God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen, Alleluia. Re. xix. 4; xxii. 20.

14 If ye forgive, &c.] See verse 12. and com. With what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged, and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Mat. vii. 2. So likewise (as the king in the parable punished the servant who had not mercy on his fellow servant) shall my heavenly Father do also unto you (said Jesus), If ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. Mat. xviii. 35. Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. Pr. xxi. 13. He shall have judgment without mercy that hath shewed no mercy, and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. Ja. ii. 13. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the Devil. Whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. 1 John iii. 10.

16 When ye fast.] Then came to "him" ("Jesus") the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bride-chamber mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. Mat. ix. 14, 15. David besought God for the child (which he had by the wife of Uriah); and David fasted, and went in and lay all night upon the earth. Then (when the child had died) said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? Thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive, but when the child was dead, thou didst arise and eat bread. 2 Sa. xii. 16. 21. When I heard these words (said Nehemiah, respecting the afflicted state of Jerusalem), I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven. Ne. i. 4. Go gather together all the Jews that are present (was the answer of Esther to Mordecai) in Shushan; and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise, and so will I go in unto the king (Ahasuerus), which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish. Es. iv. 16. But as for me (said David), when "they" ("my false witnesses") were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting. Ps. xxxv. 13. When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach. Ps. lxix. 10. My knees are weak through fasting, and my flesh faileth of fatness. Ps. cix. 24. And I set my face (said Daniel) unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications,

with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes (for Jerusalem's restoration). Da. ix. 3. She (Anna the prophetess) was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. Lu. ii. 37. Cornelius said (to Peter), four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house. Ac. x. 30. As "they" ("the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch") ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. Ac. xiii. 2, 3. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed, with fasting, "they" ("Paul and Barnabas”) commended them unto the Lord, on whom they believed. Ac. xiv. 23. Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent, for a time, that ye (the husband and wife) may give yourselves to fasting and prayer. 1 Co. vii. 5. We then, as workers together with "him" (“ Christ”) beseech you, that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. In all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God; in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings. 2 Co. vi. 5. Thrice was I beaten with rods (said Paul); in journeyings often, in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 2 Co. xi. 27.

Be not, as the hypocrites.] See verses 2. 5. and com. And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words (of Elijah denouncing judgments), that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. 1 Ki. xxi. 27. Wherefore have we fasted, say "they" (" the hypocrites"), and thou seest not? Wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the days of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours; behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high! Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? Is. lviii. 3, 4, 5. Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted, and mourned, in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me? Zec. vii. 5. Ye have

said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. He. xiii. 5. Go to, now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you; your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten; your gold and silver is cankered, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire; ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Ja. v. 1, 2, 3. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world; if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 1 John ii. 15, 16.

20 Lay up for yourselves.] See preced. com. If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven. Mat. xix. 21. Wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the Lord is his treasure. Is. xxxiii. 6. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. Lu. xii. 23. Sell all that thou hast (said Jesus to the ruler), and distribute unto the poor; and thou shalt have treasure in heaven. Lu. xviii. 22. Ye had compassion (said Paul) of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods. He. x. 34. By faith Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. He. xi. 26. Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, which he hath promised to them that love him. Ja. ii. 5. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which, according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you. 1 Pe. i. 4. When the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 1 Pe. v. 4. I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich;) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer. Re. ii. 9.

21 Where your treasure is.] See preced. com. Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Lu. xii. 34. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things

which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Co. iv. 18.

There will your heart be also.] O generation of vipers (said Jesus to the Pharisees, &c.) how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. Mat. xii. 34. Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. Pr. iv. 23. O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee? Je. iv. 14. Thine eyes (speaking of Shallum, son of Josiah) and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it. Je. xxii. 17. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter (said Peter to Simon the sorcerer), for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Ac. viii. 21. When we were in the flesh, the motions of the sins which were by the law did work in our members, to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. then? is the law sin? God forbid! Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law; for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. Ro. vii. 5, 6, 7. Many are the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things. Phi. iii. 19. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth; for ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. Col. iii. 1, 2, 3. Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. He. iii. 12.

What shall we say

22 Light of the body.] The light of the body is the eye: therefore, when thine eye is single, thy whole body is full of light: but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light. Lu. xi. 34, 35, 36.

Single.] And they (the disciples) continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart. Ac. ii. 46. I fear lest by any

means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 2 Co. xi. 3. Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ. Ep. vi. 5. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye service as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God. Col. iii. 22.

23 Thine eye be evil.] These (evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies) are the things which defile a man; but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. Mat. xv. 20. They (idol-makers) have not known, nor understood; for he (the Lord) hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see, and their hearts, that they cannot understand: and none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of "it" ("the tree") in the fire; yea also, I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it, and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree? He feedeth on ashes; a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand? Is. xliv. 18, 19, 20. Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness; all these evil things come from within, and defile the man. Mar. vii. 22, 23. Walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart. Ep. iv. 18.

Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. Ep. v. 8. He that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. 1 John ii. 11.

If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness.] Woe unto you, ye blind guides (Pharisees), which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing, but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor. Mat. xxiii. 16, &c. Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit ? There is more hope of a fool than of him. Pr. xxvi. 12. Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight. Is. v. 20, 21. Seek to the law and to the testimony; if they speak not accord

ing to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Is. viii. 20. My people is foolish; they have not known me, they are sottish children, and they have none understanding; they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. Je. iv. 22. How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it the pen of the Scribes is in vain. The wise men are ashamed; they are dismayed, and taken lo, they have rejected the word of the Lord; and what wisdom is in them? Je. viii. 8, 9. Unto you it is given (said Jesus to his disciples) to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God; but to others in parables, that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. Lu. viii. 10. For judgment I am come into the world (said Jesus), that they which see not might see, and that they which see might be made blind: And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin; but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth. John ix. 39, 40, 41. Professing themselves to be wise, "they" ("who knew God, yet glorified him not") became fools. Ro. i. 22. Behold thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, and knowest his will, and approvest the things that are most excellent, being instructed out of the law, and art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness; an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge, and of the truth in the law; thou therefore which teachest another, teachest not thou thyself? Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law, dishonourest thou God? Ro. ii. 17-23. The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God; for it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the Scribe? where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world. 1 Co. i. 18, 19, 20. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Co. ii. 14. Let no man deceive himself; if any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise; for the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God: for it is written, he taketh the wise in their

own craftiness. 1 Co. iii. 18, 19. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing, and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked; I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see. Re. iii. 17, 18.

24 Serve two masters.] Get thee hence Satan (said Jesus), for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Mat. iv. 10. If it seem evil unto you (said Joshua to the people of Israel) to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served, that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the Lord; for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. If ye forsake the Lord, and serve strange gods, then he will turn, and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good. Jos. xxiv, 15. 19, 20. Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods, and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. 1 Sa. vii. 3. How long halt ye between two opinions (said Elijah to the people)? If the Lord be God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him. 1 Ki. xviii. 21. They (the strange nations which were sent into Samaria) feared the Lord, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence; unto this day they do after the former manners; they fear not the Lord, neither do they after the law and commandment which the Lord commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel; with whom the Lord had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them. 2 Ki. xvii. 33-35. So these nations feared the Lord, and served their graven images, both their children and their children's children. 2 Ki. xvii. 41. As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God, Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me, but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts and with your idols. Ex. xx.

39. I will cut off them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the Lord: and that swear by Malcham. Zep. i. 5. No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other; ye cannot serve God and mammon. Lu. xvi. 13. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you; being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. When ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. Ro. vi. 16-22. Do I now persuade men or God? or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. Gal. i. 10. Therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. 2 Ti. iv. 10. Know ye not, that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever, therefore, will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Ja. iv. 4. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 1 John ii. 15, 16.

Mammon.] See verse 19. Make to yourselves (said Jesus) friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, that when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. If ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Lu. xvi. 9. 11. 13.

25 I say unto you.] See chap. v. 22. 28, and com. I say unto you, my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do: but I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear; fear him which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. Lu. xii. 4, 5. Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels