Chap. 28. eon Expofition upon the Book of Jo B. Verf. 21. 297 ple, told therm that beautiful) fabrick ibould beutterly defiroy- ed (c_Mat.24. 2.) Verily, Ifay untoyou, there ¡hall not be left here one /lone upon another that (hall not be thrown down. They were not farisfied with knowing what Chrifi told them, but en- quire further (v. 3.) t ell ua when (hall there things be ? and what ¡hall be the fign ofthy coming, and of the end of the world. It did not contest them to know what fhould be, unlefs they might al- to know hen it fhould be, with the immediate fymptomes and prefaces of chofe great revolutions. They thought when the-Tem- pieended, the world mufi end too,and their Mater muff appear in glory ; and therefore they urge him to inform them of the very ntckof time, when thefe things fhould come to pafs.And we find, that Chrifi did condefcend far to their importunity in giv- ing them many figns both of the dcfiruetion of the Temple, and of the end ofthe world, yet would not tell them the fpecial time of thofe things, but concludes hisdifcourfe with a lock upon that fecret (v. 36.) Of that day and hour knowetb no man, no not the Angels ofheaven but my father only. M if he had Paid, /per- ceive ye bave a mind to knowwhat the angels know not, yea (as he adds, Marks 3. I 3 2.) what the Son, or myfelfknow not at this time, or according corny prefentflateofhumiliation. Even good men have fometimes a fironger defire to know the times, then to redeem the time ; as allo to know what concerns oche's, then what concerns themfelves. The Apofile peter was not facisfieca, that Chrifi had told him how himfelfihould be dealt with in his old age,búclaurs that curious Quefiìcn (john 2I. 2 t .) Andwhat fhallthis man do ? (meaning it of John the beloved Difciple, who leaned,cn his mafiers breafi) yefa; faith, if 1 will thet he tarry till Icome, what is that to thee ? As if Chrifi had laid,7hat's nene of thy bufsnefs, to inquire what thisman ¡leal/doe, thou fhou'defl ra- ther be preparing for what 1now told thee, thoumuf# hereafter fufi- fer. Many they (I do not fay Peter did fo) negleol what is re- vealed, who are moli irqu`fi; ive into thofe t hmgs which God bath kept fecret. And though God corrects this humour in man by putting a bar in his way, and film ting the door upon hit-, yet man will be forcing it open. As our fir¡i parens, fo asl their pofierity are apt to be tea p ed with the forbio'den f.u:r (f the tree or knowledge. The Lawyers were charged b\ Ci?iii'or t =kirg s- wry the key ofknowledge (Lake a r. 5 a.) But there is a k..o°.s, Qq icce
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