and day among the Tombs, and in the Mountains, crying out, and cutting himfelf with Stones. This man, as foon as he faw Jefus afar off, ran and fell down before Him, and ador'd Him. And, crying out with a loud voice, said, What have I to do with Thee, JESU, Son of the most high God! I adjure Thee by God that Thou torment me not; (for, He commanded the unclean Spirit to go out of the man.) And Jefus askt him, faying, What is thy name? he faid, my name is Legion; for, we are many. And he much intreated Him not to to expell him out of that Countrey, nor command them to go into the depth. Relp. Miferable Man! to what fad difafters is our nature expos'd? how do our own extravigancies mot hurt our felves, while we madly provoke with our offences even Him that should cure us? *Pity, O Gracious Lord! the calamities of our Life, and leave us not to our felves, the worst of our Enemies. We fee the miferies to which our fins engage us; we see our paffions, how many they are, and how strongly they hold us; yet

E

ate

are we loath to forfake a foolish cuftem we fear the trouble of being difpoffef * Pity, O.

Leffon 58.

out, enter whole her

And there was, not far from thenc a great herd of Swine feeding: and th Devils befought Him, faying, if Tho caft us out, lend us into the herd Swine; and he faid to them, Go. Ang the unclean Spirits going into the Swine; and the being about two Thoufand, ran with v olence headlong into the Sea, and we choakt in the Waters. Which when th Keepers faw, they fled, and carryed the news into the City, and into the Town and into the Fields. And they wer forth to see what was done, and the came to Jefus, and found the man, ou of whom the Devils were gone, fittin at His Feet, cloath'd, and well in hi wits: and they were afraid. And, the that had seen him, told them how he ha bin made whole from the Legion; as alli concerning the Swine. And the whol City went out to meet Jefus; and, when they faw Him, all the Country intreated Him to depart from thei Coafts;

d

Coafts; for they were taken with great fear. And Jefus, going into the Boat return'd. And the man who had been vext with the Devil began to befeech Jefus, that he might be with Him: But he difmift him, faying, Return to thy Houfe and tell how great things God has done to thee, and has had compaffion on thee. And he went through the whole City, preaching how great things Jefus had done to him: and all marvail'd.

Refp. Uncharitable wretches! they saw their lamentable neighbour restored to his wits, and freed from no less then a Legion of Devils; and not one of them rejoyed: they beard their Swine were drowned in the Sea; and the whole Countrey was afraid, and came out to Jefus, and intreated Him to depart. 0, why not rather fall down at his feet, and all befeech Him to dwell with them for ever! Deliver us, O Lord,from bafely preferring the petty interests of this world, before the precious means of Saving our own and our neighbours Souls. O why not

Leffon 59.

Again Jefus entered into Capernaum after fome days; and it was nois'd tha He was in the house. And ftraightwa many were gather'd together, fo tha there was no room to receive them, no not so much as about the door. And i came to pass on a certain day, as He wa teaching, that there was Pharifees and Doctors of the Law fitting by; wh were come out of every Town of Gali lee, and Judea, and Jerufalem: And He preacht to them the word; and th virtue of our Lord was to heal them. And, behold, men come to Him, fear ing in a Bed one fick of the Palfie, whe was carried by four: and they fough means to bring Him in and lay him be fore Him, And, when they could no find by what way they might bring him in, because of the Multitude; they wen upon the house top, uncover'd the roc where he was, and opening it, let hin with his couch, down through the tiling into the midst before Jefus. And, when Jefus faw their Faith, He faid to the fick of the Palfie, Son, be of good cheer, thy fins are forgiven thee.

Refp

Refp. Quicken, gracious Lord! our half dead Spirits, into a lively and active zeal of bringing others to Thee; and touch their hearts with the fame affection for us. That, by our mutual charity we may obtain thy pardon, and taft the Ajoys of a peaceful confcience. Let us 3: not faint at the first encounter, nor quit our pious purpose for a little pains; but wiftly caft about to overcome the difficulty, and try all poffible ways to assist one another. That, by Lesson 60.

And, the Scribes and Pharifees began to think in their minds, and to fay within themfelves, Why doth this man thus peak Blafphemies! Who can forgive fins but God alone? And Jefus immediately, knowing in His Spirit their thoughts, that they fo reafon'd within themfelves, faid to them, why think you Evil in your hearts whether is it cafier to fay to the fick of the Palfie, Thy fins are forgiven thee? or to fay, Arife, take up thy Bed and walk? But, that you may know the Son of Man hath power on Earth to forgive fins, (then faith he to the fick of the Palfie) I fay to thee, Arife, take up E 3

thy