A Complete and Compendious Church History, Chapter 23

A Complete and Compendious Church History · Chapter 23

p. 328The Twenty-Third Plot in the New-Teſtament, againſt the Church, in Chriſt, Defeated by God.

CHAP. XXIII.

NOw come we to the Devils 3d. Plot againſt Chriſt, when he carry'd on his Office, as the laſt was at the beginning of it: Though the Devil was now both Defeated and Departed, yet 'tis ſaid expreſly, He Departed from Chriſt but onelyonly for a Seaſon, Luk. 4. 13. Here Expired the Devils Commiſſion, he can now (nor at any time) do no more Evil than God permits; Here the Devil (Quaſi, Do Evil) endeavour'd to break Chriſts Head by drawing him to Sin, that thereby he might Overthrow both him and his Work of Redemption, which he had Undertaken: However Satan (being Defeated in this Deſign) waits now for a Seaſon wherein to Bruiſe his Heel, well knowing, That was in his Commiſſion, from Gen. 3. 15. 'Tis pitty we ſhould be ſo Ignorant of the Holy Scriptures, when the Devil hath them ſo at his Fingers ends, (as we p. 329ſay) as readily to rehearſe them (as he did) in ſharpening his 2d. Tempting Tool againſt Chriſt. He well enough underſtood that though he could not now Corrupt Chriſt with thoſe his three temptations, ſo Spoil him as the Church's Redeemer; yet he might have leave (from that Gen. 3. 15.) to do him much miſchief, yea, and to Murder him at laſt, which yet (as God over-rul'd it) was but the Bruiſing of his Heel in his Redemption-Work, as will appear after. Hereupon the Prince of this World commeth again to Chriſt, (after his 2d. Defeat) Joh. 14. 30. Non tantùm clam Tentaturus, quantùm palam pugnaturus, Not ſo much privily to Tempt him, as openly to Fight him; the Tempter will have his Returning Times, as he had to Chriſt, ſo he will have to Ʋs, and therefore after we have foiled him in one Conſlict, we muſt expect another; he will have the t'other Bout with us, in a calm prepare for a Storm: Satan is Reſtleſs, Impudent and Importunate, and will not eaſily be ſaid Nay: If we live out all our Days, he may put us hard to it in every Article of the Creed in Reſpect of our Belief, and Urge us to the Breach of every Branch of the Dealogue in Reſpect of our Obedience, ſo may he tempt us to all kind of Sins. Thus this Reſtleſs Devil (though he had let Chriſt alone all the time of his Private Life, as before) never allows him any Quiet after he had Entred upon his Publick Miniſtry, but did Diſquiet p. 330him all along, until he had finiſhed his Work his Father gave him to do, Joh. 17. 4. No ſooner began Chriſt to Declare himſelf the King, Prieſt and Prophet of his Church both by his many Gracious and None-ſuch Sermons which he Publickly Preached, Luk. 4. 15, 22, 32. Matth. 7. 28, 29. Joh. 7. 15. and 1. 14. Pſa. 45. 2. Cant. 4. 3. Iſa. 50. 4. (that Palmoni Hammadabbar, moſt Excellent Speaker, or Prince of Preachers, Dan. 8. 13.) and alſo had Confirmed His Doctrine (Preached) with Matchleſs Miracles, as was that firſt of turning Water into Wine, (a better Miracle of the Meſſias, than that of Moſes's turning Water into Blood, Exod. 7. 20. for he was a better Mediator, and of better things, Hebr. 3. 3, 5, 6. and 8. 6. and 9. 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, 24.) Joh. 2. 9, 11. But preſently the Devil begins to ſtirr, and to Aſſault Chriſt again by his Diabolical Inſtruments; This 3d. Plot conſiſts of many Aſſaults, the 1ſt. was, the very firſt Sermon that Luke Records Chriſt Preach'd after his Relation of the Forty Days Temptation, (though that Miracle in Cana of Galilee was in Order of time before it,) Luk. 4. 16, to 28. The Devil ſtirr'd up thoſe Ungrateful Countrey-men of his at Nazareth, where Envy it ſelf had ſeem'd to be Silenc'd by his Gracious Words; yet (1) they (by the Devils Inſtigation) cavil at his Perſon, ſaying, Is not this Joſephs Son? v. 22. and (2) they would have p. 331found an Hole in his Seemleſs Coat, as to his Works, for not Cureing Diſeaſes in his own Countrey, (as he had done in other Countreys, Joh. 4. 43, 45, 46, 54.) v. 23. but when Chriſt Hinted onelyonly, the Calling of the Gentiles, and withal pinching cloſe upon Nazarets Unbelief, (by which his Hands were hindred from Working Miracles among them, Matth. 13. 54, 58. Mark 6. 1, 5.) v. 24, to 27. Hereupon (3) they were filled with Wrath, v. 28. picks a Quarrel with Chriſt whom they had ſo lately and ſo much Admired; Their Anger was Chriſts Danger: they thruſt Chriſt out of the City, as Unworthy to Walk upon their Pavement, and the Devil made them ſo mad with Malice, that though it were on their Sabbathday, v. 16. and though Chriſt was not Condemn'd by any Legal Tryal, yet will they Immediately (of themſelves, and on that Day) become Chriſts Executioners; in order hereunto, thoſe Diveliſhly Supercilious Jews carries him [ad Supercilium Montis] to the Brow of the Hill, to caſt Chriſt down Headlong, and ſo to break his Neck: This the Devil would have had done by Chriſt (himſelf) Voluntarily, (which God permitted him not to do by his own Hands, when he ſet him upon the Pinacle of the Temple, and now Endeavours to do by the Hands of Chriſts own Carnal and Curſed Countreymen, v. 29. but God Baffles the Devil here again; for Chriſt, like a ſecond p. 332Samſon, makes His own Way miraculouſly through the midſt of his Enemies, (as Pſal. 18. 29.) either by Blinding their Eyes, (as Gen. 19. 11.) or by Binding their Hands (as Pſal. 76. 5. and 1 Kin. 13. 4.) with a Beam of his Divine Power: thus his own Hand Saved Him from the Devils Hand (who would have made an Hand and an End of him) at this time: This Eſcape Chriſt made, [foreign,] not to avoid Suffering, (which was his Errand into the World) but Waiting for the Appointed time, for his Hour was not yet come, Joh. 8. 59. The 2d. Aſſault Satan makes againſt Chriſt, was, when he ſaw this Jeſus of Nazareth (whom God Annointed with the Holy Spirit) going about and doing good, and Healing all that were Oppreſſed of the Devil, for God was with him, Act. 10 38. therefore the Devil will be againſt him, for pulling down his Kingdom of Darkneſs, and ſetting up his own by the Light of the Goſpel, and by himſelf, the Light of the World, Iſai. 42. 6. and Luk. 2. 32. and Joh. 8. 12. Hereupon the Devil catching Chriſt in a Ship, Matth. 8. 23. as Prince of the Ayr, Epheſ. 2. 2. ſtirred up a mighty Tempeſt, v. 24. to drown Chriſt (that Male-Child of the Church, Revel. 12. 5.) and his Diſciples (the Church it ſelf) all together, and ſee how near he came to Accompliſh his Deviliſh deſign, The Ship was covered with Waves, ſhe Shipped much Water in thoſe overgrown p. 333Seas, inſomuch as ſhe was ready to Founder and to Sink down to the bottom: this foreign is Uſually Underſtood of an Earth-Quake, but here 'tis a Sea-Quake, Luke calls it foreign; which Pliny calls Navigantium Peſtem, the Seamans Miſery, the moſt Hideous of Storms, that will ſtrike all the points of the Compaſs, (like that call'd Euroclydon, Act. 27. 14.) Luk. 8. 23. and ſo Mark 4. 37. which is a Whirl-wind, not properly one Wind, but a Conflict of many Winds that turns all upſide down; no doubt but the Devil was in this ſtormy Wind, though God was not in that of Elijahs, 1 Kin. 19. 11. And the ſaddeſt Circumſtance of that Story, was, that Chriſt was of a Deep Sleep upon a Pillow, [foreign] Sopitus eſt, of a Dead Sleep as it were; ſo that neither the Noiſe of the Sea, now Roaring out its Rage; nor the Clamour of the Seamen, labouring for Life; nor the Single loud Call of his Diſciples, can Awake Chriſt, till they Double their Cry, Maſte, Maſter, Luk. 8. 24. Here the Devils Hope was as High as the Sea, yet Chriſt Awakes and Rebukes both the Rage of the Sea, and the Hope of the Devil: We muſt cry Three times, Awake, Awake, Awake thou Arm of the Lord. (that is Aſleep) Iſa. 51. 9. then will Chriſt cry, Peace, be ſtill thou Stormy Sea, then both the Winds and the Seas, yea, and the Devil (that Raiſed them) doth Obey: Chriſt lays p. 334Laws upon all Created beings, yea, upon the Devil himſelf: Hereby both Chriſt and his Church were both Delivered, and then the Calm became as Great as the Storm had been. There was then a great Calm, Mat. 8. 26. when Chriſt had firſt Rebuked the Church's (His Diſciples) Unbelief; and then the Storm the Devil had rais'd againſt them, and againſt himſelf with them. Oh how ſafe is that Ship (the Church) wherein Chriſt embarques himſelf in the ſame Bottom; If Julius Coeſar could ſay to his Barge-man in a ſtormy Sea, [Quid times? Coeſarem Vehis, & ejus Fortunam,] Be of good cheer, Barge-man, for 'tis the Fortune of Coeſar thou art wafting over, and that cannot Miſcarry: How much more may thoſe that are embarqued in the ſame Bottom with Chriſt, be confident of a ſafe Arrival. It may be ſaid to the Devil, (the raiſer of thoſe ſtorms againſt the Church) what was once ſent to the Great Turk,

Niteris Incaſſùm Chriſti ſubmergere Navens,

Fluctuat, at nunquam Mergitur illa Ratis.

The Church may ſometimes be Drench'd, but ſhe ſhall never be Drown'd, no not by the worſt Storm that the Devil can Raiſe againſt her; the Venom of a Toad may foul that Chriſtal, but can never ſtain it; Satans ſtormy Sea may Dip and dowſe that Bottle, but can never Drown it: the Church is like the Conſtellation p. 335(call'd the little Bear) that always turns round about the Axis, or North-Pole, but never goes down under the Earth with other Stars and Conſtellations, as Father Hieronimus elegantly expreſſeth it in theſe Words, [Polus Septentrionalis, Semper Verſatur, nunquam Mergitur,] The North-Pole always wheels about, but never wheels down out of the Horizon, much leſs, is drowned in the Sea: and as excellent is that Sentence of Father Ambroſe, [Diabolus contra Eccleſiam Tempeſtatem movet, ſed ipſe Naufragium facit;] though the Devil ſtirrs up many ſtorms againſt the Church, yet he (himſelf is ſure to ſuffer Shipwrack, as he did here, for no ſooner was Chriſt got ſafe to Land, but the very next News we hear of him is, his Encountring with and Caſting out a whole Legion of Devils, that he might be Reveng'd of the Devil, who had endeavour'd to drown both Him and all His, Matth. 8 28. Mark 5. 2. and Luk. 8. 27. The 3d. Aſſault, or rather, a Meeting, through the Devils being Out-dared, was when a certain Man which had Devils met, Chriſt, (one that was more noted, more bewailed, and more outragious than the other) having a whole legion of Devils in him, (which among the old Romans was Six Thouſand Armed Souldiers, or as Dr. Hammond ſaith, more than twice as many, even Twelve Thouſand Five Hundred) ſo many Devils were gotten into this one poor Man: p. 336All Pharaohs Cruelties exercis'd upon the Iſraelites, and all the moſt exquiſite Torments the moſt Savage Perſecutors put Gods people to, were all nothing to this; 'tis a wonder that this poor Man, having ſo many Devils cramm'd up all together in him, did not crack aſunder both in Soul and Body: This Man had his Dwelling among the Tombs, There the Devils kept him to Terrifie him the more with the fear of Death all his Life, Hebr. 2. 15. and indeed he was as Dead while he Lived, ſo that Burying place (which the Devil Haunts and plays his pranks there to enhaunch a Superſtition of Praying to and for the Dead) was the ſitteſt place for him, thither had thoſe Devils driven him, (foreign, driven, as the Horſe is by the Spur of the Rider,) Luk. 8. 29. 'tis a Wonder they drove him not into the Tombs, as well as among them, and that they made him not Run Violently down a ſteep place into the Sea to Choak him, as they did the Herd of Swine, Matth. 8. 32. This the Devils would have done with him, and more than this, they would have Run him down to the Bottomleſs Deep of Hell, had not God Preſerv'd him from all, that he might meet his Saviour, who durſt meet him, (though no Man elſe durſt do ſo, becauſe of his Fierceneſs, Matth. 8. 28.) notwithſtanding his Legion of Devils in him: Thoſe Devils had driven him to Aſſault and Batter many Paſſengers Travelling that way, p. 337yet dare they not (though ſo many Devils) Venture upon one Chriſt, for upon his firſt Approach, they feel a Beam of his Divine Power comming forth to Torment them, crying, Art thou come hither to Torment us? and what have we to do with thee? v. 29. but Chriſt had ſomewhat to do with them, that is, to Diſpoſſeſs them, letting them know their Unclean Company was ſitter for Unclean Swine than for Man, Gods nobleſt Creature. Thus Chriſts Preſence was the Devils Torment, yet the poor Mans Happineſs, * 12500 Devils cannot match one Chriſt; and this poor Poſſeſſed Man becoming by Grace Diſpoſſeſſed, and comming to his Right mind, was ſo ſadly Affrighted, (as he had good cauſe) ſits down at Jeſus Feet, and Intreated him that he might continue with him, Luk. 8. 35. 38. Mark 5. 18. not onelyonly to Teſtifie his Love to his Redeemer, but alſo his Fear, that upon Chriſts Departure from him, he might Fall under the Devils Power again, and ſo be Repoſſeſſed. Thus Chriſt Conquers a great Army of Devils, and makes this Man (whom the Devils had made the moſt miſerable of Mankind) more Holy (and ſo more Happy) than all his Countrey-men, who beſought Chriſt to Depart from them, Matth. 8. 34. (preferring a Swine-ſtye before a Sanctuary, and Swines Company before a Saviors) whereas this onelyonly Man beſought Chriſt not to Depart from him; and the Devils beſought p. 338Chriſt that he would not command them to go out into the Deep, Luk. 8. 31. foreign or Bottomleſs-Pit, 2 Pet. 2. 4. Joh. 12. 31. * The matter is well amended now, not long ago the Devil Aſſaults Chriſt with all might and malice in the Wilderneſs, but here in the Gadarens Countrey (none of the beſt) a whole Legion of Devils dare not Threaten Chriſt, but joyns all in one Petition, and beſought him not to pack them away to Hell: They had no mind out of this Country, (that loved the Devils Company better than Chriſts) and leſs mind out of this World, where they are (as it were) Reſpited and Reprieved till their full Torment come; they are ſuffred as Free Priſoners (in Liberâ, non Arctâ Cuſtodiâ) to Flutter in the Ayr, and to Courſe about the Earth, Epheſ. 2. 2. Job 1. 7. Matth. 12. 43. 1 Pet. 5. 8. yet all this they do in Chains, 2 Pet. 2. 4. Jude v. 6. until the laſt Day, which they Tremble to think on, I am. 2. 19. And which they that mock at, 2 Pet. 3. 3. or make light off, Matth. 22. 5. are herein worſe than Devils. ☞ Behold here this great Wonder, that our Lord Chriſt (ſo lately Toſſed in the Sea, as well as Tempted in the Wilderneſs) hath here, even in his State of Humiliation, brought (above 12000) Devils down upon their Knees, when they Beſought him, finding themſelves over-powered, not onelyonly the Hoggiſh and carnal Gadarens Beſought Chriſt, (whom they durſt not Threaten p. 339out of their Coaſts) Matth. 8. 34. but even thoſe Principalities, Powers, and Spiritual Wickedneſſes in High places, Eph. 6. 12. do bow before this Ab-rech, Gen. 41. 43. (which ſignifies Tender Father,) This Joſeph our Brother to whom Men and Devils muſt bow the Knee: How much more may he make every Knee bow to him in his State of Exaltation? Phil. 2. 8, 9. The ſame power of Chriſt (when He Pleaſeth) can now make the Tempter to change his Tone to us, and all Incarnate Devils their Cruel, into Kind and Candid Carriages, undoubtedly He will Tread Satan under our Feet ſhortly, Rom. 15. 20. If it were [Shortly] in Pauls Day, wherein the Myſtery of Iniquity did but begin to Work, and the long Leaſe of the Beaſts-Kingdom was not yet begun: How much more is it [Shortly] in our Day, wherein the Beaſt hath been playing Rex in his Pranks for above a 1000 Y. ſurely 'tis not long e're this Word ſhall be Accompliſh'd. The 4th. Aſſault the Devil makes upon Chriſt, (after his Departure from Him for a Seaſon, Luk. 4. 13.) was in his taking New Meaſures, (being Hitherto at every turn over-match'd) and putting the People upon makeing Chriſt King, whom he could neither Kill nor Conquer, Joh. 6. 14, 15. 'Tis true, before this, Satan made Two dangerous By-blows at Chriſt, the 1ſt was in Cutting off John Baptiſt, who had Witneſſed him into the World, that ſo Chriſt p. 340might ſtand upon his own Legs onelyonly, and not be any longer ſhored up by the Baptiſt, whom all People believ'd to be a Prophet, Matth. 21. 26. The Occaſion was this, John Baptiſt had not onelyonly Preach'd up Chriſt and his Kingdom, (which Enrag'd the Devil) but alſo had told Herod the Truth about his Darling-Sin, which none others (though they knew it) durſt tell Herod ſo, but the Baptiſt onelyonly: this Herod (the leſs) was as fit a Tool for the Devil now, as his Father (Herod the great) was at Chriſts Birth, Tange Montes & Fumigabunt; Touch the Mountains and they will ſmoak, Pſal. 104. 32. Touch a great Man upon the Sore, (as the Baptiſt here did Herod) and he fumes, caſts the Toucher into Priſon without Bail or Mainprize, and there he lies for half a Year without ever coming to a fair Tryal or Hearing: John Baptiſt knew well Gods Truth muſt be told, however it be taken, and not to be Betrayed (as too oft it is) by a Cowardly and Sinful Silence: Here John lies in Fetters, while the Fear of Man (more than of God) Reſtraineth Herod from Murdering him, Mark 6. 17, 20. Matth. 14. 4, 5. he feared Johns Innocency, which ſhone in his Face, and he feared the People, (who Hated him already for his many Crimes and Cruelty) leaſt they ſhould move a Mutiny at the Death of ſo Innocent and ſo much Honoured a Perſon: Hereupon the Plot was layd 'twixt Herod and his p. 341Harlot (Herodias) to cut him off when their convenient Day (Herods Birth-day) did come, Mark 6. 21. that day had been appointed long before for craftily Acting this cruel Tragedy; a great Feaſt muſt then be made, the Nobles Invited, the Damoſel-Daughter muſt Dance, the King muſt Swear, and muſt gratifie the Queen with the Baptiſts Head: All this was done as if God had not been concern'd at all; but God did ſo far concern himſelf, that Herod was ſtruck with Horror upon it, with Terrour and Torment, Luk. 9. 7. foreign, he ſtuck faſt in the Mud, and could find no way out, yet God made him find a way out of his Kingdom, (the half whereof he had promis'd to the Damoſel (for Tripping Wantonly upon the Toe) as Joſephus Relateth, and (probably, out of Gods Kingdom too: So Father and Son be both alike in their Sin and Puniſhment: The 2d. By-Blow the Devil gave Chriſt was, to cut off his Followers (the Diſciples) as he had done his Forerunner John Baptiſt; And this he endeavoured to effect, when he had got the Diſciples to Sea apart from Chriſt, Matth. 14. 23, &c. Mark 6. 45, &c. Joh. 6. 16. Very loth were the Diſciples to Lanch out to Sea alone, and to leave his Sweet and Safe Company, but Chriſt conſtrains them to do ſo, (1) that he might the ſooner diſmiſs the Multitude, (2) he diſmiſſeth his Diſciples to Sea, leaſt they (alſo) ſhould ſtrike in with that Raſh-many-Headed p. 342Multitude, who would have made him King. (3) Though they were loth to leave their beſt Friend behind them ſo neer Night, in a Deſart, and all alone too, yet this was Chriſts Choice, that He might have an Opportunity of Solitary Prayer for their Safety, and of his Miraculous Walking upon the waves to their Relief: by the Want of Chriſt (for a few Hours of Danger onelyonly) they learnt the Worth of Chriſt: no ſooner had the Devil caught the Diſciples at Diſtance from Chriſt, but to Work he falls, then down comes the Storm and up goes the Sea; another foreign or mighty Storm, (which is a Wind (ſaith Ariſtotle) that Rouls in a Circle with ſuch Violence, inſomuch as it ſwallows up whole Towns in Italy, &c.) and foreign, a great Tempeſt, a very Sea-Quake, of the ſame Nature with an Earth-Quake, (which hath the Formidable force of removing Mountains, and of caſting down Strong Caſtles that ſtand upon them) Deſcends from the Stinking Breath of the Prince of the Ayr, (the Devil) upon now the poor and Chriſtleſs Apoſtles, with a malicious Intention to Drown them all, that they might never trouble his Kingdom any more; as with an Horrible Wind Satan had Brain'd all Jobs Children, ſo by the like means he would have Drown'd all Chriſts Diſciples, Chriſt being abſent in this latter, as Job (himſelf) was in the former Inſtance. Behold (with me) a little, p. 3431. The Churches Calamity, 2. Her Comfort; in the 1ſt. See the ſad Circumſtances of this Hiſtory of the Church: * as (1) in this little Ship was embarqued all the Hopes of a Church that now God had in the whole World, as in Noahs Ark, couped up in a little compaſs: (2) The Winds were contrary, Matth. 14. 24. as Act. 27. 4. So 'tis moſtly with the Church, that is ſo often blown back from the Cape of Good Hope, and from the Haven of Heaven in her Militant-State, ſhe is ever and anon, as in the Straits of Magellan, wherein which way ſoever a Man Bends his Courſe, he is ſure to have the Wind ſit croſs to him. (3) Thoſe Contrary Winds were not ſo much Ordinary as Extraordinary, ſo that thoſe Apoſtles (who were Fiſhermen, and thereby experienced in ordinary Sea-Storms) cryed out, We Periſh, for (4) they were [foreign Mark 6. 48, 49.] which ſignifies not onelyonly that they were Toſſed with the Tempeſt, but alſo Tormented with it ſo the Word is uſed, Luk. 16. 23. The Rich Glutton was [foreign] in Torments: Thus the Afflicted Church was here not onelyonly toſſed with Tempeſts, and not Comforted, as Iſa. 54. 11. but alſo Tormented, as thoſe miſerable Men are by the Tormentors (in the Spaniſh Inquiſition) toſſing them too and fro up and down till they be Ready to looſe one Limb from another: So this Wind was far unlike the ſweet Gales of the Spirit of God, which always blows p. 344Good to the Church out of every Quarter, North and South, Cant. 4. 16. but more like that [Ruach Gedolah] ſtrong and mighty Wind, 1 Kin. 19. 11. which had not the Lord in it, for his Voice is a Voice of Mercy and Clemency, and Natural to him, Micah 7. 18. and his Voice of Juſtice againſt Jezebel (which was not to be yet) is called his ſtrange Act, Iſai. 28. 21. yea, more then ſo, for this Tempeſtuous Wind had the Devil in it, and therefore it toſſed the Church up and down, hither and thither, ſo it Toiled and Tormented them, as if it had been Extorting (as upon a Rack) a Denyal of Chriſt and of all Chriſtianity from them: (5) They were in the Deep, the Ship was now in the midſt of the Sea, Matth. 14.24. Mark 6.47. the Syriack Adds, They were many Furlongs from each Shore, agreeable to Joh. 6. 19. where 'tis ſaid they Rowed about Thirty Furlongs, ſo deep was the Sea here that they could not Fathom or Feel the Bottom, and here the Devil Hoped to carry it, by carrying them down into this Deep, and not onelyonly ſo, but to carry them alſo down ſtill lower into his own Deep, even to the Deep and Bottomleſs Pit of Hell. (6) It was very Dark (as well as very Deep,) Joh. 6. 17. which is a time very Terrible to Marriners to whom the Water affords them moſtly a little Light: now Darkneſs (of it ſelf) was their Danger, not knowing how to Steer their Courſe ſafely from Rocks and p. 345Quick-Sands, Sailing was then Dangerous, as Act. 27.9. when no Stars appeared, v. 20. but this was more Dangerous (in it ſelf) it being a Darkneſs from the Prince of Darkneſs, the Devil, who Hoped to Drown them in the Deep and in the Dark, (a right Diveliſh deed of Darkneſs) that they might not Diſcern their own Deſtruction; Oh how doleful was all this to the Diſciples? 'twas ſo deep they could not feel Bottom, and ſo dark they could not diſcern Shore, and whether this (the Devils) Hericane would drive them, to drown them, either by ſwallowing up the Ship in the midſt of the Sea, or by ſplitting her upon the Rocks or Sands of the Shore, they knew not: Oh what a ſad Takeing was Judas (whom Chriſt calls a Devil ſoon after this, Joh. 6.70.) in, at this ſad Bout. But the (7) was the ſaddeſt Circumſtance of all, to wit, Chriſt was Abſent from them in this Storm, who was preſent with them in the other, And Jeſus was not come to them, Joh. 6. 17. This was worſe to them than the Storm, their beſt Pilot and Protector (whoſe Preſence had Protected them from the laſt late Storm) was wanting; Though Chriſt was Aſleep in the former Storm, yet was heat hand, they could quickly Awake him; but now was he out of their Call, and they knew not when he would come: Oh what can they do? no doubt but the Devil might make them doubt of the Truth of Chriſts Words to them p. 346[Ye ſhall bear by Name among the Gentiles,] as Act. 9. 15. 'twas now more likely they ſhould bear it down into the Deep, and unto the Dead; yet mark it, they altogether Deſpond not, they do not betake themſelves to their Boat, as thoſe Deſperado's did, Act. 27. 30. but to their Oars, Rowing hard about Twenty-Five or Thirty Furlongs, Joh. 6. 19. They had ſo learnt of Chriſt, Epheſ. 4. 20. that God muſt be Truſted, but not Tempted by a wilful Neglect of Due means; he is not tyed to them, yet doth he uſually Work with them; their Sails they could not Hand out, the Wind was too Boiſterous, therefore they keep Tugging (with Hands all) at their Oars, even all the Three long Watches of the Dark and ſtormy Night, (for the Streſs of Weather, and the Diſciples Diſtreſs laſted, from Evening to Midnight, and from thence to Cock-crow, then after Cock-crow (the 4th. Watch of the Night) God Bleſſed their Endeavours ſo far as to bring them to a Sight of their Dear (longed and long-looked for) Saviour, Joh. 6. 19. * This doth Teach us, In greateſt ſtorms to uſe all lawful Means and Practicable Helps for our own Deliverance as the Diſciples here [Non Navem Deſerunt ſed Remigando Laborârunt,] Deſerted not their Stations, but did their utmoſt at their Oars when they could do nothing with their Sails; Try all things, 1 Theſſ. 5.21. if one way may not, another may avail. p. 347Having Viewed 1. the Churches Calamity (in thoſe Seven ſad Circumſtances,) now take a View of the Churches Comfort, Chriſt will not leave her Comfortleſs, foreign, or Orphans, Joh. 14. 18. as his Diſciples ſeem to be now during Chriſts Abſence, who was not onelyonly their Lord but their Father alſo, for he calls them his Children, Matth. 5. 45. but more plainly and diſtinctly he ſaith to his Diſciples, [Children have ye any Meat? Joh. 21. 5.] ☞ Oh the Boundleſs and Bottomleſs Bowels of this Heavenly Father to his poor Children, ever ſaying Compaſſionately to them, [Have ye Food, and have ye Raiment, Have ye this, and Have ye that?] our Heavenly Father knoweth that we have need of theſe things, Matth. 6. 32. both for our Souls the good things of the Throne, and for our Bodies thoſe of the Foot-ſtool; he Careth and Catereth in every thing that is good for us: Oh Happy we, did we but know Believingly our own Happineſs, Pſal. 139. 14. and 22. 9. and 144. 15. Numb. 11. 13. Hoſ. 2. 8, 21, 22. Pſal. 50. 10. Rom. 8. 28. Oh Happy Diſciples, that had ſuch a Father, (preſent or abſent) even when plung'd into the Deep of Miſery, we have ſeen their ſad Suffering or Paſſion (in the Circumſtances aforeſaid,) now View a little Chriſts Compaſſion for Comforting the Church in Calamity; the Diſciples could not well be Ignorant of the yerning of Divine Bowels over his Church in p. 348ſuch a like Condition as theirs then was, Iſai. 54. 11. Oh thou Afflicted, &c. and it could not but comfort the Diſciples to conſider they had not ſtep'd out of Gods way when they met with this Storm, for Chriſt had Conſtrained them to go this Voyage, and that, without him: 'Tis very Comfortable to take along with us (in all our Journeys and Voyages.) Chriſts ſweet and ſaving Company, but Chriſt Commands them to go without him to this place where they were in this Jeopardy. ☞ Hence Obſerve (1) Storms may be met with in ways of Obedience, in going where and whether Chriſt bids us go. (2) If Storms meet thoſe that Walk in ways of Obedience, what can they expect that Walk in ways of Diſobedience, but Sodoms Storm of Fire and Brimſtone? (3) Storms may well be expected if Chriſt be Abſent, as here: Yea, (4) they are not exempted from Fears and Dangers by the preſence of Chriſt, Matth. 8. 25. (5) Chriſt may ſeem to be Careleſs of the Cauſe, Caſe, and Condition of his Church and Children, he falls aſleep in the firſt Storm, and had withdrawn himſelf in the ſecond. (6) Chriſt was tugging and toiling as earneſtly in his Prayer for them, Matth. 14. 23. as they did for themſelves in their Perilling and almoſt Periſhing condition with all their Hard Rowings. (7) Aſtormy Sea cannot Separate Chriſt from his Church in Danger, Rom. 8. …5. Chriſt comes Walking upon the Sea, p. 349ſhowing himſelf herein to be greater than Moſes, who onelyonly Walk'd through a Sea Dryed up, but the Meſſiah Walks upon the ſurface of a Full-Sea, yea, Notoriouſly Raging, Chriſt ſteps from off one proud Wave upon another, his Godhead all along bearing up the Natural weight of his Manhood; he well knew that his Abſence made their Sufferings Unſufferable, ſo takes he long and more than Mortal ſtrides towards them, Matth. 14. 25. (8) When Chriſt on the Shore ſaw them toiling in the Sea, then out of compaſſion he came upon the Sea to comfort them, Mark 6. 48. Chriſt is now landed upon the Shore of Glory in Heaven, and thence he beholds all the Toilings of His Church upon this Troubleſome Sea on Earth, then comes he down to Deliver her, Exod. 3. 7, 8. (9) yet not till the 4th. Watch of the Night, then, and not till then: he commonly keeps his hand for a Dead lift, and his Help is always ſweet, becauſe (whatever we think of it) 'tis always Seaſonable, Iſa. 30. 18. (10) How apt are Men to miſtake their Comforts when they come to them, as here, they were troubled at the comming of their onelyonly Comforter, Matth. 14. 26. They Feared this Spectrum or Apparition as well as the Storm; they might think it was the Devil, who had rais'd that Storm, and was come (himſelf) to ſink them out-right: thus miſtook they their Saviour for Satan, and their Choiceſt Comforter for their chiefeſt Confronter p. 350and Confounder: (11) 'tis ſad to a ſenſible Soul when Chriſt ſeemeth to paſs by him, Mark 6. 48. This Affrights them ſtill more, and made them think he was ſome Walking Night-Devil, when he ſeem'd to paſs by them, and to take no notice of their Deplorable Eſtate, which Chriſt might do onelyonly to try them whether they would Intreat him to come aboard, for Joh. 6. 21. they would have (ſo ſome Read it, [foreign,] for, Willingly,) Receiv'd him into the Ship, and did ſo, Mark 6. 5. (12) Oh how ſweet a Cordial to thoſe words, [It is I,] even I with an Emphaſis, [Be not Afraid,] either of the Phantaſme ye Fear, or of the Furious Sea ye Feel, It is I, whom ye need not be afraid of, for I am not the evil Angel that comes to Harm and Hurt you, but I am the good Angel of the Covenant, who comes to Help you, and to Hand you ſafe to Land: I am he that keeps the Enſuring Office both by Sea and Land, and my Right Foot (the ſtronger of the two) is upon the Sea (the more Unruly Element) in all its Sea-Quakes, as my Left Foot is upon the Land, in all its Concuſſions and Earth-quakes, Revel. 10. 2. therefore I ſhall loſe nothing of all that the Father hath given me, Joh. 6. 39. So he tells them ſoon after this Marvellous Deliverance, for the Working of which, he had purpoſely withdrawn himſelf from them until now: All this is compriſed p. 351in this Conciſe Kind of Speech, [It is I,] he doth not ſay [I am Jeſus,] as he ſaid to Perſecuting Saul (who had never heard his Voice before) Act 9. 5. but onelyonly [It is I,] as ſpeaking to thoſe who well knew his Voice, and thus Abruptly, as Importing his Haſt to come and comfort them, behold he commeth leaping over Mountains, the Hills of Bether or Separation, Cant. 2. 17. Thoſe lofty Mountains (the highſwoln Surges of the Sea) he leaps over, they ſhall not Separate him from his Spouſe, the Church: And no ſooner was Chriſt (whoſe Abſence troubl'd them, and whoſe Preſence Terrify'd them) come Aboard, but Immediately the Ship was at Land, Joh. 6. 21. and thoſe Half-Dead Diſciples came lively aſhore where they would willingly have been. * There wants nothing to Help our Ship (the Church) through this Stormy Sea ſafe to Land, ſave Chriſts comming to us both for calming the ſtorm, and for conveying Home the Ship. * Things oft go backward, e're they go forward; Chriſt did come here. but while he was Ʋnknown, neither his Diſciples were comforted, nor the Sea becalmed, the comming of him (in whom all their comfort was contain'd) caus'd them to cry out for fear, Matth. 14. 26. their Fears befool'd them, but Chriſt ſtraightway heard their Cry, and makes himſelf known to them, yet doth not becalm the Sea for them, Peters Faith (Requiring a Sign) muſt be tryed firſt p. 352and after this, Chriſt (himſelf) yea a known Chriſt muſt come up into the Ship, and then comes the calm, (Oh that it were thus with us now,) v. 32. The ending of Peters Tryal was the ending of the Diſciples Trouble, Chriſt will have an Hand to Hand Peter both out of the Sea and into the Ship (yet not without a check for his looking too much on the Sea, and too little on his Saviour) before the Storm ceaſe, 'twas not onelyonly Chriſts Preſence, but his Praecept that Allay'd it: The Diſciples muſt be better Awakened both to Hope and Deſire this favour from Chriſt before it be done: yet their Delivery was at hand, while they apprehend nothing but Deſtruction, both from the Raging Sea, (makeing no way with all their Rowing) and from the frightful Apparition, * others took Shipping then, Joh. 6. 24. yet met no Storm: Satans spight is againſt the Church. Thoſe Two By-Blows of the Devil againſt Chriſt in his forerunner, (the Baptiſt,) and in his followers, (his Diſciples) being Diſpatched; come we now to the Devils Down-right Blow at Chriſt himſelf, which was much about the ſame time, to wit, his Diveliſh Deſign he propoſed and promoted, of makeing Chriſt a King, Joh. 6. 15. Here he was a white Devil indeed as to Appearance, but as Black as (His) Hell, as to the Deſign, for had Chriſt been content that the People (ſtirr'd up thereunto by the Devil) ſhould have King'd p. 353him; then the proud Prieſts and Pontius Pilate would have had the Law on their ſides to have Kill'd him, and have found Hundreds of Witneſſes againſt him, whereas they earneſtly ſought for Witneſſes againſt him, yet found they none, Mat. 26. 60. then they might have lay'd Treaſon againſt Coeſar to his Charge indeed, for at this time they were Vaſſals to the Romans, of whom they ſtood in fear, Joh. 11. 48. This therefore was one of the Devils Maſter-Stratagems, which yet had Chriſt accepted of, it had been far below that Univerſal Kingſhip that the Devil had tendred in his Temptations to Chriſt, Matth. 4. 8, 9. yet now he puts the People on to make him King of the Jews, (a Kingdom, that was but a little Spot of Earth, and but one Tribe of Twelve) that he might be Arraign'd at the Bar (by a Bill of Attainder) afterwards, Matth. 27. 11. 1ſt. This Deſign the Devil Manag'd by a moveable Multitude, whoſe Bellies Chriſt had fill'd with Meat by a Miracle, which had rarely been filled by their own hard Hand-labour. Hereby Satan Tranſported them ſo, as to cry up Chriſt (whom after he made them Cry down as a Deceiver) far above Moſes, Joh. 6. 14. who thus multiply'd Bread even to a greater quantity of Reverſions; this muſt be the Meſſias promiſed, and therefore in an heat and Hurry, they muſt take him by force, and make him their King: That this Praecipitant p. 354People were Satans Inſtruments herein, Appeareth, (1) Inaſmuch as Chriſt is a Born King, not to be made one, Matth. 2. 2. where is he that was Born King of the Jews: He was a King before he came into the World, Behold thy King commeth, &c. Zech. 9. 9. (2) Chriſt was a King by God himſelf, Pſal. 2. 6. and not to be made ſo by Man, he is Gods King, not Mans. I have ſet my King upon my Hill. (3) Thoſe ſame look'd only at a carnal Kingdom, their Belly was their God, they would make him King, becauſe he had fill'd their Bellies, not becauſe he had Preach'd to them the Word of Eternal Life, They followed him for Loaves, not for Love, as Chriſt told them, Joh. 6. 26. they did not love Ieſus for Ieſus-ſake, but dreamt all of Plenty under him: (4) They would have Run Chriſt into a Praemunire, as to the Roman Power, which did then Lord it over the Iews, to which Chriſt paid Tribute, Rendring unto Coeſar, the things that were Coeſars, Matth. 17. 27. and 22. 21. but their Bellys had as few Eyes as Eares, ſo could not diſcern this Danger. (5) The Devil well knew (though they did not) that Chriſts Kingdom was not of this World, Joh. 18. 36. nor commeth with Obſervation of common Notice, Luk. 17. 23. (6) Thoſe praepoſterous Perſons, as they were thus ſoon ſo Hot, ſo they were as ſoon Cold (when they cry'd Crucifie him) in their Affections to him. (2ly.) p. 355As the Devil had notably Manag'd this Deſign, ſo Chriſt as notably broke the Neck of it, both by breaking the Confederacy, and by Avoiding the Occaſion and Opportunity. 1ſt. Chriſt broke the Confederacy 1. by packing away his Diſciples, who probably might Abett this Tickling Motion of the Rude Multitude, for they were oft Harping upon an Earthly Kingdom in their Day, Luk. 24. 21. Act. 1. 6, 7. wherein the two Aſpiring Sons of Zebedee, deſired to ſit, the one on King Chriſt's Right Hand, and the other on his Left: They dream'd of a Diſtribution of Honours and Offices as in David and Solomons Days, but Chriſt calls them Fools for it, Luk. 24. 25. 2ly. Chriſt pack'd away this over-zealous Multitude, Matth. 14. 26. that he might ſhun all Suſpition of any Treaſonable Sedition, Chriſt avoids all Appearance of Evil, 1 Theſſ. 5. 22. he commanded them to be gone by his Almighty Power, which they (though a Multitude) could not Reſiſt; and he tells them at their next Meeting, they muſt expect no other Food to be provided for them by him, then his own Fleſh and Blood, Joh 6. 53, 54, 57. This was foreign an hard Saying; it ſounded ſo harſh in their Ears, that they fall quite off from their former project of makeing him King, and would not ſo much as follow him any more, v. 66. but ſuppoſe this many-Headed Multitude would not p. 356Diſperſe themſelves, yet 'tis ſaid (9ly) Chriſt withdrew himſelf [foreign] Privily into a Mountain, Joh. 6. 15. to avoid the very occaſion of being Impos'd upon by the People, as to a Kingſhip for thoſe following Reaſons. (1) Chriſt came not into the world to be Miniſtred unto, but to Miniſter, Matth. 20. 28. (2) He was not to Receive a Kingdom from Men, but to give a Kingdom to Men, Luk. 12. 32. (3) He was the Noble-Man that was to Travel into the far Countrey of Heaven, while all his Servants (even the Elect in all Ages) did Trade with their Talents upon Earth, there he was to Receive a Kingdom from God, Luk. 19, 12 and then the Lord Returns, and His Servants Reckons, Matth. 24. 15, 19. (4) Chriſt withdrew to Teach us, that his Kingdom is not carnal, conſiſting of Pleaſures, Treaſures and Honours, of Meat and Drink, &c. but 'tis a Kingdom of Righteouſneſs, Peace and Joy in the Holy-Ghoſt, Rom. 14. 17. (5) to ſhew, that the Kingdom of God was within us, Luk. 17. 21. which teacheth to contemn the Vanities of a Kingdom without, and meerly External. (6) He withdrew to diſappoint the Devil of all juſt occaſions of Offence againſt him; for if the Devil (in his Inſtruments) did ſo proſecute Chriſt for a Mover of Sedition, though he rejected this Royal proffer from the People, how much more would he have done, had he Accepted of it; how would this Act p. 357have been an Article of High Treaſon, (and with much ſeeming Juſtice Improov'd) againſt Chriſt. Thus the Devil (call'd Diabolus from Calumniating) was confounded in this Deſign of procuring a juſt cauſe of Calumniating againſt Chriſt. This Aſſault is fruitleſs and fruſtrate alſo, as all his former Aſſaults had been before: After this, the Devil made many other petty-Aſſaults againſt the Church in Chriſt Her Redeemer, (well knowing, could he but Cut off the Head, (Chriſt) his Body (the Church) would ſoon Dye,) before his great and Grand Aſſault when Chriſts Hour was come, and that fatal Hour and Power of darkneſs, Luk. 22. 53. for extinguiſhing the Lamp of David, and the Light of the World. When the Devil ſaw how Chriſt carry'd on the Kingdom of the Goſpel, not onelyonly by the Preaching of the Twelve, but alſo of the Seventy ſent out to confirm their Doctrine by Miracles, Matth. 10. and Luk. 10. Inſomuch as Satan was ſeen to fall like Lightning from Heaven, v. 18. to wit, Viewably, Violently, and Velociouſly, or Swiftly, as Lucifer did, Iſa. 14. 12. [from Mens Hearts] which the Devil accounts his Heaven, but is caſt out by the mighty Goſpel, 2 Cor. 10. 4, 5. This Enrages Satan: Hereupon he ſets the Iewiſh Sanhedrim on Work, they ſeek to Kill Chriſt, Joh. 7. 1, 11, 19, 25, 30. but no Man had power to lay hold on him at that Feaſt of Tabernacles, p. 358not onelyonly, becauſe his Hour was not yet come, as is there Expreſſed, v. 30, 44. but alſo becauſe he was ſo Marvelouſly Matchleſs in His Preaching, v. 46. and ſo uncontroulably Innocent and Inoffenſive in His Practice, v. 21, 31. Act. 10. 38. This Convincing Life which Chriſt led, (paying all his Church-Duties, Matth. 17. 27. the half Sheckel that went to the Repair of the Temple, and likewiſe his Tribute to Coeſar, Matth. 22. 21.) did ſo confound the Devil and his Tools, that they went away (as it were) with a Flea in their Ear, an Unſeen Coercive Hand of Divine Power and Providence binding their Hands at this time; The Counſel (being confuſed, conſiſting of Sadducees (which Approved Nicodemus's Seaſonable ſaying) as well as Phariſees,) was alſo Confounded and Diſmiſſed, [Re Infectâ,] Every Man went Home diſappointed, ver. 2, 3. laying aſide (not leaving or loſing) their Miſchievous Malice onelyonly till the next Opportunity, which was Joh. 8. 59. where they took up Stones to Stone Chriſt: The pretended Provocation whereunto this was; (1.) Chriſt had Avoided their Entangling Queſtion they ask'd him about the Adultereſs, v. 6. the Snare lay here on both Hands, if he Condemn'd her, he then would ſeem to Aſſume Judicial Power, if he Condemned her not, he p. 359would then ſeem a Contemner of Moſes Law, Levit. 20. 10. ſo could not be the True Meſſias: Chriſt in His Divine Wiſdom Uſes ſuch Means as neither Reflected upon the Authority of Moſes Law, nor Retracted His own Doctrine (ſo oft Sounding in their Ears) concerning the Remiſſion of Sin and Sinners: He (who had ſtooped down from Heaven to Earth) ſtoops down Here to Write (as ſome ſuppoſe) this Penitent Womans Sin in the Duſt, which he Wiped out again according to the Promiſe, [I, even I am He that Blotteth out Tranſgreſſions, &c.] Iſai. 43. 25. He did not Write her Sin with a Pen of Iron upon the Pavement of Stone, (as he did the Law, and as he doth the Sins of the Impenitent, for Duration, and for their Obduration,) but upon the Ground, whither his Adverſaries Verily Thought they had Knock'd Him down to. Hereupon they more Inſolently Urge him for an Anſwer. At this, Chriſt Lifts up himſelf (Woe to them againſt whom he doth ſo. Pſal. 68. 1. and 44. 23. Deut. 32. 40.) Saying, ver. 7. He that is without Sin, let them caſt the firſt Stone; with this Word (as with a Stone) he knockt thoſe Stoners (for ſuch they would have been to the Woman) on the Head, for Chriſt Stooping down again, to give them Opportunity p. 360of Conſulting with their own Convicted Conſciences, and of Stealing away privily, leaſt this All-knowing One (whom They would have Enſnared) ſhould Detect their Abominable Crimes before the People, ſo Blaſt their Reputation among them, ver. 8. 9. and the Eldeſt (who had the moſt Sins) leads out the Youngeſt, none of them being Able to ſtand it out before this One Word of Chriſt: This Diſappointment of their Deſign made them mad, yet Chriſt meeting them after in the Treaſury, v. 20. and telling them they ſhould Dye in their Sins, ver. 21. and they were Children of the Devil, ver. 44. This madded them more, Inſomuch that they took up Stones to Stone him, who would not let them Stone the Woman, ver. 29. [But Jeſus Hid himſelf] either ſtrikeing them Blind, or makeing Himſelf Inviſible, as before, He Departs without Harm, and the Devil Loſes his Deſign thereby.