does not feel the force of these considerations? If children then wish to preserve any character for propriety of conduct, or to secure the favour of an Almighty Being, let them not neglect so just and important a duty. Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this is well-pleasing to him: it is one of the worst symptoms of the most degenerate times, when children are disobedient to parents, and without natural affection. Let children, however, remember, that the honour which' reason and the law of God require for their parents, does not consist in words only, in fair speeches of empty respect, but in substantial support when it is needed, in assiduous endeavours to soften the miseries and lighten the burdens of age; and in sacrificing their time, their ease and their substance, in order to promote these ends.

2. We are here taught in what light to regard the commandments of men in religious concerns---that they always corrupt and injure religion, and ought therefore to be opposed, by those who value its purity and excellence, not only when they require what is evidently contrary to the law of God, but also when they inpose what may appear harmless and indifferent; if it be not countenanced by that authority. Christ would

not practise himself, nor suffer his disciples to practise, a ceremony which was in use among the Pharisees, because he knew that it was no where required by the law of Moses; although they could plead in defence of their custom the opinion of the wisest and oldest men among them, and the continued practice of several generations: he was aware that by complying with this custom, he should countenance men in adding to the law of God; which compliance had already led them to violate one of its plainest precepts, and would open the way for introducing a multitude of other rites; by attending to which the substance of religion would be neglected and overlooked. It would have been well if a claim to impose religious ceremonies had ceased with the Pharisees: the professed disciples of Christ have likewise assumed it; and it continues to be maintained to the present day, either upon the ground of an infallible judgment, or

under the pretence of maintaining decency and order in divine worship. But on whatever principle such aus thority is claimed, it is entirely without foundation, and ought to be resisted; whether it be made by an ecclesiastical or civil governor; by one person or a great number: both those who submit to this usurpation, and those who practise it, may possibly be offended at our opposition or neglect, as the Pharisees were offended at Christ: they may charge us with impiety or obstinacy, and denounce against us the vengeance of heaven, if they do not proceed to greater violence: but let us not be terrified by their actions or their threatenings: the vengeance of heaven is not at their disposal; and if we suffer any temporal punishment at their hands, we may support ourselves with reflecting that we follow the example of the best guide, and that we suffer for maintaining the purity of his religion,

3. Let us be thankful for the hope which our Saviour has given us, that every addition to the divine law, every doctrine or ceremony of human invention, shall be removed. There is much of this kind now in the Christian church, as there was formerly in the Jewish: the work of reformation proceeds but slowly, and meets with many obstructions: but let us not therefore conclude that a complete change will never take place; the promises of Christ and of his apostles upon this subject are faithful: there are many appearances in the present state of the church and of the world, which show that reformation is advancing, however gradually; and that it will one day arrive. Let us, in the mean time, continue to hope and pray for this desirable pe riod, and exert ourselves to hasten it, by discountenancing, both by our words and actions, all antichristian claims, corrupt doctrines and unnecessary ceremonies.

Matthew xv. 21. to the end.

21. Then Jesus went thence, and departed into, rather, "towards," the

coasts of Tyre and Sidon, for it does not appear that he left Judea.

22. And behold a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, Lord, "O master," thou son of David: my daughter is grievously vexed with a dæmon.

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The Canaanites were, strictly speaking, inhabitants of the coast of Tyre and Sidon; although the term is sometimes used in a larger sense, so as to include the inhabitants of the whole country at this time occupied by the Jews. The fame of Christ's miracles had long since extended itself into this country; and, along with it, his character as the Messiah or son of David had been made known to the people. This induced this woman to apply to him with great importunity on behalf of her daughter, who was afflicted with phrensy, or some other of those bodily disorders which were ignorantly attributed to the spirits of dead men, taking possessión of the living.

23. But he answered her not a word;

As she was a heathen, he was not inclined to take notice of her case.

And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

24. But he answered and said, I am not sent, but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Christ was sent by God to preach the words of salvation to the Jews only, and to confirm it by miracul

ous works: a numerous seed was indeed promised to him from among the Gentiles; but this was not to take place till after his death, when he was no longer a messenger of the divine will, but seated at the right hand of God. This limitation of his message was not, however, inconsistent with his bestowing favours, occasionally, upon strangers, whom he found within the limits of the land of Israel. The reason of his refusal, for so long a time, to listen to the request of this woman, was that she might have an opportunity of showing forth her faith, to the shame of the Jews.

25. Then came she, and worshipped him, " fell down at his feet," saying, Lord, help me.

26. But he answered and said, It is not meet, "right," to take the children's bread, and cast it to dogs.

It is not right to perform those miraculous works for the benefit of Gentiles, which were intended for the use of the children of God, the nation of the Jews. To call the Gentiles dogs, seems to be contemptuous; but this language was familiarly used by the Jews; and our Lord employs it on this occasion, in order to try the faith and patience of this woman, whom he meant to relieve.

27. And she said, Truth, Lord, "Yea, master;" yet, rather, "for," the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

The woman admits the propriety of the comparison which our Lord had made use of, and artfully takes occasion thence to enforce her request. "I acknowledge that persons of my nation, when compared with the Jews, are no better than dogs; yet what I ask is no great favour; it is but like the crumb which the dog is allowed to pick from under the table."

28.

Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith; be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour, "from that moment."

From this instant, the phrensy with which she was before afflicted, and which had been attributed to the influence of dæmons, left her; so that when her mother returned home, she found her composed; and, as Mark tells us, lying upon the bed. Her faith was great, in that she believed that Christ could cure her daughter, who was at a distance, and was also a Gentile.

29. And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee, and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.

30. And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, rather, "those that had lost a limb," and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them.

31. Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, those who had lost a limb, to be made whole, the lame to walk, and the blind, to see; and they glorified the God of Israel.

They considered these miracles not so much as performed by Jesus Christ himself, as being the effects of