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LUKE.

CHA P. IX.

51 And it came to pass, wwhen the time was come that he should be received up, he ftedfaftly fet his face to go to Jerufalem,

52 And fent messengers before his face and they went, and entred into a village of the Samaritans to make ready - for him.

53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as tho he would go to Jerufalem.

$4 And when his difciples James and John faw this, they faid, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and confume them, even as Elias did?

JOHN.

CHA P. VII.

9 When he had said these words to them, he abode ftill in Galilee.

Io But when his brethren were gone up, then went he alfo up unto the feaft, not openly, but as it were in fe

cret.

yet convenient for him. Accordingly he ftaid fome days longer in Galilee, while his Relations took their journy to Jerufalem;, but not long after, viz. the beginning of October, he fet out for that place alfo, none knowing beforehand whether he would be at the Feast or no. He himself knew very well that the time approach'd in which he was to be cut off; for which purpose he determin'd to fpend a few days in the City, tho he did not intend to continue there all the eight days of that Feast, that the Jews might not have time enough to execute their bloody Defigns against him. He therefore went privatly thro Samaria. While he was upon the road, it happen'd that having fent fome before to take up Lodgings in an Inn for him, the Samaritans refus'd to entertain him, because at that time of the year he feem'd to be going to Jerufalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.

Of which when the men before fent (viz. John and James the Sons of Zebedee) told Jefus, they asked him whether he would not revenge the Affront on thefe Samaritans, and pray God to pour down Fire from Heaven upon them, as Elias did formerly on the Officers that were sent to feize him. But Jefus turning himself about,

told

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CHA P. IX.

55 But he turned and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy mens lives, but to fave them. And they went to another village.

57 And it came to pass that as they went in the way, a certain man faid unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whitherfoever thou goeft.

58 And Jefus faid unto him, Foxes have holes, and bird's of the air have nefts, but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

59 And he said to another, Follow me: but he faid, Lord, fuffer me firft to go and bury my father.

60 Jefus faid unto him, Let the dead bury their dead ; but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

JOHN..

told 'em they were not acquainted with that Temper of Mind with which the Minifters of his Gospel ought to be indued, fince they were for destroying those whom they should indeavor to preferve: for, faid he, I am not come to bring Destruction on any one, but on the contrary to offer Salvation to all. Upon this accident they turn'd afide into another Village.

While they were on the road, there came a certain man to Jefus, offering to attend him conftantly whitherfoever he went; but his aim terminating in the enjoyment of worldly conveniences, which he expected to meet with by being in his retinue, Jefus gave him this answer, the fame he had us'd formerly on a like occafion, ch. 28. Foxes have Holes, and the Birds of the Air their Nefts, but I have not one place that I can call my own, wherein to repofe my felf, and entertain my Friends. Another that was prefent, was commanded by Jefus to follow him, and become his Difciple; who made the fame reply (as we have already related) which was given by another perfon to the like command, ch. 28. viz. That he had a decrepit old Father, with whom he defired to continue till his death, that he might perform the laft Offices to him; and that after his interment he would gladly become one of his Followers. To whom Jefus thus replied: Leave the management of funeral Rites to thofe who are unacquainted with the spiritual Life; as for thee, be thou a Meffenger of the Kingdom of Heaven. Another frankly offering

MATTHEW.

MARK.

LUKE.

CHA P. IX.

61 And another also faid, Lord, I will follow thee: but let me first go bid them farewel which are at home at my house.

62 And Jefus faid unto him, No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

A

СНА Р. X. FTER these things, the Lord appointed other feventy also, and fent them two and two before his face into every city, and place, whither he himself would come.

2 Therefore faid he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would fend forth labourers into his harvest.

3 Go your ways: behold, I fend you forth as lambs among wolves.

Јонк.

himself, provided he might have fufficient time to fettle his Affairs in the World, was put in mind by Jefus of the Proverb, No one must look backward that has once fet his hand to the Plow: Intimating, that they who have dedicated themselves to the Ministry, ought never to forfake their most holy Vocation by betaking themselves again to the hurry and bufinefs of their former Lives.

'Twas in this journy that Jefus chofe feventy Difciples befides the twelve Apoftles,' and fent them by two and two into all the Towns thro which he himself defign'd to pafs, and gave them the fame Inftructions he had the year before given to his Apoftles, when he fent them to declare the good tidings of the approaching Reign of the Merah, ch. 30. For he spoke to them to this effect: The Harveft is great, but the Reapers few; many are prepar'd to receive the Gospel, but there are very few that can be Meffengers of it. Pray ye therefore to God, the Lord of the Harveft, that he would fend more Reapers, that is, Preachers of the Gospel : In the mean time do you go on couragioully till God fends Affiftants to you, be not difmaid, but rely on him. I fend you as Sheep to Wolves, that is, men of an inoffenfive carriage and plain dealing, to a rapacious, crafty, undermining Race of

002

men,

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CHAP. X.

4 Carry neither purse, nor fcrip, nor fhoes: and falute. no man by the way.

5 And into whatsoever houfe ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.

6 And if the fon of peace be there, your peace shall reft upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.

7 And in the fame house remain eating and drinking fuch things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.

8 And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat fuch things as are fet before you.

9 And heal the fick that. are therein, and fay to them, The kingdom of God is come. nigh unto you.

10 But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into

JOHN...

men, who will flip no opportunity of doing you an injury. Enter immediatly on your Commiffion, neither ftay to provide your felves with any conveniences for your journy, but be affur'd that the divine Providence will take care that nothing needful fhall be wanting to you. Let no pretence of paying Refpect and Honor to any perfon by the way, make you delay the bufinefs with which I now charge you. Into whatever Family you come, immediatly defire God to fhower down his Blef fings upon it; and if there be any deferving perfon in it, your Prayers fall undoubtedly be heard; elfe, you may offer up the fame charitable Requests for others that fhall be more worthy of them. While you stay in any Town, do not shift your habitation, that you may give as little offence as poffible: And whatever is fet before you to eat, fcruple not the free ufe of it; for as it is in the Proverb, The Labourer is worthy of his hire. And be not nice in your Food, but wherefoever you come, content your felves with a frugal and fpare Diet. Intercede with God on the behalf of the Sick of all thofe places thro which you pafs, and he will hear your Prayers as being my Difciples, and declare ye the approach of the heavenly Kingdom of the Mah. But if the Inhabitants of any Town or Village

refufe

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CHAP. X.

the streets of the fame, and
fay,

1 Even the very duft of
your city which cleaveth on
us, we do wipe off against you:
notwithstanding, be ye fure of
this, that the kingdom of God
is come nigh unto you.

12 But I fay unto you, that
it fhall be more tolerable in
that day for Sodom, than for
that city.

13 Wo unto thee Chorazin,
wo unto thee Bethfaida: for
if the mighty works had been
done in Tyre and Sidon, which?
have been done in you,they had
a great while ago repented, fit-
ting in fackcloth and ashes.

14 But it fhall be more to-
lerable for Tyre and Sidon at
the judgment, than for you.

15 And thou Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, fhalt be thruft down to hell.

JOHN.

refufe to receive you, fhake off the very Duft of your Feet, and tell them that t you do it as a token that you will have no manner of intercourfe with them; but let them take warning inasmuch as the Kingdom of the Meffiah is at hand. As for fuch people, I tell you that the Inhabitants of Sodom fhall be lefs feverely punish'd at the laft day. Upon which Jefus calling to mind the contumacy of fome Cities fituated on the Lake of Gennefareth, in the Country about which he had liv'd fo long, and perform'd fo many Miracles, brake out into this exclamation: O what great Punishments remain for you, ye Inhabitants of Chorazin and Bethfaida! for if the Miracles wrought among you had bin perform'd before the Tyrians and Sidonians, Nations overrun with Idolatry and Superftition, they would long ago have repented, fitting on the Ground cover'd with Ŝackcloth, and fprinkled with Ashes, tho you have not been in the leaft prevailed on to amend your Lives. The Tyrians and Sidonians therefore fhall not be fo feverely punish'd as you, the Profeffors of the Jewish Religion. And you, O ye Inhabitants of Capernaum, whom all men have efteem'd the happieft People on Earth becaufe of my continuance with yous you shall hereafter be accounted the most miferable of all men by reafon of your Contumacy and Impenitency.

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