That of the Tares fhews the general state of the Chriftian Church, in all ages, to the end of the world: that there will be both fincere and hypocritical profeffors, and at laft an impartial trial and an eternal diftinction between the righteous and the wicked.

The Rich Man, whofe foul was fuddenly required of him, fets in a very ftriking light the folly of placing our chief happiness in worldly riches, and flattering ourselves with the hope of many years to come.

The charitable Samaritan melts the foul into univerfal benevolence, and throws down every partition-wall, which would prevent us from doing good to others.

The parable of the Prodigal paints in lively colours the folly and guilt of a licen tious youth, who heing impatient of his father's advice and difcipline, runs headlong into a courfe of fenfual pleafure; but foon found, instead of liberty and happiness, the moft abject flavery and moft bitter diftrefs: -and it reprefents further, in an affecting manner, that God hath no pleasure in the death of jinners, but rejoiceth in their recovery, and is ready with open arms to receive them, upon their returning to him with fincere repentance.

The Parables in general are full of reli

gious and moral inftructions; but it would (well this work too much to give a particular account of all. Read them with at tention and candour, and endeavour to difcover the fpiritual wifdom and good fentiments which are concealed in them! confider their particular meaning and defign: the main object and leading point in view; and bring the application home to your own mind: that you may not be num bered among thofe, who, feeing, faw not; and hearing, heard not; but having, with an honest and good heart, heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

N. B. Children fhould be brought into an early acquaintance with the design and meaning of the Parables; and fhould get by heart the most lively and affecting of

them.

OUR

CHAP. XLVII. .

THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST.

UR bleffed Lord not only laid down a perfect rule of duty in his excellent difcourfes and parables; but alfo fet before us an example of the most complete obe

dience. His practice was a juft picture of his own precepts, and added new light and force to them. All the duties of piety and goodnefs were united in him, without infirmity or defect; fo that in his life they appeared, as it were, vifible to human eyes.

His piety and devotion towards God were manifefted in a conftant readiness to pleafe and honour him in all things. He fpeaks of it, as the great object of his attention, and the highest joy of his foul. I am come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him that fent me, and to finish his work. At twelve years of age, he difcovered his zeal for religious exercifes, by ftaying in the temple amongst the doctors, hearing them. and asking them questions: and telling his parents, in juftification of his conduct, that he must be about his father's business. He conftantly attended the public affemblies for divine worship; and frequently withdrew himfelf from the public eye, for meditation and private prayer. This fpirit of devotion influenced all his actions, and was the foundation of that abfolute fubjection and refignation to the divine will, which he fhewed at all times, and efpecially in the amazing inftance of his death,

the finishing ftroke, and highest proof of his obedience and love.

Nor was he lefs exemplary in benevolence towards man, than in piety towards God. His whole life was one continued act of mercy. It was his meat and drink, his conftant employment and delight, to go about doing good; to heal all forts of fickneffes among the people, and to preach the glad tidings of divine grace and favour to the penitent. He admitted all, even the poorest and meaneft, into his prefence; and converted freely with publicans and finners, for their inftruction and amendment. He discovered the generous feelings of humanity, and the tender affection of friendship, in his fympathizing tears at the grave of Lazarus, in his laft endearing discourses to his difciples; and his pathetic lamentation. over Jerufalem: but the act of benevolence, which deferves our higheft regard, is his dying for the ungodly; giving his life a ransom for many; the offering of him/elf a facrifice for finful men, that he might obtain eternal redemption for

ཟླ་

them.

The virtues alfo of felf-government, eminently fhone forth in the temper and con duct of our Saviour. His affections and appetites moved regularly within the bounds

of reafon and he preferred the pleasures of religion to every other pleasure. Every defire of private eafe was made to give wa to the public good, and the great design he had in view. He purfued the middle path between luxury and aufterity; teaching us to fit loofe to the enjoyments of life, and to use the world without abusing it. He was all humility and condefcenfion, yet always preferved his dignity, and washed the feet of his difciples, while he told them he was their Lord and Master. Far from coveting worldly riches or honours, in the loweft condition of poverty and meanness he was eafy and contented: and under the moft injuricus treatment, and the greatest poffible provocations, we find no unbecom ing tranf orts of impatience and anger: far from lofing his meeknefs and benevolence of temper, even when he was expiring upon the crofs, he offered up his prayers for thofe, who with inveterate cruelty had brought him to it, faying, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they

do.

Let us fet this example conftantly before our eyes; trace the facred hiftory of it, and make it the fubject of our frequent thoughts and repeated contemplation, that