vation. The PapiSs are highly guilty of this,in keeping their Lai-
ty from the Scriptures in a Language intelligible to them.B 7 were the Scribes guilty of ths *The Jaws were never rage from Reading,or hearing of the Law.It was read in their Synagogues everySabbath Day.But we muſt know that Knowledge is highly advantaged by an Interpretation of the Mind and Will of God : But how did the Scribes take away this 2 They Preached and in- terpreted the Law of God. Anſw. They gave not the true ſenſe of it, but fo Preached, that Pcople were ſcarce any whit the wifer, as fo the Knowledge of the Law of God, only they made People un- derſtand their Traditions, and Ceremonies : their Do#rines were the Traditions of Men,Now they occupying the places of Teachers and no better diſcharging their Work,inſtead of giving took aw ay knowledge from them,and proved blind t eaders cf the blind Who- ever they are that arrogate to themſelves the Office of Teaching, and ſupplying the place of Teachers, and either do not make Preaching,and 1nſtruQion of the People under their charge,their vutineſs, or who Preach in ſtiles,and methods their people under- {tand not zor who Preach other things,than what they prove to be the revealed Will of God. fall deeply under the Condemnation of this Text. See further the Notes on Matth. 23. 13. 53 Andas he faid theſe things unto them, the {cribes and the phariſees began to urge him vehement- ly, and to provoke him to ſpeak of many things. 54 Laying wait for him,and ſeeking to catch ſome- thing out of his mouth, that they might accuſe him. terein the vile Genius of theſe wretched Men was ſeen, Chrift was 2ecome their Enemy, becauſe he told them the truth. His Re- proots 1n order to their Reformation, and amendment do but fill them with madneſs againft him. Nor are wicked and MaJicious Men at any time Fair Enemies, | they urge him vehemently, ] and pro- voke him to ſpeak many things, they lye at the catch, in wait for him ; hoping that in his many Words, and Anſwers to their many Captious. queſtions,they ſhould hear ſomething from him, upon which they might form an Accuſation againſt him, to Pilate the RomanGovernour,for his blood was that theyThirſted after.If it were thus done to the Green-Tree,let us not wonder if it be ſo done al- ſo to the dry. The Hearts and PraQices of Malicious and Wicked Men in ſucceeding Generations do (as in a Glaſs) anſwer the Hearts of Perſons of their Spirits, and Morals in preceding Gene- rations, Malice will never regard Juſtic? or Equity. , CHAP. XII. Chriſt admomiſheth his Diſciples of the Leaven of the Phariſees, 1-—3» «Telleth them, who they ought to fear, and who mt, 4, 5. Exhorteth to tru on God's Providence, and to confeſs his Name : Dehorteth a- gainſt Blaſpheming the Holy Ghoſt, 6—12. Biddeth them 1 be- ware of Covetouſneſs, under the fimilitude of a rich man, who built greater Barns, 13—21. Exhorteth them by the Exampl's of Ra- vens and Lillies, to ſeek firſt the Kingdom of God, 22— 32. Like- wiſe t9 Charity, 33, 34- and Watchfulneſs, 35—40. He de- ſcribeth the ations and rewards of a faithful, and the ans an.t puniſhment of an unfaithful Servant, a1—48- Telleth that he came to ſend fire on Earth, 49—53» Exhorteth to reconctl;ation with our Enemies, $4—59« : iN the mean time,when they were gathered toge-
ther an innumerable multitude of people, inſo- much that they trode one upon another,he began to
iay unto his diſciples firſt of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Phariſees, which is bypocrilie, :
Pl. ” s
Chap. XII.
See the Notes on Matth
. __ TERig, V7: : - 4 ny Je 2 » 23. kfO VL, Mm p ay *
evidenced »y contrary it rh ; thoſe were Works of Zuſtice and | company of wretchedHiypoerk * Hi Fork Word ba ws like a
God calieth to the Hraelttes for the firſt, Tſatah 1; 16, 17. | 10g the Memories of the Prophets under the Old Teſt ir oNOur-
Chriſt calls to fne Phariſees tor the latter. Such Works of Mercy as | 4 great care to repair, and to adorn their Sepalchres white Jn om 5 +: ©
| Or,jf5rbatd,
Chap. $11.
+> Tim,
” 7 a 4*
-_ -_
We read of ſuch a Caution given tc tie Diſcip'es Matth.16. 6. Put that is not the ſame caution with thiszthere ne compared their Dofrine toLeaven,for the aptnets of 1t to infect others,here he com- parcth their Lives to the flame thing,and tor the zame reaſon : this appearcth to be the ſcnſe of our Saviour here,becaule be faith their Leaven is Hipacriſie. There are none lo Ike to do miſchicf to the better ſort of Fcople,as thoſe that under a masx,and Exterior Diſ- guiſe of ſeverity and ftrictncſs, indulge theniuelves 1n corrupt ons, and Vicious [nclinations.
2 For there is nothing covered, that ſhall not be
revealed ; neither hid, thar {tall nor be known.
It is a Proverbial Expreſſion , thoſe,and Parabvlical Exprefſions, may be applied in feveral Cafes, and to ſeveral Subjetts ; we have met with this before variouſly applyed, 37. Ic. 26. Mar. 4-22. and in this Goſpel, Ch. 8. 17. Here it is appited, as an Argument againſt H\pacriſie, or the concealing of naught) and corrupt hearts under the Vizor and Diſguiſe of Demure 9K, or fair converſ(a- tion. In the Day of Judgment, Sinners !hull waik naked,and men ſhall ſee their ſhame 3 God will in that Day make known all the Sccrets of mens hearts,to be ſure the ſecrets of their hearts whoſe 1niquities are not forgiven, and whole Sins are not covered.
3 Therefore whatſoever ye have ſpoken in dark- neſs, ſhall ve heard in the light, and that which ye have ſpoken in the ear in cloſets, ſhall be proclaimed
vpon the houſe-tops.
we have ſomething very like this, Matth.ro. 27. ſpoken by way of precept. It ſeemeth to be a ſentence alſo varioutly applied 3 1t may be left indiffcrent to the Reader, whether he will underſtand it asa promile of thie Publication of the Goſpel (to which purpoſe it ſcems to be ſpoken in the form of a Precept, Mat. 10. 27.) or as a furtker enlargement of his former Viſcourle, V. 2,
4 Ard I izy nnto my friends,Be not afraid of them that kill the body,and after that, have no more that They can do.
5 But I will forewarn you whom you ſhall fear» Fear him, which after he hath killed, hath power to caſt into le!) ; yea, I ſay unto you, Fear him.