you, That none of those men that were invited shall taste of my supper.

And great multitudes went with him; and turning he said to them, If any man come to me, and hate* not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross,+ and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first and reckoneth the expense, whether he have wherewith to finish it? Lest after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that see it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet far off, he sendeth an embassy, and asketh conditions of peace. So likewise, every one of you that renounceth not all that he hath, cannot be my disciple. Salts is good; but if the salt have lost its savour, with

* "Hate," means, "be ready to forsake." Christ must be loved above all, and his followers must be ready, if called upon, to give up every enjoyment and comfort for his cause.

+ Malefactors condemned to be crucified were compelled to bear their own crosses to the place of execution.

In these two parables our Lord advises his followers to consider well beforehand what a steady profession of religion is likely to cost them.

The true followers of Christ, but more especially good ministers, are compared to salt, and are of great use, both by their teaching and example; (as salt is not only itself free from corruption, but preserves other things,) but professing followers of Christ, destitute of the true Christiar spirit, are compared to tasteless salt, the most worthle thing in the world.

what shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

WORDS, &c. TO BE EXPLAINED IN LESSON XVII.

Humbled,
Exalted,

To compel men to

come in.

To hate father, &c.

QUESTIONS ON LESSON XVII.

WHAT are the contents of this lesson?

What did some of the Pharisees say of Herod's intentions, and what was Christ's answer?

Why did Christ call Herod a fox?

Repeat Christ's lamentation over Jerusalem ?

What had the people of Jerusalem done to the prophets? By what comparison did our Lord represent his wishes to save Jerusalem ?

For what purpose was he watched on the sabbath? What cure did he then perform, and how did he justify his healing on the sabbath?

Were the Jews able to answer him?

What parable did he use about the chief places ?

In what place did he recommend to sit down?

Who are to be exalted, and who are to be humbled?

When we make a feast, whom should we invite, and why? Repeat the parable of the great supper?

What excuses did those who were invited send? and who was angry?

What did the master of the house desire his servant to do? What did the servant tell his master, after having done what he was ordered to do?

Where was the servant sent the second time? and what was he to do?

What is meant by "compelling them to come in ?"
Who were not to taste of the supper?

What is necessary to become Christ's disciple?

What is meant by hating father, mother, &c.?

By what parable did Christ represent the necessity of considering, before adopting his religion?

By what second parable did he represent the same?
For what is tasteless salt good?

Who are meant by "salt," and who by tasteless salt?

LESSON XVIII.

The parable of the lost sheep-the prodigal son-the unjust steward-The Pharisees deride Christ—he replies to them-The rich man and Lazarus— Impossible to avoid giving offence-to forgive a brother on repentance-the power of faith-we are unprofitable servants.

FROM LUKE, XV. XVI. AND XVII.

Now all the publicans and sinners were resorting to him to hear him: and the Pharisees and Scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.* And he spake this parable to them, saying:

What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And having found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And coming home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say to you, that so there shall be joy in heaven over one repenting sinner, more than over ninety and nine righteous persons who need no repent

ance.

Or what woman having ten pieces of silver, if

* By conversing and eating with tax-gatherers, who were generally esteemed persons of bad character, our Lord gave offence to the self-righteous Pharisees. To vindicate his conduct, he uses this and the following parable, showing that comparatively there is more joy for the recovery of one lost sinner than there could be for the continued safety of many who had not been lost.

she lose one piece,* doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And having found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. So, I say to you, There is joy in the presence of the angels of God+ over one repenting sinner.

And he said: A certain man‡ had two sons: and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of property that falleth to me, And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after, the younger son having gathered all together, took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his property, in living riotously. And having spent all, a mighty famine came over that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country; and he sent him into the fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And having come to himself, he said,§ How many hired servants of my father's have abundance of bread, and I perish with

* A drachma, a Greek coin of the same value as the Roman denarius, about sevenpence halfpenny of our money.

Before the angels. By this it is plain that the spirits of heaven are interested in our welfare. They rejoice at our repentance, and therefore they know when we repent.

This celebrated parable, which for simplicity, truth, exactness, and description, is justly reckoned superior to all the allegorical writings of antiquity, has a twofold reference; first, to the righteous and the sinners, secondly, to the Jews and Gentiles. By the man who had two sons, is meant God in the character of an indulgent father; by the younger, any sinner who abuses the gifts of his Heavenly Father, and also the Gentiles who knew not God; and by the elder, the Jews who were peculiarly favoured with a knowledge of his laws, and to a certain extent obeyed them.

S Through the mercy of God, sinners are sometimes brought to their senses by calamity.

hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, I am no longer worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And, rising up, he came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off,* his father saw him, and had compassion, and running, fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no longer worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat and make merry. Because this my son was dead, and is come to lite again; was lost, and is found. be merry.

And they began to

Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him in health. And he was angry,† and would not go in his father, therefore, coming out entreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years have I served thee, and I have never transgressed thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might

* Before the son had time to express his sorrow and contrition, his father ran to meet him: so God is more ready to forgive than even the penitent are to ask forgiveness.

+ The Jews considering themselves God's chosen people, were angry that the idolatrous Gentiles should be brought into the gospel-covenant. Here is also expressed the envy of a self-righteous man at the favours bestowed on a repenting sinner.