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but to their own arbitrary invention, superstitious dreams, and precarious though confident determinations. Let us practise habitual caution and candour, lest, before we are aware, we condemn the innocent and the pious, and become guilty of what is much more displeasing in the sight of God than the faults which a peevish and censorious temper may fancy it discovers in our brethren.

SECTION V.

MATTHEW XII. 9-14.-MARK III. 1-6.—
LUKE VI. 6-11.

AND it came to pass also on another sabbath, when he was departed thence, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and behold, there was a man whose right hand was withered. And the Scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath-day: and they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath-days? that they might find an accusation against him. But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth. Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath-days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it? But they held their peace. And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath-day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath-days. And when he had looked round about upon them all with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and his hand was restored whole, like as the other.

Then the Pharisees went out, and were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus: And straightway took counsel

with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.

What actions are so fair and lovely, that malice cannot turn them into reproach? What characters are so unblemished, what so exemplary, that uncharitableness cannot revile and condemn them? While the eyes of distressed multitudes were turned to Christ as their only Physician and most valuable Friend, the eyes of the Pharisees are continually upon him for evil; and they behold his wondrous miracles, not for their own conviction, but that they may, if possible, turn them into the means of his destruction. So ineffectual are the most obvious and demonstrative arguments, till divine grace conquer men's natural aversion to a Redeemer's kingdom, and captivate their hearts to the obedience of faith.

To have reviled and dishonoured Christ and to have endeavoured to prevent the success of his ministry, had been a daring crime: but these desperate wretches conspire against his life; and different as their principles and interests were, form a transient friendship to be cemented by his blood. Blessed Jesus, well mightest thou say, Many good works have I shewn you, and for which of them would you murder me? (John x. 32.)

What reasoning could be more plain and forcible than this which our Lord used? and yet, like deaf adders, they stop their ears, and harden their hearts against it. Inhuman creatures, that were more concerned for the safety of a sheep than the happiness of a man. Yet, would to God that unworthy temper had died with them; for surely there are those, even among professing Christians, who regard their cattle more than even the souls committed by Providence to their care, and therefore, no doubt, more than their own too!

The indignation which Christ felt on this occasion was a just and amiable passion. Happy they, whose anger, like his, is only awakened by sin, and burns only to destroy that accursed thing?

The malice of the Pharisees did not restrain the benevolence of our compassionate Saviour, nor deprive the poor patient of his cure. Such let our conduct be! Let us not be overcome of evil; let not the most unjust censures, or the most malicious opposition break our spirits so as to prevent us from doing our duty. If others are mad with persecuting rage, let us pity them; and let all their fury against the cause of God be improved as a motive to excite our most zealous and courageous endeavours for its service.

SECTION VI.

MATT. XII. 15--21.-MARK III. 7—12.

BUT when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence with his disciples to the sea: and great multitudes followed him from Galilee, and from Judea, and from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and from beyond Jordan, and he healed them; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him. And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him, because of the multitude, lest they should throng him. For he had healed many, insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues. For there went virtue out of him, and healed them all. And they that were vexed with unclean spirits were healed. And the unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Behold my servant whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

Surely face does not more exactly answer to face in water than the character of Christ drawn by the prophet to his temper and conduct as described by the evangelists. How should Zion rejoice, and the daughter of Jerusalem shout, that such a King cometh unto her, meek and having salvation. (Zech. ix. 9.) Let us with pleasure trace his gentle administration, and with a cheerful confidence commit our souls to so kind and so faithful a hand: far from breaking, he will strengthen the bruised reed; far from quenching the smoking flax, he will rather blow it up into a flame.

How well does it become the disciples of Christ, and especially how well does it become his ministers, to imitate what was so amiable in their Lord, and not to despise the day of small things. Let us not strive nor cry; but, laying aside all unnecessary contentions and angry debates, let us receive one another as Christ hath received us (Rom. xv. 7), and, avoiding all vain ostentation, let us silently and meekly attend, each of us, to the discharge of his proper office. So may we hope that the cause of religion will go on successfully around us, and that righteousness will in due time be brought forth to complete victory over all opposition, and by its own genuine influences, be happily established in the earth.

The Gentiles trust in a Redeemer's name, and the British Isles are numbered among those that wait for his law. May our souls with humble submission bow themselves to receive it, and observe it with such faithful care and obedient regards, that our example, wherever it is seen, may promote the reception of it among those that as yet are strangers to it!

SECTION VII.

MATT. X. 2-4.-MARK III. 13—19.—LUKE VI. 12-19. AND it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples, whom he would, and they came unto him: and of them he chose and ordained twelve, whom also he named apostles: And ordained that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach: And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: the first, Simon, (whom he also surnamed Peter,) and Andrew his brother, and James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, (and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder;) and Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew the publican, and Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon the Canaanite, called Zelotes, and Judas Thaddeus the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him. And they went into an house.

LUKE VI. 17-49.

And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and a company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judæa and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; and they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.

When we consider how much the church in all ages has been indebted to the labours of the apostles, and how much we ourselves owe to them, we shall see great reason of thankfulness to our wise and gracious Master, who was pleased to assign this work to his servants, and so eminently to qualify them for it. It is observable, that before he sent them forth he chose them to be with him in a more constant attendance on his person and ministry. May all who succeed them as preachers of the gospel, be such as have intimately known Christ themselves, and have been accustomed to spiritual converse with him; that they may with the greater ability, zeal, and efficacy, recommend him to others!

We may assure ourselves that these his future ministers had no inconsiderable share in those petitions in which, with unabating fervour and intenseness of devotion, our Redeemer spent this memorable night. And if we have any regard for the support of religion in the rising age, let us likewise be earnestly praying both for them that are already in the ministry, and for such as are preparing for it. This surely ought to be the frequent care, not only of those who have the tremendous charge of educating such as are ere long to be intrusted with the honour of the gospel and the care of souls, but of those who are now struggling with the glorious labours and trials of that important office, and even of all those private christians, who cordially love the interest of their Master, and wish the salvation of their fellow-creatures.

Let us unite our cries to him who has engaged to be always with his church even to the end of the world, and say, "Light up, O Lord, a brighter and a stronger flame in the lamps of thy sanctuary! Polish these arrows of thy quiver, that they may pierce deep into the consciences of men! Let thy priests be clothed with salvation, that thy saints may shout aloud for joy. And pour forth upon them so plenteous an unction of thine Holy Spirit, that the odours of thy grace

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