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Lord describes them as taking the kingdom of Heaven almost by force, and rushing in, with a kind of holy violence, at the gates which John had begun to unlock, and which Christ was opening wide for their escape from sin. Happy few! Who can be too earnest in such a matter? But this was far from being the case with all. The people, for the most part, continued to sit at their ease, in a sort of sullen indifference, neither heeding the warnings of the Baptist, nor yet persuaded by the gracious invitations of the Saviour Himself. Our Lord compares them to moody children, who would neither mourn when they heard the sound of the funeral dirge, nor dance to the cheerful pipe.

E. I think I know, from what you have just said, what Jesus meant. Was it not that they would neither sorrow for their sins at the preaching of John, nor rejoice in the glad tidings of salvation?

M. Exactly; and what perverseness did this show! But, alas! the same perverseness may be seen still. Notwithstanding all God's wise and gracious methods with us, how hard is it to gain our attention to the things that belong to our peace! The very wisest in human wisdom are often fools here. The most favoured, the least inclined to attend to God's holy word. May we have grace to avoid their sad example! may we not be like the wayward children in the market-place; but, like obedient and tractable children, may we mourn for our sins, when God calls us to repentance, and rejoice in His promises when Christ preaches forgiveness. Then shall we avoid those heavy judgments which our Lord declares against such, immediately after He had pronounced His blessing on those who should not be offended in Him. For no sooner has the sacred

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historian informed us of our Lord's interview with John's disciples, than He goes on to record, that Jesus began then to upbraid the cities wherein most of His mighty works were done, because they repented not saying, "Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon, at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou Capernaum, which art exalted unto Heaven, shall be brought down to Hell; for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom, in the day of Judgment, than for thee.” Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, were the places where our Lord had been daily preaching, and the places where most of His miracles were performed; they not only heard, as the other cities did, but saw for themselves, and yet they repented not; and therefore it should be better hereafter for the heathen cities of Tyre and Sidon, and even for the abominable Sodom, than for them. Greater had been their advantages, and therefore greater would be their condemnation. We learn an awful lesson here, Edward; even this, that God will reckon with us hereafter according to the opportunities we have had here on earth of knowing and loving Him. "To whom much is given, of him will much be required." It is a solemn and a painful thought; may God make it profitable to our salvation!

But how strangely do words of anger sound from

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the lips of Jesus! No sooner has He spoken of judgment, than He hastens back again to mercy; no sooner declared threatenings, than He proceeds to the most encouraging invitations! He who has just pronounced those awful Woes,' now speaks again the sweetest promises. He turns once more to the people, and says, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." You see the blessed Jesus desires not to drive any one away from Him. He invites all who are weary with the load of their sorrows, or with the yoke of their sins, to come unto Him and find rest. And who that knows any thing of his own heart, is not weary of himself? Who that knows any thing of his own sins, does not feel them to be indeed "a sore burden, too heavy for him to bear?" Who that knows any thing of the sorrows of the world, is not often wearied with them? What a mercy is it, then, to find such a precious invitation as this in our Bibles! to see that we are not called upon to bear this burden alone! that Christ offers to take it from us, and to give us instead the easy yoke and light burden of His commandments; and that He will Himself teach us how to bear it!"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me;" I will teach you both to obey my commandments and to submit to my will; and, in doing so, you shall find rest unto your souls. You shall no longer be tossed about with the tempest of your own wicked passions and evil inclinations; but you shall wear my yoke; you shall keep my laws, which, though they

TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY EVENING.

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may seem difficult at first shall become easy and more easy every day, until they make you happy here, and fit you for eternal rest in heaven.

E. Dear Mamma, I have always been very fond of those beautiful words; and from this time I shall love them more, since you have made me to understand them better. Would you mind going back now for a moment? I want to ask you whether Tyre and Sidon were particularly wicked cities; for though I remember Sodom and Gomorrah very well, I do not recollect ever hearing any thing particular of Tyre and Sidon.

M. I am always glad to give you any information that I can. These places, on the coast of the Mediterranean, were remarkable for their luxury, pride, and contempt of all religion; as we learn from several parts of Scripture, particularly from the twenty-third chapter of the prophet Isaiah and the twenty-eighth of Ezekiel. We will read them together.

See Matt. xi. 2-30.

Luke vii. 17-35.

TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY EVENING.

THE FEET OF JESUS WASHED WITH TEARS.

M. Our Lord seems to have made some stay at Nain, the city to which He was going, you know, when He met the funeral procession, and restored to the poor widow her only son! Whilst He was there, one of the Pharisees invited Him to eat with him at his own house; nor did Jesus refuse, but went with him and sat down to meat. "And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner," that is, a great and

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TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY EVENING.

grievous sinner, "when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment."

E. I cannot see how she could stand behind our Lord and wash His feet, whilst He was sitting at dinner?

M. Do you not remember the account given in one of your books of the manner in which the Jews and other nations formerly took their meals?

E. Oh! yes; I recollect they did not sit as we do, but reclined upon couches: and they leant quite across these, so that the head of one was nearly on the bosom of the person next above him; whilst his feet were stretched out and hung over the couch behind. I see now how the woman could wash our Saviour's feet, even whilst He sat at meat. But go on, dear Mamma; I am so sorry for her; I am afraid she must have been very wicked; but I am glad she was so unhappy about it, and that she came to Jesus, for that, you know, was the best thing she could do.

M. The best thing indeed that any can do, when they feel their own sinfulness, is to go to Jesus; and the greater their guilt, the greater is their need of His blood to wash away their sins. The Bible tells us that "the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin;" and for fear any unhappy persons, who have been very wicked, should think theirs are too great to be forgiven, it says in another place : in another place: "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; and though they be red like crimson, they shall be as

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