*

of Thy Truth.I entirely refign and capti vate my understanding. Thy words, O Lord, are Spirit and Life; O make my Faith be quick and active. Shall I go back and forfake my God, because He bumbles Himself to approach towards me? Shall I refuse to learn of my Master, becaufe His Leßons exalt me above my nature? Thy words.

*

Leffon 122.

After these things JESUS walked into Galilee: for, he would not go into Jury, because the Jews fought to kill Him. Then affemble together to Him the Ph rifees and certain of the Scribes who came from Jerufalem. And when they faw fome of His Difciples eat Bread with common (that is, unwafht) hands; they found fault. For, the Pharisees and all the Jews, unless they often wall their hands, eat not, holding the Tra dition of the Elders. And, when they come from the Market, except they wash they eat not: And many other things there be which were delivered them to obferve; as, the washing of Cups and Pots, brazen Veffels, and of Beds. Then the Pharifees and Scribes askt Him (aying,

Why

Why do. Thy Difciples tranfgrefs the tradition of the Elders? for, they wash not their hands when they cat Bread. But He anfwering, faid to them, Why do you allo tranfgrefs the Commandment of God for your tradition? For, God commanded, faying, Honour thy Father and thy Mother; and he that curfes Father or Mother let him dye the death. But, you fay, If a man fay to his Father or Mother, It is Corban, that is, a Gift, whatever proceeds from Me fhall profit thee. And you fuffer him no more to do ought for his Father or Mother: but have made void the commandment of God for your tradition. And many fuch things you do. Hypocrites! well did Efay Prophefie of you, faying, This People draw nigh me with their Mouth, and honours He with their Lips: but, their Heart is far from me. In vain do they worship Me, teaching the Doctrines and Commandments of Men.

Refp. Let me not fo apply my mind, O Lord, to any trivial obfervances, that I begin to omit my more ferious duties: let me not fo attend to the inventions of Men, that Igrow to tranfgrefs the com

mands:

mands of my God. O guid me, graci ons Lord, in Thine Own safe way, and thofe folid exercises which really improve me; and make my Heart, as well as Lips, draw nigh Thee. Those Blessed · Truths which Thy felf at first reveal'd, and Thy Church has always deliver'd ; may thofe alone be my principal rule, and every other Doctrine bom to them. guide.

guide.

Lesson 123

*0

And, having called the people again together, He faid to them, Hear Me, all of you, and understand; There is nothing without a man that, entring into him, can defile him: but, the things that proceed from him, thofe are they that defile him. If any have ears to hear, 'let him hear. Then came His Difciples and faid to Him, Knowest Thou that the Pharifees were offended after they heard this faying? But He answering, faid, Every Plant which My Heavenly Father has not Planted fhall be rooted up. Let them alone: blind they are, and leaders of the blind. Now, if the blind be a guide to the blind, both fall into the Ditch. And, when He was entred into

the

the house from the people, His Difciples askt Him concerning the Parable: And Peter faid to Him, Expound to us this Parable. And JESUS faid, Are you alfo fo unskilful? do you not yet underftand, that whatever from without enters into a man cannot defile him; becaule it paffes not into his heart, but goes into the belly, and is caft out into the draught, purging all meats. But, the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For, from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil Thoughts, Fornications, Murders,

Adulteries. Thefts, Covetoufnefs, Falfe-witness, Wickedness, Deceit, Lafcivioufnefs, an evil Eye, Blafphemy, Pride, Foolishuefs. All thefe evil things come from within; and thefe are they which defile a man: but to eat with unwasht hands defiles

not a man.

Refp. Now Thou haft taught me, O Lord, I plainly fee that nothing imports me but the right difpofition of my heart. *All things without are in themselves indifferent and become good or bad as they make me fo. O, do Thou make me too,

in

indifferent to all things without, and in no respect concern my felf, but this, How wifelyeft to use them to the im provement of my mind. All things without

Leẞon 124.

Then JESUS departed into the Coasts of Tyre and Sidon; and, entring into a houfe, He would have no man know it; but could not be hid. For, a Woman of Canaan, whose Daughter had an unclean Spirit, being come out of those parts, foon as (hecheard of Him, cryed out, laying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, Thou Son of David; my Daughter is grievously vexed with a Devil. But, He anfwered her not a word. And, His Difciples came and befought Him, faying, Send her away for the cries out after us. But, He answering, faid, I am not fent but to the loft Sheep of the house of 1)rael. Then came fhegand fell down at His Feet (for, fhe was a Gentile, a Syrophenician born) and adored Him, faying, Lord help me. And theybe fought Him to caft the Devil out of her Daughter. But, He faid, Let the Children first be filled; for, 'tis not meet to take the