Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc00/v00250

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 11KB | 189 lines

00253
 #18-26 The death of our relations should drive us to Christ, who
 is our life. And it is high honour to the greatest rulers to
 attend on the Lord Jesus; and those who would receive mercy from
 Christ, must honour him. The variety of methods Christ took in
 working his miracles, perhaps was because of the different
 frames and tempers of mind, which those were in who came to him,
 and which He who searches the heart perfectly knew. A poor woman
 applied herself to Christ, and received mercy from him by the
 way. If we do but touch, as it were, the hem of Christ's garment
 by living faith, our worst evils will be healed; there is no
 other real cure, nor need we fear his knowing things which are a
 grief and burden to us, but which we would not tell to any
 earthly friend. When Christ entered the ruler's house, he said,
 Give place. Sometimes, when the sorrow of the world prevails, it
 is difficult for Christ and his comforts to enter. The ruler's
 daughter was really dead, but not so to Christ. The death of the
 righteous is in a special manner to be looked on as only a
 sleep. The words and works of Christ may not at first be
 understood, yet they are not therefore to be despised. The
 people were put forth. Scorners who laugh at what they do not
 understand, are not proper witnesses of the wonderful works of
 Christ. Dead souls are not raised to spiritual life, unless
 Christ take them by the hand: it is done in the day of his
 power. If this single instance of Christ's raising one newly
 dead so increased his fame, what will be his glory when all that
 are in their graves shall hear his voice, and come forth; those
 that have done good to the resurrection of life, and those that
 have done evil to the resurrection of damnation!

00262
 #27-31 At this time the Jews expected Messiah would appear;
 these blind men knew and proclaimed in the streets of Capernaum
 that he was come, and that Jesus was he. Those who, by the
 providence of God, have lost their bodily sight, may, by the
 grace of God, have the eyes of their understanding fully
 enlightened. And whatever our wants and burdens are, we need no
 more for supply and support, than to share in the mercy of our
 Lord Jesus. In Christ is enough for all. They followed him
 crying aloud. He would try their faith, and would teach us
 always to pray, and not to faint, though the answer does not
 come at once. They followed Christ, and followed him crying; but
 the great question is, Do ye believe? Nature may make us
 earnest, but it is only grace that can work faith. Christ
 touched their eyes. He gives sight to blind souls by the power
 of his grace going with his word, and he puts the cure upon
 their faith. Those who apply to Jesus Christ, shall be dealt
 with, not according to their fancies, nor according to their
 profession, but according to their faith. Christ sometimes
 concealed his miracles, because he would not indulge the conceit
 which prevailed among the Jews, that their Messiah should be a
 temporal prince, and so give occasion to the people to attempt
 tumults and seditions.

00267
 #32-34 Of the two, better a dumb devil than a blaspheming one.
 Christ's cures strike at the root, and remove the effect by
 taking away the cause; they open the lips, by breaking Satan's
 power in the soul. Nothing can convince those who are under the
 power of pride. They will believe anything, however false or
 absurd, rather than the Holy Scriptures; thus they show the
 enmity of their hearts against a holy God.

00270
 #35-38 Jesus visited not only the great and wealthy cities, but
 the poor, obscure villages; and there he preached, there he
 healed. The souls of the meanest in the world are as precious to
 Christ, and should be so to us, as the souls of those who make
 the greatest figure. There were priests, Levites, and scribes,
 all over the land; but they were idol shepherds, #Zec 11:17|;
 therefore Christ had compassion on the people as sheep
 scattered, as men perishing for lack of knowledge. To this day
 vast multitudes are as sheep not having a shepherd, and we
 should have compassion and do all we can to help them. The
 multitudes desirous of spiritual instruction formed a plenteous
 harvest, needing many active labourers; but few deserved that
 character. Christ is the Lord of the harvest. Let us pray that
 many may be raised up and sent forth, who will labour in
 bringing souls to Christ. It is a sign that God is about to
 bestow some special mercy upon a people, when he stirs them up
 to pray for it. And commissions given to labourers in answer to
 prayer, are most likely to be successful.
00274
 * The apostles called. (1-4) The apostles instructed and sent
 forth. (5-15) Directions to the apostles. (16-42)

 #1-4 The word "apostle" signifies messenger; they were Christ's
 messengers, sent forth to proclaim his kingdom. Christ gave them
 power to heal all manner of sickness. In the grace of the gospel
 there is a slave for every sore, a remedy for every malady.
 There is no spiritual disease, but there is power in Christ for
 the cure of it. Their names are recorded, and it is their
 honour; yet they had more reason to rejoice that their names
 were written in heaven, while the high and mighty names of the
 great ones of the earth are buried in the dust.
00278
 #5-15 The Gentiles must not have the gospel brought them, till
 the Jews have refused it. This restraint on the apostles was
 only in their first mission. Wherever they went they must
 proclaim, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. They preached, to
 establish the faith; the kingdom, to animate the hope; of
 heaven, to inspire the love of heavenly things, and the contempt
 of earthly; which is at hand, that men may prepare for it
 without delay. Christ gave power to work miracles for the
 confirming of their doctrine. This is not necessary now that the
 kingdom of God is come. It showed that the intent of the
 doctrine they preached, was to heal sick souls, and to raise
 those that were dead in sin. In proclaiming the gospel of free
 grace for the healing and saving of men's souls, we must above
 all avoid the appearance of the spirit of an hireling. They are
 directed what to do in strange towns and cities. The servant of
 Christ is the ambassador of peace to whatever place he is sent.
 His message is even to the vilest sinners, yet it behooves him to
 find out the best persons in every place. It becomes us to pray
 heartily for all, and to conduct ourselves courteously to all.
 They are directed how to act as to those that refused them. The
 whole counsel of God must be declared, and those who will not
 attend to the gracious message, must be shown that their state
 is dangerous. This should be seriously laid to heart by all that
 hear the gospel, lest their privileges only serve to increase
 their condemnation.

00289
 #16-42 Our Lord warned his disciples to prepare for persecution.
 They were to avoid all things which gave advantage to their
 enemies, all meddling with worldly or political concerns, all
 appearance of evil or selfishness, and all underhand measures.
 Christ foretold troubles, not only that the troubles might not
 be a surprise, but that they might confirm their faith. He tells
 them what they should suffer, and from whom. Thus Christ has
 dealt fairly and faithfully with us, in telling us the worst we
 can meet with in his service; and he would have us deal so with
 ourselves, in sitting down and counting the cost. Persecutors
 are worse than beasts, in that they prey upon those of their own
 kind. The strongest bonds of love and duty, have often been
 broken through from enmity against Christ. Sufferings from
 friends and relations are very grievous; nothing cuts more. It
 appears plainly, that all who will live godly in Christ Jesus
 must suffer persecution; and we must expect to enter into the
 kingdom of God through many tribulations. With these predictions
 of trouble, are counsels and comforts for a time of trial. The
 disciples of Christ are hated and persecuted as serpents, and
 their ruin is sought, and they need the serpent's wisdom. Be ye
 harmless as doves. Not only, do nobody any hurt, but bear nobody
 any ill-will. Prudent care there must be, but not an anxious,
 perplexing thought; let this care be cast upon God. The
 disciples of Christ must think more how to do well, than how to
 speak well. In case of great peril, the disciples of Christ may
 go out of the way of danger, though they must not go out of the
 way of duty. No sinful, unlawful means may be used to escape;
 for then it is not a door of God's opening. The fear of man
 brings a snare, a perplexing snare, that disturbs our peace; an
 entangling snare, by which we are drawn into sin; and,
 therefore, it must be striven and prayed against. Tribulation,
 distress, and persecution cannot take away God's love to them,
 or theirs to him. Fear Him, who is able to destroy both soul and
 body in hell. They must deliver their message publicly, for all
 are deeply concerned in the doctrine of the gospel. The whole
 counsel of God must be made known, #Ac 20:27|. Christ shows them
 why they should be of good cheer. Their sufferings witnessed
 against those who oppose his gospel. When God calls us to speak
 for him, we may depend on him to teach us what to say. A
 believing prospect of the end of our troubles, will be of great
 use to support us under them. They may be borne to the end,
 because the sufferers shall be borne up under them. The strength
 shall be according to the day. And it is great encouragement to
 those who are doing Christ's work, that it is a work which shall
 certainly be done. See how the care of Providence extends to all
 creatures, even to the sparrows. This should silence all the
 fears of God's people; Ye are of more value than many sparrows.
 And the very hairs of your head are all numbered. This denotes
 the account God takes and keeps of his people. It is our duty,
 not only to believe in Christ, but to profess that faith, in
 suffering for him, when we are called to it, as well as in
 serving him. That denial of Christ only is here meant which is
 persisted in, and that confession only can have the blessed
 recompence here promised, which is the real and constant
 language of faith and love. Religion is worth every thing; all
 who believe the truth of it, will come up to the price, and make
 every thing else yield to it. Christ will lead us through
 sufferings, to glory with him. Those are best prepared for the
 life to come, that sit most loose to this present life. Though
 the kindness done to Christ's disciples be ever so small, yet if
 there be occasion for it, and ability to do no more, it shall be
 accepted. Christ does not say that they deserve a reward; for we
 cannot merit any thing from the hand of God; but they shall
 receive a reward from the free gift of God. Let us boldly
 confess Christ, and show love to him in all things.