parties who afforded that hospitality.

Surely then we should be willing according to our power, not only to meet the actual necessities of real indigence, but also to promote the temporal comfort and social happiness of our fellow-creatures, in such way as is consistent with their higher interests. In the conduct of Jesus which we have now contemplated, we have in this respect a pattern for our imitation, which it were well that we should constantly bear in mind and practically regard in our intercourse and communications with others.

4. Finally. Let us not forget that there is a spiritual feast prepared by our Lord himself, to which he earnestly invites us, and of the provisions of which we may freely partake if we are but disposed to do so. Those provisions are all the rich blessings of grace and glory, offered to our acceptance under images borrowed from an entertainment adapted to our bodily appetites. Hence the earnest and reiterated invitation: "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." The forgiveness of sins through faith in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christacceptance with God through the merits of his perfect obedience, and the sanctifying grace of his Holy Spirit in the present world;-glory, and honour and immortality in that which is to come ;-these are the rich blessings of which we are invited to partake, by Him who purchased them with the price of his most precious blood, and the virtue of his spotless righteous

ness. Shall we then dishonour the mercy of God,— pour contempt upon the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,―offer violence to the strivings of the Holy Spirit, and expose ourselves to inevitable misery throughout an endless existence, by daring to neglect so great salvation, and turning a deaf ear to the voice by which it is proclaimed?-God forbid! Rather let us thankfully embrace the invitations which are so graciously addressed to us; and having thus embraced them, let us earnestly pray that we may be continually sustained by the spiritual provisions of the Gospel while we remain in this present state; and that we may at length be admitted to the marriage supper of the Lamb, in the kingdom of heaven, and dwell for ever and ever with the Lord.

DISCOURSE XXII.

THE TRADERS EXPELLED FROM THE
TEMPLE.

JOHN II. 17.

And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

THE subject which is now to engage our attention, presents itself in the sacred narrative immediately after that which we last considered. By the conversion of water into wine at a marriage feast in Cana of Galilee, Jesus had "manifested forth his glory, and his disciples believed on him." The Evangelist having recorded that manifestation, proceeds as follows:

"After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days. And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and found in the temple those that sold oxen, and sheep, and doves, and the changers of money sitting : And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and

the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; and said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.'

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There were at least two occasions on which our Lord thus entered the temple, and in a most remarkable manner expelled thence those who were pursuing their traffic within its hallowed precincts. The former of these occasions, of which this Evangelist here gives us the account, took place almost immediately after our Lord commenced his public ministrations; the latter occurred when those ministrations had nearly reached their close, and is related in its proper place by the three other Evangelists. In directing our attention to the narrative which has now been recited, we shall have occasion to advert to the similar instance of Divine power which they have recorded. Let us then,

I. NOTICE THE OCCUPATIONS OF THE TRADERS : II. CONSIDER MORE PARTICULARLY THE CONDUCT OF OUR LORD: and

III. REMARK UPON THE RECOLLECTION OF THE DISCIPLES.

May the grace and blessing of God accompany us while thus employed!

I. In the first place, then, WE NOTICE THE OCCUPATIONS OF THE TRADERS. These were various; but, it must be observed, all of them were connected

with the services of the sanctuary. Such connection, however, did not authorize their pursuit within its consecrated limits, as is evident from our Lord's address on this occasion, which we shall presently consider.

In the outer court of the temple, which was appropriated to Gentile worshippers, a daily market is supposed to have been kept of such things as were required for the sacrifices appointed by the Law. This would doubtless be a great accommodation to those who came to Jerusalem from distant parts, and who could not conveniently have brought their respective victims with them; and it appears from Josephus, that at the time of the passover the demand for such victims was immense.1 The sheep and oxen

were for the sacrifices which would be required of those who were in affluent or comfortable circumstances; while the doves were probably intended to supply the wants of the poorer offerers, who, by the gracious provision of the Law, were permitted to substitute these in the place of larger and more costly oblations.2

In addition to those who sold such things as were necessary for the sacrifices, other persons were stationed in this same part of the temple, whose employment it was to furnish those who came from a distance, with current money, in exchange for the

1 Wars of the Jews. Book vi. chap. 9.-Where the historian in his mention of the passover, during which Titus commenced the siege of the city, observes, "The number of sacrifices was 256,500."

2 Lev. v. 7. xii. 8. xiv. 22.