the truth of the Christian religion; namely, resurrection and exaltation, as he had done the miracles wrought by Christ and his before in his state of humiliation, to show apostles; for what assurance can we have the continuance of his former affection to of the reality of these miracles, but from them, and that the change of his condition our senses; therefore says our Saviour, If had wrought no change in his affection toye believe not me, yet believe the works that I do: wards his despised members: but those that that is, the miracles which I have wrought were his brethren before, in the time of his before your eyes. Now as my senses tell abasement, are so still after his exaltation me that Christ's miracles were true, so and advancement. Observe lastly, The they assure me that the doctrine of tran- place where Christ chooses to meet with substantiation is false. From the whole note, and speak to his disciples, not in Jerusa That the Lord Jesus Christ, by the omni- lem, but in Galilee. I go before them into potent power of his Godhead, revived and Galilee, there shall they see me. Jerusalem rose again from the dead, to the terror and was not a forsaken place, a people abanconsternation of his enemies, and the un-doned to destruction: Christ would not show speakable joy and consolation of believers. 8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy, and did run to bring his disciples word. 9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. 10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

Observe here, 1. What haste and speed these holy women make to carry the news of Christ's resurrection to the apostles: such as find and feel their hearts grieved for the absence and want of Christ, will be very ready to comfort such as are in the

himself openly to them, but Galilee was a place where Christ's ministry was more acceptable. Such places wherein Christ is most welcome to preach, shall be most honoured with his presence. In Galilee shall they see me.

11 Now, When they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. 12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers. 13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. 14 And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure and did as they were taught: and you. 15 So they took the money, this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

same condition. O how glad are these holy women to carry the good news of their Lord's resurrection to the heart-broken disciples. Observe, 2. How these holy women hastened, in obedience to the angel's com- Observe here, 1. How the priests and mand, to fell the disciples to meet with elders endeavour by a notorious lie to hinChrist in the way. Such as obey the direc- der the belief of our Lord's resurrection; tions of God's ministers, seeking Christ in they suborn and bribe the soldiers to say his own way and means, shall find him to that his corpse was stolen out of the grave; their comfort sooner than they expected. lies have been an old refuge which the These holy women find Christ before they enemies of Christ have all along had relooked for him: As they went to tell his dis- course unto: lying is an ancient device of ciples, Jesus met them. O happy women! Satan. But. Observe, 2. What an improwhilst they were weeping for a dead Christ, bable and unlikely lie this was, which they they find a living Jesus. Observe, 3. The put in the soldiers' mouths to vouch; Say, affectionate and loving title which Christ His disciples came and stole him away while puts upon his disciples: Tell my brethren. we slept. Frivolous excuse! carrying with He might have said, "Go tell those apos- it a most self-evident contradiction. If the tate apostles, that cowardly left me in my soldiers were asleep, how could they disdanger, that durst not own me in the high cover the disciples stealing away the body? priest's hall, that durst not come within the If awake, why did they not prevent their shadow of my cross, nor within the sight stealing it? Besides, how improbable was of my sepulchre." Not a word of this, by it that Christ's few and fearful disciples ↳ way of unbraiding them for their late should attempt to open the sepulchre guardshameful cowardice; but all words of kind-ed by soldiers! And as unlikely was it ness: Go tell my brethren. Where note, That that the soldiers should be all asleep toChrist calls his disciples brethren after his ||gether, and so fast asleep too, that the great

awakened with the noise. Infatuation is

stone at the mouth of the sepulchre should the Father, and of the Son, and of be rolled away, and not one of the soldiers the Holy Ghost; 20 Teaching them the certain consequence of desertion of to observe all things whatsoever I God. Yet observe farther, That this in- have commanded you: and, lo, I am credible falsehood finds a fast and firm with you alway, even unto the end of rooting in the belief of the Jews to this day. the world. Amen. Note thence, That it is a righteous thing with God to deliver up those to strong delusions, even to the believing of notorious lies, who will not yield their assent to divine truths upon the clearest evidence, and most convincing demonstration. How strange is it, that such a falsehood as this should find belief among the Jews to this day! But where truth is obstinately rejected, a lie, though never so improbable, is received.

16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. The meeting of our Saviour and his apostles upon a mountain in Galilee, was an appointed and general meeting. The mountain is supposed to be that near Capernaum, where he made that famous sermon, called, The sermon on the mount: and the meeting is supposed to be appointed as a general rendezvous, for confirming the faith of all his disciples in the certainty of his resurrection. Possibly our Lord appointed this place in Galilee, so far from Jerusalem, that his disciples might without danger come thither to see their Saviour alive again, after his crucifixion. This is judged to be that famous appearance of which St. Paul speaks, 1 Cor. xv. 6. When he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once. And those who saw him worshipped him, who before had doubted. Learn hence,

Observe here, 1. A power asserted. 2. An authority delegated. 3. A command enjoined. 4. A promise subjoined. Observe, 1. A power and authority asserted by our Saviour, as belonging to himself: All power is given unto me both in heaven and in earth. (1.) In heaven, which comprehends a power of sending the Holy Ghost; a power over the angels and all the hosts of heaven, and a power to dispose of heaven to all that shall

believe in him. (2.) In earth, which comprehends a power to gather a church out of all nations, and authority to rule, govern, and defend the same against all its enemies. Learn hence, That all power and authority concerning the church of God was given unto Christ and conferred upon him, upon the account of his meritorious death and triumphant resurrection. All power is given unto me; that is, as Mediator: but this power was inherent in him as God from all eternity. Observe, 2. This power delegated by Christ to his apostles: Go ye, there fore, and teach and baptize all nations: instructing them to observe all things whatsoever I command you. Here is a threefold power delegated by Christ to his apostles: (1.) To congregate and gather a church, a Christian church, out of all the heathen nations throughout the world. Before he had confined them only to Israel; now they must travel from country to country, and proselyte the heathen nations, which be fore had been taught of the devil, and were led away by his oracles and delusions. Go, and disciple all nations, without any distincand make the gospel-church as large as tion of country, sex, or age, whatsoever, you can. Thence note, That the apostles mission from Christ to go amongst the paand first planters of the gospel had a comgan Gentiles, without limitation; and were not to take up their settled residence in any one nation, but to travel from country to mysteries of the gospel. The second branch country, instructing them in the saving of their power was to baptize in the name of the Holy Trinity: Baptizing in the name of the Father, und of the Son, and of the 18 And Jesus came and spake un- Holy Ghost. Where observe, That all adult to them, saying, All power is given and grown persons are to be first taught unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 it follows not from hence, that the children and instructed before they be baptized. But Go ye, therefore, and teach all na- of such parents may not be baptized before tions, baptizing them in the name of || they are taught: for the apostles were to

That when faith is once satisfied, and sees

Christ to be God, it engages the soul to worship him. Divine worship is due to Christ upon the account of his divine nature. No creature can be the object of divine worship, therefore they that worship Christ by praying to him, and yet deny him to be God, are certainly idolaters. If Christ had had an angelic nature, that had not made him capable of divine worship: for adoration is founded only in Divinity, and what is but human or angelical is not

adorable.

baptize all nations, of which children are || preaching of the gospel is a chief part of the chief, if not the chiefest part. Besides, the minister's work, and no apostle thought those that were proselyted to the Jewish religion, though before they were circumcised themselves they were instructed in the law of God; yet when they are circumcised themselves, their children were not denied circumcision at eight days old. In like manner we have no reason to deny the children of baptized parents, who are in covenant themselves, the sign and seal of the covenant, which is baptism. God having assured his people that he will be the God of them and of their seed. If this privilege be denied, the children of Christian parents are in a worse condition than the children of the Jews; and consequently infants are in a worse condition since Christ's coming, than they were before, and the privileges of those that live under the gospel are straiter and narrower than those that lived under the law. Observe farther, In whose name persons are to be baptized: In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Where we have a profession of our belief in the Holy Trinity, a dedication of the person to the worship and service of the Holy Trinity, and a stipulation or covenantpromise that we will continue faithful in the service of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to our lives' end. The third branch of the power which Christ delegated to his apostles, was by their ministry to press upon all their converts an universal observance of, and obedience to, all his commands; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever Icommand you. Where note, 1. That preaching is the ordinary and instituted means to convert nations unto God. 2. That preaching must not only go before baptism, but follow after it. Obedience must be pressed upon, and practised by, all these that enter into covenant with God; otherwise they lie under a great condemnation. 3. That

himself above that duty. 4. As the apostles did not, so the ministers of Christ ought not to teach any thing but what Christ commands them. 5. As they are to teach what Christ commands them, so they are to teach all things whatsoever Christ commands them: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I command you. Lastly, observe the promise enjoined: Lo, I am with you always to the end of the world. That is, I am and will be with you and your successors, lawfully called by my power and authority, by the blessing and assistance of my Holy Spirit. I will be with you to uphold my own ordinance, to protect, and encourage, and reward you, and all your successors, in the faithful discharge of your trust; and this not for a day, a year, or an age, but to the end and consummation of all ages. Learn thence, That the ministry of the word, and administration of the sacraments, are a standing and perpetual ordinance, to continue in the Christian church throughout all ages. Learn, 2. That all the faithful ministers of Christ, in what part of the world soever God shall cast their lot, and in what time soever they shall happen to live, may comfortably expect Christ's gracious presence with their persons, and his blessing upon their endeavours. Lo, I am with you, I am always with you, and to the end of the world I will be with you. Thanks be to Christ for the gracious promise of his spiritual and perpetual presence with his ministers to the end of the world. May this promise cause us to gird up the loins of our minds, increase our diligence, zeal, and fervour, accounting no labour too great, no service too much, no sufferings too severe, so that we may but finish our course with joy, and fulfil the ministry we are engaged in! Amen. Amen.

THE

HOLY GOSPEL

ACCORDING TO

SAINT MARK.
.

SAINT MARK, the writer of this compendious history of our blessed Saviour's life and death, was the disciple and companion of St. Peter; and some affirm, that he wrote his Gospel from St. Peter's mouth; it being dictated by St. Peter, and indited by the Holy Ghost. But since we are assured that the Spirit of God indited the book, we need not trouble ourselves to find out whose hand it was that held the pen."