15. Then they went on to Jerufalem. And as foon as they came thither, Jefus went into the Temple; and finding the Court of the Gentiles (which was a part of the Temple appointed for the Gentile Profelytes to worship in, and therefore by the Jews accounted lefs holy than the other Parts of the Temple: Jefus, I fay, finding this Place) full of trading People, buying and felling, and changing Money; he was difpleafed at it, and turned them all out, and ordered their Seats to be taken away.

16. And he forbad the People to carry any Burdens, or any Goods or Merchandize, thro' the Courts of the Temple.

17. For, faid he, does not the Scripture fay, Efa. lvi. 7. Even the Sons of the Stranger that join themselves to the Lord, will I bring to my holy Mountain, and make them joyful in my House of Prayer: For my Houfe fhall be called a House of Prayer to all Nations? This Place therefore, which is appointed for the Gentile Profelytes to worship in, is truly holy and feparated for the Service of God, as well as the reft of the Temple: And ye do very ill, to make it not only a common Thorough-fare, but even a Place of Fraud, Deceit, and Cheating.

'Tis related by St. Matthew, that Jefus did this a Day fooner, and before he curfed the Fig-tree. Either therefore he turned out thefe People Two Days together, which is not altogether improbable; or else one of the Evangelifts neglected the Exactness of Time, as of no Importance in the Hiftory.

VOL. I.

X

18. Thus

18. Thus Jefus with Authority forbad the prophaning of facred Places. But when the Chief of the Jewish Teachers heard of it, who were refolved not to be inftructed or reformed, and feared that if Jefus were fuffered to go on thus, their Authority would quickly fink among the People; they confulted among themselves, and refolved to caufe Jefus to be put to Death; but could not tell which way to accomplish their Design, for fear of the People, who greatly admired Jesus's Doctrine, and were perfuaded that he was a Prophet fent from God.

19. Now at Night Jefus retired again with his Disciples from Jerufalem to Bethany.

20. And in the Morning, as they were coming back, they faw the Figtree, which Jefus had curfed the Day before, withered away to the very Roots.

21. At which fudden Alteration, Peter, and the reft of the Difciples, were furprized, and faid to Jefus; Mafter, look how the Fig-tree, which you curfed Yesterday, is quite withered and dead.

22. But Jefus faid, Be not furprized at the Strangeness of this Thing; but learn to believe firmly the Power of God, and to truft upon it.

23. For affuredly I tell you, there is nothing fo difficult, but if ye fet about it in the Fear and for the Glory of God, with a firm Belief and full Truft in his Power, without any Mixture of Doubting or Unbelief; it fhall certainly be accomplished.

and

18

And the fcribes
chief priests

heard it, and fought
how they might de-
ftroy him for they
feared him, because
all the people was
astonished
doctrine.

at his

20 And in the morning, as they paffed by, they faw the fig-tree dried up from the roots.

21 And Peter calling to remembrance, faith unto him, Mafter, behold, the figfedft, is withered away.

tree which thou cur

22 And Jefus anfwering, faith unto them, Have faith in God.

23 For verily I fay unto you, that whofoever fhall fay unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou caft into the fea, and fhall not doubt in his heart, but fhall believe that thofe things which he faith fhall come to pafs, he fhall have whatsoever he faith. 24 There

24. When therefore ye pray at any time to God, that he would give Succefs to your juft and pious Endeavours, believe firmly that God is both able and willing to grant what you so defire; and your Request shall certainly be performed.

25. Only, as the Things which ye pray for, ought to be juft and good; fuch as may tend to the Glory of God and the Happiness of Men; fo the Dif pofitions with which ye pray, ought to be pious and charitable, merciful and ready to forgive; fuch as may move God to extend Mercy and Forgiveness to you.

26. For if, when you pray, ye be in a Difpofition and Readinefs to forgive others who have offended you; God will alfo forgive your Offences against Him, and graciously hear and answer your Prayers. But if ye will not forgive others; neither will God forgive you, or regard your Prayers.

27. Then Jefus entred again with his Difciples into Jerufalem. And as he was walking in the Temple, the chief Priefts and Teachers, and Rulers of the Jews, angry at his having caft the Tradefmen and Merchants out of the Temple, and at his teaching the People with Plainnefs and Freedom, came about him to watch for Matter of Accufation against him.

28. And because they could not either confute his Doctrine or deny his Miracles, they asked him by what Authority he acted and taught fuch Things, and Who gave him this Authority? Hoping to find fome handle to accuse him of Sedition. 29. Jefus

X 2

29. Jefus, knowing that they did not this with any Defire of being informed, but only fought for fome Pretence to accufe him, answered them with another Queftion thus: If you, faith he, will anfwer one Queftion which I fhall propose to you; then I alfo will anfwer that, which you have proposed to me. my Question is When John the Baptift came and baptized amongst you, did he act by Divine Commiffion, or was his Preaching and Baptizing a meer Humane Defign?

30.

Now

this :

31 & 32. Upon this Queftion, thefe Jewish Doctors reafoned thus with themselves: That if they fhould fay, John acted by Divine Commiffion; then Jefus might juftly accufe them for not believing fohn, who bore Teftimony concerning Jefus: But if they fhould fay, John had no Authority; then the People, who all believed John to be a Prophet really fent of God, would be ready to ftone them.

33. They anfwered therefore to Jefus We cannot tell whether John acted by Divine Commiffion or no. And Jefus then in like manner to them; neither do I, faith he, tell you by what Authority I act and teach thefe Things.

29 And Jefus anfwered and faid unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

30 The baptifm of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me.

31 And they reafoned with them

felves, faying, If we fhall fay, From heaven, he will fay, Why then did ye not believe him?

32 But if we shall fay, Of men, they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.

33 And they anfwered and faid unto Jefus, We cannot tell. And Jefus anfwering faith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

CHAP.

CHA P. XII.

The Parable of the Vineyard let out to wicked Husbandmen, ver. I. applied to fignifie the cafting off the Jews, and receiving the Gentiles, ver. 10. Jefus anfwers the Pharifees, about paying Tribute to Caefar, ver. 14. And the Sadducees, about the Refurrection, ver. 18. And the Scribe, upon a Question, Which was the chief and most neceffary Part of the Law, ver. 28. And fhames them all, with a Question about the Meffiah being David's both Son and Lord, ver. 35. He warns his Difciples against Ambition and Hypocrifie, ver. 38. And shows from the Example of a poor Widow, that Piety and Charity is not to be measured by the outward Act, but by the Intention and Zeal of the Mind, ver. 41.

LAND he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and fet an hedge about it, and digged a place for the wine-fat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.

I.

AT this Time Jefus fpake feve

ral Parables or Similitudes, to the Scribes and Chief of the Jews in the Hearing of the People; wherein he fignified to them, that the Nation. of the Jews, having rejected the graCIOUS Offer of the Gofpel and the Divine Mercy, fhould have this great Privilege taken from them and given to another People. Particularly, among others, he gave them this Comparifon. A certain Perfon, faith he, planted a Vineyard; and having furnished it with all Things neceffary for Convenience, Ornament and Defence, he employed Husbandmen to drefs it, and gather the Fruit of it, and travelled himfelf into a diftant Country: Thus God at the Beginning of the World revealed his Will to Mankind; and particularly to the Nation of the Jews, at the giving of the Law; expecting that they fhould bring forth the Fruits of HoliX 3 nefs