1. Now the first thing observable here, is the interest which God is described as taking in his sinful creatures; i. e. in those who, whether through the entanglements of wicked habits, or through the cares and deceitful allurements of earthly things, are living without him in the world. His conduct was compared in the former parable to that of the shepherd who goes after his wandering sheep and here, to the woman who having lost a piece of silver, lights a candle, and sweeps the house, and seeks diligently till she find it, He follows the sinner by the dealings of his providence, by the calls of his word, by the influence of his Spirit, that he may be reclaimed. Sometimes affecting the heart with fear-What wilt thou do in the end? sometimes with love-Shall I crucify the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame? sometimes with distress or pain: thus stopping the career of sin, and introducing better thoughts. "Before I was afflicted, I went astray: but now have I kept thy words."

How grievous it is, that there should be all this willingness in God to receive, and so little willingness in man to "return unto the Lord, that he may have mercy upon him, and to our God, that he may abundantly pardon !"

2. This willingness is further shown, by the joy which attends the sinner's conversion. And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, and saith unto them, Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had lost. To this woman, it is a matter of importance to recover a portion of her substance. But, "Lord,

what is man, that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man, that thou so regardest him?" One only reason can be devised. Man is an immortal being, and must be happy for ever, or miserable for ever. And God is very merciful, and desires his everlasting happiness: and therefore he rejoices when men seek happiness, where alone it is to be found in the fear of God, and in the ways of holiness.

The same satisfaction extends throughout all the inhabitants of heaven. I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. We can understand this, even from what is experienced by ourselves on earth. Whoever is at peace with God, and enjoys the blessings of the covenant of grace, desires to communicate those blessings, as far as possible, to his friends, his neighbourhood, and even to foriegn lands. And only those are indifferent about others, who are indifferent about themselves.

Indeed it is worth observing, how unlike the views of some men on earth are to the thoughts which are here represented as being the thoughts of heaven. That change, which is described as filling, heaven with joy, is here often treated as a trifling, unimportant matter, of too little consequence to be regarded. We see multitudes, the tenor of whose life is such as God has forbidden. evidently labouring and striving to the strait gate, which leadeth unto life" eternal. And this difference, this everlasting difference, is treated as the effect of circumstances, as depending on education or companionship, and lightly passed

We see others "enter in at

over in the world. make Scripture the foundation of our sentiments. We think after the manner of men, and not after the manner of God. We need stronger faith: a firmer conviction that things will be as God has revealed.

Why? But because we do not

But a reflection may arise from this passage, which is well suited to overcome the levity of the world. Universally, whether we look towards earth or heaven, those are found to be most anxious about the soul, who have the best means of understanding what reason there is it to be so, God himself has shown the value of the soul. Man had no sooner ruined himself by sin, than God devised a scheme for his redemption. The Son of God has shown the value of the soul: for he "came to give his life a ransom" for it, to "seek and to save that which was lost." The angels which are in the presence of God rejoice over one soul that is saved. They know the danger that is escaped, they know the blessing which is obtained. What with us, at best, is only faith, with them is sight and knowledge. And, lastly, the sinner himself who has repented, he also shows, what once he did not understand, the value of the soul. For his first and latest thought is to bring others out of the gulf of destruction which he has left, to the haven of peace which he has found. which he has found. As the man who has himself escaped from shipwreck, and reached a safe and quiet shore, rejoices in his own deliverance, but rejoices afresh at the arrival of every dear companion, who had been involved in the same danger: so does every one who has been delivered

from wordly vanities into "the glorious liberty of the sons of God," participate in the joy which is felt in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

If, then we act as if our own souls, or the souls of others, were of light and trifling value, it is because we do not rightly comprehend what they have to lose, and what they may obtain: what they may suffer, and what they may enjoy.

Judge, therefore, of the worth of the soul, from those who are alone capable of estimating it. There may be indifference on earth: but there is no such indifference in heaven. Nay, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

LECTURE LVIII.

REPENTANCE ENCOURAGED BY THE EXAMPLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON.-THE DEPARTURE AND MISERY OF THE PRODIGAL.

LUKE XV. 11-16.

11. And he said, A certain man had two sons :

12. And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

13. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

In this description of the prodigal, we read, alas! the description of too many of God's family. For the Jews were God's family, as compared with the rest of the world, at the time when this parable was uttered: and such are Christians now: adopted as children of God in Christ Jesus, dedicated to him by their baptism, brought up, as it were, in his house, and early taught to love and honour him as their Father which is in heaven. Happy indeed are those, who, like Samuel, like Timothy, like the patriarch Joseph, never go widely astray from this blessed home: who remember their Creator in the days of their youth, and do not seek after what they falsely suppose to be happiness, by departing from the laws which regulate his family. But is this a common case? Do young persons in general, when they become of age to show their disposition, and to choose for themselves, do they remain at home with God? Or do they make haste to throw off the restraint to which his children must conform? They take the portion of goods that falleth to them ; they take their health, and their strength, and their understanding, and their fortune; and what do they inquire? How they can best spend these in their Father's service? Is it not rather-how can they best please, and serve, and amuse themselves? Few indeed, when temptation is set before them, think of replying with the patriarch of old, How shall I do this wickedness, and sin against my heavenly Father! Few, indeed, among the conflicting engagements of life, have the spirit to say, "Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" They may not all waste their substance in riotous living: