23 And he came 23. And there he dwelt in the City and dwelt in a city Nazareth. From whence Jefus was called Nazareth, that called a Nazarite: As the Prophets it might be fulfilled which was spoken had foretold that he should be, in by the prophets, He several Senses of that Word: And thall be called a Na- particularly, as it was prophesied in those words, Judg. xiii. 5. which were spoken of Sampson as a Type of Christ: He * hall be a Nazarite from the Ilomb, zarene. CH A P. III. came John the Baptist's Life and Office, ver. 1. The Baptism of Christ, ver. 13. IN those days I THU HUS Jesus dwelt privately with John his Parents, till the time drew the Baptist, preach- near that he was to begin his publick ing in the wilderness Ministry: About which time, his Foreof Judea. runner John the Baptist, began to preach in the Wilderness of fudea. 2 And saying, 2. And the Subject of John's preachRepent ye; for the ing to the people, was, that they should kingdom of heaven repent, and reform their Lives; beis at hand. cause now the Kingdom of the Messias and the Christian Religion was about to be established; wherein all ceremonial Performances being to cease, nothing but true Repentance and sincere Obedience was required and would be accepted by God to eternal Life. 3 For this is he 3. This John the Baptist was that that was spoken of Fore-runner of Christ, of whom Efaias, B 3 pro * This Place, though scarce taken Notice of by Commentators, feems to be more immediately respected by the Evangelift, than those where only the word 733 or 713 is used in different Senfes. as, rial diffe- to him; rence of prophesied, that in like manner as pow. by the prophet Efaierful Princes use to have the Ways clear saying, The ed and levelled before them, so this Man voice of one crying in the wilderness, was by his preaching of Repentance to Prepare ye the way prepare Mens Hearts for the reception of the Lord, make of the Gospel. his paths straight. 4. Now the manner in which this 4 And the same Preacher of Repentance appeared, was John had his raiwith all Humility, Holiness, and Aufte- ment of camels hair, rity of Life. His Cloathing was of the and a leathern girdle + 'Axpidss Garments, and his Food was of the † and wild honey. most common and meanest kind of about his loyns; and his meat was locusts some un cuárfest fort. derstand of Herbs, 5. Upon his appearing in this Form 5 Then went out others of and Garb of a Prophet, and Preaching to him Jerusalem Animals, the neceflity and the acceptableness of and all Judea, and without Repentance; much People, both of all the region round any mate. Jerusalem and of all Judæa, came out about Jordan, 6. And they were baptized by him 6 And were bapthe Sense. in the River Jordan, publickly con tized of him in Jorfeffing their former Sins, and professing dan, confefling their fins. ng S But when he thus to be baptized by John, were saw many of the many of the Pharisees and Şadducees, Pharisees and SadduMen of great Pride, valuing themselves cees come to his bapon their being defcended from Abra- tism, he said unto ham and the Patriarchs, and trusting of vipers, who hath them, O generation in their strict observance of certain warned you to flee outward and ceremonial Rites of the from the wrath to Law, Thesc Men John feverely repro- come? 8. But if ye will indeed escape it, 8 Bring forth therea repent and forsake your Şins ; reform fore fruits meet for your Lives to the Obedience of God's repentance. Commandsand this do with fuçly 9 And to our fa raise Humility and Constancy, as may prove the Truth and Sincerity of your Repen tance. 9 And think not 9. And do not imagin that you shall to say within your escape the Wrath of God, by being selyes, We have A the Children of Abraham. For if braham you ther ; for I say unto imitate not his Faith and his Piety, God you, that God is able will cast you off, and adopt Men from of these stones to among the Gentiles, or even raise Men up children un out of the Stones of the Earth, (rather to Abraham. than fave you in your Wickedness ;) who shall succeed in the Faith, and in the Obedience, and in the Blessing of Abraham. 10 And now also 10. Nor is there any more time of the ax is laid unto the delay. God is now about to offer the root of the tree : therefore every tree last Dispensation of Repentance and which bringeth not Mercy: And if you do not immediforth good fruit is ately repent and reform your Lives, hewn down, and his Vengeance hangs over you as fruitcast into the fire. less Trees ready to be cut down, and you shall be utterly and irrecoverably destroyed. u I indeed bap 11. And I indeed, as a sign to oblige tize you with water you to repent and prepare your felves repentance ; for the Coming of the Mefiah, do bapbut he that cometh tize with Water. But when he after me, is mighti you er than I, whose himself shall appear, who is so far Supeshoes I am not wor rior to me, as that I account not my thy to bear: he shall self worthy to do the meanest Offices baptize you with the for him, he shall baptize you with the holy Ghost,and with powerful Influence of his Holy Spirit, fire. whose appearance shall be as Fire, ( Acts ii. 3.] 12 Whose fan is 12. And he shall throughly try the in his hand, and he Spirits of Men, as when with a Fan will throughly purge one separateth the Chaff from the his floor, and ga- Corn: And those who are sincere and ther his wheat into the garner ; but he good, he shall preserve and reward ; will burn but those who are wicked and incorrithe up chaff with un- gible, he shall condemn to utter Destruc-. quenchable fire. tion, as the Chaff to the Fire, 13. unto B 4 me? 13. S Thus John instructed those that 13 I Then comwere to be baptized by him. And eth Jefus from Gawhile he was thus baptizing, Jesus him- lilee to Jordan unto self came down from Galilee to Jordan, of him. John, to be baptized to be baptized of him. 14. But John, knowing him now by 14 But John forimmediate Revelation to be the Person, bad' him, saying, + whom God by the Signal of the I have need to be visible descent of the Holy Ghost would baptized of thee, immediately discover to be the Messiah, and comest thou to refused to baptize him, saying, It is much more fit that you should baptize answering, said un 15 And Jesus ine, than I you. to him, Suffer it 15. But Jesus said to him; You shall to be fa now: for baptize me notwithstanding. For thus thus it becometh us God hath appointed to initiate me in- to fulfill all righte ousness. Then he sufto my Ministry; and thus it becomes us fered him. to give an Example of doing all things decently and with order. Then John when he was bap 16 And Jesus baptized him. 16. Jesus being thus baptized, came straightway out of up out of the Water ; and immediate- the water : and lo, ly John faw the appointed Token: The the heavens were oClouds opened, and the Spirit of God pened unto him, and descended like a Dove, and rested upon God descending like he saw the Spirit of Jesus. a dove, and lighting upon him. 17. And with it a Voice was heard 17 And lo, a out of Heaven, saying, This is my be- saying, This is my voice from heaven, loved Son, the Mejiah sent into the beloved Son, in World to reveal the Will of God to whom I am well Mankind; him believe ye and obey. pleased. tized, went up # By this History of St. Matthew, John seems to have known Christ before he baptized him ; whereas in St. John, Christ feems to have been first made known to him by the descent of the Holy Ghost after his Baptism. It is most probable, that God having before given John that Token to know Christ by, did upon Christ's coming to be baptized, reveal to John that this was the Person, upon whom he should presently see the Signal. С НАР. CHA P. IV. I. came Christ's Fafting and Temptation, ver. 1. His beginning to Preach, ver. 12. His choosing Apostles, ver. 18. I THen was Jesus A Fter this, Jesus by the Conduct led up of the of the Spirit of God retired into spirit into the wil the Wilderness, to prepare himself for derness, to be temp- bis Ministry by Prayer and Fafting, ted of the devil. and to refift and vanquish the Tempta tions of the Devil. 2 And when he 2. In this place he continued fasting had fafted forty days for forty Days and forty Nights togeand forty nights , he ther, as Moses and Elias, the two great was afterward an Prophets under the Law, had done; hungred. After which he grew hungry. 3 And when the 3. Upon this occasion, the Devil tempter to hoping to prevail upon him through him ,, he said, If the Infirmity of his Body, to do somethou be the Son of what that might argue fome distrust God, command that these stones be made in his Mind concerning the Providence bread. of God, afaults him with his first Temptation ; faying, If you are indeed the Son of God, make proof now of your Power, to your own Relief, and cominand that these Stones be turned into Bread. 4 But he answers ed and said, It is 4. But Jesus answered ; 'Tis not by written,Man shall not mere Bread, as the Scripture faith, live by bread alone, Deut. viii. 3.) that the Life of Man is but by every word fustained, but by the Providence and that proceedeth out the Blessing of God, of the mouth of God. 5. This Temptation failing; the De 5 Then the devil vil carries him into Herufalem, and taketh him the holy city, and placeth him upon the Edge of the Batthe holy city, and tlements of the Temple ; fetteth him on a Pinnacle of the temple. 6. And faith ;If you be the Son of God, 6 And faith un- throw your self down now, and try if to him, If thou be God, |