pe Matt. 1.90 12.28 12.31 48 MATTHEW X. 25—27 bear them again; how much more ought ye who are My servants and My disciples to be strong in afflictions? for there is no disciple who is greater, etc., because He did not decree this, that no disciple should be greater than his lord, but there is none such ; because if he were greater, he would not then be called a disciple, but a lord. Thus also there are many servants who attain to wealth, and very much excel their masters; like Eli, who was surpassed by Samuel, and Paul, who outran Gamaliel, etc. But Beelzebub is interpreted as the chief of the devils, for because they associated with devils, they revealed to them who is their head and what is his name. He calls the Holy Spirit the lord of the house, for He is the lord of the house ; whether of the world as its Creator with the Father and the Son; or whether of His temple because He formed it. He who is born in her is of the Holy Ghost; but that they blaspheme the Holy Ghost, He there shews also in another place, saying, If I by the Holy Spirit cast out devils ; and All sins and blasphemies shall be forgiven unto men, but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, etc.; and Whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven unto him; but he that blasphemes against the Holy Ghost, etc.; now He signifies by these things, how much greater His ignominy was than theirs; in order to lighten their sufferings by the comparison ; and after this He clothed Himself with their persons and answered instead of them. If it be ours to despise their calumnies, a stamblingblock which has happened to many people from their word ; it hurts us, so to speak, and oppresses us that not we only, but the doctrine which is preached by our means, are thus estimated that some abhor us, by the reproaches which are sent out against us, so that therefore this brings in fear, and He removes it saying, ear them not, for there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, and hidden, that shall not be known. What T tell you in darkness, speak ye it in light; and what ye have heard with your cars, preach it upon the roofs; and tremble not that lies are forged against you by enemies, because no calumnies remain as they are, but the nature of the deeds in time reproves the fictions of their calumnies, when truth shall be revealed, and the illustration from these things is Mine; for it has been revealed that I am not the prince of the devils, but the Son of God. But nevertheless those things that ye hear from Me in darkness, that is to say, secretly between Me and you, these that because of harsh’ and tempestuous people I have signified Luke 8.10 and shewn in parables, because to you it is given to know the mysteries f.29a and idea of the kingdom of Heaven, but to them that are without it is 1 Marg. harsh, that is to say, stif'necked.