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unto shall I liken the king-vades the whole meal, so the Gospel shall spread itself over the whole world.

dom of God? It is like

leaven, which a woman took

and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. And he went through the cities and villages teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.

23 Vain question! The great concern of each individual is to strive after his own hope of life eternal, ere death "shut to the door," and there be no more opportunity of grace.

23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate : for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the Master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are; 26 Then shall ye begin to say, 26 What availeth it to possess the We have eaten and drunk in means of grace, unless we apply thy presence, and thou hast them? taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are

30

30 The Gentiles shall first enter the Gospel-kingdom.

32 He shows the nearness of those "tribulations, through which he was to enter into glory ;" and adds, that according to the Jewish law, he must be "judged in Jerusalem."

first which shall be last. The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence for Herod will kill thee. 32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem. 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy

34 How affecting is this burst of feeling, on foreseeing the misery awaiting his wretched country! All his anxious care, how was it rejected and scorned! Who shall wonder that ungrateful Jerusalem-its house,

children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

its city, and its temple-was left desolate? and who can doubt that, when the desolation fell upon it, many, in the bitterness of remorse, blessed that very Messiah who had visited them in the name of the Lord. Take we heed, lest we, spiritually, "crucify the Son of God afresh;" and so our house also be left unto us, desolate !

CHAPTER XIV.

MARCH 3, JULY 2, OCT. 28.

1 AND it came to pass, as he went into the house of one

1 Jesus never declined mixing in society.

of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him. And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy. And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go; 5 and answered them, saying, Which

5 His sound reasoning silenced them.

of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day? And they could not answer him again

7 A Christian spirit of deference towards others, throws its quiet charm over those common courtesies of life, of which our Lord's precept and example combine to sanctify the observance.

to these things. 7 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; and he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. 10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he

10 It is equally unchristian and unpresuming spirit to place ourselves courteous to be prominent, and in a above our superiors in the social circle.

may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou I have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and

12 This caution was given to prevent an ostentatious and self-interested display of hospitality.

he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. 12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: and thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of 15 To "eat bread in the kingdom the just. 15 And when one of God," is to partake of the privi of them that sat at meat with leges of the Gospel. him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. 16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many and sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go pray

:

thee have

16 By "the great supper," is to be understood the Christian dispensa tion, to which the Jews were first bidden.

18 How many, on some or other worldly plea, now neglect the word and ordinances of God — that rich feast to which He bids us. Who shall wonder that the Lord of the feast is angry?

and see it: I me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them : I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that house 24 For I may be filled.

23

my

say

23 As the Jews refused the invitation, it was extended to the Gentiles. Now, as then, the ministers are bound to urge, with all their power, an aeceptance of the gracious call. 24 The Jews accordingly are not partakers of the blessing.

unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper. And there went great multitudes with him : and he turned, and said 26 Yet the same Jesus committed unto them, 26 If any man his mother to the care of St. John.

come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come

So that we are only guarded against allowing any, even the highest and terfere with a sincere devotion to holiest earthly consideration, to in

God.

28 Calculate well the comparative advantages of this world and the next, and make your choice wisely. Shall your gain be for time or for eternity?

after me, cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consult eth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. *So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. 34 Salt is good but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men

31 Have you offended the Almighty? Sin no more, lest "thou be found to fight against God." Implore thy advocate, the Lord Jesus Christ, to intercede.

33 This was often the required proof of discipleship. Nobly did the early Christians meet it.

34 Christians are as the salt of the

earth-they are to meliorate and preserve from corruption the mass of society. But if they are pretenders" if the salt have lost its savour"-how are they to benefit others?

cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

CHAPTER XV.

MARCH 4, JULY 3, OCT. 29.

THEN drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to

hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of

2 Blind to their own hateful sins of hypocrisy and spiritual pride. sinners, and eateth with them.

4 Blessed be God's watchful care! It is like that of a shepherd-by night and by day-exercised unweariedly.

them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her

9 God holds the souls of men as his treasure. These he stamps with his own image by Jesus Christ, and would fain preserve as his ownL

(Col. iii. 10.)

found the piece which I had lost.

10 If God deigns to rejoice in the conversion of a sinner, who can doubt that angels share that joy?

neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. 11 This parable of the two sons, de"And he said, A certain signated the Jews and the Gentiles -the Jew, the elder; the Gentile, man had two sons: and the the younger brother. But it is apyounger of them said to his plicable to us all we must all be father, Father, give me the penitent, if we would be accepted". portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. "And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son:

17 Like one, who having awaked from a delusive dream, awakes to danger, and seeks such safety as he

may.

The Jew, as the elder son, had professedly adhered to the knowledge of the true God-the Gentiles served other gods. When, however, the Gentile was willing to return at the call of the Gospel, the Jew murmured at this, their participation of divine favour.

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