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And he lift up his hands and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy :

And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

LIVES

OF

THE FOUR EVANGELISTS.

T

LIVES OF THE FOUR EVANGELISTS.

ST. MATTHEW.

THE Hebrew name of this Evangelist is MATAI, contracted from MATATAI, and it has been generally supposed that he was the same person with LEVI, whose conversion is mentioned by St. Luke, though some learned commentators, particularly Grotius, are of opinion that these were two different disciples.

Thus much only are we acquainted with respecting St. Matthew, that before his call by our Lord, he was a Publican, or a collector of the tribute exacted by the Roman government. This was an office particularly offensive to the Jews, who therefore held in abhorrence such of their countrymen, as accepted the appointment. But among the Romans this employment was accounted so honourable, as seldom to be conferred upon any, but persons of the best families. It is not to be denied however, that in the provinces, these publicans, or tax-gatherers, were justly detested, on account of their oppression and avarice. That this was their general character, we learn from the confession of Zaccheus

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