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35. And Jefus travelled through all the Cities and Villages, expounding the Scripture in their Synagogues, and teaching them the true Doctrine of the Christian Religion, and proving his Authority and Divine Commiffion by the miraculous healing of all forts of Diseases among the People.

36. And when he faw a great multitude of People gathered together about him, he had Compaffion on them, because they seemed to be weary and scattered, wandring for want of faithful Guides and Teachers, as Sheep having no Shepherd. They were willing to receive the Inftructions of true Religion, and defirous to be directed in the way of Happinefs; but the Jewish Doctors, Scribes and Pharifees, had filled all things with Hypocrify and vain Traditions, and there were none who taught the People with Sincerity and Faithfulness.

37. Then Jefus faid to his Disciples: The Harveft indeed is great; There is a great Number of People, that are willing and prepared to receive Inftruction: But the Labourers in this Harvest are few; there are but few who are able and fitted to inftruct these People, in the Ways of Righteousness and Truth.

38. Pray ye therefore to God, that he would provide skilful and faithful Minifters, to be fent forth to preach the Gospel through the World.

their

35 And Jefus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in fynagogues, and preaching the gofpel of the kingdom, and healing every fickness, and every disease among the people.

36 But when he faw the multitudes, he was moved with compaffion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as fheep having no fhepherd.

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I AND when he

had called un

to him his twelve difciples, he gave them power againft unclean fpirits, to caft them out, and to heal all manner of fickness,and all manner of disease.

z Now the names

of the twelve apoftles are thefe; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, James the fan of Zebedee, and John his brother,

3 Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas, and Matthew the publican, James the fon of Alpheus, and Lebbeus, whofe furname was Thaddeus, 4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Ifcariot, who alfo betrayed him. 5 Thefe twelve Jefus fent forth, commanded

and

them, faying, Go

CHAP. X.

I.

his Apoftles, at their being fent out The Bleffing of those who receive them,

1. THEN, Jefus calling together his twelve Men, to be fent forth to preach Difciples, chofe out of them the Gofpel. And that they might do it with the greater Authority and Efficacy, he gave them Power to prove their Commiffion by the miraculous Works of cafting out Devils, and healing all manner of Diseases.

1

Twelve Apoftles, are these.

2, 3, 4. Now the Names of the

1. Peter.

2. Andrew.

3. James.
4. John.
5. Philip.
6. Bartholomew.
7. Thomas.
8. Matthew.
9. Another James.
10. Thaddeus, or Jude.
II. Simon the Canaanite.
12. Judas Iscariot.

5. Thefe Twelve Jefus fent forth to preach the Gofpel. And he gave them their Charge, faying; Do not go among any of the Gentiles or Samaritans, because the Salvation of the Gospel must first be offered to God's peculiar People. E 2

6. But

6. But go in the first place to the poor deluded Jews, who were originally the peculiar People of God; and offer Them firft, the gracious Terms of Repentance and Reconciliation.

7. Preaching to them every where as ye go; that God is now about to eftablish the Kingdom of the Meffias, wherein he will be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth; and, inftead of all external Rites and Ceremonies, will accept nothing but Repentance and fincere Obedience.

ye

do

8. And to convince them that not this rafhly and without Authority, heal their Sick, cleanfe their Lepers, raife their Dead, caft out Devils; and do all these things freely and without reward, with the fame Liberality as ye have received Power from me to do *them.

9. And because the Defign of this your Journey is wholly Spiritual and Heavenly, for the Inftruction and Converfion of Mankind; therefore make no Provifion for it of any earthly things; of Gold, or Silver, or any other Money.

10. But go juft as ye are ; each Man with the fame Coat, Shoes, and Staff, that he now has; † without providing any other Clothes, Shoes, or Staff; or any Bag of Provifions for the Way. For while ye are thus employed in labouring for the Benefit and Eternal Welfare of others, ye may reafonably expect to be fuftained by them for the prefent.

not into the way of the Gentiles,and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye

not.

6 But go rather to the loft fheep of the houfe of Ifrael.

7 And as ye go, preach, faying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

8 Heal the fick, cleanfe the lepers, raife the dead, caft out devils: freely ye have received, freely

give.

9 Provide neither gold, nor filver, nor brafs in your purfes:

10 Nor fcrip for your journey, neither two coats, nei

ther fhoes, nor yet ftaves: (for the

workman is worthy of his meat.)

Thus this Paffage, where the Difciples are forbidden to provide a Staff, agrees well with Mark vi, 8. where they are permitted to take a Staff.

11 And

11 And into what foever city or town ye shall enter,enquire who in it is worthy, and there abide till

ye go

thence.

12 And when ye come into an house,

falute it.

13 And if the houfe be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your

peace return to you.

14 And who, foever shall not receive you, nor hear your words; when ye depart out of that house or city, fhake off the duft of your feet.

15 Verily I fay

unto you, It fhall be

and Gomorrha, in the day of judgment, the day of judgment, then for that city.

II. And when ye firft enter into any City or Town, enquire what Perfon dwells therein of Piety and Probity, who may probably receive the Truth of the Gofpel, and be affifting to you in your preaching of Righteousness. And when ye have found fuch an Houfe, accept its Entertainment, and continue therein without removing, till you depart out of that City.

12. And when ye go firft into an House, fay, Peace be to it; and pray for the Bleffing of God upon the whole Family.

13. And if it be a pious and deferving Family, God will accordingly blefs and profper it: But if not, your Prayers fhall return into your own Bofom; and the Bleffing, which they render themselves unworthy of, fhall be redoubled by God upon your felves.

14. And if any Houfe or City fhall refufe to entertain you, and shall reject your Doctrine, and defpife your Words, and refufe to be reformed; when ye depart out of that House or City, fhake off even the Duft of your Feet against them; declaring, that fince they have wilfully rejected the laft means of Salvation which God has offered them by you, ye will have nothing more to do with them, but leave them to the Judgment of God.

15. Affuredly I tell you, the Punifhment that fhall be inflicted on the

more tolerable for Inhabitants of fuch a City, fhall the land of Sodom be more terrible in the Day of flicted on the Inhabitants of Sodom. Vengeance, than that which was inBecause the Inhabitants of Sodom might have repented, if they had heard your Preaching and feen your Miracles; but thefe Men having rejected greater OfE fers

fers of Mercy, fhall be liable to a feverer Punishment.

16. And now, behold, I fend you forth as Sheep among Wolves; gentle, harmless, and innocent Perfons, among paffionate and cruel Men. Be ye therefore Wife and Prudent, that ye give them no juft occafion of reproaching you or your Doctrine; and be meek and gentle, that ye may win those that are of good Tempers, and avoid provoking those that are bad.

17. But when ye have done all you can, you must expect nevertheless to be perfecuted by wicked and cruel Men. Though ye be never fo careful to avoid giving them any juft Offence, yet merely for your continuing to preach the Gofpel, they will carry you before their Magiftrates, as Malefactors; and scourge you in their Synagogues, as Apoftates.

your

18. And ye fhall be brought before Governours, and Princes, and Kings, for the Gospel's fake; by which means your Innocence fhall be discovered, and Doctrine made known, even to the Gentiles and to the whole World; that they also hearing of your Doctrine and Miracles, and feeing your Simplicity, Sincerity, and Innocence, may either embrace the Truth, or be left without Excufe,

19. Now when Men fhall thus bring you before the Magiftrates to be judged, be not follicitous to meditate what ye fhall fay in your Defence, or in what manner ye fhall apologize for your felves to the beft advantage. For your Works and Doctrine fhall be their own Vindication; and God, who by his peculiar Providence fupplies you with all other Things that are neceffary or convenient, will alfo at that Time provide for your Defence.

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