I. CHA P. IX. Efus perceiving hereby their difpofition of Mind, and their unpreparedness to receive his Doctrine, went again into the Boat, and croffed over the Lake, and returned into his own City Capernaum. 2. And while he was there, they brought to him a Man fo ill of the Palfie, that he was forced to be carried upon a Bed. To whom Jefus,perceiving both his and his Friends Faith by their Diligence to get to him through the Crowd, faid; Son, be of good Courage; your Sins, which were the caufe of your Disease, are forgiven. 3. At this Saying, many of the Jewish Doctors who were prefent, were greatly offended in their Minds, and faid within themselves; What a Blafphemer is this Man, to undertake to for give Sins, which no one but God alone has Authority to do! 4. But Jefus perceiving their Thoughts, faid; Why are ye thus difturbed at my Words? and why do you reason thus perverfely and enviously in your own Minds ? 5. For what great Difference is there between for giving the Man's Sins, and healing his Disease? Or, what lefs Power and Authority does it require, to heal the Disease which is the Confequence of his Sins, than to forgive the Sins which were the Cause of his Disease? 6. But I expreffed my felf thus, that ye might fee that the Meffiah has Power upon Earth to forgive, Sins; God confirming my Sentence of Abfolution, by the vifible Miracle of healing the Man's Disease. Then Jefus turning himself to the fick Man, faid; Arife, take up your Bed, and go home. 7 And he arofe, 7. And the Man was immediately healed, and the and departed to his ufe of his Limbs returned to him entirely; fo that he took up his Bed, and carried it home. 8. And the Multitude being convinced by fo undeniable a Miracle, of the Divine Power refiding in Chrift, glorified God for having fent to them a Prophet endued with fuch extraordinary Authority. s. After this, Jefus departed from Capernaum, and went towards the Lake; and as he was in the way, he saw a Man, named Matthew, fitting at the CustomHoufe, or Tax- gatherers Stall,receiving Tribute. And Jefus faid to him, Follow me; and the Man without delay left his business, and followed him. 10. And he invited Jefus home with him to his House: And when they fat down to Meat, many Taxgatherers, who were Men hateful to the Jews; and many finful Men of their house. 8 But when the multitude faw it,they marvelled, and glohad given fuch power unto men. rified God, which paffed 9 And as Jefus forth from thence, he saw a mari ting at the receit of cuftom: and he faith unto him,Follow me. followed him. And he arofe, and named Matthew, fit 10 And it came to pafs,as Jefus fat at behold, many pubmeat in the house, licans and finners came and fat downwith him and his difciples. :: 3 Acquaintance, fat down with Jefus and and his Difciples. 11. Which when the proud Pharifees faw, they were moved with Envy; but not daring to provoke Jefus himself, who had formerly with Authority reproved their Pride, they asked his Difciples, Why doth your Master, who pretends to be a holy and fanEtified Perfon, keep company with the worst of Men, with Tax-gatherers and Sinners ? 12. But Jefus hearing them ask the Queftion, anfwered: As thofe that are in health, need not the affiftance of a Physician, but those that are fick; fo thofe that are righteous, need not my Exhortations to Repentance, but those that are Sinners. Since therefore ye account your felves juft Perfons, who do not need my Inftructions, why are ye angry with me for keeping company with fuch as do? 13. And if ye account it an unfit thing, or a kind of defilement, for a Man to keep company with Sinners, whom he may advantage by his Advice and Inftructi on; What,think you,means that Saying of the Prophet Hofea, (Hof.6. 6.) I will have mercy, rather than facrifice For my part, I think it the best thing a Man can do, to converse with fuch Perfons with defigns of Mercy and Charity; and the great Defign of my coming into the World, was not to call the Righteous, but those that have been Sinners, to Repentance and Reformation. 14 After this, the Difciples of John the Baptist, who being used to Fafting and Aufterities, did through humane Infirmity fome what envy the Disciples of Chrift, who used no fuch Severities; came to Jefus and asked him, saying; Why, fince we and the Pharifees faft often, do not your Difciples, if they pretend |