If we through grace have more substantial hopes, let us imitate the zeal and courage of our divine Leader; and, whatever threatenings or dangers may oppose us, let us go on, day after day, till our work be done, and our souls at length perfected in glory. But let us carefully distinguish between those things in which our Lord meant himself as our pattern, and those which were peculiar to his office as a prophet sent from God. That extraordinary office justified him in using that severity of language, when speaking of wicked princes and corrupt teachers, to which we have no call; and by which we should only bring scandal on religion, and ruin on ourselves, while we irritated, rather than convinced or reformed, those whom we undertook so indecently to rebuke. SECTION CXIX. Our Lord dining with a Pharisee, cures a man of a dropsy, cautions the guests against affecting precedence, and urges them to works of charity. LUKE xiv. 1-14. 1 A ND it came to pass that, as our Lord was finishing his journey through Herod's dominions, he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees, to eat bread (that is to dine with him) 2 on the sabbath-day; and they were narrowly watching him. And behold there was a certain man before him, that had a dropsy. 3 And Jesus, answering to the secret reasonings of their minds, said to the doctors of the law, and other Pharisees, Is it lawful to heal 4 on the sabbath-day? But they were silent; and, taking him by 5 the hand, he healed him, and dismissed him. And as he saw they were secretly cavilling at it, he said in answer to them, Which of you, if he have an ass or an ox that shall fall into a pit, will not 6 immediately draw him out on the sabbath-day? And they were not able to answer him again to these things. 7 And he spake a parable to those that were invited, when he ob8 served how they chose the chief seats; and said unto them, When thou art invited by any to a wedding-feast, do not sit down in the uppermost place, lest another more honourable than thou should 9 be invited by him; and he that invited you both should come and say to thee, Give place to this person; and thou shouldst then 10 begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when thou art invited, go and sit down in the lowest place; that when he that invited thee comes, he may say to thee, Friend, go up higher : then thou shalt have honour in the sight of them that sit at table 11 with thee. For every one who exalts himself shall be humbled; 12 but he that humbles himself shall be exalted. Then said he also to him that invited him, When thou makest a dinner or supper, invite not thy rich friends, or thy brethren, or thy kindred, or neighbours, lest they also invite thee again, and a recompence be 13 made thee. But when thou wouldst make an entertainment, invite 14 the poor, the disabled, the lame, and the blind. And thou shalt be happy, in that they are not capable of making thee a requital; for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. REFLECTIONS. How happy were they who had frequent opportunities of conversing with Christ, whose discourses were always so wise and so useful! how well did he repay all the entertainments he received in the advantages which he gave for religious improvement! In vain might his enemies watch for occasions against him. In his tongue was the law of wisdom as well as of kindness. And surely the lips of his ministers and disciples would feed many to their everlasting benefit, were this blessed model to be more carefully traced! Let us particularly observe what he here says concerning a modest and humble deportment, which is indeed the surest way to be honoured and respected. And let us take great heed that that good breeding, which consists so much in the expressions of humility and a readiness to prefer others to ourselves, do not degenerate into a mere form, and prove, as it too often does, the cloak of arrogance and pride; but that it have its foundation in a lowly opinion of ourselves, and an habitual disposition to submit even to our inferiors, when we may do it without breaking in upon the duties and decencies of life, and injuring those to whom it may be exercised, by an indulgence which they know not how to understand or improve. Let us hearken to these exhortations to charity from the mouth of our charitable Saviour, who gave himself for us. And as Christ pleased not himself, let us not allow ourselves to squander away great quantities of money in what may gratify our own senses, or make a gaudy shew in the eyes of the vainer part of mankind; but let us be willing to spare from the luxuries and superfluities of life, that we may bestow it on the poor and the distressed. And indeed, whatever our circumstances and possessions be, we must expect the stream of our bounty will soon be dried up, if it be not supplied from the fountain of a prudent frugality. This self-denial may now in some instances be painful; but it will be amply recompensed at the resurrection of the just. May we then meet with many whom our liberality has fed and clothed, whom our knowledge and zeal have instructed, and whom our holy examples have edified and quickened! Here will be a foundation laid for the endearments of an eternal friendship; when that which has been formed upon a partnership in vice, or animal pleasure, shall be for ever forgotten, or be remembered with mutual horror. SECTION CXX. Our Lord foretells, in the parable of the great supper, the rejection of the Jews, and the calling of the Gentiles. LUKE xiv. 15—24. 15 A ND one of the guests at the Pharisee's table hearing these things, and willing to keep up so good a conversation, said to him, Happy is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God, and share the entertainments of the Messiah. Our Lord thought propher to remind him that many would in fact slight and reject them; 16 to this purpose, he uttered a parable; and he said to him, A cer 17 tain man made a greater supper, and invited many. And he sent his servant at the hour of supper, to say to those that were invi18 ted, Come, for all things are now ready. And they all began with one consent to excuse themselves. The first said to him, I have purchased a field, and I am under a necessity of going to see it; I 19 entreat thee to make my excuse. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them, I beseech thee to 20 make my excuse. And another said, I have married a wife, and 21 therefore I cannot come. And that servant returning, told his lord these things. Then the master of the house was angry, and said to his servant, Go out directly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the disabled, and the lame, 22 and the blind. And the servant said, Sir, what thou didst com23 mand is done; and still there is room. And the lord said to the servant, Go out into the roads and hedges; and press them to 24 come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, that none of those men who were invited, shall taste of my supper. And such will the divine conduct be with regard to the gospel. REFLECTIONS. May the infinite mercy of God forbid that this should ever be our condition! The gospel-feast, like the sumptuous banquet of Ahasuerus, is of a very long standing: not only from week to week, but from age to age, God is sending to invite new guests; and, after all the millions that have been regaled by it, and nourished up to everlasting life, there is yet room for more. Still are his servants sent from one time to another, with all the fervour of the most affectionate persuasion, to urge sinners to accept of these desirable blessings; (for such only is the compulsion that becomes a feast, and suits the nature of reasonable creatures.) May we not receive the grace of God in vain ! May we not perish, as thousands before us have done, by making light of the gospel!-It has often been observed from this parable, that they were lawful occasions which these unhappy people pleaded as their excuse for neglecting the invitation. And how many perish by what is indeed lawful! But the care of our estates or cattle, our domestic affairs, and our dearest relatives, will be destructive to us, if they be minded as our main care, and our hearts be so attentive to them as to forget the one thing needful. Are we of the number of those who, though once blinded, impoverished, and enfeebled by sin, are now brought as welcome guests to the table which divine love has spread? Let us adore the grace which opened the door to us, and opened our hearts to comply with the call; by its strong and powerful, though rational and gentle influence, compelling us to come in. Let the servants employed in the message urge it with a becoming earnestness; as well knowing how much the heart of their great Master is in it, and how much the happiness of souls depends on their accepting it. Lord! may we see thy table furnished with guests, and ourselves be so happy as finally to partake of those blessings to which we are commanded to invite others! For blessed indeed are they who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God! SECTION CXXI. Our Lord urges men to consider the difficulties of religion before they take up a profession of it. LUKE xiv. 25, &c. 25 26 A ND as great multitudes went with him in this his journey toward Jerusalem, he turned and said to them, If any one comes to me, and does not act as if he did even hate* his father and mother, and wife and children, and brethren and sisters, yea, 27 and his own life too, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever does not bear his cross, and come after me, he cannot be my di28 ciple. For which of you, if he intend to build a tower, does not first sit down, and compute the expense, whether he have suffi29 cient to finish it? Lest when he hath laid a foundation, and is not able to complete the work, all who see it begin to deride him, 30 saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or 31 what king, marching out to encounter another king in war, does not first sit down and consider, whether he is able with ten thousand men to meet and oppose him that cometh against him with 32 twenty thousand? And if he finds he is not able, while he is yet at a distance, he, to his great mortification, sends an embassy, and 33 desires terms of peace. So then do you consider the matter well, before you determine, for whosoever he be of you that does not resolve to give up all his possessions, whenever he is called to it, he cannot be my disciple. 34 Salt is a good thing; yet if the salt be grown insipid, with what 35 can it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor for the dunghill, but is thrown out of doors, and trampled under foot. You also rvill be no lèss useless and contemptible if, under the advantages and obligations of a christian profession, you are destitute of a sincere principle of integrity and piety. He that hath ears to hear let him hear. REFLECTIONS. May our most serious attention be fixed on so important a truth; and may this plain and candid declaration of our Lord be duly regarded by us, as ever we desire to find the advantage of that relation to him in which we are so ready to glory! If we would not be cast out with disdain, and trampled under foot as worthless and vile, let us be solicitous that there may be the salt of divine grace in our hearts; and let us undertake a religious profession with that deliberate consideration which becomes a matter of such great importance. A hasty purpose will never bear us through the difficulties we must expect to encounter; and rash vows, and thoughtless adventures, in this case, will only expose us to the derision of others, and the keener remorse of our own minds. * One thing is said to be loved, and another hated, when the former is much preferred. Nor is the nature and evidence of religion such as to have any reason to fear the severest examination. The demands of Christ are indeed high; that the nearest relatives should be abandoned, and even life itself sacrificed for his sake; that we be at least martyrs in resolution, and have so much of a recíprocal affection for him, as shall, like his love to us, be stronger than death. Yet how reasonable is the demand! Did he leave his Father's bosom for us, and shall we scruple to abandon our houses and our kindred for him? Did he expire on the cross for us, and shall not we be ready to take up our crosses and follow him ? Shall it not be delightful to us to trace his most painful steps, and by the most costly sacrifices to approve our gratitude and our duty? Blessed Jesus, lead us! and by thy grace we will follow thee, whatever be the path, whatever be the burden, whatever the terror of the way ; knowing that if we partake with thee in thy sufferings, we shall at length share with thee in thy consolation and thy glory! SECTION CXXII. The parables of the last sheep and piece of money. LUKE xv. 1—10. 1 Whe appeared in public teaching the people. Then all the HEN our Lord came out from the house of the Pharisee, 2 publicans and sinners, drew near to hear him. And the Phrisees and Scribes murmured, and said, This man gives access to sinners, 3 and eats with them. But he o spake to them this parable, and 4 said, What man of you that has an hundred sheep, will not, upen losing one of them, leave the ninety-nine in the desart, and go 5 after that which was lost, till he find it? And, having found it, he 6 lays it on his shoulders rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, and says unto them, 7 Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost. So I say to you, that greater joy will be in heaven over one penitent sinner, than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need repentance. 8 Or, What poor woman, having ten pieces of silver money, if she lose one of them, will not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and 9 search carefully till she find it? And when she has found it (small as the value may seem) she calls her female friends and neighbours together, and says, Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece 10 of money which I had lost. So I say unto you there is joy among the angels of God, over one repenting sinner. Do not therefore wonder if I, to promote their joy, condescend to familiar conversewith those whom you proudly despise. REFLECTIONS. How graceful and lovely does our Lord appear, while thus opening. his compassionate arms and heart, to these wretched out-casts, for whose souls no man cared! Who can choose but rejoice at this jubilee which he proclaimed among them, and at the cheerful attention: which they gave to these glad-tidings of great joy? May we, who are |