cess. rendering it improper to favour them land, and the country of Genesaret, a with many instructions or miracles, little to the south of Capernaum, he only healed a few diseased per- Here he instructed the multitudes sons; and retiring from them, taught who assembled, and healed their sick. in the neighbouring villages; and The people, whom he had left on the sent out the twelve apostles, with the east side of the lake, came over in same orders and powers as before: boats to Capernaum in quest of him. or, perhaps, it was now they were Jesus earnestly called them to labour first sent forth, though they had been for spiritual and eternal blessings, raformerly called to that work. Hear-ther than for outward provision: he ing of his fame, Herod mightily sus-represented himself as the true bread, pected he might be John Baptist, which satisfies, and for ever renders whom he had murdered, risen from happy the receivers. Offended with the dead. To prevent every mur- the convictive hints, and spiritual naderous attempt, Jesus retired from ture of his discourse, many of these his territories. The twelve returned, followers entirely forsook him. He and gave him account of their suc-asked the twelve, if they intended to He thanked God; and, along leave him also? Peter replied, they with them, retired from the multi-could safely go no whither else, as he tude. They crossed the lake of Ti-alone had the words of eternal life, berias, to the eastward, and retired and power to confer it. Jesus reto the desart of Bethsaida. Multi-plied, that even one of them, meantudes quickly assembled there: heing Judas, was a devil, Matth. xiii. taught them, and healed their sick. 53-58. and xiv. Mark vi. Luke ix. With five loaves and two small fishes, || 1—17. John vi. he feasted five thousand men, besides Jesus had attended the passover at women and children; and twelve Jerusalem; but repeated attempts abaskets, full of fragments, remained gainst his life determined him to leave over and above. This miraculous Judea, and return to Galilee. A nummultiplication of their victuals, hav-ber of scribes and Pharisees followed ing convinced the multitude that he him to Capernaum, to find matter of was the promised Messiah, they re-accusation against him. They and solved to declare him their King. To other Jews were mightily offended, prevent this carnal attempt, he sent that he and his diciples did not oboff his disciples to Bethsaida, on the serve their superstitious custom of other side of a creek, and himself re-washing of hands, nay, of cups, pots, tired to an hill for his secret devotion. and even the couches whereon they A violent storm almost drowned the sat, before they took meat. He redisciples, though they sailed accord-plied, that their superstitious traditiing to their Master's orders. When ons rendered their religious worship morning was come, they had advanc-unprofitable, and contradicted the ined but about three or four miles: and Jesus came to them, walking on the tempestuous sea. Fearing that it was an evil spirit coming to destroy them, they cried out for fear. Jesus comforted them, and told them who he was. On this occasion, Peter, through his rashness and unbelief, had been drowned, had not Jesus supported him. Upon our Saviour's entrance into the boat, the storm ceased, and they quickly reached the dispensable laws of Heaven; particu larly, in pretending to consecrate to the Lord what ought to be given for the relief of aged parents. He told them, it was not the meat which a man took that defiled him in God's sight, but the manifold evils of his wicked heart and life. To shun the effects of their rage, he then retired to the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.Here, after a severe trial of a Syrophoenician woman, who importunately CHR 286 begged relief for her possessed daugh- || Jesus, after signifying that he knew ter, he graciously healed the maid, this, not by human instruction, but by and extolled the faith of the mother. the special teaching of God, assured Returning from this Heathen coun- him, that, upon his own immovable try, he crossed the Jordan to the east-person and office, and the truth just ward, and continued some time in confessed concerning it, he would Decapolis. Here, after curing a deaf build his New-testament church, and man, and a number of others discas- make him, and his fellow-apostles, ed, he spent a night in solemn prayer. the honoured preachers and goverHe then proceeded to instruct the nors thereof. He had scarce proceedassembling crowds. After they had ed to inform them of his approaching attended him three days, he fed four death, when Peter begged him to Jesus thousand men besides women and spare himself, and wished such things children, with seven loaves and a few might never happen him. small fishes; and seven baskets full sharply rebuked him, as one that actof fragments remained. To prevent ed the part of Satan, in tempting him an insurrection in his favour, he to lay aside his work; and was influcrossed the sea of Galilee to the west-enced by carnal views, not from reward; and, landing near Dalmanutha, gard to the honour of God. He exhe passed through it and Magdala, in horted all present to study self-denial Here the and a cheerful compliance with trouhis way to Capernaum. Pharisees tempted him with ensnar-ble, as a necessary preparation for eing questions; and insisted that heternal life. He assured them, that would confirm his pretences to Mes- no worldly gain could balance the esiahship by signs from heaven. Heternal ruin of their soul; and that if rebuked their hypocrisy, and told they were ashamed to own him and them, that no new sign should be gi- his truths amidst wicked men, he ven them, but that of his resurrection, would disdain to own them at his glowhich had been so long ago typified rious appearance. He added, that it by the deliverance of Jonah from the would not be long before he entered belly of the whale. Finding that the his glory; and that some of them truths which he spake made no im- present should live to see it displaypression on the Pharisees, he and his ed, in the erection of his gospeldisciples again crossed the sea of Ga-church, and the terrible ruin of his lilee to the eastward; and, in their passage, he exhorted them to beware of the leaven, the corrupting doctrines of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians. Upon their landing at Bethsaida, he gradually cured a blind man, anointing his eyes with spittle. After a short stay in Decapolis, he went northward to Cæsarea-Philippi, and taught there, and in the places adjacent. His disciples told him, that some took him for John Baptist, others for Elias, others for Jeremaiah,|| or some ancient prophet raised from the dead. He asked them their own sentiments. Peter replied, that they were fully persuaded he was the Christ or Messiah, the Son of the living God. Jewish opposers, Matth. xv. and xvi. After six free days, and on the disciples, awakening from their sleep, a shekel of silver to pay tribute for beheld the vision. Peter rashly beg-them too. By the way, his disciples ged leave to build three tabernacles; had contended which of them should one for his Master, and one for each have the highest offices in the temof the prophets; imagining they poral kingdom, which they imagined were to tarry a considerable time. he would quickly erect. To rebuke He had scarce uttered this inconside- them, Jesus presented a little child rate request, when a bright cloud re- before them, and told them, that it ceived the prophets to heaven; and was absolutely necessary they should the voice of God proclaimed, This is be as such an one in humility and selfmy beloved Son, in whom I am well denial. John replied, that they had pleased; hear him: instead of, above, been so zealous for his honour, that and in, every prophet. The three seeing one, not of his society, casting disciples were affrighted; but Jesus out of devils, they forbade him. Jeencouraged them, and charged them sus told him it was wrong; that it to tell no body what they had seen, was extremely sinful and dangerous till after his resurrection. He too in- to discourage the very weakest of his formed them, that John Baptist was sincere followers. He shewed the the New-testament Elias, and had danger of giving or taking offence, suffered already. When he came and the sin of despising the least saint, down from the mount next morning, since not only his angels attended he found the scribes upbraiding his them, but he thought it so worthy of disciples, because they could not cast him, to seek out the lost sheep of sinout a stubborn devil from a tortured ful men. He directed them how to child. The child's father related the deal with offending brethren, and how case to Jesus himself, and begged, if to secure the maintenance of their own possible, he would relieve his son.- grace. By the parable of a master After hinting the necessity of faith, and forgiving 10,000 talents, which is arebuking the father, and others pre-bout 15,475,000 dollars, and that vesent, for their want or weakness of it,hery debtor refusing to forgive his felordered the devil to go out of the|| low-servant an hundred pence, which child. After terrible distorting of the is about fourteen dollars and twentyyouth, he came out; and the child cents, he represented the absurwas healed. Soon after, Jesus private-dity and danger of neglecting or rely represented to his disciples, that fusing to forgive injuries, Matth. strong faith, and much fervent prayer xvii. and xviii. Mark ix. Luke ix. and fasting, were necessary to dis- 28-48. lodge such stubborn fiends. In his way to Capernaum, Jesus reminded his disciples of his future sufferings. In his entrance to the city, the Roman tax-gatherers, or, as others think, the collectors of the annual, tax for the temple, asked Peter, whether his Master consented to pay the common tribute? To prevent all suspicion of his being of the Galilean party, who refused, to acknowledge the Roman authority, or of his being a despiser of the temple, he ordered Peter to cast his hook into the sea, and open the mouth of the fish he first apprehended, and he would there find He re When the feast of tabernacles drew nigh, Jesus's kinsmen, who indeed believed not in him, urged him to go up to Jerusalem, and there render his character illustrious. proved their carnal views; declined going up with them, or so much as informing them whether he intended to go at all. After a few days, he went up privately. About the middle of the festival, he taught publicly in the temple; cleared himself of selfish intentions; vindicating his performance of a MIRACLE on the SABBATH-DAY; and foretold, that he would quickly be beyond the reach hended the poor man, severely exa mined him concerning his cure and physician; and because he avowed, that certainly he, who could perform such a miracle, must be a good man, and prophet, they excommunicated him from their synagogues, John vii. and viii. and ix. 1-34. Leaving Jerusalem Jesus retired to Galilee, and there taught about six weeks, till the feast of dedication was at hand. Notwithstanding he knew the plots against his life, he resolved festival, for the instruction of the people. In his way through the country of the Samaritans, he sent James and John before him, to ask lodging for of his enemies. On the last day, while the people drew water to pour out in the sacred court, he solemnly invited the multitude to believe in him, that they might abundantly receive the influences and fruits of his Spirit. The Jewish rulers sent their officers to apprchend him; but these, affected with his discourse, returned and told their superiors, that never man spake like him. That evening, Jesus, after his manner, returned to mount Olivet, and spent the night in meditation and prayer. Next morn-to take the opportunity of this human ing he returned to the court of the temple and taught the multitude. The scribes and Pharisees presented to him a woman taken in the very act of adultery; and to ensnare him, ask-him and his disciples. When that ed, what should be done with her? malicious people knew that he was After appearing for a time as if quite going to the feast at Jerusalem, they regardless, he advised the accuser, refused him a lodging. The two diswho was innocent of the like crime, ciples were eager to command fire to cast the first stone at her. Con- from heaven, to burn them up quick. scious of their guilt, and apprchen- Jesus rebuked their furious zeal; and sive that he might discover them, toid them, that his errand to the they all hastily slipped off, beginning earth was not to destroy men, but at the eldest. None of them having to save them. In his way to Jerusacondemned her, Jesus dismissed her lem, he sent forth seventy of his diswith a solemn charge, to avoid the ciples, with much the same powers like sin for the future. To his numer-and instructions as he had twice beous audience, he represented himself fore given to the twelve. After exas the light of the world: he vindi-ecuting their orders, they returned cated the truth and efficacy of his doc- to him, probably after he was at Jetrine: he showed, that unless, by rusalem, with great joy, because of means of his word, they were freed their success. He told them that it from the bondage of sin, and brought was but a prelude of the fall of Safrom the family of their father the tan's kingdom; and advised them devil, their descent from Abraham not to make their success, but their could never avail them. He assured saving interest in the redeeming kindthem, that he existed before Abra-ness of God, the chief ground of their ham, and that his foreseen appear-joy. When he was within a few ance in flesh was the joy of that patri- miles of Jerusalem, a lawyer asked arch's heart. Enraged herewith, the him, what it behoved him to do in orJews, who had just before reproach-der to inherit eternal life? Jesus ed him as wicked and devilish, took hinted, that the fulfilment of the whole up stones to murder him; but he law, of love to God and our neighslipped out of their company. In his bour, was necessary. The lawyer, going off, or perhaps some time after, willing to justify himself, asked, who he cured a man born blind, by anoint-was his neighbour, whom he ought ing his eyes with clay, and ordering to love as himself? whether it was him to wash them in the pool of Si- any but Jews? By the parable of the loam. The Jewish rulers appre-tender-hearted Samaritan, Jesus made him confess, that no national preju-|| had invited him to dinner, taking of dices should hinder our love to any fence at his sitting down without man. At Bethany, he was enter- washing his hands, he sharply rebuked tained by two sisters, Martha and him and his sect, for their superstiMary; the one of which he reproved, tious care to avoid external impurity, for her anxious care in making ready while they were so unconcerned for their victuals; and the latter he com- that of their heart; and that, while mended, for chiefly minding her e-they scrupulously paid tithes of their ternal concerns, Luke x. anise, mint, and rue, they neglected At Jerusalem, in the court of the justice, mercy, and faith. He comtemple, he found the man who had pared them to graves, whose putrelately been cured of his blindness, faction is concealed. He reprehendand asked him, if he believed on the ed the lawyers, for loading others Son of God? and assured him that with their imposed ceremonies, and HIMSELF was he: whereon the man for their pretence of regard to the immediately worshipped him. Jesus ancient prophets, while they hated then remarked to the audience, that, the messengers of God, who lived in by his coming, such as were sensible their own times. He assured them, of blindness should see; and such that that generation, had, or would, as were insensible of their spiritual by their conduct, approve all the blindness, should have it increased murder of righteous men, from Abel and made known. Some Pharisees, to Zecharias, and be punished accordpresent, asked, if he took them to be ingly, Luke xi. From Perea, he went blind and ignorant? He told them, northward to Galilee. Great mumbers that they improved what knowledge attended his instructions. He directed they had, chiefly to aggravate their his disciples to be always candid and sin. He entertained his audience with open in their conduct; to stand in due a large and delightful discourse con- awe of their God, trust themselves cerning himself, as the true Shepherd to his care, and depend on his immeof his people, who would give his life | diate direction, what they should anfor their redemption, and would pre-swer to their persecutors. After reserve every one of them safe to eter- fusing to act the part of a civil judge, nal life. On his avowing himself in the division of an inheritance beEQUAL to, and ONE with his Father, tween two brothers, he warned his and averring that his miracles testifi- | hearers to beware of covetousness and ed so much, the Jews thought to ap- earthly-mindedness. By the parable prehend him; but he escaped their of a rich man cut off by death, just hands, and went to Bethabara, beyond after his plentiful crop, and while he Jordan, John ix. 35-42. and x. comforted his soul with the hopes While he continued in these quar- of a luxurious life for many years, ters, he, at his disciples request, he enforced his injunctions. He warnprescribed them a pattern of prayer,ed them to make it their chief con much the same as he had formerly cern to secure the happiness above, done in the mount. He recommend- and to be ever ready for an entrance ed the utmost importunity in our ad- into that eternal state. He told them, dresses to God, as a proper way to that he himself was shortly to be bapsucceed. He shewed, that his cast-tized, with painful sufferings, and a ing out of devils was no effect of col-bloody death; and that as they might lusion with Satan. He foretold, that expect their share of trouble in adhethe punishment of such as misim-ring to the gospel, it would be their proved his instructions and miracles, wisdom, speedily to make sure their should be heavier than that of the saving interest in, and peace with Heathen world. A Pharisee, who God, Luke xii. VOL. I. 20 |