Fer , took many occaſions to be offended at Chriſt : One til: becauſe he and bis Diſciples, did not Fa$8# fo often , as ihey and ite Phariſees; as chap. 9. 14. Another while: becauſe fo mar, Fl lowed him, oh. 3.26. Burt the Words ſpoken. have a furher reference than tro Fo-n's Diſciples. The Lord Jeſus and his Dv- arine are to many a Stone of Stumbling, and a Rock of Offence acccording to the Prophecy, 1/a. 8. 14. and 28.16. Zuk.2,24, fon, 9.33. I Cor.1.23. I Pet.2.6. The Fews ſtumbled 'at the mean- neſs of his Perſon and Parentage , and the mcarneſs of his Fol- lowers. The Gentiles nor at theſe things only, bur his Iznom: nious Death. Ar this day many ſtumble at the ſublimer:/? and rinefs of his Do&rine,&&. Chriſt ſpeaks here with refere:ce to all, and pronounceth that Man a Bl:ſſed Man,what age ſo tabe (f- fence at nothing ; whether reſpe&ing his Perfon, his Life, cr | Death, his DoEtine, or his Followers ; as to deter, or iſco: him from embracing him, and believing in him as the Saviour loſt Sinners, thar ſhall by Faith receive him.
7 And as they departed,Jeſus began to ſay untoth: multitudes concerning John, What went ye our int the wilderneſs to ſee? A reed ſhaken with the wind!
8 But what went ye out for to ſee? A ml cloathed in ſoft raiment 2 Behold, they that wel! ſott cloathing, are in kings houſes.
9 But what went ye our for to ſee? A prophet: Yea, I fay unto you , and more than a prophet.
Luke repeating the ſame Story, chap.7.24,25. inſtead of 7 boy ta are clathed in ſoft raiment; ſaith, They that are gorgeouſl apparel and live delicately, are in hings houſes. Our Savicur here GO racirly imply, Thar che Miniſters cf the Goſpel ſhould neither x uncertain, and unconſtant Men ; nor yer delicare Men, affecirs ſplendid Apparel, or delicate Diet, but minding cheir great viz. The Revelation of the Will of God. Bur the Scope of Bf PF ſent Speech here was to confirm the Mulritude 10 — Opinion of Fohn,and to keep them from being ſcandalzer, altering their Opinion of him, becauſe he was now 10 Pr] * chap.1 4.5. and 21.26, All Men held John as a Prophet. You _ (faich our Saviour)into the Wilderneſs co hear 0%" ane ; c did not go our to ſee ſome idle Light-man, fuch as 4 Recd _ wich the Wind : Nor yer to ſee a Man cloathied Gorgeoully,\" Wilderneſs is no place for ſach Perſons, they are to be i0une |
mil
- r One the Courts and Palaces of Princes,) you went out 7 hear Of 5 es revealing the Will of God to you: Nor did you M! — ; has nd ſay was a Prophet; not that Propher of which 2://es ſpake, _ wi v7 OE dance bur a Prophet; yea, and more than a _— cone eu Je have nor [
ghr y 4 hers ever could reac yr » , taught you, what none of che Prophet Jar I ſhould co: Vol. IL,
1, the Meſſas am come ; they could only tell you, t! 10 £5
hap- XL.
\o For this is he of whom 1t is written, Behold ; {nd my meſſenger before thy-tace, which ſhall
{ prepare thy Way betore thee. | 11 Verily I fay unto you , Among them that are tr of women , there hath not ariſen a greater than fokn che Baptiſt: notwirhftanding he rhar is leaſt in 112 kingdom of heaven, is greater rhan he, = * Sr. Like hath the fame, ch»p, 7. 27, 28. only he faith , There Þ.rh mt ariſen 4 greater Prophet t.an Form the Baptidt, Ic was wricgen , th. 3- 1» Behold IT will jend my Mejenger before my face, ma te (pail prepare Fe way veJore me < And the Lord, whom you fe. frall ſradenly come to his Temple , even the Meſſenger of the Tenant, whom you delight in. Behold he ſhatl come, jaith the Lord f Hits, The latter part Was a Prophecy of Christ , che former p arc, a Prophecy of 7-hn ene Baprist 5 and applied co hum not 1n this Text only, but, Iz I. 2. Lub, 1.75, and 7.27, Chriſt 1s fer our 5 2 Zrear Prince, who ſends his Harbingers before him ro prepare us Wey 3 and by Z9bn's Preaching we may learn the Mini- Pers Duty, who are 0 piepare Chris's Way ro Peoples Souls; 2. To Preach Repent.mce and Faith in Christ, | Verily T jay unto 46, Among 185/C that are barn of Women , there hath not ariſen a 1£i6r4] thar is, ( as Like expounds it) 4 greater Prophet : /.2. Amongſt all the Prophets of the O!d Tell.yment, God raiſed up nune grearer than Fohn. | But he tht 1s least in the Kined 1m of #.ven, is greater than he. | Mr. Caſvin, and many ochers chunk, "zr by this Phrate js ro be underftocd,thc Jeatt of thote who thall Preach the Goſpel atrer my Reſurrection, will be greater than he; raar is, as to their Do@rine, ohh could only declare me to be came: They ſhall Preach me, as having died tor my People's | Sins, and rifen again tor their Juſtiacarion , Rom, 4. 25. The ; be:rh, and the Reſurredion of Chriit, were indeed great Points of the G:/p:1, which Fobn could only Prophetic of, not Preach 0j, 4nd declare us things in his time accompliſhed. | i2 And from the days of John the Baptiſt until 5 :;- 00W, the kingdom of heaven || ſuftererh violence, an bc the violent take it by force *. #:: As 7-hn Bapti$f wasa great Man, fo the Lord hath owned him HH: a: ſuch , giving ſuch a Succeſs ro his Miniſtry, chart ever tince he #7: hezan the Courſe of it, Men have been carried on with a grear Ki. Aardor and Heat, in hearing and receiving the Goſpel, which 15 rie Goſpel of rhe Kingdim, and bringerh Men into the King- im of Chi amongſt Men, and ar laſt to the Kingdom of Glory, The Hears of Men and Women have been inflamed with 2 Defire after the knowledzaand obtaining of Heaven, and Hea- venly things: They are zrear Perſons whom God chus cwneth and chofſz whom che Lord thus owneth, are ordinarily fuch as have ſome Meaſures of che Spirit of this firit Goſpel- Miniſtry ; making che Great Things of God the matrer of their Difcourte, and doins their Work with a Serioutnets, Zea!, and Fervor ficted ” wit, [The violent take it by force :] They are nor lazy Withes, or | cold Endeavours, that will bring Men co Heaven.
12 For all the prophets, and the law prophecied util John.