15 Matthew and Thomas, James the fon of Alpheus, and Simon called Zelotes, 16 And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which allo was the traitor. 17 And he came down with them, and ftood in the plain, and the company of his difciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judea and Jerufalem, and from the fea-coaft of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; 18 And they that were vexed with unclean fpirits and they were healed. 19 And the whole multitude fought to touch him for there went vertue out of him, and healed them all. 20 And he lifted up his eyes on his difciples, and faid, Bleffed be ye poor for yours is the kingdom of God. 6. Bartholomew. 7. Matthew. [phæus. 9. Another James, the Son of Al10. Simon Zelotes, or the Canaanite. 11. Jude, Brother of James. 12. Judas Iscariot, the Betrayer. 17. Having chofen thefe Twelve Apostles, Jefus came down from the Hill; and flood with them, and with the rest of his Difciples, in the Plain. And there flocked together about them a vaft Multitude of People, out of Jerufalem and all Judæa, and from the Sea-coaft of Tyre and Sidon; fome to hear Jefus preach, and more to have their Diseases cured. 18. Particularly, many that were poffeffed and tormented by Evil Spirits, were brought to him from all Parts; and he healed them instantly. 19. And all the People crowded about him, and ftrove to touch him. For fo extraordinary was the Efficacy of his Divine Power, that whofoever touched but fo much as the Skirt of his Coat, was prefently freed from whatfoever Difeafe he had. 20. Jefus therefore being preffed with the great Multitude of People, retired from them again to the Top of the Hill. And his Difciples, and as many others, as defired to hear his Doctrine, followed him: And he fat *Grotius fuppofes that the rides ver. 17, was not a Valley, but a Plain upon the Hill. But there is no neceffity to fuppofe That róxidos, to be the place where Jefus delivered the following Sermon. The Conjecture Here used, seems more agreeable to Matt. v. 1. down 6. down, and directing himself to his 21. Bleffed are ye, who contentedly fuffer Hardships in this prefent Life, Mat. v. *and are follicitous for nothing fo much, as to be truly virtuous and religious your felves, and to perfuade others to become fo too: Whofe Portion upon Earth, is not vain Mirth and Voluptuoufnefs; but to lament feriously the Sins and Follies; and to endure patiently, upon the Account of Religion, the Afflictions and Troubles of this mortal State. Bleffed, I fay, are ye: For the time will come, when the prefent Scene of Things fhall be changed; when your pious Defires fhall be fully fatisfied, and all your Sorrows fhall be turned into Joy. 22. and Bleffed are ye, when Men shall 23. Rejoyce therefore, when these ven; For thus likewife did wicked 24. But Wo unto thofe, who* have * See received their Portion of good Things Chap. xvi, in this Life; Who live in Delicacy ver. 19, and Voluptuoufnefs; and placing their &. Happiness in the Enjoyments of the prefent World, reft contented without making preparation for that which is to come. 25. Wo unto those who live in Pleafure and Jollity here, and never think of what is to come hereafter: For their prefent Plenty and Mirth, wherein they now efteem themselves fo very happy, will miferably deceive them, when, by the momentary Pleasure of Sin, they fhall find themselves betrayed into eternal Misery. 26. Wo unto thofe, who by propagating fuch Doctrines as encourage or indulge Men in Sin, gain to themselves the Applaufe and Flattery of the Generality of Men: For thus in old Time, falfe Prophets and. Deceivers, who accommodated their Doctrines to the Lufts and Paffions of Men, were more courted, and better received, than the true Prophets of God. 27. And now, ye that defire to receive my Doctrine, and to obey my Inftructions in Sincerity and Truth, attend to what I fay, and remember it. If ye will be my Difciples indeed, and live as become the true Children of God; raise your Virtue above the common Practife of Men, and extend your Charity univerfally, in Imitation I of of the Divine Goodness. Love, not 28. Exprefs your Good-will to all 29. So far be it from you to return can. 30. Let it be the main Endeavour of your Life, to do good to all Men, at all times, and by all the just Ways you To him that begs any thing of you, give freely; and to him, whofe Wants oblige him to borrow, be always ready to lend, and never rigorous to exact it of him again. 31. In all things be fure to obferve the fame Rules of Equity and Charity, and to do all the fame good Offices to others, that you in the like Cafes could in Reafon expect they should do for you. 3233. And do not think it ver. 27. ftrange, that I have * commanded you to love, and to do good, not only to your Friends, but even to your Enemies alfo. For if ye love 32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for finners also love thofe that love them. 33 And if good to them which 34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for finners alfo lend to finners to receive as much again. 35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing a gain and your reward fhall be great, and ye fhall be the children of the higheft: for he is kind unto the unthankful, and to the evil. 36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father alfo is merci ful. VOL. II. only those who love you; what ex- 34. Again: if ye lend, not to the Poor and Needy, but to thofe only from whom ye expect a Return of equal Value; what extraordinary Excellency is this? This is no more than what is commonly practifed by the most covetous and worldly Men, for temporal Advantages. 35. Ye therefore on the contrary, if ye will be my true Difciples, muft do all Offices of Kindness; not to thofe only, from whom ye expect a temporal Recompenfe; but to thofe alfo, who never will return you any Kindness, as being Enemies and Perfecutors; and to thofe moft especially who never can make. you any Recompenfe, as being Poor and Needy. And by this means, the lefs hope of Reward you have from Men, the greater and more certain will be your Title to the Favour of God, whofe Example you will imitate by fuch an extensive Charity. 36. For God beftows the Benefit of his Sun and Rain upon all Men promifcuoufly, both Good and Bad: And. ye, in imitation of this Divine Goodnefs, ought to extend your Charity univerfally to all Mankind; that, being by fuch an excellent Difpofition of Mind made Partakers of the Divine Nature here, ye may be entitled to a greater Proportion of his eternal Happines hereafter. E 37. Further |