free from prejudice against the truth, and nourish in their hearts such faith and love of Christ that in His name they do whatever good works they have knowledge of, it will be accepted though they may still be very ignorant; and they are counted by the Saviour as on His side. Surely this answer of the Lord to the apostle John should teach us to be glad of all that is done in the cause of Christianity by whomsoever it is done. Jesus having thus spoken to John, went on with the subject which had been broken off by his question respecting the stranger who worked miracles in the name of Christ. He had Isaid that whoever received one of his humble followers in his name-that is, for his sake, should have the same blessing as as if they had received himself. He now repeats the promise, in a stronger manner saying : Verse 41. "For whosoever shall give you (my disciples) a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward." 1 How kind is this assurance! The poor man has not much to give; but even the cup of cold water with the word of kindness, shall have a blessing on it, when given out of love to Christ. Nothing is great, and nothing is small, in the sight of God. It is the love of the heart that is of value in His sight, and the smallest thing given for His sake is a rich gift when it comes from one who has no more to give; and even of the rich man's gifts it is not so much the money they cost, as the motive of the heart, which will meet with its reward. Our Lord adds a solemn warning to all, to take heed how they conduct themselves towards His lowly-minded followers. In striking language He bids all men beware how they cause them in any way to fall into sin. His words are these: MATTHEW Xviii. 6. "Whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” The word which is written in English as offend, means rather in the language in which it was spoken-to cause to stumble; therefore the meaning is this-whoever by word or deed wilfully harms a believer in Christ by deceiving him, and entrapping him into sin, commits so great a crime, that unless he repents of it and is forgiven, the punishment that will fall upon him is so great, that it would have been far better for him to have had a mill-stone tied round his neck, and to have been thrown into the sea and drowned before he did such wickedness. What an awful warning this is to those who, angry with religion, would try to entrap into sin those who are beginning to be religious. God will watch over and protect His own; but He will severely punish all those who wilfully cause them to fall into danger or difficulty. Verse 7. "Woe unto the world (said our Lord) because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh." "Woe unto the world because of offences,"—that is, sorrow and suffering must come upon the world because of offences-because of all that causes sin in us, and tempts men to sin; and also, "it must needs be that offences come," for such now is the wickedness of men-such the power of Satan over those who yield themselves to sin-that while the world lasts there will always be some who delight in leading others astray-who, by word or deed, try to entrap them into sin, and who rejoice when they succeed; and this more or less is the temper of all irreligious persons. Sometimes it seems done in thoughtless mirth-sometimes from a feeling of anger that any free from prejudice against the truth, and nourish in their hearts such faith and love of Christ that in His name they do whatever good works they have knowledge of, it will be accepted though they may still be very ignorant; and they are counted by the Saviour as on His side. Surely this answer of the Lord to the apostle John should teach us to be glad of all that is done in the cause of Christianity by whomsoever it is done. Jesus having thus spoken to John, went on with the subject which had been broken off by his question respecting the stranger who worked miracles in the name of Christ. He had said that whoever received one of his humble followers in his name-that is, for his sake, should have the same blessing as as if they had received himself. He now repeats the promise, in a stronger manner saying: Verse 41. "For whosoever shall give you (my disciples) a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward." How kind is this assurance! The poor man has not much to give; but even the cup of cold water with the word of kindness, shall have a blessing on it, when given out of love to Christ. Nothing is great, and nothing is small, in the sight of God. It is the love of the heart that is of value in His sight, and the smallest thing given for His sake is a rich gift when it comes from one who has no more to give; and ev of the rich man's gifts it is not so much the money they the motive of the heart, which will meet with its rew Our Lord adds a solemn warning to all, to tal they conduct themselves towards His lowly-min In striking language He bids all men beware them in any way to fall into sin. His words MATTHEW Xviii. 6. "Whoso shall |