Josias the father of Jechonias and his brethren, about the time when the Jews were carried away to Babylon.

but when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadduces come to his baptism, he said to them, "Ye brood of vipers, who has warned you to fly from the wrath to come?

I indeed baptize you with water to lead you to repentance; but he that cometh after me, is my superiour, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry: he shall baptize you with the effusion of the holy Ghost, in the appearance of fire:

endeavour to win your adversary, even whilst you are in the way: left the adversary deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be thrown into jayl.

and if any man will go to law with you, to have your coat, let him have your cloke too.

and if any one will press you to go a mile with him, go with him the other two.

Beware of false prophets, who to outward appearance are sheep, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

therefore speak I to them in parables: because they over-look what they see: and are inattentive to what they hear, neither will they comprehend.

why, can't you perceive, that in cautioning you to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the Sadducees, I did not speak of bread?

however, lest we should give offence, go you to the sea, throw in a book, and take the first fish that strikes: then open its jaws, and you will find a piece of money: that take, and give it to them for me and thee.

wo unto the world, because of such scandals: tho' it cannot be, but that such occasions of relapsing should happen: yet wo to that man by whom the scandal cometh.

he answer'd them, 'twas because of your perverse temper that Moses suffered you to repudiate your wives: but from the beginning this was not in practice.

As Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples in private, and said to them,

the son of man is going to die, pursuant to the scripture: but wo to that man by whom the son of man is betrayed: it had been better for that man, if he had never been born.

And they that had apprehended Jesus, led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the Scribes and the senators were assembled.

crying now Christ divine, who 't is that struck you?

and after they had thus insulted him, they took the robe off, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

as they were making the way to his disciples, Jesus himself met them, and said, I salute you. and they came, and embraced his feet, and worshipped him.

teaching them to observe every thing which I have enjoin'd you: and be assured I shall be always with you to the end of the world.

what have we to do with thee, Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to torment us? I know thee who thou art, the holy one of God.

upon which John told him, "it is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."

and if thy foot make thee transgress, saw it off, it is better for you to enter into life, tho' lame, than to have both feet, and be thrown into Gehenna, the unextinguishable fire:

and if your eye make you transgress, pull it out; it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God, with but one eye, than to have two, and be thrown into the Gehenna of fire: where the worm does not die,

In the morning as they were coming back, they saw the fig-tree withered away to the very roots.

now when they shall lead you to deliver you up, be not sollicitous about your defence, don't premeditate upon it; but what shall be suggested to you at the very occasion, that deliver: for it is not you that will plead, but the holy spirit.

the son of man is going indeed, according to what is written of him: but wo to that man, by whom the son of man is betrayed: it would be better for that man, if he had never been born.

Jesus they led away to the high priest's, where all the chief priests, the rulers and Scribes, were assembled.

then the high priest rising up in the midst of the assembly, ask'd Jesus, saying, have you nothing to plead for your self? what say you to the evidence they give against you?

but he denied it again. a little time after, they that stood by, still urg'd Peter, saying, you are certainly one of his disciples, for your speech shows you to be a Galilean.

Their mockery ended, they stript him of his purple, and put his own cloaths on him; then led him away to be crucified.

he said therefore to the people that crowded to be baptized by him, ye brood of vipers, who has prompted you to flee from approaching wrath?

the Publicans likewise came to be baptized, and said to him, master, how are we to act?

the soldiers too made the same demand, how are we to act? he answer'd them, injure no man either by violence or by fraud, and be content with your pay.

I have authoriz'd you to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and triumph over all the power of the enemy; so that nothing shall be capable of doing you any mischief.

When you are going with your adversary before the magistrate, pay the interest, and get your discharge, while you are on the way; for fear he should bring you before the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into jail.

when any one invites you to a wedding, don't put yourself in the highest seat: for fear some person of greater distinction should be a guest,

another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, which I am going to prove: I beg you to excuse me.

Then said Jesus to his disciples, it is impossible but that discouragements should come: but wo to him, who is the occasion of them.

for I was in fear of you, knowing you to be a hard master, who exact what you never gave, and reap where you have never sown.

they will level you to the ground, extirpate your inhabitants, and bury your buildings in ruins: because you have not consider'd the overtures I made you.

but before all these events, they will seize upon you and persecute you, drag you to the synagogues and to prisons, being accused before kings and governours, for professing my name.

wo to them that are with child, or to them that give suck in those days: for this will be a region of great distress, and wrath will pour down upon this people.

the son of man indeed must die, as it was decreed: but wo to that man by whom he is betrayed.

Then they seized him and carried him away to the high priest's house, and Peter followed at a distance.

for I referr'd you to him, and you see nothing that is capital, has been made out against him.

for his disciples were gone away to the city to buy provisions.

I sent you to reap where you bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and you are entred into their labours.

the Jews said to him that was cured, it is the sabbath-day; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.

don't imagine that I shall accuse you to my father: even Moses himself in whom you confide, will be your accuser.

do you go up to this feast, as for me I do not go with you to it, because my time is not yet accomplished.

Above all I enjoin you, to love one another.

I do not pray you to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the malignity of it.

but as it is customary with you to get me to discharge some prisoner at the time of the passover, would you have me release the king of the Jews?

Pilate therefore went out again, and said to them, observe, I bring him out to you, to acquaint you that I find no fault in him.

Jesus said, if I will have him stay till I come, what have you to do with that? do you follow me.

which occasion'd a flying rumour among the brethren, that John should not die: tho' Jesus had not said, he shall not die: but, if I will have him stay till I come, what have you to do with that?

and he said to them, it is not for you, to know the times or the seasons, which the father hath reserv'd in his own disposal.

which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Cesarea, and sent him away to Tarsus.

they answered, Cornelius the centurion, a man of probity and piety, one that has an universal good character among the Jews, was divinely admonish'd by an holy angel to send for you to his house, to hear what you had to say to him.

for thus has the Lord commanded us, "I have appointed you to be a light to the Gentiles, that you should bring salvation to the remotest parts of the earth."

cry'd out, "sirs, what are you going to do? we are but men as well as you, and we exhort you to renounce these vanities, and turn to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth and the sea, and all that they contain:

and after the question had been much canvass'd, Peter rose up, and said, my brethren, you know that a considerable time since God chose me from among you to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, and bring them to the faith.

as she followed Paul and the rest of us, she cried out, these men are the servants of the most high God, who show you the way to salvation.

this she did for several days, till Paul tir'd with it turn'd about, and said to the spirit, in the name of Jesus Christ I command you to quit her; and instantly he came out.

Upon this the brethren immediately sent Paul away to the sea-coast, but Silas and Timothy staid there.

after this, Paul had a design to pass thro' Macedonia and Achaia in his way to Jerusalem: purposing when he had been there to make a visit to Rome.

since this is incontestible, it behoves you to be easy, and free from any rash conduct:

and now, my brethren, I recommend you to God, and to his gracious dispensation, which is able to improve you, and secure to you the inheritance with those who are sanctify'd.

offer'd him mony in order to obtain his discharge. but two years after he was succeeded by Porcius Festus, who to oblige the Jews left Paul under confinement.

and our spirits droop with fasting: when Paul presented himself, and said, "well, my friends, it had been, if I could have prevail'd upon you, to have sav'd your selves all this perplexity and loss by staying at Crete.

yet now I advise you to discard your fears: your lives are all safe, though the vessel will be lost.

or do you despise the riches of his kindness, and forbearance, and long-suffering; not considering that the kindness of God invites you to repentance?

but unto those who are contentious, and do not yield to the truth, but give way to injustice, indignation and wrath,

but still I ask, did not Israel know this? first, Moses saith, "I will provoke you to jealousy, by those that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you."

for if you were taken from the wild olive, which was natural to you, to be grafted into a good olive-stock of a different nature, with how much greater reason shall these who are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive-tree?

when I take my journey into Spain, I hope to see you in my way, and be forwarded by you to that place, after having for some time enjoy'd the pleasure of your company.

when I have dispatch'd this affair, and have secur'd to them this collection, I will come to you in my way to Spain.

and God will confirm you to the end, that ye may be unaccused in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

for he, who has called you to the communication of his son Jesus Christ our Lord, will make good his promise.

These things, my brethren, I have represented to you in my own person, and that of Apollos, out of respect to you: to show you how to moderate your esteem by the rule prescrib'd, that you may not be transported in favour of one rather than another.

and therefore I intreat you, to copy after me.

for what have I to do to judge those who are without the church; but are not you to judge those that are within?

not that it is a sin for you to marry; nor is it so if a virgin marry; but they that do, will be troubled for their relations, and that I would prevent.

you have met with no trials yet, but such as are common to men: and God who is faithful, will not suffer you to be tempted above your strength; but will with the temptation make a way to escape, by enabling you to bear it.

if any of the unbelievers invite you to an entertainment, and you are disposed to go; whatever is set before you, eat, without asking any question out of a scruple of conscience.

wherefore I give you to understand, that no man who has the spirit of God, can pronounce Jesus anathema: and that no man can acknowledge Jesus to be the Lord, but by the holy spirit.

not that I would arbitrarily prescribe what you should believe, but rather encourage you to go on: for 'tis by faith you have stood.

which shows you to be the epistle of Christ, written by my ministration, not with ink, but with the spirit of the living God; not on tables of stone, but on living tables of the heart.

so that I am not ashamed of the commendations I have formerly given you to him; but as I have always preached the truth to you, so in my commendation to Titus, I have said nothing but truth of you.

for I am jealous over you with religious jealousy: since I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

'tis own'd I did not put you to any charges myself: but was so crafty, as to over-reach you, by others.

they who desire to make a figure in the world, constrain you to be circumcised, only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.

an enlightned understanding, that ye may see what great expectations he has called you to, and what abundant glory it is to the saints to be the lot of his inheritance.

I therefore the prisoner for the Lord, beseech you to live suitably to the offers that have been made to you:

giving thanks to the father, who has qualified you to share in that light he affords to his people:

conjuring you to live suitably to the favour of God, who has called you to his kingdom and glory.

As to brotherly love, I have no occasion to write about it, God himself having instructed you to love one another.

this indeed you practise towards all our brethren in Macedonia; and we only exhort you to advance more and more therein:

to this he has called you, to a life of glory with our Lord Jesus Christ.

At my departure from Macedonia, I advised you to stay at Ephesus in order to charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine,