Ch. v. 1. After this there was a feast of the Jews. And Jesus went up to Jerufalem. By many this is thought to be the Paflover. By others it is reckoned fome other feaft between the laft mentioned and the next Paffever of our Lord's ministrie. However that may be, at this season our Lord healed the lame man at the pool of Bethesda, on the Sabbathday, and bid him carry his bed, and go home. Therefore did the Jews perfecute Fefus, and fought to flay him, because he had done these things on the Sabbath Day. But Jefus answered them: My Father worketh hitherto. And I work. ver. 16. 17. The Jews charge him with blafphemie. Our Lord vindicates himself, and claims the character of the Meffiah in high terms. And affures them, that all judgement had been committed unto the Son, meaning himself, the Meffiah: that all men might honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. ver. 21. . 23. And, for proof, he refers to their scriptures, the teftimonie of John, and the works, which he had wrought among them, in the Father's name. ver. 24. · · 47.

Ch. vi. 1... 3. We perceive, our Lord to be in Galilee, whither he had gone from Judea. Then at ver. 4. And the Paffover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. After which follows the miracle of the five loaves and two fishes, for feeding five thousand. Then, thofe men, when they had feen the miracle, which Jefus did, faid: This is of a truth that Prophet, which should come into the world: or the expected Meffiah. Their notion of the kingdom, belonging to that character, being worldly and carnal, and they looking for worldly advantages, would have come, and taken him by force, to make him a King. So that our Lord found it needful to depart into a mountain himself alone. The difciples in the mean time took fhipping, and he came to them walking upon the fea. When they had received him, immediatly the fhip was at the land, whither they were going. ver. 14...21. The people having been disappointed, came to him as foon as they could at Capernaum. Where our Lord takes an opportunity to reprove their carnal temper, and inftructs them in the defign of the Meffiah, and the nature of his kingdom. And still taking upon himself that character, and requiring faith in him as fuch, he fays: I am the bread of life... And this is the will of him that fent me, that every one which feeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life. I am the living bread, which came down from heaven. If any man eat this bread, he fhall live for ever, And the bread that I will give him is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world... Many therefore of his difciples went back, and walked no more with him. But Peter, in the name of the Twelve, and poffibly, in the name alfo of fome others, followers of Jefus, faid: To whom shall we go? Thou haft the words of eternal life. And we believe, and are fure, that thou art the Chrift, the Son of the living God. ver. 22... 69.

Ch. vii. 1. 2. After these things Jefus walked in Galilee. For he would not walk in Judea, because the Jews fought to kill him. Now the Jews feaft of Tabernacles was at hand.... 14. Now about the midst of the feast, Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. Ver. 25. 26. Then faid fome of them of Jerufalem... Do the rulers know indeed, that this is the very Chrift? Ver. 31. And many of the people believed on him, and faid: When Chrift cometh, will be do more miracles than thefe, which this man has done? Ver. 37.38. In

In the last day, the great day of the feaft, Jefus flood, and cried: If any man thirst, let him come to me, and drink... He speaks of himself in the character of the Meffiah, and calls on all men to come to him, as fuch, and receive the great bleffings, which he is able to beflow. And at ver. 40. 41. Many of the people therefore, when they heard this faying, faid: This is the Prophet. Others faid: This is the Chrift.

Ch. viii. 12... 23. Our Lord is ftill at Jerufalem. And at ver. 12. Then Spake Jefus unto them, faying: I am the light of the world: claiming the character of the Meffiah, and declaring alfo the advantages of believing in him, and the fad confequence of not receiving him. Ver. 21. Then faid Fefus again unto them. I go my way, and ye shall jeek me, and fhall die in your fins. Ver. 24. I faid therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your fins. For, if ye believe not, that I am he, the Meffiah, ye shall die in your fins: that is, ye will bring upon yourselves heavie judgements and calamities. Ver. 47. He that is of God, heareth God's words. Ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God... Ver. 56. your father Abraham rejoyced to fee my day. . . . Does not our Lord in all this propose himself to them, as the Meffiah, require their faith in him, as such, and plainly intimate the calamities, that would befall them, if they fhould continue to reject him?

Nor is there any inconsistence in what is here obferved, and the accounts of the other Evangelifts. After Peter had made a profeflion of his faith, it is faid Matt. xvi. 20. Then charged be his difciples, that they fhould tell no man, that he was the Chrift. And compare Mark viii. 30. and Luke ix. 21. Nevertheless, he was not unwilling to be thought of in that character. When Simon Peter had faid by way of anfwer to the queftion that he had been put to the difciples, thou art the Chrift, the Son of the living God: our Lord was greatly pleafed, and pronounced him bleffed upon that account. And he was defirous, that all should receive him, as the Meffiah. It was the defign of his own, and his forerunner's preaching, as recorded in all the Evangelifts, the first three, as well as St. John. They called upon all men to repent, for the kingdom of heaven, or of God, by the Meffiah, is at hand. So Mark 1. 14. 15. And himfelf fays: Matt. xii. 28. If I caft out demons by the Spirit of God, then is the kingdom of God come unto you. And Luke xvii. 21.

Behold, the kingdom of God is among you, or in the midft of you, not within you, as we render it. But he tells them, that the kingdom of the Melliah was already begun to be fet up among them. When our Lord was baptized, there came a voice from heaven, faying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleafed. Or, this is the Meffiah. As recorded by all the first three Evangelifts. Matt. iii. 17. Mark i. 11. Luke iii.. 22. And in them our Lord accepts applications to him, and confeffions of faith in him, in the character of the Son of David, and the Son of God, 'both which are the fame as the Meffiah. Of the former there are many instances. Of the later I mention one. Matt. xiv. 33. Then they that were in the hip, came, and worshipped him faying; Thou art the Son of God. And when he entred into Jerufalem, he accepted the acclamations of the multitude, which cried: Hofanna to the Son of David: Bleed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed is the King that cometh in the name of the Lord. Matth. xxi. I, 16. Mark xi. I... 11. Luke xix. 28... 40.

He

He fometimes laments the small fucceffe of his preaching, and that so few received him. But acquiefceth in the event. As in Luke vii. 31.

...

35. Matth. xi. 16... 26. Luke x. 21... 24. And he even expreffeth a surprize, that the Pharifees, and others, did not difcern the figns of the time. Matt. xvi. I... 4. Mark viii. 11... 13. Luke xii. 54... 57. And every one may easily perceive the reason, why he did not allow the difciples, or fome others, to fay publicly, that he was the Meffiah. For confidering that the Jewith People in general, and the difciples, themselves, expected a worldly kingdom and worldly advantages from the Meffiah; there needed fomne difcretion, left men should have been led to make tumults and disturbances, which might have been offenfive to the magiftrate. But when our Lord fpoke of himself, as the Meffiah, he always inculcated the true defign of his coming, and gave affurances of spiritual and heavenly bleffings, and fuch only. Our Lord still continues at Jerufalem. Ch. ix. I. .. 41. is the hiftorie of the man blind from his birth, whom our Lord healed, anointing his eyes with clay, moistened with his fpittle. And it was the Sabbath-day, when fefus made the clay, and opened his eyes. The man being brought before the Pharifees, and examined by them, faid, that he who had opened his eyes was a Prophet. And they caft him out. Jefus beard, that they bad caft him out. And when he had found him, he faid unto him: Doeft thou believe on the Son of God? He answered, and faid: Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? Jefus faid unto him: Thou haft both feen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he faid: Lord, I believe, and he worshiped him. All this needs no comment. Afterwards at ver. 39. .. 41. are intimations given to the Pharifees of the fad confequences of rejecting him. And indeed in this hiftorie the bad temper of the Jewish Rulers is very manifeft.

Ch. x. Our Lord speaks of himself as the true shepherd, or the Meffiah. Ver. 11. I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd giveth his life for the beep. Ver. 16. And other fheep I have, which are not of this fold. Ver. 22. .. 24. And it was at Ferufalem the feast of the Dedication. And it was winter. And Jefus walked in the temple, in Solomon's porch. Then came the Jews round about him, and faid unto him: How long doeft thou make us to doubt! If thou be the Chrift, tell us plainly. Jefus answered them: I told you, and ye believed not. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witneffe of me. A very proper anfwer, certainly. And what follows to ver. 38. deferves to be confulted.

Ch. x. 39... 42. Therefore they fought again to take him, but he escaped out of their hand. And went away beyond Jordan, unto the place, where John at first baptized. And there abode. And many reforted unto him, and Jaid: John did no miracles. But all things, that John spake of this man, were true. And many believed on him there.

I suppose this retreat of our Lord to a place beyond Jordan, to be the fame that is mentioned Matth. xix. 1. and Mark x. 1. upon which fome remarks were made (h) many years ago. What paffed during that interval in that countrey, is recorded Matt. xix. 1. . . . to xx. 1... 16. and Mark X. I. 31. Nor was St. Luke unacquainted with this re

treat.

(b) See the Vindication of our Saviour's three Miracles of raifing the dead. Ch. į. p. 18... 22. first ed. p. 32... 37. 2d edit.

treat. For he has inferted in his Gospel at ch. xviii. 15... 30. fome of the fame difcourfes, which are in the other two Evangelifts, whilst our Lord was there. I fay, I fuppofe, that St. John and the other Evangelifts speak of one and the fame receffe. But St. John feems to mention more particularly the occafion of it, in the verfes juft recited.

In this place, and interval, our Lord lived fomewhat more privatly, than he had done before. He received all who came to him, either for inftruction, or to be healed by him. But he did not go about the cities and villages of Judea, preaching publicly, as he had done for fome while before.

I always fuppofed, that our Lord's living thus, in that place, at no great diftance from Jerufalem, had in it a kind defign. He intended thereby to afford to the Jewish People, efpecially, their Priests and Rulers at Jerufalem, an opportunity to confider, and calmly reflect upon all the wonderful things that had happened among them in the space of a few years, the preaching and baptifm of John, and all the things faid and done by himself in the courfe of his miniftrie, particularly, the miracles which he had wrought among them, the claims, which he had made of being the promiled Meffiah, whom all ought to receive, and the intimations that had been given of impending ruin and miferie.

Here our Lord waited, willing to reft the proof of his miffion upon the teftimonies, that had been given to it. And if the Rulers of the Jewish People had now come, and folemnly owned him in the character, he bore, and with which God had clothed him, how joyfully would they have been received! But they were not fo difpofed. Great multitudes of the people came to him there, and he healed them. The Pharifees alfo came unto him. But it was tempting him. Matth. xix. 1. 2. 3. Mark x. 1. 2.

But befide what is recorded by the other Evangelifts, St. John affures us, that in this interval our Lord came to Bethanie, about fifteen furlongs, or two miles, from Jerufalem, and there raifed Lazarus to life. ch. xi. I... 44. Then many of the Jews, which came to Marie, and had feen the things which Jefus did, believed on him: that is, that he was the Chrift. But fome of them went their way to the Pharifees, and told them, what things Fefus had done. ver. 45. 46. Then gathered they a Council. ... Then from that day forth, they took counsel together, for to put him to death. ver. 47... 53. This fhews, that they were inflexible, and not to be gained by any confiderations.

It follows in ver. 54. Jefus therefore walked no more openly among the Fews: but went thence into a country near the wildernesse, into a city called Ephraim. And there continued with his difciples. Which (*) I fuppofe, was not far from the place, from which our Lord came laft. And from this city, called Ephraim, our Lord came to Bethanie again, by the way of Jericho, a fhort time before the next Paffover, as related by the other Evangelifts. We proceed.

Says St. John ch. xi. 55... 57. And the Jews Paffover was now at

hand.

(*) Vid. Reland. Palaft. l. i. cap. 56. Tom. i. p. 377. et Lenfant fur S. Jean. ch. xi. ver. 54•

hand... Now both the Chief-Priests and the Pharifees bad given a commandment, that if any knew where he was, he should fhew it, that they might take him. That is a proof of a determined purpose to accomplish their evil defigns against Jesus.

The whole following xii, chapter of this Gofpel deserves attentive regard. I must tranfcribe a part, though it adds to the length of these extracts. Then Jefus, fix days before the Paffover, came to Bethanie, where Lazarus was, who had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. xii. I Much people of the Jews therefore knew, that he was there. And they came, not for fefus fake only, but that they might fee Lazarus alfo, whom he had raifed from the dead. But the Chief-Priefs confulted, that they might put Lazarus alfo to death: because that by reafon of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jefus, ver. 9... II. And here is an account of fome Greeks, or Gentils, who were defirous to fee Jefus. ver. 20.... 22. Whose readinesse, accompanied with humility, may be reasonably understood to cast a reflexion upon the pride and obftinacie of those, who were unmoved by the most powerful arguments, and the most gracious invitations. The remainder of that chapter, from ver. 35. to 50. is a moft proper conclufion of this part of the Gofpel, in which are these things very obfervable. Then Jefus faid unto them: Yet a little while the light is with you. Walk while ye have the light, leaft darknesse come upon you.... While ye have the light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.... But though he had done fo many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: that the faying of Efaias might be fulfilled. Fefus cried, and faid: He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that fent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me, fhould not abide in darknesse... I have not spoken of myself. But the Father which fent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should speak. And I know, that his commandment, is life everlasting. Whatfoever I speak therefore, even as the Father faid unto me, fo I speak.

....

Then in the xiii, xiv. xv. xvi. and xvii. chapters our Lord instructs and comforts, prays with and for his difciples: fhewing (i) tokens of the tenderest affection, and the most faithful concern for thofe, who had paid a due regard to the evidences of his miffion, and adhered to him under difficulties and difcouragements. So begins the next, that is, the thirteenth chapter: Now before the feaft of the Paffover, when Jefus knew, that his hour was come, that he should depart out of the world unto the Father: having loved his own, which were in the world, he loved them unto

the end.

And indeed it was very natural for the Evangelift, who had largely fhewn the unreasonableneffe, and the aggravated guilt of the Jews, who did not believe in Jefus, but rejected him, to give alfo a particular account of our Lord's kind acceptance of those who believed in him, and perfevered in their faith."

So that the design of shewing, how inexcufable the Jewish People

were,

(i) Sicut vero hactenus feveritatem Domini in Judæos defendit Evangelifta, ita in fequentibus a capite xiii. ad finem ufque fidelitatem Chrifti illibatam, quam difcipulis fuis addixit, ex ultimis verbis adferit. Hæc intentio haud obfcure addifcitur ex nova, que alteri hujus Evangelii parti præfigitur, præfatiuncula. cap. xiii. 1.... Lamp. Prol. 1. 2. c. 4, núm. xxxvi.