9 rifen again. And Herod faid, John have I beheaded: but who is this of whom I hear fuch things? And he defired to fee him.

ΙΟ And the apostles, when they were returned, told Suchim all that they had done. And he took them, and i went afide privately into a defert place, belonging Ito the city called Bethfaida. And the people when

they knew it, followed him : and he received them, and fpake unto them of the kingdom of God, and 12 healed them that had need of healing. And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve handy faid unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about and lodge, and get victuals: for we are 13 here in a defert place. But he faid unto them, Give yes them to eat. And they faid, We have no more but five loaves and two fifhes; except we 14 fhould go and buy meat for all this people. For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his difciples, Make them fit down by fifties in is a company. And they did fo, and made them all 16 fit down. Then he took the five loaves and the

two fifhes, and looking up to heaven, he bleffed othem, and brake, and gave to the difciples to fet 1 before the multitude. And they did eat, and were all filled; and there was taken up of fragments bes that remained to them, twelve baskets. 18 And it came to pafs as he was alone (d) praying, his difciples were with him and he asked them, fay19 ing, Whom fay the people that I am? They anfwering, faid, John the Baptift: but fome fay o Elias: And others fay, that one of the old prophets 20 is rifen again. He faid unto them, But whom fay ye that I am? Peter anfwering, faid, The Chrift 21 of God. And he ftraitly charged them, and (com

اند

(d) After the multitude were gone away, and none but his difciples were with him.

101

22 manded

22 manded them to tell no man that thing: Saying, The Son of man muft fuffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and chief pricfts, and fcribes, and be flain, and be raised the third day.

23++ And he faid to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his 24 (e) crofs daily, and follow me. For whofoever will fave his life, fhall lofe it: but whofoever will lofe 25 his life for my fake, the fame fhall fave it. For

what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole 26 world, and lofe himself, or be caft away? For whofoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him fhall the Son of man be ashamed, when he in shall come in his own glory and in his Father's, and 27 of the holy angels. But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here which fhall not taste of death, ow till they fee the kingdom of God (f).

28

€ ¥ ]

And it came to pafs, about an eight days after Dal these fayings, he took Peter, and John, and James, 29 and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, 30 and his raiment was white and glistering.

And

behold, there talked with him two men, which 31 were Mofes and Elias (g): Who appeared in glory,

and fpake of his decease which he should ac32 complish at Jerufalem (b). But Peter, and they that were with him, were heavy with fleep and when they were awake, they faw his glory, and 33 the two men that stood with him. And it came to Spaís, as they departed from him, Peter faid unto

3

Jefus, Mafter, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles, one for thee, and one

(e) See Matt x. 38.

(f) Until they have feen the great power of God in the deftruction of Jerufalem.

(g) See Mark ix. 4. Note.

() As the completion of the law and the prophets.

for Mofes, and one for Elias: not knowing what 34 he faid (i). While he thus fpake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they 35 entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, faying, This is my beloved Son, 36 hear him. And when the voice was paft, Jesus was found alone: and they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of thofe things which they had feen.

37

And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people 38 met him. And behold, a man of the company cried out, faying, Mafter, I befeech thee, look upon 39 my fon, for he is mine only child. And lo, a fpirit taketh him, and he fuddenly crieth out, and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruifing him, 40 hardly departeth from him. And I befought thy

difciples to caft him out, and they could not. 41 And Jefus anfwering faid, O faithlefs and perverfe

generation, how long fhall I be with you, and fuf42 fer you? bring thy fon hither. And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him and Jefus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.

44

43 And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God: But while they wondered every one at all things which Jefus did, he faid unto his difciples, Let these fayings fink down into your ears (k); for the Son of man fhall be delivered into the hands of men. 45. But they understood not this faying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that faying.

(i) See Mark ix. 7.

(k) Let what I am going to fay make a deep impreffion upon you; for it is of the utmost confequence, that you should know how my ministry will end, notwithstanding the applaufe with which my miracles are now received.

46 Then

46

A

Then there arofe a reafoning among them, 47 which of them fhould be greateft. And Jefus per"ceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, 48 and fet him by him. And faid unto them, whofoever fhall receive this child in my name, receiveth me: and whofoever fhall receive me, receiveth him that fent me: for he that is least among you all, the fame fhall be great.

49

And John anfwered and faid, Master, we saw one cafting out devils in thy name; and we forbad 50 him, becaufe he followeth not with us. And Jesus faid unto him, Forbid him not; for (1) he that is not against us, is for us.

And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received (m) up, he ftedfaftly 52 fet his face to go to Jerufalem, And fent meffengers before his face and they went, and entered into a village of the (n) Samaritans, to make ready for him. And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to (o) Jerufalem. 54 And when his difciples James and John faw this, they faid, (p) Lord, wilt thou that we command fire

53

to come down from heaven, and confume them, 55 even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and faid, Ye know not what manner of 56 fpirit ye are of. For (q) the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to fave them. And they went to another village.

› See Matt. xii. 3os Mark ix. 40.

(m) The time now drawing near for his faving the world, he fet his face, that is, he firmly refolved to prepare for what he knew was to happen to him at Jerufalem.

(2) The country of Samaria lay between Galilee and Jerufalem.' (0) See John iv. 9.

(p) The difciples were equally blameable with the Samaritans. (4) The religion of Chrift is not to be fupported by force and violence, but is of a gentle and gracious fpirit, wifhing not to hurt, but to benefit the body, as well as the foul.

57.ou And it came to pass that as they went in the way, a certain man, faid unto him, Lord, I will follow 58 thee whitherfoever thou goeft. And Jefus faid unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nefts, but the Son of man hath not where to lay his 59 head. And he faid unto another, Follow me but he faid, Lord, fuffer me first to go and bury my fa6o ther. Jefus faid unto him, (r) Let the dead bury their dead; but go thou and preach the kingdom of 61 God. And another also faid, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me, first go bid them farewel which 62 are at home at my houfe (s). And Jefus faid unto him, No man having put his hand to the (1) plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." Anos ai hof) to mobgi. 4 ab muidint to swil sy od Lagt 13 JOY CHA P. Xov otru de a de 100 mil 9700 98

AFTER these things the Lord appointed other feventy alfo (a), and fent them two and two before Loy his face into every city, and place, whither he himself -2 would come. Therefore faid he unto them, The

harvest truly is great, but the labourers are (b) few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harveft, that he 3 would fend forth labourers into his harveft. Go your ways: behold, I fend your forth as lambs among 4 wolves (c). Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor fhoes: 5 and falute no man by the way (d). And into whatfouta piroval will

(r) See Matt, viii. 22. (s) No relative duty, even to parents, was in those days to be preferred to that of preaching the Golpel.

(t) As no man is fit to mana a plough, who is not intent on his work, fo no man muft think of taking upon himself the profeffion of the Gofpel, who allows worldly confiderations to be uppermoft in his mind.

(a) Seventy more befides the twelve Apofiles.

(b) See Matt. ix. 37

(c) See Matt. x. 9, 13.

d) Be intent on the purpofe you are fent on, and let nothing of

lefs confequence divert you from it.