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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A81852	The evangelical history: or, The life of our Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ comprehensively and plainly related. With practical inferences and discourses thereupon. In four books. I. Of the birth of John the Baptist. Of the conception and birth of Jesus Christ; with an account of what passed to his entrance upon the ministerial function. II. The history of the acts and miracles of our Saviour, in the first two years of his ministry. III. A relation of his acts and miracles, in the third year of his preaching. IV. An account of his acts and preaching, from the triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. Of his Crucifixion, Resurrection, apparitions, and glorious ascension into heaven. With a large practical introduction, by way of preface. Written in French by the learned L.E. du Pin, and Englished by a divine of the Church of England, with additions. Adorn'd with copper cuts.	Du Pin, Louis Ellies, 1657-1719.	1694 (1694)	Wing D2641A; ESTC R229041	170,749	286

of the Aegyptians and so forced Pharaoh to let his People go out of his Land By this obliging the Jews to keep this Benefit i● Remembrance for ever But because every thing consecrated to God was to be offered in Sacrifice to him he contented himself with the Sacrifices of Beasts and would have Children to be redeemed Not but that Children might have been devoted to God after another manner viz. to have ministred at his Altar But God having chose for this Service one of the Twelve Tribes of Israel viz. Numb 8 16-18 the Tribe of Levi instead of all the First-born of all the other Tribes so that the First-born of all that were not of the Tribe of Levi were to be redeemed as not being qualified either for Sacrifices or Priests In obedience to these two Laws when Forty Days were expired after her Delivery Luke 2 22-32 did the Holy Virgin and Joseph go up to Jerusalem to offer the Sacrifice prescribed by the Law for her Purification and the Gospel observes That she offered the Sacrifice commanded such as were poor viz. Two Turtle-Doves or Two Young Pigeons At the same Time they carried Jesus Christ along with them to present him to the Lord and they redeemed him being not of the Tribe of Levi but of the Tribe of Judah While they were in the Temple came in an Holy Old Man named Simeon by the Direction of the Holy Spirit He was an Holy Man and one that feared God who was filled with the Spirit and longed earnestly for the coming of the Redeemer by whom God had promised to comfort his People The same Spirit which inspired him with a Desire and Expectation of a Saviour had promised him That he should not dye till he had seen him wherefore when the Holy Virgin and Joseph brought Jesus into the Temple this Holy Old Man being excited by Divine Inspiration came in took the Child up in his Arms blessed God for the Accomplishment of his Promise made to him and begged that he might dye because his Eyes had seen the Saviour which God would shew to all the World to be a Light to the Gentiles and an Honour to his People Israel When Joseph and Mary had seen and heard these things they were taken with great Admiration till Simeon turning himself to them blessed them and said to the Holy Virgin That this Child which she had presented to God should be the occasion of the Misery or Happiness of many Israelites and a Mark for obdurate Sinners to level their malicious Obloquies and Contradictions at which though they should discover the evil Thoughts and Dispositions of several Persons yet like a cutting Sword they shall wound her own Soul with Grief and Sorrow In the same instant came in also an Holy Widow called Anna a Woman of about Fourscore Years old who had the Gift of Prophecy and abode continually in the Temple serving God with Fasting and Prayers Night and Day She also saw Jesus Christ and knew him by the same Inspiration that had discovered him to Simeon wherefore she gave Thanks to God for the Mercy he had bestowed upon the World in giving them a Saviour and made him known to be the Messias to all those that waited for his coming XI Jesus 's Flight into Aegypt Matth. 2. 12-23 The Holy Virgin and Joseph having performed all that was commanded by the Law returned from Jerusalem and went down to Nazareth But Herod who waited for the coming back of the Magi that he might know of them where the New King was and so get him into his own Power seeing himself disappointed of his Expectations because as it is said before they were gone home another way fell into an extreme Passion and resolved to slay all the Children in Bethlehem and in the adjoyning Villages that were not above Two Years old and accordingly put it in Execution thinking in this barbarous Massacre to include him whose Destruction he chiefly aimed at But God prevented the Cruelty of this Prince and so ordered it that of all the Children whose Blood was shed as Jesus was the only one that he sought to kill so he was the only one that escaped for God by his Angel warned Joseph in a Dream of the Designs that Herod had to take away his Life and commanded him To take the Child and his Mother and fly into Aegypt and remain there till further orders Joseph immediately obeyed this Command and fled into Aegpt where after the Death of Herod the same Angel appeared to him and bid him return because he that sought to destroy the Saviour of the World was himself dead Then did Joseph immediately go into the Land of Israel with Jesus Christ and the Holy Virgin But hearing that Archilaus reigned in Judea in his Father Herod's stead he was afraid to go thither but being admonished of God in a Dream to go into Galilee he fixed his Dwelling in the City of Nazareth God thus accomplishing the Prophecies which did foretel That he should be called a Nazarene XII Jesus's Disputation with the Doctors In this Abode with his Parents at Nazareth Luke 2 40-52 the Child Jesus grew and waxed strong being full of Wisdom and Grace When he was Twelve Years old he went to Jerusalem with Joseph and the Holy Virgin who every Year went thither at the Passover and after the Feast he continued there without their Knowledge so that they returned without him supposing that he went along with some of their Company either behind them or before them But after they had gone a Day 's Journey and found him not neither among the Company nor yet with their Kindred and Acquaintance they turned back again to Jerusalem to seek him where after Three Days they found him in the Temple sitting in the midst of the Doctors both hearing them and asking them Questions and raising Admiration in all that heard him at his Understanding and Answers The Holy Virgin and Joseph were much surprized to see him in that Place and his Mother telling him how much they were troubled at the loss of him and the Pains they had taken to find him said to him Why hast thou dealt thus with us He answered them Why did ye seek me Did ye not know that I must necessarily be employed in promoting the Service of my Father They did not understand this Answer but the Virgin kept all these Words in her Heart Then Jesus went down to Nazareth with them and the Gospel says That he was subject to them and increased not only in Age but in Wisdom and in Favour both with God and with Man XIII The Preaching of John the Baptist. While John was in the Desert God enriched him with the Gifts of his Spirit Matt. 3.1 and in that Retirement fitted him for the great Employment he designed him as Jesus himself was secretly fitted for the Offices of his Ministry in Joseph's House They both waited with Patience for the Time

only the Son because he is begotten of the Father to whom the Name of Father is given for that Reason but also the Word because he is the Thought or interior Speech of the First Person which begat him by knowing himself and that from all Eternity because he knoweth himself from all Eternity And upon this Ground it is that S. John says That in the Beginning i. e. when the World began the Word was and the Word was in or with God for the Thought is in the Mind that forms it and that he was God it being the Property of this Word as we have said to be the same thing with the Being that begets it p. 23 The Birth of JESUS CHRIST VII The Human Birth of Jesus Christ. Augustus the Roman Emperor Luke 2. 1-20 being desirous to know the Number of all his Subjects published an Edict commanding every Person to go and be registred in his Native City In Obedience to which Order Joseph went up from Galilee with the Holy Virgin to Bethlehem a City of Judah to have his Name enrolled there because he was of the House and Linage of David For this Prince was born at Bethlehem which is therefore called in the Gospel The City of David While they were there her Time came that the Holy Virgin should be delivered And she brought forth Jesus Christ wrapped him in Swaddling Cloaths and because there was no Room in the Inn laid him in a Manger Not far from thence there were certain Shepherds who kept their Flocks by Night these Men all of a sudden were encompassed with a great Light and saw an Angel which said unto them Fear not for I bring you good News which shall fill all People with great Joy which is that this Day there is born in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord and by this Sign ye shall know him ye shall find the Infant wrapped in Swaddling Cloaths and lying in a Manger As soon as they had received this Message from God they heard a great number of those blessed Spirits praising God and saying Glory be to God in the height of Heaven and on Earth Peace to the Men of his good-liking i. e. to all truly penitent Sinners and sincere new Creatures As soon as the Angels were departed the Shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem where they found Mary and Joseph with the Babe who was laid in a Manger and they acknowledged the Truth of what the Angel had said unto them Then they returned glorifying God published the Miracles which they had seen and raised an Admiration in all those that heard them But Mary seriously meditated upon all these Things in her Mind and was careful to keep a faithful Remembrance of them VIII The Circumcision of Jesus Christ. Luk. 2.21 Lev. 12.3 Gen. 17.12 By the Law of Moses every Male Child ought to be circumcised within eight Days after the Birth according to the Command which God had given to Abraham for God being about to give this Patriarch a Son of whose Posterity our Redeemer should be born and entring into a Covenant with him to be kept by all his Posterity he instituted Circumcision as a Seal and Sign of that Covenant threatning to cut off that Male Child from his People which shall not be Circumcised Abraham himself and all the Jews his Posterity did exactly observe this Law and Jesus Christ was willing to submit to it himself wherefore the Gospel observes That he was Circumcised the Eighth Day and that he was named JESVS which was the Name that the Angel had ordered to be given him before his Conception IX The Adoration of the Magi. Matth. 2 1-12 The Holy Virgin and Joseph continuing still at Bethlehem the Magi which were certain great Philosophers and Astronomers came from the East to Jerusalem and asked Where the Person was who was lately born King of the Jews saying Numb 24.17 That they had seen a Star in the East signifying his Birth and conducting them thither and were come to worship him This Question much surprized the People of Jerusalem and above all troubled Herod who was then King of the Jews Whereupon he assembled the Chief Priests and the most learned in the Law among the Jews to be informed of them Where the Messiah which they expected should be born for he believed that it was he that the Magi enquired after under the Name of the King of the Jews They answered him At Bethlehem according to the Prophecy of Micah And thou Bethlehem Mic. 5.2 in the Land of Judah art not the least among the principal Cities of that Tribe for out of thee shall come a Governour that shall rule my People Israel Herod as soon as he had received this Information sent for the Magi privately to him and enquired of them At what Time the Star they spoke of was seen by them and sending them to Bethlehem said unto them Go and search diligently for the young Child which ye desire to see and when ye have found him let me know it that I may also pay him the like Adoration Being just got into the Way to Bethlehem they saw the Star again which had appeared to them in the East and the Gospel says they were filled with exceeding great Joy for it went before them to conduct them to him and stood over the Place where Jesus Christ was They immediately entred into the House and falling down before him they worshipped him and offered to him for Gifts Gold and Frankincense and Myrrhe And thus having paid their Homage they returned into their own Country but did not go by Jerusalem because they had been admonished in a Dream not to return again to Herod X. The Presentation of Jesus Christ in the Temple The Holy Virgin and Joseph having so punctually observed the Law of Circumcision were not less exact in the performance of Two other Commandments of the Law the One of which concerned Mothers the other their First-born Children Lev. 12 2-8 The First of these obliges every Woman after her Delivery not to touch any hallowed Thing for a certain Time nor to go into the Temple for Forty Days after the Birth of a Son and Fourscore Days after the Birth of a Daughter and at the End of that Term the Mother shall go to the Temple to be purified for which end she must offer a Lamb for a Burnt-Offering and a Pigeon or a Turtle-Dove fo● the Attonement of her Sins But if she be no● able to offer a Lamb she is allowed to offer ● Pigeon or a Turtle for it which being sacrificed by the Priest she is clean The Second Commandment of the Law which concerns the First-born Children enjoyns the Parents to present them to the Lord and to redeem them with Mony Exod. 13.2 15. Every First-born in Israel both of Man and Beast was consecrated to God b● a Command which God gave them when he slew the First-born

the Sea and therefore either because they did not think themselves worthy of Jesus's Presence or because they were afraid of greater Losses than they had already sustained they besought him to depart out of their Country The Man who had been possessed besought him who had been his Deliverer to suffer him to go along with him but Jesus answered him Return to thine own House and declare what great Things God hath done for thee He obeyed his Order and went through every City and through all that Country thankfully publishing and commemorating the great Favours that Jesus had done unto him VIII Jesus heals a Man sick of the Palsy at Capernaum Mark 2.1 2. The Son of God departing out of the Country of the Gadarens as they had desired him took Ship again and being arrived at the other Side of the Lake found a great Number of People waiting for him and they received him joyfully He returned to Capernaum where as soon as he was known to be a great number of People came unto him insomuch that not only the House where he was but even all the Space about the Door could not receive them Luk. 5.17 There were also sitting by him certain Pharisees and Doctors of the Law which were come out of every Town of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem To all these Jesus preached the Word of God and manifested that Power which God had given to him Mark 2 3-12 Luke 5 18-26 by Healing the Sick Among others that came to be healed there was brought unto him a Man sick of the Palsy lying in his Bed but not knowing how to carry him to him by reason of the Multitude they who brought him contrived to go up to the top of the House and to uncover the Roof and having made an Hole to let down the Bed on which the Sick Man lay and so place him before the Son of God Matth. 9 2-8 Jesus seeing their Faith saith unto the Sick of the Palsy Son be of good Cheer thy Sins be forgiven thee These Words much displeased the Pharisees and Lawyers which were present who thought in themselves That since God only can forgive Sins Jesus who assumed this Power to himself must needs be a Blaspheemer but he knowing the Thoughts of their Hearts saith unto them Why are your Minds busied about such evil Thoughts Which is easier to say to this Man who was sick of the Palsy Thy Sins be forgiven thee or to say Arise take up thy Bed and walk but that ye may know that the Son of Man hath Power on Earth to forgive Sins he saith unto the Sick of the Palsy Arise take up thy Bed and go unto thine House And the same Moment the Sick Man arose before the Multitude took up the Bed whereon he lay and went to his own House glorifying God All the Spectators were greatly amazed at this Miracle and although the Power of Healing be much less than that of Forgiving Sins yet because it is not so easy to make Men to believe a Cure falsly of which our Senses are Witnesses as Remission of Sin which is secret and invisible therefore all the People who were convinced by their own Sight of the Efficacy of these Words of Jesus Christ Arise and take up thy Bed were fully perswaded of the Truth of the former Thy Sins are forgiven thee For which Reason they glorified God which had given such Power unto Men and said in the Fear into which this Miracle had cast them We have seen strange things to day such as we never saw before IX Jesus commands a Publican to follow him Matth. 9 9-13 Mark 2 13-17 Luke 5 27-32 Jesus departing from this House walked by the Side of the Lake and seeth a Publican as he went along sitting in the Custom-House and he saith unto him Follow me This Man who was the Son of Alphaeus and named Levi or Matthew arose immediately left all and accompanied him that called him Not long after he made a great Feast in his House to which there came many Publicans and others of very wicked Lives and sat down at the Table with Jesus and his Disciples The Pharisees and Doctors of the Law could not endure that our Saviour should converse with Sinners or Publicans which the Jews detested and therefore they murmured greatly and demanded of his Disciples Why their Master and they did eat and drink with such sort of Persons Jesus hearing their Complaints said unto them They that are whole need not a Physician but they that are Sick I came not to call the Righteous but Sinners to Repentence go ye and learn what these Words signify I will have Mercy and not Sacrifice Hosea 6.6 and ye will know that my charitable conversing with Sinners to convert them is more acceptable to God than all your Sacrifices and Ceremonies This Answer nevertheless did not appease the Murmurings of the Pharisees Matth. 9 14-17 Mark 2 18-22 Luke 5 33-39 but they came to him with the Disciples of John and put this Question to him Why do the Disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast often and make Prayers but thy Disciples fast not Jesus answered them Can the Friends of the Bridegroom fast or mourn so long as the Bridegroom is with them That were unfit but the Time will come when the Bridegroom shall be taken away from them and then shall they fast To this Reason taken from the Presence of the Bridegroom which is the Name which S. John Baptist himself gave to Jesus the Son of God adds another taken from the Weakness of his Disciples who were yet in the Entrance upon his Religion and were very imperfect for he tells the Pharisees That to impose any rigorous Austerities upon Men who were as yet weak is to undo all and imitate the Imprudence of him who sews Pieces of new Cloath to an Old Garment or puts New Wine into old Bottles X. Jesus Christ cures a Woman of a Bloody Flux and raiseth a Maid from the Dead While Jesus was thus discoursing with the Pharisees and John's Disciples Jairus Matth. 9 18-22 Mark 5 22-34 Luke 8 41-48 the Chief Ruler of the Synagogue came and falling down at his Feet besought him to go to his House and lay his Hands upon his only Daughter who was about Twelve Years old and was then at the Point of Death Jesus went immediately along with him being accompanied with his Disciples and a great multitude of People At the same time it happen'd That a Woman who had been sick of a Bloody Flux for Twelve Years and had spent all her Estate to get a Cure of it and had endured much by Physicians and could get no help having heard the Fame of Jesus came behind him among the Multitude and touched him by the Border of his Garment for she had so great a Faith that she was throughly perswaded in her self If I can but touch his Garment I shall be

thought upon all ways Matth. 27 1-10 how they might put their Sentence in Execution resolv'd to deliver him to Pontius Pilate the Governour of Judaea so Constituted by the Romans When Judas who had betray'd him saw that he was Condemned he repenting of what he had done brought the Thirty Pieces of Silver which he had received to the Priests and Rulers again and said unto them I have sinned in betraying the Innocent Blood They answered What is that to us See thou to That But he casting the Money down in the Temple went away and Hang'd himself The Priests thought it not Lawful to put the Money into the Treasury because it was the Price of Blood and of a Mans Life Wherefore they Bought the Potters Field to Bury Strangers in with it which is therefore called The Field of Blood and in the Syriack Tongue Aceldama Acts 1.19 Thus was the Prophecy of Zechariah ●exactly fulfilled Zech. 11.13 That Jesus should be Sold for the Price of Thirty Pieces of Silver and with it the Potters Field should be Bought XXXIV Jesus is accused before Pilate John 18 28-38 The Priests and Rulers of the Jews carryed Jesus bound from the Palace of Caiphas to the Praetorium i. e. the Palace of the Roman Governour But because they were afraid to go into an Heathens House lest they should be defiled and so be made unfit to eat the Passover they would not go in Insomuch that Pilate was forced to go out to them and ask them What they accused him of that they had brought him to him They answered him in general If he were not a Malefactor they would not have delivered him up unto him The Governour said unto them Take ye him and judge him according to the Rules of your Law But they reply'd That it was not Lawful for them to put any Man to Death They pretended that the Romans had lately depriv'd them of the Power of Condemning Men to Death by which the Word of Jesus was accomplish'd which he spake to his Apostles that he should be delivered to the Gentiles to be Crucified Matth. 20.19 The Governour not being contented with these rambling Accusations Matth. 27 11-14 Mark 15 2-5 Luke 23 1-5 John 18 33-38 which laid nothing special against him whom they required to be put to Death the Jews said unto him That Jesus not only perverted the whole Nation but forbid Paying Tribute to Caesar and assumed the Title of a King and of the Messias Pilate then returning into his Palace and calling for Jesus he ask'd him if he were the King of the Jews Jesus answered him Sayest thou this thy self or did others tell it thee of me Pilate replyed Am I a Jew The People of thy own Nation and the Chief Priests have delivered thee to me What hast thou done Jesus answered him My Kingdom is not of this World if it were my Disciples would fight to keep me out of the Hands of the Jews but my Kingdom is not from hence Art thou then a King said the Governour Thou sayest it replyed Jesus that I am For this End was I born and for this End came I into the World to give Testimony to the Truth Every one that loves the Truth heareth my Voice Pilate ask'd him What is Truth And having said these Words he went to the Jews that attended about his Palace to tell them That he found no Fault with Jesus Then the Priests and the Elders accused him of several Crimes but he answered nothing although Pilate said Hearest thou not how many accusations they bring against thee yet still he held his Peace which greatly astonished this Governour XXXV Jesus is contemned and scorned by Herod The Enemies of Jesus pressing him more fiercely● accused him of having stirred up the People by his Doctrin Luke 23 5-12 which he hath taught throughout all Judea beginning at Galilee Pilate hearing them speak of Galilee asked whether he belonged to that Province and being informed that he was of it and consequently of Herod's Jurisdiction he sent him to that Prince who was then at Jerusalem Herod was very glad to see him for he had a long Time desired it having heard such great things spoken of him and he hoped to see some Miracle done by him wherefore he put many Questions to him but Jesus answered nothing neither to them nor the Accusations which the Priests and Scribes brought against him and urged with great Vehemency Herod being thus deceived in his Expectations contemned Jesus and derided him and cloathing him in a white Raiment sent him again to Pilate This was the Cause that Herod and Pilate from that Time became Friends who had been Enemies before XXXVI A Thief is preferred before Jesus Matth. 27 15-23 Luke 23 13-23 John 18.39 40. Pilate could not be brought to put a Man to Death in whom he found nothing worthy of Death wherefore he called the Priests Rulers and People and told them That having examined Jesus before them he did not find him guilty of any of those Crimes of which they accused him and that Herod to whom he had sent them had passed the same Judgment But to give place a little to their Fury because he knew that for Envy and Hatred only they had delivered him to him he propounded it to them to Scourge him and then let him go again This not being liked he contrived another way to save him He was obliged by Custom upon the account of the Feast to free a Criminal whom the Jews would chuse and all the People who desired Jesus Death were also very earnest with him to shew them the same Favour he had always used to grant them There was then in Prison a notable Thief named Barabbas who had been seized with other Seditious Persons because he had committed Murther in the Sedition Pilate therefore thinking that if he propounded only Two viz. Jesus and Barabbas to chuse one of the Two for whom he should do this Favour they would prefer an Innocent Person before a Thief and a Murderer saith unto them I find no Fault in him whom ye accuse But since it is a Custom to release a Criminal at the Passover whom will ye that I release unto you Barabbas or Jesus which is called Christ There happened also another Thing about the same Time which is no small Proof that the Governour had a Design to save Jesus's Life for as he was sirting upon the Judgment-Seat his Wife sent one to bid him Not to concern himself with this Just Man because she had suffered Many Troubles in a Dream because of him Then did Pilate do all that he was able to deliver him from the Hands of his Enemies and this was the Reason that he propounded him with Barabbas to the People But the Priests and Elders moved the People and perswaded them to require his Favour for Barabbas and that Jesus might be put to Death so that when Pilate ask'd them a

receive the Fruits of it But the Husband-men beat the Servant and sent him back empty Then he sent another to them whom they Wounded and a Third whom they Killed others also he sent to them and they used them after the same manner so that he resolved to send his only Son whom he loved most tenderly being perswaded that they would reverence him But on the contrary when they saw him they said one to another Lo this is the Heir let us Kill him and so get his Inheritance So they seized upon him cast him out of the Vineyard and slew him Then Jesus said When the Lord of the Vineyard cometh what will he do unto these Husband-men Some of them answered He will destroy those wicked Men according to their deserts and let out his Vineyard to other Husband-men who shall render him the Fruits in due season He approved of their answer and assured them that they should be used in that manner But others who perceived perhaps that this Parable touched them said unto him God forbid But Jesus looking upon them said What is then the meaning of this Parable of Scripture The Stone which the Builders rejected is by the Miraculous Power of God become the head Stone of the Corner And to make a full Application of this Parable to them he added For this reason it is that I have told you That the Kingdom of Heaven shall be taken from you and be given to a People that shall bring forth the Fruits of it And this indeed happened for the Jews to whom Jesus Christ had trusted his Vineyard that is to say his Law and Church and who instead of making use of these advantages had cruelly handled the Prophets who admonished them of their Duty and have Crucified the only Son of God are no longer the Lords People but his Church is now made up of Gentiles who heretofore knew not God Wherefore it is our Wisdom to profit by the misfortunes of them into whose Place we are entred bringing forth Fruits i. e. faithfully performing what God expects of us The Priests and Scribes easily perceiv'd that Jesus spake of them and would then have laid their Hands on him but the fear which they had of the People kept them from attempting it tho' they were much troubled and ashamed to see themselves thus Painted out in this other Parable VIII The Parable of the Marriage Feast Matth. 22 1-14 To the same purpose Jesus spake another Parable saying A certain King having made a great invitation to the Marriage of his Son sent his Servants when all things were ready to call them to it but because they refused to come he sent other Servants to perswade them and give them notice what great preparations were made for them But this did not make any impression upon them they went one to his Farm another to his Merchandize and some layd hold upon his Servants and slew them after they had committed many outrages against them The King having heard of these ungrateful rudenesses sent forth his Armies to slay those Murtherers and burn up their Cities and in their stead brought all that he found in the Streets to the Marriage This being done the King came in to see the Guests and there perceiving a Man who had not a Wedding Garment he asked him how he dare come thither with such a Vestment Wherefore binding him Hand and Foot he cast him into outer Darkness where there is nothing but Weeping and gnashing of Teeth Jesus made the Application of this Parable saying Many are called but few are chosen It is easy to see that the Jews were the first Invited to the Marriage of the Kings Son i. e. to the Kingdom of Heaven Preached to them by Jesus Christ that they despised his Word and put him to Death that God hath rejected them as a punishment for their Sin and instead of them hath called the Gentiles into his Church who before had never heard of him It remains only for us to see whether we have a Marriage-Garment i. e. Charity which is the White Robe which is given us in Baptism that so if we have it not we may endeavour to get it on before the King comes to examine with the great rigour of his Justice the State of all those that are in his Church to condemn them to Infernal Darkness who imagine that it is enough to be called and will not be at the pains by an Holy Life to obtain the Reward promised to the Elect. IX Jesus Christ Silenceth the Pharisees Matth. 22 15-22 Mark 12 13-17 Luke 20 20-26 The Pharisees who had as great a share-in the Application of these Parables as any other went away with a firm resolution to search out all Opportunities of destroying him who thus confounded them They believed they had found out an infallible way to do it by entangling him in his talk and therefore made no delays to make use of it Whereupon they sent some of their Disciples to him who were as much Hypocrites as themselves and counterfeiting themselves to be Righteous with the Herodians i. e. probably some of Herods Officers to ensnare him and tempt him to speak something which might bring him under the stroke of Justice These Men therefore went to him and spake thus to him Master We know that thou art upright and true and teachest the way of God in Truth without regard to any Man or thing Give us thy Opinion in this matter Is it Lawful to pay Tribute to Caesar or no It is certain their design was in this Question to make him odious to the People who never could be brought to submit themselves to the Romans but by force if he should assert that they ought to do it but if he answered that 't was unlawful to pay they would have him punished as a Rebel against the Emperour But he knowing their malicious intentions asked them to shew him a piece of the Money they pay'd Tribute withal and when he had it in his Hands he said Whose Image and Superscription hath it They answered him Caesars Then he reply'd Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesars and to God the things that are Gods In which answer since they could find no fault they went away full of disappointment and admiration X. Jesus Christ silenceth the Sadducees As soon as these Men were gone Matth. 22 23-33 Mark 12 18-28 Deut. 25.5 Luke 20 27-38 there came to Jesus the Sadducees i. e. a Sect of the Jews that do not believe the Resurrection of the Dead and put a Question to him about the Command of the Law of Moses which obliged a Man to Marry the Widow of his Elder Brother dying without Children They then put this Case to him That there was a Woman who was Marryed according to this Law to Seven Brethren one after another and they all Dyed without Children wherefore they asked him Whose Wife of the Seven she should be after

the Resurrection He answered them That they neither understood the sense of Scripture nor the Power of God that Marriage which is necessary in this World to raise up Children and posterity to Mortal Men is not at all so in another World where no Man shall dye but all shall be like the Angels being immortal Then he shews them by Scripture that the Dead are alive in respect of God who will one day raise them and consequently they were in a great error in denying a future Resurrection A Doctor of the Law who heard this answer could not but acknowledge that he had replyed well and all the People continued their admiration of his Doctrin XI He teaches which is the greatest Commandment of the Law A certain Scribe who was a Pharisee Matth. 22 34-40 Mark 12 28-34 and who had seen how Jesus had put the Sadducees to silence came to him and asked him tempting him Which is the first and great Commandment of the Law He answered him This Thou shalt Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart with all thy Soul with all thy Mind and with all thy Strength and that the Second which is like unto it is this Thou shalt Love thy Neighbour as thy self In these two are contained all the Law and the Prophets The Pharisee highly approved this answer of Jesus and confessed that he deservedly preferred Love above all other things for that is more acceptable to God than all Whole Burnt-Offerings and Sacrifices The Son of God for his part commended the Wisdom of this Doctor and assured him that he was not far from the Kingdom of God After this no Man durst ask him any more Questions but Jesus put one himself to the Pharisees for seeing them assembled about him in the Temple He said unto them What think ye of Christ whose Son is he They answered him The Son of David Whereupon Jesus objected these words of Ps 110.1 The Lord said unto my Lord sit thou on my Right Hand c. And asked them how he could be Davids Son since he being inspired by the Holy Spirit called him His Lord This Question they could not resolve him because they would not acknowledge the Divine Nature of Jesus Christ whence it was that they were Ignorant that as God he was Lord of David tho' as Man he was his Son XII Jesus discovers the Vices of the Scribes and Pharisees Jesus then turning his Discourse to the People but chiefly to the Disciples Matth. 23 1-12 Mark 12 38-40 Luke 20 45-57 admonisheth them to observe and do those Truths which the Scribes and Pharisees taught them since they sat in Moses Chair and had right to instruct them But that they should take heed how they imitated their Actions for he tells them that they were guilty of Hypocrisy and commanded others to do what themselves would not do that they affected the highest places and sought after the greatest Honour that they used long Prayers indeed but 't was to devour Widows Houses He taught his Disciples not to desire to be called Masters but to acknowledge themselves to be all Brethren That they had but one Father who is God and one Master Jesus Christ. And then he repeats the words which he had often spoken He that is greatest among you let him be Servant of all for whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased but he that humbles himself shall be exalted XIII Jesus Christ commends the Alms of a poor Widow Jesus sitting over against the Treasury took notice of those that cast their Gifts into it Mark 12 41-44 Luke 21 1-4 and seeing a certain poor Widow casting in two Mites which make a Farthing of our Mony he called unto his Disciples and said unto them That this poor Widow hath given more then all the Rest because these Rich Men who have put much into the Treasury have given out of their abundance but this Woman on the contrary hath out of her want given all she had even all her Living XIV Jesus Christ foretells the Destruction of Jerusalem When Jesus was come out of the Temple to return to Bethany Matth. 24 1-20 Mark 13 1-23 Luke 21 5-24 his Disciples began a Discourse among themselves in the way about the Magnificence and Beauty of that Building and the large Gifts with which it was enriched and endowed And then came to their Master to shew him that which they so much admired and one of them said to him Master seest thou what Stones and Buildings here are But he answered them That the time shall come in which all this great Building which they see shall be so utterly destroyed that there shall not be left one Stone upon another that shall not be cast down When they came to the Mount of Olives Jesus sat over against the Temple and Four of his Apostles viz. Peter James John and Andrew prayed him to tell them When this Destruction of the Temple which he had foretold should happen when the World should end and he should come again in Glory and what shall be the Signs of these great events Jesus explained all these things to them and first advises them to beware of the Multitude of Impostors who should pretend themselves to be the Messias as also not to be troubled at the Wars Seditions Famines and other dreadful Signs which are nothing but many presages of the horrible Calamities which shall come upon the Earth He tells them that before these things come to pass they shall be Persecuted brought before Judges Scourged in Synagogues be delivered over to Punishments by their Parents hated of all Men for the Love they bear to Christ and many of them shall be put to Death But he comforts them at the same time by assuring them that he will give them such Wisdom to speak before their Judges as all their Adversaries shall not be able to gain-say or resist that they shall secure and save their Souls by Patience that in spite of all the Rage of their Persecutors there should not one Hair of their Heads perish and that his Gospel shall be Preached in all the World Lastly he tells them that he would raise up false Prophets which should deceive many that Persecutions should make many to fall away that they shall see Iniquity abound and Charity grow cold but they that hold out to the end shall be saved and so receive a sufficient reward for their Patience After he hath thus instructed them concerning what should befal themselves he then tells them what shall come upon the City Jerusalem the Temple and the Jews themselves He saith then That when they shall see Jerusalem invested and Gods Temple defiled with execrable abominations they may then assure themselves that the Desolation of them is nigh That they should only contrive to save themselves with all the care they can that they may not be involved in the Calamities of their Nation That this is the time that God will pour