Matthew Poole and continuators on Mark 3:19

19 And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him. And they went into an house .

Matthew nameth the Apostles upon his relating the History of their Mission, or sending out: Mark nameth them upon their Election or fir[illegible: 1 letter]t cho[illegible: 1 letter]ce. Both these Evangelists agree with Luke in their Names, saving that Luke calleth him Iudas, whom Matthew calls L[illegible: 1 letter]bbeus, and M[illegible: 1 letter]rk, Thaddeus, so that he had three Names. Christ changeth the Names of Simon, whom he called Cephas, or Peter, I[illegible: 1 letter]h. 1.42. We have the reason, Matth. 16. v. 18. he also changed the Names of Iames and Iohn, the Sons of Zebedee, calling them Boanarges, about the Etymolog[illegible: 1 letter] of which Name Criticks much dispute The Evangelists tell us it signifieth Sons of Thunder, thereby minding them of their Duty, to Cry aloud, and to preach the Go[illegible: 1 letter]pel as on the House Tops, or perhaps decl[illegible: 1 letter]ring what he knew was in the Fervor and Warmth of their Spirits. We must not here inquire too narrowly into the secret Counsels of God, in suf[illegible: 1 letter]ering a Son of Perdition to come into the number of his f[illegible: 1 letter]rst Ministers, Christ did it not because he did not know what was in his H[illegible: 1 letter]art, for before that he shewed himself a Devil, by informing against his Master. Chri[illegible: 1 letter]t told his Disciples, that he had chosen twelve, and one of them was a Devil: Nor yet because he had no others to sen[illegible: 1 letter], he had Multitudes of Disciples, and he who of Stones could have raised up Children to Abraham, could easily have fitted out a Person for this Service; nor yet did he do it to let in any Sots, and Scandalous Pe[illegible: 1 letter]so[illegible: 1 letter]s into the Mini[illegible: 1 letter]try, for we read of no Scandal in Iudas his Life. We ought to believe that God had wise ends in the Permi[illegible: 1 letter]sion of this, and that Christ did out of infinite Wisdom do this▪ tho we po[illegible: 1 letter]sibly are not able to give a S[illegible: 1 letter]tisfactory account in the Case. What if we should say that Chri[illegible: 1 letter]t by this▪ instructed those that after his Ascen[illegible: 2 letters]on should have the care of the Church, not to pretendto Iudge of secret things; but only to Judge as Manought to Judge according to the outward appearance, leaving the Judgment of the Heart to God alone. 2. God by this Armeth his People against the Scandal of wicked Ministers, such in whom Corruption may break out after their entrance into that holy Function, t[illegible: 1 letter]o before no such thing appeared, that they may not think the Ministerial Acts per[illegible: 1 letter]ormed by them, to have been Nullities. 3. God by this also lets us know, that the Efficacy of the Ordinance▪ doth not depend upon the goodness of the sp[illegible: 1 letter]ritual State of the Minister, that administers. A Bell may c[illegible: 1 letter]ll others to hear the Word, t[illegible: 1 letter]o it self receives no Bene[illegible: 2 letters]t by it. In the mean time here is no warrant either for People to chuse, or the Governours of a Church to ordain Leud, and Visibly Scandalous Person[illegible: 1 letter]. Iudas was no suc[illegible: 1 letter] Person, nor yet for People to own, or the Governour of Churches to continue Leud, a[illegible: 1 letter]d Scandalous Persons in the Ministry, God ordin[illegible: 1 letter]rily not ble[illegible: 1 letter]sing the Labours of such. No sooner had Iudas discovered himself, but he w[illegible: 1 letter]nt out and hanged himself. Christ no longer allowed him his Company, nor the Disciples their Fellowship. There is a great deal of difference with Relation to our Fellowship, and Communion, betwixt secret wickedness concealed in the Heart, and open and Scandalous Sinning, tho both be alike dangerous to the Soul of the Sinner.

Marginal references: Or, home,