of godliness without the power, but answers him with favour and commendation. How is it that such an one should complain of God's mercy shown towards the prodigal? Why is his eye evil, because God is good?

Human nature is very various and very inconsistent; and Scripture wonderfully meets it at every turn. Here is something of the same leaven which is corrected in the parable of the labourers: where those who had borne the burthen and heat of the day are indignant against the lord of the vineyard, because he rewarded the last and the first alike. And it is not unusual in life, to find a somewhat similar feeling in correct and devout persons, who have been kept from great transgressions. They are jealous of endeavours used to convert notorious sinners: they are suspicious of their apparent penitence, and doubt the sincerity of their change. Such must remember that the whole dispensation of the gospel is a plan. of remedial mercy: that the Son of man came "not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" to "seek and to save that which was lost :" and that these parables would never have been uttered or recorded, if there were not joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth.

Observe, however, the tenderness of our heavenly Father. He is not severe against his unreasonable son he does not " provoke him to wrath:" but he himself comes out to entreat him, and explain. Even though there is much of peevishness in the case though the elder son exaggerates his

brother's evil doings: though he proclaims his own

meritslo, these many years do I serve thee: though he seems to accuse his father of unkindness -thou never gavest me a kid that I might make merry with my friends :- still is the father mild and patient, and says, "Come now and let us reason together." "Are not my ways equal: are not thy ways unequal?”

31. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

32. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

Here then is the reply, if any should complain of the mercy shown to penitents: should complain that Saul, the persecutor, the blasphemer, and Timothy, who from his youth up had followed the Scriptures, are placed in the same scale, regarded with the same favour. Those who have been happily preserved from falling, want no additional reward. They have reward enough, and more than enough, in that greatest of all blessings, an unstained conscience, and an assurance of the divine favour. Son, thou art ever with me, and all that 1 have is thine. What more could they enjoy? Thou art ever with me. Thou hast been mindful of the pledge which devoted thee to my service: thou hast remembered thy Creator in the days of thy youth: thou hast not forgotten the God that made thee. And he has never forgotten thee, but all that he has is thine. Whatever might be profitable for thee he has given, and will give: he has watched over thee for good; if he has yielded thee

thy heart's desire, or if he has denied the request of thy lips, the denial and the grant have proceeded alike from love, and been directed to one end and of whom wilt thou be jealous, or what wouldest thou seek more?

There are others of a different stamp, who instead of grudging the repentant sinner his share of God's free mercy, seem to envy him: and to lament over themselves, because they cannot show, with the same clearness, the date of their conversion. But this is error. It is a delightful truth, that there are prodigals who return: and great reason have they to magnify the grace of God, who has not given them over unto death: just cause thankfully to remember and note the time when they came to themselves, and said, I will arise and go to my Father. But it is not the Father's will that there should be any prodigals: that any should leave his house for a strange land. "The grace of God that bringeth salvation has appeared unto all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live righteously, soberly, and godly, in this present world." It is true that they who, in spite of the grace of God, have lived otherwise, when they turn away from their wickedness, are received with joy. But the occasion of that joy, is the danger, the awful danger, from which they have been delivered. Let that joy be taken as the measure of their peril. This my son was dead, and is alive again; was lost, and is found. How many of those who wander, are lost eternally! How many of those who once become dead in sin, are dead for ever:

never "awake, or arise from the dead, that Christ may give them light!"

Therefore let "the young man cleanse his way." Let him lay up for himself the unspeakable consolation: "With my whole heart have I sought thee thy word have I hid within my heart, that I might not sin against thee." "Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seat of the scornful: but his delight is in the law of the Lord: aud in his law does he meditate day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth, it shall prosper."1

LECTURE LXI.

THE CARE OF THE SOUL ENFORCED BY THE PARABLE OF THE UNJUST STEWARD.

LUKE xvi. 1-12.

1. And he said unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.

2. And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.

1 Ps. cxix. 9-11; and i. 1—6.

3. Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship; I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.

4. I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.

5. So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?

6. And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.

7. Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.

8. And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

9. And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.

Though we are at first surprised, to hear that the lord commended the unjust steward, a little attention shows what it was that he commended. Not his dishonesty, by which he was himself the sufferer: this is all along condemned, whilst the man is called the unjust steward: but he commends the prudence which he had shown in providing against the future. What shall I do, when my lord puts me out of the stewardship? And he commends the quickness with which he had used the means which he possessed, to secure to himself a provision: I am resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. This is the main scope of