Vindication of the Truth of the Christian Religion, Religious treatise · Section 3 · Reflections on Matthew
SOME REFLEXIONS ON THE Goſpel according to S. Matthew.
CHapt. II. 1.
Now when Jeſus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, behold there came Wiſemen, &c. Thoſe Wiſe-men were of all Nations the firſt that came to pay their Homage to Jeſus Chriſt. The Prieſts and Elders amongſt the Jews being conſulted concerning the Birth of the Meſſias, freely owned he was to be born in Bethlehem, and were quite of another Opinion than the Modern Jews, who pervert the Meaning of the Prophecy of Micah Chap. 5. As to what concerns us we affirm that the Hiſtory of the coming of the Wiſe-men could not be falſely invented. I. Becauſe it agrees admirably with the Prophecy of Balaam, Numb. 24. 17. where he Cries out, I ſhall ſ…e him, but not now, I ſhall behold him, but not nigh: There ſhall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter ſhall riſe out of Iſrael. A Star of the Wiſe-men, indeed, and a Scepter of Jeſus Chriſt. II. The Evangeliſt could not have made the whole City of Jeruſalem believe, that they were troubled and aſtoniſht at the Coming of thoſe Wiſe-men: and much leſs perſwaded the Inhabitants againſt their own publick Knowledge, that Herod had ſo barbaroufly ſhed ſo much Innocent Blood. III. Herod muſt neceſſarily have been told that the Chriſt or Meſſias was to be born in Bethlehem, becauſe thither he ſent directly the Miniſters of his execrable fury. IV. And laſtly, Joſeph fled into Egypt, and was afraid to return again into Judea, when he heard that Archelaus Reigned in the room of his Father Herod: A Circumſtance that wonderfully agrees with all the reſt.
Chapt. III. 1.
In thoſe days came John the Baptiſt. In this Chapter John foretells the Deſtruction of the Jews in theſe Words, O generation of Vipers, who has warned you to fly from the wrath to come? and now alſo the ax is laid to the root of the Tree: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down, and caſt into the fire, &c. He foretells alſo the Effuſion of the Gifts of the Holy Ghoſt upon the Apoſtles, in theſe words, I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me, is mightier than I, &c. He ſhall baptize you with the Holy Ghoſt and with fire. Laſtly, John ſaw the Holy Ghoſt Deſcending upon Jeſus under ſuch a form as truly denoted the gentleneſs and mildneſs his Life was to be attended with, and he heard that voice from Heaven, this is my beloved Son, &c.
Theſe three matters of fact have a neceſſary connexion with the Principles of our Religion, if they be true, as they will evidently appear to be to all who ſhall ſeriouſly conſider and reflect upon them. 'Twould be to no purpoſe to ſuſpect the Evangeliſt of having forged that prediction of the Deſtruction of Jeruſalem, which he makes Jeſus Chriſt himſelf utter, becauſe that Goſpel was compiled long before that Event.
It would be as little to the purpoſe to pretend, that that other prediction of the Baptiſm with the Holy Ghoſt and with fire, was falſlly inſerted into the Hiſtory of John the Baptist. For what likelyhood is there that the Diſciples ſhould have made John the Baptiſt utter ſuch a prediction, had they ſeen nothing like it? And if they were truly baptized with the Holy Ghoſt and with Fire, why ſhould any body refuſe to believe that St. John the Baptiſt foretold it?
Chapt. IV. 1.
Then was Jeſus led up of the Spirit into the wilderneſs, &c. Had the Evangeliſts propoſed any other Method to themſelves in all their Writings, but to ſpeak the plain truth, they would never have repreſented Chriſt to us as being delivered into the power of the Devil to be tempted of him, who ſet him one while upon the Pinacles of the Temple, and another while upon an exceeding high Mountain. In all this Relation we have certainly a moſt undeniable mark of their Truth and Sincerity.
Verſ. 19.
And he ſaith unto them, follow me, and I will make you fiſhers of men. Who is this that without Riches, Arms, and Authority, nay without any aſſiſtance from Men, pretends to convert ordinary Fiſhers into Fiſhers of Men? How came any ſuch Thoughts into his Mind? What a ſtrange Deſign is this? What a raſh undertaking! Nay what confidence joined to ſo great a weakneſs! For Jeſus Chriſt to fortel and execute that project, he muſt not only have been abſolute Maſter of his Diſciples to convert them ſo wonderfully; but alſo of their minds to enlighten them, of their Hearts to make them leſs ſenſible of all wordly objects; He muſt have been an abſolute Maſter of ſuturity to foretel it, of time preſent, to Diſpoſe of it, of thoſe Men's Inclinations whom he was thus to change, of their reſiſtance, and continual ſtruglings and oppoſitions againſt him, nay he muſt have been abſolute Maſter of all the Enemies of his Name; in a word, of all Events and Junctures whatſoever.
Verſ. 24.
And his fame went throughout all Syria. 'Tis certain that the Evangeliſts could never have made the World believe that Jeſus Christ was become famous for his Miracles, had he really neither wrought, nor pretended to work any Miracles. Beſides, herein was Jeſus Chriſt diſtinguiſh'd from John the Baptiſt, that the former wrought many notable Wonders and Signs, but the latter was famous only for the innocency of his Life, and purity of his Manners. And if Jeſus Christ paſſed for a perſon who really did ſeveral Miracles, it remains only for us to know, whether thoſe Miracles be true or falſe, and that ſolely depends upon the examination of the Witneſſes that ſaw them, the nature of the matters of fact themſelves, and the Enemies that ſo firmly oppoſed them, &c.
Chap. V. 1.
And ſeeing the multitude, he went up into a mountain, &c. And he opened his mouth and taught them, &c. I ſhall not ſay any thing concerning that excellent Sermon which Jeſus Christ preached on the Mount. We need only read it over to be ſatisfied that it is an abſtract of the moſt Sound, Pure, and Spiritual, the moſt impartial, ſublime, and ſurprizing Doctrine that ever was thought of. Read it therefore I ſay, and you will as much be ſurprized at his Doctrine, as the Multitudes that heard it.
Chap. VIII. 1.
When he was come down from the mountain, &c. In this Chapter we read of the cleanſing of Lepers, of healing ſick Perſons that were abſent and far off by the efficacy of his word, of his calming the Storms and Tempeſts of the Sea, of his caſting Devils out of thoſe that were poſſeſſed, of the conſternation the Gadarenes were in at the loſs of their Herd of Swine, and their ſurprize to ſee thoſe healed that were poſſeſſed with Devils: all which are ſuch matters of fact as the Evangeliſts could not have been perſwaded of by a meer Illuſion, nor the Diſciples make others believe againſt their own publick Knowledge.
Verſ. 11.
And I ſay unto you many ſhall come from the Eaſt and Weſt, &c. Who was it that had thus enlightned the Mind of Jeſus Christ, as to make him ſo clearly foretell the calling of the Gentiles?
Verſ. 22.
But Jeſus ſaid unto him follow me, and let the dead bury their dead. This was certainly the expreſſion of a Man that had ſo deeply reflected upon the vanity of the World, and was truly perſwaded of the Miſery and Corruption of Mankind. For did ever any Man but him ſpeak after this manner?
Verſ. 34.
And behold the whole City came out to meet Jeſus, and when they ſaw him they beſought him that he would depart out of their Coasts. Here were a ſufficient number of Witneſſes who might have eaſily convinced the Evangeliſts, had that matter of fact been falſe.
Chap. IX. 1.
And he entred into a Ship, &c. In this Chapter Jeſus Chriſt calleth Matthew from the receit of cuſtom, healeth a Woman that was diſeaſed with an Iſſue of Blood twelve Years, reſtoreth ſight to two blind Men, raiſeth a young Girl to Life again, and healeth one that was poſſeſſed with a Devil. Now Matthew who compiled the Hiſtory of all theſe matters of fact, and whom no intereſt whatſoever could have obliged to follow Jeſus Christ to the prejudice of his own repoſe, could not but know certainly what force or ſecret Power had compelled him to follow Chriſt. And Jairus knew very well whether or no his Daughter had been raiſed to Li…e again, his Friends and Relations had been informed of it, the Neighbours and Minſtrels who were already come to ſolemnize her funerals, could not be ignorant of it. In a word, the Blind, the Lame, and the Sick of that Town, could not but tell whether they really experienced that healing virtue which proceeded from his very garments. But who can ſuppoſe that ſo many Perſons ſhould have known the certain Truth of that matter of fact, and yet that the Diſciples themſelves ſhould not have known it? And ſuppoſing they knew it, how is it poſſible they could have ſo unanimouſly agreed to impoſe upon all the World at the expence of their lives, and againſt their own temporal intereſt?
Verſ. 5.
For whether is it eaſier to ſay, thy Sins are forgiven thee; or to ſay ariſe and walk? There is no ſuſpecting a Man's proceedings that proves by ſeveral ſenſible and healing Miracles the Authority he aſſumes and aſcribes to himſelf.
Verſ. 13.
But go and learn what that meaneth; I will have mercy and not ſacrifice. A Spiritual worſhip is the only worſhip that God delights in. The ceremonies of Moſes's Law were only agreeable to him as they were founded upon the Obedience that is due to God. This Obedience derives its whole perfection from a willing compliance out of love and Charity. For a forced and conſtrained obedience can never be acceptable to God. That which is moſt excellent in Charity, is Mercy, which conſiſts in forgiving injuries, and doing good to others without expecting any return from them. For a man may do good to another through a principle of vain Glory. But the works of mercy proceed from another motive, and are a product of a noble diſintereſſed nature. Mercy then is the only thing that is acceptable to God in Religion: and both Scripture and Reaſon tell us ſo. But the World was ſo ignorant of this truth, when Jeſus Christ firſt took it for a fundamental maxim of his Religion, that nothing could be more ſurprizing to Men than his expreſſing himſelf after this manner.
Verſ. 13.
For I am not come to call the righteous but Sinners to repentance. An expreſſion that thunders out againſt Hypocriſie, roots out of our Hearts that falſe Pride and vain Confidence we have of our ſelves, humbles mankind, glorifies the mercy of God, and makes us ſenſible of the uſe and neceſſity of repentance, and in a more eſpecial manner evidently ſhews the ſelf-denial of our Lord.
Chap. X. 1.
And when he had called unto him his twelve Diſciples he gave them Power, &c. The Evangeliſt was not afraid of being contradicted by the twelve Diſciples of our Lord, whoſe names he ſets down, when he ſaid, that Jeſus Chriſt had given them power to heal all ſorts of Diſeaſes among the People.
Verſ. 5.
Theſe Twelve Jeſus ſent forth, and commanded them, ſaying, go not into the Cities of the Gentiles, &c. but go rather to the loſt ſheep of the Houſe of Iſrael. Theſe words remove all ſuſpicions which our incredulous Adverſaries may entertain, that the Author of this Goſpel was willing to favour the Gentiles in prejudice to the Jews.
Verſ. 7.
And as ye go preach, ſaying, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Was Jeſus Chriſt in a fit condition to make himſelf known for that Monarch who was to come, unleſs he had firſt been endowed with an infinite Power?
Verſ. 8.
Heal the Sick, cleanſe the Lepers, raiſe the Dead, caſt out Devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Is it poſſible that Jeſus Chriſt could have made his Diſciples believe they had freely received that which they had not in the leaſt received? How bold then muſt that command have been to work ſo many Miracles?
Verſ. 9.
Provide neither Gold, nor Silver, nor Braſs, in your purſes: nor ſcrip for your journey, &c. Chriſt wa… not content to chuſe poor Men for his Diſciples he ſ…rther obliged them to become poorer than they were. He forbid them to provide themſelves any thing, deſigning to nouriſh them wonderfully by his Providence. He reſolved ſo to diſpoſe the Hearts of thoſe that ſhould believe in their words that they ſhould feed and cloath them. This indeed was ſpoke like the Maſter and God of Nature.
Verſ. 22.
And ye ſhall be hated of all men for my name ſake. Chriſt flattered not his Diſciples, but foretold them from the very beginning of their miniſtry, all the evils that were to befall them. Now what can be ſuſpected in all this?
Verſ. 23.
But when they perſecute you in this City flee into another: for verily I ſay unto you, ye ſhall not have gone over the Cities of Iſrael, till the Son of Man be come. This Text is ſomewhat difficult, becauſe it does not plainly appear that the Prophecy it contains was exactly fulfilled. But this very Difficulty ſerves to confirm our Faith. For why ſhould the Evangeliſt write this, he who lived to ſee the ſucceſs of that matter? He knew well enough that in his time the Goſpel had been preached not only in all the Cities of Iſrael, but almoſt in every Country in the World, though Jeſus Chriſt had not yet come in all his Glory. Doubtleſs it was becauſe he intended to relate things as they really were in themſelves, and aſcribed no more to his Divine Maſter but juſt the very words he uttered. And altho' Holy Writers by the coming of Jeſus Chriſt commonly underſtand his laſt coming in his Glory, yet that ſame expreſſion does alſo ſometimes ſignifie the Judgments which God executed upon the Jews, when he ſent the Romans to deſtroy their City: which explanation plainly ſolves the whole Difficulty.
Verſ. 34.
Think not that I am come to ſend Peace on earth: I came not to ſend Peace but a Sword. A Terrible declaration indeed for thoſe Men who, according to the vulgar errour of the Jews, imagined that the Meſſias ſhould have raiſed them up to the height of Happineſs and temporal proſperity! But who is he that was bold enough to foretel that his Goſpel ſhould diſturb the Peace of the Univerſe? How comes it he did not rather foreſee that that Goſpel would unavoidably be involved in the darkneſs of Silence and Oblivion, having ſuch weak Defenders to maintain, and ſuch formidable Adverſaries to oppoſe it? Does it ſeem natural that a Man who dwelt on the Borders of the Lake of Genneſareth, ſhould have pretended to make other Men riſe up one againſt another by the bare efficacy of his word, without any Arms, Riches, or Authority, being only got at the head of ten or twelve miſerable Wretches, who knew nothing beyond the mending their nets?
Verſ. 28.
And he that taketh not his Croſs and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. Did ever Man get himſelf any followers by ſuch declarations as theſe?
Chap. XI. 4, 5.
Jeſus anſwered and ſaid unto them, go, and ſhew John thoſe things which ye do hear and ſee: The Blind receive their fight, and the Lame walk, the Lepers are cleanſed, and the Deaf hear, the Dead are raiſed up, and the poor have the Goſpel preached to them. Jeſus Chriſt convinced not his Diſciples by meer ſpeculations, but by evident Objects of Senſe.
Verſ. 12.
And from the days of John the Baptiſt until now, the Kingdom of Heaven ſuffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. Did ever Man in ſo mean and miſerable a Condition as he was in, ſpeak thus? Whence had he this Confidence? And what ſort of Language is this?
Verſ. 21.
Woe unto the Chorazin, &c. What probability is there that Chriſt ſhould thus reproach the Jews who dwelt in all thoſe Countrys, unleſs he had really wrought ſeveral Miracles amongſt them?
Verſ. 28.
Come unto me all ye that Labour, &c. There have been many Societies formed in the world ſince the beginning of it; but there never was one like this; nor was it ever ſeen that a Man ſhould aſſemble a Company of Sinners, that were full of Repentance, and charged with heavy remorſe and inward ſorrow for their Crimes.
Chap. XII. 13.
Then ſaith he to the Man ſtretch forth thy hand; and he ſtretched it forth; &c. How is it poſſible that Chriſt could impoſe upon the Spectators in ſo ſenſible a matter of fact as this? Or how could the Evangeliſt ſelect only ſuch matters, on purpoſe to make others believe them, againſt the certain knowledge they muſt have had to the contrary?
Verſ. 15.
And great multidudes followed him, and he healed them all. Here were a great number of Witneſſes indeed!
Verſ. 24.
But when the Phariſees heard it, they ſaid, this Fellow does not caſt out Devils, but by Belzebub the Prince of the Devils. This accuſation is an Homage thoſe falſe Teachers were compelled to pay Chriſt. For when they ſaid that he wrought Miracles by the Power of Belzebub, they thereby acknowledged that he performed ſeveral.
Verſ. 50.
For whoſoever ſhall do the will of my Father which is in Heaven, the ſame is my Brother, and Siſter and Mother. The ordinary ſort of Men have no other rule or ſtandard of their affections but ſelflove. They ſeek themſelves (if I may ſo ſpeak) in different Objects, and love nothing elſe in their neighbours, but that proximity which unites them together. They have generally more or leſs affection for their fellow creatures, according as they are more or leſs nearly related to them; becauſe ſelflove is the origine and meaſure of all their other Paſſions. But this Man Chriſt Jeſus, through an aſtoniſhing prodigy, entirely loves, or utterly hates external Objects, not as they have any reference to himſelf, but as they refer to God. The love of God is the rule of his Affections. He ſeeks God in all Objects, not himſelf or his own ſatisfaction. He loves other Men not according as they are related to him by the proximity of nature, but as they are related to God through an effect of his Grace. What a nobleneſs of thought, what elevation and loftineſs of mind is here contained in this one ſingle ſentence?
Chap. XIII. 16.
But bleſſed are your Eyes, &c. When a Man ſpeaks after that manner, his mind muſt be very fully and throughly perſwaded of what he ſays. And none but a Heart that leaps for joy at the Reflexion upon ſome extraordinary ſatisfaction, is able to expreſs itſelf thus.
Verſ. 31, 32.
The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a grain of Muſtard ſeed, which a Man took and ſowed in his Field. Which indeed is the leaſt of all ſeeds: but when it is grown it is the greateſt among herbs, and becometh a tree; ſo that the Birds of the Air come and lodge upon the branches thereof. The progreſs of Chriſtianity which had ſuch weak and imperfect beginnings, is wonderful, and the prediction of it is no leſs ſtrange and ſurprizing.
Chapt. XIV. 21.
And they that had eaten were about five thouſand Men, &c. Here were five thouſand Witneſſes.
Verſ. 36.
And as many as touched him were made perfectly whole. 'Twas an eaſy matter to confute the Goſpel, and to convince thoſe of Deceit who declared ſuch things, had not the Enemies of it been afraid to make the leaſt enquiry into it, leaſt they ſhould immediately diſcover the Veracity of it.
Chapt. XV. 30, 31.
And great multidudes came unto him, having with them thoſe that were Lame, Blind, Dumb, Maimed, and many others; and he healed them. Inſomuch that the multidudes wondred when they ſaw the Dumb to ſpeak, the maimed to be whole, the Lame to walk, and the Blind to ſee, and they glorified the God of Iſrael: Is it likely that St. Matthew could have deceived himſelf, and yet have been an Eye-Witneſs to all theſe things? Or that he left the receit of Cuſtom, and embraced poverty and miſery; on purpoſe to make us believe a parcel of Stories? Durſt he tell us ſuch things, the falſity of which he would ſoon have been convinced of by almoſt an infinite number of People? And was he not afraid leſt ſome Perſons ſhould have enquired about them in thoſe very places where he affirmed thoſe things had come to paſs. Nay rather, was he not aſhamed to write ſuch things in a time when every body muſt neceſſarily have had them freſh in their memory, had they really came to paſs? How could he perſwade his Brethren, who muſt have been Witneſſes to all thoſe Events? Can we think they would joyn with him to maintain ſuch an Impoſture? Or can we imagine that without a mutual contrivance they could have agreed together to relate it, and invent the moſt impudent Lye that ever was, on purpoſe to oblige Men to become Faithful, Holy, and Juſt. Credat Judaeus Apella.
Chap. XVI. 18.
And the Gates of Hell ſhall not prevail againſt her. All the Powers of the World oppoſed the growth of the Chriſtian Church; every paſſion of Man's Heart made War againſt her, every Age cauſed her to undergo new trials. All kinds of Puniſhments have exerciſed the Patience of her Children, and all the charms in the World have been offered to ſeduce her; But yet in ſpight of all thoſe Powers, that Church made up of Perſons that renounc'd the World was preſerved, and oftentimes increaſed by the frequent perſecutions and oppoſitions it met with. Neither could it be otherwiſe, ſince Chriſt himſelf had ſo foretold it.
Verſ. 23.
But he turned and ſaid to Peter, get thee behind me Satan: for thou ſavoureſt not the things that be of God, but thoſe that be of Men. How comes it that St. Matthew having repreſented Peter making an admirable Confeſſion to his Maſter, and receiving ſuch an advantagious Character from him, ſhould repreſent him immediately after as ſeverely checkt in theſe terrible words? Can this incoherence be thought natural in thoſe Perſons who write nothing but of their own Invention? And what can be the Myſtery of ſo ſevere a reproof from Chriſt?
Verſ. 28.
Verily I ſay unto you, there be ſome ſtanding here which ſhall not taſte of Death, till they ſee the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom. We leave it to the Interpreters to ſolve all the Difficulties of this text, and to determine whether the coming of Christ may not be taken for the Judgments he executed, on the City of Jeruſalem; At preſent we ſhall only draw this Conſequence from it, viz. That this Goſpel was Written whilſt all the Diſciples were alive. For how can it be ſuppoſed theſe words could be Written after the Deceaſe of the Diſciples, and yet not be in the leaſt explained?
Chapt. XVII. 2.
And was transfigured before them. There was never a more Singular Event in all its Circumſtances than this, nor one more difficult, nor leſs obvious to enter into the imagination of Man.
Verſ. 4.
Then anſwered Peter and ſaid to Jeſus, Lord it is good for us to be here, if thou wilt let us make here three Tabernacles. What a ſtrange piece of ſtupidity was this? and how well does it appear how incapable ſuch groſs and ignorant Men were of entertaining the leaſt Deſign of impoſing upon others! Beſides, what makes St. Matthew relate this Circumſtance? What Honour could accrue thereby to Peter? and how could it of itſelf enter into his mind?
Verſ. 16.
And I brought him to thy Diſciples and they could not cure him. In this paſſage appears the Evangeliſts ſincerity. For nothing elſe could have obliged him to relate that Circumſtance, or make him ſo freely own the defects and want of Faith in a Society he himſelf was a Member of.
Chap. XVIII. 3.
Verily I ſay unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little Children, ye ſhall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. That Children ſhould be ſo ſimple, no Man ought to wonder, becauſe their want of knowledge is a pure effect of their Age: but that even Men ſhould be obliged to return from the moſt refined Notions of worldly policy, from that ſinful cunning and dexterity ſo often ſeen in them, to a State of a Holy and Amiable Sincerity. That they ſhould at once become ſimple and prudent, righteous, and religiouſly wiſe, is ſuch a thing that Men are wholly unacquainted with, and which diſcovers to us both the greatneſs and higheſt perfection of that Perſon, who taught Men a Doctrine ſo ſublime and elevated.
Verſ. 4.
Whoſoever therefore ſhall humble himſelf as this little Child, the ſame is greateſt in the Kingdom of Heaven. How different are theſe Notions from the common ones of Men! How different is the Kingdom of Heaven from all worldly Empire! And how well does it appear that ſuch ſurpriſing maxims as theſe; could not poſſibly proceed from the mind of Man!
Verſ. 9.
And if thy Eye offend thee pluck it out, &c. By the Eyes here are to be underſtood our darling Sins, or whatever elſe is dear to us. So that Chriſt hereby teaches us that we ought to ſacrifice to the glory of God whatever we dearly prize, and value moſt. Did ever any teacher leſs flatter mens vanity?
Verſ. 22.
I ſay not unto thee, until ſeven times, but until ſeventy times ſeven. This is a certain number made uſe of for an uncertain one, which ſignifies that we muſt continually forgive, that Mercy has no bounds, and that Charity cannot be limited. Who does not ſee that ſuch a concern to unite all Hearts together, to baniſh all miſunderſtanding amongſt Men in giving ſo vaſt a latitude to Charity and Mercy, can proceed from none but him, that was Maſter of all Hearts, and the common Father of Mankind?
Chap. XXI. 43.
Therefore ſay I unto you, the Kingdom of God ſhall be taken from you, and given to a Nation bringing forth the Fruits thereof. This is indeed a very expreſs prediction of the Calling of the Gentiles.
Verſ. 46.
But when they thought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude; becauſe they held him for a Prophet. What could be ſo remarkable in Jeſus Chriſt that he ſhould be taken for a Prophet, but the efficacy of his Doctrine, and the Miracles whereby he confirmed it?
Chap. XXIII. 36, 37.
Verily I ſay unto you, all theſe things ſhall come upon this Generation. O Jeruſalem, Jeruſalem, thou that killeſt, &c. Here the Deſtruction of Jeruſalem is very plainly ſet down.
Chap. XXIV. 28.
For whereſoever the Carcaſs is; there will the Eagles be gathered together. The Body of Chriſt crucified was the Carcaſs, and the Roman Standards where the Eagles which were to fall upon the City of Jeruſalem where the Carcaſs was.
Verſ. 34.
Verily I ſay unto you, this Generation ſhall paſs till all theſe things be fulfilled. The ſame Reflexions muſt be made in this place as we have made above.
Chap. XXVI. 13.
Verily I ſay unto you, whereſoever this Goſpel ſhall be preached in the whole World, there ſhall alſo this that this Woman hath done be told for a memorial of her. A Prophecy that has been ſufficiently fulfiled.
Verſ. 28.
For this is my blood of the New Teſtament, which is ſhed for many for the remiſſion of Sins. Did ever any Man act, or ſpeak after ſo unheard of and ſurpriſing a manner? Can we find a Man who not only foretells his ſufferings, but alſo eſtabliſhes before-hand ſome memorial of a Death he might eaſily have avoided? And who but Chriſt ever took upon him to ſhed his Blood for the Remiſſion of the Sins of Mankind?
Verſ. 38, 39.
Then ſaith he unto them, my Soul is exceeding ſorrowful even unto Death, &c. And he went a little further, and fell on his Face, and prayed ſaying, O my Father if it be poſſible let this Cup paſs away from me. Tis eaſie to explain what this exceeding Sorrow and Agony was, yet it muſt be confeſſed that it preſents us at firſt view with an Object very ſurpriſing, and that it can't be imagined that thoſe Men whoſe chief Deſign was to invent ſuch things as ſhould be moſt for their Maſters Honour, ſhould yet give us ſuch a Deſcription of his Sufferings. At leaſt we find here the ſincerity of the Diſciples, which ſincerity ſhews us that we ought without ſcruple to receive the reſt of their Relations.
Chap. XXVII. 42.
He ſaved others, himſelf he cannot ſave; if he be the King of Iſrael, let him now come down from the Croſs, and we will believe him. By this Text it appears that Christ paſſed for a Perſon that had performed ſeveral Miracles.
Verſ. 45.
Now from the ſixth Hour, there was darkneſs over all the Land unto the ninth Hour. How is it poſſible they could have made a whole City believe ſuch a thing were it not true?
Verſ. 51, 52, 53.
And behold the vail of the Temple was rent in twain, from the top to the bottom, and the Earth did quake, and the Rocks rent, and the Graves were opened, &c. How could St. Matthew have perſuaded Men to ſuch things as theſe againſt their own knowledge to the contrary? Could the Vail of the Temple, or the Rocks be rent, could the Earth quake, and the Graves open, and yet the Jews know nothing of it? To whom did the Evangeliſt relate all theſe things? He wrote them before the Deſtruction of Jeruſalem, nay in the days of the Apoſtles themſelves, and conſequently in a time when there were ſeveral thouſands of People ſtill living that could witneſs the Truth of them. How then could he ſo much as imagin he could deceive ſo many Witneſſes concerned in the buſineſs to whom he preached theſe things, and whom he deſigned to bring over to his Party; nay ſome of whom had already embraced the Goſpel, and formed a very numerous and conſiderable Church at Jeruſalem, where all theſe things had happened, and where he attempted to perſwade others to the belief of them?