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soul, which is the main matter that is to be regarded; I must tell thee therefore, though I must thankfully acknowledge thy friendly respects to me in this labour of thine, yet I cannot but more commend thy sister's diligent and holy attention to this heavenly doctrine, which hath been delivered to her she hath done that, which is both more pleasing to me, and more profitable and happy for herself, in laying up those instructions and comforts, which shall stick by her soul for ever.

XI. 3 Give us day by day our daily bread. Give us that provision of maintenance for this present life, which may be fit and requisite for it; and be pleased to proportion thy gifts to our necessities: we do not distrustfully cast forward, and crave the supply of a large store for the time to come, but we beg of thee a sufficiency for the present day; desiring to depend ever upon thy gracious Providence, for the daily renewing of our competent provisions.

XI. 4 And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Do thou not give us over into the hands of Satan, our Spiritual Enemy, to tempt us; for we know our own weakness and disability to resist him; and, whensoever it shall please thee, for our trial and thy glory, to give way to that Tempter to assault us, give us the issue, together with the temptation: shew thyself strong in our weakness, and let not that Evil One prevail against us. XI. 15 He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. See Matthew xii. 24.

XI. 18 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? See Matthew xii. 26.

XI. 20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, &c. See Matthew xii. 27.

XI. 24-26 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, &c. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished, &c. See Matthew xii. 43-45.

XI. 28 But he said, Yea rather blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

It is indeed a great honour and happiness to her, that is my mother, according to the flesh, that she should be chosen out of all women-kind, to bear and nourish the Lord of Life; yet her chief happiness consisteth not in this, but rather in that her right and interest, which she hath in me by her faith: this is that happiness, wherein all ye, my faithful disciples, may also communicate with her: Blessed are they, that hear the word of God, and do carefully and conscionably retain, observe, and practise it.

XI. 29, 30 This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but &c. For as Jonas was a sign &c. See Matthew xii. 39, 40.

XI. 31 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with &c. See Matthew xii. 42.

XI. 33 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, &c. See Matthew v. 15.

XI. 34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine &c. See Matthew vi. 22.

XI. 39 Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup &c. See Matthew xxiii. 25.

XI. 42 For ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: &c. See Matthew xxiii. 23.

XI. 46 For ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers. See Matthew xxiii. 4.

XI. 47 For ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them: See Matthew xxiii. 29.

XI. 48 Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, &c. See Matthew xxiii. 30, 31. XI. 50 That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, &c. See Matthew xxiii. 35, 36.

XI. 52 For ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, &c. See Matthew xxiii. 13.

XII. 1 The leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. See Matthew xvi. 6.

XII. 2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. See Matthew x. 26.

XII. 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? See Matthew x. 29.

XII. 10 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him but &c. See Matthew xii. 31, 32.

XII. 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God.

Lo even such a fool, and so frail and uncertain, yea, so sure of the revenging hand of God, is that man, whose heart is set upon these earthly riches, without all care of procuring true grace, which only is able to enrich his soul.

XII. 49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?

The issue of my Gospel shall be such, as if I had come purposely, to set divisions in the bosoms of men, against themselves, and with one another: for the corruption of men will be stirred and disquieted with the powerful preaching thereof, and will be ready to raise broils in the world; and then only doth my word prevail, and work effectually, when it is followed with such success: I cannot, therefore, but earnestly wish this holy fire of grace kindled in the hearts of men, for the opposing and wasting of their inward corruptions. So also verse 51.

XII. 50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!

I have been already baptized with water, but there is another baptism that I must undergo, even a baptism of blood; and how am I pained with the expectation thereof, longing to be past that extremity of suffering which is ordained for me, for man's redemption!

XII. 56 Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how &c. See Matthew xvi. 3.

XII. 58 When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give &c. See Matthew v. 25.

XIII. 11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed down together, and could in no wise lift up herself.

And, behold, there was a woman, upon whom Satan, by the permission of God, had inflicted a grievous bodily infirmity for the space of eighteen years together; whereby she was so bowed together, that she could not lift herself up. So verse 16.

XIII. 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; &c. See Matthew xiii. 31, 32.

XIII. 21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. See Matthew xiii. 33. XIII. 24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. Enforce yourselves to use all diligent and vehement endeavours, to enter into the kingdom of heaven: ye shall find much difficulty and opposition, in your attaining thereto; resolve, therefore, to buckle with all the troubles and dangers, that shall lie in your way; else ye shall never be able to compass it: for there are many, I say unto you, which will heartlessly wish for it, and faintly move towards it, and yet shall fail of entering thereinto.

XIII. 25, 26 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye gin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

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When once the opportunities of this present life, which is the time of grace, are past, in vain shall ye then hope to challenge favour or respect from God, for these outward privileges, which ye have had above other nations.

XIII. 29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, &c. See Matthew viii. 11.

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XIII. 32, 33 Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.

I know that subtle tyrant, who hath shed the blood of my forerunner, is hunting after my death also; but tell him from me, that my times are set in the eternal counsel of God, wherein ĺ shall do these miraculous works of ejecting devils and healing diseases; and when my prefixed time is accomplished for my labours and sufferings, I shall, in spite of the opposition of earth and hell, be perfected, and enjoy my full glory. But, in the

VOL. IV.

mean time, I must do my appointed services; and make account to yield myself over, when my day is come, into the hands of mine enemies in Jerusalem: for it cannot be, so is that city inured to the blood of God's messengers, that a prophet should be suffered to die elsewhere.

XIII. 34 How often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen &c! See Matthew xxiii. 37.

XIV. 15 Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

We are here at an earthly feast, where we partake of transitory and perishing delicates; but how happy are they, which shall be admitted to taste of the heavenly provisions, in the glorious kingdom of God!

XIV. 21 Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in &c. See Matthew xxii. 9.

XIV. 23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, &c. See Matthew xxii. 10.

XIV. 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

If any man come to me, and cannot be content, for my sake, to neglect and disregard his father and mother, &c. and his very life also, if they stand in opposition to me, or offer to hinder him from enjoying me, he cannot be worthy to bear the name of my disciple.

XIV. 28, 29, 31 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, &c. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not. down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Whosoever will enter into the profession of Christianity, must make account of the worst and utmost that it can cost him; and set it down with his own heart, to undergo resolutely all the difficulties, that shall or can encounter him : even as a man, that goes about to build a tower, or to meet some potent enemy in the field, will be sure to forecast the cost and peril of that enterprise; lest at last being overtaken in his reckoning, he give over, or be foiled with shame.

XIV. 34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? See Matthew v. 13.

XV. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, &c. See Matthew xviii. 13. XV. 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

The sinner, that goes on in a course of wickedness, may well be

given for lost, by angels and men: when such a one therefore repenteth, and converteth unto God, it must needs be much more cause of joy to all that tender the glory of God, than the inoffensive proceeding of those, which gave no cause of fear of their miscarriage. So verses 8, 9, 10.

XV. 11, 12, 13, &c. And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

It is with God, and the two sorts of men in the world, the sinful and professedly righteous, as it is with the father that had two sons. The younger, which was wild and debauched, would needs spend his patrimony riotously; and, at last, being pinched with want, returns home to his father, miserable but penitent; and is graciously, though unworthy, received to favour, with much joy for his recovery: the elder keeps on a harmless and inoffensive course; and, though well accepted always, yet is not so much rejoiced in, at any one time, as his unthrifty brother, which was accounted but as dead and lost, by his wise and loving father. Right so it is with God in his carriage towards civil and well ordered persons, on the one side, and those that are reclaimed from a lewd and scandalous life, on the other.

XVI. 8 And the Lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

And the Lord commended the witty device and cunning shift, which the unjust steward had made for himself; as it is commonly seen, that worldly-minded men are more subtle in the contriving of their affairs to their own advantage, than God's children are in the projecting and managing of better businesses.

XVI. 9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

And I say unto you, Learn this wit of the unjust steward, so to order and dispose of these worldly riches, which are seldom other than unduly gotten by their owners, as that ye may make to yourselves many friends by them; that, upon this charitable and advantageous improvement of them, ye may reap the comfort and benefit of them, at your departure hence, and may be received into everlasting habitations.

XVI. 13 No servant can serve two masters: for either &c. See Matthew vi. 24.

XVI. 16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time &c. See Matthew xi. 12, 13.

XVI. 17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. See Matthew v. 18.

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