persons, use a kind of holy violence, to bring them thither. When this is done, heaven will be filled, though we perish.

24. For I say unto you, That none of those men that were bidden shall taste of my supper.

Because they refused to come. No matter for what reason. They shut themselves out of the kingdom of heaven, and excluded they must be for ever.

SECTION L.

Chap. xiv. ver. 25-35.

THE DISCIPLES MUST COUNT THE COST OF RELIGION.

25. And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,

Christ said words, in which all of us are concerned, even to the end of the world; and he inculcated a hard lesson indeed.

26. If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

Let us not, however, mistake our Lord's words. We are not here required actually to hate any one, and much less father and mother; but to renounce them as freely as if we hated them, whenever they are an hindrance to our salvation, and would keep us from Christ. Our souls must be dearer to us than all the world, or our own lives.

27. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

We must bear our cross of outward sufferings when it is laid upon us; and also of inward mortification of all ungodly tempers, which we must of all necessity lay upon ourselves.

28. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

As if he had said, in other things you think beforehand what you are about to do; and what means you have for finishing that which you undertake. Do not think to be my disciples with less forecast. If you would follow me in the road to heaven, there is something to be done which will put you to the trial. And if you are not aware of it, you must necessarily shrink from me.

29. Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,

30. Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

31. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

32. Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

33. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

1st, He must wholly forsake his own natural will and wisdom, his corrupt self, his choices and inclinations, in order to give himself up to the will and wisdom of God. 2ndly, He must wholly give up all dependence upon himself, or the creature, for rest and happiness. 3rdly, He must not so cleave to anything that he has, in heart and affection, as to be unwilling to part with it, when God calls for it. May the Lord help us! We have great reason to fear that Christ's christianity is not ours.

34. Salt is good; but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned ?

The doctrine of Christ, and his Spirit, are our seasoning. We are dead flesh of ourselves, and must putrify or mortify others, if we have it not, or if we lose it.

35. It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill, but men cast it out.

This is a most awful warning to all who claim the benefit of being the disciples of Christ: but especially to the ministers of his holy gospel.

35. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

And let him lay to heart that which so deeply concerns

him.

SECTION LI.

Chap. xv. ver. 1-10.

PARABLES OF THE LOST SHEEP, AND OF THE PIECE OF MONEY.

1. Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.

When lost sinners draw near to Jesus, to hear him, it is an important and precious moment to them. For such he has sweet instruction, and they will find him to be all grace and goodness.

2. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

O what a winning, meek answer does he return to the proud murmurings of these men! Christ was a saint of a different kind from these pretenders to great strictness. They murmured because he received sinners; but blessed be God that sinners have such a friend. Let us know ourselves to be sinners, and he will receive us, and will keep a feast with us, but Pharisaical pride of heart shuts the door against him.

3. And he spake this parable unto them, saying,

A parable is a similitude, or comparison, contrived for the sake of some farther instruction, and contained under the outward cover of it.

4. What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

God has his eye and heart upon all, and this is a marvellous description of his tender concern for all, and every one. Let thy care be for that one which is lost, namely, thy soul: let this be now considered, if we never knew it before. And let us think what it is to be lost to God.

5. And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

As we should, if we had plucked an only child out of the fire. Jesus knows what a lost condition is, though those that are in it do not. Has Christ ever taken us, as it were, on his shoulders? When were we found of Christ? When did we put ourselves in the way where he might find us?

6. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

This he does, as not being able to contain his joy. A man would scarcely do so for the finding a lost sheep: but Christ can, and does, for the recovery of a lost soul. O minister, what is thy joy!

7. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

The words are plain; the sinner must repent! And what a call and encouragement has he to it! What an opening is here of the deplorableness of a lost condition! As if heaven were not heaven, so long as men are miserable by continuing in sin.

"More than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance" that is, no remarkable thorough change of their state or who have already repented, and are safe in God's fold. But why over one such than over ninety and nine just persons? For its being unexpected; as our

joy rises higher on the like occasions, in proportion to the grief and concern which went before. The parable of the Prodigal Sou, will serve further to explain this.

8. Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it ?

9. And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.

10. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

This parable, in addition, is added to the same purpose; in order to confirm God's gracious intention towards repenting sinners beyond all doubt, and to cause the whole to make a deeper impression upon us.

SECTION LII.

Chap. xv. ver. 11-24.

THE PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON.

I suppose the parable of the Prodigal Son to relate primarily to the calling of the Gentiles,—the younger brother,and to their being reconciled to God in one body, with the Jews, the elder brother. But withal it is a perfect draught of every sinner's progress in error and guilt;-of the manner of his return to God;-and of his joyful reception. Every single soul, while wandering from God, is in the Gentile state, and must come to him in the way here marked out for all. At the present time this is that in which we are principally concerned.

11. And he said, A certain man had two sons;

12. And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.