with our brethern.

The master revokes

his pardon. He delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto himself.

We do not forgive our offending brother aright, or acceptably, if we do not forgive from the heart, for God knows the secrets of all hearts. No malice must be harboured there, no projects of revenge or desire of it. Those who do not forgive their brother's trespasses, never truly repented of their own, nor ever truly believed the gospel; and therefore that which is taken away, is only what they seem to have. It is indispensably necessary to pardon and peace, that we not only act justly, but we must love mercy. It is an essential part of that religion, which is pure and undefiled before God and the Father, of that wisdom from above, which is gentle and easy to be

entreated. How will they answer, who, though they bear the Christian name, persist in unmerciful treatment of their brethren, as if the laws of Christ might be dispensed with, to gratify their unbridled passions?

The humbled sinner relies only on free, abounding mercy, through the ransom of the death of Christ. His sins are thus blotted out, while his conduct towards others proves him a partaker of the Spirit of Christ. Let us then seek more and more for the renewing grace of God, to teach us to forgive others as we hope to be forgiven by Him.

Amidst the crowded room a wretch appears, Who in contempt a sordid garment wears; The king commands to seize, and bind him fast, And into dungeons deep, and utter darkness cast.

THE MARRIAGE FEAST.

A monarch who, with regal pomp and state,
The nuptuals of his son would celebrate,
His servants sent t' invite the country round;
But all, with one consent, excuses found.

"A CERTAIN king made a marriage for his son. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment. The king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away," &c. (Matt xxii. 2, 11, 13.)

This parable of the marriage feast displays the motive of Christ's humiliation, with its effects upon his people, and on the despisers of his gospel. The abundant and rich provision made for sinners in the gospel, is represented by a royal feast made by a king, with all the eastern magnificence and liberality, on the occasion of the marriage