1

Abraham defired to fee his Day, and saw it, and was glad.

our Father Abraham, which is dead? and the Prophets

are dead: whom makest thou thyself?

79

than that venerable Patriarch our Father Abraham, Sect. 105.
who is dead, and than all the most illustrious Pro-
phets, who are alfo dead?
pretend thyself to be?

Whom

doft thou then John VIII. John VIII.

53.

And not- 55

Jesus replied, If 1 only glorify myself, by high 54
Encomiums on my own Dignity and Excellence,
while I neglect the Honour and Service of my
Father, my Glory is nothing, but an empty
Sound; [but] it evidently appears by all the Series
of my Converfe and Miracles, compared with each
other, that it is my Father himself that effectually
glorifies me, even he, of whom you confidently say,
that he is your GOD, tho' in this Respect you pay
so little Regard to his Testimony.
withstanding all your Boats, yet nevertheless you
have not truly known him; but I well know him:
And if I should deny it, and fay that I know him
not, or retract my Pretenfions to that peculiar and
intimate Knowledge of him, which I have fo
often professed, I should be a Lyar like you : But I
repeat it again, notwithstanding all your Enmity,
and your Scorn, that I perfectly know him, and
continually keep his Word in its fullest Extent, and
exactest Purity. And I will tell you farther, 56
that tho you despise me, as unworthy of your
Notice, your Father Abraham himself was even
transported with a joyful Defire that he might fee
my Day (d), or the Time of my Appearance and
Glory; and in some Degree he faw [it] by Faith,
and rejoiced in the distant and imperfect View (e),

;

thank

in the Argument they use, unless they had meant to assert, that Abraham, and the Prophets were dead, εις τον αιωνα, for ever; than which nothing could be farther from the Thoughts of any of the Jews, except the Sadducees, who do not seem to have been the Persons speaking here. See Note (k) on John iv. 14. Vol. i. pog. 174.

(d) Was even transported with a joyful Defire that he might fee my Day : ηγαλλιασάλο ένας ιδη την ήμεραν την εμην.] It is necessary to tranflate the Word ηγαλλιασαλο thus, not only to avoid the Tautology, which our Translation occafions, but also to preferve the Force of iva idn. And indeed it may with the strictest Propriety fignify leaping forward with foy to meet the Object of our Wishes, as well as exulting in the Poffeffion of it. See Blackw. Sacred Claffics, Vol. i. pag. 46,48.

(e) He saw it by Faith, and rejoieed in the View.] I cannot think with Mr. Fleming, (Christology, Vol. i. pag. 221.) that the Appearance of Christ to Abraham, (Gen. xviii. 1.) could with any Propriety be here referred to, as Christ's Day. It seems much more reasonable to conclude, with Dr. Scot, and Mr. Henry, that it intimates some peculiar Difcoveries, which the Spirit of GOD might make to Abraham, for his own private Confolation, tho not expressly recorded in Scripture. And thus, with regard to him, as well as many other

:

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He miraculously escapes, when they would have ftoned him.

Sect. 105. thankfully receiving every Intimation of the Pur

John VIII.

57.

poses of my Coming, which GOD was pleased
to give him.

Then the Jews faid unto him, Thou art not yet
Fifty Years old (f), and haft thou, who but Half
a Century ago wast not in Being, any Room to
pretend, that thou hast feen, and conversed with
Abraham, who has been dead more than Two
thousand Years ?

58 Jefus faid unto them, Verily, verily I say unto
you, and folemnly affirm it as a most certain Truth,
how incredible soever it may seem, that before
Abraham was born (g), I had a glorious Existence
with the Father, and I am still invariably the fame,
and one with him (b).

59

57 Then faid the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty Years old, and haft thou seen Abraham?

58 Jesus faid unto them, Verily, verily I fay unto you,

Before Abraham was, I am.

59 Then took they up Stones caft at him: but out of the Temple, going

This appeared to them so direct a Claim to the Name and Properties of the Eternal JEHOVAH, Jefus hid himself, and went that, being ignorant of the Divine Nature of Christ, they thought it intolerable Blafphemy; and tho he was then discoursing in so sacred a Place as the Temple, they immediately took up some loose Stones, with which they were repairing, either the Pavement, or the Building (i), that they might cast them at him to destroy him: But Jefus in a miraculous Manner concealed himself from their Sight, and

8

Reflections on CHRIST's Promise to deliver us from Death. thro' the Midft of them, and went out of the Temple, going thro the Midft_of Sect. 105. so pafled by.

:

them unknown (k), and so passed on to another
Place, till the Transport of their Fury was a little John VIII.
appeared.

IMPROVEMENT.

59.

ITH what Patience did our Blessed Redeemer bear, and with what John viii. 48, 49.

Weke jane diderar and with what

brious Language? When he was rudely charged with being a Samaritan, and having a Damon, being thus reviled, be reviled not again. (1 Pet. ii. 23.) And shall We too keenly resent the Reflections, which are thrown upon us! May but our Confcience witness for us, and we need not fear all that are against us !

Christ honoured his Father, and fought not his own Glory. So may we Ver. 49, 50. be careful of the Honour of God, and chearfully commit to him the Guardianship and Care of our Reputation! And we shall find there is one that feeketh, and judgeth in our Favour.

It is a great and important Promise, which our Lord here makes, If Ver. 51. any Man keep my Word, he shall never fee Death. Sense seems to plead against it; but he is the Refurrection and the Life, and he will make it good. Let us therefore be strong in Faith, giving Glory to GOD. (Rom. iv. 20.) Tho' not only Abraham, and the Prophets, but Peter and Paul, Ver. 52. and the other Apostles, are dead, yet this Word shall be gloriously accomplished. Still they live to him, and shortly shall they be for ever recovered from the Power of the Grave; so that Death is to them comparatively as nothing. With them may our final Portion be, and we may fet light by the Reproaches, and Clamours, and Accusations of prejudiced, ignorant, and finful Men!

Nor

Adored be that "gracious Providence, that determined our Existence to begin in that happy Day, which Prophets and Patriarchs defired to fee, Ver. 56. and in the distant View of which!Abraham rejoiced! Let it be also our Ver. 58. Joy; for Jesus Christ is the fame Yesterday, To-day, and for ever : could the Heart of those holy Men fully conceive those Things which GOD had prepared for them that love him, and which he has now revealed unto us by his Spirit. (1 Cor. ii. 9, 10.)

(k) Going thro the Midst of them.] The Omission of these Words in this Passage, as quoted by Chryfoftom, and Augustin, as well as in some Manuscripts, has led some to suspect, they were added from Luke iv. 30.

VOL. II.

L

SECT.

82

Sect. 106..

The Seventy return, rejoicing in their Power over Satan :

SECT. CVI:

The Seventy Disciples return with Joy: CHRIST foretells
the greater Success of his Gospel, and praises his Heavenly
Father for the wife, the mysterious, Dispensations of it.
Luke X. 17,---24.

LUKE X. 17.

FTER these Things, Jesus determined to A take his last, and, as it seems, his most Luke X. 17. fuccessful Circuit thro Galilee (a); and before he set out upon it, the Seventy Disciples, who had been fent before him as his Harbingers, (Sect. 97. pag. 37.) returned to him again (b) with great Joy, and some Mixture of Surprize, faying, Lord, we have not only cured Diseases, according to the Power thou wast pleased to give us; (ver. 9. pag. 39.) but thơ thy Commission did not directly express so much, yet it appears, that even the Dæmons themselves are subject to us, when in thy Name we command them to go out of such as they had poffefied.

18

And he said to them, I know, that it is, and must be so; for I myself faw Satan, the great Prince of the Dæmons, falling like Lightning from Heaven on his first Tranfgreffion, and well remember how immediate and dreadful his Ruin was (c); and I forefee in Spirit that renewed, fwift,

(a) His last Circuit thro' Galilee.] St. Luke has given us a large Account of feveral Occurrences in it, omitted by all the other Evangelifts; and I think there can be no Doubt, but it must come in here. It was dispatched between the Feast of Tabernacles, and the Dedication, (mentioned John x. 22. Sect. 134.) or between the Months of September and December.I call it his last Circuit thro Galilee, because it is strongly intimated, that after the Conclufion of it he returned thither no more, before his Crucifixion. (See Luke xiii. 31, 33. and John x. 40,-42.) - Quickly after his Resurrection, which was the next Spring, we find Five hundred Brethren in Galitee. (1 Cor. xv. 6.) It is probable, most of them might be converted in this Journey; for we never find him attended by greater Multitudes, nor his Enemies more alarmed, than about this Time.

(b) The Seventy Disciples returned to him again.] I prefume not to determine where, or when, they met him; but confidering they were by the Law obliged to attend this Feaft at Jerufalem, it feems most probable, that was the Time and Place.

(c) I faw Satan, &c.] I think this Answer to the Seventy loses much of its Beauty and Propriety, unless we suppose Satan to have been the Prince of the Damons they spoke of;

and

But should rather rejoice, their Names are written in Heaven.

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Luke X. 18.

swift, and irresistible Victory, of which this pre- Sect. 106.
sent Success of yours is an Earnest, which the
Preaching of the Gospel shall shortly gain over all
these Rebel Powers, which even in their highest
Strength and Glory were so incapable of oppofing
the Arm of GOD. And that you may more 19
successfully pursue this Conquest, behold, I now
give you a miraculous Power, securely to tread upon
Serpents and Scorpions, those venomous and hurt-
ful Creatures, (compare Mark xvi. 18. and Acts
xxviii. 5.) in Token of your Triumph over the
Infernal Spirits, and over all the Might of Satan
the great Enemy, which he may set in Array against
you; and I will so effectually support you in all
these Trials, that nothing shall by any means be able
to injure you, while you continue faithful in your
Adherence to my Service. (Compare Pfal. xci. 13.
and Gen. iii. 15.) Nevertheless, rejoice not so 20
much in this, that the Evil Spirits are thus fubject
to you, and that you are enabled miraculously to
controul them; but rather rejoice, that your Names
are written in Heaven, and that you stand en-
rolled among the Heirs of that glorious World,
as the peculiar Objects of the Divine Favour and
Love.

In that remarkable Hour, Jefus, in a pleasing 21
Contemplation of the Success that should attend
his Gospel, thơ' it was to be propagated by such
weak Instruments, exceedingly rejoiced in his Spirit,
and faid, in the Words he had used on a former
Occafion (d), (Mat. xi. 25, 26. Vol. i. pag. 359,
360.) I afcribe Glory to thee, ob Almighty Father,
the Creator and Lord both of Heaven and Earth,
that while thou hast bid these Things from the Wife
Philosophers, and Prudent Politicians of the Age,
thou hast discovered them in the mean Time to
others

and also allow the Reference, hinted at in the Paraphrafe, to the first Fall of that rebellious Spirit. Compare 2 Pet. ii. 4. and Jude, ver. 6. For the Remainder of this Section, and some of the following, the Reader may consult the Notes in the parallel Passages referred to, which have been considered in their proper Places above.

(d) And faid, in the Words he had used on a former Occafion.] They are here repeated with evident Propriety, in the View of that glorious Success, which should attend these his despised Servants, as the destined Conquerors of the Infernal Legions, by whom Thousands of the Poor should be brought to receive the Gospel.

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