and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

If any man come to me, and cannot be content, for my sake, to neglect and disregard his father and mother, &c. and his very life also, if they stand in opposition to me, or offer to hinder him from enjoying me, he cannot be worthy to bear the name of my disciple.

XIV. 28, 29, 31. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, &c. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

Whosoever will enter into the profession of Christianity, must make account of the worst and utmost that it can cost him; and set it down with his own heart, to undergo resolutely all the difficulties, that shall or can encounter him: even as a man, that goes about to build a tower, or to meet some potent enemy in the field, will be sure to forecast the cost and peril of that enterprise; lest at last being overtaken in his reckoning, he give over, or be foiled with shame.

XIV. 34. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? See Matthew v. 13.

XV. 6. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, &c. See Matthew xviii. 13.

XV. 7. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

The sinner, that goes on in a course of wickedness, may well be given for lost, by angels and men: when such a one therefore repenteth, and converteth unto God, it must needs be much more cause of joy to all that tender the glory of God, than the inoffensive proceeding of those, which gave no cause of fear of their miscarriage. So verses 8, 9, 10.

XV. 11, 12, 13, &c. And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

It is with God, and the two sorts of men in the world, the sinful and professedly righteous, as it is with the father that had two sons. The younger, which was wild and debauched, would needs spend his patrimony riotously; and, at last, being

pinched with want, returns home to his father, miserable but penitent; and is graciously, though unworthy, received to favour, with much joy for his recovery: the elder keeps on a harmless and inoffensive course; and, though well accepted always, yet is not so much rejoiced in, at any one time, as his unthrifty brother, which was accounted but as dead and lost, by his wise and loving father. Right so it is with God in his carriage towards civil and well ordered persons, on the one side, and those that are reclaimed from a lewd and scandalous life, on the other.

XVI. 8. And the Lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

And the Lord commended the witty device and cunning shift, which the unjust steward had made for himself; as it is commonly seen, that worldly-minded men are more subtle in the contriving of their affairs to their own advantage, than God's children are in the projecting and managing of better businesses.

XVI. 9. And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

And I say unto you, Learn this wit of the unjust steward, so to order and dispose of these worldly riches, which are seldom other than unduly gotten by their owners, as that ye may make to yourselves many friends by them; that, upon this charitable and advantageous improvement of them, ye may reap the comfort and benefit of them, at your departure hence, and may be received into everlasting habitations.

XVI. 13. No servant can serve two masters: for either &c. See Matthew vi. 24.

XVI. 16. The law and the prophets were until John : since that time &c. See Matthew xi. 12, 13.

XVI. 17. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one title of the law to fail. See Matthew v. 18.

XVI. 19. There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day.

Hear ye this historical parable. There was a certain great rich man, who was sumptuously arrayed, and delicately fed every day; being altogether given to his pleasure and jollity.

XVI. 21. And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

His misery was great; yet he begged no other supply of it, than that, which was granted to the dogs, unasked, even the very crumbs that fell from the table: yet, these being denied him, he lay comfortless at the rich man's gate; ready, as it

were, to give up the ghost; insomuch as the very dogs came forth to him, as to a helpless and dying man, and fell to licking his ulcerous sores.

XVI. 22. And was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried.

And was carried, by the angels of God, into that place of rest and happiness, where Abraham, the Father of the Faithful, enjoyeth the blessed participation of the glory of God and his Saints; and was there placed in the bosom of that glorious patriarch, at the full table of heaven. So verse 23.

XVI. 26. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; &c.

Besides that, God, by his unchangeable decree, hath set such a distance betwixt this place of rest and that of torment, as that there is no possibility of passage from the one to the other.

XVI. 31. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Thou callest me, Father; and therefore professest thyself and thy brethren to be of my nation, Jews: being Jews therefore, they have the guidance and information of the Law and the Prophets; and, if their infidelity be such, as that they will not believe so clear evidences, as there are offered unto them, surely neither will they be convinced by the testimony of one risen from the dead.

XVII. 1. It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him through whom they come! See Matthew xviii. 7. XVII. 2. It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, &c. See Matthew xviii. 6.

XVII. 10. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

So likewise ye, if ye could perform all that is commanded you, yet ye must be forced to say, Alas, Lord, we can challenge nothing from thee! it was our duty to do all that, which we have done: we cannot hope to raise any advantage to ourselves, by our utmost endeavours.

XVII. 24. For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, &c. See Matthew xxiv. 27.

XVII. 31. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in &c. See Matthew xxiv. 17.

XVII. 37. Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together. See Matthew xxiv. 28.

XVIII. 7. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which

cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with

them?

If the very unrighteous judge yielded so far to the importunity of the poor widow, as to satisfy her desire; how much more shall the holy and merciful God be moved by the importunate prayers of his elect, to revenge them upon their enemies, though he do yet forbear them with long patience!

XVIII. 8. I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of Man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

I tell you, that he will surely take speedy vengeance on them he will not slack the time, as men count slackness; but will come, in his determined season, to execute justice on their cruel persecutors; whose rage shall be so great and so prevalent, that there shall scarce be any faith found upon the earth, when the Son of Man cometh.

XVIII. 14. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

I tell you, this publican, how sinful, how despised -soever, returned home with better acceptation from God, than that other proud Pharisee, that stood upon points of his own justification and holiness.

XVIII. 19. Why callest thou me good? none is good, sare one, that is, God. See Matthew xix. 17.

XVIII. 22. Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all &c. See Matthew xix. 21.

XVIII. 25. It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man &c. See Matthew xix. 24.

XVIII. 29. Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents &c. See Matthew xix. 29.

XIX. 8. Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

Behold, Lord, thy presence, and power, hath so wrought upon me, that now I do profess, for thy sake, to renounce the world; and do, therefore, make my will of that estate, which I have some good part of my substance I know to be lawfully gotten, as being left to me for my patrimony, or honestly raised; howsoever, some other part of it hath been increased by extortion and injustice. I would gladly give all to the poor, were it not that I must reserve some for just restitution. One half therefore I give to the poor; and, out of the other half, I am ready to restore fourfold to any man, whom I have wronged by unjust exaction and false accusation.

XIX. 9. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation

come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.

Behold, Zaccheus, thou losest not by the bargain: for, instead of these transitory riches, which thou thus disposest of, thou dost this day receive the tender of Salvation, which shall be both to thyself, and thy family: see ye, my disciples, what a happy change this man hath made; for, whereas before he was an alien from the commonwealth of Israel, now he is become a son of faithful Abraham.

XIX. 13. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. See Matthew xxv. 14, 15.

XIX. 20. And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which &c. See Matthew xxv. 18.

XIX. 21. For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest &c. See Matthew xxv. 24 and 25, &c.

XIX. 26. That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even &c. See Matthew xxv. 29.

XIX. 45, 46. And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves. See Matthew xxi. 12, 13.

XX. 18. Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on &c. See Matthew xxi. 44.

XX. 22. Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Cæsar, or no? See Matthew xxii. 17.

XX. 25. Give unto Cæsar the things which be Cæsar's, and unto God, the things which be God's. See Matthew xxii. 20, 21.

XX. 34, 35, 36. The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they &c. See Matthew xxii. 29, 30, 31.

XX. 41. How say they that Christ is David's son? See Matthew xxii. 43, 45.

XXI. 21. Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; &c. See Matthew xxiv. 16.

XXI. 23. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! See Matthew xxiv. 19. XXI. 25. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth &c. See Matt. xxiv. 29.

XXI. 29. Behold the fig tree, and all the trees. See Matthew xxiv. 32.