When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the reign of king Herod, certain eastern Magi came to Jerusalem, with this enquiry,

that ye may be the children of your father who is in heaven, for he causes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

the rain descended, the floods came, the winds blew, and beat upon that house: but it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock.

the rain descends, the flood rushes on, the winds blow, and beat upon the house: down it falls, and wide are its ruins.

and Jesus bad them go, accordingly they came out, and went into the herd of swine: and immediately the herd of swine ran furiously down a precipice into the sea, where they were all drown'd.

immediately one of them ran to fetch a spunge, which they steep'd in vinegar, and fastning it to the end of a stick, they presented it to him, to drink:

And they instantly left the sepulchre, with fear and joy, and ran to carry his disciples this good news.

but when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and prostrated himself before him.

Jesus immediately gave them leave. and the impure spirits quitting the possessed, entred into the swine, and the whole herd, which were about two thousand, ran down a precipice into the sea, and were there stifled.

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.

as soon as they saw him, they were over-joyed, and ran to salute him.

if we should say, it was a human institution, we run a risk from the people. (for they all believed John was a true prophet.)

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.

he shall reign over the house of Jacob, and of his kingdom there shall be no end."

All the neighbourhood were struck with reverence, and the rumour of these events ran thro' all the mountains of Judea,

I assure you, though there were many widows in Israel, when the heaven had furnished no rain for three years and a half, and a great famine spread through all the land:

After this Jesus went about, preaching to every city and village, proclaiming the reign of the Messias, attended by his twelve apostles,

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.

accordingly the demons quitted the man, and enter'd into the swine: immediately the herd ran headlong down a precipice into the lake, and were drowned.

the keepers seeing this, ran about and spread it, both in town,

then sent them to proclaim the reign of the Messiah, and to heal the sick.

where the people, who were inform'd of it, followed him: which he did not discountenance, but explained to them the reign of the Messiah, and relieved those, who wanted to be cured.

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

I declare unto you, there are some here present, who shall not die, till they see the Messiah reign.

to whom he answered, how does the law run in that case? what do you find?

but Jesus perceiving their suspicions, said to them, every kingdom divided against itself will soon be desolate: one family divided against another, falls to ruin.

but if I cast out demons by the finger of God, it follows, that the reign of the Messiah is now begun among you.

Then he said to the people, when you see a cloud rise out of the west, you say, it is just going to rain; and so it happens.

so he departed and went to his father. but while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him, and mov'd with compassion, ran and threw himself upon his neck, and kissed him.

so he ran before, and climb'd up a mulberry-tree to view him; for he was to pass that way.

he was of Arimathea, a city of Judea, and one of those, who were in expectation of the Messiah's reign.

yet Peter got up, and ran to the sepulchre, where stooping down he saw nothing but the linnen lying there: upon which he went away wondring with himself at such an event.

and their conversation ran upon all that had lately happened.

but the sea ran high, by reason of the wind that blew hard.

they both set out together: but the other disciple out-ran Peter, and came first to the cave,

to whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion, of which they had many proofs, during the forty days he appear'd to them, and inform'd them about the reign of the Messias:

As the lame man who was cured, held Peter and John, the people all in surprize ran to Solomon's porch, where they were.

Philip ran to him, and hearing him read the prophet Esaias, said, do you understand what you read?

and one of them named Agabus foretold by the spirit, that there should be a great famine, thro' all the world: which accordingly happen'd in the reign of Claudius Cesar.

upon hearing Peter tell his name, instead of opening the gate, she ran, out of joy, to tell them, that Peter was there.

nevertheless he sufficiently display'd himself by his beneficence to mankind, in giving us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, replenishing our hearts with food and gladness."

then having called for a light, he ran in, and with trembling fell down before Paul and Silas;

for we run the risk of being answerable for this day's sedition: there being no justifiable occasion for such a commotion."

I therefore declare to you at this present time, that I am not responsible for the ruin of any:

at day-break they made an unknown land, with a creek, where they resolv'd, if it were possible, to run the ship ashore.

when falling into the confluence of two currents, they ran the ship a-ground: where the fore-castle stuck fast and would not give, but her stern was shatter'd by the violence of the waves.

for tho' death reigned thro' the single offence of one, they who receive the most valuable favour, even the gift of righteousness, shall much more easily reign by the life of one, even Jesus Christ.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, by making you slaves to the lusts thereof.

and the commandment which leads to life was instrumental to my ruin.

for the words of the promise run thus, "at this time I will come, and Sara shall have a son."

You will say then, "were they suffer'd to stumble meerly for their ruin?" no: but that thro' their fall, salvation might be offer'd to the Gentiles, in order to provoke their emulation.

besides Esaias saith, "there shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles hope."

You have already a sufficiency, you already abound, you live like princes in our absence: and would to God you did reign, that we too might have the advantage of your administration.

You know, that in a race, tho' all run, but one receives the prize: so run, that you may obtain.

I therefore so run, not as one that is distanc'd: I fight, but not with the air.

for he must reign, "till God has cast all his enemies under his feet."

for though I should more than ever magnify my authority, which the Lord hath given us for your improvement, and not for your ruin, I should have no reason to be ashamed;

without being under any the least apprehension from your adversaries: this will be to them a sign of their ruin, and to you of salvation, by the divine appointment.

who in the. end will be ruin'd, who place their religion in sensuality, their glory in that which is their shame, and fix their thoughts upon this earth.

and to expect his son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivers us from impending ruin.

and with all the vile methods of imposture, to the ruin of those, who are averse to the truth, by which they might be saved.

nor must he be a new convert; for fear he should be elated with pride, and so involve himself in the same ruin as the devil.

themselves to temptations and snares, and to many foolish noxious passions, which plunge men into ruin and perdition. for the love of money is the root of all evil:

if we suffer, we shall also reign: if we renounce him,

Let brotherly love still reign.

'tis he that has voluntarily renew'd us by the oracles of truth, that we might be the first converts of the new creation.

where false zeal, and a spirit of contention reign, there confusion and every vice prevail.

Elias was only a man, as we are; however, having ardently prayed, that it might not rain, it did not rain in that country for three years and a half:

that the retrieving of a sinner from his erroneous habits, is saving a soul from ruin, and cancels a multitude of sins.

By their artful discourses they will make you the tools of their avarice; but their condemnation has been a long time advancing, and their ruin is far from lingring.

as it were in all his epistles, where he takes notice of these things: in which there are some passages that are difficult to understand, which the illiterate, and unstable wrest, as they do the rest of the scriptures, to their own ruin.

I JOHN, who am your brother, and partake in the tribulation, in the reign, and in the patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony I gave of Jesus Christ.

he that sat, appear'd to the sight, like a jasper, and a sardine stone: and there was an arch like a rain-bow, round about the throne, which had the appearance of an emerald.

and hast made us kings and priests unto our God: and we shall reign on the earth."

during their prophecy they have power to prevent any rain descending from heaven: their power extends over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with what plagues they please.

The seventh angel sounded, and there were great voices in heaven, crying, "the kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever."

O heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets, triumph at her ruin, since God hath avenged you on her.

and I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, which was like the sound of many waters, or like a volley of thunder, saying, "alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent does reign."

happy and holy are they that have part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God, and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

no night shall be there, nor any need of a lamp, or of the light of the sun; for the Lord God will give them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.