plicity of little children. The wisdom of God never enters into any man till he first turns out his own. Here is comfort for the meanest. In this way, and in this only, all may become wise unto salvation.

22. All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.

men.

All things are given to Christ, that he may give them to The Father alone knows how necessary and how great a blessing Christ is to mankind. And no man knoweth what the Father is in himself, and what he is in his love to us, but the Son: and the Father has revealed this in the holy scriptures, that Christ may reveal it to our hearts by his Spirit.

23. And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:

Namely, Christ manifested in the flesh, and all the promises of God fulfilled in him. This is our case! Blessed are they who see, and are thankful for Christ, and his gospel.

24. For I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them: and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. This blessedness has been reserved for us.-Edit.

SECTION XXXVI.

Chap. x. ver. 25—42,

PARABLE OF THE SAMARITAN.

25. And behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inberit eternal life?

This was a person learned in the law of Moses, and a

teacher of that law, who wanted to make trial of the knowledge of the Saviour.

26. He (i. e. Christ) said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

27. And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

28. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

Christ in effect says to him, If thou dost not, if thou comest short of the full performance, thou shalt die, Thou trustest altogether in thyself, and by thyself thou shalt stand or fall. But why did not Christ preach his own gospel, and say, as St. Paul did, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved?" Because he knew that it would be to no purpose. The lawyer thought he needed nothing; and to all such the preaching of forgiveness of sins, by faith, would be in vain. The method therefore to be taken with him, was first to show him his heart, and then to bring him to a true conviction of his

sin.

29. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who my neighbour?

He thought he could justify himself. This thought lies close to the hearts of us all, and many are blind enough to say that they are able to justify themselves. The Jews were mistaken with regard to the import of the word neighbour; as they confined its meaning to one of their own nation. The lawyer, we may suppose, was of this mind, and hence he was lamentably deficient in his duty.

30. And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half

dead.

31. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way : and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

VOL. XI.

R

32. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

Probably the lawyer might see his own face in this glass presented to him in the persons of the priest and the Levite.

33. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

34. And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him upon his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

This Samaritan was the most unlikely person that could be to show kindness to a Jew, because they hated one another upon a religious account.

35. And on the morrow when he departed, be took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

The value of two pence was at that time more than it is now; and was sufficient to defray the probable expense of his recovery.

36. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour to him that fell among the thieves?

37. And he said, He that shewed mercy on him.

He could not help giving this answer: the parable forced it from him. O Jesus, that we possessed all thy art of teaching!

37. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Thus he teaches him, and every one of us. Help every man in his need, countryman or stranger, friend or foe; and, if thou canst, look into thine own breast, and find out how thou hast fulfilled thy duty to thy neighbour. But there is something more in the parable. When we read it, let us think who is the good Samaritan to us all in our distressed condition: who pours his oil and wine into our wounds, and takes effectual care for our recovery. We

may now see that Christ preached the gospel upon this occasion, as well as the law.

38. Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

:

39. And she had a sister named Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.

Happy Mary! See what we should do. We should read the scripture daily, as in the presence of Jesus, and look to him for a blessing upon it; and this will be sitting at his feet.

40. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

Martha thought herself well employed, and her sister idle. Christ knew better, and that Martha was losing a precious opportunity for her soul.

41. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things.

Care is needful, but it becomes damnable, if it shuts out heavenly-mindedness.

42. But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

One thing is needful, namely, a care for the soul. We all profess to know this, and yet we care for nothing less than for this. "And Mary hath chosen that good part." Does Christ know what is good for us, or not? Where are the babes who give up their own wills to learn of Him? And what should hinder any of us from making a right choice for ourselves, if we please?

"Which shall not be taken from her." Everything else will have an end; but our choice of Christ will make Lord, open our eyes, before it be too

us happy for ever.

late.

SECTION XXXVII.

Chap. xi. ver. 1–13.

CHRIST TEACHES TO PRAY.

1. And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

It was a sign they had profited under Christ, when they came to him to teach them to pray: we may be sure the request was well-pleasing to Christ. Lord, bring us all to thee with this request in our hearts. Thou hast given us

a form, give us a true spirit of prayer.

2. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

"When ye pray" with the understanding, and with hearts disposed to pray thus. But do not let us think we say this deep prayer truly, when we do not. And till we can, let us qualify it with another petition-Lord, make this the prayer of our hearts.

"Our Father," Father of all mankind by creation and providence; and our Father, and Lord of our hearts, in Jesus Christ. Give us the spirit of adoption.

"Which art in heaven." The place of thy glory, but, through thy love, our home and inheritance.

"Hallowed be thy name." Be thou reverenced, adored, and magnified by us, and all thy creatures, according to thy excellent greatness.

66

Thy kingdom come." Thy kingdom of grace in our souls, and in all the world: and then let thy kingdom of glory come quickly: that happy, happy time, when we shall cease from sin.

"Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth." With the same cheerfulness and love.