134 cxlii. Mat. mistaken views, that know not what you ask, know not what ye ask : you baptized with the bap They are only for those for whom the Father has prepared them. SECT. under the force of such carnal prejudices and Jesus answered and said [unto them,] Ye or you would be ashamed of so unseasonable a Are ye able to drink XX. 22. petition. This is not a time to think of tem- of the cup that I shall poral grandeur and authority; but it is much drink of, and to be more proper that I should ask you, and that you tism that I am bapshould put the question to yourselves, Are you tized with? [And] able to drink of the bitter cup of which I am now they say unto him, We are able. [MARK about to drink so deep, and to be baptized with x. 38, 39.—]. the baptism, and plunged into that sea of sufferings with which I am shortly [to be] baptized, and, as it were, overwhelmed for a time? And they say to him, with a self-confident assurance, Yes, Lord, we doubt not but that for thy sake we are able to undergo all this. 23 21 23 And [Jesus] saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup [that I drink of,] and be baptized with the baptism that is not mine to give, And Jesus says unto them, You shall indeed both of you drink of this my cup of which I am to drink, and be baptized with the baptism of extreme sufferings with which I am to be baptized; for you shall endure great extremities for the sake I am baptized with: of my gospel, and hazard your lives in its de- but to sit on my rightfence: but as to what you have now desired, to hand, and on my left, sit on my right-hand, and on my left, in my king- but it shall be given to dom of glory, this is not a privilege which is them for whom it is mine to give by partial friendship, or to the first prepared of my Faand most importunate asker; nor can I dispose ther. [Mark X.—39, of it to any but [to those] for whom it is prepared by my Father, who has appointed that the exaltation and happiness of the other world shall be proportioned to the degrees of piety and holiness which are attained in this. And when the ten other apostles heard [of it,] and were acquainted with this motion which the sons of Zebedee had made, they began to be much displeased that they should aspire to a superiority to 40.] 24 And when the ten heard it, they [began to be much dis pleased, and] were moved d To drink of the cup, &c.] It was customary among the ancients to assign to each guest at a feast a particular cup, as well as dish; and by the kind and quantity of the liquor contained in it, the respect of the entertainer was expressed. Hence cup came in general to signify a portion assigned (Psal. xvi. 5, xxiii. 5), whether of peasure or sorrow; and many instances occur in which it refers to the latter. Compare Psal. xi. 6; xxiii. 10; Isa. li. 17, 22; Jer. xxv. 15, 17; Zech. xii. 2; John xviii. 11; and Ma. xxvi. 39, 42. e You shall indeed drink of my cup, &c.] Accordingly it is observable that this James was the first of all the apostles who suffered martyrdom for Christ: (Acts xii. 2.) And John was scourged by the Jews (Acts. v. 40; and afterwards banished by Domitian into the Isle of Patmos, where he speaks of himself as a companion of Christ's tribulation: (Rev. i. 9.) Not to mention Tertullian's tradition, that at Rome he was plunged into boiling oil; by which it is said, instead of being destroyed, he was sensibly refreshed (Tertull. Præscript. cap. 36): nor what the pretended Prochorus says of the attempt made by some heretics to poison him; which is generally referred to in the pictures of this apostle where the venom is ridiculously represented as coming out of the cup in the form of a serpent, to sgnify that the poison did not take effect. Reflections on the hopeful youth forsaking Christ. 29. 109 cxxxvii. world to come [shall when they are over, as they will quickly be, SECT. inherit] eternal life.in the world to come he shall inherit everlasting [MAT. XIX. LUKE XVIII. 30.] life, and be for ever enjoying that happiness, Mark which God has prepared for all his children, X. 30. especially for such heroic souls as these, when 31 But many that are first shall be last; all earthly relations are ceased, and the world But such will be the issue and event of things 31 IMPROVEMENT, X. 17. WHO can behold, without weeping eyes, and a bleeding heart, this lovely youth perishing in sinTM! What could have appeared more promising, than this solicitous concern about eternal life, in a young man, rich in the possessions, and high in the honours of Mark the present world! To see him running with such eagerness to the feet of a Redeemer, kneeling down, with such humility before him, calling upon him by so honourable a title, and professing so sincere a desire of instruction, could not but lead us to conclude, Surely this man was not far from the kingdom of God; nor do we 21 wonder, that Jesus beholding him loved him. Who would not have looked on such an object with complacency! Who would not have expected, that this pleasant plant should have brought forth grapes; but behold, it brought forth wild grapes! (Isa. v. 2.) So have we seen, in the compass, perhaps, of our small observation and experience, many a fair blossom fall withering to the ground. So have compence) now in this time, houses, and m Lovely youth perishing in sin.] Dr. Watts's excellent Sermon on this subject, and with this title, will, I doubt not, be recollected by multitudes on this occasion. There is so much beauty and pathos, sa much wisdom and piety in it, that I could wish it might be attentively perused, especially by every one of my younger readers; for I would hope there are few capable of reading it without some serious impressions. 0 2 110 Reflections on the hopeful youth forsaking Christ. SECT have the hopes of ministers, and parents, and other religious cxxxvii. friends, been disappointed, with respect to many young persons, Mark adorned with a variety of amiable qualifications, yet lacking one X. 21. thing, and parting with Christ when put to the trial, after all the regard they have shewn to his name, and all the pleasing expectations they have given of a willingness to serve him. O my young Reader, whoever thou art, I earnestly pray, that thou mavest not be added to that number! 19, 20 This unhappy youth imagined himself in the certain way of salvation, because he was free from the stains of fraud and injustice, of adultery and theft, of perjury and murder, or any other gross and infamous sin. But behold, how awful a method Christ takes, to open to him that insincerity of heart, which he seems himself not to have known. Observe, how strange a command he 21 gives him, to sell all, and distribute to the poor. We cannot say, that the very same is directly required of us; yet by this order that was given to him, we are obliged to part with our all, when it cannot be preserved with a good conscience; and by the general rules of Christianity, and its fundamental precepts, we are in duty bound, conscientiously to use, not only a little part of our substance, but even the whole of it for God, as stewards who are another day to give up a strict account for all. And if we like not Christ and glory on these terms, our end will be no better than his. Of him we read, that after all his morality, and all his zeal, he went away from Christ, (though sorrowful,) because he had great 22 possessions. Oh dear-bought wealth, which was the price of his soul! Let us look upon him, and receive instruction; let us learn to be upon our guard against this vain world, that specious harlot, who hath cast down many wounded; yea, many strong men have been slain by her; (Prov. vii. 26.) How universally are riches desired, how eagerly are they pursued, by persons in all stations and of all professions of life! Yet what do they generally prove but shining mischief and gilded ruin! If we believe the incarnate 23--25 wisdom of God, they make our salvation exceeding hazardous. Yet who does not wish for them? Who does not think that he has wisdom and grace enough to stand the danger? But God knows otherwise, and therefore he keeps, or makes, so many of his children poor.-Let them be contented with their safer state; and let those who are rich be importunate with God for those influences 27 of his grace which can effect those things that are impossible with men. On the whole, let us not think much of any thing which Christ demands, knowing that whatever we may lose, or whatever we 29 may resign, we shall gain far more by his favour. The testimony of Jesus passes through Jericho, and many follow him. 137 cxlii. possessed with the spirit of this world, and still dreaming of pre- SECT. ferment in a temporal kingdom? Who would not especially lament it, that his most intimate friends, James, and John the beloved disciple, should be the persons who should come to him with this strange request? Justly did our Lord answer them, You know not 38— what you ask. And may not the same answer often be made to us? When therefore he denies us the great things that we are seeking for ourselves, let us be satisfied with the denial he sees fit to give us; believing that it is wisdom and love, and not unkindness, that produces it. Let us often ask ourselves, Can we share the sufferings which our-38 Lord endured? If we do not desire to do it so far as he shall appoint, we are not worthy to be called his disciples. Let us then gird up the loins of our minds, and wait our Master's signal to go forth to any suffering or service that he shall require; ever ready to make ourselves the servants of all, and therein to imitate the 44, 45 humility of the Son of man, who came not to be ministered unto, but to minister: yet, after all we can do or bear for him, let our trust still be in the merits of his righteousness and blood who gave his life a ransom for many. So shall we be fitted for those distinguished honours in the heavenly world, in comparison with which thrones and sceptres on earth are but empty pageants and childish toys. SECT. CXLIII. Our Lord, passing through Jericho in his way to Jerusalem, cures two blind men as he came out from thence, and converts Zaccheus the publican. Mat. XX. 29, to the end. Mark X.-46, to the end. Luke XVIII. 35, to the end; XIX. 1-10. MARK X-46.— AND as he went out A MARK X. 46. SECT. cxliii. X. 40. of Jericho with ND Jesus, being come to Jericho, proceeded his disciples, [a great on his journey towards Jerusalem'; and bemultitude followed ing observed by many as he was passing through Mark him.] [MAT. XX. the city, they were all ready to run after him: 29.] and accordingly, as he went out of Jericho with his disciples in his train, a great multitude of other people followed him. MAT. XX. 30. XX.30. And behold, an occasion offered for a remark- Mat. And be hold, [LUKE, able display of his power and grace at his deparit came to pass, that 2s he was come nigh ture thence; for it came to pass, that Providence unto Jericho,] Two so ordered it, as he was yet nigh unto Jericho, blind a As he was yet nizh unto Jericho.] In our translation it is rendered, as he was come that nigh unto Jericho; but the original, v Tw w, only signifies, when, or while he was 112 CXxxviii. Mat. The labourers are hired at different hours. idle in the market unto SECT. (or at nine in the morning) he saw others stand- and saw others standing ing unemployed in the market, where it was cus- place, tomary for servants to stand, in order to their XX. 4. being hired. And he said to them, Go ye also 4 And said into the vineyard, and whatsoever is the reasonable them, Go ve also invalue of your labour, I will be sure to give you. whatsoever is right, And they went away to their work without any more particular agreement. 5 6 And again going out about the sixth and ninth to the vineyard, and I will give you. And they went their way. 5 Again he went out about the sixth hour (or at noon, and at three in the afternoon) and ninth hour, and as they could reasonably expect. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand idle? 7 They say unto And once more about the eleventh hour, (or at five in the afternoon) going out of his house, he returned to the market, and found others standing unemployed: and he says to them, Why do ye stand here and do nothing? Do you choose ye here all the day thus to trifle away your time, and continue the 7 whole day unemployed? They say unto him, No; but we continue here, because no one has him, Because no man hired us to any kind of labour. Then he says to saith unto them, Go them, Go ye also into the vineyard, where you ye also into the vine, may be employed, and whatsoever is fit and yard, and whatsoever is right, that shall ye reasonable to be given for your labour, you receive. shall receive. 8 9 Now when evening was come (or at six o'clock), the time when workmen were paid off, and sent home, the lord of the vineyard says to his steward, Call the labourers who have been work pay ing in the vineyard, and them their wages, 9 And when they about the eleventh And having thus been ordered to present themselves, when they accordingly came foremost who came that were hired, [were hired] about the eleventh hour, and so had hour, they received entered last into the vineyard, they each of them every man a penny. received no less than a penny, the master having directed they should be thus generously rewarded. complacency, as a people who had for And Gentiles, many of whom met with much the same treatment on their embracing Christianity. See 1 Thess. ii. 14. d Whatsoever is reasonable.] So I think the word dixasy may be rendered, Phil. i. 7. Col. iv. 1. and 2 Pet. i. 13. and that it signifies not only what a person may legally claim, but what he might equitably expect from a person of honour and humanity. ẹ They |