more extraordinary Occafion, with other Authority, with other Powers, and with other Teftimonies of my Divine Commiffion, than was ever given to any temporal Ruler or Judge?

you

;

37. Which Superiority, that it is not a bare Pretence in Me: but that I really have fuch Authority, fuch Powers, and fuch Divine Commiffion, as none before Me ever had I do not defire fhould believe upon my own Affirmation Unless I alfo perform fuch Works in Confirmation of what I fay, as you yourfelves cannot with any tolerable Reafon deny to be plainly the Effects of a Power no lefs than truly Divine.

38. But if I really do fuch Works and ye cannot deny it; then, though you have no Respect for my Perfon, nor Regard to my own Affirmation concerning my Self, nor Difpofition to believe and embrace my Doctrine upon Account of its intrinfick Holiness and Purity; yet at least let the undeniable Evidence of the mighty Works which I perform, overcome your Prejudices, and convince you, that there is between my Father and Me, a perfect Communication of Power, and Agreement of Will,

39. Here the Jews not knowing what to answer to this Argument, fell again into a Rage, and attempted to apprehend Jefus by Force. But the appointed Time of his Suffering being not yet come, He withdrew himself privately from among them, and esçaped out of their Hands.

40. And departing out of Jerufalem, he retired again over Jordan, to Bethabara, the Place where John the Baptift had at first preached and baptized.

37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.

38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works; that ye may know and believe

that the Father is in me, and I in him.

first baptized; and And there he continued fome time, there he abode.

41 And many reforted unto him, and faid, John did no miracle ; but all things that John spake

of this man, true.

42 And believed on

there.

were

many

preaching and inftructing such as reforted to Him, in the Nature and Doctrine of the Gospel.

4I & 42. And many believed on him there, more than in Judæa and Jerufalem: The Place it felf contributing not a little towards their Con verfion. For they remembred the Testimony that John the Baptift had given in that Place concerning him. And him obferving that Jefus worked many Miracles, and fully anfwered the great Character that John the Baptist had given of him; they concluded, that if John the Baptift, who did no Miracles, would yet certainly have been believed. to have been the Meffiah, if he had not himself exprefsly denied it; much more Reason was there to believe, that Jefus, who did fo many mighty Works, and thofe profeffedly in Proof of his Divine Commiffion to that Office, was undoubtedly the expected Messiah,

* Matt. xxvi. 7.

CHA P. XI.

Jefus raifeth Lazarus from the dead, ver. 1. Of the Malice of the Jews, ver. 46.

1 & 2. NOW while Jeus con-
tinued in the Country

beyond Jordan, one Lazarus, a Friend
of Jefus living at Bethany, fell fick. And
he had two Sifters: The Name of the
one was Martha; and the other was
Mary, the fame that afterwards *
a-
nointed efus's Feet at a publick En-
tertainment, and wiped them with the
Hair of her Head.

3. Thefe two Sifters therefore be-
ing acquainted with Jefus, and know-
ing his Kindness for their Brother, fent
immediately to let Him know what a
dangerous Condition His Friend La-
zarus was in. Hoping that He, whom
they had known to do fo many Mira-
cles for the Benefit of Strangers, would
not be backward to come and reftore
to Health one that was his particular
Friend.

4. Jefus hearing this Account, and having before refolved in His own Mind what he would do, faid to His Difciples: This Sickness of our Friend Lazarus, fhall not finally prove mortal; But the Wisdom of divine Providence has permitted him to fall into this Difcafe, that I may have an Opportunity of manifefting the Glory of God, and working a notable Miracle upon him, for the Proof of my Authority, and Confirmation of my Doctrine,

5 Now Jefus loved Martha, and her fifter, and Lazarus.

6 When he had heard therefore that

he was fick, he abode two days ftill in the fame place where he

was.

7 Then after that, faith he to his difciples, Let us go into Judea again.

8 His difciples fay unto him, Mafter, the Jews of late fought to ftone thee; and goest thou thither again?

Jefus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he ftumbleth not, becaule he feeth

the light of this world.

10 But if a man walk in the night,

56. Neverthelefs, notwithstanding this Declaration of His Intention to work a Miracle on Lazarus's Behalf, and that he was moreover known to have a particular Kindness both for Lazarus and for his two Sifters, so that it might have been expected He would immediately have done fomething for him, without the leaft Delay; yet Jefus, defigning to work the Miracle in a Manner very different from what either his own Difciples or Lazarus's Relations could expect, continued ftill two Days after his hearing of Lazarus's Illnefs, in the fame Place where He was before, without taking any further Notice, or expreffing any more Concern for Lazarus.

7. But at length, at the End of two Days, knowing that Lazarus was by that time dead, He faid to His Difciples: Come, let us go back again into Judæa.

8. The Difciples, either not confidering the Declaration that Jefus * had * Ver. 4made upon his first hearing of Lazarus's Illness, or elfe understanding him as if He had meant only that he would heal Lazarus without going to him, feemed very much furprized at this Motion, and faid: Mafter, did not the Jews attempt to ftone you there very lately, and will you now return thither again fo foon, and unneceffarily expofe your felf to the most extreme Danger?

9 & 10. But Jefus replied: Be not afraid for Me; I can still difappoint the Malice of the Jews, as before. For as a Man that travels in the Day time, is in no great Danger of ftumbling and falling, fo long as he enjoys the Benefit of the Light of the Sun, and the

Darkness

Darkness overtaketh him not: So I, till the Time be finifhed, wherein my Father has appointed me to preach his Will, to inftruct the World by my Doarine, and to convince Men by my Works; fhall not be delivered up into the Hands of my Enemies, how great and how unwearied foever their Malice against me may be.

II.

11. But though the Danger were really greater than it is, and even as great as your Fears; yet I could not forbear going upon this Occafion. For our Friend Lazarus is fallen afleep, and I must go to him to awake him: Mean ing that Lazarus was then dead, and that he intended to go and restore him to Life; which to the Divine Power was as eafie a Thing, as awaking a Man out of fleep.

12 13. But the Disciples mifunderstanding Him, as if He had meant only in the literal Sense, that Lazarus was afleep, and taking his natural Reft; replied: Lord, if he can fleep, it is a good Sign that his Difeafe is abated, and that he may probably recover, But Jefus meant, as I faid, that Lazarus was really dead.

14. Seeing therefore the weak Miftake of His Difciples, He then told them plainly, faying; Lazarus is

dead.

he ftumbleth, because there is no light in him.

11 These things faid he; and after

that, he faith unto
them, Our friend La-
zarus fleepeth; but I
him out of fleep.
go, that I may awake

12 Then faid his difciples, Lord, if he fleep, he fhall do well.

13 Howbeit, Jefus fpake of his death; but they thought that he had fpoken of taking of rest in fleep.

14 Then faid Jefus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

15 And I am glad for your fakes, that I was not there (to the intent ye may believe) nevertheless let us go unto him.

16 Then