appeared in sleep to Joseph in Egypt, 20 Saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel. For they are dead that sought the life of the child. 21 Who arose, and took the child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But hearing that Archelaus reigned in Judea in the room of Herod his father, he was afraid to go thither: and being warned in sleep retired into the quarters of Galilee. 23 And coming he dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was said by the prophets: That he shall be called a Nazarite. AND in those days cometh John the Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea, 2 And saying; Do penance: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, 8 For this is he that was spoken of by Isaias the prophet, saying: A voice of one crying in the desert, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. 4 And the same John had his garment of camels' hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins: a A.D. 28.-b Mark 1. 4. 3.- Isaias 40. 3. Mark 1. 3.4. 3. Luke 3. Luke CHAP. III. Ver. 2. Do penance. Poenitentiam, agite,' ueтανоеLтe. Which word, according to the use of the scriptures and the holy fathers, does not only signify repentance and amendment of life, but also punishing past sins by fasting, and such like peBitential exercises. and his meat was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea, and all the country about Jordan: 6 And were baptized by him in the Jordan confessing their sins. 7 And seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees.coming to his baptism, he said to them: Ye brood of vipers, who hath showed you to flee from the wrath to come! 8 Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of penance. 9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father. For I tell you that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10 For now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that doth not yield. good fruit, shall be cut down, and cast into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you in water unto penance, but he that shall come after me, is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear; he shall baptize you in the Holy Ghost and fire. 12 Whose fan is in his hand and he will thoroughly cleanse his floor: and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire. 13 Then cometh JESUS from Galilee to the Jordan, unto John, to be baptized by him. d Mark 1. 5.-e Luke 3. 7.-ƒ John 8. 39.-g Mark 1. 8. Luke 3. 16. John 1. 26. Acts 1. 5.-h Mark 1. 9. Ver. 7. Pharisees and Sadducees, These were two sects among the Jews: of which the former were for the most part notorious hypocrites; the latter a kind of free-thinkers in matters of re ligion. Christ's fast of forty days: he is tempt ed. He begins to preach, to call disriples to him, and to work miracles. HEN JESUS was led by the THEN spirit into the desert, to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterwards he was hungry.. 3 And the tempter coming said to him: If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 Who answered and said: It is written, Not in bread alone doth man live, but in every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God. 5 Then the devil took him up into the holy city, and set him 7 JESUS said to him, It is written again: Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8 Again the devil took him up into a very high mountain: and shewed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them.. 9 And said to him: All these will I give thee, if falling down thou wilt adore me.. 10 Then JESUS saith to him: Begone, Satan: for it is written: The Lord thy God shalt thou adore, and him only shalt thou serve." 11 Then the devil left him: and behold Angels came and ministered to him. 12 And when JESUS had heard that John was delivered up, he retired into Galilee: 13 And leaving the city Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capharnaum on the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and of Nephthalim; 14 That it might be fulfilled which was said by Isaias the prophet: 15 Land of Zabulon and land of Nephthalim, the way of lee of the gentiles: the sea beyond the Jordan, Gali 16 The people that sat in darkness, hath seen great light: and to them that sat in the region of the shadow of death, light is sprung ир. 17 From that time JESUS g Deut. 6. 16.-h Deut. 6. 13.-i Mark 1. 14. Luke 4. 14. John 4. 43.-k Isaias 9. 1.- Mark 1. 15. upon the pinnacle of the temple, began to preach, and to say: 6 And said to him: If thou be the Son of God,cast thyself down, for it is written: That he hath given his Angels charge over thee, and in their hands shall they bear thee up, lest perhaps thou dash thy foot against a stone. a A.D. 30.-b Luke 3. 22-c Mark 1. 11. Luke 9. 35. 2 Pet. 1. 17-d A.D. 30. Luke 4. 1. Deut. 8. 3. Luke 44 Ps. 90. 11, CHAP. IV. Ver. 8. Shewed him, &c. That is, pointed out to him where each kingdom lay; and set forth in words what was most glorious and admirable in each of them. Or also set before his eyes, as it were in a large map, a lively representation of all thos kingdoms. Do penance, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 18 And TESUS walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishers). 19 And he saith to them: Come ye after me, and I will make you to be fishers of men. 20 And they immediately leaving their nets, followed him. 21 And going on from thence, he sawother two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets: and he called them. 22 And they forthwith left their nets and father, and followed him. 23 And JESUS went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom: and healing all manner of sickness and every infirmity, among the people. 2 And opening his mouth he taught them, saying: 3d Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4. Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land. 5 Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted. 6 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 & Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peace-makers for they shall be called the children of God. 10 Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice sake: for theirs is the kingdom. of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake; 12 Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in, heaven. For so they persecuthe prophets that were before you. 24 And his fame went throughout all Syria, and they presented to him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and terments, and such as were posted sessed by devils and lunatics, and those that had the palsy, and he cured them: 25 And much people followed him from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea,and from beyond the Jordan. CHAP. V. 13 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt lose its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is good for nothing any more but to be cast out, and to be trodden on by men. 14 You are the light of the world. A city seated on a moun Christ's sermon upon the mount. The tain cannot be hid. eight beatitudes. AND seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain, and when he was set down, his disciples came unto him. Mark 1. 16. Luke 5. 2. 7. Luke 6. 17.-c A.D. 31 Mark d Luke 6. 20.-e Ps. 36. 11.-f Isaias 61.2.- & Ps. 23.11.19. 14. and 4. 14.-4 Mark 9.49. Luke 14.43. CHAP. V. Ver. 3. The poor in spirit. That is, the humble; and they whose spirit is not set upon riches. 15 Neither do men light a can- | not kill. And whosoever shall dle and put it under a bushel, but kill, shall be in danger of the upon a candlestick, that it may judgment. shine to all that are in the house. 16 So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. 17 Do not think, that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot, or one tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 He therefore that shall break one of these least commandments, and shall so teach men, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But he that shall do and teach, he shall De called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, that unless your justice abound more than that of the Scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 21 You have heard that it was said to them of old: Thou shalt a Mark 4. 21. Luke 8. 16. and 11.33. b 1 Pet. 2. 12.-c Luke 16. 17.-d Jas. 22 But I say to you, that whosoever is angry with his brother, shall be in danger of the judg ment. And whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council. And whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 If therefore thou offer thy gift at the altar, and there thou remember that thy brother hath anything against thee; 24 Leave there thy offering before the altar, and go first to be reconciled to thy brother and then coming thou shalt offer thy gift. 25 & Be at agreement with thy adversary betimes, whilst thou art in the way with him; lest perhaps the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26 Amen I say to thee, thou shalt not go out from thence till thou repay the last farthing. 27 You have heard that it g Luke 12. 58. 2. 10.- Luke 11. 39.-f Exod. 20. 13. punished by that lesser tribunal among Deut. 5. 17. Ver. 17. To fulfil. By accomplishing all the figures and prophecies; and perfecting all that was imperfect. Ver. 18. Amen. That is, assuredly, This Hebrew word, Amen, 18 here retained by the example and authority of all the four evangelists, who have retained it. It is used by our Lord as a strong asseveration, and af firmation of the truth. Ver. 20. The Scribes and Pharisees. The Scribes were the doctors of the law of Moses: the Pharisees were a precise set of men, making profession of a more exact observance of the law: and upon that account greatly esteemed among the people. Ver. 21. Shall be in danger of the judgment: That is, shall deserve to be the Jews, called the Judgment, which took cognizance of such crimes. Ver. 22. Raca: A word expressing great indignation or contempt. Shan be in danger of the council: That is, shall deserve to be punished by the highest court of Judicature, called the Council, or Sanhedrim, consisting of seventy-two persons, where the highest causes were tried and judged, which was at Jerusalem.-Ibid. Thou fool. This was then looked upon as a heinous injury, when uttered with contempt, spite, or malice; and therefore is here so severely condemned. Shall be in danger of hell fire: literally, according to the Greek, shall deserve to be cast into the Gehenna of fire: Which words our Saviour made use of to express the fire and punishment of hell. 7 was said to them of old: Thou shalt not commit adultery. 28 But I say to you, that whosoever shall look on a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 And if thy right eye scandalize thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee. For it is expedient for thee that one of thy members should perish, rather than thy whole body be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand scandalize thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is expedient for thee that one of thy members should perish, rather than that thy whole body go into hell. 31 And it hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a bill of divorce. 32 But I say to you, d that whosoever shall put away his wife, excepting the cause of fornication, maketh her to commit adultery: and he that shall marry her that is put away, committeth adultery. 33 Again you have heard that it was said to them of old, Thou shalt not forswear thyself: but thou shalt perform thy oaths to the Lord. a Exod. 20. 14.-b Mark 9. 46. Infra, 18. 9. Deut. 24. 1. Infra, 19. 7.d Mark 10, 11. Luke 16. 18. 1 Cor. 7. 10.-e Exod. 20. 7. Lev. 19. 12. Deut. 5. 11. Jas. 5. 12. Ver. 29. Scandalize thee. That is, if it be a stumbling-block, or occasion. of sin, to thee. By which we are taught to fly the immediate occasions of sin, though they be as dear to us, or as necessary to us, as a hand or an eye. Ver. 34. Not to swear at all. 'Tis not forbid to swear in truth, justice, and judgment; to the honour of God, or our own or neighbour's just de 34 But I say to you not to swear at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God: 35 Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool: nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king: 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make not make one hair white or black. 37 But let your speech be yea, yea: no, no: and that which is over and above these is of evil. 38 You have heard that it hath been said: An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. 39 But I say to you not to resist evil: but if one strike thee on thy right cheek, turn to him also the other; 40 And if a man will con tend with thee in judgment, and take away thy coat, let go thy cloak also unto him. 41 And whosoever will force thee one mile, go with him other two. 42 Give to him that asketh of thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not away. 43 You have heard that it hath been said, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thy enemy. f Jas. 5. 12.-g Exod. 21. 24. Lev. 24. 20. Deut. 19. 21.-h Luke 6. 29.1 Cor. 6. 7.-k Deut. 15. 8. Lev 19. 18. fence: but only to swear rashly, or profanely, in common discourse, and without necessity. Ver. 39. Not to resist evil, &c. What is here commanded is a christian patience under injuries and affronts, and to be willing even to suffer still more, rather than to indulge the desire of revenge: but what is further added does not strictly oblige according to the letter, for neither did Christ nor St. Paul turn the other cheek St. John xviii, and Acts xxiii. |