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done in Capernaum, do alfo here in thy country (b). 24 And he faid, Verily I fay unto you, No prophet is 25 accepted in his own country. But I tell you of a truth (i), many widows were in Ifrael in the days of Elias (k), when the heaven was shut up three years and fix months, when great famine was throughout 26 all the land: But unto none of them was Elias fent, fave unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a 27 woman that was a widow. And many lepers were in Ifrael in the time of Elifeus the prophet: and none of them was cleanfed, faving Naaman the 28 Syrian. And all they in the fynagogue, when they 29 heard these things, were filled with wrath, And rofe up, and thruft him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill (whereon their city was built) that they might caft him down headlong. 30 But he paffing (1) through the midst of them, went 31 his way: And came down to Capernaum, a city

of Galilee, and taught them on the fabbath-days.

(h) Though God is loving unto every man, and his mercy is over all his works, yet his extraordinary favours are vouchfafed only at fuch times, and in fuch meafure and proportion, as beft fuits his infinite wifdom; and let us on all occafions remember, that what no man hath a right to claim, no man hath a right to complain when it is not granted.

(2) Thefe inftances are quoted by our Lord in order to prove, that they who are nearest to the means of grace, and opportunities of conviction, are often leaft inclined to profit by them, which are therefore moft juftly granted to others of a more humble and teachable difpofition. The application to the people of Nazareth was fo obvious and undeniable, that they were filled with wrath, and prepared to deftroy him whom they had juft before regarded with admiration: whereby they fufficiently difcovered their own unworthiness.

(4) See 1 Kings xvii. 9. 2 Kings v. 4. Elias and Elifeus are there called Elijah and Elifha.

() Having miraculously rendered himfelf invifible, he efcaped from them, in like manner as he did afterwards from the Jews in the temple. See John viii. 59.

32 And they were aftonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power (m).

33

And in the fynagogue there was a man which had a fpirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a 34 loud voice, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jefus of Nazareth? art thou come to deftroy us? I know thee who thou art; the 35 holy One of God. And Jefus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he 36 came out of him, and hurt him not. And they were all amazed, and fpake among themfelves, faying, What a word is this? for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean fpirits, and they come And the faine of him went out into every 37 out. place of the country round about.

38

And he arofe out of the fynagogue, and entered into Simon's houfe: and Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they befought him 39 for her. And he flood over her, and rebuked the fever (n), and it left her. And immediately she arose, and () ministered unto them.

40

Now when the fun was fetting, all they that had any fick with divers difeafes, brought them unto him: and he laid his hands on every one of them, 41 and healed them. And devils alfo came out of many, crying out, and faying, Thou art Chrift the Son of God. And he rebuking them, fuffered them not to fpeak for they knew that he was Christ. 42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a defart place; and the people fought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not

(m) The people of Capernaum being at that time better difpofed than thofe of Nazareth, he wrought miracles there, and gave them proofs of his divine power, along with his doctrine.

(n) By a word he allayed the fever as he did the form. Mat. viii. 26.

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43 depart from them.. And he faid unto them, I muft preach the kingdom of God to other cities alfo: for 44 therefore am I fent. And he preached in the fynagogues of (p) Galilee.

CHA P.
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AND it came to pafs, that as the people prefied upon him to hear the word of God, he ftood 2 by the lake of (a) Gennefareth, And faw two thips ftanding by the lake: but the fishermen were gone 3 out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the hips which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land and he fat down and taught the people out 4 of the fhip. Now when he had left fpeaking, he faid unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and 5 let down your nets for a draught. And Simon anfwering, faid unto him, Mafter, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless 6 at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclofed a great multitude of fifhes; and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other fhip, that they fhould come and help them. And they came, and filled both the fhips, fo that they began 8 to fink. When Simon Peter faw it, he fell down at Jefus' knees, faying, Depart from me, for I am 9 a finful man (6), O Lord. For he was aftonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes 10 which they had taken: And fo was alfo James and John the fons of Zebedee, which were partners

(p) Throughout all Galilee. See Mat. iv. 23.

(a) The lake of Gennefareth is otherwife called the fea of Galilee. See Mat. iv. 18.

(b) And the fenfe of my unworthiness makes me incapable of bearing the prefence of a person endued with fuch extraordinary

power.

with Simon. And Jefus faid unto Simon, Fear not; II from henceforth thou fhalt catch (c) men. And when they had brought their fhips to land, they forfook all, and followed him.

12

13

And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city (d), behold, a man full of leprofy; who seeing Jefus, fell on his face, and befought him, faying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canft make me clean. And he put forth his hand, and touched him, faying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately the leprofy 14 departed from him. And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and fhew thyfelf to the priest (e), and offer for thy cleaning, according as Mofes 15 commanded, for a testimony unto them. But fo much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to 16 be healed by him of their infirmities. And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

17

And it came to pafs on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharifees and doctors of the law fitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerufalem: and the power of the Lord was prefent to heal them (ƒ). 18 And behold, men brought in a bed a man which

was taken with a palfy: and they fought means to 19 bring him in, and to lay him before him. And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in, becaufe of the multitude, they went upon the (g) houfe-top, and let him down through the tiling with his couch, into the midst before Jefus. 20 And when he faw their faith, he faid unto him,

(c) See Mat. iv. 19. (d) In Capernaum.

(e) See Mat. viii. 4.

Note.

See Mark ii. 1.

(ƒ) To heal fuch as came for that purpose; whereas the Pharifees and doctors came to hear, and make their malicious and profane remarks. See Verse 21.

(g) See Mark ii. 4.

21 Man,

21 Man, thy fins are forgiven thee. And the fcribes and the Pharifees began to reafon, faying, Who is this which speaketh blafphemies? who can forgive 22 fins, but God alone? But when Jefus perceived

their thoughts, he answering faid unto them, What 23 reafon ye in your hearts? Whether is easier to

fay, Thy fins be forgiven thee, or to fay, Rife up 24 and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth (b) to forgive fins, (he faid unto the fick of the palfy) I fay unto thee, Arife, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. 25 And immediately he rofe up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own 26 houfe, glorifying God. And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, faying, We have feen ftrange things to-day.

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And after thefe things he went forth, and faw a publican named (i) Levi, fitting at the receipt of 28 cuftom and he faid unto him, Follow me. And he 29 left all, rofe up, and followed him. And Levi made him a great feast in his own houfe; and there was a great company of publicans, and of others that fat down with them. But their fcribes and Pharifees (k) murmured against his difciples, faying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and fin31 ners? And Jefus anfwering, faid unto them, They that are whole need not a (1) phyfician: but they 32 that are fick. I came not to call the righteous, but finners to repentance.

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And they faid unto him, Why do the difciples of John faft often, and make prayers, and likewife the (h) See Mat. ix. 6. Note.

(2) Levi was the fame perfon at St. Matthew. See Mat. ix. 9. (4) The fcribes and Pharifees of that place.

I converfe with finners for the fame reafon that phyficians visit - the fick. The end of my coming into the world is to heal and fave men's fouls. I therefore juftly apply my remedies to fuch as want and defire them; not to thofe who think they have no need of them.

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