for it is he that is meant in that passage, "behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee."

Messiah is greater than he.) for ever since the appearance of John the Baptist the gospel kingdom is as it were invaded, and people of the most violent passions enter into it with zeal.

but to what shall I compare this generation? they are like children sitting in the markets, and calling out to their fellows,

I declare unto you, Tyre and Sidon shall be treated with less severity at the day of judgment than you.

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.

At the same time Jesus, continuing his discourses, said, "I thank thee, O father, Lord of heaven and earth, for having revealed unto babes what thou hast hid from the wise and prudent.

even so it is, father, for such has been thy will.

At that time as Jesus pass'd through the corn on the sabbath day, his disciples being hungry, pluck'd the ears of corn, and fell to eating.

the Pharisees seeing that, said to him, see, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath-day.

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

how he entred into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which it was not lawful either for him or his company to eat, but only for the priests?

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

At his departure thence, he went into their synagogue.

where they brought a man with a withered hand: and asked him this insnaring question, is it lawful to heal on the sabbath-day?

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?

is not a man of much greater consequence than a sheep? how lawful then is it to do good offices on the sabbath-day?

then saith he to the man, stretch out thy hand: and be stretched it out; and it was made as sound as the other.

Upon this the Pharisees went out of the synagogue, and form'd a conspiracy against his life.

so that what was said by Esaias the prophet, was fulfill'd;

which made the people cry out with amazement, "Is not this the son of David?"

Jesus perceiving what they surmized, said to them, any kingdom once divided against itself will soon be desolate: nor can any city or house divided against itself, long subsist.

shall not be forgiven them. and if any one speaks against the son of man, it may be forgiven him: but if any one speaks against the holy spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in that to come.

a good man out of the good treasure produces good things: and an evil man, out of the evil treasure, produces evil things.

but I declare unto you, that men shall give an account at the day of judgment, of every scandalous expression they utter.

the men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment against this generation, and shall condemn it, because they were converted at the preaching of Jonas, and now there is one superiour to Jonas here.

the queen of the south shall rise up at the day of judgement against this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the remote parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now a greater than Solomon is here.

When an unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he roams about the deserts, seeking rest, and findeth none.

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.

then he goes and takes seven other spirits besides himself, but more mischievous than himself, and they all enter in and lodge there: so that the last state of that man is worse than the first. just so shall it likewise fare with this wicked generation.

and holding out his hand towards his disciples, see there, said he, my mother, and my brothers.

The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea-side.

Then he talk'd to them much in parables, and said, a sower went out to sow.

another part fell upon stony places, where it had not much earth: and it soon sprung up, because the soil was shallow:

so that as the sun arose it was scorched, and for want of root, withered away.

another part fell among thorns: and the thorns grew up and choked it.

to whom he answered, because you are allowed to know the mysteries of the gospel-dispensation, but to them it is not allowed.

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.

therefore speak I to them in parables: because they over-look what they see: and are inattentive to what they hear, neither will they comprehend.

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."

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.

when any one heareth the doctrine of the gospel, and considers it not, then comes the wicked one, and catches away what was sown in his heart: he is the person meant by the high-way, where some of the seed was sown: but the stony ground,

where other seed fell, denotes the man that heareth the word, and at first receives it with pleasure:

but the ground that received the grain, represents those, who hear the word, and consider it, who all become fruitful, some in one degree, and some in another.

but while the people slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

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?

up the wheat with them. let both grow together till the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will thus direct the reapers, first of all gather the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: then lodge the wheat in my barn.

'tis one indeed of the smallest grains: but when it is grown, it is the largest of the pulse kind, and becomes a tree: so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches.

so that this saying of the prophet was fulfilled, "I will talk in parables, I will utter what has been kept secret from the foundation of the world."

as then the tares are gathered and burnt in the fire; so shall it be at the conclusion of the age.

the son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all that make others offend, and those who do iniquity;

then shall the just shine out like the sun, in the kingdom of their father. he that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hid in a field: a man finds this treasure and buries it again, then goes in great joy, sells all that he hath, and purchases that field.

when it is full, they drag it to shore, then sit down, and pick out the good to lay by, but throw the bad away.

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,

they reply'd, yes, Lord. then said he to them, thus every teacher who is instructed in the doctrine of the gospel, is like the master of a family, who taketh out of his treasure things new and old.

and when he was come into his native country, he taught them in their synagogue, in such a manner that they cry'd out with astonishment, how came this man by all this wisdom, and extraordinary power?

and they were scandaliz'd at him. but Jesus said to them, a prophet is not without honour, except in his own country and in his own family.

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,

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

and the king relented: nevertheless out of regard to the oath, and to those who sat with him at table, he commanded it to be brought to her.

whence his head was brought in a charger, and given to the young lady, who carried it to her mother.

upon which, his disciples came to take away the body, and having buried it, they went to tell Jesus what had happened.

When Jesus heard that, he embark'd, to retire privately to a desert place: of which the people being inform'd, they followed him on foot out of the cities.

At evening his disciples came to him, saying, this is a desert place, and dinner-time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go to buy themselves provisions in the villages.

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

then giving orders for the company to sit down on the grass, he took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks; then breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave them to his disciples, and the disciples to the company: who all of them eat,

at the dawn of day, Jesus came to them walking on the sea.

the disciples seeing him walking on the sea, cry'd out in a fright, an apparition; and they scream'd for fear.

but Jesus immediately call'd to them, take courage, said he, it is I, don't be afraid.

Peter answered, Lord, said he, if it be you, bid me come upon the water to you.

Jesus said, come. and Peter getting out of the ship, walk'd on the water to go to Jesus.

but finding the wind boisterous, he was afraid: and beginning to sink, cried out, Lord, save me.

immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, and caught him, diffident man, said he, why were you in suspence?

praying him to let them only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touch'd it were made perfectly whole.

why do your disciples violate the tradition of our ancestors, in not washing their hands when they eat bread?

that which entereth by the mouth is not what defiles a man: but what defiles the man is that which is discharged by the mouth.

Thereupon his disciples drawing nigh, said, did you observe, how the Pharisees were scandalized at your discourse?

and Jesus said, are ye also yet without understanding?

do not ye yet conceive, that whatever enters at the mouth, passes to the belly, and is discharged downwards?

but what proceeds out of the mouth, is deriv'd from the heart, and that defiles the man.

out of the heart proceed evil designs, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimony, slanders.

these are the things which defile a man: but to eat without washing one's hands, that does not defile a man.

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.

however she advanc'd, and throwing her self at his feet, cried, O Lord, assist me.

but he answered, it is not just to take the childrens bread, and throw it to puppies.

'tis true, Lord, said she: yet even puppies eat of the crumbs which fall from their master's table.

then Jesus answered her, O woman, great is thy faith: as you desire, be it done. and her daughter was healed from that very hour.

there a great crowd of people came to him, bringing with them the lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and laid them down at Jesus feet, and he healed them:

so that they all eat, and were satiated: the superfluous fragments they carried off, amounting to seven baskets full:

and in the morning, a foul day: when the sky is of a dusky red. hypocrites, can ye judge of the appearance of the sky, and yet not discern the signs of these times?

Now at their departure to go to the other side, his disciples had forgot to take bread.

As Jesus was going to the district of Cesarea-Philippi, he asked his disciples, what do people say of me? that I am a common man?

but what, said he, do you take me to be?

and I tell thee likewise, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will hereafter build my church: and death shall not prevail against it.

but he frown'd upon Peter, and said, out of my sight pernicious obstacle to my designs; your views are all worldly, regardless of what is divine.

what advantage is it to a man to gain the whole world at the price of his life? or what would not a man pay down to preserve his life?

and was transfigured before them; his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

then Peter address'd himself to Jesus, Lord, said he, it is good for us to stay here: if you please, let us make three tabernacles here; one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elias.

while he was speaking, a bright cloud surrounded them: and suddenly a voice broke out of the cloud, saying, "this is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him."

and when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were in a terrible fright.