child in my name, receives me. 6. But whoever offends the meanest that believes in me, it were better for him that a milstone were hanged about his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the

sea.

7. Wo to the world because of stumblingblocks which are unavoidable in it, but wo to those who occasion them.

8. But if thy darling desires, dear to thee as a hand or a foot, cause thee to offend, cut them off, and cast them from thee; it is better for thee to enter into happiness lame or maimed, than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. (All that a man hath will he part with for his life). 9. And if thine eye (lust) cause thee to offend, pluck it out, and cast it from thee; it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.

10. Take care not to despise the meanest or weakest saint; for I tell you, their guardian angels in heaven always behold the glorious presence of my heavenly Father. 11. For the Son of man (Heb. ii. 16.) is come to save what was lost.

12. What think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains, and go to seek what is gone astray? 13. And if he find it, verily I tell you, He rejoiceth more for that sheep, than for the ninety-nine which went not astray.

14. Even so, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of the meanest of these should perish.

15. Moreover, if thy brother trespass against thee, go and reprove him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. thy brother. 16. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17. And if he VOL. III.

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will not hearken to them, tell it to the congregation: but if he will not obey the church, let him be to thee as a heathen or a publican.

18. Verily I tell you, Whomsoever ye (justly) doom on earth shall be doomed in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose (or acquit) on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

19. Again I tell you, That if two of you agree on earth concerning any thing they shall ask, it shall be granted them by my Father in heaven.

20. For where two or three meet together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

21. Then Peter came to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall I forgive my brother for sinning a gainst me? till seven times? 22. Jesus saith to him, I say not to thee, till seven times; but till seventy-seven times.

23. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened to a certain king, who would take account of his servants. 24. And beginning to reckon, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents: 25. But having nothing to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, with his wife and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26. Then the servant falling down worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27. Then his lord moved with compassion, released him and forgave him the debt.

28. But the same servant going out, found one of his fellow-servants who owed him an hundred pence; he seized him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me what thou owest. 29. Then his fellow servant falling down at his feet, besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30. And he would not, but cast him into prison till he would pay the debt.

31. Then his fellow-servants seeing what was done, were very sorry, and told their lord all that

was done. 32. Then his lord calling him, said to him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt because thou desiredst me: 33. Shouldst not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow-servant, even as I had pity on thee? 34. So his lord being incensed, delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all he owed.

35. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one their trespasses, (when they confess and ask forgiveness.)

CHAP. XIX.

CHRIST HEALS THE SICK.

Now Jesus having finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judea by Jordan, 2. Where great multitudes followed him; whom he healed.

3. The Pharisees also came to tempt him, saying, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

4. But he answered them, Have ye not read, that he who made them at the beginning made a male and a female; 5. And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and cleave to his wife; and they two shall be as one flesh? 6. Therefore they are no more twain, but as one flesh. Therefore whom God hath joined together, let no man separate.

7. They said to him, Why did Moses then command to give her a writing of divorcement, and put her away? 8. He replied because of the hardness of your hearts Moses suffered you to put away your wives, (rather than treat them ill, or kill them): But from the beginning it was not so. 9. And I tell you, Whoever puts away his wife, except it be for adultery, and marries another, commits adultery: and whoever marrieth her who is put away commits adultery.

10. His disciples said to him, If the case of a man with his wife be so, it is better not to marry. 11. But he replied, All men cannot do so, but only they to whom it is given, 12. For some were born eunuchs, and some were made eunuchs, and some live as if they were eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is content to live so, let him do it.

13.

Then some brought little children to him, to lay his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

14. But Jesus said, Suffer little children to come to me, and forbid them not; for of such like is the kingdom of heaven. 15. So he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

16. Now, behold, one came to him, saying, Good Master, what good shall I do, to obtain eternal life?

17. He replied to him, Why askest thou me of good? there is none good but one, who is God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commands.

18. He saith to him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt do no whoredom, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19. Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

20. The young man saith to him, All these I have kept from my youth up; what want I more, 21. Jesus said to him, If thou desire to be perfect, go and sell what thou hast, and give to the poor? and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; so come and follow me.

22. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great posses

sions.

23.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, Verily I tell you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

24. And again I tell you, It is extremely diffi

cult, (and scarcely possible,) for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God, (if he let others suffer want. 1 John iii. 17.)

25. His disciples hearing that, were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 26. But Jesus beholding them, said,, With men this is im possible; but with God all things are possible.

27. Then Peter, replied to him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 28. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily I tell you, When the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, ye who have followed me in the regeneration, shall also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel, (as as sessors.) 29. Whoever hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundred-fold (joy,) and shall inherit everlasting life. 30. But many (of the Jews) who were first (the church of God) shall be last (in embracing the gospel;) and the Gentiles who were last in becoming the people of God, shall first become the church of Christ. And many also who seemed first in the way, shall be last in attaining to the end (or lose it.)

CHAP. XX.

THE PARABLE OF THE LABOURERS.

For the kingdom of heaven is like a householder, who went out early to hire labourers for his vineyard. 2. And having agreed with them for a penny a-day, he sent them into it. 3. He went out also about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market-place, 4. And said to them, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you. So they went. 5. Again he went. out about the sixth and ninth hours, and did likewise. 6. He went out also about the eleventh