Whether the Wcrd Tranſlated a Ate, ſignifieth a 3te or A Splinter, is of no great Concern to know. Our Saviour Expound- &d this Text, when he ſaid to the Phariſees, bringing him a Wo- man taken in Adultery, Let him that #s guiltleſs throw the firſt Stone; So forth the Apoſtle Paul, Rom. 2, 1, The Text teach- cth us theſe Leſſons. 1.That thoſe who are moſt Cenſorious of others, are uſually more Notorious and Culpable themſelves, if mot for the ſame Sins, yet for others of equal, if not greater Magnitude. 2. That it is mtorious Hypocriſie to {py ſmaller Faults in others, and not to ſee greater in our ſelves. 3 That it 1 notorious Impudence to pretend to Cenſure and Fudge others for Sins, Mm which we live our ſelves. 4. That there is no ſuch way to teach us Charity, in not haſtily, raſhly, or too ſeverely judging others, as to look firſt into our own Hearts and Ways, and ſeeing if -ve have nst the ſame or greater Fallings. Our Charity in this kind ſhould begin at home. |
6 * Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, ©. neither caſt ye your pearls before ſwine : leſt they trample them under their feet, and turn again and
Tent YOu.
By Swine and Dogs, our Saviour doubtleſs underſtandeth wicked Men of ſeveral forts, either ſuch as are more tame Sinners, tram- pling upon Holy Things, and with Swinz, wallowing in the ire of Luis and Corruptions, P70v. 26. 11. 2 Pet. 2. 21: By Dogs, more malicious, revengeful, boiſterous Sinners may be meanr, whoſe Conſciences will ſerve them to bark and grin at the Word of God, ro mock at Holy Things, to perſecute thoſe rhar bring them the Goſpel, and are their open Enemies, becauſe they tell them the Truth. The Goſpel is to be Preached to every Crea- rure, Mar. 16.15. Bur when the Jews were hardned, and ſpake Evil of that way before the Mulritude, gc. Acts 19. 9. the Apo- ſtles lett Preaching to them. The Precept doubtleſs 1s General, direQing the Miniſters of Chriſt ro Adminiſter the Holy Things
*Luk.5.41.
with which they are entruſted, only to ſuch as have a Right to
them, and under prudent Circumſtances, ſo as the Holy Name of God may not be protaned, nor they run into needleſs Danger,
*Ch. 21. © * Ask, and itſhall be given you: ſeek, and ye 22. Mar. ſhall find : knock, and it ſhall be opened unto you.
mo hp 3 For * every one that asketh, receiveth : and he uk. 11.9. . : fo. 14.12. that ſeeketh, findeth : and to him that knocketh, it & 15.7.& ſhall be opened. 15.23, 24 Herc is a Precept expreſſed by three Wo?*s, Ak, Sech, Knock ; Jam-1-5,5- 11d 2 Promiſe annexed in three diſtin Terms: 7 ſhall be given J Joh. 3* you: Tou ſhall find : It ſhall be opened unto y»vw. The thing Com- 22-N5-15- Tanded is Prajer; the thing Promiſed is an Audience of Prayer, Pro.8.17- or an Anſiver to Prayer. The Multiplying of the Terms in which Jer.29.12- ye Precept is exprefled, 1s nor Idle and Supertluous ; it lers us know our Averleneſs to the Duty ; and that God in it requireth of us Faith, Diligence, Conſtancy, and Importunity, Chrift had be- fore told us of whom we ſhould ask, our Father; it 1s not ſaid what we ſhould ask; both in regard we have a Liberty to ask any thing we have need of; and he had, chap. 6. particularly dire&ted the matter of our Prayers. The Promiſe that we ſhall have, ſignifies an Anſwer, either in Kind or in Value. The Promiſe of Giving lers us know, that our Prayers are not Meritori- ous: For every one that a«ð rhe' things he needeth, and in Faith, according to the Will of God, and for a right end, recei-
veth, toc. Fam. 4+ 3+ 5 Or what man is there of you, whom if his Son ask bread, will he give him a ſtone ? I© Or if he ask a fiſh, will he give him a ſerpent ? 11 If ye then * being evil, know how to give *Gen. 5.5. good gifts unto your children, how much more {hall & 8.21 yourFather which is in Heaven, give good things to them that ask him.
Asbing is but a Verbal Exprefſion of an inward Defire ; no Man delireth that which is Evil, but that which he at leaſt ap- prehenderh to be Good ; (thar is, ſuitable unto his Wants.) As Earthly Parents, knowing that their Children, tho' through Weakneſs of Underſtanding they may ask that which is really Evil for them, yer will nor give them any ſuch things, and gratifie their Ignorance ; ſo neither will your Heavenly Father, (knowing whar you truly need, and what is truly good for you) give you any thing which he knoweth 1s not ſuitable for you, bur noxious to you : Bur if you ask any thing which 1s either abſolurely Good tor you, and cannot be Evil, or which your Heavenly Father knowerh to be Good for you, under your pre=- fent Circumſtances; you may be aflured, conſidering he 1s your E:ther, and hath as great a Kindneſs for you as an Earthly Father for his Child, and that he is your Heavenly E:rther, and theretore hath a Sufticiency to give, will give good things ro you, ask- ing them of him; and this you may be afſur'd of from rhar G2cd-will and Inclination, which you, tho' you come infinitely ſhore cf che Perfegion and good Inclinations of your Heaven!y F:the-, find in your ſelves towards your Children; for you de- rive from him, as his Children, all rhat Goodneſs and Benigniry
St MATTHEW.
Cha
which you havs. If therefore we in Prayer ask an God, which may be Good or Evil under different Circumſtan ces, and receive it not; We may conclude, that tho' we __ what we asked, Bread, yet indeed it was a Stone ; rho' we thoes % it a Fiſh, yer God ſaw it was a Scorpion; and account tha: Gg anſwered our General Deſires, which were for ſome Goog by 4 nying our Specifical Requeſt. x0
12 Therefore * all things whatſoever you woy! that men ſhould do unto you, do ye even to to the, for * this is the law and the prophets. —
Moſt Interpreters think the term Therefore here redundane b. ſome ſuch little Particles often are in Holy Writ; for ir js 1; a I34; ro make out this to be a proper Inference from the — "a This Precept conraineth in it the Subſtance of all rhar is i» % found in the Books of the Law and the Prophets, which COnce ©