who will not repent at his preaching, and learn his wisdom.

Ver. 49. And he stretched forth his hand towards his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethrenTowards you; and so he says of you, if you re his dis

Ver. 50. For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.-We cannot be mistaken in saying after Christ, that the nearest and dearest kindred is that of holy souls. But, my friends, what an honour is here put upon all such! And what spirit has possession of us, if we do not choose this relation to him, and steadfastly persevere in what he has told us is the only way to it?

LECTURE.

WHEN We consider the mighty works wrought by Christ to prove his divine mission, and see the Jews still hardening their hearts against conviction, and demanding signs from heaven, we justly blame their stubborn unbelief. But is there not the same root of bitterness in human nature and our own hearts at all times? Else why is it that we are so slow to believe what is written of Jesus Christ, to admit the weight of evidence by which this testimony is confirmed, and to venture our souls upon the truth of it? When we are brought to a sense of our perishing condition in sin, and told of his will and power to save, why is it so difficult to persuade us to come unto him for life? Few penitent sinners are satisfied with the written word, or think that a sufficient warrant for trusting on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation; but require signs, and won

ders, and a new revelation, to ground their faith upon. This is certainly to tempt the Lord, after the example of the unbelieving Jews.

But let all, who have been called to the knowledge of his grace and to faith in him, reflect upon the concluding verse of this chapter. Who can think worthily of the great honour and high relation we are told of from the mouth of our Lord himself, and here called to, that of being his brother, sister, and mother? What thanks can we render to God for bringing us so near to himself, and making us his children by faith in Jesus Christ, and joint heirs of his glory? What is all earthly kindred to this? And what words can express our folly if we despise the blessing which is offered us, and wilfully refuse to be heirs together with him? I beseech you, call to mind, that both by nature and actual transgression we are all sinners, and under a sentence of eternal death. Is it nothing to be released from that sentence, and have our sin forgiven? Is it as nothing in your eyes to be accepted to a state of favour with God, and to the hope of an eternal inheritance in heaven, instead of being left to perish in your sins? May you, all and every one of you, be so near and dear to Christ, and so beloved of God, and will you slight so noble a privilege, and sell your Christian birthright for any thing in the world? If you were told of such a blessed alteration in your condition, and that, instead of being under the displeasure of Almighty God, sinful dust and ashes, you might be the brethren, sisters, and mothers of Christ, so esteemed of by him, so dear to God, and at the same time had been left in ignorance how you might attain to so happy a state, would you not have made all possible inquiry about it, and been full of concern lest you should come short of it? Behold, it is here plainly set before you; you have heard the

words, and must not pretend ignorance; Christ says, if you would be found in this high and happy state, you must do the will of God. I say, be found in it, for he first brings us into it; he only could redeem us from the curse we are under by sin; he is the Peace-maker in his blood; and, "by grace we are saved through faith, and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God." But if we do not walk worthy of the mercy we have received, by resolving and faithfully endeavouring to do the will of God, as knowing that we are thereunto called, we sadly deceive ourselves, if we think we have any relation to Christ, or portion in him. Who then is the Christian? And what does every one think and say who has his eyes opened to see the glory he is called to in Christ? "Is this the goodness of God to me a sinner? Is this the rich mercy I am heir to; and may I assure myself, upon the warrant of this passage of Scripture, that if I do the will of God, I am the brother, sister, or mother of Christ; and that he now sees me in that great and happy relation, as being one with Christ, clothed with his righteousness, and entitled to all the merits of his life and death? Yes, blessed be God for it; and may he keep me a living member of Christ, and enable me to show forth the praises of him who hath called me out of darkness into his marvellous light, in all the fruits of a holy conversation. By his grace it shall be the settled purpose and steady aim of my life, to study his will that I may do it. Whatever it costs me, I will belong to Christ, and think

nothing too

difficult to do, or too grievous to suffer, that I may be owned by him as his brother, sister, or mother. This is an honour I am no way entitled to, and should never have presumed to think of without his warrant and authority; and, since I have his leave to do it, God forbid that ever I should be so ungrateful to him, or such an enemy to myself, as to slight the invaluable mercy he has shown me,

and the glory he has called me to, unworthy as I am, by living to my own will, and continuing in rebellion against him. For slight it I do, if I live not in obedience to God; and I am well assured from this very passage of Scripture, where Christ says, Whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother,' that whosoever does not faithfully and conscientiously endeavour and pray to do the will of God, cannot belong to him."

Remember what our Lord says many times over-" He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." It is a joyful, happy condition and well worth your hearing and believing, that we may be so near akin to Christ; and that when we are,

he has more love and tenderness for us than the nearest relations can possibly have for one another. But then, if we would claim the benefit of his kindred, and as ever we hope to be owned by him, we must be made conformable to his nature, resemble him in his goodness, and prove that we are children of the same family, by doing the will of our heavenly Father, as he did. Let not what you have now heard rise up in judgment against you. Let not the men of Nineveh, who repented at the preaching of Jonah, let not the queen of the south, who came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, condemn you for the hardness of your hearts in standing out against the preaching and wisdom of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Let not the evil spirit find you prepared for him by your neglect and ignorance of Christ and his blessings. Ask yourselves before you go to sleep, whether you have learned, or are willing to learn, wisdom of him, to be guided by him into the way of peace, happiness, and salvation, and understand, as exactly as you can, what he came from heaven to teach us; to know a just and holy God; to know what you are in sin; to see your natural blindness, corruption, and helplessness;

to see a need of Christ to save you from the guilt that is upon your souls, and of the Spirit to enable you to live unto God, and to pray in truth and sincerity that his will may be done in earth as it is in heaven. The Lord incline

you so to hear, that you may feel a prayer in your hearts for the teaching, work, and blessings of Jesus. Let those who can, join with me in prayer for this; and, O God, hear us for those who cannot pray for themselves.

PRAYER.

Jesus Christ the righteous, eternal Son of God, able to save us, and Son of man, that thou mightest wash us from our sins in thy blood, and join us to the Godhead in thyself, make us thy own children by similitude of nature, in the spirit of regeneration; that following thy example in doing the will of God, thou mayest not be ashamed to call us brethren. O! let not the evil spirit return to take possession of us; but give us grace to repent at thy preaching, to hear, and continue in thy wisdom. And may the ever-blessed Spirit, whom we adore, with the Father and the Son, dwell in us, strengthen and comfort us; that being grafted into thee by his operation, we may believe to the saving of our souls, have our fruit unto holiness, be victorious in the power of thy name over all the enemies of our salvation, beloved of God for thy sake, and accepted through thy alone merits, our blessed Saviour and Redeemer! Amen.

SECTION XXVII.

ST. MATTHEW, xiii. 2.

AND great multitudes were gathered together unto him.— They will be gathered unto him once more, together with

VOL. I.