A Complete History and Mystery of the Old and New Testament, Part 1 · Chapter 22
CHAP. XXII.
NO ſooner were Chriſt and Peter come up into the Ship, Mat. 14.32. but the Wind ceaſed, as if it had been weary with blowing ſo big and boiſterous (out of the Devils mouth) and now deſired reſt after its hard labour, as the word [foreign] ſignifies. Then both the Tryal and Trouble of the Diſciples and Mariners ended together, and moſt happily ended both in the Increaſe of their knowledge, and in glorifying God, ver. 33. They all came and worſhipped him as the Son of God, not by Creation as Adam, Luke 13.38. and as the Angels, Job 1.6. nor by Adoption as all Believers, John 1.12. and 1 John 3.1. but [foreign] 1. By Eternal Generation, Prov. 8.22. And 2. By Perſonal Ʋnion, Pſal. 2.7. This new Experience of Deliverance from the danger of death, made a deeper Impreſſion upon the Diſciples ſpirits concerning Chriſt's Divine Power and Godhead, than his miraculous feeding of 5000 with five Loaves had done, for then were they not in any imminent or eminent danger of dying, as here; therefore, being then ſecure, they conſidered not ſo well that Miracle, Mark 6.52. N.B. Note well; We are more teachable in Adverſity than in Proſperity, eſpecially if God illuminate our minds then. Now when Chriſt had brought the Ship ſafe to Shore over the Bay betwixt Bethſaida (from whence his Diſciples launched out) and Capernaum, not to the contrary ſide of the Lake, but only croſs that Bay or Boſom on the ſame ſide; therefore 'tis ſaid [the People whom he had fed with the Loaves here, did before follow him on foot from Capernaum to Bethſaida] John 6.1. Mat. 14.13. and Mark 6.32, 33. and came up to him in Bethſaida's Deſart where he fed them: And now when his Diſciples return by Sea again, they are ſaid to go over to Bethſaid… Mark 6.45. and from thence to Capernaum, John 6.17. coaſting ſtill upon the ſame ſide, yet met they that aſtoniſhing Storm (tho' they paſs'd not over the Lake to the other ſide beyond Jordan) aforementioned: But that which is highly remarkable here is, that theſe very People which had footed it after Chriſt from Caperndum to Bethſaida over a Bridge near Tiberias, yet they return in Ships back to Capernaum, that they might 'meet with their bellies-filling Jeſus ſo much the ſooner, John 6.22, 23, 24. and they mee… with no Storm in their Voyage, as the Diſciples had done, to teach us, that the World ſails with fair gales of Wind, when the poor Church is toſſed with Tempeſts, Iſa. 54.11. as alſo that the greateſt Graces muſt expect to encounter the greateſt Exerciſ… Now Chriſt is got to Genezareth (ſuppoſed to be the ſame Countrey with Cinnero…, Joſh. 11.2. & 19.35. however out of Herod's Juriſdiction) where he wrought his next Miracle of healing all the Sick in that Countrey by their only touching the hem of his garment, Mat. 14.34, 35, 36. and Mark 6.53. to the end; wherein we have theſe following Remarks.
1. Our Lord went about doing good, Acts 10.38. healing every where ſuch as came … him, yet harming none (no not ſuch as were refractories) any where, no not in obſtinate Samaria, Luke 9.53, 56. Though his Apoſtles did ſtrike dead thoſe two Lyars againſt the Holy Ghoſt, Acts 5.5, 10, and did ſtrike blind that Sorcerer, Acts 13.11. by their gift of Miracles, but we have no ſuch Inſtance in Chriſt the giver thereof.
The 2d Remark is; A People that have blown upon the Goſpel, are more unkind to Chriſt than they that have not had it before. Thus Chriſt's own Countrey-men, Nazareth, reject him, and reſolve to break his neck, Luke 4.29. when this Genezareth (an Emblem of the Gentiles Converſion) do kindly receive Chriſt, and acknowledge him the Meſſiah, and they rejoyced at his coming amongſt them, &c.
The 3d Remark is; Oh the matchleſs candour and kindneſs of Chriſt to all commers to him! He heals all promiſcuouſly here, not once queſtioning their Merits, nor upbraiding them with their former failings, or preſent infirmities, James 1.5. And tho' his Errand was to heal the Soul of ſin and death, yet willingly he heals the Body, and ſo he doth now, &c.
The 4th Remark is; All ſorts of perſons (rich and poor, young and old, male and female, bond and free) out of all kind of places (Villages, Towns, Cities and Countreys) muſt come to Chriſt as to their common Saviour, for ſafety and Salvation of Soul and Body, as the People did here, when once they were made ſenſible of their own wants and weakneſſes. All muſt come to him, for all are one in him, Col. 3.11.
The 5th Remark is; As Chriſt comes no where, but there he hath an Errand, ſo he ſend… his Goſpel to no place but for ſome ſpecial end, ſome freſh Vein of Election to break forth. No Houſholder will light up a Candle, but when he hath ſome work to be wrought thereby: No Husbandman will ſend his Servants into the Field with Sithes or Sickles, but there is more than Thiſtles and Nettles to be reaped thereon. The Miniſtry of the Goſpel was ſent to the Gentiles, that the Elect might be gathered, Iſa. 49.6. Acts 13.48. And hence the Apoſtle gathers an Argument of the Theſſalonians Election, 1 Theſ. 1.5.
The 6th Remark is; Such Souls have a right ſenſe and ſcience both of themſelves and of their Saviour, that do ſeek to him, and implore his ſaving help, and ſo imploy him as the Saviour of the World. Thus this People do here, among whom Chriſt preſently ſound ſome that found him. Thus Genezareth became the Garden of a Prince, as in Hebrew it ſignifies, or engendring Air to it ſelf, as ſome interpret it, from the freſh gales the neighbouring Sea ſends to it from its curled Waves; and here brought them the ſweet gales of the Goſpel, &c. or (as others interpret Ge…eſar) the beginning of Nativity, ſo it became now to the Gentiles to whom Chriſe tranſported over Sea his precious Goſpel from the Jews.
The 7th Remark is; Such Souls at know Chriſt aright, will not only ſeek to him themſelves, but they will endeavour all they can in their proper ſtations to bring in to him their Relations and Acquaintance alſo, as this People did; Nemo fibi naſcitur, ſed multorum utilitati; men are born for the benefit of many; Naſcitur indigne per quem non neſcitur alter. He is unworthily born, by whom others are not helped to be …w horn. Charity is no Churl. No ſooner had Andrew found the Meſſiah, but he calls his Brother Peter, John 1.41. and Philip Nathaneel, ver. 45. Thus Relations brought the Palſey-man upon his Bed to Chriſt, Mark 2.3. Thus the Prophet ſaith, [They ſhall bring their Friends in Litters, or Charets, upon Mules or Horſes.] Iſa. 66.20. N.B. Note well; We ſhould bring all ours to the Ordinances, doing (at leaſt) the Office of the Sermon Bell, call them to Chriſt, and lay them before the Lord for healing we know not what he may do for them. There is healing vertue under his Wings, Mal. 4.2. When the firſt Iron Ring of the Chain is drawn by the Loadſtone, that draws the ſecond and that the third, &c. till the whole come in; we ſhould help our Neighbours to heath and to Heaven, &c.
The 8th Remark is; The greater our meaſure of Faith is, the leſs will be our limiting God to ſigns. Some are ſatisfied with their Saviouris ſpeaking a word at diſtance, as the Centurion, others muſt have Chriſt come to their houſe and lay on his hands, as Jairus: Here they muſt only touch the hem of his garment: Matters were well mended with theſe men ſince their rejecting of Chriſt and his Goſpel, Mat. 8.34. now are they Ripe, as before Raw; ſo preſs upon him in crowds, as to touch him behind, before, and on each ſide; and all Touchers were healed.
The Evangeliſt John expreſly relateth, chap 6.22. That the very next morning many of that multitude which Chriſt had miraculouſly fed with five Loaves the day before, do follow him it Capernaum, and find him there, asking him, [Rabbi, when cameſt thou hither?] ver. 24.25. and by what mean…, for they …mired both the time when, and the manner …ow, well knowing the Journey by foot was very long, and that he came not along with his Diſciples in the Ship when he diſmiſs'd them over night Chriſt anſwers, ver. 26. not to what the was asked, but knowing their hearts, admoniſhes them of their Carnality, that they followed him for L…aver more than for Love, and (as Auguſtin phraſeth it) did not love or ſeek Jeſus for Jeſus ſake. This being the very day of the Synagogue: Ser…ice in the City of Ca…en…um, ver. 59. Chriſt takes that occaſion to Preach that excellent Sermon in the Synagogue to them, from ver. 16. to the end of the Chapter, wherein he reclaims the… from their expectations of periſhing food, &c. to buſed daily … Miracles (as he had done the day before) and that for forty years together, as Iſrael was fed by M…le…, not with Barley bread, but with Manna, Angels food, &c. Chriſt calls them up to ſeek the more Spiritual Food that endureth for ever, whereof Ma… was but the Type, and himſelf was the Antity…, and that they muſt expect an other food now from him, than the …ating of his Fleſh, and the drinking of his Blood; this …ed ſuch a monſtrous Doctrine to many of them, that they will follow him no more? We may nor underſtand that in ver. 60. to he any of the twelve Diſciples, no now yet of Judas the Devil, n…rry… but it was many of thoſe that were more frequent followers than others of him among whom (ſaith Epipha… ) Mark himſelf became a Deſerter (ſtumbling at this ſeeming inhumane ſaving of eating Man's fleſh) but was reclaim'd by Peter. After theſe things (ſaith John 7.1.) to wit, Chriſt's Miracle about the Corporal Food (feeding 5000 with five Loaves) and his Oracle or Sermon about the right Spiritual Food, the eating his Fleſh, and drinking his Blood ſpiritually by the mouth of Faith; he ſtill remained in Galilee (where they were not ſuch Zealots for the Law, ſo not ſuch hot Perſecutors of Chriſt) and would not walk in Jury, or Judea, becauſe the Jews ſought to kill him, being blinded and incenſed by Satan (as Pharaoh, &c. were againſt Moſes, which made him flee to Midian, Exod. 2.15.) for now Chriſt's Fame and Name was mightily ſpread abroad, by his Doctrine and Miracles, his Diſciples marvelouſly increaſed &c. therefore the Sanedrim ſeek to kill him, as Herod had done the Baptiſt: Hereupon he declines Jeruſalem ſtill, becauſe he would not be Aſſaſſinated in a clandeſtine ſeditious manner (which anſwered not the Father's Appointment) and becauſe his hour was not yet come, for when that came, he did willingly preſent himſelf in that City, and in the very Temple, &c. However, ſuch was the malice and rage of the Sanedrim againſt our Saviour, that they ſent their Satanical Tools (the Scribes and Phariſees) from Jeruſalem into Galilee to him, to intrap and oppoſe him, and to make a Party againſt him, not unlike thoſe that came down with a Commiſſion to accuſe Paul, Acts 24.1, 2, &c. Thence began their Conteſt with Chriſt about Traditions, &c. Mat. 15.1, 2, &c. and Mark 7.1, &c. Theſe Phariſees pretended to be Princes of Sanctity, as if they had attained the perfection thereof only; and the Scribes cryed themſelves up as Princes of Science, monopolizing (as it were) the Key of Knowledge to themſelves, Luke 11.52. and Jeruſalem was the Seat Principal both of the Prieſthood and of the Kingdom; therefore was this Conſpiracy againſt Chriſt (as David calls it, Pſal. 2.1, &c.) ſo much the ſtronger; as coming from that honourable Metropolis by the hands of ſuch honourable Meſſengers, for the Jews were made to believe, if but two perſons could go to Heaven, the one muſt be a Scribe, and the other a Phariſee.
The Remarks upon this Diſputation are theſe: 1. 'Tis no new thing, that corrupt Church-men do oppoſe Chriſt, yea ſuch as are moſt eminent of them, even thoſe may be lewd as well as learned, and hypocritical Night-Birds, that cannot bear the Light, but do, even as Batts, beat againſt it, &c. Thus thoſe Scribes and Phariſees would direct the Diſciples, and pervert them from following Chriſt.
The 2d Remark is; Thoſe eminent Hypocrites are fair in their pretenſions, while foul in their intentions. Thus here they come to Chriſt as friends, privately to tell him of his Diſciples fault, and ſeem ſo tender as not to tell of it publickly before the multitude, yet ſought to cruſh Chriſt's Credit thereby, &c.
The 3d Remark is; Nor is Non-conformity, as to Humane Inventions (which want Divine Inſtitutions) to be wondred at now, ſeeing Chriſt's own Diſciples were charged as guilty of it, in tranſgreſſing againſt Tradition and the Authority of Antiquity, &c.
The 4th Remark is; Superſtitious Formaliſts will plead Tradition againſt the Truth: As thoſe did here, ſo do our New Phariſees now, for the Old ones are fled and hid in the Popiſh Doctors, as the Philoſophers fled and hid themſelves in the Hereticks; as Phariſaiſm preferr'd their own Traditions above God's Word, accounting it as great a ſin to eat with unwaſhen hands, as to commit Fornication: So Papiſm deems the defacing an Idol worſe than killi… a man, eating an Egg, &c. in Lent, &c. than commiting Inceſt, and for a Prieſt to have one Wife, than ten Whores, chuſing rather to life by their own luſts, than by God's Law, &c.
The 5th Remark is; Anſwers may be returned by way of Recrimination, provided it be without mixture of moroſity, as here; Chriſt doth not excuſe his Diſciples by ſaying [that Civil Action of Waſhing, we muſt not make an Holy and Religious Action, as you do] but accuſes them of a greater fault, in their wilful breaking God's Moral Law, while they ſo zealouſly cryed up their own Traditions, as if any Humane Authority could give a diſpenſation from the duties of it, &c.
The 6th Remark is; Zeal for Humane Ceremonies, eſpecially when attended with a negligent diſreſpect to Divine Commands, is a plain and palpable evidence of Hypocriſie: Our Lord calls the Phariſees Hypocrites for this, &c.
The 7th. The fountain of polluting a man's actions is the heart and not the mouth; therefore Chriſt tells the multitude (when theſe Hypocrites would not be healed) this great Truth, Mat. 15.10, &c. intimating, that the Phariſees were more defiled with thoſe ſlanders which came out of their mouths, than his Diſciples could be by putting meat into their mouths with unwaſhen hands, therefore were they plants to be plucked up, deſigned for detection here, and for deſtruction hereafter: And ſo are the new Phariſees doomed likewiſe.