33 began to rebuke him. But when he had turned

about, and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan (): for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the

things that be of men. 34 And when he had called the people unto him,

with his disciples also, he said unto them. Whofo

ever will come after me, let him deny himself (i), 35 and take up his cross (k), and follow me.. For who

foever will save his life, shall lose it; but whosoever

shall lose his life for my fake and the gospel's, the 36 same shall save it. For what shall it profit. a man,

if he shall gain the whole world, and lose. his own 37 foul? Or what shall. a man give in exchange for 38 his soul ? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of

me, and my words, in this adulterous' and finful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be afhamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father, with the holy angels..

ND he said unto them, Verily I say unto you,

that there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the king

dom (a) of God come with power. 2 And after fix days, Jesus taketh with himn Peter,

and James, and John, and leadeth them up into,

an high mountain apart by themselves: and lie was 3 transhgured before them. And his raiment became

shining, exceeding white as fnow: fo as no fuller on.

(h) See Mat. xvi. 23. Note.

(2) Let him lay aside those considerations which commonly actuate worldly men. (k) See Mat. x. 38, 39. Note.

(a) Until they see the kingdom of Christ begin to be established by the destruction of his enemies, and by the wonderful success and propagation of the gospel. See Mat. xvii. 2. Luke ix. 27. G 6

4

earth.

4 earth can white them. And there appeared unto

them Elias (6) with Moses : and they were talking 5 with Jesus. And Peter answered and said to Jesus,

Mafter, it is good for us to be here: and let us

make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one 6 for Mofes, and one for Elias. For he wist not 7 what to (c) fay, for they were fore afraid. And

there was a cloud that overshadowed them; and

a voice came out of the cloud, faying, This is my 8 beloved Son: hear him. And fuddenly when they

had looked round about, they saw no man any more, 9 fave Jesus only with themselves. And as they came

down from the mountain, he charged them that they

thould tell no man what things they had seen, till 10 the Son of man were risen from the dead. And

they kept that saying with themselves, queftioning one with another what the rising from the dead fhould mean.

And they asked him, saying, Why fay the fcribes 12 that Elias must first come? And he answered and

told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things, and how it is written of the Son of man,

that he muft fuffer many things, and be set at nought. 13 But I say unto you, that Elias is indeed (d) come,

and they have done unto him whatsoever they lifted

as it is written of him, 14 And wben he came to his disciples, he saw a great

multitude about them, and the scribes questioning 15 with them. And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly (e) amazed, and

16 running (0) Whatever was typified in the law, is represented by Moses ; whatever was foretold by the Prophets, is reprefented by Elijah; and all is accomplished in Jesus Chrift.

(c) He was overcome by the different passions of fear and joy, and did not confider the impropriety of what he said.

(d) See Mat. xvii. 11.

le) They were amazed, probably, on account of some part of the glory that remained on his countenance after his transfiguration :

the

II

36 running to him, faluted him.' And he asked the 17 fcribes, What question ye with them? And one of

the multitude answered and said, Master, I have

brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb i8 fpirit: And wherefoever he taketh him, he teareth

him; and he foameth, and gnasheth with his-teeth,

and pineth away; and I spake to thy disciples, that 19 they thould cast him out, and they could not. He

anfwered bim, and faith, faithless generation (f),

how long shall I be with you ? how long shall I suf20.fer you bring him unto me, And they brought

him unto him: and when he saw him, straight

way the spirit tare him, and he fell on the 21 ground, and wallowed, foaming. And he asked

his father, How long is it ago since this came 22 unto him? And he said, Of a child. And oft

times it hath cast him into the fire, and inta the waters, to destroy him : but if thou canst do

any 23 thing, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus

faid unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are 24 poffible to him that believeth. And itraightway the

father of the child cried out, and faid with tears, -25 Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief (8). When

Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, faying unto him, Thou

dumb and deaf fpirit, I charge thee, come out of '96 him, and enter no more into him. And the spirit

cried, and rent him fore, and came out of him, and he was as one dead, infomuch that many faid, He

But Jesus took him by the hand, and 28 Jifted him up, and he arofe. And when he was

27 is dead.

the like happened to Moses, when he came down from Mount Sinaia Exod. xxxiv. 29. (f) This is faid to the difciples, not to the multitude...

(g) I know thy power, and firmly trust in it; if more be necessary, I beleech thee let thy goodness and compassion further inftruct and Krengthen me ; for it is my earack wil, that my faith in thee may be perfect in all respects.

come

come into the house, his disciples asked him pri29 vately, Why could not we cast him out? And he

faid unto them, This kind can come forth by no

thing, but by (b) prayer and fafting. 30 And they departed thence, and passed through

Galilee; and he would not that any man fhould 31 know it. For he taught his disciples, and said unto

them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands

of nien, and they shall kill him, and after that he 32 is killed, he shall rise the third day. But they under

stood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.. 33

And he came to Capernaum, and being in the house, he asked them, What was it that ye disputed 34 among yourselves by the way! But they held their

peace: for by the way they had disputed among 35. themselves, who should be the greatest. And he fat

down and called the twelve, and faith unto them,

IF any man desire to be first, the fame shall be last 36 of all, and servant of all(i). And he took a child and

fet him in the midst of them : and when he had taken: 37 him in his arms, he faid unto them, Whosoeyer

shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me; and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

And John answered him saying, Master, we faw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us ;

and we forbad him, because he followeth 39 not us.

But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which thall do a miracle in my name, 40 that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is 41 not against us, is on our part (k)." For whosoever

shall give you a cup of water to drink, in my name,.

38

(h) See Mat. xvii. 20.

(i) By this it is plain, that our blessed Lord knew what they had been disputing about, though they were ashamed to tell him.

(k) Let us learn from hence a spirit of charity and brotherly af-, fe£ion to all denominations of Christians, however they may differ from us in some respects. See Mat. xii. 30. ,

because

because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, 42 he shall not lose his reward. And whosoever shall

offend (1) one of these little ones that believe in me,

it is better for him, that a milftone were hanged, 43 about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. And if

thy hand offend thee, cut it off (m): it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands,

to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be 44 quenched: Where the worm dieth not, and the 45 fire is not quenched (n). And if thy foot offend thee,

cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life,

than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the 46. fire that never shall be quenched: Where their 47 worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched (). And

if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one

eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell-fire: 48 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not 49 quenched. For every one shall be falted with (p).

fire, and every facrifice shall be falted with falt. 50 Salt is good : but if the falt has lost his faltness,

(9) wherewith will you seafon it? Have falt in yourfelves, and have peace one with another.

(1) See Mat. xvii. 6.
(m) See Mat. v. 29.
(n) Quoted from Isaiah lxvi. 24.

See Ifaiah lxvi. 24. Who can dwell in everlasting burning? Isaiah xxxiii. 14.

(p) For in the prefent state of things; he that will offer himself to the service of God must expect to fall a sacrifice in the fire of perfecution. As therefore every sacrifice is first prepared with salt be. fore it is consumed by fire, so you must hold yourselves prepared by the salt of a spiritual life to facrifice all the honours and advantages of the world, rather than have any contention with your brethren about them.

(9) See Mat. V. 13.

CH A P.