8 might find an accusation against him.*

But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood 9 forth. Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbathdays to do good, or to do evil? to save life, 10 or to destoy it? And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand 11 was restored whole as the other. And they

were filled with madness,† and consulted one 12 with another what they might do to Jesus. And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.‡

13

And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples and of them he chose twelve, 14 whom also he named Apostles :

Simon (whom he also named Peter) and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bar15 tholomew; Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon called Zelotes; 16 and Judas the brother of James; and Judas Iscariot, who also was the traitor.

* The Pharisees were very superstitious. They condemned Jesus for performing miracles of mercy upon the afflicted, on the sabbath. They must have been confounded and ashamed when he inquired of them if they did not labor on that day for the comfort of the brutes ?

They could not answer his queries, and yet they were determined to oppose him.

If Jesus found the advantage of prayer, how much more important should it be considered for man, who is so liable to err, and so much exposed to temptation ?

17

And he came down with them, and stood in the plain; and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of the people, out of all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the sea-coasts of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him, 18 and to be healed of their diseases, and they who were vexed with unclean spirits and 19 they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch him for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.

20

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And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed are ye poor for yours is 21 the kingdom of God.* Blessed are ye that hunger now for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall rejoice. 22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and

when they shall avoid you, and shall reproach 23 and defame you for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and triumph: for behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in like manner did their fathers treat the prophets. 24 But wo unto you who are rich for ye have 25 received your consolation. Wo unto you

who are full for ye shall hunger. Wo unto you who laugh now:† for ye shall mourn 26 and weep. Wo unto you when men shall speak well of you: for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

27 But I say unto you who hear, Love your

*This is the substance of the Lord's sermon from the mount, which Matthew more fully gives, and contains three chapters, the fifth, sixth and seventh.

t Indulge to levity and merriment: and are inconsiderate and devoted to worldly pleasures.

enemies, do good to them who hate you. 28 Bless them who curse you, and pray for them 29 who despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek, offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak, 30 forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. 31 And as ye would that men should do to you, 32 do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love

them who love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. 33 And if ye do good to them who do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do 34 even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as 35 much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Most High: for he is kind unto the unthankful, and to the evil. 36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also 37 is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive and ye shall be forgiven: 38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure with which ye mete, it shall be measured to you

These expressions are not to be understood literally. They inculcate a pacific and forgiving spirit.

39 again. And he spake a parable unto them; Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not 40 both fall into the ditch? The disciple is not

above his master: but every one that is perfect 41 shall be as his master. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam* that is in thine own 42 eye? Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye. 43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit ; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth 44 good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit for of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble-bush gather they grapes. 45 A good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man, out of the evil treasure of his heart, bringeth forth that which is evil for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

46

And why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do 47 not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is 48 like. He is like a man who built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock and when the flood arose, the stream

:

* Or splinter.

beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it for it was founded upon a rock. 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that, without a foundation, built an house upon the earth, and against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

1

CHAP. VII.

NOW when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into 2 Capernaum. And a centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. 3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought

him earnestly, saying, That he was worthy for 5 whom he should do this. For he loveth our

nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. 6 Then Jesus went with them; and when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that 7 thou shouldest enter under my roof; wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee but say in a word, and my servant shall 8 be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come and he cometh; and to my servant, Do 9 this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard