and for what we should come to him, namely, remission of

sins.

21. And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

22. But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?

23. Whether is easier to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?

24. But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go unto thine house.

25. And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God, 26. And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to-day.

Let us not only wonder at the miracles of Jesus, but let us adore the Saviour. Let us not only adore him, but let us love and serve him all our days; that we may be fitted to live with him in heaven.-Edit.

SECTION XVIII.

Chap. v. ver. 27-39.

CHRIST REPROVES THE PHARISEES.

27. And after these things he went forth, and saw a 'publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom, and he said unto him, Follow me.

28. And he left all, rose up, and followed him.

This was a greater miracle than the cure of the leprosy, or the palsy. A publican, or tax-gatherer, had a gainful, and, for the most part, a wicked trade. Think what a change was wrought in Matthew, to make him leave all, and follow Christ. Those who know their hearts and want to have them changed, find it to be a difficult work. But the

soul which is possessed of faith looks to Christ, and says, He who changed Matthew, can change me. So we should apply every part of the word of God: this is the way to get life from the scriptures.

29. And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.

Matthew made this feast for joy of his conversion. Oh! what did he feel in his heart, when he found the world turned out of it, and Christ come in its room!

30. But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?

They blame both the disciples and the Saviour; "why do ye, and your master ?" They spake to the disciples, but their spite was against Christ. He knew this, and therefore answered for himself.

31. And Jesus answering, said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician: but they that are sick.

They who think themselves whole will never go to Christ, though they have otherwise never so much need of him. To our comfort, the great physician is with those that are sick, even unto the end of the world.

32. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

This is as much as if he had said, I came not so much to call you, self-righteous Pharisees, because I know you will not be called. But I came to call sinners, that is, all; unless there ever was a man upon earth who was not a sinner. Think what you are, hear your call, and know you have a gracious Saviour ready to receive you. But do not come to him with a deceitful tongue, and say, God be merciful to me a sinner, when you do not think so in your hearts.

33. And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink ?

34. And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them ?

35. But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

Our Lord does not pass any censure upon fasting in general, but by pleading the exception in favour of his disciples, he rather establishes the rule.-Edit.

36. And he spake also a parable unto them: No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old: if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new, agreeth not with the old.

37. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.

38. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.

39. No man also having drunk old wine, straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.

On the subject of fasting as here treated of by Jesus, we may observe: 1st. That though Christ does not say that fasting is a necessary duty for all men, at all times; yet he supposes there is a time for it, which ought not to be overlooked. 2ndly. That in things not absolutely necessary, however profitable, regard must be had to what the weaker sort are able to bear. 3rdly. That in the matters of repentance and turning to God, there is no such allowHere in conversion, the call is to all, at all times; and the least delay is at the hazard of our souls.

ance.

SECTION XIX.

Chap. vi. ver. 1—11.

THE RULE OF THE SABBATH.

1. And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first,

that he went through the corn fields: and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.

2. And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?

3. And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him:

4. How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him, which it is not lawful to eat, but for the priests alone?

The account to which Jesus alludes is found in 1 Sam. xxi. 1-6. They considered David's character as a prophet unblamable, though he transgressed a ritual observance; and as they could not impugn Christ's authority as a prophet, they ought not to have found fault with him. -Edit.

5. And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

Christ, as Lord of the sabbath, had more especially power to dispense with the strict observation of the sabbath. Every man has, indeed, a power to dispense with the observation of the day on occasions when there is a necessity : but then let the necessity be evident.

6. And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.

This man presents to us a picture of our condition. Let us keep this man constantly in mind. Let us bring all home to ourselves, as we go along in our reading. Not any one of us nced fear to say this to his soul: I am that helpless man, and must have healing from Christ.

7. And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day: that they might find an accusation against him.

8. But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.

9. Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing, Is it lawful on the sabbath-days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?

Doing good on the sabbath day to the bodies and souls of men, is not a profanation, but a suitable employment of the day. And observe, that when men forbear to do the good they might, and ought to do, on that day, or indeed on any other day, they, in Christ's account, do evil : for not to save life, is to destroy it. Oh! what a black scene of omission will one day be opened to us.

10. And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was

restored whole as the other.

St. Mark says, that Jesus looked round with anger and deep concern for the hardness of their hearts. Lord, grant that we may be proof against his piercing eye. At the command of Christ, the man stretched forth his hand; nothing else is wanting to our cure, but doing what we are bidden, as he did, that is, coming to Christ, helpless, in faith, and obedience to his command.

11. And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.

They were filled with madness, because Christ broke the sabbath, as they thought. This is common at all times. If men are not converted by the word, they have something ill to say of the preacher, and would fain be doing mischief. If Christ could not escape censure, bear thy lot.

In the beginning of this chapter, Christ teaches us that the sabbath may give way to necessity. Great strictness in trifles, is not a true keeping of the sabbath-day; but the keeping our thoughts close to God and spiritual things, and making it a day of preparation for the heavenly rest. If we have our eye upon this point, we shall know, in all cases, what we ought to do: we shall be careful to turn it wholly to its proper use and plead no excuses for neglecting the proper business of it, or for spending any part