Our Saviour Christ prevents what he foresaw some ready to object against him (Luke 4.23.) Ye will surely say unto me this Proverb, Physician heal thy self. The Proverb in its Original is (I conceive) to be understood personally; but as Christ suggests it there, it is to be understood Nationally, or Provincially, Heal thy self, is, heal thy own Country; exercise thy power of working miracles there, as well as thou hast done it in other places; that this is the meaning of it, appears plainly by the next words, Whatsoever we have heard done in Canaan, do also in thine own Country: For Christ as yet had wrought no mighty works of healing there (Mark 6.5.) But why was Christ so slow in manifesting himself to ⟨p. 241⟩his own Countrymen? He gives the reason (Vers. 24.) And he said, Verily I say unto you, no Prophet is accepted in his own Country: The Gospel of Mark (Chap. 6.4.) adds two closer relations, His own Kin, and his own House: They in a mans house are nearer to him then his kindred abroad, and his kindred are nearer to him then his Country-men; now among these, a Prophet hath no honour: They know him so much, that they do not respect him, or his sayings. The Jews said, Is not this the Carpenter, the Son of Mary, the Brother of James, &c. Christ being thus near to them, had little honour among them. Now for as much, as a man is nearer to himself, not only then his Country-men, but then any of his Kin; therefore his own counsels and comforts have ordinarily so little effect upon himself; he is not accepted in his own breast. There are some indeed so gracious, or great in their own eyes, that they vvill ask counsel of none but themselves, nor follow any advise but their own; but usually man seeks out, as being neither able to satisfy his own doubts, nor abate his own sorrows, though possibly, more able for both, then he to whom he seeks. Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged; and though I forbear, what am I eased?
Our Saviour Christ prevents what he foresaw some ready to object against him (Luke 4.23.) Yee will surely say unto me this Proverbe, Physitian heale thy selfe. The Proverbe in its Originall is (I conceive) to be understood personally; but as Christ suggests it there, it is to be understood Nationally, or Provincially, Heale thy selfe, is, heale thy owne Countrey; exercise thy power of working miracles there, as well as thou hast done it in other places; that this is the meaning of it, appeares plainely by the next words, Whatsoever we have heard done in Canaan, doe also in thine owne Countrey: For Christ as yet had wrought no mighty workes of healing there (Mark 6.5.) But why was Christ so slow in manifesting himselfe to ⟨p. 241⟩his owne Countreymen? Hee gives the reason (Vers. 24.) And he sayd, Verily I say unto you, no Prophet is accepted in his owne Countrey: The Gospel of Mark (Chap. 6.4.) adds two closer relations, His owne Kin, and his owne House: They in a mans house are neerer to him then his kindred abroad, and his kindred are neerer to him then his Countrey-men; now among these, a Prophet hath no honour: They know him so much, that they doe not respect him, or his sayings. The Jewes sayd, Is not this the Carpenter, the Son of Mary, the Brother of James, &c. Christ being thus neere to them, had little honour among them. Now for as much, as a man is neerer to himselfe, not onely then his Countrey-men, but then any of his Kin; therefore his owne counsels and comforts have ordinarily so little effect upon himselfe; he is not accepted in his owne breast. There are some indeed so gracious, or great in their owne eyes, that they vvill aske counsell of none but themselves, nor follow any advise but their owne; but usually man seeks out, as being neither able to satisfie his owne doubts, nor abate his owne sorrowes, though possibly, more able for both, then he to whom he seekes. Though I speake, my griefe is not asswaged; and though I forbeare, what am I eased?
