Chou hadst been here, my brother had not died. cxl. On meeting Martha he declares her brother shall rise again. 121 22 But I know, that even now whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. 23 Jesus saith unto rise again. Jesus, beholding her distress with a compas- 23 her, Thy brother shall sionate concern, says to her, Martha, do not abandon thyself to overwhelming grief; for I assure thee that thy beloved brother shall rise again from the dead. Then Martha, conceiving some secret and 24 trembling hope from these words, yet desiring some farther confirmation of it, says to him, Lord, I well know, and stedfastly believe, that he shall rise again in the general resurrection at the last day (compare chap. v. 29, and Luke xiv. 14.) but the distance of that leaves me still under a load of sorrow. Jesus then said unto her, I am the resurrection 25 and the life (compare chap. v. 21, and Deut. XXX. 20.) by me the general resurrection shall be accomplished, and by me a most glorious and happy life shall be given to all my people, and be maintained even to eternal ages: he therefore that believes in me, though he be dead, yet he shall ere long live again, and his re-animated body shall be again united to that soul which in its separate state continues its dependance on my power and faithfulness; and even at present I can loose the bonds of death, and though thy brother now is holden by it, I can recall him when I please to life: And every one that is 26 now living, and believes in me, shall never die ©: • That is living and believes in me, shall never die.] The sense that I have given in the paraphrase appears to me the most consistent sense that can be made of these remarkable words, and the equivalent passages: John v. 24. and viii. 51. And a very sublime and important sense it is, perfectly agreeable to the height of sentiment and language with which Christ is said elsewhere to have abolished death, and to have destroyed the devil (2 Tim. i. 10. and death Heb. ii. 14), and with which Christians To ren not 122 cxl. John Martha declares her faith in Jesus as the Messiah. SECT. death shall be so disarmed and transformed that me, shall never die it shall hardly deserve the name; the better part Believest thou this? of him being immediately conveyed to immorXI. 26. tal life and glory, and the body only sleeping a while in the dust, till I come to awaken it to everlasting vigour and joy. Dost thou, Martha, believe this to be true? 27 27 She saith unto lieve that thou art the him, Yea, Lord I beChrist, the Son of God, which should come into the world. had so said, she went And she says to him, Yes, Lord, I firmly believe every thing thou sayest; for I am fully persuaded that thou art the Messiah, the Son of God, who was to come into the world, and has been so long promised, expected, and desired; and that all power therefore must belong to thee. And Martha having said these [words], and 28 And when she testified her faith, Jesus inquired for her sister; her way, and called and presently she went away, and called her sister Mary her sister secretMary as privately as she could, whispering in her ly, saying, The Masear, and saying, The Master is hard by, and calleth ter is come, and calleth 29 for thee. And as soon as she heard [it] she 29 As soon as she immediately arose, and, having left the company heard that, she arose that were about her, came forward with the quickly, and came un30 utmost eagerness to meet him. Now Jesus 30 Now Jesus was was not yet entered into the village, but still con- not yet come into the tinued in the place where Martha met him, wait- town, but was in that ing there for Mary's coming. 31 32 The Jews then who were with her in the house, attempting to comfort her under her sorrow, see ing that Mary arose up hastly and went out of doors, followed her, saying, Surely she is going to the sepulchre of her brother, that she may weep there, which will only aggravate and renew her sorrow; let us therefore endeavour to dissuade her from it. And thus, by their going after her, they were naturally led to be eye-witnesses of all that followed. Then Mary, when she came to the place where Jesus was, and saw him, was so far from being afraid to avow her regards to him (compare John ix. 22. sect. cxxx), that she fell down at his feet, and embraced them with the greatest not die for ever, or eternally." is both respect, for thee. to him. place where Martia met him. were dead, who are yet spoken of as believing in Christ; and is, I think, no contemptible proof of their remaining in a state of activity: but the doctrine is so very plain in scripture as not to need the aid of such consequential arguments. f She is going to the sepulchre, that she may weep there.] How customary this was among the ancients is particularly observed by Elsner, Observ, Vol, Į. p. 350. Jesus Divorces were permitted for the hardness of their hearts. Have ye not read, that [God], he which made them from the begin ing of the creation, female? [MARK X. 6.] made them male and 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave [his] father and mo ther, and shall cleave to 95 CXXXV. Mat. 4 And he answered And he said to them in reply, Have ye not SECT. and said unto them, read, (Gen. i. 27.) that God, the Almighty and All-wise Creator, from the very beginning of the creation, when he would not fail to consti- XIX. 4. tute human nature in such a way as might be most conducive to its happiness, in forming the first parents of mankind made them male and female, or one man and one woman? which would neither allow of divorce or polygainy. And do you not remember, that when the 5 woman was at first brought to him, the man said, as taught by an extraordinary revelahis wife and they tion concerning the ends and obligations of twain shall be one flesh. marriage, which therefore may in effect be [MARK X. 7, 8.-] looked upon as a Divine testimony, "For this cause, or on account of his engaging in the married state, shall a man leave both his father and mother, when those dear relations of parental and filial tenderness shall take place, and shall closely adhere to his wife; and they two shall be joined in so intimate an union as to become one flesh?" (Gen. ii. 24.) So 6 that it appears of thus joined together, persons that they are no longer two, but one flesh, and together, let not man should accordingly regard each other as memput asunder. [MARK bers of one body. What God therefore has thus X-8, 9.] 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What there fore God hath joined 7 They say unto closely yoked together let not man separate; but They say unto him, by way of objection against 7 him, Why did Moses this, Why then did Moses, under Divine direc then which we render some uncleanness, signified adultery; whereas the school of Hillel explained it of any matter of dislike. (See Seiden, Uxor. Heb. lib. iii. cap. 22.) Perhaps a medium between both, would have been a juster interpretation than either; for it is certain, that the phrase may with peculiar propriety express any blemish or disorder, which a woman might unjustly and foolishly conceal before marriage, that was afterwards discovered. At least, I think it plain from our Lord's answer, that the disciples of Sammai were mistaken; which farther appears from the provision the Mosaic law made for punishing adultery with death. The interpretation of Hillel generally prevailed; and the Pharisees concluding Christ would, as he had done before, declare against divorces for trivial Causes (Mat. v. 31, 32, and Luke xvi. 18), tion might hope to expose him to popular re- d May in effect be looked upon as a Di.. e On 124 Jesus having caused the stone to be removed, calls Lazarus forth. John saith unto him, Lord, SECT. ceased, says to him, Lord, he has been dead so him that was dead, cxl. long, that he now smells in an offensive manner; by this time he stinkfor he has been [here] no less than part of four eth: for he hath been XI. 39. days, this being the fourth since his interment. dead four days. 40 (Compare ver. 17.) Jesus says to her, Why 40 Jesus saith unto dost thou object against what I direct? Did I her, Said 1 not unto not say unto thee, that if thou wouldst believe, believe, thou shouldst thou shouldst see the glory of God remarkably dis- see the glory of God? played in a work of sigual power and mercy? 41 Then they took away the stone from the mouth of the tomb where the deceased lay. And when it was removed, Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee, that thou hast graciously heard me in those secret groan ings of soul which I have been pouring forth in 42 thy presence: And indeed I knew that thou always hearest me, and art most ready to answer all my petitions; but I now speak [thus,] because of the multitude that is standing by, that they, comparing what they hear with what they are now to behold, may have increasing and more effectual engagements to believe that thou hast 43 sent me. thee, that if thou wouldst 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead" dead was laid. And Jesus lift up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee, that thou hast heard me. 42 nd I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by, I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. 43 And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, 44 And he that was dead came forth, bound with and and foot And having said these words, he cried with a loud voice, suitable to the majestic part which he was now acting, and the dominion he had Lazarus, come forth. even in the empire of death itself, as well as that he might be heard by all the multitude that 44 were present, Lazarus, come forth. And such an almighty energy went along with his word, that immediately, according to his command, grave-clothes: and his he that was dead came forth, bound (as the dead face was bound about usually were) about [his] feet and hands with with a napkin. Jesus grave-clothes, or with several rolls and foldings of linen that were wrapt about him, but which were so far loosened by the power of Christ as to permit him to move; and his face was also bound about with a napkin. And Jesus, on his the stone lay on the top of the cave, and that coming saith on the genuineness of such antiquities. See Sands's Travels, p. 196. h He has been dead so long that he now smells, &c.] The word has the same ambiguity with this which I have used, and seems rather more decent than that in our translation, though the meaning is plainly the same.-Martha's mind seems to have been in a painful struggle, tossed with a variety of passions, which prevented a perfect consistency in her behaviour. His face was bound about with a napkin.] If the Jews buried as the Egyptians did, the Reflections on Christ's raising Lazarus from the dead. him, and let him go. 125 cxl. John saith unto them, Loose coming forth in this confined posture, says to SECT. them that stood by, Unbind him, and let him go: for nothing more was needful to be done in a miraculous way, and he had strength enough XI. 44. to walk, his health and vigour being perfectly recovered with his life. 45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. Thus was this illustrious miracle completely 45 and publicly accomplished: and such was the effect of it, that many of the Jews therefore, who had come to visit Mary, and beheld what Jesus did, were so affected with this marvellous instance of his power, that they believed on him as the Messiah. But some of them were so obsti- 46 nate and perverse, that they went away to the them what things Je- Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done, on purpose that they might inflame them, and stir them up to take some method to prevent his growing influence among the people. 46 But some of them went their ways to the Pinrisees, and told sus had done. IMPROVEMENT. 25 LET us by faith continually regard Jesus (as his discourses and Ver. actions concur to represent him) as the resurrection and the life; believing on this glorious specimen here given of it, that he can, and will finally cause all that are in the graves to hear his voice, and to come forth, (John v. 28, 29.) A most delightful thought, which we should often apply both to ourselves and to our pious friends! Let the consideration, that they are to arise in 24 the resurrection at the last day, moderate our sorrows for their removal, and forbid our mourning as others that have no hope; (1 Thess. iv. 13.) Were a resurrection on earth expected, though at the distance of several years, we should consider them only as persons absent on a long journey, and expect their return with patience and cheerfulness: but oh, how much more certain is the resurrection of the just than the issue of any of our journeys or expectations in life! We often go, in our thoughts at least, to the grave to weep; but 31 let us not forget to raise our contemplations higher, even to Jesus, 35 who here expressed such tender sentiments of compassion, and wept when he saw the tears of others, though he knew he was go the face was not covered with it, but it Went away to the Pharisees, &c.] We ing have in this a most amazing instance of |