his coming? Do we believe that as he died and rose again, so we should die unto sin and rise again unto righteousness? Do we find that we have any such faith, as purifies our hearts, and turns them from the world unto God? This, and nothing but this, is our life from Christ. You then belong to him, and have your lot with him, when you believe in him for the remission of your sins, and your acceptance with God, and in the virtue of this faith live to him that died for you.

These questions are asked to inform ourselves what we should be. Let us deal fairly with ourselves, and not think we are, what we are not; for then we shall never believe. If we believe, we must give way to the knowledge of ourselves; and perhaps, with some of us, that is all to begin. Let us think, before another day passes over our heads, whether we ever were searched by the Word of God, and what it is to live and die without Christ.

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We have now finished our reading on the gospel of Saint Mark with what effect, God knows; and you will know at the day of judgment. O God, make speed to save us. O Lord, make haste to help us. Amen.-A. D. 1757.

ST. LUKE.

SECTION I.

Chap. i. ver. 1-4.

THE PREFACE OF ST. LUKE.

1. Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

2. Even as they delivered them unto us, which, from the beginning, were eye-witnesses, and ministers of the word;

3. It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

What sort of Christians are those who know little or nothing of what they are to believe? And why do they not, but because they will not? Can those who plead ignorance say that they have taken all proper pains to instruct themselves in christian knowledge? Will they say this at the day of judgment? No; they cannot. It is evident, therefore, that the cause of men's ignorance is unconcern for their souls. They feel no want of Christ, and therefore slight the account of his birth, life, and death, and never ask themselves how they are to be better for him. If St. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, had agreed in showing an infallible way in which men should be able to thrive in the world, men would not suffer a word of that which they had taught to escape them. Do we not know in our consciences that this is the truth?

4. That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

This is written not only for Theophilus, but for all others. This is our call to hear and be instructed. Let us think what enemies we are to ourselves, and whether it is possible we should have any concern for our souls, when we can suffer days and weeks to pass without looking into our Bibles. The end of all scripture is to bring us to the knowledge of Christ, as the only Saviour of sinners; to the outward knowledge of him first, that by means of it we may attain to the inward, and hear him speaking to us in his word, that we may hear him speaking to us in our hearts. Take especial notice, therefore, that the outward, historical knowledge of Christ, though necessary in order to the inward, will do us no good without it. Let us bring our hearts to the reading and hearing the word of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let us pray God to open it to our hearts, that they may burn within us, and be athirst for Christ! Have we, indeed, come to him? Let us think what our condition is this day and hour, if we have not. For the love of God, let us take knowledge of it; and let St. Luke be the physician of our souls; let him bring us to the great physician Jesus Christ, that he may be formed in us the hope of glory.

SECTION II.

Chap. i. ver. 5—23.

THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST FORETOLD.

5. There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judæa, a certain priest named Zacharias; of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

6. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments of the Lord blameless.

This is that which St. Paul also tells us he did, Phil. iii. 6; but neither he nor they were therefore righteous for heaven. They must have a son born to prepare them and all others for Christ, by whom only we are justified. But let their practice shame us, who, with our knowledge of Christ, are so much less exact in observing the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, respecting his worship, and our whole walk.

7. And they had no child; because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

8. And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,

9. According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

10. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

11. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

12. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

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13. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

The former prayers of Zacharias were heard, for he had doubtless left off praying for a child. It was so much out of the course of nature, and beyond his expectation, that when the angel told him he should have a son, he did not believe it. Observe how our prayers are upon record, and that God will infallibly answer them in his own time and way. The name of this son who was to be born, was John-God's mercy; not so much a blessing to his father, in his old age, as the forerunner of Christ, who is God's mercy to us all.

14. And thou shalt have joy and gladness: and joice at his birth.

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We shall rejoice at the birth of John, if he brings us to Christ, as the preacher of true repentance; and there is no other way of being brought to the Saviour.

15. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

16. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

John shall turn them to Christ, who is evidently here called God; as appears by the next words, "he shall go before him."

17. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

The aged and the young, the good and the bad, all ages and conditions, must be turned and prepared for Christ: the bad by an entire change of their lives; the better sort, by seeing themselves lost without him. And, take notice, the turn is in the heart. It avails nothing what else is changed if the heart is not turned.

18. And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

In verse the 34th, the Virgin Mary says, "How shall this be?" and both their words seem to imply a doubting mind. But God saw a difference in their hearts, belief in Mary, and unbelief in Zacharias.

19. And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

20. And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

Let us never question the promises of God, but endeavour to bring ourselves up to a full belief of them. It is harder for a convinced sinner to think that he can be for