immediately and publish e- 7. Jefus knowing the Man's Faith and Humility, and intending by making the Virtues of this Stranger more confpicuous, to take an Among the various Senfes, which Expofitors give of thefe words, as magnier duris, this feems the most probable. 8 The Centurion answered and faid, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldeft come under my roof: but fpeak the word only, and my fervant fhall be healed. 9 For I am a man under authority, having foldiers under me: and I fay to this man, Go, and he go eth and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my fervant, Do this, and he doth it. 10 When Jefus heard it, he marvell ed, and faid to them ly I fay unto you, I have not found fo great faith, no not in Ifrael. that followed, Veri occafion of rebuking the Pride and Infidelity of the Jews; faith, I will go down to the House and heal him. 8. The Man fent again other Friends, and anfwered; Lord, I am originally a Gentile, and have been long a Sinner, and am not worthy that you should honour my House with your Prefence: I know that if you do but say the word. my Servant fhall be healed. 9. For if I, who am but an inferiour Officer in an Army, can give the word of command, and be immediately obeyed by my Servants: How much more may you, to whom God hath committed fuch Power and Authority, fay but a word, and what you fay thall be effected? 10. At this answer Jefus was furprized, and said to his Difciples, and to the People that followed him Verily I have not found fo great Faith among the Jews themselves, who have lived al always under a Revelation of the Will of God, and have had the conftant Use of the Scriptures and the Prophets, as this Stranger has now discovered. 11. They esteem themfelves indeed the Children of Abraham and the Patriarchs, the peculiar People of God, to whom the Promises of Salvation are made: But affuredly I tell you, that many Strangers out of the heathen World, fhall come from all Parts and joy n themfelves to the true Church of God here on Earth; and fhall hereafter be received with Abraham, and Ifaac, and Jacob, into the kingdom of God in Heaven: 12. While the Jews, to whom the promises did originally belong, exclude themselves out of the true Church of God here, and fhall hereafter be thruft out of the kingdom of Heaven into the darkness which is without, where shall be fruitless Repentance and endlefs Woe. 11 And I fay unto you, that many shall come from the eaft and weft, and fhall fit down with Abraham, and Ifaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12. But the Children of the kingdom fhall be caft out into outer darkness: there fhall be weep ing and gnashing of teeth, thou haft believed,fo be it done unto thee. And his fervant was 13 And Jefus faid 13. Then fending back unto the centurion, the Meffengers to the CenGo thy way, and as turion, he bad them fay thus to him; as you have believed, fo is it done to you. And his Servant was found to be healed at that very inftant. healed in the felf fame hour. 14. ¶ After this, Jefus retired from the multitude, and went into Peter's House and there he found Peter's Wives Mother lying upon the Bed, fick of a Fever. 15. And he took her by the Hand and helped her up; and the Fever was immediately cured fo entirely, that her Strength returned to her, and the made Provision for them, and they fat down to Meat, and she served them. 16. But as soon as the Evening was come, and the Sabbath paft, the Multitude gathered together again about Jefus, and they brought to him diseased and poffeffed Perfons; and he caft out the evil Spirits, and healed all their Diseases with a word. 17. So that not only by his fuffering in our stead upon the Cross, but even in this Senfe alfo, by his curing Mens Diseases, was fulfilled that Prophecy of Efaias; He took our infirmities, and bare our fickneffes, Ifa. 53. 4. 18. Another time, Jefus being preffed with a great multitude of People, commanded his Disciples to get ready a Boat to carry him over the Lake. 19. Which while they were doing, a certain Doctor of the Law, who imagined that Jefus would fhortly come to great Glory and Power, faith unto him ; Lord, I will be your Follower, and go along with you whitherfoever you go.. 20. But Jesus answered him: If you hope to find fplendid Entertainments with me, you are much mifta ken; For I am fo far from that, that I have not fo much as a Houfe wherein to lodge my felf. |