with you; and perhaps has not fo much knowledge of me, or refpect for me, as you have; yet if he works a Miracle in my Name, he cannot eafily think ill of me, or oppofe my Doctrine. And whofoever has any kind of Respect for me, or does in any the leaft way promote the Gospel, though it fhould be no more than even barely by not oppofing it; is more of our fide, than if he directly withstood us; and ought therefore not to be difcouraged. 51 Now when the time began to draw near, that Jefus having fulfilled his Prophetical Office in Teaching the Will of God, was to finifh his Miniftry, and to leave this World; he bent his Courfe towards ferufalem; and pofitively refolved, notwithstanding the known Malice of his Enemies, and the repeated Perfwafions of his Friends to the contrary, that he would go up thither; this being abfolutely neceflary, in order to fulfil the other parts of his Office for which he came into the World. 52. Directing his way therefore towards Jerufalem, he fent two of his Difciples before, to a Town belonging to the Samaritans, through which he was to pafs; to provide Accommodations for him in his Journey. 53. But the Samaritans, perceiving that he was going to Jerufalem, refused to give him any reception. For the Samaritans, contrary to the Religion of the Jews, contended that Jerufalem was not the place whither Men ought to go up to Worship. And in an obstinate adherence to this Opinion, they refufed to furnish Jefus with any Neceffaries in his Journey towards Jerufalem. 54. Then the Difciples, James and John, provoked at the Rudenefs and In John faw this, they faid, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and confume them, even as Elias did. 55 But he turned and rebuked them, and faid, Ye know not what manner of fpirit ye are of. 56 For the Son of man is not come to deftroy mens lives, but to fave them. And they went to another village. civility of the Samaritans, faid to fe- 55. But Jefus rebuked their indif- 56. For under the Law indeed, and in the Court of a wicked and idolatrous Prince, and at a time when God was not declaring the gracious Covenant of the Gofpel, but vindicating the Honour and juft Severity of his Law; it became Elijah, a Prophet of the Law, and one appointed of God to be a fevere Reprover of the idolatrous King of Ifrael; it became Him, I fay, to vindicate the Honour of God at fuch a time, and to prove his own Commiffion by a fevere Inftance of deftroying the Meffengers fent to apprehend him. But now at the firft establishment of the gracious and merciful Covenant of the Gospel, and in the Days of the Messiah; whofe Character is, that He should come, not with fevere Judgments to compel, but with Meeknefs and Gentlenefs to perfuade and intreat Men to Repent; and that he fhould be the Saviour, not the Destroyer of Men: 'tis fit to proceed only by merciful and gentle Methods, and to endeavour to win Men by Patience and Forbearance. And having 2 Kings i 10. ving thus faid, he turned afide with his Difciples to another Village. 57. At another time, as Jefus was walking with his Difciples in the Road, there came a Man to him, expecting (as it seems) that Jefus would shortly come to great Honour and Power; and he faid, Lord, I will be from henceforth your conftant Attendant and Follower. ; 58. But Jefus answered; Friend, if you expect to find any temporal Intereft or Advantage by following me, you are much mistaken For fo far am I from being able to do any thing of that kind for you, that I have not fo much as a House of my own wherein to lodge my felf. Wherefore if you will indeed be my Difciple, you must not only expect no temporal Gains, but even be willing to part with what you now have. 59. Again; Another, who upon Jefus's Call had offered to become his Difciple, and had begun to follow him, defired leave to go home and * fee his Father buried, and his Family and Eftate fettled, and then he would come again and follow him. 60. But Jesus anfwered him; Nay; Do you, who have once forfaken the World by undertaking to be my Difciple, continue without interruption to follow me and preach the Gospel ; which is a thing of far greater Concern: And let thofe who are yet in the World, take care of their own worldly Affairs. 61 And another 61. Again, another faid to Jefus; Lord, I will follow you, and become alfo faid, Lord, I *Tis not to be fuppofed that his Father was then dead; but that he defired to stay till his Father's death. will follow thee: but let me first go bid them farewell which are at home at my house 62 And Jefus faid unto him, No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. your Difciple; only fuffer me firft to 62. But Jefus anfwered him; No CHA P. X. Jefus fends out the Seventy to preach, ver. 1. Obedience the Condition of eternal Life, ver. 28. Charity must extend univerfally to all Mankind, ver. 30. Attention to the Doctrine of Religion, much better than an uneafie Diligence in external Services, ver. 39. AK FTER these things, the Lord appointed other feventy alfo, and fent them two and two before his face into every city, and place, whither he himself would come. I. OUT to return to the Hiftory. Bu After Jefus had fent forth his Twelve Apostles, he chofe out alfo Seventy other Difciples; and fent Them likewife by Two and Two, to preach in all the Cities and Towns of the Jews, whither he himself defigned to go afterward; that they might prepare the Minds of the People before-hand, to entertain Him and his Doctrine. 2 Therefore faid 2. And he gave Them their Inftructihe unto them, ons, after the fame Manner as he had The harvest truly before done to the Twelve Apostles, is great, but the faying; The Doctrine of the Gospel is pray ye therefore begun to be made known to the World, there is an Expectation of it raised in labourers are few : the " the Minds of Men; and many are in a Difpofition to entertain and believe it: But there are few who are able and well-fitted with Courage and Patience to preach it, and to inftruct Men in the Ways of Righteousness and Truth. Pray ye therefore that God would be pleased to provide plenty of faithful, couragious, and skilful Minifters, to be fent forth to preach the Gospel to the World. 3. In the mean time, ye which are ready, go and begin this great Work; and promote, as much as ye are able, the Converfion of all Men. I know, ye will meet with great Oppofition from the Cunning and Malice of obftinate and incorrigible Men: But join Prudence and Courage with Meeknefs and Innocence, and by Patience overcome all the Attempts of your Perfecutors. 4. Be intent upon the Business ye go upon; and trust the Providence of God to provide all things neceffary for your Prefervation and Support, and to difpose the Hearts of good Men to affift and maintain you. Burden not your felves with any Provifion of Money, Cloaths, or Victuals; neither let any Man, whom you meet, delay or hinder you in your Journey, by unneceffary Ceremonies, or entring into Difcourse about any worldly Bufinefs. 5. When ye go first into any House, give your Bleffing to the Family, and pray for the Profperity of all that dwell the Lord of the harveft, that he would fend forth labourers into his harvest. 3 Go your ways: Behold, I fend you forth as lambs among wolves: 4 Carry neither purfe, nor fcrip, nor fhoes: and falute no man by the way. 5 And into whatfoever house ye enter, firft fay, Peace be to this house. 6 And if the fon of peace be there, your peace fhall rest upon it if not, it fhall turn to you again. |