A Complete History and Mystery of the Old and New Testament, Part 1 · Chapter 26
CHAP. XXVI. Of the Lunatick's Cure.
THE very next day after the Transfiguration falls out, the Hiſtory of Chriſts Healing the Lunatick which is more fully Related in its Circumſtances, in Mar. 9.14. &c. than in Matth. 17.14. &c. or in Luke 9.37. &c. The Remarks hereof are,
The Occaſion; 1. which was the Scribes cavelling with the nine Diſciples (who were left below the Mount;) becauſe they could not caſt the Devil out of the Lunatick, upbraiding them as a company of Cheats, and the Maſter of them no better than an Impoſter. Now in that very nick of time when the Diſciples could neither drive out the Devil, nor anſwer their Adverſaries, who now had ſport enough to ſee them baſted and brought into the Bryars, and therefore jeared them before the people to ſome purpoſe; Then comes Chriſt moſt opportunely to their Succour, (as if he had come out of an Engine,) and both Cures the Child, and confounds the Cavillers; he knew how much they wiſhed and waited for him, therefore makes haſt from the Mount to the Multitude; his late Glory made him not forget Joſephs Miſery: It was good for him to be below, (not as Peter ſaid, to tarry above) and brings help in the moſt needful ſeaſon, &c.
The 2. Remark is; Chriſts Entertainment after his abſence, upon his Return: 1. The Multitude met him, and friendly ſaluted him, bidding him welcome, welcome N. B. Note well; Oh that we could Requeſt and Rejoyce at Chriſts Return after his withdrawments from us: The People were not of that Malignant Humour with the Scribes and Phariſees: They, when they beheld him, were greatly Amazed, Mar. 9.15. not only to ſee him come in ſo ſeaſonably, in that very juncture of the Non-plus, (which is his uſual time;) but alſo, becauſe (as ſome ſay) he Retained ſome part of his Glory as Moſes did, Exod. 34 29, 30. only with this difference, that of Moſes was Terrible, but this of the Meſſiah was Amiable; Therefore did the People Salute him, when the Scribes and Phariſes did not ſo: 2. The Father of the Lunatick Child, did not only Salute him (with the Reſt) but falls down at his Feet, catches hold of his knees, (as 2 Kin. 4.27.) and ſupplicates his Succour for his only Son, who was poſſeſſed of a Dumb and Deaf Devil; There was a Devil in the Diſeaſe of Lunacy, (or Falling-Sickneſs, which ebbs and flows with the Moon) complaining withal of his Diſciples, that he had begged this Cure of them, but they could not Cure him: Whence learn, N. B. Note well, when Men and Means fail us, we muſt make out immediate Application to Chriſt, 2 Chron. 20.12.
The 3. Remark is; Chriſts Reproof of their Incredulity, which 1. was directed to the Scribes and Phariſees, (whom he had branded before, with being an Adulterous and Perverſe Generation: Mat. 12.38, 39.45. with 11.16.) Sharply rebuking them for vexing his nine weak Diſciples, when he and the chief of them were abſent▪ ſaying, [how long ſhall I have to do with ſuch ſeared Souls as you? How long ſhall I be derided by you in my Diſciples, &c?] 2. It concerned the Father of the Lunatick, who was at leaſt weak in Faith, and begged help from Chriſt againſt his own unbelief, as well as againſt his Childs Miſery; Mar. 9.24. 3. It concerned the nine Diſciples alſo, who might partly be hindred from caſting out this Devil, for want of Faith in the Father for his Son, and partly through their own unbelief: Chriſt had given them power over Devils, and over Diſeaſes before this, Matth. 10.1. Mar. 6.13. and Luke 9.1. and while that Miſſion and Commiſſion laſted, that power laſted; but now they were out of that publick imploy: Beſides, this was no ordinary poſſeſſion, it being a more Malignant Devil, that had poſſeſſed this Son from an Infant; which the Scribes and Phariſees did purpoſely bring to thoſe Diſciples, (in their Maſters Abſence) to non-plus as well as puzzle them; and therefore 'tis leſs to be wondered at, that their Faith was ſomewhat ſhaken in a caſe more ſtrange and unuſuall to them, whereof they never had the like tryal before: And Chriſts Reproof did touch them alſo, for he tells them after that their want of Faith was the cauſe why they could not caſt this churliſh Devil out of the Daemoniack, which kind could not be caſt out, but by Prayer and Faſting: Beſides, this Honour was reſerved for Chriſt himſelf.
The 4th Remark is; The moſt Maraculous Miracle (it ſelf) was wrought immediately by the Maſter himſelf, when Means and Men (that were imployed) could not do the Cure: The Patient here had a Complication of Maladies, whereunto nothing of Miſchief (as it ſeemed) could be added by the Devil himſelf: The Diſtemper of this Son, is aggravated by his Father in ſo many ſad Circumſtances, Matth. 17.15. Mar. 9.17, 20, 21, 22. and Luke 9.38, 39. This only Son had not only the natural Diſeaſe of Convulſion-fits, or the Falling Sickneſs; but alſo Satanical impreſſions to miſchieve himſelf in thoſe two Mercileſs Elements, of Fire and Water, N. B. Note well; Thus are they (who are given up into the power of a Mercileſs Devil) grievouſly toſſed; ſometimes caſt into the fire of Luſt, and ſometimes into the water of Drunkenneſs; and no leſs are they poſſeſſed with this Dumb and Deaf Spirit, (Mar. 9.25.) in the things of God; and this Malady they have likewiſe from their Infancy. Now when Chriſt call'd the Lunatick to him to confute the ſcoffs of the Scribes, &c. The Lunatick never had ſuch a ſore fit as now, when he was to be Cured. N.B. Note well; The nearer Chriſt is with his Cure, the more doth the Devil Rage; for then did he ſtretch him, and tear him, as if he would have torn him in pieces, Mar. 9.26. and 1.26, &c. when he felt the over-powering power of Chriſt, commanding him to go out, and come no more in. Thus things oft go backward, before they come forward: Duplicantur lateres, Venit Moſes; the Tale of Bricks is doubled on Iſrael, when Moſes is ſent to ſave them, &c. Corn grows downward, before it comes upward: Chriſt ſhews the real caſting out of this plainly violent Devil, by ſo many ſigns as there was no room left for thoſe Cavillers, ſo much as to ſuſpect any Colluſion; for the Devil cry'd out as before he had done in his Legion [art thou come to Torment us before the time.] Matth. 8.29. Now grieving that Chriſt had ſerved a Writ of Ejectment upon him, and now he muſt no longer hold that Houſe, which he had ſo long held in peace: Luke 11.21, 22. Now he plays his laſt pranks, miſerably tortures the young Man, (whereby he by that fact, confirmed the complaint of the Father) and only kills him not outright, leaves him as fallen down Dead (in the Spectators Apprehenſions) till Chriſt took him by the Hand, ſet him upon his Feet; and (as Luke adds) Reſtored him to his Father ſafe and ſound, wherein Chriſt wrought a double Miracle, 1. caſting out the Devil, and 2. raiſing him to life, &c.
Now when Chriſt had this fourth time reminded his Diſciples of his Approaching Death, partly to drive them out of their Golden Dream (they had drunk in) of a Temporal Kingdom, which pleaſed them ſo well, and ſtuck like pitch to their fingers, that they could hardly forget it, and partly to fortifie them againſt the Scandal of the Croſs, ſhould it come unexpected, and its iſſue be unknown; therefore as Chriſt tells them again of his Death, ſo of its Iſſue alſo in a glorious Reſurrection, Mat. 17.22, 23. then follows the Hiſtory of Chriſts paying Tribute, which only Mathew (of all the Evangelists) Relateth, Mat. 17.24, 25, &c. which the Holy Spirit would have Recorded principally for two cauſes; 1. Becauſe it contains ſome famous Documents of Chriſts Omniſciency and Omnipotency; for he both knew that the Fiſh which he cauſed to come firſt to Peters Angle, had money in its Mouth, and Created that piece of Money by his bare word, cauſing all this ſo to be, by commanding it ſo to be. 2. Becauſe this Fact of Chriſt in paying Tribute, was a Pattern to all Chriſtians, for Rendring to Caeſar, the things that be Caeſars, Matth. 22.21. Custom to whom Cuſtom, ſaith Paul, Rom. 13.7. and ſubmit to every Ordinance of Man, for the Lords ſake, ſaith Peter, 1 Pet. 2.13. N.B. Note well; but ſo doth not that great Heteroclite of Rome (Peters pretended Succeſſor) who in ſtead of paying to, Demands Peter-pence of Kings and States: Here Chriſt by his own Example, points out the Pope (as by his finger) to be Antichrist, not only in not paying Caeſar his due, (as Chriſt did, though he was the Son of King David, as Man, and the Son of the King of Heaven as God, ſo was free from Taxes) but alſo uſurps Caeſars power, (under pretence of being Chriſts Vicar) in demanding many undue payments, &c. to himſelf, N. B. Note well, hereby Chriſt Teaches, 1. That the Goſpel Aboliſhes not civil Polity, and 2. that we muſt pay Ceſar his due: 3. 'Tis better to part with our Priviledges, than give Offence and Scandal to the Goſpel: 4. Chriſt though poor here hath a power in his Abaſement to impoſe upon Brutes, to ſupply the needs of Him and His.
When Chriſt had paid his Church-Duties for his own Houſe in Capernaum, and for Peter who was in the ſame Town (the other Diſciples paying in the places of their ſeveral Habitations) the half Shekel according to the Law, Exod. 30.13. their Redemption-Money, for Temple-Service, though now turned by Caeſar into a Tribute, &c. while Chriſt was in the Houſe, Mar. 9.33. He Catechizeth his Diſciples, concerning their Conteſts in the way about Primacy, ſuppoſed to ariſe from his taking Peter, James, and John into the Mount with him, apart from the reſt, or from his paying Tribute for himſelf, and Peter only, &c. This Itch of Ambition, did brake out three times, 1. Here hearing of his Death, they muſt needs know which of them ſhould be his Succeſſour in his [Malkuth Haſhamaijm,] the Kingdom of the Meſſiab, vainly dreaming of a Diſtribution of Honours and Offices, as once in the days of David and Solomon. 2. it broke out again, when Chriſt had been Diſcourſing of his Death again, Mat. 20.21. and 3. after he had Adminiſtred the Lords Supper, &c. Luke 22.24, 25. Chriſt cureth this Canker of Corruption the firſt time, by placing a little Child in the midſt of them, Mat. 18.1, 2. and Mar. 9.36. and Luke 9.47. This little Child whom Chriſt took in his Arms, who neither thought great things of himſelf, nor ſought great things for himſelf, did moſt rightly and really Rebuke their Praepoſterous Ambition, and (tho' but a Dumb ſign in it ſelf) their proud Affectation of Primacy: While Chriſt was Diſcourſing of Humility, of Offenders and the Offended, of ſeverity to our ſelves, (not ſparing either the right Eye, or the right Hand) and yet of gentleneſs to others, &c. John Interrupts him, (being ſoon Satiated with his Saviours ſadning Diſcourſe) begins another, a Relation of another buſineſs little to the purpoſe, Mar. 9.38. Luke 9.49. to which Chriſt Anſwers, [forbid him not, &c.] 'tis probable this caſter out of Devils, was one of the Baptiſts Diſciples, believing in the Meſſiah to come, and from the full Table of Gifts furniſhed for the Maſters followers (his Children) this Man had gathered up ſome fallen crums thereof, ſo would not forbear, unleſs Chriſt himſelf would forbid him, which Chriſt refuſed to do, for Reaſons mentioned, Teaching us (as before) to avoid Ambition, Envy, and Revenge, N. B. Note well, to be Charitable in our Cenſures, where no Evidence is to the contrary: Though ſuch as are lukewarm, be neithr friends nor foes, yet none muſt be Reputed foes, but ſuch as declare themſelves to be ſo; Much leſs ſuch as give a Cup of cold Water to Christ in his Members, leaſt of all ſuch as caſt out Devils in Chriſts Name, and out of love to him for advancing the Goſpel, N. B: Note well, Matth. 12.30. Speaks of mens Minds, but here of Mens Actions, &c.
After theſe things Chriſt goeth to the Feaſt of Tabernacles, for though there be a Tranſition of about half a years ſtory in ſilence, in Mat. 19.1. and in Mark 10.1. where both thoſe Evangeliſts bring Jeſus out of Galilee beyond Jordan, and preſently back to Jeruſalem to his laſt Paſſover and Paſſion. Yet both Luke and John do concur in mentioning, that in this half years ſpace (paſſed over by the other) Chriſt went twice to Jeruſalem (before his laſt going to Dye there) the firſt was his going through Samaria to the Feaſt of Tabernacles, Luke 9.51, &c. John 7.2, 10. The ſecond was his going out of Galilee to the Feaſt of Dedication, Luke 13.22. & John 10.22. and his third going to Jeruſalem to his laſt Paſſover and Paſſion, is diſtinctly related, Luke 17.11. & John 10.40. Upon the tidings of his friend Lazarus's ſickneſs, John 11. from ver. 1, to 8. Thus the Spirit of God guided thoſe four Evangeliſts hands, that what ſome of them omitted, was ſupplied by others (as before) and ſo, not without the comparing of them altogether, and being all conjoined, a full and compleat Hiſtory of Chriſt's Life is compoſed.
Concerning Chriſt's firſt going to Jeruſalem (after he had ended all thoſe ſayings, aforeſaid, Mat. 19.1. & Mark 10.1.) mentioned only, John 7.2, to 10. & Luke 9.51, &c. we find theſe Remarks.
The 1ſt Remark is; When the Time drew nigh that he muſt be lifted up upon the Croſs to be Crucified, (John 3.14. & 8.28. & 12.32.) (to wit, within half a year of his time of Suffering Death) He reſolved to be more conſtant at Jeruſalem than he had been, having left the City and Country once and again, becauſe the Jews ſought to kill him, John 5.16, & 18, &c. This Chriſt foreknew would follow, yet forbore not: N.B. Note well; In diſcharge of Duties rightly regulated, we muſt paſs on through perils, do them zealouſly, leaving the Iſſue of all to God.
Thus Chriſt was ſaid here to Steel his Forehead with Fortitude, and his whole Face with Courage in this his Journey to Jeruſalem, againſt all Diſcouragements, Luke 9.51. no ſign of fear was to be ſeen in his Face, &c. N.B. Note well; This Courage in Chriſtians their Perſecutors call obſtinacy, not knowing the Power of the Spirit, and the privy Armour of Proof wherewith God fortifies their Hearts.
The 2d Remark is; Chriſt's Kinſmen (being Gallileans and allied to his Mother) urge him to go up to the Feaſt of Tabernacles celebrated in September at Jeruſalem, Lev. 23.39, 43. That his Diſciples in Judea might ſee his Miracles there, and not work them all in Galilee, which was but an obſcure place compared with the Metropolitan City that ſtood in the very Center of their Country, John 7.3, 5, &c. His Kinſmen were carnal and believed not, becauſe they ſaw not the Pomp of their expected Meſſiah in Him, whoſe privacy they thought could not comport with a King. Thus their Vanity appeared in preſſing him to purſue publick Honour, &c. as alſo did Chriſt's Humility appear in affecting obſcurity, and avoiding applauſe until his fit Seaſon came. They prompt him to go and commence Doctor at the Sanhedrim in the Capital City. Chriſt Anſwers [Ye that ſeek Worldly honour, have your Time always at hand (for the World hates you not as it doth me, &c.) but I obſerve my fit moments of manifeſting my ſelf the Meſſiah according to my own free-will and wiſdom, &c.] Hereupon as they took their own time, ſo Chriſt took his of going up. Chriſt will not be confined to time by the Creature. So John 2.4, & 22. Mine hour is not yet come, when it comes it brings Underſtanding with it.
The 3d Remark is, When Chriſt's Time of going up to this Feaſt (which laſted ſeven days) came, he ſent two Meſſengers (ſuppoſed to be James and John call'd Boanerges) to a Village of the Samaritans (in his way to Jeruſalem) to prepare for his Entertainment, Luke 9.52. but found it inhoſpitable, they could find no room for Chriſt there, no more than was found for him in the Inn at his Birth, Luke 2.7. with Luke 9.53. That Idolatrous off-ſpring (which came from Babylon, &c. 2 Kin. 17.24.) were haters of God's true Worſhippers: when thoſe two Sons of Thunder ſaw this, their quick hot and cholerick Spirits began to boyl, and they would have been thundering▪ deſperately againſt the Village to fire it with a Thunderbolt, only they ask their Maſter leave for ſo doing▪ v. 54. N.B. Note well; 'Twere well if all that ſtudy Revenge, would …irſt conſult with Chriſt in his Word, before they ſtir either hand or foot, &c. But …hriſt gives them (inſtead of an expected commiſſion) a moſt ſharp Rebuke, v. 55. …ying, This raſh Motion of yours is not the Divine zeal of Elias, but a carnal re…ngeful Spirit fired by the Devil. This Wild-fire was never kindled upon God's …earth or Altar. Ye are Men of another mould than Elias, he was a Miniſter of In…gnation, but you of Conſolation. N. B. Note well; The example of Saints never …cheth a violation of Charity. Elias's action ſuiteth not Chriſt and the Goſpel's Diſpenſation. Theſe blind Samaritans had a mock Temple upon Mount-Gerizzim, John 4.9, 20. ſo did not like Chriſt for his not worſhipping with them, but ſet his face for Worſhipping at Jeruſalem, this the merciful Meſſiah thought better of Remiſſion than Revenge, Acts 17.30. and ſo went to another place more Hoſpitable, v. 56. N. B. Note well; When one door is ſhut another ſhall be open, &c. this other Village was of Galilee, not ſo zealous for the Law as Judea was, ſo not ſuch ſevere Perſecuters, &c.
The 4th Remark is; Chriſt haſten'd not to this Feaſt as his Kinſmen prompted him, but ſtays behind privately (after they were gone to be there at the firſt day of the Feaſt) and came not up till the middle thereof, John 7.14. and then did he go up without much company, v. 8, 9, 10. as he did at his laſt going to his laſt Paſſover and Paſſion, John 12.13. Mat. 21.8, &c. which time (he tells his Kinſmen) was not yet come, the time appointed for his Death, as John 8.20. & 13.1 Gal. 4.4, 5. the rage of the Jews was (even now) great againſt Chriſt, ſo that had he come up to the firſt day of the Feaſt, and that with a great confluence of followers (as they expected) this would have inraged them more. His abſence on the firſt day, made them cry, [Where is He?] John 7.11. not [Where is Jeſus?] ſo full of malice were they, as they could not find in their hearts to call him by his name; but 'tis [This Fellow] often times with thoſe black and blaſphemous Mouths, John 9.29. Mat. 12.24. & 26.61 & Luke 22.59. Thus Joſeph's Brethren would not (out of malice) call him Joſeph, but the Dreamer, Gen. 37.19. and thus outragious King Saul asked not for David, but for the Son of Jeſſe, 1 Sam. 20.27, 30, 31. & 22.7, 13. N. B. Note well; This rage of the Jews Chriſt (for our example) avoided by his Prudence, though he could have done it by his Power. He comes privately upon the Fourth Day of the Feaſt, at which time thoſe that were diſpoſed to hear him were whetted up, and at more leiſure from their ſolemn Sacrifices at that time well over, then taught he them in the Temple openly, John 7.14. and that with ſo much Light and Life, as over-ruled the Jews rage and turn'd it into admiration, v. 15.
The 5th Remark is; It muſt be ſuppoſed, that while Chriſt tarried from the Feaſt till the fourth day thereof, and went not up with his Kinſmen to be there on the firſt day of the Feaſt, he was not lying Idle in an obſcure place for that time, but was ſending his ſeventy Diſciples, diſpatching them with the ſame Documents he had given to the twelve Apoſtles before, and indowing them with the miraculous gift of Healing the Sick, Luke. 10.1, to 17. only with this difference, the twelve went at large to any of the Cities of Iſrael, but the ſeventy only to thoſe places where Chriſt himſelf ſhould come in his way from Galilee to Jeruſalem; Theſe muſt prepare the way for him now, as John Baptiſt had done at his firſt Inauguration. N. B. Note well. The twelve and the ſeventy may mind us not only of the twelve Wells and ſeventy Palm-trees, Exod. 15.27. but alſo of the twelve Tribes and ſeventy Elders of Iſrael, anſwerable both to the ſeventy Souls which came out of Jacob's loins, Exod. 1.2, 3, 4, 5. theſe ſeventy Diſciples (in thirty five couples) do diſpatch their narrow work with great ſucceſs in a little time, for they return to their Maſter, before he departs at this time from Jeruſalem, Luke 10.17, 38.
The 6th Remark is; Upon the laſt day of this Feaſt (which the Jews call Hoſannah Rabbah, the Great Jubilee) Chriſt ſtood up, and publickly cried [If any man thirſt, let him come to me and drink, &c.] John 7.37, 38. This eighth day (a ſhadow of our Chriſtian Sabbath) was the day of their greateſt ſolemnity at this Feaſt, for now all the People from all parts were got up to ſolemnize it, which their Superſtition taught them to do, by bringing great ſtore of Water out of the Fountain Siloam into the Temple; this Water the Prieſts took, and mingling therewith the Wine of the Drink-Offering, poured it out upon the Altar, ſinging with loud Acclamations [With Joy ſhall ye Draw Water out of the Wells of Salvation. Iſa. 12.3. and thinking, that by this charm (which they would make Haggai and Zechary the Authors of) God cannot but give them the Latter Rain for ripening their Harveſt; from this cuſtom Chriſt took an occaſion of crying up openly his Spiritual Waters (in deſpight of all the Threatnings of his Adverſaries) ſuitable to Iſa. 55.1. [He every one that thirſteth, &c.] and ſhewing that himſelf was the True Well of Salvation, Zech. 13.1. and that the end of their Ceremonies (this laſt day of the feaſt) did lead to Chriſt, hereby he call'd them from thoſe periſhing Waters, to thoſe Living and Saving, &c.
The 7th Remark is; The Iſſue of Chriſt's Preaching in the Temple at this Feaſt; (1.) The differing ſentiments of his hearers, ſome ſaid he was the great Prophet the Meſſiah, Never man ſpake like him, John 7.40, 41, 42, 43. Thus the very Officers, ſent to apprehend him, ſaid v. 46. others cavill'd and deſign'd to kill him, but they could not come to their purpoſe, for his hour was not yet come. So that not only the very Sergeants whom the Adverſaries ſent to apprehend him, failed them, but alſo their own Colleague Nicodemus, who with one ſeaſonable word broke up the council of Conſpirators, ver. 47, 49, 50▪ 51, &c. See more of the Antecedents added by Luke in the middle of the next chapter.