Baxter - Houston-Packer Collection BS2096.A1 1701 .P3

th. l< r. Who yobn was, St. Matthew. and howgreat. Ch. x t: yea, if they do but love them, and would re- ceive them if they could, God taketh it as done. 2. But by the fame reward, is meant the fame in kind, but not in degree. 3. And by a Righteous man, is meant an eminent godly man ; and that he that loveth fuch, and entertaineth them, tallbe numbred with the truly Righteous: But it meaneth not that everywicked liver ¡hall fpeed as the Righte- cu's,if he will but receive (itch,tho' he amend not himfelf But he that loveth a good Man becaufe he is fuch, and iheweth by receiving him, thó to his colt and danger, that his love is fmcere, ¡hall benumbred with fuck himfelf. 42. And whofoever (hall give to drink unto one of thefe little ones, a cup of cold water only, in the name of a difciple, verily I fay un- to you, he (hall in no wife lofe his reward. 42. He that loveth a Chriftian as-fuch) more than his Riches, and would give him more if he had it; if he give but a Cup ofcoldWater, to the pooreft weakeft Chriflian, becaufe he is a Chriflian, ¡hall not lofe the Reward that I bere promife: Note, t. What a fare way of ufury hath Chril taught all Believers? He is an unbe- liever who thinks he Shall be a lofts by any obedience to ChtiR. z. It is not the Rich only that (hall have the reward of Charity, but the Poor alto that do their beR, and would give if they were able. g. It is not only Charity to Preachers and rare Perfons, but to the IeaR Chriftians, that Clara} will reward. 4. Thereforeit is not only flandering, revi- ling, and perfecuring the eminent Servants of Chril, but even the little ones, and weak Chri- Rians, that ChtiR will condemn: And it will be a miferable pretence, to fay, they were er- roneous, or faulty, ( perhaps for diffenting from the di&area of Ufurpers) as ifany Men were free from all Error. CHAP. XI. r. Nd it came to pats, when A Jefus had made an end of commanding his twelve difciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. r. Having given his twelve Difciples their Inftru&ions, he went about alfò to preach himfelf. a. NowwhenJohn had heard in the ptifbn the works of Chrifl, he fent two of his difciples. 3. And Paid. unto him, Art thou he that fhould come, or do we look for another ? 2, 3. Note, leis doubtful whether (Yohn be- ing in Prifon, and notfeeingJefus) the'mean. ing be, Art thou the fame leans that I baptized, ere.? Or, (as is more likely) that he font his Difciples,that they might be convinced by more than Yohn's Teftimony. 4. Jefus anfwered and faid unto them, Go andPhew John again thofe things which you do hear and fee. g. The blind receive their fight, and the lame walk, the lepers are clean- fed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raifed up, and the poor have the gofpel preached to them. 6. And bleffed is he whofoever !hall not be offended in me. 4, t, a. It is not my bare word, but any Works that Shall anfwer you : It is by theFruit that the Treemalt be known : Themiraculous works of DivinePower are done, and theworks ofLove to Mens Bodies, and theGofpel of Sal- vation is preached for their Souls. And thefe being God's Works, are God's Teltaimonywhat I am. And yet the meannefsofmyappearance, and my contempt and fuffering from Men, will be to many, a Rumbling- block, and make the work of believing difficult; and blefred are they that believe notwithftanding all thefe difficulties. 7. And as they departed, Jefus began to fay unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wildernefs to fee ? A reed shaken with the wind ? 8. But what went ye out for to fee ? A man clothed in foft raiment ? behold, they that wear foft clothing are in kings houfes. 9. But what went ye out for to fee ? A prophet ? yea, I fay unto you, and more then a pro- phet. 9, i, 9. Jefus took this occafion to defcribe John to the People s Paying, What went you to john in the Wildernefs to fee? not a Toy like a ShakenReed ? Nor yet a pompous Gallant in gay cloaths t fuch be not in Wilderneffes but in King's Houles: you'll lay, .A Prophet: Yes, and greater than any foregoing Prophets; a nearer Meffenger of the Kingdomof God. re, For this is he of whom it is- wiitten, Behold, I fend mymefènger before thy face, which !hall prepare thy way before thee. to. For

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