The Pharisees made light of this, and often divorced their wives; and it is singled out to show them what sad work they made of the law, notwithstanding their high pretensions to righteousness. Let us take notice of ourselves; and allow our own hearts to tell us in what instance, in how many, we are transgressors.

19. There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

20. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

21. And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

He was probably relieved by the rich man; or else he would not have laid at his gate. But if, indeed, he did feed him, and left his cure to the dogs, this was poor charity.

22. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

The

poor man was not admitted into heaven, merely for being poor, nor the rich man shut out of it, only for being rich; but because the latter did set his heart upon riches, and the other did not.

23. And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

In torments, O dreadful, heart-breaking thought! Fatal end of ill-enjoyed riches. "And Lazarus in his bosom." O happy, if holy poverty!

24. And he cried, and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

He cried, Father Abraham: he did not say, God, have mercy on me he could not. There is no repenting in hell. He begged for a little ease, but this must now be denied him. His sentence was passed, and could not be reversed, nor mitigated.

25. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

Christian!

This word would cut him to the heart. that name will be a heavy load upon a lost soul in hell. His condemnation was not for receiving or having good things, in his lifetime; for then Abraham would not have been in heaven. But for receiving them as his portion, and giving himself wholly up to the enjoyment of them, without looking to anything better from the hands of God, or considering for what he received them. In a word, he was carnally-minded; and that is death, as we are plainly told, Rom. viii. 6; and as it is the great design of this parable, or history, to teach us.

On the other hand, Lazarus had received evil things; contentedly, and with his eyes fixed upon heaven.

26. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

O let all impenitent sinners think of that impassable gulf, lest death transport them beyond it, for ever from God!

27. Then he said, I pray thee, therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house :

28. For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

Whether or not it is possible for the damned to have any such concern for their surviving friends, we need not inquire. This seems chiefly said, to introduce what follows.

29. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the phets; let them hear them.

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It is at their peril if they do not. God knew it to be enough. And yet we have more, namely, Moses and the prophets fully opened by the gospel.

30. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

By having this proof of a future state. And perhaps so may we think. But, Abraham says positively, not. The reason is, nothing can work a saving change but God; and he does it, only, in his own way.

31. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

They might be full of wonder and surprise, for a time, at such an apparition, but their wills would not be changed. We all know that God says, repent; and the heart which stubbornly resists Him, when he speaks to us in his word, is not to be wrought upon. If that holy book does not convert, it will condemn us, and we shall know the value of it when it is too late.

In this chapter, here is line upon line to set our thoughts and affections right. If we cleave to the world, we lose heaven; if we disbelieve, or disregard the scriptures, in this point, we are past conviction. The parable of Dives and Lazarus speaks this to us all. Here is heaven and hell presented as it were to our bodily eyes; with the way to obtain the one, and to escape the other. May the Lord, in his infinite mercy, grant that this affecting sight may lead us to make a right choice!

SECTION LVI.

Chap. xvii. ver. 1-10.

CHRIST TEACHES TO AVOID OCCASIONS OF OFFENCE.

1. Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that of fences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come !

Christ speaks here to all who are willing to learn of him

in simplicity, and take his word against the world. There is no other way of becoming his disciples.

It is impossible but that offences will come, considering the depraved state of mankind. The offences here spoken of, are hindrances thrown in the way of men's conversion, or which tend to obstruct them in their christian course. This is doing the work of Satan, and serving him effectually; and accordingly here is a terrible woe pronounced against it. Are we clear? Have we never spoken slightingly of religion, or religious persons, or endeavoured to pull back those who were pressing forward, and aiming at more than ourselves? Let us lay our hands upon our hearts.

2. It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

Let us tremble for all impenitent sinners, and especially for those who hinder the gospel of Christ.-Edit.

3. Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

4. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

In this matter, take heed to yourselves. And that you may not lay a stumbling-block in the way of others by your own example, or unchristian behaviour: be all meekness and forgiveness.

Remember that he is not less thy brother for trespassing against thee. It is an endearing word, and will be sweetness in thine heart, when it is rooted there. In case of injuries, we are apt to take fire, and say, it is plain that such a one has used me ill, and so think our resentment warrantable. Now Christ allows all this: he supposes the injury to be real. But learn what he says: buke him, in love." This is a command. do. Thou must not suffer sin him. upon

"Re

This thou must

And if he re

pent, forgive him:" knowing that God has, upon his repentance; and that he must stand as clear of all blame in. the matter with thee, as with Him.

"And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day,” that is, never so often,-his trespass, however repeated, must not shake thee off thy foundation of love, nor make any alteration in the state of thy own soul. But if he do not repent, what then? still we must pity him, do good to him, bless and pray for him.

5. And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

They knew this, indeed, to be hard, but notwithstanding all that they burned with desire to be the men; and knowing that faith was the only way to be so, they begged for more of it. What they begged for, was faith in the power and mercy of God. What can He not do for us, and work in us? And what can be a stronger bond upon us to forgive all others, than a sense of his pardoning love?

6. And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

Christ here speaks of a living faith, with the nature of a seed in it, springing and growing up, though never so small. He highly approved of their request, and shows what great things a true faith would do for them. Nothing can be more impossible to nature than to remove a large tree out of the earth with a word speaking; and make it stand and take deep root in the sea. Sinner, thy conversion is by as great a miracle; and faith does no less for all. alas! we do not desire God to do great things for us.

But,

7. But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by-and-bye, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?

Here is a seasonable check given to all proud, aspiring thoughts, as if we could merit anything by our highest attainments of faith, love, and obedience.