Altho the Preaching of the Law, doth not immediately Conduce to work in us Faith in Chriſt, yet mediately it doth, as it bring; Men to cry out as thoſe, As 2. 37. Men and Brethren what (hall w; do? Oras the Jaylor, A#s 16. Sirs what ſhall we do th be ſave) John Preaching God's Terrors, hath this effe& upon the Pcopie,th:y ask him, what ſhall we do then ? The Baptiſt's Anſwer may ſeer; a little ſtrange to thoſe who do not conſider, that it amounts to th; ſame with Daniels 'Counſel to Nebuchadnezar, Dan; 4. 27. Wheref O King, let my Counſel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy $i; by Righteouſneſs, and thine Iniquities by ſhewing mercy to the P.;, and what John had ſaid, v. 8. Bring therefore Fruits worthy 0 Rs. pentance, Our Saviour faith much the ſame, Ch. 11. 41. Give 4ln; of ſuch things as you have, and Peter commandeth, rt Pez. 4, 2. Above all things have ſervent Charity among8t your ſelves, for Chaiiy ſhall cover a Multitude of Sins. Solomon ſaith, it covereth all Sin; Prov. 10. 12. The Peoples queſtion was, What ſhall we do ? Wh: are the Fruits meet for Repentance; that is, truly indicative »f 8+. pentance * To this now John anſwereth, He that bath two C::; tet him impart to him that hath none. Which muſt not be ing. preted, as obliging every one that had two Coats, to give 22y 03. but as inſtructive of us, that Ceremonies, and Ritual perſcrmarcss, in which that Age abonndcth, would not ſerve their turn, ivr true, and real good Works, relieving the Poor to their Ability, out of their Supettluities, out of Obedience and Love to God, not meerly pitying them, and ſaying to them, Go ye and be £loaticd, or be ye warmed, not ſaying Corban, and thinking that would ex: cuſe them from relieving their Parents, or other poor people, '»:t according to their Ability relieving them. John doth not her: Countenance Anabaptiſtical Leveling, he only Cautions them againſt Phariſacal Aypocritie, truſting to External Priviledges, ſuch 3: having Abraham to their Father, or ſome Ritual, and Ceremonial Performances, whiles in the mcan time they negleted the weighty things of the Law, of which Chriſt hath taught us that Meic: one.
12 Then came alſo publicans to be baptized, ar! faid unto him, Maſter, what ſhall we do ?
13 And he ſaid unto them, Exact no more then tit which is appointed you. |
We have ſhewed often before that the Publicans were Ver, that Collected the Publick Revenue ; in all times, that ſort of ve have been charged with ExaGions of what was more than their due, Tie Bapti8, as a Fruit or Indication of the Truth of their Repentance, cautioneth them againſt Exation, thereby declaring, Tht at of Juftice as well as Mercy are true Fruits of Repentance, and that fc- pentance 15 vainly pretended, while men go on in the fame Sint! Courſes, wherein they have formerly walked. Our Lor: here dot!) not diſapprove of the Office of Publicans, nor certainly was that to be Condemned, if Magiſtrates may impoſe Tavcs, att! Pu, * ments, which without queſtion they may for the {ypport of 072 Government for our Protection, there is no queſtion, but rey my appoint Officers under what Titles they pleaſe to Collett itt Dt both thoſe that impoſe, and thoſe that Collett ſuch Pivinwn';, 477 obliged to the Rule of Juſtice, The former to jmpote 16 cr then is neceſſary for the end, and in jutt Proportion , 7 to exaQt no more than what is appointed ticm,
14 And the ſouldiers likewiſe demanded of him, {:7-
Ing, And what ſhall we do? And he faid 1nto them,
| Da violence to no man, neither, accuſe a: {2illy, 2nd
bring out of his Store-houſe, things New and Old, '© iv: every one's their Portion in their Seaton, and fo Courageous, and valtiniu © i” not to be afraid to do it, nor for any reafon dcciine the Gong of it,
= . <iAge" loart Such was John the Baptiſt, Theſe were the Roman S*1lions, RPE
by them to maintain their Conqueſt of Jadea. Some of theſe a'l9 come to hear Johnthe Baptiſt preach, hearing him prcis Hope let
Chap, 11
tance, and begin not to ſay within your ſelves, We. Or, ».
forth good fruit, is hewn down and caſt into the "oh
11 He anſwereth and faith unto them, * Fe that. hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath '''+ none, and he that hath meat, let him do like.” *©
be content with your || wages. i Of! A gocd, and faithful Miniſter of Chriſt, ſhot!d be on» able 07
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