now John was clothed with camels hair, with a leathern girdle about his waist: and his food was locusts and wild honey.

where he continued forty days, being tempted by Satan: and when he was among the wild beasts, angels ministred unto him.

(for they were fishers) and Jesus said to them, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

And there came a leper to him, who fell on his knees, and thus address'd him, "if you will, you can heal me."

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

but the time will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast.

for he that does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.

tho' they see, they will not perceive, and tho' they hear they will not understand: as if they were afraid of parting with their vices, in order to be pardoned.

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."

if I send them home fasting, they will faint by the way: for some of them are come very far.

in the mean time he gave his disciples this intimation, "the son of man is going to be delivered up into the hands of men, who will put him to death, and three days after he is put to death he shall rise again."

but shall receive at present in this age, what will be a hundred times better to him, than houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, tho' with persecution: and in the age to come eternal life.

now, said he, we are going to Jerusalem, where the son of man will be delivered up to the chief priests, and to the Scribes, who will condemn him to die, and deliver him to the Gentiles.

they will treat him with ignominy, subject him to the lash, spit upon him, and at last put him to death. but on the third day he will rise again.

go to yonder village that faces you, and upon your entrance into it, you will find a colt tied, that never was yet backed; loose him, and bring him to me.

if any one should ask you, why you do so? tell him, the Lord has occasion for it, and immediately he will send it hither.

but if you do not forgive others, neither will your heavenly father forgive you.

Jesus replied to them, if you will answer one question, that I shall propose to you, then I will tell you by what authority I act thus.

answer me that. upon this they reasoned thus with themselves; if we should say, it was divine, he will urge, why then did you not believe him?

at last, having one only son, whom he loved, he sent him to them; surely, said he, they will reverence my son.

but these husbandmen said to one another, this is the heir, come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be our own.

now what will the master of the vineyard do? on his return, said they, he will destroy those vine-dressers, and give his vineyard to others.

for when they shall rise from the dead, they neither will marry, nor be given in marriage, but be immortal like the angels in heaven.

and as for the dead, that they will actually rise, have you not read in the book of Moses those words, which God pronounc'd out of the bush to him, "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?"

when shall this happen? and what will be the sign that this is going to be accomplished?

these are the beginning of sorrows. then look to your selves: for they will deliver you up to the tribunals, and scourge you in the synagogues: you will be brought before governours, and princes upon my account, to be my witnesses against them.

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.

you will be the object of universal hatred upon my account; but he that shall persevere unto the end, shall be saved.

for the distress of that time will be such as never happen'd since the beginning of the world, which God created, to this present, nor ever shall be.

so that if the Lord should suffer it to last, no man could escape: but he will not suffer the time to last long, out of regard to his elect.

then will he send his angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the remotest part of the earth, to the remotest part of heaven.

be circumspect, be vigilant, and devout: because you are uncertain when that time will be.

watch ye therefore (for you don't know when the master of the house will return; whether at evening, or at midnight, or at the cock-crowing, or in the morning)

the poor you have always with you, and you may relieve them whenever you please: but me you will not always have.

upon which he dispatch'd two of his disciples, and said to them: go into the city, and you will meet a man carrying a pitcher of water; follow him.

and he will shew you a large upper room ready furnished: there make preparation for us.

and as they sat eating, Jesus said, verily I say unto you, one of you that is eating with me, will betray me.

but this I tell you, I will never more drink of this fruit of the vine, from this time forth to that day, when I shall drink with you of the spiritual wine in the kingdom of God.

and Jesus said to them, this night you will all be staggered upon my account: for it is written, "I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered."

but after I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.

upon which Peter said to him, tho' all should stagger, yet I will not.

Jesus said to him, verily I tell thee, to-day, even this night, before the cock crow twice, you will renounce me thrice.

but he urg'd it with more vehemence, tho' I should die with you, I will not renounce you. and all the rest affirm'd the same.

saying, father, all things are possible to thee, take away this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done.

now he that betrayed him, had given them this signal, you will see me salute one with a kiss, that's he: seize him, and don't let him escape.

saying, we heard him say, "I will pull down this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands."

Pilate spake to him again, and said, will you make no defence for your self? don't you hear what they urge against you?

let the Messiah, the king of Israel, descend now from the cross: let us see that, and we will believe on him. and they that were crucified with him, threw their reproaches at him.

then one of the soldiers ran and dipp'd a spunge in vinegar, which he fastned to a stick, and offered him to drink. now let us, said they, see whether Elias will come to take him down.

and they said to one another, who will remove the stone from the mouth of the sepulchre for us?

go, tell Peter and the rest of his disciples, that he is gone before you into Galilee: there you will see him, as he foretold you.