Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 11:22

22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.

Luke hath the same, Ch. 10. v. 13, 14. Chorazin and Bethsaida, were two Cities of Galilee, not far from one another, only the Lake of Gennesaret was betwixt them, Capernaum (by and by spoken of,) was betwixt them both, on the same side of the Lake, as Bethsaida, which was the City of Phillip, Andrew and Peter, Ioh. 1.44. In these Towns Christ had often Preached, so probably had the Apostles, and Christ had done many great works in them. Tyre and Sidon, were Habitations of Heathens, their Country joyned to Galilee. They were places of great Traffick, inhabited with Canaanitish Idolaters, and exceedingly wicked, threatned by the Prophet Isaiah, Ch. 23. and by the Prophet Ezekiel, Ch. 26. & 27, & 28, and by Amos, Ch. 1.9. a People odious to the Iews upon many Accounts. To these our Lord here compareth the Galileans, telling them, that they were worse than that Pagan People, who were so Contemptible in their Eyes, and that their Plagues in the day of Judgment, would be greater. For (saith he) If the mighty Works which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in Sackcloth and Ashes. Some think this a strong Proof. That where the Gospel is Preached, God gives a sufficiency of Grace: So as if men will but use that Power, which they have in their own Wills, they may with the Assistance only of that Grace truly repent, and be saved. I shall not meddle with that Dispute; but cannot see how that Notion, can derive any Proof from this Text, 1. Because the Text only mentioneth Christs Miracles, not his Preaching. 2. The Text doth not say, they would long ago have repented unto Life, but they would have repented in Sackcloth and Ashes, they would have been more affected then these Galileans were, who shewed no Sense at all of their sins. The King of Nineveh and [illegible: 2 letters]s People repented, Ionah 3. v. 7, 8. So did Ahab, 1 Kin. 21.27. yet none will say, they repented unto Life. None ever denied a Power in Mans Will, (his understanding being by the Gospel inlightned to his Duty) to perform Acts of Moral Discipline. 3. Our Saviour might here speak after the manner of Men according to rational Conjectures, and Probabilities. The Scope of our Saviour in these words is to be attended, which was only to shew, that the Men of Cerazin and Bethsaida, shewing no signs of Remorse for sin, or Conviction, of the Messias upon the sight of his Miracles, confirming his Doctrine to be from Heaven, had shewed a greater Stubbornness, and hardness of Heart than these Heathens, who tho they were bad enough, yet had not had such means to reform, and to convince them. Therefore he tel's them their place in Hell, would be more dreadful than the place of the Men of Tyre and Sidon. And so we are by this Text taught, That as the sins of Men, who have the Light of the Gospel are much greater, than the sins of the worst of Men, who have it not: So their Condemnation in the day of Judgment will be much heavier, Ioh. 3.19.