LUKE.

СНА Р. ХІН.

19 It is like a grain of muftard-feed, which a man took, and caft into his garden, and it grew, and waxed a great tree : and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.

zo And again he said, Whereunto fhall I liken the kingdom of God?

21 It is like leven, which a woman took and hid in three meafures of meal, till the whole was levened.

22 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching and journying towards Jerufalem.

23 Then faid one unto him, Lord, are there few that be faved? And he said unto them,

24 Strive to enter in at the ftrait gate for many, I fay unto you, will feek to enter in, and fhall not be able.

25 When once the master of the house is rifen up, and hath fhut to the door, and ye begin to ftand without, and to knock at the door, faying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he fhall an-fwer and fay unto you, I know you not whence you are:

JOHN.

with what shall I compare it? It is like a grain of Mustard-feed, which being planted in a Garden, becomes a large Tree, fo that the Birds find room to build their nefts in it. To what elfe fhall I refemble it? It is like a little lump of Leven, which being mix'd with three Measures of Wheat, the whole is augmented by it. So alfo fhall the Gofpel, whofe Limits at prefent are fo confin'd, be fpread far and near throughout the Universe, and a very great Multitude be added to the little Flock of thofe that are as yet true Believers.

Thus he inftructed the People in every Village and Town of Galilee thro which he paffed by short marches on the Road to Jerufalem against the Feaft of Dedication. At that time being ask'd by a certain perfon whether many or a few only fhould be fav'd, he replied: That the Gate was narrow that led to Life, and that therefore men ought to use their utmoft diligence to indeavor to enter in at it.

But the time, faid he, will come when the Master of the Family fhall make faft the doors, and then many of you ftanding without shall knock, and earnestly intreat to have admiffion; but he will tell you he knows you not. Then shall ye reply in your

CHAP. XIII.

26 Then shall ye begin to fay, We have eaten and drunk in thy prefence, and thou haft taught in our streets.

27 But he shall fay, I tell you, I know you not whence you are; depart from me all ye workers of iniquity.

28 There thall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye fhall fee Abraham, and Ifaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you your felves thrust out.

29 And they fhall come from the caft, and from the weft, and from the north, and from the fouth, and fhall fit down in the kingdom of God.

30 And behold, there are laft which fhall be first, and there are firft which fhall be laft.

31 The fame day there came certain of the Pharifees, faying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.

32 And he said unto them, Go ye and tell that fox, Behold,

JOHN.

your defence: Lord, we have eaten at the fame Table with thee, and have heard thee preach in our Streets; but he will ftill tell you that he knows you not, and fend you from him together with the workers of Iniquity. Then fhall you lament, and be opprefs'd with incredible anguish, when you fhall behold Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, the Founders of your Nation, and all the Prophets, enjoying the Glory of the Kingdom of Heaven, from which you will be excluded. Moreover, many fhall come from the remoteft parts of the Earth, from the Eaft, the Weft, the North, and South, and fhall feaft with your Ancestors in the Kingdom of God. At that time you will fee fome that received the Gospel laft, and feem'd to be the most averfe to it, obtain the first feats of Happiness: on the contrary, those to whom the Gofpel was first preach'd, and whom it concern'd in the first place, fhall be postpon'd as lefs deferving than the others.

On the fame day, fome Pharifees came to him, and advis'd him to depart out of Galilee with the firft opportunity, becaufe Herod the Tetrarch of Galilee fought an occafion of putting him to death, as he had before done to John the Baptift. Jefus bid them acquaint that Fox (for fo he call'd Herod by reafon of his Craft) that he

would

CHA P. XIII.

I caft out devils, and I do cures
to day and to morrow, and the
third day I fhall be perfected.

33 Nevertheless, I must walk
to day and to morrow, and the
day following: for it cannot be
that a prophet perish out of
Jerufalem.

34 O Jerufalem, Jerufalem, which killeft the prophets, and ftoneft them that are fent to thee: how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not?

35 Behold, your houfe is left to you defolate and verily I fay unto you, Ye fhall not fee me, until the time come when ye shall fay, Bleffed is he that cometh in.... the name of the Lord.

JOHN.

would for a short time caft out evil Spirits, and heal the Sick, and that he knew he Thould be put to death afterwards; and that for this reafon he defign'd to go to Ferufalem, which City had as it were by long prefcription claim'd the privilege of murdering God's Prophets. Then turning his difcourfe to the Inhabitants of Jerufalem, he cried out: O ye miferable men, who are wont to kill and ftone thofe that God fends unto you! how often have I endeavor'd to gather you all to me, that being made my Disciples you might obtain Salvation, and that I might cover you from the Dangers you are threatned with, as a Hen fecures her young ones under her Wings? But you would not attend to my Admonitions: Therefore is your Houfe left defolate and laid waste. For my part, when I am once gone from you, I shall not return to be feen by you, till that time in which you would with: all your heart receive me in the name of God, with loud Acclamations of joy, in hopes of being deliver'd from the Punishments that shall be inflicted on you.

СНАР..

'AN

ND it came to pass, as

he went into the house of one of the chief Pharifees to eat bread on the fabbath-day, that they watched him.

2 And behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropfy.

3 And Jefus anfwering, spake unto the lawyers and Pharifees, faying, Is it lawful to heal on the fabbath-day?

4 And they held their peace. And he took him and healed him, and let him go :

5 And answered them, faying, Which of you fhall have an afs or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not ftraightway pull him out on the fabbath-day?

6 And they could not answer him again to these things.

JOHN.

A man fick of the Dropfy cur'd by Jefus on the Sabbath-day. Advice concerning the taking the lowest place at a Banquet, and inviting the Poor. The Parable of the Supper. Concerning that refolution of Mind the Apostles ought to be

endued with.

Na Sabbath-day it happen'd that Jefus was invited to dine with a certain Pharifee, a Member of the Sanhedrim, where were also prefent many of that Sect, who narrowly watch'd Jefus, whether he would do any thing not agreeable to the Law of Mofes. Being therefore in the way to the Pharifee's Houfe, there was laid before him one fick of the Dropfy, who befeech'd him to have compaffion on him. Jefus taking notice of him, ask'd the Pharifees and Doctors of the Law, whether it were not lawful to cure him on the Sabbath-day. But they held their peace for fear of being put to the blush by fome unwary anfwer, as others had bin ferv'd. But Jefus taking hold of him, healed him, and difmiffed him; yet knowing withal that tho they faid nothing, they did not approve of that action, he fhew'd'em he had done nothing in the leaft repugnant to the Law, fince, faid he, 'tis a practice allow'd of, for which no body is blam'd as acting against the Law; for if an Ox or an Afs fall into a Ditch on the Sabbath, you'l do your utmost to take him out on that fame day: How much rather is it agreeable to the Law, to rescue a man from a lingring and dangerous Diftemper on the Sabbath-day? To which the Pharisees had nothing to object. Being

MATTHEW.

MARK.

LUKE,

CHA P. XIV.

7 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; faying unto them,

8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, fit not down in the highest room, left a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;

9 And he that bad thee and him, come and fay to thee, Give this man place, and thou begin with fhame to take the lowest

room.

10 But when thou art bidden, go, and fit down in the lowest room; that when he that bad thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher : then fhalt thou have worship in the prefence of them that fit at meat with thee.

II For whofoever exalteth kimself, fhall be abafed; and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted.

12 Then faid he also to him that bad him, When thou makeft a dinner or a fupper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren,

Јони.

Being now come to the Pharifees Houfe, and in the room of Entertainment, he took notice with what contention every one ftrove for the uppermoft Seat, and began thus to admonifh them: When you are invited to a Wedding, do not immediatly take the highest place, left a more honorable perfon comes after, and thou be turn'd down with fhame to make room for him. Rather feat your felves in the loweft place, that when he that invited you comes in, he may himself advance you in the fight of the Guefts, which will gain you refpect among them. So in all other actions of your Life, not only with refpect to Men, but God alfo, behave your felves with that modefty, as rather to attribute too little than too much honour to your felves. For the Proud fhall moft certainly be debas'd by God and Men, while on the contrary the modeft man will be in favor with, and exalted by them. Then addreffing himself to the Mafter of the Houfe: As often, faid he, as thou makeft an Entertainment, if thou defigneft to have it pleafing in God's fight, do not invite thy Friends, thy Brothers, thy Relations, or rich Neighbors, who can reY y taliate