21 at supper, said, Lord, who is it that will betray thee ?) Peter seeing him follow his Master, says unto Jesus, Lord, what shall this 22 man do? Jesus says to him, If I will that be tarry, or continue alive, 23 till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me. This saying therefore went abroad among the brethren, that this disciple should not die; but it was a mistake for Jesus did not say to him, that he should not die; but only, If I will that he tarry till I come, 34 what is that to thee?—This is the disciple who testifies concerning these things, and hath whitten them and we know that his testimony is true.

REFLECTIONS.

What if our Lord Jesus Christ should put the same question to us that he did to Peter, in this remarkable passage, and should thus repeat it again and again? Are there none of us who should be at a loss for an answer? None of us to whom he might say, I know that you have not the love of Christ in you?-Or are there none of us who ap prehend, that, if we had ourselves been thus pressed, we could, at the very best, only have said, Lord, thou that knowest all things, knowest that I cannot tell whether I love thee or not ?-Blush, and be confounded, O my soul, if thou must reply with such uncertainty to a question of so great importance, and in a case where all the ardour of the heart might be so justly expected? But are there not still some of us who through divine grace could reply with pleasure, Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that, notwithstanding all the unallowed and lamented infirmities of our lives, we do indeed love thee ?And, if we are thus really conscious to ourselves of such an unfeigned affection, let it be our daily joy, that he who implanted this divine principle in our hearts, discerns and sees it there; and, knowing all · things, he perfectly knows this, however we may be suspected, however we may be censured.

Let us learn also by what method we are to express our love, adcording to our ability and opportunity; even by feeding his sheep, and promoting the interest and edification of his church. Let Ministers especially do it; and let them not forget those dear creatures, the lambs of the flock. Jesus the compassionate Shepherd, as we see, did not forget them; but taught his servants with the greatest tenderness, both by his precepts, and by his example, to gather them in their arms, and carry them in their bosom. Happy are those ministers who, instead of indulging a vain curiosity in things wherein they are not at all, or but very little concerned, are spending their lives in such faithful services; feeding the flock of God; and taking the oversight of it, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; that when the chief Shepherd shall appear, they may receive an unfading crown of glory: A crown which will infinitely more than repay, not only their labours, but their sufferings too!

Happy Peter, who, having worn out his better years in the service of Christ, courageously stretched out his aged arms to be bound, and, being borne away to tortures and death, shed the last slow ebb of his blood as a martyr for him who had loved him and given himself for

him. And not less happy the beloved disciple, so willing to hazard. his life in the same cause; though he was not in fact called to lay it down as a martyr! Our gracious Lord, who sees every purpose, and every affection, as it rises in the heart, favourably accepts of the willing mind, and will, through the riches of his grace, entitle them to the reward of equal suffering, who have waited with a like readiness, though they have not been called out to the severity of the like trial.

SECTION CCII.

Christ appears to the whole body of the disciples in Galilee; and afterwards meets, the apostles at Jerusalem. MATT. xxviii. 16, &c. MARK xvi. 15— 18. LUKE xxiv. 44-49*.

OW, the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to a certain moun

NOW

to

and (with them.

a great numbert] who came together from all parts of the country. And having seen him, they worshipped him, though some of them had doubted.

And Jesus afterwards came to his disciples repeatedly at Jerusalem, and on one of these occasions, spake to them saying, These are the words which I spake to you while I was yet among you, that all the things must be fulfilled which are written concerning me in the Law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms. At the same time he opened their minds, that they might understand the scrips tures. And he said to them o, Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary that the Messiah should suffer and should rise again from the dead on the third day; and that on this great foundation the doctrines of repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. For all authority is now given unto me in heaven and on earth. And you shall be witnesses of these things. And behold, to qualify you for that office, I send upon you the promise of my Father, the miraculous effusion of the Holy Spirit. But do you continue in the city of Jerusalem till you are invested with this power from on high. And he further said to them, Go forth into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he who believeth

* In this and the following section, the author introduces some passages from Acts i. to complete the account of Christ's resurrection. But as they are repeated in their proper places, in the translation and paraphrase of the book of Acts, it is presumed no reader will disapproved their being here omitted; especially as that book is included in this volume.

The author, in his paraphrase, here introduces the words of Paul, 1 Cor. xv. 6. And he was seen by above 500 brethren at once. It is most probable, but not certain, that it was on this occasion.-In the translation "Some HAD doubted," the Tense is changed.

The time when the following discourse was delivered is not ascertained, but it seems plain that it was a few days before our Lord's ascension. I have thrown all that the three evangelists relate together, though perhaps some parts of it might be delivered at different times.

C. T. "And ye are witnesses."-So. C. "And be ye witnesses." W.

not shall be condemned. Go forth therefore and proselyte all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And behold I am always with you, even to the end of the world. Amen!

And, he further added, these signs shall follow them that believe*: in my name they shall cast out demons; they shall speak in new languages; they shall take up serpents without being bitten; and if they drink any deadly poison it will not hurt them: and they shall lay their hands on the sick and they shall recover.

REFLECTIONS.

With how ill a grace could the Jews complain of any deficiency in the evidence of our Lord's resurrection, when he appeared alive to so great a number as five hundred at once! How glad must these disciples be when they saw the Lord! and with what pleasure must they hear him speaking of those things which concerned the kingdom of God.

We have surely perpetual reason for thankfulness, when we think of that commission which Christ gave [them]: nor is it a circumstance of little importance, that they had it in charge, when they published this message of grace, to begin at Jerusalem; though the religious opportunities that were abused by that ungrateful city had already been so great, and their provocations so many. Amazing condescension of the Prince of peace, that he sent his ambassadors of peace to them when they had hardly laid aside the weapons with which they had slain him, and were scarce rested after the cruel fatigue which their officious malice had given them in abetting his murder! Behold, he offers them all the invaluable blessings purchased by his blod, while it was yet, as we may say, warm upon mount Calvary and on the same principles, even unto this day, where sin hath abounded, there is grace abounding much more.-The commission he gave his apostles, though it began at Jerusalem, did not end there; nor was it confined within the narrow limits of Judea; but they were appointed to go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. We to this day, in our remote land, enjoy the benefit of it. Let us remember the important consequences that will one way or another attend the gospel thus brought us. If we believe it, we shall be saved; but if we believe it not, we shall be damned. Life, or death, O my soul, is the certain issue of it, with regard to thee in particular. Be surety to thy servant, O Lord, for good; and let my life be precious in" thy sight!

Christ opened the understanding of the apostles, to apprehend the sense of scripture. Let us study that sacred book with an humble dependence upon the aid of that blessed Spirit by whom it was dictated. And let these apostles who were thus divinely taught, be reverently regarded as our surest guides, when we are studying the

*The faith here intended must be different from that mentioned before, and must refer to that which respects the inward motions of the Spirit, exciting to miraculous operations. [See Matt. xxi. 22. § 151.]

oracles of the Old Testament: considering the extraordinary commission with which Christ sent them forth, the power from on high with which he invested them, and the ample credentials which he thereby gave them. These miraculous donations are now ceased, but that valuable promise still continues in force, That he will be with his ministers always, even unto the end of the world. In the strength of that gracious assurance, O thou faithful and true Witness, would thine humble ambassadors still go forth to all the labours and difficulties before them: remember thy word unto thy servants, and may it be unto us according to it! Amen!

SECTION CCIII.

Christ ascends to heaven in the sight of his disciples from the mount of Olives. MARK xvi. 19, &c. LUKE xxiv. 50, &c. JOHN XX. 30. xxi. 25.

A

ND Jesus having thus conversed with his disciples at Jerusalem, he led them out to the mount of Olives, and brought them as far as the boundaries of Bethany. And lifting up his hands, he blessed them. And it came to pass, after the Lord had spoken to them, that while he was blessing them he was miraculously separated from them, and carried up into heaven, and there he sat down at the right hand of God. And they worshipped him, and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God.

And a few days after, their ascended Lord, in remembrance of his promise, sent down the extraordinary influences of his Spirit upon them; and going forth they preached the gospel every where; the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs which followed it. Amen.

Thus ends the history of Jesus Christ during his abode on earth. And it is but a brief narrative, for there are also many other things that Jesus did; and indeed many other signs and miracles which he wrought, in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book, which if every one of them should be fully recorded, I am persuaded the world itself would not receive the books that should be written*. But these things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life through his name.

REFLECTIONS.

Thus did our victorious Saviour ascend on high, and lead captivity. captive: the chariots of God which attended him were twenty thousand, even thousands of angels; and being gone into heaven, he is there seated on the right hand of God; angels, and authorities, and powers, being made subject to him. Let us his humble followers look after him

*The very size of the volumes would prevent the generality of mankind from procuring or reading them.-Though it might be admitted, as most ex positors suppose, that this is an Hyperbole (like Gen. xi. 4. Numb. xiii. 33, and John xii. 19.) this seems an easier sense, and better suited to John's plainness of style.

with holy joy and pleasing expectation; congratulating his triumphs, and trusting through his grace to share them. Like the apostles, let us bow down and worship him; and, while we continue here below, let us make it our daily labour and care to seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. And instead of amusing ourselves with the vain dreams of temporal grandeur and felicity, or with curious inquiries after those times and seasons which the Father has reserved in his own power, let us apply with vigour and zeal to that business which he has assigned us ; labouring to the utmost to promote his gospel, and, by a diligent improvement of our time and opportunities, to prepare for his final appearance, when the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with more public splendor than he returned thither, and shall come in the glory of his Father, and his own glory, with a majestic pomp which every eye shall see, and with the sound of a trumpet, which even all the nations of the dead shall hear. In the mean time, let us thankfully own his gracious presence with his disciples, whom he left behind him; and with admiring grat itude reflect upon the happy consequences of that presence, in the establishment of the gospel in the world, and the transmission of it even unto us, in so remote an age and country. Let us especially praise him for these sacred records which contain such an authentic and exact account of those important facts in which we are all so nearly concerned! records incomparably more valuable than the writings of our private estates, or the charters of our public liberties. Let us earnestly pray, that their great design may be answered in us ; and make it our importunate request to Him who is the giver of all grace, that through the operations of that Holy Spirit, without the influence of which even scripture itself, with all our advantages for understanding and improving it, will be but a sealed, book, or a dead letter, our faith may be nourished and confirmed by every portion of it which we read; and that our hearts may be so delivered into the mould of his word, that believing on Christ under all the characters he bears, we may have life through his name; and may at length receive the end of our faith, in the complete salvation of our souls, through him; to whom with the Father, and the eternal Spirit, be undivided honours, and everlasting praises. Amen, and Amen!

[Here ends the second volume of the original work:]