^. /^ ^' -f. ;f. TV T. T? r. T. ^ 'r, T- " '^. ^« f « T^ T, T. ^ T. ?.
-V- '^' ■'»? =M *». '■*' )» *f»; J¥^- «« -^- ^ .<|i tp i)| ^ ^ A" ^. .-jj^ 4. i* :'y
. ■ . f. f . f . ?. ^. 't, f. ^, T . '^- ^. "^^ f . t.
'f , '-t. ■•* f , ?■ f . <»'. ^"^ f. ▼'. '^^ k. '^■' f , ^' *. f '
:. -"^ ''' ■" f • t '^ •• "K 4( f J * f 1 1 1- -^^ '^' ^'
1* % T- '^^ "F "^^^ If**'' l**^ '^' '*' ^' '^ ?.• ■* f • '^ '^ f ' t; '*,' t
f^ *", **f '^i ^f 4i 19 'f. 'f 'i^ 'f ^. * f . •?' f *■> f ' * f ■' ^? ^^. •?
4^ >* iq ^e -1^ ^ .i»> :V ^W f J -ii -jft :|^ -1^ A' ■9>' 4" f .^ ^^ ^ ^ ^' ■i^ f ^ 'ie f^ f» ^f •?« ^-f ' r 'f. 'i^ f , -» f ; vik| f ^ ^* f ] ^' t' -^^ '^ ■?; 'i? '>^ "i^ * >i? <F; m -w ^>^ "•" •' -' * '" '^^ ^i' -r f • i' * -^^ 4' f. '^ 4?! f^ ^ 1^ 'S^ '*''** '?^ •'*^ ■^: V^*l# t'-*^ f' ='i-^'s*"'^*
tffi^^i^^'i'f^'^'^'i^K^ f. ^'. f V f. % '*' ^^ '^\ ^!
^ # ^ ;|» ^ (^ .if vjs .!«? ^_ .ir' -iff *#! jt] '■■■»' f^^ •« '^' ■» V ;?' »*' -i"
4t ^ i? 4*^, ^ '^ *^ f^ ■*i f ^^ '*! i»; f"! i*' f ! ?' '?! -* ''^ 'K '^'' t.
'^ <|^ .J^ fl ^ ^ # :W •![ .» ;?R^ f- ,«^ :i' ^" #[ -f^ •fit'^ ^' p >> -f^ >»
<J<t i|lf ^ >i? '|R ^|» i # .if f? if '#;' .» >f; i^" ^f ^" f I ^' ■«!>* *' >[ 4"
^» 4^ **'***■**« '* * ^^ V f, 4^ -ir ^^1 'i^ i» i' 4' -^ ' >* ct' ;^;
-fJ # -W -f ■ <¥ -f; ik^ #' ^ ^ . ^f ^ f,if/f. "> 'fi 1^^
;■. t; .-. ;•> 'r, ^"r 'i^. ¥'-/'^^ '¥/f. '^^. '^ '* ^^ -f . ^.' ^, ■•*' K '^' '?' •^'
^¥:^'¥,%¥,'f '^,'^.'% ^ '-K '^ ''?^' ^ fi ** ^' ^ f -^ "^K '='''. 4' 'i^ t> 4^ 'K *?* fJ 4? -^ 1* "K fi f ' '^, f. "f. f .^> ^- f ■ 'f. K '^- 4
#J ^^-j 'IB «fc ^ ^fe; « ^ -ii" .#; .ir^ 4»" -i' |i^ .|i^ -f^ ^' .^' ^i' f] ^ :V :^"-
i»j #^ ^ ^ i fjl fj f{ ^iif .i>( .i^ f ] ^ tf * I* *^ .i/
^ ff *)^ 4* **[ 'K **^ ^ *^ ^^' '*■ ■* •¥ f[ fi- *[ 4! f! •*; ^] 4' ■^' '^' «;i| i?^! iifk^ ('jn* »» 'i*^ ••^■- # « ^^ U *^[ m -i] '*' 3»' ■»' ^i>' .^' ■^»' 'V -y '•"»■
4i f^ ^H^ "^ ^- *^ '^ "^^ ^i 4^" '?* "f*" -^^ "f ! '^^ f ' f ! "^^ 4 '^' "^t '*^'
TI 'H *?^ *^ ¥, 'h 'f; 'f*. * -• '* '^ *' -f! i" '^ * ^*' 4 i '*' ^ \*'
I** iN jW '■W»_ *». .W V .* ^ an' ,,j»5- ■^' i^ .i»_ .^; .j»' ::j| .^' <'^).^' A' s|^■ -i;
-.■*#■ >»■ #^^ "^ '^' # i^ 4" <i; #' /^^ f' •»'
<iJ ii-f 4fr 4^ rt»' •:# ij ^ 4' '|»^' iis;' it^ .14' .«' 4>_ f " >' -i^ ^f\ ■$[ 'f[ ^*' ^' ■yip..p n i» •» .^ #^»- # c3»' .^^ i^ f_ .^' iV <i;
';; ■■\ T; V, V, Yv 'M 'H '¥ 'f. '^ '^. **' ¥ "^' 'f! t' ^. t ■ f- '?5 'K '?'
4^ ti t^ 4^ ^ ^K 'i( f! *" 'K ^**; f*' j^ # ^f ' i' ^' -^^ .p^' #^ i:»' ^j^^ .V
^ 'K '*i '*^ 1^ ^ fJ ^?^ '"^ '^ f ■ ■?*; ^[ f ' '?« f ^ 'f '#' -i^ ^' t" ^K f
4* '-^i 4^ 'h f* *K '*i ^! ¥. f. ■*^- f. f ?! '^' f '^" f ' '^' •*" *^' ■^^' '^'^
^ ^ <iJ 'f{ # 4» m p[ # i' ;» f^ 4 f ] 4' f ' '^ ^! t ^* ^' '^
•i/ 'i*^ v^ ^?ttf :W ^^ •* '^ '|if 'J«5 ^«f # f f ' 4 ff" #' <f[ ■*■ 'V -V ^ ■ .>^
m vW v|rt ^^ .y -p -i' ^ 1^ jr ijsr f ' ^* :?> -it' f ' 4' f ' ^V i^' ^' «»■' i' i^ ti 'H '-K "i^ '* 4* ^ -i^^ ¥ f, f. 'k f..^.f'. '} K %^'*' ^ f[ 'y
i^ .^1 .*f, .Ja ;m ••»' til? .^ i|»;. .'i»' i" .?•' ■.« 4'^' # #' 4»' -t" .f* .V -v -V vV
'*? p.^ #' >_ .«»' •-,•»■ 'W «.?« »*■ * -!»■ ji' .w ^' ii ^' v« ■»' i' •»' .4' y >
^ ?''i ^ ••'*! •* '.* ^ii*' * '♦• '?•■ '•»: 'fl -^■' *f' y '>*' '* «■, i -t* ■*" f* ^*' i? p. iff >' .,»»■ •>«' i« W vfT i*' ^w' * i' *' ^i' #•" i' •#■" 't' '.^' *»' '^'
'M -i*; -llC >JW '«r V* ^if > # #^ MP*^ # # 'p^ :0 f -p 'f f -^^ A •* -.
'¥ '^ '*A "f, *?* ¥, M^.'M **'; '^' '^' 'K ■'^' ■*' ^' "f '' '^ ■* '*' "^ ' * ''^'
M t1 'H '^v T' '^! '*' '^* ■''' ^' <^' 'ir -f I <|i" -ik' >* •'♦' ^' "
v«^ ^. .ir 'jitF 'M <« .0 fw ;«. ' .<aL f^- '* ^ .-^ .^ ^
' ■ ' .... ,^' ^^^'^ ^^^
- ■: - '^ yi' ^' t^ ••" -
^ '» »> s» ^ #
'^^ «»■ ■».•
•^, T. f ^ 'i*', <r ^i'
•V .*'•»'
f ! -^ '^'
tl ^*' t] ■*^>' f-'
f > ?• f 1 "*■ '^^ ♦J '^" ^' •■*'
<^' t%^ >>'
<«/ J', '<* ' '^ ■-» ■*■ ••*' '-9" #5?" ■? '
"^ '^t "K *i *^! ''^« 'Ti ^r^ '■*'. '^v ' '*' i^. •»' i^' *•' •^-- ■*■ ■'*■ ^\ ^i/'
'h '^] ^\ '^. i
, , ^r t- f! '* \V »f>' -Ir'
I.* •I'-, i>
•* '1 v>' •> -r ■* *■ 'f>-
;^'4' if-^ •?►'' ■•?•' ^?'' •**' •^'
•%■ 'f ■■% •? •■» ■> •> <•
•t ■ ^*; .i/ ■'*' v' 4';v' ■'^■
»*.■• .i^.i' ■». .. •# ... «>if ••» 'i"' ■•> 'i' •*•" '*-' .^'
•i'4- .i^•♦•i^^'^■
.* .\* A
'■H '!? ?*■ ¥ *. i^x ■ . "V, ■^' '^." 't' * t 'f ■ ^' *"
'd tj 'H '^ *H '*^ "*. **» :f: 'fV t. i' f ' '^^ ^1 ^" 1«' -^^ f ^ i' •v? ,,»|! »»* (i< .t()( .« .i» ,p^ ^" .^ sii' .ip," * .^' ^' ,5»* .i' 34* 4' li'
'> fV m M (^ U '«' 'U *•' .(t^: i,*" 4' •^* 4' 4' .!«' X'" ^' v«' <^'
=*» • % -^ ^ <4 f k
• .1 • f , t V . :i f > . -'• . ' . . ..- ;.. '» qr A .il. r^' rjf
. >/ >.«j^ :.(I1 4^ ><^ >u£ v>te. UK ■Jkk <Aif «*< <.« tti 4» <ft >^ ^ •» Mi 4
*» <% -A I*' :| l,»
Ki , .
.'i •. • -V <f- tHi' ^- ^■
"V^ <^^^V^ .
|
OF THE |
i 1 |
||
|
Theb |
"1 o-g i e a 1 S e m in a r y , PRINCETON, N. J. |
^ 1 |
|
|
Case, |
, Division |
.25. |
.... ! |
|
Shelf, |
Section.-...-.,... |
„.... |
.... |
|
\ Booh, ! |
No, ...-. |
PREFACE.
K U "^^^ Translation of the New Testament,
which Is here delivered to the public, hath
employed the ftudy and application of fome
years. Nothing hath been wanting that my
abihties, and the corredlions of my learped friends, could
give this publication, to render it worthy the acceptance
of the candid and intelligent Chriftian. But as it is
impoffible to forefee what reception this work will meet
with from the world, I deem it prudent to conceal the
jiames of thofe learned friends who perufed the whole or
fart of the manufcript, and what their fentiments were
7 . of the execution and utility of the defign, though the
'^''' mention of their names would do me honour, as fome
of them have defervedly attained the firfb eminence ia
the republic of letters. I begun and purfued the un-
^_ dertaking upon this plan, yiz. To tranilate the facred
^ writers of the New Teftament with the fame freedom,
impartiality, and elegance, with which other tranilations
from the Greek claflics have lately been executed, and
to cloathe the genuine ideas and dodrines of the Apoftles
with that propriety and pcrfpicuity, in which they them-
felves, I apprehend, would have exhibited them had
they 720W lived and written in our language. The true
meaning- and defign of each author hath been ftridly and
impartially explored, the fignification and force of the
Greek Original hath been critically obfervdd, and, as
much as polfible, transfufed into modern Englilli, and
the whole facred volume elucidated and explained upon
a new and rational plan, with feledl Notes, critical and
explanatory. The reader is delired ever to bear in mind,
that this is not a "jcrl^al tranflation, but a liberal 2iV\d dif-
fufroe verfion of the facred claffics, and is calculated to
anfwer the purpofe of an explanatory paraphrafe as well,
A 2 as
IV PREFACE.
as a free and elegant tranflation. Every fcholar knows; that the idioms and ftrudure of the antient are fo eflcn- tially different from the modern languages, that a literal 2iX\dfer'vile verlion of any Greek and Latin author muft necelTariiy be barbarous and unintelligible.
The method I purfued was this. I Jirjl carefullv perufed every chapter to invefligate and difcover the one true meaning of the author with all the accuracy and fagacity I could employ, attending to his reafoning.^ and to the principles and doftrines he defigned to inculcate, ever confulting the bed: commentators upon abflrufe paflages, and conftantly imploring the infinite Source of light and wifdom to illuminate my imperfect under- ftanding. When I apprehended I had found out the true fignification of the Original, and the precife ideas of the writer at the time he wrote, my next ftudy was to adorn them in fuch language as is ?iow written, and to transfufe them through the medium of a liberal and ex- planatory verfion. So that my firjl view always was with impartiality and critical attention to difcover the true fenfe of my author ; my 7iext view, to cloathe his ideas in the veft of modern elegance. Elegance of didtion, therefore, hath ever been confultcd, but never at the expcnce of that truth and fidelity, which ought ever to be facred and inviolable in an interpreter of Scripture.
It is pleafing to obferve, how much our language, within thefe very few years, hath been refined and po- lifhed, and what infinite improvements it hath lately received. The writings of Hume^ Robert/on^ Lowtb^ Lyttchon, Hurd, Mclmoth^ Jobifon, and Hawkcjworth, will fland an everlafting monument, of what grace and purity in didion, of what elegance and harmony in arrange- ment, and of what copioufnefs and llrength in compo- fition, cur language is capable ; and the writings of thelc learned and illuflrious autliors are not only a diffinguilhed honour and orHament to their country, but in point of true excellence and fublimity will bear tlie ievcrell: cri-*
tical
PREFACE. V
tical comparlfon with the politeft writers of Greece and Rome. The author knew it to be an arduous and in- vidious attempt to make the phrafe of thefe celebrated writers the vehicle of infpired truths, and to diffufe over the facred page the elegance of modern Englifl:!, con- fcious that the bald and barbarous language of the old vulgar verlion hath acquired a venerable facrednefs from length of time and cuftom, and that every innovation of this capital nature would be generally ftigmatized as the laft and moil: daring enormity. But notwithftanding this perfuafion, he flattered himlelf that fuch a Tranllation of the New Teilament might induce perfons of a liberal education and polite tafte to perufe the facred volume, and that fuch a verfion might prove of fignal fervice to the caufe of truth, liberty, and Chriftianity, if men of cultivated and improved minds, elpecially Youth, could be allured by the innocent ftratagem of a modern ftylt\ to read a book, which is now, alas ! too generally ne- gleded and difregarded by the young and gay, as a vo- lume containing little to amuie and delight, and furnifli- ing a ftudy congenial only to the gloom of old age, or to the melancholy mind of a defponding vifionary. V/hat animated and inlpired me through the whole work, was the pleafing thought, that by the execution of this defign, 1 might, through the blcfling of God, engage the Rising Generation to admire and love the facred ciaffics, to underftand the duties, dodfrines, and difcoveries of the gofpcl, and to venerate Chrifha- nity as the caufe of God, of truth, ot virtue, of liber- ty, and of immortality.
:fi!This is the First Attempt of this nature in our language, and this confideration, I hope, \yiil entitle it to the learned reader's candour and indulgence. Jn this undertaking, Cajlalio was my precedent and pattern. I - have attempted in Englijh, what Ca/ialio executed in Latin. Cajlalio hath deicrved well of mankind for tranf- lating the Scriptures in a pure, elegant, and diifufive (lyle.
the
vi PREFACE.
The relation and mutual dependence of detached fen- tences, and the feveral diftin6t deductions in a train of argumentation, I have pointed out and elucidated by the incidental inlertion of a few conned:ive words or par- ticles. The obiture paffages that varioufly occur, I have attempted in the body of the Tranllation to explain an4 illuftrate in a perfpicuous and explicit manner. I have carefully explored and have endeavoured, upon rationa} principles, clearly to exhibit the reafoning of St. Paul in the Romans and Galatians. The old divilion of chapters, and verfes I have, been perfuaded, contrary to my owi^ judgment, to retain, but I have every where fignified to the reader, by the manner of printing and piinSluation^ when they are erroneous; and 1 have divided the whole into fe^ions. The parallel paffages, and illuftrations of particular phrafes and modes of expreffion from the Creek and Latin claflics, I colleded in reading the an- tients^ and I have generally fpecified the page and edi~ Uon trom which they are cited.
I can truly fay, and 1 appeal to that Being for my fincerity, before whom I mull very fliortly appear, that my firil and primary defign in this work was to exhi- bit the Chriftian Religion in its native purity and original fimplicity, unadulterated with human fyilems, creeds, doctrines, and modes of faith. In this work I have ccniidercd niylclf as belonging to no one party, fedt, r«jid denomination of Chriliians, but have given a fair and honcll: verfion of the divine Volume, juH: as if \ had iat down to tianliate Flalo^ Xenophon^ Tlmcydides, Phut arch, or any ether CI reck writer, with a mind exempt, as much as jrail humanity can be exempt, from preju- dices and prcpoirclfion, and folely inteiu upon invefti- gating and difcovering truth. ^
^ ; I'vvcry one mufi be convinced, that a faithful and ac- curate verlion o' any writer in a dead language is futH- cient for undeiilanding the meaning and dei^gn of that authcr,,- jyad that the fidelity of fuch ^ translator entirejj^
fuperfedcs
PREFACE. vii
fuperfedes all the tedious explications and laborious idle- nefs of dull and heavy commentators. The author, therefore, prefumes to affert, that the New Teftament itfclf^ if carefully and candidly peruled, with a mind open to the reception of truth, will, by all rational and intel- ligent ChriftianSi be judged to conduce to a more clear and comprehenfive knowledge of Chriftianity than thofe voluminous critics, paraphrafts, illuftrators, and interpre- tors of the facred Scriptures, who have, in general, done more harm than good, as the majority of them have ftrenuoufly laboured to make Jefus Chrift and his Apo- flles, Piipifts^ or Lutherans^ or Cahinifts^ and have been liiord ftudious to wreft the Scriptures to their precon- ceived notions, than to adjud: their religious fentiments by the plain dilates of reafon and the infallible rule and flandard of the divine oracles. Within thefe few years \ihat dire inundations have we feen rufhing from the prefs and deluging the public, of Commentators upoii the Scriptures, Explanations of the Holy Bible, the Royal Bible with notes, the Grand complete Bible, the Grand Irnperia] Bible ! fome the jobbs of mercenaiy Bookfellers, others the fickly dreams of illiterate Enthufiafts and en- tranced Vifionaries, and the generality of them, the linifter produdion of dark and melancholy Divines, the bigotted abettors of unintelligible myfterics and unfcrip- tural abfurditics. But notwithftanding this melancholy ftate of Religion, and this general corruption of pure and primitive Chriftianity, yet, blefled be God, Liberty, Religious Liberty, has ftill a temple in the breaft of thoufands, and the love of truth, as it is in Jefus, and not in human creeds, is warm and vigorous in the bo- idrhS' of immenfe numbers of my happy countrymen ! Many of thefe worthy fouls have encouraged me. The thought of them, and their caiije, has ever infpired me with ardour and animation in my fludies. For thefe I have tranilated the New Testament. Thefe, and thefe alone will be my readers. The patronage and pro-
tedioii
viii P R i-: y \ C E.
tedtion of thefe hath enabled me, and will ever enable mCjto look down upon the illiberal fcurrility and impotent fury of the uncharitable bigot with Chriltian contempt.
In fine, lince deifm, infidelity, and fccpticifm, fo much prevail in the prcfent age ; fince even popery now hath its public aderters and advocates ; fince enthufiafm is continually duping and enllaving the credulous and igno- rant, both among the great vulgar and the fmall, and is daily making a more rapid and amazing progrefs all around us -, fince i-ational Chrifi:ianity is, at prelbnt, re- garded with fo much contempt, and even horrour, by the generality of the world ; and fince a love of unin- telligible myfieries, and a fondnefs for gloomy and in- explicable dodtrines, have, with the majority^ dilcardcd rcafon and common fenfe from religion, the author flat- ters himfclf the prefent work will be ufeful to his coun- try, in which it hath been his fludy to free the New Testament from thofe falfe tranflations, which, at prefent, deform it, and render it abfolutcly unintelligible to all common readers 3 to purify its facred ftreams tVorxi thofe corrupt admixtures, bv which it was induftrioufly fuited to the falfe tafte of the Monarch and of the age, in which it was tranflatedj to reprefent it, as it really is, in itfelf, a moil: rational, uniform, amiable, confident fcheme ; and to exhibit, before the candid, the unprejudiced, and the intelligent of all parties, the true, original, divine form of Chrillianity, in its beautiful fim- plicity, diverted of all the meretricious attire with which it hath been loaded, and folely adorned with its native elegance and charms, which need only be contemplated, in order to excite the admiration, tranfport, and love of every ingenuous and virtuous bofom.
.^-7°% E- HARWOOD.
Aug. 2O, 1767.
6^/^/-
e-^ *' *- '^^ ♦ *-*' *^
7
THE
HISTORY OF JESUS
By MATTHEW*
CHAP, t
T
H E following is a table of the ge- nealogy of Jefus the MefTiah, who is lineally defcended from David, as David is from Abraham.
1. Abraham
2. Ifaac 3- Jacob
4. Judas
5. Phares
6. Efrom
7. Aram
8. Aminadab
9. Naaflbn
10. Salmon
11. Booz
12. Obed
13. JelTe
14. David
1. Solomon
2. Roboam
3. Abia
4. Afa Vol. I.
10
II
12
13
14
15
16
^. Jofaphat
6. Joram
7. Ozias
8. Jotham
9. Achaz
10. Ezechias
11. Manafies
12. Amon
13. Jofias
14. Jehoiakim: about
the time of the captivity.
1. Jehoiakin
2. Salathiel
3. Zoro babel
4. Abiud
5. Eliakim
6. Azor
7. Sadoc
8. Achim
9. Ehud
10. Eleazaf
11. IVlatthan
12. Jacob
13. Jofeph
14. Jefus
B 17 So
of Jesus Chap. ii.
call Jefus, for he (hall favc his people from their vices.
2 2 Now the whole of this amazing event was exattly iimilar to another inrcance, which is recorded by an in- Ipired prophet in thefe words:
23 Behold! a pure virgin ihall be pregnant, and fliall bring forth a fon, who fliall be called Emmanuel, which vrannated fignifies, God is ijuith us.
24 When Jofeph av/oke, he a6led according to the di- redionof the angel, and took her to wife :
25 But refrained from all conjugal embraces '' *tiil her delivery — He called her fon Jefus,
c n A p. II.
I T N the reign of Herod -*• was Jcfus born in Beth- lehem of Judea — at which itime fomc eaftern Philofo- phers came to J.erufalem — and faid,
2 Dire6l us where we may find him who is lately born to be the king of the Jews ; for having ken his ftar in
» This is the mcaninj; of gwih^uv. A/f <Tvv'-\^ai'T-i; T.KvoToi'urj.i^d.. Xcnophon. mcmor. p. 103. Ed. Oxon. 1741. Wiiaett rov ctVdf<A <rvvi\' e«/r. Plut. Lycurg. p. 89. Ed. Steph. ^unxQuv A kai yfts?, a. 7. A. Plutarch. Thtfeus. p. ;. See alfo i Cor. vii. 5.
'' yiyccffKu is uled in the fame fenfe in other greek writers. Bipyivnif — 5 i'K< 0 AA;^rtf</'p3f- Plutarch. Eumen. p. 1065. Ed. Steph. Mo^nt- yiiuffK^H'Tot Tw yiyaunuivnv. Pompcius. p. 1182. Ovid alfo. Cog- nita Cyanee — Met. Lib. 9. 451.
2 the
2 The Hlflbry
17 So that from this table you fee tliat there were tour- teen generations in all, from
Abraham to David from
David alfo to the Babylonifh captivity there were juft four- teen generations — there were likev,'ife exaftly fourteen from the captivity to the MefTiah.
§ — 18 The conception of Jefus the MefTiah was in this Supernatural manner — Mary his Mother had been efpouf- ed to Jofeph, but before they cohabited % it was difcovered that flie had become preg- nant by the holy Spirit.
19 But her huR^and Jofeph being a companionate man, and unwilling to expofe her fhame to the world, intended to repudiate her in a private manner.
20 As he was revolving theie thoughts in his mind, lo! an angel of God appeared to him in a dream and fpokc thus — O Jofeph, Son of Da- vid ! hefitate not to admit and treat iVIary as thy lawful wife, for Ihe liath conceived from, the holy Spnit,
21 and fhe fliall give birth to a fon, whom thou llialt
Chap. ii. by M a t
the eafi:, we are come to pay him adoration.
3 At thefe words king Ke- rod and all Jerufalem were (truck with the utmoil con- fternation.
4 The king then imme- diately convoked an affembly of all the high priefts and Jewiih- clergy, and anxiouQy interrogated them concerning the place where the Mel- fiah w^s to be born.
5 They told him that the place deftined for his nativity was Bethlehem of Judea — for it was exprefsly mention- ed by an infpired prophet in thefe words,
6 " O thou Bethlehem ! thou art in no refpecb infe- riour to the firfl and moft renowned cities of Judea ; for thou fhalt give birth to a great prince, whofe govern- ment ihall extend over my people Ifrael.'*
7 The king, upon hearing fo plain and diredl a prophe- fy, privately fent for the phi- lofophers, and " fifted from them the exad time, when the ftar firft appeared to them in their country.
c This is the meaning of nyp/C&x^?. By his enquiries he made himfelf acquainted with the £xai? time that the Rar JtrJ} appeared, in order th:it he might perfedly knew the age of the infant, and murder all the chil- dren of his age in the town.
^ This ftar muft necellarily have been but a little above their heads : ©therwifc it could not have indicated to the Magians a particular houfe.
«= This was agreeable to the oriental cuftom, which obtains univerfally in the eaft to this day. None waits upon an ealtern prince without a |>refent.
B 2 their
THE w.
8 And when he difmiiTed them, he laid. Go to oeth- lehem, and make the moft diligtrnt enquiries you arc able concerning this infant, and when you have found him, give me immediate information, that I may fly to him, and join with you in mutual adorations.
9 No fooner were they parted from the king and begun their journey, but be- hold ! the luminous ftar, which they had Teen in the eaft, advanced before them —which they followed, 'till they fay it fixed over the houfe, v/here the child was.
lo, The appearance of this ftar "^ filled them v/ith inex- prefTible tranfport.
1 1 Entering therefore the houfe, to which it had di' re£led them, and fee.nig the child and his mother, they prcftrated themfelves before him, and paid him homage: and opening their treafures they made him rich pre- fents % confifting of gold, frankincenfe, and myrrh.
12 After they had in this refpedlful manner reft. Bed
4 "The Hiftory
their fcnfe of the dignity of his perfon, divine providence ^dmonifhed them in a dream not to go back to Herod — So they returned into their own country by a different road.
13 After their departure, an angel of God appeared to Jofeph in a dream, and thus fpokc. Rife immediately — take the child and his mother —hafte into Egypt, and con- tinue there, 'till 1 give thee notice to return — for Herod is going to make ftridl fearch for the infant, and intends to murder it.
14 Roufed by this divine admonition he got up
took his wife and the infant in the night, and made a precipitate flight into E-
gypt '•
15 where he lived till He- rod's deceafe — So that one may fitly apply to him an cxpreflion of one of the pro- phets— I have called my fon out of Egypt.
§ — 16 But when Herod found himfelf deluded and difappointed by the philofo-
of Jesus Chap. li.
phers, he was dreadfully cx- afperated, and immediately fent afTaffins and butchered all the infants, that were not only in Bethlehem, but in all its furrounds, fparing none that were two years old, or under that age, as he had accurately examined the Ma- gians concerning the age of the child.
17 So that the horrours of this fcene exaflly corrc- fponded to the following de- fcription of a like mournful calamity, that occurs in the prophet Jeremiah.
18 "A loud voice of grief was heard in Rama, fhrieks and cries and piercing lamentations. Rachel de- ploring the murder of her children, and quite incon- folable for her irreparable lofs ^"
§ — 19 When Herod was dead, the Angel of God ap- pearing again in a dream to Jofeph,
20 thus accofted him. Rife — take the babe and his mother, and return into Ifracl — for thofe who thirfted
^ Let it fuffice, once for all, to obfcrve, that the writings of the old Jewifh prophets, which abound in fine defcriptions, poetical images, and fublimc didion, were the Clajjics of the later fews, and in the fub- fcqucnt ages all their writers artcdlfd allufions to them, borrowed their images and defcriptions, and very often cited their very words, when recording any event or circumitance that happened in the hillory of the perfons whofc lives they were relating, provided it was fimilar and pa- rallel to one that happened in the times, or was dcfcribcd in the books ef the antient prophets.
4 for
Chap. iii. by Matthew
for the infant's blood are now
no more.
21 In obedience to the divine command, therefore, he returned into the land of Ifrael.
22 Being, however, in- formed that Archelaus was hisfuccefTour in the kingdom, he was afraid to approach Judea — — in confequence, therefore, of a divine admo nition he retired to Galilee,
- 23 and lived in a town called Nazareth — by this cir- cumftance verifying the pre- di<5lions of the prophets, that theMefliahlhould be brought up in a mean and inglorious obfcurity.
CHAP. III.
I "pvURING the time ^^ that Jefus lived in this private retreat, John the Baptift made his appearance, publifhing this folemn pro- clamation in the wildernefs of" Judea,
2 " Repent, for the king- dom of the MefTiah isjuft at hand !"
3 This is that extraordi- nary perfon, who is defcribed in a paffage of the prophet Efaiah in thefe words, " Hark! th« voice of a public crier in
t John refers to the deftruftion of Jerufalem in this and the 10th and ^2th verfes.
B 3 for
the wildernefs, Prepare a way for the Mefliah, make an cafy path for his facred fteps!"
4 John affefled great plain- nefs in his drefs, and great fimplicity and auftcrity of manners, wearing a gar- ment made of camels hair, tied with a girdle of leather, and his food was locufts and wild honey.
5 Immediately upon this public proclamation there flocked to him vail crowds from Jerufalem, and from all Judea, and all the adjacent country of Jordan,
6 and they were all baptiz- ed by him in Jordan, making penitent confeflion of their fins.
7 In that vafl: concourfe that reforted to his baptifm were mingled great numbers of Pharifees and Sadducees, perfons of the moft abandon- ed principles and charader* — at the fight of whom John broke out into this exclama- tion, O profligate and hypo- critical wretches, who admo- nilhed you to fhun the im- peruding calamities ^ }
8 If you come hither as profefTed penitents, fhow the fincerity and genuinenefs of your repentance by a good life:
9 And do not value your- felves upon having Abraham
^he Hiflcry ^ J e s u s Chap. iv.
for your great progenitor, for God is able even from thefe ilones to form a race of meninfiniicly more worthy ot Abraham, who iLaU inheiii hi"? virtues, and whofe lives flvall rcried dignity upon his cha raster.
10 The ax is this moment lying at the tree's root
14 But John reful(;d his requell, alledging that he hiraiclf ought rather to be baptized by a perfon of fuch fuperiour dignity and emi- nence.
1 5 To thefe remonftrances Jefus repHed, " It is necef- fary for me to be initiated by this ceremony into my public miniilry, and incumbent up- on me to fet before men an example of univerfal virtue'* — Upon this John admitted him.
16 Jefus, therefore, being baptized came immediately out of the water — and be- hold ! the heavens opened over his head, and the fpirit of God defcended with the rapidity of a dove, and refted upon him.
17 And at the fame time a voice ilfued from tlie parted clouds faying, 1 his is my beloved Son, the amiable ob- ject of my afredtion !
C H A P. iV.
I COON after this Jefus ^ was thrown into a pro- phetic trance, and was in a vifion tranfported into the wildcrnefs to be tempted by the devil ',
2 where,
*• See Acls ii. 3. 4.
J All this paffage in Chriil's hiftory from the firft Verfe to the 12th is the narrative of a vifjon. The antient prophets relate vifionary re- prefcntations as hiftoricai fafts ; and the being carried by the fpirit and hd b) the Jpirit arc phrai'es that very often occur in the prophets, and
fignify
Kvcry tree that doth not bear good fruit, is immediately to be cut down, and thrown in- to the fire.
Ill baptize yon indeed only v/i:h water in order to repentance-, but my fuccci- four is a perfonage of in- finitely greater dignity, to whom 1 am not v.'orthy to do the mieanefl: oirice — he will baptize you with the holy fpirit and' v/ith fire \
12 With his fan he will winnow and thoroughly clear his crops, will coliedt and carefully depofit the good grain in his ftorehoufe, but the chaff he will burn up and utterly confume with fire un- quenchable.
§ — T^ At that time Jefus alfo takes a journey from Ga- lilee to Jordan, and de fires John fo adminifter the office of baprifm to him.
/ ■
Chap. iv. fy M A T T H E w.
2 where, after having fad- ed forty days and forty nights, and being excruciated with hunger,
3 the tempter, as he thought, came to him and faid, " Since thou art tiie Ton of God, convert thefe Itones into bread."
4 To whom Jefus replied in the words of Scripture, " The aninial life of man may be fuftained not by food only, but by any other means that the v. ill of God ihall fee proper to appoint '■■.**
5 The devil then, he thought, conveyed him thro' the air to Jerufalem, and placed him on one of the bat- tlements of the temple',
6 and faid to him, " Since thou art the Meffiah throw thyfelf down ; for the Scrip- ture fays, " Angels fhall be appointed to prote6t thee, they fliall fupport thee, and prevent thee from being dafhed in pieces."
7 Jefus replied, " There is another fcriptyre which fays, Thou fhalt not infult God's providence by rufhing into danger."
iignify an ideal and fcenical exhibition of images upon the mind of the entranced prophet. See a fimilar inftance to this in Virgil ^neid Lib. 3, 146—173.
^ As in the cafe of Mo/es, Exod.xxiv. 18. and of Elijah, i Kings xix. 8.
' Of what a ftupendous height this was fee Jofeph. Ant. ig. Lib. 15. Ch. II. § 5. See alio Sirak, p. 762. Paris, and Dio/i Cajjius, Tom. L p. 121. Reimar.
B 4 maritime
8 The devil then, he thought, tranfported him to the iummit of a mountain of prodigious height, and lliew- ed him all the kingdoms of the world, and all the fplen- dour and magnificence of them :
9 then turned to him and faid, *' All thefe extenfiva and populous countries I will give thee, if thou wilt pro- llratc thyfelf, and pay me religious adoration."
10 To which propofal Jefus anfwered with indig- nation, *' Thou wicked ad- verfary ! depart from me — for the infpired word of truth fays, " Thou fhialt wor- fhip and obey no other being but the fupreme God and governour of all."
1 1 Upon this, he thought, the devil left him, and that angels came and fupplied him with refrefliment.
§—12 When Jefus was informed that John was im- prilbned, he retired into Galilee ;
13 and leaving Nazareth, he refided in Capernaum, a
8 The Hiftory
maritime town in the con- fines of Zabulon and Neph- thalim.
14 So that to the refi- dence of the MefTiah in this country one may with great propriety adapt the following paffage in the prophet Efaiah,
15 "O thou country of Za- bulon andNephthalim, feat- cd on the Tea fhore beyond Jordan •, thou Galilee on the borders of the Heathens,
16 thine inhabitants, who had long been involved in darknefs, faw at once the shearing beams of divine light burft upon them, which difpelled from thy regions, the {hades of that denfe and uncomfortable obfcurity that once covered them."
J 7 Here it was that Jefus firft entered upon his public miniftry, and began openly to exhort men to repent and re- form their lives, afluring them that the kingdom of the MefTiah would very foon be creeled.
§ — 18 As Jefus was walk- jn or along the fca fhore of Ga- lilee, he faw two brothers, "whofe names were Simon (afterwards called Peter) and Andrew, who were fifhermen, and happened then to be cafl- ing a net into the fea,
of Jesus Chap, iy,
19 he faid to them. Fol- low me, and I will teach you an higher and nobler occupa- tion, not to catch fifhes, but men"".
20 Upon this invitation, they left their nets immedi- ately, and followed him.
21 Advancing farther he faw two other brothers, John and James, the Sons of Ze- bedee, who were now with their father in the vcfTcl, mending their nets — them he alfo invited to this great and, important office.
22 And they in like man- ner immediately left their fa- ther and the veffel, and obey- ed his authoritative call.
23 Attended with thefc perfons Jefus travelled over all Galilee, inftrucling men in the places appointed for public worfhip, and every where proclaiming the good news of the fpeedy eredion of the Mefiiah's kingdom* and healing every dileafe and diftemper with which the in- habitants of that country were opprefTed.
24 The fame, therefore, of his miraculous cures was foon divulged thro' all Syria, and they brought to him from all parts fick and difeafcd per- fons labouring under a variety
th^t is, recover a degenerate world from vice »nd mifeiy
Chap. V. hy M. AT
of the moft obflrinate and in- curable diftempers— "ven of mad ", lunatic, and paralytic cafes — and he inllantaneouny reftored them all to perfect cafe and health.
25 And vaft crowds fol- lowed him out of Galilee, and Decapolis, and Jerufa- Icm, and Judea, and out of the countries beyond the Jor- dan.
CHAP. V.
I CEEING fuch a nume- *^ rous concourfe of peo- ple around him, he afcend- cd a mountain, and fitting down, his difciplcs colle6led themfelves in a body near his perfon.
2 He then with great fo- lemnity inftru6ted them in the dodirines of his rehgion in the following difcourfe :
3 Happy are thofe who are endowed with true humility r— for fuch are properly dif- pofed for the reception of the gofpel.
4 Happy are thofe who lament with unfeigned con- trition the vices and errors of their paft lives — -for they Ihall be comforted with the chear- ing promifes of the gofpel.
T H E w. p
5 Happy are thofe who^ are poffeffed with a mild and inoffenfive difpofition — for they fhall be enriched with the greateft happinefs this world can furnifh ".
6 Happy are thofe whofc minds are inflamed with a facred ardour to attain uni- verfal virtue — their enlarged and generous defires Ihall be fatisfied.
7 Happy are thofe who are truly campaflionate and charitable — that benevolence which they exprefs towards their fellow creatures fhall be abundantly recompenfed to them.
8 Happy are the fincerely virtuous — they (hall be ad- ' mitted to the blifsful vifion
of God.
9 Happy are thofe who conftantly ftudy to promote harmony and peace among mankind — they fhall be cal- led the Sons of God.
10 Happy are thofe who fuffer perfecution for Religion and the rights of confciencc with inflexible patience and fortitude — - their victorious conftancy fliall be compen- fated with a fuperior degree of future bleflednefs.
" damoniat and mad were among the ]s.'^% fynonymoys terms : for a proof of this fee John x. 20. he is pojfejftd <voith a damon and is mad,
° Inheriting the earth feems to have been a phrafe among the jewj de- jtoting all happinefs in general*
II Happy
l-o ne HiHory
1 1 Happy are you, when for your unihaken attaclv ment to my religion m"- Ihall offer you every inlul': and indignity, fliall load you with odious names ana inju- rious reproaches, and when their implacable virulence againft yo-j (hall be fucli as fhall prompt them knowing- ly to violate the moil facred truth in afperfing your mo- ral charaders and profef- fion.
12 Amidft fuch perfccut- ing rage and violence inflead of being dejeded and dif- pirited, exult in unbounded tranfportsof joy and triumph, for heaven will beftov/ a glo- rious palm upon your con- ftancy— -the moll eminent of the prophets underwent the fame cruel fufferings and per- fecutions to which you will be fubjefted.
13 You, who are foon to commence the public teach- ers of my religion, ought to be the fait of the earth to preferve it from corruption : you ought therefore to excr- cife the greateft vigilance over your moral charaflers and condu6l : for with what face can you reprove men for their vices if you are guilty of the fame — you will lofe your ufe- fulnefs, and will render your- felves the moft worthlefs and defpicableofmen.
of Jesus Chap. v.
14 You I IhallcomriniTjon ind appoint to diffufc the 'igh;: or the gofpei amonr' iTi^nkind — upon you tbr-^-- fore the preachers of dil difpcnfation th? cye30i ;/. ri v.iil be fixed, and your con- duct can no more be hid from the in'pcdion of men than ?. city crededon the fummit of an hill.
15 As a lamp is placed on ibm.e confpicuous eminence that all the houfe may enjoy its ufcful light,
16 fo in like manner let your examples fliine before men with that pure and fa- cred luftre, that all who are v/itnefies of your uaily con- verfation, feeing the genuine piety and integrity of your lives, may be powerfully ex- cited to embrace your reli- gion and glorify your hea- venly father.
17 Do not think that the defign of my coming into the world is to abrogate the law of Mofes, and the prophets — I am only come to fupply their deficiencies, and to p-ive mankind a more complete and perfect fyftem of morals.
1 8 For I tell you that the precepts of morality are of eternal and immutable obli- gation, and their power and efficacy fliall never be relax- ed or annulled, while the world endures.
19 Whofocver
greateft
Chap. V. -hy Mat
19 Whofoever, therefore, fhaii attempt, in his public initrudLions to releafe men from theA' oh.ligations to the mod trivkl branch of moral duty, lofes all prctenfions to the charader of a well in- ftruded chrilliar. But who- foever fhali ilrenuoufly incul- cate the injundtions of mora- lity, and his life be an orna- ment to his indrudlions, this perfon fhall be accounted to have reflected the honour upon my religion.
20 For I afiure you, un- lefs by the fuperiour holinefs of your lives you do greater honour to the Chriftian, than the Scribes and Pharifees do to the Jewifh, religion, you will not be deemed proper fubjeds of the MelTiah's king- dom.
21 How far my religion is defigned to exalt and dis;- jiify human nature, and to advance morality to a purity and fublimity unknown to former difpenfations, learn from the follov/ing inftances — You know that God pro- hibited murder to the antient Jews under pain of death.
T H E W.
H
22 But I fay to You that whoever Ihall indulge caufe-. leis and unprovoked refent- ment againft his chriftian bro- ther, ftiall be puniihed with a feverity fimilar to what is infiifted by the court of judg- ment — he who Ihail luffer his pafTions to tranfport him to greater extravagancies, fo as to make his chriftian brother the objed of derifion and con- tempt, ftiall be expofed to a punifhment Jlill feverer, cor- refponding to what the cotin^ cil impofeth — But he who fhall load his fellow chriftian with odious names and abu- five language, fhall incur the fevereft degree of all punifli- ments, adequate to that of being burnt alive in the val- ley of Hinnom p.
23 For fuch is the amiable temper and difpofition I would have my followers to culti- vate, that if any of you are going immediately to per- form an ad of religious wor- fnip, and happen, juft before the time, to recoiled that you have offended your bro- ther by fome part of your condud towards him ;
P The jicdg}nent and council were courts of judicature among the Jews. The judgment took cognifance of common petty cafes, and could infliti but flight punilhments. The council was a more auguft and venerable court, and inflifted greater. By images taken from thefe Jewilh courts are the different degrees of future punifhment reprefented. The judgment denotes the loweft degree : the council an higher : the valley ofHin?io?n the highell. See Lamy introd. biblic. Vol. i. p. 270.
24 hefitatc
12 ^he Hiftory
24 hcfitatc not a moment — leave your public devo- tions unperformed — fly to thy brother — be reconciled to him — let all differences be compofed, and mutual har- mony be perfe(5lly reftored, and then approach God's houfe — other wife all thy fo- lemn public addrefies to him will be repulfed.
25 The confequences of mens violent refentments, if not prevented in their firfl rife, are often dreadful and deplorable. Endeavour there- fore, by the moft mild and conciliating manners to fof- ten and allay the fury of an adverfary, before he proceed to the moft unhappy extre- mities.
26 If thou art too proud to make any concefTions, and forbeareft to foften his anger by lenity and condeicenfion, he will inflid: upon you that miiery, which by an early reconciliation you might have prevented — but from which you will not efcape, 'till you have fully glutted his re- venge.
§ — ^27 You know the law prohibits adultery :
28 But 1 tell you, that whoever looks upon a wo- man with libidinous thoughts and defires, tho' his inclina- tions are not produced into open adlions, is in his mind
of Jesus Chap. v.
guilty of the crime of adul- tery :
29 For fuch is the chaftity and purity, whi^c/j "Lhe chrif- tian law indifpenfibly re- quires, that every carnal ap- petite, which gratified would lead men to fm and everlaft- ing perdition, muft be fub- dued, with whatever reluc* tance it is done.
30 Every vice, therefore, to which a man hath long been habituated, and for which by repeated indul- gence he hath contradted the ftrongeft inclinations, muft be eradicated from the mind, tho'theexpulfion ofitfhould be with the fame torture and regret that the cutting out an eye, or the taking off an hand, would occafion.
:^i On feveral accounts you know alfo that the law per- mitted divorces.
32 But I fay unto you, that whofoever Ihall repudiate his wife, except for adultery, is highly criminal, in both cauf- ing her, whom he hath thus difmiiTed, and him, who may afterwards marry her, ta be guilty of adultery.
§ — 33 Again, the law deterred men froait perjury by declaring the indilpenf^- ble obligation of thofe oaths, for the performance of which they had Iblemnly appealed to God.
34 But
A T T H £ W.
Chap. V. ^ M
34 But I command you to refrain from ail oaths what- foever — to make no dire<fl appeals to heaven^ fmce that is in effed invoking God to be Vitnefs of your appeals — fince heaven is his throne.
'^S Neither fwear by the earth, fince /^/j is fwearing by his footftool — nor by Je- rufalem, fince this likewife is fwearing by him who hath fixed his temple and worfhip there.
36 Neither fwear by thine head, for this is alio an indi- reft appeal to the great Crea- tour, whofe original efta- blillied laws thy will and power cannot alter in the leaft inftance — in even chang- ing a fingle hair of thine head into white or black.
37 But let your converfa- tion be conducted with the greateft plainnefs and inno- cence— ufing only a fimple affirmation, or denial — for all fuperfluous afleverations are neither innocent, nor flow from a good principle.
§ — 38 The law likewife gave a fandion to the reta- liation of evil, and awarded, That he who had inflidled any injury upon the perfon of another, {hould fuffer the fame injury in his own.
39 But the golpel is de-
< Sylla'8 Epitaph was this. Oyr? twc otKuv ti< avrctv «u Toiav, ovrt rm ix^f;uy najt*-?, viTsp«C<tA«T8. Plutarch. Sylla. p. 87c. Ed. Steph. Gr.
44 But
»3
figned to harmonize mens tempers and difpofitions, to endow them with a different fpirit, and to teach them ra- ther to fubmit to injurious treatment, than requite it by revenge.
40 Chriftianity alfo re- quires you rather to recede from your right in fmall mat- ters than contend for it in litigious and quarrelfome law- I'uits.
41 And whofoever (hall compel you by threats or violence to carry a burden for him a mile, rather fub- mit to his unreafonable de- mands and go two, than fuf- fer yourfelves to be tranfpor- ted into a fit of vehement paffion and rage, and by fury and violence difhonour the genuine principles of your religion.
42 Cherifli the kindefi: af- fe6tions towards your fellow creatures — refufe not your charity and affiftance to thole who folicit it from you, and be not unwilling to lend to thofe, who are under a ne- ceiTity of borrowing.
§ — 43 Finally, the la\T inculcated upon men the love of their neighbours, but al- lowed them to hate their ene- mies "'.
14 The Hiflory
44 But the Chriftian reli- gion infills upon a different temper and conduct, and re- quires its profefTors to love their enemies — to fpeak well of thofe, who load us with execrations — to do friendly- offices to thofe, who difcover the greateft malevolence to- wards us, and to return the calumnies and abufe of thofe, who injurioufly afperfe and perfecute us, with prayer.
45 By the culture of thefe benevolent principles which my religion enjoins, you will, inthehigheft degree, of v/hich your natures are capable, af- fimilate yourfelves to the Di- vine character, who makes his fun to rife, and his rain to fall, upon good and bad, with- out diftindtion.
46 For where is your me- rit in loving thofe, whom you are perfuaded will re- turn your love ? — Perlons of the moft abandoned cha- radbers adl In this manner.
47 And what fuperiour vir- tue do you difplay in lavifli- ing your benevolence only upon your friends ? — This is no more than what even the moft profligate wretches do.
48 Bucit is incumbent upon you to rife to higher and no- bler attainments in all moral excellence, and to make the perfe(5t charafter of the Deity the object of your imitation,
of Jesus Chap. vi.
conitantly endeavouring to acquire as near a refemblance to his confummate benevo- lence and goodnefs, as the imperfeflion of your natures will admit.
CHAP. VI.
I T N the diftribution of A charity fhun all often- tation — for if your benefi- cence be founded in nothing better than a defire to attraft the notice of mankind, it will not be rewarded by your heavenly father.
2 When you therefore re- lieve perfons in diitrefs, do not imitate the vain parade, which hypocrites ufually af- fed, in ordering a trumpeter to walk before them, and to make a proclamation in theo- pen ftreets and in places of re- ligious worfhip, that you arc going to give away fuch a fum in publick charity — fuch a conduft may gain the ap- plaule of men, which is its great and fole objeft, but the approbation of God it will never fecure.
3 But let thy charity be given in filence and fecrefy, and thy left hand be a ftran- ger to the kindnefs that thy right hand is difpcnfing.
4 For tho' thy liberality efcapes the notice of men, yet an omnifcient God is a
witnefs
Chap. vi. ^ M A T
witnefs of it : and thofe ads of Gompaffion, which thou concealeft from the world, will one day be proclaimed in the moft public manner.
§ — 5 In your addrefles to God guard againft thofe often- tatious airs of devotion which hypocrites afTumc in „order to be admired as niirrours of heavenly-Diindednefs ; ftand- ing up and praying in the moft confpicuous places in the iynagogues, and uttering loud ftrains of an affedled piety at the corners of crowded ftreets, merely to attradt mens atten- tion — The gratification of their vanity from a deluded multitude fhall be the only reward they fhall receive.
6 But when thou prayeft, withdraw from the view of the world — fhut thyfelf up in privacy and filence — and with a devout heart and fer- vent affc(5tions pour out thy devotions to that Being who is prefent with thee in all thy retirements, and. who will at the general refurreflion pub- lickly reward the filcnt fin- cerity of thy undifTembied piety.
7 Think not the defign of prayer is by the dint of importunity to teaze the Deity into a compliance with our requefts — Carefully avoid therefore the errour of the heathens who think that the
T H E w. 1^
fupreme Being can be pre- vailed upon by enthufiaftic clamours, and a conftant unvaried repetition of noify expreflions.
8 Imitate not in the ex* ercifcs of devotion, a con- dud fo erroneous and ab- furd : for the indulgent Pa- rent of mankind perfectly knows your liate and con- dition, and the bleffings that will be moft proper for you before you folici: him to be- ftow them.
9 In order to guard you from miftakes in this impor- tant concern I will propofe the following as a model for your devotions — O Thou great governour and parent of uni- verfal nature — who manifeft- eft thy glory to the bleffed in- habitants of heaven — may all thy rational creatures in all the parts of thy boundlefs dominion be happy in the knowledge of thy exiftence and providence, and cele- brate thy perfections in a manner moft worthy thy na- ture and perfedtive of their own!
10 May the glory of thy moral government be ad- vanced, and the great laws of it be more generally obey- ed— May the inhabitants of this world pay as chearful a fubmuTion and as conftant an obedience to thy will, as the
happy
1 6 iTAf Hiftofy
happy fpirits do in the regi- ons of immortality —
1 1 As thou haft hitherto moft mercifully fupplied our wants, deny us not the ne- ccfTaries and conveniences of life, while thou art pleafed to continue us in it '—
12 Pardon the numerous crrours and fins, which we have been guilty of towards thee; as we freely forgive and erafe from our hearts the injuries that our fellow crea- tures have done to us —
13 Suffer no temptation to affault us too powerful for the frailty of our natures and the imperfeflion of our vir- tue— but in all our trials may thine almighty aid interpofe and refcue us from vice and ruin — Thefe requefts we ad- drefs unto thee, for thou art pofiefTed of power which enables thee to fuccour, and of goodnefs, which difpofes thee to befriend all thy crea- tures— and thefe thy glorious perfedlions will continue im- mutable, and be the ob- je(5ls of praife and adoration throughout all the ages of eternity ! Amen !
14 Obferve, that in this prayer I make your forgive-
' ET/air/ov AfTov fignifies common neceffarics through fubftqutnt life- FT/80-B5 n/ASe^f the fubfequent day, Plutarch Cato Jun. p. 145 1 Edit. Steph. and A«5\s vii. 26. We learn from Ariltophanes that it was cuf- tomary for the Athenian ladies to fwear, vwmv <i'7ny.<j<Lv w/t/jpay. Ariltoph. \.n.ii.M9* p* 690. Edit. Amftsl. i6;o, & Fabcr in loc.
iS Studying
of Jesus Chap. vL
nefs of others the condition of the divine forgivenefs : fof if you pardon the crimes and offences of your fellow crea- tures, the divine mercy will forgive you.
15 But if you addrefs God with a mind full of irrecon- cileabie enmity againft youf brethren for the faults and foibles they have been guilty of towards you, the prayers you offer will in like manner be repulfcd, and God will not pardon the crimes you have committed againft him* § — 1 6 Wh E N you keep a re- ligiousfaft, guard againft that affefted gloom and melancholy which hypocrites affume on liich an occafion — for they diftort and charge their fea- tures with folemn and fan£li- monious grimace, that men may be ftruck with admi- ration at the religious aufte- rities they praftife — But be affured that the praife of men (hall be the only reward they ftiall acquire.
1 7 On the contrary, when you faft, ftudy no Angulari- ties of look and gait, but ap« pear among men in your ufu* al drefs and chearfulnefs.
VI.
*" Mat
i?y
Chap,
1 8 Studying to recom- inend yourlelves not to men but to God, before whofe eye all the receffes of the foul are open, and who will pub- licity reward fincere virtue, tho' exercilcd in the moft: ob- fcure retreat.
§ — 19 My religion is de- ligned to raife mens affedlions to higher and nobler objects than this v/orld furniihes. Strive not, therefore, with infinite care and anxiety to accumulate immenfe treaiures of earthly riches, which are perpetually liable to many accidents, and which are in their nature tranfitory and perifhing.
20 But let it be your prin- cipal concern to acquire ce- leftial riches — which no cala- mities can polTibly injure, or eternity itfelf ever exhauft.
2 1 It is of the greateft im- portance that your affedlions be properly placed, for the mind is foon governed by its predominant inclinations, and where the treafure is, there the heart is centered.
22 ileafon is to the foul, what the eye is to the body ■—If thy reafon be preferved ftrong and clear, thy moral difpofitions will be maintain- ed in their proper harmony and order.
23 But if the eye of reafon be fufFufed with prejudice, or injured by vice, all thine in-
VoL.L
T H E Wi \*f
telledual powers Will be lofl in the fhades of errour. Should thy reafon itfelf, therefore, be thus obfcured, in what dread* ful darknefs muft thy v/hole mind be involved !
24 As it is impofTible fof a fervant to love two maflera of quite different difpofitions and tempers with equal af- fcftion, for one will necelTa- rily be the obje6t of his eP teem and regard, and the other of his averfion and con- tempt—fo no perfon can at the fame time be a truly religious and good chriftian, while his heart is en (laved to fordid ava- rice and worldly-mindednefs.
25 I command you, there-* fore, to fupprefs all immo^ derate defires of earthly plea^ fures and indulgencies, and not to be foiiicitous and un- eafy how you (hall gratify
your appetites what re-
pafts will give you the moft
pleafure — '■ what liquors
the moft exquifite fenfationa
— and what apparel will add
the
to your p
life of infinitely greater worth
than all the refinements of
luxury, and a good confti-
tution of unfpeakable greater
value than the moft fumptu-
ous robes !
26 Contemplate the fowls — they have no fields to fow, no crops to reap, no barns to fill — and yet the great pa-
'C rent
moft elegance and grace rfons — For is not
J 8 Tac Hiflory
rent of nature fupplics them with load — Since then the fowls make no anxious pro- vifion for themfelves, ought yCj v/hom God hath formec rational and intelligent be- ini^s, to debate the fuperiour dignity of your nature by a reitiefs palTion for fenfual en- joyments ?
27 Such anxiety is as ab- furd as it is impious — for by the exertion of all your care you cannot add a moment to the original period alTigned to human life'.
28 Survey with attention the lillies of the field, and learn from them how unbe- coming it is for rational creatures to chcrifh a folici- tous pafilon for gaiety and drefs — for they fuilain no la- bour, they employ no cares to adorn themlclves ;
29 and yet are cloathed with fuch inimitable beauty, as thcrichefl monarch, in the richelf drefs, never equalled.
30 Since then God lavilhcs fuch a variety of ftriking co- lours upon a tranficnt, Ihort- livcd flower •, ought yc, who are creatures fo highly exalt- ed in the fcale of being, to diflrufl: divine providence ?
3 1 Cherifh not, therefore, fuch uncafy thoughts as thefe
of Jesus Chap. vii.
What fhall I eat ! what
Ihall I drink ! what fhall I wear !
32 Thefe are enquiries, that are perpetually corrod- ing the minds of Heathens^ but ought not to prey upon Your happinefs, fnice God knows that you require the common comforts and neceflaries of hfe, but expects you, under the gofpely to afpire after nobler purfaits.
33 For let it be your prhi- cipal ftudy and concern to approve yourfelves the vir- tuous fubjeds of God's mo- ral government — and his pro- vidence will not be wanting to fupply you with the other inferiour bleflings that refpedt the body.
34 Brood not, therefore, over futurity with anxious Jcfponding thoughts. Let futurity take care of itlelf — the miferies of the prefent day are enough without our adding to them by anticipat- ing evils that arc future.
C II A P VII.
I T> E not prone to cenfur^ JL' others, left you pro- voke God to judge you with the like fevcrity.
2 For the fame meafures
* To/< /xiV'/j T>i^, viovfrt yjo'iv dLvBiaiv nCnt TipTO/xiQ:^. afud EMyiux inc. Edit. Oxou. p. J{.
Mimjiernu;
that
Cliap. vli. fy
that you keep in your treat- ment of others, the lame mea- lures will God, at the lair day, ftridly obferve in his condu(5l towards you — for according as you judge men with lenity or cruelty, fo will fupreme juftice retaliate it with like mercy or rigour.
3 Why is thine eye fixed upon thy brother's conduct with a penetration, that the flighted fault and foible can- not efcape — while at the fame time thou thyfelf art guilty of moll heinous enormities ?
4 With what face canft thou reprove, and exhort others to reformation and amendment, when thine own life is a notorious fatyr upon thine inftrudions ?
5 Firft leave off, hypocrite, thy Ihameful courfes — and then gravely remonftrate a- gainll the venial imperfec- tions of thy neighbours.
6 Let your admonitions be ever dictated by prudence — for to rebuke thofe, whom you have reafon to believe are obftinate and incorrigible, is unneceffarily expofing your perfon to infult, and your in- ftrudions to contempt ^
7 Thefe are the duties wh'ch the gofpel requires of you,
M A T T H E W. 19
but in order to the difcharge of them invoke divine 3.irif- tance — which will not be' de- nied to your fincere and vir- tuous endeavours to obtain it.
8 For the fervent prayers of every good perfon to the father of wiiciom to aid and ftrengthen his imperfect vir- tue will nor be rejeded.
9 Learn from parental tcndernefs the indujgent dif- pofition of the fupreme father towards his dependent crea- tures— For is there any man, however abandoned and de- praved, who, when his fon afks him for the neceffaries of life, will give him fome- thing that is ufelefs or hurt- ful ? for example, when his child cries for bread, will give him a ftone,
10 or a ferpcnt — when he defires a fiOi.
11 If, therefore, parents of the very word charadters give to their children what is proper and uleful for them — how much more will the mod kind and compaffionate Father of all, impart fuitable favours and bleflings to his fupplicants.
1 2 In fine, make the con- dition of your fellow crea*
* Qui pretium meriti ab improt)is defiderat, Bis peccat; primum quoniam indignos adjuvat, Zmpune abire deinde ijuia jam non poteft.
i»/^W. Fa6, Lib. I. Fab. 8«
C 2 tures
20 The Hiftory
turcs your own, — and behave to others in the fame manner, as you would expe6b, if you were in their circumftances, and they in yours — In this one moral maxim is virtually comprehended the whole fyf- tem of duty in the law and the prophets.
§• 13 Enter into the
flrait gate of virtue and chrif- tianity — for the gate is wide, and the road Ipacious and eafy that conduds to perdi- tion— and the generality of mankind travel it.
14 For the gate is narrow, and the road rough and diffi cult that leads to the gofpel
and to life " and fuch is
the degeneracy of Jews and Gentiles, that there are but few who will difcover it.
§ — \c^ Be ever cautious of being deluded by falle teach- ers, who will pradlife every art to impofe upon you, and alfume the harmlefs inno- cence of the lamb to cover the inward treachery and ra- pacity of the wolf.
16 But the infallible crite- rion of their chara6lers is this — Infpeft their lives and ani- ons, and you cannot be de- ceived. The fruit difcovers the true nature of the tree. Thorns produce not the ge-
of Jesus Chap. vii.
nerous grape the thillle
bears not the lufcious fig.
1 7 A good tree bears good fruit — a bad tree, bad fruit.
1 8 In the fame manner, a good heart produces good actions — a bad heart, wick- ednefs.
19 And as the tree that bears worthlefs fruit, how- ever fair its form and beau- tiful its leaves, is cut down
and burnt, fuch will be
the fatal deftruftion to which God will confign the fpecious hypocrite and incorrigible finner.
20 So that a man's a6tions are the true index of his heart, and the fole infallible teft of the goodnefs, or badnefs of it.
21 It is not an outward profeffion of the chriflian re- ligion that will entitle men to future happinefs, but a fm- cere obedience to the divine will, and an uniformly pious and virtuous condu6l.
22 Many at the day of judgment will thus addrefs me — Lord ! did we not em- brace thy religion — did we not preach and inftrudl others in the doiflrines and duties of
it did we not in confe- ,
quence of our profefllon, per- form the moll ftupendous
« I am the way, the truth, and the life. fponds to perdition in the verfe before.
Life in this ycrfc corre-
cnlracles.
Chap. viii. by Mat
miracles, and work the moft aftonilhing cures. Are we not, therefore, thy true dil- ciples — and wilt not thou be- llow upon us thofe bleffed rewards thou art now going to difpenfe ?
23 But to thefe I will
reply Notwithftanding
your former perfuafion of the truth of my religion, and the zeal you have fhowed in af- ferting and vindicating its dodtrines — yet you have dif- graced it by an immoral life. Such as you I will never ap- prove as my genuine difci- ples Ye fintul and aban- doned creatures depart !
24 Thefe are the religious and moral inftrudions of my gofpel — whofoever, therefore, iliall cordially embrace and pra6life them, may be com- pared to a prudent and intel- ligent perlon, who built his houfe upon a rock :
25 which, when aflaulted by the raging tempeft, the impetuous torrent, or the fu- rious whirlwind, fuftains the fliock — for it is founded on the unfhaken bafis of a rock.
26 But him, who is per- fuaded of the truth of chrif- tianity, and yet lives in the open pradice of the vices it condemns, I will compare to a fooHili mian, who builds an houfe upon the fand.
27 So that whenever the
T H E w.
21
ftorms rage, or the floods rulh, or the blafts affail "t-, it finks, and falls in moft dread- ful ruins.
§ — 28 Here Jefus ended his difcourfe — and the multi- tude ftood fixed with admira- tion at the fublimity of his dodrines :
29 for thefe inftrudions were delivered not in the cold and negligent manner of the Scribes — but with a dignity and authority that Ipoke their divine original.
CHAP. VIII.
FTER this difcourfe he defcended from the niountain — and was re- ceived and followed by pro- digious crowds.
2 When behold a wretched fpedlacle — a perfon cover- ed with leprofy approached, and falling proftrate before him, faid. Sir, you have power to free me from this {hocking difeafe.
3 Jefus then extending his hand touched him, faying — I will reflore thee to health — and inilantly the leprous fcurf no was more.
4 Jefus then fl:ri6lly charged the man by no means to di- vulge his miraculous cure, but to go immediately to the prieft, and off^er the ufuai fa- crifice •, in order that the man C 3 might
22 The Hiftory
might give publick and in- conteltable evidence of his being really and perfe<5liy cured.
§ — 5 When Jefus had juft eniered Capernaum, a Roman captain came to him, and accofted him in thefe im- portunate terms,
6 Sir, my fervant hath juft had a flroke of the pnlfy, and is now in my houie in the mod excruciating tcrture,
7 I will immediately come, replied Jefus, and heal him.
8 Upon hearing this an- fwer, the officer with great humility faid, Sir, I deem jnyfelf unworthy that a per- fon of your illuftrious dignity {hould come under my roof — one word, I am perfuaded, of your authoritative voice will fpeak my fervant into perfeft eafe and health.
9 For if I, who command a body of men in the Roman army, can, by a word, order my corps to any fervice, and my orders are immediately obeyed "^ — how much more muft you, whom I believe to beinvefbed with divine powei-, by a word efFedl my fervant's cure.
ID Jefus exprefled amaze- ment at hearing fuch a reply,
cf Jesus Chap. viif.
and turning to his followers faid — This Heathen hath done more honour to the dignity of my miflion and character than any of the IfraeJites.
1 1 But I aflure you that great numbers of the Heathen nations, in the moil diftant regions, fhall embrace the gofpel, which the Je-zL's re- jeft, and fhall be incorporat- ed into thatkino-dom, whofe eftablifliment they now fo violently oppofe.
12 But they, to whom thefe advantages are firft of-
o
fered, fhall on account of their incxcufablc incredulity and enormous vices be eject- ed from the bJefllngs of chrif- tianity, and the whole na- tion be doomed to the moil dreadful calamities, that ever befei a people and coun- try''.
13 Jefus then turned to the officer and told him that the divine power, with which he believed hitn to be en- dowed, was already exerted in the recovery of his fervant
and at that very inflant
he found liimielf in perfect health.
§ — 14 Jesus afterwards re- tiring from the crowd went into Peter's houfe, arid found
*' Agmen et ftare paratum et fequi : — intentum ad ducis non ftgnu7tt Hiodo, fed etiam ttutum. Curtius, p. ho. Delph.
' He rtiizrz to the deftruflion cf jcrufalem by the Roi::in.ns.
his
Chap. vlli. by M AT
his mother in law confined to her bed by a violent fe- ver.
15 But he touched her hand — the fever left her — fhe rofe and provided for their refrefhment.
1 6 In the evening the crowds collected again, and brought him many afflicted with mad- nefs — but this and every o- ther diftemper he inftantane- oufiy removed by a word.
17 By thefe miraculous cures accomplifhing the fol- lowing prediction of the pro- phet Ilaiah concerning him — " Our maladies he healed, and expelled all the difeafes, with which our natures wTre opprefied."
§ — 18 But when Jefus found himfelf greatly incom- moded by the preffing crowds, he ordered his difciplcs to get a boat and ferry him over the lake.
1 9 While the boat was pre- paring, a fcribe approached him, who deluded with the hopes of gaining preferment in his kingdom, thus addref fed him, '* Great teacher ! I am determined to attend you wherever you go."
20 To this fpeech Jefus replied. You egregioully err, if you imagine that I am go- ing to ere6t an earthly king- dom of pomp and magnifi- cence— fo far from this that
T H E w. 23
the beafts of the field, and the fowls of the air are accom- modated with better and hap- pier conveniencies than the ion of man.
21 At that time alfo a- nother of his followers faid CO him. Sir, I have formed dchberate refolutions to fol- low you ; only at prefcnt al- low me to p-o home to at- tend the funeral of my tather and fettle his effeds.
22 Jefus faid to him •
From the moment you en- gaged in my caufe, you were under an indifpenfable obli- gation to renounce all con- nexions with your earthly re- lations and fortunes. Let thofe who are dead to all fenle of religion and virtue diftrad themfelves with fordid cares — but do you adhere to me, and diligently ftudy the doc- trines and inftrudions of my relio;ion.
23 In the mean time the boat was got ready, into which he paired, attended by his difciples.
24 And being fatigued with the labours and duties of the day he foon funk into deep fleep — But behold, dur- ing his repofe, it fuddenly blew a dreadful ftorm — the fea run high — and the waves lafhed over the fides of the velfel.
25 The difciples, greatly
C 4 alarmed
24 '^kd Hiflory
alarmed with their danger, awoke him, crying out — Sir! fave us ! we are all perifhing !
26 Jefus faid to them — Why are ye Teized with fuch
terrours — how long will
you diftruft thofe miraculous powers, with which God hath endowed me — He then Hood up, and with a word repref- ied the winds, and controul-, ^d the llirges-— -and a calm immediately eniiied.
27 At leeing fuch an a- mazing fcene, the perfons, who were in the vefiel, were fixed in the laft aftonifl:iment
and laid- What power is
here exerted ! What divine perfonage is this, whofe man- date the winds and waves pbey !
§ — 28 On his landing in the country of the Gergefe- nes, he w^s met by two mad- men, ifiiiing from the fub- terraneous vaults, where the people of that country dcpo- fited their dead-: — Their dif- order oft^n inftigatcd them to fuch horrid afts of feroci- ty, that no bpdy durll tra- vel that road.
29 At feeing Jefus, whom they had heard of, they broke out into a loud vociferation, fych ^s their difordered minds
of Jesus Chap. viii.
dictated — O Jefus, fon of God ! what bufmefs haft thou with us — art thou come hi- ther to infli6t torments upon us before our time is come ?
30 Now it happened that there was at fome confiderable diftance a very large herd of fwine feeding.
31 The madmen, uttering fuch wild effufions, and mak- ing fuch abfurd requefts a* perfons in raging madnefs al- ways do, begged that he would fuffer the daemons ^ to pafs from them into the fwine.
32 They had no fooner fpoken and he permitted, but behold ! the whole herd was feized with madnefs^— run
down a precipice- rufhed
into the fe^, and perifhed in the deep.
33 The keepers ftruck with terrour ran away into the town, and told what had happened, adding alfo an ac- count of the miraculous cure of the two madmen.
34 Alarmed with this pub- lick difafter, the whole town can<}e out in a body to meet Jefus, and dreading his pow- er, unanimoufly entreated hitn to leaye th?ir country.
y In antient time, both among 'Jeivs and Heathens, madi^cfs was aimoit ttniverfally (iinpofed to be occafioaed by the poffefllon of Damons.
CHAP,
Chap. ix.
by Matthew.
25
CHAP. IX.
I AT their earneft folici- •^^ tation he re-entered the boat, crofTed the lake, and came into the town, in which he had been educated.
2 Upon his arrival there they brought him a miferable objeft lying on a couch, fhak- ing with the palfy — Jefus be- ing conlcious of the faith they repofed in him as a divine meflenger, faid to the para- lytic— Son, thy fins be for- given !
3 Some of the fcribes when they heard this faid within themfelves — what horrid blafphemy againft God is this man guilty of !
4 But Jefus, who was per- fedly acquainted with every fentimentin the human heart^, faid to them, Why do you cherifh in your minds fuch malevolent and injurious thoughts againfl me ?
5 For is it a lels exertion and proof of divine power to forgive his fms, than to re- ilore him to health and llrength ?
6 But what induced me to
exprefs myfelf in this manner was, to convince you by an evident miracle, that the fon of man is endowed with au- thority to forgive fm — he had no iooner fpokenthefe words,, but he turned to the fick per- fon, and faid — Rife — take up thy couch — and go home.
7 Inftantly the man found his limbs nerved with ftrength he rofe — took up his
couch, and carried it home.
8 The crowds, who were witnefles of this amazing ex- ertion of miraculous power, were Itruck with aftonifh- ment, and with the devouteft reverence glorified God, who had communicated to man fuch ftupendous endow- ments.
§ — 9 I N pafiing from Ca- pernaum Jefus faw a perfon, whofe name was Matthew, fitting in the tax-gatherers office, whom he commanded to * follow him — The man im- mediately quitted his bufinefs, and mingled in his train.
10 Jefus accepting of art invitation to his houfe fat down with his difciples at ta- ble among a large company, confiding of tax-gatherers,
Ac/Ttfp 0 €yvfi> »<riv ivt (ftficit ^uvinaiv t6. Iliad A. 332.
There are many inftances occur In the hiftory of Chrift, of his knowing mens thouc^hts.
* Our Saviour knew him to be a perfon pofiefTed of virtuous difpo- f.tions,
and
26
and other perfons of immoral charaders.
1 1 The Pharifees greatly offended with his behaviour on this occafion afked his difciples, what induced their mailer to cultivate fuch in- timate friendfhips with per- fons of fuel: infamous and profligate lives.
12 Jelus overhearing them replied. The healthy have no occafion for phyfic — it is of ufe only to the indifpofed. Thofe, who are holy and good are already in poffef fion of that moral health that my inftruftions were defigned to give men — my dodrines are only intended to heal the vices and redify the mental diforders of mankind.
13 Examine and difcover the true meaning of thofe
words of the prophet
•' The exercife of mercy and compafTion is more agreeable to me than the moft numerous and coftly facrifices " — For the defign of my coming is not to addrefs my difcoveries to the virtuous, but to en- gage the wicked and deprav- ed to repentance and amend- ment of life.
§ 14 At that time the
difciples of John came to him and fpoke thus — Why do we -and the Pharifees celebrate many religious fafts, when
The Hiflory o/' Je s u s Chap. ijf.
no fuch aufterities are enjoin- ed upon thy difciples.
15 To whom Jefus replied — Can the friends and com- panions of the bridegroom indulge melancholy foirow, during the celebration of his nuptials ? When he
leaves them, the days of fef- tivity and joy will be over, and they fhall find a fad re* verfe.
16 For to infifl upon my difciples, who are but lately entered into the profefTion of chriftianity, praftifing a courfe of rigid abftemioufnefs and mortification, would be a6l- ing as abfurdly as he, who fhould join a large piece of new cloath to an old and ob- folete garment.
17 And as he, who fhould put new wine into old fkins, would incur the lofs both of his liquor and of his veffels — the fermentation of the wine necelTarily caufing the old fkins to rend and burfl
fo the injunclion of reli-
gious feverities upon my new converts and difciples would produce the moft fatal effedls upon my religion, by difguft- ing them againft it, and cauf- ing them immediately to a- bandon and abjure it. The impofition, therefore, of no fuch aufterities as you prac- tife I judge to be the moft prudent
chap. ix.
by Matthew.
1^7
prudent method to preferve f 23 When Jefus entered them fteady to my cadle, and the Governour's houfe, he firmly attached to my inte- refts.
§ — 18 While he was en- gaged in this conference with John's diiciples, one of the Governours approached him with profound reverence and faid — My daughter is juft de- parted— but thou art able, I am perfuaded, by a touch to reftore her to life.
19 Jefus immediately upon this rofe up, and followed the Governour, attended by his difciples
20 But in his way, a wo- man, who had for twelve years been afflifted with a flux of blood, ftole foftly be- hind him, and juft touched the edging of his garment :
2 1 For Ihe thought, if fhe could have the happinefs but of touching his cloaths, fhe fhould be well again.
22 But Jefus, confcious of the touch, turned fuddenly about, and feeing her faid — be not alarmed — your confi- dence in my power hath re- ftored you — And from that moment Ihe was reinftated in perfedt eafe and health.
faw the muficians, who ufu- ally attended in the Jewilh funeral folemnities % and a number of mourners pouring forth the bittereft lamenta- tions.
24 Thefe Jefus defired to withdraw — and in order to mitigate that excefllve forrow which he faw them indulge, faid to them — the young lady is not dead — Ihe is only in a profound fleep — At thefe words her attendants, who knew that flie had breathed, her laft, flie wed by their looks that they thought meanly and contemptibly of him as a pro- phet.
25 When they had all left the room, as Jefus had com- manded, he went in, and took
hold of her hand and fiie
rofe up :
26 And his fame was uni- verfally celebrated in every part of that country.
§ — 27 Jesus leaving that place, was followed on the road by two blind men, who with a loud and importunate voice cried, Pity our condi- tion !
^ Mufic was ufed at the funeral folemnities both of the Jews and Romans,
Cantabat fanis, cantabat tibia ludis,
Cantabat maeftis tibia funeribus. Omid. Fajiit Lib. 6. 657.
See an objeftion formed againft chriftianity from this circumftance in -my Account of the Converfion of a Deift. p. 86.
2 28 He
i8 "The Hiftory
2S He went, therefore, into an houfe, and the blind men coming to him, he faid to them — ^Do you beheve that I am endowed with power that can enable me to work the miracle you demand ? — We do, they replied.
29 Upon this he touched their eyes, faying — Accord- ing to your profelTion fliall my power be exerted.
30 And their eyes were inftantaneoufly opened — But Jefus ftriftly charged them by no means to acquaint any perfon with the miraculous reftoration of their fight ''.
31 But no fooner had they left him, but tranlported with gratitude and joy, they for- got all his injun6lions, and di- vulo-ed his fame throuo;hout the whole country.
§ — 32 When they were gone there was brought to him a dumb idiot,
33 whom he immediately reilored to his intclleds and fpeech — at which aftonifhing miracle the crowds were ftruck with the laft amazement, and
exclaimed What ftupen-
dous power do we fee here difplayed ! So extraordinary a perfonage never before ap- peared in Judea !
34 But all thefe illuftrious
of Jesus Chap. ix*.
miracles convinced not the Pharifees of the divinity of his mifllon, but they evaded their evidence by afcribing them to the agency of Beelzebub the prince of the dasmons.
§ — 35 Je'5us after this tra- velled about all the towns and villages in that country, delivering his inftrudlions in the ufual places of publick worfhip, proclaiming the com- mencement of the gofpel dil- penfation, and miraculoufly curing every difeafe and dif- temper, with which any per- fon was aftlided.
0^6 But when he took a furvey of the vaft multitudes that were collected together — the fight excited in his bofom the moft fympathetic tcndernefs and pity, when he confidered in what deplorable ignorance the Jewifh priefts fuffered them to live, and into what fatal errours and mifi:akes in matters of reli- gion they were permitted to deviate — being left as much neglected and difregarded as flocks of fiieep upon the wild mountains.
37 At the view of fuch prodigious numbers he broke out into the following^ ex- prcfiions, which he dircfled to his difciples — ^How exten-
•> This injundlion of filence was, no doabt, intended to prevent too great crowds — at which .^he malice of his enemies would have b^^n more incited,, and the Roman powers have taken umbrage.
4 five
Chap. X. hy M AT
five and copious the harveft ! —but alas ! how few the la- bourers !
38 Fervently pray, there- fore, to the creatour and go- vernour of immortal louls, that he would of his infinite mercy raife and qualify a number of fit perfons to reap lb great and glorious an har- veft!
C H A P. X.
I AFTER this Jefus col- -^^ levied his twelve dif- ciples in a body, and com- municated to them luch mi- raculous endowments, as would empower them to cure the mod inveterate and ftub- born diforders of every kind and degree, to which human nature is fubjeded.
2 Thefe were the names of his twelve apoflles.
, J } brothers
2 Andrew 3
3 James 7Zebcdee's
4 John 3 fons
3 5 Philip
6 Bartholomew
7 Thomas
8 Matthew, the tax-
gatherer
9 James, fon of Al-
pheus 10 Lebbeus, firnamed Jude
4 II Simon, the zealot 12 Judas Ifcariot
T tt E W. 29
5 Thefe twelve Jefus com- miffioned and appointed to the apoftolic office, and fent
them previoufly giving
them the following advice and direftions — Publifh not the report of the gofpel a- mong the Heathens, neither enter into one city inhabited by the Samaritans.
6 But confine your publick miniftrations folely to the in- habitants of Judea, who have been fo deplorably negledied, and fuffered to wander in the fatal paths of ignorance and wickednefs.
7 Proclaim in every place, where there are rational crea- tures to hear the news, and fay — The gofpel difpenfation is juil commencing !
8 Heal the indifpofed, cure the lepers, raife the dead, ex- pel every fpecies of lunacy and madnefs — And as you had thefe fpiritual gifts freely bellowed upon you, do you alfo freely impart their lalu- tary effeds to others.
9 I folemnly warn you a- gainil a fordid mercenary difpofition — do not, there- fore, upon any account take money for the good you do.
10 Be not anxious in pre- paring accommodations, and laying up provifions for your journey — The benevolence of the well-difpofed will fupply you with the necefiaries and
conveniences
30 T^be Hiftory of Jesus Chap. x.
conveniences of life, and the faithful and diligent difcharge of your duty will entitle you to them.
11 When you go into a town or village, make en- quiry, which of the inhabi- tants is beft known, and moft generally efteemed for true worth and excellency of cha- rader — to fuch apply, where you will moft probably find a kind reception, and con- tinue there, while you ftay, that they may be witneflfes of your difinteretledncfs and in- tegrity.
12 When you enter into the family, greet it in the moft friendly and obliging terms, and wifti it all divine and human happinefs.
13 And if that family pof- Icfs fuch real worth, as hath been rcprefented to you, the bleiTings you implore, ftiall defcend upon it — but if the hopes you have been taught to form of it be difappointed, and you meet with a repulfe — you, however, yourfelves will enjoy the conlcious plea- fure and fatisfafi:ion of hav- ing done your duty — and the blefiings, which you have fup- plicated the Almighty to be- ftow upon that family, Ihall be imparted to you ".
14 Moreover, whatever
town or family ftiall rcfufe to admit you, and to hear your inftrudliions, ftiake oft the duft of your feet againft them — by this fignificant ailion giving a publick and folemn teftimony to all, that you have freely offered to tlieni the advantages and privilcrges of the golpel, but they have wilfully rejefted them.
15 Be affured that in the general judgment Sodom and Gomorra ftiall be puniftied with lefs feverity than that town, for its having refifted greater evidence than what thofe cities were ever favour- ed with.
16 I am fenfible that by fending you abroad to preach the gofpel, I expofe you to the infult and cruelty of a de- praved world. Confider your- felves, therefore, as flieep in the midft of wolves ; and join to the innocence of the harm- lefs dove the vigilance and prudence of the cautious fer- pent.
17 Let your conduct be ever actuated by difcretion, and guard, with the greateft circumfpedion, againft irri- tating mens paftions unnecef- farily — for with all the cau- tion you can obferve, fo im- placably will the generality of the world be exafperated a-
Feace in the Jewilh idiom dienoi^i happine/s.
gain ft
Chap. X. ^jf M A T T H E w.
gainftyou, merely for preach- ing the golpel, that they will drag you before the civil magiftrate, as the difturbers and pefts of fociety, and fcourge you in the fyna- gogues, as enemies to the eftablifhed religion.
1 8 And you fliall be brought, for your profefiion of chriftianity, before the tri- bunals of the mod auguft perfonages — where the apo- logies you will make, in vin- dication of its truth and ex- cellency, fhall ferve as pub- lick teftimonies to them and the world of its divine autho- rity.
19 But when you are car- ried before the moll illuitrious anddignifiedchara6lers,benot anxious in ftudying a defence of your principles and con- dudl — for that God, in whole caufe you are engaged, will enable you, in that emergen- cy, to apologize for your- felves.
20 So that your publick pleas on fuch occafions will not be fo much the efforts of human wifdom, as the dic- tates and fuggeflions of the fpirit of God.
§ — 21 The gofpel, you are going to preach, will in its confequences, produce the mod virulent and implacable feuds, and the moll unnatu- ral and deadly animofities in
3^
tamilies, accordingly as it is embraced or rejefted by their repedlive members. For bro- ther fliall murder brother — a father his own child — and the fons Ihall imbrue their hands in their parents' blood.
22 For you ihall be held in almoll univerlaldeteflationfor your profefiion — But he, who tiu'ough all thefe fcenes of contumely and cruelty, con- tinues ftedfaft in his attach- ment to my caufe, fhall final- ly be rewarded with everlaft- ing happinefs.
23 Notwithltanding, there- fore, all the outrages you are expofed to, fhow yourfelves indefatigable in preaching the gofpel, and when you meet with perfecution in one town, remove to another, and with invincible refolution preach the gofpel there — for be af- fured you Ihall not have vi- fited all the towns in Judea, before the moil dreadful de- ftru(5lion overtake it.
24 A fchoiar hath no rea- fon to exped better treat- ment than. his teacher — or a fervant than his mafler.
25 Oughtnot adifciple, or a flave, to think himfelt hap- py, if he have only to encoun- ter the fame difficulties, and to fubmit to the fame ufage as his indruftor, or Lord, hath experienced from the world ? — If they ha\e called
the
32 T^he Hlftory
the mafter of the houfe Beel- zebub, how much more will they load his domeftics with the moft odious names and Icandalous reproaches.
26 Let not however, this leries of abufe overwhelm you with terrour and defpair, and difcourage you from
preaching the gofpel for
there comes a day, when all the hidden fcenes of life will be laid open, and fupreme juftice vindicate and glori- oufly reward opprefled inno- cence and perfecuted virtue.
27 Let the prolpcd, there- fore, of no human fufferings intimidate and dejeft you, but difcharge your publick mini- ftration with undaunted cou- rage proclaiming in the
moft publick and frequent- ed places thofe inftrudtions, which I have given you in our private retirements.
28 Fear not thofe, who can only infli6l upon you bodily pain and torture, and deprive you of a precarious being — but whofe power extends no farther. But let that great Being be the objed of your fear, who can involve both foul and body in total and cverlaftino; deilrudion. Let that great Being, 1 repeat it, be the objcd of your conftant fear ^
of Jes u S Chap, jc*
29 For if the meaneft and moft inconfiderable creatures are perpetually under the in- Ipedtion of, God, and perifh not without his cognifance — how much more muft divine providence intereft itfelf in the guardianfhip and protec- tion of rational beings, and not fuffer them to be wantonly facrificed to the rage and ma- lice of mankind, without his knowledge and permiiTion.
30 So far from this, that the leaft evil cannot befal you without his dire6lion — for God is intimately ac- quainted with all your mi- nuteft concerns, and the very hairs of your head are num- bered by his all-comprehen- five wifdom.
3 1 BanilTi, therefore, from your breaft all fear of human malice and perfecution — An intelligent being worthily engaged in the publifhing among mankind a religion of God's own appointment, is furely more intitlcd to the divine care and regards than the irrational and inferiour creatures.
32 Thefe fufferings are the fure tefls of mens principles — Whofocver, therefore, nor- withftanding the menaces of tyrants and the rage of per- fecutors, fhall, with undaunt-
«* The maxim of the great Turennc is juftly cclebratcd- Dieu, et je n'ai point d'autre crainte.
-Je cralns le
Chap. X. by M a t
ed refolution, publickly pro- fefs his belief of chrifbianity, him will I publickly acknow- ledge to be my true difciple before God and the aflembled world.
33 But whofoeyer fhall be terrified by the dread of pub- lick odium, or fear of perfe- cution, into a publick recan- tation of his chrillian prin- ciples, and fliall openly re- nounce his profefTion — him will I alfo publickly reje6t at, the general relurredtion.
3 4 The promulgation of the chriftian religion will produce. effe(5ts in the world, the very' reverie of its genius and ten- dency, for tho' it is defigned to promote univerfal harmony and concord, and to extin- guifh mens worft paffions, yet it will blow them into the moft vehement and de- ftruftive flames.
35 For it will occafion fuch violent quarrels and unhappy difcords, as will not only break ail the common ties of humanity, but alfo dilTolve the moil intimate bonds of confanguinity.
36 And through religious differences a man's moft im- placable enemies (hall be ihofe of his own family.
T H E w. 3^
0^^ But whenever family affections happen to interfere and clafh with your duty, the former muft be given up without hefitation — rfor he, who facrifices his religion, either to parental tendernefs, or to filial piety, forfeits the chriftian chara6t:er, and will never be acknowledged as a genuine difciple.
38 For unworthy the name of chriftian is he, v/ho will not fubmit to , the greateft difHculties for the fake of it.
39 For he who faves his life in this v»'orld by mean compliances, at the cxpence of his confciencc and religion, fnall in another be for ever deprived of it ^ — but he who lofes his life in my caufe, ihall with infinite advantage re- gain it in a glorious and hap- py immortality.
§ — 40 These admonitions I give you, and with this au- thority I inveft you — fo that every one who receiveth you, in effe6l receives m.e — and he who obeys my inftrudtions, obeys the will of God, who originally delegated and lent me into the world.
41 He who entertains a publick inftruitor, or a good nian, under thele chara^iersj
' This text is more in point than any other a direft proof of the total perdition of the wicked — Who Ihail be pqnilhed with f-^irlajiing depruithn.
. Vol.. I. D
and
34 ^^ Hiftory
and pays their refpedtive dig- nicy and worth a real efleem and iViendly regard, fhall be eiititled to a fnare of their future rewards.
42 And whofoever fliall do the leafi benevolent act ot generofny, merely on account of your being my difciples, his generofity flowing from fuch an inward principle fhall not go unrewarded.
'J
CHAP. XI.
E S U S having with thefe direftions difmif- fed liis difciples, removed from that part of the coun- try, to teach and inftruft other towns in the doctrines and duties of the gofpel.
2 But the fame of his a- ftonifhing miracles reaching Jolin, who was then in pri- lon — ^he called two of his dif- ciples, who were allowed free accefs to him in his confine- ment, and ordered them to propofe to Jefus the follow- ing queftion ^
3 Art thou that illuftrous perfonage foretold by the prophets ? or is the Mefliah ftill to be the objed of our expeflation ?
4 To which meflage Jefus replied— Go and give John
^ Jesus Chap. xi.
a faithful account not only of the fatts vvliich you have heard from univerfal report, but of thofe, of which your- felves have been ipedtators.
5 Inform him that the blind receive their fight, the lame walk, the lepers are re- ftored to health, the deaf to hearing, the dead to life, and to the pcwreft objedts are communicated the joyful tid- ings of everlafting falvation.
6 And blelfed is he whom neither the meannefs of my condition, the oppofition of the Jews, or the fear of re- proach and perfecution, fhall difcourage from embracing my religion.
§ — 7 When they were gone, Jefus took occafion ta fpeak concerning John to the multitudes, that were col-- lefted together, and faid to them — What induced you to flock in fuch crowds into the wildernefs ? — Did fome trifle - ino; and ridiculous affair excite in you a vain curiofity to go thither ?
8 What was it attradted your admiration ? — Did you prefs with fuch eager and im- patient fteps to fee a perfon attired in a vain and fan- taflic drefs, who fuddenly appeared there ? — Such dwell
* John fcnt thefe, that they mi^ht fee the evidence that was exhibited,
and afterwards bcccme Chrill's disciples.
in
perfon,
Chap. xi. 4>' Mat
in fplendid and magnificent palaces, but are not leen in the dreary unfrequented wil- dernels.
9 What was it then you crowded to fee there ? — was
it a prophet ? -yes, and a
prophet greatly fuperiour in dignity and office to any that ever preceded him.
10 For this is the whofe future appearance Ma- lachy predided in that paf- fage — " Behold I I will com- miflion and fend a meflenger to be thy forerunner, in or- der that univerfal attention may be excited, and the minds of men be previoufly difpofed for the reception of his heavenly doftrines."
Ill aiTure you, there ne- ver appeared under the mo- faic dilpenfation a prophet of fuperiour eminence to John
the Baptift neverthelefs,
the moft ignoble and obfcure teacher of chriftianity is in- velted with a fublimer office, and a more iiluftrious mini- iiry than he was.
12 But yet from the time that John's miniftry com- menced to the prefent day, che ereflion or the gofpel kingdom hath been moft violently oppofed, and the depraved and bigQtted Jews furioufly aflault, and la- bour to fubvert it. with the
T H E w. 3^
moft determined rancour and malignity.
13 The mofaic fyftem con- tinued in its full force 'till the time that John entered upon his prophetic office ; but it is now to be luperfeded by a new and nobler inilitudon.
14 And if you will admit and make proper ufe of my
aflertion beaflured, That
this perfon is thatElias, whom the prophets foretold Ihould come at the clofe of the Jew- ifti difpenfation.
15 Let every one, who hath rational powers dili- gently cultivate and improve them, by carefully inveftigat- ing and fincerely obeying the truth.
16 But the prefent gene- ration difcovers fuch a petu- lancy and pen'^erfenefs of tem- per, that no method of in- ftruclion will produce its in- tended effefts. I can com- pare them to nothing fo pro- perly as to a number of peev- ifti children, who are deter- mined not to be pleafed with any thing their companions fay or do :
1 7 Who, when their play- ^ fellows are in the height of mirth and chearfulnefs, ap- pear fulky and fullen — but are immediately in tranfports, when they lee others diflblved in tears.
D 2 18 The
-.6
^^ T^he Hiftory
1 8 The difingenuous pcr- verfencfs of the prcfent age is evinced from the averfion and contempt, they have equally fiiov/ed to John's in- ftruclions and my own — tho' our method and manners were entirely dinimiiar. For Joiin pradiled rigid abfLemioulnefs, and afTefted the greatefl aii- ilerity and mortification in his drcfs and diet :
iq The fon of man, on the contrary, fcudied no fuch Angularities — entertained no fcruples about any particular kind of food, or liquor — but unaileAedly ailociated, and fa- miliarly convcrfed with men of all profciTions and conditions, without diftinclion — yet ftill they are difguiled and ex- claim— What a Have to ap- petite ! Flow exceiTivcly fond of wine ! What an inlepara- ble companion of wicked and
profligate men ! But
thole wlio are the real friends of virtue, confcious of its in- valuable worth, embrace it, v/hat exterior form foever it affumes, and obey its dictates, in what method and manner foever they come recom- mended.
§ — 20 Ti'iEs he began to upbraid thofe tow nr,, v/hich iiad been wltnefTes to the "reateil part of his miracles, tor their infuperable preju- dices, and invincible obfti- naey and impenitence.
of Jesus Chap. xi.
21 Woe unto you, O ye inhabitants of Chorazin and Bethfaida ! had fuch ftriking proofs of miraculous power and divine authority been ex- hibited before the citizens of Tyre and Sidon, they would have deemed the evidences irreliftibie, imniediately have obeyed the heavenly meflen- ger, and repented with the fincereft contrition and re- m(jrfe.
22 Be aiTur-cd, therefore, that in the generaljudgment, much lefs fevere punifhment fliall be JnHicted on the inha- bitants of Sodom and Gomor- ra than what you lliall then be doomed to.
23 And thou O Caper- naum I who now haft, by thy power and opulence mount- ed to fo high an elevation, ihalt be precipitated into the lowell gulph of ruin and de- ilruc^lion — lor Iiad fucii iilu- ftrlous miracles, been wrought in Sodom, it would have been (landing at this day.
24 As thou haft, there- fore, refilled ftronger con- victions and rejeded greater evidences than Sodom ever did, be aflured, its future miferies will be lefs dreadful ihan thofe, to which thou Ihalt be devoted.
§ — 25 At that time Jefus uttered this pious ejaculation to God— 1 thank tlice, O thou
greac
Chap. xii. by Ma
great Parent of univerfal na- ture, that thou haft hid the evidences of the gofpel from thofe, who value thcml'clves on their fuperiour vvifdom and erudition \ but hafl ex- hibited them in their full ir- refiftible force before humble, docil, and ingenuous minds.
26 I'his procedure, O fii- preme Father of all, was in confequence of that benevo- lent plan which thy innnite wifdom originally formed.
27 Me hath God commif fioned and empowered to re- veal his will to mankind — anci there is no being fo vvell acquainted with the illuftrious dignity and office, with which lam in veiled, as the Father — nor is there any intelligent creature favoured with fo clear and fublime a percep- tion of the nature and per- fedlions of the Deity as the Son, and as all v.'ill entertain in confeqv.ence of their re- ception Of the chriftian re- ligion ^.
28 Come unto me all ye, who groan under the unfup- portable burden of the cere- monial law and I will
vindicate you into perfect liberty and freedom.
29 Obey nrty doctrines and
T T H E w. ^7
precepts, which I have illul- trated and enforced by my own condufl, and learn from my example the virtues of inoffenfive meekncls and un- affec5led humility ——and you v/ill fccure true and lafting peace and happinefs.
30 For my do6lrine is cal- culated for the felicity of mankind — its injundlions are not rigourous and opprefTive to liuman nature — but the paths into vviiich it introduces njen, are unfpeakably plea- fan t and deiedtable.
C II A P. XII.
t T T happened about that ■*- time that as Jefus was going through fome corn- fields, his difciples, compelled by hunger, plucked fome of the ears, as- they pafied along, and rubbing them in their hands, began to eat the corn.
2 The Pharifees perceiving this, laid to Jefus — Why doll not thou reprove thy dif- ciples for violating the duties of th':; labbath ?
3 To This Jeu'.s replied — Do not you reHeft what hunger once compelled Da- vid and his men to cio }
4 Need I remind you, that
? This is in fa»rt true, and is n r m.irk.ible prophcfy of our Saviour. All thcl'e countries will be icund cxlrtr.:tiy defedive in the knowledge of .he fijprcme G^d, \vhich have not received the ChrilHan revelation.
D
he
3S
ne Hillory of Jesus Chap. xii.
he went hi to the tabernacle and eat the confecrated /liezv hrcad^ v^'hich all, except priefhs, were finely prohi- bited from tailing.
5 The rondudl alfo of the priefts, tho' on a fabbath day they go tliroLigh all the work and labour of the temple fer- vice and facrifices, is not ac- counted criminal.
6 And if the fibbatical employment of the priefls in the temple exempt them from all guilt, much more will the important office ot preaching the gofpcl, with which I have invefted my difciples, excufe themi.
7 If you had known the true meaning of thofe words in the prophet — " I am bet- ter pleafed with acfls of mer- cy and compafTion, than with the moil coftly facrifices" — God by this dire6lion infi- nuating that pofitive inflitu- tions are in his eftimation of jnferiour vakie to moral ob- ligations— you would nor with fuch rigour have cenfured my difciples for the violation of a mere external cere- mony, and the tranfgreflion of a command purely arbi- trary,
8 For the Ton of man is authorized to fet men free irom thofe ceremonious ri- gours and fabbatical feveri- t;es, which you impofe.
§ — 9 Going from that place he went into one of LJieir religious aflemblies,
10 in Vv'hich there was a man, who had a withered hand. Hie Jews, therefore, feeino; his attention cnar-ao-cd by fuch an unhappy fpeftacle, and watching every opportu- nity to alperfe and blacken his character, and deftroy his publick ulefulnefs, faid — Is it lawful to heal on the fab- bath ?
11 To which queflion he replied — Is there any of you, tho' the moft ftricl and con- fcientious obferver of the fab- bath, v/ho would hefitate a moment to extricate a fheep, that was entangled in a brake, or fallen into a pit on the fabb.uh day ?
1 2 And if no one fcruples to afTill a bead in fuch cir- cumftances — how infinitely more fit and lawful is it to do an a<51: of mercy and be- nevolence on a fabbath day to a rational being !
13 He then turned to the man, and faid — Extend thy arm — he extended it — and it was inftantaneoufly as perfect as the other.
14 But the Pharifees, in- flead of being convinced by this amazing difplay of di- vine power, went av^ay flung with implacable rage and in- veterate malice — and imme- diately
Chap. xii. ^X ^^ ^
diateiy confederated together and vowed hiS deftruftion.
1 5 But Jefus by that know- ledge of the human heart, with which he was endowed, being confcious of their de- figns againft his life, remov- ed from that part of the coun- try, attended with vaft mul- titudes of people; among whom he cured ail who la- boured under any difeafe.
1 6 But ftridly charged them not to divulge the fame of his miraculous cures — left the Jews, fired with refent- ment, (hould apprehend him and accelerate his death.
1 7 By his courting priva- cy, therefore, and making obfcure retreats the fcene of his inftru(flions and miracles, he fulfilled the following pro- phecy of Ifaiah.
i8 *' Behold my fervant, the objeft of all my fondeit affctitions ! I will impart to him the moft excellent gifts and aftoniihing powers, and he Ihall propagate true reli- gion among the nations.
19 He fhall not convoke the people, with loud voci- feration, to fee his miracles — nor difplay his divine en- dowments in the ftrcets, with oftentatious parade :
20 The whole of his de- portment Ihall be meek and
T T H E W. 39
I inoffenfive, and ever aduated by the rules of prudence and caution — 'till the time that he fhall have finiQied the pe- riod of his publick miniftry, and firmly eff ablifhed his reli- gion.
21 And after its eflablifh- ment in Judea, the Heathens fhall embrace it, and receive him as the MefTiah and law- giver of the world.**
§ — 22 There was brought to him at that time a moll miferable objeft, labouring under a dreadful complica- tion of afflictions — for the wretched creature was in- fane, blind, and dumb — But he inftantly "reftored him to the ufe of his hearing, fpeech, and intellefts.
23 At which miracle the whole multitude were ftruck with the laft amazement, and faid — Muft not this peribaagc be the MefTiah "" .?
24 The Pharifees, who were prcfent, hearing this language, and being deter- mined to evade the evidence, to renounce his pretenfions, and to ruin his reputation with the multitude, replied — This man is only a con- federate with the dsemons, and ejefts them by means of Ibme compad: v/ith their chieftain Beelzebub.
*• This Is the reading in feveral MSS.
D 4
25 But
40
2 5 But Jefus, whofe divine knowlecV,e penetrated the human heart, and pervaded all its inmoft receffes, know- ing their malicious thoughts and invidious dcHgns, turned to them and thus addrelTed them — Every kingdom torn by internal divifions and ci- vil diicord is quickly reduced to a ftate of the moft deplo- rable difiblution and ruin — every city alfo and every fa- mily, full of diffention and the rage of faftion and animofity, cannot flourifh and profpcr:
16 Now if Satan empower any one to expel thole dae- mons which he himfelf in- jecls, he mufl foment dilTen- tions in his own kingdom — and confcquently confcnts to its weaknefs and demolition.
27 Befide, if I ejeft d.t- mons by a confederacy with Beelzebub — by whofe agency and aiTiftance do your relati- ons eject them ? — As to any real league or compad that they have with infernal fpirits as their co-adjutors, I refer you to ibeir determination and judgment'.
28 But if I exterminate
T&e Hiilory 0/' ]es r s dasmons and
Chap, xii.
cure the moft inveterate diforders by a pow- er communicated to me from the fupreme Kcing it fol- lows, that I am commiiiTioncd and authorized by God to eftablifh his kingdom and promote the intcrefts of his moral government.
29 As no one can forcibly enter the houfe of a ftrong man and pillage it, unlefs he be polTelTed of ftrength to bind
and confine him fo the
power, with which I am en- dowed to expel djemons, proves me pofTclfed of force fuperiour to theirs.
30 So far, therefore, am I from being an accomplice with Satan, as you infyiuate; that Satan, difclaiming all connections with me, oppofes me with implacable malice — and is fo far from being my auxiliary, that he caufes the greareft mifchict^, in order to counteract my defigns'^.
3 I And as to your afcrib- ing my miracles to a fuppofed intercourlb v/ith Beelzebub, let n>e obferve concerning this that the moil: atrocious
crimes and the moft aggra-
1 Meaning, that they would find, upnn examining them, that it was impoifTble that any fuch intcrcourfc or confederacy with evil fpirits iTiould ever be eftabliflied.
'* Tlie literal tranflation of the Verfe is this— He (i. c. Satan) not be- ing with nie is againft me — and not gathering flicafs with me, fcatters
them all abroad Obferve, that our Lord rcafoncd and confuted them
upon /Idr principles.
vated
Chap. xii. by M A t
vated guilt fhall be forgiven •, but that incorrigible malig- nity of heart, which can in- duce men to evade all the itriking evidence of divine power that hath been exhi- bited, by imputing them to a confederacy with daemons, fhall never be forgiven — as it is fuch an enormity of con- duct, and difcovers a mind fo infuperably prejudiced and depraved, as the ftrons;c(t convictions could never affed: and penetrate.
32 Even the moft oppro- brious calumnies againil the fon of man lliall be forsiven — but he who fhall reieft all the moft illuftrious proofs, and with falfehood and blaf- phemy afcribe the miraculous operations of God to the in- vifible machinery and energy of wicked and infernal fpirits, precludes all conviction, and fliall never be forgiven, here or liereafter.
33 So that as the goodnefs or badnefs of a tiee is cer- tainly difcovered by the fruit it bears — - fo the moral be- haviour and actions of men are an infallible teft and cri- terion of the goodnefs or bad- nefs of their hearts.
34 For is it poffible that you, who harbour in your hearts fuch virulence and ran- cour againft me, can fpeak of me with candour and de-
T H E W.
41
cency ? your prefent re- proaches are but the ovcr- Hovvings of a depraved heart.
35 Mens outward conver- lotion and deportment are the true index ot their minds — the good actions of a virtuous perion flow from the pure iburce of a good heart : but the actions of a bad man come Trained and tinctured from the impure fountain of a corrupt heart.
0,6 And be aiTufsed, that for every contemptuous ban- ter and Ineer that fhall be c ail upon the divine authority and illuftrious evidences of the gofpel, thofe who have wan- tonly and malicioufly thrown out fuch invidious reflecfions, fhall be called to a fevere ac- count at the general judg- ment.
1^^ For men, v/ho have had the evidences of the gofpel in all their Juftre propofed to them, fhall in that day be either applauded, or con- demned, according as they have adniitted or reied:ed the proofs given in acteftation of it.
§ — 38 At that time fome of the Scribes and Phari- fees fpoke to him and faid — Sir, the miracles you have hitherto wrought have not been able to convince us — Iliov/ us fome extraordinary prodigy, that may be an ir- refiftible
42 T^he Hiflory
rcfiftible proof to us of your divine commiffion.
:^9 To whom Jefus thus
replied A nation funk in
debauchery an'' wickednefs, not fatisfied with all the proofs I have hitlicrto publickly given of my prophetic mii- fion and chara<5ter, requires me to exhibit before them fome miraculous prodigy — But as they have hitherto re- fifted all the other ftriking leftimonies I have hitherto produced, no miraculous pro- digy fhall be further granted them, except one that will be fimiiar to what befel the prophet Jonah.
40 For as Jonah being thrown into the lea, and fwai- lowed by a great fiih ', lay ingulphed in its profound and capacious belly three days and three nights, and was af- terwards difgorged, and re- ftored to light and life — fo fnall the fon of man continue the fame fpace of time in the grave, and afterwards burft the bonds of death.
41 The behaviour of the inhabitants of Nineveh fhow the conduft of the prefent age to be abfolutely inexcuf- able. For tho' Jonah only gave them verbal admoni-
of Jesus Chap. xii.
tions attended with no mira- cles, yet they were awakvn- ed, and repented in fincerc jmd unfjlgncd coniriLion — but this age hath rejecued a pcrfon vcflcd with an infi- nitely greater authority and fuperiour power.
42 The conduft alio of the queen of Arabia will at the general judgment evince to the whole ailembled world that the condemnation of the prefent race will be iuil — For fhe felt fuch emotions at the fame of Solomon's celebrated wifdom, that nothing could allay her vehement defire of converfing with fuch match- lefs knowledge, but fhe haf- tencd with impatient Heps to Jerufalem, tho' immenfe and rugged regions interpofed — But the prefent generation treat a perfon of fuperiour wifdom and eminence to Solomon, with the laft con- tempt.
43 When an impure fpirit is ejected out of a man, it roams over dreary and inhof- pitable waftes, in queft of rcpofe, but fatally difap- pointed :
44 Tired with devious wandering, and filled with
I defpondency, it forms a re-
' The Greeks ufed the word xhto< to denote not merely a whale, but any large fi(h, as is evident from the following paffage in Plutarch : Xo'?'<^K>i' iv KaQa^u hiu.ivt xHTcj ffWiKaCt. Phocion p. 1384. Ed. Steph.
folution.
Chap. xiii. by Mat
folucion, at all adventures, to return to its old refidence — when behold ! on its ap- proacli it finds it furnifhed with every elegance for its reception.
45 Tranfported with this unexpe6led happinefs, it ran- ges in fearch of its compa- nions, and takes a number of daemons of greater malignity and ferocity than itfelf — and they all take poffefiion, and render the lall condition of that man infinitely more wretched and deplorable than it was before '".
§ — 46 While he was en- gaged in thefe difcourfes, his mother and his brothers, wanting to confult him pri- vately, could not gain accefs to his perfon, for the multi- tudes that furrounded him.
47 Upon which a perfon faid to him — your mother and your brothers are come and feek a private conference with you, but are prevented by the crouds from approach- ing you.
48 From this incident Je- fus taking occafion to incul-
T H E W. 43
cate a leflbn of ufeful inftruc- tion upon his hearers, addref- fing the perfon, who inform- ed him, and raifing his voice, faid — Whom do you call my mocher, and whom my bro- thers .?
49 Then turning to his difciples, and llretching out his hands over them, he faid — Behold my mother ! Be- hold my brothers !
50 For every perfon, who fincerely loves God and obeys his will, is united to me by more ftrong and intimate bonds than the clofeft ties of blood can form— and fuch a charader fhall be to nie every endearing relation in one.
CHAP. XIII.
I T> U T Jefus finding him- •*-^ felf greatly incommod- ed in the houfe, and his in- ftru6tions confined within a narrow circle, removed to the fea fhore, tliat he might be more generally heard.
2 And taking a boat, he fat down in it while infi- nite crowds colledted and
™ By this fabulous reprefentation Is fitly adumbrated the moral ftate of the Jewifh nation during our Saviour's miniftry — for tho' their vices and prejudices were for a time difcardedy when John made his public ap- pearance, and they were baptifed by him makinc^ penitent confeffion of their fins — yet theie vices foon returned and repojfejfd them with greater force and violence than ever, and by rendering their hearts inaccefTible to all conviction at lait plunged them in the moft fatal mifery and de- ilrufUon.
2 formed
44 77v Hidcry
formed themfelves on the rifing beach.
3 To thefe he thought pro- per to convey ini^i-iiclion in
fabulous reprelen cations
and he addrclfcd to them the following parable — Ant huf- bandmari went cut to fow his grounds.
4 But the feed being fcat- ttrcd promifcuoufly, and in every diredion, met accord- ingly a various fate — for fome fell on the hard beaten path, into which not being admit- ted, as it lay on the fui-face, the birds urged with hunger immediately light, and pick- ed it all up.
5 Others fell on hard im- penetrable rocks, juft cover- ed with foil — 'into which as foon as received, it came up, but having no depth of foil, it was not able to flrike root ;
6 fo that when the fun rofe and affailed it with its fcorch- ing beams, it was inftant ly fliri- velled, and being dcftitute of both root and moifture, it withered, faded, and died.
7 Some alfo fell among rank and invincible weeds — which fhooting out tall luxu- rious branches, and fpread- ing around their baletul in- fluence, entirely choaked ami killed it by depriving it of all nourifhment.
8 But other feeds fell upon good foil in whofe genial
cf Jesus Chap. xlli.
bofom being foftered and ad- vanced to maturity, it repaid the hufbandnan with a rich and copious crop, proporti- onate to the relpcclive de- grees of the foil's fertility.
9 l.,et every one, whom God hath endowed with ra- tional and intellcdual pov/- ers, cultivate and improve them by a diligent anc! care- ful attention to truth and fa- cred inftruction.
§ — TO HAVi>rG finifhed this difcourfe, tl^- difciples afl<ed him in private, what induced him to convey his doftrines to the populace in the vehicle of fiction and pa- rable.
1 1 To which queftion he thus replied — Your good dif- pofitions have previoufly en- gaged you to embrace the goipel, from a perfuafion of its truth and excellence, and you are acquainted with its original defign and tendency but the incredulous and
oblHnate Jews, who com- pofe the greatefl: part of my audience, are deftitute of the love of virtue, candour and truth.
12 For he that is blciTed with good difpofition^, and enquires after truth with fin- cere honefby and impartiality, (hall greatly augment jiis for- mer flock of religious know- ledge, and by the diligent culture
Chap. xiii. by M a t
culture of his intelleftual powers reap a copious har- vefl of v/iiUom and virtue — but he, v.'l.o carries not theie good difpofitions to the in- vedigation of truth, but hath his mind warped by preju- dice and perverted by vice, v/ill be fo far from embracing truth, when it prefents itfelf before him, in the fulnefs of evidence, that it will only rivet and eltabli(l:i his former prejudices the more.
13, This, therefore, is the motive that hath induced me to veil the truth under the fliade of parable — becaufe thofe, who have been eye- witneiTes of my illuftrious miracles, have not been con- vinced ; and thofe who have heard authentic accounts of them, have not been per- fuaded of their crcdfbility and admitted them as proofs of my divine mifnon and charafter.
14 So that I may juitly apply to the prefect age the following palTage in Ifafah, as defcriptive of their moral ftate and condition — " You fliall hear repeated accounts of the moft amazing miracles — but they fnali produce no rational convidlions in your minds- — you fhall even behold fre- quent difpiays of fupernatu- ral power — but fhall not ac- knowledge it to be divine.
T H E W. 4^
15 For the perception of this people is blunted by pre- pofit'ffion, fo that it is impof- fible to gain admiffion to their hearts by the avenues of any of their fenfes— for they have neither the faculties of feeing, hearing, or underftanding to bellow on any fcheme, that hath a tendency to produce a general reformation and a- mendment of life amono- them."
16 But great beyond de- fcription is your happinefs, who are upon the ftrongeft evidence convinced, by what you continually fee and hear, of the divine dignity and e- minence of my prophetic of- fice and authority.
17 For be a0Lired, that many of the moll illuftrious and diftinguifhcd perfonao-es tor wifdom and virtue in for- mer ages, have defired to live in the times in which you live, and to be fpeftators of thofe grand fcenes, which you every
day behold but were not
permitted.
18 As you have, there- tore, embraced my religion, and are defirous to know its precepts and dc6lrines — at- tend to the following expli- cation of the fable Juft re- cited.
19 The feed, then, that was fcattered upon the beaten path reprefents everv perfcn
whofe
46 The Hillory
whofe prejudices and ftupidi- ty will not fuffer the dodrines of Chrillianity to make any lafting imprefilon upon their ininds, but furrender up the principles of it an eafy prey to any perfon who is wick- ed enough to defire the fa- crifice.
20 The feed fown upon the rocks (lightly covered with earth is intended to de- le rihe thofe, who on the lirft propofal immediately embrace the gofpel with tranfport.
21 But thefe their tranf- ports are but of a fliort and
momentary duration for
their minds being full of ca- price and levity render it im- poffible for the gofpel to e- rect any thing folid and du- rable on fo light and unfVable
a foundation fo that the
very firil trial and perfecu- tion, that alfails them, fub- verts their principles, and caufcs them immediately to abiure Chriftianity without the leaft remorfe.
12 The feed, moreover, which was difTeminated a- mong thorns, denotes thofe, who hear and profcfs the gof- pel — but their anxious foli- citude for fecular honour and grandeur, and their infatiable luft of gold, deprive the good principles they have imbibed of nourifhmeni, and entirely
^ Jesus Chap. xlii.
preclude all religious and vir- tuous improvement.
23 Laftly, by the good feed fown upon good land are fignified thofe virtuous charaders, who attentively liften to the important lefibns of the gofpel, and make it their ftudy to underftand them — and who, in confe- quence of their thirfc after moral and religious pleafures, attain a confiderable profici- ency in the knowledge of di- vine things.
§ — 24 After having thus given the moral of the fore- going fable in private to his difciples — headdreffed to the people alfo the following pa- rable— Tkb gofpel difpenfa- tion may be compared to an hufbandman, who fowed his ground with good feed.
25 But at the dead of night, when every eye was clof- ed in fleep, his malicious e- nemy ftole into the field -— fov/ed tares among the wheat —and then Qunk away.
26 So that no fooner was the corn in the blade and be- gan to promife a copious har- veft, but it was found to be intermixed with tares, which Ihot up in great abundance.
.27 Struck with this unexr
pe6ted pha^nomenon, the fcr-
vants hallened to their mafter
andfdid — Sir, you certainly
lowed
Chap. xiii. iy M at
fowed good grain in your field — — what is the realbn, there- fore, that it hath produced jfuch a quantity oi tares ?
28 This injury, laid he to them, is dorie mc by fome peribn that wifhes mc ill — Would you have us go then, jaid the iervanrs, and clear the a'ops of them ?
29 By no means, lie re- plied— for by eradicating the tares you will at the fame . time lool'en the roots of the wheat.
30 Let both continue in the mixed ftate they are in 'till the harveft — and then I fliall order my reapers firft to colled the tares together and burn them up — afterwards carefully to feled: the good grain and repofit it in my barn.
§ — 3 1 The following was alfo another of his inftrudive fables, which he publickly delivered — Christianity is in its original like a fingle grain of muftard feed, which a man lows in his held.
32 Which is one of the leaft of all feeds — but after it hath attained its full growth, becomes one of the talleil of the vegetable world, and ftretches out its branches with fuch ftately grov/th and luxuriance, as to afibrd Ihel- ter and lodging to the fea- thered tribes.
T H E W, 47
§ — 33 This parable he likewife addrefled to the peo- ple— Christianity may be compared to leaven, which a woman mixed among a very confiderable quantity of dough, 'till the whole mafs w:is fermented.
34 Fable or parable was the didadic form in which Jefus chofe to convey inftruc- tion to his audience — All his publick difcourfes abounded with moral allegories and fi- gurative reprefentations :
35 So that the words of the pfalmift may be properly cited and applied to Jefus— " I will utter parables, and diiclofe important things un- known to former ages."
^^-^^ After Jelus had re- tired from the multitude into a private houfe — the difciples approached and thus accofted him — Condefcend to give us an explication of the fable of the tares.
37 In compliance with their requeft he gave them the following explanation—- By the perfon, who fowed the good grain, I intended to reprefent the fon of man- —
3 8 By the field — ^the pre- fent Hate of trial and difci-
pline by the good grain,
virtuous — and by the tare:i— wicked chriftians.
39 By the enemy that fow- ed them, the devil — by the harveft.
48
harvcfl:, the final coniumma- tionof this probationary ibene
and by the reapers, the
Anirels.
40 For as in harveft time the tares are carefully fepa- rated from the grain, collec- ted together,- and entirely burnt up — fo v/ill God in the day of iudgment deal with worthlefs and incorrigible fin- ners.
41 For the fon of man fhall difpatch his angels into every part of his wide and extenfr/e kingdom, and they {hall convene together every one, who hath wilfully, ei- ther by precept or example, impeded tlie progrefs of re- ligion, and Ird impious and immoral lives :
42 Antl t!iey Iliall drive and precipitate them into a yawning gulph of flaming fire, where they fhall feel the moft excruciating pain, and .llifFer mifery and horroiir unutterable.
43 But the finccrely pious and virtuous fliall then be invcfted with a robe of celef- tial glory, reiembiing the pure effulgence of the m^eri- dian fun — Let every rational and accountable being attend to thefe important and inter- efting difcovtries.
§ — 44 Again, the Chrif- tian revelation is like an ex- fcedino- rich and fplendid
The Hiilory 0/" Jesus Chap. xill.
treafure, which had for a long time lain privately concealed
in a field which a man
chancing to dj(tcover, is trani- ported with inexprefllble joy — covers it up up again — - haftens home with rapid and impatient Itcps — and converts his whole ellate into money, to purchafe that field.
§ — 45 The gofpel king- dom refembles alio a mer- chant, who indefatigabiy ex- plores foreign regions in fearch of the choiceft diamonds :
46 And happenmg to meet with one of immenle value— ^ he goes immediately and fells every thing he hath in the world, and makes a purchafe of it.
§ — 47 Finally, Chriftia- nity is Uke a net cart into the fea, and inciofing fifh of every fpccies :
48 And when it is replete,
they drag it to land then
feacing thcmfelves upon the fhore, they feparate the good from the bad — and carefully preferve the firft, but throw the lalt away as altogether ufelefs.
49 In a manner fimilar to this fliall men be treated at the general relurre6tion — for the angels of God Ihall then be fentout to fever the wick- ed from the virtuou"^ :
50 Whom, after they have thus difcriminated, they will
plunge
Chap. xiii. by Matthew.
plunge into an abyfs of flam- ing firCi, in which they will feel the
49
moil; dire and agon-
izing torments.
§ — 51 After fpeaking thefe parables Jefus faid to his diiciples — Do you per- fedlly underftand my mean- ing and intention ? they
anfwered in the affirmative.
52 He then faid to them — every publick teacher of chriftianity ought to ftudy the precepts and doctrines of it with fuch fedulous applica- tion and induilry, that he, like a careful and provident mafter of a large family, may lay up a rich and inexhaufti- bie fund of ufeful knowledge, and may upon every occafion be always able from a mind replete with wifdom to ad- minifter an ample and falutary repaft for the confolation and benefit of mankind in every various ftate and condition.
§ — 53 After Jefus had delivered thefe parables, he removed from thofe parts,
54 and coming into his native country he publickly taught in their religious af- femblies — and dilplayed fuch amazing wiidom and profound erudition in his difcourfes, that his audience was ftruck with the utmoil furorife, and
faid one to another — Where did this man acquire his learn- ing— whence did he derive his fuperiour abilities ?
Cf^ Do not we know him to be born of an ignoble and obfcure family? — Is not his father a carpenter ? — We all know his mother Mary, and his brothers James and John, Simon and Jude.
^6 His fifcers too are all fettled among us — How is it, therefore that a psrfon of fuch mean parentage, and deftitute ofaliberaleducarion, comes to be endowed, all on a fudden, with fuch ftupendous learn- ing and aftonifliing gifts ?
1=,"] Thefe confiderations led them to conceive the moft violent and invincible preju- dices againft him — But upon this unreafonable difgufl and abfurd conclufion of his coun- trymen, Jefus made the fol- lowing obfervation — A pub- lick inftruftor is never fo lure to meet with difrefpeftful treatment, as among his re- lations and acquaintance.
58 And he worked but few miracles among them, becaufe he judged it morally impofiible to remove their in- veterate prejudices, and to convince fuch obftinate and incorrigible incredulity.
Vol. I.
C H A P.
The Hiflory
CHAP. XIV.
THE fame i
of tlicTe illuftrioLis miracles had now reached Herod's court, who was the Tetrarch of Gahlee, and raifcd pain- ful emotions in his mind.
2 Greatly alarmed, there- fore, and being flung with a fenfe of confcious guilt, he told his courtiers — that this perfon, who did fuch ftupen- duous things, could be no other than John the Baptilt, whom he had lately behead- ed, but whom divine provi- dence had now reftored to life.
3 For upon John's freely remonltrating againft his in- tended marriage with Hero- dias his brother Philip's lady, Herod was fo exalperated, that he immediately ordered him to be appreh.ended and loaded with chains •,
4 Merely becaufe John had the undaunted refolution to aflure him — That fuch a marriage would be a flao-rant violation of the law of God.
5 This bold declaration in- cenfed the tyrant to fuch a degree, that nothing would content him but his blood — and this he would inftantly have fhed, but he was afraid that by this ftep he fhould in- cur the odium of his fubjeds
^ J E s u s Chap. xiv.
— for John was efteemed by the majority as a moft illuf- trious prophet.
6 VVhileJohn was under con- finement, it happened that He- rod celebrated his birth day with great pomp and magni- ficence on which occafion
the daughter of Herodias danced before the company with fuch inimitable grace and elegance, as filled Herod with ecftacies of rapture.
7 So that he was tranfport- ed into fuch extravagancies, as to promife by the moft iblemn adjuration, before the whole aflembly — that what flie fhould afl<: of him, he would give her, whatever it fhould be.
8 The young laJy^ hearing this afTeveration, and being previoudy taught and infti- gated by her mother, laid dircftly — Give me then. Sir, the head of the Baptifl.
9 Upon fuch an unexpe(5l- ed demand the king was thrown into the utmofl per- turbation and grief for the rafli promife he had made — and would gladly have re- tracted it but the folemn
obligation, with which he had bound himfelf, and a regard to the company, who had all been witnefTes of it, incited him to give orders, that her requefl fliould im- mediately be granted.
10 An
chap. XIV. by Mat
10 An executioner, there- fore, was diipatched to the prilbn in which he lay, to be- head him.
11 And his head was brought into the room upon a large dilh, and prelented to the young lady, who carried it to her mother.
12 When John's difciples were acquainted with the fate of their mailer, they went to
the prifon took up his
corpfe and buried it— -then came and informed Jefus of all that had happened.
§ — 13 When Jefus receiv- ed this account, he removed from that part of the country — ■ — and crofling the lake, fought a private and fequell- ered retreat — But when the populace underftood where he had retired, they repaired by land to the place, from all the neighbouring towns, in a prodigious concourfe.
14 Jefus beholding fuch an immenfe crowd collected to- gether, was affedled with the tendereft fympathy and com- paffion, and healed all among them, who laboured under any indifpofition.
\c. But the eveninor now advancing, the difciples came
to him and laid This is a
v/afte and inhofpitabie coun- try, in which we now are, and at a confiderable diftance
T H E W.
51
inhabited place — proper, therefore,
from any
it will, be
for you to difmifs the multi
tude before the clofe of the
day, that they may have time
to reach the villages and get
refrefliment.
1 6 To whom Jefus replied
There is no neceffity to
difmifs them — furnifh provi- fions for them yourfelves.
17 That is impofnble, they
anfwered- -for all our Hock
amounts only to five loaves and tw^o fifhes.
1 8 Thele he ordered them to bring to him.
19 Then commanding the multitude to fit down upon the grafs in regular and uni- form rows, he took the five loaves and the two fifiies into his hands, directed his eyes to heaven, and devoutly blef- fed God— after this \\z broke
them -diftributed them to
his difciples — and the difci- ples to the multitude.
20 But this fcanty pittance was fo miraculoufly multipli- ed by an immediate exertion of divine power, that not on- ly was every individual plen- tifully entertained, but there remained, over and above what was confumed, frag- ments fufficient to fill twelve baflccts.
21 The number of thofe, v/ho were thus feafled, with-
.E 2 put
52 ^he Hiftory
out reckoning the women and children, prefcnt, was about: live thoufand.
§ — 22 Immediately after tills, Jelus with fome difficul- ty prevailed upon his diici pies, who were unv/illing to part from him, to take a boat and crofs over the lake, -while he difmified the people to their refpedlive homes.
23 His difciples beinp; gone, and the vaft affembly broken up, he afcended a neighbouring mountain in or- der that none might intrude upon his private devotions — and in this fequeftered retire- ment he continued 'till nicht.
24. In the mean time the boat was in die midft of the lake, lafhed by the foaming v/aves, and aflailed by a tcm- pelluous and contrary wind, and in imminent danger of being fvvallowed up in the abyfs.
25 After they had con- flifted with the ftorm the greateft part of the night •, about the fourth watch Jefus advanced towards them, walking on the furface of the deep.
26 The difciples, who were in the vefiel, defcrying an human form gliding with fufpcnded Heps over the a- byfs, were throv/n into the greateft coniternation, and concluded it was an appaii-
of Jesus Chap, xw,
tion — fo that when they faw it gradually approach nearer and nearer, fuch was their extreme fear at laft, that they fent forth cries and flirieks of terrour.
27 Jefus being now ad- vanced near to he boat, fpoke to them — told them who he was, and bid them banilli their fears.
28 Tranfported with this a/Turance from his v^-ell known voice, and elated with confi- dence, Peter replied— If it is you, command the v/aves alio to fuftain my feet, that 1 may come and embrace you.
29 Jefus then ordered him
to come forward upon
which he quitted the velTel — and began at firft to advance v/ith intrepid fteps upon the furface of the waters :
30 But hearing the loud roar, and feeling the ftrong impetuofity of the ftorm, he was chilled with terrour, and finding himlelf finking — he
cried out Save me. Sir,
this moment fave me!
3 1 Jefus then immediately extended his hand — caught hold of him and faid — -Why, O thou incredulous ! haft thou now diftrufted that mi- raculous power, of which thou haft feen fo many inftan- ces ^.
32 They both then enter- ed the boat — ^and inftantly
the
Chap, xv: ' by M A
the tempeft and the billows were heard no more, and a perfedt calm enfued.
33 They who were in the veflel feeing this amazing fcene, proflrated themfelves at his feet, and with the pro- foiindefl: reverence acknow- ledged the divinity of his per- fon and character.
34 When they had crofied the lake, they travelled into the country of Genneiaret.
^^ The inhabitants of which parts knowing the dignity of his character, dif- patched immediately, upon his arrival, meflengers into all the adjacent countries — who upon this information given them, brought their fick and difeafed to him in great numbers :
2,6 Who only begged to be permitted to touch the hem of his garment — which being granted, they were in- ftantly reftored to perfed health.
CHAP. XV.
I ABOUT that time ^^ there came to Jefus fome of the Scribes and Pharifees who lived in Je- rufalem and thus fpoke to him,
2 What induces you to' permit your difciples to vio- late thofe wife traditionary maxims, that have been hand-
T T H E w. 53
ed down to us by our religi- ous anceftors ? It fecms
your difciples think it no breach of duty to eat bread with unwafhed hands.
3 To whom Jefus thus replied — -Why do you break the exprefs command of the great God, rather than fuper- fede the fuperftitious traditions of your elders ?
4 For example — God in the law hath folemnly enjoin- ed upon you this precept— " Honour thy father and mo- ther— let him, who treats his parents in an abufive and in- jurious manner, be put to death."
5 But you, in direifl op- pofirion to this divine com- mand, fay — That whofoever dedicates his fubftance to pi- ous and religious ufes, is un- der no obligation to relieve an aged and neceflitous pa- rent.
6 In this flagrant manner have you abfolutely vacated and annulled the plain and exprefs command of God — while you fcrupuloufly ob- ferve every fuperftitious tra- dition.
7 What fan6limonious and deteftable hypocrites! — excel- lently hath the prophet Ilaiah chara6berifed you in the fol- lowing pafTage,
8 " This people approach me with demure and morci-
E 3 fied
54 T'/^f Hiftory
ficd looks, but their hearts are not at all en;?ao;ed in what they utter :
9 Vain, therefore, are all their pretences to fuperioiir fanftity, while they rigoroufly infift upon the traditions of men to the total diiregard and contempt of the divine commands."
10 Having thus fpoken, he turned to the populace and faid — carefully attend to the importance of what I am go- ing to declare, and diligently revolve it in your minds —
11 It is not any thing ex- ternal that renders a perfon unclean, but impurity hath -its fource folely from within.
12 After this the difciples came near him and laid — Do not you know that the Pha- rifees were exceflively exaf- pcrated at the dh'courfe you juil now levelled againft their traditions ?
1 3 Every doflrrne, anfw^r- ed Jefus, that hath not the •fandlion of my heavenly Fa- ther to fupport it, both it, and they who propagate it, fhall be deflroyed.
14 They are altogether un- worthy your concern and fo- licitude — they are blind fu- perftitious teachers of a wil- fully deluded multitude-: — and I
of Jesus Chap. xv.
foon fhall both they who thus notorioufly corrupt the facred precepts of God, and thofc who fuffer themfelves to be deceived by them, moft mi- ferably perifh ".
15 When Jefus had fpokcii thus, Peter defired him to explain to them the meaning of thofe figurative expreflions he had lately made ufe of.
16 On hearing this requeft Jefus faid — Do not you un- derltand my meaning .''
17 Do not you confider, that no meat whatever that is received into the ftomach can have any influence upon the moral temper and difpo- fition of the mind ?
18 Evil difpofitions alone defile a man — and thefe de- rive their original from the heart, which is the fource of adlion.
1 9 For from the heart pro- ceed wicked intentions, mur-^ der, adultery, debauchery, theft, perjury, fcandal,
20 Thel'e are the things that conftitute moral impu- rity in the fight of God — But merely eating with unwadied hands cannot render a perfon polluted.
§ — 2 1 After w a r d s Jefus removed from that place, and retired into that part of the
" In this, and the preceding vei fe, our Liord refers to the deftru^Ion of }erufalem.
country
Chap. XV. by Mat
country that lay contiguous to Tyre and Sidon.
22 And a woman, who was a Canaanite, an inhabi- tant of that region, followed him, crying in a loud and im- portunate manner — O thou fon of David ! pity my un- happy circumftances ! 1 have a daughter, who is in a moil dreadful manner tormented by a dasmon.
23 But notwithftanding her vehemence Jefus made her no reply — Upon which the difciples came to him and defired him to difmifs her, for that they were flunned and teazed by her clamour and importunity.
24 To her requeft: he thus anfwered — I was not fent to propagate my do6trines a- mong the Heathens — — my miflion and miniftry are fole- ly confined to the depraved and degenerate nation of the Jews.
25 She then advanced up to him and accofted him in the moil refpeftful manner,
faying Sir, be pleafed to
befriend me in my unhappy circumftances !
26 Jefus faid to her — It is not proper to take that food, which was defiorned for chil-
T H E W.
and throw it to
the
dren, dogs.
27 It is true. Sir, fhe faid — but yet the dogs are permit- ted freely to eat the crumbs that fall from the plentiful table of their mafters.
28 Struck with this in- genious and unexpected re- ply, Jefus faid — As you re- pofe fuch fingular confidence in my power to alTift you— — your requeft is granted — and from that inftant her daugh- ter enjoyed a perfect cure.
§ — 29 Leaving that coun- try Jefus removed near the lake of Galilee — where hav^ ing afcended a mountain, he fat down,
30 and there collected round him an immenfe mul- titude, bringing with them perfons who were lame, blind, dumb, mutilated % and la- bouring under various other infirmities, Thefe unhappy creatures they laid at the feet of Jefus, and he inftantane- oufly healed them.
3 1 So that the multitude was feized with the laft afto- nifhment, when they faw the dumb fpeak, the mutilated perfedl, the lame walk, and the blind reftor-ed to fight—— Struck with wonder and gra-
** KuAA-Kf werethofe who wanted a limb, and is a quite different word from p^wAsf mentioned in this catalogue of unhappy cafes.
E 4
titudCi
56 ne Hiftory
titude, they glorified the God of Ifrael.
32 Jefus then calling his diiciples to him faid — I fin- cerely commilerate the con- dition of thii multitude a-
round me they have been
with me three days, and are now entirely deftitute of food
— I am unwillino; to difmils
o
them without refrefhment, for 1 an^. afraid many, being at a confidcrable diftance from home, will faint by the way.
5' 3 To this the difciples replied — how is it polTible for us, in fuch a wild folitude as tfvls, to pnivide food to entertain fuch a prodigious num.ber of people.
34 Jefus then faid — What provifions are you able to colledl among yourfelves ? —
They anfwercd -We have
only feven loaves and a few little fifiies.
"^1^ Jefus commanded all the crowd to fit down on the graii> in regular rows.
36 This done — he took the feven loaves and the fiilies — blclTed God — brake them
— gave them to his difciples
— and ordered them to dil- tribute them among the mul- titude,
37 who all e.at, and were fati.sficd — and the fragments, that were colle^Stcd afterwards,
of Jesus Ghap. xvL
were enough to fill feven hafkets.
38 The number of people, who were thus miraculoufiy entertained, without reckon- ing women and children, a- mounted to four thoufand.
39 Having thus refrefhed the multitude, he difmiffed them to their homes — and taking boat went by water into the country of Magdala.
CHAP. xvr.
I A T that time the Pha- •*^ rifees and Sadducees came with an intention to make trial of his miraculous powers — and thus accofted him — Be pleafed to fhow us fome grand illutlrious pro- digy in the fky to convince us of thy prophetic charafter.
2 To whom he thus re- plied— In the evening you prognofticate, from the rud- dy appearance of the heaven, that it will be calm and fe- rene weather on the morrow.
3 In the morning you fore- tel that the day will be rainy and tempeftuous from the red and gloomy afpeft of the heayens—— Hypocrites ! ye pretend to great accuracy and certainty in prognofticating the weather from the appear- ance of the fky — and are not you able, with the greatefl,
precifioi^
Chap. xvi. ly Ma T
precifion and clearnefs to dif- cern the particular marks and features of the preient pe- riod ?
j^ An age immerfed in wickednefs and debauchery defires me to difplay fome illuftrious prodigy in the flcy for their convi<5lion — But no fuch flriking fignal fhall be exhibited before it — except one publick prodigy that fliall be fimilar to what happened to the prophet Jonah — Af- ter having faid this, he ab- ruptly left them and ^with- drew.
§ — 5 Crossing the lake with his difciples — when they ■were arrived upon the oppo- fite fhore they found they had forgotten to take provifions with them.
6 Now Jefus had juft charg- ed them ftriftly, faying
Cautioufly avoid the leaven of the Pharifees and Saddu- cees.
7 This advice, , therefore, they all interpreted as a re- proof of their forgetfulnefs in not providing themfelves with bread.
8 Jefus, confcious of their miftakc, faid — Why do you difcover fuch general uneafi- nefs and painful folicitude, merely becaufe you have for- gotten to take provifions with you .''——how long will you continue to diftrufl my power ?
T H E W. 57
9 Cannot you conclude that I am able to fupply your wants in a miraculous man- ner, when you refiedl that I entertained five thoufand with five loaves, and the frag- ments that were collected, filled twelve baflcets.
10 Kow many baflcets, alfo, were filled with the fras- ments of the feaft, at the time when I diftributed feven loaves among four thoufand ?
1 1 Have you not fagacity and difcernment enough to difcover, that when I caution- ed you againft the leaven of the Pharifees and Sadducees, I did not intend to be under- ftood literally .?
1 2 Then they clearly per- ceived, that it was againft the pernicious leaven of the doc- trines of the Pharifees and Sadducees, which had diffuf- ed itfelf through the mafs of the Jewifh nation, that he advifed them.
§ — 13 After this, as Je- fus was travelling in the coun- try about C^efarea Philippi, he faid to his difciples- What opinion does the world entertain of me — Whom do they fay I am ?
14 They anfwercd — Some judge you to be John the
Baptift, rcftored to life
others think you are Elias,
the harbinger of the MefTiah
— v.'hile others lay you arc
Jeremiah,
58 ne Hiftory
Jeremiah, or fome one of the antient prophets.
15 But whom, faid he, do you im.agine me to be ?
16 Thou art, Simon Peter replied, the Mefliah, the fon of the ever living God.
1 7 Upon which Jefus an-
fwcred Diflinguifhed will
be thy happinef-, Simon, fon of Jonas— —Human wifdom and fagacity have not enabled thee to give this teftimony — my heavenly Father revealed to thy mind this important truth.
1 8 I folemnly aiTure thee, therefore, that as thy name fignifies a rock — upon this rock will I fix the bafis of my church P, and all the infernal pov/ers fhall never be able to fubvert it.
19 Thee will I invefl with the illuftrious honour of be- ing the firft preacher of the
chrillian difpenfation the
great laws and rules of which, when firll publillied among men, fliall be confirmed and ratified in heaven.
2Q He then charged his difciples in the molt ilrift and peremptory manner, that they would not divulge it to the world, that he w^as the Mefilah.
^ 21 From this time
of Jesus Chap. xvi.
Jefus began to declare in ex- prefs terms to his difciples — ihat he muft go to Jerufalem — mufl there fufier the mod abufive treatment from the magiftrates, the high-priefls, and the clergy— be publickly
executed but fhould be
raifed, b) divine power, on the third day.
22 Alarmed and confound- ed at fuch a declaration Peter took the liberty, in private, to expoftulate with him, and to reprehend him for predi6t- ing to himfelf fuch a fate — flying, God forbid, that you fhou'd ever be involved in fuch fufi^erings ! — ImpofTible, thatthis fhould ever befal you !
23 But he turned fudden- ly, and faid to Peter — Thou art an adverfary and obftacle to the caufe in which I am engaged — Diverting my fuf- ferings would be crulhing my religion — Thou fpeakeft Hkc a ihort-fighted mortjl, and knoweft not in what manner x\\t o;reat fcheme, which in- finite wifdom hath planned, is to be accomplifhed.
24 Jefus then faid to his
difciples Whofoever will
approve himfelf a true and genuine profclfor of my reli- gion, mull renounce all world- ly intcrefls, and break every
p Peter was the firft perfon who opened the gofpel difpenfation. See Ait.-^ x.' ^
fond
Chap. xvii. by M at
fond attachment, when they come in competition with his duty and, after the ex- ample of his lord and mafter, fubmit to the feverefl fuffer- ings which it may feem good to infinite wifdom to inflift upon him.
25 For he, who by mean tind wicked compliances, is defirous to fave his life, fhall lofe it to all eternity — But he who (hall chearfully lofe life, rather than violate his con- fcience and duty to me, fhall finally recover it with infinite advantage.
26 For could a man, by the proftitution of all con- fcience and virtue, fecure the poirelTion of the whole uni- verfe — yet what benefit would refult to him from it, if he was at laft to incur eternal death ! Or what can a perfon fubftitute as an equivalent for the lofs of immortal life !
27 The time is coming, when the MelTiah fhall make his appearance, arrayed with the majefty of his Father, and attended with a glorious retinue of angels — and he will pafs fen ten ce upon every man, according to his condudl.
28 I can afTure you that there are fome perfbns now before me, who fhall live to fee the fon of man ufhered with mag- nificentpomp and triumph in- to his kingdom.
T H E w.
59
CHAP. XVII.
I A BOUT a week after •^^ this Jefus took Peter, James and his brother John, and with them privately a- fcended a lofty mountain.
2 Here they faw his per- fon undergo an aftonifhing transformation — for a luflre, equal to that of the fun, dart- ed from his countenance—— and he appeared as invefled with a robe of light.
3 While they were flruck with this amazing alteration, they beheld Mofes and Elias, in glorious forms, approach and converfe with him.
4 Tranfported with the pleafure of this wonderful fcene, Peter cried out — How happy will it be for us torcfide in this place ! Permit us here to ered three tents — one for you, another for Mofes, and a third for Elias.
5 While he was thus fpeak- ing, a bright radiant cloud fixed itfelf over them — from which they heard this voice diilinclly and folemnly ifTue — This is my fon, the object of my fondefl affedions ■ Hear and obey him !
6 The difciples, flruck with the majefly of this di- vine voice, fell proftrate, and funk into the lall conflerna-
tion.
7 But
6o The Hillory
7 But Jefus came to them, touched them, and bad them rife, and banifh all their fears
8 They looked then a- round, but faw no perfon but Jefus.
9 As they were defccnding the mountain, Jefus ftrictly charged them, by no means to divulge the glorious fcene, of which they hadjuft been witnefTes, 'till after his refur- rcdlion.
10 The difciplcs then afk ?d him this qucftion — Why do the Jewifh clergy fay that Elias mud be the immediate predecefibr of the Mefllah ?
1 1 The fentiments of the Jewifli dodors, faid Jefus, are jufl — Elias in the fcheme of divine providence was to be the harbinger of the MefTiah, and to "^ prepare mens minds for the reception of his doc- trines.
12 Only let me afTure you, that this Elias is already come, but the Jews rejedled him, and abufed his perfon and miniflry with every wanton infblence and indignity — and they will expole me to fimilar cruelties and fulTerinciS.
i;^ Thedifciples were then convinced that by Elias he meant John the Baptill.
§— - 14 When they were returned to the multitude —
cf Jesus Chap. xvii.
a perfon came up to him — and then fell on his knees,
15 faying — Sir, have pity upon my fon, who is a luna- tic, and an obje6t of great compafTion — for he frequent- ly falls into the fire, or into the water.
16 This unhappy creature I brought to thy difciples — but they were not able to heal him.
17 Jefus then reproved them, faying — O incredulous and untraftablc race ! how longfhall I refide among you, before I convince you of the dignity and extent of my mi- raculous power ! How long fliall I bear with your want of confidence in me — Bring your fon hither to me,
18 He was accordingly
brought- and Jefus by a
word expelled the difeafe — and the young perfon was inflantaneoufly reftored to perfect health.
19 When the multitudes were difmiffed — the difciples came to Jefus in private, and afked him the reafon, why they were not able to ejcft that daemon.
20 It was folely owing, he replied, to your want of confidence in my power- — * ¥ov did your faith bear the fmalleft proportion to the
s See the Cambridge MS.
lingular
Chap, xvlii. hy "M. a t
fingiilar advantages you have enjoyed of eftabliihing and confirming it, you would be able to effeft as aftonifhing
operations as caufmg the
mountains to delcend from their bafis, and transferring them at pleafure from place to place.
21 But the degree of faith requifite to expel fuch a dreadful and inveterate difeafe as the prefent, is not attained but by a courfe of devotion and abftinence.
§ — 22 After this, as they were travelling in Galilee, Jefus, in order to prepare the minds of his difciples for fup- porting thefliock they (hould fuftain by his approaching death — faid to them — the Ion of man is eoino; to be deli- vered up into the hands of thofe, who third for his blood.
23 And they fhall murder
him but on the third day
he fhall be reftored to life — At hearing this they were
greatly alarmed and the
thought of his death funk them into the profoundeft de- jedtion and grief.
24 Upon their arrival at
Capernaum the officers,
who were appointed to col- k(5t the annual tax to defray the temple fervice, came to
T H E W. 6 I
Peter and aflced him — if his mafter did not pay the ufuai tribute.
25 He anfwered in the af- firmative and coming
into the houfe to Jefus, was going to inform him of what had palled — but Jefus anti- cipated him, faying — From whom, Simon, do earthly
princes levy tribute from
their fons or from other
people ^.
26 From other people, certainly, faid Peter — It fol- lows then, refumed Jefus, that their fons are excufed from paying any '.
2 7 However left we fhould incur their refentmtnt by our refufal — Go to the lake — caft in a hook — open the mouth of the firft fifn thou (halt catch — thou wilt find in it a Sta- ter— take it and give it the coUedors for my payment and thine.
CHAP. XVIII.
I A BOUT that time the *^ difciples came to Je- fus and faid Which of us
will be advanced to the high- eft ftation of honour and dig- nity under thy reign ?
2 Jefus ordered a little child to be brbught to him —
«■ Our Saviour's Arguraent againft his paying this tribute to the temple is, becaufc he was the fon of that king to whom it was paid.
which
62
which he placed in the midll of them,
3 then fpoke thus — Let me in the moft folemn man- ner affure you, that unlefs you renounce all temporal
and ambitious viev/s and
cultivate the harmlefs, inof- fenfive innocence of this child
you will not be deemed
the proper fubjedis of the Meffiah's kingdom.
4 Whoioever, therefore, fhall acquire the neareft re- femblance to the innocence and humility of this child, fhall fecure the moil elevated ftation in the gofpcl king- dom.
5 Whofoever, alio, from a principle of affection and love to me, does a kind and benevolent office to the mean- eft perfon, if endowed with the temper and difpofition oi a child — I fliall acknowledge that kind office as done to myftlf.
6 But whoever fhall de- fignedlylay aftumblingblock before the meaneftxhriftian, and feduce him from his ad- herence to my caufe — had better have a mill-tlone fu- fpendcd about his neck, and be precipitated into the pro- foundefl abyfs.
'Tbe Hidory of Jesus Chap, xviii.
7 Unhappy will it be for the interefts of mankind that fo many obftruftions will be liid in the way of truth and chriftianity — for the weak- nels and wickedneis of the world will neceifarily pro- duce many obftacles to im- pede the reception and pro-
grels of the golpel But
dreadful beyond defcription will be the final doom of that man, by whom fuch obftacles are firft laid !
8 Should, therefore, any of thy ftrongeft appetites and inclinations tend to alienate thee from thy allegiance to me, fubdue and mortify them, with whatever relu6tance it is done — for better controul thy moft unruly defires here, than, by gratifying them, be at lalt expofed to eternal death.
9 Every luft and irregular defire that would inveigfe thee from thy attachment to the goi'pel, is to be eradicat- ed from thy bolbm — for bet- ter is it to endure the great- eft miferies of this life than incur everlafting deftru6tion.
10 See that you treat not the meaneft chriftians with contempt — for I affure you the molt exalted angels are their guardians and minifters*.
« By thofe r.uho fa-v the king's face are, in the Jewifh idiom, denoted the moft eminent and diftinguiflicd perfonages of a court. Conlult Either i. 14. ivbo faw th kind's facCi andivbo/at tin firft in the kingdom.
II For
chap, xviii. by Mat
1 1 For to fave men from deftrucStion was the great de- fign of the fon of man's com- ing into the world.
12 Had a man an hun- dred fheep, and but one of them happen to ftray and be mifiing — would not he leave the ninety nine, and traverfe the mountains with diligent and anxious care, in fearch of it?
13 And fhould he be fo fortunate as to find it — does he not feel greater tranfport at the recovery of that one fheep, than at the fight of the whole ninety nine, which had not ftrayed ?
■ 14 Analogous to this is the benevolent difpofition of your heavenly father, who is not defirous that the moft in- confiderable chriftian fhould finally perifli.
15 When your chriftian brother hath been guilty of any thing criminal in his con- duct towards you go and
in a private converfation ex- poftulate with him in a calm and difpaflionate manner — If you convince and reclaim him, you have gained your brother.
16 But if he refufe to ad- mit your fingle opinion and determination of the matter — take with you one or more perfons of known candour and integrity— —that by the
THEW. 6j
probity and impartiality of two or three witnefles the af- fair may be fatisfadorily de- cided.
17 If he rejedl their un- exceptionable teftimony— — — refer your caufe to the church — if he refufes to abide by the church's determination — regard him for the future as an irreclaimable and incorri- gible fmncr.
18 I can faithfully afiure you, that all your determi- nations on earth, if confo- nant to the rules of the o-of-
o
pel, fhall be confirmed and ratified in heaven.
19 Let me alfo declare, thar, when the fentiments of two of you (hall coincide concerning the propriety of any petition to be preferred to heaven — that petition Ihall be granted by the indulgent Father of all.
20 For wherever two or three are convened, in order to decide any important af- fair refpeclino; my religion — I will prefide among them, and affift them in their fincerc deliberations.
§ — 21 When he had fi- nifhed this diicourie, Peter faid to him — How often fhall my chriftian brother repeat an injury againft ' me, and I forgive him ^ — Shall my for- give nefs extend to the fe- venth?
22 Not
64 The Hillory
22 Not feven only, replied Jefus ; but upon his finccrc penitence and remorle, leven- ty times feven.
23 With regard to this fubjeft, what difpofitions of lenity and mutual forgivenefs it is the defign of the gofpel that men fhould exercile one towar^Js another, may be re- prefented and illultrated by
the following parable A
certain prince was defirous to have all his accounts with his fervants regularly adjufted.
24 But when the books were examined, there was found among the debtors a man who owed the crown ten thoufand talents.
25 The payment of this fum being immediately de- manded of him, he was dif- covered to be in very indi- gent circumftances — Nuch a difappointment moft highly exalperatcd his majefty — and he inRantly ordered the man, and his wife, and his children, and his v;hole fhock to be publickly fold — and the mo- ney accruing from the fale to be paid to him.
26 The mian hearing this dreadful fentence pronounced with fuch a ftern and deter- mined look — funk at his ma- jefty'sfect — arjd with the moft moving importunity implor- ed a little refpitc, and he
c/' Jesus Chap, xviii.
would faithfully difcharge the whole debt.
27 The heart of the prince, at the fight of fuch acute and extreme diftrefs and grief, melted at once into pity and
tendernefs Subdued with
companion and fym>pathy, he ruflied forward — raifed him
from the ground forgave
him the whole fum — and dif- mified him.
28 The man, fcarcc out of the royal prefence, happened to meet oneof hisfellow-fervants who owed him an hundred pence — The fight of whom fired him with refentment — he fprung forward and feized him by the throat, crying — - this moment pay me my debts.
29 Terrified with his menaces and violence, his iellovv-fervant proftrated him-
felf at his feet and in the
moft pathetic language fup- plicarcd him to allow him time, and he would honeftly pay him the whole.
30 But the other was abfb- lutcly implacable — and con- fined his fellow-fervant to a dungeon, 'till he fhould make him latisfadion.
31 The other fervants, being fpedtators of fuch unrelenting cruelty and inhumanity, were ft ruck with exceftive forrovv
and fympathy and going
di redly to the prince, related
the
Chap. xix.
the ftory to him with all its af- fecting circumftances.
32 The man being imme- diately ordered into his pre- fence, the prince inflamed with indignation faid to him
Thou abandoned (lave !
did not I freely remit thy whole debt, becaufe thou foftenedfl: and iubduedfl my heart into pity by thy pierc- ing Iblicitations ?
33 Oughteft not thou then to have expreffed that compaf- fion towards a fellow-fervant — v/hich I expreffed towards thee ?
34 His lord, fired v/ith reientment at fuch cruelty and bafenefs, ordered him immediately to be tortured and confined, 'till the whole of what he owed fhould be paid him.
;^5 With the like feverity will my heavenly father treat you, unleis you cordially for- give, each his chriftian bro- ther, your mutual faults and failino;s.
CHAP. XIX.
I 1X7 HEN Jefus had fi- ' » nifhed this difcourfe, he removed from Galilee, and travelled into thole parts of Judea, that lay beyond the river Jordan.
2 In his way he v/as fol- lowed by prodigious multi- tudes— and he healed every
Vol. I.
fy Matthew.
6s
diforder that was prefented to him.
3 Here the Phariiees came to him, and with an artful defign to extort his fenti- ments, propofed to him the following enfnaring queftion — Is it lawful for a man to repudiate his wife for any thing whatever that may be difagreeable in her.
4 Confcious of their cavil, he replied — Doth not the fcripture inform you, that God immediately after hav- ing formed the firll pair of different fexes,
5 pronounced thefe words — To form this union Ihaii a man forfake his parents, and affociate with his wife — and they fliall be conneded in in- diffoluble bonds.
6 In bonds lb indiffoluble, as that they fiiall not be con- fidered as two diftind: indivi- duals— but as one body Ible- ly actuated by one mind — What, therefore, God hath lb intimately conjoined, let not man diffoive.
7 They anfwered — Why then doth the law enjoin an inftrument of divorce to be drawn up, and the woman, after this formality, to be dii- miffed ^
8 He replied — Mofcs per- fectly knowing the ferocity and malignity of your hearts permitted divorces in order
F to
66 The Hiilory
to prevent greater evils ' — But in the primitive ages of mankind this was not al- lowed.
9 And under the gofpel diipenlation, vvholbever fhall repudiate his wife, except for her want of fidelity to his bed% and marries anotiicr, is guilty of adultery — and he, who marries the woman thus difmifled, incurs the crime of adultery.
10 The difciples being educated in Jewiili prejudices, laid to him in private — If a man is not allov/ed to divorce his wife, except only for a- dultery, it is moil abllird folly in any one to marry.
1 1 Jefus faid to them — Continence and chaftity can- not be maintained inviolate without marriage, except in fome few particular difcin- guiihed inllances.
12 And thole few have either received from nature conllitutions mere favourable to this virtue — or have fub- mitted to adual caftration — and there are others who from
of Jesus Chap. xix.
a perfuafion that the encum- brances of a family would render them lefs extenfively ufcful in preaching and pro- pagating the gofpel, have relolutely renounced all con- jugal endearments — Let him, upon whofe inclinations this virtue of continency lays no difagreeable reilraint, conti- nue, ifhepleafe, to praflife it. § — 13 Some Jewifli pa- rents at that time brought their children to him, that he might lay his hands upon them, and recommend them to the blefiing of God by his
prayers But the difciples
prevented their approach, and reproved thofe who brought them.
14 Jefus perceiving this faid — Forbid not the accefs of
little children to me for
thofe pcrfons only who arepof- fefiedoftheir native innocence and inoffenfive difpofuions arc the worthy fubjefts of the Mefliah's kingdom.
15 He then laid his hands upon them and blefled them
I — Leaving that place,
» The fituation of Mofes was exaftly that of Solon, h y'^-v act'ov nv ovk iwyayiv tajfi'sLV, ot/cTs Kanciofxiav, ooCm^m (x\]' auyy^zni -TTAvrdL' rrcLffi Kcf.i Tttpct^ctf 7)11' rroKiv, aay-vzijri^&' y^i'tJTai ts KATctainvat rruKiv KcLi ffvvap[xoaa<&a.i rr^oi ro aptirov —r- oB-v L(7T«pof ipainQm n
e£p/7«f. Plutarch. Solon p. 157.
" Romulus alfo, when he founded the Roman republic, inflituted this wife and excellent regulation, h.^tmi J^'. kcci i'oum n ste, «J^ o-^ocTpG" /w«i' i^iv 0 yvvauKi (J.n J'lJ'ai a'TToKii-rrcjv ctiJ'p-j, ywauicf. rT* /*;/»$ gJtfrt- ^t./^ — l^ot yivQu^av. Plutarch Romulus, p. 57 Ed. Stcph.
16 a
chap. xix-. hy
1 6 a youth approached his perlbn and thus accolled him - — Condefcend, good inftruc- tor, to inform me, what virtues I iliall exercife in or- der that I may fecure eternal life.
1 7 Jefus faid to him-
Why doft thou call me good — — -There is no being, but one, who is poflefled of ab- folute and perfe6t goodnefs
■■ In anfwer, however, to
thy queftion— — the only con- dition of obtaining a blefled immortality is obedience to the divine commands.
18 Be pleafed, he refum- ed, diftinftly to mention thofe commands — They are thefe, faid Jefus — Thou fhalc not commit murder — fhalt not be guilty of adultery — fhalt de- fraud no one of his juft pro- perty fhalt be clear of the
crime of falfe accufation :
19 Thou fhalt reverence thy parents and exercife to- wards mankind the kindefl" and mofl benevolent affec- tions.
20 All thefe virtues, re- plied the youth, have 1 ftre- nuouQy cultivated and confci- entioufly praftifed from the firft years of rational under- ilanding and refieftion — — in what attainments am I flill defc6live ?
2 I Jefus replied — If thou arc dcTu'OUs to reach the hi2;h-
M A T T U E w.
67
efl fummit and perfecftion of virtue, go home, fell every thing thou poireffeft, and the money accruing from the fale diftribute aniong the poor — By this aftion thou wilt ac- cumulate the amplefl trea- fures in heaven — -and, at once burfting the bonds of all te- cular attachments, come and join thyfelf to the number of my followers.
22 The youth hearing this advice turned from him, o- vervvhelmed with grief and dillrefs of mind— for he was pofTefTed of an immenfe for- tune.
23 Upon his abrupt de- parture Jefus turned to his
difciples, and faid What
difficulty is it for a rich man to become a fubjeil of the MefTiah's king-dom !
24 Indeed I m.ay aflerr, that it is as impofTible for a perfon of an opulent fortune to embrace the defpifed caufe of chriftianity as for a cable to pafs through the eye of a needle.
25 The difciples were greatly alarmed at this decla- ration, and faid — Who then can be finally laved !
26 Jefus looking with comipaffionate tendernefs up- on them, anfvvered The
impedim.ents that lye in the road of a rich maa's profel"- fing chriilianity are, hupnan-
F 2 Iv
68
ly fpeaking infiiperable — but by divine affiftance all thefc obftacles ir.ay be lurmount- ed.
27 Peter then faid — But to us who have left our all to follow thee what future com- penfation will be given ?
28 I afilire you, replied Jefus, that you, who have chearfuUy deferted all your worldly interefts, and adher- ed to me, fliall at the grand revolution and glorious reno- vation of all things, which is to commence at the con- clufion of this life, have the moll dilVinguiflied ho- nours conferred upon you — for when the fon of man Hiall afcend a throne of moft tran- fcendent fplendour to judge the world, you Ihall fit upon twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Ifrael.
29 In that day, whofoever from a confcientious attach- ment to my caufe hath in this life voluntarily relinquifhcd father or mother, brother pr filter, wife or children, houfes or eftates, fliall be mofl: amp- ly recompenfedj and be ele- vated to a very eminent de- gree of eternal blefiednefs.
30 But many to whom chriftianity vizs"' frji offered fl)all be the iq/i to embrace
T/je Hiftory of Jesus Chap. xx'.
it and thofe to whom it
will be iiijl" propofed, will be ihcfrji in admitting it.
Chap. XX. i For the re- ception chriftianity fliall meet v/ith at its firfl: promulga- tion, may be fitly reprefent- ed by the following parable — Soon as the morning- dawn- ed, a gentleman rofe to hire day labourers to work in his vineyard.
2 Having found a num- ber he agreed to pay them a denarius for the wages of the day — and fent them into his vineyard.
3 About nine o'clock he vv^ent again into the market- place, and found feveral o- thers unemployed,
4 whom he alfo ordered into his vineyard, and pro- mifed to pay them what was realbnable.
5 At twelve and three in the afternoon he went and
made the fame propofals
which were in the fame man- ner accepted.
6 He went, likewife, a- bout five o'clock, and found a number of men iauntering about the market in idlenefs — and he faid to them. Why do you confume the whole day in this indolent manner ?
•^ Meaning, the Je-.vs.
' The Genules.
7 There
Chap. XX. by M a t
7 There is no one hath thought fit to give ns any employment, they anfwered — Then go you into the vine- yard among my other labour- ers, and you iliall receive what is juft.
8 In the evening the pro- prietor of the vineyard order- ed his fteward to call the workmen together, and, be- ginning from the laft to the firft, to pay them their wages, without any partiality or dif- tindion.
9 When thofe, therefore, came, who had been employ- ed about five in the afternoon, they received a denarius a- piece.
10 When thofe, who had been hired in the morning, faw them return with fuch great wages, they indulged the moil extravagant joy — imagining that their pay would vaftly exceed that of the others
but how great was their
difappointment when they re- ceived from the fteward, each man a denarius !
11 This fuppofed injurious treatment caufed them to raife loud clamours again ft the gentleman.
12 And they complained to him of his ufage of them,
faying The laft labourers
you hired only worked a fin- gle hour, and you have given them the fame wages, as you
T II E \V. 69
have given us who have been fcorched with exceffive heat, and fuftained the long and rigorous toil of the whole day.
13 Pie turned to one who appeared the moft petulant of them, and diredled this ];e- ply — Friend, I do thee no in- juftice — Was not our agree- ment for a denarius .f*
14 Take what juftice en- titles thee to, without repin- ing, and calmly acquiefce in the faithful difcharge of our original agreement — A prin- ciple of benevolence difpofes me freely to beftow upon the laft perfons I hired what e- quity obliged nie to give to you.
1 5 For is not the difpofal of my property in my own option — or does the maligni- ty of thine heart caufe thee to repine at the generous ex- ercife of my beneficence }
1 6 This parable is defign- ed to illuftrate what I afiert- ed before — that thole to whom the gofpel fliall be laft pro- pofed, ftiall have the prece- dence in dignity and honour — while thofe to whom it was firft ofiered, lliall be degraded from their fuperiority — for to what a populous nation is the gofpel now freely propofed, yet how inconfiderable is the. number of thofe, whom the love of truth and virtue will induce to admit its evidences.
F 3 §—17
'JO The Hiftory
§-—17 Jesus after this let out upon a journey to Jeru- lalem — and on the road tak- ing his difciples from the multitude inio a retired place, —he thus addrelTed them — »
18 We are now going up to Jerufalem,wherel ihall foon be treacheroufly betrayed in- to the hands of the Jewifh high-prieils and Scribes, who will condemn me to die;
19 and who will deliver me over to the wanton cruel- ty of the Roman foldiers, to infult, fcourge and crucify me — but the third day I fnall be raifed from the grave.
§ — 20 Then the wife of Zebedee, imagining that af- ter his refurredion the grand temporal kingdom of the Melliah would be erefted, approached him, conducing her two fons — and discover- ed, by her ceremonious ad- drefs, that flie was defirous to folicit a favour from him.
21 Jefus faid to her-
What kindnefs is it you ap- pear fo defirous to obtain ? — She replied — Thefe my two fons have been your faithful and infeparablc com.panions
I entreat you that you
would advance them, in the kingdom you are going to eftablifh, to two of the mcft dev ited and illuftrious Ibti- ons.
22 Jefus lliid — You dif-
of Jesus Chap, xx*
cover great ignorance of the true nature of my kingdom by fuch a requeft — Are you able to endure the trials, in which I am going to be in- volved ? — are you able to fuftain that dreadful (hock of fufferings, which I mufb foon fupport ? — Our fortitude is equal to it— they replied.
23 He continued — The fame human miferies, indeed, that will foon feize me, will alfo invade you ! and the fame fufferings and perfecutions that will befal mc, will alfo affail you —^ but it is not irj my power to difpofe of the higheft dignities in my future kingdom — that power is iblc- ly vefted in the fupreme fa- ther of all, who will confer them on perfons of fuperior virtue and the fviblimeft at- tainments.
24 The other ten difciples, who had heard this converfa- tion, conceived the moft vio- lent refentment againft the two brothers for this ambi- tious attempt to fupplant them.
25 Jefus, confcious of the afpiring views by which they were aduated, collected them into a body, and thus addref- fed them — Potent monarchs among the Heathens, you know, rule their fubjcds with an abfolute and defpotic ty- ranny — and the princes and
governours
Chap. XX. 4y M A T
p-overnours of the feveral flates andcomnniniticfs among them ufurp and exercife a Ibvereign and uncoRtroulable authority in their dominions.
16 But fuch a lufc of do- mination and fondnefs of power Hiall never poffefs your bofoms — For among you he that is the huhibleft Iliall be the greateft :
27 And he who is delirous to fill the mod elevated and illuftrious ftation among you, let him pradlife the moft kind fubmiffion, and the moll hu- mane condefcenfion,
28 in humble imitation of the fon of man, who came not into this world to make man- kind his vaflals, and to enjoy the magnificence and homage of a court — but to do the kindeft and moffc condefccnd- ing offices, and to furrender up his life, that he might re- fcue ^ men from vice and de- flruclion.
§ — 29 When they had left Jericho on their way to the capital, he was followed by a prodigious concourfc of people.
T H E W. 71
30 Here two blind men» who were fitting on the road fide, the moment they were informed that Jeius was paf- finrr, began to cry out with the greateft vehemence — O thou great and good Meffiah, pity our condition !
3 1 The multitude difturb- ed with their vociferation, reproved them and ordered them to be filent — But the more they ftrove to fupprefs their cries, the louder they railed them, repeating — O thou fon of David ! pity our condition ! pity our wretched condition !
32 Jefus then ftopped, and calling them to him, faid — What favour is it you fo ear- neftly implore ?
33 They anfwered — We entreat you, Sir, that our fight may be reftored.
34 Jefus aflecled with com- pafiion touched their eyes, which were inftantaneoufly reftored to fight — and both being thus cured joined his train.
y AoTpci' and Ai/rp* are indircrlminatcly ufed to fignify what is paid or done to refcue, free, ranibm, and redeem a thing — The men, who were taken prilbners in the battle S'lyio fwrpcoy azunof etvTovf tk IIvppK. Plutarch Pyr. p. 721 — But ye deliver up your general xvr^av T«f ATOfKiuni. Plutarch Eumenes, p. IC84. — rov /ttti; Aurp* 7oi< KaCktiv ej'eox.cv. Plutarch Alex. p. 1266 — ->/tii9jk utt^ ai/7«K Awxpee iiKoffi TrtAjtrra. Plutarch C^far, p. 1298. Edit Steph.
F4
CHAP.
72
ne Hlftory
CHAP. XXI.
I \X7 HEN they were now
' » advanced on their journey as far as Bethphage, fituated at the foot of the mount of olives, a place at no great diftance from Jeru- falem, Jefus called two of his difciples
2 and gave them this or- der Go into that village,
which you fee direftly oppo- fite, and you will find an afs tied and a colt with it — un- loofe the rein and bring them to me.
3 And fliculd any perfon, feeing this action, aflc you the reafon of your taking fuch liberties, tell him — that your mafler hath occaficn for them — and he will immedi- ately difmifs you \
4 The following words of the prophet may be here re- cited, and applied to this in- cident in the hiftory of Je- fus ■
5 " Inform the daughter of Z'\ox\ of this important news — Thy king approaciies thee, riding upon an afs, cloathed with placid meeknefs and humility."
6 Receiving this com- mand, the difciples haftened to the village, and' found e-
of Jesus Chap. xxl.
very thing as Jefus had de- fcribed.
7 The afs they untied — brought it, with its colt, to Jefus — fpread on it their up- per garments — and he rode upon it from Bethphage to Jerufalem.
8 Upon this mounting it, the majority of the multi- tude, that attended him, fpread their mantles along the road others were employ- ed in cutting down branches from the neighbouring trees, and fcattering their verdant foliage wherever he pafled.
9 And the populace that preceded, and thofe that were in his train, pierced the air with their triumphant fhouts, crying — Welcome ! illuftrious Ion of David !— • thrice happy thou who com- cft inverted with the choiceft gifts of the fupreme Jeho- vah!— Hail him all ye celef- tial powers !
10 Entering the capital in this {lately pomp and magni- ficence, all the inhabitants were greatly alarmed, and aflved the pafTing crowds, Who this great pcrfonage was, whom they condu6led in fuch triumph and applauie ?
1 1 They anhvercd — It is
» Jefus undoubtedly knew thjit tliefe were the property of fomc perfon, on whom, or on whole friends, lie had conferred fome jingular benetit.
" that
Chap. xxi. . by Mat
that great prophet, Jefus of Nazareth,
§ — 12 With thefe accla- mations Jefus was efcorted to the temple, which he en- tered, and with irrefiftible authority expelled all who were then engaged in buying and felling in the court of the Gentiles — the tables of thofc who gave to ftrangers Jewiih money in exchange for fo- reign, he overturned — and threw down the (landings of of thofe who publickly fold vi6bims for the facrifice.
13 Telling them, with an air of dignity that (truck them with terrrour — that God de- figned the temple lliould be appropriated to devotion — but that they had converted it into a receptacle of the mod: profane and mercenary wretches.
§ — 14 When he had thus cleared the temple, numbers of blind and lame perlbns came around him — wliom he immediately cured.
15 But the higii-priefls and the Scribes having been fpec- tators of the whole of this amazing fcene, and hearing the children, even in the temple, making the facred dome refound with their ac- clamations of hofannah to the
fon of David they v/ere
highly exafperated.
J 6 And they faid to him
THE w. 73
— heareft thou the language of thefe children? — He an- fwered — Do not you recoiled: that paflage in the fcriptures — " By the mouth of babes thy praife fhall be celebrated." § — 17 Having fpoken thus he left them to their re- flexions on what had lately pafTed — and retired out of the
city to Bethany where he
flayed all night.
1 8 In the morning as he was returning to the city, he felt on the road very painful fen- fations of hunger :
19 And happening to fee a fig tree at fome diftance, he v/ent up to it, expedling fruit — but found only leaves — upon which he faid to the
tree Mayeft thou never
bear ! Immediately upon
this imprecation the fig tree withered and died.
20 This aftoniihing fpec- tacle ftruck the difciples with furprize, and they faid in amazement one to another— How foon hath the fig tree loft its verdure ! How inftan- taneoufly hath it faded !
2 1 Jefus anfwered — Let me folemnly alfure you, that if you repole an unfliaken con- fidence in God to aflift you in propagating and confirm- ing his religion, he will en- able you to work miracles greatly fuperiour to this -^ even prodigies of power as