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because your prayer has been heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son. And after a little; And Zacharias said to the angel; By what shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in her days. And the angel answering said to him; I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you these good tidings. And behold, you shall be silent, and not able to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time. TO THE ROMANS. And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, now as good as dead, being about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb. But he did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith; giving glory to God, and being fully persuaded that what he had promised, he was able also to perform. Therefore it was also imputed to him for righteousness. That he who does not believe the Lord in lesser things is clearly much more unbelieving in greater things. Chap. II. JOHN. If I have told you earthly things, and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? LUKE. He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. That one should not rely on one's own reasonings to the rejection of the things spoken by the Lord; but should know that the Lord's words are more trustworthy than one's own conviction. Chap. III. MATTHEW. Then Jesus says to them; All of you will be scandalized in me this night. But Peter, answering, said to him; 31.716 And if all shall be scandalized in you, I will never be scandalized. Jesus said to him; Amen I say to you, that this night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times ... And when evening was come, he sat down with the twelve disciples; and as they were eating, he says to them; I say to you, that one of you will betray me. And being exceedingly sorrowful, they began each of them to say to him; Is it I, Lord? ACTS. And a voice came to him; Arise, Peter, kill, and eat. But Peter said; By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything common or unclean. And the voice came again a second time to him; What God has cleansed, you do not call common. TO THE COR. II. Casting down reasonings, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

RULE IX. That one must not neglect the knowledge of what is necessary; with attention

but hearing the words of the Lord, to understand, and to do his will. Chap. I MATTHEW. And Peter answering said to him; Explain to us this

parable. And Jesus said; Are you also still without understanding? Do you not yet understand, that whatever enters into the mouth goes into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? but the things which proceed out of the mouth, come forth from the heart, and they defile the man? ... When any one hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then comes the wicked one, and catches away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which was sown by the way side. And after a little; But he that was sown on the good ground, this is he that hears the word, and understands it; who indeed bears fruit, and produces, one a hundred, another sixty, another thirty. MARK. And having called all the multitude, he said to them; Hear me, and understand. TO THE EPHESIANS. See then that you walk circumspectly; not as fools, but as wise; redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understanding what the will of God is. That concerning things which are not necessary, one should not be overly curious. Chap. II. JOHN. And after the morsel, then Satan entered into him. Jesus says to him; What you do, do quickly. But no one of those who were reclining knew, for what purpose

7

διότι εἰσηκούσθη ἡ δέησίς σου· καὶ ἡ γυνή σου Ἐλι σάβετ γεννήσει υἱόν σοι. Καὶ μετ' ὀλίγα· Καὶ εἶπε Ζαχαρίας πρὸς τὸν ἄγγελον· Κατὰ τί γνώσο μαι τοῦτο; Ἐγὼ γάρ εἰμι πρεσβύτης, καὶ ἡ γυνή μου προβεβηκυῖα ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις αὐτῆς. Καὶ ἀπο κριθεὶς ὁ ἄγγελος εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Ἐγώ εἰμι Γαβριὴλ, ὁ παρεστηκὼς ἐνώπιον τοῦ Θεοῦ· καὶ ἀπεστάλην λαλῆσαι πρὸς σὲ, καὶ εὐαγγελίσασθαί σοι ταῦτα. Καὶ ἰδοὺ ἔσῃ σιωπῶν, καὶ μὴ δυνάμενος λαλῆ σαι ἄχρι ἧς ἡμέρας γένηται ταῦτα, ἀνθ' ὧν οὐκ ἐπίστευσας τοῖς λόγοις μου, οἵτινες πληρωθή σονται εἰς τὸν καιρὸν αὐτῶν. ΠΡΟΣ ΡΩΜ. Καὶ μὴ ἀσθενήσας τῇ πίστει, οὐ κατενόησε τὸ ἑαυτοῦ σῶμα ἤδη νενεκρωμένον, ἑκατονταέτης που ὑπάρχων, καὶ τὴν νέκρωσιν τῆς μήτρας Σάῤῥας. Εἰς δὲ τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν τοῦ Θεοῦ οὐ διεκρίθη τῇ ἀπιστίᾳ, ἀλλ' ἐνεδυναμώθη τῇ πίστει· δοὺς δόξαν τῷ Θεῷ, καὶ πληροφορηθεὶς, ὅτι ὃ ἐπήγγελται, δυνατός ἐστι καὶ ποιῆσαι. ∆ιὸ καὶ ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ εἰς δικαιοσύνην. Ὅτι ὁ ἐπὶ τοῖς ἐλάττοσι μὴ πιστεύων τῷ Κυρίῳ δῆλός ἐστι πολὺ πρότερον ἐπὶ τοῖς μείζοσιν ἀπι στῶν. Κεφάλ. Βʹ. ΙΩΑΝΝΗΣ. Εἰ τὰ ἐπίγεια εἶπον ὑμῖν, καὶ οὐ πιστεύετε, πῶς, ἐὰν εἴπω ὑμῖν τὰ ἐπουράνια, πι στεύσετε; ΛΟΥΚΑΣ. Ὁ πιστὸς ἐν ἐλαχίστῳ καὶ ἐν πολλῷ πιστός ἐστι· καὶ ὁ ἐν ἐλαχίστῳ ἄδικος καὶ ἐν πολλῷ ἄδικός ἐστιν. Ὅτι οὐ χρὴ λογισμοῖς ἰδίοις στηρίζεσθαι ἐπὶ ἀθετή σει τῶν ὑπὸ τοῦ Κυρίου λεγομένων· ἀξιοπιστότερα δὲ εἰδέναι τῆς ἰδίας πληροφορίας τὰ τοῦ Κυρίου ῥήματα. Κεφάλ. Γʹ. ΜΑΤΘΑΙΟΣ. Τότε λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Πάν τες ὑμεῖς σκανδαλισθήσεσθε ἐν ἐμοὶ ἐν τῇ νυκτὶ ταύτῃ. Ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Πέτρος, εἶπεν αὐτῷ· 31.716 Καὶ εἰ πάντες σκανδαλισθήσονται ἐν σοὶ, ἐγὼ δὲ οὐδέποτε σκανδαλισθήσομαι. Ἔφη αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Ἀμὴν λέγω σοι, ἐν ταύτῃ τῇ νυκτὶ, πρὶν ἀλέκτορα φωνῆσαι, τρὶς ἀπαρνήσῃ με ... Ὀψίας δὲ γενομένης, ἀνέκειτο μετὰ τῶν δώδεκα μαθητῶν· καὶ ἐσθιόντων αὐτῶν, λέγει αὐτοῖς· Λέγω ὑμῖν, ὅτι εἷς ἐξ ὑμῶν παραδώσει με. Καὶ λυπούμενοι σφόδρα, ἤρξαντο λέγειν αὐτῷ ἕκα στος αὐτῶν· Μήτι ἐγώ εἰμι, Κύριε; ΠΡΑΞΕΙΣ. Καὶ ἐγένετο φωνὴ πρὸς αὐτόν· Ἀναστὰς, Πέτρε, θῦ σον, καὶ φάγε. Ὁ δὲ Πέτρος εἶπε· Μηδαμῶς, Κύριε· ὅτι οὐδέποτε ἔφαγον πᾶν κοινὸν ἢ ἀκά θαρτον. Καὶ φωνὴ πάλιν ἐκ δευτέρου πρὸς αὐτόν· Ἃ ὁ Θεὸς ἐκαθάρισε, σὺ μὴ κοίνου. ΠΡΟΣ ΚΟΡ. βʹ. Λογισμοὺς καθαιροῦντες, καὶ πᾶν ὕψωμα ἐπαι ρόμενον κατὰ τῆς γνώσεως τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ αἰχμαλωτίζοντες πᾶν νόημα εἰς τὴν ὑπακοὴν τοῦ Χριστοῦ.

ΟΡΟΣ Θʹ. Ὅτι οὐ δεῖ ἀμελεῖν τῆς τῶν ἐπιβαλλόντων γνώσεως· μετὰ προσοχῆς

δὲ τῶν τοῦ Κυρίου λόγων ἀκούοντα συνιέναι, καὶ ποιεῖν τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ. Κεφάλ. Α ΜΑΤΘΑΙΟΣ. Ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Πέτρος εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Φράσον ἡμῖν τὴν

παραβολὴν ταύτην. Ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν· Ἀκμὴν καὶ ὑμεῖς ἀσύνετοί ἐστε; Οὔπω νοεῖτε, ὅτι πᾶν τὸ εἰσπορευόμενον εἰς τὸ στόμα εἰς τὴν κοιλίαν χωρεῖ, καὶ εἰς ἀφεδρῶνα ἐκβάλλεται; τὰ δὲ ἐκπορευόμενα ἐκ τοῦ στόμα τος, ἐκ τῆς καρδίας ἐξέρχεται, καὶ κοινοῖ τὸν ἄνθρωπον; ... Παντὸς ἀκούοντος τὸν λό γον τῆς βασιλείας, καὶ μὴ συνιέντος, ἔρχεται ὁ πονηρὸς, καὶ ἁρπάζει τὸ ἐσπαρμένον ἐν τῇ καρ δίᾳ αὐτοῦ. Οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ παρὰ τὴν ὁδὸν σπαρείς. Καὶ μετ' ὀλίγον· Ὁ δὲ ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν τὴν καλὴν σπαρεὶς, οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ τὸν λόγον ἀκούων καὶ συνιὼν, ὃς δὴ καρποφορεῖ, καὶ ποιεῖ ὁ μὲν ἑκα τὸν, ὁ δὲ ἑξήκοντα, ὁ δὲ τριάκοντα. ΜΑΡΚΟΣ. Καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος πάντα τὸν ὄχλον, εἶπεν αὐ τοῖς· Ἀκούετέ μου, καὶ συνίετε. ΠΡΟΣ ΕΦΕΣ. Βλέπετε οὖν πῶς ἀκριβῶς περιπατεῖτε· μὴ ὡς ἄσοφοι, ἀλλ' ὡς σοφοί· ἐξαγοραζόμενοι τὸν και ρὸν, ὅτι αἱ ἡμέραι πονηραί εἰσι. ∆ιὰ τοῦτο μὴ γίνεσθε ἄφρονες, ἀλλὰ συνιέντες τί τὸ θέλημα τοῦ Θεοῦ. Ὅτι περὶ τῶν μὴ ἐπιβαλλόντων οὐ δεῖ πολυπρα γμονεῖν. Κεφάλ. Βʹ. ΙΩΑΝΝΗΣ. Καὶ μετὰ τὸ ψωμίον, τότε εἰσῆλθεν εἰς ἐκεῖνον ὁ Σατανᾶς. Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Ὃ ποιεῖς, ποίησον τάχιον. Τοῦτο δὲ οὐδεὶς ἔγνω τῶν ἀνακειμένων, πρὸς τί