-------r--------------------------------------------- 596 Book IV. Part,3. Lc~king untD 1efNJ. Chap.z.Sett.z ver. 9· p,ov.16.4 Jam 4·3 · hi! was w~ll ~potent to fee th~: works and miracles of Jefus Cbri(t. 2. Whatever his. qu~fiions v.:ere, he nn{wered him nothing :. many reafo-ns are gtven m forthts, as I. Becaufe he enquired only in curiofity'· and with no true intent o·r end; · concerning whtch f<~.t~h ~he · w1fc:marr, Anfwer not a f oole ar;cwding to his folly, ana Jf M ~and receive not (faith [ames) becaufe yuuk.§ amif{e. 2. Becaufe Chri.ft had no need ~f · defenc~ at all ;· let them go about to apologrz.e that are afratd, or-gutlty of death. as for Chrift he defpifeth theiraccufations by his very filence. '3. Becaufe Herod had the yeare before put 'fohn the Baptift to death, who was that voyce crying in th.e wj/c/ernef[e, now that voyce being gone, Chrift the Word will be filent, he will not give a wordJ 4• BecaYfc; Herod had been fottiihly careleJJe of Jefus Chrift, he lived in the place where Jefus more efpecially had converfc:d, yet never had feen his perfon, or heard l1is Sermons. It gives us to leaine thus much ; that if we neglect the opportunities of grace, and refufe to heare the voyce of Chrift in the time ofmer- 'Y, Chrift may r~:fufe to fpeak one word ofcomfort to us in our time 9f need; ifwe during our time ftop oar eares, God will in his time ftop his mouth, ana {hut up the fprings ofgrace, that we thallxecctive no )!efrcihment, no inftrudion, no pardon, no falvfltion. 5. ]3ecaufe Chrifr was refolved to be obedient to his Fathers ordinance, he was refolved to fubmit to the doome of death with patience and Glence; for this purpofe be came into the world, that he might fuffer in our ftea<f, and for our fins, and therefore he would l)Ot pleade his·own caQfe, .nor defend his own innocency in any kinde; be knew that we were guilty, though himfelfe was not. 3. This filence they interP,ret for fimplicity, and fo r. They defpifed him , flnd 2. They difmift him; and Herod with his tntn of war f(t him at naught, al!d mock.,ed kim, , <~nd arayed him in a gorgeom robe and.fent him again to Pil11te. They arrayed him with awhite, glittering,,.gorgeous rayrnent: the word )l.tJ.p_'lfe;~. Lignifies gorgeom, bright, refjlendent, foch as Nobles and Kings ufed to weare: the Latinsfometimes render it JPleHdidam veflem, and fometi:mes tapdid11m, or albumvefhm, we tranibte it a gorgeous rebe, and the antients call it a white rob~ ; in iinitation whcreQf the baptifed were wont to put on a white rayment · - - --- · · · which
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=