SECT. XLI. Jesus declares the Blessedness of the Humble. 21. In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast | hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed | them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. 22. All things are delivered to me of my Father: aud 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 Were we endowed with a power of working miracles, we should be ready to rejoice: yet thou hast here plainly taught us, we have greater reason to rejoice if our names be written in heaven. How happy were these disciples, who had it from thy own mouth, that their names were written in heaven! Lord, give us to know, that our names are written in heaven, (to the praise of thy free grace,) from the testimony of thy blessed word. We are there informed, that neither the unrighteous, nor adulterers, nor fornicators, nor the unclean, nor the lascivious, nor the effeminate, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor revilers, nor extortioners, nor idolaters, nor such as are guilty of witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murder, drunkenness, revelling, and such like, can inherit the kingdom of God: and that the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and all liars, and all who will not cut off a right hand, or pluck out a right eye, that causeth them to offend, shall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. On the other hand, that all who believe in thy name, who repent, who love thee, who are sanctified, who da 1 the will of thy Father, who follow thee, who are faithful unto death, who overcome, shall be saved. Oh, blessed Redeemer, deliver us from all the former hateful tempers, and give us by thy holy Spirit that genuine faith in thee, that repentance, love, holiness; and give us to know, that thou hast bestowed them upon us, that so we may have cause continually to rejoice. [See also the Reflections on Matt. XI. v. 25-30. p. 54, 55.] SECT. XLII. The Parable of the compassionate Samaritan. 25. And, behold, a certain | the other side. 32. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 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 on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35. And on the morrow when he departed, he 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, 36. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37. And he said, He that shewed mercy on him, Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26. He 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. 29. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? 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 This Jewish teacher seems to have proposed his question rather to tempt thee, than with a view to his own edification. With what wisdom and justice didst thou rebuke that self-justifying, narrow, unmerciful spirit, which thou sawest prevailing in him. Lord, save us from such a temper. Give us the Christian temper. Let us not be like the priest or the Levite; but like the Samaritan, who had compassion on the wounded man, and bound up his wounds, and provided lodging and entertainment for him and give us the rather to imitate this amiable example, because it is so like thine, in pitying perishing souls. Lord Jesus, our souls were by sin and Satan robbed and stripped naked, and wounded, and left half dead. The virtue and wisdom of men, when they saw us, passed by on the other side: and likewise the law came and looked on us, and passed by on the other side: but when thou sawest us, thou hadst compassion upon us, and didst bind up our wounds, and take care of us. What shall we render to thee? Thou sayest, concerning the great commandments of the law, "This do, and thou shalt live." Lord, thou knowest we cannot fulfil thy just and righteous law. We are condemned by it in numberless instances; but thou hast perfectly fulfilled it. O let us be justified by thy blood and thy righteousness; and put thy blessed Spirit within us, and cause us to fulfil thy law, as far as it is possible it can be fulfilled in this state of imperfection, and hasten our perfect conformity to it in. glory. SECT. XLIII. Jesus visits Martha and Mary. 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 called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 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. 41. And Jesus answered and ❘ thing is needful: and Mary hath said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42. Butone chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Both these persons loved thee, and were beloved by thee; but Martha was cumbered about much serving. Being to entertain thee and thy disciples in her house, she was thrown into too great anxiety; and this anxiety made her uneasy to see her sister sitting at thy feet, hearing thy words, and giving her no help for Mary's attention was engrossed by the gracious words that proceeded out of thy mouth; yet her behaviour was more approved by thee than the other. Hence we learn, that it is not thy pleasure, that thy disciples should be cumbered, and careful, and troubled about many things even in ministering to thee; and that with a composed mind to attend to thy word, in order to do it, is a more acceptable expression of respect, than Martha's anxious entertainment was. And, lastly, that it is better for themselves. It is the one thing needful, the good part which shall not be taken away from us. Blessed be thy name for determining us, we hope, to choose this good part. We long sought rest in many things; but we never found it till we sought it in thy word. Here we sit at thy feet, Oh divine Teacher, with delight and profit. All the wisest men cannot teach us as thou canst. Thy words are the words of eternal life; sweeter than rest to the weary, or murmuring streams to the thirsty. We sit under thy shadow with delight, and find thy fruit sweet to our taste. Here we learn that wisdom which guides us comfortably through life, makes death desirable, and eternity lovely and glorious. A SECT. XLIV. Jesus teaches and encourages his Disciples to pray. CHAP. XI. Lord, teach us to pray, as John ND it came to pass, that as also taught his disciples. 2. he was praying in a certain And he said unto them, When place, when he ceased, one of ❘ ye pray, say, Our Father which his disciples said unto him, ❘ art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name: Thy kingdom come: | friend, yet because of his im portunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. 9. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. 3. Give us day by day our daily bread: 4. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is in-ye shall find; knock, and it shall debted to us: And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. 5. And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; 6. For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him: 7. And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. 8. I say unto you, though he will not rise and give him because he is his be opened unto you. 10. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 11. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12. Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? Heavenly Father, we join with all the disciples of thy Son in praying that thy name may be hallowed, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, as in heaven so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread: and forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us : and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Thou seest what encouragement is given us to pray to thee by thy beloved Son, in whom thou art well pleased, and whom thou hast commanded us to hear. How he sheweth us, that importunity will prevail, even where friendship will not; and adds, "I say unto you, " ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; "knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every ८८ one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, find"eth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened." And how he appeals to paternal affection, whether any of us that is a father, will give a stone to our child when he asks bread; adding, "If ye then, being evil, know |