when this voice from heaven was heard, "thou art my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased."

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.

upon this his fame immediately spread abroad over all the region of Galilee.

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.

why doth this man speak such blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God?

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.

Jesus hearing this, said to them, they that are in health, have no need of a physician, but they that are sick: I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.

adding this observation, "the sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath."

upon this the Pharisees withdrew, and immediately enter'd into a conspiracy with the Herodians to take away his life.

After this they went into an house, and the crowd press'd again upon them, so as to hinder them from taking their meal.

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

this was in answer to their saying, he was influenc'd by an impure spirit.

but if, said he, you don't comprehend this easy parable, how can ye understand any of the rest?

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

and they were exceedingly afraid, and said to one another, who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

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.

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?

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;

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.

Jesus answered, to such hypocrites as you may well be applied those words of the prophet Esaias, "this people honour me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

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;

then said Jesus to her, for this expression, go thy way, the demon has left your daughter.

I am concern'd for this people, they have been with me now three days without having had any thing to eat.

his disciples answer'd, how is it possible here in the desart to furnish bread enough for all this company?

but Jesus fetching a deep sigh, said, why does this generation require a sign? I assure you, they shall have none.

they said to one another, this is because we did not take bread: which Jesus perceiving,

and this he said in such an undisguised manner, that Peter took him aside, and pretended to reprimand him.

but Jesus return'd, and looking upon his disciples, he gave Peter this rebuke, be gone, thou adversary, your views are all worldly, regardless of what is divine.

whosoever therefore shall be asham'd of me, and of my doctrine in this degenerate and corrupted age, of him likewise shall the son of man be asham'd, when he shall come with the glory of his father, accompanied with holy angels.

then a cloud surrounded them, and a voice from the cloud, said, "this is my beloved son, hear him."

At length they started this question, why do the Scribes say, that Elias must first come?

Jesus then asked the father, how long is it since this befel him? from his infancy, said the father.

now when Jesus was retired to his own house, his disciples asked him in private, why could not we cast this spirit out?

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."

whoever receives such a child as this upon my account, receives me; and he that receiveth me, does not so properly receive me, as the commands of him that sent me.

Upon this occasion John address'd himself to Jesus, saying, master, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, tho' he did not belong to us, for which reason we opposed him.

then the Pharisees came and propos'd to him this insnaring question, is it lawful for a man to repudiate his wife?

but Jesus answered them, it was out of regard to your untractable temper, that Moses gave you this permission.

When they were in the house, the disciples asked him again concerning this matter, and he said to them,

but he was troubled at this answer, and went away very sorrowful, for he had a great estate.

at this expression the disciples were much surpriz'd. but Jesus reassum'd the discourse, and said, how difficult a thing is it for those, who place their trust in riches, to enter into the divine kingdom?

at this they were more amazed than before, and said to one another, how then can such a man be saved?

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.

but the other ten, when they heard this, were fill'd with indignation against James and John.

the Scribes and Pharisees upon hearing this consulted together how to destroy him; but they stood in awe of him, because all the people were strangely affected with his doctrine.

for I assuredly tell you, that whoever shall say to this mountain, be removed, and cast into the sea, having no doubt in his mind, but believing what he says shall be effected, what he pronounces shall actually be accomplished.

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?

they therefore gave Jesus this answer, we cannot tell. neither do I, said Jesus, acquaint you by what authority I act thus.

Then Jesus address'd himself to them in this parabolical manner. a certain person planted a vineyard, made a fence about it, clear'd the way for a wine-press, built a tower, and committed it to the care of vine-dressers, while he was travelling abroad.

after this he sent another servant to them, him they assaulted with stones and cudgels, and sent him back with contempt.

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

have you not read, said he, this passage of scripture, "the stone which the builders rejected, is become the principal stone of the angle.

it is the Lord, that has done this, and it is marvellous in our eyes."

let me see a penny. and when they brought it, he asked them, whose image and inscription is this? they said, Cesar's.

One of the Scribes, that had heard their dispute, observing the propriety of his answers, propos'd this question to him, which is the principal commandment of all?

you shall therefore love the lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, to the utmost of your understanding, and all your faculties." this is the first commandment.

and the second, which has an affinity to it, is this: "you shall love your neighbour as yourself." there is no other commandment greater than these.

for David himself, who was inspired by the holy spirit, has this expression, "the Lord said to my Lord, sit thou at my right hand till I make thy enemies thy foot-stool."

upon which he call'd to his disciples, and said to them, I declare unto you, that this poor widow has given more than any of those, who have given to the treasury.

but Jesus answer'd him, you see this magnificent structure, which shall not be left till it be all demolished, one stone after another.

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

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.

Consider this similitude taken from a fig-tree: when its branch is yet tender, and pushes out its leaves, you know that summer is near:

I declare unto you, this generation shall not be extinct, till all these things be transacted.

I declare unto you, in whatever quarter of the world this part of the gospel-history shall be related, this action of hers shall be mention'd to her praise.

When they had been eating, Jesus took bread, and having given thanks, he brake it, and gave it to them, and said, take it, this represents my body.

and he said to them, this represents the effusion of my blood (the sanction of the new covenant) for mankind.

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."

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

then advancing a little further, he fell on the ground, and prayed, that this anxiety might pass from him.

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."

but neither did this evidence appear sufficient.

the maid saw him a second time, and said to the standers-by, this is one of them:

so that this passage of scripture was fulfill'd, "and he was numbred with the transgressors."

and the Centurion who stood over-against him, observing that he expired with so great a cry, said, certainly this man was the son of God.

at this they started out, and fled from the sepulchre in a violent consternation, without speaking a word to any by the way: they were so frighted.