RIGHT REJOICING. 369 .. °á dom of this world John xviii. 36.) and that had not a place to lay his head on, (Matt. viii. 20.) commanded him that had presumed to tempt him with all the kingdoms and the glory of the world ! (Matt. iv. 8, 9.) and that not only by thebare word of his mouth, but by the wordof his meanest, most despised messen- gers; which made the people stand amazed, saying, What manner of man is this? 8. It was a victory tending to the successes of the gospel, to convince the unbelieving world, and so to enlarge the kingdom of Christ, and to save the people's souls. 9. And also from so great a work it was no small honor that accrued to the instruments ;. an honor which, in its proper place, they might lawfully regard. 10. And all this was aggravated by the congruency of the mer- cy to the low, despised condition of the instruments, (and of Christ himself) when they were destitute of all common advan- tages and means for the carrying on of ,so great and necessary a work, surpassing all the strength of flesh : how seasonable was it that the omnipotency of Heaven should then appear for them, and thus engage itself for their success ! So that in all this you may easily see that here was abundant matter for a rational, warrant- able joy to the disciples. II. But where, then, was their fault? And what was that joy which Christ forbade them? Answer. Having already told you in general, I shall tell you more particularly. 1. They looked too much at the matter of dominion over the subjected and ejected devils, and relished most delightfully the external part. As the Jews looked for à Messiah that should come in grandeur, and bring the nations under his dominion, so the disoiples, that had yet too much of these conceits, began to be lifted up with the ex- pectation of some earthly glory, when they saw the powers of hell submit, and Christ thus begin with the manifestation of his omnip- otency. But the great end of these miracles they too much over- looked : they too much left out of their rejoicings the appearances of God, the advantages of faith, the promotion of the spiritual kingdom of Christ, and the greater mercies of the gospel, as to themselves and others. 2. They took too great á, share of honor to themselves, being more affected to see what great things theywere made the instru- ments to accomplish, than what honor did thereby accrue to God and benefit to man; and thus, while they arrogate too much to themselves, and' withal too much overlook those higher, greater mercies, to which all their miracles were but means, they deserv- edly fall under Christ's reproof; and he is employed in the cure of their diseased joys, by amputationof the superfluities, and,rec-
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=