Leffon 141.

Take heed you defpife not one of these little ones: for, I fay to you, that in Heaven their Angels always behold the face of my Father who is in Heaven. For, the Son of Man is come to fave that which was loft. How think you? if a Man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone aftray; does he not leave the ninety ning, and go into the Mountain, and seek that which is gone aftray? And, if he happen to find it, Verily I fay to you, he rejoyces more for that, then for the ninety nine which went not aftray. Even fo, it is not the will of your Father who is in Heaven, that one of these little ones perifh Look well to your felves. If thy brother fin against thee, rebuke him; and, if he repent, forgive him and if he fin feven times a day against thee, and feven times a day be converted to thee, faying, It repents me; forgive him. If thy brother tref pass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou haft gain'd thy brother But, if he will not hear thee, take with thee one or two more; that in the mouth of

two

two or three witneffes every word may be eftablifht. And, if he will not hear them, tell the Church: if he will not hear the Church, let him be to thee as a Heathen and a Publican. Verily I fay to you, Whatever you fhall bind on earth fhall be bound alfo in Heaven, and whatever you fhall loofe on earth fhall be loofFed alfo in Heaven. Again, I fay to you, If two of you fhall agree on earth concerning any thing; whatever they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in Heaven. For, where two or three are gather'd together in My 1 Name, there am I in the midft of them. Refp. O thou Eternal Shepherd of our. Souls! who appointeft iby Holy Angels to be our Keepers, and cam'ft down Thy felf, to feek us when we were gone aftray, and bring us home to thine own Feld. *Lord, 'tis Thy Will that not one of Us fhould perih: O, make it our Will too, and we hall all be fufe. Thou who inStruciest thy Sheep, to be mild to one another, and humbly fubmit to the government of their Paftors. Thou who haft given the Church fo fupreme a power, and premis'd to obtain for us whatever for we ask. *Lurd 'tis

Then

Leffon 142.

Then came Peter to Him and faid Lord, how often fhall my Brother fin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? JESUS fays to him, I fay not to thee, till feven times; but, till seventy times feven. Therefore is the Kingdom of Heaven likned to a certain King, who would take account of his fervants. And, when he began to reckon, one was prefented to him who ow'd him ten thou fand Talents. But, not having wherewith to pay, his Lord commanded him to be fold, and his wife and children and all that he had; and payment to be made. The fervant, therefore, falling down, befought him, faying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the Lord of that servant was mov'd with compaffion, and loos'd him; and forgave him the Debt. But, the fame fervant going out found one of his fellow-fervants who ow'd him a hundred pence: and he, laying hands on him, took him by the throat, faying, pay that thou ow'ft. And his fellowfervant fell down at his feet, and befought him, faying, Have patience with

me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not; but went and caft him into prison, till he should pay the debt. But, his fellow-fervants, seeing what was done, were very forry; and came and told their Lord all that had paffed. Then his Lord call'd him, and said to him, O thou wicked fervant! I forgave thee all thy debt, because thou defired'ft me : fhould'ft not thou also have had compaffion on thy fellow-fervant, as I had pity on thee? And his Lord, being angry, deliver'd him to the tormentors, till he fhould pay the whole debt. So alfo fhall my Heavenly Father do to you; you from your hearts forgive not every one his Brother.

if

Refp. Lord let them ftill continue their tref paffes against me: Do not I ftill repeat my firs against Thee? Let me pardon them as oft as they offend: Do not I oftner need Thou should'd pardon me? *Renew Thy Mercies, O Lord, to mes and bebold, from my heart I forgive all the world. If I femetimes am injur'd by them, they fometimes too are injur'd by me; and I need their patience as well as ey mine, and as much, and perhaps far more. * Renew thy

th

LeBon

Leffon 143.

And, which of you, who has a fer. vant plowing or keeping Cattle, will say to him when he returns from the Field, Go presently, fit down to meat: and says not to him, Make ready Supper, and gird thy felf, and ferve me while I tat and drink; and afterward thou shalt çat and drink? Does he give that fervant thanks, because he did what he commanded him?I think not.So alfo you, when you have done all things that are commanded you, fay, We are unprofitable fervants, we have done what we ought to do. Refp. Teach me, O Lord, to treat with every one according to their quality, and neither forn my luferi urs, nor indicreetly exalt them: teach me to bumble my Soul before Thy Mijelly, and fin crely confess I am an unprofitable fervant.

Unprofitable to Thee, O Lord, not to my felf, while I gain by my fervice the wages of Eternity. If by thy Grace, I believe thy Word, and obey Thy Law, and with my whole ftrength love and adore Thee: When I have done all that 1 ought, which, alas, is more then I do, I must still confefs I'm an unprofitable fervant.Unprofitable toLeon