Page:The Bible of Nature, and Substance of Virtue.djvu/18

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8

JESUS CHRIST'S GOSPEL.

Thou blind Pharisee! cleanse first that within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Wo unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like unto whitened sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat ; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink ; I was a stranger, and ye took me in ; naked, and ye clothed me ; I was sick, and ye visited me ; I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. — St. Matthew.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves; and they stripped him of his raiment and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion. Which now of these three, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves? "He that showed mercy on him." Go, and do thou likewise.

Give alms of such things as ye have; and behold, all things are clean unto you. But wo unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint, and rue, and all manner of herbs; and pass over judgment and the love of God. Wo unto you also, lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.