the fenfible and external Sign of baptizing with Water; that they might hereby be prepared to receive the Gospel, and fitted to be made Partakers of that Salvation, whereof Jefus was to be the Author and Publisher. 5. And a great Number of People, out of all the Cities and Towns of Judea, and of the Inhabitants of Jerufalem, reforted into the Wilderness to John, and were baptized by him in the River Jordan, confeffing publickly the Sinfulness of their paft Lives, and declaring their Refolutions of Amendment and Reformation. 6. Now the Course of John the Baptift's Life, as became him who was to invite Men to Repentance, was very fevere and mortified. He was cloathed in the pooreft and meaneft Sort of Garments, and fed only upon fuch coarfe Provifion as the barren Wilderness afforded of it felf. 7. And he declared to all those that profeffed their Repentance, and were baptized by him, that he himself was not the Meffias who was to fave them from their Sins, but only his Fore-runner to prepare them by Repentance to receive and be capable of that Salvation. For the Meffias, faid he, who will fhortly appear, is a Perfon of far greater Dignity and Authority than I; fo that I am not worthy to do the very meaneft Offices of Service to him. And by how much he is a greater Person; by so much alfo will his Office and Preaching be more excellent and effectual, and to greater and diviner Purposes than mine. 8. For I indeed, only baptize you with Water, to fignifie by this outward Sign the Neceffity of Repentance: 8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he fhall baptize you with the holy Ghost. II And there came a voice from heaven, faying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 12 And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness. 13. And he was there in the wilder nefs forty days tempted of Satan, and was with the wild beafts, and the angels miniftred unto him. 3 But he, when he comes,fhall pour down upon you his holy Spirit, which by its inward Affiftance fhall powerfully and efficaciously purifie and fanctifie the Minds of all thofe, who by true Repentance prepare themselves to receive his Doctrine and Salvation. 9. While John was thus Preaching and Baptizing, Jefus himself came out of Galilee from Nazareth; and, for a ftanding Inftance of Humility and Readinefs to comply with all Things that might any way promote true Piety, he would needs be baptized by John among the reft of the People. 10. But though in Humility he equalled himfelf to the Meaneft of the People, yet, by the miraculous Power and immediate Teftimony of God, he was very extraordinary diftinguifhed from them. For as foon as he was baptized, and came out of the River, the Heavens appeared to open, and the Spirit of God defcended, and rested upon him in a visible Form. II. And there was heard at the fame time a Voice out of Heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleafed. 12. Prefently after this, Jefus by the Impulfe and Direction of the Spirit of God, was carried into the Wilderness. 13. And there he continued in a folitary Place, among the wild Beafts, Forty Days and Forty Nights, in Fasting and Prayer: And was tempted by the Devil with many Temptations: But he overcame them all, and the Devil fled from him, and good Angels came and comforted him, and fupplied him with Neceffaries after his long Faft. 14. Thus 14. Thus Jefus kept himself retired for the most part, during John Baptift's Preaching. But when John was apprehended and put in Prifon by Herod, then Jefus began to travel openly through Galilee, declaring and preaching the Doctrine of the Gofpel. 15. And he faid: The Time which the Wisdom of God predetermined, which the holy Men of Old hoped for, and which the ancient Prophets exprefsly foretold, to bring in and establish the Kingdom of the Meffiah; is now accomplished. The Ceremonies and Ritual Obfervances of the Law, are shortly to cease; and God is about to make the last Revelation of his Will to Mankind, wherein Righteoufnefs only and Sincerity of Heart fhall be required and accepted. Repent ye therefore, and embrace and obey this Doctrine. 16. Having thus begun to raise in Mens Minds fome Expectation of his Doctrine; he proceeded to choose certain Disciples, to be conftant Witneffes of his Doctrine and Miracles, and to be fent forth to publish them through the Walking therefore on the Shore of the Lake of Genefareth, he faw Two Brothers that were Fisher-men, Peter and Andrew, employed in the Bufinefs of their Calling. World. 17. And he faid to them; Follow me, and I will fet you about a more divine and noble Employment. From henceforth ye fhall catch Men; drawing them by the Power and Efficacy of your Do&trine, from the Ignorance and Wickednefs of the World, to the Knowledge of God and the Obedience of his Commands. 18. Upon which Invitation, the Two Brothers immediately quitted their Cal 19 And when he had gone a little further thence, he faw James the fon of Zebedee, and John his brother, who alfo were in the ship mending their nets. 20 And ftraightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired fervants, and went after him. 21 And they went into Capernaum, and ftraightway on the fabbath day he en tred into the fynagogue and taught. 22 And they were aftonished at his doetrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the fcribes. 23 And there was in their fynagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, 24 Saying, Let us alone, what have we to do with thee,thou Jefus of Nazareth? art thou come to deftroy us? I know thee who thou art the holy one of God. ling, and went with Jefus; and became from that Time his conftant Disciples and Followers. ther, faw Two other Brethren, James 19. Then Jefus going on a little furand John, the Sons of Zebeder; who likewife were Fishermen. And they were mending their Nets. 20. And he called them alfo: And they in like manner as the others had done, leaving without delay both the Company of their Friends, and the Gain of their Employment, came afhore, and followed Jefus. 21. Accompanied with these his Difciples, Jefus entred the great and populous City of Capernaum, and taught in their Synagogues on the Sabbath-days the Doctrine of true Religion and Righteousness. 22. And the People were furprized and aftonished at his Doctrine. For his Teaching was not like that of Their Doctors, trifling and formal, founded on vain Traditions and groundless Authorities of other Rabbies; but the Things which he fpake were great and excellent, and he delivered them with a Voice of Authority and Truth. 23. Now on a certain Sabbathday, as he was teaching in their Synagogue, there was present a Man possessed with a Devil and this gave Jefus an Occafion of confirming his Doctrine, which before appeared admirable in itfelf, by the additional Proof of a great Miracle. 24. For the evil Spirit in the Man, not bearing the Prefence and Power of Jefus, cried out aloud, faying, O thou Jefus of Nazareth, art thou come to deftroy us, and to take away our Power over Mankind? Surely the Time where in #σπαράξαν. in God has permitted us to be let loose, 25. But Jefus choofing rather to prove * 26. Then the evil Spirit convulfing the Man terribly, and giving a great Cry, came out, and the Man was prefently healed. 27. And the whole Congregation was filled with great Admiration: And they faid one to another, What is the Meaning of this? What Doctrine, and what Teacher is this, that he speaks with fuch Authority,and acts with fuch Power, as that the very Devils themselves fubmit to his Command! 28. And the Fame of Jefus, of his excellent Doctrine, and of his wonderful Power, quickly fpread itself over all the Country. 29. Now when Jefus came out of the Synagogue, He and James and † See the John † went into the House of Peter and Andrew. Note on 30. And as foon as he came in, they told him that Peter's Wife's Mother lay there fick of a Fever. 31. Then Jefus going into the Room where the lay,and took her by the Hand, and raised her up; and the immediately not only recovered from her Fever, but also returned fo to her perfect Health and Strength, that she went about the House, and provided Neceffaries for them, and ferved them. 25 And Jefus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. 26 And when the unclean fpirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, infomuch that they queftioned among themselves, faying, What thing is this? What new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean fpirits, and they do obey him. 28 And immedi abroad ately his fame was throughout all the region round about Galilee. 29 And forthwith when they were come out of the fynagogue, they entred into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 But Simons wives mother lay fick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand, and lift her up; and immediately the fever left her, and fhe ministred unto them. |