A Complete History and Mystery of the Old and New Testament, Part 1 · Chapter 40
CHAP. XL. Of Chriſt's Seventh Appearance.
THE Seventh Appearance of Chriſt after his Reſurrection was to the Seven Apoſtles, when they were fiſhing in the Sea of Tiberius, which John only relateth, chap. 21. verſe 1. per totum, where the Lord did more fully, and in a peculiar manner reſtore Peter from his Fall (in his Threefold Denial) by a Threefold Confeſſion of him, &c. This Sea of Tiberius is call'd the Sea of Galian alſo. John 6.1. becauſe Galilee is the Province adjacent to that Sea, which is ſix Miles broad, and ſixteen Miles long. The Apoſtles were now drawn out of Jeruſalem, and were drawing into Galilee, according to the command of Chriſt, Matth. 26.32. and the Admo…ion of the Angel, Matth. 28.7.
The Remarks of this Seventh Appearance are accordingly concerning the Time, Place, Perſons, Occaſion and Manner of Chriſt's Manifeſtation, &c. to evidence that he was Riſen indeed.
(1ſt.) The Time when, 'twas after that Appearance to the Eleven Diſciples, whereby Thomas was convinced of that great Truth, and confirmed in the Faith of the Meſſiah, (which John relates in chap. 20.26. to the end.) And after theſe things (ſaith the ſame Evangeliſt) John 21.1. Chriſt appears again, and confirms Peter more fully in this, as he had done Thomas in that foregoing Appearance; upon what day of the week this Appearance was, is not expreſly mentioned as before, but ſome ſuppoſe it was upon the third firſt day; for theſe Reaſons; (1.) John calls this the Third time, chap. 21. verſe 14. which Grotius refers to the number of days; for Chriſt's firſt five Appearantes were on the the firſt firſt day, the very day of his Reſurrection, five ſeveral times to ſeveral perſons, then his Second Appearance was on that day ſeven night, the very next firſt day to the Eleven, &c. Now follows this Appearance (as to the day) which John calls the Third Time, as it relateth to the third firſt day, or the Now Chriſtian Sabbath; and thus John's foreign. or again, verſe 1. is explained by his, verſe 14. as Marks, foreign, or laſt, Mark 16. v. 14. is explained both before and after. The 2d. Reaſon is, Chriſt did not now as he had done before his Death, ſo frequently and familiarly converſe with his Diſciples; for it was incongruous that a perſon now Immortal, ſhould be always converſant, with Mortal Men, but only by Intervals, though often to …tifie the Reality of his Reſurſurrection, and the Interval was betwixt one firſt day and another, upon which days only he manifeſted himſelf for the better founding of the new Goſpel-Sabbath. The 3d. Reaſon is, Though this Immortal Body did in State abſcond it ſelf for forty days, yet it is probable that he ſhewed himſelf every firſt day while he abode upon Earth. Note, If we grant this Appearance to be upon a week day, then may it give incouragement to God's People in their upholding Holy Meeting, occaſionally upon weeks-days alſo, ſeeing Chriſt may (and undoubtedly doth) manifeſt himſelf upon week days, as well as upon Sabbath-day Meetings: When and whereſoever two or three are gathered together in his Name, he will be in the midſt of them, Matth. 18.20. eſpecially if they love him, he will manifeſt himſelf to them, John 14.21. But upon whatever day this manifeſtation was made, 'tis expreſly mentioned, that it was in the Morning, of that day, John … 'Tis probable our Lord waited until thoſe ſeven Diſciples would leave work being wearied with their ſucceſleſs toiling all the night, and hopeleſs of ſpeeding better upon the day, when noiſe round about doth affright away the Fiſher from the Net. However, they learnt this Leſſon which David taught [That mourning laſts but till morning] Pſal. 30.5. For though they were ſad enough at their loſt labour all night (the L…d all the while looking on, and letting them labour in vain) yet they ſped better next morning through their Lord's preſence and bleſſing. Flebile principium melior for…una ſequetur. A good ending may follow a bad beginning.
The (2d) Remark is, the Place. where it was: This is apparent to be in Galilee, whither the Apoſtles were now reſorting (as before) to enjoy more of their Maſter's Appearance: For, though they had been priviledged with his preſence once and again in Jeruſalem (which the Evangeliſt relateth in John 20.19, 26.) they ſtill long for more, and can be content to travel from the City ſo far as Galilee for ſuch a beatifical Viſion, and how they began to be bleſt therewith, the ſame John gives an account in chap. at. While ſome have not warily enough obſerved the difference betwixt thoſe Signs Chriſt ſhewed in Jeruſalem (to confirm the Faith of his Diſciples) and thoſe he after ſhewed them in Galilee, they have been of this Opinion, that John 21. was not writ by John, but added by another, as the laſt Chapter of Deuteronomy was to the five Books of Moſes, becauſe John ſeems to conclude his Hiſtory in the end of his 20th. Chapter. Note; Enquiry; But why now will Chriſt again appear to them in Galilee, ſeeing he had appeared twice already (to confirm them) in Jeruſalem? Anſw. Reaſon the firſt; Becauſe he had promiſed to go before them into Galilee by the Angel's mouth, Mark 16.7. which going was, Secondly, An act of local motion; intimating that all natural motions of a Body Chriſt retained ſtill, and doth retain them even in Glory, as ſitting, ſtanding, going, &c. The Angel ſaid to Mary Magdalen Lo, he is not here, &c.] Mark 16.6. and verſe 7. He goes before you into Galilee; which ſheweth, that his Body after the Reſurrection was finite, it was alſo ſenſible, as to ſeeing and feeling. It was likewiſe an Organical Body, ſtill retaining all the parts and members thereof. This ſerveth to refute the Romiſh Doctrine, which ſaith, that Chriſt retained not all the properties of an Humane Body after his Reſurrection, &c. Thus the Romaniſts make our bleſſed Mediator no better than a meer Idol, deſtitute of Motion, of Senſe, of Underſtanding, &c. Note (2.) His going before his Diſciples into Galilee, was an act of moſt gracious prevention: They needed not to ſay, as Siſera's Mother ſaid [Why are his Charets ſo long in coming?] Judg. 5.28. Why comes he not yet? For Chriſt kindly prevents them, and goes thither before them: Which ſhews the amiable and amicable carriage of Chriſt in carrying comfort to his diſconſolate Diſciples. He is nimble as the Roe or young Hind, Cant. 2.17, &c. His Chariots of conſolation have a ſwift and moſt ſpeedy motion; but when he comes out of his place (or Mercy-ſeat) to puniſh the Inhabitants of the Earth, Iſa. 26.21. then is he ſlow to Anger, Nah. 1.3. and is as a Cart that is preſſed with Sheaves, Amos 2.13. A loaded Cart is of a very ſlow motion. But he prevents us with his loving-kindneſs, Pſal. 21.3. Before we ask, he anſwers, Iſa. 65.24. When David did but ſay, I will confeſs my ſin, then God forgave it, Pſal. 32.5. And the Spouſe ſaith in the Song, [It was but a little that I was gone from them, and then I found him whom my Soul loved] Cant. 3.4. When Moſes ſpeaks in the Law, he is ſlow of ſpeech and ſtammers in comforting. But the Meſſias in the Goſpel hath a ready Tongue, and is fluent in pouring out words of conſolation to the diſconſolate Soul, Iſa. 50.4.
The ſecond Reaſon, why he appears now in Galilee, was, becauſe it was a place of more ſafety (as before) than Jeruſalem was, becauſe the Jews fought the lives of the Diſciples: Therefore Chriſt tenderly provides for ſecuring them there, while weakneſs was upon them; but when he had made them ſtrong with the Indowments of his Spirit, then he bids them go fill Jeruſalem with his Goſpel. Until that time, Galilee was God's Chamber to hide them in, Iſa. 26.20.
The third Reaſon, why in Galilee, becauſe it was the place where he had been moſt frequently and familiarly converſant with the Diſciples (this Countrey Entertaining the Goſpel and Chriſt more courteouſly than Judea did) and now becauſe they in their Mortal Bodies were incapable of any conſtant converſing with his Immortal Body, now, therefore is he ſaid to ſhew himſelf to them only at certain times, and in certain places; and he pitches principally upon this place, Galilee, Matth. 26.32. and 28.7, &c for this cauſe wherein to manifeſt himſelf to them. As God gave Moſes for a Sign ſaying [On this very Mountain ſhall thou and Iſrael worſhip me] Exod. 3.2. Beſide the burning of the Buſh, verſe 2, 3. By which double Token his Faith was farther and fullier confirmed in the Promiſe both for the … and for the future. So Chriſt gave this of his going before … into Galilce (which alſo the Angel, reminded them of) to comfort them, that though He (their Shepherd) ſhould be ſmitten, (as Zech. 13.7.) and they his Sheep, there upon ſhould be ſcattered through fear, yet this ſmiting of the Sheep ſhould be but for a ſhort time, for he would quickly as before them again like a Shepherd before his Flock, M… ….…8. and … As God's To…en was made good to Moſes upon Mount H… ſo was this of Chriſt's to his Diſciples for the further and fuller confirmation of their Faith upon a Mount in Galilce … Thus our Lord Attemper'd himſelf to their weakneſs, not only in accompliſhing this Sign, but alſo he was felt by Thomas, &c. and he feed (at Dinner) with his Diſciples, not neceſſitate (as Auſtin ſaith) but poteſtate) &c. not for any need he had but by his Divine Power, &c. Of that more hereafter in its proper place, when we come to it.
The fourth Reaſon of Chriſtian appearing here in Galilce, was, becauſe he had moſt Diſciplen in that Countrey … Jeruſalem and J… had indeed much precious Seed ſown in them, but they both did prove a very … Soil. Chriſt will be moſt converſant, where there he moſt Believers, he will walls moſt among his Golden Candleſtick, and in his Gardens of Spiritual Flower…, and in the Vi…s of Red Wine, Rev. 1.1…. Cant. 6.2. and 7.12. There will be give out his Laws He directs his Spouſe to follow the footſtept of his Flock, Cant. 1.7.8.
The fifth and laſt Reaſon becauſe Galilce, and typical place, repreſenting to us the Tranſlation of the Goſpel from the unworthy Jews into Galilce of the Gentiles … ſo …d Matth. 4.15. The Voice that was heard in the Temple [… …ino] was diſmal to the Jews, who had forfeited the Covenant in killing the Meſſenger of the Covenant, to wit the Meſſiah. The word Galilce ſignifies T… …ious in Hebrew.
The (3d.) grand Remark, is the Beiſ…, … Chriſt appeared here in Galilce. Theſe are named, John …1.2. Simo…, Tho… call'd Didi…, Nethaniel of Cana… Galilce (whom ſome ſuppoſe the ſome, with … the two Sons of Zebed…, James and John, and other two Diſciples not …a…d … yet Appoſed to the Philip and Andrew. All the Apoſtles were draw in to together into Galilce to meet the Lord there. But thoſe Seve… came probably the firſt, and not together in one place, not only to ſhew their Holy Concord, but alſo to hold ſome godly, Conference▪ To theſe therefore Chriſt the ſooner appeareth here and as the … Seven, was a competent company for farther teſtifying the Truth of Chriſt's Reſurrection, ſo was it a figure of the Church, which is ſanctified by the Sever Spirits of God. Rev. 3.…. And tho… theſe ſame Diſciples had ſeen Chriſt twice before (all his Thomas, who had only ſeen him once) John 20.19, 26. yet will the Lord appear to them again, to ſhew what delight he had to be among the Sons of Men (as is ſaid, Prov. 8.30.) Note; He chuſes rather to ſtay a while for forty days with poor Mortals upon Earth, than yet to Aſcend up to his Immortal Glory in Heaven: Theſe Seven, might poſſibly think they were ſufficiently aſſured already of their Lord's Reſurrection, as Peter thought, and therefore, ſaid [I go a fiſhing] John 21.3. both He and They were deceived, for they all needed farther Confirmation in this Doctrine of greateſt conſequence and comfort; they muſt have proofs of it in Galilce, as well as in Jeruſalem, than they might more firmly believe and remember, that Jeſus Chriſt, of the Seed of Divid, was verily Raiſed from the Dead, according to the Goſpel, 2 Tim 2.8. This great Truth is the whole Goſpel's Abridgment, to be the Witneſſes thereof, was the firſt Function of the Apoſtles, Acts 1.22. Note; Chriſt never appeared (after he Roſe again) to any wicked perſon, nor to Pilute or Herod, &c. nor had they tydings ſent them from the Angel thereof, though that probably might have convinced them of their ſin, but they had rendred themſelves incapable of thoſe Priviledges both were done to his Diſciples, who werepr…e ordained for Witneſſes, Acts 10.41. The Benefits of the Church belong only to the Church. Note; Thoſe Seven Apoſtles here muſt have the Bleſſing of Chriſt's Seventh Appearance, though they had ſeen him before, that they might be more firmly confirmed in this great Truth, which (1.) Demonſtrated the Divine Nature of Chriſt, Acts 2.24. and Rom. 1.4. which (2.) Makes good all the Benefits of his Paſſion: Though David ſaith, [What profit is there in my Blood.] Pſal. 30.9. Yet is there great profit in Chriſt's Blood improved by his Reſurrection. Note; Which (3.) Is the ground of our Reſurrection, 1 Pet. 1.3. Chriſt is Feoffee in Truſt for us, … his Reſurrection was not only Perſonal of a particular Man, but it was of a publick Perſon in our Names whom he repreſented, therefore is he call'd the firſt fruits of the Reſurrection (as before) which ſanctifies the whole Crop: Ours are but the Appendices of his Reſurrection. As all Joſeph's Brethren ſhared in his Advancement, and all the Jews in Mor…c… 's … …odo we ſ…re in his. Note; And which (4.) Is a ſpecial and powerful means to recover us from the ſwoonings of our Faith both as to our ſelves in particular; and as to the Church ingeneral.
(1.) As to our ſelves, Rom. 6.8, 11. There is a ſpiritual power in Chriſt's Death to kill ſin, and in his Reſurrection to quicken Grace. Faith is the Heli…rope, of Sunflower, that follows this Sun of Righteouſneſs. If he be abſent, Faith ſaints, fails, flagged and flattens preſently. Jacob's Soul was ſad for ſeventeen years at the Joſs of Joſeph, but when he heard that Joſeph was alive, this revived him, Gen. 45.2…, 27. and ſo ſhould it revive us that our Jeſus is alive, &c. Rev. 1.8, 18. And as
(2.) To the Church; could Eliſha raiſe to life a dead Child, and cannot Chriſt do as much for a dead Church? Note, No wonder then if a Truth of ſo great importance were ſo greatly proved by ſo many Appearances, and that to one and the ſame perſons at ſeveral times, &c. The Angel that ſaid to the Women [Go quickly and tell his Diſciples that he is Riſen, &c.] began with this demonſtration for proving the Touth of his Reſurrection [Behold he goeth before you into Galilce] Matth. 28.7. and Mark. 16.7. The Angel Argues a ſigno ad ſignatum, from the ſign to the thing ſignified. If he be going and upon his Journey, then it neceſſarily follows, he muſt be Riſen indeed. And thus was this Truth (of ſuch vaſt conſequence) carried on and continually demonſtrated by manifold manifeſtations of himſelf to his Diſciples, both before this, and now and after this alſo: So that there might he left no room of doubting thereof in any one of theſe that were to be the appointed Witneſſes, &c. And ſure I am, Thomas had need of this for his fuller confirmation, and ſo had Peter to whom Chriſt had ſomething of great weight to ſay, verſe 15, 16, 17, &c.
The (4th.) grand Remark, is the occuſion which our Lord took for manifeſting himſelf to thoſe Seven, to whom he had taken ſeveral occaſions to ſhew himſelf before this. The firſt Adam died, and we hear no more of him. Job ſaith, [If a mas die, ſhall the live again?] Job 14.14. no ſurely, not till the Reſurrection day. But ſo it was not with the ſecond Adam; 'tis true indeed he died, but he lived again, Rev. 1.8, 18. And we hear of him again and again: This is the ſeventh time of tidings that he was alive, the occaſion whereof was this; Peter ſaid to the other ſix [I go a fiſhing] John 21.3. They all comply to the motion, and concur with him; here was concord in one work, which made them more capable of Chriſt's company. Note; But the Queſtion is, Whether the work they are agreed in were good, if not, agreement in Evil is rather Conſpiracy than Concord; and this is the more doubted, (1.) Becauſe Chriſt had called them to leave their Fiſhing-Trade, and to become Fiſhers of Men, Mark 1.17. And (2.) Becauſe Chriſt had told them, He that putteth his hand to the plough, muſt not look back, Luke 9.62.
Anſw. 1. This Fiſhing work was no unlawful or diſhoneſt Imploy, but well reputed of among the Jews. It had been an unlawful looking back indeed, had Matthew returned to his work of a Publican, Mary Magdalen to her former Laſciviouſneſs, &c. But this catching of Fiſh was a work lawful in its own nature.
Anſw. 2. They had now nothing elſe to do; for, though they were made Fiſhers of Men, yet were they not yet ſent out, nor yet furniſhed with the extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit, to inable them for the Publick Miniſtry.
Anſw. 3. They had now no other way for ſupplying their own wants, having loſt their Lord, who had hitherto made proviſion for them. As they were (Tania mont) yet forbid to Preach, by being bid to tarry till the Spirit came: So they were forbid to be idle: They that will not labour (either in the ſweat of the brow or brain) ſhall not eat. Thus Paul ſometimes wrought to ſupply his preſent neceſſities, 2 Theſ. 3.8, 10. All theſe Seven therefore went on fiſhing with a good mind, and fiſhed all the night, but with bad ſucceſs, for they could catch nothing. This was the providential occaſion Chriſt takes to make himſelf both the better known, and the more welcome to them; for, had they caught any thing, his preſence and power in the enſuing Miracle of the ſudden and ſo plentiful ſucceſs, had not been ſo perſpicuouſly and plainly evident. Beſide; it teacheth, Note, That man's diligence (as Solomon ſaith, Prov. 10.4. with 22.) without God's bleſſing, is inſignificant, and unſucceſsful. All the labour and toil of Man is vain, unleſs God bleſs it with ſucceſs, Pſal. 127.1, 2. Gen. 11.7, 8. Hag. 1.6, 9. Unleſs God ſtop the hole of the Bag at the bottom, with his bleſſing, let Men labour never ſo hard, all runs out, Deut. 28.13, &c. Were we not thus exerciſed, we ſhould neither beg God's Aſſiſtance, nor acknowledge his Bleſſing. Note; Thus it had been once before [They had toiled all night and caught nothing] Luke 5.5. Where Chriſt paid them plentifully for his fare in his uſe of their Ship. No Man ſhall loſe by him: And though the Net-brake there, yet the Fiſhes got not out, which doubled the Miracle of their plentiful Draught.
The (5th.) grand Remark is, the manner of Chriſt's manifeſtation. He comes in the Morning (as is aforeſaid as a Merchant or Houſe keeper to buy their Fiſh, and there, fore asks them [Sirs, have ye taken any thing?] John. 21.4, 5. He calls to them as one that wanted ſome Fiſh for the uſe of his Family, or Store-houſe. He hereby cauſeth them to acknowledge their own want by their ill ſucceſs, to prepare them the better for the following Miracle: And though they might have known who he was that ſtood upon the Galilean Shore, and call'd to them by that friendly compellation [Children] as his Diſciples, 1 John 2.13.18. yet they knew him not, either becauſe it was nor yet elear day, or becauſe of their diſtance from the Shore, but eſpecially becauſe Chriſt would firſt be known by the Miracle, and then by his Countenance: Therefore bids he them to caſt their Net on the light ſide of the Ship, (or Star board) verſe 6. Thus he directs them to a certain part, leſt they ſhould imagine their full Draughts came by chance, not by providence. They might ſuppoſe this Stranger, ſtanding on the Shore might eſpy a confluence of Fiſhes, which they on the Sea could not ſee. This right ſide was next the Shore; however, they obey, and find the fruit of Obedience, their Net filled with 153 Fiſhes, which (ſome ſay) is the number of all kinds of Sea-Fiſh; ſo that they had caught one of all ſorts. Though this notion ſavour of nice curioſity (for the Whale could neither come nigh the Shore, nor on ſuch a ſhallow Sea, nor be contained in ſo ſmall a Net with ſo many other Fiſhes, &c.) Note; Yet learn hence we may for Edification, (1.) That Chriſt may be preſent, and not be known, &c. (2.) That the Reſurrection will ſet us, free from toſſings on the Sea of Affliction, to ſtand with Chriſt here upon the firm Shore. (3.) Could we but fiſh more for Right hand Bleſſings (as they here did on the right-ſide of the Ship) we ſhould catch more, Matth. 6.33. All ſhall be added, Prov. 3.16. (4.) 'Tis good to obey God ſooner or later ſucceſs will come; bind not him to a day, wake him not till he pleaſe, Cant. 2.7. Our diſtance and dependence bid us wait: He will ſay us for all our pains and patience at the laſt, &c. (5.) Former Experience may happily promote both preſent and future Obedience. Chriſt had revealed the efficacy of his preſence in… Draught of Fiſh before Luke 5.5, 6, 7, 18 unto Peter, and now again to all theſe Seven: This taught them not only, that there is no catching any Fiſh till Chriſt come, but alſo to venture one caſt more at Chriſt's bidding, being incouraged with the ſucceſs at his command before.
The (6th) grand Remark is, the gracious conſequences and effects of this Seventh Manifeſtation in the prodigious Draught of Fiſhes to the number of 153.
The firſt Effect was, John knew firſt that it was Jeſus. Here John is preferred before Peter in perſpicacity and acuteneſs of underſtanding: He had the quicker Spirit of Diſcerning: He firſt knew and told [It was the Lord] John 21.7▪ John knew not our Saviour by ſight of the Eye (though Chriſt might clear this beloved Diſciple's Eye-fight more than the reſt) ſo much as by the Voice of the Miracle in their now catching ſuch a multitude of Fiſhes, ſo very like that recorded, Luke 5.5, 6. None but the Lord of Sea and Land (he thought) could command ſo many Fiſhes to come to hand by his direction. Note; John ſignifies gracious; this therefore teacheth us, that none but gracious Souls can diſcern the Lord in his works. Now he ſaw the cauſe why, till then, they could catch nothing was, that he and they all might the better know him to be the Lord. Thus likewiſe but Lord will ſooner or later let us ſee that he in very faithfulneſs doth afflict us; Pſal. 119.75. John tells Peter particularly, who had been the groſſeſt Sinner, ſo ſtood in need of the greateſt comfort, and therefore would moſt rejoyce at it. Nor doth he tell Peter [It as Jeſus, or our Lord, but the Lord] Indefinitely, that is, the Lord of the Sea, and the Lord of Life and Death, as he hath conquered Death, and raiſed himſelf up to Life, yea, and now ſhews himſelf ſtanding upon the Shore of Immortality for us to haſten to him and to own him as our Lord, who hath been thus bountiful in this great Draught to us after our ſad diſappointments. Note; Hence learn we to aſcribe our ſheceſs, not to our toiling but to God's Bleſſing. Not my pains, but thy pound (ſaith the good man) hath done it, Luke 10.16. 1 Cor. 15.10.
The ſecond Effect was, Peter no ſooner heard this, but immediately he girds his under garment cloſe to his Body, (that it might not hinder him from ſwimming) caſts himſelf over-board into the Sea, and ſwims to his Saviour in his ſhirt; we muſt ſuppoſe Peter had ſtrip'd off his clothes before, and been labouring hard all the night, as good as naked, in his ſhirt. Now he doth again what he had done before, ſaying, [If it be thou, bid me come unto thee, &c.] Matth. 14.28. where his fervency made him more forward than the reſt; and though there Chriſt condeſcended to confirm his ſinking Faith by a miraculous ſign, yet had he it with a check, verſe 29, 30, 31. But here he ſtays for no call from Chriſt; throws himſelf into the Waters, leaves all his Fiſh behind him, caſts away all his care, of Boats, Net, Fiſh and all, that he might not only come to Jeſus, but alſo that he might come firſt and ſooneſt to him, for his firſt Bleſſing. Note; All the Apoſtles are buſie in catching the Fiſh; all wonder at the miraculous Draught, only John diſcerned the Lord that ſent ſo many Fiſhes, yet was not ſo forward as Peter, nor ſo hardy as he, to ſwim to his Saviour: Innocent John had not ſo much need of going to the Phyſician, as Penitent Peter; and ſuch was his need he ſtays not for any Companion, fears no Danger, takes no Cock-boat, but Faith was inſtead of all to him, and he haſtens to be firſt for a fuller Cure. Note, Such Efficacy there is in the Ordinance of Preaching, for John had Preached to Peter (while he was buſie in handing the Net) ſaying, [It is the Lord] which teacheth us alſo, that delays in coming to Chriſt are dangerous, when the Soul is ſick of ſin; as likewiſe that we muſt take heed of appearing before Chriſt naked, leſt our ſhame appear, Rev. 16.15 Therefore did Peter here gird his covering about him, to cover his nakedneſs, when he came before the Lord; and therefore doth our Lord counſel us, to buy of him Raymen…, Rev. 3.17. and to fix it faſt to us with the Golden Girdle of Truth, Epheſ. 6.14. and not wear it looſe to caſt off or on at pleaſure. Laſtly; It ſhews that Faith is the beſt Ship that carries us ſafe through a Sea of Miſery, as it had Iſrael through the Red S…, and Peter here ſafe to Chriſt.
The third Conſequence or Effect of the Lord's Appearing here, was, that all the other Six Apoſtles make what ſpeed they can to Chriſt, leſt Peter ſhould Monopoli…e their Saviour to himſelf; all came, but none ſo ſoon as Peter; none of them were ſo hardy as to leap over-board, or leave their Fiſh behind them; this clogg'd their motion, v. 8. as worldly things do us. Note; The Evangeliſt John here firſt praiſeth Peter's promptneſs, verſe 7. then excuſeth his own and his Companion's ſlowneſs, ſaying [For they were not far from Shore] Verſe 8. Therefore would it not be long before they ſhould come in the Ship alſo up ſeaſonably to their Lord: The Net was now too full, and become ſo ponderous, as was paſt lifting up and unloading in the Ship, therefore were they conſtrained to drag it along the ground, and as foreign ſignifies) to ſweep the Channel to the Shore, that no Fiſh ſhould eſcape. Note; Which teacheth us, (1.) Some come to Chriſt one way, and ſome another; ſome by ordinary means, as thoſe Six Diſciples did, and ſome by extraordinary, as Peter: Some by a ſtronger Faith, and others by a weaker: 'Tis not ſo much matter what the means be, ſo we be but careful to come to Chriſt, and to come in ſeaſon to him while he may be found, Pſal. 32.6. and before …e withdraw himſelf, Cant. 3.1, 2, 3, &c. and 5.3, 4, 5. Thoſe Six Diſciples did no leſs come to Chriſt than Peter, and with no worſe Acceptance; for they came ſoon enough to Dine with him. Some make only a very hard ſhift to get to Heaven; the Righteous are ſcarcely ſaved, 1 Pet. 4.18. that is, they have much ado to get home to Heaven, like weather-beaten Ships, whoſe Tackling is deſtroyed by S…orms, &c. very hardly reach Harbour, yet are made as truly happy as thoſe who have an entrance miniſtred unto them abundantly into the heavenly Kingdom, 2 Pet. 1.11. like thoſe Ships that come home in all their Gallantry, with Sails ſpread, and Flaggs flying, &c. Note; Learn hence, (2.) 'Tis our comfort (as it was theirs) that we are not far from Shore, though now we be in the midſt of the Sea of Miſery, toſſed with Tempeſts, and not comforted, Iſa. 54.11. we are not far from deliverance, or from Death, &c.
The fourth Conſequence was, Chriſt's kind Invitation of thoſe Seven Diſciples to a Dinner upon their Landing, and when they were all both weary and hungry, &c. John 21.9, 10, 11, 12, 13. wherein we have a whole bundle of Miracles. As, (1.) At this Seventh Manifeſtation, a vaſt multitude of Fiſhes were caught, to teach them, how prodigious their ſucceſs (among all ſorts and ſexes of Mankind) ſhould be when they were gifted with the Spirit, to become Fiſhers of Men. (2.) That the Net was not broken notwithſtanding the 153 Fiſhes it contained; whereas ſuch a plentiful Draught as this broke their Net, Luke 5.6. yet even that breach was ſalv'd up with another Miracle, that none of thoſe Fiſhes (then caught) could get out, though the Net was broken: Both theſe taught them theſe Myſteries; The former Draught when the Net broke, was at Chriſt's entrance into his Miniſtry, betokening that the Church in her firſt State ſhould not be without Schiſms and Ruptures, for then bad Fiſh as well as good were taken; but this latter Draught was after Chriſt's Reſurrection; then there was no Schiſm or Breach of the Net which was a preſage of that marvelous Unity in the Church afterward among thoſe that the Apoſtles ſhould call by the Goſpel, Acts 2.42, 46. but more eſpecially in the State of the Reſurrection. More of this infrà. (3.) That Peter ſhould ſo wonderfully wade or ſwim through, or (as ſome ſay) walk upon the ſurface of the Waters, as he attempted to do, Matth. 14.28, &c. without the help of Boat▪ Plank, or any ſuch thing; ſo fervent was his Faith. Love, and deſire of Chriſt's preſence, that he could admit of no delays in taking along with him any Bladders to bear him up, or any Plank or Poll to poize him, &c. but haſtens to his Lord girt (as he had been labouring) in his ſhirt, accounting it too late to l…iter and linger any longer in coming along with his Companions in the Ship▪ whoſe motion was too ſlow by bringing ſuch a Draught of Fiſh with the Ship to Shore) and nothing quick enough for him, who, if he had wings, would have (with the Angel Gabriel) flown ſwiftly to his Lord, &c. As he came ſafe through the Sea to his Saviour; ſo ſhall we through the Sea of this World, that is mingled with Fire, even a Sea as brittle as Glaſs, Rev. 15.2. may we be but furniſhed with the like faith and fervency; Faith overcomes the World, 1 John 5.4. (4.) The next Miracle in this Manifeſtation was, a Dinner was prepared for the Diſciples upon the Shore. after all their toiling and taking nothing all the night at Sea, John 21.9. They coming a Shore, ſaw a good Coal-fire, both to warm their cold Rodies, and to dry their wet Clothes; yea, and Fiſh broiling upon the Fire, together with Bread prepared in view (which may well be call'd Shew-bread) all made ready to entertain them all at Land, &c. Note; Here was a Feaſt of the Lord's own providing. It ſeems, while his Diſciples were toiling hard in the duties of their ordinary Calling, that their Lord himſelf was Providor, their Cook, &c. (ever mindful of his Moenial Servants) He was preparing neceſſary Suſtenance in an extraordinary manner for them againſt they came aſhore weary and hungry, ſo that they find all needful food ready for them. Note; This broiled Fiſh was no part of the Fiſhes that they had caught by his direction; for the Lord ſaith to them, after they had ſeen his own Proviſions for them [Bring hither of your Fiſh, &c.] Verſe 10. Nor was the Coal fire of their kindling, nor the Bread of their bringing out of their Ship ſtore, but all were created out of nothing by their Lord's Creating Power [All things were made by him, and without him was not any thing made that was made] John 1.3. Col. 1.16. Heb. 1.2, 3. Jer. 16.11. Note; Chriſt had (before he was Crucified) indeed fed five thouſand and four thouſand with a few Leaves, and a few Fiſhes, by a miraculous multiplying of them; yet that was done from praeſuppoſed matter: But here (after his Reſurrection) was wrought a greater Miracle; now all theſe neceſſaries were (by his preſent greater power) produced out of nothing pra…eviſting, &c. All this was written for our Incouragement, Rom. 15.4. to wait upon God in a diligent purſuit of our duties in lawful works and ways, then ſhall we not want neceſſary Victuals. Dwell in the Land, and be doing good, and verily thou ſhalt be fed (or Hebr. fed by thy Faith) Pſal. 37.3. and Hab. 2.4. as Moſes was, Exod. 34.28. and as Elijah was, … Kings 17.4. and 19.18. and as Iſrael was while they waited upon God in the Wilderneſs according to his command, he fed them with Manna and Quails, yea gave them Drink out of the ſ…inty Rock, Pſal. 105.40, 41. All Creatures obey Chriſt, whoſe preſence here gave them a Specimen of his Divine Providence, which never faileth thoſe that truſt in him, Heb. 13.5. aſſuring his Apoſtles here, that they ſhould never want neceſſaries, though ſuper…ties they might want without prejudice; Nature is content with little, … Grace with leſs. Note; But beſide this miraculous Proviſion of Fiſh, &c. made by himſelf, he alſo bids them bring ſome of their Fiſh, which they had now caught: He ſaith not [which I have cauſed you to catch.] Thus is he pleaſed to give them and us the honour of his own Actings, and to aſcribe ſuch and ſuch good works to us, when 'tis himſelf that works all thoſe works in us, and for us▪ Iſa. 26.12. This he doth not ſo much for pleaſing us, as for incouraging us in duty. Note; Nor did our Lord here bid them bring their Fiſh, &c. as if his own proviſion had not been ſufficient for them; for he could c…filier have ſatisfied ſeven Men with this broiled Fiſh than he had done 9000 with ſome few ſmall Fiſhes, &c. but it was his pleaſure to joyn their labours with his own to honour them as Fellow labourers with him in furniſhing this Feaſt, that they might not neglect his Bleſſing upon their own labour, nor loſe that which he had helped them unto in the way of their Imploy, nor that they ſhould think their great Draught was only a Viſion; nor that they ſhould tempt God in neglecting means, by expecting Micracles. Note; No ſooner had Peter heard his Lord bid [bring hither the Fiſh, &c.] but he (always the firſt and the forwardeſt to obey his Maſter's commands) runs to the Ship (now brought to Shore) and with the help of his Fellows brings 153 Fiſhes but of the Net. verſe 11. (which was a figure of Solomon's Time, wherein were found 153 thouſand Proſelytes, 2 Chron. 2.17.) Note; Here was God's plenty for a Sabbath day Dinner to the tyred Diſciples, who had toiled all night, and taken nothing to eat; but this Joy came next morning, Pſal. 30.5. Now the Lord invites them to Dinner; ſaying to them, as that King in the Parable ſaid to his Gueſts [Behold I have prepared my Dinner, and all things are ready, &c.] Matth. 22.4. When their labour and obedience was accompliſhed, the Maſter calls them to Dinner, to Dine both upon the Food that he had created, and upon the Fiſh that they had caught by his Bleſſing, for both were miraculouſly brought to hand, and ordained for one and the ſame End. Note; And when they were ſat down to Dinner, verſe 12, 13. then ſhewed he himſelf as Maſter of the Family (his Church) as he had oft done before his Death, diſtributing to each of them their Portion, Matth. 25.14. Luke 12.42. himſelf Dining with them, not that he now wanted Meat; but this was done to aſſure them of the Truth of his Manhood, and that he was no Spectrum or Phantaſm, nor was it only to feed his Diſciples corporally, but alſo ſpiritually in the grand Doctrine of the Reſurrection; for, though they knew by his Face, Vo… and Actings: that it was the Lord, yet were not void of all ſcruples, which againſt ſuch clear evidences they were aſhamed to propound. Hence was it that Chriſt condeſcended to convince them of their groundleſs ſcruples by ſo many ſigns and circumſtances. Note; As (1.) His coming in twice among them when the Doors were ſhut, ſhewed, that his Body was now glorified and made ſpiritual. (2.) The Skars he ſtill retained as Trophee-marks of his Triumph (to which Paul alludes, Gal. 5.17.) ſhewed that it was the ſame Body which was Crucified. (3.) His Body being ſeen here ſtanding upon the Shore, ſhewed that his Reſurrection had Landed him above the reach of Sea-ſtorms; for, had they ſeen him walking upon the Waters (as he did, Matth. 14.) they would have ſuſpected him to be ſome Spirit, as then they did, verſe 25, 26, &c. And now (4) He Dines with his Diſciples, that no longer any place of doubting might remain, Acts 1.3. and 10.41. Chriſt (ſaith Auſtin) did really feed with his Diſciples ex potentia, not ex indigentia. The Summer Sun by his hot Beams ſucks up Water as well as the thirſty Earth; the former doth it by power, the latter for need. No doubt but a glorified Body can eat, though it need not do ſo: For glorification cannot take away any power. &c.
Briefly learn hence, (1.) When God will bleſs Man, all ſecond Cauſes ſhall cooperate and contribute their concurring help (here the Net breaks not) but when God will croſs Man, then the ſtrongeſt ſinew in his Arm ſhall crack, and his moſt probable Projects ſhall have an Abortion. He can curſe our Bleſſings, Mal. 2.2. and blaſt all our proceedings, as King John confeſſed, [Since I ſubjected to Rome, I never proſpered.]
(2.) Hence learn, that 'tis Chriſt's method of Providence to exerciſe us with diſappointments and diſcouragements for a while, to prepare us the better thereby for ſome greater bleſſing: Thus theſe Diſciples caught nothing all night, but the morning made amends for all their labour in vain before. Thus Joſeph and David were prepared for Advancement to the higheſt Dignities by many praeceding diſappointments, &c. And thus Iſrael were long bewildered, before brought to Canaan.
(3.) Learn how this World is a Warfare; no ſooner out of one Trouble, but into another. Peter here was no ſooner got ſafe through the Sea to Chriſt, but preſently his Lord bids him go into the Sea again and fetch the Fiſh, &c. Thus our Lord dealeth with us; no ſooner hath he delivered us out of one Temptation, but immediately (that we ſhould not Ruſt for want of exerciſe) he caſts us into another, yet leads us out, and leaves us not in it.
(4.) 'Tis but a Dinner with Chriſt upon Earth, until all our toil, and travel in Trouble is over, but it ſhall be a Supper with him in Heaven, Rev. 19.9. Be we but now nigh the Shore of Deliverance, 'twill be our happineſs to Dine with Chriſt in a more glorious Raiſed Diſpenſation: Yet Unda ſupervenit Ʋndae, one Wave follows another. After Dinner, before the night of Death come, new Storms may overtake us; but when we Land upon Death's Shore, we reſt from our Labours, Rev. 14.13. no more Fears, or Tears; we ſhall ſup and ſleep with Chriſt for ever.
(5.) Learn hence, that we have all our Food from Chriſt, and we are his Gueſts at our own or other's Table. As we ſhould receive all with thankfulneſs, 1 Tim. 4.4. Deut. 8.10, &c. ſo muſt we demean our ſelves as in his preſence, not ſeeding without fear, Jude verſe 12. not as the profane, who have not God in their heads, hearts, words or works.
In a word, learn hence, laſtly, The Myſtery of this whole Hiſtory, That the World is this Sea, Preachers are the Fiſhers, the Accoutrements neceſſary are the Ship, (the Church) and the Net, the Word of God. The Fiſher-men ſhould ſtrip themſelves of ſecular Affairs, and be naked (with Peter) of worldly cares. They muſt be girt alſo with him, yet (without Chriſt) they can catch nothing, till he direct them from the Shore of Heaven to caſt on the right ſide to catch the Elect: This is Meat to him, that Souls be ſaved, John 4.34. Twice did Chriſt cry, Lee down your Nets, Luke 5.5. and here, yet with this difference there, the Net took good and bad; here good only, there Chriſt was in the Ship, here he was upon the Shore: There he did bid, Let down the Net indefinitely, here, on the right ſide; there the Net is drawn into the Ship, here, unto the Shore; there the Net broke, here not ſo; there they were in the Deep, here nigh Shore: There the number of Fiſhes is not mentioned, here it is exactly. Note; All which do ſhew the two States of the Church. Though bad as well as good be in the Church now, yet only the good ſhall be ſeated at Chriſt's Right hand: Tho' Schiſms be now, yet then none. The Elect ſhall be drawn through many Waters to the Shore of Heaven. Chriſt cries [Bring hither the Fiſh] and when brought, the Elect ſee him on Shore; to whom he ſaith, Come ye bleſſed; well done good Servants, enter into Eternal Joy, Dine and Sup with me for ever, &c.
The fifth Conſequence was, How this Father of the Family Chriſt after Dinner dealt out alſo another kind of Dimenſum. In his diſcourſe to Peter and John, verſe 15. to end, the time of it is ſet down [when they had Dined] After Dinner (ſaith the Proverb) fit a while: 'Tis a proper ſeaſon for godly Conference. Our Saviour never ſat down at any Man's Table, but he ſprinkled every Diſh with ſavoury diſcourſe. Plato and Xenophon judged it meet and profitable, that all ſpeeches at Meat and Meals ſhould be written; ſhould we do ſo, then ſhould we not be aſhamed to read the Writings afterwards. Note, Beſide that ſacred diſcourſe (unrecorded) our Saviour undoubtedly held at that Dinner with his Diſciples (who, though they durſt not move any farther Queſtion about [who he was] yet asked and anſwered many other more profitable Queſtions.) Chriſt adds this to Peter after Dinner; (1.) Concerning himſelf, and puts Peter upon a Treble Confeſſion proportionable to his foregoing Treble Denial: As Fear had brought him to the latter, ſo Love muſt now bring him to the former of theſe two, leſt his Tongue ſhould ſerve his Love leſs than his Fear. Chriſt applies his ſpeech particularly to Peter, not to make him the Prince of all the Apoſtles, but becauſe he had foully fallen, and made himſelf unworthy of any place in the Apoſtleſhip; therefore Chriſt here wipes off that Blot from him, reſtoreth him to his place again, that without prejudice of the reſt, he becomes, as the other Apoſtles, a Paſtor of Chriſt's Sheep again. The tendency of this Dialogue, is to ſet Peter to the Rights (not to give him any priority) for Peter had (before this) preſumed to profeſs and promiſe greater love to Chriſt than any of his Fellow-Diſciples, in ſaying, when all the reſt ſaid nothing, that he would lay down his life for his Maſter, Matth. 26.33. &c. Now again, he had pretended no leſs love by caſting himſelf into the Sea to come firſt to Chriſt; therefore Chriſt firſt asks him, [Simon Son of Jona, loveſt thou me more than theſe thy fellows do?] Wherein Chriſt firſt minds Peter of his mean Extract, to humble him, and that he ſhould not pride himſelf in the Indowments he had, ſeeing they came not by Nature, but by Grace. Then our Lord asks him not of his Riches, of his Honours, or of the Nobility of his Progenitors, no nor of his Knowledge (which is needful enough in a Paſtor) but of his Love, and the quantity thereof, whether he had more love to his Lord than any other of his Diſciples had, becauſe he had confidently profeſs'd [Though all be offended in thee, yet will not I.] Moreover, Chriſt might well expect and demand greater love from him, than from the reſt, becauſe he had heal'd greater ſins in him than in any of them: They to whom much is forgiven, ought to love much, Luke 7.47. As the pardoning Mercy of Chriſt, had moſtly abounded towards fallen Peter; ſo his Affections, when reſtored, muſt moſtly abound towards Chriſt. Peter's Anſwer to Chriſt's Queſtion was now fuller of Modeſty than before, Matth. 26.35. Note; He had now turn'd his Crowing (after the Cock-crow had awaked him, Luke 22.59, 60, 62) into Crying, and humbly anſwers, [Lord, thou knoweſt that I love thee.] He ſaith not as Elijah ſaid, [Lord, I am left alone, even I;] twice over, 1 Kings 19.10, 14. nor doth he dare to ſay [I love thee more than any of theſe do] for that had been to judge of the ſecret Conſciences of the other Diſciples, which had been raſhneſs and rudeneſs in him, he could not judge how much love they had, they muſt ſtand and fall to their own Maſter for that, Rom. 14.4. Nor dare he put confidence in himſelf, as he had done when he ſo dolefully denied Chriſt, but modeſtly commits himſelf to the Infallible Judgment of Jeſus, ſaying. [Thou knoweſt, &c.] Note; Nor dare he anſwer one word about the Meaſure or Quantity of his Love (which was plainly contain'd in Chriſt's Queſtion) but only appeals to his Lord concerning the Truth or Quality of it. For the former he had little to ſay, but for the latter from the Teſtimony of his own Conſcience … dared to affirm. Whoever can truly and heartily thus anſwer Chriſt, is truly happy; for he looks for Truth more than for Meaſure. Our Lord doth not quarrel here with Peter's Anſwer, in arguing it was not full enough to his Queſtion; he only bids him demonſtrate the Truth of his Love, by feeding Chriſt's Lambs. All Chriſtians are commanded to demonſtrate their love to the Lord, by keeping his commandments, John. 14. v. 21, &c. Note; But Miniſters more eſpecially muſt manifeſt their love to Chriſt in being tender to his Lambs, which are tender in themſelves, and exceeding tender to Chriſt; ſo that he not only takes care of his young Converts, as his own dear ones, but he alſo carries them in his boſom, and leads them gently, &c. Iſa. 40.11. Chriſt doth not bid him fleece them, but feed them; nor to exerciſe a Lordly and Tyrannical Power and Dominion over them: Such ſhrewd Shepherds (as theſe) are ſharply reproved, Ezek. 34.3, &c. And Chriſt forbids it in his own Diſciples, Matth. 20.25, 26. Yea and this ſame Peter learnt from his Lord, to ſay unto all his Succeſſors in the Miniſtry, [Feed the Flock, &c. but lord it not over them, &c.] 1 Pet. 5.2, 3. Miniſters ſhould rather imitate Jacob in his moſt careful Shepherdizing, Gen. 31.38, 39 40. Note; This charge Chriſt lays upon Peter twice more, verſe 16, 17. Varying only Lambs into Sheep, alluding (as ſome ſay) to the three Numbers in the 153 Fiſhes; the hundred, be the Lambs or Children (that need Milk) who are the greateſt part of the Church: The Fifty repreſent thoſe of more proficiency, whom John calls young men, 1 John 2.13, 14. But the Three are the Fathers, whereof there is the feweſt number, ſuch as beget Souls to Chriſt: Both theſe latter Chriſt calls his Sheep, yet of a differing degree. Note; And this Title of Sheep ſheweth, that Chriſtians muſt not be ravenous as Wolves, not biting as Dogs, not crafty as Foxes, not dirty as Hoggs, not haughty as Horſes, not ſtomachful as the Whale, &c. but meek, gentle, innocent, ſimple, &c. as Sheep. Note; And Chriſt puts the poſſeſſive [My] to all the Three, intimating, I have Redeemed them with my Blood; I love them, and take care of them; therefore Peter muſt be a Paſtor to them, not an Impoſtor or Tyrant, to Rule over them with Rigour, and according to thy Carnal Reaſon. But if I be dear to thee, let them be dear to thee alſo, ſeeing they are deareſt of all to me: Shew now the love of thy heart to me by the labour of thy hand to them. Note; Peter was grieved to be ask'd the ſame Queſtion thrice, as if his Lord did ſuſpect his ſincerity, or did foreſee another future fall: But by his former he had both learnt more modeſty, and unlearnt ſelf-confidence thro ſmarting experience, ſo that he dare no more preſume, but cautiouſly commit himſelf to Chriſt's Omniſciency, who knew what he was, and what he would be, better than himſelf. None of us ſhould be grieved to be ask'd, or to ask our ſelves [Do we love Jeſus Chriſt?] three times over: We are Anathema'd if we do not, 1 Cor. 16.22.
In the next place, Chriſt confirmeth the truth of Peter's Anſwer, and that he ſhould perſevere and teſtifie the ſincerity of his love to Chriſt by his ſuffering Martyrdom for him, verſe 18, 19. Peter had preſumed before, that he could die for Chriſt, but he was then not able, chuſing rather to deny him by fear, than to die for him by love; the reaſon was, Chriſt muſt die for Peter, &c. before Peter can be inabled to die for Chriſt: His Humane Temerity was prepoſterous in daring to ſay before, that he could lay his Life down for his Lord, when Divine Verity had decreed another order, that is, Chriſt muſt lay down his life firſt to purchaſe a power of perſeverance for Peter, &c. And this being now done, Peter may now truly aſſume ſuch a power of dying for Chriſt, and not falſly preſume it, as he had done before Chriſt's death, &c. Chriſt now having diſpatched his diſcourſe concerning Peter, then begins that concerning John, occaſion'd by Peter's curious Queſtion about the kind of death that his beloved Diſciple ſhould die, verſe 20. Behold what a great change was here in Peter, who before durſt not ask Chriſt concerning Judas, John 13.23. but beckoned upon John to ask him, verſe 24, 25, 26. Now he dareth to ask his Lord concerning John, whether he might glorifie God by Martyrdom alſo, verſe 21. Seeing it is the glory of the Sufferer to glorifie God in ſuffering, now 'tis the great End both of our Creation and of our Redemption, to glorifie God, 1 Cor. 6.20. and Rev. 4.11. And ſuch as ſo honour God, he will aſſuredly honour them, 1 Sam. 2.30. As Martyrdom is the loweſt ſubjection that can be paid to God, ſo it is the higheſt honour, whereof Peter thought John more worthy of than himſelf; and ſhould not the beloved Diſciple have the honour of Martyrdom as well as himſelf; he could not but doubt whether Chriſt ſpoke out of love to him in thus foretelling his Martyrdom: Chriſt turns ſhort and ſharp upon Peter, for this over-curious Inquiry, ſaying, [If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee, follow thou me] Verſe 22. that is, look to thy ſelf, and trouble not thy ſelf about others. He ſhall live, till I come to take vengeance on the Jews, City, Temple, &c. but thou ſhalt be Martyr'd by the Jews, before the Deſtruction of Jeruſalem, and die the death of the Croſs, as I died; therefore ſaith Chriſt here, [follow thou me] as he had ſaid to Peter before [Thou canſt not follow me now, but thou ſhall follow me hereafter] John 13.36, 37. to wit, in the ſame kind of d…th. Here Chriſt re…ds Peter of the diſcourſe then, intimating, as I truly foretold thy thriee denying me then, &c. ſo now I as truly foretell thy following me in Martyrdom, therefore prepare for it, &c. As to John's tarrying, &c. I refer the Reader unto the laſt end of his life, who was the longeſt liver of all the Apoſtles, &c.
Now come we to Chriſt's Eighth Appearance in the Mount of Galilee, as before by the deep Sea in the ſame Country; which Matthew only relateth at large, Matth. 28.16, &c. wherein there be alſo many famous Remarks to be well obſerved. As (1ſt.) The Time when. It may well be ſuppoſed to fall upon the fourth firſt-day of Chriſt's forty days tarrying upon the Earth, before he aſcended into Heaven: For the firſt firſt-day he appeared five times, to wit, upon the day of his Reſurrection. The laſt of which five was to the Eleven as they were relating one to another that the Lord was Riſen indeed, &c. Luke 24.33, 34. Then the ſecond firſt-day to Thomas, &c. then the third firſt-day after he appeared again to the Seven Apoſtles at the Sea of Tiberias or Galilee; and now upon the fourth firſt-day, he appeared again to the Eleven, &c. upon this Mountain of Galilee. Note; Thus it farther appeareth, that our Lord did not conſtantly converſe with his Diſciples, &c. partly becauſe they poor mortals were not capable of his continual preſence in his now Immortal State; and partly that his ſo long abſence from them (betwixt one time of his Appearance and another) might make them long the more for his Renewed preſence, the worth whereof they were taught by the want of it. He moſtly appeared to his Apoſtles by the Interval of ſeven days. Note; Nor only to teach them that it was his pleaſure to eſtabliſh the Eighth day, or Firſt day of the Week to be obſerved as the Chriſtian Sabbath from that time to the end of the World upon Earth; but alſo that when the Seven days of this our Mortal Life (which is but ſeven Years in Law) are expired, then cometh the Eighth day, or the beginning of the Eternal Sabbath in Heaven, and then ſhall we ſee our ſweet Saviour (ſtanding upon the Shore of Glory) even as he is, 1 John 3.1, 2, 3. Until then we cannot have a perfect ſight of him.
The (2d.) Remark is, The place where, it was in the general in Galilee, and in particular in a Mountain of Galilee; what Mountain this was is not mentioned, but ſuppoſed to be Mount Tabor, the ſame place whereon Chriſt had given to Peter, James and John, a foretaſt of his future Glory in his glorious Transfiguration, Matth. 17, 4, 5. Note; The Lord often manifeſted his great Grace on a Mountain, as there, and here his great Glory, not only for ſecret communion with his own Servants in ſuch retired Apartments, but alſo to teach them [ſurſumcorda] that their hearts ſhould be lifted up from the low Valleys of this lower World towards the Everlaſting Hills of the higher Heavens: Both this Place, and this Time, were appointed by Chriſt himſelf [as well when, as where Jeſus had appointed them] Matth. 28.16. Though it be not expreſly and particularly Recorded; in the general only the Diſciples were told that Chriſt would meet them in a Mount of Galilee after his Reſurrection, Matth. 26 32. Mark 13.28. and 16.7 &c. and they were commanded to go into Galilee, Matth. 28.10. and they go thither in order to have this Eighth Appearance, verſe 16. Note; Now, had they not known both Time and Place, we may juſtly wonder how Peter durſt venture to go a fiſhing in that Sea of Galilee, John 6.1. and to draw ſix other Diſciples along with him to that work, leſt he and they ſhould miſs meeting with their Lord then and there, ſeeing ſuch a miſs as that (they all knew) had been very coſtly to Thomas before but; their knowing when and where, was a Salvo to that fear.
The (3d.) Remark is, The Perſons to whom this Manifeſtation was made; Matthew mentions only the Eleven Diſciples, Matth. 28.16. But as he is brief in repeating Chriſt's many Appearances to his Diſciples, mentioning only this one of their meeting him on this Mount of Galilee, which was the main, ſolemn and appointed meeting (as John only mentions that meeting at the Sea of Galilee) all the other meetings being ſupplied by the other Evangeliſts: So is this Evangeliſt ſhort in relating the Perſons, naming only the Apoſtles as Principals, but probably there went along with them the Seventy two Diſciples, and many more Believers, who were all deſirous to ſee the Lord. Note; Eſpecially if we refer that Relation of Paul [He was ſeen of more than five hundred Brethren at once] 1 Cor. 15.6. be referred (as ſome Learned Men do with great confidence) to this very Time and Place: For Mary Magdalen being bid [Go tell my Brethren] John 20.17. There is no doubt but all theſe he accounted his Brethren, and ſuch as long'd to ſee their Elder-Brother Chriſt.
The (4th.) Remark is, The manner how the Maſter manag'd this his Eighth … f…ſtation. Here again our Lord conſecrates (the Fourth Time) this New, Chriſtian S… … in holy Exerciſes, &c. For, ſuppoſing that all his Brethren Diſciples came out of J… and all out of Galilee (where he had many more) reſorted to this Mount of Viſion… … not at all to be doubted but that he Preached to this Confluence of People (as he … done to the Multitude that Golden Sermon on the Mount, which Matthew mentions … large in his 5th, 6th, and 7th Chapters) ſpeaking to them now the things concerning his Kingdom (as we are aſſured from Acts 1.4) Thus this New Sabbath was ſan… fied, &c.
Inferences hence are, (1.) Our Lord is never worſe than his word, but often better than his promiſes: He had promiſed to meet them in Galilee [There ſhall ye ſee me] M… 16.7. And though he had met them twice before in Judea (which was more than … had promiſed) yet now again he meets them (at the time and place appointed) alſo … Galilee, not ſhuffling them off to be ſatisfied with thoſe in Judaea. He is faithful … performing, as well as merciful in promiſing; as his Love moved him to make … promiſe, ſo his Truth binds him to perform it. He will do it, becauſe faithful, 1 … 5.24. 2 Tim. 2.13. and Rom. 4.20. He will perform with his hand what his mouth … ſpoke, and do as he ſays. They ſhall meet their Lord who promiſed it, and not … with a diſappointment.
(2dly.) 'Tis a bleſſed frame to be willing to wait upon the Lord at ſuch times … places as he hath appointed. Let the Lord manifeſt himſelf to us as he pleaſeth, … our duty to attend thoſe means and meetings that are of his own appointing; in ſo … ing we may meet him, and he us; as here, The Lord loves the Aſſemblies of Saints, … 87.2. and he will draw nigh to us in mercy, if we draw nigh to him in duty, Jam.
(3dly.) 'Tis not enough to ſee Chriſt once, but we muſt long to ſee him often. The Diſciples had ſeen him twice or thrice before this; yet long to ſee him again, in … hereunto they went away from Jeruſalem into Galilee, a long Journey to this Moun… Galilee ſignifies (as before) Tranſmigration, or paſſing away. We may not grud… take long Journeys, to paſs away from City to Countrey; yea, from one Countr… … another, that we may ſee the Lord, whom we cannot ſee too often, either in the … or in the Countrey. We ſtill have new doubts (as they had) to be done away by … New Appearance.
The Ninth Appearance of our Lord was to James; this was Recorded only by Paul, 1 Cor. 15.7. and not by any of the four Evangeliſts, nor is the time, place or manner mentioned any where; but 'tis ſuppoſed this was not done in Judaea before the Apoſtles went away from thence into Galilee, but after their Return from Galilee thither. Note This James was not the Son of Zebedee, who was ſlain by Herod, Acts 12.2. but the Son of Alpheus, call'd James the leſs, Mark 15.40. Brother (or Kinſman) of the Lord, Gal. 1.19. who was alive when Paul wrote this paſſage. I find an odd fancy in Hay… who affirmeth that this James made a Vow, He would abſtain from eating any thing, till he had ſeen the Lord, and therefore did the Lord pity this long Faſter, and ſo appeared to him the ſooner; but theſe unſcriptural conceits do too much palliate the M… rit-Mongers in Popiſh Faſtings. More probable is the Opinion of Learnd Dr. Ligh…, who ſaith, that the Appearance of Chriſt to this James the leſs, made him ſo very famous, as to make up again the Triumvirate, and to be Ranked in the like Dignity with Peter and John, and was Miniſter of the Circumciſion in a ſpecial manner with them, Gal. 2.9. As they were to the Jews ſcattered abroad, ſo he was Reſidentiary in Judaea, Acts 15.13. and 21.18. Gal. 2.13. The other James (his Name ſake) was indeed exceeding famous, as being a Boanerges, or Son of Thunder with his Brother John; the name of which two, and Peter's, were only (of all the Apoſtles) changed by Chriſt, and the privacy that Peter, James and John, had the priviledge of with their Lord (more than any of the other Apoſtles) both at his Transfiguration upon Mount Taboa, and in the Garden of Gethſemane's Agony, made them three of ſingular eminency. Now that Golden Chain of three links was broken by Herod's Martyring the middlemoſt of them, Acts 12.2. Therefore to piece the Chain again, the Lord perſonally appears to this younger James particularly; which wonderful vouchſafement was not only an Argument, but alſo carried the Authority of a command, that this James the leſs (upon the death of the other) ſhould become James the great, and be brought into the ſame Rank, Office and Imployment; to which may be added, how Antiquity did honour him with the Title of James the juſt, who was, among Believers, eſpetially among thoſe in Judaea, of great Reputation and Authority.
The Tenth Appearance of Chriſt (the laſt of all) was, That upon Mount Oliver St. Luke ſaith, [He leſt them for…h as far as Bethany] Luke 24.50. Bethany was near Jeruſalem, and bordering upon the Mount of Oliver, Mark 11.1. and Act's 1. …. At this Bethany his three dear Friends dwelt, La…dr…s, Mary and Martha: From hence he went to his Croſs, and from hence alſo he would go to his Crown; for from this place he aſcended up to Heaven. This laſt, we may well ſuppoſe was the great, grand and moſt general Appearance whereunto more than 500 were Aſſembled (that Paul ſpeaks of) 1 Cor. 15.6. to take their faſt farewel of their Aſcending Saviour. All his numerous Diſciples but of Galilee, as well as thoſe fewer out of Judaea (for the Diſciples that met in Jeruſalem, were reckoned no more than one hundred and twenty, Acts 1.15.) however numerous that on Mount Tabor's meeting in Galilee was; yet now when he remanded his Diſciples back from Galilee to Jeruſalem, and there comes again to them, leading them out thence to the Mount of Olives (for more ſecreſie from freſh uproars, and became no wicked ones muſt be witneſſes of his Aſcenſion, Acts 10.47.) This laſt Manifeſtation upon Earth muſt be to a more numerous meeting: This Opinion (ſaith Peter Martyr on 1 Cor. 15.6.) is backed by the word [foreign, Above] which reſpects place as well as number, implying (ſaith Grotius with Peter Martyr) that Chriſt ſhewed himſelf on high as ſtanding up upon ſome Riſing ground, or lifting up himſelf into the Air to be plainly viewed by this great Company, ſo they all conſpicuouſly beheld him in his own former figure and lineaments, nor yet in the Majeſty of his glorified Body, leſt they ſhould miſtake him for ſome glorious Angel, and not as one who was Crucified, dead and buried. Note; Therefore did he hide his Glory during the forty days, rather for their ſakes, than for any want of it in himſelf; for it was neceſſary for the Diſciples that they ſee him ſo as to know him, that they might the better Preach the great Truth of the Reſurrection. Pareus ſaith likewiſe with others, that this laſt was the ſolemneſt meeting, it being Chriſt's Valedictory Appearance to above five hundred perſons at once; this muſt needs be a General Aſſembly for ſettling the great Fundamental Truths of the Chriſtian Religion to be known, believed, and obſerved in the Goſpel-Churches to the end of the World. Note; At this laſt meeting (which Paul alſo mentions, 1 Cor. 15.6.) with five hundred Brethren Chriſt's laſt work was to ſettle a Goſpel-Miniſtry, then Baptiſm, &c. as is principally and largely deſcribed by Matthew and Mark, and more briefly by Luke and John: By all thoſe Teſtimonies it is manifeſt, that this numerous meeting was when all the Diſciples were returned from Galilee to Jeruſalem, at which the Lord gave out his commiſſions to the Apoſtles, and firſt Indued them with a full power of Preaching the Goſpel to all the World, and of Baptizing all Nations for remitting of ſins; alſo he gave them Miniſterial Authority; he likewiſe ſet them to the Rights about their Doting expectations of a Temporal Kingdom, which they more eſpecially looked for now, that their Lord was Riſen from the dead (a work far above all his former Miracles while he was living) and had now brought them to Jeruſalem again with ſuch a confluence of followers, and where he taught them things pertaining to the Kingdom of God, &c. Acts 1.3, 4, 5, 6, 7, then gave he them commandment to tarry at Jeruſalem till the Holy Spirit was ſent them; at length he led them forth as far as Bethany, and they all looking on, he Aſcended into Heaven, verſe 9, &c.
The Grand Remarks that concern this laſt and moſt ſolemn meeting, muſt be collected by piece-meal out of the four Evangeliſts. The firſt out of Matthew, chap. 28. verſe 18, &c. [Jeſus came near and ſpake to them, &c. This he did (ſaith Grotius) in his laſt Appearance, as appeareth by comparing this place with John 21.15 &c For Matthew makes a Compendium here of all the principal heads of Chriſt's Sermons that he Preached to his Apoſtles not only in that Mount but at Jeruſalem, both before and after, when being at Bethany he was about to Aſcend, &c. Then Chriſt came nearer and in a more familiar manner, to do away at once all their doubts fully (as he ſtill draws nearer to all his weak doubting Diſciples, and communicates himſelf more familiarly to them) plainly ſaying, [All power in Heaven is given to me] He had it from Eternity as God, Phil. 2.7. now 'tis given him as Man (for Redeeming Mankind) at his Reſurrection, ver. 8. Here Chriſt praemiſeth his power, yea and promiſeth his preſence, Mat. 28.20. the better to perſwade the Apoſtles to undertake this Work, his great Work of ſubduing the World to the Obedience of Faith: To incourage them therefore therein, he faith, [I have all power in Heaven] that is, to ſend the Holy Spirit thence to you, Asts 2.33. and to take you into Heaven when your Work is done, Mat. 25.34. [and on Earth too] that is, a power to gather my Church out of all Nations, Pſ. 2.8. Mark 16.15, 16. and to Rule as Lord over all, Acts 10.36, 43 Eph. 1.20, 21, 22. Rev. 17. ver. 14 Dan. 7.14. [go ye therefore forth] in this my ſtrength (as Gideon did Jud. 6.14.) execute your Office and Fear not the Face of Man, doubt not of ſuceſs▪ for though ye be but Barley Cakes, Courſe and Contemptible, yet in my Name ye ſhall overthrow the Weak Tents of a Wicked World, and the ſtrong holds of the Subtle Serpent, Jud. 7.13. Your deſpiſed Lamps and Pitchers ſhall Atchieve great matters [ye ſhall Diſciple all Nations, deliver to them my Doctrine and Sacraments, and reduce them from their Extravagances into an Univerſal Obedience, the whole Man unto my whole Law, and though your Work be hard and above any humane hand, yet ſhall ye and your Succeſors have my Divine preſence to preſerve you from your Enemies, to proſper you in your Enterprizes, and to perform for you whatever heart can wiſh, or need require] ver. 19.20. This precious promiſe [I will be with you] includes, to protect, to direct, to comfort us, to carry on our Grace, and to Crown us with Glory.
The (2d) Remark is, From the Evangeliſt Mark, Chap. 16.14, &c. Who Sums up all Chriſt's Appearances in one, ſo uſeth his [foreign] Poſtremo, or laſtly: Comprizing this laſt Appearance as well as thoſe that went before his laſt charge to the Apoſtles [go Preach the Goſpel to every Creature] ver. 15. not in Judea only (as before, Matth. 10.5, 6.) to the Jews, but alſo to all Gentile Nations now the Partition Wall being broken down, Eph. 2.14. not that they were immediately to go forth, for they were to ſtay till the Spirit came, N. B. And Mark joins with Matthew in ſhewing that, Faith and Baptiſm cannot ſave without Obedience, adding only the Apoſtle's Credential Letters, to wit, the miracles done by them, a neceſſary fence for the young Plants of the Goſpel.
N.B. But this Evangeliſt Mark's Concluſion makes it more plain that he comprehendeth this laſt Meeting [ſo then after the Lord had ſpoken to them, &c.] ver. 19 that is, all the precepts, and promiſes which he had to deliver during that time to his Apoſtles concerning the Kingdom of God, Acts 1.3. he had nothing now to ſay but to Seal all with ſending the Spirit, he was lifted up into Heaven▪ (a Bleſſed reſting place after he had been tyred out on Earth) taking along with him the earneſt of our fleſh and ſending down the earneſt of his Spirit, which are two ſure gages that our Bodies and Spirits ſhall meet again at the Reſurrection: The Spirit came and made the Goſpel-Miniſtry ſucceſsful attending it with ſigns, verſe 20. Mark knew it was moſt needful for us to know that Appearance moſtly which Eſtabliſhed a Goſpel-Miniſtry.
The Third Remark, upon this laſt Appearance, is from Luke, Chap. 24.47, 48, 49. where Chriſt gives out his Commiſſion and Inſtitution of a Goſpel Miniſtry again, Defining the Office of Teaching, what and whom the Apoſtles ought to Teach, and promiſeth to ſend the Spirit, but withal commands them to tarry at Jeruſalem, till the promiſed Spirit came upon them, which precept is a moſt pregnant proof, that the Evangeliſt ſpeaks here of Chriſt's laſt Appearance, for before this they were at liberty to go into Galilee, and never till now confined to ſtay in Jeruſalem: Whereas they went whither they would before this, ſome to Emmaus, others to Galilee, &c. But now they muſt tarry here Ten Days more, till the day of Pentecoſt came, &c. St. Luke goes on here, giving us an account how [Chriſt led them out of the City to Bethany] ver. 50. and there the Diſciples had the Lord's both Benedixit and Valedixit, &c. He both bleſſed them (as Jacob and Moſes did the Patriarchs at their departures) and bid them farewell: Then did the Diſciples return to the City, and there put themſelves into a poſture to receive the Comforter, ver. 51, 52, 53. preparing themſelves Ten Days for the Spirit's coming and their Reception of it, &c.
The (4th,) Remark is from John, who likewiſe gives the like account of the Apoſtle's Miſſion into the Miniſtry, and Commiſſion that did impower them for the Remiſſion of ſins, &c. But becauſe he placeth it not upon this laſt Appearance before his Aſcenſion, but upon the laſt of the Five Appearances upon the very Firſt Day of Chriſt's Reſurrection, John 20.19, 21, 22, 23. therefore meet we here with the moſt obſcurity, which yet may be cleared by conſidering.
(1.) That John (writing the laſt of the Four) Records only what the other had omitted, ſave where the Contexture of the Hiſtory required, hereupon he ſaith nothing of Chriſt's Aſcenſion, becauſe both Mark and Luke had left it needleſs as to him, they having ſpoke largely of it already, and why Matthew ſaith nothing of it too, 'tis ſuppoſed, becauſe he wrote his Goſpel in Judea, where none doubted of it, ſeeing 500. Eye-witneſſes thereof put it paſt all doubt in that Countrey; but both Mark and Luke writing to thoſe that lived out of Judea, it was more neceſſary for them to Record his Aſcenſion: This Specimen is enough to take off Scruples about ſuch Hiſtorical paſſages that are not alike related by all the Evangeliſts, as to circumſtances, if it be (2.) conſidered, that John mentioneth here the ſubſtance of a Goſpel Miniſtry's Inſtitution, as to both the miſſion and commiſſion, &c. though not the ſame circumſtances of time and place with the other Evangeliſt which yet he abundantly ſupplies with other new circuſtances omitted by the reſt, as the Lord's Saluting his Apoſtles twice with [Peace be to you] the better to make them Preach the Goſpel of Peace, [As my Father ſent me, ſo ſend I you] not to deſtroy but to ſave Souls, and likewiſe [his breathing upon them] as God did upon Adam, whereby he became a living Soul. And ſaying, [Receive ye the H…ly G…] …ma…, thoſe make but …d … he… that receive him not firſt, &c. By the Divine … t…ings of Chriſt upon their h…s, &c.
But (3.) Suppoſe it be not the ſame Hiſtory, yet is it at the leaſt a Material Branch of it, as to the power of the Keys, in remitting or Revenging Sin, as Peter did on Ananias and Saphira, Acts 5.5, 10. It was a pawn and pledge of that promiſe of the Father afterwards powr'd out at Pentecoſt for inabling them to ſpeak with Tongues and to work miracles; whereof Thomas (though abſent at that time) was made partaker, as well as the power of remitting ſin, &c. Without his being breathed upon with the reſt, and ſo was Paul alſo long after, though one born out of due time, 1 Cor. 15.8. To whom Chriſt Appeared from Heaven, Acts 9.5. as he had done to Stephen in Heaven, Acts 7.55. and as he had done all theſe Ten times to others while he was on Earth: Yea and more ſuch Appearances here might probably be, which (as John intimates, Chap. 20.30▪ are not written, yet enough is, to make us believe ver. 31. So that it is not at all improbable to ſay, that Chriſt might Celebrate all the Six firſt Days that were within the Forty Days after his Reſurrection for the fuller eſtabliſhing it as our Chriſtian Sabbath, and theſe laſt Four Days may ſeem little enough to ſettle his Church and to diſpatch ſo much work as is before mentioned (though this be not written as all could not be, John 21.25.) before his final farewel and diſappearance at his Aſcenſion (which hiſtory begins the Acts of the Apoſtles, to which place I adjourn, the Diſcourſe thereon). The good Lord help us to be duely prepared for his laſt and great Appearance at the laſt day. We ſhould be both looking for, and haſtening unto the coming of our Lord, 2 Pet. 3.12. It will be ſudden, therefore be we always ready, Matth. 24.44, &c. Having our Loins Girt and Lamps Burning, Luke 12.35. Like wiſe Virgins to meet our Bleſſed Bridegroom, Matth. 25.10. Crying, Come Lord Jeſus▪ come quickly▪ Rev. 22.20. Amen▪
Δάξα τᾷ Θεῷ.
The end of the firſt Part.