He that serves Christ shall be honoured by his Father. forth much fruit. 169 cxlviii. but if it die, it bringeth duction of the like kind arises, and it brings SECT. forth much fruit. And so it is that I myself shall fall, and a new scene be opened, in which John my kingdom shall seem to be utterly lost and XII. 24. gone; yet, like the spring corn, it shall assuredly revive, and appear beautiful and fruitful. 25 He that loveth his life, shall lose it: and he that hateth his life in this world, shall keep it unto life eternal. me; and where I am, But, in the mean time, such difficulties are 25 also to be expected by my faithful servants, that it is but fit I should inform these strangers of what I have once and again told you; that he who loves his own life too well to part with it for my sake, shall lose it, and expose himself to death in the worst and most dreadful sense of the word; but he that acts as if he hates his life in this world, by exposing it to the greatest dangers in the cause of my gospel, shall preserve it even to everlasting life, and secure a state of immortal glory and happiness. (Compare Mat. x. 39, sect. lxxvi. Mark viii. 35, sect. Ixxxix. and 26 If any man serve Luke xvii. 33, sect. cxxviii.) If any man 26 me, let him follow therefore would engage to serve me as one of my loyal people, let him resolve to follow me whithersoever I shall lead him, whatever dangers and difficulties may lie in the way; and let him know, for his encouragement, that where I am, or where I shortly am to take up mine abode, there shall also my faithful servant be; for I will assign him an inheritance in that blessed world where I am for ever to rest and reign after all the sufferings I have endured here and I assure you that, among all that follow me, if any man, of whatever nation he be, or whatever his religious profession may before have been, will faithfully serve me here, him will [my] Father also honour, and confer such rich rewards upon him as to make him for ever both great and happy. there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. 07 Now is my soul tronbled: and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but d Having said this, our Lord paused for a while, 27 and entered on a deep contemplation of the very different views of things which lay before him. And then he added aloud, Now is my very soul distressed and troubled in an affecting view of my approaching sufferings; and what shall I say? What petition shall I offer to God on this occasion? Shall I say, Father, save me from If any man serve me.] Our Lord, by this indefinite expression, strongly intimates that his kingdom was to be of a very extensive nature; and that not only the prose this lytes of righteousness, but those of the gate, e Wha 170 cxlviii. Jesus has again the testimony of a voice from heaven. I unto this hour. SECT. this dreadful hour, and from all the agonies but for this cause came which I am to endure in the gloomy season before me? Nay, but for this cause was I born John XII. 27. into the world, and for this end I came even to this present hour, that I might bear the sufferings on which I am entering, and might redeem 28 my people by them. And far be it from me to draw back from such engagements and undertakings: I will therefore much rather say, Father, glorify thine own name, and dispose of me, and all my concerns, in such a way as may most effectually answer that great end! 29 30 28 Father, glorify thy name. -Then came there saying, I have both Then, at that very instant while he was speaking, there came a voice from heaven [which a voice from heaven, said], I have both already glorified [it] by the glorified it, and will whole of thy ministry thus far; and I will glorify glority it again. [it] yet again in a more signal manner by what farther remains before thee. 29 The people therefore that stood The multitude therefore who stood by and heard [it], though not all in a manner equally distinct, by, and heard it, said, were perfectly astonished at the awful sound; That it thundered and some among them said, That it thundered: others said, An angel while others, who were nearer, said, That an spake to him. angel spake to him from heaven. But Jesus answered and said to his disciples, 30 Jesus answered came not because of who stood near, and distinctly heard it, This voice and said, This voice from heaven came not chiefly for my sake, who me, but for your sakes. was before assured of the affection of iny Father, and knew the purpose he had formed to glorify himself by me; but it was uttered for yours, that you may not be offended at the treatment I shall meet with, and quit your hope in me, and regard for me, on account of any of the sufferings 31 which are coming upon me. This indeed is a very critical and important time; for now is the e What shall I say? Father, save me from this hour?] I suppose few need be told that the pointing of the New Testament is far less ancient than the tert. It is agreeable to observe how many difficulties may be removed by varying it, and departing from the common punctuation of which I take this to be one of the most remarkable instances. For as the text does not oblige us to it, it does not seem natural to suppose that our Lord actually offered this petition, and then immediately retracted it again. f Said that it thundered.] Thunder often attended a voice from heaven: (see Exod. xix. 16, 19. Rev. iv. 5. vi. 1. x. 3.) In allusion to which, perhaps, the voice itself was called by the ancient Jews Buth Kol, judgment 31 Now is the judg ment or the daughter of the voice, being ushered in with thunder, and, as it were, produced from it. Elsner has shewn that the Heathens reckoned that sudden thunder was a sign that a prayer then offered met with the most favourable regard. See Eisner. Observ. Vol. I. p. 334, 335.)—Dr. Lightfoot observes here (Hor. Heb. in loc.) that Christ had thrice the testimony of a voice from heaven; first, when he entered on his public ministry, as the High-priest of our profession, at his baptism (Mat. iii. 17.) and then a second time, when a command was given to hear him, as the great Prophet of the church at his transfiguration, (Mat. xvii. 5.) and now again, when he had made his public entry into Jerusalem, as a King. g Now Faithfulness and diligence shall be rewarded. 147 cxliv. gavest not thou my why didst thou not [then], for thine own security, SECT. money into the bank, that at my coming I give my money into the bank, that when I came might bave required to call for it at my return, I might at least have Luke mine own with usury? received it with the common interest, if not with XIX. 23 the extraordinary improvement which might have attended a successful trade? 24 And he said unto Take from him the pound, and give it to pounds. And farther to testify his displeasure, he said to 24 them that stood by, some of them that stood by, Take away the pound that was intrusted with him, from that idle, sushath ten picious, unfaithful creature, who might otherwise have had that, and much more, allotted him for his own property, and give it to him that 25 (And they said has ten pounds. But they were much surpris- 25 unto him, Lord, he ed at his assigning it to one who had before rehath ten pounds.) ceived so ample a reward; and they said to him, Sir, he hath already no less than ten pounds 8, which, with the honour and preferment thou hast farther added, is surely an abundant recom26 For I say unto pence. Nevertheless, the prince stood by his 26 you, That unto every former award, and bestowed the other pound be given: and from likewise upon him; declaring, that his faithfulhim that hath not, ness and diligence was fit to be distinguished even that he hath shall with the most favourable and repeated notice: be taken away from him. and in this way it is, continued he, that I resolve to act; for I assure you, That to every one that hath, or that improves what he hath," [it] shall be given, and he shall have yet more abundantly; but from him that hath not, or that acts as if he had nothing intrusted to his care, even that which he hath, and neglects to improve, shall be taken away from him. (Compare Mat. xiii. 12. xxv. 29. Mark iv. 25. and Luke viii. 18.) one which hath shall 27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring his ther, And having thus inquired into the conduct of 27 his servants, and treated them according to the different use they made of what had been intrusted with them, he then proceeded to pass sentence on his rebellious citizens who had refused to have him for their king; and, with a just resentment of their base ingratitude, he said, But as for those mine enemies, who were determined to oppose my government, and would not have me to reign over them, bring them hither immediately, and slay [them] with the sword 148 Reflections on the improvement we should make of our stock. SECT. Sword in my presence, that others may learn a ther, and slay them bemore dutiful submission by the execution of these rebels. cxliv. Luke XIX. 27 28 Now all this was as if our Lord had said, Thus shall I at length appear, not as a temporal sove. reign, but as the Great Eternal Judge and victorious Ruler over all, when, having received. power and dominion from my Father, I shall bring all to their final account; and with infinite ease triumph over those who reject and affront my authority take heed therefore that you be not found in their wretched number, as many will be who pretend most eagerly to desire the Messiah's appearance. And when he had spoken these things, he continued his journey, and, leading the way, went on before his disciples, ascending to Jerusalem, being determined to appear there at the approaching passover, though he well knew that he was to encounter persecution and death there. (Compare Mark x. 32, sect. cxlii.) fore me. 28 And when be had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem. Ver. IMPROVEMENT. LET us also hear and fear. Our Lord is gone, and has received 12 his kingdom. He has delivered to us our stock, to be improved 13 in his service: let us be animated to diligence in it; for propor tionable to that diligence will be our reward. Let us remember 17, 19 we labour for ourselves while we labour for him; as all the progress we make in wisdom and in goodness renders our own souls so much the happier, and will render them so to all eternity. Blessed servants that have the applause of such a Master, and share a reward as liberal as that conferred on a faithful steward, who should be made governor of a province containing ten cities. 19, 21 14 Let us beware of a slothful neglect of our stock: let us beware of those hard thoughts of God which would discourage us from pursuing his service. Above all, let us take heed, that we do not proudly and insolently reject the government of his anointed Son, and either say with our tongues, or declare by our actions, We will not have this man to reign over us: for if we do, we speak a word against our own lives. He will be glorified by us, or upon us. iSlay them with the sword in my presence.] This is the exact import of the word xalassaals. It does indeed properly express the dreadful slaughter of the impenitent Jews, by the sword of each other, and of the Romans; but that docs And not seem the chief design of the passage, which plainly relates to the far more terrible execution which shall be done on all impenitent sinners in the great day, when the faithful servants of Christ shall be rewarded. a When Reflections on the happy fruits of the death of Christ. 173 SFCT. cxiviii. John come, he went] [out thence to a retired place: and when now it was of the city unto Beth- late in the evening, he privately went out of the any] [MARK, with the twelve ;] [and he city to Bethany, with none to attend him but lodged there,] and did the twelve apostles; and, knowing that his ene- XII.56. mies were watching to destroy him, and might have attempted to seize him by night if he had tarried at Jerusalem, he lodged there at Bethany, and concealed himself from them, to avoid the assaults of their deliberate malice till his hour hide himself was come. IMPROVEMENT. WHO can wonder at the desire these Greeks expressed to see so Ver. celebrated a Person as Jesus was! We hope there was something 20, 21 more than mere curiosity in it, and that at length they saw him with believing eyes, and, according to his prediction, glorified 23 him by a cordial acceptance of his gospel.-His disciples, we see 22 were ready to introduce them: and surely every faithful minister of Christ will undertake the task with pleasure when he sees souls awakened by Divine grace, and inquiring after Jesus with affectionate concern. Blessed be God, it has already, in many instances, been seen that by the death of Christ an immortal seed was sown, which has mul- 24 tiplied in all ages, and is still multiplying: Oh that it might have a greater increase! One would think that words so gracious as these should promote that increase, and operate upon every heart 25 to produce a love to him sufficient to conquer every danger and opposition which may be met with in his cause: behold the promise which he has left upon record; "If any man, be he ever so 26 mean and unworthy, will but faithfully serve and follow me, whatever his former wanderings and rebellions may have been, where I am, there shall also my servant be." Happy state indeed! not only, like these Greeks, to have a transient sight of Christ, but to be for ever with him! How admirable is the love and stedfastness of our Redeemer, We may be assured, as certainly as by a voice from heaven, that this |