clining the apostles to come at his call, and the owner of the ass to send her to him, upon his sending for her to which we may also add, the people's going out of the temple, upon his driving, without any civil authority, Matt. xxi. 12. And he showed his power over death itself, by raising the dead to life. Indeed, he plainly showed, that he had both perfect knowledge of, and absolute power over, all things that are: nothing came amiss to him, nothing was too hard for him; nor one thing harder than another; all things were alike easy to him; he cured the man that was born blind, as easily as if he had been but newly made so. But as the man himself said, "Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind;" John ix. 32. mere man ever did, or could do it; none but Almighty God himself: but Christ did it, and by that and all his other works demonstrated himself to No be Almighty; that he could do whatsoever he would; which is the great prerogative of God, incommunicable to any creature. Wherefore, as the Samaritans believed in him, because he had told the woman all that she ever did, John iv. 39; and the disciples, because he knew all things, John xvi. 30; how much more cause have we to believe him to be the Almighty God, the great Creator and governor of the world, seeing he did not only know all things, but could do all things, and alter the course of nature whensoever he pleased!-BP. BEVERIDGE. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? ded up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. m 14 And as Moses lifted 5 Jesus answered, Verily, up the serpent in the wilderness, verily, I say unto thee, Except even so must the Son of man a man be born of water and of be lifted the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whether it goeth so is every one that is born of the Spirit. g 9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, " How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11 "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and 'ye receive not our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? k in up: 15 That whosoever believeth him should not perish, but "have eternal life. a ch. vii. 50; & xix. 39.- ch. ix. 16. 33. Acts ii. 22.c Acts x. 38.-d ch. i. 13. Gal. vi. 15. Tit. iii. 5. Jam. i. 18. I Pet. i. 23. 1 John iii. ix. Or, from above.e Mark xvi. 16. Acts ii. 38.- Or, from above.-fEccles. xi. 5. 1 Cor. ii. 11.-g ch. vi. 52, 60.-h Mat. xi. 27. ch. i. 18; & vii. 16; & viii. 28; & xii. 49; & xiv. 24.-i ver. 32. Prov. xxx. iv. ch. vi. 33, 38, 51, 62; & xvi. 28. Acts ii. 34. 1 Cor xv. 47. Eph. iv. 9, 10.-/ Num. xxi. 9. -m ch. viii 28; & xii. 32-n ver. 36. ch. vi. 47. READER. Nicodemus Jesus by night.-God had seven thousand in Israel, when Elias thought none but himself had been came to left all are not alike venturous or confident of their strength. Nicodemus came to Christ by night, and even then Christ did not reject him. Therefore, we must not presently censure our neighbours as cold or dead, if they discover not immediately the same measure of courage and public stoutness in the profes sion of Christ with ourselves. Some men are by nature more retired, silent, unsociable, inactive men: some by the engagement of their places, persons and callings, wherein they are of more public and necessary use in the church, are put upon more abundant caution and circumspection in the moderate carriage of themselves than other men. Paul was of himself very zealous and earnest in that great confusion, 13 And no man hath ascen- when Gaius and Aristarchus were dragged into the theatre, to have gone in unto the people in that their outrage and distemper: but the wisdom of the disciples and some of his chief friends is herein commended, that they sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure into the theatre, and that they suffered him not. Acts xix. 30, 31. -BISHOP REYNOLDS. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto you, ye must be born again.Conversion is another kind of work, than most are aware of. It is not a small matter to bring an earthly mind to heaven, and to show a man the amiable excellencies of God, till he be taken up in such love to him, that never can be quenched; to break the heart for sin, and make him flee for refuge unto Christ, and thankfully embrace him as the life of his soul; to have the very drift and bent of the heart and life to be changed, so that a man renounces that which he took for his felicity, and places his felicity where he never did before; and lives not to the same end, and drives not on the same design in the world, as formerly he did. In a word, he that "is in Christ, is a new creature: old things are passed away, behold all things are become new." 2 Cor. v. 17. He He has a new understanding, a new will and resolution, new sorrows, and desires, and love, and delight; new thoughts, new speeches, new company if possible and a new conversation. Sin that before was a jesting matter with him, is now so odious and terrible to him, that he flies from it as from death, the world that was so lovely in his eyes, doth now appear but as vanity and vexation. God who was before neglected, is now the only happiness of his soul; before, he was forgotten, and every lust preferred before him; but now he is set next the heart, and all things must give place to him; and the heart is taken up in the attendance and observance of him, and is grieved when he hides his face, and and never thinks itself well without him. Christ himself, who was wont to be slightly thought of, is now his only hope and refuge, and he lives upon him as on his daily bread; he cannot pray without him, nor rejoice without him, nor think, nor speak, nor live without him. Heaven itself, that before was looked upon but as a tolerable reserve, which he hoped might serve his turn as better than hell, when he could not stay any longer in the world, is now taken for his home, the place of his only hope and rest, where he shall see, and love, and praise that God who hath his heart already. Hell, that before did seem but as a bugbear to frighten men from sin, doth now appear to be a real misery, that is not to be ventured on, nor jested with. The works of holiness which before he was weary of, and seemed to be more ado than needs, are now both his recreation and his business, and the trade that he lives upon. The Bible which was before to him but almost as a common book, is now as the law of God, as a letter written. to him from heaven, and subscribed a contrary place. So it is here, a with the name of the Eternal Majesty; it is the rule of his thoughts, and words and deeds; the commands are binding, the threats are dreadful, and the promises of it speak life to his soul. The godly who seemed to him but like other men, are now the most excellent and happy on earth. And the wicked that were his playfellows, are now his grief; and he that could laugh at their sin, is readier now to weep for their sin and misery; Ps. xvi. 3; & xv. 4. Phil. iii. 18. In short, he hath a new end in his thoughts, and a new way in his endeavours, and therefore his heart and life is new. Before, his carnal self was his end; and his pleasure and worldly profits and credit were his way; and now, God and everlasting glory is his end; and Christ is the Spirit, and word and ordinances, holiness to God, and righteousness and mercy to men, these are his way. Before, self was the chief ruler, to which the matters of God and conscience must stoop and give place; and now God in Christ, by the Spirit, word, and ministry is the chief ruler, to whom both self, and all the matters of self, must give place. So, that this is not a change in one or two, or twenty points; but in the whole soul; and the very end and bent of the conservation. A man may step out of one path into another, and yet have his face the same way, and be still going towards the same place; but it is another matter to turn quite back again, and take his journey the clean contrary way; to man may turn from drunkenness to thriftiness, and forsake his good fellowship, and other gross, disgraceful sins, and set upon some duties of religion, and yet be going still to the same end as before, intending his carnal self above all, and giving it still the government of his soul. But when he is converted, this self is denied and taken down, and God is set up, and his face is turned the contrary way; and he that before was addicted to himself, and lived to himself, is now by sanctification devoted to God, and liveth unto God. Before, he asked himself what he should do with his time, his parts, and his estate, and for himself he used them; but now he asketh God what he shall do with them, and he uses them for him. Before, he would please God, so far as might stand with the pleasure of his flesh, and carnal self, but not to any great displeasure of them. But now, he will please God, let flesh and self be ever so much displeased. This is the great change that God will make upon all who shall be saved.BAXTER. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.-The greatest part of mankind hear this subject as a story. Some are a little moved with the present sound of it, but they draw it not home into their hearts, to make it theirs, and to find salvation in it, but still cleave to sin, and love sin better, than him who suffered for it. But you whose hearts the Lord hath deeply humbled under a sense of sin, come to this depth of consolation, and try it, that you may have experience of the sweetness and riches of it. Study this point thoroughly, and you will find it answer all, and quiet your consciences. Apply this "bearing of sin" by the Lord Jesus for you, for it is published and made known to you for this purpose. This is the genuine and true use of it, as of the brazen serpent, not that the people might emptily gaze on the fabric of it, but that those that looked on it might be cured. When all that can be said, is said against you, "it is true," may you say, "but it is all satisfied, for he on whom I rest made it his, and did bear it for me." The person of Christ is of more worth than all men, yea, than all the creatures, and therefore, his life was a full ransom for the greatest offender. And as for outward troubles and sufferings, which were the occasion of this doctrine in this place, they are all made exceeding light by the removal of this great pressure. Let the Lord lay on me what he will, seeing he hath taken off my sin, and laid that on his own Son in my stead. I may suffer many things, but he hath borne that for me, which alone was able to make me miserable. And you that have this persuasion, how will your hearts be taken up with his love, "who has so loved you, as to give himself for you?" who interposed himself, to bear off from you, the stroke of everlasting death, and encountered all the wrath due to us, and went through with that great work, by reason of his unspeakable love? let him never go forth from my heart, who for my sake refused to go down from the cross.-LEIGHTON. HYMN. Love divine, all love excelling, Come, Almighty to deliver, Let us all thy grace receive; Suddenly return-and never, Never more thy temple leave: Thee may we be always blessing, Serve thee as thy hosts above, Pray and praise thee without ceasing, Triumph in redeeming love. Finish them thy new creation; Pure, unspotted may we be, Let us see our full salvation, Perfectly secur'd in thee: Chang'd from glory into glory, Till in heaven we take our place : Till we cast our crowns before thee, Lost in wonder, love, and praise. |