19 Then came the difciples to Jefus apart, and faid, Why could not we caft him out? 20 And Jefus faid unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I fay unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard-feed, ye fhall fay unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place, and it fhall remove; and nothing fhall be impoffible to you. 21 Howbeit this 28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we caft him out? 29 And he faid to kind goeth not out, them, This kind can been really fo. But Jefus taking him by the hand, and commanding him to rife, he immediately obey'd; and being from that time wholly freed from the Infults of the evil Spirit, was reftor'd by Jefus to his Father. Afterwards Jefus being enter'd into the Houfe in which he defign'd to lodg, his Apoftles ask'd him privatly the reafon why, having perform'd other Miracles by the Power he had given them, they were unable to caft out this Damon. Jefus told them, the great obftacle was, that both they themselves, and the Relations of the fick perfon had fill fome doubt, and did not rely fo intirely as they ought on the Power and Goodnefs of God. For, Taid he, if you truft wholly upon God, tho for never fo thort a fpace, there is no Miracle too difficult for you to perform. For example, fhould you command that Mountain yonder, to be remov'd to fome other place, it fhould immediatly be tranfplanted; nor is there any thing which you fhall not obtain from God: But befides, this fort of Damon, God fo ordering it, could not not be caft out by you without making use of Prayer and Fafting. Now, all admir'd the wonderful Goodness and Power of God manifefted to Men by the Miracles Jefus wrought among them. After this, Jefus travell'd thro Galilee with his Apoftles only, that there might not be too great a Concourfe of People in his Retinue. Mean while he inculcated the neceffity of his Sufferings, that he fhould be deliver'd up to the rage of the Jews, who would put him to death, but that the third day after he should rife again to Life. But the Apostles underftood not what he meant by that Refurrection on the third day, because they thought only of the laft Refurrection of all men, and had never heard that the Meah was to be put to death by the Jews, and to rife on the third Mm 2 day day again. This therefore they little thought of; but hearing Jefus make mention of his Death, they began to fufpect that he prefag'd fome great Calamity that fhould befal him; and this indeed made them very forrowful, tho they were afraid to defire their Master to explain himself, left he should upbraid them with their Stupidity. CHA P. XXXVII. Jefus pays the Tribute Mony: He rebukes his Difciples for their Ambition, who contended for Priority in the Kingdom of Heaven. His Inftructions concerning the giving offence to none, and the forgiving of repeated Injuries. He forbids one that caft out Dæmons in his name to be molested for it. ESUS afterwards with his Apoftles enter'd into Capernaum. At that time came certain perfons, fent by the Overfeers of the Temple of ferufalem, to gather the Tribute in this place, which was wont to be demanded of every perfon; who therefore meeting Peter, ask'd whether his Mafter was wont to pay that Tribute which was paid without conftraint by fuch as were concern'd for the honour of the Temple. Peter told them, yes; and entring the Houfe where Jefus lodg'd to acquaint him with their demands, Jefus prevented him with this question, Peter, what MATTHEW. CHA P. XVII. saying, What thinkest thou Simon? of whom 'do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of ftrangers? 26 Peter faith unto him, of ftrangers. Jefus faith unto him, Then are the children free. 27 Notwithstanding, left we should offend them, go thou to the fea, and caft an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up: and when thou haft opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of mony: that take, and give unto them for me and thee. and being in the what thinkeft thou? from whom do Kings demand Taxes, from their own Children, or others? From others, anfwer'd Peter. The Children then, faid Jefus, are: free from this fort of Burden, and for this reafon might. I juftly plead Exemption, fince 'tis my Father that is worshipped in this Temple, and in whofe name this Tribute is collected; and for the fame reafon might I acquit my Friends from any obligation on this fcore. Nevertheless, that we may give no offence to these men, who will be apt to think we flight their Temple, go thou to the Lake, and throw in thy, Hook, and the firft Fifh thou takeft up fhall have a piece of Mony in its mouth fufficient to discharge both thee and me. After he was come home, he asked his Apoftles what they difputed of upon the." Road. At first they held their peace, being afhamed to own they had contended for Priority Priority in the Kingdom of Heaven, to which more than one of them thought he had a right. Jefus put this queftion, that he might obtain a Confeffion from them, tho he knew very well what had been the fubject of their debate, and told them, that he that would be firft in the Kingdom of Heaven, ought to behave himfelf here on Earth as inferiour to all, in being ready to affift all to the utmost of his power. The Apostles perceiving they were difcovered, no longer demur'd upon it, but plainly own'd the thing, and ask'd him who of the twelve was to be most highly honour'd in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jefus then that he might check the Ambition of thefe men by fomething that fhould affect their fenfes, and therefore make the deeper Impreffion on them, plac'd a little Boy in the midít of them; and taking him up in his Arms, thus befpoke them I tell you for a certain truth, that unless you caft off all Ambition, fo as to be |