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up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

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105. Jesus' discourse in consequence of being asked by a rich man, how he should attain eternal life.

AND when he was gone forth into the way, there came a certain ruler running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? and Jesus said unto him, " Why callest thou me "good? there is none good but one, that is, "God. But if thou wilt enter into life, keep "the commandments." He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, "Thou shalt do no murder, "Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt "not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, "Honour thy father and thy mother: and, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up, what lack I yet? then Jesus, beholding him, loved him, and said unto him, "One thing thou "lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou "hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt "have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me, and follow me." And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he saith unto his disciples, "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into

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"the kingdom of God!" And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, " Chil"dren, how hard is it for them that trust in "riches to enter into the kingdom of God!" "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye "of a needle, than for a rich man to enter "into the kingdom of God." And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them, saith, "With men "it is impossible, but not with God: for with "God all things are possible."

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Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, " Verily I say unto Verily I say unto you, That 66 which have followed me in the regenera, "tion, when the Son of man shall sit in the "throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon "twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of • Israel. There is no man that hath left house, "or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother,

* Christ reproves his worldly mindedness, for it is not riches, but the extreme love of them which is here condemned.

b Become converts to Christianity.

• An oriental proverb, implying great difficulty.

If we look to human strength alone, it seems utterly impossible that such men should ever repent, but to the influences of the Holy Spirit nothing is impossible

The day of judgment and recompense, when all men shall be, as it were, regenerated, or born again, by rising from their graves.

f In allusion probably to the Jewish Sanhedrim, in which the high priest sat, surrounded by the principal rulers, chief priests, and doctors of the law.

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or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, "and the gospel's, but he shall receive an "hundred fold now in this time, houses, and "brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and chil"dren, and lands, with persecutions; and in "the world to come eternal life. But many “that are first shall be last; and the last "first.

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"For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an housholder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into "his vineyard. And when he had agreed "with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent "them into his vineyard. And he went out "about the third hour, and saw others stand

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ing idle in the market-place, and said unto "them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and "whatsoever is right I will give you. And "they went their way. Again he went out "about the sixth and ninth hour, and did like"wise. And about the eleventh hour he went "out, and found others standing idle, and "saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the

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day idle? They say unto him, Because no "man hath hired us. He saith unto them, "Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatso"ever is right, that shall ye receive. So when

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even was come, the lord of the vineyard "saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, " and give them their hire, beginning from the "last unto the first. And when they camé "that were hired about the eleventh hour, they "received every man a penny. But when the

The peace of conscience and consolations of the Holy Spirit.

"first came, they supposed that they should “have received more; and they likewise re"ceived every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the

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good man of the house, saying, 'These last "have wrought but one hour, and thou hast "made them equal unto us, which have borne "the burden and heat of the day. But he "answered one of them, and said, Friend, I "do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree "with me for a penny? Take that thine is, "and go thy way: I will give unto this last, 66 even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me "to do what I will with mine own ? is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last "shall be first, and the first last: for many be "called, but few chosen,"

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106. Jesus as he is going up to Jerusalem, foretels his sufferings to the twelve apart.

AND they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, saying, “Behold, we

a What we receive from God is of mere favour; and we ought to bless him for what he bestows on others, as well as on ourselves.

b By this parable the Jews were taught, that the Gentiles were admitted into covenant with God, equally with themselves, and though not so early, yet if they made a better use of that benefit, would be preferred.

Amazed at his boldness in going up to Jerusalem to eet certain death.

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go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are "written by the prophets concerning the Son " of man shall be accomplished. For he shall "be delivered unto the chief Priests and unto "the Scribes, and they shall condemn him to "death. And shall deliver him to the Gen❝ tiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify "him and the third day he shall rise again." And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

107. The ambitious request of James and John.

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THEN came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and. desiring a certain thing of him. And he said unto her, What wilt thou?" She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, "Ye know not what ye ask.

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ye able to drink of the cup that I shall "drink of, and to be baptized with the bap"tism that I am baptized with?" They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, "Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and "be baptized with the baptism that I am bap

a The Romans.

So strong were their prejudices in favour of a temporal kingdom, that they could not comprehend his meaning. Supposing it would be a temporal one.

That is, the cup of affliction.

• Overwhelmed in the waters of adversity.

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