dent concerning every one called Christian, that he counts all other things as dross, for the sake of securing that eternal life which is "the gift of God through Jesus Christ."

47. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:

48. Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

49. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just; 50. And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shull be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

The gospel is cast into the world, as a net is cast into the sea. The net brings up all within its reach, but all it brings is not worth preserving. So wherever the gospel is professed in a country, and becomes the national religion, many belong to it nominally who do not really believe its doctrines, or obey its precepts. This is sufficiently evident from the practice of the world around us. But further, even of those who make profession of faith, some have always been found who "call" Christ "Lord, Lord," but "do not the things which he says.' The apostles tell us, how soon this was verified in the church. "There are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the circumcision: whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.” (Tit. i. 10-11.) "There are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this

condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." (Jude 4.) "It must needs be that offences come." Such is the advantage which Satan takes of human corruption. "But woe unto him by whom the offence cometh!" When the net is full, in God's appointed season, the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just. For though now the tares and the wheat are suffered to grow up unto the harvest, "there shall in no wise enter" into the heavenly kingdom "any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie; but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." (Rev. xxi. 27.) How carefully, then, and how constantly, should we “examine ourselves, whether we be in the faith: and prove our own selves!"

51. Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.

52. Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven, is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

:

The apostles were to be scribes, commissioned to instruct others unto the kingdom of heaven and therefore requiring to be instructed, and to understand all these things themselves. Their task was difficult; they would need every help to perform it, and unless it were supplied, as in their case, by the Holy Spirit, must have a treasure of knowledge provided; the materials of long study, thought, and

Mark vi. 1-6.

experience.

As in Ecclesiastes we read, "Because the preacher was wise, he taught the people know. ledge."

53. And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence,

54. And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

55. Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

56. And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

57. And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

58. And he did not many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

What is here said of the neighbourhood of Naza reth, is equally true of the whole Jewish nation. Christ received least honour in his own country. "It was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken unto them;" but they "put it from them:" whilst "the Gentiles were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord." (Acts xiii. 46–48.) The nearness of the means of grace is not always a reason of their being most valued. But it will be a reason why, of all the "children of disobedi ence," those lie under the heaviest condemnation, of whom it may be said, "the kingdom of God is come nigh you."

It has come nigh us "in word:" may it be also "in power."

LECTURE XXXVI.

HEROD'S CONSENT TO THE DEATH OF JOHN
THE BAPTIST.

MATT. xiv. 1-13.

1. At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Mark vi.

Jesus,

14-32. Luke ix.

2. And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist : 7-9. he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

3. For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.

4. For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to

have her.

5. And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

If the motives of men's actions were always seen as plainly by us, as they are by him who knows the heart, how little would there often be to praise in those which are much commended! Perhaps Herod's clemency had been admired, because, though John told him an unwelcome truth, he spared his life. But he was considering himself, not duty. He feared the multitude, and would not risk his popularity.

6. But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.

7. Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.

8. And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.

Such is sin, when allowed to have dominion: lust, adultery, hatred, malice, murder. We should say, it changes the nature of woman, when it leads to such a demand: if we did not know that all these "proceed out of the heart," when the heart, instead of being renewed in righteousness, is permitted to indulge its natural corruption.

9. And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat at meat with him, he commanded it to be given her.

10. And he sent and beheaded John in the prison.

11. And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel; and she brought it to her mother.

12. And his disciples came and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

13. When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by a ship into a desert place: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.

In this history of John Baptist's death, we find Herod, a man in supreme power and subject to no outward controul, consenting to a deed which his conscience opposed, from which his reason revolted, and his inclination dissuaded him. The king was sorry. St. Mark says, "exceeding sorry:" and adds the reason; that "Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and a holy; and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly." Indeed it is certain that his consent must have cost him much.