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CHAPTER X.

JAN. 12, MAY 12, SEPT. 9.

AND when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphæus, and Lebbæus, whose surname was Thaddeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. 5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, the Gentiles, and into any city but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils freely ye have received, freely give. Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till 12 And when ye go thence. ye come into an house, salute it. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. 16 Behold, I send you forth as 16 Unoffending, yet prudent. sheep in the midst of wolves:

5 The Gospel was first to be offered to God's peculiar people, the Jews.

saying, Go not into the way of of the Samaritans enter ye not:

7 The Gospel kingdom. Thus was the Church founded; "Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone." 8 There was a strong necessity that extraordinary powers should be given to men who were about to be engaged in so extraordinary a work. That Jesus could give them these powers, is but another proof that he was himself God.

12 This is one among the numerous instances which occur in our Lord's history, where he insists upon his disciples never forgetting the ordi

nary courtesies of social life.

be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; and ye shall be

brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak. For it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. 21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. 23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. * The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his houshold? Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

21 It was in a spirit of divine mercy that the hearts of Christians were prepared for the dreadful scenes which families and neighbourhood caused by the rejection or reception would present, owing to the divisions of the Gospel.

22 Do the wicked hate you for your religion? Be firm, and endure unto the end. Salvation is your reward! 23 Persecution, by dispersing the followers of Christ, spread the more abroad his Gospel.

24 No wonder that the servant shares his Master's fate! Jesus bore reproach and wicked blasphemies! Let us patiently bear scorn and contumely.

30 How sublime is this view of a particular Providence! yet how consistent even with reason! He who made all things, small and great, must order them at his pleasure.

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in hea

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34 This was literally the case in the early ages of the Church.

come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own houshold. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son And he that or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. 40 He that receiveth a 40 Ministers should be reverenced prophet in the name of a pro- for their Master's sake.

phet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. 42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

42 The benevolent Christian, when he has but a cup of cold water to give to the afflicted and needy, if he give according to that he hath, "rerily he shall in no wise lose his reward."

CHAPTER XI.

JAN. 13, MAY 13, SEPT. 10.

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1 AND it came to pass, when 1 These were the cities of Galilee. Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3 and 3 John inquired, not to satisfy himsaid unto him, Art thou he self, but the minds of his disciples. that should come, or do we

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look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, 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 to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment?

5 The poor in station as well as the poor in spirit. Therefore want of learning is no excuse for want of religion. The Gospel is preached equally for all.

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behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he heaven is greater than he. "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.

11 The future preachers of the Gospel were spoken of as greater than John the Baptist, in reference to the fuller message of salvation, with which they would be entrusted.

that is least in the kingdom of 12 So eagerly would publicans and sinners flock to the preaching of the Gospel.

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14 The Jews expected Elijah-or Elias, as he is named-to be sent as the forerunner of their Messiah. Our Saviour tells them that John the Baptist was appointed to that office.

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. 19The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children. Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein

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19 John, himself a frail and erring man, prepared himself for his high office, by a holier meditation, and a more special abstraction from the world. Our blessed Lord, without spot of sin, lived in the ordinary mode of men. Cavillers were dissatisfied with each. Yet religion was justified *.

most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon,

21 These greatly favoured cities, especially Capernaum, where our Lord dwelt, are justly threatened with punishment, apportioned to their abuse of such high privileges.

So men cavil now against the followers of Christ. Yet is wisdomor religion-justified of her children, when amid misrepresentation and scorn, they preserve their even course, whether in public or in private life, unmoved from duty; and live to the glory of God.

they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee. 25 At that time Je

sus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from

25 The Gospel is ever most heartily welcomed by the simple-minded, and those who are sincere in their wish to lead a good life.

the wise and prudent, and hast

revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed

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27 Our Lord here claims to be equal with the Father, as touching his Godhead.

good in thy sight. things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

CHAPTER XII.

JAN. 14, MAY 14, SEPT. 11.

At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; how he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which 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 profane the sabbath, and are blameless? place is one greater than the temple. what this meaneth, I will have mercy,

5" Profane the Sabbath"-that is, they do in their office those things which ye now profess to blame; though they be morally harmless. But I say unto you, That in this But if ye had known and not sacrifice, ye

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