ready to execute his sentence for the destruction of the ungodly, as they once were, when time was, to help forward their salvation. It is said, “ they will gather all such out of his kingdom;" not his everlasting kingdom in heaven; for they who belong to it, and are once in it, will not be cast out, but have their abode in it for ever. The kingdom, therefore, here meant, is God's kingdom upon earth under Christ, into which we are admitted by baptism, and bind ourselves to live according to the laws of it. Out of this we may, and shall be cast, notwithstanding our Christian name and profession, if we are not Christ's disciples in truth and sincerity, by faith and holiness. Nay, strictly speaking, we are no farther in it now in this world, than as we are alive unto God, and give all diligence to secure to ourselves the blessings and privileges of it. We cast ourselves out of it by our own act and deed, and he cannot be deceived as to our present state and condition. Whatever we think of ourselves, or whatever the world sees in us, he knows we do not belong to him; and the separation which will be made at the day of judgment, will be accordingly as we have separated ourselves to God, or the service of his enemy, during our lives. For Christ, the Judge as well as Redeemer of mankind, and the great Prophet of his church, hath repeatedly set the seal of heaven to this solemn truth, that none shall be admitted into God's kingdom of glory, who are not of it now in will and desire, in his preparatory kingdom of grace upon earth. Surely, I say, this is an awakening consideration, and should put us upon examining seriously, and with great care, what we are in the world; whether we get up and lie down, walk about, and do our business in it day by day, as members of Christ and heirs of God's kingdom, or children of the devil; whether we are travelling in the road that

leads to heaven, or going on blindfold and fearless in the highway of destruction.

When Christ had delivered this parable, the disciples came unto him, desiring that he would declare, or explain it. These were good hearts; they wanted to know the truth, they were willing to be instructed, and such a request is never denied by him. Do not say you are poor and unlearned, and have no opportunity of knowing much, or that you are a busy man, and have but little time to think of your religious concerns. For what is this but saying and confessing that you are asleep, and giving the enemy of your souls the advantage he wants, and will be sure to take? Do you not hear that heaven or hell is at the end of your life? Are you not told that Christ soweth his good seed in the field of your hearts, with a design that it should grow and prosper under his care, and with a promise that it shall flourish like a grain of mustard seed, or work as leaven? Can you say that you do not understand the meaning of all this? Alas! you will not; for it is as plain to your capacities, as if an earthly master was to say, Go into the field to plough, or sow, or weed, or do any other kind of work. My brethren, do this one thing, and all will be well; say to Christ, as the disciples did, “Master, declare unto us the parable;" or rather, as he has expounded it, pray that his words may be effectual and saving, and that he would speak all to your hearts. Say to him daily, Lord, deal with me as thou pleasest, only let me not pass through the world ignorant of thy truth, and careless of my salvation; let me not live a Christian only in name, sleeping over my work, and die an useless weed, fit only to be burned. To this end let us all pray, and may God enable you to accompany me with your hearts!

PRAYER.

Almighty God, who hast given thy only begotten Son to take our nature upon him, that in it he might instruct us by his doctrine and example, live and die for us, redeem and save us; keep us, we beseech thee, in thy kingdom of grace, that, passing through it as the only way to our heavenly inheritance, we may be prepared for thy kingdom of glory. Enable us to discern what manner of spirit we are of, what has the strength of our desires, and what is the great end we are aiming at in the world. Thou hast set life and death before us; for thy mercy's sake incline us to make a right choice. And to this end, O Lord, make us ever mindful of that time when our Lord Jesus Christ shall come to separate the tares from the wheat; that, having passed the time of our sojourning here in thy faith and fear, we may be owned by thee as the children of thy kingdom, and received into thy everlasting glory, for the sake and through the alone merits of Jesus Christ. Amen.

SECTION XXIX.

ST. MATTHEW, xiii. 44.

AGAIN; the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field. The blessings of it are inestimable, and cannot be too dearly purchased by us. So says this and the next parable. Christ, therefore, now comes nearer to the soul, and puts us upon searching into our own disposition and sense of the matter, whether we do indeed value the kingdom of heaven in some proportion to its worth, and prefer our portion in it to all the world.

-The which when a man hath found - When his eyes

are opened; when he sees himself inexpressibly poor without the treasure of the Gospel, peace with God, the graces of the Spirit, and the hope of eternal life, and knows that he shall be rich to the height of his wishes in the possession of it. My friends, this is a happy finding; and when once you come to this point, you will have

Christ at any rate.

Ver. 44. He hideth - Esteemeth, as men do what they hide, and lay up.

And for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.-May I persuade you to ask your hearts what is your great joy, and if you must part with every thing but one, what it would be?

Ver. 45, 46. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant-man, seeking goodly pearls, &c.—So we naturally seek rest for our souls, ease, and contentment, in one worldly thing after another. Be instructed; the search is vain, and all our endeavours fruitless. Happiness never comes but with the pearl of great price. May you, may all have it? Yes, blessed be God, it is here offered to every one of us, and this is our call to seek after it.

Ver. 47. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind. - So, you see, the kingdom of heaven, or church of Christ, consists of a mixture of good and bad. You are gathered into it by baptism and outward profession; but, if this is all, you will one day be cast out of it for ever. Let this be a warning to you to make deep search into yourselves.

Ver. 49. And sever the wicked from among the just.-We cannot possibly be sorted with the just, if we are not first separated from evil in this world. Then it will be too late to repent.

Ver. 51. Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things?—Nothing can be plainer. And yet I must

tell you again they are not understood, according to Christ's meaning, unless they are well considered, prayed over, and applied to the state of your own souls.

Ver. 52. Therefore every Scribe which is instructed, &c. - Must have all kinds of instruction ready at hand, and be able to turn himself into all shapes, for the good of his hearers. It is well if many individuals furnish out such a scribe.

Ver. 57. And they were offended in him.-A little matter will serve for a handle against those who preach a pure religion; and the quarrel is with that, whatever is pretended.

A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house- Where the man is seen as well as the prophet. Let not others, therefore, wonder that they are most despised, where they are most known.

Ver. 58. And he did not many mighty works there, because of their unbelief-He knew it would be in vain; their unbelief, as it were, tied his hands. His mighty work here is our conversion. God be merciful to us, and perform it in us mightily!

LECTURE.

CHRIST'S mighty work in the world at all times is the conversion of sinners; and he is always ready for it, always watching over it, and waiting for the happy time when he may begin, carry it on, and complete it. He is present with you now at this time and place; he comes to you this day with the offer of his blessings; he tells you of the pearl of great price, how necessary it is that you should be possessed of it, and what you must do to obtain the kingdom of heaven. You must seek carefully