14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand :
15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him : hut the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.
16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
17 And when he was entered into the house from the people,his disciples asked him concerning the parable.
18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also ? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever
thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him ;
19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging alf meats ?
20 And he said, That which com- eth out of the man, that defileth the man.
21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adul- teries, fornications, murders,
22 Thefts, covetousness, wicked- ness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness :
23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
We see in the beginning of this passage, how slow of understanding men are in spiritual things. " Hearken/' says our Lord to the people, " hearken unto me every one of you, and understand." " Are ye so without understand- ing ?" He says to His disciples — " Do ye not perceive ?"
and those of the Jesuits, and other advocates of the Eoman Catholic Church, is painfully striking. The following passage from an old com- mentator is worth reading :
" The Scriptures teach that there is no difference to be put between meats, in regard of holiness, but that every creature of God is good. This the Papists make void by teaching that it is matter of religion and conscience to abstain from flesh meats at certain seasons. The Scripture teacheth that we should pray to God alone. This they make void by their manifold prayers to saints departed. The Scripture teacheth Christ alone to be our mediator, both of redemption and in- tercession. This they make void by making saints intercessors. The Scripture teacheth Christ to be the only head of the church. This they abrogate by their doctrine of the Pope's supremacy. The Scrip- ture teacheth that every soul should be subject to the higher power. This they abrogate by exempting the Pope and popish clergy from subjection to the civil power of princes and magistrates. Lastly, to instance in the same kind as our Saviour here against the Phari whereas the word of God commands children to honor their parents, the Papists teach that if the child have vowed a monastical life, he is exempted from duty to parent?." — Patter on St. Mark.