him. And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

XCVII.

Simon Peter acknowledges Jesus to be the Christ.

ΑΝ

ND Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Cæsarea Philippi; and by the way it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him; and he asked them, saying, Who do men say that I, the Son of man, am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist; some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or that one of the old prophets is risen again.

He saith unto them, But who say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona; for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and

the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

XCVIII.

Peter rebuked by Christ.

ROM that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. And he spake that saying openly. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord; this shall not be unto thee. But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan; for thou art an offence unto me; for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

AN

XCIX.

Self-denial enjoined.

ND there went great multitudes with him; and when he had called the people unto him, with

is not worthy of me.

his disciples also, he said unto them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. He that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me, for whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, and the gospel's, the same shall save it, and shall keep it unto life eternal. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee, what shall we have therefore? And he said unto them, Verily, I say unto you, there is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, and the gospel's, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come inherit everlasting life,

C.

Faith in Christ is to be openly confessed.

HOSOEVER therefore shall confess me before

WH

men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven, and before the angels of God; but whosoever shall deny me before men, or be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels; and him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

If any man serve me, let him follow me ; and where I am, there shall also my servant be; if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. But I tell you of a truth, that there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

A

CI.

The transfiguration of Christ.

ND after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and leadeth them up into a high mountain apart by themselves to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and he was transfigured before them; and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow, so as no fuller on earth can white them; white as the light, and glistering. And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias; who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.

But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias; for he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.

While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard