would not come. Again, he fent forth other fer-
vants, faying, Tell all thofe who are bidden that
every thing is prepared and ready, and defire that
they will come to the marriage. But those wicked
people made light of it, one going to his farm,
and another to his merchandize; and the reft ill-
treated his fervants and flew them. However,
when the king was informed thereof, he sent forth
his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and
burnt up their city: And then faid unto his fer-
vants, The wedding is ready, but thofe who were
bidden were not worthy. Jefus would from hence
infer, that the fervants of God were firft fent unto
the Jewish nation, who refufed to obey their
dictates, ill-treated fome, and deftroyed others;
because of their hardened wickedness; but that
their own deftruction would be the confequence.
-And therefore the king afterwards faid unto his
fervants, Go ye into the highways, and as many
་་ as ye
fhall find, bid to the marriage. So those
"fervants went out into the highways, and gathered
together all, as many as they found, both bad
and good; and the wedding was furnished with
"guests." Or in other words, Go ye among
Gentiles, and proclaim the joyful news, that the
wedding is ready; and that all are invited to
come to the marriage-feaft, and to enter into the
joys of their Lord.-But now see the confequence:
"And when the king came in to fee the guests,
"he faw there a man who had not on a wed-
ding garment: And he faith unto him, Friend,

66

66

66

the

how

j

not only fenfible of the ftate of mifery in which he was, but that he had nothing to offer up to God in his juftification, but a broken and contrite heart; and therefore he threw himself entirely upon his great mercy and goodness: And Chrift tells us how much more acceptable his offering was, to the Father of fpirits, than that of the other; For," fays he, "he that exalteth him

66 felf fhall be abafed, and he that humbleth him"felf fhall be exalted."

In almost every part of the Evangelifts, we find Jefus Chrift reproving the Pharifees, who fet themselves up to difpute with him; and, when they found that all their learning and all their wifdom availed them nothing in his prefence, and left them fo much below him, that even the common people began to hold them very cheap, although they had before his time been always regarded as the oracles of the Jewish nation, they envied him, and on all occafions ftrove to contradict, and even to destroy him: For which purpofe, one of the first opportunities that offered, was, when they secured the woman who was taken in adultery*, even in the very act, and who, according to the ftrict law of Mofes, fhould have been immediately ftoned to death:-But, knowing the great goodness of Jefus, and his difpofition to blunt the edge of juftice, by mercy and compaffion, they brought her into the temple before him; and, after accufing her of this heinous • John viii. K 3

crime,

crime, and reciting Mofes's law thereon, they faid unto him, "But, mafter, what sayeft thou ?” imagining that they had now laid a fnare for him, wherein he muft undoubtedly fall, because, if he had contradicted the law of Mofes, they would' have accused him before the chief priests and the governor; and if he had formally condemned this woman, who was a finner, they would have pointed out the inconfiftency of his conduct to the people, as he had, 'till that time, pardoned all those who came to him, and fhewn their fuperiority over him. But Jefus, with a presence of mind, and a degree of wisdom and justness, that was not to be paralleled, stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he did not hear them at firft; but, when they continued afking him, he lifted himself up, and, as it were in an indifferent manner, or as if he was not in the least embarraffed with their queftions, faid unto them, "He that is without fin among you, "let him caft the firft ftone at her." And then he re-affumed his former indifference, and stooping down, wrote again upon the ground as before.But this was a thunder-ftroke to all those who heard it; for, being convicted by their own confcience, they immediately left both the woman and him, that he might pass such a sentence upon her as he thought proper. And when Jefus had lifted himself up again, and faw none but the woman, with his ufual goodness, compaffion, and godlike benevolence, he faid unto her, "Where

unto this laft the fame as I gave unto thee.Under this figurative description of the labourers in the vineyard, Jefus Chrift hath pointed out the fituation of all mankind, with refpect to their heavenly Father. Before we are called to participate of his heavenly bounty, we are all in a ftate of idleness, and spend our precious time in doing thofe things from which we cannot receive any manner of advantage or profit, although our eternal happiness and welfare depend upon our labouring, as Chrift hath before mentioned; and for which we shall not fail to receive our just hire. Happy are those who are called early in the morn ing to work out their falvation! but they ought not to murmur because their great Creator has made their fellow-creatures equal to them, although they were not called till late in the day; ⚫ perhaps they had not an opportunity: On the contrary, they ought rather to admire his infinite mercy and goodness, for receiving their brethren fo late in the day; and, because they fhewed a defire to serve him, for rewarding them equally with themselves. But thrice happy are they, who, after having spent their time in idleness, or in doing that which profiteth not, in the evening of life, and when their idle conduct has reduced them to a state of poverty towards God, and who are naked, miserable, poor, and maimed, are called to labour in the vineyard, by so good and merciful a master, who, for serving him faithfully only one hour, will clothe them with the robes of righteousness,

it, and faid within himself, If this man had been a prophet, he would have known who, and what fort of woman, this is, who toucheth him, for fhe is a notorious proftitute. On the other hand, Jefus, who faw from the Pharifee's looks and behaviour, what his ideas were, faid to him, Simon, I have fomewhat to fay unto thee; and the Pha rifee answered, Master, fay on.-A certain creditor had two debtors; the one owed him five hundred pence, and the other fifty; and when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me then which of them will love him the most? Simon faid, I fuppofe him to whom he forgave moft. Jefus, answering, faid unto him, Thou haft rightly judged; and then turning towards Mary, he faid, Simon, feest thou this woman? When I entered into thine house, thou gaveft me no water to wash my feet, but the hath washed them with her tears, wiped them with the hairs of her head, and hath anointed them with ointment. Thou gavest me no kifs, but the hath not ceafed to kifs my feet. Wherefore I fay unto thee, her fins, which are many, are forgiven her, for fhe loved much but to whom little is forgiven, the fame loveth little, Then he faid again to the woman, Mary, thy fins are forgiven thee, thy faith hath faved thee; go in peace. Under the character of thofe two debtors, Jefus Chrift hath represented the situation of all the human race, with refpect to the Supreme Being, their common father, We have all offended, and are

become