nesseth of me is true. Ye sent unto John, and he bore witness unto the truth. But I receive not testimony from man only, yet these things I say, that ye might be saved. He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to accomplish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. And the Father himself, who hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heeded his voice at any time, nor discerned his manifestation. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. I receive not honour from men only. But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye believe, who receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? Do not think that I would accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words. SECTION XLIII. Christ defends his Disciples for plucking the Ears of Corn on the Sabbath day. MATT. xii. 1-8. MARK ii. 23, to the end. LUKE vi. 1-5. And it came to pass at that time on the second sabbath after the first [or chief sabbath of the Passover], that Jesus went through the corn fields, and his disciples were hungry, and began to pluck the ears of corn as they went, and to eat, rubbing them in their hands. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath day. Why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful? And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days? And Jesus answering them, said unto them, Have ye never read so much as this, what David did, when he had need, and was hungry, he, and they that were with him? How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did take, and eat the shew-bread, and gave also to them that were with him, which was not, according to the [Mosaic] law, for him to eat, neither for them that were with him, but only for the priests? Or have ye not read in the law, how that, on the sabbath days, the priests in the temple disregard sabbath rest,* and are blameless? Truly I say unto you, that in this place is one greater than the temple. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. And be said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath. SECTION XLIV. Christ Heals the Withered Hand. MATT. xii. 9-15. MARK iii. 1-7. LUKE vi. 6-12. And when he was departed thence, it came to pass also on another sabbath that he went and entered again into their synagogue, and taught. And, behold, there was a man whose right hand was withered. And the Scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day: that they might find an accusation against him. But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose, and stood forth. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal Ministers of religion cannot observe rest on the sabbath, as they are busy in works of religion on that day in order to do good. on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good or to do evil? to save life or to destroy it? But they held their peace. And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. And when he had looked round about upon them all, with displeasure; being grieved for the hardness of their hearts; he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored perfect, like as the other. Then the Pharisees were filled with madness, and (they) went forth with the Herodians, and straightway held a council against him; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus, (and) how they might destroy him. SECTION XLV. Christ is followed by great Multitudes, whose Diseases he heals. MATT. xii. 15-22 MARK iii. 7-13. But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence, with his disciples to the lake and great multitudes followed him, from Galilee, and from Judæa, and from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and from beyond Jordan, and they about Tyre and Sidon. And a great multitude, when they heard what great things he did, came unto him, and he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him, because of the multitude, lest they should throng him. For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him to touch him, as many as had plagues, and he healed them all. And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God. And he straightway charged them that they should not make him known. So that it was fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Behold, my ser vant, 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 be contentious, nor clamorous, neither shall any man hear him vociferous in public. A bruised reed shall he not break, and a flickering taper shall he not quench, till he send forth righteousness unto victory. And in his name shall the Gentiles trust. SECTION XLVI. Preparation for the Sermon on the Mount, Election of the Twelve Apostles. MARK iii. 13-19. LUKE vi. 12-20. And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples, whom he would, and they came unto him and of them he chose twelve, and he ordained twelve (whom also he named apostles, or missionaries,) that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out demons: Simon (whom he also named Peter), and Andrew, his brother, and James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James: and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James, the son of Alphæus, and Judas, or Thaddeus, the brother of James, and Simon the Canaite, called Zelotes; and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. And he came down with them, and stood in the plain; and the company of his disciples and a great multitude of people, out of all Judæa, and Jerusalem, and from the sea-coast of Tyre and Sidon, came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; and they that were vexed with unclean spirits and they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch him; for there went a virtue out of him, and healed them all. : : SECTION XLVII. The Sermon on the Mount.* MATT. v. vi. vii. viii. LUKE vi. 20, to the end. And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain; and when he was seated, his disciples came unto him and he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed be ye humble for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are the humble in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that are penitent: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are ye that hunger now for righteousness: for ye shall be satisfied. Blessed are they who do hunger and thirst for righteousness : for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are ye that are contrite now for ye shall rejoice. Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessings of Christian Martyrs. Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness' sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, rejoice, and be exceeding glad : for great is your reward in heaven: and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in like manner did their fathers unto the prophets, so persecuted they the prophets who were before you. * In this divine sermon on the mount [Tabor] the great laws of Christianity were declared-modifying and perfecting the great laws of Judaism, proclaimed on Mount Sinai. In order to make it clearer I have inserted the headings of topics, and made several alterations in the version. |