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28. And now if the thing it felf be apparent, and ye cannot without extreme Unreasonableness and the utmost degree of Malice deny it, that what I do is by the immediate Power of God; then here is a convincing Proof, that I am truly fent from God, that I act by his Commiffion, and that the Doctrine which I preach is for the establishment of his Kindom. 29. For as ones entring into a ftrong Man's Houfe, & forcibly difpoffeffing him of his Goods, is an evident Proof, that he that fo enters, is ftronger and comes with greater Authority than he that had the firft Poffeffion : So my breaking the Power of Devils, by cafting them out of the Bodies, and deftroying their Dominion over the Minds of Men, is an undeniable Demonftration of my being sent by a Power and Authority grea ter than theirs.

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30 He that is not with me, is againft me: and he that ga

thereth not with me, fcattereth abroad.

31 Wherefore I

fay unto you, All manner of fin and blafphemy fhall be forgiven unto men: but the blafphemy against the holy Ghoft fhall not be forgiven

unto men.

*

30. When When two great Powers are at irreconcilable Enmity against each other, even he that only forbears joyning with one fide, is thereby reputed to be against it: How much more therefore ought I, who have actually done fo many things towards deftroying the Power and Kingdom of the Devil, to be believed to act really in oppofition to him? And *he that shall not joyn with me in this great Work, shall be look'd upon to be a gainst me.

31. Since therefore 'tis as evident, as is poffible, that the Works which I do, are by the Authority of God, and by the Power of his Holy Spirit ; I tell you, whofoever shall refift this Conviction, by fuch a degree of Malice as afcribing thefe Works to the Power

** This Verse being capable of two Senfes, whereof it is not eafie to determine which was principally intended by our Saviour, I have endeavoured in the Paraphrafe to expreis both.

of the Devil, God will not afford to fuch a Man any further Conviction; fo that though all other Sins and Blafphemies whatsoever may be repented of and forgiven, yet he that fhall be guilty of this, fhall never have granted him any farther means of Repentance and Forgiveness.

32. All other Sins, I fay, may be forgiven: Even he that fpeaks against me, and is not convinced by my preaching may yet afterwards be convinced by the Power of the Holy Ghoft, and repent and be forgiven. But he that fhall obftinately refift

this laft means of Conviction, which God has thought fit to make ufe of for the Converfion of Mankind, and fhall malitiously revile the moft evident Operations of the Spirit of God; fuch a one has no farther means left, by which he might be' convinced and brought to Repentance, and confequently he can never be forgiven.

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33 Either make

the tree good,and his fruit good; or else make the tree cor

rupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

34 O generation of vipers, how can

ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth fpeaketh.

35 A good man out of the good treafure of the heart, bringeth forth good things: and an evil

man out of the e

vil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

36 But I fay un

to you, That every

idle, word that men fhall speak,they fhall

33. In vain do ye Pharifees pretend to Holiness and Sincerity of Heart, while ye fuffer your Mouths to utter fuch Blafphemies. For as a Tree is known by his Fruit, fo a Man's Words are figns of the difpofition of his Heart. Either therefore forbear Blafpheming, or else pretend not to Religion at all, with which fuch Behaviour is utterly inconfiftent.

34. But indeed it is impoffible ye fhould fpeak otherwife than Evil. For ye are a perverfe and malitious Generation of Men, and the thoughts of Mens Hearts will discover themselves by their words.

35. A good Man, whose Thoughts and Designs are good, will utter good things: and a wicked Man, whofe Thoughts and Designs are wicked, will utter evil things.

36. And do not think that Mens Words are a light thing, and pafs unheeded in the fight of God: I tell

you

you there is no falfity or evil Word, that a Man fpeaks, so trivial, which shall not be examined and have its regard in the exactness of the Divine Judgment; how much more fhall Revilings and Blafphemies be accounted for?

37. For not only by Mens Actions, but alfo by their Words, fhall their State be determined; and Judgment accordingly be paffed upon them.

38. Then fome of the Jewish Doctors and Pharifees fpake to Jefus, faying Mafter, we are not fatisfied with the Works you have yet done; we defire you would call for fome miraculous Sign from Heaven, which may demonftrate you to be sent by God, and to act by his Power and Commiffion.

39. But Jefus knowing their Obftinacy and Malice, answered them thus: Ye are a perverse and degene. rate Generation of Men; I have already wrought ma ny and great Miracles and ye

give account thereof in the day of judg

ment.

37 For by thy

words thou shalt be juftified, and by thy condemned.

words thou shalt be

38 Then certain of the Scribes,

and of the Pharifees

anfwered, faying,Mafter, we would fee a fign from thee,

39 But he answered and faid to them,

An evil and adulterous generation feeketh after a sign, and there fhall no fign be given to it, but the fign of the prcphet Jonas.

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