yet this may not be through their own fault, for Christ was so amongst his.

than his own mind. O the terrors and tortures of a guilty conscience! how great divine displeasure, than which nothing is are the anxieties of guilt, and the fears of

58 And he did not many mighty works there, because of their un-more stinging and perpetually tormenting! belief.

This sin not only locks up the heart of a sinner, but also binds up the hands of a

Saviour. Unbelief obstructed Christ's

miraculous works when on earth, and it obstructs his gracious works now in heaven. Ah! cursed unbelief! which shuts up, O sinner, thy heart, and shuts out thy Saviour, and will effectually shut thee out of heaven, and not only procure damnation, but no damnation like it! Mark xiv. 16. Christ was unable, because they were unwilling; his impotency was occasioned by their infidelity; he did not, because he would not; and that he would not, pro

ceeded from a defect in their faith, not from any deficiency in Christ's power: their unbelief bound his hands, and hindered the execution of his power.

CHAP. XIV.

3 For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife. 4 For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. 5 And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

Observe here, 1. The person that puts the holy Baptist to death; it was Herod, it vited John to preach at court, and heard was Herod the king, it was Herod that inhim gladly. 1. It was Herod Antipas, son

to that Herod who sought Christ's life, chap. ii. Cruelty runs in a blood. Herod, the murderer of John, who was the forerunner of Christ, descended from that Herod who would have murdered Christ himself. 2. It was Herod the king. Sad! The former part of this chapter gives us an account that princes, who should always be nurof the death of John the Baptist, together with sing-fathers to, should at any time be the the occasion of it, which was, his plain and faith-bloody butchers of, the prophets of God. 3. It was Herod that heard John gladly: John took the ear and the heart of Herod,

ful reproving of Herod for the uncleanness be lived in.

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and Herod binds the hands and feet of John.

T that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus; 20 how inconstant is a carnal heart to good And said unto his servants, This is resolutions! The world has oft-times an John the Baptist: he is risen from awakening influence, where it doth not the dead; and therefore mighty leave an abiding impression upon the works do shew forth themselves in minds of men. him.

Observe, 2. The cause of the Baptist's death; it was for telling a king of his crime. Herod cut off that head Observe here, 1. How strange it was whose tongue was so bold to tell him of that Herod should not hear of the fame of his faults. The persecution which the Jesus till now: all the country and ad-prophets of God fall under, is usually for joining regions had rung of his fame, only telling great men of their sins; men in Herod's court hears nothing. Miserable power are impatient of reproof, and imais that greatness which keeps princes from gine that their authority gives them a the knowledge of Jesus Christ. How plain license to transgress. Observe, 3. The it is from hence, that our Saviour came plain dealing of the Baptist in reproving not at court! He once sent indeed a mes- Herod for his crime, which in one act was sage to that fox (Herod) whose den he adultery, incest, and violence. Adultery, would not approach; teaching us, by his that he took another's wife; incest, that he example, not to affect, but to avoid, out- took his brother's wife; violence, that he ward pomp and glory. The courts of took her in spite of her husband. There princes are too often a very bad air for fore John doth not mince the matter, and piety and religion to thrive in. Observe, say, It is not convenient; but, It is not law2. The misconstruction of Herod, when he ful for thee to have her: it was not the heard of our Saviour's fame: this, says he, crown and sceptre of Herod that could is John the Baptist, whom I beheaded. daunt the faithful messenger of God. There His conscience told him he had offered an ought to meet in God's ministers both cou. unjust violence to an innocent man; and rage and impartiality. Courage, in fearing now he is afraid that he is come again to no faces; impartiality, in sparing no sins. be revenged on him for his head. A For none are so great but they are under the wicked man needs no worse tormentor || authority and command of the law of God.

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6 But when Herod's birth-day sciences. So did Herod's here; for, 4. Notwas kept, the daughter of Herodias withstanding his sorrow, he commands the danced before them, and pleased And a threefold cord tied him to this peract: he sent and beheaded John in the prison. Herod. 7 Whereupon he promised formance: 1. The conscience of his oath. with an oath to give her whatsoever See his hypocrisy; he made conscience of she would ask. 8 And she, being a rash oath, who made no scruple of real before instructed of her mother, said, murder. 2. Respect to his reputation: Give me here John Baptist's head in them that sat with him heard him promise, and will be witnesses of his levity, if he a charger. 9 And the king was did not perform. Insisting upon punctilios sorry: nevertheless for the oath's of honour, has hazarded the loss of milsake, and them which sat with him lions of souls. 3. A loathness to discontent at meat, he commanded it to be Herodias and her daughter. O vain and given her. 10 And he sent, and foolish hypocrite, who dreaded the displeasure of a wanton mistress, before the ofbeheaded John in the prison. fending of God and conscience! Observe, And his head was brought in a 5. These wicked women not only require charger, and given to the damsel: the Baptist to be beheaded, but that his and she brought it to her mother. head be brought in a charger to them. Several observables are here to be taken What a dish is here to be served up at a notice of. 1. The time of this execrable prince's table on his birth-day! a dead murder: it was upon Herod's birth-day. man's head swimming in blood! How proIt was an ancient custom among the digiously insatiable is cruelty and revenge! eastern kings to celebrate their birth-days. Herodias did not think herself safe till Pharaoh's birth-day was kept, Gen. xl. John was dead; she could not think him Herod's here; both with blood: yet these dead till his head was off; she could not personal stains do not make the practice think his head off till she had it in her unlawful. When we solemnize our birth-hand. Revenge never thinks it has made day with thankfulness to our Creator and sure enough. O how cruel is a wicked Preserver, for life and being, for protection || heart, that could take pleasure in a specand preservation to that moment, and tacle of so much horror! how was that holy commend ourselves to the care of his good head tost by impure and filthy hands! that providence for the remainder of our days, true and faithful tongue, those sacred lips, this is an act of piety and religion. But those pure eyes, those mortified cheeks, Herod's birth-day was kept with revelling are now insultingly handled by an incesand feasting, with music and dancing: not tuous harlot, and made a scorn to the that dancing, which in itself is a set, regu- drunken eyes of Herod's guests! From the lar, harmonious motion of the body, can be whole learn, 1. That neither the holiest of unlawful, any more than walking or run- prophets, nor the best of men, are more ning; although circumstances may make secure from violence than from natural it sinful. But from this disorderly banquet death. He that was sanctified in the womb, on Herod's birth-day, we learn, That great conceived and born with so much miracle, men's feasts and frolics are too often a lived with so much reverence and observaseason of much sin. Observe, 2. The in- tion, is now at midnight obscurely murstigator and promoter of the holy Baptist's dered in a close prison. Learn, 2. That it death, Herodias and her daughter: that is as true a martyrdom to suffer for duty, good man falls a sacrifice to the fury and as for faith: he dies as truly a martyr that malice, to the pride and scorn, of a lustful dies for doing his duty, as he that dies for woman, for being a rub in the way of her professing the faith and bearing witness to licentious adultery. Resolute sinners, who the truth. are mad upon their lusts, run furiously upon their gainsayers, though they be the prophets of God themselves; and resolve to bear down all opposition they meet with in the gratification of their unlawful desires. Observe, 3. With what reluctance Herod consented to this villany; the king was sorry. Wicked men oft-times sin with

12 And his disciples came and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus. 13 When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the

cities.

a troubled and disturbed conscience; they have a mighty struggle with themselves | before they commit their sins; but at last The disciples of John hearing that their their lusts get the mastery over their con-holy master was thus basely and barbą. VOL. L-10 G

sending them away to buy victuals; forgetting that Christ, who had healed the multitude miraculously, could as easily feed them miraculously, if he pleased; all things being equally easy to Omnipotence.

16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.

rously murdered, took up his dead body and || could not otherwise be relieved, but by buried it. Whence we learn, That the faithful servants of God are not ashamed of the sufferings of the saints, but will testify their respect unto them both living and dead. Observe farther, How our blessed Saviour, upon the notice of John's death, flies into the desert for the preservation of his own life. Jesus knew that his hour was not yet come, and therefore he keeps out of Herod's way. It is no cow- Observe here, 1. Our Saviour's strange ardice to fly from persecutors, when Christ answer to the disciples' motion: They need our Captain both practises it himself, and || not depart, says Christ. Need not! Why, the directs us to it, saying, When they persecute people must either feed or famish. Vicyou in one city, flee, &c. tuals they must have, and this being a desert place, there was none to be had. Surely then there was need enough. But, 2. Christ's command was more strange than his assertion: Give ye them to eat. Alas, poor disciples! they had nothing for themselves to eat: how then should they give the multitude to eat? When Christ requires of us what of ourselves we are unable to perform, it is to show us our impotency and weakness, and to provoke us to look to him that worketh all our works in as and for us.

14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

Observe here, 1. With what condolency and tender sympathy the compassionate Jesus exercised acts of mercy and compassion towards the miserable and distressed; He was moved with compassion; that is, touched with an inward sense and feeling of their sorrow: And he healed their sick. Those that came to Christ for healing, found three advantages of cure, above the power and performance of any earthly physician; to wit, certainty, bounty, and ease. Certainty, in that all comers were infallibly cured; bounty, in that they were freely cured, without charge; and ease, in that they were cured without pain.

15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.

Note here, 1. The disciples' pity towards the multitude that had long attended upon Christ's ministry in the desert: they, presuming the people hungry, having fasted all the day, request our Saviour to dismiss them, that they may procure some bodily refreshment. Learn hence, That it well becomes the ministers of Christ to respect the bodily necessities, as well as to regard the spiritual wants, of their people. As the bodily father must take care of the soul of his child, so must the spiritual father have respect to the bodily necessities of Ins children. Observe, 2. The motion which the disciples make on the behalf of the multitude: Send them away, that they may buy victuals. Here was a strong charity, but a weak faith. A strong charity, in that they desired the people's relief; but a weak faith, in that they suppose they

17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.

Note here, What a poor and slender provision the Lord of the whole earth has for his household and family; five loaves, and those barley: two fishes, and they small: teaching us, that these bodies of ours must be fed, but not pampered. Our belly must not be our master, much less our god. We read but twice that Christ made any entertainments, and both times his guests were fed with loaves and fishes; plain fare and homely diet. The end of food is to sustain nature, we stifle it with a gluttonous variety: meat was ordained for the belly, the belly for the body, the body for the soul, and the soul for God. Observe farther, As the quality of the victuals was plain and coarse, so the quantity of it was small and little : five loaves and two fishes. Well might the disciples say, What are these among so many? The eye of sense and reason sees an impossibility of those effects which faith can easily apprehend, and divine power more easily produce.

18 He said, Bring them hither to me. 19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and, looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the

loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

Observe, 1. How the Master of the feast marshals his guests, he commands them all to sit down; none of them reply, "Sit down! but to what? Here are the mouths, but where is the meat? We can soon be set, but whence shall we be served?" Nothing of this: but they obey and expect. O how easy is it to trust God, and rely upon Providence, when there is corn in the barn and bread in the cupboard! But when our stores are all empty, and nothing before us, then to depend upon an invisible bounty is a true and noble act of faith. Observe, 2. The actions performed by our blessed Saviour, He blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and they to the multitude. 1. He blessed, teaching us, by his example, in all our wants to look up to heaven for a supply, to wait upon God for his blessing, and not to sit down to our food as a beast to his forage. 2. He brake the loaves. He could have multiplied them whole; why would he rather do it in the breaking? Perhaps to teach us, that we are to expect his blessings in the distribution, rather than in the reservation, of what he gives us. Scattering is the way to increasing. Not grain hoarded up in the granary, but scattered in the furrows of the field, yields increase. Liberality is the way to riches, and penuriousness the road to poverty. 3. Christ gave the bread thus broken to his disciples, that they might distribute it to the multitude. But why did not our Lord distribute it with his own hand, but by the hands of his disciples? Doubtless to win respect to his disciples from the people. The same course did our Lord take in spiritual distributions. He that could feed the world by his immediate hand, chooses rather by the hands of his ministers to divide the

bread of life to all hearers.

20 And they did all eat, and were filled and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. 21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

They did all eat, not a crumb or a bit, but to satiety and fulness: they did eat, and were filled, yet twelve baskets remained: more is left than was at first set on. So many bellies, and yet so many baskets, filled. The miracle was doubled by an act of boundless omnipotency. It is hard to say which was the greater miracle, the miraculous eating, or the miraculous leaving. If we consider what they ate, we

may justly wonder that they left any thing; if what they left, that they ate any thing. Observe father, These fragments, though of barley-bread and fish-bones, must not be lost; but by our Saviour's command gathered up. The liberal Housekeeper of the world will not allow the loss of his orts. O how fearful then will the account of those be, who have large and plentiful estates to answer for as lost, being spent upon their lusts in riot and excess!

22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes

away.

Jesus constrained them; that is, he commanded them to go away before him. No doubt they were very loath to leave him, and to go without him; both out of the love which they bare to him and themselves. Such as have once tasted the sweetness of Christ, are hardly drawn away from him: however, as desirous as the disciples were to stay with Christ, yet at his word of command they depart from him. Where Christ has a will to command, his disciples and followers must have a will to obey.

23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

Observe here, 1. Christ dismisses the multitude, and then retires to pray; teaching us, by his example, when we have to do with God, to dismiss the multitude of our affairs and employments, of our cares and thoughts. O how unseemly it is to have our tongues talking to God, and our thoughts taken up with the world! Observe, 2. The place Christ retires to for prayer, a solitary mountain; not so much for his own need, for he could be alone when he

was in company, but to teach us, that when we address ourselves to God in duty, and advantages we can, for the doing of it. we are to take all the helps, furtherances, When we converse with God in duty, O how good is it to get upon a mountain, to get our hearts above the world, above worldly employments, and worldly cogitations! Observe, 3. The occasion of Christ's prayer; he had sent the disciples to sea, he foresaw the storm arising, and now he gets into a mountain to pray for them, that their faith might not fail them when their troubles were upon them. Learn hence, That it is the singular com fort of the church of God, that in all her dif

ficulties and distresses Christ is interceding || port in all our afflictions to hear Christ's for her; when she is on the sea conflicting voice speaking to us, and to enjoy his fawith the waves, Christ is upon the mountain praying for her preservation.

24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

Note here, The great danger the disciples were in, and the great difficulties they had to encounter with: they were in the midst of the sea, they were tossed with the waves, the wind was contrary, and Christ was absent. The wisdom of God often suffers his church to be tossed upon the waves of affliction and persecution, but it shall not be swallowed up by them: often is this ark of the church upon the waters; seldom off them; but never drowned.

25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

Christ having seen the distress of his disciples on the shore, he hastens to them on the sea. It was not a stormy and tempestuous sea that could separate betwixt him and them; he that waded through a sea of blood, and through a sea of wrath, to save his people, will walk upon a sea of water to succour and relieve them. But observe, the time when Christ came to help them, not till the fourth watch, a little before the morning. They had been many hours upon the waters, conflicting with the waves, with their fears and dangers. God oft-times lengthens out the troubles of his children before he delivers them; but when they are come to an extremity, that is the season of his succours. As God suffers his church to be brought into extremities before he helps her, so he will help her in extremity. In the fourth watch Jesus came, &c.

26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

See how the disciples take their Deliverer to be a destroyer: their fears were highest when their Deliverer and deliverance were nearest. God may be coming with salvation and deliverance for his church, when she for the present cannot discern him.

27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.

Observe, When the disciples were in the saddest condition, how one word from Christ revives them! It is a sufficient sup

vourable presence with us. Say but, O Saviour, It is I; and then little evils do their worst: that one word, It is I, is enough to lay all storms, and to calm all tempests.

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28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and, beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me!

Observe here, 1. The mixture of Peter's faith and distrust; it was faith that said, Master; it was distrust that said, if it be thou; it was faith that said, bid me come to thee; it was faith that enabled him to step down on the watery pavement; it was faith that said, Lord, save me; but it was distrust that made him sink. O the imperfect composition of faith and fear in the best of saints here on earth! sincerity of grace is || found with the saints here on earth; perfection of grace with the saints in heaven. Here the saints look forth, fair as the moon, which has some spots in her greatest beauties: hereafter they shall be clear as the sun, whose face is all bright and glorious. Observe, 2. That whilst Peter believes, the sea is as firm as brass under him; when he begins to fear, then he begins to sink. Two hands upheld Peter; the hand of Christ's power, and the hand of his own faith. The hand of Christ's power laid hold on Peter, and the hand of Peter's faith laid hold on the power of Christ. If we let go our hold on Christ, we sink; if he lets go his hold on us, we drown. Now Peter answered his name Cephas, and sunk like

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a stone.

31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. 33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

Observe here, 1. The mercy of Christ is no sooner sought, but found: Immediately Jesus put forth his hand and caught him. O with what speed, and with what assurance,