Saviour is here speaking of private fasting, and to this alone his directions are to be applied; for when we are called upon to mourn over public sins or calamities, it ought to be performed in the most public

manner.

Heavenly-mindedness was the next thing inculcated by the blessed Jesus; and this he recommended with a peculiar earnestness, because the Jewish doctors were, in general, strangers to his grace, in which he was desirous his followers should be clothed, as being the most excellent ornament for a teacher of righteousness. This is strenuously recommended by our blessed Saviour, by showing the deformity of its opposite, covetousness, and which has only perishable things for its object. "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Matt. vi. 19, 20, 21.

More solid happiness will accrue from depositing your treasures in heaven, than in laying them up on earth, where they are subject to a thousand disasters, and even, at best, can remain only for a short series of years; whereas, those laid up in heaven are permanent, and will lead to a "crown of glory that fadeth not away, eternal in the heavens." Nor let any man be so foolish as to think he can place his heart on the happiness of a future life, when his treasures are deposited in this vale of misery; for

wherever are laid the goods which his soul desireth, there his heart and affections will also remain. If, therefore, ye are desirous of sharing in the joys of eternity, you must lay up your treasures in the "mansions of my Father's kingdom."

Lest they should imagine it was possible to be both heavenly-minded and covetous at the same time, he assured them that this was full as absurd as to imagine that a person could, at the same time, serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. "Ye cannot serve God and Mammon." Matt. vi. 24.

To strengthen this doctrine, he added a few plain evident instances of the power, perfection, and extent of God's providence, in which his tender care for the least and weakest creatures shines with a remarkable lustre, demostrating the wide and paternal attention of the Deity to all the creatures of his hand. He desired them to observe the birds of the air, the lilies, and even the grass of the field-leading his most illiterate hearers to form a more elevated and extensive idea of the divine government, than the philosophers had attained, who, though they allowed, in general, that the world was governed by God, had very confused notions of his providence with regard to every individual creature and action. He taught them that the Almighty Father of the whole was the guardian and protector of the universe; that every action is subject to his will, and nothing left to the blind determination of chance.

Having enforced these heavenly precepts, he exhorted them to place an humble dependence on the assistance of the Holy Spirit, to strive to practice the precepts of religion, however difficult the task might appear. "Enter ye in at the straight gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matt. vii. 13, 14. Straight indeed is the gate, and narrow is the way that leadeth to life. In the way nothing is to be found that suits the flesh, but many things that have a tendency to mortify it- poverty, fasting, watching, injuries, chastity, sobriety. And, with regard to the gate, it receives none that are puffed up with the glory of this life, none that are indulging in luxury; it does not admit those that love riches, or are encumbered with the goods of this world. None can pass through it but those who renounce all worldly lust, and are resolved to forsake all sin. There is, however, no reason for us to despair of entering through this heavenly portal; if we sincerely endeavor, the assistance of the Holy Spirit will be freely given us, and we shall safely pass through the "straight gate," and pursue our journey with ease along the 66 narrow path," till we arrive at the blissful mansion of the heavenly Canaan.

But lest evil-minded men, under the mask of piety and religion, should endeavor to draw them from the paths of righteousness, our blessed Saviour cautioned his disciples to beware of such persons,

and carefully make the strictest scrutiny into their lives and doctrines.

Our Lord closed his sermon with the parable of the house built on different foundations; intimating, that the bare knowledge, or the simple hearing, of the divinest lessons of the truth ever delivered; nay, even the belief of these instructions, without the practice of them, is of no manner of importance.

When will the happy time come, in which professing Christians shall form themselves on these important maxims of their great Master! When shall they be known to be his disciples, by the candor of their sentiments, the equity of their conduct, and the beneficence of their actions, as well as by the articles of their faith, and the forms of their worship!

The way of life, which our blessed Redeemer has marked out for us in such precepts as the above, may, indeed, to corrupt nature, appear "rugged and narrow," and the "gate straight," through which we are to pass; but let us encourage ourselves against all the difficulties, by considering that immortal life and glory to which they infallibly lead. Then shall we, doubtless, prefer the most painful way of piety and virtue, though with yet fewer companions than we might reasonably expect, to all those " flowery," and frequented paths of vice, which go down to the chambers of death.

CHAPTER VII.

Our blessed Lord cures the Leprosy and Palsy. Casts out a Devil. Succors the Mother-in-law of Peter; and afterwards pursues his Journey through the country of Galilee.

THE great Preacher of Israel, having finished his excellent discourse, came down from the mountain, surrounded by a multitude of people, who had listened with astonishment to the doctrines he delivered, and were soon confirmed by divers miracles. A leper met him in his way to Capernaum, and being, doubtless, acquainted with the wondrous works he had already performed, threw himself, with great humility, before the Son of God, using this remarkable expression, "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean."

The species of leprosy common among the Jews, and the other eastern nations, was equally nauseous and infectious; but this was so far from preventing the blessed Jesus from approaching so loathsome an object, that it increased his pity - he even touched him; but instead of being polluted himself, the leper was instantly cleansed, and he departed glorifying God.

The evangelist adds, that Jesus forbade him to tell any person what had been done, but repair im