: 13 And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. 14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might fend them forth to preach : 15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils. 16 And Simon he furnamed Peter. 17 And James the fon of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (and he furnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder) 18 And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the fon of Alpheus, and Thaddeus, and Simon the Canaanite, 19 And Judas Ifcariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house. 20 And the mul titude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. Jews who were already prejudiced with false Notions concerning the Matter. 135 14. At another time, Jefus being upon a Hill with his Disciples about him, he chose out Twelve Men, whom he called Apostles, to attend him constantly, to be Witnesses of his Doctrine and Miracles, and to affift in Preaching the Gospel both before and after his Death. 15. And he communicated to them a Power of working the same Miracles for the Confirmation of their Doctrine, as he himself worked ; such as healing the Sick, cafting out Devils, and the like. 16-19. Now the Names of the Twelve were these : 1. Simon, whom Jefus called 6. Bartholomew, 7. Matthew, 8. Thomas, that is, principal 9. Another James, Son of Al- Thunder, pheus, 10. Thaddeus, or Jude. 11. Simon, the Canaanite, or Ze- Minifters lotes, 12. Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus. of the Gofpel. 20. These Twelve Jesus carried home with him † to his House at Ca- + See pernaum. And as foon as the People Mat. iv, heard they were there, they gathered 13. together again, and pressed after them fo much, as hardly to give them time to eat. 21. Which re 23. But Jefus, to reprove their obstinate and implacable Malice, plied; How can ye think the Devil dispossesses Devils, and fights againft himself? 24 & 25. For as it is impoffible that a Kingdom or Family, which is divided into Parties and Factions with in it self, can long subsift : 26. Even so if the Devils act against themselves, and dispossess one another, and That in Confirmation of a DoArine directly opposite to their whole Power and Interest; this is abfurdly to suppose them doing that, which must of Neceffity destroy their own Kingdom. 27. When you see the House of a strong Man broken up, and his Goods carried away by Force; you make no doubt, but he that thus spoileth the other, is stronger and more powerful than the Person spoiled. Why then is it not as evident to you, that if I caft the Devils out of their Poffef 25 And if a house be divided against it self, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan rise up against him self, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. 27 No man can enter into a strong mans house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man, and then he will spoil his house. 28 Verily sion with Authority, and in Con- 28 & 29. So that, what you say Blafphemies whatsoever, may be for- thinks fit to make use of for the 30. This severe Sentence Jefus 31. But to return to the History. As Jesus was fitting in the * House, * Ver. 20. and teaching the People; his Mother, and other Relations came to ask for him. 32. And because the Croud was so great, that they could not get into the House; therefore those that fat next him, told him that his Mother and his Kinsmen waited at the Door to speak with him. 33. Jefus replied; Who is my Mother? and who are my Kinsmen? Do Do you think that I esteem People by natural Relation, or by any temporal Confiderations? 34. And turning about to his Difciples who fat round him, he said: No; but these are most properly my Kinf men and Relations. 35. For they who attentively hear the Word of God, and believe and obey the Doctrine of true Religion ; those are they whom I account my nearest Relations, and shall treat them as such. Who is my mother, or my brethren? 34 And he looked round about on them which fat about him, and faid, Behold my mother and my brethren. 35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my fifter, and mother. CHAP. IV. The Parable of the Sower, with the Explication, ver. 1, and 14. Why Jesus spake in Parables, ver. II. Knowledge must be communicated, ver. 21. Grace given proportionable to Mens Improvements, ver. 24. Parable of Corn growing imperceptibly, ver. 26. Of the Mustard-feed, ver. 31. Why Jesus spake in Parables, ver. 33. Jesus stilleth a Storm, ver. 35. 1. AFTER this, Jefus retired again to the Lake's fide; and the People followed him out of the City. And when the Multitude grew so great as to croud him, that he could not conveniently stand on the Ground and be heard; he went into a Boat, and the People stood before him along the Shore. 2. And he taught them many 'Things by way of Comparison or Similitude. Particularly, he represented the Doctrine of the Gospel, and the Effect it has upon Men of various Tempers and Difpofitions, by this following Similitude. 1AND he began again to teach by the fea-fide: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude; so that he entred into a ship, and fat in the fea, and the whole multitude was by the sea, on the land. 2 And he taught them many things by parables, and faid unto them in his doctrine, 3 Hearken 3 Hearken, Behold, there went out a fower to fow: 4 And it came to pass as he fowed, fome fell by the wayfide, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. 5 And fome fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth, and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth. 6 But when the fun was up, it was fcorched, and because it had no root, it withered away. 7 And fome fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choaked it, and it yielded no fruit. 3. Hearken, faith he, and attend to what I fay. A certain Husbandman went out to fow his Ground. Thus Chrift, or the Preacher of the Gospel, publishes the Doctrine of true Religion amongst Men. 4. And as he was fowing, some of the Seed fell upon the hard beaten Road, where it never entred the Earth at all, but the Birds picked it up and destroyed it. Thus the Gospel is preached to some, who never regard it or consider it at all, but presently forget what they have heard; and the flight Impreffions it makes upon them, very foon wear out. 5 & 6. And some of the Seed fell upon Stones covered with thin Earth, where it presently grew up indeed, but without Root, so that as soon as the Sun came to shine hot upon it, it withered away. Thus the Doctrine of true Religion is preached to others, who entertain it indeed readily, and are pleased with it, and in some measure alfo refolve to obey it; but for want of Steddiness and Constancy of Mind, they are overcome by Temptations, especially by Perfecution, and fall away from their Obedience to the Truth. 7. Again, Some other of the Seed, fell among Weeds, which springing up together with the Corn, over-ran it, and destroyed it: Thus fome others hear the Doctrine of Christianity, who likewise entertain it indeed, and pretend to obey it; but the Hurry of Bufinefs, and the deceitful Cares of Riches, and the Allurements of Pleasures, do so take up their Thoughts, and divert their Minds, that Religion has little Influence upon their Lives and Converfations, |