Mark ſaith, There were certain of the Scribes ſitting there, oy um, is nor al reaſoning in their Hearts, Why doth this Mun thus ſpeak Blp's E 10.2. Heſvith y mies? Who can forgive Sins, but God only 2 chap. 2. 6, 7: oY tis Wcrg carried ſaich, The Scribes and the Phariſees began to reaſon, ſ.1yng » wo ed by leaving his this which ſpealteth Blaſphemies ? Who can forgive Sins, -o ry Vol. I alone ? It thould ſeem they did not ſpeak it our; 4% fs
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rhey ne aſmed in their Hearts. Matthew in the next Verſe faith,
Je bnawing their Thoughts. It ſeemeth thar ir was then agreed - 1} hands, Tt forgiving of Sins was the Prerogative of God a- mY \nd chat cr 1-\an ro arrogare to himſfelr tuch a Power as ne 4 fa" to God alone, was no lefs than Bla/phemy,. as all afcri- nt Divine Perfetions © Creatures muſt be, Ir ſtands the 4 and Pricits in hand to clear themielves from this Guilt, Ir
$0 Io azrced by the Scr7ves and P2.iſces, that Chriſt ſpake pg op 5 Prone Uncing 5 the /ick of the Pale, thar his ſins were 2 The reaſon was, becauſe they did nor believe him co wh vn if God, but lookr on hun as meer Man.
+ And Jeſus knowing their thoughts, 1aid, Where- @re think ye evil in your hearts? |
- For wherhcr is eakier ro fay, Thy fins be forgi- vn thee: or to fay, Ariſe and walk ?
4 Butrhat ye may know that the Son of Man hath PoWer ON Farth to jorgive lins, ( then faith he to the ik of the Pallic, ) Arife, take up thy bed, and go un- to thine houle. |
Mark repeats almcft rhe fame words, 4ſzr, 2, 9, 9,10, So doth Lube, c<.1Þ, 5. 22, 23, 24+ Chriſt here giverh che Scribes and Ph.t- i522, a Demonſtrarion ot his Deity, by lerring them knovw, that 1 krevw rheir Thoughts, {| Felus knowing their Thoughts, ſaid £1 A thivs act comperible ro Angels, much icts ro ONE who 13 meer Man ; yer theſe blind Scribes and Fh.riſees taxe no NCrice of it. [Whe' efere think you Evil in your Hearts ? } Evil concerning 122 1 did this, faich he, on purpole to let you KNOW, chat 1, who am indeed the Son of Man, and whom you miſtaxe in think- ing to be no more than zhe Son of Man, hath Power, while he 15 up-n che Earth, and fo converiing amongſt you to forgize Sins, and you may make ſuicable Applications to him tor rhat end. Ir had been as cafie for me every whit to have ſaid ro rhis fick Man, 4rit> and walk : And thar I will Demonſtrate ro you. { Then fait? he to the ficb of the Palſre, Ariſe, take up ity Bed, and go to thire [ie 1 The lame Power is required to the one, as to the other ; Gcd by your Confetficon can forgive Sins, and God alone can riſe Men from the Grave. The end of my miraculous Opera- tions is ro convince you, thar I am he who hath a Power to for- give Men tlicir Sins. 1 therefore choſe ro pronounce this Man's Sins firſt torgiven, that I might have the advantage ro confirm to you, by a ſubſequent Miracle, this grear Truth, thar I am the Yon of God,Ctho? you think me no more than the Son of Man;) and thar i have a Power to forgive Sins upon Men's Exerciſe ot their Faith, and coming unto me. Now therefore believe, nor becauſe cf my Word only, bur becauſe of the Sign I ſhew you Confirmative of 1t,
7 And he aroſe, and departed to his houſe, 3 But when the mulrirude ſaw z7, they marvel- ſed, and glorified God, which had given ſuch power
Uno MEn.
Mark faith, ver, 12, And he immediately aroſe, and too up his Ped, and went forth before them all 3 inſormuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, ſaying, We never ſaw it on this faſhion. Lite faith, chap. 5. v. 25, 25. And immediately he roſe up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own houſe, gifving God, And they wer? all amazed, and they glorified God, ud wore filled with fear, ſaying, We have ſeen flrange things ts day. They ail agree 1a Senſe, rho' nor in Words, With Chri's Word there went out a power, inabling tim to do what he had com- miz4cd him. He 1mmediarely ſtands upon his Feer, takes up hi; Bzd, or Couch, that whereon he lay, (faich Luke )) and went t2me in the fizhr of them all, fo as none could doubr concern- ins the Cure. Waar effett hath this upon the People ? They myrveliea, ſaith Matthew; they were amazed and filled with fear, ſaich Lxbe, Here 1s not a word of their believing and owning Chriſt as the Son of God, which was the great thing the Miracle was wrought to bring them to, bur blindneſs was happened ro 7 r42/; {eeing they ſaw, and could nor perceive. The Miracle wrought in them an Awe and Reverence of him as an Extraordinary Per- 15n,:nd pur rheny inco a kind of Ext/re and Admiration : And the Texc ſaith, They glorified God, bur not aright ; they praifed God, not tor ſending his Son into the World to ſave Sinners, but for giving ſuch a prwer unto men 5 they would ſtil] own Chriſt no more tun a Man, tho' a Man ro whom God had £iven great power. b) rn can ſay Jeſus is the Lord, but by the Fly Gno't, 1 Cor. 12. 3. Truly ro believe, own, and receive Chriſt as our Lord, requirech fe Operation of the Spirir of Grace, working ſuch a Faich, and rerlivation 11 us.
9 And as Jeſus paſled from thence, he ſaw 2 man named Matthew {irring at the receit of cuſtom: and ac faith unto him, Follow me. And he aroſe, and followed him.