by means of their continual desire and endeavour to pollute mankind with the foul is the nature of sin, which makes the contagion of their own sin. Lord, how devil such a foul and unclean creature! Observe, 3. This unclean spirit no sooner saw Christ, but he cried out. Whence note, That the greatness of Christ's power (heing the Son of God) over devils and wicked spirits is such, that it is very terrible and tormenting to them; it was terrible to them in his state of humiliation on earth, and made them then cry out. But oh, how terrible will his power be to them at the great day, when Christ shall come in flaming devils! Observe, 4. The substance of the fire, to render vengeance both to men and

23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. 25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace and come out of him 26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doc-devil's outery; Let us alone, what have we to trine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.

do with thee? Art thou come to destroy us? Where note, that though the devils are now as full of sin and discontent as they can be, yet are they not so full of misery St. Mark having given an account of and torment as they shall be. Art thou our Saviour's doctrine which he preach- come to torment us before the time? says ed, verse 15, namely, the doctrine of faith St. Matthew, chap. viii. 29. Art thou come and repentance, he now acquaints us in to destroy us? says St. Mark: that is to the remaining part of this chapter with the bring upon us our full and final destrucmiracles which he wrought for the con- tion. Implying, that the devil has not yet firming of his doctrine, and they are three. || his full judgment and complete damnaFirst, The casting of a devil out of one tion. Therefore there is certainly a day possessed, verse 23. Secondly, The curing of judgment to come, and the devils are in of Peter's wife's mother of a fever, verse 29. chains of darkness, reserved to the judg Thirdly, The cleansing of the leper, from ment of that great day. But some by these verse 40, to the end of the chapter. words, Art thou come to destroy us? underHis first miracle was the casting a devil stand as much as, "Art thou come to reout of one possessed. There was a man strain us from the exercise of our power?" with an unclean spirit; That is, an unclean Learn we thence, That the devil thinks spirit did enter into him, and bodily pos- himself destroyed when he is restrained sess him. Amongst the many calamities from doing mischief. Observe, 5. The which sin has brought upon our bodies, title which the devil put upon our Saviour; this is one, that we are liable to be bodily Jesus of Nazareth, the Holy One of God. possessed by Satan. The devil has an Although there was ground for the cominveterate malice against mankind, seek- mon people's calling Christ, Jesus of Naing to ruin our souls by his suggestions zareth, because he was bred and brought and temptations, and to destroy our bodies up there, and lived there during his priby some means or other: but, blessed be vate life, till about thirty years of age; God, though his malice be infinite, yet his though he was not born there, but at Bethpower is limited and bounded; as he can- lehem; yet it is conceived that the devil not do all the mischief he would, so he gave this title to our Saviour in policy, shall not do all he can. O how much is it to disguise the place of Christ's nativity, our interest, as well as our duty, by prayer that so the Jews might not believe him to to put ourselves morning and evening un- be the true Messiah, because he was of der the divine protection, that we may be Nazareth, whereas the Messiah was to preserved from the power and malice of come out of Bethlehem. Therefore to the evil spirits! Observe, 2. The attribute or intent that the Jews might be at the greattitle given to the devil, he is called an un- er loss concerning Christ, and in doubt of clean spirit. The devils, those wicked his being the true Messiah, the devil here spirits of hell, are most impure and filthy calls him not Jesus of Bethlehem, but Jecreatures; impure by means of their origi- sus of Nazareth. But how comes the next nal apostasy; impure by means of their title out of the devil's mouth; The Holy actual and daily sins, such as murder, One of God? Could an apostle, could malice, lying, and the like, by which they Peter himself, make a profession beyond continually pollute themselves; impure this? But how comes the devil to make

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it? For no good end or purpose, we may || the house till a stronger than he casts him be sure; for he never speaks truth for out. truth's sake, but for advantage. Probably, (1.) He made this profession, that so he might bring the truth professed into suspicion, hoping that a truth which received testimony from the father of lies would be suspected. (2.) It might perhaps be done that the people might believe that our Saviour had some familiarity with Satan, and did work miracles by his help, be

28 And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee. 29 And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever; and anon they tell him of her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

The second miracle which our Saviour wrought in this chapter, to confirm the truth and authority of his doctrine was his raising up of Peter's wife's mother from her bed of sickness. Where note, 1. tha St. Peter, now a disciple, and afterward an apostle, was a married person. Nei ther the prophets of the Old Testament nor the ministers of the New, did abhor the marriage-bed, nor think themselves too pure for an institution of their Maker. The church of Rome, by denying the lawfulness of priests' marriage, makes herself wiser than God, who says, Heb. xiii. 4. Marriage is honourable amongst all men. Observe, 2. Peter, though a good man, and his wife's mother probably a gracious woman, yet is his family visited with sickness; strength of grace, and dearness of respect even from Christ himself, cannot prevail against diseases. God's own children are visited with bodily sickness as well as others. Observe, 3. The chari

cause he did confess him, and seem so much to honour him. From this instance and example learn, That it is possible for a person to own and acknowledge Christ to be the true and only Saviour, and yet to miss of salvation by him. If a speculative knowledge, and a verbal profession, of Christ, were sufficient to salvation, the devil himself would not miss of happiness. Observe, 6. How our Saviour rebukes the devil for his confession, and commands him silence; And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace. But why was this rebuke given the devil when he spake the truth? Ans. 1. Because Christ knew that the devil confessed this truth on purpose to disgrace the truth. 2. Because the devil was no fit person to make this profession. A testimony of truth from the father of lies is enough to render truth itself suspected. Yet the devil's evidence, that Christ was the holy One of God, will|| rise up in judgment against the wicked Pharisees, who shut their eyes against the miracles, and stop their ears against the doctrine, of the Holy One of God. Observe lastly, How the unclean spirit obeys the voice of Christ, though with great reluctance and regret. When the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out. Christ is Lord over the wick-table care of St. Peter, and the other dised angels, and has an absolute power and ciples, forthwith to acquaint Christ with authority to overrule them, and command the condition of this sick person, Anon them at his pleasure; if Christ says to the they tell him of her. The care of our felevil spirit, Come out, out he must come. low-christians, especially when of the Yet observe the devil's spite at parting, number of our near and dear relations, in he tears the man, tortures his body, throws a time of sickness, is not to be deferred or him violently from place to place, showing delayed. Outward help for their bodies, how loth he was to be dispossessed. Where and the spiritual help of our prayers for Satan has once gotten an hold, and settled their souls, are both straightway to be af himself for a time, how unwilling is he to forded them. Observe, 4. Christ's divine be cast out of possession! yea, it is a tor-power manifested in this miraculous cure: ture and vexation to him to be cast out: it is much easier to keep him out than to cast him out. Satan may possess the body by God's permission, but he cannot possess our hearts without our own consent and approbation: it will be our wisdom to deny him entrance into our souls at first, by rejecting his wicked motions and suggestions; for when once entered, he will, like the strong man armed, keep

He no sooner took her by the hand but the fever left her. The miracle was not in curing an incurable distemper, but in curing an ordinary distemper after a miraculous manner; namely, 1. By a touch of the hand. 2. The recovery was instantaneous and sudden: Immediately the fever left her. 3. The visible effects of her recovery instantly appeared: She arose and ministered unto Christ and his disciples.

and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. 42 And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. 43 And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; 44 And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. 45 But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.

and will to cure him miraculously, who' believed his power, but questioned his willingness. Observe, 4. The cause, moving our Saviour to cure this leper; his bowels were moved with tender pity and compassion towards him. Christ's exercising acts of mercy and compassion, with such condolency and sympathizing pity, should by way of example teach us to be inwardly moved with tender compassion and mercy towards such as are in misery. We are not only to draw out our bread, but to draw out our soul, to the hungry. Observe, 5. A twofold charge and command given by Christ to the leper after his cure. First, to conceal and tell it to no man. Where the great modesty, humility, and piety, of Christ, is discover ed, together with the care of his own safety. His modesty, in not desiring his good deeds should be published and proclaimed; his humility, in shunning vain-gloThe last miracle of our Saviour's re- rious applause and commendation; his corded in this chapter, is the healing of a piety, in desiring all honour and glory leper; he came, beseeching Christ to heal should redound entirely to God. And the him, saying, If thou wilt, thou canst make care of his own safety appeared, lest the me clean. Where observe, 1. He doth publishing of his miracles should create not question Christ's power, but distrusts him untimely danger from the Pharisees. Christ's willingness to heal him; Lord if The second part of the charge given to the thou wilt, thou canst. Christ's divine recovered leper, was to show himself to the power must be fully assented to, and firm- priest, and offer the gift which Moses comly believed, by all those that expect ben-manded for a testimony unto them; that is, efit by him, and healing from him. Ob- to testify to the Jews, that he did not op serve, 2. The great readiness of Christ pose the ceremonial law, which required to help and heal this distressed person. a thank-offering at his hand, and that he Jesus touched him, saying, I will, be thou was the true and promised Messiah. clean. By the ceremonial law, the leper Learn thence, That our Saviour would was forbidden to be touched, therefore have the ceremonial law punctually obChrist's touching the leper showed him to served so long as the time for its continbe above the law, and that he was the uance did endure; though he came to Lord of it, and might dispense with it; destroy that law, yet, whilst it stood, he and his healing the leper by the word of would have it punctually observed. Obhis mouth, and touch of his hand, show- serve, 6. Notwithstanding our Saviour's ed him to be truly and really God. Leprosy strict prohibition, the leper publishes the among the Jews was an incurable distem- fame of this miracle. It is likely his inper, called the finger of God, a disease of tention might be good, in extolling his his sending, and of his removing. Our Sa- great Benefactor; but his acting contrary viour therefore, as a proof of his being the to Christ's command was a fault, and true Messiah, tells John's disciples, Matt. shows the corruption of human nature, xi. 5, that the lepers were cleansed, and the in being most forward to that which is dead raised by him; which two being join- most forbidden. It is a sin to do any thing ed together, do imply, that the cleansing against the command of Christ, though of lepers is as much an act of divine with never so good a meaning, purpose, power as the raising of the dead. And and intention, to exalt and honour Christ. accordingly, 2 Kings, v. 7, it is said, Am Observe lastly, The inconveniences I God, that this man sends to me to cure a which attended our Saviour upon this inman of his leprosy? Observe, 3. The cer- || discreet publication of the miracle; and tainty and suddenness of the cure was a they were two: 1. Our Saviour could no proof of Christ's divine power; immediate more enter into Capernaum, and other ly his leprosy was cleansed. Christ not cities, to preach in an open manner, as he only cured him without means, but with- had done, by reason of the great concourse out the ordinary time required for such a of people after him. 2. The fame of this cure. Thus Christ showed both power miracle brought the people about him from

neither the house, nor hardly the streets, could contain them. Thence learn, That such as least seek after honour and applause from men, are oft-times most famous and renowned. Our Saviour was so far from seeking the people's praise and commendation, that he came into Capernaum without observation, and betook himself to his dwelling-house there ; but the more he sought to lie hid, the more he was taken notice of. Honour flies from them that pursue it, and pursues those that fly from it. The way to be honour

all quarters; not so much to hear as to see; not so much to hear his holy and heavenly doctrine which he taught, as to gratify their curiosity with the sight of the miracles which he wrought. O how many thronged after Christ, more to have their bodily diseases cured, than their souls healed! Christ desired not their flocking after him upon this account; therefore he retires from the breath of popular applause: he would not openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places. O how great humility! How little did our blessed Redeemer regard the ap-ed, is to be humble. God seldom honours a plause and commendation of men! Con- proud man, by making him either emistantly we find him, as soon as his public nently serviceable or successful. Obpreaching and working of miracles was serve farther, The people being come toover, withdrawing himself from the mul- gether, our Saviour takes the opportunity titude into some private place apart: he to preach; And he preached the word unto doth not stay in the crowd with his ear them. Teaching his ministers by his exopen to listen how men admire the preach- ample, to embrace all opportunities, in er, and applaud the sermon. Plainly season and out of season, on the Lord's showing, that he sought his Father's glory, day and on the week day, to edify our not his own praise or the people's com- people by our ministry, by our public exmendation; leaving his example as an hortations, by our private instructions, instructive pattern to all his ministers and prudent admonitions, and holy examples. ambassadors, to take heed of vain-glory; not to affect popularity, or to seek the applause and commendation of men in what they do, resolving that man's opinion shall be nothing with them, but that the pleasing of God, and doing their duty to the

souls of their people, shall always be their

whole scope.

AN

CHAP. II.

ND again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. 2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

In the last verse of the foregoing chapter we find how industriously our blessed Saviour withdrew himself from the concourse and throng of people which flocked after him from every quarter; and to show how little he affected the applause and commendation of the multitude, he left the cities and was without in desert places. Hereby giving his ministers an instructive example to decline vain-glory, and to shun popular applause. But now the words before us show that our Saviour having entered (privately, as is probable) into the city of Capernaum, it is presently, noised and reported that he was in the house, and a mighty concourse and throng of people are after him; insomuch that

3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. 6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? 8 And immediately, when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? 9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? 10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) 11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. 12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch