MATTHEW. CHA P. XX. unto his fteward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the laft unto the first. 9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 10 But when the first came, they fuppofed that they should have received more, and they likewife received every man a penny. I And when they had received it, they murmured against the good man of the house, 12 Saying, These laft have wrought but one hour, and thou haft made them equal unto us, which have born the burden and heat of the day. 13 But he answered one of them, and faid, Friend, I do thee no wrong, didst not thou « agree with me for a penny? 14 Take that thine is, and go thy way I will give unto this laft, even as unto thee. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? is thine eye evil, because I am : good? receive their Wages, the Mafter order'd his Steward to call them all to him, and pay them off, beginning with thofe he had hired laft of all. Thofe therefore that were hir'd at the eleventh hour, came and received each a Denarius or feven pence half-penny: The first perceiving this, were in hopes of a much greater recompence, by how much they had work'd harder than the reft. But they alfo receiv'd no more, which made them murmur against the Master of the Houfe, complaining that it was not fair to give those who came but in the evening the fame pay with themfelves, who had born the heat and toil of a whole day. But he faid to one of 'em; Friend, what is the reafon of this complaint? I do thee no wrong, fince I pay thee punctually for what we bargain'd: Be content with receiving what is due to thee, and go thy way; thy muttering is not like to make me alter my refolution of rewarding thefe laft comers equally with thee. Is it not in my power to bestow my mony as I fee fitting? and doft thou envy my liberality to others? So So alío as to what relates to the Rewards of the Kingdom of Heaven; thofe who laft of all have bin made acquainted with my Gofpel, and have not taken pains in propagating it, as living in those times in which it hall have fpread it felf far and near, Thall receive the fame recompence with thofe that were firft called to the knowledg of it, and have labour'd hard to increase the number of my Difciples, in times of Perfecution for my Names fake: and thus the last shall receive an equal diftribution with the reft. 'Tis true, many are now call'd, who have bin made acquainted with the Myfteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, yet very few excel others by an exemplary Virtue. Think it not ftrange therefore, that in the day of retribution, many to whom the Gospel will be laft of all reveal'd, fhall be made equal fharers with thefe first Converts in the rewards of Heaven. CHAP. L. The Refurrection of Lazarus; upon which the Sanhedrim confult bow they may put Chrift to death. WHILE Jefus was returning from Judea into Galilee, it happen'd that Lazarus of Bethany, whom he greatly lov'd, fell fick. Now he was the Brother of Martha and Mary, at whofe houfe Jefus formerly lodged; the latter of which, as we fhall relate, anointed his feet with a precious Ointment, and wip'd them with the hair of her head. Thefe Sifters knowing how much their Brother was beloved by him, fent to acquaint him with his Sickness, that if he faw fit he might reftore him to his health. Jefus having heard it, comforted them by affuring them they fhould not by this Diftemper be depriv'd of their Brother Lazarus ; but that he would MATTHEW. MARK. LUKE. JOHN. CHAP. XI. unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. 5 Now Jefus loved Martha, and her fifter, and Lazarus. 6 When he had heard therefore that he was fick, he abode two days ftill in the fame place where he was. 7 Then after that faith he to his difciples, Let us go into Judea again. 8 His difciples fay unto him, Mafter, the Jews of late fought. to ftone thee ; and goeft thou thither again? 9 Jefus anfwered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he ftumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. 10 But if a man walk in the night, he ftumbleth, because there is no light in him. 11 These things faid he and after that, he faith unto them, Our friend Lazarus fleepeth; but I go that I may awake him out of fleep. would not as yet cure him, that the power of God might be the more confpicuous by a remarkable Miracle, which would raife the wonder of many to a no fmall admiration of the Son of God. Wherefore, tho Jefus had a very great kindness for the whole Family, and especially for Lazarus, yet he continued in those parts two days after he had receiv'd the Meffage. When thefe were expir'd, he acquainted his Apoftles with his defign of returning into Judea, who endeavor'd to deter him from it, by representing that the Jews took all occafions, as he well knew, to ftone him, and therefore it was not fafe to truft himself among them. Jefus replied in this Similitude: As there are twelve hours in the day, in which a man is in no danger of ftumbling, having the Light of the Sun to guide him, but is very liable to it in the night by reafon of the darkness; fo alfo I have nothing to be afraid of, while the time lafts in which God has determin'd to fecure me against all the attacks and underminings of the Jews, and I fhall only be in danger when that time is expir'd, and the dark Powers of the Wicked unreftrain'd. When he had thus fpoke, he faid to his Apostles, Our Friend Lazarus fleeps, but I am going into Judea to awake MATTHEW MARK. LUKE. JOHN. CHAP. XI. 12 Then faid his difciples, Lord, if he fleep, he shall do well. 13 Howbeit Jefus fpake of his death but they thought that he had spoken of taking of reft in fleep. 14 Then faid Jefus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. 15 And I am glad for your fakes that I was not there (to the intent ye may believe) neverthelefs, let us go unto him. 16 Then faid Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow difciples, Let us alfo go, that we may die with him. 17 Then when Jefus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. 18 (Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerufalem, about fifteen furlongs off) 19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. 20 Then Martha, as foon as The heard that Jefus was coming, went and met him: but Mary fat ftill in the house. awake him. The Apoftles anfwer'd, that if he flept, he would in all likelihood recover, and fo there would be no occafion for his journy, for Jefus having spoke concerning the fleep of Death, they mifunderstood his words of taking reft in fleep. He then plainly told them that he was dead; and that he was glad he had not bin at Bethany during his fickness, becaufe at his Sifter's intreaty he should have cur'd him; whereas now he had an occafion of showing a remarkable Miracle, which would confirm their Faith. For which reafon he told them he was refolv'd to go thither. Thomas, firnamed Didymus, faid to the reft of the Apoftles; Let us alfo go with him, that if it be neceffary we may dy together with him, rather than betray our Truft. When Jefus arriv'd at Bethany, the Body of Lazarus had bin four days buried, and many of the Citizens were come from Jerufalem, which was but about two miles diftant, to condole with Martha and Mary for the lofs of their Brother. Martha, when he heard fefus was coming, went to meet him, but Mary remain'd behind MATTHEW. MARK. LUKE. JOHN. CHAP. XI. 21 Then faid Martha unto Jetus, Lord, if thou hadft been here, my brother had not died. 22 But I know, that even now whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. 23 Jefus faith unto her, Thy brother fhall rife again. 24 Martha faith unto him, I know that he fhall rise again in the refurrection at the last day. 25 Jefus faid unto her, I am the refurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet fhall he live. 26 And whofoever liveth, and believeth in me, shall never die. Believeft thou this? 27 She faith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Chrift the Son of God, which fhould come into the world. 28 And when she had so faid, The went her way, and called Mary her fifter fecretly, faying, The Mafter is come, and calleth for thee. 29 As foon as fhe heard that, The arofe quickly, and came unto him. with the Company. Martha, as foon as the faw him, cried out, O Sir, if you had bin here four days ago, my Brother had not bin dead; but I know very well that whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, he will grant thee; not daring to add, that at his requeft God would not refufe to reftore a man to life that had bin four days dead, which he was not wont to grant. But Jefus knowing her thoughts, comforted her, by affuring her he would raife her Brother again to Life. Martha replied, that the doubted not but he should be rais'd again at the general Refurrection. But, anfwer'd Jefus, I have received power from my Father of restoring every one to life that believe in me; and whoever lives and believes on me, fhall not die eternally. Believeft thou what I fay to thee? She replied, Lord, Í believe whatever thou haft faid, fince I make no doubt but thou art the Meffiah, the Son of God, which was to come among us. Having faid this, fhe return'd home, and told her Sifter that the Mafter was return'd out of Galilee, and would speak with her. Mary immediatly arofe, and leaving the Company repair'd to Jefus, Ddd who |