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Refurrection and Afcenfion, fent forth his Apoftles again, and other Difciples, inftructed and affifted with greater measures of the Spirit, to preach to the Jews that all things were now accomplifhed, that the Kingdom of the Meffiah or the Gofpel-Covenant was eftablifhed, and to invite them to come in and embrace it.

5&6. But the Guests ftill refused to come, going every one about his own bufinefs; and fome were fo ungrateful, as even to abufe and kill the Servants that were fent to call them: Thus the Jews ftill rejected the repeated Offers of the Gofpel, preferring the advantages of This Life to the hopes of a future, and going on obftinately in their own Way, and even perfecuting and flaying the Difciples that were fent to preach to them.

7. But when the King heard this, he was greatly incenfed, and fent out his Army, and deftroyed thofe ungrate ful Men that murdered his Servants, and he burnt their City: Thus God, highly provoked at the incorrigible obfinacy of the Jews, fent at laft the Roman Army upon them, and deftroyed the City of Jerufalem and their whole Nation.

8 & 9. Then he fent out Servants again, faying; The Guests that were invited, were not worthy to come to my Feaft; Go therefore into the high-ways, and invite fuch as you meet, and urge them to come in: Thus God, rejecting the Jews for their Impenitence and unbelier, commanded the Gofpel to be preached to the Gentiles.

10. Accordingly the Servants went out, and invited all they met, both good and bad, and the room was filled with VOL. I. guests:

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guests: Thus the Difciples of Chrift preached the Gofpel to the Gentiles: and They believed and received it, and were admitted into the Church; fome of them being good and fincere Chriftians, others Hypocrites and wicked Men. II. Then the King came in to view his Guefts, and faw a Man among them not having on a Wedding-garment: Thus God fees fome in the Church, who profeffing themfelves to be Chriftians, yet obey not the Gospel, but live unworthily of it.

12 & 13. And when the Man, upen Examination, had nothing to Jay in excufe of his neglect, the King commanded him to be turned out of doors into the dark: Thus wicked Chriftians, who profefs the Gospel, but obey it not, having nothing to plead in excufe for themselves, fhall be feparated by God from among the Faithful, and be caft into the Regions of Eternal Darkness, most remote from the Happinefs of Heaven.

14. For many indeed hear and receive the Gofpel, and many there are that profefs themfelves Chriftians; but there are but few who live fuitably to that holy Profeffion, and approve themfelves before God, fo as to be thought worthy of its Reward.

15. All thefe Parables the Pharifees heard. And though these Difcourfes referred to many things, which at that time were not yet accomplished, fo that the Pharifees could not fully underftand them; yet in general they perceived, that all these Similitudes were directed

against Them. Refolving therefore, fome way or other to deftroy Jefus; and feeing the People had at present

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16 And they fent out unto him their

difciples, with the Herodians, faying Mafter, we know that thou art true,

and teacheft the way of God in truth, neither careft thou for any man for thou regardent not the perfon of men.

17 Tell us therefore, What thinkeft thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cæfar, or not?

18 But Jefus perceived their wickednefs, and faid, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?

19 Shew me the

tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.

20 And he faith

unto them, Whofe
is this image and fu-
perfcription?
21 They fay unto
him, Cæfars. Then
faith he unto them,
Render therefore
unto Cæfar, the
things which

are

fuch an opinion of his being a great Prophet, that they durft not venture to apprehend him by force; they contrived, if poffible, to infnare him in his Talk, fo as to draw him in to say fomething that might give offence to the people.

16. Sending therefore fome of their own Difciples, together with fome of the followers of Herod, they instructed them to affault him with a Shew of great Honour and Efteem, saying: Mafter, We believe you to be a true and fincere Teacher of the Law of God, and that you have fo much Courage and Freedom, as not to flatter any Man, nor be moved by any Fear or Affection to conceal the Truth: We defire therefore you would folve us this Doubt.

17. Is it lawful for the Jews, who are the peculiar People of God, and under his immediate Government, to pay Tribute to Cæfar, and to fubmit to the Authority of the Romans; or not?

18. By this Queftion they hoped to draw him into fuch a fnare, that either he might offend the People, and feem to flatter the Roman Emperor in oppofition to the Liberty and Religion of the Jews, if he thould fay Tribute ought to be paid; or that he might offend the Romans, if he should fay it ought not. But Jefus knowing this their Cunning and Malice, faid; Wherefore do ye tempt me, ye Hypocrites? I am aware of your wicked and deceitful Intentions.

19, 20 & 21. And calling for a piece of the Money wherewith the Roman Tax ufed to be paid, he asked them, Whofe Image and Infcription was upon L 2

it?

154

it? Which when they owned to be
Cafar's, Jefus replied; Then ought ye
to give to Cafar, what ye acknowledge
to belong to him; and fo far fubmit
your felves to the Government ye are
under, as is confiftent with Religion
and the Law of God.

22. Hereupon they departed from
him, admiring the Prudence of his An-
fwer, and defpairing to obtain any ad-
vantage against him.

23. Prefently after, the Sadducees, + See Jofe- who believed that the Soul of Man rs of the perifhes at Death, and that there is no Refurrection nor Future State of ReMars, lib. wards and Punishments in another World, came to Jefus, and put a cafe to him, faving:

1. C. 22.

24. Matter; Mofes commanded, that if a Man die without Children, his Brother fhould marry his Wife; to continue his Name and Family.

25. Now there happened to be Seven Brothers, whereof the firft married a Wife, and, dying without Children, left his Wife to the fecond.

26 27. In like manner the fecond married her, and died without Children; and the third; and in fhort, they all feven married her, and died without Children; and the Woman died last.

28. Now if there be a future State, as you teach, and another Life after this; whofe Wife of the feven must this Woman then be ? for they all alike married her.

29. Jefus replied; Ye talk very ignorantly not understanding the true meaning of the Scriptures, nor having a right Senfe of the Greatnefs of the Power of God.

Cæfars: and unto God the things that are Gods.

22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

23 』 The fame day came to him the Sadducees, which fay there is no refurrection, and asked him,

24 Saying,Mafter, Mofes faid, If a man die, having no children, his brother fhall marry his wife, and raife up feed unto his

brother.

25 Now

there

were with us seven brethren, and the first when he had married a wife, deceased, and having no iffue, left his wife unto his

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them, Ye do err, not knowing the fcriptures, nor the power of God.

30 For in the refurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels of God in heaven.

31 But as touching the refurrection of the dead, have ye

not read that which
was fpoken unto you
by God, faying,
32 I am the God
of Abraham, and the
God of Ifaac, and
the God of Jacob?

God is not the God

of the dead, but of the living.

33 And when the

30. For in that future State of Happinefs, to which the Juft fhall be raifed; where there fhall be no more Mortality, which Marriage was inflituted to supply; there will be no more need of any fuch thing as Marriage. Neither fhall that future State, be like the prefent life of Men on Earth; But it fhall be glorious and Spiritual, as is now the Life of Angels in Heaven.

31 32. And that there fhall be fuch a future State and another Life after

this, ye might have collected even from God's filing himself to Mefes, the God of Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, long after the Death of these Patriarchs; (Exod. iii. 6.) For fince it is plain these Holy Men did not receive the full reward of their Piety in this World, God could not have called himfelf their God, but only because there is a future State wherein they fhall be rewarded, and another Life after this.

33. When the People heard this, multitude heard this, they were greatly amazed at the readi

they were aftonished at his doctrine.

nefs and excellency of Jefus's Anfwers, with which he thus effectually filenced all his Adverfaries.

* The Word avasaris properly fignifies a future Life in general, and fo the strength of our Saviour's Argument is clear and evident. But though we should understand the word ftrictly of the Refurretion of the Body, the Argument would yet be good: For fince the Sadducees denied the Refurrection of the Body, not because they thought it impoffible for the Body to be railed, but only becaufe they thought the Soul perished at Death, and that there was no future State at all; our Saviour by proving in general the certainty of a Life to come, takes away the whole foundation of their Objection. Befides; the feparate State of the Soul, is not a State of perfect Happiness, but merely of Expectation.

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