Where is this king of the Jews who is now born? for we have seen his rising star, and are come to pay him homage.

and he sent them to Bethlehem, go, said he, make an exact enquiry about the young child, and when ye have found him, let me know it, that I too may come and pay my adorations to him.

When they were gone, an angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, take the infant and his mother, flee into Egypt, and don't stir thence till I order you, for Herod will endeavour to have the child destroy'd. Joseph therefore arose,

where he stay'd till the death of Herod: so that what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt have I called my son," was then fulfill'd.

and don't pretend to say within your selves, We have Abraham for our father: for I tell you, that God is able out of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham:

but John opposed him, I have need, said he, to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?

whoever therefore shall break any commandment, tho' of the least importance, and shall teach men so to do, shall not have the least admittance into the kingdom of the Messias: but whoever shall do and teach them, he shall be great in the kingdom of the Messias.

Ye have heard that it has been said to the antients, "Thou shalt not kill: and whosoever shall kill, shall be punish'd by the tribunal."

I assure you, you will not be discharged till you have paid to the very last farthing.

Ye have heard that it was said, "Thou shalt not commit adultery,"

Again, ye have heard that it hath been said to the antients, "Thou shalt not for swear thy self, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths."

Ye have heard that it hath been said, "An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth."

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

You have heard that it hath been said, "you shall love your neighbour, and hate your enemy:"

but if you love only them who love you, what reward can ye have? do not the heathens themselves do as much?

Take care not to perform any religious act in order to be observed by men: otherwise you will have no reward from your father who is in heaven.

therefore, when you give alms, do not make a proclamation of it as the hypocrites do, in their publick assemblies by sound of trumpet, that they may have the applause of men. for I assure you, they have their reward.

And when you pray, be not as the hypocrites are: for they chuse to stand praying in publick places, and at the corners of the streets, to be observ'd by men. I assure you, they have their reward.

but you, when you pray, enter into your closet, and when you have shut the door, pray to your father who is with you in your retirement, and your father who observeth the actions of your retirement shall reward you.

When ye fast, don't put on a dismal air, as the hypocrites do, who look dejected, that men may take notice of their fasting: I assure you, they have their reward.

now if God thus adorns the flower of the field, which thriving to day, is to morrow thrown into the oven, how much more shall he provide for you, if you have any degree of faith?

many will cry out to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? have we not cast out devils in thy name? and in thy name have we not wrought many miracles?

and then will I make this declaration to them: I never knew you: depart from me ye that have practised iniquity.

when Jesus heard it, he was surpriz'd, and said to his followers, I profess I have not met with such an instance of faith, no not in Israel.

Jesus replyed, the foxes have kennels, and the birds of the air have nests; but the son of man hath not where to lay his head.

and they roar'd out, Jesus, thou son of God, what injury have we done you? are you come here to torment us before the time?

go then and learn the meaning of that expression, "I will have mercy and not sacrifice:" for I am not come to call saints, but sinners.

As Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying out, son of David, have mercy on us.

heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: what ye have received gratis, give gratis.

if the family be worthy, your benediction shall have its effect; but if it be not worthy, it shall only redound to your own advantage.

Then if they persecute you in one city, fly to another: for I assure you, before you have preach'd thro' all the cities of the Jews, the son of man will come.

the blind recover their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

wo unto thee, Chorazin, wo unto thee, Bethsaida: for if the miracles which were done among you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

and thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be brought to destruction: for if the miracles which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have subsisted even to this day.

he answer'd them, have ye not read what David and the rest of the company did when they were hungry,

or have ye not observed in the law, what a work the priests made in the temple on the sabbath-day, without being blamed?

if ye had known the meaning of that expression, "I will have mercy and not sacrifice," ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

and he answer'd, which of you all that should have one of his sheep fall into a pit on the sabbath-day, would not bestir himself, and lift it out?

"behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew justice to the nations.

but he answered them, this wicked degenerate race demand a miracle; but no other miracle shall they have, except that of the prophet Jonas.

I will return then, says he, into my house, which I have quitted; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.

for to him that uses what he has, shall be given, and he shall have abundantly: but from him that uses it not, shall be taken away, even what he hath.

for the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them."

but happy are you that your eyes have sight; and that your ears have their hearing.

for I declare unto you, that many prophets and just men have desired to see what ye see, and have not seen it: and to hear what ye hear, and have not heard it.

so the servants of the yeoman came and said, Sir, did not you sow your field with good grain: how comes it then to have tares?

so it shall be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and after they have separated the wicked from the just,

Then Jesus said to them, have ye understood all this?

for John had said to him, it is not lawful for thee to have her.

he would have put him to death, but for fear of the people, who reckoned him a prophet.

but Jesus said to them, that's needless, let them eat what you have.

we have nothing here, said they, but five loaves, and two fishes.

thus have ye disannull'd the commandment of God by your tradition.

and there came a woman of Canaan from those quarters, and cried out to him, have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously tormented by a demon.

Then Jesus called his disciples, and said to them, I am concern'd for this people; they have attended me now three days, without eating: I will not send them away fasting, lest they saint by the way. but his disciples said to him,

Jesus asked, how many loaves have ye? they reply'd, seven, and a few small fish.

a wicked degenerate race demand a miracle; but no miracle shall they have beside that of the prophet Jonas. and so leaving them, he went away.

and Jesus said to them, have a care of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the Sadducees.

I declare unto you, some are here present, who shall not die, till they have seen the son of man enter into his kingdom.

Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is grievously afflicted with the epilepsy; he often falls into the fire, and frequently into the water.

but if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that the remonstrances of two or three persons may have its effect.

should not you then have had the like compassion for thy fellow servant as I had for thee?

and he answered them, have ye not read, that when the creator, at the beginning, made male and female,

but he reply'd, 'tis not everyman can live single, but only such as have the gift of continency.

as there are some eunuchs, who were such from their very birth: and others who were made such by men: so there are some who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of religion. he that can bear the state of celibacy, let him bear it.

Then they brought children to him in order to have his blessing: and the disciples rebuked them.

the young man answer'd, all these things have I practis'd from my youth: what is it that is further required?

Jesus said, if thou wilt be perfect, go sell your estate, give the value to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: then come and follow me.

Then said Peter, but we, who have left every thing to follow thee; what advantage shall we get by it?

Jesus reply'd, I declare unto you, that in the new age, when the son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye that have followed me shall likewise sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

last of all they came who were hired first, expecting to have received more, but they had only a penny a man,

these last have work'd but an hour, and you put them upon the level with us, who have born the whole fatigue and heat of the day.

thus the last shall be first, and the first last: for though many are invited, few have precedence.

and he said to her, what would you have? grant, said she, when you are upon the throne, that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left.

and there were two blind men sitting by the way-side, who hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, "have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David."

and the people reprimanded them, to make them hold their tongue: but they bawl'd out the more, have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.

then Jesus stood still, and calling them, said, what would ye have me do for you?

they said to him, grant Lord that we may have sight.

and said to them, it is written, " my house shall be the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves."

and said to him, do you hear what they say? yes, said Jesus; have ye never read, "out of the mouth of babes and sucklings I will make a consort of praise?"

Jesus answered them, I declare to you, if ye have a full assurance of faith, ye shall not only be able to do this to a fig-tree, but if ye should even say to this mountain, be thou removed, and cast into the sea; it should be done.

then he sent out other servants, saying, tell those who are invited, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and every thing is ready: come to the entertainment.

they dispatch'd therefore some of their disciples, together with the Herodians, who thus address'd themselves to him; master, we know that you are sincere, and faithfully teach the divine law without fear or flattery: for you have no regard to the outward quality of men.

now as to the state of life after death, have ye not read that expression of God himself,

to be saluted in publick places, and to have men address to them with the title of Doctor Doctor.

But don't you assume that title, for you have but one doctor, who is the Christ; as for you, you are all brethren alike.

neither take the title of masters, for you have but one master, who is the Messias.

wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who pay tithe of mint, anise, and cummin, but neglect those more important matters of the law, justice, mercy, and fidelity: these were the things ye ought to have practis'd, without neglecting however the other matters.

and say, if we had liv'd in the time of our forefathers, we would not have been accessory with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, but ye would not!

remember, I have forewarn'd you.

accordingly he that had received five talents, came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, you delivered to me five talents: besides those, there's five talents more, which I have gain'd.

he also that had received two talents, came and said, Lord, you delivered to me two talents: here are two other talents which I have gain'd besides them.

then came he who had received the one talent, and said, Lord, I knew that you were a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered:

fear made me hide the talent under ground: but there you have what is your own.

his lord answered and said unto him, thou vile slothful wretch, you knew that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not scatter'd:

should not you then have lodged my money at the banker's, and so at my return I should have received my own with interest.

for he that makes use of what he has, shall have more; but if he makes no improvement thereof, it shall be taken from him.

for this could have been sold for a great price, which might have been given to the poor.

ye have the poor always with you, but me ye have not always.