§. 6. Calamities not always Judgments.

Now there were present at that time some that told him concerning the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, "Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nav: but, unless ye repent, ye will all in like manner perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them-suppose ye that these were sinners above all men that dwell in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, unless ye repent, ye will all likewise perish."

§. 7. Parable of the Barren Fig-tree.

Now he spake this parable; "A certain man had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit thereon, and found none. And he said unto the vinedresser, Behold, three years I come seeking fruit on this fig-tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?' But he answering saith unto him, 'Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: and if it bear fruit, well: but if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.""

SECT. XV.

The Infirm Woman healed in the Synagogue on the Sabbath.

LUKE xiii. 10-17.

Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And, behold, there was a woman who had had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years, and was bowed together, and was wholly unable to raise herself up. And when Jesus saw her, he called to her, and said unto her, "Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity." And he laid his hands on her and immediately she was made straight; and she

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glorified God. But the ruler of the synagogue, being moved with indignation because Jesus healed on the Sabbath-day, answered and said unto the multitude, "There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath-day." The Lord therefore answered him and said, "Thou hypocrite! doth not each of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the manger, and lead him away and water him? And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, to be loosed from this bond on the sabbath-day?" And as he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things done by him.

PART VI.

FROM THE GENERAL RETURN OF THE TWELVE, TO OUR LORD'S DEPARTURE FROM GALILEE.

SECT. I.

Herod hears of Jesus, after the Death of John the Baptist : The remainder of the Apostles rejoin our Lord.

MATT. xiv. 1-12. MARK vi. 14-30. LUKE ix. 7-10.

Now king Herod, the tetrarch, heard the report of all the things done by Jesus: (for his name was spread abroad :) and he was perplexed, because it was said by some, that John had been raised from the dead; but by others, that Elijah had appeared; and by others, that a prophet, one of the ancients, had arisen again. said, "John have I beheaded, but who is this,

And Herod

about whom

I hear such things?" and he sought to see him. And he said unto his servants,1 "This is John the Baptist, whom I beheaded he hath been raised from the dead; and therefore mighty works are wrought by him.2

For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold on John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, the wife of Philip his brother: because he had married her. For John kept saying 3 unto Herod, "It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife." Therefore Herodias was enraged against him, and would have put him to death;

1 Or, attendants, or, courtiers. 2 Or, mighty powers operate by him. 3 v. H. n.

but could not for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and preserved him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. And when he desired to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they accounted him as a prophet.

And a convenient day having come, when Herod on his birthday made a supper for his nobles, and commanders, and the chief men of Galilee; and the daughter of that Herodias having come in, and danced in the midst of his court, and pleased Herod and them that were at table with him, the king said unto the damsel, "Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee." And he sware unto her, "Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom." And she went forth and said unto her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist." And she came in straightway, with haste, to the king, and asked, saying, "I desire that thou forthwith give me on a dish the head of John the Baptist." And the king became very sorrowful; yet for the sake of his oath1 and of those who were at table with him, he did not choose to reject her. And straightthe king sent one of his guards,2 and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head on a dish, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel carried it to her mother. And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and buried it in a tomb, and went and told Jesus.

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And the apostles gather themselves together unto Jesus; and they told him all things, both whatever they had done, and whatever they had taught.

SECT. II.

The Miracle of the Five Thousand, near Bethsaida1 in Philip's Dominions.

MATT. xiv. 13-21. MARK vi, 31-44. LUKE ix. 10-17. JOHN vi. 1-13.

WHEN Jesus heard these things, he said unto them, "Come ye yourselves privately to a desert place, and rest a little while;" for there were many coming and going, and they had not leisure even to eat. And they went away by vessel, privately, to a desert place of a city called Bethsaida, beyond the sea of Galilee, that is of Tiberias. And the people saw them departing; and many knew it, and ran together thither on foot, from all the cities. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw the miracles which he did on them that were sick. (Now the passover, the feast of the Jews, was nigh.) And when Jesus came out of the vessel, he saw a great multitude; and he was moved with compassion towards them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd. And Jesus went up the mountain, and there sat with his disciples. And he received the multitudes, and he began to teach them many things, and spake unto them concerning the kingdom of God; and them that had need of healing, he cured.

Now the day began to decline; and when now much time had passed, when it was evening, his disciples 2 came to him, saying, "This is a desert place, and now much time has already past: send the multitudes away, that they may go into the fields and the villages round about, and lodge, and buy themselves provisions; for they have nothing to eat."

But Jesus answered, and said unto them, "They

1 v. H. n. 2 M., Mk.: the twelve, L.