A brief exposition of the evangel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew by David Dickson ...

CHAP. IIII.

Our Lord prepares himself for his publick Ministry by a conflict with Satan: to vers. 12. Then re∣turning unto Galilee, he taketh up his dwel∣ling at Capernaum, and preacheth the Gospel vers. 17. calleth four Apostles, vers. 23. and manifesteth his power in the miracu∣lous manner of relieving all sort of miserable persons.

Vers. 1. THen was Iesus led up of the spirit into the wildernesse to be tempted of the divel.

AFter that our Lord is baptized, and publickly installed in his office, he is moved by the spirit, to enter the lifts with Sa∣tan and his temptations. Doct 1. The experience of temp∣tations is a fit preparation for a profitable discharge of the holy Ministry, for this exercise was a sitting of Christ unto his of∣fice. 2. All men are subject to temptations, and no man nee∣deth to be discouraged for them: for even Christ our Lord was tempted, and that to the end he might conquer Satan, who had overcome us, and might give us also the victory over him, and comfort in all our temptations, while wee behold the pow∣er of holinesse in him, who neither had sin in him, nor could be drawn by temptation unto sin. 3. Whatsoever exercise we go about, especially where hazard and danger appeareth, we

should be sure to have warrant for our ingaging: for even Christ went not into the wildernesse to be tempted, but as he was led of the holy spirit, dy••ing unto him what belonged unto his calling.

Ver. 2. And when he had fasted forty dayes and forty nights, he was afterwards an hungred.

In every part of our Lords humiliation, he lets out some spark of his God-head, that when he is seen to be Man, he may be known to be God also, he will fast, and uphold himself with∣out meat or drink forty dayes and forty nights, not only to ful∣fill what the type of Moses, and Elias their fasting did foresha∣dow of him, but also as the Son of God, to shew forth his divine power, able to sustain the humane nature under every burthen which the Father should lay upon it. 2. Whatsoever power it plea∣sed our Lord to put forth in his humane nature, yet did he not abolish the verity thereof, but did keep unto it all the naturall pro∣perties; and in the time of his humiliation did subject it also to all common, and sinlesse humane infirmities: Therefore having so miraculously sustained himself so long a time, He afterwards, was an hungred.

Vers. 3. And when the tempter came to him, be said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

The temptations and assaults of Satan are three; The first to provide for his bodily wants by an unlawfull mean, for to work a miracle at Satans direction, was not a lawfull mean of provi∣ding food to himself. Doct. 1. No wonder men find them∣selves daily solicited by Satan unto sin; For Satans stile, from his continuall practice, is the Tempter, and it is his trade to tempt. 2. It is possible that such as God doth love dearly may be troubled with bodily apparitions of Satan; for the Tempter is permitted to appear to Christ himself, and to speak to him. 3. It is no wonder to find Satan calling in question the Adopti∣on or Regeneration of any of Gods children, for he dare call in question the Son-ship of the Son of God, notwithstanding that within few dayes before this, the Father and the Holy Spirit from heaven had born witnesse in open sight and audience unto it, If thou be the Son of GOD, saith he. 4. Satan sits his temptations unto mens present case and condition; for, Christ being hungry is tempted to provide bread, in a way which the tempter doth prescribe. 5. In tempting, Satan pretends to be careful of helping the tempted party to a better condition; for here

he will seem desirous both to have bread provided for Christ in his need, and also to see him made manifest to be the Son of God by such a miracle; for he saith, If thou be the Son of God, com∣mand these stones to be made bread. 6. Satans temptations are moe then once, a number linked together, for here he tempts first to misbeleeve the word of God lately spoken of him: then to sus∣pect and doubt of his Fathers provident care over him; Thirdly to provide for himself by indirect means; Fourthly, to abuse his, power of working miracles, in taking directions from Satan, and committing such like other sins.

Ver. 4. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Our Lord answereth this temptation by Scripture. Doct. 1. Satans temptations must not be neglected, but carefully answered, and that by Scripture, as the only mean to over∣come him; for, It is written, saith Christ. 2. Howsoe∣ver God hath appointed means of entertaining mens life, yet the power of sustaining life is not in the means, but in Gods pow∣erfull word, or commanded blessing, conveyed by means, or without means, as he pleaseth; for, Man lives not by bread only, but by every word that cometh out of his mouth. 3. Seeing means of life, albeit we had them, cannot avail us, except God give his blessing, we should attempt nothing about them without Gods warrant; for else we do offend God, and provoke him to withdraw his blessing; this is the reason why Christ rejecteth the temptation, by this Scripture, saying, Man liveth not by bread, &c.

Ver. 5. Then the divel taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinacle of the temple,

6. And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thy selfe down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee, and in their hands they shall bear thee up, least at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

The first temptation being rejected by Scripture, Satan ma∣keth a new assault, and pretendeth Scripture in his second temp∣tation. Doct. 1. Albeit Satan get the foil, yet he will set on a∣gain. 2. God may give Satan so far power over the body of one whom he loveth dearly, as to carry it out of one place to another, for Satan is permitted to transport Christs body from the wil∣derness to the city, and to lift it up, upon a pinacle of the Temple. 3. Satans power in this kind is limited, so as he cannot hurt,

nor molest further, then he is limited: He may lift up Christs body on a pinacle of the Temple, but he hath no power to cast him down. 4. Where the ordinances of God are, and where he promiseth his Presence, that Place and that Society, is to be accounted holy, albeit many of the People in that Place and So∣ciety be defiled. Jerusalem, though defiled now exceedingly, yet retaineth the name of the holy city. 5. Satan will readily presse the same point by sundry means, and crave unreasonable proofs of a mans adoption one after another: for the second time he saith, If thou be the Son of God. 6. As Satan tempteth at one time to use unlawfull means to preserve life, so at another time he will tempt a man to neglect means of preserving life: at one time he will tempt us to distrust Gods care of our preservation, at another time to presume upon Gods care, without a warrant; yea sometime he will tempt a man to put hand in his own life, and will colour it with some pretence; for, Cast thy selfe down, &c saith he. 7. Satan can transforme himselfe into an Angel of light, and pretend Scripture for his temptation, It is written, saith he. 8. When Satan citeth Scriptures, he wrests the mea∣ning, or hides the word which might shew the meaning; for Psalm 92.11, 12. It is said, The Lord shall keep thee in all thy wayes, that is, in thy warrantable walking: Satan keeps up these words.

Ver. 7. Iesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Christ answereth the second temptation by Scripture also. Doct. 1. We must not esteem the lesse of Scripture, albeit Sa∣tan, and his instruments do abuse it; but with the same wea∣pons must we fight against Satan still, and oppose a clear place of Scripture unto such places as the Tempter blowes mist upon; for, It is written again, saith our Lord. 2. We should not de∣sire God to give any extraordinary proofs of his care towards us, when he hath after an ordinary manner provided means for our safety; neither should we limit the Lord in any thing: for this is the meaning of Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 3. What the Scripture speaks indifferently to all, it is to be estee∣med as spoken to every singular person, and the singular per∣sons are to be accounted as written in the writing of the generall•• for upon this ground, Christ saith, It is written, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God, Because Deut. 6.16. it is written, Ye shall not tempt your God. 4. Christ as our surety did subject himselfe unto the law, and therefore he doth apply the prcepts

to himself no less then to us; for he saith of himself, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord.

Ver. 8. Again, the Divel taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the Kingdomes of the world, and the glory of them.

9. And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, If thou wilt fall down and worship me.

This is the third temptation whereunto Satan doth make way, by shewing the glory of the Kingdomes of the World, from a high mountain, whence many Towns, Castles, and fruitfull Fields might be seen, as the compend and example of all the kingdomes of the world, which have nothing in them, but a greater quantity of what may be seen in one place of one King∣dom. Doct. 1. Satan will not give over the conflict, till he have made triall of all sorts of temptations; after the former essayes, Satan wil now tempt Christ with the offer of gain and glory, All these, saith he, will I give thee. 2. Satan labours to have a man in love with the bait of Riches and Honour, ere he utter a tem∣ptation, and to have the bait speaking ere the temptation speak: for before he speaks to Christ, He sheweth him all the Kingdomes of the world. 3. Satan will make fair offers of what he cannot perform; for the saith, All these things will I give to thee. 4. The children of God may be tempted with the vilest and most blasphemous suggestions that Satan can devise: for this un∣cleane Spirit dare tempt the Son of God to the vilest idolatry, and dare say to Christ, fall down and worship me. 5. When Satan mindes to make a man a slave to sin, and to ruine him for ever, he will crave but one act of sin as a very small thing, and that un∣der hope of great advantage: therefore he saith, All these things will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me, or kneel to me.

Verse 10. Then saith Iesus unto him, Get thee hence Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

The Lord abhorring the blasphemy of the proud and unclean Spirit, rebuketh him, and answereth the temptation by Scripture. Doct. 1. A bold temptation should have a peremptory answer, and that confirmed by Scripture, as here, Get thee hence, &c. saith Christ. 2. As well religious service, as religious worship is due to God only: God will not permit either of them to be gi∣ven to Saint or Angel, or any creature; for him only shalt thou serve 3. Whatsoever is the true sense and intent of any passage of

Scripture, it is to be accounted of, as if it were expressly written; for, because Deut. 6.13. it is said, Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him: Christ saith, it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and serve him only.

Ver. 11. Then the divel leaveth him, and behold, angels came and ministred unto him.

Thus our Lord hath overcome Satan in our name, and shown to us the way how to fight against, and overcome the Adversary. Doct. 1. Satan being resisted doth flee; for it is written here, Then the divel leaveth him. 2. The grief and vexation which cometh by temptation, shall be recompensed with consolation, after the con∣flict and victory; for, Angels do come and minister unto Christ, after his combate

Ver. 12. Now when Iesus had heard that Iohn was cast into pri∣son, he departed into Galilee.

Upon the hearing of John Baptists imprisonment, Christ go∣eth unto Galilee. Doct. 1. Faithfull Ministers must resolve for persecution; for, Iohn Baptist is cast in prison. 2. All Prea∣chers of the Gospel are not imprisoned at once; for when John is in prison, Christ is free. 3. Persecution of the Ministers of the Gospel, is a forerunner of Christs departing from a land; for when word came of Johns imprisonment, Christ de∣parted from Judea, and went into Galilee.

Ver. 13. And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Caperna∣um, which is upon the seacoast, in the borders of Zabulon and Naph∣thali:

14. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the Prophet, saying,

15. The land of Zabulon, and the land of Naphthali, by the way of the sea, beyond Iordan, Gal••lee of the Gentiles.

16. The people which sate in darkness, saw great light, and to them which sate in the region and shadow if death, light is sprung up.

Christ being now come into Galilee, fleeth from Nazareth to Capernaum. Doct. 1. Christ will not be tyed unto any place, though he be brought up at Nazareth, he will leave it for his own reasons, and come, and dwell at Capernaum. 2. Our Lord in all things had respect to Scripture, to fulfill what was foretold in it: Even this change of place was made, that the Prophesie of Esaiah might be fulfilled by this means: In which prophesie, to comfort the church against the desolation to be made in the land by the enemy, Isaiah doth foretell that

in that part of the countrey where the desolation began, that is, in the land of Zabulon and Nephthali, there Christ should begin the consolation of the church, in preaching of the gospel; and now our Lord performeth this. 3. The people that lie in their sins, without the saving knowledg of the gospel, are indeed in great darkness, and under the power of death. 4. Whatsoe∣ver sin or misery people be under, the preaching of the gospel is able to relieve them; therefore it is called, A great light, A light sprung up to them, when Christ preacheth the gospel among them.

Vers. 17. From that time Iesus began to preach, and to say, Re∣pent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Christ had preached before in the time of Johns freedome, and made mo•• disciples then he, Iohn 3.26. but now he begins in this country side, and shews himself more powerfull then be∣fore. Doctr. 1. When his gospel is opposed, and his servants persecuted, he can let forth his light and power so much the more, and can supply the inlack of instruments; therefore it is said, From that time he began to preach. 2. Christs doctrine, and the doctrine of his faithfull servants, is all one in substance; the sum of John Baptists preaching and Christs is all one, for both preach∣ed in substance, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3. When the gospel cometh, it findeth men under the tyranny of Sa∣tan; for the offer to bring them in into the kingdom of God, im∣porteth this.

Vers. 18. And Iesus walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, (for they were fishers)

19. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fish∣ers of men.

20. And they straight way left their nets, and followed him.

21. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, Iames the son of Zebedee, and Iohn his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them;

22. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and fol∣lowed him.

Christ calleth Apostles, first two, then other two Brethren. Doct. 1. In the calling of these Apostles may be seen the care which our Lord hath to provide Ministers for his church. 2. None should intrude himself into the Office, but should expect Christs calling, as these Disciples did. 3. Such as Christ doth

call, he doth furnish them with all furniture for the calling and promiseth unto them good successe; for, I will make you fishers of men, saith he. 4. Such as are called to the Ministry, must neither refuse pains nor perill to save souls, but must go about their work with as great desire to convert men, and as great pru∣dence to bring them in, as fishers go about their work; for, I will make you fishers of men. 5. When Christ doth call his cho∣sen instruments, he calls them with power of perswasion, and overpowers all opposition and impediments; for, Straightway they leave their nets, and follow him. 6. His calling of them by Couples, and those also Bretheren, giveth us to understand, that the worke of the Ministry requireth the concurrence of more hands, and no lesse affection among them, then among Brethren. 7. His calling of so mean men as fishers, sheweth the freedome of his grace in choosing of instruments; manifesteth the power of his kingdom, who by such weak means can subdue the world; and declareth the depth of his wisdom, who provides so for his own honour, that the instrument shall not carry away the glory of the work.

Vers. 23. And Iesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their Synagogues, and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness, and all manner of disease among the people.

24. And his fame went thoughout all Syria: and tey brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases, and tor∣ments, and those which were possessed with divets, and those which were lunatick, and those that had a palsie, and he healed them.

25. And there followed him great multitudes of people from Ga∣lilee, and from Decapolis, and from Ierusalem, and from Iude••, and from beyond Iordan.

Here is the diligence of our Lord in his office, with the great power of his God-head manifesting it selfe. Doct. 1. How painfull should Ministers be, in seeking out lost sheep within their bounds, when they hear that Christ went about all Gali∣lee▪ 2. The means of conversion of souls is the preaching of the Gospel, however men esteem of it; for, He went about teaching and preaching. 3. The speciall opportunity of preach∣ing is, when people are conveened in the ordinary place appoin∣ted for religious exercises; for, Christ preached in their Syna∣gogues, 4. The Gospel is a matter of highest concernment, It is the Gospel of the kingdome, of that incomparable kingdom of

heaven, which by the gospel is revealed to men, and offered unto men, by which gospel men get right and title unto the kingdome, yea heirs of the Kingdome, and whereby men are governed and led on unto the full possession of the Kingdome. 5. Albeit our LORDS doctrine needed no confirmation, because it is the Truth of the everliving GOD, yet our weak faith needeth confirmation, therfore Christ strengtheneth the weak faith of such, as at first did not perceive Christ to be the Son of GOD, he was graciously pleased to let forth the evidence of his God-head, soveraign power and goodnesse, in working miracles, and those all profitable miracles; such as might lead men to seek the reliefe of the maladies of the soul, from him, who was healing all manner of sicknesse, and all manner of diseases among the people. 6. The first report of Christs grace is very ta∣king: the savour of his grace, as of precious ointment, did in the beginning of his preaching of the gospel affect the gentiles, and drew them to seek after him; for, his fame went through all Syria. 7. Such as find need of Christs help, and do beleeve to be relieved by him, will spare no pains, but seek him where they may find him; for, there followed him great multitudes. 8. When it pleaseth our Lord to let forth his power, he can gather multitudes after him, and make up his church out of all sorts of people, from all places, as he pleaseth; for, They follow him from Galilee, from Decapolis, &c.