CONTENTS.

MATTHEW's GOSPEL.

SECTION I.

The Mativity.

CH. I. II

THE lineage of Jesus from Abraham:-his conception and birth :-the visit of the magians :-the judgment of the chief priests and scribes concerning the place where the Messiah should be born:-Joseph's retreat into Egypt: the murder of the infants :-Herod's death :-Joseph's return to Galilee.

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SECTION II.

The Baptism.

CH. III. IV.

John sent to baptize and announce the Messiah:-Jesus baptized by him, and attested from heaven :-tempted by the devil in

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the desert:-returns to Galilee :-calls Peter, Andrew, and the two sons of Zebedee :-gives intimation to the people, of the reign of God:-performs miraculous cares.

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SECTION III.

The Sermon on the Mount.

CH. V. VI. VII.

Who are happy :- the disciples of Jesus bound to be exemplary :

- he came to ratify the divine law, much impaired by the traditions of the Pharisees :--I. in respect of extent :-exemplified in what concerns; 1. murder, 2. adultery, 3. divorce, 4. oaths, 5. retaliation, 6. the love of our neighbour :-II. in respect of motive:--where the end is applause, the virtue is destroyed: - exemplified, 1. in almsgiving, 2. in prayer, 3 in fasting. Did we estimate the stability of the things in heaven compared with the things on earth, we should pursue the former with ardour, and prove superior to all anxiety about the latter: the service of Mammon incompatible with the service of God;-- admonitions to charitableness in judging others ;· to impartiality in judging ourselves ;-to discretion in dispensing religious benefits; ~to assiduity in pursuing spiritual good;to humanity and equity in our behaviour to all :-caution against the seducing influence of the multitude, commonly in the wrong:--warning against false teachers, who are best known by their actions:--the wisdom of adding practice to knowledge:-the insignificancy of the latter without the for

mer.

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SECTION IV.

Several Miracles.

CH. VIII. IX. 1-34.

The cure of a leper,-of a centurion's servant,-of Peter's wife's mother,―of some demoniacs and others;-those who follow Jesus must do it at all hazards, and without delay :—the stilling of a tempest on the sea :—the cure of two furious demoniacs, of a paralytic carried on a bed: Matthew called; the reason why Jesus associated with sinners;—why his disciples did not fast; --a woman cured of a bloody issue :—a ruler's daughter restored to life :—the cure of two blind men, and of a dumb demoniac. Page 64

SECTION V.

The Charge to the Apostles,

CH. IX. 35, &c. x. xi. 1.

Jesus selects twelve, whom he names apostles :-commissions them to announce the reign of heaven to his countrymen the Jews, empowering them to perform miraculous cures :—to secure them against solicitude, he assures them of the care of Providence, and of the illuminations of the Spirit :—he warns them by his own example of what they may expect from men, aguinst the dread of whom he fortifies them by the consideration of the omnipotence of God:-his cause will occasion divisions in families: by all genuine disciples he will be preferred to every other object :--the smallest services performed from love to him, shall not be unrewarded.

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SECTION VI.

The Character of the Times.

CH. XI. 2, &c. XII.

John's message to Jesus:-the testimony of Jesus concerning John-the people's opinion of both :--the aggravated guilt of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, who had enjoyed the ministry of Jesus, and seen his miracles, yet remained impenitent :—the wisdom of God in adapting his new dispensation to the simple and unlearned, who are invited by Jesus to come under his guidance: -the doctrine of the Pharisees concerning the Sabbath confuted, 1. from Scripture, 2. from reason, 3. from their own practice:—the manner wherein they account for his expelling demons exposed :—the danger of detracting from the Holy Spirit :-miracles not intended for gratifying curiosity or captiousness:-the obduracy and folly of the age strongly condemned by the repentance of the Ninevites, and the zeal for wisdom manifested by the queen of Sheba: the misimprovement of benefits begets insensibility:who are considered by Jesus as his nearest relatives. Page 74

SECTION VII.

Parables.

CH. XII. 1-53.

The parable of the sower;—the reason why Jesus taught in parables:--the explanation of the parables :-the parable of the darnel;—of the grain of mustard seed; of the leaven : — the explanation of the parable of the darnel;—the parable of the hidden treasure ;-of the precious pearl; of the sweep net, with its explanation.

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SECTION VIII.

The People twice fed in the Desert.

CH. XIII. 54, &c. xiv. xv. xvi. 1—12.

Jesus despised by his fellow-citizens on account of his paren tage; -is informed how John the Baptist was killed by Herod; -retires to a desert; is followed by more than 5000 persons, whom he there feeds miraculously; --makes his disciples embark for the other side of the lake; follows them in the night, walking on the water; entering the bark, stills the storm; —many, in the country of Gennesaret, cured by touching his garment ;-his disciples vindicated from the charge brought by the Pharisees who, by their traditions, annulled the law of God;—moral pollution proceeds only from vice :— a demon expelled from the daughter of a woman, who, though a Gentile, showed extraordinary faith : —in a mountain, near the sea of Galilee, many cures performed, and upwards of 4000 miraculously fed: :-a sign, such as they demanded, refused to both Pharisees and Sadducees ;—the disciples cautioned against their doctrine under the name of leaven, which they, interpreting literally, misunderstood,

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SECTION IX.

The Transfiguration.

CH. XVI. 13, &c. xvii. xvIII.

The opinions of the people concerning Jesus:-Peter avows him to be the Messiah :--Jesus asserts the perpetuity of his church soon to be erected;-foretells his own death:-rebukės Peter, who was scandalized at hearing it mentioned :—all who would be followers, warned to prepare for sufferings and death ;-

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