Whereas several have undertaken to draw up a narrative of those transactions, which pass'd among us;

I have likewise thought proper; most excellent Theophilus, to write to you a particular account; having made a very diligent inquiry into the whole matter,

that you may have a distinct view of those things about which you have been inform'd.

you shall now become dumb and not recover your speech, till the very day when these things shall happen; because you distrusted my words, which in due time shall have their effect.

they therefore ask'd his father to signify how he would have him call'd.

for mine eyes have beheld the saviour,

when Joseph and his mother saw him, great was their surprize: and his mother said to him, son, why did you leave us thus? your father and I have been looking for you with great concern.

let your actions therefore show your repentance, and don't pretend to say within yourselves, "we have Abraham for our father:" for I tell you that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

upon which he said, no doubt you will urge me with this proverb, "physician heal thy self. what we have heard you perform'd in Capernaum, do likewise here in your own country."

what business have you with us, Jesus of Nazareth? are you come to destroy us? I know who you are; the saint of God.

master, said Simon, we have toil'd all the night, without any prize: however, since you give the word, I will throw the net.

at this they were all seized with astonishment, and gave thanks to God, crying out with great reverence, what a wonderful instance of power have we seen this day!

to which he answered, would you have the bridemen fast, while the bridegroom is with them?

however, the time will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then they will have occasions enow of fasting.

but Jesus replied, have you never read what David did, when he and his company were press'd with hunger?

now the Scribes and Pharisees were upon the watch to see if he would work a cure upon the sabbath-day, and so have matter of accusation against him.

At length he came down the hill with them, and stayed with the rest of his disciples in the plain, where a great multitude of people from all Judea, from Jerusalem, and the maritime country of Tyre and Sidon, came to hear him, and to have their diseases cured.

But wo unto you that are rich: for you have received your consolation.

for though I am subject to authority, I have soldiers under me: I bid one go, and he goes: I bid another come, and he comes: I bid my servant do this, and he does it."

when Jesus heard this, he admired the man, and turning about, he said to the people, that followed him, I assure you, I have not met with such an instance of faith even among the Jews themselves.

then he gave them this answer, go, and tell John what you have seen, and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are healed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the gospel is proclaim'd to the poor.

they are like children playing together in the street, who cry, we have play'd to you on the flute, but you have not danced: we have sung mournful dittys, but you have not lamented.

in answer to his doubts, Jesus said, Simon, I have something to say to you. master, said he, lets hear it.

the ground over-run with thorns denotes such as have embraced the doctrine, but are so immerst in the business, enjoyments, and pleasures of life, as not to improve it to any real advantage.

but by the good ground is meant such persons as have received the doctrine with simplicity and sincerity, abide by it, and practise it with perseverance.

improve therefore what you hear: for he that improves what he has, shall have more; but he that does not, shall lose even that, which he thinks he possesses.

upon seeing Jesus, he set up a great cry, fell down before him, and roar'd out, what business have you with me, Jesus son of the most high God? I beseech you torment me not.

but Herod said, John was beheaded by my order, who then can this be, who, they say, performs such strange things? and he desired to have a sight of Jesus.

what advantage is it for a man to have gain'd the whole world, if he himself runs into utter loss and ruin?

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

if any be there, who deserve your benediction, it shall have its effect upon them; otherwise, it shall redound to your own advantage.

wo unto thee Chorazin; wo unto thee Bethsaida: for if the miracles, which have been wrought among you, had been wrought in Tyre and Sidon, they would long since have lain repenting in sackcloth and ashes.

At length the seventy return'd with great joy, saying, Lord, even the demons have been made subject to us by virtue of your name.

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.

however, let not this be the matter of your rejoicing, that the spirits are subject to you: but rejoice, that you have a title to the joys of heaven.

for I assure you, that many prophets and princes have desired to see what you now behold, but they never saw it; and to hear what you have heard, which they never did.

you have answered well, replied Jesus, do this, and you shall live.

for a friend of mine, a traveller, is come to my house, and I have nothing to entertain him with.

When the impure spirit is gone out of a man, he wanders about the wilds in quest of some repose: but finding none, I will return, says he, to the abode I have quitted.

However, when a man has once lighted his lamp, he does not hide it in a by-place, or under a bushel; but sets it on a stand, that all who come in may have light.

the eye is the light of the body: if therefore your eye be clear, every member of your body will have the benefit of the light: but if it be spoil'd, they must all rest in darkness.

but wo unto you Pharisees: for you will pay the tythes of mint, and rue, and all sorts of herbs, but as for justice and true piety, those you neglect. these you ought to have practised, without omitting however the other.

wo unto you Pharisees, for you affect to have the first rank in the synagogue, and to be complimented in publick places.

wo unto you, doctors of the law; for after having taken the key of knowledge, you remain still in the dark, and hinder others, who desire to have light.

whatever you have utter'd in the dark, shall be brought to light: and what you have whisper'd in a closet, shall be proclaim'd upon the house top.

then I will say to my soul, soul, you have many enjoyments in reserve for a number of years; take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap: nor have cellar or barn: are not you of much greater value than the fowls?

I tell you, you will not get out, till you have paid to the last farthing.

He proposed likewise this parable: a certain man had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard, and he came expecting it should have had fruit, but he found none.

then he said to the vine-dresser, you see, I have been looking these three years for fruit from this fig-tree, but find none: hew it down, why should it cumber my ground?

then you will say, we have eat, and drank with you, and you have taught in our streets.

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killest the prophets, and stonest those, who are sent unto thee: how often would I have gather'd thy children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and ye would not?"

and he that invited you both, should come and bid you give place to him; and you should have the disgrace of taking the lowest seat.

but they were all of a mind in making some excuse: the first said to him, I have bought a piece of ground, which I must needs go and see: therefore pray excuse me.

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

another said, I have married a wife: 'tis therefore impossible for me to come.

at length the servant said, sir, your orders have been executed, and still there is room.

and when he comes home, call his friends and neighbours together, and say to them, rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep, that was lost?

and when 'tis found, will she not call her friends aud neighbours together, and say, rejoice with me, for I have found the piece, I had lost?

for he would have been contented to have liv'd upon the carruways, with which they usually fed the swine: but nobody would supply him.

at length coming to himself, how many, said he, does my father keep in pay, who have bread in abundance, whilst I am dying here with hunger?

I will depart, and go to my father, and say to him, father, I have sinned against heaven, and against thee;

then the son said to him, father, I have sinned against heaven, and against you, I am no longer worthy to be called your son.

how many years have I serv'd you, without having ever disobey'd your orders? and yet you never bestow'd a kid upon me, to make merry with my friends:

son, said he to him, you shall continue to be with me, and all that I have shall be thine.

I must do something that will secure me a reception in other families, when I have lost my place in this.

and this unfaithful steward was commended by his master for being so provident. for they who look to this world, manage their affairs with more prudence, than those who have a prospect of a better.

if you have imbezel'd what another gave you in trust, how can he give you an estate in perpetuity?

upon which he said, father, I beg it of you, that you would send him to my father's family, where I have five brothers,

but Abraham replied, they have Moses and the prophets, let them mind them.

won't he rather say, get ready my supper, dress yourself, and wait upon me, till I have done eating and drinking; after that, take your meal?

so when you have done all that you were commanded to do, say, we are unprofitable servants; we have only done what was our duty to do.

all these, said he, have I observ'd from my youth.

upon hearing that, Jesus said to him, one thing you have yet to do: sell all you have, and give it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: then come, and follow me.

Jesus perceiving him so very dejected, said, how difficult is it for those, who have riches, to enter into the kingdom of God!

Then said Peter, you see that we have left every thing to follow you.

Afterwards Jesus took the twelve aside, and said to them, now we are going to Jerusalem where all that the prophets have writ concerning the son of man shall be accomplished.

then he cry'd out, Jesus son of David, have pity on me.

those who led the way bid him hold his tongue. but he bawl'd out the louder, son of David have pity on me.

what would you have me do for you? he said, Lord, I desire to have sight.

have sight, said Jesus, your faith has obtain'd you a cure.

but Zaccheus address'd himself to Jesus, and said, Lord, half my estate I give to the poor; and if I have wrong'd any man, I will give him four times the value.

a nobleman, said he, was going to travel to a foreign country, in order to have his kingdom confirm'd to him at his return.

but he being hated by the citizens, after he was gone, they sent a deputation to court, to make this protest, "we will not have him for our king."

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.

" why then did you not lodge my money in the bank, that on my return I might have drawn it out with interest?

as for those enemies of mine, who would not have me for their king, bring them here, and slay them in my presence.

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.

"my house is a house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves."

but they, who shall be accounted worthy to obtain the resurrection to an eternal life, shall have no concern in marriage, as being immortal:

beware of the Scribes, who are fond of appearing in their long robes, affect to be saluted in publick, to have the upper hand in the synagogues, and at all entertainments.

for they have offer'd only part of their superfluous wealth; but she has given all that was then left for her subsistence.

they ask'd him, where would you have us prepare it?

and he said to them, I have ardently desired to eat this passover with you, before I suffer.

for I declare unto you, I shall not celebrate this passover with you any more, to the time, when it shall have its accomplishment in the kingdom of the messiah.

but as for thee, I have pray'd that you faith may not fail. do you in return establish thy brethren.

Lord, said they, you see, we have two swords. he reply'd, that's enough.

I was daily with you in the temple, and you never offer'd to seize me: but now you have your hour, and the prince of darkness his day.

upon this they cry'd, what occasion have we for further evidence? for we ourselves have heard enough from his own mouth.

you have represented this man to me as one that was stirring up the people to a revolt: you see I have examin'd him in your presence; yet I don't find he is guilty of the crimes you have laid to his charge: no, nor even Herod;