SECT. LIX.

The Transfiguration of Christ.

CHAP. XVII.

AND after six days Jesus

afraid. 7. And Jesus came and

touched them, and said, Arise,

taketh Peter, James and and be not afraid. 8. And when John his brother, and bringeth | they had lifted up their eyes them up into an high mountain they saw no man, save Jesus, apart. 2. And was transfigured only. 9. And as they came before them; and his face did | down from the mountain, Jesus shine as the sun, and his rai- 1 charged them, saying, Tell the ment was white as the light. 3. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias, talking with him. 4. Then answered Peter, and said unto | the scribes that Elias must first come? 11. And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and re

vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. 10. And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say

Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Mo-store all things. 12. But I say

ses, and one for Elias. 5.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; hear ye him. 6. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore

unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. 13. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

Here, blessed Lord, we see a very wonderful and pleasing sight: whilst thou wast praying, the fashion of thy countenance was altered, and thy raiment became white and glistering. And Moses and Elias came in glory to talk with thee about thy death. Peter thought it was good for him to be there; but how much better will it be to behold thy glory in heaven where thou now art! In the mean time, cause us to hear thy voice and to obey it. Thy heavenly Father said, "This is my "beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye "him." Lord, speak, for thy servants hear. Teach us what thou wouldst have us to do. We bless thee for thy written word. Open our understandings, that we may perceive thy mind in it, and incline our hearts to make it the rule of our whole conduct.

The disciples were frighted; but thou, according to thy wonted compassion, encouragedst them, "Arise, and be not afraid." Give us to fear no evil while thou art with us. It is not thy will, that thy disciples should be cast down with too much fear.

SECT. LX.

The Lunatic Child healed.

12.

14. And when they were come | departed out of him: and the to the multitude, there came to child was cured from that very him a certain man, kneeling hour. 19. Then came the disdown to him, and saying, 15. | ciples to Jesus apart, and said, Lord, have mercy on my son; Why could not we cast him out? for he is lunatic, and sore 20. And Jesus said unto them, vexed: for oft-times he falleth | Because of your unbelief: for into the fire, and oft into the water. 16. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. 17. Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation! how long shall be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. 18. And Jesus rebuked the devil, and he

verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard-seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 21. Howbeit this kind goeth not out, but by prayer and fasting.

The poor man spoke to thee with much diffidence, when he said, "If thou canst do any thing, have com"passion on us, and help us." Lord, give us to understand the full meaning of thy answer, "If thou canst

believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." We most readily join with the man in crying out, with tears, "Lord, we believe; help our unbelief." We believe thou canst heal our souls; we believe thou canst just now sanctify them, and make us thy true disciples: Lord, do it. Thou saidst, "This kind cometh not out "but by fasting and prayer." Give us conscientiously to use these means, to get rid of prevailing lusts. We ask not the faith of miracles; but we earnestly beg, O merciful Saviour, that thou wouldst give us the faith necessary to salvation.

1

SECT. LXI.

Jesus foretels his Sufferings a second Time.

And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceed

22. And while they abode in Gallilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men; 23. |ing sorry.

Though Peter rebuked thee for speaking of the necessity of thy sufferings, that did not hinder thy resolving to undergo them; thou here again declaredst thy resolution. Glory to thy constant heavenly love, which all the unkindness and cruelty of men could not overcome. O Redeemer, give us constancy and resolution to do and suffer thy will to the last.

SECT. LXII.

Jesus Christ pays Tribute for himself and Peter.

Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. 27. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up;

24. And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? 25. He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What think- | and when thou hast opened his

est thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? 26.

mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

It does not appear that this tribute was really due by thee. And as thou wast the Son of God, and Lord of all, had they known thee, they ought not to have demanded it: nevertheless, to prevent all occasion of complaint, or stumbling, thou didst work a miracle to furnish it. Give us to imitate thy condescension, and thy care to prevent all ground of offence. May we owe no man any thing, but to love one another.

SECT. LXIII.

Christ teaches to be humble.

CHAP. XVIII.

AT the same time came the converted, and become as

I say unto you, Except ye be little disciples unto Jesus, say- children, ye shall not enter into ing, Who is the greatest in the ❘ the kingdom of heaven. 4.Whokingdom of heaven! aven? 2. And soever therefore shall humble Jesus called a little child unto himself as this little child, the him, and set him in the midst same is greatest in the kingdom of them, 3. And said, Verily of heaven.

Lord, convert us and make us as little children. Our natural pride refuses this; but we beseech thee, for thy mercy's sake, destroy it. Give us unaffected humility; give us simplicity; give us freedom from anxious cares, to rest upon the goodness, power, and wisdom of our heavenly Father, whom thou hast revealed to us. Lord, save us from guile, ambition, covetousness, remembering injuries, and whatever else is opposite to that child-like temper. And make us those little ones who believe in thee.

were better for him that a mil-
stone were hanged about his
neck, and that he were drowned

5. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me. 6. But whoso shall offend one of these little | in the depth of the sea.

ones which believe in me, it

Lord, give us to receive them in thy name, and for thy sake to love and esteem them. And O keep us from casting a stumbling-block before them, or discouraging them. May we take heed that we despise not one of these little ones, whom thy Father in heaven so greatly loves, that he hath sent thee into the world to prevent the least of them from perishing; and their angels do always behold his face; and whom thou so lovest, that thou leftest heaven to seek and save them, and rejoicest more over one of them that had gone astray and is now found, than over ninety and nine which went not astray. Lord, give us earnestly to seek their salvation, in the use of the means which thou hast appointed.

/

SECT. LXIV.

Jesus teaches us to avoid Offences.

7. Woe unto the world be- | And if thine eye offend thee,

cause of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! 8.Wherefore, if thy hand or thy foot of fend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than, having | two hands, or two feet, to be || cast into everlasting fire. 9.

pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell-fire. 10. Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

Lord, keep us from stumbling at offences that may come in our way; and keep us, we beseech thee, from laying them in the way of others. O save us from this woe; and give us grace to part with a right hand, or a right foot, or a right eye, rather than be drawn by them into sin and into everlasting fire. Lord Jesus Christ, help us.

SECT. LXV.

Jesus declares the Design of his coming.

11. For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. 12. How think ye? If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 13. And if so be

that he find it, verily I say unto you, He rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. 14. Even so, it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

For the Reflections on this passage, see (Sect. LXIII.) v. 6. p. 81.]

15. Moreover, if thy brother | hear thee, thou hast gained thy shall trespass against thee, go brother. 16. But if he will not and tell him his fault between hear thee, then take with thee thee and him alone: if he shall | one or two more, that in the