J ■ •
Sec;
L-^ O
J
EXPOSITION ( JAN 101912
Old and New Testament:
WHEREIN
EACH CHAPTER IS SUMMED UP" IN ITS CONTENTS ; THE SACRED TEXT INSERTED AT LARGE, IN DISTINCT PARAGRAPHS; EACH PARAGRAPH REDUCED , TO ITS PROPER HEADS ; THE SENSE GIVEN,
AND LARGELY ILLUSTRATED
PRACTICAL REMARKS AND OBSERVATIONS:
BY MATTHEW HENRY,
LATE MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL.
A NEW ESXTXON: *
EDITED BT
THE REV. GEORGE BURDER, AND THE REV. JOSEPH HUGHES, A. M.
WITH THE
LIFE OF THE AUTHOR,
BT THE REV. SAMUEL PALMER,
VOL. V.
PHILADELPHIA :
ED. BARRINGTON & (?E0. D. HASWELL,
MARKET STREET.
AN
EXPOSITION,
WITH
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS,
ON THK
FOUR FIRST BOOKS
OF THE
IVEW TESTAMENT;
NAMELY,
ST. MATTHEW, B ST. LUKE, akb
ST. MARK, |l ST. JOHN.
THE
PREFACE
FOUR EVANGELISTS,
AND THB
ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.
THE one half of our undertaking upon-the New Testament is now, by the assistance of Divine grace, finished, and presented to the reader, wlio, it is hoped, the Lord working witli it, may hereby b« somewhat helped in understanding and improving the sacred history of Christ and his apostles, and in making it, as it certainly is, the best exposition of our creed, in which these inspired writers are summed up ; which is intimated by that Evangelist, who calls his gospel, A Dedaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, Luke 1. 1.
And as there is no part of scripture which it concerns us more to be well established in the belief of, so there is none which the generality of christians are more conversant with, or speak of more frequently. It is therefore our duty, by constant pains in meditation and prayer, to come to an intimate acquaintance with the true intent and meaning ot these nari-ativcs, what our concern is in them, and what we are to build upon them, and di-aw from them ; that we may not rest in such a knowledge of them as that which we had, when in our childhood we were taught to read English out of the translation, and Greek out of the originals, of these books. We ought to know them as the physician does his dispcnsatoiy, the lawyer his books of reports, and the sailor his chart and compass ; that is, to know how to make use of them' in that which we apply ourselves to as our business in this world, which is, to serve God here, and enjoy him hereafter, and both in Christ the Mediator.
The great designs of the christian institutes, (which these books are the fountains and foundations of,) were, to reduce the children of men to the fear and love of God, as the commanding, acti\"e principle ot their obser\'ance of him, and obedience to him ; to show them the way of their reconciliation to him, and acceptance with him ; and to bring them under obligations to Jesus Christ as Mediator ; and thereby to engage them to all instances of devotion toward God, and justice and charity towards all men, in con- formity to the example of Christ, in obedience to his law, and in pursuance of his great intentions. What therefore I have endeavoured here, has been with this view, to make these writings seniceable to the faith, noliness, and comfort of good christians.
Now tliat these writings, thus made use of to ser\-e these great and noble designs, may have their due influence upon us, it concerns us to be well established in our belief of their divine original. And here we have to do with two sorts of jieople. Some embrace the Old Testament, but set that up in opposition to the New, pleading that if that be right this is wrong ; and these are the Jews. Others, though they live in a christian nation, and by baptism wear the christian name, vet, under pretence of freedom of thought, despise Christianity, and, consequentlv, reject the New Testament, and therefore the Old, of course.
I confess it is strange, that any now who receive the Old Testament should reject the New ; since, beside all the particular proofs of the di\ine authority of the New Testament, there is such an admirable harmony between it and the Old. It agrees Avith the Old, in all the main intentions of it, refers to it, builds upon it. shows the accomplishment of its t\pcs and prophecies, and thereby is the perfection and crown of it. Nay, if it be not tnic, the Old Testament must be false ; and all tlie glorious promises which shine so brightly in it, and the performance of which was limited within certain periods of time, must be a g^cat delusion ; which v.e are sure they are not ; and therefore must embrace the New Testament to support the reputation of the Old.
That in tlic Old Testament which the New Testament lavs aside, is, the peculiarity of the Jewish nation, and the (>t)ser\'ances of the ceremonial law ; both which certainly were of divine appointment ; arid yet the New Testament does not at all clash with the Old ; for,
1. They were always designed to be laid aside in the fulness of time. No other is to be expected than that the morning-star should disappear when the sun rises ; and the latter parts of the Old Testament often speak of the laying aside of those things, and of the calling in of the Gentiles.
2. They were very honoiu-ablv laid aside, and i-ather exchanged for that which was more noble and excellent, more di\ine and I-.eavenh'. The Jewish church was swallowed up in the christian, the Mosaic ritual in evangelical institutions. So that the New Testament is no more the undoing of the Old, than the sending of a youth to the uni\ ersity is the undoing of his education in the grammar-school.
vi PREFACE.
3. Providence soon determined this controversy, (which is tl e only thing that seemed a controversy between the Old Testament and the New,) by the' destruction of Jerusalem, the desolations of the temple, the dissolution of the temple-service, and the total dispersion of aU the remains of the Jewish nation ; with a judicial defeat of all the attempts to incorporate it again, now for above 1600 years ; and this, according to the express predictions of Christ, a little before his death. And, as Clirist would not have the doctrine of his being the Messiah much insisted on, till the great conclusive proof of it was given by his resurrection from the dead ; so the repeal of the ceremonial law, as to the Jews, was not much insisted on, but their keeping up the observation of it was connived at, till tlie great conclusi\ e proof of its repeal was given, by the destruction of Jerasalem, which made the obsenation of it for ever impracticable. And the manifest tokens of divine wrath, which the Jews, considered as a people, even notwithstanding the pros- perity o( particular persons among them, continue under to this day, is a proof, not only of the truth of Christ's predictions concerning them, but that they lie under a greater guilt than that of idolatry, (for which they lay under a desolation of 70 years,) and that can be no other than crucifying Christ, and rejecting his gospel.
Thus evident it is, that in our expounding of the New Testament, we are not undoing what we did in expounding the Old ; so far from it, that we may appeal to the law and the prophets for the confirmation of the great tnith which the gospels are ivritten to prove — That our Lord Jesus is the Messiah promised to the fechers, who should come, and we are to look for no other. For though his appearing did not answer the expectation of the carnal Jews, who looked for a Messiah in external pomp and power, yet it exactly answered all the tv'pes, prophecies, and promises of the Old Testament, which all had their accomplishment in him ; and even his ignominious sufferings, which are the greatest stumbling-block to the Jews, were foretold concerning the Messiah ; so that if he had not submitted to them, we had failed in our proof; so far it is from being weakened by them. Bishop Kidder's Demonstration of the Christian's Messiah, has abundantly made out this truth, and answered the cavils (for such they are, rather than arguments) of the Jews against it, abo^•e any in our language.
But we live in an age when Christianity and the New Testament are more vii-ulently and daringly attacked by some within their ovm bowels, than by those upon their borders. Never were Moses and his writings so arraigned and ridiculed by any Jews, or Mahomet and his Alcoran by any Mussulmen, as Christ and his gospel by men that are baptized and called Christians ; and this, not under colour of any other divine revelation, but in contempt and defiance of all divine revelation ; and not by way of complaint, that they meet with that which shocks their faith, and which, through their own weakness, they cannot get over, and therefore desire to be insti-ucted in, and helped in the understanding of, and the reconciling of them to the tiiith which they have received ; but by way of resolute opposition, as if they looked upon it as their enemy, and were resolved by all means possible to be the ruin or it ; though they cannot say what evil it has done to the world, or to them. If the pretence of it has transported many in the church of Rome into such corruptions of worship and cruelties of government as are indeed the scandal of human nature, yet, instead of being thereby prejudiced against pure Christianity, they should the rather appear more vigorously in defence of it, when they see so excellent an institution as that is in itself, so basely abused and misrepresented.
They pretend to a liberty of thought in their opposition to Christianity, and would be distinguished by the name of Freethinkers. I will not here go about to produce the arguments which, to all that are not wilfiilly ignorant and prejudiced against the truth, are sufficient to p^o^■e the divine original and authority of the doctrine of Christ. The learned find much satisfaction in reading the apologies of the ancients for the christian religion, when it was struggling with the polrtheism and idolatry of the Gentiles. Justin Martyr and TertuUian, Lactantius and Minuiius Felix, wrote admirably in defence of Christianity, when it was further sealed by the blood of the Martyrs.
But its patrons and advocates in the present day have another sort of enemies to deal with. The antiquity of the pagan theology, its unixersal prevalence, the edicts of princes, and the traditions and usages of the country, are not now objected to chnstianity ; but I know not what imaginar)' freedom of thought, and an luiheard of privilege of human nature, are assumed, not to be bound by any divine revelation whatsoever.
Now it is easy to make out,
1. That those who would be thought thus to maintain a liberty of thinking, as one of the privileges of human nature, and in defence of which thev will take up arms' against God himself, do not themselves think freely, nor give others leave to do so. In some of them, a resolute indulgence of themselves in those vicious courses which they know the gospel, if they admit it, will make very uneasy to them, and a secret enmity to a holy, heavenly mind and life, forbid them all free thought ; for so strong a prejudice have their lusts and passions laid them under against the laws of Christ, that they find themselves under a necessity of opposing the truths of Christ, upon which these laws arc founded. Peril judicium, quando res transit in affectum — The judgment is overcome, when the decision is referred to the affections. Kight or wrong, Christ's bonds must be broken, and his cords cast from them ; and therefore, how evident soever the premises be, the conclusion must be denied, if it tend to fasten these bands and cords upon them ; and wnere is the freedom of thought then ? While they fir omise themselves liberty, they themselves are the ser- vants of corrufition ; for of nvhom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
In others of tliem, a reigning pride and affectation of singularity, and a spirit of contradiction, those lusts of the mind, wliich are as impetuous and imperious as any cf the lusts of the flesh and of the world, forbid a fi'eedom of thinking, and enslave the soul in all its inquiries after religion. Those can no more think freely, who resolve they will think by themselves, than those can, who resolve to think with their neigh- bours.
Nor will they give others liberty to think freelv ; for it is not by reason and argument that they go about to convince us, but by jest and banter, and exposing Christianity and its serious professors to contempt. Now, considering how natural it is to most men to be jealous for their reputation, this is as gi-eat an impo- sition as can possibly be ; and the unthinking are as much kept from freethinking by the fear of being ridiculed in the club of those who set up for oracles in reason, as by the fear of being cursed, excommu- nicated, and anathematized, by the counsel of those who set up for oracles in religion. And where is the freethinking then ?
2. That those who will allow themselves a true liberty of thinking, and will think seriously, cannot but embrace all Christ's sayings as faithful, and well tuorthy of all accefitation. Let the corrupt ^ias of the
PREFACE. vii
camal heart toward the world, and the flesh, and self (the most presumptuous idol of the three) be taken away, and let the doctrine of Christ be proposed first in its true colours, as Christ :ind his apostles have given it us, and in its true liijht, with all its pi-ojjcr evidence, intrinsic and extrinsic ; and then let the capable soul freelv use its rational powers ai\d faculties, and by the operation of the Spirit of grace, who alone works faith in all that believe, even the high thought, wlicn once it becomes a free thought, freed from the bondage of sin and corruption, will, by a pleasmg and happv power, be captivated, and brought into obedience to Christ ; and when he thus makes it frer, it will l)e fnv indeed.
Let any one who will give himself leave to tliiuk impartiallv, and be at the pains to think closely, read Mr. Baxter's Reasons for the Christian Ketii(ion ; and he will find, both that it goes to the bottom, and lays the foundation deep and firm, and also that it brings forth the top-stone in a believer's consent to ( jod in Christ, to the satisfaction of an\- that arc tnily concerned about their souls and another world. The proofs of the truths of the gospel have been excellently well methodized, and enforced likewise, by Bishop Stillingfleet, in his Origines Sacra ; by Grotius, in his book, Of the Truth of the Christian Kcligion ; by Dr. \Vhitby, in his General Preface to his Commentary on the -A'ciy Testament ; and of late by Mr. Ditton, very argurnentativelv, in his discourse concerning the Resurrection of Jesus Christ ; and many others have herein done worthily. And I will not believe any man who rejects the New Testament and the christian Religion, to have thought freely upon the subject, unless he has, with humility, seriousness, and prayer to God for direction, deiiberately read these or the like books, which, it is certain, were written botfi with liberty and clearness of thought
For my own part, if my thoughts were worth anv one's notice, I do declare, I have thought of this great concern, with all the liberty that a reasonable soul can pretend to, or desire ; and that the result is, that the more I think, and the more freely I think, the more fully I am satisfied that the christian Religion is the true Religion, and that which, if I submit my soul sincerely to it, 1 may venture my soul confidently upon.
For when I thijik freely,
First, I cannot but thirik that the God who made man a reasonable creature by his power, has a right to rule him by his law, and to oblige him to keep his inferior faculties of appetite and passion, together ■with the capacities of thought and speech, in due subjection to the superior powers of reason and con- science. And when I look into my own heart, I cannot but think that this was it which my Maker de- signed in the order and frame of my soul, and that herein he intended to sxipport his own dominion in me.
Secondlu, I cannot but think that mv happiness is bound up in the favour of God, and that his favour will, or win not, be toward me, according as I do, or do not, comply with the laws and ends of mv crea- tion. That I am accountable to this God ; and that from him my judgment proceeds, not only for this world, but for my everlasting state.
Thirdly, I cannot but think that my nature is ver\' unlike what the nature of man was, as it came out of the Creator's hands ; that it is degenerated from its primitive purity and rectitude. I find in myself a natural aversion to my duty, and to spii-itual and divine exercises, and a propensity to that which is evil ; such an inclination toward the world and the flesh, as amounts to a propensity to backslide from th« living God. 1- 1 .
Fourthly, I cannot but think that I am therefore, bv nature, thrown out of the favour of God ; for though I think he is a gracious and merciful God, yet I think he is also a just and holy God, and that I am become, by sin, both odious to his holiness, and obnoxious to his justice. I should not think freely, but ven^ par- tially, if I should think otherwise. I think I am guilty before God, have sinned, and come short of glori- fying him, and of being glorified with him.
Fifthly, I cannot but think that, without some special discovery- of God's will concerning me, and good will to me, I cannot possibly recover his favour, be reconciled to him, or be so far restored to my primi- tive rectitude, as to be capable of serving my Creator, and answering the ends of my creation, and becom- ing fit for another world. For the bounties of Providence to me, in common with the inferior creatures, cannot sen-e either as assurances that God is reconciled to me, or means to reconcile me to God.
Sixthly, I cannot but think that the way of salvation, both from the guilt and from the power of sin, by Jesus Christ, and his mediation between God and man, as it is revealed by the New Testament, is admi- rably well fitted to all the exigencies of mv case, to restore me both to the fa^■our of God and to the govemment and enjoyment of myself. Here I see a proper method for the removing of the guilt of sin, (that I may not die by the sentence of the law,) by the all-sufficient merit and righteousness of the Son of God in our nature ; and, for the breaking of the power of sin, (that I may not die by my own disease,) by the all-sufficient influence and operation of the Spirit of God upon our nature. Every malady has herein its remedy, every grievance is hereby redressed, and in such a way as advances the honour of all the divine attributes, and is suited and accommodated to human nature.
Seventhly, I cannot but think that what I find in myself of natural religion, does evidently bear testimony to the christian religion ; for all that truth which is discovered to me by the light of nature, is confirmed, and more clearly discovered, by the gospel ; the very same thing which the light of nature gives me a confused sight of, (like the sight of men as trees walking.) the New Testament gives me a clear and dis- tinct sight of. All that good which is pressed upon me by the law of nature, is more fully discovered tc me, and I find myself much more strongly bound to it, by the gospel of Christ, the engagements it lays upon me to my duty, and the encouragements and assistances it gives me in my duty. And this is furthei confirming to me, that thei-e, just there, where natural light leaves me at a loss, and unsatisfied — tells me that hitherto it can carry me, but no further — the gospel takes me up, helps me out, and gives me all the satisfaction I can desire, and that is especially in the great business of the satisfying of God's justice for the sin of man. I\Iv own conscience asks, Whercvith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the most high God? Jllll he be fileased with thousands of rams ? But I am still at a loss; I cannot frame a righteousness from any thing I am, or have, in myself, or from any thing I can do for God or pi^e- sent to God, wherein I dare appear before him : but the gospel comes and tells me, that Jesus Christ has made his soul an offering for sin, and God has declared himself well pleased with all believers in him ; and this makes me easy.
FAghthly, I cannot but think that the proofs by which God has attested the truth of the gospel, are the ■nost proper that could be given in a case of this nature — That the power and autliority of the Redeemer n the kingdom of grace should be exemplified to the world, not by the highest degree of the pomp and
viii PREFACE.
authority of the kings of the earth, as the Jews expected, but by the evidences of his dcminion in the kiig- dom of nature ; which is a much greater dignity and autliority than any of the kings of the earth ever pre- tended to, and is no less than divine. And his miracles, being generally wrought upon men, not only upon their bodies, as they were mostly when Christ was here upon earth, but, which is more, upon their minds, as they were mostly after the pouring out of the Spirit in the gift of tongues and other supernatural endow- ments, were the most proper confirmations possible of the truth of the gospel, which was designed for the making of men holy and happy.
A^inthhj, I cannot but thinli that the methods taken for the propagation of this gospel, and the wonder ful success of those methods, which are purely sijiritual and heavenly, and destitute of all secular advaii tages and supports, plainly show that it was of God, for God was with it, and it ; could never have spread as it did, in the face of so much opposition, if it had not been accompanied with a power from on high. And the preservation of Christianity in the world to this day, notwithstanding the difficulties it has stnjg gled with, is to me a standing miracle for the proof of it.
Lastly, I cannot but think that the gospel of Christ has had some influence upon mv soul, has had such a command over me, and been such a comfort to me, as is a demonstration to myself, though it cannot be so to another, that it is of God. I have tasted in it, that, the Lord is gracious ; and the most subtle dis putant cannot convince one who has tasted honey, that it is not sweet.
And now I appeal to Him who knows the thoughts and intents of the heart, that in all this I think freely, (if it be possible for a man to know that he does so.) and not under the power of any bias. Whether we have reason to think that those who without any colour of reason, not only usuip, but monopolize, the character of Freethi/i/cers, do so, let those judge, who easily observe that they do not speak sincerely, but industriously dissemble their notions ; and one instance I cannot b\it notice, of their unfair dealing with their readers — th&t when, for the diminishing of the authority of the New Testament, they urge the various readings of the original, and quote an acknowledgment of Mr. Gregoiy of Christ Church, in his preface to his Works, That no profane author whatsoever, iJ'c. and yet suppress what immediately follows, as the sense of that learned man upon it. That this is an invincible reason for the scri/iturcs' /lart, Is'c.
We then receive the books of the New Testament as our oracles ; for it is evident that that excellent notion of Dr. Hemy More's is tnie, that " they have a direct tendency to take us off from the animal life, and to being us to the divine life."
But while we are thus maintaining the divine original and authority of the New Testament, as it has been received through all the ages of the church, we find our cause not only attacked by the enemies we speak of, but, in effect, betrayed by one who makes our New Testament almost double to what it really is, adding to it the Constitutions of the Jlfiostles, collected by Clement, together with the Jlp.ostolical Canons, and making those to be of equal authority with the writings of the Evangelists, and preferable to the Epistles. By enlarging the lines of defence thus, without either cause or precedent,* he gives great advantage to the invaders.
Those Constitutions of the Ajiostlcs have many things in them veiy good, and may be of use, as other human compositions. But to pretend that they were composed, as they profess themselves to be, by the twelve apostles in concert at Jenasalem, I Peter, snyuig this, I Andrew, saying that, isfc. is the greates' imposition that can be practised upon tlie credulity of the simple.
1. It is certain, there were a great many spurious writings which, in the early days of the church, went under the names of the apostles and apostolical men ; so that it has been always complained of as impos- sible to find out any thing but the canon of scripture, that could with any assurance be attributed to them. Baronius himself acknowledges it. Cum afiostolorum nomine tarn facta <juam dicta re/ierianlur esse sit/i posititia ; nee sic quid de illis a vciis sincerisque scrijitoribus narratum sit integrum et incorru/itum reman- serit, in desjierationem plane quandam animum dejiciunt posse unquam assequi quod verum certiimque subsistat — Since so many of the acts and sayings asc7-ibed to the a/iostles are found to be spurious, and even the narrations of faithful writers respecting them are jiot free from corruption, we Tiust despair of eva being able to arrive at any absolute certainty about them. Ad. An. Christ. 44. sect. 4 ?, Sec. There were Acts under the names of Andrew the apostle, Pliilij), Peter, Thomas ; a Gospel under the name of Thad- deus, another of Barnabas, another of Bartholomew ; a book concerning the infancy of our Saviour, another concerning his nati\'ity, and many the like, which were all rejected as forgeries.
2. These Constitutioris and Canons, an^ong the rest, were condemned in the primiti\ c church as apocrj'- phal, and therefore justly rejected ; because, though otherwise good, they pretended to be what really they were not, dictated by the twelve apostles themselves, as received from Christ. If Jesus Christ gave them such instnictions, and they gave them in such a solemn manner to the church, as is pretended, it is unaccountable that there is not the least notice taken of any such tiling done or designed in the Gospels, the Acts, or any of the E/tistles.
They who have judged the most favourably of those Canons and Constitutions, have concluded that they were compiled by some officious persons under the name of Clement, toward the end of the second cen- tury, above 150 years after Christ's ascension, out of the common practice of the churches ; that is, that which the compilers were most acquainted with, or had respect for ; when at the same time we have reason to think that the far greater number of christian churches which by that time were planted, had Constitutions of their own, which if they had had the happiness to be transmitted to posterity, would have recommended themselves as well as these, or better. But as the legislators of old put a reputation upor their laws, by pretending to have received them from some deity or other, so church-governors studied to gain reputation to their sees, by placing some apostolical man or other at the head of their catalogue of bishops, (^See Bishop Stillingjleet's Iroricum, fi. 302.) and reputation to their Canons and Constitutions, by fathering them upon the apostles.
But how can it be imagined that the apostles should be all together at Jertisalem, to compose this book of Canons with so much solemnity, when we know that their commission was to go into all the world, and to preach the gospel to every creature. Accordinglv, Eusebius tells us that Thomas went into Parthia, Andrew into Scythia, John into the lesser Asia ; and we have reason to think that after their dispersion they never came together again, any more than the planters of the nations did after the Most High had separated the sons of Adam.
• WhiMon.-Ed.
PREFACE. IX
I think that any one who will compare these Constitutioiia with the writings which we arc sine were given by ins])iration of God, will easily discern a vast difference in the style iuid spirit Uliat ia the chaff
to the ivhcat ?
* " Where are ministers, in the style of the true ajjostles, called priests, high i)i-icsts ? ^^^K•re do we " find in the apostoliciU age, that age of suffering, of the placing of the bishop in \\iBthroiic? Or of readers, " singers, and porters, in the church ?"
I fear the collector and compiler of those Constitutions, under the name of Clement, was conscious to himself of dishonesty in it, in that he would not have them published before all, because of the mysteries contained in them ; nor were they known or published till the middle of the fourth century, wiien the forgery could not be so well dispro\cd. I c:uuiot sec any mysteries in them, that they should be concealed, if laev had been genuine ; but I am sure that Christ bias hfs apostles publish the mysteries of the kingdom of (Joel uiwn tlie house-tops. And St. Paul, though there arc mjsteries in his Epistles, much more sub- lime than iuiy of these Constitutions, charges that they should be read to all the holy brethren. Nay, these Constitutions are so wholly in a manner taken uj), either with moral ]jrecc])ts, or i-ulcs of practi<'C in the
" pretend, t"
though the .'Ijioculy/tse is so full of mysteries, vet a blessing is pi-onounced u])(in the readers and hearers of that prophecy. We must therefore conchulc that, whenever they were written, by declining the light they owned themselves to be apocryphal, that is, hidden or concealed ; that they durst not mingle '.hem-
sehes with what was given by divine insiiiration ; to allude to what is said of the ministei's, (^^-Icts 5. 13.) Of the rest durst no man join himself to the apostles, _/br the /ico/ile ?nciq-nified them.
So that e\en bv their own confession they were not deli\ cred to the churches with the other wintings, when the New-Testament Canon was solemnly sealed up with that dreadful sentence passed on those that add unto these things.
And as we have thus had attempts made of late upon the purity and sufficiency of our New Testament, by additions to it, so we ha\e likewise had from another quarter a great contempt put u])on it by thepap^ power. The occasion was this :
One Father Quesnel, a French papist, b\it a Jansenist, near thirty years ago, published the Am' Tes- tament in Frenc^i, in several small volumes, with Moral Ne/lections on c\'ery \erse, to render the reading of it more profitable, and meditation upon it more easy. It was much esteemed in France, for the sake of the jiicty and devotion which ajipeared in it, and it had several im])ressions. The Jesuits were much disgusted, and solicited the pope for the condemnation of it, though the author of it was a papist, and many tilings in it countenanced popish superstition.
After much stniggling about it in the court of Rome, a bull was at length obtained, at the request of the French king, from the present pope, Clement XI., bearing date September 8, 1713, by which the said book, with what title or in what language soever it is printed, is prohibited and condemned ; both the New Testament itself, because in manv things varying from the vulgar Latin, ;md the Annotations, as containing divers propositions, (above aliundredarc enumerated,) scandalous and pernicious, injurious to the churcli and its customs, impious, blasphemous, savouring of heresy. And the jiropositions are such as these — "That the grace of our I^ord Jesus Christ is the effectual princijjle of all manner of good, is " necessary for every good action ; for without it nothing is done, nay, nothing can be done" — " That it "is a sovereign gi-ace, and is an operation of the Almighty hand of Ood" — "That when God accompa- " nies his word with the internal power of his gi-ace, it operates in the soul the obedience which it de- "mands" — " Th^t faith is the first grace, and the fountain of all others" — "That it is in vain for us to " call God our Father, if we do not cry to him with the spirit of lo\-e" — " That there is no God, nor re- " ligion, where there is no charity" — "That the catholic church comprehends the angels and all the ' elect and just men of the earth, of all ages" — "That it has the \\'ord incarnate for its Head, and all '' the saints for its members" — " That it is jjrofitable and necessan' at all times, in all places, and for all "sorts of persons, to know the holv Scrmtures" — "That the holy obscurity of the word of God is no " re:ison for the lait>- not reading it" — " That the Lonl's day ought to be sanctified by reading books of " piety, especially the holv Scriptures" — And " that to forbid christians from reading the Scriptures, is " to prohiliit the use of lig-lit to the children of light." IMany such positions as these, which the spirit of every good christian cannot but i-elish as tnie and good, are condemned by the pope's bull as impious and blasphemous. And this bull, though strenuously opposed by a gi-eat number of the Bishops in France, who were well affected to the notions of Father Quesnel, was yet recei^•cd and confirmed by the French king's letters patent, bearing date at Versailles, Febi-uan- 14, 1714, which forbid all manner of persons, uijon pain of cxemjjlarv punishment, so much as to keep any of those books in their houses ; and adjudge any that should hereafter write in defence of the Propositions condemned by the pope, as disturbere ot the peace.
It was registered the day following, Februaiy 15, by the Parliament of Paris, but with divers provisos and limitations.
By this it a])pears that popeiy is still the same thing that ever it was, an enemy to the knowledge of the Scriptures, and to the honour of divine grace. \Miat reason have we to bless God, that we have liberty to read the Scriptures, and ha\e he\y>s to understand and improve them ; which we are concerned diligently to make a good use of, that we may not provoke God to give us up into the liands of those powers that would use us in like manner.
I am willing to hope that those to whom the reading of the Exposition of the Old Testament ■was pleasant, will find this yet more pleasant ; for this is that part of pcripture, which does most plainly tes- tify of Christ, and in which that gosjiel-graee v-'hich afifiears unto all tncn, bringing salvation, shines most clear. This is the New-Testament milk for babes, the rest is strong meat for strong men. By these, therefore, let us be nourished and strengthened, that we may be pressing on toward perfection ; and that, ha\ing laid the foundation in the histoiy of our blessed Saviour's Life, Death, and Resun-ectinn, and the first preaching of his gospel, we may Iniild upon it by an acquaintance with the mysteries of godliness, III which we shall be further introduced in the Kpistles.
I desire I may be read with a candid, and not a critical, eye. I pretend not to gratify the curious ; the lop of my ambition is, to assist thos? who are truly serious, in searching the Scriptures daily. I am sure-
' •Edit. Joan. Clericl.p. 245,
Vol. v.— B
PREFACE.
it is designed, and hope it is calculated, to promote piety toward God, and charity towards our brethren ; and tnat there is not only something in it which may edify, but nothing which may justly offend, any good christian.
If any receive spiritual benefit by my poor endeavours, it will be a comfort to me ; but let God have all the glory, and that free grace of his which has employed one that is utterly unworthy of such an honour, and enabled one thus far to go on in it, who is utterly msufficient for such a service.
Having obtained help of God, I continue hitherto in it, and humbly depend upon the same good hand of my God to carry me on in that which remains, to gird my loins with needful strength, and to make niy way perfect ; and for this I humbly desire the prayers of my friends. One volume more, I hope, will include what is yet to be done ; and I will both go about it, and go on wth it, as God shall enable me; with all convenient speed ; but it is that part of the Scripture, which, of all others, requires the most care and pains in expounding it. But I trust, that as the day, so shall the strength be.
M. H
ADVERTISEMENT.
THAT which has been just offered to the reader, was the reverend author's Jirst draught of a Preface to this volume. He intended to revise it, if God had allowed him a return home from his late jour- ney. But though, by the afflicting stroke of his sudden death, it wants the advantage of his last hand, yet serious readers will be well pleased to have his first sentiments on those important heads which there come under his consideration ; especially since it contains his dying testimony to the Christian Religion the Canon of the New Testament, and the general usefiilness of the sacred scriptures, on occasion of those debates which have been lately started, and made the most considerable noise in the world.
The Exfiosition itself, as far as the Acts of the Afiostles goes, was entirely committed to the press before he left the City. The reader will perceive his intentions for the rest of the Holy Bible. But the sovereign providence of God, in whose hands our times are, has called this faithful and diligent serv'ant to rest from his labours, and finish weU himself, before he could finish this, and several other great and pious designs he had for the service of God and his church.
However, it may be acceptable to such as have often entertained themselves and their families with what is already extant, to let them know that we are not without hopes yet of seeing Mr. Henry's Expo- sition of the remainder ; though it cannot be expected to be altogether so copious and complete as that which he himself prepared for the public. He drew up, several years ago, an Exfiosition of the E.fiis- tle to the Romans, which he had designed to transcribe with little alteration, for the beginning of his next volume, and was earnestly solicited to print it by itself, before he had thoughts of writing upon thr whole Bible. For the rest, there are copies of his Expositions, both in public and private, taken from him by judicious writers ; wherein, though they may not be of equal length, yet Mr. Henry was used to express himself with like propriety, the same pious spirit, and uncommon skill in the Scriptures. There is encouragement to hope that the revising and preparing of these for the press will be undertaken (if God give life and health) by an intimate friend of^ the excellent Author, whose long acquaintance with his spirit and manner renders him the most proper person for that service ; and liis endeared affection will incline him to take the pains necessary for ushering them into the world. This course is apprehended to be much better than either to leave such a work unfinished, when it is already advanced so far, or to attempt the continuation of the design with a quite different set of thoughts, and another sort of style and method, that it may be as much Mr. Henry's as possible. But a reasonable time must be allowed before this can be expected. I pray God long to spare the valuable life of that dear friend of the Author, and every way furnish him for this good work, and all others he may undertake for the good of God's church.
John Evans.
AN
EXPOSITION,
WITH
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS,
OF THE
GOSPEL ACCORDING TO
ST. MATTHEW.
Wc have now before us, I. The X&w Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ; so this second part of tlie holy Bible is entitled: The nfro Covenant; so it might as well be rendered ; the word signifies both. But when it is (as here) spoken of as Christ's act and deed, it is most properly rendered a Testament, for he is the Testator, iuid it becomes of force by his death ; (Heb. 6. 16, \7.) nor is there, as in covenants, a previous treaty between the parties, but what is granted, though an estate upon condition, is owing to the will, the free-will, the good- will, of the Testator. Tliusall the grace contained in this book is owing to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour ; and unless we consent to him as our Lord, we cannot expect any benefit by him as our Saviour. This is called a JVHu Testament, to distinguish it from that which was given by Moses, and was now imtiquated ; and to signify that it should be always new, and should never wax old, iuid grow out of date. These books contain, not only a full discovery of that grace which has a/i/ieared to alt men, hrinffinir sah'ation, hut aXegal instrument by which it is conveyed to, and settled upon, all believers. How carefully do we preserve, and with what attention and pleasure do we read, the last will and testament of a friend, who has therein left us a fair estate, and, with it, high expres- sions of his love to us ! How precious then should this Testament of our blessed Saviour be to us, which secures to us all his unsearchal)le riches ? It is his Testament ; for though, as is usual, it was written by others, (we have nothing upon record that was of Christ's own writing,) yet he dictated it ; and the night Ijefore he died, in th? institution of his supper, he signed, sealed, and published it, in the presence of twelve witnesses. For, though these books were not written for some years after, for the benefit of
Jiosterity, in /icrfietuam rei memoriam, as a Jxerfietual memorial, yet the New Testament of our Lord csus was settled, confirmed, and declared, from the time of his death, as a nuncupative will, with which these records exactly agree. The things which St. Luke wrote, were things which were most surely beliex'ed, and therefore well known, before he wixjte them ; but when they were written, the oral tradition was superseded and set aside, and these writings were the repository of that New Testament. This is intimated by the title which is prefixed to many Greek Copies, Tiic xaijiic Ai«S-ii»»c " hirnirn — The whole of the A'em Testament, or All the things of it. In it is declared the whole counsel of God concerning our salvation. Acts 20. 27. As the law of the Lord is perfect, so is the gospel of Christ, and nothing is to be added to it. We have it all, and are to look for no more. n. We have before us The Four Gosfiels. Gos/iel &\^\fies good ?iews, ov glad tidings ; and this history of Christ's coming into the world to save sinners, is, without doubt, the best news that ever came from heaven to earth; the angel gave it this title, (Luke 2. 10.) Euifyyi\i^t,fixi Cfx'iv — / bring you good tidings ; I bring the gos/iel to you. And the prophet foretold it, Isa. 52. 7. — 61. 1. It is there foretold, that m the days of the Messiah good tidings should be preached. Gos/iel is an old Saxon word ; it is God's s/iell or word ; and God is so called because he is good, Deus optimus — God most excellent, and therefore it may be a good spell, or word. If we take spell in its more proper signification for a charm (carmen, ) and take that in a good sense, for what is moving and affectmg, which is apt lenire dolorem — to calm the spirits, or to raise them in admiration or love, as that which is \ei-y amiable we call char- ming, it is applicable to the gospel ; for in it the charmer charmeth wisely, though to deaf adders, Ps. 58. 4, 5. Nor (one would think) can any charms be so powerful as those of the beauty and love of our Redeemer. The whole New Testament is the gospel. St. Paul calls it his gospel, because he was one of the preachers of it. Oh that we may each of us make it ours by our cordial acceptance of it, and subjection to it ! But the four books which contain the history of the Redeemer, we commonly call The Four Gospels, and the inspired penmen of them F.z'angelists, or Gospel-writers ; not, however, veiy properly, because that title belongs to a particular orcJer of ministers, that were assistants to the apostles; (Eph. 4. 11.) He gave some apostles and some e^myigelists. It was recjuisite that the doctrine of Christ should be interwoven with, and founded upon, the narrative of his birth, life, mii-a- cles, death, and resuiTection ; for then it appears in its clearest and strongest light. As in nature, so in grace, the most happv discovc,ries are those which take rise from the certain representations of mat- ters of fact Natural nistory is the best philosophv ; and so is the sacred histon', both of the Old and New Testament, the most proper and grateful vehicle of sacred truth. These four gospels were early and constantly received by the primitive church, and read in christian assemblies, as appears by the writings of Justin Martyr and Irenxus, who lived little more than a hundred vears after the ascension ''f Christ ; they declared that neither more nor fewer than four were received by the church. A Har-
n
ST. MATTHEW.
mom- of these four evangelists was compiled by Tatian about that time, which he called, To iia a urrafut
The Gosfiel out of the four. In the third and fourth centuries there were gospels forged by divers
sects, and published, one under the name of St. Peter, another of St. Thomas, another of St. Philip, 8cc. But they were never owned by the church, nor was any credit given to them ; as the learned Dr. Whitby shews. And he gives this good reason why he should adhere to these written records, because, whatever the pretences of tradition may be, it is not sufficient to preserve things with any certainty, as appears by experience. For, whereas Christ said and did many memorable things, which rjere 7101 •written, (John 20. 30. — 21. 25.) tradition has not preserved any one of them to us, but all is lost except what was written ; that therefore is what we must abide by ; and blessed be God that we have it to abide by ; it is the sure word of history-. fll. We have before us the Gospel according to St. Mattheiv. The penman was, by birth, a Jew, by railing a publican, till Christ commanded his attendance, and then he left the receifit of cuntom, to fol- low him, and was one of those that accompanied him all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out, beginning from the baptism of John unto the day that he nvas taken up. Acts 1. 21, 22. He was there- fore a competent witness of what he has here recorded. He is said to have written this history about eight years after Christ's ascension. Many of the ancients say that he wrote it in the Hebrew, or Syriac, language ; but the tradition is sufficiently disproved by lir. Whitby. Doubtless, it was written in Greek,* as the other parts of the New Testament were ; not in that language which was peculiar to tlie Jews, whose church and state were near a period, but in tliat which was common to the world, and in which the knowledge of Christ would be most effectually transmitted to the nations of the earth ; yet it is probable that there might be an edition of it in Hebrew, published by St. Matthew himself, at the same time that he wrote it in Greek ; the former for the Jews, the latter for the Gentiles, when he left Judea, to preach among the Gentiles. Let us bless God that we have it, and have it in a language which we understand.
ST. MATTHEW, I.
CHAP. I.
This evangelist begins with the account of Christ's parentage and birth, the anoestors from whom he descended, and tlie manner of his entry into the world, to make it appear tliat he was indeed the Messiah promised ; for it was foretold that he should be the son of David, and should be born of a virgin ; and that he was so, is here plainly shewn ; for here is, I. His pedio^ree from Abraham in fortj'-two f^ene- rations, three fourteens, v. I. .17. II. An account of the circumstances of bis birth, so far as was requisite to shew that he was born of a virgin, v. 18. . 25. Thus inetiiodi- cally is the life of our blessed Saviour written, as lives should be written, for the clearer proposing of the example of tliem.
1 . f I '^HE book of the generation of Jesus JL Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2. Abraham begat Isaac ; and Isaac begat Jacob ; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren ; 3. And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom ; and Esrom begat Aram ; 4. And Aram begat Aminadab ; and Amina- dab begat Naasson ; and Naasson begat Salmon ; 5. And Sahnon begat Booz of Rachab ; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth ; and Obed begat Jesse; 6. And Jesse begat David the king; and Da\id the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; 7. And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa ; 8. And Asa begat Josa- phat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; 9. And Ozias begat Joatham ; and Joatham begat Achaz ; and Achaz begat Ezekias ; 10. And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon ; and Anion begat Josias ; 11. And
Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon : 1 2. And after they were brought to Babylon ; Jechonias begat Salathiel ; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; 1.3. And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud be- gat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;
14. And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim ; and Achim begat Eliud ;
15. And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan ; and INIatthan begat Jacob :
16. And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Marj' of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. 17. So all the genera- tions from Abraham to David are fourteet! generations ; and from David until tiin carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations ; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.
Concerning this genealogj' of our Saviour, obsen'e.
I. The title of it. It is the book (or tlie account, as the Hebrew word se/ihcr — a book, sometimes sig- nifies,) of the generatio?! of Jesus Christ, of his an- cestors, according to tlic flesh ; or. It is the narra- tive of his birth. It is B/fxic rsvsVtai; — a book of Genesis. The Old Testament begins with tlie book of tlie generation of the world, and it is its glory that it does so ; but the glory of the New Testa- ment herein excels, that it begins with the book of the generation of him that made the world. As God, his outgoings nvere of old, from everlasting, (Mic. 5. 2. ) and none can declare that generation ; but, as Man, he was sent forth in the fulness of time, of a woman, and it is that generation which is licre declared.
II. The principal intention of it It is not as
* See a \ii:d:cat:it!i of '.he opnosilc opinion in Dr. CampbeU*3 Preface to his Translation of this Gospel.— Ed.
ST. MATTHEW, 1.
13
endless or needless genealogy ; it is not a vain-glori- ous one, as those of gi-cat men commonly are. Ulemmala, quia fac'unt — Of u'/iat avail are ancient /ledigrees? It is like a ncuigrec riven in evidence, to prove a title, and make out a claim ; the design is to prove that our Loixl Jesus is t/ie Son of David, and the Son of .ibraham, and therefore of that na- tion and family out of which the Messiah was to arise. Abi-.iham and Diivid were, in their day, the great tnistces of tlic pi-omise relating to the Mes- siah. The liTomise of the blessing- nvas made to .Abraham and his seed, of tlie dominion, to Dax'id and his seed ; and they who would have an interest in Christ, as the Son of .Ibraham, in '^hom all the families of the earth are to be blessed, must be faith- fiil, loyal subjects to him as the Son of David, bv whom all the families of the earth are to be ruled. It was promised to Abraham that Christ should de- scend from him, (Gen. 12. 3. — 22. 18.) and to Da- vid that lie should descend from him ; (2 Sam. 7. 12. Ps. 89. 3, &c. — 132. 11.) and therefore, unless it can be proved that Jesus is a Son of David and a •Son of ^ibraham, we cannot admit him to be the Messiah. Now this is here proved from the authen- tic records of the hci-alds' offices. The Jews were very exact in presening their pedigrees, and thci'e was a providence in it, for the clearing up of the descent of the Messiah from the fathers ; and since his coming, that nation is so dispersed and confound- ed, that it is a question whether any person in the ■world can legally prove himself to be a son of Abraham ; however, it is certain that none can prove himself to be either a son of Aai'on, or a S07i of David, so that the priestly and kingly office must either be given up, as lost forever, or be lodged in the hands of our Lord Jesus. Christ is here first called the Son of Dax'id, because under that title he was commonly spoken of, and expected, among the Jews. Thev who o\vned him to be the Christ, called him the Son of David, ch. 15. 22.>— 20. 31.— 21. 15. This, therefore, the Evangelist undertakes to make out, that he is not only a Son of David, but that Son of David on whose shoulders the govern- ment nvas to be ; not only a Son of Abraham, but that Son of Abraham, who was to be the Father of many nations.
In calling Christ the Son of David, and the Son of Abraham, he shews th.it God is faithful to his pro- mise, and will make good every word that he has spoken ; and this, 1. Tliough the performance be long deferred, ^^'hen God proiiiised Aljraham a Son, who should be the great Blessing of the world, perhaps he expected it should be his immediate son ; out it proved to be one at the distance of forty-two generations, and about 2000 years. So long tiefore can God foretel what shall be done, and so long after, sometimes, does God fulfil what has been promised. Note, Delays of promised mercies, though they ex- ercise our patience, do not weaken God's promise. 2. Though it begin to be despaired of. This Son of David, and Son of Abraham, who was to be the Glory of his Father's house, was bom then when the seed of Abraham was a despised people recently become tributary' to the Roman yoke, and when the house of David was buried in obscurit)' ; for Christ was to be a Root out of a dry ground. Note, God's time for the performance of Tiis promise, is, when it labours under the greatest improbabilities.
III. The particular series of it, drawn in a direct line from Abraham downward, according to the ge- nealogies recorded in the beginning of the books of Chronicles, (as far as those go,) and which here we see the use of.
Some particulars we may obsen'e in this gene- alog)-.
1. Among the ancestors of Christ, who had bre- thren, generally, he descended from a younger
brother ; such Abraliam nimself was, and Jacob, and Judali, and David, and Nathan, and Uhesa ; to shew that the pre-eminence of C'hrist came not, as that of earthly princes, from the primogeniture of his ancestors, but from the will of (iod, who, ac- cording to the method of his providence, exalts them, of torn degree, and puts more abundant honour ufion that jtart T^'hich lacked.
2. Among the sons of Jacob, beside Judah, from whom Shiloli came, notice is here taken of his bre- thren ; Judas and his brethren. No mention is made of Ishmael, the son of .\l)raham, or of Rsau, the son of Isaac, because they were shut out of tlie church ; whereas all the children of Jacob were taken in, and though not fathers of Christ, were yet patriarchs of the church, (Acts 7. 8.) ancl therefore aro mention- ed in this genealog)-, for the cncoui-agement of the tvjelve tribes that ivere scattered abroad, intimating to them tliat they have an interest in Christ, and stand in relation to him as well as Judali.
3. Pharcs and Zara, the twin-sons of Judah, are likewise both named, though Pharcs only was Christ's ancestor, for the same reason that the brethren of Judah are taken notice of : some think because the birth of Phares and Zara had something of allegoiT in it. Zara put out his hand first, as the fii-st-bonii but drawing it in, Pliaros got the birth- right. The Jewish church, like Zara, reached first at the birthright, but, through unbelief, withdraw- ing the hand, the Gentile church, like Phares, broke forth, and went away with the birthright ; and thus blindness is in fjart hafifiened unto Israel, till the ful- ness of the Gentiles be come in, and 'then Zara s"hall be bom — all Israel shall be saved, Rom. 11. 25, 26.
4. There are four women, and but four, named in this genealog)- ; two of them were originally stran gers to the 'common':vea!th of Israel, Rahab a Ca- naanitess, and a harlot besides, and Ruth the Moab- itess ; for in Jesus Christ there is neither Greek nor Jew ; those that are strangers and foreigners arc welcome, in Christ, to the citizenshi/i of the saints. The other two were adultresses, Tamar and Bath- sheba ; which was a further mark of humiliation put upon our Lord Jesus, that not only he descended from such, but that his descent from them is parti- cularly remarked in his genealog)-, and no veil drawn over it. He took upon him the likeness of sinful flesh, (Rom. 8. 3.) and takes e\en great sinners, upon their repentance, into the nearest relations to himself. Note, we ought not to upbraid people with the scandals of their ancestors ; it is what they can- not help, and has been the lot of the best, even of our Master himself. David's begetting Solomon of her that had been the ivife of Urias, is taken notice of, (sa>'S Dr. WTiitby,) to shew that that crime of David, being repented of, was so far from hindering the promise made to him, that it pleased God by this very woman to fulfil it.
5. Though divers kings are here named, yet none is expressly called a king, but David, (t. 6.) David the king ; because with him the covenant of royalty was made, and to him the promise of the kingdom of the Messiah was gi^"?"! ^^l^o 's therefore said to inherit the throne of his father David, Luke 1. 32.
6. In the pedigree of the kings of Judah, between Joi-am and Ozias, (f. 8.) there are three left out, Ahaziah, Joash, and Amaziah ; and therefore when it is said, Joram begat Ozias, it is meant, according to the usage of the Hebrew tongue, that Ozias was lineally descended from him, as it is said to Heze- kiah, that the sons which he should beget should be carried to Babylon, whereas they were removed several generations from him. It was not through mistake or forgetfulness that these three were omit- ted, but, pixibably, they were omitted in the gene- alogical tables that the Evangelist consulted, which yet were admitted as authentic Some give this
14
ST. MATTHEW, I.
reason for it. — It being Matthew's design, for the sake of memory, to reduce the number of Christ's ancestors to three fourteens, it was requisite that m this period three should be left out, and none more fit than they who were the immediate progeny of cursed Athaliah, who introduced the idolatry of Ahab into the house of David ; for which this brand is set upon the family, and the iniquity thus visited to the third and fourth generation. Two of these three were apostates ; and such God commonly sets a mark of his displeasure upon in this world ; they all three had their heads brought to the gi-ave with blood.
7. Some observe what a mixture there was of good and bad, in the succession of these kings ; as for instance, (v. 7, 8.) wicked Roboam begat wick- ed .^bia ; wicked jlbia begat good jlsa ; good ^sa begat good Josafihat ; good Josafihat begat wicked Joram. Grace does not nin in the blood, nor does reigning sin. God's grace is his own, and he gives or withholds it as he pleases.
8. The captivity in Babylon is mentioned as a re- markable period m this line, -v. 11, 12. AU things considered, it was a wonder that the Jews were not lost in that captivity, as other nations have been ; but this intimates the reason why the streams of that people were kept to run pure through that dead sea, because from them, as concerning the flesh, Christ was to come. Destroy it not, for a blessing is in it, even that Blessing of blessings, Christ him- self, Isa. 65. 8, 9. It was with an eye to him that they were restored, and the desolations of the sanc- tuary were looked upon with favour for the Lord's take, Dan. 9. 17.
9. Josias is here said to beget Jechonias and his brethren; {v. 11.) by Jechonias is meant Jehoiakim, who was the first-bom of Josias ; but when it is said, {v. 12.) tti'iX Jechonias begat Salathiel, that Jecho- nias was the son of that Jehoiakim who was carried into _ Babylon, and there begat Salathiel, (as Dr. Whitby shews,) and when Jechonias is said to have been written f/«/rf/fss, (Jer. 22. 30.) it is explained thus ; A'b man of his seed shall firosper. Salathiel is here said to beget Zorobabel, whereas Salathiel begat Pedaiah, and he begat Zorobabel (1 Chron. 3. 19. ) but, as before, the grandson is often called the son ; Pedaiah, it is likely, died in his father's life-time, and so his son Zorobabel was called the son of Salathiel.
10. The line is brought do^vn not to Mary, the mother of our Lord, but to Josefih, the husband of Mary ; {v. 16.) for the Jews always reckoned their genealogies by the males : yet Mary was of the same tribe and family with Joseph, so that, both by the mother and by this supposed father, he was of the house of David ; yet his interest in that dignity is derived by Joseph, to whom really, according to the flesh, he had no relation, to shew that the kingdom of the Messiah is not founded in a natui-al descent from David.
11. The centre in whom all these lines meet, is Jesus, luho 13 called Christ, v. 16. This is he that was so importunately desired, so impatiently ex- pected, and to whom the patriarchs had an eye when they were so desirous of children, that they might have the honour of coming into the sacred line. Blessed be God, we are not now in such a dark and cloudy state of expectation as they were then in, but see clearly what these prophets and kings saw as through a glass darkly. And we may have, if it be not our own fault, a greater honour than that of which they were so ambitious : for they who do the will of God, are in a more honourable relation to Christ, than those who were akin to him according to the flesh, ch. 12. 50. Jesus is called Christ, that is, the Anointed, the same with the Hebrew name Messiah. He is called Messiah the
Prince, (Dan. 9. 25.) and often God's Anointed, (Ps. 2. 2.) Under this character he was expected ; Art thou the CAris«— the Anointed one? David, the king, was anointed; (1 Sam. 16. 13.) so was Aaron, the priest, (Lev. 3. 12. ) and Elisha, the prophet, (1 Kings 19. 16.) and Isaiah, the prophet, (Isa. 61. 1.) Christ, being appointed to, and qualified tor, all these offices, is therefore called the Anointed — anointed luith the oil of gladness above his fellows ; and from this name of his, which is as ointment poured forth, all his fol- lowers are called Christians, for they also have re- ceived the anointi?ig.
Lastly. The general summary of all this gene- alogy we have, v. 17. where it is summed up in three fourteens, signalized by remarkable periods. In the first fourteen, we have the family of David rising, and looking forth as the morning ; in the second, we have it flourishing in its meridian lustre ; in the third, we have it declining and growing less and less, dwindled into the family of a poor carpenter, and then Christ shines forth out of it, the Glory of his peofile Israel,
1 8. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise : When as liis motlier Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19. Then Joseph her hus band, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her awayprivily. 20. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife : for that wliich is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus : for he shall save his people from their sins. 22. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23. Behold, a vir- gin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Em- manuel, which being interpreted, is, God with us. 24. Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife : 25. And knew her not till she had brought forth her first-born son : and he called his name Jesus.
The mystery of Christ's incarnation is to be adoi^ed, not pryei into. If we know not the way of the S/ii- rit in the formation of common persons, nor how the bones are formed in the womb of any one that is with child, (Eccles. 11. 5.) much less do we know how the blessed Jesus was formed in the womb of the blessed Nirgin. When David admires how he hiir. • self was made in secret, and curiously wrought, (Ps. 139. 13 — 16.) perhaps he speaks, m spirit, of Christ's incarnation. Some circumstances attending the birth of Christ we find here, which are not in Luke, though it is more largely recorded there. Here we have,
I. Mary's espousals to Joseph. Mary, the mother of our Lord, was espoused to Joseph, not completely married, but contracted ; a purpose of marriage solemnly declared in words defuturo — that regard- ed the future, and a promise of it made if God per
ST. MATTtlEW, J.
15
mil. We read of a man who has betrothed a wife, and has not taken her, Dcut, 20. 7. Christ was bom of a virgin, but a contracted virgin, 1. To put respect upon tlie married state, and to rcconiniend it as honourable among all, against that doctrine of dc\ ils which /orA«/» to marry, and places perfection in the single state. \\'ho more liighU' favoured than Mary was in her espousals ? 2. To save the credit of the blessed virgin, which otherwise would have been exposed. It was fit that her conception should be protected by a mamagc, and so justified in tlie eye of the world. One of the ancients says, It was better it should be asked, Is not this the son of a car/ienter? than. Is not this the son of a harlot? 3. Tliat the blessed virgin might have one to be the guide of her youth, the companion of her solitude and travels, a partner in her cares, and a help meet for her. Some think that Joseph was now a widower, and that those who are called the brethren of Christ, {ch. 13. 55.) were Joseph's children by a former wife. This is the conjecture of many of the ancients. Joseph was a just man, she a virtuous -woman. Those who are believers should not be unecjualli/ yoked with unbelievers ; but let those who are reli- gious choose to many with those who are so, as they e.xpect the comfort of the relation, and God's blessing upon them in it. We may also leam from this example, that it is good to enter hito the mar- ried state with deliberation, and not hastily ; to pre- face the nuptials with a contract It is better to take time to consider before, than to find time to repent after.
II. Her pregnancy of the Promised Seed ; before they came together, she was found with child, which really was of the Holy Ghost. The man-iage was deferred so long after the contract, that she ap- peared to be with child, before the time came for the solemnizing of the marriage, though she was contracted before she conceived. Probably, it was after her return from her cousin Elisabeth, with whom she continued three mont/is, (Luke 1. 56.) that she was percei\ed by Joseph to be with child, and chd not herself deny it. Note, Those in whom Christ is formed, will shew it : it will he found to be a work of God, which he will own. Now we may well imagine, what a perplexity this might justly occasion to the blessed virgin. She herself knew the divine original of this conception ; but how could she prove it ? She would be dealt with as with a har- lot. Note, After great and high advancements, lest we shoidd be puffed up with them, we must expect something or other to humble us ; some reproach, as a thorn in the flesh, nay, as a sword in the bones. Never was any daughter of Eve so dignified as the Virgin Mary was, and yet in danger of falling under the imputation of one of the worst of crimes ; yet we do not find that she tormented herself about it ; being conscious of her own innocence, she kept her mind calm and easy, and committed her cause to him that judges righteously. Note, Those who take care to keep a good conscience, may cheerfully tnut Go<l with the keeping of their good names, and have reason to hope that he will clear up, not only their integrity, but theii- honour, as the sun at noon dav.
III. Joseph's perplexity, and his care what to do in this case. W e may well imagine what a great trouble and disappointment it was to him, to find one he had such an opinion of, and value for, come under the suspicion ol such a heinous crime. Is this Mary ? He began to think ; " How may we be de- ceived in those we think best of ! How may we.be disappointed in what we expect the most from !" He is loth to believe so ill a thing of one whom he believed to be so good a woman ; and yet the mat- ter, as it is too bad to be excused, is also too plain to be denied. What a stiiiggle does this occasion.
in his breast, between that jealousy which is the rage of man, and is cnicl as the grave, on the one liand, and that affection which he has for Mary, on the other.
Obser\e, 1. The extremity which he studied to avoid. He was not willing to make her a fiublic cxam/ilc. He might have done it ; for, by the law, a betrothed virgin, if she play the harlot, was to be stoned to death, Deut. 22, 23', 24. But he was not willing io take the advantage of the law against her : if she be guilty, yet it is not known, nor slndl it be known from him. How different was the spirit which Joseph displayed from that of Judah, who in a simi- lar case hastily passed that severe sentence, Bring her forth and let her be burnt .' Gen. 38. 24. How good is it to think on thingn, as Joseph did here ! v\'ere there more of deliberation in our censures and judgments, there would be more of mercy and mo- deration in them. Bringing her to jjunishment, is here called making her a public examjile: which shews what is the end to be aimed at in ijunishments — giving warning to others : it is in terrorem — that all about may hear and fear. Smite the scorner, and the simple will beware.
Some pereons of a rigorous temper would blame Joseph for his clemency, but it is here spoken of to his pi-aise ; because he was a just man, therefore he was not willing to expose her. He was a religious, good man ; iuul therefore inclined to be merciful as God is, and to forgix'e as one that v/asforgri'en. In the case of a betrothed damsel, if she were defiled in the field, the law charitably supposed that she cried out, (Deut. 22. 26.) and she was not to be punished. Some charitable construction or other Joseph will put upon this matter ; herein he is a ji^st man, tender of the good name of one who never be- fore had done any thing to blemish it. Note, It be- comes us, in many cases, to be gentle toward those that come under suspicion of having offended, to hope the best concerning. them, and make the best of that which at first appears bad, in hopes it may prove better. Summum jus summa injuria — Thi rigour of the law is (sometimes) the height of injus tice. Tiiat court of conscience which moderates the rigour of the law, we call a court of equity. Those who are found faulty were perhaps overtaken in the fault, and are therefore to be restoredwith thesfiirit of meek7iess.
2. The expedient he found out for avoiding this extremity. He was minded to put her away prfvily, that is, to give a bill of di\orce into her hand before two witnesses, and so to hush up the matter among themselves. Being a just man, a strict obseirer of the law, he would not proceed to marry her, but resolved to put her away ; and yet, in tenderness for her, determined to do it as privately as possible. Note, the necessary censures of those who nave of- fended, ought to be managed without noise. The words of the wise are heard in quiet. Christ himself shall not strii'e nor cry. Christian love and christian prudence will hide a multitude of sins, and great ones, as far as may be done without having fellow- ship with them.
IV. Joseph's discharge from this perplexity by an express sent from heaven ; {y. 20, 21.) Jf7iile he thought on these things, and knew not what to deter- mine, God graciously directed him what to do, and made hira easy. Note, Those who would have di- rection from God, must think on things themselves, and consult with themselves. It is the thoughtful, not the unthinking, whom God will guide. \Vnen he was at a loss, and had carried the matter as far as he could in his own thoughts, then God came in with advice. Note, God's time to come in with in- struction to his people, is when they are nonplussed, and at a stand. God's comforts most delight the soul, in the multitude of its perplexed thoughts.
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ST. MATTHEW, I.
The message was sent to Joseph by an angel of the Lord ; probably, the same angel that brought to Mary the tidings of the conception — the angel Gabriel. Now the intercourse with heaven, by angels, with which the patriarchs had been digni- fied, but which had been long disused, begins to be revived ; for when the First- Begotten is to he brought into the world, the angels are ordered to attend his motions. How far God may now, in an invisible way, make use of the ministration of angels, for ex- tricating his people out of their straits, we cannot say ; but this we are sure of, they are all ministering spirits for their good. This angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, when he was asleep, as God sometimes spake unto the fathers. When we are most quiet and composed, we aie in the best frame to receive the notices of the divine will. The Spirit moves on the calm waters. This dream, no doubt, carried its own evidence along with it, that it was of God, and not the production of a vain fancy.
Now, 1. Joseph is here directed to proceed in his intended marriage. The angel calls him, Joseph, thou son of David : he puts him in mind of his re- lation to Dav'id, that he might be prepared to receive this surprising intelligence of his relation to the Messiah, who, every one knew, was to be a des- cendant from David. Sometimes, when great ho- nours devolve upon those who have small estates, they care not for accepting them, but are will- ing to drop them ; it was therefore requisite to put this poor caipenter in mind of his high birth ; " Value thyself. Joseph, thou art that son of David, through whom the line of the Messiah is to be drawn." We may thus say to eveiy true believer ; " Fear not, thou son of Abraham, thou child of God ; forget not the dignity of thy birth, tliy new birth." Fear not to take Mary for thy wife ; so it may be read. Joseph, suspecting she was with child by whoredom, was afraid of taking her, lest he should bring upon himself either guilt or reproach. No, saith God, Fear not ; the matter is not so. Perhaps Maiy had told him that she was with child bv the Holy Ghost, and he might have heard what Elisa- beth said to her, (Luke 1. 42.) wlien she called her the mother of her Lord; and if so, he was afraid of presumption in marrying one so much above him. But from whatever cause his fears arose, they were all silenced with this word. Fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife. Note, It is a great mercy to be delivered from our fears, and to have our doubts resolved, so as to proceed in our affairs with satis- faction.
2. He is here informed concerning that Ifoly Thing, with which his espoused wife was now preg- nant. That which is conceived in her, is of a'divine original. He is so far from being in danger of shar- ing in an impurity by marrying her, that he will thereby share in the highest 'dignity he is capable of. Two things he is told,
(1.) That she had conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost ; not by the power of nature. The Holy Spirit, who produced the world, now produced the Saviour of the world, and prepared him a body, as was promised him, when he said, Lo, I come, Heb. 10. 5. Hence he is said to be made of a woman, (Gal. 4. 4.) and yet to be that second Mam, that is, the Lord from heaven, 1 Cor. 15. 47. He is the Son of God, and yet so far partakes of the substance of his mother, as to be called the Fruit of her womb, Luke 1. 42. It was requisite that his conception should be othenvise than by ordinary generation, that so, though he partook of the human nature, yet he might escape the corruption and pollution of it, and not be conceived and shapen in iniquity. His- tory tells us of some who vainly pretended to have conceived by a di\'ine power, as the mother of Alex- ander ; but none ever really did so, except the mother
of our Lord. His name in this, as in other things, is, JVonderful. We do not read that the Virgin Mary did herself proclaim the honour done her ; but she hid it in her heart, and therefore God sent an angel to attest it. Those who seek not their own glory shall have the honour that comes from God ; it is reseiTed for the humble.
(2. ) That she should bring forth the Saviour of the world; {v. 21.) She shall bring forth a Son; what he shjill be, is intimated,
[1.] In the name that should be given to her Son ; Thou shall call his name Jesus, a Saviour. Jesus is the same name with Joshua, the termination only being changed, for the sake of confonning it to the Greek. Joshua is called Jesus, (Acts 7. 45. Heb. 4. 8.) from the Seventy. There were two of that name under the Old Testament, who were both il- lustrious types of Christ ; Joshua, who was Israel's Captain at their first settlement in Canaan ; and Joshua, who was their High-Priest at their second settlement after the captivity, Zech. 6. 11, 12. Christ is our Joshua ; both the Captain of our sal- vation, and the High-Prie<<i of our profession ^ and, in both, our Saviour ; — a Joshua who comes m the stead of Moses, and does that for us, which the lam could not do, in that it was weak. Joshua had been called Hoshea, but Moses prefixed the first syllable of the name Jehovah, and so made it Jehoshua, (Numb. 13. 16.) to intimate that the Messiah, who was to bear that name, should be Jehovah ; he is therefore able to save to the uttermost, neither is there salvation in any other.
[2.] In the reason of that name ; For he shall save his people from their sins ; not the nation of the Jews only, (he came to his own, and they received him not,) but all who were given him by the Father's choice, and all who have given themselves to him by their own. He is a King who protects his subjects, and, as the Judges of Israel of old, works salvation for them. Note, Those whom Christ saves, he saves "^ from their sins ; from the guilt of sin by the merit of his death, from the dominion of sin by the Spirit of his grace. In saving them from sin, he saves them from wrath and the curse, and all misery here and hereafter. Christ came to save his people, not in their sins, hut from their sins ; to purchase for them, not a liberty lo sin, but a liberty yVon! sitis, to redeem them from all iniquity ; (Tit. 2. 14.) and so to redeem them from among men, (Rev. 14. 4.) to himself, who is separate from sinners. So that those who leave their sins, and give up themselves to Christ as his people, are interested in the Saviour, and the great salvation which he has wrought out, Rom. 11. 26.
V. The fulfilling of the scripture, in all this. This evangelist, writing among the Jews, more frequently observes this than any other of the evangelists. Hei-e, the Old-Testament prophecies had their ac- complishment in our Lord Jesus ; by which it ap- pears, that this was He that should come, and we are to look for no other ; for this was He lo whom all Ifie pro/ihets bear witness. Now the scripture that was fulfilled in the birth of Christ, was that promise of a sign which God gave to king Ahaz, (Isa. 7. 14.) Behold, a virgin shall conceive ; where the prophet, encouraging the people of God to hope for the pro- mised deliverance from Sennacherib's invasion, di- rects them to look forward to the Messiah, who was to come of the people of the Jews, and the house of David ; whence it was easy to infer, that though that people and that house were afflicted, yet neither the one nor the other could be abandoned to rtiin, so-long as God had such an honour, such a blessing, in reserve for them. The deliverances which God ■wrought for the Old-Testament church, were types and figures of the great salvation by Christ ; and if God will do the greater, he will not fail to do the less.
ST. MATTHEW, II.
17
The prophecy here quoted is justly ushered in with a Jii-ltold, whicii ccinmuiiuls both attention ;uid admiration ; for v.e liavc here the mystery of god- liness, which is, without controverey, great, that God iiHis mauiftstcd in fhejicah.
1. The sign given us, that the Messiah shall be born of a virg-in. A virgin shall conceix-e, and, by h.er, he shall be manifested in lliejliah. The word jihnah signifies a virgin, in the stiictest sense, such as Mary professes herself to be, I^iikc 1. 34. I knoiv not a man ; nor had it been anv such wonderful siCTi as it was intended for, if it had been otherwise, it was intimated from the bcginninij that the Messiah should be born of a \ irgin, when it was said that he should be the Si-ed of the ivoman ; so the Seed of the woman, as not to be the seed of any man. Christ was born of a virgin, not only because his birth was to be su/iernatural, and altogether extraordinar\-, but because it was to be s/iotl<ss, and pure, and with- out any stain of sin. Clirist would be bom, not of an Em/iri'ss or Queen, for he a])peared not in outward pomp or splendour, but of a \irgin, to teach us spirit- ual purity, to die to all the delights of sense, and so to /cee/i ourselves ;^H.9/iO^'c(/ from the world and the flesh, that we may be presented chaste virgins to Christ.
2. The tinith proved by this sign is, that he is the Son of (Jod, and the Mediator between God and man ; for they shall call his name Immanuet ; that is, he shall be Immanuel ; when it is said He shall be called, it is meant, he shall be, the Lord our Righteousness. /mOTc/MKc/ signifies God with us; a mysterious name, but verv precious ; God incarnate among us, and so God reconcilable to us, at peace with us, and takiiig us into covenant and comnumion with himself. The people of the Jews had God ivith them, in types and shadows, dwelling between the cheinibim ; but never so as when the Word was made flesh — that was the blessed Shechinah. \\"hat a happy step is hereby taken toward the settling of a peace and correspond- ence between God and man, that the two natures are thus bro\ight together in the person of the Me- diator ; by this he became an unexceptionable Re- feree, a Days-Man, fit to lay his hand ii/ion them both, since he partakes of the nature of both. Be- hold, in this, the deepest mystery, and the richest
nercy, that ever was. By the light of nature, we see God as a God above us ; by the light of the law, we see him as a God against us ; but bv the light of the gospel, we sec him as Immanuel, God with us, I in our own nature, and (which is more) in our inte- rest Herein the Redeemer commended his love. With Christ's name Immanuel we mav compare the name gi\en to the gospel church. (Ezek. 48. 35.) Jehovah Shammah — The Lord is there; the Lord of hosts is with us.
Nor is it improper to say tliattlie prophecy which foretold that he should be called Immanuel, was fulfilled in the design and intention of it, when he was called Jesus ; for if he had not been Immanuel — God with us, he could not have been Jesus — .4 I Saviour; andhereinconsiststhesalvation he wrought ' out, in the bringing of God and man together ; this was what he designed, to bnng (;od to be with us, which is our great happiness, and to bring us to be •mith God, which is our great dut\-.
VI. Joseph's obedience to the divine precept ; (v. 24.) being raised from slee/i by the impression which the dream made'upon him, he did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, though it was contrary- to his fomicr sentiments and intentions; he tool: unto htm bis nvife; he did it speedily, without delav, aiid r.heerhilly, without dispute ; he was not disobedient to the heavenly -lision. Extraordinary direction like this we are not now to expect ; but God has still ways of making known his mind in doubtful cases, by hints of providence, debates of conscience, and advice of faithful friends ; by each of these, an-
VoL. v.— C
plying the general rules of the written wci-d, we shoidd, therefore, in all the steps of our life, parti- cularly the great turns of if, such as this of Joseph's, take dii-cction from God, and we shall find it safe ;uid comfortable to do as he bids us.
VII. The accomplishment of the divine promise ; {w 25.) Hhe brought forth her Jirst-bom son. The circumstances of it are more largely related, Luke 2. 1, &c. Note, That which is concerird of the Holy Ghost never proves abortixH; but will certainly be brought forth in its season. M'hat is of the will ofthejlesb, and of the will of man, often miscarries; but if Christ he formed in the soul, God himself has begun the good work which he will perform ; what is conceir~.'cd in grace, will, no doubt, be brought forth in glory.
It is liere further observed, 1. That Joseph, though he solemnized the maniage with Marv, his espous- ed wife, kept at a distance from her while she was with ch'M of this holy thing ; he knew her not till she had broui;h! him forth. Much has Ijeen said concerning the peipetual virginity of the mother of our Lord ; Jerome was verv' angiy with Helvidius for denying it. It is certain that it cannot be proved from scripture. Dr. J/ 'A/Wy inclines to think, that when it is said, Joseph knew her not till she had brought forth herjirst-boni, it is intimated that, af- terward, the reason ceasing, he lived with her, ac- cording to the law, Exod. 21. 10. 2. That Christ was the First - Born ; and so he might be called, though his mother had not any other children after him, according to the language of scripture. Nor was it without a mysteiy that Christ is called her First-Born, for he is the First-born of every crea- ture, that is, the Heir of all things ; and he is the First-Born among many brethren, that in all things he may ha\e the pre-eminence. 3. That Joseph called his name Jesus, according to the direction given him. CJod having apfiohued him to be the Sa\ iour, which was intimated in his giving him the name Jesus, we must accept of him to be our Savi- our., and, in concurrence with that appointment, we must call him Jesus, our Saviour.
CHAP. H.
In this chapter, we have the history of our Saviour's infancy, where ive find liow early he betran to suffer, and that in him the word of righteousness was fullilled, before him- self began to fulfil all rinhleousness. Here is, I. The wise men's solicitous inquiry after Christ, v. I. . 8. II. Their devout attendance nn him, when they found out wliere he was, v. 9. . 12. III. Christ's flight into Egypt, to avoid the cruelty of Herod, v. 13. . 15. IV. The bar- barous murder of the infants of Bethlehem, v. 16. . 18. V. Christ's return out of Egvpt into the land of Israel again, v. 19. . 23.
1 . I^TOW when Jesus was born in Betli- j3i Ichcm of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, llicre ramc wise men from the east to .Tertisah-m, 2. Saying Where is he tliat is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to \\orsIiip him. 3. When He- rod the king had licard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet. 6. And thou Bethlehem. in the land of Juda, ait not the least I among the princes of Juda : for out ol
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ST. MATTHE\^r, H.
thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. 7. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, in- quired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search dili- gently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
It was a mark of hmniliation put upon the Lord Jesus, that though he was the Desire of alt nations, yet his coming into the world was httle obsen'ed and taken notice of, his birth was obscure and unre- garded : herein he emptied himself, and made him- self of no reputation. If the son of God must be brought into the world, one might justly expect that he should be received with all the ceremony possi- ble ; that crowns and sceptres skould i.Timediately have been laid at his feet, ana that the high and mighty princes of the world should have been his humble servants ; such a Messiah as this the Jews expected, but we see none of all this ; he came into the •world, and the world knew him 7iot ; nay, he catne to his own, and his own received him not ; for having imdertaken to make satisfaction to his Father for the wrong done him in his honour by the sin of man, he did it by denying himself in, and despoiling him- self of, the honours undoubtedly due to an incarnate Deity ; yet, as afterward, so in his birth, some rays of glory darted forth in the midst of the greatest insta'nces of his abasement. Though t/iere was the hiding of his fiower, yet he had beams coming out of his hayid, (Hab. 3. 4.) enough to condemn the world, and the Jews especially, for their stupidity.
The first who took notice of Christ ?''ter his birth, were the shepherds, (Luke 2. 15, fee.) who saw and heard glorious things conce:Tiing him, and made them known abroad, to thi> amazement of ;dl that heard them, v. 17, 18. After that, Simeon and Anna spake of him, by the Spirit, to all that were dispo- sed to heed what they said, Luke 2, 38. Now, one would think, these hints should have been taken by the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and they should with both arms have embraced tlie long-looked-for Messiah ; but, for aught that ap- pears, he continued nearly two years after at Beth- lehem, and no further notice was taken of him till these wise men came. Note, Nothing will awaken those that are resolved to be regardless. Oh the amazing stupidity of these Jews! And no less, that of many who are called christians ! Observe,
I. 'V\Tien this enquiry was made concerning Christ ; it was in the days of Herod the King. This Herod was an Edomite, made king of judea by Augustus and Antonius, the then chief nilers of
. the Roman state, a man made up of falsehood and cruelty ; yet he was complimented with the title of Herod the Great. Christ was bom in the 35th year of his reign, and notice is taken of this, to shew that the sce/itre was now departed from Judah, and the lawgiver from between his feet ; and therefore now was the time for Shiloh to come, and to him
. shall the gathering of the /leofile be, witness the wise men, Gen. 49. 10.
II. 'V^Tio and what these ivise men were ; they are here called Miym — Magicians. Some take it in a good sense ; the Magi among the Persians v/ere their philosophers, and their priests ; nor would they admit any one for their king who had not first been enrolled among the Magi ; others think they dealt in unlawful arts ; the word is used of Simon, the sorcerer, (Acts 8. 9, 11.) and of EhTuas, the sorcerer, (Acts 13. 6.) nor does the scripture use it in any other sense ; and then it was an early in-
stance and presage of Christ's victory over the Devil, when those who had been so much his devo- tees, became the early adorers even of the infant Jesus ; so soon were trophies of his victoiy over the powers of darkness erected. Well, whatever sort of wise men they were before, now they began to be wise men indeed when they set themselves to to inquire after Christ.
This we are sure of, 1. That they were Gentiles, and not belonging to the commonwealth of Israel. The Jews regarded not Christ, but these Gentiles inquired him out. Note, Many times those who are nearest to the means, are furthest from the end. See ch. 8. 11, 12. The respect paid to Christ by these Gentiles was a happy presage and specimen of what would follow, when those who were afar off should be made nigh by Christ. 2. That they were scholars, they dealt in arts, curious arts ; good scholars should be good christians, and then they complete their learning when they learn Christ. 3. 1 hat they were men of the east, who were noted for their soothsaying, Isa. 2. 6. Arabia is called the land of the east, (Gen. 25. 6.) and the Arabians are called, Me7i of the east, Judg. 6. 3. The presents they brought were the products of that countiy ; the Arabians had done homage to David and Solomon as types of Christ. Jethro and Job were of that country. More than this we have not to say of them. The traditions of the Romish church are frivolous, that they were in number three, (though one of the ancients says that they were fourteen,) that they were kings, and that they lie buried in Colen, thence called the thire kings of Colcn; we covet not to be wise above what is written.
III. What induced them to make this inquiry. They, in their countrj^, which was in the east, had seen an extraordinary star, such as they had not seen before ; which they took to be an indication of an extraordinarT,r person born in the land of Judea, over which land this star was seen to hover, in the nature of a comet, or a meteor rather, in the lower regions of the air ; this differed so much from any thing that was common, that they concluded it to signify something uncommon. Note, Extraordinaiy appearances of God in the creatures, should put us upon inquiring after his mind and will therein ; Christ foretold signs in the heavens. The birth of Christ was notified to the Jewish shepherds by an angel, to the Gentile philosophers by a star ; to whom God spake in their own language, and in the way they were best acquainted with. Some think that that veiy light which the shepherds saw shi- ning round about them tlie night after Christ was bom, was the veiy same which, to the wise men who lived at such a distance, appeared as a star ; which we cannot easily admit, because the star they had seen in the i°o«?, they 'saw a great while after, leading them to the house where Christ lay ; it was a candle set up on puipose to guide them to Christ. The idolaters worshipped the stars as the host of heaven, especially the eastern nations, whence the planets have the names of their idol-gods ; we read of a particular star they had in veneration, Amos 5. 26. Thus the stars that had been misused, came to be put to the right use, to lead men to Christ ; the gods of the heathen became his ser- vants. Some think this star put them in mind of Balaam's prophecy, that a star should come out of Jacob, pointing at a .sceptre that shall rise out of Is- rael; see Numb. 24. 17. Balaam came froin the mou7itains of the east, and was one of their wise men. Othei's impute their inquir)' to the genei-al expectation entertained at that time, in those eas- tern parts, of some great prince to appear ; Taci- tus, in his histon-, (Lib. v. J takes notice of it; Pluribus persuasio inerat, antic/uissacerdotum Uteris contineri, eo ipso tempore fore, ut valesceret Oriens,
ST. MATTHEW, II.
19
firofectit/uti Judxd rcrum /lolircntur — ^ Jienuasion exintcd ill the niiiuls of many, that some aiicirrit tvri- tin^K of the Jiriests contained a firediction that about that time an eastern noiver would /irevai/, and that persons firoceeding from Judea ivoutd obtain domi- nion. Suetonius also, in the life of Vesfiasian, speaks of it ; so that this extraoitliiiary pheiiomeiKui was construed as pointing to ;/;a^ ^'i>'S; ami wc may su])-
Eose adivine nnpression made upon their minds, ena- lins them to intci-])ret this star as a sigiial j;iven by Heaven of the birth of Christ.
IV'. How they prosecuted this inquiry. They came from the east to Jerusalem, in fiulher quest of this ])rince. WHiither should they come to inquire for the king of the Jews, but to Jerusalem, the mother-citv, ii'hither the tribes go uji, the tribes of the Lord? Thev niis^ht have said, " If such a prince should be bom, we shall hear of him shortly m our own country, and it will be time enough then to pay our homage to him." But so impatient were they to be better acquainted with him, that thev took a long journey on purpose to inquire after him. Note, Those who tiid)' desire to know Christ, and find him, will not regard pains or perils in .seeking after him. Then shall lue know, if we follow on to know the Lord.
Their question is, mere is he that is bom king of the Jews ? They do not ask, whether there was such a one born ; (they are sure of that, and speak of it with assurance, so .strongly was it set home upon their hearts ;) but. Where is he born? Note, Those who know something of Christ, cannot but covet to know more of him. They call Christ the King of the Jenvs, for so the Messiah was expected to be : and he is Protector and Ruler of all the spiritual Israel, he is bom a King.
To this question they doubted not but to have a ready answer, and to find all Jei-usalem worshipping at the feet of this new King ; but thej' come from door to door with this question, and no man can gi\e them any infoi-mation. Note, There is more gross ignorance in the world, and in the chiuTh too, than we are aware of. Many that we think should di- rect us to Christ, are themselves strangers to him. They ask, as the spouse of the daughters of Jeru- salem, Saw ye him whom mu soul loveth ? But they are never the wiser. However, like the spouse, they pursue the inquii-v. Where is he that is born king of the Jews.' Are thev asked, "Whv do ye make this inquirj- ?" It is because thev have seen his star in the east. .\re they asked, "What business have ye with him .' \Miat ha\e the men of the east to do with the Kmg of the Jews?" They have their answer readv; Jt'e are come to ivorshifi him. They conclude he will, in process of time, be their King, and therefore they will betimes in^n'atiate themselves with him, and with those about him. Note, Those in whose hearts the day- star is risen, to give them any thing of the know- ledge of Christ, must make it their business to wor- ship him. Have we seen Christ's star? Let us study to give him honour.
V. How. this inquiry was treated at Jerusalem. News of it at last came to court ; and when Herod heard it, he was troubled, v. 5. He could not be a stranger to the prophecies of the Old Testament, concerning the iVIessiah and his kingdom, and the times fixed for his appearing bv D.iniel's weeks ; but, having himself reigned so long and so success- fully, he began to hope that those promises would forever fail, and that his kingdom should be estab- lished and pei-petuatcd, in spite of them, '\^'hat a damp therefore must it needs be upon him, to hear talk of this King being bom, now, when the time fixed for his appearing was come ! Note, Carnal, wicked hearts, dread nothing so much as the fulfil- 'ing of the scriptures.
But though Herod, an Rdomite, was troubled, one would have thought Jei-usaltm should rejoice greatly to hear that her King comes ; yet, it seems, all Jerusalem, except the few there that wailed for the Consolation of Israel, were troubled with Herod, and were a])prehensive of I know not what ill con- sequences ot the birth of this new King; that it would involve them in war, or restrain tlieir lusts ; they, for their parts, desired no King but Herod ; the Messiah himself. Note, '1 he slaveiiv
no, not 1
of
ey
sin is foolishly preferred by many to the glorio liberty of the children of (iod, only because th apprehend some present difficulties attending that necessary revolution of the goveniment in the soul. Herod and Jerusalem were thus troubled, from a mistaken notion that the kingdom of the Messiah wovdd clasli and intertere witli the secular jjowers; whereas the star that proclaimed him King, plainly intimated that his kingdom was heavenly, and not of this lower world. Note, The reason why the kings of the earth, and the people, oppose the king- dom of Christ, is, because they do not know it, but err concerning it.
\"I. ^^■llat assistance they met with in this in- quiry from the scribes and the priests, v. A — 6. Nobody can pretend to tell where the King of the Jews is, but Herod inquires where it was expected he should be born. The persons he consults are, the chief priests, who were now teachers by office ; and the scribes, who made it their business to study the law ; their li/is must keefi knowledge, but then the people must inquire the law at their mouth, Mai. 2. 7. It was generally known that Christ should be bom at Bethlehem; (John 7. 42.) but Herod would have counsel's opinion upon it, and therefore applies himself to the proper persons ; and, that he might be the better satisfied, he has them altogether, all the chief firiests, and all the scribes ; and demands of them what was the place, according to the scriptures of the Old Testament, where Christ should be born .' Many a good ques- tion is put with an iU design, so was this by Herod. The priests and scribes need not take any long time to gi\e an answer to tliis query ; nor do they differ in their opinion, but all agree that the Messiah must be bom in Bethlehem, the city of Dai'id, here called Bethlehem of Judea, to distinguish it from another city of the same name in the land of Zcbu- lun. Josh. 19. 15. Bethlehem signifies the hou.ie of bread ; the fittest place for him to be bom in, who is the true Manna, the bread which came down from heaven, which was given for the life of the world. The proof they jjroduce is taken from Mic. 5. 2. where it is foretold, that though Bethlehem be little among tlie thousands of Judah, (so it is in Micah,) no very populous place, yet it shall be found not the least among the firinces of Judah ; (so it is here ;) for Bethlehem's honour lay not, as that of other cities, in the multitude of the peojjle, but in the magnifi- cence of the princes it produced. Though, upon some accounts, Bethlehem w-as little, yet herein it had the pre-eminence above all the cities of Israel, that the Lord shall count, when hewrites u/i the jieo- file, that this Man, even the Alan ./esus Christ was born there, Ps. 87. 6. Out of thee shall come a Governor, the King of the .Ic.i-s. Note, Christ will be a Saviour to those only who are willing to take him for their Governor. Bethlehem was the city of David, and David the glory of Bethlehem ; t"liere, therefore, must Da\id's Son and Successor be born. There was "a famous well at Bethlehem, by the gate, which David longed to drink of; (2. Sam. 23. 15.) in Christ we have not onlv bread enough and to spare, but may come and take also of the water of life freely. Obsene here, how Jews and Gentiles compare notes about Jesns Christ. The Gentiles know the time of it by a star ; the
20
ST. MATTHEW, 11.
Jews knew the place of it by the scriptures ; and so, they are capable of informing one another. Note, It would contribute much to the increase of know- ledge, if we did thus mutually communicate what we know. Men gi-ow rich by bartering and exchan- ging ; so, if we have knowledge to communicate to others, they will be ready to communicate to us; thus many shall discourse, shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
VII. The bloody project and design of Herod, occasioned by this inquiry, -v. 7, 8. Herod was now an old man ; had reigned thirty-five years ; this King was but newly born, and not likely to enterprise any thing considerable for many years ; yet Herod is jealous nf him. Crowned heads cannot endure to think of successors, much less of rivals ; and there- fore nothing less than the blood of this infant King will satisfy him ; and he will not give himself liberty to think that, if this new-born Child should be indeed the Messiah, in opposing him, or making any at- tempts upon him, he would be found ^fighting against God, than which nothing is more vain, nothing more dangerous. Passion has got the mastery pf reason and conscience.
Now, 1. See how cunningly he laid the project ; {y. 7, 8.) He privily called the ivise men, to talk with them about this matter. He would not openly own his fears and jealousies ; it would be his disgrace to let the wise men know them, and dangerous to let the people know them. Sinners are often tor- mented with secret fears, which they keep to them- selves. Herod leams of the wise men the time when the star ap/ieared, that he might take his measures accordingly ; and then employs them to inquire fur- ther, and bids them bring him an account. All this might look suspicious, if he had not covered it with a shew of religion ; that I may come and worship him also. Note, The greatest wickedness often con- ceals itself under a mask of piety. Absalom cloaks his rebellious project with a vow.
2. See how strangely he was befooled and infatu- ated in this, that he tnisted it with the wise men, and did not choose some other managers, that would have been true to his interests. It was but seven miles from Jei-usalem ; how easily might he have sent spies to watch the wise men, who might have been as soon there to destroy the Child as they to worship him. Note, God can hide from the eves of the church's enemies those methods by which they might easily destroy the church ; when he in- tends to lead princes away spoiled, his way is to make the judges fools.
9. When they had heard the king, they departed, and, lo, the star which they saw in the east, went before tiiem, till it came and stood over where tlie j'oimg child was. 10. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him : and when they had opened their treasures, they pre- sented unto him gifts; gold, and frankin- cense, and myrrh. 12. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not re- turn to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. •
We have here the wise men's humble attendance upon this new-bom King of the Jews, and the ho- nours they paid him. From Jenisalem they went to Bethlehem, resolving to seek till they find ; but it is very strange that they went alone ; that not one
person of the court, church, or city, should accom- pany them, if not in conscience, yet in civility to them, or touched witn a. curiosity to see this young Prince. As the queen oj the south, so the wise men of the east, wUl rise up in judgment against the men of that generation, and of this too, and will condemn them ; for they came from afar country, to worship Christ; while the Jews, his kinsmen, would not stir a step, would not go to the next town to bid him welcome. It might have been a discouragement to these wise men, to find him whom they sought, thus neglected at home. Are we come so far, to honour the King of the Jews, and do the Jews themselves put such a slight upon him and us ? Yet they persist in their resolution. Note, We must continue our attendances upon Christ, though we be alone in them ; whatever others do, we must sen'C the Lord; if they will not go to heaven with us, yet we must not go to hell with them. Now,
I. See how they found out Christ by the same star that they had seen in their own country, v. 9, 10. Observe,!. How graciously God directed them. By the first appearance of the star they were given to understand where they might inquire for this King, and then it disappeared, and they were left to take the usual methods for such an enquir)'. Note, Extraordinary helps are not to be expected where ordinaiy means are to be had. Well, they had traced the matter as far as they could ; they were upon their journey to Bethlehem, but that is a populous town, where shall they find him when they come thither ? Here they were at a loss, at their wit's end, but not at their faith's end ; they believed that God, who had brought them thither by his word, would not leave them there ; nor did he ; for behold, the star which they saw in the east went be- fore them. Note, If we go on as far as we can in"i the way of our duty, God will direct and enable us J to do that which of ourselves we cannot do ; Up, and be doing, and the Lord will be with thee. Vigi- lantibus, 7ion dormientibus, succitrrit lex — TTie law affords its aid, not to the idle, but to the actri'e. The star had left them a great while, yet now returns. They who follow (iod in the dark shall find that light is sown, is resened, for them. Israel was led by a pillai- of fire to the promised land, the wise men bv a star to the promised Seed, who is himself the bright and Morning Star, Rev. 22. 16. God would rather create a nenv thinf, than leave these at a loss who diligently and faithfully sought him. This star was the token of God's presence with them ; for he is Light, and goes before his people as their Guide. Note, If we by faith eve God in ali\ our ways, we may see ourselves under his conduct ; ' he guides with his eye, (Ps. 32. 8. ) and saith to them, This is the way, walk in it : and there is a day-star i that arises in the hearts of those that inquire after ) Christ, 2 Pet. 1. 19. 2. Obsene how joyfully they J followed God's direction; (t. 10.) JI7ien Ihey saie the star, they rejoiced witli exceeding great joy. Now thev saw they were not deceived, and had not taken this long journey in vain. When the desire comes, it is a tree of life. Now they were sure that God was with them, and the tokens of his presence and favour cannot but fill with joy unspeakable the souls of those that know how to value them. Now they could laugh at the Jews in Jerusalem, who, probably, had laughed at them as coming on a fool's eiTand. The watchmen can give the spouse no tidings of her beloved ; yet it is but a little that she passes from them, and she finds him. Cant. 3. 3, 4. We cannot expect too little from man, nor too much from God. Wliat a transport of joy these wise men were in, upon this sight of the star, none know so well as those who, after a long and melancholy night of temptation and desertion, under the power of a spirit of bondage, at length receive the spirit ofadoft-
in^ is)
ST. MATTHEW, II
21
tk n, •mitncssinff with their sfiirits that they are the children of God ; this is liglit out of chu-kncss, it is life from the dead. Now they had reason to hope for a siglit of the Lord'n Christ speedily, of the Sun of righteousneiss, for the\- see the Alornitig Star. Note, We should be glad of every thing that will shew us the way to Christ. This star was sent to meet the wise men, and to conduct them into the presence-chamber of the King ; by this master of the ceremonies they were introduced, to liave their audience. Now Ciod fulfils his promise of meeting those that are disposed to rejoice, and work righ- tcousnens, (ls;u 04. 5.) and the\' fulfil his precept. /.(■; the hearts of those rejoice that seek the J.ord, Vs. 105. 3. Note, (iod is pleased sometimes to fa- vour young converts with such tokens of his love as are very encouraging to them, in reference to the difficulties the)- meet with at their setting out in the •ways of (jod.
II. See how they made their address to him when they had found him, t. 11. We may well imagine then- expectations were raised to find this royal I'.abe, though slighted b\' the nation, yet honourablv attended at home ; and what a disappointment it was to them, when they found a cottage was his palace, and his own poor mother all the retinue he had ! Is this the Saviour of the world ? Is this the King of the Jews, nay, and tlie I'rince of the kings of the earth ? Yes, this is he, who, though he was rich, \ei, for our sokes, became thus floor. How- ever, these wise men were so wise as to see through this veil, and in this despised Babe to discern the glory as of the Only-begotten of the Father ; they did not think themsehes balked or bafllcd in their inquiiy ; but, as having found the King they sought, thev presented themselves first, and then their gifts, to him.
1. They presented themsehes to him ; they fell down, and wor.<ihififled him. W'c do not read tnat they gave such honour to Herod, though he was in the' height of his roj'al grandeur ; but to this Babe thev gave this honour, not onl\- as to a King, (then thev would have done the same to Herod,) but as to a God. Note, -■VU that ha\e found Christ fall down before him ; they adore him, and submit them- selves to him. He is thy Lord, and worshiji thou him. It will be the wisdom of the wisest of men, and by this it will appear they know Christ, and undei'stand themselves and their ti-ue interests, if they be the humble, faithful worshippers of the Lord Jesus.
2. They flresented their gifts to him. In the east- cm nations, when they did homage to their kings, they made them presents ; thus the subjection of the kings of Sheba to Christ is spoken of, (Ps. 72. 10.) They shall bring flresents, and offer gfts. See Isa. 60. 6. Note, With ourselves, we must give up all that we have to Jesus Christ ; and iT we be sincere in the surrender of ourselves to him, we shall not be unwilling to part with what is dearest to us, and most valuable, to him and for him ; nor are our gifts accepted, unless we first present ourselves to him living sacrifices. God had resfiect to Jlbel, and then to his offering. The gifts they presented were, gold, frankincense, and myrrh, money, and money's- worth. Pro\'idence sent this for a seasonable relief to Joseph and Maiy in their present poor condition. These were the products of their own country ; what God favours us with, we must honour him with. Some think there was a significancy in their gifts ; thev offered him gold, as a King, paving him tribute ; to Cxsar, the things that are Ceesar^s ; frankincense, as God, for they honoured God with the smoke of incense ; and myrrh, as a Man that should die, for myrrh was used in embalming dead bodies.
III. See how they left him when they had made their address to him, v. 12. Herod appointed them
to bring him word what discoveries they had made, and, it is probable, they would have done so, if they had not been countermanded, not suspecting their being thus made his tools in a wicked design. I'hose that mean honestly and well themselves arc easily made to believe that others do so too, and cannot think the world is so bad as really it is; but the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temjita- tion. ^^'c do not find that the wise men promised to come back to Herod, and, if they had, it must have been with the usual proviso. If God permit ; (iod did not permit them, and ])re\ ented the mis- chief Herod designed to the Child Jesus, and the trouble H would have been to the wise men to have been made involuntarily accessary to it. The)' were TJunicdofGod, ;^f»^»T(o-6i»T!t — oraculo vel resfloiuo accepto—bxi an oracular intimation. Some think that it intimates that they asked counsel of God, and that this was the answer. Note, Those that act cautiously, and are afraid of sin and snares, if they apply themselves to God for direction, may expect to be led in the right way. They were warned not to return to Herod, or to Jeiiisalem ; these were imworthv to have reports brought them conceming Christ, that might have seen with their own eyes, and would not. They departed into their own coun try another 'H'ay, to bring the tidings to their coun- tn'mcn ; but it is strange that we never hear any m'oi-e of them, and that they or theirs did not after- wards attend him in the temple, whom they had worshipped in the cradle. However, the direction they had from God in their return would be a fur- ther confirmation of their faith in this Child, as the Lord from heaven.
1.3. And when tliey were departed, be- hold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, sa\ing. Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Eg>'pt, and be thou there until I bring thee word : for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 14. AVhen he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egj^Dt ; 1 5. And was there until the death of Herod : that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saj^ing, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
We have here Christ's flight into Egypt, to avoid the ci-ucltv of Herod, which was the effect of the wise men's inquiiy after him ; for, before that, the obscurity he lav in was his protection. It was but little respect (compared with what should have been) that was paid to Christ in his infancy ; yet even that, instead of honouring him among his peo- ple, did but expose him.
Now here observe,
I. The command given to Joseph conceming it, II. 13. Joseph knew neither the danger the Child was in, nor how to escape it ; but God, by an angel, tells him both in a dream, as before he dn-ected him in like manner what to do, ch. 1. 20. Joseph, be- fore his alliance to Christ, had not been wont to converse with angels as now. Note, Those that are spiritually related to Christ by faith, have that com- munion and con-espondence with Heaven, which before they were strangers to.
1. Joseph is here .told what their danger was ; Herod will seek the young Child to destroy him. Note, God is acquainted with all the cniel projects and purposes of the enemies of his church. I know thy rage against me, saith God to Sennacherib, Isa. 37. 28. How early was the blessed Jesus involved in trouble ! Usually, even those whose riper years
ST. MATTHEW , II.
are attended with toils and perils have a peaceable and quiet infancy ; but it was not so with the blessed Jesus : his life and sufFei-ings began together ; he was bom a Man striven -with, as Jeremiah was, (Jer. 15. 10.) who was sanctified from the womb, Jer. 1. 5. Both Christ the Head, ajid the church his body, agi-ee in saying. Many a time have they afflicted me, from my youth up. Pharaoh's ci-uelty fastens upon the Hebrews' children, and the great red dragon stands ready to devour the man-child as soon as it should be born. Rev. 12. 4.
2. He is directed what to do, to escape the dan- ger; Take the young Child, and Jice into £gypt. Thus eariy must Christ give an example tp his own rule; {ch. 10. 23.) When they persecute you in one city, fee to another. He that came to die for us, when his hour was not yet come, fled for his own safety. Self-preservation, being a branch of the law of nature, is eminently a part of the law of God Flee; but why into Egvjit? Egj-pt was infamous for idolatry, tyranny, and enmity to the people of God ; It had been a house of bondage to Israel, and particularly cruel to the infants of Israel ; in Egvpt, as much as in Ramah, Rachel had been weeping for her children ; yet that is appointed to be a place of refuge to the holy Child Jesus. Note, God, when he pleases, can make the worst of places serve the best of purposes ; for the earth is the Lord's, he makes what use he pleases of it : sometimes the earth helps the woman, Rev. 12. 26. God, who made Moab a shelter to his outcasts, makes Egv'pt a refuge for his Son. This mav be considered,
(1.) As a trial of the faith of Joseph and Mar\-. Thev might be tempted to think, " if this Child be the Son of God, as we are told he is, has he no other way to secure himself from a man that is a worm, tlian by such a mean and inglorious retreat as this ? Cannot he summon legions of angels to be his life- guard, or cherubims with flaming swords to keep this tree of life ? Cannot he strike Herod dead, or wither the hand that is stretched out against him, and so save us the trouble of this remo\-e >" Thev had been lately told that he should be the Glory of his people Israel ; and is the land of Israel so soon become too hot for him ? But we find not that thev made any such objections ; their faith, being tried, was found firm, and they believe this is the son of God, though they see no miracle wrought for his presen-ation ; but thev are put to the use of ordina- ry means. Joseph had gi-eat honour put upon him m being the husband of the blessed Virgin ; but that honour has trouble attending it, as all honours have m this world; Joseph must take the youne- Child and cany him into Egv/it ; and now it appeared how well God had provided iovthe youn^ Child and his mother, m appointing Joseph to'stani in so near a relation to them ; now the gold which the wise men brought would stand them in stead to bear their charges. God foresees his ])eopIe's distresses, and provides against them beforehand. God intimates the continuance of his care and guidance, when he said. Be thou there uyitil I bring thee word ; so that he must expect to hear from God again, and not stir without fresh orders. Thus God 'will keep his people still in a dependence upon him.
(2.) As an instance of the humiliation of our Lord Jesus. As there was no room for him in the inn at Bethlehem, so there was no quiet room for him in the land of Judea. Thus was he banished from the earthlv Canaan, that we, who for sin were banished irom the heavenly Canaan, might not be for ever expelled. If we and our infants be at any time in straits, let us remember the straits Christ'in his in- /o\'*T^ °™"Sht into, and be reconciled to them. (3.) As a token of God's displeasure against the Jews, who took so little notice of him ; justlv does ne leave those who had slighted him. We see also
here an earnest of his favour to the Gentiles, to whom the apostles were to bring the gospel when the Jews rejected it. If Eg^'pt entertain Christ when he is forced out of Judea, it will not be long ere it be said. Blessed be Egypt my people, Isa.
II. Joseph's obedience to this command, v. 14, The journey would be inconvenient and perilous both to the young Child and to his mother ; they were but poorly provided for it, and were likelv to meet with cold entertainment in Egjpt : yet Joseph was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, made no objection, nor was dilatory in his obedience. As soon as he had received his orders, he immediately arose, and went away by night, the same night, as It should seem, that he received the orders. Note, Those that would make sure work of their obedi- ence, must make quick work of it. Now Joseph went out, as his father Abraham did, with an impli- cit dependence upon God, not knowing whither he went,^ Heb. 11. 8. Joseph and his wifchaving little, had little to take care ot in this remove. And abun- dance encumbers a necessary flight. If rich people have the advantage of the poor while thev possess what they have, the poor ha\e the advantage of the rich when they are called to part with it.
Joseph took the young Child and his mother. Some obsen-e, that 'the young Child is put first, as the principal Person, and Mary is called, not the wife of Joseph, but, which was her greater dignity, the mother of the youn^^ Child. This was not the first Joseph that was driven from Canaan to Eg^Tit for a shelter from the anger of his brethren ; this Joseph ought to be welcome there for the sake of that.
If we may credit tradition, at their entrance into Egypt happening to go into a temple, aU the ima- ges of their gods were overthrown by an invisible power, and fell, like Dagon before the ark, accor- ding to that prophecy. The Lord shall come into Egypt, and the idols of Egijpt shall be moved at his presence, Isa. 19. 1. They continued in Eg)-pt tiU the death of Herod, which, some think, was seven years, others think, not so many months. There they were at a distance from the temple and the ser\ice of it, and in the midst of idolaters ; but God sent them thither, and will have mercy, and not sacrifice. Though they were far from the temple of the Lord, they had with them the Lord of the temple. A forced absence from God's ordinances, and a forced presence with wicked people, may be the lot, are not the sin, yet cannot but be the grief, of good people.
III. The fulfilling of the scripture in all this
that scripture, (Hos. 11. 1.) Out of Egijpt have I called my son. Of all the evangelists; Matthew takes most notice of the fulfilling of the scripture in what concerned Christ, because his gospel was first published among the Jews, with whom that would add much strength and lustre to it. Now this word of the prophet undoubtedly referred to the delivei-ance of Israel out of Eg\^5t, in which God owned them for his son, his firs't-boi-n ; (Exod. 4. 22.) but it is here applied, by way of analog^-, tc Christ, the Head of the church. Note, the scrip- ture has many accomplishments, so full and copious is it, and so well ordered in all things ! God is every day ftilfilling the scripture. Scripture is not of pnvate interpretation, we must give it its full latitude. " men Israel was a child, then I loved him ; and though I loved him, I suffered him to be a great while in Eg^'pt ; but because / loved him, in due time I called him out of Egvpt. They that read this, must, in their thoughts, not only look back, but look forivard ; that which has been shall be again; (Eccl. 1. 9.) and the manner of expres- sion mtimates this ; for it is not said, I called him
ST. MATTHEW, II.
23
but, I called my son, out of Eg^^Jt. Note, It is no new thing for God's sons to be in Egypt, in a strange land, in a house of bondage ; but they shall be fetched out. They may be hid in Egypt, but they sh;Jl not be left there. All the elect of (Jod, being b\- nature cliildrcn of wi-ath, are bom in a s])iritual £g\pt, and in con\ crsion are effectu- ally c;dled out. It might be ol^ected against Christ, that he had been in Egypt. Must l/ie nun of Higlil- cousnrr.s arise out of that land of darkness? But this shews that to be no such strange thing : Israel was brought out of I'-gypt, to be advanced to the highest honours ; and tliis is but the doing the same tlung again.
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was excced- iii"; wroth, and sent Ibrtli, and slew all tlie children that were in ]5etiilehem, and in all the coasts tliereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he i had diligently inquired of the wise men.
17. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
1 8. In Rama there was a voice heard, la- mentation, and weeping, and great mourn- ing, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
Here is, I. Herod's resentment of the departure I of the wise men. He waited long for their return ; he hopes though they be slow, they will be sure, j and he shall crush his Rival at his hi-st appearing ; but he hears, upon enquin", that they are gone off another way, which mcreases his jealousy, and makes him suspect they are in the interest of this new King, which made him exceeding ivroth ; and he is the more desperate and outrageous for his being disappointed. Note, Inveterate corruption swells the higher for the obstructions it meets with in a sinful pursuit
II. His politic contrivance, notwithstanding this, to take off him that is born king- of the Jews. If he could not reach him by a particular execution, he doubted not but to involve him in a general stroke, which, like the sword of war, should dei'our one as well as another. This would be sure work ; and thus those that would destroy their ovjn iniquity, must be sure to destroy all their iniquities. Herod was an Edomite, enmity to Israel was bred in the bone with him. Doeg was an Edomite, who, for David's sake, sleiu all the priests of the Lord. It was strange that Herod could find an\- so inhuman as to be employed in such a bloody and barbarous piece of work ; but wicked hands never want wicked tools to work with. Little children have always iccn taken under the special protection, not only of numan laws, but of human nature ; yet these are sacrificed to the rage of this tyrant, under whom, as under Nero, innocence is the least security. Herod was, throughout his reign, a bloody maii ; [ it was not long before, that he destroyed the whole Sanhedrim, or bench of judges ; but blood to the blood-thirsty is like drink to those in a dropsy ; Quo plus sunt pota, plus sitiuntur aqu£ — The more they drink, the more thirsty they become. Herod was now about seventy years old, so that an infant, ' at this time under tnvo years old, was not likely ever to give him any disturbance. Nor was he a man over fond of his own children, or of their preferment, I having foi-merly slain two of his own sons, Alexan- der and .\ristqbulus, and his son .\ntipater after this, but five days before he himself died ; so that it wa.s [
purely to gratify bis own brutish lusts of pride and cruelty that he did this. All is fish that comes to his net.
Obseixe what large measures he took, 1. As to time ; He slew all from tivo years old and under. It is probable that the blessed Jesus was at this time not a year old ; yet Herod took in all the infants under tii'o years old, that he might be sure not to miss of his prey. He cares not how many heads fall, whic'h he allows to be innocent, provided that escai)e not whuh he supposes to be guilty. 2. As to place ; He kills all tlie male children, not only m Bethlehetn, but in all the coasts thereof, in all the villages of that city. This was l)eing overmuch ivicked, (Eccl. 7. 17.) Note, An unbridled wrath, armed with an unlawful power, often transports men to the most absurd and unreusonalile instances of cruelty. It was no unrighteous thing with God to permit this ; every life is forfeited to his justice as soon as it commences; that sin which entered by one man's disobedience, introduced death with it'; and we are not to suppose any thing more than that common guilt, we are not to suppose 'hat these chil- dren ntx^e sinners above all that were m Israel, be- cause they suffered such things. God's judgments are a great deefi. The diseases and deaths of little children are proofs of original sin. But we must look upon this murder of the infants under another character : it was their martyrdom. How early did persecution commence against Christ and his king- dom ! Think ye that he came to send peace on the earth? No, but a sword, such a sword as this, ch. 10. 34, 35. A passive testimony was hereby given to the Lord Jesus. As when he was in tlie womb, he was witnessed to by a child's leaping in the womb for joy at his approach, so now, at fn'O years old, he had contemporaiy witnesses to him of the same age. The\- shed their blood for him, who afterwards shed his for them. These were the infantry of the noble army of martyrs. If these infants were thus bap- tized with blood, though it were their own, into the church triumphant, it could not be said but that, with what thev got in heaven, they were abundant- ly recompensed for what they lost on earth. Out of the mouths of these babes and sucklings God did perfect praise ; otherwise, it is 7iot good to the yll- mighty that he should thus afflict.
The tradition of the Greek church, (and we have it in the .'Ethiopic missal,) is, that the number of the children slain was 14,000; but that is very ab- surd. I believe, if the births of the male children in the weekh- bills were computed, there v\ould not be found so many under two years old, in one of the most populous cities in the world, much less in Bethlehem, a small town, that was not near a forti- eth part of it. But it is an instance of the vanity of tradition. It is strange that Josephus does not're late this storv ; but he wrote long alter St. Matthew, and it is probable that he therefore would not relate it, because he would not so far countenance the christian historv, for he was a zealous Jew ; but, to be sure, if it had not been true and well attested, he would have contested it. Macrobius, a heathen writer, tells us, that when Augustus Cxsar heard that Herod, among the children he ordered to be slain under two years old, slew his own son, he passed this jest upon him. That it was better to be Herod's swine than his son. The usage of the coun- ti-v forbade him to kill a swine, but nothing could restrain him from killing his son. Some think that he had a voung child at nurse in Bethlehem ; others think that, through mistake, two events are con founded — the murder of the infants, and the murder of his son Antipater. But for the church of Rome to put the Holy Innocents, as they call them, into their calendar, and obser\'e a day in memory of them, while they have so often, by their barbarous
24
ST. MATTHEW, II.
massacres, justified, and even out-done Herod, ij but to do as their predecessors did, wlio built tVie tombs of tlie propliets, while they themselves filled up the same measure.
Some obsen'e another design of Providence in the murder of the infants. By all the prophecies of the Old Testament it appears that Bethlehem was the place, and this the time, of the Messiah's nativity ; now all the children of Bethlehem, born at this time, being murdered, and Jesus only escaping, none but Jesus could pretend to be the Messiah. Herod now thought he had baffled all the Old-Testament prophecies, had defeated the indications of the star, and the devotions of the wise men, by ridding the country of this new King ; ha\ang burnt the hive, he concludes he had killed the master bee ; but God in heaven laughs at him, and has him m derision. Wliatevcr crafty cruel devices are in men's hearts, the counsel of the Lord shall stand.
III. The fulfilling of the scripture in this ; iy. 17, 18.) Then ivas fulfilled \.\\».t\->ro-p\\i:Q.y, (Jer. 31. 15.) A voice was heard in Bamah. See and adore the fulness of the scripture ! That prediction was ac- complished in Jeremiah's time, when Nebuzaradan, after he had destroyed Jenisalem, brought all his prisoners to Kamah, (Jer. 40. 1.) and there disposed of them as he pleased, for the sword, or for cap- tivity. Then was the cry in Kamah heard to Beth- lehem ; (for those two cities, the one in Judah's lot, and the other in Benjamin's, were not far asunder ;) but now the prophecy is again fulfilled in the great sorrow that was for the death of these infants. "The scripture was fulfilled,
1. In the place of this mourning. The noise of it was heard from Bethlehem to Ramah ; for Herod's cruelty extended itself to all the coasts of Bethlehejn, "ven into the lot of Benjamin, among the children •if Rachel. Some think the country about Bethle- hem was called Rachel, because there she died, and 'vas buried. Rachel's sepulchre was hard bv Beth- lehem, Gen. 35. 16, 19. Compare 1 Sam.' 10. 2. Rachel had her heart much set upon children ; the son she died in tra\ail of, she called Benoni — the son of her sorrow. These mothers were like Ra- chel, lived near Rachel's gi-ave, and manv of them descended from Rachel ; and therefore their lamen- tations are elegantly represented by Rachel's weefi- ing.
2. In the degree of this mourning. It was lamen- tation and weeping, and great ?nourning; all little enough to express the sense they had of this aggi-a- vated calamity. There was a 'gi-eat cry in Eg>-pt when the first-bom were slain, and so there was here when the youngest was slain ; for whom we naturally have a'particular tenderness. Here was a representation of this world we li\-e in. ^^■e hear in it lamentation, and weeping, and mourning, and see the tears of the ofifircssed, some upon one ac- count, and some upon another. Our wav lies through a -vale of tears. This sorrow was so great, that the\' viould 'not be comforted. They hardened them- selves in it, and took a pleasure in their giief. Bless- ed be God, there is no occasion of gi-ief in this world, no, not that which is supplied bv sin itself, that will justify us in refusing to be comforted! They would not be comforted, because they are not, that' is, thev are not in the land of the living, are not as they were, in their mothers' embraces. If, indeed, theu were not, there might be some excuse for sorrow'- ing as though we had no hope ; but we know thev are not lost, but gone before ; if we forget that they are, we lose the best ground of our comfort, 1 Thess. 4. \%. Some make this great grief of the Bethle- hemites to be a judgment upon them for their con- tempt of Christ. They that would not rejoice for the birth of the Son of God, are justly made to weep for the death of their o\vw sons ; for they only won- \
dered at the tidings the shepherds brought them, but did not welcome them.
The quoting of this prophecy might serve to ob- viate an objection which some would make against Christ, upon this sad providence. " Can the Mes- siah, who is to be the Consolation of Israel, be in- troduced with all that lamentation f" '\'es, for so it was foretold, and the scripture must be accomplish- ed. And besides, if we look fuilher into this pro- phecy, we shall find that the bitter weeping in Ramah was but a prologue to the gi-eatest joy, for it follows. Thy work shall be rewarded, and there is hope in thy end. The worse things are, the sooner they wiU mend. Unto them a Child was bom, sufficient to repair their losses.
1 9. But when Herod was dead, behold, "an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20. Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel : for they are dead which sought the young child's life. 21. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22. But when he heard that Ar- chelaus did reign in Judea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thi- ther : notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee : 23. And he came and dwelt in a city called N^azareth ; that it might be fulfilled \\ hich was spoken by the prophets. He shall be called a Nazarene.
We have here Christ's return out of Eg)pt into the land of Israel again. Egj'pt may serve to so- jouni in, or take shelter in, for a while, but not to abide in. Christ was seyit to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and therefore to them he must re- tum. Obser\e,
I. 'What it was that made way for his return — the death of Herod, which happened not long after the murder of the infants ; some think not above three months. Such quick, work did di\ine ven- geance make ! Note, Herods must die ; proud ty- rants, that were the teiTor of the mighty, and the oppressors of the godly, in the land of the Irinng, their day must come to fall, and down to the pit they must go. JVho art thou then, that thou shouldeat be afraid of a man that shall die ? (Isa. 51. 12, 13.) especially considering that at death, not only their envy and hatred are perished, (Eccl. 9. 6.) and they cease from troubling, (Job 3. 17.) but they are pun- ished. Of all sins, the guilt of innocent blood fills the measure soonest. It is a dreadful account which Josephus gives of the death of this same Herod, (Antiq. Jud. lib. xvi. cap. \ iii, ix, x. ) th.at he ivas seized with a disease which burned him inwardly with an inexpressible torture ; that he was insatia- bly greedy ot meat ; had the colic, and gout, and dropsy ; such an intolerable stench attended his dis- ease, that none could come near him ; and so pas- sionate and impatient was he, that he was a tomient to himself, and a terror to all that attended him : his innate craelty, being thus exasperated, made him more barbarous than ever ; havang ordered his o\vn son to be put to death, he imprisoned many of the nobility and gentry-, and ordered that as soon as he was dead they should be killed ; but that execu- tion was prevented. See what kind of men ha\e been the enemies and persecutors of Christ and his followers ! Few have opposed Christianity but such
ST. MATTHEW, 111.
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;u. have firet divested themselves of liumanity, as N .-TO and Domitiaii.
II. The oidcrs given from Heaven concerning •lieir return, and Joseph'sobediencc to those orders, V. 19 — 21. CJod had sent Joseph into Egviit, and there he stayctl till the same that broui;fit him thitlier ordered him thence. Note, In all our re- moves, it is good to sec our way ])lain, and (lod going before us ; we should not move either one v/ay or the other without order. These ordeis were sent him by an angel. Note, Our intercourse with Ciod, if it be kept up on our part, shall be kejjt up on his, wherever we are. No place can exclude (iod's
g'acious visits, .\ngels come to Joseph in Egypt, to zekiel in Hal)ylon, and to John in Patmos. Now, 1. The angel informs him of the death of Hei'od and his accomplices ; T/iri/ are dead, iv/iic/i soufc/it the yoiDiv Child's life. 'I'liev' are dead, but the young (Child lives. Persecuted saints sometimes In e to tread upon the gi'a\es of their persecutors. Thus did the church's King weather the storm, and m.any a one has the church in like manner weathered. They arc dead, to wit, Hernd and his son Antipater, who, though there were mutual jealovisics between them, vet, i)r.)bubly, concurred in seeking the dc- stniction of this new King. If Herod first kill .-\n- tipater, and then die himself, the coasts are cleared, and the Lord i.i k-no'-im hy the judgments ivhich he ex-ectites, when one wicked insli-ument is the i-uin of another. 2. He directs hin> what to do. He must g-o and return to the land of Israel ; ;md he did so without delay ; not pleading the tolerably ijood set- tlement he had in Kgj'])t, or the inconveniences of the journey, especially if, as is supposed, it was in the l)egiuning of winter that Herod died. God's people follow his direction, whithersoever he leads them, wherever he lodges tliem. Did we but look upon the world as our Eey-j^t, tlie place of our bon- dage and banishment, luid heaven only as our Ca- naan, ovu" home, our rest, w-c should as readily arise, and depart thither, when we are called for, as Jo- seph did out of Egi'pt.
III. The further direction he had from God, which way to steer, and where to fix in the land of Israel, i'. 22, 23. God could ha\e given him these instnictions with the former, but God rc\eals his mind to his people by degrees, to keej) them still waiting on him, and expecting to hear fiirther from him. These orders Josejih recci\ed in a dream, probably, as those before, by the ministration of an angel. God could have signified his will to Joseph by the Child Jesus, but we do not find that in those removes he cither takes notice, or gives notice, of any thing that occurred ; surely it was because in all things it behoved him to be made like his brethren ; being a Child, he s/ialce as a child, and did as o child, and drew a veil over his infinite knowledge and power ; as a child he increased in wisdom.
Now the direction given this hol\', royal family, is, 1. That it might not settle in Judea, v. 22. Jo- seph might think that Jesus, being born in Bethle- j hem, must be brought up there ; yet he is pnidently I afraid for the young Child, because he heard that \ irchelaus reigns in Herod's stead, not over all the kingdom as his father did, but only over Judea, the other prox-inces being put into other hands. See what a succession of enemies there is to fight against Christ and his church ! If one drop off, another presently appears, to keep up the old enmity. But for this reason Joseph must not take the young Child into Judea. Note, God will not thrust his children into the mouth of danger, but when it is for his own glory and their trial ; for firecious in the sight of the Lord are the life and the death of his saints ; preci- ous is their blood to him.
2. That it must settle in Galilee, v. 22. There Philip now ruled . who was a mild, quiet man. Note,
Vol. v.— D
The providence of God commonly so orders it, that his jjcople shall not want a [piiet retreat from tl.e storm and from the tempest ; when one climate be- comes hot iuid scorching, another shall be kept more cool and tem])erate. (Jalilee lay far north ; Sama- ria lay between it and Judea ; thither they were sent, to Nazareth, a city upon a hill, in the centre of the lot of Zebulun ; there the mother of our Lord lived, when she conceived that holy thing ; and, proliably, Joseph lived there too, Luke 1. 2(i, '27. Thither they were sent, -and there they were well known, and were among their relations; the most jiroper place for them to be in. There tlicy con- tinued, and from thence our Saviour was called Jesus ofjVazareth, which was to the Jnvs a stumbling- bloc/:, for, Ca?! any good thing come out of A'aza- rcth ?
In this is said to be fulfilled what was sfiokeii by the prophets. He shall be called a .Vazarene ; which may be looked upon, (1.) As a name of honour and dignity, though ])rimarily it signifies, no more tha.. a mari of.A'azareth ; there is an allusirn, or mystery in it, sjieaking Christ to be, [l."] The Man, the Branch, 'prken of, Isaiah 11. 1. The word there is A'etzar, which signifies, either a branch, or the city .Vazareth ; in being denominated from that city, he is declared to be that Branch. [2.] It speaks him to be the great .Vazarite ; of whom the legal Naza- rites were a type and figure, (especially Samson, Judg-. 13. 5.) aiid Josejjh, who is called a .Vazarite among his brethren, (Gen. 49. 26.) and to whom that which was prescribed conccming the Nuza- rites, has reference. Numb. 6. 2, &c. Not that Christ was, stric'lu, a Xazarite, for he dr:'nk wini, and touched dead l)odies; but he was eminently so, both as he w-as singularly holy, and as he was by a solemn designation and dedication set apart to the honour of God in the work of our redemption, as Samson was to save Israel. And it is a name we liave all reason to rejoice in, and to know him by. Or, (2. ) As a name of reproach and contenij)t. To be called a .Yazarene, was to be called a des/iicable man. a man from \\ horn no good was to be expected, and to whom no respect was to be paid. The Devil first fastened this name upon Chnst, to render him mean, and jircjudicc people against him, and it stuck as a nick-name to him and liis followers. Now this was not particularlv foretold by any one ijrophct, but, in general, it was spoken by the firophets, that he should be des/iised and rejected of men, (Isa. .53. 2, 3.) a Jt'ortn and no ma?!, (Ps. 22. 6, ".) that he should be an Jlien to his brethren, Ps. 69. 7, 8. Let no name of reproach for religion's sake seem hard to us, when our Master was himself called a .Vaza- rtmc.
CHAP. III.
At the slorv of this chn pier, concprnine; the bnplism of John, bcfiins the gospel ; (Mark, 1. 1.) what went before is but Preface or Introdiiotion ; this is "the hepiiinins of Ihc gos- pel of Jesus Christ." And Peter observes the same dale, Acl.s 1. 22. besinninsr from the baptism of Julm, for then Christ lieuan first to appear in liini, and then in appear to him, and bv liim to thd' world. Here is, I. The i;loriou: risinirorthnniorninsr-star — John the Baptist, v. I. I. The doctrine he preached, v. 2. 2. The fnlfillin? of the scrip- ture in him. v. 3. ♦S. His manner of life, v. 4. 4. The re- sort of multitudes to him, and their submission to his bap- tism, V. 5, (>. 5. His sermon that he preached to the Pha- risees and .Sadducees, wherein he endeavours to bring; them to repentance, fv. 7 — 10.) and so to brin<? them to Clirist, V. II, 12. Tl. The more glorious shininir forth of the sun of rii;hteou5ness, immediately after; where wc have, I. The honour done by him to the baptism of John. v. 13 — 15. 2. The honour done to him hy the descent of thi- Spirit upon him, and a voice from heaven, v. 16, 17.
l.TN those days came .Tolin tlie Baptist, I preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
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ST. MATTHEW, 111.
2. And saying, Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, say- ing, The voice of one crying in the wilder- ness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his patiis straight. 4. And the same John liad iiis raiment of caniePs hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and liis meat was locusts and wild honey. 5. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jor- dan, 6. And were baptized of him m Jor- dan, confessing their sins.
^Ve have here an account of the preaching and baptism of Jolm, which were the dawning of tlie gospel-day. Observe,
I. The time when he appeared, hi those days, {y. 1.) or, o/?fr those days, long after what was re- corded in the foregoing chapter, which left the Child Jesus in his mfancy. In those days, in the lime appointed of the Father for the beginning of the gospel, when the fulness of time was come, which was often thus spoken of in the Old Testa- ment, in those days. Now the last of Daniel's weeks began, or rather, the latter half of the last week, when the Messiah was to confirm tlie covenant ii'ith many, Dan. 9. 27. Christ's appearances are all in their season. Glorious things were spoken both of John and Jesus, at and before their births, which would have given occasion to expect some extraor- dinary appearances of a divine presence and power with them when thev were A'ery young ; hut it is quite otherwise. Except Christ's disputing with the doctors at twelve years old, nothing appears re- markable concerning either cf them, till they were about thirty years old. Nothing is recorded in their childhood and youth, but the greatest part of their life is temjtus iiinxct — ivrajit n/i in darkness and ob- scurity : these children differ little in outwai'd .ap- pearance from other children, as the heir, w^hile he is under age, differs nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all. And this was to shew, 1. That even then when God is acting as the God of Israel, the Saviour, verily he is a God that hideth himself, (Isa. 45. 15.) The Lord isin this filace, and I hionv it not. Gen. 28. 15. Our beloved stands behind the wall long, before he looks fMh at the it'indoivs. Cant. 2. 9. 2. That our faith must principally have an eye to Christ in his office and undertaking, for there is the dis/daii of his power ; but in his person is the hidin!^ of his power. All this while, Christ was God-man ; yet we are not told what he said or did, till he appeared as a Prophet ; and then. Hear ye him. 3. That young men, though well qualified, should not be forward to put forth themsehes in public service, but be humble, and modest, and self- diffident, swift to hear, and sloie to sfieak.
Matthew says nothing of the conception and birth of John the Ba]5tist, which is lai-gely related by St. Luke, but finds him at full age, as if dropt from the clouds to preach in the wilderness. For abo\e three hundred years the church had fteen without pro- phets ; those lights had been long put out, that he might be the more desired, who was to be the great Prophet. After Malachi there was no prophet, nor any pretender to prophecy, till John the Baptist, to whom therefore the prophet Malachi points more directly, than any of the Old-Testament prophets had done; (Mai. 3. 1.) I send my messeng-er.
II. The place where he appeared first. In the tvildemess of Judea. It was not an uninhabited desert, but a part of the country not so thickly peo- pled, nor so much inclosed into fields and ^^neyards,
as other parts were ; it was such a wilderness as had six cities and their villages hi it, which are named, Josh. 15. 61, 62. In these cities and villages John preached, for thereabouts he had hitherto lived, being born hard by, in Hebron ; the scenes of his action began there, where he had long spent his time in contemplation ; and even when he shewed himself to Israel, he shewed how well he loved' re- tirement, as far as would consist with his business. The word of the Lord found John here in a ivilder- jiess. Note, No place is so remote as to shut us out from the visits of divine grace ; nay, commonly the sweetest intercourse the saints have with Heaven, is when they are withdrawn furthest from the noise of this world. It was in this wildey-ne.^s of Judea that David penned the 63d Psalm, which speaks so much of the sweet communion he then had with God, Hos. 2. 14. In a wilderness the law was given ; and as the Old Testament, so the A'eiv Testament, Israel was first found in a desert land, and there God led him about and instructed him, Deut. 32. 10. John Baptist was a priest of the order of Aaron, yet we find him preaching in a ivildemess, and ne\'er officiating in the tem/ile; but Christ, who was not a Son of Aaron, is yet often found in the temple, and sitting there as one having authority ; so it was foT'e- told, Mai. 3. 1. The Lord ii'hom ye seek shall sud- denly come to his temjile ; not the messenger that was to prepare his way. This intimated that the priest- hood of Christ was to thrust out that of Aaron, and drive it into a wilderness.
The beginning of the gospel in a wilderness, speaks comfort to the deserts of the Gentile world. Now must the prophecies be fulfilled, / ii'ill filant in the wilderness the cedar, Isa. 41. 18, 19. The wilder- ness shall be a fruitful field, Isa. 32. 15. And the desert shall rejoice, Isa. 35. 1, 2. The Septuagint reads, the desert of Jordan, the very wilderness in w-hich John preached. In the Romish church there are those who call themsehes hermits, and pretend to follow John ; but when they say of Christ, Behold, he is m the desert, go not forth, ch. 24. 26. There was a seducer that led his followers into the wilder- ness. Acts 21. 38.
III. His preaching. This he made his business. He came, not fighting, nor disputing, but prcachmg ; (v. 1.) for by the foolishness of preaching Christ's kingdom must be set up.
1. The doctrine he preached was that of repent- ance ; (f. 2.) Repent ye. He preached this in J;;- dea, among those that w-ere called Jews, and made a profession of religion ; for e^en the)' need repent- ance. He preached it, not in Jenisalem, but in the wilderness of Judea, among the ]jlain countiy peo- ple ; for even those who think themselves most out of the way of temptation, and furthest from the vanities and vices of the town, cannot wash their hands in innocency, but npust do it in repentance. John Ba])tist's business was to call men to repent of their sins; }-\iTa.vr^titt — Bethink yourselves ; "Ad- mit a second thought, to correct the errors of the first — an after-thought. Consider your ways, change your minds ; you have thought amiss ; think aga'm, and think aright." Note, True penitents have other thoughts of God and Christ, and sin and holiness, and this world and the other, than they have had, and stand otherwise affected toward them. The change of the mind produces a change of the way. Those who are truly sorry for what they have done amiss, will be careful to do so no more. This re- pentance is a necessary duty, in obedience to the command of God ; (Acts 17. 30.) and a necessary preparative and qualification for the comforts of the gospel of Christ. If the heart of man had continued upright and unstained, di\ine consolations might have been received without this painful operation preceding ; but, being sinful, it must be first pained
ST. MATTHEW, III.
27
before it can be laid at ease, must labour before it 1 ; can be at rest. The sore must be scarclicd, or it cannot be cured. / vjound and I heat.
2. The arg\mient lie used to enforce this call, was, Y or the kini^dom of heaven is at hand. The pro- phets of the Old Testament called peojjle to re/ient, tor the obtaining and securing of tcnijjonil natioival mercies, and for the preventing and removing of temporal national judgnK-nts : Init now, though the duty pressed is the same, the reason is new, and purely evangelical. Men arc now considei-ed in theii personal capacity, and not so much as then in a social and politiciU one. Now rejjcnt for the k'mi;- dom of heaven ;s at hand; the go.spel-dis])ensation of tlif co\ enint of grace, the opening of the king- dom of licaven to all believers, by the death and re- surrection of Jesus Christ. It is a kingdom of which Chi-ist is the Sovereign, and \vc nnist be the willing, loval suljjects of it. It is a kingdom of heaven, not of' this world, a spiritual kingdom : its original from heaven, its tendency to heaven. John preached this as at hand ; then it was at tlie door ; to vis it is come, by the jjonring out of the Spirit, and the full exhibi- tion of the riclies of gospel-grace. Now, (1.) This is a great inducement to us to re/ient. Tlicre is nothing like the consideration of di\inc grace to break the heart, bothybr nin and fro7n s/h. That is evangelical repentance, that flov.s from a sight of Christ, from a sense of his love, and the hopes of pardon and forgiveness through him. Kindness in conquering ; al)used kindness, humbling and melt- ing. What a wretch was 1 to sin against such grace, against the law and love of sucli a kingdom ! (2.) It is a great encouragement to us to rc/ient ; " Re- pent, for your sins shall be paixloned u])on your re- pentance. Return to Cod in a way of duty, and he will, through Christ, return to you in a way of mer- cy." The proclamation of jiardon discovers, and fetches in, the malefactor who before fied and ab- sconded. Thus a.re we drawn to it v.ith the cords of a man and the bands of love.
IV. The /irophecy that was fulfilled in him, x'. 3. This is he that was spoken of in the beginning of that part of the pro])hecy of Esaias, which is mostly evangelical, and which points at gospel-times and gospel-grace ; see Isa. 40. 3, 4. John is here spo- ken of,
1. As the voice of one crying in the -vildemess. John owned it himself; (John 1. 23.) I am the voice, and that is all. Ciod is the Speaker, who makes known his mind by John, as a man does by his voice. The word of God must be received as. such ; (1 Thess. 2. 13.) what also is Paul, and what is Apollos, but the voice ! John is called the voice, can) 0iZvI',! — the x'oice of one crt/ing aloud, which is startling and awakening. Clirist is called the Word, which, being distinct and articvdate, is more instructi\e. John, as the voice, roused men, and then Christ, as the Word, taught them ; as we find, Rc\'. 14. 2. The voice of many waters, and of a gi-eat thunder, made way for the melodious voice of har/iers and the nm> song, v. 3. Some observe that, as Sam- son's mother must drink no strong drink, vet he was designed to be a strong man ; so John Baptist's father was stnick dumb, and vet he was designed to be the voice of one crying. When the crier's voice is be- gotten of a dumb father, it shews the excellency of the fioiver to be of God, and not of man.
2. As one whose business it was to prefiare the ■way of the Lord, and to make his paths straii^ht ; so it was said of him before he was bom, that he should make readu a people prefiared for the Lord, (Luke 1. \7.) as Christ's harbinger and forenmner : he' was such a one as intimated the nature of Christ's kingdom, for he came not in the gaudy dress of a herald at arms, but in the homely one of a hermit. < Jfficers are sent before great men to clear the way ;
so John prepares the way of the Lord. (1. . He himself (lid so among the men of that gcneianon. In the Jewish church and nation, at that time, all was out of course ; there was a great decay of \ni:Xy, the vitals of religion were corrupted and eaten out by the traditions and injunctions of the elders. The fivribes and Pharisees, that is, the greatest hypo- crites in the world, had the key of knowledge, and the kev of go\ eniment, at their girdle. The people were, generally, extremely proud of their jnivilcges, confident of justification l)y their own riglue( usncss, insensible of sin ; and tliongh now under the most humbling providences, being lately made a province of the Roman Kmpirc, yet they were unhumbled ; thev were much hi the same tem])er as they were in Malachi's time, insolent and haui^hty, and ready to contradict the word of God : now John was sent to level these mountains, to take down their high opinion of themselves, and to shew them their sins, that the doctrine of Christ might be tlie more ac- ceptable and effectuid. (2.) His doctrine of repent- ance and humiliation is still as necessary as it was then to ])re])are the way of the Lord. Js'ote, There is a great deal to lie done, to make way for Christ into a soul, to bow the heart for the receiition of the Son of David ; (2 Sam. 19. 14.) and nothing is more needful, in order to this, than the discovery of sin, and a conviction of the insufficiency of our own righteousness. That which lets will let, until it be taken out of the way ; jjrcjudices must l)e removed, high thoughts brought down, and captivated to the obedience of Christ. Gates of brass must be broken, and bars of iron cut asunder, ere the everlasting doors be opened for the King of glory to come in. The way ot sin and Satan is a crooked ivay ; to pre- pare a way for Christ, the paths must be made straight, Heb. 12. 13.
V. Tlie garb in which he appeared, the figure ne made, and the manner of his life, t. 4. They who expected the Messiah as a temporal ])rince, would think that his forerunner must come in great poni]) and splendour, that his equipage should be very magnificent and gay ; but it jm-on es quite contrary ; he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, but mean in the e\'e of the world ; and, as Christ himself, having 7io form or comeliness ; to intimate betimes, that the g-lorv of Christ's kingdom was to be spiri- tual, and the subjects of it such as ordinarily were either found bv it, or made by it, poor and despised, who deri\ cd their honours, pleasures, and nches, from another world.
1. His dress Tx^s plain. This same John had //;s raiment of earners hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; he did not go in long clothmg, as the scribes, or soft clothing, as the courtiers, but in the clothing of a country -husbandman ; for he lived in a country-place, and suited his habit to his habita- tion. Note, It is good for us to accommodate our- selves to the place and condition which God, in his pro\idence, has put us in. John appeared in this dress, (1.) To shew that, like Jacob, he was a plain man, and mortified to this world, and the delights and gaieties of it. Behold an Israelite, indeed.' Those that are loinly in heart should shew it by a holy negligence and indifference in their attire ; and not make the putting on of apparel their adoming, nor value others by their attire. (2.) To shew that he was a prophet, for prophets wore rough garments, as mortified men ; (Zcch. 13. 4.) and, especially, to shew that he was the F.lias promised ; for particu- lar notice is taken of Elias, that he was a a hairy man, (which, some think, is meant of the hairy gai-mcnts he wore,) and that he mas girt nvith a gir- dle of leather about his loins, 2 Kings 1. 8. John Baptist ap])ears no way inferior to him in mortifica- tion ; this therefore is that Elias that ivas to come. (3.) To shew that he was a man of resolution ; his
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ST. MATTHEW, III.
rirrlle was not fine, such as were then commonly vvoni, but it was strong, it was a leutliern girdle; and blessed is that servant, whom his Lord, when lie comes, finds with Im loins girt, Luke 12. 35. 1 Pet. 1. 13.
2. His diet was filain ; his meat was locusts and ivild honey ; not as if he never ate any thing else ; but these he frequently fed upon, and made many meals of them, when he retired into solitary places, and continued long thei'e for contemplation. Locusts were a sort of Hying insect, very good for food, and allowed as clean ; (Lev. 11. 22. ) they required little dressing, and were light, and easy of digestion, whence it is reckoned among the infirmities of old age, that the grasshopfier, or locust, is then a bur- then to the stomach, Eccl. 12. 5. IVild honey was that which Canaan flowed with, 1 Sam. 14. 26. Either it was gathered immediately, as it fell in the dew, or rather, as it was found in the hollows of trees and rocks, where bees built, that were not, like those in hives, under the care and inspection of men. This intimates that he ate sfiaringly, a little served his turn ; a man would be long ere lie filled his belly with locusts and wild honey : John Baptist Q;a.VL\e neither eating nor drinking, (ch. 11. IS.) — not with the curiosity, formality, and familiarity tliat other people do. He was so entirelv taken up with spiritual tilings, that he could seldom find time for a set meal. Now, (1.) This agreed with the doc- I trine he preached of refientance, and fruits meet for I re/ientance. Note, Those whose business it is to call others to mourn for sin, and to mortif\' it, ought themselves to live a serious life, a life of self-denial, mortification, and contempt of the world. John Baptist thus shewed the deep sense he had of the badness of the time and place he lived in, which made the preaching of repentance needful ; e\ery day was 2l fast-day with him. (2. ) This agreed with nis office as Christ's yorerz/n'jcr; by this practice he shewed that he knew what the kingdom of hea- ven was, and had experienced the powei's of it. Note, Those that are acquainted with divine and spiritual pleasures, cannot but look upon all the de- hghts and ornaments of sense with a holy indiffer- ence ; they know better things. Bv gi^'ing others this example he made way for Christ. Note, A conviction of the vanity of the world, and every thing in it, is the best preparative for the entertainment of the kingdom of heaven in the heart. Blessed are the poor in spirit.
VI. The people who attended upon him, and flocked after him ; (■'.'. 5.) Then went out to him Je- rusalem, and all Judea. Great multitudes came to him from the city, and from all parts of the country ; some of all sorts, men and Avomen, young and old, rich and poor, Pharisees and Publicans ; they u<e7it out to him, as soon as they heard of his preaching the kingdom of heaven, that the}' might hear what they heard so much of. Now, 1. This was a gi-eat honour put upon John, that so many attended him, and with so much respect. Note, Frequently those have most real honour done them, who least court the shadow of it. Those who li^'e a mortified life, who are humble and self-denying, and dead to the world, command respect ; and men have a secret value and reverence for them, more than one would imagine. 2. This gave John a great opportunitv of doing good, and was an e\'idence that God was with him. Now people begin to crowd and press into the kingdom of heaven ; (Luke 16. 16.) and a blessed sight it was, to see the denv of the youth dro]iping from the ivomh of the gospel-morning, (Ps. 110. 3.) "to see the net cast where there were so manv fish. 3. This was an evidertte, that it was now a time of great expectation ; it was generally thought that the kingdom of God would presently appear ; (Luke W. 11.) and therefore, when John shewed himself
to Israel, lived and preached at this rate, so veiy different from the Scribes and Pharisees, they were ready to say of him, that he was the Christ ; (Luke 3. 15.) and this occasioned such a continence of peo- ple about him. 4. Those who would have the bene- fit of John's ministry must go out to him in the wil- derness, sharing in his reproach. Note, They who traly desire the sincere milk of the word, if it be not brought to them, will seek out for it : and they who would leani the doctrine of repentance must go out from the huri-v of this work!, and be still. 5. It appears by the issue, that of the many who came to John's baptism, there were but few that adhered to it ; witness the cold reception Christ had in Judea, and about Jenisalem. Note, There may be a multitude of forward hearers, where there are but a few ti-ue belie\"ers. Curiosity, and affec- tation of novelty and varietv mav brmg many to attend upon good preaching, and to be affected with it for a while, who vet are never subject to the power of it, Ezek. S3. 31,' 32.
VII. The rite, or ceremony, by which he admitted disciples, v. 6. Those who received his doctrine, and submitted to his discipline, were baptized of him in Jordan, thereby professing their repentance, and their belief that the kingdom of the iSlessiah was at hand. 1. They testified their repentance by con- fessing their sins ; a general confession, it is proba- ble, they made to John that they were smncrs, that they were polluted by sin, and needed cleansing ; but to God they made a confession of particular sins, for he is the party offended. The Jews had been taught lo justify themsehes ; but John teaches them to accuse themselves, and not to rest, as they used to do, in the general confession of sin made for all Israel, once a year, upon the day of atonement , but to make a particular acknowledgment, e\ery one of the plague of his oum heart. Note, A peni- tent confession of sin is required in order to peace and pardon ; and those only are ready to receive Jesus Christ as their Righteousness, who ai'e brought with sorrow and shame to own their guilt, 1 John 1. 8. 2. The benefits of the kingdom of heaven, now at hand, were thereupon scaled to the'm by liaptism. He washed them with water, in token of this — that from all their iniquities God would cleanse them. It was usual with the Jews to bajitize those whom they admitted Proselytes to their religion, especially those who were only Prosehites of the gate, and were not circumcised, as the Prosehites of righteousness were. Some think it was likewise a custom for per- sons of eminent religion, wlio set up for leaders, by baptism to admit pupils and disciples. Christ's ques- tion concerning John's baptism, \^'as itfrom heaven, or of men ? implied, that there were baptisms of men, who pretended not to a divine mission ; with this usage John complied, but his was from heaven, and was distinguished from all others with this cha- racter. It was the baptism of repentance. Acts 19. 4. All Israel were baptized unto Moses, 1 Cor. 10. 2. The ceremonial law consisted in divei's washings or baptisms ; (Heb. 9. 10.) but John's baptism refers to the remedial law, the law of repentance and faith. He is said to baptize them in Jordan, that river which was famous for Israel's passage through it, and Naaman's cure ; yet it is probable that John did not liaptize in that ri\er at first, but that afterward, when the people who came to his baptism were numerous, he removed to Jordan. By baptism he obliged them to live a holv life, according to the profession they took upon themselves. Note, Con.^ fession of sin must always be accompanied with holy j resolutions, in the strength of divine grace, not to) return to it again.
7. But when he saw many of the Phari- sees and Sadducees come to his baptism,
ST. MATTHEW, III.
29
he siiid unto them, O generation of vipers, who liiUh warned yon to lice I'roiu tlie \\ rath to come .' 0. liring lortli thcrefoif fruits m(!Ot for repentance: 9. And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for- 1 say unto you, that Ciod is able of these stones to raise ui) children unto Abraiiam. 10. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees : tiierefore every tree which bring- eth not forth good fruit, is hewn down and cast into llie fire. 11.1 indeed baptize you with water unto ri'peiitance : but he that Cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear : he shall baptize you with tlie Holy G'.iost, and with fire : 12. Whose fan is in liis iiand, and lie will throughly purge his iloor, and gatlier his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
The doctrine Jnlin preached was that of repen- tance, in consideration of the kingdom of/ifavcri be- ing at hand ; now lierc we ha\e the use of that doc- 'rine. Application is tlie life of preaching, so it was ,-f John's preaching.
Observe, 1. To whom he applied it ; to the Pha- risees and Sadducees tliat came to his baptism, v. 7. To others he thought it enough to say, Re/ient, for the kingdom of lieuven is at hand ; but when he saw these Pharisees and Sadducees come about him, he found it necessary to explain himself, and deal more closely. These were two of the three noted sects among the Jews at that time ; the third was that of the Essenes, whom we never read of in the Gospels, for they affected retirement, and declined busying themselves in public affairs. The Phari- sees were zealots for the ceremonies, for the power of the church, and the traditions of the elders ; the Sidducees ran into the other extreme, and were lit- tle better than deists, denying the existence of spi- rits and a future state. It was strange that they came to John's baptism, but their curiosity brought them to 1)C hearers ; and some of them, it is proba- ble, submitted to be Ijaptized, l)ut it is certain that the generality of them did not ; for Christ savs, (Luke 7. 29, 30.) that nvhi'n the fiuhlicans justified God, and mere hafitized of John, the Pharinees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against them- selves, being not bajxtized of him. Note, Many came to ordinances, who come not under the power of thicm. Now to them John here addresses liim- self with all f.iithfulness ; and what he said to them, he said to the multitude, (Luke 3. 7.) forthev were all concenied in wiiat he said. 2. What the appli- cation w:ls. It is plain and home, and directed to their consciences ; he speaks as one that came not tn jjreach befire them, but to preach to the.m. Though his education was priv<ite, he was not b.ish- ful when he appeared in public, nor did he fear the face of man, f.ir he was full of the Holy Ghost, and of power.
I. Here is a word of conviction and awakening. He begins harshly, calls them not Rabbi, gives them not the titles, much less the applauses, thev had been used to. :. The title he gives them, is, O generation of vi/iers. Christ gave them the same titles, ch. 12. 34. — 23. 33. They were as viflers ; though specious, vet venomous and poisonous, and full of malice and enmity to eyery thing that was good; they were a vifierous brood, the seed and offspi-ing of such as had been of the same spirit ; it
was bred in the bone with them. They gloried iji it, th.it thev were the seed of Abraham ; but John shewed them that they were the serpent's seed ; (compare (jcn. 3. 15. )of their father the Devil, John H. 44. They were avi/ieroiis gang, they were all alike ; though enemies to one another, yet con- federate in mischief. Note, A wicked generation is a. generation of vi/iers, and thev ought to be told so; It becomes tlio ministers of Clirist to be bold in shewing sinners their true character. 2. The ulurm he gives them, is. Who has ivarned you to Jlee from the wrath to cojne? This intimates that tliey were in danger of the wrath to come ; and that their case was so nearly desperate, and their hearts so harden- ed in sin, (the Pharisees by their parade of religion, and the Sadducees by their arguments against leii- gion,) that it was next to a miracle to effect any thing hopeful among them. " What bi'ings you hither .•' Who thought of seeing you here .' What fright have you been put into, that you inquire nfter the kingdom of heaven?" Note, (1.) '1 here is a nvralh to come ; beside present wrath, the vials of wliich are poured out now, thei-e is futm'e wrath, the stores of which are treasured up for hereafter. (2.) It is the great concern of every one of us to Hce from that wrath. (3.) It is wonderful mercy that we ai'e fairly warned to flee from this wrath ; think — Who has warned us? G(jd has warned us, who delights not in our ruin ; he wanis by the written word, by ministers, by conscience. (4.) These wamings sometimes startle those who seemed to have been very much hardened in their seciu-ity and good opinion of themselves,
II. Here is a word of exhortation and direction ; {v. 8.) " Bring forth therefore fruits meet for re- pentance. Therefore, because you are warned to flee from the wrath to come, let the teiTors of the Lord persuade you to a holy life." Or, " Therefore, because you profess repentance, and attend iijjon the doctrine and baptism of repentance, evidence that you are true penitents." Repentance is seated in the heart. There it is as a root ; but in vain do we pretend to ha\'e it there, if we do not bring fortn the fruits of it in a imiversal reformation, forsaking all sin, and cleaving to that which is good ; these are fniits, i^i'-i/c Tii; //»Tav-,/ac — worthy of repen- tance. Note, Those are not woithy the name of penitents, or their privileges, who say they are sor- ry for their sins, and yet persist in them. They that jjrofess repentance, as all that are baptized do, nuist be and act as becomes penitents, and ne\er do any thing unbecoming a penitent sinner. It be- comes penitents to be humble and low in their own eyes, to be thankful for the least mercv, jjatient un- der the gi-eatest affliction, to be watchfid against all appearances of sin, and approaches towards it, to abound in every duty, and to be charitable in judg- ing others.
III. Here is a word of caution, not to tnist to their external privileges, so as with them to shift off these calls to repentance ; {v. 9.') Think not to say within yourselves. We have Abraham to our father. Note, There is a great deal which carnal hearts are apt to sav within themselves, to put bv the convincing, commanding jjower of the word of God, which min- isters shovild labi'ur to meet with and anticipate ; vain thoughts which lodge within those who are called to wash their hearts, Jer. 4. 14. M» i-lxTt — *' Pretend not, frresume not, to sav within your- selves ; be not of the o])inion that this will saxe vou ; harbour not such a conceit. Please not yourselves with saving this;" (so some read it;) "rock not voiu'selves asleep with this, nor flatter voursclves into a fool's paradise." Note, God takes notice of what we say within ourselves, v.hich we dare not speak out, and is acquainted with all the f;dse rests of the soul, and the fallacies with which it deludes
30
ST. MATTHEW, ITI.
iLscU, but which it will not discover, lest it should ' he uiidcceixed. Many hide- the lie that i-uins them, in t/wij- right /land, and roll it tinder their tongue, because they are ashamed to own it ; they keep in the Devil's interest, bv keeping the Devil's counsel. Now John shews them,
1. ^Vhat their pretence was; " IVe have Abraham to our father ; we are not sinners of the Gentiles ; it is fit indeed that they should be called to repent ; but we are Jews, a holy nation, a peculiar people, what is this to us ?" Note, The word docs us no good, when we will not take it as spoken to us, a.nd belonging to us. " Think not that liecause vou are the seed of Abraham, therefore," (1.) " You need not re/ient, you have nothing to repent of ; your re- lation to Abraham, and your interest in the covenant made with him, denominate you so hol\-, that there is no occasion for you to change your mind or way." (2.) "That therefore you shaVi fare n<ell enough, though you do not refient. Think not that this will bring you off in the judgment, and secure you from the wrath to come ; that God will connixc at your impenitence, because you are Abraham's seed." Note, It is vain presumption to think tliat our having good relations will save us, though we be not good ourselves. What though we be descended from pious ancestors ; have been blessed with a religious education ; have our lot cast in families where the fear of God is uppermost ; and have good friends that advise us, and pray for us ; vvliat will all this avail us, if we do not repent, and live a life of re- pentance ? We have Abraham to our father, and therefore are entitled to the privileges of the cove- nant made with him ; being liis seed, v/e ai'e sons of the church, the temple of the Lord, Jer. 7. 4. Note, Multitudes, by resting m the honours and advanta- ges of their visible church-membership, take up short of heaven.
2. How foolish and groundless this pretence was ; they thought that being the seed of Abraham, they were tlie only people God had in the world, and therefore that, if they were cut off, he would be at a loss for a church ; but John shews them tlie folly of this conceit ; / say unto you, (whatever you say within yoiu-selves,) that God is ante of these stones to raise u/i children unto Abraham. He was now baptizing in Jordan at Kcthabara, (John 1. 28.) the house of passage, where the children of Israel passed over; and there were the twelve stones, one for each tribe, which Joshua set up for a mcmoi-ial. Josh. 4. 20. It is not unlikely that he pointed to those stones, which God should raise to be, more than in representation, the tv.rive tribes of Israel. Or perhaps he refers to Isa. 51. 1. where Abraham is called the rock- out of ■-.vhich theii Kvere hetvn. That God who raised Isaac out of such a rock, can, if there be occasion, do as much again, for with him nothing is imjiossible. Some think he pointed to those heathen soldiers that were present, telling the Jews that God would raise up a ch\irch for himself among the Gentiles, and entail the blessing of .-Vbra- ham upon them. Thus when our first parents fell, God could ha\'e left them to perish, and out of stones have raised up another Adam and another Eve. Or, take it thus ; " Stones themselves shall be own- ed as Abraham's seed, rather than such hard, dry, barren sinners as you are." Note, As it is lowering to the confidence of the sinners in Zicn, so it is en- toviraging to the fears of the sons of Zion, that, whatever comes of the present generation, God will never want a church in the world ; if the Jews fall off, the Gentiles shall be grafted in, ch. 21. 43. Rom. 11. 12.
rV. In 'Ae is a word of teiTor to the careless and secure Pharisees and Sadducees, and other Jews, that knew not the signs of the times, nor the day of their -N-isitation, T. 10. " Now look about you, now
that the kingdom of God is at hand, and be made sensible,"
1. " How strict and short your trial is ; J^oiu the axe is carried before you, now it is laid to the root of the tree, now you arc upon yotir good behaviour, and are to be so but a ii'hile ; now vou are marked foi- niin, and cannot avoid it but by a speedy and sincere repentance. Now you miist expect that God will make quicker work with you by his judg- ments than he did formerly, and that they will be- gin at the house of God: where God allows more means, he allows less time." Behold, I come quick- ly. Now they were put upon their last trial ; now, or never.
2. " How sore and severe your doom will be, if you do not improve this." It is now declared with the axe at the root, to shew that God is earnest in the declaration, that every tree, however high in gifts and honours, howc\'er green in external pro- fessions and performances, if it bring not forth good fruit, the fiiiits meet for repentance, is h'tti'n dotvn, disowned as a tree in God s \'ineyard, unworthy to have room there, .and is cast into the ^re of (iod's wrath — the fittest place for barren trees : what else are they good for ? If not fit for fruit, they are fit for fuel. Probably, this refers to the destruction of Jenisalem by the Romans, which w:is not, as other judgments had been, like the lopping off of the bran- ches, or cutting down of the body of the tree, leav- ing the root to bud again, but it would be the total, final, and in-ecoverable extii-pation of that pcrple, in which all those should pensh that continued im- penitent. Now God would make a full end, wrath was coming on them to the utmost.
V. A word of instruction concerning Jesus Christ, in whom all John's preaching centred. Christ's ministers preach, not themselves, but him. Here is,
1. The dignity and pre-eminence of Christ above John. See how meanly he speaks of himself, that he might magnify Christ ; {v. 11.) " I indeed bap- tize you ivith r^'ater, that is the utmost I can do." Note, Sacraments derive not their efficacy from those who administer them ; they can only ajiply the sign ; it is Christ's prerogative to give the thing signified, 1 Cor. 3. 6. 2 Kings 4. 31. But he that comes afer me, is mightier than I. Though John had much power, for he came in the spirit and po-.rer of Elias, Christ had more ; though John was tnily gi'eat, gi-eat in the sight of the Lord, (not a greater was bom of woman,) yet he thinks Iiimself unworthy to be in the meanest i)lace of attendance upon Christ; -whose shoes I am not w rthy to bear. He sees, (1.) How mighty Christ is, in comparison with him. Note, It is a great comfort to faithful ministers, to think that Jesus Christ is mightier than they, can do that /or them, and that by them, which they cannct do ; his strength is perfected in their weakness. (2.) How m.can he is, in comparison with Christ, not worthy to carry his shoes after him ! Note, Thrse whom God puts honom- upon, are thereby made very humble and low in their owr eyes ; willing to be abased, so that Christ may be magnified ; to be any thing, to be nothing, so that Christ may be all.
2. The design and intentirn of Christ's appearing, which they were now speedily to expect. \\'hen it was ]2rophesied that John should be sent as Christ's forerunner, (Mai. 3. 1, 2.) it immediateh' follows. The Lord, nvhom ye seek, shall suddenly come, and shall sit as a refiner, v. 3. And, after the coming of Elijah, the day comes, that shall burn as an over, (Mai. 4. 1.) to which tlie Baptist seems here to re- fer. Chiist will come to make a distinction,
(1.) By the powerfiil working of his grace; He shall baptize you, that is, some of you, ii'ith the Holy Ghost, and ivith fire. Note, [1.] It is Christ's pre- rogative to baptize ivith the Holu Ghost. This he
ST. MATTHEW, 111.
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Jid in the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit conferred upon tlie apostles, to which Christ liiniself apjjlies tliesc words of John, Acts 1. 5. This lie docs in the graces and comforts of tl>e Spirit g;ivei\ to them tliat ask him, Luke 11. 13. John 7. 38, 39. Sec Acts 11. 16. [2.] Tl\cy who are l)aptized with the Holy (ihost are baptized ns'-.vit/tfire ; the seven spirits of (iod appear as stTCH liim/m rjffire, Kev. 4. 5. Isfire enUghtenins^ ? So tlie Sjiirit is a Sjiirit of ilhimina- lion. Is it warming ? And do not tlieir hearts l)nrn within them ? Is it consimiing ? .\nd docs not tlic S])iric of Judgment, as a ■S/iiril cfbiiniitig, cimsume the dross of their corruptions ? l)oes fire make all it seizes like itself? .\nd does it move upwards? So docs the Spirit make the soul holy like itself, and its tendency is heaven-ward. Christ says, / am come to xmd/irc, Luke 12. 49.
(2. ) By the final determinations of his judgment ; (f. V2.) ll'/iosc fun is in /lis hand. His al)ility to distinguish, as the eternal wisdom of the Father, who sees all by a tnie light, and his authority to dis- tinguish, as the Person to whom all judgment is com- mitted, is Xhe fan that is in his hand, Jcr. 15. 7. Now he sits as a Uetiner. Obsene here, [1.] The visible church is Christ's floor ; O mil threshing, and the corn of mij floor, Is;u 21. 10. The temple, a type of the chvirch, was built upon a threshing-floor. [2.] In this floor there is a mixture of wheat and chaff. Tnic believers are as wheat, substantial, useful, and \ahiable ; hvpocrites are as chaff, light and empty, useless and worthless, and carried about with e\cry wind ; these are now mixed, good and bad, under the same external profession, and in the same visible communion. [3. J There is a dav com- ing when the floor shall be purged, and the wheat and chaflT shall be sejiarated. Something of this kind is often done in this world, when God calls his peo- ple out of Babylon, Rev. 18. 4. But it is the day of the last judgment tluit will be the great winnowing, distingiiishing day, which will infallibly determine concerning doctrines and works, (1 Cor. 3. 13.) and concerning persons, {ch. 25. 32, 33.) when saints and sinners shall be parted for ever. [4. ] Heaven is the garner into which Jesus Christ wdl shortly gather all his wheat, and not a grain of it shall be lost : he will gather them as the ripe fniits were gathered in. Death's scythe is made use of to gather them to their people. In hca\cn the saints arc brought to- gether, and no kmger scattered ; they arc safe, and no longer exposed ; separated from cornipt neigh- bours without, and cornipt affections within, and there is no chaff among them. Thev are not only gathered into the ham, {ch. 13. 30.) but into tlif garner, where they are throughly purified. [5.] Hell is the uncjuenchabte Jire, whicli will bum up the chaff, w-hich w-ill certainly be the portion and ])unishment, and e\'erlasting destniction, of hv])o- crites and unbelievers. So that here are life and death, good and evil, set before us ; according as we now arc in the^ffW, we shall be then in the /?oor.
1 3. Then Cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14. But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of tiiee, and comest thou to me? 15. And Jesus answering, said unto him, Suffer // tn hr an now: for thus it lierometh us to fulfil all righteous- ness. Then he suffered him. ic. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him 17 And lo, a voice
from heaven, saying. This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Our Lonl Jesus, from his childhood till now, when he was almost thirtv years of age, had lain hid in Galilee, as it were, huried alive ; but now, after a long and dark night, behold, the Sun of righteous ness rises in glorj'. The fulness of time ivas come that Christ should enter upon his prophetical office ; and he chooses to do it, not at Jerusalem, (though it is ])robable that he went thither at the three yearly feasts, as others did,) but there tvhere John was bafilizing ; iov to him resorted those Vi\\a nvaited for the consolation of Israel, to whom alone he wouhl be welcome. John the Baptist was six months older than our Saviour, and it is supjjoscd that he began to ])reach and baptize about six months before Christ a])i)earcd ; so long he was employed in i)reparing his way, in the region round about Jordan ; and more was done towards it in these six months than liad been done in scvei'al ages before. Christ's coming from CJalilce to Jordan, to be ba/itized, teaches us not to shrink from pains and travail, tliat we may ha\e an ojjiiortunity of drawing nigh to (Jod in an ordinance. \\'e should be willing to go far, rather than come short of CDmmunion with God. They who will find must seek.
Now in this story of Christ's baptism we may ob- serve,
I. How hardly John was persuaded to admit of it, T. 14, 15. It was an instance of Christ's great hu- mility, that he would ofter himself lo be ba/itized of John ; that he tvho /cneii) no sin would submit to the baptism of repentance. Note, As soon as ever Christ began to preach, he preached humility, preached it by his example, preached it to all, es- pecially to young ministers. Christ was designed for the highest honours, yet in his first step he thus abases himself. Note, They who would rise high must begin low. Before honour is humility. It was a gi-eat piece of respect done to John, for Christ thxis to come to him ; and it was a return for the ser\'ice he did him, in giving notice of his approach. Note, Those that honour God he will lionour. Now here we have,
1. The objection that John made against baptizing Jesus, 1'. 14. yo/i?;_/&)'Aaf/f ///;», as Peter did, when Christ went about to wash his feet, John 13. 6, 8. Note, Cl'irist's gracious condescensions are so sur- prising, as to appear at first incredible to the strong- est believers ; so deep and mysterious, that even they who know his mind well cannot soon find out the meaning of them, but, by reason of darkness, start objections against the will of Christ. John's modesty thinks this an honour too great for him to receive, and he expresses himself to Christ, just as his mother had done to Christ's mother; (Luke 1. 43.) Ulience is this to me, that the ?nother of my Lord should come to 7ne ? John had now obtained a gi-cat name, and was imi\ersal!y rcsjiected : yet see how humble he is still ! Note, God has further honours in reserve for those whose spirits continue low when their I'cpiitation rises.
(1.) John thinks it necessary that he should be baptized of Christ ; / have need to be bafitized of thee with the baptism of the Holy Ghost, as of fire, for that was Christ's baptism, t. 11. [1.] Though John nvas filled ivith the Holy Ghos,t from the ivomb, (Luke 1. 15.) yet he acknowledges he had need to be baptized with that baptism. Note, They who have much of the Spirit of God, yet, while here, in this imperfect state, see that they have need of more, and need to apply themsehcs to Christ for more. [2.] John has need to be baptized, though he was \.\\e greatest that e-i'ernvas bom ofvjoman; yet, being born of a woman, he is polluted, as others of .Adam's seed are, and owns he has need of cleansing.
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ST. MATTHEW, III.
Note, the purest souls are most sensible of their own remaining impurity, and seek most earnestly for spiritual washmg. [3.] He has need to be baptized 0/ Christ, who can do tliat for us, which no one else can, and which must be done for us, or we are im- done. Note, The best and holiest of men have need q/" Christ, and the better they are, the more they see of that need. [4.] This was said before the mul- titude, who had a great veneration for John, and were ready to embrace him for the Messiah ; yet he publicly owns that he had need to be ba/itized of Christ. Note, It is no disparagement to the great- est of men, to confess that they are undone without Christ and his grace. [5. ] John was Christ's fore- i-unner, kuid yet owns that he had need to be hajitized o/him. Note, Even they who were before Christ in time depended on him, received from him, and had an eye to him. [6.] While John was dealing with others about their souls, observe how fcelinglv he speaks of the case of his own soul, / have need to be ba/itized of thee. Note, Ministers, who preach to others, and bajitize others, are concerned to look to it that they preach to themselves,- :md be them- selves Ijaptized with the Holy Ghnst. Take heed to thyself first ; sax<e tinjself, 1 Tim. 4. 16.
(2.) He therefore thinks it \"eTy preposterous and absurd, that Christ should be Ijaptized by him ; Co- mest thou to me? Docs the holy Jesus, that is sepa- rated from sinners, come to lie baptized by a sinner, as a simier, and among sinners ? How can this be ? Or what account can we give of it ? Note, Christ's coming to us mav well be wondered at.
2. The over-ruling of this objection : {x\ 15. ) Jeans said, Suffer it to be so now. Christ accejited his humility, but not his refusal ; he will ha-ie the thing done ; and it is fit that Christ should take his own method, tliough we do not understaiid it, nor can give a reason for it See,
(1.) How Christ insists upon it ; it must beso now. He does not deny that John had need to be bafitized q/"him, yet he will now be bafitized of John. " A<f sc afri — Let it be yet so ; Suffer it to he so now. Note, Every tiling is beautiful in its season. But why ;;oto .? Why yet ? [1.] Christ is now in a state of humilia- tion : he has emptied himself, and made himself of no refutation. He is not on]y found in fashion as a Jnan, but is made in the li!:eness of sinful flesh, and therefore now let him be bafitized of John ; as if he needed to be washed, though perfectly pure ; and thus he was )nade Sin for us, though he ^-new no si:i. [2.] John's baptism is now in reputation, it is tliat by which God is now doing his work ; tliat is the
g resent dispensation, :uid therefore Jesus v,-ill now e baptized with water ; but his baptizing with the Holy Ghost is reserved for hereafter, 7nani/ dai/s hence. Acts 1. 5. John's baptism has izory its day, and therefore honour must noiv be put upon that, and tliev who attend upon it must be encouraged. Note, Tliey who are of greatest attainments in gifts and graces, should yet, in their i>lace, bear their testimony to instituted ordinances, bv a humble and diligent attendance on them, that they may give a good example to others. What we see God owns, and while we see he docs so, we must own. John was now increasinsr, and therefore it must lie thus yet ; shoitly he will dcci-ease, and then it will be otherwise, [o.] It must be so no-.v, because now is the time for Christ's ajipearing in public, and this vnVi be a fair opport\iuity for it. See John 1. 31 — 3- Thus he must be made manifest to Israel, and be sig- nalized by wondei-s from heaven, in that act of his own, which was most condescending and self-rabasing. (2.) The reason he gives for it ; Thus it becomes us to fulfil all righteousness. Note, [1.1 There was a propriety in ever\' thing that Christ did fir us ; it was aJl graceful ; (Heb 2. 10. — 7. 26.) and we m\ist study to do not onlv that which behoves us. '>"t that
which becomes us ; not only that which is ind'spen sably necessary, but that which is lovely, and of good report. [2.] Our Lord Jesus looked upon 'it as a thing well becoming him, to fulfil all righteousness, that is, (as Dr. \\"hitby explains it,) to own every divine institution, and to shew his readiness to com- ply with all God's righteous precepts. Thus it be- comes him to justify God, and approve his wisdom, in sending John to prepare his way by the baptism of repentance. Thus it becomes us to countenance and encourage every thing that is good, bv pattern as well as precept Christ often mentioned John and his bajitism with honour, which, that he might do the better, he was himself baptized. Thus Jesus began ^fre/ to do, and then to teach ; ;.nd his minister? must take the same method. Thus Christ filled ufi the righteousness of the ceremonial law, which con sisted in divers washings ; thus he recommended the gospel-ordinance of baptism to his church, put honour u])nn it, and shewed what virtue he desigiied to put into it. It became Christ to submit to John's washing with water, because it was a diiine ajijioint- ment ; but it became him to oppose the Pharisees' washing with water, because it was a human in\en- tion and imposition ; and he justified his disciples in refusing to comply with it.
With the will of Christ, and this reason for it, John was entirely satisfied, and theji he suffered him. 'i"he same modesty which made him at first decline the honour Christ offered him, now made him do the senice Christ enjoined him. Note, No pretence of humility must make us decline rur dutv.
II. How solemnlv Heaven was pleased to grace the baptism of Christ with a special disjjlav of glo- ITT ; {v. 16, 17.) Jesus '.ehen he was bafitized, went lifi straightway out of the water. Others that were baptized stayed to confess their sins; {v. 6.) but Christ, having no sins to confess, went ufi immedi- ately out of the water ; so we read it, but not i-ight : for it is i^'' tJ '•.iiT-.t—^from the water; from the brink of the river, to which he went down to be washed with water, that is, to have his head or face washed ; (John 13. 2.) for here is no mention of the putting off, or ])utting on, of his clrthes which circumstance would not have lieen omitted, if he had been baptized naked. Jfe leent ufi straightwau, as one that en- tered upon his work with the utmost cheerfulness and resolution ; he would lose no time. How was he straitened till it was accomfilished !
Now, when lie was coming iifi out of the water, and