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beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of "the Sadducees ?" then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees,

72. Jesus restores a blind Man to sight near Beth

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AND he cometh to Bethsaida; and Place. Bethsaida. they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. And he sent him away to his house, saying, "Neither go into the town, nor tell "it to any in the town."

73. Peter repeats his confession that Jesus was the Christ.

WHEN Jesus came into the coasts of Cesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, "Whom do men say

Place. Borders of Cesarea Philippi.

"that I the Son of man am?" and they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, "But

One of the old prophets raised from the dead.

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"whom say ye that I am ?" and Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed "it unto thee, but my Father which is in hea66 ven. And I say also unto thee, That thou "art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not pre“vail against it, And I will give unto thee "the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and "whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be "bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt "loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ."

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74. Jesus plainly foretels his Sufferings and Resurrection, rebukes Peter, and exhorts all to self-denial.

FROM that, time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that "The Son of man "must suffer many things, and be rejected of

a Bar, i. e. Son of Jona.

No human creature hath revealed this to thee, but God only.

Peter signifies a rock. Upon the doctrines of Christ which he was to preach in common with the rest of the Apostles, shall the church be built, with such stability as never to be destroyed; and the gates of Hades, or the intermediate state of the dead shall not prevail against the succession of its members.

d The power of opening the door, and admitting disciples into the kingdom or church of Christ.

Till after his resurrection, lest the Jews should put him to death before his time.

"the elders and chief priests and scribes, and "be slain, and be raised the third day." And he spake that saying openly. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, "Get thee "behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me for thou savourest not the things that be “of God, but those that be of men.

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And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, "Whọsoever will come after me, let him deny him"self, and take up his cross, daily, and follow "me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose "it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my "sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain "the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what "shall a man give in exchange for his soul? "whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me "and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man "be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of "his Father, with the holy angels."

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And he said unto them, 66

you,

Verily I say unto That there be some of them that stand

here, which shall not taste of death, till they "have seen the kingdom of God come with power."

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a Get out of my sight thou Satan or tempter, who mistakest the design of my coming, as if it were to establish a temporal, and not a spiritual kingdom.

The gospel of Christ wonderfully spread and prosper.

75. Jesus' Transfiguration: his Discourse with the three Disciples as they were descending from the mountain.

AND it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And he was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease, which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; when the disciples heard it, face, and were sore afraid.

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hear ye him. And they fell on their And Jesus came,

By the transfiguration our Lord was pleased to exhibit a specimen of his future resurrection to these three Apostles.

Moses being the giver of the law, and Elijah the greatest of the prophets, intimated by their discoursing with Christ, that the Law and the Prophets should be completed in him.

He knew not what he said, through mingled emotions of fear and joy.

and touched them, and said, "Arise, and be "not afraid." And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, "Tell the vision "to no man, until the Son of man be risen "again from the dead." And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should

mean.

And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? and Jesus answered and said unto them, "Elias

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truly shall first come, and restore all things. “But I say unto you, That Elias is come “already, and they knew him not, but have "done unto him whatsoever they listed. Like"wise shall also the Son of man suffer of them." Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist. a

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76. Jesus casts out a dumb and deaf Spirit.

AND when he came to his disciples on the next day, he saw a great multitude about them, and the Scribes questioning with them. And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him. And he asked the scribes," What

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question ye with them?" and there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and

Who was the Elias or forerunner of Christ, whom they have put to death, as they will put Christ to death.

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Amazed at some remainder of the glory of his transfiguration yet visible on his countenance.

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