It is written in the prophet, "behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.

all Judea, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, went out to meet him, and having confess'd their sins, he baptized them in the river Jordan.

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in Jordan.

and as soon as he was got out of the water, he saw the heavens open, and the spirit lighting upon him, like a dove.

"the time, said he, is accomplish'd, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."

As soon as they were come to Capernaum, he entred into the synagogue, and it being the sabbath, instructed them.

and they were astonished at his manner of preaching: for he spoke with an air of authority, and not as the Scribes.

now there was in their synagogue a demoniack, who cried out, ah,

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.

and Jesus threatned him, be mute, said he, and come out.

and when the unclean spirit had thrown him into convulsions, with a loud cry, he came out of him.

at which they were all so amazed, that they ask'd one another, what's the meaning of all this? what new doctrine is here? for he commands with authority even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.

As soon as they were come out of the synagogue, they went with James and John into the house of Simon and Andrew,

where Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, who presently acquainted Jesus with it.

and he came, and taking her by the hand, lift her up; upon which the fever immediately left her, and she served them at table.

and he healed many that were variously affected with diseases, and cast out many demons, not allowing them to say that they knew him.

On the morrow rising up, while it was yet dark, he went out, and retired into a solitary place, where he prayed.

and he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out demons.

Jesus then mov'd with compassion, held out his hand, and touching him, said, I will, be thou healed.

said he, how you take the least notice of this to any man: but go, show your self to the priest, and offer for your cure what Moses commanded, that this may serve as a testimony against them.

but as soon as he was gone, he began freely to talk of it, and blazed it about every where, so that Jesus could not go publickly into the city any more, but stay'd in the out parts, which were not much frequented, where people came to him from every quarter.

who finding it impossible to come nigh Him because of the press, uncovered the roof where He was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the cradle wherein the paralytic lay.

is it not as easy to say to the paralytic, thy sins are forgiven: as to say, arise, and take up your bed and walk?

instantly he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, we never saw any thing like this.

as he passed along, he saw Levi the son of Alpheus, sitting at the custom-house, and said to him, follow me. accordingly he arose and followed him.

at length as Jesus sat at table in Levi's house, several publicans and loose people sat down likewise in company with Jesus, and his disciples: for a good number of them had followed him.

when the Scribes and Pharisees saw him eating with such a crew, they ask'd his disciples, what's the meaning that he is so familiar with people of such a wretched character?

It was customary for the Pharisees, and the disciples of John, to fast; they came therefore and ask'd him, why do John's disciples, and the Pharisees fast so frequently, and not your disciples?

indeed no man ever sews a piece of new cloth on an old garment: because the new piece that is patch'd on, draws the old, and rends it still worse.

but he replied, have ye never read what David, and the rest of the company did, when they were press'd with hunger?

how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar, who was afterwards high-priest, and did eat the shew-bread, giving some of it likewise to the company, though the law allow'd no body to eat of it but the priests.

and he ask'd them, is it allowed to do good, or to do mischief on the sabbath-days? to save life, or to kill? but they were very silent.

then he looking with indignation at those about him, being concern'd at their disingenuous perverse temper, he said to the man, stretch out your hand, which he did, and his hand become sound.

and when the impure spirits saw him, they threw themselves at his feet, crying out, "thou art the son of God."

At length he went up a mountain, and having appointed a select company to attend him, they came to him.

when his relations heard of this, they went to his relief, for it was said, he fainted away.

if a kingdom be divided against it self, that kingdom cannot last.

if a family be divided against it self, it is impossible for it to subsist.

give your attention to what I say, a sower went out to sow: as he sowed,

some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth, and it soon sprang up, for want of a sufficient depth of earth.

but when the sun was up, it was scorched, and for want of root, withered away.

some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choaked it, so that it yielded no fruit.

but part of it fell on good ground, which sprang up, and grew so fruitful, that some grains produced thirty, others sixty, and some an hundred.

they who receiv'd seed by the wayside, are those in whom the word is sown, who no sooner have heard it, but satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.

in like manner, they who receive seed on stony-ground, are such as upon hearing the word, do immediately receive it with joy.

but having no root at the bottom, they are only occasional professors, for if they meet with any trouble or persecution upon account of the word, immediately they revolt.

but the cares of this life, the deceitful love of riches, and a crowd of different passions, stifle the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

they who receive seed as on good ground, are such as hear the word and entertain it, and bring forth fruit, some in one degree, and some in another.

for there is nothing conceal'd but what shall be made manifest: nor was any thing kept secret, but in order to be divulged.

And consider, said he, how you hear; for in proportion as you weigh what is communicated to you, new light shall be given:

for he that makes use of what he has shall have more, but he that does not, shall be stript of what he has.

Again he said, to what shall we compare the state of the gospel? or by what parable shall we represent it?

it is like a grain of mustard-seed, which when sown in the earth, is less than any other grain that is sown there.

but after it is sown, it grows up, and becometh larger than other plants of the pulse kind, and shooteth out its branches so high, that the fowls of the air may lodge under its shadow.

at length a violent storm ensued, and the waves beat into the ship, that it began to fill,

whilst Jesus was at the stern, asleep on a pillow: upon which they awak'd him, crying out, master, have you so little concern to let us sink? then he rose,

and as soon as Jesus was come out of the ship, he met a demoniack, who came from among the tombs, where he haunted,

and crying with a loud voice, said, "what injury have I done you, Jesus, thou son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, not to torment me."

(for Jesus had said to him, "come out of the man, thou impure spirit.")

and Jesus asked him, what is thy name? my name is legion, answered he: for we are many.

then they that fed the swine fled, and told the news to town and country. and they went out to see what had been done.

and when the eye-witnesses had related what had pass'd with respect to the demoniack, and to the swine:

however, Jesus refused him, and said, go home to thy friends, and tell them what great things the Lord hath done for thee, and how he hath had compassion on thee.

and he departed, and published in Decapolis, what Jesus had done for him: and all were filled with admiration.

when one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, came, and as soon as he saw him, fell at his feet,

and earnestly intreated him, saying, "my little daughter is at the last extremity, pray come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed, and live."

however, he looked about to see who it was.

then the woman, conscious of what had been effected in her, came trembling with fear, and falling down before him, confess'd the whole truth.

at his going in he said to them, what's the meaning of this uproar, what do you weep for? the damsel is not dead, but asleep.

upon which they fell a laughing: however, having turned them all out, and taking with him the father and the mother of the damsel, and those that had accompany'd him, he entred in where the damsel was lying.

but he strictly charged them not to mention it to any one, and order'd something should be given her to eat.

when the sabbath was come, he preach'd in the synagogue, to the great astonishment of many, who upon hearing his discourse, said, how came he by all this? what strange endowment of knowledge is this, that he should work such miracles?

is not he the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joses, of Juda and Simon? are not these his sisters, who are here with us? and they were scandalized at him.

Now having called the twelve, he sent them out by two and two, giving them power to exorcize spirits:

wherever they shall refuse to entertain you, or to hear you, at your departure shake off the dust of your feet, as a testimonial against them. I assure you, the people of Sodom and Gomorrha shall be treated with less severity in the day of judgment, than that city.

but Herod, from what he had heard, said, 'tis John himself, whom I caused to be beheaded, who is risen from the dead.

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

which Herodias resented, and form'd a design against his life, but could not execute it;

for Herodias made her appearance there, and danc'd with such an engaging air in the eye of Herod, as well as of all the company, that the king thus addrest himself to the young lady, "ask of me whatever you please, and it shall be granted."

nay, he ratified his promise with an oath, "I will give you whatever you require, said he, tho' it be even the half of my kingdom."

then she withdrew, and said to her mother, what shall I ask? the head of John the Baptist, said she.

at this the king was exceedingly concern'd; however, in regard to his oath, and to those who were at table with him, he would not refuse her;

accordingly he went, and beheaded him in the prison, and bringing the head in a charger, he presented it to the young lady, who gave it to her mother:

Now the apostles met together in a body before Jesus, and gave him a full account, both of what they had done, and what they had taught.

then Jesus said to them, come, let us retire privately to some place of solitude, to repose your selves a while. for such a crowd of people were continually coming and going, that they had not even time to eat.

but the people saw them embark, and many perceiving where they were bound, they ran thither a foot from all parts: and arrived at the place, before the passengers were come.

but as the day was far advanc'd, his disciples came to him, and said, this is a desart place, and it is now late.

dismiss the company, that they may go to the neighbouring farms and villages to buy provisions, for they have nothing to eat.

Jesus replied, do you your selves give them something to eat. shall we go then, said they, to purchase bread, to the value of two hundred denarii, for them to eat?

so that they all eat a sufficient share,

though the fragments of bread they took up, with what remain'd of the fishes, amounted to twelve baskets full;

It was now late in the evening, and the bark in full sea, when Jesus, who was ashore all alone,

perceived his disciples had much ado to bear up against the wind, which was contrary; about the fourth watch of the night, he came up, and would have pass'd by them.

when they saw him walking upon the sea, they thought it was an apparition,

for they all saw him, and were greatly terrified. but at the instant Jesus spoke to them, and said, take courage, it is I, don't be afraid.

no sooner were they ashore, but the people, who presently perceiv'd it was Jesus,

for the Pharisees, and the Jews in general, in pursuance of their antient traditions, never eat till they have wash'd their hands up to their elbows.

nay, when they have been at any publick place, they never eat till they have washed. they observe besides several traditions, such as the washing of cups, pots, brass vessels, and beds.

for laying aside what is of divine appointment, you stick to their human traditions, about the washing of pots, and cups, and many other the like practices.

but your doctrine is this, if any one shall tell his father or his mother, that what he could bestow for their relief, is corban, that is, to be given to the temple;