*See ver. 29. gain; And John feeing him as he walk- Saviour and Redeemer of the World. 37. Upon this, the two Difciples of John immediately followed Jefus, not prefuming yet to speak to him, but defirous to obferve whither he went, that they might afterward find fome opportunity of being acquainted with him. 38. Jefus turning himself about, and fire to know where you dwell, that 39. Jefus answered I am always * Suppo- Account. See Note on Mark XV. 25. ther was 41. This Andrew running prefently The o- after, and meeting his Brother Simm, told him with great eagerness and joy, probably faying: I and one of our FellowSt John Difciples have found out the Perfon the Author whom We and the whole Nation of the Jews have long and earneftly expected; even the Meffiah, the Redeemer of If of this Gospel. 37 And the two difciples heard him fpeak, and they followed Jefus. 38 Then Jefus turned, and faw them following, and faith unto them, What feek ye? They faid unto him, Rab bi, (which is to fay, being interpreted, Mafter) where dwelleft thou? 39 He faith unto them, Come and fee. They came and faw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two which head John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and faith unto him, We have found the Meffias, which is, being interpreted, the Chrift. 42 And 42 And he brought him to Jefus. And when Jefus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the fon of Jona: Thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, a ftone. 43 The day following, Jefus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and faith unto him, Follow me. rael. Our Mafter John the Baptist directed us to him, and we are moreover convinced by his own Words, that it is certainly He. 42. Simon hearing this, and being defirous to fee Jefus; his Brother Andrew went back with him to the place where Jefus abode. And when Simon went in, Jefus looking intently upon him, said: You come now as a Stranger, only out of Curiofity to fee me; But I know both your present Difpofition of Mind, and what will be your future Course of Life: Hereafter you fhall be an Eminent Disciple of mine, and a most stedfaft Supporter and Maintainer of my Doctrine. You are now called * Simon the Son of Jonah: But hereafter you fhall be better known by the Name Cephas or Peter, which fignifies a Rock. 43. The day following, Jefus, having now began to gather Difciples, refolved to go into Galilee, the place where thofe Difciples dwelt; in pursuance of the fameWork. And accordingly finding there Philip, a Man of a fit Difpofition to believe and become his Difciple, he bad him follow Him: Which Philip immediately did; being convinced that he was indeed the Meffiah, by comparing the Circumstances of the Time, and the Expectations of the Nation, and the known Declarations of John the Baptift, with Jefus's ownWords, which were very gracious, and not without an extraordinary and Divine Authority accompanying שמעון בר יוחנא Alluding to the Signification of the Name Simon bar jonah, which fignifies only a Hearer and Learner, and one of a teachable Difpofition and prepared to receive the Divine Grace; and to that of the Name Cephas or Пerpos which fignifies a Rock; a Conftant, Patient, Perfevering Defender of the Truth, and Sufferer for it. panying them, fo as to make a fecret and ftrong Impreffion on the Mind of the Hearer. 44.45. Now Philip was a Man of Bethfaida, well known to Andrew and Peter, living in the fame Town with them. And being himself fully fatisfied with Jefus's Difcourfes, as thofe his two Friends had before been; he went presently with great Joy to Nathanael, another good Man of their Acquaintance, with whom they had often difcourfed about the Prophecies relating to the Meffiah, and of their common Hopes and Expectations of his fpeedy Appearance; and told him the happy News, that they had certainly found out the Perfon they fo earnestly defired, even the Meffiah, the Redeemer of Ifrael; and that it was Jefus of Nazareth, the Son of Jofeph. 46. Nathanael, knowing from the Prophecies, that Chrift was to be born at Bethlehem; and being moreover prejudiced with an Opinion that Nazareth, where he thought Jefus was born, was a wicked place; replied: Is it poffible that any great Prophet fhould arife out of Nazareth? How much less the Meffiah? But Philip faid; Come and talk with him your felf, and I doubt not but you will be convinced. Whereupon Nathanael, being a thoroughly honeft and well-difpofed Perfon, ready to lay afide his Prejudices, and hearken to any reasonable Information; went along with Philip. 47. Jefus feeing Nathanael coming 47 Jefus faw Natowards him, faid to those that stood thanael coming to by; Lo, here comes a plain, upright, him, and faith of fincere Man; one entirely free from all him, Behold an IfHypocrify or Wilfulness; a true Ifraelite raclite indeed, indeed, in whom is no manner of De-whom is no guile. ceit or evil Intention; an Inheritor of 3 in 48-Na the Virtues and Holinefs of our Father Abraham, as well as being one of his natural Pofterity by Birth. 48. Nathanael, hearing Jefus give this Character of Him, faid: How can you know my Heart, when you have never been at all acquainted with me, nor I believe ever once faw so much as my Face before? Jefus replied: I have long known you, though you think me fo great a ftranger to you; I faw you, when you fat under the Fig-tree, before Philip called you; And at all other times, when you knew nothing of it, I have observed the Honefty and Sincerity of your Heart. 49. Convinced by this extraordinary Evidence of Jesus's Divine Power and Knowledge, and rejoicing greatly at the Difcovery, Nathanael immediately replied: Sir, I am fully fatisfied; and do here freely, and without any further fcruple or doubt, confefs and declare; that I believe you are indeed the Son of God, the expected Meffiah, the King and Saviour of God's People. be 50. Jefus anfwered: Have you fuch high and good Thoughts of me, caufe of this One Thing, that I told you I faw and knew you in your private Retirement? Verily, you that are of this teachable Difpofition, fo ready to lay afide former Prejudices, and to yield to any reasonable Evidence, fhall have much ftronger and more convincing Arguments of my Power and Glory, than this with which you are now fatisfied. 51. Hereafter you fhall fee me work great and mighty Miracles, for the Glory of God and the Benefit of Men; so that all Things in Heaven and Earth fhall appear fubject to my Commands; and T the the Angels of God fhall themselves continually attend to execute my Will, or to declare my Power; and That fome*As par- times in a vifible and moft illuftrious ticularly at his Re furrection and Af manner. the angels of God afcending and descending upon the Son of man. cenfion. v. 43. CHA P. II. Jefus turns Water into Wine, ver. 1. Puts the Buyers and Sellers out of the Temple, ver. 13. Foretels his Death and Refurrection, ver. 19. Infincere Believers, ver. 23. I. A 2. Jefus himself alfo, being at that + See ch. i. time in Galilee, with intent to choose Difciples; was invited to the Feaft, with as many of his Difciples as had at that time begun to follow him. 3. Now it happened, that the Company being great, the Wine that was provided for the Entertainment fell fhort. Whereupon Jefus's Mother, concerned for her Friends at this folemn Occafion of rejoicing, went to Jefus privately, and told him that all theWine was out: Intimating her Defire, that as, during the time of his retired Life with his Parents, he had fometimes obferved him to exert his Divine Power, in relieving the Wants of his Friends; fo now, upon an extraordinary Occafion, he would be pleafed miraculously to af fift them. I AND the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jefus was there. 2 And both Jefus was called, and his difciples to the mar riage. 3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jefus faith unto him, They have no wine. 4 Jefus |