God will miraculously preferve you: God; 8. This Temptation likewife failing; the Devil refolves to make one tryal more; and carrying him up into an exceeding high Mountain, he at once made to him a reprefentation of all the Kingdoms of the World, in their greateft Splendour and Glory. 9. And faith, All these things will I give you; you fhall have all the Riches, and Honour, and Pleasure, that the whole World can afford; if you will but pay me an Acknowledgment, and worship me. 10. But Jefus answered with Indignation; Depart from Satan ; me, For the Scripture faith (Deut. vi. 13.) Thou fhalt worship the Lord thy God, bim only halt thou serve. and II. The Devil being thus thrice difappointed and baffled, and defpairing to fucceed in any other Temptations, departed from Jefus: And good Angels came and miniftred unto him, rejoycing at his Victory, comforting him after his Trial, refreshing him after his long Faft. 12 Now when Jefus had heard that John was caft into prifon, he departed into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in caper naum, which is upon the fea coaft, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: 14 That it might be fulfilled which was fpoken by Efaias the Prophet, faying, 15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the fea beyond Jor dan, Gallilee of the Gentiles : 16 The people which fat in darknefs, faw great light: and to them which fat in the region and fhadow light is fprung up. 17 From that time Jefus began to preach, and to fay, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 12. After thefe things, Jefus hearing that John the Baptift was caft into Prifon by Herod, retired into Galilee. 13. And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, a City of great refort near the Lake of Tiberias on the Borders of Zabulon and Nephthali. 14. Where, by his gracious Prefence and Continuance among them, was remarkably fulfilled that Prophecy of Ifaiah, (Ifa. ix. 1.) 15. The dimnefs shall be no more, as in the time of her vexation. But as at the first he made contemptible the Land of Zebulon, and the Land of Napthali: So afterwards he fhall make them* glorious; even by the way of the Sea beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gen tiles. 16. The People which fat in Darknefs, faw a great Light; and to them which fat in the Region and Shadow of Death, Light is fprung up. 17. From this time Jefus began his Miniftry, preaching to the People that they fhould repent and reform their Lives; for that now God was about to establish the Kingdom of the Meffiah, and to make his laft difpenfation or Difcovery of his Will to Mankind; wherein no external or ceremoniai Performances, but only Faith and true Repentance, and fincerely renewed Obedience, fhould be accepted to the Salvation of Sinners. +. *. So Mr. Mede moft truly renders the Words and 12. I have added alfo the first Words of the Verfe, which perhaps he needed not to have rejected to the foregoing Chapter. 18. Being therefore about to enter upon his publick Preaching, he began to choose to himself certain Difciples, who fhould be Witnesses of his Miracles and of his Preaching while he lived, and should publish both his Works and Doctrine through the World after his death. And first, as he was walking by the Lake of Genafereth, he faw two Fishermen that were Brethren, Simon, (who is also called Peter) and Andrew, fifhing in the Lake. 20. Upon this Invitation, they prefently left their Nets, and followed him; being very willing to forfake their former Employment, to be fent upon a Work that fhould more immediately tend to the Glory of God, and to the Good of Men. 21. A little after, he faw two other Brethren, James and John, the Sons of Zebedee, in a Boat with their Father, mending their Nets; and he called them likewife. 19. And he faid unto them; follow me, and I will teach you a more noble and excellent Calling. From henceforth ye fhall catch Men; that is, ye fhall gain and convert them from Sin and Mifery, to Righteoufnefs and Hap- ftraightway left their piness. 20 And they nets, and followed 22. And these alfo, without delay, followed him; quitting the Profit of their Trade, and their deareft Relations, to be employed in fo excellent and Divine a Work. 18 And Jefus walking by the fea of Galilee, faw two brethren ; Simon drew his brother, called Peter, and Ancafting a net into the fea: (for they were fishers.) 23. With thefe Men Jefus travelled over all Galilee, preaching, not only privately, but also openly in all their Places of publick Worship; teaching them his true Religion; and proving the Authority and the Goodnefs of his Doctrine, by the beneficial Miracles of 19 And he faith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. vers 24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all fick people that were taken with didifeafes, and torments, and thofe which were poffeffed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsie ; and he healed them. 25 And there followed him great multitudes of people, from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerufalem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan. 1 healing all manner of Difeafes and In- 24. By this means his Fame prefently fpread over Syria: So that all forts of difeafed Perfons, and Lunaticks, and Men poffeffed with Devils, were brought to him from all Parts; and he healed them with a Word. 25. And a great multitude of the People followed him from all Parts of the Country; from Galilee, and Decapolis, and Jerufalem, and Judea, and from beyond Jordan. CHA P. V. Chrift's Sermon on the Mount, beginning with the Beatitudes, ver. I. Chrift's Difciples to be Examples to the World,ver.13. The Gospel fulfils and improves the Law, ver. 17. In the Cafe of Murder and Anger, ver. 21. In the Cafe of Adultery and Luft, ver. 27. In the Cafe of Divorces, ver. 31. In the Cafe of Swearing, ver. 33. In the Cafe of Revenge, ver. 38. Of loving our Enemies, ver. 43. des, he went up in to a mountain : and when he was fet, his Difciples came unto him. AND feeing 1. YESUS being preffed with the great multitude of People, retired from them to the top of a Hill; and when he was fat down, his Difciples, and as many as were defirous to hear † Luk. vii. his Doctrine, drew near and food about 1. him. 2. And I 2. And he taught them in fhort the Doctrine of the Chriftian Religion, faying; 3. Blessed are those that are poor and humble, modeft and contented; who fet not their Hearts upon this prefent World, nor too eagerly feek the Riches and Splendour of it; who prefer Righteoufnefs before Wealth and Honour, and can readily defpife and contentedly part with thefe Things for the fake of Religion: Bleffed, I fay, are thefe Men; for they are fitly prepared to be Members of the true Church of God here, and fhall be rewarded with eternal happiness hereafter. 4. Bleffed are those who live not in Voluptuoufnefs, but seriously lament the Sins and Follies, and patiently endure the Hardships and Afflictions of this prefent Life: For they shall be comforted with the prefent Peace and Joy of the Holy Ghoft, and with the Happiness of the World to come. 2 And he opened and his mouth, taught them, faying, 3 Bleffed are the theirs is the kingin fpirit: for dom of Heaven. 6. Bleffed are those who earnestly defire to become truly Virtuous and Religious: For the Grace of God will never fail to direct fuch Men in the right way, and to aflift them with fufficient means, to attain the Fruition of true Virtue, both in the Satisfaction of the prefent practice of it, and in the fulness of its future Reward. 4 Bleffed are they mourn: for that forted. inherit the earth. 5. Bleffed are those, who are of a 5 Bleffed are the meek and gentle, a quiet and harmlefs meek: for they shall Spirit; free from Paffion and Violence, from Haughtinefs and Turbulency: For fuch Men fhall generally be fecured in the quiet poffeffion of their Rights in this World by the peculiar Providence of God; or however, fhall have an Inheritance in that new Earth, (2 Pet. iii. 13.) wherein Peace and Righteousness are for ever to dwell. 6 Bleffed are they which do hunger and thirst after righthall be filled. teousness: for they 7 Bleffed |