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23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth,that

it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Na

zarene.

23. And there he dwelt in the City Nazareth. From whence Jefus was called a Nazarite: As the Prophets had foretold that he should be, in feveral Senfes of that Word: And particularly, as it was prophefied in those words, Judg. 13.5. which were fpoken of Sampson as a Type of Chrift, He* Shall be a Nazarite from the Womb.

* This place, though fcarce taken notice of by Commentators, feems to be more immediately refpected by the Evangelift, than those where only the word or is used in different Senfes.

CHAP.

T

CHA P. III.

Hus Jefus dwelt privately with his Parents, till the time drew near that he was to begin his publick Ministry: About which time, his Fore runner John the Baptift, began to preach in the Wilderness of Judæa.

2. And the Subject of John's Preaching to the People, was, That they fhould repent and reform their Lives; because now the Kingdom of the Meffias and the Chriftian Religion was about to be established; wherein, all ceremonial Performances being to cease, nothing but true Repentance and fincere Obedience was required and would be accepted by God to eternal Life.

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3. This John the Baptift was that Fore-runner of Christ, of whom Efaias prophecied, that in like man

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ner, as powerful Princes
ufe to have the Ways cleared
and levelled before them, fo
this Man was by his preach-
ing of Repentance to pre-
pare Mens Hearts for the re-
ception of the Gospel.

4. Now the manner in which this Preacher of Reall Humility, Holiness, and pentance appeared, was with Aufterity of of Life. His Cloathing was of the most common and meaneft kind of Garments, and his Food 'Axeldes was of the courseft fort. fome un5. Upon his appearing in of Herbs, this form and garb of a others of Prophet, and Preaching the without aneceffity and the acceptable- ny material diffenefs of Repentance ; much People, both of Jerufalem the Senfe. and of all Judea, came out to him;

6. And they were baptized by him in the River Jordan, publickly confeffing. their former Sins, and profeffing their Refolutions of amendment of Life.

7 ¶ Now among the reft that came thus to be baptized by John, were maC

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derstand

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ny of the Pharifees and Sadduces, Men of great Pride, valuing themselves on their being defcended from Abraham and the Patriarchs, and trufting in their ftrict observance of certain outward and ceremonial Rites of the Law: These Men John feverely reproved, faying; O ye perverse and hypocritical Generation of Men, Think not that by being baptized by me, or by any other ritual or external Performance, you can escape the Wrath and Judgment of God.

he faid unto them, O generation of vied you to flee from the wrath to come?

pers,who hath warn

8 Bring forth

8. But if ye will indeed escape it, repent and forfake therefore fruits meet your Sins ; reform your

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Lives to the Obedience of God's Commands; and this do with fuch Humility and Conftancy, as may prove the Truth and Sincerity of your Repentance.

9 And do not imagine that you fhall escape the Wrath of God, by being the Children of Abraham; For if you imitate not his Faith and his Piety, God

for repentance.

9 And think not to fay within your felves, We have A

braham to our fa

ther: for I fay unto you, that God is a

ble of thefe ftones to

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