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¹ One sabbath-day, Jesus went to dine with a Pharisee of the first distinction, where he was strictly observ'd. ² now there happen'd to be a man just by him, who had a dropsy. ³ Jesus therefore addressing himself to the doctors of the law, and to the Pharisees, said, is it allowable to perform a cure on the sabbath-day? to which they made no answer. ⁴ but he laid his hand upon the man, cured him, and dismissed him. ⁵ Then continuing his discourse, which of you, said he, if his child or his ox fell into a pit, would not immediately draw him out, though it were on the sabbath-day? ⁶ and they could not tell what to reply to it.

⁷ Afterwards observing how eager the guests were for the first places, he gave them this instruction: ⁸ when any one invites you to a wedding, don't put yourself in the highest seat: for fear some person of greater distinction should be a guest, ⁹ and he that invited you both, should come and bid you give place to him; and you should have the disgrace of taking the lowest seat. ¹⁰ but when you are invited, go place your self last; that he, who invited you, when he comes, may say to you, friend, go up higher: and that will do you honour before all the company at table. ¹¹ for he that exalteth himself, shall be humbled, and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted. ¹² Then he said to the Pharisee, that had invited him, when you give a dinner, or a supper, don't call your friends, or your brethren, or kinsmen, or wealthy neighbours; lest they invite you again, and make you a requital. ¹³ but when you make a feast call the poor, and maimed, the lame and blind: ¹⁴ and you shall be happy in not receiving a requital: for you shall be recompenc'd at the resurrection of the just.

¹⁵ One of the company hearing that, said to him, happy is he that shall be entertain'd in the kingdom of God. ¹⁶ upon which Jesus said, a certain man made a great entertainment; where many were invited. ¹⁷ at supper-time he sent his servant to tell the guests to come, because every thing was ready. ¹⁸ but they were all of a mind in making some excuse: the first said to him, I have bought a piece of ground, which I must needs go and see: therefore pray excuse me. ¹⁹ another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, which I am going to prove: I beg you to excuse me. ²⁰ another said, I have married a wife: 'tis therefore impossible for me to come. ²¹ so the servant return'd, and related the whole matter to his master, who in resentment said to his servant, go immediately into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring hither the poor, the maimed, the halt, and the blind. ²² at length the servant said, sir, your orders have been executed, and still there is room. ²³ the master reply'd, go then to the high-ways and by-paths, and compel them to come in, that my house may be full. ²⁴ for I tell you that not one of those, who were invited, shall taste of my supper.

²⁵ After this a great multitude being gather'd about him, he address'd himself to them, ²⁶ and said, he that can't abandon his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, nay, even his own life, cannot be my disciple. ²⁷ and he that does not bear his cross, and tread in my steps, cannot be my disciple. ²⁸ for who of you would resolve to build a tower, without taking the trouble first of all to compute the expence, and whether he is able to finish it? ²⁹ for fear he should be made the jest of every spectator, for laying the foundation, without being able to carry it on. ³⁰ this man, will they say, began to build, but wanted stock to finish. ³¹ or where is the king, that will march to give battle to another king, without setting himself first to deliberate, whether he is strong enough with ten thousand to withstand an army of twenty thousand? ³² that in case he is not, he may send an embassy, and desire conditions of peace, before the other approaches. ³³ in like manner every one of you must count upon renouncing all that he has, otherwise he cannot be my disciple. ³⁴ salt is good, but if the salt has lost its savour, with what shall it be recovered? ³⁵ it would be fit neither for the land, nor for the dunghil, but only to be thrown away. he that hath ears to hear, let him hear.