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according to the Scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures; and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: after that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one

born out of due time. apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am; and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed "." "Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect"." "God hath chosen the foolish things of the world, to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world, to confound the things 1 Cor. i. 17.

For I am the least of the

" 1 Cor. xv. 1—11.

which are mighty"." "And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God: for I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified, And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."

One point requires notice in our Lord's call of these apostles, mentioned by St. Mark as the first. He found Simon and Andrew casting a net into the sea; and, in reference to their occupation, he describes their future office as that of fishers of men. This mode of teaching appears to have been very common with our Lord, as we shall frequently have occasion to notice. He made his instruction at once more intelligible and more lively, by adopting for the images of his figurative and metaphorical language, objects present to his hearers, or scenes and occurrences which were passing at the time. Thus, in his

P1 Cor. i. 27.

91 Cor. ii. 1—5.

interview with the woman of Samaria at Jacob's well, he told her, while she was drawing water, that he had living water; and on the same occasion he spoke to his disciples of the fields being white to the harvest, pointing no doubt to the crowds who were returning with the woman from the city to see him, and alluding to the state of the real corn fields which were likewise before their eyes'.

JESUS'S MODE OF TEACHING.

Ver. 21, 22.

And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath-day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

The circumstance noticed in the last section may be considered as one of the characteristic and distinct marks of our Lord's teaching. So too the peculiarity, which has also been pointed out-that he made use of his miracles, not only for the purpose of evidence, but for conveying instruction by hints and expressive symbols. To us his parables too have an air of peculiarity. But it is not to any of these points which the

r John iv.

Evangelist alludes, when he describes his hearers as astonished at his "doctrine" or teaching, and alleges as a reason, that "he taught as one that had authority, and not as the Scribes." The novelty and singularity of which he speaks is, that Jesus assumed the office not of expounding Scripture merely, as all the doctors of the Law, but of making assertions on his own independent authority. The Scribes were accustomed to teach thus, "It is written," or "It is said by them of old time;" but Christ taught thus, "I say unto you." It was no doubt, in order to shew this independent authority, that, while he generally conformed to the Jewish law, he occasionally violated it, so as to attract notice to the violation; asserting thereby, as he did also, in plain words, "the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath;"" all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."

THE MIRACLES OF JESUS.

Ver. 23-45.

And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come

out of him. And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee. And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever; and anon they tell him of her. And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. And all the city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him. And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee. And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, for therefore came I forth. And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils. And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with. compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. And as soon as he had

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