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JOHN.

CHA P. IX.

can a man that is a finner, do fuch miracles? And there was a divifion among them.

17 They fay unto the blind man again, What fayeft thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He faid, He is a prophet.

18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his fight, until they called the parents of him that had received his fight.

19 And they asked them, faying, Is this your fon, who ye fay was born blind? how then doth he now fee?

20 His parents answered them and faid, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:

21 But by what means he now feeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age, ask him, he fhall speak for himself.

22 These words fpake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed

while others contended that they could not conceive how a bad man, and a Violator of the Laws of God could perform fo many and fo great Miracles, as it was conftantly reported had bin done by Jefus. Thus the Members of that Affembly were divided in their Opinions concerning him. Some of them then ask'd him that had bin born blind, what his opinion was of him, who replied, he took him for a Prophet.

The man having made this profeffion in the Sanhedrim, there were fome who would not believe he was born blind, unless his Parents would vouch the fame; who therefore were fent for, and being ask'd whether this were their Son that was born blind, and by what means he acquir'd his Eye-fight, replied; that they knew very well this was their Son, and that he had bin blind from his birth, but that they were ignorant by whom and how he had bin cur'd, being not prefent when the Cure was wrought; that they might examin their Son, who was of age to answer for himself. Now the Parents of the blind man fpake thus, because they were afraid of the Sanhedrim, who, as they knew very well, had come to this Refolu

MATTHEW.

MARK.

LUKE.

JOHN.

СНА Р. ІХ.

already, that if any man did confefs that he was Chrift, he fhould be put out of the fynagogue.

23 Therefore faid his parents, He is of age, ask him.

24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and faid unto him, Give God the praise : we know that this man is a finner.

25 He answered and faid, Whether he be a finner or no, I know not one thing I know, that whereas I was blind, now I fee.

26 Then faid they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?

27 He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore, would ye hear it again? will ye alfo be his disciples?

28 Then they reviled him,' and faid, Thou art his difciple; but we are Mofes's disciples.

tion, that if any own'd Jefus for the Messiah, he should be turn'd out of the Synagogue. For which reafon they were afraid of fpeaking what they thought, but re fer'd the Sanhedrim to the examination of their Son, who, as they urg'd, was of age to answer in his own caufe.

The man therefore was call'd in to the Affembly again, and commanded to speak the truth; it appearing, as they faid, after a mature examination that Jesus was a contemner of the Law.

The man conftantly replied, that truly for his part he knew not whether Fefus were a contemner of the Law; but he knew very well, that whereas he was perfectly blind before, he now enjoy'd his Sight. They demanded of him a gain what it was that Jefus did in order to cure him: The man anfwer'd, that he had fatisfied them as to that point already, and could fee no reafon for their putting the fame question again to him, unless they alfo were inclin❜d to be his Difciples. The Pharifees upon this reviling him, told him; that he indeed was Jefus's Difciple, but as for them, they own'd only Mofes for their Mafter: That they were fure Mofes Rr 2

was

MATTHEW.

MARK.

LUKE.

JOHN.

CHAP.

IX.

29 We know that God fpake unto Mofes as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.

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30 The man answered and faid unto them, Why, herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.

31 Now we know that God heareth not finners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.

33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.

34 They answered and faid unto him, Thou waft altogether born in fins, and dost thou teach us? And they caft him out.

35 Jefus heard that they had caft him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Doft thou believe on the Son of God?

was fent by God, but as for this Jefus they knew not whence he came, nor with what authority he acted. The man then told them, that it was ftrange they fhould not know from whence Jefus was, who had perform'd fuch a Miracle as the curing one that was born blind; for, faid he, it is a thing agreed on, that God never grants the requests of the Wicked, and that he performs his Miracles in behalf of them only that revere him, and obey his Laws. 'Twas never yet heard of, that the Eyes of one born blind had bin open'd, nor did he conceive how Jefus could do any thing like it, unless by the divine Afliftance. The Members of the Affembly were vehemently offended at the man's Speech, and faid with indignation; Doft thou attempt to inftruct us in matters relating to the Law, thou who, as it appears from thy having bin born blind, wert punith'd in this Life for Some heinous Offences committed in a precedent ftate? Upon this they commanded him to be turn'd out of the Room with ignominy.

Jefus having heard of this Accident, and the Punishment inflicted on him, for having publicly own'd before the Sanhedrim that he took Jefus for a Prophet, and meeting with him not long after, ask'd him whether he believ'd on the Son of

God,

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JOHN.

CHAP. IX.

36 He answered and faid, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?

37 And Jefus faid unto him, Thou haft both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.

38 And he faid, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.

39 And Jefus faid, For judgment I am come into this world: that they which fee not, might fee; and that they which fee, might be made blind.

40 And fome of the Pharifees which were with him heard these words, and faid unto him, Are we blind alfo ?

41 Jefus faid unto them, If ye were blind, ye fhould have no fin: but now ye fay, We fee; therefore your fin remaineth.

God, or the Meffiah? The man replied, that he was ready to believe on him, and defired to know who he was. Jefus perceiving him to fpeak from his heart; Thou haft now feen him, faid he, and it is he thou now talkeft with. The man hereupon fell down at his feet with this Exclamation; Lord, I believe !

Jefus afterwards having regard to the Cure that had bin wrought upon him, thus exprefs'd himself before a numerous Auditory: I came here on Earth with defign to do good to all men; but fo it happens by the obftinacy of fome men, that they who were before blind fhall become clear-fighted, and those that before faw fhall be intirely blinded: implying, that men wholly ignorant, and as much in the dark in what relates to the understanding of the Scriptures, as that blind man was with refpect to corporeal Light, fhould now be enlightned with the bright beams of the Gofpel; and on the other hand thofe that were accounted learned and clear-fighted in the Writings of the Prophets, should in a short time be charg'd with Ignorance and Blindness.

For which reafon fome of the Pharisees who had heard Jefus, imagining he had reflected upon them, ask'd him whether he thought they were blind? Then faid Jefus, If you were blind you would not be culpable in this matter: Now (as you would have it believed) being fo clear-fighted, your Obftinacy is altogether inex. cufable.

Then

MATTHEW.

MARK.

LUKE.

JOHN.

СНА Р. Х.

Erily verily I say unto you, He that entreth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up fome other way, the fame is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that entreth in by the door, is the fhepherd of the Theep.

3 To him the porter openeth; and the fheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own fheep by name, and leadeth them out.

4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

5 And a ftranger will they not follow, but will flee from him for they know not the voice of strangers.

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6 This parable fpake Jefus unto them: but they underftood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

7 Then faid Jesus unto them again, Verily verily I fay unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

8 All that ever came before me, are thieves and

Then he spake to them in this Similitude: Whoever comes into the Sheepfold any other way than at the Door, is to be accounted a Thief and Robber; for the Door is never fhut against the true Shepherd, but as foon as ever he knocks, the Doorkeeper opens it to him, and the Sheep know his Voice, and follow him wherever he pleases. But a Stranger's Voice they will fly from, fo far will they be from following him. The Jews did not comprehend his meaning in this Parable, tho he represented to 'em not obfcurely that he was that Shepherd who had bin invested with the Office by God himself, which he entred upon by performing his Miracles among them, quite contrary to the evil Spirits and thofe poffeffed by them, who invading the Miniftry ufe all their tricks to furprize the Sheep. Further, the true Shepherd was easily diftinguifh'd by the fincere Lovers of Truth, who would alfo carefully avoid thofe Counterfeits that would allure 'em out of the Sheepfold, and expofe them to the danger of being loft in an endless Labyrinth of Error.

That the Jews might therefore perceive that he difcours'd to them of himself, continuing the fame allegorical ftrain, I am, faid he, the only Gate at which the Sheep can enter; thofe that have before pretended to it have bin mere Cheats and

Robber

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