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ple: Nay, we have no more amongst us in all, than five Loaves of Bread and two fmall Fishes.

18. Jefus wondring at the flowness of their Understanding, that they fhould not yet call to mind his former Miracles, and confider what he was able to do; bad them bring to him what Victuals they had, how little foever it might be.

19. Then commanding the people to fit down in feveral Companies upon the Ground, he took the Bread and Fifh in his Hands; and when he had given Thanks to God and bleffed them, he brake and gave them to his Difciples, and the Difciples diftributed them to the Multitude.

2021. And though the number of the People that did eat, was not lefs than five thoufand Men befides Women and Children, yet fuch was the efficacy of the Divine Power evidenced in the wonderful Increase of the Bread and Fish upon Chrift's giving his Bleffing, that not only all this Multitude had enough and were fatisfied, but there remained moreover as many Fragments, as, when they were gathered up, filled twelve Bread-baskets.

22. When this was done, Jefus ordered his Dlfciples to go into a Boat; and though they were very unwilling to go without him, yet he intending to try them with another Miracle, commanded them to row over the Lake before-hand, and leave him behind to difmifs the People.

23. Accordingly, when the Difciples were gone, he fent away the Multitude; and after that, he went up to pray upon a Hill, and there continued alone till Night.

18 He faid, bring them hither to me.

19 And he commanded the multitude to fit down on the five loaves, and the grafs, and took the two fifhes, and looking up to heaven, he bleffed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his difciples, and the difciples to the multitude.

20 And they did all eat, and were

filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.

21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, befide women and children.

22 J And straightway Jefus conftrained his difciples to get into a fhip, and to go before him unto the other fide, while he fent the multitudes

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24. During which time, the Difciples were gotten into the midst of the Lake; where, the Wind coming contrary, and a Storm arifing, they were toffed up and down by the Waves, not without fear of being loft; Jefus fuffering them to be alone in this Danger, that he might inure them to Hardships, and teach them to rely without diftruft in the greatest Extremities upon the Providence of God.

25. However, when they had toiled the greateft part of the Night, Jefus took pity on them; and knowing in his Wifdom when they had been fufficiently tried by this Danger, he came to them towards Morning, walking upon the Lake.

26. But when the Difciples faw him walking upon the Water, and had not yet Light enough to know who he was, they were affrighted, thinking him to be a Spirit or Apparition; and not knowing what to do, they cried out for fear.

27. But Jefus, not willing to keep them any longer in a Fright, fpoke to them, and told them who he was, and bad them take Courage, and not be afraid.

28. Then, knowing his Voice, they began to come to themfelves: And Peter, who was forwardeft upon all Occafions to make proof of his Faith, faid; Lord, if it be you, give me leave to come out, and walk upon the Water with you.

29. Jefus, knowing the Infirmity of his too forward Confidence, and being willing to take occafion at the fame time to reprove his Weakness and to confirm his Faith, bad him come down out of the Boat; and he came down

and walked upon the Water towards Jefus.

30. But when he felt the Wind ftrong, and faw the Waves rage and beat about him, his Faith failed, and he was afraid; and beginning to fink, he cried out, Lord, help me, I perish. 31. Then Jefus took him by the Hand, and helped him up, and reproved his Diffidence, faying; Wherefore were you fo weak, that after you had not only feen me walk upon the Water, but had alfo experimented my Power in doing the fame your felf; yet at the boisteroufnefs of the Winds and Waves you fhould let your Faith fail, and fuffer Diftruft to arife in your Mind?

32. Then they went Both up into the Boat together, and immediately the Storm ceafed; and the Air became calm, and the Waters smooth.

33. And when the Men of the Boat faw this great Miracle, they fell down at Jefus's Feet, and worshipped him, faying; Verily you are the true Meffias, the Son of God, the Redeemer of Ifrael. 34. Now when they had crofled the Lake, they came into the Land of Genneferet, where Jefus had been once before.

35. And the Men of that Country knowing him again, fent presently into all the Towns round about, and brought unto him all that were afflicted with any manner of Disease.

36. And being convinced of his Power by his former Miracles which they had feen and heard of, they defired that they might but touch fo much as the Hem of his Garment: and, according to their Faith, as many as

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32 And when they were come into the fhip, the wind ceased.

33 Then they that were in the fhip, came and worshipped him, faying, Of

a truth thou art the

Son of God.

34 And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennefaret.

35 And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they fent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were difeafed,

that

36 And befought him, they might only touch

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touched him, with a firm Truft and Belief of his Power, were perfectly healed.

CHA P. XV.

The Pharifees Hypocrify and vain Traditions reproved, and the true Notion of Cleanness ftated, ver. 1. The Woman Many others cuof Canaan's Daughter healed, ver. 21. red in Galilee, and four thousand fed with feven Loaves and a few Fishes, ver. 29.

1 Then came to Jefus Scribes and Pharifees, which were of Jerufalem, faying,

2 Why do thy difciples tranfgrefs the tradition of the elders? for they wash

not their hands when they eat bread.

3.

anBut he

fwered and

faid

I.

ABOUT this time certain few..

ifh Doctors, Scribes and Pharifees, Inhabitants of Jerufalem, ftrict Obfervers of the traditional Precepts of the Elders, came to Jefus; and because they could not find any means to accufe him of tranfgreffing the Law of God, they charged him with neglecting their Humane Traditions, faying:

2. If you pretend to be a Teacher of greater Holinefs than ordinary, why do you fuffer your Difciples to tranfgrefs thofe Precepts and Traditions, which

our wife Ancestors have commanded to be obferved as Fences of the Law? For Example: Whereas our Elders have ordained, that for fear of any defilement that may have happened to them, Men fhould always wash their Hands before Meat; your Difciples wholly neglect this Tradition, and make no fcruple to eat with unwashed Hands.

3. Jefus answered: Ye are most unreafonably and maliciously partial. For, unto them, Why who are moft juftly to be blamed? My Difciples, who neglect indeed your

do

also tranf

you grefs the com

trifling

trifling and tedious Superftitions, but
ftrictly obferve the Law of God? Or ye
your felves, who, that ye may fupersti-
tioufly obferve the vain and fometimes
directly wicked Traditions of Men, stick
not at all at tranfgreffing the eternal
Commands of God?

4. For Inftance: 'Tis an eternal and unchangeable Law of God, that Men fhould Honour and Respect their Parents; that they should Obey and Submit to them; and that, when need requires, they fhould Relieve and Aff them. And this Law God hath moreover confirmed, by pofitively annexing a capital Punishment to the breach of it; that whoever Dishonours, Reviles, Difobeys, or Rebels against his Parents, Deut. fhould Die without Mercy.

xxi. 21.

5 6. But ye on the contrary say: If a Man binds himself by an Oath, that he will not relieve the Neceffities of his Parents; or vows to give to fome pious Ufe, what fhould otherwife have been laid out for their Relief and Affiftance; the Man is by this means freed from all Obligation of Duty to his Parents. Thus in obferving your vain and fuperftitious Precepts or Traditions, ye openly violate the plain Commandments of God.

7. Ye Hypocrites; moft juftly may I now fay of you, what Efaias in old time faid of your Fathers; (Ifai. xxix. 13.)

8. This People talks of Religion, and makes an outward show of Holinefs and Devotion; but their Hearts are far from being honest and fincere. 9. In vain therefore are all their pretences to Piety, and of no esteem in the fight of God; whilst instead of Obe

mandment of God by your tradition?

4 For God commanded, faying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He

that curfeth father or mother, let him die the death.

5 But ye fay; Whofoever fhall fay

to his father or his mother, It is a gift mightest be profited by whatsoever thou by me.

6 And honour not, his father or his mother, he fhall be free. Thus have ye made

of God of none effectby your tradition.

the commandment

7 Ye hypocrites, well did Efaias prophefie of you, faying,

8 This People draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honour

eth me with their

lips: but their heart

far from me.

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But in vain worship

do

me,

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