"a rock: and the rain descended, and the "floods came, and the winds blew, and beat

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upon that house; and it fell not: for it was "founded upon a rock. And every one that "heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth "them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, " which built his house upon the sand: and "the rain descended, and the floods came, " and the winds blew, and beat upon that "house; and it fell: and great was the fall of " it." And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the Scribes. When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.

37. The Servant of the Centurion is healed.

a

Now when he had ended all his Place. sayings in the audience of the people, Capernaum he entered into Capernaum. And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: for he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. Then Jesus went with them. And when

b

* A captain of one hundred men.
▸ Earnestly.

he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself; for I am not worthy that shouldest enter under my roof: wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, "I say unto you, I have not found so

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a

great faith, no, not in Israel. Many shall "come from the east and west, and shall sit "down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, " in the kingdom of heaven: but the children " of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer "darkness: there shall be weeping and gnash

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こ

ing of teeth." And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.

38. The Widow's Son is raised from the dead at Nain.

Nain.

AND it came to pass the day after, Place. that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. Now when he came nigh to the

* If my orders are obeyed, how much more shall yours, who can command the powers of nature!

The Gentiles.

• The Jews.

a

gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, "Weep not." And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, "Young man, 1 say unto thee, "Arise." And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judea, and throughout all the region round about.

39. Jesus's Answer to the Disciples sent by John the Baptist.

d

AND the disciples of John shewed Place. him of all these things. And John Galilee. calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come ? or look we for another? When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come ? or look we for another? And in the same hour he cured many of their infir

• Or coffin without a lid.

Hath favoured.

• That he was a great prophet, invested with divine power. d John, who had already borne witness to Jesus, did not send them for his own inforination, but their conviction,

a

mities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight. Then Jesus answering said unto them, "Go your way, "and tell John what things ye have seen and "heard; how that the blind see, the lame "walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, "the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is " preached. And blessed is he whosoever shall "not be offended in me." b

And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, "What went ye out into the "wilderness for to see? a reed shaken with the *"wind? but what went ye out for to see? a " man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they "which are gorgeously apparelled, and live de"licately, are in king's courts. But what went "ye out for to see? a prophet? yea, I say " unto you, and much 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

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say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than "John the Baptist : notwithstanding he that is "least in the kingdom of 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." And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and Lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.

And the Lord said, "Whereunto then shall "I liken the men of this generation? and to "what are they like? they are like unto chil"dren sitting in the market-place, and calling " one to another, and saying, We have piped " unto you, and ye have not danced; we have "mourned to you, and ye have not wept. " For John the Baptist came neither eating " bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He "hath a devil. The Son of man is come eat"ing and drinking; and ye say, Behold a glut"tonous man, and a wine-bibber, a friend of "publicans and sinners! But wisdom is justi"fied of all her children." b

40. Jesus' Reflections in consequence of his Appeal to his mighty Works.

THEN began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: "Woe unto thee, Chora"zin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the " mighty works which were done in you, had

a This is a subject of great importance.

The wisdom of God will finally be acknowledged by his children, however they may be displeased with his present dealings.