A30167:226
Light for them that sit in darkness, or, A discourse of Jesus Christ, and that he undertook to accomplish by himself the eternal redemption of sinners also, that the Lord Jesus addressed himself to this work, with undeniable demonstrations that he performed the same : objections to the contrary answered / by John Bunyan.
London: printed for Francis Smith, 1675
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me, or else believe me for the very works sake, (John 14. 11.)
For the Works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, ⟨p. 34⟩that the Father hath sent me, John 5. 36.
This Proof they could not withstand, but granted that he did many Miracles while they did nothing. Then gathered the Chief-Priests and Pharisees a Counsel, and said, what do we? for this Man doth many Miracles: if we let him alone all men will believe on him, and the Romans shall come and take away both our Place and Nation, John 11. 47, 48.
Yea so did Jesus confound them, that by their own Records and Laws by which they were to prove persons clean or unclean; they in reading their Lectures, did justify him and overthrow themselves.
Yea so did Jesus confound them, that by their own Records and Laws by which they were to prove persons clean or unclean; they in reading their Lectures, did justifie him and overthrow themselves.
For instance, it was written in their Law; If he that hath an Issue spit upon him that is clean, that Spittle should make him unclean, (Levit. 15. 8.) Now Jesus whom they counted most unclean because he said he was the Son of God (as they thought speaking Blasphemy) he spits upon people and makes them whole; he spat and made clay with the Spittle and with that clay made a Blind Man see, Joh. 9. 6. Also he spit on the Eyes of another and made him see, Mar. 8. 23, 24, 25. Again he spit, and with his Spittle touched the Tongue of one that was Dumb, and made him speak immediately, Mar. 7. 33, 34, 35. Thus he proved himself clear of their Accusations, and maintained before them, that by their Law he was guiltless, and the Son of ⟨p. 35⟩God; for the Miracles which he wrought were to prove him so to be.
For instance, it was written in their Law; If he that hath an Issue spit upon him that is clean, that Spittle should make him unclean, (Levit. 15. 8.) Now Jesus whom they counted most unclean because he said he was the Son of God (as they thought speaking Blasphemy) he spits upon people and makes them whole; he spat and made clay with the Spittle and with that clay made a Blind Man see, Joh. 9. 6. Also he spit on the Eyes of another and made him see, Mar. 8. 23, 24, 25. Again he spit, and with his Spittle touched the Tongue of one that was Dumb, and made him speak immediatly, Mar. 7. 33, 34, 35. Thus he proved himself clear of their Accusations, and maintained before them, that by their Law he was guiltless, and the Son of ⟨p. 35⟩God; for the Miracles which he wrought were to prove him so to be.
Again, In their Law it was written, that whoso touched the Altar of Incense should be Holy, (Exod. 29. 37.) A Woman with a Bloody Issue toucheth him, and is whole of her Plague. Yea, they brought to him many diseased Persons; and besought him that they might only touch the Hem of his Garment; and as many as touched, were made perfectly whole, Mar. 5. 28, 29. Mat. 14. 35, 36.
Thus was he justified before them out of their own Law, and had his Glory manifest before their Faces, to their everlasting confusion and contempt.
Indeed, the Jews did make one Objection against Jesus Christ, that seemed to them to have weight in it: and that was because he first began to appear and manifest his Glory in Canaan of Galilee. At this, I say, they stumbled, it was their sore temptation; for still as some affirmed him to be the Christ, others as fast objected, shall Christ come out of Galilee? art thou also of Galilee? search and look, for out of Galilee ariseth no Prophet, John 2. 1, 11. Chap. 7. 40, 41, 42.
But this their stumble might arise either;
1. From the cruelty of Herod: Or,
2. From their own not observing and keeping in mind the Alarm that God gave them at his Birth.
2. From their own not observing and keeping in mind the Alarum that God gave them at his Birth.
1. It might arise or be occasioned through the Cruelty of Herod; for Jesus was born in Bethlehem the City where David dwelt: But when Herod sent out to kill him, and for his sake killed all the young Children in Bethlehem; then was Joseph warned by an Angel of God, to take the young Child and his Mother and fly into Egypt, and so he did, and was there till the Death of Herod, Mat. 2. 1, 13, 16, 19, 20.) After this the Angel comes to them in Egypt, and bids them take the young Child and return into the Land of Israel; wherefore they arose and went: but hearing that Herod's Son that Tyrant ruled in the room of his Father, they were afraid to go to Bethlehem, but turned aside into the Parts of Galilee, where they remained till the time of his showing to Israel.
1. It might arise or be occasioned through the Cruelty of Herod; for Jesus was born in Bethlehem the City where David dwelt: But when Herod sent out to kill him, and for his sake killed all the young Children in Bethlehem; then was Joseph warned by an Angel of God, to take the young Child and his Mother and fly into Egypt, and so he did, and was there till the Death of Herod, Mat. 2. 1, 13, 16, 19, 20.) After this the Angel comes to them in Egypt, and bids them take the young Child and return into the Land of Israel; wherefore they arose and went: but hearing that Herod's Son that Tyrant ruled in the room of his Father, they were afraid to go to Bethlehem, but turned aside into the Parts of Galilee, where they remained till the time of his shewing to Israel.
2. This stumble of theirs might arise from their not observing and keeping in mind the Alarm that God gave them of his Birth.
2. This stumble of theirs might arise from their not observing and keeping in mind the Alarum that God gave them of his Birth.
1. God began to give them the Alarm at the Birth of John the Baptist, where was asserted that he was to go before the Face of the Lord Jesus, and to prepare his Ways. And fear came upon all that dwelt round about them; and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill-Countries of Judea, Luk. 1. 65.
1. God began to give them the Alarum at the Birth of John the Baptist, where was asserted that he was to go before the Face of the Lord Jesus, and to prepare his Ways. And fear came upon all that dwelt round about them; and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill-Countries of Judea, Luk. 1. 65.
2. Again, What a continuation of this Alarm was there also at the Birth of Jesus, which was about three months after John Baptist was ⟨p. 37⟩born. Now come the Angels from Heaven, now comes a strange Star over the Country to lead the Men of the East to the Stable where Jesus was born; now was Herod, the Priests, the Scribes, and also the City Jerusalem awakened and sore troubled: for it was noised by the Wise-Men, that Christ the King and Saviour was born. Besides, The Shepherds, Simon, and Anna gave notice of him to the People; they should therefore have retained the Memory of these things, and have followed God in all his dark Providences, until his Son of Righteousness should arise among them with healing under his Wings.
2. Again, What a continuation of this Alarum was there also at the Birth of Jesus, which was about three months after John Baptist was ⟨p. 37⟩born. Now come the Angels from Heaven, now comes a strange Star over the Countrey to lead the Men of the East to the Stable where Jesus was born; now was Herod, the Priests, the Scribes, and also the City Jerusalem awakened and sore troubled: for it was noised by the Wise-Men, that Christ the King and Saviour was born. Besides, The Shepherds, Simon, and Anna gave notice of him to the People; they should therefore have retained the Memory of these things, and have followed God in all his dark Providences, until his Son of Righteousness should arise among them with healing under his Wings.
3. I may add another cause of their stumble. They did not understand the Prophecies that went before of him.
