:\ Chriti, and yet not follow him and his Diſciples? _ 1. It 1s ap \ront, that this Perſon was no Enemy to Chriſt, or his Goſpel, oy what Our Saviour ſaith, both ver. 35. and 40. 2. It 1s evt- dent, that the caſting ous of Devils was no ſaving Effet of the jioly Spirit : Chriſt ſaith, Matth. 7. 22. that ſome ſhould ſay, In thy Name have we caſt ort Devils; to whom, in the Day of iudgmcnt, he would lay, Depart from me, I knw you not, ye wrters of Intquity. 3+ It 1s plain that this Man was ne ſuch Perſon as Sceva's Sons, of whom we read Ads 15. 14, 15, 16. gr the Devils reiiſted them, though they alſo uſed the Name of Chriſt, It was a Time exceeding famous for ſome of the inore Extravrdinary Gifts of the Holy-Ghoſt , anZ it 1s not to be wondered, if fome 1n this time, for the Glory of God, received fume Crumbs of that plentifn! Benevoience, though they were but imperſett Diſciples, yet being no Enemies. Caiphas Prophe- lied, Job. Ile gl, 52» And though [ do think tiar the Children of the Phariſees, m<cntioned Matty. 12. 27. as Pertons that cait out Devils, is bcſt interpreted of thoſe ſent out by Chritt, ( the Twzlue and the Seventy, ) yet ſome are of another mind. Some *<hink this Man, though he did not follow Chriift and his Diſci- ples as a conſtant Companiou, yet was one who favoured, and had reccived the Goſpel; or elſe one of John's Diſciples z and {> ne, who, though he was not formally joyned with the Fol- 'owers of Chriſt, yet was a Friend of that great Bridegroom. 30 as Fohnand the reſt forbidden him, fecmed to be guilty of tio no ſmall Errors. 1, Emying for Chriſt's ſabe, as Foſhua did for Miſes hisfake, Numb. 31. 28, as Fohn's Diſcipies did for their Maſter's ſake, Joh. 3. 25, Willing that Chriſt, and thoſe whom he ſent out, ſhould have all the Honour of thoſe Miraculous Operations. 2. Limiting the Grace of Christ to that Congregation, which followed Chriſt, and the Twelve: A thing that good Men are t09 prone unto. How much better was the Spirit of Paul, who tells us, Philip. 1. 15. That although ſome preached Chrijt of Envy and Strife, yet he rejoyced, and would rejyce that Chriſt was Freuched, whether in Pretence or in Truth, ver. 18. Chriſt would have all his People of ſuch a Spirit, as not to hinder, but com- mend ; not to envy, but to rejoyce in the doing of good by any, whether they did follow him or no. Some do think that at that time it pleaſed God, that for the Honour of his Son Je- lu: Chriſt, he did concur with thoſe that named his Name in ſuch Miraculous Operations. Sure we are, that Chriſt repro- veth John, and commanded them not to forbid this Man : gi- ving this fora Reaſon, That his owning the Name of Chriſt ſo far as to uſe it in ſuch an Operation, h::1 at Jezft fo much kindneſs for him, as he was no Enemy, Ii: would not Curſe him, nor ſpeak Evil of him, which coincth ur * thr of the Apoltie, 1 Cor. 12. 2. For Man ſpealyng by the Spir'© 1 God, calt- eth Tejrts accurſed ; and no Man can fay feſus 15 the - ord, Lit by the Spirit. | For he that is mt againſt us, 3s on our part.) If a Man be not an open Encmy to Chriit, he cught fy be preſumed fo be his Friend, at leaſt ſo far as not to be diſcouraged in doing 2g00d Work,
41 For whoſoever ſhall give you a cup of water todrink in my Name, becauſe ye belong to Chriſt, verily I fay unto you, he ſhall not loſe his re- ward.
We meet with the ſame in ſubſtance, Matth, ro. 42. There the Phraſe is, In the Name of a Diſciple 3 here it is Expounded, Be- cauſe you belong to me; In my Name, upon my Account believing you have a Relation to me.
tif.?, 42 * And whoſoever ſhall offend one of theſe little
z <4 Ones that believe in me, It 1s better for him that a
/- mill-ſtone were hanged about his neck, and he were calt into the ſea,
See the Notes on Math. 18. 6.
43 Andif thy hand offend thee, * cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands, ro go into hell, into the fire that 1hall ne- verbe quenched -
44 * Where their worm dyeth not,and the fire is not quenched.
45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off : it isbet- ter for thee to enter haltintolife,than having two feet to be caſt into hell, into the fire that ſhall never be Quenched :
45 Where their worm dyeth not, and their fire is not quenched. 47 And if thine eye jj offend thee, pluck it out :
_ one-eye, than havins two eyes to be caſt into fire:
Tiot 2:
R K Ch $ EN T3 73), &
48 Where their worm dyetit not, and the fire is
; NuT q":enched.
See the Notes on Matthew, CUP. ge. VF. 29, 3”. where the
ame things occur, ( Hatihew only mentions tne [jaiid, and rhe
Eye, ) Ail have the ſunc Signiticancy 3 viz. That it 15 better to deny our telves in ſome particuar fatisfattion, than to luzard: Eternal Salvation for the gratifying tic 4 ppetite 11 It,
49 Forevery one ſhall be ſalred with fire,and * cye- * ry ſacrifice ſhall be ſalted with alc.
The Phraſe of this Text 15 ſo difficu!r, and the S2y/> of it fo necetfary to be underitood, that it hath detervidly cxoroiſed the parts of many Interpreters and given them: x Latitude to abount in {nterpretations. Thote who would rightly underſtand it, mutt} have a Retroſpettion to the tix Verſes wamediatcly precedins. where our Lord had perſuaded the Mor: incation of cur miſt 6-- led and profitable, or pleaſ:at Luits, under the Notion of c- ting off the Right Hand or Foot offending, and plucking 147 tis Right Eye, nnder the Penalty of going into the Five that (pal | ver be quenched ; Az alto to the Law, Levt. 2. 13. which rags thus : And every Obla'im of thy Meat-offet ing ſh.ilt thou ſejon with Salt, neither ſhalt thou ſuffer the Salt of the Covenant of it; God to be lacking from thy Meat-ojfjerins + with a! thine Oferinzs, thou ſhalt offer Salt, 2. They muſt ocxt confider the N.turs r Salt and Fire. It 1; of the Nature cf Sal:, by drying up ©. over-much moiſture in Meats, to preferve them from #? atro
faction. 2. To cauſe jm.ut to living bleth: And of Fire 722 je-