Then Joseph being awak'd out of sleep, did as the angel of the Lord directed, and took his wife home,

but did not cohabit with her as a wife, before she had-brought forth her first-born son; whom he named JESUS.

saying, arise, take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they who attempted the life of the infant are dead.

but Jesus said to him, follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.

and he said to them, withdraw, for the maid is not dead, but asleep. and they treated him with contemptuous laughter.

heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: what ye have received gratis, give gratis.

the blind recover their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

As they departed, Jesus said to the people, speaking of John, what did ye go to see in the desert? a reed shaken with the wind?

what did ye go to see? a man dress'd in rich apparel? why, they that are so array'd belong to the court:

or did you go to see a prophet? yes, and be assured, one superiour to a prophet.

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?

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?

All these things spake Jesus to the multitude in parables, and did not discourse to them without some parable.

and he did not many miracles there, because of their incredulity.

and said to his servants, this is John the baptist, he is risen from the dead, and consequently is invested with miraculous power.

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

why, can't you perceive, that in cautioning you to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the Sadducees, I did not speak of bread?

then they perceived, he did not caution them against the leaven of bread, but against the Pharisaick and Sadducean doctrine.

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

As they went down the mountain, Jesus gave them this charge, don't speak of the vision, said he, to any body, till the son of man be risen again from the dead: but his disciples asked him,

why then, said they, did Moses permit to give a writ of divorce to repudiate the wife?

but he answered one of them, friend, I do thee no wrong: did not you agree for a penny a day?

but when the chief priests and Scribes saw the wonders that he did, and the young people crying in the temple, "Hosanna to the son of David;" they were full of indignation.

the baptism of John, whence was it? was it a divine or a human Institution? and they reasoned thus with themselves, if we say, it was divine; he will say, then, why did ye not believe him?

for John instructed you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the licentious believed him. and tho' you saw that, you did not yet repent, so as to believe him.

Jesus reply'd, did ye never read in the scriptures, " that very stone which the builders rejected, is become the principal stone of the angle, this the Lord effected, and it is marvellous in our eyes."

" I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?" God is not a benefactor to the dead, but to the living.

wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; for ye are like whited sepulchres, which to outward appearance are fine. but within are full of dead mens bones, and all sort of filth.

then will the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see thee in hunger, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

when did we see thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

or when did we see thee sick, or in prison, and visited thee?

then will they answer, Lord, when did we see thee in hunger, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

the disciples then did as Jesus appointed, and made ready the passover.

At the same time Jesus said to the company, you come to apprehend me with swords and clubs, as if in pursuit of a robber; I was every day with you teaching in the temple, and ye did not then seize upon me.

pray therefore order a guard to be posted at the sepulchre till the third day, for fear his disciples should come and steal him away, and then tell the people, "he is risen from the dead:" for this last imposture would be of worse consequence than the first.

for fear of whom the keepers shook, and were almost struck dead.

then go immediately to tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and that, he goes before you into Galilee, there shall ye see it is him; 'tis I that say it.

so they took the money, and did as they were directed: and this report is still current among the Jews at this day.

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.

but he replied, have ye never read what David, and the rest of the company did, when they were press'd with hunger?

how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar, who was afterwards high-priest, and did eat the shew-bread, giving some of it likewise to the company, though the law allow'd no body to eat of it but the priests.

then he looking with indignation at those about him, being concern'd at their disingenuous perverse temper, he said to the man, stretch out your hand, which he did, and his hand become sound.

Before he had done speaking, messengers came from the ruler of the synagogue's house, who said, "your daughter is dead, why do you give the master any further trouble?"

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.

In the mean time king Herod heard of Jesus, whose name was now celebrated, and he said, John the Baptist is risen from the dead, no wonder then that he works miracles.

but Herod, from what he had heard, said, 'tis John himself, whom I caused to be beheaded, who is risen from the dead.

for they were so stupid, they did not comprehend the miracle of the loaves.

and to whatever cities, towns, or villages he went, they expos'd the sick in the publick streets, entreating him, they might but touch the border of his garment; for as many as did so, were recover'd.

seven, said they. then he order'd the people to sit down on the ground: and taking the seven loaves, he gave thanks, then broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute among the people, which they accordingly did.

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

when I divided the five loaves among five thousand people, how many baskets full of fragments did you take away? they answer'd, twelve.

and when I divided the seven loaves among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you carry away? they answered, seven.

and instantly looking round about, they did not see any other person but Jesus with them.

as they were going down the mountain, he order'd them not to tell any body what they had seen, till the son of man was raised from the dead:

an expression which they dwelt upon, asking one another the meaning of "till he was raised from the dead."

and the spirit came out of him, having made him roar, and thrown him into such agonies, that he became like one that was dead, and many were of opinion he actually was so.

but they did not comprehend the meaning, and were ashamed to ask him about it.

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.

to which he answered, what direction did Moses give you?

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?

the second married her, and he died too without leaving her any children: the third did the same.

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?"

he is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: and therefore you greatly mistake the meaning.

then he return'd and found them still sleeping, for their eyes were heavy, and they did not know how to give an answer.

I was daily among you, teaching in the temple, and you did not then seize upon me. but the scriptures are thereby accomplished.

but neither did this evidence appear sufficient.

there they offered him myrrhed wine to drink, but he did not take it.

Pilate surpriz'd that he should be dead so soon, sent for the Centurion, and ask'd him, if he had been dead any time.

but though they heard that he was alive, and had appear'd to her, they did not believe.

and they went and acquainted the rest: but neither did they believe them.

no sooner did the sound of your salutation strike mine ear, than the babe leap'd within me for joy.

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.

but they did not comprehend the meaning of that expression.

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

then casting his eyes round the company, he said to the man, stretch out your hand. and he did so: and that hand was as sound as the other.

wo unto you when the generality of men shall applaud you: for so did their forefathers behave to the false prophets.

nor did I think myself worthy to attend you: speak but the word, and my servant shall be cured.

as he drew near the gate of the city, there was a dead man just then carrying out to be buried, who was his mother's only son, and she a widow: and many people of the town came with her.

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.

When the messengers of John were departed, he address'd himself to the people, and said with relation to John, what did you go to see in the desart? a reed shaken with the wind?

or did you go to see a man richly apparelled? for magnificent dress and splendid living, you must look into the courts of princes.

what then did you go to see? a prophet? yes, I say it, and more than a prophet.

you did not salute me, but this woman, since she came in, has been continually kissing my feet.

you did not bestow any oil upon my head; but she has poured her rich perfume upon my feet.

when he was landed, there met him a man, who belong'd to the city Gadara, and had been for a long time possessed by demons. he did not wear any cloaths, nor dwell in any house, but among the tombs.

While he was speaking, somebody came from the ruler of the synagogue's house, who said to him, your daughter is dead; 'tis in vain to importune the master any farther.

the company there were all in tears lamenting for her: but he said don't weep; she is not dead, but asleep.

upon which, they knowing she was really dead, treated him with derision.

Now Herod the tetrarch was inform'd of all his transactions: and was perplex'd at the relation of some, that John was risen from the dead: whilst others said, Elias appear'd:

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.

and before the sound was gone, Jesus was left alone: this they kept secret, and for some time did not acquaint any one in the least with what they had seen.

and all the people were astonished at such an instance of divine power: and as they were admiring whatever Jesus did, he said to his disciples,

but they did not comprehend that expression: it was as a riddle, which they could not understand, and they were afraid to desire him to explain the meaning of that expression.

his disciples James and John observing this, said, Lord, shall we command fire to descend from heaven, as Elias did, in order to consume them?

Jesus said to him, let the dead bury their dead; but do you go and preach the kingdom of God.

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.

to which Jesus answered, a certain man, as he was going from Jerusalem to Jericho, fell among thieves, who stripp'd him, and beat him, then march'd off leaving him half dead.

but the Pharisee was surprized to see that he did not wash before dinner.