on

was dead fat up and began to fpeak: and He delivered him to his Mother.

And

there came a fear on all, and they Glorified God, faying, A great Prophet is rifen pamong us, and God has vifited His People. And this rumour of Him went out into all Judea, and the whole Region round about.

Refp. Mollifie, O Lord, my ftony heart into a tender compaffion on the common miferies I fee in the world; efpecially thofe fad oppreffing calamities, which too much endanger the patience of the Sufferers. Remember * Remember, O glorious JESU! the wonders Thou hast done, and let Thy ancient mercies be renewed ramong us. Thou with a word canst wipe away our tears; and how defperate foever our condition may appear, canft immediately restore to us our former comforts * Remember, 0

en

Lesson 87.

And the Difciples of John told him all thefe things: Who, when he had heard in the Prifon the works of Christ, calling to him two of his Difciples, fent them to JESUS, and faid to Him, Art Thou He that should come, or do we look for G 2 another ?

another? When the men were come Him, they faid, John Baptift has fent u to Thee, faying, Art Thou He that fhould come, or look we for another And in that very hour He cur'd many their diseases and hurts, and of evil Sp rits; and to many that were blind H gave fight. JESUS answered and said to them, Go and report to John what you have heard and feen; the blind re ceive their fight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleanfed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the Gospel preacht to them. And, bleffed is he that shall not be scandaliz'd in Mc. Refp. Lord, let us neither too lightly believe, nor lazily fit down in a carelefe neutrality; but concern our felves inthe enquiry after Thee, and fe all the means we can to find out Thy truth. *Thou art alone, O Bleffed JESU! the Savi our of the World; and we look not for another. Thou engageft Thy Omnipo tency to convince us by Miracles, and continueft Thy Miracles to perfmade us by their beneficence. Thou art aloneLeffon 88.

And, when the Meffengers of John

were

were departed, JESUS began to fay to as the multitude concerning John, What Hwent you out into the Wilderness to fee? anta Reed fhaken with the wind? But, what went you out to fee? a man encloath'd in foft Garments? Behold, they who are in coftly Apparel and Delicacies and are in Kings houfes. But, what went you out to fee? a Prophet? verily, I fay to you, and more then a Prophet. For, this is he of whom it is written, Behold, Ifend Hy meffenger before thy face, who fhall prepare thy way before thee. Verily, I fay to you, Among them that are born of Women there has not rifen a greater Prophet then John the Baptift; yet he that is leaft in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater then He. And, from the days of John the Baptift till now, the Kingdom of Heaven fuffers violence, and the violent take it by force. For, all the Prophets and the Law prophecy'd till John and if you will receive it, this is Elias who was to come. He that has ears to hear, let him hear. And all the People that heard, and the Publicans Juftified God, being Baptiz'd with the Baptifm of John. But, the Pharifees & Law

G 3

yers

yers rejected the Council of God against themfelves, being not Baptiz'd of hi Refp. So let us willingly praife, without envy or flattery; not for their wealth brave appearance in this world, but for their real virtue and title to the other. * None among the Prophets was greats then John the Baptift; yet the lat among the Saints was greater, then le Lord, make us violently refift our own. corrupt inclinations, and violently def Thy Eternal Felicities: make us delight in a pious life, for what it is bere; but infinitely more for what it will beberafter. None among

Leffon 89.

And our Lord faid, whereunto then fhall I resemble the men of this gener tion, and what are they like? They are like Children Gitting in the Market-place, and calling to their fellows, and faying We have piped to you and you have not danced, we have lamented and you have not wept. For, John the Baptist, came neither eating bread nor drinking wine and you fay he hath a Devil: The Son of Man is come eating and drinking and you fay, Behold a Glutton, and

Wine-bibber, a friend of Publicans and Sinners. But, Wifdom is juftified of all her Children. Then began He to upbraid the Cities wherein moft of His Miracles were done, becaufe they repented not. Wo to thee Chorozain, wo to thee Bethfaida: for,if the mighty works which were done in you,had been done in Tyre & Sidon,they long ago would have done penance in Hair-cloath and Athes. But, I fay to you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon, at the day of Judg ment, then for you. And thou Capernaum, which art exalted up to Heaven, halt be brought down to Hell: for, if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would perhaps have remain'd to this day. But, I fay to you, It fhall be more tokerable for the Land of Sodom, in the day of Judgment, then tor thee.

Refp. Wo to thofe wilfull Souls, whofs Paffion fo blinds their Reafon, that they bear the Argument, and will not understand its Evidence; That they fee the Wonder, and will not perceive the Mira. cle. But, the truth at last shall triumph over error, and Wisdom be justi

G 4

fied