Matthew 9:1-8 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.… Not, "Be of good cheer, thy health is given thee," though that he had also; but " thy sins are forgiven thee." If a friend should come to a malefactor, on his way to the gallows, put a sweet posy in his hands, and bid him be of good cheer, smell on that; alas! this would bring little joy with it to the poor man's heart, who sees the place of execution before him. But if one came from his prince with a pardon, put it into his hand, and bade him be of good cheer; this, and this only, would cheer the poor man's heart, and fill it with a ravishment of joy. Truly, anything short of pardoning mercy is as inconsiderable towards pacifying a troubled conscience, as that posy in the dying prisoner's hand would be. (Gurnall.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.WEB: He entered into a boat, and crossed over, and came into his own city. |
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