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Reflections on the Duties of a Married, and a Single Life.

Ver. 6.

229 Let those who are married, confidering the indiffoluble Bond by which Sect. 135. GOD has joined them together, make it their conftant Care, to promote 6 the Comfort and Happiness of each other: And let them most cautiously guard against every Degree of Contention, or even of Diftafte, which might at length occafion an Alienation in their Affections, and render fo clofe a Bond proportionably grievous.

Let none rafhly run into these important Engagements, nor determine Ver. 11, 12. their Choice by light Confiderations, of a low and tranfitory Nature. And if any, on the whole, prefer the Freedom of a fingle Life, to a State, which, with its peculiar Comforts, muft neceffarily have its peculiar Cares and Trials too, let them diligently improve that Difengagement, as an Obligation to feek the Kingdom of GOD with greater Ardor, and, to pursue its Interests with more active Zeal and Application.

12.

To conclude; fince it appears in this Refpect, as well as in fome others, Mark x. 11, that the Gospel revokes fome Indulgences which the Law of Mofes gave, let us endeavour to form our Hearts by Divine Grace to a Wisdom, Serioufnefs, and Spirituality, which may fuit this nobler Difpenfation; and while we are reading the Precept of the Jewish Legiflator, let us remember we have a fublimer Master, and are to do, and forbear, more than others. (Mat. v. 47.)

SE C T. CXXXVI.

CHRIST blees the little Children, that were brought to bim, and rebukes his Difciples who would have forbid them. Mat. XIX. 13,---15. Mark X. 13,--16. Luke XVIII. 15,--17.

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MARK X. 13.

Mark X. 13.

AND while Jefus continued here, as the In- Sect. 136.
habitants of the neighbouring Country on
the Banks of Jordan found their Efteem for him
continually increasing on their Acquaintance with
him, (John x. 41, 42. pag. 221.) they brought to
bim, not only the Sick, that they might be healed,
(Mat. xix. 2. pag. 224.) but also several Infants,
[and] other young Children, who tho' they could
walk and fpeak, yet were not capable of under-
ftanding his Doctrine; that he might touch them,
[or] lay bis Hands upon them in a folemn Manner,

and

230 Children are brought to CHRIST, and his Disciples oppose it. Sect. 136,and pray for them (a); not doubting, but Prayers and [Luk. when] his Diffo acceptable to GoD as his, would prevail, both ciples [LUK. faw it, they] rebuked thofe that brought Mark X. 13. for their prefent, and future Happiness. And them. [MA T. XIX, 13. when his Difciples, and particularly the Apoftles, LUKE XVIII. 15.] who were about him, faw it, they rebuked those that brought them, as apprehending them too troublefome, and thinking it beneath the Dignity of fo great a Prophet, to concern Himfelf about fuch little Creatures, who were incapable of receiving any Inftruction from him. 14; But Jefus feeing it, "was greatly displeased, and moved with forme Degree of Indignation against his Difciples; for he had a fender Love to Children, and well knew, that a proper Notice of these might turn to fome valuable Account (6); and therefore he faid to them, 'Let the little Children alone, and do not now, or at any other convenient Time, hinder them [from] coming to me I am pleafed, rather than offended, to fee them near me; for of fuch is the Kingdom of GOD: Perfons of fuch a Character are the true Subjects of my Kingdom, and Heirs of eternal Glory, to which many little Children are received; and in Token of it, the Children of believing Parents are to be admitted into my Church by Baptism (c).

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14 But when Jefus faw it, he was much difpleafed, and faid unto them, Suffer the little Children to come unto me, and forbid, them pot: for of fuch is the Kingdom of GOD. [MAT. XIX. 14. LUKE XVIII.—16.]

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(a) Lay his Hands upon them, and pray.] This was a Rite, that was very early used, particularly by thofe who flood in any fuperior Relation, when they were praying for a Bleffing on young Perfons See Gen. xlvii. 14, 20. fee no Reafon to fay with Elfner, that they were brought to Chrift for the Cure of fome Malady for in that Cafe, it is not to be imagined, that the Difciples would have been fo inhumane as to prohibit themh.

(b) Knew, that a proper Notice of these &c.] Chriff's fhewing his Regard in fuch a Manner to them, not only must have been exceedingly pleafing to the Parents; but the Memory of this Condefcenfion might make tender and lafting Impreffions on the Children themselves; and the Sight must be very edifying and encouraging to other young Perfons, who might happen to be prefent: Not to fay, how inftructive this Gentleness to Children may be to Minifters, and how much their Ufefulness may, or might have been, promoted by a due Regard to it. Nicephorus tells us, that the celebrated Ignatius, afterwards Bishop. of Antioch, was one of thele Infants. Our Lord might reasonably be the more difpleafed with his Difciples, for endeavouring to prevent their being brought, as he had fo lately fet a Child among them, and infifted on the Neceffity of their being made conformable to it. Mat. xviii. 2, 3. Sett. 93. pag. 19.I am obliged to Dr. Scott's late Verfion, which, according to the Manner of the learned and ingenious Author, is exact to a Wonder, for the Alteration I have made here, and for fome other Changes, which I take this Opportunity of acknowledging with due, Gratitude.

(c) For of fuch is the Kingdom of GOD: &c I acknowledge, thefe Words will not of themfelves prove Infant Baptifm to be an Institution of Chrift; but if that appears from other Scriptures to be the Cafe, (which I think most probable,) there will be pro

portionable

Hedeclares, that of such is the Kingdom of GOD, and blesses em.

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231

And verily I fay unto you, as I have formerly Sect. 136. told

you, (Mat, xviii. 3, 4. Sect. 93.) and would Mark X. 15.

now have you to attend with Serioufnefs while I
repeat it, Whosoever shall not be willing to receive
the Kingdom of GOD, or the Gospel Difpenfa-
tion and the Happiness it promises, as a little Child,
divesting himself of thofe Prejudices, and thofe
fecular Views which Men contract in their riper
Years, that he may come, as it were, to the Hu-
mility and Meekness, the Simplicity and Teach-
ableness of a little Child, (compare Pfal. cxxxi. 2.)
be fhall not in any wife, or on any Terms, enter
into it, be his Genius ever fo fublime, or his Cir-
cumftances in Life ever fo confiderable.

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And having faid this, he would no longer be 16.
detained from thewing his Regard unto these little
Children, but having called them to him, and or-
dered the Infants to be brought, he took them up
in his Arms, tenderly embracing them with a holy
Complacency and Love; and as a farther Token
of the overflowing Kindnefs and Benevolence of
his Heart towards them, he laid his Hands upon
them, and blessed them, recommending them in a
folemn Manner to the Divine Bleffing and Fa-
your which accordingly defcended upon them,
to ftrengthen their Conftitutions, and to fanctify
their Hearts. And after this, he departed from
thence to another Place in the Neighbourhood,
where the young Ruler attended him, as we shall
prefently relate.

IMPROVEMENT.

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ET us make a Paufe here, that we may more attentively review Mark x, 16, this delightful and inftructive Sight; that we may fee, this compaflionate Shepherd of Ifrael, thus gathering the Lambs in bis Arms, and carrying them in his Bofom with all the Tokens of tender Regard (Ifa.

xl. 11.) rebuking his Disciples who forbad their coming, and laying his Ver. 14.

gracious

portionable Reason to believe, that our Lord might here intend fome Reference to it; and I cannot approve of rendering Tv, fuch as refemble thefe. It is the Part of a faithful Tranflator, not to limit the Senfe of the Original, nor to fix what it leaves ambiguous.

232

Reflections on the kind Regard of CHRIST to Children. Sect. 136. gracious Hands upon them to bless them. How condefcending and engaging a Behaviour! and how encouraging and amiable an Image !

Ver. 13.

Ver. 14.

Ibid.

Ver. 15.

Let his Minifters view it, to teach them a becoming Regard to the Lambs of their Flock; who fhould early be taken Notice of, and instructed; and for, and with whom, they fhould frequently pray; remembering how often Divine Grace takes Poffeffion of the Heart in the Years of Infancy, and fanctifies the Children of GoD almost from the Womb. Let every first Impreffion made upon their tender Minds be cherished; and let not those whom Chrift himself is ready to receive, be difregarded by bis Servants, who should be gentle unto all, and apt to teach. (2 Tim. ii. 24.) Let Parents view this Sight with Pleasure and Thankfulness: Let it encourage them to bring their Children to Chrift by Faith, and to commit them to him in Baptifm, and by Prayer. And if He, who has the Keys of Death and the unfeen World, (Rev. i. 18.) fee fit to remove those dear Creatures from us in their early Days, let the Remembrance of this Story comfort us; and teach us to hope, that He, who fo graciously received thefe Children, has not forgotten ours; but that they are fweetly fallen afleep in him, and will be the everlasting Objects of his Care and Love; for of fuch is the Kingdom of GOD.

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Let Children efpecially obferve this. The great and glorious Redeemer did not defpife thefe Little ones; nay, he was much difpleafed with those, who would have prevented their being brought to him. As kindly would he, no doubt, have received you, ye dear Children who read or hear this; as kindly will he ftill receive you, if you go to him in the Sincerity of your Hearts, and afk his Bleffing in humble and earnest Prayer. Tho' you fee not Chrift, he fees and hears you; he is now present with you, to receive you, to bless you, and to fave you. Happy the weakest of you, when lodged in the Arms of Chrift! nothing can pluck you from thence, or ever hurt you there.

In a Word, let us all commit ourselves to him; and let us be dif pofed to become as little Children, if we defire to enter into his Kingdom. Let us not govern ourselves by the vain Maxims of a corrupt and degenerate Age. Let not Pride, Ambition, Luft, or Avarice poffefs, torment, and inflave our Minds; but with the amiable Simplicity of Children, let us put ourselves into the wife and kind Hands of Jefus, as our Guardian, and refer ourselves to his Paftoral and Parental Care, to be clothed and fed, to be guided and difpofed of, as he shall fee fit. For this Purpose, Oh God, may we be born again by thy Spirit, and formed anew by thy Grace! fince by this Method alone we can be made meet to be Partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light, (Col. i. 12.) and be fo the Children of GOD, as to be at length the Children of the Refurrection.

SECT.

A Rich Young Man enquires the Way to Eternal Life.

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A Rich Young Man applying himself to CHRIST for Direction in the Way to Eternal Life, and afterwards parting with him out of Regard to his Poffeffions, gives our LORD an Occafion of cautioning his Difciples concerning the Danger of Riches. Mat. XIX. 16, to the End. Mark X. 17,---31. Luke XVIII. 18,----30.

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MARK X. 17.

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233

AND
ND as he went out from thence (a), into the Sect. 137.
Way to fome other Place which he designed
Mark X. 17.
to vifit, behold, a most remarkable Occurrence hap-
pened; for there came one, even a certain Magiftrate
or Ruler, who was a Young Perfon in very plen-
tiful Circumftances, running with an eager Defire
to converfe with Jefus, before he left that Place
and he no fooner was come near him, but kneeling
down to him with the humbleft Refpect, he asked
him with great Reverence and Earneftness, faying,
Good Mafter (b), I am come to thee as a most
wife and gracious Teacher, and befeech thee to
anfwer me a Question of the highest Importance:
What good Thing fhall I do, that I may inherit
Eternal Life? for nothing lies with fo much
Weight upon my Mind as this, and I am deter-
mined to fecure it at any Rate.

And Jefus upon this faid to him, Why dost thou 18
call me Good (c), whom thou regardeft only as a
Prophet fent from GOD, and doft not look upon
to be any more than a mere Man? Thou shouldst
remember

(a) As he went out from thence.] Both Matthew aud Luke relate this Story of the Young Ruler, immediately after that in the preceding Section; but Mark is more determinate than either of them in the Connection, and more circumftantial in the Narration.

(b) Good Mafter.] Wolfius obferves, that this was a Title, which the Jewish Rabbi's affected; which, if it were indeed fo, might be an additional Reafon for our Lord's Remark upon it.

(c) Why doft thou call me Good?] It is certain, that fome very ancient Manufcripts read this Claufe, Tus egalas weps To ayats; Why doft thou afk me, what good Thing is to be done? But neither the Number of Copies, nor the Turn of our Lord's Anfwer will by any means admit of fuch a Reading.

VOL. II.

Gg

(d) Thou

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