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Gates, for strength, as in fortified towns; or, for consultations; where they are usually held. And the meaning is, that the church, built upon this rock, should be perpetual, and triumphant over death and hell, and over the power and policy of all its enemies. So shall we, every one of us, in the virtue of a true faith.

19. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, shalt be loosed in heaven.

Christ would have Peter open the kingdom of heaven to the world. And he preached the first christian sermon after the descent of the Holy Ghost, and was the first opener of the kingdom of heaven, or God's kingdom of grace under Christ, both to Jew and Gentile. Acts ii. and x. The kingdom of heaven is opened to you, here in this book, brought and offered to you, and often sounded your ears. But speak for yourselves; is it opened in your hearts? Have you any clear sight and knowledge of its blessings and privileges, how great they are in themselves, and how much needed by you? namely, the blessings of God's kingdom of grace, in order to his kingdom of glory. Again, are you in it; owning your baptism, making Christ your hope, and through him living unto God?

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Peter had not an exclusive commission respecting binding and loosing: for the apostles would understand it as equally given to them all; and Christ himself afterwards taught them so to understand it. John xx. 23. "Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained." The words are expressive of the apostolical office of teaching and governing Christ's church, speaking and acting in his stead, declaring the whole doctrine of salvation by him, and binding it upon men for the life of their souls. They are, therefore, the messengers of God to us, and the infallible interpreters of his will; and, if it was our own desire and great concern to know what we must do to be saved, our

hearts would burn within us, to think that God is always speaking to us by them, and what a treasure we have in their writings.

SECTION XLI.

Chap. xvi. ver. 20—28.

CHRIST FORETELS HIS DEATH.

20. Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

He charged his disciples; all of them, consenting with Peter in his confession, and equally joined with him in the grant of binding and loosing. And why did he charge them to tell no man he was the Christ? As yet they were not fit for it, and would have published it with mistakes; neither were they in possession of the grand proof of it, his resurrection.—Lord, it is an important work to preach thee, and tell men that thou art the Christ. Let what thou here sayest, strike an awe into all, who would intrude presumptuously into the office; and do thou bless and increase the numbers of those, who are prepared for it by the knowledge and love of thee, and a holy zeal for thy truth.

21. From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

Here the gospel of St. Matthew divides itself, as it were, into two parts, and the disciples are now to enter upon a new period of instruction. When they were grounded in the belief that he was the Christ, they were next to hear of his suffering. It is observable that he initiated them into the truth by degrees, and as he knew they were able to

bear it. If he had told them at first of his death, it is probable they would have left him. Peter, notwithstanding his glorious confession, took fire at the mention of it.

22. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

We may observe, that Peter said this from a worldly spirit, and what it is that blinds and bewitches us. After he had acknowledged Jesus to be the Christ, he had nothing to do but to believe, and submit to his teaching in everything; and yet, when he heard of his suffering and dying, he stoutly contradicted, he boldly rebuked him. Nature was strong in him; and so it will infallibly show itself in us, and oppose Christ, in some instance or other, till it is changed by grace. Let it also be observed, that what was such a stumbling-block to Peter, is happily none We know and believe that Christ suffered, the necessity of his suffering, and what cause we have to bless God that he suffered, and died for our sins. Once`more; whatever we are now, why may we not be changed by divine grace into other men, as Peter was?

to us.

23. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me; for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

As thou didst turn to Peter, even so, Lord, turn to us, and turn us by thy word and Spirit, whenever we are so unhappy as to contradict and oppose thee.

"Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me." O! it was a severe rebuke, and should strike deep into our souls. Would we never hear these words from him, never be reputed his deadly enemies, never hear him say, "Thou art an offence unto me?" then let us understand when we are so.

"For thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." Let us take heed how we shape a Christ according to our own will and fancy. And we do this when we set up our own dark reason, worldly sense,

and vicious inclinations, against his will and commands. What then is the bent, great prevailing relish, and ruling desire of our souls?

24. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow

me.

If any man will be Christ's disciple, he must deny his carnal reason, by an absolute submission to the word; his will, and affections, profit, ease, and pleasure, in everything that is contrary to it, that would keep his heart from God, hinder him in his christian progress, or unfit him for the daily exercises of piety; and be ready to part with estate and life itself, upon a call of providence. Thus far all are agreed; and whoever knows himself to be sincere in the practice of self-denial, according to the particulars here mentioned, let him take what comfort he can find in the lawful use of the creatures, and be thankful for them. Let such, however, follow Christ's example and instructions. Let these think what they will, do what else they will, nature must either be crossed by Christ, or cursed by itself.

25. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

"For whosoever will save his life:"-Please himself, though it be to the saving of life, in opposition to Christ. "Shall lose it ;" if not literally, yet spiritually. "And whosoever will lose his life for my sake:" for me, and in obedience to my commands-there the stress is laid :—whatever we lose upon any other account is nothing to Christ. "Shall find it." The happiness of it here, in his faith, obedient disposition, and self-denial for Christ; hereafter, with Christ in his glory.

26. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

This is so evident that you cannot have the least doubt of it. Nay, but let it go deep, and be wrought into your

very hearts; and do not lose your best comforts in this world, and throw away your souls eternally, for such trifles as men generally do.

27. For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

It appears from hence, that the life to be lost or found, ver. 25, 26, is chiefly that of the soul, or its eternal happiness; and what is here said wants nothing but application. —Lord, help us in it ; and grant that doing all our works in faith, as unto thee, we may be received unto mercy, and rewarded according to them in that day.

28. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

As he will appear in his kingdom, and his redeemed with him in their glorified bodies; meaning, I suppose, the visible exhibition of that glory in his transfiguration; the account of which immediately follows these words in all the three Evangelists who have recorded it, and which St. Peter calls his majesty.-2 Pet. i. 16, 17.

SECTION XLII

Chap. xvii. ver. 1-13.

CHRIST'S TRANSFIGURATION.

1. And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

Why not all the disciples? They would relate all they

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