$6.

relations, as parents and children, at variance. And render those of the same household enemies to each other.

37. Whoever loveth father or mother, son or daughter, more than me, is not worthy of me.

38. Whoever is not willing to bear the cross, after my example, and suffer the loss of all things for my sake, is not worthy of my salvation: 39. And whoever saveth his life by denying me shall lose happiness; but whoever loseth his life for the gospel, shall obtain happiness: 40. As parents requite the kindness or injuries done their children, so will I and my Father requite those done to you and me, as done to me and himself. 41. Whoever shews kindness to a prophet, or to any good man, as such, will be rewarded accordingly: 42. The least kindness done, tho' but a cup of cold water, to the meanest of mine, as belonging to me, shall assuredly be greatly rewarded.

CHAP. XI.

JOHN SENDS HIS DISCIPLES TO CHRIST.

WHEN Jesus finished commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and preach in their cities.

2. Now John having heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3. To say to him, Art thou the promised Messiah, or is he yet to come?

4. Jesus replied to them, Go, and tell John what things ye hear and see; 5. The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and to the poor the gospel is preached. 6. And blessed shall he be who takes not offence at my low condition, and want of worldly grandeur. Isai. Ixi. 1. and xxxv. 6.

7. Now as they departed, Jesus spoke thus to the multitudes concerning John, What went ye

out to the wilderness to see? (a man not wavering like) a reed shaken with the wind.

8. But what went ye out to see? A man (luxuriously) clothed in soft raiment? Lo, they who wear soft clothing are in king's houses.

9. But what went ye out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet, (of the old testament) 10. The prophet foretold, that he would be sent in the spirit and authority of Elias, as the Messiah's forerunner, to prepare the way for him. Mal. iii. 1. 11. But though he be thus greater than any of the prophets, yet (as the noonday's light is greater than the dawn and the morn. ing star, so) shall the least of my disciples be great. er than he. 12. And from the beginning of the Baptist's ministry until now, many strive and press forward through every opposition into the gospel dispensation, 13. Which began with John's minis try. 14. And if ye will admit it, this is Elias, who should come.

15. He that hath ears to hearken let him consider.

16. But unto what shall I liken this generation? It is like to children sitting in the markets, and calling to their companions, 17. Saying, We have piped to you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.

18. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. 19. The Messiah came not in a reserved and severe way, like John, but in a free easy, and social manner, and they call him an epicure, and a friend of publicans and sinners, for eating and drinking with them, and then converting them: but Wisdom is justified of her children, (by walking in her ways.)

20. Then he began to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not. 21. Wo to thee, Cho

razin! wo to thee, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22. But I tell you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.

23. And thou Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, (by high gospel privileges,) shalt be brought down to hell; for if the mighty works which were done in thee had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24. But I tell you, That it shall be more tolerable for Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

25. At that time Jesus said, I praise thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, since thou hast concealed these things from the wise and prudent, and revealed them to little children, (the lowly and simple, plain and honest.) 26. For even so, Father, it pleased thee.

27. The authority over all things, is delivered to me (as Mediator) by my Father; and none knoweth the Son's authority and power but the Father, nor the Father's (council of peace) but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal it.

28. Come to me, all ye who are wearied and heavy laden (with sin and misery), and I will give you rest. 29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest to your souls. 30. For the yoke of my service is easy, and the burden of my cross light, (compared with the bondage and slavery of sin and Satan.)

CHAP. XII.

THE PHARISEES' HYPOCRISY REPROVED.

AT that time Jesus went through the corn fields on the Sabbath, and his disciples being hungry, began to pluck and eat the ears of corn, (which the law allowed travellers to do, Deut. xxiii. 24.)

2. The Pharisees seeing it, they said to him, lo, thy disciples do what is not lawful on the Sabbathday. 3. But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David and they that were with him did, when hungry; 4. How he entered into the house of God, and ate the sacred bread, which was not lawful for him nor them who were with him to eat, but only for the priests.

5. Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the Sabbath-days the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath as much, by doing things necessary for the temple service, and are blameless? 6. But I tell you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.

. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will rather have works of mercy than of piety, ye would not have blamed the guiltless. 8. For the Son of man is also Lord of the Sabbath, Heb. ii. 16..

9. Now having departed thence, he went into their synagogue: 10. And lo, a man was there with a hand withered; and they asked him thus, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath-days? that they might accuse him. 11. But he said to them, Who of you shall have a sheep fallen into a pit on the Sabbath, and will not take hold of it, and lift it out? 12. How much then does a man excel a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath.

13. Then he said to the man, Stretch forth thy hand. Which he stretching out, it was restored and whole, like the other.

14 Then the Pharisees went out, and consulted against him, how to destroy him.

15. Which Jesus knowing he withdrew from thence: and great multitudes following him, all which he healed; 16. And charged them not to make him known, 17. That what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, might be fulfilled, 18. Behold him whom I have chosen to be my servant, (as Mediator;) my Beloved, in whom my soul delights,

I will endue him with my Spirit, and he shall cause the judgment of justice and mercy be declared to the Gentiles. 19. He shall not use violence, nor noisy pompous shew in the streets. 20. The heart bruised for sin he shall not break, nor reject the weakest efforts, if sincere, tho' but like smoke without light, till he make the power of grace victorious. 21. And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

22. Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind and dumb; and he healed him, so that the blind and dumb both saw and spake.

23. And all the people being amazed, said, Is not this the son of David, (his type as a king.)

24. But the Pharisees hearing, said, He casts out devils only by Beelzebub, the prince of them.

25. But Jesus knowing their thoughts, said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself becomes desolate; and every city or house divided against itself will fall. 26. Thus if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand? 27. But if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your disciples cast them out? (As they do it by invocation of the name of Jehovah,) they shall condemn you in the judgment. 28. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, the kingdom of God is come to you. 29. Or how can one enter into a strong man's house, and plunder his goods, unless he first bind the strong man? and then he may spoil his house. 30. He who is not with me, is against me; and he that gathers not with me, scatters.

31. Wherefore I tell you, That every species of sin and blasphemy may be forgiven to men; except the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. 32. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, (Heb. ii. 16.) it shall be forgiven him; but whoever (thro' wilful infidelity and impenitency, ascribes the works of the Holy Spirit to Satan,)

VOL. III.

E

27