After Chrift according to the Vulgar Era, 29. JOHN. СНА Р. X. ND it came to Jefus had finished thefe I fayings, he departed from Galilee, and and cometh into the came into the coafts of coafts of Judea by the Judea, beyond Jordan: farther fide of Jordan: G and faid, John did no miracle : CHAP. The fourth year of Christ's Ministry. Jefus departs from Galilee into Judæa. He fhews the unlawfulness of Divorce, lays his bands on fome young Children; answers the queftion of the young man who inquir'd the way to eternal Life: Riches one great Obftacle. The Rewards promis'd the Difciples. The Favors of God diverfe, which is illuftrated in a Similitude. WHEN the Feaft of Dedication was over, Jefus return'd from Judea into Galilee, but continued not long there; for leaving that Country, which was under the Government of Herod, he went towards the Confines of Judea, through that part of the Country fituated nigh the Banks of Jordan; and in the beginning of the fourth year of his Miniftry fettled in that place where John at firit baptized the Penitents, ch. 7. To this place many repair'd to hear him, and fome alfo to be cur'd of their Infirmities; for, according to his cuftom, he expounded the Laws of the Kingdom of Heaven to his Hearers, and cur'd all the Sick prefented to him. Thofe therefore that remember'd they had feen John baptizing there, and heard his Doctrin, faid one to another; John indeed did no miracle, but every Bbb 2 thing MATTHEW. CHAP. XIX. Pharifees 3 The alfo came unto him, tempting him, and faying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every caufe? 4 And he answered and faid unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning, made them male and female? 5 And faid, For this caufe fhall a man leave father and mother, and fhall cleave to his wife and they twain shall be one flesh. 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man pur afunder. thing he foretold of Jefus is confirm'd by the event: for which reafon many believ'd in him. Whilft Jefus was in thefe parts, feveral Pharifees came to him, who having bin told that he did not admit of Divorce, hop'd to have an opportunity to catch at fomething that might create him envy and hatred, as one who condemn'd what was not prohibited by their Law, and fix'd the odious name of Adultery upon a common and allowed Practice. Is it then lawful, faid they, for a Husband to put away his Wife on every flight occafion, as is commonly done? Jefus knowing their intention, yet not afraid of it, replied: Have you not read how in the beginning God created one of each Sex, and tranfinitted this Law to their Pofterity, that as thofe first perfons were made out of one fubftance, the Husband ought to live in fo ftrict a union with his Wife, that forfaking his own Parents, they might feem to be united into one fubftance? Thofe therefore whom God has fo nearly allied, cannot be parted by Man without the breach of that original Law, and conféquently a notorious Sin, of which they are guilty who affirm it lawful for a man to be divorc'd divorc'd from his Wife. Upon this the Pharifees imagining he had contradicted the Law of Mofes, he ask'd 'em what it was that Mofes commanded in this cafe? They replied, that Mofes allow'd them to repudiate their Wives, provided they gave them a Certificate of the Divorce. 'Tis true, faid he, Mofes permitted it, becaufe he faw you obftinately bent upon your Lufts, tho 'tis plainly contrary to God's primitive Inftitution. But I declare to you, that whoever puts away his Wife for any other reafon than that of Adultery, and afterwards marrys another, is guilty of Adultery in the fight of God, as he alfo is that marrys a Woman thus divorc❜d. After thefe Difcourfes, being return'd home, his Apoftles ask'd him in privat concerning that matter they thought they did not well underftand, fince he feemed to be more fevere than he needed. But Jefus repeating what he had faid before the Pharifees, affur'd them, that whoever married another, after having put away his Wife, was guilty of Adultery; as likewife was that Woman who fhould marry another MATTHEW. CHA P. XIX. 10 His difciples fay unto him, If the cafe of the man be fo with his wife, it is not good to marry. II But he faid unto them, All men cannot receive this faying, fave they to whom it is given. 12 For there are fome eunuchs, which were fo born from their mothers womb and there are fome eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men : and there be eunuchs, which have made themfelves eunuchs for the kingdom of heavens fake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it. 13 Then were there brought to him little children,that he fhould put his hands on them, 13 And they brought 15 And they brought young children to him, to him alfo infants,that that he fhould touch he would touch them : them: another Husband during the life of the former, fince the Law had refpect to both. The Apostles, who had bin bred up in Jewish Cuftoms, then told him, that in this cafe it was much more eligible to live a fingle Life. On this Jefus minded them that it was not in every ones power to live chaftly in a single state, without God's fpecial affiftance; for which reafon Marriage was neceffary, as the fureft means to restrain an exorbitant Luft. Some indeed can be contented in fuch a ftate; others have bin abus'd, and made Eunuchs; a third fort have fhook off this unmanly weakness, and are happy in a single state, which they imploy wholly in Piety and Devotion. If a man on due confideration judges he can live in fuch a ftate, without endangering his Virtue, he is not forbid to chufe it; but if he finds it neceffary to marry, let him not think of altering his condition afterwards, tho it be attended with inconveniences, which he must refolve to bear with patience, and a refignation to the Will of God. At that time certain little Infants were brought to him, whom the Parents defir'd Јони. him to lay his hands on, and blefs; but the Apoftles thinking they were unneceffarily troublefom to their Mafter, chid them, and would have turn'd them away: which Jefus perceiving, and taking this occafion to repeat an admonition to them, to which they feem'd not to have fufficiently attended; Take heed, faid he, you do not prohibit thefe little Children to be brought to me; I am to remind you, that they only whofe Difpofitions refemble the Innocence and Simplicity of these Babes,· fhall partake of the Rewards that will be diftributed in the Kingdom of Heaver. I declare to you, that whoever does not shake off his Prejudices, evil Habits and Vices, when he profeffes himself my Difciple, fhall not be reckon'd as a Denison in that Kingdom. Then taking the Infants in his arms, he laid his hands on them, and bleffed them. After this he departed from that place, and upon the road was met by a young man of a noble Family among the Jews; who falling down at his feet, Good Mafter, |