BOOK 5. THE MESSAGE.
CHAPTER 2.
5.2.1. Of the Second year of Christ's Ministry, and of his acts in general for that year.
Of the Second year of Christ's Ministry, and of his acts in general for that year.
Now was it that the office of the Baptist was expired: and Christ beginning his prophetical office; he appears like the sun in his succession of the morning star: he takes at John, and preacheth the sum of the gospel, faith and repentance, "Repent ye, and believe the gospel," Mark i. 15. Now, what this gospel, was, the sum and series of all his following sermons expressed and declared. It is fully contained in the new covenant, of which we have spoken: for what is the gospel but a covenant of grace, wherein all the imperfections of our works are made up by the perfection and grace of Jesus Christ? The gospel is not a covenant of works, (i.e.) it is not an agreement upon the stock of innocence, requiring strict and exact obedience, without any allowance of repentance: no, no, be holy, saith the gospel; and where that fails, repent, and believe. By this time the work in his hand was grown high and pregnant, and Jesus saw it convenient to choose more disciples: with this family he goes up and down the whole Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, healing all manner of diseases, curing demoniacs, cleansing lepers, giving strength to paralytics; and to lame people.
It is not my purpose to enlarge on all the sermons, miracles, conferences, or colloquies of Christ with men: I am not for large volumes; and I suppose with John, that if all the acts of Christ should be written, with commentaries on them, that even "the world itself could not contain the books that should be written," John xxi. 25.
In this year therefore I shall contract and limit myself to the consideration of Christ in these two particulars; as, 1. To his preaching. 2. To his miracles: both these relate to the use and exercise of his prophetical office.