9 And as Jefus paffed forth from thence,he faw a man named Matthew fitting at the receit of custom and he saith unto him, Fol- him. 10 And it came to pass, as Jefus fat at meat in the house, behold, many publi. Prophet endued with fuch extraordinary 9. After this, Jefus departed from Capernaum, and went towards the Lake; and as he was in the way, he faw a Man, named Matthew, fitting at the Cuftom-Houfe, or Tax-gatherers Stall, receiving Tribute. And Jefus faid to him, Follow me; and the Man without delay left his Business, and followed him. 10. And he invited Jefus home with him to his Houfe. And when they fat down to Meat, many Tax-gatherers who were Men hateful to the Jews; and many finful Men of their Acquainhim and his difciples. tance, fat down with Jefus and his Difciples. cans and finners came and fat down with 11. Which when the proud Pharifees faw, they were moved with Envy; but not daring to provoke Jefus himself, who had formerly with Authority_reproved their Pride, they asked his Difciples; Why doth your Mafter, who pretends to be a Holy and Sanctified Perfon, keep Company with the worst of Men, with Tax-gatherers and Sinners? 12. But Jefus hearing them ask the Question, answered: As thofe that are in Health, 'need not the Affiftance of a Phyfician, but thofe that are Sick; fo thofe that are Righteous, need not my Exhortations to Repentance, but those that are Sinners. Since therefore ye account yourselves juft Perfons, who do not need my Inftructions, why are ye angry with me for keeping Company with fuch as do? 13. And if ye account it an unfit thing, or a kind of defilement, for a Man to keep Company with Sinners, whom he may advantage by his Ad vice and Inftruction; what, think you, means the Saying of the Prophet Hofea (Hof. vi, 6,) I will have mercy rather than facrifice? For my part, I think it the best thing a Man can do, to converfe with fuch Perfons with defigns of Mercy and Charity; And the great Design of my coming into the World, was not to call the Righteous, but thofe that have been Sinners, to Repentance and Reformation. 14. After this, the Difciples of John the Baptift, who being used to Fafting and Aufterities, did through humane Infirmity fomewhat envy the Difciples of Chrift, who ufed no fuch Severities; came to Jefus and asked him, faying; Why, fince we and the Pharifees faft often, do not your Difciples, if they pretend to any extraordinary Holiness, fast also? 15. Jefus anfwered; As the Guests at a Marriage-feast, cannot without abfurdity faft, fo long as they are with the Bridegroom at the Feaft; fo my Difciples cannot faft, fo long as I, their Mafter am with them; but when I am taken from them, then they fhall begin to faft. 16. For as it is very improper and inconfiftent, to put a piece of new Cloth into an old Garment: So it is very improper that my Disciples fhould mix Mourning and Rejoycing, by fasting while they have the enjoyment of my immediate Presence. 17. And as it is very improper to put new Wine into old Bottles, which will thereby be in danger † to be rent: So Note, That the Bottles of the Ancients were not like ours, but of Leather, which when it was old, would grow rotten and be apt to rend. it would be very improper to put my Difciples upon Fafting and Aufterities, while I am giving them the first Inftructions for their Miniftry: But all fuch things ought to be accommodated, to the Conditions of the Perfons, and to the Circumstances of the Time. 18. While Jefus was speaking thefe things, there came a Ruler of the Synagogue,and fell down before him, and intreated him, faying: Lord, I have a Daughter lying now in my Houfe, fo very ill, that by this time I fear the may even be dead. Yet by the greatnefs of your Power and the Miracles which I have heard of, I am convinced that if you will please to come down and lay your Hand upon her, you can cause her to recover. 19. Jefus, as he was always willing to do good to thofe who defired any thing of him with Faith and Sincerity, immediately went down with the Man to his Houfe: And his Difciples and the Multitude followed him. 20. And as he was in the Way, a Woman that had been twelve Years troubled with a bloody Flux, and was afhamed to confefs her Difeafe publickly before the Multitude, came behind him privately, and touched the Hem of his Coat. 21. For fhe verily perfwaded her felf, that if fhe could but touch his Clothes, fhe fhould be healed. 22. Accordingly as foon as fhe touched his Coat, fhe was immediately healed. But Jefus by his Divine Power knowing what was done, and not being willing that fo excellent an Inftance of Faith fhould pafs undifcovered, turned himfelf to the Woman, and faid unto her; Daughter, be of good Courage, your your great Faith hath obtained the Cure of your Disease. 23. By this time, Jefus was come near the Ruler's House: And when he went in, he found the young Woman dead, and her Relations tumultuously lamenting and bewailing over her. 24. But knowing the Power of God, and what he intended to do; he told them the young Woman was not dead, but afleep; and bad them all go out. But they, knowing certainly that the was dead, laughed at him and derided him. 25. Then he put them all out of the Room, except the Young Womans Parents and fome of his own Difciples: And he took her by the Hand, and the rofe up, and was cured perfectly. she 26. And tho' he commanded them, not to publish the thing abroad; yet the Fame of fo extraordinary a Miracle prefently spread over all the Country. 27. Now when Jefus departed from thence, two blind Men, who had heard of his wonderful Works, followed him, crying out; O thou Son of David, we believe thee to be the expected Meffiah, we beseech thee have pity on us. 28. And when he was come into the Houfe, the blind Men came to him. And Jefus, to inculcate perpetually the neceffity of Faith and the evil of Unbelief, asked them; Do ye indeed believe that I am fent of God, and have Power to do these things? And they answered, Yes. 29. Then he laid his Hands upon their Eyes, and faid; As ye have believed, be it done to you. whole from that hour.) 23 And when Jefus came into the ru lers house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, 24 He faid unto them,Give place, for the maid is not dead, they laughed him to but fleepeth. And fcorn. them, Believe ye that 29 Then touch fo ed he their eyes, faying, According to your faith, be it unto you. 30 And their eyes were opened, and Jefus ftraitly charged them, faying, See that no man know it. 30. And their Sight was immediately restored to them. But Jefus having already done many Miracles; and either knowing that the unbelieving Pharifees would be provoked to apprehend him before his time; or that the admiring Multitude would be ftrongly moved to come together feditiously, and make him (according to their falfe Notions of the Meffias) a temporal King; or elfe that he might fet an Example of Humility, and how we ought not to be defirous of receiving Glory for our good Actions; flraitly charged the blind Men, that they fhould not divulge this Miracle abroad. 31. But they nevertheless fpread the Fame of it, through all the Country. 32. When these Men were gone, the People brought to Jefus a Man that was dumb, and poffeffed with a Devil. 33. And Jefus caft out the Devil, and the dumb Man presently fpake. And the People, seeing that all manner of incurable Diseases were with equal eafe healed by Jefus with only a Word fpeaking, faid; Certainly this Man must be the Meffias; for there never arofe a Prophet in Ifrael, that did fo many and fo great Miracles in such a |