Witness alfo, when his difciples had been difputing one with another, who of them should be greatest in the kingdom of heaven, instead of upbraiding them for their needlefs ambitious enquiries about precedency and preheminence, which of them fhould come to the highest dignity and honour, he makes ufe of this occafion to inculcate the neceffity of humility on them, and becoming children, and as free from ambition as those who affected nothing of precedency or fuperiority.

From whence we may learn, that those who are dignified with church preferments, who have the greatest titles of honour and profit, ought to be adorned with the lowest degree of humility, and be sensible they are laid under the greatest obligations to be the most eminently useful and serviceable in the promoting and encouraging of real vital religion.

The bleffed Jefus affures his difciples, that "whofo

ever fhould receive a child in his name, receiveth "him; and whofoever fhould receive him, receiveth "him that fent him; for he that was least among them,

the fame shall be great," Luke ix. 48. That is, those who have the most humbling thoughts of themselves, and who discover it by their actions, in doing the most mortifying felf-denying deeds of kindness and goodness, in the smallest degree, to any of their fellow creatures, in the name and for the fake of the bleffed Jefus, fhall be valued by him and his father, as if it was done to them, Mark ix. 37. Luke ix. 48.

When a woman, out of a great zeal, lifted up her voice and faid unto him, "Bleffed is the womb that "bare thee, and the paps which thou haft fucked,” Luke xi. 27; he most graciously instructed her and the audience in the great privileges and bleffings of those who were favoured with divine revelation, which were much fuperior to any other external advantages whatever; "Yea rather, (fays our Lord) bleffed are "they that hear the word of God, and keep it," ver. 28. that is, much more bleffed are thofe that bare him in their hearts by faith, who live his commandments.

The bleffednefs of an obedient believer is fuperior to any advantages whatsoever.

When Martha interrupted him with a frivolous complaint with refpect to her fifter, about the trifling concerns of this life, he very cordially reproved her for her over folicitude about worldly affairs, which were of little or no confequence, reminding her of the abfolute neceffity of caring for her precious and immortal soul, "the one thing needful," which her fifter had fecured invincible, impregnable; "Martha, Martha, thou art «careful and troubled about many things, but one

tr

thing is needful, and Mary hath chofe that good part which shall not be taken from her," Luke x.

41, 42.

This teaches mankind that they fhould be neither afraid or ashamed of the displeasure of any of their friends or acquaintance, to reprove their failings in the

fpirit

fpirit of meekness, for their spiritual benefit and ad

vantage.

No doubt Martha was an honeft, well meaning, friendly woman, yea, a pious good woman, beloved of the bleffed Jefus, notwithstanding she is reproved by him.

He does not find fault with her for her good nature and generofity, but for her over anxioufnefs and carking care, her perplexity: that her affections were too much set on earthly enjoyments, infinitely inferior to her spiritual intereft, to the neglect of the one thing needful, her soul.

When the fuperftitious pharifees made a great wonder at our Lord's not washing before dinner, he took an occafion to reprimand them for their most abominable hypocritical outfide righteoufnefs, to their fhameful neglect of moral rectitude and fubftantial goodness, which was of abfolute neceffity; who told them, "They made "clean the outside of the cup and the platters, but "their inward part was full of ravening and wicked"nefs: they tythe mint and rue, and all manner of "herbs the leffer things, neglecting the effentials; "paffing over judgment and the love of God. These ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other "undone,” Matth. xxiii. 23.

Again, when one of his audience defired him to speak to his brother, to divide his temporal estate with him, he took the opportunity to difcourfe against the prevailing

fin

fin of covetousness, diffwading him from setting his heart on earthly riches, affuring him, the happiness of man's life confifted not in the abundance which he poffeffed, but in the rational enjoyment of them, fubfervient to fpiritual purposes; they being of a very uncertain continuance, at the best of a perishing nature: therefore he takes occafion to discover to him the ill confequence of placing any expectations of enjoyment and happinefs in them. The lofs of one fingle breath fruftrating all future expectations from them; therefore he counfels mankind principally to regard their grand intereft, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteouf“ness, and all these things fhall be added unto you,” Matt. vi. 33.

But the common way of the world is to be anxious and feek for the things of an earthly duration. They would be very easy and contented to feek worldly enjoyment, and to have heaven without feeking. But the religion of the bleffed Jefus gives mankind not the leaft expectation of it, on thofe conditions, but discountenances it. He inftructs them to ask, seek, and strive with the greatest affiduity, affuring them fuccefs, Matt. vii. 7, 8.

And if mankind would be but in as good earnest to get and fecure heavenly riches, as they are temporary, by making religion and the falvation of their fouls their first and chief care, they would be abfolutely certain of receiving "riches and honour; durable riches and righteousness," Prov. viii. 18. " A crown of glory, "that fadeth not away," 1 Peter v. 4. And in this world every neceffary enjoyment would be added, as

much

much as the wisdom of God (who only knows) in what degree they are fit and convenient for them, Luke xii. 31.

When fome who were in company with him had made fome remarks on the dreadful and terrible calamity that befel the Galileans, he takes occafion to precaution them against rafh judgment, and to interest them in the abfolute neceffity and importance of repentance, warning them of the horrible confequence which would attend the neglect of it, Luke xiii. 1, 2, 3.

When the bleffed Jefus honoured one of the pharifees to dine with him on the Sabbath, they who were his chief enemies, contrary to the rules of upright be- ́ ́ haviour and conversation, and real goodness, narrowly watched him, in order to make the entertainment become a fnare, hoping that he might do, or fay, something whereby they might accufe him. The bleffed Jefus knew their ill defign: however, it had not any influence on him, to prevent his good intentions to oppose their fuperftitious fentiments of religion, for whenever he had an opportunity of undeceiving mankind, he had no regard to the disapprobation of fuperftitious bigots, either with respect to time or place: therefore, agreeable to his wonted goodness and tender compaffion, he took pity on one of their company, who laboured under a dropfical diforder. After speaking to the lawyers and pharifees, relating to the legality of performing cures on the Sabbath day, (who became fullenly speechlefs) he worked a miracle, and immediately healed him, neglecting no opportunity of doing

good,