35. And one of them, being a Scribe or Inter preter of the Law + See Ma, and obferving that 12.23. Jefus gave wife and prudent Answers, defired to try him farther, and put this Question to him, faying: * See Mar. 12.33. 36. Master Which is the chief and principal 37. Jefus Anfwer'd: To 38. This is the firft and greateft Commandment, which ought above all things to be Religiously obferv'd. 39. And the next is like to it in Excellence and Dignity, namely to love your Neighbour as your felf, and to do to all Men as you would they fhould do to your 40 On these two commandmentshang all the Law and the Prophets. 41 While the Pharifees were ga thered together, Je fus asked them, 42 Saying, What think ye of Chrift? whofe fon is her they fay unto him, The fon of David. 40. These are the two great Rules which contain the whole Sum of true Religion and Righteoufness: These are what Nature and.. the Reafon of Things teach: And these are what all God's Revelations to Mankind in the Law and the Prophets, are defign'd to Explain and Inforce. 41. And while the Pharifees continued to be gathered together about Jefus, difputing with him, and putting Questions to him, to Tempt and Infnare him; Jefus on the other fide put a Question to them, faying, 42. What think you of the Meffias, whom ye expect according to the Promifes made by God in the Prophets? Of what Family, and whose Son do ye find in Scripture that he ought to be? The Pharifees Answered, He He must be the Son of 43. Jefus Replied: How then comes it to pafs, that David Writing propherically and by the Infpiration of the Spirit of God, acknow ledges the the Meffiah as 44. God Said unto my Lord the Meffiah; Take thou all Power, Dominion and Authority, untill all thy Enemies be made Subject unto thee. 45. If the Meffiah 43 He faith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, faying, faid unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 44 The LORD 45 If David then be David's Son, why call him Lord, how doth David thus call him his Lord, and acknowledge him as his Superior? 46. The Pharifees, not knowing that he who that he who Sprung from the Family is he his Son? 46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durft any man (from of David in his Humane that day forth) ask Nature, was infinitely fuperior to David in his Divine Nature; were not able to return Jefus any Anfwer to this Queftion. him any mo quefti ons. And And finding that they were far inferior to him in Wifdom and Knowledge, and that they could not stand against the Strength and Clearnefs of his Difcourfes, they retired from him, and ventured no more to tempt him with enfnaring Queftions. T CHA P. XXIII. Hen fpake I. Jefus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2 Saying, The A Fter this, Jefus fpake to the People that were gather'd together about him, and to his Difciples, concerning the Pharifees, faying. 2. The Jewish Doctors fcribes and the Pha- and Pharifees, tho' they rifees fit in Mofes Seat. be Hypocrites, and Covetous, and Vain-glorious Men; yet fince they fucceed Mofes and the Prophets in being Teachers and Expounders of the Law of God, ye ought to hearken and attend to their Teaching. U 3. What 3. What therefore they Teach you out of the Law of God, and agreeable to it, that hear ye and obey: But imitate not their example; because their Lives are difagreable and contrary to their Doctrine. 4. For they Expound the Law in the ftricteft and feverest Sense, and impofe upon other Men the utmoft rigour of its Precepts; But they themselves will not take the leaft pains in pra&tifing those great and Moral Duties, which are of the highest importance and of Eternal obligati on. 5. All the Works that they do, are only that they may be observed and applauded by Men; and neglecting all other things, they take care to chufe to be always doing fuch Works,as are apteft to be feen publickly, and may best serve this vainglorious purpose. To obey the Moral Law of God in their Lives, they are little Solicitous: But |