68 SECT. 31. IV. 52 CHRIST'S PREACHING IN THE SYNAGOGUE AT NAZARETH. down, his servants met hin, son liveth. him, Yesterday at the seventh Now the day after he had taken his leave of Jesus, as he was going down to Capernaum, 51 And as he was now going some of his servants met him on the road, eager to bring him such acceptable news, and and told him, saying, Thy told [him] saying, Thy son who was so dangerously ill, is now recovered. And therefore, JOHN to compare it with the account that Jesus gave, he presently inquired of them, what was the hour when he began to the hour when he began to mend: and they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour, or amend. And they said unto at one in the afternoon, the fever left him at once, and he grew well on a sudden. The hour the fever left him. father therefore knew that [it was] at the very hour in which Jesus said to him, Thy son is 53 So the father knew that 53 recovered: and when he came to reflect on the astonishing circumstances of the case, he which Jesus said unto him, and his whole family believed, that the person by whom so convincing and beneficent a Thy son liveth: and himself miracle was wrought, must be not only, as he before supposed, some great prophet, but believed, and his whole house. 54 JOHN IV. even the Messiah himself. it was at the same hour in the 54 This is again the second he was come out of Judea into This is again the second miracle which Jesus performed at Cana; and he wrought it when miracle that Jesus did, when he came out of Judea into Galilee; a circumstance in which it agreed with the former. Galilee. IMPROVEMENT. How unreasonable are the passions and prejudices of mankind; and this in particular, that a prophet should have no honour in his own country! One would have imagined, that Jesus at least, free as he was from all the 44 follies of childhood and youth, should have been an exception; nay, indeed, that he should have been peculiarly honoured there, where his early wisdom and piety could not but be observed. 43 Our Lord however intended them a visit, even at Nazareth; and it is the duty of his ministers to bear their testimony, whether men will hear, or whether they will forbear. Yet should they learn of their great Master to study as much as they can to obviate those prejudices which might prevent their usefulness, and should use the most prudent and gentle methods to vanquish them. Such was this beneficial miracle of our Lord; which may afford us many particulars worthy of our notice. 47 With what affection and zeal does this tender parent apply to Christ, on the sickness of his child! Let us not be less importunate, when soliciting spiritual blessings in behalf of our dear offspring and so much the rather, as 49 their lives are so precarious, and we know not how soon these lovely flowers may be cut down, and all further petitions for them be for ever superseded. Our Lord, while at a distance from the patient, wrought and perfected the cure. And has he not still the same divine power, though he does not exert it in the same miraculous way? Let not his bodily absence abate our faith, while praying for others, or for ourselves. Salvation now came to this house, and blessings infinitely more valuable than noble blood, or ample possessions, or royal favour, or recovered health could give; for the cure wrought on the body of one, was a means of producing faith in the hearts of all. Blessed Jesus! thy power was no less employed in the latter, than in the former. Oh may that power work in such a manner on our souls, as that we may all be disposed cordially to receive thee, and cheerfully to venture our eternal all upon thee! May we and our houses concur in so wise and happy a resolution; and, not insisting upon evidence beyond what thy gracious wisdom has thought fit to give 48 us, may we candidly receive the light we have, and faithfully improve it, so as to be at length entitled to the blessedness of those who have not seen, and yet have believed! (John xx. 29.) SECTION XXXII. Christ preaching at Nazareth, is at first admired, but immediately after rejected; the people there making an attempt upon his life, he leaves LUKE IV. 14. SECT. IT has already been observed, that after John the Baptist was imprisoned, and Jesus was AND Jesus returned in the acquainted with it, he left Judea, and returned into Galilee; and from what follows it power of the Spirit into Gali lee and there went out a will be plainly seen, that he went thither under the guidance, and in the power of the fame of him through all the LUKE Spirit; for as a mighty impulse on his own mind determined him to undertake the jour- region round about. 14 ney, so an amazing divine energy attended his progress through it; and his renown was spread abroad, as soon as he arrived in Galilee, and went through all the neighbouring IV. 15 region. And, ready to embrace all opportunities that offered to instruct the people, he 15 And he taught in their went from place to place, and taught in their synagogues, with universal admiration and synagogues, being glorified applause.b of all. reth, where he had been 16 And having thus prepared his way, he came at length to Nazareth, where it has been 16 And he came to Nazaobserved before (Matt. ii. 23; and Luke ii. 51.) that he was educated; and, according to brought up: and, as his cus his custom, which he constantly observed there and elsewhere, he entered into the synagogue tom was, he went into the on the sabbath-day; and, out of regard to the high reputation he had lately gained, being day, and stood up for to read. desired by the ruler of it to officiate, he stood up to read the Scriptures, which made a con- 17 And there was delivered stant part of their public worship. (See Acts xv. 21.) 17 synagogue on the sabbath unto him the book of the pro And the book of Isaiah the prophet was delivered to him, a paragraph of the law having phet Esaias. And when he been read before; and unrolling the volume of the book, he found that place of it, (Isa. Ixi. had opened the book, he found the place where it was writ 18 1-3.) where it was written to this effect,e "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me in an abun- ten, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is dant degree for the important purpose to which he hath anointed me, and solemnly set me upon me, because he hath apart; and important indeed it is, [for] he hath sent me to preach good news to the poor anointed me to preach the and afflicted,s to heal those whose hearts are broken with sorrow, to proclaim free dismission sent me to heal the broken cured the patient at a distance, and probably was hitherto in this respect unequalled. h A circumstance in which it agreed with the former.] Compare John i. 43. and ii. 1. That the words must be taken with such a limitation, evidently appears from what John had before said of the many miracles which Christ had already wrought elsewhere. See John ii. 23. and iii. 2. a In the power of the Spirit. It seems a very wild thought of Mr. Fleming's, that this intimates that Christ was transported through the air hither, after his temptation in the wilderness. See Flem. Christol, vol. ii. p. 315. gospel to the poor; he hath thus be recollected: they were, as the copies of the Old Testament in the Jewish synagogues now are, long scrolls of parchment, that were rolled upon two sticks. The reader may see an excellent account of them in Mr. Jer. Jones's Vindication of St. Matthew's Gospel, chap. xv. p. 151-170. And this form of their book shows, in the most convincing manner, how improbable such transpositions are as those learned harmonizers. Mr. Whiston and Mr. Manne, make the foundation of their respective hypotheses. e It was written to this effect.] It is evident that the quotation, as it stands here, does neither exactly agree with the Hebrew nor the Sepb. With universal applause ; dokaČοuevos Vπо πaνry.] Our translation, tuagint. The many old copies in which that clause, tagaotại TOYS Our which has rendered it, being glorified of all, is indeed more literal: but TeтPIμLLEVOUS, TNY Kapdiay, to heal the broken-hearted, is wanting, has into glorify a preacher is an uncommon phrase in English; and that I have clined many learned critics, with Grotius, to suppose it added from the used is so plainly equivalent to the other in signification, that I hope it Hebrew: but one would rather conclude that Christ read the passage as may be allowed as very just, it was, and that these words night accidentally be dropped by some early transcriber. c Being desired by the ruler of it to officiate.] One cannot but be amazed at the ignorance of Suidas, in arguing from hence that Christ was a priest. It is well known that any man of gravity and reputation might, at the request of the ruler, officiate on such occasions. (Compare Acts xiii. 15.) d Unrolling the volume of the book.] So avanтukas properly signifies; and I choose to retain it, that the form of the books then used may For the purpose to which he hath anointed me: ov eveKey expire μe.] It is very difficult to explain the connexion of the two clauses in this passage, if we render ou eveKey either because, or therefore; and I cannot recollect that it ever signifies because. But the translation I propose seems to remove the difficulty. See Acts xix. 32. g Poor and afflicted.] Grotius well observes that it is probable some CHRIST'S PREACHING IN THE SYNAGOGUE AT NAZARETH. 69 ing of sight to the blind, to rearted, to preach deliverance to wretched captives, even the recovery of sight to them that are blind in prison; [and] to set SECT. to the captives, and recover, those at liberty who are bruised with the heavy load of their fetters: In a word, to pro- 32. set at liberty them that are claim, as by the sound of a trumpet, that welcome year of the Lord, which the year of 19 To preach the acceptable jubilee, pleasing and grateful as it is, can but imperfectly represent, though debts are then LUKE forgiven, and slaves released, and inheritances restored to their original owners." bruised, year of the Lord. minister, and sat down. And 30 And he closed the book, And having rolled up the book, which was a long scroll of parchment, he delivered it to 20 and he gave it again to the the servant of the synagogue, whose proper office it was to take care of it; and then, the eyes of them that were in according to the custom of the Jewish rabbies, sat down to preach; (see Matt. v. 1. xxiii. the synagogue were fastened 2, 3. xxvi. 55. and John viii. 2.) and the eyes of all in the synagogue were attentively fixed upon him, as they were very curious to know what he would say on a scripture which seemed so plainly to refer to the Messiah. on him. 21 And he began to say unture fulfilled in your ears. And he began to speak at large from this excellent and suitable passage; and the main 21 to them. This day is this scrip- tendency and purport of his discourse was to say to them, To-day this scripture I have now been reading is remarkably fulfilled in your hearing; for I am the person foretold under this character, and sent with such ample powers to fulfil these purposes of the Divine mercy. 22 And all bare him wit gracious words which pro And, strong as their prejudices were against him, they all, by their very countenances, 22 ness, and wondered at the (see Job xxix. 11.) bore their testimony to him as a most excellent preacher, and were ceeded out of his mouth. And astonished at those graceful as well as comfortable words' which proceeded out of his mouth; they said, is not this Joseph's so that they could not forbear saying to each other, even while he spoke, Is not this he that was brought up among us, the son of Joseph the carpenter? And if it be, how is it possible that a man of so mean an education should be able to discourse thus excellently well? 23 And he said unto them, We will surely say unto me also here in thy country. say unto you, No prophet is in the days of Elias, when the years and six months, when And he said to them, further, You will undoubtedly say to me in the words of that com- 23 this proverb, Physician, heal mon proverb, Physician, cure thyself; [and] for the satisfaction of thy own relations and thyself: whatsoever we have neighbours, if thou art really so extraordinary a person, do also here, at home in thine own heard done in Capernaum, do country, those miraculous works which, as we have heard, were done at Capernaum and else24 And he said, Verily I where. But to expose the vanity of this suggestion, he went on and said, Verily, I say 24 accepted in his own country. unto you, that no prophet is acceptable in his own country, (compare John iv. 44. p. 67.) and therefore I know that you who have been acquainted with me from my infancy, will, through envy and prejudice, refuse me an opportunity of working such miracles, and 25 But I tell you of a truth, would indeed be still as obstinate and unbelieving as before, if you should see them. But 25 Many widows were in Israel let it be remembered by you, that God sometimes punishes men for this unreasonable heaven was shut up three temper, by directing his prophets to confer those favours on strangers, of which their great famine was throughout Countrymen and neighbours have rendered themselves so unworthy. For thus I tell you as a certain truth, which well deserves your consideration, that there were many poor widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was, as it were, shut up for three years and six months," so that there was no rain, and a great famine prevailed in all the 26 But unto none of them land: And yet Elijah was sent to none of them with a miraculous supply of meal and oil, 26 Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto but to a widow woman at Sarepta ; [a city] of the Gentiles, in the country of Sidon. (1 Kings a woman that was a widow. xvii. 9.) And there were also many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; yet 27 in Israel in the time of Eli- none of them was miraculously cleansed, but that singular favour was bestowed on Naaman sens the prophet; and none of the Syrian, a Gentile, and one of a hostile nation. (2 Kings v. 14.) Presume not therethen was cleansed, saving fore on your being my countrymen and neighbours, so as on that account to reject my Naaman the Syrian. message, lest you provoke God to send those blessings to strangers, and even to Gentiles, of which such infidelity and gratitude would render you unworthy. all the land; was Elias sent, save unto 27 And many lepers were 28 And all they in the Nothing could be more disagreeable to them than such an intimation: and all that were 28 Synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with the most outrageous fury: wrath, And rising up at once, in a tumultuous manner, without any reverence to the place or 29 29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led day, or any sense of justice or common humanity, they violently cast him out of the synahim unto the brow of the hill gogue, and out of the city too; and brought him to the very brow of the mountain on which Sight to them that are blind, and to set those at liberty who are bred.) It is beautifully observed by the judicious Mr. Cradock, in his excellent book On the Evangelists, that the former clause seems an allusion to the wretched state of those prisoners who, according to the Inhuman custom still retained in the eastern countries, had their eyes Put our and with regard to such as these, this great Deliverer is represented as restoring them, a work far beyond all human power. See Cradock's Harm. p. 69.-I take them to be the same with those who are spoken of in the next clause as bruised with the weight of their fetters; for it is plain that even blind captives were sometimes loaded with them; as was the case with Samson, Judges xvi. 21. and with Zedekiah, 2 Kings xxv. 7. iThat welcome year of the Lord.] It is strange that any ancient or modern writers should argue from hence that Christ's ministry lasted but one year, or a little more. One might as well plead, from 2 Cor. 2. that the day of salvation included but one natural day. Here is a plain allusion to the jubilee; compare Lev. xxv. 9, 10. and Psal. lxxxix. 15. A scripture which seemed so plainly to refer to the Messiah.] Though many commentators of note apply Isa. Ixi. 1. to the good news of the dismission of the Jews from Babylon, I refer it to the impartial reader to judge whether it be not much inore probable, that ver. 4, 5, 6, (where the prophet speaks of repairing the waste cities, planting vineyards, &c.) may be either meant in a spiritual sense, or literally predict the temporal prosperity of the church atter the conversion of the Jews, than that Christ should mistake the true sense of the text, or build his argument on a mere allusion. See Dr. Sykes's Vindication of Christianity, p. 259. and Jeffery's True Grounds, p. 120. Astonished at those graceful words.] The phrase in the original, Ayous Tns Xaperos, literally signifies words of grace; which, it is probable, may refer to the agreeable manner of Christ's discourse, as well as to the matter of it: and as they could not but take notice of the majesty and grace with which he spoke, so it must naturally fill them with astonishment, considering the meanness of his birth and education; see Elsner, in loc. mAt Capernaum and elsewhere.] It is strange that Dr. Clarke and Plany others should lay so much stress as they do on this, as an argu ment to prove that this visit to Nazareth was made after that to Caper- n The heaven was shut up for three years and six months.] This is o None of them was cleansed but Naaman the Syrian.] Of the force of the particle et un here, and in some other remarkable places, see the note on John xvii. 12. 179. IV. 70 CHRIST'S VISIT TO CAPERNAUM. headlong. SECT. their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong, and dash him to pieces. But whereon their city was built, 32. Jesus, when he had permitted their madness to go thus far, confounded their sight in that they might cast him down such a miraculous manner, that he passed through the midst of them unknown,P and went away to the neighbouring city of Capernaum, where he abode for some time. LUKE Ver. 16 17 IMPROVEMENT. 30 But he, passing through the midst of them, went his way. WE see that it was the custom of our blessed Saviour to frequent the synagogues every sabbath-day: how well therefore does it become his servants to be constant in their attendance on public ordinances; especially since those of the gospel are in many respects so much nobler than any which the Mosaic institution would admit! In the synagogues the Scriptures were constantly read; and it is matter of pleasing reflection, that in all ages of the Christian church, the reading of them hath usually been made a part of the service in most of its solemn assemblies. Let it still be so with us, for this reason, among others, that so glorious a testimony to the genuineness of Scripture may not be impaired in our hands, but transmitted to those that shall arise after us. And surely the Old Testament, as well as the New, deserves our attentive perusal; in which, if we are not strangely negligent, or strangely prejudiced, we must often meet with remarkable prophecies of Christ shining with a pleasing lustre, like lights in a dark place. (2 Pet. i. 19.) How amiable a view of him is given in that 18, 19 which he now opened! Let us seriously attend to it. It is a moving representation that is here made of the deplorable state in which the gospel finds us! The helpless prisoners of divine justice, the wretched captives of Satan, stripped and wounded, the eyes of our understanding blinded, and the powers of our souls enfeebled, and, as it were, bruised with those chains which prejudice and vice have fastened upon them! But in these miserable circumstances, Jesus appears to open the doors of our prison, to strike off our fetters, and even to restore our sight. He comes to enrich our impoverished souls, and to preach a far better jubilee than Moses could proclaim; the free forgiveness of all our sins, and the recovery of an inheritance of eternal glory. Surely it should be to us a most acceptable time. Blessed are the people that know this joyful sound; they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance! (Psal. lxxxix. 15.) 21, 22 20 In some sense this instructive and comfortable scripture is this day fulfilled in our ears likewise. Let us also bear our testimony to the gracious words of this welcome messenger, whom God hath anointed for such happy purposes! One would have imagined that while the eyes of his auditors were fixed upon him, their souls should have drank in his doctrine, as the thirsty earth sucks up the rain, and that every heart should have been open to embrace him. But, Ó blessed Jesus, while thou art preaching these glad tidings of great joy, what a return dost 28, 29 thou find! Thou art ungratefully rejected, thou art impiously assaulted; and had their rage and malice been able to prevail, the joyful sound would have died into empty air as soon as it began, and this thy first sermon at Nazareth had been thy last. Thus disdainfully art thou still rejected by multitudes who still hear the same message echoing from thy word. And is there not a malignity in the hearts of sinners which might lead those of our own days to the outrageous wickedness of these Nazarenes, were their opportunities the same, rather than they would bow their stubborn hearts to the obedience of faith? But while they are crucifying thee afresh by their sins, and putting thee to open shame, may we honour thee as the Son of God, the Saviour of men; and labour by the ardour of our love, and the steadiness of our obedience, in some measure to balance the ingratitude of those who, while they are opposing thee, are destroying themselves! IV. 14 SECTION XXXIII. Christ goes to Capernaum, and teaches in the synagogue there with great acceptance; and calls Peter and Andrew, and James and John, to a MATT. iv. 13. SECT. AND Jesus, leaving Nazareth, from whence he was expelled and driven out in the un- AND leaving Nazareth, he 33. grateful manner that was before described, came and dwelt for a while at Capernaum, which came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea was a considerable city of Galilee, that lay on the sea-coast, even on the northern shore of coast, in the borders of ZabuMATT. the lake of Gennesareth, in the confines of Zebulon and Naphtali; and from thence he lon and Nephthalim: made several small excursions to visit the neighbouring places. And this was ordered by 14 That it might be fulfilled a special Divine Providence, that what was said by the prophet Isaiah (chap. ix. 1, 2.) which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 15 might be fulfilled, When, speaking of the land of Zebulon and the land of Naphtali, by the 15 The land of Zabulon, way of the sea, and the country about those parts of Jordan, which is called by the general by the way of the sea, beyond and the land of Nephthalim, name of Galilee of the Gentiles, (because so many Gentiles were early settled there, and Jordan, Galilee of the Genhad filled it with a variety of superstitions,) he says, "That though God had once made tiles; these nations vile, yet he would hereafter render them glorious; since even there, by the to them which sat in the 16 settlement and preaching of the Messiah among them, The people that sat in darkness saw 16 The people which sat in (that is, should surely see) a great and glorious light, to disperse that ignorance and vice darkness saw great light and which before clouded them; and, even to them that sat miserable and helpless in the dark region and shadow of death region and gloomy shadow of death itself, in the most melancholy and the most dangerous light is sprung up. condition, light has remarkably sprung up, to cheer their hearts, and guide them into the 17 ways of peace and happiness.' e And from that time of his departure into Galilee, Jesus began to preach in all the places 17 From that time Jesus P Passed through the midst of them unknown.] Whether the miracle lay in rendering himself entirely invisible, or in putting on some other form, or in affecting their eyes or minds in such a manner that they should not know him, we cannot certainly determine: but it seems evident that there was something miraculous in the case. Compare John viii. 59. Luke xxiv. 16. and 2 Kings vi. 18-20. a That what was said by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled.] The com- b About those parts of Jordan.]. That repay sometimes has this sig d Though God had made them vile, yet he would hereafter render thein glorious.] I follow Mr. Mede's just and beautiful version and interpretation of Isa. ix. 1. See Mede's Works, p. 101, 102, and Jef fery's Review, p. 125, 126. where that interpretation is both vindicated and improved: and I see no reason to doubt that it is originally meant of the illumination and honour these afflicted countries should receive by the presence and preaching of Christ. e Light has sprung up.] The heathen writers represented the arrival of some public benefactor in a place, as a new light sprung up in the midst of darkness. See Elsner, Observ, vol. i. p. 19. f From that time of his departure into Galilee.] It is but just before that Matthew speaks of Christ's departure into Galilee, (ver. 12.) and it is much more probable that he refers in general to this, than to the time of his leaving Nazareth, (which he has mentioned in ver. 13.) as it is evident from Luke iv. 14, 15. and John iv. 43-45, that Christ began to preach in the synagogues of Galilee before he went to Nazareth. And thus I might have introduced this text as parallel to Mark 1. 15, but that I would avoid as much as possible breaking the thread of the nar ration; compare notes b and c, in § 31. p. 67.-The attentive reader will easily perceive that I suppose our Lord made only one tour about Galilee in the four or five last months preceding his second passover, of which Matthew gives a general account below, Matt. iv. 23-25. 36. Nor can I see that Sir Isaac Newton had any just reason to conclude it a second circuit quite distinct from the former. It is true indeed that our Lord is heaven is at hand. days. word was with power. PETER AND ANDREW, JAMES AND JOHN, CALLED BY JESUS. IV. 71 began to preach, and to say, that he came to, in a more public manner, and to say, Repent, and turn unto the Lord, for SECT. Repent: for the kingdom of he is now fulfilling his ancient promises, and the kingdom of heaven is at hand.s And this 33. Luke iv. 31. And he was the doctrine which he was teaching them during the time of his abode at Capernaum, taught them on the sabbath and this he made the subject of his preaching in their synagogue on the sabbath-days; not LUKE being discouraged by the ill usage that he met with at Nazareth upon his preaching of the 32 And they were astonish- same doctrine there. And they were powerfully struck, and very much affected with his 32 ed at his doctrine: for his doctrine; for his word was attended with an air of authority and majesty, which incomparably exceeded that low and servile manner of preaching which the scribes and Pharisees commonly used in retailing their precarious traditions and insipid comments to the people. And it was about this time that, as Jesus was walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two MARK walked by the sea of Galilee, brethren, that have been already mentioned, Simon, who was also called Peter, and Andrew [called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for by their occupation they were fishers. And after 17 the sea; for they were fishers. Some circumstances, an account of which will presently be given, (sect. 34.) Jesus said to them, Come after me, and from henceforth attend me constantly in the course of my them, Come ye after me, and ministry, and I will make you to become fishers of men, and give you such abundant sucI will make you to become cess in your ministry, that the number of souls converted by you shall be greater than fishers of men. [Matt. iv. 19.] 18 And straightway they that of the fish you have been used to catch. And they, being struck with a very won- 18 forsook their nets, and follow derful miracle, the particulars of which will presently be related, immediately forsook their nets, though the fishing trade was all they had to depend upon in life, and followed Mark i. 16. Now as [Jesus] he saw [two brethren] Simon his brother casting a net into ed him. [Matt. iv. 20.) 19 And when he had gone [other two brethren] James the ship [with Zebedee their him. And going a little way from thence, he saw two other brethren, James the son of Zebedee, 19 a little farther thence, he saw and John his brother; and they were in a ship by the sea-side, with Zebedee their father, the son of Zeberlee, and John employed in mending their nets, which had been broken by the vast draught of fishes they his brother, who also were in had taken just before. And he immediately applied to them, as he had done before to 20 father] mending their nets. Peter and Andrew, and called them to follow him: and they no sooner had received his [Matt. iv. 21.] 20 And straightway he call orders, but presently they left their father Zebedee with the hired servants in the ship, and, ed them: and they [imme in consequence of the secret energy which attended that call, they joined with Peter and diately left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired Andrew, and with the greatest cheerfulness and readiness went after him, being deterservants, and went after him. mined to continue with him as his stated attendants: and they were all afterwards [Matt. iv. 21, 22.] honoured with extraordinary favours from their Master; especially John, who was his bosom friend, and came to be called, by way of eminence, The disciple whom Jesus loved. IMPROVEMENT. 31 I. IV. SUCH was the zeal and courage of our blessed Redeemer, that he no sooner had been persecuted and assaulted LUKE at Nazareth, but he went and preached in the synagogue at Capernaum. Thus may all the opposition that we meet with in the course of our duty animate, rather than overbear, our resolution in performing it! How happy was the land of Zebulon and Naphtali in the visits of such a guest! And may we not add too, MATT. how happy is our own land in being visited by the everlasting gospel, which is now much more clearly discovered IV. to us than it was to these coasts while Christ began to open his ministry among their inhabitants. 15 In us is this prophecy of Isaiah eminently fulfilled. We but a few ages ago sat in darkness; and behold we 16 see a great light. Our country, amidst all the advantages of its soil and situation, was, in a spiritual sense, the region and the shadow of death; but the Sun of Righteousness is risen upon us, nor do we only behold his rising beams, but his meridian lustre. May we not be so ungrateful as obstinately to shut our eyes against it, lest the valley of vision, and Emanuel's land, should on the whole prove to us the land of destruction, and the valley of death itself! IV. MARK That this may never be our case, let us diligently attend to this divine Teacher, who speaks with such authority, LUKE and whose words are so weighty and powerful. May we feel the energy and authority of them! May they call us off from every undue attachment to the business or the pleasures of life! And if he should ever see fit to try 32 us, as he did these his servants, with a command to forsake our nearest relations, and our earthly all, for his service, let us do it with pleasure; remembering on the one hand, that he who loves father or mother, wife or children, houses or lands, more than Christ, not worthy of him; and on the other hand, that he who abandons 17 these engagements for his sake, shall receive an hundred-fold now in this time, and in the world to come life everlasting. (Matt. x. 37. and Mark x. 29, 30.) SECTION XXXIV. I. St. Luke gives a more particular account of a miraculous draught of fishes, by which Peter and his three partners were prevailed upon statedly SECT. to follow Christ. Luke v. 1-11. AND it came to pass, that, as THE calling of those four celebrated apostles, Peter and Andrew, and James and John, was briefly related above; but, considering the important part which most of them bear 1 said, Matt. iv. 13. after leaving Nazareth, to have come and dwelt at Capernaum: but if that should be allowed to imply his making this the place of his more stated residence, so as to call it his home, it is evidently intimated that he did not stay long in it at first; and shortly after it is spoken of only as one of the cities in which he was sent to preach, Mark 1.38. Nor can I find that, after he began to preach, he ever continued long in any one place. The kingdom of heaven is at hand.] See note h, on Matt. iii. 2, p. 41. h Powerfully struck.] See Luke ii. 47, 48. note e, p. 40. i Two brethren, that have been already mentioned.] John gives us an account (chap. i. 40-42. 21.) that Andrew and Simon had before been called to the knowledge of Christ upon the banks of Jordan, and that the name of Peter had been then given to Simon: and it is probable that, from their first acquaintance with him, they followed Jesus for some time, and went with him to Cana and Capernaum, (John ii. 2, 12. $ 23, 24.) and afterwards to Jerusalem, (John ii, 13, 17. 24.) and tarried with him while he continued in Judea. (John iii. 22.5 27.) But when the Pharisees grew jealous of the number of his followers, and Herod was offended at the popularity of John, we may suppose, that Jesus at his return to Galilee might think it prudent to dismiss his disciples for a time, till he himself had gone about from place to place to preach the gospel, and had informed the people more particularly of the character of his person, and the nature of his doctrine: or possibly they might leave him at the time when the Samaritans prevailed upon him to go with them to their city, (John iv. 40. 30.) for after this we read no more of his disciples being with him till he now found them at the sea of Galilee. For they no sooner were gone home but they returned k Being struck with a very wonderful miracle.] The account of this miracle (which is recorded by Luke, chap. v. 1-11.) I shall consider in the next section, and shall there give my reasons, in note a, for sup posing it happened at this time, and was not, as Mr. Whiston would have it, the occasion of another call to these disciples. But I would here observe, that besides him, some who agree with me in this particular, yet out of regard to the supposed regularity of St. Luke's narration, place this call of the four disciples after the ejection of the devil, and the cure of Peter's mother-in-law at Capernaum, and Christ's travels through Galilee, which are recorded, Matt. viii. 14, 15. iv. 23-25, and Mark i, 21-39. (§ 35, 36.) See Cradock, Le Clerc, Wells, Clarke, and L'Enfant, in their Harmonies. But they seem to have forgotten that St. Mark expressly asserts, (chap. i. 21.) that after the calling of these four disciples, they went into Capernaum, and straightway on the ensu ing sabbath he entered into the synagogue, and there cast out the devil, &c. and then (ver. 29.) forthwith when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John, and Simon's mother was cured.-Now it seems one of the most important rules for settling the harmony of the evangelists, that where any one of them has expressly asserted that he follows the order of time, we should, in regard to him, transpose others who do not assert equal exactness in 34. LUKE V. 72 34. V. 2 THE MIRACULOUS DRAUGHT OF FISHES. to hear the word of God, he SECT. in the following history, we shall here give a more particular account of it. Now it came the people pressed upon him that while Jesus continued to reside at Capernaum, when the multitude pressed stood by the lake of Gennesato pass, upon him with eagerness to hear the word of God, as he stood by the lake of Gennesareth, ret, LUKE on the banks of which he had been walking, (Mark i. 16. sect. xxxiii.) He saw too little 2 And saw two ships standing by the lake. but the fishervessels standing by the side of the lake, but with no person in them; for the fishermen, men were gone out of them, after the labour of a very unsuccessful night, were gone out of them, and were washing their and were washing their nets. 3 nets in the sea, as they stood on the shore. And entering into one of the vessels, which 3 And he entered into one belonged to Simon Peter, with whom, as well as with his brother Andrew, we have al- of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that ready seen that he had formed some acquaintance on the banks of the Jordan, while John he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat was baptizing there, (John i. 37-42. sect. xxi.) he desired him that he would put out a down, and taught the people little way from land, that he might thus avoid the crowd, and at the same time be more out of the ship. conveniently heard: and at a proper distance he sat down, and taught the multitude out of 4 8 the vessel. Launch out into the deep, draught. have toiled all the night, and down the net. multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And when he had made an end of speaking to the people, he said to Simon, Put out yet 4 Now when he had left further into the deep water, and then let down your nets into the lake for a draught of fishes. Speaking, he said unto Simon, 5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have been labouring all night, and have and let down your nets for a caught nothing nevertheless, I will let down the net, and make another trial at thy word, 5 And Simon answering 6 both in obedience to it, and in dependence on it. And accordingly when they had done said unto him, Master, we it, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes; so that their net brake in several places as they have taken nothing; never7 were drawing them up. And they beckoned to their partners James and John, who were theless at thy word I will let at some distance from them in the other vessel, to come and assist them; and they came and 6 And when they had this filled both the vessels, so that they were overloaden, and drew so much water that they done, they inclosed a great seemed ready to sink. Now Simon Peter, seeing [this, fell down before the knees of Jesus in amazement, and, And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in covered with confusion, said, Lord, what am I, that thou shouldst come into my vessel to the other ship, that they me? Let me entreat thee now to go out from me; for I am such a sinful man, O Lord,e should come and help them. And they came, and filled that I am utterly unworthy to receive and entertain thee, nor dare I to continue in the both the ships, so that they began to sink. presence of so great and holy a prophet. For this amazing proof that Jesus had now 8 When Simon Peter saw given of his power was such, that astonishment seized him and all that were with him, on it, he fell down at Jesus' 10 account of the vast draught of fishes which they had taken: And in like manner also James knees, saying, Depart from me for I am a sintul man, and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners in the trade with Simon, were struck O Lord. with wonder and amazement at the sight of this surprising miracle. And Jesus said to and all that were with him, at Simon, Do not fear; for, instead of doing thee any harm, I from this time design to employ thee in much nobler work, in which I will give thee such happy success, that thou shalt captivate men in greater abundance than those fishes which thou now hast caught. And when they had brought their vessels to land, they, (that is, first Peter and Andrew, Simon. And Jesus said unto and presently after them, James and John, who were mending their broken nets with Simon, Fear not; from henceZebedee their father, upon Christ's repeating the call,) left their vessels and nets, with the forth thou shalt catch men. fish they had taken, even all they had in the world, and followed him; being now deter- brought their ships to land, mined to attend statedly upon his ministry, that they might thus be fitted for the great him. work in which he intended to employ them. 9 11 IMPROVEMENT. 9 For he was astonished, the draught of the fishes which they had taken: 10 And so was also James and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with 11 And when they had they forsook all, and followed Ver. 10 How wonderful a choice does Jesus make of those who were to be the chief ministers in his kingdom! Surely 11 the same divine power which prevailed on these honest fishermen to leave their little all to follow him, could with equal ease have subdued the hearts of the greatest and wisest of the nation, and have engaged them to have attended him in all his progress through the country, with the exactest observance and the humblest reverence: but he chose rather to preserve the humble form in which he at first appeared, that thus he might answer the schemes of Providence, and by the weak things of the world confound them that are mighty. (1 Cor. i. 27.) 4, 5 Yet we may observe that he does not go to call them that stood all the day idle; but, on the contrary, confers this honour upon honest industry; on them that had been toiling all the night in the proper duties of their station and profession in life. Let us pursue our business with vigilance and resolution; assuring ourselves that, however mean it be, Christ will graciously accept us in it; and let us fix our dependence on his blessing, as absolutely necessary to our success. These pious fishermen let down their nets at Christ's word, and it was not in vain. How vast was that power 6 which brought such a multitude of fishes into it! but how much greater and more apparently divine was the energy which, by the ministration of one of these illiterate men, converted at once a much greater number of souls, and turned the despisers and murderers of Christ into his adorers! (See Acts ii. 41.) that particular. (See Jones's Vindication of Matthew, p. 111, 112.) This there were delightful gardens on the banks of it, which possibly might e Go out from me, for I am a sinful man. O Lord.] Peter could not but conclude there was some peculiar presence of God with a person who could perform such a miracle; and a consciousness of sin made him afraid to appear in the presence of such an one, lest some infirmity or offence should expose him to some more than ordinary punishment. (Compare Judg, vi. 22. xii. 2, and 1 Kings xvii. 18.)-It is also well known, that the ancients thought it improper and unsafe (where it could be avoided) for good men to be in the same ship with persons of an infamous character: nor would the heathens sometimes perinit the very images of their deities to be carried in the vessel with such, or even with those concerning whom there was any strong suspicion. See Elsner. Observ, vol, i. p. 202, 203. Thone shalt captivate men.] This is the exact English of (wypwv. which is so translated, 2 Tim. ii, 26. To catch implies something more of artifice than the word carries in it, or the occasion seems to require, |