Having shewn the necessity of boldly confessing him before men, encourage his disciples with the promise of immediate assisPance, when they were brought before princes and the great men of the earth; which divine assistance would deliver them from all em barrassment, respecting what they should answer, when they were examined concerning their faith: "And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and uuto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how, or what ye shall answer, or what ye shall say; for the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour, what ye ought to say."

66

While the blessed Jesus was delivering these exhortations to his disciples, a person amongst the surrounding multitude begged that he would interpose his authority with his brother, in order to oblige him to divide the paternal inheritance with him; but, as this decision properly belonged to the magistrate, our blessed Saviour, who did not come into the world to settle worldly affairs, but to attend to those things which concerned the immortal soul, declined the task, with this reply, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?" He took occasion, however, from hence, in the most solemn manner, to caution his hearers against covetousness for he observed that neither the length nor the happiness of life depended on the largeness of possessions: Take heed, said he, & beware of covetousness; for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

And to enforce this important exhortation, he placed before them, in the strongest and most alarming point of light, an example of the bewitching influence of wealth in the parable of the rich glutton, who was suddenly cut off in the midst of his projects and became a dreadful example of the folly of amassing the riches of this world, and depending on the goods of this life, without any regard to the government of God, or the interests of the immortal soul. This wretched man, forgetting his mortality, made preparations for a long and luxurious life, pleasing himself with the thoughts of a long succession of sensual enjoyments: but, alas! whilst he was providing repositories for his vast riches, he was arrested by the king of terrors, and hurried, without time for consideration, into the eternal world. The parable which our great Redeemer put forth on this occa sion, is contained in these words: The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: and he thought within himself saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said. This will I do: 1 will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to "my Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto bim, thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee; then whose shall those things be which thou hast provided p

What an awful summons was this! How unexpected, how alarming, how dreadful! The man lying on his bed, full of anxiety, care, and solici tude, not to require wealth, but how to make room to lodge it, and how to enjoy it: doubtless he thought, that riches gave him a title to every gratification and enjoyment which the world can afford, or the sense and appe tite of man partake of: his restless thought ranges through the wide fields of dissipation and pleasure, and such numerous scenes of imaginary de light press on his ravished senses, he knows not where to fix. In the midst of this pleasing perplexity, a strange messenger strikes at his breast. Who is it that thus alarms him? It is the great king of terrors, he comes commissioned to destroy; the case admits of no refusal or delay. Is there no refuge! is there no delivery! Call the physicians: they instantly attended, but with looks solemn and sad. What is there no hope? So often as you have partook of my bounty, and such obligations as you are er to me. They all, with grief, declare the case beyond their art. Ther

Will not

how long I have to live. The compass of the night concludes your earthly race. How short the warning, and with what hasty stepts the dread destroyer advances to stop my breath! But is there no way to appease him, and engage him to hold his hand? Will he not be persuaded He makes no agreement nor league with any. Will not pity excite him. or petitions move him? He knows no pity, and he hears no prayers. riches bribe him? Riches are unavailable in the hour of death; nor will mountains of gold delay the awful stroke one moment. But how many wretched creatures are there, who would be glad of his friendly aid to destroy a loathed existance? Why then should he attack one who had such vast prospects of pleasure and delight before him, and gloried in the expectation of many happy years to come? He acts according to his commission from above, and the awful stroke no mortal can escape or evade a moment. Then all is over! let me think who shall be my heir. But reason failed; and, before that important point could be settled, the poor deluded mortal expired. And now, instead of a long succession of sensual delights, an awful eternity presents itself to view, and the poor soul is terrified and plunged into the depths of despair and horror, at the prospect of judgment to come. A dark night of horror, in an instant overwhelms that soul, which had promised itself so much ease and pleasure; and, instead of eating, drinking, and making merry; instead of gay scenes of dissipation, and a variety of sensual delights; eternal tortures, unspeakable thirst, weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth, must be the portion of this miserable being to all eternity.

"So is he," added our great Redeemer, "that laying up treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God." Thus shall he be taken away from all that his soul desireth; thus shall he be torn from all his temporal prospects and pleasures; none of his beloved enjoyments shall follow him; naked as he came shall he depart out of the world; nor could all his riches, could he take them with him, be able to procure the least comfort or respite in this world of horrors. How should this reflection awake us from our pleasing dreams of comfort and happiness, in this world of misery, this vale of tears: how should it convince us of the uncertainty of all sublunary good, and the utter impossibility of the things of this world to satisfy the soul, or make us truly happy how should it alarm us, when, planning fancied schemes of worldly pleasure or advantage, without the least consideration of the great Disposer of all events: how should it reconcile us to the disposal of infinite Wisdom, when our portion of temporal things is small and scanty; and we are surrounded with difficulties and troubles without the assistance of the great King of the universe, all our promises of security are vain and foolish; he can render all our Jabours abortive; and the richest and most opulent persons, when they think themselves secure, and are planning schemes of pleasure and gratification, may in a moment, be stripped of all their possessions, and torn from all their comforts; when the soul, naked and defenceless, and clothed in all it's guilt, will enter into an awful eternity, and be brought, trembling and astonished, to the throne of it's offended Maker.

Our blessed Saviour, having delivered this awakening parable, proceeded to apply it to his disciples; and from hence took occasion to warn them of an over-solicitous care, concern, and desire after the things of this world. He rather advised them to trust in God, whose fatherly care extends itself over all his creatures: the fowls of heaven are fed by his bounty, and the lilies are clothed in brighter hues, and more glorious raiment than the greatest monarch. If, therefore, argued the blessed JESUS, the great Governor of all things so carefully provides for the inferior part of his creation; if he feeds the ravens and clothes the lilies; surely the children of men have the greatest reason to depend on his all-preserving, and allsupporting goodness; especially those who have well grounded hopes, that

the great Eternal Maker and supporter of all things, has appointed them to happiness in a future state, have little reason to doubt that he will not provide them all that is necessary for their comfort and support in this

Fear not," said he,little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." At the same time, he gave his disciples another precept, particularly calculated for those times in which the profession of the gospel exposed men to the loss of their substance: Sell that ye have, said he, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not eld, a treasure in the heavens, that faileth not, where no thief approacheth neither moth corrupteth; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Having thus exhorted them to the disengagement of their affections from the things of this world, he advised them to be at all times ready for the discharge of their duty: Let," said he," your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately." feed in

This was spoken in allusion to the customs of the eastern countries, where anciently great entertainments were made in the evening; and on these occasions, servants demonstrated their diligence by watching, and keeping their loins girded that they might be ready to open the door on the first knock of their master; nor was it uncommon for the master, in order to reward such a servant, to order him a repast, and sometimes even to give it him with his own hand. In allusion to which custom, our blessed Saviour added, Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord, when he cometh, shall find watching verily, I say unto you that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth end serve them. que mon on bise gainswens cues! BRA Chang * Bat-high god samased ensslila ad He evode asnala ots

E

ing in the other; When ye see a cloud rise out of the West, straightway ye say, there cometh a shower; and so it is. And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it ye do not discern this time?

But he proceeded to let them know that their blindness, obstinacy, and rebellion, should be severely punished, and that he would come in as unexpected a manner, as a thief in the night; he therefore exorted them to a speedy reformation, telling them that they ought to consider well what way their peace was to be expected, and diligently attend to those things which would preserve them from the consequences of their rebellion. When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison; I tell thee thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.

Some of his hearers thought proper to confirm this doctrine, by giving what they thought an example of it; There were present at that season, some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate bad mingled with their sacrifices; thinking that these persons had been guilty of some extraordinary crime for which Providence had permitted this dreadful punish ment to befall them, but our blessed Saviour expressly told them, that they were mistaken in this conclusion, for this deplorable calamity was no indication that these Galileans were greater sinners than their countrymen. At the same time he exorted them to improve such instances of calamity and misery, as incitements to their own repentance, assuring them that if they neglected so just and necessary a work, they should all perish And Jesus answering, said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galfleans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay; but, except you repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

He further illustrated this doctrine, by remarking, that this way of interpreting the dispensations of providence, would lead them to erroneous conclusions, whenever they heard of unexpected and dreadful evils falling on the sons of men; and instanced the case of the eighteen persons on whom the tower of Siloam fell, and crushed them to pieces: Or," said he, those eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem ? tell you, Nay but except you repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

:

Our Lord also endeavered to rouse them to the consideration of their state, by the parable of the fig-tree, which the master of the vineyard, after finding it three years barren, ordered to be destroyed, but at the earnest request of the dresser of the vineyard, it was spared one year longer : A certain man," said he, "had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of the vineyard, Behold these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig-tree, and find none; cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering, said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I dig about it, and dang it; and if it bear fruit, well; and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down."

By this parable, our Lord represented the goodness and forbearance of his Almighty Father, manifested towards the Jewish nation, where his Son had now been about three years, preaching the kingdom of God; and though they might be justly destroyed for their obstinacy and perverseness, yet the awful stroke was delayed, and space was given them for repentance; but he gave them strong intimations, in this parable, that if they persisted they must expect that vengeance will not always sleep, but after all the divine forbearance had been abused, would awake to their udden and dreadful destruction