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daily enjoying "the testimony of his con"science, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the

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grace of God, he has had his conversation "with the world "," be required to give way

to such transports of mind as affect those who had hitherto been strangers to the comforts of practical religion.

Our surest mode, then, of turning this whole subject to our profit, is to understand the parable as intended to reprove Pharisaical pride and hypocrisy, and to encourage such as are of an humble and contrite spirit;-to hold out consolation and hope even to the worst of sinners, by shewing that the way to life is still open through penitence and faith; but to admonish them, at the same time, that without such a return to duty they are in a lost and desperate condition;— to be a warning also to every one "who "thinketh he standeth,"-(to every one who, presuming on his hitherto upright conduct, neither fears danger nor provides against it,)—to "take heed lest he fall°;" to beware lest that very security should prove his ruin; lest, vainly imagining that he "needs no re"pentance," he forget that he is to "work "out his salvation with fear and trem

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bling ;"-to remind us also that the preventing as well as co-operating grace of the Holy Spirit is indispensably requisite, both for those who would persevere in well-doing, and for those who have erred and strayed from the path of life; and above all, to incite us to reflect with love and gratitude, with devout affection of heart and soul, upon that unbounded compassion, that unceasing solicitude of the "good Shepherd himself,” the gracious and all-powerful Redeemer, who hath purchased these blessings for us, and who is ever ready to embrace with the arms of his mercy the penitent and contrite sin

ner.

On all these points the parable throws abundant light. Why is the joy so great "over one sinner that repenteth;" but because the difficulty of breaking off inveterate habits, and returning to newness of life, is great beyond all the efforts necessary to persevere in an habitual course of piety and virtue? And why are we obliged to caution those who comparatively may be thought to "need no repentance," or may too fondly imagine that they need none; but because that very persuasion is too apt to engender pride and self-sufficiency, to foster a censo

P Phil. ii. 12.

rious and uncharitable spirit, to make men forgetful of their own infirmities, of the infirmities of others, and of the help of which we all stand in need, to enable us to accomplish our Christian warfare? Why also is our merciful Saviour represented as thus watchful over us for our good, but that his goodness may lead us to repentance, and encourage us to return to HIM who will "abundantly par"don "?"

Without doubting, therefore, that even such an imperfect course of innocence as frail mortality can hope to attain to, is far preferable in the sight of God to such a contrary course as requires more than ordinary resolution, or more than ordinary help from above, to escape from its dreadful consequences; let us still bear in mind what we owe, in either case, to ourselves and others. If we have hitherto, by God's blessing on our endeavours, been enabled to continue in his faith and fear; let us give GOD the glory, and with humility and caution persevere in the same paths, and walk therein, that we may "find rest to our souls;" nor let us with rash and supercilious judgment regard those as unworthy of our charitable help and commiseration, who are unhappily plunged in

q Isaiah lv. 7.

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depths of guilt from which we ourselves have been graciously preserved. Doubtless, great are the advantages of early piety; and we can never be too thankful for them, if such has been our own favoured lot. But in But in proportion to our just sense of the value of such advantages, should be our tenderness and solicitude for those who have had them not. We are taught by our great Exemplar, not to “bruise the broken reed, nor quench the smoking flax" Where the spark of vital goodness appears not to be quite extinct, where the mind seems yet to feel humiliation and contrition under the consciousness of guilt; it is not for us to throw impediments in the way of recovery. Rather should every effort be made, not only "to strengthen such as do “stand;" but "to comfort and help the weak"hearted, and to raise up them that fall;" that by God's grace they may at last be enabled "to beat down Satan under their "feet."

Thus both to them that are fullen, and to them that stand upright, the promises of God may be made of full effect. Joy may await them both;-joy to the penitent convert; joy to the faithful and persevering Christian: the former having at last "known the things

Matth. xii. 20.

"which belong unto his peace, before they "were for ever hid from his eyes;"—the latter having earlier chosen "that good part "which shall not be taken away from him;" steadfastly resolved to "keep innocency, and "take heed unto the thing that is right," knowing that "that shall bring a man peace at "the last "."

s Luke xix. 42.

t Luke x.

42.

v Psalm lv. 7.

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