two or three witnesses; of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, the Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. He. x. 26-31. If after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them; but it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, the dog is turned to his own vomit again, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire, 2 Pe. ii. 20-22.

28 The people were astonished, &c.] When he (Jesus) was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Mat. xiii. 54. Thou (saith the Psalmist, of the Messiah) art fairer than the children of men; grace is poured into thy lips, therefore God hath blessed thee for ever. Ps. xlv. 2. And they were astonished at his doctrine, for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the Scribes. Mar. i. 22. And when the Sabbath day was come, he (Jesus) began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? And what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? Mar. vi. 2. And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son? And they were astonished at his doctrine, for his word was with power. Lu. iv. 22.32. But the chief priests and the Scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, and could not find what they might do, for all the people were very attentive to hear him. Lu. xix. 47, 48. And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? The officers answered, Never man spake like this man. John vii. 15. 46.

But

29 Having authority, &c.] See chap. v. 20. 28. 32. 44. and com. When he was come into the temple, the chief priests and elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? And who gave thee this authority? And Jesus answered, and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say from heaven, he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. Mat. xxi. 23-27. All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth (said Jesus when he appeared to the eleven after his resurrection). Mat. xxviii. 18. I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren like unto thee (said the Lord to Moses), and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name I will require it of him. De. xviii. 18, 19. Where the word of a king is, there is power, and who may say unto him, What doest thou? Ec. viii. 4. The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. Is. 1. 4. The prophet that hath a dream let him tell a dream, and he that hath my word let him speak my word faithfully: what is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord. Is not my word like as fire? saith the Lord, and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces. Je. xxiii. 28, 29. Truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin. Mi. iii. 8. I will give you a mouth, and wisdom, which all your adversaries (said Jesus to his disciples) shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. Lu. xxi. 15. Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me, him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

And it shall come to pass, that every soul which will not hear that prophet shall be destroyed from among the people.

Ac. iii. 22, 23. They were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which "he" ("Stephen") spake. Ac. vi. 10. The word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight. But all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. He. iv. 12, 13.

And not as the Scribes.] Then came to Jesus Scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother, and he that curseth father or mother let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me, and honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition; ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; but in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Mat. xv. 1-9. The Scribes and the Pharisees (said Jesus to the multitude) sit in Moses' seat: all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe, and do: but do not ye after their works, for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens, and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders: but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, and love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues. Mat. xxiii. 2-6. Woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he is made ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves; ye pay tithe of mint and anise, and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith; these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone; ye blind guides, which strain at a

gnat and swallow a camel. Mat. xxxiii. 15-24. Then the Pharisees and Scribes asked him (Jesus), Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; howbeit, in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition, making the word of God of none effect through your tradition which ye have delivered, and many such like things do ye. Mar. vii. 5–13, Jesus said unto them (the priests and Scribes), Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. Beware of the Scribes (said Jesus) which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers; the same shall receive greater damnation. Lu. xx. 46, 47.

com.

CHAP. VIII-1 Great multitudes followed him.] See verse 18. and chap. iv. 25, and Great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet, and he healed them. Mat. xv. 30. As "they" ("Jesus and his disciples") departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. Mat. xx. 29. He (Jesus) charged "him" ("the leper whom he had cleansed”) to tell no man: but so much the more went there a fame abroad of him; and great multitudes came together, to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. Lu. v. 15. And there went great multitudes with him, and he turned and said unto them, If any man come to me and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple; and whosoever doth not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Lu. xiv. 25-27.

2 Behold, there came a leper.] There came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying, If thou wilt thou canst make me clean. Mar. i. 40. It came to pass when he was in a certain city, behold, a man full of leprosy; who, seeing Jesus, fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst me clean. Lu. v. 12. A leper.] Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers,

raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Mat. x. 8. When Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, there came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his (Jesus') head as he sat at meat. Mat. xxvi. 6. The priest shall look upon "it" ("the leprosy"), and behold, if the rising of the sore be white reddish in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, as the leprosy appeareth in the skin of the flesh, he is a leprous man, he is unclean; the priest shall pronounce him utterly unclean; his plague is in his head. And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean. All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean, he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be. Le. xiii. 43-46. Command the children of Israel (said the Lord to Moses), that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is defiled by the dead. Both male and female shall ye put out; without the camp shall ye put them, that they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell. Nu. v. 2, 3. The anger of the Lord was kindled against them (Miriam and Aaron), and he departed. And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle, and behold Miriam became leprous, white as snow, and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and behold, she was leprous. Nu. xii. 9, 10. Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests, the Levites, shall teach you: as I commanded them, so ye shall observe to do. Remember what the Lord thy God did unto Miriam by the way, after that ye were come forth out of Egypt. De. xxiv. 8, 9. I am this day weak (said David, after the murder of Abner by Joab), though anointed king, and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me the Lord shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness. 2 Sa. iii. 39. Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria; he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper. The leprosy of Naaman (said Elisha) shall cleave unto thee" (his servant Gehazi''), and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow. 2 Ki. v. 1. 27. There were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate (of Samaria), and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? if we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there; and if we sit still here, we die also. 2 Ki. vii. 3, 4. And the Lord smote

the king (Azariah), so that he was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house. 2 Ki. xv. 5. Then Uzziah (the king) was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense; and while he was wroth with the priests (who withstood him), the leprosy even rose up in his forehead, before the priests in the house of the Lord, from beside the incense altar; and Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests looked upon him, and behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea himself hasted also to go out because the Lord had smitten him. And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the Lord. 2 Ch. xxvi. 19, 20, 21. Many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet, and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian. Lu. iv. 27. As he (Jesus) entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off; and they lifted up their voices and said, Jesus, master, have mercy on us; and when he saw them he said unto them, Go, shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that as they went, they were cleansed; and one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks; and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering, said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? there are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger: and he said unto him, Arise, go thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole. Lu. xvii. 12-19.

Worshipped him.] See chap. ii. 2. 11. and iv. 9. and com. Then came she (the woman of Canaan) and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. Mat. xv. 25. The servant (of the king in the parable) fell down and worshipped him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Mat. xviii. 26. And as "they" ("the women," who had been at the sepulchre) went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail; and they came, and held him by the feet, and worshipped him: then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them; and when they saw him they worshipped him. Mat. xxviii. 9, 17. And there came a leper to him beseeching him, and kneeling down, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. Mar. i. 40. When he (who had the legion of devils) saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, and cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. Mar. v. 6, 7. It came to pass when he was in a cer

tain city, behold, a man full of leprosy, who seeing Jesus, fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. Lu. v. 12. If all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all; and thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face, he will worshp God, and report that God is in you of a truth. 1 Co. xiv. 24, 25.

If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.] And when he (Jesus) was come into the house, the (two) blind men came to him. And Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. Mat. ix. 28, 29. And he did not many mighty works "there" ("in his own country") because of their unbelief. Mat. xiii. 58. Ofttimes (said the father of the child that had the deaf and dumb spirit) it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him; but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. Mar. ix. 22, 23, 24.

3 Put forth his hand.] Naaman was wroth (at being ordered by Elisha to go and wash seven times in Jordan), and went away, and said, Behold, I thought he will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike over the place, and recover the leper. 2 Ki. v. 11.

I will; be thou clean.] Let there be light (said God), and there was light. Ge. i. 3. He spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. Ps. xxxiii. 9. Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand and touched "him" ("the leper"), and saith unto him, I will, be thou clean. Mar. i. 41. And he (Jesus) arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Mar. iv. 39. And "he" ("Jesus") took the "damsel" ("Jairus's daughter") by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha-cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. Mar. v. 41. And (Jesus) looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him (that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech), Ephphatha; that is, Be opened. Mar. vii. 34. When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. Mar. ix. 25. And

Jesus put forth his hand, and touched “him' ("the man full of leprosy"), saying, I will, be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him. Lu. v. 13. He (Jesus) came and touched the bier (of the widow's son, of Nain), and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, arise. Lu. vii. 14. As the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them, even so the Son quickeneth whom he will John v. 21. When he (Jesus) thus had spo ken (to Martha, saying, If thou wouldest be lieve, thou shouldest see the glory of God), he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. John xi. 43. If I had not done among them (in the world) the works which none other man did, they had not had sin; but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. John xv. 24.

And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.] Jesus answered and said unto them (John's disciples), Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see; the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached unto them. Mat. xi. 4, 5. Then (upon the remonstrance of his servants) "he" ("Naaman") went down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 2 Ki. v. 14. Go shew yourselves unto the priests (said Jesus to the ten lepers). And it came to pass, that as they went they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God. Lu. xvii. 14, 15.

4 See thou tell no man.] See chap. vi. 1; xvi. 20. Their eyes (of the two blind men) were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it. Mat. ix. 30. And he (Jesus) charged "them" ("whom he had healed") that they should not make him known; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Behold my servant whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive nor cry, neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. Mat. xii. 16-19. Then charged he his disciples, that they should tell no man that he was Jesus, the Christ. Mat. xvi. 20. And as they came down from the mountain (of transfiguration), Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. Mat. xvii. 9. And he straitly charged him

(the leper), and forthwith sent him away; and saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. Mar. i. 43, 44. And he charged "them" ("that were astonished at Jairus's daughter being restored to life") straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat. Mar. v. 43. He charged "them" ("the multitude who witnessed the cure of the deaf man") that they should tell no man; but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it. Mar. vii. 36. He charged "him" ("a man full of leprosy") to tell no man (of his cure), but go and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. I receive not honour from men. John v. 14. 41. He that speaketh of himself, seeketh his own glory; but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. John vii. 18. I seek not mine own glory; there is one that seeketh and judgeth. John viii. 50.

Shew thyself to the priest.] See Mat. iii. 15; and v. 17, with com. When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy, then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests; if the priest see that behold the scab spreadeth in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a leprosy. But if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not, it is a burning bile; and the priest shall pronounce him clean. Le. xiii. 2. 8. 23. This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing; He shall be brought unto the priest, and the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper, then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed, two birds alive and clean, and cedar-wood, and scarlet, and hyssop, &c. &c. And the priest shall make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed before the Lord. Le. xiv. 2, 3, 4. 31. The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness' sake: he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. Is. xlii. 21. And when he (Jesus) saw them (the ten lepers), he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests: and it came to pass, that as they went they were cleansed. Lu. xvii. 14.

For a testimony unto them.] And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake (said Jesus to his disciples), for a testi

mony against them and the Gentiles. Mat x. 18.

And it came to pass when the king of Israel (Jehoram) had read the letter (sent by the king of Syria, by the leper Naaman), that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I a God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy ? Wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me. And it was so when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? Let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel. 2 Ki. v. 7, 8. Go thy way, shew " thyself" ("the leper") to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. Mar. i. 44. Whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you (said Jesus to his disciples), when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Mar. vi. 11. Ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. Mar. xiii. 9. Offer for thy cleansing (said Jesus to the man full of leprosy) according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. Lu. v. 14. They shall lay their hands on you (said Jesus to his disciples), and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake, and it shall turn to you for a testimony. Lu. xxi. 13. If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not: but if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works; that ye may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in him. John x. 37, 38.

5 Entered into Capernaum.] See Mat. iv. 13. and com. And he entered into a ship (from the country of the Gergesenes), and passed over and came into his own city. Mat. ix. 1. And he entered into Capernaum after some days, and it was noised that he was in the house. Mar. ii. 1. Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of his people, he entered into Capernaum. Lu. vii. 1.

A centurion.] Now when the centurion, and they that were with him watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. Mat. xxvii. 54. And when the centurion which stood over against him saw that he (Jesus) so cried out (saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama Sabachthani), and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God. Mar. xv. 39. A certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was