the notice of God, their teachableness, simplicity, and littleness in their own eyes. He says, despise; and his words are well chosen. Others, however sunk in vice and folly, are pitied, or lightly censured; but the little ones who belong to God are heartily and emphatically despised. Their angels always stand before God to receive his commands concerning them, and represent any injuries done to them. What an honour for these little ones, and how great amends for man's contempt of them! How great a proof of God's care of them, and how strong an argument against contempt of them!

11. For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

Even these little ones, who were lost till he found them. Mark the reason here given for not despising them; in so doing you are the avowed enemies of Christ, and endeavour, as much as in you lies, to frustrate his beloved design of saving them. Hear how affectionately he speaks it, and what a heart of love is opened to you in what follows. 12 How think ye?

If you do not yet know, learn from hence what you are to think of God's pity and concern for sinners, and how plainly and sensibly it is here set before us.

12. If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

Are we yet strayed from him? He is now seeking after us, this hour. What a mercy it is, that what was spoken by Christ seventeen hundred years ago, should now be sounding in our ears! And it is our own fault, if it does not sound into our hearts.

"Doth he not leave the ninety and nine ?" So Christ left his glory in his Father's bosom; so he came into the world to recover his wandering, lost sheep, and carry them back with him into his own heaven.

13. And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he re

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joiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

"If so be that he find it." O! when will it once be! Why art thou still a lost man, in spite of all this kindness?

God has not less love for those who are returned to him, and safe under the Shepherd's care, than for those who are gone astray; but just as you, for the present, would have more sensible joy for the return of a child from evil courses, or recovery from a desperate sickness, than for the rest of your family. It is a marvellous discovery of God's love and our danger.

14. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

The owner's going after his lost sheep into the mountains, and joy of finding it, is intended to set forth God's concern for all his flock, and the method he takes to recover them when they are gone astray.

SECTION XLV.

Chap. xviii. ver. 15-22.

TO FORGIVE THE OFFENCES OF OUR BRETHREN.

15. Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

If thy brother trespass against thee, by laying a stumbling block in the way of thy salvation, take heed that it be none to thee, and to all; or, in case of any other injury, do to him as God does to thee, and to all; be patient; still endeavour to preserve him as a brother; keeping his interest only in view, instead of giving way to resentment, and remembering how dear his preservation, if it be possible,

is to God. In what method we are to proceed is next told But alas! how rarely is it followed; and what conviction is here of the different state we are in!

us.

"Go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone." Let not a soul upon earth know it, till thou hast faithfully and charitably told him of it. "If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother." Great gain indeed! and great argument this to a Christian for all manner of condescension, forbearance, and prudent endeavours to reclaim him.

16. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

He may have returned railing and ill-usage for thy brotherly kindness; but still thou must not stop here: try another method, call in help; take with thee one or two more; perhaps their joint endeavours, and appearing against him as witnesses, may bring him to a sense of his fault.

17. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church; but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Tell it to thy minister, and to the congregation of which thou art a member, for his reproof, and public censure. "But if he neglect to hear the church," thou hast done all that is required of thee, and wilt be justified in leaving him to his sentence; which, as it follows in the next verse, will be ratified in heaven.

18. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven.

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19. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

In prayer for the forgiveness of such an one upon his repentance; or in any other matter agreeable to the will of God.

20. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

There is the grand qualification; "in Christ's name," according to Christ, and for his spiritual blessings. Then he joins with us.-O Jesus, be with us, and in the midst of us, at this time and place; and let us never do anything to deprive ourselves of thy gracious presence, whether alone, or assembled together.

21. Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? When Peter wrote his Epistles, he would not have asked this question. 1 Pet. iv. 8. "And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves; for charity shall cover a multitude of sins."

22. Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven.

That is, without end; as we should do, if we truly forgive once. A heart, sensible of its own condition in the sight of God, and pitying others on that ground, is never weary of forgiving,

SECTION XLVI.

Chap. xviii. ver. 23-36.

HOW TO TREAT AN OFFENDING BROTHER.

23. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

Though it is a kingdom of grace and mercy, we have an account to give of what we have been, and done in it, and what effect that grace has had upon us.

24. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

25. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

Every one of us is in this situation. We have not to pay; and God might justly proceed to this extremity with us all.

26. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

Not so. Say this at thy peril. The servant is represented as saying it, to show his submission; and this also must be found in thee; but if thou thinkest of making full payment, or any payment, to God's justice, for thy sins, thy case is desperate. That is all the work of another hand.

27. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

As sure as you hear this, there is forgiveness for the greatest sins, and for all sinners, for Christ's sake, upon their humble entreaty. And this is properly the glad tidings of the gospel, and our only relief.

28. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou

owest.

29. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

30. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

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31. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: