unto the chief priests all the confirm a doctrine which they would things that were done. 12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, 13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. 14 And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. 15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. 16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. i ch. xxvi. 32. ver. 7. READER. They gave large money unto the soldiers, saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.-These men had entertained in their hearts an aversion from our Saviour's person and character, because of the humble condition in which he appeared; -they hated his doctrine, because it discovered their vile hypocrisy, and required such a righteousness as far exceeded that they boasted of; they decried his miracles, because they were wrought to not receive-in short, they proceeded so far, at last, as by false accusations and false witnesses to take away his life; and, being thus prejudiced against him, they could not hear of his resurrection from the dead, but with the utmost disdain and vexation of mind; for this made them murderers, at least, of a person beloved by God, who otherwise would not have raised him to life again, after they had crucified him. These things put them upon the vile act set down in the text,-to hire men to set abroad a lie, which they themselves had forged. And there is nothing, in this whole proceeding, which is not natural, and which is not acted every day by men who are given over to a mind void of judgment. They hate the persons and characters of such as plainly reprove them; they hate the doctrines which would restrain them from following their own inclinations ;-and by these prejudices are prepared to do the vilest thing to discredit what they hate so bitterly. Now, these passages are recorded in the Gospel and in other Scriptures, not to make us find fault with others, but that we may discover the corruption of our own hearts, by the faults we may observe in other people. And in this instance we learn how very hard it is, when we have done a weak or an ill thing, to be brought to own it, and to confess that we have been in the wrong. The Jews here would not consider what a wicked thing they had done, and how bitterly they ought to repent of it, if this person whom they had crucified were indeed, what he said he was, the Son of God. If what the soldiers said were true, it was manifest he was more than man; and yet, they durst not inquire into the truth of this, because it would necessarily create them great trouble of mind; they therefore took the short and usual way to get rid of the shame and confusion which attends conviction; they gave out that Christ was not risen, but that his disciples had stolen him away,and they hired others to say the same thing;-hoping by this means to get quit of the shame of having murdered an innocent person. As for the guilt of such an act, such persons seldom lay that to heart. Now, what are we to learn from all this? Why, in the first place, never to take up a prejudice against a thing or person, without reason; for it is plain we cannot lay it down when we please. There is no question of it, but these very elders, who agreed to give money to propagate a lie of their own making, yet spoke what they thought when, but three days before, they mockingly told our Saviour that, if he would but come down from the cross, they would believe him to be the Messiah. Alas, we do not know what will convince a mind averse from the truth! For though God was not pleased to gratify the demands of those wicked men, and to satisfy them after their own way (because he knew nothing would convince them), yet when he did that very thing, which they said would satisfy them, after a more wonderful way,when he had suffered him to die upon the cross, and to be buried in their sight,-when their malice and their caution could go no further,then God took him out of their hand, raised him to life, made their own watch witnesses of his resurrection, which was a much greater miracle than they demanded,-yet they did not believe, but very wickedly attempted to pervert the truth by bribing the watch. And here we have another instance, in this watch, of the corruption and deceitfulness of all our hearts. It was but just before that they were so terrified with the sight of an angel, that they became as dead men; and one would have thought that they would not so soon have forgotten their fears, or be tempted with the greatest reward to set about a lie, which they very well knew to be so. But while we wonder at this, we do not consider that this is too often acted by ourselves. The providence of God brings us into troubles, or terrifies us with his judgments; and yet no sooner are we recovered of our fears but we return to our old ways, and are ready for any wickedness the tempter shall lead us into. When, therefore, we resent the hard heartedness either of the Jews, or their watch,-when we wonder at them,— let us look to ourselves, lest we be guilty of the same crimes of which we accuse them; let us consider that the Son of God may be crucified again, and put to open shame; that this is often done, not by the Jews, his professed enemies, but by Christians who are called by his name. Let us consider that if we live as if we were never to rise again, we do, as much as in us lieth, baffle all the arguments and proofs which God has given us of our Saviour's, and of our own, resurrection. It is true, Christ is risen from the dead, and will come again to judge the world in righteousness; this is true, and will come to pass, whether we believe it or not. But yet we may, by our wicked lives, very much hinder the effects this truth ought to have upon all that hear of it; and so far we are guilty of the same sin the Jews are branded for. But truth will get the better of falsehood, let who will combine to stifle it. And God will be glorified in the destruction of those who shall despise the means he has ordained for their salvation. We see this plainly in the instance before us; and while God, the God of truth, governs the world, it must be so.— WILSON. Aad when they saw him they worshipped him. It is added, "but some doubted," i. e. did not suffer themselves to believe, at first, that it was really the same Jesus who had been crucified and buried. A remarkable proof of the caution with which they proceeded, and of the absence of credulity as to matters of fact. How valuable is the testimony of these honest men! And how thankful should we be that it pleased the great head of the church to employ such instruments in propagating his religion.-Let us follow the example of those who saw and believed. Let us contemplate the risen Saviour with the eye of faith; and consider how great reason we have to worship him, and magnify his holy name.— EDITOR. His resurrection after his bloody sacrifice is a clear evidence of the sweetness of its savour with God, and its sufficiency for us. He was not totally swallowed up by Divine justice; but he surmounted all the strokes of it, and lifted up his head above the waves that surrounded him. The fetters of death had not been unlocked, if his sacrifice had not been satisfactory. The justice of God might as well have discharged him without any sacrifice at all, as discharged him upon an insufficient one. The freedom, therefore, of the prisoner from his chains is an evidence of the full satisfaction of the debt, and the completeness of the sacrifice; since it is by that God whose name hath that letter in it, "By no means to clear the guilty." Exod. xxxiv. 7. He was appeased as an offended Lawgiver, before he gave a judicial discharge as the supreme Governor, unloosed the chains of death, sent an angel as his officer to unlock the prison doors, the grave, and set him at full liberty, no more to be arrested. There could be in this case no forcible breaking of prison, he being in the hands of the Almighty God who had as much power to keep him in the chains of death, had his sacrifice been blemished, as he had to free him, when his sacrifice was spotless. Justice, therefore, is fully satisfied, since the "pains of death are unloosed," Acts ii. 24, 25; for it was not possible he should be holden of them, because the truth of God was engaged that his " Holy One should not see corruption." and in Since it If all men in the world were united to him by faith, there could not be any more required of Christ for their salvation than what he hath already acted; for it is a sacrifice of infinite value, finite knows no limits. was sufficient to satisfy an infinite justice, it is sufficient to save an inexpressible number; and the value of it in saving one, argues a virtue in it to save all upon the same condition. Who will question the ability of an almighty power to raise all men from death to life, one that hath raised man from death to life by the speaking of a word? If, therefore, men perish, it is not for want of value, or virtue, or acceptableness in this sacrifice, but for want of answering the terms upon which the enjoyment of the benefit of it is proposed. If a man will shut his eyes against the light of the sun, it argues an obstinacy in the person, not any defect in the sun itself.-CHARNOCK. HYMN. The happy morn is come: Captivity is captive led, For Jesus liveth, that was dead. Who now accuses them For whom their surety died? Who now shall those condemn Whom God has justified? Captivity is captive led, For Jesus liveth, that was dead. Christ hath the ransom paid; By him our victory won. For Jesus liveth that was dead! § XCVII. CHAP. XXVIII. 18-20. came 18 And Jesus and spake unto them, saying, * All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 'Go ye therefore, and mteach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost : 20" Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. A Dan. vii. 13, 14, ch. xi. 27; & xvi. 28. Luke i. 32; & x. 22. John iii. 35; & v. 22; & xiii 3; & xvii. 2. Acts ii. 36. Rom. xiv. 9. 1 Cor. xv. 27. Eph. i. 10, 21. Phil. ii. 9, 10. Heb. i. 2; & ii. 8. 1 Peter iii. 22. Rev. xvii. 14.- Mark xvi. 15.-m Is. lii, 10. Luke xxiv. 47. Acts ii. 38, 39. Rom. x. 18. Col. i. 23.—| Or, make disciples, or, Christians of all nations.-n Acts ii 42. Reader. These words may be thus explained, by way of paraphrase:-After these and other appearings to them, Jesus said, As I have died to redeem the world in order to the ends of my undertak- labours and sufferings, as if you ing, the Father hath given me an universal propriety and governing power by the right of redemption, as chief administrator under him in heaven and in earth. So that henceforth all the concerns of men in this world and the other are at my disposal; and all men under my government by right and obligation. By which authority I now commission you to go abroad into the world, and make all nations (to the uttermost of your power) my disciples; taking them into my church by solemn covenant, celebrated by baptizing them into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. And when you have baptized them, and so united them to me and my universal church, (upon their understanding professed faith and repentance, and dedication of their children to me), then congregate them in order under faithful pastors. And as you, as general teachers to all the churches, must deliver to them all the commands which I have committed to your trust (by word and writing), so these pastors must further instruct them that they may grow up in knowledge of all these my commands. And in the performance of this charge, I shall, by the help of my Spirit and protection, be present with you and such pastors in their course, to the end of this world (or age), till I shall come in glory to the final judgment. Though you see me not, I shall be as really assisting to you, and regardful of you, even in your saw me. NOTE 1. Christ's right of dominion and empire is founded in the Father's covenant with him as Redeemer.- And, being universal Lord, redemption is so far universal, as to prove these and other common effects. "To this end Christ died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living." Rom. xiv. 19. 2. The word translated 'teach,' signifieth 'disciple to me,' or 'make (nations) my disciples.' 3. All Christians should endeavour to make Christianity the national religion, that the kingdoms of the world may become the kingdoms of the Lord, and of his Christ; that is, that they may be Christian kingdoms, and not only Christians gathered out of kingdoms. 4 This maketh not all to be Christians who are in those kingdoms, but only such as are discipled. 5 Infants being part of all kingdoms, this text commandeth to disciple and baptize them. They are made disciples by being justly dedicated to Christ, (by those who have true power to dispose of them) to learn of him, and obey him as they grow up and are capable. As Christ was relatively head of the church in his infancy, when his human nature was not capable of the actual administration, so are infants capable of being disciples by covenant dedication (by those that have the disposal of them for their good, and can covenant for |