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¡¨Woe¡¡unto¡¡you£»¡¡scribes¡¡and¡¡Pharisees£»¡¡hypocrites£¡¡¡for¡¡ye¡¡pay¡¡tithe¡¡of¡¡mint¡¡and¡¡anise¡¡and¡¡cummin£»¡¡and¡¡have¡¡omitted¡¡the¡¡weightier¡¡matters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡law£»¡¡judgment£»¡¡mercy£»¡¡and¡¡faith£º¡¡these¡¡ought¡¡ye¡¡to¡¡have¡¡done£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡other¡¡undone¡£¡¨¡¡In¡¡these¡¡words¡¡Christ¡¡again¡¡condemns¡¡the¡¡abuse¡¡of¡¡sacred¡¡obligation¡£¡¡The¡¡obligation¡¡itself¡¡He¡¡does¡¡not¡¡set¡¡aside¡£¡¡The¡¡tithing¡¡system¡¡was¡¡ordained¡¡by¡¡God£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡observed¡¡from¡¡the¡¡earliest¡¡times¡£¡¡Abraham£»¡¡the¡¡father¡¡of¡¡the¡¡faithful£»¡¡paid¡¡tithes¡¡of¡¡all¡¡that¡¡he¡¡possessed¡£¡¡The¡¡Jewish¡¡rulers¡¡recognized¡¡the¡¡obligation¡¡of¡¡tithing£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡was¡¡right£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡did¡¡not¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡people¡¡to¡¡carry
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out¡¡their¡¡own¡¡convictions¡¡of¡¡duty¡£¡¡Arbitrary¡¡rules¡¡were¡¡laid¡¡down¡¡for¡¡every¡¡case¡£¡¡The¡¡requirements¡¡had¡¡become¡¡so¡¡complicated¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡impossible¡¡for¡¡them¡¡to¡¡be¡¡fulfilled¡£¡¡None¡¡knew¡¡when¡¡their¡¡obligations¡¡were¡¡met¡£¡¡As¡¡God¡¡gave¡¡it£»¡¡the¡¡system¡¡was¡¡just¡¡and¡¡reasonable£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡priests¡¡and¡¡rabbis¡¡had¡¡made¡¡it¡¡a¡¡wearisome¡¡burden¡£
All¡¡that¡¡God¡¡commands¡¡is¡¡of¡¡consequence¡£¡¡Christ¡¡recognized¡¡the¡¡payment¡¡of¡¡tithes¡¡as¡¡a¡¡duty£»¡¡but¡¡He¡¡showed¡¡that¡¡this¡¡could¡¡not¡¡excuse¡¡the¡¡neglect¡¡of¡¡other¡¡duties¡£¡¡The¡¡Pharisees¡¡were¡¡very¡¡exact¡¡in¡¡tithing¡¡garden¡¡herbs£»¡¡such¡¡as¡¡mint£»¡¡anise£»¡¡and¡¡rue£»¡¡this¡¡cost¡¡them¡¡little£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡gave¡¡them¡¡a¡¡reputation¡¡for¡¡exactness¡¡and¡¡sanctity¡£¡¡At¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡¡their¡¡useless¡¡restrictions¡¡oppressed¡¡the¡¡people¡¡and¡¡destroyed¡¡respect¡¡for¡¡the¡¡sacred¡¡system¡¡of¡¡God's¡¡own¡¡appointing¡£¡¡They¡¡occupied¡¡men's¡¡minds¡¡with¡¡trifling¡¡distinctions£»¡¡and¡¡turned¡¡their¡¡attention¡¡from¡¡essential¡¡truths¡£¡¡The¡¡weightier¡¡matters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡law£»¡¡justice£»¡¡mercy£»¡¡and¡¡truth£»¡¡were¡¡neglected¡£¡¡¡¨These£»¡¨¡¡Christ¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨ought¡¡ye¡¡to¡¡have¡¡done£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡other¡¡undone¡£¡¨
Other¡¡laws¡¡had¡¡been¡¡perverted¡¡by¡¡the¡¡rabbis¡¡in¡¡like¡¡manner¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡directions¡¡given¡¡through¡¡Moses¡¡it¡¡was¡¡forbidden¡¡to¡¡eat¡¡any¡¡unclean¡¡thing¡£¡¡The¡¡use¡¡of¡¡swine's¡¡flesh£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡flesh¡¡of¡¡certain¡¡other¡¡animals£»¡¡was¡¡prohibited£»¡¡as¡¡likely¡¡to¡¡fill¡¡the¡¡blood¡¡with¡¡impurities£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡shorten¡¡life¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡Pharisees¡¡did¡¡not¡¡leave¡¡these¡¡restrictions¡¡as¡¡God¡¡had¡¡given¡¡them¡£¡¡They¡¡went¡¡to¡¡unwarranted¡¡extremes¡£¡¡Among¡¡other¡¡things¡¡the¡¡people¡¡were¡¡required¡¡to¡¡strain¡¡all¡¡the¡¡water¡¡used£»¡¡lest¡¡it¡¡should¡¡contain¡¡the¡¡smallest¡¡insect£»¡¡which¡¡might¡¡be¡¡classed¡¡with¡¡the¡¡unclean¡¡animals¡£¡¡Jesus£»¡¡contrasting¡¡these¡¡trivial¡¡exactions¡¡with¡¡the¡¡magnitude¡¡of¡¡their¡¡actual¡¡sins£»¡¡said¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Pharisees£»¡¡¡¨Ye¡¡blind¡¡guides£»¡¡which¡¡strain¡¡at¡¡a¡¡gnat£»¡¡and¡¡swallow¡¡a¡¡camel¡£¡¨
¡¨Woe¡¡unto¡¡you£»¡¡scribes¡¡and¡¡Pharisees£»¡¡hypocrites£¡¡¡for¡¡ye¡¡are¡¡like¡¡unto¡¡whited¡¡sepulchers£»¡¡which¡¡indeed¡¡appear¡¡beautiful¡¡outward£»¡¡but¡¡are¡¡within¡¡full¡¡of¡¡dead¡¡men's¡¡bones£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡all¡¡uncleanness¡£¡¨¡¡As¡¡the¡¡whited¡¡and¡¡beautifully¡¡decorated¡¡tomb¡¡concealed¡¡the¡¡putrefying¡¡remains¡¡within£»¡¡so¡¡the¡¡outward¡¡holiness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡priests¡¡and¡¡rulers¡¡concealed¡¡iniquity¡£¡¡Jesus¡¡continued£º
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618
killed¡¡the¡¡prophets¡£¡¨¡¡To¡¡show¡¡their¡¡esteem¡¡for¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡prophets£»¡¡the¡¡Jews¡¡were¡¡very¡¡zealous¡¡in¡¡beautifying¡¡their¡¡tombs£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡did¡¡not¡¡profit¡¡by¡¡their¡¡teachings£»¡¡nor¡¡give¡¡heed¡¡to¡¡their¡¡reproofs¡£
In¡¡the¡¡days¡¡of¡¡Christ¡¡a¡¡superstitious¡¡regard¡¡was¡¡cherished¡¡for¡¡the¡¡resting¡¡places¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dead£»¡¡and¡¡vast¡¡sums¡¡of¡¡money¡¡were¡¡lavished¡¡upon¡¡their¡¡decoration¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡God¡¡this¡¡was¡¡idolatry¡£¡¡In¡¡their¡¡undue¡¡regard¡¡for¡¡the¡¡dead£»¡¡men¡¡showed¡¡that¡¡they¡¡did¡¡not¡¡love¡¡God¡¡supremely£»¡¡nor¡¡their¡¡neighbor¡¡as¡¡themselves¡£¡¡The¡¡same¡¡idolatry¡¡is¡¡carried¡¡to¡¡great¡¡lengths¡¡today¡£¡¡Many¡¡are¡¡guilty¡¡of¡¡neglecting¡¡the¡¡widow¡¡and¡¡the¡¡fatherless£»¡¡the¡¡sick¡¡and¡¡the¡¡poor£»¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡build¡¡expensive¡¡monuments¡¡for¡¡the¡¡dead¡£¡¡Time£»¡¡money£»¡¡and¡¡labor¡¡are¡¡freely¡¡spent¡¡for¡¡this¡¡purpose£»¡¡while¡¡duties¡¡to¡¡the¡¡livingduties¡¡which¡¡Christ¡¡has¡¡plainly¡¡enjoinedare¡¡left¡¡undone¡£
The¡¡Pharisees¡¡built¡¡the¡¡tombs¡¡of¡¡the¡¡prophets£»¡¡and¡¡adorned¡¡their¡¡sepulchers£»¡¡and¡¡said¡¡one¡¡to¡¡another£»¡¡If¡¡we¡¡had¡¡lived¡¡in¡¡the¡¡days¡¡of¡¡our¡¡fathers£»¡¡we¡¡would¡¡not¡¡have¡¡united¡¡with¡¡them¡¡in¡¡shedding¡¡the¡¡blood¡¡of¡¡God's¡¡servants¡£¡¡At¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡¡they¡¡were¡¡planning¡¡to¡¡take¡¡the¡¡life¡¡of¡¡His¡¡Son¡£¡¡This¡¡should¡¡be¡¡a¡¡lesson¡¡to¡¡us¡£¡¡It¡¡should¡¡open¡¡our¡¡eyes¡¡to¡¡the¡¡power¡¡of¡¡Satan¡¡to¡¡deceive¡¡the¡¡mind¡¡that¡¡turns¡¡from¡¡the¡¡light¡¡of¡¡truth¡£¡¡Many¡¡follow¡¡in¡¡the¡¡track¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Pharisees¡£¡¡They¡¡revere¡¡those¡¡who¡¡have¡¡died¡¡for¡¡their¡¡faith¡£¡¡They¡¡wonder¡¡at¡¡the¡¡blindness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Jews¡¡in¡¡rejecting¡¡Christ¡£¡¡Had¡¡we¡¡lived¡¡in¡¡His¡¡day£»¡¡they¡¡declare£»¡¡we¡¡would¡¡gladly¡¡have¡¡received¡¡His¡¡teaching£»¡¡we¡¡would¡¡never¡¡have¡¡been¡¡partakers¡¡in¡¡the¡¡guilt¡¡of¡¡those¡¡who¡¡rejected¡¡the¡¡Saviour¡£¡¡But¡¡when¡¡obedience¡¡to¡¡God¡¡requires¡¡self¡denial¡¡and¡¡humiliation£»¡¡these¡¡very¡¡persons¡¡stifle¡¡their¡¡convictions£»¡¡and¡¡refuse¡¡obedience¡£¡¡Thus¡¡they¡¡manifest¡¡the¡¡same¡¡spirit¡¡as¡¡did¡¡the¡¡Pharisees¡¡whom¡¡Christ¡¡condemned¡£
Little¡¡did¡¡the¡¡Jews¡¡realize¡¡the¡¡terrible¡¡responsibility¡¡involved¡¡in¡¡rejecting¡¡Christ¡£¡¡From¡¡the¡¡time¡¡when¡¡the¡¡first¡¡innocent¡¡blood¡¡was¡¡shed£»¡¡when¡¡righteous¡¡Abel¡¡fell¡¡by¡¡the¡¡hand¡¡of¡¡Cain£»¡¡the¡¡same¡¡history¡¡had¡¡been¡¡repeated£»¡¡with¡¡increasing¡¡guilt¡£¡¡In¡¡every¡¡age¡¡prophets¡¡had¡¡lifted¡¡up¡¡their¡¡voices¡¡against¡¡the¡¡sins¡¡of¡¡kings£»¡¡rulers£»¡¡and¡¡people£»¡¡speaking¡¡the¡¡words¡¡which¡¡God¡¡gave¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡obeying¡¡His¡¡will¡¡at¡¡the¡¡peril¡¡of¡¡their¡¡lives¡£¡¡From¡¡generation¡¡to¡¡generation¡¡there¡¡had¡¡been¡¡heaping¡¡up¡¡a¡¡terrible¡¡punishment¡¡for¡¡the¡¡rejecters¡¡of¡¡light¡¡and¡¡truth¡£¡¡This¡¡the¡¡enemies¡¡of¡¡Christ¡¡were¡¡now¡¡drawing¡¡down¡¡upon¡¡their¡¡own¡¡heads¡£¡¡The¡¡sin¡¡of¡¡the¡¡priests¡¡and¡¡rulers¡¡was¡¡greater¡¡than¡¡that¡¡of¡¡any¡¡preceding¡¡generation¡£¡¡By¡¡their¡¡rejection¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Saviour£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡making¡¡themselves¡¡responsible
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The¡¡scribes¡¡and¡¡Pharisees¡¡who¡¡listened¡¡to¡¡Jesus¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡His¡¡words¡¡were¡¡true¡£¡¡They¡¡knew¡¡how¡¡the¡¡prophet¡¡Zacharias¡¡had¡¡been¡¡slain¡£¡¡While¡¡the¡¡words¡¡of¡¡warning¡¡from¡¡God¡¡were¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡lips£»¡¡a¡¡satanic¡¡fury¡¡seized¡¡the¡¡apostate¡¡king£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡his¡¡command¡¡the¡¡prophet¡¡was¡¡put¡¡to¡¡death¡£¡¡His¡¡blood¡¡had¡¡imprinted¡¡itself¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡very¡¡stones¡¡of¡¡the¡¡temple¡¡court£»¡¡and¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be¡¡erased£»¡¡it¡¡remained¡¡to¡¡bear¡¡testimony¡¡against¡¡apostate¡¡Israel¡£¡¡As¡¡long¡¡as¡¡the¡¡temple¡¡should¡¡stand£»¡¡there¡¡would¡¡be¡¡the¡¡stain¡¡of¡¡that¡¡righteous¡¡blood£»¡¡crying¡¡to¡¡God¡¡to¡¡be¡¡avenged¡£¡¡As¡¡Jesus¡¡referred¡¡to¡¡these¡¡fearful¡¡sins£»¡¡a¡¡thrill¡¡of¡¡horror¡¡ran¡¡through¡¡the¡¡multitude¡£
Looking¡¡forward£»¡¡Jesus¡¡declared¡¡that¡¡the¡¡impenitence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Jews¡¡and¡¡their¡¡intolerance¡¡of¡¡God's¡¡servants¡¡would¡¡be¡¡the¡¡same¡¡in¡¡the¡¡future¡¡as¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡in¡¡the¡¡past£º
¡¨Wherefore£»¡¡behold£»¡¡I¡¡send¡¡unto¡¡you¡¡prophets£»¡¡and¡¡wise¡¡men£»¡¡and¡¡scribes£º¡¡and¡¡some¡¡of¡¡them¡¡ye¡¡shall¡¡kill¡¡and¡¡crucify£»¡¡and¡¡some¡¡of¡¡them¡¡shall¡¡ye¡¡scourge¡¡in¡¡your¡¡synagogues£»¡¡and¡¡persecute¡¡them¡¡from¡¡city¡¡to¡¡city¡£¡¨¡¡Prophets¡¡and¡¡wise¡¡men£»¡¡full¡¡of¡¡faith¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Holy¡¡Ghost£»Stephen£»¡¡James£»¡¡and¡¡many¡¡others£»would¡¡be¡¡condemned¡¡and¡¡slain¡£¡¡With¡¡hand¡¡uplifted¡¡to¡¡heaven£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡divine¡¡light¡¡enshrouding¡¡His¡¡person£»¡¡Christ¡¡spoke¡¡as¡¡a¡¡judge¡¡to¡¡those¡¡before¡¡Him¡£¡¡His¡¡voice£»¡¡that¡¡had¡¡so¡¡often¡¡been¡¡heard¡¡in¡¡gentleness¡¡and¡¡entreaty£»¡¡was¡¡now¡¡heard¡¡in¡¡rebuke¡¡and¡¡condemnation¡£¡¡The¡¡listeners¡¡shuddered¡£¡¡Never¡¡was¡¡the¡¡impression¡¡made¡¡by¡¡His¡¡words¡¡and¡¡His¡¡look¡¡to¡¡be¡¡effaced¡£
Christ's¡¡indignation¡¡was¡¡directed¡¡against¡¡the¡¡hypocrisy£»¡¡the¡¡gross¡¡sins£»¡¡by¡¡which¡¡men¡¡were¡¡destroying¡¡their¡¡own¡¡souls£»¡¡deceiving¡¡the¡¡people¡¡and¡¡dishonoring¡¡God¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡specious¡¡deceptive¡¡reasoning¡¡of¡¡the¡¡priests¡¡and¡¡rulers¡¡He¡¡discerned¡¡the¡¡working¡¡of¡¡satanic¡¡agencies¡£¡¡Keen¡¡and¡¡searching¡¡had¡¡been¡¡His¡¡denunciation¡¡of¡¡sin£»¡¡but¡¡He¡¡spoke¡¡no¡¡words¡¡of¡¡retaliation¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡a¡¡holy¡¡wrath¡¡against¡¡the¡¡prince¡¡of¡¡darkness£»¡¡but¡¡He¡¡manifested¡¡no¡¡irritated¡¡temper¡£¡¡So¡¡the¡¡Christian¡¡who¡¡lives¡¡in¡¡harmony¡¡with¡¡God£»¡¡possessing¡¡the¡¡sweet¡¡attributes¡¡of¡¡love¡¡and¡¡mercy£»¡¡will¡¡feel¡¡a¡¡righteous
620
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Divine¡¡pity¡¡marked¡¡the¡¡countenance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Son¡¡of¡¡God¡¡as¡¡He¡¡cast¡¡one¡¡lingering¡¡look¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡temple¡¡and¡¡then¡¡upon¡¡His¡¡hearers¡£¡¡In¡¡a¡¡voice¡¡choked¡¡by¡¡deep¡¡anguish¡¡of¡¡heart¡¡and¡¡bitter¡¡tears¡¡He¡¡exclaimed£»¡¡¡¨O¡¡Jerusalem£»¡¡Jerusalem£»¡¡thou¡¡that¡¡killest¡¡the¡¡prophets£»¡¡and¡¡stonest¡¡them¡¡which¡¡are¡¡sent¡¡unto¡¡thee£»¡¡how¡¡often¡¡would¡¡I¡¡have¡¡gathered¡¡thy¡¡children¡¡together£»¡¡even¡¡as¡¡a¡¡hen¡¡gathereth¡¡her¡¡chickens¡¡under¡¡her¡¡wings£»¡¡and¡¡ye¡¡would¡¡not£¡¡¨¡¡This¡¡is¡¡the¡¡separation¡¡struggle¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡lamentation¡¡of¡¡Christ¡¡the¡¡very¡¡heart¡¡of¡¡God¡¡is¡¡pouring¡¡itself¡¡forth¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡the¡¡mysterious¡¡farewell¡¡of¡¡the¡¡long¡suffering¡¡love¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Deity¡£
Pharisees¡¡and¡¡Sadducees¡¡were¡¡alike¡¡silenced¡£¡¡Jesus¡¡summoned¡¡His¡¡disciples£»¡¡and¡¡prepared¡¡to¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡temple£»¡¡not¡¡as¡¡one¡¡defeated¡¡and¡¡forced¡¡from¡¡the¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡his¡¡adversaries£»¡¡but¡¡as¡¡one¡¡whose¡¡work¡¡was¡¡accomplished¡£¡¡He¡¡retired¡¡a¡¡victor¡¡from¡¡the¡¡contest¡£
The¡¡gems¡¡of¡¡truth¡¡that¡¡fell¡¡from¡¡Christ's¡¡lips¡¡on¡¡that¡¡eventful¡¡day¡¡were¡¡treasured¡¡in¡¡many¡¡hearts¡£¡¡For¡¡them¡¡new¡¡thoughts¡¡started¡¡into¡¡life£»¡¡new¡¡aspirations¡¡were¡¡awakened£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡new¡¡history¡¡began¡£¡¡After¡¡the¡¡crucifixion¡¡and¡¡resurrection¡¡of¡¡Christ£»¡¡these¡¡persons¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡front£»¡¡and¡¡fulfilled¡¡their¡¡divine¡¡commission¡¡with¡¡a¡¡wisdom¡¡and¡¡zeal¡¡corresponding¡¡to¡¡the¡¡greatness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡work¡£¡¡They¡¡bore¡¡a¡¡message¡¡that¡¡appealed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡hearts¡¡of¡¡men£»¡¡weakening¡¡the¡¡old¡¡superstitions¡¡that¡¡had¡¡long¡¡dwarfed¡¡the¡¡lives¡¡of¡¡thousands¡£¡¡Before¡¡their¡¡testimony¡¡human¡¡theories¡¡and¡¡philosophies¡¡became¡¡as¡¡idle¡¡fables¡£¡¡Mighty¡¡were¡¡the¡¡results¡¡flowing¡¡from¡¡the¡¡words¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Saviour¡¡to¡¡that¡¡wondering£»¡¡awestruck¡¡crowd¡¡in¡¡the¡¡temple¡¡at¡¡Jerusalem¡£
But¡¡Israel¡¡as¡¡a¡¡nation¡¡had¡¡divorced¡¡herself¡¡from¡¡God¡£¡¡The¡¡natural¡¡branches¡¡of¡¡the¡¡olive¡¡tree¡¡were¡¡broken¡¡off¡£¡¡Looking¡¡for¡¡the¡¡last¡¡time¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡interior¡¡of¡¡the¡¡temple£»¡¡Jesus¡¡said¡¡with¡¡mournful¡¡pathos£»¡¡¡¨Behold£»¡¡your¡¡house¡¡is¡¡left¡¡unto¡¡you¡¡desolate¡£¡¡For¡¡I¡¡say¡¡unto¡¡you£»¡¡Ye¡¡shall¡¡not¡¡see¡¡Me¡¡henceforth£»¡¡till¡¡ye¡¡shall¡¡say£»¡¡Blessed¡¡is¡¡He¡¡that¡¡cometh¡¡in¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lord¡£¡¨¡¡Hitherto¡¡He¡¡had¡¡called¡¡the¡¡temple¡¡His¡¡Father's¡¡house£»¡¡but¡¡now£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡Son¡¡of¡¡God¡¡should¡¡pass¡¡out¡¡from¡¡those¡¡walls£»¡¡God's¡¡presence¡¡would¡¡be¡¡withdrawn¡¡forever¡¡from¡¡the¡¡temple¡¡built¡¡to¡¡His¡¡glory¡£¡¡Henceforth¡¡its¡¡ceremonies¡¡would¡¡be¡¡meaningless£»¡¡its¡¡services¡¡a¡¡mockery¡£
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