certainly there is nothing that we can be obliged to follow him in, more than in the manner of his worshipping God. And therefore, whosoever out of any humour, fancy, or slothfulness, shall presume to neglect the public worship of God, he doth not only act contrary to Christ's example, but transgresses also his command that enjoins him to follow that example. What they who are guilty of this, will have to answer for themselves, when they come to stand before Christ's tribunal, I know not. But this I know, that all those who profess themselves to be Christians should follow Christ in all things that they can, and by consequence in this particular; and that they sin who do not.-BEVE RIDGE. He began to say unto them, This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears. -The completion of the prophecy affords strong consolation to us. We are here taught to regard Jesus as the anointed of God, sent from above, and as bringing with him the gracious offers of pardon for the guilty, peace for the miserable, and salvation for those "who are ready to perish." In this represent ation the sinful, depraved, and helpless condition of man is clearly implied; and the blessings of redemption are freely proposed to the acceptance of all who feel and lament the melancholy truth. If we pride ourselves on any fancied goodness or ability of our own, we grossly mistake our case, and overlook the grand peculiarities of the Gospel; nor can we receive those important benefits which Jesus came to bestow. He gives wisdom to the ignorant, righteousness to the guilty, sanctification to the unholy, and redemption to the miserable captive. But he confers no favour on the proud and self sufficient, who, not being sensible of their own necessities, will not submit or apply to him. We ask, then, are you "the poor" of whom the prophet speaks, poor, in a spiritual sense, as perceiving yourselves destitute of every thing really excellent? The Gospel proclaims glad tidings in your ears: Jesus brings a message of mercy to you, and bids you take "the unsearchable riches" of his grace. Or, are you distressed in mind, not on account of worldly losses, but from a conviction of your guilt and danger? Is your anguish extreme, so that under the rebuke of God's displeasure you cry out, "Thy rebuke hath broken my heart?" Jesus is commissioned to administer suitable and adequate relief. He will "bind up your wounds pouring in oil and wine"; and will continue his kind attentions to you till the cure be perfected. It is his peculiar office to "heal the broken hearted." Do you fear that the sentence of condemnation is gone forth against you, and that you are detained as "prisoners" in the hands of divine justice? Such, indeed, is your natural state; nor is there any escape possible, but by the gracious interposition of Jesus. He grants "deliverance to the captives," cancels the sentence, and proclaims a full forgiveness. Or do you bewail your spiritual bondage, under the oppression of those enemies to whom you have long been subject, and who are too strong for you? On this account also, we would direct you to look to Jesus, who alone can rescue you from this miserable servitude. He calls upon you to assert your freedom; for he says to the prisoners "Go forth;" to them that are in darkness, "Shew yourselves." (Isa. xlix. 9.) You are distressed, perhaps, by your extreme ignorance in divine things, and lament that all appears darkness and confusion to your minds. It may be that you had conceived highly of your own discernment, but are now free to confess that you are spiritually blind. It is a happy change. While you said "We see" you would have spurned at the proposal of any one to open your eyes. Now you cannot but welcome the Saviour, who "recovers the sight;" and exhorts you to "anoint your eyes with eye-salve, that Rev. iii. 18. you may see." Yet, after various struggles and painful conflicts, your distress may probably increase, if no sensible deliverance be wrought for you; and every attempt to gain your liberty may make your chains the more galling and insupportable. You are therefore fitly described as being "bruised" with your fetters. But, though you are heavily oppressed, and unable to extricate yourselves, your case is not desperate. Jesus appears with a powerful arm which shall be exerted on your behalf. He not only gives you permission to go forth, but he will himself break your bonds in sunder, release you from the tyranny of the world, the flesh, and the devil, and make you free indeed. Should the desponding fear arise, "We have sinned so long and so presumptuously, that mercy cannot now be extended to us, the time of grace is expired, this great prophet of our God will quiet your apprehension, while he preaches "the acceptable year of the Lord." In his name we can assure you, that if you return to your offended God you shall find a favourable reception. He waits to pardon and to bless you. This is the happy season prefigured by the ancient jubilee: the proclamation of the Gospel, like the joyful sound of the trumpet among the Israelites, declares that your debt is cancelled, the appointed hour of your enlargement is come, and your inheritance shall be restored. "Behold, now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation." Such is the purport of that important prophecy which our Lord applied to himself, and on which he insisted in his preaching to the Nazarenes.-ROBINSON. And all bare him witness, and wondered, &c.-They were struck with wonder; the dignity and grace of the speaker made a strong impression upon their minds. But admiration was all: they did not seriously consider his words, or believe his declarations. Their prejudices immediately appeared; and they began to cavil at the meanness and the violence of their conduct of his birth and extraction. He This was more than they could bear: "they were filled with wrath;" soon discovered the enmity of their HYMN. Jesus! transporting sound! No other name is given Thy name the sinner hears, 'Tis music in his ears, 'Tis life and victory: New songs of praise his lips employ, Oh, unexampled love! How shall we make the tidings known, Oh, for a trumpet's voice § CLXV. WESLEY. CHAP. IV. 33-44. Christ cureth one possessed of a devil, Peter's mother-in-law, and divers other sick persons. The devils acknowledge Christ, and are reproved for it. Hc preaches throughout the cities. 33 And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, e the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not. 36 And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out. 37 And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about. 38 And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her. 39 And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them. 40 Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. 41 And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son 34 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art of God. And he rebuking thou come to destroy us? I them suffered them not "to know thee who thou art; the speak: for they knew that he Holy One of God. was Christ. 35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. f And when 42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him and came unto him, and land. And he sat down, and stayed him, that he should not taught the people out of the depart from them. ship. 43 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent. 4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a 44 " And he preached in the draught. synagogues of Galilee. d Mark i. 23. Or, Away.-e ver. 41.-f Ps. xvi. 10. Dan. ix. 24. ch. 1.35.-g Mat. viii. 14. Mark i. 29.-h 5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have Mat. viii. 16. Mark 1. 32.-i Mark 1.34; & iil. 11- toiled all the night, and have Mark 1. 25, 34. ver. 34, 35.- Or, to say that they knew See § XXIX. And § XXX. Matthew VIII. 28-34. CLXVI. CHAP. V. 1—11. Christ teacheth the people out of Peter's ship: in a miraculous taking of fishes,sheweth how he will make him and his partners fishers of men. AND "it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and theiri net brake. 7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 9 For he was astonished, and and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken : 10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. |