The 5th Chapter
     It came to pass as the people pressed upon him, to hear the word of God, that he stood by the lake of Gennezareth: and saw two ships stand by the lake side, but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the ships, which pertained to Simon, and prayed him, that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people out of the ship. When he had left speaking, he said unto Simon: Launch out into the deep, and let slip your nets to make a draught. And Simon answered and said to him: Master, we have laboured all night, and have taken nothing. Neverthelater at your word I will loose forth the net. And when they had so done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes. And their net brake: but they made signs to their fellows which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came: and filled both the ships that they sunk again. When Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus knees saying: Lord go from me, for I am a sinful man. For he was utterly astonied and all that were with him, at the draught of fish which they took: and so was also James and John the sons of Zebede which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon: fear not, from now on you shall catch men. And they brought the ships to land, and forsook all, and followed him.
     And it fortuned as he was in a certain city: behold, there was a man full of leprosy: and when he had spied Jesus, he fell on his face, and besought him saying: Lord, if you will, you can make me clean. And he stretched forth the hand, and touched him saying: I will, be you clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him. And he warned him, that he should tell no man: but that he should go and show himself to the Priest, and offer for his cleansing according as Moses commandment was, for a witness unto them.
     But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him, and much people came together to hear, and to be healed of him, of their infirmities. And he kept himself apart in the wildernesses, and gave himself to prayer.
     And it happened on a certain day, that he taught: and there sat the Pharisees: and doctors of law, which were come out of all the towns of Galile, Jurie (Jewry), and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was to heal them. And behold, men brought a man lying in his bed which was taken with a palsy: and sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in, because of the press, they went up on the top of the house, and let him down through the tiling, bed and all, in the midst before Jesus. When he saw their faith, he said unto him: man, your sins are forgiven you. And the Scribes and the Pharisees began to think saying: What fellow is this which speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God only?
     When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered and said unto them: What think you in your hearts? Whether is easier to say, your sins are forgiven you, or to say: rise and walk? But that you may know that the son of man has power to forgive sins on earth, he said unto the sick of the palsy: I say to you, arise, take up your bed and go home to your house. And immediately he rose up before them, and took up his bed where on he lay, and departed to his own house praising God. And they were ail amazed and they lauded God, and were filled with fear saying: We have seen strange things today.
     And after that he went forth and saw a publican named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him: follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him. And that same Levi made him a great feast at home in his own house. And there was a great company of publicans and of other that sat at meat with him. And the Scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples saying: Why eat you and drink you with publicans and sinners? Jesus answered and said unto them: They that are whole need not of the physician: but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
     Then they said unto him: Why do the disciples of John fast often and pray, and the disciples of the Pharisees also: and yours eat and drink? And he said unto them: Can you make the children of the wedding fast, as long as the bridegroom is present with them? The days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them: then shall they fast in those days.
     Then he spoke unto them in a similitude: No man puts a piece of a new garment, into an old vesture: for if he do: then breaks he the new, and the piece that was taken out of the new, agrees not with the old. Also, no man pours new wine into old vessels. For if he do, the new wine breaks the vessels, and runs out it self, and the vessels perish: But new wine must be poured into new vessels, and both are preserved. Also, no man that drinks old wine, straight way can away with new, for he says the old is pleasanter.

The 6th Chapter
     It happened on an after Sabbath, that he went through the corn field, and that his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and ate, and rubbed them in their hands. And certain of the Pharisees said unto them: Why do you that which is not lawful to do on the Saboth days? And Jesus answered them and said: Have you not read what David did, when he himself was an hungered and they which were with him: how he went into the house of God, and took and ate the loaves of hallowed bread, and gave also to them which were with him: which was not lawful to eat, but for the Priests only. And he said unto them: The son of man is Lord of the Saboth day.
     And it fortuned in another Saboth also, that he entered into the synagogue and taught. And there was a man whose right hand was dried up. And the Scribes and Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Saboth day, that they might find an accusation against him. But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand: Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stepped forth. Then said Jesus unto them: I will ask you a question: Whether is it lawful on the Saboth days to do good or to do evil? to save life or for to destroy it? And he beheld them all in compass, and said unto the man: Stretch forth your hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored, and made as whole as the other. And they were filled full of madness, and communed one with another, what they might do to Jesu.
     And it fortuned in those days, that he went out into a mountain for to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And as soon as it was day, he called his disciples, and of them he chose twelve, which also he called Apostles. Simon whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother. James and John, Philip and Bartlemew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alpheus and Simon called Zelotes, and Judas James son, and Judas Iscarioth, which same was the traitor.
     And he came down with them and stood in the plain field with the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all parts of Jurie (Jewry) and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases: and they also that were vexed with foul spirits, and they were healed. And all the people pressed to touch him: for there went vertue (virtue) out of him, and healed them all.
     And he lifted up his eyes upon the disciples, and said: Blessed be you poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you that hunger now: for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you that weep now: for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, and thrust you out of their company, and rail, and abhor your name as an evil thing, for the son of mans sake. Rejoice you then, and be glad: for behold, your reward is great in heaven. After this manner their fathers entreated the Prophets.
     But woe be to you that are rich: for you have therein your consolation. Woe be to you that are full: for you shall hunger. Woe be to you that now laugh: for you shall wail and weep. Woe be to you when all men praise you: for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
     But I say unto you which hear: Love your enemies. Do good to them which hate you. Bless them that curse you. And pray for them which wrongfully trouble you. And unto him that smites you on the one cheek, offer also the other. And him that takes away your gown, forbid not to take your coat also. Give to every man that asks of you. And of him that takes away your goods, ask them not again. And as you would that men should do to you: so do you to them likewise.
     If you love them which love you: what thank are you worthy of? For the very sinners love their lovers. And if you do for them which do for you: what thank are you worthy of? For the very sinners do even the same. If you lend to them of whom you hope to receive: what thank shall you have: For the very sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. Wherefore, love you your enemies, do good and lend, looking for nothing again: and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the children of the highest: for he is kind unto the unkind and to the evil.
     Be you therefore merciful, as your father is merciful. Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not: and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you shall be forgiven. Give, and it shall be given unto you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, shall men give into your bosoms. For with what measure you mete, with the same shall men mete to you again.
     And he put forth a similitude unto them: Can the blind lead the blind? Do they not both then fall into the ditch? The disciple is not above his master. Every man shall be perfect, even as his master is. Why see you a mote in your brothers eye, and consider not the beam that is in your own eye? Either how can you say to your brother: Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in your eye: when you perceive not the beam that is in your own eye? Hypocrite, cast out the beam out of your own eye first, and then shall you see perfectly, to pull out the mote out of your brothers eye.
     It is not a good tree that brings forth evil fruit: neither is that an evil tree, that brings forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his fruit. Neither of thorns gather men figs, nor of bushes gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart, brings forth that which is good. And an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart, brings forth that which is evil. For of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks.
     Why call you me Master, Master: and do not as I bid you? whosoever comes to me, and hears my sayings, and does the same, I will show you to whom he is like. He is like a man which built an house: and digged deep and laid the foundation on a rock. When the waters arose, the flood beat upon that house, and could not move it. For it was grounded upon a rock. But he that hears and does not, is like a man that without foundation built an house upon the earth, against which the flood did beat: and it fell by and by. And the fall of that house was great.

CONTINUE

God's Truth