Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

15

16

the wife. He then cautions them to beware of Chapter Verfe falfe prophets and gives them an excellent rule to difcover good men from bad- By their vii. 'fruits, ye shall know them.' Adding-' Not every one that faith unto me, Lord, Lord, 'fhall enter into the kingdom of Heaven: but 'he that doth the will of my Father which is in Heaven. Many will fay to me in that day,

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

(of judgment) Lord, Lord, have we not prophefied in thy name? And in thy name have 'cast out devils? And in thy name have done · many wonderful works? And then will I profefs unto them, I never knew you: depart

[ocr errors]

from me ye that work iniquity.' Surely they cannot have the impudence to make this address without fome truth: and if they have, in his name, done fuch wonderful works, it must have been by faith. It is plain then, notwithstanding St. Paul's affertions to the contrary, that faith alone will not infure falvation. Jefus winds up this long oration with two beautiful fimilies, claffing his auditors in different points of view. Matthew concludes the affair with- The people were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught 'them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. When he came down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.' cleanfed a man from the leprofy, ordered him to tell no man, but fhew himself to the priest, and offer a gift, as Mofes had commanded.

6

He viii.

When

21

20

23

24

to

27

28

Chapter Verfe When Jefus entered Capernaum, he was met by a centurion, who requested him to heal his fervant, fick of the palfy. Jefus readily offered to go to his house for that purpose; but the centu rion replied; that though he was a man of fome confequence, he was unworthy the honour of hav ing Jefus under his roof; and therefore requested him to speak the word only, and his fervant would 8 be healed. When Jefus heard it, he marvelled, and faid to them that followed: Verily I fay

viii.

10

[ocr errors]

unto you, I have not found fo great faith, no 6 not in Ifrael.' I do not see wherein this confequential man's faith exceeded that of the poor 1 leper who had just before said to him- Lord,

if thou wilt, thou canft make me clean.' It may be faid-It is plain the former believed the word of Jefus was fufficient to effect a cure-but it cannot be proved that the latter had not the same faith, or that he expected any interior or exterior application. Jefus feems, throughout his ministry, to effect his cures by a touch, or by a command, indifcriminately. This story of the centurion, is told by St. Luke in a very different manner. By his account the centurion neither converfed with, or faw Jefus; but fent his requeft by the Jewish elders; who, to obtain it, informed Jefus that he was a friend to their nation, and had built them a fynagogue. When Jefus was on his way to the centurion's house, he sent friends defiring he would not trouble himself,

[ocr errors]

that

that he was unworthy to receive him there, or to Chapter Verfe wait upon him elfewhere. What an equivocal politeness! Jefus (according to St. Matthew) proceeds- And I fay unto you, that many fhall viii. come from the caft, and from the weft, and 'fhall fit down with Abraham, and Ifaac, and

Jacob, in the kingdom of Heaven. But the 'children of the kingdom fhall be caft out into

[ocr errors]

outer darkness: there fhall be weeping and 'gnashing of teeth.' This prediction might mortify and difcourage the Jews; but it doth not here appear that it encouraged the Gentiles. The centurion might furmife that Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, were three Jews: but unacquainted with their being men of confequence, was not defirous of being their companion. We read not of his converfion, though Jefus faid to him'Go thy way, and as thou haft believed, fo be. 'it done unto thee.' And Matthew tells ushis fervant was healed in the self-fame hour.' This ftory of the centurion is not recorded by Mark or John but the latter gives us one of a nobleman, which, in point of time, according to John's account, was previous to that of the centurion; and which, in point of faith, was equal to it (vide ch. iv.) but neither do we read of his converfion. And when we are told that the wife and prudent were kept in darkness, and the ignorant only enlightened, we could not expect it. (vide ch. xi. v. 25.) Matthew proceeds to inform

D

11

12

13

Chapter Verfe inform us, that after the centurion's affair Jefus

viii.

[ocr errors]

enters Peter's house, and by touching his wife's mother, raised and releafed her from a fever. 16 And when the even was come, they brought unto him many that were poffeffed with devils and he caft out the fpirits with his word, and healed all that were fick. That it might 'be fulfilled which was fpoken by Efaias the prophet, faying-Himself took our infirmities,

17

and bare our fickneffes.' How, or in what manner this was fulfilling the prophecy, requires more penetration than I am mafter of, to discover. St. Matthew throughout his gospel feems fond of introducing, or rather producing prophecy, but is feldom lucky in his quotations. He proceeds to inform us-that a certain fcribe telling Jefus he would follow him wherever he went, had this reply The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nefts; but the fon of man hath

[ocr errors]

not where to lay his head.' Had he forfaken, or was he drove from his father's houfe? It appears that his next fleep was on board a ship, or boat, upon the fea, or lake. In facred history we find every thing upon a much larger scale than we do in prophane. The devil, from an high mountain, fhewed Jefus all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them. Matt. ch. xii. v. 42. And when he was come into Jerufalem, all the city was moved, ch. xxi. v. 10. The queen of the fouth came from the uttermost parts of the

earth

h

earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, ch. xii. v. Chapter Verfe

42. And this gospel of the kingdom fhall be
preached in all the world, for a witnefs unto all
nations, ch. xxiv. v. 14. (This, if we may be-
lieve St. Paul, was verified within the space of
thirty years. In ch. ii, writing to the Coloffians,
he fays- The gofpel which ye have heard, and
which was preached to every creature which is
under heaven.) And there went out unto him
(John) all the land of Judea, and all they of
Jerufalem,' and were baptized, Mark, ch. i. v.

5. Jefus, after his refurrection, faid to his dif
ciples- Ye fhall be witneffes unto me, both viii.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

in Jerufalem, and in all Judea, and in Sa

maria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth; ·
with other paffages of this kind: but to crown
all, take the conclufion of St. John's gospel.
Matthew informs us-that a ftorm arose which

covered the fhip with waves. The difciples
alarmed, awoke their mafter, faying- Lord
fave us we perish.' He replied- Why are

[ocr errors]

:

ye fearful, O, ye of little faith.' Then he arofe and rebuked the winds and the fea, and a calm enfued. The aftonished fpectators exclaimed-What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the fea obey him! (Mark and Luke relate this story with fome little variations; but John fays nothing about it.) And when he was come to the other fide, into the country of the Gergefenes, (Mark and Luke call it Gada

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

25

27

« ZurückWeiter »