evil,' 14 ver. Let us not rigidly exact £rom others, but forgive as wa expect to bo ourselves forgiven. 16 — .8 ver. Let us not lay the punishment of our sins upon others, Mark i. 40, § 21, p. 213. Luke v. 1, § 20, p. 207. John v. 1, § 23, p. 228. iSo SECT. XI. \.] WHERE OUR TREASURE IS TO BE LAID UP. [PART IT. 1\Iait. vi. 10—21. unto 'men lo-fast, but unto 'tliy I'atlicr wliiuli'M- in, secret: and lliy/Fatlicr, which ' seeth in, secret, shall- rcwnrd thco, openly. 19 liay-'nof-up for-yourselves treasures upon,cartli, where moth and rust doth-corrupl (KpavlKn, and 20 where thieves hreak-throngli and steal: but lay-up for-yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither 2! moth nor rust dd'lh-rorrupt, and where thieves do--uof-brcak-thronRh nor steal : for where your,treasuro 22 is, tliere will--vour,hcarf-l)e also. The lipht Xux>'oc of-the body is tlio eye: if therefore thine, eye be 23 sincrle f'nrXovr. thy whole, body shall-be full-of-light (l>ioTitvhv. But if thine, eye be evil irovtiphg, thy whole, body shall-bc full-of-da'rkness ersccutor and injurious, being single- eyed, was not left in the darkness which befell his nation — compare 1 Tim. i. 13 ; 1 Th. ii. 14— .6, quoted Lu. xv. 28, § 68, p. 610, 'Would not go in.' How GREAT is THAT DARKNESS. Eom. X. 4, ' Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to eveiy one that bclieveth.' — 2 Cor. iii. 13, .4, ' The chikh'en of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished. 14, But their minds were blinded: for until this day remameth the same vail imtaken away in the reading of the old testament.' — Jiy indulging a spirit of falsehood, many professing Christians have been left to strong delusion, S(o., 2 Th. ii. 11, .2, 'And for tliis cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should beUeve a lie : 12, that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteous- ness.' — Rev. xvi. 10, 'And his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain.' 24. No MAN, &c. Lu. xvi. 13, § 69, 'No servant can seiTe,' &c. — Joshua toould have the people clear as to tvJiom they would choose to serve, Jos. xxiv. 11 — 25. — So Elijah, 1 Ki. xviii. 21, ' How long lialt ye between two opinions ? if the Lord be God, follow him : but if Baal, then, follow liim.' — So Fuiil, 1 Tim. vi. 17~(quoted supra, ver. 19.)-Ja. iv. 4, 'The friendship of the world is enmity with God.' — 1 Jno. ii. 15, ' If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.' — Jesus plainly testified, Lu. xiv. 33, § 67, ' Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not aU that he hath, he cannot bo my disciple,' 19. Trea-fures, ij-c. Their treasures consisted much in changes of raiment; in beautiful and richly-ornamented articles of apparel — See Ge. xiv. 22, here Joseph gave to his brethren changes of raiment; and, Jos. vii. 21, Achan coveted and secreted a goodly Babylonish garment.— See also Ju. xiv. 12, ' And Samson said unto them, I wUl now put forth a riddle unto you : if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments.' Tliis fact will account for the use of the word moth. 22. The light of tho body is the eye ; if therefore thine eye be tingle, S(c. Here is an apt comparison, in which the duty of fixing the attention on Heavenly things is illustrated by reference to the case of the eye in the body: 'As tho natural eye, when healthy, regulates the motions of the body, so docs the mental eye du'cct the Boul.'— B/oom_/ie?(/. It has been well obsei-vcd by Olearius, that the whole passage is NOTKS. adagial; of wliich i\m first part forms the adage itself: 'The eye is the light of the body.' The second supplies the deduction, by con- sequence : ' If then tliinc eye be healthy and clear,' &c. The third the application : ' If therefore the light (or what should be so) within thee be darkness, how gi-eat must be that darkness !' Thy . . . body shall be full of light. All that is needful to direct the body is that the eye be fixed right. So all that is needful tc du-ect the soul and the conduct is that the eye ol faith be fixed on Christ. A man crossing a stream on a log, if he will look across at some object steadily, will bo in little danger. If he looks down ot the daslxing and roUing waters, he will become giddy. 23. Tf therefore the light that is in tliee, S(c. ' If thei'cfore the maxims you lay down for yourselves are wrong, how veiy erroneous must your conduct be!' Avarice darkens the mind, obscures tbt view, and brings in a gloomy night over all the faeidties. but even when most nniicled within PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS, ourselves, because of that in I 22 — .4 ver. Let us look smiply to God for du'eetion, support, winch we have come short, let us bo careful not to mar their happi- motive, and reward ; we may not expect that we can please God nc«s. Wo must commend our religion by kmdness, even in trifies. | whilst wo are looking for these from the world. 18G Mark i. 4,0, § 21, p. 213. Luke v. 1, § 20, p. 207. John v. 1, § 23, p. 228. [20. PAET n.] ifOT TO BE CAREFUL FOR WORLDLY THINGS. [SECl'. XlX. Matt. vi. 2.5—32. 25 other; or-else he-will-liold-to tlic-one, and despise the other. Ye-can not serve God and mnmmon. Therefore Sta tovto I-say unto-you, Tiikc-"no'-thought for' your life, wliat ye-shnll-eat, or wliat yc-shall- drink ; nor-yet for' your body, wliat yc-sliall-put-on. Is not the life ixiorc than' meat, and the hody than' 26 raiment ? Behold f/(|3At;/.ar£ the fowls of-the air ovpavov : for they-sow not, neither do-they-rcap, nor gather into barns; yet yourJieavenly^Father feedetli them. Arc-'ye not mueh'-bctter Siafpiptrt than-tliey? 27 Which of you by-taking-thoiight can add one cubit unto his^stature ? 28 And why takc-ye-thouglit for raiment ? Consider KarafxaOin the liUes of-the field, how they-grow ; they-toil not, neither do-they-spin : 29 and-yet I-say unto-you, That even Solomon in all his ^ glory was-'nof-arrayed like one of-these. 30 Wherefore, if ^ God so clothe the grass of-the tield, whioh-'to-day-is, and to-morrow is-cast into the-oven, 31 fikall he not much more clothe you, 0-ye-of-little-faith ? Therefore take-'no'-thought, saying, What 32 shall-we-ea* "* tx. What shaU-we-diink ? or, Wherewithal shall-we-be-clothed ? (For aftcr-"aU these-tliings SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. 25. Take no inouonT, &c. See of Joseph, Ge. xxxix. 2, 3, (quoted Lu. i. 66, § 3, p. 27, 'TuE hand,' &c.)—a>id althovgh he was wronyfuUij cast into prison, 'the LoED was witli Joseph, and shewed liim mercy :' and he prospered, ver. 21 — .3 ; — and the Lord not onltj fed him, hut gave him the power of feeding all Egypt, and tlie coun- tries around, xli. 56, .7. Is NOT THE LITE MORE THAN MEAT? Ps. CXXxis. 14 — .6, 'I nm fearfuUj a^td wonderfully made,' &c. — We are simply to do what is right, and leave the result with God,x\xvn. 5, * Commit thy way unto the Lono ; trust also in him ; and he shall bring it to pass.' — It. 22, 'Cast thy bm'den upon the Lord, and he shall sus- tain thee : he shall never suffer the righteous to bo moved.' — Pr. xvi. 3, ' Commit tliy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.' — Ph. iv. 6, 'Be careful for nothing; but in cvei'y thing by prayer and supplication with thantsgiving let yoirr requests be made known uuto God.' — See Lu. xii. 22, .3, § G3 — see on ver. 19, p. 186. 26. Behold the rowis. Job xxxviii. 41, 'Provideth for the raven his food.' — Ps. civ. 12, 27, 'The fowls of the heaven,' &c. 27, ' These wait all upon thee ; tlmt thou mayest give them Iheii' meat in due season.' — Lu. xii. 24, &c., § 63, p. 676, ' Consider the ravens : .... how much more are ye better than the fowls ? ' 27. Chbit unto nis stature. Ps. xxxix. 4 — 6, 'Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. 5, Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth ; and mine ago is as nothing before thee : verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah. 6, Surely every man walketh in a vain shew ; sm'ely they are disquieted in vain : he heapeth up riches, aud kuoweth uot who shall gather tliem.' 28. Raiment. Our Lord had spol-en of sustenance for the life, ver. 25, .6 — and now he speaks of clothing for the body, ver. 27 — 31. 29. Solomon. 1 Ki. x. 23, 'King Solomon exceeded aU tho kings of the earth for i-iehcs aud for wisdom.' — See the queen of Sheba's testimony, ver. 1 — 10. — Solomon, whose name means peace- maker, was but a type of the children of God, referred to Mt. v. 9, p. 173. — The sons of the true David referred to Vs. Ixxxix. 27 — 37. 30. The grass. See Ps. xe. 5 — 7, ' Thou carriest them away aa with a tlood ; they are as a sleep ; in themornuig they are like grass which growctli up. 6, In the morning it flom'isheth, and groweth up ; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth. 7, For we arc consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.' — See the cause of our nakedness, ver. 8, 'Thou hast set om- iniquities before thee, ovu- secret sins in the light of tliy countenance.' — As to the clothing, ver. 17, ' Let the beauty of the Lord om- God be upon us.' — Compare with Ph. iii. — At his coming in his kingdom, our Lord Jesus Christ, ver. 20, .1, ' Shall change our vile body, that it may be fasliioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.' 31. Take no Tnouonx. 1 Pe. v. 6, 7, ' Humble yourselves . . . imder the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time : 7, casting all your care upon him ; for he carcth for you.'— See before, ver. 25, .6, 'What ye shall eat'— ver. 28—30, 'wherewithal shall wo be clothed.' 32. The Gentiles, &e. T/ie disciples of Jesus, like ancient Israel, arc called to be a peculiar ^'^eople, to shew forth his praise, 2 Cor. vi. 16— .8,(2«o1 Pe. ii. 9, 10, 'But yo are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people ; that ye should shew forth the praises of liim who hath called you out of darkness into liis marvellous NOTES. 24. 3Iammon. A Syriac word for ricJies, wliich our Lord beau- tifully represents as a person, whom the foUy of men had dciCed. Dr. Castel deduces these words from the Hebrew ps aman, to trust, confide ; because men are apt to trust in riches. Mammon may, therefore, bo considered anytliiiig earthly in which a man confides. 25. Is not the life more than meat, cf-c. Of riches Henry some- where says, ' the trouble of getting them, the care of keeping them, aud the fear of losing them, take away all the pleasure of using them.' 27. One cubit. Tlio cubit -was originally the length from the elbow to the end of the middle finger. The cubit of the Scriptures is not far from twenty-two inches. Temis of length are often applied to life ; and it is thought by many to be so here. 28. Consider the lilies. Lilies are very high flowers, and many spring from one root : they are no less fragrant, comely, and medi- cinal, especially the roots of white hlics. Tourncfort mentions forty-six kinds of lilies. Lilies were so plentiful in Canaan, that, it seems, they heated then- ovens with withered ones, ver. 28, 30. The white lily is, probably, here alluded to, as the eastern princes were often clothed in wliite robes; and Joscphus stales, that Solomon was usually clothed in wliitc. We are, however, told, tliat the white lUy is not known in Palestine ; and that the fields of tho Levant are overrun with a species of lily whoso golden flowers in autumn afford one of the most brilhaut and gorgeous objects in nature. 29. Hven Solomon in all his glory, cfc. Riches, authority, sump- tuous biuldings and garments, which men are ready to praise, are called in Scripture, ' glory.' — See Ps. xlix. 16, ' Bo not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased.' 30. So clothe. Aft^iivwaiv, expresses 'the putting on a complete di'css,' ' covering all sides.' Cast into the oven. In Arabia and Judica thci- tfvcns are heated with grass, rosemary, myrrh, &c. PRACTICAL REFLECTION. 25 — 30 ver. God, who hn(h given life, is able to support the Ufe ho hath given. He whose matchless wisdom fonncd the human frame can surely clothe the body with raunent. Ho who foods the fowls of the air can provide food for his servants. He who clothes 'ho lilies of tho field is the same God who hath promised to provide covering for his obedient children. Lot us trust in him, being simply desirous to do his will, loaviiig the iTsult to his infinite w isdom and almighty power j so will tho Cause of all gootlncss not fail to produce good for us. 10.] Mark i. 40, § 21, p. 213. Luke v. 1, § 20, p. 207. John v. 1, § 23, p. 228. 187 SECT. XIX.] TO SEEK TIESX THE KINGDOM OF GOD. [PABT II. Matt. vi. 33, .4. 33 do the Gentiles'-scck :) for your, heavenly, Fatlicr knowcth that ye-have-need ol'-nll ihcsc-lhings. But seck-yc first the kin}:;doin ot" God, and liis,righteousncss; and all thesc-lhings slinll-he-addcd-uiito you. 3-1 Take-'thcrolbre no--thoiight for the morrow: for the morrow shall-tuke-thought for- the- things 'of-itself. Sufficient unto-tho day in the evil thereof. [For ch. vii. 1, see p. 189.] SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. light : 10, which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God : which had not obtniiied mercy, but now have ob- tained mercy.' — To Jtrael, l/ie example of the heathen is presented for teariiiiiff, and not for imitation, Je. x. 2, ' Lciirn not tlie way of the heathen,' &c. — See their foolishness, and the wisdom of choosing the portion of Jacob, vcr. 3 — 16. — See the evil of conformity to the ways of the Oentiles, Nu. xxv. 1 — 9. 32. Fathee KNOWEin. Ps. eiii. 13, A, quoted Lu. viii. 47, § 36, p. 310, DECLAliliU, &c. 83. Seek TE fibst, &c. Col. iii. 1 — 1, ' If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those tilings which arc above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2, Set your affection on things above, not on tilings on the earth. 3, For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4, WHieii Christ, leho is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.' — 1 Th. i. 9, 10. His MOnTEOtTSNESS. The rir/hteotisness of the kingdom must be sought, ere its peace can be enjoyed, Heb. vii. 2, ' Fii'st being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is. King of peace.' — See the preceding darkness of un- righteousness described, Is. Ux. 1 — 15, ' Behold, the Loed's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save ; neither his car heavy, that it cannot hear : 2, but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and yoiu- sins have hid /*('* face from you, that he will not hear. 3, For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity ; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverscness. 4, None callctli for justice, nor any plead- eth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive misdiief, and bring forth iniquity. 5, They hatch cockatrice' eggs, and weave the spider's web : he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed brcaketh out into a vipei-. 6, Thcii- webs shall not become gannents, neither shall they cover themselves with their works : their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands. 7, Then- feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood : then- thoughts are thoughts of iniquity ; wasting and destruction are in their paths. 8, The way of peace they know not ; and there is no judgment in their goings : they have made them crooked paths : whosoever goetli tlierem shall not know peace. 9, Therefore is judgment far from us, neither (loth justice overtake us : we wait for hght, but behold obscurity ; for brighlncss, but we walk in darkness. 10, We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if toe had no eyes : we stumble at noon day as in the night ; «•« are hi desolate places as dead men. 11, We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves : wc look for judgment, but Z/(ei-e is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us. 12, For our transgressions arc multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us : for our transgressions are with us ; and as for om- iniquities, we know them ; 13, in transgressing and lying against tlie LoKD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. It, And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standcth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot cuter. 15, Yea, truth failelh; and he «a< dcpartethfroiii evil maketli himself a prey : and the LOED saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.' — The cutting off in righteousness, tj'c, ver. 16 — 21, *And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor : therefore his arm brought salvation unto liira ; and his righteousness, it sustained him. 17, For he jiut on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation ujion his head ; and he put on the garments of vengeance /or elotliing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke. 18, According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fui-y to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies ; to the islands he will rejiay recompence. 19, So shall they fear the name of the Loed from the west, and his gloiy from the rising of the sun. Wlien the enemy shall come ui hke a flood, the Spu'it of the LOED shall lift up a standard against liim. 20, And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LOED. 21, As for me, tliis is my covenant with them, saith the Loed ; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the Loed, from henceforth and for ever.' — The peace and prosperity, ch. Ix. — Vhen the people shall be all righteous, ver. 21. — The foundation of all that temporal as tccll as spiritual blessing to be in righteousness, eh. liv. 14. — ver. 17, 'And their righteousness is of me, saith the Loed.' 34. Sufficient. 1 Pe. iv. 3, 'The time past of our lile may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles.' The evil theeeof. Ja. iv. 13— ;.6, ' Go to now, ye that say. To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and eontmuc there a year, and buy and sell, and get gam :'....' all such rejoicing is evil.' — See the murderous tendency of this evil described, Ila. ii. 4 — 13, 'Behold, his sold wfiich is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. 5, Yea also, because he trans- gresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who cnlargcth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathercth unto hun all nations, and heapeth unto liim all people : 6, shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that tohich is not liis ! how long ? and to hiju tliat ladeth himself with thick clay ! 7, ShaU they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them ? 8, Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoU thee ; because of men's blood, andyb;" the violence of the laud, of the city, and of all that dweU therein. 9, Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to liis house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered fi'ora the power o evil ! 10, Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting of; many people, and hast sinned against thy soul. 11, For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it. 13, Woe to him that buildeth a to^vn with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity ! 13, Behold, .... not of the Lokd of hosts that the peojile shall labour in the very fire, and the people sliall weary themselves for very vanity.' — Vorldlincss tvill be put to shame when, vcr. 14, ' The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Loed, as the waters cover the sea.' NOTE. 33. The l-ingdom of God. See Mt. iH. 2, § 7, p. 80, ' Kingdom of heaven i' also Jno. iu. 3, § 12, p. 122. TRACTICAL REPLECTION. 31-.4 ver It is vmbecoming the sons of God to be anxious for | for om-sclves and others, an interest in the kingdom, and, therewith, 1^10 present lile, as if they knew not God— the Omniscient, the a preparation in ourselves and them for that khigdom, by the posses- Alnuglity, our lather m heaven. Let our first aim bo the seeurmg | sion of righteousness ; and what else is needed the Lord will add. [20. 188 Mark i. 40, § 21, p. 213. Zule v. 1, § 20, p. 207. John v. 1, § 23, p. 228. PART II.] THE SERMON ON THE MOVST—(co>tfinue(l). [SECT. XIX, RECAPITULATION AND In ihejirsi part of the Sermon on the Mount, di. t. ver. 3 — 12, we were shewn the blessedness of those whose life is liid with Cluist in God. lu the second, ver. 13 — .6, the manifestation of tliis hfo, in oiu* being made aftc the Ukeness of Him, wlio is our Light and om- Salvation. In the third, ver. 17 — 20, we were warned not to thiiik lightly of the Ground of this life : it is Christ himself, tlie FulfiUer of all right- eousness, according as God had before declared in Old Testament type and prophecy. There is no other Name given under heaven whereby we must be saved, than that of the Lord our Righteousness. In the fuKrf/i, ver. 21 — 48, we were tauglit that perfect grace and trutli which the Son of God alone can teach, and which the Mediator of the New Covenant does teach to all who enter into his rest ; all who, through his redeemuig love, are enabled to look up unto God as thcif Fatlier. In the J!f//i, ch. vi. ver. 1 — 18, we were instructed as to the manner in whicli the Fatlier of our spirits is by ua to be honoured, especially in those exercises that more immediately belong to his worsliip. In the sixtJi, ver. 19 — 34, we were shewn how the life we live m God is to be maintained — the excellency of a simple trust in God is pointed out : tliis we are to have, not only as to spii'itual matters, but also as to tlie things belonging to tlie natural Ufe : worldly- mindedness, either as to object or means, destroys the spiritual life. VII. We now come to the seventh portion of our Lord's diseom-se, eh. vii. ver. 1 — 6, wliicli wai-ns against spiritual uncleanness — the interposing mere human will m place of tlie Divine, in the govern- ment of the Lord's people— tlie seeking to have otliers conformed to our darliiess, in place of being brought into God's light — the exercising upon them our own evil passions, in place of seekuig that they may be presented ' hoJij and without blame before him in love ;^ or, on the other hand, the prostituting tliat wliieh is holy to those who are as natural brute beasts, so that waste and defilement are brought into the liouse of God. VIII. lu the eighth portion, ver. 7 — 14, we are taught how to avoid a breach of the eighth commandment, ' Thou shall not steal.' What we need we arc to ask of God, in tlie assurance that he will give what is good. The good things we are to prize arc the gifts of God ; and the being by liis Holy Spirit enabled to learn from tlie Law and the Prophets the golden rule of doing to others the things ANALYSIS. — Matt. vii. cliap.* that we would they should do unto us ; and we are also to exercisa self-denial, as entering in at the straight gate : so looking to God for all we need ; — to oiu- neigliboui-, as to one who is to receive from us favour; and to ourselves, tliat we be ready to part with eveiy encumbrance, we shall give liberally to otliers, rather tlian take fr"om tliem unjustly. IX. In the ninth portion, ver 15 — 20, we are shewn, that not only is it our duty to avoid bearing false witness ourselves, but to dis- courage it in others ; and especially are we to beware of false pro- phets, of those who speak falsely in the name of God. And equally are we to be careful not to neglect tlie words of the true prophet. Neither are we to say tliat it is impossible to discern the true lirophet from the false. Tliis would be to contradict Sim who is emphatically the Tr.UE Witness, for he hath said, ' Sg their fruits ge shall know them.' They who sag, and yet do not the truth, are warned, that however they may obtain place in tlie churcli upon cai-ih, tliey will fail of an entrance into the kingdom of heaven. However men may deceive their fellow men, or even themselves, true witness will be borne of them iu the judgment. X. The tenth and last portion, ver. 21 — .7, teaches tlie danger of makuig our own use of the words of Scripture, and thus of building upon our own opmions, or others' interpretations, in place of build- ing upon Clu'ist the Rock, of whom the Scriptures testify. Covet- ousness is the cause of tliat perversion of the words of God ; men wish to have, in some respect, the kingdom, the power, or the glory to tliemselves, without ascribing all to God, and witliout being entirely devoted to liis service, iu all good-will to man ; they thus enter into temptation, and are by the evU one led to wrest the Scriptures to their o^vn wishes, which is, to their own destruction. In order that we be safe for time and for eternity, we must ' beware of covetousness,' and most earnestly seek to have no «isli but accord- hig to the will of God, and so be wilhng to be saved by free grace unto perfect holiness of heart and of life. We must be careful to build not only with good materials, but upon the one ' Sure Foun- dation.' It is He alone that can elTeetually teach us the great com- mandment like unto the first, ' Thou shall love thy neighbour as Ihyself.' Early was the falUng away, in consequence of building upon the many or the great, in place of resting simply in 'the Faithful and Teue.' Every system buUt upon mere human opinion or support must ultimately fall ; nay, it may be expected that eveiy refuge of lies will be luideruiined and swept away amid the storms tliat have already begun to sweep around us. [Fur ch. vi. 31, sc; p. 188.] Matt. vii. 1—3. 1 Judge not, tliat ye-be-'nof-judged. 2 For with what'jndgment ye-judge, ye-shall-be-judged : and with 3 what' measure ye-mete, it-shall-be-measured-'to-you'-again. Aud why beholdest-thou the mote that' is in SCRIPTUEE illustrations. Ch. vii. 1. JuDQE NOT, THAT TE BE NOT JUDOED. Similar toords, Lu. vi. 37, § 27, 1). — • ; — the Lord called for one, wlio was himself without sin, to Judge the adulteress, Jno. viii. 7, § 55. — Rom. xiv. 10, .3, 'We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.' 13, 'Let us not therefore judge one another any more : but judge tliis rather, that no man put a stumbhiigblock or an occasion to fall, in his brother's way.' 2. WlTiI WHAT JUDGMENT, &e. See the case of Adoni-bezel; Ju. i. G, 7, ' But Adoni-bczck fled ; and they pursued after hun, and caught him, and cut oif his 'thumbs and liis great toes. 7, And Adoni-bczck said, Three-score and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table : as I have done, so God hath required me.' — See David's psalm of thanksgiving, 2 Sa. xxii. 26, .7, ' With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright. 27, With the pure thou wUt shew thyself pm-e ; and witli the froward thou wUt shew thyself unsavoury.' — See the judging of the Assyrian, Is. xxxvi. 10, ' Am I now come up without the LoED against this land to destroy it? the Loed said unto me. Go up against this land, and destroy it.' — and the judgment upon him, xxxvii. 36 — .8. — And the degradation and diminishing of Egypt, Eze. xxix. 15 ; — which had sought to degrade and diminish Israel, Ex. i. 13 — .6. — Ja. ii. 13, 'lie shall have judgment without mercy, tliat hath shewed no mercj-.' — Rev. xiii. 10, 'He that leadetli into captivity shall go into captivity: ho that killeth with the swoi-d must be killed with the sword.' 3. WUY EEII0I.DE3T TIIOC THE MOTE, &C. Eom. ii. 17, .9, 21, ' Behold, thou art called a Jew, aud restcst in the law, and makest NOTES. 2. With what judgment, S(c. This was a proverb among the Jews. It refers no less to the way in which men will deal with us, than to the rule by which God will judge us. 3. The mote. The word i;ti(i^og, which we render mote, signifies a little splinter of wood, and thus with great propriety is opposed to ^ocui', a largo beam. PRACTICAL REFLKCTION. 1, 2 ver. Wlien wo take the place of judge, let us recollect I deal mercifully witli others, ns we expect to be mercifully de.nlt with that we ourselves are before the judgment scat of Christ, and let us | of God; anil search our own heart, rather than censure others. *20, 2nd Part.] Mark i. 40, § 21, p. 213. Luke v. 1, § 20, p. 207. John v. 1, § 23, p. 228. 189 JECT. XIX ] ^•0T TO JUDGE-NOT TO PROSTITUTE UOLY TinNOS. [PART 11. Matt. vii. 4 — 8. 4 thy^brother's,eye, but considerest jcaravofTe not the hewcnj,hiit is in,thine-own eye? Or how wilt-thou- say'to'tliy brother, Let-iuo imll-out u'lnt; tic/BaAw the mote out-of thine^eye; and, beliold, a' beam is in 5 tbine-own,( yo? Thou-hvixj^rito, lirst cast-out the beam out-of thiue-owii^eye ; and then shalt-thou-see- clearly S(a/3Xf)^Eic lo-east-out the mote out-of thy^rother's^eye. 6 Give not that which-is-holy unto-the dogs, neitlicr cast-ye your^pearls before^swine, lest thcy-trample them under tlieir^feet, and turn-again aj/ih'end you. 7 Ask, and it-shall-be-giveu you; seek, and ye-shall-find ; knock, and it-shall-be-opened unto you : 8 for every-one that'asketh receiveth; and he'that-seeketh findeth; and to-him'that-knocketli it-shall-be- SCEIPTUBE ILLUSTRATIONS. thy boast of God.' 19, ' And art conGdent tliat tliou thyself art a guide of tlie blind, a liglit of them which are in darkness.' 21, ' Thou therefore whiuli teaehest anotlier, feachest thou not thyself? thou that pi-eachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?' 3. Considerest. Ps. iv. 4, 5, ' Stand iu awe, and sin not : commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. 5, Olfer the sacrifiees of righteousness, and put your trust in tlie Lord.'— Gta. vi. 1, ' Bretlu'cn, if a man bo overtalseu in a fault, ye wliich are spiritual, restore such an one in the spu-it of meekness ; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.' 5. FrEST CAST OUT, SiC. God takes time lo •prepare the instru- ments he intends to mal-e use of in the delieering of others; — so Moses, Ex. ii. 11 — 25 ; iii., &.c ; — so Israel in the wilderness, De. viii. 2 — 6 ; — so are the people who are to he employed as the Lord's witnesses to the nations, to he convinced of their own llindness. Is. jjiii. 7 — 12 ; — and sinfulness, ver. 22 — .4 ; — and the Lord's forgive- ness, ver. 25, .0 ; — and the folly of creature dependence, ver. 27, .8. — Having obtained his Holy Spirit, xliv. 3 ; — and had the Lord's name put upon them, ver. 5 ; — then they shall truly be tvitnesses for God, ver. 6 — 8. — Compare Rev. xiv. — So Jesus commanded his disciples to wait in Jerusalem, until they were baptized, Ac. i. 4, 5, 8, § 98. 6. Dogs. Is. Ivi. 10, 'Ignorant, . . . dimib dogs.'— ver. 11, ' Greedy dogs which can never have enough.' — Ac. xx. 29, ' Grievous wolves . . . not sparing the flock.' — Ph. iii. 2, 'Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.' — Ja. iii. 6 — 8. NEiinEE CAST TE TOUE PEARLS, &c. Pr. xxiii. 9, ' Speak not in the ears of a fool : for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.' — 1 Cor. ii. 6, 7, ' We speak wisdom among them that are perfect : . . . 7, . . . the wisdom of God iu a mystery, even the hidden ivisdom.' Swine. 3Ten of a grovelling nature, Ph. iii. 19, ' Wliose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mmd earthly things.' — Ja. iii. 15, ' Sensiud.' — The precious things of God are with- held from such, for. Vs. xii. 6, 7, 'The words of the Lord are pure words. ... 7, Tliou shall keep tliem, O Lord, tliou shalt preserve them from tliis generation for ever.' — Tit. i. 15, 'Unto the pure aU tilings are piu-e: but luito them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure ; but even then' mind and conscience is defded.' — The Christian teacher is rightly to divide the 'word of trutli,' 2 Tim. u. 15, .C. Rend tou. See the fearful rending ly the eril leasts, who got into the professing church, Rev. xiii. 7, 15 — .7, and compare xvii. IC. Phil. iii. 2, 'Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision,' &c. 7. Ask, &c. See ver. 9—11, p. 191, ' If his son ask bread,' &c. Seek, &c. See ver. 12, p. ib., for the golden rule, which is to be found in what God hath given us to search, Jno. v. 39, § 23, p. 233, ' Search the scriptures.' Knock, &c. See ver. 13, .4, p. 191, as to the gale at which an entrance is to be sought, Jno. x. 9, § 55 ; xiv. G, § 87. — The same words, Lu. xi. 9, § G2. 8. Fob evert one that asketh, &e. Is. Iv. 1, ' IIo, every one tliat tliirsteth,' &.c. — We arc not to go to a limited source, where all comers, and that at all times, cannot be supplied, Je. xxiii. 30, ' Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that steal my words every one from his neighbom'.' — Ja. i. 5, C, ' If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men Uberally, and upbraideth not ; and it shall be given him. 6, But let huu ask in faith, nothing waveruig. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.' — Solomon, when bid to asTc what lie would have of God, 2 Clu-. i. 7, made his request for wisdom and knowledge to guide him in the duties of his office, ver. 10 ; — and God gave 7dm what he asked, and unequalled riches, wealth, and honour beside, ver. 11, .2. — God, in faithfulness to his promise of saving us from our sins, may sometimes refuse us what we ask, Ja. iv. 3, 'Ye ask, and receive not, because yo ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon yom- lusts.'— r/ze way to be prepared for an un- limited svjiply, is the being cleansed from all our fdthiness, and having a simple and entire trust in Jesus, Jno. xiii. 8, § 87 ; xiv. 12— .4,— xvi. 23— .7, § ib., 'Wliatsoever ye shall ask the Fatlier in my name, ho will give it you.' Eph. iii. 14 — 21. NOTES. G. Unto the dogs, ffj-c. This passage is an example of inverted parallelism ; in wliicli tlie first and last lines correspond, and so also the second and third, tlius, A. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, B. Neither cast yc your pearls before swine, b. Lest (these) trample them under tlicii- feet, a. And (those) turn again and rend you. Pearls may resemble grain in size and fonn, and be immensely more valuable ; but they are not the proper aliment of graminivorous animals, and will by tliem be despised and trampled under foot. And sometlihig other tlian holy (flesh), Ijcttcr calculated to occupy their rending, gnawing propensity, shoidd be east to the dogs j otherwise they may be tempted to try their teeth upon the too liberal giver himself. Each ouglit to be given his proper portion. Those brutal and sensual persons, who, far from exliibiting the graces which adorn the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, will, if given the outward privileges proper to the children of God, only abuse them, and rend the body of Christ. 7. Knock. Implies faith, constancy, importunity. 8. livery one that asketh receivelJi. That is, every one that asks in submission to the wiU of God. Paul asked that the thorn in his flesh might be removed. God did not literally grant tlie request, but told liim that his 'grace shoiUd be sufficient for him,' 2 Cor. xii. 7 — 9. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. C ver. In endeavouring to benefit others, let us observe the order 7, 8 ver. Howr large is the promise, 'Ask, and it shall be given which becomes the house of God, giving to each tliat which is you!' How widely extended tlie invitation, ' J'oj- everyone that appropriate to their several conditions. The dogs must not be given askdh receiveth /' Let us ask wisdom, seek opportunities of separat- that wliich is lioly, nor must pcaris be cast beneath the filthy feet of iug ourselves unto his glory in the good of men ; and, having asked swine. The most precious gifts of the Spu-it, whicli delight and and found entrance by Him who is the door, let us, by the manifes- adorn the true child of God, would be but despised and degi-aded as tatiou of liis grace, knock patiently at the hearts of others us God being forced upon the carnally minded. hiUh given us example. 190 Mark i. 40, § 21, p. 213. Luke v. 1, § 20, p. 207. John v. 1, § 23, p. 228. [20, 2nd Part. PART II.] OP ASKINa— THE GOLDEN RULE -SELF-DENIAL. [SECT. XIX. Matt. vii. — 14. 9 opened. Or what man is-tliere of you, whom if his, son ask hread, will-he-give him a-stone? 10 Or if 11 he-ask a-fish, will-he-givo him a-serpeut? If ye then, being- evil Trovtiool, know /low to-give good gifts unto' your children, how-muoh more shall-'your„ Father wldch' « in Jieaven"-give good-things to-tliem' that-ask him ? 12 Therefore all-things whatsoever ye-wouhl that^men should-do to-you, do ye even so to-them : for this is the law and the prophets. 1.3 Enter-ye-in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad tupu^^wpoc ii the way, that' leadeth to 14 , destruction, and many there-he which' go-in thereat Si avrng: because strait is the gate, and narrow TcdXififiivi) is the way, wliich' leadeth unto ^ life, and few there-be that' find it. SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. 9. Ask nnEAr, &e. Lii. xi. 11, § Gi.—See Mt. iv. 3, 4, § 9, p. 97. 10. A SEBPENT. The spirit of evil is sometimes represented I)/ (his reptile, Rev. w. 2 — A stone may have the same form as a loaf of bread, hut is very different in substance. Jesus, however, has both eharacteristies, 1 Pe. ii. 3, 4, ' If so be ye have tasted tliat the Lord is gracious. 4, To whom coming, as unto 'a living stone' . . . . — A serpent, also, may have much the same form as a fish, but it is very different from it in character; and Satan may be, 2 Cor. xi. 14, ' trausfonned into an angel of light.' — But hovever God may allow to be deceived. Is. T. 21, .4, ^ them that are wise in their own eyes,' he will not fail those who truly seek him. La. iii. 24 — .6, quoted Mt. six. 21, § 75, p. G45, ' TiiEAStiKE,' &c. 11. Beino evil. See the heart of man recoynised as evil before the flood. Ore. vi. 5, and after, viii. 21. Give good things, &e. Lu. xi. 13, § 62, ' Give the Holy Spirit to them that ask liim.' — Ps. cxliii. 10, ' Thy Spirit is good ; lead me into the land of uprightness.' — 1 Cor. ii. 10, 'The Spirit Beareheth all things, yea, the deep tilings of God.' — ver. 12, ' Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, hut the spu-it wliieh is of God ; that we might know tlie things that are freely given to us of God,' &c. — See the excellency of these thinys, Pr. viii. 6 — 19. — • The bestowment of good is more especially promised in connection with Israel's restoration, Je. xxxil. 37 — 41 ; — and the Holy Spirit is to be abundantly given. Is. xxxii. 15, .G,(quofed Ae. i. 5, § 98, p. OSS. ' Be baptized ;') Eze. xxxvi. 27, .8, quoted Jno. iii. 5, § 12, p. 122, Notes, 'Be born oftoater,' &c. 12. Whatsoever te would, See. Lu. vi. 31, § 27, p. 263, 'As ye would,' &e. — Jacob deceived hh father, Ge. xxvii. 6 — 24; — and he mis himself deceived, xxix. 21 — .5. — Pharaoh made a law that the Jlebreio male children should be thrown into the river, Ex. i. 22 ; — and in due time Israel had to sing, xv. 4, 5, ' Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath lie east into the sea,' &c. — It was said to Edom, Obad. ver. 15, ' As thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee : thy reward shall return upon thine own Iicad.' — &e Ps. cxxxvii. 7 — 9. This is the law and the pnopnEXS. These testify of Jesus, Jno. V. 39, § 23; Lu. xxiv. 27, § 94 ;^io/io Iiath done for lis what he requires of us, Mt. xvi. 21 — .4, § 50. — 1 Jno. iii. 16, ' Hereby perceive we tlie love of Ood, because he laid down his life for us : and we ought to lay down our hves for the brethren.' 13. Strait gate. Lu. xiii. 24, § 66, 'Strive to enter in at the strait gate,' &c. — Jesus is the door, Jno. x. 7, § 55 ;^/o enter by that strait gate requires self-denial, Lu. xiv. 26 — 33, § 67 ; — it was too strait for the rich man, Mk. x. 22, § 75. — ver. 25, ' It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle [_a wicket gate\ than for a rich man to enter,' &c. — Moses' choice, Heb. xi. 25, .G. — Enter- ing by this gate requires a distrust in our own righteousness, as well as every claim in the flesh, and is exemplified in Paul, Ph. iii. 3 — 9. Rev. xxi. 27. Wide is the gate, &c. 1 Cor. vi. 9, 10, quoted Lu. iii. 13, § 7, p. 84, ' Exact no more.' 14. Leadeth unto lipe. Ja. i. 12, 'Blessed . . . the man that endureth temptation.' — See as to those who chose the way the holy prophets ivent — a way which, although it may be rough and thorny, leads to glory, Heb. xi., &c. — See the glory, unto which leads the path of the lowly, Ps. exxxviii. 7, ' Tliougli I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me : thou shalt stretch fortli tliine hand ugauist the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.' Few, &c. Lu. xii. 32, § 63, ' Fear not, little flock ; for it is your Father's good pleasiu-e to give you the kingdom.' — And that king- dom loill ultimately embrace all nations, Ps. Ixxii. 8 — 11, (quoted Mt. iv. 8, § 9, p. 100, 'And the glory,' &e.)-ver 17— .9, 'His name shall endm-e for ever : his name shall be eontmued as long as the sun : and men shall be blessed in him : all nations shall call liira blessed. 18, Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. 19, And blessed be his glorious name for ever : and let the whole earth be filled witji his gloi-y ; Amen, and Amen.' — cissviii. 4. NOTES. 10. Or if he ask a fish. Bread and fish was the common food of the people in that part of Galilee. 'The examples taken from a slone and a fish are derived from two adagiaiouwA also in all the classical winters (uiri jrepicjjc ffKopTrioi'), representing, by a familiar illustration, those who disappoint the just expectation of others, by giving them not the tiling they ask for and need, but something else, wiiich, though similar to it in fonu, as a serpent is to some sorts of fish (eel and perch), or a stone to a cake or biscuit, yet it is not only not the thing, but wholly useless, or even noxious.' — Bloomfield. 12. Whatsoever ye would that men, cfe. The whole of the Scrip- ture record contains the development of the principle — ^just recom- pence. 'With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful.' So witli the upright and pure. Ps. xviii. 25, .6, 'Andwitli the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.' — Pr. xvi. 11, ' A Just weight and balance are the Lord's.' And no power of man can prevent the just award of Him whose counsel, judgment, and understanding are perfect. Is. xxvi. 7, ' The way of the just is uprightness : thou, most upright, dost weigh tlie patli of the just.' — xxxii. 8, ' The liberal deviseth liberal things ; and by liberal things shall he stand.' — See the conduct of Abram, in parting with Lot, Ge. xiii. 8, 9. Abram gave Lot liis choice of the land, ver. 9, 11 ; and the Lord gave Abram the whole, ver. 14 — .7. 13. The strait gate. ' The comparison is to a gate opening into a road leading up to a citadel. The tijc iin))iies tliat there is another gate, leading to the broad road, whiih we are not to cuter.' — Bloom- field. ' There is no entering into the king of heaven's privy chamber, without passing through the strait gate of purity.' PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS 9^11 ver. Ood in liis Word, and by his Spirit, hath not merely given the form of good, but the very substance of blessing. Let us not through our unbelief allow the bread of life to be unto us as a stone. Let not that which should have been for blessing, be through om* own evil nature turned into a curse. 12 ver. Let us weigh in an even balance what we give, with what upon this ground ho calls upon us to give ourselves to Him. ' This is the law and the prophets.' 13, .4 ver. Let us not be caught by first appearances, or think that safety is to be found in following a multitude to do evil. The brightness of Iieaven m.iy shine ui)on the end of that path which i3 dillicult at first ; whilst the blackness of darkness may close upon we would take from others: God in Christ liatli given Uhnself, and | that wliich is the most easy of entrance. 20, 2nd Part.] 3Iark i. 40, § 21, p. 213. Zukc v. 1, § 20, p. 207. John v. 1, § '.J3, p. 228. 101 SECT. XIX.] TO BEWARE OF FALSE PEOPHETS. [PART II. Matt. vii. 15 — 21. 15 Bewiiro of irponix^Tt ^Tro , false-prophets, whicli come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they-are 1(! niveuing wolves. Ye-slmll-know them by their Jruits. Do-wf«-gutlier grapes of thorus, or figs of 17 thistles? Even-so every g(«iJ tree bringeth-forth good fruit; hut a' corrupt tree bringeth-forth evil fruit. 18A-good tree can not bri'ng-furlh evil fruit, neither «/w a-eorrupt tree briug-forth good fruit. 19 Every 20 tree that-bringelh--uof-lbrtli good fruit is-hewn-down, and cast into the-lire. Wherefore by their, fruits ye-shall-know them. 21 Not cvery-one that'snith unto-mc, Lord, Lord, shall-enter into the kingdom of ' heaven ; hut he'that- SCniPTURE ILLUSTR.\TIONS. 15. BEWiRE OP FAME PEornETS. Je. xxiii. 16, ' They speak a vbion ofthcir own licarf, niid not onl of the mouth of the Lord.' — Mt. xxiv. 4; 2 1-, § 8fi, p. 7G1, ' Take hcvil that no man deceive jou.* ' For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets,' &c. Which come, &c. 2 Cor. xi. 13, 'Such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming thonisclTcs into the apostles of Christ.'— 2 Tiui.iii. 5, 'Having a form of godliness, hut denying the power thereof.' Ratening wolves. Mi. iii. 5, ' Prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry. Peace ; and he that putteth not into their mouths, tliey even prepare war against him.' — Paul warned the Fpheslans, Ac. xx. 29, ' I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.' — See, in the IriiJij apostolic example of Paul, tlie fruits of disinterested love, with which the conduct of the raveniiir/ wolves is in contrast, ver, 31 — .5. 16. Ye suAtL KNOW them, &c. There are sure indications wherehy tliet) may be A-iioii-n, 1 Tim. v. 24, .5, ' Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment ; and some men they follow after. 25, Likewise also the good works of some are mani- fest before hand ; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.' Br THEIR FlifiTS. False spirits may he l-nown by their deficiency of testimony to Jesus Christ, as come in the flesh, 1 Jno. iv. 3 . . . . — and the men themselves may be hnown by their deficiency of the fruit of the Spirit, which is contrasted with the woi'ks of the flesh, Ga. v. liT — 26 Job xiv. 4, ' Wlio can bring a clean,' &c. Geapes OP THORNS, &c. See Lu. vi. 43 — .5, § 27, p. 265. 17. .8. E\'EET GOOD THEE — COKItUPT TEEE. See ch. xii. 33, § 31, p. 29 1. — The good fruit is only to he found in the good tree — the Man, Christ Jesus, Jno. xv. 1 — 8, § 87, p. 836. — Tn contrast is the woman described. Rev. xvii. 3 — 6 ; — whose litter fruit is alluded to, Ec. vii. 26 — .9. — Sailh the Lord to Ephraim, Hoa. xiv. 8, 'From me is thy fruit found.' 19. Hewn down. The hing of Babylon, as talcing the glory to himself in place of acJcnowledging God, Da. iv. 30, was hewn down, ver. 31 — .3, until lie had learned to bring forth fruit unto Ood, by giving praise unto his name, ver. 3t — .7. Cast into the piee. The Jews, as trusting in the flesh, ch. iii. 9, § 7, p. 83, and so failing to bring forth good fruit, were threatened by John ivith being hewn down and cast into the fire, ver. 10. — The Romans were forewarned of similar judgment to be executed upon them, should they boast as they have done, Rom. xi. 17 — 2i, . . . . — Rev. xvii. 18, 'that great city' — xviii. 7, 8, 'hath glorified herself,' . . . 8, 'and she shall be utterly burned with fire: lor strong is the Loi'd God who judgeth her.' 20. Wueeefoee by theie peuits, &c. By their deadly, destruc- tive infiuence upon individuals, churches, and nations they may be knoivn, Rom. vi. 21, ' Wliat fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed ? for the end of those tlungs is death,' iStc. — Let us take warning, so as to obey the exhortation to the Sebreiu disciples of Jesus, lleb. xiii. 15, ' By lum therefore let us ofler the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.' 21. LoED, LoED. IIos. viii. 2, 3, ' Israel shall ci-y unto me, My God, we know thee. 3, Israel bath cast off . . . good : the enemy shall pursue liim.' — Tfte foolish virgins are represented as saying, 'Lord, Lord;' — but are refused admission, Mt. xxv. 11, .2, § 86, p. 788.— -See also Lu. vi. 46, § 27, p. 265; viii. 21, § 33, p. 321 j xiii. 25, § 66, p. 590, NOTES. 15. False prophets. The expression may be taken to denote, in a general way, those who falsely pi'ctend to have a Divine commission. Which come to you in sheep's, l^c. "EvSviiaai TrpoSdrwt' has an allusion to the ^iijXwr)/ (sheep-skin, or sometimes a cloak made of fleece roughly worked up), with which the false prophets clothed themselves, in imitation of the true ones ; and also, as it seems, the false teachers among the Pharisees.' — Bloomfield. ' Hypocrites have nothing of the sheep but its skin.' Ravening wolves. Rapacious, or disposed to plunder. Applied to the false teachers, it means that they assumed the appearance they did in order that they might the more readily get the property of the people. They were full of extortion. — iSee ch. xxiii. 25, § 85. 16. I'e shall Inoio them by their fruits. Men do not judge of a tree by its leaves, or bai-k, or flowers, but by the fruit ■which it bears. The flowers may be handsome and fragrant ; the fohage thick and green ; but these may be only ornamental. The fi'uit is that to wliich regard should be had. Grapes of thorns, 4'c. Men of proud, unsanctified minds, tem- pers, and dispositions, cannot be expected to sow the fruit of righ- teousness in others, Ja. iii. 18. 19. Sewn down, ijr. However fan' men's professions and appear- ances be, yet, if then* inward principles of action are unsound, their doctrines erroneous, and theu- lives immoral, they shall in the righ- teous judgment of God be cast into everlasting burnings. 21. Not every one. Ou viig, a Hebraism for no p>crson. The sense of this verse seems to be this ; — No person by merely acknow- 15, .6 ver. The words of God's true prophets arc precious : and wc must not be robbed of them by mere human teaching, or by those who are sent by the father of lies. These may not be known by any want of mere outward credentials : these, the enemy of souls will in general try to secure. It is not by the clothing, but by the fruits, that we are called to judge. 17, .8 rcr. AUhongh the chilih-en ot God are not to be rash in judging, still they arc to judge, after a patient examination of the fruits of the teaching, as to whether it be of God. Our Great Teacher has pointed us to the credentials of his servants. It is simply a life evincing the goodness, and illustrating the beauty of the doctrine which they teach. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. bring forth bad fruit, they shall escape the judgment which shall faU upon the evil. The judgment was sorely executed upon the whole body of the Jewish teachers in the land. ' Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire,' and thus their ignorant followers were dealt with. Wherefore, seeing that so great is the responsibiUty as to liearing, let us take heed as to what we hear, and let us seek discei-nment for oui-selves from God. Let us obey the precept and enjoy the promise, ' By their fruits ye shall know them !' Let us see that then- lives are in harmony with then- doctrine, and both with the word of God. 21 ver. It is not being busy in the verbal acknowledgment of Christ, as Lord, that will prove any one an heir of the kingdom of heaven. It is the practical, the heai-t and life confession, that God delights in. 19, 20 ler. Let uot tlio unfruitful think that because they do not •^'"•^' »• 'W, § 21, p. 213. LuKe v. 1, § 20, p. 207. John v. 1, § 23, p. 228. 1 9/» [20, 2nd Part. PART II.] NOT TO BE MERELY HEARERS, BUT DOERS OF THE 'WOBD, [SECT. XIX. Matt. vii. 22 — .7. 22 doeth the will of-my, Father which' /s in heaven. Many will-say to-me in that^day, Lord, Lord, have- we-"nof-prophesied in' thy name? and in' thy name have-cast-out devils? and in'tliyname done many 23 wonderful- works Swufiet^? And then will-I-pvofess unto-them, I-'never'-knew you: depart from me, ye' that -work ^iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these , sayings of-mine, and doeth them, I-will-liken him unto-a-wise man, 25 which built his, house upon a'rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, 26 and beat-upon that, house; and it-fell not: for it-was-founded upon a'rock. And cvery-one that' heareth these, sayings of-mine, and doeth them not, shall-be-likened unto-a-foolish man, which built his, house 27 upon the sand : and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat-upon that , house; and it-full: and great was the fall of-it. SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. 21. Doeth the win, &c. Jno. fi. 29, § 43, ' This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he liath sent.' — ver. 40, 'And tliis is tlie will of liim that sent me, that every one wliieh seeth the Sou, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life.' — Rom. viii. 13, ' If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die : hut if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.' — 1 Th. iv. 3, ' For this is the will of God, euen your sauctiBcation.' — Ps. xv. 2 — 5, (quoted Mt. v. 8, p. 173, 'Puee in HEAKT.'J-Ja. i. 22, 'Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves,' &o. 22. In that dat. Ac. xvii. 31, 'He hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained.' Cast out deviis. There were certain of the vagabond Jews that attempted this in the name of Jesus, Ac. six. 13 ; — But though one were successful in tlie exercise of any or all the gifts, and have not the life of Christ in him, he is nothing, 1 Cor. xiii. 2. 23. Depart erom me. Those who will not, in heart and life, he separated unto Christ now, may most assuredly lay their account with leing separated from him hereafter, for ' without (lioliness) no man shall see (he Lord,' Heb. xii. 14. — See Lu. xui. 23 — .7, § 66 ; — also the judgment, Mt. xxv. 41— .6, § 86.— See on ver. 21, p. 192. 24. Heaeeth, &e. It is hy hearing that we come to build upon the Sure Foundation, Is. Iv. 3, 'Hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sm'e mercies of David.' — Rom. x. 17, ' Faith cometh by hearing.' — Ga. iii. 11, ' The just shall live by faith.' — v. 6, ' Faith . . . worketh by love.' — Rom. xiii. 10, and 'love is the fulfilliug of the law.' — Thus the apostle could say, 6a. ii. 20, ' I live hy the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.' Sayings op mine. It is not enough that words are heard, and worship given ; the Lord ivill not accept of that fear toward him, which is taught ' by the precept of men,' Is. xxix. 13, A.— His word must be received, 1 Th. ii. 13, ' not as the word' of men, but (as it is in truth) the word of God.' — Atid it is Jesus of whom the Father hath said, Mt. xvii. 5, § 51, 'Hear ye him.' — Ac. iii. 22, .3, 'Him sliall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say imto you. 23, And it sliall come to pass, that every soiJ, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.' Doeth them, &o. See as before, ver. 21, p. 192. — Doing is very much insisted upon in both the Old Testament and the New, as Ps. ciii. 18 ! Mt. xii. 50, § 31 j Lu. xi. 28, § 62 ; Jno. xiii. 17, § 87 ; 1 Jno. iii. 7. — Rev. xxii. 14, 'Blessed are they that do his com- mandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in tlu'ough the gates into the city.' Wise man, &c. Pr. ix. 10, 'The fear of the Loed is the bc'ginning of wisdom ; and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.' — Job xxviii. 28, 'The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.' 25. Founded upon a eock. 1 Cor. iii. 11, 'Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.' — Build upon this Eock, De. xxxii. 3, 4, ' The Rock. . . . His work is perfect,' (([noted Jno. iii. 10, § 12, p. 123, ' Master,' &c.) -See horn secure in the midst of storm and tempest is the glorious structure reared upon this Foundation, Is. liv. 9 — 17. — Ps. xcii. 13— .5, 'He is my rock, and there is no mirighteousness in him,' (^quoted Jno. xii. 13, § 82, p. 682, 'Palm TREES.')-Eph. ii. 18 — 22, 'For through him we both have access by one Spu-it unto the Father,' (quoted Jno. x. 23, § 56, 'Solomon,' &c.)-Heb. iii. 14, 'Wo are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end.' 27. The eloods came, &c. After tlie promise, Is. xxviii. 16 — 22, 'Behold, I lay m Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation,' it is said, 17, 'And the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the liiding place.' . . 18, 'when the overflowing scourge shall pass thi-ough, then ye shall be trodden down by it.' And great was the fall oe it. let us hear tfte words of warning. Is. x. 1 — 4, 'Woe unto them that decree unrighteous NOTES. ledging my authority, with calling upon my name with a seeming zeal and fervour, much less he who does these things only in a cold and formal manner, shah enter ' the kingdom of heaven.' Rom. ix. G, ' For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel.' 22. Prophesied. There have been instances of men who were separated unto the exercise of the gift of prophecy, who yet gave no evidence of being separated in holmess imto the kingdom of God. Such was Balaam, in the time of Moses, Nu. xxiv. 4 ; and Caiaphas the high priest, in the time of our Saviour's sojourn upon earth, Jno. xi. 51, § 58. Saul also, 1 Sa. x. 5 — 13. 23. Will I profess. ofio\oyi';(TW, 'I will plainly tell them.' 24. Whosoever, t'^-c. This is the grand point to be attended to. It makes no matter what may be his contUtion, race, or attention to outward forms and ceremonies. Ga. iii. 28, .9 ; vi. 15, compare with 1 Cor. vii. 19. — Lu. vi. 47, .8, § 27, 'Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like ; Ho is hke a man wliich buUt an house,' i-c. 25. And the rain descended, ^'c. ' The rains, floods, and winds of an eastei-n monsoon strikingly illustrate this passage. Wlien people in those regions speak of the strength of a house, it is not by saying it will last so many years, but it will outstand the rains ; it will not be injured by the floods. Houses built of the best materials, and having deep fomidatious, if not on a rock, in a few years often yield to the rains of a monsoon.' — Roberts, 26. Foolish man. 'The fool hath said in his Iieart ... no God,' Ps. xiv. 1. — ' A fool also is full of words' — he despises the warning voice, and says, Ec. x. 14, 'A man c.innot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can teUhim?' — Je. viii. 9, 'Lo, they liavo rejected the word of the LoED ; and what wisdom is in them ? ' 27. And great was the fall of it. Britain, although great, not PRACTICAL REFLECTION. 22, .3 ver. It matters not how near we come to the true disciples nuist liave holy fellowsliip with Clu-ist now, if we would not have of Christ as to outward sign : if we are not made one with lliin by the shame of being put far from him when lie comes in the glory of a pure and living faith, we camiot be united witli him in glory. AVe I his kingdom.— [/or remainder q/'PliAC. Reflec, see next page.} 20, 2nd Part.] ^ark i. 40, § 21, p. 213. Luke v. 1, § 20, p. 207. John v. 1, § 23, p. 228. N 193 SKcr. XIX.] TIIE RECOGNITION OF THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS [PART II. Matt. vii. 23, .9, viii. 1. 28 And it-came-to-pnss, when, Jesus liad-endecl awiriXiatv these, sayings, the people were-astonislied at 20 liis doctrine : for he-tiiuglit them as o/ie luiviiig authority Itova'iav, and not as the scrihes. Ch. viij. 1 When he was-comc-Jown from the mountain, great nuiltitudcs followed him. [Ver. 2, § 21, p. 213.] SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS, tlecrccg, and t)iat write gricvousness lohich they haro prescribed;'— iodutying Ihiir own corcloiisnes.i, in neglect of llie great law of love, Tcr. 2 — i, 'To tuni nside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that w-idows may he their prey, and thai they may rob the fatherless ! 3, And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which sliall come from far? to whom will yo flee for help? and where will yc leave your glory ? 4, AVithout me they shall bow domi under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain.' — Hah. ii. 9 — 11, ((jKoled eh. vi. 3-1, p. 188, ' The evii,' &,e.)-See also ver. 12 — .4-, ihkl. tlie curse, Zee. v. 1 — 3, 4, ' It shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name : and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and sliall consume it with the I imber thereof and the stones thereof.' 29. Hatino attthouitt. Ai the Frophet foretold h/ Mofip.t, De. xviii. 15 — .d,(gtioted Jno. i. 25, § 10, p. 104 j) -ami if e Ac. iii. 22 — .G. NOTES. only as to temporal advantages, but especially as to the unspeakable privilege of hearing the word of the Lord, has no small cause to stand in awe. The case described is not that of those from whom the word of God is entirely withheld ; it is that of a people, who hear these sayings of Christ, but do lliera not. 28. IFheii Jesus had ended these savings. This plainly mtmmtes that all this discourse was delivered at once ; and, consequently, that several passages related by St. Luke, as spoken at different times, are repetitions of it ; compare ch. v. 3, and seq., p. 172, toilh Lu. vi. 20, and seq., § 27 j Mt. v. 13, p. 174, mtlt Lu. xiv. 34, .5, § 07 ; Mt. V. 25, p. 177, ti'ilh Lu. xii. 58, § 63 ; Mt. vi. 9, and seq., p. 184, toith Lu. xi. 2, and seq., § 62 ; Mt. vi. 20, .1, p. 186, with Lu. xii. 33, .4, § 63 ; Mt. vi. 24, ibid., with Lu. xvi. 13, § 69 ; and Mt. vii. 13, .4, p. 191, with Lu. xiu. 24, § 66. Were astonished at his doctrine, ry SiSaxii- The word may denote either the doctrine tanyht, or the manner of teaching. The latter is probably meant. — See GreswcU on the Parables, vol. i. Introd. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. 24, .5 ver. Let the power of the anointing, the wisdom that eometh down from above, and of which we are made partakers in Chi-ist ; let this be manifested both in our choosing the Kock whereon to build, and in our builduig upon the Rock we have been given the wisdom to choose. Our safety is in building, not upon human opinion, but upon the Rock of eternal truth. 2G, .7 rer. Although without hearing it cannot be expected we shall do, yet it is quite possible we may hear the sayings of Chi-ist, and not do them. An awful time of trial is approaching, when those who have not been building upon the Rock Christ will be found like the man who built his house upon the sand. 28 ver. Let us not be merely astonished at the doctrine of Christ, but let us mingle faith with what we hear ; a tiiitli which worketh by love, and purifieth the heart : and let us never forget that ' This is the worh- of God, that ye believe on Mini whom he hath sent.' — Jno. vi. 29, § 43, p. 388. ADDENDA. THE RECOGNITION OF THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS, BY OUR Matt. V. 1— vii. 29. LORD, IN HIS SERMON ON THE MOUNT. We have before seen that the Sermon on the Moukt is an exposition of the Law, accoedino to the Gospel — shewing how, by the provisions of the New Covenant, the Law is to be written upon the fleshy tables of the heart. It is also unportant to obsei-ve that, in the same order, it makes a very distinct recognition of the books of ' THE LAW AND THE PBornEis.' These are twice distinctly referred to in the eoiu'so of the Sermon. The Sermon divides itself into two halves. First, Ch. V. 1— vi. 18.— Second, Ch. vi. 19— vK. 29. At the commencement of the central portion of the Sei-mon, ch. T., ver. 17—20, of the first half (cli. v. 1— vi. 18), our Lord says, ver. 17, ' Think not that I am come to destroy the Laic, or the Prophets: lam 'not come to destroy, but to fulfil.' And near the end of the central part, vii. 7 — 14, of the second half (vi. 19 — vii. 29), he says, ver. 12, ' Whatsoever ye would thai men should do to you, do ye even so to them : for this is the Law and the Prophets' In the first case, lie gives us the sum of Divine revelation as to doetriue; and in the second, as to practice. Let us now see how tlie same discourse, which is an exposition of the Decalogue, is also an epitome of ' the Law and the Prophets.' I. In the Beatitudes, Mt. v. 3—12, the Mediator of the New Covenant describes the character and blessedness of those who, obedient to the first comirandment, take the Lord alone to be theur God. In Genesis, the first hook of the Law and Prophets, we have the clmraeters described, which are here rofeiTcd to, as in the eases of Abel, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph. ' Py faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph,' Heb. xi. 21. Com- pare Gen. xlviii. 14 — 20 (quoted Lu. i. 70, § 3, p. 29, ' As he spase') ; and 'they which be of faith are blessed ivith faithful Abraham,' Ga. iii. 9, whose histoi-y, and that of his more immediate descendants, occupies so large a portion of the first book of the Law and Prophets, Gen. xii. 1. And the blessing of Abraham, who gave such an example of obedience to the first commandment, was to come upon the Gentiles through Jesus Clu-ist. II. In Mt. V. 13 — .6, Jesus requires that liis disciples he made after the imago of Him who is ' the Saviour of all men,' 1 Tim. iv. 10 j ' the Light of the icorld' Jno. viii. 12, § 55. They are to keep the second commandment by being made in the likeness of the Loi"d fi'om heaven, who descended in order to give us Ught and life, that God might be glorified thereby. In ExoDtrs we have an illustration of this. There is described how the Lord came do'wii to deliver Israel, to be a light to enlighten, as well as to protect. He appeared in a flame of fire to Moses in the bush, ch. iii. 2 — 10. Afterwards, when there was darkness that might be felt over the whole land of Egypt, ' all the children of Israel had Ught in their dwellings' eh. x. ver. 21 — .3. Israel were protected through the Red Sea by the 'pillar of the cloud,' which gave them light by night, ch. xiv. ver. 19, 20. He brought them to the mount, on which he descended in fire, and whence, amid lightnings, he dehvered them that law which especially witnessed against idolatiy, ch. xii. 16 — .8 ; xx. 4 — 6 ; and the punishment of a breach of which is recorded, ch. xxxii. In this book is described the hcauliful workmanship of all belonging to the tabcmacle, and cspe- Mall. ■ 191 ,§21, p. 213. Marl- i.iO, ibid. 7w'J-e v. ], § 20, p. 207. JoA» v. 1, § 23, p. 228. [20, 2nd Part. PAET II.] BY OUE, LORD IN HIS SERMON ON eially of the candlestick, wliich was ever to give light in the Lord's house; & as represoiifing the chui'ch, wliich is designed to minister light to all around ; not that men may be induced to worsliip tlie candlestick, but be led to glorify oiu" Father which is in heaven. III. In Mt. V. 17 — 20, we are warned not to think lightly of the Law and the Prophets, or fail of riglitly apprehending the purpose for which the Son of God came into om- world. lie who came in the name of the Lord to save us, came as the FuliUler of all that had been written of liini, as being the chosen One, who should bring in everlasting righteousness. And in Leviticus, we have tim types of the 'One Sacrifice' he was to make for our sins. Tlie actings of tlie higli priest, wl>o, on liis Iieart and upon liis shoulders, was to bear the names of the cliildren of Israel before the Lord, represented the working of tlie Lord our righteousness, by wliom we have entrance into the king- dom of heaven : ' Clu'tsi is the eml of tlie law for rifjliteoiisness to ever// one that heUeveih^ Rom. s. 4. That the Lord would not allow those ordinances wliich pointed out the way of approach to him to be broken with impunity, was early made manifest in the case of the sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abiliu, Le. X. 1 — 11. It is in tliis book also that we find recorded the punishment for breaking the ihinl commandment, or blaspheming tlio Name of the Lord, xxiv. 10 — .6; and as well do we find here predicted the punishment, long and severe, which was to come upon tlie people, as not properly regarding that whereby he made liimself known, xxvi. 3 — 39, and the favour reserved for them when, confessing then- iniquity, they should accept of the punishment thereof, ver. 40 — .3, as typified by tlie sacrifices prescribed in tliis book, and fulfilled in Christ. ' For hi/ one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified,' Heb. x. 14. IV. In Mt. T. 21 — 48, we see Jesus calhng the attention of his disciples fi'om the teaching of those who had been in vain labouring to work out a righteousness of tlieii*own. Om* attention is directed to tliat exliibition of the law whicli was given in himself, who, in fidfiUing tlie law for us, hatli left us an example tliat we should follow his steps, 1 Pe. ii. 21. It is as being made sons of God in liim, who in his work of redemption hath manifested perfect love, and taught us the forgiveness here requii'cd, that we can hear the command, ' Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is j>erfect.' The forbearance, forgiveness, and kindness of the Father of Israel, as procured by the mtercession of the typical mediator, Moses, are most strongly manifested in the book of NtTMBEiis, as describing the journey ings. of Israel in tlie wilderness. In the fourth commandment the Lord was presented as then- example, both as to labour and rest. In this fourth book of the Law, Nttubees, we have the Lord leading about the children of Israel, after all the work of the taber- nacle was Cnislied, wliich represented the perfect work of the Son of God : wherever, and so long, as the Lord led, Israel were to follow ; and when the cloud rested they were to rest ; and when they rested, it was as being concentrated around that which liad led tliem in all their journey, and which represented Ilim in whom we have guidance and rest. Wlien encamped and at rest around the tabernacle, then by obseiTing those ordinances as tyjiical of the perfect work of Clirist, they were taught the holiness, forbearance, truthfulness, forgiveness, and love, which we more plainly read in tlie hfe and deatli, as well as in the words, of tlie Son of God, who most perfectly did the will of the Father, not only for us, but for our example ; which example we are enabled to foUow, only as having faith m Iiis perfect work, in his Divine wisdom to lead, in his power to protect, and in his good- ness to bless. It may abo be observed, that it is in {\m fourth book of the Law that the puiiishmci.t for a breach of the fourth com- mandment is noticed, xv. 32 — ,6. V. In Mt. vi. 1 — 18, we have directions given as to the banner in which wc are to honour the Father of om- spirits, in the expec- tation of living hereafter iu the enjoyment of that onduriug inherit- ance, with which he will lionoiu- those that honour him. Wc are to do all as in Iiis sight, and, before all things, seek that his name may be liallowcd — that his kingdom may come, and his will be done upon earth as, &e. THE MOUNT. [SECT XIX. In Detttebonomt we have the illustration of this. In this repetition of the Law, the Lord by Moses addresses Israel as a father doth his cliLldren, and calls for tliat reverential regard to his voice which becomes the relationsliip ; and especially are they called to be attentive to his voice, in the view of being prepared to receive aright that Great Prophet, the Mediator of the New Covenant, with regard to whom the Father hath said, ' Kear ye him,' and witliout honom-ing whom, we lioiiom: not the Father which hath sent him. In this //;;/( book of the Law is described the punishment of the breaker of the ff/h commandment, De. xxi. 18 — 21. Often in this book are the people reminded of the promise annexed to the keeping of the fifth commandment. Their casting out of the laud, in the case of disobedience to God as their Father, is described ; and also the rich inheritance, which in the Lord tlicu' Saviour the Israel of God are to obtain. It is here plainly shewn that the Lord deh'ghteth not in dead and gloomy forms of reUgious service. He calls upon his cliildren to know, and thence to love him, and to serve liim with gladness of heart, as chikh-en a father whom they reverence and love, ch. xxvi. 10, .1 ; xxviii. 47, .8 ; xxxii. 6 — 9. VI. In Mt. vi. 19 — 84, we hear the Lord warning against those tilings that go more immediately to destroy the spiritual life, which can only be maiutauied by faith, by childlike confidence in God. In JosiiFA was exeinphfied all this : he was remarkable for not only a meek submission to the will of God, but a ready acquiescence in all his appointments. There is no instance of his heart fretting against the Lord, however trying his situation, or painfid the work he had to perform. Joshua was privileged to lead the hosts of Israel into the land of promise — the waters of the Jordan dividing to let them pass over, ch. iii., iv. ' jSy faith the walls of Jericho fell down,' Heb. xi. 30 ; as if to teach Israel by what they should continue to live and triumph. By the same God, who had so marvellously sustauied them in the wilderness, they were still to hve. Here, also, in the case of Achan, eh. vii., we see that seeking to lay up treasm-es upon earth, not trusting to the Lord's provision, brought destruction upon many, as well as cUs- grace and death to liimself. He woidd have served God and mammon, but it could not be. In the destruction of the nations of Canaan we more especially see the evil case of those who say. What shall we eat ? and. What shall we drink ? and, ^Vherewithal shall we be clothed ? They were only as dead men before Joshua ; who, as seeking first the kingdom of God, and liis righteousness, had fulfilled unto iiim the promise, ' All these things shall be added unto you.' Joshua was as remarkable for hving the life of faith, as for being the executioner of tlie sentence of death, wliich the Lord had pronomiced upon the wicked nations of Canaan. In this sixth book of the Law and Prophets, it is abimdantly shewn that all killing was not a breach of the sixth comniandment. Here is recorded the divinely directed killing, not only of individuals, but of nations, ch. i. — xii. Here also is the appointment of cities of refuge, unto which he might flee, who killed any person at unawares, ch. XX., &c. VII. In Mt. vii. 1 — 6, we have the rule, ' Jiidgp not, that ye he not judged,' cf'c. We find tliis rule exemplified in the book of Judges, ch. i. 7. See the case of Abimelech and the men of Shcchera, ch. ix. 56, .7. So in the case of Samson, cli. xv., xvi. ; and in that of all Israel, as executing judgment upon the tribe of Benjamin, ch. xx. Israel, as described in this book, early and frequently went a whoring from the Lord, and thereby were allowed to fall into other imclean- ncss ; and, for both, the Lord allowed tliem to be punished, by their faUing under the dominion of cruel lords. But according to the measure these dealt out to Israel, was it measured out to them again. Tlie judgment may bo just, but he that casts the first stone should liims(;lf be without sin. Equally must care be taken, not to pros- titute to the profane the portion of the Lord's people. It was by allowing the heathen to become mixed up with Israel, iu the posses- sion of the land, that Israel became torn, trampled upon, and debased ; and in place of shining forth in the midst of the nations, as a holy nation, a peculiar people, they were as a woman who hath forsaken her own husband, and ia despised of her k>vers, and hated Matt, viii. 2, § 21, p. 213. Mark i. 'W, iltd. Luke v. 1, § 20, p. 207. John v. 1, § 23, p. 228. 195 SECT. XIX.] THE MINOR PROPHETS AND DECALOGUE. See, for illustration, their liistoi7 as contained in [PART II. of nil around JtTDOES. Vm. In Mt. vli. 7—14, the Lord directs us how to avoid a brcacli of the ei()!ilh commandment. Wliat we need we are freely to ask of God, being assured that ho will give what is good. Wc are to leam from tlio Law and Prophets that golden rule, ver. 12, by acting according to whieh, wo shall earefully avoid breaking this commandment. And finally, we r.re not to take our ride of duty from the multitude who seek their own thmgs. We are to take Clirist as our iiattern, and so exercise self-denial as we are exhorted, ver. 13, .4. In the eighth book of the Law and Prophets, Samuel (asked of Ooif), we have the illustration of this eighth portion of our Lord's discourse, Mt. vii. 7—14, ' Ask, and it shall lie given you.' Thus Samuel received liis name, 1 Sa. i. 20, .7, as having been asked of the Lord by Hannah, his mother, whose song is a rejoicing in the truth that our God is a prayer-hearing God, who giveth to the needy, ch. ii. And the same truth was cxempUCed in the case of David; and by him also celebrated in song, to the praise of tlie Giver of all good, as 2 Sa. xxii A breach of the eighth commandment, or taking for ourselves, not according to the Di\'ine appointment, was punished upon the family of Eli by the loss of the priesthood— TOw;)«re 1 Sa. ii. 12— .7, 27—36; iii.ll— .4; and upon the house of Saul, by the loss of the kuigdom, sv. 10—28. David, toward his enemy Said, obsei-ved the golden riUe, and he met with liis reward. But having done all, we have need to ask that we may be able to stand ; and not, like David, fall, when the victory seems to be won, 2 Sa. xi. His sin, it may be observed, is spoken of by Nathan, in the language of the eighth commandment, 2 Sa. lii. -1 — 10, as he was in that case judged according to the golden ride and found wanting. The last fact recorded in this book is to the honour of David, as being scrupulously obsei-vant of the commandment ; and as pre- eenting an offei-ing to the Lord on accoiuit of deUverance, which he had earnestly asked of God, 2 Sa. xxiv. IX. In Mt. vii. 15 — 20, the Faithful and True Witness warns his disciples with regard to false prophets, and tells us how we may form a correct judgment as to who are appointed to speak forth the mind of God to his people ; and it is intimated, that many may not only deceive others, but also themselves, who wUl, at the last, be rejected by the righteous Judge. The illustration of this iiiuth part of our Lord's discom-se we have in the Books of Kings, which describe the sm and punishment of bearing false witness, as in the matter of Naboth's vineyard, 1 Ki. xxi. Here we have abundant proof of the truth of the warning wliich God, by his propliet, had given, 1 Sa. viii., with regard to their king. Here also we see, that when Israel was faithful, in then- witness for God, against the lying vanities of the heathen arovmd them, they were eminently prosperous, 1 Ki. i. — x. But when they fell from their testunony, and treated truth and error as alike worthy of their regard, Israel and Judah soon came to variance, and were brought to ruiu as the prophets had forewarned. It is here also that we have the most strikuig type of the prophetic office in Ehjah, 1 Ki. xxi., whose rough garment, or sheep's clothmg, appears to be alliuled to by our Lord, as being that whieh could be affected by pretended successors, whilst having not his spirit. — Compare 2 Ki. i. 8, with Mt. vii. 15, p. 192. It is not by outward credentials, such as man may fabricate, but by the fruits of the Spirit, that the true witnesses for God are to be known, as distuiguished from the false prophets, who may give abmidant evidence of their sincerity, as did the prophets of Baal. There was abimdauce of crying, ' O Baal (or Lord), hear us,' 1 Ki. xviii., whilst they were leading the people astray — were bringing down upon theii- land the just judgment of Heaven, to the eutu-e destruction of their nation, according as God had forewarned, 2 Ki. xvii. 5 — 23. The warnings of the true pro- phets having been slighted, they were given a commission to execute judgment upon Israel, 1 Ki. xix. 9 — 17. The case of that nation may well serve for warning to individuals to prepare for the judg- ment to which our attention is here du'ected, Mt. vii. 32, .3, p. 193, by the Faithful Witness. X. In Mt. vii. 21 — .7, which is the tenth and last portion of the Sermon on the Mount, we are warned that the words here spoken regard the hearers of Cluist ; and that his word must not oidy be heard, but be understood and obeyed. If we merely attend to the outward letter, and then attach to that letter the thoughts of other men, or of om- own minds, without seeking to know what is really the mind of God, as expressed by liis word, we are guilty of the worst kind of covetousness ; we are perverting the words of God to our own purposes ; the folly as well as sin of whieh the Lord will doubtless make evident, as forewarned by all the prophets ; when also the security of those who have in truth built simply upon the Rock will be the more evident by the storms that prevail around, and the trials -n ith wliich the righteous may themselves be tried, but through which they will be brought with songs of eveiiastuig joy. Not only arc the larger prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, full of tliis subject, but the minor prophets also, as Ilab. ii. 4 — 11 (quoted Mt. vi. 34, p. 188, ' The evil theeeof') ; Zee. v. 1 — i. Wlien God reclaims his own word from the perversions thereof by man — from every appropriation thereof to selfish or sectarian piu'- poses, gi'cat must be the confusion of many. Let us avoid that fall by building, and that in truth, upon the Rock ; and this we may be the better enabled to do, as seeing that by the Gospel we do not make void the Law, but estabhsh it upon the only true Foundation upon which we with it can stand. It may also be noticed, that when the Lord, according to his pro- mise by the prophets, claims the possession of his people, his redeemed inheritance, then those who have been looking upon that inheritance as theirs, and who have in too many cases been acting as lords over God's heritage, will find that they liave built upon a false foundation : and all their soids lusted after, and for which they so perverted the words of truth, wiU pass away from them, and leave them to shame and everlasting contempt. Then wUl those, who have chosen their portion w ith Mary, Lu. x. 42, § 61, rejoice, in beholding the wonders of His grace, and the glory of His power, in whom they have an unfailing refuge and fidness of blessing for ever. THE MINOR PROPHETS AND DECALOGUE, ETC., COMPARED — SCe 'TABULAR VIEW," p. 20G. I. HOSE A. HOSEA views the house of Israel in relation to the Covenant made by the Lord with his people, when he brought them up out of Egypt ; according to which they solemnly engaged to take the Lord alone to be their God. They are found utterly unfaithful : ' Te are not my people, and I will not he your God.' A reserve is made of the house of Judah ; but the house of Israel is wholly cast out, ch. i. Their case when out of the land, and not bearmg the name of Israel, ch. ii. The case of the remnant of the cliildrcn of Israel, the Jews, ch. iii. The grounds of Istael's divorce, ch. iv. — xiii. : Here are shewn the sin and misery of Israel, in departing from the Lord their Ood, intci-niingled with intimations of the Lord's purijoso regarding them : ' TH I am the Lor.o thy God from the Matt, viu, a, § 21, p. 213. Marh i. 40, ibid. 19G laud of Egypt, and thou shall l-noio no god but me : for there is «o saviour beside me,' xiii. 4. The manner in which they are to return, and take the Lord alone to be their God, and experience the blessedness of being in truth his saved people, ch. xiv. II. AMOS. AjlCi) earnestly denounces idolatry, and declares its ruinous nature. Compare what is said in the second commandment with regard to punishment unto the third and fourth generation, with Am. i. 3, 0, 9, 11, .3 ; ii. 1, 4, 6. Oppression of the poor, idolatry, and therewith darkness and desolation, iii., iv. The Lord is the Giver of light, v. 8. But transgression turns Lnlce V. 1, § 20, p. 207. John v. 1, § 23, p. 228. PART II.] THE HAGlOGRAPnA AJVD DECALOGUE, ETC. even the day ol'tlie Lord into dai-kncss, 18—20. Thewoi'sliip given i to the Lord in common with idols, he utterly repiuliates, 21 — .4. 1 ' Kare ye offered unto me sacrifices' i\c. 26, ' But ye have home the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiiiii your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves. 27, Therefore icill I cause,' &c., 25-.7. The Lord's hatred of tliose who despise his afflicted people; or, led away by covctousncss, make merchandise of them, ch. vi. The case of the idolatrous priest, and the dai-kening, destructive tendency of idolatry, ch. vii., viii. Tlie entii-e sweeping away of Israel, and thcii- being confounded with the Gentile nations, ix. 1—7. Their future rebuilding, ver. 8 to end. [SECT. XIX. as fleeing from, and as fretting against, the Lord, we may see the folly, as well as wickedness, of refusing to walk in light and in love. III. MICAH. MiCATi deprecates the mnnner in Tihieh the name of the LoED was profaned in the places and by the people he had chosen for his Name ; and especially was it dishonoured by the princes, and by those who pretended to speak in his Name, iii. 1 — 7. The true prophet boldly denounces the sin of both the civil and ecclesiastical rulers, 8 — 12 ; he predicts the period of glory, iv. 1 — 3 ; and Christ's coming in humihation, v. 1 — 3. He speaks of the necessity of repentance, the way of reconcQiatiou, and the lessons taught us in the Gospel, yi. 1 — 8. TMs prophet concludes with a paraphrase upon his own name, • Who is a God like unto thee,' &c., and a reference to that great salvation to which the Lord hath been pleased to give his Name : ' Thou tcilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, ichich thou hast stoorn unto our fathers from the days of old,' yii, 18—20. _____ IV. JOEL. Joel. — Tliis prophecy is almost entirely concerning the Day of the Lord. It contains the most express prediction respecting the pouring out of the Holy Gliost ; which could only bo enjoyed upon the ground of the perfected work of the Son of God. To those who are without, who refuse to receive rest in Him, the day of the Lord is a ' day of darkness and of gloominess ; ' it is the gi*eat and the terrible day of the Lord, ii. 2 — 11. 'And the heavens and the earth shall shake : but the LoED will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel, 17, So shall ye know that Jam the LouD your God,' &e., iii. 16, .7. T. OBADIAH. In Edoni, the subject of this propliccy, we have the case of the son .who despised the birthright, and who also dishonoured his parentage by hatred and cruelty to his brother. The pi'oud dcspiser is to be ^greatly despised,' utterly abased, 'his hidden tilings sought up.' He is to be utterly disinherited, 'and the kingdom shall be the Lokd's.' VI. JONAH. JoxAil. — Tlic Lord's tenderness for natural life is here strikingly manifested, in the case of Nineveh ; and also Ids care to provide for the spiritual life of his people Israel, in sending before them a prophet to make known the judgments of the Lord, in the place into which they, as led captive by the Assyrians, were about to come. The case of that prophet is itself one of the most remarkable signs which the Lord has been ever pleased to give — a sign fulfilled in the Lord himself as well as in his people. In the unhappiness of Jonah, VII. NAHUM. Nahum. — The Lord is faithful to his true people in the midst of trouble, i. 7, and at length an entire separation will be made between them and tlioso who have troubled them, 15. Nineveh had been given to execute judgment upon adulterous Israel — and she is herself judged : ' Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the well favoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through Iter ivhorcdoms, and families through her witchcrafts,' &x., iii. 4. VIII. HABAKKUK. Habakkuk laments the violence and the wrong perjjetrated under the colour of law, i. 2—4; and the wholesale robbery, by the Chal- deans, 5 — 17. From his watchtowcr he takes a view of the present and ap- proaching robbers of the nations, ii. 1, &e., as contrasted with the humble believer, whose portion is not in things temporal, 4 ; the Babylonian, 5—8; the Mede, 9 — 11; the Greek, the word given forth in whose language is to fill the earth as the waters do the sea, 12— .4; the Roman, 15— .8, &c. The believer's glorious possession is declared in the successive developments of his power, in behalf of those who trust in him, ch. iii. IX. ZEPHANIAH. Zephaniah. — Hero we have a faitlifiil witness witli regard to the evils coming upon the land, because of tlie falsehoods prevailuig; one of the greatest of wliieh is, ' The LoEB tvill not do good, neither will lie do evil' i. 2 — 12. Not one word will be found to fail of that which is threatened, 18— .8. The Lord gave many warnmgs in the case of others : in the west, ii. 4—7 ; east, 8—11 ; south, 12 ; north, 13— .5. Jerusalem did not take warning. 'Her prophets are light and treacherous persons^ &e., iii. 1 — 8. There is at length to be umty in the trutli, 9 — 12. 'The rem- nant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies ; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth,' ver. 13. When the com- mandment is thus obeyed, then will be the rejoicing, 14 — 20. X. HAGGAI, ZECHARIAH, MALACHI. These three last prophets prophesied among the remnant that returned from Babylon, and who may have been prone to regard themselves as exclusively the people of God. As if to prevent this assumption, God is throughout these tlu'ce prophets almost uniformly called ' the hoUD of hosts;' the God, not of a remnant, but 'the God of the armies of Israel,' 1 Sa. xvii. 45 ; and the promised Messiah is called ' the Desii-c of all nations,' Hag. ii. 7. The im- povcrisliing and devastating nature of selfishness, both in the people (see Haggai) and in the priests (sec Jlalachi), is powerfully exposed ; and liberality, both of heart and of hand, is most caniestly called for. Obedience to the tenth coMM.iNBMENT, which requires us to rest in the appointment of God, and love our ncighboiu' as ourselves, to tioist in God and do good, receiving all as from the Lord, and consecrating all unto his holy service: these are some of the most strikmg lessons taught in Haoqai, Zechaeiau, and Malachi ; who, as the time was drawing near, prophesied most expi-essly of the coming of Him in whom the great law of love was perfectly exemplified. THE II.\GIOGU.VriL\ AND DECALOGUE, ETC., COMPARED — SCC iniD. I. PSALMS. HEEEni arc declared the praises of the Lord, who delivered his people from Egyptian bondage, the type of a greater deliverance to be clTectcd by the Son of David ; ' Blessed are all they that fint their trust in him.' The blessedness described in the Bcati- Matt. Tiii. 2, § 21, p. 213. Mark i. 40, ibid. Luke v. 1, § 20, p. 207. John v. 1, § 23, p. 228, fudes is here fully unfolded, Ps. xis., xxxvii., cxix., «ic. ; and is shewn to be obedience to the first commandment— the taking the Lord alone to be our God, Ps. xl., &c. The Psalms, it may be obsciTcd, are divided into five books, declaring the five-fold name of Immnnucl : 107 BECT. XIX.] 1. The Wondkbful 2. Tbe Counsellob 3. Tub jiianxT God 4. Tee evbhlastino Fatheu 5. The Prikce ct Peace I'HE HAGIOGRAPUA AND DECALOGUE, ETC. [J'ART ll. Eatlicr. lie ' tool- upon him the form of a senaiif,' ' and became oledieid unto death, even the death of the cross,' Pli ii. 7, 8. ' Obed' (' a servant') was the name given to the child of Ruth. P:?. i. — xii. „ xlii. — Ixxii. „ Ixxiii. — Ixxxii. „ xe. — cvi. „ cvii. — cl. II. PEOVERBS. IIebein is dcicnoed that heavenly wisdom, in which the ehiUlreii of God are to shew forth light to the world, unto the glory of God ; in opposition to all that darkens and destroys. Tlie adulteress, the idolatrous ehuvch is hero strongly warned against ; the pride and folly wliicli characterise the workers of iniyuity are contrasted witli tlie' luimility, prudence, and fortitude, wliieh, under the blessing of God, ensure a rich and enduring reward. Compare with the second cosntANDMENT, and second portion of 'The Seemon on the Mount,' Mt. v. 13— .6, § 19, pp. 174, ..5. eh. Ul. vii 20. ix 30- xiv 7- XV] . 21. III. JOB. Heke we sec that God wiU not h.ive his name to he tatcn in vain — that he does not approve of tliose who plead dcccitfidly for hhn, ch. xhi. 7, 8. It may be noticed, that there is a beautiful progression in the speeches of Job : 1st — ^he laments liis misery .... 2iid — confesses liiniself a sinner 3rd — Ids inability to save liimself In the second series, ho 1st — longs after a resuiTcction . . . ■ 2nd — for an intercessor Srd — expresses his confidence m a resiuTCction, tlu'ough his Redeemer In the THlitD SERIES, he describes 1st — tlie case of those who know not God 2nd — longs after an acquaintance with God Srd — speaks of God as discovered in creation ; and as a moral governor ..... He inEREAFiER proceeds to enlarge upon the excellency of a knowledge of the Most lligh. To describe his own case, in the past And in the present ...... He h»st of aU makes oatli, calling for a curse upon himself, and all tliat is liis, if he had done those things with which he was charged Then follow the speeches of Eldm, in vindica- tion of the Father Finally, there is the voice of the Lord liimself out of tlie wliii'hvind, manifesting his power, sub- duing all, and appointing the metliod of peace Compare with the third commandment. -15. xix. 23— .7. xs. — xxi. xxiii. xxvi., .vii. xxviii. xxix. XXX. -xlii. IV. SONG OF SOLOMON. Here is expressed a longing after rest in the arms of the Beloved ; and winch can only be truly enjoyed as ceasuig fi-om our own works, and resting in Hun, in perfect love ; and as thus being conformed inito Him, who is our peace. Thus may we now enjoy oui' sabbaths, looking and longing for the everlastuig rest. Compare with THE roPETii commandment. V. RUTH. In Roth, wo have the example of obedience to the fifth com- mandment; when she clave to her mother-in-law, saying, ' Thj/ people . . . my people ; and thy God my God.' Slie honoured the Father of tlie fatherless, and the people of his choice, and she had reward, (Ex. xx. 12.) Tlic prayer of Boaz was granted, ' The Lokd recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord Ood of Israel, under whose wings thou art eome to trust,' ch. ii. 12. She, who had, to her mother-in-law, been better than seven sons, WU8 eminently blessed as a mother: fi-om Rutli the Moabitess came, according to the flesh, Jesus, who truly did honour the Malt. viu. 2, § 21, p. 213. Mark i. 40, ibid. 198 VI. LAMENTATIONS. • Herb wo have described the destructive power of sin, on account of which the Jews were given over to the murderous sword of tlie enemy. This book, it may be obsciTcd, is divided into five chaptci's ; four of which, the first two and the last two, consist of twenty-two verses each. Three of these chapters, with the exception of one or two verses, are in tlie order of the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The third chapter contains sixty-six verses, giving three verses to each of the letters. This cliapter occupies the centre of the book, and in the lieart of it, amid surrounding scenes of desola- tion, and sounds of woe, we have most strongly expressed the blessedness of that humble, quiet trust in God, which nothing can shako, and by which the spu-itual life is maintained within us, as exliortcd to in the sixth part of ' the Sermon on the Mount.' Compare with the sixth commandment. VII. ECCLESIASTES. The oppression and confusion against which we are warned in the seventh part of ' THE Sermon on the Mount,' vii. 1 — 6, § It), p. 189, are abundantly brought before us in the words of the Preacher. Solomon, with all his wisdom, exliibited too much the folly of attempting to puU the mote out of another's eye, when behold a beam was in his own eye. If he did not break the seventh comraandment in the letter, he certainly violated it most outrag- eously in its spu-it ; and that, both as to earthly relationship, and its spii'itual application. In Ecclesiastes, we are exliorted how to behave in the house of God. Compare with the seventh com- mandment. VIII. ESTHER. That which oiu- Lord declares to be ' the Lam and the Frophela,' we may read most plauily in the case of Haman ; wliilst obedience to the eighth commandment in tempting circumstances is manifested by the Jews, who, although they repeatedly stand for their lives, yet lay not their hands upon the spoil. The advantage of simply looking to God for what we need, whilst using all honest means for the obtainment of deliverance and blessing, is singidarly mani- fested in the case both of Esther and Mordecai. Compare with THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT. IX. DANIEL. In Daniel we have a singular example of a trae prophet, who was manifest by his fruits : and men of an opposite character, and such as our Saviour v ariied against, we have in those who provoked the civil power to cast into the furnace, and the lions' den, the servants of God ; wliose only crime was, the not conforming to the worship which the king had been pleased to estabUsh. The clia- raetcr, the liistory to the world's end, the matter of testimony, and glorious reward of the witnesses for God, as weU as the evil systems in the midst of which, and against whicli, they witness, arc all de- scribed in the book of Daniel. Compare with THE ninth com- mandment. X. EZRA, NEHEMIAU, AND CHRONICLES. In Ezra and Nehemiah we have the continuance of the book of Chronicles, the last of the twelve books of the Hagiographa, and which suflieiently cxliibits the folly of buihling upon the earth ; of putting trust in cither gi'eat or small, in place of building simply upon the Rock. Without a simple submission to the will of God, the greatest wisdom, like that of Solomon, is folly ; and the most extensive sway, Uke that of tlie king of Babylon, is weakness. The Uberal-heartcdncss, and simple trust in God, wliich the Lord deUghts to honoui', were given abundant cause for manifestation in Ezra and Ncheuiiah. Compare with the tenth commandment. LuTce V. 1, § 20, p. 207. John t. 1, § 23, p. 228. PiRT II.] THE SEEMOX OS THE MOUXT, IXTRODUCTOEY TO PAUL'S EPISTLES. 'the sekmon ox the mount, introdcctory to ST. Paul's epistles.' [SECT. XIX. It may be obsei-rctl, that tlie ten divisions of ' The Seemon on THE M^'i'iNT,' whicli gives a reeoguition of 'The Law and the Prophets,' are also eoiTcspondcut to the Jlinistration of the Law according to the NEiir Covexaxt, as given by the Spieit, THROUGH Paul in his eiest ten Epistles. To liis appointment to this sci-vice for the church, Paid seems to make fi'equent allusion tlu-oughoul these Epistles, as Horn. i. 1 — 5; iii. 31; xvi. 25, .6; 2 Cor. iii. ; Eph. iii. 1—11, &c. ; Col. i. 25, .6 ; 1 Tim. i. 5, 12— .7 ; vi. 13— .6. I. In the Epistle to the Romans tliere is, in eh. i., an exposure of the univasonableness of not acknowledging the one true God, and of the evils resulting from a breach otthejirst comma iidmeiit. Having cut oif every false gi-ound of confidence, ch. ii., iii., there is afterwards shewn the blessedness of taking the Lord alone to be our God, according as he is presented in the gospel, and enjoyed by those who possess the characteristics described in the ' Beatiiucles,' Mt. V. 3 — 12, pp. 172 — -..4. — See Eom. iv., v., viii. The liindrances on the part, of Israel, to this simplicity of trust in God, are noticed, ch. ix., X., xi., and afiei-wards is described simple devotedness to God, according to the great law of love, and in the ohsenrance of all relative duties, ch. xii., xiii. Communion with God leads to for- bearance, brotherly kindness, and charity, eh. xiv., xv., &c. II. In the FiEST Epistle to the Coeinthians our attention is more particidarly directed to the second commavdmenf, wliich for- bids idolatry ; and to the subject of the second part of ' The Sermon on tlie Mount,' Mt. v. 13 — .6, p. 175, which requires that we be made in the image of Him who is our Light and Salvation. The idolafi-i/ of teachers is noticed, ch. i. vcr. 12, .3, of human wisdom and worldly greatness, ver. 18 — 29. The danger of defiling the temple of God, ch. iii. ver. 17, by giving undue honour to the creature, ch. iv. 6, wliich is too often attended with other un- cleanness, ch. v. — See also ch. vi. ver. 9, 10, .8 — 20. Then idolatri/ commonly so called, ch. viii. ; x. 7, II — 21. Then how God is to be glorified in his house, by the man as the image and glory of God, and by the woman as representing the church, ch. xi. ver. 1 — 15 ; and by the church, as in the unity of faith and love obseiTing the ordinances of Christ, ver. 18 — 31 ; and in the diversitie/of gifts, &c., glorifying the Triune God, ch. xii. The spu-it of love in winch only this can be done, ch. xiii. The manner, ch. xiv. The light of the glorious gospel, exhibiting our transformation info the image of ' the second Adam, the Lord from heaven,' ch. xv. The becoming manner in wliich liberahf}-, &c., is now to be exercised, and the vast import- ance of that love which alone can transform us into the likeness of Christ, ch. xvi. III. In Paul's third Epistle, the Second to the Corinthians, is an illustration of the third commandment, and a farther development of the third part of ' The Sermon on the Mount; Mt. v. 17—20. Paul did not take the name of God m vain ; he recognises the solemnity of an oath — the calling God to witness, ch. i. vcr. 17 — 23. He speaks of the ministration of righteousness, for wliich Christ had come into the world, and of whicli Paid was made a minister, so that the Law, in the spirit of it, might be fuliilied, eh. iii. See how he speaks as if upon oath, ch. ii. 17 ; iv. 1, 2. He was willing to confirm the testimony, by enduring suffering, as lookuig to tlie glorious purpose wliidi God had in view with regard to it, ver. 8 — 15 ; and also the eternal reward, ver. 16 — .8. He speaks as in the view of tlie coming judgment, and as liaving a sense of the awful importance of Ids position, as being given to speak in the name of the Lord, or in Clirist's stead, ch. v. Declares again his willingness to sacrifice aU. for the name's sake of Clirist, and calls upon those to whom ho writes to be in truth that which Ihcy were called, the people of the Lord, ch. vi. He acknowledges the trutlifulncss, so far, of their profession, ch. vii., and calls for the farther evidence of hberalily to the poor, as the fruits in them of righteousness, and of God's unspeakable gift, ch. viii., ix. Paul, for their sakes, and tlie sake of Him whoso NAME he bore, clears his own name from tlie several false aspersions that had been cast upon him among tlie Corintliians, and fully vindicates his apostleship, eh. x. — xii. He fartlier refers Matt. viii. 2, § 21, p. 213. Mark i. 40, ibid. to his sincerity, and the proof of Clirist speaking in him ; or, in other words, his not taking 'the name of God in vain;' and calls upon them to examine themselves, and sec that Clirist is in them ; that is, that they have not in vain taken upon them the Name of tlie Lord, but are in truth his people, ch. xiii. n''. In VawVa fourth Epistle, that to the Gaxatians, wc find the correspondence to tlie/oHr//j commandment, and iXic fourth part of ' The Sermon on the 3Iount; Mt. v. 21—18. The raising of Jesus Christ from the dead, on account of which wo obsei-ve the Cliristian s.ibbath on the first day of the week, is refeiTed to in the first verse of the Epistle, as in the end of it our att<>ntion is directed to the new creation, ch. vi. ver. 15. It is upon the production of this new creation that we cease fi'om our own works, as God did fi-om liis ; and enjoy a blessed rest m Jesus, while continuing to bring forth the fruits of faith in him. Eest in tlie finislied work of the Son of God, as opposed to labouring in order to work out a righteousness for ourselves according to the Law, is emphatically the subject of the Epistle as a whole. Thus, see as to justification through Clirist, and life in the Son of God, ch. ii. ver. 16—21. It is tlirough faith in Christ that the Spirit is ministered, the blessing promised to Abraham is enjoyed, eh. iii. ; and not only the blessuig of the cluldi-en of Abraham, ver. 15 — 29, but the privileges of the sons of God, ch. iv. ver. 1 — 7. There is not to be a turning back unto the beggarly elements of the ceremonial law, vcr. 8 — 18. The spirit of bondage must be cast out, ver. 19 — 31, and we must ' stand fast . . . m the hberty wherewith Clu'ist hath made us free,' ch. v. ver. 1 — 11. It is only by om- being in Chi'ist that there can be fidfilled in us that in which all the Law is fulfilled, ' Tliou shall love thy neighbour as thyself.' It is as knowing the love that the Father hath towards us in his dear Sou, that we are enabled to crucify the flesh, and bring forth the fruits of the Spu-it, as ver. 12— 2G. If we are uidecd new created in .Cluist Jesus, wc follow tha example of Him who hath borne our burden, and ' so fulfil the law of Clu'isf,' ch. vi. ver. 1 — 11. Nothing can avail but a new creation. Wlicn wc are one with the Son of God, we have a joyful rest, even though the outward world should speak trouble. To our enjoyment of tlus Christian Sabbath it is necessary that we cease to have any dependence upon either om' observance or non-observance of ceremo- nial religion, vcr. 12 — .8. Tliat which wc arc to see after is, that Christ he formed in us the hope of glory. V. In Paul's fifth Epistle, that to the Ephesians, we have the exposition of ihc fifth commandment, and the amphficafion of the ^A portion of ' The Sermon on the Mount,' Jit. vi. 1—18. The reward of inheritance in the land, in the view of which the children of Israel were to be observant of tliis 'first commandment with promise,' Eph. vi. 1 — 3, shadowed forth the more enduring inheritance unto which the eliildi-en of God are appointed ; which inheritance is here often referred to, ch. i. 1 — 14. There is to be, without ceasing, thanks- giving and supplication to God as a Father, as ver. 15 — 23. Indeed the whole Epistle breathes the spirit of devotion — of filial piety — of childhke gi-atifude and submission. All is ascribed to the grace of God in Christ Jesus, ch. ii. 1—10. He that loves Him that begat, loves those also that are begotten of him, and accordingly there is the greatest ^villingness expressed to receive into fellowsliip all wliom the Father receives uito Ins family, ver. 1 1—22. The purpose of God with regard to his household is contemplated as being an ctenial pui-posc— a mystery, in the ministry of which Paul had a special appointment, ch. iii. 1 — 13 — see also the prayer unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ' of whom the whole family in lieaven and earth is named,' vcr. 13—21. The oneness of spirit, with which, by the diversity of gifts, the cluldivn of God are, in the unity of tlie faitli, to grow up unto him wliich is the Head, Clu-L«t, ch. iv. 1—16, Tlie dispositions with which tlicy arc to honour their kind, forgiving Father, as contrasted with those that characterise the old man, ver. | 17 — 32 ; ch. V. 1. The walk which becomes the cliildren of light, vcr. 2 — 21. God is to bo honoured in all the relations of life, as in those of wife and husband, child and parent, serrant and master, vcr. 22 — 33 ; ch. vi. 1 — 9. So also is he to bo honoured, by our makuig a diligent use of all the means he hath provided for the Luke T. 1, § 20, p. 207. John v. 1, § 23, p. 228. 109 TUK SKEMOX ON TUE MOUNT, INTRODUCTORY TO PAUL'S EPI.STLE8. SECT. XIX.] spiritual conflict. Wo mny not think wo arc wiser than lie; that wo can witli siifily dispense with any part of llic spu-ilual armour ]Ie halli seen meet to provide. So are we also to honour his power bv our using every weapon in a jirayerful depcndonco upon liis strength. And especially is God as a Father to be honoured, by a duo regard being had to his childivn, our brethren in Clivist, our ossociatcs in tho spiritual warfare, ver. 10 — 2t. VI. In Paul's sixth Epistle, that to the riiiLirriANS, we lutve the ministration of the si'j-tt commandment, correspondent to our Lord's teaching in ' The Sermon on the Mount,' on the same subject, Mt. vi. 19— 3t, pp. 186— ..8. Tlie same elevation of mind above the things belonging to the temporal life, and tho same earnest dcsii-e after the tilings that are above, to which oiu- Lord exhorts, are here manifested to the degree of giving a desire to die, ' and bo with Clirist ; which is fai- better :' only that the expectation of being of use to others gives a wiUinguess to "live. There must be care to live as becomes the Gospel, but anxiety about the life of the body there is to be none, eh. i. Our life is to be in the Triune God, and as having a care for each other in tho Lord, ch. ii. 1 — i. Christ is our exsmiple as to denying our- selves ; yea, as to the laying down our lives for others, ver. 5 — 11. As having our life in the God of love, we are to hold forth the word of life to others, ver. 12 — .8. Our fellowship in the Spii'it is to be such, that we are to feel the sorrows or joys of our bretlu-en in Christ as if they were our own, ver. 19—30. The things that cut off fi-om the fidl enjoyment and communication of spiritual life are warned against, eh. iii. These are, a trust in external or ceremonial reUgion, or other supposed advantages of a canial nature, impaii-mg our simple trust in Clu-ist, ver. 1 — 11 ; a resting in the things whereuuto wo have attained, ver. 12 — .6 ; a minding eartldy things, so as to be unwilling to bear the cross — forgetting the treasure we have above — our citizensliip in heaven — the coming of the Saviour, ' who shall change oiu- vile body,' &c., ver. 17 — 21. Again, the manifestation of tho life of love, as having trust in God, so as to be careful for nothing, is exhorted to, ch. iv. 1 — 7. The things that are truly of value, and are really beautiful, belong to that life, ver. 8, 9. That spirit of simple dependence upon Divine Providence, as seeking first the kingdom of God, to which our Lord exhorts his disciples in ' The Sermon on the Mount,' Paid was himself enabled to enjoy, ver. 10—23. — Compare the whole Epistle with Mt. vi. 19 — 34, pp. 186— ..8. VII. In Paul's seventh Epistle, that ' to the saints and faithful bretlu'cn in Clu'ist which are at Colosse,' we have that -wliich is coVrespondent to the seventh commandment, and the seventh part of ' Tfte Sermon on the Mount,' Mt. vii. 1—6, pp. 189, .90. It warns against all usurpation of the Headship, which belongs to Christ as the Husband of tho church. Wives are to submit them- selves to their own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. His Bride in particidar is to submit herself to her own Husband. The reverse is spiiitual adultery. All adulterations of the truth, whether by heathen philosophy, or Judaizing teaching, are here also earnestly deprecated. It may be premised, that the 'Mysteiy' so frequently referred to throughout this Epistle is explamcd as being themamage union of Clu-ist with his church. — See Eph. v. 31, .2. The cluu-ch, the Lamb's wife, is herself to bo characterised as possessing faith, love, and hope ; as having received the truth, and bringing forth fniit, &c., ch. i. 3 — 8. Tlie knowledge of her Lord's will is to be desu'od for her, that she may ' walk worthy of the Lord unto all plcasmg,' &c., ver. 9 — 11. In Him is her Inheritance, for which she is made meet, as having been redeemed by his blood, ver. 12 — A. What Adam was typically, Jesus is really — 'the image of the in- visible God, the Fu-stborn of every ercatin-e,' the Head of the woman, his body, tho church, ver. 15 — .9. She is being brought into con- formity to his image, in order to be presented (as Eve was to Adam) I ' lioly and unblameable and unreprovablo in his sight,' ver. 20 — .2. ! To furtlier the purposes of God with regard to this glorious i mystery of the Bridegroom and the Bride — of Cluist and his church, Paul was appointed to a special ministry, ver. 23 — .9. [PART It. All the endeavours of those who are lilted for the ministry, are to bo for tho purpose of enabling the church tho more clearly to see I hat her all is in Christ, ch. ii. 1 — 7. Tho church is to beware of being spoiled, cither through vain philosophy on tho one hand, or Pharisaism on tlie other. It was as being dead in their sins that the Gentiles were quickened by Christ ; and the Jewish ordinances, so far fi-om giving to tho Jews a claim to blessing, were as a handwriting or bill of divorce agamst them, which had to be taken out of the way, in order that the marriage union might take place, which is to be consummated in resurrection glory. Worship is to be given to C^u-ist the Head, not to liis mes- sengers, ver. 8 — 23. The church's affection is to be where her risen Lord is, at the Father's right hand. Her life is to be there ; and bodily unclean- ness, and all breaelies of the commandment in any respect, are most carefully to be avoided. She is to be made after the image of her Husband, the second Adam, ch. iii. 1 — 11. She is to be clothed as becomes ' the Elect of God, holy and beloved,' &c., having tlie peace of God ruling in her heart, and the word of Christ indwelling richly, as was shadowed forth by the ai-k of the testunony : in which was the word, expressive of the will of God, and upon wliich was the mercy seat, the thi-one of Him who had espoused Israel to himself, ver. 12 — .7. In the several relations of life the pleasiu-e of tlie Lord is to be done, ver. 18 — 25 ; eh. iv. 1. The mystery of Christ (shadowed out by the marriage relation) is that wliich it is the great business of the Cluistian ministry to bring to light. This is that which is most earnestly to be desu-ed, ' that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God,' ver. 2 — 18. It may be noticed that ' Nymphas' (a spouse), mentioned ver. 15, appears to be the same with ' Philemon,' a name of simUar import ; and that the Epistle mentioned, ver. 16, appears to be the same with that to Philemon. VIII. In Paid's eighth Epistle, the FiEST TO THE Thessaionians, we are directed to the right keeping of the eighth commandment, correspondent to the eighth part of ' The Sermon on the Mount,' Mt. vii. 7—14, p. 190. We are best saved fi-om a breach of the eighth commandment when, having known the grace of God to ourselves, we are, Uke Paid, given thaukfuhiess to God for the favom-s bestowed upon others ; and when om- asking is for blessing upon them — ever remembering in the sight of God, not om' own necessities only, but others' ' work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope iu our Lord Jesus Chi-ist,' ch. i. 1—3. That which we are to prize for ourselves, with regard to others, is the privilege of commimieating unto them the Gospel in power, &c., and teaching them, by example, to become ensamples to others, sacrificing all for the word of ti-uth, ver. 4 — 8. We are to seek, not that men may be drawn to us, but that they may be turned to the hving and true God, and ' to tvaitfor fits Son from heaven,' &c., 9, 10. The Gospel is not om-s, so that we may traffic tlierewith for temporal gain ; we are put in trust w ith it, that we may dispense it freely, as in the sight of God, using no cloak of covetousness. Let lis be willing to impart to men, 'not the gospel of God onlg,' they being dear to us, ch. ii. 1 — 8. Paul was an example of what the servant of the Lord ought to be, | as to disinterested labom- for the benefit of others. He did «ot, by looseness of conduct, deprive himself of the power of consistently exhorting the church to ' wall- toorthg of God,' 9 — 12. Wlicn the W'ord of God is received as such, there is that for which to give thanks without ceasing, even though tho greatest worldly loss should be incurred. Those who hinder the spiritual enriching of others, do, as has been abundantly evident in the case of the Jews, treasure up wrath for themselves. The Christian's rich reward — his crown of rejoicing, is having those to whom he ministers enriched with all spiritual grace 'in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ; ver. 13—20 800 Matt. viii. 2, § 21, p. 213. Mar/.- i. 40, ibid. Luke v. 1, § 20, p. 207. .John v. 1, § 23, p. 228. fART II.] THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT, INTRODUCTORY TO PAUL'S EPISTLES. [SECT. XIX. The comfort of (lie Christian niiuister is the seeing the ehikh-cn of God comfortably sustained, in the faitli, through trial and tempta- tion. His prayer is, that they nuiy be prepared for the full fruition of their glorious hope — ' the coming of our Lord Jems Christ with all his saints,' eh. iii. We ai'e earnestly to desire me being presciTcd in holiness to the Lord, ' t7iat no man ^170 beyond and defraud [Makg., ' oppress,' or, * overreach '] hi^ brother in. any matter ;' and that, aroiding all lust- fidness, we abound in all love, quietly labouring with our own hands, that we ' may walk honestly,' < :^ H H H o M O o H O o a a 1^; 05 CO W Pi CO o B3 O o O o H CO s o o w w to C3 H O PS < a H CO CO IS CO a H z a >J Z K^ H a « z r^H > o O •«i o w a > a ^ a H w a E-H > w" O Q e:5 u Z 3 •< ^ < o 03 w 11 Q H M H Z o z z w < co w w z CO o z H S Z w i tsl a o 'ji ^3 ctt S rt 13 ^ a CO nO Cfl r^ ■T-i u d hj 1-5 CO 00 CD &2 ^1 5: o P^ 3-1 -s' Peg*-" •= I a o P5 § .9 O O O a i .g -^ -I 03 O a a «3 o3 •g •a CO o o § 03 "n? CO CO m en rn (U Cl> O ja r=) o H H o o a a H H O r-( o? -H ir? o &2 a 5 ;« ;; C3 O 0-i l- -H c= o C>J s x; 11! Sis; e^'^ ^a > oi O CO '^ Pi PM o 1-5 a O 3 P^ a 03 -^ ^ -a 03 W W 'a o W 1^; p o 03 "cs g o o 1-5 03 -a o 03 O 1^; 03 03 a 03 CD N 03 bD bo 03 K e3 o N O 3 o 1-1 a a o a o CD ft o •-5 -3 bo ■-3 3 1-5 3 a bD -3 N o fi §> a ^ a t- o -" T > CO CO W O CO t^ 00 05 o r-^ r-l Qi I— I H^ ^ I— I I— I ^ I— I '~* ><; ;^ CO <4) t-~t C5 I— I "^ a. o G5 03 s^ 5U Or- es CD "^3 : 2 05 ^ r-1 § si, Ci 206 PART II.] THE PEOPLE PBESS UPON JESUS TO HEAR THE WORD. [SECT. XX. SECTION 20.* — Jesus teaches the people from the lake of Gennesaret: Simon Peter and HIS PARTNERS HAVING LET DOWN THEIR NETS AT HIS COMMAND, ENCLOSE A WONDERFUL DRAUGHT OF FiSHES.t Luke V. 1 11. [G. 2J.J INTRODUCTION Ver. 1—3. Jesus, being pressed upon by his hearers -syhilst standing by the hike of Gennesaret, enters into Simon's ship, and thence addi-esses the people. Ver. 2, 3, 5. It appears that Simon and his partners had but just returned fi'om an unsuccessful niglit's toil upon the lake. "Whilst multitudes of others were most eager to hear t!ie word of God, Peter seems to hare been engaged in washing his nets, until asked by Jesus to move the vessel from the land. Ver. 4. Jesus, having finished liis discourse, directs that the vessel be moved out into tlie deep, and tliat preparation be made for a draught. Ver. 5. Simon, although discouraged by his previous want of success, when he had gone a fishing at his ovni will, yet, out of respect to Jesus, says, 'Itvill let down the net.' Ver. 6, 7, 9, 10. Having done so, the draught is so great, tliat their nets are breaking ; and they fUl, to sinking, both then' own ship and that of theu" partners, James and Jolni, who, as well as those with Simon, are astonished at the quantity of fishes they have taken. Ver. 8 — 10. Peter is confounded at the power of Jesus and his own sinfulness, and acknowledges that he is altogether unworthy of AND ANALYSIS. being Jesus' cUsciple. It is to be noticed, that Peter is only called . Simon in ver. 3, 4, and 5, and that in ver. & he gets also the name of Peter, as if to acquaint us with the cause of Peter's confusion and confession. He had already been given this new name by Jesus, Juo. i. 42, § 10, p. 107, and liad been expressly called to follow Clirist as a disciple, Mt. iv. 18—20, § 16, p. 159 ; but possibly from the fear tliat lie or his family might not be sufficiently provided for, were he, leaving his worldly occupation, to wait continually upon Jesus, he had gone a fishmg, and was found washing his nets", when others were attending upon the Saviour's teaching. If such were the cu'cumstances, no wonder Peter felt ashamed and afraid. He saw himself in danger of being ruined by an over- abundance of tliat which lie had in this instance preferred to waiting patiently upou the teacliing of Jesus. Ver. 10, .1. Jesus graciously forgives Peter, and says, 'Fear not ;' and tells him plainly he is henceforth altogether to give himself unto the work to which he had been called. Peter, as well as the other disciples who had been associated with him, do now accord- ingly, as soon as they bring the boats to shore, fully coimnit them- selves to the keeping of Jesus ; and follow him, without looking for other support than what was to be had in uumcdiate attendance upon his ministry. (G. 24.) Lii/ie of Gennesaret, [Ch. iv. 44, § 18, p. 107.] 1 And it-came-to-pass, that,' as the people pressed-upon him Jo-hear the word of 'God, he stood by the 2 lake (/-Gennesaret, and saw two ships standing by the lake : but the fishermen were-gone-out of them, 3 and-were-washing their j\t\&. And he-entered into one of-tlie ships, which was^Simon's, aud-prayed him that-he-would-thrust-out a-little from the laud. And he-sat-dowu, and-taught the people out-of the ship. SCBIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. 1. Peessed upon mil. Jesus condescended to mix with the multitude, and to be encumbered with them, Lu. xii. 1, § G3, p. 573, They thronged liini, 'insomuch that they trode one upon anotlier.' — See Mt. iv. 25, § 18, p. 168, ' Geeat multitudes.' Lake of Gennesaeet. Called by Mattheio, ' Sea of Galilee,' ch. iv. 18, § 16, p. 159 ; — tcho also mentions the 'land of Gennesaret,' ch. xiv. 34, § 42 [Mk. vi. 53].— TAe lalie is bi/ John called also the 'Sea of Tiberias,' vi. 1, § 40. — It was of old called the 'Sea of Chinnereth,' Nu. xxxiv. 11 j Josh. xii. 3. 3. Simon's. He had already been called, as being i/ipen a new name, when introduced to Jesus, by Andrew, his brother, Jno. i. 42, § 10, p. 107 ; — he had again been called with Andrew, u'hen/ound in the act o/' casting a net into the sea,' Jit. iv. 18—20, § 16, p. 159. —See § 10, Addenda, p. 112, and § 27, p. 270. Taught .... out of the ship. From such a pulpit Jesus dis- coursed, as described, Mt. xiii. 1—17, 24—35 [Mk. iv. 1—9, 20—34 ; Lu. viii. 4—8], § 32, Addenda, p. 309, when he spahe of the sower, and different /cinds of ground; the tares, the mustard seed, and leaven. NOTES. 1. The lal-c of Oennesaret. See GEOGP.ApnicAL Notice, p. 209. This was the region of the early toils of our Redeemer. Here he perfonned some of his first and most amazing miracles ; here he selected his disciples ; and here, on the shores of this little and retired lake, among poor people, inured to the privations of fisher- men, he laid the foundation of a religion which was to spread all through the world, and embrace all nations. 2. Two s/iips. ' Two small vessels,' irXo'ia. They were a sort of large fishing boats, probably without decks, and easily drawn up on the beach. — See Mk. iii. 9, § 26, p. 255. 8. Simon's. Simon appears to have again returned to his fishing, perhaps as doubting the propriety of his quitting a certain eartlily maintenance, for what he may have thought the doiil/ful pro- vision he could have as a follower of Jesus, I£e sat down. This was the common posture of Jewish teachers. They seldom or never spoke to the people standing — see Mt. v. 1, § 19, p. 172. It may be somewhat difficult to conceive why Jesus should go into a boat, and put off from the shore, in order to speak to the multitude. Bnt it is probable that this was a small bay or cove, and that when lie was in the boat, the people on the shore stood round him in the form of an amphitheatre. It is not improbable that the lake was still ; that scai-eely a breeze passed over it ; that all was silence on the shore, and nothing to disturb his voice. In such a situation he could be beard by multi- PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. 1 ver. Let what wo have received of t)ie word of God make us earnestly desire more, and more will be given. 3 ver. The interests of Ills hearers were more attended to by .Tosus than the place, or any ceremony connected therewith. He taught on the mountain, and hero on tlie sea, as well as previously in the synagogues. 21.] * This, with Sect, xxi., is Lesson 21, in the course of Lessons Graduated for Simultaneous Instruction. + On the mu'aeulous draught of fishes, and the call of the foiu- disciples, see ' Addenda,' p. 210. Malt. viii. 2, § 21, p. 213. Marl- i. 40, ibid. John v. 1, § 23, p. 228. 207 SECT. XX.] A MIBACULOTJS DBAUGHT OF FISHES. [PART 11. Luke v. 4 — 9. 4 Now when lie-liiul-lcft speaking, he-said unto, Simon, Launch-out into the deep, and let-down your 5 ,nets for a-drauf,'lit liynav. And, Simon answering said unto-him, Master 'ETrKrrara, we-have-toiled all the night, aud-have-taken nothing: nevertheless at lliy^word I-will-let-down the net. And wheu-they- 7 liad-'tiiis'-doiie, tliey-inclosed n-great multitude of-fislies: and their, net brake. And they-beekoned unto ' ///^//--partners,' whicli ' «t';-f in the other ship, that ' they-should-eome ««(/-help them. And they- 8 came, and tilled both tlie ships, so-thnt they bcgan-to-sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he-fell-down-at 9 Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me ; for I-am a-sinful man, 0-Lord. For he was nstonislicd, and all SCRIPTURE ILLUSTR.\TIOXS. 4. Let down, &e. i>iir Lord afterwards directed Peter to pro- cure, hy hisjinhiiiff, the means of paying the tribute, Mt. xvii. 27, § 52, p. .]7:i J — and even after his resurrection he condescended io direct Peter in the use of his craft, Jiio. xxi. 6, § 97. 5. ToiiED . . . TAKEN NOTHixo. Peter's helplessness was first proved, before heiny rebuked with a plentiful drauyht, when, after our Lord's resurrection, he had yone back to hisfishiny, Jno. xxi. 3, § ,'J. — So was the labour of the Jews viiproductive, when they neg- lected the work of the Lord, Hag. i. 6 — 11, 'Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ve eat, but ye have not enough ; ye ch'iuk, but ye are not filled with di-ink; ye clothe you, but there is none vrann ; and he that earncth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. 7, Thus saith the LoED of hosts ; Consider your ways. 8, Go up to the moiuitaiu, and bring wood, and build the house ; and I wUl take pleasiu-e in it, and I wUl be glorified, saith the Lord. 9, Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Wliy ? saith the Loud of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run everv man unto his omi liouse. 10,. Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed /row her fruit. 11, And I called for a ch-ought upon the land, and upon the mountahis, and upon tlic coni, and upon the new wine, and upou the oil, and upon that wliicli the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of tlie bauds.' At tuy word. At the word of the Lord we should move or be still — see the case of the Israelites in the icilderness, Nu. ix. 17 — 23. 7. Began TO SINK. So the Lord proved his power to provide for the murmuring Israelites in the wilderness, flesh to satisfy their lust, xi. 31 — .4, 'And there went forth a wind from the Lord, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day's journey on this side, and as it were a day's jouraey on tlie other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth. 32, And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails-: he that gathered least gathered ten homers ; and they spread them all abroad for themselves I'onud about the camp. 33, And whde the flesh was yet between then- teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the Lord was kintUed against the people ; and the Lord smote the people with a very gi'eat plague. 34, And he called the name of that place Kibroth-hattaavali [Marg., That is, the graves oflust^ : because there they bm'ied the people that lusted.' 8. I AM A SINFUL MAN. So the psalmist felt confounded at the sight of God's goodness and power, as manifested in the sanctuary, Ps. Ixxiii. 1 — 3, 17 — 22, ' Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. 2, But as for me, my feet were almost gone ; my steps had well nigh slipped. 3, For I was envious at the foolish, ivhen I saw the prosperity of the wicked.' 17, ' UutU I went into the sanctuary of God ; then imderstood I then- end. 18, Surely thou didst set them in slippery places : thou castedst them down into destruction. 19, How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment ! they are utterly consumed witli teiTors. 20, As a di'eam when one awaketh ; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise then' image. 21, Tlius my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. 22, So foolish tras I, and ignorant ; I was as a beast before thee.' — So Isaiah, when he saw his glory, ch. vi. 1 — 5. NOTES. tudcs ; and no spectacle could be more beautiful than the Son of God — the Redeemer of the world — tlius speaking from the bosom of a placid lake — an emblem of the peaceful character of his own doctrines — to the poor, tlie ignorant, the attentive multitudes assem- bled on the shore. 5. Master. ividTaTa. ' 'EjrKrrur/jj properly denotes one wlio is set over any persons or business, as here that of instruction ; and is thus equivalent to master or teacher.' — Bloomfield. 6. Their net brake. ' hippljyvvTo, "was breaking, had begun to break," i. e., had well nigh broke.' — Ibid. 7. Reckoned. KaTtrivaav. 'Literally, "made signs with their hands, beckoned." ' — Ibid. 8. Depart from me. If Peter, after having been, by Jesus, called once, Jno. i. 41, .2, § 10, p. 107, and again Jlk. i. 16, .7, § 16, p. 159, had retiu'ned to his worldly occupation through the fear of bemg in want, as following One who had ' not where to lav his head,' he must have felt confounded at this reproof of his own imfaithfulness, in being so plentifully supplied by his Lord, wlien unable to provide anything for liimself in his own way. Peter seems to have been powerfully impressed, not only with the mu^aele, but also with his own unworthincss as a disciple. He seems to liave been convmced that he not only had cause for gratitude, but espe- cially great need of forgiveness. He may have remembered the case of Israel in the wUdcraess, Nu. xi. 4, 31 — .4, see Scrip. Illus. — Jesus speaks to liim as to one under a sense of impending danger, 'Fear not ;' and he contmues him in the work unto which he had before called him, ' From henceforth thou shalt catch men.' PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. 4 — G rer. AVe lose nothing by lending to the Lord — the ship whicli had seiTcd Jesus for a pulpit was returned, now filled with the treasures of tlie deep. Although Simon seems to have had too Uttle, yet he appears to have had some faith in Christ : at Jesus' word he was williug to let down the net, notwitlistauding want of success immediately before. 6 ver. They who exercise faith upon the word of Jesus, will find that there is blessing in faithfully following his commands : — He hath more blessing to give than we have capacity to receive. The blessings we enjoy are not the fi-uit of our merit, but the fruit of God's mercy. 7 ver. Even the presence and power of Jesus do not supersede the desirableness of men being associated together for their common good. The twice two brothers had here occasion to unite all then- efforts: the Lord, before finally transferring their united labours to 208 Matt. viii. 2, § 21, p. 213. his own more immediate service, gave them an opportunity of dis- playing the advantages of partnership aud brotherly love, 8 ver. Simon seems to have felt himself reproved for unbelief. Jesus had proved that he could abundantly provide for him in the work unto wliich he had called him. But now it would seem as if the blessing had been turned into a punishment, by not only break- ing the net, but sinking the ship — all of whicli Peter may have felt he desciTcd ; aud so, feehug his unworthincss, and deprecating farther punishment, he falls ' down at Jesus' knees, saying. Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.' He seems to have thought himself altogether unworthy of tJiat service unto which he had before been called. 9—11 ver. The di-aught of fishes was such in itself, and had been accompanied with such circumstances, as abundantly to convince tlicin that Jesus had Divine power, and that any doubt as to pro- Mark i. 40, ibid. John v. 1, § 23, p. 228. [21. t>ART II.] THE rOUR DISCIPLES FORSAKE ALL, AMD FOLLOW JESUS. [SECT. XX. Luke v. 10, .1. 10 thnt' irere -vriih him, at the draught of-tho fishes whicli they-Iiad-taken : and so was also James, and John, the-sons of-Zehedee, which were partners with ' Simon. And ^ Jesus said unto, Simon, Fear not; 11 from , henceforth thou-shalt catcli tcry ^(oypwi' men. And when-they-had-hrought //if promontoiy, which liides the city of Tiberias from one %vho journeys northward. To this point the mountahis wall in the lake very closely ; here they diverge and spread on both sides into recesses, forming a basin some forty miles in extent. At every view the scene is pictui-esque. On the east, an luidulating chain of hills stretches until they reach the dark brow of Lebanon ui the north. At the northern end these hiUs are foimd gradually to decrease, and the Jordan enters the lake by a species of cascade, gently foaming down from the plain above. '"The Lake of Geimesaret," says Dr. Clarke, "is suiTOunded by objects well calculated to heighten the solemn impression derived from the Scriptures, and forms one of the most striking prospects in the Holy Land. Speaking of it comparatively, it may be de- scribed as longer and finer than any of our Cumberland and West- moreland lakes, although perhaps inferior to Loch Lomond. It does not possess the vastness of the Lake of Geneva, although it much resembles it in certain points of view. In pictiu'csque beauty it comes nearest to the Lake of Locarno, in Italy, although it is destitute of anythmg simibr to the islands by which that majestic piece of water is adonied." An American, however, will fuid a more convenient medium of comparison in his own Oneida Lake, which does not very widely differ in dimensions fi-oni the Sea of Galilee : though the scenery of the latter more resembles that of the Lake George.* ' The water of the Sea of Galileo is so fi-esh and sweet, as to be constantly used by the people around it ; and abounds with fish of the very best quality. In ancient times, the lake was covered with the boats of fishermen, who used nets, which they cast over the side of the boat into the sea. These barks were of coui-se small in size,t although they are called ships in the gospel history. At the present day there is not a vessel of any kind to be seen on these quiet waters; the last that was on them was wrecked the year before Burckhardt visited Tiberias. J The Arab fishermen of the adjacent heights wade into the water and take their prey by hand-nets.' — BeaiUies of the Holy Land, ly Sev. J. Ransom, pp. 180— ..4. — See Sect. xxvi., p. 257. ADDENDA. Comparison of the Call of the Four Disciples (Matt. iv. 18 — 22; Mark i. 10- AND OF THE MIRACULOUS DRAUGHT OF FiSHES, Luke V. 1 11, pp. 'The differences observable between the history of the miraculous di'aught of fishes in St. Luke, and the account of the call of the four disciples, Andrew and Peter, James and John, in St. Matthew or in St. Mark, are the following. . . , —20, Sect, xvi., p. 159), 207— ..fl. 'I. According to St. Matthew and St. Mark, Jesus, before the call, was walking by the shore of tlie sea— according to St. Luke, he was standing by the lake of Gennesarct : according to the foi-mer he was alone . . . according to the latter, there was a multitude about him, ■which he himself was preparing to teach. '11. According to St. Matthew and St. Mark, he never quitted the land — accorduig to St. Luke, he went on board a ship : accord- ing to the fonner, he continued to walk on along the shore — accorduig to the latter, he actually put out to sea. 'III. According to St. Matthew and St. Mark, both the ships * Dr. Robinson bestows much less praise on the scenery as first seen by him from above Tiberias, about the middle of June. He says, 'Whoever looks here for the mngnificenec of the Swiss lakes, or the softer beauty of those of England and the United States, will be disappointed.' Dr. Clarke describes the lake as seen by lum from the top of the (so called) Mount of Beatitudes.— &e Note, Sect, xsxii., p. 308, and see Sect, xlii., p. '.18 1. + See Sect, xxvi., p. 255, Notes, Mk. iii. 9, 'A small ship should waif on him.' ^ t Dr. Robinson describes one seen by him from Tiberias, as ' a little boat, with its white sail, lying on the eastern shore, about five or six miles distant, whither it had gone to fetch wood.' 210 Malt. viii. 2, § 21, p. 213. Mari i. 40, ibid. Luke v. 12, ibid. John v. 1, § 23, p. 228. [21. PART IT.] COMPARISON OF THE CALL OP THE FOUR DISCIPLES, ETC, were fii'st seen vpon the sea — according to St. Luke, drawn up on the shore : according to the former, tliey were seen one after the other, and in diUerent situations, on the sea — according to the latter, both together, and in the same situation, on the land. 'IV. According to St. Matthew and St. Mark, Andrew and Simon were seen first in their ship, and tlieu James and Jolin in theirs — according to St. Luke, neitlier were seen in eitlier; the fislierraen had left both the ships : according to St. Matthew and St. Mark, Andrew and Simon were seen letiint/ down their net, James and John preparing to let down tlieirs — according to St. Luke, they were all seen wasliing tluir nets on the shore. In the one case, they were aU beginning to fish ; in tlie other, they had up o" the shore ; and havmg entered into one of them, xohicli was all done fishing. 'V. According to St. Matthew and St. Mark, Simon and Andrew, as the first seen, were the first called ; and, as seen by themselves, were called by themselves ; and tlien James and John— according to St. Luke, if seen at aU, or called at all, they were all seen together, and all called together. 'VI. According to St. Matthew and St. Mark, the call in each case was made from the land — according to St. Luke, in the mkht of the sea : according to the former, Simon and Andrew (and very probably James and Jolm also) were called in these terms (Mt. iv. 19; Mk. i. 17) — Stvre uTrlaio /iou, Kai Troiiiaut vpag a\tHQ, or yivtaQai tlXuIt at'O^MTTiotf — according to the latter, if any were called, they were called in these (Lu. v. 10) — fii) tpofiov- Uttu tov vvv avdfi.oTrovQ iaij Joypwi' : according to St. Matthew and St. Mark, they were called at twice, each two of them distinctly fi-om the other — according to St. Luke, if any were called, all were called at once, and all in the person of one. 'VII. According to St. Mattliew and St. Mark, in obeying the call, Simon and Andrew forsook only then- nets ; James and John only their sliip — according to St. Luke, they all forsook everything ; their nets, tlieu- sliips, and the booty whicli tliey liad taken. Nor could these representations, however difl'ereut, be otlierwise. It is plain, according to St. Matthew and St. Mark, tliat the disciples could have had nothing more as yet to forsake, than their ships or theu' fishuig tackle ; for they were only beginning to fish, and had not made any cast. But, according to St. Luke, they had just enclosed a prodigious draught. ' VIII. According to St. Matthew and St. Mai-k, the effect ensued in obedience to an invitation ; the disciples forsook what they did forsake, because Jesus bade them follow him — according to St. Luke, it was a voluntary act ; they forsook what they did forsake, of their own accord. ' These various inconsistencies, . . . taken together, constitute a chain of facts whicli, as so many evidences of chstinctness, or, as what logicians woidd call, circumstaniice indieiduantes, must be indissoluble. Yet, in addition to these considerations, we may add the following also : — ' I. It is morally certain, from St. Matthew iv. 18 — 21, and Mark i. 16 — .9, that the parties to whom they allude were just beginning to fish ; and from St. Luke v. 2, that they whom he speaks of liad just done fishing. Moreover, the time of the transaction in St. Luke was evidently the morning, ver. 5 ; and, consequently, the previous fisliing had been goiug on in the night. It was begun, therefore, the evening before. And that evening was natm'ally the time wlien fishermen on the lake would ordinarily begin to fish, may be concluded not only from the reason of the tiling, that tliey would commonly begin then, when the inhabitants of the deep are known, by experience, to be most active, and most on the alert, and, there- fore, the most likely to be caught ; but also from an instance in point, which is seen to have been begun in the evening, and like this to have lasted until the morning, Jno. xxi. 1 — 4 (§ 97). Tlie time of tlio call, then, in St. Mattliew or St. Mark, we may take it for granted, was the evening; and the time of the mii'acle in St. Luke was uncpiostionably tlie morning. At this season of the year, wliiefi 1 have supposed to be after the feast of Pentecost, u.c. 780, that is, offer May 30, the Jewish evening, which began at sunset, would 21.] [SECT. XX. begin about 8 p.m. ; and the Jewish morning, which began at sun* rise, would begin at 4 a.m. : and tliose wlio had commenced their labours on tlie lake at the first of those periods, being unsuccessful, might natm'ally continue them until the latter. It was a familiar practice with the people of the East to take their morning's repast at xpiui, or sunrise, throughout tlie year; and, among other modes of taking it, anciently as well as still, one was to repair to the water side, and breakfast on the newly-taken fish. The instance referred to from St. Jolm is an illustration oi this fact. ' II. It came to pass, says St. Luke v. 1—3, as lie was standing by the side of the lake of Gennesaret, that he saw two sliips drawn Simon's, he prayed him to put back a little from the land. Now this mention of the name of Sunon is clearly in allusion to iv. 38 (§ 17, p. 163), before, and supposes him ah'eady known to the reader from that. . . . ' III. The call in St. Luke was preceded by an act of teaching, wliich was, consequently, either the first of its kind which had yet taken pkee, or not the fii'st. If it was (he first, then oiu- Saviour had not yet begun liis ministry in public ; and if he had not yet begun liis ministi-y in public, though he might now liave called certain persons to be his disciples, he coidd not now have been surrounded by a multitude. If it was not the fu'st, he must already have begun his ministry — and he might, consequently, have been surrounded by a multitude. But, fi'om Ac. i. 21, .2, it must be certain that he had previously called the disciples. 'IV. The anxiety of the people, on this occasion, to press upon om- Lord, is a parallel instance to Mark iii. 9, 10 (§ 26, p. 255) ; iv. 1 (§ 32, p. 299} ; and to other instances, wliich might be pro- duced, both in the motive, viz., their desire to hear liim, or to come close to liim ; and in the effect, viz., that it made it necessary he should retire on board a sliip, and address them from the sea. On all these other occasions it ni.ay be obsei-ved in common, that they are decidedly later than the commencement of his ministrv in general ; and, if the present instance of teacliing happened after the first circuit of Galilee, it woidd be so far in unison with the rest. Nor, indeed, coidd it be otherwise, especially at the very outset of Ids ministry ' Besides, it is utterly incredible that, when preparing to begin his ministry by teaching the word of God, om- Lord would make choice of the lake of Caperuaum, and the locality of a fisherman's boat, instead of the city, and the synagogue itself. His preaching and teaching, even upon the fia-st cii-cuit, were confined to the synagogues of Galilee; nor is there any proof that he taught in the open air, except towards the close of the progi-ess, when he delivered the semion from the mount. The truth indeed is, that ho called the disciples in question, before he began to teacli, that is, to enter on the work of his ministry, anywhere; and when he began to teach, or to enter on the work of his ministry, it was in that place, the synagogue of Capernaum ; and on that day, the day of the sabbath. . . . . And as he first began to teach ihere and then, so the fii-st miracle in confirmation of liis teacliing was wrought tltere and then. {See Sect, xvii., p. 161.) ' V. The mere peiiisal of the narrative, from v. 1 — 4, is suiEeient to satisfy an unprejudiced reader that the instance of teaching, now recorded, was in the ordinary discharge of our Lord's ministerial functions. He was teaching as a matter of course ; he was pre- paring to do nothing which he had never yet done before, when the people were resorting to him. He had often taught them, and they had as often been taught by him, before tliey were addressed on this occasion. ' VI. The manner of our Saviour's teaching was distinguished by a peculiar property, which the Evangelists designate as the teacliing of one iv iKuvaii} : as the manner which would be assumed by one who had a right to command, and a right to be obeyetl ; who was entitled to an implicit deference to his oir« word and will ; who was authorised both to teach men their duty, and to oxiHvt their per- fonnaneo of what he taught. Now this manner was so novel and striking, that each of the Gospel historians, except St. John, has Matt. Tiii. 2, § 21, p. 213. Mark i. 40, ibid. Luke v. 12, ibid. John v. 1, § 23, p. 228. 211 COMPARISON OF TUE CALL OF THE FOUR DISCIPLES, ETC. SECT. XX.] distinctly noticed it j but wliat is not less ivniarliable, lias noticed it once for all : having spccilied it in a single instance they never recur to it again. That single instance, however, is also tlie Jirsl instance : the occasion on which they do notice it, is the first occasion wliich came witliin the scope of their accounts to record : and both these things, a priori, were very naturally to be expected. A constant identical property of our Saviour's teaching might justly be specified once for all ; but, if it were to be specified once for all, that single occasion would most naturally and most filly be the tu-st. Now the instance of teaching on the lake is accompanied by no such characteristic remark ; whence wc may infer it could not have been tlie fu-st : but the instance, recorded before that, in the synagogue of Capeninum, it is absolutely certain, is Lu. iv. 32 (§ 17, p. 161), whence it would be a similar inference that that instance was the first. If so, the teaching in the synagogue preceded, in point of time, the teaching on the lake. The one is clearly the first on record in St. Luke, and might be the first u-nXdig: the other is not. liut the call of the disciples preceded even that teaching in the svnagogue. Much more, then, did the same call precede this teaching on the lake. 'VII. St. Peter addi-esses our Saviour by the title of iwiaTc'iTtiQ, V. 5, the use of wliich term is one of the idioms of St. Luke. In his Gospel it ocem-s six times, but in no other Gospel besides ; and it oecui-s always as personally directed to om- Saviom- ; and in every instance but the last, as addressed to him by tlie apostles, in the sense of 'Pa/3/3i, or AiSaaKaXos—ihe ordinary title which disciples, among the Jews, everywhere gave to their masters. The use of the term, then, is peculiar to the relation of master and disciple; so that on tliis prmciple I'eter was a disciple already, at the very time when he is supposed to have received his call. And according to my distribution of the preceding events, this was truly the case ; for lie had beeu called four or five months before : but on any suppo- sition which should make his original call accompany the miraculous draught, there must be so far an absurdity. . . . ' VIII. If the miraculous draught was really a part of the trans- action of the call, there is no reason to be conceived or assigned for its omission. A mu'aele hke this, the first instance of any miracle in the three original Gospels ; a miracle expressly wrought for the conviction of the first four and cliief of the apostles, was sm'ely, on*' every account, deserving of a distinct notice. Besides, without the histoiy of the mu'acle, the history of the call would have been not only incomplete, but uumtelligible. The call, upon this principle, must have ai'isen out of the mh'aele, and the mu'acle must have introduced the call ; the call must have applied the miracle, and the miracle have justified the call. Neither, then, would be perfect without the other ; nor could the end proposed by the history of the one be attained except in conjunction with the account of the other. ' IX. Tlie foundation of the whole mistake, with respect to the presumed trajection in St. Luke, is the assumption that the account of the miraculous draught is an account of the call of the four parties virho witnessed it; an assumption altogether precarious [PART n. ' The miracle was a symbolical act, and contained a latent pro- phecy : the import of the symbol being the future success of these same persons as apostles, who had had such success as fishennen. It illustrated, therefore, in respect to their future character and employment, certain truths; all admubrated by sometliing corres- pondent at present : the weakness of the instrumental agency, the cflicicncy of tlie accompanying power : each made distinctly visible in the grandeur, and, consequently, the disparity of the result. They had been, as fishermen, the instruments of Christ in letting down the net and enclosing the fish; and they shoiUd be, as apostles, his instruments also in propagating the Gospel, and catching man- kind. In the former capacity, as left to themselves, they had been able to do nothmg : as assisted by him, they liad made a prodigious capture. As the emissaries of the Gospel, unaccompanied by Christ, they woiUd be able to efiect as little ; as endowed and assisted by him, they should evangelize the world. It was faith in the Divine co-operation which had led to their success now ; it would be faith in the same co-operation wliich should lead to their stUl more splendid success hereafter ' The true light, then, ui which we ought to regard it, is that of something which bears an equal relation to the situation of the four parties, both as stUl disciples, and at some time to become apostles. It is not a call for the first time addressed to them, but the con- finnation of a call already received : it is not au appointment to the office of an apostle, but an implied indication of such an appointment ere long. The language of our Lord, in St. Luke, we saw was not to be reconciled to his language in St. Matthew or St. Mark ; the latter did strictly convey a call, the former no such tiling. Yet each declaration, under the ch-cmustances of its own aecoimt, is so natural and proper, that in the estimation of any candid judge, tliis alone would be sufficient to vouch for the reality of either, and yet its distinctness from the other. When Jesus saw Peter and Andrew, in St. Matthew or St. Mai'k, they were only beginumg to fish, and had yet enclosed nothing : he calls them, therefore, as he could call them, solely in allusion to theii- occupation ; " Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." AVhen Jesus speaks to Peter, in St. Luke, he had just made a wonderful draught; Jesus addresses him, therefore, in allusion to his recent success — Ileneeforth thou shalt be catching men ' I think, then, it must now be admitted that, beyond these moral uses (the proper exempUfieation of which was still future), the history of the mii'aculous draught has nothing ui common with the account of the call of Simon and Andrew, James and John : and, if so, that there is no proof of a trajection in this part of St. Luke. Nor is this conclusion of shght importance. The disproof of a, transposition in the present instance ought to facilitate the eviction of the same conclusion in other instances ; for there is not, perhaps, a single instance of a supposed irregidarity wliich has been more confidently assumed than this. But if this is no such thing, others also, however confidently they may have been assumed, which yet, a priori, are not more presumptively so than this, may turn out upon examination to be quite the reverse,' — Greswell, Vol. II. Diss. xiiv. pp. 383— ,96. 212 Matt, viii, 2, % 21, p, 213. Mark i, 40, ibid. Luke v. 12, ibid. John v, 1, 1 23, p. 228. [21. TART II.] A LEPER WORSHIPS JESUS. [SECT. XXI. SECTION 21.* — Jesus heals a certain LEPERf : and to avoid the publicity occasioned by the MIRACLE, WITHDRAWS INTO A DESERT PLACE, AND SPENDS SOME TIME THERE IN PRAYER TO GOD. Mt. viii. 2—4. Mk. i. 40— .5. Lu. v. 12— .0. Probahli/ near C/wraziit. [G. 25.] INTRODUCTION Mt. viii. 2. Mt. i. 40. Lu. v. 12. Jesus being in a cer- tain eity, a man full of leprosy comes to hmi, humbly and earnestly requesting that the Saviour's heahng power may be exerted in his behalf. The leper has no doubt of the power of Jesus, but he does not express the same confidence in Ids compassion, as being likely to reach such a miserable object as himself. — viii. 3. — i. 41, .2. — v. 13. Jesus instantly shews that in him is no want of compassion, and that tlie Saviour's will to save is equal to the man's willingness to be saved, and submission to the power of Jesus. AND ANALYSIS. Mt. viii. 4. Mk. i. 43, .4. Lu. v. 14. The man, having been healed, is charged to say nothing to any one, but to go and shew himself to the priest, and make, according to the law, Iiis offering for cleansing ; to secure a legal recognition of his being free from leprosy. — i. 45. — V. 15, .6. The man is so rejoiced at what was done for him, tliat in place of keeping the matter quiet, as directed, ho blazes it abroad, and occasions such a crowding to Jesus, in order to bo healed, that he is prevented entering mto the eity, and has to withdraw into the wilderness : where he engages in prayer ; and wliither nuiltitudcs resort to Iiim from eveiy quarter. Matt. viii. 2 — 4. [Ch. viii. ], § 19, p. 194., 2 Aud, 'bcholcl, there-came'^ a-leper and- 'worsliipped him/ saying, Lord, if thou-wilt, thou-canst malio-'me'-clcari. (G. 25.) Prohabli/ near Chorazin.X Mark i. 40— .4. [Ver. 39, § 18, p.. 167.] 40 And there -came a-leper ''to him, beseeching him, and kueeliug-down-to him,' /and* saying uuto-him. If thoii-wilt, thou-canst malic-'me'-cleau. Luke v. 12 — .4. [Ver. 11, § 20, p. 209.] "And it-came-to-pass, 12 when he^was in a-certain^city,' behold 'a-man fuU-of leprosy :'' who /cat seeing^Jesus *fell on his face, «;?rf-besoiight him, saying. Lord, if thou-wilt, thou-canst make-"me"-cleau.'^ SCRIPTURE ILLUSTR.\TI0NS. Lu. V. 12. LEPiiOST. See the case of the leper described, Le. xiii. Mt. viii. 2. WoESHiPPED. See Scrip. Illits., § 5, p. 53. — Instances of Israelites prostrating themselves before their kings and prophets are numerous, as Abigail, 1 Sa. xxv. 23, 41 ; — Mephi- hosheth, 2 Sa. ix. 6 ; — the w'lse ivomaii of Tekoah, xiv. 4. — So Kathan, 1 Ki. i. 23.— .§0 Obadiah before Elijah, xviii. 7. — See 1 Chr. xxix. 20, ' And David said to all the congregation. Now bless tlie Lord your God. And all the congregation blessed the Lord God of tlicir fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the Lord, and the king.' — This passage, however, may be more p>ro- perly understood, not that they made tlie king an object of worship in common with the Lord; but that the king as well as the people Mc^ 'worshijiped the Lord, and the king' worshipped the Lord: did so also. If tuou wilt, Tnou canst, &e. Faith in his power to open the eyes of the blind teas pireviously required of those upon whom he would make that power manifest, eh. ix. 28, .9, § 36, ' And when he was come into the house, the bhnd men eamo to him : and Jesus saith unto them, Beheve ye that I am able to do this ? They said mito him. Yea, Lord. 29, Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.'— wv ; Luke v. 17— 2R. [For ver. 1 0, see ibid.} SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATION. Mk. ii. 1. Again he ektered, &c. For some time Jesus had been ' without in desert places,' ch. i. 45 [Lu. v. 16], § 21, p. 215. NOTE. Mk. ii. 1. Afler some days. 'May mean a considerable time I return, it was not far from the close of tho Ih-st year's ministry. — (after the healing of tho leper. Sect, xxi., p. 213) ; and when he did | See Orcswell, Vol. II. Diss, xxiii., p. 296. • See Greswell, Vol. II. Diss, xxiii., p. 297. t ^id. p. 298. t 'Wo may infer that tho euro of tho paralytic happened early in tho day, and tho cull of Levi comparatively late; for our Lord commonly resorted to the lake, for the pui-poso of teaching, in tho morning.' — Greswell. See Lu. 7. 1 — 11, § 20, p. 207. Sea alto Mk. ii. 13, p. 221, SciilP. Illus. § See GEOORArnic.vr, Notice, ' CArEitNAtiM,' § 11, p. 116, and § 25, p. 252. II See Addenda, p. 221, ' On the ihueoulaeities of St. Matthew's GosrEL.* 22.] ^"'t- Tiii- 5, § 28, p. 274. John v. 1, § 23, p. 228. 217 SECT. XXII.] A MAN SICK OF TEE PALSY BKOUGHT TO JESUS. Matt. ix. 2. Mark ii. 2 — 4. and it-was-noised that he-was in the-house. 2 And straightway many were-gathcred-together, iiisomuch-thatthere-\vns-'no'-room-to-ieceiveM««, no,-not-so-much-as^aLout the door o'ictte /.(jjKtn XwpHv niili TO wpoQ T))v Ovpav : and he-preached the word unto-them.* Luke v, [PART II. n—.'J. And, hehold, they- brought to-him a-man- sick-of-the-palsy, lying on a-hed KX(vtig : And they-come unto him, bringing o?ie- sick-of-the-palsy, 'which-was-borne of four.'' And when-they- could not come- *And it-canie-to-pass on a- 17 certain^day, as he was teaching, that there- were Pharisees and doctors-of- the-law sitting-by, which were come out-of every town of Gahlee, and Judsea, and Jerusa- lem: and the-powerof-the-Lord \msj)rese/it* to^heal them. And, behold, men 18 brought in a-hed a-man which was taken-with- a-palsy : * ''and they-sought means to-bring-" him'-in, and to-lay him before him. And when-they- 19 could-"nof-find by what imij they-might-bring-"him'-in' SCRIPTURE JMk. ii. 2. PnEiCitED the woed. ' Shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God,' Lu. viii. 1, § 30, p. 2S9 •,—as had been predicted, Is. lii. 1, ■ The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me ; because the LoED hath anointed me to preach good tidings imto the meekj lie hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim Kberty to tlie captives, and the opening of the prison to Ihem that are bound.' Lu. v. 17. Phaeisees. Men loho 'trusted in tlierasclTcs that they were righteous, and despised others,' ch. xviii. 9, § IZ.—See Mt. iii. 7, § 7, p. 82, ScitlP. ILLU3. ILLUSTRATIONS. DOCTOBS 01 THE lAW, ch. xi. 46, § 62, p. 565 ; Men eminently skilled in burdensome rites, who had 'taken away the key of know- ledge' — too proud either to e?4er into the kingdom of heaven them- selces, or to allow others to enter, Tcr. 52, § ib. The power oe the Loed was present to heal them. Al- though the Good Physician was present to heal, they, esteeminff themselves perfectly sound, refused to receive his heallny power, Mk. ii. 17, p. 222. NOTES. Mk. ii. 1. And it was noised, ^-c. ' The bringing in of the paralytic was produced by the news of the retm-n ; and hence the presence of eeribes from all the sm-rounding villages, h -Traatig Kii/itig, which St. Luke alludes to, is very probably to be explamed. They might have come with our Saviour to Capernaum, as part of the resort mentioned before ; for Joscphus also adverts to the km^iwk ypafi- ftarile by name— Ant. Jiid. xvi. vii. 3 ; Bell. i. xxiv. 3— as a sort of village schoolmasters, or as a class of inferior municipal magis- trates, who might consequently be met with everywhere. 'There arc several passages in the Gospels which might be cited to prove that the names of rpa^ifiartvc, No/iik6c, 'S ofiahSa(TKa\oQ, respectively, were convertible terms, and meant one and the same description of persons, who raiglit originally have been (and pro- bably still were) strictly the scribes, or copyists of the law as such ; and were now by profession, and perhaps always had been, its interpreters and expositors also. They belonged" to the tribe of Levi in general ; though probably not to the family of Aaron in particular. A certain number of their body, twenty-four as I apprehend, represented the rest in the great council of the san- hech'im, as made up of the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes. The elders were most probably the chiefs of the people, belonging to the other tribes ; the chief priests were the several heads of the twenty-four courses of the priests ; the scribes comprehended the heads of the rest of the family of Levi, which also was chvided into courses as well as that of Aai-on. As the entu-e number of the san- hedrun was seventy-two, and as the chief priests were twenty-four in number, and as the elders — Eev. iv. 4, " And round about the throne were four and twenty seats : and upon the scats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment ; and they had on their heads crowns of gold " — were the same, the scribes must have been twenty-fom- also.' — Oreswell, Vol. II. Diss, xxiii. pp. 2'J7, ..8. 2. No room to receive them. The sense of the passage is, ' So that there was no longer place for them in the vestibule [much less the house itself].' 3. Sick of the palsy. A rather common disease, wherein the body, or some part of it, loses its power of motion, and sometimes also its feeling. Mk. ii. 1, 2. Jesus did not confine his preacliing of the word to the synagogue or to the temple ; the sea shore, the ship, the moun- tain, the open field, and here also the private dwelling, were equally consecrated by liim to this holy service. Let us not seek to confine that word which ought to flow freely forth to every creature over the wide world. Lu. v. 17. Jesus was wiUuig that liis word and works should be PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. tested by the most severe and best qualified judges. Thus had his disciples the greater reason to repose theu- confidence in him. Let us, like Jesus, ever seek the hght, that om- ' deeds may be made manifest,* Mk. ii. 3. Let us combine om' efforts in bringing unto Jesus those who require to become the subjects of his heahng power; that can bo done by four, wliich it would be impossible for one to accomplish. »18 * Lit., " was for their healing.' Matt. viii. 5, § 28, p. 274. John v. I, § 23, p. 228. [22. PART II.] JESUS FORGIVES THE SINS OF THE SICK OP THE PALSY. [SECT. XXlt. Matt. ix. 2, 3. and^Jesus seeing theii\faith said unto- the sick-of-the-palsy ; Son, '"be-of-good-clieer ; thy^sins be-forgiven aipiwvTai tliee." And, behold, certain of-the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. Mark ii. 4 — 7. 'nigh-unto him-'^ for the press, *they-uncovered the roof where he-was: and wheu-they-had- broken-e^-up i^opv^avrig, they-* let-down the bed Kpaftfiarov 'wherein the sick-of-the-palsy lay.' 5 'When-\Jesus"-saw their^faith, he-said unto- the sick-of-the-palsy, Son,'" thy^sins be-forgiven ai]iiii — others, as in St. Mark, or in St. Luke, ri ovtoq o'vtu \u\ii BXittr- tpjIfLtaQ; or, TiQ ianv ovrui; oq, \aXti I5\f(CT^///it«(,- j and as to what follows in each of these last, ric ^vrnrai atpupai a[iapTiag, ti fit) tic, that is, /loj'os o Qio's ; either it was part of the same observation, and spoken by the same persons, or St. Matthew, with his usual conciseness, has merely omitted it. This miracle, then, with its circumstances, is the same in all ; and if so, St. Luke's oi-der demonstrates it to have been prior to the cure of the centurion's servant (Mt. viii. 5—13; Lu. vii. 1—10, § 28, p. 274); St. Mark's, as well as St. Luke's, to have been prior to the passage of the lake (Mt. viii. 18—27 ; Mk. iv. 35 — '11 ; Lu. viii. 22— .5, § 34, p. 323). After both of which it however is related by St. Matthew ; and conseqviently, as it stands iu !iis Gospel, it is a trajection.' — Gfeswell, Vol. I. Diss. iii. pp. 212, ..3. ON MARK li. 4, ' Mark says, " Oiey nncovered the roof," ch. ii. 4. Luke says, " they toent upon the house-top, and let him down through the tiling," ch. V. 19, p. 219. ' Ilouses, in eastern countries, are commonly square iu theu- forai, ond of a suiglo story. On approachuig them from the street, a single door is seen in the centre, and directly above it a single latticed window. 210. THEY UNCOVERED THE ROOF,' &C., p. railing, breast liigh, on the sides — see Lu. v. 19, p. 219, Scitip. Tlius. This railing or breastwork is what Lu. v. 19 says they " let him down through." They removed it, probably, so that the couch coidd be conveniently let down with cords ; and standing on the roof over the Saviour, they let the man down directly before him. ' The following plan will give an idea of an eastcni dwelUng, and of the cm'c of the sick man. ' On entering the only door in front, the first room is a small square room, surrounded with benches, called the porch. In this room the master of a family commonly transacts business, and, ou private occasions, receives visits. Passing tlu'ough the porch, you enter a large square room, directly in the centre of the building, called the court. This court is paved commonly with marble ; is surrounded with seats ; and, if possible, a fountain of water is formed in the centre, to give it beauty, and to ditfuse a grateful coolness. In this large room company is received on marriage, and other festive occasions. This room is surromided by a gallery, or covered walk, on every side. Erom that covered walk doors open into the other apartments of the house. So that access from one room to another is always through the centre room or eom't. 'Tliis centre room, or com't, is commonly uncovered or open above. In wet weather, however, and in times of great heat of the sun, it is covered with an awning or canvas, stretched on cords, and capable of bemg easily removed or rolled up. This is what Mark means when ho says, they uncovered the roof. They rolled np or removed this awning. 'From the court to the roof the ascent is by flights of stairs, cither in the covered walk or gallery, or in the porch. The roof is nearly Hat. It is made of earth ; or, in houses of the rich, is a (irmly constructed flooring, made of coals, chalk, gypsiun, and ashes, made hard by repeated blows. ' The roof is a favourite place for walking, for repose in the cool of the day, for conversation, and for devotion (Note, Mt. vi. 5, § 19, p. 183). On such a roof Rahab concealed the spies, Jos. ii. 6, "She had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of llax, which she had laid in order upon the roof;" and 1 Sa. ix. 25, .6, " Samuel eommimed with Saul upon the top of the house. 2G, And they arose eai-ly : and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad." David walked at eventide upon the roof, 2 Sa. xi. 2 ; and Peter weut up thereon to pray, Ac. x. 9. Tliis roof was sm-roimdcd witli a lahistrade, or D a oooooooG o o o Area or open Court. o o o a o D 0000000 000 E a Doors. B Porch. C Harem, or room for women. D other rooms, for the famUy. E Galleries, or walks between the court and rooms. E Stau's to the second stoiy, or to the roof. ' 13y looking at this it may be easily seen how the pax-alytic was presented to Jesus. Suppose the Saviour to be seated in the open court, say at G. The room was thronged. There was but one way of access, thi-ough a. It would be easy to ascend the stairs at E, and go round on the gallery till they came over Jesus, and remove a part of the balustrade or breastwork, and let liim down du-ectly bifore him.' — See Barnes's Notes. 221 Matt, viii, 5, § 28, p. 274. Mark ii. 23, § 24, p. 241. J.ul-e vi. 1, Hid. John v. 1, § 23 i.P 22S. [22. SECTIONAL Aiimbrrefl anr>n/i/u/ ip'Oie tUti-muiif oi'ttie Four b-ang'elisis" PART THIRD. MATT. CHAP. VIII. 5—13, 18— 3i ; IX. I, 10—38; X.; XI.; XII.; XIII. ; XIV. MARK II. 23— .8; III.; IV.; V.; VI. LUKE VI.; VII.; VIII. ; IX. 1—17. JOHN V.; VI, ARRANGED IN THE ORDER OF TIME. COMPREHENDING THE SPACE OF TWELVE MONTHS; VIZ.,— FROM THE END OF THE FIRST YEAR OF THE MINISTRY OF JESUS CHRIST, U.C. 781, A.D. 28 (INEUNTE), TO THE END OF THE SECOND YEAR OF THE SAME, U.C. 782, A.D. 20 (INEUNTEM). 22.-) P PART ni.] JESUS ATTENDS THE SECOND PASSOVEE. [SECT. xxm. SECTION 23.— (G. 1.)— On the approach of the second passover* Jesus goes up to Jerusalem; HE HEALS A SICK MAN AT THE POOL OF BETHESDA.t ON A SABBATH DAY; FOR WHICH SUPPOSED BREACH OF THE SABBATH, THE JeWS THENCEFORWARD GO ABOUT TO KILL HIM. DISCOURSE OF JeSUS RESPECTING HIS ONENESS WITH 'J HE FaTHER, HIS LIFE-GIVING POWER, AND THE PROOFS OF HIS Messiahship. — John v. cli. INTRODUCTION 1 — i. Jesus having come up to Jerusalem, to a feast of the Jews, visits tlie pool of Bethesda ; in the five porches of which are many sick, &c., waiting to be healed : a cure being effected upon him who first steps into the pool after tlie troubling of tlie water by an angel. 5 — 9. One who has had an infirmity nearly forty years, and who acknowledges his utter helplessness, is healed by Jesus, who bids liim take up his bed and walk, the same day bemg the sabbath. 10 — .3. The man being reproved by the Jews for canning his bed on the sabbath, refers to his Benefactor as his authority for so doing, but is yet ignorant that it was Jesus. 14. Jesus having aftenvard met the man in the temple, admonishes him, intimating liis knowledge of the cause of his infinnity, and warning him to avoid sin in the future. 15, .6. The man goes and tells tlie Jews that it was Jesus who liad healed him ; and they seek to slay Jesus, imder the pretext tliat he had broken the sabbath. 17. Jesus intimates that as his Father still continued to work, so did he, the Son, work. 18. The Jews seek the more to kill him, because he had made himself equal with God. 19 — 23. Jesus plainly declares that lie is Messiah, the Son of God, spoken, of in tlie Psalms, ii. 6, 7 {quoted Lu. i. 51, p. 20, Scattehed'). He is, ver. 24, 30, the Sliiloh, the sent of the Father, and promised to the fathers, Ge. xlix. 8 — 10. He is the Prophet, in the faithful reception of whose word is salvation, 20 — .7, as spoken of by Moses, De. xviii. 15 — .9. He whose name shall be called the ' ll'oiKlerful, Counsellor, The mighiy God, The everlasfhig Father, The Prince of Peace,' Is. ix. 6, &c. 19. 20. He is the Wondeeful, Counseeloe, who doeth what- soever is done by the Father ; and to whom the Father sheweth all things : He is thus fully competent to do, and to make known mar- vellous tilings. 21 — .3. He is The mighty Gob, having supreme power, both for the bestowment of life, and the execution of judgment ; and to whom the same honour is due that belongs to the Father. 24. He is The eteelastixo Father, by the faithful reception of whose word, he who was dead, as related to the first Adam, is made a ]jartaker of everlasting Ufe ; and being born again, and standing in the second Adam, as his federal Head, he shall not come into condemnation. 25 — .7. He is the Son of God, The Peince oe Peace, who hath full authority to do all that is requisite for tlie estabUshment and government of his kingdom ; and for which he wUl, in the first resurrection, raise all those that now in tnitli hear his voice — who are in him, as he is in the Fatlier ; and not only will ho i-eign in them, but he himself will be with them, executing judgment, ' hecause he is the Son of man.' 28 — 30. The Wonderful doth not only thus work marvellously for his redeemed, as introducing into the glorious rest, the Great Day of the Lord ; His voice will call forth all from their graves, in the general resurrection, when all shall be judged according to their works — when to all will be made manifest that his judgment is just, and that his word is truly the expression of the Father's will. 31 — 47. Jesus next proceeds to shew that the claim he has made does not rest upon his own testimony of liimself. He produces a fulness of evidence to prove the truth of what he has spoken. AND ANALYSIS. I. 32. He alludes to 'Another that heareth witness,' the Spirit, who ever IJvetli, and giveth true witness of Jesus, Jao. xiv. IG, .7 ; iv. 2G, § 87 ; Rev. six. 10. II. 33 — .5. The ivitness of his forerunner, John, whose character and preaching -were suflleiently known. III. 36. The witness of ' the works' which the Father had given him to finish. IV. 37. The mtness of ' the Father himself,' who had, at the baptism of Jesus, declared him to be his ' beloved Son ;' wlien also tlic Spirit ^descended in a hodily shape like a dove vpon hi,n :' but they had neither Ustened to his voice, ' nor seen his shape.' V. 38. The witness of the ' tmrd,' as indwelling. ' He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself,' 1 Juo. v. 10. But they had not his word abiding in them. VI. 39 — 44. The witness of the written word, 'the scriptures' to which, by eveiy consideration of interest and consistency, they were bound to attend, but for the profitable use of which they were unprepared. Not being in a right state of mind tlie Scriptures remained to them a sealed book. Notwithstanding all their industry in the study thereof, they were as liable to be led astray, as if the Father had not therein revealed to them the name of his Son. Jesus takes notice of the obstacles to faith in him existing among the Jews ver. 40 — .4. 1. They were unwilling to come to the despised Galilean that they might have life ver. 40. 2. He received not honour from man. He accounted human patronage, orauthority,as of noaecountinmattersofrehgion ver. 41. 3. They had not the love of God in them, and so could not delight iu him who is the express image of the Father ver. 42. 4. They disliked that he should come in the Father's name — that he should speak as immecUately fi-om God . . . ver. 43. 5. Tliey had a supreme i-egard to human authority ibid. 6. They received ' honour one of another' . . ver. 4-1. 7. Tliey sought ' not the h'mour that cometh from God only.' — See Mt. xi. 25— .7, § 29, p. 2S3 ver. 44. \Jl. 45 — .7. The witness of ' Moses.' The whole ceremonial law, in which they trusted, pointed to Him whom Moses had described as the Prophet whose words they must of necessity hear, else remain in condemnation; but although they trusted in Moses, they had not beheved his wTitings ; and so were unprepared to ivcoive Him to whom, not only the inspired writings, but also tlieir whole Divinely- appointed national institutions bare witness. There was thus no want of outward evidence; the thing wanted was a preparation in themselves for the reception of the truth. By ivjecting the truth, they liavo become witnesses tliereto, as sull'ering those plagues of long continuance, wliicli Moses said would come ujion them in the event of their disobeying the voice of Him who was to come iu the Name op the Loud. 23.] * On the time of this visit see Greswell, Vol. II. Di.)pwi', waiting-lbr the moving ko'iiitii^ of-the water. For an-angel weut-down at a-certain season Kara Kuipov into the pool, and troubled irapadae the water : whosoever then first after the 5 troubling Tapa\i)i' uf-the water steppcd-in waa-made whole of-whatsoever disease he had KaTii\tTO. And G n-eertain man was there, whicli-hnd an' infirmity thirty-and-eight years. When-\.Tesus--saw him lie, and knew that he-had-becn now a-long time i// that case, he-saith unto him, Wilt-tbou GtXEic he-made whole ? 7 The impotent man answered liim. Sir, I-have no man, when the water is-troubled rapoxOy, to put /3aXX»i 8 me into the pool : but while I am-coming, another steppeth-down before me. ^Jesus saitli nuto-him, 9 Rise, take-up thy ^ bed, and walk. And inunediately the man was-made whole, and took-up his ^ bed, and SCKIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. 2. Sheep marlcet. The relniUing of the sheep gate, Ne. iii. 1 ;— and of the wall near it, upon tlie Jews' return from Balylon, ver. 32 ; xii. 39. BETnESBA. 'House of morey.' — This as such was onlj/ tern- porari/, but, Ps. Ixxxix. 2, ' Mercy shall bo built up for ever.' Five pouches. The healinij umters are tnili/ to be had in Christ, whose name is fire fold: the 'Wonderful'— «ee Ps. Ixxxix. 5—13; the ' Coimsellor,' ver. 14— .8 ; ' The mighty God,' ver. 19—23 ; The Father of everlasting life, ver. 26—33; 'The Prince of Peace,' ver. 31— .7. 3. WAlTns'O. Such watting should there be vpon God, while abiding in Chris/, earnestly desiring him to jmt forth his healing power for the cure of our sjiiritual maladies, Pr. viii. 31, ' Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.' — And La. iii. 26. 4. FinsT. Pr. viii. 17, ' I love them that love me ; and those that seek me early shall find me.' Made whole. See as to the healing waters appointed to flow from Jerusalem, Eze. xlvii. 8, 9, 'Then said lie unto me. These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea : which being brought forth mto the sea, the waters shall be healed. 9, And it shall come to pass, that every thing that Uveth, which moveth, wliithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live : and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed ; and evei-y thing shall live whither the river cometh.' — Referred to also. Zee. xiv. 8, 'And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem ; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them towai-d the hinder sea : in summer and in winter shall it be.' 6. Knew. Ileb. iv. 13, ' All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.' — ver. 15, 'We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities.' 7. No MAN, &c. To such the Lord has purposed to be a helper, Ps. Ixxii. 12. — See the cry of such a one, cxlii. 4, ' No man cared for my sold.' — cxliii. 4, ' My heart witliiu me is desolate.' — See also Je. XXX. 13, .4. 8. Take up thy bed. So to the sick of the palsy, Mt. ix. 6, § 22, p. 220. NOTES. 1. A feast. Probably the passover. — See Gresioell, Vol. II., pp. 254— ..9. Feast. To perjietuate the memory of God's mighty works; to attach the Hebrews to the true religion, by the fi'equent use of Divinely-instituted ceremonies ; to allow them frequent seasons for instruction in his laws ; and of rest, pleas\n'e, and renewal of ac- quaintance with then' brethren ; but chiefly to prefigure good things to come, with respect to Jesus Cln-ist and his fulness, God appointed a variety of sacred seasons or festivals. Besides the morning and evening hours of prayer, and daily sacrifice, and the weekly sabbath, they had the monthly y6v thing come nnto-thcc. Tlie man departed, and told the 16 Jews that it-was Jesus, which 'had-madc him whole. And therefore did-'the Jews'-persecute^Jcsus, and 17 sought to-slay him, because he-had-done these-things on the-sabbath-day. But^ Jesus answered them, 18 My^Father worketh hitherto itoc; lipTi, aud-I work. Therefore the Jews sought the-more to-kill him, SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. 9. Sabbath. Tie seventh day set apart, Ge. ii .2, 3. — See on Mk. iL 27, § Si, p. 244, 'The Sabbath.' — T/ie law of the snhhath recog- nised in the ten commandments, Ex. >:x. 8—11. — Appointed for a perpetual covenant, xxxi. 12 — .7, (quoted § ib., p. 245, Addenda, ' ScrposED CHANGE,' is pivsumptuous in the future ; a more severe judgment may be cxpcelod to fall upon sin, repeated after the experience of the Divine forbearance and mercy. 17 ver. It is a vain thing to work acpiinst God, as notwithstanding all the opposition of Jewish and heathen riders, the Father had wrought hitherto for the bringing forth of the decree appointing dominion to the Son, Ps. ii. 1—1, {quoted Lu. i. 51, § 2, p. 20, ' Scattebed,' Ac.) The Son now worked to nceonipli.-h all the will of the Father, ver. 8 — 12, ibid. All who work for another sovcivignty than his, must work to their own confusion. L*ke ri. 1, ibid, SS9 SEOX. XJQII.] JiitlLTS DJiCl.AE£ci HIS 01h£iNKSS WIXH IHE FAXEiiE. [PART III. John v. 18 — 23. bccnusc hc--not only-luul-lirokcu i'Xuc tlie subbutli, but said uLo that' God was liis 'i^iov Father, maldng himself equal with 'God. IIJ Then answered, Jesus and said unto-thcm, Verily, vcrilj', I-say unto-you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he-sceth the Father do : for what-things-soevcr he doeth, these also doeth the Son 20 likewise ojuoi'wc. For tlic Father loveth the Son, and shcweth him all-things that himself doeth : and he- 21 will-shew him greater works than-thesc, that ye may-marvel. For as the Father raiseth-np the dead, and 23 quickcneth ^wottoieT lliem ; even so the Son quickeneth whom he-will. For the Father judgeth Koivii no- 23 man, but hath-committed all judgment Kgiaiv uuto-the Son : that all men should-honour the Sou, even- as they-honour the Father. He ' that-honoui-eth not the Son honoureth not the Father which ' hatb-sent SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. rnhitir; Lazarus to life, cli. :;!. 47—54, § 58, 'From tliat day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.' — At t!ie cleansing of ilie temple, Mk. xi. 18, § 83, ' The scribes and diief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him.' — Mt. xxi. 46, § 81, ' Wlien they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took lum for a prophet.' — Theij 'consulted that they might take Jesus by subtUty, and kill Itim.^ xxvi. 3 — 5, § 86. — Judas 'promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the midtitude,' Lu. xxii. 6, § ib. — See Jesus' several predictions of his death, Mt. xvii. 22, &c., § 52 ; — and fulfilment, § 88, et seq. 18. Making uimself equai with God. Zee. xiii. 7, 'The man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts.' — Mt. i. 23, § 2, p. 23, 'Emmanuel, . . . God with us.' — ver. 23, supra, 'All men shoidd honour the Son, even as they honour the Father.' — Jno. viii. 54, § 53, ' It is my Father that honoureth me ; of whom ye say, that he is your God.' — ver. 58, § ib., 'Before Abraham was, I am.' — x. 30, § 56, 'I and mij Father are one' — ver. 33, § ib., 'Being a man, makest thyself God.' 19. These also doeth the Son iikewise. Eph. ii. 10, 'We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained [Maro., prepared"] that we should walk in them.' — Through him the national corenanf with Israel is re-made, Heb. viii. &f. — gea, all things are to be restored, 1 Cor. xv. 24 — .8. — The Son is one with the JPathcr, as to creation, providence, and redemption, Hcb. i. 1 — 3, ' Ciod, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2, hath in tliese last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3, who beuig the briglitness oihis glory, and the express image of liis person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.' 20. SnEWETH ni5l. The Son is one xvith the Father as to counsel, Ge. i. 26, ' And God said, Let US make man in our image.' — Jno. i. 18, § 7, p. 77, ' The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared.' — Rev. i. 1, ' The Revelation of Jesus Christ, wliich God gave unto liim, to shew unto his servants tilings wliicli must shortly come to pass.' — And eh. v. 21. Whom he will. He is t/ie mighty God, whose poiver is supreme, both as to life, yer. 21, and Judgment, ver. 22, and to whom the same homage is to be rendered as is due to the Father, ver. 23. — An equal homage given to him that sitteth upon the throne and to the Lamb, Rev. v. 13 ; vii. 10. NOTES. preseiTation and governance, unreniittmgly exerted for the safety and welfare of Itis creatures. The argument is, tliat as his Father governs and preserves tho world as well on the sabbath as on other days, so he, the Son, has an equal right so to do. This sm'cly im- plied cqualitg with his Father, and consequently essential Divinity. Our Lord, moreover, professes to do the same tcorks which the Father doth ; and these not only of benevolence, but of omnipotence. lie therefore dii-ectly equals liimself with the Father. "For (as says Dr. Smith, Scrip. Test., Vol. III. 69) the subject is works of power." The speaker puts his oh>» work of power, in the miraciJous cure which he liad elFcctcd, on the same footing of consideration as the works of the Deity m tho conservation and government of the universe ; and tipoii this parity ho grounds his right thus to work on the sabbath-day.' — Bloomfield. 18. Qod mas his Father, irarcpa ifiov i'\. Meaning, that he called God peculiarly hia Father ; thus making himself equal with God. 19. These also, ravra. Not sucli things, but ' the same thmgs.' Doeth the Son likeicise. ojuoi'wf. With the same authority, Lberty, and wisdom, the same energy and efficacy. 21. Quiclenelh them. Gives them life. This is the sense of the word quickeneth tliroughout tho Bible. Uvea so. In tho same manner; by the same authority and power. The power of raising the dead must be one of the highest attributes of the Divinity. IVliom he will. It depended on liis will whether Lazarus and the widow's son should come to Ufe. 22. Math committed, S(c. Hath appointed him to be the judge of the world. In the previous verse he had said that he had power to raise the dead; he here adds that it will be his .also io judge them when they are raised. — See Mt. xxv., § 86 ; Ac. xvii. 31. 23. Honour the Son, even as, ^'c. This demonstrates the equahty, or sameness rather, of the Godhead of the Son and the Fatlier. If our Lord were God only by otHce and investiture, and not in the unity of the Divine Essence, he woidd not be honoured ' even as,' i. e., with the same honour as that wherewith tho Father is honoured. The piimitive Christians are described by Phny, in a letter to the emperor Ti-ajan, as meeting together to smg hymns to Christ as God. So we honour him aright when we regard him as possessed of wisdom, goodness, power, eternity, omniscience — one with God. ITe that honoureth not the Son. He that does not believe on him, and render to him the homage which is his due as God. Honoureth not the Father. Does not worship and obey tho Father — the first person of the Trinity. He may imagine he wor- ships God, but there is no God but the God subsisting as tho PR.\CTIC.\L REFLECTIONS. 19 ver. let us i-cjoice to be co-workers with God — of this tho Son of God hath given us example. We cannot, like liim, who alone doeth wondrous things, do whatsoever the Father doeth; but, by liis strength being made perfect in oui- weakness, we may, in our measure, worli, both for his glory, and oiu- own and othci-s' good. Let us seek that he may work in us an entire renewal of liis own blessed image, that ho moy work iu us both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 280 lue s amer. Matt. viii. 5, § 28, p. 271. Mark ii. 23, § 24, p. 211. Luke vi. 1, 20 ver. As we desire to be in (he counsel of God, let us come to Him who is the Counsellor, to whom the Fatlier freely reveals, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 21 — .3 ver. To the Son let us do homage as to The mighty God, tho Disposer of Ufe and death; remembering, that we worship not the ono true God, if we honoiu- not the Son even as we houoiu* the Father. ibid. [23. tART HI.] THIC SUPREME POWER OF THE SON. [siccr. XXlll. John v. 24 — iiO. 21 him. Verily, verily, I-say unto-yon, He' th.at-licarcLli my^word, and bclicvclh on-liim ' that-sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall--nof-come into condemnation ti'c Kp'iaiv ; but is-passed niTafiiftijKev from death 25 unto^life. Verily, verily, I-say unto-you, The-liour is-coming, and now is, when the dead shall-hcar the 26 voice of- the Son of God: and they ' that-hear shall-live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so 27 hath-he-given to-the Son to-have life in himself; and hath-given him authority 'i^ovrriav to-execute 2S judgment Kplaiv iroti'iv also, because he-is the-Son of-man. ]\Iarvel-"nol-at this : for the-hour is-coming 20 in the-wliich all thni'are in the graves juvjijueioic shall-hear his^voice, and shall-come-forth ; thcv'that- havc-done^good ra ayaOa, unto the-resurrcction of-life ; and they ' tbat-have-done^evil tu -ico is from a regard to any mere liuman iiutliority. 45 ver. We are not, like the Jews, to trust in Moses, and dis- believe his wortls ; on the contrary, believing his testimony, we are to put our trust in Him to whom Moses pointed as the Mediator of the new covenant . Luke vi. 1, ibid, John vi. 1, § 40, p. 371. 233 SECT. XXIII.J JERUSALEM.— OUTWARDLY. GEOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. JERUSALEM, AS IT EXISTS, OUTWARDLY. [PART lit. Jerusalem.— See Sect, t., vi., pp. r>8, 67. Wo have traced Jcnisnlem from the earliest period to its occvipation by the followers of Maliomet, by whom it is stiU trodden iXovm — sec Sect. v. ; and ill Sect, vi., wo glanced at tlie scriptural account of its physical features and embellishments, of its destruction foretold by the prophets, and of the futm'e glory when ' the ransomed of the Lokd shall return, and come to Zion mlh songs, and everlasting jot/ upon their heads,' Is. xxxv. 10. We proceed to describe JEKUSALE>r, AS IT EXISTS, OUTWARDLT. • jEiirsALE.M,— («ce Sect. T., vi., pp. 58, 67,)— now called by the Arabs El-Khuds, "the Holy;" and also by Ai-abian writers Beit el-JIukdis, or Seit el-Mid-addas, " the Sanctuary," Ues near the summit of a broad mountain ridpc, upon the broad and elevated promontory, within the fork of the valleys of Jehoshaphat and llinnom. All around arc higher hiUs ; on the east, the mount of Olives — (when about half-way np you are on a level with the city walls) ; on the south, the Hill of EvU Counsel, so called, risuig directly from the vale of Hinnom ; on the west, the ground rises gently for about two miles ; while on the north, a bend of the ridge connected with the moimt of OUves bounds the i^rospect at the distance of somewhat more than a mile. Towards the south-west the view is more open ; for here lies the plain of Rephaim — (.see Sect, iv., p. 46, 2nd col., 3rd par.) — commencmg just at the southern brink of the valley of Ilinuom, and stretching olT south-west, where it runs to the western sea. In the north-west, too, the eye reaches up along the upper pai't of the valley of Jehoshaphat ; and fi-om many points we discern the mosque of Neby Samwl, situated on a lofty ridge beyond the gi-eat wady, at the distance of two hours. ' The sm-face of the elevated promontoiy itself on which Jerusalem stands slopes somewhat steeply towards the east, terminating on the brink of tlie valley of Jehoshaphat. From the northern part, near the present Damascus gate, a depression, or shallow wady, rvins in a southern direction, having on the west the ancient liiUs of Akra and Zion, and on the east the lower ones of Bezetlia and Moriah. Between the hills of Akra and Zion another depression or shallow wady (still easy to be traced) comes down from near the Yafa gate, and joins the former. It then continues obliquely down the slope, but with a deeper bed, in a southern direction, quite to the pool of Siloam, and the valley of Jehosliaphat. This is the ancient Tyro- ])iton. West of its lower part, Zion rises loftily, lying mostly with- out the modem city ; wliile on the east of the Tyropa3on, and the valley fii-st mentioned, lie Bezetha, Moriah, and Ophel, the last a long and comparatively narrow ridge, also outside of the modem city, and terminating ui a rocky pohit over the pool of Siloam. These three last hills may strictly be taken as only parts of one and the same ridge. Tlio breadth of the whole site of Jerusalem, fi-om the brow of the valley of Hinnom, near the Yafa gate, to the brink of the valley of Jehoshaphat, is about 1,020 yards, or nearest half of a geographical mUc, of wliich distance 318 yards is occupied by the area of tlie great mosque of el-Haram esh-Sherif. Nortli of the Yafa gate the city wall sweeps roimd more to the west, and increases the breadth of the city in that part. 'The country around Jerusalem is all of limestone formation. The rocks everywhere appear above the surface.' THE WALLS OV THE CITY. ' The Cify Walls. — Anciently, according to Josephns, Jerusalem was enclosed by a triple wall, wherever it was not eneu-cled by impassable valleys ; in these places it liad but a shiglo wall. The ancient cify lay upon two hUls, over against each other, separated by a valley which extended quite down to Siloam, the Tyropopon, or Cheese-makers, at which the houses terminated. The hill which bore the upper city was the higher, and the straightcr in extent. On account of its fortifications, it was called by kmg David, the Fori ress, or Citadel 234 Matt. viii. 5, § 28, p. 27-1. Mark U. 23, § 24, p. (See 2 Sa. v. 7 — 9.) The other hill, containing the lower city, was Akra, and had the form of the gibbous moon. Over against this was a thu-d hill, naturally lower than Akra, and separated from it by another broad valley. In the time of the Asmoneans, this valley was filled in to connect the city with the temple ; and the height of Akra was lowered, so that the temple rose conspicuously above it. ' The present Walls. — An inscription in Arabic over the Yafa gate, as well as others in various places, records that the present walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt by order of sultan Suleiman, in A.H. 948, corresponding to A.D. 1542, or, as usually given, A.D. 1543. They appear to occupy very nearly the site of the walls of the middle ages. The materials were probably those of the foraier walls. They consist wholly of hewn stones, in general not vei-y large, laid in mortar. (Notwithstanding the mortar, the walls are full of crevices, fm-nishing a retreat to multitudes of lizards, which are seen gUding over them in all directions.) Many of the stones are bevelled, evincing an antiquity not later than the times of the Romans. ' The walls of the city have quite a stately and imposing appear- ance ; all of hewn stone, with towers and battlements ; the latter crowning a breast-work with loopholes, i. e., the exterior face is carried up several feet higher than the interior part of the wall, leaving a broad and convenient walk along the top of the latter for the accommodation of the defenders ; and serves in the cool of the evening and early iu the morning for an agreeable promenade. There are also flights of steps to ascend or descend at convenient distances inside. The height of the walls on the outside vaiies with the inequalities of the ground in different parts, from some twenty to fifty feet. At the north-east corner, and along- a portion of the northern side, a trench has been cut in the rock outside, along the wall, apparently for fiu-ther defence ; but in other places equally exposed there is no trace of any trench.' THE GATES OE THE CITY. ' Gates. — Of the several gates mentioned in Scripture, only foiu- remain open, one on each side of the city, looking towards the north, south, east, and west. That on the west is called by the natives Sab el-Khulil, or " Hebron gate," but wliich the Franks call also the " Gate of Bethlehem," or of " Yafa," and sometimes the " Gate of the Pilgrims." It consists of a massive square tower ; from it lead the roads to all these three towns. The breadth of the city from this gate to the west entrance of the Haram esh-Sherif is about 2,100 feet, or 700 yards, as near as could be determmed by paces. ' On the north is the Damascus gate, called by the natives Bah el-Amud, " Gate of the PiUar." It is more ornamented than the rest. The great road to Nabidus, Damascus, and the north, leads fi'om it. 'On the east side of the city is St. Stephen's gate, a little north of the area of the great mosque. The MusUms call it Bah es-Subat, "Gate of the Ti-ibes;" while the native Christians name it Bab Sitty Meri/am, " Gate of my Lady Maiy ;" probably in reference to the church and tomb of the Virgm Mary, in the valley of Jeho- shaphat below. From it leads the road to the mount of Ohves, Bethany, Anata, &c. Over this gate, on the outside, are sculptured four lions. ' The southern gate, called by the Franks, " Zion Gate," and by the natives. Bah en-Neby David, " Gate of the Prophet David," opens out only upon the exterior part of Zion, towards the Mushm tomb of David. 'The circumference of the holy city, as measured by Dr. Robin- sou, " close to the walls, without regarding short angles and smaller zigzags, with a measm-ing tape of 100 English feet, caiTicd by two servants, is 12,978 feet, or 4,326 yards." 'This gives for the whole cu'cumference a distance of two and 241. Luke vi. 1, ibid. John vi. 1, § 40, p. 371. [23. I'ART lit.] JERUSALEM, AS APPROACHED, a half English miles, less seventy-four yards ; or very nearly two and a half geographical miles. Josephus asserts that the ancient city was thirty-three stadia in cii-cumference, equivalent to nearly three and a half geographical miles, which difl'erence may be accounted for by the fact that the ancient southern wall included [SECT. XXIU. the whole of Zion ; and the eastern wall ran probably along or near the bottom of the valley of Jchoshaphat ; while the nortliern wall passed some forty or fifty rods north of the present city. From the time of Adrian to the present day, the limits of the holy city seem to have undergone uo important change.' JERUSALEM, AS SEEN WHEN APPROACHED FROM JAFFA. See the ' Introductory Sketch,' p. vii. — ' Apart from all associa- tions, the first view of Jerusalem is a most striking one. A biiUiant and unchequered sunshine has sometliing mournful in it, when all that it sliines upon is utterly desolate aud di-ear. No sign of life breaks the solemn silence ; no smile of nature's gladness even varies the stem scenery around. The tlaming monotonous sunshine above, and the pale, distorted, rocky wastes beneath, realise but too faithfully the picture, De. xxviii. 23, .4, " And thy heaven thai is over thy head shall he brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron. 24, The Lord shall tnaTce the rain of thy land powder and dust : from heaven, shall it come dozen upon thee, until thou be destroyed." ' To the right and left, as far as the eye can reach, vague undula- tions of colourless rock extend to the horizon. A broken and desolate plain in front ij bounded by a wavy battlementcd wall, over which towers frown, and mhiarcts peer, aud mosque domes swell, intermingled with church-turret and an indistinguishable mass of ten'accd roofs. High over the city, to the left, rises the "Mount of Olives;" and the distant hUls of Moab, ahnost mingUng with the sky, afford a back ground to the striking picture. .... There was something startUngly new and strange in that wild shadowless landscape ; the clear outlines of the hills and the city walls — so colom'less, yet so well defined agamst the naked sky — gave to the whole a most unreal appearance ; it resembled rather an immense mezzotinto engraving than anytliing which nature and nature's complexion had to do with. ' I am not sure that tliis stern scenery did not present the only appearance that would not disappoint expectation. It is unhke nnytliing else on earth; so blank to the eye, yet so full of meaning to the heart ; eveiy moimtaiu round is fimiUiar to the memory ; even yon blasted fig-tree has its voice, and the desolation that sur- rounds us, bears silent testimony to fcarfid experiences. The plain upon which we stand looks like the arena of deadly struggle m times gone by ; struggles in which all the mighty nations of the earth took part, aud in wliich nature herself seems to have shared, . . . ' As we advanced, some olive trees appeared, and deep valleys on the left sUghtly marked with pale gi-een gardens. An enclosm-e con- cealed the prospect for a while, and then again the city of Ziou appeared, shadowing with its battlementcd walls the ban-en rocks around. Going onwards, nothing but these walls were visible; presenting, probably, with their massive gates aud towers, the same appearance as they wore to the cioisaders' view. Here and there a tm'baned head was visible, and the crescent banner was waving from David's tower; a few tents, gi-een, white, and blue, were scattered round, as if forsaken in a huiTy ; and all else looked as if it had been laid waste in order to afford no shelter to an enemy. ' I had always pictured to myself Jerusalem as standing upon lofty hills, and visible from af:ir. It is, on the contrary, on the edge of a wide platform by which we approached from Jafla, and is commanded by the mount of Ohves, the liill of Scopas (where Titus placed his battering army), and other eminences, from which it is divided by the deep and naiTow ravines called the valley of Jeho- shapliat, and the vale of Hmnom. These ravines meet in the form of a -s. the lower part of which describes the precipitous glen thi'ough which the brook Kedron flows in winter to the Dead Sea.' ' The site of the city is in itself unique ; selected originally from the strength of its position only, it offers none of the features usually to be found surroimding the metropolis of a powerful people. No river nor any stream flows by ; uo fertihty surrounds it, no com- merce seems able to approach its walls, no thorouglifare of nations finds it in the way. It seems to stand apart from the world, exempt from its passions, its ambitions, aud even its prosperity. Like the High Priest who once ministered in its temple, it stands sohtary, and removed from aU secular influences. All the other cities of the earth are visited by votaries of gain, science, luxuiy, or gloiy ; Zion offers only privations to the pilgrim's body, solemn reflections for liis thoughts, and awe for his sold : her palaces arc ruins, her hostels are dreary convents, her thief boast and triumph is a tomb!' — Crescent and the Cross. AS SEEN FROM THE MOUNT OF OLIVES, ON THE EAST. 'jEntiSAMM, as seen from the place where om- Saviour, more than eighteen hundred years ago, wept over the city, and predicted its destruction, as a picture only, is extremely magnificent, — colour, foi-m, composition, all are in the finest order. The extreme clear- ness of the atmosphere is like a crystal lens, and helps to exliibit its details iu aU their minuteness. Every olijcct in tlie holy city is as clear as if it lay within a few yards, uistead of being a mile distant. Eacli battlement upon those war-worn walls, each wild flower that clusters over them ; the dogs prowling about the waste places among the ruins, and cactus, and cypress ; the turbaned citizens slowly moving along the streets : all these are recognisable almost as clearly as the prominent fcatm-es of the city. 'The eminence called mount Moriah, running steeply from the brook JCcdron, lies nearest to the view, just above the narrow valley of Jchoshaphat. The city wall passes over the centre of it, embracing a wide enclosm'e, studded with cypresses and cedars ; in the midst stands the magnificent mosque of Omar. This is of a very liglit, fantastic arcliitectvu'C, bristling with points, and littler spires, and minarets, many of which have gilded crescents that flash and gleam in the sunshine ; while the various groups of Moslems, sitting on bright cai-pcts, or slowly moving among the groves, give life and animation to the scene. ' And the eye rests on moimt Moriah ; and one seems to hear a 23.] Matt. viii. 5, § 28, p. 274, Mark ii. 23, § 24, p. j voice sounding back from bmied ages, "Myfdher, hehold the fire I and the ivood ; but where is the lamb for a burnt ojfcriny l'* There,. J too, the destroying angel stayed his hand when David humbled liim- I self before God, 1 Chr. xxi. 14— .7, compare 2 Clu. iii. 1. There, I too, God dwelt between the cherubim in the house wliidi Solomon had built for Ilira whom "the heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain." Tlicrc, too, tlic vail of the fi^niple was rent from tho top to the bottom, when the Land) of God oUered himself a sacrifice, and took away tlie sin of the world ! ' How different from tlie city of our Saviour's love ! Though even then but a mere appendage of imperial Rome, it retained the mag- nificent wonders of its Jewish kings; aud prc-cmineut even among the splendid fanes of heathen worship rose Tlie Temple. Solomon and all his glory liavc departed; centuries ago, tho great temple which lie built, \\\c glory of tlie whole earth, was a heap of ruins j not one stone was left upon another. For years its very site lay buried in ruins, tiU the Saracen came with liis terrildo war-cry, The Koran or tlie sword : and tlie mosque of Omar now rears its lofljr dome upon tho foundations of tho temple of Solomon. 'Beyond tho mosque tho domes of tho sanctuary of the Holy Sepulchre, and other cliurchcs, convents, ten mosques, and minarets, rise in succession. As seen from licneo, though trodden down to the dust, "the widowed daughter of Zion" still displays suflicient 211. Luke vi. 1, ibid. John vi. 1, § 40, p. 371. S36 JERUSALEM, AS APPEOACHED I'KOM THE SOUTH AND THE NORTH. SEC1\ xxiir.] prandciir to aid thp imnj;in(ition in pnintinp; lier n.« she once existed, ''the jierfeclion of beaiiO)," "l/iijoi/ of Hit- ii/wk earth ;" but uiion entering within her walls, the illusion is sadly dissipated. ' Beneath is the garden of Gethscmane, the vallc.v of Hinuom with its Tophet, and the vale of Jchoshaphat with its brook Kedron, whieli meets the waters of Siloam at tlie well of Job. The tombs of the kings, of Nchcmiah, of Absalom, and of the judges, he before [PART lit us: the cares of the prophets cveiynherc pierce the rocks, that hare so often resounded to the war-ci'y of the Chaldean, the Roman, the Saracen, and the crusader. Beyond the city spreads the vale of Kcpliaini, with Bethlehem in the distance ; every rock, and hill, and valley, that is visible, bears some name that has rung in history. And then the utter desolation that everywhere prevails, as if all was over with that land.' JERUSALEM, AS SEEN WHEN .\rPROACHED FROM BETHLEHEM. 'The view from the south ia nothing Uko so desolate, as when ap- proached from the west. Leaving Bethlehem, the route is for some time down a winding and terraced road of steep dccUvity. . . . Fig and oUre plantations, in great luxuriance, hung on every part of the lull slopes ; and, bathed iu warm sunlight, presented a lovely picture. Here, amongst vineyards, and ripe barley, may be seen the reapers, as in tlie days when Ruth gleaned in the fields of Boaz. The road soon becomes more level, but extremely rugged, between stone walls of fig and olive groves. On rcachuig higher ground, glimpses may be got of the Dead Sea, shut in by the mountains of Moal.' {See Sect, iv., p. 46, second col., last par.) 'The tomb of Rachel is soon passed, and a little fm'thcr is the first sight of the holy city, like a dark, low ridge of buikUng, with here and tliere a small dome, occu- pying a small space in the midst of a wide, arid plain, round which are seen gently rising slopes, rather than hills. As seen at this dis- tance, little more was apparent than a seemingly low, straight, embattled wall, with a few inconsiderable buildings, and here and there a small dome, and a palm tree or two ; the greater part of the city, northward, southward, and eastnai-d, being invisible. As we advanced nearer, the city assumed her proper position, and the relative objects about her are such as Scriptiu'e narrative would lead us to expect. The psalmist says, " Jerusalem is huilded as a city that is compact together," (or, at unity with itself;) and such is the impression received, occui^ying as it does the summit and sides of a distinct and separate rocky elevation, surrounded, for the most part, by a bold and deep valley, presenting, as it were, an almost natm-al fortification, suiTounded by massive walls. In the fi'ont rise the majestic heiglits of moimt Zion. At their westward base lay the Oallei/ of Gihon, bending off towards the valley of the sou of Jlinnoin, and the decayed village of Siloam, to wliich tlie Mount of Offence and part of the mount of Olives foiTU the backgvoimd. After reaching the lowest point of descent, the road winds up to the left. -See and the beloved city is entered at the Tafa or Sethlcliem gatc.'- ' Memorials of a Pastor's Visits ^-c, pp. 236 — .41. The following is from Dr. Robinson's 'Biblical Researches in Palestine,' Vol. I. p. 323 : — ' We came opposite the convent of Mar Ell/as,* which lies on the brow of a high ridge, overlooking Beth- lehem and the deep valley around which we had just passed; while towards the south the descent is small, and the waters run again towards the Jlediterranean. Here we got om* fu'st view of a portion of the holy city — the mosque and other high buildings standing on mount Zion, and withont the walls. As we advanced we had on the right low hiUs, and on the left the cultivated valley or plain of Rephaim, or the Giants, mth gentle hills beyond. This plain is bi'oad, and descends gradually towards the south-west. ' The plain of Rephaim extends nearly to the city, which, as seen from it, appears to be almost on the same level. As we advanced, the plaui was terminated by a slight rocky ridge, forming tlic brow of the valley of Hiimom. This deep and narrow dell, with steep rocky sides, often precipitous, here comes down from the north as far as the Yafa gate ; and sweeping round mount Zion, at almost a right angle, descends with gi-eat rapidity into the very deep valley of Jehoshaphat. The southern side of Zion is very steep, though not precipitous ; while the great depth of the valley of Jehoshaphat struck me with siu-prise. We crossed the valley of Ilinnom opposite the south-west corner of Zion, and passed up along the eastern side of the valley, to the Hebron or Tafa gate. On our left was the lower pool, now broken down and di-y. Above this the aqueduct from Solomon's pools curves across the valley on very low arches. At lengtli, at six o'clock, we entei'ed the holy city, Hl-Khtids, having been for sixteen hom's almost constantly upon our camels.' — See Sect, ii., p. 25, first paragraph, for the length of dis- tance between Hebron and Jerusalem.' JERUSALEM, AS SEEN WHEN APrEOACHED FROM THE NORTH. As seen when approached from tlie north. — ' On reaching the rocky heights of Beer,'t writes Sir. Jowett, travelling towards Jerusalem, ' the country began to assume a more wild appearance. Uncxdtivated hilly tracts, in every direction, seemed to announce, that not only Jerusalem, but its vicinity for some miles round, was destined to sadden the heart of every visitor. Even i\\a " stranger that shall come from a far land," it was predicted, De. xxix. 23, should be amazed at the plagues laid upon this comtry j and this became more than ever litei'ally fulfilled in my feelings, as I drew near to the metropolis of this chosen nation. Expectation was, indeed, wrought up to a high pilch as we ascended hill after hiU, and beheld others yet more distant rising after each other. Being apprehensive lest I should not reach the city gate before sunset .... I repeatedly desired the guides to ask the Arabs whom we met, how far, or, according to the language of this counti-y, how many hours it was to Jerusalem ? The answer we received from all was, " Wo have been at the prayers at the mosque of Omar, and we left at noon;" to-day being the Jfahommedan sabbath. We were thus left to calculate om- distance. The reply sounded very foreign to the cars of one, who know that formerly there were scenes of pm'cr worship on tliis spot. " Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord," Vs. cxxii. 4. At length, while the san was yet two hom's high, my long and intensely intercstmg suspense was rcUeved. The view of the city bm'st upon me as in a moment ; and the truly graphic language of the psalmist was verified in a degree of which I could have formed no previous conception. Continually the expres- sions were bursting from my lips — xlvui. 2, " Beautiful for situa- tion, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion." — cxxv. 1, 2, " They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, wliich cannot be removed, but abidelhfor ever. 2, As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LoBD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever." ' Among the vast assemblage of domes which adorn the roofs of the convents, churches, and houses, and give to this forlorn city an air even of niagnificen'ie, none seemed more splendid than that which has usurped the place of Solomon's temple. . . . .4_ more soothing part of the scenery was the lovely slope of the mount of Olives. ... As we drew nearer and nearer to the " city of the great King," more and • Midway, or nearly so, between Bethlehem and the holy city, from whence, as diu'ing aU the previous ascent, the view of Bethlehem, its fine position, and its surrounding territory, is channuig and exciting. — A Pastor's Visit, ^c, p. 238. t Ancient 'Bceroth,' Jos. ix. 17; 2 Sa. iv. 2. Troni el-Birch, Jerusalem (the city) b(.re S. 4° W., and el-Jib (Gibcon) S. 32" W. ; Sha'fat, S. 4° W. ; Neby SainwU, S. 30" W. ; Rani-jUUih, about W. ; Kefr Murr (ruins), l.<. 25° E. ; Tell' Asur, N. 42° E. The distance from Jerusalem is reckoned at about three hours, with horses or mules.' — Bobinson's Besearches in Palestine, Vol. II. p. 131. 236 Matt. viii. 5, § 28, p. 274. Mark U. 23, § 24, p. 241. Luke vi. 1, ibul. John vi. 1, § 40, p. 371. [23. PART III.] JEEUSALEM— ITS INHABITANTS. more manifest wci-e tlie proofs of the displeasure of tliat great King resting upon iiis city. Like many other cities of the east, the distant Tiew of Jirusalcni is inexpressibly beautiful, but the distant view is all. On entermg at the Damascus gate, meanness, filth, and misery, not exceeded, if equalled, by anything which I had before seen, soon told tlie tale of degradation. "Mow is the fine gold become dim!" I went onward, pitying everything and everybody that I saw.' — Joiceft's Sesea relies, pp. 200 — ..8. The Kev. Dr. Robinson writes of an exciu-sion to Bethel, Biblical Researches, Vol. II. p. 108: — 'It was not until half-past seven o'clock that we mustered at the north-cast corner of tlie city wall, and took our departure. The road descends obliquely into the [SECT. xxin. valley of Jehoshaphat, and then crosses the ridge extending between the raoimt of Olives and Scopus, at a point just at the left of the northern summit of the former. We reached the top of tlic ridge in twenty-five minutes. Tliis point, and more especially the adjacent summit, presents, I think, the finest view of Jerusalem" The city is seen diagonally ; and the view thus includes the great mosque and the deep valley, wliieli are not seen so well from the Damascus road; while at the same time the domes and summits are here exhibited to the eye with far better effect than from the other summit of Ohvct. The Dead Sea was also visible Far in the north was the high village er-Ram, the ancient Ramali, on the east of the Nabulus road. Before us was a wide prospect of broken hills and valleys, extending to the plain of the Jordan.' JERUSALEM — ITS INHABITANTS. Jeeusalem, continued. — For ancient Jerusalem, see Sect, v., vi., pp. 58, 67. — ' The glory of Jerusalem has indeed departed. From her ancient high estate as the splendid metropolis of the Jewish conmionwealth, and of the whole Christian world, " the joy of the whole earth" she has sunk into the neglected capital of a petty Turkish province ; and where of old many hundi-eds of thousands thronged her streets and temple, we now find a popidatiou of scarcely as many single thousands dwelling miserably witliin her walls. . . . That which om- Lord wept over in prospect, Lu. six. 41, et seq., § 82, we now see in terrible reality. There is a mutesellim, or civil governor, residing in the city, and hkewise a military governor, aud a considerable body of troops usually lie in garrison there; but the number is variable. They are lodged in the citadel. ' The common estimate of the population of Jerusalem is about 1.5,000 ; of which the greater part are probably Muhammedans. * The inhabitants of Jerusalem dwell in separate quarters, accord- ing to theii' religion — Clu-istian, Jewish, and Muhanimedan. The Christian quarter extends along the upper or western portion of t'ne city, between the Latin convent at the north-west comer, and the gi'cat Ai-menian convent in the south-west, including also the chui'ch of the Holy Sepulchre.* The Jewish quarter occupies the north- east part of Ziou, and extends upwards so as to include the greater portion of the hill lying withiu the walls. The Muhammedans are in the middle and lower parts of the city. After carefid inquiry as to the population, the information which we found most worthy to be relied upon amounted to the following : — * I. The Muhammedans are reckoned in the government books at 750 meu, but amounted really to 1,100. This enumeration may be regarded as a loose census of onc-foiu'th of tlie Muhammedan popu- lation, which at the utmost can be reckoned only 4,500. ' II. Of the Jeios, only 500 males are enrolled ; but tliere are actually many more. According to the careful estimate of the Rev. 3Ir. Nicolayson, who has ample opportunity of judgmg, the whole number of the Jews at this time (a.d. 1838) was about 3,000. In former years the number had sometimes amounted to 5,000. ' III. Christians. The Greets are reckoned by the government at 400. but are actually 4C0 ; the Latins at 260 ; the Armenians at 130. Total, 850 males, indicating a population of about 3,500 in all . Hence Muhammedans 4,500 Jews . 3,000 Chiistians 3,500 11,000 1 ' If to this we add something for possible omissions, and for the inmates of the convents, the standing population of the city, ex- clusive of the garrison, cannot well be reckoned over 11,500 souls. During the time of pilgi-imagc, from December to April, the |)opula- tion is doubled. The round of devotion consists in a visit to the river Jordan, in which they bathe, and a visit to all the holy places in and around the lioly city. After which time hangs licavily, and the pilgrim whiir.l away the hours with music in the cofTee-houses aud spirit-shops. • See Sect. xcii. 'Of all the native population, as well as throughout Syria and Egypt, the Arabic is the vernacular lauguage; as much so as the Enghsh in Loudon, or the French in Paris. ' Of the Jews now resident in Palestine, the greater number visit the land of theii- fathers m order to die in one of the four holy places — Jeiiisalem, Hebron, Tiberias, or Safed. Those in Jerusalem desire to lay theu- bones in the valley of Jehoshaphat. They live, for the most part, in poverty and filth ; and, of all other Jews, are the most bigoted, aud the least accessible to the Clu-istian missionaries. The Clu'istiaus of the Latin rite live around the Latin convent, on wliich they are wholly dependent. These are native Arabs, know only the Arabic language, and are said to be descended from CathoUe converts in the time of the crusaders, in number about 1,100 ; and live partly by cai-ving crosses and heads for rosaries, and partly on the alms of the convent. This convent, like all those in the Holy Land, is in the hands of the Franciscans, or lliuorites, of the class termed Fratres Minores de Ohservantia. The convent contains between forty and fifty monks, half Spaniards and half ItaUan. 'The Cliristians of the Greek rite (not monks) ai-e all native Ai'abs, have their ovni native priests, and perform their church service in theu* mother tongue. They amount in Jerusalem to about 2,000 souls. The Greek convents are tenanted by foreigners, all Greeks by birth, and speak only the Greek language. There are eight convents for men, containing in all about sixty monks. In the great convent of Constantine, near the church of the Holy SepiUchi'e, most of the monks and the officials reside. The seven minor convents are in the Jewish quai'ters, used for the accommoda- tion of pilgrims chieUy, and kept only by one or two monks and lay brethren. There are also five convents of Greek nuns, containing in all about tliii'ty-five, who are foreigners, like the monks. The Greeks have also convents in the vicinity of Jerusalem, as that of the "Holy Cross," about three-quarters of an hour west-south-west of tlie city; that o{"Mar Eli/as," towards Bethlehem; one at the "Grotto of the Nativity," at Bethlehem ; and the renowned monas- tery of "il/ar Saba," founded about the sixth ccntuiy, and situated on the eoutmuation of the valley of the Kidron, as it runs off to the Dead Sea. ' The Annenians have their large monastery on mount Zion, said to be the wealthiest in the city, with the splendid church of St. James. Not far off is a convent of Ai-mcniau nuns. Outside of the city, on mount Zion, the pretended house of Caiaphas serves as a smaller convent, and is occupied by monks. The Anueniaus are, for the most part, not natives; and those not attached to the convents are usually merchants. ' The Coptic Christians consist only of monks in their convent of es-Siiltan, situated on the north side of the pool of Hczekiah. There is also a convent of the Abyssinians. 'Of Iheso Christian sects, the Greeks, Latins, Armenians, ami Copts, have their own chapels in the church of the Holy Sepulchre ; and the three former have also convents or dwellings within tlio walls of the church, for the monks wlio are shut up here to perfonn A more recent estimate fully trebles this nnmbcr. 23.] Mutt. viii. r>, § 23, p. 271. .V.o/, ii. 23, § 24, p. 2tl. Luke vi. 1, ibid. John vi. 1, % 40, p. 371. 237 SECT. XXIII.] tlie regular ofllccs day and iiiglit. It is well known that a deep liatred exists among all these possessors of the Holy Sepulchre towards each othoi-. These sects are all supported by foreign contiibutiona.' — Sohinson'a SesearcJies, Vol. II. pp. 81 — ^92. A Protestant clmreh, jointly supported by the Prussian and English goveiTiments, is now built in Jerusalem, where the doc- trines and ordinances of the Enghsh reformed church arc faithfully administered. Soon may the benighted people receive the healing beams of the Srx of KianTEOUSNESS. 'Jernsalem has few manufactures; and no exports, except such as are carried away by the pilgrims. The manufacture of soap is one of the principal. For this there arc nine establishments, which appear to have been long in existence. The moimds of ashes which they have thrown out at some distance from the city on the north have almost the appearance of natural hills. At Easter large quantities of perfumed soap are said to be sold to the pilgrims. Oil of sesame is considerably made ; for tliis there are presses. There is also a large tannery for leather, just by the eastern entrance to OP THE FEASTS. [PART IK. the court before tlie church of the Holy Sepulchre. All these estabhshnients are private property, not controlled by the govern- ment ; and are in the hands of the Muslems. The Jews have thirty-six colleges. They follow no trade but of necessity, as bakers, butchers, and grocers. 'The chief articles manufactured by the Christians, both hero and at Bethlehem, are rosaries, crucifixes, models of the Holy Sepulchre, and the like, carved in olive wood, the fi-uit of the Dom- palm, said to be brought from Mecca, mother-of-pearl, or sometimes in the species of black shining stone foimd near the Dead Sea. Some of these are neatly executed. The concourse of pilgrims at Easter converts the city into a sort of toy shop or fair; and immense quantities of these tokens are ean'ied away, after having been duly consecrated by the pi-iests. Merchants also resort hither at that season from Damascus and other places, brmgiug their wares of various kinds ; so that the whole city then assmues au air of bustle and business, strikingly in contrast with its stillness and listlessness during the remainder of the year.' — Soliiisoii's lie- searches. Vol. II. pp. 'J5, .G. VISIT OF PILGRIMS TO THE HOLY CITY Is thus described in Ewald's Missionary Labours in Jerusalem, p. 169: — May 1, 1842.— 'The streets of Jerusalem are again cleared of the throng of pilgrims wluch has, for two months, rendered them nearlv impassable. Tlieii- nvunber this year was unusually large. There were 2,500 Greeks, 2,000 Ai-meniaus, 300 Copts, about 1,000 Latins, and 1,000 Mahometans. These last came from the neigh- bouring villages and mountains with flags, drums, and cornets; after whom followed a n\imber of half-naked dervishes, who looked and behaved like so many fanatics; and these again were accompanied by a mixed multitude of men, women, and childi-en, who sang and hallooed as they went. The object of these is not so much to visit Jerusalem, but the grave of Moses, which, according to their ti-adi- tions, is in the mountains near the Dead Sea, to which they resort. The Greeks go in a body to the Jordan, accompanied by a large multitude, with an escort, frequently having the pasha himself at the head of it. During this procession to the Jordan, the Arabs arc on the watch for stragglers, whom they attack and rob. Having finished the round of visits to the holy places, the pilgrim is free to do as he likes best. ......... . . . Not only is this the ease with the ordinary places, but Greeks even come ii'om Cyprus to open drinking shops during the time of pilgrimage ; and you may often see scenes of such a nature as might be expected anywhere but in tlie holy city. Each pilgrim pays a certain sum to the convent of his religion, whether he be poor or rich. The Latin convent, however, is an exception.' — See Sect. Iv p. 521, for continuation, ' jEEtlSALEM.* ADDENDA. ' FEAST.' — John V 1, p. 228. Feasts. — See Note, p. 228. The Sabbath, or seventh day, the Jirst and most ancient offcasts, commemorated the creation : ' God (Gen. ii. 3) blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it,' says Moses, 'because that in it he had rested from all his work.' The Sabbatical Yeae, which retm'ned every seven years, and was set apart for rest ; and the Jubiiee Year, at the end of seven tunes seven years, or the fiftieth year, were sorts of feasts, too, and may be considered as consequences of the sabbath. The Passovee was instituted in memoi-y of the favour which God shewed his people in sparing their first-born, when he killed the first-born of the Egyptians, Ex. xii. 14, et seq. — See Sect vi. p. 68, Addenda, ' Passovee.' The Feast op Pentecost was celebrated on the fiftieth day after the Passover, in memory of the law being given to Moses on mount Sinai, fifty days after the departure out of Egypt. They reckoned seven weeks from the Passover to Pentecost, beginning at the day after the Passover. The Hebrews call it the Feast of Weeks, and the Christians Pentecost, which signifies the fiftieth day. The Feast of Trumpets was celebrated on the Ci-st day of the civil year; on which the trumpets sounded, proclaiming the begin- ning of the year, which was in the month Tisri, answermg to om- September. It was a civil feast, rather than a sacred solemnity. Moses commands it to be observed as a day of rest, and that particular sacrifices should be olTered at that time. The New Moons, or first days of every month, were in some sort Malt. ; iii. 5, § 28, p, 27 1. Mark ii. 23, § 24, p, 2aS a consequence of the Feast of Trmnpcts. It appears that on these days also the trumpet was sounded, and entertainments were made. 'And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to-morroio is the neto moon, and I should not fail to sit idth the king at meat: but let me go, that I mag hide myself in the field unto the third day at even,' 1 Sa. XX. 5. The Feast op Expiation, or Atonement, was celebrated on the tenth day of Tisri, which was the first month of the civil year. It was instituted for a general expiation of sms, iiTcveranoes, and pollutions of all the Israelites, from the high priest to the lowest of the people, committed by them thi'oughout the year. Le. xxiii. 27, .8, 'Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement : it shall be an holy convocation nnto you ; and ye shall aljlict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire nnlo the Lord. 28, And ye shall do no work in thai same dag : for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the Lord your God.' Nu. xxix. 7, 'And ye shall have on the fi nth day of this seventh month an holy convocation ; and ye shall afflict your sottls : ye shall not do any work therein.' The Feast op Tents, or Tabeenacles, on which all Israel were required to dwell eight days imder tents made of, Le. xxiii. 40, ' boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willoivs of the brook;' in memoiy of their fatliers dwelling forty years in tents, as travellers in the wilderness. It was kept on the iiftcenth of the month Tisri, the £u-st of the civil year. The first and seventh days of this feast were very solemn. But during the other dLiys of the octavo they might work. 34, .5, 'Speak nnlo the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh 211. Luke \l \, ibid. Ju/i» vi. 1, § 40, p. 37L [23. PART III.] THE POOL OF BETHESDA. month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the Lord. 35, On the first day shall be an holy convocation : ye shall do no servile work therein.' See also Nu. xxlx. 12, .3. At the bcgmning of tlie feast, two vessels of silver were carried in a ceremonious maimer to the temple, one full of water, the otlier of wine, which were pom-ed at the foot of the altar of burnt offerings, always on the eeveiith day of this festival. — See Sect. Uv., Addenda, ' Feast of Tadeenacees,' p. 489. Of the three great feasts of the year, the Passover, Pentecost, and that of Tabernacles, the octave, or seventh day after these feasts, was a day of rest as much as the festival itself; and all the males of the nation were obliged to visit the temple at these three feasts. [SECT. XXIII, But the law did not require them to continue there during tho whole octave, except in the Feast of Tabernacles. Besides these feasts, we find the feast of Lots, or Purim, insti- tuted on occasion of the deliverance of the Jews &om Haman's plot, in the reign of Ahasuerus. The Feast op the Dedication op the Tempm, or rather of the restoration of the temple, which had been profaned by Anti- ochus Epiplianes, 1 Mace. iv. 52, &c., was celebrated in winter, and is supposed to be the feast of dedication mentioned in St. John's Gospel, ch. X. 22, § 56. Josophus says, that it was called the Feast of Lights, probably because this happiness befell them when least expected, and they considered it as a new light risen on them. * BETHESDA.' — John v. 2, p. 228. Its true site is not satisfactorily determined. Mi\ Wilde, as quoted in the ' Pictorial History of Palestine,' Vol. II. p. cxcviii., says, 'The place called Bethesda is an immense deep oblong excavation, or cistern, somewhat similar to the pools of Solomon, near Bethlehem. It is situated to the south of St. Stephen's, or the sheep-gate, immediately beneath the wall of Omar's mosque.' Dr. Robinson, 'Biblical Hesearches in Palestine,^ speaking of the fortress Aiitonia, says, ' The fortress, according to Josephus, stood on the nortli side of the area of the temple .... was separated from the liill Eczetha, on the north, by a deep artificial trench, lest it should be approachable from that hUl .... and of this trench the greater part still remains, as I apprehend, in the deep reservoir, commonly called the " Pool or Bethesda." ' The pecidiar character and depth of the " Pool of Bethesda," 80 called, have been a stone of stumbling to many travellei-s ; but by thus bringing it into connection with the fortress, its pecuharities are at once accounted for. ' This reservoir lies along the outside of the present northern wall of the enclosm-e ; of which wall its southern side may be said to fonu a part. Its eastern end is near the wall of the city ; so near, indeed, that only a narrow way passes between them, leading from St. Stephen's gate to the mosque. The pool measures 360 English feet in length, 130 feet in breadth, and 75 feet in depth to the bottom, besides the rubbish wliich has been accumulating in it for ages. It was once evidently used as a reservoir, for the sides internally have been cased over with small stones, and these again covered with plaster; but the workmanship of these additions is coarse, and bears no special marks of antiquity. The western end is bmlt up hke the rest, except at the south-west corner, where two* lofty arched vaults extend westward, side by side, under the houses which now cover that part. The southernmost of these arches is twelve feet in breadth, and the other nineteen feet ; they are both filled up with earth and rubbish, and a vast quantity of the same hes before them; yet I was able to measure 100 feet within the northern one, and it seemed to extend much fui-ther. Tliis gives to the whole work a length of at least 460 feet, equal to nearly one ^lalf of the whole breadth of the enclosure of the mosque ; and how much more we do not know. It would seem as if the deep reservoir extended further westward in this part ; and that these vaults were built up in and over it to support the buildings above. I hold it probable, that this excavation was anciently carried quite through the ridge of Bezetha, iilong the. northern side of Antonia, to its north-west comer; thus foi-ming the deep trench which separated the fortress from the adjacent hill. This part was naturally filled up by the Romans under Titus, when they destroyed Antonia, and built up their apjiroaches in tliis quai-ter against the temple. . . . We thus obtain a satisfactory explanation as to tho original purpose of the deep and otherwise inexplicable excavation, now called "Beth- esda." '—Vol. I. pp. 431— ..6. Again, 'This pool, the monks and many travellers have chosen to find in the deep reservoir or trench on the north side of the area of the great mosque ; . . . . and in the two long vaults at its south- west comer they profess to find two of the five ancient porches. The natives call it BirTcet Israil. Tliere is not the slightest evidence that can identify it with the Bethesda of the New Testament. Eusebius and Jerome, and also the Itin. Hieros., do indeed speak of a Piscina Prohatica, shewn in their day as Bethesda, a double pool, one part of which was filled by the whiter rains, and the other was reddish, as if foi'merly tinged with bloody waters. But neither of these wiiters gives any hint as to the situation of the pool. The name has doubtless been assigned to the reservoir in question comparatively in modem times, from its proximity to St. Stephen's gate That it was anciently filled with water, is apparent from the lining of small stones and cement upon its sides. But from whence the water was brought into it I am unable to conjecture ; unless, perhaps, it may have been fed from the pool of Hezekiah, or more probably from the superfluous waters formerly collected from the aqueduct and elsewhere, in the cisterns of the adjacent Karam esh-Sherif. The reservoir has now been Ary for more than two centuries, during which its deep bottom has been in part a re- ceptacle of filth, and in part occupied as a garden of herbs and trees." — Ibid., p. 489. Again, having described the 'Fountain of the Virgin,' which is on the west side of the valley of Jehoshaphat, 1,100 feet northward from the rocky point at the mouth of the Tyropajon, and which communicates by a subterraneous passage of 1,750 feet, or several hundred feet greater than tlie du'cct distance externally, with the 'Fountain of Siloam,' Dr. Robinson continues — 'The irregular flow of the water mentioned by writers of the earUer and middle ages, as characteristic of Siloam, must of com'se belong equally to both fountains. . . . But ever since the fourteenth century, this remai'kable circumstance seems to have been almost, if not entirely, overlooked by travellers. Yet the popular belief in tliis phenomenon is still firm among the inhabitants of Jerusalem; om- friends had often heard of it, but having themselves never seen the iiTCgular flow, they regarded the story as one of the many popular legends of the country. 'We were more fortunate in this respect, having been very unexpectedly witnesses of the phenomenon in question ; and we are thus enabled to rescue another ancient liistorical fact from the long obhviou, or rather discredit, into which it had fallen for so many centuries. 'The cavity of this fountain is deep, running in under the western wall of the valley ; and is whoUy excavated in tho solid rock. To enter it, one first descends sixteen steps ; then comes a level place of twelve feet, and then ten steps more to the water. The steps are on an average each about ten inches high, and the whole depth therefore is about twenty-five feet ; or some ten or fifteen feet below the actual bottom of the valley. The basin itself is perhaps fifteen feet long by five or six feet wide ; the lieight is not more than six or eight feet. The bottom is strewed with small stones, and the water flows off by o low passage at tho interior extreniity, leading under the mountain to Siloam. ' As we were preparing to measure the basin of the upper foun- tain (in tho afternoon of April SOlli), and explore tho passage leading from it, my companion was standing on the lower step near • Mr. Wilde mentions 'three.' 23.] Mall. viii. 5, § 28, p. 274. MarH ii. 23, § 2 I, p. 241. Lide vi. 1, ibid. John vi. 1, § 40, p. 371. 239 SECT, xxni.] tlio water, with one foot on tlic step, and tlic ot)ier on a loose stone lying in tlie basin. All at once lie peireivod I lie water eoming into lu9 slioe, and supposing the stono had rolled, ho withdrew his foot to tho step, wliieh howovor waa also now covered with water. This instantly excited our curiosity, and we now perceived the water rapidly bubbUng up from imder tho lower stop. In less than five minutes it liad risen in the basiu nearly or quite a foot j and we could hear it gurgling oil' through the interior passage. In ten minutes more it had ceased to flow, and the water in the basiu was again reduced to its former level. Thrusting my stalT in under the lower step, wheneo tlie water appeared to come, I found that there was hero a large hollow space; but a fm'thcr examination could not bo made without removing the steps. 'Meanwliile, a woman of Kifr Snlican came to wash at the fountain. She was accustomed to frequent the place every day; and from her we learacd, that the flowing of the water occmTed at irregular intervals; occasionally two or three times a day, and •ACCUSETII TOTT.' [PAKT III. sometimes in summer onco in two or three days. She said she had seen the fo-antain dry, and men and flocks dependent tipou it gathered around and suffering from thii-st, when all at once the water would begin to boil up from under the steps, and, as she said, fi'ora the bottom in the interior part, and flow off in a copious stream. . . . ' In the account of the "Pool of Bc/Itesda" situated near the sheep [gate], wo are told that "an ant/el went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the ti'ater : whosoever then first after the trouhling of the water stepped in was made whole" Jno. v. 4. . . . Does not this "tronhling of tlie water" look like the irregular flow of the fountain just described ? And as the sheep gate seems to have been situated not far from the temple, and the wall of the ancient city ran along this valley, may not that gate have been somewhere in this part, and this Fountain of the Virgin have been Bethesda, the same with the "King's Fool" of H'ehemiah, and the Solomon's Pool of Josephus?' — Ihid., pp. 498, ..9; 505, ..6, ..7. ' ACCDSETH YOU.' — John v. 45, p. 233. Accuseih you, ijc. — Jesus had plainly declared that he was come in the >'ame of the LoED, see on ver. 19—27, pp. 230, ..1. He had produced abmidant evidence to his being the Christ, the Son of God, ver. 31 — 44. lie now points to the testimony of Moses with regard to the case of the Jews ; and which was to be the gi'aud concluding testimony to the truth of his Messiahship. The '^ilagiies, and of long continuance,' De. xxviii. 59, which have come xipon the Jews, and which commenced in that very generation who, by crucifying the Lord of gloi-y, consummated the guilt of their fathers, incontestibly prove that it was He of whom Moses \vrote, Ex. xxiii. 20, .1, 'Sehold, I send an Angel,' ' oleg his roice,' 'for mg Name is in him.' De. xxviii. 58, .9, 'If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law, that are written in this hook, that thou magestfear this glorious and fearful Name, The Lobd tht God ; 59, then the LoiiD will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance.' The Jews ai'e witnesses to the truth of this tlu-eatening. These words of Moses still accuse the Jews; they testify that the 'plagues' 'of long continuance' which have been upon them, were so to be, in the ease of their rejecting Him who was to come iu the name of the Lord. NOTE ON 'WHAT DAVID DID The matter here referred to, respecting David and the shewbread, is recorded, 1 Sam. xxi. It is possible that we ought to look more minutely into the facts of this case, than we have been accustomed to do. It is to be recollected that the Lord was King of Israel, and that when Saul was appointed, the Lord continued to claim fidl sovereignty over both king and people, 1 Sam. xii. 12 — .5. Saul had, upon trial, been rejected from being king, xv. 22, .3 ; and David himself had, by the same Sovereign Authority and prophetic instru- mentalitv, been anointed, xvi. 1 — 13. Saul had coveted to retain the office, after he had been declared unfit for it ; and had requested that bis rejection by tho Lord should not be openly shewn to the people, XV. 24 — 31. Tho Lord had so far answered the prayer of Saul, with regard to secrecy, that the appointment of his successor was not publicly pro- claimed. David was given his commission iu such a way, as that even Sard should not know wherefore Sanmel came to Bethlehem, when he went there to anoint the son of Jesse, to be, under the Lord, king over Israel, 1 Sara. xvi. 1 — 5. The Lord being Kimq for ever, and David having been appointed to important service under Him, in regard to the kingdom, it was quite appropriate that he should in difficult circumstances, when life itself was in the most imminent danger, have recourse to the liigli priest, Avho at least ought to have been the Lord's confidential servant. Had the high -37(!«. 242. xii. 3, 4, § 24, p. priest been worthy of liis place and office, he would have thought of the Lord as King, at least in His own house. And he who dwelt in the special presence of the King, and through whom all Israel were to inqmre concerning the matters of the kingdom — surely he should have been privy to the business to which David was appointed ; he ought to have been ready to answer the inquiries of David, with regard to what should be done in such an emergency. Ought not Dand in such a case to have been received with courtesy, and treated with hospitality, in the house of the King ? Then it might have been well with Ahimelech. The Lord was able to defend His own servant in the right. But if Ahimelech, even in the Lord's own bouse, failed to recognise Him as King of Israel, and thought only of the wrath of Saul, and the danger of displeasing this king, so that he gave to David and his men the bread appointed for the priests only, then did he incur a double displeasure. But thus far David can scarcely be blamed. He truly represented the circumstances of bis case, when, in the house of the Great King, he asked for bread, saying, 1 Sam. xxi. 2, ' The King hath commanded vie a business, and liatli said unto vie. Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and xchat I have commanded thee: and I have appointed, my servants to such and such a place. Now therefore wliat is under tlune liand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present.' 210 Hr,ilt. viii. 5, § 2fl, p. 274. Bfarli ii. 23, § 24, p. 2il. Lul:e vi. 1, ibid. John vi. l. 5 40, p. 371. PART III.] JESUS REPROVETH THE PHARISEES. [SECT. XXIV. SECTION 24. — (G. 2.) — The disciples pluck ears of corn on the sabbath ; are accused by THE Pharisees ; Jesus shews that the sabbath does not forbid works of necessity. — Matt, xii. 1 — 8. Mark ii. 23 — .8. Luke vi. 1 — 5. — In the neighbourhood of Jerusalem. introduction Mt. xii. 1, 2. Mlc. ii. 33, .i. Lu. vi. 1, 2. On a sabbath after the offering of first fruits, Jesus walked with his disciples tlirough the com fields. The disciples were, according to Matthew, 'an hungred ; ' wliicli occasioned what all three Evangelists notice, their plucking 'the ears of com.' Matthew and Luke teU us that they did eat; the latter recording that they prepared the com for this purpose by 'rubbing them in their hands.' This species of laboiu- on the sabbath day appears to be that on account of which they were reproached by the Pharisees ; who ought rather to have reproached themselves for their want of hospitality, as seems to be afterwards intimated by our Lord, Mt. xii. 7. — xii. 3, 4. — ii. 25, .6. — vi. 3, 4. All the Evangelists notice the first part of our Lord's reply, — that which David did. Having escaped from Saul, who sought his life, he fled to the house of God, and prevailed upon the high priest to give him and his com- panions the shewbread to eat. Tliis appears to have been on the Sabbath, on wliich day the old bread was taken away, and the new set on the Lord's table. The bread which was removed was only for the priests, but David in his extremity asked for this, and made use of it. See p'. 240 opposite. The Pliarisees, by most unrighteous conduct towards the anti-typical David, were hasting, like Saul, to their own destruction. Jesus does not allow that the disciples were guilty in the case. He produces a series of arguments fi'om the Law, the Prophets, tlie design of the Sabbath, and his own authority AND analysis. as Lord of the Sabbath, to shew that they were not guilty ; and, by implication, that their accusers were to blame. This part of our Lord's reply is mainly supplied by Matthew. Mt. xii. 5, 6. He intimates that ac- tions must be judged of circumstantially; and that, in this light, their conduct was as blameless as that of the priests in the temple on the sabbath ; that it was as being in the service of One greater than the temple they had been reduced to such necessity. — xii. 7. Jesus intimates farther, that the necessity would not have existed but for the culpable conduct of those who now accused the disciples. The guilt lay with those who neglected to shew mercy, not with those who suffered by sxich inhospitable conduct as that of the Pharisees. — ii. 27. A farther argument in defence of the disciples, is from the design of the sabbath. It was made for man's benefit, not to deprive him of the means of exis- tence by abstinence from things lawful. — xii. 8. — ii. 28. — vi. 5. In the concluding ar- gument, our Lord asserts his right to lay down the law of the sabbath ; and if we take his oma example as the rule, wc shall see that the day is to be observed, not as a day of phari.saic faiJt- finding, but of more intimate commimion with God, and of hearty goodwill unto man. The disciples pluc/c corn on the sabbath day. — In the neijhhourhood of Jerusalem. Matt. xii. 1 — 8. [Ch. xi. 30, § 29, p. 284.] At that. time '^Jesus went' on-the sabbath-day through the torn 8(a Tiiiv aiToplfiwv ; 'and his^disciples ■were-an-lningred, and began lo- Mark ii. 23 — .8. [Ver. 22, § 22, p. 223.] 23 And it-came-to-pass, that-' he'-went through the corn-fields Siii Twv aiTOfiipnov on the sabbatli-day ; and his^disciples began, as-they-went, to- scripture illustration. Luke vi. 1 — .'5. ^ [Ch. V. 39, ibid.'] "And it-came-to-pass 1 on the-second-'sabbath'-after- tlie-first SevTipoTTpwTi^, that'-- he'-went 'through tlie corn-fields'' cifi Twv airoQifiwv ', and his^disciples Lu. vi. 1. Second sabbath after the fiest. The Passover was observed ditring the month Abib, or Nisan, answering to the latter part of MarcJi, and the heginninf/ of April. Tlie feast was held seven days, commenoing on the fourteenth da>/ of the month, Ex. xii. 1 — 28 ; xxiii. 15. On the second day of the pnschal week, the law required that a sheaf should be offered up, as the first fruits of the harvest, Le. xxiii. 10, .1. From this day they reckoned seven weeks to the feast ( f pentecost, vcr. 15, .G, called 'the least o{ wecks^ De. ivi. 10, and ' the feast of harvest,' Ex. xxiii. 16. This second day in the feast of the passorer, or of vnleai'ened hread, wn.1 the beginning, therefore, from which they reckoned towards pentecost. The occurrence recorded, Lu. vi. 1 — 5, took place on a sabbath after thai second day of the feast on which the first fruits were offered, and before which it was unlauful to pluck the ears of corn for foody Le. xxiii. 14, 'And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched com, nor green cars, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an olfcring unto your God : it shall be a statute for ever tlu'oughout your generations in all your dwellings.' note. Lu. vi. 1. On the second sabbath, ^c. iv aafipdrn) divr. The first sabbath afler the second day of unleavened bread; on which the wave sheaf was commanded to bo offered up, and from wliich, and not the first day of the passovcr, the fifty days were reckoned to the pentecost. Hence it is no wonder that all the sabbaths from the passover to the pentecost should hav" taken lluir appellation, iiTTo ri/t; ^tvrt()u^ rov TrutT^aro^, — See Al>i>i;Ni>A, p. 248. PRACTICAL reflection. Lu. vi. 1. Observe the poverty to which the Lord of all con- descended for us : he travelled on foot, with a few poor men in his company, and these reduced to the necessity of satisfying their liunger from the cars of coru that grew in the fields through which they passed. Let us lenrn from this, not to despise tlie poor; and let us submit patiently to privations, should lliey come ujion oursclve.**. — Let us not judire of God's favour to nu-n by the favour- able condition in whicli they are placed, as to the things of this life. 24.] Mail. vui. 5, § 28, p. 274. John vi. 1, § 10, p. 371. 241 SECT. XXIV.] Matt. xii. 2 — 1. pluck the ears-of-corn,' and to-eat. 2 ''Butwhen-'the Pharisees"- saw it, they-said unto-hirn, Bcliokl, th\\discipli-^s do that- wliich is-'nof-lawful to-do upon the-sabbath-day. 3 But he' said unto-them/ Hnve-ye-'nof-read wliat David did, wheu he was-an-hungred, and they ' that were with him ; 4 how he-entered into tlie house of God, JESUS EEPROVETU THE PHARISEES. Mark ii. 21— .0. pluck the ears-of-corn. 2 1 And tlie Pharisees said untt)-Iiini, Beliold, wliy do-they on tlie sabbath-day that-which is-'nof-lawful ? 25 And he said unto-them, ^Have-ye-'never"-read what David did, when hi'-had need, and was-an-hungred, he, and they ' that tvere with him ? 20 how he-went into the house of God in-tlie-days-of Abiathar the liigh-priest, SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. [PART in. Luke vi. 2 — 4. jihicked the ears- oi- corn, 'and did-eat, rubbing them m'-thcir hands.-'^ And certain of-the Pharisees 2 said untn-them, Why do-yo that- which is-'nof-lawful to-do on the sabbath-days ? And^Jesus 3 answering them said, Have-ye-'nof -read so-much-as-this, what David did, wheu himself was-an-hungred, and they ' which-were with him ; how he-went into tlie 4 house of God, Lu. vi. 1. Plucked the eaes of cokn. This had lean allonwd by the Ian', De. xxiii. 25, 'Thou mayest pluck the cars with thine hand ; but thou shalt not move a sickle imto thy neighbour's stand- ing com.' Rfbbi>'<}, &c. T)ih preparation of food was hi/ iheir tradition made a breach of the law of the sahhath : doiiir) any loorlc thereon having leeii forlidden, Ex. xx. 10 — see on Jno. v. 9, 10, § 23, p. 228. Mk. ii. 26. Days op AaiATHAU, &c. He teas afterward high priest during David's reign, but deposed by Solomon, 1 Ki. ii. 26, .7. SnEWBiiEAD. Twelve calces were to be set 'in two rows, six on a row, u)ion the pure table before tlie LOED,' Le. xxiv. 5, 6 — pure frankincense ivas to he put upon each ron^, and every sabbath the priest was to set it in order, ver. 7, 8. The bread had been newly changed when ashed by David, so that the occurrence is liTcely to have taken place on the sabbath, 1 Sa. xxi. 6. Mt. xii. 1. Only ron the triests. Le. xxiv. 9, 'It shall bo Aaron's and his sons' ; and they shall eat it in the holy place.' David induced the high priest to give, him and Ids men the hallotved bread, 1 Sam. xxi. 1, 2. — If Ahimelech faiUd to recognise the Lokd as King even in his oivn houne, and acted thus from the fear of man, he did not eacape, xxii. 16, 17 — .9. 16, ' And the king said, Thou slialt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house. 17, And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the Loud ; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth tlieir hand to fall upon the priests of the LoEn. 18, And the king said to Doeg, Tm'n thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and ho fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that ilid wear a linen ephod. 19, And Nob, tlie city of the priests, smote he ^"ith the edge of the sword, both men and women, ctiildren and siickUugs, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of tlie sword.' NOTES. Mt. xii. 3. Have ye not read, cOc. We have looked upon David's conduct in this matter as unjustifiable ; but it is likely we, and not David, were iu the wrong. From Darid's habits of thought and expression as developed iu liis Psalms, it is more probable it was of tlie Lord that he spoke as the King who had appointed him to a particular service, which, at the request of Saul himself, must for tlie present be kept secret. See on page 210, and sec In'troduction, p. 211, supra. 4, 5. House of God. This was tlic talx-rnacle; the temple was not then built. Ilk. ii. 26. /» the days of Abiathar. tiri 'A/3id0ap rov apy. 'The sense of this disputed passage (found only in St. Mark) .teems to be, "during the highpriesthood of Abiatliar." But from tlie passage of the Old Testament alluded to, 1 Sa. xxi. 1 — 6, it appears that, at the period when the circumstance here adverted to took place, Ahimelech was higli priest ; and other passages shew tliat Abiathar was son of Ahimelech. Bp. jMiddleton tliinks that a great deal of learning and ingenuity has been employed to remove a difilculty which does not e.vist. This, ho says, has arisen from imagining that the words of St. Mark, explained in the obvious way, would mean, "in the priesthood of Abiathar;" a sense which they will not admit. Without tlie article, indeed (continues he), such would have been the meaning, as in 1 Mace. xiii. 42 ; Lu. iii. 2, tjr' ii(>\it^'ni)V ' kvva K«i Kaiu(j>a, Demosth. i. 250; Thucyd. ii. 2. In fact, nothing is more common in the classical writers. Now (argues the learned prelate), in these examples the article would PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS Lu. vi. 2. Let us not measure any man's possession of true piety by his fastidious observance of ceremonial religion, and reproaching tlie poor for tliat, to which liis own want of a due observance of the law of kindness may liave mainly contributed. Mt. lii. 2. Let us avoid tlie conduct of the Pharisees, who, instead of supplying the wants of the poor, employed tlie sabbath watcliing tlie actions of men more righteous than llicmselves, for the purpose of finding fault. 3, 4 ver. If the high priest, through the fear of man, gave David, as the servant of Saul, the sliewbread, he acted unworthily. Let us not only be ready to receive a righteous man to the enjoj-ment of what the Lord may, through us, provide for his help, but let it be given him in the name of a righteous man, if we would have the righteous man's reward. Let us not only do worthy actions, but do tliem from worthy motives. 212 Matt. viii. 5, § 23, p. 27i. John vi. 1, § 10, p. 371. [24. PART in.] Matt. xii. 1 — 7. nml (lid-cat the shew^bread aprovg rfjc TrpoOiaiivg, 'which was not lawful for-liim to-eat, neither for-thcm' wliiclt were with him, hut only for-tlio priests ? JESUS DEFENDS HIS DISCIPLES. Mauk ii. 26. and did-eat the shew, bread (ipTODc rfjc TrpoOimwg,'' which is-"nof-lawful to-eat but for-the priests, [SECT. xxrv. Luke vi. 4. and did-take and eat the shew,bread 'and gave also to-tliem '//<«< were with him ; ' which it-is-"nof-lawful to-eat and gave also to-theiu ' wdiich-were with him 5 Or have-ye-'nof-read in the law, how-that on-the sahbath-days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and arc blameless ? But I-say uuto-you, That in-this-place is o//e 7 greater than-the ' temple. But if ye-had- known what f/iin meaneth, I-will-have mer- cy, and not sacrifice, ye-would-'nof-have- but for-tliu priests alone? condemned the guiltless.* SCRIPTURE ILLTISTRATTONS. Mt xii. 5. Pkiests . . . profajte the sabbatd. T/iei/ had io prepare extra sacrifices on the salbatli, Nu. xxviii. 9, 10, 'And on tlie sabbath day two fambs of the fii'st yeai" without spot, and two tentli deals of floiu- for a meat offering, mingled with oil, He. iii. 3, 'He who hath biiilded the house hath more honour than the house.' 7. Ip te had known. Sad these JewUh accusers Icnonm prac- tically the scripture, ' I desired mercy, and not sacrifice,' Ho. vi. G, and the drink offering thereof: 10, this is the biu-nt offermg of tlifij loould have exercised hospitality to the disciples of our Lord, so eveiy sabbath, beside the continual burnt offermg, and his di-iuk that these would not have leen reduced to the necessity of so pro- offering.' i viding for their wants — see also Mi. ri. 6 — 8, {quoted Mt. ix. 33, § j 36, p. 337, 'I win,' &c.)j hut they had forgotten loth the law, Do 6. Greateh than the temple. Th^ temple icas a type of his . xv. 7, 'Thovi shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut tliine hand from lody, Jno. ii. 19 — 22, § 12, p. 119 ; — his disciples are stones in that thy poor brother;' and the jiromise. Is. Iviii. 10, ' If thou draw out temple, 1 Pe. ii. 5; Eph. ii. 21, .2,(quoled Jno. x. 23, § 56, p. 524, i thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall ' Solomon .') Believers are ' the temple of God,' 1 Cor. iii. 16 ; thy light rise in obscmuty, and thy darkness Je as the noon day.' NOTES. imply, as in the case of Abiathar, that these persons were after- wards distinguished by then- respective offices from others of tlic same name. And that the name Abiathar was not an uncommon one among the Jews, is certain. And this might render the ad- dition, TOO apx- natm'al, if not absolutely necessaiy. Thus tlie sense will be, that "this action of David was in the time of .\biathar" (as we should say, when he flourished), i. e., "the noted l^erson who was afterwards high-priest." So Lu. iv. 27 (§ 15, p. 154), IttI 'E\t(T(Taiou rov Trpotpiirov. Tliis method (which had before occurred to Zegerus and Wetstein) seems entitled to the preference. Compare Ex. xxix. 32 ; Le. viii. 31.' — Bloonifield. Mk. ii. 26. The shewbread. ruiig ciprovg T-ije irpoBiatwc — in Heb. niD □n'; lechem panim — bread of the presence, or faces, because this bread was placed before the face of Jehovah, by the ijriests, upon the golden table in the sanctuary, every sabbath day : there it remained the whole week, and was then removed, Ex. xxv. 23 — 30. Calmet, after the Jewish writers, obsei-ves, that as the tabernacle fa'st, and the temple afterwards, was God's palace and place of residence, so the weekly sen'ices of bread, wine, and salt, were intended to denote his habitation among tliem, as if he had been an eartldy pi'inee for whom such provision was made. Eatlier, the loaves being twelve in number, seem to have represented the twelve tribes of Israel ; which ceremonial institution might typify the communion the Lord holds with his redeemed people in his ordi- nances — the provisions of his liouse, and the feasts with which they are sometunes favoured — the food for theii" souls whii'li they always find when they hunger after it — and the dehght which tlio Lord takes in their persons and services, as presented before liim in Christ Jesus. Mt. xii. 5. la the law. — See ScElP. IlLUS., Nu. xxviii. 9, 10; fi-om wliich, and other passages of the Old Testament, it appears that more beasts were sacrificed (and of course slain and prepared for sacrifice) on the sabbath than on any other day, and of com-se more servile work, of every kmd, must have been done by the priests. Erom the above, then, and all such passages, the inference is, that ' the action, which would otherwise be a profaning of the sabbath, being done by the especial command of God, the priests in douig what they do must be blameless.' The same reasons, there- fore, wliich rendered the priests blameless, vindicated the disciples. Profane. /3(/3)jXoD(ii. So the rabbins speak, when they say that the sabbath is laufully violated, by doing such and such sacerdotal works, and that ' there is no sabbatism in the temple.' 6. One greater, iiiiiuv. Many BISS. read, /itTJoi', something greater; and this reading is to be preferred, as our Lord might, perhaps, point to his own body, the noblest Temple of the Deity. Compare Jno. ii. 21, § 12, p. 120. Than the temple. Our Lord here anticipates an objection ; q. d. 'But you are no priest, nor is your work for the benefit of the temple.' To which he does not di;-ectly reply, '/ am one greater than tlic temple;' but, modestly and delicately, 'Here is somttking (i.e., one) gi-eater tlian the temple;' even the Lord of the temple, whose coming was foretold by Malachi, ch. iii. 1. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. iMt. xii. 5. The conduct of the disciples iu ju'cparing food on the Sabbatl], was akin to that of the priests hi the temple, who there, on the sabbath, did that which in another place would have been unlawful — teaching us, that in judging of actions, we must not view them absolutely, but circumstantially. G ver. Ill their following Jesus, the disciples had reduced them- selves to the necessity of accepting tlie meanest fare which the law 24.] allowed them : which sacrifice was truer worship, as accepted in Chri'7rou hero signifies man generally ; which may seem to be countenanced by the parallel passage of Mk. ii. 28. But in all the other eighty-seven passages of the New Testament where it occurs, the expression signifies the son of man, the Messiah; which sense also the article requires ; whereas v'lbg rou avBputirov, without tlie article, as in- variably denotes a sou of man a man.' — Bloamfield. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. own religious services, and ceusoriousness with regard to others' deficiency therein, let us endeavour, by the exercise of kindness, to prevent that conduct in others which we would be thsposed to condemn. Had the Pharisees observed the law with regard to strangers and the poor, they would not have had the present oc- casion of condemning the guiltless. Let us take heed that we act so, as that when we censure others, we do not condemn ourselves. Mk. ii. 27. The sabbath was made for man when in a state of innocence, and was appointed as a merciful institution for him even under the Law. It is not therefore to be expected that man shoiJd be deprived of it under the Gospel, in which the mercy of God so distinguishingly shines. Man is, on the sabbath, to feel as set at liberty from secular concerns, that he may without interruption enjoy the more im- mediate service of God. Mt. xii. 8. We should delight in that day which the Lord hath been pleased to call pecuharly his own ; on which he arose tri- umphant over hell and the grave, and on which he so fi-equently visited his disciples, in order to raise their thoughts and affections to things above, and belonging to that great day of the Lord, — the glorious rest of which we are reminded by each retm-ning sabbath. ADDENDA. THE SABBATH Sahbath.— This word, in Hebrew, mw, signifies rest. It is used in Scriptui-e in a Umited sense for the seventh day of the week, which was peculiarly consecrated to the service of God. 'We find no express mention of the s.abbath in patriarchal times, but it cannot be concluded from this that no sabbath was observed by the patriarchs. It is said of Noah, in Ge. viii. 10— .2, "And he stayed yet other seven days ; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark; 11, and the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth teas an olive leaf pluekt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth. 12, And he stayed yet other seven days ; and sent forth the dove ; which returned not again unto liun any more." From their thus distinguishing time by weeks of seven days, we may infer the division was Divinely appointed. Some have apprehended, that "the end of days," when Cain and Abel are said to have brought their "offering unto the Lokd," iv. 3, Matt. vU 214 I 28, p. 27-1. Marl- iii. 1, § 25, p. DAY, p. 242. means the end or last day of the week, that is, the sabbath day. And should this expression be thought to signify more probably the end of the year, when the fruits of the earth were ripe ; it is not unhkely that the "day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LoED," Job i. 6, ii. 1, was the sabbath. ' It is some confirmation, that all heathen nations adopted the division of time by weeks of days. In Homer, Hesiod, and Hero- dotus, and others of the most ancient writers, there is evidence of one day of the seven being especially sacred above the rest. Philo says, " that the sabbath is not a festival peculiar to any one people or country, but is common to the whole world, and that it may be named the general and pubUe feast, and that of the nativity of the world." 'In Ex. xvi., the sabbath is not spoken of as a novel institution, but as one with wliieh the people were well acquainted. iia. Lvh-e vi. n, ibid. John vi. 1, § -10, p. 371. [24. PART III.] THE SABBATH DAY. surrosED change of the sabbath at the time of the exodus. [SECT. XXIV. ' It is probable that tlic .Towish sabbath was appointed to be kept the day before the patriarchal sabbath ; and that ihc first day of the week, or the Cliristian sabbath, is the seventh day, computed from the beginning of time, and the same witli the sabbath sanctified by God, and observed by the patriarchs, in commemoration of the works of creation. 'The first account of the institution of the Jewish sabbath is in Ex. xvi. 23 — .6, when the day appointed to be kept was marked out by its not raining manna. "And he said unto them, This is that which the Lord hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the Lord : bake that which ye will bake to Jai/, and seethe that ye will seethe ; and that which rcmaiucth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning. 24, And they laid it up till the raoi-ning, as Moses bade : and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein. 25, And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day is a sabbath unto the Lord : to day ye shall not find it in the field. 26, Six days ye shall gather it ; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none." ' From Ex. xvi. 1, we learn that the children of Israel reached the wilderness of Sin "on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departure out of the land of Egypt," and the Lord that night sent them quails ; and the next morning, which was the sixteenth day, it rained manna, and so imtU the sixtli day. On the seventh day, which was the twenty-second, it ramed none, and that day they were commanded to keep for thcii- sabbath. If tliis had been the sabbath in course, according to the paradisiacal computation, the fifteenth must have been so too, and would have been doubtless kept as a sabbath, and not part of it spent in marching from Elun to Sin. 'That the Jewish sabbath was on a different day from the para- disiacal sabbath, is probable from its being appointed a sign between God and the people of Israel, by observing wliich they were to know or acknowledge Jehovah as their God. Ex. xxxi. 12 — .7, "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 13, Speak thou also unto the childi'cn of Israel, saying. Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep : for it is a sign between me and you tlu-oughout your generations ; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. 14, Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore ; for it is holy unto yen : every one that dcfileth it shall surely be put to death : for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 15, Six days may work be done ; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord : whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. 16, Wlierefore the chddi'cn of Israel shall keep the sabbatli, to observe the sabbath throughout then* generations, /or a perpetual covenant. 17, It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever : for in six days the Lord made heaven .and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed." Eze. xx. 20, " Hallow my sabbaths ; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord yom- God." Agreeably to which is the opinion of the Jewish doctors, that the sabbath was given to IsraeUtes, and none else were bound to observe it. But how coiUd it be a sign between God and the people of Israel, more than any other people, if it had been merely the old paradisiacal sabbath, which had been given to all mankind ? ' The Jewish sabbath being declared to be instituted as a memorial of f heir dchverance out of 1 lie land of Egypt, and this being super- added to the reason for keeping the ancient paradisiacal sabbath, makes it highly probable it was appointed to be on a different day ; otherwise how could it be a memorial of a new event, or with what propriety could it be said, as it is, " Remember that thou wast a servant in Die land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm : therefore the Lobd thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day," De. v. 15 ; which compare with Ex. ix. 11, " For in eix days the Lord," &c. 'Some have computed that the Jewish sabbath was appointed to be on the same day of tlie week as that on which the deliverance of the chikh-en of Israel was completed, by the overtlu-ow cf Pharaoh in the Bed Sea. ' It is a very probable conjecture, that the day which the heathens m general consecrated to the worship and honour of their chief god, the sun, was the ancient paradisiacal sabbath. What, but the tradition of a Divine institution, should induce them to consecrate that day to then' principal deity, and to esteem it more sacred than any other ? ' The reason, perhaps, for God's changing the day, might be to take off the Israelites more effectually from concurring with the Gentiles in their idolatrous worship of the sun. For the same reason, as the heathens began their sabbath, and other days, from the sun-rising, the Israelites are ordered to begin their sabbath from the evening, Le. xxiii. 32, "From even unto even, shall ye celebrate 1/our sabbath." As the worshippers of the sun adored towards the east, the point of the sun's rising, God ordered the most holy place, m wliich were the sacred symbols of his presence, in the tabernacle and temple, and towards which the ppople were to worship, to be placed to the west. 'It is objected, that the paradisiacal sabbath was appointed to be kept on the seventh day; and so, in the fourth commandment, was the Jewish ; and they are supposed, therefore, to have been kept on the same day. But this consequence will not follow fi-om the premises. It is by no means certain, that the seventh day of the Jewish week coincided with the seventh of the paradisiacal. For upon their migration out of Egypt, God appointed the Israelites a new computation of time. The beginning of the year was changed from the month Tisri to the opposite month Abib, Ex. xii. 2 ; and the beginning of the day from the morning to the evening ; for whereas the fifteenth day of the month, on which they departed from Egypt, was reckoned to be the morrow after the evening on which they ate the passover, that is, on the fourteenth day, Nu. xxxiii. 3, ("And they departed from Rameses in the first montli, on the fifteenth day of the lu'st month ; on the morrow after the passover the childi-en of Israel went out with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians") — compare with Ex. xii. 6, ("And ye shall keep it up until the fom-tccnth day of the same month : and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening ; ") tliey were, for the time to come, to compute their days, at least their sabbaths, from even to even ; by tliis means the fifteenth day was cli.angcd into thefourteenth, and the seventh into the sixth; and tho change of the sabbath made a change likewise of the beginning of the week, or the seventh in respect of the preceding six of labom-, though not the seventh from the beginning of time.' 'It is also a circumstance of importance in the passover, that its seven days have two sabbaths. "In the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day," Ex. xii. 16. And an important diflcrence between the first passover and every succeeding one is to be noted ; that in the first the lamb was slain tlie^ evening before the fifteenth ; but on every subsequent passover before sun- set on the thirteenth, m order that tho whole /u«r/clures. The day was appoint<3d to cheerful rest, that not only the Israehtcs, but also strangers livmg with them, as well as tlieir cattle, might be refi-eshcd, Ex. xxiii. 12, 'Six days thou slialt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest : that tliine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.' The usefidness of a seventh day rest for man and beust docs of coiu'se still reniaui. And surely tliose whom the Loril by his death set free will not refuse Iiim his own day, for the purposes designed j but will themselves rest, and give release to all under them. SABBATH EXERCISES. 'The Jewish doctors make the sanetification of the sabbath to formed without profaning the sabbatli, Le. xiiv. 8; Xu. xxviii. consist, not merely in rest and idleness, but in meditation on the wonderful works of God, in the study of the law, and in instructing others who arc under them. 'Double sacrifices being appointed to be offered on the sabbath, is an inlimafioii that it was intended to be a day of cxtruorcUnary devotion. Those services of tlic temple therefore might be per- 24.] 3—10; Mt. xii. 5) and it was lawful also to circumcise on that day, Jno. vii. 23, § 55, p. 491. ' The holy convocations to bo held on the sabbath, Lc. ixiii. 3, are most natiu-ally to be undei-slood of assemblies for religious worship, as in the following passage of Isaiah, eh. iv. 5, "And tbo Lord will create upon every dwelling placo of mount Zion, and Malt. viii. 5, § 28, p. 274. Marl iu. 1, § 26, p. 249. Luie vi. 6, ibid. John vi. 1, § 10, p. 371. 24 7 SECT. XXIV.] upon her assemblies, a cloud and emoke by day, and the sliiiiing of a ilaining fire by night : for upon all tlic glory s/iall be a defence." 'That Buch religious assemblies were held on the sabbath, is argued from the Shuuanimite'e husljand inquiring, " Wliereforc wilt thou go lo him to day? il is neither new moon, nor sabbath," 2 Ki. iv. 23. ' This likewise may bo inferred with great probability from the following passage of the Acts : " Moses of old tirao hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day," ch. xv. 21.* — Jennings Anliquilics. '■\Vo know not with certainty from the Mosaic writings what constituted the most ancient worship of the Israelites on the sabbath day. It is however evident from the New Testament, that the celebration of tliis day chiefly consisted in the religious exercises which were then performed, though there is no injunction recorded, except that a burnt offering of two lambs shoidd on that day be added to the morning and evening sacrifices, Nu. xxviii. 9 ; and that the shewbread should be changed, Le. xxiv. 8. In the 8ynagog\ics the sacred writings were read and expounded, to which ■was sometiines added a discourse or sermon, by some doctor or eminent teacher, Lu. iv. IG— 22, § 15, p. 149 ; Ac. xiii. 15, "And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers ol the synagogue sent unto them, saying. Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for tbe people, say on." Prayer also seems to have formed part of their worsliip in the synagogue, and especially in the temple ; so Hannah, 1 Sa. i. 9, 10; so Solomon, 1 Ki. viii. 29, 30, .3 ; the Pharisee and publican, Lu. xviii. 10 (§ 73); Peter and John, Ac. iii. 1.' — Home's Introduction. 'The modem Jews still cleave to the seventh-day sabbath, and boast of it as their spouse, given to them above any other nation. They begin it on Friday evening, when tliey repair to the synagogue, and rehearse certain prayers, and after returning home the fathers bless their children, and masters their scholars. On Saturday morning they rise later than usual : when they come to the sy- nagogue, they rehearse several paalms and prayers. A section oi the Law is read, and a correspondent one from the Prophets. After which, the last of the seven readers lifts up the book, and blesses the people. They have also a kind of sermon some time of SABBATU EXERCISES. [PART 111. the day. On account of the rest thereof, the Jewish festivals, th« year of release, &c., are called sabbaths, Le. xix. 3, 30.'— Gurnri/'s Victionarji. The Gentiles, having never been under the Mosaic law, and the house of Israel, having been divorced from that old covenant, Jor. iii. 8, have of course nothing to do with the Jewish sabbath — • and from us as Christians it passed away with the temple service and sacrifices ; hut the law of the sabbath, which was before the ceremonial law — the sabbath which was from the beginning ; and which was given for 'mercy, and not sacrifice,' — the day of rest for man, and even for beast, did not pass away. It was only removed to the day on wliich it was originally appointed to be observed. The Lord's seventh day, and vaans first day, he having been created at the close of the sixth day, is now, as it was in the beginning, tin appointed day of rest. — See Sect, xciii., on John xx. 1, &c. The Jewish sabbath has passed away, but not so the law of tha sabbath as given to man in Paradise, and proclaimed by the voice of God from Sinai, along with the other moral precepts of perpetual obligation, enforcing it with reasons absolutely moral and luiiversal. Tliere still remaineth for us the keeping of the sabbath, the duties of which were illustrated by acts of mercy so frequently performed by our Lord on that day; and the privileges of which were pointed out by the communion to which he, after his resurrection, so repeatedly admitted his disciples upon the day commemorating that event. Tlie merciful provision of one day in seven for rest and blessed communion stUl remaineth. Nor should we love tliis day the less, nor should we be the less regardful of its sanctions, because of its being now called 'the Lord's day;' a day specially appomtcd for fellowship with our Lord and his disciples, and for doing good to all as we have opportunity. Let no one think that he can in the end be a gainer by robbing the Lord of his own day. Thus saith the Lord : Is. Iviii. 13. .4, ' If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy j)leasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a dehght, the holy of the Lobd, honourable ; and shalt honom- him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding tliine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words : 14, then shalt thou delight thyself in the LoKD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of tlie earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father ; for the mouth of the Loed hath spoken it.' ON LUKE Vi. 1, p. 341. 'the SECOND SABBATH AFTER THE FIKST.' 'The walking through the corn-Gelds in question is placed by St. Matthew and by St. Mark simply upon the sabbath ; but by St. Luke on a sabbath winch he calls the 'S.ajijiaTov ctfurtpojrpwT-ov: a designation wliich ranks among the airaS, Xiyofitva of the New Testament, and, like another of the same class, t'ov i-Tnovawv (Mt. vi. 11, § 19, p. 18 1 ; Lu. xi. 3, § 62), has created no small difficulty how to explain it. 'The word is compomided of two elements, Sivn^ioQ and vrpuirof, each of them alike significant ; and, rendered according to the genius of the Greek language in its compound phraseology, it denotes, /cai after the second; and not, second after the first ; primo-secundits, not seciindo-j>rimus. This being the case, its vei-y construction holds out the torch to its meaning, and confirms the conjecture of Scahger, to whom the merit of the discoveiy is due : the 2a'/3/3aroi' hvrepo- vpinTov, here spoken of, must he some sabbath, considered as first, reckoned after something second, not as second, reckoned after some- thing _/?r«<. 'The literal version of St. Luke's words — 'Eyii'tTo tv e«, Vol. II., p. 319.— See Sect, it., Addenda, p. 156, ' Synagogue.' 7. Scribes. See Addenda, p. 253, ' Scbibes.' rharisees. See Sect, vii., Addenda, p. 87, ' PnARtSEES.' Mk. iii. 2. Watched him, jrnpjnjpoi'*'. Uapartipttv signifies, 1. To keep one's eyes fixed beside or close to (napii) any person or tiling. 2. To watch, whether for a good, or (as generally) for an evil purpose. PRACTICAL REFLECTION. Lu. vi. 6, 7. Tlio benevolence of our Divine Redeemer was sueh, attention of his enemies, that they might find an accusation against that an opportunity of doing a good ad ion was enough to excite the [ him, in liis performing it. 25 ] Matt. viii. 5, § 28 p. 274. John vi. 1, § JO, p. 371. 249 BKCT. XXV.] Watt. xii. 10. "And they-asked him, saying, Is-il-lawl'ul to-heal on-Uie sabbath-days ?'' that tJicy-might- accuse him. •fESliS BEAS0}\ beloved, in whom iny.soulis-wcll-plensed : I-will- put my ^ spirit upon him, and he-sliull-^hcw aTrayytXti judf,'mc'ntKpi'(Tiv to-the Gentilos luviaiv. 19* * * He-shiill--uof-strive, nor cry; neither 20 shall-"any-man"-hear his^voice in the streets. A- bruised awTiTftifi^uvov reed shull-he-"nof-break, and smoking Ihi.K shall-he-'nof-ciuench, till he- SCRIPTURE ILLUSTR.\TIONS. Mt. iii. 18. Well pleased. Tiis acknowledgment of our Sigh Friesl made hy the Father at the baptism of Jesus, iii. 17, § 8, p. 92, and on the mount of transfiguration, itU. 5, § 51, p. 453. Put Mr sriEii. Farther predicted. Is. xi. 2 ; Ixi. 1 ; — accom- plished, Mt. iii. 16, § 8, p. 91.— Seferred to by the baptist, Jno. i. 32-. t, § 10, p. 106 ; iii. 31, § 13, p. \Zi.— Farther fulfilled wlien poured upon the bodg, Ac ii. 36, ' Therefore let all the house of Israel know assui-edly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ve have crucilicJ, both Lord and Cluist.'— iii. 13. — Juo. i. 10, § 7, p. 77, ' And of his fulness have aB we received, and grace for grace.' He shall shew judgitent. Lu. ii. 32, § 4, p. 42, ' A liglit to lighten the Gentiles, and the glorj' of thy people Israel.'— Ac. iii. 23, NOTES. and be joined with the Captain of our salvation, in the triumph to which reference is made in the succeeding context. It may be noticed that the three offices of Clu'ist appear to be rcfeiTed to in this verse, — I. He is a King. It was for this he took on him the form of a scnant, and came into the world, Jno. xviii. 37, § 90. It was for this lie hath been chosen to sit at the Fatlier's right hand, Ps. ex. 1—3, 'The LOKD said unto my Lord, Sit lliou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. 2, The Lokd shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion : rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. 3, Thy people shall he willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning : thou hast the dew of thy youth.' II. He is a Priest, in whose name we are accepted of God, with whoso work in our behalf the Father is well pleased. III. He is the Prophet, unto whom the Spirit is given without measure, and who was to exercise himself, in his prophetic oflicc, by revealing to the nations that which was hid from the Jews. — See 'He shall shew judgment,' &c. / mil put mg spirit ujwn him. Here are tlu-ce concerned in the great work of revealing, or of making an Apocalypse to the Gen- tiles : — FinsT, the Father, who speaks — 'Iwillput,' &c. — Secondly, the Holy Ghost — 'tng spirit ;' the Spirit that ' searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.' — TniRULT, the Son, who for us receives the gift — 'I will put my spirit upon him.' Mt. xii. 18. He shall shew, S;c. Correspondent to this is the language used in the beginning of the Apocalyjisc — ' The Iteiielation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to sheic,' &c., when judg- ment or discernment is given with regard to the matters contained in that book — ' The time is at hand.' ly. J/e shall not strive, i^c. The patience and forbearance of of God to us, ' Behold my .urcant, whom I have chosen.' Mt. xii. 19. Let us be contented with being unknown, and with suf- fering reproach now, during the seeming triumph of the enemy. So may we be prepared, and be helpful in preparing others, for joining ' Every soul, which will not hear that Prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.' — Ps. xciv. 15, 'Judgment [or, discern- ment] shall return unto righteousness : and all tlie upright in heut sliall follow it.' — By gifts of extraordinary wisdom and knowledge did the Lord shew forth judgment, 1 Cor. xii. 7, 8. 19. Not stkive. So Is. xlii. 14, 'I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself.' — hii. 7, 'He was oppressed, and he was afllicted, yet he opened not his mouth.' — 1 Pe. ii. 23, 'When he was reviled, reviled not again.' 20. Bruised reed . . . smoking flax. Jesus compassionated the toeakness and darkness of his disciples, who, even after his resur- rection, were still in great ignorance, Lu. x\iv. 25 — .7, § 'J4, p. 961. Jesus Christ, which we have ourselves so long and so greatly tried, are here presented for our imitation. We are not to be hasty in hurling defianee ; and ere we begin to boast, we are to be sure that we have indeed obtained the victory. Nor cry, 4'c. These words are to be understood as referring to a particular period — a period reaching to the time when he shall have ' set judgment in the earth,' Is. xlii. 4. In the context, ver. 13, .4, we are plainly told that he will not be always so forbearing ; ' The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man, he shaU stir up jealousy like a man pf war : he shall cry, yea, roar j he shall prevail against his enemies. 14, I have long time holden my peace ; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.' 20. A bruised reed. A reed was one of the weakest and least valuable instruments of music, and but ill fitted to appear in the celebration of a glorious triumph. A bruised reed was this in- strument rendered comparatively useless, and altogether indecorous for an occasion where only the best should be seen, and where all should be harmony, in sounding forth the conqueror's praise. Such an instrmuent, liowever, the Redeemer will not break, and in- dignantly tlirow aside, ' till he have set judgment in the earth,' Is. xlii. 4 ; till the time when the ' neio song ' is to be sung, referred to, ver. 10 — .2 of same chapter, (juoieiZ Lu. xii. 50, § 63, p. 581, ' Straitened.') He will then have afforded ample opportunity to his servants to provide themselves with more fitting means of declaring his praise : and he wUl expect that these be used as he has appointed. Men must then sei-ve him with their best ; he will bear with the bruised reed no longer. Let each be prepared to say, 'I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing witli the understanding also' 1 Cor. xiv. 15. Smoking flax, ij'c. The Jews used flax in their lamps, as we do PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. second advent he will be acknowledged as the true David, or hannoniously in the new song to our conquering Redeemer, when ' Beloved,' the man after God's own heart, set over the household the call shall be given, ' Go ye out to meet him ' (Mt. xxv. 6, § 86). of God, and caiTying out his rigliteous government. j gO ver. Let us not suppose that because God hath been so for- Jesus is the Head of his body, the church ; behevers are chosen bearing in the past, he will be for ever longsuffering ; let us rather in him, to be members of his body, upon which the anointing was fear that, if the goodness of God lead us not to repentance, we shall to come, from liim their ascended Loi'd. Let us attend to tlie voice be found treasuring up to ourselves wrath, and that the day of liis triumph will be to us a day of fiery indignation. Let us endcavom- to improve the tin\e of preparation, else the time when his glory shall appear, and perfection be required, may be the time of our exposure to shame and everlasting contempt. 253 Malt. Till. 5, § 28, p. 274. Mark iii. 13, § 27, p. 2G0. Luke vi. 12, ibid. John vi. 1, § 40, p. 371. [26. PART lir.] IN Ills NAME SHALL THE GENTILES TRUST. Matt. xii. 20, .1. 21 send-forth £K/3aXr), judgment tTiv Kphiv unto victory. And in his ^iiame shall-'the-Gentiles'-trust (X-muvtri. [Ver. 22, § 31, p. 201.] SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. [SECT. XXVI. Mark. Mt. xii. 20. Till he send foete. 2 Pe. i. 19, ' Until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.' — Nothing but the new song will suffice, when he shall send forth 'judgment unto victory,' as described Is. xUi. 13, .4. ' Tlie LoED shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war : he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies. II, I have long time holden my peace ; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry Uke a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour [Heb. swalloiv, or, sup vp^ at once. See Note, ver. 19. — See also Eev. xiv. C, 7, {quoted Mk. iv. 29, § 32, p. 305, 'When the FBUIT,' &c.) Then his people must no longer be mingled with that which hath brought him dishonour, ver. 8 — 11, {quoted ibid.) — the command must be obeyed, xviii. 4, 'Come out of lier, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.' 21. In ni3 name. Is. ix. 6, 'And his Name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.' — lii. 6, ' Therefore my people shall know my Name : therefore theg shall Jcnow in that day that I am he that doth speak : beliold, it is I.' — Rev. xix. 11, ' Faitliful and True.' — ver. 12, 'and he had a Name written, that no man knew, but he himself.' — ver. 13, 'And his Name is called The Word of God.' — ver. 16, 'And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a Name written, KING OP KINGS, AND LOED OF LORDS.' NOTES. cotton in ours. In celebrating a triumph, and xipon other joyous occasions, lamps were carried in thcii' processions ; but these shoidd be bright and shining ; well trimmed, and sufliciently supplied with oil — not smoking, as if about to go out, Uke those of the foolish virgins. This would be calculated to give annoyance, rather than add to tlie brilliancy of the scene. The Lord will bear with the smoking flax Hill he have set judgment in the earth,' Is. xlii. 4. There is a time coming when each must be found with his loins girt, his lamp burning, and oil in liis vessel with his lamp. Then those who are found with the smokmg flax in place of the brightly burning lamp iiiust have then- glimmering light entirely quenclied, as being altogether imfit for the occasion. Let the longsuifering of God not lead us to presumption, but rather to repentance, and to diligent preparation, that we may not be ashamed before him at Ids appearing. Mt. xii. 21. And in his name shall the Gentiles trust. This is not a literal translation of the words of the prophet, but it gives us an entrance mto their import. The words, as given. Is. xlii. 4, are, 'and the isles shall toait for his law.' Like the disciples, at ' the Sermon on the Moimt,' they shall sit down at liis feet ; and receive of his words. It is only as trusting in his ' Name,' as resting on the One 'Sure Foundation,' that we can in truth wait for his law; and it is in order that we may wait upon him, to hear and do his will, tliat we are given his Name in which to trust. The Name whereby he hath made liimself known to us, is Love ; and love is the law of his king- dom. His kingdom was to spread out among the GentUcs ; and at length to include the isles, ' the isles of the Gentiles' Nations dwelling in the more distant parts of the world, knowing the loving- kindness of the Lord, his longsuttering and forgiving grace; and having confidence in his willingness and power to bless them, in submitting to his law, wliieli is ' Love,' wiU at length learn to wait quietly upon God, in the exercise of forbearance and kindness to each other. In place of making haste to shed blood, or attempting to strengthen themselves by a crafty confederacy witli ' The wicked,' they shoidd endeavour to enlighten the ignorant, deliver the oppressed, emancipate the slave, and bring all into the miity of truth and of love. This they can only do as being the disciples of Him by whose name they are ah'cady called, as learning of Him who was ' meeJc and loxoly in heart,' as finding in Him I'est for thch- souls ; by receiving those lessons of truth, of peace, and of love, which are tauglit in ' the Sermon on the Mount.' Soon may the nations inhabiting these isles, and their oflshoots in all the ends of the earth, be fomid m the footsteps of the Sou of God ; be found the people of whom he spake, saymg — 'Blessed are the peacemaTcers : for they shall be called the children of Gorf,' Mt. v. 9, § 19, p. 173. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. Mt. xii. 21. It is only as waitmg for liis law that we can truly give evidence of oui" trust being in Jesus. And it is only as trusting in Jesus, that we can in truth wait for his law. Is. xxviii. 16, 'Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner slone, a sure foundation : he that beheveth shall not make haste.' Let us earnestly desire the promised pubhcation of the name of Jesus ; for when this takes place, the promise will be accomphshcd, ' In his name shall the Gentiles trvsf.' geographical notices. The Sea, p. 254.— The Sea, i. e., the ' Sea of Galilee.'— &e ' Lake of Genncsarct,' Sect, xx., p. 209. ' There was a saying among the Jews, that God had blessed this sea above every other sea ; and, in a certain sense, this was true ; for it was more honoured by the presence and operations of our blessed Lord than any other spot. In a city on its shores he took up liis usual abode, so as to give to that city emphatically more than any other the appellation of " his own city," Mt. ix. 1, § 35, p. 332. In its neighbom'hooci, or on its waters, he performed some of his most gracious and usefid acts, and WTOught the greater part of his most benevolent and impressive miracles — instructed the ignorant, fed the hungry, supplied with the means of subsistence the needy, healed the sick, raised the dead, cleansed lepers, cast out devils, walked on the water, and hushed the raging elements. On this sea he called many of his disciples, and on its shore he appeared to tliem after his resurrection. Here, also, having indirectly rebuked Peter for his unfaithfulness to liim, ho restored him to the apostle- sliip.' — Beauties of the Holy Land, by Sev, J. Ransom, p. 184. — Continued Sect, xxxii., p. 308. 26.] Matt. viii. 5, § 28, p. 274. Mark iii. 13, § 27, p Gaiilee. — See ' Historical Sketch,' p. ix, and Sect, xviii., p. 170, Addenda, ' On Jesus' fiest oeneeal ciecuit op galilee.' Jud«;a. — See ' Historical Sketch,' p. ix. Jerusalem. — See Sect, v., p. 58, and Sect, xxiii., p. 234. Idum^a. — Idiunsea, or Edom, lay on the south and south-east of Palestine, varying in its dimensions at difTereut periods of its history. It bordered on the east with Ai'abia Petrca, mider which name it was included in the latter part of its history; was bounded on the north by the Dead Sea and Juda;a ; and extended southwards to the eastern gulf of the Red Sea. It comprehended the countries anciently known by the names of Vz, Dedan, Tcman, &c. ; and, among other powerful cities, it could boast of Selah (or Pctra), Bozrah, Elath, anil Eziongeber. The original inhabitants of this country were the Horites, who beuig eitu-pated or expelled from it by the descendants of Esau, De. ii. 12, the country, which now received the name sometimes of Edom, and sometimes of Scir, soon became exceedingly populous, and its possessors a terror to the sm'rounding nations. Long before the reign of any kuig in Israel, 2C0. Luke vi. 13, ibid. John vi. 1, § 40, p. 371. 357 R SECT. XXVI."] IDUMiEA. [PART in. Edora was governed first by dukes or princes, afterwards by eiglit successive kings, and again by dukes, Go. iixvi. 31 — i3. 'The fertility and early cultivation of this country are implied not only in the blessing given by Isaac to Esau, whose dwelling was to " le the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above," ell. xivii. 39 ; but also in the condition proposed by Moses to the Edomites, when he solicited a passage for the IsraeUtes through their borders, that they woidd "not jiass through the fields, or through the rlnej/ards," Ku. xx. 17. Bordering with Arabia on the cast, and Egypt on the south-west, and fonning, from north to Bouth, the most commodious channel of communication between Jerusalem and her dependencies on the Red Sea, as well as between ! Svria and Judiea, through the contiiuious valleys of El Ghor and El jVi-aba, which tenniiiated on the one extremity at the borders of Judrca, and on the other at Elath and Eziougeber on the Elanitic gulf of the Ked .Sea, Idumwa may be said to have formed the em- porium of the commerce of the cast. A Eoman road jiasscd dtfectly through it ti-om Jerusalem to Akaba, and another from Akaba to Moab. " The caravans, in all ages," says a late m-itcr, " from Jlinca in the interior of Ai'abia, and from Gcrrha, on the gulf of Persia, from Iladramaut on the ocean, and some even fi-om Sabea or Yemen, appear to have pointed to Petra as a common centre; and from Petra the trade seems to have again branched out into every direction, to Egjpt, Palestine, and Syria, through Arsiuoe, Gaza, Tyre, Jerusalem, Damascus, and a variety of subordinate routes that all terminated on the Mediterranean." 'From these evidences, therefore, both from Scripture and history, it is plain that the Iduma^aus were at once an opident and a power- fid people. They often contended with the Israelites, and entered into a league with their other enemies against them. It was not, indeed, until the reign of David that they were completely subdued, at whi'.'h period many of them dispersed throughout the neighbom-- ing countries, particidarly Phoenicia and Egypt (2 Sa. viii. 14). Thus was the prediction of Isaac, that Jacob should rule over Esau, literally fulfilled. And, notwithstanding repeated efforts to break Israel's i/ol-e from off [/iwj neci-, Esau remained m subjection to the Hebrews for 150 years. At length, about the year B.C. 890, the Idimia^ans revolted, and set up a king of theii- own, on which Jchorsm, king of Judah, attempted to reduce them ; but, though he cut in pieces many of their troops, he completely failed in accom- plishing his pm'pose, 2 Ki. viii. 20. About sixty-five years after- wards, Amaziah, to revenge the ciiielty of the Edomites in buymg a number of Hebrews from the neighboiu'ing nations and devoting them to slaveiy, invaded Idiuna-a, obtained possession of Selah, then' capital, and, not contented with the desti-uction of ten thousand of them by the sword, imitated their cruelty in hurling other ten thousand fi-om the rocks wliich envu-oned their city, ch. xiv. 7 ; 2 Ch. XXV. 12. IdumaDa was subsequently invaded, fu'st by TTzziah, king of Judah ; aftei-wards by the Assyrians ; and, finally, by the Chaldeans, who completely ravaged the country, and rendered it almost a wilderness. ' Notwitlistanding the repeated disasters with which Edom was visited, there always reigned at Petra, according to Strabo, several ages before the Christian era, a king of the royal Uncage, with whom a prince was associated in the government. The ancient enmity of Esa I to Jacob never appears, Iiowever, to have been laid aside. For several years previous to the extinction of the kingdom of Judah, the Idumtcans encroached upon the Jewish tenntories, and extended their dominion over the south-western part of the Holy Land.' — Sime^s Sacred Geography, ' In a sedition which arose among the inhabitants of this countrv, dm-ing the Bi-bylonish captivity, when the land of Judiea lav desolate, a pa/ty of them went oil", ami took possession of as much of the so\itli western jiart of it as had constituted the whole of tlie inheritance of the tribe of Suneon, and half that of the tribe of Judali ; a'ld tliis part of the land of Judica, together «-ith part of Arabia 1' iiig contiguous to it, constituted the canton of Palestine that was designated " Idimitea." Durmg the wars of the Maccabees, John Hyrcanus conquered these Idumteans, and obliged them cither to embrace the Jewish religion, or abandon then- country. They chose the former, and thus were not only received into the Jewish church, but were incorporated with the Jewish nation ; so that they henceforth considered themsclvtjs, and were usually styled Jews. They did not, however, lose the name of Idiuuseans tdl about tlie end of the first century of the Christian era. The name of their country occm-s in Mark iii. 8 (p. 255), among places wherein people resorted to Christ.' — Hansom's Lectures, p. 313, fi-om Prideaux's ' Connection,' Vol. I. pp. 34, .5 ; Vol. III. pp. 2G7, 404. 'They continued to form a powerful people after Judtea was reduced to a Eoman province. Hebron, their capital in Jnilsra, had been subdued, but Petra still remained a place of great strength ; and even Pompey, the Roman general, would not attempt its reduction. 'Shortly after the propagation of Christianity, luuniffa, and more especially Petra, laid aside the idols which they and their fathers had liitherto ignorantly worshipped, and embraced the Gospel of Christ. Many persecuted Christians found an asyhuu there, which they coidd obtain in no other spot of the Roman dominions. Petra, indeed, became a mctropolitAU see, to which several bishoprics were attached in the tune of the Greek emperors, and Idumsea was included in what was called the third Palestine. ' But this ancient and once H-uitful country had been devoted by Jehovah to become a perpetual desolation. Kor can one word of the Divine threateniugs fail of their accomplishment. Let the reader carefully read the following passages of Scripture, and com- pare them with the annexed quotation from Keith's " Evidence of Prophecy," and say if one word has failed of all that the Lord God has denounced on that accui-sed and desolate land, Is. xxxiv. ; Je. xKx. ; Eze. xxv., xxxv. " There shall not he any remainmg of the Jiouse of Esau ; for the Lord hath spolcen it," Obad. 18 ver. ' But the house of Esau did remain, and existed in great power, till after the commencement of the Christian era, a period far too remote from the date of the prediction for their subsequent history to have been foreseen by man. The Idumseans were soon after mingled with the Nabatheans. And in the thu-d centm-y their language was disused, and then" veiy, name, as designating any people, had utterly perished ; and their country itself having become an outcast from Syria, among whose kingdoms it had long been numbered, was imited to Arabia Petrea. ' IdmuEca contained at least eighteen towns, for centuries after the Christian era — successive kings and princes reigned in Petra — and magnificent palaces and temples, whose empty chambers and naked walls of wonderful architecture stdl strike the traveller with amaze- ment, were constructed there, at a period unquestionably remote from the time when it was given to the prophets of Israel to tell that tlie house of Esau was to be cut off for ever, that there would be no kuigdom there, and that wild animals would possess Edom for an heritage. And so despised is Edom, and the memory of its greatness lost, that there is no record of antiquity that can so clearly shew us what once it was, in the days of its power, as we can now read, in the page of prophecy, its existing desolation. But in that place where kuigs kept their com't, and where nobles assembled; where manifest proofs of ancient opulence are concentrated ; where princely habitations, retaining their external grandem-, but bereft of all theu- splendour, still look as if "fi'esh from the chisel," — even there no man dwells ; it is given by lot to bii'ds, and beasts, and reptiles ; it is a " com't for owls," and scarcely are they ever frayed from their "lonely habitation" by the tread of a solitary traveller from a far distant land, among deserted dwellings and desolated ruins.' — Sime's Sacred Geography. — And see ' Heeod,' Scrip. Illtjs., Sect, v., p. 50. Betond Jordan.— «ee Scrip. Illtts., p. 255, and § 18, p. 170. Tyke and Sidon. — See Sect, xl?., pp. 412 — ..9. 258 Matt. viii. 5, § 28, p. 274. Marl- iii. 13, § 27, p. 2G0. Lul-e vi. 12, ibid. John vi. 1, § 40, p. 371. [26. PART ITI.] ON JESUS' FIRST PARTIAL CIRCUIT. [SECT. XXVI. ADDENDA. ' ON JESUS' FIRST PARTIAL CIRCUIT," p. 254. ' In consequence of tlie conspii'aey [Sect, xxv., pp. 249, .52], wbic]i, notwithstanding its secrecy, was known to ouv Sayionr by his supci- niitiiral discernment of tlie thoughts, St. Mattliew, exemplifying tlic fullllnient of propliccy (Is. xlii. I — 4) in tlie meek and inoffensive demeanour of the Christ, X'elates that he withdrew from thence, followed by the multitudes, and healing them all. .St. Mark is more csplicit, and shews that he retired in the direction of the lake, and that the place of his abode during his absence was the vicinity of the lake, eh. ui. 7—12, p. 254. ' To tliis absence, then, I think we m.ay assign the duration of a partial circuit, now begun, but confined to the nciglibourliood of the lake, which yet might occupy the time until the arrival of the next feast of Pentecost, May 19, a period, at the utmost, of only five «eek.«, or a month. For, first, the cause of his departuj'e from Capernaum was such as to warrant the expectation that Jesus would Btay some time away ; and St. Matthew's application of the pro- phecy in question to it implies the same thing. ' SecomVi/, the mnltitudes by which he was attended at tlie close of the circuit, according to the representation of St. Mark, con- sisting of such numbers, and from such distant regions, could not be assembled about him all at once. ' Thirdly, the injunction that a small vessel TrXoiapioj' should constantly be in waiting upon him, irpoffKaprfpy aiiTiji, specified by tiie same Evangelist also, appears a decisive intimation that he was all tlie while in the vicinity of the lake of Galilee. The vessel itself was one of that description which Josephus shews to have been abundantly numerous on tlie lake of Tiberias ; so much so that on a certain occasion he himself speedily collected together as many as two hundred and thirty — each of which required at least four persons to man it, was capable of carrying sixteen or more with ease : so that our Saviour, with liis usual attendants, when those became the twelve apostles, would constitute about their ordinary complement. The purpose for which this vessel was retained proves that it was not wanted at all times, but only occasionally ; that is, when the uiiport unity of the people, bringing their sick friends, or in- firm persons of any kind, to press upon our Lord, became too great. ' This cii'cuit, then, would extend along the laud of Gennesaret towards the extremity of the lake. ' In the course of the ciivuit, Magdala, which as I conceive lay on the western, or on the south-western side of the lake, might be visited ; and among those out of whom demons are said to have been cast, Mary of Magdala, mentioned lor the first time not long after [Lu. viii. 1, 2, § 3(3, p. 289], might be one. There is no proof, however, nor any reason to suppose that our Lord crossed tlie lake, or passed as yet either into Dccapolis or into Pera?a. 'The last event wliicli took place upon it, just before our Lord retimied to Capernaum, and probably when the feast of Pentecost was at hand, was the ordination of the twelve apostles [Sect, xxvii., p. 260], where .St. Luke rejoins St. Alark, though St. Matthew omits this fact altogether.'— 6'/'f6i'.-f'W, Vol. II., p. 322— ..-i. 26]. Matt. viii. 6, 5 28, p. 274. Mark iii. 13, } 27, p. 260. Luke vi. 12, ihUl. John ri. I. § 40, p. 371. 259 SECT. XXVII.] JTESTTS CONTTNTJETTT ALL NIGHT IN PEATER. [PAUT m. SECTION 27 — (G r> )— Immediately before his return to Capernaum, Jesus passes a night IN PROFIt iirON A CERTAIN MOUNTAIN: IN THE MORNING HE ORDAINS TWELVE OF HIS DISCIPLES TO BE APOSTLES : HE DESCENDS TO THE PEOPLE, FROM THE MOUNTAIN, TO HEAL SUCH AS HAD NEED OF HI-VLING- AND THEN DELIVERS A SERMON TO HIS DISCIPLES IN THE PRESENCE OF THE MULTITUDE. — Mutt. X. 2—4. Murk iii. 13— .9. Luke vi. 12— 49.— 6'cr Addenda, p. 2GG. INTRODUCTION AND Jit. Mk. iii. 13. Lii. vi. 12. Jesus, on a moun- tain, pa88e3 the whole night in pr.nycv. 13— .5. 13. In the moniing lie eaUs unto him liis disciples ; and of them he chooses twelve, to be witli him, nnd that he might make them apostles, by sending them foi-lh to pivach, with the seal of a Divine mission. X. 2— 4. — iii. 16— .9. — vi. 14— .6. The names of the twelve apostles, beginning with Simon Peter, and ending with Judas Iscariot, the traitor.— &e Addenda, pp. 268, ..9, 'The Twelve.' — vi. 17 — .9. Jesus comes down from the mountain, and stands witli the company of his dis- ciples, and the multitude, ui the plain; where many that are diseased and vexed with unclean spii'its, come to him, and are healed. — vi. 20 — 49. Jesus delivers liis sermon in the plain ; which, like that on the morait, begins with pronouncing blessing upon the poor; and ends with the contrast of buildiug upon the rock, and building upon the earth or sand. With this likeness there is a striking dissimilarity in the two diseoiu-ses ; thqmore central parts of ' The Sermon on the Mount' being wanting in ' The Sermon in the Plain,' thus — I. Mt. v. 3 12. Lu. vi. 20 — .3. In Luke there are four Beatitudes, the (irst and last of which arc like the first and last of those in Matthew; but there are only two intervening in the one case, while there are seven in the other. In Luke, however, there are, ver. 24— .6, in contrast to the four Beatitudes, fom- Woes, to which there is no dii-cct parallel in ' The Sermon on the Mount.' II. & in. V. 13 — .0, and 17 — 20. To these, the second and third por- tions of ' The Sermon on the Mount,' there is nothmg dii-ectly parallel in ' The Sermon in the Plain.' IV. _ V. 38— IS. Lu. vi. 27—36. Of the latter portion of the fourtli division of ' The Sermon on the Mount,' on the subject of loving our enemies, &e., is an enlargement in ' The Sermon in the Plain,' explanatory, in some measure, of the former — shewing, for example, in what it is we are to be perfect Uke om- heavenly Father ; it is in shewing mercy. — Compare Mt. v. 48, vHh Lu. vi. 36. COMPARATIVE VIEW. V. &VI. Mt. vi. 1 — 18, and 19 — 34. To these, the two central portions of ' The Sermon on the Mount,' we have no parallel in ' The Sermon in the Plain.' VII. — vii. I — 6. Lu. vi. 37—42. 'Judge not,' &e. Here there is rather an enlargement in Luke, as wliere it is intimated that pride, or seeking to be above our JIaster, and not seeking to be perfect like linn in mercy, is that which incapacitates from being of service to om' brethren. VIII. — vii. 7 — 14. To this, the eighth division of ' The Sermon on the Mount,' there is no parallel in Luke. IX. — vii. 15 — 20. Lu. vi. 43 — .5. The case of bearing true witness is here, in both, compared to a good tree bringing forth good friiit. In Luke there is the farther comparison of a good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringing forth that which is good. The warning agamst false prophets, and that against tliose who hold the truth in unrighteousness, may be impUed, but are not expressed in tlus part of Luke. X. — vii. 21 — .7. — vi. 46 — .9. In this last division of each of the two sennons, containing the contrast of building upon the rock and upon the earth, there is some dilTerenee to be noted, — as where, in Luke, our Lord speaks of com.ing to Him : coming to Christ is coming to the Kock ; and then, by hearing liis sayings and doing them, we build upon Him. It is also, in Lidce, intimated that we must dig deep in order to lay the foundation. Tlie building must not only be fitted for trial, but for standing the severest test, the stream beating 'vehemenfh/.' Thiis, although preserving the same general order as the Sermon on the Mount, the Sermon in the Plain is neither an exact copy, nor a synopsis of the other, but rather an elucidation of particidar portions. It may be regarded as a protest, in the face of the people, against the conduct of liis disciples, slioidd they ever fall into Mammon-worship, disregard of the poor, uneharitableness, lording it over each other, or pretending that they had other credentials for their olEce than those exhibited m the truth of their doctrines, and holuiess of theu' lives, and in the undeniable evidences of Divine power accompanying their ministry : the two former were indis- pensable. Ji'.si/.'i pa.'i.w.s the niijlU in prai/er upon a certain mountain. North of Capernaum, Matt. x. 2—4. 13 Mark iii. 13 — .9. {Ver. 12, § 20, p. 255.] And he-goetli-up into a'niounlain, Luke vi. 12 — .G. \}^er. 11, § 25, p. 252.] "And it-came-to-pass in 12 those^days, that lie-went-out into a' mountain to-pray, and continued all -night 1\\> SiaVVKTlpiVUIV fn^prayer to ' God. SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATION. Lu. vi. 12. Into a mountain to pbay. See oilier instances, eh. iii. 21, § 8, p. 91, 'And prating.' NOTE. Lu. vi. 12. Continued all night in prai/er, ^-c. On the interpre- 1 to God;' while some of the early modern commentators, and others lation of rj/ rrponivxy tov 0(ou there has been some dill'erence of of the more recent ones, maintain that it signifies 'in the proseueha, opinion. The ancients, and most modems, take it to mean, 'jM-ajo- I or oratory of God.' That there were Jewish places of worship 2G0 Matt. vili. 5, § 28, p. 274. Juhn vi. 1, § 40, p. :i7r [27. PART III.] JESUS ORDATNS THE TWELVE APOSTLES. Ill the morning Jesus ordains Iwelre of his disciples to be [SECT. XXVII. Matt. x. 2. [Vcr. 1, § 39, p. srj.'i.] 'Now the names of- the twelve apostles are these; The-first, Simon/ who ' is-called Peter, *and Andrew his,brother ;'' James the son of ' Zebedee, and John his .brother : Mark iii. 14 — .7. and calleth-unto him *whom he would : and they-camo unto him.'' And he-ordnined (Tro'it}><<.).] iESUS' SEKMON IN I'HE PLAIN. i\rAi!K iii. 1ft, :■). JS and Andrew, and I'hilip, and Jiartholoiiicw,' and ^Matthew, 'and Thomas, and James the son ol" Alphivus,' and Thrtdda>ns, and Simon the Cauanuite, lU and Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him : [Ver. 19, § 30, p. 350.] [I'AKl lit. LiKK vi. 15, .(). Philip nnd Bartholomew, Matthew 1 5 and Thomas, James the son ot" Alphffius, "and Simon^called Zelotcs," and Judas Ihe hrothcr of 1 .James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the-traitor. Jesus descends from the mountain lo the jirojilc, and llicn deUrers a sermon to his disciples in the presence of the multitude. — Luke vi. 17 — 49. In the plain. 17 And he-came-down with them, and-sioo^ in the-plain, and the-company ot" liis-disciples, and a-great nuiltitudc of ' people out-of all^Judtea and Jerusalem, and from -ihe sea-coast of-Tyre and Sidou, which is came to-hear him, and to-be-healed of their^diseases ; and they ' that-were-vexed with oyXovf^nvoi vtto lij unclean spirits: and thcy-were-healed. And the whole multitude sought to-touch him: for there-went virtue Suva/^iic * out-of him, and healed the>n all. 20 And he liftcd-up his ^ eyes on liis-disciples, and-said, Blessed /itiica/xoi he yc.poor: for your's is the 21 kingdom of 'God. Blessed ^/;"e ye that 'hunger now: for ye-shall-be-filled. Blessed are ye that 'weep 22 now : for ye-shnll-lnugh. Blessed are-ye, when^men shall-hate you, and when they-shall-separate SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Lu. vi. 20. Bi-ESSED be ye POOn, &e. Ja. ii. 5, ' Hatli not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he liath promised to them tliat love him?' — 1 Cor. i. 28, .9, 'And base things of tlie ivorld, and tilings whicli are despised, hath God chosen.' — Mt. v. 3, § 19, p. 172, 'Blessed . . . the poor in spirit, for their's is the kingdom of heaven.' 21. That hukgee kow. Mt. xii. 1, § 24, p. 211, 'His disciples were an hungi-cd.' — 1 Cor. iv. 11, 'Even unto this present liour we hoth hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwclhngplace.' — Mt. v. 6, § 19, \i. 172, ' Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness.' Be filled. Is. Ixv. 13, 'Behold, my sei-vants shall eat, but vc ehall be hungry,' &c., see on ver. 25, next page. — Kev. xix. 9, 'Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.' Blessed .... THAT weep now, &c. .Ino. xvi. 20— .2, § 87, 'Ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice,' &c. — Confirmed, Mk. xvi. 10, § 93.— Eev. vii. 17, ' God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.' Laugh. Ps. exxvi. 1, 2, 'When the Loed tm-ned again tlie cai> tivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. 2, Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done gi-cat things for them.' 22. Blessed ake ye, when men shall hate Tor, &c. See Mt. V. 10, .1, § 19, p. 174. — So was Joseph dealt uitti, even by his i*'e. This was tlio first degree of excommunication among the Jews. May either mean fi'om company, as Gentiles, or from religious assembhcs. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. was, not that others might be prevented from comiiig near Jesus, hut that they themsehcs might be more particularly with Him; jiot that they might impede others in the ministry of the word, but that they might themselves be sent forlli to preach ; not to prevent others from doing good, but that they might especially be active in delivering from evil both the bodies and the souls of men. As if to impress upon the twelve the necessity of being them- selves hearers of the word (hey were to declare unto others ; and by which hearing, they were to become as stones, built upon the Eoek Christ ; this was written in the names of the very llrst of the twelve — Simon, hearing ; and Peter, a stone. — See Addenda, p. 268. Lu. vi. 17 — 20. Jesus gave an example of that which he chose his apostles to do : first manifesting mercy with regard to the bodies of men ; and then unto their souls in the ministry of the word. It is blessed when precept and example thus accompany each other. 20 — ."t rer. We shoiUd know that we are so poor, that we cannot purchase the kingdom of heaven — that we must receive it as the free gift of God in Christ Jesus, after whom, as the Bread of Life, let us hunger, and so we shall be filled. Let us have a sympathy with liis sufferings and that of his body, and we shall laugh with joy when his cause shall fully and for ever triumph. 262 * MaegINAl Eeadino ; — ' Power,' or ' might.' Matt, Tiii. 5, § 28, p. 274. Marh iu. I'J, § 80, p. 289. John vi. 1, § 40, p. 371. [27. PART III.] LOVE YOUR ENEMIES. [SECT. XXVU. Li'KK vi. 23—33. a/e rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon yo«.' 25. Abe full. Contrast toitJi the case of those that hunger, ver. 21, p. 262.— Is. Ixv. 13, ' Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, my seiTants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry ; behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty : behold, my servants sliaU rejoice, but yc shall be asliamcd.' That lawsh now. Contrast with 'weep,' ver. 21. — Pr. xiv. 13, 'The end of that mirth is heaviness.' — Ja. iv. 9, 'Let your laughter be turned to mom-ning, and yoirr joy to heaviness.' 26. Speak well op tott. Contrast with the case of those loho have their names cast out as evil, for the Son of man's sake, ver. 22, .3, supra. The false peopttets. 1 ICi. xxii. 13, ' AnA the messenger that was gone to call Miciiiah spate unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let tliy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good.' — Is. xxx. 9, 10, ' Tliis is a rebellious people, lying children, childi'en ttiat will not liear the law of the Loud ; 10, which say to the seers. See not ; and to the iirophets. Prophesy not unto us right tilings, speak unto us smooth tilings, prophesy deceits.' — Je. v. 31, ' The prophets prophesy falsely, and the jiriests bear rule by then- means ; and my people love to have it so : and what will ye do in the end thereof ? ' 27, .8. Love toue enemies, &c. Same as Mt. v. 41, § 19, p. 180. 29. Smiteih thee, &c. So Mt. v. 39, 40, § ib., p. 179. 30. Give to eteut man. Mt. v. 42, ibid. 31. And as ye would, &c. Mt. vii. 12, § ib., p. 191, 'Tlierefore all tilings whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them : for this is the law and the prophets.' 32. Foe if ye love, &c. Compare ivith Mt. v. 46, § ib., p. 180, where 'reward' is used ;'« ^)?oce o/' ' thank,' arid ' pubhcans ' yb;* 'sinners.' — Mattheto had himself been a jniblican. 33. Do good, &c. Rom. v. 8, 'While we were yet sinners, CIn-ist died for us ;' — And as the disciples of Jesus the same self-sacrifice is required of iis, 1 Pe. ii. 21, ' For even hereunto were yo called : because Cluist also sutiered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps,' NOTES. 22. Cast out your name. ' lic/SnXwffe. 'EK/3aXXeiv signifies generally to cast out, both in a civil and in a military sense, i.e., either "to banish^'' or "to cashier.'* It also signifies "to displace officers^' or " reject actors'' Hence many here assign the sense " to reject with scorn and ignominy ;" which is preferable to the sense " to banish," adopted by Kuinoel, or " to defame," supported by Campbell.' — Sloomfield. May liave respect to the greater sort of excommuni- cation, calleil ' Shammatha and Chcrem,' by which a person was devoted to destruction. 24. JVoc unto you that are rich ! ' How hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God ! ' nay, it is as impossible, as ' for a camel to go through the eye of a needle,' Mk. x. 2t, .5, § 75, p. 646. The scribes were not only greedy of worldly wealth, but were so confident in thcii' supposed spii'itual treasure as to reject the true riches. Thcii' minds were so occupied with quibbles about the Law that they coidd not attend to the soul- satisfying things of the Gospel. 25. That are full .' Tliosc who, like the Pharisees, were satisfied with the forms of religion connected \^■itil tlie temple service, were soon to be deprived of them ; and so, sooner or later, will all I hose be left empty, whose trust, like theirs, has been in rites and ceremonies. That laugh note .' Those who made light of the call to repentance, and of the warnings of Clu'ist and his apostles, who tiu-ued even the dying groans of the Redeemer into a jest, were soon to be involved in the most fearful calamities, plagues of long continuance, which more or less eontiiiue upon their children to this day. Ac. xiii. 41, ' Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish.' 26. When all men shall speak well of you ! Such as seek not to bring men to the truth, but to please all parties, and for this are willing to confoimd right and WTong, and make sinful compliances, hkc the Herodiaiis. The false prophets. Men who pretended to be of God, who delivered then' otvn doctrines as the truth of God, and accommo- dated themselves to the pleasure of the court, or the desires of the people. Of this number were tlie prophets of Baal, and the false prophets who appeared in tlie time of Jeremiah, ie. 28. Bless them that curse you. ' Give those kuid and friendly language who rail against or speak evil of you.' — See § 19, p. 180, Mt.v. 4t. 29. Smiteih.— See Mt. v. 39, 40, § ib., p. 179. UEFLECTIONS. 27 — 36 ver. Let us learn, not only to be forgiving and forbearing, but to be ready to give, from a loving spu-it, to those who do not deserve it. PK.VCTU'AL 25, .6 rcr. Let us bewareof being satisfied with having our portion in tills life: the very things which worldly men account the great good of life — abimdauco of riches, fiduess of bread, making merry, and having a good name among men, may be only the forerunners of woo hereafter. Such, doubtless, tliey will be, should they prevent us from aecepluig (lie free grace of God to our own souls, and hin- der us from ministering to the temporal and sph'itual good of others. Marh: iii. 19, § 30, p. 280. Jolm vi, 1, § 40, p. 371 27.] Matt. viii. 5, § 28, p, 274, Let us neither take tlic world's example, nor dcsu'o its reward) but sock to honour our heavenly Father iu the manifestatiou of his kindness and mercv unto men. 263 SECT. XXVII.] CAN THE BLIND LEAD THE BLIND f [PABT lit. Luke vi. tM — 10. 34 Ami if ye-lcnd to tin: in of whom ' yc-hope to-receivc, what tlmuk have ye? foi\ sinners also lend to- 3.5 sinners, to receive, iis-uiiicli-nf,'iiin. i?ut love-yc your^enemics, and do-good, and lend, hoping-for nothing uyaiii ; and yourjcward shall-be great, and ye-shall-he the-childrcn of-the Highest: lor he is kind 30 xp»|tn-oc unto the unthankful and to the-evil. Be-ye therefore merciful okripjuovEc, as your^Father also is merciful. 37 Judge not, and ye-shall-'nof-he-judged : condemn not, and ye-shall--uof-be-condemned : forgive 38 a-KokviTi. and ye-shall-be-forgiven : give, and it-shall-hc-given unto-you ; good measure, pressed-down 7r£7r(£sciple is not above his^master : but every-one that-is-perfect KarripTiafiivog shall- be as his,master. SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. shall-w(e«-give into 34. Lexd, &c. Mt. r. 43, § 19, p. 179, borrow of thee turn not thou away.' 'From him that would 35. Love tb tofii enemies. It had been sheion horn love teas to be manifested to those that sought to injure us in name and con- dition, ver. 27, .8, p. 263, supra ; — and as to person and property, Ter. 29, ibid. And do good. The golden rule according to which good was to be done had been presented, ver. 31, p. 263 ; — and it had been intimated, ver. 32, .3, that we were not to wait till others should possess the right disposition to obey the rule, vcr. 32, nor even for their laying %is under any obligation, by the performance of outward acts of kindness, ver. 33. AsD LEND, HOPING FOB NOTIIINO, kc. This, like the two pre- ceding parts of the sentence, is a brief 7'ecapih'.lation of what had been commanded before, see ver. 34. — It is neither from faith in the goodness of others, ver. 27 — 33, nor from the hope of advantage from them, ver. 34; but as having hope in Ood ('your reward shall be great '), and as desiring assimilation to the character of our heavenly Father (' and ye shall be the childi-en,' &c.) ; — as having a regard to the dignity of our heavenly calling (' the children of the Highest') ; — and finally, see vcr. 36, as having faith in Ood, — the Ood and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom his abounding mercy hath been abundantly displayed. — It is from this perennial fountain that the living waters are to fiotn, Jno. vii. 37 — .9, § 55, for the blessing of all around, Ga. vi. 10, 'As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all.' 36. Be te theeefoee merciful. The words in the parallel passage, Mt. v. 48, § 19, p. 180, are, ' Be ye therefoi'e perfeet,' &e. — The perfection called for is the persevering in kindness, notwith- standing all provocation to the contrary. 37, .8. Judge not, &c. Compare Mt. vii. 1, 2, § 19, p. 189. Good jieasuee. Such 'afuU reward' Boaz asked for Ruth, on account of her kindness to Naomi, Eu. ii. 12 ; — and such she actually received — see ver. 14, i^'c, to the end of the book. 39. Can the blind, &c. See Jit. xv. 14, § 44, p. 404.— TAos* who see the way of mercy are to lead others therein by the practical manifestation of the law of mercy, Rom. xii. 20, .1, ' Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him ; if he thii'st, give liiin di-ink : for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21, Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.' — Ja. ii. 14 — .8. — We are to let go our hold of blind guides, and not to allow our- selves to be blindly led by them, Ps. xix. 27, ' Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.' — Our trust in them does not excuse us in the sight of Ood, but is rather aground of condemnation, and prevents our seeing xvhen good Cometh, Je. xvii. 5, 6. 40. The disciple, &c. Mt. x. 24, § 39, p. 360; Jno. xiii. 16, § 87 ; XV. 20, § ib. Peefect. 'Perfect in mercy, compare Mt. v. 48, § 19, p. 180, NOTES. 34. As much again, tu Ian. ' An equivalent.' 35. Hoping for nothing again. The sense is, ' Lend to those from whom there is Uttle hope of receiving back your money;' 'lend cheerfully, without fearing the loss of what is so bestowed.' Our Lord enjoins his hearers to do tliis good, ' not with the naiTOw calculations of self-interest, but in the confidence of liberality ;' a confidence reposed in Him who is the poor man's surety. — .See Scrip. Illus. Children of the Highest, v'mi r. 'Yi|/. That is, either, ' beloved of God,' or, 'like unto God, as being anmiated witli a spirit of benevo- lence similar to that of the Deity.' 37. Judge not, . . . condemn not, . . . forgive, S^c. These are pro- perly forensic terras ; the last signifying to set free or acquit. They ni-e, however (as Grotius and other good commentators remark), to be accommodated to private use. The three clauses advert — \\\c first to sitting in judgment on the faults of others ; the second to passing condemnation on them ; the third enjoins a contraiy spirit, that of judging for the best, acquitting our neighbour of such charges as are not. manifestly well founded. Compare xcw 37, .8, xcith Mt. vii. 1, 2, § 19, p. 189. 38. Shall men give. Or, ' they shall give ;' men is not in the original. Bosom. An allusion to the Oriental custom of receiving a measm'e of corn or other dry articles in the bosom or lap of their flowing vests, the former of which they made use of like oiu" pockets — see 2 Ki. iv. 39 ; Pr. xvi. 33, ' The lot is cast into the lap,' &c. The eastern garments being long, folded, and gu'ded with a gu'dlc, admit of can-ying much com in the bosom. 39. A parable. A proverb, or similitude — see Mt. xv. 14, § 44, and xiii. 3, § 32, p. 300. Can the blind lead the blind ? Such as make repentance consist in outward forms and ceremonies, in place of forsaking all creature con- fidence, depending solely on the merits of the sacrifice of Christ for pardon of sin, and acceptance with God. He who alone can save hath warned us of the folly of trusting such teachers. 40. The disciple is not ahove his master, Sfc. The disciple of Christ should be contented with the condition in which his Master was. He was 'made perfect through sufferings ' (He. ii. 10), and if we would be perfected in our profession, it must be by following him ' whither soever he gocth.' Before trying to lead, or to correct others, we should seek to be right as to this pomt. We must be made willing to ' suffer with liim.' Tliat is perfect, f(c. Kartipriafiivog. Or, 'perfected.' Shall be as his master. The liighest perfection of a disciple lies in 37, .8 ver. Let us ever seriously consider, tliat the ride according to which we shall be ourselves judged, is that according to which we net unto others. It is by om- following the example of Christ, in liis forgivencFs and grace, that wo manifest our being truly his disciples, and shall prove ourselves prepared for the enjoyment of liis reward. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. 39 ver. That we may be able to benefit others by leadmg them aright, wo om-selvcs must earnestly desu-e to have the hght, else we may do more harm than good, by our interference in their case. 264 Matt. vui. 5, § 28, p. 274. 40 ver. Let us not think of being above our Master, as if we Mark iu, 19, § 30, p. 289. John vi. 1, § 40, p. 371. [27, PAKT III.] THE FOUNDATION lAID ON A ROCK. [SECT. XXVH. Luke vi. 41 — .0. 41 And why beholdest-thou the mote that' is in thy^brother's^eye, but perceivest not the beam that'/.s in 42 thine-own rt^ 'S'V^eyc '? Either how canst-thou say to 'thy brother, Brother, let-me pull-out a(pig iKjidXto the mote that' w in thine ^ eye, when--thou-thyself-beholdest not the beam t/int is in thiue-owu.cye ? Thou-hypocrite, cast-out first the beam out-of thiue-own,eye, and then shalt-thou-see-clearly '^•a^Xi-^itiq to-pull-out the mote that'/s in thy^brother's^eye. 43 For a-good tree bringeth-'nof-forth corrupt fruit; neither doth--a-corrupt tree"-bring-forth good fruit. 44 For every tree is-known byjiis-own fruit. For of thorns /««?-do--nof-gather figs, nor of a-bramble-bush 45 gather-they rpvyuxri grapes. A' good man out-of the good treasure of 'his heart bringcth-forth that' w//irh is good ; and an' evil man out-of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth-forth that' ic/iick is evil: for of tlie abundance ntpKratviiaToc; of-tlio heart his^mouth speaketh. 46 And why call-ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not tlie-things-whicli I-say ? 47 Whosoever ^cometh to me, 48 and heareth my, sayings, and doeth them, I-will-shew you to-whom he-is like: he-is like a-man which- built au-house, and digged deep iGKu-ips kcu e/Bo^uve, and laid the-fouudation on a' rock: and when-'the- flood_7rAi;jui«i'P«C'-arose, the stream beat-vehemently-upon irpoaippij^iv tliatjiouse, and could not sliake 49 aaXiiKjat it: for it-was-founded upon a' rock. But he ' that-heareth, and doeth not, is like a-man that- SCRIPTUEE ILLOSTR.\TIONS. toith liU. vi. 36, p. 261. — As ilte Captain of salvalion, made, Heb. ii. 10, 'perfect through Bufferings.' — t. 8, 9, 'Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered ; 9, and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal sal- vation unto all them that obey liira.' — ii. 17, 'A merciful and faithfid high priest in ihva^s pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.' 41, .2. Wnr BEnOLDEST, &c. See nearly the same words, Mt. vii. 3—5, § 19, p. 189. Tnou HYPOCRITE. We but pretend to hare light, when we offer to help others thereto, and yet do not alloio it to guide our oivn conduct, Rom. ii. 19 — 24, ' And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, 20, an instructor of the foohsh, a teacher of babes, wliich hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. 21, Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyscU' ? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? 22, thou tliat sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultciy ? thou that abhorrcst idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? 23, tliou thaf makest tliy boast of the law, through breaking the law dis- honoui'cst thou God? 24, For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles tlirough you, as it is written.' 43, .4. A GOOD TEEE, &c. Compare herewith Mt. vii. 16—20, § 19, p. 192 ; xii. 33, § 31, p. 294 45. A GOOD MAN, &c. As the evil man is to cease from pretending to goodness, until he really has ' tasted that the Lord is gracious,' 1 Pe. ii. 3, and has become ' light in tlie Lord,' Eph. v. 8, so is the good man not to cease from shewing, 1 Pe. ii. 9, ' forth the praises of him who hath called . . . out of darkness into his marvellous Ught.' ABnNDANCE OF THE HEART, &c. Same words, Mt. xii. 34, § 31, p. 294. — Ps. xxx\ii. 30, 'The mouth of tlie righteous speaketh wisdom.' — Pr. x. 21, ' The hps of the righteous feed many.' — iv. 23, ' Keep thy licart with all dihgence ; for out of it are the issues of life.'— Mt. xii. 37, § 31, p. 295, 'By thy words,' &e. 46. Lord, Lord. See Mt. vii. 21, § 19, p. 192.— Mai. i. 6, ' If I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts uutoyou, O priests, that despise my name.' — See also Eze. xxxiii. 30 — .2. 49. He that heareth, a>'D doeth not. Jno. xiv. 6, § 87, 'No man Cometh unto the Father, but by me.' — Mt. xi. 28, § 29, p. 284, ' Come unto me,' &c. — Jno. vi. 37, § 43, ' Him that cometh to me,' &e. — 1 Pe. ii. 4, ' To whom coming,' &c. — He does not build upon being like his master, and learning of him, fore, notwitlistanding all difficulties and sufferings, must closely observe and carefully follow his mstructions and example. 42. Mote . . . beam.— See on Mt. vii. 3—5, § 19, p. 189. 43. For a good tree, (^-c. Render, ' for that is not a good tree which brings forth bad fruit.' The connexion may bo tlius laid down : — 'The rectitude of your conduct is not to be judged of by yom- sagacity in discovering your brother's faults, and j-our freedom in censuring them, but by your own actions and words. For a man is known by liis actions and words, as a tree is by its fi'uit.' 45. Oood treasure of his heart. 'Good graces, affections, resolu- tions,' &c. ; like Joseph bringing out his stores, the good man will NOTES. Clirist's followers, there- be speaking and doing that which is for God's glory and the edifica- tion of others— iard car, and yet John vi. 1, § 40, p. 371. 265 ON THK ORDINATION OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES. 49. 6ECT. XXVIL] Luke vi without a-foundation built an-house upon the eniLli ; ^ immediately it- fell ; and the ruin pitjfia of that house was great. [PART III. against-which ' the {For Stream did-beat-vehemcntly, and ch. vii. 1, see § 2H, p. 27-1.] SCRIPTURE the true founclalioii who rejitses obedience to the roi/al hut', 1 Jno. ii. 9—12, 'lie that saith he is in the hght, and hnteth his brotlicr, is in darkness even until now. 10, He that lovcth his brother abideth in the hght, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 11, But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walkcth in II.I.USTU.\TIO.\'. darkness, and knowctli not whither he goeth, because tliat darkness hath blinded liis eyes. 12, I write unto you, little chikb-cn, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.' — See a similar con- trast between building upon the rod; and building upon the sand, at the close of the 'Sermon on the Mount,' Mt. vii. 24 — .1, § 19, p. 193. PR.\CTICAL REFLECTION. not a doer of the word, if it be not received into the heart, in the I saints, upon that One Sure Foundation, with regard to wliom, tho loTc of it. Wo must truly lay hold on Christ, and biuld, with all 1 Father gave forth the decree, 'Heae xe Him,' Mt. xvii. 5, § 51, p. 453. ADDENDA. ' ON' THE ORDINATION OF THE •The concurrent testimony of St. Mark and St. Luke establishes the fact that, until the present period of our Savioiu-'s ministry, which is the first quarter of its second year, not only were the twelve not yet ordained to their odiee, but even the name of Apostle was not yet in being. Hitherto, then, they were merely disciples ; distinguished, perhaps, by nothing aliove the rest of the disciples m common, except tliat all, or some of them, might have been personally called by our Saviour, as the rest of the disciples were not. But from this time forward they were expressly discriminated fi-om the rest, and formed into a body or society of their own. ' Of the ordination itself St. Matthew has given no account ; tliough as far as the commencement of that circuit in the neighbom'- hood of the lake, of which the ordination appears to have been the conclusion, liis narrative accompanies St. Mark's ; and liis silence is naturally to be explained by the consideration that he was himself one of tho twelve ; and that it might not become the modesty of a Cliristian apostle to record his own appointment, by the choice of Christ himself, to so high and so illustrious an office. ' In a part of his Gospel, however, wliich follows not long after this time, ch. x. 1 [§ 39], he speaks of the Twelve as of a body already in existence, and known by that name as such ; whence it is clear he recognises impUcitly the fact of their previous ordination. On the same occasion he introduces also the catalogue of their names ; which agrees, upon the whole, with the lists of St. Mark and St. Luke : and the isolated, yet natm'al manner in which he brings in this catalogue, ch. x. 2—4, is a strong internal evidence that he kept it back in its proper place, only from a motive of genuine Christian humility. The same conclusion follows fi'om the way in which even here he speaks of himself: for he puts liis own name after that of Thomas ; though, according to the order of St. Mark, ch. iii. 18 [p. 262], and of St. Luke, ch. vi. 15 [p. ibid.'], it should have taken precedence of it ; and he adds to his name the designation of o TiKu>vi}i — a designation, in the opinion at least of his country- men, expressive only of reproach; which the other two, with a becoming regard to the mcmoiy of a Cliristian apostle, accordingly omit. ' As this event was the last, the most solemn, and the most impor- tant, which transpired in the com'se of the preceding circuit, the Gospel of .St. Luke, which accompanied St. Jfark's as far as the begin- ning of this circuit, but not further, rejoins it again at this point. If, then, the proof of a position like this, which seems to be so clearly established by tho direct testimony of two evangelists, and by tlie indirect testimony of a third, viz., that the appointment and ordi- nation of the Twelve as apostles were some lime posterior to their call as disciples, req\iired any more confirmation, there are two distinct considerations which place it beyond a question. Fu'st, the regular oecm-reneo from this time forward, but never before it, of the * See Greswell, Vol. II., Mark iii, 19, § 30, p. 289, 261.* italt. viii. B, § 28, t). 274. 266 TWELVE APOSTLES, p. pln-ase Ol SioSsko, to express the apostles, in oppo-ition to the rest of the disciples ; a phrase to be met with in St. Matthew eight times, in St. Mark ten times, and in St. Luke eight times. Besides this, there are instances also of the phrase Ol liKa, to express tho rest of the Twelve, in contradistinction to two ; and of the plu-asc 01 iviKa, to express them all but one ; wliich consequently amount to the same thing. This uniformity of designation, which yet begins to appear only now and hereafter, must be a demonstrative argument that until now and hereafter, there was no such distinction among our Lord's disciples in being, as that of some one body in particiUar opposed to the rest in general. The very name of apostle had not yet been bestowed upon any ; the only person who bore it hitherto was our Lord himself, the ShUoh or Apostle of the Father : and if we look at the precise point of time at wliich, as it was, the Twelve were chosen, and at the use which is made of their services directly afterwards, it may be concluded that the imposition of the name on them now, referred as much to something immediate, as to some- thing remote ; to then- part and character of gospel-missionaries durmg our Savioiu''s presence on earth, as much as after his ascension. St. Mark, iii. 14, .5, in particular declares that to have been tho du-ect cause, and the primaiy piu'pose, or final end of then- appoint- ment. . . . ' In the number of the Twelve, there is an evident reference to the number of the tribes j they were sent, Uke then' Master, to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. An extra, and consequently a thu'tccntli apostle, and from among the Jews, yet from among the Jews of the dispersion, was appointed in the fulness of time, and in the person of Saul, for the sake of the mission to the Gentiles. This adaptation of the number of the apostles to the number of the tribes is peculiarly exempUficd in those words of om- Savioiu', Mt. XLS. 28 [§ 75, p. 647], " Verily I say vnto you that, lehen the Son of man, in the regeneration, shall sit upon his throne of glory, ye also who have followed me shall sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel." The number, twelve, then seems to have been something, from the first, absolutely essential to the integrity of the apostoUc body ; and so understood accordingly. Hence, even before the day of Pentecost, or rather against that day itself, the reparation of the defect in that nmnbcr, produced by the apostaey of Judas, when Matthias was appointed in his stead, Ac. i. 15 — 26, was yet but a necessary precaution. ' The object proposed by their appointment St. Mark defines as twofold i that they might always be with Christ, and that he might send them to preach in his name ; whence it must be as dear that they had not hitherto always been with liim, as that they had not hitherto been sent to preach in his name. . . . The mission in question did not take place until some time after the appointment ; and it is manifest that the gift of miraculous power also alluded to was no Diss, xxvi., pp. 411 — .22. Luke vii. 1, § 28, p. 274. John vi. 1, § 40, p. 371. [27. PAKT III.] ON THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT, AND IN THE PLAIN. [SECT. xxni. gift bestowed at present, but merely designed to be bestowed when the mission, for the discharge of wliich it would be ncecssary, was ready to commence. In the circumstance, however, of such a mission, and in the communication of thus much of miraculous power subordinate to it, the Serenty were afterwards put upon a par with the Twelve. . . . Their peculiar privilege, chiring the remainder of our Saviour's ministry, consiited in tliis one circumstance, — that liencefoi-ward they were always with him, and about him ; as even they had not always been heretofore ; and as the rest of the disciples never were. 'If we consider the momentous consequences which, though still in futm'ity, depended upon this appointment of the Twelve ; and though still in futurity, yet to the omniscience of Cluist were even then lis good as present ; we shall confess that, next to the great business of suffering for mankind, this was, and would be regarded by our Lord himself, as the most important act of his lifetime upon earth. Nor does he enter on it without a corresponding degree of preparation ; nor proceed in it without an equal gravity and solemnity. Tlie night before he spends on the mountain apart, in earnest prayer, L\i. vi. 12 [p. 260] ; as soon as it is day, he calls to him the whole of his disciples, ver. 13 ; out of this number he selects twelve by name, whom he invests with a new, and a peculiar desig- nation, expressive of the same relation to himself, in which he was appearing and acting with reference to the Father. For Jesus Christ was the Shiloh or Apostle of the Father; and the Twelve were tho Shilohs or Apostles of Jesus Christ.' — See the Jtrst mission of the apostles, § 39, p. 354. ON ' THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT,' Matt. V. viii. 1 THE PLAIN," Luke vi. 1 'The historical circimistances which preceded or followed the two sermons are of such a kind as to be decisive of their distmctness. St. Matthew's sermon took place during, if not at the close, of a general circuit of Galilee ; St. Luke's during, if not at the close of, a partial circuit round the lake ; St. Matthew's before such an audience as might be collected by such a eu-cuit ; St. Luke's, before such a congregation as was more probably to be collected by the other. St. Matthew's was produced by the presence and contem- plation of the multitudes ; St. Luke's by the presence and contem- plation of the newly-ordained apostles. The moving cause in the former instance was a simple regard to the spiritual necessities of the people at aiiy time ; tho moving cause in tho latter was a specific regard to the event of the recent ordination. St. Matthew, who suppresses the fact of the previous ordination, could have no induce- ment to record the subsequent sermon ; but St. Luke, who relates the former, for that reason only might natm'ally subjoin the latter. . . . ' St. Matthew's discourse was delivered on the mountain ; St. Luke's was delivered in the plam. Jesus went up to the mountain before the one ; he came down from the mountain before the other : he was in the plain then before St. Luke's ; and he was on the mountain before St. Matthew's. . . . 'The attempt to reconcile these diU'erent statements by supposing that Jesus came down from the mountain to the plain groimd at first, on purpose to heal the people and perform liis mii-acles, and afterwards rctu'cd up to the hill again, on purpose to teach them and to dchver liis sermon, like many other expedients invented to explain away similar cUfTereuccs, is altogether a gratuitous assumption, without a shadow of countenance from the text ; and besides, it makes our Saviour to do that at last, which, it is clear, he had no intention of doing at first : viz., retire from the people, as if he wished to avoid those whom he had come down the lull on purpose to gat near to. In St. Matthew's account, he contuiued all the time on the mountain ; and, when he had done speaking, he descended, followed by the people, to the plain. In St. Luke's, he continued where he was, on the level ground ; and when the sermon was over, it was from thence that he went to Capernaum. In St. Matthew, he assumes the attitude of sitting before he begins to speak ; which was as good as to intimate that he was about to begin to teach ; in St. Luke, he delivers his discourse standing, with his disciples and the people around him. Both attitudes are equally natural under tho previous cu-cumstanccs of the case; standing, on a level situation; sitting, upon a I'ising ground. In St. Matthew, he takes his scat first, and the disciples draw near to him afterivarcls ; in St. Luke, he has them about him from the first : in tho latter, it would seem as if the disciples and the people stood upon higher ground ; for Jesus, wlien he began to address them, lifted up liis eyes to them : in the former, they must have stood upon lower. . . . 'The circumstances which followed upon the sermon in either account have been considered elsewhere (Vol. I., Diss, iii., pp. 195 — ..8), and their difforences pointed out. All the above con- , Sect, xix., pp. 171 — .94; and 'the sermon in 7—19, pp. 262— ..G. * elusions, however, will be fm-ther confii'med by the comparison of the discom-ses themselves, ' The sei-mon in St. Matthew contains one hundred and seven verses ; the sei-mon in St. Luke, thirty. There is consequently an excess on the one hand, and a defect on the other, of seventy-seven verses, that is, more than two-thirds of the whole. It would be didicnlt, however, to assign a reason why one of the evangelists should recite so much, and the other so little of the same discom'se, or why a part shoidd be omitted or recorded, and not the whole. Nor can it be replied that St. Luke has comprised, in thirty verses, the substance of one hundred and seven, or that Jiis sermon is the epitome of St. Matthew's ; for on tliis principle, the outline in both discourses ought to be the same ; the particiJars only should differ. But the state of the case is quite tlie reverse : the topics in St, Matthew are many, and various, and distinct ; the toijics in St. Luke are few, and simjjle, and closely connected. The discourse in the latter touches only here and there on the former ; but wherever it does so, instead of exhibiting the compressed and meagre features of an epitome, it dwells and dilates upon the subject under chscussion with a richness, an emphasis, and an ampHfication both of sentiments and of language, superior to the fulness of the supposed original ; and preventing the discourse, with such a peculiarity of structure, from being confounded with even the idea of a selection out of St. Mat- thew's, much less with an abstract of it ; for the same redundancy stands in the way of the former hypothesb as much as of the latter. ' It is a ride of St. Luke's, proving both the perfect knowledge of his subject which he possessed, and the consummate skill with whidi the course of Ids narrative was shaped from the first, to relate nothing tivice in his own Gospel, however much may occur there OHce, which, taken in conjunction with St. Slatthew or St. Mark, his own Gospel might shew to have been related ficice. Such things happened more than once ; and his rule of proceeding with respect to them is as follows : if they had been related in the first instance of then- occm-rencc, by his predecessors, ho reserves his o^vn account of them for their second ; if they woidd have come twice over in his own account, he either relates them once for all at fu-st, or, if he omits any part of them then, he supplies the omission by relating it again at some other opportunity. On this principle, the rest ol the discourse in St. Matthew, over and above his own, if both the dis- com'ses were one and the same, ought to be found somewhere else in his Gosjicl. But this is not tho case. Twenty or thirty verses of it may perhaps occur there, but more than forty, or almost one half of the whole, woidd still remain totally unaccounted for. 'The apiiarent identity of the exordiums and the conclusions of the two sermons, respectively, is said to have mainly determuicd tho judgment of Grotius in considering them the same. Let us see, however, how far the nature of tliesc exordiums in particular ought to lead to such an inference. ' Both the discoui-ses begin with beatitudes consecutively delivercci, 27.] • Greswell, Vol. II., Diss, xxvi., pp. 427— .34. Matt. viii. 5, § 28, p. 274. Mark iii. 19, § 30, p. 289. Zute tu. 1, § 28, p. 274, John vi. 1, § 40, p. 371. 26T SECT, xxvir.] of which St. Mattlicw's exhibits nine, nnd St. Luke's four. Now nine cannot possibly bo the eamo with four ; and if it can be slicwn that St. Luke records only four beatitudes, because only four were actually pronounced, it will follow that the occasion upon which lie records these four must be totally diifcrcnt from that upon wliich St. Matthew recorded the nine, ' Now besides recording certain beatitudes, St. Luke has recorded also certain woes j but St. Matthew no such thing ; and as woes in general ore the reverse of beatitudes in general, so these woes in particular arc the reverse of those beatitudes in particular. The Btructure of St. Luke's exordium is singular, and a genuine specimen of Hebrew paralleUsm. He recounts four beatitudes, and he recounts four woes ; he recounts the beatitudes first, and the woes next : the order of the beatitudes is the counterpart of the order of the woes, and the paitieidar subject of each beatitude is the aiTiVroixor of the opposite woe. I argue, then, that tlie number and order of the woes which follow arc decisive as to the number and order of the beatitudes which precede : each of them is a check upon the other, and a limitation of the other. There could be only four beatil udcs, because there are but four woes ; there could be only fom- woes, because there were only four beatitudes. ' Besides this, is it no symptom of disjiarity, that the beatitudes in St. Matthew, as fai- as the ninth, are all indu-ect, or couched in the form of general giiomcB ; in St. Luke they are all dii-ect, and imme- diately addressed to the disciples? This circumstance alone is Buflicicnt to decide the question ; for the very change of manner in the ninth beatitude is a proof that the discom'se in St. Matthew had begim, and until then had proceeded differently. Were this also a proper place to explain either of the sermons particularly, it might bo shewn on the ground of the woe specifically opposed to each beatitude, that the tei-ms tttwxoi', ttiivuivtiq, KXaiovric, in the first three beatitudes of St. Luke, must be literally understood of the really poor, the really hungry, the really mournful and disconsolate in this life ; whereas, it is equally clear that the same terms in St. OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES. [PAKT III. JIatdiew are to be figuratively understood of the poor in spirit, of the hungry and thirsty after righteousness, of the sorrow produced by repentance and the sense of sin. Tliesc objections would remain, though the beatitudes and the other particulars of each exordium, 80 far as they agree together, were all related alike. It happens, however, that neither witli then- order, nor with their enunciation, is this the case. St. Luke's fourth beatitude is St. Matthew's ninth; and what is still more extraordinary, his second and his third arc just the reverse in St. Matthew ; that is, what answers to his second comes after what answers to his thu-d ; and as to the language and expressions, they are different in every instance throughout. 'A comparison of the conclusions, and of the intermediate parts, would tend to the same residt 'The sermon in St. Luke exhibits all the evidences of an original discourse, and of a uniform composition. Its topics are determinate, consistent, and natural ; mutually connected together ; and appli- cable to the case of the newly-ordained apostles, as enforcing duties either eminently Christian themselves, or in their primary relation pecidiarly incumbent upon them. But there is no such leading idea, no such exclusive reference predominant in St. Matthew's, one purpose of which ... is, to reinforce parts of the decalogue; and therefore to characterise the preacher more as that original and independent Lawgiver, promised by Moses (De. xviii. 15 — .9), and expected by the Jews, than as the Master and Instructor of the apostles. The tone and manner of the first sermon ; the general sentiment, the spu'it and character of the former, may indeed be discovered in the second. Both the discom'ses are manifestly the offspring of the same mind, and there is a famUy likeness between them ; but as even in the cliildi'cn of the same jiarcnts, or in mem- bers of the same family in common, the individuating characters of each are not so indistiuet or imperceptible as to allow of our con- founding them together. I have judged it best, therefore, to disturb the position of neither, but to leave each where it stands upon record.' The first, Simon, who is called Petee. — See on Jno. i. 41, .2, § 10, p. 107; and Addenda, p. 112, ' Simon.' Tliis disciple may have been called ' ilie first Simon' as distin- guishing him from another of the same name, 'Simon called Ze- lOTES.' It may however be observed, that Peter is not only the first on the hst, but the first, as affording in his case the greatest amount of instiiiction to the disciples, on account of the many reproofs, warnings, and exhortations he received from his Lord. Peter, con- Bidering that he had in his disposition so much to overcome, was eminent for acquirmg humility, the gi-cat lesson the disciples were appointed to learn — see on Jno. xiii. 3 — 17, § 87, p. 810 ; Lu. xxii. 21 — .7, § ib,, p. 820. It does not appear that Peter had any pre- eminence given him by his Lord over liis brethren, such as some would ascribe to him ; he was, on the contrary, expressly forbidden to iuterfero with the beloved disciple, Jno. xxi. 20 — .2, § 97 ; and this, although the latter should remain on the earth during the whole time of the Lord's absence, which, of course, must include the period during which the Pope, as pretending to be Peter's successor, claims to be vicar of Christ. But, if we are to have successors of Peter, wo should also have successors of John, ' the brlovcd disciple,' and as he was declared free from Petci-'s sur- veillance, wo may safely conclude that Christ would have none ol /lis beloved disciples, the representatives of John, subject to Peter's Bucccsaors. Their right to dominion is still farther limited by this consideration, that Peter's province was that of the circumcision, Ga. ii. 7, 8. As distinct from him, another apostle was chosen expressly for the Gentiles, who did not allow that he ' was . . . . . . behind the very chicfest apostles;' and who, so far from allowing anything like infallibility to Vctcr, 'withstood him to the face,' and publicly reproved him, ' because he was to be blamed,' ver. 11. Peter's successors have therefore no right to dominion over Paul's successors ; and as the successors of Paul were the Gentiles generally, and especially those of Europe, we can reasonably claim exemption from the sway of Peter's pretended euecessors, who, THE 'twelve,' Mark iii. 14 ; Luke vi. 13, p. 261. if they are to have dommion, must look for it among those of the cu'cumcision. It is true that it was through the instrumentality of Peter that ' God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to tale out of them a people for his name,' Ac. xv. 14 ; but Paid became ' the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering vp of the Gentiles might be acceptahle, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.' And this is told to the Romans themselves, Rom. XV. 16. There is evidently hci'c no provision for Peter's supremacy at Rome or anywhere else, in order to the church's being acceptable to God in her service. To this, all that was necessary was the faitlifid reception of the gospel which Paid preached ; and sauctifi- cation, not by man, but by the Uoly Ghost. Peter gives no countenance to the assumptions of his pretended successors. He simply calls himself ' an apostle of Jesus Christ' 1 Pe. i. 1 ; 'a servant and an aposlle,' 2 Pe. i. 1 ; ' an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed,' 1 Pe. v. 1. He docs not approve of men ' being lords over God's heritage,' ver. 3. The Gospel aecordmg to Mark is supposed to have been written under his du-ection, and to be what is promised, 2 Pe. i. 12, .5, ' Wherefore I ivill not be negli- gent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye hnoiv them, and be established in the present truth.' 15, ' Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.' Andeew. — One of the first two followei-e of Christ. — See on Jno. i. 35—40, § 10, p. 107, ' SCEIP. Illus.' James. — Probably the other of the two who first followed Jesus. When they had found Christ, they seem to have gone each to bring his brother, which may account for its being said of Andrew, ' Se first findeth his own brother Simon,' ver. 41, § ib. James was not so immediately cucecssful in finding his bi'other John ; but he was found shortly after by Philip — see on ver. 45, § ib., ' NOTES,' Malt. viii. 5, § £3, p. 274. 808 Mark iii. 10, § 30, p. 289. I^ike vii. 1, i) 36, p. 274. John vi. 1, § 40, p. 371. [27. PART III.] — the friend of Andrew, who had been called iu the interim, who was of the same place, Bethsaida. John. — See ' Nathanael,' ver. 45, § ib. He wrote the Gospel according to John, in wliich, howerer, the name of John, as applied to him, does not once oecm\ This servant of Christ seems to describe himself by his writings. Rev. i. 2 : by his Gospel he 'bare record of the word of God;' in his Epistles, 'of the testi- monij of Jesus Christ;' and in the Apocalypse, 'of all thinys that he saWj' in fulfilment of the promise made to Nathanael, Jno. i. 50, § 10, p. 109, ' T/ioii shall, see greater things than these,' &e. John, as being the longest-lived of the apostles, seems to have arranged the books of the New Testament. This we might judge from the f\ict, that the books wi-itten by him are uniformly found completing other writings of a similar kind. Thus John's Gospel is placed the last of the four Gospels ; John's three Epistles arc placed after the other Epistles. The only exception is the Epistle, ' in few tfords,' by Judc, which is much of an exhortatory and pro- phetical nature, and which is placed so as immediately to precedi- the Apocalypse, containing the exhortatory epistles to the seven churches, and the wonderful prophetical visions that close the inspired vohime. The modesty of 'the beloved disciple 'in con- cealing himself under the name of Nathanael, &c., and his uniformly placing himself last of all, are beautifully in accordance with the precepts and example of his Divine Master. James and Jonrr were by our Lord caUed ' Boanerges' or, ' The sons of Thunder.' In Rev. vi. 1, there seems to be a remarkable connection between this name and the words addressed to each of these brethren when Christ was first revealed to them. {'And 1 saw when the Lamh ojyened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts sagiug, Come and see') To the two disciples who followed Jesus, upon hearing hun pointed out as the Lamb of God, it was said by our Lord, ' Come and see.' So to Nathanael, or John, it was said by Philip, ' Come and see.' The humanity of Christ, whereby the Redeemer was enabled to die for om" sins, had more particidarly been adverted to in the words of the Baptist as heard by James. To Katlianael the Divinifif of Christ, seems to have been more strikingly revealed, and it is much dwelt upon in liis writings. The Divinity and the humanity of Christ are the two great subjects witnessed to by the Spirit, as noticed by John in his Epistles, 1 Jno. i. 1 — S,((iuoted Lu. i. 2, § 1, p. 4, 'Eye witnesses ;')iv. \—2,(quoted Mk. iv. 24, § 33, p. 317, 'Take heed,' &c.) When we see Jesus to be Immanuel, God with us, the seals begin to be opened ; we are prepared to give in our heartj- Amen to the Divine testimony ; and, rejoicing in the going forth of the word ' conquering, and to conquer,' we loudly and heartily give forth the invitation to all around, saying. Come and see ! It is in a sense like this that the word thunder is made use of by John throughout the Apocalypse. Thunder is not spoken of in connectioii with the second, thii'd, or fourth seals, although these have also * Come and see ;' but in ch. X., there are seven thimders spoken of; and again the word occurs xiv. 2, where the sense can scarcely be mistaken ; so also xix. 6. It is expressive of loud and hearty praise, of joyful acclaim, of an earnest awakening call, to attend to some- thing worthy of admiration, and important to the beholders — ' Come and see ' ' the Lamb of Ood, which takelh uwag the sin of the world.' With the voice of thunder let the glad response arise unto heaven, ' Thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.' Philip was a townsman of Andrew, and, except in two of the lists, is generally mentioned along with that disciple. In Mk. iii. 18, p. 262 ; Ac. i. 13, the name of Andrew is brouglit down fi'om beside that of Peter, and placed along with that of Philip, which is always the fifth in the list. BAllTnoLOMEW is gcneraiij mentioned the sixth in (he list ; the exception is, Ac. i. 13, where the name of Thomas is placed before that of Bartholomew. Matthew is the seventh name, except in his own Gospel, and in Ac. i. 13, where that of Thomas precedes. lie is called 'Levi,' Lu. V. 27, § 22, p. 221 ; and also ' Levi the son of Alphaus,' Mk. ii. 14, ibid. — Compare Mt. ix. 9, Hid. May have received the name 27.] OF TITE TWELVE APOSTLES, and [SECT. xx\ni. Mattheto—gift, or giver, or bestotver, upon making a distribution of his property when he became a disciple, as Lu. v. 29, ibid., p. 222. Thomas — the eighth name iu the lists of Mark and Luke. He seems to have been prone to look at danger and diHiculty, but not unwilling to suffer ; and, when convinced, he was among the most forward to confess his Lord. — See Jno. xi. IG, § 58; xiv. 5, 6, § 87; XX. 24— .9, § 95. James the son op ALpu.Ens — called also 't/ie Lord's brother,' Ga. i. 19 ; calls himself ' a servant of God and of t/te Lord Jesus Christ,' Ja. i. 1. He is always the ninth in the list. by Matthew and Mark, ' the SiMOK called Zeloies — called Canaanite,' from Cana — zeal. Judas the brother op James — calls himself, 'the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James,' Jude 1. He seems to have been also the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews, which some suppose to iiave been written by Paul, but it has not his peculiar salutation, 'the tohen in every epistle,' 2 Th. iii. 17. On the other hand, it is clearly recognised in the Epistle of Jude, where he says, ver. 3, ' Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faitli which was once delivered unto the saints.' From this it plainly appears that the Epistle of Jude was designed to accompany a treatise concerning ' the common salvation,' and ' the faith . . , once delivered unto the saints.' The Epistle to the Hebrews exactly answers to this descrip- tion. In it the faith and hope of the saints are shewn to be f lie same throughout all dispensations, from Abel downward. The Epistle to tlie Hebrews also recognises the Epistle of Judc, ' a teller . . . in few words,' Heb. xiii. 22, designed to accompany the other. It is also described as a letter of exhortation, which the Epistle of Jude recognises itself to be — conqyare Heb. xiii. 22, and Jude ver. 3. Judas is by Mark called ' Thaddaius,' a name of similar import with •Jude or Judas, signifying praise. He has also the name of 'LehbtBus* prefixed by Matthew ; Lebbfeus being from a woi-d signifying the heart, to which there is a pointed reference in his larger Epistle, as Heb. iv. 12. He calls for hearty praise throughout. Judas Iscakiot, who also betrayed him. — This is always the last-named of the twelve. He, however, was not the last of the apostles. Paul, the apostle, ' born otit of due time,' 1 Cor. xv. 8, was as remarkable for his faithfulness, as Judas Iscariot was for his treachery. Although calling himself ' less than the least of all saints,' Eph. iii. 8, Paul ' teas not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles,' 2 Cor. xi. 5. The last was the first, whether as regards amount of service, or the extent of his field of laboiu- ; whether his influence upon the churches of his own time, or the effect of liis wi'itings upon the eluu-ch iu succeeding ages. And yet this, the last and greatest of the apostles, appears to have been among the most forward in disclaiming what has been called apostolic authority — dommion over the brethren. Paul was, like Peter, a witness for Clrrist ; and that he might be quahfied for the ofiice, he was made an eye-ivitness of Jesus, who appeared to him in the way to Damascus ; and, having first convinced him of his imworthiness, appointed him an ambassador to the nations. But Paul, although thus high in office, did not claim to impede the free action of others in the Christian ministry. He pronounced an Anathema against those who preached another gospel; but, provided Clu-ist was preached, he was content that others should act altogeflier inde- pendent of the apostle, or should even be vexatiously opposed to him. Ph. i. 15 — .8, 'Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife ; and some also of good will : 16, the one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: 17, but the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. 18, Wliat then ? notwithstanding, everyway, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached ; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.' Judas was the reverse of tliis — he was agahist a free ministry. The Savioui' had to forbid his interfeivnce, when a woman. Divinely directed, but without apostolic sanction, poured upon the head of Messiah a ' box of very precious oint>nenl.' The disciples were Matt. viii. 5, § 28, p. 274. Mark iii. 19, § 30, p. 289. Luke vii. 1, § 28, p. 274. John vi. 1, § 40, p. 371. 200 SECT. xr^^I.] namf.s of the twklve apostles, pescriptive, etc. [pakt in. indir'nant espreially Judas : lie tliought tl.at the matter should j the band from the chief priests to lay hold upon Him whom he have been arranged according to his measure of prudence; »"''.' 'l^"^ '^:"\''^^';'''/^'- "J'^f-'^' §^^f; ^„^™''°^; ^ under the hypocritical pretext of a concern for the poor, would have had the price of the ointment put into the apostolic treasury, which it would seem was under his care. The incident referred to aifordcd a favourable opportunity for our Lord's supporting the authority of the apostles, and of teaching humble submission to their suc- cessors in after ages: in place of this, Jesus directly reproves the apostle who had opposed the anointing, and seems to intimate that by a free ministry, such as thnt of which this woman was a type, was the Gospel to be ' preacJicd tliroiirihoi'l the whule n-orhl ;' whilst the man of the bar;, the would-be abridger of Christian liberty, became by'the same incident the type of antiiliri^^t, that is, ayainsl the auoUHiiff, or one who is opposed to the free manifestation of love to the Savioui-, according to the Spirit of holiness, and without calling any one master u])on eartli.— .SVe on Mt. xxvi. 6— i3; Mk. xiv. 3—9; Jno. lii. 2—8, § 81, p. G7(j. Judas Iscariot is called the traitor. He professed to be a servant of Christ, and yet basely bartered his JIaster for the wages of iniquity. When he said, 'Kail, Musler ; and kissed him,' it was a sign for of antichrist, 1 Jno. ii. 22, .3. This successor of the apostle Judas has made the loudest professions of zeal for the cause of Christ, which he has betrayed j he has made the most boastful pretensions to orthodoxy, and yet practically denies both ' the Father and the Son ;' exalting liimself in the house of God, as emphatically the Pope, or the 'HoiT Father' — tating thus the very title by which our blessed Redeemer addresses the Father, in his intercessory prayer, Jno. xvii. 11, § 87; and, in place of the Son, ho causes a wafer to be worshipped, the sacrifice of which he declares to be equally eflleacious with the sacrifice of Christ upon the cross : and that pretended sacrifice of the mass he makes a matter of regular merchandise. As making merchandise of his Master, in sellmg ' the innocent blood,' Judas was, according to his own confession, emphatically a man of sin, lit. xxvii. 3, 4, § 89. He afterwards ' weril and hanged himself,' ver. 5. He is said to be lost, and is called ' the son of per- dition,' Jno. xvii. 12, § 87 : 'man of sin,' and 'son of perdition,' are also designations of his successor, 2 Th. ii. 3. THE NAMES OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES, DESCRIPTIVE OF THE MANNER IN WHICH THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST BUILD UPON HIM, THE WORD, THE ROCK, THE ONE SURE FOUNDATION. See 'On a Rock,' § 19, p. 203. •And the wall of the city had twelve foimdations. And in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.' — Rev. xxi. 14. ■Tt is worthy of observation, that at the close of both the Sermon on the Mount, and the Sermon in the Plain, there is a paragraph shewing how the disciple may give in his Amen to the words of Christ— may ' set to his seal that God is true.' It is by making a practical confession of the truth : by doing that which is expressed in the names of the twelve chosen witnesses. In the following observations it is attempted to be she\ra that the names of the twelve apostles correspond in meaning with the description given of the builders and their building, referred to Mt. vii. 24— .7, p. 193, and Lu. vi. 47 — .9, p. 265 ; and also that they answer to the several portions of the New Testament scriptures, in order, as exhibiting Christ, the Rock. The books of the New Testament declare what he is to us, and for us ; and the names of the apostles express what we should be in relation to him. I. Slliox, the name of the first of the twelve, means, ' hear- ing.' This corresponds to what our Lord says of the true disciple — he ' heareth my sayings, and docth them.' This disciple's other name, Peter, ' a stone,' introduces the other leading idea of the passage, Lu. vi. 47 — .9, p. 2G5, that of building. It is by obediently hearing Christ, that we give evidence of our being buUt up on him, ' the Rock.' As to his Divine nature, he is the eternal Rock ; but having taken to him also human nature, he is the FotJSDATiox Stone, laid in the RoCE, 1 Pe. ii. 4—6, quoted Jno. i. 42, § 10, p. 107, 'A STONE.' When God entered into covenant with Israel, at Sinai, he did uot only cause his glorious voice to be heard in the publishing of Ms law ; ho also wrote that law upon tables of stone, which were deposited in the ark, and kept in the innermost part of the temple. But with regard to the new covenant he hath said, Jc. xxxi. 33, ' After those days, ... I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts ; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.' This preparation of the stones, of which the spiritual temple is to be reared, is by hearing the Gospel. It is by being given confidence in our heavenly Father, who hath not withheld his own Son, but freely given him up unto the death for us, — it is by having this eonfldeuee in God as a rich Giver, that we can exercise that patimt wailing upon him which is necessary to the true hearing of his word ; to having it so engraven upon our hearts, as that, amid all the buffetings and revilings of the world, the spirit of glory and of God may rest upon us, causing the royal law of LOVE to be exhibited in our lives, according as our Lord requires in the Sermon on the Mount ; which, as wo have seen, is a rehearsal of the Law according to the Gospel. It 13 only those who know that which is expressed in the name of the Matt, viii, 270 first book of the New Testament, Matthew, 'gift,' or 'giver,' or 'gift heslower,' that can manifest the liberahty there called for by Him who being the gift of the Father's love, gave lumself for us, and procured the gift of the Holy Ghost, which prepares for the enjoyment of the gift of Eternal Life. It is through tlie hearing of liiith that this gift is ministered. Our bomitiful Giver delights to speak to us of the treasures above, which he of his goodness has prepared for the poor ; and, even by his most painful providences, he desires to fashion us, as with a graving tool, for the honourable place unto which he hath appointed us in the building of God. It is for this we are taught that heavenly wisdom, and are given those many prophetic views of the kingdom of heaven, with which the Gospel according to Matthew abomids. Blatthew exliibits Clu-ist more particularly as our Prophet, the great Revealer, the rich Dispenser of truth ; and we are benefited by him as our Prophet when we obey liis call, ' Wlio hath ears to hear, let him hear,' Mt. xiii. 9, § 32, p. 301 ; ' Hear, and understand,' xv. 10, § 44, p. 403. When we do hear that wliich is revealed by the Spirit, from the Father, respectuig the Son of God, so that we are built upon him as the rock, xvi. 18, § 50, p. 435, — when, as lively stones, we, through the fieaiing of faith, are built upon. Clu'ist, the Sou of the living God, then are we obedient to the voice of the Father, xvii. 5, § 51, ' This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased ; ueab te uim.' ' And this voice,' says Peter, 2 Ep. i. 18, ' we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.' The name of the writer of the first book of the New Testament is expressive of that wliich the Gospel makes known, as declared m the beginning of the Sermon on the Jlount, Mt. v. 3, ' Blessed are the poor in spirit : for theu''s is the khigdom of heaven.' God is a rich Giver, and we participate of his goodness, when we so hear his call in the Gospel as to be built up on the One Sure Foundation laid in Sion. Matthew beautifully paraphrases his own name, when in the end of his Gospel he records tlie great commission given by our Lord to the apostles, eh. xxviii. 18, § 9G, 'All power is GITEN unto me in heaven and in earth.' The Son of God, as being by tlie Father given the Holy Ghost for bestowmcut upon his people, is the Foundation upon which the clim'ch is built. It is thus that we are brought to take the Triune Jehovah for our God ; and accordingly it follows, ver. 19, 20, ' Go ye therefore, and leach [or disciple] all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Gliost : 20, teaching them to obseiTe all things whatsoever I have commanded you : and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of I the world. Amen.' §28, p. 274. JUori iii. 19, § 30, p. 289. ini-e vii. 1, § 28, p. 271. Joi» vi. 1, § 40, p. 371. [27. PAKT III.] NAMES OF THK TWELVE APOSTLES, DESCKIPTIVE, ETC. II. Andeew, 'a ma>:,' more particularly 'a strong man.' This name of the brother of Simon describes the character of tlie building upon the Eock. To withotaud tlie etorm and tlie vehement beating of the stream, the disciple must, Eph. Hi. 16, 'be strengthened with miglit by his Spu-it in the inner man.' Tlie fomidation of this is expressed in the name of the second book of the New Testament, Make, meaning ' cleansinij ' — we must bo v.-illlng to put away every idol, to part with all uncleaiiness, if we v.'Ould enjoy the fellowship of the Spirit of IioUness ; and manifest in the time of trial and temptation, the sustaining and invigorating power of God. And the house must not only be 'swept, and garnished ' — it must also be inhabited by the 'Strong JJIan,' and he at liberty to make use of the means of defence, according as occasion may requii'e. When, through the hearing of faith, the Spirit of God cleanses the individual believer from iilthiness, he also gives power to work good for others. TIius, in the commission to the apostles, Mk. xvi. 15 — .8, § 98, faith is in the first instance connected with baptism as describing diseipleship, ver. 16, ' He that beUeveth and is baptized shall be siived ; but he that believeth not shall be damned.' 'Without faith it is impossible to please' God, He. xi. 6; and without holiness, no man shall see the Lord, xii. II. But the disciple must not merely aim at bemg clean : he must seek to put forth power for the benefit of others ; and accordingly, just after having spoken of washing, in Mk. xvi. 16, oiu- Lord, in ver. 17, .8, promises power whereby he will enable the believer to manifest his faith — power not only to resist evil, but to effect deliverance for others. Mark begins and ends with a reference to washing; in the first instance to the typical baptism of Jolm, and in the second to the autitypical baptism .ninistered by the Mediator of the New Covenant; and the body of the book abounds in the mauiiostatiou of the wonder-working power of Jesus in effectmg miracles of cleansing. In holiness is the true foundation of power. It is thus that we are restored to the Divine image ; and, in place of being defiled with idolatry, become om-selves God's ' work-manship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,' Eph. ii. 10. May we, as having the new man fully foi-roed witlun us, leani to manifest that activity and energy in doing good, of which we are given such living example in the Gospel according to Mark. III. James, the same as Jacob, a ' supplanter.' He wlio cometh to Christ is like the man who ' digged deep.' Every false grotmd of confidence must be removed — all the ruins of the fall must be cast up, that Christ may be trusted in simply and entirely. It is for tlais that the light hath been manifested ; he came to destroy the works of tlie devil — to supplant the kingdom of darkness — in order to wliich he took our place and name, and bestows upon us his. The name of the tliii'd book of the New Testament is Luee, meaning ' Lightgiving.' In this Gospel we have more particularly the priest- hood of Christ exhibited, and the evU of man trusting in his own righteousness exposed. Ps. exviii. 27, ' God is the Lord, which hath shewed us hght : bind tlie sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.' In Christ we are she\vn the way of access to the Father, from whom we, like the prodigal, had wandered : but, Lu. i. 78, .9, § 3, p. 31, 'The dayspring from on high hath visited us, 79, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.' He is, ii. 32, § 4, p. 42, ' A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.' It is in Luke that we see our Lord opening the understandings of his disciples to understand the Scriptures, by teaching the great doctrine of the atonement, sayuig, xxiv. 46 — .8, § 98, 'Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day : 47, and that repent- ance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48, And ye are witnesses of these things.' IV. Jonu, ' Grace of the Lord.' The free grace of God in Clirist Jesus, as made manifest in giving bis Son, to bring us into the adoption of sons, must excite in the recipient corresponding grace. This also is taught in the other name of John, Nathanaei,,* ' Oifl of Ood,' and also by that whereby he is generally called in his [SECT. XXVII. Gospel, ' the disciple whom Jesus loved.' He to whom much love is freely shewn should himself abound in love to others ; and such are the terms by which we come into possession of the Fomidation, Eph. ii. 8, 'By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not o{ yourselves : it is the gift of God.' Juo. iii. 16, § 12, p. 126, ' God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that who- soever beUeveth in liim should not perish, but have everlasting life.' The love, and liberty, and rest, and peace, which, as bemg made the sons of God in Clirist, we are given to enjoy, are very much dwelt upon in the Gospel according to John. Ch. i. 12, § 7, p. 75, To ' as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that beUeve on his name.' — ver. 16, .7, p. 77, ' And of his fiUness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17, For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.' V. Philip, ' Lover of the horse.' Tliis name is supposed to describe one ready and willing to go forth on a message — a swift messenger, whose deUght is in active sei-viee. It may well be taken to describe those whose joy is in speeding the message of salvation, and for which the Divinely-appointed messengers i-eceived much preparation, and those rich endowments described ui the Acts of the Apostles. There must not only be activity in ministering the word of life, but wise du-ection, such as only God can give, Eph. V. 17, ' "Wlierefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the wiU of the Lord is.' Such special direction we find was afforded to Philip (the deacon?), as recorded, Ac. viii. 26 — 40; and also to the great apostle of the Gentiles, when led by the Spirit unto Phihppi, there, in Europe, to commence that good work which lie was con- fident that God would perfoi-m untU the day of Jesus Christ — compare xvi. 6 — 12 ; Ph. i. 6. As obedient cluldren under the eye of a kind father, the intimations of whose will are eagerly watched ; whose wishes and commands are readily and zealously acceded to and obeyed, so are the cluldren of God to be found, as being entrusted with the message of mercy to the perishing childi'eu of men. The Son of God, in becoming the Son of man, the Apostle of our profession, hath taught us by example all devotedness to the Father's wUl. Let us enter into the spirit of his saying, Ac. XX. 35, ' It is more blessed to give than to receive.' In this spii-it Paid gave example of, ch. xxviii. 31, ' preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things wliich concern the Lord Jesus Christ.' VI. Baethoiomew, ' Son of the suspender of waters.' A son of liim who held back the waters of the flood, for the people of the Lord to pass over; as in the case of Israel, when led by Moses through the Red Sea, and by Joshua over Jordan. One that knows he has nothing to fear in the way he is dii-ected by his Father to go, or in the work unto which he is Divinely appointed. Upon such a one the floods may come; against him the stream may beat vehe- mently; but built on the Kock, he stands unshaken. Ps. xciii. 4, ' The LOED on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, gea, titan the mighty waves of the sea.' A singular example of this life of faith was given in the apostle of the Gentiles ; and his epistles are well calculated to assist ui directing and sustaining through a like sea of troubles, as 2 Cor. i. 3 — 10, 'Blessed be God, even the Father of om' Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort ; 4, who comfortcth us in all our tribulation, that wo may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 5, For as the sufferings of Christ aboiuid ui us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 6, And whether we be afllictcd, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufl'erings wliich we also sufler: or whetlier we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7, And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye arc partakers of the sutleiings, so shall ge be also of the consolation. 8, For we woulil not, brotlireii, liave you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we wore pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: 9, but we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiscth the dead : 10, who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: • See on Jno. i. 4S, § 10, p. 100, and p. 269, Addenda, thk ' T^VELVE,' ' Joux.' 27.] il/ii«. viii. 5, § 28, p. 271. J/ari- iii. 19, § 30, p. 289. i/K/te vii. 1, § 28, p. 274. Jo//h vi. 1, § 40, p. .371. 271 NAMKS OF TITE TWELVE APOSTLES, DESCEIPTIVE, ETC SECT, xxrii.] in wliom we trust Ihat ho will yet deliver vs.'—W. 8—13, ' JFe are troubled on every side, yet not distressed ; we are perplexed, but not in despair ; 9, persecuted, but not forsaken ; cast down, but not destroyed ; 10, always bearing about in tlic body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that tlio life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11, For wo which live are alwny delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the Ufe also of Jesus might bo made manifest in our mortal llcsli. 12, So then death worketli in us, but life in you. 13, Wc having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken ; we also believe, and therefore speak.' VIT. Matthew, ' Gift,' or ' Giver,' may be taken to express the nature of the building. Upon the foundation laid in the sacrifice of Christ, the disciple shoidd make his confession, not in word only, but in deed and in truth. He should be ready to distribute, obeying the exhortation, Heb. xiii. IG, 'To do good and to commmiicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.' The ground and objects of this liberality are pointed out in the Epistle to the Hebrews; which epistle exliibits the rich provisions of the new covenant, according to which the Lord hath purposed that Israel should be joined unto himself for ever. VIII. Tno5iA8, 'doulle,' ' completing,' or 'jnerfeciion.' The dis- ciple seeks not only to build, but to build unto perfection ; to be perfect, even as his heavenly Father is perfect — who is kind, not only to the good, b>it to tlie evil and untluuikful. He perseveres, altliough meeting with indillercnce and ingratitude, and even hatred, for his love. Ja. i. 4, 'Let patience liave her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.' — See forther on the subject oi patient waiting upon God, and continuance in well-doing, in the Epistle of James. IX. James the son op A-lvsmvs. The latter name is from Alpha— the /m/, or chief. There is not only to be a supplanting in order to lay the foundation, but also for tlie completion of the building. Mt. xxiii. 9, 10, § 85, ' Call no man your father upon the earth : ... 10, Neither be ye called masters : for one is your Master, even Christ.' He is the Alpha as weU as the Omega, the First as well as the Last. He is both the Foundation and the Cliief Corner Stone. A very improper use has been made of the name of Peter, for the pm'pose of upholding other lords over God's heritage ; but the word by Peter earnestly calls for the supplanting of all such spirit of domination, whether in the elder or in the younger, 1 Pe. V. 3 — G, 'Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being cnsamples to the flock. 4, And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that iiideth not away. 5, Likewise, ye younger, submit yom'selves unto the elder : yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with himniUty : for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6, Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.' There must be a ceasing from blindly following those w-ho teach, the evils of which are so strongly de- scribed, 2 Pe. ii. Tlic many teachers must be supplanted by the One Teacher, ' the faithful and true witness:' it is to Him, and for Him, that all must look, as exhorted, eh. iii. X. Simon caixed Zelotes. He is also called tlie Canaanite, not from Canaan, a merchant, but Cana, a word of similar import with Zelotes, and signifying zealous or most earnest. Tliis is the character of that hearing which is effectual in the time of trial and temptation. Wlien the caivless hearer is being moved away from the word of the truth of the Gospel, he that hearkens diligently becomes the more firmly fixed in the foundation ; obeying the precept, he experiences the truth of the promise. Is. Iv. 3, ' Incline your ear, and eome unto me : hear, and your soul shall live ; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sm'e mercies of David.' He hears the call, Pr. i. 20 — .3, ' Wisdom ci'ieth with- out ; she uttereth her voice in the streets : 21, she erieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates : in the city she uttereth her words, saying, 22, How long, ye simple ones, wiU ye love simplicity ? and the seorners delight in theii- scorning, and fools hate knowledge ? 23, Turn you at my reproof : beliold, I will [PART III. pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.' See the contrast, ver. 24— .9, (quoted Jno. iii. 18, § 12, p. 127, 'Because,' i^'c.) If the testimony of man is to bo lieard, surely tlio most earnest attention is duo to tlie testimony of the ' Three that bare record in heaven;' and especially when we con- sider, that, by this earnest hearing, we learn to discnmiuate between what proceeds from the Spirit of Christ, and what is of anticlu-ist. We come to know our true state before God, and to recognise those with whom we can really have fellowship in the things of God. — See the Epistles of John. XI. Judas, 'praise,' or 'confession,' 'the brother OP James.' He is otherwise called 'Lebb^us,' which is from a word signifying 'the heart,' and 'Tbaddjeus,' auotlier form of the word Judas, 'praise.' Hearty praise, or the worshipping of God in spu'it and in truth, is the design of the building. Wisdom's works are all to praise the Lord. The building which is in truth upon the True Foundation, and stands the trial, will be, 1 Pe. i. 7, ' found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Ciirist.' Psa. xxxii. 11, ' Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye I'ighleous : and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.' Yea, and they will rejoice, even when the rams descend, and the floods come, and the winds blow. Then may they sing, xlvi. 1 — 3, ' God is our refuge and strength, a vei-y present help in trouble. 2, Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea ; 3, though the waters thereof roar and be troubled ; though the moimtains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.' An example of this praise in the sight of the most fearful judgments is given in the Epistle of Jude, ver. 24, .5, ' Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 23, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.' XII. Judas liCkTuioi.—' Iscariot' means 'reivards' The reward to him that overcometh ; and, in contrast thereto, the wages of the wicked, whose covetous eye is fiied upon the gains of vmgodliness, are both described in the Apocalypse. Judas shoidd have had a regard to 'the recompence of the reward.' Had he counted the reproach of Christ greater riches than earthly treasiu-e, his own name would not have been, as now, a name of rcproaeh. In the Apocalypse, the other name, Judas, 'praise,' is abundantly illus- trated in songs of praise to the Conqueror, the ' KiJia op kings, a:nd Loed op iokds.' But these songs are to the reproach of the betrayer. In Judas Iscariot we see a shadowing forth of the antichrist, 'the son of perdition.' Compare Jno. xvii. 12, with 2 Th. ii. 3, 4,(quoied Mt. xxi. 12, § 83, p. 708, ' Temple,' fcc^whose various developments, and final destruction, we find described in the Apocalypse. In opposition to the hireling and traitor, are they who, in being given by Christ for the ministry of the chiu-ch, give themselves and their all to the Lord, to be dis- posed of as infinite wisdom may appoint. Such are stars in the right hand of the Redeemer, and then- reward is sm-e. Da. xii. 3, ' They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the fu'mament ; and they that tm'n many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.' Then- reward, freely given to them of God, tlu'ough the redemption that is in Chi-ist Jesus, is described, Ecv. i., iv., v., sx., xxi. A reward to him that overcometh is promised at the close of each of the seven epistles, eh. ii., iii. The wages of sin is there also adverted to, as eh. ii. 20 — .3, 'Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach aud to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to cat tilings sacrificed imto idols. 21, And I gave her space to repent of her fornication ; aud she repented not. 22, Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adidtery with her into great tribidation, except they repent of then' deeds. 23, And I wiU kill her children with death ; and all the chm-ches shall know that I am he wliieh scareheth the reins and hearts : and I will give unto every one of you accordhig to your works.' And in ch. xiv., (quoted Mk. iv. 29, § 32, p. 305, 'When the fkuit,' &c.) we have both the praise of the faithfid described, ver. 1 — 7, &o., and the re- ward both to the righteous aud to the wicked. See ver. 8 — 16; 272 Matt. viu. 5, § 28, p. 274. M.o-h- iii. 19, § 30, p. 289. Luke vii. 1, § 28, p. 274. John vi. 1, § 40, p. 371. [27, PAKT III.] NAMES OF THE TWELVE APOSTLES, DESCRIPTIVE, ETC. rsECT. xxvn. In ch. XV., is tlie 30115 of those wlio Imvo obiaiiieJ the victory — the song of praise for redeeming love — tlie song of Moses, t!io servant of Ood — and the song of the Lamb; and thereafter is described tlie case of Babylon, see ch. sviii. G. In Jiidiis Iseariot, and in his successor, the * man of sin,' * fite son of perdition^ whose evil work and miserable end are unveiled in the Apocalypse, see ch. xii!., xis. — in such more especially we see the trutli of our Lord's saving, Ln. vi. 40, 'But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; n^ainst which the stream did beat vehemently, aud immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.' It is worthy of notice, that the meaning of the name of Rome is 'great.' It is in Rome, that great city that reigucth over the kings of the earth, that we see the ruin into which immediately fell the buUding of those nominal Christians of ancient times, who chose other foimdatioii 'than that is laid, which is Jesus ChrUt.' Even the unstable Peter himsetf hath been chosen as the foundation of the churcli of Rome. And tlius Rome was building without a foundation, for Peter altogether repudiates the connection — see 2 Pe. ii. The succession of that chiu'ch can be much more clearly traced from the apostlo Judas, who was lost. So with regard to that great ruin, Rome, Rev. xviii. 21, ' Anb a MianTy anqel took cp a stoxe likb A GEEAT MILLSTOSE, AND CAST II IKXO THE SEA, SATING, TuD3 WITH TIOLEXCE SHALL THAT GKE.VT CITY BaBTI.ON BE TUHOWJf DO^VN, AND SHALL BE rOnSD XO MORE AT ALL." 27.1 Matt. Tui. 5, § 28, p. 274. Mark iii. 19, § 30, p. 289. Luke vii. 1, 5 28, p. 274. John yi. 1, 5 40, p. 371. 'J 27o ^ SECl'. WVIII.J OF THE IKNTrinoN'S SEKVAXT. [PART III. SECTION 28.— rG. OF ins SICKNESS fi.) — After the seumon in the plain, Jesus enters Capernaum, and heals THE servant of A CERTAIN CENTUiuoN. — Matt. viu. 5 — 13. Luke vii. 1 — 10. INTRODUCTION Mt. viii. 5, 6. Lii. vii. 1 — 3. Jesus, Imving in the audience of tlio jwoplo delivered liis charge to tlie disciples, enters into Ciiper- niiinn ; wlien, by means of certain elders of tlic Jews, a centurion earrestly beseeches him for liis servant, wlio is lying nt home sick of the palsy. — vii. 4, ."). The Jewish elders arc urgent that, on account of the centurion's superior worthiness, Jesus should make haste to comply with the request. The centurion's wortliuiess, in their estunation, consisted in liis loving their nation, and building them a synagogue. — vii. 6 — 8. Jesus goes with them, but when not far from the house he is met by others, who more truly represent tlie centurion. So far fi'ora liis tliinking liimself worthy of having Jesus come to him, it now appears that he had not even thought liimself wortliy to come unto Jesus — nor had lie deemed that Jesus needed to make the journey, believing, as he did, that our Lord had power to command the healing of liis servant from a distance, as easily as he liimself coidd carry into effect his purposes in various quarters at the same time, through the mstrumentality of the soldiers under him. AND ANALYSIS. Mt. viii. 10. Lu. vii. 9. Jesus, who seems to have silently complied with the request of the elders, now expresses admiration j and turning about, he addresses the people on the greatness of the centiu'ion's faith. viii. 11, . Having adverted to faith (by wliicli Abraham had been saved, and tlirough which salvation was to come to the Gentiles), Jesus declares that many would come from tlie east and west, and sit down in the kingdom of God, with the saints who lived before the Law was given ; wliilst those who, on account of their natural descent and ceremonial observances, regard themselves as the chilch'en of the kingdom, should be ' cast out into outer darkness.^ — viii. 13.' Having contrasted the ease of the humble believing centurion with that of the Jewish elders, full of the importance of their nation and flie building of synagogues, Jesus retui'ns answer to the oentiu'ion, that it is done to bini according to his faith. — vii. 10. They that were sent, upon return- ing to the house, ilnd the servant restored, according as Jesus had said. Jef!i/.i hcah the servant of a certain centurion. At Capernaum. Matt. viii. 5 — 13. Luke vii. 1 — 10. [Ver. 4, § 21, p. 2U.] ^ [Ch. vi. 49, § 27, p. 200.] "Now when lie-liad-ended £7rXi';p(u(T£ all his^sayings 1 in the audience tJc toc okoqc of-the people, he- entered into Capernaum. And a-certain centurion's 2 servant SoDXoc, who was dear ivrifjiog unto-hiiu, was sick, and-iendy to-die i'l/jieWi riXivrav. And when- 3 he-heard of „ Jesus, he-sent unto liim the-clders of- the Jews, heseeching him that he-would-come and- heal Siao-oxTf) his ^ servant. And w]ien-'they'"-came 4 to^Jesus, ^//ey-besought him instantly And whcn-\.Jesus'-was-entered into Capernaum, there-came unto-liim a-centurion, heseeching him, (') and saying, Lord, my^servant o ttoTc lieth j3£^Xi)ro( atjiome sick-of-the-palsy, grievously tormented Siiviog jiaaaviio/xivog. ho hath-built us a' synagogue.* SCRIPTURE Lu. vii. 1. CArEENATJM. Where Jems had already wrought miracles, such as caslim/ out ' the unclean spirit,' Mk. i. 25, .0, § 17, p. 162 ; — healing ' Simon's wife's mother,' ver. 31, § ib., p. 164 -.—and many others, ver. 31, ibid. ;— afterwards the paralytic, ii. 10— .2, § 22, p. 220 -.—and withered hand, iii. 5, § 25, p. 251. 2. Centtjeion. The commander of a hundred, such as Cornelius, Ac. X. \.— The Israelites also had been divided into hundreds, De. i. 15. Seetant, . . . BEAH UNTO HIM. Such was Joseph to Fotiphar, Ge. xxxix. i — G;—such Onesimus, after his conversion, was expected to be unto Philemon, Philcm. W.— Servants should so act, as to be valuable to their masters. Tit. ii. 9 — 15 ; Eph. vi. 5—8 and masters should act ioivards their servants as having themselves a Master in heaven, ver. 9. ILLUSTRATIONS. 3. Sext unto niir, ie. Matthew says, ch. viii. 5, 'There came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,' &e. — that is said to be done by a person which is done by his deputy, as 2 Cor. v. 20, * Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us : we pray you in Clirist's stead, be ye reconciled to God.' 4. WoRTHT, &c. T/ie evidence of !tis worthiness they seem to have regarded as twofold — love to man — 'he loveth our nation:' and love to God, manifested by a regard to his ivord and worship — ' he hath built us a synagogue,' ver. h.^See the same in substance of another centurion, Ac. x. 4 — 'Thy praj-ers,' ttie worship of God, ' and thine alms,' the manifestation of love to man, ' are come up for a memorial before God.' 5. He LOVETH DUE NATION, &c. The elders of the Jews reversed the order of the commandment, ch. x. 27, § 60, 'Thou shalt love Mt. viii. 5. There came nnto him a centurion. A centurion was a commander of a hundred men. Judrea was a Roman province, and garrisons of Roman soldiers were kept there to preserve the people in subjection. This man was probably by birth a pagan — see ver. 10. Lu. vii. 3. He sent, i;c. As the centurion is by Matthew said to solicit for himself wliat in Luke he entreats thi-ough the mediimi of NOTES. his friends, it may be observed, that tlie Jews, and in some measure tlie Greeks and Romans, were accustomed to represent what was done by any one for another, as done by the person himself. — See Mk. X. ZZ— compare with Mt. xx. 20, § 77, p. 657. Mt. viii. 6. Tormented. (ia(iaviZ,onivoQ. It is debated whether this should be rendered tortured, or afflicted. For palsies, whether PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS Lu. vii. 2. Let those wlio are in authority over others learn from the centurion to take a iienrty interest in the welfare of those under them. Let sci-vants be so failhfid and obedient, as to secure the favi and friendship of then- masters or employers. 27<1 3 ver. Had the centiu-ion known sufficiently iiie grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, he woidd scarocly have deemed the intervention of the elders of the Jews necessary, because the Good Physician was as ready to liearken to liiin as to them. 4 ver. Men are very much disposed to take a selCsh view of Matt. viii. 18, § 34, p. 32?. Mark in. 19, § 30, p. 289. John vi. 1, § 40, p. 371. [28. PART III.] THE CENTURION CONFESSES HIS UNWORTHINESS. 7 8 9 Matt. viii. 7 — 10. 'And^Jesus saitli imto-liiiu, I will-come a/i(l-heal liim.'^ The centurion answered cend-said, Lord, I-am not worthy that thou- shouldest-come under mvjoof: ''but sj^eak the-word only, and my^servnnt shall-be-healed.' For I am a-man under authority, having soldiers under me : and I-say to-t\ns-ma/i, Go, and he-goeth ; and to- another. Come, and he-cometh ; and to ' my servant, 10 Do this, and he-doeth /t. Wliea-'^Jesus'-heard it, he-marvelled, and said to-them ' that-followed, •'^Verily I-say unto-you, I-have-'not'-fouud so-great faitli, no-not in^Israel. [SECT. XX.V1U, Luke vii. C — 9. 'Then^Jesus went with them. And when-'he was'-now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto-him. Lord, trouble-'uof-tliyself /ui'j ctkuXXou : for I-am not worthy that thou- shouldest-entor under my, roof : wherefore neither thought-I-'my- self-'worthy to-come unto thee:'' but say in- a- word, and my^servant shall-be-healed. 'For I also am a-man set Tocrarojuti^oc under authority, having under me soldiers, and I-say unto-oue. Go, and he-goeth ; and to- another, Como, and he-cometh ; and to 'my servant. Do this, and he-doeth it. When-\.Jesi],-,--]ieaid 9 these-things, he-marvelled-at him, and turned-him-about, «//f^said unto-the people oxXtf that-followed him,-'' I-say unto-you, I-have-'nof-found so-great faith, no-iiot in Israel. 8 SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. the Lord thy God with all thy heart and thy neiglibour as thyself.' — And they also took a very selfish view of ' Wlio is my neighbour?' — See our Lord's answer to this question, ver. 29 — 37, § ib. Lu. vii. 6. I AM NOT WOETHT, &c. The elders of the Jews had said, ver. 4, 'Tliat he was worthy.' — Sitt the centurion had a more truthful i-ieio of himself and of the dignity of the good Physician, than had those of whom he thought more highly than of himself — see ver. 7, 9 ; Mt. xviii. 3, 4, § 53, p. 482 ; Lu. xiv. 11, § G7, p. 59G. Mt. viii. 8. Speak the word only. He seems to have recognised that this was lie of whom it vi written, Ps. cvii. 20, ' He sent his word, and healed them, and dehvered them from then* destructions.' — Sis word, sent forth hy tlie prophets, is to raise Israel from the lead, Eze. xxxvii. 4 — 14, ' Again he said unto me. Prophesy upon these bone.?, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LoED,' &o. — Is. Iv. 11, 'It shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.' Lu. vii. 8. Ha VINO tjndee me. Jesus, who condescended to tal-e the place of a servant, Ph. ii. 6, 1, {quoted Lu. ii. 11, § 4, p. 36, ' Cheist the IjOTiB,') hath ' all power ... in heaven and in earth,' Mt. xxviii. 18, § 96, and sent forth messengers to convey his cleans- ing and life-giving word, ver. 19, 20, § il. ; x. 40 — .2, § 39, p. 363. 9. So GEEAT FAITir. Faith is manifested, not hy magnifying our own doings, hut hy shewing, like this centurion, that we highly esteem the words of Jesus, ver. 7. — See the case of Martha and Mary, cli. X. 40— .2, § 61, p. 557. IsE.iEL. Jacob had received that name because he prevailed hy wrestling in believing prayer with the Angel of the covenant, Ge. xxxii. 24 — .8. — Sis posterity tvere chosen hy the Lord to be, De. xiv. 2, ' a peculiar people unto himself, above all the riations tliat are UY>on the eartli.' — Because of idolatry, the Lord had long ago removed Israel out of his sight, 2 Ki. xvii. 16 — 23 ; — hut his word of promise, Ge. xvii. 7, was still for that people, when brought to NOTES. attended witli contraction, or remission of the nerves, do not generally occasion any great pain. Yet it has been proved that, in one stage of the disorder, the patient suiTers great agony ; as also when it passes into apoplexy. The word is rarely found beyond the scriiJtural writers, except in Josephus and Pliilo. Mt. viii. 7. I will come and heal him. 'Eytu iXQujv BfpaTrtvaio nvTui', I coming, will heal him. This saying is worthy of observation. Jesus did not positively say, I will come and heal him ; this could not liave been strictly true, because our Lord healed him without going to the liouse, and the issue sliens, that the words ought to be taken in tlie most literal sense ; tlius iniderstood, they contained a promise wliich it seems none of them distinctly comprcliended. Foreseeing tlic exercise of the centurion's faith, Jesus promises that while he is coming, before he arrives at tlie house, he will heal liim ; and this was literally done, ver. 13. There is much beauty in tliis passage. 8. I am not worthy, ij'c. Tliis was an expression of great humiUty. It refers doubtless to his view o( his personal unworthiness, and not merely to tlie fact that he was a Oentile. 9. / am a man under authority. di'9puiir6s ii/it virb i^ovainv. Sub., Taaaifiivog, wliich is expressed in Lu. vii. 8 — the sense is, ' / am a man placed tinder authority ; ' viz., the authority of mv superior otEeer : there being an argument o »ni«o»'t arf wo/i/s ; q. d., ' If I, who hold but a subordinate ofEce, yet have others subject to me, so that I can order my soldiers and servants, wJio obey at n tvord, much more canst thou, who hast supernatural power, cure disorders at tliy simple^a^' 10. I have not found so great faith. The word ybiVA, here, means confidence, or belief tliat Christ Iiad power to lioal liis sei*vaiit. It does not of necessity imply that he had saving faith ; tliough from the connection, and the spirit manifested, it seems probable that he ha Jacob, iu llic kingdom of 'heaven. But the cliildicn of-lho kingdom sliall-be-cast-out into ^outei\ darkness : there sljull- i:5 be .weeping aud.gunsliing of 'teetli. Aud.Jesus said unio- the centurion, Go-thyway ; and as thou-liast-belicvcd, su be-it-done unto-tlieo. And liis, servant was-heulcd in tlio selfsaiuo hour. ^ [Vcr. 11, § 17, p. 1G3.] rPAKT in. LuKK vii. 10, ^Aud they that-were-sent, returning 10 to the house, found the servant whole vyuiivovTci tliat-had-Leen-sick. repentance, Lo. xxvi. 40-.5.-7/<. sent Us word ajhy IxraeUnIo lie north countni wlten it wu.i sent away from the Jeifn, Je. lu. 11. .2, (quo. Jit. ii. C, § G, p. 53, 'Mr PEorLE," Sec.) -And it tvas tmdcr the appellation „f ' iiatioii-s' or ' aciitUcs," and ai dwelling; ' in the isles afar off," t/ial the icord was to reach Ihein, eh. xxxi. \0.—The word was lo surmount all obstacles, as reaching forth nnlo the 'people upon whose head the blessing was to fall, Ge. xlix. 2G ; Je. xxxi. 1—9, (quoted § G8, p. 012, ApDENDA.) --are Is. Ixi. 1. Third, John had peculiar advantages iai not only being a prophet, but the messenger going immediately ' before the face of the Lord.' Tho Baptist had been privileged to sec the introduction of Iliui, whose coming he and all the prophets had proclaimed, ver. 9 — 11 — compare Jno. iii. 28, .9, § 13, p. 132. Had tlie Jews received Jesus as 'He thai AND analysis. Mt. xi. 12— .5. Lu. Ho which was to come, John would have been Elias. hath ears to hear, let him hear.' — vii. 29, 30. Tlic people and publicans, in receiving John's baptism, acknowledged themselves sinners, and deservmg the judgments denomiccd by John against the impenitent. ' The Fharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves.' — xi. IG — .9. — vii. 31 — .5 Jesus likens them to children playing discordantly, and deahng in mutual reproach. Wisdom is justified of her children. — xi. 20 — .4. Jesus laments over the cities which had seen liis works and heard his prcacliing, but repented not ; and intimates that their guilt is aggravated by tlie greatness of then' privileges. — xi. 25. Jesus gives tlianks to the Father for revealing imto babes that which was liid from the wise. In seeing Jesus, the pledge of aU good is seen ; and only in and by him can the Pathcr be made known. — xi. 28 — 30. Jesus invites to the enjoyment of that peace which can only be had in him. In order to this, there is. First, a sense of the weary labom- and heavy biu-dens imposed by other lords, ver. 28. Second, a coming to Christ, and an aeceptauee of that rest in him, which is freely given, ibid. Third, a taking upon us the yoke which Christ hath bonic ; and a leaniing to bear it after his example, ver. 29. Fourth, wo are to look for the increase of peace in hun ; nol, however, by outward ceremonial performances, but in our being assimilated to him in meckuess and lowluicss of licart, ibid. NOTES. Lu. vii. 11. .4 city called Nain. See GEOGBArnicAi Notice, p. S.'-S, 'N;'.I.N-.' 12. The gale nf the city. Cities were surrounded by walls for defence. Tlie burying grounds were outside. 1I-. Tovchcd the bier. j'/J'firo Tiic aopov, jreaniiig thereby to stop (lie bearers. Sopof generally denotes a coffin, of marble or otlier materials. But as such were not in use among the Jews, the word must here denote the Her, ov funeral couch, on which the dead of tho liighcr classes among the ancient nations were earned forth. (G. 7.) Jeiii/s raises a itidow'.s son to life. — Luke vii. II — .0. At Kuiii. 1 1 And it-came-to-pass the chn/ alter, llial he-went into a-city called Nain ; and many iKavoi of-his 12 ^disciples went-with him, and mucli people oxXoe. Now whcu he-came-nigh to-the gale ol'-thc city, heliold, therc-was-'a-dcad-man"-carried-out, tlie-only son of'his mother, and she was a-widuw : and much N) (Kdi'oc people ol'-thc city was with her. And wlicn-'thc Lord'-saw her, he-had-compassion cm hov, and M said unto-her, Weep not. And ho-camc ««(/-louched the bier: and they' that-bare Jiini stood-still. And SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Lu. vii. 13. Had compassion. So had Jesus for the Icjicr, Mk. | prophets, and slonest them that are sent unto tliec; how often | i. 11, § 21, p. 214;— /of the multitudes who followed him, Mt. is. 36, would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather § 39, p. 354 ; and xiv. 14 [Mk. vi. 34], § 40, p. 371 ;— /or Jeru- !ier brood under her wings, and yo would not '.'—And again as lie ' salem, Lu. xiii. 34, § GG, ' O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killcst tho | left the temple, Mt. xxiii. 37— .9, § 85, p. 757. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. Lu. vii. 12. AVe shouhl have a sympathy with tliose who are in | of the power of Him who could ?ay unto the bereaved mother, ' ireep sorrow, through tho loss of those around wiiom their affections have | not.' Because of the work of Christ for man's redemption, it was of become entwuied : sueli a beloved object must have been ' the only ' old said unto IJaeliel, weeping for her children, Je. xxxi. 16, 'liefrain ton ' of a widowed motlier. thy voice from wet ping, and t/dnc eyes from tears .-for thy work shall 13 cer. Whilst we imitate the compassion of Jesus, let us tliink | 4a rnvarded, saith the LOKD ; and they [thy children, ver. 17] shall » ' Jesus set out on this journey about the feast of renlccost, May 19, A.U. 761.'— See Grcswcll, Vol. II. Diss xxiii., p. 325. Mark iii. 19, § 30, p. 2S9. John vi. 1, § 10, p. 371. 277 ?.0.] Mjif. viu. 18, § 3 1, p. 323. SECT. XXIX.] JOHN THE BAPTIST SENDS TWO DISCIPLES TO JOUN. [PART III. Li'KK vii. 1.5, .(i. l.j lic-S!\i(l, Y«iinp;-inan, I-say iinti)-tliiT, Arise. And he' /////( was dead sat-up, and began to-spcak. And J(i hc-dclivcred him to liis.mot.licr. And Uicrc-canic a-f'eai- on-all: and tliey-glorified, God, saying, TJiat a-great prophet is-risen-up among us: nud, That^God liath-visited tTrcrrKixparo his^people. (G. 8.) Ju/i// //if Baptist sends tiro of his disrijilcs to question Jesus. Jesus dismisses them to John with his answer. M.VTT. xi. 2—0. [Vcr. 1, § 3!), p. 3U4.] *Now Tvhen-\.Tolin"-had-heard in the prison the works ol" Christ, Luke vii. 17 — 23. "And this ^rumour Xoyoe of him -went-forth 17 throughout all^Jiidtea, and throughout all the region-round-about. And the disciples of- John 18 shewed aTrZ/yytiXov him of all these-things.* And, John 19 he-sent two of'his disciples," ffwrf-said unto-him, Art thou he ' that-should-come 6 i(>\uiiivoq, or do-we-look-for TrpoahoKMfiiv another ? calling-unto him two Silo Tivag of'his disciples sent tliem "to^ Jesus, saying, Art thou he' tliat-shoukl-come 6 tQ\6nivoq ? or look-we-for TrpocrSoKi'jfuv another ? o SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Lu. vii. 1-1. Aeise. So to Jairus' daughter, ch. viii. 51, § 36, p. 313. — See also the raising of Lazarus, Juo. xi. 43, § 58, and of Tabil/ia, Ac. ix. 40. 16. Peophet. Jesus u-as not merelg 'a groat prophet,' lut, Dc XTiii. 15, 'Thai Prophet tliat sliould come into the world.' — Jno. vi. 14, § 41, p. 378. — Se liad not merely risen up among them — he came down from heaven to give life to tlie world, ver. 33, § 43, p. 389. Visited. But Jerusalem l-new not the time of her visitation, ch. xix. 44, § 82; — as had heen predicted, Is. liu. 1, 2,{quoted Lu. ii. 34, § 4, p. 44, ' SiON spoken aoainst.')— r/fey knew not that God, in very truth, had visited his people j lut took turn to he only one, or as ' one of tlie old prophets,' Lu. ix. 8, § 40, p. 306. Mt. xi. 2. JonN. T/ie forerunner of Jesus, Mt. iii. 1 — 3, § 7, p. 77, — /tad seen Jesus witnessed to hy t/ie Fat/ier and t/ie Holy Ghost, ver. 16, .7, § 8, p. 91 ; — had pointed /dm out as t/te ' Lamb of God,' Jno. i. 29, 3G, § 10, pp. 105, ..6 ; — and confessed him to be the ' Son of God,' ver. 34, it/id. — He teas cast into prison for reproving Herod, Lu. iii. 19, 20, § 7, p. 87. 3. Art thou he that should come ? It had heen predicted, Mai. iii. 1, ' Behold, I will send my messenger [John], and he shall prepare the way before me : and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in.' — So Haggai, ch. ii. 7, ' The Desire of all nations shall come : and I will fill this house with gloiy.' — Mi. v. 2, ' Thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, . . out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be Euler in Israel,' &c. — See also Is. ix. 6, 7, {quoted Lu. i. 33, § 2, p. 17, 'Great;') -De. xriii. 15— .8,(g»ote? Jno. i. 25, § 10, p. 104, 'That prophet ;')-Nu. xxiv. 17; Ge. iii. 15 ; xlix. 10, The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver, &e.' Do we look roR another ? He t/iat was to come was pointed forward to as an object of desire — see on vcr. 3, supra. Hag. ii. 7; Mai. iii. 1. — Hut it had also been predicted, that at /lis first appear- ing /le tvould not be desired. Is. liii. 2. — He will come when truly desired by his believing and obedient people, Iviii. 9. — Zo<". ix. 1, ' When the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the Lord.' — Ileb. ix. 28, ' Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.' NOTES. Lu. vii. 16. A fear. 0n/3oc. Awe and amazement. Glorified God. See on Mt. ix. 8, § 22, p. 221. A great prop/iet. As predicted by Moses, De. xviii. 15 — .9, {quoted Jno. i. 25, § 10, p. 104, ' That prophet.') --See on Jno. i. 45. God Jiath visited. See the song of Zacharias, Lu. i. 67 — 79, § 3, pp. 28—31. Mt. xi. 2. John liad /leard in t/ie prison. John was cast into prison by order of Herod Antipas, for reproving him for taking Ifcrodiiis, his brother Philip's wife {see cli. xiv. 3, &c., § 40, p. 366). A little after this our Lord began his public ministiy, eh. iv. 12, § 16, p. 157.— *«■ Juo. iii. 24, § 13, p. 131. He sent two of /tis disciples. Some have doubted the possibihty of John sending such a message for his own satisfaction, and suppose that it must have been for tlic instruction of his disciples. Of such policy on the part of John there is not, however, the least liint given come again from the /and of the enemy Jesus, imputed to us, t)'» last enemy, death, shall be destroyed, 1 Cor. XV. 26. PPvACTIC.^L REFLECTIONS. Because of the work of the high praises of the Lord ; nor should we forget the duties that belong to oui' earthly relationships, of which the young man was reminded, when Jesus delivered him to his mother. Lu. vii. 14. Jesus gives us the hope of a better resurrection ; and he was pleased to confirm this liope, by raising up the yomig man, and aftenvards others, to a re-enjoymcnt of the present hfe. 15 vcr. Being given life by Jesus, let us use our speech in shewing forth tlic power of the rcom-reetion unto righteousness, by declaring g^-g Matt. viii. 18, § 34, p. 323. 19 — 22 ver. The ardent spirit of John may have requu-ed the severe diseiphne to which he was subjected. Even he may have had his own infii-mities and temptations. He, too, like many of the prophets of old, may have had to search to know what was the full import of Ids message, as well as what manner of time the Spirit of Christ in liim did signify. Mark iii. 19, § 30, p. 289. in the Scriptures. The occasion of the inquuT is, rather, stated to be the contrary. It is not said that it was in order that Jesus should be better known, but because liis fame was already spread abroad, that John sent mito him ; and both the answer to John's messengers, and the addi-ess to the people afterwards, do clearly imply the danger that John was m of becoming oiTendcd in Christ. Wlicn we see how Peter, and indeed all the apostles, became ofl'ended at Christ {see ch. xxvi. 31, 56, §§ 87, .8), we need not wonder that such should happen to John. He had not the advan- tage, hke them, of being constantly with Jesus, witnessmg in every variety of form the evidence of his Messiahship. Yet after all, the utmost they coidd say, and they said it to Jesus himself, after he was, according to his oft-repeated prediction, risen from the dead, Lu. xxiv. 21, § 94, ' 7Fe trusted t/tat it /lad been /le tv/iich should have redeemed Israel.' 3. Art thou he that should come, or do we look for, ^c. q. d., Ai't John vi. 1, § 40, p. 371. [29. PART III.] JESUS ANSWERS THE DISCIPLES OF JOHN, Matt. xi. -1 — 0. [SECT. XXIX. Luke vii. 20 — .3. Wlien the mm wiie-como unto liim, tlicy-said, 20 .Tfiliii ^ Baptist liMth-sent us unto thee, saying, Alt tliou lie ' tlirtt-sliould-come ? or look-\vc-f'or nnothc And ill that-sanio.liour he-cured manv 21 4 ^Jesus answered rt«f/-said unto-them, Go and- shew-'.Jolm'-agaiil ln:a~^yu\iai thoxe thinq.s wLicIi ye-do-liear and see : 5 ' The blind ''receive-their-siglit, and the lame walk, the lepers are-cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are-raised-up, and the poor have-the-gospel-preached-to-them TTTw^oi iha'yy{S.iZ,ovTai. 6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall-'nof-be-ofFended in me. (G. 9.) of their infirmities and plagues, and o/' evil spirits; and unto-many that were blind he-gave, sight l\(l(>t(jaTO TO jiXiTTltV. Then, Jesus answering said- 22 unto-them, Go-your-way, a/id tell aTrayjiiXaTi John wliat-things yc-have-seen and heard ; how-that the blind'' see, the lame walk, the lepers are-cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are-raised, to the poor tlie-gospel-is-preached 7rrw;;^oi fvayytXiZovTai. And blessed is he, whosoever 23 shall-'nof-be-ofFended in me. Jesus takes occasion, from the tncssar/c to John, to discourse to the jieople concerning him. Matt. xi. 7—30. Luke vii. 21—3.5. 7 And as-'they-departod, "And when-'tho messengers of-John"-were-departed,' 24 *,Jesus began to-say uuto-the multitudes concerning he-began to-speak unto the people concerning John, What went-ye-out into the wilderness John, What went-ye-out-"into the wilderness"- to-see dtaaaadai ? A-reed shaken traXtvontvov for to-see Oiarraadai ? A-reed shaken o-aXtuojuavov scripture illustrations. Mt. xi. 4. Go AND SHEW John, &c. John was here given evidence that this was Me that should come, Ps. cxivi. 8, ' The Lord openeth the eyes of the bhnd : the Loed raiseth tliem that arc bowed down.' 5. The pooe rnx^ the goseel preached, &c. So it had been foretold, Is. Ixi. 1, 'The Lord hath anomtcd mc to preach good tidings unto the meek ; lie hath sent me to bind up tlie broken- hearted, to proclaim hberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to tliem that are bound.* 6. Bi: OFFENDED, etc. It had been predicted that Jesus should be for a sanctuary, but that many should be offended, and ' stumble and f^iU,' Is. viii. 14, .5, [quoted Lu. ii. 34, § 4, p. 4't, ' Fall and nisiNO,' &c.)~At the time it was predicted that he should be born of a virgin. Is. vii. 14, — the Jetos were forewarned, ver. 9, ' If ye will not beUeve, surely ye shall not be established.' — See the blessedness of those poor who take refuge in Jesns, Mt. v. 3 — 13, § 19, pp. 172 — ..4. — Ps. xxxii. 1, ' Blessed is he tvhose transgression is forgiven, whose em is covered.' 7. Into the wilderness to see ? John made no display of himself before the eyes of men : he came to direct attention to another, Jno. i. 36, § 10, p. 106, ' Behold the Lamb of God !' A keed shaken, &e. John was not one tvho seemed peculiarly liable to be tossed about with every loind of doctrine; he had rather shewn himself to be peculiarly firm — see his address to the men of the two most jwwcrful Jewish sects, iii. 7 — 13 [Lu. iii. 7 — 17], § 7, p. 82. — Also his reproof of Herod, Lu. iii. 19, § ib., p. 87.— 1 Cor. X. 13, 'Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest befall.' NOTES. thou the long-expected Messiah? 6 ip-^nfiivo<;, lie that should come, being a kind of title of the Messiah — see Ileb. x. 37, 'For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.' He was spoken of under that designation in the Old Testament, namely, as the Shiloh, the Adonai-Jehovah, the Angel of the cove- nant, tvho should come, and that soon. — Compare ii. 3, 'How shall we escape, if we neglect so gi'cat salvation ; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was coniu'med unto us by them that heard him ' J John himself was the messenger sent before Him that should come, Mai. iii. 1, &c. ; Mk. i. 2, § 7, p. 79 ; Mt. xi. 10, p. 280. John may have begun to feel tlie privations of a prison to be irksome. He may also have thought that if it were his ' to 2>repare . , . the way of the Lord,' it surely was not conipat iljle with the duties of his office to be thus confined. Or, granting that these were already performed, he may have expected that one of the first acts of the Messiah, whom he had introduced, would be 'the opening of the prison to them that are hound' Is. Ixi. 1. John m.ay have already experienced the truth of the saying, Pr. xiii. 12, ' Hope deferred maketh the heart sick.' Mt. xi. 5. The poor have the gospel, Sfc. ' The poor have the good tidings of salvation brought to them.' — See Is. Ixi. 1. A peculiar feature of Christianity. 6. Whosoever shall not be offended in me. of iav fti) aKav^a\ia9j h' tfioi, ' to whom I sliall not prove a stumbling-block.' The noun, rTKaviaXov, from which the word comes, signifies ' a trap,' or 'snare ; ' ' a sharp stake,' driven into the ground to impede the march of an enemy ; ' a stone,' or ' block,' laid in a path, and on wliich a person is apt to stumble or fall. Even John could be blessed only as not being stumbled at Christ — as patiently continuing in his testimony, notwithstanding all outward discouragements. It is that faith whicli stands the trial, not only of sharp persecution, but of painful waiting, that will be found unto praise and honour and gloiy at the appear- ing of Christ. 7. A reed. Yielding to every gust, like the reeds on the banks of the Jordan, where he baptized. The (juestion implies a strong negative. You tUd not go to see a man wavering in his testimony, but fii-m and constant. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. Mt. xi. 5. AU the miracles of Jesus were crowned with this, ' The poor have the gospel preached to them.' They proved that his was tlio power of accomplishing all promised blessing for his people, whom yet he was pleased to leave for a time in trying circumstances, which should prepare them for better things to come. 6 ver. Bles.sedness can alone come to us (hrough faith in Clirist; and we should not oidy luive trust in his atonement, but confidence in t!ie wisdom and kindness of Ids dealings with regard to us, how- ever mu(th wo may be subjected to suiTeriug or seeming neglect from our fcUow mortals. 29.] Matt. viii. 18 § 34, p. 323. Mark iii. 19, § 30, p. 289. John vi. 1, § 40, p. .t'l. 370 SECT. XXIX.] JFatt. xi. S — 18. (S willi tlic-\vii)il ? J^iil wlml wcnt-yi'oiil-l'H" to-scc ? A-niiin clotlicil in soft niiiiu'iit '.' lirliokl, tlicy ' tlint-wcni\sol't clothing/' TO. fiaXaKa (j>opovvTi<; nre in^kings', houses. 9 ''But wliut wont-yc-out-for to-see ? A-prnjilict '? yen, I-say unto-you, nnd more rrf/MarroTcpov tliiin- 10 n-proplict. For tliis is /ic, of wlioni i(-is-wrillin, ]?eliold, 1 send niy^mossenger tov ayytAoi' bclbie tliy face Trpo TrpomoTTOu, which shnll-preparc tliy^way before thee. 1 1 Verily I-say unto-you, Among them-that-are- born of-\voracn thcre-linth-'nof-riseu a-greater" ■'^thaii-John the Baptist: notwithstanding ho' that is least /uiKoort/soc iu the kingdom of 'heaven is greater than-lie. 12 And from the days of-John the Baptist until now Ihc kingdom of licavcn suffereth-violencG fiiaZ,i-m, and the-violent /Biaaral tnke-'if-by-forco 13 a()7rti?ou(T(v. For all the prophets and the law JESUS DISCOUESES TO THE rEOPLE. [PAET m. LuKK vii. 23 — .8. with Ihc-wiiid ? But what went-ye-out-for to-see? 2.j A-iniin clothed in soft raiment? Behold, 'they' wliicli-arc-'gorgeously-apparelled, and live delicately Iv ifiarirrfu^) ci'So^Cj) (coi Tpv(j)ij vvap\ovTeg, arc iUiJdnga -courln.'' But wliat wcut-ye-out-for to-see ? A-prophet? 20 Yea, I-sav unto-you, and much-more TripirraoTcnov than- a-proplict. This is he, of wliom it-is-writtcn, 27 Behold, I send nn\mcssenger tov hyyeXo'i' before thy face TTQo npomoTTov, which shall-propare tliy^way before thee. For I-say unto-you, Among those-that-arc- 28 born of-women there-is not a-greater '^prophet-'^ than-John the Baptist : but he ' //i(i( is least piKpoTipog iu the kingdom of ' God is greater tbon-he. SCIUrTUEE ILLUSTRATIONS. J[t. xi. S. A JtAN CLOTHED IN SOFT EAIMEKT ? JoJltl WaS liot one likely to siiih under the evils of confinement ; he hcul, as much by hafjit as hi/ nature, f/een prepared to endure hardship — he was inured to solitude, Lu. i. 80, § 3, p. 32, and his clothing and food were of tlte simplest and coarsest kind, Mt. iii. 4 [Mk. i. G], § 7, p. 81. 9. A PnopnET ? The multitude ' counted liira as a prophet,' ch. xiv. 5, § 40, p. 3G7.— ' AU hold John as a prophet,' xxi. 26, § 84.— Jlis father had, hi/ the Spirit, declared him to be ' the prophet of the Highest,' Lu. i. 70, § 3, p. 30.— Me Saviour of whom 3Ioses and the prophets prophesied, had, bi/ John, been most emphatically pointed out— see before on ' JoiiN,' Mt. xi. 2, p. 278. 10. W'raiTEN. Mah iii. l.—See on Mt. xi. 3, p. ib. 11. Least. Jesus, who condescended, to take the lowest place, hath attained the highest, Pli. ii. 5 — \\,{q^uotcd Lu. li. 11, § 4, p. 36, ' CflElST TUE Lord.') -Paul (a little one), who was of Benjamin, iii. 5, ' the smallest of the tribes of Israel,' 1 Sa. ix. 21, sags, Eph. iii. 8, 'Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the GcntUes the unsearch- able riches of Chi-ist.' 12. The tiolent take it by foece. So Paul, Ph. iii. 13, .4, ' Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended : but this one thing I do, forgetting those thuigs wliich arc behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14, I press toward tlie mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Chi'ist Jesus.' KOTKS. Jolm, wlien engaged in actual conflict with tlie enemies of the truth, had heretofore shewn himself to be, not as a reed : yet, after having done all, there was need of strength that he might stand in the patience of hope. In the trial to wliich he was now subjected frnthcr strength was afforded him, by the additional evidence that was given to the trath that Jesus was indeed the Sent of the Father. Tlic case of John, both as to the danger of stumbUng, and the means of strengthening his faitli, is full of instruction to us.— See also the case of Elijah, after having been most valiant for tlie truth, 1 Ki. xix. 2—4. Art. xi. 9. More than a prophet. VfoiaaSTtoo^' -noiplirov. 'Somc- llung (;. e., a person) more exalted than a prophet ; ' namely, by his supernatural conception nnd birth, by his more important commission as forcnmner of the Messiah ; nay, as being himself tlio subject of ancient prophecies. 10. Sefore ihg face— before thee. In Jfal. iii. 1, ' before ME.' Hereby it appears that Christ is one witli Clod the Father. 11. I^ast in tlie kingdom of heaven. Jesus condescended to take the lowest place among Ins disciples, Lu. xxii. 27, § 87, ' For whether is gi'cater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth ? is not he that silleth at meat ? but I am among you as he that servrlli.' lie was ' a reproach of men, and despised of the people,' Ps. xxii. 6 ; but now he is exalted far above all blessing and praise, Eph. iv. 10, 'Ho tliat descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that lie might fill all things.' See the depth of his humiliation, and the height of liis exaltation, with the exhortation, Pli. ii. 5 — 11 {quoted Lu. ii. 11, § 4, p. 36, ' Cheist THE Loud '), 'Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.' Jesus is. Rev. i. 17, 'Tlie first and the last.' ii. 8, ' Which was dead, and is alive.' 12. The liiiigdom of heaven suJJ^ei'efh violence, t^'e. From the days of John the Baptist, the knowledge of that which had been hid from ages and from generations was attainable ; and those who struggled hard — who searched for wisdom as for 'hid treasures,' might obtain possession thereof— might by faith realise the promises which were afterwards to be fulfilled, but which the truly earnest Becker might thus enjoy by anticipation. 13. The prophets and the law prophesied until John. They pro- phesied of the Messiah who was to come. John immediately pre- coded him, and pointed him out as now come, Jno. i. 29, 36, § 10, p. 103, ' The Latnb of God, which taketh aivag the sin of the world.' PKACTICAL rvEFLECTlONS Mt. XI. 7, 8. If John, who liad given forth such a testimony, who was .^o httle hkely to be shaken, and who was so much accustomed to privations, was tcmi)led to ask, '.irt thou he that should come ?' how much ought we to be wanicd against sclf-conridenco! and how prayerful ought wo to be for strength to meet the new ciremnstanees in which wo may be placed ! 8-11 ver. Because of the failure of the sevvnuts of God in one 280 respect, wo must be careful not to imder-valuc their standing in another. John, who had to appearance been cast aside from active sciTice, and who in the pi-escnt instance had, it may be, manifested impatience, was acknowledged by our Lord, as not only a prophet, but ' more than a prophet' 12 ver. However great the privileges of the Old Testament samts, let us with gratitude regard the blessings willi wliich we arc pre- Malt. viii. 18, § 31, p. 323. Marl iii. 19, § 30, p. 289. John vi. 1, § 40, p. 371. [29. PART III.] JESUS BEAKS TESTIMONY TO JOHN THE BAPTIST. [SECT. XXIX. ]\.rATT. xi. M— .fi. 11 prophesied until John. And if ye-will receive il, thia is Elias, v.'hich' was p£Wwv for to-come. 15 lie' that-hath cars to-hear, let-him-hcar.^ IG But whereunto shall-I-liken this^Reneration ? It-is like unto- LuKE vii. yo — r^2. '■'And all tlie people that-heard Itim, and the pub- 29 licans, justified tSiKai'wo-av, God, being-haptizcd- with the haptism of-John. But the Pharisees and 30 , lawyers rejected the counsel of God against /3ovX))i» i)OiTiioii>led, ver. 32, ib., ' No man rcceiveth his testimony.' Tiiig IS Etl.lS. Jo7i» came, Lu. i. 17, § 1, p. 9, 'in the spirit and power of Ehas.' — The Spirit is the witness of Jesus, Jno. xv. 2G, § 87 ; — but Stejjhen the marfi/r had to testify of the Jeics, Ac. vii. 51, ' Ye do always resist the Holy Ghost : as yoiu: fathers did, so do ye.' 15. He that nAin eahs to heab, &c. A call to attend to the voice of the Sjiirit is given at the close of each of the seven epistles, Ecv. ii., iii. — So also xiii. 9. — Compare ver. 9, 10, with xiv. 12, .3. Lu. vii. 29. All the teople, &e. The great bodg of the peojile had submitted to Johns baptism, Mt. iii. 5, 6, § 7, p. 82. — Also publicans, Lu. iii. 12, § ib., p. 81. — Sg that ceremonial washing they acknouledgrd themselves sinners, and desirous of feeing ' bom the wrath to come,' ver. 7, p. 83 ; — and as in need of that belter wa.shing to which John directed them, Mt. iii. 11, § ib., p. 85; — a change of life, a cleansing from actiurl sin, Lu. iii. 10 — .4, p. 81, through faith in ' the Lanilj of God, which takctli away the sin of the world,' Jno. i. 29, § 10, p. 105. Justified God, &e. Pj. li. 2 — I, ' Wash me tlu'oughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me fi-om my sin. 3, For I acknowledge my transgressions : and my sin is ever befoi'e me. 4, Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight : that tliou mightcst be justified when thou speakcst, and he clear when thou judgcst.' — By submitting to John's baptism, they acknowledged that God would be just in bringing upon their nation the swift and sore destruction threatened, Mt. iii. 10, § 7, p. S3, should they reject tJte Son of God, who was about to appear in their midst, Juo. iii. 36, § 13, p. 135. 30. Rejected the counsel of God, &.c. Jc. viii. 9, ' Lo, they have rejected the word of the LoED ; and what wisdom is in them?' — John refused to receive the Pharisees to his baptism, except as acl-nou'ledging themselves sinners, and in need of repentance, Mt. iii. 7, 8, § 7, p. 82 ; — after tohich we find them calling in question the truth of his mission, Jno. i. 19 — 25, § 10, p. 103, and disputing icilh his disciples, iii. 25, § 13, p. 131, and glorying over his waning popularity, ver. 26, ib. ; iv. 1, § ib., p. 136. Agaixst TnEMSELVES. Pr. ix. 12, ' If thou be wise, thou shall be wise for thyself: but if thou seornest, thou alone shalt bear it.' Mt. xi. 16. It is like vsto cniLDKEN'. The ceremonial dispen- sation, which then still existed, is spoken of by Paul as intended to train the family of God for more manly engagements, Ga. iii. 21 — .6, ' Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we miglit be justified by faith. 25, But after that faith is come, wc arc no longer xnidcr a schoolmaster. 26, For yo arc all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.' — See also iv. 1 — 11. — But the children had not yet learned properly to pierform their parts ; they would neither rcsjiond to John's call to repentance, Mt. NOTES. Mt. xi. 11. If ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was, ^'c. If tlic Jews had received tlie kingdom, then John would have been the 'Elias, which was for to come;' but Ihcy rejected the King, and the kingdom was taken from tlicm, in order to be 'given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof eh. xxi. 43, § 81. And thus a further sending of Elias had to take place in order to meet the wants of that other nation. 15. He that hath ears to hear. A formula often used to solicit attention to something of great importance, and chietly occurring after parabolic or prophetic declarations figuratively expressed — see xiii. 9, § 32, p. 301 ; Rev. ii. 7, &c., ' Ho tliat hath an car, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches j To him that ovcroomcth will I give to cat of the tree of life, wliich is in tlic midst of the paradise of God.' Lu. vii. 30. Bui the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God. They did not, Uke the people and publicans, acknowledge themselves sinners, and worthy of the condemnation denounced upon that generation by John ; but they were not tlie less, but rather the more, in danger of the judgment tln-eatencd. — See Mt. xx., xxiii. They rejected the coimscl which God liad given them in the second Psalm respecting the Blessiah; and this, as forewarned, they did to their own de.^^l ruction. Mt. xi. 16. Whereunto shall I liken this, ,0c. Witli the Jews of that age, the people described, tliis was a usual way of iutro- PRACTICAL REl'LECTIONS. scnfed as beuig greater than tlicirs. It is possible for us to pene- j 15 ver. C'hri>t hatli given no man a rigid lo prevent any othci trate into those mysteries of the kuigdom of heaven which were hid ' from hearing liis words or those of tlic Law and the Prophets, but from them. ! says, ' He that hath cars to hear, let him hear.' Let us not expect tliat, however great our mental and moral I £u. yii. 29, 30. The pco]ile who in tlie baptism of Jolm had con- privileges, we can witliout effort, or unaided by power greater lliau fossed themselves sinners, were in a fairer way for receiving the truth our own, obtain an entrance into the knowledge and enjoyment of the kuigdom. Mt. xi. 13, .4. Let us rejoice that now vco have not only the Prophets and the Law, but — in the coming of Christ in the flesh — the fulfilment of mueli that they predicted, and the most assured pledge that all will be fulfilled. than the scrupulous Pharisees, or learned lawyers, who rejected the declaration whidi God had made respecting their sinful slate; with- out the acknowledgment of wliieh, and of Ood'a dear Son, tlicy could not be saved. 31, .2 ver. Let us beware of thinking that God will accept of verbal confession in place of true repentance ; w ill accept of the sign, 29.] ]Uatl. viii. IK, § 31, p. H23. Mark iii. 19, § 30, p. 2Si). John vi. 1, § 40, p. 871. 281 FOOLISH CHILDREN AND CHILDRKN OF WISD05T. [PART III. SECT. XXIX.] Luke vii. 33 — .5. onc-to-another, and saying', We-havc-piped tinto- \ou, and yc-liave-'uof-dantcd ; ■\ve-have-mouined to-you, and yc-hnve-'nof-wept. For Jolm the 33 }5nptist came neither eating bread nor drinking \viuc ; and ye-sny, He-hath a-devil. The Son of ol man is-comc eating and drinking ; and ye-say, Beliold a-glnttonous man, and a-wine-bibber, a- I'riend of-publicans and sinners! But, wisdom 3.5 17 aoipta is-justificd tSiKuiwOii of all her^children.* [Vcr. 30, see p. 280.] M.\TT. xi. 20, .1. 20 *Then bcgan-lic to-upbraid the cities wherein.most-of his mighty-works were-done, because they-repcnted 21 not: Woe uuto-thee, Chorazin ! woe unto-thee, Bethsaida ! for if the mighty-works, which' were-done SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Matt. xi. 17 — .9. 17 thfir Jellows, and saying, We-have-pipcd unto- you, and ye-have-'nof-dunced ; we-liave mourned 18 unto-you, and ye-have-"nof-lamcntcd. For John came neither eating nor drinking, 19 and thcy-say, He-hath a-dnvil. The Son of man came eating and diiiiking, and they-say. Behold a-man gluttonous, and a-wiue-bibber, a- fricnd of-pubJicans and sinners. But ^wisdom 1) aotpla is-justified £?nca/a'0j| of her^oliildren. xi. 18, nor to the cleclaralion of glad liiHiiffs bi/ ike Son of man, vcr. 19, u-Iio, tJioiigh the Son of God, became a 'minister of the circumcision for (he trutli ol God, to confinn the promises made unto the fathers,' Rom. xt. 8. Mt. xi. 17. We hate piped. Sefei-i-inr/ to the glad tidings, or Oospel, proclaimed bg our Lord and his disciples.^See his ansicer to John, ver. 5, p. 279. Ye hate not dasced. They refused to receive the glad tidings, not knowing themselves sinners in need of forgiveness. — See at Levi's feast, Mk. ii. 15—20, § 22, p. 222 -.—and in the Pharisee's house, Lu. Tii. 36—50, p. 286. We have moubned. Eeferring to John's call to repentance; to K'hicli it would appear there teas no real response, although all Judaa had gone to his baptism, cli. iii. 5, 6, § 7, p. 82. 18. Nob DUIlfKINO. John exemplified the righteousness of the ceremonial law, according to the strictest rule, that of the Nazarite. —Compare Nu. vi. 3, &c. ; Lu. i. 15, § 1, p. 9 ; Mt. iii. 4, § 7, p. 81. 19. The Son of man came eatino, &c. Jesus exemplified the dispensation of mercy he came to bestow upon those who truly repent ; who confess and forsake their sins, and follow him in righteousness. — See his beginning of miracles at Cana, Jno. ii. 1 — 11, § 11, ]}. 113. Lu. vii. 35. Wisdom is justified of all hee cuildeen. 1 Cor. i. 23, .'1, ' Wc preach Onist crucified, . . . 24, unto them wliich are called, both Jews and Greeks, Clirist the power of God, .ind the wisdom of God.' — Rom. i. 16, ' I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ : for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that beUeveth ; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.' Mt. xi. 20. Then began he to ttpbeaid, &c. He upbraids not those who truly seek wisdom, Ja. i. 5, ' If any of you lack wisdom, let liim ask of God, that givetli to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall bo given him.' — But he condemns those who despise the Oospel, Heb. x. 28, .9, 'He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses : 29, of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace ? ' — And those who, professing discipleship, bring not forth the fruits of faith in Christ, Rom. i. 18, ' For the wTath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and nnrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.' — Lu. xii. 48, § 63, 'Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.' — Israel were sorely upbraided, on account of refusing to be profited by the word and providence of God, Is. i. 2—5 ; v. 1—7, (quoted Lu. iii. 9, § 7, p. 83, ' BvEEY TEEE.') 21. Woe ukto thee, Chokazin, &c. See Lu. x. 13, § 60. NOTES. ducing a parable ; frequent with the Taluuidists. — So Mk. iv. 30, § 32, p. 305, and Lu. xiii. 18, 20, § 65, p. 5S9. Mt. xi. 17. Piped, Sfc. Tlie allusion is to little eliildi-en, who imitated the joyous, aud funeral, songs of their parents and others, wishing their playmates to join them ; but, through peevishness or fickleness, they would not respond to either. The words mean, the body of the Jews now living are so senseless, peevish, and perverse, tliat tliey relish no form of instruction, whether mournful or cheer- I ful. The Pharisees were like wayward children — they could neither admit the severe precepts of John, nor approve the mild requisitions of Jesus. 18. John came neither eating nor drinking. John led a very austere and mortified life, neither eating bread as others do, nor drinking wine, but living on lociuts and wild honey in the wilderness. —Seech, iii. 4, § 7, p. 81. Me hath a devil. That i:-, he acts hkc a wild distracted demoniac, — one whom an evil spirit drives from the society of men. 19. The Son of man came eating, t^-c. The Son of man came without any of this severity, eating and drinking as others do, con- versing famiUarly among you, and with a temperate freedom sharing in your festivities, as well as in your common meals. — See Jno. ii. 1, 2, § 11, p. 113 ; Mt. is. 10, § 36, p. 336; xxvi. 7, § 81 ; and Lu. xxiv. 30, § 94. Jesus did not practise the mortifications of John; he went to feasts aud weddings, and was affable aud courteous, &c. A man gluttonous, S;c. An epicurean ; one that indidges his appetite to a very great degree, and in a scandalous manner. — See Mk. ii. 18, Scrip. Illtjs., Sect, xxii., p. 223. Wisdom is justified of her children. One of the best justifications of wisdom is certainly that which is presented in the lives of those who do indeed yield themselves unto its influence. 20. Then began he to upbraid, d^c. dvuli'itiv, 'to cover with shanit.' To reprove, rebuke, or to denounce heavy judgment. 21. TI oe unlu thee, ^v. ui'al noi, may be more properly rendered ' Mas for thee.' Chorazin. Was a city near the lake of Gennesareth. Jerome says it was about two miles distant from Capernaum. Sethsaida. Bethsaida means literally a house of hunting or of game ; it was probably situated on the banks of the sea of Galilee. The uihabitants supported themselves by Inmting or fishing. It was the residence of Philip, Andrew, and Peter, Jno. i. 44, § 10, p. 107. — See Geogkaphical Notice, Sect, xi., p. 117. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. in place of the substance. Although tlie great bulk of that genera- tion had received John's baptism, our Lord likens them all to ' children silling in the markets.' Those who rested in the ordinance were no wiser than children at play. 282 Lu. vii. 33 — .5. Those who are detei-mined to oppose the truth will find no want of excuses for doing so ; and those who arc truly the childi'en of Wisdom wUl fiud her couusels worthy of their choice. 35 ver. By holy lives, not less than by being able at all tunes to Matt. viu. 18, § 3 , p. 323. Mark iii. 19, § 30, p. 289. Luke vii. 36, p. 286. John vi. 1, § 40, p. 371 ■ [29. PART III.] CHRIST UPBRAIDETH CHORAZIN, ETC. [SECT. XXIX. Matt. xi. 22 — .5. in you, liadbecu-dono in Tyre and Sidon, tliey-would-lmve-repcnted li)ng-ago in snckclotli and ashes. 'Z-i But I-say iinto-you, It-shall-be more-tolerable for-Tyrc and Sidon at the-day of-judgmcnt Kpiaiwt;, than 2;3 t'or-you. And thon, Capernanm, which art-exalted vxpoiOt'imt unto Jieavcn, shalt-be-bron,i,'ht-do\vn KaTajiift(t(jO)i(T>j to hell : for if the mighty-works, which' have-l)fen-done in thee, had-bcen-donc in Sodom, 2i it-would-have-rcmained until^this-day. But I-say uuto-you, That it-shall-bo more-tolerablo for-tho-land of-Sodom in the-day of-judgment, tlian for-thee. 25 At that^time K-o(p(jvJesus answered a/id-SHkl, I-thunk'E^'ojuoXoyou/iai thee, 0-Father, Lord of 'heaven and^earth, because thou-hast-hid these-things from thc-wise and prudent awtTwv, and hast-revealed them SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Mt. xi. 23. And thott, Capehvattm, &c. See Lu. x. 15, § 60, ]). 548. I Rev. si. 8, ' And tiicii- tieatl bodies sjiall lie in tlie street of the gi-eat Sodom. See its destruction descriled, Ge. six. — A name applied city, which spiritimlly is cuUctl tsodom aud Egypt, whern also our to the Jewish capital, Is. i. 10, ' which spiiitually is called Sodom,' Lord was ciiicified.' NOTES. Mt. xl. 21. Ti/re and Sidon. Two well-known maritime and Gentile cities in Syria or Palestine, rcmai-kable for pride, luxury, and contempt of religion, situated on the shore of the ileditciTanean sea : into them it does not appear that Christ ever went, though often very near to them. — See ch. xr. 21 [Mk. vii. 2-1], § 45, p. 408. — See GEOGBAPniCiL Notices, Sect, ib., p. 412. Ill sacl-clotli, if'c. Sackcloth, a kind of coarse linen, was ordinarily worn to express mourning, as by Job, Ahab, and the Syrians wlio came to implore mercy for Ben-hadad, and by Mordocai, when the Jewish nation was in danger of ruin. Job xvi. 15 ; 1 Ki. xxi. 27 ; IX. 31 ; Est. iv. 1. The prophets also wore it, or coarse apparel ; and the false prophets, who pretended to be like them, wore rough or coarse garments, Is. xx. 2 ; Zee. xiii. 4. Ashes. The Jews also frequently threw ashes on tlieir heads, as expressive of grief: Job's (ii. 12) tlu-eo fi'icnds — '. . . . rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their lieads towai'd heaven.' So Mordecai, Est. iv. 1, ' Wlien Mordecai perceived all tliat was. done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried witli a loud and a bitter cry.' So is Jerusalem exhorted, Je. vi. 26, ' O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself ui ashes : make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.' So the people of Jerusalem are represented. La. ii. 10, ' The elders of the daughter of Zion sit upon the ground, and keep silence : they have cast up dust upon their heads ; they have girded themselves with sackcloth : the virgins of Jerusalem hang down their heads to tlie ground.' The words are expressive of sincere repentance and self-abhorrence. Job xHi. 6, ' Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.' — See Jon. iii. 6 — 8. 23. Capernaum. This is tlio city wliere Clirist dwelt, and where most of liis mighty works were done ; it was situated on the western shore of the sea of Galilee, at its northern extremity. Our Saviour's denunciations have been completely fulfilled, its site bciug unknown. — See Geogeaphicai, Notice, Sect, xi., p. 116, aud xxv., p. 252. Which art exalted unto heaven. Tliis is an expression to denote great privileges. Shalt be brought domn to hell. As tlie exaltation of Capernaum to heaven was not a geograpliical, but a metaphorical exaltation, denoting the greatness of the privileges with which it was blessed ; so its being thrust down to licU (t'luc ifSov), signifies the greatness of the judgments wlxich were to fall upon it. This prediction of our Lord has been literally fulfilled, for in the wars between the Romans and the Jews, the cities of Capernaiun, Chorazin, and Bethsaida, were totally destroyed. The truth inculcated is, tliat tliose who are peculiarly favoiu'ed must be punished accordingly if they abuse their privileges. 21. The land of Sodom. That is, the ancient inliabitants of that city and its neiglibourhood. Tlie cities of Sodom and Gomorrah had long been a proverbial expression for abominable wickedness and misery. — See Ge. xiii. 13 ; Is. iii. 9 ; La. iv. 6. — See Scrip. Illus. 25 — 30. At that time, i^-e. Here follow two remarkable para- graphs, on revealing to babes, ver. 25, according to the good pleasure of the Father, ver. 26 ; the perfection of knowledge, treasured up in the Son, whereby the Father is made known, ver. 27 ; and on the rest (or, peace whicli passetli understauding), ver. 28, whieli tliose who come to Clirist, and learn of him to be meek and lowly in lieart, are given to possess in their souls, vei'. 28 — 80. 25. / thanh: thee, i^'c. ' I adore thee.' ' I give tliec glory.' The original word, 'EJo/ioXoyoD/tai, is commonly used in the Septuagint to signify to praise, to celebrate, to glorify ; and is also employed in this sense, Rom. xiv. 11 ; Ueb. xiii. 15. It appears preferable to giving tlianks. Lord of heaven and earth. Jiy tliis, Christ acknowledges the absolute power of his Father to have done otherwise had it pleased him. Because thou hast hid, t^'c. It is matter of thankfuhioss that free forgiveness of sins, according to tlic Gospel, cannot be clearly ajiprehcnded, or finuly held, by those who are glorymg in tlieir own wisdom, or in worldly cxpetliency. Men must be in au humble and contrite state of mind. Tlieir pride must be abased. They must become fools that they may be wise. Were worldly pride and spiritual privilege to go together, things would be in a still more lamentable condition for tlie poor thau they actually arc. As it is, no man can be truly happy in God, without at the same time coming down to a sympathy witli the ease of the poor and needy. If men woiUd but take tlie rule of Oirist wliereby to discern the ministers of Christ, they would have less dilficiUty in detecting the wolves in slieep's clothing. Rom. viii. 9, 'If any man have not the Sj'irii of Christ, he is none of his.'' From the wise and prudent. Tliat is, H'om those who thought themselves wise — wise, according to the world's estimate of wisdom — the men of philoisophy, and self-conceit, and science, falsely so called, 1 Cor. i. 26, .7, /c that' labour kowuovtk; and are-heavy-lndcn 7r£(^opr((T/K'i;o(, and-I will givc--you"- ao rest (ivmrav(joi. Take niy.yoke upon you, and Icnrn of mo ; for I-am meek and lowly in' heart: and ye- 30 shall-lind rcj^t uvumw(Tiv unto' your souls. For my,yoko is easy xP'I<^toc, and my^burdeu ^oinlov is light iXar/ioo'... [Ch. xii. 1, § at, p. 211.] SCRIPTURE ILLUSTR.Vf^O^•S. 23. Babes. Is. xxviii. 9, 'AVlioin .'•liall he Icncli knowledge? and whom shall ho make to imtlci'stanil doilrinc ? l/iem that arc weaned from the milk, and dran-n from the breasts.' 27. AiL iniXGS AEE DELivr.nED. Col. i. 19, 'It pleased the Father that in him should all fidness dwell.'— ii. 3, 'In whom arc hid all the troasm'cs of wisdom and knowledge.' 28. Come rSTO me, Ac. Eom. x. 4, ' Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to eveiy one that belioveth.' — Jno. vi. 37, § 43, ' Him that comcth to rac I will in no wise east out.' — ver. 45, ' Erery man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, Cometh unto me.'— xiv. G, § 87, 'No man comcth unto the Father, but by mc' IlEAVr XADEIf. The scribes and jpliarisccs did hind heavij burdens and )/rievoiis to he home, and laid them on men^s sJiouldcrs, ch. xiiii. 2, 4, § 85, p. 748.- Ac. xv. 10, ' Now therefore why tempt yc God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor wo were able to bear?' I wiw, GIVE TOTT 15EST. Jno. iW. 27, § 87, ' Pcacc I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.' — I'll. iv. 7, ' Tlic peace of God, which passeth all undcrslrmding.' — 2 Th. i. 7, 'Ecst with us, when the Lord,' &c. — Rev. iii. 12, ' The name of the city of my Qod, . . . new Jerusalem,' &c., 'the seeing of peace.' 29. Meek and lowly. So the King of Jerusalem was predicted to come, Zee. is. 9, 'Lowly, and riding upon an as?.' — Ph. ii. 7, 8, (quoted Lu. ii. 11, § 4, p. 35, ' CnuiST THE LoHD.')— 1 Pc. ii. 21 — .3, ' For CTcn hereunto were ye called : because Christ also suU'ci'cd for us, leavuig us an example, that ye should follow his steps : 22, who did no sin, neither was guile found iu his mouth : 23, who, when he was reviled, reviled not again ; when he sutTercd, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgcth righteously.' 30. Mr YOKE is EASY. 1 Jno. v. 3, 'His commandments are not grievous.' — Ph. iv. 13, ' I can do all things through Christ which strengthcnetli me.' [For remainder of SCBIP. Illus., see next page.'] NOTES. 23. Bales. Nj;n-ioi. Babes, iu Scripture language, stand iu oppo- sition, not to men of sound judgment and reason, but to proud pohticians, and men of learning, who are so full of themselves as to despise the opinions of others. 2G. Even so, Father, cf-e. "The full sense is, "Yea [I do thank thee], O Father, because it is thy good pleasure that so [it shovdd boy— Bloomficld. 27. All things are delivered, dfc. ' This verso contauis a very remarkable declaration of our Lord's personal and mediatorial dignity. — Compare ch. xxviii. 18, § 9G; Jno. xiii. 3, § 87. By Travra are meant all tlungs relating to the counsels of God for the salvation of man through Cl.rist ; q. d., " The revelation of these mysteries, and the carrying into effcot of these counsels, arc entrusted to me by the Father." '• — Ibid. Xo man Jciwweth, i]-e. It is only in the Son that men can come into communion with God as their Father. 28. Come unto me. This has the same import with 'believing in him,' one phrase being couunonly put for the other. — See Jno. vi. 33, .G, .7, 40, .4, .5, .7, G4, .5, § 43, pp. 389— .94, and vii. 37, .8, .9, § 55, p. 4UG ; also I Pe. ii. 3, 4, 6, 7, ' If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. -1; To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious.' 6, ' Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief comer stone, elect, precious : and he that believeth on liim shall not bo confounded. 7, Unto you therefore which believe he is precious : but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner.' All ye that labour and are heaiy laden. With guUt, eomiption, burdensome ceremonies, or attempts after legal righteousness. Jesus here, pcrlinps, refers primarily to the Jews, wlio groaned and were burdened under the weight of theii- ceremonial laws, and tlie tradi- tions of the elders. Thus Peter reproved the false teachers at Jerusalem, who would have burdened the Gentiles with Jewish ceremonies, Ac. xv. 10, ' Whg tempt ye God, to put a yol-c upon the nccJc of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor toe icere able to bear ?' 29. Tule mg yoke. The word 'yoke' signifies not only neck harness for bullocks, but, used metaphorically, any kind of bond or obhgation to do some particular thing or work. Cattle yoked togollicr in one plough are called a 'yoke,' 1 ICi. xix. 19. The law of God is a yoke, wliicli galls the carnal man, as it binds him to his duty ; but as received in Christ, it is an ' easy yoke.' Beceiving excitement and strength fi-oui Jesus, men with pleasure and comfort obey it j and it is much easier than the service of sin, the slavery of the broken covenant, or the bondage of the ceremonial l.iw, which is caUed a ' yoke,' or ' yoke of bondage,' as the service required by it was carnal and burdensome, Ga. v. 1, ' Stand fast therefore in the liberty where- with Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.' Learn of me. Jesus hath given us an examiile, that wo should follow his steps. And the great lesson he hath taught, and which we must Icam in order to enter into peace, is to be truly humble, at the same time that wc ai-c the sons of God. Best unto your souls. That is, composure, tranquilHty, and satis- faction ; which nothing but Immility and meekness, nothing but entire submission to the wdl of God, can give. — See ver. 28, supra, 'All ye that labour.' [For remainder of Notes, see next page.'] PRACTICAI, REFLECTIONS. 27 ver. Only in Clu-ist can wo lie made tridy acquainted with the wisdom of God. 28, .9 rcr. The Son of God looiJCs from tlio bondage of the cere- monial law, and leads us, through love, and by his own blessed example, into true subjection to the will of God. It is when wo 284 Mall. viii. 18, § 3), p. 32:!. have thus learned obedience, that we do indeed find rest unto our souls. 30 cer. Wc cannot find rest, if destitute of love to God ; but when wo arc given to feel the yoke of Clu-ist easy, and his burden light, then wo truly possess pcacc. Mark Iii. 19, § 30, p. 289. Luke vii. 36, p. 286. John vi. 1, § 40, p. 371 . [29. TAET III,] NAIN. [SECI. XXIX PCRri'TUKE ILLUSTR. SO. JIy btteden. Jesus, 1 Pe. ii. 24, ' bare our sins in his own body on tlie tree, tliat we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness : by whose stripes ye were healed.' — Ga. yi. 2, 'Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.' These iico para^rajjhs, ver. 25 — .7, and 28 — 30, apjyear to be a pai'aplirase of Ihc name of lite ' city of the great King,' ' Jerusalem ; ' meaning, ' ho shall see or provide for us peace.'— r/ic-re tlte name of the Lord is to he revealed, and peace is to be enjoyed — see Ps. cxxii., {quoted Jno. ii. IG, § 12, p. 119, 'Mr Fatuer's nonsE.')-Is. xxv. G — 10, ' And ill this mountain shall the LoiiD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. 7, AaA he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over uU nations. 8, He will swallow up death in victory ; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces ; and the rebuke of his people shall he lake away from off all the earth : for the Loed hath spoken it. 9, And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God ; we have waited for him, and ho will save us ; this is the Loed ; we have waited for liim, we will be glad and rejoice in liis salvation. 10, For in this moiuitain shall the hand of the Loed rest, and Moab shall be trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden down for tlie dunghill.'— xl. 2 — 5, ' Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare [MdEO., or ' aj>pointed time''] is accom- plislied, that her iniquity is pardoned : for she hath received of the Loed's hand double for all lier sins. 3, The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Loed, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4, Every valley shall be cxaltedj and every moimtain and liiU shall be made low : and the ,\.TiONS — {continued). crooked shall be made Etraight, and the rough j laces plain : 5, and the glory of the Loed thaU be revealed, and all flesh sliaU see it together : for the mouth of the Loed hath spoken i7.'— Uv. 11 .7, '0 tliou afllictcd, tossed willi tempest, and not comforted, behold, I win lay thy stones with fan- colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. 12, And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones. 13, And all thy children shall he tauglit of the Loed ; and great shall be the peace of thy cliildren. 14, In righteousness slialt thou be established : thou shalt be far from oppression ; for thou shall not fear : and from terror ; for it shall not come near thee. 15, Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me : wliosoever shall gallier together against thee shall lall for thy sake. 16, Eehold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals iu the fii'c, and that bringeth forth an instrumcut for liis work ; and I have created the waster to destroy. 17, No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper ; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Loed, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Loed.' k. ; Ixvi. S—\3,(quoled Lu. i. 58, § 3, p. 26, 'EejoicED,' &e.); 14, 'And when ye see this, your heart sliall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb ; and the hand of the Loed shall be known toward his sei-vants, and his indignation toward liis enemies.' — The first 2>art of the name seems to be referred to in the first loolc of the Bible, Ge. xxii. 14, ' In the mount of the LoED it shall bo seen.' — And iu one of the later prophets it is said. Hag. ii. 9, 'Tlie glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Loed of hosts : and in this place will I give peace, saith the Loed of hosts.' — See on Lu. xiii. 34, .5, § 66, p. 592, NOTES — {continued) so. My yolce is easy, and my burden is light. Xpiiarbg, ' easy,' may be rendered 'gentle' and 'agi'eeable;' and iXaippov properly signifies both 'light' and 'pleasant;' so that they beautifully express that pleasure and chcerfiihiess which are the genuine result of a sincere subjection to C'lirist's government. — Compare De. xxviii. 47, .8, 'Because thou scrvedst not the LoED thy God with joy ful- ness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; 48, therefore shalt thou serve tliine enemies whrch the LoKD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things : and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.'— And Is. x. 27, 'And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden sliall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from oil' thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of tlie anointing.' GEOGRAriIIC.\L NOTICE. Nain, — now called Nein, — a city in the tribe of Issachar, in Galilee, in the plain of Esdraelon, not far fi'oni Endor, a few miles south of mount Tabor, and near to the foot of the Little Uermon. It is situated on the banks of the river Kishon, which river runs between Nain and mount Tabor. This city is not mentioned else- where in the Scriptures. It has dwindled to a small hamlet, eon- sistuig of a few huts, inhabited by Jews, Muhamniedans, and Christians. The following is from the ' Narrative of a Mission of Inquiry to the Jews from the Church of Scotland,' p. 303, July 17, 1839:- 'From our tent door (at Dabourieh, nigh to the foot of mount Tabor) we saw across the plain tlie villages of Endor and Nain, at the foot of Little Ilermon. Endor lies under llie lirow of tlie hill, and Saul woidd have an ca^y road from it to the fountain of Jczreel, at the foot of Gilboa, where Iiis army was encamped, 1 Sa. xxix. 1. Nain is farther west, and appears to lie still closer under llermon. We observed cultivated fields and verdure round it ; and it was here that Mr. Calhoun, our American friend, whom we met at Alexandria, fovmd many tombs cut out of the rock, one of which may have been the mteuded sepulchre of the young man whom Jesus met as they carried him out dead, and restored to the weeping widow. No place in all tlus land furnishes more remarkable illus- trations of the sovereignty of God than do these two villages. At Endor you see a king, in the anguish of despair, consulting with a cUviner, and warned by the dead that the Lord had departed from liim, and become his enemy. On the same plain, nigh to Eiidor, a thousand years after, you see at Nain, "God over all," coming in our nature, and wiping away the tears of a poor widow.' 29.] afrt». vui. 18, § 31, p. 323. il/arft iii. 19, § 30, p. 289. Luke tii. SO, y. 2S6. /oAn vi. 1, § 40, p. 371. 285 SECT. XXIX] JESUS DINES WITH A PHARISEE. IPART HI. (G. 10.) *The same d.iy Jesus e.\ts bke.vd in the house of a certatn- Pharisee: a woman, who WAS A SINNEU, ANOINTS HIS I'KET J WHAT ENSUED THEUEUPON. Luke VJi. oG 50. NaIN. INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS. Lu. vii. 3(>. Jesus complies with the request of a Pharisee who invites him into liis house to cat. — Tii. 37, .8. 'A woman . . . which was a sinner' manifests, in a remarkable manner, her contrition, and her love for the Saviour, bathing his feet with tears, and anointing them. — vii. 39. The Pharisee supposes that Jesus cannot be a prophet, else he would know the woman to be a sinner. approach him does not arise from his ignorance of her character. By tlie parable of llie two debtors, he shows that the cascji of botli the woman and the Pharisee are fullj- known to him. He causes the Pharisee to pronounce upon his own case ; iind shews that the woman, bj the greatness of her love, had given evidence of being in a state of forgiveness. Lu. vii. 48 — 50. Jesus declares to the woman that her sins are forgiven ; and although the Pharisees are offended, ho pronounces vii. -10— .7. Jesus iniimates that his allowing the woman to I her to be in a saved state, and bids her have peace in believing. Luke vii. 3G— 50. 3G And one of-tlie Pharisees desired i^pwra liim that he-would-eat with him. And he-went into the ^Pharisee's liouse, r///(^sat-dowu-to-meat. 37 " And, behold, a-womau in tlie city, which was a-sinaer, when-she-knew that Jesus sat-at-nieat in the 38 ^Pharisee's house, brouglit an-alabaster-box of-oiutment, and stood at his/eet behind him weeping, a/id- began to-wash i3p£\£(v his^feet with' tears, and did-wipe (/tern with-the hairs of her head, and kissed SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. washing the feet of a guest who had been travelling — so Abraham for the angels, Ge. xviii. 4, 'Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.' So Lot, iLx. 2. So Laban to jEliezer, Abraham's servant, xiiv. 33. llliat the woman did for Jesus, we mag do for him still, in his disciples, Mt. XXV. '10, § 86, . . . Jno. xiii. 13— .5, § 87. Haies op iieb uead. Her adorning was not, 1 Pe. iii. 3, 4, 'that outward adorning ol plaiting the hair, 4, but .... the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which Is in the sight of God of great price' Kissed nis feet. The l-iss was used as a token of affection, as ES. termine ; tliough we incline to thmk the box was an alabaster stone.— &e Mt. xxvi. 6, 7, § 81, p. 676. 38. Stood at his feet. Neither the Jews nor Romans wore stockings, and they always put off their shoes or sandals at meals. They lay on couches covered with stuffs, the quahty whereof was suitable to the circumstances of the entertainer. Began to wash his feet. It was an act of hospitaUty and kindness to wash the feet of a guest. She, therefore, began to shew her love for him, and at the same time her humUity and penitence, by pouring forth a flood of tears, and washing his feet, in the manner of a servant. It is not necessai-y, however, to suppose that the act was intentional on the part of the woman ; her fast-flowing tears of penitence and love may have been poured upon the Saviour's feet without auy previous design whatever on her part. And did wipe them, ^c. Wiping his feet with her hair was also a mark of deep reverence : it bemg an ancient custom for the great, after washing then- hands, to wipe them dry on the long hair of some attending page. To wash 'the saints' feet' implied much humility or kindness, 1 Ti. v. 10. Kissed his feet. In the east, kissing of the feet or ground expresses vassalage or reverence, as Ps. Ixxii. 8, 9, ' He shall have domuiion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto tlie ends of tlie earth. 9, They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him ; and his enemies shall lick tlie dust.' Is. xlix. 23, 'And kings shall ho thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers : they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and hck up the dust of thy feet.' And /cissed. Kare^iKtt. The Kara is intensive. This action Lu. vii. 36. One of the PnAitlSEES. Jestis had, on a precious occasion, condescended to sit along with publicans, at a feast pre- pared by a publican, ch. v. 29, 30, § 22, p. 222 ; now he still more humbles himself bg sitting down to eat with a proud, self-righteous Pharisee, who seems to hare ^-nown so little the value of his guest, as to neglect shewing him ordinari/ courtesy — see ver. 44 — .6, p. 288. 37. A SINNEK. Being a sinner, she teas one of those whom Jesus came to call, ch. V. 32, § 22, p. 222.— 1 Tim. i. 15, 'This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Clu-ist Jesus came into the world to save sinners.' 38. Wasb Ills FEET. It was customary to provide water for NOT Lu. vii. 36. One of the Pharisees. See Addenda, § 7, p. 87. Sat down. Or rather, rechned, as was the Jewish custom, else the woman could not have stood at his feet behind him. See ver. 38. 37. Which was a sinner. Who was depraved, or wicked. This woman, it seems, was known to have been a sinner — perhaps an abandoned woman. Some have supposed that the woman here mentioned is identical with Mary Magdalene, who inimediately after appears for the first time in the history. It has been objected, that Mary was of Magdala ; but the woman here spoken of was an inhabi- tant of Nain. To this it may be answered, that this woman is not said to belong to Nain. Her being a woman ' in the city,' would no more imply that she was of the city, than it coidd be said that Jesus was of, because he was in the house of the Pharisee. The language woidd seem to imply that she was from some other quarter, and that quarter may of course have been Magdala as well as any other.t An alabaster box, c^'c. Alabaster, a beautiful bright stoue aUied to the marble, but more brittle: it ferments witli acids; calcines m the fire, but gives no flame with steel. When finely powdered, and placed on a fire, it will appear in rolling waves like a fluid. There are three kinds of it; the whitish, called by the ancients Lygdin marble; the yellow-whitish, called phengitcs; and the yellow-reddish, called simply alabaster, and sometimes oiiy.v. The ancients called boxes that contained precious ointment alabaster boxes, though not niaile of that slone: and in relation hereto, a measure containing ten ounces of wuic, and nine of oil, was called alabaster. In wliioh of these three senses the box of ointment, wherewith this woman anointed Jesus, is called alabaster, we dare not peremptorily de- PRACTICAL REFLECTION. Lu. vii. 36. Let us not be neglectful to entertain strangers; the | to have received our Lord into his house with an air of cold Pliarisiv had the Son of God as his guest — and the Son of God | condescension, as if he were doing a favom* to an inferior; let us see reckons that as done to himself which is done to the meanest of his \ that we do not thus despise one of those little ones, who ought to be disciples. As it would have been very unbeeoinmg in the Pharisee I received in his name. • This and Section xxx., are included in Lesson xxx. in the Course of Lessons Graduated for Simidtaneous Instruction. + Mr. Greswcll supposes she was an inhabitant of Nain, and not Mary Magdalene. — See Vol. II., p. 327. 28G Slatt. viii. 18, § 34, p. 323. Mark iii. 19, § 30, p. 289. John vi. 1, § 40, p. 371. [30. PART III.] A WOMAN WASHES JKSUS' FEET. [SECT. XXIX. Luke vii. 39 — 43. 39 KaT((pl\H his ^ feet, nnd anointed f/iem witli-tbe ointment. Now wlien-'the Pharisee which' Imd-bidden hiur-saw it, lie-spake within himself, saying. This //ici//, if he-were a-prophet, would-have-known who and 40 what-manner-of, woman this is that toucheth him : for she-is a-sinner. And^Jesus answering said unto 41 him, Simon, I-liave somewhat to-say nnto-thee. And he' saith, Master, say-on. T/terc nms a-certain creditor wliich-had two debtors \piwrophef, tj'c. ovroi;, ti i)v npotpi'irtj^, &c. ' Render : " If this man were a prophet, he would know." By jr()o^i/ri;c is here meant a Divine legate, "one sent from God," and consequently endued with supernatural knowledge.'— .B/oowi/reW. Would have known, ^c. So little did the Pharisee know of the dignity of his guest, that he thought he had clear presumptive evidence that Jesus was not even a prophet. The Pharisee, it may be observed, overrates the intelligence ordinarily possessed by prophets : they might, like other men, be deceived, 1 Ki. xiii. Supernatural knowledge of persons and events appears not to have been absolutely theirs, but given or witliheld according to the Divine pleasure. For she is a sinner. The Pharisees considered it improper to have intercoui'se with those who were notorious sinners. 40. Simon, I have someivhai to say. A courteous mode of requesting permission to address the host. 41. Five hundred pence. l>)vdftia. These were Roman denarii or pence, worth each about sevenpence halfpenny of our money, amoimtmg in all to £15 12«. 6d. The other fifty. £1 Us. 3d. 42. Frankly forgave. Freely forgave, or forgave entirely, without any compensation. So God forgives. But he does so on the ground of the atonement made by the Lord Jesus. Yet it is without compensation from man or angel. The atonement of Ciirist is as much a gift as the pardon that is granted by virtue of it. It is clear that by the creditor here, our Saviour meant to designate God — and by the debtors, sinners. Simon, whose life had been comparatively upright, was denoted by tin' one that owed fifty PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. 37, .8 ver. A contrast to the proud, self-righteous Pharisee was presented in the woman, who shewed her repentance by her tears, affectionate attentions, and devotedness. The pliarisco thought ho was conferring a kindness upon Jesus, in bestowing upon him a morsel of bread; she thought herself unwortliy of making him the most costly acknowledgments. 39 ver. It is plain that the Pharisee could not entertain Jesus in the manner he ought, seeing ho was so easily led to suppose that Jesus could not e\cn be a prophet, and this because he did not epurn away from him this poor penitent. 30.] 40 ver. Let us beware of entertaining hard thoughts of others : the Pharisee, supposing that Jesus did not know the character of the woman, judged that he could not be a proplict ; but Jesus proved that he did know chai'acter, by revealing the Pharisee's own secret thoughts. 41 — .'i ver. Forgiveness is the ground of evangelical obedience: the Pharisee was altogether wrong in prineii>le as to liis own state and standing, in thinking that ho required not to be forgiven, but could ratlicr make God his debtor; he was right in supposing that he who had the strongest sense of forgiveness was likely to feel and manifest the greatest power of love. Mail. viii. 18, § 34, p. 323. ilarh iii. 19, § 30, p. 289. John vi. 1, § 10, p. 371. 287 SECT. XXIX.] JESUS EEl'ROVETII SIMON THE PnAIlItiKE. [I'ARX III. Luke vii. 41 — 50. •11 ^most. And Lo' said unto-liim, TIiou-liast-Tis;litly-,jud<,'cd. And Lc-turned to tlic woman, fnid-smi unto' Simon, Sccbt-tliou tliis^\vom:iu ? I-cnturcd into lliinojioiisc, tliou-gavest ?«f no water ibr niyjt'ct : but 43 slie liiUli-washcd tjioi^l myJVet witli' tears, and \Yii)cd them with-tho hairs oi" her head. Thou-gavcst 4(1 mo no kiss: but this uomaii since the <»«t' I-came-in hath--nof-ceased to-kiss uiy/ect. Myjiead with- 47 oil thou-didst-'nof-anoint: but this woman hath-anointcd my/ect with-ointment. Wherefore ou x",""' I-sny iitito-thcc, Her^sins, wliich'rt;-t' many, are-forgiven; for she-loved much: but to-whom little is- 4S forgiven, the same lovctli little. And he-said nnto-licr, Tliy^sins are-forgiven. 49 And they' that-sat- 50 at-iJicat-with him began lo-say within themselves. Who is this tiiat forgiveth sins also ? And hc-suid to the woman, Thyjaith hath-suved thee; go in peace tic tipnvuv. \_Fur eh. vin. 1, § 30, p. 289.] SCRirrUKE ILLUSTRATIONS. 43. Tnou HAST hiciitlt jtdoed. See Nathan's parable to Daiii!, 2 .Sa. xii. 1—14. 41. I EXTEBED INTO THINE norsE. Thh Jcstts iinil done at tlie special imilalion of I he P/tarisee, vcr. 3G, p. 280. 40. My he.vd with on,, &c. JS'oi on/i/ u-ci-c lings set apart ly aiioi/iliny inith oil, as Saul, 1 Si>. X. 1, Daniel, xvi. 13 [Ps. Ixxxix. 20], Jehi, 2 Ki. ix. 3, but the custom of pouriiit] oil vpon the head is understood to have been common amony the Jcics. Brotherli/ love is, Via. exxxiii. 2, ' like tlie precious ointment upon the head, tlint ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beai'd : that went down lo the skirts of liis gannents.' 47. Foe she ioved Mrcit. This was the evidence of her having experienced the Divine forgiveness. — 1 Jno. iv. 19, 'We love him, because he first loved us.'— iii. 14, 'We know that we have passed from death unto life, beeause we love the brethren.' To wnoii UTILE is toegiven. Jesus takes the Pharisee vpon his own ground, as supposing himself less in need of forgiveness than the woman; he had certainlg given evidence of loving little, ver. 44— .0. See eh. svi. 15, § 6SJ ; xvii. 9, § 70. 48. Tiir sixs are eoegivex. The forgiveness of sins may le knou-n in t/iis life, Psa. eiii. 2, 3, ' Bkss the Loed, U my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3, who forgiveth nil thine inicpiities; wlio hcalctli all thy diseases;' — 1 Jno. ii. 12, 'I write unto you, little children, beeause your sins are forgiven you for his name's fake.' 2'/;e Divine forgiveness is the rule of our conduct to one another, Eph. iv. 32, 'And be ye kind one to another, tender- hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath I'orgiven you.' The ground cf forgiveness is the all-sufficient atone- ment of ' the Lamb of God,' Jno. i. 29, 36, § 10, pp. 105, ..G.— 2 Cor. v. 21, ' For he hath m."ide him to he sin for us, who knew no sin ; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him,' 50. TnT EAITH nATn saved thee. We are saved bg Christ through faith, Ga. iii. 23 — .5, 'But before faith eame, we were kept luider the law, shut up unto the faitli which shoidd afterwards be revealed' (for ver. 21, .5, see on Mt. xi. IG, p. 281) ; — and we are saved bg faith in him, Eph. ii. 8, ' For by grace are ye saved through faith ; and that not of yourselves : it is the gift of God.' NOTES. pence — the woman, who had been an open and shameless sinner, was represented by the one that owed five hundred. Yet neither eonld pay. Both must be forgiven, or perish. 44. And lie turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, (Jr. Our Lord now contrasts the incivility of Simon, wlio had neglected the usual offices of attention, with the respectful assiduity of the woman. And here we have allusions to several customs in use among the Jews to guests who were made very welcome. — I. Their sandals were imloosed, and their feet washed and carefidly wiped, and, if the person were of high rank, anointed. II. A kiss was the usual salutation on entrance, or as soon as the person was com- fortably seated. III. The head was usually anointed with aromatic oils or unguents. Seest thou this ivoman 1 You see what this woman has done for me, compared with what you have done. I entered into thine house. Having entered at thy invitation, I might have expected all the usual rites of hospitality. Thou gavest me no water, S;c. Among eastern people it was customary, after travelhng, to wash the feet ; and to do this, or to bring water for it, was one of the rites of hospitality. See on ver. 38. 45. Ko hiss. Simon had even neglected this mark of welcoming Jesus to his house. See Scrip. Ii.li'S. on ver. 38. As Smion had done none of these, he seems to have regarded our Lord only as an ordinary person. Hath not ceased to kiss nig feet. How st riking the differcnee between the conduct of Simon and that of this woman ! The most splendid entertamments do not always express the heartiest welcome. There may bo much insincerity, much scekuig of popularity, or some other motive ; but no such motive coidd have operated in inducing a broken-hearted sinner to wash the Savioui's feet with tears. 4G. With ointment. This ointment was a mixture of various aromaties, and was therefore far more costly and precious than the oil commonly used for anointing the head. Sec on Mt. xxvi. 6 — 13, § 81, p. 67G. 47. For she loved much. In om' translation this would seem to be given as a reason why her sins had been forgiven — that she had loved much before they were pardoned. But tliis is clearly not the meaning. Tliis woidd be contrary to the whole New Testament, which assumes that love succeeds, not precedes forgiveness ; and which nowhere intimates that sins are forgiven because we love God. Her loving is mentioned not as the cause or reason, but as the effect and evidence of her being forgiven. See ScBip. Illus. To whom little is forgiven. He who thinks he has but little need of forgiveness, or but httle to be forgiven. 49. Within themselves, iv inurolj, ' privately among themselves.' See Scrip. Illus., Sect, xxii., p. 220, on Mk. ii. 8. Who is this, i\e. A very pertinent question. Who could he he but God ? Man could not do it ; there is therefore no wonder that they were amazed. 50. Thg faith hath saved thee; go in peace. See Mk. v. 34, § 3G. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS, but be courteous religious views issue only in suspicions and harsh judgments of others, we have gi-eat occasion to suspect ourselves. 48 ver. Let us improve the grace which is given, and God will con- £u-m it to us the more : the woman had been ah'eady forgiven, and was bruiging forth the fruit of forgiveness : but now it is said plamly unto her, ' Thg sins are forgiven.^ 49, 50 ver. The woman was iu contrast to the Pharisees, not only in regard to love, but that whereby love is produced. They wanted faitli — they knew not Him through whom alone forgiveness comes — they said, ' Who is this that forgiveth sins] also V whilst of the woman Jesus could say, 'Thg faith hath saved thee; go in 2>eaee.' Matt. viii. 18, § 34, p. 823. Mark iii. 19, > 4-1 — .G ver. Let us not merely shew kindncs witli oiu- kindness. Jesus is not insensible to those httle attentions whereby aflectiou is expressed, and whereby our love to him is manifested towards the poor of his people. Love is not only to bo manifested in minute matters, but also in :'acrifieuig much for others. 47 ver. If we would know nnich of the power of love, let us meditate deeply upon the forgiving grace of God ; and if we would enjoy a sweet sense of forgiveness, let us seek to possess and to manifest much of the lovo of Him who hath redeemed us. If our Matt. viii. 18, 5 34, d, 823. Mark 288 30, p. 289. John vi. 1, § 40, p. 371. [30. PART III.] JESUS' SECOND GENKKAI/ CIKCUIT OF GALILEE. [SECT. XXX. 'SECTION 30.* — (G. 11, .2.) — Jesus sets out upon the second general circuit of G.\ulee : ash WHEN THAT IS OVER, RETURNS TO CAPERNAUM.f ThE MULTITUDES AGAIN RESORT TO .JeSUS ; HIS RELATIONS HEARING OF THEIR IMPORTUNITIES, GO FORTH WITH A VIEW TO RESTRAIN HIM, —Mark iii. 19—21. Luke viii. 1—3. INTRODUCTION Lu. viii. 1. Jesus makes a second circuit of Galilee, shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom. — viii. 1 — 3. The twelve arc with him during tliis journey, Oiid certain women which minister of tlieir substance. AND ANALYSIS. Mk. iii. 20. The crowd is so great that the cUsciples have not convenience to cat bread. — iii. 21. His friends, when they hear of such proceeding', wish to restrain him, saying, ' He is heside himself.' (G. 11.) Jesus' second e/eneral circuit. M.uiK iii. 19. [Fur former pari «/ vcr. 19, see § 27, p. 202.] Irom Nain throuf/h Galilee to (Japernaum. Luke viii. 1 — 3. [Ch. vii. 50, § 29, p. 2«S.] "And. it-came-to-pass ^ attenvard Iv tm KaOEs'lc, that he went-througliout Ski'jSsue every city ami village, preaching and shewing-the-glad-tidings-of 19 ' and they-went into an-house. the kingdom of ' God : and the twelve were v.ith liira, and certain women, which had-been licalcd 2 of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary^called Magda- lene, out-of whom went seven devils, and .Joanna 3 the-wife of-Chiiza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered iinto-hira of their jSuhstauce.* % [Ver. 4, § 32, p. 299.] 3CRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Lu. riii. 1. Went TnnoTrOHOUT evert city, &c. This was JesKs' second general circuit of Galilee. See Notes, infra. The twelve. Ttieir names, Mt. x. 2 — i, § 27, p. 261 ; and commission, ver. 1, 5, &c., § 39, p. 355 ; their reward in the resur- rection, ch. six. 28, § 75, p. 6 17. 2. Makt CA1.1ED Magdalene. She followed Jesus to the last, Mt. xxvii. 55, .6, § 92. . . . She sany him laid in the sepulchre, ver. 61. She teas one of the first at the sepulchre on the morning of the resurrection, eh. sxviii. 1, and the first to whom Jesus appeared after his resurrection, Mk. xvi. 9, § 93. 3. MiNlSTEBED. See the ministration of Martha and 3Targ, Jno. xii. 2—8 [Mt. xxvi. G— 13, Mk. xiv. 3—9], § 81 ; o/ the teaman ' which was a suiner,' Lu. vii. 86—47, § 29, pp. 286 — ..8 ; Pli. iv. 3, ' women .... labom-ed with me [Paul] in the gospel.' See the Icind of female ministration required of widows siq)jiorted hi) the church, 1 Ti. v. 10, 'well reported of for good works; if she Lu. viii. 1. Eeery city and village. Of Galilee.- NOTES. -See Sect, ii., i Imvii p. 15, ScHir. Illus., ch. i. 26, 'Galilee;' and Sect, xviii., p. 170, Addenda, 'On Jesus' First General Circuit of Galilee.' The glad tidini/s of the lingdom of Ood. See ' Kingdom of heaven,' Sect, vii., p. 80, Mt. iii. 2, and Sect, xvi., p. 158, Mk. i. If, 'The Gqsi'el.' 2. Mary called Magdalene. So called from Magdala, the place of her residence. It was situated on the western side of the Sea of Galilee, south of Capernaum. To this place Jesus retired after feeding the four thousand. See Mt. xv. 39, § 47. She seems to been a woman of some wealth. Compare Jlk. \v. 40, .1, § 93 ; xvi. 1, § 93. Out oftchom went. By the power of Jesus. 3. Chuza. Is by some thought to have been the nobleman who applied to Jesus to heal his son, and of whom it is said, Jno. iv. 46 — 54, § 14, p. 147, ' nimself leliered, and his whole house.' Herod's steward. Herod Antipas, who reigned in Galilee. Ilf. was the son of Herod the Great. See ch. iii. 1, § 7, p. 79. Of their sulislance. Their property ; their possessions. Christians thou beUeved that when they professed to follow Clirist, it was proper to give all up to him — then' property, as well as their hearts. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. Lu. viii. 1. J¥sus taught not merely those that came to liim; he went to the people throughout every city and village, thus giving to those that ai*e sent by him an example of unwearied diligence in doing good. Wliilst the multitudes of the city are given an opportunity of hearing the word, let not those who arc dispersed in the villages be neglected ; and let not an attention to those who dwell in the villages, or remote corners of the country, prevent a due ministration of the word to those who dwell in the cities. Jesus not only preached, or publicly proclaimed, he also taught, or shewed more familiarly, as in conversation, or by private instruc- * Lesson xxx., in the Course Graduated for Simultaneous Instruction, includes Luke vii. 36 — 50, pp. 286 — ..8, with this Sect. xii. + .See ' Note,' infra. I ' The fact of this circuit rests upon the single authority of St. Luke. St. Mark, after the onlination of the Twelve, wliicU certainly took place out of Capernaum, adds, icai In^^oi'rnt tig oIkov (iii. 20) — which would still be true, though, since the ordination, Jesus and the Twelve had both visited and left Capernaum, and had been anywhere else; provided that they returned thither again, before what begins to be next related. 'The time taken up by it, on the same principle as before, would be three or four months at least ; and if it began about the feast of Pentecost in our Lord's second year, which was May 19, it would bo over about the feast of Tabernacles, which began September 23. ' The close of this circuit is indicated here, by the return of our Lord, with liis disciples, to Capernaum, alludeil to, Jlk. iii. 19 ; and from this point of time, as the sequel demonstrates, must bo dated also the course of proceedings at JIattliew xii. 2V—Oresw!eU, Vol. II. Diss, xxiii., pp. 328, ..9. 30.] Malt. viu. 18, § 34, p. 323. i«Ae viu. 4, § 32, p. 299. JuIik vi. 1, § 10, p. 371 . 289 SECT. XXX.] JESUS' RELATIONS GO FORTH TO RESTRAIN HIM. [PART III. (G. ]2.) Jrsiis rehiliinis (jn fi„lh la restrain him.— Mark iii. 20, .1. At Cajicriiainn. 20 And the-multittido conictli-top:ctlior ngain, so-tlial tlicy could iH)t si.-mucli-as cat bread. 21, And when-- bis friends o? Trap' auroD'-hcard of it, tbey-went-out to-hiy-liold-on bim : for tbey-said, He-JS-beside- liimself f5l. At Capernaum. * introduction Mt. xii. 22, .3. Jesus having dispossessed a blind and dumb demoniac, the people are amazed, and question whether he may not be indeed the promised Messiah. — xii. 24. Mk. iii. 22. Scribes from Jerusalem, and Pharisees, hearing this, and unable to deny the reality of the miracle, eneeringly insinuate that it was 'bt/ Beelzehuh the prince of the devils^ that Jesus did cast out devils. — xii. 25, .6. — iii. 23 — .6. Jesus knowing their thoughts, that they were seeking to quench conviction in themselves and others, by evil sm-mises, which they might well know had no foundation in truth, exposes the absurdity of their conclusion, and intimates, that Satan was not so foolish as they were, who by their dissensions were about to bring their city and house to desolation. — xii. 27. Jesus further shews that their insinuation was grossly inconsistent with the pretensions of their own disciples. These knew whether it was by satanic power that Satan was cast out. — xii. 28. The question is important. When God gives such signs, as the miracle just wrought, it is a clear indication that he is about to appear more manifestly than is usual in the government of the world ; and to act cither m mercy or in judgment, according as men have taken warning, or have become hardened, by the signs previously given. — xii. 29. — iii. 27. Jesus farther warns them that the first great step towards ruin is resisting, or putting restraint upon, the Spirit of God ; only by the Spu-it eoiUd they be safely warned, and made strong for meeting the impending danger. — xii. 30. There can be no neutrality in this warfare. — xii. 31, .2. — iii. 28, .9. Any kind of sin or blasphemy may sooner be forgiven than blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. It cannot be passed over in this world, and it exposes to eternal punishment in the world to come. — iii. 30. The occasion of the foregoing AND ANALYSIS. solemn remonstrance is their having ascribed to an unclean spirit that which was done by the Spirit of God. Mt. xii. 33, .4. Mk. ^ Jesus further urges tliat the tree must be judged of according to its fruit. They proved them- selves to be evU, by the abundance of evil words which proceeded from them. — xii. 35. be known by what they produce. — xii. 3G, .7. according to, their words. — xii. 38. (G. 13.) A demoniac, hlind, and dumb, is hrought to Jesus and healed. — Matt. xii. 22, .3. [Ver. 21, § 20, p. 257.] 22 Then was-brought-unto ]iim one-possessed-with-a-devil, blind, and dumb : and lie-liealed him, insomuch- 23 that the bhnd and dumb both spake and saw. And all the people were-amazed iii(rravTo, and said, Is not this the son of-David ? SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. BLIND, AND DtJ.MB. Oil. ix. 32, saying. It was never so seen in Israel.'— Lu. xi. It, § 62, ' The Mt. xii. 22. One possessed § 36, p. 3t5, 'They brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.'— See also Lu. xi. 1-1-, § 62. 23. Amazed. Ch. Lx. 33, § 36, p. 315, 'The multitudes marvelled, people wondered.' Son of David. § 2, p. 16. See ch. i. 1, § 4, p. 39, and on Lu. i. 32, .3, NOTES. Mt. xii. 22. One possessed with a devil, Hind, and dumb. There is no other instance of a blind demoniac recorded in the Gospels. 23. The son of David. By v'liig AnvtS is meant the Messiah, promised under that character. The nuUtitude may have seen in this miracle the fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah, ch. xxxv. 5, 'Then the eyes of the blind shall be oj'ened, and the ears of the deaf\ shall be unstopped.' This inference was drawn by the common people, and not by the proud and haughty Pharisees. To David it I The good man and the evU may Men will be judged for, and Although the true tokens of his Messiahship had already provoked them to blasphemy, the scribes and Pharisees say, 'Master, tve would see a sir/nfrom thee.' — xii. 39, 40. Jesus replies, that no sign would be given them but that of his own death, and remaining under the power of death until the third day. — xii. 41, .2. He shews that Gentiles, the men of Nineveh, and also the queen of the south, would rise up in the judgment and condemn the men of that generation. — xii. 43 — .5. The discom-se of Jesus begins now to partake more of the nature of parable; in the language of which, he shews that the cleansing from idolatry, and other reforms which the Jews had midergonc, would, milcss they became the habitation of God, only render them the more tempting a prize for the devil ; and tliat their ease was likely to become sevenfold worse than it was before. See also Lu. xi. 24 — .6, § 62, p. 562. — xii. 46 — 50. — iii. 31 — .5. Being told that his mother and brethren stand without, desiring to speak with him, he answers that those who listen to his instruction are nearer and dearer to him than any can be because of an earthly relationship. Jesus is thus preparing his disciples for the kingdom being taken away £i-om the Jews, and given to another nation, whom they were to regard as their brethren, rather than those who were merely the children of Abraham according to the flesh. had been promised, that a son of his would sit upon liis throne for evermore; tlie same is 'the Loud oto Righteousness,' who 'shall reign and j>rosper.' The word 'David' means 'beloved,' wliicli Christ emphatically is, both with i-cgard to the Father, who gave Ilim as the great expression of his love to man ; and also witb regard to his people, who now yield to mil the throne of theii afi'eetions; submitting to the law of his kingdom, which is love, and looking forward to (he coming of his kingdom, in which 'lore' shall reign triumphant in glory. • See Qrcswell, Vol. II. Diss, xxxiii., pp. 580, 614 ; and see Addenda, p. 298, ' On tub BLAsrnEMT aoainst the HoiT GnoST.* 31.] Matt. viii. 18, § 34j p. 323. Mark iii. 22, p. 292. Lute viii. 4, § 32, p. 299. John vi. 1, § 40, p. 871. 291 SFCT. XXXI.] 'rilK PlfAKISEES ULASHinJIK ACfAlNST TUV. irOLY (IITOST. [PART in. 7'/ie Pharisees ascribe the miracle tu Satan. Matt. xii. 21—37. )ii ".But wlicn-'llio Plmrisecs-' 'lieanl //, tliey-said,'' 'lh\s fellow doth-"nof-cast-out, devils, but by ly ^"Beelzebub tbc-priiuo of-lbo devils. ,'25 And Jesus knew tbeii\tlioiigbts/ ainJ-i^AxA unto-tliem, Every kingdom divided /.lepiaOi'taa ugainst itself is-brouglit-to-desolatiou Ipi^uovTai ; *and every city or house divided against itself shall-'nof-sta.nd : 2C) • and if,Satan cast-out^Satan, he-is-divided against bimself ; bow shall-'tlieu bisjungdonr-stand ?* 27 'And if I by Beelzebub cast-out/levils, a/al blanjjheme against the Holy Ghost. Makk iii. 22—30. [Ver. 21, § 30, p. 290.] 'And the scribes wliicli ' camc-dinvu from Jerusalem' said, ''He-bath Beelzebub, and' by iv the prince of-tbe devils castetb-he-out^devils. •^And be-callcd-'them'-uuto him, a?td-sa\A uuto-tliem in parables. How can Satan cast-out Satan? And if a-kingdom be-dividcd HepiaOij against itself, that^kingdom can not oh Svvarai stand.^ And if a-bouse be-divided against itself, tbat^liouse can not stand. And if^Satan rise-up against himself, and be-divided, ''he-can not stand, but hath an-end.' 22 23 24 25 2G SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Jit. xii. 21. Beeizebitb, or ' liil.' ' The god of Eki-on.' — Ahaziah, the king of Israel, sent to consult him nith regard to his recoi-eri/, 2 Ki. i. 2 — 6. — Called 'Beelzebub,' or 'god of dung.' — See Greek Testament, Mt. x. 25 (§ 39, ]). 360) ; Lu. xi. 15, § 62.— Mt. ix. 34, § 36, p. 31-3, ' Prince of the devils.' 23. Knew theib thoughts. Lu. xi. 17, § 62.— See on Mk. ii. 8, 22, p. 220. 26. Satan cast out Satan, Lu. xi. 18, § 62. NOTES. Mt. xii. 21. Beelzeluh, or 'i«Z.' Bclzebub, or Baal-zebub, an idol deify of tlie Eki'ouites, 2 Ki. i. 2. From the ^\-ord which imports the god of Jlies, (those insects being norsliipped at Ekrou by the name of 3131, ' Zebub,' a fy,) it would appear that the Ekronites considered liini as liaving tlie command of the vai-ious insects with which in those warm eUniates they were infested, and which fre- quently gathered in such swtinns as proved both a noisome and deadly plague. The Ekronites being near neiglibours of the Jews, and the great veneration whieli they had for this idol, made liim the object both of the liorror and detestation of the devout wor- sliippcrs of the true God. Tlie Jews are said to have changed tlie name of tliis deity to bill ';ra, ' Baal-zebul,' the dung-god, a title expressive of the utmost contempt. Indeed, among the ignominious names given by the Jews to idols, the general and common one was 'yiai, ' Zebul,' dung, or a dunghill. Many instances of this are given by Br. Lightfoot in loc. And to express in what detestation the Jews held this idol, they also appropriated his name to the most hateful bi'iiig in the universe, calUug the devil, or the prince of the fallen angels, Beelzebub. The prince of Ihe deells. A subordination and headship was believed to exist among both good and bad angels; and this not only by the Incantores and Exorcislce, &c., but by the Rabbis, and even the Grecian philosophers. Jlk. iii. 23. IJCou) can Satan cast out Satan? Satan does defeat himself, and wicked men do work their own destruction, throu;;h the overruling providence of God ; but it is absurd to suppose that Satan will designedly and directly go in opposition to the interests of liis owni kingdom. We can only expect him to do that whieli is Uke himself, evil ; but granting the mu'acles of dispossession to be wrought by Satan, still sucli working ought not to be hindered, as in no other way than by being divided against himself can liis kingdom be so speedily brought to desolation. 24. Divided against itself. The blasphemers had come from Jerusalem, vcr. 22, in wliich city was soon to be remarkably fuliilled the truth of our Lord's woi'ds ; for which see Josephus' description of its siege by Titus. In the very temple the factions zealously sought each other's destruction, and thus hastened the accomplishment of their doom, Mt. xxiii. 38, § 85, 'Your house is left unto you desolate.' — xxiv. 2, § 86, ' There shall not be left liero one stone upon another, that shall not be tlu-own down.' Mt. xii. 27. If I bg Beehehuh cast out, Sfc. ' That there were persons among the Jews who professed to cast out demons by exorcisms, and invocation of the God of Abraham, Isaac, aud Jacob, we learn both from the Scriptures — see Jlk. ix. 38 [Lu. ix. 49], § 52 ; Ac. xix. 13 ; and from Jos. Ant. viii. 2, 5, vii. 6, 3, and from the early fathers. The argument, therefore, is, " If those who cast out demons prove themselves to be leagued with Satan, then nuist your disciples be also leagued with liim ; and the ecnsm'e will apply to them as well as unto me." ' — Bloonifield. Comparing Matthew xii. 27, with Mark ix. 38, § 52, and Acts PR.VCTICAL REFLECTIONS, lavc the gi-eatest outward opportunities of Peace was accused, by the religious instructors of the Jews, of working his mu-acles by ' the prince of the devils.' 25 ver. Let us imitate the meekness of Jesus, who so mildly reasoned wjlli his traducers upon the folly of their opinions ; and this although he had certain knowledge of theii' evil state of mind with regard to himself. 26 ver. Let ua beware of seeking the peace of Satan's kingdom, by Matt. viii. 18, § 34, p. 323. Luke vui. 4, § 32, p. 299. John vi. 1, § 40, p. 371. [31. Mt.xU. 21. Those wl I knowing the truth, are sometimes the farthest from its attaininent, j as were the Pliarisees and scribes who came down from Jerusalem. We must not adopt, without examination, the opinions of men, ; liowever professedly ivligious or learned. I Let not the followers of Jesus bo surprised if they should be maligned by those who ought to know better ; even the Prince of 292 PAET III.] JESUS QUESTIONS THE PUARISEES. [SECT. XXXI. Matt. xii. 2H — ;31. Ly whom (lo-'youi\cl)ildi'cu'-easL-//^7;(- out ? tlicrefore they sliall-bc your jiid^xs. 2^! But if I cast-oiit^devils by the-Spirit ol-Goil, tli:n the kingdom of God is-como uuto itpOatjiv irp" you. 20 Or-else how can one enter into a strong man's ^house, and sjjoil ciaoiTav man ': and tlien he-will-spoil liis^honse. He ' that-is not with me is against mc ; and ho ' that-gathereth not with me scatterelh-abroacJ, Wherefore I-say unto-you, All manner o/sin ■traaa aiiapTia* and blasphemy shall-be-forgiveu unto ' men : 'but the blasphemy cigainat the Hohj Ghost Mauk iii, 27, .«. 80 ai No man can enter into a strong man's 27 ^iiouse, and-^YioW otainrarjai his^goods, except ho will-'Hrst'-bind the strong tov laxvpov man ; and then hu-will-spoil his^houso. Verily I-say unto-you, x\ll^sins TzavTa to. afianTiifxciTa 28 *shnll-be-forgivcn unto-thc sons of 'men, and blasphemies wherewith-soever they-shall-blaspheme :' Mt. xii. 27. YoUE CHIIDEEX CAST them OUT. Mk. is. 38, § 52, ' Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy uame, and he foUowcth not us.' 28. Bt the Spieit of God. Lu. xi. 20, § 62, ' With tlie finger of God," &c. 29. BiXD THE STKOX& MAN. Ke. Tiii. 10, ' The joy of the LonD is your strength.' — Believers are, Eph. iii. 16, ' strengthened witli might by his Spirit in the umer man.' — But as Israel ' limited tlie Holy One of Israel,' Ps. Ixxviii. 41, and ' vexed his holy Spirit,' Is. Ixiii. 10, so are Christians in danger of quenchiittjr the Spirit, 1 Th. V. 19, and of putting restraint vpon his operations, heyond n'hat the Scriptures prescribe, 1 Cor. xii. — xiy. — 2 Cor. iii. 17, 'AVhcro the Spii'it of the Lord is, there is hberly.' — Befusing the Spirit liberty to act, ice engage in the spiritual icarfare in our own strength, and so fall before the enemy. Mi. ii. 7, ' Is the spirit of the LOKD straitened ? are these his dohigs ?' — 2 Cor. vi. 12, ' Ye are not straitened in us, but ye arc straitened in your own bowels.' SCRIl'TUEE ILLUSTR.iTIONS. Spoil his norsE, &c. Eze. vii. 21, .2, ' And I will give it into the hands of the strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of the earth for a spoil ; and they shall pollute it. 22, My face will I turn also fi'om them, and they shall pollute my secret y/ace .- for the robbers sliall enter into it, and defile it.' 30. He that is not with me, &c. So Lu. xi. 23, § Gi.^Il is only as being guided by his wisdom, and supported by his 2>oicer, that ice can be prevented from marring his icorh; and procuring shame to his followers, 1 Jno. ii. 28, 'And now, little children, abide in him ; that, when ho shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before huu at his coming.' 31. All . . . six. 1 Jno. i. 7, ' The blood of Jesus Clu-ist his Son clcanseth us fi-om all sin.' Shall kot be fohgivex. 1 Jno. v. 16, 'There is a sin uuto death : I do not say tliat be shall pray for it.' NOTES. six. 13, we are led to the conclusion that it was in the name of Clu-ist, and not by the name of the dung-god, that then- ' sons east out devils.' Had the Pharisees answered the question of Christ, they would have stood self-confounded before the people, for their reply would have been, ' In your name.' Mt. xii. 27. Your children. Yioi, by an idiom derived from the customs of the Jews, denotes disciples — as 1 ICi. xx. 33, 'A certain man of the sons of the prophets said,' &c.; and so Paul, 1 Tim. i. 2, ' Unto Timothy, my own sou in the faith,' &c. 28. But if I ... by the Spirit of God, cjr. By Divine energy ; as in Lu. xi. 20, § 62, ^with the finger of God.' The reasoning is this : ' But if I cast out demons by Divine power, I perform miracles by the aid of God ; hence it follows that I am sent from God. But if I be sent from God, you should believe me when I announce to you the kuigdom of God.' 29. Or else how can one enter into, ij'c. It has been thought tliat our Lord is here pointing out the folly of supposing that he acts by a power from, and consequently v.nder Satan ; since he evinces auperiorily over Satan, by overpowering him, and despoiling lihn of liis authority. May not our Lord refer rather to the danger in wliich the Jews were, as binding the Spirit of God to their own pai'ty and mode of operation, in place of allowing him to put forth his power by whomsoever and in what way he chose ? By their imbclief and blasphemy they prevented the Spirit from shewing them their daugcr, and the way in which their peace might be secured. Thus the enemy was allowed to prevail ; and thus thcii- house was left unto them desokte. Doing despite to the Spirit of grace was the precui'sor of desti-uction to the old world ; and it was the crowiimg sin of the Jews. Nations, before being made signal examples of judgment, have frequently signal warnings in mercy. These bcmg despised, the Spu-it of God departs from them, and an evil spu'it takes possession ; then comes the spoiling of whatever was good, and devils riot in man's destruction. 30. He that is not with me, c\'c. He that is not contending against Satan and his kingdom is against Christ. Unbelief and indiil'erenco quench the Spirit. 31. Blasphemy. B\aa(pyiiiia, denotes injm-ious expressions, or detraction in the largest acceptation, whether against God or man. Shall be forgiven unto men. ai>>t9i)atTai roig avSpwa-oif, ' in men is pardonable;' it means, not that every such sin shall actually be pardoned, but that it is, in the Divine economy, capable of being pardoned. Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. The generality of interpreters place the sin against the Holy Ghost in the wilful malice of those w ho withstand the evidence of truth, and who will not acknowledge the miracles of Christ to be wrought by the finger of God, but maliciously, and against the conviction of their own consciences, impute them to the prince of darkness. This was certainly the crime of the Pharisees to whom Christ applied his discourse ; and I'R.\CTIC.\r. REFLECTIONS. refraining to speak the truth, and work righteousness ; and equally [ which Spii-it alone we can be strengthened with might in the inner let us beware of injiuing the cause of Christ by promoting disunion among the children of God. Mt. xii. 27. Let us avoid making statements with rogai'd to others, which naturally recoil upon ourselves. 2'J vcr. Let us beware of seeking to bind the Spu'it of God, by 31.] jUa«. viii. 18, §3t, p. 323. /.«X, viii. 1, § 32, p. 299. ./oAi. vi. 1, § 10, p. 371 man to resist Satan's assaults. 30 I'cr. Let us not think wc can bo neutral in the great spiritual conflict — if we tamely betray our trust, by allowing the enemy to enter, and lay bonds upon the Spirit, wc are responsible for the sialtcring which nuist necessarily follow. 293 SECT. XXXI.] Matt. xii. 32 — .4. blinll-'nof-be-forgivcn unto ' men. 'S'i And whosoever speuketh n-\vonl agninst llic Son of'mnn, it-sliall-bc-loi-giveii him: but whosoever spcaketh against kiitu the Holy ^Ghost, it-shall-'nof-be-i(irgivcn liini, neither in this^world iv tovtio T(fi a\(ovi, neither in the tcorld to-come iv r([" fiiWovTi.'" OF BLASPHEMY AOAINST THE HOLY GHOST. Mark iii. 29, 30. [PART 111. but he tlint-shall-blnspheme against ei? the Holy 29 ^Ghost hath^uever tic tov alwva forgiveness. '"but is in-danger I'vo^oe of-eternnl anoi'iou damna- tion : because tiicy-said, He-hath an-unclean spirit." 30 33 "Either make the tree good, and ]iis,fruit good; or-elsc make [Ver. 31, p. 297.] the tree corrupt, and his^fruit conupt : lor the tree is-kuowu 31 by ///sj'ruit. O-generation yivvi'ii-iaTft ol'-vipers, how ean-ye, being evil, speak good (/ih/r/.s .■* for out-of the abundance SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Mt. xii. 32. Ao.MNST tde Son op man, &c. 'Father, forgive tlicm ; for they know not what they do.' — Thus Jesus prai/ed for his executioners, Lu. xxiii. St, § 91; — ff'id ihe prayer was heard even tu (he case of their centurion, Mt. xxvii. 5-1-, § 92. Agaixst the Holy Ghost. Our Lord^s jyrayer for his execu- tioners, as above, Lu. xxiii. 34, § 91, supposes their ignorance ; so does Peter's address to the people, Ac. iii. 17, 'I wot tliat tlirough ignorance ye did it, as did also your ruh-rs [the Romans].' — 1 Cor. ii. 8, ' None of the princes of tliis workl knew : for had they known i7, they woukl not liavc crncilied the Lord of glory.' — Paul had been 'a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious : but {he) obtained inciTV, because (Jie) did it ignorantly in unbelief,' 1 Tim. i. 13. — JVhen the Jews had not onli/ killed the Lord Jesns, but forbidden those who spoke by the Jloly Ghost to speak to the Gentiles, that they might be saved, they filled up their sins, and wrath came upon them to the uttermost, 1 Th. ii. 15, .e,{quoted Lu. xv. 28, § 68, p. 610, ' Would not go in.') 33. His FEUIT good, &c. Ch. vii. 16, .7, &c., § 19, p. 192, 'Yc shall know them by their fruits 17, Every good tree bringcth t'orlh good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringcth forth evil fruit.' — So Lu. vi. 43, .4, § 27, p. 287. — ver. 35, 'A good man out of the good ti-easurc of the heart bringcth forth good things.' — Bom. vi. 22, 'Uut now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, yc have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.' 3-1-. VlPEKS. See eh. iii. 7, § 7, p. 83.— Is. lix. 5, ' Tliey hatch cocliatricc' eggs, . . that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.' — Jno. viiiTdt, § 55, p. 508, 'Ye are of yoitr father the devil, and the lusts of yoiu' father ye will do. He was a murderer fi-om the beginning, and abode not in the truth.' — Compare Ge. iii. — 1 Jno. iii. 10, ' The children of the devil.'— Eev. xx. 2, ' The dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan.' How CAN TE, BEING EVIL, SPEAK GOOD, &c. After the generation of vipers is described, Ps. xii. 1 — 5, it is said, ' The words of the LoKD arc pure words.' — ver. 6, 7, ' Thou shalt keep them, O LoED, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.' Oct of the abundance of the heart, &c. Lu. vi. 45, § 27, p. 265. — Ja. iv. 11 — .6, ' Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law : but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. 12, There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? 13, Go to now, yc that say, To day or to moiTow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain : 14, whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life ? It is even a vapour, that appear- eth for a little time, and then vanishefh away. 15, For that ye ought to say. If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16, But now ye rejoice in j'om* boastmgs : all such rejoicing is evil.' — See the contrast between what Jlows from false wisdom, iii. 14 — .6, 'But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15, Tliis wisdom desceudeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16, For where envy- ing and strife is, there is confusion and cvei-y evil work,' — and the NOTES. those also become guilty of the same crime who oppose or persecute the doctrine, ways, and servants of Christ because they are spiritual, or have anything of the Spirit appearing in them, and that contrary to their own convictions. Such as arc guilty of this sin are excepted from pardon, because the death of Christ was not appointed for the expiation of it ; and there being no sacrifice, there can be no Batisfaction, and consequently no pardon. According to Lightfoot, the Jews had hope that every sin would be atoned for by death ; so that Ihcy would have theu- ])art in the kingdom promised to Israel. Christ, however, in opposition to tliis opinion, shews that violent contempt of God, as here, should never be forgiven. 5It. xii. 33. Either make the tree good, and his fruit good. The goodness of my doctrine argues its Divine origin, as good friut proves the tree to be good. 34. O generation of vipers. Christ here applies the argument which he had suggested in the previous verse. They were a wicked race ; like poisonous reptiles, with a corrupt and evil nature. They coidd not be expected to speak good things, i. e., to speak favourably of him and his works. As the bad fruit of a tree was the proper effect of its nature, so were tlicir words against him and his works the proper effect of their nature. Out of the abundance. Ik toii Trtpiaaivfiaroi;, 'out of the ex- uberance, the overflowing abundance,' i. e., when the heart is fully charged, the mouth will declare the quality of its principles and PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. Mt. xii. 31. Let us take care how we speak of the Spirit of God. Let us not think lightly of Him who is the only true Witness of Jesus. However the Spirit's testimony nuiy be disregarded by man, it is of high esteem in the sight of God. 32 ver. He who imputes to the spirit of evil that which is from the good Spirit of God, may most surely expect punishment. Other sins, God in his mercy may pass over, but this he cannot : and let us not forget that wc are under an awful responsibility to jvulgc aright : neither indill'orcncc of feeling, nor perversity of judg- ment, can, on this subject, be tolerated by God. Matt. viii. IS, § 31, p. .■!23. jlfark iii. 31, p. 297. 20d 33 ver. There must be an entire change of heart in those who woiJd speak and act according to the will of God. Wo must judge of men by their actions. We shall know him in whom dwells the Spirit of God by the fruits of the Spirit. 34 ver. Men do not inherit the Spirit of God by natural descent, neither is it necessarily conveyed by any human ordinance : those who were descended from Abraliam, and who had been circumcised according to the law, and many of them baptized by our Lord's forerunner, are by the ti-ue Witness denominated a 'generation of vi2iers.' Luke viii. 4, § 32, p. 299. John vi. 1, § 40, p. ;!71. [31. PART HI.] ACCOUNT SHALL BE MADE OP IDLE WORDS. [SECT. XXXI. Matt. xii. 35 — .7. 8b TTipiaatiifiaTog of-the heart tlie mouth speaketh. A' good man out-of the good treasure of-the heart 36 bringeth-forth,good //it//f/.s : and an evil man out-of the evil treasure bringeth-lbrth evil thiitgs. But I- say unto-you, That every idle 0^701^ word that^men shall-spcak, they-shall-givo account thereof in the- 37 day of-judgment. For by thy^words thou-shalt-be-justified, and by thy^words thou-shalt-be-condemned. (G. 14.) Jesus answers the Pharisees, who demanded a sign: and then concludes his former discourse. — Matt. xii. 38 — 45. 38 Then certain of-the scribes and of-the-Vha.nsee^ answered, saying, Master, we-woukl see a-sign from 3!) thee. But he answered ««rf-said unto-them, An-evil and adulterous generation seeketh-after a-sign; and 40 there-shall-"no sign"-be-given to-it, but the sign of-the prophet Jonas: for as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's^belly; so shall-"the Son of man'-be three days and three nights in the heart SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. wisdom that is from above, ver. 17, .8, 'But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated full of mercy and good fruit;', witliout partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18, And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of tbem that make peace.' 36. Every idle wobd. Eph. iv. 29, 30, 'Let no corrupt com- munication proceed out of yoiu- mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30, And gi'ieye not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.' — v. 4 — 6, ' Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jestmg, which are not convenient : but rather giving of thanks. 5, For this j'e know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kmgdom of Christ and of God. 6, Let no man deceive you with vain words : for because of these things eometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.' — Ec. xii. 14, 'For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing. whether it he good, or whether it he evil,' — Rom. ii. 16, ' in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Clirist.' 37. Fob by thy wohds, &c. Pr. xiii. 3, 'He that keepcth his mouth kcepeth his life : hut he that opencth wide his hps shall have destruction.' — Rom. x. 10, ' For with the heart man beUevcth mito righteousness ; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.' — Lu. six. 22, § 80, 'Out of thine own mouth wUl I judge thee, thou wicked servant.' — The Lord will convince niiijodly sinners of all their hard speeches, which they have spoken ar/ainst him, Jude, ver. 14, .5, 'The Lord eometh with ten thousands of his saints, 15, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among tliem of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly siimers have spoken against him.' 38. A SIGN. See before, Jno. ii. 18, § 12, p. 119 ; Mt. xvi. 4, § 47, p. 425. 40. Three days, &c. Jon. i. 17; Jno. ii. 19, § 12, p. 119; 1 Cor. XV. 4, NOTES. passions ; and thus, by the blasphemies uttered by the Pharisees, their true character was mivciled. The abundance or I'ulness of the heart produced the words of the lips. 36. Every idle word. Though piifta dpybv refers more im- mediately to the mahgnant calumny of tlie Pharisees ag.unst Jesus ; yet it certainly includes all false, slanderous, and vindictive accusa- tions ot our neighbours ; all discom'se which is in any respect injurious to God or man, which is contrary to truth, decency, and evangeUeal purity of heart. 37. Sy thy words thou, shall be justified, 4"c. That is, the whole tenour of thy conversation will be an evidence for or ayainst thee in that great day. 38. We would see a sign. This demand they often made. See ch. xvi. 1 [Mk. vui. 11], § 47; Lu. xi. 16, § 62. Insomuch that it was almost a characteristic of the Jews to ask a sign. So 1 Cor. i. 22, 'the Jews require a siyii.' We find from Lu. xi. 16, § 62, that the sign they asked was one from fieaven. They had witnessed several SvvaiiHg, or ordinary miracles, on earth ; now they seem to demand the appearance of some celestial one, which woiUd be the strongest test of Jesus' pretensions. Dr. Lightfoot informs us that the signs they were taught by their traditions to expect from the Messiah, as a proof of his Divine mission, or Messialiship, were, that he should raise the old prophets, and the old holy famous men from the dead ; and bring down manna from hca\ en ; or, they might require a sign founded on Dan. vii. 13, .4, in which the Son of man is mentioned, as coming with the clouds of licaven, and reducing all nations under his dominion. — See Jno. vi. 30 — .2, § 13, p. 388. 39. Evil and adulterous. They were Uterally, but especially iu regard to spiritual matters, guilty of adultery — giving to the creature what belongs only mito God. 40. For as Jonas toas three days, (^c. See the book of Jonah. This event took place in the Mediten-anean sea, somewhere between Joppa and Tarshish, when he was fieeing/ro»j Nineveh. Ill the tvhale's belly. In Jonah i. 17, the Hebrew word here rendered a whale, is ' a yreat fish.' And the Greek word Ki/roj means, in general, any large fish. The ki'itoq mentioned in Oppian is a shark, because he is described as having tlu-cc rows of teeth. But tlie whale's throat is capable of admitting httle more than the arm of a man. It is said, tliat there is in the Mediterranean a fish called the lamia, airb tov Xai/iov, from the size of its throat, iu which a man may stand upright. In the heart of tlie earth. That is, beneath its surface, as Jonah was said to be in the heart of the sea, though not in its middle, or centre. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. 35 ver. No man can be expected to prove a true dispenser of the word of life, unless he has had his own heart renewed by Divine grace. 36 ver. We must not merely bo careful to abstain from what is positively evil in conversation, but also from all unprofitable talk. However such trifling may be allowed of men, it is dishonouring to the Spirit of God, who commands that notliing proceed out of the mouth ' hut that which is good lu the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers,' Eph. iv. 29. 37 ver. There must be clearness and consistency in our testunony 31.] for Jesus — this can only be produced by the Spii'it of God through the renewal of the heart and life ; and the lack thereof convicts of ahenation from the life of God. 38, .9 ver. Ere we expect to be favoiu'cd with farther evidence, let us see that we have made a right use of wliat has been already bestowed. 39 ver. That our imdcrsfandings may be clear, to discern the truth of God, in his word and working, let us honestly seek to be made pure in heart, and holy in life. 39, '10 ver. There can bo no true and profitable discernment of Malt. viu. 18, § 84, p. 323. Mark iii. 31, p. 297. Luke vui. 4, § 32, p. 299. John vi. 1, § 40, p. 371 . 295 SECT. \XXI.] 41 ul'-tlio cnrtli. JESUS EKPKOVJCS THE PHARISEES WHO DEMANDED A SIGN. [PART lit. ^fATT. xii. 1 1 — .5. The-men ot'-Nincvcli sluiU-riso in, jiulgmciit nj Kpiau witli Uiis^gcnciiitioii, and slndl- condcmu it: because tliey-repiiited at the prcatliing ol'-Jonas; and, hcliold, a-groatcr TrAeioi' tlian-.lonas 42 is here. The-quccn of-tli"e-soutli shall-risc-up in tlio judgment with tbis^geueration, and sliall-iondemn it: ibr she-came from the uttermost-parts inpaTwv of-the earth to-hear the wisdom of-Solomon ; and, behold, a-greater irXiinv than-Solomon ix here. A'\ Wiieu tlie unekiin spirit is-gonc-out of a'miin, lic-walketh through dry uvvlpatv places, seeking rest 41 avuTtavaiv, and tindeth none. Tlicn lie-saitli. I-will-return into my^house from-whcnce I-came-out ; and 45 wlien-he-is-coinc, he-lindetli it empty uxoAo^oi'm, swept, and garnished KfKoa/jijjtu'i'ov. Then gocth-hc, and taketli with himself seven other spirits more-wicked than-himself, and thcy-cnter-in aiid-AweW there : and the last to. irj\aTa state of-thnt^man is worse than-the first. Even-so shall-it-be also uuto-this jWicked^generatioD. SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. 41. The men op Nineveh, &e. Lu. xi. 33, § 62.— Jon. iii. S — 10, 'Tlie people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast,' &c. OnE.VTEB THAN JoKAS. The name of thai proplict ,iieaiis ' a dove.' — Slit Jesus teas He of whom the IIoiY GuosT, hi/ all the prophets, hare icitncss, and at whose laptism ' the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape hke a dove,' Lu. iii. 22, § 8, p. 92. 42. TnE (JFEEN or the south, &c. See as to the queen of Sheba's visit to Solomon, 1 ICi. x. 1 ; 2 Clir. ix. l.—The same as text, Lu. xi. 31, § 62. 43 — .5. When the tnciean spinix, &c. Lu. xi. 24 — .6, § ib. AVaiketh, &c. Satan answered. Job i. 7, ' From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.' — 1 Pe. v. 8, ' Be sober, be vigilant ; because yom* adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.' 44. EMnr, swept, and garnished. The Jews of that age had eschewed the idolatry of their fathers, and become outwardly regard- ful of the law, and of the memory of t/ie prophets, whom their fathers had killed, ch. xxiii. 29, 30, § 85, p. 751. 45. The east state of that jian, kc. 2 Pc. ii. 20 — .2, ' For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world tlu'ough the knowledge of the Lord and Saviom- Jesus Christ, they arc again entangled Ihercui, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21, For it had been better for them not to have known the way of i-ighteousness, than, after they have known it, to tm-n from the holy commandment delivered unto them,' iSx. NOTES. 41. The men of Sineveh. The Ninevites had repented at the preaching of Jonah, though he worked no miracles in proof of his Divine mission, and liis conduct was iu many respects such as to leave no favom'able impression ; whereas with Christ all was widely different. A greater than Jonas is here. 7r\i7ov, something greater. Our Lord chooses, on this occasion, rather to insinuate, than to afHrm, the dignity of his character ; and to afford matter of reflection to the attentive among his disciples, without fnrnisliing his declared enemies with a handle for contradiction. 42. Queen of the south. The counfiy over which this queen reigned is in 1 Kings x. 1 called ' Shcba,' and is supposed to have been tliat which in profane authors goes by the name Sabtea, and wliich was a city and province of Ai'abia Felix, to the south or south-east of Judaea. Yet Josephus docs not allow her to have been queen of that country, because Ai-abia Fehx, of wliich Sahara was a part, was more to the cast than to the soidh of Judaa. He says she took her title from Saha, a city of Meroe, an island in the Nile, over which she reigned, and the queens of which were afterward called Candace. This name strikingly corresponds with the same appellation, Ac. viii. 27. Ai'abia and Etliiopia were often mistaken for cacli other. The uttermost parts of the earth. A usual phrase to denote a remote country; such as was Shcba. — Sec 1 Ivi. x. 1 ; 2 Chr. ix. 1. A greater than Solomon is here. Solomon was wise, but Jesus is wisdom ; Solomon hath his name, meaning peaceable, but Jesus is our peace, tlie true King of Salem. Solomon's conduct resulted in tlie destruction of Ids kingdom ; but of Jesus it is said. Is. ix. 7, ' Of the increase of his govenmient and peace there shall be no end.' 43. Through dry places. 'AviSpiov, deserts. Such as the deserts of Arabia, or of Lybia, or Libya; squaleniis arencB. Tlie Jews, like the Gentiles, supposed that evil spirits frequented deserts, when they were not directly employed in hm-ting mankind. ' AviiTravaiv, 'rest;' i. e., a place of abode. So Gen. xhx. 15. Heb. ni:o. 44. Then he saith, I tcill return into my house, i^-c. The word house means, dwelling-place, or habitation. The man is called his house, because he had been the place where the spirit dwelt. Empty, sicept, and garnished. That is, ready for his reccptiou. 45. Seven. A definite for an indefinite number, to denote a sufficient number for tlie purpose. A proverbial expression. Compare 2 Pe. ii. 20, .1. — See Scrip. Illtts., supra; Heb. vi. 4. — 6, 'For it is impossible for those who were once enhghtened, and have tasted of tlie heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance ; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame ;' x. 26. See on ver. 29. JSven so shall it be also unto this wicked generation. Jjy the PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. signs, by tlie Jews, until llirir cycj have Ihtu oiiencd to see that wondrous sign which was given tliem iu llie death and resmTection of Jesus. The Lord reckons that as done in deed, which is done in purpose ; thus the time of Clitist's death seems to have been reckoned from tlie nioniiug it was finaUy determined upon by the priests, viz., om- Thursday morning, from which time to his resurrection there were just three days and three nights. 41 rer. The message of God must bo listened to and obeyed, whether accompanied with the sanction of human authority, as in the ease of Jonah ; or whether opposed thereby, as in the ease of the greater than Jonah. Mall. viii. 18, § 31, p. nan. Mnrh- iii. 81, p. 2i)7. 29G 42 ver. If tlic queen of the south came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, how much more willing should we be to honour the greater than Solomon ! 43 rer. There must not bo merely a sending away of the unclean spirit ; possession of the heart must he given to the Spirit of God — else outward reformations, and all graces and gifts which arc attained, will only tend to the farther accommodation of the devil, who can only be effectually opposed by our being strengthened with might by the Spirit of God in the inner man, Eph. iii. 16. 44 ver. Let us not merely seek to withdraw om' affections from evil, but to fix them upon that which is good. 45 ver. Let us seek unto God, and give due honour unto his i«;-e viii. 4, § 32, p. 299. Jo//» v i. 1, § 40, p. 371. [31. TART III.] JESUS SHEWETn WHO ARE HIS RELATIONS. [SECT. XXXI. (G. 15.) The relations of Jesus arrive ; their nearly Matt. xii. 4G— 50. 40 'While *-'he yef-talkcd to-tlie people, behold, //«^mothev and his^brethipn stood without, desiriug to-spealc -with-him.* 47 'Then one said unto-him, Behold, thy^mother and thy^brethrcD stand without, desiring to-speak with-tliee. 48 But he' answered wwrf-said unto-him'that-told h Who is my^mother ? and who are my^brethren ? 49 'And he-stretched-forth hisjiand toward his^disciples, a«c?-said, Behold my^mother and my^brethrcn ! 50 For wliosoever shall-do the will of my Father which' ?s in heaven, the-same is my brother, and sister, and mother. [Ch. xiii. 1, § 32, p. 299.] cominr/ made known to Jesus : He shews who is most related to Him. Makk iii. 31 — .5. [Yer. 30, p. 294.] There--,ame then /(w^brethren and hisjnother, 31 and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him. * And the-multitude sat about him,^ 32 and they-said unto-him, Behold, thy ^mother and thy^brethren without seek-for thee. And he-answered them, saying, Who is my.mother, or myj:)rethren ? ''And he-looked- 'round-abouf-on them'which-sat about him," im 33 34 and-SKiA, Behold my^mothcr and my, brethren ! For whosoever shall-do the will 35 of God, thc-samc is my brother, and my sister, and mother. [Ch. iv. 1, ibid.] SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Mt. sii.46. MoiHEE, &c. See also Lu. viii. 19—21, § 33, p. 321. Brethren. His hrethren were James, Joses, Simon, and Judas, ch. xiii. 55 [Ilk. vi. 3], § 37, p. 31G. 48. Wuo IS MY MOTHEU? &c. She who hare him was Mari/, hut he refused lo ae/iiwwledr/e her in his manijestations of Divine poiecr, Juo. ii. 3, 4, § 11, p. 113. 49. Beuold my mother and my beethhen! 1 Jno. iii. 2, 'Beloved, now are we the sous of God.' — Heb. ii. 11, 'For bot]i lie that sanctiCeth and they who are sanctified are all of one : for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren.' — 1 Pe. i. 23, .5, 'Being boni again, not of coiTuptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which livcth and abidcth for ever.' 50. WuosoEVEn shall do, &c. 1 Jno. iii. 10, .4, ' In this the cliildren oi God are manifest, and the children of the devil : wlio- soever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that lovetli not his brother.' 11, ' We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.' XOTES. parable, vcr. 43 — .5, an impressive warning is suggested, drawn from the well-known case of a demoniac, who, after a half-reeoveri/, succeeded by a relapse, becomes worse than ever. At the same time, the illustration is capable of a general appliealion suited to all times, and persons of every age. With respect to the minor eircum- stances of the illustration, they are merely accessory, and ac- commodated to the notions of the Jews, as to the haunts and habits of daemons (who chiefly abode, as they supposed, in waterless deserts), and also as to those of demoniacs. Thus the words 'itfrovv ■ivcnravaiv (in search of rest), nai ovx tvpicTKci are accommodated to the latter; since restlessness was the characteristic symptom of the Satjwvi'iunivoi, or persons possessed. Though what is contained in these last three verses may very properly relate to ang person, or number of persons, yet from tliis clause the words arc principally to be understood of the Jewish nation. No emblems coiJd be more proper to describe the Jews, just before their final destruction by the Romans : they were obdurate, abandoned, and pressmg on to their own ruin, as if they had been possessed by legions of devils. This parable describes the case of those weak and irresolute characters who make promises of amendment, but never give place to tlic Spirit of God. It exposes also the danger of their condition, and tlie futility of hali-rcpentance. Wlien the unclean spirit goes out of a man, i. e., when he checks for a season liis vicious inclinations, and hesitates between virtue and vice, his mind is so divided, as to be insensible of a moment's enjoyment. He has neither the indulgence of passion, nor the serenity of piety to occupy it. All within is disquietude and restlessness. It is like the delusive cahu before a tempest. In this state, before the wretched being can detci'mine upon the path he shall follow, while he is wavering and uncertain, a temptation ofl'crs itself. This is expressed by the retm-n of the unclean spirit into the 'hotisc' from whence he had come out — the soul of the hesitating sinner, which he finds ' empfg, swept, and garnished.' Being unoccupied by holy suggestions, it is easily assailable, and ready to siuTcnder to the first enemy which attacks it. ' Then goelh he, and talceth with himsetj seven other spirits more wiclced than himself.' Once more tho victim of Satan, the relapsed sinner now grows hardened in crime. To drown the reproaches of his conscience, he becomes desperate, and plunges deeper and deeper into guilt. So ' the last state of that man is tvorse than the first ;' for his case is the more aggravated, his disease is incurable, and his recovery hopeless. — See ver. 45. Com- pare 2 Pe. ii. 20, .1, quoted ScEir. lu.us., p. 29G, 'The last,' &c. See on ver. 29, p. 293. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. Spirit, that we bo rot like that man whoso last state was worse tlian his first, Mt. sii. 46. However high the honour might be, of being nearly related to our Lord according lo tlie flesh, let us know that a higher relationship is ours to enjoy, which honour we possess as being tridy tho disciples of Jesua. The mother of Jesus, simply as such, hatli not so high o place as tho meanest of liis true disciples : like other poor sinnei-s, she could bo blessed only as i-ejoieing in God her Saviom-. 50 ver. If we would truly enjoy the honour of being llie disciples of Jesus, let us seek in truth to do the will of our Father which is in heaven. ' The same,' said the Lord of Glory, ' is my brother, and sister, and mother.' 31.] • ' Is critically eiplnined by Mark iii. 21,' § 30, p. 2dO.—GresiveU, Vol. I. Dies, i, p. 30. jV«». Tui. 14, § 3I-, p. 323. a/«ii iv. 1, § 32, p. 299. Luke riii. -i, il,id. Jo/i» vi. 1, § 'W, p. 371. 297 SECT. XXXI.] OF BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE UOLY GHOST. [PART m. ADDENDA. ON 'the blasphemy against the HOLV ghost.' — Matt. xii. 22 — 45; Mk. iii. 22— 30, pp. 292, ..6.* •The oflcncc committed, Mt. xii. 22 — i!j, was f/ial sin against tlie Holy Ghost. The sin against the Holy Ghost was conse- quently committed Mere and t/ieii, .ind iy t/iose persons, w/ieu and where, aud lii/ ifhom that charge was insinuated against our Saviour's miracles. But it is nowhere called the sin against the Holy Ghost ; it is designated by no name except tliat of the hlus- pfifmy against the Holy Ghost ; and this distinction is of mauilbld importance. ''For, first, the strain of our Lord's denunciations against both the offence and its authors is a sufHeient proof that, whatever it was, it was a sin of words; whatever was the guilt of its authors, they had contracted this guilt by an offence in words, vcr. 31 — .7. ' Secondly, the very essence of blasphemy is to be a sin of words. If any one will take the trouble to peruse flic earlier, or, what is more to the purpose, the contemporary Greek writers, he wiU soon be satisfied that the tenn which expresses the sin of blasphemy has but one original and proper meaning, and but one common and ordinai-y acceptation. In the sense of evil or injm-ions speaking ; of slander, ti'aduction, calumny, or the like ; it is precisely avritr- Toixov to tvXoyla, txnii'Of, tvipijfiia, or to any similar term. Compare eh. xv. 11), " For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies." — xxvii. 39, " And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads." — Lu. xxii. 65, "And many other things blasphemously spake they against him." — xxiii. 39, "And one of the malefactors wliieh were hanged railed on him, saying. If thou be Christ, save tliyself and us."— Ac. vi. 11, .3, "Then they suborned men, which said. We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and againM God." 13, "And set np false witnesses, which said. Tins man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words agamst this holy place, and the law." — xiii. 45, " But when the Jews saw the midtitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming." — xviii. C, "jVnd when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said mito them. Your blood be upon your own heads ; I am clean : from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles." — xxvi. 11, "And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme ; and beuig exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted tfiem even unto strange cities." — Rom. ii. 2-1, " For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles tlu-ough you, as it is ivritten." — xiv. 16, "Let not then your good be evil spoken of." — 1 Cor. iv. 13, " Being defiuncd, we intreat : we are made as the filth of the world, and are the olfscouring of all things unto this day.".— x. 30, " For if I by grace bo a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?"— 1 Tun. i. 13, "Who was before a blas- phemer, and a persecutor, aud injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief." — vi. 1,4, "Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blas- phemed." 4, " He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof comcth envy, strife, railings, evil surmismgs."— Tit. iii. 2, " To speak evU of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men." — Eph. iv. 31, "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice." — Col. iii. 8, " But now ye also put oil' all these ; anger, wrath, niahee, blasphemy, filthy communieation out of your mouth." — 1 Pe. iv. 14, "If ye be • See GreswcU, Vol. II. Diss, xxxiii., pp. 580— G14, ' On tlie two dispossessions, and the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost ;' or the comparison of Matt. xii. 22—45, with Luke xi. 14—26 [§ 62J. reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spiiit of glory and of God resteth upon you : on their part he is evU spoken of, but on your part he is glorified." — 2 Pe. ii. 2, 11, " And many shall foUow then' pernicious ways ; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of." 11, "^\^lereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not raiUng accusation against them before the Lord." — Jude, ver. 9, " Y'et Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, dm-st not bring against him a raihng accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee," &c. ' It is, consequently, in a derivative or secondary sense that it comes to denote what divines, or moralists, tmderstand by the offence of blasphemy as such. It is not impossible for the Supreme Beuig himself to be made tlic object of injurious aspersion ; that is, of obloquy ; and, in that case, what would be simply evil-spealcing, as levelled agamst a man, becomes blasphemy, because du-eeted against God. Nor can it be denied that they who, according to St. Mark, had called the Spirit, by which our Saviour was insjiircd, ciKuQafTov TTvivjia, and had confounded the pure and holy Spirit of God with the impm-e and m.alignant spirit of Beelzebid, had spoken evil of that Spirit, had traduced aud maligned that Spii-it, ui the strictest sense. Hence, if that Spirit was really a person and Divine, such injurious speaking of that Spirit was strict and proper blasphemy ; that is, injurious speaking levelled against God 'But is the proposition convertible, that all sin of wliicli the Holy Ghost may be in any manner the object, is such sin as this ? AU unrighteousness, according to St. Jolm (1 Ep. v. 16, .7), is sin ; and all um-ighteousness in Christians, who are supposed to be rege- nerate, and mider gi-acc, of wluch the only som-ce is the Holy Ghost, must so far be sin against the Holy Ghost ; because it must be sin against grace. But even in this sense, according to the same autho- rity, there is a sin not unto death as well as a sin unto death; both, such as might be committed by a brother Christian. The sin unto death, wliieh might be so committed, aud for which the apostle gives no encouragement even to pray, might be that sin against the Holy Ghost, which our Lord had pronounced unpardonable, both in this world and in the next. But the sm not unto death, wliieh must include all other sins beside that, could not be tlie sm against the Holy Ghost in particular ; though if committed, as the apostle supposes, by a fellow Christian, sin against the Holy Ghost in a general sense it must still be. 'In the application of hmnan laws to human crimes, it is an acknowledged principle that the terms of every penal statute are to be rigidly and Uterally construed. The same ride is sm-ely to be taken for our guide in interpreting this one, and this sole instance of God's extreme and severest malediction against some offence, which may indeed be really committed, aud become thenceforward unpardonable : for which neither the intercession of fellow-behevers, nor the penitence of the offender — if penitence in such a ease be possible — nor, what is more, the efiicacy of the Christian atone- ment, can avail to procure forgiveness ' Ifo reasoning can apply to extenuate the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost ; especially if thaf blasphemy was deUberately com- mitted. For such an outrage upon the majesty and the hoUness of God, to serve the most mahguant purposes, and not more repugnant to truth, and derogatory to the Deity, than at variance mth the common sense of mankind, no excuse could be assigned.' 898 Matt. vui. It, § 31, p. 323. Mark iv. 1, § 32, p. 2y9. Luke viu. 4, ibid. John vi. 1, § 40, p. 371. [31. PART HI.] JESUS BEGINS TO TEACH IN PAEABLES. [SECT. XXXII. SECTION 32. — (G. 10, .7.) — The same day Jesus repairs to the lake, and begins to teach, in PARABLES, THINGS RELATING TO THE MYSTERIES OR SECRETS OF THE KINGDOM, 'WHEREOF FIVE ARE NOW DELIVERED IN PUBLIC. BETWEEN THE FIRST AND THE SECOND PARABLE, JeSUS ANSWERS THE DISCIPLES, WHO INQUIRED WHY HE WAS TEACHING IN PARABLES : AFTER WHICH HE PROCEEDS TO THE REMAINDER OF THE PARABLES. — Matt. xiii. 1 — 17, 24. — 35. Murk iv. 1 — 9, 20 — 34. Luke viii. 4 — 8. At THE SEA OF Galilee.* I INTRODUCTION Mt. xiii. I, 2. Jlk. ir. 1. Lu. viii. 4. Jesus liaving gone out to the sea-side, great multitudes gatlier unto him. He enters a ship, and teaches the people standuig on the shore. — xiii. 3. — iv. 2, 3. — viii. 4, 5. He teaches them in parables : beginning with that of the Sower, shewing the various reception the word was to meet with in the dili'erent kinds of ground into which it was to be cast, in the going forth of the ministi-y of the word from among the Jews; who, as had just before been proved, were in the greatest danger of having their condem- nation aggravated, tlu-ough their rejection of the Gospel. — xiii. 4. — iv. 4. — viii. 5. He begins with the case of the wayside hearers, from whom any favourable impres- sion, made by the word, was easily removed, by such insinuations as had just before been made by the Jerusalem scribes and tl»c Pharisees. — xiii. 5, G. — iv. 5, 6. — viii. 6. The next field of labour is compared to stony ground; and which may illustrate the case of Asia Minor, where churnhes speedily sprang up, but which have long since withered away. — xiii. 7. — iv. 7. — viii. 7. The thii-d field of labour was m southern Europe, where the seed was sown among thorns, which grew up with it, and choked it. — xiii. 8. — iv. 8. — viii. 8. In north- western Europe, especially since the Reformation, the word has been more really productive. Our Lord notices three degrees of fruitfulness ; but the highest falling very far short of what might be. In connection with this last field of labour has been the sowing of the seed over the whole world. — xiii. 9. — iv. 9. — viii. 8. The word, although wrapped in parable, and in the first instance specially appointed to different localities, is free to all wlio are prepared to receive it. ' He that hath ears to hear, lei him hear.' ■ — • xiii. 10 — .3. Jesus, in answer to the inquiry of his disciples, tells why he spake to the people in parables. It was because they were altogether indisposed to adru't the word. — xiii. 14, .5. He farther sliews that the AND ANALYSIS. Jews had been sufficiently forewarned by prophecy (Is. vi. 9 — 11, quoted ScKip. IiLus., § 13, p. 140, Jno. iv. 21, 'Tins MorNTAiN,' &c.) of what was now befalling them — their being hardened against the truth, and so left without the possibility of being benefited thereby. Mt. xiii. 16, .7. Mk. Jesus recognises the gi-cat and peculiar favoiu- enjoyed by the disciples, in being given to hear and sec the things which had been long looked forward to, with dcsu-e, by the prophets and other Old Testament saints. — xiii. 21 — 30. Jesus delivers the parable of the wheat and tares, shewing that, even in the favourite field, where is the most abundant crop, there is a distinction, not only as to quantity, but also kind of produce ; that where the good seed has been sown, the enemy the most sedulously sows his tares ; that the final separation is not to be looked for until the time of harvest j and that then the gathering together of the wicked for destruction will have the pi-ecedeuce of the gathering together of the righteous. — iv. 26 — .9. Jesus, by another parable, draws attention to the fact, that, Kke the growth of wheat, the development of the kingdom of God is progressive — first in promise, Hhe blade;' then in fonn, 'the ear;' then in substance, ' the full corn in the ear;' and that the haiTcst will be no longer delayed than is really necessary for the ripening of the wheat. — xiii. 31, .2. — iv. 30— .2. By a fourth pwable, that ot the 'grain of mustard seed' Jesus shews how, from a beginning exceedingly small, Clu-istianity should increase, so as that under the shelter thereof those would seek to live, who at first might be seen endeavouring its destruction. — Compare with Mt. xiii. 4, p. 30f»- Mk. iii. 22, § 31, p. 292. — xiii. 33. By the parable of the ' leaeen, which a tcoman tooJc, and hid in three measures of meal,' Jesus seems to intimate that there was a danger of the chui'ch retaining a con- cealed portion of the old leaven, by which what was at lir»t pure, spiritual nourishment might whoUy become leavened. — xiii. 34, .5. — iv. 33, .4. Jesus spake at tliis time wholly in parables, by which, tilings kept secret from the foundation of the world are made jilain to those who willingly submit to His teaching. (G. 10.) The name datj Jesits repairs to the lake, and bet/ins to teach, in jnirahlcs, relating to the mi/sterics or secrets of the kinijdom, whereof Jive are now delivered in imhlicA Sea of Galilee. Matt. xiii. 1 — 9. [Ch. xii. 50, § 31, p. 297.] 'The same day weut,.Jesus ou*^- of the house,* and-aai hy the seaside. 'And great multitudes were-gathered- together'' Mark iv. 1—9. [Ch. iii. 35, il/id.] 'And he-hegan again to-teacli by the seaside, and thcre- was-gathered Luke viii. 4 — P. [Ver. 3, § 3U, p. 289.] And when-'much people'- •were-gathcred- together. SCKIPTURE ILLUSTR.\TIONS. Mt. xiii. 1. SEi.-side. See Mk. ii. 13, § 23, p. 221. | 2. Gkeat uultitcdes. See on ch. iv. 25, § 18, p. 168. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. Mk. iv. 1. The teneliing of Jesus was not restricted to the house, but was frequently in the open air, and particularly by the sea side. Nor should the disciples of C'lirist refuse to follow herein their Master : the good seed must be sown beside all waters, if we would desire to sec it widely spread abroad, and filling the face of the world with fruit. ' The sea is His, and He made it;' and no loss belongs to Him the wondrous instrumentaUty ho hath provided for conveying thcre- • See Oreswell, Vol. tJ., pp. 434— .47 ; ' On tue beoinniko to teacu ijf rAisABiEs, and on the timk and ruicB of rnEin iNiEKriiETATios.' 32.] Mall. viii. 14, § 34, p. 333. John vi. 1, § 40, p. 371. 200 sEci. xxxir.] Matt. xiii. '3, L. unto liim. so-that lie went into a'isliip, rt//r/-siit ; nncl tlie whole miiUitiule stood on the shore. 3 And hc-spukc many-things unto-thcm in parables, saying, Behold, a' sower went-forth to 'sow ; 4 and when hc^sowed, *some Deeds fell by the -wayside,' THE i'AKABLE OF THE SOWER. :\Ia1!K iv. 2—1. unto him a-great multitude, do-that he entered into a' ship, fiiid-ant in the sea ; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land And he-taught them many-things by parables, and said unto-them in his^doctriue, Hearken ; Behold, there-went-out a' sower to'sow/ 3 ' and it-came-to-pass, as^he-sowcd, some 'fell by the yf ay-side, SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. [PART Hi. IjUke viii. 5. ■'nndjWerc-come-'to him ■-out-of every city,' he-spakc by a-parable : A' sower went-out to 'sow ■'^his^seed:^ and as he^sowed,^some'fell by \fay-side 5 the Mt. xiii. 2. Went into a ship. See before, Lii. v. 3, § 20, p. 207 ; Mk. iii. 9, § 26, p. 255, Ec. xi. 1, ' Cast thy bread upon tlie watcre : for tliou slialt fiiul it after many days.' It teas in maritime cotnifries more cspeciaUy that the word wa^ to taK'e effect, Is. xsiv. 14, .5, ' Tliey shall lift up tlieir Toiee, tliey shall sing for the majesty of the Lord, tUey shall ery aloud from tlie sea. 15, 'WHierefore glorify ye the LoKD in the lires, even the name of the Lord God of Israel in the isles of the sea.' — xli. 1, 'Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew assiit(j through Asia Minor. Mk. iv. 7. It yielded no fkuit. Lu. viii. 14, § 33, p. 311., ' No fruit to perfection.' Among the Romans Paul desired to have fniit, Rom. i. 13, 'even as among other Gentiles;' but warned them that if they did not continue in the Lord's goodness theg toould he cut off, si. 23, 'Behold tlierefore the goodness and severity of God: on them wliicli fell, severity j but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off;' in which case theg could bring forth, Juo. xv. 5, 0, § 87, 'lio fruit to perfection.' Mf. xiii. 8. Otiiek tell into good geound. Is. xxviii. 25, 'The principal wheat and the appointed barley and the rye in theii- place.' . . . Ixiii. 8, ' For he said. Surely they are my people, children that will not lie : so he was their Saviour.' Beougiit FOETH pruit. The kingdom which was taken away from the Jews was to be, eh. xxi. 43, § 84, 'given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.' 9. Who nAin eaes to ueae. The call to hear, is especially given to a people occupying an insular position. Is. xlix. 1, ' Listen, O isles, unto me ; and hearken, ye people, fi'om far.'— Je. xxxi. 10, 'Hear the word of the Loed, ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off.' 10. Why speakest Tnon unto them in paeables? Jle Jiad before spoken i>lainly, as in the Sermon on the Mount, ch. v. — viii. NOTES. The folds came, !(c. Where husbandmen arc sowing, thousands of starlings will cover the ground in Palestine, and lay a heavy con- tribution on the grain thrown into the furrows. Mt. xiii. 5. Upon stony places, tjri ru irirpdil^ii, ' upon rocky ground ' — a rock with a very thin cover of earth. G. Were scorched. In Palestine, diu'ing the seed-time (in Novem- ber), the sky is cloudy; the seed then springs up even in stony places, but when the sun dissipates the clouds it quickly outgrows its strength. 8. An hundredfold, cfff. Tliat is, a hundred, sixty, or thirty grains, for each one that was sown — an increase by no means un- common. Strabo and T?liny testify that the soil in lialiylonia never produced less than two hundred fold, and sometimes even thi'ee huudred ; the grain, too, being of an astonishing size. PltACTICAL REFLECTION. that soweth the seed hath put no restriction upon the outward I to hear, let him hear,' 'and let him that hcareth say, Come,' Re?, exhibition of his truth, but hath commanded, 'He that hath cars \ xxii. 17. 32.] Malt, viii, 14, § 34, p, 823. Mark iv. 10, § 33, p. 311. Luke viii. y, ibid. John vi. 1, § 10, p. 371. 801 SECT. XXXII.] JESUS ANSWERS THE DISCIPLES. Matt. xiii. 11— r.3 [PART III. answered a/id-saii unto-thcm. Because it-is-given unto-you to-know the mysteries of-tlie kingdom of 12 heaven, hut to-tlicm it-is-'nof-given. For wliosoevcr hath, to-him shall-be-giveu, and he-shall-havo-more- ubunda'uce vtotamvOnmrtu : hut whosoever luith not, from him sliall-hc-tuken-away even that he-hath. 13 Therefore speak-I to-them in parables: because they-seeiug see not ; and hearing they-hear not, neither SCKIPTUnE 1, § 19, pp. 171— .94 ; and Jno. v., § 23, p. 227 ; now he changed his mode of public uddreas, and ino-itlij used simiiiludcx, which he con- tinued to the enil of his ministry, as eh. xxi. 29— xxv. §§ 82 — .6. 11. BECiUSE IT IS GIVEN UXTO Tor, &c. Jlis disciples were ditposed to profit bi/ his teaching, and tcere to he emp!oj/ed in sou-inff the good seed—the word. 1 Po. i. 25, 'And this is the word which by tlic gospel is preached unto you.' A distinction was now to be made between them and those who, bi/ their abuse of knowledge, were only in danger of plunging themselves into deeper guilt and miserg. See just before cli. xu. 31— .7, § 31, p. 293. The MTgTElilES. The mgsteries of the kingdom, do not mean any incomprehensible doctrines in themselves considered, but simply doctrines about the preaching of the gospel, and the establishment of the new kingdom of the Messiah, which had not been understood, and which were as vet concealed from the great body of the Jews. See Rom. xvi. 25, ' Now to him that is of power to stablish you accord- ing to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Clu-ist, according to tlic revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began.'— xi. 25, ' For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that bhndness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.'— Eph. iii. 3, 4, 9, see quoted on ver. 1 2, next column. 10 — .5. Our Saviour taught much in parables : FiBST, that he might fulfil Old Testament predictions, Ps. Ixxviii. 1, 2, ' Give ear, O my people, to my law : incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 2, I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old ;' and xlix. 3, 4, ' My mouth shall speak of wisdom ; and the meditation of my heart shall be of imderstanding. 4, I will incline mine ear to a parable : I will open my dark eaymg upon the harp.' — Compare ver. 34, .5, p. 307. Secondly, that in mani- festing the spiritual turn of his oton mind, lie might set us an example to improve everything as a means oj spiritual instruction. — See Jno. iii. 12, .3, § 12, p. 124. Tiiiudly, that he might the more effectually reprove the Jews, without pulling them into a rage, ch. xxi. 28 — 46, § 84. FoxTBTnLT, that he might the more easily instruct the attentive and thoughtful, in a manner much used in the east, delight- ful to the mind and helpful to the memory. Ho. xii. 10, ' I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.' Fifthly, that he might iustly permit the blindness and ruin of iacA as hated instnic- ILLUSTRATIONS. Hon, ver. 13. Sixthly, a key to the better understanding of what was before written was now being given by our Lord to those wlio were to understand all parables, Mk. iv. 13, § 33, p. 312, and become, 1 Cor. iv. 1, 'stewards of the mysteries o£ God.' 12. Whosoevee hatii, &c. Ch. xxv. 29, § 86, 'For unto every one that hath,' &c. — 1 Jno. v. 12, ' He that hath the Son hath life ; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.' JIonE ABUNDANCE. The disciples were to be given, by the para- bles of our Lord, a deeper insight into the mysteries of the kingdom presented by the prophets of the Old Testament, 1 Pe. i. 12, ' Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us tliey did minister the things, wliich are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel luito you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven ; which things the angels desire to look into;' and to be afterwards more fully developed by the prophets and apostles of the New Testament, Eph. iii. 3 — 10, ' How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4, whereby, when ye read, ye may under- stand ray knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5, which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit ; 6, that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel : 7, whereof I was made a minister, accordhig to the gift of the grace of God given mito me by the effectual working of liis jjower. 8, Uuto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preacli among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ ; 9, and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ ; 10, to the intent tliat now unto tlie principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the cluu-ch the manifold wisdom of God.' Shall be taken away. Those who rested in the outward forms toere to be deprived of even these, ch. xxiv. 2, § 86 ; He. vii. 18, .9 ; viii. 12, .3 ; ix. 9—14. That he hath. Lu. viii. 18, § 33, ' seemeth to have.' 13. They seeing see not. De. xxix. 2 — ^1, 'Ye have seen,' &c. 4, ' yet the Lokd hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.' — See also Je. v. 21 ; Eze. xii. 2 ; Jno. ix. 41, § 55. NOTES. 11. The mysteries, tu pvarlipta, 'the secrets.' The fu'st and leading sense of the word is not ' mystery,' according to the meaning of the word in EngUsh, denoting something incomprehensible ; it means a secret, anything not disclosed to the world, though perhaps communicated to a select number. Jesus did not adopt this mode of instruction till the Jewish guides accused him of being in league with Satan. They would not have continued to hear the truth in plain language. 12. Whosoever hath, Sfc. A proverbial saying, meaning, that those who are really disposed to attend to His doctrine, shall be fully informed about it ; whereas the careless and uiattentive hearer shall have no benefit from his instruction. From him .^hall be taken. 'He shall be utterly deprived of tliose means and opportunities of salvation wliich he lias neglected and slighted.' — Watson. The Jews, in having then- temple and sacrifices, without knowing Him to whom they pointed, were Uke those who have only the words of a parable without understanding its mean- ing. The Jews rejected the tkuth, and boasted of the shadow ; and of the shadow itself they were speedily deprived. For nearly eighteen centuries they have had no opportunity of observing the sacrifices and worshipping in the temple. Even that which they had has been taken from them. 13. Seeing see not, cfc. That is, they overlook what they see, and are inattentive to what they hear ; tliey shut their eyes against the light, and neglect or abuse the means of knowledge. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. Mt. liii. 11. There must be a co-operation of the will of the hearer in the profitable hearing of the word ; we must not merely hear with the multitude, but, as disciples of Jesus, do the will of God, if we would know the word in truth. 80!i Matt. viii. 11, § 34, p. 323. Mark iv. 10, § 33, p. 12 ver. If we would obtain much scriptural knowledge, we must esteem it as precious treasure, which we endeavour to make our own, by laying it up in our hearts, that we may practise it in our lives. 13 ver. He who has the word of God merely in its outward form, 311. Luke yiu. 0, ibid. John-n. 1, §40, p. 371. [32. PART lU.J JESUS CONTINUES TO TRACK IN PARABLES. [SECi ^:X.vili. Matt. xiii. 14 — .7. 14 do-they-understand. And in tir them is-fiilfilled avuTrXttpovrai the prophecy of-Esaias, which' saith, By- hearing oKoy ye-shall-hear, and shall-'nof-understand; and seeing ye-shsU-see, and shall-'nof-perceive. 15 for tliis^people'fejieait is-waxed-gross, and theii\ca.\s are-dull of-heiiring oicri fiapiwq nKov 10 ears, and should-understand v;ii\\' -their heart, and should-be-converted, and I-should-heal them. But 17 blessed are your^eyes, for they-see : and your.ears, for they-hear. For verily I-say unto-you, That manj prophets and righteous men have-desired iinQviinaav to-see those-///^V/^.?-which "ye-see, "and have--nof- seen (hem; and to-hear those-i:/«>^s-which ye-hear, and have-'uof-heard them. [Ver. 18, § 33, p. 312.1 Jesus inoceeds with the remainder of his parahles. Matt. xiii. 24 — 35. Mark iv. 26—34. [Ver. 23, § 33, p. 315.] [Ver. 25, ihid?[ 24 "Another parable put-lie-forth unto-them, saying, The kingdom of ' heaven is-likened unto-a-man which-sowed good seed in his 25^ field: but while^ men ^ slept, his ^ enemy came and sowed tares SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. 14. Pbophbct of Esaias. Spoken when conlemplating the lonp and great, desolation of the land. Is. y\. 9 — 11, (quoted Jno. iv. 21, § 13, p. 140, 'This mountain,') coHjegweii^ tipon their rejecting tlie Lord, the King, of whose glory Isaiah had a vision, ver. 1 — 4. Compare Jno. xii. 39 — 41, § 85, pp. 74-1, ..5. 15. This people's heaht is waxed, &c. Our Lord here re- cognises the fulfilment of the jirediction. Is. vi. 10, ' Make the heart of tliis people fat,' &c.; ix. 16; . . . . Je. V. 28—31 ; Eze. xiii. 1 — 9 ; xxii. 25—31. 16. Blessed are tour eyes, &c. Pr. viii. 34, 'Blessed is the man that lieareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.' — Lu. x. 23, .4, § 60, 'Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see,' &c. — 1 Jno. i. 1 — 4, ' That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes,' &c. 17. Have desxbed, &c. Ge. xUx. 18, 'I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord.' — Hag. ii. 7, 'Tlie Desire of all nations.' — 1 Pe. i. 10, 'Of which salvation the prophets liave enquired and searched diUgently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you.' 24. Another tabable. The former regarded the sowing of the good seed, and the different kinds of ground and degrees of produce, ver. 1 — 9. This second treats of the separation of the tares from the wheat at the time of harvest, rer. 28 — 30. The harvest of the good ground, referred to at the close of the former parable, vei\ 8, ill which ground, tares as well as wheat mag he found, ver. 25—30. Good seed. Lu. viii. 5, p. 300, ' His &_>cd,' as contrasted with the seed of the enemy, Ter. 25, supra. 25. "While men slept. 1 Pe. v. 8, ' Be vigilant ;' hut. Is. Ivi. 10, 'his watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, tliey are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, lovinn- to slumber.' — Ac. xx. 30, .1, 'Also of your own selves shall mer. arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31, Therefore watch,' &c. Eeen in the dags of the apostles there were, 6a. ii. 4, ' false bretliren unawares brouglit in.' — 2 Tim. iii. 13, ' But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.' — iv. 3 — 5, ' For the tune will come when they will not endure sound doctrine ; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears ; 4, and thev shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned vmto fables 5, But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.' Enemy came and sowed tares. 2 Cor. xi. 13— .5, 'Such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into tlu apostles of Clirist. 14, And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15, Therefore it is no great NOTES. 14. The prophecy of Esaias, S(c. See Scrip. Illus. This passage is frequently quoted and applied to the imbelieving Jews, as in Mk. iv. 12 [Lu. viii. 10], § 33, p. 312 ; Jno. xii. 40, § 85.— Ac. xxviii. 26, .7, 'Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not undei-stand ; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive : 27, for the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are didl of hearing, and their eyes have they closed ; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and under- stand with tJieir heart, and slioidd be converted, and I should heal them.' And Rom. xi. 8, ' (According as it is written, God hatli given tliem the spirit of slumber, eyes that they shoidd not see, and ears that they should not hcai';) unto this day.' The sense of the prophecy is, with respect to the times of the Messiah, that the Jews, whilst hearing the sermons preached by him, whether with or without parables, should liear his voice, tlie sound of it, but not understand his voice internally, spiritually, and experimentally ; and whilst they saw with the eyes of their bodies the miracles he wrought, they should see the facts done, whicli could not be gain- sayed by them, but would not take in the clear evidence, fidl proof, and certain demonstration given thereby of liis Messiahship. 15. Waxed gross. 'ETraxui/fl)/, 'grown stiff with fatness;' alluding to a notion the ancients had, that a great quantity of fat about the heart stupified both the intellectual and sensitive powers. — Compare De. xxxi. 20 ; xxxii. 15 ; Ps. cxix. 70 ; and Is. vi. 10. 17. Many prophets and righteous men, ^'c. Such as the ancicni patriarchs and prophets, some of them kings, as David and Solomon. —See Lu. x. 24, § 60 ; Ileb. xi. 13, ' These all died in faith, not having,' &c. And 1 Pe. i. 11, .2, 'Searcliing what, or wliat manner of time the Spirit of Clu-ist which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Clirist, and the glory that should follow. 12, Unto whom it was revealed, tliat not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, whicli arc now reported unto you by them that have preached the gos|)el unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven ; which things the angels desire to look into.' 24—30. Another parable, c$c. 'The parable now subjoined by our Loi*d was meant to represent the different effect of the Gospel when already preached ; wherein the field is the world, and the good seed the word of God ]ireaarable of tlie tares of the field' ver. 24—30, § 32, p. 304 He tells Ihem that ' the field is the world,' and that therein, for the sake of the righteoiis, the wicked will be allowed to remain, until the conclusion of the present dispensation; when the Sou of man will send forth his messengers, and 'gather out of his kingdom ' all that mar its beauty, or obscure its briglituess ; and ' then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in tlie kingdom of their Father.' — xiii. 44. The parable of ' treasure hid in afield.' — xiii. 45, .6. The parable of ' a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls' — xiii. 47 — 50. Parable of ' a net, that teas cast into the sea, and gathered rf every kind' — intimating a separation like that of the tares from the wheat — only, that in the case of the net, the good seem to be taken from among the bad, not the bad from among the good, as in the case of the tares and wheat. — Compare with ver. 41— .3. — xiii. 51, .2. Every scribe who understands these things, who is himself well 'instructed unto the kingdom of heaven' will be like a householder, having an abundant and various supply of good tilings, which he readily brings forth as occasion rcqijircs. — — - — viii. lit — 21. Jesus intimates, that those who arc most near and dear to liiiu are those who 'liear the word of God, and do it.' (G. 18.) Jesus interjirets to his dtscij)lcs i/i prii'ate, at their eiitreatij, thejivst and second of his paiahles : he adds three more , Matt. xiii. 36, 18—23, 30—52. [Ver. 35, § 32, p. 307.] 30 "Tlien^ Jesus sent-"thc multitudc'- awiiy, a//d-v/ciit into the liouse:* [Ver. 37, p. 318.] 10 the last with an i/iterjiretatio/i. MARKiv. 10 — 25. [Ver. 9, § ib., p. 301.] Vajieniai/m LuKE viii. 'J — 18 [Ver. 8, iltid.] 11 'And wlieu lie-was alone Karaixovaf:, they' that were about him with the twelve" asked-of him the parable. ''And he-said unto-them, And his ° ^disciples asked him, saying, What ^parable'-be ? And he' said 9 I "And iie-sam unto-them, Ana ne saia Unto-you it-is-giveii to-kuow Uuto-you it-is-givcu might-'this i 10 to-know SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. Mlc. iv. 10. Asked OV niM the PABABLE. That of the Sower, ttte first of the five parables, presented in the last Section — see Mt. xiii. 1—9 J Mk. iv. 1—9 ; Lu. viii. 4—8, § 32, p. 299. 11. Unto tou it I3 GrvEN, &e. See Mt. xiii. 11, § ib., p. 302. — Ps. XXV. 9, 14, ' The mock will ho guide in judgment ; and the meek will he teach his way.' 14, 'The secret of the Lobd i> with them NOTES. Mk. iv. 10— .3. See on Mt. xiii. 10— .7, § 32, p. 301. I Mt. xiii. 36, ' went info the house,' probably the same in Capernauni When he was alone. That is, separate from the multitude. — Sec \ wliich he had lately left. PRACTICAL REFLECTION. advantage, can be expected to procure it for those that seek not imto the Great Teacher. Mk. iv. 11. The knowledge of the mystery of the kingdom of God is a gift to those who, being disciples of Jesus, sincerely seek to obtain that knowledge. Neither learning, nor any other outward • Greswell, Vol. II. Diss, xxvii., pp. 436— .41, and Diss, xxiii., p. 335.— 5ee also Sect xixii.. Addenda, p. 309, supra, 'On JksU8 BEQINNINO TO TEACU IN PAHABLES.' 33.] Matt. viii. 18, § 34, p. 323. Mark iv. 35, ibid. John vi. 1, § -10, p. 371. 311 bKCl. .VX.V111.J Matt. xiii. l8. [Ver, 17, § 32, p. 303.] 18 'Hear ye therefore the parable of- the sower/ OF THE SOWER. Mark iv. 12 — .1. the mystery of-lhe kingdom of ' God : but luito- them that' are without, ^all-^/iew-things are-doue in parables : 12 that seeing they- may-see SXtTrwo-j, and not perceive lodjo-t ; and hearing they-may-hear, and not understand ; lest- at- any- time they-should-bc- converted iiriaTpiipwcrt, and t/ieir ^sins should-be-forgiven them. 13 And he-said unto-them, Know- ye not thisjDarahle ? and how-then will-ye-know all^p arables ?° 14 «The sower soweth the word.* [PART III. Luke viii. 11. the mysteries of-the kingdom of 'God: but to' others in parables ; that seeing they- might-'nof-see (iXfiroxfi, and hearing they-might-' uof-understand awiCxjii'. ■'^Now the parable is this : 1 1 The seed is the word of ' God.* SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. that fear him ; and he will shew them his covenant.' — ver. 10 — .4, (rjdutcd ch. xi. 33, § St, p. 712, ' Neithee do I,' &c.)-Eph. i. 9, 'Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good plcasiu'c.' Mk. iv. 11. The mtsteet. See on ver. 13, infra. 12. Seeing thet mat see, and not peeceite, &o. Mt. xiii. 13— .5, § 32, p. 302.— 2 Cor. iii. 14, ' But then- mmds were blinded : for imtil this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament ; wliich vail is done away in Christ." 13. And now then will ye know all paeables? Li ihe Apocalypse, which is the opening of all parables, Christ is presented as He by whom light is sown. — The Son of man, in j>reparing to soio the word, is presented first as having, Kev. i. 16 — .8, ' in liis right hand seven stars : and oiit of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword : and liis countenance was as the sun sluneth in his strength. 17, And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid liis right hand upon me, saying unto me. Fear not ; I am the first and the last : 18, 1 am he that liveth, and wap dead ; and, behold, I am alive for evermore. Amen ; and have the keys of hell and of death.' — And afterwards a little book open, in connection with which the finishing of the mystery of God, or opening of all parables, is inti- mated, X. 1 — 7, ' And I saw another mighty angel eome down from heaven, clothed witli a cloud : and a i-ainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire. 2, And he had hi his hand a little book open : and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his Mtfoot on tlie eai-th, 3, and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth : and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. 4, And when the seven thmiders had uttered then- voices, I was about to write : and I heard a voice from heaven saying mito me. Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. 5, And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up liis hand to heaven, 6, and sware by him that hveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the tlungs which are therein, that there should be time no longer : 7, but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.' — And on Lu. viu. 16, .7, pp. 316, ..7. — Is. xli. 1, 2, 'Wlio raised up the righteous man from the east?' — xhi. 1, 4, 'He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. ... 4, The isles shall wait for his law.' — Zee. ii. 8, 9, ' After the glory hath he sent me imto the nations which spoiled you : . . . 9, And ye shall know that the LoED of hosts hath sent me.' 14. The sowee soweth the woed. Ps. xxxvi. 9, 'With thee is the fomitain of life : in thy light shall we see hght.' — Ixviii. 11, ' The Lord gave the word : great . . . the company of those that published it.' — scvii. 11, ' Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.' — exix. 105, ' Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a hght unto my path.' — 1 Pe. i. 23, .5, ' Behig born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incoiTuptible, by the word of God, which hveth and abideth for ever. ... 25, And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.' NOTES. Mk. iv. 11. The mystery of the, tj-c. See ADDENDA, p. 321. Mt. xiii. 18. Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. That is, hear the explanation, or spiritual meaning of the narrative given before. Mark adds, ch. iv. 13, ' Know ye not this parable ? and how then will ye know all parables (or all the parables)?' By which it would appear that it is the duty of the disciple to seek to know all 'the mysteries of the Tcingdoni;' and the imderstanding of the parable of the sower introduces to a knowledge of the parables generaUy. Mk. iv. 14. The sower soweth, S;c. 6 OTriipaiv — aTnipii. A brief and popular form of expression, of wliich the sense is, ' The sower [mentioned in the parable] is to be considered as one sowuig the word [of God].' PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS Mk. iv. 12. God is not to be mocked ; although forgiveness is free, and immediately connected with the knowledge of salvation hi Christ, yet none can attain to tliis knowledge, and so to free forgiveness, except the humble and sincere. 13 ver. The disciples of Clu-ist should not rest contented in ignorance of any matter which God has been pleased to reveal to them : but should gratefuUy avail themselves of their privilege of knowuig all parables. Lu. viii. 11. Unless seed be sown, fruit cannot be expected j so neither can wo expect true good to arise among men, except from the fi-co distribution of ' the seed,' [_whic?i] ' is the word of Ood.' 81» Malt. viii. 18, § 34, p. 323. Mark iv. 35, ibid. John vi. 1, § 40, p. 371. [33, PART 111.] Matt. xiii. 10 — 21. 19 When-'any-one'-hearetli 'the word of-tlie kingdom,'" "and iinderstaudeth it not, then-' Cometh the \i'\ckeA-one, and catcheth-away apiraZu that' which-was-sowu iu his. heart. 'This is he' which-received- seed (TTToptie by tlie vmy-side.' 20 But he'that-received-the- seed into ^stonj jjfaces, the-same is he that- heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 yet hath-he not root in himself, but dureth for-a-wliile npooKaipog : THE STONY GROUND HEARERS. Mark iv. 1.5— .7. 15 And these are they' by the yiay-side, 'where the-word is-sown/' " but when they-have-heard, " °^Satan cometh immediately, and taketh-away alr>n the word that' was-sown in their.hearts.'' 16 'And these are they' likewise which-are-sown on^stony ground ; who, when they-have- heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness ; 17 and have no root in themselves, and-so endure but-for-a time TrpodKoipot : [SECT. XXXIII. Luke viii. 12, .3. ''Those' by the ■way-side' ' are they ' that-hear ; ' then Cometh the devil, and taketh-away alou the word out-of llieir^hearts, ''lest they-should-believe a>id-he-sSi\eA.'' They' on the rock are t/iei/, which, when they- hear, receive the word with joy ; and these have no root, which for a-while TTpog KalQOV believe, and 12 13 Mk. r. 15. Way side. SCRIPTURE See Mt. xiii. 15, § 32, p. 303. Mt. xiii. 20. Anon with joy eeceiveth it. See Pitul's ■preach- ing in Asia Minor, Ac. xiii., .iv. — Ga. iv. 15, ' Where is then the blessedness ye spake of ? ibr I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.' ILLUSTRATIONS. I 21. But DUiiETn ron a while. 2 Tim. i. 13— .5, 'Hold fast the form of sovmd words, wliick (hou liast heard of rae, in faith and love winch is in Chi-ist Jesus. 14, That good tlung which was com- mitted unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. 15, This thou kiiowest, that aU tliey whicli art in Asia be turned away from me.' — Ga. i. 6, ' I man-el tliat ye are so soon removed . . . unto another gospel: ... 8, though we, or an angel £i-om heaven, NOTES. Mt. xiii. 19. The icord of the Tchirjdom. The word of the kingdom was first and frcrpiently proclaimed to the Jews, but they received it not. Of the nature, character, and extent of the long-expected kingdom they remained grossly ignorant ; they set themselves in the most determined hostiUty to both the King and his subjects : it is not to the Jews that we can look for a knowledge of the kingdom. Underslandelh it not. fn) avviivrog, 'mindeth it not,' 'doth not admit it.' ' Their very callousness rendering it as impossible that the word should take root in their hearts, as the hardness of a beaten surface, tliat seed should penetrate thei'c into the ground. They are, without a miracle, too stubborn and obdm-ate to be softened, even by the gi-ace of God, and the mollifying influences of his Spirit, whicli, under ordinary circumstances, accompany, enforce, and invigorate the preaching of his word, to the personal conviction, the immediate impression, and the permanent assurance and satis- faction of its hcai-ers ; just as the wayside of fields is impenetrable to the dews and rains, which, in other instances, soften and prepare the ground for tlio reception of the seed before it is sown, and foster and nourish it when grown.' — Greswelt, on the Parables, Vol. II., p. 36. Then cometh the wicked one. ' Is ever at hand and ever on the watch to snatch away the word from such hearts (the way-side hearers) before it has time to touch or inlluence them ; which being done, it is clearly implied, and it must be self-evident, that the condition of these hearers, abandoned by grace, and deprived of the means of conversion, which they have scorned and rejected. while in their power, is more naked and destitute, more reckless and insensate, yet infinitely more hopeless and dangerous than before.' — Ibid., p. 43. The wicked one had just before made use of the Pharisees, for the purpose of removing fi-om the minds of the Jewish hearers the evidence of the Messiahship of Jesus, which was being forced upon their attention.— .See ch. xii. 23, .4, § 31, p. 291. 20. He that received . . . into stony places. The seed falling on stony or roclcy ground, represents superficial and undecided bearers —those whose passions are easily excited, whose zeal is easily- awakened, but whose knowledge is small, and whose principles are unsettled. Such appears to have been the character of many in the second great field of apostolic labour.— *'ec, for example, the case of the Galatians, as described by Paul; and the seven churches of Asia. Where are they? They soon stumbled and fell; and long since they have altogether withered away. No fruit of the eiu-ly sowing is now to be seen upon that field. Yet there it was that the Sower, the Son of man, appeared to John in the ministration of the word. Rev. i. Then- case is full of warning to the churcli in all succeeding ages, and especially to us. — See ii., iii. 21. Yet hath he not root in himself. His heart is like that soil which forbids a plant or seed to fonn or extend its rodt. The word is not rooted in him, or ho docs not suffer it to take deep root in hia mind. Lu. viii. 12. Let us not be like ' the way-side' hearers who hear the word without understanding it and without ever receiving it in truth, or bcuig able to defend it against the assaults of the enemy. 33.] PRACTICAL REl-LECTIO.NS. Mk. iv. 16. Let us not bo like ' the itony ground,' receiving tlie word of the kingdom without truly luidcrstandmg and believing it. Let it enter deeply into our thoughts j let our aU'cctions take fost hold of it. Matt. viii. 18, § 34, p. 323. Mark iv. 35, ibid. John vi. 1, § 40, p. 371. 3ia SECT. XXXllI.] Matt. xiii. '^'i. for wlien-'tribulation or persecutioir-arisetli because-of the word, by-ancl-by he-is-ollbudud. 2'Z lie' also that-received-secd among the thorns is he that'heareth the word ; and tlie care of 'this world alwvog, and tlie deceitfuhiess of 'riclies, aUli; TUORNY GROUND HEARERS. M.\RK iv. 18, .9. afterward,' 'when-'affliction or perscciition"-ariseth ibr-lhe word's'-sake, ininiedialely tliey-are-oU'eiulcd. IH And" these are they' wliich-are-sown among^ thorns ; such asjiear "the word,'' 1!) 'and tlie cares of 'this world aiwvoc, and the deceitfuluess of 'riches,* SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. [PART IlL Li-KE viii. 14. 'in time of-temptation' full-away aiplnTuvTai. And that' which-fell among^thorns are they, which,' whcn-they-have-heard," "go-fortli,' (t)id are-choked with cares and riches J4 preach any other gospel unto j-ou than that whidi we have preached unto you, let him be aeciu-sed,' &c. — iii. 1, ' O foohsli Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth,' &c. — iv. 9 — 11, 'How timi ye again to the weak and beggarly elements.' . . . 11, ' I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labom- m Tain.' — V. 4, ' Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law ; ye are fallen from gi-ace.' — Ecv. ii. 4, 5, 'Nevertheless I have someiehat agauist thee, because thou hast left thy fu'st love. 5, Kemcmber therefore fi'om whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works ; or else I will come xxato thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.' Mt. xiii. 21. TElBrLATlON. Jno. xvi. 33, § 87, 'In the world ye shall hare tribulation.'— Ac. xiv. 22, 'We must tlu-ough much tribulation enter into the kingdom,' &c. — 1 Th. iii. 4, 'For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.' — 1 Pe. iv. 12, 'Beloved, tliink it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange tlung happened unto you.'— Rev. ii. 10, ' Ye shall have tribulation ten days." Mk. iv. 19. Caees of this world, &c. Both Matthew and Mark add, ' tlic dcceitfidness of riches.'— i(i,i-e says, ' and plcasm-es of thisliie.' — MurJc coiiliniies, 'and the lusts of other things,' — all these tend to choh-e the word, Mk. iv. 19 ; Lu. viii. 14. — 1 Jno. ii. 13 — .7, ' Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world,' &.C. — Eom. viii. 13, ' If ye live after the ilesh, ye shall die : but if ye tlu'ough the Spu-it do mortify tlie deeds of the body, ye shall live.' — A lusf/ul regard to human, wisdom, wealth, and worldly station; a magnifyiny of the creature, attaching undue importance to what is ovticard and merely human, to the neglect of that holy lore which is most characteristic of the Dicine life, we find much warned against in the Epistles to the Corinthians. The ecil influence of such thorns in reference to God's husbandry is noticed, 1 Cor. iii. 3 — 9, 'For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men ? 4, For while one saith, I am of Paid ; and another, I am of ApoUos; arc yo not carnal? 5, ^Vl^o then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man ? 6, I have planted, ApoUos watered ; but God gave the increase. 7, So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth ; but God that giveth the increase. 8, Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one : and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9, For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, _ye are God's building.' Mt. xiii. 21. Is offended. aKavdaWitrat. That is, stumbles and falls. Persecution and trial are placed in his path, and he foils as he would over a stumblingllocl: He has not strength of principle enough- not confidence enough in God to cany Iiim thi-ough them. He fallcth away, becomes an apostate, Mk. iv. 18. These are they which are sown among thorns. ' The nature of such an unpcdiment is expressed in general by the follow- ing classification of moral motives : " the cares of this world, the deceit of riches, and the desires which concern the rest of things," which last St. Luke shews to be equivalent to the "pleasures of life " in general. This class of hearers . . . may be described in one word, as the worldly minded of every sort. . . . This description will comprise aU whose minds, though partially affected by the love of God, arc never "vhoUy devoted to him ; . . . but are divided between God and the world, . . . until at last the love of the world . . . gains the asceudant,_and by the superior force of its attractions absorbs NOTES. their affections, engrosses their thoughts, engages their time and attention, and immerses them totally in secular pursuits and em- ployments.' — Greswell, on the Parables, Vol. II., p. 50. 19. The cares of this world. ' Wdl apply to the case of men more partieidarly who are of an aspiring or ambitious tm'u of mind ; whose riding passion is the desu'e of power and influence, of rank and authoritv ; who mix eagerly in active life ; manage, or ahn at managing, the affairs of societies, grasp at honours and distinctions, as the reward of civil merit; lay the foundation of families and titles.'— /i/t?., p. 51. Thus those who may seem to have the least occasion for worldly care may be altogether occupied thereby — whilst some who are in want of all things may yet be without carcfidness, having learned to cast aU their care upon Him who careth for them. The deceitftilness of riches. 'The deceit, or deceivable tendencies of wealth, will apply in an especial manner to the men of business. Mk. iv. 18. Neither let us be Ukc 'those among thorns,' allowing 'the cares of this world, and the deceitfulncss of riches, and the lusts of oih^r things,' to 'choke the word:' but, whilst we seek to under- stand it ; whilst we deeply meditate upon it, and gi-asp it with all the affections of our hearts, let us carefully exclude eveiy imagina- tion and desire that is not in subjection to the knowledge of Christ. I'UACTiCAL REFLECTIONS. 314 Unlike the thorny ground, let us not suffer either cares or plea- sures to ' chohe the word ' as it springs up in our early Christian life; uuhke the 'tcay-side,' when we have heard the word, let us keep it ; unlike the ' stony ground,' let us ' bring forth fruit wilJi patience;' but, like 'the good ground,' let us, 'in an honest and good heart,' receive the word, that it may not only spring up, but Matt. viii. 18, § 34, p. 323. ' Mark iv. 35, ibid. John vi. 1, § 40, p. 373. [33, PART III.] Matt. xiii. 23. choke the worcl, and he-becometh uufruitful. 23 But he'that- received-seecl into the good^ground is he THE GOOD CIROUND HEARERS. Makk iV. 20. -and tlie lusts of,other-things enfering-in, choke the word, and it-becometh unfruitful. [SECT. XXXIII. Luke viii. 1.5. •"and pleasures oi' this life' rov (diov. 20 And these are they' which-are-sown on good^grouud; such-as SCRIPTURE , § 32, p. 301. Mt. siii. 23. The good OEOrNB. See on ver. 8, Lu. TiU. 15. A-N HOXEST AND GOOD HEAET. Of I his t/ie ajyoslh of the Gentiles was a signal exatnjile, 1 Tim. i. 12 — .4, 'And I thank Clu-ist Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry ; 13, who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious : but I obtained mercy, because I did it iguorantly in unbehef. 14, And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with fiiith and love wliich is in Clu'ist Jesus.' — 2 Cor. iv. 1 — 5, ' Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as wo have received mercy, we faint not ; 2, but have renounced the and bring-'no'-fniit-to-per- lection TiXia^opovat. But that' 15 on the good ground are they, which "in an-honest and good heart, ILLUSTR.\TIOi\S. hidden thmgs of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handUng the word of God deceitfully ; but by manifestation of the trath commending om-selves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3, But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost : 4, in whom the god of this world hath bhnded the minds of them which beheve not, lest the hght of the glorious gospel of Christ, wlio is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5, For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord ; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.' — The people who should more especitdli/ enjoi/ and make Icnown to others the lovinglcindness of the Lord, Is. bdii. 7, 8. NOTES, and of trading or commercial enterprise ; to all, whose object or | the employment it is, in any way, to amass wealth, to provide for faniiHes, to accumulate and leave bclund them fortunes.' — Greswell, on the Parables, Vol. II., p. 51. Mk. iv. 19. The lusts of other things, (^'c. ' The desires wliich con- cern the rest of things, as we may collect fi'om St. Luke's exposition of then- nature, point witli sufficient clearness to another compi-e- hensive division of manki:;d, the votaries of pleasure ; who think of notliing, and hvc for httle or nothing, but their own gi'atification and indidgence. Under tliis description will be comprehended not only the mere sensualist, oi- man of fashion, but even the men of science and letters ; the admirers and cultivators of the elegant arts or accomplishments. For personal pleasm'c may be intellectual as well as bodily ; and only a more refined species of the love of self and sense in general. . . . Whatever be the idol of a man's heart, distinct from power or wealth, it is still some favom-ite creatm'e of liis own choice and selection ; and in worsliipping and devoting himself to it, he is stiU studying his own pleasure and gi'atification . . . finding botli its begininng and its consummation within the limits of this present life, and going no fiu'ther than tlieii' personal satisfiction, amuse- ment, reputation, or comfort — they too must bo classed with the rest, in whose hearts the seed has been stifled, or is hable to be stifled, in its progress to maturity, by the pleasm'es of life, and by the desires that conceni the rest of tUhigs.' — Hid. Lu. viii. 14. And pleasures of this life: In Greece, more es- pecially, these, at the coinmeucement of the Christian dispensation, were abundant. The animal natiu-e of man might there find its greatest enjoyment ; along with all that the heathen world could afford, for the improvement and expansion of his intellectual faculties, or for giving refinement and elevation to the moral senti- ments. In literatm-e, in science, m the arts, the gi-eatest exeeUence had been sought for, and so attained, as that Greece has given models to the civilised world ever since. She had herself the greatest exactness in copying, along with the utmost fertility of invention. The pleasures of taste and the dehghls of wisdom were tliero to be found in the Ugliest degree of perfectibility attamable by unassisted man — nay, so higli had the inspiration of genius carried the poets and philosophers of Greece, as that even to true bchevers there was some danger that their productions would prove too successfid rivals to tlio words of Divine inspiration. Certain it is, that Cliriatiauity havhig been transplanted into their schools, thorns sprang tip and choJced the word, so that it lore no fruit unto perfection. Before Cluistiauity coidd develop itself freely, it had to pass into other ground : it had not, any more than natural science, room to expand itself, untd the scholastic subtleties of Greece were discarded, for the plain rules of common sense and scripture analogy. The sjiringing up of these thorns, whereby the full development of the word was efl'ectuaUy prevented m Greece, is noticed and much warned against by Paul, in his Epistles to the Corinthians, and in those to the Pliilippians and Tliossalonians. In Corinth, more especially, abounded the thorns alluded to by our Lord in tlic parable. It is not to the Greek fatliers tliat we are to look for perfection : yet this third field of laboiu- is not like the second, fi'om which lias disappeared any fi'iuts of tlie seed sown by the apostles. In Asia Minor, no remams of the ancient churches are known to exist ; whereas, in Greece, Cliristianity still remains in name, although, indeed, so choked with thorns, as to present only a slender stalk and sickly car, in place of that full development of the Clu'istian life, in the simplicity of the truth, which was to be looked for, and to wliich may it be om" most prayerful endeavour to attain. Mt. xiii. 23. But he that received seed into the good ground, S;c. ' Tills our Savioiu" specifies ui Luke viii. 15, by tlie possession of " an honest and good heart." "With hearers of tliis description, the Gospel would requu'c no reconnncndation to make them receive and embrace it, but its intrinsic excellence and loveliness : no more than the seed, falling on duly prepared soil, any stimulus to vegetation, but its native tendency to take root and spring up. Xor is it, perhaps, without design that .St. Mattliew adds to his description of such hearers, that they hear the word and give it admission, or understand it, before they retain it, just as St. Luke adds, tliat ihei/ retain, or hold it fast, before they bring forth its fruit. For comprehension of tlie nature of the Gospel overture is just ns neccssai'j-, and just as much prior, to its admission and retention, ns its admission and retention are to the practical eflcets of its pro- fession.' — Greswell, on the Parables, Vol. II., p. 57. 'Such hearers as these, then, arc converts upon principle; do- hberate in then- choice, and steady in llio uiaintcnancc of their Christian profession Though all the grain which fell upon tlio good ground was productive, yet one ]mrt of it yieliled more, and anotlicr less ; a difl'erence . . . which must bo imputed to tlic soil into whicli it Iiappencd to be received. . . . The "honest and good PRACTICAL UEI'I.ECTION. endure, and bear much fruit, to the glory of God. Tims let us bo : that the gi-oiuid bo prepared for the reception of the seed; neither Uke the 'joorf^rownrf,' having the good seed sown therein. It is of i can the ground become fruitful without a right yielding to tbo the utmost importance, not only that the good seed be sown, but i influences of the Holy Spirit. 33.] J/^a«. viu. 18, § 34, p. 323. Mari iv. 35, ibid. ./oAn vi. 1, § 40, p. 371. 31.''. SECT. XXXIII.] Matt. xiii. 2;i. that' henreth the word, niul undcrstondeth avviwv it ; which also bcareth-lVuit, and bringeth-fovth, ^some an-hundrcd-/'o/(/,,sonie bixty,^bome thirty. [Ver. 24—35, § 32, pp. 303— ..7.] 21 OF T]IE CANULii;. Mahk iv. 21. hear the word, and receive wapaUxovTai it, and bring-forth-fruit, * some thirty -/o/rf, some sixty, and some au-hundrcd. And he-said unto-them,' Is-'a' candle'-brouglit to be-put [PART Hi. Luke viii. 10. having-heard the word, keep KaTi\ov(}i it, and bring-forth-l'ruit with iv patience.' ''under a' bushel, or under a'bed?"^ u/id not to be-set on a' candlestick ? "■No-man, when-he- hath-lighted a-candle, covcreth it with-a-vessel, or putteth it'' 16 SCRIPTURE lu. viii. 15. Having heard the womi, keep if. Rev. i. 3, 'Blessed is he that readetli, aud they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which arc written therein : for the time is at hand.' — xxii. 7, ' Behold, I come quietly : blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of tliis book.' — ver. 14, ' Blessed are they that do Ids commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, aud may enter in through the gates into the city.' With patience. Ja. i. 4, 'But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wantmg nothing.' — V. 7, 8, 'Be patient therefore, bretlu-en, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, tlic husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hatli long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 8, Be ye also patient ; stablish yom- hearts : for the comhig of the Lord draweth nigh.' — Eev. iii. 10, .1, 'Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the liour of temptation, which shall come upon aU the world, to try them that dwell .upon the earth. 11, Behold, I come qiuckly.' — xiv. 12, 'Here is the patience of the saints : here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.' Mt. xiii. 23. An ntlNDEED;/bW, &e. While residiiir/ at Gerar, in the land of Ahimelech, Gc. xxvi. 12, ' Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold : and the Loed blessed him' — and see Notes, infra. — Peler says, 2 Ep. i. 5 — 7, 'And beside this, giving all diligence, add to yom' faith virtue ; and to virtue knowledge ; 6, and to knowledge temperance ; and to tem- perance patience; and to patience godliness; 7, and to godliness brotherly kindness ; and to bi-otherly kindness charity.' — And so under a-bed ; 'but setteth it on a-candlestick, that they'which-enter-in may-see the light.-'^ ILLUSTRATIONS. Sf. Paxil, Ph. iv. 8, ' FmaUy, brethi'en, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever thuigs are honest, whatsoever tilings are just, whatsoever things are pm-e, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report ; if there he any virtue, and if there he any praise, think on these things.' Lu. viii. 16. Candlestick. A candlestich was made after the palteru shetfn to Moses in the mount, Ex. xxxvii. 17 — 24. — See also XXV. 31 — 40 ; — and this candlestick teas placed in, Heb. ix. 2, ' the sanctuary,' the lamps of which ivere,{Z Chr. xiii. 11,)' to burn every evening,' Le. xxiv. 3, 'Without the vaU of tlie testimony, in the tabernacle of the congregation,' — was to he ordered hy Aaron 'from tlie evenuig unto the morning before the Loed continually.' — The prophet Zechariah saw in a vision, iv. 2, 3, 'a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps . . . upon the top thereof: 3, and two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.' — Our Sigh Priest is seen, Eev. i. 13, 'in the midst of the seven candlesticks,' as one 'hke irato the Son of man.' — ver. 20, 'The seven candlesticks . . . are the seven chm-ches.' — Ph. ii. 15, .6, 'Among whom ye shine [Marg., shine ye'] as lights in the world ; 16, holding forth the word of hfe ; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.' — It is as waiting in the midst of the seven golden candlesticlrs, thlit Christ appears in tlie ministration of the word, Eev. ii., iii., .waging, at the close of the several ministrations thereof to the seven churches of Asia, as at the close of the parable of the sotver, ' Wlio hath cars !o hear, let him hear.'— See Mt xiii. 'J, § 32, p. 301.— ^nrf on Mk. iv. 23, p. 317 ; on Mt. v. 15, .6, § 19, p. 175 ; Lu. xi. 33, § 63, p. 563. NOTES. heaH" in every recipient of the word, whatever might be the difference in the fruits of holiness which it should produce in some, compared with others, would still be single and unmixed; open to the Gospel and the love of God, to take exclusive possession of it, and to flourish there miobstructed by any ruhng, antagonist, or consociated passion, and would still be sufficiently rooted in depth of principle, in strength of conviction, and in warmth and constancy of attachment, to sustain the rude shocks of external violence, and to perfect its fruit in patience, that is, in endurance.' — Ihid., pp. 58, G3, .4. Mt. xiii. 23. And understandetli it. — Meaning, ' who gives it ad- mission, lays it to heart, so as to understand if.' Lu. viii. 15. With patience. ' By patient perseverance.' Such do not allow the spirit of the world to modify their and on Mt. v. 15, § 19, p. 175 Clu'istianity, but theii- endeavour is, to make all then- occupations and pm-suits only different developments of Christianity ; the out- ward manifestations of a living principle within them, the fruit of the incorruptible seed of the word. Mt. xiii. 23. An hundred-io\A. 'An immense produce, but not unexampled. See § 32, p. 301, Mt. xiii. 8, "An hundredfold." It may suOice to refer the reader to Warnekros' Dissertation on the fertihty of Palestine, or Grcswell on the Parables, Vol. II., 19, seq., who present statements from ancient writers, wliich fuUy justUy the accounts of Scripture and of Joscphus ; borne out as they are by the testimony of modern travellers.' — Bloomfield. Mk. iv. 21. Is a candle, tfc. See ScKi,'. ILLCS., Lu. viii. 16, .7, PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. Mk. iv. 20. The same measure of good may not be expected 21 ver. Let not the child of God think that he is fi-cc to hide, or dispense according to liis own pleasure, the hght wlucli is given to liim. from all ; but, whilst thankful for the least degree, let us seek to attam to the largest measm-o of fruitfulness 316 Malt. viii. 18, § 34, p. 323. Mark iv. 35, ibid. John vi. 1, § 40, p. 371. [33. PART III.] JESUS COUNSELS HIS DISCIPLES. [SECT, xxxin. Matt. xiii. 22 23 24 LuKK viii. 17, .8. For nolliing is secret, that sliall-"nof-bc- made manifest ; neither a>ii/ thiiiij hid, *that shall-'nof-be-known and come abroad.'' Makk iv. 22— .4. ■^ For thcre-ib nothing hid. For nothing is secret, 17 which shall-'uof-be- mauifested ; neither was auij iliinfj kejjt-secret,' but that it-should- come abroad. ''If any-man have ears to- hear, let-him-hear. And he-said unto-them, Take-heed wliat ye-hear: Take-heed therefore how ye-hear: 18 with what'measure ye-mete, it-sliall- be-measured to-you : and unto-you that' hear shall-more-be-given irpoaTiOijaiTai. SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. I Lu. Tiii. 17. Secret, &c. Pa. sci. 1, 'He that dwelletli in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.' — Heb. is. 3 — 5, ' After the secoud veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all ; 4, which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about witli gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that bvidded, and the tables of the covenant ; 5. and over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercjseat.'—T/ie Law wrilten v/pon iahles, and deposited in the arJc, under the mercy-seat, represented the good seed of the word as hid in the hearts of Israel, when the Lord will again enter into covenant relationship with them as a nation, Je. xxxi. Z\—A,(quoted Lu. i. 68, § 3, p. 28, ' Blessed be,' &e.)-When each with Ms great Exemplar can say, Ps xl. 8, 'Thy law is within my heart,' and, cxix. 11, 'Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.' — The Lord tmll destroy. Is. xxv. 7, 'the foce of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.' — Then that which has been hidden is to be manifested, as Mk. iv. 22, and the disciple, with his Master, is to be able to say, Ps. xl. 10, 'I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; 1 have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.' — For this are the repeated calls to ' hearken,' Is. li. 1 — S,(,qiioted Matt. xiii. 31, § 32, p. 306, 'Another paeable.') — Ix. 1, 'Arise, shine [Mako., or, be enlightened; for thy light Cometh^ ; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Loed is risen upon thee.' — God's woriing with Israel has been hidden, but by ?iis pou'cr, the itnsearchableness of his wisdom therein is to be manifested, xl. 27 — 31, 'Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the Loud, and my judgment is passed over from my God ? 28, Hast thou not known ? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LoED, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his under- standing. 29, He giveth power to the faint ; and to them that have no might he increaseth strengtli. 30, Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly faU : 31, but they that wait upon tlio Loed shall renew their strengtli; they shall mount up with wings as eagles ; they shall run, and not be weary ; and they shall walk, and not iiiint.' — The prophets searched diligently to know the truth respecting Christ, which was hidden in the words they uttered, 1 Pe. i. 12, ' Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you witli tlie Holy Ghost sent down from heaven ; which things the angels desire to look into.' — Jfter the prophet had eaten the little booh; as he mas commanded. Rev. x. 9, it was intimated to him that the word he had digested was to be ministered to others: ver. 11 'Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.' Neithee . . . HID, THAT, &c. Da. xii. 9, 10, 'The words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end: ... 10, but the wise shall understand.' — Hab. ii. 3, 'For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it ; because it will surely eome, it will not tarry.' — Rev. X. 7, ' In the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.' Mk. iv. 23. Ip any man, &c. See on Mt. xi. 15, &c., § 29, p. 281. — Rev, ii. 7, 'He that hath an ear, let liim hear what the Sjririt saith unto tlie chui-ches.' — 1 Cor. ii. 10, ' The Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.' — Jno. xvi. 13, § 87, 'He will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak : and he will shew you things to come.' 24. Take heed what ye heae. Th.e necessity of attending to this precept is apparent from the piarable of the tares of the feld, explained Mt. xiii. 36 — 43, next page. — In the same field in which the good seed is sown does Satan seek to sow his tares; the same lips which have made the most strih-iiig confession of the truth, does he ensnaringly malce use of for uttering error against the Lord — see the case of the first apostle, xvi. 16—22, § 50, p. 433.— 1 Jno. iv. 1—3, 'Beloved, beUeve not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God : because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2, Hereby know ye tlie Spirit of God : Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God : 3, and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God : and this is that spirit of antielirist, whereof ye have heard that it should come ; and even now already is it in the %vorld.' With what measuee, &c. See on Mt. vii. 2, § 19, p. 189. Shall moee be given. So when Daniel ' understood by books' what was about to come to pass, the purpose of Qod teas farther revealed to him, Da. ix. 2, 20 — .7. ' In the first year of his reign I Daniel undc>rstood by books the number of the years, wlieix?of the word of the Loed came to Jeremiah the projihet, that he would ac- NOTES. Mk. iv. 24. With what measure ye mete, S^c. It shall be given to you according as ye give unto others. Those who do not fi'cely dispense their light to others may not expect to be abundantly supplied with oil; but the great householder will pour more and more into those lamps which do give liglit to his household. Unto you that hear. To you who are attentive, and who improve what you hear — who hear and obey. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. Mk. iv. 22. Let every man act as in the sight of Him who knows the heart, and who will bring every secret thing to light. 23, .'1 ver. Let us be careful to ascertain, that what we hear is the word of God, and that which God makes known unto us lot us freely communicate to others ; and as wc would have (Jod be liberal to us, let us bo libenil to them. If we would have a clearer and fidler knowledge of his will, let us first endeavour to mako a riglit use of that which is olready given us. 33.] .a/a«. viu. 18, § 34, p. 823. Mark iv. Zh, ibid. Jb/m vi. 1, § 40, p. 371 . 317 SECT, xxxiir.] Matt. xiii. JESUS K.XPL.\INS TIIK I'AKABLE OF i\rAitK iv. 25. 20 l''ur liu tliiit-hutli, t(j-liim sliiill-Lu-^;iveii : aud he that-linth not, from him shnll- be-taken even that-which' he-hath. [Yer. 20, § 32, p. 305.] TJIK T.\RES. [PART III. Luke viii. IS. for whosoever liath, to-him shiill-be-given ; ami whosoever hath-uot, from him shiiU- be-taken even that-which Mie-seemeth to-have.* [Ver. 19, p. 321.] [For former part of sex. 30, see p. 311.] IslKii. xui. 30—41. ^ 37 'and liis discipU's ciime-imto him, saying, Dcchxre unto-ns the parable of-thc tares of-the field. He 38 answered '«//(;-said mito-thcm, He' that-soweth the good seed is the Son of man; tlie field is the world KOCTjuoe ; the good seed are the children of-the kingdom ; but the tares are the children of-tlie wicked one ; 39 the enemv that' sowed them is tlie devil; tlie harvest is the-end of-thc world avvT-'Xita tov niwro't ; and 40 the reanei-s are t/ie angels. As therefore the tares are-gathered and burned iu-the-fire ; so shall-it-be in 41 the end" of-this^world avvTiXi'ia alCovog tovtov. The Son of 'man shall-send-forth aTronrrcXa his^angels, and thcy-shall-gather out-of his^knigdom all-things that' offend (jKavda\a, and them' which-do^iniijuity T?n> SCRII'TURE ILLUSTR.VnONS. complish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.' 20, ' And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supphcntion before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God ; 21, yea, whUes I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, bemg caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. 22, And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, 1 am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. 23, At the beginmng of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew i/iee ; for thou art greatly beloved : therefore miderstand the matter, and consider the vision. 2t, Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for miquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to auomt the most Holy. 25, Know therefore and understand, flial from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto tlic Messiah the Prince sJiall he seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks : the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 26, And aftci- three- score and two weeks shall Messiah be cut oflT, but not for liimself ; and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary ; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and uuto the end of the war desolations are determmed. 27, And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week : and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he sliall make it desolate, even until the consmnmation, aud that determmed shall be poured upon the desolate.' — So Paul, Jiaciiir; been obedient 'unto the heavenly vision,' Ac. xsvi. 19, n'as subseqnentli/ (jioen 'abundance of the revelations,' 2 Cor. sii. 7. Mk. iv. 25. Ue that uath, &c. See on Mt. xiii. 12, § 32, p. 302. He hath. ' Seemeth to have,' &e., Lu. viii. 18. — 1 Cor. iii. 18, 'Let no man deceive himself If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, tliat he may be wise.' — Ja. i. 2G, 'If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.' Mt. xiii. 30. Paeable op the taees. See ver. 2i — 30, § 32, p. 303. 37. He that sowetu, &c. .See on ch. xiii. 3, Mk. iv. 3, p. 300. 38. The field is the world. Ch. xxiv. 14, § 86, p. 768, 'And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations,' &e. — xxviii. 19, § 96, ' Go ye therefore, and teach all nations.' — Mk. xvi. 15, § 98, 'Preach the gospel to every creature.' — Lu. xxiv. 47, § ib., 'Among all nations.' — Rom. X. 18, ' Unto the ends of the world.'— Col. i. 5, 6, ' The word of the truth of the gospel ; 6, wliieh is come unto you, as it is in all the world ; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth.' The childken, ke. Ge. iii. 15, ' I will put enmity between thee and the woman, aud between thy seed and her seed.' — There were those who called themselves the children, of Abraham, and even claimed God as their Father, who were, bt/ the Son of God, declared to be of their ' father the devil,' Jno. viii. 33, 41, .4, § 55, p. 505.- Ebpnas, being full of all subtlety and mischief, was known to be a ' cluld of the devil,' Ac. xiii. 10. — 1 Jno. iii. 8, ' He that committetb sin is of the devU.' 39. The enemy that sowed, &c. 2 Cor. xi. 13, .4, 'False apostles, deceitful workers, transformuig themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14, Aud no marvel ; for Satan himself is trans- formed into an angel of light.'^Ph. iii. 2, ' Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers.' — See the enemy of the woman and her seed, Kev. xii. 3, 4, ' And there appeared another wouder [or, sigii] in heaven ; and behold a great red ch-agon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon liis heads. 4, And liis tail drew the thu'd part of the stars of heaven, and did east them to the earth : and the ch'agon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devom- her elidd as soon as it was born.'— ^hi? the progeni/ of the dragon, xiii. The HAliVEST. See on ver. 30, § 32, p. 304. — Both the harrest and vintage are indicated, Joel iii. 13, ' Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe ; come, get yon down ; for the press is full, the lids overflow ; for tlieu- wickedness is great.' — Theg are more fully described, Kev. xiv. 12—20, quoted Mk. iv. 29, § 32, p. 305, ' Wuen THE FEriT,' &e. Reapers aee the angels. Mt. xxiv. 31, § 8G, 'And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together liis elect from the foiu' winds, fi'oni one eud of heaven to the other.' 40. Gathered and buened, &c. See on ver. 30, § 32, p. 304. 41. Gather out of nis kingdom. Job xxxviii. 12, .3, ' Caused Mk. iv. 25. He that hath, ^-c. See Mt JIath not. llath not the word as a prhiciple of life withm him NOTES, xiii. 12, § 32, p. 302. I and producing corresponding conduct — and see on ibid. PRACTICAL R Mt. xiii. 37. The Son of man disposes of his people in this world according to his good pleasure ; and places them in their several positions in society, not that they may please themselves, but brmg forth fruit unto God. ' J/e that sotoeth the good seed is the Son of man.' 88 ver. Let tlie children of God remember that it is not any isolated spot or hmited space, that the good seed is intended to Matt. viii. 18, § 34, p. 323. Mark iv. 35, ibid. 318 Mt. xiii. 41. All things Uiat offend. cKuvtdKa. The word EFLECTIONS. occupy, but the world ; and that therein the wicked are allowed to remain, merely by the sufTerance of the Son of man. 39 ver. Whatsoever the wicked may flunk of their own slu-ewd- ness or power, they are under the disposal of the devil, and it is an awful consideration that they are ripening for wrath. 40 — .3 ver. There is first to be a gathering out of the kingdom those that offend, and those that do iniquity. This gathermg of Luke viii, 19, p. 321. John vi, 1, § 40, p. 371. [33. PAET III.] 43 avnmav : and THE PARABLK OF THE niDBKN TREAf5rRT;. Matt. xiii. 42 — .4. [SECT, xxxni. liiill-cast tliem into a' furnace ol"fire: there sliall-bp^wiiiling and^gnashin" of ' teeth. 43 Then sliall-'tlic righteous'-sliine-forth as the sun in the Idngdoni of 'their Father. Who'hnth ears to-liear, let-him-hear. 44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto-treasure hid in a'fiekl ; tlie-which when-'a-man'-ha he-hideth, and forjoy thereof goeth and selleth all that he-hath, and buyeth that/icld. SCRIPTURE ILLUSTRATIONS. th-found, the dayspring to know his place ; 13, that it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked miglit be shaken out of it.' — Ps. xxxvii. 1, 2, 11, &e., ' Tlie workers of iniquity ... 2, shall soon be cut down Hke the grass, and wither as the green herb.' 11, 'But tlie meek shall inherit the earth ; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.' 42. FiTENACE OF FIHE. Ps. civ. 35, 'Let the sinners be cons umed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more.' — Da. vii. 11, 'I beheld . . . till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame' — See also Rev. xiv. 9 — ll,(qnoted Mk. iv. 29, § 32, p. 305, ' When the feuit,' &o.)-xix. 19, 20, see p. 290, after 'Peaoiical Reflections.' Gnashing of teeth. See on ch. viii. 12, § 28, p. 27G. — Is. xxyi. 11, 'Tliey sliall see, and be ashamed for /heir envy at the people [Marg., toward thy people"] ; yea, the fire of tliino enemies shall devour tliem.' 43. Then shall the eighteous shine foeth. Ps. xxsvii. 34, 'When the wicked are cut oiT, thou shalt see.' — Pr. xxv. 4, 'Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come fortli a vessel for the finer.' — Rom. ix. 23, 'The vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto gloiy.' — Da. xii. 3, 'And they that be wise [Marg., teachers'] shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.' — Eev. xxi. 10, .1, ' And he carried me away in the spu'it to a great and high mountain, and sliewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11, having the glory of God : and her light n'as like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.' — xxii. 5, ' For the Lord God giveth them light : and they shall reign for ever and ever.' — 1 Jno. iii. 2, ' It doth not jet appear what we shall be, but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him ; for we shall see him as he is.' Who hath eaes to heae, &e. See lefore on ver. 9, § 32, p. 301. — Jno. vi. 45, § 43, ' It is wi-itten in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Fathei", cometh unto mc' 44. Teeasuee. Pr. ii. 4, 5, ' If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as/oj- hid trcasiu-es ; 5, then shalt thou understand the fear of tlie Loed, and find the knowledge of God.' — 2 Cor. iv. 7, 'We have this treasure in earthen vessels,' &c. — See again Rom. ix. 23, 'And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, whicli he had afore prepared unto gloi-y.'— Ps. cxxxv. 4, ' Tlie Loed hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.'— -See aUo Ex. xix. 5, 'Now there- fore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people : for all the earth is mine.' Hid. Is. xl. 27, .8, quoted, Lu. viii. 17, p. 317, ' Secret.' Selleth all that he hath, &e. Is. xhii. 3, 4, ' I am tlie Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour : I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Etliiopia and Seba for thee. 4, Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee : therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy hfe.' — 2 Cor. viii. 9, 'Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Clirist, that, though he was ricli, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.' — Yea, he. Tit. ii. 14, 'gave liimself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto liimself a ijeculiar people, zealous of good works.' — • 1 Cor. vi. 20, ' Ye are bought with a price : therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.' — The Redeemer ha^ said, Lu. xiv. 33, § 67, ' Wliosoever he be of you that foraaketh not aU tliat he hath, he cannot be my disciple.' And buyeth that field. See the purchase of the field in Anaiholh, by Jeremiah, ch. xxxii. 1 — 25, in the midst of most expressive 2'redictio7is respecting the redemption of Israel, ch. xxx., xxxi., xxxii. 26 — ...iii. — Eph. i. 14, 'The redemption of llie pur- chased possession, unto the praise of liis glory.' NOTES. signifies a stttmllinghlocJc, either in a natural or in a figurative sense, denoting, in the latter case, whatever occasions any one to err in his principles or practice. Here, however, as it is joined witli rovg iroiovvTae ti)v avofiiav, it must denote, not things, but 2'ersons, i. e., false teachers, such as Peter was in danger of becoming, when he would have opposed Clirist in teaeliing the foundation truth of Christianity, the doctrine of atonement for sin by his death upon the cross, ch. xvi. 22, .3, § 50, p. 438. 42. A furnace of fire. Supposed to be a metaphorical one, denoting the wrath of God. Hell, which, in regard of the severe torments which the damned shall feel tlicre, is often in Scriptm'e compared to lire ; torments proportioned to, if not exceeding, tliat of burning living bodies in fire. The allusion is to the oriental custom of burnuig alive, mentioned in Da. iii. 11. See on eh. v. 22, § 19, p. 177, 'UeUfire: 43. Then shall the righteous shine forth, ij'c. ' Then will the righteous, the children of tlie kingdom, sliino forth as the unclouded noon-day sun, in the image of Clirist, in the kingdom of their Father,' being made imspeakably glorious and happy. — Scott. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. This form of expression, which often occurs in Scriptm'e, is a strong call to the earnest attention, and the diligent exercise of the reason and the mider- standing of all men, in the impartial investigation of what is adth-essed to them ; and it is expressive of the authority of the speaker ; of the reasonableness, truth, and importance of what is spoken, and the obligations men are under to ponder its import and to follow its requirements. 44. The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field. Meaning such valuables as, in an insecure state of society, whether occasioned by civil troubles, foreign uivasion, or the approaeli of marauding companies of robbers, men, in ancient time.", were accnstomed to bury in the earth. — See Greswcll, A'ol. II., p. 216. The Jewish law adjudged all treasure found on land to be the right of the then proprietor of the ground. PRACTICAL REFLECTIONS. sinners will be unto dcntruction ; then will there be the gathering of the rigliteous, and this will be unto blessing and glory: freed from the darkening and depressing influence of the wicked, ' then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.' 4rt ver. The true treasure is now hidden from the carnal eye, but it docs not the less certainly exist, and it is not the less sure to all 33.] Matt. viu. 18, § 34, P- 323. Marfc iv. 35, ibid. Luke viii. 19, p. 321 wlio are now willing to be made heir.? of God, and joint heirs with airist. Jesus for our sales became poor, that ice through his pocerlj/ might be rich. ' For the Jog that was set before hint [^lle] endured the cross, dcspi.sing the shame.' He fully paid the redemption price, from henceforth expecting till oil things be put mider his feet. Johnvi. 1, §40, p. 371. 319 BECT. XXXIir.] PARABLES OF THE ONE PEARL, THE DRAW NET, ETC. [PART IIL Matt. xiii. 4.^) — 51. 45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto-a-merclinnt man, seeking goodly pearls : 40 who, wlicn-he lind-found one penrl of-great-prioe, went a/>d-so\d all that lic-had, and bought it. 47 A"ain the kingdom ot" heaven is like unto-a-net, that-was-cast into the sea, and gathered of every 48 kind"- which, when it-was-1'ull, tliey-drcw to.shoro, and sat-down, rt«f/-gathered the good into vessels, but 49 cast the had away tSw. So shall-it-be at the end of-the world alwvog : the angels shall-come-forth, and 50 sever i